Daily Bits

Transformers

Perhaps the Coolest Carnival Costume This Year

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Carnival is a season that is celebrated in various parts of the world. It is normally conducted right before Lent starts, and different areas have their own ways of celebrating. From Asia to Europe to North America to South America, Carnival is something that countless people look forward to. One thing is common: Carnival is full of festivities and fun.

Most people may know about Carnival as celebrate in places such as Brazil and Germany, but did you know that it is also celebrate in the tiny country of Cyprus? This island has a long tradition of celebrating Carnival, and can be traced to the times of Venetian rule in the 16th century. Much like many other celebrations, the Cypriot Carnival is characterized by parties, parades, and people dressing up in their most creative costumes and putting on fabulous makeup.

Speaking about creative, here is a short video clip of a guy who just might have the best Carnival costume this year. Shot in the streets of Limassol, where the Carnival is mainly celebrated, the video shows a guy in a Transformers get up.

I have to say that the costume as a whole can have cleaner lines, but the fact that he was able to create one that actually transforms smoothly deserves two thumbs up! This is definitely way better than that parody video of Optimus Prime I posted some time ago!

What the Heck Happened to Optimus Prime?

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I Am Optimus Prime
I seem to be running across a lot of videos these days. The first week of the month is barely over, and I have spent more time watching all sorts of videos than I have in months. Perhaps the Year of the Rabbit is bringing out the creativity in more people, but whatever the reason, I wish that this particular video portrayed Optimus Prime in a better light.

Everyone’s favorite Autobot – well maybe not everyone – just got downgraded to a dancing guy clothed in tons of padding. Don’t get me wrong. I am pretty sure that a lot of people will disagree with me – the “Likes” and comments on Facebook and YouTube will attest to that – but I just don’t get it! Before I watched the video, I had a totally open mind. A parody of “The Time” by The Black Eyed Peas – how can you go wrong?

See what I mean? Optimus Prime is too dignified a character to be portrayed like that, isn’t he? Or am I being stuck up? Then there is the girl. The girl. She is hot – no one can deny that, but sorry, I still don’t get it. Am I missing something here?

There is something good to be said about the video, though: the lyrics are funny. I think the last stanza is my “favorite”:

Well, I came here on The Ark
Looking for the All Spark
You can’t stop a Transformer
Just by putting it in Park
I’m fighting Megatron
With Megan Fox (not anymore)
Robot in disguise
More than meets the eye

If, unlike me, you found the video cool, you can see more from Angie and Chad – no offense guys, just airing out my thoughts – in their Facebook page.

The Birth of Real-Life Decepticons?

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I know that we’d all like to think that there are Decepticons in real life, but in rare moments of connecting with reality, even the most avid believers in the Masters of Deceptions just might acknowledged that they are not, well, real.  Then again, I just might be wrong in saying that.

A group of researchers from Georgia University have developed real-life robots that might eventually turn out to be masters of deceptions!  What they’ve done is to come up with an algorithm that allows the machines to make decisions as to whether or not deceive other robots.  If you think that’s pretty cool, you’ll think this awesome: the algorithm also equips the robots with the capability to deceive humans!

How were they able to determine if the algorithm actually works?

They engaged the robots in several games of hide-and-seek!  Simplicity is beauty, so they say, and it seems to be the case here.  David Teeghman describes this interesting version of the childhood game that we all loved to play:

During the games, colored markers were lined up along three potential pathways to locations where the robot could hide. The hider selected a location from the three location choices, and moved toward that point, knocking down markers along the way. Once it reached a point past the markers, the robot changed course and hid in one of the other two locations, making sure not to hit any markers by its actual hiding spot.

Developing this algorithm required interdependence theory and game theory that tested the value of deception in a specific situation. The game satisfied two key conditions that the robots needed to warrant deception: There must be conflict between the deceiving robot and the seeker, and the deceiver must benefit from the deception.

I have to say that while the concept – and the fact that it actually worked – is nothing short of amazing, but I can’t help but think of the Cyclons and all other movies/shows that relate how man created robots and how the creations turned on their masters eventually.  At present, the researchers say that the main purpose for these robots is simply for the battlefield – to save lives and all that.  Still, who is to say that real life events will not somehow get turned into a science fiction plot? Or is this just paranoia?