Subject: RE: [Rockhounds] Moon rocks stolen and retrieved... a thriller !
Date: Tue, 23 Jul 2002 22:23:02 +0200
From: "Rik Dillen" <rik.dillen@skynet.be>
Reply-To: rockhounds@lists.drizzle.com
To:
Thanks for your kind words (they are especially valuable to Axel, who did
the job, and at this very moment is sitting at home with his leg in a
plaster... but the cause of that is not that he got a moon rock on his leg).
The problem is not so much that one would have looked the other way. The
original e-mail message (that I got as well) was so stupid, naive and
unbelievable that it was comparable to the type of junk that African
criminal organisations are spilling all over the world (you know... the
opportunity to help someone smuggling billions of dollars out of his
country, of kilograms of first class diamonds in exchange for a share of 30
% or so etc...) that anyone (including myself) would have deleted it as junk
mail from someone with too much fantasy in his head.
Regards,
Rik
-----Original Message-----
From: rockhounds-admin@lists.drizzle.com
[mailto:rockhounds-admin@lists.drizzle.com]On Behalf Of
morningstar@att.net
Sent: 23 July, 2002 10:02 PM
To: rockhounds@lists.drizzle.com
Subject: Re: [Rockhounds] Moon rocks stolen and retrieved... a thriller
!
Goede Dag!
Congratulations to everyone in Belgium who helped stop
this crime. Those items are the property of the people
of the United States, and as a citizen I thank you. If
any of you are ever in the States, I will buy you some
dinner and some good beer or wine.
Men of lesser character and conscience would have simply
looked the other way. It lifts my heart to know that
there are still people of high moral standards in the
world of minerals.
Dank U well,
Don J. Halterman, Jr.
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Subject:
Re: [Rockhounds] Moon rocks II
Date:
Tue, 23 Jul 2002 19:20:47 -0400
From:
Kreigh Tomaszewski <Kreigh@tomaszewski.net>
Reply-To:
rockhounds@lists.drizzle.com
Organization:
Postmaster/Webmaster for Tomaszewski.net
To:
rockhounds@lists.drizzle.com
References:
1
If you would like to obtain a moon rock legally you can go to
www-curator.jsc.nasa.gov/curator/lunar/samreq/reqinfo.htm
for details on submitting a request.
Rik Dillen wrote:
>
> BlankSorry, Paul and I have sent each their interpretation of the story
> almost simultaneously. There was no time for good appointments.
> Anyway, just read the two stories... they are complementary.
> Have fun... and don't "collect" moon rocks... They would catch you...
>
> Greetings,
>
> Rik DILLEN
> Doornstraat 15
> B-9170 Sint-Gillis-Waas
> Belgium
>
> Tel. + 32 3 7706007
> E-mail rik.dillen@skynet.be
>
> Homepage : http://users.skynet.be/rik.dillen
> >>> Belgian minerals (ardennite, vantasselite, ferristrunzite and more)
> >>> An own find on a Korean (and now again on a Guinean) postage stamp !
> >>> Exchange list
>
> Mineral collector's page http://www.minerant.org/
> >>> The Dana errata page, the Virtual Quarry and much more !
>
> MINERANT 2002 ---- Minerals and fossils show --- was a big success... see
> you again next year !
> 27-28 April 2002 - Handelsbeurs - Meir - Antwerpen
> _______________________________________________
> Rockhounds@drizzle Mailing List
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> Subscription Services:
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Subject:
Re: [Rockhounds] Moon rocks stolen and retrieved... a thriller !
Date:
Wed, 24 Jul 2002 20:50:48 -0400
From:
Don H <morningstar@att.net>
Reply-To:
rockhounds@lists.drizzle.com
To:
rockhounds@lists.drizzle.com
References:
1 , 2
Paul Van hee wrote:
>
> I might come to the US end of the year (:Paul Van hee -President of the
> Antwerp Mineralogical Society) : NJ is that NE enough?
> I'll think of Axel with great respect drinking that beer, just like we do it
> over here !! (:-))))
Paul, Axel, & friends,
New Jersey is where I live! So yes, we will have a good time. We can
discuss this trip off-list.
I am glad that the country of Belgium is so excited. Here, there was
only a brief mention on the television news. But maybe you are
wondering why this event is so interesting to me. I will tell the whole
story now.
