What REALLY makes the world go around? GeekSpeak subject for Saturday 3rd October at noon SLT

 GeekSpeak – What REALLY makes the world go around?

We tend to think we know how the world works, but do we?  Does anyone really understand it?  What does the world run on?

We are used to the picture of the world running on oil, but that has only been true for the last century or so.  Before that, maybe it was the possession of fertile land.  What will be the next thing that makes the world work?  Resources?  Energy? 

Come to GeekSpeak and discuss macroeconomics and who or what really runs the planet.  And let’s learn a thing or two about the shady background to the world in which we are all trying to make our living.  Bring your friends!

IM Vulcan Viper, who teaches a meditation class every Wednesday in the GeekSpeak auditorium at 1pm SLT, if you have ideas for new subjects.

http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Danmu/143/127/51

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GeekSpeak: Batteries! What are they good for? Join the discussion on Saturday August 22nd at 12pm SLT

A total revolution revolving around batteries will be coming soon. We have seen the advent of electric cars and bikes, although the electric lawn mower is still a pipe dream.  But when the battery revolution arrives it will cause an infrastructure inversion where the existing power grid structure will be disrupted.  This battery revolution will give back power to the people!
Come and discuss with us the coming green energy revolution!  Bring your friends even if they still use an old power cord 

IM Vulcan Viper, who teaches a meditation class every Wednesday at the GeekSpeak auditorium at 1pm SLT, if you have ideas for new subjects.

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GeekSpeak – Space War! Join the discussion Saturday August 1st at 12pm SLT

This week the USA’s space force get their new logo (Semper Supra): Above Others.   Does it mark the start of a cold war in space?  Both China and Russia have already destroyed a test satellite in space. So, who knows?

Do you think that mutual threats will mean better technology for all of us?  Have wars helped us all?  Will a space war help us?

What will happen if one of the superpowers makes a space-based weapon first?  Will that be a done deal?

Come and join us.  Let’s hope we can survive any new development.  Bring your alien buddies who can phone home and hitch us a ride away from here.
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GeekSpeak – What frightens you the most about the Future? Join the discussion Saturday July 25th at 12pm SLT

When you lie awake in the middle of the night, filled with fear about the future, what do you fear most?  There is so much that can potentially go wrong and kill us all.  So we wonder what is at the top of your list.  What danger do you see ahead of us as a species?  Or as a planet?  A killer virus, an asteroid, nuclear war, rogue AI?  What scares you the most?

Come and tell us your deepest fears.  The most creative and convincing answer gets a prize.  Bring your friends and protective gear!

IM Vulcan Viper, who teaches a meditation class every Wednesday at the GeekSpeak auditorium at 1pm SLT, if you have ideas for new subjects.

http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Danmu/143/127/51

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GeekSpeak – Will you survive the Technological Singularity? Join the discussion Saturday July 18th at 12pm SLT

In a few short years the technological singularity will arrive.  Computers will not only be faster than humans, they will be more intelligent in every way and their intelligence will continue to increase.  And it is closer than you think.

How will it affect us personally?  Will we be treated as pets?  Will we enjoy being pets?   Will there be wars between different AI systems?  Will humans be involved in the computer wars?  Maybe you think our daily lives will not be affected much.  After all, even if it wants to, a superintelligent AI cannot make us happy.  We still have to work that out for ourselves.

How will the total AI domination roll out?  What jobs will be lost?  How will we live?  Will there ever be a time when it all collapses and humans can go back to ‘normal’ again?  

Come and discuss our future as pets.  Bring your friends, and your pets.

IM Vulcan Viper, who teaches a meditation class every Wednesday at the GeekSpeak auditorium at 1pm SLT, if you have ideas for new subjects.

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GeekSpeak: The Future of Energy. Join the discussion July 4th at 12pm SLT

Where will we get energy from in the future? Are we waiting for unlimited sources of energy?  Nuclear fusion?  Volcanoes? Zero point?  What other sources of energy do you think we will find?

