littlepaints:

me as a ghost

yungbasedblogger:

if u ever feel ignored just remember will smith has a 21 year old son called trey smith

animatedtext:

requested

Logan’s life is changed when he surrenders an ankh found on a particular runner. Instead being asked to identify, the central computer merely stays quiet a long while as it scans the objects. Then its lights shut off, and Logan has a discussion with the computer he has never had before.

The computer asks him to “approach and identify.” The computer gives him, by name, explicit instructions to sit facing the screen. Lights below the seat illuminate. He identifies in this chair by positioning his lifeclock in a recess in the chair’s arm, and a light above him illuminates. Then a conversation ensues between Logan and the computer.

The computer communicates through a combination of voice and screen, on which it shows blue text and occasional illustrative shapes. The computer’s voice is emotionless and soothing. For the most part it speaks in complete sentences. In contrast, Logan’s responses are stilted and constrained, saying “negative” instead of “no,” and prefacing all questions with the word, “Question,” as in, “Question: What is it?”

On the one hand it’s linguistically sophisticated

Speech recognition and generation would not have a commercially released product for four years after the release of Logan’s Run, but there is an odd inconsistency here even for those unfamiliar with the actual constraints of the technology. The computer is sophisticated enough to generate speech with demonstrative pronouns, referring to the picture of the ankh as “this object” and the label as “that is the name of the object.” It can even communicate with pragmatic meaning. When Logan says,

“Question: Nobody reached renewal,”

…and receives nothing but silence, the computer doesn’t object to the fact that his question is not a question. It infers the most reasonable interpretation, as we see when Logan is cut off during his following objection by the computer’s saying,…

“The question has been answered.”

Despite these linguistic sophistications, it cannot parse anything but the most awkwardly structured inputs? Sadly, this is just an introduction to the silliness that is this interface.

Logan undergoes procedure “03-033,” in which his lifeclock is artificially set to blinking. He is then instructed to become a runner himself and discover where “sanctuary” is. After his adventure in the outside performing the assignment he was forced to accept, he is brought in as a prisoner. The computer traps him in a ring of bars demanding to know the location of sanctuary. Logan reports (correctly) that Santuary doesn’t exist.

On the other hand, it explodes

This freaks the computer out. Seriously. Now, the crazy thing is that the computer actually understands Logan’s answer, because it comments on it. It says, “Unacceptable. The answer does not program [sic].” That means that it’s not a data-type error, as if it got the wrong kind of input. No, the thing heard what Logan was saying. It’s just unsatisfied, and the programmer decided that the best response to dissatisfaction was to engage the heretofore unused red and green pixels in the display, randomly delete letters from the text—and explode.That’s right. He decided that in addition to the Dissatisfaction() subroutine calling the FreakOut(Seriously) subroutine, the FreakOut(Seriously) subroutine in its turn calls Explode(Yourself), Release(The Prisoner), and the WhileYoureAtItRuinAllStructuralIntegrityoftheSurroundingArcitecture() subroutines.

Frankly, if this is the kind of coding that this entire society was built upon, this whole social collapse thing was less deep commentary and really just a matter of computer Darwinism catching up with them.

Matt Damon and Ben Affleck are getting back together to produce a comic book centered around a man who can absorb and pass along pain and his job as a sleeper agent hidden in a massive system of organized crime. It's a little noir with a whole lotta violence, titled Sleeper.

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Concept art of Nabooru from Zelda (As Iron Knuckle)

Hello,

I discovered your blog today and really enjoyed it. The often narrow perception of female characters in games is a great inspiration for working in this industry. I hope it continues to get better and I’m sure it will if these issues are continually vocalised by people like you.

I recently painted this concept of Nabooru from Zelda as she falls from her Iron Knuckle armour in the Spirit Temple of Ocarina of Time, I hope the armour is reasonable enough! I’ll be fixing things in future if I see anything ridiculous (of which there is a lot) and I hope to be a regular contributor here - I might take on the challenge of painting Quiet the sniper from MGS..

Thanks for your time and keep up the great work!

Laura H,

Junior 3D Environment Artist - Ubisoft Reflections - Newcastle UK

Original Source

Mmmmmm... fiber.

Tanya Patrice

Slow Internet speeds and a lack of competitive pressure on Internet providers is a fact of life in communities throughout America. We've seen that competition can make a difference, notably with the entry of Google Fiber in certain markets, forcing incumbents to offer faster speeds and better deals.

But Google, or any single entity, can't be expected to upgrade the entire country to fiber. Even in Kansas City, the first Google Fiber location, the service still isn't available to everyone. So the leaders of at least a couple of cities are trying to take matters into their own hands and use whatever leverage they have to lure a new Internet service provider or convince an existing one to get on the fiber train.

"We've gone through the rounds of applying for Google Fiber," Ted Smith, director of economic growth and innovation in Louisville, Kentucky, told Ars, but his town didn't get the nod.Louisville government officials believe, as many other municipal officials in US cities do, that fiber networks are crucial for attracting and retaining businesses, which increasingly need copious amounts of bandwidth to remain competitive. Fiber can also save residents from the frustration of slow cable and DSL speeds.

