Finals are over, let the waiting begin

The stress is bleeding off finally, and now I am just waiting for grades to post.  Dont think I did too bad in any class, but Finance has me worried, too many formula's, not enough excell.   Nothing to do but wait.

Dr. John Watson

Found this a while back, The Personal Blog or Dr. John Watson, it is from BBC One and not an actual blog, but it ties into to a discussion I was having with a class mate about blogs.

Blogs CAN be a business tool if properly formatted and maintained...

INFO 410

Done!  Wonderful feeling that everything is coming together as I had planned.  Info 410 done, Info 274 nearly done, Fin 314 done just studying left.  Time to go back to a normal sleep schedule of 8 hours and no more 2 hour night!!

Finding Good Apps for Children With Autism - NYTimes.com

Came across this article today in my google news lineup and was intrigued by some of the apps available. My son is not Autistic per say but does show autistic tendencies (so does his aunts, uncles, dad, grandfather... I am beginning to see a trend...) some of these apps are ones that I have already been using others look like a electronic way of doing what I have already been doing.

Finding Good Apps for Children With Autism - NYTimes.com

Game theory

Came across an article that tied in to a class discussion from the other day...

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970204294504576615371783795248.html?mod=WSJ_hp_editorsPicks_1

From what I understand of the article this is something that Dr. Rohm was asking as to why a entire degree could not be taught this way?  Just like most people's jobs, a lot of the course work we study is boring for a lot of people.  Granted not everyone enjoys video games, and some others simply prefer an instructor in the room and the interface that provides.

Visio...

Ok, on a unrelated topic why does Visio no longer support forward engineering from a ER Diagram to the SQL code you would then need to generate that new database?  I would even settle for SQL for MySQL or oracle and not MS-Access.  Yeah, Yeah, there are a couple of work around's, namely Forward Engineer for Visio on Code Source but even that doesn't work great.  All the time I just spent creating the Diagram must now be repeated in order to write the database...  two hours of time that I would like to have back.

Visio Forward Engineer

TED

Watched a interesting TED video the other day which showed how data was driving everything from stocks to amazon.com pricing on out of print books.  Algorithms today run the world and we are installing dedicated trunk lines of fiber optics for nothing but this data.  Rather scary on the one hand, but the ability to process that higher level thought process at that speed is inspiring.  One day in my life time it is very likely that a AI will in fact respond in a human like way, based upon an algorithm that determined how to move stocks around.

The TED Video link is here

Thoughts on Lorenzo's Oil

Just received back my paper on Lorenzo's Oil, thought I would share it as received a 100%...

DEPARTMENT OF INFORMATION AND DECISION SCIENCES

INFO 378 INFORMATION PROBLEM SOLVING & RISK MANAGEMENT

Fall QUARTER 2010

LORENZO'S OIL

Digital Assignment #1

1. What has happened to the child?

Lorenzo has been diagnosed with a genetic disease named Adrenoleukodystrophy or ALD for short. The disease was only recently, within the past ten years at the time of Lorenzo’s diagnoses, been discovered and named.

2. What has happened to the family?

Gus and Michaela accept the fact that Lorenzo has an illness, but not the fact that such a diagnosis is an effective death sentence. They begin to look for treatment. Upon learning that the disease is so new to the medical community that there is no set course for treatment they have Lorenzo admitted to clinical trials to develop one. None of the clinical trials are overly successful in moving the disease to remission or curing the underlying genetic defect.

However, Gus and Michaela take it upon themselves to become experts in the disease searching for the underlying reasons of:

A: Why does the Very Long Chain Fatty Acid (VLCFA) and the Short Chain Fatty Acid (SCFA) grow at the same rate and yet are broken down at different rates? Are they broken down by multiple enzymes?

B: Why when VLCFA’s are removed from a diet do the levels continue to rise?

C: Which of the VLCFA’s are the likely culprits’ causing the destruction of the myelin? Can those VLCFA’s be blocked from the enzyme that processes VLCFA’s? Why or Why not?

D: Can myelin be replaced once stripped from the nervous system? Why or Why not?

Gus says several times throughout the film that he is a simple minded man asking simple questions. All of these questions are the simplest questions to ask, finding the underlying answers however was more difficult as not of the people were working on the treatment of ALD, but rather the individual components of the disease. You had people producing wonderful insightful research but no one person or group asking how this is relevant to ALD. Gus and Michaela began to ask those questions of the Medical Community and helped to get the first ALD Symposium within six months of the first diagnoses of Lorenzo’s ALD. This symposium leads to the discovery of the first half of Lorenzo’s Oil.

