Jun
12
This could be a disaster. I’m launching a new website that does genetic analyses for fun. It combines make-believe and science. There are a lot of direct-to-consumer genetics products out there, yet genetics is not very predictive at the individual level. The science behind these difficulties is abtruse, so why not have some fun while helping people understand …
Sep
27
About 2 years ago, I accidentally wrote a children’s book. (Accidentally is a strange word: rather, I never intended to write a children’s book, but when an idea sticks with me, the only way to get it out of my head is to do it.) My significant other is part of a company that makes …
Jul
23
My friends have been asking me why I resigned from my current job, with no job lined up. It started when ants found their way into our home. I could see a solid trail of ants determinedly racing towards a destination (turns out someone had spilled soda underneath the fridge). The ants looked something like …
Mar
15
Is it worth paying more for a “top 10” school? You get accepted to a private school / Ivy League that will cost a fortune. You’re also accepted by a public university which doesn’t have as good a reputation but costs much less. Does it matter which one you choose? One factor in your decision …
Feb
26
College is expensive. Students are graduating with massive debts that take the rest of their lives to pay off. Is it worth it? Bill Gates and Steve Jobs never graduated from college, so perhaps a college degree isn’t even necessary. But are Bill Gates, Steve Jobs, Mark Zuckenberg, and Joi Ito rarities in this world, …
Jun
02
Yay! My paper entitled “What Britney Spears and Kobe Bryant Have in Common: Mining Wikipedia for Characteristics of Notable Individuals” was accepted at ICWSM 2012The pdf can be downloaded here: Mining Wikipedia For Characteristics of Notable Individuals.pdfSo what do Britney and Kobe have in common? They’re both successful, and my research shows that having a …