The NY Times Magazine article gives a great introduction to answering these types of artificial intelligence questions, explaining that it uses a series of algorithms to rank possible answers with a level of confidence. If it doesn’t have a high enough confidence he won’t answer a question. If he takes too long assessing possible answers, a human opponent may beat him to the buzzer.

Jeopardy! is the perfect game for this. Aside from being a fun test of knowledge and trivia, it requires Watson to think quickly. The previously-linked NY Times article does a good job comparing it to other systems, such as the fictional computer from Star Trek which can answer questions quickly and precisely, or Wolfram Alpha, which is dubbed an “answer engine” but answers different types of problems.

My own interest in artificial intelligence began when I checked out a book from the library as an elementary student about programming games in BASIC. The book gave examples of the code and showed what it did, so I typed everything in to create my own basketball game. Of course I thought the game wasn’t good enough, so I added a few extra features, but I began to see the way that computers think. In more recent years I’ve taken formal courses in AI in grad school, where I wrote a program to run the bullpen of the Kansas City Royals.

Watson is certainly miles ahead of my simple bullpen manager, but it’s a good example of the progress that’s been made in the field of artificial intelligence. There are plenty of examples of good AI programs out there, from video game simulations to systems that assist doctors when they want to prescribe medicine, but just like the chess-playing computer Deep Blue, Watson’s Jeopardy! games represent progress toward a great goal: building a machine that can think like a human.

When you take away all the buzzwords and hype that come with using the web as a platform, this OS convergence can be simply described, as David Worthington does in talking about the upcoming release of Windows 7:

Windows 7 is a big improvement upon Windows Vista, but the hoopla of days when people lined up to buy OS’s is over. There are simply too many alternatives, and the Web is the great equalizer.

This convergence is bringing back the browser wars and it’s increasing innovation. It should be fun, as soon as I get Skype working properly in Linux.

“I was hoping (President Obama) didn’t like me, because none of the White Sox guys like me. So I was hoping that he’d be like, ‘You punk, I hate you.’ But he didn’t do that.”

Here’s what a showdown between Obama (a White Sox fan) and Greinke would have looked like:

My vote is for Zack.

Just over a year ago, I wrote about why I’m a Kansas City Royals fan. A few days after that (one year ago yesterday), the Royals were no-hit by Jon Lester and the Red Sox, which marked the beginning of a twelve-game losing streak. Yesterday, the Royals scored four runs in a ninth-inning comeback. While this isn’t quite redemption for all those people out there who like to rip on the Royals, this season has been a start. Here are a few reasons why:

Back in March, we went to go see the Royals play at their Spring Training home of Surprise, Arizona. They had a bit of a comeback in their win against the Dodgers that day as well, although not quite as dramatic, and not as late in the game, but I was there to enjoy it.

Zack Greinke is amazing. He’s got a Sports Illustrated Cover, his walks are down, his strikeouts are up, and he sports a nasty slider.

More people are watching. You may have even seen them on ESPN this season, especially for that long stretch when they were in first place. They have a newly renovated stadium. Even with injuries to key players like Alex Gordon, they have a real Major League-level lineup, instead of Tony Pena or Ross Gload every day.

There are lots more changes as well, but they all add up to one thing: excitement. That’s something that hasn’t been around much for Royals fans since 2003, but it’s been steadily rising in the last year and a half. If you ask me, that’s a formula for a fun summer.

A much better approach is this story, shared with my by Margret on Facebook (gasp!). For those of you who are wondering, yes, I actually know Margret in real life. In this “Direct Reply to ’25 Random Things’“, Rex Huppke takes a different approach at making fun of Facebook users with his form-letter approach to crafting a response to a friend’s 25 things list. It works because of its lighter tone, rather than the grumpiness of Ms. Suddath’s article.

I guess it’s time to start my own 25 things list, but only after I finish my own grumpy letter:

Dear Mr. President,

There are too many states nowadays. Please eliminate three.

P.S. I am not a crackpot.

