Monthly Archives: October 2009

Energy, chiropractic, and pseudo-science

I dislike many of the colloquial uses of the word “energy.” Some expressions such as “he’s low on energy” are fine, but others, like “the energy in the room” or “the energy she emanates,” are on thin ice, metaphors that … Continue reading

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The Trail of the Coeur d’Alenes

Formerly an old mining railway, the Trail of the Coeur d’Alenes makes for leisurely, scenic biking. So leisurely, in fact, that while on the trail itself I actually biked without a helmet! Try that on the Burke-Gilman, let alone city … Continue reading

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The Drunkard’s Walk

We’ve been discussing more and more in my office the idea that secondary education ought to require a course in probability and statistics more urgently than a course in calculus. Yes, calculus is fascinating and elegant, a true achievement of … Continue reading

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