3. What is your opinion, should the child be treated? If so, Why?

Treatment of a child should ultimately rest with the parents of the minor child with the advice of medical opinion; unless such treatment would result in a worsening of conditions to the point that the quality of life of the child is at issue. If and when the quality of life of the child is at issue every effort should be made to make the child as comfortable as possible. This should include stopping all treatment and possibly even the signing of a valid Do Not Resuscitate order. The quality of life of the child should be the most important factor in determining whether or not to treat a child. In the case of Lorenzo, the end result of do nothing was death within two years. By seeking treatment and delaying the effects of the degeneration of myelin for as long as possible with such treatment as diet and ultimately the inclusion of the specialized oil, quality of life was not an issue. His needs were tended to including stimulation of his mind by his mother and father in the form of reading and talking to him.

4. If the child is to be treated, under whose rules?

The parents of minor children have final say, unless those decisions would result in the expedited unlikely death of a child. An Example: A child has a form of cancer that is treatable by chemo with a 95% success rate is denied treatment by his parents. A court order should be applied for as the benefits far out way the risks. In the case of Lorenzo, again doing nothing is a death sentence, by adding the oil, in small quantities, it is unlikely to speed his death and could in-fact prolong his life.

5. Concerning the question of ethics, “Who is right?” Why?

• Parents? Most Parents have their children’s best interests at heart. Because of this is it quite easy to bypass blind studies, and potential impact of untested information is incalculable. All that being said, parents do only want what is best for their children and many are willing to share information as they receive it in the hopes that others will find it useful. This is not necessarily “right” in a scientific sense, but rather right in the moral sense.
• Parent support group? The parent support group has an obligation to the parents ultimately and to a lesser extent the doctors working on the disorder or disease. They should be focused on providing all information to the doctors regardless of where it came from as more data is another piece of the missing puzzle. The parent group in the film is guilty of suppressing possibly life saving and life extending information by refusing to bring the findings to the attention of the doctors.
• Physicians? Physicians have a duty to the patient to provide any medical advice available to the patient so that the patient is capable of making an informed decision as to their health. Physicians also have a duty to do no harm, which can at times conflict with providing all of the information. In the case of Lorenzo’s Oil, Rapeseed oil is toxic in rats according to the studies thus administering such oil would be done in reservations; however rapeseed oil is used throughout India and China as part of the cuisine. This is a case of conflicting information that should be referred to Researchers as you have a conflict in ethics.
• Researchers? Researchers have by far a greater role in the devolvement of treatments and as such they must not appear to contaminate the data and ultimately the study. Consequences to such violations lead to the study being thrown out in its interiority and the data being useless to the group it is intended to help. To that end, Researchers have a duty to incorporate new data as it is made available into new studies so that data is not forgotten or ignored. They have the scientific right, and strive to keep the morals out as they have a duty to all of the people afflicted not just the one or two of the parents.
• Medical Society? Medical Society as whole has a ethical responsibility to share findings on studies and to collaborate on the problems of those studies to ask why. Why did this affect that? What is the reason for that outcome? If this questions are asked of the studies as they come out a picture of the underlying affliction is formed and a treatment can be developed.
• Society as a whole? Unfortunately, society as a whole is not always able to devote the necessary resources to orphan diseases. To that end society has a obligation to ensure that such diseases are researched and treatments sought. The Clinton Administration extended drug patents by six months in exchange for research on children’s drugs and dosage.

6. Who are the heroes?

The Heroes of the film include Michaela, Gus, Lorenzo, the elderly bio chemist from England, and Wendy. Each played a enormous role in the finding, developing, and advocating for Lorenzo and the Oil that was eventually used.

7. What does it take for success?

Success is as always a incredible drive to learn more and to ask another question when you hit a wall after a result. The inclusion of Olive Oil into the diet dramatically lowered the saturated fat from Lorenzo’s blood, but not nearly enough to be a benefit in the long term. It was only by asking why was this working did Gus realize that it was one enzyme not two that was processing the fat. It was then that he realized there could be a way to trick the enzyme into just processing the higher chain fatty acids exclusively.

8. At what price should “success” be accomplished?

Success or the degree of success can only be measured against ones desired outcome. In the case of Lorenzo the success was finding a treatment. The price of that success was Michaela becoming completely devoted to Lorenzo and nearly the cost of her marriage and relationships with her family. She ultimately succumbs to cancer in 2000, 16 years after Lorenzo was diagnosed with ALD, but 14 years longer than they were originally given.

