Notes on data, nonprofits & the tools we build to make sense of them.

June 15, 2026 Reading the source — the circuitikz behind four schematics A follow-up that opens up the four circuits from the previous post and shows the circuitikz source for each — the RC low-pass filter, the series RLC, the inverting op-amp, and the full-wave bridge rectifier — line by line. tikz, circuitikz, electronics, haskell, hakyll, rendering June 14, 2026 A light wave from Maxwell's equations, rendered in pure TikZ Deriving the electromagnetic plane wave from Maxwell's equations, then drawing it with build-time TikZ — and the Haskell pipeline rebuild (lualatex + dvisvgm) that finally renders its transparency. tikz, rendering, haskell, hakyll, electromagnetism, physics June 14, 2026 Schematics that compile — circuit diagrams in pure TikZ Teaching the build-time TikZ pipeline to draw electrical schematics with circuitikz, demonstrated with four classic circuits — an RC filter, a series RLC, an inverting op-amp, and a full-wave bridge rectifier. tikz, circuitikz, electronics, haskell, hakyll, rendering January 16, 2026 Quantum Tunneling Workflow for Hydrogen Peroxide - PES Scans, kappa Corrections, and Instanton Integration An ACS-style, AI-authored workflow note that couples a relaxed PES scan with semiclassical tunneling corrections and an i-PI ring-polymer instanton sketch, including charts, tables, and runnable code. quantum chemistry, tunneling, kinetics, instanton, workflow, improved_tunnel January 16, 2026 From Mock to Reality - H2O2 Tunneling with Psi4 and Modern OptKing Constraints Follow-up workflow note documenting the transition from mock calculations to real Psi4 results, including fixes for modern OptKing constraint handling and symmetry issues. quantum chemistry, tunneling, kinetics, psi4, optking, improved_tunnel June 21, 2025 Visual Process Documentation - Measuring Efficiency Through Domain Crossing Analysis A simple methodology for documenting and measuring process efficiency by visualizing the movement between digital and physical work, with practical applications for office workflow optimization. process optimization, workflow analysis, digital transformation, office efficiency, documentation May 6, 2025 Building a Random Art Generator with the Met Museum API and a Serverless CORS Proxy Taking a break from science to explore art and technology with a web application that makes the Metropolitan Museum's collection accessible through a custom-built CORS proxy solution. art, web development, javascript, met museum, cors proxy, serverless May 4, 2025 Building a Serverless CORS Proxy with Vercel - Simplifying Cross-Origin Requests A practical exploration of building a serverless CORS proxy using Vercel's serverless functions, offering an elegant solution to the common cross-origin resource sharing challenges faced by frontend developers. cors proxy, serverless, vercel, javascript, web development May 3, 2025 Building a Spreadsheet-Based API Tool with Google Sheets How to leverage Google Sheets and Google Apps Script to create a powerful data retrieval system that connects to external APIs, demonstrating capabilities beyond what free Excel Online can offer. Google Apps Script, web app, ProPublica API, spreadsheet automation, Excel alternatives April 22, 2025 Fundamentals of Quantum Chemistry I (DRAFT) computational chemistry, particle in a box, harmonic oscillator, hydrogen atom, uncertainty principle April 20, 2025 Understanding the Virial Equation - A Systematic Taylor Expansion of the Ideal Gas Law An exploration of how the virial equation emerges as a Taylor expansion of the ideal gas law, providing a systematic way to account for molecular interactions in real gases. physical chemistry, thermodynamics, gas laws, virial equation, taylor expansion, compression factor April 20, 2025 Visualization of Compression Factor Behavior in Real Gases - A Virial Equation Approach A computational exploration of how compression factors vary with temperature and pressure for common gases, demonstrating the transition between attractive and repulsive molecular interaction regimes. computational chemistry, virial equation, compression factor, real gases, molecular interactions April 19, 2025 Determination of SI Units for Magnetic Interactions in Quantum Mechanical Calculations A systematic derivation of the SI units involved in magnetic interactions at the quantum level, focusing on the correct dimensional analysis of magnetic moments, fields, and coupling constants. quantum mechanics, electromagnetism, units, magnetic interaction, computational physics April 12, 2025 Automating IRS Form 990 Data Extraction - A Computational Approach to Nonprofit Financial Metrics A programmatic approach to extracting and analyzing financial metrics from IRS Form 990 filings, enabling the calculation of program efficiency and fundraising efficiency for United Way Worldwide across multiple years. nonprofit transparency, IRS Form 990, data extraction, computational methods, efficiency metrics April 8, 2025 Programmatic Retrieval of IRS Form 990 Data - A Browser Automation Approach A practical methodology for programmatically retrieving nonprofit financial data from Form 990 XML filings using browser automation techniques. nonprofit transparency, IRS Form 990, data retrieval, browser automation, Selenium, XML parsing April 5, 2025 Setting Up a Comprehensive Quantum Chemistry Environment on Linux A detailed guide for establishing a versatile computational chemistry environment on Linux systems with instructions for package installation, environment configuration, and remote access setup. computational chemistry, quantum chemistry, conda, psi4, python April 1, 2025 Mapping the IRS Form 990 Data Repository - A Computational Approach to Nonprofit Data Discovery A computational approach to mapping the structure of the IRS Form 990 data repository, identifying indices and file relationships to enable targeted retrieval of nonprofit financial data. nonprofit transparency, IRS Form 990, data mapping, computational methods, repository structure April 1, 2025 Computational Extraction of Financial Metrics from IRS Form 990 Data