Comments on: Exit, Stage… Up http://fanaticalapathy.com/2005/08/17/exit-stage-up/ America's favorite blog Wed, 17 Mar 2010 21:24:07 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.0.11 by: Pete IVDL http://fanaticalapathy.com/2005/08/17/exit-stage-up/#comment-10120 Tue, 23 Aug 2005 01:31:28 +0000 http://fanaticalapathy.com/2005/08/17/exit-stage-up/#comment-10120 Take the lens cover off, Murray, I'm a comin'! We can only see M31 on a super clear night from somewhere really high up and nowhere near The Big Smoke. It's too close to the northern horizon for too much of the time. Drats! I read (somewhere reliable) a couple of years ago of an individual who'd lived all their life within the boundaries of New York city, and when asked about stars, just laughed at the reporter. They had *never* seen a star with their own two eyes, and thought it was a joke! I was flabbergasted. Of course, they had other concerns (like how to keep their job, where their next meal was coming from, etc), but to actually disbelieve that stars exist... That's probably the saddest thing I've ever heard. Cooper - yeah, it's legally OK to call you 'mate' again, as long as I don't 'use colloquialisms that may confuse or offend' you. It was really interesting, as it was a story that truly slipped under the MSM radar, then got picked up by the Labour party (who have just lost their deciding vote in the Senate and lower house) and presented as 'the result of a Government drunk with power', while the PM tried to jump on the bandwagon saying "in the course of a relationship, 'mate' may be acceptable". Neither party got it right, both tried to use it for political ends, and no MSM has properly reported which conservative backbencher complained in the first place! Next thing, they'll be trying to outlaw 'cobber', or 'digger', or 'pal' or 'bastard', or the drunken Australian male's traditional "I'm not a poofter mate, but jeez I luv ya!" Take the lens cover off, Murray, I’m a comin’!

We can only see M31 on a super clear night from somewhere really high up and nowhere near The Big Smoke. It’s too close to the northern horizon for too much of the time. Drats!

I read (somewhere reliable) a couple of years ago of an individual who’d lived all their life within the boundaries of New York city, and when asked about stars, just laughed at the reporter. They had *never* seen a star with their own two eyes, and thought it was a joke! I was flabbergasted. Of course, they had other concerns (like how to keep their job, where their next meal was coming from, etc), but to actually disbelieve that stars exist… That’s probably the saddest thing I’ve ever heard.

Cooper - yeah, it’s legally OK to call you ‘mate’ again, as long as I don’t ‘use colloquialisms that may confuse or offend’ you. It was really interesting, as it was a story that truly slipped under the MSM radar, then got picked up by the Labour party (who have just lost their deciding vote in the Senate and lower house) and presented as ‘the result of a Government drunk with power’, while the PM tried to jump on the bandwagon saying “in the course of a relationship, ‘mate’ may be acceptable”. Neither party got it right, both tried to use it for political ends, and no MSM has properly reported which conservative backbencher complained in the first place!

Next thing, they’ll be trying to outlaw ‘cobber’, or ‘digger’, or ‘pal’ or ‘bastard’, or the drunken Australian male’s traditional “I’m not a poofter mate, but jeez I luv ya!”

]]> by: cooper http://fanaticalapathy.com/2005/08/17/exit-stage-up/#comment-10119 Tue, 23 Aug 2005 00:50:58 +0000 http://fanaticalapathy.com/2005/08/17/exit-stage-up/#comment-10119 Murray, With a 6" scope (looks like it might be an Orion SkyQuest from your webpage) and dark skies you must be able to see most of the Messier Objects and assorted other wonders. Lucky man! I saw Andromeda with my naked eyes (well, and with glasses) in Maine. What a treat! I tell you, we're giving up our dark skies for "more progress" and most people don't even know what they're missing. For any city dwellers reading this, go outside at night and you can see about 100 stars with the naked eye. Under dark skies, like your grandparents had growing up, you can see tens of thousands of stars. The constellations you can see in the city (Big Dipper, for instance) can get lost in the background stars under truly dark skies. It's amazing when you see it for the first (and hundreth) time. End of lesson for tonight. Now go to bed like good kids. Murray,
With a 6″ scope (looks like it might be an Orion SkyQuest from your webpage) and dark skies you must be able to see most of the Messier Objects and assorted other wonders. Lucky man! I saw Andromeda with my naked eyes (well, and with glasses) in Maine. What a treat! I tell you, we’re giving up our dark skies for “more progress” and most people don’t even know what they’re missing. For any city dwellers reading this, go outside at night and you can see about 100 stars with the naked eye. Under dark skies, like your grandparents had growing up, you can see tens of thousands of stars. The constellations you can see in the city (Big Dipper, for instance) can get lost in the background stars under truly dark skies. It’s amazing when you see it for the first (and hundreth) time. End of lesson for tonight. Now go to bed like good kids.

