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How does Emmortality work?
There is nothing particularly complicated about Emmortality, at least not in concept. However, many aspects are novel and need to be understood in order to grasp the larger picture of how it works. Let's look at each of these aspects individually first.
Business model
What allows Emmortality to live up to its promise to keep our database alive in perpetuity, and what makes it most unique, is its business model.
Can you name a business or institution whose stated purpose is to operate continuously forever? I suppose some religions organizations would at least like to think they are doing that, but I don't recall any of them making a formal declaration of it. Yet Emmortality's value is largely tied to that very assertion. In trying to arrive at a way to live up to that pledge, many questions arise. Among them are:
These and many more questions must be answered, and answered well, in order for Emmortality's main objective to be met: that the data of which it is the custodian will remain safe and accessible in perpetuity. Clearly this is a difficult and important task to master. Here is how Emmortality intends to do it.
Rather than a single profit-making corporation taking on the full responsibility, a second corporate entity is required. Since for-profit corporations are owned by their stock holders, and since stock holders can change the priorities and values of the corporation as they wish to, this structure does not lend itself to the purposes at hand. It is fine for a marketing and sales organization, but not as the custodian of such an invaluable database. Something else is needed.
The answer is a non-profit corporation, one that in essence owns itself. It can have no stock holders. Therefore there can be no conflicts of interest. It will be funded by a portion of the fees paid by people like you, the paying members of Emmortality.
It also needs a charter that clearly states its mission and the constraints within which it must accomplish that mission. And it must have as foolproof a means as possible to fulfill its mission, which is to keep the database alive and accessible virtually forever.
To that end, this corporation cannot spend any of the money it is given (except under extraordinary circumstances). What it can do is invest those funds so that income is generated. This income can then be used for certain specific purposes and no others.
The main purpose for which the income can be used is to accomplish the primary mission of maintaining the database and keeping it accessible. Once that 
purpose has been successfully accomplished, the next priority is to set aside cash as a "rainy day fund." These monies are to be used to deal with unforeseen events that may occur. For example, one such expense that we know is going to happen, though when and how are at present a mystery, is the demise of the Internet. No one knows when, why or how that will happen, but the fact that it is virtually certain is inarguable. Presumably it will go away because it has been replaced by something new that is beyond our present imagination. Migrating the Emmortality database to this new technology will cost money, and the second mission of the custodial organization is the make sure that money is just sitting around waiting to be used.
With regard to the investments that will support the ongoing work. These need to be diversified: geographically, by industry, and by economy. This diversification will act as a hedge against dramatic fluctuations at any of those levels. There will also be other safeguards that must remain confidential in order to fulfill their intended roles.
All of this should give you the impression that our use of the word "perpetuity" is not just some vague or wild claim, but rather a well thought out, carefully orchestrated plan that is being constantly reviewed and updated, whose only purpose is to ensure that we live up to our pledge. No one in all the world, or even all of history has ever made such a pledge, nor has anyone been more determined to live up to it.
So when you become involved with Emmortality, you are indeed engaging in a bold new venture, the like of which has never before been attempted or even conceived. And for doing that you deserve a great deal of credit. For none of us could do something like this alone. It will take many people to make it work as intended, and all of us for it to reach its true potential. Congratulations for being a part of it.
Accessing your data
All access to data on Emmortality is done through passwords. Everyone who joins Emmortality receives one area, called a Time Vault, in which to put the content they contribute. When you sign up for an account, you are given a master password that is required to access your vault. You can change this any time you want to, though there are some restrictions on what it can be due to security concerns. After all, this may be the most important password you ever have.
For certain operations, you are also asked to provide at least two other tests to verify that you are you, or that you are an authorized representative of the account owner. These take the form of questions and answers.
In addition to restricting access to your vault using passwords, you can also attach time restrictions. For example, if you want your vault to be opened to others only in the event of your death, then you can specify a second password which you would give to your immediate family or anyone else you wanted to give access. However, this password would not work until you were declared dead (see below for details).
You could also specify that your vault could only be opened with a password 10 years after you die, or in the year 2120, or any other time. You could also say that it could be opened to the world without a password on a certain day.
Access by alcove
Your vault can be subdivided into smaller areas called alcoves, much like a house is divided into rooms. The interesting thing about alcoves is that each one has its own password and date restrictions. That way, you can put things you want to make public immediately into one alcove, things you want to share only with your family in another, things you want to share only after you're gone in yet another alcove, and save one for things you don't want released until 100 years after you're gone. And all of this is done by assigning a password and date restriction to each alcove. Of course, you will have to see to it that those you want to grant access to receive the needed passwords.
Custodians and letters of instruction
In case of your death or incapacity, you will need to make arrangements to provide someone with the ability to access your Emmortality account. Otherwise, it may be a long time before anyone can see any of it (the default now is 100 years). An obvious way would be to give the information to a trusted relative or friend. Just to be on the safe side, you should probably do this with more than one person. A safe deposit box is another good alternative.
The most important thing that needs to be conveyed to your designated custodian(s) is letters of instruction detailing what to do and how to do it. This will obviously include the needed password(s) for your Emmortality account, but it should also include instructions on how to declare you officially deceased (for the purposes of Emmortality). To learn more about that process, chick here.
Journals and Diaries from the Oregon Trail
