an old newbie.

I've held off from joining this board for probably the same reason many people don't join...

because so many other folks are here, and they echo my sentiments already, so what good can I do to contribute? Well, based on this, I started looking at things that I'm actually interested in, and the history of topics found here on ATS; I look for discrepancies and abandoned ideas (short abandoned topics), on alternative stuff to come up with things to research into valid topics.

Unfortunately for myself, I am so opinionated, that I'm likely to get banned if I stay up too late with a budweiser in my hand, reading and posting here.

The sheer number of members, and the degree of knowledge combined on this board makes me feel a bit small. Which is a shame. Sometimes I feel like this board needs to organize an ATS bake sale, much like Rush Limbaugh did with Dan in Colorado in the 90's... (Dan's Bake Sale), so that we could all come together and meet each other.

At least we all could find some common human ground, shake hands and what not. (ATS=Brave New World?... ahem, well hopefully not a B-NWO!).

Well, that's my thoughts, I don't mean to sound negative, but I've got a few actual positive comments to make on some existing threads (but they're old), I guess I'll bide my time and make the appropriate number of posts to newer threads (and not dig up ancient threads) to get my 20.

Interests:
Amateur astronomer, since I was a 12 year old kid (70's)... a buddy of mine brought over his big expensive telescope to my front yard and I saw saturn (it was moving fast through the eyepiece) live for the first time - I was hooked. At the ancient age of 50 now I have 3 scopes, 1 decent, and 2 kinda... whatever. Would like to get a really big fat monster dob with auto-tracking... lol, I'd have to build it myself, but not in this economy. Hubble is so darned good, it's insane. But I still want my own original viewing pleasure.

Electronics Technology, Radio Freq/Analog and Digital.

Programming Languages. Have expertise in several. My work.

OOP Artifacts.

Weird Stuff, (yeah I can dream and imagine).

I hate hoaxers, but I love the imagination they put into their hoax work. The Great Dark: Google it - First #1 result. I can do stuff similar if I spend the money (+ awesome imagination) on the software, but this is one super amazing piece of work, one must really have a really deep thought process to create stuff like this.

Folks I like:
1. Albert Einstein - I have an intense respect, and have studied his work & history for years.
2. Anybody that promotes the alternative views of things as we know it. Especially the ones that are claimed as hoaxers here on ats and everywhere else - simply because they were gullible enough to promote a sighting or report that has proven to be fake. Even Neil Tyson says Einstein's math stops working once you've reached the singularity of a black hole.

Dislikes:
1. Like most I guess, but my top item would be after viewing threads here for years - a newbie that posts a new topic, and it turns out to be fake or whatever, and the vet posters here... end up making fun of him, even though he was simply asking for a look-see. And for this, I'm joining now because I found one of these threads from 2008. I have no idea if the person has posted again since. This place has a hostile element, so I guess I'm here to help out.

Cheers all,
I hope to contribute.
Gonna go hide in my bunker now for a while and wait for all the blast furnaces to run out of fuel first.

reply to post by tectonic


Yaaaaaaay!! Another astronomer!!

Welcome on ATS!

I`m looking forward to reading your posts!

Have fun!

Yeah, I love the planets and especially lunar stuff. The messier objects are not hard for me, just too small... but intriguing for sure - hubble is best for deep space. That's almost like cheating though imo... lol!

Favorite astro/sci-fi movie is 'The Arrival', with Charlie Sheen and Teri Polo. I think it was much better than Contact.

reply to post by tectonic


Welcome Tectonic!!!

The sheer number of members, and the degree of knowledge combined on this board makes me feel a bit small.

There are some really smart and educated people running around on these here boards but do not underestimate the power of the "small" members to blindside the established scientists with original thoughts...

It's more of a common effort to find truth, in which we all have a roll to play. Me, I lack any kind of education whatsoever but that's not stopping me from (most of the time) making a fool out of myself in order to learn or contribute..

Hope to see you around,

Peace

PS: your lengthy introduction is certainly worth a flag. Here you go...

[edit on 14-5-2010 by operation mindcrime]

reply to post by operation mindcrime

Thanks for the response... but what the hay, what does this "Flag Contribution Level" graphic in the left column mean? (newbie blues and delirium). Whatever that means. Heh heh!

And... I have a specific question regarding a thread from 2008, it's about a topic that was mostly (3 posts) ignored by the community - I imagine it would be pointless to respond to that topic today right? Or are these topics closed after a set amount of time and I need to post a new one?

Thanks for the help!

I have a dobson myself, but not a giant one just 10 inches.
I love watching Jupiter! Among others.
But I don`t have much experience regarding the Ms, too much light pollution in my area. Just the clusters and some nebulas.
I have to go outside the town, but it`s summer now, so..

Wellcome to ATS!

If you need any help, give me a shout.

I am kinda knew myself but i can share alot with you from what i have learnt on ATS.

Originally posted by sandri_90
I have a dobson myself, but not a giant one

just 10 inches.
I love watching Jupiter! Among others.
But I don`t have much experience regarding the Ms, too much light pollution in my area. Just the clusters and some nebulas.
I have to go outside the town, but it`s summer now, so..

Thanks for the message. I only WISH I had a 10 inch tube. Right now I'm working with Mak-Cas stuff, that gives a better focal length but with higher f-stop (reductions in light gathering).

My dream machine would be like a 12 inch dob with auto tracking. I hate doing it manually, did this for a long time (with 'hanging adjusters on a 6" newt)... before I got spoiled to auto-trackers! Diameter is the key though!

Thanks again!

reply to post by tectonic

Unfortunately for myself, I am so opinionated, that I'm likely to get banned if I stay up too late with a budweiser in my hand, reading and posting here.

I think there are several of us here that run a risk of that given enough booze. Glad to know there is another one somewhere out there..

I'm glad you signed up, I didn't for a while.. so I can't fault ya for it. Welcome, officially, to ATS. Enjoy!

Kent state memories eh? Yeah I got ya. Such a forgotten time. Kids nowadays wouldn't know the truth if it hit them on call of duty 4.

reply to post by tectonic


Oh no, that is just in my signature, which I haven't removed yet. My mother was a student at KSU when this happened, and in a lot of ways it shaped who I am today. I agree.. there are far too many of us young'ins that don't know enough about relevant parts of our recent history.

Welcome.


I'm old....



Sorry I nodded off there.





Welcome, I'm old....

reply to post by SLAYER69


I'm loving the avatar!

Originally posted by SLAYER69
Welcome.
I'm old....

Sorry I nodded off there.

Welcome, I'm old....

hahahaaha read so much into that in itself! Great!

Hail Old, I feel old as well. I´m already 36. Is the flag like for "you made it" or "you screwed up, to be deterred" ? Don´t blame it on me, I´m a newbie ? I´m dead serious. I´m a stargazer under palm trees.

Hail Old, I feel old as well. I´m already 36. Is the flag like for "you made it" or "you screwed up, to be deterred" ? Don´t blame it on me, I´m a newbie ? I´m dead serious. I´m a stargazer under palm trees.