The following is an excerpt from an email I just sent to Ian.
I'm taking Keith's Intrasite Research Strategies class this semester, and because I was new and hadn't taken the pre-requisite class several of my fellow students were curious as to where I had learned my statistics. I explained that I had taken a class from you while you were visiting at BYU.
A reverent hush fell over the assembled students as they stared at me with mouths gaping. After an extended silence, one brave soul finally ventured to speak.
"Did he he ever talk about it?"
I'm afraid I wasn't quite sure what "it" was.
"You know, the Bayesian?"
Were they talking about your work at Teotihuacan?
"Of course that Bayesian!" was their disgusted reply.
Apparently, Ian is a legend in his own time, at least among the current crop of ASU grad students.
Cheers, sweet cheers...
6 comments:
That dude is on a level all his own. We were lucky to be graced with his presence. He was the best teacher I've had, hands down.
It's so sad. His intellect was wasted on me. I would walk out of his class as I do with almost any math related class thinking (as Chris would say) "What the H?!" It's a good thing that I didn't end up at ASU cause Chris's fellow students would have asked me "so what magical things did he teach you?" and I would have stared at the floor and said, "Nothing, I'm an idiot."
I can gladly admit that I'm also a statistical idiot, at least compared to the wizards here. I'd like to think I've made some improvements, but I still have a long way to go.
There is a good article in this month's SAA Archaeological Record by Keith Kintigh and some comments by Goerge Cowgill. It made me feel better anyway. I'd provide a link but since it's the current issue you need a login.
Ian is such a cool guy. In an often pretentious world of.."It's DOCTOR MADSEN! DOCTOR!", it was refreshing to have Ian insist that you call him by his first name.
Ian speaks...
Hi Chris, thanks for keeping me in the loop! I am delighted that you are enjoying yourself and slipping in to the right crowd. Those Salado/Hohokam people are great. And don’t believe all the stories you hear about me there. I deny everything in advance.
Take care,
Ian
If it were possible for Canadians to be characterized as badasses, this guy would be at the top of the list...
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