Daily Archives: March 16, 2015

Tranhumanist CEO Wants to Help You Live Forever

Posted: March 16, 2015 at 4:41 pm

AUSTIN, TEXASYou've seen Her. You've heard about the upcoming Ex Machina movie. Now, meet Martine Rothblatt, a transgender, transhumanist who wants to help you live forever by creating your own personal mind clone. If that sounds like science fiction, it is a fiction the board of her company, United Therapeutics, is sold onlast year she was the highest paid female CEO in the nation, earning $38 million.

Siri is just the beginning, she told the crowd at this year's SXSW conference here in Austin.

"There will be continued advances in software that we see throughout our lives. Eventually, these advances in software will rise to the level of consciousness," Rothblatt said, predicting that at that point, there will be no reason why the human consciousness can't live on indefinitely.

The core idea of transhumanism is that technology will someday free us of our mortal coil. The first step is creating what she calls a mind file. A mind file is a digital record that encapsulates your thoughts, mannerisms, relationships, and morebasically, it's a digital record of your entire self. And if you have a Facebook profile, according to Rothblatt, your mind file is well underway.

"We are living in a world where all of your life is captured," she said. "There is work going on at Amazon, Google, and Apple that is Mindware. It is software designed to process and recreate all of these inputs to create a consciousness."

Once the Mindware has its inputs, it just needs a robot to host it, Rothblatt said. Trust her, she's already done it.

Rothblatt hired a team of roboticists to create a "mind clone" of her wife, Bina Aspen. The mind clone, named Bina48, is a head and torso, albeit one that looks eerily like the real Bina Aspen. Bina48 is remarkably sophisticated for a home-built mind clone: she carries on a conversation, she tweets, and she expresses novel ideas. Rothblatt says soon everyone will be able to have a mind clone like Bina48.

"If I can do this as one person with a robotics team, what happens when we have 100 million makers in the world?" Rothblatt challenged the crowd. "What happens when open-source mindware gets put up on the Web for anyone to download?"

Extending human life isn't just a software problem for Rothblatt; she is also at the forefront of organ transplant technology. One of her current projects involves breeding genetically modified pigs to reduce the rates of organ transplant rejection.

"When we started doing this, the longest a genetically-modified pig organ could survive was two hours, and now we are up to over eight days. It's mind-blowing," she said.

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Tranhumanist CEO Wants to Help You Live Forever

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Mind cloning, off-the-grid chats & ambient mobile alerts lead chatter at South by Southwest

Posted: at 4:41 pm

AUSTIN, Texas As a plane with a Grumpy Cat flag flew overhead, courtesy of Friskies, the Technorati flooded into panel discussions and happy hour spots at the annual tech festival South by Southwest in Austin, Texas, on Sunday.

Top tech influencers pondered immortality and mind cloning. FireChat, an app that lets smartphone users connect via mobile chat even without a cellular connection, was another hot topic. Here's a look at the most notable trending topics Sunday at the tech jamboree.

OFF-THE-GRID MOBILE CHAT

No cell service? No problem.

An app called FireChat uses phone signals such as Wi-Fi and Bluetooth to connect to other users' phones and enable chats without any network connection. The app, created by a San Francisco startup called Open Garden, debuted in 2012 and was a hit last August at the Burning Man festival in Black Rock, Nevada, where cell phone service is scarce.

It links people via what it calls a "peer-to-peer mesh network," connecting through phone signals rather than a network. The range is about 90 feet but the connection can jump from phone to phone if there's a crowd. It's software-only, says co-founder and CEO Micha Benoliel. Currently the app supports public group chats and hashtags; private messaging is coming.

The app, which is a finalist for South by Southwest's innovation awards, has 5 million users and has been used by tens of thousands of people in India and the Philippines at political protests. As a new startup, Benoliel says his first time at South by Southwest has been positive. "The best surprise has been going to parties and having people asking how they can use FireChat for their event," he says.

TRANSGENDER AND BEYOND IN TECH

United Therapeutics CEO Martine Rothblatt, who considers herself a "transhumanist," discussed advances in "mind cloning" in a keynote Sunday. She said she believes people will one day be able to clone their cognitive functions, and detailed her biotech company's advances in cloning organs and making the process of transferring organs from donor to recipient more efficient.

Rothblatt urged everyone to question authority and noted that in other eras she might not have survived as a transgender person.

