What’s on your mind?

[Rafterman]

Sports stars, especially NFL stars, as actors in commercials. The KC Chiefs Mahimes and Kelce are decent. And of course, Andy Reid's "nuggies." Gronk has to be the worst ever in the history of commercials.

 

[VulchR]

Although we call it a "lake," our little "lake" is actually just a stormwater retention pond, and altogether about four acres in size. The townhouses across from the condominium buildings are not that far away. The offending lights are definitely not security lights, as they don't light up the property itself at all. Instead, they are mounted on the railing of the resident's deck and shine right out on the water and into the eyes of anyone on this side of the pond. It's very annoying.

I'll have to do some research and find out whether or not this could be a violation of regulations -- state, county or HOA -- and then get in touch with our management company, which works with both my community and the separate townhouse one, as we're all responsible for the maintenance of the lake.

The approach I have taken is to ask "Where do you want to light up with your security/decorative/road light?" Generally people want very specific areas or features lit. Then I point out that shining light outside of that, e.g., up into space or on to a neighbour's garden, is actually wasting energy. "Light what you want to light and don't spend money lighting what you don't want to light" seems to go a long way, and usually it entails simply changing the angle of the light (or a strategically positioned piece of tape covering part of the lens of the light). This even worked with our local council (local government), who are a bunch of paper-pushing Stalinist apparatchiks.

Failing that, there are always rocks. *cough*

 

[Apple fanboy]

The approach I have taken is to ask "Where do you want to light up with your security/decorative/road light?" Generally people want very specific areas or features lit. Then I point out that shining light outside of that, e.g., up into space or on to a neighbour's garden, is actually wasting energy. "Light what you want to light and don't spend money lighting what you don't want to light" seems to go a long way, and usually it entails simply changing the angle of the light (or a strategically positioned piece of tape covering part of the lens of the light). This even worked with our local council (local government), who are a bunch of paper-pushing Stalinist apparatchiks.

Failing that, there are always rocks. *cough*

An air rifle works best! Fortunately where I live we don’t have street lights, so you get a much clearer look at the stars on both nights of the year there isn’t full cloud!

 

[Herdfan]

An air rifle works best! Fortunately where I live we don’t have street lights, so you get a much clearer look at the stars on both nights of the year there isn’t full cloud!

I live in a dark sky community. On a clear night, which most in the desert are, you can see the Milky Way. I plan on getting a new telescope before spring.

 

[VulchR]

An air rifle works best! Fortunately where I live we don’t have street lights, so you get a much clearer look at the stars on both nights of the year there isn’t full cloud!

One needs a license for those in the UK, so rocks are handier and less traceable. 😇

I live in a dark sky community. On a clear night, which most in the desert are, you can see the Milky Way. I plan on getting a new telescope before spring.

I can see the Milky way from my back garden as well, but living in Scotland I envy anybody who can stargaze in the warmth of the desert (although I know temperatures in the desert can get quite chilly). What kind of scope are you getting? I have this lottery dream of building a fixed polar scope with a mirror in front so the eyepiece is in the warmth of the indoors.


Gerrish Polar Telescope, Harvard Observatory (source: link)

 

[Herdfan]

the warmth of the desert (although I know temperatures in the desert can get quite chilly). What kind of scope are you getting? I have this lottery dream of building a fixed polar scope with a mirror in front so the eyepiece is in the warmth of the indoors.

I'm not sure. Wife talked about getting me one for Christmas, but didn't want to get me one I didn't like, so that's when we decided to get one this spring.

I didn't have time to do much research before Christmas. But a buddy in TX has a nice setup and I am going to talk to him about it.

I do know I want it to be good for both visual and photography and I know there will be compromises to this.

One nice thing about where I am is that the Lowell Observatory(where Pluto was discovered) is about an hour away so I can go there fairly easily.

And, it gets more than chilly in the desert. At elevation, it gets quite cold and there is no humidity to trap heat, so once the sun goes down, temps drop rather quickly.

