apologize for silence but 2008 was a good year again - like all the previous ones. Martin is still quite active with IOS and Ken will transfer #017 to him in Lindenberg on May 12. Ken just experienced more winter in Ny Alesund - he did miss most of the mean Toronto winter by going to Texas again. Major intercomparison with 5 instruments from countries nearby - starting in Hradec Kralove in 2 weeks. Nettie and I are really looking forward to seeing Czech R. again.