Geek: the string “null” causes problems... This StackOverflow post reminded me of a crazy problem we had at my last company (ServiceNow). I don't know if they ever fixed this...
The problem started with a special feature built into the database layer that the entire product is built upon. The database layer has a feature that allows the values of fields of any type to be set with a string value. Thus, the string “54” could be used to put the integer value 54 into a numeric field. The challenge came with the SQL value “null”. If you know anything at all about SQL, you know that value is rather important. But how do you square the database layer's “all values can be represented with a string” notion with the value “null”? The solution chosen was to make the string “NULL” special: if the database layer saw that string, it would translate it into a SQL “null”, and vice versa. This seemed to work quite well.
Now fast-forward a couple of years. I was working with a large financial customer, directly with their IT lead, Gary S., who called me one day to complain about a peculiar problem they were having. They had two employees who simply could not be entered into their system – they'd type the name in, click “Submit”, and the record never showed up in the database. Gary noted, however, that there was one interesting thing in common between these two employees: their last names were “Null”. I knew that Gary's company had an internal standard that called for all names to be entered in all upper-case, so they were entering those names as “NULL” – and of course, that would trigger the special behavior described above.
Gary “fixed” their problem by putting an asterisk after the employee's name, and distributing a note to the system's users to alert them to the problem. Over the years I worked there, I heard of several other customers who had the same exact problem. Changing that special behavior would be very difficult for ServiceNow at this point, as that special string (“NULL”) is buried in innumerable scripts, including many written by their customers...
Friday, November 15, 2013
What happens to Google maps when tectonic plates move?
What happens to Google maps when tectonic plates move? Fascinating article in Scientific American. Maps are way more complicated than most people are aware of...
See SPOT ... what, exactly?
See SPOT ... what, exactly? Screening of Passengers by Observation Techniques (SPOT) is the TSA's program that attempts to spot terrorists by observing people's behavior. They look for “tells” that a terrorist would unconsciously display. Anyone who's traveled to (especially) Israel or (to a lesser extent) the U.K. is familiar with how those countries have implemented this idea. They have a trained interrogator asking you questions like “Where are you staying?” and “What do you hope will happen when you meet with Mr. X?” The questions sound innocent enough, and generally are – the agents are watching how you react to them. The TSA's implementation is quite different – they just have passive observers who have been trained to spot alleged “tells”.
The GSA just completed a study of SPOT, and said: “TSA has not demonstrated that [behavior-detection officers] can consistently interpret the SPOT behavioral indicators. The subjectivity of the SPOT behavioral indicators and variation in BDO referral rates raise questions about the continued use of behavior indicators for detecting passengers who might pose a risk to aviation security.”
The TSA, naturally, defends SPOT. They've so far spent over $100 million taxpayer dollars on it, and it employs 2,800 people. The TSA refuses to day what the results from SPOT have been. We don't know if SPOT has ever identified even a single terrorist.
What to do about airport security? I have a plan, but I know it would never fly politically. I bet it would work, though :) My plan: fire everyone in the TSA, dismantle the agency completely, and outsource the whole thing to the Israelis. They have said, publicly, that the TSA costs more than 20 times what it would cost them to do it – and you'll note that even though El Al (the Israeli airline) is a highly desirable target of just about every terrorist group, they have an extremely good record of safety. Better than U.S. airlines, post 9/11...
The GSA just completed a study of SPOT, and said: “TSA has not demonstrated that [behavior-detection officers] can consistently interpret the SPOT behavioral indicators. The subjectivity of the SPOT behavioral indicators and variation in BDO referral rates raise questions about the continued use of behavior indicators for detecting passengers who might pose a risk to aviation security.”
The TSA, naturally, defends SPOT. They've so far spent over $100 million taxpayer dollars on it, and it employs 2,800 people. The TSA refuses to day what the results from SPOT have been. We don't know if SPOT has ever identified even a single terrorist.
