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Bevo

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Everything posted by Bevo

  1. not anymore.
  2. What would rap sound like as an instrumental?
  3. A Nobel prize in physics for something that is not physics tritonstationOctober 9, 2024 When I wrote about Nobel prizes a little while back, I did not expect to return to the subject. I assumed the prize this year would be awarded for some meritorious advance in laboratory physics, like last year’s prize “for experimental methods that generate attosecond pulses of light for the study of electron dynamics in matter.” Instead, we find that the 2024 prize has been awarded to John Hopfield and Geoffrey Hinton “for foundational discoveries and inventions that enable machine learning with artificial neural networks.” This is the Nobel prize in physics we’re talking about. One small issue: that’s not physics. I’ve been concerned for a long time with the interface between astronomy and physics – where they are distinct fields and where they overlap. One of the reasons I left physics as a grad student was because the string theorists were taking over. They were talking about phenomena that were tens of orders of magnitude beyond any conceivable experimental test. That sort of theoretical speculation is often fun, sometimes important, and very rarely relevant to physical reality. Lacking exposure to experimental tests or observational consequences, to my mind it was just that: speculation, not physics. Nearly forty years on, my concerns about string theory have not been misplaced. And while, in the strictest sense, I don’t think it qualifies as physics – it’s more of a physics-adjacent branch of mathematics – it is at least attempting to be physical theory. But machine learning is not physics. It’s computer science. Computers are a useful tool, to be sure. But programming them is no more physics than teaching a horse to count. I’m not sure we should even consider machine learning to be meritorious. It can be useful, but it is also a gateway drug to artificial intelligence (AI). I remember the more earnest proponents of early AI propounding on the virtues of LISP and how it would bring us AI – in the 1980s. All it brought us then was dystopian fantasies about killer robotsnuking the world. Despite the current hype, we have not now developed intelligent machines – what we’re calling AI is certainly artificial but not at all intelligent. It uses machine “learning” to reprocess existing information into repackaged forms. There is zero original thought, nothing resembling intelligence. Modern AI is, in essence, a bullshit generator. Now, we can all think of people who qualify as organic bullshit generators, but that begs the question: Why is the Nobel prize in physics being awarded for something that is clearly not physics? Maybe it has something to do with the hype around AI. I don’t know what the decision process was, but I do know that I am not the only scientist to have this reaction. Myself, I’m not mad, just disappointed. I’m not unique in feeling that physics has lost its way. This just emphasizes how far it has strayed. Apparently the Nobel committee is sensing the blow-back, as this poll currently appears on the award page: I… don’t think this helps their case. Did you know that molecules are made of atoms? Ergo all of chemistry is just applied atomic physics. I mean, it is a long-standing trope that physicists think every other science is just a lesser, applied form of physics. At the level of being based on the equations of physics, that’s almost kinda if not really true. So asserting that machine learning models are based on physics equations comes nowhere near to making machine learning into physics. It’s fancy programming, not physics. Well, there will be complaints about this one for a while, so I won’t pile on more. I guess if you give out 118 prizes since 1901, one of them has to rank 118th.
  4. Notice how the qb got low and the hallfback pushed him. If we executed the play worth a shit, we would be much better.
  5. Texas needs that play
  6. Is that really controversial?
  7. But your point is messed up. Within 4hrs. Bloomington has more talent than just about anywhere in the country. The problem however is Bloomington has a population of 80,000 and urban kids from St. Louis, Louisville, Chicago, Indianapolis and Milwaukee generally aren't into that.
  8. Correct. Milwaukee, WI is also very close (1hr) and has a lot of talent. Detroit is 4hrs. Indianapolis is 3hrs. St. Louis is 4 hrs.
  9. Solid wood or engineered? If engineered does she have extra? Does she know the brand? Green World Industries is a large flooring manufacturer in Houston. They would know people but they may not want to recommend due to business reasons (alienating purchasers).
  10. That would be nice. I could get 50s without paying - I might even be able to invite some of you assholes. OTOH, the idea of CDC leaving for SMU is really dumb even for SMU graduates.
