CryoNet #22616 - #22625

CryoNet - Thu 2 Oct 2003

    #22616: Murder Investigation re: 1992 Alcor cryosuspension [Randy S]
    #22617: Re: CryoNet #22603 - #22608 [Azt28]
    #22618: Re: The Great White Lodge of Cryonics [Scott Badger]
    #22619: metubin use in a 1994 Alcor case  [John de Rivaz]
    #22620: High temperature cryostat (call to desing) [Azt28]
    #22621: Re: Change of Officers at the Cryonics Institute [Azt28]
    #22622: Re: CryoNet #22614, 1992 Alcor Case [Flavonoid]
    #22623: Extended time with PFC [Basie]
    #22624: Alcor News #17, October 1, 2003 [David Brandt-Erichsen]
    #22625: Clever ruse? [James Swayze]

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Message #22616
Date: Wed, 1 Oct 2003 13:21:46 -0000
Subject: Murder Investigation re: 1992 Alcor cryosuspension
From: "Randy S" <cryofan@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>

Well, the fallout from the Larry Johnson debacle continues. Looks like 
Johnson recorded some possibly incriminating conversations regarding a 1992 
Alcor suspension where the patient was allegedly euthanized. I am referring 
to Mark Plus's Cryonet post quoting this article:

http://www.arizonatribune.com/index.php?sty=10636

Some excerpts from the article:

"On another recording, a man Johnson identified as another Alcor executive 
states he has knowledge of the AIDS patient s death. He said the information 
would  absolutely destroy  Alcor if it became public.

The executive adds:  If it came down to a court issue, you know, who s gonna 
say anything? Who is going to admit anything? It s deniable. "

..

Hixon then states that the former Alcor employee asked an assistant to 
prepare an injection of Metubine, a paralytic drug.

The assistant, Tanya Jones,  didn t know what it was for,  Hixon states. 
Later on the recording, Hixon adds:  Anyway, so the guy quit breathing. He 
wasn t very far from quitting breathing, but, uh, we don t like that kind of 
thing. 

...

The company executive states that the incident caused Alcor to sever its 
relationship with the employee who injected the paralytic drug.

 That s when we decided, Alcor decided, this guy is just too dangerous to 
have around,  he states. "

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
(end quote)


Well, I doubt it would destroy Alcor, because it happened a decade ago in 
another state. And it does say that this was why Alcor terminated relations 
with the "former employee".  But I have to wonder whether those standby team 
members who had knowledge of the alleged euthanization might possibly be 
subject to criminal charges because they did not report the incident to 
authorities, not to mention possible charges against the "former employee."

But other than that, I do not see how Alcor could be destroyed by this.

This cryopreservation is apparently the one covered at length in Cryonet and 
Cryonics magazine, for example:

http://www.cryonet.org/cgi-bin/dsp.cgi?msg=696
http://www.cryonet.org/cgi-bin/dsp.cgi?msg=697
http://www.cryonet.org/cgi-bin/dsp.cgi?msg=698

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Message #22617
From: Azt28@xxxxxxx
Date: Wed, 1 Oct 2003 10:28:34 EDT
Subject: Re: CryoNet #22603 - #22608

For mammals and birds, the clone has the sex of the original. Some species, 
such the aligator have no sex chromosome, the incubation temperature drives the 
sex. So you can get a femal from a male for example...

YB.


> 
> If DNA source for a human clone is a male, would the clone be a male and if
> a female, would the clone be a female? Or there is no way to tell until the
> embryo develops enough to see?
> 
> 



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Message #22618
Date: Wed, 1 Oct 2003 08:41:27 -0700 (PDT)
From: Scott Badger <w_scott_badger@xxxxxxxxx>
Subject: Re: The Great White Lodge of Cryonics

From: David Stodolsky 
<david.stodolsky@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>

"This may be true if it is a way of life that is being

offered. If it is cryonic suspension, then the best
time is in middle age, when people are coming to terms
with their mortality."

Actually, the survey I conducted a few years ago
indicated just the opposite (WTA's Journal of
Evolution and Technology, Dec 1998). I think the
middle-aged are too involved in their lives to really
think that much about their deaths. The most
interested were the younger and the older populations.
Obviously the latter group has the money. This, I
believe, is precisely why the new cryonics firm in
Florida intends to market their services to an elderly
demographic. I've been waiting to see someone try this
for a long time. It's most likely a preferable
solution to a faith-based cryonics cult. It's too bad
they're having so many difficulties with state
regulation issues. I hope that problem is resolved
son. Sadly, I may need a contingency plan if the Larry
Johnson fiasco continues to mushroom.

