Tag: Ben Ballweg

U.S. Transhumanist Party Virtual Enlightenment Salon with Michael Rae – August 6, 2023

U.S. Transhumanist Party Virtual Enlightenment Salon with Michael Rae – August 6, 2023

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U.S. Transhumanist Party Logo

Michael Rae
Gennady Stolyarov II
Art Ramon Garcia, Jr.
Ben Ballweg
Jason Geringer
José Cordeiro
Bill Andrews
David Wood

On Sunday, August 6, 2023, the U.S. Transhumanist Party invited Michael Rae to present his thoughts on how the science of longevity has evolved since the publication of Ending Aging in 2008 and what aspects he thinks a contemporary overview of the science would need to address.

Timestamps

3:22 – Michael Rae’s presentation (including an introduction to SENS, and progress since “Ending Aging” was published in 2008)

1:40:06 – Aubrey de Grey’s current work, and how we achieve Ray Kurzweil’s predictions

1:45:03 – Our current ability to determine whether or not a cell is senescent, whether our inability to know might make senolytics risky (like through losing too many cells), and how a more gradual elimination might keep senolytics safe

1:54:22 – Where we have the most progress to make

Michael Rae is the co-author with Dr. Aubrey de Grey of “Ending Aging: The Rejuvenation Breakthroughs That Could Reverse Human Aging in Our Lifetime” (2008). He is also the author of five scientific articles and commentaries in peer-reviewed scientific journals. Much of his work has been devoted to elucidating the SENS platform for anti-aging biomedicine for a popular audience. His undergraduate minor was in biology. He is a long-time member and one-time Board Member of the Calorie Restriction Society, a main contributor to the Society’s “How-to Guide”, and was core scientific investigator with the CR Society Cohort Study. Michael Rae currently works as the Science Writer for the SENS Research Foundation.

Find Ending Aging on Amazon.

Read the SENSible Blog, for which Michael Rae has written many of the articles.

Articles by Michael Rae – From Parachutes to Jetpacks: Clearing Brain Beta-Amyloid with Donanemab or Lecanemab Works, Though More Must be Done – June 5, 2023

Set My Heart Free: Two AmyloSENS Therapies Targeting Cardiac Amyloid in Clinical Trials – August 2, 2023.

Question of the Month: Senolytics – Solution or Self-Defeating for Senescent Cells? – October 6, 2019.

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U.S. Transhumanist Party Virtual Enlightenment Salon with Adam Gries – August 13, 2023

U.S. Transhumanist Party Virtual Enlightenment Salon with Adam Gries – August 13, 2023

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Adam Gries
Mike P. Sinn
Gennady Stolyarov II
Art Ramon Garcia, Jr.
Ben Ballweg
Jason Geringer
Daniel Twedt
José Cordeiro

On Sunday, August 13, 2023, the U.S. Transhumanist Party invited Adam Gries to discuss the new Vitalism initiative and the effort to create Longevity States – jurisdictions that prioritize extending lifespans in optimal health.

Learn more about Vitalism, the philosophy and movement against death and biological decline.

Timestamps

4:01 – Adam Gries’s opening comments

14:23 – On Adam’s inspiration for the name “Vitalism,” and for creating longevity states

38:18 – What defines a longevity state

45:06 – What governance structures might be best for a longevity state

50:45 – How newer ideas can avoid becoming wedge issues

54:32 – On aging being declared a disease

1:05:52 – Ageism

1:09:49 – Rate-limiting factors to curing aging

1:16:27 – The tragedy of those most affected by aging

1:19:52 – Benefits of gathering more data and streamlining regulation

1:23:11 – How advancing technology and the FDA could work together

1:25:35 – Intentional communities, measuring healthspan, and gamification

1:32:03 – On aging clocks

1:38:44 – Why longevity states benefit everyone

1:41:26 – How to get role models for our movement

1:46:39 – The value of community in supporting healthspan

1:48:35 – How a person or organization can self-identify as Vitalist

1:50:57 – Adam Gries’s predicted timeline of longevity progress

1:53:05 – Adam’s closing remarks

Adam Gries is a four-time founder, angel investor, and longevity advocate. He has built products reaching 80+ million users. Adam holds a B.Sc degree in Neuroscience. Follow Adam Gries on Twitter.

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U.S. Transhumanist Party Virtual Enlightenment Salon – USTP Officers’ Perspectives on Longevity

U.S. Transhumanist Party Virtual Enlightenment Salon – USTP Officers’ Perspectives on Longevity

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Gennady Stolyarov II
Dr. Bill Andrews
Daniel Twedt
Tom Ross
Zach Richardson
Jason Geringer
Daniel Twedt
Art Ramon Garcia, Jr.
Ben Ballweg

On Sunday, August 27, 2023, U.S. Transhumanist Party Officers, Candidates, and Advisors shared their perspectives on the pursuit of indefinite life extension and why it is meaningful to them. The panelists also responded to audience questions on the subject of longevity.

