Posts Made By: Mike Strieber

Jack Day said:

I don't think so...

The idea held by democrats in congress that individuals that receive bonuses from companies that received bail out money should be taxed at 90%, and the States / local Gov. can take the remaining 10% is complete and utter B.S.

The democrats in congress rushed this bailout through and did not give anyone time to read the bill, and Dodd, (one of their own) put the provision in the bill! Nice. Also, what's up with the "lets punish the employee" and not the company idea? It was not the employees fault. This is like having a company fail, and the Gov. going out and taking away the homes of the employees...

Someone will surely jump in now and defend the Democrats in this. There will be an argument raised that industries that receive federal bailout money should not be paying out this kind of money, "Bonus" or not, to anyone. Go ahead, I already have my rebuttal ready.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090319/ap_on_go_co/aig_outrage

The thought of what this government is doing is so scary it's unimaginable. Just another sign this administration is in way over their head, clueless as to how to manage a "crisis", or our government in general. At least we know where Obama stands on the NCAA tournament, oh, if you don't he'll probably discuss it on Jay Leno tonight....my god what is this guy doing? Obama is clearly living in an alternate reality. Good thing the Congress is doing such stellar work or we would really be in a mess. I mean after all, the economy is crumbling and they are going to spend time writing and enacting laws to address 73 people. And all because of their own, and this administration's negligence. Taxing future bonuses to 90% from companies that have taken bailout money? How about the good employees that contributed to saving the company (and your insurance, tax dollars, 401k, etc.)? You know, the folks we want to go there to fix it so the company can pay us back? They get screwed along with the "bad" guys. Now that they have totally removed any further incentive for the folks who can fix these problems to join these organizations they are sure to fail. And billions, if not trillions of your tax dollars will go down the drain with them. Who isn’t outraged at these bonuses for AIG? Nobody, but who isn't even more outraged at this administration?

Where are your voices now fellas? You screamed and whined about Bush trampling on your civil rights by listening to terrorists phone calls, the Patriot Act, Gitmo, etc. Why aren't you outraged at Obama for reaching into your pockets every day? Why aren’t you furious over how incompetently they're managing the wealth they've confiscated from you? Why aren't you screaming bloody murder at this Democratic congress writing laws that they'll apply "past tense", unconstitutionally by the way? Why aren't you vocalizing your rage over this administration's stated goal of manipulating your 2nd Amendment rights? Where's your disgust directed at Obama for continuing the practice of rendition, the same thing you want Bush brought up on war crimes for? How about your rage over the Atty General announcing yesterday some of the prisoners in Gitmo may be released onto America's streets? Obama has injected the government into your daily lives more in 3 months than Bush did in 8 years. Let's hear it fellas or are you ok with this because he's a Democrat, a liberal? Maybe you're embarassed because you drooled over him prior to the election? Maybe you still drool over him, I'm not sure. Maybe you think he's doing a stellar job? His administration and this Congress are in a "zone", kicking ass and taking names....getting stuff done? Just trying to figure out why the outrage expressed at the Bush administration is not being seen, or heard at the same sort of incompetence seen coming from this administration.

Why the silence fellas? Because you want to give Obama a chance? Because the economy is Bush's fault? What is it? Yeah, Obama's been in office only three months, so what. Is that not enough time to recognize the "agenda", how he is in over his head, how he has surrounded himself with incompetent buffoons (some of them criminals), how he can't remain focused, how he's controlled by an even more incompetent Congress? Oh, how about Nancy Pelosi saying yesterday it's "un-American" to deport illegal aliens? California spent billions last year on health care for illegals, now we all get to share in the joy of paying for their care in California through our stimulus money. Never mind what you pay in your own state.

And enough of the "inherited" and Bush's fault crap. Whether it's true or not I'll grant you that, I don't care anymore. You were hired to fix it President Obama, so quit sniveling about who gave it to you and show some competence or get out of the way. Do I expect it to be fixed by tomorrow? No, but show me some sign you and your administration has even the smallest clue as to what to do. You have not done so yet. And just to let you know Mr. President, you can stay out of my pockets now, they're empty....oh, and so are my children's. Thank god all those evil “rich folks” are going to pay for all this. I know it’s tough to hear for you sensitive types but it’s becoming clearer every day, Obama voters have been bamboozled.

Sorry for my rant but I’m truly getting pissed…..and scared.
Mike

Rod Kaufman said:

I sure hope so. I want Paulson back. Brownie too. "Scooter" Libby, Rummie, Karl, Gonzales, etc.
Ah yes, the giants...

