Listing of Past Listserv Discussions

January 2006:

Subject: Re: Happy New Copal...err I mean New Year!
Date: 1/1/2006
From: tamber12@aol.com

Andy, the white milky stuff is pretty interesting! And the very clear, looks like a glass nugget. Can you determine
thehardness of this stuff? Between a 2-5 on the Moh's? Do the different colors have different odors when you
burn test them, or have you? This is so interesting!

Tammi

-----Original Message-----
From: Andy Ng <andy.ng.aik.hoe@gmail.com>
To: amber@ambericawest.com
Sent: Sun, 1 Jan 2006 11:32:14 +0800
Subject: Happy New Copal...err I mean New Year!

Greetings to all. May 2006 be an even better year :-)

One of my native friends presented me with a kilo bag of resin nuggets
for X'mas. They're very easy to work with...sandpaper cuts thru the
crust in no time at all, unlike the usual resinite. On this island,
transparent resins are a rarity. As most of you know, Borneo resinite
is usually dark-colored or totally opaque.

Acetone readily makes those nuggets tacky, so I guess they have to be
called copal eh? The colors range from citrine to barley-white to
almost totally transparent with the lightest tinge of yellow. I wonder
how long (if ever) it'll be before they crust up again. One thing I
noticed when buffing is that these nuggets can build up static
electricity and attract lint. Is that true of copal from other parts
of the world?

Andy

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From: good news!
Sent:1/3/2006
Subject: ronbuckley@fuse.net

It was reported on 1/1/06 on the dinosaur list that mammal hair was found in cretaceous amber in the Campanian
layer in Siberia. I am sure it will also be found in other cretaceous also. Keep looking. Ron

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Subject:Re: Care and preservation of Collection Pieces
Date: 1/3/2006
From: TheZerbe4@aol.com

In Oaxaca, Mexico, there is the Regional Museum. A large and beautiful museum of pre-Columbian art and artifacts.
It is housed in an old convent, which dates from the 16th or 17th Century. If you are in the area, I recommend seeing
this museum.

One of the exhibits there is the treasure found in Tomb 7 at Monte Alban, a pre-Columbian archaeological site near
the city of Oaxaca. Although Monte Alban was built by the Zapotec civilization, many of its tombs were re-used by
the succeeding Mixtecs. The Tomb 7 treasure was Mixtec in origin; the Mixteca were great goldsmiths and lapidaries.

Part of the treasure is objects worked in amber. These objects have been out of the ground for about 1000 years.
They are kept in a dark room and in a glass case, but so are many other artifacts. I think the room is dark only for its
"tomb-like" feeling, in other words, for theatrical effect, for the other objects from Tomb 7 on display are not affected
by light, such as gold, turquoise or jade. Similarly, I do not think that the case is air tight. However, it would be
interesting to know if in fact the museum curators have indeed designed the exhibit in order to minimize or prevent
deterioration of the amber. I personally doubt that very much, but I could be wrong.

By way of 15 years of experience with only Chiapan amber, which is the only kind of amber I sell, I have never heard
of Chiapan amber decomposing over time. If it does, it would take way more than 10 years. None of my pieces have
changed color or decomposed. Superglue is used during polishing of Chiapan amber only in order to stabilize surface
fractures, not to prevent it from a total decomposition. Certainly a lot of the red rough is crusty and falls apart to powder,
that is why good polished pieces are rare and getting more expensive every day. The red rough is NOT infused with
superglue in order to be able to work it. If the piece doesn't hold up, it is discarded.

Once again I am attaching JPEGs of real, untreated Chiapan red amber currently in my inventory. You can see the
color is really red because we all know what the color is of a shiny US penny. I will be going to Chiapas for about a
month in the near future. I will ask my contacts about all this decomposition talk. But if the Mixtec amber pieces
from Tomb 7 are not decomposing, then it is kind of a moot point, unless any of us expects to be around in 800 to 1000 years.

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Subject: Re: Open letter to Ron
Date: 12/19/2005
From: ronbuckley@fuse.net

Too bad that the dinosaur list commentary
http://dml.cmnh.org/2006Jan/msg00008.html
nor the Journal of Mammalian Evolution abstract

do not mention specific place the amber came from.

In any case I'm going to look thru my samples of amber from Siberia :))

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Subject: re: good news
Date: 1/3/2006
From: jfudala@comcast.net


Dear Ron,

You did not comment on an open question, you replied to a question directly addressed to me. This is extremely rude!!!!!
You also did not further the conversation on red amber and burmite but alluded to other causes in a un-named and unpublished paper. If you think there is another explanation be man enough to voice your opinions, "further observations that may be coming forward" sounds more like someone running for office than someone interested in a real debate. As we say here in Cape Breton, put up or shut up!!!!!!!!

