Interesting... I should see the movie.

I think the worst criticism that can be leveled against Kurzweil is that his timeframe might be off, but that, yes, we'll eventually be doing all these things.

In the meantime, if we can maximize our chances of living until, for example, 2070, it seems to be a reasonable speculation that even greater longevity will be possible at that point (if not earlier, as Kurzweil believes).

I remember at a Christmas family get-together telling my sister that aging will probably eventually be cured, and there was an awkward moment when it was clear that I was referring to our generation and not the older generation of family members who were in the same room

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@chilaxe. On the one-hand, ageing and death does seem to be something that we've come to terms with, accepted and even romanticized. But we've always been seeking immortality. Donald Trump would give all his wealth to be made a 20-year-old again. Just about anybody would.

I, like probably most people (in their heart-of-hearts), find the fact that the super-wealthy die, to be very comforting - natural justice dealt. When youth really is for sell - all hell's going to break loose.

I've been meaning to watch that film for a while now. I've heard good things.

But speaking of death stuff, I want to be frozen when die. Most of the time when I tell people that, they assume I'm joking, but I'm dead serious. Even if there's only a 0.000001 percent chance that they'll actually be able to successfully revive me at some point in the distant future and give me a robot body or whatever... well, then, why not? I don't believe that there's any life after death, so the idea that there's even a vague chance of me being revived makes the grim finality of death slightly less terrifying.

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I'm with you there. Have you looked into Alcor? not the most sterling reputation after the "Ted Williams' head" incident - but not a lot of other choices out there. I know there is at least one Sifter who is an Alcor future patient.

>> ^Sarzy:

I've been meaning to watch that film for a while now. I've heard good things.
But speaking of death stuff, I want to be frozen when die. Most of the time when I tell people that, they assume I'm joking, but I'm dead serious. Even if there's only a 0.000001 percent chance that they'll actually be able to successfully revive me at some point in the distant future and give me a robot body or whatever... well, then, why not? I don't believe that there's any life after death, so the idea that there's even a vague chance of me being revived makes the grim finality of death slightly less terrifying.

You need to read http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_World_Out_of_Time before agreeing to be frozen. (The book predicted reality TV by the way)

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I haven't read that, but I think I'll have to. Not enough cryonic SF around.

>> ^deathcow:

You need to read http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_World_Out_of_Time before agreeing to be frozen. (The book predicted reality TV by the way)

You should check out Beer Wars on NetFlix.

>> ^dag:

I'm with you there. Have you looked into Alcor? not the most sterling reputation after the "Ted Williams' head" incident - but not a lot of other choices out there. I know there is at least one Sifter who is an Alcor future patient.
>> ^Sarzy:
I've been meaning to watch that film for a while now. I've heard good things.
But speaking of death stuff, I want to be frozen when die. Most of the time when I tell people that, they assume I'm joking, but I'm dead serious. Even if there's only a 0.000001 percent chance that they'll actually be able to successfully revive me at some point in the distant future and give me a robot body or whatever... well, then, why not? I don't believe that there's any life after death, so the idea that there's even a vague chance of me being revived makes the grim finality of death slightly less terrifying.



I've looked into Alcor, and the other companies doing this (like you said, there aren't too many of them), and I can't say I was particularly impressed with any of them. I'll probably wait until I'm closer to my 40s to start seriously looking into it. I'm hoping by then the whole industry will be a bit bigger (there's only something like 200 people in the entire world who are cryogenically frozen right now) and that the best company to go with will be more clear.

>> ^dag:
@chilaxe.I, like probably most people (in their heart-of-hearts), find the fact that the super-wealthy die, to be very comforting - natural justice dealt. When youth really is for sell - all hell's going to break loose.


With Steve Jobs death at 56 years old,a billionaire, by a disease that he had known about for years (not some kind of freak accident), I feel pretty hopeless that I will be cured of whatever I eventually get.
I want to be loaded on to an Ipod instead of a Dirt Nap, but , it wont happen in this century.

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My comment feels diffent now in light of recent events. >> ^csnel3:

>> ^dag:
@chilaxe.I, like probably most people (in their heart-of-hearts), find the fact that the super-wealthy die, to be very comforting - natural justice dealt. When youth really is for sell - all hell's going to break loose.

With Steve Jobs death at 56 years old,a billionaire, by a disease that he had known about for years (not some kind of freak accident), I feel pretty hopeless that I will be cured of whatever I eventually get.
I want to be loaded on to an Ipod instead of a Dirt Nap, but , it wont happen in this century.

@csnel3 @dag

Steve Jobs had 7 years since his diagnosis to found a think tank or research institute. He had unusual assets to bring to the problem in the form of his abilities, capital, and influence on many of the smartest people alive. 7 years is an eternity for a radical science project helmed by a genius and funded by Jobs' own 6 billion plus donations from other sources that would want to help.

How far are we really from being able to extend the life of people in his position? What steps need to be put in place before failing body parts can be replaced well enough to sustain life?

He didn't even need to directly cure his cancer within those 7 years. Extending the amount of time he had could have allowed him to then find other interventions that extended his time even more.