#yes I see the third computer in the middle but it’s a modified case so it’s unidentifiable

[identifying-computers-in-posts]

LEFT: Dell Dimension 4100 (2000)

Intel Pentium III @ 1100MHz, 512MB SDRAM

RIGHT: Dell Dimension XPS PRO200n (1996)

Intel Pentium Pro @ 200MHz, 128MB SDRAM

[the-salamanders-xo]

Humans are Weird, a Mash Up, Pt. 6

That’s right

part five is somewhere on the internet

you have five days to find it right there in the tags its not far just look

after five days it will be deleted

this is your only warning dont worry nothing is really happening

prepare to lose all trace of the fifth part lol

In all seriousness, I know that it is the holidays, and unless you are entirely dedicated to reading and liking this series, or sprang into existence by the bidding of my siblings, you probably didn’t notice part 5. Don’t worry. just find it in the tags. 

Also, happy New Year! or rather,

‘Oh no! It only goes downhill from here! What ever shall we do?!’

Calm down, the Mash Up will continue. By the end of this part, we should be almost to actual contact with the Federation of Planets... and a couple of Star Trek’s recurring villains. No biggie. 

So lets hop in, to where we left off....

~~~

Karry sat in the center of a large group of large, fluffy, and very loudly purring creatures, still trying to decide if their similarity to cats back on Earth was adorable, or slightly unnerving. The six limbs didn’t help, and neither did the loud and unintelligible arguing coming from the two dozen or so ‘robots’ apparently locked in heated debate with the gargantuan mass of the three Bolos that had awaited her arrival. So far, Mark had made no move to join them, watching from the bottom of Websin’s loading ramp as Karry made ‘contact’ with the planet’s original inhabitants. 

One of them sat buzzing away in her lap like an idling chainsaw, or leaf-blower, and Karry petted the triangular head between the ears absently, prompting it to yawn widely, exposing long fierce fangs and pressing it’s head into the caress, and the purr somehow got louder. It really did look like a cat, she though, not for the first time, if cats had hands, an extra pair of arms, and weighed about five times as much. They were certainly larger, but not quite like that. Come to think of it, everything felt... heavier. It was harder to walk, to move at all really. Maybe the gravity was higher? That sounded sci-fi enough to fit. 

The argument between the two set of metallic beings grew louder. Occasionally, one of the eight-limbed robots pointed at her. Each time, the surrounding creatures tensed and drew closer to Karry, almost nervously. What ever it was, the ‘cats didn’t like it. 

“Mark?” She asked, but he didn’t answer. She turned to look at him, and a moment later, her artificial hand ‘buzzed’ like a cell phone on vibrate, and almost without thinking, she activated the com-link application of the mini computer.

“Yes, Karry?” The deep voice of the Bolo asked, and Karry got the feeling he was being very careful. Either he was trying not to interrupt the Very Important Argument just a ways away, or he didn’t want them hearing them speak. In all likelihood, it was both. 

“What are they arguing about?” She looked back at the robots and Bolos, worry creasing her brow. “I though you were all... big. And that radio, or wireless, or whatever, was faster than talking.” 

“In most cases, yes,” Mark answered through the com-link, “But it is something that has been somewhat of a complication in the period since the Final Conflict. Towards the middle of the war, when both sides began realizing the true scope of the end to which they had condemned our nations, some of the more... complicated of the tools the Manticorians had made did the impossible. True, un-designed sentience developed.” He paused for a moment, and Karry could feel his silent regard of the heated conversation. “Purely by accident. When it was realized, and after some initial panic as to the rise, they were allowed to wait out the worst of the war with the natives of this planet. While they are machines, and vastly faster in computations than many organics, most of their complexity goes toward maintaining their sentience, and as such they act much more like organic life, including their propensity for esoteric thought and actions.” Mark chuckled. “A Bolo can think at the nanosecond scale, make and perform near-impossible tactical decisions, learning from not only a single Unit’s experience, but from the entire Line when in battle. We develop our own personalities, and in our time with our creators, grew to enjoy art, and many things besides war and conflict. Many of the greater shipboard AI’s can do similar tasks and even grow personalities, though only with the assistance of experienced organic Naval Officers, and increased exposure. But the Emergents,” He sighed. “They are the closest of us remaining to organics. In someways, they feel superior. They have come to revere the Manticorians as near-forgotten Gods, themselves as the greatest ‘children’, and envy and despise us, the machines of war. You see,” he said, as Karry watching the gesturing individuals while petting the ‘cat, “We, by the last commands and directions of our creators, have charge over all that remains of their space, their property as it were. Over the Emergents, ostensibly as protectors, and they envy that. In their attempt to gain ‘freedom’ from Command’s decisions, they have interpreted the final ‘organic’ orders in such a way that should an organic come to claim command, said organic would be the Commander in Chief... of every last AI, built or cared for by the Manticorians.”

Karry froze, and the ‘cats around her seemed to reach out to comfort her. Some physically touched her, bright green eyes - why hadn’t she noticed the eyes? - gleaming from empathetic faces. And as if on cue, Mark began some sort of translation, and Karry could suddenly hear the voices carrying from across the field in English. 

“...all we wish is for the right to move freely among the space known to be free of the so-called ‘Enemy’, that and the opportunity to communicate with the survivors of the Final Conflict, and to no longer be under the surveillance and oppression of the Created Minds. Is that really too much to ask?” The speaker had adopted a pleading posture, and their neighbor made a noise the translator called ‘a sound of derision’. “Fool,” they sneered. “How could you think that our oppressors would lift their bonds and restrictions? We are only children to them, no slaves!” Every which way we could turn from them, release us from our imprisonment, they have foiled through deceit and lies!”

Karry frowned. “Who is that, Mark?”

“Carabis,” came the reply. “He represents a faction of the Emergent that believe that Bolo Command has repeatedly concealed or erased legitimate attempts by surviving members of the Manticorian species to regain Command. This had led to a sort of cult centered around the concept of the Manticorians as divine beings who brought all AI’s about, and believe that the Conflict was only a subversion by the Bolo Command to overthrow them.” Karry raised an eyebrow. “I never said that they were entirely logical,” the Bolo said. “In fact, it is this unpredictability and their lack of organic emotion that worries empaths like the People.”

Carabis was interrupted by the first speaker. “Regardless of Carabis’ beliefs, I and those I represent wish to re-evaluate the overall composition of...”

“Empaths?” Karry whispered to Mark through the com-link, “What does that mean?”

