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Re: Competing hobbies -- or - Hubbies, Hobbies and Highlights
- To: Aquatic-Plants at actwin_com
- Subject: Re: Competing hobbies -- or - Hubbies, Hobbies and Highlights
- From: "S. Hieber" <shieber at yahoo_com>
- Date: Mon, 11 Nov 2002 07:17:42 -0800 (PST)
- In-reply-to: <200211091003.gA9A3B4D022531 at mailhub_actwin.com>
Rachel Sandage said:
> Man, this is so frustrating. I reaaaalllly wanted to go
> to the AGA
> conference, but my hubby already had dibs on this weekend
> for a trip to
> Salem, OR for a conference on HIS hobby IIt's the Imaging
> the Sky
> conference, for amateur astrophotographers). Somebody who
> is there needs to
> send back lots of reports!
Well, not really highlights but just a few random quick
notes:
There will be a video tape of the speakers, I believe. I
think copies of the previous two conventions are still
available (check out the AGA web site).
There was some really good talk in the hallways -- won't be
on tape. Great slides of plants growing in the wild in
pure calcium carbonate -- now there's a substrate I bet you
haven't tried!
Hopefully Chuck Gadd's talk on using plant performance
instead of test kits will be packaged into an article for
wider dissemination -- Howeever, if the auction was any
indication, test kits are a cheaper way to go than plants
;-)
Highest auction sales: 2 packets of Pellia sold for about
$70 or $80 each, after fierce bidding. Rumor has it that,
over the course of the next year, this plant is going to
become as popular as 5 o'clock shadows in Hollywood.
Most often quoted person was easily Tom Barr -- although,
surprisingly enough, the salinity of the ocean didn't
actually come up for discussion at all ;-)
Tropica's Claus Christensen had a decided opinion on
Cavan's monster grey slime.
My favorite comment from the event came from a side
discussion:
"It is not growing, it's moving!" This was averred by
Claus when someone said that a particular "algae," after
loads of it were manually removed from a tank, could fully
grow back in just 45 minutes.
The Friday tour was incredible. It included a lfs (Village
Tropical Fish), which on Sunday seemed to be a continuation
of the convention as scads of folks returned on their way
to the airport for purchases of fish and plants -- glosso
for about $2 bucks?
Aquarium Design Group--The Senske display gallery was a
bittersweet lesson in humility. These tanks were so nice,
if there was a hardware store nearby, I would have bought a
hammer to take back and use on my own miserable excuses for
planted tanks. The ADG's were excellent examples of the
use of a just a few species and the artful placement of
wood and rocks to fill a large space with movement, depth,
and character.
Aquarium Environments -- Even more nice display tanks --
some really really big tanks, suggesting more than a few
ideas to us. Texas Bar-B-Q and plenty of it.
My personal awards:
To Roger Miller: Best Seller. Among his offereings, about
a half dozen small but excellent specimens of Marsilea,
which each attracted double digit bids.
To Chuck Gadd: Best Shirt. This shirt was true *blue* to
the tropical motif without relying on obvious use of green
-- or perhaps it is a sign of why he avoids
color-comparison test kits ;-)
Erik Olson: Hardest Working Man in the AGA -- and who
knows how many other organizations. Hard working, talented
and this guy is likeable, too. Unfair Unfair Unfair!
Dave Gomberg: Most Inquisitive During Formal Events. DG
asked more questions of the speakers than any other
attendee -- and good questions, too.
Cavan: Most Inquisitive In Conversations Outside of the
Formal Events.
Cavan: Most comprehensive use of Latin nomenclature. I
wish James Purchase could have made it to the convention.
I would have loved to hear these two in conversation --
although I probably wouldn't be able to follow it. But I
would be bound to learn something, even if just from
"osmosis."
Valerie: Fiercest Negotiator. She staunchly defended the
AGA from the corporate bullies. I'm glad she was on our
side.
And finally, Tom Barr: Most Conspicuously Present Without
Actually Being Present.
Just my own immediate takes. Better reports are sure to
come from others. And I still have to organize my notes.
And if Erik stops "goofing off" on other distractions,
maybe the tape will be edited and available soon. ;-)
Scott H.
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