What would you do...?

[stlukesguild]

In a post by Neely on another thread that has been an exploration of endless diversions, the issue of what you would do if you won the lottery was broached. This got me to thinking... this improbable fantasy... winning some fortune... shall we limit it to a "mere" $50 million US... would surely afford a majority of us the option of living life as we pleased... doing that which we most valued or desired...

So I posit the question: "What would you do if you were the sudden recipient of $50 Million US? Where and how would you spend your time and your money?"

And please... no inane answers worthy of Ms. America pageants about bringing about an end to poverty and promoting world peace. We all know that's pure bunk anyway.

[Darcy88]

I would do a million things. I'd get super-educated, earning double phds in philosophy and biology. In the summers I would go to Thailand and train at a traditional muay thai kickboxing gym. I'd buy my parents each houses and help them retire immediately. I'd pay for my brother to have time in a recording studio and I'd pay to get his album out. After I finished my formal education, maybe after 15 years or so, I'd write, read, travel, sail, raise children, climb mountains, run marathons, basically spend my time freely exercising myself in body and mind.

On second thought I think I'd find myself a busty blonde bimbo, develop an out-of-control cocaine habit and wind up crashing my ferrari on a winding road in the Alps.

[BienvenuJDC]

I would establish an assisted living community for adult special needs individuals. Within this secure community, there would be a "step down" facility for new parents of Special needs babies, or those who might have received new procedures, or being released from the hospital. This facility would utilize those special needs adults in the capacity in which they were able. If that would be cleaning the rooms, or replacing linens, possibly other areas. There would be a nurse on staff to assist with learning how to use new equipment.

For example, when we were released with my daughter when she had surgery for a feeding port. They showed us how to hook her up to it, how to disconnect, clean, etc. But when we got home and did it for the first time all by ourselves, we had difficulty. it would have been great to be in a place that was set up "like" home, but with someone nearby for questions and assistance.

I'd set it up like a cozy Bed N Breakfast Inn, with everything that was needed for a family (accommodating siblings as well). The fee would be "no charge". It would also be comforting for new parents of a child with (let's say) Down Syndrome to see adults with Down Syndrome that are functioning well in society.

Those special needs adults would be provided with various services like Financial Advisers, transportation, and anything that you might think that they would need to assist them in living like anyone else.

[lawpark]

Studying for a Ph.D. is a good idea

[Lokasenna]

I'd whack it in the bank, and live extremely comfortably on the interest. Other than never having to worry about money again, I suspect my life style would change very little... I'm really quite happy with my lot...

[Jack of Hearts]

Honestly, no clue. Definitely not buying things. Because owning things, when you think about it, is a really funny concept. Somehow, this copy of Juliette, Naked by Nick Hornby is affiliated with Jack of Hearts. There are many others like it, but this one is his. Some invisible force says you can't touch this particular copy of Juliette, Naked. You can't pick it up and carry it away. You have to leave it alone until somebody else says it's ok. And you hope that affiliation with the thing goes only one way, that you own the object and that's that, it has no bearing on you... but damn it, at the end of the day you own a copy of Juliette, Naked by Nick Hornby.







J



EDIT: It was six dollars at Borders when they were closing out. It was an accident.

[JuniperWoolf]

I'd go to school like I am now, except I'd do it in a nice little apartment of my own very close to campus with no roommates and without any stupid little part time jobs or big working breaks (like the one I'm currently enduring, I'm writing this from my stupid cream-colored office). I'd have a lot less stress, which would be nice. I'd eat better food too, and I'd buy a car and actually be able to afford parking. I'd schedule trips during my breaks instead of stints of profuse working. I'd go to Iceland, Japan, California, all over. I'd go to school forever and spend my free time doing wherever I want, that would be fantastic. Also, my apartment would be b*tchin'. Great furnishings, a lot of purple and black, with every game console ever created and a computer system that would make the gods envious. I'd be able to own books, and I wouldn't have to worry about carting them around after me because I could pay someone to do that for me. I'd finally live in a place where I could keep cats too, two black ones, one named GeorgeII and the other named Frank.

My boyfriend will get his own apartment, close to mine but not too close, and everything he wants.

Oh yeah, I guess I'd set my family up nice as well. My mother will want a gigantic house with servants and eight or nine very fast cars and my brother will want a cabin in the woods and a truck I'm sure. My dad might not accept anything, he's a stoic, self-sufficient kind of man but I'll force him to let me pay off his mortgage and any debts as well as a few repairs and "superfluous" upgrades on his house (he'll complain, I tried to get him a new dishwasher for Christmas after his old one exploded and he wouldn't let me).

[tinybore]

I've fantasized this a lot whenever I try my luck on lottery.
But I'd feel **** spending all the money that I don't really need. It won't bring happiness. I'd just buy an own comfortable and little house somewhere quiet and peaceful, and save some in case I'd be unemployed in the future.
And the rest would goto charity or something.

Sorry for the boring response :nopity:

[Pensive]

Before I could actually do something worthwhile, I would probably go insane and get admitted into some mental asylum or something.

[PoeticPassions]

Other than setting up an NGO for work on ex- child soldier rehabilitation in Uganda, paying back my loans, buying a house on the coast, and traveling the world... I'd do what everyone else would do with that much money: sex, drugs, and rock and roll.

[Emil Miller]

I thought this was supposed to be for serious discussions but, given that there are some even more fantasy threads on it, I'll play.
I would give half to charity and then undertake an extensive tour of the Far East, concentrating on Japan and Vietnam in particular, before settling down in some place like this:

http://img37.imageshack.us/img37/3669/frenchrivieravilladucap.jpg

[JuniperWoolf]

You "charity" people are so not following the rules:


And please... no inane answers worthy of Ms. America pageants about bringing about an end to poverty and promoting world peace. We all know that's pure bunk anyway.

