[meteorite-list] Lorton, Smithsonian and cool scientists thinking
Hey List, It was my understanding that a local news station was called to the Lorton doctor's office, and then that TV news crew actually drove the meteorite to the Smithsonian for verification. At that time, it became obvious that it was a genuine meteorite and then efforts by the museum personnel were started to acquire this specimen for the museum. In any case, when I arrived at the fall site the next day after the story broke, with a Meteorite Men camera crew on my heels, Smithsonian personnel were there at the fall site, which I thought was great. You can't blame them for wanting to obtain the rock. In fact, there would be something wrong if they didn't want to acquire it. I will say that our Meteorite Men producers made extensive attempts to gain permission from the Smithsonian for me to come to the U.S. National Collection with a camera crew and shoot footage of Earth's newest alien visitor to appear in one of our upcoming February episodes. If the Lorton story would have played out big enough, it could have become its own episode, most likely running at the end of February or in March of this year. We were willing to pay the $1,000 shooting fee that the Smithsonian normally charges, but we were flatly denied ANY access to the Lorton specimen for our TV show. I am not sure of all of the reasons, and who made the actual decision to deny us and our audience the opportunity to see it first hand, but it seems that because the Smithsonian now has their own new cable TV network, and as such it is now their policy to not give any competing TV networks any access to shooting any of their stuff in their collections. We also wanted to film the actual Tucson Ring specimen, that is the centerpiece in the National Collection's public display, for this next Wednesday's episode of Meteorite Men, but we were flatly denied access a few months ago to shoot that as well. The February 3rd episode of Meteorite Men goes into the historical story of the Tucson Ring and of course, as the center piece to our National Collection now on display in Washington D.C., it's final resting place is an important part of the story of the greatest legend in all of meteorites. However, I was told that the powers that be at the Smithsonian did offer to sell us a black and white still photo of the Ring for $400 to use on the show. Nice of them, wasn't it? So, I don't think the problems we had this last week were related to the Lorton fall in particular, but seems to be a bigger bureaucratic problem elsewhere. Apparently, other networks have had severe access challenges lately in wanting to get footage of other national treasures since the Smithsonian cable network was formed. In our case it seems to be a real shame as it would have generated great PR for both our TV show and for the Smithsonian and for meteorites in general. Well, maybe one day, a few years down the road, we can look forward to the Smithsonian Cable TV Network running their own TV show about meteorites in general and maybe the Lorton specifically and we will all get to see it again. It is not my intention to paint the meteorite professionals at the National Collection in a bad light. In fact, I would invite them to respond here to give their side of the story. I have traded with the Smithsonian in the past and I even sold the Smithsonian some West specimens this last year. While the process was complicated and took a very long time, the people I worked with were great, and I consider them friends and colleagues in our celestial quest. I get the feeling that the challenges we face are in other departments other than theirs. I do know there is still some prejudice against the collecting community among some in governmental employed academia. There are those that still think all meteorites should be owned by governments and that there should be no private hunting for, collecting and owning of meteorites. There seems to be a few dinosaurs holding onto the idea that if someone earns a buck, or God forbid -- a living, in the meteorite business, it is a bad thing. (Ironically, I am still looking for the list of scientists and curators that donate 100% of their paychecks each week back to the institutions that employ them, because they really believe it is wrong for anyone to earn any money from working with meteorites.) And what is really ironic, is that people like Dr. Art Ehlmann at T.C.U., who really does all his meteorite work gratis, is on the top of the list of people who do their meteorite work for no pay AND he is also on the top of the list of scientists that support our collecting communities efforts. It is possible that there is an underlying fear that being associated with a TV show that features non-governmental collecting of meteorites could somehow cast them in a negative light, especially among a
Re: [meteorite-list] Lorton, Smithsonian and cool scientists thinking
