<HTML><BODY style="word-wrap: break-word; -khtml-nbsp-mode: space; -khtml-line-break: after-white-space; "><BR><DIV><DIV>On Feb 15, 2006, at 5:38 AM, Peter K. Bertine, Jr wrote:</DIV><BR class="Apple-interchange-newline"><BLOCKQUOTE type="cite"><O:SMARTTAGTYPE namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="City"> <O:SMARTTAGTYPE namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="place"> <O:SMARTTAGTYPE namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="PersonName"> <DIV class="Section1"><P class="MsoNormal"><FONT size="2" color="#3366ff" face="Courier New"><SPAN style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:" courier="" new";color:#3366ff"="">Robert, I have re-thought my position. I agreed with you out of fear that I would be moderated off the list by the force of your highly respected position. I was also <B><I><U><SPAN style="font-weight:bold;font-style:italic">star struck</SPAN></U></I></B> that you responded to me directly.<O:P></O:P></SPAN></FONT></P><P class="MsoNormal"><FONT size="2" color="#3366ff" face="Courier New"><SPAN style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:" courier="" new";color:#3366ff"=""><O:P><BR></O:P></SPAN></FONT></P></DIV></O:SMARTTAGTYPE></O:SMARTTAGTYPE></O:SMARTTAGTYPE></BLOCKQUOTE><DIV><BR class="khtml-block-placeholder"></DIV>Now that could well get you moderated off the list! :-) YUK. Please can the sycophantic crap even if it is sarcasm.</DIV><DIV><BR><BLOCKQUOTE type="cite"><O:SMARTTAGTYPE namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="City"><O:SMARTTAGTYPE namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="place"><O:SMARTTAGTYPE namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="PersonName"><DIV class="Section1"><P class="MsoNormal"><FONT size="2" color="#3366ff" face="Courier New"><SPAN style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:" courier="" new";color:#3366ff"="">I do not believe that there are any advanced civilizations playing god with solar systems. I believe that we must believe that we are alone in the universe until proven otherwise. I also do not believe in the singularity concept of AI. I don’t believe that a magic computer will spontaneously come along and save/destroy us. Both of these “concepts” are well disguised myths that are at the base of many religions. They are the fuzzy “truths” taught by cults. As long as Transhumanism associates itself with these “concepts” it will remain a fringe meme/memeplex and not worthy of acceptance by humanity.</SPAN></FONT></P></DIV></O:SMARTTAGTYPE></O:SMARTTAGTYPE></O:SMARTTAGTYPE></BLOCKQUOTE><DIV><BR class="khtml-block-placeholder"></DIV>You have a funny concept of Singularity. Please offer your proof of why a > human AI is impossible. If there is no such proof then there is no basis for calling such a "myth". </DIV><DIV><BLOCKQUOTE type="cite"><O:SMARTTAGTYPE namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="City"><O:SMARTTAGTYPE namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="place"><O:SMARTTAGTYPE namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="PersonName"><DIV class="Section1"><P class="MsoNormal"><FONT size="2" color="#3366ff" face="Courier New"><SPAN style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:" courier="" new";color:#3366ff"=""><O:P></O:P></SPAN></FONT></P><P class="MsoNormal"><FONT size="3" face="Times New Roman"><SPAN style="font-size: 12.0pt">Peter, until someone comes up with a *really* good explanation for the "missing mass" you have to admit that our current picture of reality is quite incomplete. <FONT color="#3366ff"><SPAN style="color:#3366FF">Robert, I do not have to admit reality is incomplete due to the “missing mass” in the universe. A is A. Until I can probe it, measure it and repeat it and get others to probe it, measure it and repeat it, with the same results, then it is far worse than *theory*, it is wishful thinking and nothing more than the very human urge to find meaning out of randomness </SPAN></FONT></SPAN></FONT></P></DIV></O:SMARTTAGTYPE></O:SMARTTAGTYPE></O:SMARTTAGTYPE></BLOCKQUOTE><DIV><BR class="khtml-block-placeholder"></DIV><DIV>Read again. "Our *picture* of reality is incomplete."</DIV><DIV><BR class="khtml-block-placeholder"></DIV><DIV>- samantha</DIV><DIV><BR class="khtml-block-placeholder"></DIV><BR></DIV></BODY></HTML>