=====
Scott Badger, Ph.D.
Member: ALCOR, Extropy Insitute, Life Extension Foundation
Assistant Professor/Researcher-University of Idaho
Two Original CD's "Phenom" and "Burdens" 
available at: www.mp3.com/scottbadger

__________________________________
Do you Yahoo!?
The New Yahoo! Shopping - with improved product search
http://shopping.yahoo.com

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Message #22619
From: "John de Rivaz" <John@xxxxxxxxxxx>
Subject: metubin use in a 1994 Alcor case 
Date: Wed, 1 Oct 2003 16:44:13 +0100

This from Eugen Leitl was in response to the FUD message on metubin use in a
1994 Alcor case -- very reminiscent of Dora Kent.

>>
http://216.239.59.104/search?q=cache:Pjb4KhlZXg4J:wiretap.area.com/Gopher/Library/Article/Misc/cryonic.cat+metubine&hl=en&ie=UTF-8

[...]

"Following placement of temperature probes, an IV was  established
in  the medial foreleg vein and a drip of Lactated Ringer's was  begun
to  maintain  the  patency of the IV and  support  circulating  volume
during  surgery. Premedication (prior to perfusion) consisted of  the
IV  administration of 1 mg/kg of metubine iodide to inhibit  shivering
during  external  and  extracorporeal cooling  and  420  IU/kg  sodium
heparin  as  an anticoagulent.  Two 0.77 mm I.D.  Argyle  Medicut  15"
Sentinel line catheters with Pharmaseal K-69 stopcocks attached to the
luer fittings of the catheters were placed in the right femoral artery
and vein.  The catheters were connected to Gould Model P23Db  pressure
transducers   and  arterial  and  venous  pressures   were   monitored
throughout the course of perfusion."



-- Eugen* Leitl  http://leitl.org
<<<

He asked me to post it as he doesn't currently have a cryonet subscription.

-- 
Sincerely, John de Rivaz:  http://John.deRivaz.com for websites including
Cryonics Europe, Longevity Report, The Venturists, Porthtowan, Alec Harley
Reeves - inventor, Arthur Bowker - potter, de Rivaz genealogy,  Nomad .. and
more

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Message #22620
From: Azt28@xxxxxxx
Date: Wed, 1 Oct 2003 12:44:37 EDT
Subject: High temperature cryostat (call to desing)

Hi,

Some months from now, I may have the possibility to build and operate a 
cryostat. There are two possibilities:
Buy a used dewar and work with LN2.
Build a new system working at higher temperature, for example with liquid 
freon. I know there have been some talks about building such a system. Some 
concepts have been published, but I have not at hand the drawings of a system 
ready 
to be built.

If there is on Cryonet some person interested to submit such a concept, pleas 
let me know.

One idea: The system could use both, an electric cooling circuit and a 
thermal buffer in the form of an LN2 tank. The electric system could bring down 
temperature from the room one to the dry ice domain and cold GN2 could then 
liquefy the freon...

Any idea, comments suggestions?

Yvan Bozzonetti.


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Message #22621
From: Azt28@xxxxxxx
Date: Wed, 1 Oct 2003 13:01:34 EDT
Subject: Re: Change of Officers at the Cryonics Institute

>From Ben Best:
> 
>   The Annual General Meeting of the Cryonics Institute was
> held on Sunday, September 28th at the CI Headquarters.
> I -- Ben Best -- was elected President and Robert Ettinger
> was elected Vice-President

Sorry to be late, congratulation for that election.
Could we get some informations and news on the legal problem with the 
Michigan state?
What about the possibility to sign up in the comming months?

Yvan Bozzonetti.


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Message #22622
Date: Wed, 01 Oct 2003 15:39:39 -0400
From: Flavonoid@xxxxxxxxxx
Subject: Re: CryoNet #22614, 1992 Alcor Case

The news article was quoted as saying:
>On the audio recording between Johnson and Hixon, Hixon states that he was
>at the home of the AIDS patient whose death is now under investigation
>because he was in charge of transporting the man s body.
>
>As the crew waited for the man to die, Hixon states they prepared a
>makeshift operating room inside a detached garage near the home. Alcor
>workers put together plastic drop cloths, lightweight wood and twine,  and
>we built ourselves a little operating suite in the garage,  Hixon states.

This coincides with description in a case writeup authored by Keith Henson 
and Mike Darwin, published in three parts in Cryonet messages 696, 697 and 
698.    Message 696 provides complete detail of every person present at the 
time of death and what functions they performed.  It may be of interest to 
some that Mike Darwin was asked to participate in this case, even though he 
had resigned from Alcor and quit his membership late the year before.

The Cryonet messages are available in the archives at www.cryonet.org.

----------------------------------------------------------------------

Message #22623
From: "Basie" <coetzeebasie@xxxxxxxxx>
Subject: Extended time with PFC
Date: Wed, 1 Oct 2003 22:48:53 -0400

The work is important because only about 1500 of the 6000 pancreases that
become available through donation each year can be used for transplants,
Camillo Ricordi, a physician at the University of Miami and lead
investigator in the study, told United Press International.

