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kaa2102

875 karma · joined February 22, 2009

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kaa2102··on How to create a dashboard in Python with Jupyter Notebook
Mercury is a great find for me as it solves UI/UX design & usability concerns for my Python automation projects for non-techninal users.
kaa2102··on Ask HN: How can I improve my writing
There are a couple "frameworks".

Situation>Problem>question>Answer

There is an SPQA for both YOU and your target audience.

What's the problem? Why is it hard? What's the solution? In one sentence, this is your main idea.

Recipe for a five paragraph essay or blog post:

Paragraph 1 1. Main idea 2-4. Supporting points 5. Conclusion

Paragraph 2-4 Reiterate supporting points + issue, cause, solution(s) and supporting points

Paragraph 5 Conclusion + supporting points Transition: New ideas, concepts, studies to conduct or angles

kaa2102··on Ask HN: What technologies did you learn in 2018?
- Developed bias detection apps using Google Machine Learning Natural Language Processing

- Launched services built with Python

- Learned more about computer science principles including data structures and algorithms to clean up/speed up code

- Built social media apps that leveraged REST APIs and RSS

kaa2102··on Ask HN: What are your favorite podcasts?
Interview/Comedy: We Got the Jazz gotthejazz.com

EconTalk econtalk.org

So Money by FARNOOSH farnoosh.tv

kaa2102··on Ask HN: What are your favorite podcasts?
EconTalk is awesome.
kaa2102··on Ask HN: How should I teach code to kids?
A friend's kid loves Minecraft. He specifically asked me to teach him how to code so that he could eventually host his own Minecraft server. I started with a couple different approaches including Kahn Academy kid-coding videos, basics and WYSIWYG HTML examples. The kid didn't really want to "code" as much as he wanted to see concrete outcomes. One of the outcomes was a blog or forum to interact with his Minecraft friends.

The moral of this story is that it helps to focus on the interest of the children you are teaching, identify desired outcomes that will excite them and deliver the outcomes while secretly teaching them coding and computer science basics. It's like hiding the dog's pill.

kaa2102··on Why isn't there a Google for the law?
The closest thing right now is Cornell's Legal Information Institute--https://www.law.cornell.edu. There is also the same problem with academic journals--Lexis Nexis has asearchable database with cases for a pretty penny. Also, pacer.gov enables users to access cases and dockets but the structure and "per page" cost make it difficult to be a useful search engine.

I've argued a couple cases in district court (and one case is on the docket of the Supreme Court) and I've used a mix of law school textbooks, Scotusblog.com, Cornell's Legal Information Institute and lawyer's blogs to start background research.

https://www.supremecourt.gov/search.aspx?filename=/docketfil...

kaa2102··on Ask HN: What was your best passive income in 2016?
Web and email hosting. Designed sites in 2015, hosted on Google Cloud and continued to take in monthly web and email hosting income in 2016.
kaa2102··on Ask HN: What problem in your industry is a potential startup?
I attended a Washington Post Millennial startup event (inGENuitY) last year that featured several companies like this. http://wapo.st/1TvsnAv
kaa2102··on Ask HN: What’s the best city/state for self-taught web devs without a degree?
Cosign. I live in the Washington, DC area. I hired a Web Dev from Boulder, CO because he had Udacity training and a impressive portfolio of projects. The projects showed me that he loved to build things. I also noticed that he had a ton of comments on Youtube, Stackoverflow, and Github showing that he was actively learning more about new web frameworks.
kaa2102··on How to Ship Side Projects
This is smart. Start by developing the smallest and most essential solution to a problem, get feedback, and incrementally improve the solution.
kaa2102··on Show HN: Handicareers.com – A simple job board for disabled people
I really LOVE this concept. I think it is much needed. I've seen studies of entire customer service departments staffed by disabled individuals who showed extreme patience and empathy with customers resulting in higher satisfaction.

One consideration to improve the user experience is to make sure that the website is Section 508 Compliant (www.section508.gov) so that it is easier to access for individuals with hearing and visual disabilities.

kaa2102··on Manufacturing Jobs Aren’t Coming Back
I like to tinker and build things. I still go to humans for value-added sheet-metal work and welding. However, downstream, mature manufacturing processes are ripe for replacement by automation.
kaa2102··on Why Don't Computer Scientists Learn Math?
I took a few CS classes while studying engineering undergrad. I also have a grad degree in Industrial Engineering from Columbia U. Now-a-days, I develop software and apps.

