X-Message-Number: 568
Subject: American Cryonics News
From: spectrx! (Edgar W. Swank)
Date: Wed, 04 Dec 91 10:52:24 PST

     [Reprinted from The Immortalist - October, 1991]
 
                 American Cryonics News
 
ACS Receives Permission for Marine Mammal Research
 
The American Cryonics Society has in its possession frozen tissues
samples from two whales:  a Gray Whale, which is listed as an
endangered species, and a beaked whale.  In past issues of The
Immortalist we have reported on our problems with the National Marine
Fisheries over our request to maintain custody of these samples and to
collect additional specimens.
 
In a letter from the National Marine Fisheries Service dated September
17, 1991, we were given permission to collect and maintain specimens
for genetic research.  This permit was extended to include the
specimens we now have in cold storage.
 
We are happy to have this question of permission and custody resolved
favorably and amicably.  This resolution is the result of many hours
of phoning and letter writing.  As readers may recall when we
originally sought permission to keep marine mammal tissue in cold
storage for possible future cloning we were denied permission on the
grounds that such purpose was not a "scientific use."
 
Our current authorization does not call for indefinite holding of
these tissue samples but will allow us to keep and collect for a
considerable time span.  In the mean-time we will pursue extending
this permit to include less specific research use by applying under a
different provision of the Endangered Species Act.
 
We have learned many lessons from this experience not the least of
which is:  when dealing with federal agencies never use cryonics and
clone in the same sentence.
 
World's Second Permafrost Burial
 
The American Cryonics Society recently helped facilitate the burial in
permafrost of a woman from Europe.  The burial took place in northern
Canada with embalming and some special preparation done in Europe to
(hopefully) enhance the preservation of the embalming fluid and
freezing.  To the best of our knowledge this is just the second time a
person has been buried in permafrost in the hopes of eventual
restoration to life.
 
The grave was dug to a depth of 10 to 11 feet.  Frozen clay was
encountered at 6 feet.  A plastic pipe was left in the grave extending
to the surface.  A thermocouple with a long lead wire has been sent to
the site and will be installed and t he pipe removed.  This
thermocouple will allow temperature monitoring near the coffin by use
of an electronic thermometer.
 
As part of our investigation of possible sites for burial in
permafrost we talked to geologists at the University of Alaska and
obtained many University of Alaska publications on the subject.  Ben
Best of the Cryonics Society of Canada also ma de a lot of calls to
investigate alternate sites in Canada.  We now know more about
permafrost and the problems of international arrangements.  We also
found that helping with such cases can be more complicated and require
much more effort than one might think.  We made many calls and fax
transmissions while working on this case.  This experience shows the
value of an in-house fax machine for dealing with international
situations.  Klaus Reinhard and Ben Best both made major cont
ributions to the eventual success of this endeavor.
 
The burial, of course, is only one part of what should be a
comprehensive program if people buried in permafrost are to ever have
a chance of being rescued.  Establishment of maintenance and rescue
trust accounts will be needed and a system for record keeping and
monitoring established.
 
Permafrost burial in hopes of future revival is itself controversial
among cryonicists.  Many cryonicists hold the view that permafrost
burial has no place as part of a cryonics program.  Permafrost
temperatures are much higher than that of liquid nitrogen.  At these
higher temperatures there is still considerable deterioration over
time.  The preservation through freezing at these higher temperatures
may be combined with chemical preservation.  It is this combination of
freezing and chemical preservation which may be adequate for some
form of future high-tech reanimation.  We simply don't know enough to
say whether permafrost burial offers real hope or is simply a waste of
time and money.  We should not, however, make the mistake made by the
Federal Drug Administration and deny patients controversial treatment
on the basis that the treatment has not been fully tested.
 
Trans Time Prepares Stock Offering
 
Several times over the past few years Trans Time Directors have
discussed the prospect of Trans Time, Inc.  qualifying stock for an
offering to the general public.  The principal advantage from
privately held companies "going public" is that raising capital
through stock sales is usually much easier since buyers have a ready
market should they later wish to sell their stock.
 
Steps to positions Trans Time to go public have been suggested by
lawyers and financial experts.  At the Trans Time Board of Directors
meeting of September 29, 1991 the board of Governors approved
resolutions authorizing Trans Time to take these steps.
 
Stock to Split
 
The last issue of Trans Time stock sold at $70.00 a share.  This is
far higher than the price per share of most companies about to go
public.  A stock split of 50 to 1 was authorized, to be approved by
the shareholders.  The next issue is expected to sell for $1.40 per
share, after the split.
 
