4/13/2014 Tim C wrote

On 4/13/2014 10:41 PM, Tim C wrote:

We will have a workshop this week of April 15th.

Because we have a lunar eclipse the night of April 14th& 15th, some of our plans may have to be put on hold once again. Regardless though, the grinding/polishing will continue on. 

So, for this week's food for thought- I recently went to La Sumida Nursery with my wife to look for our annual project of tomato growing. There, we spotted whole wine kegs-you know, the same ones you see outside the Broder Building. These would make great work platforms for mirror grinding. So, why would I like these over the traditional oil drums? Easy- I'm married to a spouse who does not think oil drums are an attractive feature to use in the garden. But, a wine cask is just the right touch for esthetic surroundings. These may work! Okay, they are not the only work top we can use but please indulge me for a moment. They have a recessed top that needs to have a work top placed so mirror grinding can take place ( a wood working challenge).  I will suggest they would be a nice feature to use as a table for potted plants. But, it also must morph into a workbench for grinding telescope mirrors. This needs innovation. 

Innovation- the one great attribute that all ATM's possess. This is really is what this aside is all about then, isn't it? We all have to use our minds to come up with solutions to problems we encounter in everyday telescope construction. Come on, admit it! We all use the creative spirit to  make something from nothing- to utilize whatever we can get from our network of ATM's or resources around us. 

True, eh? What does this have to do with a wine cask? Okay, let's get simple but creative. I told you the wine cask has a recessed top. What can you suggest using to add a top that can be used for grinding (without contamination) and then removed or modified to receive a potted plant or whatever,  so the "garden area" looks like this wine barrel belongs?  Simple huh? Not to me. But it does exemplify what we are about. Innovation, creativity and.... Genius! 

See you Tuesday if you can make it.