COVID-19 continues to put more and more stress on Mississippi’s hospitals.
The post Marshall Ramsey: I Don’t C U appeared first on Mississippi Today.
Marshall Ramsey: I Don’t C U
This Russian Firm’s Star Designer Is an AI—but No One Knew That for a Year
Imagine discovering a new artist or designer—whether visual art, fashion, music, or even writing—and becoming a big fan of her work. You follow her on social media, eagerly anticipate new releases, and chat about her talent with your friends. It’s not long before you want to know more about this creative, inspiring person, so you start doing some research. It’s strange, but there doesn’t seem to be any information about the artist’s past online; you can’t find out where she went to school or who her mentors were.
After some more digging, you find out something totally unexpected: your beloved artist is actually not a person at all—she’s an AI.
Would you be amused? Annoyed? Baffled? Impressed? Probably some combination of all these. If you wanted to ask someone who’s had this experience, you could talk to clients of the biggest multidisciplinary design company in Russia, Art.Lebedev Studio (I know, the period confused me at first too). The studio passed off an AI designer as human for more than a year, and no one caught on.
They gave the AI a human-sounding name—Nikolay Ironov—and it participated in more than 20 different projects that included designing brand logos and building brand identities. According to the studio’s website, several of the logos the AI made attracted “considerable public interest, media attention, and discussion in online communities” due to their unique style.
So how did an AI learn to create such buzz-worthy designs? It was trained using hand-drawn vector images each associated with one or more themes. To start a new design, someone enters a few words describing the client, such as what kind of goods or services they offer. The AI uses those words to find associated images and generate various starter designs, which then go through another series of algorithms that “touch them up.” A human designer then selects the best options to present to the client.
“These systems combined together provide users with the experience of instantly converting a client’s text brief into a corporate identity design pack archive. Within seconds,” said Sergey Kulinkovich, the studio’s art director. He added that clients liked Nikolay Ironov’s work before finding out he was an AI (and liked the media attention their brands got after Ironov’s identity was revealed even more).
Ironov joins a growing group of AI “artists” that are starting to raise questions about the nature of art and creativity. Where do creative ideas come from? What makes a work of art truly great? And when more than one person is involved in making art, who should own the copyright?
Art.Lebedev is far from the first design studio to employ artificial intelligence; Mailchimp is using AI to let businesses design multi-channel marketing campaigns without human designers, and Adobe is marketing its new Sensei product as an AI design assistant.
While art made by algorithms can be unique and impressive, though, there’s one caveat that’s important to keep in mind when we worry about human creativity being rendered obsolete. Here’s the thing: AIs still depend on people to not only program them, but feed them a set of training data on which their intelligence and output are based. Depending on the size and nature of an AI’s input data, its output will look pretty different from that of a similar system, and a big part of the difference will be due to the people that created and trained the AIs.
Admittedly, Nikolay Ironov does outshine his human counterparts in a handful of ways; as the studio’s website points out, he can handle real commercial tasks effectively, he doesn’t sleep, get sick, or have “crippling creative blocks,” and he can complete tasks in a matter of seconds.
Given these superhuman capabilities, then, why even keep human designers on staff? As detailed above, it will be a while before creative firms really need to consider this question on a large scale; for now, it still takes a hard-working creative human to make a fast-producing creative AI.
Image Credit: Art.Lebedev
32: Episode 32: Cults Part 3- The Alien Beard Infection
*Warning: Explicit language and content*
In episode 32, We discuss the Nxivm & Ant Hill Kids cults in part 3 of our cult series. Trigger warning for extreme sex & violence.
All Cats is part of the Truthseekers Podcast Network.
