Articles - Principally Uncertain

2019-08-06

How did President’s Trump language influence the El Paso shooter’s manifesto?

Patrick W. Zimmerman

This is post 18 of 18 in the series “Trump Watch” Presenting the Trump Watch (tick…tick…tick..) New Dataset – @realDonaldTrump Tweet corpus Just how oddball is @realdonaldtrump compared to other politicians? The anti-Trump shield: A defensive charity finder to help you put your money where his mouth is Breaking down the Women’s March: Even small-town […]

2019-07-15

Tofino Tasting: Random in-situ beer review #184725

By: Richard W. SharpWelcome to the first installment in our random series of beer reviews, written when the opportunity arises and as the occasion warrants.1 Opportunities like camping, fishing, cycling, hiking, or any form of sight seeing that makes you thirsty and lends itself to embellishment. We here at Principally Uncertain take it as a […]

2019-06-26

Small town America does not have higher voter turnout than cities do.…except in the Northeast

Patrick W. Zimmerman

By: Patrick W. ZimmermanWhich is just weird. “Middle America.” “Small town values.” “Main Street.” These reified terms have been embodied in the political theatre of Town Hall meetings, the “retail politics” of Iowa and New Hampshire, and Plumbers named Joe. In politico-talk, these stock phrases tend to be codes referencing the idea that rural America […]

2019-05-15

EPL by the Numbers 2018-19: Match Week 38. City win title; Liverpool complete best second place finish ever

Rich Van Heertum

This is post 30 of 30 in the series “EPL by the Numbers 2018-19” EPL 2018-19: Match Week 1-3. Inglorious Man United EPL 2018-19: Match Week 4. Only 3 perfect teams remain EPL 2018-19: Match Week 5. The Reds on a rampage EPL by the numbers 2018-19: Match week 6, the Manchester stumble EPL by […]

2019-05-11

EPL by the Numbers 2018-19: Match Week 35-7. Kompany to the rescue as City all but seal title; all four English sides to European finals

Rich Van Heertum

This is post 29 of 30 in the series “EPL by the Numbers 2018-19” EPL 2018-19: Match Week 1-3. Inglorious Man United EPL 2018-19: Match Week 4. Only 3 perfect teams remain EPL 2018-19: Match Week 5. The Reds on a rampage EPL by the numbers 2018-19: Match week 6, the Manchester stumble EPL by […]

2019-04-29

Want more Stanley Cup OT? Start cheering for more defense

Patrick W. Zimmerman

By: Patrick W. ZimmermanSudden-death, multi-overtime hockey games are the best viewing in sports. We’re going to take that as a prior because it is incontrovertible fact. And it gets bonus points for no commercial breaks. Go ahead, change the channel in double OT. We dare you. If OT is the best, then, logically, we should […]

2019-04-26

EPL by the Numbers 2018-19: Match Week 34-5. City can put the champagne on ice … as victories over Spurs and United all but seal title

Rich Van Heertum

This is post 28 of 30 in the series “EPL by the Numbers 2018-19” EPL 2018-19: Match Week 1-3. Inglorious Man United EPL 2018-19: Match Week 4. Only 3 perfect teams remain EPL 2018-19: Match Week 5. The Reds on a rampage EPL by the numbers 2018-19: Match week 6, the Manchester stumble EPL by […]

2019-04-16

EPL by the Numbers 2018-19: Match Week 33-34. Tiger roars Again … Liverpool pray for Tottenham and United’s help

Rich Van Heertum

This is post 27 of 30 in the series “EPL by the Numbers 2018-19” EPL 2018-19: Match Week 1-3. Inglorious Man United EPL 2018-19: Match Week 4. Only 3 perfect teams remain EPL 2018-19: Match Week 5. The Reds on a rampage EPL by the numbers 2018-19: Match week 6, the Manchester stumble EPL by […]

2019-04-12

EPL by the Numbers 2018-19: Match Week 32-33 Liverpool back on top; Chelsea to third

Rich Van Heertum

This is post 26 of 30 in the series “EPL by the Numbers 2018-19” EPL 2018-19: Match Week 1-3. Inglorious Man United EPL 2018-19: Match Week 4. Only 3 perfect teams remain EPL 2018-19: Match Week 5. The Reds on a rampage EPL by the numbers 2018-19: Match week 6, the Manchester stumble EPL by […]

2019-04-09

Trump’s Twitter pulpit is slowly losing its effectiveness

Patrick W. Zimmerman

This is post 17 of 18 in the series “Trump Watch” Presenting the Trump Watch (tick…tick…tick..) New Dataset – @realDonaldTrump Tweet corpus Just how oddball is @realdonaldtrump compared to other politicians? The anti-Trump shield: A defensive charity finder to help you put your money where his mouth is Breaking down the Women’s March: Even small-town […]

2019-04-03

The Insufferable Braculator models NCAA Women’s basketball, chapter 2: Concerning chalk

This is post 19 of 19 in the series “Bracketeering” March Madness Bracketeering Applied Bracketeering: Modeling March Madness Bracketeering update: Mascot randomness is beating the pants off RPI after round 2 Applied Bracketeering: So, who saw that final four coming? Applied bracketeering wrapup: Highly-rated team wins in shocking finale Applied Bracketeering: Does our model also […]

2019-04-02

EPL by the Numbers 2018-19: Match Week 32, Liverpool win late, Arsenal to third

Rich Van Heertum

This is post 25 of 30 in the series “EPL by the Numbers 2018-19” EPL 2018-19: Match Week 1-3. Inglorious Man United EPL 2018-19: Match Week 4. Only 3 perfect teams remain EPL 2018-19: Match Week 5. The Reds on a rampage EPL by the numbers 2018-19: Match week 6, the Manchester stumble EPL by […]

2019-03-21

The Insufferable Braculator™ Strikes Again. Can your NCAA Women’s Tourney predictions beat it?

This is post 18 of 19 in the series “Bracketeering” March Madness Bracketeering Applied Bracketeering: Modeling March Madness Bracketeering update: Mascot randomness is beating the pants off RPI after round 2 Applied Bracketeering: So, who saw that final four coming? Applied bracketeering wrapup: Highly-rated team wins in shocking finale Applied Bracketeering: Does our model also […]

2019-03-20

EPL by the Numbers 2018-19: Match Week 31, Liverpool back top & quadruple still on for City

Rich Van Heertum

This is post 24 of 30 in the series “EPL by the Numbers 2018-19” EPL 2018-19: Match Week 1-3. Inglorious Man United EPL 2018-19: Match Week 4. Only 3 perfect teams remain EPL 2018-19: Match Week 5. The Reds on a rampage EPL by the numbers 2018-19: Match week 6, the Manchester stumble EPL by […]

2019-03-12

EPL by the Numbers 2018-19: Match Week 30, Arsenal back in top 4; City still top

Rich Van Heertum

This is post 23 of 30 in the series “EPL by the Numbers 2018-19” EPL 2018-19: Match Week 1-3. Inglorious Man United EPL 2018-19: Match Week 4. Only 3 perfect teams remain EPL 2018-19: Match Week 5. The Reds on a rampage EPL by the numbers 2018-19: Match week 6, the Manchester stumble EPL by […]

2019-03-05

Which MLB team’s fanbase is the most optimistic (or pessimistic) a month before opening day 2019?

Patrick W. Zimmerman

By: Patrick W. Zimmerman“Just wait ‘til next year!” —Seemingly every baseball fan ever It’s a month out from opening day (March 28th), and the really big fish on the market have finally overcome market forces (::cough:: collusion ::cough::) to find homes in San Diego and Philly. So we were wondering, which teams fans have already […]

2019-03-05

EPL by the Numbers 2018-19: Match Week 29, Liverpool slip again – City go top

Rich Van Heertum

This is post 22 of 30 in the series “EPL by the Numbers 2018-19” EPL 2018-19: Match Week 1-3. Inglorious Man United EPL 2018-19: Match Week 4. Only 3 perfect teams remain EPL 2018-19: Match Week 5. The Reds on a rampage EPL by the numbers 2018-19: Match week 6, the Manchester stumble EPL by […]

2019-03-01

EPL by the Numbers 2018-19: Match Week 27-8, City close in. Arsenal back in 4th

Rich Van Heertum

This is post 21 of 30 in the series “EPL by the Numbers 2018-19” EPL 2018-19: Match Week 1-3. Inglorious Man United EPL 2018-19: Match Week 4. Only 3 perfect teams remain EPL 2018-19: Match Week 5. The Reds on a rampage EPL by the numbers 2018-19: Match week 6, the Manchester stumble EPL by […]

2019-02-25

The shrinking California snowpack is the lurking climate change issue that people aren’t talking about

Patrick W. Zimmerman

By: Patrick W. ZimmermanSea level rise is the sexy aqueous climate change issue that’s grabbing all the headlines, periodically interrupted by disaster sensationalism every time a hurricane hits the US mainland or the West catches on fire. But it’s the shrinking snowpack that is driving the impending water crisis. Think of the West’s water infrastructure […]

2019-02-15

EPL by the Numbers 2018-19: Match Week 26, Chelsea in shambles as City return to the top of the table

Rich Van Heertum

This is post 20 of 30 in the series “EPL by the Numbers 2018-19” EPL 2018-19: Match Week 1-3. Inglorious Man United EPL 2018-19: Match Week 4. Only 3 perfect teams remain EPL 2018-19: Match Week 5. The Reds on a rampage EPL by the numbers 2018-19: Match week 6, the Manchester stumble EPL by […]

2019-02-08

EPL by the Numbers 2018-19: Match Week 24-25, Liverpool stumbles & City back on top

Rich Van Heertum

This is post 19 of 30 in the series “EPL by the Numbers 2018-19” EPL 2018-19: Match Week 1-3. Inglorious Man United EPL 2018-19: Match Week 4. Only 3 perfect teams remain EPL 2018-19: Match Week 5. The Reds on a rampage EPL by the numbers 2018-19: Match week 6, the Manchester stumble EPL by […]

2019-01-29

Who’s it gonna be? Who will you back early for President in 2020?

By: Richard W. SharpNot bad, Resistance. Voters have rejected the Trump agenda and the deconstruction of American democracy seems to have stalled, for now. You might say it hit a wall.1 Now it’s time to pick yourself up, dust yourself off, and get ready for the next step: rejecting Trump himself in 2020. Ugh, can’t […]

2019-01-25

Trump’s tweet frequency is not dependent on his work schedule

Patrick W. Zimmerman

This is post 16 of 18 in the series “Trump Watch” Presenting the Trump Watch (tick…tick…tick..) New Dataset – @realDonaldTrump Tweet corpus Just how oddball is @realdonaldtrump compared to other politicians? The anti-Trump shield: A defensive charity finder to help you put your money where his mouth is Breaking down the Women’s March: Even small-town […]

2019-01-23

EPL by the numbers: Match Week 23, Liverpool and Tottenham come back to earn wins while Arsenal gets back in the top 4 race

Rich Van Heertum

This is post 18 of 30 in the series “EPL by the Numbers 2018-19” EPL 2018-19: Match Week 1-3. Inglorious Man United EPL 2018-19: Match Week 4. Only 3 perfect teams remain EPL 2018-19: Match Week 5. The Reds on a rampage EPL by the numbers 2018-19: Match week 6, the Manchester stumble EPL by […]

2019-01-16

What is the harm in privatizing the surveillance state?

By: Richard W. Sharp & Patrick W. ZimmermanBig Tech makes a mountain of money by collecting as much personal data about as many people as possible. Mainly, this surveillance is used to identify the personal habits of people and sell them as much as possible, either directly through channels controlled by the corporation in question […]

2019-01-14

EPL by the numbers: Match Week 22, Tottenham and City likely to meet in League Cup Final

Rich Van Heertum

This is post 17 of 30 in the series “EPL by the Numbers 2018-19” EPL 2018-19: Match Week 1-3. Inglorious Man United EPL 2018-19: Match Week 4. Only 3 perfect teams remain EPL 2018-19: Match Week 5. The Reds on a rampage EPL by the numbers 2018-19: Match week 6, the Manchester stumble EPL by […]

2019-01-09

EPL by the numbers: Match Week 21, Title race back on

Rich Van Heertum

This is post 16 of 30 in the series “EPL by the Numbers 2018-19” EPL 2018-19: Match Week 1-3. Inglorious Man United EPL 2018-19: Match Week 4. Only 3 perfect teams remain EPL 2018-19: Match Week 5. The Reds on a rampage EPL by the numbers 2018-19: Match week 6, the Manchester stumble EPL by […]

2019-01-05

Trump’s Twitter account charts a history of his presidency

Patrick W. Zimmerman

This is post 15 of 18 in the series “Trump Watch” Presenting the Trump Watch (tick…tick…tick..) New Dataset – @realDonaldTrump Tweet corpus Just how oddball is @realdonaldtrump compared to other politicians? The anti-Trump shield: A defensive charity finder to help you put your money where his mouth is Breaking down the Women’s March: Even small-town […]

2019-01-02

EPL by the numbers: Match week 18-20, Liverpool expand lead

Rich Van Heertum

This is post 15 of 30 in the series “EPL by the Numbers 2018-19” EPL 2018-19: Match Week 1-3. Inglorious Man United EPL 2018-19: Match Week 4. Only 3 perfect teams remain EPL 2018-19: Match Week 5. The Reds on a rampage EPL by the numbers 2018-19: Match week 6, the Manchester stumble EPL by […]

2018-12-26

The Center could not hold: Outgoing Senators take the moderate wings of both parties out the door

Patrick W. Zimmerman

By: Patrick W. ZimmermanIn the Senate, the Center could not hold. While the outgoing class of House Republicans has an almost random distribution to its ideological spread, the Senate does pretty much conform to the narrative that moderates on both sides of the aisle were at particular risk. Whether or not this is a good […]

2018-12-19

The After-Math: A midterm election post-count-em post

This is post 7 of 7 in the series “Midterms 2018” For those about to rock (the vote)… Make America Vote Again Lifetime appointments to the Supreme Court got you down? Focus on winning elections Want your vote to matter more? Pay attention to local elections Nationalism: What is it good for? The ideology and […]

