by jsendak | Nov 6, 2025 | Art
The Art of David Hockney: A Celestial Tribute
In the realm of contemporary art, few names shine as brightly as David Hockney. Known for his vibrant colors, bold compositions, and unique perspective on the world around him, Hockney has captured the imaginations of art enthusiasts for decades. From his iconic swimming pool paintings of the 1960s to his more recent digital works, Hockney’s artistry knows no bounds.
As we look to the stars tonight, we are reminded of Hockney’s monumental impact on the art world. In a tribute to his legacy, some of his most famous works will be projected into the night sky above his hometown of Bradford. This celestial display serves as a testament to Hockney’s enduring influence and the timeless beauty of his creations.
A Legacy Written in the Stars
Throughout history, artists have sought inspiration from the heavens above. From the celestial maps of ancient civilizations to the cosmic motifs of the Renaissance, the night sky has long been a source of wonder and creativity. In honoring Hockney’s art in this celestial tribute, we pay homage to this rich tradition of artists finding inspiration in the stars.
Just as Vincent van Gogh found solace in the swirling night sky of “Starry Night” and Georgia O’Keeffe sought inspiration in the vast expanses of the desert sky, so too does Hockney’s work resonate with the cosmic beauty of the universe. By projecting his art into the night sky, we bring his vision full circle, connecting his earthly creations to the infinite expanse above.
Celebrating Creativity in Every Form
Art knows no boundaries, transcending time and space to touch the hearts and minds of all who encounter it. Whether through paint on canvas, pixels on a screen, or stars in the sky, creativity finds a way to shine brightly in the world. As we gaze upon Hockney’s artistry in the night sky, let us be reminded of the boundless beauty that exists in the realm of human imagination.
Join us tonight as we celebrate the art of David Hockney in a unique and awe-inspiring display. Look up, and be transported to a world where creativity knows no limits, and the stars themselves pay tribute to the genius of one of the greatest artists of our time.
Some of David Hockney’s most famous works will appear in the night sky above the artist’s hometown of Bradford
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by jsendak | Nov 6, 2025 | DS Articles
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Day 6 of 30DayMapChallenge: « Dimensions » (previously).
According to Wikipedia, Uniform manifold approximation and projection (UMAP) is a nonlinear dimensionality reduction technique
. It will allow us to project many dimensions (well, only 3 in this example) onto a 2D plane.
library(sf)
library(umap)
library(dplyr)
library(tidyr)
library(ggplot2)
library(ggrepel)
library(glue)
options(scipen = 100)
Data
We’ll use the french communes (get the data from this post).
com <- read_sf("~/data/adminexpress/adminexpress_cog_simpl_000_2022.gpkg",
layer = "commune") |>
st_centroid() |>
mutate(x = st_coordinates(geom)[, 1],
y = st_coordinates(geom)[, 2])
UMAP
The dimensions taken into account are: location (x, y) and population. These variables should be scaled but the result is prettier without scaling…
umaps_params <- umap.defaults
umaps_params$random_state <- 20251106
com_umap <- com |>
st_drop_geometry() |>
select(x, y, population) |>
# scale() |>
umap(config = umaps_params)
res <- com_umap$layout |>
as_tibble(.name_repair = "universal") |>
bind_cols(com) |>
rename(UMAP1 = 1,
UMAP2 = 2)
Map
res |>
ggplot(aes(UMAP1, UMAP2, color = population)) +
geom_point() +
geom_text_repel(data = filter(res,
statut %in% c("Préfecture",
"Préfecture de région",
"Capitale d'état")),
aes(label = nom),
size = 3, force = .5, force_pull = 0.5, max.overlaps = 1e6,
bg.colour = "#ffffffaa", bg.r = .2, alpha = .6) +
scale_color_viridis_c(trans = "log1p", option = "H",
breaks = c(1000, 50000, 500000, 2000000)) +
coord_equal() +
labs(title = "Uniform manifold approximation and projection of french communes",
subtitle = "by location and population",
caption = glue("https://r.iresmi.net/ - {Sys.Date()}
data from IGN Adminexpress 2022")) +
theme_minimal() +
theme(plot.caption = element_text(size = 6,
color = "darkgrey"))
Continue reading: Dimension reduction
Long-Term Implications and Possible Developments of Applying UMAP
The article details the application of Uniform Manifold Approximation and Projection (UMAP), a nonlinear dimensionality reduction technique, to project dimensions onto a two-dimensional plane. In this case, it’s utilized to represent the french communes based on location and population.
