China Will Send Two Robots to Study the Moon

Posted on by

China just announced new details for its Chang'e-4 lunar mission, including plans to study's the Moon's most ancient rocks for clues into its history.

THE FAR SIDE. China’s space agency is shooting for the stars. Well, more accurately, the Moon. On Wednesday, the nation shared new details on its Chang’e-4 mission during a news conference in Beijing. According to an official from China’s National Defense Science and Technology Bureau, the mission will be the first “to realize a soft landing on and inspection of” the far side of the Moon.

The launch is slated for December.

TAG-TEAMING SCIENCE. According to officials, Chang’e-4 will launch from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center aboard a Long March 3B launch vehicle. The craft will carry both a rover and a stationary lander, which should function for about three months and a year respectively. China will use a relay satellite that’s already in place to communicate with the devices once they land (because they’re on the far side, the Moon itself gets in the way of direct communication between the Earth and the devices).

#MOONGOALS. China has a few different goals for the Chang’e-4 mission. The first is to improve our understanding of the Moon’s violent history by studying its oldest rocks. The second is to test equipment for future missions. China will also use the Chang’e-4 as an opportunity to determine if the far side of the Moon would be a suitable location for a Moon-based telescope that could take images of space that are simply impossible from Earth due to the noise from our ubiquitous electronics.

ANOTHER SMALL STEP. A human hasn’t visited the Moon since 1972, but several nations are considering breaking that dry spell, China included. According to Business Insider, the nation hopes the success of the Chang’e-4 mission will pave the way to a crewed lunar landing in the future. By the time that happens, though, other nations, such as the U.S. or Russia, might have already sent crewed missions there.

READ MORE: China Says It Will Launch 2 Robots to the Far Side of the Moon in December on an Unprecedented Lunar Exploration Mission [Business Insider]

More on the Moon: 3 Reasons Why We Might Return to the Moon

The post China Will Send Two Robots to Study the Moon appeared first on Futurism.

See more here:
China Will Send Two Robots to Study the Moon

Bill Gates Says We Need New Economic Models That Take Tech Into Account

Posted on by

Supply and demand don't matter anymore. Bill Gates says that American politicians have failed to adjust to an economy based on software and code.

You couldn’t get your grubby paws on a first edition Charizard card, never seemed to find the latest action release on the shelf at Blockbuster Video, or found that you couldn’t quite afford that new Playstation game with your allowance.

The rarer something is, the more it’s worth. We learn this so-called law of supply and demand from an early age, and that largely stays true when we grow up, at least in capitalistic societies around the world.

But in a blog post published last week, Bill Gates says supply and demand is over.  It’s grown irrelevant to today’s economy, Gates argues. And he feels that many politicians have failed to take these economic shifts into account as they consider legislation and steer the country into the future.

The reason? The way a lot of the top companies make money is no longer tied to tangible stuff. Sure, some companies like Tesla are still (more or less) subject to the forces of supply and demand as they continue to drive up prices (high demand) and not sell cars (little supply), but they’re becoming the exception rather than the norm.

But for companies that deal exclusively in software, traditional notions of supply and demand just aren’t relevant anymore. To develop new software, Gates points out, all of the cost is upfront. Manufacturers of more traditional goods need to pay for parts and labor for each product they make, but a new computer program like Microsoft Word can be copied, sold, and downloaded indefinitely for the (relatively minimal) the costs of distribution and server space.

In his blog, Gates cites Capitalism Without Capital, a book that discusses how the economy is changing as more leading companies operate without tangible products. Its author asserts that digital products, so-called “intangible investment,” carry new risks for businesses and investors that aren’t accounted for in the outdated ways people think about the economy. The book presents the idea that developing software is a sunk cost because developers can’t recoup their losses the way other companies might. If Tesla goes under, for example, the company could soften the blow by selling off parts, equipment, and factories. But a software company lacks the same sort of salvageable stuff. It’s stuck with a dud software that nobody wants.

This argument doesn’t fully hold up, though. Software acquisitions happen all the time, like when a large, successful company buys the code from a small, struggling competitor. Facebook has done this so much that some politicians, such as Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina), have argued that the social media site has become a monopoly.

But not all politicians are tech-savvy enough to have an opinion on Facebook’s operations. Many fundamentally misunderstand how tech companies make money without selling products, yet are still charged with drafting economic policy. Take the hearings back in April in which Mark Zuckerberg had to answer to Congress in the wake of the Cambridge Analytica scandal — the senators and representatives showed that they have little idea about how social media companies make money, much less how to regulate them.

So even if each specific example of Gates’ argument doesn’t hold true, he’s onto something when he says that our politicians and leaders have failed to adapt to our increasingly digital economy.

As Gates points out, the Gross Domestic Product (GDP), the sum of all goods and services sold in a country that is often used as a benchmark for an economy’s well-being, doesn’t take into account any investment in intangible elements needed to make a product marketable, such as research and development or market research. And while that might not have been a huge deal two decades ago, it now matters a whole lot, as tech companies account for a much bigger portion of the U.S. economy. And it shows just how slow the government has been to adapt to the ways that the economy has changed and evolved.

Gates didn’t make specific recommendations for new economic policy, so it’s not clear what kind of actions he’d like to see from the federal government, or how exactly he thinks the country should reshape its economic priorities.

What is clear, however, is that the simplified ways we think about the economy have fallen behind the times. With laws and policies that actually match the way our economy works and the way American companies make money, legislators could craft new tax and patent laws that actually work for everyone. But if our leaders want to help the economy grow, they first need to understand it.

As Gates writes: “The idea today that anyone would need to be pitched on why software is a legitimate investment seems unimaginable, but a lot has changed since the 1980s. It’s time the way we think about the economy does, too.”

To read more about the future of the economy, click here: Advancements in AI Are Rewriting Our Entire Economy.

The post Bill Gates Says We Need New Economic Models That Take Tech Into Account appeared first on Futurism.

More:
Bill Gates Says We Need New Economic Models That Take Tech Into Account

A Robot Will Become A Real-Life Movie Star

Posted on by

Director Tony Kaye's next movie with have a robot star, an AI-powered bot that he claims will be trained in acting techniques.

UNCANNY HOLLYWOOD. In 1998, director Tony Kaye released “American History X,” an unsettling drama focused on neo-Nazis. His next project could leave viewers just as uneasy, but for a different reason: because of its star, an artificially intelligent robot.

CAN BOTS HAVE COMEDIC TIMING? On Wednesday, Deadline published a report revealing that Kaye plans to cast a robot as the lead in “2nd Born,” a sequel to the 2018 indie comedy “1st Born.”

The report doesn’t include many specifics on the robot star, other than that it will learn various acting methods and techniques prior to filming. However, Kaye hopes the performance will be enough to earn the bot recognition from the Screen Actors Guild (SAG), meaning it could conceivably go up against human actors come awards season.

A DARING DEBUT. This isn’t the first example of a robot infiltrating the film industry. Bots are already writing scripts, performing stunts, and creating mind-bending visual effects. It was really only a matter of time before a robot star stepped in front of the camera.

Granted, the project could be a disaster — the performance could end up being a bit *robotic* — but Kaye has never really shied away from risks. So there’s a good chance his direction will be enough to breathe life into his lifeless star’s debut performance.

READ MORE: Filmmaker Tony Kaye Casts Robot as Lead Actor in Next Feature [Deadline]

More on AI filmmaking: Artificial Intelligence Is Automating Hollywood. Now, Art Can Thrive.

The post A Robot Will Become A Real-Life Movie Star appeared first on Futurism.

Read more from the original source:
A Robot Will Become A Real-Life Movie Star

Baseball Players Are Sick of Fallible Umpires. Robots Should Make Calls Instead.

Posted on by

A baseball player got ejected from a game after saying that players would prefer an electronic strike zone to human umpires.

YOU’RE OUTTA HERE. On Tuesday, Ben Zobrist, second baseman for the Chicago Cubs, got into an argument with an umpire and said probably the last thing any worker wants to hear: a robot could do your job better than you.

To be fair, Zobrist was frustrated. In the sixth inning of a game against the Milwaukee Brewers, umpire Phil Cuzzi had called Zobrist out on strikes. Zobrist thought the calls were bogus. As he explained to reporters after the game, he told Cuzzi between innings, “That’s why, you know, we want an electronic strike zone.” The comment earned the 13-year veteran of Major League Baseball (MLB) his first career ejection.

WE HAVE THE TECHNOLOGY. If you’ve watched a professional baseball game on television in the last decade or so, you’ve seen an overlayed graphic that shows exactly where each pitch travels relative to home plate. Viewers can instantly tell from this graphic if the pitch is within the batter’s strike zone — the area above home plate between the hitter’s knees and midsection.

The system that makes this possible is PITCHf/x, and it’s installed in every single MLB ballpark. Using three permanently mounted cameras, the system can determine the trajectory, speed, and type (e.g., fastball, slider) of every pitch. It’s accurate within one mile per hour and one inch.

But still, MLB is still wary of using an electronic strike zone to determine balls and strikes during gameplay.

“When you take away the home plate umpire’s control over the strike zone, you take away a principal piece of his authority in terms of managing the whole game,” Commissioner of Baseball Rob Manfred told sports journal The Athletic in May. “You really need to think carefully about whether you want to make that change.”

UMP VS. MACHINE. The problem is humans really aren’t all that great at the task of calling pitches, or at least not as good as an electronic strike zone.

For a 2016 episode of the HBO series Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel, Yale professor Toby Moskowitz studied nearly a million MLB pitches, comparing them to the PITCHf/x data. He found that umpires incorrectly called about 12 percent of pitches.

“Why do millions of people sitting at home get to know whether or not it was a ball or strike, yet the poor dude behind home plate is the one who’s left in the dark?” asked MLB Network analyst and former outfielder Eric Byrnes during the episode.

Clearly, Zobrist has the same question, but other players might want to think twice about asking it during a game. Based on Manfred’s interview, the MLB seems to be warming up to the idea of an electronic strike zone little by little. So it might not be too much longer before umpires have to hand over their strike zone authority to robots.

READ MORE: Baseball Players Want Robots to Be Their Umps [MIT Technology Review]

More on automation: Experts Answer: Who Is Actually Going to Suffer From Automation?

The post Baseball Players Are Sick of Fallible Umpires. Robots Should Make Calls Instead. appeared first on Futurism.

Go here to see the original:
Baseball Players Are Sick of Fallible Umpires. Robots Should Make Calls Instead.

We’ll Soon Have A Telescope That Will Show Us the Edge of the Universe

Posted on by

Construction has begun on the Giant Magellan Telescope (GMT), a telescope that will be the most powerful in the world once completed in 2024.

BIG DAY. We can now put a price tag on a view of the edge of the universe: $1 billion.

That’s what it’s going to cost to build the Giant Magellan Telescope, and we’re officially on our way to bringing the massive device to fruition.

Image Credit: GMTO

BIG TELESCOPE. On Tuesday, GMTO Corporation (GMTO), the company spearheading the project, announced it had begun construction on the telescope at Las Campanas Observatory in Chile.

Once completed, the massive device will consist of seven round mirrors arranged like a honeycomb that measure a total of 24 meters (80 feet) in diameter. An advanced computer program will help it correct the distortion caused by Earth’s atmosphere. This combination of sophisticated hardware and software will make the Giant Magellan Telescope will be 10 times as precise as the Hubble telescope.

Image Credit: GMTO

BIG QUESTIONS. The Giant Magellan Telescope should be online and ready for use in 2024, but researchers already have big plans for the device.

Because it will be able to collect more light than any telescope every built, including light from the edge of the universe, the device will allow us to determine the distance of far-off objects from the Earth and their composition.

According to the Giant Magellan Telescope website, this improved view of our universe could help answer many of the greatest questions of modern astronomy, including how galaxies form, the nature of dark matter and dark energy, and how stars formed after the Big Bang.

It might even be able to help answer the question pondered by nearly everyone who’s ever looked at the night sky: Are we alone in the universe?

READ MORE: The Latest in a New Generation of Giant Telescopes Broke Ground This Week [Quartz]

More on forthcoming telescopes: The Latest Super Telescopes Will Let You See Space Like Never Before

The post We’ll Soon Have A Telescope That Will Show Us the Edge of the Universe appeared first on Futurism.

