@farmerman,
Have you no figures for the sales from the Denver conference all those years ago, as if all progress in sales drives had ceased at that far distant (I need a cobweb metaphor here--one in the top corner of the barn in which an authentic currach is being lovingly constructed etc etc) --long, long ago time.
Brochures, passing the basket--well--placing them on a velvet covered pedestal in the exit hall at about the height of the average pocket, a cod Tibetan bowl, say, --flesh coloured Christs that glow in the dark--stuff enough to give J. Joyce a field day--car parking. Anything that can be thought up to streamline the tried and tested methods of ancient Denver and allowing for new original conjurations as well. The latest advance in the street corner with a cap on the pavement technique.
There's a science of parting people from their hard-earned cash: if you will forgive a little mild flattery intended to ingratiate myself with my readers. It's called Logistics. Which is from the Greek for knowledge (Logos) sticking to the cash. It is cash. The USSC has just ruled on it; seemingly to the President's disgust. Andy Warhol said so.
And at levels above subsistence it works on the pleasure principle. And we are so far above subsistence levels, we on here I mean and those reporting or reading of these important matters, that we have refined catering for the pleasure principle to a point beyond Post Modern which is now, really, in the antique sections. That these activities give pleasure to those attending them makes it right and proper that they should pay for it. Any lady will tell you that. And it is a Lady with a beacon light who greets weary travellers coming to your shores.
As a scientist you ought to be interested in what's going on here not beating your gums out bothering about whether it's right or not. Starting from the fact that it's a Logistical exercise. (see above). And progress is measured objectively by the accountants. You lot are always accusing the Pope of grinding the faces of the poor and ignorant superstitious masses from whom you distance yourself by the accusation and, in doing so, enjoy a slight frisson of pleasure which no real scientist would think it worthy to enjoy. And a frisson of pleasure brought to you by the very conference you are being superior to with your aloof tone. Shame on you. Biting the hand that feeds.
If everybody thought like you you would have nobody to call dipshit and stupid and ignorant and superstitious IDiots and the rest of your wide ranging epithets and all the harbours would be clogged up with authentic currachs come next spring being videoed at their launchings. Then you could only argue about rights of way and best glue or most authentic glue and somesuch.
And it's perfectly voluntary. They enjoy it and they don't mind paying for it. And if it gives them pleasure isn't it normal to think to pass it on to their children. And it isn't surrounded by a barbed wire fence patrolled by dogs.
And CERN wasn't voluntary. And it only gives pleasure to a chosen few who get the cash. The great scientists had to fund their own kit. I bet Einstein had to buy the paper on which he wrote his magical incantations.