• It’s easy to use. My favorite part about the Wii Fit is how easy to use it is. The balance board fits under our TV stand, so it’s out of the way, but you still notice it if it’s not there. You can do the Body Test portion of the game without the game disc, which is a plus because that means you can do a Body Test even if there’s another game loaded in the Wii. There are plenty of mini-games that are entertaining, but I’ve been doing a lot of the Free Step, which is great because you can do it while you (or someone else) watch TV. That means I don’t have to interrupt our schedule too much if I want to get in a 30 minute exercise in.
• It keeps you coming back. There are plenty of games in Wii Fit to try to master, but the part that keeps me coming back is the graphs and charts of each day. I have a Fitness game on the XBox, but I didn’t use it as much because there wasn’t a real incentive to come back each day. Keeping track of my weight each day keeps me more conscious about my eating and exercise habits, which is great. The longer I use it for, the more interesting the data becomes, as well.
• It’s fun! There’s a lot of different games on here, and the idea of beating my own records is a lot of fun. Julia started exercising this week with the Wii Fit, so that means more friendly competition! She’s already beat a few of my records. Even little 22-lb. Emmy gets into the game, and she’s great at the Soccer Ball and Skiing games (as long as she remembers not to get off the board!) This isn’t the best game if you’re looking for entertainment or excitement, but if you think of it more as an exercise tool, then you’ll keep coming back, too. It’s fun to show it to new people, and even my mom talks about playing the Wii Fit when she comes to visit.

The first month with Wii Fit has been great. I’ve already lost over seven pounds, even with quite a few days of overindulgence. For me it has been a great motivator, and I plan to keep using it for many more months. Next month for me will be a big test because my coursework will be a lot heavier, but it’s so easy to incorporate into my regular routine that I plan on sticking with it.

Last week’s Goals:

• Finish The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe. It was a great book.
• Work out at least 20 minutes for four days this week. Did it!

This week’s Goals:

• Work out at least 20 minutes for four days this week.
• Finish 3 more levels of the Python Challenge.

8 TV shows I watch

Ever since we got a DVR, I watch way too much TV. These are off the top of my head, and the ones I watch by choice.

1. The Office – More fun than a real job, but I don’t really wish I worked with these people.
2. The Big Bang Theory – a show about nerds. I swear I work with these people, but Julia swears that I am one of them. Watch it for yourself and decide.
3. Star Trek, especially Enterprise, Voyager, and The Next Generation. Please do not let this influence your opinion of me for #2.
4. Eureka – a secret city, a bunch of scientists, things often go wrong. Maybe I should start distancing myself from work with the rest of the “8 Shows I Watch”.
5. Transformers – I secretly miss the days when Emmy wouldn’t sleep, because we stayed up watching my DVDs of Transformers while I tried to get her to sleep. I’m sure Kaylee learn all about Optimus Prime in the next few months.
6. Jeopardy! – I like to pretend I’m smart sometimes. The best part is when I get an answer right before Julia when she clearly knows it. It doesn’t happen much.
7. Chuck – Underachieving geek unwittingly becomes a spy working with the CIA and NSA. I guess we’re back to our theme.
8. Sports – I usually stick to baseball and hockey, but I know I can’t get Julia to watch much hockey with me, so I’m saving this up for next March. (Wait ’til Julia hears about the World Baseball Classic – it’s an extra month of baseball, baby!)

8 Favorite Restaurants

1. Obviously, it’s Taco Bell
2. Taco Bell is good enough for two spots
3. That one Mexican Restaurant in the Oakland airport that at first glance is really overpriced but after you get your food you realize it’s really large portions and really good. Since then you try to route your flights through Oakland to eat there again.
4. Someplace with really good breakfast burritos (shocking fact: it’s not Chili Works!)
5. Fuddruckers – So my mom called me up to tell me Fuddruckers is having a birthday celebration and that their burgers are 1/2 off for one day only. Problem: it’s tomorrow, it’s two hours away, and I can’t go.
6. Red Robin – though not so much lately. I’m not sure why, but it’s just been a little off. Maybe it’s the two hour drive.
7. I’ll just fill in the last two with Taco Bell
8. See numbers 1, 2, and 7.

8 Things that Happened Yesterday

1. I passed the Technician Class Amateur Radio License exam.
2. I passed the General Class Amateur Radio License exam.
3. I didn’t get much sleep.
4. I played trains with Emmy!
5. I ate way too many of Julia’s Chicken Puffs. Those things are good, but not good for you. I don’t regret it.
6. I’m going to leave it here, claiming I forgot how to count. Never mind the numbers off to the side, those are automatically generated.

