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Theodore Kim: Can today’s AI truly learn on its own? Not likely

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:10:37 GMT

One of the boldest, most breathless claims being made about artificial intelligence tools is that they have “emergent properties” — impressive abilities gained by these programs that they were supposedly never trained to possess. “60 Minutes,” for example, reported credulously that a Google program taught itself to speak Bengali, while the New York Times misleadingly defined “emergent behavior” in AI as language models gaining “unexpected or unintended abilities” such as writing computer code.This misappropriation of the term “emergent” by AI researchers and boosters deploys language from biology and physics to imply that these programs are uncovering new scientific principles adjacent to basic questions about consciousness — that AIs are showing signs of life. However, as computational linguistics expert Emily Bender has pointed out, we’ve been giving AI too much credit since at least the 1960s. A new stu...

98.3 TRY Social Dilemma: Is It Okay to Power Wash Your House At 7 a.m. On Saturday?

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:10:37 GMT

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- Today's 98.3 TRY Social Dilemma is about Saturday mornings. Here's the email I received. Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! Hi Jaime, this is Corinne and I’m a longtime listener and think you and your listeners would be the perfect people to settle a debate my husband and I are having about when he should start a loud project this weekend. My husband is very gung-ho about power washing our house on Saturday and then putting together a giant gazebo on Sunday. Both projects will be loud and probably really annoying to our neighbors, who are old and grumpy from time to time. My husband wants to start 7am for both projects in hopes to be done by noon and have the rest of his day. I think he shouldn’t start until 9-9:30 to not disturb our neighbors on Memorial Day weekend. He said landscapers start at that time so why shouldn’t he be allowed to. I say just because the landscapers start at that time doesn’t ...

Saratoga Springs man accused of Caroline St. robbery

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:10:37 GMT

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- A Saratoga Springs man was arrested on Monday, May 15, after a robbery and alleged assault investigation. Jose Colon, 53, is charged with second-degree robbery. Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! The Saratoga Springs Police Department says around 1 a.m. on Monday, May 15, patrol officers were stopped by civilians reporting they had witnessed an assault occur on Caroline Street. After speaking with witnesses, officers found the victim and were advised an assault and robbery had occurred. The victim was taken to Saratoga Hospital and was released following treatment. Police say after canvassing the area, they couldn't find the suspect, and the investigations division was called in to assist. Saratoga man arrested in robbery investigation During the investigation, police identified Jose Colon as the suspect. He was arrested and charged later that day.

Saratoga Springs man arrested in robbery investigation

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:10:37 GMT

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- A Saratoga Springs man was arrested on Tuesday following a robbery investigation. Juan Munguia, 34, faces multiple charges. Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! The Saratoga Springs Police Department says they received a report of a robbery around 2:45 a.m. on Sunday, May 14, that took place in the area of Lake Avenue and Pavilion Row. Police say the suspect approached the victim from behind and forcibly took property, fleeing on a bike.Once police were notified, they weren't able to find the suspect. The Investigations Division was alerted and assisted in an investigation. Police say following an investigation, they identified Munguia as the suspect. Former teacher sentenced for sexual abuse Charges:Third-degree robberyFourth-degree grand larcenyMunguia was arrested on Tuesday and was held pending arraignment.

Ask Amy: Friendship is no “give” and all “take”

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:10:37 GMT

Dear Amy: My husband and I stumbled into an awesome friendship last year around the holidays, when we met “Chelsea.” (We are all middle-aged.)As the friendship progressed we traded gifts or small favors.Then we came to learn that Chelsea is still living at home with her aging parents, and while she works full time, she is always broke.She asked to send her Amazon packages to our home (claiming she lives in a high traffic area and doesn’t want them stolen), but we were uncomfortable after she did this more than once.We believe it’s largely due to trying to hide her purchases from her parents, as she obviously has out-of-control spending that led to her living with them in the first place.Recently her mother became ill, resulting in a lengthy hospital stay. Chelsea missed work.We were kind enough to wire funds to her for extra food or incidentals but then I saw her posting on Facebook about how broke she is and how she never gets the help she needs when she asks for it.She...

