Re: [Texascavers] article on Texas gypsum karst

[Diana Tomchick via Texascavers]

I believe GCSNA stands for “Government Canyon State Natural Area”, which is of 
course not in the gypsum karst of Texas.

Diana

**
Diana R. Tomchick
Professor
Departments of Biophysics and Biochemistry
University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center
5323 Harry Hines Blvd.
Rm. ND10.214A
Dallas, TX 75390-8816
diana.tomch...@utsouthwestern.edu
(214) 645-6383 (phone)
(214) 645-6353 (fax)

On Jan 17, 2018, at 10:55 AM, Jerry via Texascavers 
> wrote:


From: Bill Stephens >
Subject: Re: [Texascavers] article on Texas gypsum karst
Date: January 17, 2018 at 10:55:17 AM CST
To: Jerry via Texascavers 
>


Jerry,

Please remind me whet this is about? Sorry, but I have been travelling a lot, 
doing AAPG shit, selling deals, playing hard, recovering form various surgeries 
(shoulder re-build, ACL, elbow and left eye), plus having grandchildren and 
other un-noteworthy stuff. In Texas all week, but call over the weekend, next 
week or email and I'll make time to get serious about Texas Gyp karst!

Cheers,
Bill
940.256.0614

On ‎Wednesday‎, ‎January‎ ‎17‎, ‎2018‎ ‎04‎:‎52‎:‎50‎ ‎AM, Jerry via 
Texascavers > 
wrote:


Thanks, Bill !

When would you be able to layout the GCSNA publication for the TSS ?  No hurry; 
just want to know your schedule.

Thanks !

Jerry.

-Original Message-
From: Mixon Bill via Texascavers 
>
To: Cavers Texas 
>
Cc: Mixon Bill >
Sent: Tue, Jan 16, 2018 8:03 pm
Subject: [Texascavers] article on Texas gypsum karst

http://scholarcommons.usf.edu/ijs/vol46/iss2/4/ -- Mixon

A chicken is the egg's way of creating another egg.

You may "reply" to the address this message
(unless it's a TexasCavers list post)
came from, but for long-term use, save:
Personal: bmi...@alumni.uchicago.edu
AMCS: a...@mexicancaves.org or 
edi...@mexicancaves.org

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Re: [Texascavers] Announcing the Texas Speleology Center

[Diana Tomchick via Texascavers]

Great news!

Diana

**
Diana R. Tomchick
Department of Biophysics, Rm. ND10.214A
University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center
5323 Harry Hines Blvd.
Dallas, TX 75061 USA
214-645-6383 (office)

> On Dec 31, 2017, at 5:34 AM, Bill Steele via Texascavers 
>  wrote:
>
> Excellent! Thank you, thank you.
>
> Bill Mixon, you’re my hero!
>
> Bill Steele
>
>> On Dec 29, 2017, at 6:46 PM, Joe & Evelynn via Texascavers 
>>  wrote:
>>
>> The Texas Speleological Survey (TSS) and the Texas Cave Management 
>> Association (TCMA) are pleased to announce the new Texas Speleology Center! 
>> This facility will serve as the new joint headquarters for both 
>> organizations and will eventually be the new home of the TSS library 
>> currently located at the Pickle Research campus. The Texas Speleology Center 
>> is located near Driftwood, TX (southwest of Austin) and is in the former 
>> residence of Bill Mixon. The TCMA and TSS wish to thank Bill for generously 
>> working with us to acquire this property, which will serve the entire Texas 
>> caving community.
>>
>> The Center is located on 5 quiet wooded acres and contains a main building 
>> and a large metal barn. The main building contains a library, meeting room, 
>> office space, and a cooking area. It also has a full size basement with its 
>> own lower entrance and the main level has a large deck. The barn is suitable 
>> for storing trailers and equipment or holding talks and events. The Center 
>> currently holds the AMCS library, which we anticipate will continue.
>>
>> The TCMA and TSS wish to thank the many people who helped this purchase come 
>> to fruition and we look forward to inviting the Texas caving community to 
>> join us at the Center in the upcoming year for many projects and events!
>>
>> Joe Mitchell
>> President, Texas Speleological Survey
>>
>> Gregg Williams
>> President, Texas Cave Management Association
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Re: [Texascavers] [TCR 2017 Success!]

[Diana Tomchick via Texascavers]

Yes, it was great seeing everybody and our dogs had a really fun time trying to 
clean up all of the spilled food on the ground. Marley & Bandit gave TCR a big 
paws up! They were still exhausted this morning, always a good sign of a fun 
weekend.

Thanks to everyone that pitched in to help, sorry I didn’t have time this year 
to pitch in—there’s always next year.

Diana

**
Diana R. Tomchick
Professor
Departments of Biophysics and Biochemistry
University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center
5323 Harry Hines Blvd.
Rm. ND10.214A
Dallas, TX 75390-8816
diana.tomch...@utsouthwestern.edu
(214) 645-6383 (phone)
(214) 645-6353 (fax)

On Oct 15, 2017, at 6:25 PM, Cavers Texas  wrote:

Hey everyone, another successful Texas cavers reunion is behind us now, well 
done! Good job everybody! It was awesome! IT WAS!

Not much to report in the Lost & Found Department this year, for once, yay!

The owner is happy, the park is clean. Next years deposit is paid, no date set 
yet.

THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR HELP!!!

I didn’t want to harsh your mellow, on Saturday night, but 2017 was my last TCR 
as Director. I did six TCRs. I’m sorry folks, it was fun, rewarding and an 
adventure! My resignation is on a high point, I feel, with TCR is in good shape 
with a head start on 2018, with a year to solve my absence.

The music was very very good!
The food was very very good! Great job!!
We had INTERNATIONAL Cavers visit from Mexico!
We had David Locklear!
The NSS represented!
The Texas Contingent represented!
The Aggies had a challenging Speleolympics course!
There was a REBELAY course!
We had a hot tub, sauna AND spring water!
There was a SLIDESHOW!
There were POWERWAGONS in service!
There was a HUGE board game.
There were barbarian Viking HOARDS!!
We had MUD GLADIATORS!!
There was schmoozing, I SAW IT!
People smiled!
What more can you ask for?
I’m happy!

Thank you
—Don
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[Texascavers] New Zealand Cave Glow Worms

[Diana Tomchick via Texascavers]

From the eerie coincidence of one’s professional and caving career, comes a 
video about biochemists/protein crystallographers and the elucidation of the 
chemical basis of the light produced by glow worms:

https://www.sciencefriday.com/videos/shedding-light-on-the-new-zealand-glow-worm/

I know Kurt Krause through my science work, and not as a caver,

Diana

**
Diana R. Tomchick
Professor
Departments of Biophysics and Biochemistry
University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center
5323 Harry Hines Blvd.
Rm. ND10.214A
Dallas, TX 75390-8816
diana.tomch...@utsouthwestern.edu
(214) 645-6383 (phone)
(214) 645-6353 (fax)




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Re: [Texascavers] Green River, KY

[Diana Tomchick via Texascavers]

Preston,

This already HAS opened up lower level passages in Mammoth. There was much talk 
about it at the July 4th CRF Expedition.

Diana

**
Diana R. Tomchick
Professor
Departments of Biophysics and Biochemistry
University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center
5323 Harry Hines Blvd.
Rm. ND10.214A
Dallas, TX 75390-8816
diana.tomch...@utsouthwestern.edu
(214) 645-6383 (phone)
(214) 645-6353 (fax)

On Aug 6, 2017, at 9:57 PM, 
texascavers@texascavers.com wrote:

FYI-

Yesterday, I stopped by the Brownville Dam on the Green River inside the edge 
of Mammoth Cave Nat'l Park. The dam is completely removed. IMHO this is great 
news. That removal has been talked about for decades and I am sure volumes of 
studies have been made. But, late last year the dam begin to fail on the side 
of the old mud plugged lock. For safety reasons the dam had to be removed fast 
before a sudden huge failure, maybe hurting someone. This spring the project 
began and yesterday was the first chance I have had to see it. The old dam 
backed up water 17 miles and the difference in water levels above and below was 
maybe 4-6 ft.

The dam is gone and only a small rapid is present in the low water conditions. 
I was only there a short time. Some concrete from the dam was piled up 
downstream on the opposite bank and that was about all I saw from the old dam. 
Heavy equipment was on site constructing a gravel parking lot.

This has the potential to open up low levels of the cave for exploration. Dig 
out your wetsuits.

And, two, this will help the mussel population in Green River, already the 
location of some of the rarest mussels in the world. We may join an Owensboro 
Sierra Club outing this coming Sat. at Munsfordville studying Mussels, with a 
PhD mussels specialist.


Preston Forsythe
Browder, KY
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Re: [Texascavers] TPWD sign

[Diana Tomchick via Texascavers]

Mark, I recognize you in the photo, but I’m not sure who the other people are, 
so please help us out.

Diana

**
Diana R. Tomchick
Professor
Departments of Biophysics and Biochemistry
University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center
5323 Harry Hines Blvd.
Rm. ND10.214A
Dallas, TX 75390-8816
diana.tomch...@utsouthwestern.edu<mailto:diana.tomch...@utsouthwestern.edu>
(214) 645-6383 (phone)
(214) 645-6353 (fax)

On Jul 26, 2017, at 10:46 AM, 
texascavers@texascavers.com<mailto:texascavers@texascavers.com> wrote:


Photo attached. As I remember the story, it wasn't "digging" that the Park was 
worried about; it was the fact that we were there at all. We had published a 
trip report and map saying we had crossed under the Park boundary in the QA 
survey, and somehow that got to Park management. Someone got a letter or phone 
call to the effect that we should not be caving under the Park without 
permission. We replied that we were very sorry, and that they would never hear 
of that happening again. Note we didn't say we wouldn't do it, only that they 
wouldn't hear about it. There were several trips beyond that spot, and as far 
as I know, it is still a lead.

Mark Minton
mmin...@caver.net<mailto:mmin...@caver.net>

On Sat, 22 Jul, 2017 at 11:05 AM, Diana Tomchick via Texascavers 
<texascavers@texascavers.com<mailto:texascavers@texascavers.com>> wrote:

To: TexasCavers
Cc: diana.tomch...@utsouthwestern.edu<mailto:diana.tomch...@utsouthwestern.edu>
​The last time I visited that passage (early this year), we weren't looking for 
the sign, but then it occurred to us while eating a post-caving trip dinner 
that we hadn't seen the sign on our trip, so maybe it's no longer there. 
Somewhere I have a photo of the sign, but I don't know exactly where. It would 
be fun for someone to post a photo of it.

Diana

**
Diana R. Tomchick
Professor
Departments of Biophysics and Biochemistry
University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center
5323 Harry Hines Blvd.
Rm. ND10.214A
Dallas, TX 75390-8816
diana.tomch...@utsouthwestern.edu<mailto:diana.tomch...@utsouthwestern.edu>
(214) 645-6383 (phone)
(214) 645-6353 (fax)

From: Texascavers 
<texascavers-boun...@texascavers.com<mailto:texascavers-boun...@texascavers.com>>
 on behalf of Nancy Weaver via Texascavers 
<texascavers@texascavers.com<mailto:texascavers@texascavers.com>>
Sent: Saturday, July 22, 2017 9:42 AM
To: TexasCavers
Cc: Nancy Weaver
Subject: [Texascavers] TPWD sign

as someone intimately aware of the placing of that sign, I know exactly why it 
was done.  very much in the spirit of thumbing one’s nose at fences and 
ownership..
Nancy

If I recall there is (was) a TPWD boundary sign that was placed by cavers in 
one of the side passages in Honey Creek Cave were it goes under the park 
boundary fence. Someone at TPWD had said something to the effect that cavers 
needed to stop "digging" they way they were in that passage under the park as 
that method of "digging" was not approved by TWPD (and that is what propmpted 
the placement of said signage).







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Re: [Texascavers] TPWD sign

[Diana Tomchick via Texascavers]

?The last time I visited that passage (early this year), we weren't looking for 
the sign, but then it occurred to us while eating a post-caving trip dinner 
that we hadn't seen the sign on our trip, so maybe it's no longer there. 
Somewhere I have a photo of the sign, but I don't know exactly where. It would 
be fun for someone to post a photo of it.


Diana


**
Diana R. Tomchick
Professor
Departments of Biophysics and Biochemistry
University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center
5323 Harry Hines Blvd.
Rm. ND10.214A
Dallas, TX 75390-8816
diana.tomch...@utsouthwestern.edu
(214) 645-6383 (phone)
(214) 645-6353 (fax)

From: Texascavers  on behalf of Nancy 
Weaver via Texascavers 
Sent: Saturday, July 22, 2017 9:42 AM
To: TexasCavers
Cc: Nancy Weaver
Subject: [Texascavers] TPWD sign

as someone intimately aware of the placing of that sign, I know exactly why it 
was done.  very much in the spirit of thumbing one's nose at fences and 
ownership.
Nancy

If I recall there is (was) a TPWD boundary sign that was placed by cavers in 
one of the side passages in Honey Creek Cave were it goes under the park 
boundary fence. Someone at TPWD had said something to the effect that cavers 
needed to stop "digging" they way they were in that passage under the park as 
that method of "digging" was not approved by TWPD (and that is what propmpted 
the placement of said signage).



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Medical Center



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Re: [Texascavers] Consumer tip - smartphones

[Diana Tomchick via Texascavers]

They work just fine for me, and have for 4 months now.

Diana

**
Diana R. Tomchick
Professor
Departments of Biophysics and Biochemistry
University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center
5323 Harry Hines Blvd.
Rm. ND10.214A
Dallas, TX 75390-8816
diana.tomch...@utsouthwestern.edu
(214) 645-6383 (phone)
(214) 645-6353 (fax)

On Jul 6, 2017, at 8:22 AM, Cave Texas 
> wrote:

Thanks, David.
I was wondering how those new connectors were working in the real world.



Sent from my Verizon Wireless 4G LTE smartphone


 Original message 
From: David via Texascavers
Date:07/05/2017 8:44 PM (GMT-06:00)
To: CaveTex
Cc: David
Subject: [Texascavers] Consumer tip - smartphones

Cavers should spend their money caving and not on frivolous things like new 
smartphones and Toyota Sequoias.

Some of the new Android smartphones use a new type of fancy connector that 
allow you to easily insert the charge cord. Sounds great.   Right ??

It has been my experience these  "Type-C USB" cords fail faster than the older 
micro-USB.   These cords start at $ 22 ( with tax ) at Best Buy.

I would not recommend these phones to cavers who are very frugal.  Meaning the 
LG G6.  I also bet the connection inside the phone is just as cheesy, meaning 
avoid the cheap phones like ZTE and Alcatel that use this.   I suspect that 
manufacturing the oval-like shape of the connector is difficult.

David Locklear
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Re: [Texascavers] semi-final Road-Trip report

[Diana Tomchick via Texascavers]

I second the idea of auto donation. Many years ago I had a 4-door sedan that 
was in need of $1,500 (probably more) in repairs, but would only be worth about 
$1,500 once I fixed it, and it was 13 years old. Time to get a new, more 
reliable set of wheels, and I had no time or inclination to try to sell the 
auto on my own, especially since I figured it was only worth about $500 as a 
“parts car". So I donated it to the Salvation Army (they have a big training 
center right across the street from where I work). It was so easy, they sent a 
flatbed truck to my house and hauled it away, and they even took care of the 
transfer of the title. About 6 months later I got a phone call from someone at 
the Salvation Army telling me they had sold it at auction for $1,500 and they 
would send me the information so I could use it as a tax deduction. It was a 
win-win all the way around (except maybe for the person that bought it at 
auction!),

Diana

**
Diana R. Tomchick
Professor
Departments of Biophysics and Biochemistry
University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center
5323 Harry Hines Blvd.
Rm. ND10.214A
Dallas, TX 75390-8816
diana.tomch...@utsouthwestern.edu
(214) 645-6383 (phone)
(214) 645-6353 (fax)

On Jun 27, 2017, at 8:01 PM, 
texascavers@texascavers.com wrote:


David,


Give your old car to NPR via the Vehicle Donation Program. They'll take 
anything, even cars that don't run, and get something for it. If you abandon 
the car in Mexico you'll end up on their shit list and be banned from bringing 
in a vehicle in the future.

Mark Minton
mmin...@caver.net

On Tue, 27 Jun, 2017 at 1:01 PM, David via Texascavers 
> wrote:

I must get rid of my Camry as soon as I have other transportation..   Does 
anybody want to buy a beat-up abused Camry ?   I plan to abandon it in Mexico 
in front of my niece's house in about 2 weeks and take the bus home.

David Locklear
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[Texascavers] Naica Cave

[Diana Tomchick via Texascavers]

Mexico cave crystals host ancient microbes in suspended animation

Bacteria-like organisms and viruses may have remained dormant for 60,000 years

https://www.ft.com/content/5cda1860-f5e0-11e6-9516-2d969e0d3b65?segmentid=acee4131-99c2-09d3-a635-873e61754ec6

Diana

**
Diana R. Tomchick
Professor
Departments of Biophysics and Biochemistry
University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center
5323 Harry Hines Blvd.
Rm. ND10.214A
Dallas, TX 75390-8816
diana.tomch...@utsouthwestern.edu
(214) 645-6383 (phone)
(214) 645-6353 (fax)




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Re: [Texascavers] 39th Annual Texas Cavers Reunion

[Diana Tomchick via Texascavers]

Actually, Charlie spent some time in the DFW Grotto camping area at last year’s 
TCR talking to Bill Steele and I.

Sometimes you have to let the grumpy old men have their say and be nice about 
it. As a woman, I’ve had to live by that mantra for a very long, long time.

Diana

**
Diana R. Tomchick
Professor
Departments of Biophysics and Biochemistry
University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center
5323 Harry Hines Blvd.
Rm. ND10.214A
Dallas, TX 75390-8816
diana.tomch...@utsouthwestern.edu
(214) 645-6383 (phone)
(214) 645-6353 (fax)

On Feb 8, 2017, at 6:31 PM, TSA Cavers 
> wrote:

On Feb 8, 2017, at 6:02 PM, Charles Loving via Texascavers 
> wrote:

Why are we stuck at Paradise Canyon?

Charles, get over it. Paradise Canyon agreed to a good price if we kept TCR 
there for the next 5 years. If no one hasn't noticed things are getting more 
expensive these days. If you can find a better price than what we are currently 
paying with as many amenities, showers, river, electricity, bathrooms, ice, 
picnic tables, porto-potties, nice green manicured camping, Lodges with baths 
and A/C. What are you griping about, we haven’t seen you there in some time 
anyway. Besides weren’t you happy there was LODGING with A/C there? I 
distinctly remember you asking about it.

The OTR used to be fun when it moved around.

Well, this isn’t OTR.

Now it is in a rut. Paradise Canyon is OK but to me it is incredibly boring 
after the tenth time. I recall the first one where I and a few other cooked at 
Luckenbach. Then a lot of places all over Central Texas. Now it is stuck, dead 
in the water.

Dead? Are you volunteering to honcho it up? I’d be happy to turn it over to 
you. Just say the word and it’s all yours.

OK I was chief cook for 20 years and has a myriad of volunteer  people  who 
were involved in cooking. We had a rule for our volunteer cooks and there were 
about 35  or 40 of them. The rule was cook what you want but cook, but enough. 
Enough was a nebulous figure. We had tons of corn on the cob from the valley. 
Fish from Galveston, A roast pig, brisket, beef clod, chicken, turkey, hot 
links from Fredericksburg, bean salad, fruit salad, salad salad, black beans, 
refried beans, tortillas, pie, cake, cookies, a million brownies, chicken, 
Hatch chilis, gazpacho. all manner of stuff, we once had quail, and the people 
gobbled it up.

Great! Since we lost our cook last year, it sounds like you would be the 
perfect head cook. Are you volunteering? That menu sounds awesome, go ahead and 
purchase the stuff and get me a reciept and I’ll put you down as head cook. HEY 
EVERBODY! IGOR IS OUR NEW HEAD COOK! WOOO!!

All prepared by THE CAVER COOKS for the fun of cooking it. That tradition has 
died it would seem. Maybe caver don't cook anymore? Not sure why but the old 
cooks never got any new cooks to volunteer to take the reins.

Well, seeing you haven't come to a -TCR- (Texas Cavers Reunion, been named that 
for only the last THIRTY EIGHT YEARS) you have totally missed out on some fine 
cooking by the experts we have that ACTUALLY STEPPED UP and VOLUNTEERED. Stefan 
and Vico and the rest of the COOKS have done an awesome and thankless job for 
everybody. But of course your stepping up will easily surpass their cooking, 
no? We look forward to it!

Maybe there was a great loss in cooking ability. I hate to say this but I 
haven't eaten the meal at OTR is four years. I am not sure why because I pay 
for it, but the last one just didn't meet my expectations. I apologize to those 
who worked so hard and long but what is, is and I am a dyed in the wool food 
Nazi. We didn't need a food trailer to cook in we just built fires and got 
after it.

Well that's just awesome, good for you. Sorry you’ll be disappointed for the 
next five years. Maybe you should just keep staying home.

On Tue, Feb 7, 2017 at 3:42 PM, Don Arburn via Texascavers 
> wrote:
Paradise Canyon
October 12-15, 2017


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[Texascavers] Fwd: [SWR CAVERS] ARA Raffle - Night at the GCC Cavern Suite

[Diana Tomchick via Texascavers]

From: Ray Keeler >
Subject: [SWR CAVERS] ARA Raffle - Night at the GCC Cavern Suite
Date: January 5, 2017 at 11:03:21 AM CST
To: >, 
>, 'Southern Arizona Grotto' 
>,
 
>,
 'Cochise County Cavers' 
<242167033...@groups.facebook.com>, 
>, 'SWR Mailing List' 
>
Cc: 'Scott King' >, 
>

[cid:image001.png@01D26735.CA3E16C0]
Cavern Suite

Hello Everyone,

We (the ARA) are proudly offering a raffle for a night’s stay in the Cavern 
Suite in Grand Canyon Caverns on historic Route 66.
The Cavern Suite normally rents out at $800/night.  The raffle ticket will be 
drawn the ARA January 28, 2017.
Raffle tickets are $5 each.  You do not have to be present to win.  You can 
find out more about the cavern suite at
http://gccaverns.com/rooms-packages/the-grand-canyon-caverns-cavern-motel-room/
All proceeds are going to the ARA.
How this will work:
For those attending the ARA:

· Buy one or more raffle tickets. The drawing will be at the end of the 
ARA, January 28th.

For those who cannot attend the ARA:

· Ray Keeler is collecting raffle tickeytmoney at $5 per ticket.

· Cash is good.  Checks should be made out to “Ray Keeler”.  The ARA 
does not have a checking account (yet). In other words, I am personally 
responsible for your money/raffle ticket(s).  I will need a phone number and/or 
email address.

· I will call/send via email your raffle ticket number(s) before the 
raffle

· That means, if you are not planning on attending, I will need your 
raffle ticket money by Thursday, January 26th.

· Mail raffle ticket money to:

o   Ray Keeler

26406 N. 43rd Avenue

Phoenix, AZ 85083

· Basically, if I mess up, you know where I live and go caving so you 
can flat rock me at your convenience.


If you have any questions, please contact me at 
rckee...@cox.net  Do not hit “Reply” and clutter up 
the lists.

Thanks and Enjoy,

Ray





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[Texascavers] Fwd: [SWR CAVERS] Million-Year-Old 'Hero Bug' Emerges From Cave :

[Diana Tomchick via Texascavers]

I heard Hazel Barton talk about this study on NPR’s “Morning Edition” today.

Diana

**
Diana R. Tomchick
Professor
Departments of Biophysics and Biochemistry
University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center
5323 Harry Hines Blvd.
Rm. ND10.214A
Dallas, TX 75390-8816
diana.tomch...@utsouthwestern.edu
(214) 645-6383 (phone)
(214) 645-6353 (fax)

Begin forwarded message:

From: 'Jerry' via Southwestern Cavers of the National Speleological Society 
>
Subject: [SWR CAVERS] Million-Year-Old 'Hero Bug' Emerges From Cave :
Date: December 11, 2016 at 6:25:15 AM CST
To: >
Reply-To: Jerry >

Million-Year-Old 'Hero Bug' Emerges From Cave
NPR - December 10, 20167:00 AM ET
Michaeleen Doucleff 


Bacteria are way smarter than we give them credit for. No, I'm not talking 
about "brain smarts." Bacteria don't have neurons.

I'm referring to "chemical smarts": the ability to make, break down or gobble 
up whatever compound they want. Even if they've never been exposed to it before.
Scientists have found a superbug — hidden 1,000 feet underground in a cave — 
which is resistant to 70 percent of antibiotics and can totally inactivate many 
of them.
But here's the kicker. This bacterium has been isolated from people, society — 
and drugs — for 4 million years, scientists 
report Thursday in the journal 
Nature Communications.
That means it hasn't been exposed to human drugs in a clinic or on a farm that 
uses them. But it has the machinery to knock out these drugs. And that 
machinery has been around for millions of years.

"People are like, 'Oh no! It's a superbug!' says Hazel 
Barton,
 a microbiologist at the University of Akron, who helped find the bacteria. 
"But I prefer to call it a hero bug."

Because, Barton says, the bacterium is helping scientists understand where 
antibiotic resistance comes from and, hopefully, new ways to stop it. And the 
bacterium — called Paenibacillus (pronounced "penny-bacillus") — isn't 
pathogenic. It won't hurt you. It's just capable of evading many, many 
antibiotics.
Barton and her colleagues found the ancient super/herobug inside Lechuguilla 
Cave in New Mexico. 
It's the deepest limestone cave in the continental U.S. — 1,632 feet at its 
lowest point.

And it's one of the most inhospitable places on Earth. The cave never sees the 
sun. "It takes about 10,000 years for water from the surface to get into the 
cave," Barton says.
So how on Earth did this underground bacteria become resistance to human 
antibiotics? Don't bacteria develop resistance after being exposed to the drugs 
in people and animals?
"That's kind of the old model," Barton says. "When we originally went into this 
cave in 2012, we found that the microbes there were resistant to every natural 
antibiotic that we use in hospitals.

"It changed our understanding because it means antibiotic resistance didn't 
evolve in the clinic through our use. The resistance is hardwired," she says.
Now there's one big caveat. This "hardwired" resistance is true only for 
natural antibiotics.

"About 99.9 percent of all the antibiotics that we use come from 
microorganisms, from bacteria and fungi," Barton says. "They are constantly 
lobbing these chemical missiles at each other. And so if you're going to live 
in that environment you have to have a good defense." The goal of all this 
lobbing is survival: There are very few nutrients in the cave. So the 
microorganisms are constantly trying to kill each other and take each others' 
food.

But some antibiotics are manmade. "The bacteria in the cave have never been 
exposed to these antibiotics," Barton says. "So they're still sensitive them."

[http://media.npr.org/assets/img/2016/12/07/caveworks_wide-411d173d795a0a23719c1df4e4e3e847c1b94af8-s1600-c85.png]

http://www.npr.org/sections/goatsandsoda/2016/12/10/504691357/million-year-old-hero-bug-emerges-from-cave

Jerry Atkinson
jerryat...@aol.com


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Re: [Texascavers] TSA - CBSP December Project Weekend

[Diana Tomchick via Texascavers]

If I had to vote, Bitey McFangface would be my favorite name for a thrash metal 
group.

Diana

**
Diana R. Tomchick
Professor
Departments of Biophysics and Biochemistry
University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center
5323 Harry Hines Blvd.
Rm. ND10.214A
Dallas, TX 75390-8816
diana.tomch...@utsouthwestern.edu
(214) 645-6383 (phone)
(214) 645-6353 (fax)

On Dec 6, 2016, at 9:31 PM, 
texascavers@texascavers.com wrote:

Joe Noshoulders

Cascavel

Danger Noperope

Bitey McFangface


--Don




--Don
On Dec 6, 2016, at 9:10 PM, Leslie Bell via Texascavers 
> wrote:

For those of you who speak Latin, it's called Crotalus atrox
as colloquially there are too many variations to list. 'nuff said.


From: Andy Gluesenkamp via Texascavers 
>
To: texascavers@texascavers.com
Cc: cbsp-...@googlegroups.com
Sent: Tuesday, December 6, 2016 5:42 PM
Subject: Re: [Texascavers] TSA - CBSP December Project Weekend

The animal is a chain-link buzzworm.  Carry on.

Sent from my iPhone

On Dec 6, 2016, at 5:09 PM, Will Quast via Texascavers 
> wrote:

Remember that this weekend, Dec 10th, is the 3rd TSA-CBSP Project Weekend of 
the 2016-2017 season. The weather should be nice and chilly with very low 
chances of rain. We will be camping at Caver Camp.
If you are thinking about attending, YOU MUST EMAIL me and reserve your space 
BEFORE NOON FRIDAY. I am obligated to provide the list of volunteers to the 
Park by this time.
Please read the the information and understand the rules posted at 
http://www.cavetexas.org/projects/cbsp.html .

Here is a photo of a long skinny animal seen in the park, can you identify him? 
https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/35637124/DSC02365.JPG

William Quast
cbsp@gmail.com
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Re: [Texascavers] Laptop question for cave mapping

[Diana Tomchick via Texascavers]

I think that I have served as a Texas Caver editor in the past. 

My purposes for this laptop are for Mexican caving trips, drafting maps, 
writing trip reports, keeping inventories, etc.

Diana

**
Diana R. Tomchick
Professor
Departments of Biophysics and Biochemistry
University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center
5323 Harry Hines Blvd.
Rm. ND10.214A
Dallas, TX 75390-8816
diana.tomch...@utsouthwestern.edu
(214) 645-6383 (phone)
(214) 645-6353 (fax)

> On Oct 27, 2016, at 12:52 PM, texascavers@texascavers.com wrote:
> 
> Diana,
> You may consider getting one with a powerful word processor so after the cave 
> map is drafted the trip report can be written in conjunction with it.  Then 
> you can take the map and trip report and jump right into editing the rest of 
> the Texas Caver articles for the next months issue.   
> What do you think?
> 
> 
> 
> From: Diana Tomchick via Texascavers <texascavers@texascavers.com>
> To: Cave Tex <texascavers@texascavers.com> 
> Sent: Thursday, October 27, 2016 12:24 PM
> Subject: [Texascavers] Laptop question for cave mapping
> 
> I’m preparing to purchase a new Windows laptop that will be used for cave 
> mapping, along with other tasks.
> 
> Is there any particular reason why I might want to get a laptop with a touch 
> screen? It appears to me that it only adds extra weight to the laptop without 
> adding great functionality (I personally love to use a computer mouse, and 
> would use an externally attached drawing tablet for drawing).
> 
> Comments or suggestions are welcome,
> 
> Diana
> 
> **
> Diana R. Tomchick
> Professor
> Departments of Biophysics and Biochemistry
> University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center
> 5323 Harry Hines Blvd.
> Rm. ND10.214A
> Dallas, TX 75390-8816
> diana.tomch...@utsouthwestern.edu
> (214) 645-6383 (phone)
> (214) 645-6353 (fax)
> 
> 
> 
> 
> UT Southwestern
> 
> 
> Medical Center
> 
> 
> 
> The future of medicine, today.
> 
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Re: [Texascavers] Laptop question for cave mapping

[Diana Tomchick via Texascavers]

Actually, I wasn’t planning on taking the computer *into* the cave…

After some discussion with people at work, I’ve decided that the extra expense 
and lowered battery life of a touchscreen isn’t worth it for my purposes.

