AI Risks to Small and Medium Businesses | 2023
As AI has proliferated wildly over the last six months, so too have the security risks it creates. This constitutes a security nightmare for small and medium businesses, as they typically tend to lack the resources to conduct diligence on new technologies.
Primer on Dorking | 2022
'Dorking' is the term used for using lesser-known features on Google and Bing to mine data. Rather than discuss 'dorking' on an abstract level, however, this post picks a specific use case and walk through it.
Why I made KYC-Lite | 2022
KYC-Lite shouldn’t exist. None of the KYC name check platforms should; the U.S. government should offer this as a free service. Until they do, however, I’ve built KYC-Lite to address an issue which deeply bothers me: ‘Knowing Your Client’ should be free and easy.
Orwellian Zero Hour | 2021
American consumers are slipping into an Orwellian state - not through conscious choice, but by omission and lazy pursuit of convenience.
Steps to Take After Being Hacked | 2021
Some friends of mine recently called to let me know they had been hacked, and wanted to know my thoughts on how to respond. I sent this note to them directly, but figured I’d post it on my page as well so I can share it more broadly with friends and family if needed.
We are in the Baroque Era of Tech | 2021
I believe we are experiencing a revival of the Baroque style with technology in general, and specifically within software development. There appears to be an ever-increasing focus on tech features, visuals, and convenience which is analogous to the elaborate artistry of the Baroque.
The Naughty List | 2021
Over the last five years, I have grown increasingly concerned about the rise of ‘surveillance capitalism’ and the lack of data privacy legislation. Here is a 'naughty list' of companies who are leading our nation down this dark path.
Topics of Interest | 2021
In no particular order, here are some things I’d like to learn more about.
Good Code / Bad Code | 2020
The target audience for this post is any person or team who anticipates leading tech projects for their business or organization. The goal is to share a few perspectives on what constitutes ‘good code’ versus ‘bad code,’ and how to spot the difference.
Data Support Plan, Not Data 'Strategy' | 2020
I advocate for the development of “data support plans,” not “data strategies.” Though this difference might seem like a matter of parlance, I believe it keeps teams focused on understanding how data supports the broader mission.
Web Spiders | 2020
A high-level overview of web spiders and brief point of view on their benefits and concerns. This is divided into three sections: how spiders work, practical uses for spiders, and limitations of spiders. This post is also accompanied by a video demo from an old client presentation.
Text Clustering | 2019
This is a high-level overview of text clustering. Because this is such a big topic, this post is accompanied by a video demo from a “Data Talk” I once gave on this topic.
Bad Software (and how to avoid it) | 2019
In this post, I share an opinion on a few causes for terrible software & workflow tools and, more importantly, what business teams can do to avoid perpetuating the cycle of these tools.
What it Means to be 'Data Driven' | 2019
In this post and video demo, I provide my take on what it really is to be ‘data driven’. In doing so, I show a page out of my own playbook: how I use data to shape business development.
Winning the Data Arms Race | 2019
A quick overview of what I believe to be the most disruptive societal trends behind the 'data arms race,' emerging technologies which are upping the ante, and, ultimately, what capabilities I believe to be critical for competing and winning in the current environment.
Brilliance in the Basics | 2019
Great teams relentlessly pursue mastery of the basics, and this holds especially true when working with data. Drawing lessons from the U.S. Marine Corps, I suggest a series of foundational elements to master working with data.
Data Privacy | 2019
Most Americans don’t understand they have a lot at stake when it comes to data privacy. There is a lack of familiarity on what constitutes sensitive personal data, how it is collected and (mis)used, and, most importantly, how to mitigate the risks of having one’s data privacy violated.
Scaling With For Loops | 2018
The purpose of this post is to provide a mental model to assess & improve processes to make them more scalable. The post is divided into three parts: (1) Explanation of the term “scalable”, (2) Overview of “for loops”, (3) Designing processes as “for loops”.
Automation Imperatives | 2018
This post is for any person or team who anticipates leading a series of tech projects for their business or organization. (e.g. building a new platform) The goal is to share a few perspectives on ‘automation imperatives’ to consider during such a project.
Data Dictionaries | 2018
Data Dictionaries describe the content, format, and structure of a database as well as the relationship of elements within it. I urge those working with data to consider maintaining them a part of their team’s standard operating procedures.
Machine Learning | 2018
The goal of this post is to give a basic explanation of Machine Learning (ML), its effective uses, limitations, and a few examples.
Assessing the Quality of Data | 2018
The purpose of this post is to share a perspective on how to assess data quality. Specifically, I outline three categories of questions to ask of data to help gain a better understanding of its utility.
Dash Overview and Use Cases | 2018
Dash is a productive Python framework for building web applications. It is an excellent option for any company who wants to get more out of their data, but who does not have the resources or desire to hire custom teams to build niche solutions.
AI Ethical Review Boards | 2018
The purpose of this post is to share a perspective on AI Ethical Review Boards. This post covers: (1) A brief overview of AI, (2) Two major causes for concern with AI, (3) A few examples of AI doing harm, (4) Ethical Review Boards.
Chatbots: The Good, The Bad, The Ugly | 2018
A brief point of view on chatbots, divided into three parts: the good, the bad, and the ugly.
Initial Coin Offerings | 2018
This post is meant to: (1) Give a high level overview of ICOs, (2) Review common fundraising techniques, (3) Explain the purpose behind an ICO, (4) Summarize how ICOs work, (5) Highlight the pros and cons of ICOs, (6) Identify noteworthy examples, (7) Provide resources.
Artificial Intelligence | 2018
The term AI is widely abused. This post is an attempt to rid the hype and mysticism about this topic, and to simplify it by supporting it with examples.
My (Work) Philosophy | 2012
A brief overview of my ways of working and thinking. It is broken into six parts: (1) My name is Jones and I’m here to paint, (2) Life doesn’t give you bricks; you make them, (3) Think differently, (4) Why, not what, (5) Get a life, (6) Habits determine performance.