Greek opposition parties unable to form alliance, new election expected 25 June

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:10:37 GMT

Greece's main opposition parties rejected mandates to form a government coalition on Tuesday, setting up a second vote in June following an inconclusive 21 May vote.The leftist Syriza leader Alexis Tsipras, and the socialist PASOK leader Nikos Androulakis returned to President Katerina Sakalaropoulou separate mandates that were offered separately.KyriakosMitsotakis had previously opted to not form a coalition. His New Democracy party, which won 40% of the vote on Sunday, was beaten by Syriza (20.1%). He has now pushed for another vote, in an attempt to achieve a majority.Tsipras claimed he was unable to form a coalition after many voters had turned away from Syriza’s radical anti-establishment, anti-establishment, style which had brought it to power in the turbulent years during the Greek debt crisis.Tsipras' Syriza, which ruled between 2015 and 2019, told reporters outside the presidential residence: "I don't have any reason to hide the fact that the election result was a painful s...

New construction is great for first-time buyers 

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:10:37 GMT

They’re ready to start putting their money into an appreciating asset rather than renting. They’re ready to call something their own. They’re ready to build a nest for a growing family. Or they’re ready to start fresh on a whole new lifestyle all their own.They’re first-time homebuyers and they’re ready to make the largest and most important purchase of their lives.That purchase comes with a host of powerful concerns and emotions. But while some new-construction homes may have higher prices than comparable resale homes, the benefits of buying new can be particularly beneficial for first-time homebuyers.In each new phase of a new-home community, for starters, every buyer gets to be part of building the neighborhood’s character. The fact that neighbors form a sense of community based on their shared newness to the area can offer a great deal of comfort to people who are not only new to the area but to homeownership.Meanwhile, builders want to help all homebuyers achieve their dreams. ...

Horoscopes May 25, 2023: Octavia Spencer, put a plan in place

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:10:37 GMT

CELEBRITIES BORN ON THIS DAY: Aly Raisman, 29; Steven Krueger, 34; Octavia Spencer, 51; Mike Myers, 60.Aly Raisman (Photo by Michael Short/Getty Images) Happy Birthday: Observe, and you will discover how to get what you want. An enthusiastic approach to life will be met with success. Trust your instincts, not someone trying to take advantage of you. Refuse to let uncertainty hold you back. Talk to experts and discover what’s entailed to make your dreams come true. Put a plan in place, pay attention to detail and prepare to excel. Your numbers are 3, 14, 27, 32, 34, 45, 49.ARIES (March 21-April 19): Keep your plans reasonable. Protect against injury and illness. Straightforward techniques and a lifestyle you can afford will ease stress and move you in a positive direction. Evaluate your spending habits and design a savings plan that works for you. 5 starsTAURUS (April 20-May 20): Handle domestic matters carefully. You’ll face opposition and emotional backlash from so...

Bridge: May 25, 2023

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:10:37 GMT

The player we call “Secondhand Rose” was at my club today. When the lesson about “second hand low” on defense was taught, Rose must have been out with Jiggs the plumber.Rose was East in a penny game, and West led a low heart against 3NT. South let Rose’s jack win, won the next heart in dummy and led the nine of diamonds. And Secondhand Rose … with the ace!Rose then led her last heart. South took the ace and cashed four clubs and the king of diamonds. When the queen didn’t fall, he lost a spade finesse to Rose’s king and won only eight tricks.THIRD HEARTSouth could always make 3NT with double-dummy play but would surely succeed if Rose played low on the first diamond. South would finesse to the queen. Even if West shifted to the jack of spades, South could put up the ace and lose a diamond to Rose’s ace to set up nine tricks.When your partner leads a long suit against 3NT, try to win an early trick to return his lead. Set up his s...

Word Game: May 25, 2023

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:10:37 GMT

TODAY’S WORD — GORGEOUS (GORGEOUS: GOR-jus: Brilliant or magnificent.)Average mark 21 wordsTime limit 30 minutesCan you find 28 or more words in GORGEOUS? The list will be published tomorrow.YESTERDAY’S WORD — ZEALOTS zeal zealot zest zeta east aloe also alto lase last late laze least lest lose lost oast osteal tale teal tole sale salt sate seal seat slat slate sloe slot sole stale steal stoleTo purchase the Word Game book, visit WordGameBooks.com. Order it now for just $5 while supplies last!RULES OF THE GAME:1. Words must be of four or more letters.2. Words that acquire four letters by the addition of “s,” such as “bats” or “dies,” are not allowed.3. Additional words made by adding a “d” or an “s” may not be used. For example, if “bake” is used, “baked” or “bakes” are not allowed, but “bake” and “baking” are admissible.4. Proper nouns, slang words, or vulgar or sexually explicit words are not allowed.Contact Word Game creator Kathleen Saxe at [email protected].