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lctg_speaker_schedule

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Presenting to the group with Zoomnot ready for prime time: [using ppt impress etc to present|Tips for using MS Powerpoint and LibreOffice Impress in your presentation]
This schedule last modified 2025.06.18 07:52

Recently produced meeting videos you can watch now:

::RECENT AND UPCOMING MEETINGS::

DateTopicconfirmedFollowups
May 7, 2025Heat pumps in Lexington – trends and options, pitfalls to watch out for. (Moffitt) Meeting Summary chat messages watch the presentation
May 14, 2025Space Junk and How To Manage It - EU's Space Claw (Bob) Meeting Notes with video links chat messages Meeting Summary
May 21, 2025(1h18m) Richard Feynman Lecture -- “Los Alamos From Below”
May 28, 2025Potpourri, including:
Space Junk part 2 (~30m)
Extend your display (Drew)
What did China see on the other side of the moon? (GeorgeG, video) link chat messages Meeting Summary
June 4, 2025Selected Nobel Prizes in Medicine chat messages Meeting Summary watch the presentation; captions available
June 11, 2025Comparison of the most popular AI engines. Which is best for this or that. chat messages Meeting Summary watch the Beyond Generative presentation Beyond Generative slides
N e x t .  M e e t i n g
June 18, 2025GASP Planning session
.
June 25, 2025Fusion Updateok Ted
July 2, 2025Potpourri
Oliver Marsh: Crack growth and iceberg formation on a dynamic ice shelf. (Oliver is a glaciologist with the British Antarctic Survey) Abstract: Ice shelves around Antarctica are critical to slowing the rate of sea level rise.  This talk addresses new technology used to monitor cracks in ice shelves during polar winter, including GNSS precise point positioning, and ground-based and satellite radar systems.  Three major iceberg calving events have occurred on the Brunt Ice Shelf since 2021, with new high-precision data used to inform models of fracture propagation and ice shelf stability. (~45minutes)
Methylene Blue (JerryS)
AI Followup (DickW)
July 9, 2025History of Space Travel: Venus and Mars (video) George
July 16, 2025Drones. The background of drones and the technology behind them; Using drones in photography and examples of images. Al Levin
July 23, 2025
July 30, 2025Past Predictions on future technology and science. How did these play out? George & Ted
Aug 6, 2025Potpourri
Ground Based Deep Space Telescope accomplishments (?)
Aug 13, 2025
Aug 20, 2025Hearing Aid Appliances for Dummies (What options are there to help you improve your hearing? How do you choose a Hearing Aid (HA)? Tricks and tips, things to look for in a HA and what to watch out for. Can you buy a useful HA without a prescription?) George, Charlie
Aug 27, 2025What are some interesting uses of AI other than Chats Harry
Sep 3, 2025Potpourri
Sep 10, 2025IP Update: Copyright for AI-developed Material and CRISPR Patent Dick
Sep 17, 2025GASP Planning session
Sep 24, 2025Shooting Down Drones: Raytheon's approach to attacking drones (tentative) (RH day2)
Oct 1, 2025(YK eve)Altruism, Philanthropy, and Philandering in Science Ted
Oct 8, 2025Susan Liebman and The Dressmaker's Mirror
Oct 15, 2025Potpourri
Federal Science Priority Update (George)
Oct 22, 2025
Oct 29, 2025
Nov 5, 2025AI Lab Report (maybe: analyze Jaques Monod's book Chance and Necessity) John Day
Nov 12, 2025Potpourri
Nov 19, 2025
Nov 26, 2025Thanksgiving eve
Dec 3, 2025
Dec 10, 2025
Dec 17, 2025Potpourri
Dec 24, 2025'twas the night before Christmas
Dec 31, 2025New Year's Eve
Jan 7, 2026
Jan 14, 2026Potpourri
Jan 21, 2026
Jan 28, 2026


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::RECENT MEETINGS::

