US Army Darpa bases ‘learning’ on Unreal Tournament

The American Government’s elite research body DARPA has created a game for troops that aims to teach common Arabic styles and approaches with body language. The game is important beecause body language plays such an important role in relations between soldiers and civilians who do not speak the same language.

One of the system’s creators says the training tool, known as Tactical Iraqi, has already been a great success. Hannes Vilhjalmsson, a research scientist at the University of Southern California, gave details of the Tactical Iraqi at a conference in St Louis, US.

The program teaches military personnel Arabic language skills and some key gestures such as an up-down movement with the right hand to ask someone to slow down and gives them tips such as removing mirror sunglasses when approaching local people.

US troops taught Iraqi gestures

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Gormet Gourmet Camping

I knew I chose the correct wing to join when we were told about our plans for this weekend. Though we’re sleeping rough in a barn that has, obviously, no heating and no running water, we’re still bringing our chefs along. Sleeping rough, with catering staff: the army life can’t be all that bad.
UPDATE: Alright Caroline… It was a typo! I know you don’t spell Gourmet as gormet, but I was writing this at just after five o’clock when running to get to the barracks on time. I just knew that if I didn’t write it then, I’d forget and never write it at all. I hate forgetting to write things even more than I hate poor spelling and typing errors. The thing is, I can avoid forgetting to write by simply doing it. Spelling and typing come with time.

On an unrelated note, I mentioned how great it is to essentially go camping with chefs; it is, but it really helps if where you’re going has running water. We had to drive about 20 miles to the nearest base to collect jerry cans of drinking water. Not great when you’re expected to march for a couple miles and run around with sandbags. That stuff is tiring!

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United Airline’s Dragon

united dragon commercial

A couple of weeks ago, on February 5th, United Airlines aired a commercial during the SuperBowl ‘XL’. I was really attached to the piece because, as an example of stop-motion animation it’s amazing. As an example of fine artistry it’s amazing, and as an example of imagination it’s perfect. The ad follows the story of a father going on a flight, and his son’s imagination of what occurred during the trip. It’s classic soldiers and fighting kind of stuff but with an artisan, Wiliam Morris kind of twist.

The action is set to what appears to be a version of Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue with extra drumrolls and drama. What’s great is that the ad is so different to everything else that was aired (Google Video of Superbowl XL Ads). This isn’t being funny, or crude, macho, twee or mothering. It’s about family and having fun.

You can watch the ad on the united website:
Dragon movie (6 MB)
or watch a making of documentary Making of Dragon (31 MB)

United Commercials Gallery

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Ask a Republican

ask a republican

Hello! I often get asked questions about Republican policy by greasy-haired liberal hippies. Seattle was no exception in Sept of 2005. It was teeming with them. May God bless you and America.

As CEO of Ohio Petroleum and Synthetics, I guided the stock to an all-time high before I left. It wasn’t easy to leave, but based on the advice of my wife, my children and the FBI, I knew it was time to go. When my golden parachute landed, I had quadrupled the share price.

Do I regret secretly dumping in the Ohio river? No sir. May I remind you there was a drought and I was merely “contributing” in an attempt to raise water levels, and didn’t want to call attention to my patriotism. Jesus wouldn’t have. This act of charity was spun by the liberal media and the hysterical mothers of some very, very, slightly deformed children.

Is it a spoof? The video on the site makes me think that it must be because he’s so blunt, but you never know. I really hope so because if it’s not, it’s so wrong…

Ask A Republican: Rep Richard Martin (R-Ohio)

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