Legal analysis of Ted Williams cryonics case

Trusts & Estates Forum
Ted Williams: Is He Headed for the Dugout or the Deep Freeze?
Property Rights in a Dead Body Resurrected
by
Alexander A. Bove, Jr., Esq. and Melissa Langa, Esq.
[Originally published in Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly
August 19, 2002]
The uproar and monumental press coverage over the disposition of Ted William's
body have caused the resurrection of some basic legal questions that even estate
"experts" have not clearly addressed, the two most significant being: (1) Does a person
have the legal right to direct the disposition of his body?, and (2) In the case of a
discrepancy between such dispositive provisions in the person's Last Will and a
subsequent change of mind, which will control?
Newspapers across the country from the Boston Globe to the Los Angeles Times
(no comment on the New York papers and those damn Yankees) have reported and
speculated on whether Ted will remain frozen in Arizona at the Alcor cryonics
warehouse or will be returned to Florida to be cremated, and his "cremains" scattered off
the Florida Keys. It is now common knowledge that Ted's Will directed the cremation of
his body. It is also common knowledge that John Henry, one of Ted's children (and thus
a "next of kin"), and Ted's daughter, Claudia, believe that their father wanted his body to
be frozen, purportedly so that he might be reunited in the future with them. At the same
time, Bobby Jo (another of Ted's "next of kin" but one left out in the cold) believes the
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Will clearly reflects Ted's last wishes and should be honored. According to Alcor
information, either the whole body could remain frozen, or they have a special, reduced
price for just the head (what they euphemistically refer to as "neuro-suspension",
something we authors frequently experience). Does this provide a way that both sides
could be satisfied? Is this a case for King Solomon to decide?

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Happiness

Courtesy of adrianconte

http://www.usatoday.com/usatonline/20021209/4683946s.htm

Psychologists now know what makes people happy * It's not great riches, but friends and forgiveness

By Marilyn Elias
USA TODAY

The happiest people surround themselves with family and friends, don't care about keeping up with the Joneses next door, lose themselves in daily activities and, most important, forgive easily.

The once-fuzzy picture of what makes people happy is coming into focus as psychologists no longer shun the study of happiness. In the mid-'90s, scientific journals published about 100 studies on sadness for every one study on happiness.

Now a burgeoning ''positive psychology'' movement that emphasizes people's strengths and talents instead of their weaknesses is rapidly closing the gap, says University of Pennsylvania psychologist Martin E. P. Seligman, author of the new book Authentic Happiness. The work of Seligman and other experts in the field is in the early stages, but they are already starting to see why some people are happy while others are not:

The happiest people spend the least time alone. They pursue personal growth and intimacy; they judge themselves by their own yardsticks, never against what others do or have.

''Materialism is toxic for happiness,'' says University of Illinois psychologist Ed Diener. Even rich materialists aren't as happy as those who care less about getting and spending.

( Read more... )

Phyllis Diller

So I went to visit my family at my sister Rachel's house in Phoenix. Jen brought her 2.5 year old twins, Bryce and Breanna. Bryce kept pointing to my cell phone, and asking "What's that?" "A cell phone." [points] "What's that?" "A cell phone." "What's that?"

Arrgh!

So I started answering, "Phyllis Diller." , "A calendar.", "A weiner."

I secretly hope the next time Bryce is at the grocery store he shouts: "Mommy, that man is talking to his weiner!"

I probably shouldn't have kids.