Sep
3
A new artificial intelligence system allows a robotic helicopter to teach itself how to fly and even do challenging stunts, just by watching other helicopters perform the same maneuvers.
The result is an autonomous helicopter than can perform a complete airshow of complex tricks on its own, its inventors say.
The stunts are “by far the most difficult aerobatic maneuvers flown by any computer-controlled helicopter,” said Andrew Ng, a Stanford University professor directing the research of graduate students Pieter Abbeel, Adam Coates, Timothy Hunter and Morgan Quigley.
A new video demonstrates the robot’s capabilities.
Rather than using software to control flight, the robot learns by observing an expert in what the Stanford team calls “apprenticeship learning.” Radio-control pilot Garett Oku operates the 4-foot model helicopter that serves as the expert.
“Garett can pick up any helicopter, even ones he’s never seen, and go fly amazing aerobatics. So the question for us is always, why can’t computers do things like this?” Coates said.
Well, they can.
The artificial-intelligence helicopter, an off-the-shelf model other than its new brains, can do traveling flips, rolls, loops, stall-turns with pirouettes and more. It can even do the “tic toc,” in which the helicopter, while pointed straight up, hovers with a side-to-side motion as if it were the pendulum of an upside down clock.
“I think the range of maneuvers they can do is by far the largest” in the autonomous helicopter field, said Eric Feron, a Georgia Tech aeronautics and astronautics professor who worked on autonomous helicopters while at MIT. “But what’s more impressive is the technology that underlies this work. In a way, the machine teaches itself how to do this by watching an expert pilot fly. This is amazing.”
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Sep
3
Before she was offered the job of GOP running mate on the deck of John McCain’s home, the Alaska governor was told that nothing could prepare her for the harsh spotlight of a presidential campaign. The self-styled “hockey mom” told McCain’s team she could take it.
And that’s what she’s had to do.
It turns out her record as an independent-minded government reformer is not free of blemishes, and every one that’s found is being magnified for public view. Just since Friday, it’s come to light that:
_A private attorney is authorized to spend $95,000 of state money to defend her against accusations of abuse of power.
_Palin sought pork-barrel projects for her city and state, contrary to her reformist image.
_Her husband once belonged to a fringe political group in Alaska, with some members supporting secession from the United States.
_She has acknowledged smoking marijuana in the past.
And of course, her 17-year-old daughter’s pregnancy. Bristol Palin’s boyfriend, Levi Johnston, 18, plans to join Palin’s family at the GOP convention, the boy’s mother said. The young couple’s presence could set off a media frenzy.
After four days of taking it, Palin dishes it out Wednesday with a televised speech at the Republican National Convention. In addition to accepting the nomination, the first woman to do so for the GOP, Palin will tell her story: small-town mayor with a taste for mooseburgers; the wife of a blue-collar North Slope oil worker; and the mother of five, including one born this spring with Down syndrome.
Defending his choice and the team that helped pick her, McCain said Tuesday that “the vetting process was completely thorough.” Campaign advisers at the convention said Palin filled out a survey with 70 tough questions, including: Have you ever paid for sex? Have you been faithful in your marriage? Have you ever used or purchased drugs? Have you ever downloaded pornography?
McCain’s aides rejected suggestions from Democrats that her selection was a hurried, last-minute attempt to shake up the campaign and wrest female voters from Barack Obama. They insisted Palin was a finalist from the start.
But one senior Republican familiar with the search, who requested anonymity because McCain did not authorize the conversation, said Palin had virtually fallen from the radar. Only late in the summer, when McCain asked for more alternatives, was she made a finalist.
As conservatives closed ranks behind their like-minded foe of abortion, former presidential candidate Fred Thompson used his prime-time address to defend Palin on Tuesday.
“Some Washington pundits and media big shots are in a frenzy over the selection of a woman who has actually governed rather than just talked a good game on the Sunday talk shows and hit the Washington cocktail circuit,” Thompson said.
When she was introduced as McCain’s running mate last week, Palin portrayed herself as a political maverick in McCain’s mold: “I’ve stood up to the old politics as usual, to the special interests, to the lobbyists, the big oil companies and the good old boy network,” she said.
But Alaska’s first female governor has at times benefited from Alaska’s entrenched political system.
For one thing, Palin accepted at least $4,500 in campaign contributions in the same fundraising scheme at the center of a public corruption scandal that led to the indictment of Sen. Ted Stevens.
The contributions, made during Palin’s failed 2002 bid to become Alaska’s lieutenant governor, were not illegal for her to accept. But they show how Palin, who has bucked Stevens and his allies, is nonetheless beholden to Alaska’s old guard.
The $4,500 came from executives at VECO Corp., a powerful Alaska oil field services company. Company founder Bill Allen has admitted the company steered its donations through a “special bonus program” in which executives received money and the company instructed them to donate it to favored politicians.
