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Posts Made By: Paul Kammueller

June 23, 2004 06:36 PM Forum: Religion

Why are we "alive"?

Posted By Paul Kammueller
It is when the atoms combine into molecules that chemically reconstitute themselves from atoms in their environment, in a runaway chain reaction of self-duplication, do the atoms (or rather their groupings) become "alive". If the duplication is imperfect, so that some variation is possible in the duplication, then a survivorship bias develops so that, given enough time, more complex combinations become possible, which leads to the accumulation and processing and re-processing of information, and it is this that is the very essence of "life".

July 1, 2004 09:42 PM Forum: Telescope Making

A Tale of 2 Secondaries

Posted By Paul Kammueller
We need a little more information -- in what way was the star test bad? Did it show Under- or over-correction? Astigmatism? Rough surface?

July 6, 2004 09:30 PM Forum: Religion

constitution or leader

Posted By Paul Kammueller
A dictatorship can be well run, but only for brief periods or for small populations. Otherwise things get too complex. Nations have been able to look back on their history and see both great kings and tyrants. Unfortunately, such a system is notoriously unpredictable.

The constitution establishes a range, within which the king or president can operate. It establishes limits. One cannot predict exactly what sorts of presidents we will have over the ages or what crises they will have to deal with, but we can define a range of limits to constrain them to a degree necessary. Without established limits, leaders become like untrained dogs who have never had owners to establish their limits of behavior.

The leader is the driver. The constitution is the engine. The parameters of the latter define the limits of the former. But the ability of the former will still matter.

July 30, 2004 05:24 PM Forum: Religion

Disenfranchised

Posted By Paul Kammueller
Also, the minority 15% of jurors, while being required to swear to something that they do not believe in, if they do so then are they not swearing falsely, and thus immediately making themselves subject to prosecution under Illinois perjury statutes?

August 10, 2004 05:58 PM Forum: Religion

Where are you at on this one.

Posted By Paul Kammueller
Complete and utter rubbish. That's my take.

August 30, 2004 07:23 PM Forum: Equipment Talk

Things you'd like to see....

Posted By Paul Kammueller
More selection for dobs over f/5.0 in the 10"-14" range. Well-flocked/baffled solid-tube designs for us city dwellers.

September 13, 2004 03:02 PM Forum: Equipment Talk

The Proper use of a Newtonian Telescope.

Posted By Paul Kammueller
"Go-to" can't do everything! You must first check that the object dialed in is actually *above* the horizon! wink

September 14, 2004 05:06 PM Forum: Politics

Handicap This Race Now

Posted By Paul Kammueller
Bush will probably win, practically by default -- between Hurricane Ivan and the Iraq coverage, Kerry can barely make the news headlines anymore.

September 15, 2004 03:12 PM Forum: Equipment Talk

Is rms of .022 good, very good or excellent ?

Posted By Paul Kammueller
Excellent. Many various types of maksutovs (good ones) have system PtoV's of 1/6 to 1/8 wave, and yours is better than 1/10 wave (nearly 1/11th) and your RMS is close to 1/50th wave.

September 16, 2004 09:16 PM Forum: Politics

Re: Attacks on Iran Nuclear Facilities being debat

Posted By Paul Kammueller
Which reminds me, does anyone remember when al-qaeda was the enemy? And that guy, osama-something, who really WAS linked to 9/11? Does anybody care about them anymore?

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