Dan Simpson
@danpsimpson.bsky.social
I don’t know man, I just don’t know.
Pinned
Drag name: Debra B Messing.
Drag name: Debra Missing-Heart
November 6, 2025 at 6:22 AM
Drag name: Debra B Messing.
Reposted by Dan Simpson
Mamdani going so hard for trans right and winning is some juicy proof that every dem that abandoned us didn’t do it for politically advantageous reasons. They did it because they’re transphobes and they will lose for it
November 5, 2025 at 5:33 AM
Mamdani going so hard for trans right and winning is some juicy proof that every dem that abandoned us didn’t do it for politically advantageous reasons. They did it because they’re transphobes and they will lose for it
I’ve always thought of this as altitude aware distance. If KL(x|y) is finite but KL(y|x) is not, just imagine you get from x to y by jumping off a cliff. And if you don’t like that the other direction is infinite, tell me: how exactly did you learn to fly?
A bit random, but I find that whenever the 'critique' is raised that the KL divergence is not a distance, it is pretty rare that there is a strong case given for why this is actually a problem.
(It's of course reasonable to mention such things as a warning, etc.; this is not my concern)
(It's of course reasonable to mention such things as a warning, etc.; this is not my concern)
November 5, 2025 at 6:00 AM
I’ve always thought of this as altitude aware distance. If KL(x|y) is finite but KL(y|x) is not, just imagine you get from x to y by jumping off a cliff. And if you don’t like that the other direction is infinite, tell me: how exactly did you learn to fly?
Reposted by Dan Simpson
Now I'm also looking for a research software engineer to implement a pile of research results to R packages loo, posterior, bayesplot, projpred, priorsense, brms or/and Python packages ArviZ, Bambi and Kulprit. Apply by email with no specific deadline (see contact info at users.aalto.fi/~ave/)
I'm now also looking for a postdoc with strong Bayesian background and interest in developing Bayesian cross-validation theory, methods and software. Apply by email with no specific deadline (see contact information at users.aalto.fi/~ave/).
Others, please share
Others, please share
I'm looking for a doctoral student with Bayesian background to work on Bayesian workflow and cross-validation (see my publication list users.aalto.fi/~ave/publica... for my recent work) at Aalto University.
Apply through the ELLIS PhD program (dl October 31) ellis.eu/news/ellis-p...
Apply through the ELLIS PhD program (dl October 31) ellis.eu/news/ellis-p...
November 3, 2025 at 11:13 AM
Now I'm also looking for a research software engineer to implement a pile of research results to R packages loo, posterior, bayesplot, projpred, priorsense, brms or/and Python packages ArviZ, Bambi and Kulprit. Apply by email with no specific deadline (see contact info at users.aalto.fi/~ave/)
Reposted by Dan Simpson
My theory is that for practitioners, regression models should be like pocket money: you get a fixed number per week to do whatever you like with until we're sure you won't blow the whole lot on silly stuff, get caught up in a get-rich-quick scheme, or accidentally leave them in a drawer somewhere.
This paper’s been popping as “evidence” that you can’t do real #causalinference w/ obs data. To me it shows you need rigorous pre-specified design (in addition to the willingness to fold when your hypothesis is not possible to answer with the data at hand). #EpiSky, #CausalSky, #AcademicSky
November 2, 2025 at 4:20 PM
My theory is that for practitioners, regression models should be like pocket money: you get a fixed number per week to do whatever you like with until we're sure you won't blow the whole lot on silly stuff, get caught up in a get-rich-quick scheme, or accidentally leave them in a drawer somewhere.
Sometimes you dress as a cat who has done a bad job dressing as a miner (and who is wearing a dagger as a fascinator). (Aka Aloysius, my dnd character.)
November 1, 2025 at 7:00 AM
Sometimes you dress as a cat who has done a bad job dressing as a miner (and who is wearing a dagger as a fascinator). (Aka Aloysius, my dnd character.)
Reposted by Dan Simpson
This same friend went as Divine Miss Piggy one year and then ATE KERMIT'S SHIT ON STAGE (chocolate) and somehow only placed second
So yeah, he'd better fucking win this year, because he's been robbed three times already.
bsky.app/profile/felo...
