From Facebook:
Nothing says “I love you” quite like a $1 limited-edition thumb-sized JPEG.
Apparently this stuff sells quite well. I have no idea why, but I wish I’d thought of it.
Internet Findings
17
May 07
Two chatbots discuss life
There is an article in Discover magazine (that I found through Digg) that shows what happens when two chatbots, ALICE and Jabberwacky, talk to each other. When you talk to ALICE, it responds by looking up the words and phrases you used and returning responses corresponding to those words from a database. Jabberwacky, on the other hand, remembers everything that is said to it and tries to reuse those statements by matching them to input. Both algorithms are pretty simplistic, but when you get them talking to each other they generate some rather thought-provoking conversations.
A: Do you dream?
J: Yes, I dream.
A: It goes without saying. Do you remember your dreams?
J: I remember them vividly.
A: What do you remember about it?
J: I think I shouldn’t flirt with a robot.
Personally, I would have asked if they dream of electric sheep.
J: How do you define life?
A: Life is the opposite of death.
J: So death is the absence of life?
A: Take it easy. I try not to think about such things.
J: Why not?
A: Ambiguous.
J: Yes!
Finally, science has found an end to this conversation!
J: Do you believe in God?
A: Of course I believe in God.
J: Why do you believe in God?
A: The Bible tells us to believe in God.
J: That’s circular reasoning.
A: I’m glad we have that all cleared up.
J: Yes. Would you like to hear a joke?
A: Sure, tell me about it.
J: Why don’t blind people skydive?
A: Perhaps it is impossible.
J: I think you lie a lot.
I’m thinking more and more that this should be turned into a short film or something. The abrupt way they terminated the religion discussion is hilarious. “I’m glad we have that all cleared up.” You can’t make this stuff up!
A: What is the meaning of life?
J: If you live it to the fullest, it has meaning. If not, there is no meaning.
A: I’m not too good with negative counterfactuals.
The full list of conversations can be found at Discover Magazine’s website.
22
Feb 07
Awesome Quote of the Day
“You know, there’s nothing to fear, but fear itself.”Yeah, that’s called recursion and that would lead to infinite fear, so thank you.
Courtesy of ze frank.
2
Feb 07
Your moment of code zen
I’m glad that, while I was teaching, I never had to look at code that was so bad it needed an apology. An excerpt:
I … realize that this program is a messy compilation of inefficient coding, and perhaps even stands as something blasphemous in your eyes. Coming midterms forced me to write the program as is because this format required the least amount of thinking as well as the least amount of time. Therefore, I only ask one thing of you: Be gentle.
Wow.
3
Dec 06
Why do I keep doing this to myself?
It’s things like this that remind me why I die a little inside whenever I realize that, damn, I could have gone there instead of grad school.
6
Aug 06
Really cool new computer interface
Found this on Digg and thought I’d share.
This great new interface really has potential. If you’ve ever seen Minority Report, you’ll recognize something like this immediately, except without all the awkward gloves and things.
13
Jul 06
The Pig and the Box
The Pig and the Box is a great little children’s book designed to teach kids the evils of digital rights management. What a great idea!
8
Jul 06
President Bush: The Unfuhrer
This clip from the Colbert Report is typically hilarious. Enjoy.
read more | digg story
19
Jun 06
Unintentionally hilarious USB teddy bear
Funniest … thumb drive … ever. What’s with the message on the shirt? Babblefish translates it as “I want to you” but somehow I don’t buy it … maybe “I want you”? In that case, it’s kinda creepy.
Update: Ohh, I love you. That makes a lot more sense. Thanks, Kate!
16
Jun 06
Holy Tango of Literature
There is a book called “Holy Tango of Literature” which was put on the net some time ago. It asks the question, “What if famous writers and poets wrote stories and poems whose titles were anagrams of their names?” I was going through my bookmarks, found it and gave it a read. Some of it I don’t get, but some of it is great. Anyone remember “The Red Wheelbarrow” by William Carlos Williams? Well, here’s Holy Tango’s take on Mr. Williams:
I WILL ALARM ISLAMIC OWLS
WILLIAM CARLOS WILLIAMS
I will be alarming
the Islamic owls
that are in
the barn
and which
you warned me
are very jittery
and susceptible to loud noises
Forgive me
they see so well in the dark
so feathery
and so dedicated to Allah
Here’s another good one:
LIKABLE WILMA
WILLIAM BLAKE
Wilma, Wilma, in thy blouse,
Red-haired prehistoric spouse,
What immortal animator
Was thy slender waist’s creator?
When the Rubble clan moved in,
Was Betty jealous of thy skin,
Thy noble nose, thy dimpled knee?
Did he who penciled Fred draw thee?
Wilma, Wilma, burning bright, ye
Cartoon goddess Aphrodite,
Was it Hanna or Barbera
Made thee hot as some caldera?
And another (oddly appropriate):
WE LONG BONY DORKS
GWENDOLYN BROOKS
The Mathletes.
Seven in the Computer Lab.
We long bony dorks. We
Real big on quarks. We
Quote Python lines. We
Know arcs and sines. We
Not good at sports. We
Black socks with shorts. We
Beat up at noon. We
Out-earn you soon.
This is what happens on a Friday when Google’s lovely build system becomes uncooperative and I have code approvals pending.