- The channel debated the merits of whole-brain emulation versus more abstract AI approaches, with one participant arguing that synthetic neural networks are “very far ahead” and that non-neurological shortcuts might yield AGI sooner.  
- A link to the “Whole Brain Emulation Roadmap” by Anders Sandberg and Todd Huffman was shared: http://diyhpl.us/~bryan/papers2/brain-emulation-roadmap-report.pdf.  
- Discussion of OpenCog’s current status concluded it is “especially dead,” with Blue Brain cited as the only other prominent initiative.  
- Blender’s architecture was criticized for forcing users to run scripts inside its runtime; participants advocated for “Blender-as-a-library” so external Python code could import and manipulate meshes without the GUI.  
- A Windows/Python integration issue was debugged: mixing 32-bit BRL-CAD libraries with 64-bit Python produced “Error 193: %1 is not a valid Win32 application.”  
- Genetically engineered houseplants distributed by Singularity University drew criticism from anti-GE activists; channel members dismissed the objections as shrill and ineffective.  
- Patent expiration on laser-sintering 3-D printing was predicted to lower hardware costs; participants noted that resin and laser prices remain limiting factors.  
- A UK-available, linseed-oil–based UV-curable resin (EcoVomp UV-L) was highlighted as a low-cost, bio-derived alternative for SLA printers: http://diyhpl.us/~nmz787/pdf/EcoVomp_UV-L_Resin.pdf.