In a move that sounds as foolhardy as waving a bone in front of a pack of ravening wolves, officials already seconded to the planned Sematech semiconductor manufacturing research consortium have written to the governors of all 50 of the United States asking them to help in finding a suitable site for Sematech’s research facility: Sematech wants an exisiting facility of some 100,000 to 200,000 square feet that has semiconductor manufacturing clean room capability, should be ready for occupation by the autumn, have space for a new facility alongside, be free from environmental problems; have access to adequate utilities and services; and competitive costs and availability of land, buildings, labour and supplies – plus an attractive quality of life for the 700-plus professionals who will work there, as well as good transportation, and ready access to one or more leading universitiec; answers, on a post card please, by June 30… on behalf of California we’d like to nominate the super-clean Alcatraz Island.