Hi Steve and List, Great post and unfortunately very true. Something I have noticed in the last couple of years - more and more scientists have ponytails, dreadlocks, and tattoos. When I watch science documentaries on TV now, you often see a young scientist with a goatee and dreadlocks. It's funny and encouraging at the same time. Times are a changin and people are becoming more open minded and tolerant. When I grew up in the early 70's, all scientists on TV had buzz-cuts and looked like cops. So, perhaps this archaic anti-collecting attitude we go the same way as the dinosaurs. Just give it time. Seriously, next time you watch a science documentary (especially the ones about astronomy), take a look at the scientists they interview - you see a few old school types, but you also see the next young crop of up and coming scientists, and if looks are any gauge, then I feel hopeful that these exclusionary attitudes and snobbish views will disappear along with the buzz cuts and pocket protectors. ;) Best regards and happy hunting, MikeG PS - isn't the Smith publicly subsidized by tax payer money? If so, what right do they have to deny access to the specimens? On 1/29/10, meteorh...@aol.com meteorh...@aol.com wrote: Hey List, It was my understanding that a local news station was called to the Lorton doctor's office, and then that TV news crew actually drove the meteorite to the Smithsonian for verification. At that time, it became obvious that it was a genuine meteorite and then efforts by the museum personnel were started to acquire this specimen for the museum. In any case, when I arrived at the fall site the next day after the story broke, with a Meteorite Men camera crew on my heels, Smithsonian personnel were there at the fall site, which I thought was great. You can't blame them for wanting to obtain the rock. In fact, there would be something wrong if they didn't want to acquire it. I will say that our Meteorite Men producers made extensive attempts to gain permission from the Smithsonian for me to come to the U.S. National Collection with a camera crew and shoot footage of Earth's newest alien visitor to appear in one of our upcoming February episodes. If the Lorton story would have played out big enough, it could have become its own episode, most likely running at the end of February or in March of this year. We were willing to pay the $1,000 shooting fee that the Smithsonian normally charges, but we were flatly denied ANY access to the Lorton specimen for our TV show. I am not sure of all of the reasons, and who made the actual decision to deny us and our audience the opportunity to see it first hand, but it seems that because the Smithsonian now has their own new cable TV network, and as such it is now their policy to not give any competing TV networks any access to shooting any of their stuff in their collections. We also wanted to film the actual Tucson Ring specimen, that is the centerpiece in the National Collection's public display, for this next Wednesday's episode of Meteorite Men, but we were flatly denied access a few months ago to shoot that as well. The February 3rd episode of Meteorite Men goes into the historical story of the Tucson Ring and of course, as the center piece to our National Collection now on display in Washington D.C., it's final resting place is an important part of the story of the greatest legend in all of meteorites. However, I was told that the powers that be at the Smithsonian did offer to sell us a black and white still photo of the Ring for $400 to use on the show. Nice of them, wasn't it? So, I don't think the problems we had this last week were related to the Lorton fall in particular, but seems to be a bigger bureaucratic problem elsewhere. Apparently, other networks have had severe access challenges lately in wanting to get footage of other national treasures since the Smithsonian cable network was formed. In our case it seems to be a real shame as it would have generated great PR for both our TV show and for the Smithsonian and for meteorites in general. Well, maybe one day, a few years down the road, we can look forward to the Smithsonian Cable TV Network running their own TV show about meteorites in general and maybe the Lorton specifically and we will all get to see it again. It is not my intention to paint the meteorite professionals at the National Collection in a bad light. In fact, I would invite them to respond here to give their side of the story. I have traded with the Smithsonian in the past and I even sold the Smithsonian some West specimens this last year. While the process was complicated and took a very long time, the people I worked with were great, and I consider them friends and colleagues in our celestial quest. I get the feeling that the challenges we face are in other departments other than
Re: [meteorite-list] Lorton, Smithsonian and cool scientists thinking
... and may I add that not only are scientists these days sporting ponytails, dreadlocks and tattoos (and I know several), but more are of the female persuasion. Girl Power dude. On Jan 29, 2010, at 9:44 AM, Galactic Stone Ironworks wrote: Hi Steve and List, Great post and unfortunately very true. Something I have noticed in the last couple of years - more and more scientists have ponytails, dreadlocks, and tattoos. When I watch science documentaries on TV now, you often see a young scientist with a goatee and dreadlocks. It's funny and encouraging at the same time. Times are a changin and people are becoming more open minded and tolerant. When I grew up in the early 70's, all scientists on TV had buzz-cuts and looked like cops. So, perhaps this archaic anti-collecting attitude we go the same way as the dinosaurs. Just give it time. Seriously, next time you watch a science documentary (especially the ones about astronomy), take a look at the scientists they interview - you see a few old school types, but you also see the next young crop of up and coming scientists, and if looks are any gauge, then I feel hopeful that these exclusionary attitudes and snobbish views will disappear along with the buzz cuts and pocket protectors. ;) Best regards and happy hunting, MikeG PS - isn't the Smith publicly subsidized by tax payer money? If so, what right do they have to deny access to the specimens? On 1/29/10, meteorh...