X-Message-Number: 14915 Date: Tue, 14 Nov 2000 07:25:59 -0500 From: Thomas Donaldson <> Subject: various questions raised Hi everyone! It seems to me that no one replying to me has read my message before replying. I won't repeat it, but do suggest that if you believe that CURRENT computers could imitate human brains then read what I wrote in the last Cryonet and think about it. I will add that even those who have publicly written on this issue (people such as Kurzweil) fail to consider whether or not any problems may be caused even by the very simplest difference: we are real-time beings, while the original Turing computers only did calculations with no consideration of just how long those calculations might take. Naturally I am eager to read about the new vitrification technology which looks like it will now or soon become available, at least for cryonicists who have both arranged for it AND are available for treatment soon enough after their "death". Naturally a thorough cryonics technology will not insist on the latter condition, but instead be able to work for cryonicists who are NOT gotten immediately or for whom there are other problems. Finally, I have corresponded with Linda Chamberlain several times on the issue of foreign members and still not received any good reply. Alcor (or any other cryonics society) need not simply accept the word of a foreign member as Linda seems to believe. A foreign member, if only because he/she is resident in the particular country, has a big advantage in working out answers to the questions that Alcor wants answered. Sure, once he/she does that work, Alcor should be able to write the officials and businesses (insurance cos) involved for itself, and verify what the member has found. This can be done by using what are called stamps and mail, if no other method is available. For Alcor in Scottsdale to try to verify insurance policies in England or elsewhere looks to me like a good way to take on far more work and cost than is really needed. It is only if a prospective member in (say) Italy REFUSES to help Alcor verify that Italian insurance policies will perform as Alcor needs them to that Alcor may choose to work out all these questions on its own. Naturally any possible member who does that cannot expect that his/her application will be treated as seriously as that of someone who DOES offer to help out. To request that foreign members do no more than any US member seems to me quite weird, especially if they are among the very first people of that nationality to join (Alcor apparently has an Italian applicant, but no Italian member ... yet). And if Linda knows specific reasons why such a candidate member cannot by nature help out, she hasn't produced them. Best wishes and long long life for all, Thomas Donaldson Rate This Message: http://www.cryonet.org/cgi-bin/rate.cgi?msg=14915