A short thread on what I think is particularly useful intuition for the application of computational statistics.

Deterministic methods, like variational Bayes, utilize _rigid_ approximations. Ultimately these methods try to find the best way to wedge an approximating solid into the desired solid. If the two shapes are close enough then you can get a good fit.

But this rigidity also means that the approximating solid can't always contort to fit into the desired solid. If the two shapes don't match up well enough then we will end up in lots of awkward configurations no matter how hard we push.

In particular it's hard to quantify how good the fit of the approximate solid into the desired solid might be without knowing the shape of the desired solid already, which isn't possible in practice. This is one reason why these methods have such limited empirical diagnostics.

Stochastic, methods, on the other hand, utilize more fluid approximations that are able to take the shape of their container given enough time. In this respect we can think of them like a liquid or gas filling the desired shape.

https://t.co/0BbPc11eTD
The Top 10 Psilocybin Research Papers of 2020
- FS Barrett, MK Doss, ND Sepeda, et al. – Emotions and brain function are altered up to one month after a single high dose of psilocybin. @FredBarrettPhD 1/10

SB Goldberg, BT Pace, CR Nicholas, et al. – The experimental effects of psilocybin on symptoms of anxiety and depression: A meta-analysis. “meta-analysis of studies using psilocybin along with behavioral interventions to treat elevated symptoms of anxiety and depression.” 2/10

GI Agin-Liebes, T Malone, MM Yalch, et al. – Long-term follow-up of psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy for psychiatric and existential distress in patients with life-threatening cancer. “follow-up approx 3.2 and 4.5 years later, w/ 15 of the 16 participants still alive” 3/10

F Blei, S Dörner, J Fricke, et al. – Simultaneous production of psilocybin and a cocktail of β‐carboline monoamine oxidase inhibitors in “magic” mushrooms “paper was chosen for Psychedelic Science Review’s 2020 Editor’s Choice Award for best study on psychedelics and nature” 4/10

J Sloshower, J Guss, R Krause, et al. – Psilocybin-assisted therapy of major depressive disorder using Acceptance and Commitment Therapy as a therapeutic frame “lays out how to combine therapy using antidepressant medication (like psilocybin) w/evidence-based psychotherapy” 5/10

Omega-3 Research (thread):

I've been discussing omega-3 fats on here more recently, so I wanted to put together a short collection of larger meta-studies on some of their various health benefits

I tried to pick a variety of studies, with as much data in each one as possible, I may add more over time

Omega-3 fats seem to have the most benefits when it comes to reducing chronic inflammation, many mental illnesses like depression, ADHD, and schizophrenia, promoting gut/microbiome health, and preventing neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimers and dementia

Interestingly, evidence for improvement with cardiovascular disease is more variable than many other issues, though there are many promising studies

The majority of studies with omega-3 fats and cancer seem to generally show benefit, but this also varies in a few studies

Keep in mind that the majority of these studies are done with fish oils rather than whole seafood

Personally I believe that with this taken into account we will likely see much more benefit to health issues using whole seafood as it's PUFA are less likely to be oxidized

@BillieRubenMake @I_Make_It_All One approach that i have found that works, is to work out how you can make a new tool pay for itself.

After that point, it's yours, free and clear. :)

@I_Make_It_All We came up with this when i was talking with one Hackney Punk that was running a video projector and lighting rig.

He was complaining about how he had hired his video projector out for a party, and it had come back with one of the lenses missing.

@I_Make_It_All Apart from the rudeness of the person that he had hired the projector to, he was saying that he was tired of dealing with the logistics of the hires, when he just wanted to use the projector for his art.

This was his original reason for buying the machine.

@I_Make_It_All I asked him how much the projector had cost, how many times he had hired it out, and, how much he had been paid for the hires.

He hadn't thought about it, so he started scribbling down some figures.

@I_Make_It_All When he totalled up the amounts, he realised that the projector had cost him around £1200, and had been hired out for a total of £1350, so it was paid for. :D

He didn't NEED to hire it out again.

He could afford to say No to annoying customers. :D

These 'Beach Animals' were created by Theo Jansen as a fusion of art and engineering. The kinetic structures walk on their own and get all their energy from the

Watch the full video on Youtube: