11.14.2007
Chris convinced me to jump on the bandwagon, and I am pleasantly surprised. I will work harder trying to delete my mySpace account (it has evaded my previous attempts), and switch over completely. If anyone who is not related to me wants to add me as a friend, go ahead.
11.13.2007
Cardboard Boats!
We had a competition in MESA, and our boat won. But the newspaper article got the name of it wrong. I corrected them in a comment. Anyway, here it is. The picture to the left is not us, because the lazy people who had cameras will not send me photos.
A lot of people in our group (not to name names) are pretty cranky about the fact that our boat was misnamed. It is annoying, since she even spelled it out to confirm, when she asked me what it was called. So yeah. But I'm not bitter! It was an awesome competition.
10.18.2007
Robotic Cannon Loses Control, Kills 9
I just saw an this article on Slashdot, and I have to say I am staggered. In many school assignments, I have talked about how robotics could go wrong, and how it is dangerous to trust weaponry to a machine. I have always ended my discussions about this with some phrase like "In the future, our society will have to be careful to choose what we will and will not allow in robotics."
This is now, though. If one of the first, tiniest steps in the creation of true robots can go wrong this seriously, I have serious doubts that future development will be safe. Why should we trust researchers to keep their creations under control when something this simple can go so horribly wrong? And when will people realize our government is spending millions creating killing machines that could malfunction at any time?
This tragedy makes a strong case for a ban on weapon bearing robots of any kind. This may be an over-reaction, but is better to err on the side of safety rather than military might.
This is now, though. If one of the first, tiniest steps in the creation of true robots can go wrong this seriously, I have serious doubts that future development will be safe. Why should we trust researchers to keep their creations under control when something this simple can go so horribly wrong? And when will people realize our government is spending millions creating killing machines that could malfunction at any time?
This tragedy makes a strong case for a ban on weapon bearing robots of any kind. This may be an over-reaction, but is better to err on the side of safety rather than military might.
Gmail is Creepy
This is another of my writing pieces from last year.
Gmail is great for a lot of reasons. Unfortunately, it is also creepy. It has content-related-ads, which means that it scans your emails for keywords and chooses ads from a database that are related to what you are talking about. For example, I sent an email (just to test how far it would go) saying "My mom died. Would you please help plan the funeral?" and I got an ad that said "Bereavement packages: take advantage of airliner's policies!"
This, if my mother had actually died, would offend me. Some of the ads are OK, but when issues discussed become sensitive, I would rather not be bombarded with offensive offers. Perhaps Google should use less keywords, or deny some ads entry.
Gmail is great for a lot of reasons. Unfortunately, it is also creepy. It has content-related-ads, which means that it scans your emails for keywords and chooses ads from a database that are related to what you are talking about. For example, I sent an email (just to test how far it would go) saying "My mom died. Would you please help plan the funeral?" and I got an ad that said "Bereavement packages: take advantage of airliner's policies!"
This, if my mother had actually died, would offend me. Some of the ads are OK, but when issues discussed become sensitive, I would rather not be bombarded with offensive offers. Perhaps Google should use less keywords, or deny some ads entry.
Technology Ramblings
Ha ha, was I right or was I right? This is another of my writing pieces from last year, before Vista started forcing people to other operating systems. Fortunately, now we have better options besides Vista. Ubuntu's latest version is amazing, and will be easy for anyone to use.
As you may or may not know, Microsoft is developing the nexxt version of Windows, which will be released sometime next year. This is bad news for almost everyone.
The next version, called Vista, requires 1 gigabyte of RAM to run the full version. Almost no one has this. That means that people will be forced to buy new computers just to run basic programs. In a few years M$ (Microsoft) will drop backwards-compatibility, and all new programs will require Vista. So how does M$ get away with this?
By forcing people to buy new computers, M$ is doing hardware manufacturers a favor. The hardware manufacturers return the favor by not releasing drivers for their hardware, making other operating systems non-compatible with many computers, which gives M$ more business.
As you may or may not know, Microsoft is developing the nexxt version of Windows, which will be released sometime next year. This is bad news for almost everyone.
The next version, called Vista, requires 1 gigabyte of RAM to run the full version. Almost no one has this. That means that people will be forced to buy new computers just to run basic programs. In a few years M$ (Microsoft) will drop backwards-compatibility, and all new programs will require Vista. So how does M$ get away with this?
By forcing people to buy new computers, M$ is doing hardware manufacturers a favor. The hardware manufacturers return the favor by not releasing drivers for their hardware, making other operating systems non-compatible with many computers, which gives M$ more business.
A Natural Inclination Towards Order
This is another of my writing pieces from last year.
Recently, I have been reading a website which achieves humorous moments in IRC (a way for many people to chat online) history. One of the noticeable things (and I realize I use[d] that word way to much) was that the vast majority favored correct grammar and spelling.
This means that the original trend of the internet destroying traditional formatting is reversing. People are slowly realizing that grammar is designed to make reading easier on everyone. As a result, popular internet opinion now is saying that those who are rude (ie: make their comments hard to read) will be ostracized.
This rebirth of form indicates that proper syntax is not outdated; it is still relevant. today.
Around six months ago, I started to use correct spelling and punctuation in all my emails and IM conversations, and I will continues to do this. For all our sakes, lets home that others dos the same. It makes the online experience more enjoyable for all.
Recently, I have been reading a website which achieves humorous moments in IRC (a way for many people to chat online) history. One of the noticeable things (and I realize I use[d] that word way to much) was that the vast majority favored correct grammar and spelling.
This means that the original trend of the internet destroying traditional formatting is reversing. People are slowly realizing that grammar is designed to make reading easier on everyone. As a result, popular internet opinion now is saying that those who are rude (ie: make their comments hard to read) will be ostracized.
This rebirth of form indicates that proper syntax is not outdated; it is still relevant. today.
Around six months ago, I started to use correct spelling and punctuation in all my emails and IM conversations, and I will continues to do this. For all our sakes, lets home that others dos the same. It makes the online experience more enjoyable for all.
Reaction to the Movie 'V for Vendetta'
This is another of my writing pieces from last year.
Why do so many people not realize that this movie is an allegory to the US government? I read a critic's review of V for Vendetta, and he said it was hard to watch, because he kept getting bashed over the head with metaphors. I agree with this; metaphors were everywhere.
Why then, do so many people not understand this? It seems like people become aware of their government's actions around fifty years after they are completed. For example, nobody cared about Japanese Interment Camps till much to late to help.
Today, no one cares about Guantanamo Bay, etc... In fifty years it will be clear to everyone that the government does horrible things.
Why can't we realize what is happening immediately for once? Wake up people!
Why do so many people not realize that this movie is an allegory to the US government? I read a critic's review of V for Vendetta, and he said it was hard to watch, because he kept getting bashed over the head with metaphors. I agree with this; metaphors were everywhere.
Why then, do so many people not understand this? It seems like people become aware of their government's actions around fifty years after they are completed. For example, nobody cared about Japanese Interment Camps till much to late to help.
Today, no one cares about Guantanamo Bay, etc... In fifty years it will be clear to everyone that the government does horrible things.
Why can't we realize what is happening immediately for once? Wake up people!
Reaction to Mass Hysteria
This is the first in a series of entries I wrote for a class last year. The following was written shortly after the Virginia Tech shooting.
People are stupid. Every time something happens, they all over-react and make rules that are more hindrance than help.
Take, for example, locking classroom doors. This rule is designed to keep students sage, but it results in students having to jump up every tem minutes to let another student in.
If someone wants to kill students, for whatever reason, it will happen. There are so many ways, unfortunately, that it could happen that trying to compensate would be ridiculous. To account for this, schools make some random rule to make parents and the media happy. The result of this is that every time something happens somewhere, thousands of students are inconvenienced a little more. Every time, ti seems like this will be the last inconvenience, but then another thing happens, and we are pushed further towards total uselessness.