Ah, we all long for the good old days Rod. Maybe we should give Pelosi a shot at it? She clearly knows better than anyone else how this country should be run...just ask her.

Rod Kaufman said:

It's high time we stop the determination of the FBI to place spies in the mosques of California:
http://www.cnn.com/2009/US/03/20/fbi.muslim.groups/index.html
You'd think the FBI was investigating terrorists organizations or something. Obviously, they're paranoid, delusional and just plain 'ol Islamophobic.
Imagine the huevos of the FBI to call CAIR a front for Hamas. If anything, the Hamas is just as hard on its Muslim brothers as they are on the infidels. Just look at what they did in the Gaza during operation cast lead. ANY Palestinians suspected of aiding Israel were either kneecapped(shot in the patella with an AK-47) or they had their eyes gouged-out. Yup, the Hamas took out their spoons and did some serious scoopin. And they were non-discriminatory about it, too.
Enter the FBI with their prying eyes in California, in the USA of all places. It's time to get those eyes out of there, too..

I just hope this effort isn't consuming so many agents that they won't be able to follow the Gitmo detainee's destined to be released on the streets of America.
Mike

Alex McConahay said:

I tried to image through the Lunt/TV 85 today.

I could not quite come to focus, and needed some inward travel.

My imaging train was the 50 mm filter, the TV85, the 2" to 1.25" adapter the Lunt diagonal, and a t-mount to my Canon 450. (I had removed the top piece of the diagonal and screwed the t-mount to the top of the diagonal body.)

What have you all done to get this combination to work?

Alex

Alex,
You might want to check over at the CN solar forum. There are plenty of Lunt owners imaging over there.
Mike

Richard Davis said:

Good grief, they can't even make a pair of shoes that last, I'd certainly be hesitant to trust them in that area...

I guess the good news is that someone will get "stimulus" out of this sale.

Dave Snope said:

Hey, this is about astronomy-related politics:

http://www.powerlineblog.com/archives/2009/03/023149.php
Everyone knows that Barack Obama is lost without his teleprompter, but his latest blunder, courtesy of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, via the Corner, suggests that the teleprompter may not be enough unless it includes phonetic spellings. Obama was speaking at a White House roundtable on clean energy systems, and repeatedly saluted Orion Energy Systems, whose CEO, Neal Verfuerth, was present at the event. So Obama referred to "Orion" a number of times. Only problem was, he appeared to be unfamiliar with the word:

All terrific press for Orion, except that Obama kept pronouncing the company's name wrong, calling it OAR-ee-on.

Unbelievable. Orion is one of the best-known constellations, mostly because it actually looks like its namesake. So evidently we have to add astronomy to history and economics as subjects of which Obama is remarkably ignorant. I'm beginning to fear that our President has below-average knowledge of the world. Not for a President, but for a middle-aged American.

That darn Bush spoiled everything. Clearly Obama has "inherited" a pronunciation crisis also.
Mike

Rod Kaufman said:

http://www.cnn.com/2009/POLITICS/03/25/begala.gop/index.html
How true.
Let's get the GOP back on trak again. How about another "contract with America"? One that actually works this time? How about health care instead of torture? Conservative as in fiscal spending and not in prayer?
Constructive commentary versus gloom and doom scenarios?
Surging for success instead of hoping for failure?
The GOP: GEEZ...

You were on a roll until you said this..."Conservative as in fiscal spending...". I suppose the GOP should follow the Democratic example here, right? And President "gloom and doom" Obama was the worst offender of this approach until he finally realized how much impact a president's words can have. Rookie mistake or a brilliant strategy to convince people we need to spend a trillion dollars ASAP, your call.

Thank God the Democrats have all the answers or we would really be screwed.
Mike

Paul Maxson said:

Hi all,

I was viewing the sun in H-a today and it has some rather nice proms. I'm not sure of my directions, but here are the largest two:

http://www.sunspot51.com/Misc/Sun032609-Flare1.jpg
http://www.sunspot51.com/Misc/Sun032609-02pro-flare2.jpg

Shot with an Eon120 and SM60 at F/19.

Clear skies!
Paul Maxson

Excellent Paul. Here's what I saw on the 28th.
Mike

Here's one more...

Richard Davis said:

I'd check with Harry since Obama's out of country and Pelosi has all of her service done at Boeing..

That's interesting, I didn't know Pelosi gets serviced at Boeing. 8O I thought perhaps Nancy since she has spending on cruise control and appears to be an expert on that.
Mike