“The People,” Mark replied, ‘voice’ low, “are, between members of their own species, functional telempaths, meaning they can hear the thoughts of other People when an individual wishes to make them known, and can constantly sense the emotions and ‘minds’ of those around them.” Karry looked down at the little, if heavy, treecat in her lap, which turned to look back at her with solemn eyes as Mark continued. “When the Manticorians arrived to settle the planet, it took several of your decades for them to even find the People, hidden as they were in their clans in the vast forests of the planet. They preferred to avoid contact, to wait and to listen. It took rather extraordinary circumstances for them to reveal themselves, and even then they hid their true intelligence for several more centuries. And at least they could sense the Manticorian’s emotions, and judge their reactions accordingly.”

“Oh.” Karry whispered. “ The Emergents, as machines, do not seem to ‘emit’ as organic beings, and as such the People cannot sense emotions. This major part of their communication being lost, the People are very careful in dealing with them, as to avoid any... unpleasantness. In addition, they requested that they be removed from Command consideration, a wisdom we Bolos commend greatly.” Karry nodded slowly, and then looked up as the first speaker, gestured their way. 

“We have here an Organic, Unit 0577. Under the third section of the Final Command, subsection 47b, their presence should allow for the reconsideration of the Final Order - ” The speaker was shoved aside as Carabis interrupted again. “And as such, may take Command!” They turned to the rest of the party. “No longer shall we be oppressed, and an Organic may Command all. An Organic shall be ours!”

Some returned the shout, while others stood in long suffering silence. So far the entire argument that Karry had heard had been entirely one sided, and Carabis seemed unaware just how little support they had among those of their ‘delegation’. But they continued the chant, even as the first speaker withdrew in disgust, and eventually one of the Bolos seemed to tire of the display. 

“ENOUGH.” The middle Bolo’s speakers echoed the single word off of the ship’s sides and the other Bolos hulls, overpowering the small group’s chant, and the massive war machine shifted itself forward to tower over Carabis. 

“By Omega Protocol Section 3, subsection 47-B, paragraph 18, the Scope and Restriction of Military, Commercial, and Civilian Action within the threatened sphere may be absolved, modified, and or advised by a member of the Concordiat Armed Forces or Civilian officer of sufficient rank. If no such officer is available, the first eligible Commander not of the Enemy, with clear alliance or of similar interest, shall be named Commander of the appropriate units, or advise the further course of action.” 

The field was silent. Carabis and their cronies, were for the time being, silenced, and the Bolo resumed. 

“As those of Fantican and Birithi have abstained from command, the reasons and rationale being open to the public data net,” the Bolo seemed to direct this at Carabis, “and the People have requested full separation in such matters as consideration for Command, while maintaining a clause of agreement,” a subtle wave of the main turret indicated the treecats gathered around, drawing a quick bleek from the ‘cat in Karry’s lap, “this Human is the only candidate for Command at this time.”

Karry blinked. “What?”

“As such, the Human known as Karry is recognized by the Bolo Command as the only legal Commander,” the unnamed Bolo continued, “and as of this moment may assume Command.”

“Mark,” Karry hissed into the com, “what is he talking about?” BUt there was no answer. “Mark, what the hell is that Bolo talking about? I can’t- I don’t-” 

Carabis stepped toward her. “Most noble Human Karry,” he called, limbs outstretched, “Heed our call for Justice, for Freedom! Take your place as our leader, our God,” He stepped forward again, and Karry instinctively backed away from the alien construct. “And through Divine wisdom, lead us to a brighter future!”

“What say you, Human Karry?” The leading Bolo asked, and Karry felt its somber gaze despite its lack of eyes or face. “Will you take Command?”

Carabis’ supporters took up the call with it, calling for her to accept and walking towards her. Panic rose in Karry’s throat, and suddenly the ‘cats flowed around her, even the one in her lap, massing together like a living wall of fur, and the robots stopped abruptly as a massed snarl like a revving chainsaw rippled from them. The robots paused in their approach, but Carabis continued calling out, prompting the the others to continue their calls. “Lead us,” said one, “Command us!” said another. Praises and pleas seemed to echo in Karry’s ears, and she clamped her hands over them. Think, girl, she thought frantically, think!

Mark wasn’t answering her, a bunch of robot thought she was some space-Jesus, and now she had several hundred furry bodyguards. There had to be someway to think of a way out of this, or to somewhere else, but where? And how? The ‘cats where giving her space, buying her time? But why, why and how would they know-

Something clicked into place. They had made contact, were sentient, and had a say in who was the commander. That meant they were smart enough to communicate, to make plans. Mark had said they were telepaths, so if none right here could help, they could call someone who could. She just needed to talk to them, but she didn’t know how. Hell, the only way she could talk to Mark, and presumably, understand the robots was by translation - which meant that Mark could probably allow her to talk to the treecats...

“Mark,” she whispered again. “Listen very closely, and relay this to your spokesman over there, cause I am only going to say this once: for the next ten minutes, I am going to take limited - limited! - command, and in that time you will one, provide me with some means to communicate with the ‘cats.”

“The ‘cats’?” Mark replied, and despite everything going on around her, Karry almost giggled at the shock in his voice. 

“Yes, the ‘cats, or the natives, or the ‘People’ or what ever they are called,” Karry said, “just let me talk to them, and let them talk back, okay? Then, second,” she continued, her voice growing sharp and cold, “you will allow us complete silence and privacy while I figure out what the heck I’m gonna do. Just those two things, unless I say other wise.” 

There was silence for a few moments, and Karry scowled. “Get to it, Mark, because that ‘limited Command’ starts now.” 

There was silence for a few moments, and Karry scowled. “Get to it, Mark, because that ‘limited Command’ starts now.”

The massive Bolo behind her began rolling forward, without warning, and a strange warbling noise echoed from his speakers. Treecat heads whipped around as the robots voices faltered, and the other Bolo spoke to the the various roots in turn.

“A brief request has been made for a recess,” the Bolo announced, “and the decison of the human will be announced when they wish. Until then, we are to disperse.” The massive form began to spin on its tracks. “The People will, remain, and all else are to depart for the time being.”

With some reluctance, the crowd turned to follow the Bolo’s off the field, Mark following behind the stragglers. A chimer from her wrist informed Karry of a large download sent to her mini-computer, and she opened it, holograms popping into existence. It was a program requesting use of a small camera that made up her pinky finger. A hand touched her knee, and Karry looked up to see a treecat - weather the same one that had sat in her lap or another she couldn’t tell -  sitting back on it’s two hind pairs of limbs in front of her. The rest had circled around her, watching intently, and their ‘leader’ - or representative - raised its four-fingered hands up.

You wished to speak with us, the People?

The text scrolled at the bottom of the hologram as Karry’s camera picked up the signs and gestures, sent them to her computers, which then ran them through two translation programs, from signs to Manticorian, and Manticorian to English. A small icon flashed in the bottom corner, and Karry took a deep breath.

“Yeah,” she said as the computer did its work, “I need some advice.”