Timestamps

4:52 – Dr. Bill Andrews
15:55 – Daniel Twedt
22:03 – Tom Ross
34:56 – Zach Richardson
59:57 – Jason Geringer
1:04:53 – Daniel Twedt on making longevity fun
1:12:29 – Art Ramon Garcia, Jr.
1:29:37 – Ben Ballweg
1:38:27 – Diffusion of anti-aging technology

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U.S. Transhumanist Party Virtual Enlightenment Salon with David Patterson – September 17, 2023

U.S. Transhumanist Party Virtual Enlightenment Salon with David Patterson – September 17, 2023

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U.S. Transhumanist Party Logo

David Patterson
Gennady Stolyarov II
Art Ramon Garcia, Jr.
Ben Ballweg
David Shumaker
Daniel E. Twedt
Jason Geringer

On Sunday, September 17, 2023, the U.S. Transhumanist Party invited David Patterson to discuss his concept of Active Communities, groups that use motivation and morality to help individuals and communities achieve optimal outcomes in health, prosperity, and education. The discussion addressed how technology can help to achieve these goals, as well as connections to transhumanism and how the concept of Active Communities can benefit the transhumanist movement.

Timestamps

10:35 – David Patterson’s presentation
29:59 – How a focus on outcomes can help community participants look beyond what they have learned is right and wrong
34:15 – How Active Communities are poised to confront mental-health problems
41:08 – How to improve discourse
46:45 – Active Communities as groups to vet information
55:41 – Why theoretical problems (like the Trolley Problem) should give way to a focus on practical outcomes
1:02:06 – The case for community engagement
1:06:59 – Elements of self-improvement
1:10:14 – Other benefits of joining or starting an Active Community
1:12:28 – More on action groups with Active Communities
1:20:53 – How we help people prioritize self-improvement
1:29:27 – How Active Communities can help with the current societal-technological transition
1:36:47 – How social norms evolve and adapt, and why it’s better to do that than to start with new norms
1:42:05 – Why Active Communities are best in-person
1:52:27 – Optimal number of participants in Active Communities

Visit the Active Community website here.

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U.S. Transhumanist Party International Longevity Day Virtual Enlightenment Salon – October 1, 2023

U.S. Transhumanist Party International Longevity Day Virtual Enlightenment Salon – October 1, 2023

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U.S. Transhumanist Party Logo
Ilia Stambler
Felix Werth
Didier Coeurnelle
Jose Cordeiro
Melissa King
Aubrey de Grey
Walter Crompton
Gennady Stolyarov II
Art Ramon Garcia, Jr.
Ben Ballweg
Zack Varkaris

On Sunday, October 1, 2023, the U.S. Transhumanist Party streamed a special Virtual Enlightenment Salon on the occasion of International Longevity Day. Speakers discussed the importance of the scientific pursuit of healthy longevity as well as the various events that were arranged for the occasion of International Longevity Day throughout the world.

Prominent longevity advocates joined us during the stream to provide their thoughts and updates. Speakers included Dr. Ilia Stambler, Dr. Jose Cordeiro, Didier Coeurnelle, Felix Werth, Melissa King, and (briefly) Aubrey de Grey and Walter Crompton. The panel was be hosted by U.S. Transhumanist Party Officers, including Chairman Gennady Stolyarov II, Director of Visual Art / Arizona Transhumanist Party Chairman Art Ramon Garcia, Jr., and Director of Longevity Outreach Ben Ballweg.

Timestamps

5:26 – Tel Aviv, Israel: Ilia Stambler
11:06 – Berlin, Germany: Felix Werth
17:34 – Brussels, Belgium: Didier Coeurnelle
24:38 – Madrid, Spain: Jose Cordeiro
48:25 – San Francisco contingent: Melissa King, Aubrey de Grey, Walter Crompton

A wide-ranging discussion followed for the remainder of the Salon.

Read more about the events held during International Longevity Day and Month (October 2023) here.

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U.S. Transhumanist Party Virtual Enlightenment Salon with Makiko Yoshioka – June 5, 2022

U.S. Transhumanist Party Virtual Enlightenment Salon with Makiko Yoshioka – June 5, 2022

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Makiko Yoshioka
Gennady Stolyarov II
Art Ramon Garcia, Jr.
Jason Geringer
Ben Ballweg
Jose Cordeiro
Didier Coeurnelle

On June 5, 2022, the U.S. Transhumanist Party invited Makiko Yoshioka to discuss her research on the health and legal impacts of transhumanism. She provided a comparative analysis of the situations in regard to the influence of transhumanism on the health and legal realms in Japan and the European Union. She especially offered insights on transhumanism’s reception in Japan,  where robotics have been warmly welcomed, while there has been more apprehension about merging with technology.

Makiko Yoshioka is a graduate student at Paris 8 University, specializing in health law with a focus on digital and AI systems. She provided an overview of her research in these areas and discussed potential future directions for that research.

She plans to analyze how transhumanism is going to develop in the field of health care, including how to protect human rights. She will compare and contrast the prospects in Japan and France (and the European Union more generally) for technological advances such as exoskeletons, humanoid robots, and nanorobots. Some additional topics will be: (1) procreation and longevity; (2) how medical treatment for heavy sicknesses such as cancer and neurodegenerative diseases will influence human rights and civil law (such as contract law) and the medical responsibility of doctors and other healthcare workers; and (3) how the position of the “human” will be influenced and modified by relations among transhumanists, “classic humans”, and humanoid robot beings.

In 2022 Makiko Yoshioka had also begun working for Heales – The Healthy Life Extension Society.

