[meteorite-list] Denver Show - Part II

From: MARK BOSTICK <thebigcollector_at_meteoritecentral.com>
Date: Thu Apr 22 10:29:57 2004
Message-ID: <BAY4-DAV94UIBSIeSOm00000e1c_at_hotmail.com>

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The best thing at the auction did not sell. Fred Hall provided a printing=
 press used by Glenn Huss and Nininger on various publications. I think i=
t would be nice if national meteorite displays showed more of the humanis=
t aspect in meteorites and cant think of a better item to have showing. F=
red Hall has always been a Nininger fan and with the press, but for displ=
ay only was several things, including an old custom made briefcase once u=
sed by Nininger. Knowing Fred would be there with his Nininger items, I b=
rought for him a brick from the ruins of Nininger's original museum and a=
 postcard I made from a photo I told while there. =20
Outside the auction a middle age man in leather jacket came up to me and =
quietly asked were the keg was. This man was Rob Elliott. The first Denve=
r shows for Rob. Hope you enjoyed the show Rob and choose to come back ne=
xt year.
After the auction the keg was brought to Blaine Reed's room where it was =
finished off, something that is starting to become tradition with the auc=
tion keg. After the keg went dry and the cooler was made lighter, several=
 of us ventured outdoors were cigars were shared. I'm not a big cigar fan=
, but several of the meteorite people smoke then and since it's kind of a=
 Tucson/Denver tradition, I indulged. =20
The Holiday Inn has a bar/restaurant and it was here my Lunar Rock Team b=
adge was first tested. Four lines of people waited to get through the hot=
el lobby into the bar. By holding out our badges we were allowed to cut i=
n front of everyone and not pay the cover charge to get in. =20
Steve Drummond would find that by wearing his badge at the show, he saved=
 $75.00 on a custom ring. After seeing the badge being taken by people as=
 meaning something, I would wear the badge the rest the show.
The bar was full of people and drinks were plentiful. Before I would fini=
sh one drink, one or two others would arrive in its place. One of these d=
rinks was named the "oatmeal cookie". This drink did not agree with four =
of the people at the table, myself included. All should fear the oatmeal =
cookie.
It's hard to go to the Denver or Tucson show and not pick through the pil=
es of Sikhotes the Russians always seem to have. Usually I just pick a co=
uple of the nicer pitted looking one, this time I decided to be different=
 and picked through the oriented sikhotes. My time was soon rewarded with=
 several small heat shields and a very cool double oriented meteorite. It=
 has been said for a couple years that the Sikhote were getting harder to=
 find. After asking about this, I was told that hunters were once finding=
 several kilos a day is now finding "400 grams, if they are lucky." While=
 I can not tell you if this is true or not, there were less people sellin=
g sikhotes at Tucson and Denver this year, then the year before.
I avoided the Merchandise Mart on Friday because Friday is always kid day=
. The previous years found very few meteorites in this part of the show b=
ut the mineral displays and possible fossil bargains make it impossible t=
o save away from. I started by first looking over the displays...get my d=
rooling out of the way. =20
These cabinets are always filled with would class specimens. Many organiz=
ations including the American National History Museum, colleges from arou=
nd the United States and local mineral clubs, provided displays. They giv=
e ribbon awards but had yet to do so when I saw them. If I were the one g=
iving the awards, the blue ribbon would go to a collection of later 1800 =
and early 1900 survey and mining equipment. These elaborate machines woul=
d often be made of hundreds of parts and look like something out of a mad=
 scientist laboratory. =20
No trip to the Merchandise Mart is complete without getting eaten by the =
Mr. Bones. Mr. Bones is a dinosaur skeleton costume wearing man that walk=
s around and entertains the kids.... And adults. His big move is closing =
his jaws around his victim. Once again, I managed to live through it.
One place I make sure to stop at the Merchandise Mart every year is Donal=
d Hahn's booth. Donald sells books and excerpts in many science fields in=
cluding meteorites. I tend to purchase a lot of meteorite books so I have=
 known Hahn for several years now. A month before the show, he told me to=
 stop by his booth, something I am very glad I did. To my delight, settin=
g at Donald's booth was no other then Dr. Robert Bakker. Bakker is one of=
 the world's most profile dinosaur paleontologists and is often a televis=
ion guest. He sat in a chair drawling dinosaurs inside his books, while t=
alking dinosaurs. His chair was next to the meteorite books so I soon fou=
nd myself within conversation. =20
I searched meteorite books while Dr. Bakker explained why Dinosaurs were =
warm-blooded to another customer and conversation changed to extinction. =
Bakker mentioned his dislike for the meteorite impact theory making the c=
omment, "You don't find dinosaur bones at the K/T level." I could not hel=
p but mention the acid rain that would follow such an impact and therefor=
e give away that I am pro-impact theory. After a couple of exchanges I ch=
anged the subject back to warm blooded dinosaurs. Having a short debate w=
ith Bakker was nice but this was his stage, and I did not wish to up step=
 him.
I was able to purchased a hardbound copy of his best selling book, The Di=
nosaur Heresies for only $19.99, in which he draw a Ceratorsaurus inside.=
 "Don't sell it on eBay" Bakker joked while handing the book to me. Being=
 an eBay powerseller I had to chuckle. I invited Brakken to the annual me=
teorite dinner later that night and moved to let Bakker entertain the cro=
wd he was now creating.
Marvin Killgore could be found on the first floor as usual. Sharing a roo=
m Marvin had a few goodies with his as usual. A cubed etched Campo, large=
 Gibeon slices cut wafer thin, and lunar thin sections tempted my wallet =
and me. =20
The Comet Dinner at La Loma was enjoyable as usual. Finger foods and chip=
s and sauce were provided by the Comets and enjoyed by the early arrivals=
. Early during a show means not being late. We filled the room and fell o=
ver into the bar. The large Margaritas are always a hit and they could be=
 seen across our tables like ornaments. (Thanks Mike Farmer for paying fo=
r one of my drinks). I did not close out "this" bar but I heard they rest=
aurant staff were waiting for our group to finish up so they could leave.
After the dinner it was back to the holiday room for more drinks at Reed'=
s and then another night of closing the bar on the first floor. No oatmea=
l cookies were ordered this time and breakfast was easier to eat the next=
 morning.
Sunday was finishing deals, picking up orders, and trying to get out of t=
own before noon. Football on AM radio entertained us on the way home. We =
made the trip in less the 8 hours stopping only for gas.
Overall I think Denver was a good show. My thanks for all that attended, =
if I left your name out, please forgive me. Adam and Greg Hupe, Jim Strop=
e, Eric Olsen, Mike Farmer, John Schooler, Blaine and Blake Reed (of cour=
se), Fred Hall, Bill and Mike Jenson, Anne Black, Matt Morgan, Marvin Kil=
lgore, Al Mitterling, Steven Drummond, Fred Olsen, Geoff Notkin, Edwin Th=
ompson, Michael Blood, Bob King, Anne Black, Gregory Wilson, Rob Elliott,=
 Bill Mason and many others could be seen walking around. (Please forgive=
 me if I left off your name).


