X-Message-Number: 17377
From: 
Date: Sat, 25 Aug 2001 11:13:09 EDT
Subject: letter to the editor, "Cryonics an Expensive Religion?"

Dear Cryoneters:

I think some of you will be interested in the letter I just sent to the 
editors of Scientific American, regarding Michael Shermer's article.  What is 
interesting is that I met Mike at a Skeptic's conference, and while swimming 
in the hotel pool with him, discussed cryonics.  He was semi-interested, and 
VERY aware that cryonics is normally funded with life insurance.  

It just makes better, more sensationalistic copy to ignore this fact.  As 
well as being a skeptic and a generally nice guy, it is helpful to realize 
Mike is also a journalist.  

Here is letter:
August 25, 2001

To:  Scientific American Editors
        415 Madison Avenue
        New York, NY 10017-1111 

From: Rudi Hoffman CFP
          1249 Robbin Drive
           Port Orange, FL 32129
           (800) 749-3773 

Re:  Cryonics an Expensive Religion? (Sept. 2001)

As a skeptic, Shermer admirer, and Certified Financial Planner specializing 

in helping people fund their cryonic suspension, I read    Nano and Nonsense in

Cryonics    with interest.  I   d like to clarify one of Mr. Shermer   s points.
Most funding of cryonic
suspension is provided by life insurance, which is available at a fraction of 
the 50-120,000 cost. For many, this amounts to the cost of one fine dinner 
per month. Only a handful of people fund their suspension with cash. This 
makes cryonics an affordable gamble for many knowledgeable, intelligent, and 
skeptical readers.

Rudi Hoffman


(end of letter)
I sent both a hard copy and an email format of this letter, although I doubt 
it will be printed.  I went through multiple iterations of letter, most of 
which were not nearly as low key, nice, and boring.  But I thought the SA 
crowd would prefer understatement to anything resembling hype or "true 
believer" verbiage.  

We shall see what happens.  The Scientific American articles in general I 
perceive as an overall plus for cryonics.

Any thoughts?

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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