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Hottest tech at South by Southwest: FireChat, 'mind cloning'

Posted: at 4:41 pm

AUSTIN, Texas -- As a plane with a Grumpy Cat flag flew overhead, courtesy of Friskies, the Technorati flooded into panel discussions and happy hour spots at the annual tech festival South by Southwest in Austin, Texas, on Sunday.

Top tech influencers pondered immortality and mind cloning. FireChat, an app that lets smartphone users connect via mobile chat even without a cellular connection, was another hot topic. Here's a look at the most notable trending topics Sunday at the tech jamboree.

OFF-THE-GRID MOBILE CHAT

No cell service? No problem.

An app called FireChat uses phone signals such as Wi-Fi and Bluetooth to connect to other users' phones and enable chats without any network connection. The app, created by a San Francisco startup called Open Garden, debuted in 2012 and was a hit last August at the Burning Man festival in Black Rock, Nevada, where cell phone service is scarce.

It links people via what it calls a "peer-to-peer mesh network," connecting through phone signals rather than a network. The range is about 90 feet but the connection can jump from phone to phone if there's a crowd. It's software-only, says co-founder and CEO Micha Benoliel. Currently the app supports public group chats and hashtags; private messaging is coming.

The app, which is a finalist for South by Southwest's innovation awards, has 5 million users and has been used by tens of thousands of people in India and the Philippines at political protests. As a new startup, Benoliel says his first time at South by Southwest has been positive. "The best surprise has been going to parties and having people asking how they can use FireChat for their event," he says.

TRANSGENDER AND BEYOND IN TECH

United Therapeutics CEO Martine Rothblatt, who considers herself a "transhumanist," discussed advances in "mind cloning" in a keynote Sunday. She said she believes people will one day be able to clone their cognitive functions, and detailed her biotech company's advances in cloning organs and making the process of transferring organs from donor to recipient more efficient.

Rothblatt urged everyone to question authority and noted that in other eras she might not have survived as a transgender person.

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Hottest tech at South by Southwest: FireChat, 'mind cloning'

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Mind cloning, off-the-grid chats turn heads at SXSW

Posted: at 4:41 pm

By Mae Anderson The Associated Press

Grumpy Cat, pictured in July 2014.

AUSTIN, Texas As a plane with a Grumpy Cat flag flew overhead, courtesy of Friskies, the Technorati flooded into panel discussions and happy hour spots at the annual tech festival South by Southwest in Austin, Texas, on Sunday.

Top tech influencers pondered immortality and mind cloning. FireChat, an app that lets smartphone users connect via mobile chat even without a cellular connection, was another hot topic. Heres a look at the most notable trending topics Sunday at the tech jamboree.

OFF-THE-GRID MOBILE CHAT

No cell service? No problem.

An app called FireChat uses phone signals such as Wi-Fi and Bluetooth to connect to other users phones and enable chats without any network connection. The app, created by a San Francisco startup called Open Garden, debuted in 2012 and was a hit last August at the Burning Man festival in Black Rock, Nevada, where cellphone service is scarce.

It links people via what it calls a peer-to-peer mesh network, connecting through phone signals rather than a network. The range is about 90 feet but the connection can jump from phone to phone if theres a crowd. Its software-only, says co-founder and CEO Micha Benoliel. Currently the app supports public group chats and hashtags; private messaging is coming.

The app, which is a finalist for South by Southwests innovation awards, has 5 million users and has been used by tens of thousands of people in India and the Philippines at political protests. As a new startup, Benoliel says his first time at South by Southwest has been positive. The best surprise has been going to parties and having people asking how they can use FireChat for their event, he says.

TRANSGENDER AND BEYOND IN TECH

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Mind cloning, off-the-grid chats turn heads at SXSW

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Trending at SXSW: Mind cloning, off-the-grid messaging – Quincy Herald-Whig | Illinois & Missouri News, Sports

Posted: at 4:41 pm

By MAE ANDERSON AP Technology Writer

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) - As a plane with a Grumpy Cat flag flew overhead, courtesy of Friskies, the Technorati flooded into panel discussions and happy hour spots at the annual tech festival South by Southwest in Austin, Texas, on Sunday.

Top tech influencers pondered immortality and mind cloning. FireChat, an app that lets smartphone users connect via mobile chat even without a cellular connection, was another hot topic. Here's a look at the most notable trending topics Sunday at the tech jamboree.

OFF-THE-GRID MOBILE CHAT

No cell service? No problem.

An app called FireChat uses phone signals such as Wi-Fi and Bluetooth to connect to other users' phones and enable chats without any network connection. The app, created by a San Francisco startup called Open Garden, debuted in 2012 and was a hit last August at the Burning Man festival in Black Rock, Nevada, where cell phone service is scarce.

