Category Archives: Immortality

During my daily news consumption, I bumped into a cute story that seemed a bit familiar. The story was a suggestion to switch to an 18 cent coin. I found it by way of Hacker News, for my money ($0), the best news aggregator for the tech set. The article was a fairly typical blog post, a summary of a longer paper, which simply ran the math and determined that the average number of coins you get from a cash register will be 4.7 coins. But the addition of an 18 cent coin would drop that to 3.89.

The story itself is nice, since I like this sort of thing. Its quirky. Its math. It speaks to the stupidity of pennies (and increasingly nickels). It makes me think about government inefficiencies, and the very human affection for little hunks of metal that are actually really inconvenient and clink in my pocket. But I couldnt get past the familiarity. I backed up and re-read the article a lot slower and realized why.

First, the story was originally written in 2003. This is a little odd for Hacker News which usually is pretty current, but a story like this is sort of timeless and prone to random resurgence. But then I realized the reason for this particular resurgence: The by-line was Roland Piquepaille, and you dont forget a name like that.

Roland was incredibly active on Slashdot for many years. His submissions were often just like this 18 cent coin piece: a little off the beaten path, but often interesting. His nickname on Slashdot was rpiquepa and his account is number 5 on the all time submission list with a pretty amazing 477 accepted stories.

Why did I care? Roland died Jan 6, 2009.

He died, but his site lives on. And apparently this week somebody searched online for something or other, landed on a story nearly a decade old and written by a man who had been dead for over 3 years. And that content hit the Internet again just as effectively as if it were written yesterday. A trivial but fun little story has a bit of immortality attached to it.

Roland took a lot of garbage from Slashdot readers over the years. He was incredibly effective at what he did, and his name appeared on the site a lot. A community has a nasty habit of being a little extra hostile towards anything extreme, and Roland often submitted stories on the fluffier end of the news spectrum, and he succeeded a lot, which made him a target. That always made me a little sad.

But Id like to think he gets the posthumous last laugh. He found fun stuff that we enjoyed reading. I hope that the traces I leave behind after Im gone are still good for the occasional laugh as well. Ill never write the Great American Novel or direct the Oscar Award Winning Film. But the Internet lets all of us live forever.

The author is the founder of Slashdot.org

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The Internet and the secret to immortality

MEN IN MAROON: Ash Harrison tells Amanda Lucas about his Origin idols and rivals.

And Meninga's appraisal was last night supported by 1981 foundation Immortal John Raper, who said Inglis will move a step closer to greatness if he dominates the Blues in Origin I at Melbourne's Etihad Stadium.

Inglis stands on the cusp of Origin immortality, with the in-form Queensland centre needing just one try to surpass Maroons stalwart Dale Shearer (12 tries in 26 games) as the greatest tryscorer in the event's 32-year history.

Meninga is the frontrunner to be named the code's eighth Immortal in September and the Maroons master coach says Inglis is on course to join Clive Churchill, Bob Fulton, Graeme Langlands, Reg Gasnier, Wally Lewis, Arthur Beetson and Raper in the elite group.

And Meninga's appraisal was last night supported by 1981 foundation Immortal John Raper, who said Inglis will move a step closer to greatness if he dominates the Blues in Origin I at Melbourne's Etihad Stadium.

Inglis stands on the cusp of Origin immortality, with the in-form Queensland centre needing just one try to surpass Maroons stalwart Dale Shearer (12 tries in 26 games) as the greatest tryscorer in the event's 32-year history.

Meninga is the frontrunner to be named the code's eighth Immortal in September and the Maroons master coach says Inglis is on course to join Clive Churchill, Bob Fulton, Graeme Langlands, Reg Gasnier, Wally Lewis, Arthur Beetson and Raper in the elite group.

Asked if Inglis could one day be crowned an Immortal, Meninga said: "Absolutely. For mine, I can't see any reason why Greg won't rise to that status.

"He really is playing extraordinary football for Souths.

"The thing is he's still got so much football ahead of him. He's in great shape and he is more professional than he has ever been.

Read more:
Inglis destined for immortality: Mal

Every few months scientists inform us that something we have been doing for years will either kill us or make us live forever. According to a recent study in the New England Journal of Medicine, coffee extends your life. Drink six or more cups per day, and you have a 10 to 15 percent lower risk of death.

