X-Message-Number: 9570
From: Ettinger <>
Date: Thu, 30 Apr 1998 13:49:31 EDT
Subject: 21CM

21CM

Although I realize that the plans for 21CM (and INC) are still evolving and
that much of their current internal discussion is desired to be kept private,
still there is at least one basic question that possibly Saul Kent might be
willing to address now.

21CM is organized for profit, which implies that the main aim (or at least a
major aim) is to enhance shareholder value. But the main purpose of 21CM, as I
understand it, in the minds of such major investors as Saul Kent and Bill
Faloon, is to help achieve suspended animation (through reversible
vitrification) in order to save their own lives. They have sunk lots of their
own money into it (for which the rest of us can be grateful), and presumably
will burn as much more as necessary of 21CM funds to reach the goal,
regardless of the degree of success of their potentially revenue-producing
projects such as preservation of organs for transplant.

In other words, suppose, for example, that some good revenues are produced,
but the vitrification research proves harder and harder and longer and longer.
Will that be allowed to suck up all available funds? If so, doesn't that cheat
"investors?" If not, doesn't that cheat those who only want to save their own
lives?

So. How are these disparate aims reconciled? What is the pitch, and what are
the disclosures, to potential 21CM investors? Is there any thought being given
to going nonprofit? 

Those of a nastily suspicious cast of mind will have other questions also,
especially bearing in mind recent public messages by Wakfer and 21CM and the
related history. Wakfer put a lot of his own money, as well as effort, into
CryoSpan, but has publicly complained that, although his money is still in it,
he has been ousted from any voice in management. Saul Kent has acknowledged
that Paul's money and effort were important at a time when Kent and Faloon
were tied up by the FDA, but Paul appears now to have been exploited. And of
course, as previously noted, Paul thought he had understandings with Saul,
relative to PP, when in fact he did not. (And Paul repeatedly asked
prospective PP pledgers to trust his judgment and the mutual respect and
integrity and understanding between Paul and Saul et al etc.)

The best face one can put on all this--and on some other incidents I'll not
list now--is simply that mistakes can be made, minds can change, and
conditions can change, and one must just give the benefit of the doubt, since
otherwise we just have paralysis. And the money details fade into
insignificance relative to the overriding importance of the research.

But the nasties will ask themselves, among other things, whether their money
will not end up just SUBSTITUTING for Kent/Faloon money, rather than
supplementing it. Maybe the total available to suspended animation research
will be the same, regardless of additional contributions, since additional
contributions may just allow Kent/Faloon to reduce their share. They would
have a perfect right to reduce their contribution, having already contributed
far disproportionately, but as a matter of hardball calculation these
questions raise their ugly heads.

Within the Cryonics Institute and the Immortalist Society we don't do hardball
calculations, at least not on a strict dollar-sign basis. We are nonprofit,
and all in it together, and those who contribute more do not begrudge it, and
those who contribute less may yet one day contribute more. But we don't have
the contentious and checkered history that others do. And when we must make
decisions about what degree of support to give to efforts beyond our own, we
are obliged to let our thoughts range.

Saul and Paul and others may sometimes feel they have not been given due
credit or respect for past achievements or contributions or efforts. But I
think everyone understands that such expressions, while in courtesy due and
welcome, are only that--tokens that, with a dollar, will buy you a cup of
coffee. With a few exceptions, it isn't even what-have-you-done-for-me-lately;
it's what-can-you-do-for-me-right-now. 

Sorry to ramble again, but you don't have to pay me the penny.

Robert Ettinger
Cryonics Institute
Immortalist Society
http://www.cryonics.org

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