9. What happens if something new is discovered?

When new information is available in an efficient marketplace everyone has instant access to the information. Sadly this is not always the case with medical information as this type of information can harm people. There is a resistance to accepting new information that fundamentally changes and challenges old behaviors and mindsets.

10. Should medical doctors listen to this fellow?

Information is information, regardless of who it comes from. The information is neutral and has no basis.

11. Would you do the same thing for your child?

My middle child is named Gabriel Matthew Fowles. He has my saint’s name (I’m Catholic) and another name of a saint for two reasons. When he was being carried my wife was high risk for miscarriage. She had already miscarried twice before and was terrified of miscarrying again. At the end of the 1^st trimester during routine ultrasounds bleeding was discovered in his brain. The doctor feared that the baby may carry genetic defect that if he was brought to full term would mean a life of less than one year. My wife and I decided to test to find out if he would in fact have this defect. We decided that we would have him regardless of the outcome, thinking that it was better to have a year with him rather than never to know him. The test was negative, the bleeding healed on its own and he is a normal destructive three year old who loves Captain America.

12. How could technology be used to help with this situation?

A central repository of all existing medical research that was cross referenced to each other would be of an enormous help. Unfortunately no such system exists that incorporates all such data.

13. What technology should be used to help the child?

Any technology should be used that helps with quality of life of the child and is deemed of useful value in the devolvement of treatment. Books on tape, charts for time keeping, databases for the storing of data to be cross-referenced, email, video conferencing are all examples of technology that can be used to help the child.

14. What have you learned about problem solving from this story?

Problem solving is as always about looking for answers with data, and using that data to develop information. In the case of Lorenzo, the symposium was where the idea of adding a oil to the diet was first introduced, but it took many different people having different data to be asked a question to bring this to light.

15. How can you apply what you have learned to Information Technology?

Collaboration much like Apple and Microsoft did in the early 1980’s from technology received from Xerox is always a wonderful interchange. These two companies today have exponentially increased the field all because of collaboration from those three companies. The sharing of ideas, the asking of why that is can create great advances in a limited time.

Lorenzo's Oil

Started watching Lorenzo's Oil this evening for class.  I spaced the assignment when I had to take a day from school for doctors appointments oh well.

Acting overall is well played, I think that Nick Nolte should have received the Oscar nod at the least and was disappointed to learn that he did not.  The plot seemed weak when I read the blurb on Netflix and I was surprised about the various interplay between the Doctor played by Peter Ustinov and that of Nick Nolte.  Peter rarely gives a bad performance but this seemed lacking in feeling.  That may have been the idea as he is playing a researcher that is suppose to keep his emotions in check for the sake of the research but I'm not buying it.  Overall I'd give it a B- not the type of movie I would go see or watch on TV but if asked to watch it can be enjoyable.

And the hits keep coming....

In class last Thursday, October 13th for those of us time challenged people, Dr. Rhom was driving home the point of the mid-term set for this coming Tuesday, October 18th.  I will readily admit the material is dry, unstimulated, and repeated information from earlier course work or my own independent reading... be that as it may, there is the occasional nugget of information to be found when you go digging for it.  I'm just not sure that I really want to subject myself to three hours of reading to find said nuggets.  Yeah, three hours of reading that's what it will take for me to reread the book from cover to cover.  It is not all that long, just not presenting information in a really relevant way for my cognitive processing.

An example from page 32...
   "In reality, Greta didn't give in to her raging desire to defend herself.  After being accused of not following her own advice, at first she looked surprised, embarrassed, and maybe even a little upset.  Then she took a deep breath and said: "You know what?  We need to talk about this.  I'm glad you asked the question.  It'll give us a chance to discuss what's really going on."

At this point in the book Greta is trying to make some cost cutting changes to the organization.  One of those changes included a remodeled office that she will work out of, but that will also be used by marketing to help boost the company image and improve client confidence.  She came under attack by some of her department heads during a meeting she had called to address the resistance to the underlying cuts to other departments.

My problem with this excerpt is:

1. Greta is a rather astute CEO, she was brought in to the company to help get the costs and other expenses under control.  Much like Alan Mullany at Ford Motor Company.

2. If she is so astute, why is it that a project like this was not announced to the company as a whole as part of a new marketing campaign?  She knows that you need to spend money to make money that was part of the reasoning of allowing the expediture.

3.  Why does she not have a projected budget for the office?  Was there not a timeline to go along with this project?  Was a project manager not assigned?  All things that Greta would most likely had done in reality.  Nobody gets to be CEO and stay a CEO who does not manage potential crisises like this better.

