In a message dated 4/30/2001 3:37:05 PM Eastern Daylight Time,
[log in to unmask] writes:

<<  If we were starting all over again, what would
 be the "dream material" besides copper?  Titanium? Stainless?  How does ugly
 old aluminum hold up? >>

Titanium would probably be nice, if anybody (including Bill Gates) could
afford it. Stainless is damn good, but very difficult to work.  Aluminum.
despite its use as the capstone for the Washington Monument, oxidizes badly
(and uglyly) when bare and reacts very badly with cement; anodizing helps a
lot on the weathering aspect.

Take it from there, Techno-nerds.

Ralph