ATM Re: Beginners View

[Bratislav Curcic <epabcc@epa.ericsson.se>]

Dear Ross,

> does anybod know where here in
> Melbourne Australia I might be able to see an event like the one above
> (other than the VAS which I intend on attending the next meeting)

my message to you last thursday (that you apparently ignored) couldn't
be more precise. I explained where ASV's ATM meetings are (109 Parer
St, Burwood), told you that meeting is 2 to 5 PM (it actually lasted
'till 6:30), told you about facilities (blanks, grits, even grinding
machine, books to be browsed and borrowed, optical bench with null
tester etc etc.), and invited you to come, have a chat and ask all the
questions you can think of, and then some.
Now, the '.se' in my mail address could be misleading, but the message 
wasn't. 

If you feel offended by the tone, I apologize. But fact still stands that
some things CANNOT be learned from the ATM list. You cannot expect that 
list runs beginner's courses in making optics every time a newcomer shows
up - we have more than 1000 people on this list, imagine if we repeat
basic stuff for each and every memeber ! 
This list is not elitist, nor it is for people who know 90% of the
answers. But just as respect to this list I think it is fair to expect
that people DO their homework first and read a book or two. Do you
really think it is OK to expect that someone spends hours (days?)
explaining the most basic stuff so you could save A$44.90 not buying
Texereau ? 'Scuse the tone, but I find _that_ offensive.

> Anyway enough of my rant.... and my appologies to what I suspect is the
> majority of people on this news list.

I guess I don't fall into the 'majority' here, but nevertheless, don't worry.
My skin has become almost flameproof after few years on this list ;-)

Bratislav "I don't beat around the bush" Curcic,
Melbourne Australia