Allen pleaded guilty to bribery and corruption charges. He admitted the program violated federal tax laws and said it was used to keep his political allies flush with cash.
Steve Schmidt, senior adviser to the McCain campaign, dismissed the idea that a few campaign contributions years ago diminished Palin’s record as a reformer. “Gov. Palin’s record fighting corruption and taking on these issues in Alaska speaks for itself,” he said Tuesday.
Indeed, Palin has had her share of run-ins with Stevens, including a dustup earlier this year in which Stevens accused Palin of not being enthusiastic enough about his efforts to bring federal earmark money to Alaska. She has also called on Stevens’ son, Ben, to resign as national committeeman for the state party.
She was among the first Alaska Republicans to urge Stevens to answer questions about the FBI investigation.
Sep
3
NEW ORLEANS - Enter at your own risk, New Orleans. That was the message from Mayor Ray Nagin, who gave residents the go-ahead to return to the Crescent City on Wednesday night at midnight, but with several warnings - many homes were without electricity or working toilets and a dusk-to-dawn curfew would still be in effect.
“It’s my humble opinion that the city is still in a very, very vulnerable state,” Nagin said Tuesday evening.
Millions fled the Gulf Coast in fear of Hurricane Gustav, and many were ready to get back home after spending several days in hot, overcrowded shelters. But as of late Tuesday, there were still nearly 800,000 homes in Louisiana without power, including about 77,000 in the city of New Orleans. Officials said the main transmission lines into southern Louisiana were crippled and they had no timetable of when much of the power might be restored.
The mayor said he had no choice but to begin allowing residents back because neighboring parishes were reopening Wednesday morning. But they, too, face the dangers of downed power lines and trees.
Still, residents who evacuated coastal areas want to return, realizing this was no Katrina, which killed 1,600 people in 2005. Nine deaths have been attributed to Gustav.
Early insurance industry estimates put the expected damage to covered properties at anywhere from $2 billion to $10 billion. That’s high, but well short of Katrina’s $41 billion.
Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal said he won two promises from the federal government that will ease Louisiana’s recovery: the White House approved his “major disaster” declaration request, allowing residents of 34 parishes to receive federal funding for housing and recovery, and a strategic oil reserve will be opened to help reverse a severe shortage of fuel, particularly in south Louisiana.
Initial inspections showed little damage to the Gulf Coast’s extensive oil and gas installations, though resumption of production and refining could still take a few days. Reflecting confidence the industry suffered little damage, oil prices fell $5.75 a barrel.
Some were ready to celebrate, Big Easy style.
In the fishing village of Jean Lafitte, about 25 miles south of New Orleans, the mayor finally relaxed with a seafood boil of shrimp, corn and potatoes after three days of working on a temporary levee of two miles.
“Like the storm, I’m done,” said Mayor Tim Kerner, trying to hold open his heavy, sleep-deprived eyes. “We kept the town dry.”
There was no major partying on New Orleans’ Bourbon Street, though.
Few businesses were open, including grocers or gas stations. But there were signs of recovery. Utility workers, contractors and government employees were allowed to return Tuesday. Banks and other firms were to return Wednesday.
The city expected to begin this weekend bringing back the estimated 18,000 residents who didn’t have the means to evacuate on their own and were sent to shelters in Louisiana and other states on buses, trains or aircraft.
Power outages caused by Gustav forced officials to transport scores of patients from hospitals and other medical facilities for fear they couldn’t survive long without air conditioning.
The state’s secretary of Health and Hospitals, Alan Levine, told The Associated Press these patients were critically ill, and a few were from hospital burn units. As of Tuesday evening, none of the patients had died during the recent evacuation. Officials said early Tuesday evening that about 140 had been transferred, and the number grew during the evening.
Residents were just ready to get back home.
Curtis Helms, 47, left New Orleans on Saturday with only $20 in his pocket and the stripped T-shirt and denim shorts he was wearing. He was still wearing the same clothes Tuesday at a shelter in Alabama and said he only left because Nagin threatened to toss those caught on the street behind bars.
“Right now, I’d rather be home, even with no electricity,” Helms said.
Others questioned the need to evacuate. “Next time, it’s going to be bad because people who evacuated like us aren’t going to evacuate,” Catherine Jones, 53, of Silsbee, Texas, who spent three days on a cot at a church shelter with her disabled son. “They jumped the gun.”
Emergency officials strongly defended the decision to evacuate, saying that with something as unpredictable as a hurricane, it is better to be safe than sorry.
Officials noted that, yes, New Orleans’ levees held, and Gustav struck only a glancing blow. But when trees fell on homes, power lines went down and roads were washed out in parts of south Louisiana, there was no one around to get hurt.
