Disqus - Latest Comments for matthewcornell

Re: Finding Paths

Matthew Cornell — Fri, 13 Jun 2014 14:13:23 -0000

This feature is cool as heck. Typo: "how many paths exist between their actors" should probably read "how many paths exist between THESE [TWO] actors".

Re: Movie Database

Matthew Cornell — Fri, 13 Jun 2014 14:00:12 -0000

The graphical widget that shows the database is cool, but because the output screen that it appears in is small vertically, the widget is less than useful.

Re: Movie Database

Matthew Cornell — Fri, 13 Jun 2014 13:58:54 -0000

The Matrix is example is poor because you have no examples of nodes that don't participate in all movies, which makes queries less interesting and educational that would be possible. At a minimum you might add another Reeves movie.

Re: Paths

Matthew Cornell — Fri, 13 Jun 2014 13:53:41 -0000

Can a path end in a relationship? E.g., "actor -[acts in]-> movie <- [directed by]" to get 'directed by' relationships (and not the directors).

Re: Relationships

Matthew Cornell — Fri, 13 Jun 2014 13:47:40 -0000

Your data scheme is a little confusing. Nodes and relationships can have properties, but only nodes have labels and only relationships have types. But types can be thought of as labels. Are they the same? Why not use labels or types for both, and skip the other?

Re: What is a Graph Database?

Matthew Cornell — Fri, 13 Jun 2014 13:33:47 -0000

Good stuff. Looking forward to using it. Comments: 1) Using graphs to explain graph concepts is clever in a programmer self-referencing way, but confusing and unnecessary for actually explaining them well. Use text and good diagrams. 2) Your schema of labels, types, and properties is confusing because properties should subsume the former two. Why did you add them? Also, they break symmetry as some apply to relationships and nodes while others only to relationships. Thank you.

Re: Meta | My Open Source Mind

Matthew Cornell — Wed, 01 Aug 2012 22:20:52 -0000

Power to you!

Re: Embedded Web Application integration testing using Tomcat 7 and JUnit - Steve Hostettler

Matthew Cornell — Tue, 12 Jun 2012 12:51:14 -0000

I could find no files on the Google code link. Is it broken?

Re: Keyboard Shortcuts You Cannot Miss

Matthew Cornell — Fri, 06 Apr 2012 12:11:19 -0000

Thanks, I have that document, but the icons I asked about are not listed in the key. See attached images. Are they related to the numeric keypad?

Re: Keyboard Shortcuts You Cannot Miss

Matthew Cornell — Tue, 03 Apr 2012 09:35:41 -0000

Is there a reference for the keyboard shortcut icons that show in the Keymap dialog? I'm on a Mac and I know what the control, option, shift, function, and command are, but Move Caret to Page Top shows a tiny up arrow with what looks like two parallel horizontal lines on the shaft? What's that mean?

Re: Symbol Icons

Matthew Cornell — Tue, 03 Apr 2012 09:33:18 -0000

It means a .java file that is not on the classpath, I think. It happens when you open a file that's not in the project.

Re: JRebel How-to: Setting up multi-module projects in IntelliJ IDEA

Matthew Cornell — Thu, 22 Mar 2012 21:22:51 -0000

Thanks for the post, Anton. I am exploring in IDEA how to separate unit testing from deployment in a GlassFish app, and I think setting up separate modules is the key. In my case, the problem is that the unit tests use a single jar file that implements the server in embedded mode, i.e,. it does not require a running server. However, that jar file apparently conflicts with the server runtime library, which is why I need to separate them. Time to start playing with IDEA...

Re: Mouse Reference

Matthew Cornell — Tue, 25 Oct 2011 12:37:36 -0000

How do you invoke the middle button on Mac laptops?

Re: git ready » the staging area

Matthew Cornell — Tue, 11 Oct 2011 18:36:08 -0000

More detail about the advantages of a staging area would be helpful, with some examples ideally.

Re: Experiment: blog in Kindle book form

Matthew Cornell — Wed, 20 Apr 2011 12:02:52 -0000

Can't wait to learn about the results. As an experiment, what are you measuring (# sales?, any sales at all? comments from buyers?). Also, how long will you let it run? If you'd like a tool to help your experiment along (including tracking numbers), how about putting it into Edison, the Think, Try, Learn experimenter's journal? http://edison.thinktrylearn...

Re: Radical Optimism

Matthew Cornell — Wed, 30 Mar 2011 13:33:13 -0000

Thanks for making me think, Kevin! My QS-inspired response is here: Is The Great American Experiment really one, and how do we measure it? - http://www.matthewcornell.o...

Re: House Votes To End NPR Funding - Josh Smith - Politics - The Atlantic

Matthew Cornell — Thu, 17 Mar 2011 16:38:41 -0000

We are so, so screwed. NPR is about as "fair and unbiased" as we can get, which is probably why the repubs want to eliminate it. My country's going down the toilet.