Diana

**
Diana R. Tomchick
Professor
Departments of Biophysics and Biochemistry
University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center
5323 Harry Hines Blvd.
Rm. ND10.214A
Dallas, TX 75390-8816
diana.tomch...@utsouthwestern.edu
(214) 645-6383 (phone)
(214) 645-6353 (fax)

> On Oct 27, 2016, at 12:51 PM, texascavers@texascavers.com wrote:
>
>  The few people I've seen actually using a computer in-cave for mapping
> have used something smaller than a laptop, like a PDA (Palm Pilot, etc.)
> or even an old Android cell phone. I wonder how an actual laptop would
> hold up.
>
> Mark Minton
> mmin...@caver.net
>
> On Thu, October 27, 2016 1:24 pm, Diana Tomchick via Texascavers wrote:
>> I'm preparing to purchase a new Windows laptop that will be used for
>> cave mapping, along with other tasks.
>>
>> Is there any particular reason why I might want to get a laptop with a
>> touch screen? It appears to me that it only adds extra weight to the
>> laptop without adding great functionality (I personally love to use a
>> computer mouse, and would use an externally attached drawing tablet for
>> drawing).
>>
>> Comments or suggestions are welcome,
>>
>> Diana
>
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[Texascavers] Laptop question for cave mapping

[Diana Tomchick via Texascavers]

I’m preparing to purchase a new Windows laptop that will be used for cave 
mapping, along with other tasks.

Is there any particular reason why I might want to get a laptop with a touch 
screen? It appears to me that it only adds extra weight to the laptop without 
adding great functionality (I personally love to use a computer mouse, and 
would use an externally attached drawing tablet for drawing).

Comments or suggestions are welcome,

Diana

**
Diana R. Tomchick
Professor
Departments of Biophysics and Biochemistry
University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center
5323 Harry Hines Blvd.
Rm. ND10.214A
Dallas, TX 75390-8816
diana.tomch...@utsouthwestern.edu
(214) 645-6383 (phone)
(214) 645-6353 (fax)




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Re: [Texascavers] The Texas Caver

[Diana Tomchick via Texascavers]

This leads me to ask—Carl, since you have so much time to critique the issue 
and write at length about it, and you care so deeply about it, would you 
volunteer to edit the Texas Caver?

Diana

**
Diana R. Tomchick
Professor
Departments of Biophysics and Biochemistry
University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center
5323 Harry Hines Blvd.
Rm. ND10.214A
Dallas, TX 75390-8816
diana.tomch...@utsouthwestern.edu
(214) 645-6383 (phone)
(214) 645-6353 (fax)

> On Oct 26, 2016, at 11:05 AM, texascavers@texascavers.com wrote:
>
> The Texas Caver
>
> So here we go again with the Texas Caver.  Every few years we are seeking a 
> new editor or at least discussing options that might disburse the rowdy 
> crowds that are assembling at the gates with torches and pitchforks.
>
> What is gong on here?  Why is it that every few years there is a Texas Caver 
> crisis and a less than graceful transition to a new editor?
>
> There is lots of talk about the Texas Caver.  From the outset, there seems to 
> have been some confusion regarding the difference between good journalism and 
> nice graphic arts. Unfortunately, neither has been regularly in evidence.  
> Maybe I've missed it, but I can't recall anyone praising the Caver for high 
> quality journalism or the reliability of production.  The editor has a few 
> passionate defenders who are willing to do battle with any and all 
> detractors, but the current editorial has now acknowledged what has been 
> evident for several years.
>
> The coming transition is an opportunity to learn from previous mistakes. 
> Texas cavers appreciate good grammar, proper spelling, and nice graphics but, 
> failing that, are willing to forgive a lot if the Caver shows signs of having 
> been carefully crafted with attention to detail:  nice photographs properly 
> captioned and credited; articles well laid out with all elements present; no 
> space used as a personal blog; and perhaps most importantly, timely 
> production.
>
> I was handed a copy of the most recent Texas Caver at the TSA meeting Sunday 
> morning, October 16.  When I looked at the cover, my first thought was "huh?" 
>   I rotated the page through 360 degrees as I searched in vain for a person 
> or anything for scale.  Despairing, I then looked inside for the caption 
> information.  I didn't find much.  The picture credits Peter Bosted and 
> apparently depicts a scene from the Big Island, Hawaii.  I infer that it 
> pictures something within a cave and is not merely a hand sample from a flea 
> market or mineral show.  As usual, there is no proper caption information.  A 
> closer look at the cover reveals "haul" to be misspelled and a Government 
> Canyon report proffered as being from "2105."  Those errors are egregious 
> and, sadly, are but a preview of others to come.
>
> In the present issue (the word "current" can't properly be applied since it 
> is about six months late),  pages 4 and 5 are mostly filled with 
> pictures—none with caption information—and the top photo on page 4 suffers 
> from a lack of pixel information by at least one order of magnitude.  Where 
> is the graphic arts expertise we are often reminded of?  If a photo is 
> essential and a small file is the  best available, then please reduce the 
> printed size.  At the top of page 5 there is a full half page devoted to two 
> guys stirring a large pot of food. What about the "hero" shot at the top of 
> page 6?  Neither photo is captioned or credited.  It's a poor use of space 
> that TSA's  hard copy subscribers are paying for.  In fact, there is a lot of 
> "white space" in every issue.  I am reminded of some prior issues with long 
> personal "blogs" that should never have appeared in the Caver.  Furthermore, 
> we are subjected to the new English word, "givin."   Page 8  treats us to 
> another low resolution photo with no credit or caption.  Page 9 credits the 
> photographer  but tells us nothing else.  More of the same on pages 10-11.  
> Sadly, this trend continues throughout the remainder of the issue with a few 
> other photos offering no information whatsoever.  This has been a problem for 
> many years.  The Editor seems unable to grasp the notion that a picture 
> without caption information looses a major portion of its potential value.  
> On pages 13-17 there is a change from two columns to three; then a change 
> back to two columns for pages 18-22.  Page 23 reverts to three columns once 
> again.  Oh, well.  I wonder where the back cover photo was made.  Is it a 
> continuation of the "Forged in Fire" photos from the previous two pages?  Who 
> authored the few words of text that accompany the photos?  "I had the good 
> fortune. . . .  We spent a day. . . ."
>
> It's discouraging to think that this is the best that Texas cavers can manage,
>
> The Texas Caver has a long tradition of service to the Texas caving 
> community.  It is the face that The Texas Speleological Association 

Re: [Texascavers] REI wild caving trip in Statesman

[Diana Tomchick via Texascavers]

At the very least, someone from the UT Grotto might want to contact REI and get 
them to hand out information about the grotto to their caving trip participants.

Diana

**
Diana R. Tomchick
Professor
Departments of Biophysics and Biochemistry
University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center
5323 Harry Hines Blvd.
Rm. ND10.214A
Dallas, TX 75390-8816
diana.tomch...@utsouthwestern.edu
(214) 645-6383 (phone)
(214) 645-6353 (fax)

> On Oct 24, 2016, at 3:39 PM, texascavers@texascavers.com wrote:
> 
> Nichols Outdoor Adventures doesn't offer a rappelling tour, since our 
> insurance doesn't cover ropes. 
> 
> Also, it was our understanding that they were doing a one time trip with the 
> previous superintendent. We had no clue that they were making this a 
> recurring event, and it will be interesting to see how this works out, since 
> we use that cave too. 
> 
> -Heather
> 
> 
> 
> 
>> On Oct 24, 2016, at 3:24 PM, Diana Tomchick via Texascavers 
>> <texascavers@texascavers.com> wrote:
>> 
>> Wow, $145 for a guided trip into Gorman Creek Cave, complete with the wrong 
>> kind of rappelling device for a caver!
>> 
>> Nichols Outdoor Adventure should charge more than $50 for their trip.
>> 
>> Diana
>> 
>> **
>> Diana R. Tomchick
>> Professor
>> Departments of Biophysics and Biochemistry
>> University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center
>> 5323 Harry Hines Blvd.
>> Rm. ND10.214A
>> Dallas, TX 75390-8816
>> diana.tomch...@utsouthwestern.edu
>> (214) 645-6383 (phone)
>> (214) 645-6353 (fax)
>> 
>>> On Oct 24, 2016, at 3:08 PM, texascavers@texascavers.com wrote:
>>> 
>>> http://www.mystatesman.com/news/lifestyles/recreation/get-a-new-perspective-on-colorado-bend-state-park-/nssxs/
>>> ___
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>> 
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> UT Southwestern
>> 
>> 
>> Medical Center
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> The future of medicine, today.
>> 
>> 
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Re: [Texascavers] REI wild caving trip in Statesman

[Diana Tomchick via Texascavers]

Wow, $145 for a guided trip into Gorman Creek Cave, complete with the wrong 
kind of rappelling device for a caver!

Nichols Outdoor Adventure should charge more than $50 for their trip.

Diana

**
Diana R. Tomchick
Professor
Departments of Biophysics and Biochemistry
University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center
5323 Harry Hines Blvd.
Rm. ND10.214A
Dallas, TX 75390-8816
diana.tomch...@utsouthwestern.edu
(214) 645-6383 (phone)
(214) 645-6353 (fax)

> On Oct 24, 2016, at 3:08 PM, texascavers@texascavers.com wrote:
>
> http://www.mystatesman.com/news/lifestyles/recreation/get-a-new-perspective-on-colorado-bend-state-park-/nssxs/
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Re: [Texascavers] Authors of scientific articles

[Diana Tomchick via Texascavers]

Oddly enough, this afternoon I received a form that I need to fill out in order 
to have a paper reviewed in eLife, an Open Access journal.

The form is entitled, "eLife’s transparent reporting form.”

It consists of detailed questions about how the data was collected, analyzed 
and any statistical analysis performed on the data.

This is information that is required from the authors, not from the people 
cited in the acknowledgements.

I refer interested parties to the following web site:

https://elifesciences.org/elife-news/elife-method-and-methodology-data-collection

I love y’all as cavers, but please, if you’re going to pass judgement on 
scientific publishing, try to think about how scientific publishing is done 
nowadays, and realize that for different fields, there are different methods of 
data collection. Not to mention the rapidly changing field of open versus 
closed access publication—this stuff is changing almost under our feet.

Diana

**
Diana R. Tomchick
Professor
Departments of Biophysics and Biochemistry
University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center
5323 Harry Hines Blvd.
Rm. ND10.214A
Dallas, TX 75390-8816
diana.tomch...@utsouthwestern.edu
(214) 645-6383 (phone)
(214) 645-6353 (fax)

> On Aug 31, 2016, at 2:57 PM, texascavers@texascavers.com wrote:
>
>  As a scientist, I generally agree with the need for multiple "authors",
> including people who had nothing to do with actually writing an article.
> However it does seem to have gotten a bit out of control and now people
> are listed as authors who should more correctly be listed in the
> Acknowledgments.
>  As cavers, we do not follow this trend. Caving articles, even about
> whole expeditions, are usually authored by no more than three people,
> and usually just one or two. Typically every member of the expedition
> was important, and they should be mentioned by name in the text, but I
> don't think they should be listed as authors.
>
> Geary,
>  Long lists of authors have been a hallmark of physics papers for
> decades. I have a paper from 1989 (Physical Review Letters) with 188
> authors. The list took up the entire first page of the article. And that
> was long before the CERN Large Hadron Collider came into being. As huge
> collaborations in physics and astronomy become more common, long author
> lists are, sadly, likely to become ever more common.
>
> Mark Minton
> mmin...@caver.net
>
> On Wed, August 31, 2016 1:46 pm, via Texascavers wrote:
>> That said, it is often the case that the relative value of an article is
>> inversely proportional to the number of authors cited. Given the current
>> frenzy to publish and be recognized for Pd work, it would not be
>> surprising if the number of authors exceeded the length of the article.
>>
>> Jerry Atkinson.
>>
>> On Wed, August 31, 2016 1:27 pm, Geary Schindel via Texascavers wrote:
>>> Diana,
>>>
>>> Very well said, I was thinking of replying also but you hit the nail on
>>> the head. Most research these days are a collaboration between many
>>> scientists and laboratories. I think the best example I've seen is some
>>> of the Super Collider work that might have 150 authors for a paper.
>>>
>>> Geary Schindel
>>> gschin...@edwardsaquifer.org
>>>
>>> -Original Message-
>>> From: Texascavers On Behalf Of Diana Tomchick via Texascavers
>>> Sent: Wednesday, August 31, 2016 12:16 PM
>>> To: Cave Tex
>>> Subject: Re: [Texascavers] White-Nose Syndrome in PNW scientific article
>>>
>>> Let me clarify what constitutes authorship on a scientific article.
>>>
>>> It does not necessarily mean that a person wrote one of the paragraphs.
>>> In fact, in the future we may have artificial intelligence to thank for
>>> writing much of the routine text in our articles and technical manuals.
>>>
>>> It DOES mean that an author is a person that is responsible for one or
>>> more of the following:
>>>
>>> Coming up with the original idea (i.e., the hypothesis) for the
>>> experiment Collecting data Analyzing data Presenting data (in graphical,
>>> written or other forms such as videos, etc.) Supervising the people that
>>> collect, analyze and present the data Drawing important conclusions from
>>> the data and testing new hypotheses that result from this all-important
>>> step Writing the text of the final document
>>>
>>> You want and NEED all of these people to be listed as authors-as they
>>> are the ones that are legitimately responsible for the final published
>>> work. If there are any questi

Re: [Texascavers] White-Nose Syndrome in PNW scientific article

[Diana Tomchick via Texascavers]

Let me clarify what constitutes authorship on a scientific article.

It does not necessarily mean that a person wrote one of the paragraphs. In 
fact, in the future we may have artificial intelligence to thank for writing 
much of the routine text in our articles and technical manuals.

It DOES mean that an author is a person that is responsible for one or more of 
the following:

Coming up with the original idea (i.e., the hypothesis) for the experiment
Collecting data
Analyzing data
Presenting data (in graphical, written or other forms such as videos, etc.)
Supervising the people that collect, analyze and present the data
Drawing important conclusions from the data and testing new hypotheses that 
result from this all-important step
Writing the text of the final document

You want and NEED all of these people to be listed as authors—as they are the 
ones that are legitimately responsible for the final published work. If there 
are any questions about what is presented in the work, everyone knows who is 
responsible.

We call this transparency, which unfortunately is lacking in other important 
human endeavors.

Diana

**
Diana R. Tomchick
Professor
Departments of Biophysics and Biochemistry
University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center
5323 Harry Hines Blvd.
Rm. ND10.214A
Dallas, TX 75390-8816
diana.tomch...@utsouthwestern.edu
(214) 645-6383 (phone)
(214) 645-6353 (fax)

> On Aug 31, 2016, at 11:59 AM, Cavers Texas  
> wrote:
>
> Wow! Fourteen alleged authors for an article with eight paragraphs. How many 
> of those people do you think were really authors, i.e., writers? How many of 
> them were just bottle washers? -- Mixon
> 
> Always forgive your enemies after they are hanged.
> 
> You may "reply" to the address this message
> (unless it's a TexasCavers list post)
> came from, but for long-term use, save:
> Personal: bmi...@alumni.uchicago.edu
> AMCS: a...@mexicancaves.org or sa...@mexicancaves.org
>
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[Texascavers] White-Nose Syndrome in PNW scientific article

[Diana Tomchick via Texascavers]

In the latest issue of mSphere, the American Society for Microbiology open 
access journal.

Anyone should have the ability to access and download this article.


First Detection of Bat White-Nose Syndrome in Western North America
Jeffrey M. Lorch, Jonathan M. Palmer, Daniel L. Lindner, Anne E.
Ballmann, Kyle G. George, Kathryn Griffin, Susan Knowles, John R.
Huckabee, Katherine H. Haman, Christopher D. Anderson, Penny A. Becker,
Joseph B. Buchanan, Jeffrey T. Foster, and David S. Blehert
mSphere July/August 2016 1:e00148-16; doi:10.1128/mSphere.00148-16

White-nose syndrome (WNS) represents one of the most consequential wildlife
diseases of modern times. Since it was first documented in New York in
2006, the disease has killed millions of bats and threatens several
formerly abundant species with extirpation or extinction. The spread of WNS
in eastern North America has been relatively gradual, inducing optimism
that disease mitigation strategies could be established in time to conserve
bats susceptible to WNS in western North America. The recent detection of
the fungus that causes WNS in the Pacific Northwest, far from its previous
known distribution, increases the urgency for understanding the long-term
impacts of this disease and for developing strategies to conserve imperiled
bat species.

http://msphere.asm.org/content/1/4/e00148-16.abstract?etoc

**
Diana R. Tomchick
Professor
Departments of Biophysics and Biochemistry
University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center
5323 Harry Hines Blvd.
Rm. ND10.214A
Dallas, TX 75390-8816
diana.tomch...@utsouthwestern.edu
(214) 645-6383 (phone)
(214) 645-6353 (fax)




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Re: [Texascavers] [Texas Cavers Reunion Help]

[Diana Tomchick via Texascavers]

I can help with TP Patrol on Saturday, and with serving the evening meal on 
Saturday (if that’s needed).

I can’t guarantee I’ll be there until late on Friday night, and I have to leave 
very early on Sunday morning.

Diana

**
Diana R. Tomchick
Professor
Departments of Biophysics and Biochemistry
University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center
5323 Harry Hines Blvd.
Rm. ND10.214A
Dallas, TX 75390-8816
diana.tomch...@utsouthwestern.edu
(214) 645-6383 (phone)
(214) 645-6353 (fax)

> On Aug 23, 2016, at 4:48 PM, TSA Cavers List  
> wrote:
>
> 51 Days Left!!
>
> Bring this up at your grotto meetings!!
>
> TCR needs confirmations for the following volunteers:
>
> •Dish washers: Sheryl, Dale (2 more!)
>
> •Firewood gathering, work to be done at the park soon!!! Contact me.
>
> •Door Prize Vixens to give out prizes!
>
> •TP Patrol, an easy job of keeping tabs on the bathrooms and toilet paper.
>
> •Registration Nation: Kris, Lizette, Jake (need a couple more)
>
> •Shiner Retrievers, WHO DOESN'T WANT FREE BEER!?
>
> •Ropes Popes, rope climbing organizers and belayers
>
> •Survey Squad, organizers
>
> •SpeleOlympic Wranglers, organizers
>
> •Sleeping Bag Clothes Change Contest Crew (contest resurgence) organizers
>
> •Recyclers are Stefan & Dale! (These guys are badass!)
>
> •Hot Tub Team, folks who can help put the tub and sauna together.
>
> •Mud wrestler pit builders Galen (a couple more helpers & a referee)
>
> •Someone to make some awards!
>
> •Minion(s) enthusiast to help me
>
> PLEASE? Bring this up at your grotto meetings!! These are short term fairly 
> easy things, they aren't going to take up much time and EVERYONE will be 
> grateful.
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[Texascavers] Periscope link to Fernando Hernandez's talk

[Diana Tomchick via Texascavers]

This is the correct link to Fernando’s talk at the UT Grotto meeting last night.

https://www.periscope.tv/UTGrotto/1RDGlkdqqaOKL

I am working on recording it to my computer via QuickTime, will let you know if 
that works.

Diana

**
Diana R. Tomchick
Professor
Departments of Biophysics and Biochemistry
University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center
5323 Harry Hines Blvd.
Rm. ND10.214A
Dallas, TX 75390-8816
diana.tomch...@utsouthwestern.edu
(214) 645-6383 (phone)
(214) 645-6353 (fax)




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[Texascavers] Place recognition using batlike sonar

[Diana Tomchick via Texascavers]

New open access article in eLIFE.

"Place recognition using batlike sonar"
Dieter Vanderelst, Jan Steckel, Andre Boen, Herbert Peremans, Marc W Holderied
DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.7554/eLife.14188
Published August 2, 2016
Cite as eLife 2016;5:e14188

eLife digest:
"Bats produce loud calls and listen to the returning echoes to find their way 
around. This process, known as echolocation, is sometimes described as 'seeing 
with sound'. The way bats perceive the world through echolocation, however, is 
fundamentally different from how we experience it through vision. Echolocation 
provides much less information about the world than vision does, but despite 
this, bats are agile navigators and hunters.

It is not clear how bats navigate so well without much information. In 
particular, researchers would like to know how echolocating bats recognize the 
places that they regularly visit while foraging and navigating. When we 
visually recognize places, we identify and localize the various objects making 
up the scene. But echolocation is unlikely to provide enough information to 
allow bats to identify and localize the objects in a particular place.

To investigate how bats recognize places, Vanderelst et al. built an artificial 
bat: a device that contained ultrasonic microphones to act like the bat’s ears 
and an ultrasonic speaker to act like the bat’s mouth. The artificial bat 
device was then used to collect echoes from different locations in real bat 
habitats.

Processing the echoes using machine-learning techniques showed that the echoes 
that returned from each location were different enough for a computer to 
recognize the location. By using a simplified version of the echoes, Vanderelst 
et al. also showed that the locations could be recognized even if there was not 
enough information to identify specific objects or vegetation at the site. This 
suggests that bats do not simply use echolocation to recreate the 
three-dimensional layout of a location, as some researchers have proposed.

While much remains to be learned about how bats use echolocation for 
navigation, future work that teases out bat navigation strategies might help us 
to build robots that can navigate using similar tactics.”


**
Diana R. Tomchick
Professor
Departments of Biophysics and Biochemistry
University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center
5323 Harry Hines Blvd.
Rm. ND10.214A
Dallas, TX 75390-8816
diana.tomch...@utsouthwestern.edu
(214) 645-6383 (phone)
(214) 645-6353 (fax)




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[Texascavers] Fwd: HHMI Tangled Bank Studios: Broadcast premiere of “Spillover—Zika, Ebola & Beyond”

[Diana Tomchick via Texascavers]

How is this related to caving? Many Texas cavers travel to Central America to 
go caving, and thus may find this interesting.

Diana

P.S. This weekend I went caving on a fine Central Texas ranch. Unfortunately I 
didn’t spray the inside of my hiking shoes and socks with bug spray, and now am 
suffering from chigger bites. Nasty critters are everywhere.

**
Diana R. Tomchick
Professor
Departments of Biophysics and Biochemistry
University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center
5323 Harry Hines Blvd.
Rm. ND10.214A
Dallas, TX 75390-8816
diana.tomch...@utsouthwestern.edu
(214) 645-6383 (phone)
(214) 645-6353 (fax)

Begin forwarded message:

From: Science Education – Office of the Vice President 
>
Subject: HHMI Tangled Bank Studios: Broadcast premiere of “Spillover—Zika, 
Ebola & Beyond”
Date: August 1, 2016 at 7:37:24 AM CDT
To: Science Operations Managers-All 
>,
 "HHMI - LABS (JRC Excluded)" 
>

Greetings Colleagues,

I invite you to tune in to the newest one-hour documentary from HHMI’s Tangled 
Bank Studios, “Spillover—Zika, Ebola & Beyond,” which premieres Wednesday, 
August 3 at 10PM/9c on PBS (check your local listings).

Around the globe, viruses are on the march:  Zika, Ebola, Nipah, Chikungunya, 
Dengue and West Nile --- all viruses that reside in animals and have the 
potential to “spillover” and infect humans. What’s behind the rise in spillover 
viruses?  Are the United States and the world prepared to anticipate, contain 
and prevent the next outbreak?  The film weaves the stories of healthcare 
workers, scientists and the communities on the front lines of these vital 
threats.

If you’re unable to watch the television broadcast, you can stream the film 
August 4 – October 2 by visiting the PBS website:  
www.pbs.org/spillover

Please share this information with others who may be interested.

Sincerely,

Sean

Sean B. Carroll, Ph.D.
Vice President for Science Education
Howard Hughes Medical Institute





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Re: [Texascavers] 1966 & 1964 NSS Convention photos

[Diana Tomchick via Texascavers]

Having grown up in the Pacific NW, much of my backpacking and camping was 
without a tent—we took a rain fly for the occasional downpour, but the 
mosquitos were almost non-existant.

Diana

**
Diana R. Tomchick
Professor
Departments of Biophysics and Biochemistry
University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center
5323 Harry Hines Blvd.
Rm. ND10.214A
Dallas, TX 75390-8816
diana.tomch...@utsouthwestern.edu
(214) 645-6383 (phone)
(214) 645-6353 (fax)

> On Jul 11, 2016, at 4:18 PM, Cave Tex  wrote:
>
> Very interesting photos, Carl. My favorite is the first one, showing the 
> vehicles, the traveling gear (suitcase on boulder; decorated pillow), and the 
> cavers sleeping on the ground without tents. Yes, they were tough--one of 
> them is even sleeping like a log!
>
> Logan
> lmcn...@austin.rr.com
>
> 
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Re: [Texascavers] 1966 NSS Convention Photos

[Diana Tomchick via Texascavers]

The guy in the striped shirt looks like Roger Brucker.

Diana

**
Diana R. Tomchick
Professor
Departments of Biophysics and Biochemistry
University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center
5323 Harry Hines Blvd.
Rm. ND10.214A
Dallas, TX 75390-8816
diana.tomch...@utsouthwestern.edu
(214) 645-6383 (phone)
(214) 645-6353 (fax)

> On Jul 11, 2016, at 3:55 PM, TexasCavers  wrote:
>
> In 1966 --- 50 years ago this month --- the NSS convened at Sequoia National 
> Park, California.
> It was the 25th Anniversary of the NSS and it was a little bit special in 
> that regard.
> Bill Stevenson was there and drew special attention throughout the week.
> The attendance from Texas was very small.  There were 10-12 from Austin and 
> other than Glenda and me, no others from Texas that I recall.
>
> This may have been the first time there was a “Groad Hollow” a the NSS 
> Convention, albeit unofficial at that time.
> Terry Raines and FuFu made the trip with a camper full from Austin.  I’m not 
> sure who the sleeping cavers are, but I do note that there
> are no tents and, with one exception, no air mattresses or sleeping pads.  
> Cavers were extra tough in those days.  Note there are three VW camper
> vans in this single picture.  The pickup with a camper might be Kenny 
> Laidlaw.  Bill Bell made the trip with a packed cargo of cavers in his almost
> new Land Rover.  A journey they all remember.  Terry, Bill, and others may 
> comment further.
> <1966%20NSS%20Convention-FuFu%20in%20Groad%20Hollow%20(Medium)[3].jpg>
>
> Here’s another, somewhat more luxurious caver camp.  Do current cavers still 
> know about hodags?
> <1966%20NSS%20Convention-Batmobile%20(Medium)[3].jpg>
>
> The convention setting was beautiful.  This is main meeting room for all 
> sessions.
> <1966%20NSS%20Convention-Meeting%20Room%20(Medium)[3].jpg>
>
> This is a scene  in front of the meeting room.  The little table is for pre 
> registration.
> I am tempted to identify the fellow in the striped shirt, and the guy behind 
> the ice chest.
> Perhaps others will chime in with identifications.  See anyone you recognize?
> <1966%20NSS%20Convention-Patio%20(Medium)[3].jpg>
>
> Inside the meeting room.  This may be during the Photo Salon.
> <1966%20NSS%20Convention-Photo%20Salon%20(Medium)[3].jpg>
>
> While we are looking at ancient speleo-history, I’ll toss in a couple from 
> the 1964 NSS Convention in New Braunfels.
>
> The main location was the National Guard Armory.  Small rooms around the edge 
> of the main space were used for
> exhibits and sessions.  The walls were festooned with photographs, assorted 
> artwork, and large cave maps.  It was
> the infancy of the Association for Mexican Cave Studies and there were many 
> maps of the early discoveries in Mexico.
> It was quite amusing to overhear people attempting to pronounce 
> Huitzmolotitla, Oztoatlicholoa, Juxtlahuaca, and Xilitla.
> <1964%20NSS%20Convention-Armory%20(Medium)[4].jpg>
>
> Finally, group photos are hard to come by.  I happened to be standing around 
> when the crowd was assembled for the
> 1964 Convention field trip to Caverns of Sonora.  There are only three or 
> four identifications I am reasonably certain of:
> Near the front center with cowboy hat and white shirt is Calvin Perryman (a 
> Dallas caver).  In the front row with cowboy
> hat and brown shirt is Fred Mason (the owner of Indian Creek Cave at that 
> time).  Also front row (right) wearing a brown
> helmet is M.D. Turner (Austin caver and still involved these days).  At far 
> right wearing a bright orange shirt is Bob Willis
> (New Mexicocaver who went on to achieve some prominence within the NSS).  Can 
> you identify any others?
>
> <1964%20NSS%20Convention-Sonora%20(Medium)[3].jpg>
>
> Carl Kunath
> NSS 6230 (PHFE)
> carl.kun...@suddenlink.net
>
>
>
>
>
> This email has been checked for viruses by Avast antivirus software.
> www.avast.com
>
>
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[Texascavers] Fwd: Call for Historical NSS-related Materials to be Displayed at 2016 Convention

[Diana Tomchick via Texascavers]

Begin forwarded message:

From: Paul Winter >
Subject: Call for Historical NSS-related Materials to be Displayed at 2016 
Convention
Date: July 11, 2016 at 11:13:26 AM CDT
To: undisclosed-recipients:;

Greetings IO contact.  Some have already received this email, but I received 
reports that not everyone had been informed.  This should be a rather unique 
exhibit, so please forward to your members and/or appropriate individuals 
within your organization who are attending the convention this year.  Any 
questions or concerns regarding this email distribution, please send a message 
to iocommit...@caves.org

Regards,
Paul Winter
IO Committee Chairman

OPEN INVITATION TO ALL ATTENDING THIS YEARS NSS CONVENTION IN ELY, NV

The 2016 NSS 75th Anniversary Convention is offering all attendees some limited 
space (a school classroom) for Grottoes or individuals to display some of their 
historical NSS-related materials (even early caving equipment).   This year, 
let us enjoy our memories and share them with others.

