Scientists reverse the ageing process - BUT....

[Patrick]

....at the moment it would just increase the risk of activating cancer cells.

Scientists claim to be a step closer to reversing the ageing process after rejuvenating worn out organs in elderly mice. The experimental treatment developed by researchers at Harvard Medical School turned weak and feeble old mice into healthy animals by regenerating their aged bodies.

The surprise recovery of the animals has raised hopes among scientists that it may be possible to achieve a similar feat in humans – or at least to slow down the ageing process.

[everso]

Just what the world needs: more and more people being born and less and less people dying!

[housesparrow]

Good point, Everso. For this reason I propose that only those people without children should be allowed the treatment!

[everso]

My dad always used to reckon that once you're 70 you should be done in. Except when he got to 70 of course.

[tarzanontarmazepam]

Kenneth Williams said he didn't want to go beyond 62. He allegedly took his own life at 62. That's too young these days, but 75 would be enough for me.

Death is nothing to be feared. If we were here for an eternity life would be intolerable. There has to be an end.

But if some of the barmpot scientists are to be believed we never die...at the point of death we carry on living in a parallel universe.

Everything is the same in the parallel universe but slightly altered...so Stub Crouch becomes The Stub and is run by a meglomaniac barber from Istanbul...I have a fluffiness count of 409...and Everso is a rampant 36 year old nymphomaniac from Twickenham.

I can't wait!

[riotgrrl]

I can't think of very many people who enjoy a good quality of life once they're over about 90. It seems to be all downhill from then . . .

I remember a story (can't remember who or from where, but I think it was a politiican) who said to a lady of 91 something like "Well, I hope you live to see 100", to which she replied "You're a very wicked man to wish me that."

The gist of the story stuck with me . .

[housesparrow]

My farmer next door neighbour is 90 and still working.

He refuses to have the heating on so I've invited his son (50 ish) round tonight to enjoy our open fire.

[bonbonlarue]

I'm way ahead of those boffins...I refuse to get old and if I happen to spot any signs of aging I simply ignore them.

sorted..

[everso]

You know it makes sense.

[aubrey]

Citadel reverberates to a thousand voices, now dumb:
what have we become? What have we chosen to be?
Now, all history is reduced to the syllables of our name -
nothing can ever be the same now the Immortals are here.
At the time, it seemed a reasonable course
to harness all the force of life without the threat of death,
but soon we found
that boredom and inertia are not negative,
but all the law we know
and dead are Will and words like survival.

Arrival at immunity from all age, all fear and all end....
Why do I pretend? Our essence is distilled
and all familiar taste is now drained
and though purity is maintained it leaves us sterile,
living through the millions of years,
a laugh as close as any tear....
Living, if you claim that all that entails is
breathing, eating, defecating, screwing, drinking,
spewing, sleeping, sinking ever down and down
and ultimately passing away time
which no longer has any meaning.

Take away the threat of death
and all you're left with is a round of make-believe;
marshal every sullen breath
and though you're ultimately bored by endless ecstasy
that's still the ring by which you hope to be engaged
to marry the girl who will give you forever -
that's crazy, and plainly
it simply is not enough.

What is the dullest and bluntest of pains,
such that my eyes never close without feeling it there?
What abject despair demands an end to all things of infinity?
If we have gained, how do we now meet the cost?
What have we bargained, and what have we lost?
What have we relinquished, never even knowing it was there?

What chance now of holding fast the line,
defying death and time
when everything we had is gone?
Everything we laboured for and favoured more
than earthly things reveals the hollow ring
of false hope and of false deliverance.

But now the nuptial bed is made,
the dowry has been paid;
the toothless, haggard features of Eternity
now welcome me between the sheets
to couple with her withered body - my wife.

Hers forever,
hers forever,
hers forever
in still life.