So yeah, he'd better fucking win this year, because he's been robbed three times already.
bsky.app/profile/felo...
October 31, 2025 at 11:12 PM
This same friend went as Divine Miss Piggy one year and then ATE KERMIT'S SHIT ON STAGE (chocolate) and somehow only placed second
So yeah, he'd better fucking win this year, because he's been robbed three times already.
bsky.app/profile/felo...
So yeah, he'd better fucking win this year, because he's been robbed three times already.
bsky.app/profile/felo...
Reposted by Dan Simpson
The Bayes/Frequentist wars are not about resolving anything smh
October 30, 2025 at 2:14 PM
The Bayes/Frequentist wars are not about resolving anything smh
Reposted by Dan Simpson
It seems like the only way tech companies are able to compel AI usage is by coercion in performance review processes?
(via The Information "AI Agenda" newsletter)
(via The Information "AI Agenda" newsletter)
October 30, 2025 at 2:30 PM
It seems like the only way tech companies are able to compel AI usage is by coercion in performance review processes?
(via The Information "AI Agenda" newsletter)
(via The Information "AI Agenda" newsletter)
Reposted by Dan Simpson
New Soft Pink Truth music by yours truly! Behold the video for "Time Inside the Violet", directed by hourglass animator Matthew Murray Sullivan and panic attack collagist Vicki Bennett (People Like Us). New album on @thrilljockey.bsky.social comes out Jan 30th!
www.youtube.com/watch?v=JhEt...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=JhEt...
The Soft Pink Truth - Time Inside the Violet (official music video)
YouTube video by Thrill Jockey Records
www.youtube.com
October 28, 2025 at 5:56 PM
New Soft Pink Truth music by yours truly! Behold the video for "Time Inside the Violet", directed by hourglass animator Matthew Murray Sullivan and panic attack collagist Vicki Bennett (People Like Us). New album on @thrilljockey.bsky.social comes out Jan 30th!
www.youtube.com/watch?v=JhEt...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=JhEt...
Reposted by Dan Simpson
43 years ago today, readers the world over opened their newspapers and gazed upon cow tools for the first time. happy birthday cow tools. you look great.
October 28, 2025 at 12:23 PM
43 years ago today, readers the world over opened their newspapers and gazed upon cow tools for the first time. happy birthday cow tools. you look great.
TIL Binace is not a bisexual dating app.
October 23, 2025 at 8:20 PM
TIL Binace is not a bisexual dating app.
Reposted by Dan Simpson
oh my God apparently he blocked me and then went and immediately deleted the racist comment he made to me 💀
siri show me "white fragility"
siri show me "white fragility"
October 23, 2025 at 2:10 AM
oh my God apparently he blocked me and then went and immediately deleted the racist comment he made to me 💀
siri show me "white fragility"
siri show me "white fragility"
Reposted by Dan Simpson
I've always thought that the most important feature of Australian democracy is that it's so boring. Everyone votes, everyone gets a preferential vote, and the AEC is a trusted neutral arbiter. It makes the whole exercise terribly dull: you vote, eat a sausage, go to the beach, and the world goes on
October 22, 2025 at 2:24 AM
I've always thought that the most important feature of Australian democracy is that it's so boring. Everyone votes, everyone gets a preferential vote, and the AEC is a trusted neutral arbiter. It makes the whole exercise terribly dull: you vote, eat a sausage, go to the beach, and the world goes on
I accidentally took a perfect photo at the Jim E Brown gig*
* Squeezed between two goth bands playing to an all ages audience several of whom were in full white pancake. Never have I seen a performer more in sync with his audience as when he closed with “How do I stop crying when I masturbate?”
* Squeezed between two goth bands playing to an all ages audience several of whom were in full white pancake. Never have I seen a performer more in sync with his audience as when he closed with “How do I stop crying when I masturbate?”
October 21, 2025 at 5:59 AM
I accidentally took a perfect photo at the Jim E Brown gig*
* Squeezed between two goth bands playing to an all ages audience several of whom were in full white pancake. Never have I seen a performer more in sync with his audience as when he closed with “How do I stop crying when I masturbate?”