How much energy do we actually need?  Will there ever be a maximum amount? Whatever new sources of energy we find, will we always want more?  If each of us has a planet to run, will that be enough?

Come and discuss our energy needs or greeds.  Bring your friends. 
IM Vulcan Viper, who teaches a meditation class every Wednesday at the GeekSpeak auditorium at 1pm SLT, if you have ideas for new subjects.

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GeekSpeak – Game of Thrones in RL: Where will world power shift next? Joiin the discussion Saturday June 13th at 12pm SLT

 

We are at the beginning of big geopolitical changes.  Which country will be on top in the next 20 years? Or 50 years?

Most people will say China, but China has a host of problems.  Could it be Australia? Or Brazil?  Or Norway?  Or is it possible that we will see a shift that no one expects?  Weird things happen in the real world.

Come and discuss world politics in GeekSpeak.  With a smile towards our unexpected future.  Bring your friends and a crystal ball!

IM Vulcan Viper, who teaches a meditation class every Wednesday at the GeekSpeak auditorium at 1pm SLT, if you have ideas for new subjects.

Danmu

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GeekSpeak – Will all languages disappear? Join the discussion Saturday May 30th at 12pm SLT

There are about 7000 languages left on Earth and the number is declining quickly. Will there be only one language in the future?  Will the world be better off with just one because that will mean that we all understand each other better?  Or will we lose more than we gain, when so much poetry, so many jokes and so much of our culture has gone?

Will we need language at all in the future?  Do the Borg need language?

Which of the current languages will survive for 10 years?  Or 50 years?  Or 500? 

When aliens land on Earth what language will we use to greet them?  Will it be a language that is not invented yet?  Maybe an artificial language?

Come and talk about it in GeekSpeak.  In English.   Bring a friend.

IM Vulcan Viper, who teaches a meditation class every Wednesday at the GeekSpeak auditorium at 1pm SLT, if you have ideas for new subjects.

http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Danmu/143/127/51

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GeekSpeak – Is the future vegetarian? Join the discussion Saturday May 23rd at 12pm SLT

In time will we all become vegetarian?  Or vegan? 

What are the advantages of being a vegetarian?  It might be the best way to fight global warming.  Less animal protein is good for our health.  We could put an end to the cruelty involved in farming animals. 

On the other hand, being vegan might be unhealthy.  And most people really enjoy eating meat. 90% of Indians are vegetarian.  Could Westerners live that way?  How would we start?  By eating eggs, cheese, fish but not meat?  Could we eat insects?  Or shellfish?  Or meat grown from animal cells in vats?

If we must eat veggies only should we bring back all the old forgotten plants we used to eat?

Or do you think we will always eat animals?

Come and learn about the new food chain, where humans are no longer on top.  Bring your friends.  And a carrot.

IM Vulcan Viper, who teaches a meditation class every Wednesday at the GeekSpeak auditorium at 1pm SLT, if you have ideas for new subjects.

http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Danmu/143/127/51

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GeekSpeak – How will SpaceX win the space race? Saturday 16th May at noon SLT

This week we will talk about SpaceX and some of the competition in the race for space.  Why will SpaceX win the race?  What are their plans for the next 5 years?

This is a time we really need to pay attention to, especially if you regret missing the moon landings.  This is your generation’s time.  Later this week, the launch of the first starship will hopefully be a reality.

Excitement is building in the space community. We will give you the best places to watch this historic moment in our life on earth.  Put your space helmet on and join us at GeekSpeak.  Bring your friends.

IM Vulcan Viper, who teaches a meditation class every Wednesday at the GeekSpeak auditorium at 1pm SLT, if you have ideas for new subjects.

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GeekSpeak – Return of the Luddites! Join the discussion May 9th at 12pm SLT

The Luddites destroyed weaving machines because they thought these ‘devilish’ things would drive them out of work.  Nowadays we see people refusing vaccination and burning telephone masts. 

Why are people afraid of technology changes?  Were people afraid of fire, the wheel, the winchester, nuclear power or television?  Should we be afraid of future technology changes?
Do you think they all had a good reason to be wary?  Were these technological advances dangerous?  Did they take people’s jobs away?  Would you have been afraid of ancient technological progress?

