Re: shedding of veils

[Jim McGill <jim@elseware.com>]

OK. Introductions all around.  I'm an amateur woodwind maker, specializing 
in bagpipes, and more specifically in less common eastern European ones 
(like sacpipas and cimpois).  I have a Ph.D. in Analytical Chemistry and 
have done some work in paper and wood conservation (though I suspect the 
state of the art has changed a bit in the 15 years since I was active.) 

Professionally I program computers for a font technology firm called 
ElseWare. My interests are, naturally,  in wood conservation and 
restoration. I am also interested in learning about modern materials with an 
eye towards what to use and what to avoid (i.e., during the '30's Celluloids 
were used extensively as horn substitutes, but they are now crumbling 
because they were not stable in the long term.  I suspect there are similar 
problems with some modern plastics.)  Mostly I expect I shall be a lurker, 
using this list as a source of information and occasionally fielding 
chemistry related questions.

Jim McGill