Host: April Simmons
Special Guest Host: Sabrina
Theme + Editing by April Simmons
http://anchor.fm/april-simmons to donate to our pickles & coffee fund
Contact us at allcatspod@gmail.com
Call us at 662-200-1909
https://linktr.ee/allcats for all our social media links
Shoutout podcasts this week: Radio Rental, Blood Ties
Credits:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roch_Th%C3%A9riault
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NXIVM
https://allthatsinteresting.com/nxivm
—
This episode is sponsored by
· Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app
Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/april-simmons/support
How to Not Let the Storm Win in Life
This was the lesson I learned just this last week. Being a classic type A personality, I like it when things go as planned. I do not like it when things shift at a last-minute notice. I had my trip for the beach booked nearly nine months in advance of the time I would go. I had a photo shoot with my company lined up for my time there as well. I was ready. I had been thinking about that sun hitting my face and the sand between my toes for a solid two weeks as I bulldozed through work stress. It was the light at the end of the tunnel so to speak. Then the inevitable happened. A hurricane. It is also good to note here that I don’t even pretend to keep up with the news. I had no idea it was even headed for the coast. I had already packed my two teenagers and myself to leave the next morning when my photographer reached out to me to inquire on my plans in light of the hurricane watch. Wait. What? I looked at her text and then checked the weather (I know, I know…I should have already done that). That is when I realized that there was indeed a hurricane watch and they were predicting it to hit straight onto the beach I was headed for the next day.
What did I do? I cried. Literally. I was so upset because I felt like I needed this time away more than anything and I was so upset by the thought that I might have to cancel. I knew I could brave it and just go down there hoping it turned its course, but I had kids in tow. I knew the responsible thing to do was to cancel the trip. I called the hotel which granted me to cancel with no fee. I contacted the photographer who cancelled the photoshoot and refunded me the money I had paid. I sat there and pouted like my two-year-old toddler. I texted my mom to tell her the news and that is when she came back with “your dad said, don’t let the storm win…go to the mountains.” I stared at the text. Booked a condo in five seconds flat and the decision was made. Mountains would be where we went. I unpacked all of our swimsuits and beach towels for some hoodies and slacks.
Sometimes we need to be reminded. Don’t let the storm win. It might just mean you need to change directions. It might be a warning trying to get you to alter from the way you were headed. It might mean that you needed to shift and change to get a better outcome. Whatever the reason…change can be good. It took my dad who personally loves the mountains over the beach to remind me that I only needed to shift perspectives. Shift directions. Shift the way I see it all. The whole when life hands you lemons, make lemonade cliché. I could have continued to sit on my couch and throw a pity party. I could have been a grump all week because I was at home with no sand in between my toes. Or…I could choose to not let the storm win. I could change perspectives. I could look for more creative solutions. I could choose change the way I saw it all. I could go a different direction.
We went to the mountains. I had a marvelous time. I enjoyed the view and the fall leaves changing colors. I soaked in the mountain breeze. I reminded myself that it is all the way we perceive it. We can choose to not let the storm win. It is within our power to shift our perspective no matter what it is. Bad marriage – what lessons did we learn. Failed friendship – what new friends are we supposed to find. Lost job – what better one is out there for us to land. It is a lot about perspective. It is a lot about choosing to not let the storm win. It is a lot about looking for creative solutions to the problems. It is a lot about a mountain vacation instead of the beach because that is the way the wind blows sometimes.
Until next time…don’t let the storm win.
COVID-19 spreads rapidly across Mississippi as hospital capacity drops
Three days after expanding his county-wide mask mandates, Gov. Tate Reeves signaled new restrictions coming Friday as COVID-19 continues to spread at a growing rate in Mississippi.
Reeves said he expects tomorrow to place new counties under mask requirements and hinted at statewide restrictions regarding bars.
“We are not trying to induce panic,” he said during a press conference on Thursday. “We are trying to make sure there’s a healthy respect throughout this state for this deadly virus.
Eric J. Shelton/Mississippi Today, Report For America
Gov. Tate Reeves speaks to media about his shelter-in-place order for Lauderdale County during a press conference at the State of Mississippi Woolfolk Building in Jackson, Miss., Tuesday, March 31, 2020.
“There were times in this pandemic when fear was over the top. Now the pendulum has swung where we have too many people acting as if this virus doesn’t exist.”