@aol.com meteorh...@aol.com wrote: Hey List, It was my understanding that a local news station was called to the Lorton doctor's office, and then that TV news crew actually drove the meteorite to the Smithsonian for verification. At that time, it became obvious that it was a genuine meteorite and then efforts by the museum personnel were started to acquire this specimen for the museum. In any case, when I arrived at the fall site the next day after the story broke, with a Meteorite Men camera crew on my heels, Smithsonian personnel were there at the fall site, which I thought was great. You can't blame them for wanting to obtain the rock. In fact, there would be something wrong if they didn't want to acquire it. I will say that our Meteorite Men producers made extensive attempts to gain permission from the Smithsonian for me to come to the U.S. National Collection with a camera crew and shoot footage of Earth's newest alien visitor to appear in one of our upcoming February episodes. If the Lorton story would have played out big enough, it could have become its own episode, most likely running at the end of February or in March of this year. We were willing to pay the $1,000 shooting fee that the Smithsonian normally charges, but we were flatly denied ANY access to the Lorton specimen for our TV show. I am not sure of all of the reasons, and who made the actual decision to deny us and our audience the opportunity to see it first hand, but it seems that because the Smithsonian now has their own new cable TV network, and as such it is now their policy to not give any competing TV networks any access to shooting any of their stuff in their collections. We also wanted to film the actual Tucson Ring specimen, that is the centerpiece in the National Collection's public display, for this next Wednesday's episode of Meteorite Men, but we were flatly denied access a few months ago to shoot that as well. The February 3rd episode of Meteorite Men goes into the historical story of the Tucson Ring and of course, as the center piece to our National Collection now on display in Washington D.C., it's final resting place is an important part of the story of the greatest legend in all of meteorites. However, I was told that the powers that be at the Smithsonian did offer to sell us a black and white still photo of the Ring for $400 to use on the show. Nice of them, wasn't it? So, I don't think the problems we had this last week were related to the Lorton fall in particular, but seems to be a bigger bureaucratic problem elsewhere. Apparently, other networks have had severe access challenges lately in wanting to get footage of other national treasures since the Smithsonian cable network was formed. In our case it seems to be a real shame as it would have generated great PR for both our TV show and for the Smithsonian and for meteorites in general. Well, maybe one day, a few years down the road, we can look forward to the Smithsonian Cable TV Network running their own TV show about meteorites in general and maybe the Lorton specifically and we will all get to see it again. It is not my intention to paint the meteorite professionals at the National Collection in a bad light. In fact, I would invite them to respond here to give their side of the story. I have traded with the Smithsonian in the past and I even sold the Smithsonian some
Re: [meteorite-list] Lorton, Smithsonian and cool scientists thinking
Steve, Not to knock the Smithsonian but, . If you look back at the history of the way the Carlton (the other Tucson Iron with the Tucson Ring in the Smithsonian) was acquired. It adds yet another dimension to the story. A good argument could be made that The Carlton Meteorite was actually stolen and illegally seized by Colonel Carlton, The Following is a quote from Anvils from Heaven ; Seized and sent to San Francisco as a memorial to the march of his California column into Arizona. It was irrelevant whether the black smith Ramon Pacheco- who had found his anvil in the mountains south of Tucson, brought the heavy mass to town and owned and used it in his trade. Colonel Carlton seized and stole the meteorite , shipped it off to San Francisco and never did compensate Mr. Pacheco or the city of Tucson. Jeff says not now but, did the Government (Smithsonian) have the right to steal private property back them? Carl -- Carl or Debbie Esparza Meteoritemax meteorh...