X-Message-Number: 3591
Date: 04 Jan 95 13:35:07 EST
From: yvan Bozzonetti <>
Subject: CRYONICS : Re msg # 3556, #3560 

My message Christmas 666 was not intended to have any science content. It 
was only an example. One thousand years ago, when the only number in use 
was the roman ones (i, V, D, L, C...) computation was very difficult and 
1000 (M) was often put for infinity. Old chineses was able to go somewhat 
beyond: When Lao Tseu said : Even a 10 000 lies travel starts with a first 
step, he convey the idea of infinity in a finite number so large than 
nobody can use it in normal life.

Today, Billion or billion of billions play the same role. In a TV show, Dr. 
Faye said one time approximately: If the main cause of accident was 
suppressed, cryonics could open a life expectancy of near 100 000 years. 
For most people that is eternity (time infinity) and so they see a conflict 
between cryonics and christian soul idea. My objective was to present a 
number at the same time finite and very large so that any conflict between 
eternity and cryonics promises could be debunked..

	Even if that kind of problem is not openly stated, it underlies 
many difficulties in public cryonics communications. Mike Perry message 
#3560 is interesting: he give a solution with infinity beating the 11 000 
miles nubers, doing that he demonstrates in a practical way how infinity is 
large. If you have someday to present cryonics at lay people, try to invent 
your own large number story before, it may be pseudoscience without problem 
if it is good psychology and remove a block in your listeners.

	Y.B.

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