Hi All, I have been in contact with the IDA. They have been succesful in getting the border patrol to agree to sheilded lighting, but are waiting for "official" confirmation which they are expecting any day. Erik
On 31 Jul 2007, at 12:10, erikhansen@TheBlueZone.net wrote:
Hi All, I have been in contact with the IDA. They have been succesful in getting the border patrol to agree to sheilded lighting, but are waiting for "official" confirmation which they are expecting any day.
Erik
Excellent news. But then I guess I'm not completely surprised. All one has to do is fly over the prison down by point of the mountain at night to see folks who _really_ know security know it makes no sense to have a lot of scattered glare when trying to spot the bad guys. pw
Speaking of the prison, I've got to share this story. About 25 years ago when I was working for Hansen Planetarium I was requested by the folks who run the Draper Hilton to do an astronomy lesson for some of their medium security guests who were taking high school classes. I asked if they'd also like me to do a Star Party. (I was all of 23 at the time and very naïve.) They asked what that involved and when I told them about it they said it sounded great. The night of the Star Party came and I dutifully lugged an orange C8 out into the large exercise yard/baseball diamond. As I began setting up the telescope the head guard came out and said, "What do you think you're doing?" I began to explain what was going on and he cut me off, pointing at my Levi jacket. "Take that off." I wasn't eager to take off the only protection against cool night air I'd brought with me so I asked him "Why?" His reply got my attention: "On these grounds, those are targets." It turns out that Levi jackets were issued to the inmates. Abandoning my jacket I returned to setting up the scope. When I was ready I was joined by Steve, the prison staff member who had organized this educational activity for the prisoners and about a dozen of his clients. They were of course thrilled to be outside during off-schedule hours. The lighting they had on the playing field was blinding, probably brighter than the lighting at a night game in the NFL. I asked (seriously, I really did this) if it was possible to turn off all the field lighting, since their glare made observing through the telescope nearly impossible. I was met with howls of laughter. The inmates were ribbing each other and saying, "Yeah, Steve! Turn out the lights, man! We need it to be DARK 'round here for a while!" Steve himself was laughing so hard he could barely breathe, and simply shook his head. I finally got it. Okay. So, I did a "Star Party" under conditions that were so bright I probably should have brought SPF 45 sunblock. We looked at the moon. Seth -----Original Message----- From: utah-astronomy-bounces+sjarvis=slco.org@mailman.xmission.com [mailto:utah-astronomy-bounces+sjarvis=slco.org@mailman.xmission.com] On Behalf Of Patrick Wiggins Sent: Tuesday, July 31, 2007 8:20 PM To: Utah Astronomy Subject: [Utah-astronomy] Re: Border Lighting Excellent news. But then I guess I'm not completely surprised. All one has to do is fly over the prison down by point of the mountain at night to see folks who _really_ know security know it makes no sense to have a lot of scattered glare when trying to spot the bad guys. pw _______________________________________________ Utah-Astronomy mailing list Utah-Astronomy@mailman.xmission.com http://mailman.xmission.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/utah-astronomy Visit the Photo Gallery: http://www.utahastronomy.com
That reminds of a story when I was stargazing in Bryce, before Chad Moore and David Poe, a Ranger politely asked if he could look through my helicopter. I invited him to look through my spaceship.
Erik Speaking of the prison, I've got to share this story.
About 25 years ago when I was working for Hansen Planetarium I was requested by the folks who run the Draper Hilton to do an astronomy lesson for some of their medium security guests who were taking high school classes. I asked if they'd also like me to do a Star Party. (I was all of 23 at the time and very naïve.) They asked what that involved and when I told them about it they said it sounded great.
The night of the Star Party came and I dutifully lugged an orange C8 out into the large exercise yard/baseball diamond. As I began setting up the telescope the head guard came out and said, "What do you think you're doing?" I began to explain what was going on and he cut me off, pointing at my Levi jacket. "Take that off." I wasn't eager to take off the only protection against cool night air I'd brought with me so I asked him "Why?" His reply got my attention: "On these grounds, those are targets." It turns out that Levi jackets were issued to the inmates.
Abandoning my jacket I returned to setting up the scope. When I was ready I was joined by Steve, the prison staff member who had organized this educational activity for the prisoners and about a dozen of his clients. They were of course thrilled to be outside during off-schedule hours.
The lighting they had on the playing field was blinding, probably brighter than the lighting at a night game in the NFL.
I asked (seriously, I really did this) if it was possible to turn off all the field lighting, since their glare made observing through the telescope nearly impossible.
I was met with howls of laughter. The inmates were ribbing each other and saying, "Yeah, Steve! Turn out the lights, man! We need it to be DARK 'round here for a while!"
Steve himself was laughing so hard he could barely breathe, and simply shook his head.
I finally got it. Okay.
So, I did a "Star Party" under conditions that were so bright I probably should have brought SPF 45 sunblock.
We looked at the moon.
Seth
-----Original Message----- From: utah-astronomy-bounces+sjarvis=slco.org@mailman.xmission.com [mailto:utah-astronomy-bounces+sjarvis=slco.org@mailman.xmission.com] On Behalf Of Patrick Wiggins Sent: Tuesday, July 31, 2007 8:20 PM To: Utah Astronomy Subject: [Utah-astronomy] Re: Border Lighting
Excellent news.
But then I guess I'm not completely surprised. All one has to do is fly over the prison down by point of the mountain at night to see folks who _really_ know security know it makes no sense to have a lot of scattered glare when trying to spot the bad guys.
pw
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participants (3)
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erikhansen＠TheBlueZone.net -
Patrick Wiggins -
Seth Jarvis