(Video) Three days before launch of bus ads accusing Israel of war crimes, US city retracts permit, claiming it may incite violence
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An administration official says Homeland Security is alerting air carriers to a potential terror tactic involving insulated beverage containers like thermoses. (Dec. 24)
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(Video) Some 1,300 people rally in Tel Aviv against plan to set up detention facility for infiltrators near Israel-Egypt border. ‘Netanyahu, don’t be a racist,’ they chant. Schoolchildren join march, say ‘refugees have rights too’
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Honeybaked Ham Co. in Raleigh had an overwhelming turnout today for holiday hams; so much so police were needed to direct traffic. (Dec. 23)
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Police went door to door Thursday urging residents to evacuate two mountain hamlets near Las Vegas after three overnight snow slides stirred fears of a disastrous avalanche. (Dec. 23)
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NewsBusters predicted early Friday that Sarah Palin-hating media members were going to love Oprah Winfrey's attack on the former Alaska governor in the upcoming issue of Parade magazine. Living down to expectations, MSNBC's Chris Matthews almost got a thrill up his leg reporting the news (video follows with transcript and commentary): read more
Continue reading …Cambridge developing ‘mind reading’ computer interface with the countenance of Charles Babbage (video)
December 24, 2010 No Comment
For years now, researchers have been exploring ways to create devices that understand the nonverbal cues that we take for granted in human-human interaction. One of the more interesting projects we’ve seen of late is led by Professor Peter Robinson at the Computer Laboratory at the University of Cambridge, who is working on what he calls “mind-reading machines,” which can infer mental states of people from their body language. By analyzing faces, gestures, and tone of voice, it is hoped that machines could be made to be more helpful (hell, we’d settle for “less frustrating”). Peep the video after the break to see Robinson using a traditional (and annoying) satnav device, versus one that features both the Cambridge “mind-reading” interface and a humanoid head modeled on that of Charles Babbage. “The way that Charles and I can communicate,” Robinson says, “shows us the future of how people will interact with machines.” Next stop: uncanny valley ! Continue reading Cambridge developing ‘mind reading’ computer interface with the countenance of Charles Babbage (video) Cambridge developing ‘mind reading’ computer interface with the countenance of Charles Babbage (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 23 Dec 2010 21:01:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
Continue reading …This is the best video ever. After seeing Harry Reid accept Dan Choi’s West Point ring at Netroots Nation last summer, it is just poignant to see it returned. I got up at 6 am yesterday to watch the signing ceremony for the repeal of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell, and it was sweet. I especially appreciated this declaration from the president: “For we are not a nation that says, ‘don’t ask, don’t tell.’ We are a nation that says, ‘Out of many, we are one.’” It’s not over. There is much more to do, especially with Proposition 8 moving through the courts and DOMA still on the books. But it is a step forward — an important one, and one to celebrate. Lt. Dan Choi’s most recent tweet is one I’m keeping to remind of what is yet left to do: The next time I get a ring from a man, I expect it to be for full, equal, American marriage. You betcha, Lt. Choi.
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As anyone who’s seen It’s a Wonderful Life or read A Christmas Carol knows, sometimes a new perspective on things is all it takes to truly appreciate what we have — and there’s no better time for this than around the holidays. For the six person crew aboard the International Space Station, circling some 225 miles overhead, their unique vantage seems to have instilled in them a new found appreciation for the world outside their window. In their holiday message to the rest of us, the crew speaks of Earth as “a beautiful planet that we should all be thankful to have as our home.”… Read the full story on TreeHugger
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Former White House chief of staff Rahm Emanuel can run for Chicago mayor although he spent much of the last two years living in Washington while working for President Barack Obama, the Chicago Board of Election Commissioners ruled Thursday. (Dec. 23)
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