[osho]

I have a peculiar dream. In fact I want to travel to some unexplored, less-travelled zones, maybe to some tribal communities where you cannot see shadows of civilization. You will come across people who behave on impulse, eat as they want not caring whether the food they are eating is nourishing or not and they make love on a whim, no religion and culture can control their minds. Their minds are not layered like ours and they never censor their urges and do as their hearts dictate. They fight, love, work, run the way they want and no external forces can subdue them. I do not know there is a world like this but there are places where in something like this prevails.

[Emil Miller]

You "charity" people are so not following the rules:

I'm pretty sure that StLuke didn't mean charities in specific terms, he was suggesting that some silly people might think they could make an overall difference to world hunger and poverty with the money. In any case, some people might leave it to animal charities or the arts or any number of other non human charitable organisations.

[Patrick_Bateman]

Well considering that I could live a luxurious life froom the interest that $5m would generate every year I would spend the majority of that $50m thus...

Before I waste all the money without doing much good I would immediately unleash a rainbow of benevolence over family and close friends.
Pay off my parents' mortgage and then let out the rooms so that the house generates an income for them. I would then buy them a farm and a beautiful farmhouse to spend their days (my dad would bloody love that)
Buy houses for my closest friends
A trip to Las Vegas with my male friends for two weeks of sin and decadence
A couple of my mates need a car so I would sort them out to make life easier.


Now enough about them I need to sort myself out

A home in Cornwall near the beach
Ever since I stayed with relatives in Solon, Ohio I have wanted one of those big houses amongst the woodland with deers roaming freely through the gardens, so I would buy a home there too (and I'd be close to Cleveland and the the Indians, Browns and Cavaliers :D )
I would also have a home in Berlin
2 cars (no one person needs more than that) Aston Martin DB9 and a Honda Civic.
Buy a stake in West Bromwich Albion as well as a small stake in the Cleveland Indians


As for donations I would give a sizeable amount to my University of Bristol Arts Department
Donations to various charities

I'd like to open my own Bar/Grill as well

(Whenever I ponder this fantasy I always think of more unique and unusual things to do by I'm afraid they are not coming to me at the moment)

[Patrick_Bateman]

Studying for a Ph.D. is a good idea

I would also pay for my Ph.D and would probably do another degree afterwards. (I'd have plenty of free time for personal development)

[Helga]

I would buy the house I have been watching for 5 years, it's not big just a three bedroom and a big garden. I would change everything inside the house so it would fit my needs exactly and then I would buy the house I see as a great coffee house here in my town on the ice. I'd be open to a few good causes too. Mainly I would do what I want to do, study more and maybe be able to do the jobs I'd like to do and write maybe fiction and non-fiction.

[Alexander III]

I would abandon university, and europe - and flee to sounth america. Spending a couple of years in various countries. I would not want any woman or permenanent friends, just myself living in hotels. Once South America would begin to get dull I would find a new continent.

I dont understand all those people who would study? To paraphrase a quote from goodwill hunting, "that harvard education you get for 100,000, any man can get for 1.79 library card. Which is very true, I dont believe in education trough schooling. You only truley learn when you discover, being tought is merley a pirated low def quality movie on the internet compared to discovery which is the actual book. Life is far to short to spend a quarter of your life being instructed by lesser men.

[BienvenuJDC]

I would abandon university, and europe - and flee to sounth america. Spending a couple of years in various countries. I would not want any woman or permenanent friends, just myself living in hotels. Once South America would begin to get dull I would find a new continent.

I dont understand all those people who would study? To paraphrase a quote from goodwill hunting, "that harvard education you get for 100,000, any man can get for 1.79 library card. Which is very true, I dont believe in education trough schooling. You only truley learn when you discover, being tought is merley a pirated low def quality movie on the internet compared to discovery which is the actual book. Life is far to short to spend a quarter of your life being instructed by lesser men.

1000 praises to your comment. I had the question in my mind, "Can someone become too educated?"
:thumbsup:

[Helga]

I do understand the longing to travel and learn that way like you say Alexander, but then there is people like me who don't want to talk to new people and really don't want to travel a lot and not knowing anyone is a terrifying thought.

Nope, I'd stay in my box with my 'low def quality' education.

[Charles Darnay]

1000 praises to your comment. I had the question in my mind, "Can someone become too educated?"
:thumbsup:

I don't think so. Maybe. Depends on what day you ask me. I am in a constant struggle between "I have done with school." and "more school!"

I would probably use the money to climb the ivory tower, become a professor and inevitably a corrupt professor who uses his influence to secure his position at the school.

[BienvenuJDC]

I don't think so. Maybe. Depends on what day you ask me. I am in a constant struggle between "I have done with school." and "more school!"

I would probably use the money to climb the ivory tower, become a professor and inevitably a corrupt professor who uses his influence to secure his position at the school.

Don't get me wrong...we always need to continue to learn, but one can only learn so much from a book. There are lots of very educated idiots out there. There are professionals who have certifications and licenses that do poorly at their career in spite of the education. Many of those are professors as well. The universities are becoming institutions of propaganda teaching ideologies and biases. There are many trades (which are more often their own art) that can be taught better in trade school and on the job. Universities are supposed to be preparing (the majority of) individuals for an occupation, but for the most part they lay a thin foundation and the companies are expected to teach what is needed to do the job.

So then, what is an education for?

[Charles Darnay]

Don't get me wrong...we always need to continue to learn, but one can only learn so much from a book. There are lots of very educated idiots out there. There are professionals who have certifications and licenses that do poorly at their career in spite of the education. Many of those are professors as well. The universities are becoming institutions of propaganda teaching ideologies and biases. There are many trades (which are more often their own art) that can be taught better in trade school and on the job. Universities are supposed to be preparing (the majority of) individuals for an occupation, but for the most part they lay a thin foundation and the companies are expected to teach what is needed to do the job.



I completely agree.

