[meteorite-list] Meteorite List actual "age"

From: Jim Strope <nwa482_at_meteoritecentral.com>
Date: Thu, 2 Aug 2007 12:14:03 -0400
Message-ID: <002301c7d520$24c7c490$0202a8c0_at_DJQVK441>

I remember that evening well. Michael, you were talking about a specimen of
Zagami that you received in the mail the same day as the ALH84001
announcement. Everyone was excited at your timing!!!

Good times !!!!

Jim Strope
421 Fourth Street
Glen Dale, WV 26038

http://www.catchafallingstar.com


----- Original Message -----
From: "Michael L Blood" <mlblood at cox.net>
To: "bcmeteorites" <bcmeteorites at gmail.com>; "Robert Woolard"
<meteoritefinder at yahoo.com>; "Meteorite List"
<meteorite-list at meteoritecentral.com>
Sent: Thursday, August 02, 2007 11:28 AM
Subject: Re: [meteorite-list] Meteorite List actual "age"


Hi Bob,
        Here is A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE LIST:

--
        Art, who was then the purchasing agent for the store at the
Planetarium, across from the Natural History Museum in Balboa
Park had been offering meteorites for sale, which for several years
Had been purchased from me. However, Art's real passion was
Web design and he thought it would be cool to have a weekly
Meteorite Forum and asked me to host it. This format later became
Known as "chat rooms" - but Art envisioned it more as a "radio
Show" with me as the host. I was confident even before the first
Send off that once people started "talking" a host would not be
Relevant, but I certainly felt honored and wanted to support
Art in this endeavor and bolster his confidence in initiating this
Forum, so, happily agreed.
        Our first Meteorite Forum was held just days after the
ALH 84001 announcement on August 6, 1996. As I recall, there
Were only 5 or 6 of us on the first chat which included Paul Harris
And Jim Tobin of Meteorite Exchange and current editors of
METEORITE TIMES, Rick Kujawa, me and a few others who escape
My memory for now. Please do forgive me for my feeble memory -
and do feel free to chime in and announce your having been there.
        Of course, that first session was filled with the excitement
of Martian life revealed in a meteorite - it wasn't until later the
Findings came under question.
        In any event, within weeks or a few months at most Art decided a
Live list would be a better forum and I agreed (not that I had a real
Say in it, though he did bounce ideas off of me when it came to
meteorites). So, that was the birth of the list. My guess would be
October (perhaps November) of 1996 saw the launching of the list
as it is known today. Other than increased numbers of participants,
the list has remained the same since day one.
        Over the years there have been periodic complaints about the
Lack of use of suspensions and expulsions from the list on the part
Of Art. In fact, Art has been very consistent in being slow to suspend
Participants and slow in allowing them back on. Various list members
Have been barred and most have eventually been allowed to return.
I won't go into names as some of them are still on the list. However,
Even this limited control has been sabotaged by Matteo who, when
Ejected, created false identities and blatantly taunted list members
and Art about his clever manipulations of the internet and thumbed
His nose at everyone.
        The point is, Art has done a spectacular job in monitoring the
List and has ejected a good number of people -  mostly when their
Language became obscene and they were blatantly and relentlessly
attacking other List members or ripping people off. With the exception
of Matteo, Art's patient guidance has served the list well.
        Thanks to Art, we have this magnificent forum with which we
Can keep abreast of meteoritic events such as the adventures of
Mike, Bob & Robert in recovering the Cali Meteorite, etc. We get
THE strait poop AS IT IS HAPPENING.
        We be a lucky group.
        Best wishes, Michael

Received on Thu 02 Aug 2007 12:14:03 PM PDT