I should first like to announce that, in response to my appeal in the last issue, this edition sports both a crossword and a poem! These will be found near the end of the magazine, but before the Proceedings. I am glad to say that Angela Anderson, who contributed the crossword, is happy to provide more puzzles on a regular basis. Rather more optimistically, I have put the poem in a section that I have entitled POET'S CORNER. I hope that readers with talent may like to continue the tradition. This one is of trans-Atlantic origin, contributed by Donna Balin and Michelle Othon. 

Also from across the Atlantic, we have an contribution by Ellis L Yochelson, together with our own Gordon Craig, on the Smithsonian Institution in Washington. If you want to know what this has to do with Edinburgh, or even Scotland, then I advise you to read the article and discover for yourself! 

While on the track of famous institutions, we have a short piece by Stuart Monro on the new Dynamic Earth exhibition... well, more than just a exhibition, this is intended to be more of an experience. Those who have had a preview of Dynamic Earth have come back with glowing reports, but if Stuart's article doesn't encourage you to get yourself down there, thenI don't know what will! 

In similar vein to the POET'S CORNER, I have started what I hope will become a regular column, which I have called WHAT'S IN A NAME?. The first in the intended series is an article by Ken Hitchen on the naming of geographical and geological features in the north Atlantic. It is quite an illuminating read - it is quite amazing what supposedly serious-minded geologists get up to! 

This issue also sees an article by David Land on furniture and silverware once owned by Alexander Rose and now in the care of the Society. Alexander Rose, according to David, may be considered as the father of the Edinburgh Geological Society. 

We also have a contribution by President Bill Baird on the Garleton Haematite Mine. The original of the mine plan was provided by Richard Gillanders from the archives of the British Geological Survey. Bill has detailed the discovery of the mine and given its development a historical and economic perspective. 

Lastly, Phil Stone has given me an article that puts the coming of the new millennium into a geological perspective and at the same time announces a symposium on the Southern Uplands to take place in September of this year. It looks like an interesting meeting and details can be had from the sources listed. It will also be announced in the Society billet nearer the time. 

At this stage, however, I should like to point out that, at least as far as THE EDINBURGH GEOLOGIST is concerned, the new millennium does not begin until 1st January 2001. The advantage as far as you are concerned is that it gives you all the greater chance of having an article published in this magazine during the present century and millennium. But only if you set yourself down and put pen to paper... or preferably finger to keyboard. There's plenty of time in the next millennium! 

As I said earlier, this issue sees the start of a series called WHAT'S IN A NAME?. The point of a series is that there should be more than one article and I am therefore appealing to all those who might have a bright idea to send in a contribution. I felt that this particular series might lend itself to an article by an amateur member and if any of you would like to send me something, I'd be doubly delighted. And don't worry if you feel that you don't know enough... I am willing to help you... or point you in the direction of someone else if it is beyond me. 

I look forward to receiving contributions...