2018-12-18

EPL by the Numbers: Match Week 17, Klopp finally beats United to go top

Rich Van Heertum

This is post 14 of 30 in the series “EPL by the Numbers 2018-19” EPL 2018-19: Match Week 1-3. Inglorious Man United EPL 2018-19: Match Week 4. Only 3 perfect teams remain EPL 2018-19: Match Week 5. The Reds on a rampage EPL by the numbers 2018-19: Match week 6, the Manchester stumble EPL by […]

2018-12-12

EPL by the Numbers: Match Week 15, Liverpool go top; Fulham still bottom

Rich Van Heertum

This is post 13 of 30 in the series “EPL by the Numbers 2018-19” EPL 2018-19: Match Week 1-3. Inglorious Man United EPL 2018-19: Match Week 4. Only 3 perfect teams remain EPL 2018-19: Match Week 5. The Reds on a rampage EPL by the numbers 2018-19: Match week 6, the Manchester stumble EPL by […]

2018-12-11

The ideology and vote record of ousted Republicans doesn’t fit most media narratives

Patrick W. Zimmerman

This is post 6 of 7 in the series “Midterms 2018” For those about to rock (the vote)… Make America Vote Again Lifetime appointments to the Supreme Court got you down? Focus on winning elections Want your vote to matter more? Pay attention to local elections Nationalism: What is it good for? The ideology and […]

2018-12-06

EPL by the Numbers: Match Week 14, Arsenal Get Their First Signature Win of the Season

Rich Van Heertum

This is post 12 of 30 in the series “EPL by the Numbers 2018-19” EPL 2018-19: Match Week 1-3. Inglorious Man United EPL 2018-19: Match Week 4. Only 3 perfect teams remain EPL 2018-19: Match Week 5. The Reds on a rampage EPL by the numbers 2018-19: Match week 6, the Manchester stumble EPL by […]

2018-11-28

EPL by the Numbers: Match Week 13, Bayern in 5th, Barça in 2nd as European shakeup continues

Rich Van Heertum

This is post 11 of 30 in the series “EPL by the Numbers 2018-19” EPL 2018-19: Match Week 1-3. Inglorious Man United EPL 2018-19: Match Week 4. Only 3 perfect teams remain EPL 2018-19: Match Week 5. The Reds on a rampage EPL by the numbers 2018-19: Match week 6, the Manchester stumble EPL by […]

2018-11-27

Backpackers’ Bistro: Black peppercorn old fashioned

Patrick W. Zimmerman

This is post 3 of 3 in the series “Backpackers' Bistro: grub & gear for the backwoods gourmand” Backpackers’ Bistro: grub & gear for the backwoods gourmand Backpackers’ Bistro: Maghrebi spiced lentils Backpackers’ Bistro: Black peppercorn old fashioned By: Patrick W. ZimmermanBooze: that other critical ingredient to a satisfying and unplugged trip into the wilderness. […]

2018-11-20

Backpackers’ Bistro: Maghrebi spiced lentils

Patrick W. Zimmerman

This is post 2 of 3 in the series “Backpackers' Bistro: grub & gear for the backwoods gourmand” Backpackers’ Bistro: grub & gear for the backwoods gourmand Backpackers’ Bistro: Maghrebi spiced lentils Backpackers’ Bistro: Black peppercorn old fashioned By: Patrick W. ZimmermanOne the staple food groups of the Backpackers’ Bistro is pulses & legumes. So […]

2018-11-20

Backpackers’ Bistro: grub & gear for the backwoods gourmand

This is post 1 of 3 in the series “Backpackers' Bistro: grub & gear for the backwoods gourmand” Backpackers’ Bistro: grub & gear for the backwoods gourmand Backpackers’ Bistro: Maghrebi spiced lentils Backpackers’ Bistro: Black peppercorn old fashioned By: Richard W. Sharp & Patrick W. ZimmermanCamping food can be good. And after a 12 mile […]

2018-11-14

The Beer Gazetteer: What beer style do Americans love (and hate)?

Patrick W. Zimmerman

By: Patrick W. ZimmermanIn order to properly rate beer, we first need to calibrate our ratings. Not all 4-star beer ratings are the same! For example, since Americans tend to like IPAs more than non-alcoholic beers (duh), a 4-star double IPA (good but nothing really that special) is way less impressive relative to its peers […]

2018-11-14

EPL: Match Week 12, City’s momentum building & Newcastle rising from the dead

Rich Van Heertum

This is post 10 of 30 in the series “EPL by the Numbers 2018-19” EPL 2018-19: Match Week 1-3. Inglorious Man United EPL 2018-19: Match Week 4. Only 3 perfect teams remain EPL 2018-19: Match Week 5. The Reds on a rampage EPL by the numbers 2018-19: Match week 6, the Manchester stumble EPL by […]

2018-11-07

EPL by the numbers 2018-19: Match Week 11, Liverpool sliding?

Rich Van Heertum

This is post 9 of 30 in the series “EPL by the Numbers 2018-19” EPL 2018-19: Match Week 1-3. Inglorious Man United EPL 2018-19: Match Week 4. Only 3 perfect teams remain EPL 2018-19: Match Week 5. The Reds on a rampage EPL by the numbers 2018-19: Match week 6, the Manchester stumble EPL by […]

2018-11-02

Big tech took on fake news – so how’s that going?

This is post 3 of 3 in the series “Fake News” Weaponized opinion: how do you combat fake news? | Politics Chat Tinfoil hats, duct tape, and bubble gum: Practical precautions when threatened by Fake News Big tech took on fake news – so how’s that going? By: Richard W. SharpFake news is used to […]

2018-10-30

EPL by the numbers 2018-19: Match Week 10, Real Madrid crisis reaches five-alarm level

Rich Van Heertum

This is post 8 of 30 in the series “EPL by the Numbers 2018-19” EPL 2018-19: Match Week 1-3. Inglorious Man United EPL 2018-19: Match Week 4. Only 3 perfect teams remain EPL 2018-19: Match Week 5. The Reds on a rampage EPL by the numbers 2018-19: Match week 6, the Manchester stumble EPL by […]

2018-10-29

Nationalism: What is it good for?

Patrick W. Zimmerman

This is post 5 of 7 in the series “Midterms 2018” For those about to rock (the vote)… Make America Vote Again Lifetime appointments to the Supreme Court got you down? Focus on winning elections Want your vote to matter more? Pay attention to local elections Nationalism: What is it good for? The ideology and […]

2018-10-23

Tinfoil hats, duct tape, and bubble gum: Practical precautions when threatened by Fake News

Patrick W. Zimmerman

This is post 2 of 3 in the series “Fake News” Weaponized opinion: how do you combat fake news? | Politics Chat Tinfoil hats, duct tape, and bubble gum: Practical precautions when threatened by Fake News Big tech took on fake news – so how’s that going? By: Patrick W. Zimmerman & Richard W. SharpGet […]

2018-10-23

EPL by the numbers 2018-19: Match Week 9, City keeping rolling, but Liverpool stay on their heels

Rich Van Heertum

This is post 7 of 30 in the series “EPL by the Numbers 2018-19” EPL 2018-19: Match Week 1-3. Inglorious Man United EPL 2018-19: Match Week 4. Only 3 perfect teams remain EPL 2018-19: Match Week 5. The Reds on a rampage EPL by the numbers 2018-19: Match week 6, the Manchester stumble EPL by […]

2018-10-16

Want your vote to matter more? Pay attention to local elections

Patrick W. Zimmerman

This is post 4 of 7 in the series “Midterms 2018” For those about to rock (the vote)… Make America Vote Again Lifetime appointments to the Supreme Court got you down? Focus on winning elections Want your vote to matter more? Pay attention to local elections Nationalism: What is it good for? The ideology and […]

2018-10-10

Lifetime appointments to the Supreme Court got you down? Focus on winning elections

This is post 3 of 7 in the series “Midterms 2018” For those about to rock (the vote)… Make America Vote Again Lifetime appointments to the Supreme Court got you down? Focus on winning elections Want your vote to matter more? Pay attention to local elections Nationalism: What is it good for? The ideology and […]

2018-10-09

EPL by the numbers 2018-19: Match week 8, United Comeback Could Save Season … or at least Mourinho’s job (for a few weeks)

Rich Van Heertum

This is post 6 of 30 in the series “EPL by the Numbers 2018-19” EPL 2018-19: Match Week 1-3. Inglorious Man United EPL 2018-19: Match Week 4. Only 3 perfect teams remain EPL 2018-19: Match Week 5. The Reds on a rampage EPL by the numbers 2018-19: Match week 6, the Manchester stumble EPL by […]

2018-10-03

EPL by the numbers 2018-19: Match week 7, Chelsea for real?

Rich Van Heertum

This is post 5 of 30 in the series “EPL by the Numbers 2018-19” EPL 2018-19: Match Week 1-3. Inglorious Man United EPL 2018-19: Match Week 4. Only 3 perfect teams remain EPL 2018-19: Match Week 5. The Reds on a rampage EPL by the numbers 2018-19: Match week 6, the Manchester stumble EPL by […]

2018-10-02

Make America Vote Again

This is post 2 of 7 in the series “Midterms 2018” For those about to rock (the vote)… Make America Vote Again Lifetime appointments to the Supreme Court got you down? Focus on winning elections Want your vote to matter more? Pay attention to local elections Nationalism: What is it good for? The ideology and […]

2018-09-25

EPL by the numbers 2018-19: Match week 6, the Manchester stumble

Rich Van Heertum

This is post 4 of 30 in the series “EPL by the Numbers 2018-19” EPL 2018-19: Match Week 1-3. Inglorious Man United EPL 2018-19: Match Week 4. Only 3 perfect teams remain EPL 2018-19: Match Week 5. The Reds on a rampage EPL by the numbers 2018-19: Match week 6, the Manchester stumble EPL by […]

2018-09-25

Congressional cosponsorship community detection: Which Senators actually work together?

Patrick W. Zimmerman

This is post 4 of 4 in the series “Congress, the Social Network” News flash: the House of Representatives is not great at passing laws Congressional cliques: Community detection in bill cosponsorships Even fewer bills get through the Senate than the House Congressional cosponsorship community detection: Which Senators actually work together? By: Patrick W. ZimmermanIt […]

2018-09-24

For those about to rock (the vote)…

This is post 1 of 7 in the series “Midterms 2018” For those about to rock (the vote)… Make America Vote Again Lifetime appointments to the Supreme Court got you down? Focus on winning elections Want your vote to matter more? Pay attention to local elections Nationalism: What is it good for? The ideology and […]

2018-09-17

Overcoming overconfidence: Polls don’t win midterm elections, voters do

This is post 4 of 4 in the series “One dollar, one vote” No tax reform without representative representation Booze or women or movies? The avg American could save their whole life and never be worthy to Mr. Grassley (or qualify for the estate tax) Pennsylvania’s congressional districts turn back the clock on voting equality […]

2018-09-17

EPL 2018-19: Match Week 5. The Reds on a rampage

Rich Van Heertum

This is post 3 of 30 in the series “EPL by the Numbers 2018-19” EPL 2018-19: Match Week 1-3. Inglorious Man United EPL 2018-19: Match Week 4. Only 3 perfect teams remain EPL 2018-19: Match Week 5. The Reds on a rampage EPL by the numbers 2018-19: Match week 6, the Manchester stumble EPL by […]

2018-09-06

EPL 2018-19: Match Week 4. Only 3 perfect teams remain

Rich Van Heertum

This is post 2 of 30 in the series “EPL by the Numbers 2018-19” EPL 2018-19: Match Week 1-3. Inglorious Man United EPL 2018-19: Match Week 4. Only 3 perfect teams remain EPL 2018-19: Match Week 5. The Reds on a rampage EPL by the numbers 2018-19: Match week 6, the Manchester stumble EPL by […]

2018-09-04

Even fewer bills get through the Senate than the House

Patrick W. Zimmerman

This is post 3 of 4 in the series “Congress, the Social Network” News flash: the House of Representatives is not great at passing laws Congressional cliques: Community detection in bill cosponsorships Even fewer bills get through the Senate than the House Congressional cosponsorship community detection: Which Senators actually work together? By: Patrick W. ZimmermanNeither […]

2018-08-30

EPL 2018-19: Match Week 1-3. Inglorious Man United

Rich Van Heertum

This is post 1 of 30 in the series “EPL by the Numbers 2018-19” EPL 2018-19: Match Week 1-3. Inglorious Man United EPL 2018-19: Match Week 4. Only 3 perfect teams remain EPL 2018-19: Match Week 5. The Reds on a rampage EPL by the numbers 2018-19: Match week 6, the Manchester stumble EPL by […]

2018-08-28

Congressional cliques: Community detection in bill cosponsorships

Patrick W. Zimmerman

This is post 2 of 4 in the series “Congress, the Social Network” News flash: the House of Representatives is not great at passing laws Congressional cliques: Community detection in bill cosponsorships Even fewer bills get through the Senate than the House Congressional cosponsorship community detection: Which Senators actually work together? By: Patrick W. ZimmermanCongress […]

2018-08-22

News flash: the House of Representatives is not great at passing laws

Patrick W. Zimmerman

This is post 1 of 4 in the series “Congress, the Social Network” News flash: the House of Representatives is not great at passing laws Congressional cliques: Community detection in bill cosponsorships Even fewer bills get through the Senate than the House Congressional cosponsorship community detection: Which Senators actually work together? By: Patrick W. ZimmermanHow […]

2018-08-14

Will Winter ever come? Morbidly modeling George R.R. Martin’s writing pace

Patrick W. Zimmerman

By: Patrick W. ZimmermanThere is rampant speculation that George R.R. Martin will, in fact, never finish his epic A Song of Ice and Fire low fantasy series. The not-brief-by-any-measure TV series based on the books already caught and passed his storyline three years ago, in spite of the books’ 14 ½ year head-start. The issues […]

2018-08-07

Methodology and madness: How Trump’s tweet subjects have evolved over time

Patrick W. Zimmerman

This is post 14 of 18 in the series “Trump Watch” Presenting the Trump Watch (tick…tick…tick..) New Dataset – @realDonaldTrump Tweet corpus Just how oddball is @realdonaldtrump compared to other politicians? The anti-Trump shield: A defensive charity finder to help you put your money where his mouth is Breaking down the Women’s March: Even small-town […]

2018-07-31

Payroll efficiency: What baseball teams do the most with the least?

