[meteorite-list] Re: Check your bags + Denver Show

From: geoking_at_notkin.net <geoking_at_meteoritecentral.com>
Date: Thu Apr 22 10:08:27 2004
Message-ID: <v04220810b9ac6cc6d71c_at_[209.244.238.183]>

Greetings Dear Listees:

I returned to New York/New Jersey Sunday night after a splendid week
at the Denver show.

Denver is (or at least appears to me to be) one of the largest
airports in the U.S. Sunday, for the first time, I encountered
uniformed Federally-employed security staff. They were extremely
courteous, thorough, and diligent -- a far cry from the bored and
sullen "rent-a-cop" types that we were once accustomed to dealing
with here in the U.S. I spoke at some length to a couple of these men
and women, as I was interested in the new system. Several trainees
were on duty, which -- I was told -- temporarily increased the number
of agents from five to nine at each security scan station.

I went through security with about 1 kg of Sikhote-Alin iron
meteorites and various other unusual items (fossils, display stands,
etc.). My carry-on bag received a thorough hand search, and was sent
through the X-ray twice. One of the officers told me that the
meteorites gave "the densest black" readings he'd ever seen on the
screen, and he was quite curious about them. We had a brief chat
about the meteorites' origin. Despite the irregular items I was
carrying, I was not held up for more than five or ten minutes.

I believe that the way you are treated at airports is largely a
function of the way you dress and present yourself. I have carried
iron meteorites through many different airports in several different
countries, and the only difference I have noted between "now" and
"then" is that U.S. security staff are more thorough and polite, and
so they should be. If you are carrying unusual material, it pays to
dress well, and to be courteous and patient. I don't for a minute
mean to suggest that Michael Blood and Mike Reynolds were not dressed
properly! : ) I merely pass along what I've learned from my own
experiences.

In other news: A big "thank you" to the Denver COMETS for hosting
another meteorite auction, and another fine party at La Loma (home of
the world's largest margaritas!). As usual, many Meteorite List
members were in attendance at both functions, and our friends in
Denver reminded us what excellent hosts they are (particularly Anne
Black, Bill and Mike Jensen, Fred Hall and family, Gary Curtiss and
family, Fred Olsen, and Matt Morgan).

How is it that there are so many meteorite enthusiasts concentrated
in the Denver area? Must be the altitude.

Attending the show carried mixed feelings for me, since Geoff Cintron
and I had tickets booked to fly to Denver on September 12 last year.
Needless to say, we never made the trip. Exactly one year ago I was
documenting the WTC devastation and helping with the volunteer
efforts here. I felt both relieved and disappointed that I was away
from New York for the first anniversary of the destruction of our
WTC. Had I been here I would have been participating in, and
photographing, the memorial services.

I'm quite certain that being in Denver with friends from all over the
world was a happier and more positive experience.

Photos to follow soon, and regards to all, especially to our good
friend Bernd for his remarkable post about growing up in post-war
Germany,


Geoff N.
www.paleozoic.org
Received on Tue 17 Sep 2002 02:25:22 PM PDT