X-Message-Number: 19282 Date: Sat, 15 Jun 2002 04:24:11 -0400 From: Thomas Donaldson <> Subject: CryoNet #19263 - #19271 Well, well... we now have an environmental controversy. I think that references just aren't that hard, if you think of them. You make a statement and then put in the reference (ENV. NONSENSE 32(2002) 15-20). Incidentally, second order references can't be used easily ie. things like "I agree with Propolis the Devil, who said in his book that humans are naturally evil". That's not good enough, not because the name of the Devil's book wasn't given but because it merely cites someone else's opinion rather than looking at any evidence for it which he may have brought up to support it. "And against you, I agree with Imaginary God, who in his book The Excursus of All says that human beings are naturally good." A question for Yvan Bozzonetti: your proposal sounds like it would send LOTS of energy through the biological samples you want to look at. Or was I mistaken about what you were proposing? Years ago I wrote an article for ANALOG about nuclear reactors of the future, but now there are even more ideas for fusion than there were then. Yes, I think that someday one of them will work, but aren't prepared to choose one or the other without studying them. As for references, one that is accessible to everyone is better than one only on the Net. If the author of a reference on the net has published hardcopy or will do so, that's quite useful. Among other points, net references often aren't checked for errors at all. (I know such checking can involve prejudice, but it also makes authors more careful about what they say). As for cryonics, I would even agree that both of these issues do have a bearing. The important point to remember is that even if the world goes downhill, we can do things to keep ourselves from sliding down with it. And yes, it's worthwhile to think of how to look at living systems on nanoscales, but it's a very hard problem and we shouldn't feel upset if our first ideas don't work. Best wishes and long long life to all, Thomas Donaldson Rate This Message: http://www.cryonet.org/cgi-bin/rate.cgi?msg=19282