X-Message-Number: 17504
Date: Mon, 10 Sep 2001 16:58:10 -0400 (EDT)
From: Charles Platt <>
Subject: More about rosewater

First I have to say that personally, I don't care whether Barry Albin uses
rose water, distilled water, tonic water, or tap water. But I do have a
sense of humor, which is tickled by this whole topic and only marginally
diminished by David Pascal's characteristically lengthy and humorless
response (which I did not read in its entirety, because I knew already
what he was going to say).

Inevitably, follow-up messages have started trickling in from sources who
say, "Please do not identify me--but you might be interested to know...."

Here's a choice piece of email from "a person" in the UK:

---------------------------

The authority on embalming practises over here is The British Institute of
Embalming (www.bioe.org.uk) and I phoned them today.

The spokesman said that rosewater is made from roses. No surprise there.
He said that is not often used by embalmers these days and is more usually
known for its use in cooking. It can be found in many supermarkets. He was
quite clear that it was different from distilled or deionised water, even
in the context of glycerine rose water.

Most significantly at all, when asked if it would be possible for a
reputable undertaker to confuse rosewater with distilled or deionised water
he expressed surprise, and his exact words were: "Oh good Lord no! One is
pink and smells of roses and the other is just water."

You can find out how rosewater is made in England at www.rosewater.co.uk

----------------------------

End of forwarded email. Obviously there is no point in my telephoning
Barry Albin at this point myself, because CI has had ample time to do
damage control. I imagine a phone call along the lines, "No, no, we use
glycerol, not rosewater, Barry. If anyone asks you, just say you meant to
say 'distilled water.'" Etc, etc.

I am of course merely speculating, and nothing in this email should be
taken to imply that CI is anything less than the finest organization
employing the most technically literate staff who apply state-of-the-art
treatment to cryopatients who are thoroughly informed about every step of
the procedures.

--CP

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