Dr. Tim Oates, associate professor of computer science, does research in the field of machine learning and is interested in understanding the development of the human brain. Dr. Oates is also fascinated by the idea of making robots that are capable of learning and exhibiting human characteristics.  “I don’t know if we’ll ever have androids walking among us that are indistinguishable from humans,” says Dr. Oates, “but I bet we’ll get pretty darn close."

To read more about Dr. Oates' research pursuits, see his full research profile.

Courtesy of Chicago Historical Society

I’ll bid 50, who’ll pay 100?  110, 110? ….. Sold! $110,00 for America’s #1 gangster Al Capone’s Colt .38 revolver.

Even Usher wants a piece of the Middleton derriere, strictly business of course.  Pippa’s rear view has arguably made her the world’s most eligible bachelorette.

Just keep on piling the lawsuits.  Abercrombie & Fitch Co. is being sued by a former employee who was sacked for refusing to remove her hijab.

Death at a funeral … no really.  A woman wakes up during her own funeral only to die of a heart attack at having found herself pronounced dead and in a casket!

Still Winning, duh.  A new show may be on the horizon for Charlie Sheen.

Thanks to Sports Illustrated

After coming up short in two consecutive championships, the U.S. women’s soccer team is ready for a comeback in this year’s FIFA Women’s World Cup in Germany.

We all remember the Mia Hamm era in the 90’s when women’s soccer was dominating the media and attracting millions of fans.

That was back then… when we were actually winning game after game (including World Cups!) led by Hamm’s incredible 158 goals!  The highest score of any man or women in FIFA history.  How’s that for a kicker!

After two back to back steals by Germany in the past two Worls Cups (2003 & 2007), not to mention an embarrassing 4-0 loss to Brazil in 07′,  the U.S. team is on a mission to steal back the title and the fans.

Women’s professional soccer leagues are no where close to garnering as much attention as the men’s. Hopefully all of that will change IF we take the cup.

“If we win this thing, I think we’re gonna see some fireworks in the U.S.” says the dynamic forward, Abby Wambach.

To the astonishment of many, stadium’s are already quickly filling up by the thousands for U.S.A.’s 1st game against Korea DPR today at 11:45 am ET.

Win or lose, we are excited to see the U.S. back on the scene (of course winning would be WAY more fun).

Matthew 8:18-22 (NIV)

18 When Jesus saw the crowd around him, he gave orders to cross to the other side of the lake. 19 Then a teacher of the law came to him and said, “Teacher, I will follow you wherever you go.”

20 Jesus replied, “Foxes have dens and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head.”

21 Another disciple said to him, “Lord, first let me go and bury my father.”

22 But Jesus told him, “Follow me, and let the dead bury their own dead.”

Reflection:

“When Christ calls a man, he bids him come and die.” (Dietrich Bonhoeffer)

Following the call of Jesus is not an escape or vacation from the realities of life, but instead challenges the very core of how we view and live our lives. It shakes our foundation and poses a threat to the way we ‘know and follow’ life. And this call is costly because it turns the norm into abnormality, unsettling both tradition and culture that we like to settle into. But ultimately, this call transforms because of the One we are following. And this transformation brings God’s love into where there was never love.

Responding to the Transmission:

Today, may we consider afresh the cost of following our Lord and Savior. It requires our death, us dying to the tyranny of self. Let’s pray and ask for willing hearts. Let’s pray for an increase and overflow of His love to pour into and out of our lives, so that others will be able to see, taste and experience His love.

Never fear, ExcellBook is here!

As you can see, some horrible person (Or people, rather: the clothing company Diesel, has something to do with this atrocity) has taken great pains to create an application that will disguise your Facebook account as an Excel spreadsheet.

Once the application is installed (PC and Mac versions available) open it up and log in through the file menu. Then you’ll be able to see and post status updates and use facebook chat.

Exciting, right?

Your guess is as good as ours as to how exactly this works, but it sure is ridiculous. Check it out at the aptly titled, Be Stupid At Work.

The UMBC CSEE Department will be publishing a series of short research profiles describing the research activities of its faculty and students. The first features Professor Marie desJardins and the work of her Multi-Agent, Planning and Learning Lab at UMBC, where she works on developing A.I. solutions to real world problems. Dr. desJardins is especially interested in collaborating with students and helping them develop their own research interests. She says that nearly ninety-five percent of her research is with students. “I like the students to learn about a problem and find something that they think is interesting,” she says.