Read the original post:
We’ll Soon Have A Telescope That Will Show Us the Edge of the Universe

A New CRISPR Technique Let Researchers Repair a Genetic Mutation in Viable Human Embryos

Posted on by

Researchers have used a CRISPR technique called base editing to effectively repair the mutation that causes Marfan Syndrome.

IMPROVED ODDS. A new CRISPR technique could prevent humans from passing on a potentially life-threatening disorder, according to Chinese researchers.

An estimated 1 in 5,000 people across the globe suffers from Marfan Syndrome, a genetic disorder that affects the body’s connective tissue. The disorder can cause issues throughout the body, from the heart to the eyes to the brain, and some of those issues can be fatal.

If a person has Marfan Syndrome, there’s a 50 percent chance their child will too. But according to a new study published in Molecular Therapy, CRISPR might be able to improve those odds.

THE OLD WAY. Typically, CRISPR works a lot like a word processor’s cut and paste function; a researcher can use the tool to target a specific spot in an organism’s genetic code, cut the DNA strands, and either insert a new gene into the gap or let the strands repair themselves.

Unfortunately, past research has shown that these cuts to both strands of DNA can produce unwanted edits and potentially even cause cancer.

The Chinese researchers didn’t use CRISPR in the typical way, though. Instead, they tried something called “base editing,” a technique that scientists have known about since 2016. With base editing, the CRISPR system simply changes one DNA letter to another (for example, swapping an A for a G). Previous studies have shown that base editing appears to cause fewer unwanted edits than the traditional method. But they weren’t sure it would work on human DNA.

THE BETTER WAY? The researchers behind the current study decided to test base editing on the mutation that causes Marfan Syndrome, because all it should take to correct it is changing the G in the FBN1 gene to a healthy A.

And it mostly seemed go as planned. According to the study, the researchers were able to correct the mutation that causes Marfan Syndrome in 18 viable human embryos — embryos created by joining a sperm and an egg that doctors could conceivably implant into a person to induce pregnancy.

Two of the embryos, however, exhibited unintended changes — a C changed to a T. But the researchers are still cautiously optimistic.

“Overall, this pilot study provided proof of concept, and opened the potential of base editing-based gene therapy,” researcher Xingxu Huang of ShanghaiTech University told STAT. “Nevertheless, there is still a long way to go to use it in IVF clinics.”

READ MORE: Newest Form of CRISPR Corrects Genetic Disease in Viable Human Embryos, With Few Errors [STAT]

More on CRISPR: CRISPR Could Help Us Cure Diseases. It Could Also Cause Cancer.

The post A New CRISPR Technique Let Researchers Repair a Genetic Mutation in Viable Human Embryos appeared first on Futurism.

See the original post:
A New CRISPR Technique Let Researchers Repair a Genetic Mutation in Viable Human Embryos

Facebook Helps Landlords Discriminate Against Minorities, Says U.S. Government

Posted on by

Facebook is breaking the law by allowing advertisers to create and post discriminatory ads, says the federal agency in charge of housing.

ENABLING DISCRIMINATION. Facebook is (once again) in the doghouse with the U.S. government. This time it’s because of the company’s advertising practices. Last week, Axios reported that the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) filed a complaint against Facebook for enabling advertisers to discriminate against certain protected classes of people.

In 1968, the U.S. government passed the Fair Housing Act, a piece of legislation that makes it illegal for a landlord or seller to consider some information, such as a person’s race, gender, or disability status, when deciding whether to rent or sell housing to that person.

If you have a Facebook account, Facebook already has a lot of personal information on you, including many of the characteristics protected by the Fair Housing Act. The problem, as HUD sees it, is that Facebook allows advertisers to filter out who sees their ads based on those characteristics. For example, an advertiser can choose to only show their ads to men or people of a certain religion.

According to the HUD complaint, these discriminatory ads violate the Fair Housing Act.

WE’VE BEEN HERE BEFORE. This isn’t the first time someone has accused Facebook of facilitating discriminatory advertising practices. In 2016, ProPublica criticized the social media platform for allowing advertisers to filter ads for housing and employment based on user ethnicity.

At the time, Facebook agreed to disable the “ethnic affinity” targeting for ads that involve housing, employment, or credit. But clearly, disabling that tool hasn’t stopped the discrimination altogether, though a spokesperson told Axios that Facebook is working on it.

“There is no place for discrimination on Facebook; it’s strictly prohibited in our policies. Over the past year we’ve strengthened our systems to further protect against misuse,” the spokesperson told Axios. “We’re aware of the statement of interest filed and will respond in court; and we’ll continue working directly with HUD to address their concerns.”

WASHINGTON’S LEAD. It’s impossible to guess how many people might have missed out on housing opportunities based on Facebook’s ad filtering options. A lawsuit filed by civil rights groups earlier this year led Facebook to end the ability of advertisers in Washington state to filter ads by protected criteria, including sex, race, and disability status. Now that the issue is on the federal government’s radar, we could see a nationwide revision of the system.

READ MORE: Housing Department Charges Facebook Ads Discriminate [Axios]

More on Facebook: It’s Official: The FTC Is Investigating Facebook

The post Facebook Helps Landlords Discriminate Against Minorities, Says U.S. Government appeared first on Futurism.

The rest is here:
Facebook Helps Landlords Discriminate Against Minorities, Says U.S. Government

Ethereum Co-Founder Joseph Lubin Says Speculators Driving …

Posted on by

Ethereum co-founder Joseph Lubin said this past years surge in the value of digital currencies was a bubble and the burgeoning ecosystem is stronger because of it even as prices tumble.

Weve seen six big bubbles, each more epic than the previous one, and each bubble is astonishing when theyre happening but when you look back they look like pimples on a chart, Lubin said during an interview on Bloomberg Television. With each of these bubbles we have a tremendous surge of activity and thats what were seeing right now.

Lubin, who is the chief executive officer at ConsenSys Inc., said developer activity rose by two orders of magnitude since prices jumped last year. He added that trader types are driving volatility and isnt concerned that the slump in prices will slow down the development of core infrastructure and adoption.