 

[VulchR]

I'm not sure. Wife talked about getting me one for Christmas, but didn't want to get me one I didn't like, so that's when we decided to get one this spring.

I didn't have time to do much research before Christmas. But a buddy in TX has a nice setup and I am going to talk to him about it.

I do know I want it to be good for both visual and photography and I know there will be compromises to this.

One nice thing about where I am is that the Lowell Observatory(where Pluto was discovered) is about an hour away so I can go there fairly easily.

And, it gets more than chilly in the desert. At elevation, it gets quite cold and there is no humidity to trap heat, so once the sun goes down, temps drop rather quickly.

It's worth looking around to see what you like - astronomical societies can be useful in that regard. As they say the best telescope is the one you use. I settled for Maksutov-Cassegrain and had a blast with it. Then I had a medical issue with my lungs that caused considerable damage. Now I find it hard to tolerate the cold air at night because my lungs are hypersensitive to cold. So now I nip outside occasionally with binoculars, but I only last less than an hour.

 

[rm5]

First time I've ever experienced a literal blizzard.

 

[DaveFromCampbelltown]

An air rifle works best! Fortunately where I live we don’t have street lights, so you get a much clearer look at the stars on both nights of the year there isn’t full cloud!

As in the UK, you need a licence in Aus. for an air rifle, but apparently you don't need one for a trebuchet.
Load it up with a dead cow, or old Mini Cooper, whichever you have handy, and launch it against the offending property.

 

[Chuckeee]

As in the UK, you need a licence in Aus. for an air rifle, but apparently you don't need one for a trebuchet.
Load it up with a dead cow, or old Mini Cooper, whichever you have handy, and launch it against the offending property.

Aiming trebuchet takes a bit of practice. Make sure you have sufficient ammunition for several practice shots

 

[DaveFromCampbelltown]

Aiming trebuchet takes a bit of practice. Make sure you have sufficient ammunition for several practice shots

Agreed. There are some youtubes available on setting up and calibrating your trebuchet.

 

[Macky-Mac]

I may have had too much coffee to drink late this afternoon. I wonder if I'll be able to sleep tonight?

 

[Scepticalscribe]

First time I've ever experienced a literal blizzard.

Doubtless an interesting experience.

A real winter is something of a subjective experience; some may love it. Not I.

 

[scubachap]

As in the UK, you need a licence in Aus. for an air rifle, but apparently you don't need one for a trebuchet.
Load it up with a dead cow, or old Mini Cooper, whichever you have handy, and launch it against the offending property.

Actually only true for Scotland - England & Wales if it's under 12ft ibs in energy delivered you can just buy (as long as in person and over 18 etc). Devolved government and all that. Perhaps VulchR could practice a lot and take a shot from over the border?

Personally I'd actually go for a longbow - but I'm not too sure how the Scots would react if a bloke with an English accent crossed the border with one and a sheaf of bodkin tipped arrows (our 'shared' history can make some situations a little ... um ... tricky) - even though no licence would be needed.

Anyways - trebuchet's - apparently really tricky things to aim and use. Been following this bloke for quite a while and he's made one but it hasn't been straightforward... (He's got loads of videos about his fun and games with it.)

Tod's Workshop on YouTube

 

[scubachap]

It's worth looking around to see what you like - astronomical societies can be useful in that regard. As they say the best telescope is the one you use. I settled for Maksutov-Cassegrain and had a blast with it. ... So now I nip outside occasionally with binoculars, but I only last less than an hour.

Totally agree. I have a Celestron NexStar 6 (the other Cassegrain type) and it's really nice. But, it's a bit heavy and a real fag to move in and out smallish doorways for a 'quick' look (I don't have garage or outbuilding etc which would make life easier.)

I won't get rid of it because it's a decent scope but if I was buying again I'd probably go for a cheaper Dobsonian (perhaps a collapsing one) - more bang for your buck and I don't use the star guide thingy on mine anyway.

The thing I do use a lot though are a pair of Image stabilised 10x30 Bino's from Canon - bought them on a self indulgent whim many years ago and they've been fabulous.