After setting a single-day record for new cases a week ago, Mississippi has surpassed that mark three times since. More telling, the seven-day average is now at 1,179 cases per day, a 71 percent increase in the last two weeks.
In seven of the last nine days, the state health department reported daily new cases of over 1,000; Mississippi recorded only two such days between Mar. 11 and July 10.
“Today we’re reporting 982 (new cases),” state health officer Thomas Dobbs said Thursday. “It’s kind of shocking when that seems like a good number.”
Dobbs added that eight hospitals reported having no vacancies in their ICUs. The seven-day average for COVID-19 hospitalizations continues to rise, now having increased for 34 straight days, and 44 percent in the last two weeks.
The rolling averages for ICU patients and patients on ventilators have increased for 25 and 18 straight days, respectively. Forty percent of all the state’s ICU patients are from coronavirus, Dobbs said on Wednesday.
“That’s absolutely astounding, just a week ago we were at 30 percent,” Dobbs said.
UMMC Communications
State health officer Thomas Dobbs at a press conference at UMMC.
On Monday, Reeves added 10 counties to the list of places under a mask mandate, which is set to expire Aug. 3.
In total, 23 out of the state’s 82 counties are under a mask mandate: Bolivar, Claiborne, Covington, DeSoto, Forrest, Grenada, Harrison, Hinds, Humphreys, Jackson, Jefferson, Madison, Panola, Quitman, Rankin, Sharkey, Simpson, Sunflower, Tallahatchie, Tate, Walthall, Washington and Wayne.
During a press conference on Wednesday, Reeves explained the criteria for adding counties to that list. There are two measures the state uses:
- Counties with over 200 cases in a 14-day period, and/or
- Counties that have 500 new cases per 100,000 residents
There are seven counties that have passed the first metric but aren’t included in the mask mandate: Warren, Pontotoc, Lauderdale, Coahoma, Jones, Lee, and Lamar counties. Based on today’s numbers, no counties have passed the second metric.
“I would anticipate an amended order, adding counties tomorrow,” Reeves said Thursday.
While testing has increased — at about 6,700 tests per day in the last week — so has the positivity rate of tests, averaging 18 percent over the last week. That figure peaked at 20 percent on July 11.
For daily case numbers, weekly updates and charts and maps, click here.
The post COVID-19 spreads rapidly across Mississippi as hospital capacity drops appeared first on Mississippi Today.
Gallery | Parents for Safe Schools Rally
INDIANOLA —About 30 parents, educators, students and community members gathered at Minnie Cox Park here for the Parents for Safe Schools Rally to protest schools reopening due to the rising number of coronavirus cases and deaths around Mississippi. Many schools across the state are expected to reopen in August despite the rising number of reported cases.
According to State Health Officer Dr. Thomas Dobbs, 2,413 cases have been reported in children between the ages of 11 and 17. As of Thursday, Sunflower County has a total of 721 cases and Bolivar County has 673. Around the state, total confirmed cases have reached 48,053, with 1,436 confirmed deaths. A follow-up rally, led by Mississippi Teachers Unite, is scheduled for Monday in Cleveland.
Here are images from the Parents for Safe Schools Rally:
The post Gallery | Parents for Safe Schools Rally appeared first on Mississippi Today.
Rep. Earle Banks enters contentious race for Mississippi Democratic Party chair
State Rep. Earle Banks, D-Jackson, answers a question during a short debate in 2012. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis)
UPDATE: A state Democratic Party executive committee meeting scheduled for Thursday night has been cancelled. This story has been updated to include that information.
Longtime state Rep. Earle Banks on Thursday entered a contentious race for the chairmanship of the Mississippi Democratic Party.
And on Thursday afternoon, the party canceled a planned Thursday-night teleconference meeting to elect new officers because of Banks and potentially others entering the race for the chairmanship.
Banks, who has reportedly been suffering from COVID-19 recently, in a message to committee members assured them, “I am on the mend,” and not too sick to run for the office.
