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Theoretical Musings
Dave Bacon is a theoretical ski bum who is also a pseudo professor. His research is on quantum computing, his scientific passions extend to everything in physics, mathematics, computer science and beyond, and his personal pleasures include making wine, playing poker, skiing, camping, and daydreaming (although not all of those at the same time.)
Nothing he says on this blog should be construed as having anything to do with his employer or his dog.
Category: Mathematics
Yes, dear Gray Lady, you certainly sound more sophisticated when you use the word "prime number" in your newspaper. But perhaps you might want to look up the actual meaning of the word before placing those words prominently beside...
Posted by Dave Bacon at 1:47 PM • 3 Comments • 0 TrackBacks
Category: Mathematics
Martin Gardner has passed away at age 95. I fondly remember going back through the back issues of "Scientific American" as a kid and devouring Gardner's "Mathematical Recreations" column (along with the similar columns written by Hofstadter and Dewdney.) If...
Posted by Dave Bacon at 11:27 AM • 9 Comments • 0 TrackBacks
Category: Words
Another one from Michael, who spotted an article about one of my favorite mathematical words to use in everyday speech (much the chagrin of non-scientists) used in the Supereme Court of the United States:Supreme Court justices deal in words, and...
Posted by Dave Bacon at 12:41 PM • 19 Comments • 0 TrackBacks
Category: Quantum
The Dutch book argument of Bruno de Finetti is an argument which is supposed to justify subjective probabilities. What one does in this argument is gives probabilities an operational definition in terms of the amount one is willing to bet...
Posted by Dave Bacon at 12:44 PM • 26 Comments • 0 TrackBacks
Category: Finance
James Simons, he of the Chern-Simons form, and also, of late, from the hedge fund Renaissance Technologies Corporation, is retiring. The infamous Medallion fund was up last year, apparently, only a mere 80 percent. Quite a feat, turning into...
Posted by Dave Bacon at 12:23 PM • 3 Comments • 0 TrackBacks
Category: Mathematics
Israel Gelfand, one of the great mathematicians of our age, apparently passed away yesterday at the age of 96. Check out the list of results that bear his name on the above linked Wikipedia page. Wow. Today I will, in...
Posted by Dave Bacon at 12:42 PM • • 0 TrackBacks
Category: Economics
Those of you interested in the recent debate over math, beauty, economics, and Paul Krugman, and who are in New York on Oct 5 might be interested in a talk by Eric Weinstein at Columbia:We will be taking a position...
Posted by Dave Bacon at 8:53 PM • 13 Comments • 0 TrackBacks
Category: Economics
Krugman clarifies:I've been getting some comments from people who think my magazine piece was an attack on the use of mathematics in economics. It wasn't...So by all means let's have math in economics -- but as our servant, not our...
Posted by Dave Bacon at 11:37 AM • 26 Comments • 0 TrackBacks
Category: Extralusionary Intelligence
Over at the most uncertain blog, he of uncertain principles (aka Chad) takes up a challenge posed by @EricRWeinstein on twitter concerning Paul Krugman's recent article on why economists got the economic crisis so wrong. Since I know even less...
Posted by Dave Bacon at 8:12 PM • 39 Comments • 0 TrackBacks
Category: Self: Meet Center. Center: Meet Self.
Over 9 months ago I decided to apply for teaching tenure track jobs. Then the economy took what can best be described as a massive, ill-aimed, swan dive. Thus creating an incredible amount of stress in my life. So what...
Posted by Dave Bacon at 11:14 AM • 11 Comments • 0 TrackBacks
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