Next message: frank swift: "Re: Sun squash- was Green Flash and Longitude"
On 1/17/06 10:03 PM, "Bill" <> wrote:
>> I had in mind to publish a book on celestial navigation anyway, and the sun
>> squash chapter could be łthe hook˛, that is, some information that had never
>> been published before to give it intrinsic value. There would be an insert
>> with ellipses of 5, 10, and 15 % printed on sun shade material, that could be
>> held up to compare with the actual sun. Trouble was, I could not produce
>> such
>> ellipses of suitable quality for publication. I needed a PC with a desktop
>> publishing program which had not yet been invented. So, the whole project
>> languished in a file cabinet all these years. Now the issue is moot except
>> for the interest some list members may have in knowing about it.
>
> Ken
>
> You run a business, and very well it would appear. It would be a shame if
> your book was never published. Any chance of a compromise? Publish your
> chapter on squash. You now have the PC and graphics programs you wished
> for, as well as on-demand printing. Celestair has the marketing vehicle. At
> a $10-15 price point (at 100 units you would probably pass break even) I
> would jump at the opportunity to have your insights. (Woodworkers gladly pay
> $10-15 for a self-published blurb regarding cove cutting and angles on a
> table saw). Hire some high-school kid (not the same one that claims this is
> the 30th issue of the Celestair catalog on the inside-front cover for years
> ;-)
>
> Even it is a break-even proposition, it does give you and Celestair yet
> another unique selling proposition--the Gebhart sunset/sunrise sextant (for
> a lot less than another curiosity, the Bris sextant).
>
> Heck. I would be more happy to produce the graphics for the ellipses in any
> increments you would like, gratis. Feed me the major and minor axis--its a
> piece of cake.
Bill,
Thanks for the nice words. However I am afraid the "some day I'm gonna
write a book procrastination" is probably more addictive that the latest
designer drug. However, having just turned 70, I realize that I have a
whole 20 years more to go before I get old. So maybe there is hope.
Ken
>
> Bill
>