DateTopic
Jan 3, 2024 We Will Have a Syncing Feeling: Using applications and files across platforms - a forum (Drew King, lead) chat messages
Jan 10, 2024LIDAR mapping with Dale Fried of 3DEO, hosted by Dan Kleppner chat messages . watch the presentation
For more information on the company and its technology, visit the 3DEO website at https://3deolidar.com/ and their YouTube Channel
Jan 17, 2024Unifying Nature’s Laws: The State of String Theory.
Jan 24, 2024Videos played:
How does Starlink Satellite Internet Work?
Bill Gates talking with Sal Khan, founder of Khan Academy, about AI transforming education
Jan 31, 2024potpourri: Feynman: Fun to Imagine (67min) followed by luncheon at Bamboo in Bedford
Feb 7, 2024 Space Update (George Gamota) chat messages
Feb 14, 2024Nifty Smartphone apps. Like Seek; Shazam; Pedometer; etc. chat messages
Feb 21, 2024Nifty Smartphone Apps Part 2 chat messages
Feb 28, 2024More neat apps for phones and computers – and more (Adam Broun)
* several interesting apps from the useful to the idiotic: Authy (2-factor authentication); Arc Search (Browser with summarization); Windy (weather in depth); Rise (Sourdough baking); Can of Soup (silly pictures)
* Self-hosting, moving services away from Google and Apple to resources you can control yourself: Proxmox (virtual machines); OPNSense (router); Home Assistant (Home automation); Photoprism (photo management); NextCloud (file sharing and collaboration)
List of self-hosted apps: https://github.com/awesome-selfhosted/awesome-selfhosted, Self hosted forum: https://www.reddit.com/r/selfhosted
slides chat messages
Mar 6, 2024 potpourri
* “Watchroom”, a short film by Noah Wagner on AI and Robotics. It'll make you think. (Dick Wagner)
* Android Apps (Drew) – continuing our topic of Interesting Apps from previous weeks. watch the presentation chat messages
Mar 13, 2024Sleep Deprivation (John Rudy) watch the presentation slides
What is Passkey and how does it work as compared to Passwords (Steve Isenberg) watch the presentation [ notes on passkey used during presentation ]
chat messages
Mar 20, 20242023 Nobel Prize in Medicine: mRNA (Harry Forsdick & Dick Wagner) watch the presentation
slides chat messages
The link to videos in the slides may not work; here are the links to videos included in the presentation:
How mRNA Vaccines Work
mRNA Vaccines Questions and Misconceptions
Announcement of the prize
TED talk, how mRNA medicine will change the world, Melissa J. Moore
Mar 27, 2024How the MIT museum has restructured itself to a Technology gateway to MIT
Moving and rediscovering the MIT Museum collection (4m) and Tour of the MIT Museum (49m) chat messages
Apr 3, 2024“The Science & Lore of Eclipses – Shadows in Space” a Road Scholar lecture chat messages
Apr 10, 20242023 Nobel Prize in Medicine - mRNA - Part 2
Apr 17, 2024Richard Feynman Lecture: “Los Alamos From Below” (1h18m)
Apr 24, 2024GASP Planning session (Gigantic Allhands Scheduling and Planning) chat messages
May 1, 2024Five Levels of Difficulty Day. Five levels of difficulty on:
Time: Brian Greene explains Time in 5 levels of difficulty
Wormholes: Wormholes Explained - Breaking Spacetime
CRISPR: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sweN8d4_MUgBiologist Explains CRISPR in 5 Levels of Difficulty
PickPocketing: 9 levels of pick-pocketing, easy to complex, from Wired mag
chat messages
May 8, 2024Inflammation Unmasked: Insights into its Physiology, Detection, and Treatment. (Jerry Harris, Rheumatologist)
slides . chat messages . watch the presentation
May 15, 2024Spacecraft Technology, the Design of the International Space Station, and Comparison of Technology in Spacecraft Over Time. Presented by Dr. Gary H Kitmacher from NASA Johnson Space Center. chat messages . watch the presentation
May 22, 2024Potpourri: Check Washing 101
Your favorite apps and websites. Follow-up to meeting 2/14 slides
Eclipse photos (TedK) 15m [link to Ted's pictures - coming soon]
May 29, 2024Oppenheimer and the Institute for Advanced Study, presented by Dan Kleppner watch the presentation chat messages
June 5, 2024Selected talk(s) from Google
June 12, 2024Materials and Medicine - talk by Robert Langer, a replay of his presentation at Cary Library on May 28th.
Retro Technology: examples, how it/they work, how to use. Sliderule, rotary telephone, abacus, etc.
June 19, 20245G and 6G: 10-fold increase in top internet speeds. (TedK & BobP) 5G slides . chat messages
June 26, 2024YouTube topics on Quantum Mechanics: Sabina and others. (BarryK) Videos shown:
Don't fall for quantum hype
The Quantum Hype Bubble Is About To Burst
Quantum Computing with Light: The Breakthrough?
Quantum Computers cross 1000 Qubits Threshold! What does this mean?
It looks like AI will kill Quantum Computing
Bad News for Quantum Computing: Another Advantage Gone
