Redistribute Wealth
Look how this billionaire is squandering his wealth.
The machine, named Anton, in homage to Anton van Leeuwenhoek, a pioneer in microbiology, is a bold gamble to jump ahead of the most powerful general-purpose supercomputers by as much as a half decade.
It could be used to investigate problems of great scientific interest, like the folding of protein molecules, and in the design of drugs based on the simulated biological activity of different molecules.
The effort is being led by David E. Shaw, a billionaire computer scientist. In the 1990s, Mr. Shaw was one of the most successful of an elite group of technologists pursuing computer-based trading strategies on Wall Street. Several years ago Mr. Shaw, who is also a major investor in Schrdinger, a chemical simulation software firm, stepped away from day-to-day management of his investment firm, D. E. Shaw & Company. He is now chief scientist of D. E. Shaw Research.
It just goes to show the old adage is true. Rich people will waste limitless wealth on luxury. Just think how much good this money would do in the hands of the state. Under Bush, the rich have gotten richer and have wasted that excessive wealth on things like ‘developing technology’. What about Carl from down the street? He might not like working, but needs another bottle of wine. How could that possibly be a waste? Your liberal heart is in the right place.
July 8th, 2008 at 12:55 pm
but since, SOME of the wealth (not this guy) “waste” their money. We should redistribute EVERYONE’S money. Duh.
July 8th, 2008 at 1:23 pm
Not a problem. We just get really smart experts to predict what will be valuable and then take money away from the rich that are developing things that will not be valuable in the future.
With experts there is no constitutional right that can’t be violated.
July 8th, 2008 at 2:04 pm
Good for Shaw, I hope his machine revolutionizes molecular biology.
And it clearly could never have happened if Bush had not reduced the capital gains tax to 15%. How will this country even make it once he leaves office? I shudder to think.
July 8th, 2008 at 2:44 pm
Good swipe at the educated Steve. Last I heard, unless these so-called “experts” work as law makers in DC, they have no power to create laws that violate the constitution.
July 8th, 2008 at 2:54 pm
No they don’t create the laws. Just like religious folk they justify them.
July 8th, 2008 at 4:40 pm
Except religion/job title are not independent of one another…. Lawmakers can be religious. The people you refer to as experts (generally scientists I believe) are not serving as lawmakers.
July 8th, 2008 at 11:09 pm
More to the point, yes, you can find ONE EXAMPLE EVERY COUPLE OF MONTHS of a rich guy doing something worhtwhile with his extra money. Very impressive. How many grants do the NSF and NHS give out every month? Including the ones that pay your salary, btw.
July 9th, 2008 at 9:29 pm
Is Carl struggling to put gas in his car while his son has inferior armor trying to protect a once secular state? Obviously Carl chose wrong because if he were smart he would have just become a CEO of an oil company and made record profits while his peers wondered where the next morgage payment came from.
July 10th, 2008 at 10:22 am
Quite honestly do you think the rate of wealthy people putting their money towards useful endeavors only occurs once a couple of months? Or is your contention that news organization for whatever reason don’t cover this kind of story very often.
July 17th, 2008 at 12:48 am
YES!