Hi Frank,
    I'm sure John Cole means well but he has taken the first step toward 
ruining amateur seismology as a hobby. As it is now if you want to record 
earthquakes on a simple homemade Lehman you have to get off your butt and go 
down to Home Depot and buy some pipe fittings and an "awkward turnbuckle" and 
bring this stuff home and put it together, probably working on the kitchen 
table, and melt some solder on the kitchen stove for the mass. After many of 
days of fooling around and several trips back to Home Depot for things you 
forgot it is finished. You fire it up and hook it to SDR and watch for the 
hoped for earthquake. When one day you record that first one it will be a joy 
to behold and worthy of framing. You have recorded it on an instrument that 
is your very own thing. It is something you will remember forever. This is 
amateur seismology at its best. We should try to preserve it that way. If you 
buy the Lehman all you need is money. Most anybody can do that.
    Compare the above to unwrapping a UPS package from John Cole and setting 
it up on the basement floor. The comparison is like spending weeks, maybe 
months, using your very best social skills to fall in love with a beautiful 
girl. If you are successful you have something very precious that you will 
remember forever. But you could have saved a lot of time and effort and 
gotten the same result by going to a prostitute. All you need is money. Most 
anybody can do that.
Have fun,
Cap
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