Shows
Hoopsville23.32: End is NighTime is running out. Some conference tournaments will begin this weekend, other regular season schedules will come to a close, and some races will come down to the final game.
It all adds up to a busy time of the season, both on the court and in the Hoopsville studio. Thursday is a double-header, starting with our regular show where we will preview the GNAC showdown in men's basketball - both St. Joe's facing off for the regular season title. We also check in on the WIAC men's race and try and make sense of the chaos. Plus we talk...
2026-02-182h 38
Computing UpBenjamin J. Kuipers: On Space and Time and GOFAIBen Kuipers, emeritus professor of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science at the University of Michigan (🔗, 🔗, 🔗), joins Michael and Dave in a nerdly yet accessible conversation on topics ranging from Good Old-Fashioned AI, to how we understand space and time, to ethics and trust in society, to teaching Dave how to LISP properly in the 1970s. [Episode cover based on image used courtesy of Benjamin J. Kuipers]
2025-11-021h 13
Computing UpEfficiency, Resilience, & Robustness With Moshe VardiMoshe Vardi (🔗, 🔗, 🔗), the Karen Ostrum George Distinguished Service Professor in Computational Engineering at Rice University, and a multi-award-winning force in theoretical computer science, joins Michael and Dave in a wide-ranging conversation about robustness and resilience in computer science, engineering, and society at large. Moshe's talk "Lessons from Texas, COVID-19, and the 737 Max" is online (🔗, 🔗). [Cover based on an image used by permission of Moshe Vardi] Episode Note: This conversation was recorded in August 2024 but is only becoming available now. Computing Up regrets and apologizes for the extended delay!
2025-07-261h 04
Computing UpComputing Then And Now with Joy Lisi RankinDr. Joy Lisi Rankin (🔗, 🔗, 🔗, 🔗), an author, historian, and academic, joins Michael and Dave in a fast conversation about the history of computing and its systemic biases from the '60s to the techbros of today, and much more. [Cover based on an image used by permission of Joy Rankin] Note: This conversation was recorded in April 2024 but is only becoming available now. Computing Up regrets and apologizes for the extended delay! Â
2025-04-2758 min
Feeling of ComputingComputing Machinery and Intelligence by Alan Turing (feat. Felienne Hermans)You know Alan Turing, right? And the Turing test? Have you actually read the paper that introduced it, Computing Machinery and Intelligence? No?! You… you are not prepared. With very special guest: Felienne Hermans Notes $ Patreon Mystery AI Hype Theatre 3000 podcast, from Emily M. Bender and Alex Hanna. "Always read the footnotes" [The Language Game](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Language_game_(philosophy) by Ludwig Wittgenstein Can Machines Think? by W. "Billy" Mays Lu's paper with Dave Ackley, Dialogues on Natural Code de...
2025-04-272h 11
Computing UpCollecting Cognition with Steve SlomanCognitive scientist and psychologist Professor Steve Sloman of Brown University (🔗, 🔗, 🔗) joins Michael and Dave in a fun romp through connectionism, collective cognition, the illusion of understanding, and much more. Also, Dave illustrates his illusion of understanding of a bicycle in a true back of the envelope sketch -- [Episode cover based on image used courtesy of Steven Sloman]
2024-12-0148 min
Computing UpManon Revel: Is Democracy a Comma in History?Manon Revel (🔗, 🔗, 🔗), an Employee Fellow at the Berkman Klein Center for Internet & Society at Harvard University, joins Michael and Dave for a conversation about the past, present, and future of democracy, and ways to understand it in both computational and practical terms. [Thumbnail based on image provided courtesy of Manon Revel]
2024-06-231h 01Feeling of ComputingBeyond Efficiency by Dave AckleyDave Ackley's paper Beyond Efficiency is three pages long. With just these three pages, he mounts a compelling argument against the conventional way we engineer software. Instead of inflexibly insisting upon correctness, maybe allow a lil slop? Instead of chasing peak performance with cache and clever tricks, maybe measure many times before you cut. So in this episode, we're putting every CEO in the guillotine… (oh, that stands for "correctness and efficiency only", don't put us on a list)… and considering when, where, and how to do the robust thing. Links $ patreon.com/futureofcoding — The most r...
