[Taxacom] Sale: immortal names

[metzlere at msu.edu]

Doug Yanega wrote "Pandora's Box anyone."

I've heard the philosophical discussion about this subject since I was a student 50 years ago.  I longed for retirement to be free of all the administrative work.  Not being from a university, but rather from state government, I foolishly overlooked that retirement also meant loss of any support.

My interest in this subject is totally practical.  I do not have access to funds to continue my research.  I can honestly proclaim: "I have no profit motive - I'll gladly share proceeds exceeding expenses with any institution loaning specimens." I just want to keep working.

No person retired from any state government ever had excess $$.  I'm very frugal with the few resources I have - and they are now gone.  My choices are 1) learn to play bridge at the senior center, 2) rob a bank, 3) become inventive, i.e. auctions, at raising some $$, 4) become addicted to TV, 5) sell all my posessions to support my habit.  Choices 1, 2, 4, and 5 are very low priority for me.

If any of you know a rich person wiling to help an unfunded retired person study and describe moths, please give that person my name.

Cheers from sunny and blistering hot southern New Mexico.

Eric H. Metzler
Research Collaborator
U.S. National Museum of Natural History