This is an archive of CompuServe forum messages from 1985 to 1995, as saved in transcripts by John Foust.
Search Results (400 messages)
Great Doug, Hope your return "home" goes well. As for that other reason to look forward to April…are your taxes done? Just kidding. The data is all done except for still going through it for typos. But, right now I am not sure the application will make April, figuring out…
My thanks to those who helped John locate the Mineral News. Lanny Mineral News
#Database
Message #175066
No, it isn't the same. I just got a call from the author of the new MINCAT, soon to have a new name, because he just discovered that the name was in use. Apparently the MINCAT program is primarily for X-ray work and to search for minerals with certain elements–find…
Hopefully we don't have a name conflict here, but at Tucson I was given a copy of a new MINCAT to review, and it is a competitor to MINLOG. I've seen the latter, but never used it, but from what I've seen, I would say MINCAT is very similar to…
#Mineral database wants
Message #172245
Hi, I am diligently working on programming the mineral database. It is necessary to learn a new programming "language" as well as finish the mineral data, edit, etc. Important questions come to mind, how will you use it? Originally, it was created for personal use as a mineral data reference,…
#Tucson 95 report
Message #170318
Hi Doug and all, I really doubt that Wayne will open the Red Cloud to collectors. As soon as he gets financing arranged he is going to start a cut (not and "open pit") and work it down to the (I believe) 150 level, which should put him through the…
#Tucson 95 report
Message #168535
Just a note to let everyone know that I have uploaded a report on the Tucsons shows in the geology library file: Tucson95.txt, it is 23 k, not stuffed, compacted, mashed, or otherwise mistreated. It is a shortened version of what is in the February issue of Mineral News (which…
Hi Rodney, Yes you have permission to rerint Nathan's article on the fluorescent chabazite. Please give credit like so: Reprinted from Mineral News Vol. 11, No. 1, January 1995, with permission of the author and publisher. Yeah, see you in Tucson, I expect to stop by the FMS gathering. Lanny
Frank, Sounds good, please let me know how things go setting up your own web home page. Lanny
Gee Bill, this needs some thinking:
#165497-
El Nino & vulcanism?
Message #165638
Doug and Ray, Also, the term "warm" as applied to El Nino also means only a degree or two above normal, not actually warm as we would normally think of the term. Lanny
Very nicely stated. Lanny
Doug, Your message explained it very well at the end. (There must have been a major frustration problem for you guys who connected back in the days of 100 and 300 bps!) I connected with the "free" software (MacCIM) that came with the modem. And frankly, didn't know the kit…
John, I'm jealous–having wanted to be connected to the Internet (or CIS) since the early 80s, and having just made it in 94. And yes, the Interenet, even a fair percentage of many scientific (or what one would expect as "mature") newgroups do have a lot of "snotty and inexperienced…
Actually that wouldn't be too bad, but after a real early start, winter has left. The last couple weeks have been dry, and now it is warm (40s) and supposed to be near 50 the next couple of days. So, on the return home it is likely that I will…
Doug, That's the Apple QuickTake 100, 24bit color, 8 images or 1/4 the resolution and get 32 photos. Sure wish I had one to take to Tucson! Lanny
Mineral database
Message #164728
Doug, My font is designed to provide me with a few things I need for publishing mineral/geology materials. It has everything as the extended characters (on a Mac: Option key or Shift Option key). From what I have seen of the latest font design software it would be simple to…
#Mineral database
Message #164727
My thoughts were more along the line of how to get it to users. It will need to be on a disk to ship it to everyone which may mean compacting it. I've had my hard disk up to where there was only 2-3 megs space left, but in general,…
#Mineral database
Message #164726
Doug, At the FM Symposium in Tacoma,WA last September, George gave a demo of it. And stated that it was essentially designed, just needed to get all the photos (various collectors including Low Perloff and Wendell Wilson had offered to donate photos) and put it together. No hint on how…
Mineral database
Message #164725
John, Keep our eyes on this forum. I will let everyone know when it is done. It may be completed in about two months (depending on how much time I can rob from a dozen other projects). Lanny
Mineral database
Message #164724
Heheheee
GPS Help
Message #164723
The sci.geo.satellite-nav newsgroup on the Internet has had a lot of messages the last few days about trucking companies that are using GPS to keep track of their trucks and cargo that may be applicable to use on a wharf.
John, You stated to Nathan that :…the quality her on Compuserve is much higher than the Internet." I am curious as to what is higher quality? Personally, I have not been all that thrilled by Compuserve. This forum is a great place to have discussions with other mineral collectors and…
Thanks Guy, I should have cut and pasted it the first time, usually do, it is such a big help with these long W3 and Gopher addresses. Lanny
No, it is to be marketed mostly outside of CIS for any and all mineral collectors, mineralogists or others who have a need for a database of physical characteristics of minerals at a reasonable price (under $50). Lanny
Yeah, I think it is going to be FoxPro or Cause and Effect. I guess I will know this week, because it is time to do something!
