At 12:59 AM 3/22/00 -0800, David Brin wrote: ABSTRACT: What daring 21st century concepts or projects would you most like to see pursued, if money were no object? The longer I shuffle possible scenarios for investing huge amounts of money, the more I realize the enormous responsibility of making suggestions. Putting aside the inventory of needy causes around the world, civilization's most immediate need for attention and money is superlongevity: overcoming mental and physical disease, reversing aging, and extending and preserving life. This requires creative technological and scientific methods. How do we do this? By investing in the essential traits of problem solving: curiosity, innovation, inventiveness, inspiration and imagination. How do we develop the essential traits that give us the backbone to recognize a problem and have the brain-power to solve it? By learning how to and then by doing it. Civilization is largely influenced by storytelling — from symbols to celluloid. As new technologies develop, stories will infiltrate the technology and whisper sweet tidings or shout torrid tales. It's that basic: if you want to influence a heck of a lot of people, talk to them so that they understand while uplifting their intelligence and opening their minds. For a few billion dollars, my suggestion is: Research the marketplace for business models and strategies based on knowledge and learning. Design business to business plans with companies and individuals that have expertise in the technologies and sciences of life extension (genetic engineering, nanotechnoloy, genomics, prosthetics, robotics, etc.) *and* the latest technological and communication creative talents of the arts (print, film and electronic mediums, Internet design, etc.) Invest in Extropy Institute to design and produce several parallel projects. Hire the talent, invite the problem solving minds, employ the publicists, and think BIG. Think like venture capitalists. Science and technology cannot single-handedly defy the stronghold of death over culture. People have to *want* to live healthier and longer. If we don't invest in securing business models for superlongevity based on knowledge and learning, it will be difficult to adequately develop the products that will enable us to compete with "creatures that are smarter than human" (Vinge, 1988 http://www.extropy.org/eo/articles/vinge.htm). If we are still biologically-based and competing with superintelligent creatures, they are certainly going to outlive us if they can't outsmart us. I'd love to prance around the icy rings of Saturn or garden the oxidized sands of Mars, but I might not be able to enjoy these dreams if I am not alive. We must invest in solving the problem of death. Now. Cards on the table—failure is not an option. I've got some ideas and if you want I'll send them privately, David. Natasha Natasha Vita-More: http://www.natasha.cc To Order the book: Create/Recreate: The 3rd Millennial Culture http://www.natasha.cc/books.htm Extropic Art & Transhumanist Arts Center: http://www.extropic-art.com Transhuman Culture InfoMark: http://www.transhuman.org