Dave Lamb.

In case you don't understand, if the writer begins with "David" and ends with a question mark they are asking me a question. Not making a general comment.

Subject: Re: Care and preservation of Collection Pieces
Date: 1/4/2006
From: jfudala@comcast.net

Let me quote from a book on amber. "Baltic Amber-a Palaeobiological Study" by S.G. Larsson. No breakthroughs here, but a very nice explanation:

"Amber is in fact nothing like so stable a substance as one might be led to believe in view of its great age, and in particular it is in varying degree sensitive of polymerization, oxidation and the drying-out influence of the air. In those cases where the amber is lying in the soil, immersed in the sea or in the water- table, nothing particular happens to it; a vitrified surface layer is formed, which throughout the intervals of geological time protects its internal structure against further vitrification."
"The worst fate which can befall a piece of amber is to lie in an open box in a showcase which is not air- tight, and be exposed to the dry air of the museum.
Our museums have many specimens of amber which have been lying in this way for far more than a century (........) pieces which were formerly golden in colour have now a dull, reddish- brown tint, and their ground surfaces have in a course of time become crackled to a dense, fine network, which admittedly does not penetrate very deeply into the material. However, a fresh grinding of these pieces requires great care, if the piece is not to crumble away between one's fingers; they feel dry and are exceedingly fragile. Jewellery of amber, which is used frequently, appears to be protected against this drying by its repeated contact with the human skin."

"Nowadays, about the best way to preserve amber is to store it as airtight as possible, and in particular by protecting it against the risk of air movements.
Particularly valuable pieces should probably be embedded like microscopic preparations."

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Subject: Re: Care and preservation of Collection Pieces
Date: 1/3/2006
From: spiegela@prodigy.net

Yes, the general belief in Chiapas is that the red pieces are red from oxidation. I know of no scientific paper which proves this in any way, maybe someone else has this information. The red pieces are indeed found at the higher levels of the mines, at least that is what I have always been told.

I dont want to get into another shouting match, but I find it incredible for anyone to state that "inclusions in Mexican amber are not very well preserved". I quote from someone whom we all agree is very knowledgeable, Dr. Grimaldi: "Supplanting the popularity of Baltic amber. . .is the amber from Chiapas, Mexico. . .a major factor certainly is the exquisite preservation of inclusions, probably the best of any amber." In Amber, Window to the Past, 1996, hardcover, page 62.

I am attaching three JPEGs upon which I would like people to comment. The first two are from a small piece of Baltic amber, to me it looks like a pair of insects which just completed the mating ritual. But maybe they are just close together, it is hard to see. I picked up this piece recently and the price was right, so I went for it, regardless of whether it really shows mating. The last picture is of what I think is an egg case, in a piece of copal. I bought the copal in Mexico City, of all places. I do not know its origin, probably Dominican or Colombian, but I have no idea. Again, it was inexpensive and contains about 20 different organisms, very clear, about 4 inches long piece, so I picked it up. I think the egg case looks really cool.

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Subject: Giant spider?
Date: 1/7/2006
From: collinsmarko@hotmail.com

Hi amberites,
I was wondering if anyone can tel me the size of the largest spider found in Baltic amber? Or has anyone any particularly big spider inclusions? Because i have a spider inclucion which may well be the biggest ever found.
I look forward to any feedback offered,
Mark.

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Subject: Cretaceous inclusion
Date: 1/7/2006
From: tbuck22@optonline.net

Hi amber gang.

Any guesses as to what this is? I found it in a piece of cretaceous Canadian amber. It's ~ .3mm in length and looks like a small flower bud. There are also some "stem" pieces scattered throughout the piece. This was taken @ 40X magnification with a handheld digital camera held up to the microscope's eyepiece. It's my first attempt at photomicroscopy so please be kind with your criticisms. <G>

Best regards,
Tom

Tom Buckley

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Subject: Re: Giant spider?
Date: 1/7/2006
From: TheZerbe4@aol.com

Well, how big is your spider inclusion and can you provide pictures?

Josh

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Subject: Re: Giant spider?
Date: 1/7/2006
From: gems@foreveramber.com.au

Hey Mark. Where's a photo, dude? This is one we want to see! And can you give a size in millimeters?