]]> by: Laura Strand http://fanaticalapathy.com/2005/08/17/exit-stage-up/#comment-10110 Mon, 22 Aug 2005 20:09:46 +0000 http://fanaticalapathy.com/2005/08/17/exit-stage-up/#comment-10110 Adam, Congratulations on your commanding Victory! You showed those gals who's the man Adam,
Congratulations on your commanding Victory! You showed those gals who’s the man

]]> by: Murray http://fanaticalapathy.com/2005/08/17/exit-stage-up/#comment-10109 Mon, 22 Aug 2005 20:06:55 +0000 http://fanaticalapathy.com/2005/08/17/exit-stage-up/#comment-10109 Cooper, If you want dark skys come on out to Grouseland. We are at least 20 miles from the nearest town and there are mountains in the way. We have close to virgin skys, and the milky way is easily visible on any clear, moonless night. You can see the light from the Andromeda Galaxie with your bare eyes. I have a 6" dobson and lust after a 12" with star finder. Cooper,
If you want dark skys come on out to Grouseland. We are at least 20 miles from the nearest town and there are mountains in the way. We have close to virgin skys, and the milky way is easily visible on any clear, moonless night. You can see the light from the Andromeda Galaxie with your bare eyes.
I have a 6″ dobson and lust after a 12″ with star finder.

]]> by: cooper http://fanaticalapathy.com/2005/08/17/exit-stage-up/#comment-10100 Sun, 21 Aug 2005 23:10:31 +0000 http://fanaticalapathy.com/2005/08/17/exit-stage-up/#comment-10100 A bad influence... usually not, mate. BTW, it's legally okay again to call you mate, isn't it. That was a short lived dive into stupidity, wasn't it? I bet whoever came up with that Politically Correct bit of treason, will have to buy his own drinks for the rest of his life. One would hope, anyway. A bad influence… usually not, mate. BTW, it’s legally okay again to call you mate, isn’t it. That was a short lived dive into stupidity, wasn’t it? I bet whoever came up with that Politically Correct bit of treason, will have to buy his own drinks for the rest of his life. One would hope, anyway.

]]> by: Pete IVDL http://fanaticalapathy.com/2005/08/17/exit-stage-up/#comment-10096 Sun, 21 Aug 2005 22:44:16 +0000 http://fanaticalapathy.com/2005/08/17/exit-stage-up/#comment-10096 If one's in college and the other's theraping, they won't even notice if you head Down Under. Just send some cash every couple of days. She'll be right. I've got a so-so 5" Newtonian reflector, but with our light pollution I can just make out the Jewel Box (kappa crucis), or some of the Fornax objects on a good night. Mind you, for the right price, I could be persuaded to find a really dark paddock up the bush and stare at the sky, while our SOs can stay inside the car with the heater on and listen to music (yeah, I've learned from experience)... with some good wine, bread, and Tasmanian cheese, it's what I'd call a "Fuck the Stars" night... Hey, how the hell did we get so OT? You're a bad influence, dude. If one’s in college and the other’s theraping, they won’t even notice if you head Down Under. Just send some cash every couple of days. She’ll be right.

I’ve got a so-so 5″ Newtonian reflector, but with our light pollution I can just make out the Jewel Box (kappa crucis), or some of the Fornax objects on a good night. Mind you, for the right price, I could be persuaded to find a really dark paddock up the bush and stare at the sky, while our SOs can stay inside the car with the heater on and listen to music (yeah, I’ve learned from experience)… with some good wine, bread, and Tasmanian cheese, it’s what I’d call a “Fuck the Stars” night…
Hey, how the hell did we get so OT? You’re a bad influence, dude.

