ita, in today's LATimes sunday magazine, there's an article on the fact that goat is becoming the new hot ticket food item... a foodie's holy grail as it were. Want me to save the article for you?

Hee. I just had a tasty goat stew. It's a staple out here, unless you can get mutton instead. Our photographer buddy is in town and wanted to try the local chow, so he bought a goat leg. We grilled steaks over cedar on Friday and yesterday we made crockpot stew. It was all very yum. There was also some sort of intestine thing, but I only ate half of it. It was fine, nothing wrong with it, just very fatty.

Computers that can sense emotions?

Many computers are already able to see and hear. However, they have no way of telling whether their users are happy or angry. At CeBIT 2006, researchers will be presenting techniques that could one day enable the digital servant to respond to the mood of its human master.

Several recent studies have found that computer users not only love and cherish their machines, but very often maltreat them. Experts have identified aggression towards the PC as a genuine problem that deserves greater attention in the academic field. The kicks and blows of frustrated users cause computer damage that cannot be dismissed as negligible, neither in terms of personal property nor on a commercial and economic level. If only for this reason, it would be good for computers to assess their users’ emotions correctly and respond accordingly. This area of research into human-computer interaction becomes seriously relevant when it comes to developing software and hardware. Vehicle designers have known for a long time that drivers and pilots feel better and make fewer errors if they are sitting comfortably and can find the controls where they expect them to be. They are much more relaxed when they reach their destination, and may even look forward to their next trip. Why should matters be any different for well-tempered computer users?

If only for this reason, it would be good for computers to assess their users’ emotions correctly and respond accordingly.

When I imagine the hours and hours of frustration I've suffered when Word tries to guess what I want, this just makes my skin crawl.

When I imagine the hours and hours of frustration I've suffered when Word tries to guess what I want, this just makes my skin crawl.

Seriously.

Also, we saw a press screening of the Roving Mars IMAX movie tonight. My speaking bits didn't make it, and I'm quite content with that. Still in a few shots, and damn that IMAX resolution is good stuff. It's exceedingly geeky and dorky, but that's a given, right?

That's so exciting, Lori!

I spent a lot of that time with her (at my parent's house) and was there this morning. So I am saddened, but quietly, if that makes any sense.

Oh, Cass, I'm so sorry.

Emmett and I are back from two hours in GG Park. About an hour of that was cruising on bikes through the tall trees on a bright winter day. It's only about mid-fifties out there. We stopped at Stow Lake (after overshooting it by about 12 blocks - all downhill, so it was fun swooping by it. Less fun standing up on the pedals to crest the hill back.) Then we took the paddleboat out on the lake. Emmett had a Cherry Iceee and I had a coffee and it would have been idyllic out there except for my constant griping about his poor boat driving skills. I suspect he had more fun with JZ yesterday where she wasn't backseat driving. I apologized afterwards with an ice cream bar and all was well.

my constant griping about his poor boat driving skills.

not that I have complained about this one, but it drives me crazy when I find myself griping, harping, or nagging about something that in the long run is trivial. An extra two points for you , David , for recognizing what you did - and finding the best way to apologize.

Yeah, I hate that when I realize it's me being the pain, but better than not realizing.

Kat, please!

I'm okay with not having a million stores right near me (my last place kinda did) because I hate carrying that crap anyway. Saving my exertion for krav, I am.

Lori, I told my kids in about you and the robot arm in the Science Fiction Museum in Seattle. They thought you were the coolest person ever.