It links people via what it calls a "peer-to-peer mesh network," connecting through phone signals rather than a network. The range is about 90 feet but the connection can jump from phone to phone if there's a crowd. It's software-only, says co-founder and CEO Micha Benoliel. Currently the app supports public group chats and hashtags; private messaging is coming.

The app, which is a finalist for South by Southwest's innovation awards, has 5 million users and has been used by tens of thousands of people in India and the Philippines at political protests. As a new startup, Benoliel says his first time at South by Southwest has been positive. "The best surprise has been going to parties and having people asking how they can use FireChat for their event," he says.

TRANSGENDER AND BEYOND IN TECH

United Therapeutics CEO Martine Rothblatt, who considers herself a "transhumanist," discussed advances in "mind cloning" in a keynote Sunday. She said she believes people will one day be able to clone their cognitive functions, and detailed her biotech company's advances in cloning organs and making the process of transferring organs from donor to recipient more efficient.

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Trending at SXSW: Mind cloning, off-the-grid messaging - Quincy Herald-Whig | Illinois & Missouri News, Sports

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AP National News Video

Posted: at 4:41 pm

By MAE ANDERSON AP Technology Writer

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) - As a plane with a Grumpy Cat flag flew overhead, courtesy of Friskies, the Technorati flooded into panel discussions and happy hour spots at the annual tech festival South by Southwest in Austin, Texas, on Sunday.

Top tech influencers pondered immortality and mind cloning. FireChat, an app that lets smartphone users connect via mobile chat even without a cellular connection, was another hot topic. Here's a look at the most notable trending topics Sunday at the tech jamboree.

OFF-THE-GRID MOBILE CHAT

No cell service? No problem.

An app called FireChat uses phone signals such as Wi-Fi and Bluetooth to connect to other users' phones and enable chats without any network connection. The app, created by a San Francisco startup called Open Garden, debuted in 2012 and was a hit last August at the Burning Man festival in Black Rock, Nevada, where cell phone service is scarce.

It links people via what it calls a "peer-to-peer mesh network," connecting through phone signals rather than a network. The range is about 90 feet but the connection can jump from phone to phone if there's a crowd. It's software-only, says co-founder and CEO Micha Benoliel. Currently the app supports public group chats and hashtags; private messaging is coming.

The app, which is a finalist for South by Southwest's innovation awards, has 5 million users and has been used by tens of thousands of people in India and the Philippines at political protests. As a new startup, Benoliel says his first time at South by Southwest has been positive. "The best surprise has been going to parties and having people asking how they can use FireChat for their event," he says.

TRANSGENDER AND BEYOND IN TECH

United Therapeutics CEO Martine Rothblatt, who considers herself a "transhumanist," discussed advances in "mind cloning" in a keynote Sunday. She said she believes people will one day be able to clone their cognitive functions, and detailed her biotech company's advances in cloning organs and making the process of transferring organs from donor to recipient more efficient.

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AP National News Video

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16.4 Million People Now Have Health Insurance Due To Obamacare

Posted: at 4:41 pm

Politics By Amanda Andrade-Rhoades, Mon, March 16, 2015

Thanks to the Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare, more than 16 million Americans now have health insurance.

According to The Huffington Post, Health and Human Services issued a report that found the uninsured rate has fallen from 20.3 percent in October 2013, when enrollment in Obamacare was opened, to 12.3 percent this year. Health and Human Services partnered with the polling company Gallup to determine the number of people who now have health insurance.

Since the passage of the Affordable Care Act almost five years ago, about 16.4 million uninsured people have gained health coverage -- the largest reduction in the uninsured in four decades," Health and Human Services Secretary Sylvia Mathews wrote in a statement.

In addition to enrollment in the Affordable Care Act, another 14.1 million people acquired health insurance by joining a private plan or Medicaid.

The government plans to push for more sign-ups and will spend $1.2 trillion over the next decade expanding health coverage. That estimate is lower than what the Congressional Budget Office projected in January.

The fate of Obamacare still hangs in the balance. The Supreme Court is considering the case of King v. Burwell, which could result in 9.6 million people becoming uninsured if the court rules in favor of David King, jacking up the price of healthcare.