@aol.com wrote: Hey List, It was my understanding that a local news station was called to the Lorton doctor's office, and then that TV news crew actually drove the meteorite to the Smithsonian for verification. At that time, it became obvious that it was a genuine meteorite and then efforts by the museum personnel were started to acquire this specimen for the museum. In any case, when I arrived at the fall site the next day after the story broke, with a Meteorite Men camera crew on my heels, Smithsonian personnel were there at the fall site, which I thought was great. You can't blame them for wanting to obtain the rock. In fact, there would be something wrong if they didn't want to acquire it. I will say that our Meteorite Men producers made extensive attempts to gain permission from the Smithsonian for me to come to the U.S. National Collection with a camera crew and shoot footage of Earth's newest alien visitor to appear in one of our upcoming February episodes. If the Lorton story would have played out big enough, it could have become its own episode, most likely running at the end of February or in March of this year. We were willing to pay the $1,000 shooting fee that the Smithsonian normally charges, but we were flatly denied ANY access to the Lorton specimen for our TV show. I am not sure of all of the reasons, and who made the actual decision to deny us and our audience the opportunity to see it first hand, but it seems that because the Smithsonian now has their own new cable TV network, and as such it is now their policy to not give any competing TV networks any access to shooting any of their stuff in their collections. We also wanted to film the actual Tucson Ring specimen, that is the centerpiece in the National Collection's public display, for this next Wednesday's episode of Meteorite Men, but we were flatly denied access a few months ago to shoot that as well. The February 3rd episode of Meteorite Men goes into the historical story of the Tucson Ring and of course, as the center piece to our National Collection now on display in Washington D.C., it's final resting place is an important part of the story of the greatest legend in all of meteorites. However, I was told that the powers that be at the Smithsonian did offer to sell us a black and white still photo of the Ring for $400 to use on the show. Nice of them, wasn't it? So, I don't think the problems we had this last week were related to the Lorton fall in particular, but seems to be a bigger bureaucratic problem elsewhere. Apparently, other networks have had severe access challenges lately in wanting to get footage of other national treasures since the Smithsonian cable network was formed. In our case it seems to be a real shame as it would have generated great PR for both our TV show and for the Smithsonian and for meteorites in general. Well, maybe one day, a few years down the road, we can look forward to the Smithsonian Cable TV Network running their own TV show about meteorites in general and maybe the Lorton specifically and we will all get to see it again. It is not my intention to paint the meteorite professionals at the National Collection in a bad light. In fact, I would invite them to respond here to give their side of the story. I have traded with the Smithsonian in the past and I even sold the Smithsonian some West specimens this last year. While the process was complicated and took a very long time, the people I worked with were great, and I consider them friends and colleagues in our celestial quest. I get the feeling that the challenges we face are in other departments other than theirs. I do know there is still some prejudice against the collecting community among some in governmental employed academia. There are those that still
[meteorite-list] Lorton, Smithsonian and cool scientists thinking
Steve wrote: “I am not sure of all of the reasons, and who made the actual decision to deny us and our audience the opportunity to see it first hand, but it seems that because the Smithsonian now has their own new cable TV network, and as such it is now their policy to not give any competing TV networks any access to shooting any of their stuff in their collections.” and “Apparently, other networks have had severe access challenges lately in wanting to get footage of other national treasures since the Smithsonian cable network was formed. In our case it seems to be a real shame as it would have generated great PR for both our TV show and for the Smithsonian and for meteorites in general.” Having had a little dealing with the Smithsonian in matters, unrelated to meteorites, the impression that got is that with continuing cuts in their federal funding, the Smithsonian has had to more and more rely on generating income from private sources. One result of this is that in order to generate income to support the operation of the museum, many activities have been commercialized, including the selling of exclusive, first come, media rights to certain newsworthy events. I doubt that any “prejudice against the collecting community” has anything to do with your treatment. It is simply that in order to generate income from private sources to replace federal budget cuts, they have sold the media rights to “discoveries,” like the Lorton meteorite, to a private company. I suspect that it is an outside company, not the Smithsonian, who now make the decisions on such matters. I suspect that a number of the people at the Smithsonian are as unhappy as you are with this state of affairs. However, it would be a bad career move for anyone to either openly or privately disagree with, express any displeasure of, or violate the contracts / agreements that they have with various outside companies. This growing commercilization and turning research into commodities managed by outside companies