I tend to Romantically cling to the Classical idea of education, which exists more in-of-itself than for the purpose of getting a job. Education since the Industrial Revolution has been for the purposes of getting a job, and each generation we dig ourselves deeper into a hole in which education becomes more and more irrelevant. But I love learning, acquiring new knowledge, exploring new ideas, discussing ideas - knowing full well that it does not lead to any tangible pay-off.

[Emil Miller]

1000 praises to your comment. I had the question in my mind, "Can someone become too educated?"
:thumbsup:

I don't see how, we are always learning in some way or other right to the end of our lives. If a person lived to be 200 they would never learn more than a tiny part of all there is to know, even with the Internet at their disposal.

[Alexander III]

I don't see how, we are always learning in some way or other right to the end of our lives. If a person lived to be 200 they would never learn more than a tiny part of all there is to know, even with the Internet at their disposal.

He was using the term "educated" in the academical sense, as in academicaly educated. Not Educated as in, knowlege.

[BienvenuJDC]

I completely agree.

I tend to Romantically cling to the Classical idea of education, which exists more in-of-itself than for the purpose of getting a job. Education since the Industrial Revolution has been for the purposes of getting a job, and each generation we dig ourselves deeper into a hole in which education becomes more and more irrelevant. But I love learning, acquiring new knowledge, exploring new ideas, discussing ideas - knowing full well that it does not lead to any tangible pay-off.

I agree with what you are saying. I guess the best thing to do is approach education and learning with a well balanced concept. I bought a Dutch Oven based on what I saw at the Army Heritage Days at a local outdoor museum. People were all dressed in period attire doing things as things were done generations ago. I want to learn how they used to cook and bake over an open fire and in a hearth. However, this can be accomplished by going to the library, joining groups and clubs, getting involved in reenactments, personal experimentation based on the previously mentioned, and even watching worthwhile videos on youtube. I have lots of interest in the pioneer days and learning about historical things. However, you will find it very difficult to find any university coursework that actually teaches these things. Nor would I want to pay the prices that some professor wants to be paid to learn something that he/she has never experienced. I've seen many youtube videos made by what scholars would deem "uneducated" individuals that taught me many great and interesting things. The following is but one example. If one would think that Hershel House is not worthy of teaching you anything, then I think that we can note the arrogance that exists in the institutions mentioned.

Hershel House (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fGpa_SkxmvI)

If anyone missed my meaning, by being "educated", I am referring to formal education that would be obtained by paying tuition to an accredited college. One does not have to pay large sums of money and receive a degree to get an education.

[Lokasenna]

He was using the term "educated" in the academical sense, as in academicaly educated. Not Educated as in, knowlege.

If I may ask, what is the difference? Speaking as someone inextricably mired in the university system, I would say that I gain two things from studies: knowledge, and the ability to analyse and use that knowledge.

I may only be an expert on one thing, thanks to my university education, but I can promise you that as a result of that process I have had access to materials that are beyond anything the local library, or even the internet, could summon up. I either could not have gotten to this stage without university, or it would have taken a lot more time. For the acquisition of knowledge, my access to university resources, and my involvement in an educated and research-interested community, has been pivotal. And as anyone who watches University Challenge while I'm around will tell you, my knowledge extends well beyond my specialisation.

[OrphanPip]

I've noticed from discussions on science forums, that I occasionally frequent, that many of those who think they have self-educated themselves have giant holes in their education. A formalized system has the benefit of testing not just your incidental exposure to ideas, but your ability to implement those ideas in new ways and to analyse them critically. It also allows a rare environment where you can participate with large groups of people with similar knowledge bases. Besides the practicalities of a science education, because of the expense of equipment and experiments, means that you really can't afford to do that at home. I learned how to run a flourescent activated cell sorter at university, a machine that costs half a million dollars. I also was able to have hands on experience with many pathogens that would not be easy to acquire at home. I got to meet the director of the NASA Mars missions in the 90s, learned about HIV from a medical doctor who treated the first cases of AIDS in Canada, and mingle with a number of minds far greater than my own. And this isn't just unique to the sciences, the same benefits of academia apply to the humanities.

Anyway, if I had 50M, I'd probably invest it. My brother is worth about 8 million now, and given my career choices the lottery is probably my only way to catch up to him.

[Alexander III]

I've noticed from discussions on science forums, that I occasionally frequent, that many of those who think they have self-educated themselves have giant holes in their education. A formalized system has the benefit of testing not just your incidental exposure to ideas, but your ability to implement those ideas in new ways and to analyse them critically. It also allows a rare environment where you can participate with large groups of people with similar knowledge bases. Besides the practicalities of a science education, because of the expense of equipment and experiments, means that you really can't afford to do that at home. I learned how to run a flourescent activated cell sorter at university, a machine that costs half a million dollars. I also was able to have hands on experience with many pathogens that would not be easy to acquire at home. I got to meet the director of the NASA Mars missions in the 90s, learned about HIV from a medical doctor who treated the first cases of AIDS in Canada, and mingle with a number of minds far greater than my own. And this isn't just unique to the sciences, the same benefits of academia apply to the humanities.

Anyway, if I had 50M, I'd probably invest it. My brother is worth about 8 million now, and given my career choices the lottery is probably my only way to catch up to him.


Darwin learnt far more on his journey with the Beagle than in the class room. Einstein was self-taught. ect.

[BienvenuJDC]

It is interesting for those who have spent their lives in a university, they have no idea what else is out there. Just because it is in a university library, it doesn't make it true. Just because it is found somewhere other than a university library, it doesn't make it false. This is what I mean by a rather arrogant perception of "educated" individuals.

[Charles Darnay]

So that book I found in my university library saying that Canada was founded by an Aeneas like hero who ran away from Troy (in the opposite direction) and was directed by Hephaestus to British Columbia - all this was false?

You know what, screw it. When I get this hypothetical large amount of money I am writing this great epic and mass producing/marketing it until it becomes truth.

[OrphanPip]

Darwin learnt far more on his journey with the Beagle than in the class room. Einstein was self-taught. ect.

