X-Message-Number: 17607
Date: Tue, 18 Sep 2001 09:24:28 -0400
From: Thomas Donaldson <>
Subject: 2 short answers (long answers possible)

Hi everyone!

Two reasons for short replies.

1. One writer in the recent (18 September 2001) issue of Cryonet seems to
   believe that suspension may someday become unnecessary. He gives this
   reason to justify the use of rented facilities and equipment whenever
   that becomes necessary, since after a while we won't need suspension
   any further.

   This is hardly a provable position, and I cannot argue against it
   logically. But I will say as I've said before that merely dealing with
   old age (or any finite list of death-causing conditions) will not 
   set us free of the danger of dying, not from a presently known condition
   but from some NEW condition with NEW features which we haven't yet
   considered because it hasn't yet happened. The best PAST example is
   radiation poisoning, but only a little thought will produce others.

   Certainly if we do away with aging, we'll escape one major problem we
   face now. And we'll live much longer in consequence. But that is not
   the same as evading ALL fatal conditions.

2. Another issue: what will we likely find (I am writing this late at
   night and haven't looked at any August issue of DISCOVER) if we 
   read the article about Gage's work? My sense of his work is that
   he was looking for brain cells which can multiply and turn into 
   neurons or glial cells depending on their treatment. Such info is
   certainly useful but would hardly tell us the memories of the 
   person whose brain is searched.

   The person who put in this message does not subscribe to PERIASTRON,
   which has tried to follow what really happens to our memory. Clearly
   what happens to our memory is important and should be thought about
   at length. I also try to make PERIASTRON understandable to any 
   average person. All I can say if I have failed is that I'm sorry and
   would like to know why.

		Best wishes and long long life for all,

			Thomas Donaldson

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