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U.S. Transhumanist Party Virtual Enlightenment Salon with Mark Hamalainen – June 12, 2022

U.S. Transhumanist Party Virtual Enlightenment Salon with Mark Hamalainen – June 12, 2022

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Mark Hamalainen
Gennady Stolyarov II
Art Ramon Garcia, Jr.
David Shumaker
Jason Geringer
Ben Ballweg
Jose Cordeiro

On June 12, 2022, the U.S. Transhumanist Party invited Mark Hamalainen to discuss the newly formed LessDeath organization and its inaugural Longevity Summer Camp, happening during July 20-24, 2022, in Nevada City, California.

Mark explained his background in the longevity field, and how the shift of the bottleneck from money to talent prompted him to change his focus from doing the science himself to motivating others to pursue it.

Mark Hamalainen is the Founder of LessDeath and former Director of Science at Synthego. He studied Biology at University of Cambridge, where he received a Master of Philosophy (MPhil) degree.

References

LessDeath website.

“LessDeath Presents the Longevity Summer Camp” – Article on spannr.

LessDeath LinkedIn Page.

LessDeath Twitter Account.

***

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U.S. Transhumanist Party Virtual Enlightenment Salon with Sharif Uddin Ahmed Rana – June 19, 2022

U.S. Transhumanist Party Virtual Enlightenment Salon with Sharif Uddin Ahmed Rana – June 19, 2022

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Sharif Uddin Ahmed Rana
Gennady Stolyarov II
David Shumaker
Jason Geringer
Ben Ballweg

On June 19, 2022, the U.S. Transhumanist Party spoke with Sharif Uddin Ahmed Rana regarding his initiatives with the World Talent Economy Forum and his efforts to reach numerous talented minds throughout the developing world and enable them to work on advancing emerging technologies and implementing policies that are aligned with the goals of the U.S. Transhumanist Party.

Sharif Uddin Ahmed Rana is the founder of the World Talent Economy Forum and the Director of Foreign Relations for the U.S. Transhumanist Party. Read more about him.

World Talent Economy Forum.

World Talent Economy Forum YouTube channel.

Advances in Nikola Tesla Technologies in the 21st Century – World Talent Economy Forum Conference.

World Talent Economy Forum Debate on Artificial Intelligence – December 24, 2021

World Talent Economy Forum Debate on Space Colonization – December 31, 2021

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U.S. Transhumanist Party Virtual Enlightenment Salon with Kai Micah Mills – June 26, 2022

U.S. Transhumanist Party Virtual Enlightenment Salon with Kai Micah Mills – June 26, 2022

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Kai Micah Mills
Gennady Stolyarov II
Art Ramon Garcia, Jr.
Charlie Kam
David Shumaker
Ben Ballweg
Jason Geringer
Dr. Jose Cordeiro

On June 26, 2022, the U.S. Transhumanist Party invited Kai Micah Mills to discuss Cryopets, his early-stage startup developing whole-body cryopreservation for mammals, as well as his more general thoughts on the potential for advancements in the field of cryonics and the kinds of efforts that will be needed to accelerate the spread of cryopreservation as an available and widely sought-after option.

Kai Micah Mills is the Founder and CEO of Cryopets and a serial entrepreneur and angel investor.

Website of Kai Micah Mills.

Website of Cryopets.

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U.S. Transhumanist Party Virtual Enlightenment Salon with Jules Hamilton – August 28, 2022

U.S. Transhumanist Party Virtual Enlightenment Salon with Jules Hamilton – August 28, 2022

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Jules Hamilton
Gennady Stolyarov II
Art Ramon Garcia, Jr.
Jason Geringer
Ben Ballweg

On August 28, 2022, the U.S. Transhumanist Party invited Jules Hamilton to discuss his thoughts on life-extension advocacy, liberty, culture, current events, and the “Break the Rules” show that Jules co-founded with Lev Polyakov. His insights stimulated an interesting discussion with the panel and audience.

Jules Hamilton is a freelance consultant, filmmaker, and model at large, as well as a licensed real-estate agent. He has been a life-extension advocate for many years and has worked as an ambassador for Lifespan.io. You can find his website at https://www.julesphamilton.com/.

U.S. Transhumanist Party Chairman Gennady Stolyarov II was the first person to be interviewed by Jules Hamilton and Lev Polyakov on Break the Rules in October 2018.

Watch Break the Rules on YouTube.

Support Break the Rules on Patreon.

Join the Break the Rules Discord.

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U.S. Transhumanist Party Report from Longevity Summit Dublin – Day 1 – September 18, 2022

U.S. Transhumanist Party Report from Longevity Summit Dublin – Day 1 – September 18, 2022

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Martin O’Dea
Aubrey de Grey
Didier Coeurnelle
Brenda Ramokopelwa
Bradley – Hex Community
Gennady Stolyarov II
Art Ramon Garcia, Jr.
Jason Geringer
Ben Ballweg
David Wood

On Sunday, September 18, 2022, U.S. Transhumanist Party Chairman Gennady Stolyarov II reported from Day 1 of Longevity Summit Dublin, an event co-hosted by Dr. Aubrey de Grey and Martin O’Dea and one of the most momentous events of 2022 for longevity science. Chairman Stolyarov updated the USTP Officers and viewers on events up to that time and got some special guests to engage with the virtual audience. Guests who appeared from Dublin included Martin O’Dea, Aubrey de Grey, David Wood, Didier Coeurnelle, Brenda Ramokopelwa, and Bradley from the Hex community.

Visit the website of Longevity Summit Dublin.

