Totally off-topic, but I was wondering if anybody on the forum collects fossils. It doesn't seem too popular here in Colorado.

just my teeth when they fall out!

Are those yours? I was huge into dinosaurs when I was a kid.

Yep, they're mine. I never grew out of it. It's a disease called PNS, or Paleo Nerd Syndrome: adults who still like dinosaurs.

I work with a couple guys who do it. One even volunteered at the museum for several yrs and went on a few of their digs. He says what you see on display is about a tenth of what is in the basement not displayed.

Yep there's a huge debate: private collectors vs museum.

Museums think everything needs to be theirs, but they stick the specimens in a box (unless they stand out right away a being important), then they tend to forget about them. Museum workers will say, "nah, we never forget about them." But in my personal experience, they do. I think it's the American Museum of natural history that has over 30 million specimens. Tell me they are all accounted for.

Truth is, the only difference between ameteurs and professionals is the amount of paperwork involved. haha

I'm sure it's hard to keep tabs on 30 million fossils when you have things like the Ark of the Covenant in that warehouse to worry about. Top men are examining those fossils. TOP. MEN.

TOP. MEN.

Nice reference.