Please visit, www.MeteoriteArticles.com, a free on-line archive of meteor=
 and meteorite articles.

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<HTML><BODY STYLE=3D"font:10pt verdana; border:none;"><DIV> <P>The best t=
hing at the auction did not sell. Fred Hall provided a printing press use=
d by Glenn Huss and Nininger on various publications. I think it would be=
 nice if national meteorite displays showed more of the humanist aspect i=
n meteorites and cant think of a better item to have showing. Fred Hall h=
as always been a Nininger fan and with the press, but for display only wa=
s several things, including an old custom made briefcase once used by Nin=
inger. Knowing Fred would be there with his Nininger items, I brought for=
 him a brick from the ruins of Nininger's original museum and a postcard =
I made from a photo I told while there. </P> <P>Outside the auction a mid=
dle age man in leather jacket came up to me and quietly asked were the ke=
g was. This man was Rob Elliott. The first Denver shows for Rob. Hope you=
 enjoyed the show Rob and choose to come back next year.</P> <P>After the=
 auction the keg was brought to Blaine Reed's room where it was finished =
off, something that is starting to become tradition with the auction keg.=
 After the keg went dry and the cooler was made lighter, several of us ve=
ntured outdoors were cigars were shared. I'm not a big cigar fan, but sev=
eral of the meteorite people smoke then and since it's kind of a Tucson/D=
enver tradition, I indulged. </P> <P>The Holiday Inn has a bar/restaurant=
 and it was here my Lunar Rock Team badge was first tested. Four lines of=
 people waited to get through the hotel lobby into the bar. By holding ou=
t our badges we were allowed to cut in front of everyone and not pay the =
cover charge to get in. </P> <P>Steve Drummond would find that by wearing=
 his badge at the show, he saved $75.00 on a custom ring. After seeing th=
e badge being taken by people as meaning something, I would wear the badg=
e the rest the show.</P> <P>The bar was full of people and drinks were pl=
entiful. Before I would finish one drink, one or two others would arrive =
in its place. One of these drinks was named the "oatmeal cookie". This dr=
ink did not agree with four of the people at the table, myself included. =
All should fear the oatmeal cookie.</P> <P>It's hard to go to the Denver =
or Tucson show and not pick through the piles of Sikhotes the Russians al=
ways seem to have. Usually I just pick a couple of the nicer pitted looki=
ng one, this time I decided to be different and picked through the orient=
ed sikhotes. My time was soon rewarded with several small heat shields an=
d a very cool double oriented meteorite. It has been said for a couple ye=
ars that the Sikhote were getting harder to find. After asking about this=
, I was told that hunters were once finding several kilos a day is now fi=
nding "400 grams, if they are lucky." While I can not tell you if this is=
 true or not, there were less people selling sikhotes at Tucson and Denve=
r this year, then the year before.</P> <P>I avoided the Merchandise Mart =
on Friday because Friday is always kid day. The previous years found very=
 few meteorites in this part of the show but the mineral displays and pos=
sible fossil bargains make it impossible to save away from. I started by =
first looking over the displays...get my drooling out of the way. </P> <P=
>These cabinets are always filled with would class specimens. Many organi=
zations including the American National History Museum, colleges from aro=
und the United States and local mineral clubs, provided displays. They gi=
ve ribbon awards but had yet to do so when I saw them. If I were the one =
giving the awards, the blue ribbon would go to a collection of later 1800=
 and early 1900 survey and mining equipment. These elaborate machines wou=
ld often be made of hundreds of parts and look like something out of a ma=
d scientist laboratory. </P> <P>No trip to the Merchandise Mart is comple=
