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Grinz
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How did your interest in astronomy start? : In childhood/at school
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| Posted: 13 January 2010 at 3:57am | IP Logged
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I was wondering who was planning to do what in the next few months - or in the course of this year. Of course astronomy-related things get first prize, but it will be interesting to hear some of your plans. I know that some of you are planning to go travelling - so come and tell us about it (again) here and also tell us about other projects & things.
If you like the idea, we can keep this thread alive as a kind of "who is doing what" coffee/tea table.
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Lee aka Grinz
We are all in the gutter, but some of us are looking at the stars - Oscar Wilde
-33°52'1"S 18°28'58"E
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azphotog
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| Posted: 13 January 2010 at 4:24am | IP Logged
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Richard's parents have invited us to stay with them for a week in Flagstaff, AZ. This is about 3 hours north of Phoenix...and about 6 hours northwest of Safford where Richard lives. Snowflake where Atheen lives is almost directly north of Safford...but there are mountains between the 2 so there is no good direct route between the 2, so it would take almost as long to get there from Safford as it does to get to Flagstaff...and Flagstaff is 2 hours west of Snowflake.
Richard is also hoping to have some copies of his book to showcase at the Flagstaff Book Festival the last weekend of April. It is ready to go we are just waiting for Richard's church to come up with the fiances...which in this economy is proiving tough. The publisher is working out a payment system...so hopefully it will be published soon.
I got a "new" car (new to me) the day after Christmas...my old car was 22 years old and was getting very unreliable. The new car is a 2007 PT Cruiser. This makes the trip possible...would not have felt good doing it in the old beast.
Edited by azphotog on 13 January 2010 at 9:50pm
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Don
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"And the Universe is the ultimate free lunch"~Leslie C. McKinney
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LYPD
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| Posted: 13 January 2010 at 7:03am | IP Logged
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Oh Don. I love PT cruisers. You can put a ton of stuff in them and still have room for the driver.
Sounds like an adventure. What book did Richard write? Did I miss something? Keep us posted.
Good luck with the PT.
Lili
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LYPD
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| Posted: 13 January 2010 at 7:06am | IP Logged
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Lee : I think it would be a fun thread to check out where every one is travelling.
Some folks might even bump into each other along the way!
Lili
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azphotog
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| Posted: 13 January 2010 at 9:48pm | IP Logged
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I have wanted a PT Cruiser for a long time...finally decided to get one. I agree the cargo capacity of them is amazing.
Richard has written a book to help people get thru grief called Thru The Mirror And Beyond Ourselves...it is also a picture book featuring our photography. We wanted to do it in color but that would price it beyond most peoples budget so the pics are BW.
The new car will also allow me to attend one of our members private dark sites, about an hour and a half north of me, in Prescott Arizona. He has built a rolloff observatory and has 2 robotics scopes...and is considering putting a second concrete slab for members to use.
Edited by azphotog on 13 January 2010 at 9:49pm
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Don
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"And the Universe is the ultimate free lunch"~Leslie C. McKinney
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M45Birdy
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| Posted: 13 January 2010 at 10:05pm | IP Logged
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I am not sure what a PT Cruiser is, Don but it sounds like a winner! Please let me know (if Richard does not, I participated in a couple of his "surveys") when his book is aviailable. Two of my doggie class folks are also writers and in addition my dog trainer's lady is an accomplished writer. I know writer's are not folks' with money!
Let us know when Richard's book comes out. The first may not be the best quality, but it is a start. My dog trainer, Kyle Warren wrote his first with B&W photos - "Stay. Come. Heel. Every Time." And I look forward to your photos, I am sure you chose the best for B&W! ~ Robin
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"The only way to discover the limits of the possible is to go beyond them into the impossible." - Arthur C. Clarke ~ 'Profiles of the Future", 1961, (Clarke's third law)
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Grinz
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| Posted: 14 January 2010 at 3:31am | IP Logged
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Hi Don, I hope you will enjoy your new vehicle and that nice trip with Richard!
I know Richard joined here once - it will be great if you could inspire him to come and visit us from time to time?
Lili, yes it will be great to hear all the travel stories - but also other stories like new hobbies, new projects you are working on (astronomically speaking), websites you are making, or even things like courses you might take or present or whatever.
But yes, maybe some of those trips might mean some of you might be able to visit one another and/or meet somewhere in between!
Also I think we might inspire one another along the way (in more than one sense of the word!)
