August 5, 2025

Bunnings NPC Predictions for Week 2

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Team Ratings for Week 2

The basic method is described on my Department home page.
Here are the team ratings prior to this week’s games, along with the ratings at the start of the season.

Current Rating Rating at Season Start Difference
Bay of Plenty 8.00 6.48 1.50
Taranaki 5.92 5.30 0.60
Canterbury 5.52 4.02 1.50
Waikato 5.28 5.46 -0.20
Wellington 5.09 6.60 -1.50
Hawke’s Bay 2.79 0.68 2.10
Tasman 1.96 3.49 -1.50
Auckland 0.14 -0.04 0.20
North Harbour -0.08 1.50 -1.60
Otago -0.28 -1.15 0.90
Counties Manukau -2.38 -0.26 -2.10
Southland -6.77 -5.90 -0.90
Northland -7.16 -6.54 -0.60
Manawatu -11.88 -13.45 1.60

 

Performance So Far

So far there have been 7 matches played, 5 of which were correctly predicted, a success rate of 71.4%.
Here are the predictions for last week’s games.

Game Date Score Prediction Correct
1 Auckland vs. Waikato Jul 31 35 – 36 -2.50 TRUE
2 Manawatu vs. North Harbour Aug 01 38 – 25 -11.90 FALSE
3 Wellington vs. Canterbury Aug 02 15 – 33 5.60 FALSE
4 Southland vs. Otago Aug 02 15 – 24 -1.80 TRUE
5 Taranaki vs. Northland Aug 02 23 – 3 14.80 TRUE
6 Bay of Plenty vs. Tasman Aug 03 37 – 7 6.00 TRUE
7 Hawke’s Bay vs. Counties Manukau Aug 03 54 – 14 3.90 TRUE

 

Predictions for Week 2

Here are the predictions for Week 2. The prediction is my estimated expected points difference with a positive margin being a win to the home team, and a negative margin a win to the away team.

Game Date Winner Prediction
1 Northland vs. Southland Aug 08 Northland 2.60
2 North Harbour vs. Taranaki Aug 09 Taranaki -3.00
3 Waikato vs. Wellington Aug 09 Waikato 3.20
4 Tasman vs. Manawatu Aug 09 Tasman 16.80
5 Canterbury vs. Auckland Aug 09 Canterbury 8.40
6 Counties Manukau vs. Bay of Plenty Aug 10 Bay of Plenty -7.40
7 Otago vs. Hawke’s Bay Aug 10 Hawke’s Bay -0.10

 

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Currie Cup Predictions for Round 3

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Team Ratings for Round 3

The basic method is described on my Department home page.
Here are the team ratings prior to this week’s games, along with the ratings at the start of the season.

Current Rating Rating at Season Start Difference
Lions 12.60 10.01 2.60
Bulls 11.09 5.94 5.10
Cheetahs 4.31 4.33 -0.00
Sharks 0.75 6.68 -5.90
Western Province -3.74 -1.94 -1.80
Pumas -3.75 -4.16 0.40
Griquas -3.91 -2.85 -1.10
Boland Cavaliers -9.33 -10.00 0.70

 

Performance So Far

So far there have been 8 matches played, 7 of which were correctly predicted, a success rate of 87.5%.
Here are the predictions for last week’s games.

Game Date Score Prediction Correct
1 Cheetahs vs. Pumas Aug 02 42 – 25 9.40 TRUE
2 Lions vs. Western Province Aug 03 40 – 19 19.40 TRUE
3 Bulls vs. Sharks Aug 03 64 – 0 6.70 TRUE
4 Griquas vs. Boland Cavaliers Aug 04 49 – 38 8.10 TRUE

 

Predictions for Round 3

Here are the predictions for Round 3. The prediction is my estimated expected points difference with a positive margin being a win to the home team, and a negative margin a win to the away team.

