[meteorite-list] Meteorite Magazine.... Just Like Baseball over the Internet

From: Michael Blood <mlblood_at_meteoritecentral.com>
Date: Sat, 14 Jul 2012 02:50:58 -0700
Message-ID: <CC268F12.2653E%mlblood_at_cox.net>

Hi Kevin and all,

        I am certain I am not the only list member hopeful that the current
Editor of METEORITE MAGAZINE will choose to publish your 'The Rise of the
Raj and the Fall of Shergotty - Conclusion" as edited by Joel, the magazine
Founder in the Nov. issue. We all recall fondly the outstanding work you did
On Nakhla (for which you received a HARVEY AWARD). As I recall, that
Article was one of the longest in the magazine's history - but I was riveted
Throughout, as I am sure were the entire readership.

        The debates on the list that followed between you and Ron Baalke
Were, in my opinion, some of the best reading the LIST has ever had
To offer (relative LIST "newbie's" would be well advised to read your
Article and go into the LIST archives in this regard) The point being
That your article was nothing short of brilliant and profoundly impactful.
How a second article on Shergotty could be passed on is beyond my ken.

        It would be a shame to see it have to be published on the net, as
that would devalue METEORITE MAGAZINE in a number of ways
And cause significant difficulty for future researchers.

However, if it comes to that I would be happy to run it as a link from my
site and I would encourage you to utilize as many sites as possible - not
just one, because as meteorite history goes it will be SIGNIFICANT, even
if it is only half as good as your Nakhla article, which has to rank in my
mind as perhaps the most significant article in the history of the magazine
- and that is saying a lot.

        Best regards, Michael

PS: Might it be useful for list member to submit a petition requesting your
Concluding Article appear in the November issue of METEORITE MAGAZINE?
Perhaps if the majority of the readership were actively requesting the
article there would be less apprehension that "people would be offended" or
that it is too long.....

On 7/13/12 9:05 PM, "Met. Kevin Kachinka" <marsrox at gmail.com> wrote:

