http://www.kantz.com en-us Thu, 27 Oct 2011 01:29:30 GMT Thu, 27 Oct 2011 01:29:30 GMT http://www.kantz.com/rss.xml http://www.kantz.com/jason/writing/8-puzzle.htm An 8-puzzle involves moving the puzzle from a starting state to a solution state with many options in between. This paper explores breadth-first search, depth-first search, hill-climbing, and the optimization of A* using the profiling tools provided with CMU Common Lisp. Jason Wed, 01 Jun 2005 00:00:00 GMT http://www.kantz.com/jason/writing/8-puzzle.htm http://www.kantz.com/jason/writing/question.htm Ideally, a question answering system that uses the WWW as its knowledge base would be able to answer a broad range of questions. Practically, the size and unstructured nature of the WWW makes this a very difficult task. This paper reviews three systems: FAQ Finder, START, and MULDER which take different approaches to question answering. The FAQ Finder System uses FAQ files and the WordNet lexicon as its knowledge base. START uses sentence level natural language processing to match questions with sentence representations stored in its knowledge base derived from resources on the WWW. MULDER attempts to find answers using search engines that index the WWW. Jason Wed, 01 Aug 2001 00:00:00 GMT http://www.kantz.com/jason/writing/question.htm http://www.kantz.com/jason/cpacs.html Flight 7A.1 was the first space station resupply flight to be planned and integrated using a Common Lisp application called the Cargo Planning and Analysis System (CPACS). This paper describes my early experience with Common Lisp and outlines some of the features of Allegro Common Lisp that were utilized in the development of the CPACS. Jason Thu, 01 Mar 2001 00:00:00 GMT http://www.kantz.com/jason/cpacs.html http://www.kantz.com/duckling-walk/index.html Trace the steps of the ducklings in Robert McCloskey's classic book, Make Way for Ducklings. Angela Thu, 04 Aug 2011 00:00:00 GMT http://www.kantz.com/duckling-walk/index.html http://www.kantz.com/jason/xmen-first-class.html In X-Men First Class we get the cool story behind Charles Xavier's school for mutants and its most important alumni. Jason Fri, 01 Jul 2011 00:00:00 GMT http://www.kantz.com/jason/xmen-first-class.html http://www.kantz.com/jason/cambridge/index.html In July 2006 I moved with my wife and daughter to Cambridge, MA from Michigan. Here I share our various mistakes and hurdles, as well as thoughts on how we could have planned better with hindsight in our favor. Jason Tue, 01 Aug 2006 00:00:00 GMT http://www.kantz.com/jason/cambridge/index.html http://www.kantz.com/jason/trade-advantage.html A story problem about how Homer and Apu can both achieve gains from trade even though Apu has an absolute advantage. Jason Thu, 20 Dec 2007 00:00:00 GMT http://www.kantz.com/jason/trade-advantage.html http://www.kantz.com/jason/individualrights.htm This essay raises questions about two fundamental characteristics of rights: the philosophical principles that make a right, and the method of securing the right. An NRA hunter claims he has a right to bear arms. Should he have the freedom to own a gun whether others want him to or not? Larry Flynt, porno king extraordinaire, asserts that he has a right to free speech. Does anyone have the right to censor him? Jason Thu, 01 Jun 2000 00:00:00 GMT http://www.kantz.com/jason/individualrights.htm http://www.kantz.com/free-hand/index.html The purpose of this research paper is to define concepts critical to the debate and to reflect on a few political philosopher's viewpoints on the normative question of who should make economic and personal decisions which effect the lives of individuals in a civilized political society. The debate will enlighten the reader on various viewpoints worthy of consideration, questioning and critical thinking. The normative thesis is biased in favor of a volitional society, and as such, the arguments presented will direct the reader towards the assertion that the highest value any political institution can serve is to protect individual volition and free choice. A volitional society does not claim to satisfy other political/economic goals, such as equality and security. Angela Mon, 01 May 2000 00:00:00 GMT http://www.kantz.com/free-hand/index.html