X-Message-Number: 30770
From: Mark Plus <>
Subject: Great Mambo Disappointments
Date: Mon, 26 May 2008 08:05:08 -0700


Ed Regis back in 1990 published "Great Mambo Chicken and the Transhuman 
Condition," which amounts to a book-length advertisment for transhumanism with 
cryonics as an important theme. 


Lately Regis has come out against the sort of futurology he profiled in his own 
book. For example, he wrote an Edge essay earlier this year dismissing efforts 
to predict the technological future:

http://www.edge.org/q2008/q08_2.html#regis


And in 2001 he pointed out the persistent nonarrival of molecular nanotechnology
(MNT), despite all the "conferences, books, theories, predictions, discussions,
workshops, institutes, companies, scenarios, simulations, pictures, articles, 
initiatives, meetings, study groups, Web sites, magazines, newsletters, matching
grants and unmatching grants, etcetera." Regis concludes that "The one thing we
haven't seen is any substantial progress toward MNT."

http://www.nanotech-now.com/ed-regis-interview-122001.htm


I have to wonder now if we have chased after a technological mirage to make 
cryonics work.


"Around 2010 the world will be at a new orbit in history. . .  Life expectancy 
will be indefinite. Disease and disability will nonexist. Death wll be rare and 
accidental -- but not permanent. We will continuously jettison our obsolescence 
and grow younger." F.M. Esfandiary, "Up-Wing Priorities" (1981).

Mark Plus

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