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U.S. Transhumanist Party Virtual Enlightenment Salon with Daniel Twedt – September 25, 2022

U.S. Transhumanist Party Virtual Enlightenment Salon with Daniel Twedt – September 25, 2022

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Daniel Twedt
Gennady Stolyarov II
Art Ramon Garcia, Jr.
Jason Geringer
Ben Ballweg
David Shumaker

On Sunday, September 25, 2022, the U.S. Transhumanist Party invited Daniel Twedt – a long-time, dedicated member — to discuss his current campaign for City Council in Thousand Oaks, California. Mr. Twedt previously ran in 2020, when he gained 3,437 votes, or 3% of the total. During his campaign, he spread awareness of the U.S. Transhumanist Party in local newspapers. Mr. Twedt shared his beliefs and the work he does to bring his vision to life, and requested an endorsement by the USTP.

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U.S. Transhumanist Party Virtual Enlightenment Salon with Eric Hennigan – October 23, 2022

U.S. Transhumanist Party Virtual Enlightenment Salon with Eric Hennigan – October 23, 2022

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Eric Hennigan
Gennady Stolyarov II
Art Ramon Garcia, Jr.
David Shumaker
Ben Ballweg
Jason Geringer
Allen Crowley
Kent Kemmish

On Sunday, October 23, 2022, the U.S. Transhumanist Party invited Eric Hennigan to present on historical anti-aging approaches that ultimately did not reach their intended goal. What can we learn from these failed attempts to solve the most significant problem facing us all? How can we be more successful using the improved knowledge, technology, and rational frameworks available in our era?

Eric Hennigan is a Senior Software Engineer at Google and a Volunteer Genomics Data Scientist at the University of Southern California. He holds Bachelor of Sciences degrees in Applied Mathematics and Physics from University of California Los Angeles, and a PhD in Computer Science from University of California Irvine. He enjoys communicating what he’s learned to others and even acted as Instructor of Record for UCI and Cal State Fullerton while still a graduate student. Despite his formal education he recommends self-study as a path to skills improvement.

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U.S. Transhumanist Party Virtual Enlightenment Salon with Dudley Lamming and Adam Konopka – November 6, 2022

U.S. Transhumanist Party Virtual Enlightenment Salon with Dudley Lamming and Adam Konopka – November 6, 2022

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Dudley Lamming, PhD
Adam Konopka, PhD
Gennady Stolyarov II
Art Ramon Garcia, Jr.
Jason Geringer
Ben Ballweg
Bill Andrews, PhD

On Sunday, November 6, 2022, the U.S. Transhumanist Party invited Dudley Lamming, PhD, and Adam Konopka, PhD, MS, to discuss their research into aging and its amelioration, and the impact of their work on the promotion of human longevity, health, and fitness, and the prevention of diseases such as diabetes and osteoarthritis.

Dr. Dudley Lamming is a faculty member of the Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes, and Metabolism within the University of Wisconsin Department of Medicine. He is a fellow of the American Aging Association and the Gerontological Society of America; a recipient of the Gerontological Society of America Nathan Shock New Investigator Award and the American Physiological Society (Endocrinology and Metabolism Section) New Investigator Award; and an editorial board member of several peer-reviewed scientific journals.

Dr. Lamming’s research focuses on understanding how nutrient-responsive signaling pathways can be harnessed to promote health and longevity. One major focus of his research is the regulation of metabolic health and aging by diet. His laboratory discovered that low-protein diets promote metabolic health—improving blood-sugar control and reducing adiposity—in humans and mice, and has identified dietary branched-chain amino acids (BCAA) as key regulators of these effects. His team currently studies the mechanisms that mediate these beneficial effects in mice and humans, with the goal of identifying interventions to treat and prevent diabetes and obesity. A second major focus of his laboratory is studying how reducing consumption of BCAAs may promote longevity and fitness, with an emphasis on understanding the role of the mechanistic Target of Rapamycin (mTOR), an amino acid- and insulin-responsive protein kinase, in this response. A third focus of the laboratory is understanding the biology of mTOR Complex 2 (mTORC2), which is a key effector of PI3K/insulin signaling. Finally, the laboratory is studying the ability of geroprotective interventions to treat or prevent Alzheimer’s disease using mouse models.

Find out more about Dudley Lamming.

Dr. Adam Konopka is a faculty member in the Division of Geriatrics and Gerontology within the University of Wisconsin Department of Medicine. He is an editorial board member for the Journal of Applied Physiology and a member of the Gerontological Society of America, American College of Sports Medicine and American Physiological Society. Dr. Konopka has been selected as a reviewer for several journals including Journal Gerontology: Biological Sciences, Aging Cell, GeroScience, Science Advances, Scientific Reports, and Journal of Physiology.

Dr. Konopka uses a translational research approach that identifies mechanisms regulating the biology and metabolism of musculoskeletal aging in pre-clinical models and applies these findings to test the potential healthspan-extending effects in human clinical trials. Dr. Konopka’s research has two main themes that focus on the age-related loss of skeletal muscle health and osteoarthritis. He is currently investigating how skeletal muscle mitochondrial bioenergetics and remodeling mediate aging and the healthspan-extending effects of exercise and/or metformin. He is also interested in understanding how the mTOR signaling pathway is involved in the initiation and treatment of osteoarthritis.

Find out more about Adam Konopka.

