Why does everyone keep insisting that it wasn't a 'fair' contest? People say that the fact that Watson doesn't have to read the clues, or that he doesn't have a reaction time in 'clicking' the button. Isn't that the point of this contest, that Watson is a computer?

Perhaps the fact that everyone is trying to make Watson as human as possible, by 'dumbing' him(?) down, is a clue as to just how advanced the computer has become.

No, a Newton is not a cookie. It is fruit and cake.

Assuming that at least a few students of the Louisiana public school system have a head for critical thinking and sound reasoning, what are they to do when the 'teacher' tests them on their 'science' learnings? If the teacher tests the students and the students use their critical thinking and reasoning to conclude that the material is not correct, will they be failed? And if this starts happening wouldn't that be some proof that creationism has no place in the science curriculum?

In fact, I would love to be a student in one of the proposed 'critical thinking and creationism' classes. I wonder if the instructor would be able to hold their ground when students have questions. I wonder if the instructor would be able to demonstrate 'critical thinking' of their own for the benefit of the students, or if it would turn into 'Just Have Faith! It is because that's what it is!'.

Since when is knowing and following the law testing the limit? The way I have interpreted your response it sounds like you are upset at the guy because he actually knew the laws, which we are responsible for knowing. Ignorance is no excuse, something police officers will tell you anytime you are caught speeding, even though you aren't aware of the legal speed limit. I really don't think the guy is an idiot. I believe he is living in a world full of idiots that will do their best at every opportunity to 'teach him a lesson' for standing up for what is right.

As for inconveniencing the several parties, it wasn't the man's fault. The fault lies with the parties that were in the wrong. Blame them, not the man who was inconvenienced. To address the issue of damages, they are not to benefit the victim, but they are the only way of showing the responsible parties (the corporation and the state) that what they did was wrong. There are no other penalties that will bring about their attention as much as a large amount of money being taken from them.

that was my bad. I followed the story back from 2 blogs to msnbc but then neglected to head back to the AP layer.