Archive for May, 2010
Friday, May 21st, 2010
A self-referential multiple choice puzzle
Multiple Choice Question: If you choose an answer to this question at random, what is the chance you will be correct? A: 25% B: 50% C: 0% D: 25%
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Monday, May 17th, 2010
A Rare Blend of Monster Raving Egomania and Utter Batshit Insanity
It’s rare to read a negative book review from the scientific community written with this kind of candour and certainty. Stephen Wolfram of course is the author of Mathematica and a pretty bright lad. Seems he went astray somewhere, or at least this reviewer thinks so. The book is “A New Kind of Science”. The […]
Comments Off on A Rare Blend of Monster Raving Egomania and Utter Batshit Insanity - Posted in Fun,Language,Science by Happy
Friday, May 14th, 2010
Malamanteaus
Flustrated Misunderestimated Heathengelical Spontanimosity Exorberant Traumajesty Overflowded Ambiviolence Craptcular Fugly Manscaping Misconscrewed Malamanteau These are all malamanteaus. Anyone need that explained? Anyone know any others? For those desperate enough: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Talk:Malamanteau#original_text_and_creation_information.
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Wednesday, May 12th, 2010
A huge asteroid is set to collide with the the earth…
Sometimes, I feel just like this… (the little girl, that is.)Sorry, unknown attribution.
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Monday, May 10th, 2010
What’s Greek for Venn diagram?
http://thisisindexed.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/05/card2564.jpg
Comments Off on What’s Greek for Venn diagram? - Posted in Economics,Fun by Happy
Tuesday, May 4th, 2010
A modest puzzle on probabilities
Two witnesses provided evidence in court. Tom is a somewhat reliable witness giving accurate testimony 70% of the time. Harry is less reliable, giving accurate testimony 60% of the time. Both testified to the same effect. What is the chance that their evidence was indeed accurate ? Think carefully now. [Thanks to Mark W for […]
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Monday, May 3rd, 2010
Shine is a bit of an odd word
Shine as a verb means self-luminous. Emitting its own light (or metaphorically so). The sun shines brightly. The winner’s face shone radiantly. Shine as a noun or adjective means reflective. Reflecting light that falls on it. Put a shine on those boots, lad! The material we have is too shiny. There appears to be no […]
Comments Off on Shine is a bit of an odd word - Posted in Language by Happy
Saturday, May 1st, 2010
The Anglo Disease
Take a country that has become rich through a combination of natural resources, manufacturing and trade. Let it discover that goods can be imported at lower prices from countries with lower labour costs. Consider the finance sector, where instant profits today can be made by capturing cash flows from the future. Watch the finance sector […]