vault backup: 2026-03-03 14:58:23

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where $\mathrm{Var}[C]$ is the [variance](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Variance)
and $\lambda>0$ is a risk-loading parameter.
> This mirrors mean-variance pricing common in portfolio theory.
> This mirrors mean-variance pricing common in [[modern-portfolio-theory]].
## 3. Quantile-based pricing
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* [[estimating-methodologies]]
* [[construction-estimating-software]]
* [[history-of-construction-estimating]]
* [[labor-factoring]]
* [[estimate-laboring]]
### New Cross-Topics
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@@ -32,7 +32,7 @@ For philosophy see [[bid-process-strategy]]
* [[history-of-construction-estimating]]
* [[estimating-methodologies]]
* [[construction-estimating-software]]
* [[labor-factoring]]
* [[estimate-laboring]]
### Cross-Topics
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@@ -54,7 +54,7 @@ Those around elevator shafts form a "shear core".
> [!info] Reference
> * [Concrete Slab | Different types of Slabs in Construction](https://www.constructioncost.co/slabs-in-construction.html)
> * [Concrete Slab Types -- Construction, Cost, and Applications -- theconstructor.org](https://theconstructor.org/practical-guide/concrete-slab-construction-cost/28153/)
> * [Concrete Slab Types -- Construction, Cost, and Applications | theconstructor.org](https://theconstructor.org/practical-guide/concrete-slab-construction-cost/28153/)
### Conventional Slab
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@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ tags:
- destiny/permanent
- status/incomplete
- type/guide
- topic/hobbies/digitizing
title: Converting Documents to Markdown
dg-publish: true
---
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id:
aliases: []
tags:
- authorship/original
- authorship/other-for-now
- destiny/permanent
- status/incomplete
- topic/math
@@ -12,7 +12,10 @@ dg-publish: true
---
# Convex Hull
[Convex Hull](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Convex_hull)
> [!quote] [Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Convex_hull)
> the **convex hull**, **convex envelope** or **convex closure** of a shape
> is the smallest [convex set](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Convex_set "Convex set")
> that contains it.
```tikz
\usepackage{pgfplots}
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# C\#
C\# (read "C sharp", like the [[music-theory|musical]] symbol)
is modern high-level [[programming-languages|language]]
supporting [[object-oriented-programing|object-oriented]] patterns.
It is the sane man's Java.
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@@ -51,7 +51,7 @@ see [[complaints]] for how you can help me fix it.
### Broken Links
The private repository from which this site is built includes copyrighted materials,
(which I own and have personally digitized, as is my right by case law)
(which I own and have personally digitized, as is my right, supported by case law)
of note, nearly the entirety of the [[nfpa-70_national-electric-code|NEC]],
which [[conductor-sizing]] and [[alternating-current]] frequently reference.
Because this website is public I choose not to publish those materials here,
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@@ -113,7 +113,7 @@ much more so to dismiss the tests used to prove the validity of statistical meth
### False Lucky Fools
Taleb repeatedly conflates legitimate lucky fools
Taleb repeatedly conflates legitimate [[lucky-fools|lucky fools]]
and people with ideas he doesn't like.
> [[hubbard_2020_failure]]
@@ -133,12 +133,11 @@ One of many problems with this presentation
is that John is described as young, inexperienced,
and of low intelligence.
John is a typical lucky fool:
there is no indication that he has any strategy,
much less that he is practicing modern portfolio theory.
there is no indication that he has _any_ strategy,
much less that he is practicing [[modern-portfolio-theory]].
If I mistake Taleb's intent,
and the story was only meant to convey
that experienced, conscientious, and cautious decision-making
_can_ lead a person to success,
then I'm not sure who he's arguing against.
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@@ -22,6 +22,15 @@ With that heuristic,
one can closely approximate small dimensions,
even without the proper tools.
It is tempting to believe that heuristics are not ideal,
that the most accurate method ought to be preferred.
%%
even using a ruler is a heuristic,
subject to the tool's tolerance
and reliant on its proper use.