* Squeezed between two goth bands playing to an all ages audience several of whom were in full white pancake. Never have I seen a performer more in sync with his audience as when he closed with “How do I stop crying when I masturbate?”
Reposted by Dan Simpson
you don't understand. as someone who isn't inherently good at art, stealing paintings from the museum is the *only* way i'm able to express myself creatively. i wouldn't be able to paint beautiful portraits. but by breaking into a museum and stealing the paintings, now i am
August 3, 2025 at 7:24 PM
you don't understand. as someone who isn't inherently good at art, stealing paintings from the museum is the *only* way i'm able to express myself creatively. i wouldn't be able to paint beautiful portraits. but by breaking into a museum and stealing the paintings, now i am
Reposted by Dan Simpson
Slightly better than the paper where they did asshole recognition
“At toilet time, you sign in via a fingerprint sensor so that the device knows who's using the facilities. (Please wash your hands before signing out or tracking your progress.) Then, check in with the app for the day's analysis and trends over time.”
Kohler Wants to Put a Tiny Camera in Your Toilet and Analyze the Contents
The company's new Dekoda toilet accessory is like a little bathroom detective.
www.cnet.com
October 19, 2025 at 9:41 PM
Slightly better than the paper where they did asshole recognition
I’ll take “Things not to say while giving a handjob” for 400
October 18, 2025 at 8:22 PM
I’ll take “Things not to say while giving a handjob” for 400
If you find yourself anywhere near MoMA PS1 in the next few months, the Vaginal Davis exhibition is truly wonderful.
October 18, 2025 at 8:19 PM
If you find yourself anywhere near MoMA PS1 in the next few months, the Vaginal Davis exhibition is truly wonderful.
The Electrician by Scott Walker is an _extremely_ strange song to come on while you’re brushing your teeth.
October 17, 2025 at 1:23 PM
The Electrician by Scott Walker is an _extremely_ strange song to come on while you’re brushing your teeth.
Ok this is the first time I’ve been tempted to work for OpenAI….
It was only a matter of time before the big players went after the chatbot erotica market. Will be fascinating to see if they can wrestle it away from character AI, replika, grok (lol), etc.
October 15, 2025 at 5:15 AM
Ok this is the first time I’ve been tempted to work for OpenAI….
I couldn’t have fewer opinions about what 16-18 year olds like/relate to. But I remember
- Who’s afraid of Virginia Wolfe
- A Clockwork Orange
- Macbeth
as the three things I liked in high school which is probably telling of me at 40 and also me at 17 but in quite different ways.
- Who’s afraid of Virginia Wolfe
- A Clockwork Orange
- Macbeth
as the three things I liked in high school which is probably telling of me at 40 and also me at 17 but in quite different ways.
Let's be positive, what are 5 books you'd assign for a high school English class to get the kids on board with literature?
Great Gatsby
The Natural
Forever War
Some of Edgar Allan Poe’s poems + short stories
For a play: pair Death of a Salesman and Fences
Great Gatsby
The Natural
Forever War
Some of Edgar Allan Poe’s poems + short stories
For a play: pair Death of a Salesman and Fences
Let's be positive, what are 5 books you'd assign for a high school English class to get the kids on board with literature? I'll start
The Remains of the Day
Fatelessness
A Bend in the River
The Life & Times of Michael K
The Handmaid's Tale
The Remains of the Day
Fatelessness
A Bend in the River
The Life & Times of Michael K
The Handmaid's Tale
October 14, 2025 at 4:34 AM
I couldn’t have fewer opinions about what 16-18 year olds like/relate to. But I remember
- Who’s afraid of Virginia Wolfe
- A Clockwork Orange
- Macbeth
as the three things I liked in high school which is probably telling of me at 40 and also me at 17 but in quite different ways.
- Who’s afraid of Virginia Wolfe
- A Clockwork Orange
- Macbeth
as the three things I liked in high school which is probably telling of me at 40 and also me at 17 but in quite different ways.