Marlo,
As a psychiatric nurse, I can reassure you that "It's all right," we shell
collectors all have some Obsessive-Compulsive traits. Otherwise, we wouldn't
be shell collectors.

There is now hope because there's medication that can help reduce the
behaviors manifested in OC Disorder. But a good therapeutic treatment plan
includes group therapy. Coping Skills group via this listserv starts at
1:30am sharp since this gives me a break after my second shift job at the
state hospital.

By the way, my rates are going up since I like counting the little green
leafy papers over and over and over. WHEN did you say you wanted your room
unlocked and strait jacket untied?
**********
I just got the Bahamian Seashells book by Colin Redfern today and it looks
splendid. It's got to be the best up-to-date book on the vicinity of
Florida/Bahamas. Very clearly organized, obviously a lot of work went into
this. It would have been helpful to have known ranges included. I'm
wondering what our Florida/West Atlantic experts will say. What quibbles are
there? In the explanation for Plate 18, shell 157A, it looks like a line of
text was dropped. Ummmm...that's my obsessive editing trait coming out.

David Kirsh
Durham, NC

> From: Marlo Krisberg <[log in to unmask]>
> Reply-To: Conchologists of America List <[log in to unmask]>
> Date: Tue, 30 Oct 2001 18:20:04 -0500
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Re: Numbering
>
> Here's my numbering and storage system and how I keep it current.  Every
> shell is bar coded and stored in vacuum sealed packets with complete data.
> All shells are tripled.  One is stored in a vault.  One in the
> workroom/shell room with the third, which is "open packed" for examination.
> The bar coded data slips are readable via an electronic wan which is plugged
> into a computer which displays current taxonomic data and produces a
> self-adhesive, replacement data slip if required (see below).  The bar code
> cross references to a central philogeneticlly ordered catalog, a "collected
> location" data base, a "chronologically acquired" data base, a
> self-collected data base, a trade data base, a dealer data base, a gift data
> base, and my favorite recipes.  Each data base is stored both electronic and
> hard copy (hand-written.  That's how my progeny earn their yearly IRA
> contributions).  Electronic copies are duplicated each night to a resident
> server, a high density storage medium which is disconnected when not in use
> and stored in a water proof, two-hour fire resistant safe with a built in
> beeper for easy location in the event it is washed away by flood, tornado or
> hurricane (all of which we've had here in the past year), and a remote
> server in a rural western America bomb shelter.  All the data bases can be
> accessed by a relational Boolean-chaos search program that will convert
> readouts to four languages in addition to English.  They are all linked to a
> master philogenetic/taxonomy list of every Gastropoda and Pelecypoda ever
> described in the literature (except Petuch's Olive book - there wasn't
> room).  Each entry in the master list is cross-linked to prior and related
> names so that a search by any name will produce a readout of the current
> name under which shells in the workroom/shell room are filed.  A change in
> the master list (updated monthly) will change all the data bases and produce
> new data slips for all shells upon request.  No, the vaulted specimens are
> not relabeled. That would be done only in the event a vaulted specimen was
> accessed.  The workroom/shell room specimens are stored in a
> computer-controlled, light-tight, environmentally controlled, automated
> retrieval system (only the repairperson is allowed inside - in order to cut
> costs she also babysits, cooks, cleans and drives the car, but she doesn't
> do windows).  Shells can be retrieved by querying the relational
> Boolean-chaos search program by names, locale, source, etc.  When the
> "retrieve" button is pressed the system will retrieve the drawer with the
> shell and if any name changes or other data changes have occurred since the
> specimen was last retrieved, an updated data sheet is delivered from the
> retrieval system printer along with the storage drawer.
>
> If anyone is interested in a similar system (master list and all relational
> databases included), I can install one for you for $4.95 plus travel
> expenses (add 6% sales tax if you live in Florida).  You'll have to find
> your own repair person.  You just have to get the nurse to unlock my room
> and unsnap my straight jacket.
>
> Marlo
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Conchologists of America List [mailto:[log in to unmask]]On
> Behalf Of Linda Bush
> Sent: Tuesday, October 30, 2001 11:33 AM
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Numbering
>
>
> Hi, Conch-Lers!
>
> I guess I'll get in on the numbering discussion.   To me, it seems to be
> logical to simply enter a shell in numerical order.
> BUT, then I put a code in the other corner of my card.    With a
> combination of letters and numbrs, I put a code which indicates, in this
> order - species, country where found, the lot
> number  from this locality (again, in numerical order), and the
> number of shells in the lot.   I keep a separate card system for
> each family, but at this point, only my Pectens are completely
> done.   I then have a list of species organized alphabetically by the first
> unit in the code, i.e. the species abbreviation.    Then I indicate the main
> number of the card.   This allows me to get
> a quick overview of what I have and where to find the card.    Also, I leave
> spaces between each entry, so that if the species
> name is changed, I cannot only move the entry but go to the card and change
> the name of the species and/or the genus.
>
> Complicated?   It works for me.    I also have a written explanation of the
> code, so that if anything happens to me, another person can decipher it.
>
> Cheers,
> Linda