Thomas Pollet
@tvpollet.bsky.social
I study social relationships (and a bunch of random other things) with an interest in statistics. Views are my own. https://tvpollet.github.io/
Reposted by Thomas Pollet
Speaking as a private citizen on a matter of public concern, yes leadership is apparently planning to cut 50% of the faculty at the New School for Social Research in order to eliminate social research and replace scholarship with a trendy MA degree mill For the 21st Century 1/
December 6, 2025 at 4:24 PM
Speaking as a private citizen on a matter of public concern, yes leadership is apparently planning to cut 50% of the faculty at the New School for Social Research in order to eliminate social research and replace scholarship with a trendy MA degree mill For the 21st Century 1/
Reposted by Thomas Pollet
the reason its bad to run universities like businesses is that almost all businesses fail on any reasonable timeline of evaluation.
hudson's bay made it the longest and even they only got to about half an oxford of longevity
hudson's bay made it the longest and even they only got to about half an oxford of longevity
They claim financial exigency, but then turn down $4 million pledges to keep the PhD programs open and disregard financial analyses that point to the real problem—bad real estate deals, spending on consultants, and their own salaries 2/2
December 6, 2025 at 5:42 PM
the reason its bad to run universities like businesses is that almost all businesses fail on any reasonable timeline of evaluation.
hudson's bay made it the longest and even they only got to about half an oxford of longevity
hudson's bay made it the longest and even they only got to about half an oxford of longevity
Reposted by Thomas Pollet
I was disappointed with several elements of The @economist.com recent articles on minimum wages. To their credit, they've published my response.
Here are some links to the research I reference and to some other research which had to be cut from the published letter
1/N
Here are some links to the research I reference and to some other research which had to be cut from the published letter
1/N
December 4, 2025 at 6:48 PM
I was disappointed with several elements of The @economist.com recent articles on minimum wages. To their credit, they've published my response.
Here are some links to the research I reference and to some other research which had to be cut from the published letter
1/N
Here are some links to the research I reference and to some other research which had to be cut from the published letter
1/N
Reposted by Thomas Pollet
Boris Johnson’s lack of leadership over the seriousness of Covid led to the first lockdown being introduced too late, which contributed to the loss of 23,000 lives, the official inquiry into his handling of the pandemic has concluded
inews.co.uk/news/politic...
inews.co.uk/news/politic...
Boris Johnson's lack of leadership blamed for 23,000 Covid deaths
A scathing report by inquiry chair Baroness Hallett also criticises the Department of Health, led by the current Cabinet Secretary Sir Chris Wormald and the then minister Matt Hancock
inews.co.uk
November 20, 2025 at 9:05 PM
Boris Johnson’s lack of leadership over the seriousness of Covid led to the first lockdown being introduced too late, which contributed to the loss of 23,000 lives, the official inquiry into his handling of the pandemic has concluded
inews.co.uk/news/politic...
inews.co.uk/news/politic...
Reposted by Thomas Pollet
HEY! YOU! ggdibbler 0.6.1 is finally up on CRAN!
harriet-mason.github.io/ggdibbler/in...
You can now pass random variables to any aesthetic in any ggplot geom/stat. If you can express it as a distribution, ggdibbler can plot it. It also works with ggplot extensions, like gganimate. #rstats
harriet-mason.github.io/ggdibbler/in...
You can now pass random variables to any aesthetic in any ggplot geom/stat. If you can express it as a distribution, ggdibbler can plot it. It also works with ggplot extensions, like gganimate. #rstats
December 6, 2025 at 3:16 PM
HEY! YOU! ggdibbler 0.6.1 is finally up on CRAN!
harriet-mason.github.io/ggdibbler/in...
You can now pass random variables to any aesthetic in any ggplot geom/stat. If you can express it as a distribution, ggdibbler can plot it. It also works with ggplot extensions, like gganimate. #rstats
harriet-mason.github.io/ggdibbler/in...
