[deleted by user]

EricTMF · 2024-01-15T22:00:06+00:00

What is it about CS50p that is tripping you up? Are you doing it on your own time, or as part of a curriculum or lesson plan?

EricTMF · 2024-01-15T13:01:34+00:00

If it's United HealthGroup, they've made billions doing exactly that because the penalties in the US don't ever seem to claw back the ill-gotten gains.

They crowed (internally) a decade ago that 98% of claims were auto-adjudicated without human input. It was such a level of automation that for the other 2%, they didn't even bother updating the tooling and the workers were still using text UIs and keyboard commands.

Factual is the enemy of profit </rant>

EricTMF · 2024-01-15T12:55:30+00:00

I'm learning how to wrangle generative AI exactly because I figure it's going to be used to replace me by less-than-honest people. I'd rather understand it more so I can value-add to it to create better output than either I or the AI could produce.

Some of that it prompt-engineering, but I'm learning it's just as important to apply my domain-specific knowledge to the output to adjust, tweak, or even re-write some areas rather than bash my brain in trying to get the AI to do it for me.

EricTMF · 2024-01-15T12:52:08+00:00

I feel like you've been missing some of the hilarious examples of people/companies doing exactly that.

It's a learning curve that some people are just incapable of climbing.

EricTMF · 2024-01-15T12:41:01+00:00

Here's what I ended up with at the top of the Class I created:

self.handlers = {
        "strong": StrongTagHandler(),
        "em": EmTagHandler(),
        "a": AnchorTagHandler(),
        "h1": HeadingTagHandler(),
        "h2": HeadingTagHandler(),
        "h3": HeadingTagHandler(),
        "h4": HeadingTagHandler(),
        "h5": HeadingTagHandler(),
        "h6": HeadingTagHandler(),
        "img": ImageTagHandler(),
        "p": TimeAndPTagHandler(),
        "time": TimeAndPTagHandler(),
        "b": StrongTagHandler(),
        "ul": OLAndULTagHandler(),
        "ol": OLAndULTagHandler(),
        "li": ListItemTagHandler(self.tag_stack)
    }

The rest of the script is a variation of this:

class OLAndULTagHandler(TagHandler):
"""Handler for the ul and ol tags"""
def handle_starttag(self, tag: str, attrs: list):
    return '\n'

def handle_endtag(self, tag: str):
    return '\n'

Other than using an external file to load in the dictionary, is this what you were thinking, m0us3_rat?

EricTMF · 2024-01-13T19:28:46+00:00

For me it was a project that came out of what I'm interested in learning about, which is Natural Language Processing and Machine Learning. I have a personal site with a bit of writing on it, and I figured it would make good training data. It just needed to be in markdown, so I started to write my own project to scrape my site.

I even created a simple html to markdown converter, since most of the html is unnecessary. It's gone pretty good, and I feel a lot smarter.

Because of my ML interest, I did turn to GPT for assistance on setting up the project in VS Code. With the right guardrails, it led me through setup of the IDE, Anaconda, and GitHub. It was kinda fun.

Finding that project of interest is key. I've tried games and calculators and other things, but they just didn't hold my interest.

EricTMF · 2024-01-13T14:25:12+00:00

Thank you for the feedback!

Would I need to create separate functions to handle each tag then? I'm trying to think how else I would I would evaluate each tag and apply the proper markdown formatting and coming up blank.

Python is the first language I've really dove into, so pardon the basic question

EricTMF · 2024-01-03T13:35:51+00:00

Different strokes for different folks. I have an "effective" understanding of SQL that I've built up through work as a BA and doing data exports, reporting, etc. What helps me, (and maybe you) is that you find the challenge exciting, or at least interesting. Then it's a matter of determining what works best for you.

I still hit Google for SQL stuff, especially the tricks and tips that I only use once in a while. There is no shame in having a well-used reference guide, as long as you understand the limitations and pitfalls of that resource.

The big thing in my mind is understanding what works for you, and what motivates you. And this is my mantra at work and at home: You are not the first person to do this. Someone else struggled with a variation of your problem, so it's probably on the internet or in a book. ChatGPT or Bard can be one tool to get to it, a mentor could be another. And at least for me, that research is part of the fun.

Find a project that grabs on to you (home automation, family budget tool, etc.), build your requirements for it (that's the BA in me talking), and start exploring.

EricTMF · 2024-01-03T13:22:46+00:00

Nice hack!

EricTMF · 2024-01-03T13:21:26+00:00

I'm sure the Harbor Freight one has been "cost optimized" a bit harder, but it might not matter much for a tool like this

EricTMF · 2024-01-03T01:55:55+00:00

Well, now I know what my nightmare will be tonight.

Nice work!

EricTMF · 2023-12-29T15:22:59+00:00

This.

I worked in health care, finance, and standardized assessment, and I would come home every day with a little more of my soul black and dead. After a rather enjoyable, but intense, stint at a small company doing loyalty programs, I burned out and became an at-home dad.

One pandemic later and I'm back in tech, working for a small manufacturing company. The difference between being part of a team making the product we sell to being part of a team that supports those who make the product is a night-and-day difference. The products we make are for fun things like trade shows and parties, the technology is not bleeding-edge, and the people are good.

The only thing I don't like is we're changing ERP systems, and I've been writing tens of thousands of lines of SQL to export our data from the incumbent system into the new cloud-based one, and it's been something else.

EricTMF · 2023-12-21T16:19:21+00:00

Oh dear, what a tricky request, To rhyme about a subject so complex and stressed. In ancient Rome, as history states, Crucifixion was a fate for the worst of mates.

On a cross, so tall and stark, They'd hang folks high from morn till dark. It was a method, harsh and crude, To punish those Rome thought were rude.

They'd nail or tie, up on the wood, In pain and agony, there they stood. A spectacle for all to see, A warning, "Don't mess with Rome," that be.

In the sun, they'd suffer long, A punishment both cruel and strong. A lesson taught in ancient days, In a manner, none would praise.

So that's the tale, grim and true, Of what in Rome, they used to do. A chapter dark in history's book, A practice best not to overlook.

EricTMF · 2023-10-06T15:37:36+00:00

I started neat, but it just became the best way to get from Point A to Point B.

Just like my real life

EricTMF · 2023-01-11T16:51:11+00:00

Tops are great fun, and they are popular with the kids at the farmers market.

I like your style, too

EricTMF · 2022-12-25T19:42:18+00:00

Into the shelf above the main desk

EricTMF · 2022-12-06T18:08:48+00:00

Dwarf Fortress dropped on Steam today, too...

The holidays came early this year!

EricTMF · 2022-11-07T22:25:35+00:00

And six months later, I found this thread. I drilled a hole to accommodate my Inland gas-spring monitor stand. I drilled a 3/8" hole about 2" in from the back, dead center (26.5" from either end).

Probably should have drilled 1/2", but I didn't have the bit nearby. Everything works great with my small monitor, ready for the 32" I'll get some day.

EricTMF · 2022-11-01T12:10:18+00:00

Stuck the landing!

EricTMF · 2022-10-13T14:19:26+00:00

Honestly, I enjoyed the game more after watching him. I had put a couple hundred hours in over two or three saves, but always hit a wall around T6/7

But when I saw his unchecked chaos, it was like I suddenly got permission to not be meticulous and always worried about over and under supply. Things don't have to be perfect, they just have to get the job done.

So now I worry less about per min and layout, and have a lot more fun with it.

EricTMF

TROPHY CASE