Blurts

One of the first thing applied researchers learn is that causality in applied research is very difficult to establish. Things are more about “here is my story” and here are the data I can offer in support of this story. Full disclosure is important because other stories are often possible. You do not lie with statistics, but with your interpretation of the method that generated the statistics.

It appears that KIPP may be successful simply because those who cannot meet the expectations leave. I thought it was supposed to be successful mostly because students worked longer (which also is not that surprising, but a useful conclusion). So, it looks like working longer leads to a high drop out of lower achievers. So, now, you really have a situation in which making causal statements is difficult. You cannot even claim that longer time commitments produce better letter. Maybe, it just is a way to get rid of your low achievers.

I write about tech and music from time to time. I now purchase most of the music I purchase from Amazon and became aware of their new online service (Cloud Player). The service offers 5 gigabytes of free storage (temporarily 20 as an intro offer, but it will return to 5 in the future unless you pay). I am presently using the system as the way I purchase music because I like the interface better than the downloader – I purchase the music into Cloud Player and then download to whatever device. I don’t actually use the player to listen because I scrobble all my “listens” through lastfm and scrobbling is not available for Cloud Player.

Evidently, the service is somewhat controversial. Amazon seems to be taking the position – what is the difference between playing music from your hard drive and from your “hard drive in the cloud”.  I suppose there is potential for abuse – it would seem you could share your login and then others could listen to the music you purchased (or uploaded).

If I understand the capabilities of the service, it seems you could have 5 gigs to use in anyway you want (not just music storage).

I am still irritated that Apple bought LaLa and then killed what was my music service of choice. So, Apple may have waited too long to roll out whatever they had in mind.

AppleInsider reports that the NY Times intends to charge digital only subscribers $15 a month beginning within a few months. I guess we all will then have to make personal decisions regarding the value of access to the NY Times. I link to NY Times articles frequently and I scan a couple of sections daily, but $200 is more than I am willing to pay. I was hoping for something like $50. I guess my argument would be that I have and desire access to many information sources and this seems like a lot for access to just one no matter what the quality. The Times will continue to allow access to up to 20 articles a month. If I could select the ones I want, this might be about the extent of my present interest, but I would pay something for a little more.