I pick up my pen and write down what I see on the screen: 600 out of 14000 rows are selected based on the criteria A = 2 (that's 4%); if I switch over to A = 5, 135 out of 14000 are selected (that's only 1%) -- I now know the probability of several... Continue Reading →
On theory, practice, and Snowflake Schemas
Just the other day I learnt that the data warehouse I was working on was designed using a Star and Snowflake schema. I'd known enough about them to know that this meant the data was set up on fact and "dimensional" tables, but not much other than that. So the moment I had some time... Continue Reading →
Student loans and how the deed is infinitely stronger than the word
Interesting article giving the perspectives of three people with outstanding student loans and how they're paying it off. I'd never been that heavily in debt and I do sometimes wonder what I'd do. Though I cannot say for sure, I do not see myself holding off the payment of loans if I could I help... Continue Reading →
I just found out about Coursera last week. Yes, I know, I'm late to the party! If you're late like me, here's what's Coursera about (taken from their About page): We are a social entrepreneurship company that partners with the top universities in the world to offer courses online for anyone to take, for free.... Continue Reading →
On Ignorance and Information Search
I’m not a person who takes not knowing lightly. If someone asks me a question and I’m unable to find the answer off the top of my head, chances are good that within the next few minutes, armed with a computer and a good internet connection, I’ll find the answer to that question. Of course... Continue Reading →
On Reading
I am a voracious reader -- I read anywhere and everywhere: on the toilet or on the bus; at home or at the office; at the library or at fiancee's home; while watching television or exercising. I like to think that I'm always learning something new, something to apply to life, such that I can... Continue Reading →
Grade Inflation in University?
I came across an article by Walter E. Williams, an economics professor from George Mason University, discussing how grades in American Universities have been going up, causing "grade inflation". For example, a "C" grade, he says, should be taken to mean an "F". Though I do have an intuitive belief that grades are going up... Continue Reading →
Writing for Writing
I've long had this perception that writing a journal or having a blog that you regularly write to will help improve your English or use of language. Though I think that that theory does hold true to a certain extent, I've seen much evidence to the contrary that pushed me to think about why this... Continue Reading →
Mixing Disciplines
I'm currently reading a book on innovation, called The Medici Effect by Frans Johansson. What I have read thus far has intrigued me and got me thinking like no book has for a long time. The basic premise of the book is that innovation often occurs at what Johannson calls the "Intersection". He defines the... Continue Reading →
The Little that We Know
Last Thursday I attended a communications unit tutorial, and was really surprised (shocked, really) by the discussion that day. The students and facilitator (aka. the tutor) displayed such depth and scope in thought on that week's material (on digital and analogue modes of communication; largely philosophical stuff) that I could only observe is a state... Continue Reading →
Donn, fragments 