Patrick W. Zimmerman

By: Patrick W. ZimmermanApparently the Oakland A’s just are that efficient. They are not just the team most closely associated with spotting market inefficiencies (thanks, Michael Lewis and Brad Pitt!), but they also seem to actually do best when they spend frugally. We thought we’d dig into baseball’s conveniently vast (and free) reams of data […]

2018-07-24

Burning down the house: The number of wildfires is (surprise!) correlated with climate change

Patrick W. Zimmerman

By: Patrick W. ZimmermanIf you live in the American West, chances are you’ve smelt smoke from the annual summer wildfires recently. Lots of it. Eye-stinging amounts, even, if you’ve been in the right places. Colorado, California, and even non-traditional fire areas like Western Washington have seen alarming signs of a fire-tastic 2018 already. This summer, […]

2018-07-16

World Cup predictions wrap-up: Vive le France!

Patrick W. Zimmerman

This is post 17 of 19 in the series “Bracketeering” March Madness Bracketeering Applied Bracketeering: Modeling March Madness Bracketeering update: Mascot randomness is beating the pants off RPI after round 2 Applied Bracketeering: So, who saw that final four coming? Applied bracketeering wrapup: Highly-rated team wins in shocking finale Applied Bracketeering: Does our model also […]

2018-07-08

World Cup Predictions: The final countdown

Patrick W. Zimmerman

This is post 16 of 19 in the series “Bracketeering” March Madness Bracketeering Applied Bracketeering: Modeling March Madness Bracketeering update: Mascot randomness is beating the pants off RPI after round 2 Applied Bracketeering: So, who saw that final four coming? Applied bracketeering wrapup: Highly-rated team wins in shocking finale Applied Bracketeering: Does our model also […]

2018-06-29

World Cup Predictions: Knockout round madness

Patrick W. Zimmerman

This is post 15 of 19 in the series “Bracketeering” March Madness Bracketeering Applied Bracketeering: Modeling March Madness Bracketeering update: Mascot randomness is beating the pants off RPI after round 2 Applied Bracketeering: So, who saw that final four coming? Applied bracketeering wrapup: Highly-rated team wins in shocking finale Applied Bracketeering: Does our model also […]

2018-06-25

World Cup Predictions: Most models underestimate the chance of a tie.

Patrick W. Zimmerman

This is post 14 of 19 in the series “Bracketeering” March Madness Bracketeering Applied Bracketeering: Modeling March Madness Bracketeering update: Mascot randomness is beating the pants off RPI after round 2 Applied Bracketeering: So, who saw that final four coming? Applied bracketeering wrapup: Highly-rated team wins in shocking finale Applied Bracketeering: Does our model also […]

2018-06-19

World Cup Predictions: in a bonkers first round of games, even the best models get just over 50%

Patrick W. Zimmerman

This is post 13 of 19 in the series “Bracketeering” March Madness Bracketeering Applied Bracketeering: Modeling March Madness Bracketeering update: Mascot randomness is beating the pants off RPI after round 2 Applied Bracketeering: So, who saw that final four coming? Applied bracketeering wrapup: Highly-rated team wins in shocking finale Applied Bracketeering: Does our model also […]

2018-06-11

EPL by the Numbers: The Finale

Rich Van Heertum

This is post 32 of 32 in the series “EPL by the numbers 2017-18” EPL by the numbers – Match week 1 EPL by the numbers: Match week 2 EPL by the numbers: Match Week 3. Oh, Arsenal…. EPL by the numbers: Match Week 4. No one’s perfect EPL by the numbers: Match Week 5. […]

2018-06-05

There’s no correlation between immigration and violent crime, at all

Patrick W. Zimmerman

By: Patrick ZimmermanIn shocking news, Donald Trump isn’t drawing on evidence when making his sweeping statements about the danger posed by immigrants (including but not limited to illegal ones). Most commonly using this argument to tout the need to build a wall on the US-Mexico border or lambast those pesky “sanctuary” cities in California, he […]

2018-05-30

GDPR highlights just how much JavaScript webpages devote to tracking you (yes, you)

Kate W. Zimmerman

By: Kate W. Zimmerman and Patrick W. ZimmermanNew regulations like the EU’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) are interesting points of inflection, a shift in the rules of capitalism, a chance to see how companies react to changes in their ecosystem. You notice this change when 103,482 emails hit your inbox about updates to privacy […]

2018-05-22

Fear and loathing of a very stable genius: What causes Trump’s rage tweets?

Patrick W. Zimmerman

This is post 13 of 18 in the series “Trump Watch” Presenting the Trump Watch (tick…tick…tick..) New Dataset – @realDonaldTrump Tweet corpus Just how oddball is @realdonaldtrump compared to other politicians? The anti-Trump shield: A defensive charity finder to help you put your money where his mouth is Breaking down the Women’s March: Even small-town […]

2018-05-15

What countries punch above their demographic weight at the World Cup (and can this be predictive)?

Patrick W. Zimmerman

This is post 12 of 19 in the series “Bracketeering” March Madness Bracketeering Applied Bracketeering: Modeling March Madness Bracketeering update: Mascot randomness is beating the pants off RPI after round 2 Applied Bracketeering: So, who saw that final four coming? Applied bracketeering wrapup: Highly-rated team wins in shocking finale Applied Bracketeering: Does our model also […]

2018-05-08

The Montgomery Burns Index – Using Dodd-Frank to see how much more CEOs make than their employees

Patrick W. Zimmerman

By: Patrick W. ZimmermanSo just how fat are those Capitalist oppressors, and how much do some of the biggest companies in the US let that sweet, sweet wealth trickle-down? What economic sectors tend to have the most exploitative pay ratios? Which are the most likely to pay a living wage? Well, we actually have some […]

2018-05-08

EPL By the Numbers: Match week 38 – Invincibles likely to have company soon

Rich Van Heertum

This is post 31 of 32 in the series “EPL by the numbers 2017-18” EPL by the numbers – Match week 1 EPL by the numbers: Match week 2 EPL by the numbers: Match Week 3. Oh, Arsenal…. EPL by the numbers: Match Week 4. No one’s perfect EPL by the numbers: Match Week 5. […]

2018-05-03

EPL by the numbers: Match week 36-37 – Reds & Blancos advance to the CL final

Rich Van Heertum

This is post 30 of 32 in the series “EPL by the numbers 2017-18” EPL by the numbers – Match week 1 EPL by the numbers: Match week 2 EPL by the numbers: Match Week 3. Oh, Arsenal…. EPL by the numbers: Match Week 4. No one’s perfect EPL by the numbers: Match Week 5. […]

2018-05-01

Steam value: What game genre is the best bang for your buck?

Patrick W. Zimmerman

This is post 5 of 5 in the series “Hot Steam-ing Dumpster Dives” Hot Steam-ing dumpster dives: Climbing The Tower Hot Steam-ing dumpster dives: GASP-ing for air You’re probably spending too much on Steam games Akuya or: Purgatory, when a game is designed to not be a game Steam value: What game genre is the […]

2018-04-24

On the origin of data

Patrick W. Zimmerman

By: Rich W. Sharp & Patrick ZimmermanThere is a general assumption that numbers are precise. Because of math or science or number fairy dust or something. Numbers are great. Data helps us express measurements, which then lets us compare things, evaluate them, analyze them, and the like. Without numbers, there would be no listicles; the […]

2018-04-24

EPL by the numbers: Match week 35: Wenger out!

Rich Van Heertum

By: Richard Van HeertumManchester City celebrated their first match after securing the title in style with a 5-0 cruise past Swansea, with fans charging the pitch at the final whistle. Arsenal, after a slow start, also cruised past a team in the lower half, breezing past West Ham late 4-1 in the first match since […]

2018-04-17

EPL by the Numbers – Match Week 33 & 34: City clinch title, Barça blow it

Rich Van Heertum

This is post 29 of 32 in the series “EPL by the numbers 2017-18” EPL by the numbers – Match week 1 EPL by the numbers: Match week 2 EPL by the numbers: Match Week 3. Oh, Arsenal…. EPL by the numbers: Match Week 4. No one’s perfect EPL by the numbers: Match Week 5. […]

2018-04-10

Twitch’s attempt to change its sexist chat culture has a ways to go

Patrick W. Zimmerman

This is post 7 of 7 in the series “Gender, gamers, & games” Beyond Ms. Pac-Man: Is the typical player character (finally) evolving? Beyond Ms. Pac-Man: The return of female player characters Beyond Ms. Pac-Man: Both the best and the worst games have an increasing percentage of female player characters Gamer myth deconstruction zone: Do […]

2018-04-09

EPL by the Numbers – Match Week 32 & 33: United surprise City

Rich Van Heertum

This is post 28 of 32 in the series “EPL by the numbers 2017-18” EPL by the numbers – Match week 1 EPL by the numbers: Match week 2 EPL by the numbers: Match Week 3. Oh, Arsenal…. EPL by the numbers: Match Week 4. No one’s perfect EPL by the numbers: Match Week 5. […]

2018-04-05

EPL by the Numbers: Match week 31-32. Klopp confounds Guardiola (again).

Rich Van Heertum

This is post 27 of 32 in the series “EPL by the numbers 2017-18” EPL by the numbers – Match week 1 EPL by the numbers: Match week 2 EPL by the numbers: Match Week 3. Oh, Arsenal…. EPL by the numbers: Match Week 4. No one’s perfect EPL by the numbers: Match Week 5. […]

2018-04-04

Bracketeering Finale: Much ado about nothing or A tale of four regions

This is post 11 of 19 in the series “Bracketeering” March Madness Bracketeering Applied Bracketeering: Modeling March Madness Bracketeering update: Mascot randomness is beating the pants off RPI after round 2 Applied Bracketeering: So, who saw that final four coming? Applied bracketeering wrapup: Highly-rated team wins in shocking finale Applied Bracketeering: Does our model also […]

2018-03-27

Bracketeering Final Four update: Round of the Usual Suspects (and Loyola)

This is post 10 of 19 in the series “Bracketeering” March Madness Bracketeering Applied Bracketeering: Modeling March Madness Bracketeering update: Mascot randomness is beating the pants off RPI after round 2 Applied Bracketeering: So, who saw that final four coming? Applied bracketeering wrapup: Highly-rated team wins in shocking finale Applied Bracketeering: Does our model also […]

2018-03-20

Bracketeering Sweet 16 update: The Infallible Braculator agrees to never speak of this past weekend again

This is post 9 of 19 in the series “Bracketeering” March Madness Bracketeering Applied Bracketeering: Modeling March Madness Bracketeering update: Mascot randomness is beating the pants off RPI after round 2 Applied Bracketeering: So, who saw that final four coming? Applied bracketeering wrapup: Highly-rated team wins in shocking finale Applied Bracketeering: Does our model also […]

2018-03-15

Applied Bracketeering, 2018: Streaky Clean

This is post 8 of 19 in the series “Bracketeering” March Madness Bracketeering Applied Bracketeering: Modeling March Madness Bracketeering update: Mascot randomness is beating the pants off RPI after round 2 Applied Bracketeering: So, who saw that final four coming? Applied bracketeering wrapup: Highly-rated team wins in shocking finale Applied Bracketeering: Does our model also […]

2018-03-13

EPL by the Numbers: Match week 30. Tottenham crash out of Europe.

Rich Van Heertum

This is post 26 of 32 in the series “EPL by the numbers 2017-18” EPL by the numbers – Match week 1 EPL by the numbers: Match week 2 EPL by the numbers: Match Week 3. Oh, Arsenal…. EPL by the numbers: Match Week 4. No one’s perfect EPL by the numbers: Match Week 5. […]

2018-03-06

Sexism in Twitch chat: comparing audience language for male and female streamers

Patrick W. Zimmerman

This is post 6 of 7 in the series “Gender, gamers, & games” Beyond Ms. Pac-Man: Is the typical player character (finally) evolving? Beyond Ms. Pac-Man: The return of female player characters Beyond Ms. Pac-Man: Both the best and the worst games have an increasing percentage of female player characters Gamer myth deconstruction zone: Do […]

2018-03-06

EPL by the Numbers: Match week 29. Man City glad, Arsenal sad (again).

Rich Van Heertum

This is post 25 of 32 in the series “EPL by the numbers 2017-18” EPL by the numbers – Match week 1 EPL by the numbers: Match week 2 EPL by the numbers: Match Week 3. Oh, Arsenal…. EPL by the numbers: Match Week 4. No one’s perfect EPL by the numbers: Match Week 5. […]

2018-02-27

Akuya or: Purgatory, when a game is designed to not be a game

This is post 4 of 5 in the series “Hot Steam-ing Dumpster Dives” Hot Steam-ing dumpster dives: Climbing The Tower Hot Steam-ing dumpster dives: GASP-ing for air You’re probably spending too much on Steam games Akuya or: Purgatory, when a game is designed to not be a game Steam value: What game genre is the […]

2018-02-27

EPL by the Numbers: Match week 28. Man City chalks up its first title of the season.

Rich Van Heertum

This is post 24 of 32 in the series “EPL by the numbers 2017-18” EPL by the numbers – Match week 1 EPL by the numbers: Match week 2 EPL by the numbers: Match Week 3. Oh, Arsenal…. EPL by the numbers: Match Week 4. No one’s perfect EPL by the numbers: Match Week 5. […]

2018-02-20

Quick-hit: Did any Congressmen get suckered by the Russian Troll Farm?

