X-Message-Number: 17207
From: 
Date: Sun, 5 Aug 2001 21:10:49 EDT
Subject: Scientific American, Ideas are important,   PROACT

In a message dated 08/04/2001 5:01:02 AM Eastern Daylight Time, 
 writes:

<< 
 Along these lines, has anyone read the article in the August 2001 issue of 
 _Scientific American_ titled "Cybernetic Cells"?  The scientists 
 constructing advanced computer models of living cells intend to use them for 
 discovering new drugs and things like that, but they could conceivably be 
 used to model repair scenarios for recovering cryopreserved (and 
 cryo-damaged) cells.
  >>
Hello, Mark Plus and fellow cryoneters,
Yes, I have the Scientific American article in my hand.  Outstanding graphics 
as well as a solid and "well grounded" article on the real world current 
status of designing molecules from people that are actually involved in doing 
it.

Scientific American is consistently a great magazine, and I enjoy and learn 
from every issue.  Along with Discovery, Life Extension Magazine, Popular 
Science, Technology Review (MIT cutting edge tech magazine), Extro list, 
Cryonet, Foresight list, and others, these help keep me "a bit" up to date on 
the latest developments.

Now if we could just figure a way to download data directly into our brains, 
perhaps we could all keep up with the stuff we *Want* to know about as well 
as the things we *Need* to know about.  

I enjoy and learn from the philosophical postings on Cryonet.  
Ideas are important, and philosophical insights and foundations have real 
world consequences.  I am glad that brighter folks than I have elected to 
share what they know and speculate regarding altruism, the nature of the 
self, etc. 

Anyone questioning the importance of ideas and ideologies to directly impact 
the "real" world of science and research need look no further than the 
*RIDICULOUS* and *SHORT SIGHTED* recent US House action "banning" cloning and 
stem cell research.  

This is a bill I did not know was coming for vote.  I would gladly have 
emailed and written my representatives to express strongly my opinion and 
ideology.  Like many/most of you, I am "pro-science, pro-research, pro-free 
market, etc. and think that government banning of research will simply make 
it more difficult for ethical research to be done.  While driving other 
research 
"underground" and out of the country.

WHERE were the urgent emails from "pro tech" groups encouraging me and making 
it easy for me to write my representatives?  

The opposition camps are well organized.  

At the EXTRO 5 Conference, Natasha Vita More spoke of and unveiled plans for 
a networking organization to tie together pro technology groups.  Called 
PRO-ACT, many folks reading this would be very supportive of the aims of this 
group.  

Natasha, if you are reading this, my thanks and applause goes to you for your 
vision and taking a courageous leadership role to respond to the Bill Joys 
and Jeremy Rifkins of this world. 

Many people on this list would be interested in the current status of PRO 
ACT, and perhaps occasionally getting updates about we can support science, 
research, and progress.  

May I ask how we get on a mailing list re: this?  

Onwards.

Rudi Hoffman
Member Financial Planner's Association, Certified Planner
Member ALCOR Life Extension Foundation
Member Libertarian Party    
Member National Rifle Association
Member Extropy Foundation
Board Member Port Orange Chamber of Commerce
Board Member Daytona Salvation Army

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