Math geeks, part two: Last week I criticized a "nameless" research firm for playing fast and loose with its statistical methodology. I received several responses, seemingly all from Ph.D.'s, basically saying that I got it right but for the wrong reasons. What I've learned is that a small sample size is not necessarily a fatal flaw, but that failing to choose the right population rigorously to sample -- the sampling frame -- is where most research falls down. Failing to disclose the margin of error is adding insult to injury. Lesson learned: When in doubt, hire a Ph.D.

Math geeks, part three: While flipping through my copy of the Brown University Computer Science Department's latest glossy magazine (lead article, "Randomness Is Beautiful, in Search of von Neumann"), I had a brief flashback to my late nights spent trying to get programs in Pascal to compile (sometimes did) and then run on an Apollo workstation (almost never could). To those about to code, I salute you!