Quantum Internet: No One Needs This
How to Detect Quantum Bullshit
July 3, 2024Potpourri
Considerations and specifications for your next computer slides . chat messages
July 10, 2024GASP Planning session (Gigantic Allhands Scheduling and Planning)
July 17, 2024Development of the Abiocor total artificial heart (Alan Millner)
The Abiocor total artificial heart developed by Abiomed, is an electro-hydraulic device implanted in a patient with the original damaged heart removed. It is self-contained with no tether to hospital equipment. chat messages . slides . watch the presentation
July 24, 2024Fusion Update (TedK) watch the presentation
July 31, 2024Old Technology 1968-1994 (JohnRudy) watch the presentation . chat messages . slides
August 7, 2024Bob Metcalfe talk: Connectivity is the Thing chat messages
August 14, 2024WinGet - Windows Package Manager (Drew)
August 21, 2024Several Tech-for-Seniors episodes. Will be useful/interesting even if you're not old enough to be a “senior”. Ep 170A 6/17/2024 Hackers, Duck Duck Go, and more Ep 176A 7/29/2024 Screenshot on Chromebook, Snopes, Trackers
August 28, 2024Euclid Telescope (JerryS) chat messages watch the presentation
September 4, 2024Potpourri
* Bringing back the dead (info JohnR found)
* JerryS Covid vaccination update chat messages Watch the Covid presentation Meeting Summary
September 11, 2024Quantum Computing (Vladan Vuletic, Dept. of Physics, MIT)
Are quantum computers possible? And if yes, what will we be able to do with them (and when can I buy one)? Vladan will discuss the state of the art in quantum computing, with particular focus on neutral-atom quantum computing based on atoms in Rydberg states. watch the presentation Meeting Summary
September 18, 2024Claude Shannon - Father of Information Theory and Father of the Information Age (George Gamota)
30 minute overview 60 minute MIT lecture by Bob Gallagher
Claude Shannon Tricks for Creative Problem Solving
September 25, 2024GASP Planning session (Gigantic Allhands Scheduling and Planning) chat messages
October 2, 2024IgNoble 2024 Meeting Summary
October 9, 2024In light of the announcement of the 2024 Nobel Prize in Physics, we will present videos of the recipients Geoffrey Hinton and John Hopfield: “The Godfather in Conversation: Why Geoffrey Hinton is worried about the future of AI” and “Emergence, dynamics, and behaviour - John Hopfield”
October 16, 2024Tech for Seniors (selected topics appropriate for our group) Meeting Summary
October 23, 2024Potpourri
TedK and his smart bowl of jelly
video: the genius of the quantum navigation breakthrough Meeting Summary
October 30, 2024How QR Codes Work, and Intel and Drone “Fireworks” and more in the sky chat messages . Meeting Summary
November 6, 2024OBS Studio (Drew)
Using Artificial Intelligence in Programming, such as Javascript in Web Pages (English to Code) (Harry) chat messages . Meeting Summary
November 13, 2024 Passkeys and Related Technologies. Starting with a little background on PKI (Public Key Infrastructure) as well as discussing the various ways that people authenticate themselves to websites, best practices and risks including the use of password managers, 2FA (two factor authentication), SMS (Short Message Service: cellphone text messaging) codes, etc, and how passkeys fit into all of this. (Seth Silverman) chat messages . Meeting Summary
Videos Seth showed:
* How to make passwords more secure 3m
* What is PKI (Public Key Infrastructure)? 9m
* SSL, TLS, HTTPS Explained 6m
* Why you should turn on two factor authentication 8m
* FIDO promises a life without passwords 10m
* Passwords vs Passkeys: FIDO bites back 11m
November 20, 2024An impromptu potpourri.
First three are products Steve has found useful
* 1TB SSD
* iPhone charging magnetic car mount
* 4-USB port car cigarette adapter
Videos shown to the group
* Cardboard drone used in Ukraine
* Ideal Husband (short)
* Lexington drone show (short)
* What it really means
chat messages . (no summary was generated)
December 4, 2024 GASP Planning session (Gigantic Allhands Scheduling and Planning)
December 11, 2024Inspiring the next generation: Women’s Technology Program in Mechanical Engineering at M.I.T. (Barbara Hughey)
watch the presentation . Meeting Summary slides
December 18, 2024Tuberculosis in the 1800s and how it applies to today (JerryS) watch the presentation
January 8, 2025Dick Wagner on Sociobiology
Talk based on Sociobiology (The New Synthesis) by Edward O. Wilson © 1975 watch the presentation . chat messages . Meeting Summary . slides
January 15, 2025Potpourri
Continuation of Sociobiology slides . watch the presentation
Elon Musk's optimistic views of the future . Meeting Summary
January 22, 2025Practical Fusion Power Update and Challenges: breeding and handling Tritium (TedK)
