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SworDsy's comments

SworDsy | 12 years ago | on: The trouble with Khan Academy (2012)

what I've seen of khan academy is pretty cursory as far as the math goes (about enough to get through an introductory course, usually), and that seems intentional. There are definitely a few gaping holes in the curriculum, such as no wronskian in diff eqs. And nobody really learns a mathematical concept until they've been confronted with something significant they couldn't do with it immediately, yet conquered it.

Teaching advanced math, on the other hand, is really hard to do when you're interacting with a person because there are so many pitfalls and if you hit even a single one you can't usually continue until you've tracked it down. Khan Academy has material on all sorts of non-math stuff, like economics and other sciences, and they seem to be gearing the math stuff more towards a younger audience, not an older one, which is probably more important anyways to be honest. smart move, mr.Khan, smart move.

SworDsy | 12 years ago | on: Big data: are we making a big mistake?

if i work for facebook and i want to figure out something about my users, isn't it safe to say N = All since the data im accessing is all user data from fb? it's easy to go wrong with big data, and although the article glossed over some fairly important things (assuming the people who work on these datasets are much dumber than they are in reality), they're right on about idea that the scope and scale of what big data promises may be too grandiose for it's capabilities

SworDsy | 12 years ago | on: The Book of Graham

YC didn't invent startups, and everyone should be able to do something they actually want to do all day at least once. And for their benefit it should be in their 20s.

SworDsy | 12 years ago | on: Ham on Nye: The high cost of “winning” an evolution/creation debate

The distinction between 'observational' and 'historical' is a matter of political and social convenience.

Consider carbon dating. Since it's been observed, we should assume it's observational. carbon dating indicates that dinosaurs existed hundreds of millions of years ago instead of mere thousands. but that's historical and therefore this is a contradiction, so we can't assume the distinction.

the only logical conclusion is that we have a false premise.

SworDsy | 13 years ago | on: "I can't do math" (2001)

I think that's an uninformed metaphor because it assumes both math is totally foreign and should be able to be read by anyone. if you write code for a server that handles HTTP requests you wouldn't explain the guts of HTTP in your comments, you'd just assume if the reader wants to know more they'll figure it out themselves.

I think sometimes mathematical definitions, especially advanced ones that rely on simpler definitions, are too complicated/long to recant every time you use them, which you have to. If I want to prove something relating or relying on uniform continuity I don't want to state the definition every time both because its repetitive and because definitions often use the same notation, so I don't want my uniform continuity deltas and epsilons getting confused with my normal continuity epsilons and deltas. Try proving advanced things about field extensions and galois theory using induction like that and you may actually run out of symbols.

That being said it is hard to read real math writing/research which can be both dense and obtuse even if you're used to it. Maybe that's why you need a PhD to consider entering the field.

SworDsy | 13 years ago | on: How Criticizing in Private Undermines Your Team

i think this has an interesting parallel (isomorphism if you enjoy abstract algebra) to society in general;

if you shame someone like that, they won't feel good and it probably won't make them perform better at work. you have to be reasonable with them too, if you're too mean they won't like you which doesn't foster good teamwork. except here the company is the country and deadlines are economic achievements and such.

that being said i appreciate the sentiment here, you have to feel responsible to the team because you're a part of it, upon doing that you'll get the best out of people i find, although thats never an easy balance to find either.

SworDsy | 13 years ago | on: White House Response to “Make Unlocking Cell Phones Legal”

it may or may not work in the short term but there's nothing like an outside perspective to make you appreciate what you have. its true that the legislative branch has to pass this, but at the very least the political climate changes (slightly, around this issue after a public statement) and the people involved feel empowered which both have at least the potential to recreate the situation

SworDsy | 13 years ago | on: Ask HN: Feeling Lonely

Don't feel bad about not being able to make small talk, like everything its not for everyone. I can't honestly maintain it either. Social skills are what they seem to be; skills. Like other skills they take time and effort to develop, but if you work and stay committed to them and the people you like it will pay off. I think finding a casual/social hobby is a good idea (like the other guy said) too. All of my close friendships are based on a common insterest that we can discuss or do together. Taking an interest in people is key too, not to be confused with seeming to take an interest. People appreciate your legitimate appreciation of them, and they know when you've made them a real priority or when you make real sacrofices for them. Whatever happens don't give up. I've been at the point multiple times when I literally had 1 friend, who wasn't very close to me, and trust me you can always come back if you stay positive and actually like people. Be happy, its worth the effort, and because you CAN do it!
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