Path: utzoo!utgpu!tmsoft!dptcdc!dpmizar!swrinde!cs.utexas.edu!rutgers!gatech!purdue!decwrl!sun!imagen!atari!portal!cup.portal.com!thad
From: thad@cup.portal.com (Thad P Floryan)
Newsgroups: comp.sources.d
Subject: Re: v16i090:  Smithsonian Astronomical Observatory, Part01/49
Message-ID: <12369@cup.portal.com>
Date: 9 Dec 88 06:44:46 GMT
References: <1249@fig.bbn.com> <1280@vsi1.UUCP>
Organization: The Portal System (TM)
Lines: 23

Contrary to Larry Blair's comments, I believe I speak for the THOUSANDS of
us for whom the SAO database and programs ARE important; those of us without
the 9-track tape drives and etc. for which distribution on Usenet is truly a
godsend.

Just as one fer'instance: a colleague of mine has as one of his clients some
people at Lick Observatory who "like" to program in Basic.  The mere presence
of the SAO database and the C programs (like the Yale star chart stuff earlier
this year) is GREAT for bringing more professionals up to speed with more
modern languages and capabilities.

As always, if a posting offends thee, type "N" (or whatever one's mail reader
accepts for a "don't see" command).  The copies I'm "downloading" from the
Usenet posting of the SAO material WILL see wide distribution and benefit
MANY people.

So here's my vote for the continuation of the posting of the SAO material.

As a side note, I would NOT refuse the donation of a SCSI 9-track 1/2" tape
drive and/or Internet hardware/software!  :-)


Thad Floryan [thad@cup.portal.com (OR) ..!sun!portal!cup.portal.com!thad]