Dear all, in the TAC reprint 'Comments on the development of topos theory', Lawvere writes

during that [1973 stay in Buffalo, Grothendieck] also advocated the abandonment of his earlier complicated definition of 'scheme', but unfortunately the simpler alternative he offered does not seem to have found its way into the textbooks

What would this simplified definition be? Also, reference is made to a document held in Jack Duskin's files made during this visit. If this document still exists, I would exhort whoever has it to donate it, or a high-quality scan of it, to the Grothendieck Circle people. After G's passing, his works have gone back online, apparently with the permission of his family, see http://www.grothendieckcircle.org/ Best regards, David -- Dr David Roberts Research Associate School of Mathematical Sciences University of Adelaide SA 5005 AUSTRALIA [For admin and other information see: http://www.mta.ca/~cat-dist/ ]