Statistical Songs Roundup

 Data and Methods  No Responses »
Apr 262013
 

Today is clearly a day for statistical songs (are there any other days?), so here are some links to get you started.

To kick of the stat song roundup, here are some … interesting insights into the culture that is biostatics, complete with some remarkably dreadful audio material.

Obviously, you tube has a whole channel devoted to statistical songs, featuring, inter alia, Michael Greenacre, of Correspondence Analysis fame. To the true connoisseur,  it might appear a bit overproduced, but this little gem on Single Value Decomposition is very neat.

For the Structural Equation Modelling buffs, nothing compares to Alan Reifman’s annual reprise of  “SEM – the Musical”.

But for the purists, there is only one thing, something that I have watched with awe (and slowly building shock) growing beyond all expectations. The conspiracy against Frequentism have their very own book of Bayesian praise, complete with  LaTex  source, now compromising 40-odd songs including some “previously lost classic songs”, including “Bayesians in the night” (two versions, actually).

 

Joint Sessions 2013: Some Pictures and a Dalek

 Political Science  2 Responses »
Mar 042013
 

I know that blogging is a wee bit monothematic at the moment, and frankly, I could not care less. So here are some pictures of Jasmin’s lair, which by now contains roughly 700 conference bags (to be stuffed from tomorrow), several dozen books, lots of other paperwork, the ECPR flag and a small British tea kettle, complete with UK plug and a set of adaptors. The latter items arrived today in that Dalek-like black box in the middle. Seriously.

In other news, it was a beautiful bright and sunny day in Mainz (more webcams here). We hope the weather stays this fine. If not, there is always that workshop on climate change 2.0.

Joint Sessions 2013: Some Pictures and a DalekJoint Sessions 2013: Some Pictures and a DalekJoint Sessions 2013: Some Pictures and a DalekJoint Sessions 2013: Some Pictures and a DalekJoint Sessions 2013: Some Pictures and a DalekJoint Sessions 2013: Some Pictures and a Dalek
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What Kind of Detective are you, method-wise?

 What Kind of Detective are you, method-wise?  Data and Methods  No Responses »
Feb 102013
 

Pat Thomson – drawing on work by Noel Gough – likens epistemological positions to crime-novel heroes. Turns out I’m a positivist (or post-positivist? why post-?) Sherlock, though I would rather be a Sam Spade or Philip Marlowe  (guess their epistemological vantage point). They are way cooler, and I’d prefer the Bourbon over the morphine. What kind of detective are you?

Random Fun Fact of the Day: Machine Learning and Statistics

 Random Fun Fact of the Day: Machine Learning and Statistics  Data and Methods  No Responses »
Jan 052013
 

Every sentient and internet enabled being in the Western world has by now noticed that Amazon’s “customers who bought this item” algorithm is one of the most successful exercises in machine learning. Like various algorithms used by Google, it is oftentimes accurate as well as slightly frightening.

A friend of mine (who is an engineer) told me that he bought an administrator’s guide to Cisco routers. Amazon concluded that he might also be interested in “Cooking for one”. I, on the other hand, recently browsed the excellent Cambridge “Dictionary of Statistics” and also had a look at “All of Statistics” (preposterous title, but an interesting book – incidentally, it tries to convey statistical basics to engineers interested in machine learning). Amazon suggested to round off my order with – drum roll – “Fifty Shades of Grey”. I’m sure my students would agree that there is an intimate link between these three titles.

Google-bombing the English Defence League

 Political Science  No Responses »
Nov 262012
 

I could drone on about neo-Gramscian approaches to Social Media, but lets be frank: The English Disco Lovers’ attempt to displace the (so far) slightly better known English Defence League from google’s number one spot is part tongue-in-cheek, part plain silly. Then again, they post silly stuff and run competitions. If you take that as an endorsement, why not like them on Facebook, follow them on twitter, or blog/tumble about them?

Capitalism, Hobbes, students, and the state: three out of four ain’t bad

 Uncategorized  1 Response »
Dec 052010
 

You couldn’t make up this extract from a student’s essay a friend just sent me:

If the state allows one to free to earn more money he will do so regardless of others positions in society as human nature has a constant demand for more. This will inevitably lead to the notion of luxury goods, which is another step away from Hobbes’ “states of nature”

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