From: owner-dinosaur@usc.edu [mailto:owner-dinosaur@usc.edu]On Behalf
Of Chris Collinson
> Is there any possibility that any of the material originally
assigned to A.fragilis, but is of the A.atrox morph, will be
> reassigned
to A.jimmadseni?
Let's just WAIT UNTIL THE PAPER (monograph
in this case) IS PUBLISHED, SHALL WE?
> Does this mean that I should hold off on
buying a copy of the dissertation? Is there a chance of it being
published
> soon? I don't know if I am being
impatient or curious. I would really like to see more about the new
allosaur. I
> remember reading about it being found (sans
head) in the Dino Times. Even then it was touted as being a
very
> important specimen.
Although you should feel free to buy a copy of the dissertation,
remember that that work is not as "finished" a product as the final document
will be (heaven's knows I said things in mine that cause me to shudder...
:-S).
The
final document WILL be out within the space of months rather than years; Chure
is going through the copious comments provided by both reviewers.
Because of those comments, some names might not be the same in the final
product as in the disseration, for a possibility.
> I
think much of the fascination is because so many of us are out of "the
loop". We hear little reports and it makes
> us curious. I know that scientists
talk about the specimens they have, what they mean, how they are new, etc.
in
> the pub when they get together.
Unfortunately for us on the list, this is our equivalent to doing that.
Conversations
> in the pub don't go any further than that
because the parties involved understand how it works. Because of
our
> archive, we don't have that same ability.
I have been "waiting for the paper" on a great many things for a long
time
> now.
You
are far from the only one!!! It is part of the profession. It is
the part of ALL professions.
> It is frustrating to do this. I
only have sneak peeks at information and even though new information is
"well
> known" (as can be seen in informal reports ie.
Gorgosaurus and Albertosaurus are distinct, shown by information
> that Phil Currie has from a specimen from
1981, but we still await a paper on the topic), I still have to wait
for
> publications for this "accepted" (mostly)
information. I do understand and respect the process. I am
willing, if not
> happy, to wait for good science to be done. I
just find it frustrating. But I am happy...... Really..... I have
learned to
> love waiting......
As
well you should. Part of having a more mature attitude about
the science is being able to act like a grown-up. Sad to say, that means
waiting for Christmas morning to open your presents, or even putting off until
the next Christmas or the one after that for some
really big presents.
And
there are some really important stuff that have been in the pipeline longer
than lifetimes: the osteology of Scelidosaurus, for
instance...