Vagueness and the Aftermath - A sporadic diary

[RED-DOG]

Booked the ferry from Poole to Santander. We're going to have a couple of weeks pootling around southern Spain / Portugal in t' camper.

Suggestions re routes, things to see / do etc very welcome.

[celtic]

Your holidays always sound fun

Do you ever or have you ever gone on a 'traditional' holiday?

[Tonji]

From Santander I'd recommend heading to Santiago de Compostela, then the coast around Cape Finisterre. Sounds like a great trip.

[Doobs]

Why do you like the quote Tom?  As someone who uses stats a lot it just jars.  A bit like " lies, damn lies and statistics".  Yes, some people misuse statistics, and a proportion of them do so deliberately.  

This quote implies the vital stuff is usually missing, and the thing presented is interesting, but not important.  

I expect most stats you see used in life are both accurate enough, and without any deliberate attempt to mislead.  

The research where this started is interesting in this context.  I don't believe children are much slower than they ever were, but the researchers have observed there stamina over a mile isn't as good as it was.  To me a Cheetah can run at 70mph, even if it is lying in a heap after 2 miles.  But by presenting this research as children aren't as fast as they used to be isn't a damn lie or hiding anything vital.  Even the article itself covered the reality of the situation.

Over to you.

[Karabiner]

Booked the ferry from Poole to Santander. We're going to have a couple of weeks pootling around southern Spain / Portugal in t' camper.

Suggestions re routes, things to see / do etc very welcome.

That coast road beween Santander and Biarritz is absolutely stunning iirc.

Mind you that might be in the wrong direction for you unless you're planning on including a visit to Pamplona on your travels, in which case it would only be a slight detour.

[david3103]

Why do you like the quote Tom?  As someone who uses stats a lot it just jars.  A bit like " lies, damn lies and statistics".  Yes, some people misuse statistics, and a proportion of them do so deliberately.  

This quote implies the vital stuff is usually missing, and the thing presented is interesting, but not important.  

I expect most stats you see used in life are both accurate enough, and without any deliberate attempt to mislead.  

The research where this started is interesting in this context.  I don't believe children are much slower than they ever were, but the researchers have observed there stamina over a mile isn't as good as it was.  To me a Cheetah can run at 70mph, even if it is lying in a heap after 2 miles.  But by presenting this research as children aren't as fast as they used to be isn't a damn lie or hiding anything vital.  Even the article itself covered the reality of the situation.

Over to you.

I like it because it amuses me.

I took issue with your response because you seemed to me to be using the words data and statistics as though they were the same thing.
I was, once, a student of statistics and although I've forgotten most of what I learnt I do know that if you select your data carefully you can mislead people. For instance, presenting statistics on cruise liner safety between the dates 16/04/1912 and 12/03/2012 would be a rather different presentation than one based on 14/04/1912 and 14/03/2012...

I only ever met one member of your profession and he explained how to tell the difference between an introvert or an extrovert actuary. Apparently an introvert looks at his shoes when in conversation with you, whilst an extrovert looks at yours...
Somehow I don't think you fit that mould.

[nirvana]

Apparently an introvert looks at his shoes when in conversation with you, whilst an extrovert looks at yours...

This is funny - in fact my poll shows that 100% of people find this the funniest thing they've read in a week or two

[RED-DOG]

Why do you like the quote Tom?  As someone who uses stats a lot it just jars.  A bit like " lies, damn lies and statistics".  Yes, some people misuse statistics, and a proportion of them do so deliberately.  

This quote implies the vital stuff is usually missing, and the thing presented is interesting, but not important.  

I expect most stats you see used in life are both accurate enough, and without any deliberate attempt to mislead.  

The research where this started is interesting in this context.  I don't believe children are much slower than they ever were, but the researchers have observed there stamina over a mile isn't as good as it was.  To me a Cheetah can run at 70mph, even if it is lying in a heap after 2 miles.  But by presenting this research as children aren't as fast as they used to be isn't a damn lie or hiding anything vital.  Even the article itself covered the reality of the situation.

Over to you.

I like the quote because of the clever use of language. I enjoyed the juxtaposition of boring numbers and exciting girlie anatomy.

I know I'm shallow, but at least I'm honest.

[doubleup]

I only ever met one member of your profession and he explained how to tell the difference between an introvert or an extrovert actuary. Apparently an introvert looks at his shoes when in conversation with you, whilst an extrovert looks at yours...

The only Actuary I know well told me the very same joke.  That's 100% of actuaries.

[RED-DOG]

I only ever met one member of your profession and he explained how to tell the difference between an introvert or an extrovert actuary. Apparently an introvert looks at his shoes when in conversation with you, whilst an extrovert looks at yours...

The only Actuary I know well told me the very same joke.  That's 100% of actuaries.

Misleading stat alert!

[Doobs]

I only ever met one member of your profession and he explained how to tell the difference between an introvert or an extrovert actuary. Apparently an introvert looks at his shoes when in conversation with you, whilst an extrovert looks at yours...

The only Actuary I know well told me the very same joke.  That's 100% of actuaries.

Misleading stat alert!

Think he may have whooshed you?   

To be fair, the extrapolation isn't entirely inaccurate. 

[Jon MW]

I only ever met one member of your profession and he explained how to tell the difference between an introvert or an extrovert actuary. Apparently an introvert looks at his shoes when in conversation with you, whilst an extrovert looks at yours...

The only Actuary I know well told me the very same joke.  That's 100% of actuaries.

Misleading stat alert!

statistically it would be more accurate to say - potentially misleading alert

[RED-DOG]

I only ever met one member of your profession and he explained how to tell the difference between an introvert or an extrovert actuary. Apparently an introvert looks at his shoes when in conversation with you, whilst an extrovert looks at yours...

The only Actuary I know well told me the very same joke.  That's 100% of actuaries.

Misleading stat alert!

Think he may have whooshed you?   

Or I you?

[doubleup]

I only ever met one member of your profession and he explained how to tell the difference between an introvert or an extrovert actuary. Apparently an introvert looks at his shoes when in conversation with you, whilst an extrovert looks at yours...

The only Actuary I know well told me the very same joke.  That's 100% of actuaries.

Misleading stat alert!

Think he may have whooshed you?   

Or I you?

he could be woosh-levelling - a dark art of the faculty that few master.

 

[doubleup]

btw Tom where were you when Kennedy died?  Did in mean anything to your cultural group? 

It was quite a big thing for my catholic background - I remember my mother crying when the news was on the radio, which I hadn't seen before.