Re: Re: Caldwell catalog
Guy and Ed, the point wasn't about marginalizing the flying experience- as a former sailplane pilot I know all too well what you guys are talking about, WITHOUT a deafening engine drowning out even simple conversation- a much more "organic" flying experience- with more finesse and less of a brute force approach. What I intended to do was compare the richness of the experience of getting to the top of a mountain via two different routes. Flying straight there in a helicopter from the valley floor was a short, perhaps interesting experience, but I can't agree at all that it was anywhere nearly as satisfying as working ones way to the summit, on the mountain's terms. Earning something is always, always the more satisfying route than having it handed to you on a platter no matter how interesting the technology. The minimalization of effort, for it's own sake, is rarely if ever intrinsically a good thing. And Guy, as you pointed out yourself, when the technology fails, you're basically screwed if you don't know the sky. Again, I'm not outright condemning using the bells and whistles, just against not learning the basics- not learning to find your way out of the woods, so to speak. Learn the sky, learn to navigate, learn the why's and how's, and you're truly an amateur astronomer. Ignore the fundamentals- depend on the GOTO brain- and you're just another Guy with a telescope. __________________________________ Yahoo! FareChase: Search multiple travel sites in one click. http://farechase.yahoo.com
And I was merely pointing out that the guy in the sky seen more than you did. He may not have been able to smell the flowers, but believe me, he seen more. Technology, whether one likes it or not, allows a person to get more done. More bang for his buck so-to-speak. How many professional observatories do you suppose there are, who have elected not to adopt the latest, greatest technology available so they can produce more results and view more things? Not to mention needing this technology to track and image. Here's one to consider: There are two dairy farmers with the exact same number of cows to milk. One, because he likes the 'hands on' approach, rejects technology and milks the old hefers the old fashioned way. The second, a little older and more wiser farmer ;) can find his way around an udder or three, and knows how to manually milk a cow, decides that by employing modern technology, he will produce more milk over a given period of time, freeing up more time to do other cool things. By the end of the day, who do you think accomplished the most? Who's hands stink the least? Who's gonna have more time to do the other fun things life offers? Oh sure the power could fail and the batteries could die, but the wise second farmer, because he bought a high tech telescope, er, I mean milking machine, with setting circles, will still be able to squeeze milk from the milky way! ;)
Just a quick thought; Regardless of how it is done, milking a hefer instead of a Holstein is going to lead to some interesting consequences in the Milk Barn. --- diveboss@xmission.com wrote:
And I was merely pointing out that the guy in the sky seen more than you did. He may not have been able to smell the flowers, but believe me, he seen more.
Technology, whether one likes it or not, allows a person to get more done. More bang for his buck so-to-speak. How many professional observatories do you suppose there are, who have elected not to adopt the latest, greatest technology available so they can produce more results and view more things? Not to mention needing this technology to track and image.
Here's one to consider:
There are two dairy farmers with the exact same number of cows to milk. One, because he likes the 'hands on' approach, rejects technology and milks the old hefers the old fashioned way.
The second, a little older and more wiser farmer ;) can find his way around an udder or three, and knows how to manually milk a cow, decides that by employing modern technology, he will produce more milk over a given period of time, freeing up more time to do other cool things.
By the end of the day, who do you think accomplished the most? Who's hands stink the least? Who's gonna have more time to do the other fun things life offers?
Oh sure the power could fail and the batteries could die, but the wise second farmer, because he bought a high tech telescope, er, I mean milking machine, with setting circles, will still be able to squeeze milk from the milky way! ;)
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That would be farmer number ones problem... ;) Quoting Edward Lunt <lunco@yahoo.com>:
Just a quick thought; Regardless of how it is done, milking a hefer instead of a Holstein is going to lead to some interesting consequences in the Milk Barn.
--- diveboss@xmission.com wrote:
And I was merely pointing out that the guy in the sky seen more than you did. He may not have been able to smell the flowers, but believe me, he seen more.
Technology, whether one likes it or not, allows a person to get more done. More bang for his buck so-to-speak. How many professional observatories do you suppose there are, who have elected not to adopt the latest, greatest technology available so they can produce more results and view more things? Not to mention needing this technology to track and image.
Here's one to consider:
There are two dairy farmers with the exact same number of cows to milk. One, because he likes the 'hands on' approach, rejects technology and milks the old hefers the old fashioned way.
The second, a little older and more wiser farmer ;) can find his way around an udder or three, and knows how to manually milk a cow, decides that by employing modern technology, he will produce more milk over a given period of time, freeing up more time to do other cool things.
By the end of the day, who do you think accomplished the most? Who's hands stink the least? Who's gonna have more time to do the other fun things life offers?
Oh sure the power could fail and the batteries could die, but the wise second farmer, because he bought a high tech telescope, er, I mean milking machine, with setting circles, will still be able to squeeze milk from the milky way! ;)
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Chuck; I appreciate what you are saying and agree that there is much to recommend "smilling the flowers" and being in nature, enjoying nature. My whole point was that other approaches should be considered as also of value. Stein wasn't there to enjoy nature but to do a story (his job) so for him, his approach made the most sense. What a person wants out of an experience will most often dictate how they approach the experience and since we all want different experiences at different times, there is no one and only way to do most things, especially when it comes to our individual enjoyment. I don't think that you are suggesting that there is a one and only way, but rather was sharing with us why you find a particular way of experiencing nature, observing the heavens, etc. is to you enjoyable. Like wise, I am just suggesting that there are many approaches that can be taken and each has its merits for the one taking the particular approach. Enough philosophy, I would sooner hear about more of your experiences. I thought your parable was most enjoyable to read. Ed --- Chuck Hards <chuckhards@yahoo.com> wrote:
Guy and Ed, the point wasn't about marginalizing the flying experience- as a former sailplane pilot I know all too well what you guys are talking about, WITHOUT a deafening engine drowning out even simple conversation- a much more "organic" flying experience- with more finesse and less of a brute force approach.
What I intended to do was compare the richness of the experience of getting to the top of a mountain via two different routes. Flying straight there in a helicopter from the valley floor was a short, perhaps interesting experience, but I can't agree at all that it was anywhere nearly as satisfying as working ones way to the summit, on the mountain's terms. Earning something is always, always the more satisfying route than having it handed to you on a platter no matter how interesting the technology. The minimalization of effort, for it's own sake, is rarely if ever intrinsically a good thing. And Guy, as you pointed out yourself, when the technology fails, you're basically screwed if you don't know the sky. Again, I'm not outright condemning using the bells and whistles, just against not learning the basics- not learning to find your way out of the woods, so to speak. Learn the sky, learn to navigate, learn the why's and how's, and you're truly an amateur astronomer. Ignore the fundamentals- depend on the GOTO brain- and you're just another Guy with a telescope.
__________________________________ Yahoo! FareChase: Search multiple travel sites in one click. http://farechase.yahoo.com
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participants (3)
-
Chuck Hards -
diveboss＠xmission.com -
Edward Lunt