is a growing trend ion many museums. Go read: Caveat Venditor? Museum Merchandising, Nonprofit Commercialization, and the Case of the Metropolitan Museum in New York by Stephen Teopler in “International Journal of Voluntary and Nonprofit Organizations” at: http://www.springerlink.com/content/9229h92302851283/ MUSEUM MERCHANDISING: AN EXPLORATION OF ITS USES AND LIMITATIONS at: http://museumstudies.si.edu/Fellowships/toepler.html The cost of journal articles, like the above one, is another aspect of this problem. While working at an archaeological site, which I was working at and shall remain nameless, some friends of mine were prohibited from taking pictures of the site while visiting me because a well-known, national organization that was funding the dig had exclusive media rights as part of the funding agreement. Even I, theoretically was prohibited from taking my own personal pictures. However, since I actually worked there, people, the director just looked the other way. However, there were a couple of times when representatives from the funders were visiting, we all were told to hide our personal cameras for the duration of their visit. Yours, Paul H. __ Visit the Archives at http://www.meteoritecentral.com/mailing-list-archives.html Meteorite-list mailing list Meteorite-list@meteoritecentral.com http://six.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/meteorite-list
Re: [meteorite-list] Lorton, Smithsonian and cool scientists thinking
On Fri, 29 Jan 2010 14:44:30 -0500, you wrote: Something I have noticed in the last couple of years - more and more scientists have ponytails, dreadlocks, and tattoos. When I watch science documentaries on TV now, you often see a young scientist with a goatee and dreadlocks. It's funny and encouraging at the same time. So, like in so many other ways, wild-haired hippy Albert Einstein was ahead of his time... As long as scientists don't start having lip lenses. Lip lenses bound way beyond the line of look at them funny and to within easy reach of beat them to death with a shovel territory... http://www.boingboing.net/2010/01/27/clear-lens-face-pier.html __ Visit the Archives at http://www.meteoritecentral.com/mailing-list-archives.html Meteorite-list mailing list Meteorite-list@meteoritecentral.com http://six.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/meteorite-list
Re: [meteorite-list] Lorton, Smithsonian and cool scientists thinking
Steve wrote: “I am not sure of all of the reasons, and who made the actual decision to deny us and our audience the opportunity to see it first hand, but it seems that because the Smithsonian now has their own new cable TV network, and as such it is now their policy to not give any competing TV networks any access to shooting any of their stuff in their collections.” I may be wrong, but is the Smithsonian not supposed to be owned by the tax payers and US citizens? If this is the case, would we not legally be able to photograph and document items there as long as damage was not done? Perhaps some of the issue here is possible profit you/others could make off what you/they are doing and the fact the Smithsonian would not get a piece of the pie? I have never had dealings directly with them, but I have to say that I would rather a meteorite be there on display for all then for it to be cut into pieces and spread into a private collectors market with only a 20g/20% deposit available for the public to see. I do think some should be made public and Im sure some will eventually make its way into the market, most likely for the a good amount more then the $100 per gram price collectors would have likely been asked to pay (based on the trend recent falls have seen) It all depends on who offers them something they want that is not NWA material I guess. For all anyone knows, there may have been more found, just not made public yet... Greg Catterton www.wanderingstarmeteorites.com IMCA member 4682 On Ebay: http://stores.shop.ebay.com/wanderingstarmeteorites --- On Fri, 1/29/10, Paul H. oxytropidoce...@cox.net wrote: From: Paul H. oxytropidoce...@cox.net Subject: [meteorite-list] Lorton, Smithsonian and cool scientists thinking To: meteorite-list@meteoritecentral.com meteorite-list@meteoritecentral.com Date: Friday, January 29, 2010, 4:39 PM Steve wrote: “I am not sure of all of the reasons, and who made the actual decision to deny us and our audience the opportunity to see it first hand, but it seems that because the Smithsonian now has their own new cable TV network, and as such it is now their policy to not give any competing TV networks any access to shooting any of their stuff in their collections.” and “Apparently, other networks have had severe access challenges lately in wanting to get footage of other national treasures since the Smithsonian cable network was formed. In our case it seems to be a real shame as it would have generated great PR for both our TV show and for the Smithsonian and for meteorites in general.” Having had a little dealing with the Smithsonian in matters, unrelated to meteorites, the impression that got is that with continuing cuts in their federal funding, the Smithsonian has had to more and more rely on generating income from private sources. One result of this is that in order to generate income to support the operation of the museum, many activities have been commercialized, including