I am is Lior Abraham
I reside in San Francisco and am interested in data
liorabraham@gmail.com
Data Problem
In today's data-driven world, the potential for valuable insights lies dormant within vast amounts of information. Yet, despite its promise, data evokes a sense of aversion among individuals, and tools often seem specifically designeded to kill our collective spirits. It is not the data itself that triggers this resistance but the processes and software that hinder our ability to harness its full potential. There is a need for transformative change in the way we approach data analysis and the immense value that can be unlocked by embracing new software solutions.
The Struggles of Traditional Software:
Many existing software systems feel like uninspiring teachers, draining the life out of an otherwise fascinating subject. These systems, designed for data management rather than analysis, often act as bottlenecks, obstructing our path to insightful discoveries. They fail to provide the tools and user experiences that can bring data to life, stifling our ability to derive true learning, understanding, and inspiration from it.
The Evolution of Analytics:
It is important to recognize that the current state of analytics did not arise intentionally. As each generation faced new challenges, solutions emerged, and tools adapted to address those specific problems. Transactional databases, scalable processing, and pre-aggregated metrics were all responses to the needs of their time. However, as businesses accumulate vast amounts of data, the traditional approaches fall short of enabling effective analysis and gaining clear visibility into the rich tapestry of information at hand.
The Disconnected State:
The prevalent data management systems leave data users feeling disconnected from the very data they are entrusted to manage. The tools designed for data storage and retrieval were not built with analysis in mind. As a result, professionals working with data often struggle to extract meaningful insights, limiting their ability to make well-informed decisions. This disconnection stifles innovation and prevents us from capitalizing on the occasional sparks of inspiration that arise from deep data understanding.
Redefining Analytics for Empowerment:
To unleash the power of data and overcome our aversion to it, a paradigm shift is needed. We must reimagine analytics as an integral part of the data journey, incorporating innovative software solutions that prioritize analysis, visualization, and seamless interaction with data. By embracing software that enables us to explore, manipulate, and derive insights from our data with ease, we can transform data into a catalyst for learning, innovation, and empowered decision-making.
Conclusion:Data holds immense potential to drive progress and innovation across industries. However, our aversion to data stems not from its inherent nature but from the limitations imposed by outdated processes and software. It is time to break free from the shackles of traditional analytics and embrace a new era of data-driven empowerment. By leveraging transformative software solutions that prioritize analysis and seamless data interaction, we can unlock the true value of data, fostering a culture of continuous learning, informed decision-making, and inspiring innovation.
The People of California vs. Lior Abraham, A Caltrain Court Case
I lost my traffic court case today. A lot of people had questions, and it is never fun to be wrongly convicted for a crime you didn't commit, so I'm going to explain my case here. In what should have been an open and shut, Lior-you're-obviously-right-and-a-bright-upstanding-citizen-and-this-Caltrain-stooge-is an-idiot-wanker type of case, I got slapped down by the silky arms of lady justice.When reading this, I want you to ponder to yourself what I actually did wrong other than than perhaps MAKE THE MISTAKE OF TRYING TO FREAKIN COMMUTE TO MY PLACE OF WORK SO I CAN PAY TAXES.
(Yeah I still harbor some anger).
Also bear in mind the fact that this could be YOU! Yes, everything I cite here could easily happen to you. I am a caltrain martyr and should serve as a symbol to all of you.
So without further ado, in no apparent order other than chronological, here are the facts of my case:
1) I arrive at the San Antonio Caltrain station with my 10 ride-ticket. If you’ve had the experience of using a 10-ride ticket, you know they're specially designed to not fit in any wallet known to man. They also generally stop working if exposed to the elements, like for example the earth’s atmosphere. Suffice it to say that my ticket did not work, and this was not uncommon. 10 rides is asking a lot of an 8” piece of paper.
2) I did what I always do in this situation, I followed the rules of the caltrain authority. Why? Because I am honest. (And somewhat upstanding). What’s that you say?
“But it’s only two stops, you could have easily slid under the radar. Pulled a fast one. Skipped out on the ticket scene and made your way across the PaloAlto border scot-free. They hardly every check those stops. Not like you're going to San Francisco with 9 risky stops."
Nah, sorry, I’m not that type of person. I have principles. And my work pays for my fares.
What I did was seek out the caltrain conductor (obeying the rules to a laudable tee) and asked him gently "Sir, can you please sign my ticket" as is my custom when the machine fails me.
I may have left out the sir, but my tenor was nonetheless respectful. Never in my train-riding days have I had a conductor refuse me in this request. Machines are often non-functional due to either machine or ticket. In my case, my ticket (which I preserved to this day) is still in quite good condition. (I can write a dissertation on why the machine still doesn’t work, but let’s save that for a more interesting Note post).
Ok. For the conductor, it's not actually that much work. In short it involves pulling a pen out of his pocket and placing a signature-like marking on the ticket. From experience I can tell you that “signature” is overstating it. It's more like a squiggly dash that involves mostly the slight forward motion of his hand.
3) It was then that the officer told me, and I’m not paraphrasing here "No. Get off the train." Meaning get off the train you just boarded (with a slight “you little shit” subtext). A little taken aback at the dickish tone the conductor selected to recite that statement, I paused for a second, collected myself, and said rather truthfully "the machine didn't work". The officer responded, in a disbelieving tone that I'm sure he reserves for all upstanding citizens who’s taxes pay his salary but happen to look 16 and wearing hoodie sweatshirts and torn jeans that day, that if I didn't want to get off I had to make my way to the other side of the train and align myself with the next stop’s ticketbooth.
Once there (California Ave) I had to get off, and run, navigating my way through a sea of commuters, cross the treacherous and precipitous tracks (at California you literally cross train tracks), run about 20 yards to an unfamiliar ticket machine that was not visible from the train. This would be like the Normandy invasion of ticket stamping. If I survived without casualty but missed the 30 second window I had to pull this feat off, I'd be stranded at California station. Possibly forever (California is well known as a shit-hole of a station that even non-bullets try to avoid).
4) I followed the man's instructions and made my way to that end of the train, exactly where he told me to be. Once at the stop, which was, I might add, about 40 feet askew of where the ticket booth was, I looked over the vast expanse ahead of me. The crowd of people trying to get on. The train tracks that lay beneath my feet... and I said “fuck this”. I’m not risking myself to jump through these shit hoops when I followed every rule. What law says that I am required to undertake a mission to stamp my ticket WHEN IT IS THEIR MACHINE THAT FAILED ME. To cross would be risking life and limb and the missing of the train. I simply refused to do it.
(At moments like these, we find out what we’re made of)
5) I sat next to that exit, patiently awaiting my fate. The officer walked up, and asked if I had obtained the mythical stamp. I with mild resistance said “No. I didn’t”. And before I could expand on that he said “you’re getting a ticket” without ever giving me any chance to appeal or explain.
TBC in next post
