Jeffrey Shallit on not admitting when you're wrong

Paul C. Anagnostopoulos · 19th December 2007, 05:47 PM

One of my favorite commentators on Intelligent Design is Jeffrey Outlaw Shallit. I also have a special place in my heart for him, since he earns me an Erdös number of 4. Here is some commentary on Dembski and Wolfram:

http://recursed.blogspot.com/2006/01...g-or-what.html

And here is his review of Dembski's latest book, The Design Revolution:

http://www.cs.uwaterloo.ca/~shallit/tdr.html

~~ Paul

CapelDodger · 19th December 2007, 06:38 PM

Originally Posted by Paul C. Anagnostopoulos

One of my favorite commentators on Intelligent Design is Jeffrey Outlaw Shallit. I also have a special place in my heart for him, since he earns me an Erdös number of 4. Here is some commentary on Dembski and Wolfram:

http://recursed.blogspot.com/2006/01...g-or-what.html

"Erdös number" (

) aside, Shallit has a great style.

Quote:

And here is his review of Dembski's latest book, The Design Revolution:

http://www.cs.uwaterloo.ca/~shallit/tdr.html

~~ Paul

There was a Revolution and I wasn't invited? I feel hurt and rejected.

Puppycow · 19th December 2007, 06:42 PM

Originally Posted by CapelDodger

There was a Revolution and I wasn't invited? I feel hurt and rejected.

Was the revolution at least televised?

UnrepentantSinner · 20th December 2007, 02:17 AM

Subbing to take the links later.

Paul C. Anagnostopoulos · 20th December 2007, 06:09 AM

Originally Posted by CapelDodger

"Erdös number" (

) aside, ...

My Erdös number is 4, which is pretty good for someone with only a few publications. Here is the explanation:

http://www.oakland.edu/enp/

~~ Paul

Worm · 20th December 2007, 08:46 AM

Nice article, which highlights a hole in the behaviour of many sectors of society to be honest.

Also have to mention that I have few people I really look up to, but Erdös is one of them. So I'm very jealous of your 4....I'm fated to be an 'infinity' forever...

Paul C. Anagnostopoulos · 20th December 2007, 10:34 AM

Originally Posted by Worm

Also have to mention that I have few people I really look up to, but Erdös is one of them. So I'm very jealous of your 4....I'm fated to be an 'infinity' forever...

Oof, I don't get much of the credit. Just in the right place at the right time.

~~ Paul

FireGarden · 20th December 2007, 10:57 AM

But surely you've now collaborated with Worm on this thread, so Worm has an Erdos number of at most 5. (A horse has an Erdos number of 3).

Interesting article in the OP, too. And if I'm wrong about the above Erdos number thing, I will admit it. (And, yes, I'm wrong with the spelling of Erdos with an ordinary "o").

Paul C. Anagnostopoulos · 20th December 2007, 11:35 AM

Originally Posted by FireGarden

But surely you've now collaborated with Worm on this thread, so Worm has an Erdos number of at most 5. (A horse has an Erdos number of 3).

A horse wrote a paper with a person who has Erdös number 2? Link, please!

~~ Paul

FireGarden · 20th December 2007, 11:47 AM

Your link led to:
http://www.oakland.edu/enp/compute.html

Which leads to:
http://web.aanet.com.au/image/erdos/

Which names the horse: Smarty.
The other writer was Jerry Grossman, which leads us back to this page:
http://www.oakland.edu/enp/

Modified · 20th December 2007, 02:56 PM

Originally Posted by FireGarden

Your link led to:
http://www.oakland.edu/enp/compute.html

Which leads to:
http://web.aanet.com.au/image/erdos/

Which names the horse: Smarty.
The other writer was Jerry Grossman, which leads us back to this page:
http://www.oakland.edu/enp/

They're using a pretty loose definition there. Likely there are animals with legitimate Erdös numbers, but probably none so low as 3. After all, I'm a named author on dozens of refereed articles that I haven't even read (though I contributed to the work behind them), so I'm sure there are a few non-humans who are as well.

19th December 2007, 05:47 PM	#1
Paul C. Anagnostopoulos Nap, interrupted. Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: a little toolshed Posts: 18,592	Jeffrey Shallit on not admitting when you're wrong One of my favorite commentators on Intelligent Design is Jeffrey Outlaw Shallit. I also have a special place in my heart for him, since he earns me an Erdös number of 4. Here is some commentary on Dembski and Wolfram: http://recursed.blogspot.com/2006/01...g-or-what.html And here is his review of Dembski's latest book, The Design Revolution: http://www.cs.uwaterloo.ca/~shallit/tdr.html ~~ Paul
	__________________ Millions long for immortality who do not know what to do with themselves on a rainy Sunday afternoon. ---Susan Ertz RIP Mr. Skinny Last edited by Paul C. Anagnostopoulos; 19th December 2007 at 05:55 PM.

