From: Michael M. Butler (butler@comp-lib.org)
Date: Tue Jan 01 2002 - 03:13:26 MST
"E. Shaun Russell" wrote:
>
> Spike wrote:
>
> >The interesting thing about the article is the mention of how much
> >he has spent so far, $130k. I dont think Alcor charges that much
> >for a full body. And they keep the temp down low enough to
> >stop bad things from happening. (I think dry ice is not quite
> >cold enough?) spike
>
> Yes, and that's where the controversy comes in.
<snip>
> I'm not sure that there is any alternative to the non-proof situation that
> currently surrounds cryonics, and I don't like to complain about something
> when I don't have any solutions, but the lack of scientific credibility of
> the industry is very disturbing, and any measure of quality control is
> virtually non-existent.
>
> A lot of people will fall back on the idea that "any chance is better than
> no chance;" I agree that such is true...but when that "any chance" is
> .000001% as opposed to, say, 5%, then is that chance worth spending at
> least $28,000 (CI's numbers) on? I'm not so sure.
The key is at best going to be an information-theoretic one, combined with
a slightly more detailed payoff matrix than heretofore.
Ralph Merkel has lain the groundwork for this. (Laid?)
I think it's a good idea for someone to take up writing this
and making it a part of the (copyleft?) literature. I would make
a distinction between cold storage and cryonic suspension as practiced
today, while acknowledging that there is still a technology gap even
with an excellent suspension done with the best techniques available.
More in sorrow than in anger sort of approach: in effect, at
dry ice temperatures your loved one will get freezer burn that
is much harder to repair, and the outlook is even worse for
a loved one left at room temperature for 72 hours.
--
MMB<==butler a t comp - lib . o r g Wm. Burroughs said it best: "After a shooting
spree, they always want to take the guns away from the people who didn't do it."
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