Author: Mark

Posted on

Spreadsheets and Queries

When I first learned about the QUERY function in Google Sheets, I was brought back to the surprisingly large amount of discourse I’ve read regarding spreadsheets and databases, the best of which is contained in Matt Parker’s book Humble Pi. In short, the backbone of spreadsheet software is not designed to let it perform like a database. But because spreadsheets are more explicable, visual, and interactive, businesses and researchers and all other sorts of folk force them into that bucket.

Meta-research has since come out that shows the profound number of accounting and data-reporting errors that proliferate due to the use of spreadsheets as databases. Some of this comes from data type interpretation—what if your gene name is interpreted as a date or currency?—and others come from inherent limitations to how data can be stored and related to each other.

All this well-meaning discussion has tried to guide certain disciplines to take greater care in how they process, store, and access their data. It’s a noble cause, but the humble QUERY function even gets me—someone who perhaps knows better—to forego robust solutions in favor of convenience. So it goes with technology.

Posted on

A Little Rain Never Hurt Anyone – Joel Haver

I wrote about Joel Haver some time ago. He has a second channel, Joel Talks About Movies, which is focused on his ideas about movies and life rather than actual short films he produces for his main channel.

His most recent video on that second channel, a little rain never hurt anybody, was a lovely take on an idea I’ve tried to embody as I grow older. The thesis—which operates as both a direct idea and a metaphor—is to stop worrying about getting wet from the rain. If you get caught in some rain, the worst thing that happens is you get wet and you’ll be dry sometime later.

Why not have the same outlook on taking chances in life?

Joel has a particular style of rambling that I find engaging and endearing, so I recommend watching the video and seeing if it resonates. He exudes a calm demeanor and is always working towards enjoying life, whatever that life is. It’s fantastic.

Posted on

Barbie, The Movie

I went with a large group to the Alamo Drafthouse in San Francisco to see a pre-release screening of Barbie. It was an official event complete with props and an opening presenter who shared their adoration for the famous doll. There was a palpable buzz among the groups of people dressed up, an excitement that was joyful with no undertone of negative tension that goes along with, say, a screening of a new Star Wars movie.1What I mean to say is, I don’t think anyone was at risk of breaking out into a fight for any reason. At the end of the movie, I was excited to see it again with Erin.

Continue reading “Barbie, The Movie”
  • 1
    What I mean to say is, I don’t think anyone was at risk of breaking out into a fight for any reason.
Posted on

Going Back to iA Writer

I’ve finally decided to go back to using iA Writer on my iPad. This has several knock-on effects, with the most notable being that my drafts will all be synced via iCloud.

I say “drafts” because my plan is still to use Dropbox as long-term storage. I now have a monthly reminder to copy completed blog posts over to the proper spot in Dropbox1I’m sure there’s some automation to do this, but I don’t really care enough for the scale at which I work. and will only use iCloud for in-progress work.

I’ll continue checking iA Writer’s stability with Dropbox. However, I’m content to use an app I thoroughly enjoy for a small bugaboo of a process change. Plus, the WordPress integration is a true integration, rather than a Javascript-based set of actions that amounts to a copy-paste.

  • 1
    I’m sure there’s some automation to do this, but I don’t really care enough for the scale at which I work.
Posted on

Starting on Guitar Maintenance

An uncle on my dad’s side has been a guitarist on the side for years. We don’t talk about it too often, but now that he’s getting older and preferring instruments with better ergonomics, he offered me a Stratocaster that he really enjoyed but wasn’t playing anymore. I happily took him up on the offer.

It plays beautifully, with a well-maintained neck that feels comfortable and fast. However, some of the metal hardware has begun rusting.1I don’t know how long he had this guitar, but it was definitely purchased used. My guess is that dealing with this aging hardware simply wasn’t a high priority. My plan is to use this as a first step in understanding how to maintain my guitars. Until now, I’ve changed the strings and left further setup to professionals. They do an exceptional job, but you pay for it. Considering this guitar was free, it seems appropriate to determine what I can learn to do for free.

Maintaining your own tools both helps you use them better, and provides a better sense of ownership over them. The first experience with this I can remember is oiling up my baseball gloves each year. It’s a small task, but a necessary one to extend the lifespan of the leather. More recently, it was working with computers and operating systems, gaining comfort with technology and understanding how far I’m willing to go to get the result I want. I plan to develop a sense of those boundaries with guitars as well, particularly electrics because they’re sturdier and simpler than acoustics.

I’ll write up something once I complete the process, with some before and after pictures. I figure the worst that could happen is I mess it up slightly and end up bringing it in to a shop, but if I can at least manage cleaning it, the cost of anything else is reduced.

  • 1
    I don’t know how long he had this guitar, but it was definitely purchased used. My guess is that dealing with this aging hardware simply wasn’t a high priority.