Please bring items for display to Room 309 in the high school.  We hope to 
begin setting up Sunday morning.  There will be a monitor in the room at all 
times for security.

To share our memories with each other, we are also sponsoring an Oral History 
opportunity.  We will conduct the interview sessions in a separate “quiet” 
classroom, and will video tape the sessions.  So, also bring your memories to 
share with others.

Questions?  Please contact Paul Damon, Convention Historian, at 
c...@paul-n-paul.com




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Re: [Texascavers] Mexican blind cave Astyanax fish

[Diana Tomchick via Texascavers]

This may be a bit late, but anyone that would like a PDF copy of this article 
can contact me off-list.

And of course some of this research may have relevance to human health—we are 
not so different from the cave fishes on an evolutionary scale, after all. Plus 
there are fewer ethical dilemmas to research on fishes versus humans (and it’s 
cheaper, too!).

Diana

**
Diana R. Tomchick
Professor
Departments of Biophysics and Biochemistry
University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center
5323 Harry Hines Blvd.
Rm. ND10.214A
Dallas, TX 75390-8816
diana.tomch...@utsouthwestern.edu
(214) 645-6383 (phone)
(214) 645-6353 (fax)

> On Jul 1, 2016, at 7:11 PM, Cavers Texas  wrote:
>
>> Degenerated retinas, globs of liver fat, wildly fluctuating blood sugar and 
>> insulin levels—all can spell trouble for people. But they are a way of life 
>> for Astyanax mexicanus, better known as the blind cave fish or Mexican 
>> tetra. For decades, biologists have studied these pale 6-centimeter-long 
>> fish to understand the ecological and evolutionary effects of subterranean 
>> life. Now, some researchers argue that the fishes' adaptations can shed 
>> light on human diseases including retinal degeneration and diabetes. And 
>> results presented last week at the 2016 International Conference on 
>> Subterranean Biology back up that view. The U.S. National Institutes of 
>> Health sees promise in cave fish as well, having agreed to fund the work of 
>> several cave fish biologists.
>
> From http://science.sciencemag.org/content/352/6293/1502. This is just a 
> summary of longer note in the June 24 issue; the real article requires 
> subscription. Evidently there were several papers on the cave fish at the 
> conference, all of which (of course) pointed out how the authors' research 
> could have relevance to human health. -- Mixon
> 
> What great comfort is there to be derived from a wife well obeyed!—Anthony 
> Trollope, Barchester Towers
> 
> You may "reply" to the address this message
> (unless it's a TexasCavers list post)
> came from, but for long-term use, save:
> Personal: bmi...@alumni.uchicago.edu
> AMCS: a...@mexicancaves.org or sa...@mexicancaves.org
>
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Re: [Texascavers] Sinkholes

[Diana Tomchick via Texascavers]

I'm half afraid to show this video to my plumber, who's fascinated about the 
fact that we are cavers, and loves to regale Bill Steele and I with the Hollow 
Earth stories he's read on the Internet. Despite all that, he's a good and 
reasonably priced plumber, so we humor him.

If you think these theories are bad, you should look at 25 year-old cell 
biology theories about membrane fusion. This video is reminiscent of some of 
the wackier, simplistic ideas from that field. The exciting thing is that the 
reality (which we're still working on figuring out) is more complicated and yet 
quite extraordinary.

I did feel bad for all the people from China and other Asian countries that I 
saw swallowed up by the sinkholes in this video,

Diana

**
Diana R. Tomchick
Professor
Departments of Biophysics and Biochemistry
University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center
5323 Harry Hines Blvd.
Rm. ND10.214A
Dallas, TX 75390-8816
diana.tomch...@utsouthwestern.edu
(214) 645-6383 (phone)
(214) 645-6353 (fax)

From: swrcav...@googlegroups.com [swrcav...@googlegroups.com] on behalf of 
dirt...@comcast.net [dirt...@comcast.net]
Sent: Friday, June 17, 2016 9:12 AM
To: Cave NM; Cave Texas; TAG Net
Subject: [SWR CAVERS] Sinkholes

Sinkholes - perhaps the end of the world is coming.



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TLUgEXI9RYI



A excellent piece of pseudoscience lumping together unrelated geological 
phenomena. An offshoot of conspiracy theory thinking, scientifically ignorant, 
and total BS. Critical thinking suggested.



A fine example of "I found it on the internet so it must be true".



HOWEVER, they have pulled together some fascinating videos of real-time 
earth-swallowing events. For that, it is interesting watching, even if you are 
not about to be sucked into the bowls of the Earth yourself.



DirtDoc

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Re: [Texascavers] Powell's Cave Gate Project update :

[Diana Tomchick via Texascavers]

The fact that Powell’s is private property is irrelevant. Money has been 
donated in the past to TCMA (and that money was tax deductible to the donor) to 
fund projects at Honey Creek, which is also private property.

Diana

**
Diana R. Tomchick
Professor
Departments of Biophysics and Biochemistry
University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center
5323 Harry Hines Blvd.
Rm. ND10.214A
Dallas, TX 75390-8816
diana.tomch...@utsouthwestern.edu
(214) 645-6383 (phone)
(214) 645-6353 (fax)

> On Jun 23, 2016, at 6:45 PM, Cave Tex <texascavers@texascavers.com> wrote:
>
> Because Powells is on private property?
>
>
> --Don
>
>> On Jun 23, 2016, at 6:39 PM, Diana Tomchick via Texascavers 
>> <texascavers@texascavers.com> wrote:
>>
>> Why do we have these organizations in Texas if they can’t be used to 
>> leverage donations to protect these important resources?
>>
>> Diana
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Re: [Texascavers] Powell's Cave Gate Project update :

[Diana Tomchick via Texascavers]

If you would like to get a company or private donor interested in donating 
large sums of money, it would help if the donors knew they could use it as a 
deduction on their federal income taxes.

Which leads me to ask once again (since the first time I asked this question it 
went unanswered), what would it take to make a donation to the Powell’s Cave 
gating project tax deductible? The last time I checked the web site, the Texas 
Speleological Survey is a registered 501(c)(3) organization, both Jim Kennedy 
and Jerry Atkinson are Director.s Was there no way that the money couldn’t have 
been donated to the TSS, which would then use the money to fund the protection 
of Powell’s Cave? Or failing that, through the TCMA?

Why do we have these organizations in Texas if they can’t be used to leverage 
donations to protect these important resources?

Diana

**
Diana R. Tomchick
Professor
Departments of Biophysics and Biochemistry
University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center
5323 Harry Hines Blvd.
Rm. ND10.214A
Dallas, TX 75390-8816
diana.tomch...@utsouthwestern.edu
(214) 645-6383 (phone)
(214) 645-6353 (fax)

> On Jun 23, 2016, at 6:09 PM, texascavers@texascavers.com wrote:
>
> What did you assume that isn't true?
>
> Caves and karst in Texas are an incredible resource that should be protected 
> and set aside -  the case for which should be easily made especially when one 
> considers lack of green space as compared to American East and West. If Texas 
> cavers could reach around and outside of its own community, get funding from 
> private donors, one could not only gate dozens of habitat sensitive caves but 
> also set up a network of karst preserves. For goodness sake, there are 54 
> SP500 companies headquarters in Texas!  All that takes is ability to share 
> your vision with others, show them the resource you are trying to protect and 
> reasons why. And yes, sometimes take them above and below the ground, get 
> their hands dirty.
>
> And your concern is a nonexistent moral dilemma?
>
> RK
>
> > Date: Thu, 23 Jun 2016 16:37:30 -0600
> > To: texascavers@texascavers.com
> > Subject: Re: [Texascavers] Powell's Cave Gate Project update :
> > From: texascavers@texascavers.com
> >
> > Then why did you ask, for Pete's sake ?
> >
> > Jerry.
> >
> > Sent from my iPhone
> >
> > On Jun 23, 2016, at 4:23 PM, Rafal Kedzierski via Texascavers 
> >  wrote:
> >
> > > No change in my statement. If someone is philanthropic in order to gain 
> > > access to the cave, that's a
> > > wrong reason for generosity - but that's his/her issue, not yours. If
> > > someone is taken through the cave as a thank you for helping to preserve
> > > an incredible resource, that's your way of expressing generosity - not
> > > the issue of the donor.
> > >
> > > RK
> > >
> > > 
> > >> Date: Thu, 23 Jun 2016 16:18:37 -0600
> > >> To: texascavers@texascavers.com
> > >> Subject: Re: [Texascavers] Powell's Cave Gate Project update :
> > >> From: texascavers@texascavers.com
> > >>
> > >> When they ask ahead of actually donating, it's a tacit request. That 
> > >> becomes my problem.
> > >>
> > >> Jerry.
> > >>
> > >> Sent from my iPhone
> > >>
> > >> On Jun 23, 2016, at 3:57 PM, Rafal Kedzierski via Texascavers 
> > >>  wrote:
> > >>
> > >>> If someone is philanthropic in order to gain access to the cave, that's 
> > >>> a wrong reason for generosity - but that's his/her issue, not yours. If 
> > >>> someone is taken through the cave as a thank you for helping to 
> > >>> preserve an incredible resource, that's your way of expressing 
> > >>> generosity - not the issue of the donor.
> > >>>
> > >>> RK
> > >>>
> > >>> 
> >  Date: Thu, 23 Jun 2016 14:05:24 -0600
> >  To: texascavers@texascavers.com
> >  Subject: Re: [Texascavers] Powell's Cave Gate Project update :
> >  From: texascavers@texascavers.com
> > 
> >  Rafal,
> > 
> >  I'm not comfortable with donations for the greater good becoming 
> >  entitlements for special privileges. It would be unfortunate if that 
> >  becomes the principal reason for being philanthropic.
> > 
> >  As for resurveying Powell's Cave, there have been two survey projects 
> >  of the cave since the early 1960s, and one fairly decent map made of 
> >  the cave. Unfortunately, past efforts used whoever showed up at trips 
> >  as survey teams, with little to no quality control of survey 
> >  standards. The result was a mish-mash of excellent to awful surveys 
> >  that was nearly impossible to compile into a good map. Any future 
> >  effort will require a different strategy that may be too difficult to 
> >  complete given the lack of project leaders and cartographers we have 
> >  today.
> > 
> >  Jerry.
> > 
> >  Sent from my 

Re: [Texascavers] Old Caving Photo

[Diana Tomchick via Texascavers]

Marley is doing fine. I need to give both doggies a bath. Her toe is stable and 
maybe getting a little smaller.

Diana

**
Diana R. Tomchick
Professor
Departments of Biophysics and Biochemistry
University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center
5323 Harry Hines Blvd.
Rm. ND10.214A
Dallas, TX 75390-8816
diana.tomch...@utsouthwestern.edu
(214) 645-6383 (phone)
(214) 645-6353 (fax)

From: Texascavers [texascavers-boun...@texascavers.com] on behalf of Bill 
Steele via Texascavers [texascavers@texascavers.com]
Sent: Tuesday, June 21, 2016 9:59 AM
To: texascavers@texascavers.com
Subject: Re: [Texascavers] Old Caving Photo

Rick Rigg went to Huautla once when I wasn't there, I think in 1981. He was 
originally from PA but moved to Idaho. He's probably 7 or so years older than 
me and hasn't done much in many years. I've never been caving with him

How's Marley doing?

Bill

> On Jun 21, 2016, at 10:51 AM, Diana Tomchick via Texascavers 
> <texascavers@texascavers.com> wrote:
>
> I find it highly amusing that Norm Pace, the National Academy of Sciences 
> member and a MacArthur Fellow, was the only one that looked like a science 
> nerd, albeit a happy one.
>
> Who was Rick Rigg? I’ve never heard anyone talk about him.
>
> Diana
>
> **
> Diana R. Tomchick
> Professor
> Departments of Biophysics and Biochemistry
> University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center
> 5323 Harry Hines Blvd.
> Rm. ND10.214A
> Dallas, TX 75390-8816
> diana.tomch...@utsouthwestern.edu
> (214) 645-6383 (phone)
> (214) 645-6353 (fax)
>
>> On Jun 21, 2016, at 1:14 AM, texascavers@texascavers.com wrote:
>>
>> Thanks for posting, Mark! Although I don¹t remember posing with those boy
>> scout helmets and Butterfly lamp boxes, I do have many fond memories of
>> that trip and the Cuetzalan area.
>> The cavers pictured are:
>> Top row: left to right‹me (Frank Binney), you (Mark Minton), Lisa Wilk
>> Bottom row: Norm Pace, Bill Liebman, Rick Rigg
>> ‹Frank
>>
>> Frank Binney
>> Frank Binney & Associates
>> Interpretive Planning and Media Development
>> P.O. Box 258
>> Woodacre, CA 94973
>> 415.488.1200 Voice
>> 415.488.1500 Fax
>> 415.999.0556 Mobile
>> fr...@frankbinney.com
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> On 6/20/16, 6:22 PM, "Texacavers on behalf of Mark Minton via Texascavers"
>> <texascavers-boun...@texascavers.com on behalf of
>> texascavers@texascavers.com> wrote:
>>
>>> Attached is a photo showing cavers in the Cuetzalan (Puebla, Mexico)
>>> field house in 1980, about 35 years ago. Whom do you recognize? Of those
>>> present, I think only a few are still caving at all, and maybe only one
>>> actively. The same field house also served a Mexican scout troop and we
>>> found their stash of caving gear: fiberglass helmets and Butterfly
>>> carbide lamps. ¡Siempre Listo!
>>>
>>> Mark Minton
>>> mminton@caver.net___
>>> Texascavers mailing list | http://texascavers.com
>>> Texascavers@texascavers.com | Archives:
>>> http://www.mail-archive.com/texascavers@texascavers.com/
>>> http://lists.texascavers.com/listinfo/texascavers
>>
>>
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>> http://www.mail-archive.com/texascavers@texascavers.com/
>> http://lists.texascavers.com/listinfo/texascavers
>
>
> 
>
> UT Southwestern
>
>
> Medical Center
>
>
>
> The future of medicine, today.
>
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Re: [Texascavers] Old Caving Photo

[Diana Tomchick via Texascavers]

Hahaha, that wasn't supposed to go out to everyone, but, for those who know our 
15 year-old cocker spaniel Marley, we are worried about her because she either 
has a chronic infection of one of her toes, or it could be cancerous. Right now 
it appears that she just needs to wear "The Cone of Shame" a bit longer while 
her toe heals.

Diana

**
Diana R. Tomchick
Professor
Departments of Biophysics and Biochemistry
University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center
5323 Harry Hines Blvd.
Rm. ND10.214A
Dallas, TX 75390-8816
diana.tomch...@utsouthwestern.edu
(214) 645-6383 (phone)
(214) 645-6353 (fax)

From: Texascavers [texascavers-boun...@texascavers.com] on behalf of Diana 
Tomchick via Texascavers [texascavers@texascavers.com]
Sent: Tuesday, June 21, 2016 3:51 PM
To: texascavers@texascavers.com
Subject: Re: [Texascavers] Old Caving Photo

Marley is doing fine. I need to give both doggies a bath. Her toe is stable and 
maybe getting a little smaller.

Diana

**
Diana R. Tomchick
Professor
Departments of Biophysics and Biochemistry
University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center
5323 Harry Hines Blvd.
Rm. ND10.214A
Dallas, TX 75390-8816
diana.tomch...@utsouthwestern.edu
(214) 645-6383 (phone)
(214) 645-6353 (fax)

From: Texascavers [texascavers-boun...@texascavers.com] on behalf of Bill 
Steele via Texascavers [texascavers@texascavers.com]
Sent: Tuesday, June 21, 2016 9:59 AM
To: texascavers@texascavers.com
Subject: Re: [Texascavers] Old Caving Photo

Rick Rigg went to Huautla once when I wasn't there, I think in 1981. He was 
originally from PA but moved to Idaho. He's probably 7 or so years older than 
me and hasn't done much in many years. I've never been caving with him

How's Marley doing?

Bill

> On Jun 21, 2016, at 10:51 AM, Diana Tomchick via Texascavers 
> <texascavers@texascavers.com> wrote:
>
> I find it highly amusing that Norm Pace, the National Academy of Sciences 
> member and a MacArthur Fellow, was the only one that looked like a science 
> nerd, albeit a happy one.
>
> Who was Rick Rigg? I’ve never heard anyone talk about him.
>
> Diana
>
> **
> Diana R. Tomchick
> Professor
> Departments of Biophysics and Biochemistry
> University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center
> 5323 Harry Hines Blvd.
> Rm. ND10.214A
> Dallas, TX 75390-8816
> diana.tomch...@utsouthwestern.edu
> (214) 645-6383 (phone)
> (214) 645-6353 (fax)
>
>> On Jun 21, 2016, at 1:14 AM, texascavers@texascavers.com wrote:
>>
>> Thanks for posting, Mark! Although I don¹t remember posing with those boy
>> scout helmets and Butterfly lamp boxes, I do have many fond memories of
>> that trip and the Cuetzalan area.
>> The cavers pictured are:
>> Top row: left to right‹me (Frank Binney), you (Mark Minton), Lisa Wilk
>> Bottom row: Norm Pace, Bill Liebman, Rick Rigg
>> ‹Frank
>>
>> Frank Binney
>> Frank Binney & Associates
>> Interpretive Planning and Media Development
>> P.O. Box 258
>> Woodacre, CA 94973
>> 415.488.1200 Voice
>> 415.488.1500 Fax
>> 415.999.0556 Mobile
>> fr...@frankbinney.com
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> On 6/20/16, 6:22 PM, "Texacavers on behalf of Mark Minton via Texascavers"
>> <texascavers-boun...@texascavers.com on behalf of
>> texascavers@texascavers.com> wrote:
>>
>>> Attached is a photo showing cavers in the Cuetzalan (Puebla, Mexico)
>>> field house in 1980, about 35 years ago. Whom do you recognize? Of those
>>> present, I think only a few are still caving at all, and maybe only one
>>> actively. The same field house also served a Mexican scout troop and we
>>> found their stash of caving gear: fiberglass helmets and Butterfly
>>> carbide lamps. ¡Siempre Listo!
>>>
>>> Mark Minton
>>> mminton@caver.net___
>>> Texascavers mailing list | http://texascavers.com
>>> Texascavers@texascavers.com | Archives:
>>> http://www.mail-archive.com/texascavers@texascavers.com/
>>> http://lists.texascavers.com/listinfo/texascavers
>>
>>
>> ___
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>> Texascavers@texascavers.com | Archives: 
>> http://www.mail-archive.com/texascavers@texascavers.com/
>> http://lists.texascavers.com/listinfo/texascavers
>
>
> 
>
> UT Southwestern
>
>
> Medical Center
>
>
>
> The future of medicine, tod

Re: [Texascavers] Old Caving Photo

[Diana Tomchick via Texascavers]

I find it highly amusing that Norm Pace, the National Academy of Sciences 
member and a MacArthur Fellow, was the only one that looked like a science 
nerd, albeit a happy one.

Who was Rick Rigg? I’ve never heard anyone talk about him.

Diana

**
Diana R. Tomchick
Professor
Departments of Biophysics and Biochemistry
University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center
5323 Harry Hines Blvd.
Rm. ND10.214A
Dallas, TX 75390-8816
diana.tomch...@utsouthwestern.edu
(214) 645-6383 (phone)
(214) 645-6353 (fax)

> On Jun 21, 2016, at 1:14 AM, texascavers@texascavers.com wrote:
>
> Thanks for posting, Mark! Although I don¹t remember posing with those boy
> scout helmets and Butterfly lamp boxes, I do have many fond memories of
> that trip and the Cuetzalan area.
> The cavers pictured are:
> Top row: left to right‹me (Frank Binney), you (Mark Minton), Lisa Wilk
> Bottom row: Norm Pace, Bill Liebman, Rick Rigg
> ‹Frank
>
> Frank Binney
> Frank Binney & Associates
> Interpretive Planning and Media Development
> P.O. Box 258
> Woodacre, CA 94973
> 415.488.1200 Voice
> 415.488.1500 Fax
> 415.999.0556 Mobile
> fr...@frankbinney.com
>
>
>
>
> On 6/20/16, 6:22 PM, "Texacavers on behalf of Mark Minton via Texascavers"
>  texascavers@texascavers.com> wrote:
>
>> Attached is a photo showing cavers in the Cuetzalan (Puebla, Mexico)
>> field house in 1980, about 35 years ago. Whom do you recognize? Of those
>> present, I think only a few are still caving at all, and maybe only one
>> actively. The same field house also served a Mexican scout troop and we
>> found their stash of caving gear: fiberglass helmets and Butterfly
>> carbide lamps. ¡Siempre Listo!
>>
>> Mark Minton
>> mminton@caver.net___
>> Texascavers mailing list | http://texascavers.com
>> Texascavers@texascavers.com | Archives:
>> http://www.mail-archive.com/texascavers@texascavers.com/
>> http://lists.texascavers.com/listinfo/texascavers
>
>
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Re: [Texascavers] related to a caver obituary

[Diana Tomchick via Texascavers]

Stay tuned for this year’s AMCS Newsletter, wherein I tell the story from the 
recent Huautla expedition wherein Jim Smith is treated by our landlord with 
flaming aguardiente, onions and a local medicinal plant. I have the whole 
incident on video, which I need to edit and upload to YouTube soon.

I think our landlord didn’t use pickled jalapeños as there was no open wound, 
although this story about Mason Estes was re-told by Jim after his treatment 
was finished.

Diana

**
Diana R. Tomchick
Professor
Departments of Biophysics and Biochemistry
University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center
5323 Harry Hines Blvd.
Rm. ND10.214A
Dallas, TX 75390-8816
diana.tomch...@utsouthwestern.edu
(214) 645-6383 (phone)
(214) 645-6353 (fax)

> On Jun 20, 2016, at 7:02 AM, texascavers@texascavers.com wrote:
>
> I caved with Mason a few times around Texas before we went to Huautla in 
> 1988. His first big trip into San Augustin was probably taking a duffel of 
> camp supplies down to the staging area at 600 m before it would be moved to 
> Camp 3. Mason hobbled into the kitchen with each foot wrapped in a bandana. 
> He sat down in a chair. Someone asked what was wrong and he said his boots 
> had given him blisters and he didn't know if he would be able to cave again.
>
> Being good cavers, someone asked him to show us his blisters. He unwrapped 
> his feet and showed us his blisters. My feet reflexively winced in pain when 
> I saw his blisters. On the arch of each foot, he had huge, raw, open blisters 
> that were like looking into Hell. They were huge, they were VERY painful 
> looking.
>
> I believe it was Jim Smith who said, "Grab one of those pickled jalapeños 
> from that jar and slap it on your blister. Rub it around really good and it 
> will make them heal faster." This, of course, made everyone laugh because it 
> was such an obviously stupid suggestion. Mason grabbed the jar of jalapeños, 
> fished one out, and, like a good Aggie, slapped it on his hellish looking, 
> raw, open blister that was the size of a Jumar and began grinding into his 
> raw, open blister.
>
> Mason writhed in his chair as he was grinding this pickled jalapeño into the 
> blister. I'll give him credit, he didn't scream. He did however make inhuman 
> sounds that sounded as terrifying and horrible as his blisters looked. I was 
> absolutely speechless, as was everyone in the room. Watching this was liking 
> watching a train wreck, it was horrible but I couldn't take my eyes off of 
> it. I'm sure everyone watching had the same look of horror that I had on my 
> face. When he stopped from what seemed like an eternity or more of grinding 
> this pickled jalajalapeño into a raw, open blister, Jim Smith said, "It was a 
> joke, I didn't mean for you to do that." Mason replied, "(gasp, gasp) Well, 
> it actually (gasp, gasp) feels better."
>
> Mason put his foot down, pulled up the other foot and began grinding the 
> pickled jalapeño into the other hellish looking, open, raw blister that was 
> the size of a Jumar on his other foot. This was followed by more inhuman 
> sounds and writhing around by Mason and certainly more horrified looks from 
> those of us present. Thankfully, after an eternity and a half, he stopped 
> abusing his raw open blister with pickled jalapeños. He declared that it 
> helped that foot just as much as the other. Mason, continued doing this 
> (although I fortunately never witnessed this scene again). His blisters 
> quickly healed over and he was caving again within a week or so.
>
> The moral of this story is either grind a pickled jalapeño into your raw, 
> open blisters that are the size of Jumars on your feet to make them heal 
> faster or don't listen to Jim Smith.
>
> Allan Cobb
>




UT Southwestern


Medical Center



The future of medicine, today.

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Re: [Texascavers] Powell’s Cave Gate Project Needs Your Help :

[Diana Tomchick via Texascavers]

Is there a mechanism for ensuring that the money that is donated is 
tax-deductible for the donors? Perhaps by collecting the money through the 
auspices of one of the Texas caving organizations that is a 501(c)(3), such as 
TCMA or TSS?

Diana

**
Diana R. Tomchick
Professor
Departments of Biophysics and Biochemistry
University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center
5323 Harry Hines Blvd.
Rm. ND10.214A
Dallas, TX 75390-8816
diana.tomch...@utsouthwestern.edu
(214) 645-6383 (phone)
(214) 645-6353 (fax)

> On Jun 9, 2016, at 4:21 AM, texascavers@texascavers.com wrote:
>
> Powell’s Cave Gate Project Needs Your Help
>
>  Powell’s Cave is the second longest cave in Texas, with 26.1 km of surveyed 
> passage. Treasure hunters dug the historic entrance open in the early 1900s 
> and it is now stabilized with a concrete culvert installed by volunteer 
> cavers in the late 1990s. The cave is used as a roost by a large colony of 
> Cave Myotis (Myotis velifer). Recently, during a scheduled visit to the cave, 
> it was discovered that trespassers had entered the cave and vandalized it, 
> leaving cans, bottles, and other miscellaneous trash in the cave. 
> Unfortunately, this also included spray-painting graffiti on the cave walls 
> in the Crevice Passage (see attached photos).
>
> Concerns about protecting the integrity of the cave as well as the vulnerable 
> bat colony (estimated at about 10,000 individuals) have led to the decision 
> to install an above ground, bat-friendly, cupola-style gate, similar to the 
> one recently built for Ezell’s Cave in Hays County. Jim Kennedy of Kennedy 
> Above/Under Ground LLC has been contracted to build the gate and it is hoped 
> that it will be completed sometime in the next month or so.
>
> As part of the agreement with the landowner, cavers will be paying for the 
> labor and ancillary costs of the gate construction, while the landowner will 
> pay for the materials. This was done to support continuing landowner 
> relations and demonstrate our commitment to the protection and stewardship of 
> the cave. We need to raise approximately $3300 to cover our end of the deal.
>
> If you are interested in helping the project, please consider a cash pledge 
> to help in alleviating the costs. Powell’s Cave has been an important part of 
> Texas caving for more than 50 years, and hopefully will be open to 
> recreational caving and research for many years to come. If all goes well, 
> there will be clean up and restoration trips in the future that folks can 
> volunteer for. Any and all donations of time and money are greatly 
> appreciated.
>
> Pledges can be sent to:
>
> Gerald Atkinson – Powell’s Cave Liaison
> jerryat...@aol.com
>
> If you have any questions, please email me. Thanks !
>
> Photos courtesy of Arron Wertheim (May 2016)
> <05140019.JPG><05140026.JPG>___
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> http://www.mail-archive.com/texascavers@texascavers.com/
> http://lists.texascavers.com/listinfo/texascavers




UT Southwestern


Medical Center



The future of medicine, today.

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Re: [Texascavers] Zika

[Diana Tomchick via Texascavers]

Develop resistance in the same way that we’ve done with malaria and chickenpox?

Thanks goodness for vaccines and anti-malarial drugs…which are still being 
developed, due to problems with resistance.

Diana

**
Diana R. Tomchick
Professor
Departments of Biophysics and Biochemistry
University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center
5323 Harry Hines Blvd.
Rm. ND10.214A
Dallas, TX 75390-8816
diana.tomch...@utsouthwestern.edu
(214) 645-6383 (phone)
(214) 645-6353 (fax)

> On May 24, 2016, at 7:37 PM, texascavers@texascavers.com wrote:
> 
> Your medical industrial complex is wanting you to write them a 1.9 billion 
> dollar check for initial funding for Zika virus research and prevention. Or 
> about 40 dollars for each of those households paying taxes. Few billion will 
> follow every year from now on until story is forgotten by public 10 years 
> from now. What's a few billions among friends? 
> 
> But this will likely not change anything. Zika will spread across southern us 
> until it becomes ubiquitous and is population will gain resistence. Then 
> likely 95% of complications will disappear. This will become just like any of 
> hundreds of minimally pathologic viruses, with more to follow. Next year look 
> out for Kiki virus - one that elongates fetal noses and prompts another 
> emergent spending bill;).
> 
> Cytomegalovirus and varicella invade brains of fetuses, Zika is nothing 
> special. Dozens of other viruses grow in neuronal cultures - nothing special, 
> except CV padding material.
> 
> Messenger doesn't change the message. And it was signed;).
> 
> RK
> 
> > To: texascavers@texascavers.com
> > Date: Tue, 24 May 2016 22:27:10 +
> > Subject: Re: [Texascavers] Zika
> > From: texascavers@texascavers.com
> > 
> > Just because you’ve already procreated doesn’t mean everyone else has, 
> > Rafal Kedzierski.
> > 
> > It’s ironic that you should be against more research, given your background.
> > 
> > Diana
> > 
> > **
> > Diana R. Tomchick
> > Professor
> > Departments of Biophysics and Biochemistry
> > University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center
> > 5323 Harry Hines Blvd.
> > Rm. ND10.214A
> > Dallas, TX 75390-8816
> > diana.tomch...@utsouthwestern.edu
> > (214) 645-6383 (phone)
> > (214) 645-6353 (fax)
> > 
> > > On May 24, 2016, at 5:22 PM, texascavers@texascavers.com wrote:
> > > 
> > > Yes, living is scary and it ends in death, funny how that goes.
> > > 
> > > Every new scary story just needs 'mo money' for 'mo research'. For that 
> > > we just need 'mo taxes'.
> > > 
> > > Look, when every potential mother aquites immunity, more than likely 
> > > maternal fetal infections will cease. Sometimes you don't need no more 
> > > 'mo'. 
> > > 
> > > That's coming from a physician and a scientist.
> > > 
> > > RK
> > > 
> > > > To: texascavers@texascavers.com
> > > > Date: Tue, 24 May 2016 21:43:41 +
> > > > Subject: Re: [Texascavers] Zika
> > > > From: texascavers@texascavers.com
> > > > 
> > > > > Try telling a potential parent that Zika is something not to worry 
> > > > > about and see how far that argument gets you.
> > > > 
> > > > Perhaps we should tell people in Zika infected countries to not get 
> > > > pregnant?
> > > > 
> > > > (Dons fireproof suit) ;-)
> > > > 
> > > > Stefan Creaser
> > > > Staff Design Engineer; Physical Design Group; ARM
> > > > 5707 Southwest Parkway, Bldg 1, Suite 100, Austin, TX 78735, USA.
> > > > Direct: +1-512-314-1012, Internal: 11012.
> > > > Email: stefan.crea...@arm.com. Skype: stefan_creaser
> > > > 
> > > > -Original Message-
> > > > From: Texascavers [mailto:texascavers-boun...@texascavers.com] On 
> > > > Behalf Of Diana Tomchick via Texascavers
> > > > Sent: Tuesday, May 24, 2016 4:39 PM
> > > > To: Cave Tex
> > > > Subject: Re: [Texascavers] Zika
> > > > 
> > > > > Microcephaly is seen in population in general, only about 1 in 100 
> > > > > mothers infected with Zika are affected. For comparison, about 40k 
> > > > > people die in traffic accidents a year in brazil, 40K in US, 200K in 
> > > > > India. Malaria kills 1 million people a year.
> > > > 
> > > > 
> > > > Yes, but not every virus 

Re: [Texascavers] Zika

[Diana Tomchick via Texascavers]

Just because you’ve already procreated doesn’t mean everyone else has, Rafal 
Kedzierski.