2024-03-041h 44
Computing UpMartha White: Sparse is RichMartha White, associate professor of Computing Science at University of Alberta (🔗, 🔗) joins Michael and Dave in a conversation about AI, system prediction and control, the power of sparse representations, and many aspects of machine learning from new mathematical theory to the absolutely practical control of a real water treatment plant. [Thumbnail based on image used courtesy of Martha White]
2024-03-0256 min
Property Profits Real Estate PodcastSergeant to Real Estate: The Early Retirement Blueprint with Tom AckleyWant to grow your real estate investing business and portfolio? You’re in the right place.
Welcome to the Property Profits Real Estate Podcast💥🔥🎯
My name is Dave Dubeau, founder of MoneyPartnerFormula.com and this show is built for regular people real estate investors with a few deals under their belt looking to scale…using other people’s money (aka OPM or Private Capital).
Want to know how? Keep listening!
Here’s 4 Ways I Can Help You in Your Business for FREE:👇👇👇
Get a copy of my FREE BOOK - Money Partner Formula: How...
2024-02-0826 min
Cyber (in)SanityEpisode 8- What is Goliath Cyber Security? A Conversation with CEO and Founder Dave AckleyIn this week’s episode for Cyber (In)Sanity, hosts Andrew Berkuta and Angelo Longo talk with Dave, the Founder and CEO of Goliath Cyber Security. The discussion revolves around the inception of Goliath and sheds light on the unique, holistic, and comprehensive approach the company has adopted in the cybersecurity industry.Dave highlights that Goliath addresses a crucial gap in the market by offering a holistic cybersecurity solution. The company focuses on establishing robust relationships with the businesses they serve, setting it apart from others in the industry. Goliath emphasizes intentional partnerships, providing businesses with the as...
2024-01-2543 min
Computing UpRich Sutton Brings ReinforcementsComputer scientist Rich Sutton, FRS (🔗, 🔗, 🔗), a quiet giant of machine learning, joins Michael and Dave in a sprawling conversation touching on reinforcement learning, a hopeful view of AI, the importance of ideas, and a host of other topics. [Thumbnail image used courtesy of Rich Sutton]
2024-01-0154 minFeeling of ComputingMyths & Mythconceptions by Mary ShawIn the spirit of clearly communicating what you're signing up for, this podcast episode is nearly three hours long, and among other things it contains a discussion of a paper by author Mary Shaw titled Myths & Mythconceptions which takes as an organizing principle a collection of myths that are widely believed by programmers, largely unacknowledged, which shape our views on the nature of programming as an activity and the needs of programmers as people and the sort of work that we do as a sort of work, and where by acknowledging these myths the three of us (Mary Shaw...
2023-12-292h 58
Computing UpThe Living Computation Theory of EverythingMichael interviews Dave about his recent video (YouTube) on a 'theory of everything'. The conversation begins with Michael praising Dave for finally doing some theory, and descends from there.
2023-11-281h 19
Computing UpOren Etzioni All OverOren Etzioni, founding CEO of the Allen Institute for Artificial Intelligence and Professor Emeritus of Computer Science at University of Washington, (🔗, 🔗, 🔗) joins Michael and Dave in a conversation that ranges all over, from AI hype and language models to alignment and existential risk and ethics and morality to information pollution and cryptography and politics and more. [Thumbnail based on image licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 by Carissapod link]
2023-10-2253 min
Computing UpBeautiful Messiness with Jonathan FrankleJonathan Frankle, the new Chief Scientist - Neural Networks at Databricks (🔗, 🔗, 🔗), joins Michael and Dave in a fast conversation about topics ranging from AI risks and fairness to the problems of Computer Science education to the beautiful messiness of modern deep learning. [Thumbnail based on image courtesy of Jonathan Frankle]
2023-09-0258 min
Computing UpLove Hate WritingMichael and Dave talk about their love and hate relationships with writing, in the context of Dave's foray into publishing "Companionate Caring" and Michael's upcoming MIT Press book "Code to Joy".  (This conversation is Part 2 of Where The Hell Have Michael & Dave Been?)
