If I understand it correctly, multiple people can keep up the filibuster. So if you have 4 people lined up to talk for 8 hours straight each, you'll have no problems with falling asleep at the poddium.

As to why there is a rule that anyone can request to continue the debate in the Senate (and 60 votes required to close the debate), I do not know.

They've changed the rules: now you do not need to talk incessantly, you just inform the chairman about your intention.

That's ancient filibuster, not the modern one. Back then you needed 67 votes to break it (even earlier, you needed unanimity), but a) you needed actually to talk and b) no Senate business could be done while you were talking. Nowadays, you need 60 votes to break the filibuster, but until and unless you do so you can do anything you'd like, but you cannot vote on the bill in question.

The old-style filibuster would only be needed if a couple of senators were to try to push it past Christmas without the support of the rest, and it would, indeed, not last long. Or else, Reid could refuse to do anything in the Senate until the debate on this bill is over and, I believe, he may even be able to force Republicans to to talk. This would put pressure on them. But, as long as the opponents of the bill number 41 and they are willing to be taking turns reading the phone book, they could go till Kingdom comes (or till the next Congress, whichever comes earlier).

Oh come on, the r-voters will be ecstatic. The same as d-voters are ecstatic when Al Franken tells Lieberman to STFU. So you'll show them and they'll be "yeah! where is your stupid majority now?"