From: Daniel Fundo 
To: Shane LaPierre 
CC: atm{at}shore.net
Reply-To: Daniel Fundo 


From: Guy Brandenburg:

Re: That wooden scope that took 1st place for craftsmanship is a marvel.

<<  It appears that the maker of this telescope lives in a very cloudy
climate...or else is not using this scope much for observing, but perhaps
decorating the living room with it.

In some ways this reminds me of the Dark Ages practice when monk/scribes
made copies of 'classic' works in math, philosophy, astronomy, etc.  The
copies were ornately decorated.

Rubbish.  The important part was the information in the text.  >>

Some of us on this list have other skills besides ATMing.  I consider
myself an above average woodworker, as is George Anderson, Chuck Hard, and
several others.  Clive Milne is the "master of metals".  I see
nothing wrong with integrating my hobbies, especially since I can't do any
useful observing from within the city on a weekday night. Utilitarian has
its place, but aesthetics have a place too.

While Guy may find a telescope of unfinished wood and
rusting/tarnished/corroding metal to be acceptable as long as it produces
good images, I see someone who doesn't care enough to finish a project, and
someone who will have to rebuild it sooner than later.

We may not be able to match the beauty and perfection of the universe we
see, but at least we can try to observe it with something that is visually
pleasing in non-nighttime hours.

*****-----
Dan F.
Secretary/MAS
Memphis, TN

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