X-Message-Number: 15382
Date: Thu, 18 Jan 2001 22:47:25 -0500 (EST)
From: Ben Best <>
Subject: Re: "Scientists Bet Half-A-Billion On 150-Year Lifespan"

On Wed, 17 Jan 2001, Mark Plus wrote:

> Message #15368
> Yesterday I posted:
>
> >Message #15359
> >From: "Mark Plus" <>
> >Subject: "Scientists Bet Half-A-Billion On 150-Year Lifespan"
> > Date: Tue, 16 Jan 2001 18:35:44 -0800
> >
> >Scientists Bet Half-A-Billion On 150-Year Lifespan
> >
> > Researchers S. Jay Olshansky of the University of Illinois at Chicago 
> >School
> >of Public Health and Steven Austad of the University of Idaho have a >$500
> >million bet riding on who has the most accurate scientific view of >aging.
> >Their debate about aging led to the half-billion-dollar wager, which is
> >payable in 2150. Austad believes someone already born will provide the 
> >proof
> >of the wager. Their bet reflects the estimated proceeds of a trust fund 
> >they
> >created this year.
>
> >Austad bet that someone will live to be 150 years old by 2150. >Olshansky 
> >bet
> >that 130 years is the top end of the human lifespan.
>
> Although Austad seems to have figured out part of the right idea, in general 
> reading this makes me wonder whether scientific education can induce a 
> certain kind of stupidity.  Instead of setting up a posthumous trust fund, 
> why not try to raise $500 million TODAY to conquer aging and death?
>
> Perhaps we need a new term to describe a totally bone-headed nonsolution to 
> a real problem.  How does "antilateral thinking" sound?

   Raising money in the same manner as these brilliant scientists is 
easier than you think. Instead of entering this contest, you can invest
$300 at 10% interest and in 150 years (year 2150) you will have 
 
      300 X (1.1) ^ 150 = $500 million

   Or, better yet, you can invest $1000 at 10% and get $1.6 trillion. The hard

part is living long enough to collect. That's the problem on which I am devoting
my attention & effort. 

                                  -- Ben

         --------------------------------------------
            Ben Best ()
            http://www.benbest.com/
            ICQ -- http://www.mirabilis.com/20636141

Rate This Message: http://www.cryonet.org/cgi-bin/rate.cgi?msg=15382