Informed but opinionated commentary and analysis on urban transportation topics from the Secret Worldwide Transit Cabal. Names have been omitted to protect the guilty.

Our Mission: Monkeywrench the Anti-Transit Forces

 
Wendell Cox Can't Count - But Bugs Bunny Can!

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Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity: and I'm not so sure about the universe. Einstein


From the Cabalmaster:

Sometimes, when you least expect it, when you’re not looking, when your guard is down, etc and so forth . . .

Up pops yet another egregious example of Wendell’s mathematical and sophistical sophistry. (Or incompetence . . . we’re not sure which.)

Among the “hits” from a recent Google search included a “Wendellpage” titled “US Metro (Heavy Rail) Rankings 1996” www.publicpurpose.com/ut-us96hr.htm.

This includes three tables, ranking ten U.S. heavy rail systems on:

--“Cost per Vehicle Hour: 1996”

--“Passenger Miles per Vehicle Mile: 1996”

--“Cost per Passenger Mile: 1996”

But Wendell, as usual, can’t resist the urge to continue rather than quit while he’s ahead. So, in addition to crude (= “as-is”) statistics and rank order, he adds a column titled “Variance.” (Ha!)

The customary reference point for a “variance” is an average or some other measure of “central tendency” (e.g. median, mode).

But Wendell, as usual, does it . . . HIIIIIS WAY! (Apologies to the late, great Frank Sinatra.) The reference point for Wendell’s “variances” are . . . you guessed it . . . the top-ranked number, either smallest or largest. (Ha, ha!).

This has the effect of magnifying the difference (a typical Wendell-ian trick). It’s true that “$2.628” is “1321.4%” larger than “$0.185” . . . but “$0.185” is a mere 92.9604% smaller than “$2.628.”

(Hey, don’t take our word for it . . . give it a try on your trusty H-P or TI. And while you’re at it . . . you might consider avoiding spurious precision -- “1321.4%” – which is another Wendell-ian trick.)

What makes this even more laughable is that one table (“Cost per Passenger Mile: 1996”) DOES present an “Average”! (HA, HA!)

In the inimitable words of Bugs Bunny:
www.barbneal.com/wav/ltunes/Bugs/Bugs51.wav
www.barbneal.com/wav/ltunes/Bugs/Bugs13.wav

Regardless of what Wendell might think (e.g. www.barbneal.com/wav/ltunes/Bugs/Bugs69.wav), we can predict his response to anyone inquiring about the above: www.da-admiral.com/wavs/ahshutup.wav.

If pushed, he might resort (gulp!) to (gasp!) an “ad hominem” attack (aaauuurrgh!): www.nonstick.com/sounds/Bugs_Bunny/ltbb_123.wav.

One of these days, we may even receive a communiqué from Wendell himself. Imagine his thoughts: www.nonstick.com/sounds/bugs_bunny/ltbb_371.wav.

And what Wendell would like you to believe about the impact of this missive (should we ever receive it . . .): www.nonstick.com/sounds/bugs_bunny/ltbb_367.wav.

And here’s what Wendell would no doubt LOVE to hear from Your Favorite Transit Pundits: www.nonstick.com/sounds/bugs_bunny/ltbb_103.wav.

Y’know, maybe WE should quit while we’re ahead.


But . . . we can’t resist one last parting shot (which, after all, is you like this blog so much!): www.barbneal.com/wav/ltunes/Bugs/Bugs153.wav.



posted by The Cabalmaster, Master of All Transit-dom 1/27/2004 12:13:00 PM