Meeting Summary . watch the presentation
January 29, 2025Potpourri. Egg Drop from Space (Mark Rober) . How does a computer mouse work? (12m) . Astrophysicist Explains Gravity in 5 Levels of Difficulty
February 5, 2025Sabine Hossenfelder day
Videos we watched: Did DeepSeek burst the AI bubble or will the Stargate Project make it worse?
AI Super Agents are coming. Allegedly. What does this mean? . The Case for String Theory Just Got Stronger
How close is the bird flu to human transmission? Status update. . Is the Universe Infinite or Finite?
What is “gravitic propulsion” and could the US government hide it?
February 12, 2025Modular Nuclear Reactors (MNRs). These are being developed to supplement the production of electricity for the coming energy-hungry data centers. (George W Griffith PhD from Idaho National Laboratory, part of Department of Energy)slides . Paper on status of SMR . Meeting Summary
February 19, 2025 Potpourri, showing: Time travel in fiction (8m) How time travel is possible (9m)
The time travel paradox you never heard of (10m) New office math (1m)
Why can't anything go faster than the speed of light? History of speed of light part II (12m)
The best and worst ways to board a plane (9m) Solving the three-body problem (16m) Large and small views (3m) . chat messages
February 26, 2025Curated interesting video shorts, including Hossenfelder & Veritasium. Videos presented and discussed:
(25m) What if all the world's biggest problems have the same solution? (Vertasium)
(7m) What Everyone Gets Wrong about AI (Hossenfelder)
(35m) The problem with Sabine Hossenfelder
Meeting Summary . chat messages
March 5, 2025GASP planning session
March 12, 2025Brian Greene day. We saw:
Intro slides
Code to Cure: AI and the Future of Health
I Am Not a Robot:2025 Academy Award Winner
March 19, 2025Videos we viewed: 3D Houses 60 Minutes (22m)) 11 Lies about printing houses (15m)
Printing Cheap Clay Houses(4m) Why 3D Printing Buildings Leads to Problems (16m)
How Cement is Made (7.5m) CBS News on printing homes after a disaster (2m)
Other videos on the topic we did not view: Larry Sass TED (19m) How Concrete Homes Are Built with a 3D Printer (6m)
3D Printed Concrete House, Printed in 48 hours (3m) Move In Ready 3D Printed House in Germany (11m)
Inside a 3D Printed House That's Actually (kind of) Affordable (9m)
March 26, 2025Potpourri
Asteroid Risks (John Rudy) slides
Gamota's suggested astronomy videos What's beyond the observable universe? Breakthrough cosmic filament connecting galaxies finally detected plus
Can you fool a self-driving car? (Yes you can fool some.)
chat messages Meeting Summary
April 2, 2025Listen up: Hearing Aids - The Newest Technology Available Now (Gamota).
slides chat messages Meeting Summary watch the presentation
Videos we viewed in the presentation:
Hearing Aid Types and How to choose
Dr. Cliff: How to Decide Which Hearing Aid Technology Level is Right for You
Costco's Best Hearing Aids 2025
After 2 Years of Reviews: My Top 3 OTC Hearing Aids 2024
didn't have time to show:
Use of Gimbels - gyros in Hearing Aids
Hearing Aid Bluetooth LE Audio Explained
Auracast Bluetooth for Hearing aids, everything you need to know explanation
April 9, 2025Electrified mobility and its effect on the town. Popular models, price trends, accessibility benefits, and safety risks. Discuss the adoption of e-bikes and scooters in town over the past couple years and its impact (e.g. proposals for a formal speed limit on the commuter bikeway, debates over the creation of dedicated / mixed use paths when redesigning local roads). (Rich Moffitt suggests)
slides chat messages Meeting Summary
* Why are people talking about “micromobility” now?
* What are e-bike classes (1, 2, 3) and what are the tradeoffs / restrictions?
* What's the risk of battery fires on these things and how can I manage the risks?
* Why are they popular now? (mainly because motor costs have come way down and reliability has gone up, see video of hub motor production: E-Bike Hub Motor Factory Tour in China ELECTRICBIKE.COM )
* Is it feasible to DIY build (sometimes, with considerations)		 Rich Moffitt
April 16, 2025The Entire Universe - BBC, History of Universe
Philomena Cunk vs Prof Brian Cox		 Ted
April 23, 2025Potpourri, including
Portable Software (Drew)
Protopage, 1TB 1GB/s Thumb drive, BackMarket, CamelCamelCamel.com, UptimeRobot, and Free Movies online no login no fees (SteveI)
chat messages Meeting Summary, with links to mentioned apps
April 30, 2025Lexington's 250 Drone Show: How They Pulled It Off (What goes into producing a fantastic drone show) Meeting Summary Slides: click on slideshow button The paper Watch the presentation

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lctg_speaker_schedule.1750258356.txt.gz · Last modified: by Steve Isenberg