X-Message-Number: 11409 Date: Fri, 12 Mar 1999 20:06:14 -0800 (PST) From: xon tiffany <> Subject: Re: CryoNet #11404 - #11406 i am interested in the transhumanist get-together. please send info. ---CryoNet wrote: > > CryoNet - Fri 12 Mar 1999 > > #11404: To Olaf, and more possible polls for Scott Badger [Thomas Donaldson] > #11405: Celebrities and Cryonics [Robert Moore] > #11406: Upcoming DC and Baltimore area events [kfl] > > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- > > Message #11404 > From: Thomas Donaldson <> > Subject: To Olaf, and more possible polls for Scott Badger > Date: Thu, 11 Mar 1999 23:59:37 +1100 (EST) > > To Olaf: > > It is a pity that those who doubt the current definition of death OUTSIDE > cryonics have failed to notice that we doubt it too. That is our basic > reason for suspending people. Not only that, but I notice that this bit > of news came from Vancouver, British Columbia, which has forbidden > cryonics firms from acting in their state --- one of the few political > entities, so far, which has done that, at least explicitly. > > I am dubious, too, that any flood of letters from cryonicists (or even a > small number of polite letters) will change anyone's opinion on this > issue. After all, death is death, yes? Such a clear idea should not be > obscured by technology ;). > > To Scott Badger: > > If Jeff Davis can truly convince any celebrity to join a cryonics society, > more power to him. I have occasionally written letters such as he > describes to various celebrities, only to find that I have not been alone. > And the celebrity basically has stored all those letters in his/her round > file.... otherwise known as a wastebasket. But perhaps it will work this > time. Or perhaps Jeff Davis will get that urge out of his system and > do something else more useful, such as try to get people he knows > personally to join. (I myself cannot claim great success with that, > either, but I have certainly had more than when I tried to convince > celebrities). > > And yes, perhaps the general attitude to cryonics has changed, and such > pleas will receive a better hearing. There has been a slow change: some > fictional stories involving cryonics are actually in favor. > > In any case, I remain interested in polls which ask the questions which > I suggested in my last posting, or questions similar to them. And it would > also be interesting to know how many cryonicists have ALREADY tried to > recruit a celebrity, and what happened when they did. I strongly suspect > that I am far from alone. > > Best and long long life to all, > > Thomas Donaldson > > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- > > Message #11405 > From: "Robert Moore" <> > Subject: Celebrities and Cryonics > Date: Thu, 11 Mar 1999 10:09:24 PST > > Some thoughts and observations: > > Axiom: People do move in crowds and follow "leaders." > > I remember as child a well-know celebrity was cremated and his ashes > were scattered solemnly to the sea. This romantic idea of becoming one > with the ocean after death, gave many of my family and friends a > positive impression about cremation. > > This change resulted in my mother 20 years later being cremated, > something that earlier would have been considered very eccentric! > > Try a few thought experiments on the effect of the following on public > opinion of cryonics: > 1. After being pronounced clinically dead, Princess Di, as per her > previously stated wishes, is rushed into cryonic suspension. > 2. Michael Jackson announces he will be frozen after he dies. > 3. Former President Reagan's family has said they will have him frozen > after death. > 4. Sadaam Hussein orders his doctor's to immerse him in liquid nitrogen > when he dies. > 5. The US Surgeon General choose cryosuspension. > > Also think about whether it would be good or bad publicity if the > celebrities "made a big deal" about their choice and spoke about it > often. (I think it would make them look eccentric) > > Think also about the following: By putting his name and face on > millions of life insurance ads, did Ed McMahon enhance the reputation of > life insurance or damage his own reputation? (Answer: Damage his own.) > Did it result in more sales or fewer sales? (Answer: More) > > Regarding whether cryonics organizations should offer free suspensions > to celebrities. Does anybody really care whether Michael Jordan paid > for his Nikes or not? > > My personal conclusions, based on the thought experiments: > 1, Having celebrities sign up and actually undergo suspension would be > VERY good publicity. > 2. Having a celebrity spokesperson could range from somewhat positive > to somewhat negative, and is probably not worth the cost and risk. > 3. Giving a freebie to a respected celebrity would have no effect on > publicity. > 4. Actions speak louder than words. It's enough that Michael Jordan > wears Nikes. If he went around talking about Nike all the time, it > would detract from the message. > Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com > > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- > > Message #11406 > From: > Date: Thu, 11 Mar 1999 23:41:01 -0500 (EST) > Subject: Upcoming DC and Baltimore area events > > The Life Extension Society will be meeting at 2 pm on Sunday the 14th > in Arlington Virginia. After a short business meeting, we will be > watching "Revolutionary Breakthroughs in Cryobiology," a videotape > of a recent presentation made at 21st Century Medicine in California. > See http://www.clark.net/pub/kfl/les/ for details and directions. > > The Washington Metro Objectivism Discussion group will be holding a > party in Arlington Virginia on the evening of Wednesday the 17th. > See http://www.infiltec.com/wmod.htm for details and directions. > (It is NOT at its usual location.) > > The Washington Science Fiction Association will be holding a meeting > and social event in Arlington Virginia on the evening of Friday the > 19th. See http://www.wsfa.org/. E-mail me for directions. > > there may be a transhumanist get-together in or near DC within the > month, but no firm plans have been made. E-mail me if you want to > be notified. See http://www.transhumanist.org/ for information on > what tranhumanism is. > > The Baltimore Science Fiction Association will be holding its annual > convention, Balticon, on the weekend of April 2-4 in Baltimore. See > http://www.balticon.org/ > > All events except the last one are free. All events are at least > marginally transit accessable (depending on how much walking you > are willing to do). I will be at all these events. > -- > Keith F. Lynch -- -- http://www.clark.net/pub/kfl/ > I always welcome replies to my e-mail, postings, and web pages, but > unsolicited bulk e-mail sent to thousands of randomly collected > addresses is not acceptable, and I do complain to the spammer's ISP. > > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- > > End of CryoNet Digest > ********************* > > _________________________________________________________ DO YOU YAHOO!? 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