This new edited volume features contributions from many of the leading scientists in probability and statistics from the latter part of the 20th century. It is the only book to assemble the views of these leading scientists--the pioneers in their respective fields. Stochastic Musingsfeatures contributions by: * Sir David Coxon statistics and econometrics; * C.R. Rao, M.B. Rao,and D.N. Shanbhagon convex sets of multivariate distributions and their extreme points; * Bradley Efronon the future of statistics; * David Freedmanon regression association and causation; * Vic Barnetton sample ordering for effective statistical inference with particular reference to environmental issues; * David Bartholomewon a unified statistical approach to some measurement problems in the social sciences; * Joe Ganion scanning a lattice for a particular pattern; * Leslie Kishon new paradigms for probability sampling (his last paper); * Samuel Kotzand Norman L. Johnsonon limit distributions of uncorrelated but dependent distributions on the unit square; * Samuel Kotzand Saralees Nadarajahon some new elliptical distributions; * Jef Teugelson the life span of a renewal; * Wolfgang Urferand Katharina Emrichon maximum likelihood estimates of genetic effects; and * *Vladimir M. Zolotarevon convergence rate estimates in functional limit theorems. The volume also includes the following contributions by faculty members of the Department of Statistics, Athens University of Economics and Business: * J. Panaretos, E. Xekalaki,and S. Psarakison a predictive model evaluation and selection approach--the correlated gamma ratio distribution; * J. Panaretosand Z. Tsourtion extreme value index estimators and smoothing alternatives; * E. Xekalakiand D. Karlison mixtures everywhere; and * Ir. Moustakion latent variable models with covariates. Stochastic Musingswill appeal to researchers, professionals, and students interested in the history and development of statistics and probability as well as in related areas, such as physics, biometry, economics, and mathematics. Academic and professional statisticians will benefit from the book's coverage of the latest developments in the field, as well as reflections on the future directions of the discipline.