):-{])) <---- madden@netcom.com madden@svpal.org Remember amateur astronomers: "keep looking for the next Universe"
On Tue, 28 Mar 1995 JLP@GERRY.PALOMAR.CALTECH.EDU wrote:
> At the risk of sounding hard nosed and rigid, would it be possible
> to refrain from discussing such "subjects" and stick to the general topic of
> this group. I think putting such questions to a larger audience, such as the
> newsgroup sci.astro.amateur, would be far more beneficial and
> enlightening.
>
>
> It seems that any time something is dedicated to ATM's, someone
> comes along and tries to turn it into a discussion about observing. This is
> something I have seen time and again and has been one of my favorite
> gripes.
> I think a perfect example is the Riverside Telescope Makers
> Conference. It has slowly been taken over by non-telescope makers giving
> talks about how they like to observe "faint dwarf pygmy colliding diffuse
> planetary nebula shaped like barnyard mammals" and how the world
> would be a much better place if everyone did likewise or some other such
> nonsense. This kind of talk to give to a group of telescope makers?.
> When I attended my first RTMC in 1974, when real men made
> telescopes and the absent commercial exhibitors and there victims were
> looked upon as heathens, the conference was conducted in much the same
> manner as a west coast version of "Stellafane". It followed the same
> philosophy and format of discussing things related to telescope making.
> Which leads me to conclude that, that's why it was called a telescope
> maker's conference. There were, for those that had trouble sleeping,
> a few representative talks regarding observing, But they were few and far
> between. Now it seems that 75% of the presentations are nothing but.
> Unfortunately for me, when the commercial exhibitors were
> allowed in to hock their wares, the conference took a turn for the worst.
> This is when all of the non-telescope makers with their C8s,etc. showed
> up and started to crowd out those that had a real interest in what the
> conference was originally about. In fact, it was suggested about 20 years
> ago when the commercial telescopes started out numbering the
> homebuilts, that a new judging/award category be created. Something
> along the lines of "best use of catalogs".
> I realize that financial considerations may have had something to
> do with letting the commercial vermin into the conference, and if they
> didn't, the organizers might have had to raise the registration fees for
> those attending. Then again maybe it was just the money. I don't know. I
> also realize that putting on such a conference is a time intensive and
> thankless job. But I would have been more than willing to pay for any
> increases necessary to keep the conference small and on track.
> If its one thing I miss about the original gatherings, its the small
> crowds made up of dedicated ATMs. One did not have to show up at
> Camp Oaks( the conference site) two days in advance to get a decent
> camp site. Plus, the conference was held during the dark of the moon
> closest to Memorial day. The conference date was changed to Memorial
> day weekend to accommodate those that had to travel farther to get to
> RTMC. Nice...but if you are truly dedicated, you'll miss a day of work.
> Maybe it's time to start over with a new west coast conference
> dedicated only to telescope making. But that's another discussion
> somewhere down the line and before I digress to far.
>
> I apologize for getting on my soapbox, ranting and appearing as if
> I lost my train of thought(or my mind), but I think you can see the parallel
> I am drawing between this group and RTMC. It `s best to stop the off
> topic postings now then to be taken over. What's next for this group,
> someone asking where to find the best price on a new Meade SX 2001?
>
> I hate to sound like a purist, but when it comes to telescope
> making , that's what I am. I enjoy making telescopes more than I enjoy
> using them.
>
> Please! I hope that no one takes any real offense at me for anything
> I have said. My bark is far meaner than my bite and is meant half
> jokingly/half seriously. I leave it to the reader and their individual
> sensibilities to figure out which half is which.
>
> Jeff
> JLP5@aol.com
>
> P.S. For those of you coming to RTMC this year to see and hear Dave
> Levy:
> He won't be there....So go away.
>
> On second thought,....Just go away!
>