Path: utzoo!utgpu!watserv1!watmath!uunet!bionet!UHNIX2.UH.EDU!davison
From: davison@UHNIX2.UH.EDU (Dan Davison)
Newsgroups: bionet.molbio.genbank
Subject: Re: genbank, staff, resources
Message-ID: <4FEB4D7A56E9004C82@post-office.uh.edu>
Date: 11 Aug 90 03:00:15 GMT
References: <9008091803.AA21900@genbank.bio.net>
Sender: daemon@genbank.BIO.NET
Lines: 42



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.