People are stupid. Every time something happens, they all over-react and make rules that are more hindrance than help.
Take, for example, locking classroom doors. This rule is designed to keep students sage, but it results in students having to jump up every tem minutes to let another student in.
If someone wants to kill students, for whatever reason, it will happen. There are so many ways, unfortunately, that it could happen that trying to compensate would be ridiculous. To account for this, schools make some random rule to make parents and the media happy. The result of this is that every time something happens somewhere, thousands of students are inconvenienced a little more. Every time, ti seems like this will be the last inconvenience, but then another thing happens, and we are pushed further towards total uselessness.
10.14.2007
10.04.2007
Artifical Neural Networks
Doing research for a school assignment just now, I found an article on Artificial Neural Networks.
An Artificial Neural Network is an attempt to simulate the human brain, and, when used with a process called Back Propagation is much better at identifying patterns than a computer built upon rules of logic. Back Propagation is a method in which the computer is given a large set of things to look for in an image, and then told to complete that command. At first, the results are random, because the sets are random, but when the results are processed, it can be determined which sets of points are significant to the task of the Neural Network. In this way, it is easy to correct the computer, so that in the next cycle, it focuses more on the important aspects of the images. Eventually, a clear definition of what to search for can be developed, and much more easily than it would be to do the same with a logical computer, creating strict laws for it to search for. Essentially, an Artificial Neural Network is capable of training itself.
I find this fascinating, and it seems like a much more feasible way to create an artificial intelligence than most. I highly encourage you to read the original article, which you can find here.
An Artificial Neural Network is an attempt to simulate the human brain, and, when used with a process called Back Propagation is much better at identifying patterns than a computer built upon rules of logic. Back Propagation is a method in which the computer is given a large set of things to look for in an image, and then told to complete that command. At first, the results are random, because the sets are random, but when the results are processed, it can be determined which sets of points are significant to the task of the Neural Network. In this way, it is easy to correct the computer, so that in the next cycle, it focuses more on the important aspects of the images. Eventually, a clear definition of what to search for can be developed, and much more easily than it would be to do the same with a logical computer, creating strict laws for it to search for. Essentially, an Artificial Neural Network is capable of training itself.
I find this fascinating, and it seems like a much more feasible way to create an artificial intelligence than most. I highly encourage you to read the original article, which you can find here.
9.13.2007
Applying for College
I have just begun the process of applying to colleges. I am most interested in Colorado School of Mines and the University of Colorado at Boulder, since they both have great engineering programs. I am not really thinking about the actual colleges right now though, I am thinking about applying to them.
The thing about the applications is that they seem to be inaccurate at the least. I know I would have a hard time judging a person based on their GPA and test scores. The essays are designed to get around this, but I don't think that works very well either. Not all schools require them (Not that I am disappointed by that. Thanks Mines.), so they can't be that important. Anyone can write a pretty essay if they are properly motivated, especially if they are getting help from family and school. Probably colleges are just playing the odds, selecting those who statistics have shown have the highest likely-hood of having a positive effect on their campus, but this only means that most people are not judged incorrectly.
The only thing left they base admittance on is the student's activities during high school, which is what I really want to talk about.
I have virtually no activities, since the only things I did were the things I was genuinely interested in, which didn't happen that often in my high-school. That however, is the key. The things I do, I do because I am genuinely interested in them. I joined my school's MESA (Math, Engineering and Science Association) because I love engineering challenges, and the projects we work on in that club are up my alley. I love being able to test my understanding of the rules of physics in a fun way.
I also went to Knowledge Bowl for a while, and only stopped because it was growing increasingly harder to make it home in time to be able to do my homework. I enjoyed that too, because of the way it can test your knowledge of science, and culture in general.
My final formal activity was volunteering for the library, working on the teen section of the website, and reviewing books.
Beyond these, I have no technical activities to speak of; no sports, no music, no drama, etc... There is nothing specific I can say I did.
