All articles tagged with #goats
Microsoft researcher Adrian de Wynter uses goats in Age of Empires II to build a one-bit perceptron, arguing that any sufficiently powerful substrate could implement an LLM and that perceived anthropomorphic traits depend on the implementation and interface. The work highlights flaws in testing AI sentience, showing that experimental results can hinge on observer expectations and substrate choice rather than the AI itself.
A Nanaimo, B.C., woman rushes to defend her Nigerian Dwarf goat from a cougar, shouting at the big cat and delivering a powerful kick that sends the predator fleeing; the goat, named Donnie, is recovering after the ordeal.
A toddler in Tennessee died from a bacterial infection caused by goats at a petting zoo, with 14 other children and parents also infected. The outbreak was linked to Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC) found in two goats at the Lucky Ladd Farm. The farm had been hosting a summer camp for children aged six to ten. The CDC recommended educating attendees on the health risks of farm animals and promoting handwashing before and after contact with animals.
New state labor regulations in California could raise the monthly salary of goat herders from about $3,730 to $14,000, threatening to put goat-grazing companies out of business. Companies typically put about one herder in charge of 400 goats, and many of the herders in California are from Peru and live in employer-provided trailers near grazing sites. Labor advocates say the state should investigate the working and living conditions of goatherders before making changes to the law, especially since the state is funding goat-grazing to reduce wildfire risk.
California's strategy to reduce wildfire risk by using goats to clear vegetation is under threat due to new state labor regulations that could raise the monthly salary of herders from about $3,730 to $14,000, according to the California Farm Bureau. Companies have historically been allowed to pay goat and sheepherders a monthly minimum salary rather than an hourly minimum wage because their jobs require them to be on-call 24 hours a day, seven days a week. But legislation signed in 2016 also entitles them to overtime pay.
Fans of The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom are divided on whether the Zonai, a mythical tribe in the game, look like goats or lizards. While the tribe's iconography and ouroboros logo suggest a reptilian inspiration, the Zonai themselves have a hairy appearance and goat-like facial structure. The debate has sparked a poll among fans to determine which side they fall on.
In Santa Juana, Chile, a project called "Buena Cabra" uses goats to build firebreaks and control dry pastures and other vegetation that fuel forest fires in the summer. The goats have already saved the native forest of the Bosques de Chacay once, preventing the park from being consumed by February forest fires. The technique, also used in Portugal and Spain, relies on grazing goats to prevent wildfires. The project's founder hopes to inspire others to follow suit and use goats for fire prevention.
A non-profit organization called City Grazing is using a herd of 128 goats to prevent wildfires in San Francisco by grazing on the lush grass that can become dry and brown in the summer, turning into fuel for wildfires. The goats also serve an educational purpose, teaching students about sustainability and regenerating the land. The program is coordinated with local groups and has been successful in limiting the fire hazard.
A herd of goats escaped from their enclosure in Francisco Park, San Francisco, and caused traffic disruption on Bay Street. The goats were eventually corralled back to the park by a man with a bale of hay and San Francisco police officers. The goats are part of City Grazing's efforts to use them for fire prevention and land management.