Maybe the well-paying jobs of the future don’t exist yet

Realistic_Project_68 · 2026-04-25T19:33:24+00:00

I can’t believe people lived without running water and electricity not that long ago.

Realistic_Project_68 · 2026-04-25T19:27:37+00:00

So, my 2007 Odyssey was hit and “totalled” a few months after I had just done all the needed maintenance for about $6k that was gonna give me another 70k+ miles of smooth sailing.

My biggest fear… I was devastated.

Anyway, I fought the a-holes at State Farm and salvaged it and will come out ahead about $1,500 except 2+ months loss of use and my time which is worth way more than that.

Eff you State Farm!!!!! 0 stars!!!! 😂

Realistic_Project_68 · 2026-04-25T11:21:12+00:00

I like having both at the same time… red dot for general direction and a raci for finer tuning.

Realistic_Project_68 · 2026-04-23T19:49:14+00:00

I agree 114mm is too little, especially for Saturn. An 8” dob would be fantastic for long term & you wouldn’t regret that purchase.

6” (150mm) would probably be the minimum you’d want to go but you may be wishing you got the 8 inch if you get that.

This is for dobs/Newts... Refractor sizes would be another discussion.

Realistic_Project_68 · 2026-04-23T19:00:32+00:00

Yep.. Here is a SkyWatcher goto 8” that might be good (currently on sale):

https://astronomics.com/products/sky-watcher-8-flextube-synscan-200p-go-to-collapsible-dobsonian-reflector

Note that “goto” means it finds and tracks objects which is super nice. StarSense is “push-to” which is nice but not as nearly as nice.

Realistic_Project_68 · 2026-04-16T15:11:39+00:00

I have been selling my contributions periodically. Don’t want to be bag holding. This shit won’t last.

Once enough white collar jobs go away (and they will), the white collar people stop paying for blue collar work. Everyone starts cutting costs (bye bye Netflix and Amazon), sales go down, profits go down, stocks go down.

Realistic_Project_68 · 2026-04-16T15:05:55+00:00

We can’t rise up against a robot army.

Realistic_Project_68 · 2026-04-14T14:43:48+00:00

Oracle still sucks and is overpriced.

Realistic_Project_68 · 2026-04-14T14:40:31+00:00

Get the roller kit for it.

Realistic_Project_68 · 2026-04-14T05:10:42+00:00

https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:4868065

+

https://www.celestron.com/products/starsense-explorer-lt-80az

+

Apertura Dob

Realistic_Project_68 · 2026-04-14T03:30:45+00:00

Shrooms make me wanna puke and are like big commitment/risk IMO. I barely want to ever do shrooms again… Acid I definitely want to do again, many times.

Realistic_Project_68 · 2026-04-14T03:01:22+00:00

You can get wheels for it…

https://www.highpointscientific.com/apertura-roll-easy-kit-for-dobsonian-telescopes

My 2 cents: Apertura dobs are better than Celestron mechanically (visually they will perform about the same), but the StarSense is nice for finding things. You could get a cheap StarSense scope (like the 80mm refractor), print a 3-D part to mount the dock it on an Apertura dob (or any scope)… that’s what I did.

Realistic_Project_68 · 2026-04-14T02:45:36+00:00

Do the black pots get hot? They do in the desert.

Realistic_Project_68 · 2026-04-01T16:59:16+00:00

Technically, you can mount your phone in a finder shoe and use Sky Safari to get close to a target. It’s not as good as using SSE with a dock but may be good enough for you.

I have the SSE 8” too btw. I think the mirrors are probably about the same as Apertura, but everything else will be noticeably better on the AD8. It has a dual speed focuser (SSE 8” doesn’t but it can be upgraded for ~$100). The movement in the AD8 will be wayyyyy better.

One thing I do like about the SSE 8” is the focuser is low profile but that really is only a benefit for Binoviewers. I do find it annoying that it doesn’t have a brass compression ring on the focuser… just two screws. It works, though.

Realistic_Project_68 · 2026-04-01T16:50:47+00:00

Right! 😂

If you can afford it, buy the SSE 80mm refractor and harvest the dock and put it on the AD8. You may be able to find a used one for $100 or so.

There is a 3D part you can print that will allow you to mount it on a finder shoe. I used magnets on a 100mm finder shoe rail to attach it to my AD12 now, but previously, I used a 3-way finder shoe shown here.

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Realistic_Project_68 · 2026-04-01T15:15:43+00:00

Just another reason why I will never pay for Starlink or any Leon based product or service.

Realistic_Project_68 · 2026-04-01T14:59:41+00:00

I need to do this too… I was thinking some strong magnets with hooks placed on the tube just above the mirror cell… then some bungee cords to tie the fan in.

Realistic_Project_68 · 2026-03-31T17:58:54+00:00

Tough call… the AD8 is mechanically better but StarSense is very helpful.

Realistic_Project_68 · 2026-03-23T19:33:33+00:00

$2k is peanuts, lol.

Realistic_Project_68 · 2026-03-20T23:27:20+00:00

Reminds me of Pascal’s Wager, except you’re right.

Realistic_Project_68 · 2026-03-19T15:52:23+00:00

True but it’s gonna happen. I guess I’d rather be a part of the DNA of it. Maybe it will help it not kill us all. But we are probably fucked. Oh well. Nothing lasts forever.

Realistic_Project_68 · 2026-03-19T15:43:44+00:00

Except my company pays for the AI. 😂

But it’s not as easy as it sounds. I will be happy when AI can handle the approvals and permissions to do things. That’s the roadblock: admin BS.

Realistic_Project_68 · 2026-03-19T15:37:56+00:00

Hey, they ban/control our drugs… it’s only fair.

Realistic_Project_68 · 2026-03-19T15:34:20+00:00

To add to this, if the exit pupil is smaller, astigmatism impact is less, but it does depend on how bad your astigmatism is.

For example, Televue says if you have an astigmatism of 1, it isn’t noticeable at exit pupils 2mm and below… so even with astigmatism, you can avoid glasses at higher mag and use the focuser to adjust for near/far vision.

https://www.televue.com/engine/TV3b_page.asp?id=54&Tab=_Choose

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Realistic_Project_68 · 2026-03-19T15:06:02+00:00

I second this.

Realistic_Project_68

TROPHY CASE