Dinofest Report #2 (and final)

[Ralph Chapman <CHAPMAN.RALPH@NMNH.SI.EDU>]

Thought I would finish my Dinofest report today while it is still in my head.
I may only be 44 but things can get away pretty quickly sometimes from
hectic meetings.

Social interactions were great at this and the previous Dinofest. Things
are a bit more relaxed than even at SVP meetings in that way. There
was a reception at the home of Bob Walters and Tess Kissinger on
Thursday and most everyone made it. It was a pleasant evening of
discussion of things dinosaur and other stuff. Lot's of people running
through their beautiful studio in the back. Bob's one of my favorite artists
and I tend to progressively pick up lots of his work. Friday was the Gould
talk which I didn't get to but got to spend some quality bar time with
Weishampel, which is always pleasant. Saturday was the Dinofeast at
the Academy's new dino hall, which is very nice. Can't wait for the final
version of the mural. Giganotosaurus is pretty imposing. The food was
good and the discussions great. Plotted more research with lots of
people.

Back to the symposium...

Jim Farlow gave a nice talk on why matching footprints to makers is
tough and showed bird data that supports that. Nice work. I missed lots
of talks because of on-going discussions with people so don't read
anything into my not mentioning someone. I'll leave that to those that were
there for those talks. I'm looking at the program now and can't believe the
talks that I missed. The most talked about talk for some was the one by
Microsoft pioneer and list person Nathan Myhrvold (with Currie) on the
whiptail of sauropods. It was in real time using Powerpoint and a
projector from his laptop and very effective. We need to get everyone
there for meetings and take overheads and slides out completely. He
ended with a whip demo - no leather boots or anything kinky, mind you -
and I found it a very convincing talk. Need to really read the Paleobiology
paper real closely now. Hope to get him involved in the SVP symposium
coming up.

High school student and freelance paleontologist Andy Farke gave a talk
on Torosaurus morphometrics using programs I wrote. It was amazing
for an 11th grader and I'll have to push him towards botany or something
so I won't become unnecessary even sooner than I would otherwise.
Have to keep an eye on that guy.

Anyway, that's what I can remember going on. Some has slipped out
already and the real time was in the personal discussions, which are
always a highlight and included lots and lots of amateurs, enthusiasts,
list-members and even some young guys. Great discussions abound
during these times and included, for me, Dodson and the whole Penn
group which are a neat bunch of people, Mary Schweitzer, Nicholas
Fraser, Brent Briethaupt, egg-lady Darla Zelenitsky, Ken Carpenter, and a
host of pros and others such as Tom and Allan etc from the list.

Next one is in St. Louis in the year 2000, I believe, and I look forward to it.

That's it, that's my 3 for the day..

Ralph Chapman