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elaboration. spellcheck.
author Robert McIntyre <rlm@mit.edu>
date Mon, 14 Apr 2014 13:09:20 -0400
parents 0ca6c9f0da01
children 7f5ec998409f
comparison
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93:0ca6c9f0da01 94:e05b604a6843
39 legal proof of concept needed to create a new class of life 39 legal proof of concept needed to create a new class of life
40 between "living" and "dead": "stasis". 40 between "living" and "dead": "stasis".
41 41
42 - philosophy of the mirror :: neat thought experiment -- if you take a 42 - philosophy of the mirror :: neat thought experiment -- if you take a
43 mirror of someone by actually reversing a person's chirality 43 mirror of someone by actually reversing a person's chirality
44 moleculue by molucule, then will the only be able to read mirror 44 molecule by molecule, then will the only be able to read mirror
45 writing? The answer is yes, by analogy to a purely mechanical 45 writing? The answer is yes, by analogy to a purely mechanical
46 scantron device. This is one of the only interesting transforms I 46 scan-tron device. This is one of the only interesting transforms I
47 know that can take a human brain and change it in subtle, 47 know that can take a human brain and change it in subtle,
48 non-destructive ways. It's also an argument against dualism. 48 non-destructive ways. It's also an argument against dualism.
49 49
50 - biosphere in a bottle :: There are around 15 million species. 15 50 - biosphere in a bottle :: There are around 15 million species. 15
51 million stem cells will fill only a tiny size, far less than a cubic 51 million stem cells will fill only a tiny size, far less than a cubic
100 should have a higher incidence of some unknown parasite in 100 should have a higher incidence of some unknown parasite in
101 their brains. 101 their brains.
102 102
103 - domestic insects :: People should eat more bugs because they're much 103 - domestic insects :: People should eat more bugs because they're much
104 more efficient, so why not do some major domestication research 104 more efficient, so why not do some major domestication research
105 to make very appealing bugs? 105 to make very appealing bugs? Beetles, in particular, seem to be
106 excellent targets for domestication because they have extreme
107 levels of genetic malleability.
106 108
107 - birth-clones :: What if each person was intentionally split at birth 109 - birth-clones :: What if each person was intentionally split at birth
108 into a normal embryo and a few "backup" cells which 110 into a normal embryo and a few "backup" cells which
109 is then frozen. The backup cells are created just 111 is then frozen. The backup cells are created just
110 the same way as natural identical twins. The backups 112 the same way as natural identical twins. The backups
113 have a culture where people reward people who were 115 have a culture where people reward people who were
114 especially awesome are "reborn" from their 116 especially awesome are "reborn" from their
115 backups. Imagine having a young Bach every 117 backups. Imagine having a young Bach every
116 generation, etc. 118 generation, etc.
117 119
118 - pronuncation guide :: a simple webpage where you type in a word and 120 - pronunciation guide :: a simple webpage where you type in a word and
119 it returns a simpe, English sentence describing exactly how to 121 it returns a simple, English sentence describing exactly how to
120 pronounce the word. For people who don't want to learn IPA. 122 pronounce the word. For people who don't want to learn IPA.
121 123
122 - cortex-search :: use the repertoire of actions learned to limit the 124 - cortex-search :: use the repertoire of actions learned to limit the
123 search space of possible actions. 125 search space of possible actions.
124 126
305 307
306 - Intestinal flora maintenance :: why not inoculate babies at birth 308 - Intestinal flora maintenance :: why not inoculate babies at birth
307 with "ideal" gut flora instead of whatever bullshit they 309 with "ideal" gut flora instead of whatever bullshit they
308 naturally get, thus giving them optimal digestive/nutrient 310 naturally get, thus giving them optimal digestive/nutrient
309 extraction capabilities. Might also be able to make their farts 311 extraction capabilities. Might also be able to make their farts
310 not stink for life, too. MORE IMPORTANTALY, might help to 312 not stink for life, too. MORE IMPORTANTLY, might help to
311 preventatively stop some forms of /colic/, which affects 1 in 5 313 preventatively stop some forms of /colic/, which affects 1 in 5
312 babies and causees constant screaming and pain for about 5 weeks. 314 babies and causes constant screaming and pain for about 5 weeks.
313 315
314 - server culture : mirrors :: make a distributed system where people 316 - server culture : mirrors :: make a distributed system where people
315 can mirror the websites of people they like -- essentially cover 317 can mirror the websites of people they like -- essentially cover
316 the server costs of favored websites. This could make popular 318 the server costs of favored websites. This could make popular
317 websites run at no cost. The system would require that the 319 websites run at no cost. The system would require that the