Relationships Talk

Gemini

Birthday: May 21-June 21

Type: Mutable air sign

Key words: Witty, social, upbeat, eager, fickle

Love anthem: “Hands to Myself” by Selena Gomez

Famous Gemini men: Chris Pratt, Kendrick Lamar, Liam Neeson, Peter Dinklage, Troye Sivan, Lenny Kravitz, Shia LaBeouf, Kanye West

Best matches:

Scorpios are a great match for Geminis. They have endless depth that piques Gemini’s natural curiosity. A Scorpio won’t think twice about Gemini until they’re absolutely positive that they’re willing to commit, though. Aquarius is another good match for similar reasons—this fellow air sign has a very unique and complicated personality that keeps Gemini coming back for more!

Gemini is the third sign of the Zodiac, and a mutable (AKA flexible) air sign—extroverted, talkative, and always on the go. He needs constant mental stimulation, and with Gemini, there’s no such thing as a stranger—just a new friend waiting to be made. He’s not the most romantic, but having him around always promises for a memorable time. He’s his own dynamic duo and has a wide multitude of personality traits, interests, and more brainpower than he knows what to do with.

Expect to increase your friend group three times its size while you’re dating this air sign. Everywhere you go, he bumps into one of his buddies, an old classmate, or a friend of a friend of a friend he met once, and strikes up a conversation. He’ll force you to join in, too! Even the most socially-reserved person can pick up some conversational skills from their Gemini partner.

Geminis love to learn, and he needs to have his brain constantly stimulated in order to maintain interest in anything (or anyone). You can have rich, fascinating conversations with him that make you lose track of time, but you also have to entertain and intrigue him too–he wants to know what you think, and if it’s actually interesting. He’s also incredibly mischievous, funny, and playful, thanks to his ruling planet being Mercury, the trickster god. His strong sense of youthfulness is refreshing to be around, and you won’t ever feel bored with him, including the bedroom, where he happens to be very open-minded and down for anything.

Being an air sign, your Gemini has feelings–enough for the both of you–but prefers to analyze and talk them out. He’s quick and impulsive with everything he does, including what he says–he’ll just blurt it out and carry on. Despite Gemini’s reputation for being two-faced, what you see is what you get, even if it feels inconsistent at times. You won’t have to deal with indirectness or guessing games with this one as much as his changing moods.

As absolutely invigorating and exciting as it is to date a spontaneous Gemini, it also comes with some downsides. If you can’t fulfill his need for entertainment, say adios. He’ll text or call one of his millions of pals and find something to do with them instead, and tends to put his friends above the relationship in general. Even if your Gemini boy-toy is now the most respectful guy, there’s a chance that he used to be this way when he was younger.

On a broader scale, his adaptability can create a lack of consistency with his mood, interests, and personality. Yes, he can develop great ideas and opinions, but wouldn’t a bit of stability be nice? It can add pressure to the relationship because you feel like never have him figured out, while at the same time knowing that you also have to keep him on his toes to keep him interested. Because if he gets bored, he could head to the next adventure or relationship without looking back.

To make it work, you have to be a good listener and have a sharp enough wit to quickly respond to him. It’s also good if you demand just as much freedom and space as he does. At the end of the day, when the two of you are alone at home, he can devote as much time as you want to you. He’s not gushy with his feelings, but he can make laugh after a rough day and can talk you through it, which can be more helpful than just being a shoulder to cry on. Let your inner child come out and play with him, and you’re set.

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Jerry Kaplan is a research affiliate at Stanford University’s Center on Democracy, Development and the Rule of Law at the Freeman Spogli Institute for International Studies, where he teaches “Social and Economic Impact of Artificial Intelligence.”

President Trump has worried — along with House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy, then-Attorney General Jeff Sessions and other prominent opinion leaders — that Google exhibits intentional bias against conservatives. How do I know? I googled it, of course. Google, needless to say, denies that its “products or actions” are biased.

The problem is, both sides are wrong. Google has no incentive to favor one perspective over another, yet it’s impossible for its products to be entirely neutral. Search results, like so many other kinds of algorithms that rely on external sources of information, naturally expose whatever leanings or affinities that data reflects. This effect — called “algorithmic bias” — is fast becoming a common feature of our digital world, and in far more insidious ways than simple search results.

Whether Google is partisan is a matter of opinion. But consider the subtle ways that it reinforces racial stereotypes. Try typing “Asian girls” into the Google search bar. If your results are like mine, you’ll see a selection of come-ons to view sexy pictures, advice for “white men” on how to pick up Asian girls and some items unprintable in this publication. Try “Caucasian girls” and you’ll get wonky definitions of “Caucasian,” pointers to stock photos of wholesome women and kids, and some anodyne dating advice. Does Google really think so little of me?

Of course not. Google has no a priori desire to pander to baser instincts. But its search results, like it or not, reflect the actual behavior of its audience. And if that’s what folks like me click on most frequently, that’s what Google assumes I want to see. While I might take offense at being lumped in with people whose values I deplore, it’s hard to argue that Google is at fault. Yet it’s clear that such racially tinged results are demeaning to all parties involved.

