Live data from Hacker News

A Caltech Nobel laureate celebrates his 100th birthday, then gets back to work

latimes.com

101–110 of 254 posts

Re: A Caltech Nobel laureate celebrates his 100th birthday, then gets back to work

#101

I feel like one of the secrets to living longer is to have a reason to get up every day, a purpose to fulfill in life. And this guy certainly has one.

one thing i remember pretty vividly about my grandfather is that he started to age in front of my eyes after he retired. It's ironic that people are almost encouraged to wind down at a point when they need an active life the most to fend off senescence.

Re: A Caltech Nobel laureate celebrates his 100th birthday, then gets back to work

#102

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Not everything is about housing, in particular someone choosing to work to 100+ doesn't really have anything to do with housing.

No, but it helps to own a house if you wish to work to 100+

Would work just as well when renting.

Re: A Caltech Nobel laureate celebrates his 100th birthday, then gets back to work

#103

Earlier quoted context omitted.

If you’ve still got the energy, why not? I think the most important thing is are you enjoying it? Does it feel fulfilling? There’s a lot of pressure to conform to what’s expected of you and if you can ignore that you’ll probably be much happier than most people.

Because arguably it reduces demand for the next generation to do their thing. And if too many do it then it also becomes a necessity for more in the same age cohort to afford housing and transportation.

Pretty offensive to suggest that someone should “step aside for the next generation”.

Personally I’d rather work for someone with more experience (all else being equal), but ultimately the best ideas and execution will win.

Re: A Caltech Nobel laureate celebrates his 100th birthday, then gets back to work

#104

Hi there, old person here. Tomorrow is my 65th birthday. I had vowed to myself that I would completely and totally retire, Finally, at 65. But then, this "thing" cropped up and the day after tomorrow, I am pitching my 3rd startup to investors. I wonder, am I crazy. But I feel passion for this project. So, I am throwing myself into the fray again, there is no logical reason to do so. So, Rudy, I understand.

The prof sounds like a great guy in a great situation. I assume he has a spacious office on a beautiful campus and in full control of the work he is pursuing. I get the same feeling reading he is working at 100 as when I see a loving group of friends and family egging on a married couple celebrating their 75th wedding anniversary to get them to kiss. You just want to pinch their cheeks so hard…

Should working to 100 be aspirational, or even thought desirable, for 99.9999% of the population? Of course not.

Is it admirable to continue to work in a job where others (who you may or may not respect) determine the nature of the work and work environment…for one millisecond longer than you must? I don’t think so, not beyond a personal sacrifice to be made if the work is of unique critical importance to the direct well-being of people and the planet. Even then, think really hard about it.

Is it admirable to take up a slot in a fulfilling career area when so many young deserving candidates are knocking at the door? Not to me.

Should you pursue your personal passions in any way that suits you in your golden years, when economic issues are not a priority? Absolutely.

But who is this self-identified “old person” who is only now turning 65? Just a young punk I say. Take your hippity-hoppity music someplace else…

Re: A Caltech Nobel laureate celebrates his 100th birthday, then gets back to work

#105

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Because arguably it reduces demand for the next generation to do their thing. And if too many do it then it also becomes a necessity for more in the same age cohort to afford housing and transportation.

Pretty offensive to suggest that someone should “step aside for the next generation”. Personally I’d rather work for someone with more experience (all else being equal), but ultimately the best ideas and execution will win.

Not suggesting people go off and die, or be thrown off a cliff. Rather that they consider there are some downsides to society at large if they unnecessarily work late in life. FWIW, I was responding to the question "why not? [keep working]".

Re: A Caltech Nobel laureate celebrates his 100th birthday, then gets back to work

#106
I love my work and I’m darn good at it, but I definitely want to retire. I hope to teach my grandkids (fingers crossed) how to program and take an active role in homeschooling them (again fingers crossed).

Apart then that I have a very fun and rewarding hobby: growing heirloom apple trees and making my own cider.

Nothing wrong with working, but I’ll be glad when I never have a google calendar reminder again.

Re: A Caltech Nobel laureate celebrates his 100th birthday, then gets back to work

#107

Hi there, old person here. Tomorrow is my 65th birthday. I had vowed to myself that I would completely and totally retire, Finally, at 65. But then, this "thing" cropped up and the day after tomorrow, I am pitching my 3rd startup to investors. I wonder, am I crazy. But I feel passion for this project. So, I am throwing myself into the fray again, there is no logical reason to do so. So, Rudy, I understand.

Budd : They say the number one killer of old people is retirement. People got a job to do, they tend to live a little longer so they can do it. I've always figured that warriors and their enemies share the same relationship. (Kill Bill: Vol 2)

By "retirement", people generally mean no longer working for money. That doesn't mean you can't find things to do.

Re: A Caltech Nobel laureate celebrates his 100th birthday, then gets back to work

#108

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Pretty offensive to suggest that someone should “step aside for the next generation”. Personally I’d rather work for someone with more experience (all else being equal), but ultimately the best ideas and execution will win.

Not suggesting people go off and die, or be thrown off a cliff. Rather that they consider there are some downsides to society at large if they unnecessarily work late in life. FWIW, I was responding to the question "why not? [keep working]".

This seems like a counterintuitive idea.

Older people helping to make more products/services is a downside to society at large?

I would understand if “working” was a competition for limited resources. But if it is, in fact, a value generating activity, how does it harm society at large?

e.g. Having more doctors work until later, if they are capable, is not a net positive for our society’s ability to provide healthcare?

Re: A Caltech Nobel laureate celebrates his 100th birthday, then gets back to work

#109

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Pretty offensive to suggest that someone should “step aside for the next generation”. Personally I’d rather work for someone with more experience (all else being equal), but ultimately the best ideas and execution will win.

Not suggesting people go off and die, or be thrown off a cliff. Rather that they consider there are some downsides to society at large if they unnecessarily work late in life. FWIW, I was responding to the question "why not? [keep working]".

The available data[1] suggest that society at large benefits from increased productivity regardless of whether the individuals driving that productivity are 65 or 25. Fortunately, we live in a positive-sum economy where working harder and longer not only grants you a bigger slice of the pie, it increases the size of the entire pie itself.

[1] https://ourworldindata.org/grapher/gdp-vs-happiness

Post reply on HN