Monday Links (4.6.2015)

Stories from the past week...

1. Why You Should Take Notes by Hand - As the title suggests, story about why its better to take notes by hand as opposed to a laptop.  Obviously, the article may be more geared towards current students, but I find that in my practice the importance of note taking corresponds to the article.  Learning how to take notes, what key phrases to focus on that will help trigger memory later, is essential to good academic performance.  In my job, involving many client conferences and other meetings, the same principle applies.  I think what the article gets at is that there is an act of discernment that takes place when taking notes by hand that must take place that does not necessarily have to occur when taking notes by typing.  That act of discernment increases our ability to remember and comprehend the subject material, whatever it may be.

2. The Beginner's Guide to Small Sample Size - In honor baseball season starting again (Full Opening Day today!!), a quick guide to the concept of small sample size when understanding baseball statistics and trends.  Part of my love for baseball has always been the statistics and how they can often transcend eras, allow for comparisons, discussions, and arguments.  But they are also some of the most understood tools in the game, and the inability of many baseball commentators and fans to understand small sample size, particularly when it comes to fast starts in April, or individual match-ups between certain batters and certain pitchers, can prematurely end many of those conversations I so love.  This is a good primer on the concept from FanGraphs, an excellent resource.  Now I just need them to write a primer on why Runs Scored (R) and Runs Batted In (RBIs) are not good statistics for valuing a player's offensive output, and why Wins (W) are horrible for evaluating starting pitchers.

3. How Medicaid Forces Families Like Mine to Stay Poor - This is a long read, but by far the best and most important thing I read all week.  I do some work with Medicaid in assisting clients planning for long term care.  Understanding the rules in my narrow section of Medicaid's myriad of programs and rules is difficult, which is why people come see me.  But I think the rules governing Medicaid for the elderly, at least in Indiana, is still simpler than many of the other available programs and how they are implemented in other states.  In any event, before any speaks about the need to reform Medicaid, and how too many people are ripping off the system and getting free healthcare, they should read this.  Get some perspective, gain some understanding on what the eligibility rules actually are, how difficult they are to understand and to attain, and what the real life impacts can result of our policy discussions and proposals.