I am an assistant science advisor to some school children who are
sending a project on the NASA space shuttle. Unfortunately, there is
some problem with the shuttle engines and they are all grounded;
otherwise the project would be flying in space right now. The children
decided to send some fluorescent minerals into space to see if the heat,
cold, and cosmic radiation would affect the fluorescence. I also loaned
them four of my own specimens. NASA has some very strict rules about
what can happen with these specimens after they return. They cannot be
sold or used to make a personal profit. For the past few months, I have
been trying to find some institutions I can trust, some places that will
take care of them properly. One piece will stay permanently at the
Thomas S. Warren Museum of Fluorescence, of course, but the other three
specimens will need a good home. Then, yesterday, I saw that they are
not even safe when stored by NASA itself. I became very angry and upset
that this had happened. On the other hand, I was filled with joy to see
in the same story that Axel & friends had helped return the stolen
items. Sadly, I have met some people in mineralogy who lie and steal,
and even hurt their friends in order to compete for the best specimens.
There must have been a temptation to acquire these extremely rare
pieces, and yet the Belgians did the honorable thing. Who knows, those
could have been some specimens of mine that were in the custody of NASA,
stolen from the shuttle cargo bay. That is why I have taken this
episode so personally.
Paul, when you visit I will show you something else. I just spoke to
the curator on the phone. We are building a new wing to the Warren
Museum, the Hesselbacher Room. Since we know Axel has made
contributions to the study of fluorescent minerals, and the MKA was
generous in donating specimens when the museum was new, and also because
of this latest act of nobility: one of the new display cases will have a
small placard in honor of Axel Emmermann and the Mineralogical Society
of Antwerp, in gratitude for their assistance.
Once again, thank you all. We will not forget.
Don
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Subject:
Re: [Rockhounds] From "the Belgian"
Date:
Fri, 26 Jul 2002 18:37:03 +0200
From:
"Axel Emmermann" <axel.emmermann@pandora.be>
Reply-To:
rockhounds@lists.drizzle.com
To:
<rockhounds@lists.drizzle.com>
References:
1
Thanks Teresa and it was my pleasure, don't think too much of it...
and this is for all the other rockhounders that sent me those friendly
mails:
I have to confess something to you all... while reading those beautifull
"thank you" e-mails I started noticing that the word "hero" occurs in the
much too frequently. I'm not, absolutely not, a hero and I can prove it...
1) I don't have a cape
2) I can't fly or run at MACH2
3) Those of you that saw my picture in the papers or on a newssite KNOW that
I look ridiculous in tights
But still thank you all for making me feel good.
On the other hand... "It's a bird... it's a plane... it's... EMMERMANN"
doesn't sound half bad ;-P))))))))))))))))))))
Cheers
Axel Emmermann
Mineralogische Kring Antwerpen
Werkgroepen Fluorescentie & Technische Realisaties
Home : Lobbeplein 12
2640 Mortsel
Tel: +32 (0)3 295.35.54
E-mail:
axel.emmermann@pandora.be
Visit our homepage:
http://www.minerant.org/index.html
Bezoek onze web-site:
http://www.minerant.org/MKA/index.html
My own web-site:
http://users.pandora.be/axel.emmerman/home/index.htm
----- Original Message -----
From: <tam2819@cox.net>
To: <rockhounds@lists.drizzle.com>
Sent: Friday, July 26, 2002 5:56 PM
Subject: Re: [Rockhounds] From "the Belgian"
> Axel,
> My personal thank you for the integrity you show to be
> alive and well.
>
> Have you tried to access the web sites of these
> newspapers?
>
> I know you will receive copies from those living in the
> areas. Do a web search for the individual newspapers,
> you may be pleasantly surprised.
> Teresa
>
> _______________________________________________
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Subject:
Re: Re: Stolen Moonrocks
Date:
Thu, 1 Aug 2002 16:13:32 -0400
From:
rep.ehlers@mail.house.gov
To:
<kreigh@tomaszewski.net>
I want to thank you for your e-mail regarding Axel Emmermann and the
moonrocks. I have taken the liberty of forwarding your idea along to
NASA.
Subject:
Re: [Rockhounds] Re: Stolen Moonrocks
Date:
Wed, 07 Aug 2002 20:33:37 -0400
From:
Kreigh Tomaszewski <Kreigh@Tomaszewski.net>
Organization:
Postmaster/Webmaster for Tomaszewski.net
To:
rockhounds@lists.drizzle.com
References:
1 , 2
Axel,
You give me clear reasons for why your good turn deserves another. Thank
you!