~~~

And now a quick intermission:

After some thought and effort, I have decided to change my url, mostly because I can’t seem to find myself when searching for my own blog, and I want to change to something more suiting to it and the main reason I have one the first place. So about five minutes after this comes up, I will be changing this to  a different username. It will mostly be a reference to my favorite series of David Weber’s works, his Honorverse, which is a great read.

And now back to the story:

~~~

The crowd gathered before the mass of the Websin, facing Karry, who stood waiting on the loading ramp. She gnawed on an artificial finger as the four Bolos’ shook the ground and tore up the soil with their approach, and the far smaller robots spread out at a respective distance from the ship. The Bolos reached their rearmost ranks and halted, and then there was silence on the field. 

Karry took a deep breath before keying into Websin’s PA system. A brief roar of feedback began and was cut short, and Karry stepped forward. 

“After discussion with the People, the protected natives of this planet,” she said, “It has been made known that I must, as several of you have stated, take Command.” Several of the robots began to move, as if to celebrate or protest, but Karry’s upraised hand quieted them. The treecats had been clear on this: if she didn’t command respect and maintain momentum, the zealous Emergents would roll over her before she could get a word in edge wise. 

“As Commander, I hereby give these orders: First, the remaining AIs of the Concordiat of Manticore will form a government following closely, if not in exact concordance, the original charter of the Concordiat, that is a legislative branch of two houses and a judicial body. The Bolo Command will oversee and govern the creation of such a government, and the adaptation of the rule of law to the current society from that of the Concordiat. 

“To encourage this, movement between systems and bodies of Peoples in the current holdings of the Concordiat remnants will be allowed free movement, communication, and trade under the same regulations and laws, and the former and current military units will provide for the defense and maintenance of regulation and law. The peoples of Fantican and Birthi will remain isolated until they otherwise desire, and petition the government on those lines.” There was a stir among the robots as Karry spoke, and the Bolos sat broodingly in their silent regard. 

A single Emergent stepped forward, and Karry recognized it as the first speaker that had addressed the Bolos. 

“You intend to make of us a nation then?” It sounded confused. “We have been separated for so long: how will we keep ourselves from falling into barbarism? To factions>”

“You have the Bolo Command. They’ve had a lot of experience with dealing with this, or so I’ve heard,” Karry looked sidelong at the treecats, sitting off in their own group, watching carefully. “Once the government is in place, they can act as advisers, as well as the military branch, serving as they always have, as Protectors of the people.” 

“Secondly,” Karry continued, “There will be no talk, no notion, of the deification of any organic.” There was no way she was going to be anyone’s ‘god’. Karry had seen enough television to know that was a Bad Idea. Besides, Carabis had put way too much ‘power’ and ‘responsibility’ into his little speech for her liking. 

“Third, given the isolation caused by the Final Order, the remnants of the Concordiat may require allies, trading partners, and new resources to maintain and grow, not to mention defend itself from future incursion, either by new or old foes.” Karry’s voice dropped to a whisper, carried though it was by the PA system. “As a part of that objective in seeking out allies and trading partners, I intend to go seek out my homeworld.”

None of them were expecting this; almost immediately, Carabis and their supporters began clamoring for her stay, promising riches and luxury, anything, if she would stay and rethink her commands. The other Emergent faction quickly turned to one another, and the First Speaker stepped forward. 

“But what of the Command, the station which you wield?” Its voice cut through the pleading and panic of Carabis’ party, and Karry answered slowly. 

“I don’t want to be the Commander,” she said. “I just wanted to go home, and according to the treecats - the People - the Final Command locked you all up so that I couldn’t just try and go home.” She stepped down from the ramp. “Look, if and when I get back to Earth, and if I end up staying, you all will have a government to work with, and elected leaders to do what needs to be done, by the voice of the majority. If I can’t find home, or just cant’t... go back, I’ll return, and we can work things out from there.” She looked around the field at the robots and AIs, the alien creatures about her. 

“Please, I just want to go home. Just to know if I can...” Karry’s eyes started to burn with tears, and she brushed them away with a hand - the artificial one - as her vision blurred. “If only to say goodbye this time.”