Over all I thought Greta was a poor example of "crucial conversations".

Al Davis

Al Davis died this morning.  I never met the man, and yet I still feel that a great light has been diminished from the world.  By all accounts Al was a uncompromising bully, and yet this bully managed and lead one of the best sports franchises to world wide recognition.  We may mock phrases like "Commitment to Excellence" and "Just Win Baby", but only because we now them to be true.

The Raider organization will be much changed by his departure and I am not wholly convinced that it will be for the better.

Class 10-06

Attempted to follow the advice of my professor after class and took a alternative route home.  I do not usally pick up the kids after class, by the time I would get out to Redlands, the wife would be off and have one already so what is the point?

It was a mistake.  I have forgotten how bad traffic backs up on the causeway between Highland and Redlands, and with roads still out from last winters flooding rerouting took even worse than I remember.  What should have taken 40 minutes total took almost a hour and a half.  The weather was not a willing participate either.  Why is it that no one seems to remember to slow down and not speed when the roads are wet?  I swear if ever I get to be dictator for life when you get your license you must drive I50 between Reno and Sacramento during chain conditions.  At night.

The start of a new era at Apple...

In memory of one of the most innovative people of the 20th and 21st Centuries.

Photo: Jon Snyder/Wired.com

Steven Paul "Steve" Jobs (February 24, 1955 – October 5, 2011)

Its in the details...

Found out details of what some of the things we are to blog about the other day, and FINALLY have a few extra minutes to write down my thoughts...

My family is an older Anglo-American family. I am able to trace my father's family to as early as 1610, as this is a published family tree. My Great- Great- Great-Grandfather Gardiner Fowles is listed as a decedent of one George Fowle (ISBN: 0880820284 ). My oldest son Benjamin Gardner is named in his honor. Gentlemen farmers by trade, they included local school teachers, local politicians, shop keepers, salesmen, Congressmen, Patriots, and a United States President.

My mother's family is Polish-Germanic coming to the United States during the 1880's. It has only been the past two generations that Polish was not spoken or heard in the home. Coal miners, farmers, and laborers were what they were before they left Poland, and that is what they became after coming to America. Today my Grandmother is a retired Registered Nurse, and my Grandfather is a Professor Emeritus from University of California, Davis with Ph.D. in Botany.

My father is Protestant. My mother is Roman Catholic. I was raised Catholic, but have since stopped following the Catholic faith. I am what could be described as a recovering Catholic. This does not mean that I do not have a belief in a all mighty god. Far from it. I am simply unable to understand why a all mighty god is interested in me and my everyday life and how I treat others. I do believe that there are consequences for every action. Even if those consequences are unknown.

Education growing up was important. Reading for pleasure and for additional knowledge was encouraged as soon as we were able to comprehend what was written on the page. Consequently my reading comprehension was off the chart before middle school, and I was able to discuss advanced course work with my teachers throughout high school.

I was raised in Northern Nevada, first in the Stead area, later in Carson City. Carson City only has one high school for a population of 55,000. Also remember that Carson City is 168 square miles. San Bernardino is only 60 square miles. Lots of only space growing up, much of it state owned.

And on the second day he said...

Oh Dr. Tapie Rohm how I dislike you as of this moment.

Writing especially free form expression writing is not my strong suite. Never has been, and I'm the type of person who plays to ones strengths.

That being said, one of my bright idea's this year (2011) was to push myself out of my comfort zone and hone the skills that need an edge. I gathered this would qualify...

As we did not discuss the specifics of what I am to actually blog about I will just share some background information for today.

I am of Junior standing here at CSUSB and really need to change my major from BA - Business Administration - Undeclared to the IASM major. Maybe I'll get around to filing the paperwork this week.

At the tender age of 29 I was diagnosed with Osteoarthritis in the lower back. Facing the possibility of not being able to walk in a decade, I promptly lost 85 pounds over six months. I have at least 30 more to go, with 41 more pounds my ultimate goal by June of 2012.

I am married to a wonderfully patient wife who I adore. I say patiently because I told her in 2003 that I was "almost done" with college...

She has given me three wonderful boys’ ages 6 years to 7 months. She would like me to return the favor and give her a girl...

I have been averaging 14 - 16 units for the past two years and in that time completed two Associate Art degrees (yes I've been in school that long), on about 4 hours of sleep a night. The bags under my eyes seem to be permanent.

I enjoy looking at data and deriving useful (and not so useful) information. It seems to be something I am good at, but I swear it may just be blind luck.