ASCI Metaverse Meetings

Transcripts



Flashing Merlin moderates the SL ASCI Meetings
on the last Sunday of each month in Quat Gallery.





ASCI Topics 1.30.11

500 volunteered for one-way trip to Mars, would you go? http://journalofcosmology.com/Mars108.html

We'll ponder why baboons have turned to a life of crime, and ask if this proves primates really are evolving human traits: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e9HDDICo1lc

We'll evaluate a paper supporting ESP, and ask why this causes tremendous controversy: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/01/06/science/06esp.html?_r=1&ref=global-home

If we have time, we'll ask if plans to clone a woolly mammoth herald a Pleistocene Park: http://www.aolnews.com/2011/01/18/can-woolly-mammoth-be-cloned-from-frozen-dna/?test=latestnews



1.30.11 transcript with: Athos Cyberstar, NNicole Resident, Caro Oceanlane, Flashing Merlin, Xeno Octavia, Genevieve Lordhunter, Vesna Vendetta

Flashing Merlin: We're asking if we would like to go Mars, Athos
Athos Cyberstar: Near the end of life would be appropriate.
NNicole: i think id rather explore inner space physically than outer space
Vesna Vendetta: the real and civilized life is inside the planet
Flashing Merlin: Yes Athos, many of the volunteers were older
Flashing Merlin: So Vesna, you would go, but you want to be able to tunnel when you get there?
Athos Cyberstar: If you're older, there's not much to lose and the wonder of it all would be a fine way of capping one's life.
Flashing Merlin: Good points, Athos
Xeno Octavia: flying pre caskets



ASCI Topics 2.27.2011

We'll ask if the Fountain of Youth is made of lithium:
www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/02/110218111709.htm

We'll ponder why glass might melt at absolute zero:
www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/02/110202102748.htm

We'll learn that the secret of their jump is not the fleas' knees:
www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/02/110210201005.htm

If we have time, we'll take bets on the planned race to the moon:
www.foxnews.com/scitech/2011/02/08/company-astrobotic-plans-robot-moon-landing/?test=faces



2.27.11 transcript with: Mrags Writer, Stonecold Blogfan, Creativity Farshore, Dijohn Resident, Flashing Merlin, pale Infinity, scottco Resident, Vesna Vendetta

Creativity Farshore: my definition of youth is anyone who is still excited about life
Flashing Merlin: I like that, Creativity
Dijohn Resident: me too
Flashing Merlin: Anyone planning to take lithium tablets, after reading that (lithium increases lifespan)?
Creativity Farshore: not if the government finds out - they think that taking anything may free us, and is inherently dangerous
Flashing Merlin: especially dangerous to the Social Security Fund !
Creativity Farshore: actually, i think they would be delighted to give us lithium tablets instead of social security



ASCI Topics 3.27.2011

In the wake of the nuclear disaster in Japan we will ponder whether "safe nuclear energy" is an oxymoron.

We will ask if the lost continent of Atlantis has finally been found under a mud flat: http://channel.nationalgeographic.com/episode/finding-atlantis-4982/Overview#tab-Overview

We will consider a NASA scientist's claim of finding alien fossils:
http://journalofcosmology.com/Life100.html

If we have time, we'll have fun with a laser tractor beam:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-12620560

and a collider time machine:
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/03/110315163330.htm


3.27.11 transcript with: Vesna Vendetta, pale Infinity, Creativity Farshore, Xhyra Graf, Flashing Merlin, Watersci Resident, Mrags Writer, Li11ia Resident, Wary Clarity


Creativity Farshore: Nuclear energy is perfectly safe. We get it from the sun everyday. We just should avoid making it on earth.
George Black: I'd rather live next to a nuke plant than a coal plant any day
Flashing Merlin: Not on the day it's melting down, George!


ASCI Topics 4-24-2011

The NY Times asked if, in the future, people will hold meetings as avatars in virtual worlds? Since we're holding a meeting in a virtual world to discuss this, we may be prejudiced: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/04/12/science/12tier.html

Was life on early Mars wiped out by atomic warfare?
http://www.foxnews.com/scitech/2011/04/01/natural-nuclear-blast-mars/?test=latestnews

Was a new particle discovered at Fermilab, and if so, is the Standard Model obsolete?
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/04/06/science/06particle.html

Whom do you vote for: anterior cingulate cortexes, or amygdalas? Does brain structure determine political affinities?
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/04/110407121337.htm

We may even get to, is the search for dark matter in the dark?
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/04/110414104213.htm


4.24.11 transcript with: Vesna Vendetta, Joe Arnica, Caro Oceanliner, pale Infinity, Flashing Merlin, Issah Core, Xeno Octavia


Joe Arnica: There have been studies done on old male rats. They had lost interest in life and lay around their cages doing nothing. Researchers found that when a cage of young attractive female rats was placed next their cages. Not where they could touch them but just to see and probably smell them. The old rats became more active. They acted younger and their male hormone levels rose. SL is like that for older men. They see lots of beautiful and sexy and exotic looking women AV. This is not like pornograpy. Behind the AV there is a real woman who they might be able to talk to and even seduce. Plus they can look instantly young again. It causes a flood of endorphins and stimulates more male hormone production. SL is actually physiologically seductive for older men. So here I am. I can stay on SL or buy a cage of attractive young female rats.


