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Author Archives: F. E. Guerra-Pujol
Civil theft
Check out this report in this week’s The New Yorker by Sarah Stillman on the use and abuse of civil forfeiture in the US. Here is one excerpt: “In general, you needn’t be found guilty to have your assets claimed … Continue reading
What would Wittgenstein say?
Philosopher Colin McGinn may not be the most popular professor in the academy these days, but his recent thoughts on “The Science of Philosophy” (which might just qualify as one of the shortest academic papers ever) have left me pondering … Continue reading
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Tagged "Philosophy of Philosophy", Colin McGinn, Philosophy, Science
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What is the fastest way to board an airplane?
You might think it’s front to back … but that is wrong. The best method is window seats first, then middle, then aisle–the “inside-out” method. Jason Steffen’s paper “Optimal boarding method for airline passengers” applies the experimental method to this … Continue reading
PhD lifestyle guilt
prior probability loved this post on PhD lifestyle guilt … yes, we know the feeling … we often feel “professor lifestyle guilt” (except when we are grading exams and papers) because we love our work … As Oliver Wendell Holmes … Continue reading
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The tyranny of the TSA
Is the Constitution just a worthless piece of paper? After all, Americans have no real legal rights at airports, since airport security checkpoints are somehow exempt from the probable cause requirement of the Constitution … and yet nobody cares. Now, … Continue reading
Happy Jamaica Independence Day!
Jamaica is one of prior probability‘s favorite countries in the world (aside: p.p.’s wife is Jamaican and we spent our last summer in St Ann Parish and plan to return next summer), and today, 6 August, the Island celebrates her … Continue reading
The perils of an electronic police state
When did the USA become an electronic police state? Check out this recent report in the Times titled “Other Agencies Clamor for Data NSA Compiles.” Here is just one except from this fascinating report: “Typically, the agencies request that the … Continue reading
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Tagged NSA, Secret Courts, Surveillance, Warrantless Searches
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Information externalities
Information wants to be free … except on Twitter? Lots of people say they are for free speech, except when they are not … Is there a principled or “right” way of drawing the line between free speech and prohibited speech?
Why are so many great beers brewed in Belgium?
According to Wikipedia, there are some 178 breweries in Belgium, a small country about the same size as the State of Maryland … Yet it’s not just the sheer quantity of breweries in such a little country that astounds prior probability … Continue reading
Prior Probability Primer
This blog is about the concept of “prior probability” and how it applies to life, love, and law. But what is a “prior probability”? Wikipedia offers the following technical definition of this concept: “… a prior probability distribution, often called simply … Continue reading