After leaving Ethereum, a blockchain-based platform for smart contracts and applications, Lubin founded ConsenSys, which helps startups build on top of the Ethereum network.

Lubin said ConsenSys has 1,100 employees who build infrastructure for the Ethereum ecosystem, and focus on products, consulting for enterprises, governments and central banks, and capital market activity. He said it cost under $100 million to run ConsenSys last year and the figure will be higher this year.

Ether skyrocketed over $1,000 in February in part as startups built projects on top of the Ethereum blockchain and sold digital tokens in exchange for Ether in crowd sales known as initial coin offerings. Now, some of those projects are cashing out, contributing to Ethers slump. The token has tumbled by as much as 27 percent this week, the biggest two-day drop since February. The price slumped to as low as $251, the lowest since November.

Lubin foresees a future where Ethereum will be significant among hundreds of other protocols, which will co-exist.

This is what it feels like to be living in exponential times, he said.

See original here:

Ethereum Co-Founder Joseph Lubin Says Speculators Driving ...

The Politically Incorrect Guide to Darwinism and …

Posted on by

Why Darwinismlike Marxism and Freudianism before itis headed for extinction

In the 1925 Scopes trial, the American Civil Liberties Union sued to allow the teaching of Darwins theory of evolution in public schools. Seventy-five years later, in Kitzmiller v. Dover, the ACLU sued to prevent the teaching of an alternative to Darwins theory known as "Intelligent Design"and won. Why did the ACLU turn from defending the free-speech rights of Darwinists to silencing their opponents? Jonathan Wells reveals that, for todays Darwinists, there may be no other choice: unable to fend off growing challenges from scientists, or to compete with rival theories better adapted to the latest evidence, Darwinismlike Marxism and Freudianism before itis simply unfit to survive.

Wells begins by explaining the basic tenets of Darwinism, and the evidence both for and against it. He reveals, for instance, that the fossil record, which according to Darwin should be teeming with "transitional" fossils showing the development of one species to the next, so far hasnt produced a single incontestable example. On the other hand, certain well-documented aspects of the fossil recordsuch as the Cambrian explosion, in which innumerable new species suddenly appeared fully formeddirectly contradict Darwins theory. Wells also shows how most of the other "evidence" for evolution including textbook "icons" such as peppered moths, Darwins finches, Haeckels embryos, and the Tree of Lifehas been exaggerated, distorted . . . and even faked.

Wells then turns to the theory of intelligent design (ID), the idea that some features of the natural world, such as the internal machinery of cells, are too "irreducibly complex" to have resulted from unguided natural processes alone. In clear-cut laymans language, he reveals the growing evidence for ID coming out of scientific specialties from microbiology to astrophysics. As Wells explains, religion does play a role in the debate over Darwinthough not in the way evolutionists claim. Wells shows how Darwin reasoned that evolution is true because divine creation "must" be falsea theological assumption oddly out of place in a scientific debate. In other words, Darwinists materialistic, atheistic assumptions rule out any theories but their own, and account for their willingness to explain away the evidenceor lack of it.

Darwin is an emperor who has no clothes but it takes a brave man to say so. Jonathan Wells, a microbiologist with two Ph.D.s (from Berkeley and Yale), is that brave man. Most textbooks on evolution are written by Darwinists with an ideological ax to grind. Brave dissidentsqualified scientistswho try to teach or write about intelligent design are silenced and sent to the academic gulag. But fear not: Jonathan Wells is a liberator. He unmasks the truth about Darwinism why it is wrong and what the real evidence is. He also supplies a revealing list of "Books Youre Not Supposed to Read" (as far as the Darwinists are concerned) and puts at your fingertips all the evidence you need to challenge the most closed-minded Darwinist.

More here:

The Politically Incorrect Guide to Darwinism and ...

Aerospace | Middle Tennessee State University

Posted on by

On behalf of the faculty of the Department of Aerospace, welcome to Middle Tennessee State University (MTSU). We are very proud of our department and our graduates. Established in 1942, the Aerospace Department is now a signature department at MTSU and has grown into one of the most respected aerospace programs in the nation. Fifteen full-time faculty members, 35 flight instructors, and over 700 majors places it among the largest of the nation's collegiate aviation programs. Students from 32 states and 16 foreign countries have been drawn to study here. Aerospace graduates hold responsible positions with companies throughout the United States and Internationally

Come to MTSU, major in Aerospace, and choose among six concentrations: Aviation Administration, Aerospace Technology, Flight Dispatch, Maintenance Management, Professional Pilot, and Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) Operations. A Master's degree in Aeronautical Science, with concentrations in Aviation Education, Aviation Management, and Aviation Safety and Security Management is also offered. Each of these concentrations prepares the graduate for a career in a specific area of the aerospace industry.

In addition, to the above concentrations, the Aerospace Department offers an Air Traffic Control add-on program.This program allows graduates to be recommended to the FAA for Air Traffic Controller training and hiring. The ATC program is independent of the six Aerospace concentrations, allowing any MTSU Aerospace student to enter the program.

The MTSU Aerospace faculty represents a broad range of experience and education. Most faculty are pilots in addition to having a field of specialization. The faculty members are widely recognized and respected within the industry for their knowledge and experience. They are also well known for their willingness to work with and advise students, giving these students the benefit of their real world and real life experience.

The mission of the Aerospace Department is to prepare our students to become the leaders of the next generation of aviation professionals by developing the knowledge, skills, and attitudes necessary for successful careers in aviation.

The Aerospace Department endeavors to provide a challenging, collegial, and safe educational experience. To support our safety culture, submit safety related issues via the Aerospace Department Safety Reporting Form.

Read the original here:

Aerospace | Middle Tennessee State University

BioShock (Video Game) – TV Tropes

Posted on by

"There's always a lighthouse. There's always a man, there's always a city..."

Andrew Ryan

BioShock is a video game series developed by Irrational Games (also known as 2K Boston for a short while before reverting back to the old name). The series acts as a Spiritual Successor to the System Shock games, and as such are technically First Person Shooters with Stat Grinding and Survival Horror elements. Fighting is done primarily with guns, but also with various element-themed mutant abilities.