Game Date Winner Prediction
1 Griquas vs. Western Province Aug 09 Griquas 3.30
2 Bulls vs. Pumas Aug 10 Bulls 18.30
3 Sharks vs. Cheetahs Aug 10 Cheetahs -0.10
4 Boland Cavaliers vs. Lions Aug 11 Lions -18.40

 

AFL Predictions for Week 23

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Team Ratings for Week 23

The basic method is described on my Department home page.
Here are the team ratings prior to this week’s games, along with the ratings at the start of the season.

Current Rating Rating at Season Start Difference
Western Bulldogs 29.27 18.20 11.10
Adelaide Crows 27.21 2.69 24.50
Geelong Cats 26.39 15.04 11.40
Hawthorn Hawks 16.96 21.95 -5.00
Brisbane Lions 16.13 22.65 -6.50
Collingwood 13.31 5.39 7.90
Gold Coast Suns 12.54 -6.41 19.00
GWS Giants 8.98 9.08 -0.10
Fremantle Dockers 8.43 5.99 2.40
Melbourne Demons -0.28 -0.21 -0.10
Sydney Swans -1.75 12.60 -14.40
St Kilda Saints -5.85 0.89 -6.70
Carlton Blues -7.36 5.01 -12.40
Port Adelaide Power -12.01 7.63 -19.60
Essendon Bombers -25.10 -10.15 -15.00
North Melbourne -27.53 -37.08 9.60
Richmond Tigers -31.34 -31.00 -0.30
West Coast Eagles -40.40 -34.67 -5.70

 

Performance So Far

So far there have been 179 matches played, 122 of which were correctly predicted, a success rate of 68.2%.
Here are the predictions for last week’s games.

Game Date Score Prediction Correct
1 Western Bulldogs vs. GWS Giants Jul 31 132 – 44 22.90 TRUE
2 Adelaide Crows vs. Hawthorn Hawks Aug 01 101 – 87 23.50 TRUE
3 Melbourne Demons vs. West Coast Eagles Aug 02 139 – 56 46.00 TRUE
4 Gold Coast Suns vs. Richmond Tigers Aug 02 107 – 23 50.10 TRUE
5 Sydney Swans vs. Essendon Bombers Aug 02 68 – 54 37.90 TRUE
6 Collingwood vs. Brisbane Lions Aug 02 65 – 92 13.80 FALSE
7 St Kilda Saints vs. North Melbourne Aug 03 78 – 69 24.10 TRUE
8 Geelong Cats vs. Port Adelaide Power Aug 03 153 – 65 43.30 TRUE
9 Fremantle Dockers vs. Carlton Blues Aug 03 94 – 67 26.70 TRUE

 

Predictions for Week 23

Here are the predictions for Week 23. The prediction is my estimated expected points difference with a positive margin being a win to the home team, and a negative margin a win to the away team.

Game Date Winner Prediction
1 Hawthorn Hawks vs. Collingwood Aug 07 Hawthorn Hawks 3.70
2 Geelong Cats vs. Essendon Bombers Aug 08 Geelong Cats 62.50
3 Richmond Tigers vs. St Kilda Saints Aug 09 St Kilda Saints -25.50
4 Brisbane Lions vs. Sydney Swans Aug 09 Brisbane Lions 28.90
5 Carlton Blues vs. Gold Coast Suns Aug 09 Gold Coast Suns -8.90
6 Port Adelaide Power vs. Fremantle Dockers Aug 09 Fremantle Dockers -9.40
7 GWS Giants vs. North Melbourne Aug 10 GWS Giants 47.50
8 Melbourne Demons vs. Western Bulldogs Aug 10 Western Bulldogs -29.60
9 West Coast Eagles vs. Adelaide Crows Aug 10 Adelaide Crows -56.60

 

August 3, 2025

Where are they now: asthma

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From 2015 in the Herald and in StatsChat

Asthma could be cured within five years after scientists discovered what causes the condition and how to switch it off

As I noted at the time: nope, and nope.

