Horoscopes

So, I read the horoscopes, not because I think they're valid or anything, but because the grains of truth in human superstition fascinate me. Most of the time I find that they're off the mark by a long shot, or just vague enough that they could really mean anything. Today? Spot on:

This is probably going to shape up to be a busy and rather chaotic day. You might find yourself spending a lot of time out and about, dear Taurus. You may need to run a lot of errands and see a number of people. A female friend might accompany you. Phone calls might need to be made in order to make arrangements for future events, and someone might take up too much of your time calling to chat. Pace yourself!

Today begins my weekend trip to PA, where I'm going to see Louis and Jesse and maybe meet her sister. On the way up I'm stopping by to see Anastasiya, and I'm probably going to stop by home to grab mail on the way back. i will be travelling with my long-time ladyfriend, Leslie. Yesterday, I talked to everyone involved in what resulted in several hours of phone calls and text messaging. I still plan on calling at least Louis and Anastasiya to verify details. And last night? I got a call from a friend who needed to vent around midnight, and had to cut it short lest I not sleep before all my traveling today.

I am amused.

We Have The Technology

The first Bionic Man.

For The Swarm

Self-learning and adaptability will be the key to success, and this is where the Creativity Machine excels. Give it any set of robotic limbs and it will master locomotion within minutes without any programming, swiftly finding the most efficient way of moving toward a goal. It will spontaneously develop new gaits for new challenges. (Thaler recounts how a virtual robotic cockroach adopted a two-legged gait and ran on its hind legs, not unlike basilisk lizards, when it needed to move faster.)

Robots are interesting things. AI is an interesting thing. AI Robots are interesting, and almost frightening.

Thaler declined to describe his results in detail, but said his system has produced unspecified "humanlike capabilities." "I can relate the results of virtual-reality simulations, where swarms of Creativity Machine-based robots have deliberatively sacrificed one of their kind to distract a human guard, enabling the remainder to infiltrate a mock facility," he said.

Better advice, generally, than my flippant link would suggest.

And wear your foil helmet.

(no subject)

And in the same vein as that foil helmet of yours, More Advice that's probably more useful than I make it sound.