February 2011

Why

Submitted by Tim.Byers on Thu, 02/24/2011 - 09:11

“Why” is the hardest question.   When our children ask questions about how or when or where, the answers come easy.  Why is harder.  I thought about this on the way to work this morning when I saw a formation of geese flying.  When my daughter was in the fourth grade, she asked me why, when geese fly, is one side of the V formation longer than the other?  I thought it was a real question, and speculated about aerodynamics or taking turns.  No, she said.  It is because there are more geese on that side.  That’s why.

I have been wondering w

Monty Hall and Health Care Reform

Submitted by Tim.Byers on Tue, 02/08/2011 - 09:24

You are a contestant on Let's Make a Deal.  There is a fabulous vacation behind one of the three doors and nothing behind the other two.  You choose a door.  Monty then reveals nothing behind one of the two remaining doors and asks whether you want to keep your original choice or trade for the remaining unopened door.  I would keep my door.  That, however, is the wrong choice.  At that point, there is actually twice the likelihood that the vacation is behind the door you did not originally choose.  At that point, you should trade.  That very counter-i