Streams of Consciousness

Regression analysis is a modeling technique for analyzing the relationship between a continuous (real-valued) dependent variable Y and one or more independent variables X1, X2,...,Xk. (Regression analysis is a 'method' of determining and understanding any relationship between a dependent value and one or more independent values.) The goal in regression analysis is to identify a function that describes, as closely as possible, the relationship between these variables so that we can predict what value the dependent variable will assume given specific values for the independent variables. (The ultimate goal of regression analysis is to be able to predict the dependent variable, when given the independent variable values. In order to do this, a function must be established that reflects the relationship between the dependent variable and the independent variables.) In any regression model, there is an element of systematic relationship between the dependent variable and th...

When I was young, relatively speaking, I did not pay much attention to politics, and probably did not understand most of what I heard. I remember always rooting for the underdog, as I have in other fields as well, such as sports. Now, I pay attention. However, I feel increasingly frustrated, confused and anxious when I read political material. I look back on my youth with a longing for the time when the right thing to do was simple to understand, if not always simple to choose. Almost every time I read the Wall Street Journal opinion pages, I become internally hostile to the writings. It's not so much that I disagree with the policies that they are presenting, but I vehemently dislike the manner in which the arguments are framed. They are polemical, there is no doubt, but also usually contain criticisms of people, if not outright personal attacks. Sometimes these criticisms are subtle satire. Other times they are outwardly blatant. Being the WSJ, the opinions publ...

Here is a hypothetical situation, to help me better understand my job: My wife and I enter a Sprint store and mention to a clerk that we would like to buy a phone for each of us, and sign up for Sprint service. The clerk informs us that we can do this, but first we have to fill out some paperwork and an application. We will out the application, which includes our social security numbers. The clerk enters the information into his computer, and a few minutes later he tells us that we have been approved for two phones on our account. We are not required to pay a deposit. He then assists in activating our phones, and we are on our way, with new service from Sprint.

Work related entry: Yesterday, I began my new job at Sprint. My new position is as a Revenue Consultant in the credit strategy department. Here is some terminology that I picked-up on yesterday, and my understanding of the meaning of such terms. Risk Segmentation: This refers to the general strategy of segmenting the customer base into different categories. The categories reflect different levels of risk that the customer poses to the company. Such risk includes the possibility that the customer will not pay his bill, the possibility that the customer will fraudulantly use the services. Basically, the risk that any customer poses to Sprint is a risk of extra cost and lost revenue. Lightbridge: This is the third party vendor that 'scores' a potential Sprint PCS customer. The scoring is done via research using the potential customer's social security number, and other information. Sprint utilizes a two-dimensional risk assessment for each customer. One dime...