Instead, I spent much of my high school life online. I love so many things about the internet. It is a place where anyone can make a name for himself, if he has good ideas. While many sites are troubled with irritating and ignorant people, there are some like Slashdot, where one can engage in highly intelligent conversations with others about civil liberties, science, and technology. That is the thing about the internet; if you want to learn something, or talk about something, there is someone out there who will teach you, or talk to you. In the history of humanity, there has been no other medium that offers you the ability to learn so quickly, about so many different topics.
It reminds me of my childhood, where I spent a few years home schooling. I was largely self-guided, and I was able to explore my interests freely, without worrying about sticking to standards. While some may see this as disaster, I consider the ability to follow your own interests a gift, and I believe if more people were allowed to do this, we would have a smarter, more engaged society.
The internet is an extension of this spirit of exploration. Sure, while some people choose to use it for trivial purposes, others make full use of it. I would like to consider myself one of these, and I believe that the time I have spent online in the past years has been beneficial to my intellect. So while I may regret my choices because they limit my appeal to colleges, I don't regret how I have spent my years. The internet is the new center of learning for the entire globe, and I am glad I have been a part of it.
The thing about the applications is that they seem to be inaccurate at the least. I know I would have a hard time judging a person based on their GPA and test scores. The essays are designed to get around this, but I don't think that works very well either. Not all schools require them (Not that I am disappointed by that. Thanks Mines.), so they can't be that important. Anyone can write a pretty essay if they are properly motivated, especially if they are getting help from family and school. Probably colleges are just playing the odds, selecting those who statistics have shown have the highest likely-hood of having a positive effect on their campus, but this only means that most people are not judged incorrectly.
The only thing left they base admittance on is the student's activities during high school, which is what I really want to talk about.
I have virtually no activities, since the only things I did were the things I was genuinely interested in, which didn't happen that often in my high-school. That however, is the key. The things I do, I do because I am genuinely interested in them. I joined my school's MESA (Math, Engineering and Science Association) because I love engineering challenges, and the projects we work on in that club are up my alley. I love being able to test my understanding of the rules of physics in a fun way.
I also went to Knowledge Bowl for a while, and only stopped because it was growing increasingly harder to make it home in time to be able to do my homework. I enjoyed that too, because of the way it can test your knowledge of science, and culture in general.
My final formal activity was volunteering for the library, working on the teen section of the website, and reviewing books.
Beyond these, I have no technical activities to speak of; no sports, no music, no drama, etc... There is nothing specific I can say I did.
Instead, I spent much of my high school life online. I love so many things about the internet. It is a place where anyone can make a name for himself, if he has good ideas. While many sites are troubled with irritating and ignorant people, there are some like Slashdot, where one can engage in highly intelligent conversations with others about civil liberties, science, and technology. That is the thing about the internet; if you want to learn something, or talk about something, there is someone out there who will teach you, or talk to you. In the history of humanity, there has been no other medium that offers you the ability to learn so quickly, about so many different topics.
It reminds me of my childhood, where I spent a few years home schooling. I was largely self-guided, and I was able to explore my interests freely, without worrying about sticking to standards. While some may see this as disaster, I consider the ability to follow your own interests a gift, and I believe if more people were allowed to do this, we would have a smarter, more engaged society.
The internet is an extension of this spirit of exploration. Sure, while some people choose to use it for trivial purposes, others make full use of it. I would like to consider myself one of these, and I believe that the time I have spent online in the past years has been beneficial to my intellect. So while I may regret my choices because they limit my appeal to colleges, I don't regret how I have spent my years. The internet is the new center of learning for the entire globe, and I am glad I have been a part of it.
9.06.2007
My New Blog
So I have decided to start a blog, which I will update whenever I have thoughts worth sharing, which is too say almost never. Hopefully with this update schedule, all of my posts will be worth reading. Coming up I will do a review of the new Inspiron 1720 I ordered, which will be here around the start of October.
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