Monthly Archives: March 2018

Book Review – Humans Need Not Apply

Humans Need Not Apply: A Guide to Wealth and Work in the Age of Artificial Intelligence
by Jerry Kaplan, 2015

Expands on the ideas in this video:

Actually, I got the causation backward when I checked out the book from the library. I thought the video above was based on the book, but: “I would also like to acknowledge that the title for this book is not original – it is borrowed from an outstanding short video of the same name by the famously reclusive C.G.P. Grey. I’m a big fan. Check out his work on YouTube.” (pg. 210)

Good discussion of how synthetic intelligences can do many things better and faster than humans ever could. However, optimistic on the whole: “I’m supremely confident that our future is very bright – if only we can figure out how to equitably distribute the benefits.” (pg 197)

Quick read.

Book Review – American Energy

American Energy: The Politics of 21st Century Policy
by Walter A. Rosenbaum, 2015

Overview of energy policies and politics in the U.S. I enjoyed the section on nuclear history and policy. However, the book is in need of better editing. In particular, it got repetitive in the renewable and climate change sections and confusing in the last chapter on global energy considerations. The figures also leave something to be desired, with an overuse of pie charts and simplistic U.S. state maps.

Book Review – A Passion for Leadership

A Passion for Leadership: Lessons on Change and Reform from Fifty Years of Public Service
by Robert M. Gates, 2015

Gates was Director of Central Intelligence, President of Texas A&M, and Secretary of Defense, and he is currently the President of the Boy Scouts of America. Some of the versions of this book have the cover quote, “The book [politicians] should all admit to reading- and actually read… Refreshingly nonideological.” I think that is apt. It is a very good rundown on how to treat subordinates, how to foster trust, what mindset to have as a leader, how to enact effective change, and when to know it’s time to walk away from a position of power. Gates has a wealth of experience to draw from, and he tries to give examples that are relevant to government, academia, and business.

The audiobook is very well read and highly recommended. I listened to this on my lunch-time walks.

Strength of March Madness Teams

Similar to last year and the year before and the year before that, I will run my NFL model over NCAA men’s basketball teams to show the strength of each team. The model predicts how many more points a team will score than the “average” team, along with how many more points they will give up on defense. The model is only based on the final scores of games during the season and conference tournaments. Positive numbers are good for Offensive strength. Negative numbers are good for defensive strength. My model does not discount (late season runs matter no more than early season victories) and does not account for injuries.

Some things to note:
1. 6 tournament teams are worse than an NCAA Division 1 average team.
2. The top 8 teams are within 5 expected points of each other.
3. My model says Xavier is only the 11th best team, deserving of a 3 seed. Chronically under-seeded West Virginia is a 5 seed deserving to be a 3 seed. Virginia’s offense is below average, but their defense is preposterous (7 points better than 2nd best Cincinnati). Villanova has the best offense, but Oklahoma is right behind them.
4. The best teams not to make the tournament are Penn State (14.0 points above average), Baylor (13.7), Louisville (13.7), and Notre Dame (13.5).
5. Creighton, Butler, and Arizona State deserved seeds that were 3 better.
6. Miami and Rhode Island deserved seeds that were at least 3 worse.

Book Review – David and Goliath

David and Goliath: Underdogs, Misfits, and the Art of Battling Giants
by Malcolm Gladwell, 2013

After listening to this book, I checked some of the reviews. I should have done it in the opposite order. Not Gladwell’s best stuff. I feel like a lot of the message was anecdotal, and it missed the opportunity to be widely applicable. I expected some references to startups having advantages over slow-moving established companies, but the topic was largely focused on social issues. The re-telling of David and Goliath, alluded to in the title, was certainly worthwhile, and recommended if you haven’t seen it before.

Energetic 20180308

Reminder to DOE and Congress – US has a world beating Fast Flux Test Facility sitting idle in eastern Washington. Interesting discussion of a potential test site for fast breeder nuclear technology that was decommissioned in 1992. Everything I read about the government’s handling of nuclear technology/waste has been frustrating.

New nuclear power in the Middle East. The U.S. has not built a nuclear power plant since 1978.

Reliability vs. resilience?

Rounding the Bases 20180302

As Medals Pile Up, Norway Worries: Are We Winning Too Much? I love everything about this article.