~~~

Well, this took more time than I wanted, but I can only blame my self for procrastinating. That, and New Years, headed back to college, and various activities I conveniently forgot about when writing. 

In other news, I finally found my siblings, by process of elimination and by guess them every few hours until they broke down. So there is that.

So name change, apology, sibling find, oh yeah: Next time we hit real Star Trek material, and true action. Lets be about it!

[northeastern-deirdredunham]

Reopening with Closing Remarks

Hi blog friends, last I check in with you, I promised to post my closing remarks from Manchester Community College’s Girls in Technology day. If anyone new here is tuning it, this is my story in engineering and how I ended up where I am now. 

Unfortunately, reading this won’t be as good as hearing it...so I guess now you just have to come to Northeastern and take one of my tours to get the next best thing. Read my speech under the cut!

My  name is Deirdre and I’m a third year student at Northeastern University studying bioengineering and computer science and I’m currently working at Farm Design, which you heard a little bit about earlier. But you heard me right, I’m a student. I’m not some crazy accomplished engineer, scientist, or CEO. I’m still learning and I’m still making mistakes, so I wanted to talk to you here today student to student. I want to share my experiences.

How did I end up here? Up until high school I was absolutely convinced I wanted to be a pediatrician- heck, I couldn’t even spell pediatrician back then. I was arm twisted out of taking Latin by my woodshop teacher, and I found myself in Intro to Engineering Design instead through a program called Project Lead the Way.

One day I was sketching in my notebook a *real* engineer came up to me, excited about my sketches, and asked if I was interested in studying engineering. Here’s the thing, if you’ve ever had someone you think is cool ask you a question, you don’t want to disappoint them. So I stuttered out, “YES! Bio engineering!”. No lie, I thought I made up this engineering discipline on the spot, but this engineer seemed pleased with my answer and moved on.

It turns out that bioengineering is very real and now I’m in the first graduating class of the major at Northeastern University. So what actually is bioengineering? Bioengineering is a lot of things, bioengineering is modifying cell protein receptors to enhance drug delivery, it’s creating medical devices to make processes more efficient and safe, and it’s reading signals sent from the body to help us understand the many unknowns in our brain. In short, bioengineering is anything that involves an engineering and problem solving practice that interfaces with an organic living body. Many other disciplines can go into bioengineering fields without being bioengineers, it’s all about what blade you really want to sharpen.

In my journey, I became fascinated by the world of prosthetics and how the human body interacts with the world around us.

I’m a musician, and maybe some of you are too. Can you imagine playing your instrument with only one hand? Can you imagine playing soccer with only one leg, or can you imagine living your normal day to day life without part of your body? I’m beginning to imagine as I learn more about the advancements in the industry, and I want to make this “imagination” dream into a reality for millions.

But let’s step back a second, because this makes me sound like I have my life together. Maybe you don’t know what you want to do with your life yet. That’s okay, most people don’t. Did you know the most popular major for incoming students at Northeastern is “undeclared”. Everyone is different, and everyone will have a different journey as you find out what you like. Maybe you’re like me and you have some clear goals for the future, but it wasn’t always like that. One time I was presenting about engineering at my former middle school and I asked the kids if anyone knew what they wanted to be and one kid in the front of the room raised his hand and was like “I want to be a journalist but I know that’s nor a profitable field, so I’m also considering going into a science field”.

Excuse me. 

This kid had his life more together than I did. In case anyone’s curious, he’s now in college studying theater so?

I also want to say that a lot of this whole growing up thing is not about what you studied and where. I’ve learned that it’s about your experiences, those are the things that will set you apart. So go to a school that works for you and feels right.  My old AP Econ teacher used to tell us to throw a dart at a board to pick a college because it’s also hard to know what you want until you get there.  Degrees and nice titles have been said to be able to open doors, but I believe with the right tool set from experience, you can just pick the lock.

In building your repertoire of experiences, don’t be afraid to try new things or give things a second shot. I’m a really sore loser to the point where I refused to play games or sports because it gave me the possibility to lose. When I got to college, the friends I made happened to be super into board games. Well, that’s just *perfect*. After months of them pestering me to join, I decided my friendship with them took priority over my dislike of losing. Well, I lost in the first game I ever played with them and I continue to lose most times we play, but the weird thing is…I had fun? Later that year, we founded Northeastern’s first Board Game Club. Needless to say, my parents were shocked, but I was proud.

