November 2004 Newsletter
Editorial
Carmel, Breda, and Patrick are back from America
and had a great time and are ready to go with their Action Plans
for the next Accreditation. Speaking of the Action Plans, We are
having the first Action Plan Meeting on Tuesday 2nd November at
11am. These meetings will continue every Tuesday after that, We
would like as many members as possible to attend and assist us
in putting the Action Plans in place. The Social Calendar has
been made up for November and December, you will see them on the
front of this issue We have also booked the Town House Hotel in
Naas for the Christmas Dinner which will be on the 17th December,
We will have a lovely dinner with all the trimmings, So get booked
in as soon as you can. We look forward to as many as possible.
If anyone has any articles or comments they would
like to submit please e-mail them to us at: platinumclubhouse@eircom.net
The History of Kildare Football....continued
In the following couple of years after the Drogheda shock, Kildare
managed to reach a couple of Leinster final deciders for the first
time I think since 1978 and the opposition was to be Dublin, just
as it was in ‘78. As it happens I can only remember one of these
games vividly
I was fortunate enough to have gained a prime seat from which to
view the game, dead smack in the middle of the stadium, adjacent
to the half way line in the upper tier of the Cusack Stand. Despite
it being the last week of July, the weather was rainy, windswept
and cold. Even all of that couldn’t dampen my spirit and anticipation.
Little did I know Dublin were to play with the aid of a considerable
wind in the first half. What unfolded in front of me, from the moment
the ball was thrown in to the sound of the final whistle, almost
defies belief. It is etched in my memory forever. Never in my life
have I been so bored, bemused and tortured. If ever the word attrition
applied to a football match, this was it. Even allowing for the
conditions this was the most aimless and depressing spectacle I
have ever witnessed, considering the occasion and what was at stake.
Numbly looking on from peanut heaven as “the Yanks” would call it,
I gaped as the standard dived with every passing minute. To say
the game was low scoring would be a vast understatement and if memory
serves me correct I think the score at half-time was Dublin 0-3
Kildare 0-2. Now whether these scores came from play or frees, I
cant remember, such was the state of shock to my system. I consoled
myself, only thirty five minutes to go and I’ll be free.
The all-whites were to play with the aid of the gale in the second
half. Long odds on a victory for them with the Bookies I thought
to myself. As it transpired it was not to be. The game continued
on in the same vein as it had in the opening half when Dublin substitute
Johnny Barr kicked over a point close to the end, I was finally
put out of my misery. The final score read Dublin 0-11 Kildare 0-7.
After that it was a very long time before I went to watch a game
again.
Socials for November
Cinema Thursday
11th of Nov
Shopping Spree Thursday
18th of Nov (Clubhouse
will be open this day)
Dublin 9-4
Employment dinner Friday 26th
of Nov Newbridge
‘Please ring a few days in advance if you are interested in any
of these socials’
Artificial Intelligence and Piagetians Theory
Artificial Intelligence and Piagetians Theory. What
do they have in common. The object of this essay is to examine
the similarities, broadly speaking, between two views of what
intelligence is, and to see what cognitive scientists have to
learn from Piaget and other Piagetians. Piagetians theory concerns
the development of intelligence in the early years of the child,
from sensorimotor intelligence to concrete intelligence to formal
thought.
Piaget defined intelligence as “equilibration, within
two poles of assimilation and accommodation”. What does this mean?
The dictionary definition of equilibration is “a state in which
opposing forces or tendencies neutralise each other”. For our
purposes, it is enough to regard assimilation as perception, and
accommodation as thought. For Piaget, equilibration is a never-ending
process of interaction with the environment, where the scope of
equilibrium grows ever larger and more powerful thus enabling
the organism to grow and flourish in the world. The only alternative
is decay and death. Logic comes about through action, he claims.
For Piaget, equilibration is a process, dynamic but stable. AI
programs, too, are processes, which Professor Margaret Boden describes
as “movies of the mind”.
The second concept, which both camps have in common, is representation.
Much is made of representation in AI, and in his theorising, Piaget
also uses the concept of representation concerning assimilation
and accommodation. Indeed, Piagetians can learn a lot from cognitive
scientists about problem-solving and finding the correct type
of representation in finding solutions. Piaget describes accommodation
as finding novel structures (abstract representations) in problem-solving.