Instead of holding back its athletes, Norway is trying to lift others everywhere else. It has conceived the Alpine athletics version of the Marshall Plan. For seven years, it has invited competitors from all over the world to visit for a weeklong training camp. A separate camp is offered to World Cup coaches. Attendees pay to get there, and Norway covers all other expenses.

Joey Votto talking hitting.

2018 PyeongChang Games are the least-watched Olympics ever. Yes, but all networks are down nowadays. “NBC’s primetime viewership beat its broadcast brethren by a whopping 82%.”

BlockSite Firefox Extension Comments

I started using the BlockSite extension/add-in to block sites that I wanted to keep myself from visiting during work (Youtube, ESPN, etc). The programmer has a bit of a sense of humor in the comments that are shown when you try to visit a blocked page. Though the English isn’t great, here are the comments:

“Alright so you have tried it first time. But don’t try it again.”

“You have already tried 2 times.
I know that you will try this. But please stop now.”

“You have already tried 3 times.
Come on! Stop doing this.”

“You have already tried 4 times.
Seriously? You should be doing something else.”

“You have already tried 5 times.
I am begging you. Stop trying.”

“You have already tried 6 times.
I hate to tell you this, but this site is still blocked.”

“You have already tried 7 times.
I told you before, it is blocked.”

“You have already tried 8 times.
Are you hoping that it will eventually be unblocked?”

“You have already tried 9 times.
One more and you will hit two digits. This is seriously the waste of time.”

“You have already tried 10 times.
What? 10 times? I am not talking to you. Try sharing this extension”

“You have already tried 11 times.
No! I am not talking to you.”

“You have already tried 12 times.
I told you that I am not talking to you.”

“You have already tried 13 times.
Alright, you are starting to make me angry.”
(same for 14 and 15)

“You have already tried 16 times.
Knock knock! Who’s there?”
(same for 17-21)

“You have already tried 22 times.
I won’t tell you this joke, because you keep trying.”
(same for 23-24)

“You have already tried 25 times.
You look great, but that won’t help you to get on this website”
(same for 26-29)

“You have already tried 30 times.
How about instead of trying try to share this extension to your friends.”
(same for 31-34)

“You have already tried 35 times.
I will stop changing my quotes on the number of 36”

“You have already tried 36 times.
The last post. I am done. Please stop trying now.”
(same for 37-39)

“You have already tried 40 times.
Seriously this is the last thing that I am going to say. Stop trying to reach this site, it is blocked by BlockSite”
(same for 41-99)

“You have already tried 100 times.
Alright, since you made it that far, you deserve a reward. I will give you an echo when I will figure it out.”
(same for 101-149)

“You have already tried 150 times.
Still no reward for you for keep trying. There is no guarantee that you will get some reward”
(same for 151-199)

“You have already tried 200 times.
Alright here is your reward. The joke: What do cows do for entertainment? They rent moovies!”
(same for 201-249)

“You have already tried 250 times.
Allright, since you are full of enery, I am going to tell you some jokes.”
(same for 251-299)

“You have already tried 300 times.
You know that I am sad, that you are wasting time here?”
(same for 301-319)

“You have already tried 320 times.
But at least you can have fun if I tell you some jokes.”
(same for 321-339)

“You have already tried 340 times.
Don’t forget to tell them to your friends, I am sure that they would love to hear them.”
(same for 341-359)

“You have already tried 360 times.
What do you call a sheep with no legs? A cloud”
(same for 361-379)

“You have already tried 380 times.
Good one right?”
(same for 381-399)

“You have already tried 400 times.
What does a fish say when it runs into a wall? DAMN!”
(same for 401-419)

“You have already tried 420 times.
That one I like”
(same for 421-439)

“You have already tried 440 times.
What do you call a fish with no eye ? FSH !”
(same for 441-459)

“You have already tried 460 times.
What is invisable and smells like carrots? Rabbit farts.”
(same for 461-480)

“You have already tried 480 times.
Why do gerillas have big nostralls? Coz they got big fingers!!!!!!!!!”
(same for 481-499)

“You have already tried 500 times.
Ewwwwwww”
(same for 501-519)

“You have already tried 520 times.
A magician was driving down the road..then he turned into a drive way…”
(same for 521-539)

“You have already tried 540 times.
Two snowmen are standing in a field. One says to the other : Funny, I smell carrots too.”
(same out to at least 1111)

I wonder if it ever changes again. All software should have Easter eggs. Especially when Easter is on April 1.