def log_pdf(self, y, mu, weights=None):
        """
        computes the log of the pdf or pmf of the values under the current distribution

        Parameters
        ----------
        y : array-like of length n
            target values
        mu : array-like of length n
            expected values
        weights : array-like shape (n,) or None, default: None
            containing sample weights
            if None, defaults to array of ones

        Returns
        -------
        pdf/pmf : np.array of length n
        """
        if weights is None:
            weights = np.ones_like(mu)
        # in Poisson regression weights are proportional to the exposure
        # so we want to pump up all our predictions
        # NOTE: we assume the targets are counts, not rate.
        # ie if observations were scaled to account for exposure, they have
        # been rescaled before calling this function.
        # since some samples have higher exposure,
        # they also need to have higher variance,
        # we do this by multiplying mu by the weight=exposure
        mu = mu * weights
        return sp.stats.poisson.logpmf(y, mu=mu)
computes the log of the pdf or pmf of the values under the current distribution

        Parameters
        ----------
        y : array-like of length n
            target values
        mu : array-like of length n
            expected values
        weights : array-like shape (n,) or None, default: None
            containing sample weights
            if None, defaults to array of ones

        Returns
        -------
        pdf/pmf : np.array of length n