BioShock takes place in an alternative history Bio Punk with a heavy dose of Diesel Punk. Similarly to System Shock, the plot unfolds in a Soiled City on a Hill, now under the control of a lunatic with a God complex. Again, the general backstory of the city elaborated on in Apocalyptic Logs scattered about. There are heavy ethical or philosophical themes in the games this time around: The first two chapters meditate on the ethics of gene editing, Objectivism versus Collectivism, and innate human power-drive which overrides good sense, among other things.

The third chapter deals with issues such as American Exceptionalism, interventionism, fundamentalism, secularism, and a great many more "isms", plus the tendency of revolutions to replace one tyrant with another.

There are three games in the series so far:

An Updated Re-release of Infinite containing all DLCs came out in November 2014. Another rerelease compiling all three games (minus the multiplayer elements of BioShock 2) came out on September 13, 2016 for the X Box One and PlayStation 4, and on September 15 for PC.

"So far away from your family, from your friends, from everything you ever loved. But, for some reason you like it here. You feel something you can't quite put your finger on. Think about it for a second and maybe the word will come to you: nostalgia."

Brute Splicer: You ain't natural!

Female Splicer: Freak!

Another Female Splicer: YOU'RE INSANE!

Andrew Ryan: In the end, the only thing that matters to me, is me. And the only thing that matters to you, is you.

Mary: Capital punishment! In Rapture! This isn't what I signed up for!

Jim: Now hold on there, pretty lady! The only people who face capital punishment in Rapture are smugglers. And that's because they put everything we've worked for at risk. Imagine if the Soviets found out about our wonderful city, or even the U.S. government! Our secrecy is our shield.

Mary: A little capital punishment is a small price to pay to protect all of our freedoms.

Jim: Now you're talking, Mary!

Baby Jane: I used to be beautiful, what happened to me?

Gatherer's Garden machine: My daddy's smarter than Einstein, stronger than Hercules, and can light a fire with a snap of his fingers. Are you as good as my daddy, mister?

Andrew Ryan: I know this facility is vital to the preservation of secrecy in Rapture. But seeing myself transformed into that... lurching, waxen nightmare... Do children truly respond to this? Still, I spoke to a young man exiting the park after the grand opening, asking him what, if anything, he had learned here. He said his chores didn't seem so bad anymore - as long as mother wouldn't send him to the surface.

The game presents the Little Sisters as a moral choice, but the way it reacts to those choices makes it less moral and more practical - if you harvest one, you get more ADAM right now. If you rescue one, you get less ADAM immediately - but for every three Little Sisters you rescue, you get a gift at the nearest plasmid vendor containing only a little less ADAM than you would have gained by harvesting, plus a couple plasmids or gene tonics, including a few you can't get any other way. So the only real reason to harvest Little Sisters is just because you're a bastard. The sequel is mildly better in this regard: you get a fair bit more ADAM for harvesting than rescuing, about three entire rescued Sisters worth.

Atlas: Why do they wear those masks? Maybe there's a part of them that remembers how they used to be, how they used to look. And they're ashamed.

"We all make choices, but in the end, our choices make us."

See the rest here:

BioShock (Video Game) - TV Tropes

Vintage baby names that need to make a comeback

Posted on by

From Wonderland onward, Alice has been an iconic name, symbolizing everything from psychedelic rabbit holes to key figures in contemporary literature. In addition to Lewis Carroll's heroine, there's novelist Alice Walker of The Color Purple fame, as well as Alice B. Toklas, partner of iconic poet Gertrude Stein. To say nothing of rocker Alice Cooper and groundbreaking grunge band Alice in Chains, if that's more your speed.

Technically, Alice is actually a nickname in itself, and one with interestingly mixed roots. Though it hails from the German Adelaide, which also appears on this list, it's an anglicized derivative of the French name Aalis.

Alice was the number 25 female name on the Nameberry site as of 2017. Though its own contemporary derivatives like Alyssa and Alicia are far more popular, Alice is rapidly coming back into the mainstream. Actress and writer Tina Fey and musician Jeff Richmondchose it as a name for their daughter, as didactor Tom Cavanagh and his wife, Sports Illustrated photo editorMaureen Grise.

The name is both a classic choice and a unique choice, and if you're choosing it for its Lewis Carrollian associations, you can at least rest assured that there's no chance your baby is going to turn into a pig, like the babe that the fictional Alice was tasked with caring for.

Go here to read the rest:

Vintage baby names that need to make a comeback

The Red Heads – 7,207 Photos – Performing Arts – Montreal …

Posted on by

CELINE DION CARTOON CONTEST

We are proud to join forces with the Cline Dion Cartoon Facebook and Instagram page in offering you a nice little contest. Join us for a chance to win 10 x 1 exclusive postcards! How to participate? Just follow these 4 steps :1. Like this publication ;...2. Subscribe to The Red Heads and "Cline Dion Cartoon" Facebook pages ;3. Follow @celinedionaddicts and @celinedioncartoon Instagram pages ;4. Comment the publication of the contest on the "Cline Dion Cartoon" Facebook page or Instagram account by tagging three people. Warning! Do not mix steps 1 and 4 : you must LIKE the Red Heads publication and COMMENT the "Cline Dion Cartoon" one.A draw will be hold on Friday, August 31st, 2018 at 8:00 PM (Paris time). The 10 winners will be announced in the comments section of this post.The same competition will be repeated in September and October with a chance to win 20 more postcards. Stay tuned on the Red Heads page and on the Cline Dion Cartoon page!

-----

CONCOURS CELINE DION CARTOONNous sommes fiers de collaborer avec la page Facebook et Instagram Cline Dion Cartoon en vous proposant un petit concours. A gagner : 10 x 1 cartes postales exclusives ! Comment participer ? Il suffit de suivre ces 4 tapes :1. Likez la prsente publication ;2. Abonnez-vous aux pages Facebook The Red Heads et Cline Dion Cartoon ;3. Suivez les comptes Instagram @celinedionaddicts et @celinedioncartoon ;4. Commentez la publication du concours sur la page Facebook ou sur le compte Instagram Cline Dion Cartoon en identifiant trois personnes. Attention ! Ne mlangez pas les tapes 1 et 4 : il faut LIKER cette publication des Red Heads et COMMENTER celle de Cline Dion Cartoon . Un tirage au sort sera ralis le vendredi 31 aot 20h00 (heure de Paris). Les 10 gagnants seront annoncs dans la foule en commentaire de la prsente publication.Le mme concours sera rpt en septembre et en octobre avec donc, en jeu, 20 autres cartes postales. Restez lafft sur la page des Red Heads et sur la page Cline Dion Cartoon !