Kreigh
Axel Emmermann wrote:
>
> I really don't know what to say except thank you!
> I'm a bit (read: completely) overwhelmed by this ongoing effort and,
> naturally, it makes me feel good that such a small act from me made such a
> difference for so many.
> However, I don't consider a simple act of honesty to be heroic nor do I feel
> like a hero ;-)
> Being honest comes as a result having good and responsible parents, it is
> something you are taught! Not something you "acquire" by being exceptionally
> brave or smart (however, smart helps ;-)))))).
> Reporting a crime is maybe a little less evidend but still... not heroic in
> my book.
>
> Nevertheless, thank you all for your efforts.
>
> Axel Emmermann
> Mineralogische Kring Antwerpen
> Werkgroepen Fluorescentie & Technische Realisaties
> Home : Lobbeplein 12
> 2640 Mortsel
> Tel: +32 (0)3 295.35.54
> E-mail:
> axel.emmermann@pandora.be
> Visit our homepage:
> http://www.minerant.org/index.html
> Bezoek onze web-site:
> http://www.minerant.org/MKA/index.html
> My own web-site:
> http://users.pandora.be/axel.emmerman/home/index.htm
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Kreigh Tomaszewski" <Kreigh@Tomaszewski.net>
> To: <rockhounds@lists.drizzle.com>
> Sent: Wednesday, August 07, 2002 4:03 AM
> Subject: [Rockhounds] Re: Stolen Moonrocks
>
> > You've probably heard the story of the recent theft of moonrocks from
> > NASA and their recovery due to the efforts of Axel Emmermann, a
> > rockhound from Belgium.
> >
> > I have proposed to NASA that Axel be presented with an encased moonrock,
> > similar to those presented to other dignitaries in the past, for his
> > heroic effort in the recovery of priceless specimens from every Apollo
> > mission.
> >
> > I am asking that you contact Mr. Louis Parker, the Johnson Space Center
> > Exhibits Manager (louis.a.parker1@jsc.nasa.gov), and extend your support
> > to my proposal (that I understand NASA is still considering).
> >
> > I have put together a webpage with details of the stolen moonrocks and
> > my proposal to NASA at
> > http://Tomaszewski.net/Kreigh/Minerals/Moonrocks.shtml
> > should you want further information about either.
> >
> > Axel has earned a moonrock (that he never expected) for doing the right
> > thing in extraordinary circumstances. Giving him one would be a powerful
> > positive message, with good exposure for many areas of interest we
> > share. We need more heros and good news. Thank you for helping make it
> > possible with your support.
> >
> > Kreigh Tomaszewski
> > _______________________________________________
> > Rockhounds@drizzle Mailing List
> > WWW: http://www.drizzle.com/~afox/rockhounds
> > Subscription Services:
> > http://lists.drizzle.com/mailman/listinfo/rockhounds
> >
>
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Subject: E-mail met bijlage (attachment): NASA1, NASA2
Hello my dear friends,
some time ago I promised to keep you informed about what happens on the
"moonrockheistfront" ;-))))
Imagine my surprise ;-)))
Best regards
Axel
Axel Emmermann
Het bericht kan nu met het volgende bijlagen of koppelingen worden
verzonden:
Opmerking: Sommige e-mailprogramma's staan ter beveiliging tegen virussen
het verzenden of ontvangen van bepaalde bestandsbijlagen niet toe.
Controleer de beveiligingsinstellingen voor uw e-mail als u wilt weten hoe
bijlagen worden afgehandeld.
December 2004 Update: NASA has named an asteroid after Axel.
You may also want to visit Axel's 'About Me' page.
Subject: moonrocks Axel Emmermann
Date: Thu, 15 Aug 2002 09:31:26 +0200
From: Hugo Bender
Organization: MKA
To: louis.a.parker1@jsc.nasa.gov
CC: Kreigh@Tomaszewski.net
To:
Mr. Louis Parker
Johnson Space Center
Exhibits Manager
Dear sir,
We like to express our full support for the action of Kreigh Tomaszewski
to honor Axel Emmermann with an encased moonrock for his extraordinary
action resulting in the recovery of the stolen moonrocks.
There are several reasons why Axel deserves this present :
- First of all of course his great contribution to the recovery of these
moonrocks.