It’s ironic that you should be against more research, given your background.

Diana

**
Diana R. Tomchick
Professor
Departments of Biophysics and Biochemistry
University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center
5323 Harry Hines Blvd.
Rm. ND10.214A
Dallas, TX 75390-8816
diana.tomch...@utsouthwestern.edu
(214) 645-6383 (phone)
(214) 645-6353 (fax)

> On May 24, 2016, at 5:22 PM, texascavers@texascavers.com wrote:
> 
> Yes, living is scary and it ends in death, funny how that goes.
> 
> Every new scary story just needs 'mo money' for 'mo research'. For that we 
> just need 'mo taxes'.
> 
> Look, when every potential mother aquites immunity, more than likely maternal 
> fetal infections will cease. Sometimes you don't need no more 'mo'. 
> 
> That's coming from a physician and a scientist.
> 
> RK
> 
> > To: texascavers@texascavers.com
> > Date: Tue, 24 May 2016 21:43:41 +
> > Subject: Re: [Texascavers] Zika
> > From: texascavers@texascavers.com
> > 
> > > Try telling a potential parent that Zika is something not to worry about 
> > > and see how far that argument gets you.
> > 
> > Perhaps we should tell people in Zika infected countries to not get 
> > pregnant?
> > 
> > (Dons fireproof suit) ;-)
> > 
> > Stefan Creaser
> > Staff Design Engineer; Physical Design Group; ARM
> > 5707 Southwest Parkway, Bldg 1, Suite 100, Austin, TX 78735, USA.
> > Direct: +1-512-314-1012, Internal: 11012.
> > Email: stefan.crea...@arm.com. Skype: stefan_creaser
> > 
> > -Original Message-
> > From: Texascavers [mailto:texascavers-boun...@texascavers.com] On Behalf Of 
> > Diana Tomchick via Texascavers
> > Sent: Tuesday, May 24, 2016 4:39 PM
> > To: Cave Tex
> > Subject: Re: [Texascavers] Zika
> > 
> > > Microcephaly is seen in population in general, only about 1 in 100 
> > > mothers infected with Zika are affected. For comparison, about 40k people 
> > > die in traffic accidents a year in brazil, 40K in US, 200K in India. 
> > > Malaria kills 1 million people a year.
> > 
> > 
> > Yes, but not every virus causes problems with neural development in 
> > embryonic cell cultures.
> > 
> > "Zika Virus Infects Human Cortical Neural Progenitors and Attenuates Their 
> > Growth”
> > Tang, Hengli et al.
> > Cell Stem Cell , Volume 18 , Issue 5 , 587 - 590
> > 
> > For a freely available description of this research,
> > 
> > http://www.sciencemag.org/news/2016/03/zika-virus-kills-developing-brain-cells
> > 
> > The very last sentence of this description sums up the problem rather well:
> > 
> > "Researchers also still need to figure out how the virus crosses the 
> > placenta and infects the fetus directly, something most viruses can’t do.”
> > 
> > If the population of Brazil is 205 million, and roughly half the population 
> > is female (~100 million), and of that only 50% is of childbearing age (50 
> > million) and only 5% of that number plans to have a child this year (2.5 
> > million), and 1% of that number has children born with microcephaly, that 
> > would be 25,000 children, if all the mothers were infected with Zika virus.
> > 
> > Let that sink in: 25,000 children born with microcephaly.
> > 
> > So let’s assume instead that only 25% of the potential mothers are infected 
> > with Zika virus and their babies have microcephaly. That would still mean 
> > 6,250 children born with microcephaly.
> > 
> > 6,250 children born with so little neural tissue that they will never live 
> > independently, and probably will not live very long lives.
> > 
> > According to the CDC 
> > (http://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/birthdefects/microcephaly.html),
> > 
> > "Microcephaly is not a common condition. State birth defects tracking 
> > systems have estimated that microcephaly ranges from 2 babies per 10,000 
> > live births to about 12 babies per 10,000 live births in the Unites States.”
> > 
> > That would be 0.02 - 0.12 % of live births in the U.S., a far smaller 
> > number than 1%.
> > 
> > "Zika virus, named after a forest in Uganda where it was first isolated 
> > decades ago, usually causes only mild symptoms in people, including fever 
> > and rash. But after the virus started spreading across northeastern Brazil 
> > last year, doctors there noticed a striking increase in the number of 
> > babies born with microcephaly.”
> > 
> 

Re: [Texascavers] Zika

[Diana Tomchick via Texascavers]

This is in fact what the Ministry of Health in El Salvador recommended back in 
January.

http://www.nytimes.com/2016/01/26/world/americas/el-salvadors-advice-on-zika-dont-have-babies.html?_r=0

Diana

>> Try telling a potential parent that Zika is something not to worry about and 
>> see how far that argument gets you.
>
> Perhaps we should tell people in Zika infected countries to not get pregnant?
>
> (Dons fireproof suit) ;-)
>
> Stefan Creaser
> Staff Design Engineer; Physical Design Group; ARM
> 5707 Southwest Parkway, Bldg 1, Suite 100, Austin, TX 78735, USA.
> Direct: +1-512-314-1012, Internal: 11012.
> Email: stefan.crea...@arm.com. Skype: stefan_creaser
**
Diana R. Tomchick
Professor
Departments of Biophysics and Biochemistry
University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center
5323 Harry Hines Blvd.
Rm. ND10.214A
Dallas, TX 75390-8816
diana.tomch...@utsouthwestern.edu
(214) 645-6383 (phone)
(214) 645-6353 (fax)





UT Southwestern


Medical Center



The future of medicine, today.


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Re: [Texascavers] Zika

[Diana Tomchick via Texascavers]

> Microcephaly is seen in population in general, only about 1 in 100 mothers 
> infected with Zika are affected. For comparison, about 40k people die in 
> traffic accidents a year in brazil, 40K in US, 200K in India. Malaria kills 1 
> million people a year.


Yes, but not every virus causes problems with neural development in embryonic 
cell cultures.

"Zika Virus Infects Human Cortical Neural Progenitors and Attenuates Their 
Growth”
Tang, Hengli et al.
Cell Stem Cell , Volume 18 , Issue 5 , 587 - 590

For a freely available description of this research,

http://www.sciencemag.org/news/2016/03/zika-virus-kills-developing-brain-cells

The very last sentence of this description sums up the problem rather well:

"Researchers also still need to figure out how the virus crosses the placenta 
and infects the fetus directly, something most viruses can’t do.”

If the population of Brazil is 205 million, and roughly half the population is 
female (~100 million), and of that only 50% is of childbearing age (50 million) 
and only 5% of that number plans to have a child this year (2.5 million), and 
1% of that number has children born with microcephaly, that would be 25,000 
children, if all the mothers were infected with Zika virus.

Let that sink in: 25,000 children born with microcephaly.

So let’s assume instead that only 25% of the potential mothers are infected 
with Zika virus and their babies have microcephaly. That would still mean 6,250 
children born with microcephaly.

6,250 children born with so little neural tissue that they will never live 
independently, and probably will not live very long lives.

According to the CDC (http://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/birthdefects/microcephaly.html),

"Microcephaly is not a common condition. State birth defects tracking systems 
have estimated that microcephaly ranges from 2 babies per 10,000 live births to 
about 12 babies per 10,000 live births in the Unites States.”

That would be 0.02 - 0.12 % of live births in the U.S., a far smaller number 
than 1%.

"Zika virus, named after a forest in Uganda where it was first isolated decades 
ago, usually causes only mild symptoms in people, including fever and rash. But 
after the virus started spreading across northeastern Brazil last year, doctors 
there noticed a striking increase in the number of babies born with 
microcephaly.”

This is exactly what epidemiologists are supposed to do, alert the medical 
community to potential new health risks. Not all new viruses and pathogens are 
as terrifyingly dangerous as Ebola, nor as relatively ho-hum as Lone Star 
fever. One has a high risk of death and the other can be easily treated with 
antibiotics.

Try telling a potential parent that Zika is something not to worry about and 
see how far that argument gets you.

Diana

**
Diana R. Tomchick
Professor
Departments of Biophysics and Biochemistry
University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center
5323 Harry Hines Blvd.
Rm. ND10.214A
Dallas, TX 75390-8816
diana.tomch...@utsouthwestern.edu
(214) 645-6383 (phone)
(214) 645-6353 (fax)

> On May 24, 2016, at 3:45 PM, texas cavers tc  
> wrote:
>
> Just to provide a different perspective, only 1 in 5 even know have Zika 
> related illness when they are exposed.  It's not 'spiraling out of control' - 
> it's new to North America, yes. It's likely one of many illnesses that go 
> through populations and become part of the infectious tapestry that we all 
> live in. Is anyone reading alarmist articles about Heartland virus or Lone 
> Star fever?
>
> Guillan-Barre syndrome is secondary to number of viruses, it's nothing 
> specific to Zika.
>
> Microcephaly is seen in population in general, only about 1 in 100 mothers 
> infected with Zika are affected. For comparison, about 40k people die in 
> traffic accidents a year in brazil, 40K in US, 200K in India. Malaria kills 1 
> million people a year.
>
> RK
>
> See http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/305163.php
> Symptoms of Zika virus
>
> Signs and symptoms of Zika virus are vague and can last for up to a week. 
> Diagnosis of the virus is typically confirmed with a blood test.1
> Symptoms of Zika virus include:1,2
> • Fever
> • Rash
> • Joint pain
> • Conjunctivitis (red eyes)
> • Muscle pain
> • Headache
> • Pain behind the eyes
> • Vomiting.
> According to the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), only 1 in 4 people 
> infected with Zika virus develop symptoms.5 In contrast, the CDC state the 
> figure is 1 in 5.
> In the past, there have also been reports of patients developing 
> Guillain-Barré syndrome following a Zika virus infection. Guillain-Barré 
> syndrome is a rare but serious autoimmune disorder that affects the central 
> nervous system.6
> Infection with the Zika virus is rarely severe enough to warrant 
> hospitalization, and it is rarer still for an individual to die as a result.6
>
> ___
> 

Re: [Texascavers] membership statistics

[Diana Tomchick via Texascavers]

In all of the bemoaning of declining new membership I’ve seen on this list 
serve this week, no one has mentioned the chilling effects of WNS on cave 
visitation, and the indirect affects on recruiting and keeping new cavers 
interested in caving. In light of WNS, I find it actually pretty remarkable 
that the NSS has any new members at all.

Diana

**
Diana R. Tomchick
Professor
Departments of Biophysics and Biochemistry
University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center
5323 Harry Hines Blvd.
Rm. ND10.214A
Dallas, TX 75390-8816
diana.tomch...@utsouthwestern.edu
(214) 645-6383 (phone)
(214) 645-6353 (fax)

> On May 13, 2016, at 6:56 PM, Cavers Texas  wrote:
>
> Thanks, Alex,for pointing out those membership tables on the NSS web site 
> (and for putting them there). One an learn a lot from them.
>
> Note that many of the membership classes in the table don't really exist any 
> longer, because the classes were rationalized to a considerable extent 
> lately. For example, there are no longer associate or sustaining members. 
> Maybe the office will get caught up on fixing the database before too many 
> years have elapsed.
>
> One thing that is particularly interesting is the relatively even 
> distribution of NSS members over the NSS-number ranges between 10,000 and 
> 60,000. That implies that, after an initial high attrition for the first few 
> years of membership, people largely stick around. Of course, the fact that 
> there are almost two thousand life members may have something to do with that.
>
> In the graph, you can see that there were a lot more new members per existing 
> member each year early on. That's not surprising, because a lot higher 
> fraction of the membership back then was young and active and able to recruit 
> new cavers and new members. Some of the current members are life members who 
> are members just because they haven't died, probably, and are inactive and 
> have no contact with potential recruits, and that's probably true of even 
> many dues-paying members who joined before, say, 1980. Still, the contrast 
> between ~1500 new members in 1990 and half that in 2015, when we had about 
> the same number of total members, is not encouraging. -- Mixon
> 
> What great comfort is there to be derived from a wife well obeyed!—Anthony 
> Trollope, Barchester Towers
> 
> You may "reply" to the address this message
> (unless it's a TexasCavers list post)
> came from, but for long-term use, save:
> Personal: bmi...@alumni.uchicago.edu
> AMCS: a...@mexicancaves.org or sa...@mexicancaves.org
>
> ___
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> http://www.mail-archive.com/texascavers@texascavers.com/
> http://lists.texascavers.com/listinfo/texascavers




UT Southwestern


Medical Center



The future of medicine, today.

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Re: [Texascavers] Texas NSS Members--some statistics

[Diana Tomchick via Texascavers]

Whoa, this is great! Who among us knew that John Strickland joined the NSS 
prior to Pete?

Although it’s disheartening to see that the percentage of female names on this 
list is below 10%. :(

Diana

**
Diana R. Tomchick
Professor
Departments of Biophysics and Biochemistry
University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center
5323 Harry Hines Blvd.
Rm. ND10.214A
Dallas, TX 75390-8816
diana.tomch...@utsouthwestern.edu
(214) 645-6383 (phone)
(214) 645-6353 (fax)

> On May 12, 2016, at 10:31 PM, Cave Texas  wrote:
>
> The NSS Members Manual used to include a statistical summary of NSS members 
> by various categories. I was curious about Texas so contacted the Manual 
> Editor Kelly Smallwood, who referred me to Bob Hoke. Bob has been compiling 
> data for the NSS Members Manuals for years, and promptly provided me with 
> statistics regarding current NSS members as of Feb 16, 2016. I've selected 
> some, with my comments, that I think will be of interest to Texas cavers and 
> other list subscribers.
> Thanks Bob!
> Logan McNatt  lmcn...@austin.rr.com
> NSS 11274
>
> Current NSS Member Data as of Feb 16, 2016
>
> TOTAL NSS MEMBERS9,256  (including 109 in Canada and 203 in other 
> countries)
>
> STATES WITH THE MOST NSS MEMBERS:  Texas ranks 7th
> Georgia 602  Virginia 598  Tennessee 582  California 559  Florida 532  
> Pennsylvania 467  Texas 419
> Alabama 414  Ohio 386  Colorado 367  Indiana 331  Missouri 285
>
> ZIP CODES WITH THE MOST NSS MEMBERS: the 787xx zip code in Austin, Texas 
> ranks 8th, with 85
> Georgia has 3 zip codes in the top 10
>
> LOWEST ACTIVE NSS NUMBERS (below 10K):
> [Cavers with #s from 1 to 9,999  joined from 1939 to 1967, and were the first 
> to light the way with for those who followed.]
> #247 Virginia#262 Iowa#373 Alabama#509 Texas#518 California   
>  #568 Virginia#645 Pennsylvania
> #742 Maryland#812 Tennessee   #835 Missouri#882 Pennsylvania#913 
> Idaho
>
> Texas currently has one 3-digit (#509, Roy Pietsch, Dallas) and 39 4-digit 
> members.
> There are others who have not maintained their membership.
> See attached list. If it doesn't make the journey, I'll resend.
>
>
>
>
>  10K.docx>___
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> http://www.mail-archive.com/texascavers@texascavers.com/
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Re: [Texascavers] Was: Join the NSS and Team 404, Now: Donate $$ and Buy-A-Brick

[Diana Tomchick via Texascavers]

Oops! A typo—I meant to write, “If I donate $900, can I get 9 contiguous bricks 
with an engraving.” I don’t actually have $9,000 to donate to charity in one 
year.

Diana

**
Diana R. Tomchick
Professor
Departments of Biophysics and Biochemistry
University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center
5323 Harry Hines Blvd.
Rm. ND10.214A
Dallas, TX 75390-8816
diana.tomch...@utsouthwestern.edu
(214) 645-6383 (phone)
(214) 645-6353 (fax)

> On May 12, 2016, at 11:44 AM, Cave Tex  wrote:
> 
>> The form for signing up for Team 404 is at 
>> http://caves.org/donate/HQ_Donation_Form.pdf.
> 
> I downloaded this form with the intention of directly donating money rather 
> than signing up for Team 404 (I thought, “why prolong the agony by giving a 
> paltry $25 per month, when I could just give a lump sum and be done with 
> it?”) and I see that there is a provision for
> 
> "Buy-A-Brick – For each $100 donation, we will laser engrave your message in 
> a brick for all to see. The bricks will be used for a patio area, walkways, 
> or other ornamental features."
> 
> and
> 
> "Buy-A-Block – For each $50 donation, we will designate one block in the 
> outer wall as “your block.” The block map will be on display in the new NSS 
> Headquarters and kept as a permanent record."
> 
> This made me scratch my head and wonder, “Why have I not heard about this 
> fund raising option?”, because I was more than happy to donate money to 
> upgrade the student union at my alma mater (University of Wisconsin) through 
> a similar ‘engrave a message on a paving stone’ fund raiser.
> 
> If I donate $9000, can I get 9 bricks adjacent to each other in a block with 
> a connected message? Could I get a cave map engraved on the bricks instead of 
> a message? How about an Oztotl design?
> 
> If the NSS wants people to donate the money quickly, they would not only make 
> this feasible, they would be advertising this to their internal 
> organizations. I do believe that our local grotto would gladly “Buy-A-Brick”, 
> and I suspect that other Texas I/Os would be interested, too.
> 
> Diana
> 
> **
> Diana R. Tomchick
> Professor
> Departments of Biophysics and Biochemistry
> University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center
> 5323 Harry Hines Blvd.
> Rm. ND10.214A
> Dallas, TX 75390-8816
> diana.tomch...@utsouthwestern.edu
> (214) 645-6383 (phone)
> (214) 645-6353 (fax)
> 
>> On May 12, 2016, at 11:24 AM, Cavers Texas  
>> wrote:
>> 
>> As said I would do in the last paragraph of my e-mail below sent three days 
>> ago. I asked for a show of hands of who is NOT an NSS member at last night’s 
>> DFW Grotto meeting. Our attendance was unusually low last night, but I am 
>> pleased to follow-up and report that of the ten members present, only one 
>> raised his hand that he is not an NSS member. I read my paragraph below out 
>> loud and frowned at him, which brought a laugh. We went on to discuss Team 
>> 404 and the new headquarters.
>> 
>> Cavingly,
>> 
>> Bill Steele
>> cwilliamste...@gmail.com
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> On 10 May 2016 at 7:40, Bill Steele via Texascavers wrote:
>> 
>> This would be a good opportunity to bring up something that most grottos 
>> seem to have a misunderstanding about. Numerous grottos believe that members 
>> don't have to be NSS members unless they are in a leadership position in the 
>> grotto.  This is incorrect.  This came up at the NSS Board of Governors 
>> meeting in Bend, Oregon in March.
>> 
>> The rules are written so people can be grotto members and not be an NSS 
>> member for up to a year. After that, they are expected to join the NSS or 
>> stop being a grotto member.
>> 
>> Here it is the relevant snippet regarding IOs (Internal Organizations, i.e. 
>> grottos, surveys, etc.):
>> 
>> 5. The membership of IOs shall conform to the following requirements:
>> 
>> A.  All persons who serve on the governing board of an IO must be a member 
>> of the NSS except in the case of Surveys where representatives of state 
>> entities or other conservation organizations may serve on the board 
>> regardless of their NSS membership status.
>> 
>> B.  Full membership in IOs shall be open only to embers of the NSS.
>> 
>> C.  IOs may, at their option, have members who are not members of the NSS 
>> and who are limited to a year or less on this status.
>> 
>> D.  Membership in grottos (or chapters) shall consist of at least five 
>> members of the NSS who have designated that grotto as their Primary 
>> Affiliation.
>> 
>> E.   The formal name of a Student Grotto shall indicate that the 
>> organization is a Student Grotto (or Chapter), etc.
>> 
>> Section C is the relevant section. So we should encourage grotto members to 
>> become NSS members.
>> 
>> The NSS needs to raise money now to refinance the mortgage on its new office 
>> building in Huntsville, Alabama. Please 

Re: [Texascavers] Was: Join the NSS and Team 404, Now: Donate $$ and Buy-A-Brick

[Diana Tomchick via Texascavers]

> The form for signing up for Team 404 is at 
> http://caves.org/donate/HQ_Donation_Form.pdf.

I downloaded this form with the intention of directly donating money rather 
than signing up for Team 404 (I thought, “why prolong the agony by giving a 
paltry $25 per month, when I could just give a lump sum and be done with it?”) 
and I see that there is a provision for

"Buy-A-Brick – For each $100 donation, we will laser engrave your message in a 
brick for all to see. The bricks will be used for a patio area, walkways, or 
other ornamental features."

and

"Buy-A-Block – For each $50 donation, we will designate one block in the outer 
wall as “your block.” The block map will be on display in the new NSS 
Headquarters and kept as a permanent record."

This made me scratch my head and wonder, “Why have I not heard about this fund 
raising option?”, because I was more than happy to donate money to upgrade the 
student union at my alma mater (University of Wisconsin) through a similar 
‘engrave a message on a paving stone’ fund raiser.

If I donate $9000, can I get 9 bricks adjacent to each other in a block with a 
connected message? Could I get a cave map engraved on the bricks instead of a 
message? How about an Oztotl design?

If the NSS wants people to donate the money quickly, they would not only make 
this feasible, they would be advertising this to their internal organizations. 
I do believe that our local grotto would gladly “Buy-A-Brick”, and I suspect 
that other Texas I/Os would be interested, too.

Diana

**
Diana R. Tomchick
Professor
Departments of Biophysics and Biochemistry
University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center
5323 Harry Hines Blvd.
Rm. ND10.214A
Dallas, TX 75390-8816
diana.tomch...@utsouthwestern.edu
(214) 645-6383 (phone)
(214) 645-6353 (fax)

> On May 12, 2016, at 11:24 AM, Cavers Texas  
> wrote:
>
> As said I would do in the last paragraph of my e-mail below sent three days 
> ago. I asked for a show of hands of who is NOT an NSS member at last night’s 
> DFW Grotto meeting. Our attendance was unusually low last night, but I am 
> pleased to follow-up and report that of the ten members present, only one 
> raised his hand that he is not an NSS member. I read my paragraph below out 
> loud and frowned at him, which brought a laugh. We went on to discuss Team 
> 404 and the new headquarters.
>
> Cavingly,
>
> Bill Steele
> cwilliamste...@gmail.com
>
>
>
>
>
> On 10 May 2016 at 7:40, Bill Steele via Texascavers wrote:
>
> This would be a good opportunity to bring up something that most grottos seem 
> to have a misunderstanding about. Numerous grottos believe that members don't 
> have to be NSS members unless they are in a leadership position in the 
> grotto.  This is incorrect.  This came up at the NSS Board of Governors 
> meeting in Bend, Oregon in March.
>
> The rules are written so people can be grotto members and not be an NSS 
> member for up to a year. After that, they are expected to join the NSS or 
> stop being a grotto member.
>
> Here it is the relevant snippet regarding IOs (Internal Organizations, i.e. 
> grottos, surveys, etc.):
>
> 5. The membership of IOs shall conform to the following requirements:
>
> A.  All persons who serve on the governing board of an IO must be a member of 
> the NSS except in the case of Surveys where representatives of state entities 
> or other conservation organizations may serve on the board regardless of 
> their NSS membership status.
>
> B.  Full membership in IOs shall be open only to embers of the NSS.
>
> C.  IOs may, at their option, have members who are not members of the NSS and 
> who are limited to a year or less on this status.
>
> D.  Membership in grottos (or chapters) shall consist of at least five 
> members of the NSS who have designated that grotto as their Primary 
> Affiliation.
>
> E.   The formal name of a Student Grotto shall indicate that the organization 
> is a Student Grotto (or Chapter), etc.
>
> Section C is the relevant section. So we should encourage grotto members to 
> become NSS members.
>
> The NSS needs to raise money now to refinance the mortgage on its new office 
> building in Huntsville, Alabama. Please go on and be committed to caving if 
> you are a caver, and if you are not an NSS member, now's the time to join.
>
> And if you are a NSS member, then join Team 404. I am a member of Team 404. 
> If 404 cavers allow $25 a month to be directly withdrawn from their bank 
> account, the mortgage payment is met. All above that pays down the mortgage 
> all the sooner.
>
> Tomorrow night I am giving the program at the DFW Grotto meeting. Before I 
> do, I'm going to read the above about being an NSS member and talk about the 
> benefits of membership. I may even paraphrase JFK and  say, "Ask not what the 
> NSS can do for you, ask what you can do for the NSS." You can admit that 
> caving is a main interest of yours, become 

[Texascavers] Fwd: [SWR CAVERS] [WNS_NSS] positive statements from Bat Conservation International

[Diana Tomchick via Texascavers]

From: Lynda & James Sánchez 
>
Subject: [SWR CAVERS] Fw: [WNS_NSS] positive statements from Bat Conservation 
International
Date: May 4, 2016 at 1:23:48 AM CDT
To: >
Reply-To: Lynda & James Sánchez 
>





 fyi

   http://www.merlintuttle.com/resources/white-nose-syndrome/.   He also stated 
in an email "You are  welcome to circulate and use it as you see fit. As one 
who deeply appreciates the many invaluable services cavers continue to provide 
on behalf of bat conservation, I am always happy to look out for their 
interests.  Many thanks for your shared concern for bats!"



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Re: [Texascavers] Proyecto Espeleologico Sistema Huautla 2016 expedition report

[Diana Tomchick via Texascavers]

In addition, 10+ previously unidentified pit and walk-in entrances were located 
in various parts of the region that require future investigation. The potential 
for unexplored cave passage is enormous, and as the locals rotate fields in and 
out of cultivation, new leads appear.

Diana

**
Diana R. Tomchick
Professor
Departments of Biophysics and Biochemistry
University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center
5323 Harry Hines Blvd.
Rm. ND10.214A
Dallas, TX 75390-8816
diana.tomch...@utsouthwestern.edu
(214) 645-6383 (phone)
(214) 645-6353 (fax)

From: Texascavers [texascavers-boun...@texascavers.com] on behalf of Bill 
Steele via Texascavers [texascavers@texascavers.com]
Sent: Monday, May 2, 2016 10:05 AM
To: texascavers@texascavers.com
Subject: [Texascavers] Proyecto Espeleologico Sistema Huautla 2016  
expedition report

PESH 2016 Expedition accomplishments

• PESH brochures in Spanish worked well in
   many ways (thanks to Whole Earth
   Provision Company!)

• La Grieta Mexiguilla area fully explored,
   mapped, and photgraphed

• La Grieta Camp 3 used and cave explored
   north 1.5 km to northernmost point of
   Sistema Huautla

• Merican Tubes connected to Refresher in
   La Grieta

• Hobbit Hole in La Grieta pushed to an end
   150m in depth

• Six meters of depth added to Sistema
   Huautla to bring it to 1560m (unofficial)

• 3.5 km in length added to Sistema Huautla
   to make the length 75.5 km (47 miles)

• Two paleontological caves surveyed and
   the first complete skull of a Pleistocene
   sloth  (Megalonyx Jeffersonii) in Mexico
   recovered by Ivan Alarcon with INAH, a
   Mexican government agency

• Four UNAM graduate biology students
  spent a week with on the expedition and
  made many new insect collections in the caves.