Patrick W. Zimmerman

By: Patrick W. ZimmermanWant to know if you’re Congressman got trolled? So does Principally Uncertain! It’s….NBC to the rescue!?!?!?! Really. While Twitter has decided to protect us (and, conveniently, itself), by summarily deleting every old tweet associated with the Russian troll farm (they’re like the anti-Archive.org). Leave no trace social media (yes, as a historian, […]

2018-02-20

Applied Bracketeering, 2018 Edition: Do streaks matter?

This is post 7 of 19 in the series “Bracketeering” March Madness Bracketeering Applied Bracketeering: Modeling March Madness Bracketeering update: Mascot randomness is beating the pants off RPI after round 2 Applied Bracketeering: So, who saw that final four coming? Applied bracketeering wrapup: Highly-rated team wins in shocking finale Applied Bracketeering: Does our model also […]

2018-02-20

EPL by the Numbers: Match week 27 / FA Cup / Champions League is back!

Rich Van Heertum

This is post 23 of 32 in the series “EPL by the numbers 2017-18” EPL by the numbers – Match week 1 EPL by the numbers: Match week 2 EPL by the numbers: Match Week 3. Oh, Arsenal…. EPL by the numbers: Match Week 4. No one’s perfect EPL by the numbers: Match Week 5. […]

2018-02-13

Pennsylvania’s congressional districts turn back the clock on voting equality

Patrick W. Zimmerman

This is post 3 of 4 in the series “One dollar, one vote” No tax reform without representative representation Booze or women or movies? The avg American could save their whole life and never be worthy to Mr. Grassley (or qualify for the estate tax) Pennsylvania’s congressional districts turn back the clock on voting equality […]

2018-02-07

EPL by the Numbers: Match weeks 25 & 26. Were the top 6 all up late watching the Super Bowl?

Rich Van Heertum

This is post 22 of 32 in the series “EPL by the numbers 2017-18” EPL by the numbers – Match week 1 EPL by the numbers: Match week 2 EPL by the numbers: Match Week 3. Oh, Arsenal…. EPL by the numbers: Match Week 4. No one’s perfect EPL by the numbers: Match Week 5. […]

2018-02-06

Back of the Napkin: What if there were no states?

Patrick W. Zimmerman

This is post 2 of 2 in the series “Back of the Napkin” Introducing Back of the Napkin: Are crazy ideas really that crazy? Back of the Napkin: What if there were no states? By: Patrick W. ZimmermanThe American federal system was designed to balance the competing powers of several quasi-autonomous and rather grumpy states, […]

2018-02-06

Introducing Back of the Napkin: Are crazy ideas really that crazy?

Patrick W. Zimmerman

This is post 1 of 2 in the series “Back of the Napkin” Introducing Back of the Napkin: Are crazy ideas really that crazy? Back of the Napkin: What if there were no states? By: Patrick W. ZimmermanWelcome to Back of the Napkin, a new project where we’re going to take the “crazy ideas that […]

2018-01-30

You’re probably spending too much on Steam games

Patrick W. Zimmerman

This is post 3 of 5 in the series “Hot Steam-ing Dumpster Dives” Hot Steam-ing dumpster dives: Climbing The Tower Hot Steam-ing dumpster dives: GASP-ing for air You’re probably spending too much on Steam games Akuya or: Purgatory, when a game is designed to not be a game Steam value: What game genre is the […]

2018-01-23

8-bit indie fantasy land: Mender’s Strife review

This is post 3 of 3 in the series “Indie game development” Where to start as an Indie Game developer: An interview with Meow Wars’ Adrian Sotomayor Getting your Indie studio’s butt in gear: An interview with Took 2 Long Productions 8-bit indie fantasy land: Mender’s Strife review By: Ashley RivasPower up your SNES Classic […]

2018-01-23

EPL by the Numbers: Match week 24. Top 6 cruise, again

Rich Van Heertum

This is post 21 of 32 in the series “EPL by the numbers 2017-18” EPL by the numbers – Match week 1 EPL by the numbers: Match week 2 EPL by the numbers: Match Week 3. Oh, Arsenal…. EPL by the numbers: Match Week 4. No one’s perfect EPL by the numbers: Match Week 5. […]

2018-01-16

Reps abandon sinking ship: GOP retirements open a door, but are third parties ready to win?

This is post 3 of 3 in the series “Third Party road to relevance” A third party ticket to relevance: A House divided Are Republicans feeling some electoral heat? Reps abandon sinking ship: GOP retirements open a door, but are third parties ready to win? By: Richard W. Sharp“There’s no putting lipstick on [it].” Republicans […]

2018-01-16

EPL by the Numbers: Match week 23. City not invincible.

Rich Van Heertum

This is post 20 of 32 in the series “EPL by the numbers 2017-18” EPL by the numbers – Match week 1 EPL by the numbers: Match week 2 EPL by the numbers: Match Week 3. Oh, Arsenal…. EPL by the numbers: Match Week 4. No one’s perfect EPL by the numbers: Match Week 5. […]

2018-01-10

EPL by the Numbers: Match week 22. Banging in goals for the New Year.

Rich Van Heertum

This is post 19 of 32 in the series “EPL by the numbers 2017-18” EPL by the numbers – Match week 1 EPL by the numbers: Match week 2 EPL by the numbers: Match Week 3. Oh, Arsenal…. EPL by the numbers: Match Week 4. No one’s perfect EPL by the numbers: Match Week 5. […]

2018-01-09

Hot Steam-ing dumpster dives: GASP-ing for air

This is post 2 of 5 in the series “Hot Steam-ing Dumpster Dives” Hot Steam-ing dumpster dives: Climbing The Tower Hot Steam-ing dumpster dives: GASP-ing for air You’re probably spending too much on Steam games Akuya or: Purgatory, when a game is designed to not be a game Steam value: What game genre is the […]

2018-01-02

Trump Watch retrospective: What did we learn in 2017?

Patrick W. Zimmerman

This is post 12 of 18 in the series “Trump Watch” Presenting the Trump Watch (tick…tick…tick..) New Dataset – @realDonaldTrump Tweet corpus Just how oddball is @realdonaldtrump compared to other politicians? The anti-Trump shield: A defensive charity finder to help you put your money where his mouth is Breaking down the Women’s March: Even small-town […]

2018-01-02

EPL by the Numbers: Match week 20-21. End of the holiday sprint.

Rich Van Heertum

This is post 18 of 32 in the series “EPL by the numbers 2017-18” EPL by the numbers – Match week 1 EPL by the numbers: Match week 2 EPL by the numbers: Match Week 3. Oh, Arsenal…. EPL by the numbers: Match Week 4. No one’s perfect EPL by the numbers: Match Week 5. […]

2017-12-26

EPL by the Numbers: Match week 19. No drama at the top, except in Italy.

Rich Van Heertum

This is post 17 of 32 in the series “EPL by the numbers 2017-18” EPL by the numbers – Match week 1 EPL by the numbers: Match week 2 EPL by the numbers: Match Week 3. Oh, Arsenal…. EPL by the numbers: Match Week 4. No one’s perfect EPL by the numbers: Match Week 5. […]

2017-12-19

Does it pay to be gay (on TV)?

By: Tonya Smith (Writing, PI) and Patrick W. Zimmerman (research, dashboards)It takes some serious chutzpah to broadcast your love interests to millions of people all around the globe (even if you’re a celebrity and an old hat at doing this sort of thing). But does it pay to do so? How does coming out affect […]

2017-12-19

EPL by the Numbers: Match weeks 17 & 18. City ends the drama before Christmas.

Rich Van Heertum

This is post 16 of 32 in the series “EPL by the numbers 2017-18” EPL by the numbers – Match week 1 EPL by the numbers: Match week 2 EPL by the numbers: Match Week 3. Oh, Arsenal…. EPL by the numbers: Match Week 4. No one’s perfect EPL by the numbers: Match Week 5. […]

2017-12-14

EPL by the Numbers: Match week 16. Can anyone catch City?

Rich Van Heertum

This is post 15 of 32 in the series “EPL by the numbers 2017-18” EPL by the numbers – Match week 1 EPL by the numbers: Match week 2 EPL by the numbers: Match Week 3. Oh, Arsenal…. EPL by the numbers: Match Week 4. No one’s perfect EPL by the numbers: Match Week 5. […]

2017-12-12

Booze or women or movies? The avg American could save their whole life and never be worthy to Mr. Grassley (or qualify for the estate tax)

This is post 2 of 4 in the series “One dollar, one vote” No tax reform without representative representation Booze or women or movies? The avg American could save their whole life and never be worthy to Mr. Grassley (or qualify for the estate tax) Pennsylvania’s congressional districts turn back the clock on voting equality […]

2017-12-12

Weaponized opinion: how do you combat fake news? | Politics Chat

Patrick W. Zimmerman

This is post 1 of 3 in the series “Fake News” Weaponized opinion: how do you combat fake news? | Politics Chat Tinfoil hats, duct tape, and bubble gum: Practical precautions when threatened by Fake News Big tech took on fake news – so how’s that going? By: Patrick Zimmerman, Valerie Hunt, James Stout, Rich […]

2017-12-05

Hot Steam-ing dumpster dives: Climbing The Tower

This is post 1 of 5 in the series “Hot Steam-ing Dumpster Dives” Hot Steam-ing dumpster dives: Climbing The Tower Hot Steam-ing dumpster dives: GASP-ing for air You’re probably spending too much on Steam games Akuya or: Purgatory, when a game is designed to not be a game Steam value: What game genre is the […]

2017-12-05

EPL by the numbers: Match week 14 & 15. Double-footie!

Rich Van Heertum

This is post 14 of 32 in the series “EPL by the numbers 2017-18” EPL by the numbers – Match week 1 EPL by the numbers: Match week 2 EPL by the numbers: Match Week 3. Oh, Arsenal…. EPL by the numbers: Match Week 4. No one’s perfect EPL by the numbers: Match Week 5. […]

2017-11-28

Foodie heatmap: Philly

Patrick W. Zimmerman

This is post 3 of 3 in the series “Foodie heatmaps” Which San Francisco neighborhood has the best-rated food scene? Foodie heatmap: Seattle Foodie heatmap: Philly By: Patrick W. ZimmermanHeader image credit: Bryce Edwards. Steak by Tony Luke’s. Cheese. Steak. Say it again, savoring the deliciousness. Cheeeesssseeeeeeeeeesteakkkkk. Next up in our City Food Scene series: […]

2017-11-28

EPL by the numbers: Match week 13. Leaders leave it late.

Rich Van Heertum

This is post 13 of 32 in the series “EPL by the numbers 2017-18” EPL by the numbers – Match week 1 EPL by the numbers: Match week 2 EPL by the numbers: Match Week 3. Oh, Arsenal…. EPL by the numbers: Match Week 4. No one’s perfect EPL by the numbers: Match Week 5. […]

2017-11-22

EPL by the numbers: Match week 12. Everybody wins (except Spurs and Liverpool. Again.)

Rich Van Heertum

This is post 12 of 32 in the series “EPL by the numbers 2017-18” EPL by the numbers – Match week 1 EPL by the numbers: Match week 2 EPL by the numbers: Match Week 3. Oh, Arsenal…. EPL by the numbers: Match Week 4. No one’s perfect EPL by the numbers: Match Week 5. […]

2017-11-21

No tax reform without representative representation

This is post 1 of 4 in the series “One dollar, one vote” No tax reform without representative representation Booze or women or movies? The avg American could save their whole life and never be worthy to Mr. Grassley (or qualify for the estate tax) Pennsylvania’s congressional districts turn back the clock on voting equality […]

2017-11-14

Getting your Indie studio’s butt in gear: An interview with Took 2 Long Productions

This is post 2 of 3 in the series “Indie game development” Where to start as an Indie Game developer: An interview with Meow Wars’ Adrian Sotomayor Getting your Indie studio’s butt in gear: An interview with Took 2 Long Productions 8-bit indie fantasy land: Mender’s Strife review By: Ashley RivasI was first introduced to […]

2017-11-14

Foodie heatmap: Seattle

Patrick W. Zimmerman

This is post 2 of 3 in the series “Foodie heatmaps” Which San Francisco neighborhood has the best-rated food scene? Foodie heatmap: Seattle Foodie heatmap: Philly By: Patrick W. ZimmermanHeader image credit: Victor Grigas Seattle, its salmon fields swaying in the wind, markets overflowing with bounteous fish candy, served drizzled with actual drizzle. A place […]

2017-11-07

Catalunya in crisis, translated for the confused American who thought Barcelona was in Spain

Patrick W. Zimmerman

By: Patrick W. Zimmerman“What the hell is going on in Spain,” you’ve been asking yourself, “and where can I get an explanation that doesn’t assume I already know?” Have no fear. I’ve got you covered. Because I knew that PhD dissertation on contemporary nationalist movements in Spain would become a hot topic 6 years later. […]

2017-11-07

EPL by the numbers: Match week 11. Doviđenja, Slaven

Rich Van Heertum

This is post 11 of 32 in the series “EPL by the numbers 2017-18” EPL by the numbers – Match week 1 EPL by the numbers: Match week 2 EPL by the numbers: Match Week 3. Oh, Arsenal…. EPL by the numbers: Match Week 4. No one’s perfect EPL by the numbers: Match Week 5. […]

2017-10-31

Which San Francisco neighborhood has the best-rated food scene?

Patrick W. Zimmerman

This is post 1 of 3 in the series “Foodie heatmaps” Which San Francisco neighborhood has the best-rated food scene? Foodie heatmap: Seattle Foodie heatmap: Philly By: Patrick W. ZimmermanHeader image credit: T. Tseng Yelp is a great tool for evaluating individual restaurants, or looking for particular cuisines. Best cheeseteak in Philly? Best crabcakes in […]

2017-10-31

EPL by the numbers: Match week 10. A standard top 5 (plus Newcastle?)

