X-Message-Number: 11359
Date: Thu, 04 Mar 1999 00:37:19 -0800
From: Jeff Davis <>
Subject: Cryonet relevance, etc.
Fellow Cryonetistas,
Charles Platt is gone. This is a bad thing? If a tree falls in the forest and
Charles Platt is not there to hear it, will it still make a noise? Who cares?
I first encountered Charles Platt on the cryonet, haranging Dr. Ettinger over
some aspect of the CI protocol, or the Pichugin work, or something, I no longer
remember what. Dr. Ettinger would patiently and thoughtfully respond, but CP
would keep coming back at him, like a bulldog who's sunk his teeth into
something and won't let go. My impression was that CP was trying to promote
himself by critiquing the work of someone with genuine stature, calculating
that, in the eyes of others, his own stature would be enhanced. Not! In short
CP seemed self-important, grumpy, contemptuous, ready to advance himself at
the expense of others, and frankly, lacking any real talent for the finer
technical points relating to cryonics. He might have some talent as a
businessman, where bullying ones employees and/or competitors can be a
semi-valid strategy.
Perhaps Charles should seek out that theoretical one-among-zillions particular
universe wherein he is the grand imperial poobah and the physical principles
themselves include a quantum filter such that all possible thought is
pre-screened in virtual form for correspondence to Plattian principles, and no
wave function can collapse save it meet this fitness test. In that universe
there would be only a CryoCarenet, and "serves no useful purpose whatsover"
would mean what Charles Platt thinks it means, rather than the petulant and
inconsequential meaning it bears in this universe, namely, "serves no useful
purpose whatsover to Charles stick-up-his-butt Platt."
Aaaaaahhh, that felt good!! Who says cryonics can't be fun?
By the way, Charles, thanks for posting the 21CM report. Ya done good.
Now on to substantive, focused, cryonics-related stuff.
When will the 21CM folks be finished with their patent filings, so we can pump
some hamster full of their new miracle cryoprotectant, send him for a little
excursion to number 77 Kelvin Terrace, and bring him back for a report on his
trip? Or if he's feelin' too poorly to report, to see just how poorly.
Now don't anyone embarrass themselves by thinking that I expect the cryorodent
to jump up party-animal style. But, after structural damage, what's left?
Toxicity, right? As in poisoning, right? And if the patient is on the table,
and intact--as in not structurally diced at the cellular level--then we're
ready for the ER team to treat him for,...poisoning. Catheterize him (whoops!
he's already cateterized from his trip in the kelvinator) and start pumpin'.
In goes the good blood out comes the bad blood. Bag 'em, put 'em on dialysis,
whack 'em on the chest, etc.(I've seen ER. Have Carter hold his little paw.)
CHECK THE ENCEPHALOGRAPH! I'm waiting.
Saul, Greg, Brian, Mike, what's the holdup?
By the way,...Saul,...going commercial,...hitching the cryonics movement to the
powerful, profit driven dynamo of capitalist economics. Smartest damn thing
since Dr. E wrote the book. The single most effective decision ever made in
cryonics. I hope you make a billion dollars--as well as realize the dream we
all care about so much. Kudos. I prostrate myself humbly in the presence of
greatness.
Finally, I want to congratulate Scott Badger for his work, the report of which
appeared in The Journal of Transhumanism, entitled:
AN EXPLORATORY SURVEY EXAMINING THE FAMILIARITY WITH
AND ATTITUDES TOWARD CRYONIC PRESERVATION
which can be found somewhere in the vicinity of
http://www.transhumanism.com/
A couple of interesting points: Since the survey was conducted on the net, the
basic materials are all in electronically distributable form. So the work can
be repeated and expanded upon fairly easily: just plug it into the next web
site.
While this offers the opportunity to get more/better data--which I personally
view as exceptionally valuable in effectively promoting cryonics--it has
another advantage. The survey ITSELF promotes and educates about cryonics.
This "survey" (wink, wink) may have it's greater value as a promotional tool.
On to the results of the survey.
I'm not surprised, I shouldn't be surprised, but just the same, it was somewhat
unexpected: cryonics is too damn expensive. In hindsight it's so obvious.
But, after long exposure, I've just gotten used to the idea that the cost is
30-150 grand. To me, for immortality, it seems eminently reasonable(especially
30). But of course, in the real world, 30 grand is nothing to sniff at, and
150, well,...at that level you're talking about "rich" people. (There are
people for whom 150 grand is chump change. But I'm talking about the REAL
world.)
Which brings me to the subject of getting the price down. It's a subject which
has been touched on before. To achieve economics of scale, whereby the price
can be reduced, you need large numbers of folks signed up. To get large
numbers of folks signed up, you need the price down. Trapped in "the chicken
or the egg" situation. Clearly what's called for is a new idea. How's this?
All my life I've substituted do-it-myself for
pay-cash-to-have-someone-do-it-for-me. I know from personal experience that it
works.
Applied to cryonics it requires finding those people who are interested in
cryonics, but who find the current price structure unacceptable (for whatever
reason). People who would consider contributing sweat equity that they have,
to cash that they don't. Their labor substitutes wherever possible, which
leaves only materials to be paid for.
Members build and operate a solar-power LN2 plant (in the Arizona desert?)
(and sell/trade LN2 to Alcor and CI?) Members learn from Alcor and CI.
Members conduct suspensions for themselves (and for others for a fee).
Members build their own storage facility on the site of their LN2 plant,
where they store their own (and others for a fee).
You can get to the future in an Alcor Rolls Royce, a CI Packard, or a __?__
model T. The current price structure won't last.
Faced with the Gordian knot, Alexander drew his sword. Limits always get
redefined by creativity and attitude.
For Chrissy Loveday. Now's not the time to give up. We're too close. Courage
and vision like yours are qualities to be honored and conserved. It's what
cryonics was meant for. I'm planning a party on the other side, where we'll
savor our victory, and remember, perhaps sadly, those we loved and left behind.
I'd like to see you there.
Best, Jeff Davis
"Everything's hard till you know how to do it."
Ray Charles
Rate This Message: http://www.cryonet.org/cgi-bin/rate.cgi?msg=11359