Source: The Huffington Post Image via Healthcare Costs/Flickr

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16.4 Million People Now Have Health Insurance Due To Obamacare

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McConnell: No Loretta Lynch confirmation until vote on human trafficking bill

Posted: at 4:40 pm

Monday March 16, 2015 12:01 AM

The Associated Press

(c) 2015, The Washington Post.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., said on Sunday that the confirmation of Loretta Lynch as attorney general may hinge on whether Congress works out its gridlock over a human trafficking bill.

"It's not a threat. We need to finish this human trafficking bill that came out of the Judiciary Committee unanimously . . . because the next week we'll be doing the budget and the next two weeks after that Congress is not in session," McConnell said on CNN's "State of the Union."

The Justice for Victims of Trafficking Act, authored by Sen. John Cornyn, R-Tex., has been stalled after Democrats accused Republicans of sneaking anti-abortion language into the bill. McConnell noted that Democrats on the Judiciary Committee unanimously agreed on the bill before forwarding it.

"They all voted for the very same language in a bill in December," he said.

Senate Democrats say Republicans sneaked the language into authorization measures. At question is a provision that the new Domestic Trafficking Victims' Fund will be subject to Hyde Amendment limitations. The long-standing amendment prohibits the use of federal taxpayer funds for abortions. The new fund, created under the proposed bill, would be supported by fines imposed on traffickers.

Meanwhile, Lynch's confirmation process has taken the longest compared with those of others who held the post, dating at least to Janet Reno. Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., called on McConnell to "keep his word" and not delay the vote on Lynch. There is no procedural excuse for further delay and her nomination can be brought to the floor at any time, according to a statement from Adam Jentleson, Reid's spokesman.

"By continuing to stall Lynch's nomination Republicans are failing yet another basic test of their ability to govern," the statement said. "There is nothing stopping the Senate from confirming Lynch and continuing to debate the trafficking bill this week, except Senator McConnell's unwillingness to bring her nomination up for a vote."

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Muse – Futurism (Piano Cover) – Video

Posted: at 4:40 pm


Muse - Futurism (Piano Cover)
Appearing on special versions of Origin of Symmetry (2001), this song features an incredibly distinct (and fun to play) bass line. It is one of the more rare songs to be heard live as it can...

By: Joe Cool

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London Books Roundup: March 2015

Posted: at 4:40 pm

16 March 2015 | Books & Poetry | By: M@

Our regular guide to the latest books about the capital.

Chunky books about architecture arent exactly in short supply, but heres one that punches above its own considerable weight. It does so by taking account of how buildings affect the peopleliving in and around them, and vice-versa. The book is organised by area, with inner London sliced into 30 or so chapters (Clerkenwell, Bankside, etc.). Each covers around a dozen important buildings and other architectural spaces.

Rather than simply characterise the fabric of a building, author Paul Knox delves a bit deeper to recall its history, and even its prehistory. For example, the brutalist former Home Office on Petty France stands on the site of the equally derided Queen Annes Mansions, a continuation of overbearing, Orwellian architecture.With a supremely generous picturebudget (525 colour photos!) and a deftly written text, this is both a first-rate guide to the citys bricks and stones, but also a visual social history of a perplexing city.

From Merrell. Author website.

And now for something completely different. Alice Stevenson is a professionalillustrator, but shes also a keen walker, and an urban walker at that. Her book offers vignettes from 32 urban strolls, nearly all of them north of the river. Her compassmight need oiling, but her experiences flow from the pages with ease and grace. From a melancholy sojourn round the slopes of Hampstead to the antique futurism of the Barbican and its attendant Pedway system, we find that a good walk can conjure all moods and mindsets.

For Alice, as for anyone, London can be a wonderland or a torment, but there is always more to explore.The book is decorated throughout with the authors own semi-abstract illustrations, making this an attractive gift book or inspiring manual of perambulation for anyone who spends too many hours indoors.

From September Publishing. Author website. Authors twitter @AliceStevo.

A tricky one to review, seeing as it pretty much does what it says on the front. This photo-heavy guide to western Europes tallest habitable building takes you through all its evolutions, from design, to construction, to a set of panoramas from the observation decks. Along the way, theres an interview with architect Irvine Sellar, a floor-by-floor guide to whats in the Shard, a history of the area and information on key buildings you can peer down on from the top. Curiously, theres no specific mention of Aqua Shard, Oblix and Hutong, the three restaurants that most make the Shard worth visiting, although the Shangri-La hotel is briefly name-checked. The book isattractive, well illustrated and, best of all, balances on its end like a miniature Shard. It isan official guide, though,so dont expect any other kind of balance, but an account that glows like the Shards illuminated peak.

From Thames & Hudson.

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