Sets and Puzzles
I'm starting to even breathe and think SQL. Here's a rundown of some of the things I'm doing with it outside of work:
- Use a variation of graphs-and-sets theory to solve all potential Checkers games. I input the game as it stands, it tells me exactly what to do to win as the game progresses.
- Come up with a data warehouse for contact information, friends, their interests, birthdays, books, movies, you name it. Use it to suggest birthday presents for friends, remind me of upcoming events, even figure who knows who...and from that, who should be introduced to one another.
- Solve differential equations. In this first example, 15 different inputs of statistics and how they correlate to housing prices over the last 20 years or so. I'll be matching it with the actual trends to see how to modify the specs over time.
- Email and contact statistics. Automatically remind me to keep in touch with people over time.
The irony is that a lot of this involves challenges that don't necessarily have anything to do with databases. That's just where I'm running it because it keeps my skills sharp. Plus, when you're best at using a hammer, everything looks like a nail. D'oh.