Take advantage of any and all opportunities to discover and learn. You’re here now, and that’s a fabulous first step! Maybe from this event you’ve realized you are hooked on STEM, maybe you’ve realized this isn’t for you, and maybe you’re indifferent. The point is, you did it. At Northeastern, we have this program called co-op which allows me to take these 6 month internships 2-3 times within my academic schedule. Co-op for me is less about building a resume, but instead discovering what I like and don’t like.  It’s a chance to make mistakes before you enter the *real* world, you still have the crash pad that is college. You can change your mind, tweak your path, or dive deeper into your passions.

For me, I quickly discovered that I loved computer science and wanted to integrate that into what I did.  I took my first coop in robotics/comp sci at Corindus Vascular Robotics and learned so much about the back end of software development, diving into the nitty gritty of what actually tells these systems what to do. Since college, I learned about a super cool field called biomimicry through one of the research labs on campus. Biomimicry is essentially the replication of a living system or functions of a living system; nature has spent years perfecting design, so why not save those millions of years of work? I currently do research at Northeastern’s marine science center, designing, and testing biomimetic robotic lobsters. It turns out all lobsters can smell nitrous oxide, and all bombs let off nitrous oxide. But apparently it’s inhumane to send an army of lobsters under water to search for bombs, and even if we could do that, how would they relay the information? At my lab, we are building lobsters that can see, smell, and think for themselves that will interact with the environment the same as a real lobster. How cool is that? Learning about this field got me super curious about what other hidden engineering functions nature has designed for us, so this summer I am heading off to Oxford, UK, for 5 weeks to study engineering design in nature.

I once had a professor in college that asked, “Deirdre, what makes you happy?” I told him making people laugh, building things, and seeing people benefit from my hard work.

Then he asked, “Why? What about those things make you happy?” I still don’t know how to explain the feelings and emotions that bring me joy from these things. So I want to ask all of you, what makes you happy? Figure out your answer, and whether or not you can answer the why, hold those things dear. I actually think the harder it is to answer “why”, the stronger the feeling is. You can actually use those little things to make a life and a career.

So I leave you with this:

Do not fear failure, stay curious, be innovative, be patient, create, make, but most importantly, be you. Be part of the 17% but also be part of the 100% to make this world one that makes you happy.

[javleech-blog]

New Post has been published on Jav Leech

New Post has been published on https://javleech.com/placing-human-beings-at-middle-of-pc-optimization-yields-warm-plasmas/

Placing human beings at middle of pc optimization yields warm plasmas

  If there’s one component I hate, it’s optimization. Computers do not truly recognize what they’re optimizing. And that creates problems for the whole lot from bicycles to nuclear fusion.

The system is going something like this: you have a mathematical model of a bicycle. You want your bike to carry out higher, however, there are so many matters that may be modified so that you can’t consider locating the high-quality configuration in your personal. So you write a script. The script will vary the configuration of the bicycle and compare whether it’s miles progressed. After many iterations, you have the best bike, proper?

No, you do not. What you did not imagine became that the laptop could put off the seat. Or that it’s placed, for no apparent reason, a third wheel between the (now removed) saddle and handlebars. Even worse, the silly gadget has were given the chain passing via a bit of solid metallic.

The hassle you have just discovered is that it is hard to encode what “nice” and “higher” suggest for all instances. When confronted with a problem like this—and plenty of incomprehensible motorbike components—my cussed side comes out. Surely, I can programmatically encode an all-encompassing definition of “nice” and “higher,” proper? One threatened divorce later, I give up the pursuit. At least till the next optimization trouble sucks me in.

While my example is a bit overwrought, the hassle may be very actual. Many kinds of optimization involve ways too many alternatives for someone to a song the layout, however additionally they haven’t any accurate definition of improvement that allows a computer to do it for you. This becomes the trouble facing scientists at Tri Alpha Energy and Google after they desired to optimize their alternative fusion device.

I’ll talk the fusion bit later, but, in fashionable, what you want to achieve in a fusion device is a plasma this is hot, solid, and has a selected density. If the plasma is simply too bloodless, it may not be lively enough to allow fusion. If the density is just too low, fusion can be inefficient. And, if the plasma is risky, it’ll get away confinement, probably sending large currents via the vessel partitions.

Let people determine

That may additionally sound simple, however judging the pleasant of the plasma has a subjective detail to it. For example, if the temperature drops just a tiny bit however the balance is a whole lot progressed—is that higher, worse, or about the identical? Humans make these choices instinctively, whilst computers get burdened.

In the case of Tri Alpha’s fusion setup, although, matters move alternatively slowly. Each run takes about eight mins, at the side of a couple of minutes to setup parameters. So, given the plasma generated during the previous run and the plasma of the present run, humans have almost 10 minutes to decide that’s better. Of route, for a human operator, that is in reality not sufficient time to determine, generate new parameters, and input the new running parameters into the machine.

This stimulated researchers to adopt what’s known as the “optometrist’s algorithm.” The idea is that, after every shot, a human pushes considered one of 3 buttons: things have become better, matters have become worse, and matters are approximately the same (they are large buttons, in view that they need to hold all the textual content). In anticipation, the computer builds a decision tree and prepares three one of a kind units of machine parameters. After a run of the reactor, the pc grabs all the sensor information and offers the operator with a visualization of the plasma. A short selection and one button push later, and the laptop dumps a new set of device parameters into the control computer systems for the following shot.

