> [...]
> There are a few areas where the singularity meme makes me more
> complacent (e.g. cryonics research), but they wouldn't be at the
> top of my priority list anyway.
See? The harm's done, already. The advent of Singularity is _not_
certain, things sadly sigmoidal can delay it indefinitely (no, there is
no such thing as a catastrophic breakdown in existance). Where will there
be a decent suspension procedure, when you will need it, when cursing and
moaning, while vomiting bile and gasping for air upon your deathbed?
Consider the amount of qualified _scientists_ (not even good scientists)
doing cryonics research, however puny. The area is virtually uncharted,
very little quantitative work has been done. Heck, even the entire
cryobiology discipline does not have _that_ many researchers.
Even a single more competent individual would mean a large difference.
Carving out a comfortable living in IT business seems straightforward, yet
the world has a lot of IT professionals, already. Definitive results,
whether positive or crushing, would be highly desirable. Don't hesitate to
devote your life to cryobiology, even if you will never get rich in the
process.
ciao,
'gene
P.S. Currently not doing cryonics research, not signed up either.