> Team Meteorite:
>
> Reporting tonight from Costa Rica.
>
> Well, actually every night.
>
> I'm from Cleveland and although my baseball team there is underfunded
> and historically poor, I pay mlb.com to watch their struggles on my
> computer.
>
> Tonight they play the Toronto Blue Jays. The Jays are up, bottom of
> the ninth, but down 1-0. The Indians All-Star reliever Chris Perez has
> two outs. One more out and the Tribe wins. It's a nail biter.
>
> I lose the signal. What happened? Of no!
>
> It's just like Meteorite magazine that has decided that its
> subscribers don't deserve to read the conclusion regarding the
> circumstances of the fall of Shergotty 147 years ago after publishing
> the preliminary round. What happened? Oh no!
>
> "Mr. Kichinka submitted an article to METEORITE magazine that was
> accepted and prepared for publication. On receipt of the proofs, Mr.
> Kichinka reacted strongly against the edits, which were routine
> corrections to grammar, insertions that he had failed to make (like
> figure captions), removal of material that in the Editor's view might
> upset certain readers, and the shortening of some ancillary text in
> the interests of space. This was an extraordinarily long and expensive
> article to print. The number of edits was actually very few, maybe 20,
> in an eight page article. Realizing that this was not going to be
> resolved quickly, and that we would be dammed if we published and
> dammed if we didn't, I withdrew the article from the August issue and
> told Mr. Kichinka we would consider the matter before the November
> issue was prepared. That is where the matter rests."
>
> Where the matter rests is that someone who controls Meteorite Magazine
> has an agenda that doesn't include serving its subscribers. Or its
> advertisers. Or its contributors.
>
> Robert, there is nothing 'routine' about destroying the integrity of a
> science article by recklessly changing facts.
>
> Attached to the feature are 49 references, about half from the
> 1850-1890's. There were no errors in grammar until Robert or Derek
> inserted them. If it was 'long' it was because it is the first or
> second best legend of meteorites and worth the space.
>
> But was length really the problem?
>
> "Kichinka submitted the article which was accepted and prepared... the
> number of edits was actually very few, maybe 20 in an eight page
> article...but on receipt of the proofs"...
>
> i.e. the feature was not 'too long' and was ready to go to the printer
> if I accepted their contrived errors. All contributors of the August
> issue have the proof in their files this moment with the full
> Shergotty feature and can confirm this to any list member.
>
> While the m-list is quiet on this issue- I realize that people don't
> want to rock the boat- my mail box is full of support from IMCA
> members, m-list readers, and I have offers to post the feature as
> links to your websites. I will respond to everyone as soon as I can.
>
> And all this concern is from the generous friends I've made since I
> started messing with meteorites one day after calling Bob Haag to
> purchase any Zagami "he might have left' in 1995. I am in awe this
> night. Thank you.
>
> The transparent nature of Robert Beauford's comment above surely
> doesn't need any further comment from me, except to 'edit' his message
> to correctly reflect that the word is 'damming' is spelled "damning",
> and while acting as Derek's involuntary 'Editor of the Board' I tried
> to help him re-write his own editorial for the next August issue which
> had several glaring errors that demeaned the quality of a scientific
> journal.
>
> There are no future Hemingway's working for Meteorite these days.
>
> I've never had contact with Robert Beauford and now wonder why Derek
> assigned him to respond. Where are you Derek? And why did you Robert
> say 'you' wrote me about anything? Can you copy me on those emails,
> Robert?
>
> I guess 'someone' worries my 'imaginary letter' might be true but is
> 'too busy' to respond personally.
>
> Robert, if you are in charge of the magazine, I hope you will
> reconsider the 'expense' of publishing this concluding feature on the
> fall of Shergotty. While everything in the August issue is
> 'important', maybe something unknown for the last 147 years regarding
> the circumstances of the fall of THE Mars meteorite representing 98%
> of every Mars meteorite ever recovered is worthy of the additional
> expense. Shall I take up a collection?
>
> I don't like to publicly add adjectives in front of people's names,
> 'liar' is an adjective, but I will make a public exception tonight. I
> challenge Robert to forward here ANY email he has written me
> especially one where he suggested that the feature would be considered
> for the November issue.
>
> Failing that and all the rest, I will leave m-list members to make
> their own decision on the character of those now publishing Meteorite.
> Fill in the adjective you feel is appropriate. Sad works for me.
>
> As for Robert's self-assigned censorship position- "removal of
> material that in the Editor's view might upset certain
> readers"'...which suggests that the subscribers are children and/or I
> would ever write something remotely vulgar for Meteorite- especially
> related to an historic event... I'll say this...
>
> Forget me. I am nobody.
>
> Except that I am the luckiest guy to sit here and still exchange
> almost daily emails with Joel Schiff for the last 15 years. He vetted
> the Shergotty feature, as he has peer-reviewed anything else I have
> ever contributed to Meteorite.
>
> So Robert's censorship really questions Joel's judgement.
>
> And their lack of respect for Dorothy Norton is beyond the pale.
>
> Robert, let me 'damm' you. Derek, 'damm' you, too.
>
> Meteorite dealers advertising in 'Meteorite' are also among those
> writing me and I am accumulating a file of information about failed
> and upsetting business relationships with this journal since Derek
> Sears took over, which included another unfortunate event involving
> honest and caring people.
>
> I own every issue ever published, including two of issue #1. I have
> contributed around twenty features. The ongoing continuity of this
> magazine that I have supported during my interest in the 'hobby' is at
> risk now.
>
> Robert and Derek - For the benefit of your paid and loyal subscribers,
> I suggest you work to support your advertisers.
>
> Your contributors deserve your highest praise as they put your bread
> on the table and earn nothing for this.
>
> And I sincerely request you publish "The Rise of the Raj and the Fall
> of Shergotty - Conclusion" as I transmitted it following Meteorite's
> founder Joel Schiff's review.
>
>> From Nine Degrees North...
>
> Kevin Kichinka
> Marsrox at gmail.com
> www.theartofcollectingmeteorites.com
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Received on Sat 14 Jul 2012 05:50:58 AM PDT