Hello everyone,

The latest issue of Scientific American grabbed my attention due to the writings
of both Michael Shermer and Dr. Nick Bostrom.  Shermer, who is known at times to
be a critic of cryonics and transhumanism, mocked the idea that immortalists like
Ray Kurzweil could really see a big life-extension payoff within their lifetimes.
 I do agree with Shermer that mega-dosing on vitamins is not going to necessarily
be that beneficial but he is really making things up as he goes along when he
says "immortality is at least a millennium away, if not unattainable altogether!"
 And I have to wonder if he meant true immortality or simply indefinite lifespan...

Kurzweil's claim to be biologically more akin to a 40 year-old had Shermer
snidely respond that Kurzweil sure looked his 56 chronological years based on
what he saw in the author's dustjacket photo!  It seems Shermer is not familiar
with the concept of bio-markers which indicate some of us do age more gracefully
than others when it comes to body performance based on age level. 

Nick Bostrom's review of "Radical Evolution" was very good and it would have been
hard to tell where his loyalties were placed if you did not already know. lol! 
But at the end of the review he gives us a hint by first quoting from the author,
"...Shall we be bashful about these lines we are crossing because we do not have
a way to make them meaningful?"  At this point, Garreau has a constructive
proposal: let's create some new rituals.  Perhaps, he suggests, we should have "a
liturgy of life everlasting as a person receives her first cellular age-reversal
workup."  Why not indeed?"

Nick's review continues with, "In the meantime, there is still some work left to
do in the laboratories.  If we develop the cure for aging in a timely fashion,
while steering clear of the disasters that Joy and others have foretold, we may
one day get to enjoy indefinite life spans with much improved physical and mental
capacities-and some cracking new ceremonies, too."  I really liked the note Dr.
Bostrom ended on.

Nick Bostrom recognized the importance of ritual and ceremony within
human/transhuman society which impressed me.  I don't see this as something we
will outgrow.  In general I felt Dr. Bostrom gave a very balanced review and did
not go on an unfounded negativity kick like Mr. Shermer.  

I am seeing in the mass media a coming of age when it comes to Extropians and
transhumanists in general making themselves felt as our ideas become less "out
there on the fringe" and much more within the mainstream of popular public
discussion.  Every time I see nanotech, A.I. or genetic engineering brought up in
a magazine, net article or cable T.V. program, I think of my Extropian friends
who with their creatively intelligent minds started walking through these
futurist pathways long before most others.  

John Grigg : )    






