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| Notice: GeekPress is back up and running, thanks to Paul! It's still a not-so-serious tech news blog, but the format is significantly looser. Diana, having given up programming for philosophy, has her own philosophical blog NoodleFood. More of her work can be found at DianaHsieh.com. |
| GeekPress Returns! |
| 11:37:00 am mdt / 9 July 2000 found by diana / filed in geekpress / source GeekPress 9 hits / 1 comment / 0 e-mails |
| We're baaaack! Paul and I just returned from vacation. We spent a week in Vancouver at the summer seminar of The Objectivist Center. This year was particularly exciting and stressful, as I gave a lecture on moral habits. (The lecture was, much to my delight, very popular, so I hope it will be out on audio tape at some point soon. A paper version is also in the works.) |
| Given how exhausting the seminar was, Paul and I need a real vacation now! |
| read 1 comment |
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| Swarm Secrets |
| 11:42:21 am mdt / 9 July 2000 found by paul / filed in science / source Nature 32 hits / 0 comments / 0 e-mails |
| Researchers in New Mexico have developed a way to solve computationally difficult problems (such as the "travelling salesman problem") by emulating ant colonies. Their "Ant Colony Optimization (ACO) algorithm" is one example of a broader approach known as Swarm Intelligence, which solves problems by breaking them up into pieces to be tackled by multiple small simple agents. |
| The article also points out that these algorithms would be especially well suited for nanotechnology, coordinating the collective action of future nanobots. Another question I had (not discussed in the article) would be whether these algorithms would also be well-suited for quantum computers. |
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| A Binge on Music at State U. |
| 11:53:48 am mdt / 9 July 2000 found by diana / filed in digital media / source NY Times 28 hits / 1 comment / 0 e-mails |
| Students argue that they have been coerced into downloading music through Napster by the high-bandwith connections provided by the universities and the fact that CDs cost money. |
| There are some interesting and plausible arguments for Napster use, but these are worse than lame and stupid. |
| read 1 comment |
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| Now, Companies Can Track Down Their Cyber-Critics |
| 12:08:02 pm mdt / 9 July 2000 found by paul / filed in business / source Business Week 53 hits / 0 comments / 0 e-mails |
| From the article: "A new service allows corporate spinmeisters to retaliate against outspoken citizens with 'reeducation' efforts -- or worse." |
| Scary! |
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| Russians Step on the Gas with Motorized Boots |
| 12:47:55 pm mdt / 9 July 2000 found by paul / filed in inventions / source Fox News 28 hits / 0 comments / 0 e-mails |
| Russian engineers have invented motorized boots that propel the wearer 13 feet with each step. Gasoline-powered pistons within each boot propel the user each time he takes a step, syncronized to his stride. |
| Cool! However, I wonder how long it takes to become proficient with the system. I'd hate to twist my ankle after my first 13-foot step. |
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