X-Message-Number: 1248
Newsgroups: sci.cryonics
From:  (Peter Alexander Merel)
Subject: New Scientist article, 26 September
Message-ID: <>
Date: Thu, 1 Oct 1992 03:06:41 GMT

I don't know how many folk here have seen this article, but it should
be readily available so I'll refrain from extensive quotes. The basic
gist is that cryonicists are ignoring the established biological facts, or 
fantasizing about something called nanotechnology, which is rhetorically
dubbed "science fiction".

The article covers the basic facts about Alcor, describes Thomas Donaldson's
situation, and gives a treatment of the cryonicist mindset, but salts that
liberally with zero-sum and lunatic fringe themes. If finishes by suggesting 
that cryonic suspension is " ... an unusual and expensive way of disposing of 
dead bodies".

It seems that Schatzman did interview people at Trans-time and Alcor, and 
faithfully transcribed some of their literature. The fact that he gets some 
of this information out is probably useful. Unfortunately the emphasis he 
gives to tissue degradation and the lack of information about nanotech make 
the article counterproductive - folk who read it should find cryonics more 
difficult to accept than folk who do not.

And, yes, he trots out the 'hamburger into beef' thing. Phrases like that 
are too tempting for a journo to pass up. I've always like the letter 
analogy, but 'hamburger into beef' is snappier than that. Cryonics is 
crying out for a little political phrase like that.

It is probably worth writing a reply to Schatzman - a few hundred letters
won't make that big a dent in New Scientist's editorial opinion, but if we
save one benighted letter column browser then it would be worth it. The life 
you save may save your own. Hey, that ain't bad. Not as good as hamburger 
into beef, but not bad ... Um, how about "shit into shinola" ... Nah ...
"Rage, rage againt the dying of the light" ... too arty farty ... "I am
the resurrection and the light" ... now that's catchy. I give it a seven. You
can dance to it.

-- 

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Theftright Peter A. Merel (T) 1992. Rights to all replies, followups, originals,
sources and anything else I can get my hands on reserved.

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