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

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