Stats class
We had a lengthy discussion about Katrina and peak fuel consumption...we're going to have to make some decisions soon, both individually and as a country. For us, it comes down to whether or not my husband should quit his 2-hour-commute job. We're coming out in the hole, and wasting gas. But if he quits, he'll basically be blacklisted from universities around...or so we think...
We were (and are) all depressed (and should be!). But, Paul taught class as usual, and we did that "manic defense" thing where we were energetic and punchy to fend off the despair. Here are the results...a combination of the qualitative emphasis of my program, the required 1 credit stats class, and the despair:
Paul: "Absolute value isn't absolute. And it has to do with sexism. There's nothing neutral! It's discriminating! You men can wear suits and be CEO's and talk a certain way. But you women, we just change you to a plus sign and tell you to shut up and not be so emotional." (He was serious.)
Paul (explaining standard deviation): "It's like numerology. It's what you can depend on. There's no change, no anxiety..."
Student: "Like the army?"
Paul: I guess....
Student 2: "Didn't we have anxious corn?"
Paul: Yeah, but only because the corn didn't know statistics.
Student: "I feel like in the beginning, it was the Garden of Eden and everything was whole. Then the numbers went and started squaring themselves and it was all over. It's like they lost their virginity or something..."
Student: Is the mew sign an M or a u with a tail?
Paul: It's a u with a little tail.
Student: Your mew looks like an M. Its legs are open. It's a slutty mew.
Paul: I like messing with numbers. It makes me feel powerful.
Student: It makes me feel icky.
Paul: Well, that's why we're all a big happy family.
Paul: If someone is 2 standard deviations away, you know that they're way, way far from the norm. And then we usually decide to exterminate her.
Student: (theorizing as to why we do N-1 as opposed to N-any other number): "Well, 1 wasn't very cooperative when we squared everything, so maybe we're punishing it, and taking it out?"
Student: After the mean, everyone's an asshole.
Paul: No! Standard deviation is miraculous! It does wonders! It allows us to show how white Europeans are better than black Africans. It erases difference." (Yes, he was sarcastic!)
Student: *scratching intensely* It makes me itchy.
Well, home again home again....time to meet up with my hubby!
We were (and are) all depressed (and should be!). But, Paul taught class as usual, and we did that "manic defense" thing where we were energetic and punchy to fend off the despair. Here are the results...a combination of the qualitative emphasis of my program, the required 1 credit stats class, and the despair:
Paul: "Absolute value isn't absolute. And it has to do with sexism. There's nothing neutral! It's discriminating! You men can wear suits and be CEO's and talk a certain way. But you women, we just change you to a plus sign and tell you to shut up and not be so emotional." (He was serious.)
Paul (explaining standard deviation): "It's like numerology. It's what you can depend on. There's no change, no anxiety..."
Student: "Like the army?"
Paul: I guess....
Student 2: "Didn't we have anxious corn?"
Paul: Yeah, but only because the corn didn't know statistics.
Student: "I feel like in the beginning, it was the Garden of Eden and everything was whole. Then the numbers went and started squaring themselves and it was all over. It's like they lost their virginity or something..."
Student: Is the mew sign an M or a u with a tail?
Paul: It's a u with a little tail.
Student: Your mew looks like an M. Its legs are open. It's a slutty mew.
Paul: I like messing with numbers. It makes me feel powerful.
Student: It makes me feel icky.
Paul: Well, that's why we're all a big happy family.
Paul: If someone is 2 standard deviations away, you know that they're way, way far from the norm. And then we usually decide to exterminate her.
Student: (theorizing as to why we do N-1 as opposed to N-any other number): "Well, 1 wasn't very cooperative when we squared everything, so maybe we're punishing it, and taking it out?"
Student: After the mean, everyone's an asshole.
Paul: No! Standard deviation is miraculous! It does wonders! It allows us to show how white Europeans are better than black Africans. It erases difference." (Yes, he was sarcastic!)
Student: *scratching intensely* It makes me itchy.
Well, home again home again....time to meet up with my hubby!
posted by Wild West Intern @ 2:49 PM
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