Correlation and Causation : Uncertain Principles

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"Uncertain Principles" features the miscellaneous ramblings of a physicist at a small liberal arts college. Physics, politics, pop culture, and occasional conversations with his dog.

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Correlation and Causation

Category: FutureBaby!
Posted on: August 2, 2008 8:54 AM, by Chad Orzel

Around 20% of women who go into labor do so after eating Chinese food.

Another 17% or so go into labor after eating Indian food.

True facts.

(No baby yet. We were amusing ourselves yesterday talking about urban legends on how to induce labor, and these occurred to me this morning as possible justifications...)

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Comments

percentage of women who are in labor after going into labor -- 100%

Posted by: Fred | August 2, 2008 10:12 AM

According to my English major math, that means woman who eat Chinese and Indian food have a 37 percent chance of going into labor. I wonder what effect Nepalese cuisine has. (Or Tibetan, for that matter.)

Posted by: SEK | August 2, 2008 10:21 AM

Take an economics and climatology approach: wait for the data to arrive then write theory showing why it is wrong.

Posted by: Uncle Al | August 2, 2008 10:40 AM

I have a friend whose mom went into labor after the dog jumped over her due to freaking out over trick-or-treaters at the front door. Just wait a few more months.

Posted by: mollishka | August 2, 2008 10:49 AM

My mother gave birth right after riding in a taxi very fast. It worked for her when she was expecting my sister as well. Maybe you should try that.

Posted by: Janne | August 2, 2008 10:59 AM

Is that because 20% of women live in China and 17% of women live in India?

Posted by: Excited State | August 2, 2008 11:12 AM

My wife went into labor almost immediately after submitting two SBIR proposals involving thin-film superconductors, at Talandic Research Company, a 200-person electro-optical subcontractor to major aerospace firms. She won both proposals, as PI, and had to go back to the lab rather soon after our son was born.

Posted by: Jonathan Vos Post | August 2, 2008 12:13 PM

0.001% of women go into labour after eating boiled haddock and potatoes, with butter.
You have to play the odds...

Good luck.

Posted by: Steinn Sigurdsson | August 2, 2008 9:33 PM

I've heard great stuff about eggplant parmesan!

Posted by: Natalie | August 2, 2008 9:51 PM

Reminds me of an old Dilbert comic strip, where the boss became outraged because 40% of sick days were taken on either a Monday or a Friday.

Posted by: Ray Ward | August 3, 2008 2:54 PM