RE: Dembski and Caesar cyphers

From: Glenn Morton (glenn.morton@btinternet.com)
Date: Fri Nov 22 2002 - 00:48:48 EST

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    Blake wrote:

    >-----Original Message-----
    >Sent: Thursday, November 21, 2002 9:43 PM
    >
    >
    >In looking for relationships among data I can ALWAYS
    >come up with an equation that matches all the data
    >points EXACTLY. This is nothing unusual. The problem
    >is, in finding an equation that actually describes the
    >relationship (if one exists). If I am writing the
    >equation to specifically hit all the data points
    >(rather than finding a general relationship among the
    >data), I use up all my degrees of freedom and the
    >results are not going to be statistically significant.
    > Thus, my solution is obviously ad hoc.

    An equation is a general relationship between the points. A Fourier
    function can match any single valued function what so ever--simple or
    complex. We use them in geophysics and signal analysis all the time. But,
    I suspect that you are looking for a simple relationship, like a linear
    regression which doesn't hit all the points and would prefer to claim that
    such a relation is a better indication of design than is something which
    requires a Fourier approach. I would say this, Signals in communications
    are designed, but they can't be described with simple functions. They need
    Fourier and similar approaches.

    >
    >My strong intuition is that there is an easy way to
    >distinguish between something post hoc and clumsy like
    >your "code" and something that appears to be designed.

    My 'clumsy' code, was designed by a man named Blaise de Vigenere. If there
    is an easy way to tell the difference between a code I design before giving
    Dembski the random looking sequence and one in which I design after giving
    Dembski the sequence, I would love to hear how you could do it.

    > If your code were an equation, I would easily reject
    >it as not likely to be design, because I have no
    >degrees of freedome left, so to speak.

    Then you would reject much of moder Electrical Engineering.

    see http://www.glenn.morton.btinternet.co.uk/dmd.htm
    for lots of creation/evolution information
    anthropology/geology/paleontology/theology\
    personal stories of struggle

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