X-Message-Number: 781
From: 
Subject: For Cryonet
Date: Wed, 29 Apr 92 22:04:06 PDT

From:  Carlos Mondragon
> Subject: Message #772 and other Michael Paulle ideas

     I was glad to see Steve Jackson's reasonable response to Mr. Paulle's 
suggestion that we promote cryonics gestapo-style.  Mr. Jackson is 
relatively new to cryonics, but he nonetheless managed to successfully 
infer (or intuit) what has always been Alcor's policy regarding the right 
of self-determination and members' privacy.  By way of reassurance, any 
official Alcor representative who willfully violates confidentiality 
obligations would find themselves in deep trouble.
     As for moving into the "Alavie" building, here's the scoop:  That 
building is located six miles from the San Andreas Fault in an area rated 
9 on the Rossi-Forel Intensity Scale of seismic activity.  Our current 
facility in Riverside is about 45 miles from the San Andreas and 30 miles 
from the nearest known fault in an area that is rated 7.  The rating scale 
I'm referring to predicts the consequences of earthquakes.  For purposes 
of comparison, in the event of an 8.3 quake on the San Andreas, being in a 
"9" means "Extremely strong shock, partial or total destruction of some 
buildings"; while being in a "7" means "strong shock, overthrow of movable 
objects, falling of plaster, without damage to buildings."  These are 
factors we investigated before moving into our current building, before 
the land in Perris was bought, and before we considered Arizona.  Mr. 
Paulle is wrong when he states that moving to Sunnyvale "does nothing for 
the earthquake problem"; in fact, it would substantially increase our 
risks.
     Making any kind of business arrangement with ACS/Alavie/TransTime is 
highly problematical.  TransTime's CEO recently announced that his company 
has no intention of moving into the Alavie building, and he has suggested 
liquidation of same.  (I suggest that interested parties contact ACS or TT 
directly for information re. the latest machinations involving TT's 
board.) Given the fact that Alavie is obligated to make $10K monthly 
interest payments on this property starting in June, and as yet has no 
tenants and is just now beginning to prepare available space for the 
market, I am not optimistic concerning this enterprise.
     Also, from the pictures I've seen and what I've been told by people 
who've been there, I'm confident that we could find larger and better 
constructed buildings in Riverside County at about 80% of the price Alavie 
paid.  As such, I don't see how Alavie could afford to rent any of their 
space at a rate that we would find "very cheap".
     Mr. Paulle says that his "most important consideration" is that "it 
helps TT upgrade its services to its patients by being so close to Alcor".  
I am clueless as to what in particular he has in mind.  As to what he has 
in mind generally, that is revealed by this gem: "Hang the competition 
nonsense.  We are trying to give ALL  cryonics patients the best care 
possible no matter who they sign up with."  Who, I wonder, does Mr. Paulle 
refer to as "We"?  Maybe HE is determined to service all cryonicists 
everywhere, but we employees of Alcor have our hands full servicing ALCOR 
MEMBERS.  I and some of my associates on Alcor's suspension team are 
willing to put our "lives, fortunes, and sacred honour" at risk when we do 
a suspension and for Alcor's patients in suspension.  None of us that I 
know of is willing to do that for people not signed up with Alcor.  There 
is no barrier to signing up with Alcor, in fact, it is our policy to waive 
our sign up fee for persons switching over from another organization (just 
like AT&T).  Anyone can have the full benefit of our considerable efforts 
by simply becoming an Alcor member.
     All of us prosper or starve, live or die, by the judgments we make 
and the actions we take.  There is no nobility in sacrificing oneself for 
the benefit of individuals whose decisions we had advised against.

Regards,
CM     

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