Friday, May 28, 2010
A case of Big Iron-ic
| Scientists devise algorithm to detect sarcasm | |
| A computer algorithm capable of identifying sarcasm in written text has been developed by Israeli researchers. The novel formula could pave the way for more sophisticated communication between humans and computers. Devised by computer scientists at The Hebrew University in Jerusalem, the algorithm has been programmed to recognise sarcasm in lengthy texts by analysing patterns of phrases and punctuation often used to indicate irony. In tests on 66,000 product reviews posted on the Amazon shopping website, the algorithm had an impressive 77 per cent success rate in picking out sarcastic comments - arguably higher than some humans. The researchers 'trained' the algorithm to recognise sarcasm by teaching it nearly 5,500 sentences from Amazon reviews that volunteers had marked as either sarcastic or non-sarcastic. From this list of phrases, the algorithm was taught to recognise patterns of words commonly used by writers to show that they do not mean to be taken literally. The algorithm was tested on tens of thousands of other Amazon reviews which had also been tagged for sarcasm, or otherwise, by human readers. It produced accurate answers in 77% of cases. | |
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UNU-MERIT provides insights into the social, political and economic factors that drive technological change and innovation. The Centre's research and training programmes address a broad range of policy questions relating to the national and international governance of science, technology and innovation, with a particular focus on the creation, diffusion and access to knowledge.
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William Meloney
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Thursday, May 27, 2010
Zappa Statue
Frank Zappa statue to go near Highlandtown library
So the Public Art Committee finally found a home forthat Frank Zappa statue: Outside the Southeast Anchor Library, a branch of the Enoch Pratt Free Library in Highlandtown.
The bust of Zappa (who was born in Baltimore) will go up sometime next year, according to committee chair Anne Perkins.
"We think this is a great place for it -- a terrific neighborhood" Perkins said. "I think it will be the focal point for a lot of really fun festivals."
Here's a link to the full story.
At first, I was a little surprised at the site they chose. Highlandtown might get a decent amount of foot traffic, but probably not as much as the other sites they were considering -- such as Fells Point.
And besides the Creative Alliance, Highlandtown really isn't known for its arts and entertainment..
Then I spoke with Zappa's widow, Gail, who cleared things up for me ...
Gail said Zappa would have liked the location, because his mother, Rose Marie, was a librarian. Gail actually lobbied to have the bust placed near a city library.
"I'm thrilled," she said. "That's where he went to school, in the library. The library was a really important place for him in his teen years."I asked her if Zappa would have even wanted a bust of himself anywhere, let alone in Baltimore, and she laughed.
"It's the ultimate bust, isn't it?," she said. "It's a beautiful, beautiful bust. I couldn't be more pleased with the outcome. It's stunning. It really represents Frank's character beautifully."
(Pictured is a Zappa statue in Lithuania, similar to the Baltimore statue. AP photo.)
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William Meloney
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12:52 PM
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New Method of Pressure on Journalists
Russia: Taking Children as a New Method of Pressure on Journalists
by Gregory Asmolov
By Gregory Asmolov
Children of Galina Dmitrieva, an oppositionary journalist and activist, were taken by Russian police after she published an investigation about Russian car manufacturer Avtovaz [EN], Anatoliy Baranov reported[RUS]. After instant blog-campaign her children were returned. Blogger Marina Litvinovich suggests [RUS] this method was used before against at least one oppositionary journalist.
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William Meloney
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11:41 AM
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Wednesday, May 26, 2010
Lessons on Life
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William Meloney
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10:31 AM
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Tuesday, May 25, 2010
Iran: Student activist started hunger strike
Iran: Student activist started hunger strike
Majid Tavakoli, Iranian student actvist, started his hunegr strike in prison in Tehran. Sight writes [fa] “Tavakoli is not only a name. He is a legned. He started his hunger strike but the world does not pay attention.”
Hundreds of Iranian men have dressed as women in Hijab to support Majid Tavakoli, a student activist who was arrested on December 7, and express solidarity with women. Iranian authorities claim Mr. Tavakoli was dressed as a woman to escape after delivering a speech in Tehran on Student Day.
However, human rights activists in Iran have published a report from an eyewitness saying: “All the pictures published by the state media are false and a clear use of immoral means against student and civil activists in Iran.”
Hundreds of Iranian men are now dressed as women in their FaceBook profiles. Here is a YouTube video in support of Majid that has collected some of these photos (begins after 42 seconds).
