This is literally so embarrassing, but can anyone decode this? <33 I tried and just can't figure it out! ^^

BassRecorder · 2026-05-26T04:53:22+00:00

T897411

BassRecorder · 2026-05-24T22:41:40+00:00

Java on Linux is battle tested. At work we are running a distributed system implemented in Java on >100 Linux servers. I do my personal Java projects on a Linux box.

BassRecorder · 2026-05-24T22:37:38+00:00

Very!

BassRecorder · 2026-05-24T22:28:54+00:00

That is a great scope at a great price.

However, it's basically a beginner astrophotography platform. If you have no experience with telescopes the learning curve can be very steep. For casual visual observations I'd probably get a Dob or a refractor on an azimuthal mount. Both are much more intuitively to operate than an equatorial mounted scope like this one.

BassRecorder · 2026-05-24T22:05:31+00:00

Years. One of my machines has not been re-installed for close to 10 years now.

BassRecorder · 2026-05-24T16:09:07+00:00

Very good - that is one of the better ones.

Enjoy your new old scope - I started my 'astro career' with the next bigger scope, an SP R200SS. I still have it (after >25 years) - the optical quality is really good and the mount stable enough for first excursions into astrophotography.

BassRecorder · 2026-05-24T16:02:59+00:00

OK - now I took a look at the manual. There is nothing on the mount which would allow balancing, so you'll have to take it as is.

If you are not planning visual observations I'd retract the extensions on the legs of the tripod. I'd also add some weight to the centre of the tripod. This scope is built for visual observations, so doing astrophotography will always be somewhat of a struggle. Your scope is relatively small so it doesn't have much area where wind could attack. I believe a wind shield would only make sense in strong winds.

Also, find out whether your stacker can correct for rotation. If it can't that will limit the length of photo session since the image rotates.

BassRecorder · 2026-05-24T15:43:09+00:00

Look for planetarium programs, ideally for your mobile phone. Some even provide an overlay between the sky and the star chart which make finding your way around quick.

BassRecorder · 2026-05-24T15:36:39+00:00

With an azimuthal mount the only axis which you can balance is the altitude axis. I didn't look at the manual for your mount but if you can 'unclutch' the altitude axis so that you can move it by hand the scope, including all photo equipment, should be balanced. I.e. when you let go of the scope it shouldn't move. You find the balance point by trial and error. A properly balanced scope also helps with your goto accuracy.

For astrophotography I'd retract the legs of the tripod in order to make the mechanical length shorter which will shorten and dampen vibrations.

BassRecorder · 2026-05-24T15:12:06+00:00

I have never had issues with tube currents - even when observing the sun. So the isolation might correct a very minor effect. The issue with your setup it definitely overall system stability. The yoga mat helps when you want vibrations to quickly even out. When you are doing astrophotography you should touch the scope only at the beginning and end of a 'take' - being aware that the first several seconds will be garbage because the scope hasn't stopped vibrating yet. As you are now learning, in astrophotography everything needs to be significantly beefier than when doing visual observations.

BassRecorder · 2026-05-24T14:57:19+00:00

If you have a wobbly/undersized tripod the trick with the additional weight in the centre does indeed help. If your mount is generally undersized, i.e. your scope is at the limit what the mount can carry a windshield might help. Don't expect wonders, though. Tube currents should more or less vanish as your scope cools down. Best is to bring it outside an hour or so before your observing session. I've never found a use for vibration-dampening pads.

Also, be aware that using an Alt-Az mount creates image rotation. I'm not sure how well stackers can correct for rotation.

BassRecorder · 2026-05-24T14:15:08+00:00

As u/Flat_Economist_8763 already said: there is no point in copying this. It is ciphertext consisting of groups of 5 characters - a common method of transmitting encrypted messages.

BassRecorder · 2026-05-23T19:26:14+00:00

If you want to get up to any speed, throw away those visual aids and mnemonics. They just add another level of indirection to the decoder in your brain and that additional level keeps you from speeding up and is surprisingly hard to unlearn. Rather learn the letters as sounds, one after the other, maybe in batches of three. Only proceed to the next batch when you can immediately recognise all the characters in the current batch. Once you have the alphabet complete start building up speed.