  11. That isn't true at all. If you can recruit Indianapolis, St. Louis, Chicago, and Louisville, you will win a lot of games. Even Milwaukee isn't that far away nor is Nashville or Cincinnati.
  12. I know of Kick'em Jenny near Granada but I don't think there are a lot out there.
  13. High school or medical school?
  14. I was speaking with a friend of mine who is tied in to Indiana and (it probably isn't a secret), IU is going to be firing its basketball coach so they will be looking for a replacement as well.
  15. Who are the top tier coaches in basketball that we may be able to get?
  16. Is that the hotel with Duke's?
  17. You aren't Rice. Not even close.
  18. Missing Bering Air Plane Found in Alaska Sea Ice, No Survivors: Coast Guard Published Feb 07, 2025 at 4:34 PM EST Updated Feb 07, 2025 at 7:56 PM EST By Gabe Whisnant and Jesus Mesa Deputy Weekend Editor The U.S. Coast Guard for the Alaska maritime region reported on Friday that it located an aircraft matching the description of the missing Bering Air plane. Just after 6:15 p.m. ET, the Coast Guard posted on X, formerly Twitter, that three individuals were found inside the plane and reported to be deceased. The plane was found 34 miles southeast of Nome on the sea ice of Norton Sound. According to the Anchorage Daily News, Lt. Cmdr. Mike Salerno reported that rescuers reached the aircraft and found three individuals, all of whom were deceased. Salerno confirmed that there were no other survivors at the site of the crash. Around 7:30 p.m., the Coast Guard posted on x that it has "ended its search for the missing plane." The post continued, "The remaining 7 people are believed to be inside the aircraft but are currently inaccessible due to the condition of the plane. Our heartfelt condolences are with those affected by this tragic incident." Earlier Friday, an "item of interest" was found in the search for the missing Bering Air plane, the U.S. Coast Guard announced. The discovery came as search teams intensify efforts to locate the aircraft, which vanished Thursday while carrying 10 people. Alaska State Trooper Lt. Ben Endres said Friday at a news conference that the passengers on the plane are all adults. Search and rescue teams in Alaska are intensifying efforts to locate a missing Bering Air flight that vanished on Thursday. The aircraft, a Cessna 208B Grand Caravan, was traveling from Unalakleet to Nome, a roughly 150-mile journey over the remote Norton Sound, when it disappeared from radar. The Coast Guard reported that the plane experienced a rapid loss of elevation and speed before its signal was lost. Despite the circumstances, officials have stressed that the search remains an active rescue mission rather than a recovery effort. Alan Brown, director of public affairs for the Alaska National Guard, emphasized that there were no immediate plans to change the status of the case to a recovery mission. "This is still an active search and rescue effort," Brown told reporters on Friday. He also confirmed that an "item of interest" had been spotted but declined to provide further details on whether it was plane debris or another significant clue. The search operation has been extensive, with multiple agencies involved. The U.S. Coast Guard, Alaska Air National Guard and FBI are leading the efforts, with additional support from local search teams. Aircraft, including C-130 planes, have been deployed to scan the icy waters, while ground crews on snowmobiles continue to comb the coastline and tundra. Weather conditions at the time of the disappearance included light snow and freezing drizzle near Nome Airport, though operations have benefited from improved conditions since Friday morning. The Coast Guard has deployed tracking buoys to monitor ice movement, which could provide valuable clues in locating the plane. Authorities have also turned to technology to aid in the search. FBI agents are analyzing cellphone tracking data from passengers to help determine the aircraft's last known location. The Nome Volunteer Fire Department has urged residents to refrain from launching private search missions because of hazardous conditions in the area.
  19. Switzer landed in a helicopter at our practice field wearing the same shit but it was Houston so it was hotter and more humid.
  20. It will be an interesting battle over CDC between Hartzell at SMU and Fenves at Emory.
  21. A. Big bada boom B. Cannibalism C. Bears/Wolves or bear wolves or wolf bears D. Wreck not so intact E. Math
  22. I think to do this you need an account.
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