Neil Hopcroft

The web is a very weird place…this, I’m sure, will make more sense to those with the appropriate console.
(large .wmv video. Thanks to razornet)

“When there is the risk of an accident, the system calculates in the blink of an eye the required braking power, which is immediately supplied when the driver applies the brakes. In critical braking situations, the front seatbelts are also tightened as a preventive measure, while the inflatable seat cushions are pumped up and the seats are brought into a position that provides the vehicle’s occupants with maximum protection in the event of a collision”

Two things strike me – firstly there’ll be a whole new breed of Merc driver who goes out to trigger the system for kicks, secondly what happens when it trickles down through the market into the ten-year-old junkers I’m likely to buy, what are its failure modes? I’m quite happy with the failure modes of ABS, for instance, because I know I’ve still got real brakes if I can remember how to use them when it comes the (not) crunch.

“The HYPNOTIZE element has a special post-markup-event constraint (it includes the so-called Brainwashing elements, which enable very primitive mind control): “you are liable for any mental damages inflicted by improperly placed tags.” “

I’ve just received my election communication from Jim Paice

Schloss Hohenschwangau and Schloss Neuschwanstein

“We can disconfirm that expert systems can be made amphibious, highly-available, and linear-time.”

More politics – where I stand

I know, wouldn’t it be a great publicity stunt if I crucified myself on the “Y” of Hollywood?

“One of the organizers of the convoy, Chris Fenner, said the arrests were unfair. He said he didn’t know why anyone would have confused the costumed crew recreating a scene from “Mad Max 2: The Road Warrior” — set in a post-apocalyptic wasteland — with a real threat. “I honestly don’t know how that could be, because ‘Road Warrior’ was so over the top,” he said.”

Erm…art, I assume

Bring me the head of Albert Einstein

Looks like I’ve found a way to trigger Barclaycards fraud detection mechanism – make lots of small transactions in very disperate places in a short space of time – preferably in another country too, if you can.

Monitor Bridge (thanks ewx)
One for Grandi (thanks, I think, to twicezero?)

…and a couple of Lego links:
Popular social scientists in handy Lego format
Life-size Mars rover

Disposal Services Agency – a dangerous place.