"When a distinguished but elderly scientist states that something is possible, he is almost certainly right. When he states that something is impossible, he is very probably wrong."

-- Arthur C. Clarke

If you're looking at academic papers, no wonder you don't believe it.

http://groups.google.com/group/Hutter-Prize/browse_thread/th...

http://blogoscoped.com/archive/2005-05-22-n83.html

> Blind optimism is as unreasonable as blind pessimism.

Oh no.

Guess which one is more useful.

I hope my competitors are all very reasonable people.