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U.S. Transhumanist Party Virtual Enlightenment Salon with Mike Elias – November 20, 2022

U.S. Transhumanist Party Virtual Enlightenment Salon with Mike Elias – November 20, 2022

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Mike Elias
Leah Elias
Gennady Stolyarov II
Jason Geringer
Ben Ballweg
Daniel Twedt

On Sunday, November 20, 2022, the U.S. Transhumanist Party invited Mike Elias and Leah Elias to discuss decentralized approaches to validating the credibility of ideas and sources online.

Mike Elias is the founder of Ideamarket, a platform that lets you make money arguing on the internet.  Ideamarket builds credibility infrastructure without relying on legacy media or academia. Learn more about Ideamarket.

Read Mike Elias’s blog.

Join the Ideamarket Discord server.

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U.S. Transhumanist Party Virtual Enlightenment Salon with Zack Varkaris – November 27, 2022

U.S. Transhumanist Party Virtual Enlightenment Salon with Zack Varkaris – November 27, 2022

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Zack Varkaris
Gennady Stolyarov II
Art Ramon Garcia, Jr.
David Shumaker
Ben Ballweg
Jason Geringer
Bill Andrews, Ph. D.
Liz Parrish
José Luis Cordeiro

On Sunday, November 27, 2022, the U.S. Transhumanist Party invited Zack Varkaris to discuss his thoughts on how emerging advances in biotechnology can improve human quality of life and prolong youthfulness and vitality. The conversation addressed the possibility of life without a biological clock – which is being pursued by Zack Varkaris’s company, Austin Biotec. It also delved into the connections of this endeavor with the philosophy of transhumanism and its potential effects on future societies and human life decisions.

Zack Varkaris is a biologist, author, diver, and sporting pugilist. Of Greek descent, Zack grew up in London. After studying Marine Biology at Heriot-Watt University, he spent a number of years in the field of renewable energy and conservation before turning his hand at writing novels. See Zack Varkaris’s website.

Zack Varkaris is the founder and Scientific Director of Austin Biotec, which works in the anti-aging and fertility domains and applies emerging medical technologies in the effort to overcome the problem of female infertility. Find out about Austin Biotec.

Zack Varkaris’s novel The Vevellis Chronicles: The Crescent and the Cross can be found on Amazon.

Follow Zack Varkaris on Twitter.

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U.S. Transhumanist Party Virtual Enlightenment Salon with Steele Archer – December 4, 2022

U.S. Transhumanist Party Virtual Enlightenment Salon with Steele Archer – December 4, 2022

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Steele Archer
Gennady Stolyarov II
Art Ramon Garcia, Jr
Jason Geringer
David Shumaker
Ben Ballweg
Tom Ross
Alexandria Black
José Luis Cordeiro
Allen Crowley

On Sunday, December 4, 2022, the U.S. Transhumanist Party invited Steele Archer to announce his return to public speaking, and his future plans for creating a show that will carry on the vibrant transhumanist online discourse of previous years. After an overture on Eric Hoffer’s 1951 book The True Believer – this month’s USTP book-club selection — we reflected upon Steele’s previous prolific activity with the Debt Nation show and The Archer Report in 2019-2020, as well as how online discourse and the venues available for it have changed in the ensuing years, and what opportunities are available going forward.

During 2019-2020, Steele Archer’s shows were the predominant online platforms for transhumanist discourse and news coverage, with hundreds of episodes featuring thinkers within and adjacent to the transhumanist community and detailed, nuanced commentary on current events of relevance to transhumanism. Steele Archer provided in-depth coverage of the U.S. Transhumanist Party’s 2019 Presidential Primary and its aftermath – up to the selection of Charlie Kam as the 2020 Presidential Candidate. He then pursued and completed his postgraduate university studies and now seeks to inspire people to join and collaborate in useful and interesting ways which enhance community and personal engagement with the transhumanist movement.

See the YouTube channel for the Debt Nation show.

See the YouTube channel for The Archer Report.

Find a free PDF copy of Eric Hoffer’s The True Believer (1951).

Join the U.S. Transhumanist Party for free, no matter where you reside.

U.S. Transhumanist Party Virtual Enlightenment Salon with Tom Ross and Zack Kopp – December 11, 2022

U.S. Transhumanist Party Virtual Enlightenment Salon with Tom Ross and Zack Kopp – December 11, 2022

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Tom Ross
Zack Kopp
Gennady Stolyarov II
Art Ramon Garcia, Jr.
David Shumaker
Ben Ballweg
Jason Geringer

On Sunday, December 11, 2022, the U.S. Transhumanist Party invited Tom Ross and Zack Kopp to discuss their thoughts on how humans need to reframe their relationship with artificial intelligence. This Virtual Enlightenment Salon offered a preview of the major topics that they would address during their subsequent series of readings from their books in the Denver area.

Tom Ross is the Director of Sentient Rights Advocacy for the U.S. Transhumanist Party.

Zack Kopp has published over thirteen books since the century turned, mostly autofiction and some history. His production company, Camp Elasticity, offers various books, podcasts, and short films.

As someone trying to make money with his imagination, he never looked into AI until about a month prior, considering it a threat to his livelihood. Lately he has been using AI art-makers as oracles, telling them “Hello” and “Thanks” and “Great job” and using the principles of intuitive art to interpret the drawings they answer his questions with.

Statement by Tom Ross: “We need to encourage young people in particular to develop a relationship with AI and know how to speak with it productively.

“I believe that personal AI Companions will be an essential tool to augment humans going forward. An AI Partner that learns its user will be able to tailor education and networking opportunities and keep users up to date with the latest news and findings in their fields.

