X-Message-Number: 590
Date: 30 Dec 91 03:44:14 EST
From: STEVE BRIDGE <>
Subject: Alcor Indiana Newsletter
ALCOR INDIANA NEWSLETTER
ISSUE #1, November/December 1991
Editor Pro Tempore: Richard Shock
CRYONICS HISTORY AND INDIANA
To many, an average Bible Belt state like Indiana might seem a
strange place to discover Cryonics Movement roots. Few remember that in
1977 a supremely hopeful group led by Mike Federowicz Darwin and Stephen
W. Bridge incorporated the "Institute for Advanced Biological Studies,"
a roundabout name for what was Indiana's first serious cryonics
organization.
During its four-year sojourn in the Midwest, IABS held numerous
public meetings and seminars, attempted a series of ambitious research
projects, and eventually built up a limited cryonic suspension capability.
What IABS failed to do, however, was enlist new members or generate much
interest itself. By 1981, sheer frustration drove Darwin and a handful of
other IABS members to relocate in California, where such organizations as
Alcor, Bay Area Cryonics Society (now American Cryonics Society),
Cryovita, and Trans Time were making relatively significant strides. In
1982 IABS merged with Alcor, leaving Stephen Bridge as the Cryonics
Movement's last Indiana representative.
Over the years Mr. Bridge acquitted himself admirably, first as co-
editor of CRYONICS magazine until 1984, then later as Alcor's Midwest
Coordinator, a post he still holds. Through his assistance as
Coordinator, Alcor received three new Indiana suspension members:
Margaret and Bob Schwarz in late 1986, and Angalee Shepherd in 1987. When
Bob Schwarz's mother, Alice, deanimated in 1988 (less than two months
after she signed on as a full Alcor member), Mr. Bridge played a key role
in preparing for Alcor headquarters personnel to begin her suspension. As
a trained Alcor technician Mr. Bridge also aided in the 1989 suspension of
Dr. Eugene Donovan of Ann Arbor, Michigan.
Now, with the initiation of Alcor's fifth animate Indiana member,
Brian Richard Shock, the Cryonics Movement in this area is heading toward
a new level of activity. ALCOR INDIANA remembers the hopes and dreams of
cryonics pioneers, while heeding their painful lesson: hopes and dreams
are not enough without persistence and preparation.
Of course, money doesn't hurt either.
MEETING NOTES
-- ALCOR INDIANA's first official meeting took place on September
15, 1991, in the form of a small lunch party at the Olive Garden
restaurant on East Washington St., celebrating the arrival of
Brian Richard Shock's Alcor Emergency Bracelet. Mass quantities
of delicious artery-clogging food were consumed by all, with
scarcely a note of the irony involved. An innocent waiter was
first deceived into believing the group was a family with "roots
in Riverside, California," then repeatedly admonished to read
"Engines of Creation" by Eric Drexler. Afterward the five
revellers attended a showing of the film "The Doctor," which all
thought well made. Tacit agreement was given to a motion that
each new ALCOR INDIANA member be given a similar party when his
or her bracelet arrived.
-- October's meeting was held on Sunday the 13th, at the home of
Bob and Margaret Schwarz. Also in attendance was Dennis Ciurej,
who generously agreed to videotape each of the five Alcor
member's "Intent for Cryonic Suspension," a precaution suggested
by such prominent cryonicists as Alcor founders Fred and Linda
Chamberlain. Four members were videotaped in interviews that
demonstrated their commitment to cryonics, while Angalee Shepherd
chose to read a personal statement to that same effect.
-- ALCOR INDIANA's third and latest meeting was on Sunday,
November 17. Since three of the five members had November
birthdays (Brian Richard Shock, Stephen Bridge, Margaret
Schwarz), the initial meeting was a sedate birthday celebration
at the Sizzler restaurant on Shadeland Ave. Unfortunately,
Angalee Shepherd was unable to attend because of an unforeseen
engagement. Ms. Shepherd's place was filled by her two children,
Robyn (8) and David (14), who lent a certain youthful energy to
the proceedings and will perhaps someday continue to do so as
Alcor suspension members.
