HDTenEightyP/NetNews huggingface dataset:
From: bowers@rigel.dfrf.nasa.gov (Al Bowers)
Subject: Re: Do I want flat-field binoculars?
Organization: NASA Dryden, Edwards, Cal.
Date: Fri, 22 Jan 1993 20:09:32 GMT

In article <1993Jan21.205839.6212@nynexst.com> rsilvers@cirrus.nynexst.com (Robert Silvers) writes:

>        I need to decide between two Fujinon binoculars.  They
>are identical in quality, but one has more eye relief and is
>of flat-field design.  The flat-field ones cost more, $500 instead
>of $400.  I understand what this means, but aren't most camera
>lenses curved field?  (except for copy-stand cameras?)  Is this
>something I should care about?  

>        I do not wear glasses, so I do not want to pay for the
>extra eye relief.

If you want everything on a flat field to come into focus, you want
the flat field variety.  Usually abberations in optics are a trade off
in consumer quality optics.  Correction of a single abberation out of
an optical system is usually quite costly, and usually specialized in
application as well.  Two things to rty when you test them is a star
test and astigmatism test.  To check for either pick a very small spot
of light.  A good one to use is a specular reflection, like the sun
off of a chrome bumper of a car across the street (DO NOT USE A FLAT
REFLECTION OF THE SUN, like from a window or something, and don't use
a collimated source on your eyes!).  Focus carefully and with one eye
only rotate the binoculars 90 degrees.  If the spot goes out of focus,
that's astigmatism.  This also works well if you _defocus_ the point
of light.  The defocused image should be _round_, not oval.  Now
putting the point of light in the center of the field again, focus
carefully, now place that same object at the edge of the field.  This
test for coma.  Usually the image will `smear' a bit.  Another simple
test on this `star' is to sweep through the focus and watch the color
of the light from the `star'.  This tells you if there is any
spherical aberration.  Flatness of field is tested (as someone
suggested) by looking at a brick wall (or something with a defined
pattern).  Everything should be infocus at one time, the edge should
not require refocusing relative to the center.

Please note that some aberration is _always_ present (except in very
_rare_ cases, like Ritchey-Creitein reflector systems).  Astigamtism
is a _defect_ and should not be present.  But some small degree of all
the others should be expected.

You might also consider posting to the sci.astro group as well.

--
Al Bowers                       bowers@rigel.dfrf.nasa.gov
NASA F-18 High Alpha Research Vehicle, Lead Aero
NASA, Dryden Flight Research Facility, Edwards, California
From: hanners@oasys.dt.navy.mil (Robert Hanners)
Newsgroups: rec.boats
Subject: Re: Split rec.boats??
Date: 23 Jan 93 12:00:14 GMT
Reply-To: hanners@oasys.dt.navy.mil (Robert Hanners)
Organization: Carderock Division, NSWC, Annapolis, MD

In rec.boats, floydb@rpi.edu writes:
>
>I have zero interest in power boating, and less interest in personal water
>craft, similarly low interest in oil tankers. I subscribed to rec.boat

"Know thy enemy!"  :-)

I think several readers here are missing something I've noticed common
to many newsgroups-- Critical Mass.  You've seen it often on the net.
A group splits, with well meaning intentions and of course a sufficient
interest at time (with respect to the minimum number of votes required
to create a group).  Then 4, 6, 12 months later the activity falls to
one or two posts a day-- or none-- email level.

Unless there's a sufficient variety of topics, opinion and misinformation,
:-) those newsgroups simply die-- and this medium for those subjects and
interests dies with them --OR-- the poster tries a related group and gets
the living @#!%*@$ flamed out of him/her.

An example might be when a sailboater asks a question that may be common
knowledge to the powerboater, but with the number and depth of knowledge
of individuals in the group, even the other powerboat readers often
learn something new.  Not many threads in this group that I haven't learned
quite a bit.  New topics spring from active discussions and, I venture,
new perspectives by many of us.

Like a news magazine or paper--  I doubt that I read half of the articles
in the paper-- none of the recipes :-), but I wouldn't subscribe to
just the editorial or front page either.

-- Bob

------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Robert J. Hanners         "My comments; only mine."          *DIASTOLE* 676673
CD, NSWC, Annapolis, MD                              hanners@oasys.dt.navy.mil
From: L629159@LMSC5.IS.LMSC.LOCKHEED.COM
Newsgroups: rec.boats
Subject: Re: Sail salvage w/power (brainstorm)
Date: 27 Jan 93 18:29:47 GMT
Article-I.D.: LMSC5.93027.37787.L629159
Organization: Lockheed Missiles & Space Company, Inc.


      hal@kaos.declab.usu.edu (000200 Lynch)unfortunately writes in part:

the engines being low on the power curve.  The again you might give yourself
about 100' of slack and take a run at it.  :^)

Warning:  Do not attempt this using an actual boat and line in water.
Imagine for a moment the effect of the rope breaking while under the
amount of tension you might readily be assumed to generate.  Imagination
is safe.  If you really try it, you may be having to imagine how to
reconnect the parts of your body.

