X-Message-Number: 6169 Date: Thu, 09 May 1996 17:10:36 -0700 From: Randy Smith <> Subject: SCI.CRYONICS LA Times, Leary & cryonics I just finished reading the LA Times article, "Leary Severs Ties to Cryonics Advocates," Thursday, May 9. The writer, David Colker, quotes Leary as saying that the cryonics people had no sense of humor and that he was afraid he would wake up in 50 years and be surrounded by people with clipboards. [He should be so lucky.] In some respects, the article certainly did not portray cryonics favorably; "widely discredited" was the adjectival phrase they used. The article decribes a "tense scene" last weekend in which people from "BioPreserve [sic]...angrily removed" cryonics standby equipment from Leary's home; the article implies the scene was the catalyst for Leary's action. THe Times did present Cryocare's point of view, with Platt giving his side of story, citing medical and brain preservation issues for Cryocare's actions. A very brief overview of Cryocare and cryonics ias included. Leary's writing collaborator, Vicki Marshall, is quoted as saying that Leary opted for cryonics in 1988, claiming that cryonics was the 2nd stupidest thing you could do, with having worms eat you being the 1st. Apparently, Leary is going for the "1st stupidest" option now; he is still considering the Live on the Internet Media Extravanganza, followed by burial or cremation. Vicki Marshall says he is not going to be cryonics' poster boy. Charles Platt is quoted as saying, "It's a real feeling of defeat." It may seem hard to put a good face on all of this, but I think there is one. Cryonics received considerable publicity from this and even this particular article gave out some even-handed info about cryonics and put a personal face on it. I'm reminded of the final scene from _OH_GOD_ where George Burns as God takes his leave of John Denver's character. Denver bemoans his failure to get out the word about God. Burns answers him: "Whattaya mean? Ya did good. Ya plant a few seeds, ya move on." Randy Smith -- do not go gentle into that good night rage, rage against the dying of the light Dylan Thomas Rate This Message: http://www.cryonet.org/cgi-bin/rate.cgi?msg=6169