ASCI Topics 5-29-2011

Is heaven a fairy tale, as Hawking thinks? http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/2011/may/15/stephen-hawking-interview-there-is-no-heaven

Has a habitable planet been found? http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-13423085

What is your bacteria type? http://www.nytimes.com/2011/04/21/science/21gut.html

If we have time, we'll consider the plight of homeless planets: http://news.sciencemag.org/sciencenow/2011/05/homeless-planets-may-be-common.html


5.29.11 transcript with: Kos Hallard, Mrags Writer, Queen Bluestar, Creativity Farshore, Flashing Merlin, Xeno Octavia, festo Resident, Caro Oceanlane, Isabela Renierd, pale Infinity, Nightfall Titanium


Flashing Merlin: To summarize, most of us feel heaven is a fairy tale, but some feel fairy tales are useful?




ASCI Topics 6-26-2011



We'll discuss the addition of new elements to the periodic table:
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/06/09/science/earth/09elements.html?_r=1&hpw

We'll investigate a SpongeBob mushroom discovered in Borneo:
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/06/110615142629.htm

We'll ask how a light bulb burns 110 years?
http://www.centennialbulb.org/cam.htm

And if we have time, we'll look at a mysterious object seen on Mars by an armchair astronomer using Google Mars maps: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BeN8bSvYv0U
[Video proving it's actually only an ice or mineral deposit: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vISBPvuY9bQ ]


6.26.11 transcript with: Mook Wheeler, Flashing Merlin, Xeno Octavia, pale Infinity, Vesna Vendetta

Flashing Merlin: Anyone suspicious of naming a fungus SpongeBob?
Mook Wheeler whispers: I only skimmed the article-- did they really name it that???
Flashing Merlin: Spongiforma squarepantsii
Xeno Octavia: yups did, tho latinized
Mook Wheeler: for real?? my word!
Flashing Merlin: The scientists who discovered it say they find new fungi every trip - but the rest don't make headlines!
Xeno Octavia: they've not found other comics
Flashing Merlin: Since these guys grabbed headlines, any bets we'll hear about more comic fungi pretty soon?
Mook Wheeler: probably
Mook Wheeler: it's a way to get the kids interested in fungi, isn't it
Xeno Octavia: hey, they are fun guys
Mook Wheeler: I see... then I guess the name is an excellent one!


ASCI Topics 7-31-2011



What would you name Pluto's newly found moon?
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-14220620

Are we all just stardust?
http://www.sciencemag.org/content/early/2011/07/06/science.1205983

Can a planet have a birthday?
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-14081162

And if we have time, UFO or YouTube scam?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QDIF-ZwJbF0


7.31.11 transcript with: Mook Wheeler, Flashing Merlin, Xeno Octavia, pale Infinity, Veena Schism


Flashing Merlin: Mook was saying she's interested in UFO questions, but pale is a disbeliever in UFOs
Mook Wheeler: I'm pretty open to the question of UFOs. Don't know whether I think they're around or just local phenomena
Xeno Octavia: they -ufos - too primitive for advanced civilizations
Flashing Merlin: do tell Xeno
Xeno Octavia: we advanced ones prefer travel thru SL



ASCI Topics 8-28-2011



NASA preparing for an ET attack?
"http://www.foxnews.com/scitech/2011/08/19/aliens-could-attack-earth-to-end-global-warming-nasa-scientist-claims/

Would you move to a startup country?
http://bestplaces.nydailynews.com/voyeur/internet-billionaire-donates-125-million-create-libertarian-islands

Should the Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence (SETI) resume?
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-14544953

A potential source of warp drive fuel?
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-14405122


8.28.11 transcript with: Gwen Jannings, Pale Infinity, Vesna Vendetta, Creativity Farshore, Flashing Merlin, Xeno Octavia, Anastasia Leleu, Vachon Myrtle, Rue Moonwall, ChristyLeighStewart, Mrags Writer, Discotraxx, Latoya Church


Creativity Farshore: Another reason to keep up SETI is to hope that we get some really good TV programs