2023-07-021h 00
Computing UpBusy Busy / Let's Blame AIMichael and Dave catch up on where the hell they've been for the last couple months. (Mostly it's about busy, but Dave wants to blame everything on AI.)
2023-06-081h 03Andrew Walpole's BlogAn Introduction To Robust-First ComputationAn Introduction To Robust-First Computation
In 2017, with an hour to kill before teaching a web development class at UCSD, I stumbled into a free talk being put on. Living Computation & Postdeterministic Digital Design by Dave Ackley. Little did I know it was to be an inflection point in my entire view of computer science and personal scientific interests.
This post is likely to get long, so I'll split up the sections into a table of contents for easy reference:
A World Beyond Hardware Determinism
Understanding Robust-First
A Whole New World of Computer Science
Living...
2023-03-0900 min
Computing UpMichael Levin TAMEs LifeMichael Levin (🔗, 🔗, 🔗) is the director of the Allen Discovery Center at Tufts University, and Distinguished Professor of Biology and Vannevar Bush Chair, among several other roles. In this episode he talks with Michael and Dave about computing writ very large indeed, with topics ranging from the meaning of life and agency to the problems of computability theory to the ways Levin's TAME model - Technological Approach to Mind Everywhere (🔗) - envisions a reality full of adaptive machines made of adaptive parts adapting to each other with everything they've got.
2023-03-051h 03
Computing UpThe Understandable Cynthia RudinCynthia Rudin, the Earl D. McLean, Jr. Professor of Computer Science, Electrical and Computer Engineering, Statistical Science, Mathematics,and Biostatistics & Bioinformatics at Duke University (🔗, 🔗, 🔗), joins Michael and Dave for a fast and feisty conversation about how to make machines we can understand and control, with high-stakes examples like predicting power failures in New York City.
2023-02-1851 min
Computing UpVukosi Marivate: Deep Learning AfricaVukosi Marivate, Associate Professor of Computer Science and ABSA UP Chair of Data Science at the University of Pretoria (🔗, 🔗, 🔗), joins Michael and Dave for a discussion of AI and machine learning research across Africa and around the world, and the challenges of centralization and efficiency versus diversification at the edge, and what each can learn from the other. [Title card based on image courtesy of Vukosi Marivate]
2023-01-0855 min
Computing UpAndrew Davison's grand SLAMAndrew Davison is Professor of Robot Vision (🔗) at Imperial College London, and leads the Dyson Robotics Laboratory (🔗). Andrew invented the SLAM algorithm for robot mapping and navigation, and as this fast conversation makes clear, Dave and Michael are both big fans. [Thumbnail based on image courtesy of Andrew Davison]
2022-11-0549 min
Computing UpJohn Twelve HawksReclusive New York Times best-selling author John Twelve Hawks (🔗, 🔗 , 🔗) joins Michael and Dave to discuss problems of the world today and possibilities of the world tomorrow -- including AI risks, technological centralization, machines acting like people and people acting like machines, sex drives for sexbots, and the question of unintended consequences.
2022-10-0248 min
Computing UpPeter Norvig: AI Then And NowPeter Norvig 🔗, who literally (co)wrote the book 🔗 on Artificial Intelligence in the 1990s, talks with Michael and Dave about how the field has changed over the years, AI fairness and ethics, what is a symbol, and much more. [Cover image based on "Peter Norvig in 2019 at the Interval" 🔗 , licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 by Christopher Michel (Cmichel67 🔗 on Wikipedia)]
2022-09-0550 min
The Meaning CodeThe Role of the Observer Part 2: How the Observer as Computational Entity intersects with Maxwell's Demon and the Demon Horde SortIs the universe fundamentally computational? What is the observer? What is the role of the observer? A deep dive.Timestamps 0:00.Intro 2:00 Analyzing 2 different delayed choice quantum eraser experiments: Kim, et al and John Wheeler (Gedanken)13:43 We never talk about what the observer is (we need to include the physics of the observer)14:14 Maxwell's demon and the observer (a sequence of choices)25:08 The Free Will Theorem 27:00 Multiple choices that are still consistent with the past history of the universe.41:30 Observation does require a "concept" of consciousness.49:25...