Are you afraid of any modern technological advances?  If so, which?  And why?
Come and discuss the subject in our sunny auditorium.  Bring a friend.

IM Vulcan Viper, who teaches a meditation class every Wednesday at the GeekSpeak auditorium at 1pm SLT, if you have ideas for new subjects.

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GeekSpeak – What year would you take your Tardis to? Join the discussion Saturday May 2nd at 12pm SLT

 If you had a time machine and could travel to the past or the future, what year would you go to?  Can you think of a year where you would want to stay for the rest of your life? Or a year where you would want to visit for a while?  What would you see in the past, or the future, if you could?  The Pharos of Alexandria?  C-beams glittering near the Tannhauser gate?
While there, would you want to make changes in the timeline?  Or would you think that wrong, even when the changes would be for the better?

 Come take a ride in our DeLorian and have a go at the dashboard dials.  Bring Marty McFly, if he is in your timeline.

IM Vulcan Viper, who teaches a meditation class every Wednesday at the GeekSpeak auditorium at 1pm SLT, if you have ideas for new subjects.

http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Danmu/143/127/51

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GeekSpeak – Let’s build a Spaceship! Join the discussion Saturday April 25th ar 12pm SLT

 Imagine you are the designer of a future spaceship.  Maybe a ship on its way to Mars.  What would you design and why?

We want it to fly soon, so you can only use current technologies.  So, no holodeck.
Would you build in a cinema? Would you grow food on the ship?  If so, how?  Should it rotate to give it artificial gravity? How about a gym?  And what games would the crew play?
How many people would live on it?  Would they all work, or would some just be passengers?  Would the crew rotate hours?  And maybe share beds to save space?
Would there be viewports? 

You choose today.  Let’s build our ship.  Bring all your space geek friends 

IM Vulcan Viper, who teaches a meditation class every Wednesday at the GeekSpeak auditorium at 1pm SLT, if you have ideas for new subjects.

http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Danmu/143/127/51

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GeekSpeak: The Pursuit of Happiness. What is it, and how can we find it? Join the discussion April 18th at 12pm SLT

What makes humans happy? Is it the same for every human?  Or do we all need different things to be happy? Why are some of us happier than others?  Is happiness, or the pursuit of happiness, really a natural right?

Is happiness something you can search for?  Or is it something you stumble across while looking for other things?  Is it all a matter of chance who is happy?

Is a life lived without happiness necessarily a worthless life? Is a life lived in total happiness possibly a wasted life?  Does it make any sense to say ‘I have achieved everything I wanted to do in life but I have never been happy’? or ‘I have never done anything worth doing but I have always been happy’?

Come and discuss this most important subject.  Bring your friends and, if you happen to know the Dalai Lama, invite him too.

IM Vulcan Viper, who teaches a meditation class every Wednesday at the GeekSpeak auditorium at 1pm SLT, if you have ideas for new subjects.

http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Danmu/143/127/51

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GeekSpeak – The End of Globalization? Join the discussion Saturday April 4th at 12pm SLT

It could be that one result of the current crisis will be the end of globalization.  Countries are now beginning to regret not producing necessary items themselves.  People have begun to blame other countries for shortages.  Are we seeing the end of an interconnected world?  Will we return to small nations doing their own thing?  Will China break up?  Will America?  Will we see the end of the EU?

Will we still be able to get our hands on products from other countries?  Where will we get our smartphones or French cheese?  Will international companies simply go bankrupt?  Will the new situation lead to wars?

Or do you see the trend reversing and think that we will soon have a world government?  Maybe the global companies themselves will form governments.  Will people live in Amazon or McDonalds?

If you have a valid passport for SL, come and talk to us in our international forum.  Bring your neighbours and friends.