Darwin received a formal education, and most of his ideas are built on his father's work and the work of his contemporaries in several of the naturalists societies he participated in. To say he learned more on the journey of the Beagle is to ignore the fact that his work on the Beagle was a part of the academic institutions of the period. Just as a biologist doing field work is still part of the university system.

Einstein went to university at the Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich. Where he received a degree in math and physics, plus a teaching diploma.

It's simply a romantic myth.


It is interesting for those who have spent their lives in a university, they have no idea what else is out there. Just because it is in a university library, it doesn't make it true. Just because it is found somewhere other than a university library, it doesn't make it false. This is what I mean by a rather arrogant perception of "educated" individuals.

Yes, we know, all those blind university educated scientist have it wrong. They're too invested in keeping up the conspiracy of evolution and the geological timescale so that they can maintain their cushy 40k a year jobs. While those truth seekers out in the market of public opinion, like the Discovery Institute, conveniently make a fortune off of politicizing science and self-publishing book after book of "God did it."

[BienvenuJDC]

Yes, we know, all those blind university educated scientist have it wrong. They're too invested in keeping up the conspiracy of evolution and the geological timescale so that they can maintain their cushy 40k a year jobs. While those truth seekers out in the market of public opinion, like the Discovery Institute, conveniently make a fortune off of politicizing science and self-publishing book after book of "God did it."

I'm not talking about evolution here. I am saying that those who have been solely involved in the academic world try to discredit any other form of education. It is true that people can be self taught. People can learn by reading books on their own without the guidance of a college professor. Some can learn by hands on methods from those who are experienced. I'm not trying to discredit the education that is obtained in a college setting. I'm just saying that there are other comparable methods that are just as good. In some areas of study and learning, there are methods that are even better. To challenge that statement, I believe completely arrogant. I will admit that there are areas of study that is better taught in a school environment, but not all...maybe not even the majority. But you may have another opinion.

[Emil Miller]

Why are people getting into an argument about the respective merits of a formal/informal education? University is very useful for providing a basis for a process that will continue long after a graduate has left. Some will do well at university while others will leave knowing not much more than when they went in, depending on their ability and/or commitment, but in either case they will still have much to learn in the years ahead.
Once again a thread that has a specific subject has been blown off course into a completely unconnected one which, however interesting, can't compete with how to spend $50 million.

[BienvenuJDC]

Maybe we should divide the $50 million between us all, so that it can be utilized in that manner?

[papayahed]

Why are people getting into an argument about the respective merits of a formal/informal education? University is very useful for providing a basis for a process that will continue long after a graduate has left. Some will do well at university while others will leave knowing not much more than when they went in, depending on their ability and/or commitment, but in either case they will still have much to learn in the years ahead.
Once again a thread that has a specific subject has been blown off course into a completely unconnected one which, however interesting, can't compete with how to spend $50 million.


Bean! We agree on something!:biggrin5:

My $50 million:

I would set a chunk aside, say ~ 10 million, to divy up between my immediate family and closest friends.

~ 10 million to my favorite charities

~20 million in stocks and savings in case the below ten doesn't last as long as I think it will.

~ 10 million to blow on shiny objects*, cute shoes and the business of everyday life

It would be fun to travel a bit but i think in the long run I'd have to work, perhaps a volunteer position and maybe a few classes here and there just because school is fun.


*shiny objects = jewelry, cars

[BienvenuJDC]

but i think in the long run I'd have to work, perhaps a volunteer position

I'm thinking that divying up $50 million dollars would be quite a task that would occupy someone's time as an executor for quite a while. How many different charities would you give to? The problem that arises with giving money away in that amount is that the average organization can't handle such numbers. Unless of course it is given for the purpose of construction, then $10 million could easily be absorbed. But when people receive such amounts, a high percentage of it is wasted because people have too much.

So, just curious, would you be concerned with the distribution of the amount to charity, or would you just hire someone else to handle it with minimal direction?

[papayahed]

I'm thinking that divying up $50 million dollars would be quite a task that would occupy someone's time as an executor for quite a while. How many different charities would you give to? The problem that arises with giving money away in that amount is that the average organization can't handle such numbers. Unless of course it is given for the purpose of construction, then $10 million could easily be absorbed. But when people receive such amounts, a high percentage of it is wasted because people have too much.

So, just curious, would you be concerned with the distribution of the amount to charity, or would you just hire someone else to handle it with minimal direction?

I haven't really decided how to set it up since this isn't real but I have a few charities that I already support, I might continue with monthly donations only in larger amounts, I might set aside an amount to distribute yearly, I might fund entirely new charities, I might set up the papaya foundation. I dunno just like I'm not exactly sure how I would distribute the money to family. I just know I would.

[Emil Miller]

I'm thinking that divying up $50 million dollars would be quite a task that would occupy someone's time as an executor for quite a while. How many different charities would you give to? The problem that arises with giving money away in that amount is that the average organization can't handle such numbers. Unless of course it is given for the purpose of construction, then $10 million could easily be absorbed. But when people receive such amounts, a high percentage of it is wasted because people have too much.

So, just curious, would you be concerned with the distribution of the amount to charity, or would you just hire someone else to handle it with minimal direction?

This is a sensible question, because it's all very easy to say that X amount would go to charity but not so easy to ensure that it gets to the intended recipients. The short answer is to hire an accountant but even that doesn't guarantee that the money would be free from 'mismanagement'.

[BienvenuJDC]

This is a sensible question, because it's all very easy to say that X amount would go to charity but not so easy to ensure that it gets to the intended recipients. The short answer is to hire an accountant but even that doesn't guarantee that the money would be free from 'mismanagement'.

Accountants are like lawyers. When you entrust them with that much money, you would have to hire an accountant to account for the accountant. And so is born bureaucracy, the biggest waste of money that there is.

