[meteorite-list] I am home from Tokyo

From: MexicoDoug_at_aol.com <MexicoDoug_at_meteoritecentral.com>
Date: Tue Jun 7 14:52:54 2005
Message-ID: <102.6299b3a5.2fd746f1_at_aol.com>

In the style of Commodore Matthew Perry, Cap'n Blood wrote the day before
the Tokyo news:

>that I have heard voice disdain
>for people making a profit in this business.

Michael, everyone deserves honest pay for honest work. Lately I have been
agreeing with you more than anything else and many of the points you make seem
very reasonable. Please let's not burden collectors with the collective
blame of dealer's problems after hearing this from globetrotting Farmer.
 
Separately, I hope it is on topic to ask what happened at the last People's
Auction with the South American guy who was kicked out after he said he was
authorized his display there and was practically set up, which was similar to
the prior year? It was my pleasure to help him break our backs with his
heavy specimens (thinking it was being a good Samaritan) when I saw him
struggling all by himself and so far from home while many others seemed oblivious. He
did have excellent irons at superb pricing. You can imagine the dejection
he felt, especially after smashing his thumb between two big iron meteorites
in the process, so far from home, as he had to then repack them and haul his
stuff out right back out with his tail between his legs. I don't know the
whole story, not even half, and I am sure there was good reason, but it was a
very pitiful sight?

The line between science, comradery, enthusiasm, and cold commercialism has
become far too arbitrary and negotiable for my tastes. Maybe you have a
better answer than I can see. Part is due to everyone's justification of the
trump card "inalienable right to a profit" I am at a loss for more words,
reading Mike's account, imagining why this collusion was felt necessary. Frankly I
wish everybody ran around with a suitcase filled with specimens for trade or
sale instead of aspiring to dominate each other and be the "Man". But that
might not be acceptable under the show or auction venue. But, it'd be more
intimate and leaves less room when the ugly face of the Stranger comes along
among friends and leaves a wake of aggravation. Sorry to hear of your
obvious cold shower, Mike, and I wonder if Hans' kid had some appropriate english
words to sum up the costly adventure. No doubt you will need to raise some
prices to cover yet another tangential "cost of doing business". That hurts
everyone. While this also is in the "food for thought" category, any comments
are also appreciated..

Peace, Doug
 
Received on Tue 07 Jun 2005 02:52:33 PM PDT