DISQUS

Older_Wiser · 11 months ago

It seems weird to me that there would be that many dumbasses in MN who would vote for Coleman. : ) Keep your fingers crossed...

Paddy · 11 months ago

Portugal offers asylum to Gitmo detainees, facilitating closure

Older_Wiser · 11 months ago

Terrific.

Math and science, baby · 11 months ago

It is difficult to explain this to people who do not have a technical background in systems engineering, measurement, and statistics, but if counts have been within the margin of error associated with the process used, the only fair resolution is to have a coin toss. Get a better, cleaner, more error-proof process (with unambiguous operational definitions), and circumstances like the present one will be prevented in the future. But now we have to accept indeterminate random fluctuation within an imprecise process.

I wish both Franken and Coleman would agree to accept the outcome of a coin toss. I particularly wish Franken would make that gesture. Understanding the appropriateness of a coin toss would reflect an understanding of science. Insisting on recounts in this case, by contrast, is aligned more with people who think the earth is flat and is a mere 6,000 years old, that Dionne Warwick's psychic friends really are psychic, or that I "chose" to be gay.

doug · 11 months ago

WTF

Math and science, baby · 11 months ago

This NYT op-ed by Charles Seife may be easier to understand: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/12/04/opinion/04sei...