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What Dreams May Come

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Re: What Dreams May Come

#111

Post by fasteo »

[deleted] wrote: post #105
fasteo wrote: post #55

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You are right for the wrong reason. The problem with cancer research is that we are trying to solve an unsolvable problem, wasting disproportionate amounts of money. In some sense, cancer is a symptom of a body gone havoc. Research should be targeted upstream, to really tackle the root cause. It is like trying to fix a hardware issue by patching software. Yes, you can get some results by implementing better error cor…

[deleted]

It´s kind of natural for me. I am a geek and I have a genetic disease that is slowly destroying my body. I find lots of similarities between us/computers and god/humans. I am not a religious - in the strict sense - person, but the phrase "And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness" (Genesis 1:26) really applies to us, "makers" of computers.

Re: What Dreams May Come

#112

Post by theknown99 »

saalweachter wrote: post #89
theknown99 wrote: post #76

Earlier quoted context omitted.

There is no solution I can see, and that's worrying. While we're all running around curing diseases, solving global warming etc, the thing that will kill off our species is our own "success".

6. You're expressing yesterday's fear. Population growth in the first world is stable, low, or even negative. We currently have no reason to believe that the third world's population growth won't do the same. Current projections for peak world population are "a little bit larger than now" instead of "trillions and trillions", and the problems of providing for them indefinitely "surmountable".

* Population growth in the first world is stable, low, or even negative.

A quick google search shows that whilst population was pretty stable in UK in the 80s, since then it's been steadily rising. Growth is now 0.75% a year.

But that growth rate is deceptive. Look at

https://www.google.co.uk/publicdata/explore?ds=d5bncppjof8f9...

But that growth rate is deceptive - it "looks" low. But if you check the absolute numbers:

In the UK, population has grown by around 10% in the last 20 years, and it's on an increasingly upward trend.

https://www.google.co.uk/publicdata/explore?ds=d5bncppjof8f9...

Just anecdotally, if you live in the UK, you'll know how many new homes they're building all over the countryside.

World population: https://www.google.co.uk/publicdata/explore?ds=d5bncppjof8f9...

I'm glad you can see that graph levelling off, but I can't see it...

Re: What Dreams May Come

#113

Post by darthclue »

adventured wrote: post #86
darthclue wrote: post #74

Jonathan here. Being woke up by my wife crying because the donations just aren't stopping is both heart-breaking and comforting. For those of you who haven't seen the 'Bucket List' post, here's what it says at the very top: As I try to deal with the reality that is my impending death I can't help but wonder how many things I might have been able to accomplish given just a little more time. When I was diagnosed, I had…

Is there anything people can do to help further beyond donations? Anything your family needs?

Our basic needs are taken care of for now. We have a strong group of friends and family who have been by our side throughout this entire mess and provided us with indescribable support. Spiritual support of any kind is always welcome.

Re: What Dreams May Come

#114

Post by bluedino »

not_paul_graham wrote: post #25
bherms wrote: post #2

It's sad that when we find out something this devastating (you're dying), that we have to spend our last weeks/months/years worrying about, of all things, money. Nobody deserves this sort of thing happening to them, and when it does happen, it hurts me to think they can't spend their last months on earth focused on enjoying time with their loved ones and instead have to live in fear that their family is going to be a…

No one deserves this, especially not at 35. That is far too young. I've had more than a couple of people close to me pass away from cancer and other causes and it all seems very depressing that in some cases you can't really do anything at all. Forgive me for asking but doesn't health insurance cover costs of cancer treatment even in the USA? I really don't want to sound like a narcissist and I'm not trying to judge…

>> Do people really not take into account stuff like children's education, cost of living expenses per additional member of family, emergencies, black swan events?

If you have a life insurance policy, and Aflac, you'll get a ton of money from having cancer. Aflac will pay cash for every hospital visit, every procedure, transportation (not pay FOR it, your health insurance will do that, but give you cash on top of that) and then the life insurance policy will cash out when you pass away.

Your family will miss you but at least they won't have to worry about paying for stuff.

Re: What Dreams May Come

#115

Post by yodsanklai »

vishnugupta wrote: post #78
timr wrote: post #54

Earlier quoted context omitted.

