I am indeed signed up, having been an Alcor client for 20 years.
That is very, very, very good to hear. Sorry, I had to ask that question first before I knew to say:
I’m sorry to hear about your diagnosis. I wish you the best in staying alive. I congratulate you on the wisdom that you have shown and are showing in making your decisions well and in advance. And may you be a lesson and exemplar to all those other readers who will, in one future world or another, walk a path much like yours.
I’m glad to hear you’re already signed up and already have life insurance. I don’t know what I’d have done if you’d said otherwise. Beat my head against a wall, maybe. I’ve known you for as long as I’ve been part of the transhumanist community I joined as my first step into adulthood.
Oh yeah, I was going to reply to this. I read the article, and it seems like 90% of it is pure cryonics-bashing. Basically just making fun of those transhumanist nuts. The only parts that were really concerning was the part about knocking the tuna can off of Williams’ head with a wrench, and the suggestion that Williams’ will stated that he wanted to be cremated. But it’d be interesting to read the book it referenced—I bet it presents a much fairer view.
Johnson’s trying to sell a book. Alcor has sued him twice and won twice, and I believe his latest book violates a court injunction.
The part about the tuna can and wrench was indeed the only concerning thing, and it would be nice to see an explicit denial from Alcor on this point. But my own reaction can be best summed up as “pics or it didn’t happen”. Johnson has credibility zero, and the only reason I’m assigning non-zero probability, at this point, is because Alcor didn’t explicitly focus in on the wrench and deny the event.
EDIT: Good, they just did deny it explicitly. “In his book and during the Nightline segment, Mr. Johnson claimed he witnessed Alcor staff striking Ted William’s head with a wrench. Mr. Johnson, who was an executive with authority over the procedure in question, also claimed he said nothing about the purported incident when it allegedly occurred nor did he bring it to the attention of any other staff or board member. In fact, multiple individuals verified as documented witnesses to patient transfer procedures state without hesitation that Mr. Johnson’s claims are pure fabrication. Alcor’s internal investigation did not reveal any reports or recollections of any Alcor patient ever being struck by a wrench or any other object, accidentally or otherwise… Johnson’s statements about tissue debris, tuna, and cats are fictionalized accounts crafted for maximum tabloid shock value, as is nearly the entirety of his book. Alcor denies exposing patients to any devices or equipment that are not appropriate for their function, clean, and sterile as required.” Presumably they were finishing up the internal investigation before issuing the denial.
That is very, very, very good to hear. Sorry, I had to ask that question first before I knew to say:
I’m sorry to hear about your diagnosis. I wish you the best in staying alive. I congratulate you on the wisdom that you have shown and are showing in making your decisions well and in advance. And may you be a lesson and exemplar to all those other readers who will, in one future world or another, walk a path much like yours.
I’m glad to hear you’re already signed up and already have life insurance. I don’t know what I’d have done if you’d said otherwise. Beat my head against a wall, maybe. I’ve known you for as long as I’ve been part of the transhumanist community I joined as my first step into adulthood.
Have you heard about this? http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/sports_blog/2009/10/new-book-says-ted-williams-frozen-head-was-abused.html
Oh yeah, I was going to reply to this. I read the article, and it seems like 90% of it is pure cryonics-bashing. Basically just making fun of those transhumanist nuts. The only parts that were really concerning was the part about knocking the tuna can off of Williams’ head with a wrench, and the suggestion that Williams’ will stated that he wanted to be cremated. But it’d be interesting to read the book it referenced—I bet it presents a much fairer view.
Johnson’s trying to sell a book. Alcor has sued him twice and won twice, and I believe his latest book violates a court injunction.
The part about the tuna can and wrench was indeed the only concerning thing, and it would be nice to see an explicit denial from Alcor on this point. But my own reaction can be best summed up as “pics or it didn’t happen”. Johnson has credibility zero, and the only reason I’m assigning non-zero probability, at this point, is because Alcor didn’t explicitly focus in on the wrench and deny the event.
EDIT: Good, they just did deny it explicitly. “In his book and during the Nightline segment, Mr. Johnson claimed he witnessed Alcor staff striking Ted William’s head with a wrench. Mr. Johnson, who was an executive with authority over the procedure in question, also claimed he said nothing about the purported incident when it allegedly occurred nor did he bring it to the attention of any other staff or board member. In fact, multiple individuals verified as documented witnesses to patient transfer procedures state without hesitation that Mr. Johnson’s claims are pure fabrication. Alcor’s internal investigation did not reveal any reports or recollections of any Alcor patient ever being struck by a wrench or any other object, accidentally or otherwise… Johnson’s statements about tissue debris, tuna, and cats are fictionalized accounts crafted for maximum tabloid shock value, as is nearly the entirety of his book. Alcor denies exposing patients to any devices or equipment that are not appropriate for their function, clean, and sterile as required.” Presumably they were finishing up the internal investigation before issuing the denial.
It’s plain sensationalism, IMO.