I love coffee. I drink so much that, if this study is to be believed, I am functionally immortal.

It is reassuring to hear that something you do may extend your life. Usually longevity requires uncomfortable concessions like push-ups or kale. "To get back my youth," Oscar Wilde wrote, "I would do anything in the world, except take exercise, get up early, or be respectable." Thats how I feel. But coffee I can do.

You dont drink coffee because you like it. You drink it because at some point you found yourself surrounded by bright-eyed, bushy-tailed people who had never met a morning they disliked, and you were expected to engage with them. Who are these people, you asked. Havent they read all the studies about how staying up late is an indicator of higher mental functions?

Then coffee came along.

If coffee were a religion, Id be high enough in the ranks of believers to be entitled to a strange hat. You can tell because of my jittery hands and use of exclamation points.

Maybe coffee is something of a religion. Coffee has its temples in airports, on street corners, even small household altars. Worshipers of Starbucks and of Independent Coffee Shops squint mistrustfully at each other. Coffee has rituals the grinding, the dripping, the brewing, the mysterious hissing and ritual exclamations ("Not before Ive had my coffee!"). There are heretics ("Ive switched to tea") and evangelists ("Have you tried Black Blood of the Earth? Its for people who like coffee but wish it contained more coffee!") and all kinds of different approaches.

And now we hear it leads to eternal life.

That was the only logical next step.

Alexandra Petri writes The Washington Posts ComPost blog, a lighter take on the news and issues of the day, and she contributes to the Posts editorial page.

Read the rest here:
I’ll take mine with a shot of immortality

I can see it now: Hologram Elvis thin, commanding, perpetually youthful descending on a concert stage for a world tour that would surpass anything he ever embarked on in real life.

Thank you, thank you veramuch. Doughnuts? Not for me, thanks.

And Michael Jackson, healthy at last, running through his massive catalogue of hits with an energy and resolve he could never muster in the sad years before his death no Propofol required.

Ditto for Amy Winehouse, Whitney Houston, Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, Kurt Cobain, Jim Morrison and a raft of other expired-before-their-time pop stars for whom the demands of fame trounced their natural talent.

Make yourselves at home, dudes theres plenty of heroin and booze in the green room. Oh wait, youre not real.

Welcome to the future, evidenced by the Christ-like resurrection of dead rapper Tupac Shakur as a two-dimensional, yet fully functional hologram at last months Coachella festival in California, the latest bid by the music industry to save itself from a case of built-in obsolescence.

Its a sad story, as original stadium bands like the Beach Boys and Rolling Stones limp along with fading resolve Its our 50th anniversary (cough cough)while the auto-tuned, lipsyncing acts of today would be lucky to fill a phone booth.

The concert industry is dying, baby, and except for warm weather festivals like Coachella and Bonnaroo noncorporate extravaganzas that span generations no one holds much hope for the future of live performances on an epic scale.

Music, once the vanguard of popular culture, has splintered damn you, internet into a thousand tiny niches at the exact moment rock has indulged in an endless retro loop, making bands with the clout to fill big stadiums few and far between.

The good news is, with the invention of the hologram, it no longer matters, because the glory days can continue forever, unburdened by egos, sickness, squandered talent, even death.

Read the rest here:
Popsmacked!: Pop’s brave new world of immortality

Every few months scientists inform us that something we have been doing for years will either kill us or make us live forever. According to a recent study in the New England Journal of Medicine, coffee extends your life. Drink six or more cups per day, and you have a 10 to 15 percent lower risk of death.

I love coffee. I drink so much that, if this study is to be believed, I am functionally immortal.

It is reassuring to hear that something you do may extend your life. Usually longevity requires uncomfortable concessions like push-ups or kale. To get back my youth, Oscar Wilde wrote, I would do anything in the world, except take exercise, get up early, or be respectable. Thats how I feel. But coffee I can do.

You dont drink coffee because you like it. You drink it because at some point you found yourself surrounded by bright-eyed, bushy-tailed people who had never met a morning they disliked, and you were expected to engage with them. Who are these people, you asked. Havent they read all the studies about how staying up late is an indicator of higher mental functions?

Then coffee came along.