Yeah, As a publisher I suppose I should see some of it too, but honestly I am the same way. I just don't see where the subtle difference makes or breaks a photograph or design, if I see the difference at all! As for minerals, sometimes the descriptions makes one…
Hi Joao, Great, a new customer and it isn't even finished! Yeah, good idea. Something that will have to be allowed for if presented as a finished application. But, I may let the first version go as "data only" in which case the user can set up his version anyway…
That does sound good. BTW Doug, I am going to send you the name-formula file to run through your formula checker again. Lanny
OK, And if I really wanted to sell it, it would have to be in a format that people could easily get, load, etc. So I either do it right, or I'm stupid and broke forever (and I should be able to change at least one of these two). Once…
Actually Doug, I already have one. Designed it a couple years ago. I would think that a utility could change it to whatever needs to be done so it would work with DOS/Windows and not just Mac. Then again, I haven't even decided how it would be best to implement…
Al, Thanks, you couldn't charge me your usual exorbitant fees anyway. I believe it probably takes money to pay them! But these ideas and any future help are welcome. If the first version actually sells enough to make more than a dollar sixty nine, then the expanion of it to…
Doug, I believe your suggested uses in the first paragraph all fit nicely under my second use–as an "encyclopedia" or source of data on a particular mineral or minerals. But yes, hopefully it would get lots of use. It is amazing what one comes up with when asking it to…
Al, Well as a publisher reading certain magazines, etc., all I continually see is a lot of whining and complaining that there is no comparison in color from one monitor to the next (and to the printer's output etc.). Maybe for our needs, unless a user's monitor is way out…
Guy, Sorry, didn't see your post there. I have this bad habit of only reading the author's name if I have a reason. Could be missing a lot of "old friends." Also, I must have written down the Sandia WWW page wrong. I guess I better chase down your old…
Guy, Hey, thanks, I'll check out the Sandia WWW page. I have enjoyed a few and haven't yet seen all on the rockhound page either. Did down load a couple images from the Clausthal, I like those almandines! Mineral News needs a page with news!!! Lanny
Al, Being a Mac user myself, and not heavy into databases, I have forgotten what xbase is. For the Mac, it is so simple to transfer any data from any database or text to any database program, just by exporting it as ASCII with a return separating records and a…
Doug, There probably isn't really much need for all minerals with standardized descriptions. Once you get past the 600 or 1,000 "common" minerals, you can't really identify them with the hand specimen physical data anyway, and most of the people who will need a reference to keithconnite or boggsite will…
Ben, Of course, and with GPS data included! But that is another project (actually been in the works for several years too). Unfortunately for some, and for the convenience of dispensing data to "everyone" the size of that database is going to be huge (or at least bigger than a…
Doug, Remembe though, that the database serves two function–one being a method to help determine what a mineral species is from its characteristics, the other being like an encyclopedia to provide the information/characteristics of a mineral. Lanny
Al, A flexible synonym facility, now we are starting to make this into real work (so far it has only been several hundred hours, let's go for several hundred more). I'm not sure I want to continue reading this thread. These ideas are sounding pretty good, but what I thought…
John, That is an interesting approach I hadn't thought of. First, I think I will work on getting a basic packing competed and available, then spend the time to do some things like this. I hadn't thought about applying the potential of the computer to this project quite like your…
Guy, And Cowles also had a lot to do with many of the zeolites in NW Oregon and SW WAshington, which is why Cowlesite was named after him, and I believed he found the cavansite at Goble (and maybe the type locality at Owyhee Dam in E. Oregon. But for…
Mineral database
Message #162888
Greetings all, For several years, I have been creating a database of minerals for my own use, and began toying with the idea of putting it in a format of use to others. After going online nearly a year ago, it became obvious that there were many people interested in…
John, Apparently it won't be long until decisions are made, then we will see something happen at our level one way or another. There must be some effect on us if we are going to send GIF files up and down the CIS connection. Lanny
Bill, When the dust settles, the royalty business will reach us all to some extent. That is a neat trick–let everyone use it for years, then start talking about the patent and go for the royalty! Lanny
Ben, Upload a couple; I would like to see them and I am sure some of the others would too. Now if spring will just hurry up and get here… Lanny
Guy, That's some deal with Nathan: "P.S. This is going to cost you – let me know the next time you get out this way, and I'll try to get away on a field trip with you…" I wish more people I had to deal with made their "This is…
Nathan, You can try an E-mail to Gladwell at JGladwell@aol.com Don't know if he is on their very often though. Lanny
Rob, That's a good idea, actually, a method that could have been used at many localities all along before GPS was priced down where we could almost afford it. Lanny
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