2022-09-021h 40
Computing UpMinds, Brains, & Morals with Oriel FeldmanHallOriel FeldmanHall, Brown University assistant professor and director of the Social and Affective Neuroscience Lab (🔗, 🔗), joins Michael and Dave in a wide-ranging discussion starting with what reinforcement learning does and doesn't mean -- and she turns the tables to ask what computer scientists do and don't get wrong about mind and brain and learning in general.
2022-08-0153 min
Computing UpAgency IoT Loyalty1Michael and Dave tackle the big questions and settle two of them: Is Agency A Zero Sum Game? Why Do (Internet of) Things Suck? How Can We Turn Computation Away From Centralization? [Image of ancient Philips Hue Controller operating without internet access, used by permission of Dave the owner]
2022-07-011h 02
Computing UpJames Tompkin Does Visual Computing ResearchJames Tompkin 🔗, assistant Professor of Computer Science at Brown University 🔗, joins Michael and Dave to talk about visual computing research writ large, with topics ranging from the relevance of traditional computer graphics in the era of machine learning, to differentiable rendering and neural radiance fields, to DALL-E 2 and remixing Hitchcock's "Rear Window" at the Museum of the Moving Image.
2022-06-0449 min
Computing UpEllie Pavlick: As Artificial Intelligence Meets Natural LanguageEllie Pavlick, Assistant Professor of Computer Science at Brown University (🔗) and Research Scientist at Google AI (🔗), joins Michael and Dave in a quick discussion of the remarkable new large AI language models. Topics range from what is and isn't known about the models, and by them, to if or how scared should we be of them, to what 'traditional' sciences like linguistics bring to artificial intelligence research and engineering. [Image courtesy of Ellie Pavlick]
2022-05-0152 min
Computing UpAndrew Critch on AIAndrew Critch (🔗), a mathematician, AI researcher, organizer and activist (cofounder 🔗, researcher 🔗, cofounder 🔗), joins Michael and Dave for a fast-moving fifty minutes about existential risks (and opportunities) of AI and other technologies, the limits of intelligence, and the importance of structure at all scales and having a good spirit.
2022-04-0252 min
Computing UpWhat is the Self Image?Dave tries to explain why he thinks the best way to understand people and other living things is via computation and programming languages, via codebases and code transmissions. Michael tries to help Dave sound slightly sane. [Image based on still frame from "We Are Coders"]
2022-03-0255 min
Computing UpBad Ideas and Dangerous Thoughts with Fiery CushmanFiery Cushman @fierycushman, professor of psychology at Harvard University 🔗, joins Michael and Dave in a wonderful conversation about morality seen both cognitively and computationally, with topics ranging from trolley problems and fake guns to the wisdom of the ancestors and the hubris of science to what makes moral thinking special. [Title image courtesy of Fiery Cushman]
2022-02-0753 min
Computing UpNeil Lawrence All Over the MapNeil Lawrence (home, @lawrennd), the DeepMind Professor of Machine Learning at the University of Cambridge, joins Michael and Dave for a rollicking hour discussing everything from cybernetics to machine learning, from oil rigs to New Jersey shopping malls, from inconsistent scientific reviewing to gods and robots and much more. Talking Machines podcast [Image courtesy of Neil Lawrence] Â
2022-01-011h 01
Computing UpCarla Brodley: From Machine Learning to Inclusive ComputingCarla Brodley, professor and Dean of Inclusive Computing at Northeastern University (link), talks to Michael and Dave about applying Machine Learning to real problems from computer security to medicine, and how to move the needle for diversity, equity, access, and belonging in Computer Science education. [Title image courtesy of Carla Brodley]
2021-12-0448 min
Computing UpKaren Levy Keeps On TruckingKaren Levy, assistant professor in Information Science at Cornell University, joins Michael and Dave in a conversation ranging from AI, law, and smart contracts to CB radio, Road Dog Trucking, and Santa's narcs.