You can now pass random variables to any aesthetic in any ggplot geom/stat. If you can express it as a distribution, ggdibbler can plot it. It also works with ggplot extensions, like gganimate. #rstats
Reposted by Thomas Pollet
At elite universities, 1/5 of students are "disabled." This comports with my experience or is even too low. Many students seek extra time or special rooms for exams — which often makes little sense and is anyway not in keeping with being in the “real world.” www.theatlantic.com/magazine/202...
Accommodation Nation
America’s colleges have an extra-time-on-tests problem.
www.theatlantic.com
December 6, 2025 at 11:17 PM
At elite universities, 1/5 of students are "disabled." This comports with my experience or is even too low. Many students seek extra time or special rooms for exams — which often makes little sense and is anyway not in keeping with being in the “real world.” www.theatlantic.com/magazine/202...
Reposted by Thomas Pollet
Green Giant Offering Program Where Gun Owners Can Trade In Firearms For Green Beans https://theonion.com/green-giant-offering-program-where-gun-owners-can-trade-1838097221/
December 6, 2025 at 4:00 PM
Green Giant Offering Program Where Gun Owners Can Trade In Firearms For Green Beans https://theonion.com/green-giant-offering-program-where-gun-owners-can-trade-1838097221/
Reposted by Thomas Pollet
I’ve found it’s more visually appealing to just paste in his head at the inflection points
April 29, 2025 at 10:26 PM
I’ve found it’s more visually appealing to just paste in his head at the inflection points
Reposted by Thomas Pollet
Poor folks have (comparatively) few rich friends on Facebook.
December 4, 2025 at 1:36 PM
Poor folks have (comparatively) few rich friends on Facebook.
Reposted by Thomas Pollet
Reposted by Thomas Pollet
Academic gut-health microbiome research has not really led to efficacious treatments for specific ailments that can be demonstrated in rigorous studies. But they *have* convinced the public that gut health is somehow, vaguely at the root of all illness, and food companies have profited off this.
The gut microbiota: an amazing technicolour dream coat or the emperor's new clothes? physoc.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.... - an excellent corrective to the relentless hype
The gut microbiota: an amazing technicolour dream coat or the emperor's new clothes?
Click on the article title to read more.
physoc.onlinelibrary.wiley.com
August 14, 2025 at 8:03 AM
Academic gut-health microbiome research has not really led to efficacious treatments for specific ailments that can be demonstrated in rigorous studies. But they *have* convinced the public that gut health is somehow, vaguely at the root of all illness, and food companies have profited off this.
Reposted by Thomas Pollet
Blast from DORA’s past! Reminder from @jameswilsdon.bsky.social that he and @ismaelrafols.bsky.social were the first to bring @dorassessment.bsky.social to a global audience in @theguardian.com a few hours after the Declaration went public back in 2013 #CeRRA2025 www.theguardian.com/science/poli...
December 4, 2025 at 9:57 AM
Blast from DORA’s past! Reminder from @jameswilsdon.bsky.social that he and @ismaelrafols.bsky.social were the first to bring @dorassessment.bsky.social to a global audience in @theguardian.com a few hours after the Declaration went public back in 2013 #CeRRA2025 www.theguardian.com/science/poli...
Reposted by Thomas Pollet
After the urine collection device in his spacesuit broke, Buzz Aldrin walked on the moon with a boot full of pee.
December 4, 2025 at 11:03 AM
After the urine collection device in his spacesuit broke, Buzz Aldrin walked on the moon with a boot full of pee.
Reposted by Thomas Pollet
✏️ADOBE WRAPPED 2025✏️
↩️ You pressed Command Z: 48592857392 times this year.
🤖 We recorded you sighing and swearing under your breath at the automatic pop-up panel for generative art: 13 times.
🖨️ Oops you spent 3 hours trying to import a layered CMYK psd into After Effects.
↩️ You pressed Command Z: 48592857392 times this year.
🤖 We recorded you sighing and swearing under your breath at the automatic pop-up panel for generative art: 13 times.
