If you tell your dog not to eat the steak, will he obey you?
You throw a perfectly cooked sizzling steak on your dining room table. Then you step away for a bottle of wine. As you head towards the cellar, you pause and look at your dog. You wag your finger and say, "Buster, do not eat this steak!" Buster looks back at you hungrily, eying your juicy hunk of sirloin.
"Buster will make a decision based on what he wants," says Perry Marshall, founder of Natural Code LLC. "And when you leave, he's going to decide whether to obey you or not. However, the situation turns out, he's doing something that no computer can do – which is to want something, then choose whether to take it or not."
This attribute, Marshall insists, is exclusive to living things. Computers don't do it. Rocks and molecules don't either. The aspect of will, which every pet owner and parent is all too familiar with, is what divides living from the nonliving.
Marshall seeks to unravel life's mystery with a $5-million Evolution 2.0 Prize. "If you trace life to its very beginnings, you'll find that information in DNA is the central mystery. It's the original set of choices. Nobody knows how we got from chemicals to code. But we intend to find out."
Marshall's private equity investment group, Natural Code LLC, suspects that the same physical principle that animates life today may have also given rise to the digital instructions in the very first cell.
"If we can solve this, Artificial Intelligence stands to make a giant forward leap. Because for the first time, we might be able to make computers that program themselves, much as living things do," says Marshall.
Evolution 2.0 Prize, funded by Natural Code LLC
The Evolution 2.0 Prize takes its inspiration from Peter Diamandis and his Ansari X Prize for Space Flight. It was a $10-million challenge which resulted in a successful launch of a reusable manned space capsule into orbit, twice in two weeks.
"We all know that when you talk to Siri or Alexa, there's nobody 'in there.' Everyone knows Siri is just a hunk of silicon. But what if we had a living algorithm? What if your iPhone or computer could do what your dog does? That will transform everything," Marshall says. "It will spawn new billion-dollar industries."
Ryan Lizza, Washington correspondent for The New Yorker, will be in conversation with Piya Chattopadhyay, host of CBC Radio’s Out in the Open, for the CJF J-Talk in Toronto on December 4. (CNW Group/Canadian Journalism Foundation)
Ryan Lizza, Washington correspondent for The New Yorker, offers his insights on the tumultuous relationship between the Trump administration and the media at The Canadian Journalism Foundation's J-Talk, Trump and the Media – Year 1, on December 4 in Toronto.
Lizza's reporting made headlines this summer when then-White House communications director Anthony Scaramucci, a.k.a "The Mooch," made a profane-laden call to him, demanding to know who was leaking information to the press.
Lizza will be in a conversation with Piya Chattopadhyay, host of the CBC Radio's Out in the Open.
"Ryan Lizza is on the frontlines of trying to navigate the new realities for journalists covering an unconventional president, in a world in which journalism, commentary and distrust are at the fore," says Chattopadhyay. "I look forward to talking with Ryan about how he cuts through all the noise in his increasingly divided country."
Lizza has covered the last four presidential campaigns, profiled a number of powerful political figures and brings deep understanding to the most unsettling year of a U.S. presidency.
This event is part of the annual J-Talks series that explores pressing media issues.
WHEN:
Monday, December 4
Doors open: 6:30 p.m.
Discussion 7:00 p.m.
Reception 8:30 p.m.
WHERE:
TMX Broadcast Centre, The Exchange Tower, 130 King St. W., Toronto
General admission: $25
Student tickets (ID required. Limited availability): $15
(via Canadian Journalism Foundation J-Talks) RYAN LIZZA is the Washington correspondent for The New Yorker, and also an on-air contributor for CNN. Before joining the magazine, in 2007, he was a political correspondent for The New Republic, from 1998 to 2007, and, before that, a correspondent for GQ and a contributing editor at New York.
He has also written for the New York Times, Washington Monthly, and The Atlantic Monthly.
Since 1998, he has covered most of the country’s major political stories, including the last four Presidential campaigns, and has written many political profiles for The New Yorker.
His awards include the 2012 National Press Club's Hood Award for Diplomatic Correspondence, for his article “The Consequentialist,” and the White House Correspondents' Association’s Aldo Beckman Memorial Award, for a series on Obama’s Presidency and reelection campaign.
