Re: [APML] Mission Statement Change?

["Jim Vineyard" <sky4me@msn.com>]

  Personally, I've never seen anything wrong with the original mission
statement.
  I usually feel the real reason CCD'ers like to encroach here is they don't
like the traffic, lack of focus, and droves of meaningless messages posted
on SBIG.  They're looking for Quality here, not quantity.  I think I've
subscribed something like 5 different times over there on SBIG.  Each time
I've un-subscribed after periods ranging from only 3 days to most recently 7
months, always due to it's high traffic, lack of focus, and my own inability
to devote the kind of time it takes to wade through the never-ending
avalanche of e-mail (most of which have eventually just ended up being
deleted and never read).

  There's more to life than news, weather, and sports (and yes, even
bless-ed astrophotography).  I've been busy with numerous other activities
for quite awhile lately and am actually even autoguider-less for the present
time (not really greatly interested in manually guiding at my preferred f/10
either).  For the first time in the few short years I've belonged to the
list, I had my usual "e-mail" reading computer go down for just a few days.
It took several hours to wade through the nearly 600 messages backed up
(yes, I always read every one) and I caught up just about 3 days ago.  The
next day, around 100 more showed up.  Plugged through those immediately, not
wanting to get behind again.
  Whoops, missed another "single day's reading" last night.  Hit the "Send
and Receive" button tonight and "voila" 226 more to read!!!

  It's difficult to disagree with a true gentleman whose literally been here
since day one (meaning Chuck, who I incidentally VERY highly respect) but
doesn't anyone remember the days when we'd sometimes trickle down to only
even 2 or 3 e-mails a day.  It sure seemed like the list was A LOT more
informative, and more fun to read back then.  It was more "technical" in
nature, and not simply idle chit'chat a large proportion of the time.
  I'd gladly read on, quietly trading at a ratio of 1 to 500, a quality
message from among THE BEST IN THE WORLD IN FILM ASTROPHOTOGRAPHY, to the
usual noise found on the usual mailing list.  This list has always stood
apart, and so far as I know I've never missed a message because of that.
  Now we're contemplating changing with the times.  From the people I
genuinely enjoy and have come to know (somewhat) here, and from all the
lively conversation (and noise) amongst the true quality.  I'd say FILM is
definitely not DEAD in any sense of the word.  ISN'T film what we're all
about here.
  Let's stick with it.  Let's keep the FOCUS sharp on film.  In all the
world, this is THE place for it.

My $20 worth...  (he-he!).  And no, I'm not into arguing, only, as always,
into having FUN with this sport!  So say what you will, I'll likely quietly
have nothing more to say along these lines.


Jim Vineyard

Visit my Astro-photography website at:
http://www.homestead.com/sky4me/astrophotography.html



----- Original Message -----
From: "Chuck Vaughn" <aa6g@aa6g.org>
To: <astro-photo@seds.org>
Sent: Thursday, January 17, 2002 4:53 PM
Subject: [APML] Mission Statement Change?


> List,
>
> I've beeen wondering if it's time for an official change in the
> mission statement of APML. Here's the current one from the welcome
> message:
>
> "This list is for the discussion of Film Astrophotography. The list
> is limited to film photography only. Discussion of CCD cameras
> should be limited to autoguiding only."
>
> This hasn't been valid for sometime. Certainly we've embraced CCD
> images, some discussion of camera capabilities and certainly many
> types of image processing. I would not want to see APML become the
> SBIG list plus film, but offical acceptance of certain aspects of
> CCD imaging seems to be in order, even if limited to common topics
> between the two forms of imaging.
>
> Perhaps something along these lines might be acceptable:
>
> "The list is primarily for Film Astrophotography, but discussion
> of CCD autoguiders, processing techinques common to film and CCD,
> and presentation of CCD images is acceptable. Discussion of CCD
> only topics is discouraged."
>
> Just my thoughts. It's up Gene and the rest of you.
>
> Chuck <aa6g@aa6g.org>
>
>
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>



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