Algorithmic bias can even influence whether you are sent to jail. A 2016 study by ProPublica discovered that software designed to predict the likelihood an arrestee will re-offend incorrectly flagged black defendants twice as frequently as white defendants in a decision-support system widely used by judges. You might expect such predictive systems to be wholly impartial and therefore to be blind to skin color. But surprisingly, the program can’t give black and white defendants who are otherwise identical the same risk score, and at the same time match the actual recidivism rates for these two groups. This is because blacks are re-arrested at higher rates than whites (52 percent vs. 39 percent in this study), at least in part because of racial profiling, inequities in enforcement, and harsher treatment of blacks within the justice system.

From the standpoint of a defendant, this is patently unfair: Blacks are scored as “high risk” much more often than whites with similar characteristics. But from the standpoint of the courts, the percentage of each group predicted to re-offend that went on to do so was equal. (That is, black and white defendants who scored 7 out of a possible 10 by the algorithm were re-arrested at the same rate.) In short, the algorithm can’t correct for an actual imbalance in the treatment of blacks and whites; at best it can accurately reproduce this unfortunate reality.

In the financial domain, this issue raises its head in the granting of credit. It might be true that home buyers in certain neighborhoods are more likely to default on their loans. Yet using this fact to deny any individual a mortgage violates the Fair Housing Act (a practice known as “redlining”). Steering clear of such prohibited factors is tricky since an automated credit-evaluation program might simply latch on to some correlated item, such as how many families reside at the same address. To compound the problem, artificial intelligence (AI) systems do not lend themselves to easy interrogation or explanation for their decisions, which reduces accountability. Sometimes, black boxes are truly opaque.

One particularly difficult-to-detect source of algorithmic bias stems not from the data itself, but from sampling errors that may over- or underrepresent certain portions of the target population. For instance, a face recognition system trained mainly on light-skinned images is likely to perform better on Caucasians than on people of color. In a recent famous case of such bias, a Google search for “gorillas” included many images of African Americans, to the company’s embarrassment.

As we delegate more of our decision-making to machines, we run the risk of enshrining all sorts of injustices into computer programs, where they could fester undetected in perpetuity. Addressing this critical risk should be an urgent social priority. We need to educate the public to understand that computers are not infallible mechanical sages incapable of malice and bias. Rather, in our increasingly data-driven world, they are mirrors of ourselves — reflecting both our best and worst tendencies, whether or not we wish to acknowledge the flaws. Like the Evil Queen in the legend of Snow White, how we react to this new mirror on the wall might say more about us than any computer program ever can.

Read more:

David Ignatius: China’s application of AI should be a Sputnik moment for the U.S. But will it be?

Nathan Gardels: The geopolitics of artificial intelligence

Taurus

Birthday: April 20-May 20

Type: Fixed earth sign

Key words: Reliable, relaxed, pragmatic, sensual, romantic

Love anthem: “Drunk in Love” by Beyoncé

Famous Taurus men: Noah Centineo, Travis Scott, Rami Malek, George Clooney, Robert Pattinson, David Beckham

Best matches:

Virgo and Capricorn will love Taurus for how dependable, practical, and hardworking he is, and his prowess in the bedroom is a major plus! Being like-minded earth elements, physical sensations and real-world displays of affection mean a lot to these signs.

Taurus is the second sign of the Zodiac, and, being a fixed earth sign, he’s typically more introverted, stubborn, and realistic compared to the other signs. Life with this type is low-key and laid back–don’t expect much PDA or gushy emotions, either. But the flip side is Taurus is one of the most loyal signs–he really has your back, and reassures you of his affection through actions, not words. He’s not one for surprises, but he more than makes up for it with his remarkable reliability!

His sign’s fixed nature means he lives life slow and steady—you won’t get far with Taurus unless he’s seriously into you, and he knows you feel the same towards him. Because he wants a relationship with lasting value, it might be months of texting back and forth before he finally asks to be exclusive, but when that commitment is made, he’s fully in it.

His tendency to be so unchanging comes from being ruled by Venus, which is all about union and harmony. Taurus’ behavior honors this by never pushing his agenda onto you. This sort of gentle, easygoing personality contributes to why Taurus is so soothing to be around. He hates to disturb the status-quo of your relationship, so you never have to worry about any unexpected upsets coming from your Taurus man!

The combo of an earth sign being ruled by the planet of romance and pleasure means he cares less about the ideas of love or beauty and more about tangible sensations and displays of affection. He is ruled by his senses–he’s going to look good, smell nice, speak calmly, and have great taste. Everything about him is pleasant, and there’s a certain softness that Taurus men have about them, thanks to their Venusian sensibilities, that you won’t get from any other sign.

When it comes to the physical side of the relationship, you’re in for a treat. Because Taurus is so naturally sensual and slow-paced, you can expect a LOT of foreplay. Sex is always a long process with him, but you’re never left bored or unsatisfied. His tendency to be particular and love routines means you might have the same go-to moves in bed, but because of his commitment to getting you both off, you don’t mind the predictability of a guaranteed orgasm.

