Posted in The Meditations on Jul 30th, 2007 No Comments »
Here are two probability problems that people tend to get wrong.
There is a disease that infects 1% of the population. There is a test for the disease, but (like most tests) is not 100% accurate. The test is 95% accurate (That is, if you do not have the disease and take the [...]
Posted in The Process on Jul 29th, 2007 2 Comments »
Michele has delicately informed me that in my blog I often pontificate like an opinionated jerk. She tells me that the entries are sometimes offensive and often reflect poorly on me. Looking over them, I know she is right.
If I have offended or angered you, I am sincerely sorry.
As a technical writer and [...]
Posted in The Meditations on Jul 22nd, 2007 4 Comments »
Lately, I have been noticing Americans are driven by a need for authenticity. Take a long look at the “Restoration Hardware” catalog. We, as a culture, are hungry for something genuine and timeless.
This led to me to wonder, “What makes something authentic?”
Posted in The Meditations on Jul 15th, 2007 1 Comment »
A few years ago I taught a class in Southern India. Most of my students had had their wives chosen for them. I was aghast: “Arranged marriage? How barbaric!”
They explained: when you get to be marrying age, your parents start looking for your mate. As your parents, they know what your core [...]
Posted in The Meditations on Jul 11th, 2007 4 Comments »
I have just finished “The Assault on Reason” by Al Gore. The book is excellent, and everyone should read it. The central question is this: The Bush Administration has consistently shown itself to be incompetent and corrupt. In the past, a system of checks and balances limited the damage that such a president could do [...]
Posted in The Meditations on Jul 4th, 2007 4 Comments »
I have two sons, Otto is two and Walden is five, and I love them more than anything. The process of a child being born and growing older is utterly fascinating. I do my best to be a good parent. In celebration of Father’s Day, I thought I would sum up some of the things [...]