X-Message-Number: 6389
From: Brian Wowk <>
Date: Tue, 25 Jun 1996 21:51:13 -0500
Subject: Brain Cryopreservation

Brad Templeton writes:

> However, the truth is that cryonics members will
> not make such donations, and there is no evidence that this is likely to
> change immediately.

        Consider the U.S. space program as a metaphor for cryonics
today: incoherent, disjointed, politicized-- lacking unity and 
*concrete goals*.  There are numerous organizations, each grinding
their own separate axes.  People ask for money to "imporove cryonics
technology", but on a slow, incremental, and above all *un-inspiring*
course.

        Let's look at what has happened to cryonics technology in
the past five years:

        * Computerized cool-down systems

        * Improved post-mortem metabolic support

        * Some optimization and validation of glycerol
                concentration

        * Some progress on cracking, and hints that unit
             electrical activity may survive LN2 freezing.
                
In other words, next to NOTHING.  Cryonics organizations and 
service providers spend in total almost $500,000 a year on 
operations, and only a few thousand dollars a year on research.  
In fact, FAR more time and money is spent explaining to people how 
future technology might reverse freezing injury than actually 
reducing the injury itself.  (I consider myself one of the biggest 
culprits here.)  What's wrong with this picture???

        I think a big part of this disparity is that talking
about future technology is FUN, while talking about (or paying
for) incremental research is NOT fun.  Research is always something
for *somebody else* to fund, or to postpone indefinitely until
(take your pick):

        *  Your investment (or other get-rich quick) scheme
              succeeds.

        *  The financial status of some existing cryonics
               benefactor improves.

        *  Some billionaire becomes interested in cryonics.

(Note: The last item used to read "Until some millionaire
becomes interested in cryonics", but needs updating now
that millionaires say they must wait for billionaires. ;)

        The solution?  I think cryonics needs a Project
Apollo: something that will unite all organizations and
members in a common, unambiguous, profound, and *achievable* 
goal.  A goal that will completely overturn the very paradigm
we call "cryonics".  That goal is real-time reversible suspended 
animation of the living human brain. 

> The return from Cryonics could be extremely high but it is also extremely
> speculative and extremely distant.   Today for a middle-aged person the
> present-value cost of getting involved is around $15,000, and that's a 
> great deal less than the value of 5% or 10% of your income.   You're 
> talking a vast increase.

        Yes.  If you want to survive via cryonics, you are going to
have to change the world.  Changing the world has a price.  But 
it has rewards that go far beyond just survival.  As far as survival
goes, we are talking about transforming cryonics from high speculation
to *technical certainty*.  The effect that will have on medicine, law,
and the basic public perception of cryonics is not to be underestimated.

> I have long felt that the way for Cryonics to advance is to actively
> but carefully recruit members of the Bill Gates ilk. 

(deleted)

> So you need to make it seem other than philanthropy.  Which means they
> have to become very enthused over cryonics and that's hard to do.

	We lead by example.

***************************************************************************
Brian Wowk          CryoCare Foundation               1-800-TOP-CARE
President           Human Cryopreservation Services   
   http://www.cryocare.org/cryocare/

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