Posts Made By: Lee Spain

I really appreciate everyone's feedback on my reflector questions. Here's my next one, how much more can I see by going for a 127 or 130mm scope versus a 114mm scope of moderate focal length say F/8 or so? 8O

I visited the Celestron website this morning and took a quick glance at some information about their Sky Scout personal planetarium. They say that it can identify any celestial object you point at and it can guide you to point at any celestial object you choose from a 6,000 object database.

If this is true, does this mean you can convert any telescope to a "push-to" configuration using a Skyscout and duct tape?

This is a really simple question. But, I'm at a loss for the proper words.

I have a 60mm telescope in nice condition except for the tripod head. I'd like to either mount the tube on on a photography-style tripod or--maybe--an equatorial mount. What parts would I need to do that? I've searched for whatjahoodjit, thingamabob, and thingamajig.

It looks like Hamas has emerged as the big victor in the recent Palestinian elections.

Much of our foreign policy in the Middle East hinges upon the thought that spreading democracy will lead to more peace and less violence. It is believed that free people won't vote to support terrorism and war.

Since, a major terrorist group just won, what are the prospects for peace in the Middle East now?

Yesterday, a fuel tanker exploded blocking a major artery and mail service was interrupted by "saboteurs" who penetrated the security perimeter in broad daylight.

Yesterday, one person was shot. Today, two people were shot and this evening a pickup truck exploded in the middle of the evening rush.

Guess where all this happened? :S

I live in a very light polluted area and I'd like to know:

How well do binoculars like Celestron OptiView 10x50 LPR with built in light pollution filters work? Are the Apogee binoculars with flip down light pollution filters any good? Do LPR binoculars work during the day?

Thanks!

I think that the State of the Union could be a pretty short speech with a little honesty. Perhaps, the President could just get up and say:

"My fellow Americans, the hand basket is approaching its final destination, please place your serving trays in their upright position, and fasten your seatbelts...." :S

In the previous thread, about the Loudmouth who sits with Colmes, someone compared Iraq to Vietnam. It's an interesting theme for a new thread.

I for one don't like this whole "Vietnam" analogy about Iraq for several reasons.

1. Iraq is more important than Vietnam. First, Iraq has oil and is strategically located between two of our long-time enemies. Second, the actions of Saddam against his own people, Kuwait, Iran, and Israel have already had far more impact on the world than any potential Vietnamese act. Third, Saddam had already created an used chemical weapons and was serious in his pursuit of nuclear ones. While the WMD intelligence was clearly off, he was at least always a festering and unpredictable threat. Saddam used uncertainty about WMDs to keep the Kurds and Shiites at bay. Iraq had the know-how to create chemical WMDs at any time.

2. Iraq has already had several free elections now. They are a fledgling democracy and it is clear that the Iraqi people are threatened by the most vile and evil terrorists imaginable. I'm not a big fan of Islamic culture, but I wouldn't turn my worst enemy over to Zarqawi and company. The Iraqi people clearly deserve more support from the international community.

3. Zarqawi and company are part of Al Queda. He is referred to as a "Prince of Al Queda" and his terrorists often refer to themselves as "Al Queda of Iraq" and he comunicates and coordinates actions with Bin Laden's Al Queda. He is an integral part of the enemy terrorist apparatus that must be defeated.

4. It's not clear that Iraq is Vietnam. We receive a variety of mixed messages from the media. There are some clear successes and some clear failures.

Many of the boomer generation see everything through the prism of Vietnam. In the global war on Islamic fascism, I believe we need to take our cues from the greatest generation rather than the boomers. Defeat in any form is completely unacceptable.

For those looking for good news from the Islamic world, a poll has just come out:

http://pewglobal.org/reports/display.php?PageID=814

To summarize, support for terrorism has been declining dramatically in the Islamic world. For example, last year 70% of Jordanians supported suicide bombings against the US and its allies in Iraq. Now only 49% do. Similar declines in support for terrorism have been recorded in other Islamic countries. Support for Bin Laden has also declined. While the support for terrorism and Bin Laden is still frighteningly high by any sane measure, it does seem to be a start.

Let the official record reflect that I am not even touching this thread.