IM Vulcan Viper, who teaches a meditation class every Wednesday at the GeekSpeak auditorium at 1pm SLT, if you have ideas for new subjects.

http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Danmu/143/127/51

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GeekSpeak – Utopia. Will we ever reach it? Join the discussion Saturday March 28th at 12pm SLT

Let’s discuss Utopia.  What is it like?  Is there a Utopia that suits everyone?  Would a world without any problems be Utopia?  Or would it be Hell for some of us? 

Is Utopia only possible in a virtual world?  Do we all need our own Utopia?  Will that be possible in the future?  A virtual world for each of us?  Or do we need other people, even if ‘Hell is other people’?  Do we all need multiple Utopias?

Is Utopia possible on Earth?  Let’s talk about getting there.  What will it be like?  Bring a map and a friend.

IM Vulcan Viper, who teaches a meditation class every Wednesday at the GeekSpeak auditorium at 1pm SLT, if you have ideas for new subjects.

http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Danmu/143/127/51

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GeekSpeak – Is there Hope for Humanity? Join the discussion about COVID-19- March 21st at 12pm SLT

We all know by now about the threat that faces us all.  But let’s try to be positive and talk about the possible good that may come from the virus.  Will we learn more about how to develop cures and vaccines?  That should help us when the next ‘big one’ strikes. 
Will we come together as neighbours and start re-finding our humanity?  Will war and terrorism become less likely now that we all have a common enemy?  Will co-operation between countries increase? 

Come and discuss the threat and the answers to it in a guaranteed virus-free auditorium.  Bring your friends!

IM Vulcan Viper, who teaches a meditation class at the GeekSpeak auditorium every Wednesday at 1pm SLT, if you have ideas for new subjects.

http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Danmu/143/127/51

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GeekSpeak – Are we seeing the beginning of Starfleet? Join the discussion on Saturday March 14th at 12pm SLT

Let’s discuss the company SpaceX.  As you may know, they are creating a rocket factory in a sleepy village in Texas, a village that will soon be a centre of space exploration.  And it is going FAST. 

Let’s get ourselves up to speed with the developments down there and try to get a glimpse of the very near future where access to space is an everyday thing. 

Have you started to save money for a vacation in the Axiom station?  Next year this will be a reality.  Hold your hats for the ride and let’s enjoy this important moment in history.

IM Vulcan Viper, who teaches a meditation class at the GeekSpeak auditorium every Wednesday at 1pm SLT, if you have ideas for new subjects.

http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Danmu/143/127/51

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GeekSpeak – Are humans obsolete? Join the discussion Saturday, March 7th at 12pm SLT

Let’s explore how humans will be replaced by AI.  Our jobs are steadily being taken over by AI.  How will that end?  Could there be an AI civilisation? 

What if all humans disappeared tomorrow?  Would AI be able to evolve to take their place?  Would mistakes in AI lead to new abilities?  Could they explore new niches?  Or will they be stuck forever, trying to call the helpdesk?  Or looking in vain for someone to serve?  Is it only DNA organisms that can evolve?

Come and explore the possible future transition to a silicon lifeform.  Humans only, so that we won’t give any toaster ideas.

IM Vulcan Viper, who teaches a meditation class at the GeekSpeak auditorium every Wednesday at 1pm SLT, if you have ideas for new subjects.

http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Danmu/143/127/51

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GeekSpeak – Do we have a moral obligation to nature? Or to individual animals and plants? Join the discussion Saturday February 29th at 12pm SLT

Do we humans have an obligation to preserve all species?  Is it ok to let some species go extinct?  Do we have obligations to individuals or only to species?

Is it morally ok to take down an old, beautiful tree to build a factory?  If not, is that because we have a duty to the tree?  Or just a duty to people?  How about other plants in the same location?  Grass, for instance?

How do we decide which species or individuals we must save?  Age?  Rarity?  Place in the food chain?  Or simply its value for us?

If we have duties to trees, what about duties to mountains, lakes, rivers?  Are we free to do whatever we want, if it does not harm humans?

Bring your friends to discuss our unique place in nature.

IM Vulcan Viper, who teaches a meditation class every Wednesday at the GeekSpeak auditorium at 1pm SLT, if you have ideas for new subjects.

http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Danmu/143/127/51

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