8 4 Things I’m looking forward to

1. Watching Emmy and Kaylee grow up together. You can tell Emmy is going to be a great big sister.
2. Spring Break! It has been since about elementary school that I went anywhere for spring break, and even then I’m not actually sure it happened. This year we plan to visit Julia’s relatives in Arizona and catch at least one game at baseball Spring Training
3. Graduation. I’m ready to start learning the things I decide are important.
4. The weekend!

8 Things on my Wish List

1. Rest and Relaxation
2. Every 8-bit Nintendo Game Ever. “Pick any game you want. I’m good at all of ‘em. I’ve got 97 of ‘em.” -The Wizard. Note: this one isn’t really true, because I already have the best ones.
3. For the Royals to make it to the playoffs
4. A big house. For now it will do to just visit Beth’s new one, because that’s almost as fun.
5. That more people will come visit us in New Mexico. (Thanks, Beth!)
6. To be an awesome Python and Django programmer.

(Some) Things I Love

1. My Family
2. My Church
3. Learning new things. Lately this has been a few of my computer science classes, and I like learning history when it’s just for fun. Experimenting with computers is lots of fun.
4. When Emmy asks to play with me when I get home from work
5. A cute pregnant wife Update: I wrote that back in November, when she was a cute pregnant wife. Now she’s an even-cuter mommy.

8 Things I Can’t Stand I’m not “really a fan of”

1. Grammar Nazis that don’t actually know proper grammar.
2. Whining.
3. Getting up early.
4. Taking classes from professors that don’t like to teach.
5. Bad drivers.
6. Anytime somebody tries to say that Groundhog Day isn’t the greatest Bill Murray movie of all time.
7. The New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox. Did you know that the Red Sox are the only team with a payroll of over $100 million to win the World Series? They’ve done it twice and no other team has ever done it. That alone doesn’t make them worth hating, but there’s more. Their fans tend to have the idea that the entire baseball world should revolve around those two teams. The whole world seems to be affected with that mentality, because that’s what is conveyed by ESPN, and that just creates a cycle that I refuse to take part in. Baseball exists outside of New York and New England. It’s OK if you’re a fan because you have ties to the area, but otherwise it’s inexcusable. (End Rant)

8 People I’m Tagging

1. Kevin Bacon. Thanks to “6 Degrees of Kevin Bacon” I’ve lost too much sleep in the past few weeks. You’re on the list, Kevin. You owe me.
2. Spaghetti Cat
3. Alex Trebek, the many who knows everything, who has never heard of Treebeard.
4. Joad Cressbeckler and the horse that stomps once for yes, twice for no.
5. Peyton Manning, host of the only funny episode of SNL this decade.
6. Shemp, the other stooge.
7. Particle Man
8. Chris Sabo. Because Rec Specs were awesome in the 80s.

Last week’s goals:

• Build a snowman: I regretfully admit that I wasn’t able to build a snowman this last week, because our snow is melting. Most of the snow that is still around is either really crunchy from the sun or full of sand, so that’s why I missed out there.
• Work on a puzzle: Nope. I don’t think this one will get done, because the only puzzle we have took a few weeks last time and we don’t have a space that we can dedicate to it right now. We’ll have to get an easier puzzle, it seems.
• Learn all about Ham Radio: Check! I passed my Technician and General Class license exams last night. There’s still much more to understand, but I’ve come a long way. I plan to keep this one up more informally.
• Read a book: I finished the Magician’s Nephew, and I’m over halfway done with The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe. I can’t believe I never read this whole series before, because these books are very, very good. Anyone who criticizes one of these for being too much of a kiddie book is not cool enough for this website.

This week’s goals:

• Finish The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe. This shouldn’t be too bad, I’m over halfway done with it. I’d like to finish the whole series before the end of April. That should be plenty of time even though I’ll have lots of homework in between there.
• Work out at least 20 minutes for four days this week. Last week I did pretty good with my fitness goals even though I didn’t write them here. I broke my consecutive exercise days streak, so I’ve got to get it started again.