Posts Made By: Daryl Crowley

I think life is plentiful in the Universe but maybe widespread. If every 1000th solar system had life there were still be a millions of life forms in our galaxy alone.

I think intelligent life is probably plentiful in the Universe buy even more widespread, in not only space but in time as well. If every 1 billionth solar system produced intelligent life, that would make for a couple hundred in our solar system alone, and millions in the Universe. However they could be greatly separated in time.

I don't think there are any technological civilizations CURRENTLY any in our neck of the woods or we should find a history of their EM radiation.

In my opinion, plentiful life in the universe does not equate to "we are being visited".

It would be cool (I hope) but if the next civilization is 10, 000 light years away, we may never know of each other's existence. Light-years are will not be easily traversed by any civilization, despite anyone's assertion that the exponential growth of technology will overcome those distances. They may, but it won't be easy and it won't be common at the local level. In theory we can work it all out on paper, but in practice I think the time, resources, and proximity of technological life will make interstellar trade an exceedingly rare event. It may stand a better chance in the core or in globulars where more opportunities (solar systems) exist in a more confined space.

Daryl

If you like science fiction first contact stories (that don't involve interstellar war (I have war/space novels) then try "Calculating God" by Robert J. Sawyer. Refreshing.

Daryl

Michael Moore is a first class ass. Even his peers in Hollywood booed him at the Oscars, how's that for an assessment. I pay no attention to him. His type of approach will do nothing to sway people accept those already inclined to be as ignorant as he is.

Daryl Crowley

I have extensive experience with terrestrial and marine based GPS units. I even teach classes on GPS use.

The Garmin map based units are very nice, especially loaded with the optional topo, marine, or city maps. They have everything you need, except the weather. The Rhino 120 even has GMRS/FRS radio and peer-to-peer tracking. Will even give you sun and moon rise and set times for any date and will even locate the moon and sun for you.

As for weather, there are some real nice units for weather that include temperature, wind speed, barometer, wind-chill, and even give forecasts. The ironic thing is that these cost more than the GPS units! Go figure.

GPS is a lot of fun though.

Daryl

It's a Gen 1 and I am not getting it for astronomical purposes at all I just started wondering if it could resolve some of the nearer but faint objects. I will be using it when fly-fishing rivers at night to scope out potential obstructions and hangers. Not really considering it for any serious observastions, but it struck me that it might provide some astronomical fun.

Thanks.

Daryl

Tom - You're right and I can't afford tht Gen III stuff, I could buy a really big scope for that kind of money.

Jim,

You are right on all counts. I just switched from the Garmin 45 to the Rhino 120 and I like it a lot. And there is no doubt that Garmin has the best menu and interface system. They also are generally more accurate (consistent) than other brands. In my classes the students bring in all brands and the Garmin stands out from the crowd. I do say that because I have Garmins, I have Garmins because that's the way it is.

Daryl

Jim,

You are right on all counts. I just switched from the Garmin 45 to the Garmin Rhino 120 and I like it a lot. And there is no doubt that Garmin has the best menu and interface system. They are also are generally more accurate (consistent) than other brands. In my classes the students bring in all brands and the Garmin stands out from the crowd. I don't say that because I have Garmins: I have Garmins because that's the way it is.

Daryl

What I find disgusting about the whole affair is that even though there is a separation of church and state, such things obviously do no harm, given that they are already in place. A lot of people subscribe to such things and the only reason anyone complains about it is that they love to mess with other people.

Now if there was a proposal to put up the 10 Commandments, then I could see someone protesting the spending of non-believer taxpayer dollars, but for those things that are already in place and not costing money, the only reason to complain is just to be an ass.

It's like the guy who wanted to change the Pledge of Allegiance - he had a history of just liking to cause trouble. Our hospital almost hired this guy as an ER doctor until we found out who he was!

My point is, if you are a non believer(like me) and you have an opportunity to provide input into how the government spends taxpayer dollars then that is a legitimate issue. But to just look for things to complain about, is just being an ass. If you don't believe, then why should you care what other people believe, unless you just like to make trouble? Perhaps we should insist that government workers go to work on Christmas when it falls on a weekday. I'm sure there are some that would say that, but I'm also sure THEY take the day off.

I've seen enough of those people and I'm sick of them. Protestors for the sake of protesting.

Daryl

Since I was a kid I always wondered if the stars were alive. Its a romantic notion but I like it.

Daryl

Just because there is a written "separation of church and state", why do people want to end any government acknowledgement of religion, marriage, and the other things that have value in a society that should attempt to promote harmony and protect our children so that they have a chance to develop a sense of common decency and perhaps grow up to continue to build on a society that is not based on sex, violence, ruined marriages and every man for himself.

While I don't subscribe to any religion, it is probably far better that a large number of people in our society do, as they tend to help the poor, each other, and value peace and community responsibility. Marriage is good thing if than for no other reason than to hopefully provide a solid foundation for raising children.

While none of this is perfect, I see no evil in the government promoting or protecting those things that encourage responsible behavior. You can give me all the examples you want to the contrary, and you can give me extreme examples the other way, but I wish they would pass laws that make it harder to get married and divorced. And the more people that want to go to church, probably the better, if for no other reason than it keeps them off the trout streams on Sunday morning.

I'm not a prude, but the trend toward "deregulation of common decency" has not improved our society as far as I can see. What’s the best mix? Where should the line be drawn? I don’t know but to separate the government totally from those things is probably as bad as it totally regulating them.

Ps. Don’t bother to write a nasty reply, I’m off to the northwestern U.P. of Michigan for the remainder of the deer season staring NOW. I will be extremely unreachable. Everyone have a nice Thanksgiving Holiday.

Daryl