400 Trillion Miles Away, a Comet Storm Waters a World

Kurzweil Responds: Don’t Underestimate the Singularity — Last week, Paul Allen and a colleague challenged the prediction that computers will soon exceed human intelligence. Now Ray Kurzweil, the leading proponent of the “Singularity,” offers a rebuttal.

Scientists are from Mars, the public is from Earth — A squib on how scientists could better talk to the “evolution is only a theory” crowd.

Waiting for Lightning to Strike: A Wobbly Agnostic among the Atheists — The screenwriter of this season’s big movie on faith and doubt goes underground at a huge atheist convention. A rather odd essay on atheism from a religious point of view. (Via scarlettina.)

Chinese Jews feel more at home in Israel — Descendants of Persian traders in Kaifeng, China, move to Israel with the help of a religious group and finally learn Jewish rules and traditions.

?otD: Backed up your hard drive lately?

10/20/2011
Writing time yesterday: 0.0 hours (chemo fatigue)
Body movement: 30 minute stationary bike ride
Hours slept: 6.5 hours (fitful)
Weight: 217.8
Currently reading: Snuff by Terry Pratchett

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