[Emil Miller]

Accountants are like lawyers. When you entrust them with that much money, you would have to hire an accountant to account for the accountant. And so is born bureaucracy, the biggest waste of money that there is.

Very true, although bureaucracy would still exist without accountants, but they still remain a case of Quis custodiet ipsos custodes? No need to tell me about lawyers, I have published a book that deals with that devious section of humanity.

[tonywalt]

I would have my own investment company, reporting to my goodself.

I would give myself glowing evaluations with raises that would make the senior partners choke on their gin and tonics.

I would write my memoirs. They would be a roaring success in many parts of Kazakhzan and the coastal area of Equatorial Guinea-fingers and toe crossed.

I would buy E book readers for all the schools on the island.

I would expand my mango, papaya, and breadfruit pitiful patch to a 4 acre farm in the remote part of the island. I would continue to let the parrots eat the results. (They are endangered and Damn cute - talk well too!)

I would buy a bigger boat, um 30 footer. I would get around on that during the day, just eating at waterfront restaurants. Damn that would be brilliant.

I would hang out more on this forum.

[Drkshadow03]

I would buy a residence on the MS the World (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MS_The_World) and select charities.

[Mutatis-Mutandis]

Two chicks at the same time.

[Mutatis-Mutandis]

Seriously, though, the only thing I know I'd do for sure would be to put a lot of the winnings (and I'm talking like 60-70%) into the organization that's attempting to find a cure for my disability.

[BienvenuJDC]

Seriously, though, the only thing I know I'd do for sure would be to put a lot of the winnings (and I'm talking like 60-70%) into the organization that's attempting to find a cure for my disability.

Would you be open enough to share?

[OrphanPip]

Would you be open enough to share?

There's a detailed description of his disability in his blog, hold on a sec and i'll edit in a link.

Edit: http://www.online-literature.com/forums/blog.php?b=11322

[Mutatis-Mutandis]

Thanks, Pip. Did the work for me.

[Drkshadow03]

Besides the practicalities of a science education, because of the expense of equipment and experiments, means that you really can't afford to do that at home. I learned how to run a flourescent activated cell sorter at university, a machine that costs half a million dollars.

But you could afford a flourescent activated cell sorter if you had fifty million dollars! :biggrin5:

[BienvenuJDC]

There's a detailed description of his disability in his blog, hold on a sec and i'll edit in a link.

Edit: http://www.online-literature.com/forums/blog.php?b=11322

Thank you O Pip...

[stlukesguild]

I'm somewhat surprised at the number of responses this thread has already generated... although I am surely not surprised at the... "lack of ambition?"... or shall I say the "modest ambitions" that most have conveyed.

I will first suggest that I am immediately with Alexander with regards to further formal education. Within my own field of art, the Masters is the terminal degree... albeit a rather artificial rite of passage for any artist. Until this past century the training for most any artist involved an apprenticeship... and later "journeyman" level of study with a working artist. The rest of the learning involves time spent working in the studio, time spent looking at examples of exemplary art by others, and time spent involved in dialog and discussion with other artists of various abilities.
My own work would quite likely be little improved by wasting time studying with some "professor" of painting younger than myself and quite likely with less experience than myself... especially considering the specific goals that interest me.

I might take a class here or there with a artist whose work I admire, but with $50 million to spend I might easily afford a year's stay studying the art of the Florentine Renaissance, the Japanese Ukiyo-e and screen painters, the art of Persia, Islamic Spain, Greece, South America, etc... in person, and if I wished to delve deeper I might easily hire the most qualified experts as guides.

The real "learning" would take place as a result of my having the uninterrupted time to spend working on my art. I might hire assistants as desired to deal with the mundane aspects of the work, and models as necessary.

Charity is all well and fine, but I'm admittedly a greedy SOB and so charity is something I would probably deal with in my will... if anything is left.:biggrin5: On the other hand... I have a couple close friends that I have struggled through the day to day grind in the schools with... and I would set them up quite nicely so that they never would need to enter the classroom again.

I personally lean toward Emil's and Alex's notions of travel. Wanting to be near as much great art as possible I'd quite likely purchase a nice palazzo... or perhaps renovate an ancient chapel... somewhere outside of Florence with a full time cook and a couple other servants... and considering I could stand to loose a few pounds, we'll throw in a personal trainer as well. Outside of Florence I'd probably keep an apartment in Paris, London, Vienna, and New York. The Florentine home would have a magnificent art studio and an exquisite library. I'd undoubtedly have a decent art collection and collection of beautifully bound books. Undoubtedly we'd have friends over frequently... as well as a slew of dogs.

As for Mutatis' "two chicks at once"... certainly such fantasies are tempting... but why stop there? Why not an entire Harem? Of course such ideas might not sit well with the wife and divorce could be a very costly proposition with $50 million on hand.

Undoubtedly I'd spend a good deal of my time and money traveling: tours of China, Japan, Greece, Turkey, Egypt, South American "ruins". Special trips to the Paris Opera, the Royal Opera in Britain, the Vienna Opera, and surely Bayreuth. Regular visits to the Louvre, Musee d'Orsay, National Galleries in London and Washington, MoMA, the Frick, the Met, the Prado, the Hermitage, collections in Holland, Belgium, Germany and Austria... as well as sites such as the various Gothic and Romanesque cathedrals, the Alhambra, Arena Chapel, the Sistine Chapel, the palazzos of Venice, etc...

That might do for a start... I quite likely will think of some other ways to spend that money down the road.

[tonywalt]

Two chicks at the same time.

Twins? Twins!! Kidding.

[BienvenuJDC]

Twins? Twins!! Kidding.

Oh, boy....sisters? NEVER!!

[stlukesguild]

Twins?:eek: Ooooh! Now there's a thought with some real possibilities.:nod:

[Darcy88]

Twins?:eek: Ooooh! Now there's a thought with some real possibilities.:nod:

You guys aren't thinking big enough. Triplets.

http://navarxida.blogspot.com/2008/09/hot-triplets.html

[JuniperWoolf]

Mmmm, yummy incest...