Tammi

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Subject: Accused of selling plastic.
Date: 1/9/2006
From: david.lamb@ns.sympatico.ca

Hi all,

I just had a person accuse me of selling them plastic. I was, to say the least upset, to have someone accuse me of selling anything other than real amber.

At any rate I told them that they could email the list serve to verify I was someone who worked with "amber" and not plastic. After I did this I suddenly realized that it may have been wrong to give out the list-serve email address, so I apologize if I was wrong in doing so.

He/she wanted a certificate of authenticity and I have no way of doing so. The only thing I could think of was you guys (& girls) so I gave out the email address.

At any rate if she writes she will ask about an eBay store called "ambers-amber". Ambers-amber is me.

Don

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Subject: Thank You!!!
Date: 1/9/2006
From: LeslieDS@aol.com

I just want to thank everyone for their emails.

I don't need to have this piece tested, the pendant was made from raw Chaipas amber I purchased from a very reputable dealer and member of this list-serve.

As you all may know I make amber jewelry to pass the time because my disability keeps me from working. I can shape and polish amber while laying down with my legs elevated.

I don't make any money selling my jewelry in fact I usually loose money so why should I worry about what this one person says. If she doesn't like it I'll just give her her money back.

The accusation just hit me between the eyes, I've never had anyone accuse me of selling plastic before and it through me for a loop (and really ticked me off).

Again thank you all for your support.

Don

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Subject: RE: Accused of selling plastic.
Date: 1/10/2006
From: kirkstephan@hotmail.com

Do you know WHY she thought it was plastic? There sure are some grouches out there...and abetted by plenty of amateur 'experts'.

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Subject: Re: Amber pet
Date: 1/11/2006
From: franjam@mcleodusa.net

hi all, been sick so just getting to my 12-16 mail. Could the dog be "posing" in back of the amber, trick pic. franjam.

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Subject: Burmite
Date: 1/13/2006
From: ronbuckley@fuse.neta

Jim Davis is now on his way over to Burma and will bringing back amber specimens with inclusions. Its been about four months since we had any available. It is as always very expensive to make these fantastic specimens available. And then you now have the H5N1 bird flu spreading all over . So it will probably become much harder to obtain specimens.I should have some available on ebay in about three weeks. Hopefully there will be some nice surprises. Ron

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Subject: Taking pictures of bugs in amber.
Date: 1/14/2006
From: cavexplorer@gmail.com

Hi Amber people,
I was wondering if anyone can recommend a particular camera for taking close ups of bugs in amber? All suggestions will be appreciated.
Thanks in advance,
Mark

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Subject: Re: Taking pictures of bugs in amber.
Date: 1/11/2006
From: baileydona@yahoo.com

Mark,

I'ts more a matter of what lens to use.
First it is necessary to grind and polish a planparallel flat surface above the inclusion in the amber.
Than a good macro objective (f.i. Micro Nikkor 55mm) can do the job. A digital body as the Fuji Finepix or original Nikon will fit.

A microscope with good optics combined with multi-picture software can be an excellent tool too for smaller inclusions (Karsten Gröhn uses this technique). In 'Bernstein - Fenster in die Urzeit' of Max J. Kobbert excellent photographic techniques including stereo photography are discussed.

regards,

Hans

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Subject: Sunday, 15 January 2006 (2).pdf
Date: 1/14/2006
From: dalewicks@ledanet.com.au

Hi,

hope all had a great new year and look forward to the coming events.
attaching a copy of the first published paper on Australian amber.
Its still early days but a few steps closer to it.
Hope this doesnt take to long to download , first time I have attached like this.
kind regards Dale

Here is the pdf.

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Subject: Re: Taking pictures of bugs in amber.
Date: 1/14/2006
From: andy.ng.aik.hoe@gmail.com

Believe it or not, I use a combination of a used microscope with built in lighting and a Cannon 4 megapixel camera on Tripod. It's far from perfect but if you go to my web page. www.gemmaker.com and look in the amber section you'll see some examples of photos taken this way.

Derek

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Subject: Re: Taking pictures of bugs in amber.
Date: 1/15/2006
From: txtrain@hotmail.com

Dear Folks,

I have a Nikon Coolpix 4500 that I attached to a Russian made binocular microscope. I like to Nikon because it allows to focus as close as several inches from the object.

I sell Dominican amber as many know. If you check my inventory page on my website and open the page to view the amber specimens, the images taken of the inclusions are done in the above described method.