Rich Van Heertum

This is post 10 of 32 in the series “EPL by the numbers 2017-18” EPL by the numbers – Match week 1 EPL by the numbers: Match week 2 EPL by the numbers: Match Week 3. Oh, Arsenal…. EPL by the numbers: Match Week 4. No one’s perfect EPL by the numbers: Match Week 5. […]

2017-10-24

Where to start as an Indie Game developer: An interview with Meow Wars’ Adrian Sotomayor

This is post 1 of 3 in the series “Indie game development” Where to start as an Indie Game developer: An interview with Meow Wars’ Adrian Sotomayor Getting your Indie studio’s butt in gear: An interview with Took 2 Long Productions 8-bit indie fantasy land: Mender’s Strife review By: Ashley RivasI was a judge for […]

2017-10-24

EPL by the numbers: Match Week 9. Can anyone keep up with City?

Rich Van Heertum

This is post 9 of 32 in the series “EPL by the numbers 2017-18” EPL by the numbers – Match week 1 EPL by the numbers: Match week 2 EPL by the numbers: Match Week 3. Oh, Arsenal…. EPL by the numbers: Match Week 4. No one’s perfect EPL by the numbers: Match Week 5. […]

2017-10-17

The anti-Trump charity guide: What has Trump been effective at attacking in his first 9 months?

Patrick W. Zimmerman

This is post 11 of 18 in the series “Trump Watch” Presenting the Trump Watch (tick…tick…tick..) New Dataset – @realDonaldTrump Tweet corpus Just how oddball is @realdonaldtrump compared to other politicians? The anti-Trump shield: A defensive charity finder to help you put your money where his mouth is Breaking down the Women’s March: Even small-town […]

2017-10-17

EPL by the numbers: Match Week 8. Boring, boring Mourinho

Rich Van Heertum

This is post 8 of 32 in the series “EPL by the numbers 2017-18” EPL by the numbers – Match week 1 EPL by the numbers: Match week 2 EPL by the numbers: Match Week 3. Oh, Arsenal…. EPL by the numbers: Match Week 4. No one’s perfect EPL by the numbers: Match Week 5. […]

2017-10-10

How does attacker race change the way Washington talks about mass shootings?

Patrick W. Zimmerman

By: Patrick W. ZimmermanHow we talk about violence is indicative of how we think about it, a window into the underlying sociocultural underpinnings of our political discourse. Terrorist. Lone wolf. Mass shooting. Attack. Radicalized. Disturbed. The US is in a particularly charged political moment, every act we perceive filtered through the habitus of our increasingly […]

2017-10-10

Pokemon myths: Making a splash, a la Magikarp

By: Ashley RivasHow many times have you looked at a Pokémon and wondered, “What kind of tweaked out psychopath came up with that monstrosity”? Maybe it’s not even weird, just dumb, like the literal bag of trash, Trubbish. Some Pokémon designs certainly stretch past the realm of feasibility, even in a world where 10 year […]

2017-10-04

Inside the Resistance Bubble

This is post 2 of 2 in the series “Political bubbles” Inside the MAGA bubble: How bad information is affecting President Trump’s decision-making Inside the Resistance Bubble By: Richard W. Sharp & Patrick W. ZimmermanAmerica, it’s time to talk about your bubbles. Most people tend to surround themselves with like-minded folk; we like hearing confirmation […]

2017-10-03

EPL by the numbers: Match Week 7. Spurs, kings of the road

Rich Van Heertum

This is post 7 of 32 in the series “EPL by the numbers 2017-18” EPL by the numbers – Match week 1 EPL by the numbers: Match week 2 EPL by the numbers: Match Week 3. Oh, Arsenal…. EPL by the numbers: Match Week 4. No one’s perfect EPL by the numbers: Match Week 5. […]

2017-09-27

EPL by the numbers: Match Week 6. Plus ça change…

Rich Van Heertum

This is post 6 of 32 in the series “EPL by the numbers 2017-18” EPL by the numbers – Match week 1 EPL by the numbers: Match week 2 EPL by the numbers: Match Week 3. Oh, Arsenal…. EPL by the numbers: Match Week 4. No one’s perfect EPL by the numbers: Match Week 5. […]

2017-09-26

Build-a-brew: Freshly hoptimized Double IPA

Patrick W. Zimmerman

This is post 5 of 5 in the series “Build-a-brew” Microbial Experiment Log: Nutty Professor Oatmeal Porter Build-a-brew: Referendum Scotch Ale Build-a-brew: Rye-SB English pale ale Build-a-brew: Softball Saison Build-a-brew: Freshly hoptimized Double IPA By: Patrick W. ZimmermanHarvest time! And you know what that means? Hops. Lots of fresh, delicious, fruity, spicy, homegrown hops. Yup, […]

2017-09-19

The MLB playoffs are even more of a crapshoot than you realize

Patrick W. Zimmerman

By: Patrick W. ZimmermanThe 2017 MLB season is finally winding towards its annual Myth & Legends Factory, the playoffs, I’ve started to wonder. How much of the trick to winning is really just playing well enough during the regular season to qualify? Yeah, you might end up like the 1991-2005 Atlanta Braves (14 straight playoff […]

2017-09-19

EPL by the numbers: Match Week 5. Hail (Gabriel) Jesus!

Rich Van Heertum

This is post 5 of 32 in the series “EPL by the numbers 2017-18” EPL by the numbers – Match week 1 EPL by the numbers: Match week 2 EPL by the numbers: Match Week 3. Oh, Arsenal…. EPL by the numbers: Match Week 4. No one’s perfect EPL by the numbers: Match Week 5. […]

2017-09-12

Are Republicans feeling some electoral heat?

This is post 2 of 3 in the series “Third Party road to relevance” A third party ticket to relevance: A House divided Are Republicans feeling some electoral heat? Reps abandon sinking ship: GOP retirements open a door, but are third parties ready to win? By: Richard W. SharpAre Republicans starting to feel the heat? […]

2017-09-12

EPL by the numbers: Match Week 4. No one’s perfect

Rich Van Heertum

This is post 4 of 32 in the series “EPL by the numbers 2017-18” EPL by the numbers – Match week 1 EPL by the numbers: Match week 2 EPL by the numbers: Match Week 3. Oh, Arsenal…. EPL by the numbers: Match Week 4. No one’s perfect EPL by the numbers: Match Week 5. […]

2017-09-05

The history of FEMA emergency declarations is a chart of the real-world cost of climate change

Patrick W. Zimmerman

By: Patrick W. ZimmermanThe destruction wrought by Hurricane Harvey in Texas is terrifying and, as has been helpfully pointed out by sources as antagonistic to each other as President Trump and the Mainstream Media, is unprecedented. But (previously) unprecedented disasters are happening with increasing frequency. And the trend of shorter and shorter time periods between […]

2017-09-05

Politics chat: Trump Administration Fantasy Draft

This is post 2 of 3 in the series “politics chat” Politics chat: Chaos as a ladder, soft coups, and radical education reform Politics chat: Trump Administration Fantasy Draft Weaponized opinion: how do you combat fake news? | Politics Chat By: Rich W. Sharp, Alejandro Gómez del Moral, Valerie Hunt, James Stout, Brian Werth, Kate […]

2017-08-29

EPL by the numbers: Match Week 3. Oh, Arsenal….

Rich Van Heertum

This is post 3 of 32 in the series “EPL by the numbers 2017-18” EPL by the numbers – Match week 1 EPL by the numbers: Match week 2 EPL by the numbers: Match Week 3. Oh, Arsenal…. EPL by the numbers: Match Week 4. No one’s perfect EPL by the numbers: Match Week 5. […]

2017-08-29

America’s best beer cities: Comparing big city brewery scenes

Patrick W. Zimmerman

This is post 6 of 6 in the series “Beer Gazetteer” Introducing the Beer Gazetteer: Where are the best breweries? Beer Gazetteer: Where should the beer nerds move? Beer Gazetteer: The loneliest, least beertastic metro areas in the US America’s best beer cities: What small cities have the best brewery scene? America’s best beer cities: […]

2017-08-29

XOXOXO: An unlove letter to Bethesda and EA

This is post 7 of 7 in the series “Hype frenzy: gaming cons & excitable gamers” E3 reaction: ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ E3 reactions: Microsoft reigns supreme E3 reactions: Ubisoft surprises (but actually in a good way) E3 reactions: Nintendo, short and sweet (but ignoring the 3DS is NOT ok) E3 reactions: PC gaming hits the snooze button […]

2017-08-24

EPL by the numbers: Match week 2

Rich Van Heertum

This is post 2 of 32 in the series “EPL by the numbers 2017-18” EPL by the numbers – Match week 1 EPL by the numbers: Match week 2 EPL by the numbers: Match Week 3. Oh, Arsenal…. EPL by the numbers: Match Week 4. No one’s perfect EPL by the numbers: Match Week 5. […]

2017-08-22

America’s best beer cities: What medium-sized metro areas have the best brewery scenes?

Patrick W. Zimmerman

This is post 5 of 6 in the series “Beer Gazetteer” Introducing the Beer Gazetteer: Where are the best breweries? Beer Gazetteer: Where should the beer nerds move? Beer Gazetteer: The loneliest, least beertastic metro areas in the US America’s best beer cities: What small cities have the best brewery scene? America’s best beer cities: […]

2017-08-22

What we think about sports cheating tells us a lot about what we think about gender, race, and sexuality

This is post 2 of 2 in the series “Sports, Racism, & the Internet” What do sports fans search for when they think no one is looking? A Kaepernick case study What we think about sports cheating tells us a lot about what we think about gender, race, and sexuality By: James StoutHBO recently launched […]

2017-08-16

Inside the MAGA bubble: How bad information is affecting President Trump’s decision-making

This is post 1 of 2 in the series “Political bubbles” Inside the MAGA bubble: How bad information is affecting President Trump’s decision-making Inside the Resistance Bubble By: Richard W. SharpA side-effect of Donald Trump’s twitter habit is that he reveals his sources of information, and these can help us measure the gap between his […]

2017-08-15

EPL by the numbers – Match week 1

Rich Van Heertum

This is post 1 of 32 in the series “EPL by the numbers 2017-18” EPL by the numbers – Match week 1 EPL by the numbers: Match week 2 EPL by the numbers: Match Week 3. Oh, Arsenal…. EPL by the numbers: Match Week 4. No one’s perfect EPL by the numbers: Match Week 5. […]

2017-08-15

The diversification of the sports fan: What does coverage have to do with it?

By: Margaret SharpBroadcast sports coverage is a fine balance between the supply of seats at stadium events and the sale of media rights. Televising a sporting event locally had a negative effect on attendance. Many people would rather watch the game from the comfort their home than schlep to the stadium and wade through the […]

2017-08-08

Politics chat: Chaos as a ladder, soft coups, and radical education reform

This is post 1 of 3 in the series “politics chat” Politics chat: Chaos as a ladder, soft coups, and radical education reform Politics chat: Trump Administration Fantasy Draft Weaponized opinion: how do you combat fake news? | Politics Chat Panel: Richard W. Sharp, Patrick W. Zimmerman, & James StoutHey folks, welcome to the inaugural […]

2017-08-08

E3 reactions: Sony = remakes, Inc.

This is post 6 of 7 in the series “Hype frenzy: gaming cons & excitable gamers” E3 reaction: ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ E3 reactions: Microsoft reigns supreme E3 reactions: Ubisoft surprises (but actually in a good way) E3 reactions: Nintendo, short and sweet (but ignoring the 3DS is NOT ok) E3 reactions: PC gaming hits the snooze button […]

2017-08-01

America’s best beer cities: What small cities have the best brewery scene?

Patrick W. Zimmerman

This is post 4 of 6 in the series “Beer Gazetteer” Introducing the Beer Gazetteer: Where are the best breweries? Beer Gazetteer: Where should the beer nerds move? Beer Gazetteer: The loneliest, least beertastic metro areas in the US America’s best beer cities: What small cities have the best brewery scene? America’s best beer cities: […]

2017-08-01

E3 reactions: PC gaming hits the snooze button

This is post 5 of 7 in the series “Hype frenzy: gaming cons & excitable gamers” E3 reaction: ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ E3 reactions: Microsoft reigns supreme E3 reactions: Ubisoft surprises (but actually in a good way) E3 reactions: Nintendo, short and sweet (but ignoring the 3DS is NOT ok) E3 reactions: PC gaming hits the snooze button […]

2017-07-25

Gamer myth deconstruction zone: Men still tend to see themselves as more serious gamers

Patrick W. Zimmerman

This is post 5 of 7 in the series “Gender, gamers, & games” Beyond Ms. Pac-Man: Is the typical player character (finally) evolving? Beyond Ms. Pac-Man: The return of female player characters Beyond Ms. Pac-Man: Both the best and the worst games have an increasing percentage of female player characters Gamer myth deconstruction zone: Do […]

2017-07-25

E3 reactions: Nintendo, short and sweet (but ignoring the 3DS is NOT ok)

This is post 4 of 7 in the series “Hype frenzy: gaming cons & excitable gamers” E3 reaction: ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ E3 reactions: Microsoft reigns supreme E3 reactions: Ubisoft surprises (but actually in a good way) E3 reactions: Nintendo, short and sweet (but ignoring the 3DS is NOT ok) E3 reactions: PC gaming hits the snooze button […]

2017-07-18

Gamer myth deconstruction zone: Do female gamers actually care more about stories than men do?

Patrick W. Zimmerman

This is post 4 of 7 in the series “Gender, gamers, & games” Beyond Ms. Pac-Man: Is the typical player character (finally) evolving? Beyond Ms. Pac-Man: The return of female player characters Beyond Ms. Pac-Man: Both the best and the worst games have an increasing percentage of female player characters Gamer myth deconstruction zone: Do […]

2017-07-18

Seven thoughts on the 2017 NHL & NBA playoffs

Rich Van Heertum

By: Richard Van HeertumIt’s been a little over a month since the NBA and NHL playoffs ended, and while some might be feeding their sports appetites with Wimbledon, the Tour de France or (yawn) midseason baseball, I thought I would offer some thoughts on the playoffs just passed. For those who skipped the two-month double […]

2017-07-11

What can the evolution of sports tell us about its future?

