Tech Talk with Toni

The symbol for radioactivity, known as the trefoil, originated in 1946 at the University of California, Berkeley. Today’s post is inspired by recent headlines about tech giants like Amazon and Microsoft striking nuclear power deals to fuel their AI data centers. In the technology sector, energy plays a huge role in driving progress, but it also has a significant impact on the environment.  AI data centers, in particular, require vast amounts of energy to handle complex computations, prompting companies to explore cleaner and more sustainable energy sources. We all know that burning fossil fuels for electricity and transportation releases carbon dioxide along with other greenhouse gases, which trap heat in the Earth's atmosphere, leading to global warming and climate change.  For example, in cities like Beijing, where coal and oil consumption remains high, air pollution often reaches hazardous levels. This leads to increased rates of asthma, lung disease, and other health issues amo

A bunch of skyscrapers Today's post is inspired by a combination of my recent trip to Miami and the Google Certification that I am currently pursuing. As I marveled at the towering buildings in the city, I couldn’t help but think about the foundations that hold them up.  This reflection reminded me of my own work in data analytics, where seemingly simple structures like lists and tuples form the bedrock of larger, more intricate solutions. One might think that revisiting such fundamental concepts as a data professional isn’t worthwhile—it's "something you already know."  However, as I worked through exercises on lists and tuples, I was struck by how many nuances I had overlooked during my initial learning. For example, revisiting the differences in mutability between lists and tuples revealed new ways to optimize my code. With these insights in mind, let's dive into some of the key similarities and differences between lists and tuples in the table below: A

Tens of millions of people suffer from dog bites each year globally, compared to just 50–80 shark bites. As a data professional, I am expected to interpret data and provide stakeholders with insights in the form of a story. Many refer to this skill as "critical thinking." While that is valuable, one must also question how they arrived at their conclusions in the first place. According to Wikipedia, a bias is a disproportionate weight in favor of or against an idea or thing, usually in a way that is inaccurate, closed-minded, prejudicial, or unfair. I gained a deeper understanding of biases during an Organizational Behavior course I took in university, and I briefly mentioned it in Blog Post #8, which discusses data-driven decision-making. Beyond numbers in a database, biases can lead to poor decisions in the real world. For example, it is statistically more likely to be bitten by a dog than by a shark; however, availability bias caused authorities in Tobago to place a bounty

  The original PlayStation, released in 1994, was the first gaming console to ship 100 million units worldwide! Today’s post is inspired by the audiobook I’m currently listening to about the richest man in the world, Elon Musk.  He is not only a risk-taker but also a gamer at heart, often playing video games as a way to unwind or escape from work. Hearing this made me think about my own relationship with gaming and how it played a role in my childhood. Growing up, I’d often find myself playing multiplayer flash games with my siblings or getting lost in solo games like Plants vs. Zombies. Now, there’s a stereotype that Computer Science and Engineering majors are hardcore gamers who  'don’t touch grass,' and while that may be true for some, I think there’s a deeper value to gaming.  With that being said, here are some ways you can reconnect with your inner child and reap the benefits of gaming as an adult: Choose the Right Game Not all games offer the same cognitive benefits. Th