March 17, 2008

The “Phobot,” a robot designed by a team of students from the University of Amsterdam, was voted the public’s favorite at a conference on human-robot interaction in Amsterdam on March 15.

The Phobot won the crowd over with antic displays intended to mimic human phobias.

When first exposed to a fear-inspiring object — in this case a menacing larger robot — the Phobot retreats and then spins in circles in apparent panic.

Later, the robot is able to overcome its “fear” by first being exposed to small robots and working its way up to larger ones, and mimicking the psychological principle of “graded exposure.”

A total of seven teams from around the world attended the competition.

By People’s Daily Online

See a video here.

It feels better if you hold its hand? It’s a little creepy if you ask me. Also in development is Zeno, the robot boy companion.

He has everything he needs to become your friend; he sees, hears, talks and remembers who you are. He even walks and performs amazing stunts. His face is soft like yours so he can show emotions, just like you–happy, sad, puzzled, and lots more. Operate him by himself and see a few of his antics, or let him link to your computer wirelessly so he can have complete conversations with you! Plus, if you use your computer to help Zeno connect to the internet, he can keep learning and growing smarter. He’ll even help you learn about the world around you.

Me: Well, it’s not like he was my favorite person around, but I can’t deny the fact that he and Jake Gyllenhaal both made an extreme impact on the current equal rights movement. I appreciate them both for that. So yes, I’m a little sad.
Her: Heath Ledger was involved in equal rights?!
Me: Yes, absolutely. The movie Brokeback Mountain brought awarness to the struggle people have been having with inequality in marriage.
Her: You mean, gay marriage?
Me: Yes.
Her: That’s not equal rights! Equal rights is like, women having the right to vote.
Me: …
Her: What?
Me: So it’s only equal rights if it effects you, then?
Her: Well I’m not gay, if that’s what you mean.

Thanks for messaging me, I’m glad you like my pictures on Flickr but I’m afraid I can no longer talk to you for I fear my head might explode due to your profound stupidity.

January 22, 2008, 4:42 pm
Actor Heath Ledger Is Found Dead

By Sewell Chan

The actor Heath Ledger was found dead this afternoon in an apartment building at 421 Broome Street in SoHo, according to the New York City police. Mr. Ledger was 28.

At 3:31 p.m., a masseuse arrived at Apartment 5A in the building for an appointment with Mr. Ledger, the police said. The masseuse was let in to the home by a housekeeper, who then knocked on the door of Mr. Ledger’s bedroom. When no one answered, the housekeeper and the masseuse opened the bedroom and found Mr. Ledger unconscious. They shook him, but he did not respond. They immediately called the authorities. The police said they did not suspect foul play. Officials said pills fear found near the body.

Mr. Ledger, a native of Perth, Australia, won acclaim for his role as a co-star in “Brokeback Mountain”, a 2005 film. The film, based on a short story by Annie Proulx about two cowboys who fall in love, won critical acclaim. Reviewing the film in The New York Times, the critic Stephen Holden wrote, “Mr. Ledger magically and mysteriously disappears beneath the skin of his lean, sinewy character. It is a great screen performance, as good as the best of Marlon Brando and Sean Penn.”

Mr. Ledger met the actress Michelle Williams while filming ‘’Brokeback Mountain.” The two actors fell into a very public romance. They had a daughter, Matilda Rose, who was born on Oct. 28, 2005. They moved to Brooklyn, but then separated last year.

Calls by The New York Times to Mara Buxbaum, a publicist for Mr. Ledger, and Steve Alexander, the actor’s agent, were not immediately returned this afternoon.

That is so weird. I just watched 10 Thing I Hate About You two nights ago and now I’m wondering how this will effect the sales of the latest Batman. I wonder if people will go just because it was Ledger’s last film?

Bus drivers have nicknamed a white cat Macavity after it has started using the No 331 several mornings a week.

The feline, which has a purple collar, gets onto the busy Walsall to Wolverhampton bus at the same stop most mornings - he then jumps off at the next stop 400m down the road, near a fish and chip shop.

The cat, nicknamed Macavity, has one blue eye and one green eye.

The cat was nicknamed Macavity after the mystery cat in T.S Elliot’s poem. He gets on the bus in front of a row of 1950s semi-detached houses and jumps off at a row of shops down the road which include a fish and chip shop.

Driver Bill Khunkhun, 49, who first saw the cat jumping from the bus in January, said: “It is really odd, the first time I saw the cat jumping off the bus with a group of passengers. I hadn’t seen it get on which was a bit confusing.

“The next day I pulled up on Churchill Road to let a couple of passengers on. As soon as I opened the doors the cat ran towards the bus, jumped on and ran under one of the seats, I don’t think any of the passengers noticed.

“Because I had seen it jump off the day before I carried on driving and sure enough when I stopped just down the road he jumped off - I don’t know why he would catch the bus but he seems to like it. I told some of the other drivers on this route and they have seen him too.”

Since January, when the cat first caught the bus he has done it two or three times a week and always gets on and off at the same stops.

Passenger, Paul Brennan, 19, who catches the 331 to work, said: “I first noticed the cat a few weeks ago. At first I thought it had been accompanied by its owner but after the first stop it became quite clear he was on his own.

“He sat at the front of the bus, waited patiently for the next stop and then got off. It was was quite strange at first but now it just seems normal. I suppose he is the perfect passenger really - he sits quietly, minds his own business and then gets off.”

I must admit, this cat is insane, and almost rivals the sweetness of Morn. Almost. Click here to read the article comments.