"Pancreases are not considered suitable for transplant if they come from
donors older than 50 years of age or more than eight hours pass before they
are transplanted, criteria that prevents many of the organs from being used,
Ricordi explained. His study, however, shows that the PFCs allow both of
those restraints to be broken."

According to the above scientist PFC treated pancrease can be kept 20 hrs
viable. I wonder if PFC has find its way into cryonics. It may increase the
window of time for prefrozen brains.

http://www.drinet.org/html/april_29__2002.htm

----------------------------------------------------------------------

Message #22624
Date: Wed, 01 Oct 2003 20:21:58 -0700
From: David Brandt-Erichsen <davidbe@xxxxxxxxxx>
Subject: Alcor News #17, October 1, 2003

                      Alcor News Bulletin
                 -----------------------------
                 Number 17: October 1st 2003

This bulletin is sent via email to anyone who has requested
it. Please do not reply to this message; the news server at
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suggestions, or complaints to the new address that has been
established to deal with human communications:

                      mail@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Subscribe/unsubscribe information is at the end of this
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The layout of Alcor News is best viewed using a monospaced
font such as Courier.


                     A Brief Interim Report

This is just a brief report, to keep Alcor's friends and members
informed of our latest activities.

===============

Charles Platt

Charles Platt has decided for a variety of reasons, many of them
personal, to end his contractual work relationship with Alcor for
now.  We would like to thank him for all he has done to improve
the quality of care here at Alcor and for his stewardship of
AlcorNews, to wish him luck in his future activities, and to
assure him that any future proposals to work with Alcor will be
warmly welcomed.  AlcorNews will continue in the physical format
it has always had, as a cooperative venture of the staff and
directors.

===============

Tanya Jones

This week, Tanya Jones started work as Director of Clinical Services.
She held this position for several years in the early to mid 90's,
and is now returning "tanned, rested, and ready".  She is one of
the most experienced cryonicists in the world, and she has assisted
in recent cases on a consulting basis.  Welcome back, Tanya.

===============

Larry Johnson

Like all legal matters, this progresses at a very slow pace, so
don't be surprised if there is little or no news we can report.
All we can say is that Mr. Johnson has responded to our lawsuit, and
has filed a counter-suit of his own.  Because of pending litigation,
Alcor cannot comment on any allegations made by Mr. Johnson.
Alcor will continue to pursue all legal remedies available to it.
We also respectfully request that people avoid public speculation
based on incomplete news stories.

Readers may be worried about how these things have affected and will
affect Alcor. The short answer is one of reassurance. Alcor's services
and capabilities are not presently threatened, nor does it seem likely
they will be.  Our patients are secure and our membership can be
confident we can be there when needed.  This is not to say there haven't
been difficulties.  There have been, but we believe we are coping with
them well, and our ability to respond to emergencies remains strong.
Details will be forthcoming in Cryonics Magazine.

===============

New Web Site!

We are proud to announce the launching of Alcor's new website.  A
Website Working Group composed of Stephen Van Sickle, Kevin Q. Brown,
David Brandt-Erichsen, and Brian Wilson has been assembled to create
the new site, building on a large amount of programming previously
done by Kevin Q. Brown.  The website is based on the graphic design
of Bobby June, with updates on the content and graphics by Charles
Platt.  It is at the same location:

http://www.alcor.org

that it always was, but is new and improved.  It is not quite as showy
and flashy as the previous site, but has a serious professional look
that loads very quickly.  No long waits for those with dial-up
connections.  But the big improvement, the one we have been working
hard on, is a vast increase in online content.  Back issues of Cryonics
Magazine from 1981 to 1992 are available, with more editions coming as
they are available.  Many of the best articles, reports, and essays from
over the years are likewise available in the Library section. This is
just the beginning...we have many more ideas to expand the site, and it
changes every day.  It is still very much under construction.  Come
visit, and visit often as we grow.  If you have any comments or
suggestions, feel free to send them to webmaster@xxxxxxxxxx  The website
is still in flux, so please hold any substantial remarks until the site
stabilizes in a few weeks.  You may find we fixed your complaint without
even asking us!

===============

CEO Search

We are continuing our search for a new CEO/General Manager for
Alcor.  A notice detailing the job requirements has been circulating:

Alcor is a non-profit 501(c)3 corporation located in
Scottsdale, Arizona. Founded in 1972, it is the world's
largest provider of cryonic suspension services (the
experimental practice of preserving legally deceased persons
for possible future recovery). Its purposes are to maintain
members who are already in cryonic suspension, to provide
state-of-the-art service for members when they require
cryonic suspension, and to further research and public
education in the field. For more information, please see our
website: www.alcor.org

The successful candidate will:

Have an understanding and acceptance of the priorities set
forth in our mission statement.