I dont understand all those people who would study? To paraphrase a quote from goodwill hunting, "that harvard education you get for 100,000, any man can get for 1.79 library card.

Haha, yeah right. You can't gain access to lab equipment and specimens which are illegal to personally own with a library card.


Anyway, if I had 50M, I'd probably invest it. My brother is worth about 8 million now, and given my career choices the lottery is probably my only way to catch up to him.

Damn, that's a lot. You should use your brother as an in to get into the porn industry, Pip.

[Emil Miller]

I would have my own investment company, reporting to my goodself.

I would give myself glowing evaluations with raises that would make the senior partners choke on their gin and tonics.

A financier who gives himself enormous pay increases? Nothing new there then eh?

[Mutatis-Mutandis]

**** the cure. I'll use the money for exploits with triplets . . . again, and again, and again until the money is gone and I'm destitute. It'd be worth it.

[LitNetIsGreat]

**** the cure. I'll use the money for exploits with triplets . . . again, and again, and again until the money is gone and I'm destitute. It'd be worth it.

:lol:

Oh I must have overlooked this thread. I'm afraid that I wouldn't do anything original.

First, I would ensure that my immediate family/friends had enough so that they wouldn't have to work ever again (though I would pay them in installments so as not to water down the interest).

Second, I would acquire several houses. A nice local one in the Peak District/Lower Bradfield as my main home and several holiday homes, maybe down in Cornwall and definitely one in either France/Spain/Italy so that I can escape when the weather is poor.

I would travel around a fair bit but not massively. I would bike around and play tennis as that's what I'm into at the moment, as well as chess, I would get a top chess coach.

Basically I'd just do what the hell I wanted all the time. Hop over for the Weekend in Ireland/Belgium/New York whatever.

Maybe towards the end of my life I would get involved in some worthy charity events, but this wouldn't dent to the surface of course, but I would rather some money go here rather than in taxes. It would be a perfect life.

Of course that's just fantasy, so instead I think you still have to try to do all the things that you can, that you want. So this year, yes I'm going to be out biking off road on the trails country to coast (on my new hybrid bike) and playing tennis a little and of course focusing on chess. I'm also going to do all the enjoyable family things and enjoy going to the pub/drinking beer. I'm also looking forward to the summer very much when all of these things come together. Right now I'm just looking forward to getting well again though.:ack2:

[BienvenuJDC]

Nobody mentioned throwing a HUGE LitNet Party, and getting all of us knuckleheads in one place....or maybe that would be a fiasco.

[LitNetIsGreat]

Nobody mentioned throwing a HUGE LitNet Party, and getting all of us knuckleheads in one place....or maybe that would be a fiasco.

That would be really interesting - though there'd definitely be some squabbling. :party::argue:

[tonywalt]

A financier who gives himself enormous pay increases? Nothing new there then eh?

True, I am already corrupted:rolleyes:

[qimissung]

I would establish an assisted living community for adult special needs individuals. Within this secure community, there would be a "step down" facility for new parents of Special needs babies, or those who might have received new procedures, or being released from the hospital. This facility would utilize those special needs adults in the capacity in which they were able. If that would be cleaning the rooms, or replacing linens, possibly other areas. There would be a nurse on staff to assist with learning how to use new equipment.

For example, when we were released with my daughter when she had surgery for a feeding port. They showed us how to hook her up to it, how to disconnect, clean, etc. But when we got home and did it for the first time all by ourselves, we had difficulty. it would have been great to be in a place that was set up "like" home, but with someone nearby for questions and assistance.

I'd set it up like a cozy Bed N Breakfast Inn, with everything that was needed for a family (accommodating siblings as well). The fee would be "no charge". It would also be comforting for new parents of a child with (let's say) Down Syndrome to see adults with Down Syndrome that are functioning well in society.

Those special needs adults would be provided with various services like Financial Advisers, transportation, and anything that you might think that they would need to assist them in living like anyone else.

This is a great idea, and so well thought out! I wish they would do something like this forpeople with mental illnesses who are not a danger to the public, but need assistance. There are halfway houses and group homes,at least that's what we have here in Texas, but those always seem so temporary, and there is a definite lack of community.

[B. Laumness]

If I were very rich, I would not wish to purchase beautiful cars, or to buy sumptuous residences, or to gamble in the casinos, or to place money on the Stock Exchange, or to create business corporations. I would not look for profit, nor show off my wealth. I don’t think either that I would like to travel around the world and run from hostel to hostel and from boat to plane. I would not see this treasure like an awesome opportunity to spend my days studying. But I would not constantly stay laying leisurely, sipping glasses, and caressing women. No, the first priority would be to secure my independence of mind.

I knew maybe not misery, but poverty, and I was never happier than when I was poor. I lived during my first eight years in the country, with very few toys and distractions. We were never going on holiday. Outside the school, I was spending my time alone in my room, developing my imagination, or in the garden and the nearby fields and woods, observing the nature and inventing games for myself. Later, teenager and young adult, I had pocket money just for tobacco, a coffee and a beer a few times in the week and a book a few times in the month. I didn’t complain. I had no video games, no cell phone, no Internet, but I never left a lack there. I had time to live. I could spend my days listening to my body and my mind, in the reading and the writing, in the discussions and the pleasures, in the nature but also in the middle of the urban temptations.

I remember this sentence of Stendhal that says that the unique priority for a young man is to get a position and a sufficient income in order to do afterwards what he likes: literature, women, politics, etc. If I were very rich, I would stop immediately any professional activity. I have always considered that work is a degrading and alienating torture. Some people say that their job is fulfilling: that’s something that staggers me. I don’t want to be dependent on anybody and I don’t want somebody to depend on me. Any job is useful and obeys to a concrete goal, whereas I want to devote myself to an aesthetic work that will have a value but for the being and not for the capital.

