# What a lunkhead I am!

–Dunce!
Dotard, a-dozing at the very nonce,
After a life spent training for the sight!

Robert Browning, Childe Roland to the Dark Tower Came

I can totally do some of version 3 in an easier way than I’d planned.

• I don’t see why each part (shots, pens, etc.) can’t be fitted separately.
• Up till last night I had the sense I’d have to estimate them jointly.
• Otherwise, the estimated relationships of GP to ability could get biased.
• Thing is, this bias can’t be that big and it’s in a third-order model feature.
• So let’s just fit components one at a time – far fewer parameters at once!
• That will mean easier debugging and diagnosis, faster convergence, etc.

Version 3’s been slow to arrive for many reasons, with which this’ll help!

• I haven’t got a lot of spare time or attention for it in the first place.
• But, also, I’ve planned around it being tougher than needed.
• I well might’ve had some results at RITSAC but for trying to fit jointly.
• I still have no schedule for getting it all done. Other concerns first.
• Simplifying nonetheless makes it look much more achievable at all.