Yeah, but Kurzweil has always been a little over-gonzo for the Singularity (and I say this owning ~$18k worth of products with his name on them). Jeron Lanier argues in You Are Not A Gadget that leftist technophiles are as absolutely batshit irrational about the Singularity as right-wing fundies are about the Rapture. There's a lot in common, that's for damn sure. Shit, I'm gonna post that.
My first introduction to Kurzweil was through you mentioning that if your house burned down you would grab your Kurzweil k2500xs. I also recall that the case that the 2500XS should be in is holding old photographs. Right? Every time I hear the name Kurzweil I can't help but get that damn house burning down song in my head. Bought my wife the Singularity is Near as one of her Christmas gifts: I've never read it and plan on jumping in to it... now.
77 day later followup:
One of my debate captains was talking about a round she had where her opponent carded (took evidence from) Kurzweil. She was pushing a progressive (non-traditional) argument that since eventually humans won't be able feel a true sense of accomplishment/loss/morality, there is no right or wrong. I thought it was really interesting. You see all kinds of people pop up as evidence for debate cases.. Noam Chomsky, Stalin, and a whole plethora of nameless individuals. It really is an intellectual's sport.. If you can get past the fact that it's glorified confirmation bias. At least you're forced to use confirmation bias on both sides, so I guess that balances it out and makes it 'open-minded'. Oh, and if you can get past how scarily competitive it is. I swear, none of the integrity of socratic/forensic debate is left because it's all about the scholarships or trophies. I guess that happens with any school sport though..