2014

William Shakespeare is widely regarded as the world’s greatest playwright, towering head and shoulders over all who came before and all who came after.  Maybe Shakespeare was so good because he wasn’t a human at all but a member of a hyper-intelligent alien race who happened to be visiting earth in the late 1500’s.  If you subscribe to Cromwell’s rule, you cannot dismiss this hypothesis out of hand.  It is not logically impossible.  Therefore, Cromwell’s rule suggests that we should assign some probability to the possibility even if it is one in a hundred billion.  Otherwise, like the “green cheese” example in the Wikipedia article, we would not be convinced even if we were to find the schematics to Shakespeare’s Read More ›

Recently a commenter suggested that by not taking moderation action on an inappropriate comment, UD’s moderators had tacitly endorsed it.  I would like to set the record straight on this once and for all.  UD is no one’s day job.  We have no staff.  This is a 100% volunteer effort.  I have a job and my duties at that job ebb and flow.  When I have time, I am more active, both in posting and moderating.  And the converse is also true.  For example, on Monday I am leaving for China on a business trip.  I will be gone for a week and doubt I will have much time for UD during that time. Therefore, if you see an inappropriate Read More ›