4/32    Stat 200a vs Stat 101 vs Stat 134 -- any comments? Experience with
        any would be appreciated too. (Assuming that purpose is applications
        in an arbitrary area of theoretical CS)
        \-sigh, i guess i will wade in: if you let me know what topics you
        \_ Can you describe the subject matter please?  I am too lazy to
           look it up.
        are interested in terms of math-speak [theortical CS to me is more
        algebra than probability] i might be able to make a recommendation.
        are you interested in models, time series, probability/measure,
        game theory or more specific stuff like genetic algorithms, neural
        nets, baysian stuff/AI? --psb
              \_ bayesian. -- card-carrying bayesian
        \_ And in general, I hate genetic algorithms.  Why are they even in
                      \_ This is why I should have signed my blurbs in motd.
                         -- alice
           the same category as neural nets and bayesian nets?  They are
           completely unprincipled.  There are no convergence results for
           genetic algorithms.  In fact, you are not even guaranteed to
           improve in each iteration.  The whole thing is a scruffy atavism
           be an engineer, i.e., look into EE126 and EE226.
           from the free-swinging days of AI when any yahoo could get a PhD
           by writing an Eliza program. -- card-carrying bayesian
        \_ 134 was kinda fun in a gambler's anonymous kinda way.
        \_ Real men (and real CS theoreticians) take Stat 205ab.  Given
                \_ and don't forget those strange women that know how
                   to do math.  You know, women that are men.
                   \_ "MATH IS HARD!  LET'S GO SHOPPING!"  -Barbie
                      \_ Actually that was 'Malibu Stacy'
                   \_ Real men don't get their panties in a twist over
                      convenient abbreviations like the phrase "real men".
                      \_ Morons.  This is why I should have signed my blurbs
                         in motd.  -- alice
                        \_ Signing it didn't make a difference.  Go fuck off.
                           \_ Previous animosity not registered.
           your choices, however, I'd go with Stat 134, because they seem
           to talk about more complicated stuff like random processes.  It
           really depends on how you plan to use it.  If you just want to
           know enough to get by in CS 174, then math 55 or CS 70 is more
           than enough.  If you are serious about stat, but your math
           background is not very good, then do the next best thing and
           be an engineer, i.e., look into EE126 and EE226. --alice
           \_ Given decent math background (core upperdivs), and completion
              of cs174 (fwiw). Explain difference between 200 and
              205 series; it seemed like 200's are more hardcore
              than 101/134, and 205 seems less comprehensive from
              catalog description.
              \_ 200ab are for business/economy majors, is my understanding.
                 \_ One of the things I noticed is that EE226 and several
                    IEOR classes require the 200's. Biz/econ majors?
                    \_ Ignore the requirements.  YOu can pick up whatever
                       200 stat you need while taking those classes.
                 Like I said, real men take 205ab, but not with Klass next
                 semester--I heard he's a terrible teacher--take it with
                 Pitman the year after.  You'll run through measure theory
                 in the first hour of the first lecture.  (You'll return
                 to it, don't worry.)  Then you go on to the good stuff
                 like the Laws and the Processes.  It'll be very mathematical,
                 but well worth the effort.  This is all hearsay, btw, I
                 haven't yet taken 205.  To the best of my knowledge, you
                 don't need such a solid foundation in stat for any CS
                 theory courses.  However, you'll probably have a much more
                 transcendental experience in Sinclair's MCMC class
                 with some 205 under your belt. Mmmm, the Sinclair Eclair.
                        -- alice
                 \_ For fun with AI, take Michael Jordan's year long series
                    of courses on graphical models.  They are cross-listed
                    as graduate stat and graduate CS.  Very cool stuff.
                      -- ilyas
                        \_ I thought he was a retired basketball star and
                           ex-talk show host?
                           \_ No, he is actually a star AI researcher,
                              freshly stolen from MIT.  He works on
                              variational approximation methods that allow
                              one to deal with very large graphical models.
                                -- ilyas
                              \_ Oh yeah.  Forgot about Mike's classes.
                                 They will be excellent.  Knowing him, he's
                                 probably going to go through calculus of
                                 variations, variational methods, mean-
                                 field theory, and general statistical
                                 mechanics in one lecture.  It'll be a blast.
                                   -- alice
                                 \_ My ass still hurts from last time.
                                    -- ilyas
                                    \_ Please don't make me picture your
                                       ass, ilyas.