Al Moore
From: mike@gilligan.East.Sun.COM (Mike Roncadori)
Newsgroups: rec.boats
Subject: Re: JETSKI GROUP
Date: 27 Jan 1993 08:28:01 -0500
Organization: Sun Microsystems, Inc. - Vienna, Va.
NNTP-Posting-Host: gilligan.east.sun.com

In article <1993Jan26.204552.1051@dbsun.uucp> meyer@dbsun.uucp (Don Meyer) writes:
>
>I also would like to hear some of that good old net wisdom regarding
>manufacturers etc. since I'm considering a purchase perhaps this
>summer.
>

I have 2 that I bought last summer...

They're the Sea Doo SP (bottom of the line jobbies).

I bought them mostly because after conferring with others who
owned them, and reading a few mags, it seemed like the model
I have was kind of a "benchmark" by which other sit-down water
scooters are measured. (Alot are better nowadays, though).

Also, the price (about 4K each) was about as much as I could
see spending for something like this. Many of the newer fan-
cier ones cost alot more, and while I really wanted what they
offered, I just couldn't see spending the extra dough.

I specifically decided against a Yamaha waverunner, because
I have heard from users of them that they have a weak pump
drive, and that's expensive to repair. (I can't substantiate
this, nor can I say whether Yamaha has recitifed it... I just
heard it from some folks who race them in competition, and I
took their advice.)

Good luck (And take note of some of the safety tips that have
been posted here) on your purchase, and many happy returns. I
thoroughly enjoy mine!

-- Mike

-------------------------------------------------------------
My opinions - not my employer's
From: karina@eniac.seas.upenn.edu (Karina Haavik)
Newsgroups: rec.boats
Subject: Re: Cellular Phones
Date: 21 Jan 93 06:15:44 GMT

In article <llr9djINNfp0@exodus.Eng.Sun.COM> billc@sextant.Eng.Sun.COM 
(Bill Courington) writes:

>There are some arguments against masthead antennas.  Small bit of 
>weight way up there is one.  More important is How do you use the 
>radio to call for help if you are dismasted?  I don't claim that 
>these articles are compelling for everyone.  

Bill, I don't sail offshore, but when I do you can bet that I'll have more than
one antenna.  One at the top of the mast, where it's convenient, and one in a 
locker where it's safe.  :-)  Then I can have redundancy and range.  Doesn't
anybody out there do this?

Karina


--
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Karina Haavik   ******  karina@seas.upenn.edu  ***  Comet #2970
It looks like a boat.   It leaks like a boat.       It must be a boat.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
From: HF.RLW@forsythe.stanford.edu (Lee Wood, 3-6284)
Newsgroups: rec.boats
Subject: Re: Boat Show
Date: 22 Jan 1993 12:27:16 -0800
Organization: Stanford University
Distribution: usa
NNTP-Posting-Host: morrow.stanford.edu

In article <1993Jan21.183520.35402@watson.ibm.com>,
walter@watson.ibm.com (Walter Wilson) writes:
>
>Kenedy sailed, Bush powered....
>

So...does that mean that bassboats will be "in" now?



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From: Dan.Hannah@f764.n153.z1.ship.wimsey.bc.ca (Dan Hannah)
Sender: UUCP@ship.wimsey.bc.ca
Newsgroups: rec.boats
Subject: Perminate Moorings
Date: Wed, 27 Jan 1993 02:24:00 -0800

To: boblet@hpcc01.corp.hp.com (Darwin C Boblet)
 On 01-21-93 DARWIN C BOBLET wrote to ALL...

 DC> So... Does anyone have any Ideas, experience with making thier
 DC> own -->CHEAP<-- moorings??  I'd appreciate your advice before I

Darwin,
Years ago when we made mooring we would buy and old bathtub, or appropriate
it
from somebody's remodel job.  A steel one is HEAVY!  Then run chain through
the
faucet and drain holes, and finally fill the whole thing with concrete.  I
think they're probably still down there, intact!

Dan Hannah  Puyallup, WA

... OFFLINE 1.42 * Fact: There are n+1 zucchinis in the universe.
.........


Newsgroups: rec.boats
From: larry@pdn.paradyne.com (Larry Swift)
Subject: Re: Cellular Phones
Organization: AT&T Paradyne, Largo, Florida
Date: Fri, 22 Jan 1993 13:44:41 GMT

In article <105910@netnews.upenn.edu> karina@eniac.seas.upenn.edu (Karina Haavik) writes:
>... sail offshore, but when I do you can bet that I'll have more than
>one antenna.  One at the top of the mast, where it's convenient, and one in a 
>locker where it's safe.  :-)  Then I can have redundancy and range.  Doesn't
>anybody out there do this?

You bet!  In fact, I'm about to have a spare radio as well.

Larry Swift                     larry@pdn.paradyne.com
AT&T Paradyne, LG-132           Phone: (813) 530-8605
8545 - 126th Avenue, North
Largo, FL, 34649-2826           She's old and she's creaky, but she holds!

