GeekSpeak – What are the Best and the Worst inventions/discoveries ever made? Join the DIscussion August 6th at 12pm SLT

 

If you were to draw up a list of all the important milestones in the history of our species, what would be at the top of that list?  Would you put fire at the top?  Or writing, painkillers, the invention of shoes?

And what would be on the worst inventions list?  The nuclear bomb, sugar refining, Twitter?

Join us in GeekSpeak at noon SLT on Saturday and let’s talk about the really big milestones and gravestones.  There may be some very unexpected answers … so bring all your brains and your friends!

IM Vulcan Viper, who teaches a meditation class every Wednesday in the GeekSpeak auditorium, if you have ideas for new subjects.

http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Danmu/143/127/51

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GeekSpeak – Will we all be Perfect in the future? Join the discussion Saturday, April 9th at 12pm SLT

With DNA editing we can improve the way our bodies function.  With robotic enhancements, we will be able to do things no human can do.  Where will all these new powers take us?

Is it possible to be perfect?  Or will there always be trade-offs?  Should some enhancements be against the law?  Who will decide for the children? 

Will humanity split into different species?  The rich will be enhanced and the poor will remain normal perhaps?  Will we see eugenics wars?

Join us in GeekSpeak at noon SLT on Saturday to explore what it will mean to be more than human.  Bring all your humans.  And robots are welcome.

IM Vulcan Viper, who teaches a meditation class every Wednesday in the GeekSpeak auditorium, if you have ideas for new subjects. 

http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Danmu/143/127/51

 

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GeekSpeak - Living in a Space Station! Join the discussion on December 11th at 12pm slt

 

What is it really like to live in the International Space Station?  Do you envy the people who go there? 

You have to stay for about 6 months, living with people you don’t really know and maybe don’t like.  And there is no escape! 

Sometimes you have to shelter from space debris or solar storms and you are separated from sudden death by a very thin wall.  Living without gravity can be dangerous and hygiene is difficult.  And not a chance in hell of getting a Big Mac.

Would you go if you could?  Or would you rather wait for a bigger and safer station, with decent bathrooms?

Join us at noon SLT on Saturday to discuss life at 500 km.  Bring a parachute!

IM Vulcan Viper, who teaches a meditation class every Wednesday in the GeekSpeak auditorium, if you have ideas for new subjects.

http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Danmu/143/127/51

 

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GeekSpeak – Art and Astronomy- Join the discussion Saturday, October 9th at 12pm SLT

 

There are many strange places in space, and we are beginning to send artists into it.  Last month 4 artists went into space, in the coming year, there will be 2 movies shot in space and 8 artists making a moon flyby. 

What new forms of art will we see in space?  And how will the weirdness in space affect art?  Will we see moving sculptures set in zero gravity?  Or stars rearranged to make the Mona Lisa?  Or the biggest cocktail in the universe made from a giant alcohol cloud?  How about landscape paintings set on a planet where the rain is molten glass?

Will art change as we go into space?  Come fly with us on a deep-space journey to, well, deep space!  No need for a spacesuit.  But bring your camera and your imagination.

IM Vulcan Viper, who teaches a meditation class every Wednesday at 1 pm in the GeekSpeak auditorium, if you have ideas for new subjects.

http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Danmu/143/127/51

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GeekSpeak – Telepresence- Join the discussion October 2nd at 12pm SLT

One day soon you may be able to rent a drone for a while and see the world as the drone sees it.  You could fly through the Grand Canyon or visit the North pole.  You could wear glasses that enable you to see things hundreds of miles away.  The person you are talking to could appear in front of you.  You could watch brain surgery as though you were present at the operation.  You could experience flying like a bird or swimming like a fish deep beneath the surface of the sea.  You could visit the moon.  You could rent several drones and be in many different places at the same time.

How will this change the way humans interact?  Will anyone ever travel in person again?  Or do you think that there are experiences that can never be duplicated by a drone?

Come and discuss our very lazy future!  We have seats for telepresence available, even if you are on Mars.

