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05 March 2004

E-Bulletin Backscatter

Another cheer for Ralph Coppola's "Wanderings"

Forrest,

I want to second George's comments relative to Ralph's work. One of my favorite columns!

Richard Haynes

Support for microbiological surveys

Forrest,

In the February 27 edition of Backscatter, Tim Davis called for an S.A.S. project to investigate bacteria in the natural world (as opposed to lab cultures). I would like to second that call. I am a relatively new member and this is exactly the sort of thing that I hoped to find, and participate in, when I joined. As an amateur astronomer I share my observations with hundreds of other citizen scientists and would love to do the same with my micro studies as well. In fact, as a coordinator of several lunar projects, I often tell my team members that an observation that is not shared is an observation that is lost.

I realize that these things can take a lot of work so, if there is a micro-guru out there who is willing to take on such a project, I will gladly help in any way that I can.

Bill Dembowski

More support for microbiology surveys

Forrest,

I echo Tim Davis's idea for SAS involvement in a microbiology project to "police" our showers, etc., for Pseudomonias a. Wish I had the expertise to get it going.

Richard Haynes

How an article for this issue was initiated

Forrest,

I think the the e-Bulletin is an exceptional resource especially when one considers that it is a weekly publication. Thanks for the invitation to submit and article for the newsletter. Besides astronomy, would you consider one on nature study? I'm having a lot of fun right now dissecting an owl pellet and, since I'll be taking some photographs anyway (stereo microscope), I might be able to come up with something that has a pretty general appeal.

Keep up the fine work. I'm looking forward to learning more about the S.A.S. and what its members are doing.

Bill Dembowski

Be sure to read Bill's article on owl pellets in the 5 March issue of the E-Bulletin. Readers who wish to submit article ideas can follow Bill's example. Editor.

Early PC days

Hi Forrest,

I really enjoyed this week's article about the MITS calculators and the origins of the personal computer. As a software engineer working on state of the art CAD software, I really enjoy hearing stories of the "early" days.

Brian Mansfield

More about the history of the PC will appear in a future E-Bulletin. Editor.