Read 32 remaining paragraphs | Comments

On Nov. 6, believers and non-believers couldn’t help but be moved by images from the Vatican. At the conclusion of Pope Francis’ public address, a man approached the pontiff.  The pilgrim’s skin was carpeted in tumors from the non-contagious but horrific disease, neurofibromatosis Type 1, also called NF1.  The pope went on to bless the man and then compassionately cradle him with their hands touching. The photos went viral.

What doesn’t appear in most media coverage is the first frame of the sequence:

This first photo shows the pope recoiling. EPA

As the disfigured man approaches, note how the pope recoils. But for me, a doctor who works in a clinic for NF1 patients, it’s that scene which renders the pope’s ultimate response heroic. Initially, instinctively, the pope’s response to a sight which Western society considers aesthetically off-putting was repulsion. But his quick triumph over ingrained, social custom (demonstrated in the next frames) can ultimately serve to inspire us and to rethink our aesthetic sensibilities.

Ugliness is not an absolute condition but a socially sanctioned attribute. The problem with consigning something to that far, negative end of the spectrum is that ugliness can incite stigma. Art historian H.W. Janson says that modern definitions of beauty took root in the masters of the High Renaissance. In 1486, 

Google is celebrating the 50th anniversary of Doctor Who with a Google Doodle game. Players can select any of the eleven Doctors to play as, and then work their way through puzzles filled with Daleks, Cybermen, and other notorious baddies. When you die, you simply regenerate as the next Doctor. The 75-minute 50th anniversary special, “The Day of the Doctor,” will premiere globally on November 23rd.

They take tailgating to another level in Louisiana.

Plenty of college football fan bases take tailgating seriously and do a great job with the pre- and postgame revelry. But none of them can compare to LSU, which, thanks to its passionate fans and unique Cajun and Creole culture, has a scene unlike any other.

Throughout the South, and at certain schools in other parts of the country, fans show up on campus bright and early to claim their spots and spend fall Saturdays eating and drinking. That's certainly no different at LSU, where some fans hold down the same spots for years. Billy Gomila, editor at And the Valley Shook, SB Nation's LSU blog, was kind enough to give us the layout.

"Growing up in Louisiana, food and family are synonymous when it comes to get-togethers, so that's no different in the tailgating scene," said Gomila. "Everybody has a crew and a setup somewhere. My family's outfit has been in the same spot for about 13 years now. Some groups come up with names and have their own specialized equipment. Some even get together in the summer to organize their plans for each week. Of course there's music, the game on a TV somewhere and plenty of beverage to be found.

And the Vally Shook recipes

Our LSU blog doesn't just know its way around Death Valley. It knows its way around a grill, too.

• Pan-fried trout à la meunière
• Boudin pie
• Crawfish-stuffed pork chops
• Venison sauce piquante
• Apple cinnamon bourbon
• Shrimp creole
• Grilled pesto shrimp skewers

"The campus has been carved up by paid parking in a lot of places, especially in the RV lots. Folks in those areas will start to show up Thursday evening for a big game, and they're usually full by Friday night. The Parade Ground, near the student union, is a huge grassy area where a lot of folks will set up. That's also where the GameDay stage will typically be if ESPN is in town. The south and west sides of campus also have a number of large grass and hayfield lots."

Elsewhere, one might find a variety of football food. In Texas, there's the local barbecue tradition of smoked beef brisket. Throughout the rest of SEC country, pork barbecue is common. In the Upper Midwest, bratwurst and other sausages are readily available. And in all these places, the typical grilled burgers and hot dogs can be found. But in Louisiana, it's completely different. The local cuisine dominates, and there's no other place in America that shares Louisiana's local cuisine.

"You're liable to see the gamut of Louisiana cuisine: jambalaya, gumbo, sauce piquante, whatever seafood is available, including alligator when Florida is in town, and of course, your basic barbecue and grilling," Gomila said. "If it can be deep-fried and eaten, you'll probably find it on campus on game day, be it seafood, chicken, turkey -- I've even seen a deep-fried pork loin.

"Jambalaya, or its cousin pastalaya, are favorites because they're an easy way to feed a lot of people -- rice (or pasta) cooked in a big pot with onions, peppers, sausage and either chicken, pork or even seafood if you're feeling fancy.

"Cold beer and brown liquor are probably the most abundant. If I want to drink local, I usually go with Abita, Nola or Parish Brewing's options. There's also Tin Roof, which is a new brewery in Baton Rouge. Bourbon or whiskey is the preferred liquor of choice, and everybody has their favorites. And of course, lots of Bloody Marys for those tailgates that start extra early."

When visiting Baton Rouge, the good eats and drinks don't stop at the tailgates. There are a number of local restaurants where a good meal can be had, and if you're looking for a college-bar experience, that's available, too.

