Posts Made By: Matthew Bernick

I'm heartbroken!

Just bought a Stellarvue AT1010 from ebay and the lens assembly came apart in shipment. Result: 1 broken lens and the other is pretty scratched up. Anyone here have experience with this kind of damage? The OTA is otherwise in OK shape. Can the lens cell be replaced with a new one? Or is it a total loss (not worth the cost)?

Fortunately the ebayer has been nice about this and is willing to reimburse me if needed. Shipping was via UPS, but the packing job (by seller) was inadequate (in soft case, but loose in box w/some air packs thrown in along w/diagonal and EPs in bolt cases). I emailed Vic at Stellarvue, but haven't heard back yet.

Thanks!

Just purchased a used r130s reflector and the collimation screws are missing. Anyone have a clue as to what size I need so I can get replacements?

Thanks a zillion!

Got the quote from Vic - $235 + shipping. It makes more sense just to order a clearance Nighthawk, which is what I did. I'll post a pic of the carnage later - it's not pretty!

Just received a zoom from Scopetronix today. Had to send a reminder email a week after ordering to get it shipped, but I have the EP in hand - so I guess they're still around, FWIW.

I worked on Wall Street for many years and even shopped several times at that Burlington Coat Factory. It is not at Ground Zero, people! It is at least two blocks away, if not more. Everyone is reacting like there is going to be some grand mosque built on the ruins of the WTC - not true. What I find most hilarious is the same people who blather on about private property rights and ending government interference are the same ones wanting government interference in private property rights in this case.

I have no love for Islam or any organized religion for that matter, but if we are truly a free society then they should be able to build their Islamic cultural center, just as we should permit construction of a Catholic school, Scientology brainwashing camp or anything else. Geez people, worry about a real issue like the economy!

I would like to add that a sitting president is always referred to as President not Mr. as a matter of respect whether we agree with them or not.

-Matt

We'll probably never agree on politics but I love Astromart. Long live Herb and Amart! BTW I always called him President Bush.

-Matt

I guess then we should make the whole area a memorial: raze all the buildings and build a memorial park. The fact of the matter is that this is valuable real estate, most of which is privately owned. So valuable that the "land" underneath the World Financial Center just to the west of Ground Zero is a filled portion of the Hudson River. How is a religious cultural center more an affront than the greedy machinations of Wall Street?

Islam is not the enemy, and treating it as such simply inflames those who would seek to harm us. President Obama has always strived to make clear the distinction between terrorists and the millions of peaceful Muslims who pose no threat to us. It would be wise for the rest of us to follow his lead.

As for other religions being no threat, I would argue that fundamentalism is the real problem here. The Bible and Koran were written by men for whom a wheelbarrow would have been a enormous technical advance. These texts reflect the backwards thinking of the era from which they were born. Moderate followers of any religion are able to interpret these texts in a modern setting (do we now stone adulterers or disobedient children?). As for death and enslavement, I refer you to the Crusades.

-Matt

If bread is the staff of life, then beer must be life itself! My current favorite is Oskar Blues Old Chub scotch ale, brewed locally in Lyons, CO just north of Boulder.

-Matt