Re: Why You Should Be Optimizing

Matthew Cornell — Tue, 15 Mar 2011 15:58:39 -0000

Thanks for the article, Scott. I'm 100% in agreement. I'm a Quantified Self blogger, but I'm also creating a philosophy of life based on the scientific method where you treat everything as an experiment (I'm calling it Think, Try, Learn). It goes to exactly your point - continuously improving ourselves by trying new things. Your idea of optimizing what works is sound advice for converging on improved solutions. In addition to optimizing like this, you can try something radically new to you. This might be something you've decided needs doing (such as solving a problem or trying to come up with a new idea), or may be an accidental discovery that you want to follow up on because it seems promising. Either way, it's tapping our innate curiosity-driven urge to explore. Great stuff! P.s. If you're interested, check out my Edison site - http://edison.thinktrylearn... . It's a tool and community of active self-experimenters who are trying all kinds of things to improve themselves. Two new features I just added are group experiments (where you can create an experiment that others can join and do together) and quantitative data (where you can set up measurements to test how your experiment is coming along). Thanks again -- matt

Re: http://wehr.tumblr.com/post/3171101516

Matthew Cornell — Wed, 09 Feb 2011 11:19:01 -0000

[cross-posted to my site]

Thanks for your comment, Justin.

> Debunking is less interesting to me.

I understand - and like - your point. I picked debunking because I see irrational thinking (something that comes naturally to your species) is harmful. Just look at the conservative movement here in the US that convinces people to vote against their best interests. Debunking claims /through experience/ seems like a way to make a small chink in the armor. Also, they are tired to you (and me, though they're still rich in my mind), but not to those who still hold them :-)

> I’d much rather discover a new, surprising truth

Absolutely - this kind of thing is very exciting to me. The question is how to plant the seeds that might sprout into new insights. The creative process of dreaming up experiments that allow this is special. Seth's "standing on one leg makes me smarter" is a fine example. How did he think of that?

> what little things can you do that have the biggest influence on others

Do you have some specific experiments in mind? I'd love to see people try them as group experiments in Edison.

> not going to be a (easy) way to quantify the results

It would be fun to brainstorm ways to do this. We could always "punt" and simply ask them.

> anxiety over measuring sometimes causes us to bypass worthwhile experiments that otherwise could be very insightful

Yes, and that's a strong TTL practice: Don't let perfectionism get in the way of doing something valuable. Thanks for reminding me.

> (And I have a degree in statistics, so I am not just afraid of numbers.)

That might have been a mistake to tell me. I'm going to ask to use your brain for Edison 3 - the statistical recommender engine :-)

> Similarly, I’d like to know what small steps we can take to make the biggest positive difference in our relationships.

Do you know about the book One Small Step Can Change Your Life: The Kaizen Way? You might find it helpful.

> Either way, I just want people to start experimenting more—and collaboratively. It is maybe the greatest potential of the Internet, and yet so few people are using it that way.

Well put. That's exactly what I'm trying to do. How's this for a beta tagline: "A simple tool for people to create and run solo and group experiments in a community of fellow citizen scientists."

Re: Putting Tim Ferriss' Slow-Carb Diet To The Test

Matthew Cornell — Tue, 21 Dec 2010 20:55:03 -0000

Hi Damond and everyone. I invite you to do your experiment over on Edison, the Think, Try, Learn experimenter's journal. Here's someone who has just started: http://edison.thinktrylearn...

Re: Google News Experiments with Twitter Integration

Matthew Cornell — Wed, 01 Dec 2010 16:06:12 -0000

I noticed this when I went to google news from my iPhone last week when there was a Comcast outage on the East Coast. I was delighted when I saw recent tweets about it, which were surprisingly useful. Then I couldn't get it to show again.

Re: The Right Mindset for Buy-In

Matthew Cornell — Mon, 01 Nov 2010 14:50:44 -0000

Thanks for the post, John. I've found that one way to make the idea more palatable, if you go ahead and try to sell it to your boss, is to present it as an experiment. Saying "Let's just give this a try" can remove the barrier to giving the go-ahead. In other words, making it explicit as an experiment makes the proposal feel lighter, less risky, and less permanent and irreversible.

Re: Make Luck Work in Your Favor

Matthew Cornell — Thu, 14 Oct 2010 21:31:06 -0000

Smashing post, folks. Your #1point of driven by a deep intellectual curiosity rung a big bell for me. I'm especially interested because I'm creating a philosophy of life based on the scientific method where you treat everything as an experiment (I'm calling it Think, Try, Learn). Essential is our innate drive to be curious. It's what got us this far as a species, but it's surprising that we get out of touch with it as we get older. Maybe it's related to child-bearing years and the need to be more conservative. Thanks very much!

Re: On the Differences Between Innovation and Cooking Chili

Matthew Cornell — Thu, 14 Oct 2010 20:15:40 -0000

Thanks so much for the article. I think the role of experimentation is crucial in innovation, but I need to better understand what Oleg's getting at. (Any thoughts?) Chris, I'm curious about your thoughts on creating a culture that embraces experimentation. What are some of the barriers?

I'm especially interested in your take because I'm creating a philosophy of life based on the scientific method where you treat everything as an experiment (I'm calling it Think, Try, Learn). Your chili experiment is a great example, as is trying medications for a health problem, being in a relationship, and getting promoted. I hope it's OK to mention our "Edison" experimenter's journal tool (http://edison.thinktrylearn.... It's where self-experimenters can enter their experiments, make observations, and get comments, help, and ideas from other users. I think you'll appreciate the questions you're asked when creating a new experiment:

1. What will you do?
2. How will you test your idea and measure success?
3. How will you know you are done?
4. How will you enjoy the journey?

Thanks again. -- matt

Re: How to Sell an Idea to Your Boss

Matthew Cornell — Mon, 13 Sep 2010 14:14:43 -0000

I've found that one way to make the idea more palatable, if you go ahead and try to sell it to your boss, is to present it as an experiment. Saying "Let's just give this a try" can remove the barrier to giving the go-ahead. In other words, making it explicit as an experiment makes the proposal feel lighter, less risky, and less permanent and irreversible.