This set-up sounds amazing, however, there are nonetheless too many manipulate parameters that may be played with for any affordable optimization. Imagine a machine with some thousand-strange analog settings that may be adjusted—that gives you some idea of the size of the assignment. However, the researchers found out that now not all settings are unbiased; settings may be grouped such that optimization might be performed using 15-30 meta-parameters.

Even with that shortcut, optimization would nevertheless be too slow. The time among pictures is just too small for even a laptop to calculate the parameters it needs for the subsequent shot. Instead, the laptop clearly needs to be calculating a few six to seven pictures beforehand. To accomplish this, the algorithm has a choice tree that holds or is in the procedure of calculating settings an hour beforehand of the experimental time table.

The researchers confirmed that this became a pretty efficient optimization method. They advanced plasma temperatures from around 400eV to above 600eV. But, more importantly, the plasma stays warmer for a great deal longer, increasing from approximately 1.8ms to well over 3ms (the measurements cut off at 3ms). The impact of this is to increase the internet heating from a few hundred kilowatts to some 4MW.

So, a nice result. But what exactly are the researchers optimizing?

Ctrl-Alt-Fusion

I currently offered the stellarator and mentioned fusion significantly there. The stellarator and the tokamak are the handiest two designs that survived from a multitude of concepts that were explored in the 1950s and ’60s. There had been true motives some designs ended up on the discard pile: experiments failed (repeatedly), and calculations did now not give any reason for optimism.

Some of these standards are being reinvigorated now. Calculations that had been unattainable inside the ’60s are actually getting used to recheck vintage consequences. And modern engineering allows for greater bendy experimental designs, as well as a higher view of what the plasma is doing.

Tri Alpha Energy is on this recreation with what is known as a colliding beam fusion reactor. As its name shows, the basic premise is to boost up beams of particles at each different. Fusion will occur for a few teeny-tiny fraction of the collisions (and simplest a tiny portion of the particles collide). At its most simple, that is an inefficient design.

The twist on the concept—the factor that raises the hopes of replacing a number of the ones “tiny” with “larger”—is that, with the proper set of magnetic fields, the collision among the 2 plasmas generates a kind of smoke-ring of plasma. The ring of plasma then has adequate possibility to collide and fuse if it’s far not sufficient. The restricted plasma is heated by injecting greater hot particles, optimistically achieving temperatures as a way to allow fusion.

In the 2nd difference from stellarators and tokamaks, Tri Alpha Energy is fending off hydrogen-hydrogen fusion (or, greater precisely deuterium-tritium fusion). Instead, they’re trying to fuse hydrogen with boron. This creates a volatile carbon atom plus a few fantastically lively radiation. Heat and power are generated via soaking up the radiation. The advantage of this reaction is that there are not any neutrons, this means that the plasma does not irradiate the wall vessels, which could create low-degree, quick-lived radioactive elements.

Except, it’s no longer quite real. The carbon atom decays to a few alpha debris (a helium nucleus). One of the alpha debris can then fuse with boron to make nitrogen and launch, yes, a neutron. So, sure, fewer neutrons, but, in all likelihood no longer no neutrons.

That said, Tri Alpha Energy’s concept reactor is a very good piece of engineering. The organization’s experimental paintings are clearly high-quality. And its researchers worked tough to come up with doable designs that solution among the deficiencies inside the unique idea. I hope to see and hear extra from the within the close to destiny.

[lavleech-blog]

Placing human beings at middle of pc optimization yields warm plasmas

New Post has been published on https://javleech.com/placing-human-beings-at-middle-of-pc-optimization-yields-warm-plasmas/

Placing human beings at middle of pc optimization yields warm plasmas

  If there’s one component I hate, it’s optimization. Computers do not truly recognize what they’re optimizing. And that creates problems for the whole lot from bicycles to nuclear fusion.

The system is going something like this: you have a mathematical model of a bicycle. You want your bike to carry out higher, however, there are so many matters that may be modified so that you can’t consider locating the high-quality configuration in your personal. So you write a script. The script will vary the configuration of the bicycle and compare whether it’s miles progressed. After many iterations, you have the best bike, proper?

No, you do not. What you did not imagine became that the laptop could put off the seat. Or that it’s placed, for no apparent reason, a third wheel between the (now removed) saddle and handlebars. Even worse, the silly gadget has were given the chain passing via a bit of solid metallic.

The hassle you have just discovered is that it is hard to encode what “nice” and “higher” suggest for all instances. When confronted with a problem like this—and plenty of incomprehensible motorbike components—my cussed side comes out. Surely, I can programmatically encode an all-encompassing definition of “nice” and “higher,” proper? One threatened divorce later, I give up the pursuit. At least till the next optimization trouble sucks me in.

While my example is a bit overwrought, the hassle may be very actual. Many kinds of optimization involve ways too many alternatives for someone to a song the layout, however additionally they haven’t any accurate definition of improvement that allows a computer to do it for you. This becomes the trouble facing scientists at Tri Alpha Energy and Google after they desired to optimize their alternative fusion device.

I’ll talk the fusion bit later, but, in fashionable, what you want to achieve in a fusion device is a plasma this is hot, solid, and has a selected density. If the plasma is simply too bloodless, it may not be lively enough to allow fusion. If the density is just too low, fusion can be inefficient. And, if the plasma is risky, it’ll get away confinement, probably sending large currents via the vessel partitions.