If coffee were a religion, Id be high enough in the ranks of believers to be entitled to a strange hat. You can tell because of my jittery hands and use of exclamation points.

Maybe coffee is something of a religion. Coffee has its temples in airports, on street corners, even small household altars. Worshipers of Starbucks and of Independent Coffee Shops squint mistrustfully at each other. Coffee has rituals the grinding, the dripping, the brewing, the mysterious hissing - and ritual exclamations (Not before Ive had my coffee!). There are heretics (Ive switched to tea) and evangelists (Have you tried Black Blood of the Earth? Its for people who like coffee but wish it contained more coffee!) and all kinds of different approaches.

And now we hear it leads to eternal life.

That was the only logical next step.

Excerpt from:
Perspective: With a shot of immortality

Thirty two teams started the battle for glory from September last year. Now, however, the journey has been reduced to the final two-Bayern Munich and Chelsea. Today, both clubs will battle it out for Europe's top club football honour. Football fans, bookmakers and pundits have all predicted an all Spanish final between Barcelona and Real Madrid but Chelsea and Bayern Munich staged upsets in the semi finals by knocking out the two Spanish giants.

Today's final will take place at the Allianz Arena, Bayern Munich's home ground where the winner will enter into the folklore of football legends while the loser will be left wondering what they will do to conquer Europe someday. The loser today would end up with a second loss in the Champions League final. Bayern Munich is aiming for its fifth Champions League trophy while Chelsea is gunning for a first ever Champions League crown.

The last time these two sides met was in the quarter finals of the Champions League in 2004/2005 season where Chelsea knocked out Bayern Munich by winning 6-5 on aggregate.

Bayern Munich has the luxury of playing the Champions League final in front of their home fans. They will be hoping on ending the season on a high after losing the league and Cup to Borrusia Dortmund, they have already faced an English team already in the competition when they played newly crowned English champions Manchester City with each side winning their home game 2-0.

Bayern has a decent record against English sides in the Champions league. They have played 35 matches, won 13, lost 10 and drew 12. Bayern is playing its fourth Champions League final in 13 years. Bayern fans were left heartbroken in the 1999 finals in Nou Camp when they had one hand already on the trophy but two injury time goals handed Man United the trophy.

They bounced back in the 2001 edition beating Valencia in the finals via penalties. Two years ago they lost to Inter Milan in the finals and will be looking to win this one on their home ground making it the fourth time in history that a club will be playing the finals in its home and the first in this modern era (Real Madrid in 1956/57, Inter Milan in 1964/65 and Roma in 1983/84).

Bayern Munich will be without the services of David Alaba, Holger Badstuber and Luiz Gustavo even though its manager Jupp Heynckes will likely have Mario Gomez, Arjen Robben, Franck Ribry, Toni Kroos, Daniel van Buyten, Bastian Schweinsteiger, Philipp Lahm, Jrme Boateng and possibly Thomas Mller in his starting lineup, with Manuel Neuer in goal. The Germans will probably go for a three man attack of Gomez, Ribery and Robben.

Bayern's strength lies on their wing play with Ribery and Robben doing damages on the wings. Ashley Cole and Bosingwa will have their hands full containing the duo. Mario Gomez is the second highest goal scorer in the Champions league with 12 goals and need a hattrick to overtake Lionel Messi who has 14 strikes.

Jupp Heynckes will be gunning for his second Champions League crown after leading Real Madrid to the title in 1998. Bayern winger Ribery insists his side will not take the threat of Chelsea very lightly which he believes is tactically superior to Barcelona. "When it comes to the game, Barcelona is stronger," Ribery said. But if you look at organisation, tactics, and set pieces, then Chelsea is better.

In the semi-final, Chelsea played like they had to against a team like Barcelona, and in Munich they will take a defensive approach, with a well-organised and compact team. It will be very hard for us. Also, former Bayern captain and legend Stefan Effenberg believes Bastian Schweinsteiger must step up to the occasion for Bayern to have a good chance of beating Chelsea as the over reliance on Robben and Ribery is becoming too predictable. "There is a lot of hope resting on Schweinsteiger's shoulders and he cannot buy any more time. He must play well now," Effenberg stated

The rest is here:
Nigeria: Chelsea, Bayern Battle for Immortality