Death Index

[Benjamin Bastian]

Hello, all! Awhile back, Hank mentioned a "death index". Well, I calculated one using the National Vital Statistics (http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/nvsr/nvsr50/nvsr50_15.pdf) and some computer programming!

You can view the death index here: http://sagelywizard.com/death_index

For those who don't remember what the death index is, I'll let a quote from Hank explain:

"The average life expectancy in the US is currently 78. If someone dies of a disease when they are 78 or older, we can say "well, that person did pretty well...lived as long as the average person, it sucks, but it's not the end of the world." And thus, that death does not count toward the death index.

If that person died of a heart attack, then heart attacks get 0 points on the death index.

However, if that person died of a heart attack when they were 60, heart attacks would get 18 points. If they died in a car accident when they were 30, car accidents would get 48 points."

Anyway, I'm curious as to what you all think! (particularly Hank)

Also, I'm open to questions about how I calculated the index.

[Josh Houlihan]

Did you ever get the 500 dollar reward Hank offered?

[Benjamin Bastian]

Unfortunately not. I don't think anyone noticed this.

[Josh Houlihan]

this is quite a shame!  You have made a very good death index.  Somehow to get Hank green's attention...  I say try emailing him.

[Chip, A Former Ningmaster]

Try his tumblr. He's kind of obsessed with that right now.

[Benjamin Bastian]

I tried soon after you suggested this! No response. Hank appears to be a difficult person to get in contact with. Any other suggestions?

[Benjamin Bastian]

Hmm. Do you happen to know his e-mail address? Perhaps I'm blind, but I can't find it.