What to do about airport security? I have a plan, but I know it would never fly politically. I bet it would work, though :) My plan: fire everyone in the TSA, dismantle the agency completely, and outsource the whole thing to the Israelis. They have said, publicly, that the TSA costs more than 20 times what it would cost them to do it – and you'll note that even though El Al (the Israeli airline) is a highly desirable target of just about every terrorist group, they have an extremely good record of safety. Better than U.S. airlines, post 9/11...
A sailor's dying wish...
Can you draw a map of the U.S. from memory?
I once asked a few friends and colleagues (all Americans) to try making a list of all 50 U.S. states. The results were better than I expected – the average was something like 40 states, and several people got them all. There was only one non-state listed amongst all the lists: one person (a San Diego resident!) listed Los Angeles as a state.
Another time, I did something quite close to the example. This was back in the mid-90s, at a time when I was working closely with a group of Estonians. I discovered that they had all learned a lot about U.S. history, and also about U.S. geography. So I challenged them to draw a map of the U.S. with political boundaries (states), large cities, and major natural features on it. I got about ten submissions from a room with 15 or so people in it; the others just gave up. The submissions had 6 or 7 maps that were actually quite impressive – better, I think, than anything I could have done. I noticed a pattern, too: they knew where the major natural features were (Great Lakes, Grand Canyon, Zion, Rainier, etc.) better than they knew the cities, and the cities better than they knew the states. But at least three of them got all 50 states with recognizable outlines and correct relative placement. And these were Estonians, educated under the old Soviet Union! I was, and remain, astonished at the difference in accomplishment between them and the average American of a similar age...
Steve McIntyre amuses himself...
Steve McIntyre amuses himself... And the rest of us. By grinding Lewandowsky into the dirt...
ObamaCare debacle update...
ObamaCare debacle update... Jonah Goldberg has today's intro. It's time to slurp from a great, overflowing stein of schadenfreude:
It's too late for Obama's “fix”, and he knows it.
ObamaCare is in much more trouble than it was just one week ago. Why isn't there dancing in the streets? There was dancing in my driveway this morning!!
Consumers discover yet another hidden tax funding ObamaCare. I think the progressives are honestly puzzled that people aren't cheering their new taxes...
'Fairy Tale' continues as Obama proposes extralegal ObamaCare fix. “Fairy tale” Doesn't that have a nice ring to it, when used in the same sentence with “ObamaCare”?
How to read the evasive ObamaCare enrollment numbers. It's actually quite easy – just assume they're lying.
ObamaCare is generational theft. The old folks hired Obama to steal all the monies from the youngsters...
Insurance industry: the 'fix' is not workable. Why would you expect a fix designed by a man with zero business (or real job) experience to actually work? I don't think that's the point, anyway - it was really designed to feel good, not to actually accomplish anything. Accomplishment is for the little people...
A dissenting view: Here comes the real government takeover of health care. Oh, noz! This is a real downer swimming in the schadenfreude sea...
Obama admits: ObamaCare isn't working. Did you see that speech yesterday? I think the poor fellow is coming off the rails...
Megan McArdle: there's no sign of ObamaCare Plan B, and that's not good. I understand her point, and on some level, I agree with it. But I also think that if the cost of destroying (or at least significantly dinging) progressivism is some transient national pain on healthcare, it's worth it.
New York Times: parallels between ObamaCare rollout and G. W. Bush. Oh, the schadenfreude is strong with this one!
ObamaCare's approval ratings slump. Ya think?
Bipartisan agreement: Obama's 'fix' isn't legal. Surely The One, being the great Constitutional scholar he claims to be, would, like, know this?
DNC chairwoman repeats, with emphasis: We're running on ObamaCare in 2014! Ya know, she may well be right – it may be completely impossible for any Democrat to ignore ObamaCare in next year's elections...
You know who predicted exactly how ObamaCare would fail? Mitt Romney. We could have had a good man at the helm, instead of a schmuck...