🖨️ Oops you spent 3 hours trying to import a layered CMYK psd into After Effects.
December 3, 2025 at 6:24 PM
✏️ADOBE WRAPPED 2025✏️
↩️ You pressed Command Z: 48592857392 times this year.
🤖 We recorded you sighing and swearing under your breath at the automatic pop-up panel for generative art: 13 times.
🖨️ Oops you spent 3 hours trying to import a layered CMYK psd into After Effects.
↩️ You pressed Command Z: 48592857392 times this year.
🤖 We recorded you sighing and swearing under your breath at the automatic pop-up panel for generative art: 13 times.
🖨️ Oops you spent 3 hours trying to import a layered CMYK psd into After Effects.
Reposted by Thomas Pollet
Here is a godawful joke in chart form to ruin your Christmas season 🤪🎄
December 2, 2025 at 8:42 PM
Here is a godawful joke in chart form to ruin your Christmas season 🤪🎄
Reposted by Thomas Pollet
“Maybe we’re onto something.”
“How can we tell? We’ve only done this 187,623 times with the same success every single time. Could be a fluke.”
“How can we tell? We’ve only done this 187,623 times with the same success every single time. Could be a fluke.”
An Oregon pilot program giving cash to homeless youths sees a staggering reduction in homelessness. The program gave participants $1,000 cash payments each month for two years, and at the end of the project's first phase, 91% of participants reported being in stable housing.
Oregon pilot program giving cash to homeless youths sees staggering reduction in homelessness
The state program gave participants $1,000 cash payments each month for two years. At the end of the project's first phase, 91% of participants reported being in stable housing.
www.streetroots.org
December 3, 2025 at 6:17 AM
“Maybe we’re onto something.”
“How can we tell? We’ve only done this 187,623 times with the same success every single time. Could be a fluke.”
“How can we tell? We’ve only done this 187,623 times with the same success every single time. Could be a fluke.”
Reposted by Thomas Pollet
HBOMax has started showing a 'remastered' 4K Mad Men and they’ve messed things up so during Roger’s oyster vomit scene you can now see the crew men with the vomit hose on the right
December 2, 2025 at 11:28 AM
HBOMax has started showing a 'remastered' 4K Mad Men and they’ve messed things up so during Roger’s oyster vomit scene you can now see the crew men with the vomit hose on the right
Reposted by Thomas Pollet
my kids certainly never did anything like this when they were ill, the jerks
Sick baby ants sacrifice themselves to save their colony www.popsci.com/environment/...
Sick baby ants sacrifice themselves to save their colony
New research shows ill pupae emit a chemical signal before ever leaving their cocoons.
www.popsci.com
December 2, 2025 at 9:58 PM
my kids certainly never did anything like this when they were ill, the jerks
Reposted by Thomas Pollet
Nominations for the UKRN Dorothy Bishop Prize 2026 have opened!
Named after @deevybee.bsky.social, the prize, first awarded in 2022, celebrates the contributions of early career researchers to research improvement.
Nominations close 18 January 2026.
#AcademicSky #Research
Named after @deevybee.bsky.social, the prize, first awarded in 2022, celebrates the contributions of early career researchers to research improvement.
Nominations close 18 January 2026.
#AcademicSky #Research
Dorothy Bishop Prize 2026
www.ukrn.org
December 3, 2025 at 12:55 PM
Nominations for the UKRN Dorothy Bishop Prize 2026 have opened!
Named after @deevybee.bsky.social, the prize, first awarded in 2022, celebrates the contributions of early career researchers to research improvement.
Nominations close 18 January 2026.
#AcademicSky #Research
Named after @deevybee.bsky.social, the prize, first awarded in 2022, celebrates the contributions of early career researchers to research improvement.
Nominations close 18 January 2026.
#AcademicSky #Research
Reposted by Thomas Pollet
Want to make nice graphs with me, starting next year? I'm hiring for a position at the University of Witten/Herdecke.
uni-wh.softgarden.io/job/61280592...
uni-wh.softgarden.io/job/61280592...
