AMATEUR NIGHT:
I'm Dreaming of a White Substance

Friday, December 10, 2004

Minutes of December 10, 2004 "Amateur's Night"
The Society's Amateur's Night, which traditionally welcomes the Holiday Season, was held at the McCrone Research Institute. A wonderful meal of Polish Food catered by Bobak's got the evening off to a good start.

Anna Tseetsov began the presentations, and offered all of those present samples of "micro-cover slips" in holiday decorated boxes. Jim Benko discussed the collection and replication of snowflakes, making available a solution of polyvinyl formvar to those wishing to be prepared for the next snowfall. Fran VanderVoort discussed some of her activities in sand collection, and offered samples. Wynn Hopkins discussed some of the stereo photography he's been doing, providing samples of a stereo poem which he prepared, and even providing stereo viewers for those needing them. Kendall Winters described a method by which sodium nitrate crystals could be prepared from starting materials purchased at the local garden center, and went on to compare the double refraction of these crystals to that of calcite. Rich Lee showed some stunning photomicrographs of combinations of tartaric acid and ascorbic acid. Joe Barabe presented photographs of a record which may or may not have been signed by all of the Beetles, as well as samples of writing done by a variety of pens in order see what, if anything, could be determined about the writing implement used. Bill Mikuska presented an interesting and quite beautiful slide show based on his interests in growing opium poppies, showing a number of poppies and micrographs of their seeds. Mike Whiteside gave a talk on anthrax. It was very informative and interesting covering the organism, modes of dispersement, specific symptoms, and treatments. Yours truly showed a few new microphotographs (less than 0.5mm square) of subjects quite recognizable by members, as well as a couple of ideas for putting them to use.

Respectfully Submitted, Robert Kuksuk, Recording Secretary