# Key Points from IRC Log (July 23, 2011)

• A discussion on intelligence definitions included the suggestion that "cortical intelligence can be summed up as the ability to predict the future," offering a concise functional definition.

• Ethical concerns about human-animal hybrids were shared via an article link, with subsequent critique of public misconceptions about what constitutes "human material" in genetic engineering.

• The NPR podcast "When Patents Attack" was shared, examining Intellectual Ventures and broader issues with the patent system, highlighting ongoing debates about intellectual property.

• Several interactive web technologies were discussed, including an HTML5 implementation of Infinite Mario (with GitHub repository), and Bret Victor's "Tangle" project featuring interactive, manipulable graphs.

• A conversation about the Amish approach to technology referenced "Amish Hackers," comparing their selective technology adoption to the Shenzhen hardware ecosystem rather than mainstream tech participation.

• The end of the Space Shuttle program was discussed, with links to articles analyzing the program's legacy and comparing the reliance on Russian Soyuz vehicles to "Rocky asking Ivan Drago for a lift."