the selling of exclusive, first come, media rights to certain newsworthy events. I doubt that any “prejudice against the collecting community” has anything to do with your treatment. It is simply that in order to generate income from private sources to replace federal budget cuts, they have sold the media rights to “discoveries,” like the Lorton meteorite, to a private company. I suspect that it is an outside company, not the Smithsonian, who now make the decisions on such matters. I suspect that a number of the people at the Smithsonian are as unhappy as you are with this state of affairs. However, it would be a bad career move for anyone to either openly or privately disagree with, express any displeasure of, or violate the contracts / agreements that they have with various outside companies. This growing commercilization and turning research into commodities managed by outside companies is a growing trend ion many museums. Go read: Caveat Venditor? Museum Merchandising, Nonprofit Commercialization, and the Case of the Metropolitan Museum in New York by Stephen Teopler in “International Journal of Voluntary and Nonprofit Organizations” at: http://www.springerlink.com/content/9229h92302851283/ MUSEUM MERCHANDISING: AN EXPLORATION OF ITS USES AND LIMITATIONS at: http://museumstudies.si.edu/Fellowships/toepler.html The cost of journal articles, like the above one, is another aspect of this problem. While working at an archaeological site, which I was working at and shall remain nameless, some friends of mine were prohibited from taking pictures of the site while visiting me because a well-known, national organization that was funding the dig had exclusive media rights as part of the funding agreement. Even I, theoretically was prohibited from taking my own personal pictures. However, since I actually worked there, people
Re: [meteorite-list] Lorton, Smithsonian and cool scientists thinking
We were willing to pay the $1,000 shooting fee that the Smithsonian normally charges, $1000??? They are crazy??? M come Meteorite Meteoriti i...@mcomemeteorite.it http://www.mcomemeteorite.it http://www.mcomemeteorite.org Mindat Gallery http://www.mindat.org/gallery-5018.html ChinellatoPhoto Servizi Fotografici http://www.chinellatophoto.com __ Visit the Archives at http://www.meteoritecentral.com/mailing-list-archives.html Meteorite-list mailing list Meteorite-list@meteoritecentral.com http://six.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/meteorite-list
Re: [meteorite-list] Lorton, Smithsonian and cool scientists thinking
This is something I really dont understand. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/01/28/AR2010012804235.html _ Quote: The Smithsonian is just trying to stay out of it. It will remain securely under the care of the Smithsonian until the ownership is established, said Randall Kremer, director of public affairs of the National Museum of Natural History. Right now, we accept the premise that the doctors are the owners. __ If that quote is true, does the Smithsonian not accept what the law states when following the premise that the doctors are the owners and not the property owner (as stated by US law)? Quote: The Lorton meteorite is worth $50,000, easy, said Robert A. Haag Do you not think the property owners have been told this? I am sure the landowners got a very nice offer for a considerable amount more then the $5000 offered by the Smithsonian, perhaps that has something to do with all this? Would you not put up a fight when you think/know you are going to lose out on a payday like that? Greg Catterton www.wanderingstarmeteorites.com IMCA member 4682 On Ebay: http://stores.shop.ebay.com/wanderingstarmeteorites --- On Fri, 1/29/10, M come Meteorite Meteorites i...@mcomemeteorite.it wrote: From: M come Meteorite Meteorites i...@mcomemeteorite.it Subject: Re: [meteorite-list] Lorton, Smithsonian and cool scientists thinking To: meteorite-list@meteoritecentral.com Date: Friday, January 29, 2010, 5:00 PM We were willing to pay the $1,000 shooting fee that the Smithsonian normally charges, $1000??? They are crazy??? M come Meteorite Meteoriti i...@mcomemeteorite.it http://www.mcomemeteorite.it http://www.mcomemeteorite.org Mindat Gallery http://www.mindat.org/gallery-5018.html ChinellatoPhoto Servizi Fotografici http://www.chinellatophoto.com __ Visit the Archives at http://www.meteoritecentral.com/mailing-list-archives.html Meteorite-list mailing list Meteorite-list@meteoritecentral.com http://six.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/meteorite-list __ Visit the Archives at http://www.meteoritecentral.com/mailing-list-archives.html Meteorite-list mailing list Meteorite-list@meteoritecentral.com http://six.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/meteorite-list
Re: [meteorite-list] Lorton, Smithsonian and cool scientists thinking
List: Watch the short video - and listen to the women say WHY, it's almost funny. Greg S. http://www.myfoxdc.com/dpp/news/local/ownership-of-meteorite-in-question-012910 Ownership of Meteorite in Question Who is the real owner of the meteorite that crashed into a doctor's office in Lorton, Va.? The doctor's, not surprisingly, said they are and they handed it over to the Smithsonian. But the landlords of the building where the doctor's office is said the meteorite belongs to them. They told the Smithsonian they're coming to take it back. Right now the Smithsonian says it's holding on to the space junk until ownership is established. _ Your E-mail and More On-the-Go. Get Windows Live Hotmail Free. http://clk.atdmt.com/GBL/go/196390709/direct/01/ __ Visit the Archives at http://www.meteoritecentral.com/mailing-list-archives.html Meteorite-list mailing list Meteorite-list@meteoritecentral.com http://six.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/meteorite-list
