Re: Disney Dinosaur Movie

[Robert.J.Meyerson@uwrf.edu (Rob Meyerson)]

David Krentz writes;

> We've spent our lifetimes enjoying and absorbing all of YOUR work in
> hopes that one day we could use the info in our work.  My dream is
> to one day do what has never been done, to show an accurate account
> of a day in the life of a Judith River dinosaur.  Although the
> Disney movie is a far cry from that dream, it is a dream project
> nonetheless.  We four try very hard to make sure that your science
> is not in vain, but at the same time we must cooperate to make sure
> that we see what we've always wanted to, the closest thing to a
> living dinosaur up on the screen.

Point Scored!  I think part of the problem here is that we have gotten so
 good at nitpicking, and are so focused on the finer details of our science,
 that it gets hard to see the big picture.  Another part of the complaining
 comes from the people who don't agree with the opinions presented.  Think
 about it:  a dinosaur program that claims that birds are dinosaurs will
 annoy Larry Martin; any program that *doesn't* make that claim will annoy
 Nick Pharris.  The list goes on, and you get the idea.  I think what needs
 to happen is that when a movie like Jurassic Park is produced, and where
 the are discrepancies in the information presented, there should be dino
 experts out there to explain what we really know.  When it comes down to
 it, movies like JP start to bridge the gap between the general public and
 our "little circle of friends."  We should take advantage of that, and to
 complete the connection, instead of talking amongst ourselves about what we
 didn't like about the ideas in question.

I'm off my soapbox now.

Rob

*** "What sad times are these when passing ruffians can say 'Nee' at
 will to old ladies!"
                -MPATHG