thanks guys.

UT is a great place to hang out and talk about science/astronomy stuff....not only the site (which we all have Fraser to thank for)...but the people as well...there's certainly some great minds out there.

*************************************

and yes..i chose "madman" because i thought what i'd be talking about would seem to be a bit mad...and probably is at times.

also i figured no-one would have used that name already...lol.

Hello, Gary! My name is Richard. It's good to have you here with us. Hope you stick around until we reach the next star! There's a very thin line that separates sanity from madness. For scientist, the line is even thinner!

for teachers, the line does not exist...lol

__________________
Damien,
International Baccalaureate Physics teacher
Optics, Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing Instrumentation Major
Admin: Pacific Science and Art

Hi All,

I’ve been a forum member for a month or two, but only recently discovered this thread (I have about 10-15 posts already).

My name is Philip (last name withheld). I'm a 37 year old insurance underwriter in Dallas, Texas (originally from North Louisiana). My interest in astronomy goes all the way back to elementary school but waned at about 11 or so -- until I was 29, when fate rekindled my interest in it. Currently, my primary interests are discovering where extraterrestrial life may be hiding "out there" and in conjuring up ideas for in-system extra-terrestrial planetary colonization. Overall, I’m quite impressed with the quality of posters on this forum, and look forward to further engaging in discussions with you all.

Hello Filrabat,
I'm Ryan, a 14 yearold out of Indiana. since you've been here awhile, you probably already know how everything works. So, I hope you enjoy you're time here and as usual, any questions, just ask me or some other community support member, we're only happy to help.

Welcome to the forum, filrabat! I can see you're already involved.

Yup! Just as bossman said, don't hesitate to contact anyone from the Community Support team if you're facing any difficulties in the forum.

I'll third that! Don't hesitate; need help, just PM one of us - that's what we're here for.

Hi all,
Thanks Fraser for a great news letter and forum site.
My name is Chris Graham. I live in country Victoria Australia.
I am pretty minimal in astronomy knowledge (i keep forgetting everthing when it comes to finding my way around the night sky) i hope to get more involved in amature astonomy in the next year or so. I work as an Electrical Engineer in Melbourne. This came about after many years as an electrician combined with doing an applied physics degree a few years back. I am 42 next month. i have one daughter 4, who represents my avatar. I am hoping to be quite a contributer to the forum however have to watch its addictive component!

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"New study reveals that 2030 will occur in 22 years!!"

Welcome to the board Sirius0, hope you enjoy

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Windows 98 is like that drunk uncle that thinks he knows everything and always tries to convince you he was a CIA operative, and when you argue, he gets violent and then passes out.

You are blessed with a cute, beautiful daughter. She must be a joy. B)

Welcome Chris, and actually we'd love it if you could get yourself addicted to UT. A bunch of UTers live in Australia, BTW.

G'day Sirius, fellow Aussie here, i am in Barooga.

I hope you do become addicted

Beautiful child you are blessed with

Take care mate

__________________
Damien,
International Baccalaureate Physics teacher
Optics, Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing Instrumentation Major
Admin: Pacific Science and Art

Welcome, all!

Sirius has to be the best star in the sky - excluding Rigel!

__________________
Science is wonderfully equipped to answer the question "How?" but it gets terribly confused when you ask the question "Why?"
Erwin Chargaff

Canopus Sirius and Rigel were the first stars I found out...
--N

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~~Truth does not become more true by virtue of the fact that the entire world agrees with it, nor less so even if the whole world disagrees with it.

Thank you all for those nice replies! Feels like i have found a new virtual home. :wub:

I think i am addicted; but i can give it up anytime!

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"New study reveals that 2030 will occur in 22 years!!"

My Webpage Lainies Astronomy Webpage for Beginners
Hi, My name is Lainie and i love astronomy. I am self educated in astronomy, using naked eye astronomy. I live in South Florida. ClearSkies!

Welcome to UT, Lainie. Enjoy your time here!

Yep, Lainie, welcome! Make yourself @ home!

welcome aboard Lainie!!! enjoy!!!

__________________
Damien,
International Baccalaureate Physics teacher
Optics, Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing Instrumentation Major
Admin: Pacific Science and Art

Welcome, newbies, I'm sure you'll have a great time!

__________________
Science is wonderfully equipped to answer the question "How?" but it gets terribly confused when you ask the question "Why?"
Erwin Chargaff

__________________
"A wild scheme, it would be useless undertaking”

Charles Darwin's father on hearing of his son's plans to join HMS Beagle

SpaceMad's Space Page

Helmut Lotti Fan Club

Join me on the BeyondSpace forum at
http://beyondspace.info/forum/index.php
A bilingual forum in English & Spanish

Hello Everyone!

I don't get around to posting as much as I'd like, but I can't remember two days in a row that I haven't kicked my feet up on my desk and enjoyed the brilliant, intriguing, and often hilarious posts offered by my fellow UTers. How I made it through a day of work before, I'll never fathom. (a fact I'm sure my boss would just love hear. In fact, he walks past my cubicle so often that I have become the fastest minimizer this side of the Mississippi! The first whisp of stale Old Spice in the air and I am staring at an Excel spreadsheet before you can say "Clean out your desk!") Where was I? My name is Tom. I'm from Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Before I hear any "mooos", I have to drive pretty darn far to see a cow, and I have never worn cheese on my head (sober). I just turned 30, and can feel my youth and my memory slipping away already. My name is Tom. I'm from Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Befo-- just kidding. Let's see here...I have been a fan of the universe, particularly the Milky Way, for some time now ( not a big fan of the Andromeda though, it can be a bit too conceited for my tastes).

In all seriousness though, I am unquestionably grateful for Universe Today, and of course of our conductor Mr. C. I love the fact that such a diverse group of people can interact, share, connect, and feel as equals in a world where Presidents, Prime Ministers, Monarchs and anyone else with too much money and power and too little intelligence and compassion seem to be doing their best to keep us divided.

I leave with a quote by the genius Michael Palin, that I think properly sums up how I feel about you all..... "It's"

Welcome, Tiderider! ( though I think I've said it before).

You're not the only one who checks out UT at work...may of us teenagers who go to school often do so, and one, Janice, got in trouble!

Great to have someone like you around! Keep up the posts!

(Oh, and Lainie, nice site B) !)

Thanks for the welcome StarLab. I must say, it makes me a bit more confident about our space-faring future knowing that there is such strong passion and dedication from yourself and many other teenage students. Speaking of which, my condolences to Janice for getting busted for, well for learning at school! I'm sure the teacher was just upset that you wanted to gain knowledge and have some fun at the same time. Schools need to maintain a minimum of torturous boredom to feel they have accomplished something (at least in my experience). I never was one for school. I was more of a "read the book, take the test type". Not so much the "do the homework every...single... night type". It worked for me, but I don't want to be held responsible for educational mutiny by suggesting anyone do the same.

I look forward, as always, to reading more of everyone&#