Physicist/futurist Theodore Modis has harshly criticized "The Singularity Is Near" saying Kurzweil's calculations are seriously flawed and that his his book is more within the realm of science fiction as compared to science fact. http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/tmodis/Kurzweil.htm Kevin Shapiro in "This Is Your Brain On Nanobots" sees the weakpoint in Kurzweil's argument as being his optimism about the neurological sciences being able to deliver us brain scanning and uploading within the next several decades. And he also views software as not being able to harness the vast computing power of the coming years to deliver on Kurzweil's dreams. http://www.commentarymagazine.com/Summaries/V120I5P66-1.htm Is everyone here still a true believer when it comes to the Singularity? I recall the past threads we have had here regarding "hard" and "soft" take-off Singularities. And I can remember when people said it would happen around 2025 but the date seems to keep on getting pushed back. lol Will the "Techno-Rapture" still save us or must we look to cryonics? I realize being driven over by a bus or getting terminal cancer could make the Singularity a moot point anyway for an individual, and give great impetus to being signed up for cryonics. Best wishes, John Grigg