Hi Kevin and List,
I'm glad you enjoyed the article. Burnham was a complex man who, IMO,
was treated unfairly by a system that he had little influence with.
I'm not blaming anyone for how Burnham lived his final years, and I
have nothing but respect for Lowell, but things could have been
handled differently - Burnham deserved better.
The Celestial Handbooks are a lasting legacy that have withstood the
test of time. They are not just a valuable reference for amateur
astronomers - they are a poetic story of a love affair between a man
and the cosmos. Wherever Burnham is now, I hope there will always be
starlight on his path.
For those Listers who have never read Burnham's self-interview, please
take the time to do so. You will learn a few things about the man and
the world we live in.
And a different note, now that I know an opium agent is responsible
for the preliminary identification of Shergotty as a meteorite, my
curiosity is getting the best of me. I can't wait to read that story.
Best regards and clear skies,
MikeG
--
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Galactic Stone Ironworks - MikeG
Web: http://www.galactic-stone.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/galacticstone
Twitter: http://twitter.com/GalacticStone
RSS: http://www.galactic-stone.com/rss/126516
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On 6/12/12, Kevin Kichinka mars...@gmail.com wrote:
Team Meteorite:
It's a chilly, damp night here in south Central America. The rain is
pounding on my tin roof making for a happy rain forest.
Subscribers to 'Meteorite', and I hope that is everyone reading this,
may have already read part one in the May issue of my feature 'The
Rise of the Raj and the Fall of Shergotty'. It's the first-ever
published account of that 1865 fall. I'm honored to have been chosen
for the assignment.
Well, time is of the essence for me to complete the conclusion of the
feature for the Aug issue (don't worry Derek) and tonight I'm working
on 'Mr. Peppe's' bio. Subscriber's know that he was a British Gov't
employee in India working as a sub-opium agent.
Just as it was about to be discarded, Peppe ID'd Shergotty as a meteorite.
Then he went back to work the opium fields.
I find that interesting :)
Oh, there's a lot more to this most excellent story but you'll have to
purchase the next issue to find out. Call now to subscribe, operators
are standing by.
But as crucial as this article is- I'll be burning the midnight oil
tonight sorting through google-scanned 19th century docs on Indian
farming practices- I'm momentarily diverted by a treasure gifted to me
by M-Lister Michael Gilmer.
Backstory - I offered here for sale this weekend the three-volume
Burnham's Celestial Handbook. Lazy me, never read it. Michael wrote
me and shared his enthusiasm for the author. Copied me on a link from
the 'Village Voice'. It's an interview with the author.
I had no idea of the plus genius of Robert Burnham, perhaps you don't
either.
I wouldn't dream of wasting your time.
I invite one and all to pull up a beer, slip on some comfortable
Coltrane, and settle in for a sublime hour of logic and common sense
on matters of the heart, mind and soul set somewhere in the
multiverse. You'll LOL, you'll nod your head in agreement. Your brain
will visit places it hadn't gone before. Not off-topic, pallasites are
in play.
http://blogs.villagevoice.com/runninscared/2011/06/robert_burnham_j.php
Kevin Kichinka
Santa Ana, Costa Rica
www.theartofcollectingmeteorites.com
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