The Local Maximum with Max Sklar

Latest Episodes:

Ep. 129 - Language Translation Tech with João Graça Jul 28, 2020

Show notes

Max talks to João Graça, CTO of multilingual translation platform Unbabel to talk about the past, present, and future of translation technology and the role of machine learning.
This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit localmaximum.substack.com

Ep. 128 - Urban Dynamics, Amazon Go, and Smart Carts Jul 21, 2020

Show notes

Today's discussion centers on recent speculation about long term population transfers between the city, the suburbs, and the countryside, and the issues facing cities in America right now. We also talk about the rise of Amazon Go stores, and why and how this technology might spread to other types of stores around the world.
This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit localmaximum.substack.com

Ep. 127 - Data Visualization with Kristen Sosulski Jul 14, 2020

Show notes

Max checks in with Kristen Sosulski, NYU Professor and Author of Data Visualization Made Simple. They discuss some of the basic principles of data visualization, and some common approaches and pitfalls.
This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit localmaximum.substack.com

Ep. 126 - Electoral Systems: Models vs Reality Jul 07, 2020

Show notes

This companion to episode 125 on the Electoral College starts with an interview of Ernie Dronenberg in California who was a member of the Electoral College in 1980!
Afterwards, Max talks about different models of voting systems in social choice theory: Rankings, Condorcet Methods, Condorcet Paradoxes, Monotone Boolean Functions, and Shapley values.
This ends with a discussion of the ways in which mathematical models of voting do not match the social dynamics of a real election, the positive properties of the electoral college, and what reforms to look for.
localmaxradio.com/126
This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit localmaximum.substack.com

Ep. 125 - Why We Need the Electoral College with Tara Ross Jun 30, 2020

Show notes

Today begins a 2 part series on the Electoral College, and the way in which the President of the United States is elected. Tara Ross is a nationally recognized author and expert on the electoral college, and her recent book, “Why We Need the Electoral College” provides a justification and defense of the electoral college system. Today’s interview covers:
- Some of the mechanics of a presidential election
- Responses to some common criticisms of the electoral college
- Comparisons between the electoral college and other electoral systems, both internationally and within the United States
This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit localmaximum.substack.com

Ep. 124 - Socials in the Fact Checking Business Jun 23, 2020

Show notes

Today’s discussion centers around the trend of the big social networks (Twitter and Facebook) to fact-check certain accounts. Can fact checking be fair, and is it consistent with open discussion? This episode also covers the activist culture and pressures faces by companies and workplaces today. Also, a new image processing ML algorithm which generates an image from a pixelated version has promise and pitfalls.
localmaxradio.com/124
This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit localmaximum.substack.com

Ep. 123 - Everybody Lies with Seth Stephens-Davidowitz Jun 16, 2020

Show notes

Today’s episode features Seth Stephens-Davidowitz, author of the book Everybody Lies: Big Data, New Data, and What the Internet Can Tell Us About Who we Really Are. Discussion topics include research on NBA demographics, horse racing, Google search data and Coronavirus, and validating Google analytics.
localmaxradio.com/123
This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit localmaximum.substack.com

Ep. 122 - What are we going through? Jun 09, 2020

Show notes

This episode focuses on life in 2020 with pandemics, lockdowns, protests, curfews, looting, and more. Max gives an update on New York city. At the end of the show, hospital administrator Ben Geboe calls in with his pandemic experiences.
localmaxradio.com/122
This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit localmaximum.substack.com

Ep. 121 - The Tumultuous Week Jun 02, 2020

Show notes

Max and Aaron return for a June news update. In addition to providing a first hand account of the protests and disturbances in Fort Greene, they update us on:
- The private space race, SpaceX’s Launch, and Future Moon Landings
- The heist of 20 million in Bitcoin by a Westchester teen, and what you can do to protect yourself
- The breakdown of social media and the war between Twitter and Donald Trump
localmaxradio.com/121
This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit localmaximum.substack.com

Ep. 120 - The Reopening: Confounders, Colliders, and Simpson’s Paradox May 26, 2020

Show notes

Max makes his case on the ineffectiveness of lockdowns. Concepts of the week include confounders and colliders, which are subjects in causality theory, and Simpon’s Paradox where correlations flip based on how the data is bucketed.
localmaxradio.com/120
This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit localmaximum.substack.com

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