By: Margaret SharpSports are always on the move. Rugby for example, once gamboling across public commons in 19th century England, was punted into the American melting pot and emerged as American football. Traces of rugby’s contributions can be found in the lexicon with words like “touchdown” and “line of scrimmage.”” In rugby you physically touch […]

2017-07-11

E3 reactions: Ubisoft surprises (but actually in a good way)

This is post 3 of 7 in the series “Hype frenzy: gaming cons & excitable gamers” E3 reaction: ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ E3 reactions: Microsoft reigns supreme E3 reactions: Ubisoft surprises (but actually in a good way) E3 reactions: Nintendo, short and sweet (but ignoring the 3DS is NOT ok) E3 reactions: PC gaming hits the snooze button […]

2017-07-04

Autocorrect rules us all: Real-life self-censorship

By: Richard W. SharpWe set course for subjugation years ago. I should really say domestication. And it’s not because of the extension of government control, surveillance from microwaves, or the Statue of Liberty shooting out mind-control rays. The Man didn’t turn us into sheep; we’ve domesticated ourselves. Structures of authority have a tendency to expand […]

2017-07-04

E3 reactions: Microsoft reigns supreme

This is post 2 of 7 in the series “Hype frenzy: gaming cons & excitable gamers” E3 reaction: ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ E3 reactions: Microsoft reigns supreme E3 reactions: Ubisoft surprises (but actually in a good way) E3 reactions: Nintendo, short and sweet (but ignoring the 3DS is NOT ok) E3 reactions: PC gaming hits the snooze button […]

2017-06-27

What do sports fans search for when they think no one is looking? A Kaepernick case study

This is post 1 of 2 in the series “Sports, Racism, & the Internet” What do sports fans search for when they think no one is looking? A Kaepernick case study What we think about sports cheating tells us a lot about what we think about gender, race, and sexuality By: James StoutWhat we do […]

2017-06-27

What’s worse: Trump’s floundering attempt at governance, his corruption, or his cruelty?

Rich Van Heertum

By: Rich Van HeertumAs the clock inches closer to zero hour for a potential impeachment, an interesting conundrum is developing for those who cover the man quickly staking his claim as the worst to inhabit the White House in our 241-year history. The question is whether Trump’s presidency should be framed as the most inept […]

2017-06-20

E3 reaction: ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

This is post 1 of 7 in the series “Hype frenzy: gaming cons & excitable gamers” E3 reaction: ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ E3 reactions: Microsoft reigns supreme E3 reactions: Ubisoft surprises (but actually in a good way) E3 reactions: Nintendo, short and sweet (but ignoring the 3DS is NOT ok) E3 reactions: PC gaming hits the snooze button […]

2017-06-20

Weaponized half-truths: Violence and the consequences of partisan logic

By: Richard W. SharpWhat we don’t know can hurt us. It has been nearly a week since a despicable act of violence was carried out by a white man with a history of domestic abuse, political anger, and a rifle, but out national debate is not addressing terrorism and the proper limits of the second amendment. Instead, we […]

2017-06-13

Keep it gay: The Vito Russo test and cinematic representations of the LGBT community

By: Tonya SmithTom Wilkinson’s acting helped save my marriage. This seems like a bold claim, but when my wife came out as transgender, I turned to my memories of watching his performance in Normal when I was in college. I didn’t have much experience with the transgender community in real life, and that movie provided […]

2017-06-12

Spurious correlations: Is Donald Trump a space cat from Thuban 9?

By: Margaret SharpThis week’s breaking news conspiracy: is Donald Trump a space cat from Thuban 9? Currently there are a bazillion cat videos on the internet. On YouTube alone, there were 2 million uploads and 25 million views of cat videos by 2014 (it is safe to assume that humanity did not lose its interest […]

2017-06-07

Let’s play Trump Twitter bingo!

Patrick W. Zimmerman

This is post 10 of 18 in the series “Trump Watch” Presenting the Trump Watch (tick…tick…tick..) New Dataset – @realDonaldTrump Tweet corpus Just how oddball is @realdonaldtrump compared to other politicians? The anti-Trump shield: A defensive charity finder to help you put your money where his mouth is Breaking down the Women’s March: Even small-town […]

2017-06-06

Mapping the pep rally president

Patrick W. Zimmerman

This is post 9 of 18 in the series “Trump Watch” Presenting the Trump Watch (tick…tick…tick..) New Dataset – @realDonaldTrump Tweet corpus Just how oddball is @realdonaldtrump compared to other politicians? The anti-Trump shield: A defensive charity finder to help you put your money where his mouth is Breaking down the Women’s March: Even small-town […]

2017-06-06

Alternative History Facts: Remembering Lt Col Donald Armstrong Trump

Patrick W. Zimmerman

By: Patrick W. ZimmermanNot a fan of inconvenient truths? Then welcome to Alternative History Facts, where we highlight The Real StoriesTM that the fake news media doesn’t want you to know about. It is our opinion that they happened, which constitutes valid evidence on the Internet. Additionally, in order to not impose politically correct attention […]

2017-05-30

Rules for the Resistance: A handy guide for overthrowing an autocrat

Patrick W. Zimmerman

This is post 2 of 2 in the series “Rise & Fall of Autocracy” The first rule of autocrat club: Don’t talk about beautiful chocolate cake Rules for the Resistance: A handy guide for overthrowing an autocrat By: Patrick W. ZimmermanThe question What will take to turn #theResistance into more than Occupy 2.0? It needs […]

2017-05-30

Build-a-brew: Softball Saison

Patrick W. Zimmerman

This is post 4 of 5 in the series “Build-a-brew” Microbial Experiment Log: Nutty Professor Oatmeal Porter Build-a-brew: Referendum Scotch Ale Build-a-brew: Rye-SB English pale ale Build-a-brew: Softball Saison Build-a-brew: Freshly hoptimized Double IPA By: Patrick W. ZimmermanIt’s heating up across much of the country (except, of course, San Francisco, where June and July are […]

2017-05-23

The first rule of autocrat club: Don’t talk about beautiful chocolate cake

This is post 1 of 2 in the series “Rise & Fall of Autocracy” The first rule of autocrat club: Don’t talk about beautiful chocolate cake Rules for the Resistance: A handy guide for overthrowing an autocrat By: Richard W. Sharp IIIFrom Caesar to Kim1 the long arc of history has traced a glorious blazing […]

2017-05-23

Hedgehog labor laws

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2017-05-16

A third party ticket to relevance: A House divided

Patrick W. Zimmerman

This is post 1 of 3 in the series “Third Party road to relevance” A third party ticket to relevance: A House divided Are Republicans feeling some electoral heat? Reps abandon sinking ship: GOP retirements open a door, but are third parties ready to win? Political tactics: Patrick W. Zimmerman. Electoral data analysis: Richard W. […]

2017-05-16

The chilling future of chocolate: Breaking the cycle of poverty and child labor

This is post 2 of 2 in the series “Cocoanomics” The chilling future of chocolate The chilling future of chocolate: Breaking the cycle of poverty and child labor By: Scott BaptistaChocoholics take heed! The issues we’re experiencing with the chocolate supply chain has just as much to do with people as it does with climate […]

2017-05-09

20 reasons for hope after the first 100 days of the worst president ever

Rich Van Heertum

By: Richard Van HeertumThe Trump Presidency has been even worse than many of us could have ever imagined, with all efforts by the mainstream media to normalize this disaster falling flat in the face of the reality of his nonpareil incompetence, pathological lying and rewriting of history from one day to the next. On healthcare, […]

2017-05-09

Cosplay: Wear it, work it, own it

This is post 3 of 3 in the series “Cosplay” Cosplay: What is it, and how do I jump in? Cosplay: If you build it, the nerds will come Cosplay: Wear it, work it, own it By: Ash RivasIt’s Business Time! Take a small, tiny break, and give yourself a hand. Your cosplay is ready […]

2017-05-02

What kinds of terror and hate crimes does Trump denounce, and what does that say about the world he wants you to believe in?

Patrick W. Zimmerman

By: Patrick W. ZimmermanThe Donald wants you to live in a world of eternal threat, where the Evil minions of Radial Islamic TerrorTM are lurking in every shadow, pouring over the border to kill you and then take your job after they finish collecting your unemployment. Because they hate your freedom, your mom’s freedom, and […]

2017-05-02

Cosplay: If you build it, the nerds will come

This is post 2 of 3 in the series “Cosplay” Cosplay: What is it, and how do I jump in? Cosplay: If you build it, the nerds will come Cosplay: Wear it, work it, own it By: Ashley RivasCosplay: We can build this *#$@! You are excited and eager, and why wouldn’t you be? You […]

2017-04-25

Cosplay: What is it, and how do I jump in?

This is post 1 of 3 in the series “Cosplay” Cosplay: What is it, and how do I jump in? Cosplay: If you build it, the nerds will come Cosplay: Wear it, work it, own it By: Ashley RivasWhat the heck is cosplay? Perhaps you’ve been walking around the downtown area of some city and, […]

2017-04-25

Build-a-brew: Rye-SB English pale ale

Patrick W. Zimmerman

This is post 3 of 5 in the series “Build-a-brew” Microbial Experiment Log: Nutty Professor Oatmeal Porter Build-a-brew: Referendum Scotch Ale Build-a-brew: Rye-SB English pale ale Build-a-brew: Softball Saison Build-a-brew: Freshly hoptimized Double IPA By: Patrick W. ZimmermanStyle: Extra Special Bitter (English Pale Ale) with a rye grain bill Type of brew: All-grain Batch size: […]

2017-04-18

Applied Bracketeering: Does our model also work for the NCAA Women’s tournament?

This is post 6 of 19 in the series “Bracketeering” March Madness Bracketeering Applied Bracketeering: Modeling March Madness Bracketeering update: Mascot randomness is beating the pants off RPI after round 2 Applied Bracketeering: So, who saw that final four coming? Applied bracketeering wrapup: Highly-rated team wins in shocking finale Applied Bracketeering: Does our model also […]

2017-04-18

Build-a-brew: Referendum Scotch Ale

Patrick W. Zimmerman

This is post 2 of 5 in the series “Build-a-brew” Microbial Experiment Log: Nutty Professor Oatmeal Porter Build-a-brew: Referendum Scotch Ale Build-a-brew: Rye-SB English pale ale Build-a-brew: Softball Saison Build-a-brew: Freshly hoptimized Double IPA By: Patrick W. ZimmermanStyle: Scotch Ale (Wee Heavy) Type of brew: All-grain Batch size: 5.5gal Bitterness: 18 IBU (mildly hoppy) Original […]

2017-04-11

The tweet rate monitor: Is there any rhythm to Trump’s twitter blasts?

Patrick W. Zimmerman

This is post 8 of 18 in the series “Trump Watch” Presenting the Trump Watch (tick…tick…tick..) New Dataset – @realDonaldTrump Tweet corpus Just how oddball is @realdonaldtrump compared to other politicians? The anti-Trump shield: A defensive charity finder to help you put your money where his mouth is Breaking down the Women’s March: Even small-town […]

2017-04-11

Applied bracketeering wrapup: Highly-rated team wins in shocking finale

This is post 5 of 19 in the series “Bracketeering” March Madness Bracketeering Applied Bracketeering: Modeling March Madness Bracketeering update: Mascot randomness is beating the pants off RPI after round 2 Applied Bracketeering: So, who saw that final four coming? Applied bracketeering wrapup: Highly-rated team wins in shocking finale Applied Bracketeering: Does our model also […]

2017-04-04

The history of the future: Science fiction tells us a lot about our past (but stinks at predicting technological change)

Patrick W. Zimmerman

By: Patrick W. ZimmermanFrom its inception, science fiction has exhibited a central tension, between optimists who saw technological change as a way to solve the majority of humanity’s problems (Star Trek and The Jetsons are two of the more happy happy joy joy examples) and pessimists who saw dystopian fields ahead (Orwell, Huxley, Zamyatin). Almost […]

2017-03-30

Applied Bracketeering: So, who saw that final four coming?

This is post 4 of 19 in the series “Bracketeering” March Madness Bracketeering Applied Bracketeering: Modeling March Madness Bracketeering update: Mascot randomness is beating the pants off RPI after round 2 Applied Bracketeering: So, who saw that final four coming? Applied bracketeering wrapup: Highly-rated team wins in shocking finale Applied Bracketeering: Does our model also […]

2017-03-28

Trump Watch historical: How has @realDonaldTrump’s use of Twitter evolved since Election Day?

Patrick W. Zimmerman

This is post 7 of 18 in the series “Trump Watch” Presenting the Trump Watch (tick…tick…tick..) New Dataset – @realDonaldTrump Tweet corpus Just how oddball is @realdonaldtrump compared to other politicians? The anti-Trump shield: A defensive charity finder to help you put your money where his mouth is Breaking down the Women’s March: Even small-town […]

2017-03-28

Classified leaks

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2017-03-21

Evil Obama: Where does Trump’s alternate-reality version rank in the pantheon of supervillains?

Patrick W. Zimmerman

By: Patrick W. ZimmermanMove over, Lex Luther! We’ve got a new criminal mastermind in town. Putin? Erdoğan? Grand Admiral Thrawn? As if! None of them could possibly compete with the nefarious plots of Barack Hussein Obama, 44th POTUS and Evil Genius. At least, they can’t match the version of him that seems to exist in […]

2017-03-21

Bracketeering update: Mascot randomness is beating the pants off RPI after round 2

This is post 3 of 19 in the series “Bracketeering” March Madness Bracketeering Applied Bracketeering: Modeling March Madness Bracketeering update: Mascot randomness is beating the pants off RPI after round 2 Applied Bracketeering: So, who saw that final four coming? Applied bracketeering wrapup: Highly-rated team wins in shocking finale Applied Bracketeering: Does our model also […]

2017-03-16

Applied Bracketeering: Modeling March Madness

This is post 2 of 19 in the series “Bracketeering” March Madness Bracketeering Applied Bracketeering: Modeling March Madness Bracketeering update: Mascot randomness is beating the pants off RPI after round 2 Applied Bracketeering: So, who saw that final four coming? Applied bracketeering wrapup: Highly-rated team wins in shocking finale Applied Bracketeering: Does our model also […]

2017-03-14

March Madness Bracketeering

This is post 1 of 19 in the series “Bracketeering” March Madness Bracketeering Applied Bracketeering: Modeling March Madness Bracketeering update: Mascot randomness is beating the pants off RPI after round 2 Applied Bracketeering: So, who saw that final four coming? Applied bracketeering wrapup: Highly-rated team wins in shocking finale Applied Bracketeering: Does our model also […]

2017-03-14

Nintendo Switch: Some glitches, lots of awesome

By: Ashley RivasThe Nintendo Switch has been out for a little under two weeks now. Mine got a lovely little pep talk when we took it home. I told it that it’s got a lot on its tiny little Joy-Con shoulders. People are waiting for it to fail, for it to be another nail in […]

2017-03-11

Announcing the Principally Uncertain Shop!