Insurers furious about the ObamaCare fix. Did someone actually expect them to like a plan that was going to cost them a whole lot of money, and throw away all the work they did in the past three years getting ready for ObamaCare?
Some thoughts on those substandard plans that had to be canceled. My translation: ObamaCare infringes on our freedoms. But do read this, it's an excellent piece...
Obama lied. Now what do we do? Should libertarians and conservatives let the ObamaCare crisis go to waste? Hell, no!
Progressives face a crisis of faith. “The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the tears of progressives.” Awesome!
Washington state on Obama's 'fix': No way, dude! Just a week ago, support for ObamaCare amongst Democrats was reflexive; today it's fading fast – and the rate of erosion seems to be accelerating. We're watching a political cascade in progress, almost in real time...
Five big questions about Obama's health law tweak. A fine summary of things to focus on watching for the next few days (at least)...
It isn't pretty when a progressive starts backtracking on ObamaCare. But it sure is fun to watch!
Some alternatives to ObamaCare. Oh, yes, please – let's start having a serious conversation about these!
“This is a new insanity.” The NJ Association of Underwriter's thoughts on Obama's 'fix'. Right away you can tell they're really impressed with his leadership...
Why does anyone thing Obama is good at politics? I never did. He's good at celebrity, which is quite a bit different. For one thing, politics has more actual content...
The lawlessness of ObamaCare. If you read any history, this is very reminiscent of FDR's sweeping power grabs...
Megan McArdle: ObamaCare is ... whatever Obama says it is. Her final question: “How many acts does this play have left?” At the rate things are proceeding, we may not have long to wait. Which will make me very happy, except for the sudden drought of schadenfreude that will ensue...
The day the Obama magic died:
If you can’t take some joy, some modicum of relief and mirth, in the unprecedentedly spectacular beclowning of the president, his administration, its enablers, and, to no small degree, liberalism itself, then you need to ask yourself why you’re following politics in the first place. Because, frankly, this has been one of the most enjoyable political moments of my lifetime. I wake up in the morning and rush to find my just-delivered newspaper with a joyful expectation of worsening news so intense, I feel like Morgan Freeman should be narrating my trek to the front lawn. Indeed, not since Dan Rather handcuffed himself to a fraudulent typewriter, hurled it into the abyss, and saw his career plummet like Ted Kennedy was behind the wheel have I enjoyed a story more.I know I'm enjoying mine, and it looks like there's at least a couple of barrels to go around!
Alas, the English language is not well equipped to capture the sensation I’m describing, which is why we must all thank the Germans for giving us the term “schadenfreude” — the joy one feels at the misfortune or failure of others. The primary wellspring of schadenfreude can be attributed to Barack Obama’s hubris — another immigrant word, which means a sinful pride or arrogance that causes someone to believe he has a godlike immunity to the rules of life.
It's too late for Obama's “fix”, and he knows it.
ObamaCare is in much more trouble than it was just one week ago. Why isn't there dancing in the streets? There was dancing in my driveway this morning!!
Consumers discover yet another hidden tax funding ObamaCare. I think the progressives are honestly puzzled that people aren't cheering their new taxes...
'Fairy Tale' continues as Obama proposes extralegal ObamaCare fix. “Fairy tale” Doesn't that have a nice ring to it, when used in the same sentence with “ObamaCare”?
How to read the evasive ObamaCare enrollment numbers. It's actually quite easy – just assume they're lying.
ObamaCare is generational theft. The old folks hired Obama to steal all the monies from the youngsters...
Insurance industry: the 'fix' is not workable. Why would you expect a fix designed by a man with zero business (or real job) experience to actually work? I don't think that's the point, anyway - it was really designed to feel good, not to actually accomplish anything. Accomplishment is for the little people...
A dissenting view: Here comes the real government takeover of health care. Oh, noz! This is a real downer swimming in the schadenfreude sea...
