Posts Made By: Darrell Fichtl

Ken:

The advice on the CAT5 cable is right on. Consider buying a good plug pliers. Leave yourself plenty of extra length at each end. The splice to the plug doesn't always take and you have to do it over again. Unfortunately when you have an open there's no way to tell which plug is open. So you just give it your best shot.

I've been doing this on data networks for some time. I doubt if you can find a ready made cord that is long enough to meet your needs. Consider doubling the cord length and then pulling it through the conduit at the halfway point. In that way you'll have two cables. Use one and then you'll have a spare for future growth.

As for a "pull string" the phone company use to "blow" a shuttle through the pipe. I don't know why you couldn't make a paper fan or one of those golf wiffle balls on a string and suck it through with a shop vac.

If you're going to install one of the electronic eyepieces for the guide scope consider run 1/4" coax through the pipe also. That doesn't bend as easy as the CAT5.

One last tip. Don't use 90 degree bends in the pipe. Use two 45's. A lot less chance of getting jambed up. They also make a substance that's about the consistency of the white paste we used in grade school. At the phone company we called it "slick'em" but I don't remember what it actually was. You just put a gob in your hand as the cable was pull through. It lubricated the casing so it would pass through the pipe easier.

Good luck

Darrell

Jim it's so easy to prime you I don't believe it. Even when something is tongue in cheek you light up like a christmas tree.

Oh, christmas, maybe I shouldn't have said that!

Steve:

We had the same problem in Depoe Bay, OR

Our pond was 22x12x4 deep. It's the depth that gets them because they don't like to get their bellies wet. The fish aren't dumb either. All mine went to the bottom when the birds were around.

We had two of the devils. One "Boris Badinof" and the other "The Bogeyman." The Bogeyman was HUGE.

We had two deterrents. One our 115 lb. Doberman and the other a Sheridan pump pelt gun.

Brutus almost nailed one on day. Jumped up and just missed his foot. Scared the hell out of the Heron though.

The net crap is a PITA* though. It turns into one big mess.

*Pain In The A"

Good luck

Darrell

8O Out of Touch!!!

Of course their out of touch. They never have been in touch. Given total freedom we'd be back to the 1350's in a micro-second.

If you believe any other way then they really have you fooled. I dropped out at 14 and never looked back. That was 58 years ago.

A "Going to hell for sure" ex-catholic. Not only there but in the very bottom of the pit as I was told, by a priest, at the time. Well, if I'm going there, I'll be joined by many of his fellow brothers!

:S Don't misinterrupt what I say. I'm no W.Bush supporter BUT keep in mind the media hypes any scare'em aspect of society.

I think I got as much chance of catching "Crazy Cow" then I have of falling out of a dirigible.

It's just a hyped news story to make the headlines. Try the tabloids for a saner story such as "Women gives birth to a 10 pound rat"

Also I am in trying my hand @ astrophotography in the future

That kind of limits your choices if you're serious. If it can't be clock driven then forget about astrophotography. If the pixs can go out the window then go for the aperture but first go to a star party. The Dobs are great but I don't like constant pulling and pushing to stay on target.

The last one I was at was at Lowell in Flagstaff. The guy had a 16" Dob. Nice scope but the constant adjustment was a PITA.

Good luck - Darrell

Jake:

You must have been in the Navy!

Torpedoman first class?

As to being a wacko, consider the seven minutes spent reading to the grade school kids after the 9/11 attack. He seemed calm as the devil didn't he.

Maybe, like Roosevelt, he knew something was coming, just didn't expect the severity.

Speculation only guys and gals. Just thinking outside the box. Don't shoot the messenger.

"It is time to move forward. The country we carry in our hearts is waiting."

Translation -

"It is time to move forward."
"Forget the many screwups"

"The country we carry in our hearts is waiting."
"I want to do it again to you!"

One of the many funny phrases that have been used in the past is, "We're going to keep electing you, over and over, till you learn how to do the job right."

Tell you what Lucy, it sure looks like the football gag again and Charlie Brown ain't punting!

Steve:

Forgot one thing, but I never tried it. They make a water squirter that works off heat. When a bird gets close it swings around and gives it a good dose without hurting the bird.

Once again don't listen to the scare'em, scare'em, scare'em.

Recognize the tactic for exactly what it is; a way to get the ratings up and to distract your attention from what is really important.

That sham has been played time and time again to fool and distract the buffoons in our society.

It's not a tactic exclusive to Democrats, Republicans or anyone else in the publics eye. They all use it!

To bypass this charade requires only one human attribute; THINK!