]]> by: cooper http://fanaticalapathy.com/2005/08/17/exit-stage-up/#comment-10092 Sun, 21 Aug 2005 14:20:16 +0000 http://fanaticalapathy.com/2005/08/17/exit-stage-up/#comment-10092 Pete, half way through your response, you hit on the magic word - telescope. Yet another good reason to go to Oz - Southern hemisphere at night! Gotta see it before I die. Yes, it's true; I'm an astronomy wannabe. I've got the scope, but live on light polluted land. I vacationed in the wilds of Maine a couple of weeks ago - no lights, lots of stars (no scope)! Beautiful! Every Ozman (and woman) I've ever met has been a unique and memorable human being (for good or ill). I'll let you know when we head your way. You can relax for a while. I've got one kid in college and the other in therapy. I promise I'll be gentle... Pete, half way through your response, you hit on the magic word - telescope. Yet another good reason to go to Oz - Southern hemisphere at night! Gotta see it before I die. Yes, it’s true; I’m an astronomy wannabe. I’ve got the scope, but live on light polluted land. I vacationed in the wilds of Maine a couple of weeks ago - no lights, lots of stars (no scope)! Beautiful!

Every Ozman (and woman) I’ve ever met has been a unique and memorable human being (for good or ill). I’ll let you know when we head your way. You can relax for a while. I’ve got one kid in college and the other in therapy. I promise I’ll be gentle…

]]> by: Pete IVDL http://fanaticalapathy.com/2005/08/17/exit-stage-up/#comment-10091 Sun, 21 Aug 2005 12:43:21 +0000 http://fanaticalapathy.com/2005/08/17/exit-stage-up/#comment-10091 Cooper, a dozen fortnights in Mudgee? Oi vey! Hold me back, we's goin' to heaven! I haven't been to Sydney since I biked up the east coast 18 years ago. Sydney itself is standard Western Bland Bling City, but the bush around about is f'ing wonderful. Not too far from Coonabarabran, either (great telescope up there, I believe), and good pig-shootin' too. If you're into shooting pigs, of course, which naturally I'm NOT and why did you bring up such a tasteless subject? Next time you're down under, let me know (preferably <i>before</i> you come), and we can attempt a liveware interface. I promise I'll be gentle... Cooper, a dozen fortnights in Mudgee? Oi vey! Hold me back, we’s goin’ to heaven! I haven’t been to Sydney since I biked up the east coast 18 years ago. Sydney itself is standard Western Bland Bling City, but the bush around about is f’ing wonderful. Not too far from Coonabarabran, either (great telescope up there, I believe), and good pig-shootin’ too. If you’re into shooting pigs, of course, which naturally I’m NOT and why did you bring up such a tasteless subject?
Next time you’re down under, let me know (preferably before you come), and we can attempt a liveware interface. I promise I’ll be gentle…

]]> by: littlebit http://fanaticalapathy.com/2005/08/17/exit-stage-up/#comment-10079 Sat, 20 Aug 2005 18:16:07 +0000 http://fanaticalapathy.com/2005/08/17/exit-stage-up/#comment-10079 Great show, Adam. Congrats on winning. Funnest for me this time was that book group friend, Melissa, was the Listener Limerick Challenge player, and she won, too. Fun times all around. Great show, Adam. Congrats on winning. Funnest for me this time was that book group friend, Melissa, was the Listener Limerick Challenge player, and she won, too. Fun times all around.

]]> by: Happy Entrails http://fanaticalapathy.com/2005/08/17/exit-stage-up/#comment-10076 Sat, 20 Aug 2005 02:38:10 +0000 http://fanaticalapathy.com/2005/08/17/exit-stage-up/#comment-10076 Off topic, but very upsetting... How many of you are aware of <a href="http://www.venganza.org/touched.htm" rel="nofollow">these</a> charlatans brazenly defying the Lobster's first commandment (I paraphrase): "Thou shalt not have false pasta before Me?" Off topic, but very upsetting…

How many of you are aware of these charlatans brazenly defying the Lobster’s first commandment (I paraphrase): “Thou shalt not have false pasta before Me?”

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