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and one more: "Scientists rename human genes to stop Microsoft Excel from misreading them as dates. Sometimes it’s easier to rewrite genetics than update Excel

• computerfriend 6y ago
  Also the post-2008 financial crisis austerity programs based on Excel analysis. https://mathbabe.org/2013/04/17/global-move-to-austerity-based-on-mistake-in-excel/ https://mathbabe.org/2013/04/17/global-move-to-austerity-bas...
  • rjtavares 6y ago
    Austerity wasn't based on that study, and it didn't go away once that error was found.
    • disgruntledphd2 6y ago
      That study was the intellectual justification for the policy. To be fair, I'm not sure if any of the proponents actually believed (or had read) the study, but it was definitely wheeled out in debates against Keynesians.
• teekert 6y ago
  Yeah, why there is no "scientific" mode to just turn of all "smartness" has baffled me for years and will probably continue to baffle me for years to come. Or even an algorithm that can detect that you are using gene name from the cells around march1 and sept7.
• simonh 6y ago
  I think that's a good way forward, Excel is a fantastically powerful, ubiquitous tool and isn't going away any time soon. If you're going to standardise on a technology, it makes sense to design your systems to work well with that technology. That includes making identifiers that you need to be treated like strings look like strings to your tools. A little bit of thought in advance and maybe some small compromises early on can save massive problems down the line.
  • bregma 6y ago
    A master crafter always adjusts their industry to match the currently popular tools. That's why we still use reins to steer automobiles and aircraft.