The third concept, which the two views of intelligence
share in common, is structure. Piaget’s schemata and Minsky’s
frames are broadly similar. The dictionary definition of schemata
is a : kind of standard-template, which the mind forms from past
experiences, and by which new experiences can be evaluated to
a certain extent. In AI, frames are knowledge structures with
explicit symbols that allow the interpretation of stereotyped
experiences.
Artificial intelligence, too, has a definition of
what constitutes intelligence. Newell and Simon’s definition is
that ; symbol-manipulation is both necessary and sufficient for
intelligence;. The strong symbol system hypothesis relies heavily
on having a rich, compositional, recursive system of symbols,
the essence of which is structure. Thus, we can see that if equilibrium
with the environment is the goal of all Intelligent agents, then
symbol-manipulation is the means by which equilibration is to
be achieved.
Film Review
Here are a few films I have watched recently
Gladiator Review:
Very action packed. From the very start the plot was complicated
but very watchable. The actor, Russell Crowe, was superb in the
lead role and the acting was great. The violent parts wee tastefully
done and the film constantly left you on the edge on your seat in
anticipation of what was going to happen next. I would rate this
film 9/10 and would recommend anyone who likes a good action movie
to watch it.
Armageddon Review:
Bruce Willis was very good in his part as the best oil driller money
could buy. The basic plot was Bruce Willis drilled on every terrain
earth could offer so NASA’s administration sent for him and asked
if he would go in to space to drill a hole, drop a few nuclear warheads
down the hole he drilled together with his crew. Action all the
way as they met disaster after disaster and you are left in suspense
as they try to save the planet. I would give this film 8/10.
Damien
Music Hint: When your cassette player
chews a tape, simply cut out the damaged part and join the free
ends with a bit of sticky tape. You will have only lost a small piece.
Poetry Corner
Priesthood
A true follower of God is a priest
So reading Gods bible word of truth
As for apostles of last supper feast
Makes me give my thought for youth.
Preaching the word of God to everyone
Is the duty that he portrays
Preparation until the soul is gone
So begins mankind’s happy days.
A man of faith in every way
Preparing for heavenly peace
It is of his heart to pray
To make all evil finally cease.
Yet, he is just an ordinary man
With a voice to speak his mind
He tries to do best he can
For a more close and peaceful mankind.
O Father I say to you my friend
May your message be true to all
So the word of god will never end
In your voice I hear Gods call.
Paddy
Wind
Wind blows, wind sways the trees,
The howling of the wind, the buzzing of the bees,
Gentle breezes, stormy winds, hurricanes that blow,
Where does the wind start? Nobody will know
Stephen
Saint Dymphna
Patron of the nervous and Emotionally Disturbed
MEDITATION
Saint Dymphna was born in the seventh century. Her father, Damon,
a chieftain of great wealth and power, was pagan. Her mother was
a very beautiful and devout Christian.
Dymphna was 14 when her mother died. Damon is said to have been
afflicted with a mental illness, brought on by his grief. He sent
messengers throughout his own and other lands to find some woman
of noble birth, resembling his wife who would be willing to marry
him. When none could be found his evil advisors told him to marry
his own daughter. Dymphna fled from her castle together with St
Gerebran, her confessor, and two friends.
Damon found them in Belgium. He gave orders that the Priest’s head
be cut off. Then he tried to persuade his daughter to return to
Ireland with him. When she refused, he drew his sword and struck
off her head. She was then only fifteen years of age.
Dymphna received the crown of martyrdom in defence of her purity
about the year 620. She is the patron of those suffering from nervous
and mental afflictions. Many miracles have taken place at her shrine,
built on the where she was buried in Gheel, Belgium. Her feast is
celebrated on May 15.
Announcements
Get Well Wishes to: All our members
who are unwell
Birthday Wishes to: Gary,
Robert, Declan, Brid, Kevin, Daniel, Margaret, Alan, Eileen, Simon
& Dara
Welcome to our new members: Damien , Kevin
and John
Disclaimer:
The views, opinions and beliefs expressed in this newsletter are not
necessarily the views of Platinum Clubhouse. Any articles, items or
pictures in this newsletter may only be reproduced following permission
from Platinum Clubhouse.
Contributors: Caroline, Breda, Patrick, Clive,
Paddy, Carmel, Simon.
Editorial Team: Pierce, Stephen, Damien
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