X-Message-Number: 28827
References: <>
From: Kennita Watson <>
Subject: Re: Dr. Lemler's comments
Date: Sun, 31 Dec 2006 07:16:35 -0800

I begin by thanking Dr. Lemler for his kind compliments.
I will continue by voicing disagreement with his
assessment of the situation and my efforts.

 From my observations, it is not a lack of credible
"distaff adherents, yet alone spokespeople" from which the
cryonics movement is suffering, but a lack of recognition
of who we (cryonicists) are and what we do in general.  I
think it's actually important that I attend the Frozen Dead
Guy Days; otherwise Bo Shaffer (the man who puts dry ice on
Grandpa Bredo every month) is the voice of cryonics.  He
strikes  me as more enthusiastic than deep-thinking.  I'll
leave it at that, except to point out that he signs his
monthly status reports to Trygve thus:

     Bo Shaffer
     DTI
     Cryonicist-in-charge
     International Cryonics Institute and Center for Life Extension  
(I.C.I.C.L.E)
     www.icinstitute.us

Bo does multiple (as in 8 to 10) presentations at each
Frozen Dead Guy Days, and without my attendance, people
would leave thinking "That's what cryonics is?  That
can't work!".  My discussions with people, the surveys I
give (which could be more scientific; I'll be wanting to
talk with David Stodolsky about that), and the literature
I hand out help to explain what we are doing that is
different than the Frozen Dead Guy, and how it actually
*can* work.  I'll be lobbying for time in the A/V room to
show mainstream cryonics videos, with time for Q&A.

I'll be gathering travel information and soliciting
travel companions, literature, contributions, etc. over
the next few weeks.  I will also, as I have before, be
soliciting suggestions for other venues in which I
might appear.  I went to SiliCon this past year, and I
am open to other events.  I don't have much money, so
I can only go to places outside the Bay Area if my travel
expenses are paid.

One more note for this message:  some have complained
that my efforts at the Frozen Dead Guy Days haven't
resulted in signups.  While I don't have statistics handy,
as I understand it most people take years from the time
they first hear about cryonics to when they sign up.  And
those are people who started out on the immortalist track.
I expect that any fruit my efforts bear will take years to
ripen.  In the meantime, there will be more people out
there who, when they next hear about cryonics, will have a
positive image of it in their minds to attach to; who just
might mention it to someone who is looking for it; and who
might describe it as "interesting" instead of "creepy" when
it comes up in conversation etc.  And if it comes up in a
legal context, they may be predisposed to think at least
"they aren't hurting anybody" rather than taking what Joe
Politician says at face value because they haven't heard
anything different.

BTW, check out http://frozendeadguydays.org/ -- the poster
doesn't look nearly as silly as in previous years (IMO),
and I periodically nudge the organizers to replace
misinformation about cryonics with real information.

I could tweak this message endlessly and it would still
not be perfect.  I need sleep more than I need to iron
out every wrinkle.  So for now, farewell.  And thanks
again, Jerry -- you do my ego good :-) .  I'll sleep
with visions of "and so on" dancing in my head :-D .

Live long and prosper,
Kennita

On Dec 31, 2006, at 2:00 AM, CryoNet wrote:

> From: "Jerry Lemler" <>
> Subject: Re:28783
> Date: Sat, 30 Dec 2006 22:27:42 -0700
>
>                                 Despite the disagreements Charles  
> and I have
> had for the past few years, unfortunately all too public, I do come  
> to his
> defense regarding the Frozen Dead Guy and Kennita issue. As I have
> repeatedly aserted, our movement suffers from a relative lack of  
> credible
> distaff adherents, yet alone spokespeople. Kennita is the notable  
> exception,
> energetic, bright, visionary, and so on. When she associates herself,
> however, with activities like the Frozen Dead Guy, in my opinion, her
> credibility sinks to ordinary level. Kennita is anything but ordinary.
> Accordingly, I urge her to rise above same. Continued participation  
> in this
> event is not venial. Sooner AND Later, Dr. Jerry Lemler

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