[meteorite-list] Tucson Auction

From: cdtucson at cox.net <cdtucson_at_meteoritecentral.com>
Date: Fri, 25 Feb 2011 12:48:05 -0500
Message-ID: <20110225124805.K2F6X.1392319.imail_at_fed1rmwml40>

Michael,
First and foremost I would like to apologize if I offended you.
I am truly sorry you felt the need to say these things because I meant nothing personal.
The fact that people favor certain things in collecting was recently discussed right here on this list and we all know that "hammer" would be your favorite feature in a meteorite. I like hammers too and people have asked me why we did not collect or even photograph the dead animals at the scene of the Carancas fall. Well, to be honest, my crew never thought of it. I think it may have to do with cultural issues. Our team was mostly Bolivian Catholics. Enough said. Apparently there would have been a market for those dead animal parts but, I guess we missed an opportunity there. I had no idea.
As far as *taste* is concerned. I will leave that judgement alone.
And finally, I have no problem understanding people's
 willingness to pay high dollars for Gems from space. What my biggest problem with this concept had only to do with "consumer trust".
These Gems could never be scientifically verified. Or could they at a reasonable cost? That's all. EBay would be flooded with fake Peridot from space with "certificates of Authenticity". which can be printed by anybody. It could say something like; " I found this meteorite in Kansas and melted the metal away myself so, I certify these as authentic Gems from space". As I pointed out. there are others that already say this but, in their case it happens to be true. I am sure Keith and Dana are legit but there will be hundreds of posers to follow.
In fact it would not surprise me if we begin to see other dead bugs on EBay as well.
Again, nothing personal and please accept my apology.
Carl

--
Carl or Debbie Esparza
Meteoritemax
---- Michael Blood <mlblood at cox.net> wrote: 
> Carl,
>         I was the lucky winner of the only in tact body of a death caused
> By meteorite strike. I would have paid MUCH more, had the bidding
> Warranted it. However, there was only one other bidder and he,
> Apparently did not value it nearly as highly as did I. He could have
> Jump bid $200 and I would have been in hot pursuit. (You sound as
> Though you failed to read the documentation that an entomologist confirmed
> Recent death as indicated by limb flexibility..... But then perhaps you
> Also saw that as irrelevant...). That body will not be for sale at any price
> While I live and breath. (Well.... I might part with it for the balance of
> My mortgage - but would always pine after it)
>         As for the implication that faceted gems from meteoritic paradot
> Is NOT worth a great deal, well, once again that is a demonstration
> Of the differences in value people place on "things."
>         As my wife frequently says, "There is no accounting for taste."
>         I would add, "Anyone who disparages another for his/her taste
> Is lacking both in understanding and in manors."
>         Thus Spake Zarathustra.
>         Michael
>          
> On 2/24/11 9:16 AM, "Met. Carl Esparza" <cdtucson at cox.net> wrote:
> 
> > Adam,
> > Forgive me but I had to Google this termite sale to believe it.
> > All due respect to you Adam I just think this is great.
> > I was at the auction and I wondered at the time why anyone would pay $70.00
> > for a dead termite carcass.
> > Now I know. This poor termite probably never saw it coming? RIP.
> > No doubt this was found at the scene but if it was killed by the fall then why
> > is it not squished?
> > Too funny. 
> > If somebody would pay for a "termite found dead" at the scene of a meteorite
> > fall. maybe someone would pay high dollar for Steve's gems from space?
> > Has the whole world gone NUTS?
> > Hey, I once sold a cheap African Rhino horn bracelet for $3K on ebay. I don't
> > know why but two people wanted it at the time.
> > To each his own.
> > Carl
> > 
> > --
> > Carl or Debbie Esparza
> > Meteoritemax
> 
> 
> --
> "Teachin' a pig to dance is a waste of time and it irritates the pig"
> Mark Twain
> --
> 1. Whenever you're wrong, admit it,
> 2. Whenever you're right, shut up.
> Shaquille O'Neal
> 
>

Received on Fri 25 Feb 2011 12:48:05 PM PST