If you're insured in the US (sadly, this is still a fairly big "if"...) the costs of cancer treatment will be covered, but unlike most of the rest of the developed world there are still a lot of caveats: depending on the quality of your coverage, you could end up paying very little, or quite a bit of money. It's not a simple question, unfortunately. That said, it sounds like he's not looking for money for treatment ,…

>If you've just bought a house and a car and had a kid you're probably in a lot of recent debt, with the assumption that you'll have a lifetime to pay it down Out of self discipline I bought a life insurance at the same time my home loan was approved; the insurance amount being same as loan amount. I have always wondered why don't Government have regulations in place that forces a borrower to purchase a life insuranc…

> I have always wondered why don't Government have regulations in place that forces a borrower to purchase a life insurance

It's the old "nanny state" debate... In France, life insurances are mandatory when you get a mortgage. However, one still has to be particularly careful with insurance policies. My mother died to a cancer, a few years after she contracted a loan. However, the insurance company refused to pay off the loan. The contract was nullified as she didn't mention a disease she had 15 years before (unrelated the the cancer that killed her).

Re: What Dreams May Come

#116

Post by makmanalp »

jmadsen wrote: post #21

OP here: His donation page is at: https://www.giveforward.com/fundraiser/w704/beating-cancer-o... which can handle the load much better Should have thought to put that up earlier

Anyone notice that the SSL cert for the donation page (https://secure.giveforward.com/donate/119408) has issues? Firefox says "does not supply identity information".

Someone noticed here but got a canned answer: http://help.giveforward.com/customer/portal/questions/124352...

Could anyone verify that this is fine? I'm going to donate if it is. Thanks!

edit: Looks like safari is fine with it, and a IceyEC mentions chrome is fine too. Probably firefox just being overzealous. Donate away!

Re: What Dreams May Come

#117

Post by danielweber »

naner wrote: post #75
VMG wrote: post #35

Earlier quoted context omitted.

can't miss an opportunity for pointless snark, eh?

Not really pointless... guy is dying and worried about the financial security of his family, which I completely understand, but then outlines some financially irresponsible expenses? How about posting on facebook "I'm dying, here's a fund we started to help support my wife and children in my absence" and leave it at that. This comes across as entitled and unrealistic. That being said, his situation is extremely shitt…

His priorities break down into

1) paying off debt so his currently income-less wife has some breathing room

2) spending time with family.

He's not snorting cocaine off a dead hooker's ass here.

Re: What Dreams May Come

#118

Post by seanmcdirmid »

hessenwolf wrote: post #95
melling wrote: post #12

Earlier quoted context omitted.

There are over 7 billion people on the planet. A day doesn't go by without a story like this. We just don't hear about most of them. Someday a person like this will simply go to his doctor, get a prescription, and go on to live a normal life. Rather than dwelling on sadness, maybe we should ask if there isn't something we can do, as a group, to make that day arrive sooner. What would it take to cure, or at least trea…

The highest source of personal bankruptcy in China is medical expenses. Something something about the largest risk of poverty for middle class people in China is medical expenses. Source: WHO speaker at a longevity conference I attended.

China doesn't really have personal bankruptcy. Its pay at the door or die, and that includes various hongbaos needed for the doc to do a good job.

Re: What Dreams May Come

#119

Post by n_coats »

I live in Orlando, 30 minutes from all the parks. Please reach out to me if and when you and your family make this trip. I will help in any way I can. I know, from my personal network, that I can help in getting free tickets and an employee rate at one of the park hotels. I'd be more than happy to provide transportation for you and your family to and from the airport as well.

If you make it this way, please contact me, I'd love to help!

Re: What Dreams May Come

#120

Post by IceyEC »

makmanalp wrote: post #116
jmadsen wrote: post #21

OP here: His donation page is at: https://www.giveforward.com/fundraiser/w704/beating-cancer-o... which can handle the load much better Should have thought to put that up earlier

Anyone notice that the SSL cert for the donation page ( https://secure.giveforward.com/donate/119408 ) has issues? Firefox says "does not supply identity information". Someone noticed here but got a canned answer: http://help.giveforward.com/customer/portal/questions/124352... Could anyone verify that this is fine? I'm going to donate if it is. Thanks! edit: Looks like safari is fine with it, and a IceyEC mentions ch…

Chrome is perfectly happy with the cert
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