14. “First Do No Harm” Can Be Harmful. Those readers who are advantage gamblers certainly realize where I am going with this. If the “expected value” of a medical procedure is significantly higher than doing nothing, it is malpractice to settle on doing nothing just because doing something occasionally does harm. Undoubtedly most doctors know… Continue reading Observations
Blog
Math/Gambling
9. The Decision Favored to Be Wrong May Be Right. That can happen if that alternative has a much larger upside, a much smaller downside, or if it can be reversed if going poorly while the other decision(s) can’t. 17. Math Questions That Need Almost No Math. Two Examples: #1. We flip coins for a… Continue reading Math/Gambling
Suggestions
1. Put Expensive Parking Meters on Some Handicapped Parking Spaces. Most of the money goes to help the handicapped. Perhaps a dollar a minute. Perhaps only a portion of them. Perhaps only at certain times.2. Criteria to Use When Two Experts Disagree. Expertise, experience, overall intelligence, personal gain bias, how much would they bet (assuming equal… Continue reading Suggestions
Guns
Here is a germ of an idea. Details would have to be worked out. Couple restrictive gun laws with major incentives to purchase one of these new non lethal guns made by Byrna and others, that supposedly completely stop bad guys for a period of time, but rarely cause lasting harm. Most people don’t even… Continue reading Guns
Two Trolley Problem Variations Where They Might Not Die
In the classic trolley problem, you are asked whether you would divert a trolley car destined to kill a group of people to a track where it is destined to kill a smaller different group. Many people would not for religious type reasons because they don’t want to “play God”. Others would sometimes decline and… Continue reading Two Trolley Problem Variations Where They Might Not Die
The Slap
The Will Smith slapping of Chris Rock, while a trivial event in the overall scheme of things, is actually a very interesting subject because it just so happens to bring up a myriad of controversial questions and observations. Such as: If Rock fell or was injured should Smith’s punishment be harsher? (Assuming the slap was… Continue reading The Slap
When Should Profiling Be Reluctantly Tolerated?
When most members of the group are in favor of it. But even then, I would suggest that the procedure be ameliorated by giving a nice gift and an apologetic note to those stopped who just happen to share a physical characteristic with some bad people. No further explanation needed. All comments welcome.
Prescription Drug TV Commercials Have Concerning Implications.
Since they are targeted to patients rather than doctors, and are as numerous as they are, it must mean that they sometimes succeed in getting a patient to persuade their doctor to prescribe it when they otherwise would not have. But that means either that the doctor is incompetent or is unethical enough to prescribe… Continue reading Prescription Drug TV Commercials Have Concerning Implications.
Spending Ten Million to Eliminate Skepticism Brings In 300 Mil.
Stupak needed 50 million to build his tower but only had ten. He needed investors but couldn’t get any because they were skeptical that he could get the tower built. I asked him how much it cost to build it 80% of the way up to the bottom of the “pod”. When he said “ten… Continue reading Spending Ten Million to Eliminate Skepticism Brings In 300 Mil.
Did You “River” the Flush in Your Dream?
This thought of mine applies to everyone but is probably most easily seen in dreams of poker players. You are playing hold em and need a spade on the river. In your dream, you are hoping for that spade, not “knowing” whether it will come. Sometimes it does and sometimes it doesn’t. But wait! You… Continue reading Did You “River” the Flush in Your Dream?
Nevada Representative Dina Titus Owes Her Stature to My Decision to Print Scandalous Story About Her Opponent.
Other newspapers wouldn’t print it though they knew it was true. But they also knew it would change votes and give the election to Titus who otherwise had little chance. I think it’s pretty hard to make a case that it was me that was wrong. No further explanation needed. All comments welcome.
Don’t Blame Lack of Opportunity If it Wouldn’t Have Mattered.
I recently read an article that stated something like “children of rich people are 6% to acquire a patent but only 1% of poor children are”. That’s a shame. However, those poor people who claim that it is this fact that is the reason they have no patent, need to acknowledge that poor people in… Continue reading Don’t Blame Lack of Opportunity If it Wouldn’t Have Mattered.
Two Ideas for Slot Machines.
I am withholding most of my ideas for casinos in case one of them wants to pay me what I’m worth to consult for them. But two simple examples would be: 1. Those triple hand draw poker machines pay a big jackpot for three Royals at once. But they could pay an even bigger one… Continue reading Two Ideas for Slot Machines.