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


Hey, Dan - it wasn't me who went on the rant about scopes you look AT
versus scopes you look THROUGH. It was Tom Krajci. I just admired the
craftsmanship of the woodwork, which is stupendous.

Both Dan and Tom actually do make good points, however.

Problem is that nobody can ask Stellafane attendees how good that beautiful
scope is to look THROUGH, since the weather up in Springfield VT over the
weekend sounded like what we've been having here in Washington DC - i.e.
rain and clouds.

(I've decided to call my aqua blue 8" f/6 'The Aquascope'.

Guy B

Daniel Fundo wrote:
> 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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