Following up, the drugs in question, called calcilytics, continue to not be used to treat asthma. Hope is not entirely lost — a 2022 research paper says

these data firmly suggest that first-in-human studies will be feasible, desirable and achievable in the short term.

So it might still be true that this research eventually leads to useful treatments, but it certainly didn’t happen five years ago.

 

July 29, 2025

NRL Predictions for Round 22

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Team Ratings for Round 22

The basic method is described on my Department home page.
Here are the team ratings prior to this week’s games, along with the ratings at the start of the season.

Current Rating Rating at Season Start Difference
Storm 10.26 9.29 1.00
Panthers 7.03 8.50 -1.50
Roosters 4.33 7.44 -3.10
Dolphins 3.69 -1.96 5.60
Bulldogs 3.67 0.07 3.60
Sharks 3.14 5.10 -2.00
Raiders 2.82 -3.61 6.40
Sea Eagles 1.82 2.97 -1.20
Broncos 0.44 -1.82 2.30
Warriors -0.20 -1.68 1.50
Cowboys -2.17 4.11 -6.30
Dragons -3.85 -4.55 0.70
Knights -4.27 -0.05 -4.20
Rabbitohs -5.19 -4.35 -0.80
Eels -5.42 -3.02 -2.40
Titans -7.02 -5.50 -1.50
Wests Tigers -9.09 -10.97 1.90

 

Performance So Far

So far there have been 156 matches played, 99 of which were correctly predicted, a success rate of 63.5%.
Here are the predictions for last week’s games.

Game Date Score Prediction Correct
1 Roosters vs. Storm Jul 24 30 – 34 -2.70 TRUE
2 Cowboys vs. Dragons Jul 25 38 – 32 4.40 TRUE
3 Broncos vs. Eels Jul 25 20 – 22 10.00 FALSE
4 Warriors vs. Titans Jul 26 16 – 24 12.10 FALSE
5 Panthers vs. Wests Tigers Jul 26 36 – 2 14.40 TRUE
6 Rabbitohs vs. Sharks Jul 26 12 – 14 -9.10 TRUE
7 Raiders vs. Knights Jul 27 44 – 18 8.50 TRUE
8 Bulldogs vs. Sea Eagles Jul 27 42 – 4 2.00 TRUE

 

Predictions for Round 22

Here are the predictions for Round 22. The prediction is my estimated expected points difference with a positive margin being a win to the home team, and a negative margin a win to the away team.

Game Date Winner Prediction
1 Eels vs. Storm Jul 31 Storm -12.70
2 Warriors vs. Dolphins Aug 01 Dolphins -0.40
3 Broncos vs. Rabbitohs Aug 01 Broncos 8.60
4 Titans vs. Panthers Aug 02 Panthers -11.10
5 Dragons vs. Raiders Aug 02 Raiders -3.70
6 Sea Eagles vs. Roosters Aug 02 Sea Eagles 0.50
7 Wests Tigers vs. Bulldogs Aug 03 Bulldogs -9.80
8 Sharks vs. Cowboys Aug 03 Sharks 8.30

 

Bunnings NPC Predictions for Week 1

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Team Ratings for Week 1

The basic method is described on my Department home page.
Here are the team ratings prior to this week’s games, along with the ratings at the start of the season.

Current Rating Rating at Season Start Difference
Wellington 6.60 6.60 0.00
Bay of Plenty 6.48 6.48 0.00
Waikato 5.46 5.46 -0.00
Taranaki 5.30 5.30 0.00
Canterbury 4.02 4.02 0.00
Tasman 3.49 3.49 0.00
North Harbour 1.50 1.50 0.00
Hawke’s Bay 0.68 0.68 0.00
Auckland -0.04 -0.04 0.00
Counties Manukau -0.26 -0.26 0.00
Otago -1.15 -1.15 0.00
Southland -5.90 -5.90 0.00
Northland -6.54 -6.54 -0.00
Manawatu -13.45 -13.45 -0.00

 

Predictions for Week 1

Here are the predictions for Week 1. The prediction is my estimated expected points difference with a positive margin being a win to the home team, and a negative margin a win to the away team.

