X-Message-Number: 20862
Date: Mon, 13 Jan 2003 23:50:09 -0800
From: "John Grigg" <>

Subject: Mark needs "future shock" therapy to boost his spirits!  :   )

Mark Plus wrote:
So where is this approaching "singularity" I keep reading about, when I 
don't even feel a mild case of "future shock"?
(end)


This is the period where the rollercoaster cars are just beginning to move 
forward.  I think you may need to wait about thirty years to feel your stomach 
in your mouth!

you continue:
I'm also struck by how our society now seems to emphasize hedonistic goods 
over survival goods. We always seem to come up with the money to produce 
mountains of junk food, pop music CD's, novels about bible prophecy and 
similar useless things; while at the same time we've let our border 
protection, education, public health, physical infrastructure and other 
boring but necessary things fall apart from lack of funds and diligence. A 
lot of the nation's weaknesses after 9-11 are inter-related by our 
short-sighted hedonism, yet I'm still amazed by President Bush's 
recommendation after 9-11 that we could help the nation by going shopping.
(end)


Mark, junk food and pop music are nowadays more American than mom's apple pie!  
Neither is useless if you want a quick meal or some music to boost your spirits.
Perhaps we should propose a "sin tax" on these items? ; )  


And don't forget the U.S. military which is necessary to a point, but sucks up 
billions which could at least in part be spent elsewhere.  I won't even get 
started on the other big programs like corporate and private welfare. 


I love going to the movies, but it pains me to think what the budget of just one
typical Hollywood film could do to further cryonics and life extension 
research.


I would say you should run for public office except your platform of austerity 
would REALLY turn people off.  You would need the power of a Cromwell (maybe in 
some ways not the best role model!) to get your agenda done.    

you continue:
So, yes, I think you could make the case that real progress is in trouble, 
even without the work of the luddites, repugners & relinquishers. Around 30 
years ago molecular biologist Gunther Stent predicted something like this in 
his book _The Coming of the Golden Age_, where he argued that the people who 
grow up in comfortable conditions will lose the "Faustian" drive that 
motivated their ancestors to build, accumulate capital and push the 
frontiers of science & technology.
(end)


It sounds like an interesting book I need to read.  I just don't think we are 
down for the count yet.  There is still alot of ambition and strength in this 
country and the entire world.  If anything, the fiercely competitive nature of 
our species will help us with the things you fear.  I refuse to give in to 
negativity on these things.


Mark, I can just imagine you post-reanimation walking around watching people and
thinking "they should be out exploring and colonizing the universe, but instead
they just crank out lots of dumb consumer goods in their Santa Claus nano 
machines when they're not actually partying like crazy."  And they will still 
have their annoying music (which they will still be spending too much income on)
and junk food (which in their enhanced bodies won't slowly kill them like it 
does now!).  

I'm sure you will find something to shake your head at. : )

best wishes,

John  






_____________________________________________________________
Get 25MB, POP3, Spam Filtering with LYCOS MAIL PLUS for $19.95/year.
http://login.mail.lycos.com/brandPage.shtml?pageId=plus&ref=lmtplus

Rate This Message: http://www.cryonet.org/cgi-bin/rate.cgi?msg=20862