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SkeptiNews 990525c - - - - - - - - - - - All The News That's Fit To Question
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# Interactive Barney: Good or evil? Conferees worry about where computerized
'character' toys are going next. (PG) He has no rivets in his forehead, he
harbors no homicidal tendencies - though he's certainly inspired a few - and
he likes to play peek-a-boo. But when a panel of computer scientists gather-
ed to discuss "interactive plush toys," the question before them was: Could
Microsoft's "ActiMates Barney" be a cuddlier version of Dr. Frankenstein's
monster? http://www.post-gazette.com/businessnews/19990521barney1.asp
: Would you entrust your kids with MicroSoft toys? Will Bill Gates reprogram
your kids' minds? Will your kids reprogram the toys to kill? Who'll prevail?
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# Company Brings Albert Einstein ALife. BOSTON (PRNewswire) Artificial Life,
Inc. (Nasdaq: ALIF), a technology leader of intelligent software bots for
the Internet, announced today it will launch a new breed of interactive
educational program explaining the life and work of Albert Einstein. Called
Albert Einstein ALife, the CD-ROM learning program allows the user to have
virtual conversations with an Albert Einstein avatar software robot.
: Would you rather interact with software robots of Einstein, Newton, Cher,
Jesus, Madonna, Judas, Homer, Noah, Buddha, Cleopatra, Sawney Bean, Mao, me?
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# Interstellar message says 'ET call Earth'. (BBC) The first detailed radio
message to the stars is on the air. It asks any aliens who receive it to get
in touch. Encounter 2001, a firm based in Houston, US, offers the public the
chance to tag their own messages on the end for $15. Tell it to the Zetans:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/sci/tech/newsid_351000/351461.stm
@ Links: seti@home: http://setiathome.ssl.berkeley.edu/
@ Encounter 2000: http://www.encounter2001.com/
# And: Screening for alien life:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/sci/tech/newsid_345000/345465.stm
# Alien hoax dismays scientists:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/sci/tech/newsid_206000/206845.stm
# Anyone out there?
http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/sci/tech/newsid_170000/170954.stm
# We are not being visited:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/sci/tech/newsid_124000/124854.stm
: Would you hesitate before inviting aliens to call? Would you like to send
an obscene message to the galaxy? Is ANY message obscene to SOME aliens? How
will they react? If they come, will they drink our beer, eat our food, fart?
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# Tokyo police search shops linked to doomsday cult. TOKYO (AP) - Police
searched four facilities Tuesday connected to the doomsday cult accused
in a 1995 gas attack on Tokyo subways, seizing nearly 100 items. See
http://www.nando.net/noframes/story/0,2107,52617-84413-597788-0,00.html
: Would you feel nervous if you had to enter and search the premises of a
doomsday cult? Would you pray beforehand? Would your prayers do any good?
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# Gore unveils new religious agenda. ATLANTA (AP) - In a "new partnership"
between church and state, a President Gore would "dare to embrace" faith-
based programs with public funds and set policy with religious leaders at
the table. www.nando.net/politics/story/0,1068,52616-84412-597786-0,00.html
: How much of your tax money would you like to channel to religious groups?
Should your taxes go to Buddhists, Sufis, Quakers, Satanists, Discordians,
UFO cults, The Church Of The Otters, naturist sects, Aum Shin Rikyo, JDL?
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# Armchair Astronomers' 1st Stop. Brainiacs & science enthusiasts, rejoice!
NASA's new all-in-one Web site will be a gold mine of cosmological data for
scientists & laypeople. www.wired.com/news/news/technology/story/19859.html
@ Links: NASA's Hubble Portal: http://www.HubbleConstant.com
@ Marshall Spaceflight Center: http://www1.msfc.nasa.gov/
: Are you a brainiac? Do you already know this stuff? Do the Reptilioids
keep you briefed? Will Zeta Reticulans feel threatened? What will they do?
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SkeptiLinks:
# IBM opening access to software - hopes to sell more supercomputers:
http://www.infobeat.com/stories/cgi/story.cgi?id=2559655666-a6d
# Linux in software alliance with IBM - kill-targeting Windows NT:
http://www.infobeat.com/stories/cgi/story.cgi?id=2559671570-44e
# TREKKIES: GET A LIFE - A new documentary about Star Trek fandom:
http://www.wired.com/news/news/email/tip/culture/story/19830.html
@ "60 Minutes" Transcript re: Y2K - a huge natural disaster:
http://www.greenspun.com/bboard/q-and-a-fetch-msg.tcl?msg_id=000rkQ
# Chemicals leave lethal legacy - old pesticides & environmental tragedy:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/sci/tech/newsid_351000/351953.stm
# HURRICANE MITCH-LIKE DEATHS POSSIBLE IN U.S. -FORECASTER:
http://abcnews.go.com/wire/World/Reuters19990523_423.html
# Global stresses leave their mark - Earth is wearing out:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/sci/tech/newsid_350000/350616.stm
# PLAGUE PRECAUTIONS URGED AS CASES SHOW UP EARLY:
http://www.abqjournal.com/paperboy/link/health/1hea05-23.htm
@ Whale Research South Pacific: http://www.whaleresearch.com.au
# Caribbean whaler a legend on island - "It's our tradition":
http://www.infobeat.com/stories/cgi/story.cgi?id=2559667383-c89
# Whale hunters seek bigger catches - Norwegian & Japanese mass-murderers:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/world/newsid_351000/351121.stm
# Indian film star charged with poaching - hunting endangered species:
http://www.infobeat.com/stories/cgi/story.cgi?id=2559668618-a94
# Cross your legs and risk being seen as a flirt - posture as message:
www.nando.net/healthscience/story/0,1080,52374-84031-594897-0,00.html
$ Comfort Inn In Scotland Offers More UFO Weekends:
http://www.bestfares.com/travel_center/desks/public/199905/10006211L.asp
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"Shimmying her multi-layer of cellulite in a burst of liberating
clairvoyance, Bernice squished the suitcase she had packed for her
weekend at the Zen Center." --Sibyl Darter
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