His article “Making It” was a 2009 National Magazine Award finalist, and his 2010 article “As the World Burns” received honorable mentions from the Toner Prize for Excellence in Political Reporting and the National Press Foundation Dirksen Award for Distinguished Reporting of Congress.
Piya Chattopadhyay
About Piya Chattopadhyay: (via Canadian Journalism Foundation J-Talks) PIYA CHATTOPADHYAY is the host of CBC Radio's OUT IN THE OPEN, an adventurous and wide-ranging weekly one-hour program about the nitty-gritty of real life. Each week, Chattopadhyay and her team look at how one big topic is affecting regular people, and invite listeners to join the conversation.
Prior to that, Chattopadhyay worked as a guest host for TVO's The Agenda. Additionally, she spent more than a decade in the field as a news reporter here in Canada, and was often on the road, reporting from abroad on numerous assignments for CBC.
She has reported from Sri Lanka, Afghanistan, India, the U.K. and France, to name but a few.
In 2007, Chattopadhyay decided to take on a new adventure and moved to Jerusalem where she first freelanced for CBC, PRI and the BBC, before taking on the role of Middle East Correspondent for Fox News Radio.
During her three years in the region, she travelled to numerous countries, covering stories ranging from war and conflict, peace and politics, to coping and everyday life.
IAmElemental's Series 1/Courage and Series 2/Wisdomfigures
The Jim Henson Company announced today it will develop a new animated children's television series based on the popular female action figures by IAmElemental. The series will target children ages 6 to 12.
The deal will give The Jim Henson Company the opportunity to develop and produce the television series across all platforms. Lisa Henson and Halle Stanford of The Jim Henson Company will serve as executive producers. IAmElemental created the first-ever female action figures designed specifically for children. Its Series 1/Courage figures (modeled on Joan of Arc,) include Bravery, Honesty, Fear,Enthusiasm, Energy, Industry and Persistence. Series 2/Wisdom (with ancient Alexandrian STEM pioneer Hypatia as the muse,) includes Creativity, Ingenuity, Curiosity, Logic, Exploration, Mastery and Oblivion.
The company conducted a Kickstarter campaign which was fully funded in two days, drawing backers from all 50 states and six continents, and its groundbreaking products were named by TIME Magazine as one of the "25 Best Inventions of 2014" and "Top 10 Toys of 2014."
Most recently, IAmElemental was selected as a finalist in the 2018 "Action Figure of the Year" category at the Toy Industry Association's Toy of the Year Awards. The company was also a 2017 finalist in two categories, "Action Figure of the Year" and "Rookie of the Year."
The Toy Industry Association has announced its 2018 Toy of the Year finalists – and IAmElemental has been selected in the Action Figure of the Year category for its Series 2/Wisdom figures.
"At The Jim Henson Company, we have a tradition of creating strong female heroes in our past and current television and film franchises," said Halle Stanford, President of Television at The Jim Henson Company. "Partnering with IAmElemental is incredibly exciting because it will be our first foray into the superhero genre with a cast of powerful young women at its core. We are excited to introduce a unique and fresh superhero television series geared for children all over the world."
"We are thrilled and grateful for the opportunity to work with the Superhero team at The Jim Henson Company," said Julie Kerwin, Chief Elemental Officer, IAmElemental. "Their Superpowers of creativity and originality have inspired me both as a child and as an adult, and I couldn't wish for a better partner to bring the IAmElemental messages of character strength and empowerment to a wider audience."
Julie Kerwin
IAmElemental's female action figures are available online and in retail stores worldwide. "If you give a girl a different toy, she will tell a different story"; "Play with power"; "It's character, not characters"; "Shared, everyone's powers grow stronger"; and "We have Superpowers. Want some?" are trademarks of IAmElemental.
About The Jim Henson Company: The Jim Henson Company has remained an established leader in family entertainment for over 60 years and is recognized worldwide as an innovator in puppetry, animatronics and digital animation.
Best known as creators of the world-famous Muppets, Henson has received over 50 Emmy Awards and nine Grammy Awards.
Recent credits include Julie's Greenroom (Netflix), Dot. (Sprout/Hulu), Splash and Bubbles (PBS), Word Party (Netflix), Doozers (Hulu/ Sprout), and the Emmy-nominated Sid the Science Kid (PBS), Dinosaur Train (PBS), and Pajanimals (Sprout).
