User:Wikieditor 3833

My Wikipedia Mission

My real name is Matthew Underwood. My Wikipedia handle has special meaning to me. Since I'm relatively new, let me know and I'll change my handle.

Update. I've been away for a while and trying to get back into editing. Nothing to report - just documenting the first day in years that I've last logged in.

I'm a freelance writer/researcher with about 20 years of work under my belt. Most of my work has been in aerospace and engineering, but I also produce work for risk management, business management practices and health care (panel studies). Most of my 'research' is collecting data from other work or editing/compiling primary research authored by my client. So - like MOST writer/researchers - I'm a gopher in a big mountain of high-paid clerical workers.

But my work has also made me a big fan of Freakonomics - written by Stephen J. Dubner, Steven D. Levitt. The book itself is good - not great - but their work (to show the spin of statistics) was nothing less than genius. Dubner/Levitt illustrate what goes on with statistics - how they are literally bent to profit one side of an argument. There are very few examples of pure statistical analysis (toll bridge data might be one). Why is that? Because even the act of collecting data is often intentionally bias.

I edit for Wikipedia to fill in days when I have too much time or not enough work (both/either). Wikipedia editing can be frustrating at times - lots of weird personalities, occasional protected territories. My advice is to fly low, avoid conflict, and make the best use of your time with spot editing.

If you have a project and need a little help (sources, background) please let me know by sending me a message via this talk page - or feel free to send me email - spinoff55 (AT) gmail.com.

Thanks!