A 28-year veteran lawmaker who has served as vice chairman, or second in command, of the state Democratic Party since 2016, Banks said: “This is no time to go back to the leadership of the past. It is time for the Mississippi Democratic Party to have proven leadership that has decades of experience in the party.”
Banks’ entrance into the race comes as longtime state Appeals Court Judge Tyree Irving mounts a challenge to oust party Chairman Bobby Moak, who’s held the position since 2016.
In addition to their service together the past four years as the party’s top leaders, Moak, a former longtime lawmaker, and Banks served together in the state House for many years, where Moak was minority leader.
READ MORE: Inside the battle for control of the Mississippi Democratic Party
Irving this week told Mississippi Today that 45 members of the party’s newly elected 80-member executive committee have pledged support to him, and another eight have told others they’ll vote for him.
Many Democratic leaders and candidates have decried a lack of leadership in the party and support for candidates, particularly amid the party’s dismal showing in the 2019 statewide elections. Republicans swept all statewide offices last year, solidifying supermajority control of the state Legislature and increasing down-ticket wins on the local level.
Some party elders have also criticized Moak and other party leaders for failing to devote resources to electing Black candidates, even as white voters have left the party in droves and Black voters have become a substantial majority of the party’s base. The last six Democratic Party chairmen, including Moak, have been white. Irving and Banks are Black.
For his part, Moak has recently said the party has offered much organized help to candidates in the latest election cycles, has created an unprecedented social media outreach and had fundraising success under his leadership.
Irving and others have accused Moak of delaying a leadership election since the new committee was elected in May because of the move to unseat him. Using a provision in the party’s constitution, Irving supporters had forced a special meeting for Saturday. But after that meeting was called, Moak called one for Thursday night.
On Thursday Moak sent a message to committee members saying the Thursday meeting was canceled, “Due to the entry of at least 3 candidates for office that I have seen today, and acknowledging the concerns some have for that meeting this afternoon.” He said the special called Saturday meeting will be held as scheduled.
Moak also included results of an “independent, in-depth analysis of the MS Democratic Party” that he said shows “many highlights to be proud of — like our current staff’s work and strong finances.” He said it also identifies weaknesses such as a lack of engagement with county and local organizations “along with a game plan for moving ahead.”
The post Rep. Earle Banks enters contentious race for Mississippi Democratic Party chair appeared first on Mississippi Today.
57 years ago, the late Stan Hindman, a Renaissance man, made a play for the ages
Stan Hindman, a consensus All American for Ole Miss in 1965, died on July 15 in California.
This was Nov. 3, 1963, a Saturday. Ole Miss was playing a rare afternoon football game against LSU in Baton Rouge. CBS was broadcasting. I was 11 years old, watching on a black and white TV in Hattiesburg.
As was always those case in those days, the Ole Miss-LSU game had SEC and national championship implications. Ole Miss was undefeated. LSU had lost once. Ole Miss sped to an early lead and LSU was fighting to get back in the game. And then it happened.
Ole Miss punted and LSU speedster Joe Labruzzo, who had run the 100-yard dash in 9.6 seconds for the LSU track team, gathered in the kick at his own 14 and took off. He broke into the clear and seemed headed for an 86-yard touchdown that might have turned the game around. Then, a huge Ole Miss player appeared on the screen, racing to try and catch Labruzzo from behind. This huge, speeding Rebel was a sophomore from Newton, named Stan Hindman. Labruzzo weighed 175 pounds. Hindman weighed 232. As Labruzzo crossed the 5-yard-line, Hindman reached out his right arm, snagged Labruzzo from behind, and took him down at the one-yard-line. Ole Miss then held the Tigers on a goal line stand and went on to win the game 37-3. Nearly 57 years later, Hindman’s rundown of Labruzzo remains one of the most incredible athletic feats I have witnessed.
“Not many linemen anywhere could have done that,” Ole Miss coaching legend John Vaught said in the next day’s newspaper. Vaught called Hindman the “greatest lineman he had ever coached at this stage of his career.”
