davison@UHNIX2.UH.EDU (Dan Davison) (08/11/90)
David Kristofferson, commenting on the GenBank (IntelliGenetics/Los Alamos) staff and the NIH project officers and advisors, says: > The scientific community, despite all of its grousing, owes these > people a far bigger debt than they ever will realize, but generally > rewards them with more abuse than thanks. As someone who was privileged to be at Los Alamos for several years, and had a first-hand opportunity to observe the literally unbelieveable (to me) magnitude of the task they were, and are, performing, I agree with this observation 100%. Part of my harsh opinion of NIH comes from an outsider's understanding of what is involved and their track record in supporting it. While everyone thinks I flamed GB/IG and GB/LANL and NIH....you should see the note I sent to someone this week who privately complained that the databases were taking too long to get the data "out". He's was *really* toasted. Folks here have generally learned not to criticize GB and data issue in my presence; I tend to give them a long lecture. Just ask my students last semester... If I have offended anyone at GB/IG, GB/LANL, or NIH, I apologize; I probably could have said things differently. In my "world view" of science, I don't think the changeover was handled well. As Dave K. said, now let's get on to doing things. I have posted a ery) preliminary yacc/bison grammar to deal with the new format, and there are some questions. dan -- dr. dan davison/dept. of biochemical and biophysical sciences/univ. of Houston/4800 Calhoun/Houston,TX 77054-5500/davison@uh.edu/DAVISON@UHOU "Without the voice of reason, every faith is its own curse" -- Sting Disclaimer: As always, I speak only for myself, and, usually, only to myself.