"Baton Rouge may not be New Orleans when it comes to the restaurant scene, but it has a ton of excellent places," said Gomila. "Near campus, The Chimes is an LSU institution. It's a great seafood and burger joint with an outstanding tap room with more than 30 or 40 beer options on tap, including all the local options I just mentioned. Other near campus hot spots include T.J. Ribs for barbecue, Parrain's or Mike Anderson's for seafood/oysters, or Leroy's for fried chicken and comfort food.

"And all of these places have excellent bars, or you can always head on over to Tigerland and for the typical college bars where the students do their drinking. They're about a mile or so from Tiger Stadium."

And when we opened the question to our Twitter followers, one joint seemed to stand out:

The only answer is @BogiesBR. RT"@SBNationCFB LSU fans! Which Baton Rouge bars and restaurants are you likeliest to recommend to newcomers"?

— Emil M. (@McClellans_Pub) November 22, 2013

Week 13's big games

No. 4 Baylor at No. 10 Oklahoma State

• How OSU can slow Baylor
• Numbers predict a blowout

No. 17 Arizona State at No. 14 UCLA

• Pac-12 Network preview podcast
• Bruins' No. 1 RB back?

No. 12 Texas A&M at No. 22 LSU

• TAILGATE: Massive graphical preview
• LSU, A&M blogs Q&A

No. 19 Wisconsin at No. 25 Minnesota

• Rivalry's biggest game since '03
• Long read on Gophers star

If there's one thing LSU fans are passionate about more than eating and drinking, it's playing football games at night. Part of that is the corollary between a late kickoff and extra time to tailgate beforehand, but the legend of Tiger Stadium under the lights has taken on a life of its own. That's widely accepted to be the best stadium atmosphere in the sport, and for an opponent to win a night game in Baton Rouge, it usually takes a incredible effort. With the results on the field, who can blame fans' affinity for darkness? Since 1960, the Tigers are 227-61-4, a .784 win percentage, in home night games, according to the school's website. During that span in day games at Tiger Stadium, LSU is just 26-26-3.

Unfortunately for fans on the Bayou, the Saturday game against A&M is set for a 2:30 p.m. local kickoff.

"I will say that afternoon games become slightly more palatable in November, when heat is not concerned," Gomila said. "But there's simply no substitute for a night game in Death Valley, and it's a shame that Texas A&M fans won't get to see it. Outside the stadium, there's definitely more, and more active, tailgating during the games than there used to be. More outfits have large HD TVs, and season tickets are more difficult to come by in the current era of Tiger football. Though you can always find a scalper or two, depending on your budget."

A lot of college football fans like to brag about the uniqueness of their pageantry and traditions, especially comes to game-day atmosphere. LSU is one of the few places truly unmatched in what it brings to the table.

More from SB Nation college football:

Follow @SBNationCFBFollow @SBNRecruiting

• Full Week 13 TV schedule, including five ranked games

• How Oklahoma State can shock Baylor

• Jameis Winston investigation updates

• Ranking college football’s top 100 players

• Long CFB reads | Has Baylor crafted the ultimate football offense?

Birdseye view of Austin, Minnesota (1870)

A. Ruger's Birdseye map of Austin, Minnesota in 1870. Birdseye view of Austin, Minnesota Date: 1870 Author: A. Ruger Dwnld: Full Size (7.0mb) Print Availability: See our Prints Page for more details pff This map isn't part of any series, but we have other Featured maps that you might want to check out. Nice enough Ruger map of Austin, Minnesota [gmap], with the world's loneliest Soo Line locomotive pleasingly in the...

the BIG Map Blog - Interesting maps, historical maps, BIG maps.

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Time to start going through your old Magic card collection. Or paying a little extra attention next time you're at a garage sale.

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I think Bendis should serve a cease and desist on Mamet, personally.

I mean, time machines don't exist, but if they did... this isn't how they would work.

Apparently, there is a show called the "Toucher and Rich" show in Boston. Wow, that show needs a new name! But regardless, we found out an incredibly magical interaction featuring Rob Gronkowski via their Twitter. Somebody asked Rob Gronkowski the typical boring question asked of athletes -- what super power would you want -- and he took it away:

Zo: "What super power would you want?" Gronk: "A time machine. So if I wanted to be in Florida, it'd be like 'boom', I'm in Florida."

— Toucher and Rich (@Toucherandrich) November 22, 2013

a) "A time machine" is not a super power. It's a time machine. The ability to travel back and forth through time would be a super power. A time machine is a machine that has that power.

B) TIME MACHINES DON'T TAKE YOU FROM PLACE TO PLACE. THEY TAKE YOU THROUGH TIME. Some depictions of time machines (such as those in Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure) seem to have the capability to bring people to various places in various time periods, but that doesn't seem to be what Gronk is referring to. He seems to mean teleportation.

If only somebody had given Lana Berry a time machine so she could have gone BOOM FLORIDA and not been at Rob Gronkowski's football camp...

Cast your Animal Crossing character in resin, never feel lonely again originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 21 Nov 2013 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.