• Cueva Basura mapped

• Big Wind cave explored and mapped.
   Three leads remain.  If connected in 2017
   will add around 24 meters in depth to
   Sistema Huautla

• Fourteen presentations given to area
   school classes about PESH's work, to as
   many as 800 students

• Precision GPS waypoints recorded for
  Sistema Huautla entrances

• A digital picture frame with 243 photos
   installed in San Agustin Zaragoza agencia
   office

• 25 school children taken caving

• 20 area school teachers taken caving

• Huautla resident and English teacher Alma
   Rodriguez was very important to PESH as
   chief diplomat and school presentation
   translator

• Alma Rodriguez to form "Friends of
   Speleologists" group in Huautla

• Nita Tienzo exploration progressed and
   looking very good. Has 1,000m+ of depth
   potential

• Two pits in Plan Carlota valley explored and
   mapped

• Had a Mazateco curandero ceremony
   performed to get things right with the cave
   spirits

• Took 23 strike and dip measurements
   between San Andreas and Plan Carlota to
   further map the cave strata

• Another expedition with excellent
   photography

• Austin caver (formerly from Monterrey,
  N.L., Mexico) Fernando Hernandez named
  2016 expedition "Rookie of the Year"
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Re: [Texascavers] [SWR CAVERS] New Carlsbad Caverns stamp :

[Diana Tomchick via Texascavers]

I guess it was an artistic decision, but it’s too bad that the photo that was 
chosen for this stamp looks so lurid—I’ve never seen Carlsbad lit up with so 
many non-natural colors. See the photo at this link:

http://www.ny2016.org/images/parks-carlesbad.pdf

Diana

**
Diana R. Tomchick
Professor
Departments of Biophysics and Biochemistry
University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center
5323 Harry Hines Blvd.
Rm. ND10.214A
Dallas, TX 75390-8816
diana.tomch...@utsouthwestern.edu
(214) 645-6383 (phone)
(214) 645-6353 (fax)

> On Apr 9, 2016, at 10:00 AM, 'Jerry' via Southwestern Cavers of the National 
> Speleological Society  wrote:
>
> • Stamp Highlights New Mexico’s Carlsbad Caverns National Park
> WASHINGTON, D.C. — A dramatic photograph of the interior of Carlsbad Caverns 
> was previewed today as the fifth of 16 Forever Stamp images to be revealed 
> over a three-week period to celebrate the National Park Service’s 100th 
> anniversary.
> The stamp image is a photograph by Richard McGuire of the interior of the 
> caverns. High ancient sea ledges, deep rocky canyons, flowering cacti and 
> desert wildlife are all treasures above and below the Chihuahuan Desert 
> ground. Carlsbad Cavern is one of more than 300 limestone caves in a fossil 
> reef laid down by an inland sea 240 million to 280 million years ago. Visit 
> this link for more information.
> Other National Park Forever Stamps previewed to date include Acadia National 
> Park and Arches National Park, Assateague Island National Seashore and 
> Bandelier National Monument.
> The June 2 first-day-of-issue ceremony for the National Parks Forever Stamps 
> pane will take place at New York City’s Javits Center at 11 a.m. as part of 
> World Stamp Show-NY 2016. Dedication ceremonies will also take place at or 
> near each of the National Parks depicted on the stamps. Individuals are asked 
> to spread the news on social media by using the hashtags #NPSStamps, 
> #FindYourPark and #NPS100.
> World Stamp Show-NY 2016 is May 28–June 4. Held only once a decade, this mega 
> event is not to be missed by beginners through advanced stamp collectors 
> alike. There will be something for everyone there, no matter what you 
> collect. Stamp collecting is a hobby for a lifetime. No matter what your 
> specialty, you’ll find it at the show.
> The Postal Service receives no tax dollars for operating expenses and relies 
> on the sale of postage, products and services to fund its operations.
>
> Jerry Atkinson
>
> --
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Re: [Texascavers] valuable species

[Diana Tomchick via Texascavers]

Laugh all you want, Bill, but there’s a wealth of fascinating chemistry 
catalyzed by microbes in all sorts of environments out there.

And a very high percentage of the initial lead compounds used to fight not just 
cancer but other maladies have come from looking at what we scientists refer to 
as “natural products”—i.e., compounds found serendipitously in nature.

If you’re going to be such a cynic about modern medicine, then hopefully you 
take it all the way, and never visit a doctor.

Diana

**
Diana R. Tomchick
Professor
Departments of Biophysics and Biochemistry
University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center
5323 Harry Hines Blvd.
Rm. ND10.214A
Dallas, TX 75390-8816
diana.tomch...@utsouthwestern.edu
(214) 645-6383 (phone)
(214) 645-6353 (fax)

> On Apr 5, 2016, at 5:56 PM, Cavers Texas  wrote:
>
> But Andy, haven't you heard that all those cave bacteria that are being 
> discovered have the potential to provide a cure for cancer? At least 
> according to the people who find them. Biologists are the chief offenders.
>
> Be careful not to touch the floor, and don't bother the bacteria -- Mixon
> 
> Considering what is done in the name of God, one wonders what is left for the 
> devil.
> 
> You may "reply" to the address this message
> (unless it's a TexasCavers list post)
> came from, but for long-term use, save:
> Personal: bmi...@alumni.uchicago.edu
> AMCS: a...@mexicancaves.org or sa...@mexicancaves.org
>
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Re: [Texascavers] Best padlocks for cave gates - advice needed

[Diana Tomchick via Texascavers]

I would also second this idea, with the caveat that replacement of the lock on 
a regular basis may be necessary.

This leads me to relate a cave-padlock story. Back in 2003 I had the 
opportunity to travel to Slovakia and with the help of a Slovak scientist at my 
workplace, I connected with several Slovak caving groups around the country for 
tourist trips. The first trip was lead by two young men from the Bratislava 
caving club, to “our best decorated cave” in the area, that was located about 
an hour outside of the city. We stopped at a local farmhouse to retrieve the 
key to the cave gate from the woman of the household, and went on our way to 
the cave. After about 10 minutes of fumbling with the key, the first young man 
that tried to open it handed the key to the other caver, and another 10 minutes 
or so of agitated yet unsuccessful attempts to open the lock, complete with 
desperate grumbling in Slovak (which I do not understand). At one point, the 
first young man turned to me and said in a deadpan manner, in accented but very 
formal English, “There are a lot of very bad words being spoken right now.” 
After I laughed, he asked if I could try the lock, and after another 10 minutes 
or so, the first young man decided we could visit another cave instead. Upon 
returning the cave gate key, he mentioned to the woman that we couldn’t get the 
gate open. She then told him that about one month prior to our trip, an 
official from the government that was responsible for checking the condition of 
the gate couldn’t get in either, and had declared that indeed, the gate was 
performing its function of protecting the cave.

:)

Diana

**
Diana R. Tomchick
Professor
Departments of Biophysics and Biochemistry
University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center
5323 Harry Hines Blvd.
Rm. ND10.214A
Dallas, TX 75390-8816
diana.tomch...@utsouthwestern.edu
(214) 645-6383 (phone)
(214) 645-6353 (fax)

> On Apr 4, 2016, at 10:29 AM, texascavers@texascavers.com wrote:
>
> Have you considered marine-grade padlocks?
>
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Re: [Texascavers] Houston grotto folks

[Diana Tomchick via Texascavers]

Whoa Roger, this is very cool.

Diana

**
Diana R. Tomchick
Professor
Departments of Biophysics and Biochemistry
University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center
5323 Harry Hines Blvd.
Rm. ND10.214A
Dallas, TX 75390-8816
diana.tomch...@utsouthwestern.edu
(214) 645-6383 (phone)
(214) 645-6353 (fax)

> On Mar 10, 2016, at 3:27 PM, texascavers@texascavers.com wrote:
>
> Just read about this - maybe something for the GHG to work on:
> http://swamplot.com/now-hiring-tour-guides-for-the-abandoned-1927-cistern-buried-along-buffalo-bayou/2016-03-10/
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Re: [Texascavers] Honey Creek Cave Road Repair Project

[Diana Tomchick via Texascavers]

On Feb 25, 2016, at 8:08 PM, Robert B via Texascavers 
 wrote:

> #2. how we keep this from happening? (There is alot of history within your 
> question...)
> Answer...The quick answer is to not drive when wet. Yes, we (the cavers of 
> Texas) had done much work on the road and ranch. Might we have to do repair 
> work sometime on the future. Possibly... Hopefully yes! I think as an 
> optimist. 30 years from now when this repair project is far from our 
> collective memories, Texas cavers are still exploring Honey Creek and still 
> have excellent relations with the owner but we screw up the road during a 
> through trip HC to CWAN & Spring Creek and it's organized by Bill Steele's 
> granddaughter...
>

I’ll be sure to remind Emily and Lauren Steele and Sophie Worrell of their 
obligations when the time comes, LOL!

Diana

**
Diana R. Tomchick
Professor
Departments of Biophysics and Biochemistry
University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center
5323 Harry Hines Blvd.
Rm. ND10.214A
Dallas, TX 75390-8816
diana.tomch...@utsouthwestern.edu
(214) 645-6383 (phone)
(214) 645-6353 (fax)




UT Southwestern


Medical Center



The future of medicine, today.

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Re: [Texascavers] [BexarGrotto] NSS Webinar Talk tonight (Wednesday) February 17. Dr. Alexander

[Diana Tomchick via Texascavers]

See reviews of David Whitehouse’s book here (no, these are not reviews by Arne 
Saknussemm or Jules Verne).

http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v528/n7580/pdf/528035a.pdf

http://www.publishersweekly.com/978-1-60598-959-4

https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/david-whitehouse/into-the-heart-of-our-world/

One wonders if the lack of plate tectonic activity on Mars is a limiting factor 
for finding life on the planet at this time.

Diana

**
Diana R. Tomchick
Professor
Departments of Biophysics and Biochemistry
University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center
5323 Harry Hines Blvd.
Rm. ND10.214A
Dallas, TX 75390-8816
diana.tomch...@utsouthwestern.edu
(214) 645-6383 (phone)
(214) 645-6353 (fax)

> On Feb 17, 2016, at 9:09 AM, Ron Ralph via Texascavers 
>  wrote:
>
> Earth lovers,
>
> I just read “Into the Heart of Our World  --  A Journey to the Center of the 
> Earth: A Remarkable Voyage of Scientific Discovery” by David Whitehouse and 
> recommend it if you want to see earth first.  It was highly recommended by 
> Arne Saknussemm and Jules Verne.  The cover and back have great cave photos.
>
> Ron
>
> From: Geary Schindel
> Sent: Wednesday, February 17, 2016 7:34 AM
> To: mailto:texascavers@texascavers.com ; bexargro...@googlegroups.com
> Subject: [BexarGrotto] NSS Webinar Talk tonight (Wednesday) February 17. Dr. 
> Alexander
>
> Folks,
>
> This talk is about looking at extreme environments on earth (The bottom of 
> the Soudan Mine) and using them to compare to current conditions on Mars. Dr. 
> Calvin Alexander has some wonderful pictures of the Martian landscape from 
> some of the high resolution Martian probes that clearly show caves, 
> sinkholes, paleo sinking streams, rimstone dams, and paleo and possible 
> existing springs. If there is life on Mars, it will probably be subsurface 
> and possibly associated with caves and groundwater.
>
> This should prove to be a popular presentation.
>
> Register and get there early.
>
> Thanks,
>
> Geary Schindel
>
>
> "The Soudan Mine Hydrobiogeology: A Martian Analog?" (similarity)  Rimstone 
> dams found on Mars
>
> Join us for a webinar on Feb 17, 2016 at 8:00 PM CST, (Which is 9PM EST / 7PM 
> MST / 6PM PST. Please check your time zone for the correct start time.
>
> Register now!
> https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/6013464760054344705
>
> Speaker: Dr. Calvin Alexander, Professor Emeritus Earth Sciences Department 
> University of Minnesota.
>
> The Soudan Iron Mine in northeastern Minnesota mined high grade hematite from 
> the late 1800s until about 1960 in 2.7 billion year old rocks. When the mine 
> ceased operations it was given to the State of Minnesota and continues 
> operations as State Historic Park offering mine tours to visitors.
>
> The mine has a calcium, sodium, magnesium chloride brine about twice as salty 
> as sea water that seeps into its lowest level. The brine is anoxic (oxygen 
> free) and has high concentrations of ferrous iron. These anoxic, waters are 
> actively depositing a wide variety of classic cave formations: flow stones, 
> stalagmites, soda straw stalactites and rimstone dams. These formations are 
> made of the iron oxides ferrihydrite and goethite and contain the mineral 
> jarosite – and are spectacularly colored.
>
> Photographs of Mars surface features apparently produced by liquid water, 
> have increased in number, resolution and credibility. The “gullies” 
> discovered on Mars by the high resolution MOS orbiter camera have been 
> confirmed by the higher resolution HiRISE orbiter images and are now known to 
> occur widely on Mars. In several locations on Mars the MOS and HiRISE images 
> reveal structures that appear to be rimstone dams associated with the distal 
> ends of gullies.
>
> The presence of iron oxide rimstone dams growing from the brines in the 
> Soudan Mine suggest that those brines may be an analog for conditions on some 
> parts of Mars. It is interesting to note that in the Soudan Mine brines form 
> a productive environment for several microbiological communities.
> Please arrive at least 10 minutes to make sure you have a seat at this 
> webinar.
>
> This and all prior webinars are recorded and stored on the NSS website, 
> www.caves.org for future viewing.
>
> The opinions expressed in this webinar are not necessarily those of the NSS.
> After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing 
> information about joining the webinar.
> View System Requirements
>
> --
> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups 
> "Bexar Grotto" group.
> To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an 
> email to bexargrotto+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com.
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Re: [Texascavers] Mike Boon's books

[Diana Tomchick via Texascavers]

These publications have been out of print and difficult to find for years. 
Great resource.

Diana

**
Diana R. Tomchick
Professor
Departments of Biophysics and Biochemistry
University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center
5323 Harry Hines Blvd.
Rm. ND10.214A
Dallas, TX 75390-8816
diana.tomch...@utsouthwestern.edu
(214) 645-6383 (phone)
(214) 645-6353 (fax)

> On Feb 2, 2016, at 3:17 PM, Mixon Bill via Texascavers 
>  wrote:
>
> The Alberta Speleological Society has put PDFs from scans of Mike Boon's 
> books at
> http://www.caving.ab.ca/boon .
>
> The Great San Agustin Rescue is Boon's personal account of his participation 
> in the rescue of a Polish caver from Sótano de San Agustín. This was also 
> reprinted as an article in AMCS Activities Newsletter 37 in 2014.
>
> Down to a Sunless Sea is Mike's report on his caving adventures in the early 
> 1960s in the UK and elsewhere. A good read.
>
> The third book is poetry.
>
> The web page also includes a nice little biography of Boon. AMCS Activities 
> Newsletter 38, 2015, contains some remembrances.
>
> Sid Perou's 40-minute video tribute to Mike Boon is also on the web site. It 
> can also be seen at
> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=adoKD0vkiuU .
> --Mixon
>
> 
> Nothing is better than complete happiness in life.
> A ham sandwich is better than nothing.
> Therefore a ham sandwich is better than complete happiness in life.
> 
> You may "reply" to the address this message
> (unless it's a TexasCavers list post)
> came from, but for long-term use, save:
> Personal: bmi...@alumni.uchicago.edu
> AMCS: a...@mexicancaves.org or sa...@mexicancaves.org
>
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> http://lists.texascavers.com/listinfo/texascavers




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Medical Center



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[Texascavers] Fwd: [SWR] Cave Manager Outreach

[Diana Tomchick via Texascavers]

Begin forwarded message:

From: >
Subject: [SWR] Cave Manager Outreach
Date: January 5, 2016 at 2:14:23 PM CST
To: swr >

To all Cavers, from Brad Bolton:

Please find attached and share widely the Outreach for the Cave Specialist 
position.  This Outreach is posted in the Outreach Database and we are looking 
for a detailer and those interested in the permanent opportunity.  This is a 
5/7/9 career ladder position so we may fill at any of those grades.

Brad Bolton
District Ranger

Forest Service
Lincoln National Forest, Guadalupe Ranger District

p: 575-885-4181
c: 575-415-5570
f: 575-887-3690
blbol...@fs.fed.us


RESPONSE TO OUTREACH DUE: February 4, 2016
Interested applicants should complete the Outreach Form included in the 
attached document and email it to Brad Bolton, Guadalupe District Ranger, at 
blbol...@fs.fed.us. Responses are requested by 
February 4, 2016

ABOUT THE POSITION
This position serves as the Forest-wide Cave Specialist and the Cave Ecosystem 
Program Manager. The position responsibilities are very complex, covering all 
technical cave related matters across the Lincoln NF (including 3 Districts 
encompassing more than a million acres and 250 caves). The responsibilities 
also include managing the Forest-wide program including budgeting, permitting, 
NEPA compliance, partnership building, educational outreach, interagency 
work-teams and interfacing with the Forest Supervisor, the Supervisor’s staff 
and the Regional Office.





QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS
Those who are interested must meet the qualification requirements for the 
GS-0401 series that is covered by the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) 
Qualification Standards for General Schedule Positions – GS-0401 Biological 
Scientist. The OPM Qualification Standards Handbook Manual is available for 
review at any federal personnel office or on the Internet at: 
https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/0400/forestry-series-0460/



Job specific duties include high technical skill in all aspects of vertical and 
horizontal caving, the ability to educate others in technical skill, and the 
ability to maintain a caving cache of equipment to the highest safety standards.



Location
The position is located in the Guadalupe District Office, Carlsbad, NM and is 
supervised by the Guadalupe District Ranger. Frequent travel of distances 1-3 
hours from the office is required in a government furnished vehicle. The vast 
majority of Lincoln NF caves are located 1-2 hours from Carlsbad on the 
Guadalupe Ranger District.

Duties
-Administer the Backcountry Recreation Caving Program and ‘safety first’ program
-Facilitate all cave entry by Forest Service employees, contractors, and 
researchers
-Co-manage Fort Stanton Cave through an agreement with the Bureau of Land 
Management (BLM)
-Coordinate cave-training for Forest Service employees, Trip Leaders and large 
volunteer groups
-Coordinate cave ecosystem monitoring, and the cave education program
-Build and maintain partnerships with local caving groups, universities and 
outside agencies
-Build and maintain caving equipment caches, and a program budget
-Contribute cave information to ongoing Forest Plan Revision process





THE FOREST
The Lincoln National Forest is known as the birthplace of the world-famous 
Smokey Bear, the symbol of the campaign to prevent forest fires.  The original 
Smokey Bear is buried in Capitan, New Mexico.
The Lincoln covers approximately 1.1 million acres and consists of three Ranger 
Districts - Smokey Bear (D1), Sacramento (D2), and Guadalupe (D3).  There are 
three major mountain ranges that cover 1,103,441 acres in southeastern New 
Mexico - Sacramento, Guadalupe, and Capitan.  Elevations of 4,000 to 11,500 
feet pass through five different life zones from Chihuauhan desert to subalpine 
forest.  Vegetation ranges from rare cacti in the lower elevations to Englemann 
spruce in the higher elevations.
More people enjoy the Lincoln National Forest and the surrounding areas for 
recreation use than for all other uses combined.  In the summer, climatic 
relief provided by the mountains draws people from surrounding deserts and 
plains.  However, the Forest offers the user a variety of recreational 
opportunities any season of the year.  The Lincoln National Forest can provide 
the recreational experience you are seeking,  whether you enjoy sight-seeing, 
wildlife watching, picnicking, camping, hiking, hunting, fishing, mountain 
biking, horseback riding, motorcycling, snowmobiling, alpine or cross country 
skiing, or caving.




OUTREACH NOTICE

Due February 4, 2016

Permanent Position or
120 Temporary Detail


Cave Specialist / Program Manager


Position Title:

Biological Scientist

Series/Grade:

GS-0401-5/7/9

Location:

Carlsbad, 

[Texascavers] Fwd: [SWR] public lands encounter

[Diana Tomchick via Texascavers]

Begin forwarded message:

From: Evelyn Townsend >
Subject: [SWR] public lands encounter
Date: January 4, 2016 at 1:08:37 PM CST
To: SWR Cavers >


Hello Cavers and public land users,

Its not just Oregon and Nevada (a December 30, 2015 story.)


I went to an area near the NM/Mexican border that I had been to 5-6 times 
before to do some rock hounding. Almost as soon as I parked off the county road 
an ATV approached me and the rancher said, “May I help you?” I said I wanted to 
do some looking for rocks and she informed me that I was on private land. I 
commented that I thought BLM was just across the road but was told that no she 
owned about 1/2 mile in the distance. (At that point I really wished I had 
brought my BLM map to verify this. My memory said yes I probably was close to 
or on private land but that BLM land was close too. My memory did prove faulty 
I later learned) So I agreed that I should get my maps and check it out and in 
the meantime leave.

However, I think this lady rancher needed a catharsis and I was there. Here is 
an abbreviated account of the things we discussed. There were many different 
topics but the main one of interest was of BLM.

She was very unhappy with BLM management. She said the Feds were taking over 
the lands.(I said I thought they traded lands but did not buy very many new 
ones.) She said the Organ Mountains Monument was a shame and that it took away 
and hurt the ranchers. And that wilderness and wilderness study areas were 
terrible. ( I said I had seen lots of cattle in designated wilderness areas and 
wilderness study areas.) She complained because BLM would not allow ATVs to go 
wherever they pleased on their leased land to check on cattle and added that my 
little tracker did more damage than her ATV. (I said I had street tires on 
tracker and that I only drove on roads I was confident of the tires.) She said 
she had owned a tracker and that it really did good getting the kids to school 
in the mud.

She thought BLM should supply the water wells on the leased lands. Did not like 
having to put in own wells on leased BLM land and besides BLM was a self 
sufficient government agency entirely supported by the moneys from leased 
lands, etc. (My comment that BLM was supported by tax payers was strongly 
argued as not being true. I could not argue this because at this point I did 
not know how BLM was supported. I should have said that BLM land is land set 
aside for public use.) She said people like me were more a nuisance than 
hunters ( I strongly suspect she was a hunter.) She said that rockhounders like 
myself and general public should not be allowed on the land but that hunters 
were ok since they paid hunting fees. However she did not like it when hunters 
used her water tanks to clean their birds, so that she had to clean guts and 
feathers out. And she also pointed out the no parking within 300 feet of water 
tanks , siting a photographer who broke off the floatation device so he could 
picture water falls or whatever in the desert?

She said if her young stock broke out of her corral she would send me a huge 
bill. (I said nothing but thought how very close the county road and NM 11 was 
to her corral and that a loud motorcycle just driving on either could spook her 
cattle if they were that wild.)

I told her I really appreciated BLM public lands because coming from the 
midwest there was none. (I have since learned there about 1440 acres of BLM 
land in MN, where I don't know.) She said she loved the land and open spaces 
too. She told me I should not be taking rocks off BLM land because she could 
not. (That one I could argue.) I said I could take 25# of rock a day or 250# a 
year rockhounding. (That is the listed limit for petrified wood and maybe for 
other so called gem stones by BLM.) She did not believe me.

This rancher lived very close to the Mexican border and warned me about being 
out alone because of kidnappings and tire stealing from parked cars and that I 
should not talk to anyone speaking Spanish. ( I thought that pretty much 
eliminates at least ½ the people in the area.) She wanted to know if I had a 
gun with me. She really wanted me to have a gun. I said I would not shoot 
anyone with it anyway. She really worried on that gun topic. Strongly advised 
me to get a gun.(obviously she must have been packing herself)

Our conversation lasted quite a while with her doing most of the talking trying 
to convince me to not use BLM lands. Our parting was amiable. Although I did 
tell her that after consulting my BLM maps and rockhounding notes that if there 
was an area of her leased land that I wanted to look at rocks I would be back. 
Back home my BLM maps told me my memory was wrong. So I have not gone back. If 
I do go back I will used the odometer to count off the distances. I do have 
trouble estimating milage and footage.

So my advice to 

Re: [Texascavers] [SWR] public lands encounter

[Diana Tomchick via Texascavers]

Go right ahead and try it. There’s 27 million acres of Federal lands in New 
Mexico and almost 3 million in Texas; if even 10% of that acreage is BLM land 
with suitable grazing leases, you still might find it economically 
unsustainable to pay those leases by charging recreational user—especially 
since the recreational users aren’t accustomed to having to pay a fee to use 
BLM land.

Diana

**
Diana R. Tomchick
Professor
Departments of Biophysics and Biochemistry
University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center
5323 Harry Hines Blvd.
Rm. ND10.214A
Dallas, TX 75390-8816
diana.tomch...@utsouthwestern.edu
(214) 645-6383 (phone)
(214) 645-6353 (fax)

> On Jan 4, 2016, at 4:36 PM, Nancy Weaver via Texascavers 
>  wrote:
>
> oh those entitled welfare ranchers.  time for recreational users to bid on 
> grazing leases and get the damn cows (and ranchers) off public lands
>
> nancy weaver
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Medical Center



The future of medicine, today.

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[Texascavers] FW: [SWR] Fw: [NM-ARCH-L] Sharing the Bones | Duke magazine/Rising Star Cave Expedition and discoveries

[Diana Tomchick via Texascavers]

From: SWR [swr-boun...@caver.net] on behalf of Lynda & James Sánchez 
[diamond...@pvtnetworks.net]
Sent: Monday, December 28, 2015 10:44 AM
To: SWR Cavers
Subject: [SWR] Fw: [NM-ARCH-L] Sharing the Bones | Duke magazine/Rising Star
Cave Expedition and discoveries

fyi.  las



http://dukemagazine.duke.edu/article/sharing-the-bones#.VoFh90r-IDM.mailto

Sharing the Bones
Duke researchers bring digital tools to the Stone Age findings of the Rising 
Star cave expedition.

Writer:
Louise Flynn
December 11, 2015.

Addressing the curation crisis in a significant way, Doug Boyer's MORPHOSOURCE 
3-D digital archive provides quality data and  images in a format designed to 
accommodate world class archaeological-paleontological investigations and 
research such as the early hominid data from the Rising Star Cave expedition in 
South Africa.

Thomas McIntosh, RPA
505-982-2341
505-455-7704




UT Southwestern


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The future of medicine, today.


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[Texascavers] Employment opportunities

[Diana Tomchick via Texascavers]

The Lone Star chapter of the Sierra Club has employment opportunities that 
could be applicable to folks on this list.

http://www.sierraclub.org/texas/blog/2015/12/were-hiring-lot

Diana

**
Diana R. Tomchick
Professor
Departments of Biophysics and Biochemistry
University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center
5323 Harry Hines Blvd.
Rm. ND10.214A
Dallas, TX 75390-8816
diana.tomch...@utsouthwestern.edu
(214) 645-6383 (phone)
(214) 645-6353 (fax)



UT Southwestern


Medical Center



The future of medicine, today.


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[Texascavers] Fwd: [SWR] trying to connect the youth of today

[Diana Tomchick via Texascavers]

This was recently posted on the Southwest Region list serve; you may find it of 
interest.

Diana

**
Diana R. Tomchick
Professor
Departments of Biophysics and Biochemistry
University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center
5323 Harry Hines Blvd.
Rm. ND10.214A
Dallas, TX 75390-8816
diana.tomch...@utsouthwestern.edu
(214) 645-6383 (phone)
(214) 645-6353 (fax)

Begin forwarded message:

From: Robert Wood >

Hi fellow cavers,

I have done much study on why there is a national trend of outdoor activity 
organizations inability to attract new members. It really boils down to the 
difference in the way kids are being raised versus how the Baby Boom generation 
was allowed to experience their childhoods.

This article sets the stage pretty clearly 
http://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2014/04/hey-parents-leave-those-kids-alone/358631/
If you want more in-depth solution oriented ideas I highly suggest “How to 
Raise a Wild Child” by Scott Sampson. Having raised my 3 kids on the side of a 
ski mountain in northern Colorado with free access for them both summer and 
winter I clearly see the societal pressure that is the norm today to 
overprotect the kids as an epidemic. My grandchildren living in San Diego are 
(trying not to say this judgmentally) victims of this modern mentality that is 
building a grave basis for their personal life balance and future offspring. If 
your kid is walking around in the neighborhood at a time that is not connected 
to school coming and going (most kids are driven to and from school) someone 
will call the police and the child could be picked up and dropped at your door 
with a reprimand. Even in my small Colorado town, when my young son showed up 
at school with a black eye from the handlebar of his bike when he wrecked, 
Social services was notified by the school of possible child abuse. I would 
have been summoned by them if it were not for my friend that worked there that 
just called to get the story.

I know we are all frustrated with the inability to attract young vibrant cave 
enthusiast. The resistance to our efforts really has nothing to do with the 
kids themselves, it has to do with how they learned to freely connect to the 
natural world on their own. To learn to risk without a parent saying “Be 
careful”. I grew up surfing and exploring my great outdoors on the California 
coast and I nor my siblings can ever remember my folks ever telling us to be 
careful. Today that would be considered neglect.

The article is lengthy but so is trying to solve this problem we have created. 
If you have grandchildren and are involved in their lives I highly recommend 
Sampson’s book. Even if you are not involved or do not have children or 
grandchildren being aware is the first step in creating a solution.

Rob Wood
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Re: [Texascavers] Water Filter for Toxic Metals

[Diana Tomchick via Texascavers]

Yes, I agree here—if it’s a short expedition (10 days or less), just go buy 
some large water carboys at the local hardware store or Walmart and fill ‘em up 
with water before you get to Minas Viejas. If you don’t want to haul all that 
water from north of the border, there’s easy water purification to be purchased 
at most tends in Mexico and just fill your jugs up at a hotel tap before you 
head for the hills.

Exposure to heavy metals is not something to be cavalier about. I would 
emphasize that anyone going into the mines at Minas Viejas should change out of 
the clothes they wore into the mines prior to cooking, eating or just generally 
hanging around camp. And for gawd’s sake, don’t eat while you’re in the mines, 
and thoroughly wash your hands and face before you eat outside the mines.

Diana

**
Diana R. Tomchick
Professor
Departments of Biophysics and Biochemistry
University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center
5323 Harry Hines Blvd.
Rm. ND10.214A
Dallas, TX 75390-8816
diana.tomch...@utsouthwestern.edu
(214) 645-6383 (phone)
(214) 645-6353 (fax)

> On Nov 6, 2015, at 1:42 PM, Gregg Williams via Texascavers 
>  wrote:
>
> I like the Saywer Mini filter (filter link, click here). This thing is tiny 
> and the whole sha-bang fits in a Nalgene bottle. It's filter is rated to 0.1 
> micron absolute which is enough to filter all your protozoan (giardia and 
> cryptosporidium) and bacterial bugs(salmonella, cholera and E.coli). For the 
> heavy metal contamination you would need activated carbon. The amount that is 
> removed by the carbon is directly proportional to the amount of time the 
> water is in contact with the carbon. If the water is heavily contaminated by 
> metals you might want to just find another source if possible.
>
> Gregg
>
>
> On Fri, Nov 6, 2015 at 12:55 PM, Robert B via Texascavers 
>  wrote:
> I just want to do my part to ensure my caver fiends good health.
>
> Question...
> Can anybody recommend a portable - medium capacity (20 gal/day) water filter 
> that can remove toxic metals such as lead, arsenic mercury. Those metals 
> typically found in mines.
>
> The specifications listed for typical water filters leaves a bit to be 
> desired when it comes to metals.
>
> Would using two types of filtration systems work better. A typical 
> backpacking filter followed by a run through activated charcoal. ???
>
> Can the water found in the mines at Minas Viejas be filtered adequately for 
> drinking by large group of cavers.
>
> Other considerations? Advice?
>
> Thanks
> Rob
>
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>
>
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[Texascavers] Fwd: [SWR] Fwd: Cave at risk; we need your help

[Diana Tomchick via Texascavers]

Diana

Begin forwarded message:

From: "Diana E. Northup" >
Date: October 30, 2015 at 9:31:16 PM CDT
To: SWR Cavers >
Subject: [SWR] Fwd: Cave at risk; we need your help


Begin forwarded message:

From: Barbara am Ende >
Subject: Cave at risk; we need your help
Date: October 30, 2015 at 8:23:19 PM MDT
To: >

Hi,

I am only writing because we’re at the end of our rope.  The Cave Diving 
Section of the NSS is being sued because a couple of guys, without permission 
and without adequate training and certifications, broke in and went diving in a 
cave owned by the CDS and died.  Now their family is suing the CDS.