The potential implications of effectively implementing and furthering the development of techniques like UMAP are wide-reaching.
Advanced Data Visualization and Analysis
With UMAP, visualizing complex, high-dimensional data becomes easier and more intuitive. Analysts can understand intricate relationships between different parameters more effectively. Future developments might lead to more powerful dimensionality reduction techniques, enabling easier interpretation of even higher-dimensionality datasets.
Improved Efficiency
Reducing dimensionality usually speeds up computation without losing too much information, which can be a significant advantage when dealing with particularly large datasets. The continual amelioration of algorithms like UMAP could lead to even more efficient data processing algorithms in the future.
Enhanced Machine Learning Models
Dimensionality reduction is crucial in many machine learning applications as it can help to mitigate the curse of dimensionality and reduce overfitting. Therefore, improvements in this field can lead to more accurate and reliable machine learning models.
Actionable Advice
The application of UMAP or similar dimensionality reduction techniques could be beneficial for any business or researcher dealing with large, complex datasets. However, it’s crucial to understand where and how to use these tools effectively.
- Upskill in data analysis techniques: The R programming language offers a wealth of packages and functions, such as UMAP, which can be beneficial for data analysis. Learning to work with these advanced tools would be a profitable upskill move for any data scientist or analyst.
- Apply dimensionality reduction thoughtfully: While dimensionality reduction can be beneficial to simplify data analysis and visualizations, it should be used judiciously. It is important to understand that some data loss happens during the dimensionality reduction process. It’s crucial to ensure that the resulting model retains the essential features that will give the most accurate outcomes.
- Keep up with latest developments: The field of data science is rapidly evolving, with new methods and tools developing constantly. Keep up-to-date with the latest research – tomorrow’s groundbreaking technique could be just around the corner.
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by jsendak | Nov 6, 2025 | DS Articles
Learn how developers and data scientists use SerpApi to automate real-time search data collection for AI model training and analytics workflows.
Analyzing the Key Points of Real-time Search Data Collection
SerpApi is a tool that helps developers and data scientists automate the process of real-time search data collection. This tool is especially geared towards AI model training and analytics workflows. Considering this information, let’s evaluate the long-term implications and possible future developments.
Long-term Implications and Possible Future Developments
The emergence of services like SerpApi is indicative of the increasing reliance on machine learning technologies in the field of data analysis. Over the long term, the automation of search data collection would significantly enhance efficiency in these processes, allowing for more accurate and rapid insights.
The future of real-time data collection services like SerpApi appears bright. As more businesses adopt AI-based technologies for operational efficiency, the demand for similar services is poised to rise. Furthermore, with future advances in AI and machine learning, these search data collection tools may become even more efficient and sophisticated.
Actionable Advice
Based on these insights, it is prudent for businesses and individuals in the field of data science or AI development to familiarize themselves with services like SerpApi. Below is some actionable advice:
- Educate Yourself and Your Team: Ensure that your team is proficient in AI model training and analytics workflows. Additionally, familiarize yourselves with tools like SerpApi to navigate the shift towards automated real-time search data collection.
- Invest in Automation: Businesses should consider investing in machine learning technologies. These solutions streamline operations, reduce task redundancy, and ultimately improve efficiency and decision-making.
- Stay Informed: The field of AI and machine learning is perpetually evolving. It is important to stay up-to-date with the latest developments. This will not only provide competitive advantage, but also facilitate better decision-making strategies in the long run.
By leveraging tools such as SerpApi, you can streamline your data analysis processes, derive insights faster, and ultimately drive your business forward in the AI-driven world of tomorrow.
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by jsendak | Nov 6, 2025 | DS Articles
Discover the hidden price of not being AI-ready. Learn how enterprise legacy data warehouses accumulate technical debt, and calculate the true Total Cost of Inaction.
Exploring The Financial Implications of Not Being AI-Ready
As technology advances at an unprecedented pace, businesses clinging to outdated systems, such as enterprise legacy data warehouses, are finding themselves at a significant disadvantage. More importantly, their decision to delay digital transformation is accumulating invisible costs or ‘technical debt.’ Understanding and calculating these costs is critical in assessing the Total Cost of Inaction.
The Cost of Technical Debt
Technical debt is not necessarily a result of poor decisions or mistakes. It is often an unintended consequence of prioritizing quick solutions over long-term planning. However, as short-term fixes pile up, systems become increasingly complex, outdated, and difficult to maintain, resulting in a larger than anticipated expenditure over time.
