RTMC report

Yes, but then the feeding frenzy of Friday wasn't the only thing going on.
There were 50 or more telescope to go view that were in the Merit Award
competition and there was even stuff on Sunday as nobody was going home
then. The grassy field (not grassy anymore due to the drought) has about
2/3 of the scope go home on Sunday. It was like a desert down there by
evening.

--
Bob May
Losing weight is easy! If you ever want to lose weight, eat and drink less.
Works every time it is tried!

"Bob May" wrote in message
...
Yes, but then the feeding frenzy of Friday wasn't the only thing going on.
There were 50 or more telescope to go view that were in the Merit Award
competition and there was even stuff on Sunday as nobody was going home
then. The grassy field (not grassy anymore due to the drought) has about
2/3 of the scope go home on Sunday. It was like a desert down there by
evening.

With a bright Moon in the sky, there usually aren't a lot of scopes left on
Sunday. Last year, with a last quarter Moon, there were quite a few scopes
in the meadow next to the lake on Sunday night.

This is pretty funny... I've attended many other similar events in
other states and I always get the meal tickets since it makes my life
easier. I was commenting to one of my other vendor friends at RTMC as
we were eating that I thought the food was better than at any of the
other events.

So, in relative terms, I enjoyed the meals. I can only imagine what
they were like in years past

Michelle Stone
Custom Telescopes by Plettstone
http://www.plettstone.com



"Bob May" wrote in message ...
One thing you forgot to add is that the food was worse than ever!
With a $8 a meal price, I would expect something more than tired turkey loaf
for supper or even worse, dried up hamburger that got set by the side of the
fire for half an hour for a lunch. IN addition, there was a very limited
choice of dressings for the salad bar with the dressings already mixed into
the salad, making everybody take the same oversaturated dressing mix.
I, for one, am not going to bother to buy meals anymore.

Greg,

That is it exactly. The conference is a great thing that is being brought
down by rampant materialism. However, I do think that the guys running the
show could at least try to do something about it. Instead, they are doing
things like changing the name from a "telescope builders conference" to
"expo".

I think that moving the 14" Meade door prize to Sunday would have a most
profound effect on Sunday's attendance! :-)

Del Johnson




"Greg Crinklaw" wrote in message
...

I think where the two of you aren't connecting, Del, is that your real
complaint isn't with RTMC: it's really about the materialism of the
people who attend. I'd submit that RTMC isn't really to blame for that,
and no matter what policies RTMC chooses they aren't going to change it
either...

--
Greg Crinklaw

Prices were up this year for the meals (average $8 a meal) and the quality
took a big dip this year. In addition, it is only the cheaper meals that
are continuing to be produced. In addition, the salad bar is now much
smaller and is more prepackaged than it was.
I'll note that the eggs didn't come out for breakfast until Mon. morning
when only the all meals plan would allow you to eat.

--
Bob May
Losing weight is easy! If you ever want to lose weight, eat and drink less.
Works every time it is tried!

I'll note that if you are charged $5 for a meal and get hamburgers, you
usually don't feel bad but when it is much more than that and you get dried
out hamburgers from the side of the grill and chilled buns, it tends to be a
bit less patable. Even just the quality of the cooking was better in years
past, much less what was being served.

--
Bob May
Losing weight is easy! If you ever want to lose weight, eat and drink less.
Works every time it is tried!

Yes, I think its sad. A lot has changed and I probably will not attend
anymore. It all went down hill when the new management came in and
decided it wasn't about telescope making anymore. Unfortunately the new
attendees won't understand how great it really used to be. :-(


Bob May wrote:
Yes, but then the feeding frenzy of Friday wasn't the only thing going on.
There were 50 or more telescope to go view that were in the Merit Award
competition and there was even stuff on Sunday as nobody was going home
then. The grassy field (not grassy anymore due to the drought) has about
2/3 of the scope go home on Sunday. It was like a desert down there by
evening.

--
Bob May
Losing weight is easy! If you ever want to lose weight, eat and drink less.
Works every time it is tried!

"Del Johnson" delastro@{right star in Orion's belt}.sdsu.edu wrote in message ...
3. Good talk by Phil Plait of the Bad Astronomy web page, except that the
audio/video techs almost ruined his PowerPoint presentation with a
malfunctioning (or just out of range) wireless keyboard. Instead, they kept
on blaming Microsoft for the malfunction.

Hey, thanks Del! I had a blast. I was serious when I said giving talks
to amateurs is my favorite. I don't need to explain jokes. :-)

The trouble was with the software. Even the A/V controller couldn't
get it working, and had to exit and restart PPT to get it to work. I
have never seen that particular problem before. Weird.

I'm sure I'll be attending next year, too. I may drive down, so I have
room to bring more stuff home...