I was a little oblivious and didn’t realize how desperate the section is for 
dealing with the situation until yesterday when it was announced that some 
private individuals (cave divers) have offered to buy Cathedral Cave from the 
section!  The CDS BOD is likely to accept the offer to offset legal bills.  
Some of us *really* don’t to lose a cave that was willed to the CDS by Lew 
Bicking Award winner, Sheck Exley.

I have stepped back up to the plate and made a new donation to the section.  
Several other dry caver/cave divers have also committed some sizable donations, 
but not enough to save the cave (yet).

I am hoping to beg you to donate $5-$10 (or more).  If a number of you do 
donate, those smaller donations will add up and it might help save Cathedral by 
the CDS.  And even if it doesn’t, the section needs the money more than I can 
say.

Here’s where you can donate:
http://nsscds.mybigcommerce.com/legal-defense-donation-fund/

I’ve tried to keep the description of the situation brief.  I’d appreciate your 
help and would be glad to let you know any more details if you’re interested.

Thanks and please spread the word!
Barbara am Ende, aka Squirrel Girl


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[Texascavers] Fwd: [SWR] Peruvian Caves found by satellite imagery reveal last Inca Empire sacrifices in remote Andes

[Diana Tomchick via Texascavers]

> Begin forwarded message:
>
> From: Lynda & James Sánchez 
> Subject: [SWR] Peruvian Caves found by satellite imagery reveal last Inca 
> Empire sacrifices in remote Andes
> Date: October 30, 2015 at 5:10:38 AM CDT
> To: SWR Cavers 
> Reply-To: Lynda & James Sánchez 
>
> FYI,  Lynda
>
>
> From: MICHAEL RUGGERI
> Sent: Thursday, October 29, 2015 3:55 PM
> To: nm-arc...@list.unm.edu
> Subject: [NM-ARCH-L] Inca Mountain Sanctuary Used for Child Sacrifice
> Uncovered
>
> [This is a nm-arch-l posting. Do not simply "reply" to sender.]
>
> October 29, 2015
>
> Inca Mountain Sanctuary Used for Child Sacrifice Uncovered
>
> An Inca mountain sanctuary used to sacrifice children to the gods has been
> discovered in the Vilcamba mountains near Cusco. They also found a cave
> system used as a necropolis to bury the sacrificed. The site dates to
> 1471-1493 CE. At this time in Inca history, children were sacrificed in
> times of drought and natural disaster, in hopes the gods would bring relief.
> Children were also sacrificed upon the death of a king. The ceremony was
> called Capacocha. Unblemished children were selected, married, returned to
> their local communities, before being sacrificed to the Llullaillaco
> Volcano. The team has found 50 structures. The site was found using
> satellite imagery and local stories. Rectangular buildings called kanchas,
> surrounded by other buildings have been found there. The site may be part of
> the legendary Kingdom of Vilcabamba, the last Inca nation.
>
> The Daily Mail has the story with their usual excellent photos of the find.
> They are the best in the business for archaeology news photos;
> http://dailym.ai/1RbCSHH
>
> Mike Ruggeri’s Ancient Andean News on Tumblr
> http://mikeruggerisancientandeannews.tumblr.com
>
> Mike Ruggeri's Ancient Andean News Magazine
> http://bit.ly/1KJvVt1
>
>
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Re: [Texascavers] Secrecy

[Diana Tomchick via Texascavers]

Regardless of landowner relations and what-have-you—if you keep all of your 
data to yourself, regardless of the field, whether it be cave surveying, 
exploration, geology, physics, biology, chemistry, etc., and you never publish 
it or deposit it in an accessible, reputable and continuing database, then you 
might as well treat it as if the data never was collected and the exploration 
never happened. There’s a reason why the noted explorers of yore fought tooth 
and nail to be the first ones to report their discoveries, and why scientists 
live by the “publish or perish” dogma. Priority means publicity means lasting 
fame, and typically also means funds ($$$) to continue your work. Just because 
you were the first person to discover something means absolutely nothing to the 
world if you weren’t the first person to publicize the work—ask any 
professional scientist or explorer.

Also, once you’re dead and gone, there’s no guarantee that your heirs won’t 
just dump all that “caving garbage” into the nearest dumpster.

Diana

**
Diana R. Tomchick
Professor
Departments of Biophysics and Biochemistry
University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center
5323 Harry Hines Blvd.
Rm. ND10.214A
Dallas, TX 75390-8816
diana.tomch...@utsouthwestern.edu
(214) 645-6383 (phone)
(214) 645-6353 (fax)

> On Oct 15, 2015, at 2:54 PM, Pete Lindsley via Texascavers 
>  wrote:
>
> Great comments, Travis!
>
> Since I moved out of the state I have worked with the TSS to go through my 
> Texas cave files and archive what they wanted. On some large maps that were 
> going to be scanned, I asked for a digital copy back after scanning. In the 
> case of ancient material, like the Powell's Cave original survey data, I did 
> not ask for digital copies back in return since the data was in good hands. 
> Of course during the file reviews some additional information was passed on 
> to the new leaders of some current projects both in and out of Texas. So just 
> a TSS review of old cave files while you are still kicking can be a great 
> help to the historical archive of the cave and can contribute to work being 
> done today that you thought you finished 50 years ago.
>
> I also support paying very close attention to the cave owner's request when 
> they allow you onto their private property. I think the TSS can play an 
> important part in keeping up good owner relationships. When I started caving 
> in 1960 all we had was Bulletin 10 on Texas Caves, published in 1947 as I 
> recall. But by the 1960s almost all of these caves were either closed or had 
> been long forgotten during land owner changes. So each time we visited the 
> new owner we had to re-establish that personal level of communication to gain 
> access. Some access took over a decade to get back in. One time I was in the 
> position of re-visiting a cave that I had gated and the new owner was 
> complaining that some 

[Texascavers] "Bats of the Republic: An Illuminated Novel"

[Diana Tomchick via Texascavers]

I am currently listening to Krys Boyd, the host of “Think" on KERA radio, the 
public radio station here in Dallas. She’s in Austin, interviewing Zachary 
Thomas Dodson, the author of "Bats of the Republic: An Illuminated Novel”. 
Dodson is a book designer as well as author, and will speak about his novel at 
the AustinTexas  Book Festival this weekend. The novel weaves together the 
topics of bats, Texas, time travel, and more. I have not read it, but it sounds 
interesting. Here’s a link to the podcast that you an listen to at your leisure.

http://www.kera.org/2015/10/15/a-dystopian-texas/

Here’s a link to Dodson’s web site:

http://www.zachdodson.com

Another link to his Twitter feed, which includes tweets featuring drawings of a 
#BatADay in October.

https://twitter.com/batdadson

And a link to an article by Dodson on the Powell’s Bookstore web site, entitled 
"10 Books That Will Change Your Mind about Bats”.

http://www.powells.com/blog/lists/10-books-that-will-change-your-mind-about-bats-by-zachary-thomas-dodson/?utm_source=powellsbooks.news_medium=email_campaign=pbnews_20151015_content=Bats

Some of these books are familiar to me, while others are not.

Happy listening and reading,

Diana

**
Diana R. Tomchick
Professor
Departments of Biophysics and Biochemistry
University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center
5323 Harry Hines Blvd.
Rm. ND10.214A
Dallas, TX 75390-8816
diana.tomch...@utsouthwestern.edu
(214) 645-6383 (phone)
(214) 645-6353 (fax)




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Re: [Texascavers] historic posting

[Diana Tomchick via Texascavers]

I believe the root of this behavior is to ultimately protect the rights of the 
private landowners, which typically do not wish to have the locations of caves 
on their property become public knowledge. Say what you will about other 
reasons that you think/believe/know are the causes of the secrecy, there is 
still a problem with releasing cave locations to the general public. I do not 
wish to get into an argument about whether “fellow cavers” constitutes the 
general public, so please don’t flame me about that...

Diana

**
Diana R. Tomchick
Professor
Departments of Biophysics and Biochemistry
University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center
5323 Harry Hines Blvd.
Rm. ND10.214A
Dallas, TX 75390-8816
diana.tomch...@utsouthwestern.edu
(214) 645-6383 (phone)
(214) 645-6353 (fax)

> On Oct 14, 2015, at 11:02 AM, Karen Perry via Texascavers 
>  wrote:
>
> Granted I am not caving any more but this overly secret concept of hiding 
> cave locations in the caver community has never made sense to me. I think you 
> should share your  files. They are a part of caver history and need to become 
> a part of the record for future generations. Too much has already been lost 
> due to out dated, needless, paranoid mindsets.
> Just my 2 cents,
> Karen Perry
>
> From: Greg Passmore via Texascavers 
> To: texascavers@texascavers.com
> Sent: Wednesday, October 14, 2015 8:28 AM
> Subject: Re: [Texascavers] historic posting
>
> Many years ago I made 25 copies of a bunch of cave maps from my files and 
> sold them to fellow cavers for exactly my copying costs (100 pages for $5). 
> For this I got yelled at for years, was given an award for the worst behaving 
> caver, and I was accused of copyright violations.  All that over a handful of 
> cave maps lost in old files. This censorship has helped keep new Texas cavers 
> in the dark about all the great caves that have been lost or forgotten in 
> this state.  It has also been instrumental in the decision not to release my 
> cave files (even to the TSS), which account for over 16 file drawers of cave 
> locations, maps, photos and articles.
>
> I would like to get all this stuff out for the next generation of cavers, but 
> I am very cautious since the dying generation of cavers responsible for this 
> nonsense are still (barely) around.
>
> (rant over)
>
> > On Oct 14, 2015, at 9:20 AM, Jim Kennedy via Texascavers 
> >  wrote:
> >
> > If you are on Facebook, another good place is the Texas Speleological 
> > Survey page. You can even start your own photo album there.
> >
> > Jim Kennedy
> > TSS office manager
> >
> > Mobile email from my iPhone
> >
> >> On Oct 14, 2015, at 9:12 AM, Jerryatkin via Texascavers 
> >>  wrote:
> >>
> >> Sure, why not. Be interesting to see what you have.
> >>
> >> Jerry.
> >> jerryat...@aol.com
> >>
> >> Sent from my iPad
> >>
> >>> On Oct 14, 2015, at 8:03 AM, Greg Passmore via Texascavers 
> >>>  wrote:
> >>>
> >>> I have  bunch of historic caving articles, photos, etc.  Is this list an 
> >>> appropriate place to post these or should we start up a texas caving 
> >>> history list?
> >>> ___
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> >>> http://www.mail-archive.com/texascavers@texascavers.com/
> >>> http://lists.texascavers.com/listinfo/texascavers
>
>
>
> >> ___
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>
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Re: [Texascavers] Looking for TSA Bylaws

[Diana Tomchick via Texascavers]

Rob,

The Constitution and By-Laws are on the TSA Business page:

http://www.cavetexas.org/TSA/tsaofficialbusiness.html

The date on the document is 2002. Has it been substantially changed since that 
time? If so, then this version should be swapped for the newest one.

Also, the meeting minutes from 2001 can be found on that page.

Diana

**
Diana R. Tomchick
Professor
Departments of Biophysics and Biochemistry
University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center
5323 Harry Hines Blvd.
Rm. ND10.214A
Dallas, TX 75390-8816
diana.tomch...@utsouthwestern.edu
(214) 645-6383 (phone)
(214) 645-6353 (fax)

> On Oct 13, 2015, at 11:20 AM, Robert B via Texascavers 
>  wrote:
>
> I am looking for a copy of the latest TSA Bylaws and any amendments.
> I thought I might have a copy in my old files, but no luck.
>
> Rob Bisset
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Re: [Texascavers] [TCR][Registration & Vendors]

[Diana Tomchick via Texascavers]

Those funny things called personal checks often work with the vendors, too.

Diana

**
Diana R. Tomchick
Professor
Departments of Biophysics and Biochemistry
University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center
5323 Harry Hines Blvd.
Rm. ND10.214A
Dallas, TX 75390-8816
diana.tomch...@utsouthwestern.edu
(214) 645-6383 (phone)
(214) 645-6353 (fax)

> On Oct 5, 2015, at 6:53 PM, Don Arburn via Texascavers 
>  wrote:
>
> Be sure to bring trade goods, cash talks.
> Paradise Canyon is sheltered from cellular service by the canyon walls so 
> don't expect credit card service at registration & vendors etc. Bring 
> T-Shirts & trade goods for the Caver T's Tradin' Post.
> There will be a carousel projector available at the slide show area too.
> Bring your own grog cups and vittles kit.
> There will be books for sale, caving organization meetings, mud wrestling and 
> vendors needing cash.
>
>
> --Ringmaster
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Re: [Texascavers] Sad news

[Diana Tomchick via Texascavers]

Sad news indeed.

Diana

**
Diana R. Tomchick
Professor
Departments of Biophysics and Biochemistry
University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center
5323 Harry Hines Blvd.
Rm. ND10.214A
Dallas, TX 75390-8816
diana.tomch...@utsouthwestern.edu
(214) 645-6383 (phone)
(214) 645-6353 (fax)

> On Sep 22, 2015, at 12:33 PM, Bill Steele via Texascavers 
>  wrote:
>
> Texas cavers,
>
> I just learned that Houston caver Jim McLane has passed away.
>
> Bill Steele
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Re: [Texascavers] Jim McLane photo

[Diana Tomchick via Texascavers]

Could be a Charles Fromén photo, they were good caving buddies.

Diana

On Sep 22, 2015, at 11:02 PM, Carl Kunath via Texascavers 
> wrote:

Like all of you, I was shocked to receive the news of Jim’s passing.
He was an irrepressible adventurer with a extraordinary intellect.
We will certainly miss his presence in the caving community.

I don’t have too many photos of Jim but I especially like this one 
(photographer unknown) taken
in his younger days on a visit to Gruta de Carrizal in November 1964.

We are diminished.

===Carl Kunath



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Re: [Texascavers] New Human Ancestor Found in South Africa

[Diana Tomchick via Texascavers]

Preston,

The project was advertised on social media (Facebook), looking for field 
scientists with caving and/or climbing experience and a “slender build” in 
order to get into the room with the fossils. I think a preference was made for 
young people just starting out in a scientific career (i.e., students). You can 
read about it in the various commercial news outlets.

K. Lindsay (Eaves) Hunter, one of the scientists, resided for a time in Texas 
and went on a few caving trips, plus spoke at the 2014 TSA Convention about the 
Cradle of Humankind project. She is now living in South Africa, married to Rick 
Hunter (one of the discoverers of the bone cache).

Diana

**
Diana R. Tomchick
Professor
Departments of Biophysics and Biochemistry
University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center
5323 Harry Hines Blvd.
Rm. ND10.214A
Dallas, TX 75390-8816
diana.tomch...@utsouthwestern.edu
(214) 645-6383 (phone)
(214) 645-6353 (fax)

> On Sep 11, 2015, at 3:01 PM, PRESTON FORSYTHE via Texascavers 
> <texascavers@texascavers.com> wrote:
> 
> Did any TX archy caver types know about this project 3-5 years ago and even 
> better participate? 
> 
> Preston 
> 
> Sent from Yahoo Mail on Android
> 
> From:"Diana Tomchick via Texascavers" <texascavers@texascavers.com>
> Date:Fri, Sep 11, 2015 at 11:37 AM
> Subject:Re: [Texascavers] New Human Ancestor Found in South Africa
> 
> And here’s the link to the open access original scientific publication of the 
> discovery in the journal eLife. There are several additional papers in the 
> journal related to this one from the same research group, so explore to your 
> heart’s content.
> 
> http://elifesciences.org/content/4/e09560
> 
> Diana
> 
> **
> Diana R. Tomchick
> Professor
> Departments of Biophysics and Biochemistry
> University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center
> 5323 Harry Hines Blvd.
> Rm. ND10.214A
> Dallas, TX 75390-8816
> diana.tomch...@utsouthwestern.edu
> (214) 645-6383 (phone)
> (214) 645-6353 (fax)
> 
> > On Sep 11, 2015, at 8:57 AM, via Texascavers <texascavers@texascavers.com> 
> > wrote:
> >
> >
> > This is a follow up to a previous post about South African Cavers in the 
> > News
> >
> > Two articles, one in Discover, the other in Scientific Amerrican
> >
> > http://links.mkt746.com/ctt?kn=113=MjM0NzUxOTQS1=MTE2MDc4NjY2ODU3S0=0=NjQxMDMyNTU4S0=1=0
> >
> > http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/mysterious-new-human-species-emerges-from-heap-of-fossils/?WT.mc_id=SA_DD_20150910
> >
> > https://web.mail.comcast.net/zimbra/mail?app=mail#3
> >
> >
> > DirtDoc
> >
> > From: "Discover Magazine" <discovermagaz...@maillist.kalmbachmail.com>
> > To: dirt...@comcast.net
> > Sent: Thursday, September 10, 2015 12:50:11 PM
> > Subject: New Human Ancestor Found in South Africa
> >
> >
> >
> > Plus: A deadly robot and the best new science books | Trouble viewing? 
> > Click here
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > SUBSCRIBE
> > DIGITAL | RENEW | GIFT
> >
> >
> >
> > Discover Newsletter:  09/10/2015
> >
> > New Species of Human Ancestor Discovered
> > Fossils of the new species, Homo naledi, were found in a South Africa cave.
> >
> >
> > DISCOVER BLOGS
> >
> > D-BRIEF
> > Starfish-Killing Robot May Save the Great Barrier Reef
> > The reef is under siege by hordes of Crown of Thorns starfish.
> >  MORE  |
> >
> > THE CRUX
> > A Roving ‘Batmobile’ Is Helping Map Alaska’s Bats
> > Citizen scientists are tallying bats to save them from disease.
> >  MORE  |
> >
> > LOVESICK CYBORG
> > What a Robot ‘Cambrian Explosion’ Means
> > Advances in robotics could spark a revolution in the near future.
> >  MORE  |
> >
> > D-BRIEF
> > This Glass Lets You Enjoy Whiskey in Zero Gravity
> > Space tourists of the future will have their own cocktail glass.
> >  MORE  |
> >
> > DRONE 360
> > Now You Can Own Your Own Millennium Falcon Drone
> > Star Wars fans will have the opportunity to man the controls of their own 
> > Millennium Falcon.
> >  MORE  |
> >
> >
> > THIS MONTH IN DISCOVER MAGAZINE
> >
> > The Man Who Coined 'Biological Diversity' Tries to Save It
> > Richard Schiffman
> > Thomas Lovejoy argues that it's not too late to restore threatened 
> > ecosystems.
> >  MORE  |
> >
> > What to Read in October
> > Gemma Tarlach
> > From deathly poisons to delicious recipes, this c

Re: [Texascavers] New Human Ancestor Found in South Africa

[Diana Tomchick via Texascavers]

And here’s the link to the open access original scientific publication of the 
discovery in the journal eLife. There are several additional papers in the 
journal related to this one from the same research group, so explore to your 
heart’s content.

http://elifesciences.org/content/4/e09560

Diana

**
Diana R. Tomchick
Professor
Departments of Biophysics and Biochemistry
University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center
5323 Harry Hines Blvd.
Rm. ND10.214A
Dallas, TX 75390-8816
diana.tomch...@utsouthwestern.edu
(214) 645-6383 (phone)
(214) 645-6353 (fax)

> On Sep 11, 2015, at 8:57 AM, via Texascavers  
> wrote:
>
>
> This is a follow up to a previous post about South African Cavers in the News
>
> Two articles, one in Discover, the other in Scientific Amerrican
>
> http://links.mkt746.com/ctt?kn=113=MjM0NzUxOTQS1=MTE2MDc4NjY2ODU3S0=0=NjQxMDMyNTU4S0=1=0
>
> http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/mysterious-new-human-species-emerges-from-heap-of-fossils/?WT.mc_id=SA_DD_20150910
>
> https://web.mail.comcast.net/zimbra/mail?app=mail#3
>
>
> DirtDoc
>
> From: "Discover Magazine" 
> To: dirt...@comcast.net
> Sent: Thursday, September 10, 2015 12:50:11 PM
> Subject: New Human Ancestor Found in South Africa
>
>
>
> Plus: A deadly robot and the best new science books | Trouble viewing? Click 
> here
>
>
>
>
> SUBSCRIBE
> DIGITAL | RENEW | GIFT
>
>
>
> Discover Newsletter:  09/10/2015
>
> New Species of Human Ancestor Discovered
> Fossils of the new species, Homo naledi, were found in a South Africa cave.
>
>
> DISCOVER BLOGS
>
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> Citizen scientists are tallying bats to save them from disease.
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> Millennium Falcon.
>  MORE  |
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>
> THIS MONTH IN DISCOVER MAGAZINE
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> The Man Who Coined 'Biological Diversity' Tries to Save It
> Richard Schiffman
> Thomas Lovejoy argues that it's not too late to restore threatened ecosystems.
>  MORE  |
>
> What to Read in October
> Gemma Tarlach
> From deathly poisons to delicious recipes, this crop of books covers a range 
> of fascinating science.
>  MORE  |
>
> Holes in a Bone: Flute or Fluke?
> Jennifer Abbasi
> Scientists disagree on who or what put holes in a prehistoric bone.
>  MORE  |
>
> A Better Way to Grow Cells
> Lacy Schley
> A 120-year-old mystery that's stumped microbiologists has been solved.
>  MORE  |
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Re: [Texascavers] Bat Research Associate Position Announcement

[Diana Tomchick via Texascavers]

It might, if you already had the Ph.D. degree.

Diana

**
Diana R. Tomchick
Professor
Departments of Biophysics and Biochemistry
University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center
5323 Harry Hines Blvd.
Rm. ND10.214A
Dallas, TX 75390-8816
diana.tomch...@utsouthwestern.edu
(214) 645-6383 (phone)
(214) 645-6353 (fax)

> On Sep 3, 2015, at 4:18 PM, Jim Kennedy via Texascavers 
>  wrote:
>
> Sounds like it should pay twice what it does.
>
> Crash
>
> Mobile email from my iPhone
>
> On Sep 3, 2015, at 3:43 PM, via Texascavers  
> wrote:
>
>> Sounds like a good job for crash
>>
>> Galen Falgout
>>
>> On Sep 3, 2015, at 3:11 PM, Ellie Falgout via Texascavers 
>>  wrote:
>>
>>> Bat Research Associate Position Announcement
>>>
>>> Position Title: Research Associate, Bat Ecology and WNS
>>>
>>> Hiring Unit: Texas A Institute of Renewable Natural Resources
>>>
>>> Job Type: Full-Time
>>>
>>> Salary: $36,000, State of Texas benefits, TRS retirement
>>>
>>> Pay Basis: Salaried, monthly
>>>
>>> Location: Various Statewide
>>>
>>> Major/Essential Duties: In close coordination with Principal Investigators, 
>>> implement a field study on the distribution, abundance, and roost use of 
>>> bats across Texas with emphasis on the northern and north-eastern portions 
>>> of the state adjacent to Oklahoma. The study goal is to obtain data prior 
>>> to the arrival of White Nose Syndrome (WNS) in the study areas. Responsible 
>>> for coordinating activities with state and federal agencies, as well as 
>>> private organizations; hiring and training field crew; managing budgets; 
>>> collecting and processing data; data analyses and report preparation; 
>>> working closely with private landowners.
>>>
>>> Occasional Duties: Actively communicate research results in peer-reviewed 
>>> journals; make presentations at various public and scientific meetings. 
>>> Perform other project-related duties as necessary.
>>>
>>> Required Education: MS in wildlife science, biology/zoology, ecology, or 
>>> closely related fields. Individuals holding a Ph.D. are also encouraged to 
>>> apply. Possibility exists for MS degree holding individual to obtain Ph.D. 
>>> as part of the project.
>>>
>>> Required Experience: Direct, independent field experience with bats 
>>> including capture and handling using standard techniques. Also required is 
>>> experience in hiring and managing field crews, working with government 
>>> agencies and private organizations, handling data sets, performing 
>>> statistical analyses, and preparing reports.
>>>
>>> Preferred Experience: Previous involvement with bat studies of WNS. Working 
>>> knowledge of GIS systems such as ArcGIS.
>>>
>>> Required licenses: Valid and current drivers license.
>>>
>>> Special Knowledge: Protocols involving WNS for handling bats.
>>>
>>> To apply: The following material must be contained in a single pdf file 
>>> that is titled with your last and first name (e.g., Smith, Mary): Cover 
>>> letter that is responsive to the position requirements; Resume; List of 
>>> references with current email and phone number; and university transcripts 
>>> (unofficial scan requested). Please email to Dr. Michael Morrison at 
>>> mlmorri...@tamu.edu. The position start date is negotiable but applicants 
>>> must be able to start by early November; earlier starting dates are 
>>> encouraged. The position will remain open until filled, and applications 
>>> will be reviewed as they are received. Please direct any questions to Dr. 
>>> Morison’s email address.
>>>
>>> ___
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Re: [Texascavers] [TCR][2015]

[Diana Tomchick via Texascavers]

Sheryl,

I will drop by during the food prep and cooking time before dinner and help 
with dish washing.

Diana

**
Diana R. Tomchick
Professor
Departments of Biophysics and Biochemistry
University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center
5323 Harry Hines Blvd.
Rm. ND10.214A
Dallas, TX 75390-8816
diana.tomch...@utsouthwestern.edu
(214) 645-6383 (phone)
(214) 645-6353 (fax)

 On Aug 26, 2015, at 11:15 AM, Sheryl Rieck via Texascavers 
 texascavers@texascavers.com wrote:

 Don had promised me dish washing minions. Come be my minion! 

 Sheryl Rieck
 sheryl.ri...@gmail.com

 You can't always get what you want but if you try sometime, you just might 
 find you get what you need Rolling Stones

 On Aug 26, 2015, at 10:45 AM, Don Arburn via Texascavers 
 texascavers@texascavers.com wrote:


 On Aug 25, 2015, at 10:11 PM, Karen via Texascavers 
 texascavers@texascavers.com wrote:

 Ha.. in other words, on demand!

 In all seriousness though, the titles are very cute, but perhaps it would 
 be helpful to describe a little of what they do?  Do Charmin Bearers just 
 bring the tp?

 Yes, they just bring TP, and distribute to the portojohns as needed. No one 
 should run out of TP. Simple, once a day, go check them, leave TP as needed.

 Dishwashing is self explanatory. As is the Slideshow Nerd  the 
 Speleolympics Officials. Help or don't. I'm just lining up volunteers early.

 And I'm sure some are wondering what the very high profile and respected 
 Loo Crew really does...

 The Paradise Canyon Loo Crew keeps the Paradise Canyon Loos clean.

 I couldn't make last year's TCR, but fully expect to attend this year and 
 assist with the activities I've always volunteered for, but maybe I could 
 help with one of these too?

 Cheers,
 Karen

 Maybe you could.


 On Tue, Aug 25, 2015 at 9:57 PM, Stefan Creaser via Texascavers 
 texascavers@texascavers.com wrote:
 Your shift will be from Friday afternoon to Sunday lunchtime ;-)

 -Original Message-
 From: Texascavers [mailto:texascavers-boun...@texascavers.com] On Behalf Of 
 Holly Weinstock via Texascavers
 Sent: Tuesday, August 25, 2015 9:48 PM
 To: texascavers@texascavers.com
 Subject: Re: [Texascavers] [TCR][2015]

 I guess basically - What will I be doing?  And when will my shift be?

 Sent from my iPhone

  On Aug 25, 2015, at 7:03 PM, Arburn Don via Texascavers 
  texascavers@texascavers.com wrote:
 
  Done! Thanks! Questions?
 
  On Aug 25, 2015, at 4:51 PM, Holly Weinstock via Texascavers wrote:
 
  I can be a Recycle Gatherer.
  Holly Weinstock
 
 
  Sent from my iPhone
 
  On Aug 25, 2015, at 3:39 PM, Arburn Don via Texascavers 
  texascavers@texascavers.com wrote:
 
  O.K. troglodytes  troglodyte lovers, TCR is approaching and it needs 
  help in order to happen. Many have already stepped up and currently 
  slaving away and are working towards your enjoyment and trouble free 
  fun.
  However, TCR needs some volunteers.
 
  Charmin Bearers
  Paradise Canyon Loo Crew
  Scrubby Dish Washer Crews
  Recycle Gatherers
  Slideshow Nerds
  Speleolympics Officials
  Signmaker
 
  Please give me a shout if you think you can help!
  Thanks!
 
  ~The Ringmaster
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Re: [Texascavers] trip report: Punkin Cave survey expedition #24

[Diana Tomchick via Texascavers]

One might also be able in the future to use short video clips and/or photos to 
help locate a terminal survey station.

Diana

**
Diana R. Tomchick
Professor
Departments of Biophysics and Biochemistry
University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center
5323 Harry Hines Blvd.
Rm. ND10.214A
Dallas, TX 75390-8816
diana.tomch...@utsouthwestern.edu
(214) 645-6383 (phone)
(214) 645-6353 (fax)

 On Aug 20, 2015, at 10:55 PM, Mark Minton via Texascavers 
 texascavers@texascavers.com wrote:

 Jim,

  I share your pain about recovering survey stations. I have been party to
 several connections that relied on old stations, usually carbided, but
 few people are equipped to mark such stations nowadays. As you pointed
 out, flagging tape is obviously not secure due to mice, crickets, etc.
 White-Out or nail polish seems to hold up well, but physical markers
 like metal tags or stakes is best. Bolts or even just bolt holes are
 also good, although the latter can be filled with mud after floods. It
 will be interesting to see how connections made years or even decades
 later are verified in the future.

  I also share your concern about retaining project members long enough to
 preserve institutional memory. Not only are leads lost, but the route to
 leads is also lost. Leads that are obscure or only marginally obvious
 are especially difficult to relocate, since their significance may not
 be apparent even after a resurvey. Long-term participation and detailed
 survey notes and trip reports are key.

 Mark Minton
 mmin...@caver.net

 On Thu, August 20, 2015 6:08 pm, Crash Kennedy via Texascavers wrote:
 A couple of weeks ago Yaz decided to visit her family in San Luis Potosi­.
 I was between projects and had some time on my hands.  So I got the wild
 idea to head to Carta Valley for a week and survey as much of Punkin Cave
 as I could. I talked to Ben Hutchins, who said he and Carrie were
 interested, and he had some time available.  At the UT Grotto meeting I
 got a few more hits, so the expedition was on!

