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I would like to contribute my thoughts regarding Mr. Huxtable's concern.  I
and a friend, both old guys with a passion for boats, joined this list when
we were just starting to read about and study celestial navigation.  We
looked at several web sites and this one seemed to be the one asking and
answering questions that we were also asking.  We settled on a particular
text book, bought inexpensive sextants, studied, read the list, practiced,
added a few of our own posts, received answers to a few questions, and
finally reached a point where we thought we could take a sight and maybe
reduce the data we had to a fix.  All well and good so far...

When other aspects of navigation came up, land navigation and surveying for
example, I read them with interest.  My friend did not.  He was especially
put off by the threads that did not specifically address taking a sight and
reducing data.  Finally, he left the list.  My own interests did not include
the discussions that seemed to cover extreme accuracy, history, and a few
other topics.  It is very important to realize that what may sound like
criticism of the list is really a statement of personal interest.  The list
is a source of knowledge with amazing depth and breadth.  It does not seem
wise to limit the dimensions of its discussions.

The list is fine.  I would not change a thing.  Yet, I am losing interest in
the current threads.  Much like discussions at a party, some conversations
are more interesting or more relevant than others.  So, do I leave the party
or do I stay for the more interesting things to come?  The fellow who talked
briefly about navigation in harbor will be back with thoughts and ideas that
I will want to read.  Some one of you experts will decide to put a few nav
problems on the list for others of us to solve.  Perhaps, I will have a
question one day that will open a new discussion and eventually provide an
insight into coastal navigation that will be of value.  I will be staying.

The few thoughts above are not answers to Mr. Huxtable's questions.  If I
could answer those, I would be sending this email from my yacht somewhere
out on the Pacific.  Perhaps, they will do what lists are supposed to do and
spark a reply that will have an answer.

George Istok

   

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