[longshadow]

What the scientist would do, if allowed, during a TV interview which asks, "But what's it all mean professor, about the future of mankind?"---is to say, "I have no idea. I'm going back to my lab do research your question further and, if I'm lucky I'll have partial answer for before I die. Wait right here."

This reminds me of an anecdote about a wise man who, during a seminar he was giving, was asked:

"What is the future of the World going to look like in 50 years?" His response was to look at his watch and announce:

"It is 2:30 in the afternoon; in 4 hours, I will be eating dinner. I have no idea what I will be eating. If I don't know what I'm eating for dinner in 4 hours, how can I, or anyone else, tell you what the world will be like in 50 years?"

The "wise man" was the Dalai Lama.

[Doctor Stochastic]

On the other hand, there once was a school board member from Dover, who couldn't remember, when it was over, what he about finance....