[ATM] re: LEDs and who gets to say what

[Gary Fuchs <gary@rcn.com>]

To ATM list participants to whom it may concern:

I've known Dave Harbour for more than a year now and in that time we've 
exchanged many emails and spoken a number of times as well. He's a good 
guy. And he's gone through, and continues to endure, difficulties and 
troubles that would finish most. To anyone that would berate him I 
suggest pick on someone your own size - and I don't mean someone bigger.

Besides the communication mentioned above, I've read every post Dave's 
made, and everything he's written that's available online. Even if 
Dave's contribution was "only" his "Understanding Foucault", he would 
already be due a respect that would put up with perceived errors or 
omissions.

I'm a beginner. I'm in this primarily for the enjoyment of learning and 
achieving things I've dreamed about. When I wanted to understand the 
Foucault test I read everything I could find, including the oft 
recommended Texereau, Berry, etc., plus online materials. None explained 
it to me as well as Dave's article. (Actually none explained it 
adequately at all - but then I'm not the brightest LED at Radio Shack) 
Whenever I've seen another beginner ask on this or other forums, about 
Foucault, I always check to see if there's something better out there 
than "Understanding Foucault". So far I haven't seen it. All over the 
world ATM sites link to it, often with appreciative comments.

If anyone doesn't want to read someone's post there's an easy solution. 
Just don't. Use a filter if you want. So far, whatever Dave has 
recommended is something that works. Maybe there's a newer, better 
method available? So what. All you pros will do what you want anyway. 
The worst that will happen to one of us beginners if we listen to Dave 
Harbour is that we will use a cheaper, simpler method and maybe take a 
bit longer. Maybe not. And we'll encounter a passionate stimulating 
enthusiasm - something that often gets lost in all the back and forth 
about who's is bigger and other varieties of one-upmanship that I've 
noticed here on occasion.

Dave Harbour doesn't need me to defend him. But I'm his friend and I'm 
doing it anyway. None of you are diminished by anything Dave might say. 
He doesn't need to build up his reputation to sell anything or to gain 
any bragging rights. He just wants to share what he's learned and "be in 
the game" a while longer. And maybe once in a while he "pontificates" a 
bit. Which of us exactly ought to be casting the first stone in that 
respect?

I try not to forget that an amateur pursues something for the love of 
it. We should all have friends like Dave Harbour.

In case anyone gets upset about how much bandwidth I dared use up they 
can check the archives to see how many times I've posted to this list, 
and about what.

That's it. For now.

Gary Fuchs





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