Not that i am actually encouraging Art (the irrepressible need no
cheerleaders!), but i DO think that a little levity lightens list lore
lingeringly......  i've heard people commenting that recently they have
been deterred from posting to the list because of the sometimes
intimidating preponderance of very high-toned, academic postings in
recent Conch-l discussion.  There should be room on the list for more
than discussions about arcane points of Latin grammer, complex webs of
synonymies (sp?) and identifications - although these *most* assuredly
have their place!!    Granted, if 100 people per month sent in shell-pun
posts things could turn ugly and the pun-police would have to be called
out.  That said,  i don't see why it is necessary for people to POUNCE
upon any deviation from utter seriousness at all, that pops up on the
list.   Considering the amount of spam and other non-shell-related email
most of us get on a constant basis, a couple of light-hearted missives
from Conch-l every now and then is surely not too heavy a burden to bear.

On a non shell-pun related note, thanks Jim for the excellent comments
regarding shell phototography - you are far more advanced in this than i
 am!!  Still, i stick to my assertion that if properly screened and
"back-bounced", natural sunlight gives the best color balance possible:
i've seen a **lot** of spectral distortions in shell photos, and these
can be prevented simply by using natural light, without worrying about
filters, flashes or photo-corrective work.  A mildly overcast day is
actually best, since the "harshness" of full sunlight is muted then.

From the Wilderness of the Great Canadian Southeast,
Ross M.

Art,

How have you managed to avoid being banned from Conch-L, with posts like
this?

A "shell game" pun does not make this post shell-related.

----- Original Message -----
From: <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Sunday, February 01, 2004 10:38 AM
Subject: Q-Man


>    Is it me? Is it some failure on my part---that I don't really care who
wins the Super-Bowl? I mean---it's just a shell game anyway---isn't it?
>     Big Q
>