Obama admits: ObamaCare isn't working. Did you see that speech yesterday? I think the poor fellow is coming off the rails...
Megan McArdle: there's no sign of ObamaCare Plan B, and that's not good. I understand her point, and on some level, I agree with it. But I also think that if the cost of destroying (or at least significantly dinging) progressivism is some transient national pain on healthcare, it's worth it.
New York Times: parallels between ObamaCare rollout and G. W. Bush. Oh, the schadenfreude is strong with this one!
ObamaCare's approval ratings slump. Ya think?
Bipartisan agreement: Obama's 'fix' isn't legal. Surely The One, being the great Constitutional scholar he claims to be, would, like, know this?
DNC chairwoman repeats, with emphasis: We're running on ObamaCare in 2014! Ya know, she may well be right – it may be completely impossible for any Democrat to ignore ObamaCare in next year's elections...
You know who predicted exactly how ObamaCare would fail? Mitt Romney. We could have had a good man at the helm, instead of a schmuck...
Insurers furious about the ObamaCare fix. Did someone actually expect them to like a plan that was going to cost them a whole lot of money, and throw away all the work they did in the past three years getting ready for ObamaCare?
Some thoughts on those substandard plans that had to be canceled. My translation: ObamaCare infringes on our freedoms. But do read this, it's an excellent piece...
Obama lied. Now what do we do? Should libertarians and conservatives let the ObamaCare crisis go to waste? Hell, no!
Progressives face a crisis of faith. “The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the tears of progressives.” Awesome!
Washington state on Obama's 'fix': No way, dude! Just a week ago, support for ObamaCare amongst Democrats was reflexive; today it's fading fast – and the rate of erosion seems to be accelerating. We're watching a political cascade in progress, almost in real time...
Five big questions about Obama's health law tweak. A fine summary of things to focus on watching for the next few days (at least)...
It isn't pretty when a progressive starts backtracking on ObamaCare. But it sure is fun to watch!
Some alternatives to ObamaCare. Oh, yes, please – let's start having a serious conversation about these!
“This is a new insanity.” The NJ Association of Underwriter's thoughts on Obama's 'fix'. Right away you can tell they're really impressed with his leadership...
Why does anyone thing Obama is good at politics? I never did. He's good at celebrity, which is quite a bit different. For one thing, politics has more actual content...
The lawlessness of ObamaCare. If you read any history, this is very reminiscent of FDR's sweeping power grabs...
Megan McArdle: ObamaCare is ... whatever Obama says it is. Her final question: “How many acts does this play have left?” At the rate things are proceeding, we may not have long to wait. Which will make me very happy, except for the sudden drought of schadenfreude that will ensue...
The day the Obama magic died:
Rule by personal charisma has met its proper fate. The spell has been broken, and the magician stands exposed. We need no pollsters to tell us of the loss of faith in Mr. Obama's policies—and, more significantly, in the man himself. Charisma is like that. Crowds come together and they project their needs onto an imagined redeemer. The redeemer leaves the crowd to its imagination: For as long as the charismatic moment lasts—a year, an era—the redeemer is above and beyond judgment. He glides through crises, he knits together groups of varied, often clashing, interests. Always there is that magical moment, and its beauty, as a reference point.ObamaCare disaster recovery. Is it possible to overdose on schadenfreude? Nah...
Congress right now has a historic chance—really, it could wind up in the history books next to the stopping of FDR's court-packing scheme in 1937—to hold back ObamaCare. Congress can delay it, or pass a law mandating or allowing insurance companies to continue insuring everyone they just threw off coverage. Heck, they could try to vote now, under new conditions and with the American people behind them, to repeal the whole thing.And who knows, they just might.
ObamaCare's non-fix. It's all about the cover. Political cover. But it's not enough, not by a long shot...
Obama's insurance fix is unconstitutional. I suspect that doesn't enter into his calculus at all – he's The One!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)