Sincerely,

Yale Goldman
Snakefly99@hotmail.com

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Subject: Re: Sunday, 15 January 2006 (2).pdf
Date: 1/15/2005
From: Tamber12@aol.com

Dale, mate!!!! This is so totally awesome!!!! All your hard work and diligence has paid off!!! When you become rich and famous, we can all say we knew you when, and that we all knew first before the rest of the world. I'm so impressed, and feel lucky to be within this group of people who have the 411 on this discovery! Thanks for sharing the article, and do keep us posted on any responses Henk gets. It will be interesting to see how the professional community reacts to this. I predict things will heat up for you in the future, in a good way. Get ready for it!

Tammi

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Subject: INSECT TECHNOLOGY! BUGS KNOW ABOUT FREE ENERGY!
Date: 1/16/2006
From: rossmarshall@sbcglobal.net

You guys have to check out this INSECT PAGE!!!! The guy might "sound" like a quack, and maybe some of the fancies are quackery for style and intrigue, but some of this is AMAZING!!!... Get past all the fancy bull and read the experiments, technical jargin and scientific stuff!!!................ I'm gonna experiment myself with these NATURE SHAPES!!!!........ ROSS
PS. I can't wait to read all the newgroup replies!!!! Comments, slanders and arguments!!!
EAT YOUR ETYMOLOGICAL HEARTS OUT on this one....
http://www.keelynet.com/greb/greb.htm

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Subject: Polishing amber with vibrating tumbler
Date: 1/17/2006
From: keith.luzzi@db.com

Dear Group,

Has anyone tried polishing amber using a vibrating tumbler? I'd like to know your results.

Thanks.

Sincerely,

Yale Goldman

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Subject: Australian amber
Date: 11/17/2006
From: philrea@gmx.co.uk

Dale,

Thanks so much for the article. Information such as this is the reason I stay with a group like this.

I send the thank you without yet having read the paper!!

I'm still in awe that the resins that are found in Australia appear so similar to the ones that are found here (NC/USA).

Pat Young

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Subject: Re: Taking pictures of bugs in ambe
Date: 1/17/2006
From: keith.luzzi@db.com

This website has awsome insect photos as well as general, but very informing tips on setup and picture tweaking. Most of it could apply to shooting inclusions in amber.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/lordv/sets/590338/

John

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Subject:NOVA on amber
Date: 1/19/2006
From: lundberg@ambericawest.com

Just wanted to let folks know, that the NOVA Web site about amber is now up at:

www.pbs.org/nova/jewel

The NOVA program it accompanies, "Jewel of the Earth," will air on PBS on February 14, 2006 at 8pm (USA).

Doug

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From: Re: NOVA on amber
Sent:1/19/2006
Subject: cjalbrecht@msn.com

Fantastic. I especially like this quote:

Pretty in amber to observe the forms
Of hairs, or straws, or dirt, or grubs, or worms!
The things, we know, are neither rich nor rare,
But wonder how the devil they got there.
—Alexander Pope (1688-1744)

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Subject: Amber videos and DVDs - availability??
Date: 1/20/2006
From: tbuck22@optonline.net

I am interested in obtaining all available videos or DVDs on amber that
have been produced. Do you amber nuts know of all that is available and
where to purchase these? I would welcome a reply.

Thanks,
Donald

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Subject: Check out the Butterfly in amber from China
Date: 1/20/2006
From:Baumgartner.Donald@epamail.epa.gov

Check out this fake butterfly in amber from China on ebay at

http://cgi.ebay.com/Stunning-Beautiful-Butterfly-in-Amber-Stone_W0QQitemZ6598930546QQcategoryZ3218QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Donald

(I am including the pictures here because they will be gone in a month.........Doug)

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Subject: Re: Check out the Butterfly in amber from China
Date: 1/20/2006
From: cavexplorer@gmail.com

Donald,

The butterfly is a fake in plastic. I bougt cheap fakes like this insects
and scorpions between straw in clear plastic that is...painted yellow in
China before. The pieces are hugh, colors of the inclusions unnaturally well
preserved. They fail all tests, only on a picture it is sometimes hard to
tell.
To good to be true...unfortunately.