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William Meloney
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6:09 AM
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Monday, May 24, 2010
Zappos Values
- Deliver WOW Through Service
- Embrace and Drive Change
- Create Fun and A Little Weirdness
- Be Adventurous, Creative, and Open-Minded
- Pursue Growth and Learning
- Build Open and Honest Relationships With Communication
- Build a Positive Team and Family Spirit
- Do More With Less
- Be Passionate and Determined
- Be Humble
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William Meloney
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7:34 PM
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Sunday, May 23, 2010
Before the Deployment
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William Meloney
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9:33 AM
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Chrome Extension Of The Day (CEOTD): Frame Two Pages
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William Meloney
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8:31 AM
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Saturday, May 22, 2010
Stupid is as stupid does... - Forest G.
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William Meloney
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1:33 PM
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Call on Fox "News" to fire John Stossel
| Dear friends, On Wednesday, Rand Paul, the GOP's US Senate candidate for Kentucky repeated his claim that a central piece of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 was wrong, and that businesses should be free to discriminate against whomever they please.1Paul and his supporters don't seem to care that without federal intervention, Black people might still be second-class citizens in most aspects of American life: where we eat, where we work, even where we live. Then, on Thursday, FOX contributor and business anchor John Stossel went even further than Paul and called for the section of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 that applies to business to be repealed.2 And he's refused to back down. It's time to hold FOX accountable: http://www.colorofchange.org/stossel/?id=1867-526328 While Rand Paul may have started this outrage, he can be taken care of at the ballot box — FOX News can't. Stossel's position is an affront to Black America and everyone in this country who believes in racial progress. It's one thing to be a candidate with backwards views. It's another to be employed by a supposed news network and to use that platform to push hateful ideas that our nation repudiated decades ago. It's time that FOX drop Stossel. It's why I've joined ColorOfChange.org in demanding Fox do so immediately. If after hearing from thousands of people like you and I, FOX refuses to act, it will make clear that FOX stands with Stossel and his values, and ColorOfChange has pledged to go directly after the network with a major public campaign. Can you take a moment to add your voice to the call to fire Stossel? After you do, please ask your friends and family to do the same: http://www.colorofchange.org/stossel/?id=1867-526328 FOX has a history of providing a platform for bigoted views and race-baiting. Most recently more than 300,000 people helped us hold FOX accountable by stripping Glenn Beck of more than 100 of his advertisers, after Beck called President Obama a "racist" with a "deep-seated hatred for white people."3 But Stossel has arguably gone beyond Beck, echoing segregationist arguments from the Jim Crow era: "It's time now to repeal that part of the law because private businesses ought to get to discriminate. And I won't ever go to a place that's racist and I will tell everybody else not to and I'll speak against them. But it should be their right to be racist." Stossel went on to argue something that history has disproved time and again — that private business will do the right thing, without being compelled by laws, because no one would patronize a business that discriminates. It's a blind belief in market fundamentalism that just isn't in sync with reality. In the '60s, white-owned businesses that allowed Blacks as customers lost business. Market forces actually perpetuated discrimination; they didn't combat it. Simply put: segregation would still be active in parts of this country if government hadn't stepped in. And recent history has shown that the public accommodations section of the Civil Rights Act is still needed. In 1994, it was used to hold Denny's Restaurants accountable, after the chain repeatedly refused to seat Black customers.4 Just last year, it was used to go after a Philadelphia pool that prevented Black children from swimming there.5 It's time for Fox News to make a choice. Are they willing to continue to give a platform to racially-divisive rhetoric and revive dangerously outdated perspectives? Or will they move with the rest of the nation into into the 21st century? Please join me in calling on Fox News to fire John Stossel. And once you do, please ask your friends and family to do the same: http://www.colorofchange.org/stossel/?id=1867-526328 Thank you. References: |
2. http://mediamatters.org/mmtv/201005200033
3. http://bit.ly/aoJUUy
4. http://nyti.ms/bpVZZY
5. http://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/2010/January/10-crt-033.html ThanksWilliam Meloney
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Voice: 270-215-4275
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William Meloney
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11:01 AM
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Friday, May 21, 2010
Wednesday, May 19, 2010
When I was younger...
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William Meloney
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10:12 PM
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Monday, May 17, 2010
...to Publicy and returns...
"As my experience shows, people are willing to give their location if they know they'll get something for it."
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William Meloney
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5:30 AM
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Wednesday, May 12, 2010
Right is Correct
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William Meloney
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8:41 AM
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Impossible Motion
Impossible motion: magnet-like slopes
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William Meloney
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7:32 AM
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Monday, May 10, 2010
The Full Circle
I first saw this pic in the WSJ, attributed to Getty Images. I subsequently scraped it from MSN.COM
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William Meloney
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12:02 PM
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Not your father's Intertubes...
(Fine Print: If you would rather not receive my blathering and such please let me know and I will remove you from my list.)
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11:33 AM
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