Let people determine

That may additionally sound simple, however judging the pleasant of the plasma has a subjective detail to it. For example, if the temperature drops just a tiny bit however the balance is a whole lot progressed—is that higher, worse, or about the identical? Humans make these choices instinctively, whilst computers get burdened.

In the case of Tri Alpha’s fusion setup, although, matters move alternatively slowly. Each run takes about eight mins, at the side of a couple of minutes to setup parameters. So, given the plasma generated during the previous run and the plasma of the present run, humans have almost 10 minutes to decide that’s better. Of route, for a human operator, that is in reality not sufficient time to determine, generate new parameters, and input the new running parameters into the machine.

This stimulated researchers to adopt what’s known as the “optometrist’s algorithm.” The idea is that, after every shot, a human pushes considered one of 3 buttons: things have become better, matters have become worse, and matters are approximately the same (they are large buttons, in view that they need to hold all the textual content). In anticipation, the computer builds a decision tree and prepares three one of a kind units of machine parameters. After a run of the reactor, the pc grabs all the sensor information and offers the operator with a visualization of the plasma. A short selection and one button push later, and the laptop dumps a new set of device parameters into the control computer systems for the following shot.

This set-up sounds amazing, however, there are nonetheless too many manipulate parameters that may be played with for any affordable optimization. Imagine a machine with some thousand-strange analog settings that may be adjusted—that gives you some idea of the size of the assignment. However, the researchers found out that now not all settings are unbiased; settings may be grouped such that optimization might be performed using 15-30 meta-parameters.

Even with that shortcut, optimization would nevertheless be too slow. The time among pictures is just too small for even a laptop to calculate the parameters it needs for the subsequent shot. Instead, the laptop clearly needs to be calculating a few six to seven pictures beforehand. To accomplish this, the algorithm has a choice tree that holds or is in the procedure of calculating settings an hour beforehand of the experimental time table.

The researchers confirmed that this became a pretty efficient optimization method. They advanced plasma temperatures from around 400eV to above 600eV. But, more importantly, the plasma stays warmer for a great deal longer, increasing from approximately 1.8ms to well over 3ms (the measurements cut off at 3ms). The impact of this is to increase the internet heating from a few hundred kilowatts to some 4MW.

So, a nice result. But what exactly are the researchers optimizing?

Ctrl-Alt-Fusion

I currently offered the stellarator and mentioned fusion significantly there. The stellarator and the tokamak are the handiest two designs that survived from a multitude of concepts that were explored in the 1950s and ’60s. There had been true motives some designs ended up on the discard pile: experiments failed (repeatedly), and calculations did now not give any reason for optimism.

Some of these standards are being reinvigorated now. Calculations that had been unattainable inside the ’60s are actually getting used to recheck vintage consequences. And modern engineering allows for greater bendy experimental designs, as well as a higher view of what the plasma is doing.

Tri Alpha Energy is on this recreation with what is known as a colliding beam fusion reactor. As its name shows, the basic premise is to boost up beams of particles at each different. Fusion will occur for a few teeny-tiny fraction of the collisions (and simplest a tiny portion of the particles collide). At its most simple, that is an inefficient design.

The twist on the concept—the factor that raises the hopes of replacing a number of the ones “tiny” with “larger”—is that, with the proper set of magnetic fields, the collision among the 2 plasmas generates a kind of smoke-ring of plasma. The ring of plasma then has adequate possibility to collide and fuse if it’s far not sufficient. The restricted plasma is heated by injecting greater hot particles, optimistically achieving temperatures as a way to allow fusion.

In the 2nd difference from stellarators and tokamaks, Tri Alpha Energy is fending off hydrogen-hydrogen fusion (or, greater precisely deuterium-tritium fusion). Instead, they’re trying to fuse hydrogen with boron. This creates a volatile carbon atom plus a few fantastically lively radiation. Heat and power are generated via soaking up the radiation. The advantage of this reaction is that there are not any neutrons, this means that the plasma does not irradiate the wall vessels, which could create low-degree, quick-lived radioactive elements.

Except, it’s no longer quite real. The carbon atom decays to a few alpha debris (a helium nucleus). One of the alpha debris can then fuse with boron to make nitrogen and launch, yes, a neutron. So, sure, fewer neutrons, but, in all likelihood no longer no neutrons.

That said, Tri Alpha Energy’s concept reactor is a very good piece of engineering. The organization’s experimental paintings are clearly high-quality. And its researchers worked tough to come up with doable designs that solution among the deficiencies inside the unique idea. I hope to see and hear extra from the within the close to destiny.

[chuicide]