IM Vulcan Viper, who teaches a meditation class every Wednesday at 1pm in the GeekSpeak auditorium, if you have ideas for new subjects.

http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Danmu/143/127/51

 

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GeekSpeak – Will we all be Cyborgs? Join the discussion on Saturday, September 25th at 12pm SLT

Is it inevitable that people will want to upgrade themselves as technology progresses and possibilities open?  If you lose an arm you will want a mechanical arm. A tech arm could be a lot better in terms of speed, agility, strength. 

Or will you want to regrow body parts?  New teeth grown for old, or a new human arm grown for an arm lost?

Which would you choose?  Robot parts or regrown human parts?  Which body parts will we never be able to replace?  Will our future selves become more and more artificial?  What is a ‘real human’ anyway?

Come and discuss your future selves and bring your friends!

IM Vulcan Viper, who teaches a meditation class every Wednesday at 1pm in the GeekSpeak auditorium, if you have ideas for future subjects.

http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Danmu/143/127/51

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GeekSpeak subject for Saturday 12th September at noon SLT

GeekSpeak – How I stopped worrying and started to love finance!

Everything you always wanted to know about finance but were afraid to ask.  Ask all your finance questions now.  Let’s explore the financial system.  What are shares?  How should we invest?

Even if you have close to zero in your account right now, let’s see where to go.  Erik Goff has been there and got the T-shirt and knows the way out. 

Why does the world work as it does?  What are the financial markets doing?

If you want to know more and if you want to know how to get extra money into your pocket, come and join us in GeekSpeak.

IM Vulcan Viper, who teaches a meditation class every Wednesday in the GeekSpeak auditorium at 1pm SLT, if you have ideas for new subjects.

http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Danmu/143/127/51

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GeekSpeak – Is the future vegetarian? Join the discussion Saturday May 23rd at 12pm SLT

In time will we all become vegetarian?  Or vegan? 

What are the advantages of being a vegetarian?  It might be the best way to fight global warming.  Less animal protein is good for our health.  We could put an end to the cruelty involved in farming animals. 

On the other hand, being vegan might be unhealthy.  And most people really enjoy eating meat. 90% of Indians are vegetarian.  Could Westerners live that way?  How would we start?  By eating eggs, cheese, fish but not meat?  Could we eat insects?  Or shellfish?  Or meat grown from animal cells in vats?

If we must eat veggies only should we bring back all the old forgotten plants we used to eat?

Or do you think we will always eat animals?

Come and learn about the new food chain, where humans are no longer on top.  Bring your friends.  And a carrot.

IM Vulcan Viper, who teaches a meditation class every Wednesday at the GeekSpeak auditorium at 1pm SLT, if you have ideas for new subjects.

http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Danmu/143/127/51

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GeekSpeak – Is it time to revise the Drake Equation? Join the discussion February 8th at 12pm SLT

It has been many years since Drake produced his equation about how many intelligent, technological aliens there could be in the universe.  In 1961 we had not discovered a single exoplanet.  And we now have a much broader definition of life.
On the other hand, we now know of many more ways in which a civilisation can destroy itself. 
So is it time to review the Drake Equation?  Or the Fermi paradox? (Why don’t we see them?)  We are eager to discuss which of the 2, Drake or Fermi, will be dominant in our universe.  Come and join us and bring all your alien friends.

IM Vulcan Viper, who teaches a meditation class every Wednesday at the GeekSpeak auditorium at 1pm SLT, if you have ideas for new subjects.

http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Danmu/143/127/51

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GeekSpeak – How will autonomous driving change our cities? Join the discussion Oct. 19th at 12pm SLT

In a few years from now self-driving electric cars will be a reality.  What will our cities be like?  Will there be more cars or fewer?  Will the possession of a car become a small business since cars can be robotaxis when they are not being used by the owner? 
Will cities become much pleasanter places to live?  Fewer cars, and maybe most of those driving in underground tunnels, less pollution, quiet streets with plenty of room for pedestrians.
How will the labour market be changed?  Millions of truck drivers, car mechanics, highway police, garage attendants will be jobless.  On the other hand, new jobs will be created.  Maybe you can get a hairdresser to ride along with you in a robotaxi, or some form of entertainment.
What will commuting be like in 10 years?  Come and discuss your vision of the future of transport.  Bring your friends!

