HortI think that there is a dearth of ...

Hort

I think that there is a dearth of official Phoenix OM images and what you and I also (but for me to a lesser extent) are seeing, is a result of people directly seeking out colourised or composite OM images from the MarsRoverBlog sources as there are no significant other official sources.

In addition, I think that there are a number of people out there who recognize the "strangeness" in the images and are downloading them to themselves look for signs of organic objects that may not appear to be too wacky or unreasonable now, given the comments on habitability, water, pH, etc. by the Phoenix team.

I suspect that amongst the downloaders may be some reputable UMSF scientists who would not deign to have anything to do with this blog otherwise.

RE. the current financial turmoil, I suspect most of us are following its turns and twists and ups and downs with trepidation as it will eventually affect all of us. This includes the space programme. The only thing that will allow the NASA programme to retain funding near its current real levels is if China develops its space programme at the same rate that it appears to be doing so far and the US has to respond in kind. I think the habitability question will become quite important in determining howe the Space exploration dollars are apportioned.

Winston