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Ramblings

by Carlo Longino

Mon, Feb 6th 2006 10:43am





Doing The Math On Terrorism

from the we-all-use-math-every-day dept

Maybe somebody's been watching too much CBS on Friday nights: a professor at the University of Wisconsin is using math to try to predict where terrorists might strike. That sounds awfully similar to the show Numb3rs, where a math professor helps his FBI-agent brother solve cases using all sorts of math. But, like the show, this plan seems a little hard to believe, though it did score the prof a government research grant. While some type of mathematics or statistical analysis might be useful to help fight against terrorism, aren't there other efforts that could yield better and more specific results, like improved intelligence? Of course, some people might think that area's already covered.

12 Comments | Leave a Comment..


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  1.  

    Just an observation.

    identicon
    Stephen Garstin, Feb 6th, 2006 @ 12:18pm

    Isn't the show actually called "Numb3rs"?

    [ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]

  2.  

    Re: Just an observation.

    identicon
    Ben, Feb 6th, 2006 @ 12:21pm

    Yup.

    [ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]

  3.  

    Re: Just an observation.

    identicon
    Carlo, Feb 6th, 2006 @ 12:21pm

    thanks.

    [ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]

  4.  

    Re: Just an observation.

    identicon
    Andrew Benton, Feb 6th, 2006 @ 12:22pm

    Yes, we'll let the poster off with a slap on the wrist, seeing as how the show isnt worth watching, you cant expect him to correctly name the 1337 title -_-

    [ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]

  5.  

    Well I'm glad I read that

    identicon
    Rikko, Feb 6th, 2006 @ 12:27pm

    So she's trying to use "science" to do something a sociologist or social anthropologist should be doing? There are no equations or multipliers for how freaked out people get when something happens.

    Media coverage and overly emotional accounts do more than the nature of the actual event.

    [ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]

  6.  

    No Subject Given

    identicon
    STJ, Feb 6th, 2006 @ 12:38pm

    If someone can get a grant to study why people like coffee houses, why not this? PS can I get a grant to study why people are so stupid as to click on spam?

    [ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]

  7.  

    Leave the man alone!

    identicon
    Mountain Man, Feb 6th, 2006 @ 12:57pm

    The important thing to consider here are historical events such as WWII. Things such as cost effective rubber were developed by American scientists that we still use today. Space travel and satellites are another good result of war time ingenuity that now fuel our hunger for global information. We NEED change, we have become lazy and if one person sees a way to solve a problem... by all means let him run with it. If it fails... then we can laugh.

    [ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]

  8.  

    Intel[ligence]

    identicon
    KingoftheGreensdotCom, Feb 6th, 2006 @ 2:17pm

    It seems so much money, time, and effort is being spent on gathering the most accurate intelligence about terorism yet, when the president receives memo's stating Bin Laden is going to attack, he does nothing.//
    What good is all this if when presented with good intelligence it isn't acted upon? But when we hear the Iraq has WMD's we go to war...sounds like a case of selective hearing...
    Cheers!

    [ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]

  9.  

    Re: Intel[ligence]

    identicon
    Jim Quinn, Feb 6th, 2006 @ 2:53pm

    When did we get attacked by Osama and we were told before hand?I must have missed it,or was that the Cole(clinton),Embassy(clinton),,,,too much tee time for you............

    [ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]

  10.  

    Re: Intel[ligence]

    identicon
    Clay, Feb 6th, 2006 @ 3:05pm

    Well, since we've been warned again, what exactly shall we do this time to prepare? You seem to have all the answers, I wish we knew about you before all this happened!

    It makes no difference. If Bush had announced that 19 terrorists were about to crash 4 specific flights into 4 specific buildings, you would still think he screwed up.

    [ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]

  11.  

    Sorry

    identicon
    Johnny, Feb 6th, 2006 @ 4:20pm

    I apologize for my University, in the sprit of the administration thinking that they can do anything "just a well" as an ivy league school, some genuinely sensless studies take place in order to appear cutting edge.

    Wow, I just realized that my tuition pays for this guy to pretend to be max from the movie PI. Once again, sorry everyone.

    [ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]

  12.  

    Ignobels

    icon
    TechNoFear (profile), Feb 6th, 2006 @ 8:24pm

    Looks like one for the IgNobel Awards.

    http://www.improb.com/ig/ig-pastwinners.html#ig2005

    [ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]


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