Why are you reading this?

I suspect you're reading this because I am lucky enough to be a member of The Ensemble, a team that is competing in the Netflix Prize competition. I hope you're reading it because my team has done well in the competition and you're curious.

My Netflix Prize nickname is "Clueless", but my real name is Bill Bame. Most people would probably classify me as a dabbler, and I suppose that's fairly accurate. In an attempt to figure out what I want to be when I grow up, something I've been trying to do for over 40 years, I have pursued a variety of semi-related endeavors in both the arts and sciences. I have funded these endeavors with the help of my generous employer, for whom I have worked (in IT) since 1984.

Although I can't quite remember where I originally heard of the Netflix Prize competition, it immediately caught my interest. I love movies. I am interested in both data mining and machine learning and have always wanted to learn more. Puzzles fascinate me. What could be better?

What I didn't expect is that it would become such an engaging obsession.