Yup, I've got some.
And except for the hairballs, walking in on the keyboard, and the sleeping on my face, I enjoy having them here. So, when my husband told me about this new book, I was pretty irritated. I mean, how can a human know what a cat is thinking?
But, honestly, the publicist for the book is a genius because it's getting a lot of discussion. And perhaps that was the original intent of the book- money. Because cat keepers are more attached to their companions than any other humans and they'd have a lot to say about the book: loving it or hating it.
Sunday, February 9, 2014
Saturday, February 8, 2014
Only Xians
You know, I have to say I'm amazed at how much Xians can corner the market on crafts and "quiet" activities.
For example: if you've never read the Bible, you won't be able to do any of the Challenger-level crossword puzzles from Dell or Penny Press (which are the same company now).
And now, when I went looking for cross-stitch patterns, I find that "floral designs" means "flowers on the cross".
I swear, it's amazing.
Where are all the non-Xian crafters!?!?! Why aren't you in these design positions? I mean, I don't think I've ever seen a menorah with flowers in cross stitch...or a pentagram...or the Flying Spaghetti Monster....Buddha, I have seen, but it falls into that Xian niche of "Asian art".
Someone: let me know where there's a good set of cross stitch patterns that don't have a cross in them (ha ha)
For example: if you've never read the Bible, you won't be able to do any of the Challenger-level crossword puzzles from Dell or Penny Press (which are the same company now).
And now, when I went looking for cross-stitch patterns, I find that "floral designs" means "flowers on the cross".
I swear, it's amazing.
Where are all the non-Xian crafters!?!?! Why aren't you in these design positions? I mean, I don't think I've ever seen a menorah with flowers in cross stitch...or a pentagram...or the Flying Spaghetti Monster....Buddha, I have seen, but it falls into that Xian niche of "Asian art".
Someone: let me know where there's a good set of cross stitch patterns that don't have a cross in them (ha ha)
Thursday, February 6, 2014
Placebo Buttons
How many times are you standing in front of the elevator with the button pressed to go up or down...and along comes someone who pushes it again?
FOR WHAT REASON?!
Control
And they never look at you or say anything to you.
Well, I read this article about the Door Close button...I'm not sure that it's actually true (some of them seem to work for me), but it does add a sense of comedy hen you watch people wiling away on the close button. Very Skinner Box-esque.
http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2008/04/21/080421fa_fact_paumgarten?currentPage=all
FOR WHAT REASON?!
Control
And they never look at you or say anything to you.
Well, I read this article about the Door Close button...I'm not sure that it's actually true (some of them seem to work for me), but it does add a sense of comedy hen you watch people wiling away on the close button. Very Skinner Box-esque.
http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2008/04/21/080421fa_fact_paumgarten?currentPage=all
Statistics, Metrics, and Analytics
So, I was recently presented with a set of analytics from a rather self-satisfied member of my team. The analytics showed:
1. The number of views of our product,
2. The number of saves of our product, and
3. The number of times the product appeared in a search.
They were just raw counts gathered by a computer system.
In other words, analytics.
But they were presented as metrics, which kind of annoyed me.
Now, there's a big difference and the words aren't interchangeable like the current office usage.
A statistic is a stroke tally of something your measuring. It could be the number of visits to your product, it could be the number of times a batter hits a ball- you get the idea.
An analytic is when the computer program is measuring the counts for you.
A metric is a normalized statistic, most commonly for measuring some business goal.
You know, normal...
...like the bell curve??
The difference here is that a statistic or analytic is a raw count. The metric is some computation that you do with the statistic...like "the average number of visits per day to Product X" or "the difference in the number of views of the leading product per day compared to Product X".
Now, I'm not a statistician, but honestly, the first things you should ask yourself when presented with a page of numbers is:
1. What is normal?
2. How did you measure this?
3. What was your measured population?
4. Why do I care?
If you can't answer all of these by looking at the page, then you have a bunch of statistics- NOT METRICS.
Step 2:
Go back and do it right.
Step 3:
Stop using statistics, analytics, and metrics interchangeably. You look like a moron when you do.
1. The number of views of our product,
2. The number of saves of our product, and
3. The number of times the product appeared in a search.
They were just raw counts gathered by a computer system.
In other words, analytics.
But they were presented as metrics, which kind of annoyed me.
Now, there's a big difference and the words aren't interchangeable like the current office usage.
A statistic is a stroke tally of something your measuring. It could be the number of visits to your product, it could be the number of times a batter hits a ball- you get the idea.
An analytic is when the computer program is measuring the counts for you.
A metric is a normalized statistic, most commonly for measuring some business goal.