“The reasons you’re not seeing dramatic stories of rescue is because we had a successful evacuation,” Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff said. “The only reason we don’t have more tales of people in grave danger is because everyone heeded the instructions to get out of town.”
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Sep
3
HONG KONG (Reuters) - Regular, moderate exercise may help improve memory in older people and delay the onset of dementia, a study in Australia shows.
The study, published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, involved 170 participants aged 50 and over who reported some memory trouble but who did not have dementia.
Half engaged in moderate exercise, such as walking, for 50 minutes three times a week, while the others did no exercise.
After six months, the participants were given memory and other tests, including recalling lists of words. Those who exercised fared markedly better than those who did not.
“The trial is the first to demonstrate that exercise improves cognitive function in older adults with subjective and objective mild cognitive impairment,” according to the report.
“The benefits of physical activity were apparent after 6 months and persisted for at least another 12 months after the intervention had been discontinued.”
With the ageing of populations everywhere, an estimated 37 million people worldwide now live with dementia, with Alzheimer’s disease making up the majority of cases, according to the World Health Organization.
That figure is expected to increase rapidly over the next 20 years and researchers are looking for ways to help delay the onset of dementia.
(Reporting by Tan Ee Lyn; Editing by Keiron Henderson)
Aug
7
Pakistan has said it will provide all possible assistance to its citizen Dr. Aafia Siddiqui in U.S. Custody.
Filed Under Most Pepular, News, Pakistani News, Politics | Leave a Comment
In a weekly new briefing in Islamabad, foreign office spokesman Mohammad Sadiq said Pakistan has sought consular access to Dr. Aafia Siddiqui, so we get get first hand information from her. He said consular access is a legal process and we hope the U.S. Government will provide consular access to Aafia Siddiqui as soon as possible.The spokesman said Pakistan is committed to bring back all Pakistanis including Aafia Siddiqui in custody in foreign countries.In reply to a question, he said Pakistan is interested in acquiring civilian nuclear technology to fulfill its energy needs.
Aug
7
PPP co-chairman senator Asif Ali Zardari and PML (N) Qaid Mian Muhammad Nawaz Sharif
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The ruling coalition partners at their talks in Islamabad have decided to impeach President Musharraf And later reinstate the deposed judges.
The decisions were announced by Senator Asif Ali Zardari and Mian Mohammad Nawaz Sharif at a joint news conference in Islamabad.
Reading out their Joint Declation, Senator Asif Zardari said the president will have to face impeachment if he failed to take vote of confidence from assemblies He said judges will be restored to pre November 3 position after impeachment of President. Senator Asif Zardari said President Musharraf himself had said he would resign if the people did not support his policies in the election but he failed to act accordingly. Mian Nawaz Sharif told the media that they have together prepared the joint statement and his party fully agreed with it. Central leader of Awami National Party Haji Adeel told newsmen that his party fully supports the decisions of the ruling alliance. Charge sheet will be issued against Musharraf. Coalition has resolved that the president sacked the top judiciary through extra-judicial means The policies pursued by the President Musharraf led government are responsible for the economic impasse, worst power shortage in the history Source
Aug
6
Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani has directed the national disaster management authority and other concerned authorities to take immediate relief measures in flood hit areas.
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He was chairing a high level meeting in Islamabad. The Prime Minister was briefed about the latest flood situation, damages caused and relief activities as well as current level of all reservoirs and rivers. The Prime Minister expressed deep grief over the loss of precious lives and instructed the relief commission to assess correct data of damages on priority basis. He directed that the provincial disaster management cells be taken on board and full coordination be developed in order to make relief activities more effective.
Meanwhile 31 more people were killed and a large number of houses were swept away in rains and floods in various parts of the country.
Aug
6
PPP co-chairman senator Asif Ali Zardari and PML (N) Qaid Mian Muhammad Nawaz Sharif
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PPP co-chairman Senator Asif Ali Zardari and PML-N Qaid Mian Muhammad Nawaz Sharif hold an other round of talks in Islamabad at 11.30 am today.
The other coalition leaders will also join the talks. At their talks yesterday, Senator Asif Ali Zardari and Mian Muhammad Nawaz Sharif discussed the political situation in the country, impeachment of the president, restoration of judiciary to pre- third November position, and matters related to alliance between PML-n and PPP. The two leaders also held one on one meeting. Later talking to newsmen the PPP spokesman Faratullah Babar said that progress was made on key issues and there was “broad consensus” between the two leaders. Federal minister for Information and Broadcasting Sherry Rehman termed the meeting as ‘very positive and cordial. In an interview she said that consultation process with other coalition partners is also underway to take their suggestions and input.
The PML-N central leader Khwaja Asif said the talks did not fail and there are more chances of ‘make’ than ‘break’.