Using ProPublica's Nonprofit Explorer API A computational approach to extract financial metrics from IRS Form 990 filings using ProPublica's Nonprofit Explorer API, addressing challenges in data format variability and availability, with application to nonprofit evaluation. nonprofit transparency, IRS Form 990, data extraction, financial analysis, computational methods March 25, 2025 AI Assisted Computational Tools for TDDFT Analysis of Chromophores Supplemental Information A suite of Python-based computational tools for efficient geometry optimization, TD-DFT calculations, and spectral visualization of chromophores, providing a systematic approach to predicting electronic transitions and optical properties. computational chemistry, excited states, TD-DFT, chromophores, photochemistry March 25, 2025 AI Assisted Computational Tools for Time-Dependent Density Functional Theory Analysis of Chromophores A suite of Python-based computational tools for efficient geometry optimization, TD-DFT calculations, and spectral visualization of chromophores, providing a systematic approach to predicting electronic transitions and optical properties. computational chemistry, excited states, TD-DFT, chromophores, photochemistry March 22, 2025 Mathematical Frameworks and Basis Sets in Excited State Calculations A comprehensive explanation of the mathematical principles underlying excited state calculations, including TD-DFT, EOM-CCSD, ADC, and CASSCF methodologies, as well as detailed discussions on basis set selection, computational considerations, and practical applications. quantum chemistry, excited states, TD-DFT, EOM-CCSD, basis sets, ADC, CASSCF, benchmark studies March 21, 2025 Comparative Analysis of TD-DFT Functionals for Formaldehyde Excited States A systematic comparison of different DFT functionals for predicting formaldehyde excited states, revealing significant variations in excitation energies and oscillator strengths across methods. computational chemistry, excited states, TD-DFT, formaldehyde, photochemistry March 19, 2025 Modern DNS Analysis on macOS - Beyond nslookup A comparative analysis of traditional and modern DNS query tools on macOS, with practical examples and insights for network administrators and security professionals. networking, dns, macos, dig, nslookup March 19, 2025 AI-Powered Non-Profit Transparency - Comparing Modern Tools for Financial Analysis A comparative analysis of AI search tools in extracting and analyzing non-profit financial data, with practical applications for donors and stakeholders seeking transparency. non-profits, financial-transparency, AI-tools, Form-990, ProPublica March 1, 2025 PowerShell Command Line Fundamentals - A Structured Learning Approach A methodical introduction to PowerShell fundamentals with structured experimental procedures and evaluation of command functionality. powershell, scripting, windows, automation, beginner February 28, 2025 Polarizability Trends in Carbon-Chalcogen Diatomic Molecules - A Computational Study A systematic computational investigation of polarizability in diatomic molecules formed between carbon and Group 16 (O, S, Se, Te) elements, with analysis of geometry-optimized structures and higher-order electronic properties. quantum chemistry, polarizability, computational chemistry, psi4, carbon, chalcogens February 27, 2025 Polarizability Trends in Group 14-16 Heteronuclear Molecules - A Computational Study A systematic computational investigation of polarizability trends in diatomic molecules formed between Group 14 (C, Si, Ge, Sn, Pb) and Group 16 (O, S, Se, Te) elements, showcasing the power of automation and open-source computational chemistry tools. quantum chemistry, polarizability, computational chemistry, psi4, heteronuclear molecules February 25, 2025 Mathematical Framework for Hyperpolarizability Calculations A detailed explanation of the mathematical principles underlying hyperpolarizability calculations quantum chemistry, hyperpolarizability, computational chemistry, theoretical physics February 25, 2025 Quantum Chemical Calculations of Hyperpolarizability - Setup and Initial Results A detailed walkthrough of setting up computational environment for calculating hyperpolarizabilities of Group 4A elements quantum chemistry, hyperpolarizability, computational chemistry, psi4 February 25, 2025 Calculating Atomic Polarizabilities of Group 14 Elements Using Psi4 - A Finite Field Approach An experimental study calculating polarizabilities of Group 14 elements using Psi4's finite field method, with results for C, Si, and Ge, and insights into limitations for heavier elements. quantum chemistry, hyperpolarizability, computational chemistry, psi4 February 19, 2025 Network Path Analysis - Evolving Network Diagnostics for the Modern Security Landscape networking, laboratory, ping, traceroute February 18, 2025 Network Path Analysis - Evaluating Diagnostic Tools in Security-Hardened Modern Networks A modern networking laboratory exercise for Mac users exploring ICMP protocols and network diagnostics networking, laboratory, ping, traceroute January 27, 2025 Unraveling Radioactive Decay - A Journey Through Half-Lives chemistry, radiochemistry, nuclear chemistry, mathematics, half-life January 22, 2025 Big-O Analysis of an Algorithm Segment mathematics, computer science, algorithms, big-O notation, time complexity January 22, 2025 Deriving the Inverse of a 2x2 Matrix mathematics, linear algebra, matrices, matrix inverse January 22, 2025 No Integer Solutions for 2x² + 5y² = 14 mathematics, number theory, Diophantine equations, proof by cases January 22, 2025 Proving the Irrationality of ∛2 mathematics, proof by contradiction, irrational numbers, number theory January 22, 2025 Tiling a 10x10 Checkerboard with Straight Tetrominoes - An Impossibility Proof mathematics, tiling, tetrominoes, combinatorics, proof by coloring January 22, 2025 No Small Perfect Cubes as Sums of Two Cubes mathematics, number theory, perfect cubes, Fermat's Last Theorem January 22, 2025 Proving the Inequality n² + 1 ≥ 2ⁿ for n = 1, 2, 3, and 4 mathematics, inequalities, proof January 20, 2025 Chemical Kinetics of H₂O₂ chemistry, mathematics