To Bob, Sonny and List,
I know I'm going to open a can of worms with this reply, but I'm
having a hard time keeping quiet. I know it is List policy to not
post personal emails and it appears that Sonny has done just
that. However, I stand in support of Sonny on this issue and find it
offensive that Bob V. would insinuate or speculate that "someone
else" has irritated or offended the Smithsonian Institute to the
point that they are "clamping down" on meteorite hunters.
Bob Verish wrote: (quoted from below)
"...I don't have any of the details but rumor has it that
somebody who found a bunch of meteorites on public
lands has offended the hardliners at the Smithsonian
by claiming that they all belong to the finder, which
challenges the S.I.s claim of ownership of all finds
on public lands. As a result, the status quo that we
in California have been trying so hard to preserve is
now out the window. The S.I. has up'd the ante. They
have reacted by requesting a separate type specimen be
delivered to the S.I. for any find made on public
lands!
But I don't know how much of this is true, and I don't
want to spread a false rumor."
If anyone has " offended the hardliners" at the SI, I think we need
to look no farther that Bob Verish's side yard. Claiming that LA001
and LA002 were found in an old crate of agates and jaspers ( see
Meteorite Magazine August 2000) in his side yard is more than likely
the real cause of any rancor or animosity expressed by the
SI. Shorty after Bob's "rediscovery" of his valuable twins, I had a
long talk, in person, with Roy Clark Jr. He was of the very strong
opinion that not only did the two Martian meteorites come from public
lands, but that Bob also knew exactly where they came from. Now,
that's just his opinion, and may or may not be mine as well, but I
can see where that particular incident could possibly be the REAL
issue that could create problems between meteorite hunters and the SI.
Let's pin the tail on the right donkey. Let's give credit where credit is due.
In closing, I will say the following. Any other time I've crossed
swords with Bob V. he's bombarded me with condescending and
derogatory emails. So, to keep the dog at bay, I forewarn Mr. Verish
that I reserve the right to forward to this Meteorite List any emails
he sends to me personally.
Regards,
John Gwilliam
At 08:16 AM 4/12/2007, [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:
Bob ,
Please stop emailing me. I would appreciate it in the future if you
would share any of your concerns with Met List and not me. If anyone
in this hobby is going to ruin it for the rest of us it will be you.
With the rumored phone calls to the BLM and various Universities
snooping for information I am sure this hobby will suffer.
Sonny
-
---
See what's free at AOL.com.
Attached Message
From: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Subject: Re: Giving credit where (official) credit is due
Date: Wed, 11 Apr 2007 10:56 PM
Hi Sonny,
That's a very good point.
So good, in fact, that when I brought it up with the
NomComm (several years ago) that's when they
instituted having to supply specific data along with a
request for a provisional number. But if you're still
not comfortable with that, then by all means, don't
get provisional numbers for that locality.
But all of this is moot, because there are bigger
issues, at hand, which require looking at the bigger
picture. There appears to be some changes in the
works. I may have to post to the List in order to
address these broader issues.
I don't have any of the details but rumor has it that
somebody who found a bunch of meteorites on public
lands has offended the hardliners at the Smithsonian
by claiming that they all belong to the finder, which
challenges the S.I.s claim of ownership of all finds
on public lands. As a result, the status quo that we
in California have been trying so hard to preserve is
now out the window. The S.I. has up'd the ante. They
have reacted by requesting a separate type specimen be
delivered to the S.I. for any find made on public
lands!
But I don't know how much of this is true, and I don't
want to spread a false rumor.
Bob V.
--- [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:
In a message dated 4/11/2007 12:34:22 P.M. Pacific
Daylight Time,
[EMAIL PROTECTED] writes:
But that's all I'm asking of
Sonny; to get the "credit" he deserves by securing
it
with provisional names and numbers.
Otherwise, some other person could make another
find
from his "study area" unknowingly, and go ahead of
him
with getting that area named and 001 number
approved,
and worse, get published before Sonny could get
proper
credit.
That's only one of many good reasons,
Bob V.
Hi Bob,
I appreciate your concern. But lets try this one
more time! The reason I do
not wish to get a provisional number or name until
all of the of the field
work is complete is for this reason. Because of