The rising technical debt due to legacy systems
Legacy data warehouses were once a workhorse of data analytics. But as data volumes ramp up, these systems become a bottleneck, unable to keep up with scale-up requirements and newer, faster technologies. A company’s inability to leverage data effectively causes not only operational inefficiencies but also negative impacts on decision-making processes.
Calculating the Total Cost of Inaction
Placing an explicit value on the cost of not upgrading to AI-ready systems can be challenging, but it is necessary for a comprehensive financial and strategic analysis. Factors to consider while calculating the Total Cost of Inaction include:
- Cost of lost business opportunities: Opportunities missed through inefficiency or due to the inability to leverage data to drive insights and actions.
- Operational costs: The costs to maintain and repair outdated systems which tend to require more resources and time.
- Compliance costs: Higher costs of compliance when dealing with systems that do not meet modern security standards.
Future Implications and Development
As businesses increasingly adopt AI and machine learning tools, the technological gap between AI-ready and non-AI companies will widen. Companies with AI-ready systems are likely to enjoy greater operational efficiency, better data-driven decision making and a stronger competitive advantage. From a broader perspective, the lack of readiness may even affect the company’s position in the market, its credibility, and potential for growth.
Actionable Recommendations
Organizations should consider the following steps to mitigate technical debt and navigate the path towards becoming AI-ready:
- Invest in upgrading systems: Seek out modern, scalable solutions designed with artificial intelligence capabilities in mind.
- Train staff: Invest in training employees to manage and leverage new technologies effectively.
- Align technology with the business strategy: Ensure the technology strategy aligns with broader business objectives and growing customer needs.
It is important to view the transition towards being AI-ready not as a cost, but as an investment towards future-proofing the organization for the emerging digital world.
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by jsendak | Nov 6, 2025 | Namecheap
Analytical Lead-in: Navigate the Shifting Landscape of EU Customs and VAT Regulations E-commerce brands face a new horizon
As the sun rises on a new era of online retail, the shadows cast by impending regulatory changes grow longer and more complex. The European Union, a tapestry of diverse economies intertwined through intricate laws, is once again refining its tapestry – this time with substantive alterations to customs and value-added tax (VAT) regulations that promise to transform the very fabric of e-commerce operations. These reforms, braced to unfurl progressively towards the 2025 horizon, are not merely procedural tweaks but a paradigm shift, demanding adaptation and foresight from every e-commerce entity within its purview. This article serves as both a map through the labyrinth of upcoming changes and a guide to harnessing these shifts as catalysts for growth and competitiveness.
Understanding the Implications of EU Customs and VAT Reforms
In the ensuing paragraphs, we will dissect the anatomy of these reforms, illuminating their potential impacts on cross-border transactions and the responsibilities newly placed upon e-commerce businesses. The impending changes to European customs and VAT will indeed be extensive, affecting everything from product classifications to the very thresholds that trigger tax liabilities.
- Adjustments to Classification Systems: Harmonized System (HS) codes stand as the universal language of global trade, but with amendments looming, e-commerce operators must become fluent in the nuances of these changes.
- New VAT Collection Mechanisms: A more unified approach to VAT promises to streamline the process but also demands meticulous attention to compliance across various transaction scenarios.
- Heightened Enforcement Measures: With new rules, come new oversight methods. E-commerce brands must anticipate rigorous scrutiny and develop robust systems to satisfy regulatory authorities.
Adapting Your Brand to Thrive Amid Regulatory Evolution
Mere compliance is the baseline; the true measure of success in the wake of these changes lies in a brand’s ability to adapt its business model to leverage the new rules to its advantage. We will explore strategies to ensure your brand not only meets the new standards but does so in a way that enhances its competitive edge.
- Analyze your supply chain for vulnerabilities and opportunities presented by the upcoming customs and VAT adjustments.
- Invest in technology and training to ensure that your e-commerce infrastructure and team are prepared for the digital demands of the new regulatory environment.
- Proactively engage with legal experts and industry bodies to stay ahead of interpretations and applications of the new rules.
Conclusion: Preemptive Action for Seamless Transition
While change may be the only constant in the realm of international commerce, businesses that embrace the evolutionary nature of global trade position themselves at the forefront of innovation and success. The article that follows is more than an exploration of legal shifts—it’s a call to action for e-commerce brands to reinvent themselves within Europe’s changing landscape.
Prepare to dive deep into this critical discourse, where a thorough understanding of what lies ahead is not just for survival—it’s for thriving in an environment that favors the prepared, the agile, and the compliant.
Learn how new EU customs rules and VAT reforms taking effect through 2025 will transform e-commerce operations — and how your brand can stay compliant and competitive.
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