You know, normal...
...like the bell curve??
The difference here is that a statistic or analytic is a raw count. The metric is some computation that you do with the statistic...like "the average number of visits per day to Product X" or "the difference in the number of views of the leading product per day compared to Product X".
Now, I'm not a statistician, but honestly, the first things you should ask yourself when presented with a page of numbers is:
1. What is normal?
2. How did you measure this?
3. What was your measured population?
4. Why do I care?
If you can't answer all of these by looking at the page, then you have a bunch of statistics- NOT METRICS.
Step 2:
Go back and do it right.
Step 3:
Stop using statistics, analytics, and metrics interchangeably. You look like a moron when you do.
Monday, February 3, 2014
Project Managers
After over ten years in IT, I can honestly tell you this:
Project managers love meetings.
In fact, their whole existence on a team is to create meetings.
And they love to create meetings.
Long meetings.
All day long meetings...
...with the whole team...
...so that they can tan in the spotlight while they "gather status".
ooooo
Now, I've never met a project manager who isn't this way.
That's not to say that there's aren't project managers who are more interested in the project success than collecting the project status.
But I haven't met one.
Project managers love meetings.
In fact, their whole existence on a team is to create meetings.
And they love to create meetings.
Long meetings.
All day long meetings...
...with the whole team...
...so that they can tan in the spotlight while they "gather status".
ooooo
Now, I've never met a project manager who isn't this way.
That's not to say that there's aren't project managers who are more interested in the project success than collecting the project status.
But I haven't met one.
Sunday, February 2, 2014
Hilarity
I am always looking for good hair care products...especially moisturizing products because this winter has been fierce on hair....and let's face it: gray hair needs more moisture, right?
So, in doing some shopping, I found a L'Oreal product with this advertisement on the label:
L'oreal Serie Expert Power Repair B (Powercell Repair with Lactic Acid) is a single-dose repairing treatment for very damaged hair. To be used after shampooing as an instant repairing treatment for fragile, brittle, sensitised and devitalised, lifeless hair. Power Repair B is a single dose treatment for very damaged hair. This intensive treatment contains NeofibrineTM to restructure and rehydrate the hair fibre, providing absolute repair, to make hair look and feel soft, shiny and healthy. Provides complete renewal and intense strength for chemically-damaged hair.
Powerdose treatments target the cuticle and hair's surface (Zones B & A) with professional concentrations of Bio-Mimetic Ceramide coupled with dedicated technologies for specific haircare needs. These treatments instantaneously provide deep condition at the hair's cuticle and surface areas for intense shine.
Lactic Acid is able to create saline bonds between the keratin chains exposed in the cortex of damaged hair fibres. AS if transformed, hair is left soft, supple, with a natural-looking shine.
Now, couple of things that I noticed:
So, in doing some shopping, I found a L'Oreal product with this advertisement on the label:
L'oreal Serie Expert Power Repair B (Powercell Repair with Lactic Acid) is a single-dose repairing treatment for very damaged hair. To be used after shampooing as an instant repairing treatment for fragile, brittle, sensitised and devitalised, lifeless hair. Power Repair B is a single dose treatment for very damaged hair. This intensive treatment contains NeofibrineTM to restructure and rehydrate the hair fibre, providing absolute repair, to make hair look and feel soft, shiny and healthy. Provides complete renewal and intense strength for chemically-damaged hair.
Powerdose treatments target the cuticle and hair's surface (Zones B & A) with professional concentrations of Bio-Mimetic Ceramide coupled with dedicated technologies for specific haircare needs. These treatments instantaneously provide deep condition at the hair's cuticle and surface areas for intense shine.
Lactic Acid is able to create saline bonds between the keratin chains exposed in the cortex of damaged hair fibres. AS if transformed, hair is left soft, supple, with a natural-looking shine.
Now, couple of things that I noticed:
- It's obviously not American with the "s"es instead of "z"s and "fibres" instead of "fibers".
- There's no such thing as "saline bonds". There are covalent, ionic, and hydrogen that might apply here, but there's no such thing as "saline bonds".
- "Lactic Acid" is not a proper noun- it's the name of an acid, yes, but it's not a proper noun.
- To my surprise, there actually are hair zones, but based on the diagram below, is Zone 1 or 2 really where you want more moisture? In my humble experience, adding moisture to the top of your head leaves your hair looking greasy and limp. In fact, I've been told by multiple stylists NOT to put conditioner on the top of your hair because it weighs down the hair.
It's too bad that there isn't more control over what can be advertised. Upon reflection, this looks a lot like snake oil...because unless you remember your chemistry, it sounds like a fantastic product.
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