August 2005 - Utah-Astronomy - mailman.xmission.com

RE: [Utah-astronomy] Science and Religion
by Dale Hooper 23 Aug '05

23 Aug '05

Aha...so you're the one! I wondered who kept all those elections in Utah county from being unanimous. (Just kidding). > Not sure what you mean by -- or where you're going -- > with this, but I'm about as liberal as they come (and > why I feel especially strong that GWB should butt out > of the discussion!). > <snip> > -Rich

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RE: [Utah-astronomy] Potter
by Michael Carnes 23 Aug '05

23 Aug '05

Michael, what did you think of "Dhalgren" by Samuel R. Delaney? Or "Triton"? Haven't actually READ any science fiction since I was 20 or so. Whenever I've got any reading time at all, I tend to go to straight science or history.

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Re: Re: [Utah-astronomy]Potter Spoilers! >:o(
by astrodeb＠charter.net 23 Aug '05

23 Aug '05

By the way, does anybody know when the movie Harry Potter 4 will come out? I want to buy my tickets in advance. I just finished #5 last week and will start #6 soon. I didn't really like Sirius anyway. He was rude to Mrs. Weasley. Debbie > > From: , Richard Tenney <retenney(a)yahoo.com> > Date: 2005/08/22 Mon PM 04:28:19 MDT > To: Utah Astronomy <utah-astronomy(a)mailman.xmission.com> > Subject: Re: [Utah-astronomy]Potter Spoilers! >:o( > > Argh! > > I deliberately avoided the last spoiler thread! > > Patrick, dang your hide! I'm in the middle of book 4! > > NO MORE SPOILERS PLEEZ WITHOUT FAIR WARNING! GRRRRR! > > (Not my fault I have too little time to read!) > > -Rich > > --- Patrick Wiggins <paw(a)trilobyte.net> wrote: > > > Chuck Hards wrote: > > > > > This morning marks the first time since last > > spring > > > that I have seen Sirius. > > > > Now how can that be? Everyone knows that Sirius > > died in book #5. > > > > :-) > > > > _______________________________________________ > > Utah-Astronomy mailing list > > Utah-Astronomy(a)mailman.xmission.com > > > http://mailman.xmission.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/utah-astronomy > > Visit the Photo Gallery: > > http://www.utahastronomy.com > > > > > > > ____________________________________________________ > Start your day with Yahoo! - make it your home page > http://www.yahoo.com/r/hs > > > _______________________________________________ > Utah-Astronomy mailing list > Utah-Astronomy(a)mailman.xmission.com > http://mailman.xmission.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/utah-astronomy > Visit the Photo Gallery: http://www.utahastronomy.com >

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Re: [Utah-astronomy] Science and Religion
by Michael Carnes 23 Aug '05

23 Aug '05

>There have been a few on this list that have been spouting off now for a >few days unopposed, ranting about the evils of religion and how there is... Whoa there! Maybe you should try reading my posts again. I haven't said a single thing about the evils of religion. I direct my anger at those who use religion for personal and political gain. Take a look at today's news if you need an example. Pat Robertson--beloved of some 'Christian conservatives'--has just called for the assasination of the president of Venezuela. I wonder if you could point me to the passage in the Bible where incitement of murder is listed as a virtue. I couldn't find it. There are too many good things in the teachings of Jesus, Mohammed or the Buddha for me ever to make the categorical argument that religion is bad. Far from it. But history is chock full of scoundrels who claim to be religious and then violate every precept of the religions they claim to follow. And as I said in my post, those who are loudest are generally the worst. Jesus himself had many complaints about the Pharisees. I was brought up in a region (the old South) where religious presence in the schools was unopposed. From that, I learned of the evils of other races. I learned that Mormons are devils, along with Jews and Catholics. What the h*ll kind of education is that? I am glad that a thoughtful Supreme Court (back when we had one) stepped in and stopped that kind of teaching. That is the kind of world that groups like the Discovery Institute want to restore. ID is the camel's nose in the tent. I understand your passion, Aaron, but please read a little more carefully.

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RE: [Utah-astronomy] Potter
by Michael Carnes 23 Aug '05

