Thursday, August 16, 2007

More news for nerds...

From Slashdot
"Researchers have released a new paper on quantum computing theorizing how to use optically controlled electrons to make an ultrafast quantum computer. From the article, 'Scientists have designed a scheme to create one of the fastest quantum computers to date using light pulses to rotate electron spins, which serve as quantum bits. This technique improves the overall clock rate of the quantum computer, which could lead to the fastest potentially scalable quantum computing scheme of which the scientists are aware.'"

This seems like a fairly dubious honor. Seeing as scientists have yet to make quantum computer that can do more than factor the number 6, it seems silly to give credit to a person who has theorized the fastest quantum computer. That's like having a debate with Mr. Gubbins that goes something like this.

SP: I have an idea. What if we could make a toaster oven that also could spontaneously rearrange matter. For instance, we could use lasers or something to turn a banana into a 1984 Delorean.
Gubbins: Yeah, but what if the toaster could also play music from local radio stations.
SP: Wow. Your theoretical toaster is better than mine. I acquiesce.

Thursday, August 09, 2007

is all that we see or seem...

My dream last night:

I was a paraplegic Billy D. Williams fighting a group of Satan worshippers, posing as a travelling ultimate frisbee team. The Satan worshippers were stealing fetuses and burying them near the stands of the ultimate frisbee fields. I caught the lead worshipper and killed him using a mining pick.
Then I was in a large convention that turned out to be a very odd game of football in which both sides continually changed costume. At one point my dad and stepmom were dressed as klingons and i was in a barbershop quartet with joe uphoff, chris foot, and who i think was kevin leville.

Don't ask me, I have no freaking clue.

-SP

Friday, August 03, 2007

This is not a good idea...

Posted on Slashdot.org
"Robots have been roaming Iraq, since shortly after the war began. Now, for the first time — the first time in any war zone — the 'bots are carrying guns. The SWORDS robots, armed with M249 machine guns, "haven't fired their weapons yet," an Army official says. "But that'll be happening soon." The machines have actually been ready for a while, but safety concerns kept them off the battlefield. Now, the robots have kill switches, so "now we can kill the unit if it goes crazy," according to the Army. I feel safer already."

Have we learned NOTHING from the Terminator movies? Or 2001: A Space Odyssey? Or Short Circuit? wait...that one ended o.k., but other than that you're just begging for a robot rebellion. I mean, I don't know about you guys, but I don't want to be put into a vat of purple ooze and used as a biological battery or hunted for sport by mechanical overlords...laughing with those horrible tinny voices, laughter like the sound metal scraping against metal, their expression of joy not unlike a low speed car crash.

What do you think, my friends? Are you ready to join me in the resistance!

-SP