ASCI Topics 9-25-2011



Can we / should we change the weather?
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-14916451

Do cosmic rays effect weather on Earth?
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424053111904537404576554750502443800.html

One potentially habitable exoplanet found?
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-14890143

And if we have time: Biomorphic progress?
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-14946808

New approach to fighting viral infections:
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/08/110826134012.htm

Was Tatooine found?
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/09/16/science/space/16planet.html


9.25.11 transcript with: Pale Infinity, Creativity Farshore, ergan Breuilly, Flashing Merlin, Mrags Writer,

Flashing Merlin: Perhaps the first question is do we believe in global warming?
Creativity Farshore: However, I think there is another fascinating question. As artists, the question is do we wish to create a different world, or should we work on creating different humans. After all, we've got genetics and robotics, and who knows what else. So let's be creative and leave all options open.
Flashing Merlin: So you want to change humans to adapt to changing weather, Creativity?
Creativity Farshore: Maybe we can create a new species which doesn't even believe in political parties.
Flashing Merlin: I think we used to have that Creativity; it was called survival of the fittest.



ASCI Topics 10-30-2011

Did Jesus die for Klingons too? www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2044730/Did-Jesus-die-Klingons-Christian-Weidemanns-speech-100-Year-Starship-Symposium.html

Should we assume ETs are evil? http://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/10/05/will-the-aliens-be-nice-dont-bet-on-it/

Should scientists hunt Yeti? www.foxnews.com/scitech/2011/10/04/russian-and-us-scientists-gather-to-hunt-down-yeti/

Was Steve Jobs a brilliant  inventor, or merely a marketing genius? www.fiercetelecom.com/print/node/35170

"After completing this study, we know less about dark matter than we did before." www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/10/111017124344.htm


10.30.11 transcript with: Pale Infinity, Creativity Farshore, Flashing Merlin, Queen Bluestar, Vesna Vendetta


Flashing Merlin: Well, if not Klingons, do you believe there are ETs in the universe?
Queen Bluestar: I do not use the word 'believe' that is my prime no no
Creativity Farshore: What word do you like?
Queen Bluestar: I consider the 'probability' to be high
Queen Bluestar: 'believe' is faith driven and that signifies a high likelihood of imposition of 'the way we do things here' etc
Flashing Merlin: Does the question of the probability of ET life pose a problem for theologians on Earth? Or should I say a bigger problem than they already have?
Queen Bluestar: theologians ...can sing for their suppers....and must to be taken seriously. to have any standing above the general, a theologian must be uber conservative or uber shocking; middling is invisible
Creativity Farshore: I have always said that I consider ourselves to be extra-terrestrials, living outside the surface of the earth - unlike the worms, etc. which live inside the surface, and are intra-terrestrials
Queen Bluestar: interesting





ASCI Topics 11-27-2011

Will NASA’s Curiosity succeed? http://www.space.com/13607-curiosity-suv-mars-rovers.html

Has Obama lost the ET vote? http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-15635612

Did CERN break the speed limit again? http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-15791236



11.27.11 transcript with: pale Infinity, Flashing Merlin, Carole Rivera, Creativity Farshore, Xeno Octavia, Mrags Writer, Rue Moonwall, Isekia, electricmind, Nickmeister Taffeta, Davetheman Moorlord, Vesna Vendetta


Flashing Merlin: We're on the first topic: NASA's Curiosity. Any opinions?
Xeno Octavia: shudda sent live people : )) preferably --heads of states
Flashing Merlin: Xeno, which head of state would you like to see sent to Mars first?
Xeno Octavia: the whole republican congregation
Mrags Writer: all of them *Smile*
Creativity Farshore: Why send unintelligent life to Mars?



ASCI Topics 12-25-2011

Are creative people eccentric?
http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=the-unleashed-mind

Will the "god-particle" be found next year?
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/12/12/science/physicists-anxiously-await-news-of-the-god-particle.html

Will robotic wardens test the limits of Asimov's First Law of Robotics?
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-15893772


12.25.11 transcript with: Queen Bluestar, Flashing Merlin, masumimichi


Flashing Merlin: ...will the "god-particle" be found next year?
Queen Bluestar: THAT could spark a world war
Flashing Merlin: how so?
Queen Bluestar: cannot see/touch/apprehend 'god' in any form acc [according] to ....islam
Queen Bluestar: would be perfect excuse to let loose
Flashing Merlin: ah I see your point, but I haven't heard of any compliants about the effort so far?
Queen Bluestar: I seem to think of things most do not:)
Flashing Merlin: perhaps others have missed the true gravity of the question
[Editor's note: Creativity Farshore suggested by phone that the appropriate use of robotic wardens should be to make sure robots who have been imprisoned are treated humanely.]


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