gmacd https://gmacd.net gmacd's blog Sun, 17 May 2026 00:00:00 +0000 Current Study List https://gmacd.net/#current-study-list https://gmacd.net/#current-study-list Sun, 17 May 2026 00:00:00 +0000 Here's what I'm currently studying:

  • Neural Networks: Zero to Hero

    Andrej Karpathy's playlist - back to basics here with some Python 101! Just picked this up - on the first video.

  • Mathematics for Machine Learning

    Recommended (by Claude) to get to grips with the maths. Initally nothing new for me, so I'm looking forward to progressing here. So far reached section 2.3.

  • ...while continuing to revise for MST125. Harded to motivate myself for this when there are new things to learn.
]]> Studying https://gmacd.net/#studying https://gmacd.net/#studying Sat, 16 May 2026 00:00:00 +0000 I've been studying an Open University maths degree path part time for the last 2 years. I'll have completed the 4th module in June, which will bring me to:

This brings me to the question of what to do next. I'm not doing this with any particular career goal. Originally I was doing it because I felt I hadn't really done my self justice when studying maths and physics at the University of Glasgow as part of my Software Engineering degree. I feel that ghost has at least been partially exorcised by completing the Stage 1 modules.

Originally I planned to straddle between maths and physics. I felt that a maths degree with a good selection of physics modules would be the way to go. Long term, I planned to follow that with a masters in maths (again with lots of physics) and maybe even a PhD in some distant wrinkled fantasy future. Just doing the MSc in maths at the OU after completing the degree would take me through to 2033, assuming I continue part-time. Two ninths of the route to masters complete!

My plan had been to complete Stage 1, and then study MST210 Mathematical methods, models and modelling and M208 Pure mathematics in Stage 2

However now I'm thinking an MSc Artificial Intelligence would be an interesting route - combining my recent maths education with my long software engineering experience. Realistically I'm a bit late to enter this year, and I'm still not sure which path is best: maths, physics or AI. Luckily there's a decent amount of overlap at this stage - it would seem best to continue with MST210 and build up an AI study plan. This would continue the Maths degree and keep the possibility of a credit transfer onto a joint Maths and Physics degree while being applicable to an AI masters.

MST210 starts in October. It's now mid-May, and I have the MST125 exam in early June. So I need to build this AI study plan while preparing for the exam.

]]> Japanese 1 https://gmacd.net/#japanese-1 https://gmacd.net/#japanese-1 Fri, 12 Sep 2025 00:00:00 +0000 A little Japanese practice

Top news article in Asahi Shimbun today:
総務省、速やかな公表求める　日本郵便、基準見直しへ　郵便物の不配
郵便物が捨てられたり放置されたりした事案の一部を日本郵便が公表していない問題で、総務省が4年前に指針を作り、不祥事の速やかな公表を同社に求めていることがわかった。しかし、同社は2021～24年に少なくとも約30件、計約4千通（個）分の事案を非公表にしていた。

My translation of the headline would be:
Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communication announcement demands rapid review of standard of Japan Post mail inconvenience

Google translate version is:
Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications requests prompt disclosure; Japan Post to revise standards regarding non-delivery of mail

  1. 総務省（そう　む　しょう）：Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications
  2. 速やか（すみやか）：quick, fast
  3. 公表（こうひょう）：official announcement
  4. 求める（もとめる）：request, want, require, demand
  5. 日本郵便（にほんゆうびん）：Japan Post
  6. 基準（きじゅん）：standard, benchmark
  7. 見直し（みなおし）：review
  8. 郵便物（ゆうびんぶつ）：mail
  9. 不便（ふべん）：inconvenience

Not sure of the benefit of translating a headline like this. Lots of Kanji and official words, very terse. Translating the inner text or a different type of article might be more useful....

]]>