A Center for Free Thought

Main photo: “The Death of Socrates” by Jacques-Louis David, public domain

We are a community of persons, based in the Kansas City Metro Area, who are lovers of truth, reason, and people.

The solution has to start with the real story” Raoul Peck


(Zoom Link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84206282809?pwd=THdkQlNBNENjZ3Bpbit5Z1grN3hEZz09
meeting location, map, and more Zoom options below.)



Program for Sunday, September 24, 2023 – 2:00 to 4:00pm

Depiction of A robot using weak AI to “think”[1]

Artificial Intelligence (continued)

Nicole English and Gordon Elliott will continue the discussion of Artificial Intelligence issues, as some groups work on possible regulation of artificial intelligence research, and others fret about extreme long term possibilities.

Both of us will do presentations, also embedding a very short video of Rodney Brooks[2].



[1] Image Credit: Scaled from Wikimedia: By mikemacmarketing – https://www.flickr.com/photos/152824664@N07/30212411048/, CC BY 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=95608113.

Editor’s opinion on the image: I used the image to convey the spirit of the subject, the image is a misrepresentation of what any current AI algorithm can do.

[2] Prof. Rodney Brooks, MIT Robotics, “Rodney Brooks on the Singularity: Neither Heaven nor Hell”: YouTube 3.5 minute talk: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yiOFMg3cnn0.

Future Programs

October 1:

Alzheimer’s Disease

Dr. Russell Swerdlow is a leading medical researcher at University of Kansas Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center.

Much of current research on Alzheimer’s is focused amyloid plaque and tau (tangles). Dr. Swerdlow has focused on the role of mitochondria in Alzheimer’s disease and other factors in brain health, including diet and exercise.

Dr.Swerdlow has spoken to us before. He will provide a lucid understanding.

October 8:

Technology And Education: Effects of AI Driven Work on Math and Reading Achievement

Argun Saatcioglu, Professor of Education and Sociology at the University of Kansas, Lawrence.

October 15:

Is America Likely to Become a Fascist Country?

Fred Whitehead, freethought historian, author, poet, grassroots activist.

October 22:

Nuclear Energy from A to Z

Ken Schmitz, Professor of Physical Chemistry, UMKC.

There are two ways to join our meeting (2:00 to 4:00 PM)

1. In Person: 312 Haag Hall, UMKC:

5211 Charlotte St. Parking. (Click enlarge)
Image components: Google Maps https://goo.gl/maps/b3XtZV2LaBh8diM97

Our Sunday CoR meetings are now held in Haag Hall, 312, on the UMKC Campus. Free parking is plentiful on Sundays. It is strongly advised (because of the extreme convenience provided) that the parking building be used. Drive to level 4 of the parking building at the corner of 52nd and Rockhill Road. (The entrances are a little south-west on Charlotte street.) After parking, walk across the aerial skywalk to Haag and Royall Halls. The skywalk dead-ends in a hallway on the 3rd floor. After the reaching the hallway, turn to your right. Walk a few steps, turn to your right. Enter Haag 312.

Map: https://goo.gl/maps/b3XtZV2LaBh8diM97

Google and Apple Maps give accurate parking garage directions for “5211 Charlotte St., Kansas City, MO.” Spiral up the garage to level 4 on the west side, and use the east side to descend to the street level. (If on the way you wind up on Holmes, drive east on 53rd to Charlotte, as 52nd is one-way westbound, but to exit to Holmes use 52nd. Most will exit directly to Rockhill, and must use 53rd.)

OR

2. Zoom meeting athttps://us02web.zoom.us/j/84206282809?pwd=THdkQlNBNENjZ3Bpbit5Z1grN3hEZz09 (NEW–Click here for web browser or Zoom enabled cell phone.)

One tap voice only mobile
+17193594580,,84206282809#,,,,*534617# US
+12532050468,,84206282809#,,,,*534617# US

Telephone or mobile phone: +1 346 248 7799 US (Houston).
Meeting ID: 842 0628 2809
Passcode: 534617 (NEW, you will need this if not using the links above.)

Find your local number: https://us02web.zoom.us/u/keFbqlhipP


For past programs, please check out our Monthly schedules page.

Login

search previous next tag category expand menu location phone mail time cart zoom edit close