23 Aug '05

Hey, don't pick on Kim too much. I know where he's coming from. Not to say anything one way or another about Ms. Rowling's ability as a writer, but I'm just not interested in fantasy. This is why I find Star Wars so gruesomely boring. Now if you've got good thought-provoking SF (like 'Code 46' or Gattaca'), I'm right there. Guess I'm just an old grump. --------------- The thread till now.... You are seriously underestimating JK Rowling. These are not children's books! Sorry, but if you had red them you would realize that. Until you have read them, I don't see where you can judge them. WARNING! The following is likely to offend fans of JKR and Harry Potter. I've never cared much for children's literature, even when I was a child. I've never understood the attraction the Harry Potter books have for adults. I haven't read them and don't intend to. If they're anything like the films, I definitely won't be reading the books, unless Alzheimer's or some other malady robs me of what little intellectual powers I have. (I was coerced into taking the kids to the movies.) I don't mean to belittle anyone else's interest in the literature, but what is it that others find so interesting? Now Isaac Asimov, I can understand... _______________________________________________ Utah-Astronomy mailing list Utah-Astronomy(a)mailman.xmission.com http://mailman.xmission.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/utah-astronomy Visit the Photo Gallery: http://www.utahastronomy.com _______________________________________________ Utah-Astronomy mailing list Utah-Astronomy(a)mailman.xmission.com http://mailman.xmission.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/utah-astronomy Visit the Photo Gallery: http://www.utahastronomy.com

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Science and society
by Chuck Hards 23 Aug '05

23 Aug '05

Recently some ecconomists and "futurists" have been predicting an ecconomic meltdown sometime before 2012, that would make 1929 look harmless in comparison. If this happened, it could open the door for massive social unrest and change. Populations would look to ersatz spiritual leadership in light of massive unemployment and a lack of true leadership from their elected officials. This is just the opportunity the power seekers masquerading as spiritual leaders are looking for- and what is in effect taking place in many parts of the Islamic world today, right now. The exact, same phenomenon can take place in the Christian world, have no doubts. Extreme fundamentalism is the ultimate Equal Opportunity Employer. Science and technology would be manipulated as well. Ideas that don't advance the agenda of the power seekers will be publicly discredited- scientists, artists, writers, poets, architects, designers, etc., will be demonized and made scapegoats for societies ills. The hobby we enjoy so much could really, truly be in jeopardy if the scenario I describe comes to pass in an extreme case. I was surprised a few years ago to discover that Jim Burr, owner of JMI, is a true believer in creationism. He has gone on religious TV shows and used his stature in astronomical circles to advance his views and claim evolution is blatantly false. Anyone who has purchased a JMI product has unknowingly, perhaps, advanced- financed- the ID/creationist agenda. For this reason I have not, and never will, purchase a JMI product, and would encourage others of like mind to do likewise- even though Mr. Burr does sell a superior product, I can't aid his cause in any way and keep a clear conscience. I just can't stay off this darn soapbox, sorry! __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around http://mail.yahoo.com

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more "science"
by Kim Hyatt 23 Aug '05

23 Aug '05

I've been catching up on some of my reading and saw this in September's National Geographic Forum (letters to the editor - sorry, but I couldn't find a page number): "Over the nearly 50 years that I have subscribed to National Geographic, I have often chuckled at scientists either expounding or scratching their heads over matters that have been settled for me long ago by my faith in God. Your article says, 'Something out there holds swarms of galaxies together and keeps their stars from flying apart, but scientists still haven't learned what this invisible substance is.' Although I am familiar with many of the names of God, this is the first time I have heard Him called Dark Matter." Yeah, now it's all clear to me. Kim

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Re: Re: [Utah-astronomy] Bright Moon
by astrodeb＠charter.net 22 Aug '05

22 Aug '05

Thanks Joe and Kurt, I was really surprised how the Automatic setting gave the best shot. I tried the Aperature Priority setting also but the picture was a little too bright. My dream is to shoot Omega Centauri at the 880mm focal length. This would be a nice image size for globulars, galaxies and big planetary nebulae. When I finally learn how to get a good polar alignment I want to shoot globulars and bright galaxies with this camera. Debbie > > From: Joe Bauman <bau(a)desnews.com> > Date: 2005/08/22 Mon AM 09:13:58 MDT > To: Utah Astronomy <utah-astronomy(a)mailman.xmission.com> > Subject: Re: [Utah-astronomy] Bright Moon > > Really nice, Deb! -- Joe > > _______________________________________________ > Utah-Astronomy mailing list > Utah-Astronomy(a)mailman.xmission.com > http://mailman.xmission.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/utah-astronomy > Visit the Photo Gallery: http://www.utahastronomy.com >

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Re: [Utah-astronomy] Joe's article
by Michael Carnes 22 Aug '05

22 Aug '05

Thanks for covering the topic, Joe. Although it might be more a task for your political writers, I'd love to see some background on the big money organizations like the Discovery Institute who are behind this. Their ideals of science are pretty much the same as the Taliban's. >The attempt was to spread the ideas out among two articles, thanks, Joe

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Re: [Utah-astronomy] Joe's article
by Michael Carnes 22 Aug '05

22 Aug '05

Thanks Joe, good article. They are truly scary. I grew up around that sort of fundamentalist and am deeply fearful of the world they want to force down our throats. ----- Discovery Institute: http://deseretnews.com/dn/view/0,1249,600157733,00.html

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