Image of the day

Captured by
Michael Scherman

Dual Clusters near Antares

My Account

New to Astromart?

Register an account...

Need Help?

Posts Made By: James Brown

July 25, 2025 08:38 PM Forum: Politics

USA heading down a grim road....

Posted By James Brown

Originally Posted by Richard Davis


You, the closet racist (who BTW has never had a black friend in his life wink):  you might have replied that blacks are less intelligent, or less moral, or biologically programmed to crime and so on.

And when you make these interpretations of what You claim I might have said?  

Well, l'll just chalk that up to you doing your usual projection of your psyche, onto others.  

Fact is that I didn't say those things, but those stereotypes sure came into your mind didn't they?
Just in case anyone jumps into reading this thread toward the end, I ought to clarify that what I actually posted was quite a bit more supportive of Richard than the dishonest but predictable "poor me, I'm the victim" cut/paste quoted above.  Here is the quote in full, with the emphasis as it was in my original post:

"I thought this was a reasonably clever rhetorical move, since you probably do not believe some possible answers to Dave's rhetorical question, assuming you are not a virulent old-school racist.  i.e. you might have replied that blacks are less intelligent, or less moral, or biologically programmed to crime and so on.  In 1920 a lot of people would have said those sort of things.  I am glad you did not, since those sentiments would indeed have been completely virulent old-school racist."

July 25, 2025 08:40 PM Forum: Politics

USA heading down a grim road....

Posted By James Brown

Originally Posted by David Cotterell
I ordered an Askar 103mm APO refractor just now.  

So my mind isn't on this current debacle.

Now to find a ZWO AM3 or 5.

Carry on without me.

Dave
Fun!  (You don't have enough scopes yet?)  heart

July 25, 2025 09:18 PM Forum: Politics

USA heading down a grim road....

Posted By James Brown

Originally Posted by David Cotterell

I've certainly owned a shit-ton of scopes over the last 40 years but I currently only have an Intes-Alter 165mm Mak Newt (for sale....) and an 80mm APM achromat which I use for birding. That's it.

And my Seestar S50 which has sparked an interest in imaging - hence the new toys....

The Intes is a 25 pound beast and I'm lightening the load....

Also for sale, Discmount DM6 with Nexus DSC's.....

Looking for a ZWO AM5 or AM3 as well...

Dave
When you find one of the ZWO mounts and hook your new Askar to it, you'll have a really nice and portable visual/imaging rig.  Get the AM5 if you can find one, assuming you'll want to image.  The bigger the better for an imaging mount!  Clear skies!

July 26, 2025 12:23 AM Forum: Politics

USA heading down a grim road....

Posted By James Brown

Originally Posted by Rod Kaufman


"Carry on without me."

I already did that, earlier in the week:

Highlights from my observations with my 16" astrosystems dob at the LAAS dark sky site with an SQM reading of 21.42 last Monday due to an inland cloud/fog bank moving in from the coastline and attenuating the lighthouse from LA:

1. NGC 6475-Three colliding galaxies known as "The Bird's Head" galaxy in Lyra:  No mistaking its bird-like shape in the barlowed 10mm ethos. Another one of those memorable take-away observations you don't forget.

2. Most obscure galaxy observation of the evening: While going through a number of galaxies in Coma Borealis, I happened to view NGC 6104 a 13.2 magnitude 30" circular haze when I saw another nebulous haze near it so I went back to the Observer's Guide and while the Guide generally doesn't include MGCs, it did include this one: MGC+6-36-12 and describes it as a "very faint 20" haze."
I found one reference to it on the internet because of a recorded supernova in the vicinity and it lists the magnitude as 15 but it's so diffuse and spread-out it's quite the challenge to see. In fact if you can see it in this image, then your computer probably has greater resolution than mine:
https://www.kopernik.org/images/archive/n6104.htm
Anyhow, I could see it directly on Monday evening.

3. The views of the Veil and Crescent were outstanding and that was with the DGM NPB without even having to resort to the O111. Just etched against the background of space.

4. Corralled the Blue Horsehead IC 4592 in Scorpio --definite capture.

5. Checkout Saturn later in the evening when it finally rises--ring system nearly edge-on and when I viewed it several of its moons were aligned on either side of the planet-similar to those commonly seen with Jupiter. Neat view!

I could see the usually prominent combined lightdome of SCV/LA to the south decrease in size and the corresponding improvement with SQM readings and that was with the milky way overhead.

Like last month, I had the place basically to myself with one other imager who's usually there on the other side of the site. I got a lot done...
Nice!  It's been raining here a lot, but that is OK, because we had some fires west of here that are now under control, more or less.

July 27, 2025 04:55 PM Forum: Politics

USA heading down a grim road....

Posted By James Brown

Originally Posted by Richard Davis


Let me just address your response this way.  I realize that you're able to easily con others here, because they like you haven't an ounce of honesty or more importantly integrity in their character makeup just like you haven't in yours, but that is to be expected.  wink

Like all liberals you've gone your entire life feeling entitled to misrepresent your notions and your assertions. 

Now here you're going to put qualifiers on your "digs" as not being gratuitous?  Pretty funny I have to say.  

I suppose your myriads of comments, suggesting I'm "in my mother's basement typing", was not gratuitous?

If that is your suggestion, then excuse me while I roll on the floor laughing myself into a fit of hysterics.  tongue

You know, at this point in the game, it is really amazing that you would even suggest that you don't make gratuitous digs at me?  

