leonardcohenforum.com

tribute to a dear friend

That is really lovely! Leonard Cohen has undoubtedly inspired countless people over the years, and your montage beautifully reflects the many faces of Leonard, each of which may resonate in a special way in the minds of those whose lives he has touched.

LisaLCFan wrote:That is really lovely!

thank you so much, dear lisa. leonard was kind to speak so positively; a valuable endorsement. when asked if he was sure i could use his words to help promote my efforts, he replied "of course, play it for whatever it's worth!"

what i really want to do, though, is persuade him to give a sample of his DNA to a life extension business, something like 'cryonics', a place where they freeze and preserve human hereditary material. supplying such a sample is a simple and painless procedure, done by providing a small amount of blood or saliva. then, in years to come, when technology has advanced, it will be possible to clone his genetical building blocks and make a copy of him. at the present time it is believed a cloned person would not be identical to the DNA donor, but it will, of course, be possible later on. the infant's life will begin in a test-tube, be transferred via artificial insemination into a surrogate mother, and be born just like any other child. it will be an exact replica of leonard, complete with his high IQ and ability to continue writing the same type of poetry and song lyrics as he does right now. he could go on tour, and his fans' great, great grandchildren could go to concerts and enjoy quality entertainment the same as what their ancestors did. leonard's two children carry only 50% of his genes, but with a small amount of pure undiluted DNA from leonard himself a perfect duplication will undoubtedly be possible in the future. i know this sounds like science fiction now, but it will come to pass - you mark my words.

Geoffrey wrote:...what i really want to do, though, is persuade him to give a sample of his DNA to a life extension business, something like 'cryonics', a place where they freeze and preserve human hereditary material...

Once you've convinced him, it only costs a mere $29000 - $35000 US dollars (plus shipping ) to make it happen. Perhaps this forum could organise a fundraising drive for it! Jarkko, are you listening?

I, for one, would happily contribute to this.
What a great idea Geoffrey, you have such amazing talents.

Keep boiling those potatoes Geoffrey - your artwork is fantastic.

I love the montage and the quote Geoffrey.

The eye contact between you and Leonard in the photo is wonderful, it shows great warmth and speaks a thousand words!

Not sure about the DNA thing? You may be able to duplicate the body but I don't think you can duplicate the essence of a life lived!
xx

LisaLCFan wrote:it only costs a mere $29000 - $35000 US dollars to make it happen.

i did some checking, and the amount of money you mention is only about the price of a car in america. sounds well within the boundaries of reasonability.

Cheshire gal wrote:What a great idea Geoffrey, you have such amazing talents.

thank you. a great idea is like a helicopter, it goes nowhere until you can find a pilot. i said that.

MaryB wrote:Keep boiling those potatoes Geoffrey - your artwork is fantastic.

well, i suppose in this instance one could say that hunger was instrumental in encouraging creativity

Karren B wrote: The eye contact between you and Leonard in the photo is wonderful, it shows great warmth and speaks a thousand words!

Not sure about the DNA thing? You may be able to duplicate the body but I don't think you can duplicate the essence of a life lived!

there circulates a better photo (below). i think you are right that 'leonard cohen II' would not inherit the memory of the original, but personality and brain cells would contain strong potential to evolve in much the same way.

Geoffrey wrote:...i did some checking, and the amount of money you mention is only about the price of a car in america. sounds well within the boundaries of reasonability...

Indeed. The forum raised at least half that amount to buy a pile of rocks that only a handful of people will ever enjoy. A Leonard Cohen clone could provide entertainment and inspiration to millions of people around the world! It seems a far more effective use of people's money.

Geoffrey wrote

I think you are right that 'leonard cohen II' would not inherit the memory of the original, but personality and brain cells would contain strong potential to evolve in much the same way.

No Geoffrey! (I know people don't say that to you often ), But if you have to evolve then you have to learn along the way which would defeat the object. It's not an instant duplicate...so what's the point, you wouldn't like a race of Stepford wives (or would you?) No of course you wouldn't... Don't we mess around with nature enough already. It's fine left to it's own devices, it only cock's up when we interfere!

I don't want another Leonard Cohen, he's unique, that's what makes him interesting. Though I have to break this news to some of the more die hard fans out there; He is not a GOD! HE IS JUST A MAN . A lovely one, but just a man! And there are more influential people I would be cloning if it were possible. (just declared open season on Karren B).

I love the new photo and as I said a picture speaks a thousand words! There is a connection there that many would envy!
wishing you all good things g.
xx

LisaLCFan wrote:
>The forum raised at least half that amount to buy a pile of rocks that only a handful of people will ever enjoy.

they did? who's brainwave was that? news to me, yet i'm hardly surprised. i think they try hard and mean well, but you can't make a sirloin steak from half a turnip.
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Karren B wrote:
>. . . you wouldn't like a race of Stepford wives (or would you?)

oh yes, most undeniably!

>Don't we mess around with nature enough already. It's fine left to it's own devices, it only cock's up when we interfere!

very true, but curiosity and experimentation is inherent in man's nature. plans to settle on mars are already in progress.

>I don't want another Leonard Cohen

well, maybe not, but a lot of other people might feel differently. it would surely do little harm.

>there are more influential people I would be cloning if it were possible.

am pretty sure it will be possible - just not quite yet; "there are more things in heaven and earth, horatio . . ."
incidentally, i have always been intrigued by count st germain. few people here will have heard about him, and yet he fascinates me endlessly.
https://youtu.be/XneLPn3Opbw

>wishing you all good things g.
>xx

same to you
xx

Geoffrey wrote:LisaLCFan wrote: The forum raised at least half that amount to buy a pile of rocks that only a handful of people will ever enjoy.

they did? who's brainwave was that? news to me, yet i'm hardly surprised. i think they try hard and mean well, but you can't make a sirloin steak from half a turnip...

Please see the following:

viewtopic.php?f=83&t=35233

Apparently, over 19,000 euros was raised (that's over 21,000 US Dollars!).

...Wonderful pictures...
The cloning won't happen . It is , though , just about possible that the pile of rocks might someday metamorphose into a bench.

LisaLCFan wrote: Please see the following:
viewtopic.php?f=83&t=35233
Apparently, over 19,000 euros was raised (that's over 21,000 US Dollars!).

thank you, lisa. now i am better informed. i pinned up a more in-depth reply yesterday, but stored it away after a couple of hours because it might have been construed as sticking a hatpin into the balloon.
-g

cohenadmirer wrote:...Wonderful pictures...
The cloning won't happen . It is , though , just about possible that the pile of rocks might someday metamorphose into a bench.

thank you, david, for a lovely comment about my pictures.

concerning the bench, if it does materialise it'll be a magnet for spray cans, pen knives and indelible felt-tip pens. they'll be carving into the wood, scratching into the stone, daubing graffiti all over the area, there'll be sandwich crusts, plastic bottles, half-eaten hamburgers, discarded picnic grills, syringe needles, empty cigarette packets, lollipop sticks and plastic "garbage bags that time cannot decay" littering the place. it will be such a haven for rodents, filth and disease that the poor local people will rue the day that leonard decided to move to their pictuesque little island. at night it will attract drunks, drug addicts and vandals - vomiting, playing loud music and urinating everywhere. a bench seemed like a good idea at the time, no doubt, but they should have consulted with me first.