Game Date Winner Prediction
1 Auckland vs. Waikato Jul 31 Waikato -2.50
2 Manawatu vs. North Harbour Aug 01 North Harbour -11.90
3 Wellington vs. Canterbury Aug 02 Wellington 5.60
4 Southland vs. Otago Aug 02 Otago -1.80
5 Taranaki vs. Northland Aug 02 Taranaki 14.80
6 Bay of Plenty vs. Tasman Aug 03 Bay of Plenty 6.00
7 Hawke’s Bay vs. Counties Manukau Aug 03 Hawke’s Bay 3.90

 

Currie Cup Predictions for Round 2

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Team Ratings for Round 2

The basic method is described on my Department home page.
Here are the team ratings prior to this week’s games, along with the ratings at the start of the season.

Current Rating Rating at Season Start Difference
Lions 12.37 10.01 2.40
Bulls 7.52 5.94 1.60
Sharks 4.32 6.68 -2.40
Cheetahs 3.25 4.33 -1.10
Pumas -2.69 -4.16 1.50
Western Province -3.52 -1.94 -1.60
Griquas -4.32 -2.85 -1.50
Boland Cavaliers -8.92 -10.00 1.10

 

Performance So Far

So far there have been 4 matches played, 3 of which were correctly predicted, a success rate of 75%.
Here are the predictions for last week’s games.

Game Date Score Prediction Correct
1 Pumas vs. Griquas Jul 26 49 – 28 2.20 TRUE
2 Lions vs. Sharks Jul 27 46 – 5 6.80 TRUE
3 Western Province vs. Bulls Jul 27 23 – 48 -4.40 TRUE
4 Boland Cavaliers vs. Cheetahs Jul 28 37 – 35 -10.80 FALSE

 

Predictions for Round 2

Here are the predictions for Round 2. The prediction is my estimated expected points difference with a positive margin being a win to the home team, and a negative margin a win to the away team.

Game Date Winner Prediction
1 Cheetahs vs. Pumas Aug 02 Cheetahs 9.40
2 Lions vs. Western Province Aug 03 Lions 19.40
3 Bulls vs. Sharks Aug 03 Bulls 6.70
4 Griquas vs. Boland Cavaliers Aug 04 Griquas 8.10

 

AFL Predictions for Week 22

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Team Ratings for Week 22

The basic method is described on my Department home page.
Here are the team ratings prior to this week’s games, along with the ratings at the start of the season.

Current Rating Rating at Season Start Difference
Adelaide Crows 28.35 2.69 25.70
Western Bulldogs 25.10 18.20 6.90
Geelong Cats 23.36 15.04 8.30
Collingwood 16.11 5.39 10.70
Hawthorn Hawks 15.81 21.95 -6.10
Brisbane Lions 13.33 22.65 -9.30
GWS Giants 13.15 9.08 4.10
Gold Coast Suns 10.14 -6.41 16.60
Fremantle Dockers 8.39 5.99 2.40
Sydney Swans 0.04 12.60 -12.60
Melbourne Demons -2.87 -0.21 -2.70
St Kilda Saints -4.65 0.89 -5.50
Carlton Blues -7.32 5.01 -12.30
Port Adelaide Power -8.98 7.63 -16.60
Essendon Bombers -26.88 -10.15 -16.70
North Melbourne -28.73 -37.08 8.40
Richmond Tigers -28.94 -31.00 2.10
West Coast Eagles -37.82 -34.67 -3.20

 

Performance So Far

So far there have been 170 matches played, 114 of which were correctly predicted, a success rate of 67.1%.
Here are the predictions for last week’s games.

