Posts

The Unfair Economics of Academic Publishing vs. Social Media Influence

Image
  The academic world runs on one of the strangest economic models in modern society. Researchers spend years developing ideas, running experiments, building prototypes, validating theories, and writing papers. They push human knowledge forward. Yet when it’s time to publish this work, the system turns upside down: 1. Researchers Pay to Publish Their Own Work Most open-access journals charge anywhere from hundreds to several thousands of dollars in “article processing fees.” These fees don’t go to the researchers, the grad students, the engineers, or the institutions that actually created the intellectual value. Instead, the majority of the revenue goes to: Publishing companies, Editorial platforms, Administrative overhead, And sometimes mandatory “open-access” labels that simply unlock a PDF. Meanwhile, the authors — the people who invented , tested , and proved something new — receive: No financial compensation , No share of the publication revenue , S...
Post a Comment
Read more

From Pickup Soccer to Honor-Based Publishing: Building Trust Through Transparency and Discipline

Image
  When new systems emerge, people often approach them with skepticism — and for good reason. Scientists, in particular, are trained to question everything. So when an honor-based publication system or reward-based model appears, the first reaction is often doubt: Who is responsible? Who ensures fairness? What if someone violates the rules? This reaction reminded me of something simple but profound — our pickup soccer games. At first, we didn’t like the idea of paying for a casual game. It wasn’t a league, there was no formal organization, and we didn’t know who was accountable. What if the organizer failed to book the field? What if players didn’t show up? It seemed uncertain and risky. But over time, as we continued playing, something important happened. We realized the group was organized. The person managing the field bookings was reliable. Players respected the schedule, showed up on time, and played safely. And when issues arose — as they always do — we had a point of contac...
Post a Comment
Location: Newark, CA 94560, USA
Read more

đź’ˇ Technical Debt — A Heavy Term for a Simple Truth

 In a recent leadership meeting, the topic of technical debt came up repeatedly. At first, it sounded heavy — like something buried deep in code or system architecture. But as the discussion unfolded, I realized that technical debt is actually about something very simple: trade-offs and communication . ⏳ What Technical Debt Really Means Technical debt occurs whenever we take shortcuts to move faster — skipping documentation, reusing older designs, or delaying testing. Think of it like borrowing time today, knowing we’ll have to “pay it back” later. Deliberate technical debt is intentional: everyone knows the trade-off, documents it, and plans to resolve it later. Inadvertent (or inferred) technical debt happens accidentally, often due to miscommunication, unclear requirements, or lack of information. In safety-critical industries like aviation, some debts may be minor, affecting only efficiency or maintainability. Others can affect safety, reliability, or regulatory ...
Post a Comment
Read more

🌍 System Engineering with Agile in Azure DevOps (ADO)

Image
  System engineering has traditionally been a structured, document-heavy discipline focused on requirements, architecture, and verification. While this rigor is essential, it often clashes with the fast-paced, iterative nature of Agile development. The challenge is clear: how do we keep the discipline of systems engineering while still moving at the speed of Agile? That’s where Azure DevOps (ADO) and the right process design become powerful enablers. 🔑 The Role of Process A well-defined process is as important as the tools we use. In many organizations, project managers become the central hub for communication, coordination, and reporting. While this seems logical, it can create a bottleneck —all decisions, updates, and tracking pass through a single role. This slows down the team, reduces agility, and limits engineers’ ability to adapt quickly. By contrast, if systems engineers take on a larger share of responsibility for defining, linking, and managing requirements and de...
Post a Comment
Location: San Francisco, CA, USA
Read more

The Unfair Judge: When Media Tells Only One Side of the Story

Image
  In today’s fast-moving world, information spreads instantly — but the full truth doesn’t always come with it. A news story breaks, headlines go viral, and public opinion is formed — often before all the facts are known. Too often, media becomes the unfair judge, jury, and executioner. Everyone knows that every story has two sides. But when the media reports on something — especially something sensitive — it usually favors the side with more power. That could be political influence, financial backing, or simply what the public wants to hear. Take government scandals or criminal allegations, for example. When something controversial involving the government happens, society becomes highly sensitive. To avoid public backlash, the media often uses freedom of speech as a shield — quickly publishing names, accusations, and opinions before any investigation is finished. This rush to transparency is not always about justice; sometimes, it's about protecting the system or shifting blame t...
Post a Comment
Location: Newark, CA 94560, USA
Read more

The Magic of Online Learning: Freedom, Flexibility, and a Bit of Ice Cream

Image
Isn’t it amazing that in today’s world, you can open YouTube and learn how to code, bake a perfect soufflĂ©, or dive deep into quantum physics—all from your couch? One of the greatest things about online learning is the freedom . You’re not stuck in a classroom at 8 AM. You choose the right time to learn. Whether it’s during your morning coffee or late at night when the world is quiet, the timing is yours. And unlike traditional classrooms, online learning gives you full control of the pace . Missed something? Rewind. Got it faster than expected? Speed up. The lesson moves with you .  It becomes even more special when it's free . Of course, paying for a course isn’t a dealbreaker—some of the best content out there comes at a price. But when it’s free? That’s the cherry on top of the ice cream. It removes the final barrier and makes learning accessible to anyone with curiosity and an internet connection. Personally, I still remember the day I found a YouTube video on Python basics. I...
Post a Comment
Location: Newark, CA 94560, USA
Read more

Why Trust in Leadership Is Everything—And What Happens When It’s Gone

Image
  Whether you're building a product or running a country, progress depends on one thing above all: trust. In every successful company or nation, there’s a silent force working behind the scenes: trust in leadership . When people believe in their leaders—when they feel heard, understood, and represented—things move forward. Problems get solved. Bold ideas take flight. Communities and teams thrive. But when trust disappears, progress collapses.  In the workplace, a lack of trust in leadership leads to burnout, disengagement, and product delays. When executives are too far removed from the real challenges their employees face, decision-making becomes abstract. Goals get missed, and people quietly give up. In politics, the stakes are even higher. When citizens lose faith in their leaders, democracy begins to fracture. Decisions feel imposed rather than inspired. Cynicism replaces civic engagement. And instead of unity, we see division. The deeper problem? Leadership is often ...
Post a Comment
Location: Newark, CA 94560, USA
Read more