X-Message-Number: 18932 From: Date: Wed, 17 Apr 2002 21:08:10 EDT Subject: "Crossing Jordan" cryonics episode --part1_f5.1a7e3c9e.29ef767a_boundary Content-Type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Hello, Cryoneters: Did anyone else catch the TV series "Crossing Jordan" last Monday, April 15? Crossing Jordan is a fiction show in which Jordan Cavenagh, played by Jill Hennesy, is a coroner. It is generally a pretty well done, thought provoking show, with likable and believable characters one can care about. And interesting moral dilemma themes occasionally. This episode has a subplot in which a "stiff" is wheeled into the coroner's office in a high tech looking transport cart with various high tech equipment attached to it, including a thumper to continue blood flow. One of the coroners, nicknamed "Bug" is determined to autopsy the "corpse." This is totally forbidden by the slightly overdrawn and somewhat ridiculous but sincere cryonicist who is taking care of his "patient." Human conflict and some semi-high drama follows, highly reminiscent of the Dora Kent case, but fictionalized. "Bug" tells his colleagues that "Cryonics is a scam! These folks are getting $120,000 for freezing DEAD people! ... But there is a discount alternative of $50,000 for the head only. Someone is getting rich off of these poor deluded people." (Semi-funny aside...I think he means you, Jerry and Paula, and all you other overpaid ALCOR RICH GUYS.) LOL!! While there was no direct reference or credit (or blame) given to ALCOR, the specifics of the cryonics protocols were clearly taken directly from ALCOR. The perfusionist even states these exact words, I believe: "You are killing my patient! We must get him VITRIFIED immediately!" A compromise is reached by agreeing to perform "Surgery" on the corpse/patient (choose your term depending on your viewpoint). In the end of the cryonics subplot, a large silver vertical DEWAR is rolled in for the cryonaut to be placed in, and most of the coroners provide a right arm (Hitleresque?) salute, and chant the phrase, "To LIFE EXPANSION!" I asked Paula Lemler today during a phone conversation if all these ALCOR specifics had been authorized. She was quite emphatic in that NO permission to use these has been granted. She did indicate there was a "Mystery Actor" who refused to provide his name who had sent a contingent of researchers to ALCOR central some time ago, with no follow through. It is assumed this is where the plot points have come from. In summary, the spin on cryonics could have been better. But it also could have been worse. The perfusionist was depicted as scientific, dedicated, and sincere...but also kooky, abusive, and ridiculous. He did manage to win over several of the coroners, and was able to prevent the autopsy. A victory for cryonics? Perhaps. Any comments or observations by anyone who did or did not see this episode? Rudi Hoffman My website: rudihoffman.com Member Financial Planner's Association, Certified Planner Member ALCOR Life Extension Foundation alcor.org Member Libertarian Party libertarianparty.org Member National Rifle Association nra.org Member Extropy Institute extropy.org Senior Associate Foresight Institute foresight.org Board Member Port Orange Chamber of Commerce posd.com Board Member Daytona Salvation Army salvationarmy.org --part1_f5.1a7e3c9e.29ef767a_boundary Content-Type: text/html; charset="US-ASCII" [ AUTOMATICALLY SKIPPING HTML ENCODING! ] Rate This Message: http://www.cryonet.org/cgi-bin/rate.cgi?msg=18932