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From: hous0042@maroon.tc.umn.edu (Kevin C Houston)
Subject: Re: Is this example alive?
Message-ID: <hous0042.778753604@maroon>
Keywords: alife
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Organization: University of Minnesota, Twin Cities
References: <34dml4$leo@gap.cco.caltech.edu>
Date: Mon, 5 Sep 1994 08:26:44 GMT
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In <34dml4$leo@gap.cco.caltech.edu> dabacon@cco.caltech.edu (Dave Bacon) writes:

<snip>
>Barchans are cresent shaped sand dunes found in many places around the
>world.  Like other sand dunes, they are slowly pushed across the desert
>by the force of the wind.  But Barchans also divide by a process called
>calfing.  Certain intstabilities alow the barchans to spawn a smaller 
>barchan in a method much like a asexual cell divides.
<snip>

>are barchans alive?

Based on all my previous posts, I am forced to accept that Barchans are
(artificially) alive. And one day, a barcan will mutate in some way that
will allow it to manipulate its environment, and move *against* the wind.  
   Kevin @U of MN

Any computer system that is *totally* secure is also *totally* useless.

   

