Image of the day

Captured by
Philip Imbrogno

Pleiades M 45 with the Pleiades 68

My Account

New to Astromart?

Register an account...

Need Help?

Posts Made By: James Brown

January 19, 2012 04:05 PM Forum: Off Topic Discussions

Map of the U.S.

Posted By James Brown

Lee Spain said:

Here is someone's alternative map of the U.S.

Interesting window into the author's mind. I'd bet that the author is a 22 year old girl from California who has almost certainly never visited a state in the Midwest.

J

January 26, 2012 10:00 PM Forum: Politics

Guessing Game

Posted By James Brown

Jim Brown said:

Who do you suppose wrote the scathing indictment of Newt excerpted below?

Ann Coulter, 1/25/12

February 3, 2012 04:35 PM Forum: No Holds Barred

How Culturally Isolated Are You?

Posted By James Brown

A dangerous pastime, I know.

Anyway, the author of the book whose web page has this fun quiz is trying to make the point that The US is becoming more socially stratified. I doubt that is true. Imagine that this quiz was offered in 1912 and the questions were like this:

Have you ever shoed your own horse?
Besides school, have you ever worked at a desk?
Can you read?
Do you grow or purchase most of your own food?

And so forth. America has always had social strata, our strength is that the various groups of folks by and large get along. I really do not think that this has changed as dramatically as some do.

Jim

February 10, 2012 06:13 PM Forum: Politics

Yet Another Slam Against Romney

Posted By James Brown

Russ Carroll said:

http://www.latimes.com/business/money/la-fi-mo-bad-cars-pacer--20120209,0,2566212.story

I'm starting to think he's unelectable.

Jim

February 13, 2012 08:55 PM Forum: Politics

The Argument For Access To Contraceptives

Posted By James Brown

Dave Snope said:

Iowahawk lays it out as only he can:


This blogger's glaring gestational math error spoiled the joke for me. Oh well...

Jim

February 15, 2012 03:50 AM Forum: CCD Imaging and Processing/Deep Sky

M1

Posted By James Brown

Gorgeous!

Jim

February 15, 2012 08:15 PM Forum: Refractors

Focusers for refractors

Posted By James Brown

Pete Yeomans said:

Hi, I have been out ot the loop for several years but have now retired and trying to get back into the swing of things. I have an older Synta 120mm f7.8 OTA (dark blue) and I would like to upgrade the focuser from the original R&P. I need something that will allow more precise focusing. It looks like there is a collar fastened with 3 screws onto the OTA into which the current focuser fits and acts as step down in diameter. Do you know of a reasonably priced, sub $200.00, upgrade crayford type focuser that will fit? Any help greatly appreciated. Thanks, Pete

Hi Pete:

I know that a Moonlite focuser is going to cost more than $200.00 with adapter, but a lot of people like them for Synta upgrades. http://www.focuser.com/

I'm not aware of any sub-$200.00 options.

Jim

February 22, 2012 06:02 PM Forum: Off Topic Discussions

Senior Citizen Texting Codes

Posted By James Brown

Russ Carroll said:






(from George Takai's wall)

You're facebook friends with Sulu? Cool!

J

February 23, 2012 03:35 PM Forum: Politics

Who's your shadow candidate?

Posted By James Brown

Lee Spain said:

Soooo, if Mitt loses in Michigan and the convention looks like it might be brokered, who do you wish would emerge from the shadows to become the new GOP candidate?

1. Sarah Palin
2. Jeb Bush
3. NJ Governor Christie
4. Marco Rubio
5. That Louisiana Governor Dude
6. Clint Eastwood
7. Other ______________

Hi Lee:

The press is acting if Michigan is the be-all primary. It's not, not for Romeny anyway. If he loses there and does well on Super Tuesday nothing has changed. Serious political commentators are putting the chance of a brokered convention at about zero percent. The whole concept is just a blog-o-fantasy.

Even so, if the fantasy were to come true Mitch is my man.

Jim

March 13, 2012 02:41 PM Forum: Off Topic Discussions

Read the ad!

Posted By James Brown

Did Rex change his name or is there some kind of conspiracy going on here? I hate to be in the dark.

Jim