Re: About TASS

["Thomas F. Droege" <droege@fastmail.fm>]

Mike,

I would certainly support you for a system if you want one.  It is a lot
of work.  I think it would be best to assemble a small group.  You need
mechanical talent, software (no problem) electronics talent.  Someone to
show up with a voltmeter and an oscilloscope when something goes wrong. 
Rob's system is presently down because one of the cameras is sick and
really needs a competent electronic tech with an oscilloscope to fix it. 

There is one system here in the "Bird House" that would be pretty easy
to take away.  You would have to show up with a pickup truck and a
helper to drag it away.  I could get Dan to help you.  I would give you
everything.  The telescope, the chiller, pump, and the computer. 
Everyting needed.  I would even give you the "bird house" but it would
take a big crane to get it.  

I think the real problem is assembling a "club" or a "team" that might
be successful.  

I really appreciate your offer to keep the data base going.   

I had hoped to run tom4 as a tracking unit.  It is set up to track one
field for as long as possible.  Your star is on top of my list.  I may
yet run it.  Now that I am off my medication I am feeling pretty good.

Think about it.

Tom   



On Sat, 15 Apr 2006 12:46:16 -0500, "Michael Sallman"
<msallman@pro-ns.net> said:
> Tom and all,
> 
> I for one would like to see TASS continue. I appreciate, and have really
> enjoyed, the opportunity to be involved for the last 7 years or so. I've
> met some really great people and I've certainly learned an awful lot
> along the way.... :-)
> I would be willing to commit to trying to keep TASS going (whether it be
> taking over the operation of a camera, continuing to maintain the
> database I have, or whatever else might be deemed useful).
> Plus, I need more data on my star! ;-)
> I'm sure others can comment with more insight into potential data
> repositories (Vizier, AAVSO, ???).
> 
> Mike
> 
> Thomas F. Droege wrote:
> > I have had cancer since 1998.  It has now progressed to the point that I
> > don't have the energy to climb up on the roof and run the survey.  One
> > does not get a straight answer when one asks "when" but I think it is
> > months not years now.  The last PSA was 1035 and the previous month it
> > was 700.  Those of a computational bent can compute when I will be 100%
> > tumor.  
> > 
> > Death is a natural progression of life and I don't see this as anything
> > special.  I have had a full life and lots of fun.  There are no regrets
> > and I am at peace about it.  
> > 
> > This brings up some questions.
> > 
> > What to do with TASS?
> > 
> > What to do with the data?
> > 
> > What to do with all this stuff that will go in the ash can if I don't
> > give it directly to someone?
> > 
> > Possibly we can discuss this here over the next few weeks.  
> 
> 
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> 
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> 
> 
> 
-- 
  Thomas F. Droege
  droege@fastmail.fm