Game Date Score Prediction Correct
1 Hawthorn Hawks vs. Carlton Blues Jul 24 85 – 61 22.90 TRUE
2 Essendon Bombers vs. Western Bulldogs Jul 25 50 – 143 -45.60 TRUE
3 GWS Giants vs. Sydney Swans Jul 25 102 – 58 12.60 TRUE
4 Gold Coast Suns vs. Brisbane Lions Jul 26 130 – 64 -8.60 FALSE
5 Fremantle Dockers vs. West Coast Eagles Jul 26 126 – 77 45.30 TRUE
6 North Melbourne vs. Geelong Cats Jul 26 49 – 150 -32.40 TRUE
7 Adelaide Crows vs. Port Adelaide Power Jul 26 133 – 35 28.50 TRUE
8 Richmond Tigers vs. Collingwood Jul 27 57 – 93 -47.90 TRUE
9 St Kilda Saints vs. Melbourne Demons Jul 27 96 – 90 -4.20 FALSE

 

Predictions for Week 22

Here are the predictions for Week 22. The prediction is my estimated expected points difference with a positive margin being a win to the home team, and a negative margin a win to the away team.

Game Date Winner Prediction
1 Western Bulldogs vs. GWS Giants Jul 31 Western Bulldogs 22.90
2 Adelaide Crows vs. Hawthorn Hawks Aug 01 Adelaide Crows 23.50
3 Melbourne Demons vs. West Coast Eagles Aug 02 Melbourne Demons 46.00
4 Gold Coast Suns vs. Richmond Tigers Aug 02 Gold Coast Suns 50.10
5 Sydney Swans vs. Essendon Bombers Aug 02 Sydney Swans 37.90
6 Collingwood vs. Brisbane Lions Aug 02 Collingwood 13.80
7 St Kilda Saints vs. North Melbourne Aug 03 St Kilda Saints 24.10
8 Geelong Cats vs. Port Adelaide Power Aug 03 Geelong Cats 43.30
9 Fremantle Dockers vs. Carlton Blues Aug 03 Fremantle Dockers 26.70

 

July 24, 2025

Currie Cup Predictions for Round 1

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Team Ratings for Round 1

The basic method is described on my Department home page.
Here are the team ratings prior to this week’s games, along with the ratings at the start of the season.

Current Rating Rating at Season Start Difference
Lions 10.01 10.01 -0.00
Sharks 6.68 6.68 0.00
Bulls 5.94 5.94 -0.00
Cheetahs 4.33 4.33 -0.00
Western Province -1.94 -1.94 0.00
Griquas -2.85 -2.85 0.00
Pumas -4.16 -4.16 -0.00
Boland Cavaliers -10.00 -10.00 0.00

 

Predictions for Round 1

Here are the predictions for Round 1. The prediction is my estimated expected points difference with a positive margin being a win to the home team, and a negative margin a win to the away team.

Game Date Winner Prediction
1 Pumas vs. Griquas Jul 26 Pumas 2.20
2 Lions vs. Sharks Jul 27 Lions 6.80
3 Western Province vs. Bulls Jul 27 Bulls -4.40
4 Boland Cavaliers vs. Cheetahs Jul 28 Cheetahs -10.80

 

July 23, 2025

Most commonly reported

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From XKCD, the most commonly reported plant and animal on iNaturalist for each US state (click to embiggen)

This is mostly about selection biases of various types: how recognisable the plant or animal is and how interesting.  Saguaro, in Arizona, are not exactly rare, but they aren’t the most commonly seen plant. They are famously associated with the southwest desert and immediately recognisable, so they get reported often.  In other states, the most common plant is genuinely common: yarrow in Montana, California Poppy in California, Amur honeysuckle (sadly) in some Kentucky and Indiana.

So what is it in New Zealand? Looking at the “research-grade” reports, because it’s easier, the most common animal seems to be the kererū, with the pīwakawaka second. Easy to recognise, popular, interesting. For plants, it’s the māhoe, which I wasn’t expecting.

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