All good things...

And so, everything else. This format isn't working for me. I'm microblogging and I don't want to feel pressured to write more than I should. I'm moving here. See you there.



Mind the gap.

Transhumanism; a 'secular spirituality'?

For those who are uninitiated, Transhumanism(>H, H+) is a movement rooted in the concept of lengthening, improving, and eventually transcending humanity through the pursuits of science and technology. This includes virtual and augmented reality which can eventually be used to digitize consciousness, gene therapy, cryonics and designer drugs to extend the human life span, and a dazzling array of techniques that are on the bleeding edge and are being pushed every day to the limits of imagination.

It sounds like a Gibsonesque sci-fi plot, but it's every day science, and it's growing.
Now, I'm Christian, and region not being a trait very common in any room full of Western scientists, atheism gets tossed in my face quite often. I, however, have to admit that the concept of a godless, faithless spirituality is quite interesting, if not appealing. What do you think?

Read up.

Mind the gap.

A sixth sense that has nothing to do with dead people.

Granted, the human 'five senses' are a misnomer, as there are more like thirty, but for the sake of the article- and my terrible joke, just let is slide this time, alright?

Okay, transhumanists. You looking for a poor man's magnetoception? Now's the time to get an implanted magnet to provide you with a limited 'magnetic sense'. This will provide a range of sensations as they detect electromagnetic fields inside their finger.

I'm getting one. How about you? Story at Wired.


Mind the gap.

Nano, nano...

And if you weren't a child of the 80's you wouldn't get that joke.

In this short article from the Australia National University, Doctors Simon Ruffell, Madhu Bhaskaran, and Sharath Sriram are working on using a blend of piezoelectrics and nanotech to create a near-infinite power source derived from the particular device's user.

Your hands, dummy. Welcome to the future, bitch


-Mind the gap

What is 'beatjazz"?

The product of Onyx Ashanti (quite possibly the blackest name since Darkie McBlackface), BeatJazz is his invention which combines a HUD, two button interfaces that allow for gesticular control, and an input mouthpiece. The combination of devices allow for a type of improvisational performance never before possible. Are you ready for six minutes of the future in music?




One of my biggest peeves with sci-fi is their depiction of music of the future. It always ruins it for me when the writer comes up with something trite. Not now. Oh this is a very good day for me. Damn good day.

BeatJazz. Remember that you heard it here first.

-Mind the gap

Detroit steel just got stronger

Check this out, This guy Gary Cola came up with a process for strengthening steel to the level of most common titanium alloys in a matter of seconds in a manner that could make it stronger, lighter, and less expensive. Detroit, 1.

 

Here’s the whole story from Science Daily.

 

 

-Mind the gap

 

Technorati Tags: steel,Detriot,Gary Cola,science,technology

The Oatmeal/FunnyJunk relationship stops being funny.

To bring you up to speed, Matthew Inman is funny and produces The Oatmeal, a webcomic mostly about absurd or geeky stuff(it's hilarious. Do yourself a favor and check it out), and he posts it online free to air. The problem is that Funnyjunk(whom I refuse to link to) posts it on their site as their own content and refuse to even give him the benefit of a credit for his work.

I'm all about the free sharing of information, but not at the cost of the creator. Give him his credit, or you don't get to share his content.

After taking it on the chin for months, he took a stand.

(un)Funnyjunk calls him a 'fag' and continues to steal his content.

Here is the ongoing story as told by Ars Technica.