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Porto Seguro Challenge - 2nd Place Solution
The Perfect Theory: A Century of Geniuses and the Battle over General Relativity15 January, 2015
General Relativity have always been an intimidating topic for most people. The book makes it specially clear while recounting the story of the beginnings of the theory when almost all scientists showed strong resistance in accepting and even debating about the subject. Even to this day, the theory faces resistance from a small portion of the community. Although the book title calls it perfect, the extension of our understanding about it is rathe
Adriano Marques
The Innovators - How a Group of Hackers, Geniuses, and Geeks Created the Digital Revolution10 January, 2015
This is not the first Biography I've read that was written by Walter Isaacson . He is a phenomenal writer. The Innovators, I have to admit, didn't impress me as much. The book consists of micro biographies of dozens of personages involved in the advancement of technology since Ada Lovelace . It is an interesting read, but as a Computer Scientist I was already familiar with all of those personages to the leve
Adriano Marques
Thank You!28 June, 2014
As one of the finalists to be part of the Graduate Studies Program at Singularity University [http://maps.google.com/maps?ll=37.415229,-122.06265&spn=0.01,0.01&q=37.415229,-122.06265 (Singularity%20University)&t=h] I started a campaign to raise the funds to pay for my tuition. It was a tough sell, given that I was an alternate student and being admitted was depending on a class finalist dropping out before the program started
Adriano Marques
Life at The Speed of Light - From the Double Helix to the Dawn of Digital Life16 January, 2014
Quickly passing through the most important events in the history of biology and genetics , the author goes through his own endeavors pioneering the human genome sequencing and successfully creating the first form of life with a synthetic genome . It goes as deep as describing the procedures in details, so you've got to have some previous experience with the topic i
Adriano Marques
Mission to Mars - My Vision for Space Exploration16 January, 2014
Buzz Aldrin was not the first man to walk on the Moon , but wasn't short from Neil Armstrong in making history. This book is a collection of ideas he had gathered with the help of hundreds of specialists he discussed with throughout the years since he came back from the Moon. These ideas are focused on achieving and sustaining trips to Mars [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ma
Adriano Marques
American Turnaround - Reinventing AT&T and GM and the Way We Do Business in the USA13 January, 2014
After working for AT&T for 44 years, the author found himself with an invitation from the White House to become the chairman of General Motors and help it turn away from his bankruptcy path. Notwithstanding the fact that he knew nothing about cars, he took on the challenge and left after it paid in full it's loans and right before its IPO. Very interesting story, shows how GM management was blind, thinking that the crisis was the only reason why they've got where they were. Nobody there though
Adriano Marques
Sending The Singularity University Shield to the Edge of Space06 January, 2014
Based at NASA Research Park in Moffett Field, California , Singularity University is a one of a kind. It was devised with the goal of teaching students about exponential technologies and how to use them to address humanity's greatest challenges. View of Hangar One, the huge dirigible hangar, with doors open at both ends. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)Since I first hear
Adriano Marques
An Astronaut's Guide to Life on Earth - What Going to Space Taught Me About Ingenuity, Determination, and Being Prepared for Anything04 January, 2014
Most know for its Space Oddity performance on board of the International Space Station , Chris Hadfield wrote this book in a format that resembles more a memoir than a guide. Reading it, nevertheless, was both very entertaining and educational. Having a special interest in Space Exploration and Aviatio
Adriano Marques
Thinking Fast and Slow28 December, 2013
Outstanding work from Economics Nobel Prize Laureate Daniel Kahneman , on thinking process and how we miss the logic of things in our everyday decision making . The author uses the concept of two minds to explain how our brain makes decision, and how we're prone to succumb to bad decision making in situations ranging from being able to see the reality in optical ill
Adriano Marques
The Science of Fear - Why We Fear the Things We Shouldn't -- and Put Ourselves in Greater Danger14 December, 2013
The terrorist attacks of 9/11/11 are the perfect example of how fear can put ourselves in greater danger. After seeing the airplanes hitting the World Trade Center on the TV, people decided that flying wasn't safe anymore. Instead, they took their cars and drove to their destinations, causing more traffic casualties than the terrorist attack itself, as statistics collected between 9/11/11 and 9/11/12 have show
Adriano Marques
How to Start a Career in Computer Science02 December, 2013
Which way? I still remember asking myself in front of all the possibilities in the field of computer science when I had to decide which one to pursue. So many variables, so many technologies, so many industries, and yet just one life time to pursue one or a few of the various possibilities available. That reminds me of a well known book - there is a line from Alice’s Adventure in Wonderland that relates perfectly to the feeling I had then. Amazed and puzzled in a whole new world, Alice tried to
Adriano Marques
Speaking at CEO National Conference 2013 - Technology and Startups08 November, 2013
Last Friday (November 1st) I spoke at the CEO National Conference about how to properly leverage technology in a startup. The event happened at the McCormick Place [http://maps.google.com/maps?ll=41.853101,-87.612137&spn=1.0,1.0&q=41.853101,-87.612137 (McCormick%20Place)&t=h], and it was pretty fun! I recorded my presentation, and created a quick video with the slides and the Q&A session at the end. Along with the video below, you'll find an abridge
Adriano Marques
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