Television productions include Fraggle Rock, The Storyteller and the sci-fi cult series Farscape.
Features include Disney's Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day, as well as The Dark Crystal,Labyrinth, MirrorMask, and Jim Henson's Turkey Hollow.
The Company is currently in production on the feature The Happytime Murders, starring Melissa McCarthy, and the upcoming Netflix original series The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance.
Projects in development include the highly anticipated film Fraggle Rock.
The Company's Henson Alternative brand is currently touring Puppet-Up! – Uncensored, a live puppet improvisational show.
Terracotta Warriors-Themed Pop-Up Event Held at World Travel Market London
On November 6, 2017 at 10:00 a.m., a Terracotta Warrior Flashmob event organized by the Shaanxi Provincial Tourism Development Commission was held at the World Travel Market London. 50 professional performers dressed up as the Chinese emperor Qin Shi Huang, imperial concubines and terracotta warriors performed terracotta warrior flashmob at ExCel London.
The graceful performances of Chinese court dances, most notably the lead performer's Dance of Qin Wang Dian Bing (Review of the Troops by Emperor Qin Shi Huang), attracted a large number of visitors, many of whom cheered enthusiastically and waited until the end of the performance to take selfies with the dancers.
An event, a cultural feast The Terracotta Warriors Flashmob event is an innovative approach to raising the awareness around the world to the many unique aspects of Chinese culture and history. The successful hosting of the event helped further promote the profound cultural history that is identified with Shaanxi province and the unique tourism resources that are made available as a result of the province's rich history.
The event is an important step in transforming the province into a world-renowned tourism destination.
"It is amazing!" said David, a British tourist. "This is the first time I have watched traditional Chinese performances. I found the event highly interesting, as it not only offered us a chance to get a better understanding of the Terracotta Warriors, but also let us feel the depth and sophistication of Chinese culture. Now that I have seen the performance, I plan to visit the real Terracotta Army in Shaanxi province with my family."
Terracotta Warriors-Themed Pop-Up Event Held at World Travel Market London
A series of follow-up flashmob events The commission has planned several more Terracotta Warriors Flashmob events on November 7 at and near many of London's famous tourist attractions, with scheduled performance at a Square near Big Ben and the London Eye, two of the city's most renowned tourist attractions.
On the same day, the cosers will also stop at several other landmark destinations including Big Ben, China Town, St Paul's Cathedral, and the Tower of London for staged photography sessions.
For more information about the tourism industry in Shaanxi, follow the Shaanxi Provincial Tourism Development Commission on Facebook and Twitter or visit the official website.
SOURCE: Shaanxi Provincial Tourism Development Commission
Daddy Pig joins this year’s Movember campaign to encourage UK dads to grow moustaches, get active and raise funds together as a team of ‘expert’ daddies (PRNewsfoto/Entertainment One)
Entertainment One (eOne) unveils images of Daddy Pig, the much loved character from preschool TV series Peppa Pig, who is supporting this year's Movember campaign for the first time to raise funds for the global men's health charity throughout November 2017.
Daddy Pig and friends will be growing their moustaches and encouraging dads across the UK to get active and stay healthy.
To donate and keep up to date with Daddy Pig's progress, visit: mobro.co/daddypiguk.
Fundraisers are also being encouraged to join Daddy Pig's team to grow moustaches, get active and raise funds together as a team of 'expert' daddies.
The Movember Foundation's annual Movember campaign is globally recognised for its fun, disruptive approach to fundraising and getting men to take action for their health. This year, the charity celebrates its 10 year fundraising anniversary in the UK.
Health and fitness ‘expert’ Daddy Pig is joining in this Movember!
About the Movember Foundation:
The Movember Foundation is a global men's health charity.
The Foundation raises funds to deliver innovative, breakthrough research and support programmes that enable men to live happier, healthier and longer lives. Committed to disrupting the status quo, millions have joined the movement, helping fund over 1,200 projects focusing on prostate cancer, testicular cancer and suicide prevention.
In addition to tackling key health issues faced by men, the Foundation is working to encourage men to stay healthy in all areas of their life, with a focus on men staying socially connected and becoming more open to discussing their health and significant moments in their lives.
The Foundation's vision is to have an everlasting impact on the face of men's health.
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