 

[VulchR]

Totally agree. I have a Celestron NexStar 6 (the other Cassegrain type) and it's really nice. But, it's a bit heavy and a real fag to move in and out smallish doorways for a 'quick' look (I don't have garage or outbuilding etc which would make life easier.)

I won't get rid of it because it's a decent scope but if I was buying again I'd probably go for a cheaper Dobsonian (perhaps a collapsing one) - more bang for your buck and I don't use the star guide thingy on mine anyway.

The thing I do use a lot though are a pair of Image stabilised 10x30 Bino's from Canon - bought them on a self indulgent whim many years ago and they've been fabulous.

Totally envious of your Canon binoculars. I have a pair of 25x100 astronomical binoculars but they are a hassle to set up (they require a tripod) and the alignment between the eyepieces is slightly off so you have to experiment with head position before you get a good image. It's great for comets and the moon but definitely not grab-and-go.

 

[decafjava]

On my mind is being really pissed at the **** who stole my iPhone. I had it blocked by my provider right away at the station and filed a police report. It was turned off anyway and I set it to erase the phone after 10 passcode attempts so it should be ok. Will get a new phone tomorrow or Saturday, 15 Pro Max. Back to 2 year upgrades haha. Was running to catch the train after a medical RDV and had my buds in and noticed a song suddenly change and stop.

D****heads.

 

[lplatellas]

Giota....

 

[scubachap]

Totally envious of your Canon binoculars. I have a pair of 25x100 astronomical binoculars but they are a hassle to set up (they require a tripod) and the alignment between the eyepieces is slightly off so you have to experiment with head position before you get a good image. It's great for comets and the moon but definitely not grab-and-go.

Yes, I tried a pair like that but as you say you really need a tripod (as I found out). Sold them on quite quickly.

It might be worth trying out a pair of Canon's - when I bought mine (10x30) they were pretty much half the price they are now (it was awhile ago) but even now the price compares OK with say, a not too special telescope or more high end branded binos. (No matter how good the German optics are - if it wobbles when you hold then...)

 

[yaxomoxay]

On my mind is being really pissed at the **** who stole my iPhone. I had it blocked by my provider right away at the station and filed a police report. It was turned off anyway and I set it to erase the phone after 10 passcode attempts so it should be ok. Will get a new phone tomorrow or Saturday, 15 Pro Max. Back to 2 year upgrades haha. Was running to catch the train after a medical RDV and had my buds in and noticed a song suddenly change and stop.

D****heads.

Well, look at the bright side: you are one of the few in the world with a legit, valid excuse to get the newest iPhone.

 

[yaxomoxay]

weather is on my mind.

Today, 20C and sunny.
Monday, -11C and snow.
Tuesday, -14C and ice.
Then,
Thursday, +16 and sunny.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

weather is on my mind.

And on mine.

I hate winter.

And January always seems endless, to stretch for an absolute eternity.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

Totally agree. I have a Celestron NexStar 6 (the other Cassegrain type) and it's really nice. But, it's a bit heavy and a real fag to move in and out smallish doorways for a 'quick' look (I don't have garage or outbuilding etc which would make life easier.)

I won't get rid of it because it's a decent scope but if I was buying again I'd probably go for a cheaper Dobsonian (perhaps a collapsing one) - more bang for your buck and I don't use the star guide thingy on mine anyway.

The thing I do use a lot though are a pair of Image stabilised 10x30 Bino's from Canon - bought them on a self indulgent whim many years ago and they've been fabulous.

I treated myself to some (used) Leica binoculars several years ago (a self-indulgent whim), and they are excellent, but, well, I live in a world of cloudy skies.....and wear glasses.

 

[Apple fanboy]

How is it only Thursday? It should be Friday at least by my reckoning.

 

[Crowbot]

I treated myself to some (used) Leica binoculars several years ago (a self-indulgent whim), and they are excellent, but, well, I live in a world of cloudy skies.....and wear glasses.

Any neighbors nearby?