Read the original post:

The Red Heads - 7,207 Photos - Performing Arts - Montreal ...

About – Pure Nootropics

Posted on by

Pure Nootropics was started in 2013 by health and fitness enthusiasts with an interest in improving their own cognition and brain function. Lacking good information and transparent providers, we decided to source the nootropics ourselves.

The philosophy of Pure Nootropics is to provide only the highest quality nootropic products. To do this, we rigorously test the purity and vet suppliers thoroughly. We achieve transparency by working within the nootropic community, existing customers, and using third party labs to verify our findings.

We also believe in providing the most honest information about nootropics. Not everybody needs to take nootropics in order to improve their cognition and we will guide you in the right direction even if it is away from our products. Guides and tutorials on our blog and email newsletter will help you to track results and take nootropics safely.

You will notice that we do not have a wide variety of products to offer. If we cannot find a better supplier that is safer than what exists, we will not sell it. Simple as that.

Link:

About - Pure Nootropics

Buy Bulk Nootropics Online at SmartPowders.com

Posted on by

Sale!Smart Powders Phenibut 500mg/100 caps Nootropics, Sleep Aid.

Limited Launch Special Drop down box has Buy 2 get 1 Free What is Phenibut? Phenibut (-Phenyl--aminobutyric acid) is a naturally occurring derivative ofGABAand is commonly sold in some countries under the nameNoofenas a neuropsychotropic substance. It has superior blood-brain barrier penetration due to the addition of a phenyl ring, allowing it to impart []

Limited time offer (free 100ct Noopept) Orange BrainWash: Nootropic, Energy, Focus & Mood Enhancer Orange Brainwash has been formulated using cutting-edge science to combine molecules that work together synergistically to give you clean, long-lasting, razor-sharp focus with no jitters and no crash. Thoroughly researched ingredients like caffeine are combined with Alpha GPC and Bacopa to []

300mg alpha gpc 200mg theanine 1000mg tyrosine SerinAid Phosphatidylserine Huperzine 150mg Vinpocetine 7.5 mg Caffeine Energy Matrix (teacrine and Rhodiola) Fire Up Energy Levels, Boost Confidence, Motivation And Raw Drive! REBEL Performance introduces FocusFURY, an untamed game changer in the field of cognitive enhancement. Unleash the fire inside you with its unparalleled ability []

What is COMPEL? If you are an athlete, a business professional, a student, a gym rat, or someone simply looking to optimize mental function, COMPEL can help you seize the day, every day. COMPEL is the ultimate nootropic formula and wont cause dependency or withdrawals. COMPEL contains proven non-stimulant ingredients to help: Optimize Neurotransmitter Function []

*AlphaSize 50WSP Water Soluble. Perfect for putting in any drinks or liquids. Alpha-GPC is composed of 50% choline: it is a great source for those with choline deficiencies or nootropic users seeking to increase bioavailable choline levels. What is Alpha GPC? Alpha-GPC (L-Alpha glycerylphosphorylcholine or choline alfoscerate) is a metabolite and phospholipid precursor of the []

L-Theanine is an amino acid naturally found in green tea that promotes relaxation without the drowsiness or negative side effects associated with other calming agents. L-Theanine also supports healthy cardiovascular function through this relaxing effect as well as its antioxidant properties. Look for Theanine and other NOW products in health food stores nationwide. Vcaps is []

DMAE (dimethylaminoethanol) is a natural amino alcohol that is found in minute quantities in the brain. It is generally regarded as a precursor to choline, which is needed for the brain to produce acetylcholine, a neurotransmitter involved in nerve signal transmission and healthy brain function. Taken as a maintenance supplement, it works synergistically with other []

Antaeus Labs Queen Bee Acid Queen Bee Acid May Benefit: Nootropic Stress Worry Memory Longevity Modular Series Queen Bee Acid is a supplement with potential nootropic and exercise-mimetic effects. Nootropics also called smart drugs are generally taken for perceived mental benefits such as improvements in memory, mood, focus, or motivation. Royal jelly is []

Gain Fast 3100,Banana Anabolic Weight Gain Supplement. Get Big Quick Formula. Engineered for Maximum Gains in Mass & Size. High in Protein & Complex Carbs. Who We Are: Universal Nutrition has been providing cutting edge and staple nutritional supplements to bodybuilders and hard training athletes the world over since 1977. As time passes, certain ideals []

Description Dietary Supplement N-Acetyl L-Tyrosine is a more rapidly absorbed and bioavailable form of the amino acid L-tyrosine and is less prone to urinary excretion. L-Tyrosine is converted in the body to key biologic compounds including epinephrine dopamine L-dopa CoQ10 thyroid hormones and melanin. The B vitamins pyridoxine (B-6) and folic acid are provided to []

Description Enhances Mental Concentration Attention Excellence Results Bio Align Dietary Supplement Suggested Use For ages 5 and up. Take as follows depending on your childs weight: <75 lb. = 1 to 2 tablets daily 75 to 125 lb. = 2 to 3 tablets daily >125 lb. = 3 to 4 tablets daily. Other Ingredients Stearic []

Description BioAlign Dietary Supplement Supports A Good Mood St. Johns Positive Thoughts combines mood-soothing herbs calming factors and uplifting amino acids. It contains standardized herbal extracts of St. Johns wort yielding 0.3% hypericin and valerian yielding 0.8% valerenic acids. It also features Relora GABA magnesium and the amino acids taurine N-acetyl L-tyrosine L-theanine and L-phenylalanine. []

Description Dietary Supplement Source Naturals Phosphatidyl Choline provides premium quality and potency. This product has been concentrated to contain 3 times the phosphatidyl choline found in ordinary lecithin. This special soy lecithin also contains phosphatidyl inositol phosphatidyl ethanolamine and related phosphorus-containing lipids. Phosphatidyl choline is a naturally occurring molecule that is composed of choline phosphoric []