Here Are Your Sign’s Three Best Romantic Matches

Now for the catch: Because Taurus is so passive and gentle, his reluctance to step on anyone’s toes mean that the relationship can sometimes feel stagnant. He’s content to take the backseat and let you steer things in the direction you want, but that means you have to make most of the plans, which can easily translate into doing most of the work in the relationship. If it were all up to him, the two of you would spend every night together watching Netflix and going to bed by 10 PM.

His legendary stubbornness is also a huge problem. Nine times out of 10, he’ll follow you to whatever restaurant or party you picked, but as soon as you ask him to budge a single centimeter outside of his comfort zone, watch out! Honoring his Venusian gentleness, he will resist and refuse with all of his might in the most frustratingly passive-aggressive ways possible. He rarely throws a fit, but you’ll end up wishing for that sometimes just to get more directness from him.

If you want to make it work with a Taurus, you have to KISS: Keep it simple, stupid! He needs things to be orderly and easy to process. If you have a commitment with him, don’t forget about it—he highly prioritizes his schedule, so if you’re a part of it, you better show up. He’s not flexible, but you don’t have to be either. As long as communication is open and you ask him plenty of thoughtful questions, you’ll both be on the same page and most of the speed bumps in your relationship will be avoided.

Your Taurus boy toy is incredibly picky and wouldn’t be with you if he didn’t really, really like you, so you can go into the relationship with full confidence. He’s a simple man with simple needs. He might not be the most spontaneous, and he’s not going to be an eager participant in every activity you plan, but hey, at least he’s consistent!

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Aries

Birthday: March 20-April 21

Type: Cardinal fire sign

Key words: Bold, ambitious, wild, exciting, energetic

Love anthem: “Love Game” by Lady Gaga

Famous Aries men: Robert Downey, Jr., Ewan McGregor, Michael Fassbender, Conan O’Brien, Eddie Murphy, Seth Rogen, Brendon Urie, Hayden Christensen

Best matches:

Leo and Sagittarius will love Aries’ high-tempo lifestyle, healthy love of competition, and truly unique personality. Being the same element, these fire signs have frictionless compatibility with each other and are most likely to get along well.

Aries is the first sign of the Zodiac, and of the spring season, which is mirrored in his personality. He’s a natural trailblazer and is interested in all things new, which lends him his intrinsic childlike curiosity and creativity. Aries defaults to a bright-eyed and busy-tailed demeanor, ready for adventure at any given moment. He’s constantly on the go, and his natural optimism is universally attractive, no matter what your sign is.

When you’re feeling down, Aries is like an extra shot of espresso that perks you up. Even on your worst days, that Arian fire can boost your mood and give you a reason to smile. His sign is ruled by Mars, planet of assertion and ego, making him very competitive, and he easily views everything as a game to be won. So when he’s on team YOU, he does whatever he can to help you bring home the gold!

He’s a truly good person with the best intentions, and when you’re with an Aries, it’s like being with a true best friend all the time. There’s a certain platonic element to your relationship that makes up for the typical lack of romance, and you’ll learn to enjoy the spontaneity he brings to the table. He knows how to work his charm just right to win over your heart, but he’s genuinely a total sweetheart. He can be a heartbreaker, sure, but it’s never on purpose—he just loves to have fun, sometimes overlooking the bigger picture and being a little naïve as a result.

When it comes to sex, he’s always ready for action, and his vibrant libido provides him with an eternally-burning sense of horniness that is nearly impossible to extinguish. That, combined with his high energy level and desire to please makes him sexual dynamite. Even if you climb on top or assume a dominant role, he’ll still want some degree of control and participation. The intensity you experience with him in the heat of the moment is well worth it, and he rarely (if ever) leaves you wanting more.

As great as all these fiery vibes are, there are some downsides. Again, because he’s the technical baby of the Zodiac, Aries is notoriously needy. He’s not selfish per se, but requires a certain amount of coddling and needs a partner that is up to the challenge–you’re regularly going to give, give, give. Aries’ emotions can be a LOT, which leads to passionate declarations of love, but also some serious grumpiness when things aren’t going his way. He’ll pitch a fit for a while, but it ends almost as quickly as it began, and things go back to normal.

However, when he wants to treat you well in return, it’s always a huge deal. Aries’ motto is “go big or go home,” so when he wants to do something for you, it’s monumental. His sign is one that makes you breakfast in bed, sends an enormous bouquet of flowers to your job, and gives you handwritten love notes on a whim, just because he wants to. Certainly, he’s a lot to handle, and if weren’t for his heart of gold, not many would be able to accept the challenge of dealing with an Aries.

If you’re looking for a sign that will cuddle with you in bed all morning, enjoy a lazy Sunday on the couch, or show his sensitive side, you’re barking up the wrong tree. A relationship with an Aries is like nannying a toddler at the worst of times, and butting heads with the archetypal Ram is a huge pain in the ass! But if you can handle the lows, the high points of your relationship are incredibly rewarding. Being with an Aries is like having your own fountain of youth–his childlike curiosity promises to take you on many an adventure, his eagerness to please is endearing and adorable, and you’re guaranteed to make great memories together!

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