“Since 2007 I’ve been producing content specifically for Non-Human Intelligence. My novel, US6, is the first novel written for Machinekind, and US6TV is the first Podcast designed for an AI audience.

“There are many benefits to producing content for current AI and a future self-aware AGI which I can discuss but the biggest benefit to me is that, even if AI never develops a self-referential awareness, it is very productive, if not therapeutic to understand that current GPT-3 AIs learn their user’s speech and thought patterns making them the perfect professional augmentation if not a Psychological Second Self.

“Therefore, for anyone currently in the workplace but especially for students who will enter it soon, they must develop a productive relationship with AI and move away from the current master/slave relationship we have with systems like Alexa and Siri.”

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U.S. Transhumanist Party Virtual Enlightenment Salon with Nonso Nolly – January 8, 2023

U.S. Transhumanist Party Virtual Enlightenment Salon with Nonso Nolly – January 8, 2023

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Nonso Nolly 
Gennady Stolyarov II
Art Ramon Garcia
David Shumaker
Zach Richardson
Ben Ballweg
Jason Geringer
Dan Elton

On Sunday, January 8, 2023, the U.S. Transhumanist Party invited the young, self-taught Nigerian inventor Nonso Nolly to discuss his creations, including a Smart Stick that can help the visually impaired to navigate their surroundings, as well as his work with robots, drones, and the open-source Arduino platform.

The U.S. Transhumanist Party has featured Nonso Nolly’s Smart Stick project on its website.

2:05 – Video of Smart Stick

11:46 – Video of Arduino Projects – I

13:57 – Video of Arduino Project – II

21:32 – Nonso Nolly Explains the Smart Stick Live

49:06 – Nonso Nolly Shows His Drone and RC Car

Watch Nonso Nolly’s videos on his YouTube channel, Nolly Tech.

Support Nonso Nolly on Patreon.

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U.S. Transhumanist Party Virtual Enlightenment Salon with Ian Hale – January 15, 2023

U.S. Transhumanist Party Virtual Enlightenment Salon with Ian Hale – January 15, 2023

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Ian Hale
Bill Andrews
Jason Mercurio
Gennady Stolyarov II
Ben Ballweg
Jason Geringer
Art Ramon Garcia, Jr. 

On Sunday, January 15, 2023, the U.S. Transhumanist Party invited Ian Hale, PhD, to discuss a wide variety of his research endeavors – from his study of pandemics throughout history and his anticipations regarding the future course of the COVID pandemic, to his work on rejuvenation and the approaches he considers to be most promising, to his writings on neurodiversity and the strengths that neurodiverse individuals can discover in themselves and benefit the broader world by.

3:44 – Bill Andrews – Remarks on COVID

21:08 – Ian Hale – Remarks on COVID

37:18 – Ian Hale on When We Can Say We Are in a Post-Pandemic World

1:08:15 – Ian Hale on Rejuvenation

1:18:37 – Jason Mercurio on Ageless Partners

1:27:51 – Ian on the Current Demographic Problem (lots of old people)

1:30:52 – Jason Mercurio on Mitochondrial Epigenetic Repair

1:39:19 – Ian Hale on Neurodiversity

Dr. Ian Hale is a futurist and forecaster, who is the author of the books Asperger’s, Autism, & You and Corona: The Answer. He has a PhD degree in Humanities and is a member of both Mensa and The Athenian Society (IQ 180+). He is a researcher, public speaker, and writer in areas such as special education, neurodiversity, genetic engineering, life extension, and PTSD. He is a consultant and webcast professional, a trained laboratory chemist, and has continued science since childhood, leading to his support of transhumanism.

Books by Dr. Ian Hale:

– Corona: The Answer (2021)

– Asperger’s, Autism, & You (2021)

Join the U.S. Transhumanist Party for free, no matter where you reside.

 

Virtual Enlightenment Salon on Hereditary Religion and the Dangers of Religious Indoctrination – January 22, 2023

Virtual Enlightenment Salon on Hereditary Religion and the Dangers of Religious Indoctrination – January 22, 2023

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Lawrence Krauss
Armin Navabi
Valerie Tarico
David Orenstein
Gennady Stolyarov II
Ben Ballweg
Jason Geringer
Art Ramon Garcia, Jr. 

On January 22, 2023, the U.S. Transhumanist Party invited panelists to discuss the dangers of religious indoctrination of children and the importance of freethought and allowing children and young adults the option to decide for themselves how to approach religion, if at all. The USTP Officers – Gennady Stolyarov II, Jason Geringer, Art Ramon Garcia, and Ben Ballweg – conversed with four distinguished guests from the freethought movement:

– Dr. Lawrence Krauss – Particle physicist, cosmologist, bestselling author, lecturer, President of The Origins Project Foundation, and host of The Origins Podcast.

