X-Message-Number: 28241
From: 
Date: Wed, 19 Jul 2006 10:13:53 EDT

Subject: Response to Flavanoid re: Singularity event--semi-long but entertaining

In a message dated 7/19/2006 5:04:32 A.M. Eastern Daylight Time,  
 writes:

>Subject: I am going to Alcor/SA training in south Florida this  weekend

Kudos.  Will we get a better report back on this event,  than the 
Singularity one?  Or are you just  advertising?


Hello, Flavanoid and cryoneters,
 
The above is a reprinted dialogue from Rudi Hoffman and "Flavanoid."
 
Well, I guess I should respond to Flavanoid re: his question about the  
Singularity conference.  
 
Sorry, Flavanoid, I did not mean to intentionally neglect to your  curiosity 
re: Singularity conference.  The short story is  that I had some business and 
personal items that intervened and that  these did not allow me to attend as I 
had hoped. 
 
A bummer, I hate it when Life and Work and Responsibilities and Financial  

considerations interfere with attending the conferences I would love to attend,
but there it you have it.
 
The good news, however, is that the entire event is  digitally uploaded on 

the net!  And, even better, you can listen or  download these wonderful lectures
for FREE!  
 
How cool is that?  Talk about "Better living through  technology!"

Just go to "singinst.org" or google for "singularity  institute."  Clik on 
"audio presentations." 



I have been riding my bike, listening the likes to Ray Kurzweil,  John Smart, 
Douglas Hofstadter, Eric Drexler, Max More, Bill McKibben (Who  is quite 

wrongheaded IMO, but more compelling than I thought re:  relinquishment and his
"Enough" philosophy) and a tremendous lecture by  Eliezer Yudkowsky.  
 
And some other world class thinkers and researchers into the remarkable  
field of AGI.
 
There are a couple of reasons I did not respond to Flavanoid,  incidentally.  

One, is that the question, "Did anyone ask if  designing an intelligence at a 
human or greater level is a good idea?"
is so...well...how can I write this without permanently annoying Mr.  

Flavanoid, who often has good input on Cryonet?  Is it my mission to  make 
Flavanoid 
recognize what an embarrassingly and foundationally  silly question this was 

(well worthy of being ignored) or to create more  love, understanding, rational
dialogue, and goodwill in the world?  (Note  to self:  Rudi, if in doubt, 
please remember to "Take the high  road!")

Flavanoid, that was what the entire conference was  ABOUT!   

The good news is that you can now hear this for  yourself, for free.  
 
The second reason is that I did not want to get into a long "repartee'  " or 
dialogue with Flavanoid about whether Artificial General Intelligence  
(hereafter AGI) or the singularity is a "good thing".  
 
The hard and virtually irrefutable reality is that progress is being made  
and will be made in nearly ALL areas of technology.  

You don't need  INSIGHT to see this, merely EYESIGHT.

Our choice as a race and culture is  how we can best mold and shape this 
progress to maintain the highest and best of  "humanistic" or human values.  

This discussion has been articulated  by Kurzweil and others in a more 

detailed and clear manner than I can or care to  download here, my dear 
Flavanoid.
 
So, my mission in this posting, Flavanoid, is to respond to your rather  rude 
interrogatives in a gentlemanly and reasonably kind manner.  

I  will not be goaded into pointless and academic discussions of future  
technological directions, as I am only reasonably equipped to do so.   And, 
judging by your questions you may be rather ill-equipped for.  

 
This is not a "shot  across the bow" preparatory for the latest iteration of 
Cryonet flame  wars. 
 
So, I may--or  may not-- provide some report regarding this weekend's  
training suitable for Cryonet consumption.  
 
But, I thank you, Flavanoid, for your continuing and persistent interest.  :)
 
Reasonably Sincerely, For Centuries,
 
Rudi

Rudi Richard Hoffman CFP CLU

Board Member Financial Planning  Association fpafla.org
Board Member Salvation Army  salvationarmy.org
Member Alcor Life Extension Foundation  alcor.org
Certified Financial Planner(TM) CFP Board of Standards 
Member  Libertarian Party libertarianparty.org
Member National Rifle Association  nra.org
Member World Transhumanist Association  http://transhumanism.org/
World's Leading Cryonics Insurance Provider  rudihoffman.com


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