Raymond and Monique (cool French people)

From: nanowave (nanowave@shaw.ca)
Date: Fri Mar 15 2002 - 01:11:20 MST


Thank you Alex, Jacques, John and the others who contributed to this
important ethical discussion. While we may not all agree on exactly how to
go about dealing with this dicey issue, it's comforting to see that at least
it hasn't been a matter of simply shaking our heads and muttering.

I'd like to point out that by specifically referring to the couple by name,
we give ourselves a welcome memetic booster shot against the possibility of
slipping into depression should the unfortunate situation arise where we too
must face the prospect of becoming metabolically challenged, or worse,
sleeping through the singularity.

I'd like to dedicate this poem I wrote awhile back to Raymond and Monique.
May they read it one day and shake their heads in rapt horror that they came
so close and having had the likes of me in their corner.

                        ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

                                 *The Pitch*
                     By Russell Evermore

             You're going to die - you're going rot
                 plan ahead - secure your plot
                it's since forever been this way
                          it's natural
                           go gently

                      What's that you say
                      my flesh must rot?
                         worms and dirt
                        oh, I think not!
                  so much I plan to see and do
                  I've made other arrangements

                         Cremation then
                      a prudent preference
                         ashes to ashes
                     sweet eulogistic deference
               either way, the next world waits
                   as sure as death and taxes

           My synaptic circuits scorched and burning?
         But I've worked so hard at growing and learning
                my joyous memories up in smoke?
                        come now mister
                        what's the joke?
                With nanotechnology at the gate
                      and the hopeful ice
                      if I just can't wait
                I think I'll stick around awhile
                 to see mortality go out of style

Russell Evermore
Independent Researcher/Polymath



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