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Category Archives: Politics

Lies, Damned Lies and Graphs

It appears from discussion at Wikipedia that the catchphrase “lies, damned lies and statistics” is in fact unattributed. That’s a shame, because it’s a pretty important idea – statistics are very slippery, and in this time of COVID-19 I’m seeing how easily they can be misunderstood, and misused.

If it looks like a Duck

Wikipedia has a good article on the probable source of what is now known as the Duck Test If it looks like a duck, swims like a duck, and quacks like a duck, then it probably is a duck. In recent weeks, in light of what is happening in the US, and the direction various […]

The Wall

I went to the Imperial War Museum a few days ago – sadly it’s largely under construction at the moment, but should re-open in Summer 2014, so I can go back. Outside the front entrance is a section of the Berlin Wall. The side that faced the west: The side that faced the east: And […]