Ethnography recommendations?

3 XFrequentist 11 June 2014 04:41PM

Recommendation request: Budgeting/accounting software for a non-profit

1 XFrequentist 29 January 2014 03:16PM

I'm currently working for a non-profit, and a colleague recently stated that there isn't a good software solution for non-profit accounting.

This seems unlikely. Any recommendations?

I know that's a pretty generic description, but it seems like requirements would be quite similar across US non-profits. I can seek out more info if needed.

Plan while your ugh field is down

21 XFrequentist 23 January 2014 05:42PM

Here's an example of a mental manoeuvre I accidentally found, and thought might be generally useful (typical caveats apply).

I've had a manageable-but-important Problem for a few months now (financial in kind, details neither relevant nor interesting), of moderate complexity and relatively minor importance unless I leave it unsolved just a little longer.

Unfortunately, this seems to be the precise combination of things that triggers one of my ugh fields, which manifests subjectively as a fuzzy blank inability to maintain focus. Several times last week, it occurred to me that I should really Solve The Problem, but I wasn't able to get myself to spend any time thinking about it. Like, at all.

On Saturday, the Problem found itself top of mind once again. How irritating that I couldn't solve the Problem because it was the weekend, and when it wasn't the weekend, maybe Tuesday when work wasn't busy and the Bureau was open, I should really email Dr. Somebody and call Mrs. Administrator for the ...

*blink*

I had a solution, and a plan. What the what?

My working theory is that when there's no chance of actually Doing Something, this particular ugh field deactivates. 

To me, this suggests a strategy (of uncertain generalizability): when an ugh field is preventing thought about something important, find a time when action is impossible and use it to generate a plan.

I would feel better about this advice if it had a deep theoretical backer. Anybody?

Useful Habits Repository

10 XFrequentist 03 September 2013 01:58AM

Repositories are awesome, and we should have more of them.

I recently completed BJ Fogg's Tiny Habits, and it's a pretty lightweight way to install new habits (recommended). However, I realized I could use a better repository of useful habits.

So, please use this thread to suggest habits that you've found useful. Bonus points for evidence/anecdata of usefulness.

Obviously, 1 habit per comment makes upvotes a clearer signal of collective approval.

[LINK] Should we live to 1,000?

10 XFrequentist 11 December 2012 04:59PM

Peter Singer, makes a (refreshingly simple) ethical case for anti-aging research, and endorses increased funding.

http://www.project-syndicate.org/commentary/the-ethics-of-anti-aging-by-peter-singer

On which problems should we focus research in medicine and the biological sciences? There is a strong argument for tackling the diseases that kill the most people –diseases like malaria, measles, and diarrhea, which kill millions in developing countries, but very few in the developed world.

Developed countries, however, devote most of their research funds to the diseases from which their citizens suffer, and that seems likely to continue for the foreseeable future. Given that constraint, which medical breakthrough would do the most to improve our lives?

If your first thought is “a cure for cancer” or “a cure for heart disease,” think again. Aubrey de Grey, Chief Science Officer of SENS Foundation and the world’s most prominent advocate of anti-aging research, argues that it makes no sense to spend the vast majority of our medical resources on trying to combat the diseases of aging without tackling aging itself. If we cure one of these diseases, those who would have died from it can expect to succumb to another in a few years. The benefit is therefore modest.

[...]

De Grey has set up SENS Foundation to promote research into anti-aging. By most standards, his fundraising efforts have been successful, for the foundation now has an annual budget of around $4 million. But that is still pitifully small by the standards of medical research foundations. De Grey might be mistaken, but if there is only a small chance that he is right, the huge pay-offs make anti-aging research a better bet than areas of medical research that are currently far better funded.

All free Stanford classes, continually updated

28 XFrequentist 29 November 2011 04:41PM

[The Stanford-class.org scheme seems to be adding new courses every few days. Instead of a new post each time a new class is added, I commit to keeping this post stocked with links to all current course offerings until at least January 2012.]

 

Complex Systems

Model Thinking

 

Electrical Engineering

Information Theory

 

Civil Engineering

Making Green Buildings

 

Medicine

Anatomy

 

[Cancelled] Entrepreneurship

The Lean Launchpad

Technology Entrepreneurship

 

Computer Science

Computer Science 101

Software as a Service

Human-Computer Interfaces

Natural Language Processing

Game Theory

Probabilistic Graphical Models

Machine Learning

Cryptography

Design and Analysis of Algorithms

Computer Security

[Ran Sept-Dec] Machine Learning

[Ran Sept-Dec] Introduction to Artificial Intelligence

[Ran Sept-Dec] Introduction to Databases

Rationality Dojo Examples?

11 XFrequentist 15 November 2011 09:28PM

Early on in my exposure to Less Wrong I encountered the metaphor of Rationality as Martial Art. I assumed at some point I would be a member of an active Rationality Dojo, regularly training and becoming progressively more formidable as I learned the Art.

Several years later, though I meet regularly with an awesome local group whose company I greatly enjoy, I still feel as though my training has not yet begun.

Can anyone point to an example of an active Rationality Dojo? What do you do there (Games? Exercises? Kata?)? Who are the instructors? The closest examples that I've seen are the Mega- and Mini-camps; can anyone shed some additional light on what went on there?

Meetup : Ottawa Meetup - Computational Complexity

2 XFrequentist 07 November 2011 07:00PM

Discussion article for the meetup : Ottawa Meetup - Computational Complexity

WHEN: 07 November 2011 07:30:00PM (-0500)

WHERE: Elgin & Gladstone, Ottawa Ontario Canada

Today, we'll discuss the first three chapters of Scott Aaronson's Why Philosophers Should Care About Computational Complexity.

There is also a high probability of playing some Set.

Join our Google Group for specifics!

Discussion article for the meetup : Ottawa Meetup - Computational Complexity

Meetup : Ottawa Meetup - Learning Linear Algebra 2 + Social

0 XFrequentist 14 October 2011 08:22PM

Discussion article for the meetup : Ottawa Meetup - Learning Linear Algebra 2 + Social

WHEN: 17 October 2011 07:30:00PM (-0400)

WHERE: Elgin & Gladstone, Ottawa Ontario Canada

With some (slow) progress beating math into our heads successfully behind us, we will continue with a second attempt at some more advanced linear algebra.

I propose heading to a nearby pub for 1-2 pints after 90 minutes of math, join our google group to keep up to date on developments!

Discussion article for the meetup : Ottawa Meetup - Learning Linear Algebra 2 + Social

Meetup : Ottawa Meetup - Learning Linear Algebra

2 XFrequentist 05 October 2011 06:02PM

Discussion article for the meetup : Ottawa Meetup - Learning Linear Algebra

WHEN: 10 October 2011 07:30:00PM (-0400)

WHERE: K2P 1N1

Type - Skill Training: Learning Linear Algebra - preparation for the Stanford AI Class

Location - Private residence near Elgin & Gladstone. Join the Google group for specifics.

Discussion article for the meetup : Ottawa Meetup - Learning Linear Algebra

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