I don’t think I would travel a lot, for the world has become so small and standardized that I would fear to find everywhere the absurd occupations of the man. The era of the adventurers is over; now, the most exciting and perilous voyage remains the inner voyage.

I’m not sure that I would plunge into the studies, learn new languages, explore the fields of knowledge… I have already spent a lot of time with the books, and what do I get from them eventually? Is my being the product of my literary education? Could I live intelligently without books? Of course, I could. The most fruitful moments of my life were those in which I was not busy with another’s thoughts or fantasies, but with mine. Admittedly, well assimilated books can enrich my perception and strengthen my personal culture. It would be presumptuous and quite erroneous to believe that one could reach a superior level of instruction without reading. But reading, that means to be distracted from oneself by another’s tyranny who imposes one’s views, however appealing they may be; that means to be exposed to the demon of knowledge, who says to us: “You are not learned enough, you are weak, but I have an inexhaustible resource; so taste my science, and you will know the Infinite.” Yes, an endless thirst, which can never been slaked unless we reply: “I’m not an ogre, I don’t need to devour all the books in order to realize that I come up against limits and that I will never know everything. Though, I’m not arrogant to the extent to believe that I don’t need enlightenment. I’m simply wise enough to nourish myself from what I got, and I want to be free so that I could decipher the book of life by myself. Freedom is the key of mysteries, without which I could never have a creative life, open to the unknown, fully lucid, destroying in the joy the obstacles that would disturb my way.”

[Mutatis-Mutandis]

That would be really interesting - though there'd definitely be some squabbling. :party::argue:

Well, we know there wouldn't be any fist fights among a bunch of literature geeks. And, if there were, they'd be nothing but hilarious.

[LitNetIsGreat]

Most of Laumness' post puts us all to shame, well put, especially the first three paragraphs (you lost me a little towards the end) also I love this:


If I were very rich, I would stop immediately any professional activity. I have always considered that work is a degrading and alienating torture. Some people say that their job is fulfilling: that’s something that staggers me. I don’t want to be dependent on anybody and I don’t want somebody to depend on me.

Absolutely.

Anyway, I must stop work bashing because I'm using up too much time and the bath is probably overflowing.

[Darcy88]

**** the cure. I'll use the money for exploits with triplets . . . again, and again, and again until the money is gone and I'm destitute. It'd be worth it.

Now you're talkin. :thumbsup:

[JuniperWoolf]

I've always figured I'd start getting into the exciting* world of Canadian politics when I'm 35-45, a few million dollars probably wouldn't hurt me there either. Although, being a lottery winner might hurt my image.

*sarcasm

[Emil Miller]

I don’t think I would travel a lot, for the world has become so small and standardized that I would fear to find everywhere the absurd occupations of the man.

Difficult to disagree with this and it's one of the reasons that I'm against socialism and globalisation or anything that encroaches on our individuality, whilst realising that the individual has to strike a bargain with society to prevent the onset of anarchy. I'm also conscious of the irony of using the Internet which is, after the printing press and telephone, the most effective invention in aiding the globalisation that I abhor. But whilst our present day existence is rapidly being reduced to one DIN standard, we still have the glorious examples of the past to remind us of how varied life was then. That is why winning a lot of money would enable us to experience something of those times. Where in the world, for example, is there another city like Venice.

[Alexander III]

If I were very rich, I would not wish to purchase beautiful cars, or to buy sumptuous residences, or to gamble in the casinos, or to place money on the Stock Exchange, or to create business corporations. I would not look for profit, nor show off my wealth. I don’t think either that I would like to travel around the world and run from hostel to hostel and from boat to plane. I would not see this treasure like an awesome opportunity to spend my days studying. But I would not constantly stay laying leisurely, sipping glasses, and caressing women. No, the first priority would be to secure my independence of mind.

I knew maybe not misery, but poverty, and I was never happier than when I was poor. I lived during my first eight years in the country, with very few toys and distractions. We were never going on holiday. Outside the school, I was spending my time alone in my room, developing my imagination, or in the garden and the nearby fields and woods, observing the nature and inventing games for myself. Later, teenager and young adult, I had pocket money just for tobacco, a coffee and a beer a few times in the week and a book a few times in the month. I didn’t complain. I had no video games, no cell phone, no Internet, but I never left a lack there. I had time to live. I could spend my days listening to my body and my mind, in the reading and the writing, in the discussions and the pleasures, in the nature but also in the middle of the urban temptations.

I remember this sentence of Stendhal that says that the unique priority for a young man is to get a position and a sufficient income in order to do afterwards what he likes: literature, women, politics, etc. If I were very rich, I would stop immediately any professional activity. I have always considered that work is a degrading and alienating torture. Some people say that their job is fulfilling: that’s something that staggers me. I don’t want to be dependent on anybody and I don’t want somebody to depend on me. Any job is useful and obeys to a concrete goal, whereas I want to devote myself to an aesthetic work that will have a value but for the being and not for the capital.

I don’t think I would travel a lot, for the world has become so small and standardized that I would fear to find everywhere the absurd occupations of the man. The era of the adventurers is over; now, the most exciting and perilous voyage remains the inner voyage.

I’m not sure that I would plunge into the studies, learn new languages, explore the fields of knowledge… I have already spent a lot of time with the books, and what do I get from them eventually? Is my being the product of my literary education? Could I live intelligently without books? Of course, I could. The most fruitful moments of my life were those in which I was not busy with another’s thoughts or fantasies, but with mine. Admittedly, well assimilated books can enrich my perception and strengthen my personal culture. It would be presumptuous and quite erroneous to believe that one could reach a superior level of instruction without reading. But reading, that means to be distracted from oneself by another’s tyranny who imposes one’s views, however appealing they may be; that means to be exposed to the demon of knowledge, who says to us: “You are not learned enough, you are weak, but I have an inexhaustible resource; so taste my science, and you will know the Infinite.” Yes, an endless thirst, which can never been slaked unless we reply: “I’m not an ogre, I don’t need to devour all the books in order to realize that I come up against limits and that I will never know everything. Though, I’m not arrogant to the extent to believe that I don’t need enlightenment. I’m simply wise enough to nourish myself from what I got, and I want to be free so that I could decipher the book of life by myself. Freedom is the key of mysteries, without which I could never have a creative life, open to the unknown, fully lucid, destroying in the joy the obstacles that would disturb my way.”