2021-11-0155 min
Computing UpAnita Nikolich: From Three Letter Agency to AI Security Anita Nikolich, Director of Research and Technology Innovation at the University of Illinois School of Information Sciences (webpage), joins Michael and Dave in a conversation ranging over decades and disciplines, from computer network security and the DEFCON hacker conferences to creating games for teaching about mis- and dis-information. [Title image courtesy of Anita Nikolich]
2021-10-0251 min
Computing UpMore than Games with Michael BowlingMichael Bowling, professor of Computer Science at the University of Alberta, talks with Michael and Dave about robots playing robots at soccer, and how a computer program beat professional poker players at heads-up no-limit Texas Hold'em, and what it all means. [Image courtesy of Michael Bowling]
2021-09-071h 15
Computing UpThe Embodied George KonidarisMichael and Dave talk to George Konidaris, assistant professor and director of the Intelligent Robot Lab at Brown University, about building generally intelligent robots, or anyway trying, and the importance of both embodiment and abstraction in artificial intelligence. [Title image courtesy of George Konidaris]
2021-07-0659 min
Computing UpMike Lesk: Data Scientist OGRutgers Professor Michael Lesk talks to Michael and Dave about everything from computing and information retrieval in the 1960s, to railroad signaling and recognizing giraffes, to the difference between astronomers and computer scientists, to Colonial Pipeline and the real AI challenge. Â [Title image courtesy of Mike Lesk]
2021-06-0556 min
Computing UpClosing Triangles with Tina Eliassi-RadProfessor Tina Eliassi-Rad of Northeastern's Network Science Institute talks with Michael and Dave about topics ranging from graph structures and machine learning to AI ethics and the nature of democracy. [Title image courtesy of Tina Eliassi-Rad]
2021-05-0153 min
Computing UpGlum About TechDave is feeling glum about technology -- and by extension about the impacts of computer science, the exploitation of science in general, and the hope for sustainability and truth in society. Michael helps sort it all out.
2021-03-0246 min
Computing UpComputing Penguins with Heather LynchMichael and Dave talk to Heather J. Lynch, Associate Professor of Ecology and Evolution at Stony Brook University, about awards and leaving physics, about saving penguins and the planet, and more.
2021-02-0151 min
Computing UpHeather LaneHeather Lane, machine learning researcher and senior architect at athenahealth, joins Dave and Michael in a talk of many things, of the thermodynamics of life, of the US healthcare industry and life after academia, of coming out as transgender.
2021-01-0256 min
Computing UpFil Menczer: From Artificial Life To Social BotsFil Menczer, professor and director of the Observatory on Social Media at Indiana University, joined Michael and Dave on the day after the 2020 USA presidential election. Fil revealed how his 1990s Artificial Life research set the stage for his current work, focusing not just on the facts of disinformation and hoaxes and conspiracy theories and social bots, but also how to identify and fight them. [Title image based on photograph licensed CC BY-SA 3.0 by Tracey Theriault]
2020-12-011h 01
Computing UpJeff Bigham: Humanizing AIJeff Bigham, an Associate Professor at Carnegie-Mellon's Human-Computer Interaction Institute, joins Michael and Dave in a wide-ranging discussion of human-computer interactions, AI threats and opportunities, and systems and organizations made of both computers and humans. [Episode transcript (PDF)] [Cover photo courtesy of Jeff Bigham]
2020-11-0150 min
Computing UpThe Reward Function and the Structure of MeaningMichael and Dave discuss the meaning of the reward function, and its consequences for AI and human society.
2020-10-0642 min
Computing UpEntering HyperspaceDave tries to explain his "We are coders" approach to cognition to Michael, as part of developing the second lecture in the "Introduction to Classical Hyperspace" series. First lecture
2020-09-0644 min
Computing UpChanneling Hari Seldon for Safer and Fairer AIComputer scientists Emma Brunskill of Stanford and Phil Thomas of UMass Amherst join Michael and Dave in a four-way discussion of safety and fairness in AI and machine learning. [The primary paper discussed, Preventing undesirable behavior of intelligent machines, is by Philip S. Thomas, Bruno Castro da Silva, Andrew G. Barto, Stephen Giguere, Yuriy Brun, and Emma Brunskill, and can be accessed for free via paper in Science ]
2020-08-011h 00
Computing UpJenna Burrell Has Some ThoughtsMichael and Dave talk with UC Berkeley sociologist Jenna Burrell about topics ranging from algorithmic fairness and transparency, to anthropology and epistemology, to viral tweets and why small is beautiful. [Title image courtesy of Jenna Burrell]
2020-07-0654 min
2020-06-0744 min
Computing UpCatching up with Peter WinklerMichael and Dave talk with mathematician, computer scientist, and puzzle maker Peter Winkler, about topics ranging from randomness to free will, and combinatorics to Sleeping Beauty, and John Horton Conway to Erdős number 1. And don't miss the bonus puzzle! Conway's (first) Princeton Lecture [Title photo courtesy of Peter Winkler]
2020-05-0341 min
Computing UpArtificial DeathMichael and Dave talk about pandemic models and simulation journalism, programming languages, and what people really want. Washington Post's simulator is here
2020-04-0138 min
Computing UpThe Multilevel Michael FrankMichael and Dave talk to Brown University neuroscientist Michael J Frank about topics from brains and minds, to engineering and machine learning, to dopamine and Parkinson's disease and New Age woo.
