X-Message-Number: 19282
Date: Sat, 15 Jun 2002 04:24:11 -0400
From: Thomas Donaldson <>
Subject: CryoNet #19263 - #19271

Well, well... we now have an environmental controversy. I think that
references just aren't that hard, if you think of them. You make
a statement and then put in the reference (ENV. NONSENSE 32(2002) 15-20).
Incidentally, second order references can't be used easily ie. 
things like "I agree with Propolis the Devil, who said in his book
that humans are naturally evil". That's not good enough, not because
the name of the Devil's book wasn't given but because it merely 
cites someone else's opinion rather than looking at any evidence for
it which he may have brought up to support it. "And against you,
I agree with Imaginary God, who in his book The Excursus of All
says that human beings are naturally good."

A question for Yvan Bozzonetti: your proposal sounds like it would
send LOTS of energy through the biological samples you want to look
at. Or was I mistaken about what you were proposing? Years ago I wrote
an article for ANALOG about nuclear reactors of the future, but now
there are even more ideas for fusion than there were then. Yes, I
think that someday one of them will work, but aren't prepared to
choose one or the other without studying them. As for references,
one that is accessible to everyone is better than one only on the Net.
If the author of a reference on the net has published hardcopy or will
do so, that's quite useful. Among other points, net references often
aren't checked for errors at all. (I know such checking can involve
prejudice, but it also makes authors more careful about what they say).

As for cryonics, I would even agree that both of these issues do
have a bearing. The important point to remember is that even if
the world goes downhill, we can do things to keep ourselves from
sliding down with it. And yes, it's worthwhile to think of how
to look at living systems on nanoscales, but it's a very hard
problem and we shouldn't feel upset if our first ideas don't 
work.

		Best wishes and long long life to all,

			Thomas Donaldson

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