After lunch the members regrouped at the Schwarz home to
review application of cryonics patient stabilization equipment.
(The Schwarz's possess an operative Alcor emergency kit, used in
the transport stabilization of Alice Schwarz. Mr. Bridge has
access to this equipment at all times, and attended an Alcor
review course in its use last September, along with Mr.
Schwarz.) Members were refamiliarized with (or introduced to)
the configuration of the Patient Ice Bath, the various
connections of the Heart-Lung Resuscitator, and the location of
Transport Medications. Time restraints prevented any attempt at
an in-depth course, but contact with the equipment served as a
constructive basis for future training sessions.
Because of the HLR's age and wear, members discussed the
possibilities of purchasing a new unit. Mr. Bridge warned that a
state-of-the-art Michigan Instruments "High Impulse" HLR would
cost somewhere in the range of $5,000. Mr. Schwarz suggested the
group obtain a loan for that amount, then split the monthly
installments five ways. While this procedure would be the best
course for future equipment purchases, the consensus was that
monthly installments of the amount necessary for the HLR would be
difficult for most members. Mr. Shock then suggested that a used
machine might be purchased for considerably less. Mr. Bridge
agreed to consult ALCOR Research Director Mike Darwin on the
possibility, and the subject was tabled until such time as a new
figure could be determined.
Still on the subject of equipment, Mr. Schwarz voiced the
need for an "Squid" water dispersal apparatus. Since this device
was an invention of Alcor, Mr. Schwarz would construct it
himself, at a cost of a few hundred dollars -- considerably more
reasonable than a new HLR. Although a Squid couldn't substitute
for the HLR, its acceleration of patient cooling rate (10xC/hour
during the Elaine Friedman suspension) might compensate for some
degree of ischemia damage. Mr. Schwarz agreed to request Squid
diagrams from ALCOR NEW YORK, which reportedly has the most
efficient version of the device.
FDA OR KGB?
Anyone who receives Saul Kent's "Life Extension Report" knows how the
valiant FDA has been struggling to keep America's Precious Bodily Fluids
pure by harassing purveyors of such deadly substances as vitamin
supplements. As far back as 1987 the forces of Good and Justice were
protecting us from these insidious salesmen, most notably with a full-
blown SWAT raid on Life Extension Product headquarters in Hollywood,
Florida. When Mr. Kent of the Life Extension Foundation had the gall to
stand before a congressional committee and defend his industry, the FDA's
freedom-loving bureaucrats vowed not to rest until this entrepreneurial
rogue was safely behind bars.
Now, at last, the Authorities have struck, dragging Saul Kent and his
cohort Bill Faloon off to the local Chateau d'If on twenty felony charges,
which, all told, could keep these evil individualists incarcerated for
about eighty years. Bail was set at $900,000 apiece, a level known in the
legal profession as "The Columbian Plan."
So fearsome were the crimes of Kent and Faloon, that honest cocaine
dealers in lock-up shunned the duo in mortal terror (or so it's been
rumored). Although the pair were soon skulking the streets again, they
remain under the shadow of the FDA-sponsored indictments.
We at ALCOR INDIANA urge everyone who cares about his or her right to
ingest the uncontrolled substance of his or her choice to contact the U.S.
Attorney in charge of the case and express his or her relevant feelings on
this matter. Just one bit of advice: please keep it clean. Write to:
U.S. Attorney General Dexter Lehtinen
c/o Zuckerman & Spaeder
201 South Biscayne Boulevard, #900
Miami, FL 33131
FAX: 305-579-9749
For more information on THE LIFE EXTENSION FOUNDATION, write to them
at 2490 Griffin Rd., Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33312, or call 1-800-841-LIFE.
MR. WAKFER GOES TO INDY
On the evening of November 21, ALCOR INDIANA members had the pleasure
of meeting Paul Wakfer, Canadian, computer consultant, and ALCOR
suspension member. Mr. Wakfer was passing through Indiana after spending
some time on the East Coast, where he first attended ALCOR NEW YORK's
successful rally, then visited with respected cryobiologist Gregory M.