 David Ochel said he could make it for the first part of the week.  We
 both drove up Monday, got settled in to the cabin, worked on the outhouse
 for a bit, and planned our strategy for the next day.  On Tuesday 4
 August, David and I rigged the small entrance and were in the cave
 relatively early.  We headed directly to some leads I had left from my
 survey with Tone and Chains in June.  We quickly mopped up some leads,
 determined that a few more needed a little shaving, and moved some rocks
 so that I could retrieve the hammer I dropped in June.  We found several
 more good leads that need additional work.  We also mapped the Neglected
 Room that we (re-) found in June.  It had been previously discovered by
 ZA survey team (G. Schindel, A. Schindel, and A. Croskrey) in March 2014,
 but not surveyed.  We left a few hairy leads that were heading into blank
 spots on the map, since there were just two of us and we had no backup.
 All told, in 7 hours we made 19 shot for a total of 43.68m (or 2.30m per
 shot).  We got out in time for an awesome dinner, movie, and gin  tonics.

 The next day, Wednesday, David had to leave, so I had the place to myself
 until the next wave arrived that evening.  I worked on the outhouse some
 more, repaired the two broken benches, and generally tidied up the cabin.
 I took a nice walk, had a nap, and just generally read and relaxed.  After
 a while Ben, Carrie, and Hazel Hutchins arrived from San Marcos, bringing
 Ron Rutherford with them.  Dinner and drinks again ensued, and some more
 incredible stargazing tool place, before everyone  got settled into their
 respective rooms.

 Thursday morning, 6 August, dawned bright and early, as it is wont to do
 in August.  Ben, Ron, and I headed back to the Neglected Room to mop up
 some more remaining leads, while Carrie stayed cool in the cabin and
 watched Hazel.  We first went to a lead off QB2 that looked like it
 should connect to ZA8, which I enlarged on Tuesday.  Sure enough, we
 found the awkward climb, shot three shots, and tied in to the 2014
 station.  We were on a roll.  Next we mapped the obvious connection from
 ZA6 to our AF50 from Tuesday.  13 more meters in the bag.  I talked Ben
 into climbing up into a small lead that David and I passed on, and we got
 another 5m.  Meanwhile, Ron was working on some good breakdown leads at
 the edge of the known map, but couldn't quite make them go.  Ben and I
 mapped another short connection, QB6 to ZA5.  We then surveyed down into
 a big hall at the end of Matt and Saj's survey from June.  This room
 (Refrigerator Room) was super cold, with a very strong breeze blowing out
 of a too-tight hole through which we could see big blackness.  We'll have
 to come back with better tools, as this goes off the map in a very good
 direction.  One short side passage off the Refrigerator Room was
 completed, then we packed up and headed down to Windy City.  

[Texascavers] Fwd: [SWR] The value of attendance

[Diana Tomchick via Texascavers]

Some of you maybe aware that the members of the SouthWest Region of the NSS are 
discussing constitutional and by-law changes that include electronic voting 
(which has surprisingly been a fairly controversial topic). I forward this 
message as the attachment “Ways to Kill any Organization” are just spot-on. 
Read the attachment and think about how this applies to you, your grotto, the 
“T” groups (Texas Speleological Association, Texas Cave Management Association, 
Texas Speleological Survey) and the NSS.

Diana

**
Diana R. Tomchick
Professor
Departments of Biophysics and Biochemistry
University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center
5323 Harry Hines Blvd.
Rm. ND10.214A
Dallas, TX 75390-8816
diana.tomch...@utsouthwestern.edumailto:diana.tomch...@utsouthwestern.edu
(214) 645-6383 (phone)
(214) 645-6353 (fax)

Begin forwarded message:

From: Steve Peerman gypca...@comcast.netmailto:gypca...@comcast.net
Subject: [SWR] The value of attendance
Date: August 18, 2015 at 10:31:39 AM CDT
To: Mailing List for SWR s...@caver.netmailto:s...@caver.net

All,
A long time ago, I collected this list of things entitled Ways to Kill 
any Organization, attached.  I have forgotten the source.  In fact, I believe 
Carol published it in the SW Cavers at some point.  Some of the discussion 
recently has been around those who have the leisure time to attend regionals 
and possibly misrepresent the majority who don't.We celebrate freedom in 
the United States, and one of those freedoms is the freedom to be left alone, 
or to put it another way, the freedom not to engage, or the freedom to allow 
others to make decisions for us.
Attendance at regional meetings is NOT mandatory, or even obligatory, 
but I would say, if you want to have a voice, if you want to make a change, 
then this is the venue to make it happen.  Regional meetings are social events 
to be sure, but they are more than that.  In many cases a great deal is 
accomplished to the benefit of caves and the caving community.  In my time of 
involvement with the SWR, I can recall restorations and cleanups at many caves, 
gate building and gate improvements (to make bat friendly), ridge walking, 
surveying, rescue practice, historical documentation and discoveries.  The 
caves and cavers of the SWR have surely benefitted from these varied activities.
I am proud of being a member of the Mesilla Valley Grotto, the 
Southwestern Region, and of the National Speleological Society.  I'm one of 
those folks who plans my schedule around SWR regional events.  I realize that 
not everyone wants to or can be that involved, and I do not wish to diminish 
the interest and dedication of those who for whatever reason are not able to 
attend as regularly as I do.
The current issue before the region is electronic voting.  I certainly 
think that electronic voting can provide a mechanism for allowing the 
membership to render a decision on issues that cannot wait for a meeting, and 
could allow those who cannot attend meetings to have a voice in regional 
matters.  This is a good thing.
I am concerned, however, that the process be defined with enough detail 
so that everyone understands how it would work in the situations it is 
applicable.  At present, I don't have that understanding, so I am reluctant to 
support it.  Those who are pushing the idea have not spelled out the process in 
that detail, at least to me.
I would hope, that if and when electronic voting becomes a process that 
is used with the SWR, that cavers continue to support the region by attending 
regional events, helping with the important projects that are promoted by the 
various grottos and continuing to make the SWR an active and viable 
organization within the NSS.


Steve Peerman

Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you 
didn't do than by the ones you did. So throw off the bowlines, Sail away from 
the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.
attributed to Mark Twain, but no record exists of his having written this.


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Ways to Kill Any Organization.doc
Description: Ways to Kill Any Organization.doc
___

[Texascavers] Fwd: [SWR] [PLW Update] Good for Mammoth Cave to raise an objection

[Diana Tomchick via Texascavers]

From: Lynda  James Sánchez 
diamond...@pvtnetworks.netmailto:diamond...@pvtnetworks.net
Subject: [SWR] Fw: [PLW Update] Good for Mammoth Cave to raise an objection
Date: August 12, 2015 at 10:44:39 AM CDT
To: SWR Cavers s...@caver.netmailto:s...@caver.net
Reply-To: Lynda  James Sánchez 
diamond...@pvtnetworks.netmailto:diamond...@pvtnetworks.net


Louisville (KY) Courier-Journal
Tuesday, August 11, 2015

Mammoth Cave Park sees pipeline threat
James Bruggers, @jbruggers

Pushing a toxic mixture of natural gas liquids through an aging pipeline near 
Mammoth Cave National Park threatens the world-famous cave’s unique and fragile 
ecological systems, the National Park Service is warning.

“The National Park Service is concerned about the potential for a catastrophic 
failure of the ... pipeline” within areas designed to protect endangered cave 
shrimp and other rare park resources, park superintendent Sarah Craighead wrote 
recently in a letter to federal energy regulators.

The pipeline is 70 years old and was designed to carry a different product, 
natural gas, said Bobby Carson, chief of science and resource management for 
the park. “It’s been underground for a while” and may not be safe for carrying 
the liquids, which if spilled could damage the park’s rare natural resources, 
including a variety of endangered species, he said in an interview this week.

The proposal by Kinder Morgan to convert part of its subsidiary Tennessee Gas 
Pipeline Co. operations from carrying natural gas to moving natural gas liquids 
has stirred controversy all year along a 256-mile path through Kentucky, with 
citizen groups, environmental organizations and some local officials objecting. 
Many have asked for a full environmental study rather than the less extensive 
review now underway.

While the proposal has had the backing of the Kentucky Oil and Gas Association, 
the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission has collected nearly 300 written 
comments for its environmental review, many of them critical.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, for example, identifies as many as 24 
threatened or endangered species, from rare freshwater mussels to tiny plants, 
that could be put at further risk. The company has responded by filing hundreds 
of pages of documents with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, attempting 
to respond to environmental and safety fears.

Kinder Morgan is “committed to public safety, protection of the environment and 
operation of our facilities in compliance with all applicable rules and 
regulations,” said Richard Wheatley, a Kinder Morgan spokesman. He said in a 
written statement that “recent statistics show that 99.999 percent of crude oil 
and petroleum product barrels delivered by pipeline reach their destination 
safely,” and that a repurposed Tennessee Gas pipeline would be held “to these 
same high standards.”

Karst concerns

While natural gas used in homes is methane, natural gas liquids are separated 
at the well site and can include a variety of hydrocarbons, including ethane, 
propane and butane. They are used to make plastics, rubber, solvents, 
antifreeze and refrigerants.

Under the plan, another Kinder Morgan subsidiary would move natural gas liquids 
from fracking zones in Ohio and Pennsylvania more than 900 miles through a 
repurposed pipeline to nation’s petrochemical hub in Louisiana and Texas. That 
pipeline now brings natural gas to the Northeast.

Craighead argues that the unusual geology across Kentucky’s sinkhole plain that 
produced the world’s longest known cave system, and one of the most diverse 
cave aquatic communities anywhere, is threatened by natural gas liquids.

She’s not the first to make that case. Water pollution fears are exacerbated by 
the region’s limestone-dominated geology, with its sinkholes, caves and caverns 
that could allow a spill or leak to spread for miles, other experts have warned.

For example, Ralph O. Ewers, an Eastern Kentucky University professor emeritus 
and consultant to industry and government, in 2013 strongly cautioned would-be 
developers of another natural gas liquids pipeline that was planned to cross 
Kentucky. He warned that sinkholes can swallow roads, buildings and pipelines, 
creating the danger that hazardous liquids might be released, then move swiftly 
through subterranean rivers and streams, polluting water sources a mile or more 
away.

In addition, he said deadly vapors that escape could settle into caves.

After a bitter political and legal battle, the Bluegrass Pipeline developers, 
the Williams company, announced last April that it was putting its project on 
hold because it had not lined up enough customers.

Park recommendations

The Kentucky portion of the Kinder Morgan proposal does not pass through the 
national park, which gets more than half a million visitors a year. But park 
officials said they believe it comes close enough to potentially connect to the 
park’s cave system and underground streams.

The Park 

Re: [Texascavers] Texas cave diving

[Diana Tomchick via Texascavers]

Bill Mixon: and you’re point is what? That it’s a bad thing for standardized 
training in cave diving? That having standardized equipment is a bad thing if 
you need to help rescue someone due to equipment failure during a cave dive? If 
you spoke from personal experience, I’d be more inclined to ignore your 
attitude.

Diana

**
Diana R. Tomchick
Professor
Departments of Biophysics and Biochemistry
University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center
5323 Harry Hines Blvd.
Rm. ND10.214A
Dallas, TX 75390-8816
diana.tomch...@utsouthwestern.edu
(214) 645-6383 (phone)
(214) 645-6353 (fax)

 On Aug 4, 2015, at 9:03 PM, Mixon Bill via Texascavers 
 texascavers@texascavers.com wrote:

 People think big in Texas. When those people are divers, they dream of ways 
 to explore. So at the end of 2014, a group of Texan cave divers formed the 
 South Central Underwater Explorers (SCUE).

 This group of motivated divers created the team as divers Dan Kelly and Trey 
 Lessard started talking about their aspirations. They shared their 
 excitement and connected with more like-minded divers. Bylaws were set and 
 Facebook groups created. Dan Kelly, Trey Lessard, Jennifer Idol, James 
 Williams, Joe Koester, Stacey Blankenship, and Sam Meacham were all elected 
 to the board of directors.

 The team defined their mission: We are dedicated to education, conservation 
 and exploration in the waters of the South central region of the United 
 States. To represent the team, Jennifer Idol created a logo that fit within 
 the GUE system and shared the passion this team holds for exploration in and 
 around Texas. At this point, the team formalized and set the stage to begin 
 developing projects. They are eager to begin exploration, mapping, 
 photography, and videography in local cave projects.

 Divers have been working with team members and instructors Kyle Harmon, Doug 
 Mudry, and Meredith Tanguay to develop diver skills. The team continues to 
 add instructors to its ranks with Sam Meacham recently completing the 
 requirements to teach the GUE Fundamentals program and Jason Wright working 
 toward his instructor certification

 SCUE divers bring their skill set and team attitude to project development. 
 From exploration by veteran divers Sam Meacham and Fritz Hanselmann, to 
 leadership by Dan Kelly, and graphic design and photography skills by 
 Jennifer Idol, this team is filled with talent. While the team is still 
 developing official members, 42 divers are part of the group at this time.

 SCUE held their first group dive at Balmorhea Springs, Texas. The energy was 
 high as divers met from all regions of the state and realized they share the 
 same passion for cave diving exploration. SCUE was officially accepted as a 
 new GUE affiliate this February. Team development takes time, hard work, and 
 patience. This group of divers certainly seems dedicated to the road ahead 
 and you are among the first to learn of this spirited group from Texas and 
 beyond.

 Article by Jennifer Idol in Underwater Speleology, July-Septwmber 2015, p. 18.
 GUE stands for Global Underwater Explorers, a rather snooty-sounding group 
 that requires all its members to dive with exactly the same equipment and 
 selection of gases after highly standardized training. -- Mixon
 
 Rules to live by: Don't. And don't forget to.
 
 You may reply to the address this message
 (unless it's a TexasCavers list post)
 came from, but for long-term use, save:
 Personal: bmi...@alumni.uchicago.edu
 AMCS: a...@mexicancaves.org or sa...@mexicancaves.org

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[Texascavers] Fwd: [SWR] [PLW Update] FW: Caving, hiking and cycling

[Diana Tomchick via Texascavers]

From: Lynda  James Sánchez 
diamond...@pvtnetworks.netmailto:diamond...@pvtnetworks.net
Subject: [SWR] Fw: [PLW Update] FW: Caving, hiking and cycling
Date: June 25, 2015 at 9:45:01 AM CDT
To: SWR Cavers s...@caver.netmailto:s...@caver.net
Reply-To: Lynda  James Sánchez 
diamond...@pvtnetworks.netmailto:diamond...@pvtnetworks.net


http://www.glasgowdailytimes.com/news/caving-hiking-and-cycling/article_69f99c02-156b-11e5-b09a-070ef0c277b2.html

Glasgow (KY) Daily Times
Wednesday, June 17, 2015

Caving, hiking and cycling
BY GINA KINSLOW Glasgow Daily Times


ycling and caving enthusiasts will come together on Sunday when they take part 
in Mammothon — a triathlon involving a tour through Mammoth Cave, as well as a 
hike and then a bike ride through Mammoth Cave National Park.

This is the first time such an event has taken place at the national park. It 
is part of the observance of the Longest Day of Play, which occurs on the 
longest day of the year and is being hosted by the Friends of Mammoth Cave 
National Park, Forever Resorts/Mammoth Cave Hotel and the national park.

Vickie Carson, public information officer for the national park, said the event 
is actually a trial run for the national park’s 100th anniversary celebration 
in 2016.

“This year we thought we would do it on a smaller scale and see how it all 
worked out, and then plan for something a little bit more involved next year,” 
she said.

As far as national park officials know, Mammothon is a one-of-a-kind event, 
with no others like it ever being held, she said.

Mammothon will begin at 8:15 a.m. in the parking lot of Mammoth Cave Hotel.

From the parking lot, a park ranger will lead participants on a 2-mile cave 
walk.

“Once we come out of the cave, folks are on their own,” Carson said.

The second portion of the event involves a 2-mile hike along the River Styx 
Spring, Echo River Spring, Sinkhole trails and back to the hotel parking lot 
where they will retrieve their bikes and ride along the Mammoth Cave Railroad 
Bike and Hike Trail.

Mammothon is designed to showcase some of the aspects of the national park, and 
is not a triathlon in the true sense of the word, said Helen Siewers, executive 
director of the Friends of Mammoth Cave National Park.

Participants are urged to use their own judgement when deciding how much to 
exert themselves. People will be on their own during the hiking and biking 
portions of the event, and can choose how far they want to go, but that is not 
the case with the cave walk, she said.

“Anyone who begins the cave hike will have to be able to finish the cave hike, 
because we are all going in and we’re all coming out again,” Siewers said.

The Mammothon is limited to 120 participants. As of Wednesday morning, 89 spots 
remained.

To register for the event online, go to 
www.event-brite.comhttp://cloud.siteencore.com/siteencore_helper.html#rotftwetu=aHR0cCUzQS8vd3d3Lmdvb2dsZS5jb20vdXJsJTNGc2ElM0R0JTI2cmN0JTNEaiUyNnElM0QlMjZlc3JjJTNEcyUyNnNvdXJjZSUzRG5ld3NzZWFyY2glMjZjZCUzRDE3JTI2dmVkJTNEMENDMFFxUUlvQURBR09BbyUyNnVybCUzRGh0dHAlMjUzQSUyNTJGJTI1MkZ3d3cuZ2xhc2dvd2RhaWx5dGltZXMuY29tJTI1MkZuZXdzJ.
 More information is available at www. 
facebook.com/MammothFriendshttp://cloud.siteencore.com/siteencore_helper.html#rotftwetu=aHR0cCUzQS8vd3d3Lmdvb2dsZS5jb20vdXJsJTNGc2ElM0R0JTI2cmN0JTNEaiUyNnElM0QlMjZlc3JjJTNEcyUyNnNvdXJjZSUzRG5ld3NzZWFyY2glMjZjZCUzRDE3JTI2dmVkJTNEMENDMFFxUUlvQURBR09BbyUyNnVybCUzRGh0dHAlMjUzQSUyNTJGJTI1MkZ3d3cuZ2xhc2dvd2RhaWx5dGltZXMuY29tJTI1MkZuZXdzJ,
 or by calling 270-758-2152.

Other events occurring on Sunday are: 5:30 a.m. – birding walk; 1 p.m. — Sand 
Cave Almanac; 3:45 p.m. — Heritage Walk, meeting at the visitor center; 7:30 
p.m. — campfire program at the amphitheater; and 9 p.m. — Western Kentucky 
University Astronomy Club will present program on the night sky in the visitor 
center’s bus loop.

Cave tour fees apply; other events listed above are free.


--
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View all the postings by visiting our homepage at:

http://groups.google.com/group/parklandsupdate?hl=en

To join the Park Land Watch group email Rick Smith: 
rsmith0...@comcast.netmailto:rsmith0...@comcast.net This will allow you to 
post your messages to the PLW Group.

Membership is free

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Re: [Texascavers] [CaveSim at TCR!]

[Diana Tomchick via Texascavers]

Has no one actually seen the large trailer that is CaveSim? It’s not tiny.

Check out the rates here:

http://www.cavesim.com/pages/schools-and-parties

Diana

**
Diana R. Tomchick
Professor
Departments of Biophysics and Biochemistry
University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center
5323 Harry Hines Blvd.
Rm. ND10.214A
Dallas, TX 75390-8816
diana.tomch...@utsouthwestern.edu
(214) 645-6383 (phone)
(214) 645-6353 (fax)

 On Jun 11, 2015, at 8:51 AM, Fritz Holt via Texascavers 
 texascavers@texascavers.com wrote:

 My thoughts also. Must take a semi as in moving a house.
 Fritz
 fritz...@gmail.com

 Sent from my iPhone

 On Jun 10, 2015, at 12:35 PM, Mixon Bill via Texascavers 
 texascavers@texascavers.com wrote:

 I have no objection to CaveSim at TCR, at least as long as $$ don't add to 
 the registration. But I am moved to point out that $1500 is a lot more than 
 fuel money, so Dave is not exactly donating the use of it. -- Mixon
 
 If something is not worth doing, it is not worth doing well.
 
 You may reply to the address this message
 (unless it's a TexasCavers list post)
 came from, but for long-term use, save:
 Personal: bmi...@alumni.uchicago.edu
 AMCS: a...@mexicancaves.org or sa...@mexicancaves.org

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Re: [Texascavers] [CaveSim at TCR!]

[Diana Tomchick via Texascavers]

Bill,

In a free market economy, the proper response would be for you to make your own 
CaveSim but charge a competitive price, thereby undercutting their business, 
rather than complaining about their prices.

Time is money in my book.

Diana

**
Diana R. Tomchick
Professor
Departments of Biophysics and Biochemistry
University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center
5323 Harry Hines Blvd.
Rm. ND10.214A
Dallas, TX 75390-8816
diana.tomch...@utsouthwestern.edu
(214) 645-6383 (phone)
(214) 645-6353 (fax)

 On Jun 10, 2015, at 12:35 PM, Mixon Bill via Texascavers 
 texascavers@texascavers.com wrote:

 I have no objection to CaveSim at TCR, at least as long as $$ don't add to 
 the registration. But I am moved to point out that $1500 is a lot more than 
 fuel money, so Dave is not exactly donating the use of it. -- Mixon
 
 If something is not worth doing, it is not worth doing well.
 
 You may reply to the address this message
 (unless it's a TexasCavers list post)
 came from, but for long-term use, save:
 Personal: bmi...@alumni.uchicago.edu
 AMCS: a...@mexicancaves.org or sa...@mexicancaves.org

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[Texascavers] Fwd: Good News for Bats

[Diana Tomchick via Texascavers]

I especially enjoyed the term “disembodied bat-wing tissue culture” in this 
article.

Diana

**
Diana R. Tomchick
Professor
Departments of Biophysics and Biochemistry
University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center
5323 Harry Hines Blvd.
Rm. ND10.214A
Dallas, TX 75390-8816
diana.tomch...@utsouthwestern.edu
(214) 645-6383 (phone)
(214) 645-6353 (fax)

 Begin forwarded message:

 From: Diana Tomchick diana.tomch...@utsouthwestern.edu
 Subject: Re: [Texascavers] Good News for Bats
 Date: May 21, 2015 at 6:53:28 PM CDT
 To: Cave Tex texascavers@texascavers.com

 Try this link.

 http://www.spgcavers.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/New-Hope-in-the-Battle-Against-WNS_bats-Mag-Summer-2013.pdf

 Diana




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Re: [Texascavers] Good News for Bats

[Diana Tomchick via Texascavers]

Try this link.

http://www.spgcavers.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/New-Hope-in-the-Battle-Against-WNS_bats-Mag-Summer-2013.pdf

Diana

**
Diana R. Tomchick
Professor
Departments of Biophysics and Biochemistry
University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center
5323 Harry Hines Blvd.
Rm. ND10.214A
Dallas, TX 75390-8816
diana.tomch...@utsouthwestern.edu
(214) 645-6383 (phone)
(214) 645-6353 (fax)

 On May 21, 2015, at 6:29 PM, Mixon Bill via Texascavers 
 texascavers@texascavers.com wrote:

 Anybody seen any information about just _what_ treatment was given to the 
 bats that had _what_ exposure to WNS? That BCI/TNC press release consists 
 almost entirely of tooting their own horns and stroking collaborators, which 
 makes me suspect there is less to this than meets the eye. -- Mixon
 
 The only way to get rid of a temptation is to yield to it.
 
 You may reply to the address this message
 (unless it's a TexasCavers list post)
 came from, but for long-term use, save:
 Personal: bmi...@alumni.uchicago.edu
 AMCS: a...@mexicancaves.org or sa...@mexicancaves.org

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Re: [Texascavers] Now for something totally asinine :

[Diana Tomchick via Texascavers]

I can see the upside to security for the cave—I’m sure many of us wish there 
had been security cameras in Caverns of Sonora prior to the butterfly vandalism 
incident—but I hope they decide to ban selfie sticks, in the name of cave and 
formation preservation.

Diana

**
Diana R. Tomchick
Professor
Departments of Biophysics and Biochemistry
University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center
5323 Harry Hines Blvd.
Rm. ND10.214A
Dallas, TX 75390-8816
diana.tomch...@utsouthwestern.edu
(214) 645-6383 (phone)
(214) 645-6353 (fax)

 On Apr 30, 2015, at 12:35 AM, Jerry via Texascavers 
 texascavers@texascavers.com wrote:

 Ruby Falls installs wireless Internet for cave visitors
 Don't bump into that stalagmite while you're Facebooking.
 Ruby Falls is installing Wi-Fi so visitors to the cave can stay connected on 
 their underground trip to the waterfall.
 At 1,120 feet underneath Lookout Mountain, the attraction says it's the 
 deepest Internet access available inside a commercial cave anywhere, and a 
 first for Chattanooga.
 Visitors will be able to share their memories with loved ones in real-time. 
 Staff will be able to use the wireless Internet to enhance safety in the 
 cave, with 13 security cameras and 10 phones now installed, Ruby Falls said 
 in a news release.
 The attraction says it partnered with EPB and InfoSystems to make the 
 installation possible without detracting from the natural elements of the 
 cave.

 http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/business/aroundregion/story/2015/apr/29/ruby-falls-installs-wireless-internet-cave-visitors/301436/


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Re: [Texascavers] TSA Schedule

[Diana Tomchick via Texascavers]

Any word yet on when the TSA and TCMA meetings will be held?

Diana

**
Diana R. Tomchick
Professor
Departments of Biophysics and Biochemistry
University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center
5323 Harry Hines Blvd.
Rm. ND10.214A
Dallas, TX 75390-8816
diana.tomch...@utsouthwestern.edu
(214) 645-6383 (phone)
(214) 645-6353 (fax)

 On Apr 22, 2015, at 4:20 PM, Mallory Mayeux via Texascavers 
 texascavers@texascavers.com wrote:

 Hello Cavers!

 TSA convention is right around the corner! I'm excited for some great 
 presentations on Saturday. I recently made a couple of changes to the 
 schedule, and am thinking some people may not have received the original, so 
 here's the time slots for speakers at convention this Saturday.

 Hope to see you all there!

 Mallory

 TSA Convention Schedule

 9:15am
 Geary Schindel, Large cave potential in the Frio / Dry Frio River Basin, 
 Uvalde County, Texas

 9:40
 Joe Mitchell, The Caveatron: 3D Cave Surveying Made Fast and Easy

 10:10
 Jim ‘Crash’ Kennedy, The Regating of Ezells Cave, Hays County, Texas

 10:35
 Christina Morgan and Whitney O’Connell, Baseline Biological Survey of Robber 
 Baron Cave

 11:00
 Aubri Jenson, Estimating Cave Entrance Potential using GIS Analysis: Quintana 
 Roo, Mexico

 11:20—Group Picture


 1:30pm
 Jessica Buckles, Speleothems as Paleoclimate Archives

 2 pm
 George Veni, To Boldly Go Where No One Has Gone Before: Exploring the Guano 
 of Bracken Bat Cave

 2:30 pm
 Matt Turner, The Crystal Caves of Abaco

 2:50
 Peter Sprouse, Cave Mapping in a Hurry: Puerto Aventuras

 3:15
 Ron Ralph, TSS: Over 50 Years of Data Gathering

 3:50
 Bill Mixon, The AMCS web site.

 4:10 Laura Battle and David Moore,  Exploring Honey Creek



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[Texascavers] Fwd: Follow the Huautla Deep Cave Adventure!

[Diana Tomchick via Texascavers]

From: Kathy McCarley 
kathy.mccarleypeep...@gmail.commailto:kathy.mccarleypeep...@gmail.com
Date: March 25, 2015 at 9:32:14 AM CST
To: Bill Steele speleoste...@aol.commailto:speleoste...@aol.com
Cc: Jesse Reynolds 
je...@wholeearthprovision.commailto:je...@wholeearthprovision.com,  Reid 
Kinslow r...@wholeearthprovision.commailto:r...@wholeearthprovision.com, 
Susan Souby 
so...@wholeearthprovision.commailto:so...@wholeearthprovision.com,  Bert P 
b...@wholeearthprovision.commailto:b...@wholeearthprovision.com
Subject: Fwd: Follow the Huautla Deep Cave Adventure!

Sorry my first attempt at sending this didn't work.