%%
## Realism vs. Instrumentalism
Realism holds that the purpose of [scientific research](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Research)
@@ -29,6 +38,16 @@ is to describe the world as accurately as possible.
Instrumentalism (anti-realism) argues that the purpose
is to _forecast as accurately as possible_.
> [!quote] _Opinionated History of Mathematics_, "Did Copernicus steal ideas from Islamic astronomers?" (pp.)
> Ptolemy's lunar model is "flawed"
> in that it inaccurately describes Luna's distance from Earth,
> however Ptolemy only ever used the model to predict eclipses,
> which the model does very well.
> The discrepancy is only a flaw from a realist perspective.
Realism is noble, granted,
but instrumentalism is far more practical.
> [!quote] George E. P. Box, British statistician
> All models are wrong, but some are useful.[^1]
@@ -37,10 +56,3 @@ is to _forecast as accurately as possible_.
> does not necessarily detract from its usefulness
> because all models are approximations.
> Essentially, all models are wrong, but some are useful.
> [!quote] _Opinionated History of Mathematics_, "Did Copernicus steal ideas from Islamic astronomers?" (pp.)
> Ptolemy's lunar model is "flawed"
> in that it inaccurately describes Luna's distance from Earth,
> however Ptolemy only ever used the model to predict eclipses,
> which the model does very well.
> The discrepancy is only a flaw from a realist perspective.
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@@ -158,14 +158,16 @@ He wrote *The Black Swan* and other books critical of common practice in risk ma
especially in (but not limited to) the financial world,
as well as the nonquantitative hubris of Wall Street.
A heretic of financial convention, he argues that Nobel Prize---
winning modern portfolio theory and options theory (briefly mentioned in chapter 5)
A heretic of financial convention,
he argues that Nobel Prize-winning modern portfolio theory and options theory
(briefly mentioned in chapter 5)
are fundamentally flawed and are in fact no better than astrology.
In fact, Taleb considers this prize is itself an intellectual fraud.
After all, as he rightly points out, it was not established in the will of Alfred Nobel,
After all, as he rightly points out,
it was not established in the will of Alfred Nobel,
but by the Royal Bank of Sweden seventy-five years after Nobel's death.
He even claims that once, in a public forum, he riled up one such prizewinner
to the point of red-faced, fist-pounding anger.
He even claims that once, in a public forum,
he riled up one such prizewinner to the point of red-faced, fist-pounding anger.
Taleb bases a lot of his thesis on the fact that the impact of chance
is unappreciated by mostly everyone.
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## TALK
Expertise as heuristics and biases
[Daniel Kahneman](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daniel_Kahneman)
Expertise as [[heuristics]] and biases
[[kahneman_2011_thinking]]
%%
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---
id:
aliases: []
title: Lucky Fools
tags:
- authorship/original
- destiny/permanent
- status/incomplete
---
# Lucky Fools
A lucky fool is someone who stumbled into success
in a field where competence is normally prerequisite.
%%
Books concerned with lucky fools:
[[hubbard_2020_failure]]
[[taleb_2001_fooled-by-randomness]]
[[kahneman_2011_thinking]]
%%
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---
id:
aliases: []
title: Modern Portfolio Theory
tags:
- authorship/other-for-now
- destiny/permanent
- status/not-started
---
# Modern Portfolio Theory
> [!quote] [Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Modern_portfolio_theory)
> Modern portfolio theory (MPT), or mean-variance analysis,
> is a mathematical framework for assembling a portfolio of assets
> such that the expected return is maximized for a given level of risk.
@@ -36,4 +36,4 @@ Solves database conflicts by pinning estimates to a commit.
* [[breakdown-objects]]
* [[assembly-objects]]
* [[labor-factoring]]
* [[estimate-laboring]]
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@@ -32,7 +32,7 @@ especially with [Obsidian](https://www.google.com/search?q=getting+started+with+
Note that PKM gets a lot of hype from productivity influencers
so you may leave some of those videos feeling like you need to pick up bouldering.
