You know it’s a mainstream idea when Cringely devotes his weekly column to the topic. Late last week, he wrote Surviving Immortality: just getting to the Singularity is the hard part which is a fairly balanced introduction to the notion of a Technological Singularity.

Having long been a follower of Kurzweil’s writings, I’ve been reading about the singularity for some time. I’m of the camp that firmly believes it is coming, and right on time. For it not to, a dramatic deviation from hundreds of years of consistent accelerating change would have to occur. Extremely unlikely, I believe. The impact will certainly be earth-shaking.

So where does that leave us today? Like Cringely points out in his title, getting there is the tough part. Kurzweil devotes an entire (and excellent) book to this topic. The premise of the book is that people of middle age and younger can easily reach this tipping point if you take good care of yourself. I’m reminded of a voice from my childhood: “If you want eternal life, you need to shape up now”. Mom, you were so right (I love you, Mom)!

At a recent Transhumanist conference, Ray claimed that new data shows current global life expectancy to be increasing by 3 months every year; and predicts 12 months per year by 2022 (Assuming we get past December 21, 2012).

On a related topic, I’ve been planning to begin some experimentation with bas relief on limestone. I recently acquired a 0.5 x 0.3 meter slab of Texas Cream from Ms Caricof and the wonderful folks at the amazing Purple Door. Aided by my sweet little Trow and Holden Bantam air chisel and Kathleen’s bas relief MARBLE/marble workshop, I am hoping soon to find great bliss and Flow. With my recent interest in Mayan culture and especially the Mayan calendar, I thought I would start playing with a scaled replica of a portion of the famous Piedra del Sol.

Filed under: Art, Future, Life, Technology