The History of Money
Three common myths about money—its government origin, evolution from barter, and supposed intrinsic value.
Thomas Hepner
10-Year Prediction: More Americans Will Own Crypto Than Stocks
A 2018 prediction that American ownership of Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Litecoin would eventually exceed stock ownership.
The Risk of Rising Inflation and Interest Rates
A short 2018 warning that rising inflation and interest rates could reshape bonds and dollar-denominated debt.
How to Invest in Bitcoin
A 2018 Bitcoin thesis: allocate 1%, buy at market price, carry it at cost, and leave it untouched for ten years.
How I Became a Self-Taught Data Scientist
I became a Data Scientist by quitting my job and competing in Kaggle competitions. This is my Kaggle profile. And yes, that’s a picture of me holding a catfish! After I graduated from college in early 2014, I knew that I wanted to become a Data Scientist, but I
What Are the Most Common Mistakes Made by Aspiring Data Scientists?
September 23, 2017 1. “I can’t do X until I know Y.” So many aspiring Data Scientists don’t even get started because they think they need know EVERYTHING before they can do ANYTHING. There are so many posts on LinkedIn or Quora where calculus, linear algebra, differential equations,
What Are Alternatives to Data Science Master's Programs?
August 12, 2017 Here is what I did instead of a Master’s Degree: 1. Completed the Data Science Specialization on Coursera. 2. Finished the Udacity Machine Learning Engineer Nanodegree. 3. Competed in numerous Kaggle competitions to practice with real datasets, signal my dedication to the field, and prove my
How Do Coursera and Udacity Compare?
January 18, 2017 In the past year I completed three Coursera Specializations (Data Science, Java Programming, Objected Oriented Programming), and two Udacity Nanodegrees (Programming, Machine Learning Engineer). Udacity has transformed the learning experience through its engaging educational platform and innovative curriculum co-developed with industry partners. Coursera put the existing
What Are the Best Data Science MOOCs?
January 18, 2017 I recently completed a year of self-study through MOOCs with the specific goal of becoming a data scientist. During the course of the past year, I enrolled in and completed 6 online certificate programs on Coursera, Udacity, and edX. Learning from my experience, a great data
Why I Voted for Trump
Why I set aside my reservations and voted for Donald Trump in 2016—and what I hoped both parties might learn from the result.
Radical Longevity is in our Future
Aging will be seen as no more inevitable than teenage pregnancy is today. Within 100 years, and likely far sooner, aging will cease to exist. And you might be thinking to yourself, “That’s impossible! That cannot possibly be true! Aging is a natural part of life and cannot be
How Do I Become an Expert in R?
June 1, 2016 1. Take the 10 Course JHU Data Science Specialization offered by Coursera: This is an excellent place to start developing your expertise in R programming. It costs less than $500, it’s online, and is flexible with your schedule. You will cover a lot of information and