This large cerambicid beetle in Hymenaea copal is not a fake, but a natural
inclusion found in a mining on Madagascar (not extremely old though). Check
it out:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=6246578786&rd=1&sspagename=STRK%3AMESE%3AIT&rd=1

Regards,

Hans

Subject: amber-egg
Date: 1/20/2006
From: Peder@laursen.mail.dk

Hi Folks,

A strange piece of danish amber. It belongs to one of my friends who were trying to polish the piece when it suddenly broke and out came this egg. I have put into the owen and in about three weeks time I suppose to have a very small dino. Then I´ll make my own Jurrasic Park and all of you will be invited for the opening of the Park. I hope not so dramatic as in the film of Spielberg, but you never know.
Greetings from The Eocinia Park in Denmark...................PederMeddelelsen

Subject: Re: Ron
Date: 1/20/2006
From: franjam@mcleodusa.net

People!! If you send an em to "the list", I would assume the em is for ALL to debate and discuss, talk, bitch, argue, whatever. If you want it to be personal, you send the em to the Person. BOTH can be done on our pc's. I've been reading for a couple of yrs., and love all of it. Even this bs you two are going through. I'm the touchiest sob in the world, and at 71 hope you kids get over this. I'm drinking, crying, and am real late on reading the list. It's the best thing on the internet as far as I'm concerned. you smart people should KNOW better. Life is to damn short, and you people that can cope with this crazy world should be thankful that you're where you are and not in some place that might put you in dangers way. Forgive me for being such a sentimental ass h9e'. love to all even though I dont know you. franjam

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Subject: Re: controversy
Date: 1/20/2006
From:franjam@mcleodusa.net

david, I haven't read any of the em's beyond today so dont really know what happened in the end. hope it turned out alright. I'm a whole month behind,but will try to catch up this weekend. The greatest thing in my world that I've learned is patience patience patience. If I have that, which is sooooo damn hard to learn, I'll eventually catch up with what is REALLY happening. franjam. ps. the triple word could be spelt wrong. but what the helll. love to all. fjmhl

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Subject: Re: NOVA on amber
Date: 1/20/2006
From: dxaxdx@optusnet.com.au
Hi Folks,
Re "Jewel of the Earth" is this a new Attenborough program or is it a re-badged "The Amber Time Machine" which has been around for a couple of years?
David

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Subject: Re: I'm a Geologist...
Date: 1/20/2006
From: franjam@mcleodusa.net

Leslie. Just love that name. My first gdaughter is a leslie, and my first ggdaughter is libby. To hear you talk about techwriting reminds me that one of my older bros. was a tech-writer Teacher. He said that he thought it was one of the most challenging subjects he's ever had to teach, because it was so boring, but that he worked his butt off to teach it because it really was so important to modern day kids. He's 3yrs. older than i am.. and a EX-dominican priest. He taught at a small college in so. Tex. Cant remember the name. just to chat. love franjam

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Subject: keith.luzzi@db.com
Date: 1/20/2006
From:keith.luzzi@db.com

Hi Franjam,

How did you get involved with amber? Do you have any amber collecting stories? Where do you live?

cheers!

regards

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Subject: Amber passion
Date: 1/20/2006
From: Jjcfjjcf@aol.com

Dear y'all,

I have been a reader for a short time, and I am trying to puzzle out the amber regular postings about amber. I do hope that those people who so upset about various things concerning amber might take a step back from thier emotional outpourings. This is not to denigrate anyone's feelings, nor anyone's their sense of being wronged...but it makes it very hard for an interested person to evaluate the issues.

And it does not dignify a larger discourse about a fascinating subject, nor the obvious great knowledge--of all kinds---that various people have about amber. We all realize that great interest and passion must be behind the emotional responses we outsiders to the heated discussions read.

I have no idea who all the injured parties are, or why some people seem so excessively upset, but perhaps we could encourage more controlled passion? Perhaps write the angry emails to yourself, and then wait 24 hours? I for one am interested in the debate, about the reasoning behind the opinions.

Yours,
Bee

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Subject: Enough is enough.
Date: 1/20/2006
From: collinsmarko@hotmail.com

Dear Amberites,
I have become somewhat puzzled in recent times as to what this amber forum is all about. It is suppose to be a group of people with a common scientific interest, yet it has descended into, an almost 'bitching forum' for apparently sexually/intellectually/whatever frustrated forum of people who seem intent on relieving their pent up stresses in a public, scientific domain. However, I have news for you people - the Samaritans are a great bunch of people, whom by their very nature exist, through shear compassion, to deal with such matters. So do all of us true amberites a favour and check your local yellow pages, find their number, ring it, and let all of us who subscribe to this forum for the brilliance, beauty and understanding of the role amber plays in the history of understanding the evolution of life on this planet, get on with attempting to learn about this remarkable time-capsule.
Hopefully this email will close this matter and we can all begin to start exchanging ideas and knowledge again about what we are all truly passionate about.
Fingers crossed,
Mark