The training in mathematics, operations research, and mathematical modeling has been extremely helpful in the way I approach and solve computer science problems. It has helped with everything from smart SQL queries to developing scalable software and enterprise architecture for software.

kaa2102··on Tell HN: Will design for food
Let me know if you come to the Washington, DC area!
kaa2102··on Udacity the new ITT Tech?
I decided to start searching for Udacity training and certificates after hearing the Udacity CEO speak at Google I/O in 2015. I have been extremely happy with that decision as I've found software developers that were knowledgeable, intelligent and intellectually curious. I did also go through an interview and learning/onboarding process but I would judge the Udacity by the outcomes and not the inputs or appearance of the ads.
kaa2102··on Stephen Hawking confirms: The problem is Capitalism, not robots
This analysis is correct. Programs achieve the objective of the programmer. Currently, the goal is to maximize profits. Imagine a supply chain with profit-optimizing drones and self-driving cars. The "3 rules" can be followed while human involvement in wage-earning activities is drastically reduced.
kaa2102··on Issue 87 – google-compute-engine – UDP Packet Fragments cannot be reassembled
I've run into several misfires while using Google Cloud/Compute Engine: MySQL database access, email and encryption. These features didn't work without either a Google or third-party service. I set up postfix and use SendGrid for email and Google's Cloud SQL. You can get tech support at Silver or Gold level. I think everyone starts at Bronze.
kaa2102··on Strange Things That Have Been Happening in Financial Markets
Shorting long-term bonds with high modified duration would yield gains when interest rates rise and bond prices fall. Black swans and fractals: we can't predict the future but sometimes Blackswans flock together, e.g., autoregression, feedback patters, volatility of volatility, etc.
kaa2102··on Strange Things That Have Been Happening in Financial Markets
Physics has 3 laws that explain 97% of event while finance has 97 equations that explainless than 3% of events.
kaa2102··on Ask HN: Why isn't all stock trading done by algorithm?
Limited computing power, uncertainty and the false perception of perfect information (or perfect intuition).
kaa2102··on The Myth of Welfare’s Corrupting Influence on the Poor
Corporate welfare has a corrupting influence on democracy and capital markets.
kaa2102··on Google Cloud Shell
Thanks mate! Much appreciated! That's a really cool and useful site.
kaa2102··on Google Cloud Shell
Thanks for the input! I sat in on a couple image optimization sessions at Google I/O. It's past time I whipped out the notes and got to work!
kaa2102··on Ask HN: What are the signs a piece of technology will become commoditized?
Many products/techologies follow the S-curve. Slow start, exponential growth, plateau (mature product, 3-5% growth per year) - and then slow death. From my perspective, we have a broad set of capabilities. Let's take transportation. There are performance attributes like time, speed, work, power, mechanical efficiency, etc. The wheel was a technology that was surpassed by the horse and buggy and then eventually the automobile. The capability is needed but the technology or family of products eventually becomes obsolete.

Commodity products are on the plateau. The technology has been proven and there is broad market acceptance. The unit cost has been brought down substantially from the point of market entry. Tesla's electric vehicles are pushing in this direction but it will still take some time.

kaa2102··on Google Cloud Shell
Spendology is the company >>> spendology.net. Our new service is called Blue Apex Digital. I just used Google DNS and Google Compute Engine to publish >>> blueapexdigital.com. Thanks GCP!

I do have a quick question. I am running a LAMP stack with the A standing for Apache. I put an "Index.html" and an "Index.php" file in my "www" folder. I realize that new files append old files. However, I want to add a ".htaaccess" file with DIRECTORY prioritization for the PHP file over the HTML.

I tried copying an htaaccess file via the gcloud command line tool but I got an error. I've been looking through help, faqs, and searched but haven't seen a solution as of yet. Did I miss something? Thanks!

kaa2102··on Google Cloud Shell
My company is launching a new web design and development service using Google Cloud services. Initially, this was an experiment because we received some Google Cloud hosting credits. We run LAMP (Linux-Apache-MySQL-PHP) stacks on virtual machine instances on servers worldwide of our choosing.

After Google I/O, some webinars and testing I learned about how quickly new websites and apps could be deployed, Google DNS for managing domains, App Engine and other load balancing features that can help manage cost.

The ability to SSH into a virtual machine has proven quite useful to enable my team to coordinate and manage projects. I am still open to using other services like AWS but Google Cloud has been great - especially because they also offer customer service for tech and billing issues.

kaa2102··on Your Job as a Founder Is to Create Believers
...or find a startup with a vision and implementation plan that you can believe in.
kaa2102··on The Case for Teaching Ignorance
The quote wasn't spoken eloquently but it was profound. He was speaking truth but it was also amazingly ironic. Why risk and assume so much about success in Iraq with the quagmire of obvious unknowns?
kaa2102··on The Case for Teaching Ignorance
"We are blind to our blindness." Daniel Khaneman
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