[meteorite-list] NomCom & IMCA, and "Triple M Pecans"

From: MexicoDoug_at_aol.com <MexicoDoug_at_meteoritecentral.com>
Date: Thu Sep 23 13:16:05 2004
Message-ID: <4B8619E4.16C9BB35.0BFED528_at_aol.com>

It didn't take long to revisit this issue. I don't think it is more than philosophical to debate it in the list context, but it has definitly been a useful exercise for those interested acquiring resold NWA pieces. It is a sickening subject being born from wicked commercialism.

Understandably, Mark Ford and JKG are quick to prod NomCom into action as if NomCom had some sort of responsibility to solve problems showing up at local and virtual flea markets.

For what it's worth, the President of NomCom is way ahead of us and has already done the list a kind favor by telling us what is going on (I say kind favor, not because they are proincipally an ivory tower group, on the contrary, simply because he took a personal interest to clarify this on a list where rabid commercialism twists some of the nicest people to insult. I don't see any political interests on Jeff's part, especially in light of the balanced comments he provided. Regarding the JKG/Mark Ford point his comment:


"The Committee is considering a new rule that would allow a new NWA stone to be paired with NWA 1110. Under this rule, the new stone would have to be given a provisional NWA number of its own, NWA xxxx. It would have to be characterized by an expert, who would have to submit the evidence for pairing to the NomCom. If accepted, and if the type specimen requirement based on the aggregate mass has been satisfied, we would announce that NWA xxxx was paired with NWA 1110, thereby increasing the TKW by a certain amount. NWA xxxx would become an official synonym for NWA 1110. This rule has not yet been adopted (it was open for public comment in the early summer)."

So from my point of view, NomCom is is doing a superb job whether it is intentional or by chance. Congratulations ten times over to them.

But what about IMCA? Bernhard has a direct bullseye in his comment here. This has also been my question, so maybe I'm biased, let my bias be judged. IMCA had absolutely nothing to say during the last blow-up with Bob and Adam, although I asked them onlist to DO SOMETHING. One consciencious IMCA director responded but only speaking his own mind. But IMCA chose to be mum.

What good is such a mute IMCA organization? Is Ken quickly going after fakes all there is to IMCA? O, yeah, and dues collection for collectors to finance dealer logos? IMCA is squandering a perfect opportunity to rock the boat and prove itself fairhanded and a collector's organization concerned with authenticity. As of now, it is doing a Clinton hiding between definitions and avoiding facing the music.

And speaking of people who have recognized IMCA for what it is doing now in the past,, Mike Farmer just got in a good joke, at least in my opinion:
"This isn't directed at Adam, but The Hupes ADAMANTLY fighting" refering to the Bob Evan's incursion. Mike isn't shy about criticizing Adam in the archives, that this new 1929 thread was almost a pleasant variation on the dealer war theme from my point of view. The title of the Hupe auction is clearly NWA 1929. But the text is so clear about the history of Mike's original 922 grams, and the Hupe's subsequent acquisition in Morocco of new stones probably paired with 1929 that anyone with an IQ and reasonable comprehension of English understands that the claim is for a probable pairing, and in addition that a NWAXXX has been applied for, and no doubt the Hupes plan to follow the new pairing system Jeff mentioned in the quote above, if approved. They state in the auction:

"Initially a single stone weighing 922 grams is all that there was of this beautiful and very rare meteorite. On our last expedition we acquired three stones that are paired to NWA 1929 weighing a total of 2,341 grams. We submitted dual type specimens and will have a new NWA serial number soon to cover these additional finds. We are keeping the largest specimen weighing over half of this amount in our collection because it may represent a main mass leaving less than 2kg for collectors."

So how about the title of the Hupe's auction, where the word pairing is conveniently ommited. My take is it's Adam's joke on you Mike for not coming to his rescue, God forbid that you guys actually agreed on anything on the list. So you guys are now even. The clarity of the nomenclature situation in the eBay description and naming process in that auction clearly goes far and above the norm educationally with useful data a buyer will be very happy to know. You wouldn't want to stick the higher standard on Hupes, allow them to get all that abuse, and outlay of efforts and resources just like Mike does. This is IMCA's fault. Adam has got to be thinking, -If you can't beat 'em, join 'em". Also, it doesn't escape me that the Hupe auction "discretely" mentions the possibility of a future possible OFFICIAL pairing with 1929, and we now know from Jeff, a corresponding increase in TKW, which could be interpreted as a scientifically smug message that they may soon officially have the main mass of the meteorite
previously known as NWA 1929, (MMMPKAN) to borrow Prince's name... Maybe triple M pecans are the wave of the future. Nutty, but scarily, but probably true.

And now my respected friend Mark B, I have to slip in here that this is what I mean by anarchy (i.e., subjectivity) in nomenclature. It is like Lawrencite Disease and commercial NWA's mostly now have it. The only practical solution is for everyone to tell the truth about what is known about their meteorite's identity. And if you don't know, then just admit it and be done with it, unless you have a Hupe-Farmer type budget or connection. And as in the past has been brought up, this tendency for new labels to forever replace old ones ... we that's another related subject, but I see a dog out the window marking his territory by relieving himself, so I need to throw a stone at him and can't finish all my musings at the moment.

Saludos, Doug
Received on Thu 23 Sep 2004 01:14:41 PM PDT