December 3, 2025 at 12:48 PM
Want to make nice graphs with me, starting next year? I'm hiring for a position at the University of Witten/Herdecke.
uni-wh.softgarden.io/job/61280592...
uni-wh.softgarden.io/job/61280592...
Reposted by Thomas Pollet
PhD opportunity: MOVE
Details: blogs.reading.ac.uk/crocus-dla/c...
Deadline: 12/01/26
Supervisors: @shoalgroup.bsky.social, @inesfuertbauer.bsky.social, @wlallen.bsky.social, @nhcooper123.bsky.social, @marinapapa.bsky.social
Apply: blogs.reading.ac.uk/crocus-dla/p...
Details: blogs.reading.ac.uk/crocus-dla/c...
Deadline: 12/01/26
Supervisors: @shoalgroup.bsky.social, @inesfuertbauer.bsky.social, @wlallen.bsky.social, @nhcooper123.bsky.social, @marinapapa.bsky.social
Apply: blogs.reading.ac.uk/crocus-dla/p...
November 20, 2025 at 9:09 AM
PhD opportunity: MOVE
Details: blogs.reading.ac.uk/crocus-dla/c...
Deadline: 12/01/26
Supervisors: @shoalgroup.bsky.social, @inesfuertbauer.bsky.social, @wlallen.bsky.social, @nhcooper123.bsky.social, @marinapapa.bsky.social
Apply: blogs.reading.ac.uk/crocus-dla/p...
Details: blogs.reading.ac.uk/crocus-dla/c...
Deadline: 12/01/26
Supervisors: @shoalgroup.bsky.social, @inesfuertbauer.bsky.social, @wlallen.bsky.social, @nhcooper123.bsky.social, @marinapapa.bsky.social
Apply: blogs.reading.ac.uk/crocus-dla/p...
Reposted by Thomas Pollet
This week's blog post features "raincloud plots", a relatively recent development in data visualization.
Will the raincloud plot gradually replace the box plot? It just might!
Check out the raincloud plot for the planets in our solar system at
www.jasp-services.com/jasp-for-qua...
Will the raincloud plot gradually replace the box plot? It just might!
Check out the raincloud plot for the planets in our solar system at
www.jasp-services.com/jasp-for-qua...
JASP for Quality Control, Example 4: The Raincloud Plot - JASP Services BV
In our last post we discussed the boxplot of the distances to the sun for each of the eight planets in our solar system, as measured in astronomical units (AU; AU=1 is the average distance from the ea...
www.jasp-services.com
December 3, 2025 at 9:39 AM
This week's blog post features "raincloud plots", a relatively recent development in data visualization.
Will the raincloud plot gradually replace the box plot? It just might!
Check out the raincloud plot for the planets in our solar system at
www.jasp-services.com/jasp-for-qua...
Will the raincloud plot gradually replace the box plot? It just might!
Check out the raincloud plot for the planets in our solar system at
www.jasp-services.com/jasp-for-qua...
Reposted by Thomas Pollet
I hope someone draws this wonderful story about Tom Stoppard's Arcadia and the power of the arts to help us see things differently, to the attention of our Education Secretary. Do read it, it will lift your spirits.
December 2, 2025 at 10:59 AM
I hope someone draws this wonderful story about Tom Stoppard's Arcadia and the power of the arts to help us see things differently, to the attention of our Education Secretary. Do read it, it will lift your spirits.
Reposted by Thomas Pollet
If you ever wondered what GOP gerrymandering looks like in red states with blue cities, I present:
December 2, 2025 at 8:49 PM
If you ever wondered what GOP gerrymandering looks like in red states with blue cities, I present:
Reposted by Thomas Pollet
Thread of French and Dutch research institutes slowly unsubscribing from web of science (and thence impact factors).
December 3, 2025 at 6:53 AM
Thread of French and Dutch research institutes slowly unsubscribing from web of science (and thence impact factors).