... with a PhD in Statistics?
Evidently think up random (both in the Statistical and non-Statistical sense) TV shows and songs based around your Statistics life.
And now displaying my pretty poor songwriting skills...
My Markov Chain
This device was brilliant;
This device was pure;
I assumed 2 states;
Of which I'm not quite sure;
I saw a transition matrix;
With its non-negative entries inside;
It was also square, with row sums equal to one, and no symmetry inside
My Markov Chain; My Markov Chain; Oh Markov Chain what will you do
I saw you move from state 1, to state 2,
Now I don't know what you'll do, cos you're always on the move...
So much potential in talking about it's use in Monte Carlo simulations and Hidden Markov Models...so little time and talent to do so. I think you get the message.
Monday, 28 February 2011
Sunday, 20 February 2011
Humour...
...the all important oil for the machine that is life.
As I continue procrastinating and thus planning more about possible TV show ideas (not just Freeman!), I've given some thought about some of the characters on Freeman, a sitcom about PhD life.
Thus far, I've only mentioned our "protagonist", Freeman; an older male PhD student (between 25-30) who is in the final years of his PhD. Being older and wiser, he provides words of wisdom on Phd-ness to those in the lower years, although occasionally has adult child tendencies. Fulfils the Wisecracker type role, similar to Jerry Seinfield.
But there is a whole cast of main and support and characters that will eventually be introduced. Let me firstly introduce you to the person closest to my heart (literally); Nam.
Nam: a younger male PhD student than Freeman and in the initial stages of his PhD. In some respects, the protégé of Freeman as he lacks confidence, knowledge and experience of the world. Could be a possible male Liz Lemon, as he likes to sing songs (which is really just singing the name of object/topic to the same tune) about Buster, the departmental cluster, or his supervisor. When he's alone of course.
Much of the humour lies in the relationship between Freeman and Nam, the most apparent being the almost race/culture/maturity reversal between the two. For example, Nam, despite being of Chinese ethnicity, shows no traces of the associated race traits, whilst Freeman, seems to have acquired these traits whilst being Jewish. Nam thus dislikes Freeman's slurping of hot beverages (but secretly finds it comforting as it reminds him of home...).
By the end of the series, when Freeman eventually finishes his PhD, Nam will of course have transformed into a confident person and become the mentor to a similar type of person probably. Might be offered a spin-off although who wants to watch a near identical show to Freeman... If the show however does continue with Nam in Freeman's role, mentoring a urban streetwise kid say, it is clearly a sign that the show has jumped the shark.
Thus far, I've only mentioned our "protagonist", Freeman; an older male PhD student (between 25-30) who is in the final years of his PhD. Being older and wiser, he provides words of wisdom on Phd-ness to those in the lower years, although occasionally has adult child tendencies. Fulfils the Wisecracker type role, similar to Jerry Seinfield.
But there is a whole cast of main and support and characters that will eventually be introduced. Let me firstly introduce you to the person closest to my heart (literally); Nam.
Nam: a younger male PhD student than Freeman and in the initial stages of his PhD. In some respects, the protégé of Freeman as he lacks confidence, knowledge and experience of the world. Could be a possible male Liz Lemon, as he likes to sing songs (which is really just singing the name of object/topic to the same tune) about Buster, the departmental cluster, or his supervisor. When he's alone of course.
Much of the humour lies in the relationship between Freeman and Nam, the most apparent being the almost race/culture/maturity reversal between the two. For example, Nam, despite being of Chinese ethnicity, shows no traces of the associated race traits, whilst Freeman, seems to have acquired these traits whilst being Jewish. Nam thus dislikes Freeman's slurping of hot beverages (but secretly finds it comforting as it reminds him of home...).
By the end of the series, when Freeman eventually finishes his PhD, Nam will of course have transformed into a confident person and become the mentor to a similar type of person probably. Might be offered a spin-off although who wants to watch a near identical show to Freeman... If the show however does continue with Nam in Freeman's role, mentoring a urban streetwise kid say, it is clearly a sign that the show has jumped the shark.
Friday, 11 February 2011
Jack of all Trades...
...master of none. I think this phrase is quite apt for me. Perhaps I should have it as my epitaph, although I do like "His surname provided hours of pun-tertainment".
Anyway, on with the show...
I've had more thoughts about how I envisage my "Freeman" sitcom and have got round to what I think the theme tune should be. It should ideally be in the style of a 70s American sitcom (see the Mary Tyler Moore show example below) and warrant a Thematic Theme Tune trope.
The new theme tune needs to include shots of the following:
1) Freeman standing in front of a blackboard doing Statistics, possibly transitioning into a "Eureka/I've got it!" expression.
2) Freeman giving a presentation on some hard Statistics to some old stuffy professors in tweed jackets.
3) Freeman trying to open a door whilst holding two mugs of hot tea.
4) Freeman playing badminton or squash (he's got it all you see...)
5) Freeman having a good time and eat noodles in a noodle bar smiling and laughing.
6) And as per Mary Tyler Moore, it should definitely end with Freeman throwing up some successfully submitted papers (possibly even his completed thesis but this might hurt) into the air, whilst he looks up in amazement and the shot then freezes on.
You see Freeman, despite all his trials and tribulations, will make it after all.
Anyway, on with the show...
I've had more thoughts about how I envisage my "Freeman" sitcom and have got round to what I think the theme tune should be. It should ideally be in the style of a 70s American sitcom (see the Mary Tyler Moore show example below) and warrant a Thematic Theme Tune trope.
The new theme tune needs to include shots of the following:
1) Freeman standing in front of a blackboard doing Statistics, possibly transitioning into a "Eureka/I've got it!" expression.
2) Freeman giving a presentation on some hard Statistics to some old stuffy professors in tweed jackets.
3) Freeman trying to open a door whilst holding two mugs of hot tea.
4) Freeman playing badminton or squash (he's got it all you see...)
5) Freeman having a good time and eat noodles in a noodle bar smiling and laughing.
6) And as per Mary Tyler Moore, it should definitely end with Freeman throwing up some successfully submitted papers (possibly even his completed thesis but this might hurt) into the air, whilst he looks up in amazement and the shot then freezes on.
You see Freeman, despite all his trials and tribulations, will make it after all.
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