Return to this week's Bulletin
28 September 2001
From the Forum
North American Mushroom Poisoning Case Registry
The North American Mushroom Poisoning Case Registry invites reports whenever anyone experiences or encounters symptomatic or potentially symptomatic contacts with mushrooms.
The Registry, which is sponsored by the North American Mycological Association ( www.namyco.org ), through the NAMA Toxicology Committee, seeks data from as broad a base as possible including but not limited to the mycological (amateur and professional), medical, outdoor/recreational and environmental communities.
For information and submitting reports the
Registry's website is (www.sph.umich.edu/~kwcee/mpcr );
telephone (734) 971-2552;
e-mail kwcee@umich.edu.
Reporting is voluntary and patient identities confidential.Kenneth W. Cochran, Ph.D.
Chair, NAMA Toxicology Committee
Professor Emeritus of Epidemiology, Univ. of Michigan
There is no reason that we, as members of an official research and educational organization, cannot write grants proposals to funding agencies and organizations. Look for a funding opportunity that pertains to your research and make the attempt. My recommendation would be to get a good book on Grant-Writing.
George Hrabovsky
In all due respect, I think you are naive. For several years, in the middle to late 80's, I was actively seeking out funds for my scientific research with the Armed Forces and the National Science Foundation and repeatedly ran into one mess after another until I had gathered enough evidence to prove conspiracy and the operation of the "Good O'Boys' Network."
With enough experience, through time, you will begin to recognize the "Good O'Boys' Network" as a psychiatric disorder, probably related to the personality disorder we call "inadequate personality." It means, when two or more people are living and working closely together, they lose sight of the responsibilities and begin to perceive people, outside of their "network", as a threat or intruder.
This happened to me when I tried to receive grants from the NSF. When I had enough evidence, I brought it to the attention of my state senator, Mike Knapik, who took it before the Attorney General's office. Immediately, there was a criminal investigation by the FBI and subsequently several people were arrested, prosecuted and convicted of conspiracy. It was reported they were awarding grants only to their "friends" and "friend's friends" -- the "Good O'Boys!"
What surprised me, however, was the fact there was indeed an criminal investigation, prosecution and conviction. Usually, when I report a crime among government officials, the immediate tendency is to ignore me.
I don't know the answer to your question. I understand the NSF has been thoroughly re-organized. As to whether or not it works more honestly in its granting system, I can not say. It was around 1990 when I had burnt out and decided to stop seeking out grants. I had no level playing field! And I was getting tired of it!
I was also running into people, in high positions, making neurotic reactions to my intellectuality and intellectual and scientific accomplishments. The strength of my emotional and intellectual personality would almost consistently intimidate them even though it was not my intention and I had no desire to intimidate anyone. At the same time, while in the middle of these neurotic -- and sometimes psychotic -- reactions, they would deny me a level playing field on the grounds of a lack of credentials. It was their prejudice, if I were not educated in the conventional university programs, then I didn't have the education to carry out a scientific investigation (though they had access to enormous documentation to prove otherwise). I am self-taught all the way to a doctorate and have the equivalent of a doctorate in physics and computer science.
While denying I had the capability to examine a scientific investigation; to handle all of the mathematics and managerial responsibilities and to work out relationships mathematically, they were making neurotic and psychotic reactions to these capabilities they had denied while continually denying their prejudice or the existence of psychological problems. "If one does not go to school to study a subject, then one can not become an expert on the subject. To become an expert on anything, it is first necessary to study in the same way they did; in the same kind of educational structure and conventional university programs ... Anyone who asserts a capability to do the same thing as they can do, without going through the same university programs, is a fraud or fool ...," they believe. They deny such a belief; however, their behavior reveals the existence of their belief and contradicts their statements to the contrary.
I don't have a solution. I tried working with a local university and ran into the same prejudice with some of the professors. Some people have tried lying about their credentials and it works as long as no one takes the time to research them. In my instance, everyone assumes I have a doctorate or two and treats me accordingly until I file an application for something, such as a grant. Then all hell breaks loose!
Perhaps the solution is to make these people more aware of their prejudice and to demand a more level playing field? When I get angry with such people, I demand they see a psychiatrist and stop bluffing their way through life. In time, if I am really very persistent and strong enough, they will break down and sometimes resign or retire out of frustration. But that has never been my original intention. My original intention has always been a desire to receive a level playing field.
Respectfully,
Alvah Buckmore, Jr.,
Thank you for your data. It does not surprise me at all. In fact you were very succesful to have some guys prosecuted. It would have been much more "normal", that you would have been prosecuted. In the middle ages you would certainly have been burnt. Now our society has finer methods. I think if you want a level playing field, you should acquire some degrees. But even this would not really help because it would not make you a member of the "Good O'Boys". But maybe it even would make things worse because then you would be a real threat to the friends or friends of friends. As you can see, I do not have a solution, but I think it is impossible to get a level playing field. The only solutions I can see are either become so good that you do not need a level playing field or maybe to find someone completely outside the "Good O'Boys" who is very rich or has the required influence.
Johann Joss
Probably all of us have seen one of those little terrariums wherein there are some plants, a little soil, some rocks for additonal interest, and a permanent supply of water with a glass lid to keep the contents in place. Usually these things become a mess of moss and fungus over time because the relative humidity is always nearly 100%
The Earth's oceans are big expanses of water, and the water that evaporates can't really go anywhere to take it permanently out of the system. The air can dispose of excessive water through precipitation, of course, and this will dry the air out temporarily. But this just falls mainly back on the ocean, or on the ground, and is immediately available to evaporate once again. Yet, the Earth's atmosphere, even over the open oceans, rarely becomes more humid than 75% or so.
A well-known and highly regarded meteorologist at MIT by the name of Kerry Emmanuel has remarked on the "humidistat" that controls the atmosphere's humidity, especially over the open ocean. He has said that this is an unsolved problem. What maintains the atmosphere's relatively low humidity?
I have no idea what is the answer to this question, but I am going to throw out a suggestion--one that might be amenable to some experimentation, and could even form a good science fair project. "...It is known that the equilibrium value of relative humidity over NaCl or MgCl2 saturated water is 78% and 33% respectively..." I have this written in one of my old notebooks, and unfortunately did not write down the source or citation. However, if this is truly the case, then what are the consequences for the humidity of air above the oceans where there is salt spray that contains large amounts of both of these salts? Does this provide a mechanism for regulating humidity without resorting to precipitation?
Kevin Kilty
Note: The opinions expressed in the SAS forum are those of the individual contributors and do not necessarily reflect the views of SAS or its staff.