Elimination of Pre-emptive Rights
 
Currently Trans Time stock has a legend condition placing restrictions
on the re-sale of these shares.  An owner who wishes to sell and has
an offer to buy must notify Trans Time of that offer.  Trans Time can
then buy the stock themselves at that price.  If Trans Time declines
the right to buy, it must then offer the stock to other shareholders
at the offer price.  This restriction creates a lot of extra work for
Trans Time and may also make prospective buyers reluctant to make
offers to buy the stock, knowing that any good deal they may make may
simply be taken away from them in favor of Trans Time or its current
shareholders.
 
The Trans Time Board of Directors passed a resolution to ask
shareholders to vote to remove this restriction.
 
Private Offering
 
A private offering of 244,600 share of Trans Time no par value common
stock at $1.40 per share to the first 35 qualified purchasers was also
authorized.  If all shares sell this would bring in $342,400 in new
capital.  If Trans Time is successful in qualifying for a public
offering, this may be the last private placement of their stock.
 
Charitable Contribution
 
At its meeting of September 29, 1991 by unanimous vote the Trans Time
Board of Directors approved a contribution to the American Cryonics
Society.  This contribution will not come from Trans Time but from
Berkshire-Hathaway, a company who's primary assets consist of
ownership in the stock of other companies.  As an incentive to
encourage investors to choose Berkshire-Hathaway the company makes a
contribution to the charity chosen by the investor.  This contribution
is based upon the total amount invested.
 
The American Cryonics Society is grateful for this contribution and
extends a special thanks to the Trans Time Board for making this
donation possible.
 
Such incentive donations may be available through other companies as
well.  When they are, please keep in mind the American Cryonics
Society as a recipient.
 
CRYONICS NURSING AND RETIRMENT HOME AND HOSPICE
 
At the August ACS Board of Governors meeting in Berkeley Dr.
Dick Marsh suggested establishing a retirement community and
nursing home for cryonicists.  There was considerable interest
expressed and the idea was discussed at some length.
 
Meanwhile, David Pizer, sucessful businessman and long time
cryonicist, is actively thinking about undertaking just such a project
including a hospice.  The facility would be located in Southern
California but could be utilized by cryonicists from other states.
 
If you would like to have further information or to assist in
this project, please contact:
 
                        Dave Pizer
                        Box 458
                        WrightWood CA 92397
                        (619) 249-3553
 
PROTEIN USED FOR DATASTORAGE
 
The WALL STREET JOURNAL (September 4, 1991) reports that a group of
researchers from Syracuse University have optically stored and
retrieved data in three dimensions in a tiny block made of molecules
of the protein bacteriorhadapsin.
 
Meanwhile another group of researchers from Wayne State University in
Detroit and the Max Planck Institute in Munich report they have
genetically manipulated the bacteria to produce a mutated protein five
times more sensitive to light than the natural version, thus
increasing the efficiency of the molecule as an optical memory device.
 
The Journal reports "An emerging field, molecular electronics promises
to push electronic computing beyond the fast approaching practical
limits of silicon chips.  The biological molecule,...offers a greater
potential than silicon chips for storing and processing data....
molecular memory devices will help drastically shrink the size of
computers and open up new possibilities for creating 'associated
memory' devices that ...function like the brain in robotics and
computer vision."
 
Robert Birge who is leading research at Syracuse said his
group recently fashioned a one-centimeter cube made of the
protein molecules and demonstrated its ability to store date in
three dimensions.  "Six of these cubes can store the entire Library
ofCongress."
 
According to Nordert Hampp at the Max Planck Institute the protein can
be used to store holographic images.  Its ability to store three-
dimensional images means the protein can be employed as a memory
device capable of comparing and analyzing characters and pictures.
 
The New York Times (9-12-91) reports that congress has authorized one
billion dollars be spent over the next five years to develop a high
speed supercompter network which will link up major federal
government, university and corporate research centers.  The money will
finance development of switching systems and software to link the
nations supercomputers together through the construction of national
high speed information "highways."  According to the Times, "The goal
...is to speed up the development of faster machines, the software and
equipment necessary to link them over long-distance networks and to
finance research on new techniques insolving problems using high-speed
computers."

--
 (Edgar W. Swank)
SPECTROX SYSTEMS (408)252-1005
Silicon Valley, Ca

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