bridging concepts Recently, I’ve come to realize that there is a nuanced distinction between mechanism design and market design. Initially, I conflated the two, but a deeper dive into the subject matter—prompted by a friend’s bachelor thesis—has elucidated the critical differences. Mechanism design is inherently algorithmic, centered around eliciting information and strategically manipulating incentives through mathematical formulations. It’s a toolset for creating environments where desired outcomes can be achieved based on the information asymmetries and strategic interactions of participants. ...

I’ve recently stumbled across a photographer Chaoming Zeng (曾朝民) on instagram, whose base is also Guangdong China, but more in the rural area like Dong-guan. Here’s the particular work that really took my breath away: All rights belong to the original photographer, @chaomingzeng. But, OMG, this picture is almost like an oil painting of modern misery juxtaposed with the mundane hope of life. ...

There’s a meme that perfectly captures the essence of understanding machine learning, a realization that dawned on me after enrolling in both machine learning and statistics courses. It highlights the intricate relationship between these fields in a humorous yet profound way: It wasn’t until taking both machine learning and stats courses to make me recall how accurate this meme is. ...

Currently, I’m immersed in two mechanism design projects, both intricately involving the integration of stochastic processes within their frameworks. This reminds me of a comic that resonates humorously with my work: An economist’s playful daydream or a mathematician’s practical joke, it’s a scenario where certainty is the only casualty and the pursuit of fairness takes a probabilistic turn. Prepare for a world where the accountants are the gamblers, and the odds are your tax bracket. ...

in every job that must be done, there is an element of fun…

I have taken courses in mathematical statistics, high-dimensional statistics, machine learning, deep learning, and several optimization courses. Additionally, I am registered for an econometrics course next semester😱. So, like currently, it’s a stage where I have laid a strong theoretical foundation and possess a mastery of Python and R in data analysis, but my hands-on experience in tackling real-world problems is almost non-existent. After all, the datasets we used in class assignments are primarily toy examples that are cleaned, checked, and designed for specific tasks. ...

I’ve been a little bit overwhelmed today. So, here’s a music recommendation. SANCAN: Sonatine for Flute and Piano: I. Moderato [composer]: Pierre Sancan [artist]: Emmanuel Pahud, Eric Le Sage. [album]: Paris Jan. 20, 1998. Parlophone Records Limited. The opening 45 seconds of this piece are like a fog-draped dream. The piano strikes raindrops of notes on a misty, ethereal dreamscape, like cobblestoned street under the soft glow of a solitary streetlamp. ...

There’s a carnival of groceries at the heart of the town, lively, a bit chaotic, and full of fruit stands. Each one offers a variety of fruits that seem similar but are unique in their quality and price. I was looking for a specific local banana🍌, known for being budget-friendly yet deliciously sweet when ripe. I wandered from stall to stall, asking for it, but had no luck. The vendors kept steering me towards a different type of banana, claiming it was better – but it just wasn’t what I wanted. ...

Cracking Down on Induced Positive Reviews - Dianping’s Firm Stance.

Overwhelmed by cues from ads, editor’s picks, and various nudges, I finally caved and downloaded the new Apple Music Classical app. Though it was released on March 28, 2023, its recent intensive marketing push has really put it in the spotlight. Reflecting on my use of the app, it’s clear that it has significantly improved the classical music listening experience, making it more professional, smooth, and enjoyable. huh? another music app? Apple Classical comes at zero extra expense if one already has Apple Music subscribtion, seamlessly integrating every piece from the classical genre in one’s Apple Music library. So people are asking like, why is there a separate app for classical music? ...