X-Message-Number: 8404 Date: Sun, 20 Jul 1997 16:17:42 GMT From: Tom Jonsson <> Subject: Let's discuss something more interesting than Virodene! Referring to my earlier messages' #6409, #7017, #8255 Some people find cryonics comparable with a religion. They thrust cryonics to give them eternal life on earth, like Jehovah's witnesses thrust God to cherish them. I put my faith in facts and logic! We have to cooperate if we are going to realize a reversible cryopreservation of the human mind! I have not received any serious proposal of cooperation or support yet. I am a little disappointed with the readers of cryonet (those in a position with power to act, that is). I claim that ethanol is harmless to nerve cells under circumstances described in my last message on cryonet. The brains I froze last year could have been successfully recovered! Receiving financial support for research about cryopreservation of brain tissue here in Sweden is very hard. People with my profession are underpaid here, even after many years in this line. I working more than 50 hours per week at my regular work only. Because of this, I lack both money and time. I probably have to start a business to earn some money so I can afford to sign up for cryosuspension for me and my family. I also want to make pledges to the Prometheus project. This project is exciting and very promising for the future. I would like to help Paul Wafker with this project if possible. My ideas and knowledge are an asset the "Prometheus" cannot afford to lose. I had a discussion with a professor (neurology) about death today. He believes that life has to end, and the fact that it has a beginning and an end is "charming". I asked him if he felt that way when he became aware of death (the first time) when he was a little kid and realized that all this that we call Life ends one day! I also asked him why most religions are based on the idea that our soul leave our body when we have used it up. He did not have any good answers to these questions. This discussion left me agonized. I have to do everything in my power to beat death. My inspiration sometimes fades, because the people closest to me do not share my visions. I hope for cryonic communities in the future, with all the necessary facilities, where we could live safe and happy! I feel everything but safe to suspend me with the technique available today. If I had the possibilities to work full time for less than two years with developing my technique for cryosuspension I would feel much more safe! Twenty years is a long time for many people, but it will take at least that time if we are going to do it the "right" way, with good laboratory practice and to prove the reversibility. High level scientific research gives us also the right to publish our results in respectful journals. Naturally should the results be used immediately to improve the technique of cryosuspensions. I am planning to make a trip over the Atlantic to make some useful contacts, feeling a bit lonely over here with my interest in suspended life. I do not speak English very well. Languages have always been a problem to me but I think I can make myself understood (I could always bring my talented fianc=E9e who has an English degree). I look forward to my journey to the= USA. Yours sincerely Tom Rate This Message: http://www.cryonet.org/cgi-bin/rate.cgi?msg=8404