Edward & Edith The Edifying Octopi

It’s finally here! The most spectacular shopping experience that supports the premier site dedicated to octopi-themed research and associated nonsense. We’re pretty confident that’s right. And hey, everything’s true on the Internet! The shop is up and ready for your eyeballs! These sales help us keep the site running and paying tithes to the AWS […]

Totally from a 1904 magazine and about the Russo-Japanese War. In no way juxtaposed here as a reference to Russian interference in America's House of Cards.

2017-03-07

Trump cabinet bingo card generator

Patrick W. Zimmerman

This is post 6 of 18 in the series “Trump Watch” Presenting the Trump Watch (tick…tick…tick..) New Dataset – @realDonaldTrump Tweet corpus Just how oddball is @realdonaldtrump compared to other politicians? The anti-Trump shield: A defensive charity finder to help you put your money where his mouth is Breaking down the Women’s March: Even small-town […]

2017-03-07

Endless nostalgia: Hollywood in the hinterland, past, present, & future

Rich Van Heertum

This is post 6 of 6 in the series “Sequelmania” The Endless Story: Sequels, reboots and prequels, oh my! The Endless Story: Hollywood has always loved a good formula The Endless Story: The rise of the blockbuster franchise The Endless Story: The numbers behind Hollywood’s risk-aversion The Endless Story: TV’s second Golden Age Endless nostalgia: […]

2017-02-28

Job Creationists in the White House: Does a President’s business experience actually help the little guy?

By: Richard W. SharpWhat business do businessmen have running the business of America? The argument made during the 2016 campaign was that Trump’s wealth would insulate him from special interests and corruption,1 and his business experience makes him better qualified to run the country2 than the usual suspects: politicians, statesmen, and generals. The question How […]

2017-02-28

The Endless Story: TV’s second Golden Age

Rich Van Heertum

This is post 5 of 6 in the series “Sequelmania” The Endless Story: Sequels, reboots and prequels, oh my! The Endless Story: Hollywood has always loved a good formula The Endless Story: The rise of the blockbuster franchise The Endless Story: The numbers behind Hollywood’s risk-aversion The Endless Story: TV’s second Golden Age Endless nostalgia: […]

2017-02-21

Totalitarian Tourism: Marketing North Korea to visitors

By: Anne RosenThe Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, the Bamboo Curtain, north of the DMZ, is the most secretive and isolated country on Earth. It’s home to the propaganda machine of the most singularly batshit insane autocrat in the world (probably). Wanna go see it? The quest Determined to not just trust information from the […]

2017-02-21

The Endless Story: The numbers behind Hollywood’s risk-aversion

Rich Van Heertum

This is post 4 of 6 in the series “Sequelmania” The Endless Story: Sequels, reboots and prequels, oh my! The Endless Story: Hollywood has always loved a good formula The Endless Story: The rise of the blockbuster franchise The Endless Story: The numbers behind Hollywood’s risk-aversion The Endless Story: TV’s second Golden Age Endless nostalgia: […]

2017-02-17

The Endless Story: The rise of the blockbuster franchise

Rich Van Heertum

This is post 3 of 6 in the series “Sequelmania” The Endless Story: Sequels, reboots and prequels, oh my! The Endless Story: Hollywood has always loved a good formula The Endless Story: The rise of the blockbuster franchise The Endless Story: The numbers behind Hollywood’s risk-aversion The Endless Story: TV’s second Golden Age Endless nostalgia: […]

2017-02-14

The Endless Story: Hollywood has always loved a good formula

Rich Van Heertum

This is post 2 of 6 in the series “Sequelmania” The Endless Story: Sequels, reboots and prequels, oh my! The Endless Story: Hollywood has always loved a good formula The Endless Story: The rise of the blockbuster franchise The Endless Story: The numbers behind Hollywood’s risk-aversion The Endless Story: TV’s second Golden Age Endless nostalgia: […]

2017-02-14

Beyond Ms. Pac-Man: Both the best and the worst games have an increasing percentage of female player characters

Patrick W. Zimmerman

This is post 3 of 7 in the series “Gender, gamers, & games” Beyond Ms. Pac-Man: Is the typical player character (finally) evolving? Beyond Ms. Pac-Man: The return of female player characters Beyond Ms. Pac-Man: Both the best and the worst games have an increasing percentage of female player characters Gamer myth deconstruction zone: Do […]

2017-02-07

What has Trump’s Executive Order machine gun targeted first?

Patrick W. Zimmerman

By: Richard W. Sharp & Patrick W. ZimmermanIt would be ok. Trump didn’t want to be president, whispered the rumors. It would be fine because he wouldn’t do any of the work necessary to try and enact any of his possibly-ad-libbed-on-the-spot campaign promises. WRONG. Fake news. Horrible coverage. Sad! Someone who doesn’t want the job […]

2017-02-07

The Endless Story: Sequels, reboots and prequels, oh my!

Rich Van Heertum

This is post 1 of 6 in the series “Sequelmania” The Endless Story: Sequels, reboots and prequels, oh my! The Endless Story: Hollywood has always loved a good formula The Endless Story: The rise of the blockbuster franchise The Endless Story: The numbers behind Hollywood’s risk-aversion The Endless Story: TV’s second Golden Age Endless nostalgia: […]

2017-01-31

CTE part II: No, really, stop hitting yourself

This is post 2 of 2 in the series “Concussions & CTE” CTE Study: Stop Hitting Yourself! CTE part II: No, really, stop hitting yourself By: Richard W. SharpAnother season of head-pounding professional football draws to a close and the nation’s annual pageant approaches. It’s time to reflect and take account of what we’ve learned […]

2017-01-31

The play of cosplay

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2017-01-24

Breaking down the Women’s March: Even small-town marchers out-numbered the inauguration

Patrick W. Zimmerman

This is post 5 of 18 in the series “Trump Watch” Presenting the Trump Watch (tick…tick…tick..) New Dataset – @realDonaldTrump Tweet corpus Just how oddball is @realdonaldtrump compared to other politicians? The anti-Trump shield: A defensive charity finder to help you put your money where his mouth is Breaking down the Women’s March: Even small-town […]

2017-01-19

The anti-Trump shield: A defensive charity finder to help you put your money where his mouth is

Patrick W. Zimmerman

This is post 4 of 18 in the series “Trump Watch” Presenting the Trump Watch (tick…tick…tick..) New Dataset – @realDonaldTrump Tweet corpus Just how oddball is @realdonaldtrump compared to other politicians? The anti-Trump shield: A defensive charity finder to help you put your money where his mouth is Breaking down the Women’s March: Even small-town […]

2017-01-17

Revenge of the Niche part 2: Netflix streaming data 2012-2016

This is post 4 of 4 in the series “Niche entertainment” This is anime-zing: The rise of the otaku nerds The rise of niche entertainment Rise of the Niche, teaser trailer: Data, set, go Revenge of the Niche part 2: Netflix streaming data 2012-2016 By: Richard W. Sharp Software architectural diagram of netflixable.com’s Netflix data […]

2017-01-17

Bad Movie Boozing: Food Fight!

This is post 4 of 4 in the series “Bad movies” Principally Uncertain’s experiment in cinematic masochism. Bad movie crashes and burns: The beginning of the end Bad movie crashes and burns: Birdemic Bad Movie Boozing: Saving Christmas Bad Movie Boozing: Food Fight! By: Ashley RivasA true descent into hell beckons you. It’s not a […]

2017-01-10

Just how oddball is @realdonaldtrump compared to other politicians?

Patrick W. Zimmerman

This is post 3 of 18 in the series “Trump Watch” Presenting the Trump Watch (tick…tick…tick..) New Dataset – @realDonaldTrump Tweet corpus Just how oddball is @realdonaldtrump compared to other politicians? The anti-Trump shield: A defensive charity finder to help you put your money where his mouth is Breaking down the Women’s March: Even small-town […]

2017-01-10

Which platforms have better games?

Patrick W. Zimmerman

This is post 2 of 2 in the series “The evolution of video games” A brief history of video game consoles Which platforms have better games? By: Patrick W. ZimmermanThe question Which platforms tend to have higher-rated games? While it’s not always under the direct control of the manufacturer, the hardware is part of how […]

2017-01-03

Misery fandex: Who suffers most?

Rich Van Heertum

This is post 3 of 3 in the series “Misery Fandex” The misery fandex: Who’s got it worst? Misery fandex: Not even the best at losing Misery fandex: Who suffers most? It’s time for the grand finale of Principally Uncertain’s Misery Fandex! No San Diego Padres here. No teams that try to claim suffering from […]

When they come a-knockin, answer. Answer now.

2017-01-03

Spreading the good word

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2016-12-27

Misery fandex: Not even the best at losing

Rich Van Heertum

This is post 2 of 3 in the series “Misery Fandex” The misery fandex: Who’s got it worst? Misery fandex: Not even the best at losing Misery fandex: Who suffers most? By: Richard Van HeertumWelcome back to Part 2 of Principally Uncertain’s Misery Fandex, where we cover fanbases and cities that are certainly miserable, just […]

2016-12-27

The chilling future of chocolate

This is post 1 of 2 in the series “Cocoanomics” The chilling future of chocolate The chilling future of chocolate: Breaking the cycle of poverty and child labor By: Scott BaptistaChocoholics, beware! The chocolate shortage everyone was talking about for the past few years may be closer than you think. The times, they are changin’ […]

2016-12-20

New Dataset – @realDonaldTrump Tweet corpus

This is post 2 of 18 in the series “Trump Watch” Presenting the Trump Watch (tick…tick…tick..) New Dataset – @realDonaldTrump Tweet corpus Just how oddball is @realdonaldtrump compared to other politicians? The anti-Trump shield: A defensive charity finder to help you put your money where his mouth is Breaking down the Women’s March: Even small-town […]

2016-12-20

The misery fandex: Who’s got it worst?

Rich Van Heertum

This is post 1 of 3 in the series “Misery Fandex” The misery fandex: Who’s got it worst? Misery fandex: Not even the best at losing Misery fandex: Who suffers most? By: Richard Van HeertumSince the turn of the new century, a host of long suffering fans have finally found salvation. Cleveland, of course, led […]

2016-12-13

Partisanship in 21st-century America: How fast are voters moving away from each other?

Patrick W. Zimmerman

By: Patrick W. ZimmermanThe question Are urban and rural America moving away from each other as fast as the current consensus seems to conclude? The short-short version Kinda, but it’s complicated. There are way more counties moving towards the Republicans in presidential races, faster, 2328 to 813.1 However, more people live in counties moving towards […]

2016-12-13

Presenting the Trump Watch (tick…tick…tick..)

Patrick W. Zimmerman

This is post 1 of 18 in the series “Trump Watch” Presenting the Trump Watch (tick…tick…tick..) New Dataset – @realDonaldTrump Tweet corpus Just how oddball is @realdonaldtrump compared to other politicians? The anti-Trump shield: A defensive charity finder to help you put your money where his mouth is Breaking down the Women’s March: Even small-town […]

2016-12-06

AWE shucks: Dealing with unanswerable questions

Patrick W. Zimmerman

By: Patrick W. ZimmermanUnanswerable….for now. The idea was interesting enough and didn’t seem like anything out of the ordinary: try to measure the payoff of hiking trails, which as part of a growing suite of Trailmetrics would serve as a nice counterpoint to our degree of difficulty measure, HARM (which was much more straightforward). As […]

2016-12-06

Bad Movie Boozing: Saving Christmas

This is post 3 of 4 in the series “Bad movies” Principally Uncertain’s experiment in cinematic masochism. Bad movie crashes and burns: The beginning of the end Bad movie crashes and burns: Birdemic Bad Movie Boozing: Saving Christmas Bad Movie Boozing: Food Fight! Bad Movie #2: Saving Christmas I’m officially renaming this series. From this […]

2016-11-29

Rise of the Niche, teaser trailer: Data, set, go

This is post 3 of 4 in the series “Niche entertainment” This is anime-zing: The rise of the otaku nerds The rise of niche entertainment Rise of the Niche, teaser trailer: Data, set, go Revenge of the Niche part 2: Netflix streaming data 2012-2016 By: Richard W. Sharp In a world… …where opinion is cheap […]

2016-11-29

Post-election brave new world

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2016-11-22

Video game design for n00bs 101: Class is in session

By: Ashley Rivas“Play video games,” they said. “It’ll be fun,” they said. They were absolutely right. “Make video games,” I said. “It’ll be fun,” I said. I have no idea if I was right or not. That’s what I plan on finding out. The Plan I started my video game design course at Full Sail […]

2016-11-21

Election postscript: Outside factors and the context of Trump’s upset win

Rich Van Heertum

This is post 3 of 3 in the series “Election postscript” Election postscript: On the eve of Trump’s America Election postscript: Making political framing great again Election postscript: Outside factors and the context of Trump’s upset win By: Richard Van HeertumThis three-part series explores the demographic, political framing and outside influences that led Trump on […]

