[meteorite-list] Langs' Auction - I Hope This Is The Last Time

[Notkin]

Dear Mike:

You're a good friend and a good neighbor. I've always respected your 
sense of justice and I sure don't want to get into an argument with you 
on the List.

I'm not making any implications. I'm being very direct and 
straightforward. You have a right to voice your opinions and concerns 
about the auction, and I have a right to say I have a problem with the 
way you did it. It's uncool of you and others to be using words like 
"fraud" and "rip-off" when describing what were -- in my opinion as an 
observer -- honest mistakes and I'm calling you on it. I'm reporting 
what I saw and heard, before, during and after the auction. If your 
memory of events contradicts mine, we'll have to agree to differ. I've 
made my public statement and I'm sticking by it. My friendly suggestion 
is that you and I now let everyone else draw their own conclusions.

You say Al told you those pieces were "stolen." I remember him saying 
they were "lost" and "could not be accounted for." I'm sure you'll 
agree that it's very easy for such a thing to happen in a busy 
showroom. I gather you yourself unfortunately had a meteorite stolen 
during the show. Sorry to hear that. Anyway, Al found the missing 
pieces a few days later and sent them on to Achim. WHAT'S THE BIG DEAL?

You say Al and Iris "got caught," but would it really be worth selling 
Achim's winnings on to somebody else for an extra $25 apiece? We're 
taking about pieces in the hundreds and thousands of dollars here, and 
no it wouldn't. Al wouldn't do something like that anyway. The 
meteorite field is a small place and anyone can see word of such a 
thing would get out. Since everyone who participated in the auction now 
seems to be happy -- except you -- please tell me who was wronged. I 
think you won a couple of pieces, and you got them for the hammer 
price, right? Achim got his, right? Al spoke to everyone else and made 
sure they were happy, so where's the problem?

I cannot comment on any "fight" between Achim and Allan, because I 
wasn't there and neither were you. I did hear a very different version 
of the story which I'm certainly not going to repeat. I do know Achim 
is a highly respected professional, has always been extremely courteous 
to me, and that he is your friend. I appreciate that you're looking out 
for his interests. I'm glad his pieces were found and I gather from 
Allan that Achim is satisfied with the way things turned out. Achim, if 
that's true, perhaps you'd be kind enough to make a comment to that 
effect.

In light of Iris' sudden and serious illness, it's even more 
understandable that she made some mistakes and accidentally emailed 
some of the wrong bidders, as she was already not feeling too well 
during the Tucson show. I think a little compassion and understanding 
for a seriously ill colleague wouldn't be out of order at this point.

I have no idea why you -- of all people Mike -- would bring up the 
wretched M. Casper. Everyone I know who had dealings with Casper 
(including you and me) ended up being very sorry they'd ever met the 
man. Mentioning Allan and Casper in the same paragraph is evil, has 
absolutely nothing to do with anything we're discussing, and is really 
a cheap shot by you.

I will state that in my career as an art director, writer, and a 
meteorite person I've never worked with kinder or more honest people 
than the Langs. I can only judge someone's character from my own 
personal experience, and in my experience Allan has always been an 
exemplary friend and professional.

I really can't think of anything else to say.


Respectfully,

Geoff N.
Aerolite Meteorites
Tucson, AZ