2020-03-0155 min
Computing UpMelanie Moses Scales UpComputer scientist and biologist Melanie Moses joins Michael and Dave in a conversation ranging from biology nerds vs computing nerds to the future of justice in the United States, with a whole lot of scaling along the way.
2020-02-0154 min
Computing UpMichael Carbin Computes the Winning Ticket & MoreMichael Carbin, Assistant Professor of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science at MIT, joins Michael and Dave to discuss neural net lottery tickets, computing with uncertainty and more. [Cover photo courtesy of Michael Carbin]
2020-01-0148 min
Computing UpZander Furnas on Politics as ComputationZander Furnas helps Dave get a clue about political science, in theory and in practice -- from authoritarianism to democracy, and from Congressional staffer's incentives to Elizabeth Warren's plan for lobbyists, and whether there's hope for society after all. [Background image by www.GAUPERphoto.com used by permission of Zander Furnas]
2019-12-0144 min
Computing UpLiving Computation and SocietyDave and Michael revisit the meaning of life (the subject of the second Computing Up conversation) in the context of politics and society and human destiny. [Photo by Jeffrey Lee on Unsplash]
2019-11-0239 min
Computing UpTheories of Theories of EverythingInspired by a WIRED profile of Karl Friston, Dave and Michael talk about theories of everything, and theories thereof. [WIRED Article:Â https://www.wired.com/story/karl-friston-free-energy-principle-artificial-intelligence/Â ]
2019-10-0135 min
Computing UpBrian Christian's AlgorithmsAuthor Brian Christian talks about "Algorithms to Live By", and computing writ large, with Michael and Dave. [Cover photo by Michael Langan courtesy of Brian Christian]
2019-09-0147 min
Computing UpTechnologies more true: Glen Weyl is recomputing democracyGlen Weyl joins Michael and Dave to talk about democracy, mechanism design, quadratic finance, blockchain, and the RadicalXChange. [Image courtesy of Gley Weyl]
2019-07-2748 min
Computing UpIs Progress Real?Democratic debates and Dave darkness raise the question of whether progress is even possible.
2019-06-3038 min
2019-06-0135 min
Computing UpDavid Jensen: Because CausalityDavid Jensen, Professor and Director of the Knowledge Discovery Laboratory at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, talks with Michael and Dave because of causality. [Cover image used by permission of David Jensen]
2019-05-0143 min
Dave's Disney ViewShow #103 - Sorcerers of the Magic Kingdom On today's podcast, I am in the Magic Kingdom, checking out the Sorcerers of the Magic Kingdom. Its a fun, interactive experience. Join me as I describe the experience, how it works, and set out to save the kingdom!
First things first. I play part of an interview that Rick Brigante did with Imagineer Jonathan Ackley. I provide it for context, but want to give full credit to Rick. You should visit his site and check out his work. He provides a thorough look at all things Disney... Inside the Magic
Now I w...
2019-04-0731 min
Dave’s Disney viewShow #103 - Sorcerers of the Magic Kingdom On today's podcast, I am in the Magic Kingdom, checking out the Sorcerers of the Magic Kingdom. Its a fun, interactive experience. Join me as I describe the experience, how it works, and set out to save the kingdom!
First things first. I play part of an interview that Rick Brigante did with Imagineer Jonathan Ackley. I provide it for context, but want to give full credit to Rick. You should visit his site and check out his work. He provides a thorough look at all things Disney... Inside the Magic
Now I w...