Aug
6
SEOUL (Reuters) - The loss of Booger the pit bull terrier was almost more than Bernann McKinney could bear.
Now she is happy, minus $50,000 and her house, and owner of five cloned Booger puppies.
“It is a miracle for me because I was able to smile again, laugh again and just feel alive again,” McKinney told a news conference in the South Korea capital to show off the week-old black puppies — all of whose names include the word Booger.
They are the work of the biotech firm RNL Bio, affiliated with the South Korean lab which produced the world’s first cloned dog and is staffed with former associates of disgraced scientist Hwang Woo-suk.
She sold her house in the United States to raise the $50,000 for RNL scientists to turn skin cells taken from Booger before he died two years ago into embryos carried by two surrogate dogs for two months until giving birth to the puppies last week.
“I had to make sacrifices and I dream of the day, some day when everyone can afford to clone their pet because losing a pet is a terrible, terrible loss to anyone.”
After rescuing him from a shelter 12 years ago, Booger had become an indispensable part of her life, said the 57-year-old Californian.
The lab said it hoped to make its technology more commercial along with its program to clone sniffer dogs for the Korean customs service.
“As of today, we are at the stage of receiving orders from anywhere in the world,” RNL CEO Ra Jeongchan said.
RNL has said it expected to clone about 100 dogs next year and for the price to drop as technology improves.
Hwang has been on trial for more than two years on charges of breaking the law on research ethics and for misusing state funds and private donations.
RNL’s research staff is made up of scientists who stayed behind when Hwang left the prestigious Seoul National University after his research results were found to be fraudulent.
Dogs are considered one of the more difficult mammals to clone because their reproductive cycle includes difficult-to-predict ovulations.
(Reporting by Reuters TV; Writing by Jack Kim; Editing by Jonathan Thatcher and David Fox)
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Aug
6
5 Things You Must Know About Sleep
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You’re tired. You could put your head down on a desk right now and fall asleep immediately. You went to bed late last night, had trouble falling asleep and woke up too early. And let’s not kid ourselves: Tonight will be the same unless … well, read on.
This is the classic not-so-shut-eye experience of many Americans who think they are sleep-deprived and possibly need pills or other treatment to fix their insomnia, teeth grinding, jet lag, restless or jerky legs, snoring, sleepwalking and so forth.
Reality is quite different.
For instance, insomnia is said to be the most common sleep disorder, but these dissatisfying sleep experiences only get in the way of daily activities for 10 percent of us, according to the National Institutes of Health. And in almost half of those cases, the real underlying problem is illness (often mental) or the effects of a substance, like coffee or medication.
Here are five recent findings that might help you rest easier:
1. We sleep better than we think we do
For most of us, sleep deprivation is a myth. We’re not zombies. The non-profit National Sleep Foundation (which takes money from the sleep-aid industry, including drug companies that make sleeping pills) says the average U.S. resident gets 7 hours a night and that’s not enough, but a University of Maryland study earlier this year shows we typically get 8 hours and are doing fine. In fact, Americans get just as much sleep nowadays as they did 40 years ago, the study found.
2. We need less sleep as we age
We’ll die without sleep. The details are sketchy, but research suggests it’s a time when we restore vital biological processes and also sort and cement memories. Last year, the World Health Organization determined that nightshift work, which can lead to sleep troubles, is a probable human carcinogen. On the upside, the latest research suggests we need less of it as we get older.
3. You can sleep like a baby (or Thomas Edison)
Multiple, shorter sleep sessions nightly, rather than one long one, are an option. So-called polyphasic sleep is seen in babies, the elderly and other animals (and Thomas Edison reportedly slept this way). For the rest of us, it is more realistic and healthy to sleep at night as best we can and then take naps as needed. EEGs show that we are biphasic sleepers with two alertness dips - one at night time and one mid-day. So talk to HR about setting up a nap room, like they have for NASA’s Phoenix mission team members.
4. Animals exhibit a range of sleep habits
The three-toed sloth sleeps 9.6 hours nightly. But newborn dolphins and killer whales can forgo sleeping for their entire first month. However, the latter extreme is not recommended for humans. We grow irritable and lose our ability to focus and make decisions after even one night of missed sleep, and that can lead to serious accidents driving and using other machinery.
5. Get used to being tired, hit the desk
The bottom line is that a good night’s sleep is within the reach of most of us if we follow common-sense guidelines for sleep hygiene:
Go to bed at the same time nightly.
Set aside enough time to hit that golden 7 hours of sleep.
Refrain from caffeine, heavy or spicy foods, and alcohol and other optional medications that might keep you awake, four to six hours before bed-time.
Have a pre-sleep routine so you wind down before you hop in.
Block out distracting lights and noises.
Only engage in sleep and sex in bed (no TV-watching, reading or eating).
Exercise regularly but not right before bed.