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Dear Gabe It's impossible to put into words how awful it must be for all of you. I am truly sorry and very sad to hear this news. Especially sorry for Mike Bessell and Ken Freeman and other staff members who have not only lost their place of work but their own homes too. I'm writing a paper at the moment in collaboration with Mike and was only in touch with him last week about data he obtained on the 2.3-m. I've personally never been to Stromlo but it's been a household name on my lips for all my professional life. I also saw reports on how the Gemini spectrograph was destroyed and other projects in the pipeline are probably non-starters. Please accept my condolences to you for the loss of your optical shop. I have been aware of the excellence of your optical work for many years; even got the optical prescription for the EFOSC-like imager and spectrograph you made for the 2.3-m from you at one point. I am sure you feel utterly devastated as well. Please convey my personal condolences and sympathy to any colleagues you may want to pass them on to. Darragh PS. Never mind about my filters. Today's not the day to talk about them. I'll email you about them later and will pass on the news to Rick Hessman. |