2019-04-0731 minDave’s Disney viewShow #103 - Sorcerers of the Magic Kingdom On today's podcast, I am in the Magic Kingdom, checking out the Sorcerers of the Magic Kingdom. Its a fun, interactive experience. Join me as I describe the experience, how it works, and set out to save the kingdom!
First things first. I play part of an interview that Rick Brigante did with Imagineer Jonathan Ackley. I provide it for context, but want to give full credit to Rick. You should visit his site and check out his work. He provides a thorough look at all things Disney... Inside the Magic
Now I w...
2019-04-0731 min
Computing UpBitter, Better, and BeyondMichael and Dave discuss Rich Sutton's The Bitter Lesson and Rod Brook's A Better Lesson.
2019-03-3136 min
Computing UpWhat is Computation?Michael is preparing an award lecture on computation while Dave, with the sniffles, tries to help.
2019-03-0235 min
Computing UpComputational vs Systems ThinkingDiscussion of Dave's 2018 'Christmas Rant' about systems thinking. Â The video (12 min) The death of a Blepharisma
2019-02-0133 min
Computing UpProgramming in Grad StudentWhen people ask what programming language Michael uses, he basically has to say 'Graduate Students'.
2018-12-2934 min
Computing UpDoes Neutral Point of View Exist?Michael corners Dave-the-extreme-relativist on the meaning of neutrality.
2018-12-0137 min
2018-10-1333 min
2018-09-2931 min
2018-09-1500 min
Computing UpUploading and ImmortalityDave and Michael talk about achieving immortality by 'uploading' yourself into a computer. (Note: There's also this book.) [Episode thumbnail based on public domain image.] Â
2018-08-3133 min
2018-08-0133 min
Computing UpRichard Gerrig on Narrative WorldsMichael and Dave talk to Professor Richard Gerrig about the power and the computation and cognitive science of stories and narrative worlds. Watch out! There be monsters! [Title photograph courtesy of Richard Gerrig]
2018-06-3046 min
Computing UpThe InternetWe are in the bronze age of the internet. [Title background image is a 2005-era partial internet map, created by Matt Britt using data from the OPTE project, licensed under CC-BY-2.5]
2018-05-2735 min
Legacy City Church BremertonSunday April 15, 2018Ministry time led by Vony Ackley, teaching time by Dave & Sharon Smith
2018-04-1645 min
Computing UpCharles Isbell is Reinventing Computer EducationMichael talks to Professor Charles Isbell about computing education and topics ranging from Sebastian Thrun to whether computer science is a lame name. [Title photograph courtesy of Charles Isbell]
2018-02-1133 min
Computing UpNow It's Meltdown and SpectreDiscussing the immediate and ultimate causes of these latest horrible predictable computer vulnerabilities. But note that Dave the big expert confuses his facts at least twice: Austria is not Germany, and Heartbleed is not Shellshock. [Title image based on a public domain CPU image posted by bicanski] Â
2018-01-1532 min
Computing UpEvolution PornFrom evolution to proxy fitness to generalized drugs and back again. [Title image combines a public domain CC0 book image plus a version of Ernst Haeckel's 'Tree of Life' drawing]
2017-12-3135 min
Computing UpTEDx TwiceDave finds out how Michael ended up doing two TEDx talks in a month and a half. [Title image using screengrabs from Michael's talks at TEDx Providence and TEDx Boston]
2017-11-1832 min
Computing UpMelanie Mitchell on AIProfessor and author Melanie Mitchell discusses artificial intelligence with Dave. [Title photograph courtesy of Melanie Mitchell]
2017-11-0433 min
Computing UpThe Meaning of ScienceThe meaning of science, and engineering, and philosophy of science, and the ultimate physicality of all things including ideas. [Title image based on Chalkboard in empty classroom licensed under CC-BY-2.0 by Thomas Galvez.]
2017-10-1937 min
Computing UpEmotions and Reinforcement LearningEmotions and reinforcement learning. Partly inspired by Eric Barker's recent discussion of emotional intelligence. [Title background image: Happy robot and sad robot created, and placed in the public domain, by Lola Kno.]
