Posts Made By: John Frank

I have been away from the 'hobby' a while (several years), and I am trying to get back into backyard astronomy - and I just noticed that, here on Astromart, there have been very few reviews of new equipment posted in recent years.

I am curious why.

btw, this has always been one of my favorite astro sites.

I agree, we need to drill in ANWR and other areas within the U.S.A. We need a balanced approach: look for and develop alternative, clean energy sources, while at the same time relying on our own oil supplies, rather than that of other countries who effectively hold us "hostage" whenever they want.

The environmentalists have just gone overboard. No one that I know DESIRES to "destroy" the planet. We can explore and drill for oil AND STILL PROTECT THE ECOSYSTEM AROUND IT! We do it right now in many places. After many years of EPA and other regulations - the Oil companies are experts at going into regions, almost invisibly, getting the oil out, all while protecting nature and wildlife with very minimal disturbance.

We should be drilling and refining our own oil.

Thomas, when pondering about this subject, I had a nagging thought, that I must admit is very depressing to me.
Could it be, that in this age of pre-occupation with smart phones, the younger generations are not developing 'hobbies' anymore?
I am in my early 50's, and when I was a kid - on into my teens, I had hobbies such as stamp collecting, astronomy, reading about geology and plate tectonics, rock and mineral collecting, fossil collecting, fooling around with a chemistry set (ha - I don't think anybody even knows what that is anymore) - all besides playing sports, riding bikes, flying kites, riding skateboards. Sadly enough, I see my nieces and nephews, and their kids, growing up glued to the screens. My kids are almost as bad, but not quite, because I have talked to them about such things, and try to stir up their interests and imaginations.

We may be seeing a gradual dying off of the older guys and gals who are serious about their 'hobbies', including amateur (backyard) astronomy, and a lack of younger men and women who really care about such interests and activities. Observing and studying the skies takes dedication, patience and curiosity. Today's generations are loosing those 'virtues' and they want that instantaneous gratification of the sights and sounds of 'the screen'.

I wish I were wrong about this, but my gut tells me I am right on the money.
In spite of this, I will never stop talking about the skies, or encouraging young people to take notice of the skies and the amazing world around them, and to put that damn phone down, just for a little while !