Chance News 27: Difference between revisions
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==Forsooth== | ==Forsooth== | ||
The following Forsooths were in the May 2007 RSS News: | |||
<blockquote>The Times leader of 28 February tells us that taking regular dose of certain vitamins 'can actually increase the risk of mortality by five per cent'. Since the "risk of mortality' is already 100 percent this is very worrying. <br> 12 March 2007<br><div align=right>AWF Edwards<br> Cambridge | |||
</div></blockquote> | |||
==How to own a random number== | ==How to own a random number== | ||
Revision as of 20:00, 14 May 2007
Quotation
I could prove God statistically. Take the human body alone - the chances that all the functions of an individual would just happen is a statistical monstrosity.
George Gallup
This is from a fascinaing article about the life of George Gallup: "The Human Yardstick", Williston Rich, Saturday Evening Post January 21,1939, p. 71. The article ends with:
His greatest delution is that he can forecast the stock market. his greatest fear, that a competitor will enter his field and be dishonest with the figures. His greatest devotion, to his family, his home and his church. He says "I could prove God statistically--.
Forsooth
The following Forsooths were in the May 2007 RSS News:
The Times leader of 28 February tells us that taking regular dose of certain vitamins 'can actually increase the risk of mortality by five per cent'. Since the "risk of mortality' is already 100 percent this is very worrying.
12 March 2007AWF Edwards
Cambridge
How to own a random number
God created the integers; all else is the work of man, Leopold Kronecker
AACS is the copy protection technology used on HD-DVD and Blu-ray discs. The consortium that owns this technology are apparently trying to stop websites and newspapers publishing a specific 128-bit integer that, with suitable software, enables the decryption of video content on most existing HD-DVD and Blu-ray discs. As part of this effort, they have claimed ownership of the encryption key, which means that you cannot use, without written permission, that particular 30-digit integer (in base 10) and several million other unknown keys that they apparently are claiming ownership of. Not only that, but the numbers in question were chosen randomly so there is no simple way of knowing if your random choice conflicts with theirs, even if they were known publicly.
Further reading
- How to own a random number, BoingBoing blog, 7 May 2007.
- You Can Own an Integer Too — Get Yours Here, Ed Felten, May 7, 2007 -- this professor of Computer Science and Public Affairs at Princeton University suggests a way that you too can own your own random integer. He even suggests a use for your number:
Did we mention that a shiny new integer would make a perfect Mother’s Day gift?
Submitted by John Gavin.