Description For Learning and Memory Dietary Supplement Magtein. Think Clearly Magnesium (Mg) plays an essential role in supporting cognitive function and brain health. Preliminary research suggests that Magtein (magnesium L-threonate) may provide more magnesium to the brain than other forms of magnesium. It is theorized that this is the reason why Magtein was shown in []

Description Dietary Supplement Promotes Cerebral Metabolism Research suggests vinpocetine may improve cognitive performance and short-term memory loss that is sometimes experienced with stress or aging. Animal studies have shown that vinpocetine significantly increases circulatory parameters including total cerebral blood flow. Suggested Use 1 tablet 1 to 3 times daily with food. Do not exceed three []

Read more:

Buy Bulk Nootropics Online at SmartPowders.com

Nuclear Medicine – Molecular Imaging – Nuclear Medicine …

Posted on by

TRUE DISCOVERY AWAITS

It takes a certain mind to go in search of true discovery. In nuclear medicine, they are the clinical researchers looking to set new standards of care, the practitioners working to deliver better outcomes for the patients they see every day and the cardiologists seeking a better understanding of the heart. While they all have the same goal, their needs are different and cant all be met with one system or technology.

Nuclear medicine is an excellent choice for physicians at the forefront of medicine. It has a wide range of available radioisotopes with various energy emission levels and longer half-lives. It also has the flexibility to explore multiple pathways in a single session. These are some of the reasons why we made a commitment to realizing the full potential of and growing this modality.

This commitment involves making nuclear medicine technology more accessible and enabling it to provide results that are more valuable to referring physicians. It means driving down daily operational costs and innovating in four key areas: image quality, dose reduction, exam speeds and quantitative applications. All with the end result of enabling better clinical and economic outcomes.

It also includes our vision for a fully digital nuclear medicine experience. An experience that starts with best-in-class hardware and software that collects your data in the cloud and then converts that data into actionable insights through deep learning and analytics. All of our systems are designed to leverage this fully digital vision right away. If you are interested in digital detection technology as well, you can choose between a system already fitted with CZT-based digital detectors or an adaptable, digital-detection-ready system.

No matter what nuclear medicine technology you choose, you will have the tools you need to go in search of true discovery.

Accurate quantitation

High image quality

Short exams

Dose efficiency

Expanded access

Fully digital experience

See more here:

Nuclear Medicine - Molecular Imaging - Nuclear Medicine ...

Factor Five: Transforming the Global Economy through 80% …

Posted on by

"As economic, environmental, and security imperatives converge, advanced resource productivity is quickly rising to the top of the global agenda. But let's make no little plans: new technologies, artfully combined via integrative design, can now quintuple the work wrung from energy, water, and other resources. Building on our 1997 collaboration in Factor Four, and cross-pollinating with new findings from around the world, this exciting synthesis combines a powerful efficiency toolkit with farsighted policy insights - vital to ensure that efficiency's gains are not offset but reinforced to create a richer, fairer, safer, and cooler world." Amory B. Lovins, Chairman and Chief Scientist, Rocky Mountain Institute, USA, Co-Author of 'Factor Four'

"This book shows once again, even to the most conservative critics, that not only are significant improvements possible, they are profitable, and when coupled with the understanding that reducing environmental devastation is critical, provide a vital message of hope for the future." Hunter Lovins, President, Natural Capitalism Solutions, Co-Author of 'Factor Four'

"The fivefold increase of resource productivity described in this book is impressive, but perfectly feasible, and it would give the world a bit more time to learn how to adapt." Dennis Meadows, Co-author Limits to Growth and 2009 Japan Prize Laureate

"The exciting thing about Factor Five is the combination of boldness and realism, precisely what is needed to get civilization back onto an economic path that is environmentally sustainable." Lester R. Brown, President, Earth Policy Institute

"The potential to reduce emissions by 80% on an economically viable basis is good news for world leaders and their negotiators on climate change." Dr R K Pachauri, Chairman, Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)

"Factor Five is the clearest non-partisan handbook on ecological renaissance available to date and should be read by every policymaker and practitioner." Professor Calestous Juma, Harvard Kennedy School

"The arrival of Factor Five couldn't be more timely - or more significant." Jonathon Porritt, Founding Director, Forum for the Future, UK

"The mounting concern about climate change has distracted attention from the fact that CO2 emissions are just part of the existential problem facing humanity. We need urgently to reduce our use of ALL the resources, not just fossil fuels. This new book is the best point of departure I know for doing that. The fivefold increase of resource productivity it describes is impressive, but perfectly feasible, and it would give the world a bit more time to learn how to adapt to ecological collapse. The book has two especially important innovations. The authors deal seriously with the rebound effect, and they base their scenarios on a long term trajectory of rising energy prices." Dennis Meadows, Co-author Limits to Growth and 2009 Japan Prize Laureate

"Is it possible to imagine a world where we can actually phase out fossil fuels before the climate phases us out? It's now feasible by reading Factor Five." Peter Newman, Professor of Sustainability, Curtin University and author of Resilient Cities

"[There can be] no sustainable development without a sustainable development of companies. Factor Five provides compelling arguments and examples that sustainable business is achievable and profitable on a large scale and that companies play a key role in creating sustainable development. Factor Five confirms the crucial role of increasing eco-efficiency to foster sustainable development." Stefan Schaltegger, Professor of Sustainability Management, Leuphana University, Germany

"The world needs radical eco-innovation to shape an opportunity out of the current crisis. This book provides excellent key examples in a systems perspective. Written by radical thinkers with a unique experience on how change can be managed, this book is a must-reading for both leaders and academics." Prof. Dr. Raimund Bleischwitz, Wuppertal Institute, Co-Director 'Material Flows and Resource Management' Professor at the College of Europe, Bruges/Belgium

"Some may have ignored the message of Factor Four 15 years ago. We can no longer afford to ignore it, and should now embrace the strengthened message of Factor Five." Professor Bedrich Moldan, Senator, Czech Republic, Former Chairman, European Environment Agency, and former Czechoslovak Environment Minister