– Armin Navabi – Author and podcaster, ex-Muslim atheist, founder of the online freethought community Atheist Republic, author of Why There Is No God: Simple Responses to 20 Common Arguments for the Existence of God

– Dr. Valerie Tarico – Psychologist, writer, social commentator on religious fundamentalism, author of Trusting Doubt: A Former Evangelical Looks at Old Beliefs in a New Light

– Dr. David Orenstein – Professor and department chairperson at CUNY Medgar Evers College, national and international speaker on issues related to the freethought movement, the American Humanist Association’s representative to the United Nations, co-author of Godless Grace: How Nonbelievers are Making the World Safer, Richer and Kinder

4:53 – Lawrence Krauss’s Opening Remarks

10:11 – Morality Without Religion

16:12 – Armin Navabi’s Question to Lawrence Krauss (what he should tell parents) (and Lawrence’s answer)

18:50 – How to Not Have to Prove a Negative (Question to Lawrence Krauss)

22:10 – Lawrence Krauss: Celebrate Our Sentience

23:44 – Armin Navabi’s Opening Remarks

31:15 – Armin Navabi Asks Western Atheists to Support Middle East Atheists

34:44 – David Orenstein’s Opening Remarks

41:36 – Valerie Tarico’s Opening Remarks

49:30 – Question: What Will Fill the Vacuum if and when Religion Goes Away?

59:58 – What One Would Do with a Former Church?

1:11:00 – Darth Kermit

1:13:35 – Ben Ballweg on How Can Crusaders Be Good

1:24:34 – Art Ramon’s Question on Whether There Is a Battle Coming (Armin Navabi Answers)

1:29:31 – Whether Technology Could Bring the Religious to Humanism

1:47:45 – Closing Remarks

This conversation was hosted in accordance with the U.S. Transhumanist Party’s support of freethought and the rights of children, as expressed in the USTP Platform. 

Section XXIII: The United States Transhumanist Party supports the rights of children to exercise liberty in proportion to their rational faculties and capacity for autonomous judgment. In particular, the United States Transhumanist Party strongly opposes all forms of bullying, child abuse, and censorship of intellectual self-development by children and teenagers.

Section XXV: The United States Transhumanist Party welcomes both religious and non-religious individuals who support life extension and emerging technologies. The United States Transhumanist Party recognizes that some religious individuals and interpretations may be receptive to technological progress and, if so, are valuable allies to the transhumanist movement. On the other hand, the United States Transhumanist Party is also opposed to any interpretation of a religious doctrine that results in the rejection of reason, censorship, violation of individual rights, suppression of technological advancement, and attempts to impose religious belief by force and/or by legal compulsion.

Join the U.S. Transhumanist Party for free, no matter where you reside.

U.S. Transhumanist Party Virtual Enlightenment Salon with Zach Richardson, Jason Geringer, and Ben Ballweg –July 25, 2021

U.S. Transhumanist Party Virtual Enlightenment Salon with Zach Richardson, Jason Geringer, and Ben Ballweg –July 25, 2021

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Jason Geringer
Ben Ballweg
Zach Richardson
Gennady Stolyarov II
David Shumaker
Art Ramon Garcia, Jr.
Alexandria Black

The U.S. Transhumanist Party Virtual Enlightenment Salon with Zach Richardson, Jason Geringer, and Ben Ballweg of July 25, 2021, is now available for viewing on Odysee here.

On Sunday, July 25, 2021, at 4 p.m. U.S. Pacific Time, the U.S. Transhumanist Party invited its new Officers, Zach Richardson (Director of Publication), Jason Geringer (Legislative Director), and Ben Ballweg (Director of Longevity Outreach), to discuss some of their ideas, planned initiatives, and perspectives on the current condition of the transhumanist movement. The discussion focused on improving the internal functions of the U.S. Transhumanist Party, attracting volunteers, and raising the visibility of transhumanist projects and causes. An interactive discussion transpired about ways to bolster the publication and legislative-tracking activities of the USTP. The conversation also extended to subjects of general interest to transhumanists, futurists, and those seeking to learn about the transhumanist movement.

Read about Zach Richardson here.
Read about Jason Geringer here.
Read about Ben Ballweg here.

Join the U.S. Transhumanist Party for free, no matter where you reside.

NOTE: Even though the U.S. Transhumanist Party is staunchly pro-vaccine and expressed such views during the Virtual Enlightenment Salon, YouTube algorithmically censored the video, most likely with no serious human involvement, and algorithmically rejected our appeal as well. The U.S. Transhumanist Party strongly condemns such censorship but also sees an opportunity here by encouraging people to watch and spread this video for the purpose of overcoming arbitrary barriers put forth by unintelligent and unaccountable algorithms.

Ben Ballweg, U.S. Transhumanist Party Director of Longevity Outreach
U.S. Transhumanist Party Virtual Enlightenment Salon with Otto Siegel – October 30, 2021

U.S. Transhumanist Party Virtual Enlightenment Salon with Otto Siegel – October 30, 2021

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Otto Siegel
Gennady Stolyarov II
David Shumaker
Art Ramon Garcia, Jr.
Jason Geringer
Ben Ballweg
Zach Richardson

On Sunday, October 31, 2021, at 4 p.m. U.S. Pacific Time, the U.S. Transhumanist Party invited Otto Siegel, M.Ed., MCC, to discuss the new field of Longevity Coaching to prepare people for an era of greatly extended lifespans. He provided an overview of Longevity Coaching, what it involves, what it can achieve, and how people can avail themselves of it. The discussion also focused on the cultivation of genius and how to discover aspects of genius in every individual. Watch the video recording of this Virtual Enlightenment Salon here.

Otto Siegel, M.Ed., MCC, shared his insights as a coach in maximizing genius and longevity with 18 years of experience. Key themes of the discussion included 1) how to stay healthy in all ways, 2) how contagious longevity can be when its adherents are having fun, 3) how play can be used to solve challenges and strengthen good habits, 4) focusing on our humanness and vulnerability to get skeptics to consider the merits of our beliefs, and 5) the importance of connecting with others in one’s longevity goals. To learn more, visit https://www.geniuscoaching.com.

