Negative Binomial Rationale

To one who did his statistical teething in what I would term the era of the 'Lexis Theory', the arrival of more searching tools upon the actuarial scene through the notable contributions of Harwayne, Dropkin, Simon, Hewitt, Bailey, Roberts and others of a younger generation, which has been likened by others to an invasion from Mars, is more accurately analogous to the kegling that awoke Rip Van Winkle. When, at our meeting last spring, I felt called upon to defend vigorously this 'New Look' of our Proceedings, a closer survey of these frontiers appeared to be in order.