Entries from January 2010 ↓

The 2nd International Conference on Advanced Intelligence 2010 has just released it’s call for papers, which you can download here: ICAI2010 Call For Papers.

How is “Advanced Intelligence” different from general AI? The release says:

Typical features of Advanced Intelligence include: (1) Close interaction and coordination between Natural Intelligence and Artificial Intelligence, (2) Ideas and applications that push the frontiers of both Artificial Intelligence and Natural Intelligence, (3) Large-scale Distributed Intelligence and Web Intelligence

FWIW, I’m not sure I agree with the name, since “advanced” is a relative term, and the field of AGI (artificial general intelligence) is already fragmented enough without adding additional labels. Having said that, I’ve been invited to be an assistant co-chair, so I cordially invite you to submit interesting papers since then they’ll be a greater chance of me getting interesting papers to review

The 2nd International Conference on Advanced Intelligence 2010 has just released it's call for papers, which you can download here: ICAI2010 Call For Papers. How is "Advanced Intelligence" different from general AI? The release says: Typical features of Advanced Intelligence include: (1) Close interaction and coordination between Natural Intelligence and Artificial Intelligence, (2) Ideas and applications that push the frontiers of both Artificial Intelligence and Natural Intelligence, (3) Large-scale Distributed Intelligence and Web Intelligence FWIW, I'm not sure I agree with the name, since "advanced" is a relative term, and the field of AGI (artificial general intelligence) is already fragmented enough without adding additional labels. Having said that, I've been invited to be an assistant co-chair, so I cordially invite you to submit interesting papers since then they'll be a greater chance of me getting interesting papers to review ;-)

The log format for Amazon S3 is slightly annoying. Not overwhelmingly so, but the date field has the field separator (a space) in the middle of it and it isn’t encapsulated by quote characters. Here’s some code to split the fields up, assuming you’ve downloaded the log file already (it’s easy enough to list all logs and retrieve them with boto):

The log format for Amazon S3 is slightly annoying. Not overwhelmingly so, but the date field has the field separator (a space) in the middle of it and it isn't encapsulated by quote characters. Here's some code to split the fields up, assuming you've downloaded the log file already (it's easy enough to list all logs and retrieve them with boto): [cce lang="Python"] import csv r = csv.reader(open('logfilename'), delimiter=' ',quotechar='"') log_entries = [] for i in r: i[2] = i[2] + " " + i[3] # repair date field del i[3] log_entries.append(i) [/cce]

Recently I found out about SizeUp in OSX and found it really useful. Basically it gives you hot keys for window positions, such that you can maximise them vertically and attach them to the left or right of the screen. Great for placing terminal windows and browsers. This is similar to the behaviour in Windows 7 (don’t know what they call it or care, they are just copying this stuff from existing window managers and getting all the credit). You can also send a window to a corner, or maximise horizontally and attach to top/bottom.

I knew it must be possible in linux somehow. For one thing, there’s wmctrl, a command line program for scripting window positions and I found some scripts made by others in the Ubuntu forums that act similar to the way I wanted.

However, it turns out there is something already available if you’re using Compiz as your display manager.

To change to using Compiz and get the required config tool, run:

And then open the menu System → Preferences → Appearance. Go to the Visual Effects tab and choose “Extra”.

Then fire up the CompizConfig Settings Manager that’s also under System → Preferences. When the dialog loads, go to the filter and type “grid”. This is the module of Compiz that gives you almost the same behaviour as SizeUp (you can get the rest of the behaviour using other modules in the “Window Management” category.

Update: changed the apt-get command to also install compiz-fusion-plugins-extra as the grid plugin is no longer part of the core package.

Recently I found out about SizeUp in OSX and found it really useful. Basically it gives you hot keys for window positions, such that you can maximise them vertically and attach them to the left or right of the screen. Great for placing terminal windows and browsers. This is similar to the behaviour in Windows 7 (don't know what they call it or care, they are just copying this stuff from existing window managers and getting all the credit). You can also send a window to a corner, or maximise horizontally and attach to top/bottom. I knew it must be possible in linux somehow. For one thing, there's wmctrl, a command line program for scripting window positions and I found some scripts made by others in the Ubuntu forums that act similar to the way I wanted. However, it turns out there is something already available if you're using Compiz as your display manager. To change to using Compiz and get the required config tool, run: sudo aptitude install compizconfig-settings-manager compiz-fusion-plugins-extra And then open the menu System → Preferences → Appearance. Go to the Visual Effects tab and choose "Extra". Then fire up the CompizConfig Settings Manager that's also under System → Preferences. When the dialog loads, go to the filter and type "grid". This is the module of Compiz that gives you almost the same behaviour as SizeUp (you can get the rest of the behaviour using other modules in the "Window Management" category. Update: changed the apt-get command to also install compiz-fusion-plugins-extra as the grid plugin is no longer part of the core package.

• OpenCog is getting get a bit of comment on twitter, which might in part be due to it being linked on Hacker News.
• I’ve started up at Jai Thai Kickboxing, which is just around the corner from where I live so I hope to get 4-5 sessions in a week. After my first session my shins and feet are somewhat bruised, this could indicate that my technique leaves something to be desired. Equally likely however is that my shins just need to harden up!
• I read in the paper that Avatar is the faster movie to reach a billion dollars at the box office. It was very pretty, but it was also only a passable story. I hope that Avatar’s success will show the movie industry that they need to adapt by making cinema an immersive experience so that they are providing people a reason to go to the cinema instead of watching movies at home.
• My life experience keeps expanding and it makes me feel alive. I stand by my assertion that the meaning of life is experience.

OpenCog is getting get a bit of comment on twitter, which might in part be due to it being linked on Hacker News. I've started up at Jai Thai Kickboxing, which is just around the corner from where I live so I hope to get 4-5 sessions in a week. After my first session my shins and feet are somewhat bruised, this could indicate that my technique leaves something to be desired. Equally likely however is that my shins just need to harden up! I read in the paper that Avatar is the faster movie to reach a billion dollars at the box office. It was very pretty, but it was also only a passable story. I hope that Avatar's success will show the movie industry that they need to adapt by making cinema an immersive experience so that they are providing people a reason to go to the cinema instead of watching movies at home. My life experience keeps expanding and it makes me feel alive. I stand by my assertion that the meaning of life is experience.