te without getting eaten by the Mr. Bones. Mr. Bones is a dinosaur skelet=
on costume wearing man that walks around and entertains the kids.... And =
adults. His big move is closing his jaws around his victim. Once again, I=
 managed to live through it.</P> <P>One place I make sure to stop at the =
Merchandise Mart every year is Donald Hahn's booth. Donald sells books an=
d excerpts in many science fields including meteorites. I tend to purchas=
e a lot of meteorite books so I have known Hahn for several years now. A =
month before the show, he told me to stop by his booth, something I am ve=
ry glad I did. To my delight, setting at Donald's booth was no other then=
 Dr. Robert Bakker. Bakker is one of the world's most profile dinosaur pa=
leontologists and is often a television guest. He sat in a chair drawling=
 dinosaurs inside his books, while talking dinosaurs. His chair was next =
to the meteorite books so I soon found myself within conversation. </P> <=
P>I searched meteorite books while Dr. Bakker explained why Dinosaurs wer=
e warm-blooded to another customer and conversation changed to extinction=
. Bakker mentioned his dislike for the meteorite impact theory making the=
 comment, "You don't find dinosaur bones at the K/T level." I could not h=
elp but mention the acid rain that would follow such an impact and theref=
ore give away that I am pro-impact theory. After a couple of exchanges I =
changed the subject back to warm blooded dinosaurs. Having a short debate=
 with Bakker was nice but this was his stage, and I did not wish to up st=
ep him.</P> <P>I was able to purchased a hardbound copy of his best selli=
ng book, The Dinosaur Heresies for only $19.99, in which he draw a Cerato=
rsaurus inside. "Don't sell it on eBay" Bakker joked while handing the bo=
ok to me. Being an eBay powerseller I had to chuckle. I invited Brakken t=
o the annual meteorite dinner later that night and moved to let Bakker en=
tertain the crowd he was now creating.</P> <P>Marvin Killgore could be fo=
und on the first floor as usual. Sharing a room Marvin had a few goodies =
with his as usual. A cubed etched Campo, large Gibeon slices cut wafer th=
in, and lunar thin sections tempted my wallet and me. </P> <P>The Comet D=
inner at La Loma was enjoyable as usual. Finger foods and chips and sauce=
 were provided by the Comets and enjoyed by the early arrivals. Early dur=
ing a show means not being late. We filled the room and fell over into th=
e bar. The large Margaritas are always a hit and they could be seen acros=
s our tables like ornaments. (Thanks Mike Farmer for paying for one of my=
 drinks). I did not close out "this" bar but I heard they restaurant staf=
f were waiting for our group to finish up so they could leave.</P> <P>Aft=
er the dinner it was back to the holiday room for more drinks at Reed's a=
nd then another night of closing the bar on the first floor. No oatmeal c=
ookies were ordered this time and breakfast was easier to eat the next mo=
rning.</P> <P>Sunday was finishing deals, picking up orders, and trying t=
o get out of town before noon. Football on AM radio entertained us on the=
 way home. We made the trip in less the 8 hours stopping only for gas.</P=
> <P>Overall I think Denver was a good show. My thanks for all that atten=
ded, if I left your name out, please forgive me. Adam and Greg Hupe, Jim =
Strope, Eric Olsen, Mike Farmer, John Schooler, Blaine and Blake Reed (of=
 course), Fred Hall, Bill and Mike Jenson, Anne Black, Matt Morgan, Marvi=
n Killgore, Al Mitterling, Steven Drummond, Fred Olsen, Geoff Notkin, Edw=
in Thompson, Michael Blood, Bob King, Anne Black, Gregory Wilson, Rob Ell=
iott, Bill Mason and many others could be seen walking around. (Please fo=
rgive me if I left off your name).</P><BR><BR>Please visit, www.Meteorite=
Articles.com, a free on-line archive of meteor and meteorite articles.</D=
IV></BODY></HTML>

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Received on Wed 17 Sep 2003 08:41:34 PM PDT