IM Vulcan Viper if you have ideas for new subjects.

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GeekSpeak – Should we merge Science and Sports? Join the discussion on Saturday September 14th at 12PM SLT

Sports tend to become more and more extreme and a lot of science is involved so that people can achieve new records.  Is it time to merge sports and science?  Science will make new sports possible and the team of scientists will also get prizes.  How about skydiving from 20 km up or deep diving, 10 km down?  Would people be interested in such a merger?  Do you think, as science progresses and we think of more and more strange new sports, it is inevitable that it will happen?

How will the alliance between sports and science look when we move out into the solar system?  Rocket races?  Football on the moon?  Skydiving in low gravity?  Hang-gliding on Jupiter?  The sky is not the limit.  

Watch this film for a few ideas: Wanderers - a short film by Erik Wernquist [Official Version]

Join us in our exploration of future extreme sports/science events.  Bring a parachute.

IM Vulcan Viper if you have ideas for new subjects.

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GeekSpeak – what is the future of Africa? Join the discussion Saturday, August 24th at noon SLT

Africa is the second largest continent, with 54 countries and a very young and rapidly expanding population.  At present it is suffering from wars, diseases, and droughts. But there is a lot of promise for the future.

Let’s talk about how the next superpower will develop.  How soon will we see a major boost in the wealth of the African population?  What is needed to get it going? What problems must be overcome?Will Africa be the next energy provider, or the next food provider for the world?  Or will we see an industrial revolution as in East Asia? What leapfrogging effects will take place?

Come and discuss the soon-not-so-dark continent today!

IM Vulcan Viper if you have ideas for new subjects.

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GeekSpeak – how close are we to a nuclear war? Join the discussion on Saturday July 27th at 12pm SLT

Nowadays most of us are less worried about nuclear weapons than we were in the last century.  But is that reasonable?  The danger is still there.  Any conventional war could become a nuclear war.  As nuclear weapons spread, more and more countries could start a nuclear war.  

Would it be possible for terrorists to start one, either by making nuclear weapons or by hacking into command codes?  Could a nuclear war start by sheer accident?

Where will this happen?  What are the danger areas?  And what will happen in the aftermath?  Will we completely destroy the planet, or will the nuking stop after the first 10 or so?

Would we be safer if all countries had nukes, or if none did?  Are there ways to stop this madness?  Come and discuss total annihilation.  Bring your lead radiation suit.

IM Vulcan Viper if you have any ideas for new subjects.

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GeekSpeak – what if we were the only life in the universe? Join the discusion July 13th at 12pm SLT

Let’s suppose we could somehow scientifically prove that there are no aliens in the rest of the universe?  Would we lose interest in space exploration?  Or would you try harder to explore the universe in order to establish new human colonies?

Would it be our duty to take life out into the galaxy?  Or would we see it as our duty to keep life on Earth forever?

What religious implications would such a discovery have?  Would we fly out into the galaxy to find out what we could learn?  Or stay here and keep safe?

What would you do? Go out and explore?  Or stay here and do the best you can?

IM Vulcan Viper if you have any ideas for new subjects.

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GeekSpeak – will humans have extra senses in the future? Join the discussion Saturday 6th July at 12pm SLT

Are we approaching a transhumanist future where we will have new senses?  Given DNA modification and technology, will we sense radiation, UV light, magnetic fields, the gravity of the moon?  Will our ordinary senses be enhanced so that we can navigate by means of sonar, slow down time so we can hear the songs of birds, smell as well as dogs?

A connection with AI will give us extra information.  At what point does the extra information become a true new sense?  Will we begin to be able to sense houses for sale, or sense how old our food is or sense if it is going to rain in a few seconds?

Do we need new senses? Do we want them?  What are the drawbacks? What will happen to the people who do not have the new senses? Will they be the ones that survive after sensemageddon?  Come and discuss your future self!

IM Vulcan Viper if you have ideas for future subjects.