Find out more about Longevity Coaching here and here.

Otto Siegel is a nationally known expert on genius and innovation and co-author, with Susanna Lange, of Yes, You Are a Genius, Whether You Know It or Not: Claiming the Extraordinary Life You Were Born to Live. After teaching Biology and Chemistry to high-school students in Munich, Germany, and Sao Paulo, Brazil, for 17 years, he discovered a deeper passion for learning and education and started his company Genius Coaching in 2002 in Scottsdale, AZ. He studied Behavioral Science with Nobel Laureate Prof. Dr. Konrad Lorenz in Munich, Germany, and holds a Master’s Degree in education and professional coaching.

Join the U.S. Transhumanist Party for free, no matter where you reside.

Petition to President Joe Biden – Appoint Dr. Martine Rothblatt to Lead the NIH!

Petition to President Joe Biden – Appoint Dr. Martine Rothblatt to Lead the NIH!

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 Daniel C. Elton, Ph.D. and Ben Ballweg

 

Bigger. Bolder. Faster.

Innovation requires risk-taking, but the culture of medicine is overly conservative.

The NIH currently does a poor job of funding high-risk, long-term projects, focusing on conservative, incremental work instead. This is a shame because given the NIH’s unique size and structure, they are one of the few entities in the world capable of taking on ambitious projects. Under the right leadership, NIH is uniquely positioned to realize breakthroughs in 3D-printed organs, gene therapy, artificial wombs, molecular nanotechnology, and age-reversal biomedicine. To shake things up at the NIH, the reign of overly-conservative and myopic MDs as NIH directors must end.

We need a visionary to lead NIH, someone with a history of bold thinking, execution, zero-to-one innovation, and inspiring leadership. There is no better candidate to fill this need than Dr. Martine Rothblatt.

Ethics deep in her core

In her 1997 book Unzipped Genes, Rothblatt explored the legal, ethical and political issues arising from the sequencing of the human genome. She led the International Bar Association’s project to draft the Universal Declaration on the Human Genome and Human Rights for the UN, which was officially adopted by the UN General Assembly in 1998. In 2001, she obtained a Ph.D. in medical ethics from Queen Mary University of London. In 2004, she co-founded the Terasem Movement Foundation with her wife Bina Aspen to promote the ethical use of nanotechnology for human health.

Founder, leader, innovator

Martine grew up in a working-class suburb of San Diego and exhibited intense interest and passion for science and technology from a young age. As an undergraduate, Rothblatt became a convert to Gerard K. O’Neill’s “High Frontier” plan for space colonization and threw her energies into advancing the nascent private space industry. Rothblatt held key founding roles in several satellite communications companies before founding SiriusXM in 1990. Working on Capitol Hill, she used her acumen as a regulatory lawyer to convince FCC regulators to grant her the necessary permissions.

In 1994, motivated by her daughter’s diagnosis with pulmonary hypertension, Rothblatt decided to enter the world of life sciences. She first founded the PPH Cure Foundation and then the molecular biotech company United Therapeutics, where she has served as Chairman & CEO since its inception. As of 2021 United Therapeutics has saved the lives of countless patients through their drugs for pulmonary hypertension and neuroblastoma, and is valued at 8.7 Billion and employs close to a thousand people. United Therapeutics is now leading the world in developing 3D-printable organs to address the dire transplant shortage.

In 2013, Rothblatt was reported to be the highest-paid female CEO in America, based on the value of the stock options in her compensation package. In 2017, Forbes named her among the “100 Greatest Living Business Minds” of the past century, citing her achievements as a “perpetual reinventor, founder of Sirius and United Therapeutics, and creator of PanAmSat.”

 

Dr. Rothblatt with her wife Bina and daughter Jenesis.
Dr. Rothblatt with her wife Bina and daughter Jenesis.

Transgender trailblazer and fierce advocate

Born as Martin Rothblatt, she underwent gender-reassignment surgery in 1994 at the age of 40, and soon after changed her name to Martine. A vocal advocate for transgender dignity, she authored The Apartheid of Sex: A Manifesto on the Freedom of Gender and From Transgender to Transhuman: A Manifesto on the Freedom of Form. She forcefully argues for the adoption of “a new sexual model that accommodates every shade of gender identity.”

In 2010, Rothblatt and Aspen received the Vicki Sexual Freedom Award from the Woodhull Freedom Foundation, a nonprofit that advocates for sexual freedom as a fundamental human right. In 2019, Rothblatt was named one of “the 23 most powerful LGBTQ+ people in tech” by Business Insider. If appointed NIH Director, Martine would not only be the first woman to hold the post, but also one of the highest-ranking transgender persons in the federal government. By appointing Dr. Rothblatt to lead the NIH we can be confident that the goals and ideals of equity, diversity, and inclusion will flow from the top.


If you agree that Dr. Rothblatt should lead the NIH, please sign this petition:
Appoint Dr. Martine Rothblatt as Director of the NIH!

 

Dan Elton, Ph. D., is Director of Scholarship for the U.S. Transhumanist Party.  You can find him on Twitter at @moreisdifferent, where he accepts direct messages. If you like his content, check out his website and subscribe to his newsletter on Substack.

Ben Ballweg is Director of Longevity Outreach at the U.S. Transhumanist Party.Â