So to sumarize, you would do absolutley nothing...

[B. Laumness]

So to sumarize, you would do absolutley nothing...

Do I write so badly that I can’t be understood?

[Alexander III]

Do I write so badly that I can’t be understood?

It could be that your passions are so dry, that they fail to uplift words from the page to the mind.

[Buh4Bee]

I hate when that happens.

[tonywalt]

Dry Passion....mmm..I shall remember that one. Could have many uses.

[B. Laumness]

It could be that your passions are so dry, that they fail to uplift words from the page to the mind.

The most stimulating things are tasteless for shallow minds, who hardly conceive that a philosopher’s life is more dangerous than a vain wandering.

[Alexander III]

The most stimulating things are tasteless for shallow minds, who hardly conceive that a philosopher’s life is more dangerous than a vain wandering.

Have you read Plato's Phaedo?

I personaly detest that dialogue, scorates in my opinion compleatly missses the ball and he does so in one of the most pompus and arogant and ego-centric ways possible.

Your argument reminded me of his, I disagree with it for the same reason I disagree with socrates in Phaedo, it is narrow minded. And it seeks to glorify the virtous, for what is more their lack of passion and cynical nature towards humanity ,than their wisdom.

I do like the other dialogues tough, it just phaedo which I find trivial.

[Varenne Rodin]

I would fund teleportation device and human cell regeneration research. I would produce and direct a film. I would travel. I would get up to mischief. I would buy an art loft with grand architecture. I would cosplay every day.

[Emil Miller]

I would fund teleportation device and human cell regeneration research. I would produce and direct a film. I would travel. I would get up to mischief. I would buy an art loft with grand architecture. I would cosplay every day.

Forget the rest and just get up to mischief.

[JuniperWoolf]

I would fund teleportation device and human cell regeneration research. I would produce and direct a film. I would travel. I would get up to mischief. I would buy an art loft with grand architecture. I would cosplay every day.

Teleportation is too risky and complex. When you think about it, there's one huge flaw involved in teleportation that they never mention on tv: not only will you have to teleport yourself, you'll also have to teleport the billions of other little organisms that are living on and inside of you, and you'll have to keep their information seperate from your own and put you all back together again in perfect sequence. I'm thinking about a David Cronenberg's The Fly scenario, except instead of being genetically grafted to a fly you'd be part demodex (eyelash mite):

http://www.sciencephoto.com/image/89902/530wm/C0025649-Eyelash_mite,_SEM-SPL.jpg

[Varenne Rodin]

Teleportation is too risky and complex. When you think about it, there's one huge flaw involved in teleportation that they never mention on tv: not only will you have to teleport yourself, you'll also have to teleport the billions of other little organisms that are living on and inside of you, and you'll have to keep their information seperate from your own and put you all back together again in perfect sequence. I'm thinking about a David Cronenberg's The Fly scenario, except instead of being genetically grafted to a fly you'd be part demodex (eyelash mite):

http://www.sciencephoto.com/image/89902/530wm/C0025649-Eyelash_mite,_SEM-SPL.jpg

Haha. That's pretty hilarious. I think we're a long way from being able to teleport humans, but teleport devices have been successful in preliminary trials with certain particles. It could be cool to have packages delivered in an instant, or to set up teleport devices on the moon and Mars so we could instantly transfer heavy machinery and supplies needed to construct space stations. Who knows? We've been mapping DNA for a while now. The next step is not outside the realm of possibility. No one thought televisions or wireless devices were possible either. Shooting for the impossible is my kind of fun because I am a mega nerd. ;)

[Darcy88]

Teleportation is too risky and complex. When you think about it, there's one huge flaw involved in teleportation that they never mention on tv: not only will you have to teleport yourself, you'll also have to teleport the billions of other little organisms that are living on and inside of you, and you'll have to keep their information seperate from your own and put you all back together again in perfect sequence. I'm thinking about a David Cronenberg's The Fly scenario, except instead of being genetically grafted to a fly you'd be part demodex (eyelash mite):

http://www.sciencephoto.com/image/89902/530wm/C0025649-Eyelash_mite,_SEM-SPL.jpg

Demodex? Has the makings of a good B movie, one of those vicious-looking creatures blown up to the size of a cruise ship, going around spreading terror.

ATTACK OF THE DEMODEX.
DEMODEX VS GODZILLA.

It actually kind of reminds me of one of those giant worm things from Tremors.

If I had 50 million dollars at my disposal I would use it to build a laser cannon powerful enough to put down the giant demodex.

[tonywalt]

Well, we know there wouldn't be any fist fights among a bunch of literature geeks. And, if there were, they'd be nothing but hilarious.

Some of us are cool:p And can also "throw down" in good form...but not with my fellow onlitters.

[JuniperWoolf]

Haha, based on their personalities I'm sure I could imagine a scenario in which Tony and Alexander might get into it. Well actually, it would be more realistic to say that I could imagine a scenario in which Tony beats the snot out of Alexander for sleeping with his girlfriend or something. :D

[tonywalt]

Alexander is sleeping with my girlfriend again!!! Dammit! I will be right back :leaving:

[Pensive]

Nobody mentioned throwing a HUGE LitNet Party, and getting all of us knuckleheads in one place....or maybe that would be a fiasco.

Very exciting as long as the purchased plane tickets are a part of invitation! :p

[Varenne Rodin]

I don't know. I'm not sure I want to see and know too much about some of you. :D