Lastly just a reminder that you are all welcome - and indeed I urge you to do so! - to bring along friends to our little site. Even if they are only interested in astronomy in a passing way, maybe we could inspire them and they could inspire us in turn with things they might discover for the first time. Do you remember the heady days when you first caught the astronomy bug? Well, let's bring some of our friends along... even if each of us just brings ONE person here who starts becoming a regular part of our group, it might start a new trend and certainly new blood always brings new ideas, new friends, etc...
How does that grab you?
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Lee aka Grinz
We are all in the gutter, but some of us are looking at the stars - Oscar Wilde
-33°52'1"S 18°28'58"E
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azphotog
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| Posted: 14 January 2010 at 5:01am | IP Logged
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Robin...a PT Cruiser is a small car made by Chrysler that looks like a hot rodded 40's panel truck. It is one of the few concept cars that made it to production. PT by the way stands for Plymouth truck...it was a Plymouth concept car that got produced by Chrysler when Plymouth went out of business. It is called a SUV and by some people...but it is really a Dodge Neon with a new body and engine. It is titled as a station wagon. But the insurance company calls a truck. It has been in production for 10 years.
Richard is waiting for the publisher to come up with a payment schedule that his church can afford...hopefully this will happen in the next week...and production can start maybe next month. The book will need to be edited first which is part of the production costs. So we are probably looking at early April for the first printing run.
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M45Birdy
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| Posted: 19 January 2010 at 11:11pm | IP Logged
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Hey Don, The PT Cruiser sounds like it would be a good doggie vehicle, need room in the back? I drive a 1998 Jeep, does very well and still thriving!
If I do not hear from Richard first, and regardless let us know when his book first gets published. I know he has been busy, but also let him know from me that he is welcome here any time! ~ Robin
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Robin
"The only way to discover the limits of the possible is to go beyond them into the impossible." - Arthur C. Clarke ~ 'Profiles of the Future", 1961, (Clarke's third law)
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azphotog
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| Posted: 21 January 2010 at 8:47pm | IP Logged
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It is a very versatile vehicle...almost a very small SUV. The rear seats have fold down backs...plus they they tumble forward, and they can be taken out altogether. They are split 60/40. The small one weights about 20 pounds and the bigger one is 50 pounds. And even with the rear seats in the full upright position...there is still tons of room behind them. Inside it feels like a much larger vehicle...it has as much rear legroom as my old 87 Chrysler Fifth Avenue...which now adays would be considered a full size car.
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M45Birdy
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| Posted: 22 January 2010 at 6:42pm | IP Logged
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 Sounds like a great astro or doggie vehicle Don! My '98 Jeep is not made any more, less than 100,000 miles on it but increasing with my Search And Rescue work with Eagle Valley.
Let us know how it "works" with you, also on terrain. Jeep has been my bud! And thanks for the education about PT Cruisers!
Let Richard know I am waiting for his book, my prayers for its' fruition and distribution.  ~ Robin
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Robin
"The only way to discover the limits of the possible is to go beyond them into the impossible." - Arthur C. Clarke ~ 'Profiles of the Future", 1961, (Clarke's third law)
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azphotog
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| Posted: 23 January 2010 at 4:53pm | IP Logged
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It's not a real high clearance vehicle...its not bad... and probably sits higher than some vehicles, but was not made for off road use.
I will let Richard know...thanks Robin
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Don
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azphotog
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| Posted: 24 January 2010 at 4:10am | IP Logged
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Hi Robin...this what the PT Cruiser looks like:
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Don
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LYPD
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| Posted: 24 January 2010 at 6:21am | IP Logged
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Well ain't that a beaut..........Looks brand new.
Good luck with her.
Lili
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M45Birdy
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| Posted: 24 January 2010 at 2:49pm | IP Logged
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Very, very nice, Don! I love the kind of retro look with the grill in the front. Looks like it will be great for travelling and could even make a good dogmobile if the seats in the back convert to flat.
A real "purrrrrrr-ty" vehicle! ~ Robin
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Robin
"The only way to discover the limits of the possible is to go beyond them into the impossible." - Arthur C. Clarke ~ 'Profiles of the Future", 1961, (Clarke's third law)
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Stuff
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| Posted: 25 January 2010 at 4:11pm | IP Logged
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Don,
I have several friends who bought PT Cruisers. They all rave how good a vehicle it is.
Best of luck with your "new" old car.
Stuff
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azphotog
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| Posted: 25 January 2010 at 4:20pm | IP Logged
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Thanks Stuff.
It does seem to be a car that people either love or hate...my friend Richard does not like them at all...and they have made several "ugly car" lists over the years.
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Don
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Topic: Who’s planning what?