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Subject: Re: NOVA on amber
Date: 1/20/2006
From: dxaxdx@optusnet.com.au

Hi Folks,
Further to my previous email, I've had a look at the program description for "Jewel of the Earth" and it does seem to be the same program which was shown as the BBC production "The Amber Time Machine". If you have not seen this before, set your recorders as it is well worth watching. I teach Physics and Chemistry as well as some Junior Science and I use this program to show relationships between plants and insects as well as spreading the word about amber. (Who said teaching was a subversive activity?)
Let any of your friends who may be Science teachers know about the program, I'm sure they will appreciate it and, perhaps, be captivated by amber as well!
Cheers
David in Oz

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Subject: The ''sLAMBER'' List
Date: 1/20/2006
From: rossmarshall@sbcglobal.net

Ya know, I've seen this many times before... It's a desease!...I've seen other lists decay into a quarreling nightmare....I actually started one ONE TIME, and they barely escaped THE DESEASE.... It's like,.. "Letting the CAT out of the Bag",... "the Greased Pig Contest"..." the Local Town Hanging"... people are goules when it comes to conflict. Once you ..."start the Ball Rolling" it's hard to stop it."...People's true nature of conflict is a hidden thing behind the artifice of the scientific. We spend too long being SCIENTIFIC, or DUTIFUL, or conservative, that we sometimes get BORED and secretly desire a bitching fight - doesn't matter what it is or who it's with - just a bitching fight to get the DUST moving again... You can see this in any Jr. High School: Force the kids to be quiet, and responsible and then take your hand of them. After so much time, they break down, and then the fights begin. It's no different with adults. In fact it's worse. The Adult can maybe GO LONGER WITH BEING QUIET. BUT the adult can go much longer RAISING HELL TOO!. The After-effects are ALSO WORSE. Sometimes total destruction!
What The news group list here NEEDS to do RIGHT NOW, is ... Quote Susan Powel: "STOP THE INSANITY".... Actually, STOP posting for 24hrs. NO ONE POST ANYMORE...WAIT 24hrs. Then come back with fresh forgiveness. Erease ALL emails and DO NOT READ THEM... then start with a fresh email to the LISTING. Whoever then from that POINT sends a CAUSAL MECHANISM email to start it all up again, must be shoved in the corner.
Otherwise, there is NO WAY TO STOP THE DESTRUCTION OF THE LISTING.
Out wonderful amerlist becomes Hamperlist, or "slamber list".

OK, THE LAW SAYS NOW: STOP POSTING AND WAIT 24hrs.

ROSS MARSHALL

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Subject: Re: Enough is enough.
Date: 1/20/2006
From: jfudala@comcast.net

Oh, Mark...
the forum is made up of people.
Some are scientists, some are collectors, some are dealers, many just spectators. Almost all are amber enthusiasts in one or another plane.
And most of all, all are human and flawed, stressed- meaning susceptible to breakdowns at times.
Yes we should try to be professional here, but if it happens otherwise, so what?
Tomorrow is another day:))
John

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Subject: Re: Enough is enough.
Date: 1/20/2006
From: ajhaig@sonic.net

Hello,
I just joined this group and have a question - does anyone know anything about a company called ambergifts.info? I exchanged Q & A emails about some items with them, then sent an order via email. No reply for a week or so, then in reply to my query about my order, they said it would be another week to prepare my order. This is not what I am used to seeing regarding Internet commerce, but I am from the US and they are LIthuanians...
Any feedback about them would be great.

Another question: has anyone ever heard of amber occurring in Costa Rica? I have a small farm there tho I live in N. California.
Thanks,
Arlie

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Subject:Burmite
Date: 1/2/200
From: ronbuckley@fuse.net

Hi Jim Davis is over in Myanmar(Burma) and is coming back today. He has been able to get a few hundred insect inclusions. He will also be bringing back some larger pieces of Burmite- this is the first larger pieces he has been able to bring out in 4 years. Jim also was able to have some larger elephants and frogs carved but this will be the only batch he will probably ever be able to obtain. I have asked him to get some gem quality amber and root amber but dont know if he was able. He still was not able to obtain any of the bright rare fire red amber he got a few years ago. Its been 4-5 months since I have had any Burmite inclusions for sale. Ron

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Subject: Re: Check out the Butterfly in amber from China
Date: 1/4/20066
From: TheZerbe4@aol.com

In addition to it being obviously fake, did you take a look at the shipping price? $78, what a joke! People like that should be banned from ebay!

Josh

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