- This action is a unique illustration on how amateur rockhounders can
collaborate with professional mineralogists/geologists/scientists -
obviously in a very peculiar way in this case.
- As an autodidact he has a very profound knowledge of both mineralogy
and astronomy. He illustrated this once more with his most interesting
lecture before summer on the creation of the elements in the universe.
No doubt this combined interest and knowledge contributed to his
curiosity to find out what was going on when he received the e-mail
offer for buying moonrocks.
- He has a profound knowledge of especially fluorescent minerals and is
a world famous photographer of this type of minerals.
- He has great skills to share his knowledge with other people by giving
most exciting lectures and writing extended articles for our journal.
No doubt he will share his moonrock with others by exhitibing it during
mineral expositions/fairs that our society organizes.
Therefore we think he really earns the moonrock present and therefore we
hope NASA will indeed decide to express his happiness for the recovery
of the stolen moonrocks by giving this present to Axel.
Sincerely yours,
Hugo Bender
Secretary Mineralogische Kring Antwerpen (MKA)
Paul Bender
Board member MKA
====================================================================
Hugo Bender
P. Van den Bemdenlaan 107
B-2650 Edegem
secretariaat@minerant.org
tel/fax +/32/(0)/3 440 89 87
====================================================================
# secretariaat Mineralogische Kring Antwerpen vzw (MKA vzw)
#
# info mineralogie : http://www.minerant.org/
#
# MKA : http://www.minerant.org/MKA/
====================================================================
Subject:
Re: Stolen MoonRocks
Date:
Tue, 13 Aug 2002 20:44:11 -0400
From:
Kreigh Tomaszewski
Organization:
Postmaster/Webmaster for Tomaszewski.net
To:
president@whitehouse.gov
The Honorable George W. Bush
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20500
Dear Mr. President,
I presume you are aware of NASA's recent stolen moonrocks and their
recovery thru the efforts of Mr. Axel Emmermann and The Mineralogical
Society of Antwerp (which hosted a moonrock display in 78).
I have proposed to NASA that Mr. Emmermann should be presented a small
encased moonrock, similar to those presented to foreign dignitaries in
the past, for his heroic effort in the recovery of priceless specimens
from every Apollo mission.
Mr. Emmermann has earned a moonrock (that he never expected) for doing
the right thing in extraordinary circumstances. Presenting him one would
be a powerful positive message, with good exposure for many areas of
interest shared by people here and around the world.
I have put together a webpage with details of the moonrock recovery and
my proposal to NASA at
http://Tomaszewski.net/Kreigh/Minerals/MoonRocks.shtml
should you desire further information about either.
I ask you to consider my proposal and order NASA to honor Mr. Axel
Emmermann and The Mineralogical Society of Antwerp as I have suggested.
We need more heros and good news.
Thank you for your support.
Sincerely,
Kreigh Tomaszewski
I think the following note from Axel shows that NASA listened. It may not be a moonrock, but I think the honor is just as great. My thanks to all of you that helped! A follow-up Thank You is appropriate.
The pictures say it all...
(and you can click on them for a larger image)
Date: Wed, 20 Oct 2004 20:19:05 +0200
Well, this seems a major happening, brought to me by old faithful FedEx.
Lobbesplein 12
B-2640 Mortsel
URL: http://users.pandora.be/axel.emmerman/home/index.htm
===================================================
Mineralogische Kring Antwerpen / Antwerp Mineralogical Society
http://www.minerant.org/index.html
MKA werkgroep Fluorescentie:
Contact: fluorescentie@minerant.org
URL: http://www.minerant.org/MKA/wkg-fluo.html
MKA werkgroep Technische Realisaties:
Contact: techniek@minerant.org
URL: http://www.minerant.org/MKA/wkg-tech.html
I salute you and your flag. It is good to see honesty, integrity, and initiative rewarded.
I close this narrative offering a TV interview with Axel , but be warned it is a 13 Mb download.
Current date and time is Wednesday, 25-Dec-2024 15:43:23 EST and the Greenwich date and time is Wednesday, 25-Dec-2024 20:43:23 GMT. You are viewing this page from: 3.140.188.195 and are visitor number 28. This page was first published on 4 August 2002 and was last updated on Saturday, 25-Apr-2009 22:09:22 EDT by Kreigh Tomaszewski.