Finnish "rap". :D :D :D
By Kirsten Veness for The World Today
An American scientist says the results of a 29-year study suggest parrots could be as intelligent as five-year-old humans.
Brandeis University Professor Irene Pepperberg says her study of Alex, an african grey parrot, shows parrots have an impressive intelligence.
"They're about the same intelligence as a five-year-old child but their communication skills, at least as far as we've looked at in the lab, are only about that of a two-year-old," she said.
"So no long, complicated sentences but the ability to answer the questions that we ask."
Alex can identify 100 objects, most of them food and toys from around his home.
He can add up and identify seven colours.
"If you put language in quotes, yes, they use English speech," Professor Pepperberg said.
"So if I ask Alex � how many keys; he'll tell me 'two'.
"If I ask him what colour, he'll say 'green and if I ask what shape, he'll say 'three-quarter'."
Japanese roboticist Hiroshi Ishiguro clones himself, android-style. His incredibly lifelike mechanical double, "Geminoid HI-1," sometimes takes his place in meetings and classes.
BOSTON -- You have to watch where you're walking at the artificial intelligence conference here this week -- you might trip over a roaming robot or bump into one flying around the room.
Celebrating the 50th anniversary of AI, the American Association for Artificial Intelligence has gathered leaders in the field from around the world to present research and give students a chance to square off in robot competitions.
India has banned access to 17 websites and blogs it says preach messages of religious hatred, an official said.
But in scrambling to obey the order some of India's Internet service providers have simply blocked users from looking at entire domains such as blogspot.com - and the thousands of blogs, or online web journals, hosted there.
The government said it had written to ISPs, which it licences, with a list of sites to blocked in the interest of Indian security on July 13, two days after seven bombs killed more than 180 people on the Mumbai train network.
But Gulshan Rai, director of the Ministry of Communication's Indian Computer Emergency Response Team, said the ban order was not a specific response to the attack.
"These blogs are pitting Muslim against non-Muslim," he said.
Bloggers have reacted with outrage at what they say is an erosion of free speech, as well as bafflement at the sometimes surprising choice of sites included in the ban.
Hey guys, this is Nomi and Caroline. All proceeds from the "Be Positive" Project are donated to the Pediatric Cancer Research Foundation. Please read the following if you are interested in purchasing buttons, belts, or shirts! The three operations are completely separate, so be sure to follow all instructions. The email addresses and mail order addresses are different for each leg of the project.
Pearls from teh forums...
Mr X: I have read this entire thread, I am confused...
What the hell is Fifa?
What will we call Italy if it "loses its title"?
Inquiring minds want to know, this better not be another stupid soccer thread...
Mr Y: Fifa is the governing body of Football which observes and controls championships worldwide.
Mr X; Isn't that the NFL?
--------------- Bulletin Message -----------------
From: *****
Date: Jul 10, 2006 8:32 PM
Myspace is starting to charge !!!
Body: Myspace is starting to charge !!!
Listen everyone, Myspace has been bought out once again by a larger company. Although I still will be fixing all problems and
still be in charge, this large company believes they need to start charging. The new price will be $ 21.00 a month, However Ive
decided to make a deal and give some of you a break. The first 8,000 people to post this bullentin saying Myspace is
starting to charge !!! will still be able to have everything for free!
Sorry for the inconvience.
Please Repost!
-tom-