As many long-time BLIPMAP users are aware, last July 4th marked the independence of the BLIPMAP processing, with a shift from my office computer to Bill Hall's volunteered computer, as required by my early retirement due to health problems.  That hectic period induced a burnout which has continued though this year, and I have found that the effort needed to continue to maintain and build the site has, overall, been more loss than gain and those demands have kept me from other pursuits.  Moreover, I have been unable to do any soaring myself and it is somewhat painful to be daily reminded of that lack in my life. 

So I now feel it is time to declare personal independence and am freezing DrJack to take a vacation of indefinite length. I plan to devote the time I had been spending on DrJack to other concerns which have been long neglected.  I will not be responding to emails or to Forum posts and there will be no BLIPMAP updates, no new BLIPSPOTs will be created, no contributions accepted, etc.  I thank all who have supported the efforts made here - I feel I have achieved half of of goal I had envisioned and have at a minimum demonstrated that improved soaring forecasts are possible.  My personal belief is that better soaring forecasts lead to more flights occurring on better soaring days, increasing pilot enjoyment and satisfaction and thereby promoting greater participation.

The above leaves many questions unanswered, including the future, but that is because the only answer I have at this point is that "I really don't know".