Hi Tom,
 
Yeah, I'd have hated to have Tim closer. He is a nice and bright guy but he
is a pro, and there is that division. He didn't like his big PhD in
contention with a malacological amateur, to be bested at anything, even
puzzles.   He pleaded lack of familiarity with marine stuff, and really
argued about ambiguity. I told him ambiguity was part of the rich old
tradition of puzzling, a la Sam Lloyd, and there were clues to clarify all,
but he wasn't buying anything I said, just that he had found a second
solution. I can't take the time now to check up on him, but no point in
doing it anyway. I was going to give him a prize too, and maybe should
have, but he acted so bratty that I decided to let things stand. You were
first with a/any/the solution by five days.  You won. End.  Anyway, he is
off to Russia for field work, so he got the big prize, which is what I told
him in the end. <G!>
 
Later,
 
Lynn
 
>Lynn,
>
>Thanks for  taking the trouble to post your puzzles and to provide really
>nice prizes.  It was a neat break during the dull (e-mail wise) holiday
>period.  I'm also glad I didn't have to arm wrestle Tim to determine the
>winner.  The latiaxis sounds great.  I look forward to trying my luck the
>next time.  Just for information, my daughter and I struggled with that
>puzzle until 1:15 in the morning.  No big deal for me as I'm retired but
>she had to go to work the next day.  So the win was twice as sweet after
>staying up that late (early?).
>
>Thanks again.  Hope others on the list got a kick out of having something
>different posted.
>
>Tom Eichhorst
>
>P.S.  I gave a copy to my son-in-law last night and haven't heard a word
>from him or my other daughter since.  I expected him to e-mail the answer
>but he must still be struggling with Irus and Irus.
>
>