In theory, behavior change should be easy. At first glance, it seems like you control your behavior. So, if you desire different behavior, why doesn’t your behavior change as instantly as your desire to change it? In short, lasting change of habitual behaviors is a multi-stage process. In 1977, as p...

Generative AI tools like ChatGPT and Midjournery are able to replicate (and often exceed) human-like performance on tasks like taking exams, generating text and making art. Even to seasoned programmers, their abilities can seem magical. But, obviously, there is no magic. These things are “just” arti...

Compared to prior versions, GPT-4 is more capable at writing fiction. Combined with its advances in reasoning, this allows it to maintain a consistent state in a fictional universe as it emulates a text-based adventure game like the classic Zork. In this article, I’ll explain how to convert GPT-4 in...

I recently wrote about completing Advent of Code 2022 using a different programming language (or two) every day for 25 days. That note focused on the strategy, tactics and logistics involved in using 26 languages in 25 days without saying much about the languages or the experience itself. Using so m...

Since making a sudden leap from computer science to academic medicine about seven years ago, I haven’t programmed as much. I love what I do in medicine and biology, and I love helping patients. But, I have missed programming – and programming languages. Then I came across the Advent of Code on Masto...

The ability to avoid temptation is a modern superpower. With temptation ubiquitous, avoiding it is essential in fighting procrastination; keeping finances healthy; managing diet and weight; boosting productivity; and maintaining healthy relationships. Avoiding temptation hard because before you are ...

Why is self-control so hard? Even though you have control over what you choose to do, you may find yourself in the puzzling position of regretting the decisions of your prior self. For instance, if you need to lose weight but you bust your calorie budget with that extra piece of cake, you appear to ...

Even before I got tenure, folks have told me they’re “looking forward to an academic advice post on tenure.” From how to get a Ph.D. to monthly resolutions for grad students, I’ve found it easy to write academic posts on just about every topic. Except this one. I got tenure over a year ago, yet ever...

The birthday paradox observes that in a room of 23 people, the odds that at least two people share a birthday is 50% The same logic that drives matching birthdays also drives the probability that one can find collisions with a hash function. In other words, if you have a uniform hashing function tha...

It’s important for programmers to continuously challenge themselves in order to avoid creative and technical stagnation. In the spirit of the new year, back in 2012, I compiled twelve month-sized resolutions to help avoid that stagnation. I’ve updated that list for 2023. Each month is an annually re...