by Lawrence Mark Lesser
(graph shows half of bell curve with intervals between whole numbers of standard deviations above the mean)
by Lawrence Mark Lesser
In print, the magazine editor muses, “Every time
I board a plane, I assume my chances
are 50-50: either
the plane lands safely, or it doesn’t.”
There it is again – the mirage
that outcomes must be
equally
likely.
I could blame
his teachers and textbooks
stuck in stale symmetry:
quarters, cards, dice.
Now my choice:
either I make
a teachable moment
or I don’t.
I decide
to ask that editor if he is just
as quick to apply
his view to rare
delightful events
like winning the lottery,
finding one’s soulmate,
and world peace.
Child: What do you do at work?
Parent: I teach probability to statistics majors, so calculus is an integral part of my job.
Dennis Pearl and Larry Lesser
lyric © 2021, 2022 by Lawrence M Lesser
may sing to the tune of the same-titled song by Paul Simon
“The problem is all inside your head,” she said to me.
“The answer is easy, combinatorially:
To count the ways and reasons to set yourself free
You’ll see there’s 50 ways to leave your lover.”
She asked, “Why did your love not survive?”
You can choose from a list of 5:
Money, sex, in-laws, trust, and talks that didn’t jive--
So far that’s 5 ways to leave your lover,
5 ways to leave your lover....
CHORUS: We’ll count how many, Jenny, of each set, Chet,
Then multiply, Vi: multiplication principle!
Make a tally, Sally: ev’ry way, Ray!
The product’s Cartesian, Steven: multiplication principle!
She asked how I’ll tell her that the love is gone.
I said there’s 5 ways I’m trying on:
Email, text, phone call, letter, or a song --
That now makes 25 ways to leave your lover.
She said, “What will you do with all the stuff you’ve got,
Stuff she gave you ‘cause she loved you a lot?”
I said, “2 choices: I keep it or not --
now I see 50 ways to leave your lover,
52 times 2 ways to leave your lover....
(Repeat Chorus)
by Anubis the Philosomancer
200+ Temperature records set worldwide in the last two days;
430+ Temperature records set worldwide in the last seven.
The heat record in Death Valley is 134 degrees Fahrenheit;
it has been as close to that as 124 degrees the past few days.
Believe what you will about the inconvenience of the dire truth;
Statistical Anomalies are becoming the new Norms
by Lawrence Mark Lesser
The lottery numbers you choose
Won't change your chance to lose,
But if all 6 match
You'll get much more cash
If you picked what's picked by few
by Lawrence Mark Lesser
When categories combine,
Sometimes you will find
What had trended
Now upended:
New correlation sign!