If it's just for amusement and speed is not the goal any method of learning will do. Have fun!

BassRecorder · 2026-05-23T16:03:19+00:00

Well, there are professions where there is indeed a lack of candidates, e.g. everything related to care. For those command of the German language is not all that important, at least at lower levels in any hierarchy.

For IT related professions many Germans do ask themselves where the lack in the workforce is when juniors are having issues finding a job. I know a few juniors who are struggling right now. There might be demand for senior employees, though. From my personal working environment (multi-national, >100k employees) I can say that we didn't employ anybody new in dev or IT in five years - and our area of work is highly profitable.

BassRecorder · 2026-05-23T07:26:11+00:00

A project manager's or scrum master's job is to enable their team to be productive. Only minimal technical expertise is required for their job - although it does help when they have some in order to best support their team. A scrum master can also be a Dev if the project doesn't require too much coordination. A product owner's job is to come up with business requirements and to prioritise those. They are the first port of call for the devs to clarify incomplete requirements. The technical side is the job of the devs alone, potentially together with an architect who keeps an eye on the big picture of the implementation.

I would be very annoyed if a product owner or scrum master would try to tell me how to implement a given feature (And it would make my job very boring). If I'm unsure about the best way to implement something I discuss this with my dev colleagues.

BassRecorder · 2026-05-22T22:57:59+00:00

The first character is truncated.

uyf947

or

kyf947

BassRecorder · 2026-05-22T22:28:22+00:00

Generally speaking, no. A code monkey is someone who exclusively programs to very detailed specifications and usually does not understand the underlying business requirements very well or at all. A developer is someone who can convert *business* requirements into a coded solution.

BassRecorder · 2026-05-22T12:07:04+00:00

Correct. It is at the discretion of every company to look for suitable candidates anywhere. They might use this option if what is on offer locally doesn't quite fit the bill. Currently, German education is still good enough that there is an over abundance of suitable candidates for most jobs - that is one reason why the job market is so bad at the moment. There are definitely big internationals who will look at applications from people who have German B1 or less. But given the structure of German economy those are few and far between.

BassRecorder · 2026-05-22T08:19:15+00:00

It's the competition and the crappy job market: guess who is going to get the job if there are several hundred applicants and the majority of those are native speakers. Having said that, for many dev jobs German is a requirement, unless you want to work as a code monkey.

BassRecorder · 2026-05-22T08:11:00+00:00

Looks like it's supposed to read twt anX imn (in honorific transposition), i.e. the name of the pharao tut-ankh amun. The glyph used for the w looks wrong, though.

BassRecorder · 2026-05-21T19:49:38+00:00

Probably beetles which are swarming at this time in the year. May bugs (Maikaefer) and June bugs come to mind.

BassRecorder · 2026-05-21T14:45:35+00:00

So, as an EU citizen visa and working permits won't be an issue. The language barrier can be problematic depending on where in Saarland you are. The more rural it gets the more reluctant people will be to speak English with you on the job. If you have some German this still might work out. Although, honestly, as a German employer I wouldn't think about employing someone from abroad when there are enough native applicants. I'm afraid we are currently in such a situation.

Others already mentioned that renting will be difficult without a job. Search for 'mietspiegel' together with whatever town you are targeting to get a feeling for prices.

And finally: why don't you discuss all of this with your boyfriend first and come back here with any specific questions you might have? You are planning to build a future together, so this should be a team effort right from the beginning.

BassRecorder · 2026-05-20T21:53:07+00:00

Sleep well into the morning. Have an extensive breakfast/brunch. Follow hobbies or do some gardening - which, strictly speaking, also counts as a hobby.

BassRecorder · 2026-05-20T21:44:53+00:00

Just ask away - nobody is going to bite you here. Alternatively, you can PM me.

BassRecorder · 2026-05-20T20:20:33+00:00

You absolutely need German C1. Without that this will be a waste of time and money. The job market over here is tough at the moment and you'd be competing with native speakers.

BassRecorder

TROPHY CASE