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GeekSpeak – is our species facing extinction in this century? Join the discussion Saturday June 22nd at 12pm SLT

Recently a report came out that stated that we will be extinct in 2050.  Could that really happen?  What threatens us?  The death of insects, climate change, nuclear war, new diseases?  What other threats can you think of? 

Do you worry about extinction?  Or do you think we can correct every problem, bring back the insects, put the carbon back in the ground? 

There are 7 billion of us.  Are we really in danger of extinction?  Are all forms of life on earth in danger, even the most numerous?  Will we all die out together?  Which species will go extinct first, mice or men?  Come and talk about extinction at GeekSpeak.  Bring a mouse, we need its opinion too.

IM Vulcan Viper if you have any suggestions for future subjects.

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GeekSpeak – will the world ever be one country? Join the discussion Saturday June 15th 12pm SLT

Do you look forward to a time when the world will be just one state, with one government?  Or do you think there will always be borders between countries, however much the world may change in other ways?

Would a world government be a good thing?  It might mean the end of war.  But it could also mean a world with an evil government that could not be escaped.  Maybe we need different countries just so that we have some choice about the culture and laws we live by.  

Maybe you think that human nature dictates that there will always be different states that are sometimes hostile to each other.  Even if we achieve a world government on Earth that unity might not last when we set up colonies on other planets.  Will we end up living in a Star Trek universe, where each planet has a world government, but the planets are not united?

Come and discuss borders and how to get rid of them, or keep them.  Bring your red pills.

IM Vulcan Viper if you have any suggestions for new subjects.

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GeekSpeak – the rise and rise of bitcoin. Join the Discussion Saturday 6/1 at 12pm SLT

Bitcoin is nearing 10k US dollars this week, so it is a good moment for all of us to get up to speed with what is happening in the cryptocurrency scene.

Why is bitcoin so important for the whole of humanity?  How much further will it rise before it completely takes over?  What will the world look like under a single monetary standard?  Will all countries be equal, or will some still manage to suppress others?

How will the culture change in a world of micropayments, where small amounts of money will change hands all the time, a world where your car will pay a few pennies to the road or to the traffic lights, and your phone will send a few cents to the streetlights.

Will corruption be impossible in a world where all data is stored on blockchains?

Are you too late to buy bitcoin or is there still a chance to make a fortune?

Get ready for the world of the future.  Bring your bitcoin mining pickaxe. 

IM Vulcan Viper if you have ideas for new subjects.

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GeekSpeak – the death of insects

Insects – we dislike most of them or regard them as a nuisance.  But we need them, all of them.  We need them as pollinators and as food for birds, bats, frogs, fish, small mammals.  We need some of them just because they are beautiful.  But they are declining at an alarming speed, at least in the western world, because of the widespread use of pesticides, huge areas of mono-culture and the destruction of insect habitats, such as hedges, woods and ponds.

Will insects turn into a limited precious resource?  Will we fight wars over insects?  Raid other countries for their insects?  Will we trade insects?  Will countries with plenty of insects be our future food powerhouses?  Will fortunes be made from rare insects?

What should be done to save the insects?  Should pesticides be banned?  Should farmers be paid to conserve insects?  Will it be a serious crime to kill insects?

Come and discuss our smallest frenemies at GeekSpeak.  Bring your bug spray.

IM Vulcan Viper if you have any ideas for new subjects.

http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Danmu/143/127/51

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GeekSpeak – how will we change when we go into space?

What will humans become once we venture out of the earth’s protective environment?

Will humans be carefully chosen for all colonizing missions?  Only very small people, because it saves on food and space?  Only those with little aggression, for obvious reasons?

Will humans be engineered for space colonization?  Will their DNA be changed to protect them from radiation sickness?  Will they be given chloroplasts so they can make their own food?  Will we send people into space as brains in jars?

And how will selection and adaptation work in space?  Will we grow taller on the moon?  Will we adapt to the temperature on Mars or Venus?

Will there be many human species in the future?  One species for every planet we colonize?

Come and discuss our future selves in GeekSpeak.

IM Vulcan Viper if you have ideas for new subjects.

http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Danmu/143/127/51

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