Enough generalized business experience to make day to day
operational decisions and spending decisions appropriate to
our financial circumstances, as well as familiarity with the
legal and regulatory environment in which small businesses
and non-profits operate.

Enough technical understanding to supervise and evaluate
our medical staff on an ongoing basis, and to coordinate
their efforts during patient standbys, transports and
cryonic suspensions.

Competence to make decisions regarding
patient care and suspension services when cases are imminent

High level written and verbal communication skills,
including the ability to represent Alcor in the mass media.

If you are interested in applying, please submit your resume & salary
requirements by email only to:

Alcordirector@xxxxxxx

Please place "AlcorNews" in the subject line of your email.

===============

Dr. Jerry Lemler Speaks at Cambridge University

The International Association of Biomedical Gerontology held its
tenth congress or conference (IAGB 10) 19-23 September at Queens
College, Cambridge UK. Quoting from the conference Website
(http://www.gen.cam.ac.uk/iabg10/): The purpose of the IABG is
(1) to make the general public more aware of the potential of
biomedical aging research to increase the span of healthy productive
life and to decrease the social and economic problems of age; and
(2) to promote greater communication among the worldwide community
of individuals engaged in biomedical aging research. The conference
title was: Strategies for Engineered Negligible Senescence: reasons
why genuine control of aging may be foreseeable.

The main organizer, Dr. Aubrey de Grey, is highly regarded in
gerontology and anti-aging research. He is avidly promoting and
pursuing his concept of engineered negligible senescence--essentially,
the end of the aging process. He is optimistic and enthusiastic, yet
also a realist, and well aware of the problem that, for many if not most
people now living, a cure for aging will likely come too late. Thus he
is also interested in cryonics, and serves on Alcor's Scientific
Advisory Board. He spoke at Alcor's conference last November, and
gave space for Dr. Jerry Lemler to speak on cryonics at IAGB 10.

Dr. Lemler's talk will be published in the Annals of the New York
Academy of Sciences later this year.  The abstract of his talk
follows:

Abstract

If one accepts the feasibility of engineering negligible senescence,
the benefits of the endeavor depend on when it succeeds. Many of those
who would like to benefit from engineered negligible senescence will
likely perish before it can be accomplished. There is, however, a
potential safety net for such individuals, which can be called medical
time travel. It is based on one fact and two assumptions. The fact is
that at the boiling point of liquid nitrogen, changes in biological
systems are generally agreed to be negligible for periods of hundreds to
thousands of years. The first assumption is that it is possible to cool
a human being to such a temperature without fundamentally destroying the
essential information in the brain. The second assumption is that
medical and scientific progress will continue until medical
resuscitation technology is limited only by physical law. If these
assumptions are correct, the memories and personalities of people
preserved by today's methods should be intact after revival by future
technology, and medical time travel can be used as a bridge to a time in
which senescence can be controlled. Based on presently available
information, the evidence in support of both assumptions of this
proposal appears to be strong.

Dr. Lemler, who is currently undergoing chemotherapy for cancer, is to
be especially thanked for making what must have been an arduous plane
trip from Arizona to the UK.




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Contents are copyright 2003 by Alcor Foundation but permission
is granted to reprint any whole news item, so long as Alcor
is credited as the source and the reprint includes our URL at
http://www.alcornews.org. 

----------------------------------------------------------------------

Message #22625
Date: Wed, 01 Oct 2003 23:15:09 -0700
From: James Swayze <swayzej@xxxxxxxxxxx>
Subject: Clever ruse?

Regarding alleged things said to a certain jerk it is my personal 
opinion that in all likelihood one found in a similar predicament might 
have planned to test a new individual's loyalty with salacious and false 
information. How could anyone truly prove otherwise if such was later 
claimed?

James

-- 
Member:
Cryonics Institute of Michigan  http://www.cryonics.org
The Immortalist Society         http://www.cryonics.org/info.html
The Society for Venturism       http://www.venturist.org
Immortality Institute           http://www.imminst.org

MY WEBSITE: http://www.davidpascal.com/swayze/
Signature Memetic Virus--The worst enemy of those who now or will need medical 
care is the uninformed politician or moral fanatic who proscribe what doctors 
are allowed to prescribe and research, with the consent of their patients. 
Those who understand this are strongly encouraged to modify this to fit their 
personality, and add this to their signature file, and organize to recover our 
freedom from Big Brother. For those who wait until they are sick, it will be 
too late. Those who suffer from diseases which might have been cured by 
advanced medical research or schedule 1 drugs banned by Big Brother, have the 
right to hold accountable those who sat on their hands or worse, deferred their 
responsibility for personal and humanity's survival to unseen mystical agents, 
while they remained ill and dying.

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