It speaks to the highly personal nature of PKM that of these hundreds
It speaks to the highly personal nature of PKM that, of these hundreds,
there is no consensus larger than two on best practice.
## See Also
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* fitness goals
* preference for ice cream relative to other desert options
* natural tendency to form unhealthy habits
among many others.
among many other factors.
For an individual who strongly values their health and physical fitness,
the knowledge that they would be acting in violation of those values
@@ -43,7 +43,7 @@ skews the calculation so far to the negative
that internal debate is unnecessary.
Frequently, individuals are capable of effectively rationalizing their values
(it's not difficult to imagine that all variables considered,
(it's not difficult to imagine that, all variables considered,
the objective utility of the additional ice cream is negative for most people).
In this way they are behavioral [[heuristics]]:
subjective utility
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@@ -80,7 +80,7 @@ Expert opinion is valuable, but its weaknesses must be compensated for.
%% TODO: %%
Experts tend to be good at creating heuristics,
Experts tend to be good at creating [[heuristics]],
but do not apply them consistently in practice.
> [!example]
@@ -122,6 +122,8 @@ This the unstated other half of the **law of large numbers**
> there was a ~30% chance an individual would achieve The Red Baron's record
> _by luck alone_.
That is, there is a 30% chance The Red Baron was a [[lucky-fools|lucky fool]]
He later refers to the popular tendency
to overvalue competence and undervalue luck
in the role of achieving improbable accomplishments
@@ -168,7 +170,7 @@ For risk-neutral parties, expected value would equal CME
***
Another factor at play here
is that utility is not proportional to monetary value.
is that [[utility]] is not proportional to monetary value.
Consider these additional choices:
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---
id:
aliases: []
title:
title: The Henry Tower Two
tags:
- authorship/original
- destiny/permanent
- status/not-started
- occupational/project
- status/not-started
dg-publish: true
---
---
# The Henry Tower Two
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## Conventions
### Semantic Line Breaks
### Text Wrapping
I didn't like them at first,
but this notebook uses [[semantic-line-breaks]]
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@@ -40,7 +40,7 @@ it is not cost-effective[^1] to allow it to take four.[^2]
[^1]: "Cost" referring both to estimator salaries and the opportunity cost of declined bids.
[^2]: Supposing a contractor maintained a modern portfolio theory styled record of estimates
[^2]: Supposing a contractor maintained a [[modern-portfolio-theory]] styled record of estimates
including pending bids, and projects ongoing and completed
(each with confidence estimates),
uncorrupted by [[estimating-culture#Incentives|perverse incentives]],
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@@ -71,12 +71,12 @@ What's being done to prevent it from re-emerging?
It is my belief that the most practical solution
is the frequent rotation of estimators in senior teams.
It is in the interest of estimators
that their personal heuristics not depend on who they're working for,
that their personal [[heuristics]] not depend on who they're working for,
so they can be expected to call attention to inconsistency
allowing it to be addressed permanently.
The only other option I can imagine
is to document exact procedures for every scenario,
is to document _exact_ procedures for _every_ scenario,
which is obviously foolhardy.
### Less Important
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# Utility
[Utility](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Utility)
is a measure of a party's satisfaction
is a measure of a party's **satisfaction**
with a certain state of the world.
The measure is intended to account for unintuitive quirks of human perception of value.
A rich man is not as satisfied with receiving one dollar as a poor man,
A rich man is not as _satisfied_ by receiving one dollar as a poor man would be,
therefore the utility of the dollar is contextual, not objective.
[Sorites paradox in utility theory](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sorites_paradox#Resolutions_in_utility_theory)
## Normative and Descriptive Utility
**Normative utility** is utility as self-reported,
subject to the biases of the party.
**Descriptive utility** is utility as determined from the party's behavior.
@@ -1,11 +1,12 @@
---
id:
aliases: []
title:
title: Vanderbilt Central Neighborhood Residential College
tags:
- authorship/original
- destiny/permanent
- status/not-started
- occupational/project
- status/not-started
dg-publish: true
---
---
# Vanderbilt Central Neighborhood Residential College