2017-09-2938 min
Computing UpElusive RandomnessRandomness writ large. With discussion of Brendan Koerner's recent Wired article on hacking casino slot machines. [Title background image: A photograph of Las Vegas slot machines, licensed under Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported license by Yamaguchi先生]
2017-08-0841 min
Computing UpThe AI ApocalypseSo how doomed are we?  [Title background image: An Atlas robot image, supplied as public information by DARPA, overlaid on a post-apocalyptic cityscape licensed under CC-BY-2.0 by Ty'Onah Gallman]
2017-08-0133 min
Dev Game ClubDGC Ep 069: Interview with Marc LaidlawWelcome to Dev Game Club, where we are discussing Valve Software's 1998 classic Half-Life. This week we welcome Marc Laidlaw, long-time Valve employee and writer of Half-Life. Dev Game Club looks at classic video games and plays through them over several episodes, providing commentary. Podcast breakdown: 0:40 Â Â Â Interview with Marc Laidlaw 1:04:50 Â Break 1:05:16 Â Feedback/Questions Issues covered: getting started at Valve, looking at story in first person games, unshipped game at Valve, getting Quake community people to work on Half-Life, the early plan for the company, finding features by building lots of tests, randomly discussing featu...
2017-07-051h 39
Computing UpThe Meaning of LifeLet's just get this sorted out right now. [Title background image: The Elakala Falls in West Virginia, from Wikipedia ]
2017-07-0130 min
Computing UpHow We Got to BellcoreHow Michael Littman and Dave Ackley met, in the 1980's. [Title image based on a
2017-06-0128 min
2017-05-1500 min
Dev Game ClubDGC Ep 19 with special guests Dave Grossman and Tim SchaferIn this final interview episode discussing recently remastered LucasArts classic Day of the Tentacle, we welcome two guests, DOTT co-leads Dave Grossman and Tim Schafer! We had a fascinating time talking with the two of them and getting their insights on what they were trying to do and where some of the decisions came from. Dev Game Club looks at classic video games and plays through them over several episodes, providing commentary. Production note: Some of Brett's voice cut out during recording, and so there are a couple places where that is patched up. ...
2016-07-131h 11
Dev Game ClubDGC Ep 17: Day of the Tentacle (part 2)In this second episode discussing recently remastered LucasArts classic Day of the Tentacle, we talk about how to move on when you get stuck and speculate about how these games were constructed. Dev Game Club looks at classic video games and plays through them over several episodes, providing commentary. Sections played: Hard to say; approximately another third of the game (~3 hours) Podcast breakdown: 0:24 Â Â Â Segment 1: How you get unstuck 34:03 Â Â Break 34:30 Â Â Segment 2: puzzle development, reader mail 1:15:19 Â Outro Issues covered: Gabe Newell's non-joining of Twitter, what you do when you get...
2016-06-221h 15
Dev Game ClubDGC Ep 16: Day of the TentacleIn this first episode discussing recently remastered LucasArts classic Day of the Tentacle, we talk about the influence of adventure games generally and the reputed mis-reporting of games being dead, as well as talking about the format of this game in particular. Dev Game Club looks at classic video games and plays through them over several episodes, providing commentary. Note: Brett keeps referring to Monkey Island 2 and Secret of Monkey Island kind of interchangeably. We regret the error. Sections played: Hard to say! But we both tried to get to where Laverne drapes herself in...
2016-06-151h 44
Irish & Celtic Music PodcastIrish & Celtic Music: The Rogues, Sisters of Murphy, Laura McGheeIrish Celtic music from The Tea Merchants, Free Range String Band, The Duplets, Dave Hum, Ginger Ackley, The Rogues, Lachlan, Poitin, Baroque & Hungry, Samantha Gillogly & Tim Maurice, Angus Mohr, The Merry Peddlers, The Tomfooligans, Sisters of Murphy, Laura McGhee. www.celticmusicpodcast.com Subscribe to our Celtic Music Magazine. Remember to support the artists who support this podcast: buy their CDs, download their MP3s, see their shows, and drop them an email to let them know you heard them on the Irish and Celtic Music Podcast. When you buy through our affiliates at CD Baby, Amazon, or...
2012-11-2059 min