Fahy.
Over dinner Mr. Wakfer regaled ALCOR INDIANA members with tales of
his Libertarian activism, his straightforward approach to life, and his
views on ALCOR's political, social, and economic situation. Afterward the
group retired to the home of Bob and Margaret Schwarz for conversation
lasting until midnight. Throughout the evening Mr. Wakfer demonstrated
impressive energy and openness, leading this editor to believe he is a
force to be reckoned with in the near future.
Currently Paul Wakfer is using his interdisciplinary talents to
investigate cryonics research possibilities on both sides of the country.
BOOKS OF INTEREST:
AT LAST: A DECENT CRYONICS NOVEL?
Remember Heinlein's "A Door into Summer"? Remember
Spinrad's "Bug Jack Barron"? Remember Pohl's "Age of the
Pussyfoot"? Sure you do . . . IF you're old enough, or happened
to stumbled over copies of these works in a used book store or
library. All the best cryonics stories seem to have been
exhausted with the 1960's. Being the the stalwart crowd we are,
though, cryonicists have never quite become inured to the endless
parade of truly awful fiction written about their subject, from
H. Walker Whyte's ridiculous "Deep Freeze" (1978) to Hollywood
coroner Thomas Noguchi's downright insulting "Physical Evidence"
(1991).
But at long last cryonics may have found a sure and steady
voice: Gregory Benford, Ph.D., author of such Hard Science
Fiction novels as "Timescape," "Great Sky River," and "In the
Ocean of Night." The most recent issue of SCIENCE FICTION REVIEW
contains an excerpt from Dr. Benford's latest novel, "Chillers,"
revealing a decidedly pro-cryonics bent. Except for the
unfortunate title (too reminiscent of a best-forgotten TV movie
that mangled cryonics a few years ago), "Chillers" appears to
possess all the style and incisiveness fans have come to expect
from this Nebula Award-winning writer. Look for it in hardback
sometime this coming year!
MORE ON NANOTECHNOLOGY
Earlier this year came the hardcover edition of Eric
Drexler's "Unbounding the Future," an updated, less technical
version of his "Engines of Creation." Now word has it that
Drexler has completed the rough draft of a nanotechnology book
MORE technical than "Engines." Copies of this work are currently
being examined and evaluated by scientists and techies around the
world. With some luck the general public may have a chance at it
toward the latter part of next year.
Incidentally, last month MIT awarded K. Eric Drexler the
first Ph.D. in Nanotechnology. (Ralph Merkle of Xerox's Palo
Alto Research Center observes that Drexler's doctorate took so
long because the man virtually had to invent his own field of
study before he could receive a degree in it. Talk about boot-
strapping!) Congratulations and good luck to Dr. Drexler.
"Great Mambo Chicken and the Transhuman Condition," Ed
Regis's entertaining journey through the world of far-edge
science (nanotechnology, space habitats, robots, cryonics, etc.)
is now out in paperback. Unconfirmed reports say that Mr. Regis
is also working on a book exclusively about nanotechnology. No
word yet on his progress.
WHAT THE HECK IS "ALCOR INDIANA"?
ALCOR INDIANA is an unincorporated group of ALCOR suspension members
who have banded together to help ensure each other's eventual cryonic
suspension. Monthly meetings are informal, and open to anyone who calls
ahead of time. Subscriptions to the semi-monthly ALCOR INDIANA NEWSLETTER
are at present free of charge. We are especially looking for interested
persons in the five-state area of Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, Illinois, and
Kentucky.
For information on ALCOR INDIANA meetings, newsletter subscriptions,
ALCOR LIFE EXTENSION FOUNDATION, or cryonics in general, call Richard
Shock (days: (317) 872-3070; evenings: (317) 769-4252) or Stephen W.
Bridge ((317) 357-9910). Write to Richard at 670 S. St. Rd. 421 N.,
Zionsville IN 46077 or to Stephen at 1208 Charleston E. Drive,
Indianapolis IN 46219. Or contact Stephen Bridge via e-mail at
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