X-Message-Number: 9679
From: Ettinger <>
Date: Sun, 10 May 1998 19:20:28 EDT
Subject: Kent redux

We are lucky to have Saul Kent (and Bill Faloon) putting millions of dollars
into cryonics-related research, and owe them a debt of gratitude for their
long history of support for cryonics. And I hope 21CM attracts big bucks from
big-rich people, once the prospectus has been published.

Following his original essay on the "failure of cryonics," 4/29, in more
recent postings Saul has (apparently, irregularly) backed off his initial
statement that cryonics has "failed" and is near "extinction." But the thrust
of his current message (as he recently capsulized it) is still that "Promotion
must take a back seat to research." --and very far back, at that, scarcely
even a rumble seat. 

This is clearly jumping the rails--especially since promotion is ALREADY
minimal in all the organizations. You can't take fat off a skeleton, or give a
blood transfusion from a turnip. I would like to put a little more meat on the
recruitment bones, AND build research--many types of research.

In any case, the collective decision will not be monolithic. Various people
and organizations will do as they see fit, according to their outlooks and
resources. The tempest in the Cryonet teacup will amount to very little,
although hopefully a few will be inspired to make a bigger effort of some
sort. (As Dave Pizer has pointed out, just talking about cryonics to relatives
and acquaintances, on a persistent basis, can make a difference.)

I do hope that some of the CI and IS people will decide that their own modest
financial contributions to research will be most effective if directed to the
Immortalist Society and the Cryonics Institute. (Donations to IS are tax
deductible.)
                                                      
In weeks and months to come, please check the CI/IS web site for information
on research projects that might affect you personally and relatively soon.

Robert Ettinger
Cryonics Institute
Immortalist Society
http://www.cryonics.org

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