manpreets7's comments

manpreets7 | 13 years ago | on: Stephen Covey, "7 Habits" author, dies at 79

"7 habits of highly effective people" was one of the books that I read almost 12 years ago and have skimmed through many times since. As time passed by, things that I couldn't absorb the first time around became more apparent. The book was as profound and relevant when it was written as it is today. RIP Stephen.

manpreets7 | 14 years ago | on: Things I Should Have Known at 20

So true. For certain books that I found insightful, I have found myself re-reading some parts later and discover nuances that I missed the first time.

manpreets7 | 14 years ago | on: The futures of Facebook and Google are embedded in these two images

A lot of people used to carry pens on their shirts. Many still do. Now using bluetooth earpieces is commonplace. I am sure people will get used to using very tiny gadgets on their clothing or ears if they assist them in meaningful ways.

manpreets7 | 14 years ago | on: Machine Learning in Python Has Never Been Easier

How does one get control over the predictive model? What classifier gets used, for instance. Maybe there is something in the API, but I didn't see it in the article.

manpreets7 | 14 years ago | on: The "Me, Too" Startup Syndrome

"There are no guarantees in life about whether anyone will succeed, but there is also not infinite time to wonder what might have been."

That line was the best part in your writeup.

manpreets7 | 15 years ago | on: Ask HN: Successful Non-Founders, was it worth it?

What you make will probably a lot less than the founders. But if the company is successful, that will still be quite a lot more than what you get from a regular salary working at a big company. And what you end up learning is also quite a lot more.

So, if you are not starting your company and if you believe in what the founders are doing, I would say go for it.

manpreets7 | 16 years ago | on: "On iteration": Why people leave Python

Python holds a strategic middle ground. It's far more productive, expressive and concise than the traditional procedural and OO languages. Although not as expressive and elegant as the new FP languages like Clojure and F#, the latter lack massive libraries and modules that have been written for Python. That makes them useless for any 'real' work.

Python is seeing some heavy use by the scientific community due to tools like NumPy, matplotlib, libsvm and what not. Good luck finding that range of independent libraries for a new FP language. I am not dropping Python in the near future, but I am watching.

manpreets7 | 16 years ago | on: Ask HN: Staying Sharp

This is actually excellent advice, although may or may not be harshly presented depending on your perspective. Setting goals are probably the single best way to learn anything and get sharp in the process.

I am a CS grad and am 30 now and have tried to learn several things in the past that have interested me in a variety of areas. I remember a few examples where I would learn/pickup/read something fast and think that I understand it but I would truly understand it only when I took up an ambitious project that involved learning and applying something. And your mind is automatically focussed/sharp in picking up stuff when there is a goal in front. Otherwise, it may just feel like cramming. Getting sharp should be a by-product of doing something worthy and ambitious that is aligned with your interests.

Also, don't worry about mediocrity just as yet since you're just starting out. But I've seen a lot of guys getting cozy in a couple of years after they graduate and get a job. So, do keep lofty and aligned goals in mind all the time. You will surprised. And that will take you way above mediocrity while keeping you sharp and vibrant as a person.

manpreets7 | 16 years ago | on: Chart of YC companies' hosting decisions

I wonder why Google App Engine doesn't show up even once. I thought it was a pretty viable and flexible option.