19th December 2007, 06:38 PM	#2
CapelDodger Penultimate Amazing Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Cardiff, South Wales Posts: 16,742	Originally Posted by Paul C. Anagnostopoulos One of my favorite commentators on Intelligent Design is Jeffrey Outlaw Shallit. I also have a special place in my heart for him, since he earns me an Erdös number of 4. Here is some commentary on Dembski and Wolfram: http://recursed.blogspot.com/2006/01...g-or-what.html "Erdös number" () aside, Shallit has a great style. Quote: And here is his review of Dembski's latest book, The Design Revolution: http://www.cs.uwaterloo.ca/~shallit/tdr.html ~~ Paul There was a Revolution and I wasn't invited? I feel hurt and rejected.
	__________________ It's a poor sort of memory that only works backward - Lewis Carroll (1832-1898) God can make a cow out of a tree, but has He ever done so? Therefore show some reason why a thing is so, or cease to hold that it is so - William of Conches, c1150 Last edited by Paul C. Anagnostopoulos; 20th December 2007 at 06:06 AM. Reason: fix tag

19th December 2007, 06:42 PM	#3
Puppycow Penultimate Amazing Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Japan Posts: 15,751	Originally Posted by CapelDodger There was a Revolution and I wasn't invited? I feel hurt and rejected. Was the revolution at least televised?
	__________________ “Some men are born mediocre, some men achieve mediocrity, and some men have mediocrity thrust upon them. With Major Major it had been all three.” ― Joseph Heller, Catch-22

20th December 2007, 02:17 AM	#4
UnrepentantSinner A post by Alan Smithee Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: USAian is not a word Posts: 26,356	Subbing to take the links later.
	__________________ I am an American citizen who is part of American society and briefly served in the American armed forces. I use American dollars and pay taxes that support the American government. And yes, despite the editorial decison to change American politics to the nonsensical "USA politics" subforum, I follow and comment on American politics.

20th December 2007, 06:09 AM	#5
Paul C. Anagnostopoulos Nap, interrupted. Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: a little toolshed Posts: 18,592	Originally Posted by CapelDodger "Erdös number" () aside, ... My Erdös number is 4, which is pretty good for someone with only a few publications. Here is the explanation: http://www.oakland.edu/enp/ ~~ Paul
	__________________ Millions long for immortality who do not know what to do with themselves on a rainy Sunday afternoon. ---Susan Ertz RIP Mr. Skinny

20th December 2007, 08:46 AM	#6
Worm Graduate Poster Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Coldstream, Scotland Posts: 1,086	Nice article, which highlights a hole in the behaviour of many sectors of society to be honest. Also have to mention that I have few people I really look up to, but Erdös is one of them. So I'm very jealous of your 4....I'm fated to be an 'infinity' forever...

20th December 2007, 10:34 AM	#7
Paul C. Anagnostopoulos Nap, interrupted. Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: a little toolshed Posts: 18,592	Originally Posted by Worm Also have to mention that I have few people I really look up to, but Erdös is one of them. So I'm very jealous of your 4....I'm fated to be an 'infinity' forever... Oof, I don't get much of the credit. Just in the right place at the right time. ~~ Paul
	__________________ Millions long for immortality who do not know what to do with themselves on a rainy Sunday afternoon. ---Susan Ertz RIP Mr. Skinny

20th December 2007, 10:57 AM	#8
FireGarden Philosopher Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Spannungsbogen -- without a visa Posts: 5,043	But surely you've now collaborated with Worm on this thread, so Worm has an Erdos number of at most 5. (A horse has an Erdos number of 3). Interesting article in the OP, too. And if I'm wrong about the above Erdos number thing, I will admit it. (And, yes, I'm wrong with the spelling of Erdos with an ordinary "o").
	__________________ When Americans talk about freedom, it’s our secular code word for salvation. There’s no salvation outside the church; there’s no freedom outside the American way of life. -- James Carroll B'tselem Tony Karon's blog Last edited by FireGarden; 20th December 2007 at 11:03 AM.

20th December 2007, 11:35 AM	#9
Paul C. Anagnostopoulos Nap, interrupted. Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: a little toolshed Posts: 18,592	Originally Posted by FireGarden But surely you've now collaborated with Worm on this thread, so Worm has an Erdos number of at most 5. (A horse has an Erdos number of 3). A horse wrote a paper with a person who has Erdös number 2? Link, please! ~~ Paul
	__________________ Millions long for immortality who do not know what to do with themselves on a rainy Sunday afternoon. ---Susan Ertz RIP Mr. Skinny Last edited by Paul C. Anagnostopoulos; 20th December 2007 at 11:35 AM.

20th December 2007, 11:47 AM	#10
FireGarden Philosopher Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Spannungsbogen -- without a visa Posts: 5,043	Your link led to: http://www.oakland.edu/enp/compute.html Which leads to: http://web.aanet.com.au/image/erdos/ Which names the horse: Smarty. The other writer was Jerry Grossman, which leads us back to this page: http://www.oakland.edu/enp/
	__________________ When Americans talk about freedom, it’s our secular code word for salvation. There’s no salvation outside the church; there’s no freedom outside the American way of life. -- James Carroll B'tselem Tony Karon's blog

20th December 2007, 02:56 PM	#11
Modified Illuminator Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: SW Florida Posts: 4,062	Originally Posted by FireGarden Your link led to: http://www.oakland.edu/enp/compute.html Which leads to: http://web.aanet.com.au/image/erdos/ Which names the horse: Smarty. The other writer was Jerry Grossman, which leads us back to this page: http://www.oakland.edu/enp/ They're using a pretty loose definition there. Likely there are animals with legitimate Erdös numbers, but probably none so low as 3. After all, I'm a named author on dozens of refereed articles that I haven't even read (though I contributed to the work behind them), so I'm sure there are a few non-humans who are as well.