X-Message-Number: 21257 Date: Mon, 24 Feb 2003 12:18:52 -0700 From: Mike Perry <> Subject: Letter sent to Editor of NY Daily News Dear Editor: In response to Bill Madden's article of Feb. 19 concerning cryonics, I find it sadly misinformed and misleading. I have worked at Alcor since the 1980s, forgoing a possibly lucrative career (I have a Ph.D. in computer science) for something I consider more important--a calling, not a career. Cryonics (the correct term for the practice, not "cryogenics,") has, I feel, some strong arguments in its favor, despite the seemingly great or insuperable difficulties of reanimating someone who is now frozen. We cannot be certain it will work, of course, but there is ground for hope. Future technology should accomplish wonders of which we at present may have an inkling, but are certainly not privy to all the details. In any case what we are doing at Alcor is a brave attempt to save lives, to extend lives, and to heal. It must not be confused with conventional practices of "disposal" of human remains. We are not here to provide "closure" for those who feel that such disposal is appropriate, but to provide an opportunity for those who long for something more. We are not so concerned with symbolic gestures such as placing people in individual containers as we are in ensuring they will be in the best possible physical shape when, as we think, future technology can be brought to bear on the problem of restoring them to consciousness and health. I and most of the other Alcor staff members, along with all the officers and directors, have made arrangements for cryonic preservation with Alcor, and thus have a personal stake in the future of Alcor. We consider it our lifeboat, and are committed to making it as viable an operation as possible. The charge that our liquid nitrogen levels were "dangerously low" is based on misinformation we would be happy to correct if asked. We invite the public's questions and comments, but ask in return a reasonable sense of fairness and objectivity. Our practice is perhaps hard to understand, but our intentions are honorable, and we are very serious in the pursuit of our goal, for all those entrusted to our care. Mike Perry Care Assistant, Alcor Foundation Rate This Message: http://www.cryonet.org/cgi-bin/rate.cgi?msg=21257