The twenty last years have been marked by an increase in available data and computing power. In parallel to this trend, the focus of neural network research and the practice of training neural networks has undergone a number of important changes, for example, use of deep learning machines. The second edition of the book augments the first edition with more tricks, which have resulted from 14 years of theory and experimentation by some of the world's most prominent neural network researchers. These tricks can make a substantial difference (in terms of speed, ease of implementation, and accuracy) when it comes to putting algorithms to work on real problems.

Drawing on more than four decades of experience as a researcher and teacher, Howard Becker now brings to students and researchers the many valuable techniques he has learned. Tricks of the Trade will help students learn how to think about research projects. Assisted by Becker's sage advice, students can make better sense of their research and simultaneously generate fresh ideas on where to look next for new data. The tricks cover four broad areas of social science: the creation of the "imagery" to guide research; methods of "sampling" to generate maximum variety in the data; the development of "concepts" to organize findings; and the use of "logical" methods to explore systematically the implications of what is found. Becker's advice ranges from simple tricks such as changing an interview question from "Why?" to "How?" (as a way of getting people to talk without asking for a justification) to more technical tricks such as how to manipulate truth tables. Becker has extracted these tricks from a variety of fields such as art history, anthropology, sociology, literature, and philosophy; and his dazzling variety of references ranges from James Agee to Ludwig Wittgenstein. Becker finds the common principles that lie behind good social science work, principles that apply to both quantitative and qualitative research. He offers practical advice, ideas students can apply to their data with the confidence that they will return with something they hadn't thought of before. Like Writing for Social Scientists, Tricks of the Trade will bring aid and comfort to generations of students. Written in the informal, accessible style for which Becker is known, this book will be an essential resource for students in a wide variety of fields. "An instant classic. . . . Becker's stories and reflections make a great book, one that will find its way into the hands of a great many social scientists, and as with everything he writes, it is lively and accessible, a joy to read."—Charles Ragin, Northwestern University

Tricks of the Trade is a collection of short stories written by Chris Knoll in the late 1980s that delve into the supernatural. The first short for which the book is titled has our hero trying to save his friend from selling his soul to the devil by beating the demon at his own game. “Sleep Well” is a sleep study that has gone terribly wrong making the students prisoners of their own dreams. “Savior II” follows a man’s last day on earth as he witnesses nuclear destruction. The fourth in the series, “The Bag” is an exorcism gone wrong and the frantic attempt to send the demon back to hell. “Kravitis’s Fall” is the struggle between good and evil as a construction worker nears death. “Misery’s Children” centers around a brother and sister, who, after their father’s death, learn the tragic and horrific truth about their inheritance. A pickpocket in “The Light Touch” steals the wrong wallet. A shape-shifter becomes whatever he wishes to do whatever he wants in the “Roue.” You will want to read Tricks of the Trade with all the lights on. If you dream, you may want to wait until morning to read this. Otherwise...sleep well!

When magic goes wrong, who are you going to call? The name's Torres, Bonnie Torres, and I'm a paranormal scene investigator—rooting out the truth about crimes of magic. It's dangerous and boring and scary and fascinating. Though not everyone in the Cosa Nostradamus is happy we're around, which can make things…tricky. Working two cases—looking into a murder for the NYPD, and a rich man's break-in—should be well within our abilities. But when things start getting weird in the Electric Apple, Private Unaffiliated Paranormal Investigations is stretched to the limits, trying to keep one step ahead and out of trouble. Add in rumors of a powerful creature gunning for us and it's not just our rep on the line this time—if we don't solve this case, everyone will suffer. Fortunately, around here, when the going gets weird, the weird hire us.…

When all-American actor Jim Fallon's appetite for virile young guys is exposed, he's about to tell all, with a little help from Rod Dominguez and Bart Cain who's been looking for just such an opportunity.

A collection of talks, workshops, lectures and conference pieces ... which were recorded at the time before being written by Fo's wife and collaborator Franca Rame (from introduction).