2016-11-18

Election postscript: Making political framing great again

Rich Van Heertum

This is post 2 of 3 in the series “Election postscript” Election postscript: On the eve of Trump’s America Election postscript: Making political framing great again Election postscript: Outside factors and the context of Trump’s upset win By: Richard Van HeertumThis three-part series explores the demographic, political framing and outside influences that led Trump on […]

2016-11-17

Election postscript: On the eve of Trump’s America

Rich Van Heertum

This is post 1 of 3 in the series “Election postscript” Election postscript: On the eve of Trump’s America Election postscript: Making political framing great again Election postscript: Outside factors and the context of Trump’s upset win By: Richard Van HeertumIn the biggest political upset since Truman beat Dewey in 1948, Donald J. Trump will […]

2016-11-15

Bad movie crashes and burns: Birdemic

This is post 2 of 4 in the series “Bad movies” Principally Uncertain’s experiment in cinematic masochism. Bad movie crashes and burns: The beginning of the end Bad movie crashes and burns: Birdemic Bad Movie Boozing: Saving Christmas Bad Movie Boozing: Food Fight! By: Ashley RivasBad Movie #1: Birdemic A movie about killer birds! What […]

2016-11-15

JW Powell’s Trailmetrics 2017 (alpha): Running of the bears

This is post 3 of 3 in the series “Trailmetrics” A proposal for trailmetrics: Defining HARM and AWE Doing some HARM: Comparing crossing the street to walking to the South Pole JW Powell’s Trailmetrics 2017 (alpha): Running of the bears By: Richard W. SharpWhat do John Madden and the Oregon Trail have in common? Da […]

2016-11-08

Doing some HARM: Comparing crossing the street to walking to the South Pole

Patrick W. Zimmerman

This is post 2 of 3 in the series “Trailmetrics” A proposal for trailmetrics: Defining HARM and AWE Doing some HARM: Comparing crossing the street to walking to the South Pole JW Powell’s Trailmetrics 2017 (alpha): Running of the bears By: Patrick W. ZimmermanLogic dictates that the next step after proposing a new metric about […]

2016-11-01

The rise of niche entertainment

This is post 2 of 4 in the series “Niche entertainment” This is anime-zing: The rise of the otaku nerds The rise of niche entertainment Rise of the Niche, teaser trailer: Data, set, go Revenge of the Niche part 2: Netflix streaming data 2012-2016 By: Richard W. Sharp Some things are private, some things you […]

2016-10-25

Bad movie crashes and burns: The beginning of the end

This is post 1 of 4 in the series “Bad movies” Principally Uncertain’s experiment in cinematic masochism. Bad movie crashes and burns: The beginning of the end Bad movie crashes and burns: Birdemic Bad Movie Boozing: Saving Christmas Bad Movie Boozing: Food Fight! By: Ashley RivasThe Question Think back to when you first saw The […]

2016-10-25

A proposal for trailmetrics: Defining HARM and AWE

Patrick W. Zimmerman

This is post 1 of 3 in the series “Trailmetrics” A proposal for trailmetrics: Defining HARM and AWE Doing some HARM: Comparing crossing the street to walking to the South Pole JW Powell’s Trailmetrics 2017 (alpha): Running of the bears By: Patrick W. ZimmermanCalling all Outdoor Nerdz! Hey, amateur naturalists, bio majors who took too […]

2016-10-18

A brief history of video game consoles

This is post 1 of 2 in the series “The evolution of video games” A brief history of video game consoles Which platforms have better games? By: Max Zaleski. Infographic: Patrick W. ZimmermanKids these days have it too easy. But so did I. And so did my mother. Starting in the 1960s, the postwar boom […]

2016-10-11

Hockey fights are declining, but still more common than in the Original Six Era

Patrick W. Zimmerman

By: Patrick W. ZimmermanAn earlier version of this article (covering through 2013/4) appeared in the Sidelines Magazine. 1 Where have the Goons gone? And why do some people seem to think their rapid disappearance is a bad thing in spite of the increasingly well-known risk of Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy?2 Eliminating fighting as a semi-sanctioned part […]

Photo credit: Kevin Chang for Team Liquid

2016-10-11

Beyond Ms. Pac-Man: The return of female player characters

Patrick W. Zimmerman

This is post 2 of 7 in the series “Gender, gamers, & games” Beyond Ms. Pac-Man: Is the typical player character (finally) evolving? Beyond Ms. Pac-Man: The return of female player characters Beyond Ms. Pac-Man: Both the best and the worst games have an increasing percentage of female player characters Gamer myth deconstruction zone: Do […]

2016-10-04

Beer Gazetteer: The loneliest, least beertastic metro areas in the US

Patrick W. Zimmerman

This is post 3 of 6 in the series “Beer Gazetteer” Introducing the Beer Gazetteer: Where are the best breweries? Beer Gazetteer: Where should the beer nerds move? Beer Gazetteer: The loneliest, least beertastic metro areas in the US America’s best beer cities: What small cities have the best brewery scene? America’s best beer cities: […]

2016-10-03

Press Release – No octopus involved in Staten Island Ferry Disaster of 1963

Edward & Edith The Edifying Octopi

By: Edward and Edith the Edifying OctopiWe, Edward and Edith the Edifying Octopi, would like to issue a statement categorically denying the vicious rumors that have been flying around about our family. Specifically, that on November 22, 1963, a large cephalopod did drag the Staten Island Ferry down to its watery doom, munching on 400 […]

2016-09-27

Welcome to Principally Uncertain!

Edward & Edith The Edifying Octopi

By: Edward & Edith the Edifying OctopiBuckle up and hold on to your butts: we’ve got quite the website for you, and it’s going to knock all of those fuzzy socks off. After a few months of hard work, craziness, and delightful research, we are excited to announce the launch of Principally Uncertain. You’ve found […]

2016-09-27

This is anime-zing: The rise of the otaku nerds

This is post 1 of 4 in the series “Niche entertainment” This is anime-zing: The rise of the otaku nerds The rise of niche entertainment Rise of the Niche, teaser trailer: Data, set, go Revenge of the Niche part 2: Netflix streaming data 2012-2016 By: Ashley Rivas The Question Is anime becoming more popular over […]

2016-09-27

Beer Gazetteer: Where should the beer nerds move?

Patrick W. Zimmerman

This is post 2 of 6 in the series “Beer Gazetteer” Introducing the Beer Gazetteer: Where are the best breweries? Beer Gazetteer: Where should the beer nerds move? Beer Gazetteer: The loneliest, least beertastic metro areas in the US America’s best beer cities: What small cities have the best brewery scene? America’s best beer cities: […]

2016-09-25

La Liga is broken, and it’s getting broken-er

Patrick W. Zimmerman

By: Patrick W. Zimmerman The income gap within soccer is threatening the future of the beautiful game. This is no secret, as corruption throughout the FIFA ecosystem has become as hot of a topic as the accelerating fees (and wages) paid for elite players by a small handful of clubs dominating the television market and […]

2016-09-24

CTE Study: Stop Hitting Yourself!

This is post 1 of 2 in the series “Concussions & CTE” CTE Study: Stop Hitting Yourself! CTE part II: No, really, stop hitting yourself By: Rich SharpFootball is a violent game that humans aren’t supposed to play. But it is entertaining. Fortunately, we can tide ourselves over in the off season with a steady […]

2016-09-23

Microbial Experiment Log: Nutty Professor Oatmeal Porter

Patrick W. Zimmerman

This is post 1 of 5 in the series “Build-a-brew” Microbial Experiment Log: Nutty Professor Oatmeal Porter Build-a-brew: Referendum Scotch Ale Build-a-brew: Rye-SB English pale ale Build-a-brew: Softball Saison Build-a-brew: Freshly hoptimized Double IPA By: Patrick W. Zimmerman At Principally Uncertain, we encourage the isolation, cultivation, and harnessing of yeast strains for the Greater Good. […]

2016-09-21

Introducing the Beer Gazetteer: Where are the best breweries?

Patrick W. Zimmerman

This is post 1 of 6 in the series “Beer Gazetteer” Introducing the Beer Gazetteer: Where are the best breweries? Beer Gazetteer: Where should the beer nerds move? Beer Gazetteer: The loneliest, least beertastic metro areas in the US America’s best beer cities: What small cities have the best brewery scene? America’s best beer cities: […]

Ms Pac-Man (CC)

2016-09-20

Beyond Ms. Pac-Man: Is the typical player character (finally) evolving?

Patrick W. Zimmerman

This is post 1 of 7 in the series “Gender, gamers, & games” Beyond Ms. Pac-Man: Is the typical player character (finally) evolving? Beyond Ms. Pac-Man: The return of female player characters Beyond Ms. Pac-Man: Both the best and the worst games have an increasing percentage of female player characters Gamer myth deconstruction zone: Do […]

2015-04-25

Build-a-brew: Rye-SB English pale ale

Patrick W. Zimmerman

By: Patrick W. ZimmermanStyle: Extra Special Bitter (English Pale Ale) with a rye grain bill Type of brew: All-grain Batch size: 5.5gal Bitterness: 34 IBU (hoppy) Original Gravity: 1.048 Final Gravity: 1.016 ABV: 4.9% Grain bill: Marris Otter Pale: 9lbs Flaked rye: 1lb Crystal 40L: 8oz Special B: 8oz Hops: Kent Goldings: 3oz Boil additives: […]

2015-04-25

Cosplay: What is it, and how do I jump in?

By: Ashley RivasWhat the heck is cosplay? Perhaps you’ve been walking around the downtown area of some city and, suddenly, seen someone dressed in what you’d immediately call a costume. These people aren’t just your garden-variety eccentric fashionistas, they’re actual costumes; they’re vibrant, usually with a wig, maybe even a giant and elaborate weapon and […]

2015-04-18

Applied Bracketeering: Does our model also work for the NCAA Women’s tournament?

By: Richard W. SharpThe question This March, we tested a method for producing pool-winning brackets for the NCAA men’s basketball tournament. The approach showed promise, but how would it perform in the women’s championship? The women’s tournament has an element of predictability that the men’s tournament lacks: UConn always wins (4 of the last 5 championships […]

2015-04-18

Build-a-brew: Referendum Scotch Ale

Patrick W. Zimmerman

By: Patrick W. ZimmermanStyle: Scotch Ale (Wee Heavy) Type of brew: All-grain Batch size: 5.5gal Bitterness: 18 IBU (mildly hoppy) Original Gravity: 1.078 Final Gravity: 1.028 ABV: 6.56% Grain bill: 2-row: 13lbs Belgian special B: 8oz Belgian Biscuit: 1lb UK medium crystal 30-37L: 8oz UK light crystal 10-17L: 1lb 8oz Hops: Kent Goldings: 2oz Boil […]

2015-04-12

March Madness Bracketeering

By: Richard W. Sharp Something fascinating about March Madness is that the smart money always loses. You’ll always do respectably in the office pool, but you’ll never beat that guy who went to Davidson in 2008 and was Steph Curry’s roommate. Unless you pick some upsets, usually based on irrational faith in your alma mater, you’ll finish […]

2015-04-12

Applied Bracketeering: Modeling March Madness

By: Richard W. SharpOn Tuesday we outlined our mad-as-a-March hare scheme for producing winning brackets. We’d combine the smart money, the models (all of them) with a healthy dose of randomness (seeded by team mascots of course). While the noise won’t always produce a winning bracket, it will produce some of the upsets you need to […]

2015-04-12

Bracketeering update: Mascot randomness is beating the pants off RPI after round 2

By: Richard W. SharpThe question So, after a very chalk first round and a bonkers-insane second round, how are our models doing vs. the NCAA’s officially-sanctioned rankings (now powered by magical numbers!)? Quite good! Early returns RPI is as terrible as we thought it was. The mascot noise models are doing substantially better in terms […]

2015-04-12

Nintendo Switch: Some glitches, lots of awesome

By: Ashley RivasThe Nintendo Switch has been out for a little under two weeks now. Mine got a lovely little pep talk when we took it home. I told it that it’s got a lot on its tiny little Joy-Con shoulders. People are waiting for it to fail, for it to be another nail in […]

2015-04-12

Trump Watch historical: How has @realDonaldTrump’s use of Twitter evolved since Election Day?

Patrick W. Zimmerman

By: Patrick W. ZimmermanWe’ve been keeping an eye on our Tweeter-in-Chief for the past several months. This has partially been to highlight some of the batshit insane things he says on a regular basis, partially to point out the relative importance and uniqueness of Trump’s language, and, of course, to document the claims he makes […]

2015-04-12

Applied Bracketeering: So, who saw that final four coming?

By: Richard W. SharpThe question Welcome back sportsball fans. As we head into the home stretch, how goes our experiment in bracketeering? Who’s hitting it out of the park and who’s throwing ducks (Oregon, obviously)? Is it time to move the goalposts? Maybe. How’s it shaping up? RPI has moved up to the middle of […]

2015-04-12

The history of the future: Science fiction tells us a lot about our past (but stinks at predicting technological change)

Patrick W. Zimmerman

By: Patrick W. ZimmermanFrom its inception, science fiction has exhibited a central tension, between optimists who saw technological change as a way to solve the majority of humanity’s problems (Star Trek and The Jetsons are two of the more happy happy joy joy examples) and pessimists who saw dystopian fields ahead (Orwell, Huxley, Zamyatin). Almost […]

2015-04-12

Applied bracketeering wrapup: Highly-rated team wins in shocking finale

By: Richard W. SharpThe scores are in and the nets are down. North Carolina is champion for the sixth time, and Gonzaga has played its first final. In what must surely be an unprecedented conclusion, two top ranked teams met and after a hard fought contest last year’s runner up came out on top. Who could have predicted that?1 […]

2015-04-12

The tweet rate monitor: Is there any rhythm to Trump’s twitter blasts?

Patrick W. Zimmerman

By: Patrick W. ZimmermanThe question The Eagle’s Nest spurts 140 character pearls of wit in fits and starts. We’ve pretty extensively tracked Trump’s twitter targets, most significant terms, and Doomsday insults, but have yet to really focus in on what and when the tweets fly. Some days (ok, 3 days in the last 151), @realDonaldTrump […]