X-Message-Number: 6972
Date: 24 Sep 96 18:24:12 EDT
From: Paul Wakfer <>
Subject: SCI.CRYONICS Re: questions, focus

In CryoNet message #6966 Ian Taylor wrote on 20 Sep 96:

>Charles Platt () wrote on 18.09.96:
>
>>The whole idea of Prometheus was to establish the precise research plan
>>BEFORE raising the actual cash.
>That makes sense, but why specify the amount of cash (US$10,000,000 - a very
>round number) *before* that plan is complete? Raising the money, although 
>clearly critical, also raises the danger of - to paraphrase Parkinson - 
>"projects expanding to consume the funds available for their completion".

We obviously had to have something to aim for. $1 million was simply a back
of the envelop calculation (literally) of what the yearly cost of the project
would be, and a round number target. As the pledge total rises and more work
can be done on the scientific and business plans this figure will become more
exact. As anyone who knows me can verify, there will be no wastage of funds
in *any* project which I have some control over. The funding goal and the
planning we are aiming for is a conservative estimate of the *minimum*
necessary to pursue such a project and reasonably expect to accomplish it
within 10 years. If we get more pledge/share purchases than this minimum, yes
the plans will be expanded "to consume the funds available". However, the
sole purpose of this expansion will be to commensurately hasten the
accomplishment of reversible brain cryopreservation and the eventual
achievement of suspended animation.


>*A suggestion*: research involves many activities that _only_ require brain 
>power and time - you may find that there are plenty of people who would 
>freely devote hours, days or even years of their time to such a project. 
>Why not ask for time donations and value them at so many dollars per hour to
>fit your business model; say $1 for organisational work :) $5 for Phd 
>students to proof read papers, $20 for onsite lab assistants ...

I have already implemented this idea among the pledgers for donations of time
for help with the pledge campaign which will be reimbursed by shares in the
project corporation. Your idea of extending this to the research operation
itself, once started, is a good one which I will try to implement in the
planning. The basic problem of trying to plan for the use of donations of
time or goods is the lack of any control which one has over the quality,
quantity, and delivery schedule of the product (beggars can't be choosers).
(That is the main reason why organizations generally ask only for donations
of money.) I want the Prometheus Project to be totally "professional and
responsible". This will only be accomplished if everyone who works for it
takes the approach that he or she is doing so as a "real" job. That is why I
want all those who work for the Prometheus Project to charge for their work
at market rates and to accept, if not actual money, the dollar equivalent of
shares in the corporation.


>Dying to live forever.

I love it! How about a new one for the Prometheus Project?

*** The end of death in your lifetime ***


-- Paul --

!!!!! REVERSIBLE BRAIN CRYOPRESERVATION *CAN* BE ACHIEVED IN 10 YEARS !!!!!

Paul Wakfer  email:        Voice/Fax:     Pager:
US:     1220 E Washington St #24, Colton, CA 92324 909-481-9620 800-805-2870
Canada: 238 Davenport Rd #240, Toronto, ON M5R 1J6 416-968-6291 416-446-9461
(Currently in California)


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