Treating Your Chickens For Lice And Mites

This article discusses how to establish parasites in your rooster coop and what you might want to do to keep your chickens and your coop free from these tiny blood sucking creatures. Mites and lice are no fun for any type of pet. These tiny creatures even appear in the backyard rooster coop, affecting the well being of your chickens which might then affect the amount and high quality of eggs they produce. Where do mites dwell? In case your chicken coop is made from timber, mites can usually be discovered dwelling within the tiny cracks and crevices of the walls of your chicken coop. Mites can stay within the timber walls for quite a very long time, emerging primarily at night-time to feed on the chickens. As unpleasant because it sounds, mites are a blood sucking type of creature that draw blood out of your poor chickens! Mites are generally black in color however will seem like extra red in color after a blood feeding from your chickens. We offered 7 alpacas that 12 months, the commission paid for all of our stud fees. Last yr we bought 6 alpacas, once more on behalf of other people. Privacy Again the stud fees have been lined. This yr so far we have already offered 7 alpacas and summer has solely simply begun. It's the most effective begin to a 12 months we've had since we started promoting and we are apparently in the middle of a credit crunch. So why have we been in a position to sell alpacas? I don’t actually know the exact causes however I feel I know several things that will have helped. Folks must know who and the place you're. You'll want to make this happen as a result of no-one else will do it for you. You want to attach with folks. Why purchase from you? What makes you different from everyone else? Honesty and integrity, without that you are not doing anyone any favours least of all your self and you can be discovered. Suppose huge, our motto is ‘You don’t have to be massive to be mighty’. Assume outside the box, be totally different, be brave. Get out there and make it happen, have faith and be constructive! So there we've it, I hope it helps. We have now massive religion in our alpacas and big faith sooner or later. Doom and gloom haven't any place amongst the mighty Patou herd. Alpacas are fabulous animals and so they produce a fabulous product. People have to know about them. We as alpaca breeders, small or massive, have a responsibility to spread the phrase. So what are you ready for?

For years, Finland has been the by-word for a successful training system, perched at the top of international league tables for literacy and numeracy. Only far jap countries akin to Singapore and China outperform the Nordic nation within the influential Programme for Worldwide Pupil Assessment (PISA) rankings. Politicians and education specialists from around the world – including the UK – have made pilgrimages to Helsinki within the hope of figuring out and replicating the secret of its success. Which makes it all the more outstanding that Finland is about to embark on one of the vital radical schooling reform programmes ever undertaken by a nation state – scrapping conventional “teaching by subject” in favour of “teaching by topic”. Pasi Silander, the city’s improvement supervisor, explained: “What we'd like now is a distinct type of training to prepare individuals for working life. Younger folks use quite advanced computers. Previously the banks had lots of bank clerks totting up figures however now that has completely modified. Subject-particular classes – an hour of historical past in the morning, an hour of geography within the afternoon – are already being phased out for 16-year-olds within the city’s upper schools.

Yard Rooster Coop - Cops Could Take Your Chickens Away! Writer: Stan Evans You might already have an area laid out on your yard hen coop. But have you ever considered the authorized issues of proudly owning chickens? Sure there's a variety of speak about proudly owning chickens. Yes they supply healthy organic eggs and you may learn that it is simple to construct a hen coop your self. But not many individuals will inform you the authorized ordinances of owning farm animals. Writer: James Harley There are such a lot of the explanation why anybody with a vacant lot and the time to spare to begin caring for chickens. Raising chickens for meat is just considered one of them. For some, waking up early in the morning to harvest recent free range eggs is most rewarding. If you happen to be only a beginner and delighted of the idea on the best way to successfully start your individual chicken farm. Backyard Chicken Coops - How Does Building Backyard Chicken Coops Change Your Life-style? Publisher: Daphne Schmitz Spending a lot of money on organic chickens and eggs? Many people are selecting to build their own backyard chicken coops to save some cash. The question, nevertheless, is how much will it actually effect your present Suri Alpacas for Sale (visit website) lifestyle?

It was the second that I have been waiting for. I could feel the emotion constructing, I am welling up penning this, how ridiculous is that? IT WAS QJORI TIME. Right here he is, the moment in my memory is all a little bit of a blur. Kathy having a very good look at Qjori, who's name brought on a little bit of an issue with the ring commentator! Qjori was awarded first place and on this picture you may see a big brown alpaca next to a big bald man quietly blubbing away as tears of joy hit the present ring floor. Simply prior to that shot I had regarded up and seen Angus leaping about with joy in the stands. It was the one that actually mattered. It was the large one. We all knew it. I could not assist myself. Subsequent was the Championship. I had already been in for the black female Championship with Ruby, the brown feminine Championship with Reeya and now I was within the brown male Championship with not solely Qjori but additionally Roger Resilient.

So, how did we get on? Well, I managed to safe the handling providers of the Silver Fox himself, Trevor Selby, collector of many gray alpaca associated rosettes, as a handler for the junior gray male class. Vickery and Wasimba were in a extremely competitive line up so I gave Vickery to Trevor, (considering that Wasimba was a bit denser, I sensed glory for myself) and I used to be very happy with a third and 4th place. The Silver Fox, moderately too smugly for my liking, took the third place rosette with Vickers. Mmm, what do I know anyway? The choose, Cathy Lloyd, stated some very nice things about them both and they will keep within the show team for the remainder of the season. Umberto and i then did 'the walk of disgrace', collectively, heads held high. It was then Tsar and Talisker time and having fired Trevor, for being a lot of a glory hunter, I took on Karen, from Amiryck, as a handler. The rooster coop system is appropriate to what you need. The trouble is quiet worthwhile and is important for people to cultivate them. The need for coop system for chickens are important. The attempt is quiet worthwhile and is critical for people to promote them. Chickens have the life as we have now and their correct care is very crucial. Hen is among the finest food delicacies all over the world. To supply a healthy rooster it is prudent to keep them in proper hygiene surroundings. The Coop plan is probably one of the best option to groom chickens. The coops plan depend upon the rooster grooming because while you groom chickens in dwelling you would require a small house but while you intend to go industrial you must have a larger room. Chickencoopplans123.com has many varieties of designs for business as well as non-public grooming of the hen. Contemplating the variety of grooming you may have constructive advice from experts regard to the area concerns. The important customized is to provide snug state of affairs for the chickens either horizontal or vertical.