When told the player who had run the great Labruzzo down from behind was a sophomore guard, LSU coach Charlie McClendon responded: “A guard, you say. I can’t believe it.”
Rick Cleveland
So why bring up this play from 57 years ago? Because Stan Hindman, a Mississippi Sports Hall of Famer, died July 15 in Oakland, Cal., where he was a renowned architect and sculptor. Hindman, three times an All-SEC player and once a consensus All-American, was 76.
Stan Hindman, a college football god, was the quintessential Renaissance man. A pre-med major who made straight As, he was as interested in art as he was football, says Mike Dennis, his roommate for four years at Ole Miss.
“Stan wasn’t like the rest of us; he studied all the time,” said Dennis, a running back who became a dentist. “Stan loved school. He loved to learn.”
Stan Hindman, whose younger brother Steve was also an Ole Miss star, did not originally attend Ole Miss. No, he accepted an appointment at West Point to play football for Army. Federal judge Rhesa Barksdale was in the same plebe class as Hindman at West Point. Says Barksdale, “He was only at West Point for two months and he was already the best football player Army had. He was unbelievable.”
Ole Miss athletics
Stan Hindman was a big, fast guy.
And he was out of place. The Army way did not suit Hindman, who had been recruited by all the southern football powers including Ole Miss and LSU. In October, he called Vaught to see if Ole Miss still had a scholarship for him. Vaught, of course, said he did, and then Vaught had someone go fetch Dennis, who was an Ole Miss freshman and a friend of Hindman’s from when they had competed against one another in high school track meets. Vaught did not often talk to freshmen back then, and Dennis wondered what he had done wrong to be summoned by the legendary head coach.
“Mike, I have some really good news,” Vaught told him. “Stan Hindman is joining us at Ole Miss. And, Mike, you are going to be his roommate.”
Dennis reminded Vaught he was rooming with another freshman, who, as Dennis, had attended Murrah High School. Vaught responded, “Mike, as I told you, I want you to room with Stan Hindman.”
And that was that. Hindman and Dennis, both future pro football players, roomed together all four years at Ole Miss. Says Dennis, who now lives in Oxford, “I can honestly say we never had a harsh word, not one.”
“Stan was a quiet guy, and one of the smartest guys I ever knew,” Dennis says. “He could have been a great doctor, or a dentist like his dad, or an engineer or anything else.”
Stan Hindman was drafted in the first round by the San Francisco 49ers, and, says Dennis, could have been All-Pro offensive lineman from the start. But the 49ers needed more help on defense and so he began his pro career as a defensive end. When a serious knee injury caused him to lose a step, he slid over to defensive tackle. He wore jersey number 80, the same jersey another Mississippian, Jerry Rice, would wear years later.
Hindman started and played seven NFL seasons, becoming increasingly interested in architecture all the while. By the end of his football career he was living in Haight Ashbury studying architecture at Cal-Berkley. He later studied at UCLA. “I loved going to school,” he told a writer in 2007.
“I love the gathering of the information, creating the seed of what the building is going to look like,” Hindman told Dave Newhouse of the East Bay Times. “Then getting the sense of what it can be from an architectural standpoint and achieving it.”
Newhouse asked Hindman which pursuit defined him: architecture or football?
“The greatest sense of inner-satisfaction is derived from the architecture,” Hindman answered. “It’s something I’ve been doing for the longer time. But part of me is being an athlete. I owe football a lot.”
The post 57 years ago, the late Stan Hindman, a Renaissance man, made a play for the ages appeared first on Mississippi Today.
Marshall Ramsey: The Gub’ner’s Choices
The flag redesign commission has already met without Governor Tate Reeves’ appointed members — who are unnamed at this point. When asked about it at Wednesday’s press conference, the Governor said he was busy with COVID-19, would do so when he was darn well ready and questioned the Legislature’s authority to name people to the commission.
The post Marshall Ramsey: The Gub’ner’s Choices appeared first on Mississippi Today.