"We are living in the most exciting era of human history. We are in the process of expanding our perspectives from a focus on short-term economic and materialistic growth to a whole-system approach with true, long-term happiness for all at its core. We are adding the need for 'sufficiency' to 'efficiency' and 'productivity' in our discussions on how to reduce human impacts on the Earth. Economy and ecology are not an 'either-or' trade-off. We now know that both are critical in every aspect of society. We must advance science and technology based on values and vision. The 'leapfrog' effect should be promoted in developing nations-not only in terms of technology but also in terms of lifestyles and societal values. Our urgent imperative is to figure out how to maximize happiness while minimizing environmental impacts. Factor Five provides the West and East alike with a compass to set our visions and to measure our progress." Junko Edahiro, Environmental Affairs Journalist, co-Chief Executive, Japan for Sustainability

"Factor Five is the clearest non-partisan handbook on ecological renaissance available to date. It should be read by every policymaker and practitioner irrespective of their political position on global change." Professor Calestous Juma, Harvard Kennedy School

"We all know what will happen if we go on producing and consuming the same way as in the twentieth century. But we don't really know how to produce and consume in the planet-friendly way. This is why we need this book. So urgently." Brice Lalonde, French Climate Ambassador, former environment minister of France

"Strong economic signals and innovative technologies make a powerful combination, and are the best hope - indeed, the only hope - of the changes needed to protect the environment. Building on the robust foundation of Factor Four, Ernst von Weizsacker and his colleagues write an inspiring manifesto for change to reduce resource use while minimising the impact on living conditions. If their recipe is sometimes over-optimistic, that is a good fault. The environment needs some optimistic friends these days." Frances Cairncross, Exeter College, Oxford (Author of Costing the Earth)

"Climate change represents the biggest challenge our generation has experienced. Factor Five shows us through sustainable business practices we can achieve positive environmental and economic outcomes. They are not mutually exclusive concepts - sustainability is just good business." Dan Atkins, Managing Director, Shaper Group

"Even if the climate were not changing, the need for the transition from fossil fuels to renewable, regenerative systems would be just as urgent. This is a recipe book for a far more economically rational world, as well as a more sustainable one." Professor Janis Birkeland, Queensland University of Technology (QUT), and author of Positive Development

"Every lawyer and lobbyist who is asked to defend 'Business As Usual' should read Factor Five. This manual for re-engineering the future holds out both hope and profit in equal parts - if only we can get the political framework right, and align the lobbies with the interests of humanity." Tom Spencer, Former Member of the European Parliament, Founder and Executive Director of the European Centre for Public Affairs, and Vice Chairman, Institute for Environmental Security

"Today, the world is faced by many challenges which all derive from the unsustainable practices with which we use our resources. Despite the most severe global economic crisis, resource prices have not returned to the low price levels of the 1990's, demonstrating that we have to reduce our 'resource obesity' as an economy and come to sustainable levels of resource consumption. A factor five improvement in resource efficiency is not only necessary, it is imperative for economies and companies to survive in a new resource and atmosphere-constrained world. This book not only clearly makes this point, but also shows that it is possible with what we know today. This key message makes this book essential reading." Professor Ernst Worrell, Utrecht University, Lead Author, IPCC Working Group III, Fourth Assessment Report (2004 - 2007)

"Factor Five is about how to achieve the resource productivity gains that are necessary for the world to avoid a future with declining human wellbeing. It provides a clear way forward. In the past, the pursuit of efficiency gains has sometimes led to loss of resilience, resulting in unexpected and unwanted outcomes (like salinized irrigation systems). I applaud the Factor Five initiative, and urge it to embrace the equally important goal of maintaining resilience in the face of the looming global shocks confronting the world." Dr Brian Walker, CSIRO Research Fellow, Resilience Alliance Program Director and Chair of Board

Follow this link:

Factor Five: Transforming the Global Economy through 80% ...

Amazon.com: Superintelligence: Paths, Dangers, Strategies …

Posted on by

The human brain has some capabilities that the brains of other animals lack. It is to these distinctive capabilities that our species owes its dominant position. Other animals have stronger muscles or sharper claws, but we have cleverer brains.

If machine brains one day come to surpass human brains in general intelligence, then this new superintelligence could become very powerful. As the fate of the gorillas now depends more on us humans than on the gorillas themselves, so the fate of our species then would come to depend on the actions of the machine superintelligence.

But we have one advantage: we get to make the first move. Will it be possible to construct a seed AI or otherwise to engineer initial conditions so as to make an intelligence explosion survivable? How could one achieve a controlled detonation?

To get closer to an answer to this question, we must make our way through a fascinating landscape of topics and considerations. Read the book and learn about oracles, genies, singletons; about boxing methods, tripwires, and mind crime; about humanity's cosmic endowment and differential technological development; indirect normativity, instrumental convergence, whole brain emulation and technology couplings; Malthusian economics and dystopian evolution; artificial intelligence, and biologicalcognitive enhancement, and collective intelligence.

This profoundly ambitious and original book picks its way carefully through a vast tract of forbiddingly difficult intellectual terrain. Yet the writing is so lucid that it somehow makes it all seem easy. After an utterly engrossing journey that takes us to the frontiers of thinking about the human condition and the future of intelligent life, we find in Nick Bostrom's work nothing less than a reconceptualization of the essential task of our time.

Read the original:

Amazon.com: Superintelligence: Paths, Dangers, Strategies ...

Cryptocurrency News: Vitalik Buterin Doesn’t Care About Bitcoin ETFs

Posted on by

Cryptocurrency News
While headline numbers look devastating this week, investors might take some solace in knowing that cryptocurrencies found their bottom at roughly $189.8 billion in market cap—that was the low point. Since then, investors put more than $20.0 billion back into the market.

During the rout, Ethereum broke below $300.00 and XRP fell below $0.30, marking yearly lows for both tokens. The same was true down the list of the top 100 biggest cryptos.

Altcoins took the brunt of the hit. BTC Dominance, which reveals how tightly investment is concentrated in Bitcoin, rose from 42.62% to 53.27% in just one month, showing that investors either fled altcoins at higher.

The post Cryptocurrency News: Vitalik Buterin Doesn’t Care About Bitcoin ETFs appeared first on Profit Confidential.

Read more:
Cryptocurrency News: Vitalik Buterin Doesn’t Care About Bitcoin ETFs