THE REINY DAY GUIDE TO TECHNOLOGY
March 2000 Someone at Boeing (who has now presumably been fired) accidentally threw out two space station components worth $750,000. Although they dug around in the dump, the components were not recovered. CNN has the story. You to can participate in a Remote Psychokinesis Study via the internet. [I didn't do so hot but my beau rocked the Random Event Generator.] Who doesn't love the Dick list? Probably the guys who are on it! A fantastic place for heterosexual women to bitch about their exes. Sci-fi author Bruce Sterling wrote us a letter from 2035, where he is apparently hanging out. He predicts another Depression. Have a glance at the e-wall, self described as "a virtual wall on which you are invited to hang your own art work." If that sort of thing is at all of interest to you, you should definitely check out my list of great web-based art sites. Here is a decent article on netiquette, which is a term referring to internet manners. Of course, the author does not obey one of rules which I feel is most important: put margins on your webpages! This can be accomplished most simply by enclosing the entire body of your pages in <BLOCKQUOTE> tags. If I could think of some good content, I would whip up a page for the 5k award. Design the best site which is under 5k and win $50. [Just for reference, this html file is 5.6k and the background image is 13k.] You can also read the Wired article about the contest. If you have a free minute, please donate food at The Hunger Site. It only takes one click...		Feature: chatterbots I have always been fascinated with "bots" which are computer programs designed to mimic human characteristics. I specifically love "chatterbots" which are computer programs designed to have human conversations. Several decades ago, Alan Turing proposed a test [known now as the Turing Test] as to whether a conversationalist was human or not. Could you tell the difference between a human and a robot just by talking to it? Hop on over and chat with Mr. Mind. He isn't perfect, but he's mighty impressive. Start by telling him your name. You can also chat with Brian, who thinks he's an 18 year old college student in Sidney, or Brain. I had a terrific time playing Twenty Questions with a program that learns as it played. [Be careful, this can be very addictive!] My first object was "the color green" and at some point during the questioning the game told me that the probable objects were music, an electric fan, a bed, happiness, a hug, a rug, a movie, freedom, carpet, a diamond, love, a dream, light, a dance, milk, hockey, the ceiling, ice, a compact disc, a radiator, a couch, a game, bread, a poster. I even taught the game that rust is probably not an endangered species. For myriad other bot links, visit BotSpot, and be sure to drop by their chatterbot section. Another good resource is Chatterbot Central.
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