Re: [meteorite-list] Lorton, Smithsonian and cool scientists thinking
I've always wondered why more scientists involved with meteorite study don't deal with private collectors more. My belief is that it's probably more of a personal thing and not nessicarily a tradition one. But the proof is in the pudding as the saying goes! Just look through the Met. Bull. from the last decade or two. Time after time you will find the scientists who are doing the majority of the work AND also the most important study are the ones who deal with collectors and dealers on a regular basis. Cheers, Jeff - Original Message - From: Gary Fujihara fuj...@mac.com To: Galactic Stone Ironworks meteoritem...@gmail.com Cc: meteorite-list@meteoritecentral.com; meteorh...@aol.com Sent: Saturday, January 30, 2010 6:52 AM Subject: Re: [meteorite-list] Lorton, Smithsonian and cool scientists thinking ... and may I add that not only are scientists these days sporting ponytails, dreadlocks and tattoos (and I know several), but more are of the female persuasion. Girl Power dude. On Jan 29, 2010, at 9:44 AM, Galactic Stone Ironworks wrote: Hi Steve and List, Great post and unfortunately very true. Something I have noticed in the last couple of years - more and more scientists have ponytails, dreadlocks, and tattoos. When I watch science documentaries on TV now, you often see a young scientist with a goatee and dreadlocks. It's funny and encouraging at the same time. Times are a changin and people are becoming more open minded and tolerant. When I grew up in the early 70's, all scientists on TV had buzz-cuts and looked like cops. So, perhaps this archaic anti-collecting attitude we go the same way as the dinosaurs. Just give it time. Seriously, next time you watch a science documentary (especially the ones about astronomy), take a look at the scientists they interview - you see a few old school types, but you also see the next young crop of up and coming scientists, and if looks are any gauge, then I feel hopeful that these exclusionary attitudes and snobbish views will disappear along with the buzz cuts and pocket protectors. ;) Best regards and happy hunting, MikeG PS - isn't the Smith publicly subsidized by tax payer money? If so, what right do they have to deny access to the specimens? On 1/29/10, meteorh...@aol.com meteorh...@aol.com wrote: Hey List, It was my understanding that a local news station was called to the Lorton doctor's office, and then that TV news crew actually drove the meteorite to the Smithsonian for verification. At that time, it became obvious that it was a genuine meteorite and then efforts by the museum personnel were started to acquire this specimen for the museum. In any case, when I arrived at the fall site the next day after the story broke, with a Meteorite Men camera crew on my heels, Smithsonian personnel were there at the fall site, which I thought was great. You can't blame them for wanting to obtain the rock. In fact, there would be something wrong if they didn't want to acquire it. I will say that our Meteorite Men producers made extensive attempts to gain permission from the Smithsonian for me to come to the U.S. National Collection with a camera crew and shoot footage of Earth's newest alien visitor to appear in one of our upcoming February episodes. If the Lorton story would have played out big enough, it could have become its own episode, most likely running at the end of February or in March of this year. We were willing to pay the $1,000 shooting fee that the Smithsonian normally charges, but we were flatly denied ANY access to the Lorton specimen for our TV show. I am not sure of all of the reasons, and who made the actual decision to deny us and our audience the opportunity to see it first hand, but it seems that because the Smithsonian now has their own new cable TV network, and as such it is now their policy to not give any competing TV networks any access to shooting any of their stuff in their collections. We also wanted to film the actual Tucson Ring specimen, that is the centerpiece in the National Collection's public display, for this next Wednesday's episode of Meteorite Men, but we were flatly denied access a few months ago to shoot that as well. The February 3rd episode of Meteorite Men goes into the historical story of the Tucson Ring and of course, as the center piece to our National Collection now on display in Washington D.C., it's final resting place is an important part of the story of the greatest legend in all of meteorites. However, I was told that the powers that be at the Smithsonian did offer to sell us a black and white still photo of the Ring for $400 to use on the show. Nice of them, wasn't it? So, I don't think the problems we had this last week were related to the Lorton fall in particular, but seems to be a bigger bureaucratic problem elsewhere. Apparently, other networks have had severe access challenges lately