I mean to say, you don't even have the balls to admit your actions.

Personally, I'm happy to say that I give you and the rest here gratuitous digs all the time.  

You might want to grow a pair and man up to your statements, but then that is how all liberals operate now isn't it, as the intellectually dishonest cowards that they are.   

It appears that you are just one more boring example of that.      smile
Occasionally my kinder and gentler digs might be gratuitous.  This is of course why I used the word "typically" in my original post, the post that upset you so much.   I suppose I have posted that you were typing away in your mother's basement without you actually asking for it.  We were not talking about those sort of gentle digs, though, were we?

Overall, I would bet good money the vast majority of my digs at you are in response to something embarrassing or vile you have posted, and I would not define these responsive digs as "gratuitous".  Your definition of gratuitous may differ of course.   To me, a gratuitous dig is one tossed in for no particular reason.  A non-gratuitous dig is one I post in reply to something vile or embarrassing posted by you.  All of the times I have called you a "homophobe" or "misogynist" it has been in response to you posting something I deem homophobic or misogynistic.  By "all" I mean each and every time.  I have never called you a homophobe, a misogynist, a racist, or a xenophobe without it being in response to something you posted.  Never.  

Speaking of my original post, you replied already on Friday, which led to several related replies on your part.  Now on Sunday, you are replying again, with some different arguments.  I apologize  for upsetting you so much.  I hope you can get my post out of your head soon!

Were those last two comment gratuitous, or even a dig?  We'll have to let the readers decide for themselves.  J

July 27, 2025 05:28 PM Forum: Politics

USA heading down a grim road....

Posted By James Brown

Originally Posted by Richard Davis


I'm sure it feeds your massive ego to think that you are "upsetting me".   

Now, you are still free to reside in your delusions, although I'm pretty sure you understand that there really isn't anything you can say to me that would upset me.  You're not important enough, although in your own state of mind, I guess it is possible that you believe the above.

What I found a bit amusing is how suddenly after all of you were addressed by me you suddenly wanted to change the subject to APOs and other telescopes.

As I've said (colloquially) a million times before, when backed into a corner most liberals lash out projecting their anger on others, which is precisely what you and the rest of the libs here do regularly, or they run and hide under their desks.  

It always does seem to turn that way here, as it has now.  smile
Dave brought up his new scope.  Not surprisingly, he, I, and almost all of the other forum participants share a passion for astronomy and astronomy equipment.  As far as running and hiding goes, I try to reply to your posts, if you are being civil, and if a reply seems to be required.  Like I did this morning. 

Of course, I often choose not to engage with you, particularly in the threads that involve more name calling than content.  I also regularly chose to ignore your 2000 word screeds.  I don't spend as much time on the computer as I used to.   If you are waiting for any particular reply to any legit question, please let me know.

July 28, 2025 02:21 AM Forum: Politics

USA heading down a grim road....

Posted By James Brown

Originally Posted by Richard Davis


Gosh, I thought Marissa, your lady friend here lived in Texas.  When did he/she move?  smile
Ok, you tell me.  I feel that this is homophobic, or misogynistic, or both.  Am I overreacting?  Probably yes, this is simply juvenile.

July 29, 2025 08:10 PM Forum: Politics

So Now We're Gonna Have Tariff Rebates?

Posted By James Brown

Originally Posted by Rod Kaufman

Nada, I just routinely jog by the local MAGA's in the neighborhood, smell the meat burning on the barbe, hear the burping and the usual and customary F this and F that which comprises their conversation and try to avoid looking at their Trump flags...
You guys a couple of prudes?  I definitely enjoy grilled meat in the summer, along with grilled fish, shellfish, and peppers too!  And yes, I love a decent beer, wine, cocktail etc.  Everything in moderation, said the moderate Rino!

July 29, 2025 08:12 PM Forum: Politics

So Now We're Gonna Have Tariff Rebates?

Posted By James Brown

Originally Posted by James Brown

Everything in moderation, said the moderate Rino!

July 29, 2025 08:28 PM Forum: Politics

Epstein Files and the Client List

Posted By James Brown

Originally Posted by James Lacey


It's simple. If Biden, or Clinton, or anyone else is in the Epstein files, and the evidence proves they are guilty, then they can fry. I don't care who it is: Bill, Hillary, Chuck, Gates, or Trump.

This is the problem with wholesale releasing the files/list, assuming there is one.  There are probably hundreds or thousands of contacts in Epstein's Rolodex, many of whom are not pedophiles, and whose business with Epstein was totally above-board and had nothing to do with young children or pedophile island.   Even so, if the "lists" are released, everyone on the list will be assumed to be a pedophile by the press and most of the country.  Reputations would be destroyed with no real basis, and with no possibility of defense by innocent people guilty only of doing legitimate business with Epstein.

Even those who are pedophiles and who spent many days on pedophile island deserver to present a defense before they are found guilty in the press.

I think the right thing to do is to withhold or redact any files that name people , until such time as those people are indicted for a crime.  This is the way it has always been done.  I think it is possible that someone with proper legal training got to Trump and convinced him that it simply would be wrong to release a huge list of names to a press feeding frenzy.  I get it that Trump promised to release the list, and that MAGA America wants the list, and that the D's need the list because they think that this is a winning strategy in the upcoming elections.  (The Ds will never learn.)  So once again this whole show is Trump's fault, in large part.  But Trump is doing the right thing by withholding the list.   Indict first, then name names later.  This is the only just procedure.