Here it is again.  And if the e-blast still doesn't work, here is the link to 
the blog post:  
http://www.wholeearthprovision.com/news/2015/03/follow-the-huautla-deep-cave-adventure/

Thanks!  Kathy

-- Forwarded message --
From: Whole Earth Provision Co. 
em...@wholeearthprovision.commailto:em...@wholeearthprovision.com
Date: Wed, Mar 25, 2015 at 6:01 AM
Subject: Follow the Huautla Deep Cave Adventure!
To: kathy.mccarleypeep...@gmail.commailto:kathy.mccarleypeep...@gmail.com




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city:http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001_5hBE4aunlYLFlNvtKtGzj23FfiQ5pgRl8q9ZRfQrFbT96L0PWwpnWuY4xeckiSOQIaKAoZJvDizSriz_iaSrCaax9yh3Zkb-PH90chkCXNElUHBxUduo8T72ro9wrWG4DjPBODNxim4II7lzY4qDz-qRKPjbX3K5ndCEDV22JHQsFd2GmeX4uh74vAdpuemQhK50uqAZp-KHyuCVG8WMcGfDI5VyunKHpq5gsXBSi4kyRSsOuOpYuf4vG5ptQsEn1_S6vj2yB4-8cI7q3IHkVh-nWVFHkSf8gdbkK88BCUrBP7k1b0v-fKVj1vKx9iRfL5226ZVgVI=c=RMnQyyU3dwwMUb_hH7FL6ExvByjfBRmHhNiifDfA_Yww6w_8V_fCzw==ch=tde4sj-MORHDzFcHuSfuvuwXeTgbG2U6qv_90lQyPEuvaVKcijPv6A==
Austin Locations  
Hourshttp://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001_5hBE4aunlYLFlNvtKtGzj23FfiQ5pgRl8q9ZRfQrFbT96L0PWwpnWuY4xeckiSOQIaKAoZJvDizSriz_iaSrCaax9yh3Zkb-PH90chkCXNElUHBxUduo8T72ro9wrWG4DjPBODNxim4II7lzY4qDz-qRKPjbX3K5ndCEDV22JHQsFd2GmeX4uh74vAdpuemQhK50uqAZp-KHyuCVG8WMcGfDI5VyunKHpq5gsXBSi4kyRSsOuOpYuf4vG5ptQsEn1_S6vj2yB4-8cI7q3IHkVh-nWVFHkSf8gdbkK88BCUrBP7k1b0v-fKVj1vKx9iRfL5226ZVgVI=c=RMnQyyU3dwwMUb_hH7FL6ExvByjfBRmHhNiifDfA_Yww6w_8V_fCzw==ch=tde4sj-MORHDzFcHuSfuvuwXeTgbG2U6qv_90lQyPEuvaVKcijPv6A==
4477 South Lamar Blvd. 512-899-0992tel:512-899-0992 · 1014 North Lamar Blvd. 
512-476-1414tel:512-476-1414
2410 San Antonio St. 512-478-1577tel:512-478-1577
 Dallas Locations  
Hourshttp://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001_5hBE4aunlYLFlNvtKtGzj23FfiQ5pgRl8q9ZRfQrFbT96L0PWwpnWuY4xeckiSO2m0OmWmcspi-sPdazVMliTecQtlIV4kADvZvsuc3cxVYDBXyuzq_nKjazqgLiyhJGcAFe4W6_KzkZq2kaCg2KMSO2-ccSiRdl5DLT6Sj63Tj4t6Q9BUfVMgO_SYNp0KcM9xRfK-MF4dzOcYja2Pk4WH6EYvSqTE_Qe2FFyqPDGZOP75im_2aQesJ9WamrA0yojKGCkYbqTF82cXJTxr0Li1CHzi7sIYmdrDzwKApOy1WLbWSnQau2WF88WSzsIgZxoefopSrbzo=c=RMnQyyU3dwwMUb_hH7FL6ExvByjfBRmHhNiifDfA_Yww6w_8V_fCzw==ch=tde4sj-MORHDzFcHuSfuvuwXeTgbG2U6qv_90lQyPEuvaVKcijPv6A==
5400 East Mockingbird Ln. 214-824-7444tel:214-824-7444 · Preston Forest 
Center 972-861-5700tel:972-861-5700
Houston Locations  
Hourshttp://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001_5hBE4aunlYLFlNvtKtGzj23FfiQ5pgRl8q9ZRfQrFbT96L0PWwpnWuY4xeckiSO9dETN4mMabK2kS7yxnNasxUraVPFIUZtgOVcrd-MgZoU4WARQwQwmP959bAbY70v9DRM3LSIBfGzYD50DuOSdQnLW70TIbXzz0kb2_s2A6tM6ratJJIO48IDhxjPVC6f4-Ef8yQ7goJhOTxhCsVjdjRbNcq7z0TpfPwwhm_ezvrIk_oI6f3eAw-k-VeiENKvshmn_cdbaaMGvITY_tRpqDNyu2XEdIVdAYwRdhUBCnZUQ4Q1070x11pUx3r2zDg5IZWjuyZvXEo=c=RMnQyyU3dwwMUb_hH7FL6ExvByjfBRmHhNiifDfA_Yww6w_8V_fCzw==ch=tde4sj-MORHDzFcHuSfuvuwXeTgbG2U6qv_90lQyPEuvaVKcijPv6A==
2934 South Shepherd Dr. 713-526-5226tel:713-526-5226 · 2501 Post Oak Blvd. 
713-526-5440tel:713-526-5440
San Antonio Location  
Hourshttp://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001_5hBE4aunlYLFlNvtKtGzj23FfiQ5pgRl8q9ZRfQrFbT96L0PWwpnWuY4xeckiSOwpEIZzsIQreNpMN784mPUZTwUBej88FYEexs-ziJwJkmcUSXGEfG91w1yfRU6knGt-_CH96a5FtOptDcyI9TQYOLfeZHkeaxNSTQq5h0wj9REXb7o6UwA5X9eZSVLpU9Px5yiZpSNz1-RRDrB2_ZPdXNILO3WHBiOguEyViOoL9In3KKwtg7aHqyeFM1wVrKcPjuMb5wD5MLvakh7WEei_KT29yRf45n43qovIEsWc6ecRzJe_o0X1XaDyoN8w6OTKfmjUXlxDuJsFmPY80zCw==c=RMnQyyU3dwwMUb_hH7FL6ExvByjfBRmHhNiifDfA_Yww6w_8V_fCzw==ch=tde4sj-MORHDzFcHuSfuvuwXeTgbG2U6qv_90lQyPEuvaVKcijPv6A==
Quarry Market, 255 East Basse · 210-829-
Southlake Location  

Re: [Texascavers] books on Chauvet Cave

[Diana Tomchick via Texascavers]

Bill Steele and I traveled to Houston about 1.5 years ago to hear Clottes speak 
at the Houston Museum of Natural Science, where he spoke about Cosquer Cave. I 
was impressed with his talk, and with the museum, it's definitely worth a visit.

Roger and Candice Moore were our hosts that weekend, the next day they took us 
out to the San Jacinto battlefield where Roger showed us the locations of the 
archaeological sites he had worked on, including the site where a group of 
Santa Anna's soldiers had discarded their arms in a long row (presumably 
because they had surrendered). That was a great weekend, with great hosts.

Diana

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Diana R. Tomchick
Professor
University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center
Department of Biophysics
5323 Harry Hines Blvd.
Rm. ND10.214A
Dallas, TX 75390-8816, U.S.A.
Email: diana.tomch...@utsouthwestern.edu
214-645-6383 (phone)
214-645-6353 (fax)







On Mar 23, 2015, at 6:43 PM, Logan McNatt via Texascavers wrote:

 There are used copies available online from about $60 to much more.
 New copies start around $260 to $300+. (Based on a quick search)
 Clottes also wrote The Shamans of Prehistory and The Cave Beneath the Sea 
 (Cosquer Cave).

 About 10+ years ago, I was very lucky to find several new copies of the  
 books at the old Half-Price Books on Guadalupe St in Austin for about $25 
 each. Probably because HPB was getting ready to move.

 A group of cavers saw Jean Clottes speak about 10 (?) years ago on successive 
 nights in San Antonio and Austin, sponsored by the Archaeological Institute 
 of America. He is an excellent speaker with great stories. I surprised him 
 with the books which he gladly autographed. He was happy to know there were 
 cavers in the audience.

 Logan McNatt
 lmcn...@austin.rr.com


 On 3/22/2015 9:25 PM, Mixon Bill via Texascavers wrote:
 Thanks, Jerry. That sure sounds like a very impressive job of creating an 
 artificial cave.

 Inevitably, the discovery of Chauvet Cave gave rise quite quickly to a 
 couple of coffee-table books.

 Chauvet Cave: The Discovery of the World's Oldest Paintings, by Chauvet, 
 Deschamps, and Hillaire, 1996, seems to be out of print. So, apparently, is 
 a paperback reprint from 2001.

 Chauvet Cave: The Art of Earliest Times, edited by Jean Clottes, 2003, is 
 also out of print.

 Such coffee-table art books seldom stay in print for long. They end up on 
 remainder tables within a year or so. Both books are available used.-- Mixon
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Re: [Texascavers] Frank Nicholson

[Diana Tomchick via Texascavers]

Dr. Frank E. Nicholson? An M.D., perhaps?

Might explain the tendency to exaggerate.

Diana

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Diana R. Tomchick
Professor
University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center
Department of Biophysics
5323 Harry Hines Blvd.
Rm. ND10.214A
Dallas, TX 75390-8816, U.S.A.
Email: diana.tomch...@utsouthwestern.edu
214-645-6383 (phone)
214-645-6353 (fax)







On Feb 20, 2015, at 12:32 AM, Carl Kunath via Texascavers wrote:

 Nicholson was quite an interesting fellow but he did his best speleology with 
 a typewriter.

 He is cited a number of times in 50 Years of Texas Caving ( AKA: The 
 Encyclopedia of Texas Caving):

 Pg 21, 294:  Cascade Caverns and Longhorn Cave
 Pg 35, 308:  There is a brief mention of a grandiose expedition to Cueva de 
 El Abra with Bob Hudson and Jimmy Walker
 Pg 424:  A note of Nicholson visiting Devil’s Sinkhole

 I could have included quite a lot more about Nicholson but the space was 
 better reserved for more factual, perhaps more entertaining, accounts.  One 
 of the best stories involves his plan to explore a lofty dome in Carlsbad 
 Cavern with the use of a balloon.  Explorers would rise to the desired level 
 in a basket and step out into unknown passages.  This didn’t happen although 
 it’s a pity as we might have learned how he planned to create the necessary 
 clearance above the top of the balloon in order to reach the upper area of 
 the dome and also how he planned to deal with those sharp, pointy stalactites.

 Nicholson was nothing if not consistent.  Every account of his exploits that 
 he authored is wildly exaggerated.  In addition to the Cascade Caverns story 
 related below, check out this account of the Devil’s Sinkhole:

 SEPT. 2, 1934
 Kerrville – Dr. Frank E. Nicholson, explorer of Carlsbad Cavern in New 
 Mexico, has announced that the Devil’s Sinkhole, 65 miles from here, is 
 larger than the famous New Mexico cave. Dr. Nicholson recently visited the 
 Clarence Whitworth ranch, site of the sinkhole, and conducted a series of 
 explorations. He found that the cave’s mouth is about 90 feet in diameter and 
 looks down upon a 600-foot “mountain peak” which rises to within 271 feet of 
 the surface of the ground. The subterranean mountain is a mile in 
 circumference at the base. Dr. Nicholson explored several miles of passages 
 with striking and colorful formations and saw many other corridors leading 
 away for unknown distances. The cave is one of the country’s greatest natural 
 wonders, Dr. Nicholson said.

 ===Carl Kunath
 carl.kun...@suddenlink.net


 -Original Message-
 From: Mixon Bill via Texascavers
 Sent: Thursday, February 19, 2015 3:31 PM
 To: Cavers Texas
 Subject: [Texascavers] unique Texas cave

 Published, apparently seriously, in the News-Letter of the Exploration  
 Location Committee of the NSS, #1, Jan. 1943:

 A condensation of information on the exploration of a limestone cave near 
 Boerne, Texas, about 1932 by a party headed by Dr. Frank E. Nicholson, 
 indicates that it is perhaps the most unusual phenomenon in our science. The 
 information is from an old reference, and anyone having further information 
 on this cave please contact this committee. 500 feet within the cave is a 
 subterranean lake overhung by stalactites which reach to the surface of the 
 water, requiring swimming under water for 200 feet. Occasional pockets 
 permit breathing. This expedition penetrated beyond the lake to a great 
 vaulted tunnel, which contained a bottomless pit, subterranean spring, and 
 stream. Progress was possible to a point one mile from the entrance and 600 
 feet below the surface. The most unusual feature of the cave is that in it 
 were found white colored blind crayfish, pheletrodroid salamanders, and 
 blind, white translucent frogs. Most unbelievable is the report that at the 
 cave's lowest level (one mile from entrance and 600 feet underground) 50 
 Spanish oak and Hackberry trees were found growing. That trees can grow in 
 complete darkness with the complete absence of light and sunshine is a 
 phenomenon that demands further investigation by speleologists.

 The chairman of the committee and presumably author of the piece was Erwin 
 Bischoff. Scan of original can be found at
 http://www.karstportal.org/FileStorage/NSS_news/1941-v001-001.pdf
 --Mixon

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Re: [Texascavers] cave diving at NSS convention

[Diana Tomchick via Texascavers]

It's a community thing Logan, you need to come and provide surface support next 
year and experience it first-hand.

Diana

**
Diana R. Tomchick
Professor
Departments of Biophysics and Biochemistry
University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center
5323 Harry Hines Blvd.
Rm. ND10.214A
Dallas, TX 75390-8816
diana.tomch...@utsouthwestern.edu
(214) 645-6383 (phone)
(214) 645-6353 (fax)

From: Texascavers [texascavers-boun...@texascavers.com] on behalf of Logan 
McNatt via Texascavers [texascavers@texascavers.com]
Sent: Friday, February 13, 2015 9:35 PM
To: texascavers@texascavers.com
Subject: Re: [Texascavers] cave diving at NSS convention

Texas Cavers won't enjoy that unless they have to haul the tanks several
miles through the mud.

Logan McNatt
lmcn...@austin.rr.com

On 2/13/2015 8:20 PM, Mixon Bill via Texascavers wrote:
 Roubidoux Spring in Waynseville, Missouri, site of this summer's NSS 
 convention, will be open to certified, whatever that means, cave divers. 
 According to latest Underwater Speleology, magazine of the NSS Cave Diving 
 Section, divers extended the line to 11,256 feet at depths up to 270 feet 
 during a 15-hour dive in December. Anybody want to extend that during the 
 convention? -- Mixon
 
 Work is the curse of the drinking class.
 
 You may reply to the address this message
 (unless it's a TexasCavers list post)
 came from, but for long-term use, save:
 Personal: bmi...@alumni.uchicago.edu
 AMCS: a...@mexicancaves.org or sa...@mexicancaves.org

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Re: [Texascavers] cave article in today's Austin, American-Statesman

[Diana Tomchick via Texascavers]

Dude! That's not news, that's entertainment!

Try reading a real news source online, even if you have to pay. It's worth it. 
I read both the Washington Post and NY Times. I guess I'm biased since for 3.5 
years I received the Washington Post on my doorstep for 25 cents a day. It 
hooked me on the political reporting.

Diana

**
Diana R. Tomchick
Professor
Departments of Biophysics and Biochemistry
University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center
5323 Harry Hines Blvd.
Rm. ND10.214A
Dallas, TX 75390-8816
diana.tomch...@utsouthwestern.edu
(214) 645-6383 (phone)
(214) 645-6353 (fax)

From: Texascavers [texascavers-boun...@texascavers.com] on behalf of Lyndon Tiu 
via Texascavers [texascavers@texascavers.com]
Sent: Saturday, February 14, 2015 8:30 AM
To: texascavers@texascavers.com
Subject: Re: [Texascavers] cave article in today's Austin, American-Statesman

I read FB for my news. Way more entertainment.

--
Lyndon Tiu

On Feb 14, 2015 8:27 AM, Steve's IPhone via Texascavers 
texascavers@texascavers.commailto:texascavers@texascavers.com wrote:


 On Feb 14, 2015, at 6:49 AM, Mike Flannigan via Texascavers 
 texascavers@texascavers.commailto:texascavers@texascavers.com wrote:


 I can confirm that the Houston Chronicle is a very
 bad newspaper also.  The way to tell a bad newspaper
 nowadays is what they don't cover.

 The local community papers are fairly good, but Hou
 Chron bought them a few years ago.  So far they have
 screwed up the editing quality, but otherwise not the
 content so far.  I expect community papers will be as
 bad as the main paper in a few years.


 Mike


 On 2/12/2015 11:00 AM, via Texascavers wrote:
 Not the Austin paper, since I don't live in Austin.

 But the Dallas paper is such a terrible publication, I don't read that one, 
 either.

 Diana

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Re: [Texascavers] Bat Cave, Florida

[Diana Tomchick via Texascavers]

Though generally speaking, junior colleges (AKA community colleges) are 
generally owned and run by the local community government.

Diana

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Diana R. Tomchick
Professor
University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center
Department of Biophysics
5323 Harry Hines Blvd.
Rm. ND10.214A
Dallas, TX 75390-8816, U.S.A.
Email: diana.tomch...@utsouthwestern.edu
214-645-6383 (phone)
214-645-6353 (fax)







On Feb 12, 2015, at 12:45 PM, Jim Kennedy via Texascavers wrote:

 I have been to Alachua Bat Cave, and was also appalled by the disastrous 
 management actions that Sleaze so eloquently described. In fact, I use this 
 site in my lectures as an example of what not to do. But Mixon is a little 
 mistaken, as the cave is now owned by a junior college, not the government. 
  And it's their lawyers that made it so. But we can't point the finger at 
 non-cavers mismanaging caves when our own nearby NSS-owned Warrens Cave has 
 one of the most atrocious gates that I have ever seen.

 Crash

 Mobile email from my iPhone

 On Feb 12, 2015, at 12:15 PM, Mixon Bill via Texascavers 
 texascavers@texascavers.com wrote:

 Another example of why I always say never let a cave fall into the hands of 
 a government agency. -- Mixon
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Re: [Texascavers] cave article in today's Austin American-Statesman

[Diana Tomchick via Texascavers]

Not the Austin paper, since I don't live in Austin.

But the Dallas paper is such a terrible publication, I don't read that one, 
either.

Diana

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Diana R. Tomchick
Professor
University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center
Department of Biophysics
5323 Harry Hines Blvd.
Rm. ND10.214A
Dallas, TX 75390-8816, U.S.A.
Email: diana.tomch...@utsouthwestern.edu
214-645-6383 (phone)
214-645-6353 (fax)







On Feb 10, 2015, at 3:13 PM, Katherine Arens via Texascavers wrote:

 does NO ONE read the paper?

 download from http://www.utexas.edu/courses/arens/cave.pdf

 katie

 On Feb 10, 2015, at 2:25 PM, Logan McNatt via Texascavers 
 texascavers@texascavers.com
  wrote:

 There is a cave article in today's Austin American-Statesman newspaper, 
 Section B, pp 1 and 4, with a photo. The print title is Caves envisioned as 
 learning labs: Two sites would be added to existing one for school 
 programs.  The caves are in southwest Austin but names and location are not 
 revealed. Jessica Wilson, education manager for the Watershed Protection 
 Department was interviewed. Nico Hauwert of the WPD has hired a number of 
 local cavers for several years to dig out caves as recharge features. I just 
 called Don Broussard; he and Heather Tucek are digging in a cave as I write 
 this.

 This link does not provide the entire story. If you know a better link, 
 please send to the list.

 http://www.statesman.com/news/news/local/austin-officials-want-to-turn-caves-into-learning-/nj7g8/

 Or many of you actually can buy a printed copy, but of course that has the 
 downside of being on paper. (ha)

 Logan McNatt
 lmcn...@austin.rr.com
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 Katherine Arens
 Office Phones: (512) 232-6363
 ar...@austin.utexas.edu
 Dept. Phone:  (512) 471-4123
 Dept. of Germanic Studies
 FAX (512) 471-4025
 2505 University Ave, C3300
 Bldg.Location:  Burdine 336
 University of Texas at Austin
 Office:  Burdine 320
 Austin, TX  78712-1802

   -. .-
  _..-'()`-.._
  ./'. '||\\.(\_/) .//||` .`\.
   ./'.|'.'\\|..)O O(..|//`.`|.`\.
 ./'..|'.|| |\`` '` '` ''/| ||.`|..`\.
   ./'.||'. .  .  .`||.`\.
  /'|||'.|| {   } ||.`|||`\
 '.|||'.||| {   } |||.`|||.`
 '.||| | |/'   ``\||`` ''||/''   `\| | |||.`
  |/' \./' `\./\!|\   /|!/\./' `\./ `\|
 V  VV}' `\ /' `{V   VV
  ``` V ' ' '







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Re: [Texascavers] Texas Caver volume and issue numbers :

[Diana Tomchick via Texascavers]

It is also extremely important that this information be included as the Texas 
Caver is deposited in the Karst Information Portal, which indexes issues by 
volume, number and year of publication.

Diana

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Diana R. Tomchick
Professor
University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center
Department of Biophysics
5323 Harry Hines Blvd.
Rm. ND10.214A
Dallas, TX 75390-8816, U.S.A.
Email: diana.tomch...@utsouthwestern.edu
214-645-6383 (phone)
214-645-6353 (fax)


On Feb 1, 2015, at 6:12 PM, Jerry via Texascavers wrote:

 Posted for Mimi Jasek:

 To All Current and Future Editors and Proofreaders of the Texas Caver:

 We really do have one of the finest caving magazines in the United States, 
 but I would like to try to make you aware of something that needs to be put 
 back on the Contents Page to make it complete, and to correct an error that 
 is being perpetuated. In the past this information has been either there or 
 on the combined Publication Data/Contents Page. There is plenty of room to 
 add a text box above the word Contents with this information, or if it 
 belongs on the Publication Data page, put it there. I would suggest checking 
 with Logan McNatt as to correct placement.

 The Texas Caver
 January - March, 2015
 Volume 61, Issue 1

 I put this in the format that would be for the first issue of 2015.  In many 
 past issues, also, rather than Vol and Issue being put on the cover, it was 
 simply the months involved.

 Correction that needs to be fixed:  The Volume number is for a whole year!  
 DO NOT increase this number with the isssue number increasement!  Please see 
 the wonderful spread sheet provided by Jerry Atkinson in his 11/13/14 post 
 about the Texas Caver Publication List. If you have never worked on a 
 magazine before, and have never paid attention to this, then this mistake can 
 be understandable. But if we are still sending out issues to libraries and 
 other important cave owner entities, this information matters. For all who 
 may still get their hard copies bound into yearly volumes, this also matters. 
  In 2014, the TC went from Vol 60 all the way to Vol 63, yet the whole year 
 is Volume 60.

 To many who see this post, this request will seem frivolous and totally 
 unimportant. But as someone who worked on the TC for untold years alongside 
 James Jasek to edit, type, proofread, correct, print, collate, address and 
 mail for any number of editors, besides working in a bookbinding company, 
 this information really matters. Design is completely individual as to the 
 editor of any magazine, but critical publication data is not, and is one of 
 those things - like proper page numbers for the articles within - that should 
 be carried forward from issue to issue for proper continuity.

 Sincerely, and with the best of nerdy, proofreading intentions,

 Mimi Jasek
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Re: [Texascavers] another reporter story

[Diana Tomchick via Texascavers]

Cut the guy a little slack. Most people (including journalists) know more about 
the dangers of mines, where there oftentimes is a problem with enough good 
quality air, so when a good journalist asks that kind of question, they're 
asking that because they know that the audience might be wondering the same 
thing.

Diana

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Diana R. Tomchick
Professor
University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center
Department of Biophysics
5323 Harry Hines Blvd.
Rm. ND10.214A
Dallas, TX 75390-8816, U.S.A.
Email: diana.tomch...@utsouthwestern.edu
214-645-6383 (phone)
214-645-6353 (fax)







On Jan 19, 2015, at 5:39 PM, Mark Minton via Texascavers wrote:

 On Mon, January 19, 2015 12:57 pm, Mixon Bill via Texascavers wrote:
 One of the more entertaining interviews has one TV
 reporter asking Ron Kerbo if the rescue personnel had enough food,
 water, and air. Kerbo just calmly assumed him that they did.

  That was Bryant Gumbel on the Today show. When that show was
 broadcast, while we were still in Carlsbad, everyone groaned, especially
 at the air comment.

 Mark Minton
 mmin...@caver.net

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Re: [Texascavers] reporters

[Diana Tomchick via Texascavers]

This is why you don't want someone that knows nothing about caving as an editor 
of a caving publication.

Diana

 On Jan 18, 2015, at 8:18 PM, Mark Minton via Texascavers 
 texascavers@texascavers.com wrote:

  My experience with reporters has generally been less accommodating than
 George's. Most have not been willing to allow me to review their work
 before publication. A couple of notable exceptions have been The New
 Yorker and National Geographic, both of which seem to be very
 conscientious about fact checking and getting things right.
 Unfortunately even then inaccuracies manage to make their way into the
 final piece. I suspect that George and others are right - the subject
 may be so foreign that they don't really understand the implications of
 their errors, or care. Sigh.

 Mark Minton
 mmin...@caver.net

 On Sun, January 18, 2015 3:22 pm, George Veni via Texascavers wrote:

 ask to review the draft article for technical accuracy,

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Re: [Texascavers] TCR 2015 Survey

[Diana Tomchick via Texascavers]

Keep it on the weekend of October 15-18.
I loved the TCR that was held at Honey Creek Cave, but Paradise Canyon is cool, 
too.

Diana

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Diana R. Tomchick
Professor
University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center
Department of Biophysics
5323 Harry Hines Blvd.
Rm. ND10.214A
Dallas, TX 75390-8816, U.S.A.
Email: diana.tomch...@utsouthwestern.edu
214-645-6383 (phone)
214-645-6353 (fax)







On Jan 7, 2015, at 10:30 AM, Don Arburn via Texascavers wrote:

 Ok, Cavers, I'm starting to think about this upcoming TCR, locations and 
 dates. Paradise Canyon called me yesterday, and asked me to ask around and 
 spread the word that if we have any need for a meeting site, he'd be happy to 
 help. We all like PC, but they still have no water. It's not a deal killer. 
 It's an option for TSA, TCMA and TCR.
 How do y'all feel about this site?

 Next is the date. There have been several traditional weekends and many 
 suggestions etc. I've penciled in the weekend of October 15-18 as a target 
 date.
 How do y'all feel about that?


 --Don
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Re: [Texascavers] [SWR] It's bat vs. bat in aerial jamming wars

[Diana Tomchick via Texascavers]

I would guess it's due to the fact that not all bats live in low light 
conditions (think: many species of fruit bats that spend their lives in trees). 
Mammalian evolution takes longer than it does for invertebrates: the time 
between generations is much longer.

Diana

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Diana R. Tomchick
Professor
University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center
Department of Biophysics
5323 Harry Hines Blvd.
Rm. ND10.214A
Dallas, TX 75390-8816, U.S.A.
Email: diana.tomch...@utsouthwestern.edu
214-645-6383 (phone)
214-645-6353 (fax)







On Dec 31, 2014, at 3:28 PM, Ken Harrington wrote:

 Interesting article and makes me wonder why bats have such good eyesight if 
 it is not used to capture insects (food).  This article seems to show that 
 bats which use echo-location for finding food use it exclusively and if it is 
 jammed they do not get the food.
 What purpose do the eyes function as?  Seeing as bats spend most of their 
 lives in low light level conditions, are their eyes working in a different 
 spectrum or frequency range that that used in conditions of white light?  Do 
 they have a spectrum of eyesight that allows navigating narrow spaces in 
 total darkness?

 Yeah, I know my mind works in strange ways but I have to question why 
 something such as eyesight (which takes up a large part of the brain to 
 process) is provided if it is not used for some type of survival technique 
 such as finding food.

 Ken


 Life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass - It's about dancing in the 
 rain.

 Date: Tue, 30 Dec 2014 21:59:35 +
 From: dirt...@comcast.net
 To: s...@caver.net; Texascavers@texascavers.com; tag-...@hiddenworld.net
 Subject: [SWR] It's bat vs. bat in aerial jamming wars

 It's bat vs. bat in aerial jamming wars

 https://www.sciencenews.org/article/its-bat-vs-bat-aerial-jamming-wars?mode=magazinecontext=189468tgt=nr

 It's bat vs. bat in aerial jamming wars
 Special wavering call sabotages aim
 By Susan Milius
 10:00am, December 19, 2014

 SONAR WARS Of the 15 known kinds of squeaks and chirps that a Mexican 
 free-tailed bat makes, one looks like aerial sabotage.

 Magazine issue: Vol. 186 No. 13, December 27, 2014

 In nighttime flying duels, Mexican free-tailed bats make short, wavering 
 sirenlike waaoo-waaoo sounds that jam each other’s sonar.

 These “amazing aerial battles” mark the first examples of echolocating 
 animals routinely sabotaging the sonar signals of their own kind, says Aaron 
 Corcoran of Wake Forest University in Winston-Salem, N.C. Many bats, like 
 dolphins, several cave-dwelling birds and some other animals, locate prey and 
 landscape features by pinging out sounds and listening for echoes. Some prey, 
 such as tiger moths, detect an incoming attack and make frenzied noises that 
 can jam bat echolocation, Corcoran and his colleagues showed in 2009 (SN: 
 1/31/09, p. 10). And hawkmoths under attack make squeaks with their genitals 
 in what also may be defensive jamming (SN Online: 7/3/13). But Corcoran 
 didn’t expect bat-on-bat ultrasonic warfare.

 Mexican free-tailed bats fight sonar wars, jamming each other’s echolocation 
 signals in competitions to snatch moths out of the night sky.

 Nickolay Hristov
 He was studying moths dodging bats in Arizona’s Chiricahua Mountains when his 
 equipment picked up a feeding buzz high in the night sky. A free-tailed bat 
 was sending faster and faster echolocation calls to refine the target 
 position during the final second of an attack. (Bats, the only mammals known 
 with superfast muscles, can emit more than 150 sounds a second.) Then another 
 free-tailed bat gave a slip-sliding call. Corcoran, in a grad student frenzy 
 of seeing his thesis topic as relevant to everything, thought the call would 
 be a fine way to jam a buzz. “Then I totally told myself that’s impossible — 
 that’s too good to be true.”

 Five years later he concluded he wasn’t just hearing things. He and William 
 Conner, also of Wake Forest, report in the Nov. 7 Science that the 
 up-and-down call can cut capture success by about 70 percent. Using multiple 
 microphones, he found that one bat jams another, swoops toward the moth and 
 gets jammed itself.

 Corcoran says that neighborly sabotage could be especially valuable for the 
 highly sociable Mexican free-taileds (Tadarida brasiliensis). “If you live in 
 a cave with a million bats,” he says, “you have to go out and find food — and 
 compete with a million bats.”

 JAMMED SIGNAL Three video clips filmed outdoors at night show Mexican 
 free-tailed bats (the larger white shapes) hunting tethered insects (smaller 
 white shapes). The first clip shows a successful midair catch, and the rest 
 show how jamming calls foil the attempts. Credit: A.J. Corcoran et 
 al./Science 2014.

 DirtDoc

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[Texascavers] DFW Grotto New Year's Party, Saturday, Jan. 3, 7 PM

[Diana Tomchick via Texascavers]

Tom Sims has happily volunteered to host this year's DFW Grotto New Year's 
Party this coming Saturday, January 3, 2015. Grotto members, cavers, spouses, 
friends, children and other well-behaved guests are welcome. There will be a 
holiday ham and some non-alcoholic beverages (and a limited selection of beer) 
provided, please bring a dish to share and adult beverages (especially New 
Year's bubbly!) are always welcome.

Party starts at: 7 PM

Location: 825 Mockingbird Circle, Lewisville, TX 75067, 972-768-4030

Food: plan on eating dinner with us! Bring a yummy dish to share.

Beverages: bring some bubbly and/or other adult beverages to share.

Seating: toss a folding camp chair into your vehicle, just in case it's needed.

Fun items: if you have your favorite pool cue, bring it.

Parking: The best place to park is at the New Beginnings Church 1687 South 
Edmonds Lane which is located directly behind Tom's house. Enter the parking 
lot and turn right.  Park in the back, cross the alley and walk 20 meters 
north. Tom's garage will be open and just walk in.

Help, I can't drive home and need a place to stay overnight!: Tom has two spare 
beds and an inflatable mattress if anybody needs one. There is plenty of floor 
space in case anybody would like to bring their own inflatable. Tom also has 
lots of yard space to pitch a tent if needed.

Ask questions if needed,

Diana

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Diana R. Tomchick
Professor
University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center
Department of Biophysics
5323 Harry Hines Blvd.
Rm. ND10.214A
Dallas, TX 75390-8816, U.S.A.
Email: diana.tomch...@utsouthwestern.edu
214-645-6383 (phone)
214-645-6353 (fax)










UT Southwestern


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