Newsgroups: rec.boats
From: EPLUS17@vmd.cso.uiuc.edu (Richard Engelbrecht-Wiggans)
Subject: Re: splitting rec.boats??
Organization: C.C.S.O.
Date: Sat, 23 Jan 1993 05:28:45 GMT

Look back over the last few weeks posts.  There was a thread
on tanker design/groundings, one on communications options,
one on great circle routes, etc.  I wouldn't want to be the
one who had to go through those posts and decide whether they
should go into rec.boats.power or rec.boats.sail.  (I know.
The poster would decide.  But my point is that many of the
posts might appeal to several different types of boaters.)
 
..Richard E+17
From: billc@sextant.Eng.Sun.COM (Bill Courington)
Newsgroups: rec.boats
Subject: Re: Wheel steering on small boats
Date: 27 Jan 1993 01:52:31 GMT
Organization: Sun Microsystems, Inc.
Distribution: world
Reply-To: billc@sextant.Eng.Sun.COM
NNTP-Posting-Host: sextant

What's so unnatural about tiller steering?  To move the stern 
to the right, push the tiller to the right...   ;-)  

Seriously, that _is_ what the boat does, and it's a good thing 
to remember when turning in places like tight fairways.  

(Hmm, what about a bow rudder, ala the Japanese 
America's Cup boat?  Extending the tiller aft past the mast is 
an exercise left to the reader.)

BILL

Newsgroups: rec.boats
From: tomw@megatek.com (Tom Wright)
Subject: Re: Jet Skis
Reply-To: tomw@megatek.com
Organization: Megatek Corporation, San Diego, California
Date: Tue, 26 Jan 1993 01:54:01 GMT

Should any of you boaters get interested in jet skis (buy, one-time rental,
or whatever), do *not* be fooled into thinking that they might be safe for
sub-teenage children to operate.

My good friend's 10 year old sun was *killed* on one in the quiet waters of
Mission Bay, San Diego.

The only positive thing to come from this tragic death was an improvement 
in how our bay was segragated according to use. (The boy's neck was broken
by a ski rope. He lived about 24 hours. If your local waters allow jet ski-ers 
and and water shi-ers anywhere near each other, a horrible death is easily 
achieved.)

Maybe this post can prevent a re-occurance in your boating waters.

Regards,
Tom Wright
From: gordons@hplsla.hp.com (Gordon Schilling)
Newsgroups: rec.boats
Subject: Re: Sail salvage w/power (brainstorm)
Date: 26 Jan 93 18:27:18 GMT
Article-I.D.: hplsla.6140086
Organization: HP Lake Stevens, WA

Once you are confident that you have adequate bouyancy so that she doesn't sink, you could winch it off the beach from another vessel.  The large salvage
boats don't rely upon brute horsepower to drag a boat off the beach.  They set an anchor on the tow boat and use a winch.  Even twin 350's can be outpulled
pretty easily with a modest horsepower winch.  I have never had to try this
before... read it in a book somewhere.
Newsgroups: rec.boats
From: kevin@turbo.Columbia.NCR.COM (Kevin Ormerod)
Subject: Re: Jet Skis
Organization: NCR Corp, E&M-Columbia, Columbia, SC
Date: Wed, 27 Jan 93 14:50:38 GMT

In article <16B62133D8.EPLUS17@vmd.cso.uiuc.edu> EPLUS17@vmd.cso.uiuc.edu (Richard Engelbrecht-Wiggans) writes:
>I see a big difference between sailboards and jet-skis in this
>sort of a situation.  If you don't know what you are doing on a
>sailboard, you don't go anywhere.  That makes it real hard to
>run over someone or violate right of way rules.  At worst, they
>tend to drift downwind.  I really see little difference between
>letting a complete novice try my sailboard and letting someone
>float around in an inner tube.
> 

Yeah right!  Tell that to the scratches in my hull.  Get the novice
friends away from anchored boats and swimmers.

Newsgroups: rec.boats
From: zielke@hemlock.nrl.navy.mil (David Zielke)
Subject: Re: Wheel steering on small boats
Organization: Naval Research Laboratory
	<30155@oasys.dt.navy.mil>
Date: Tue, 26 Jan 1993 16:34:50 GMT

>  In rec.boats, zielke@fozzie.nrl.navy.mil (David Zielke) writes:
>  >The bottom of the wheel acts like a tiller if you are getting confused...
>  >
>  >David
> 
>  Yeah, David, too often I have resorted to this.  But I find myself furtively
>  glancing about to see if anyone's noticing. :-)  Unseamanly, ya know.
>
>   -- Bob

Just use your feet...

David
Newsgroups: rec.boats
From: wtwitty@netcom.com (Pacific Systems)
Subject: Re: Split rec.boats??
Organization: Netcom Online Communications Services (408-241-9760 login: guest)
Date: Sun, 24 Jan 1993 00:51:59 GMT

I learn a lot about boating in general and about how the power boaters and
others approach things byt reading their posts here.  I'm in favor of
keeping one newsgroup as long as the traffic is reasonable.  If we
get to the point where we are seeing over 100 posts/day, then we should
consider splitting.

-- 
  

  Bill Twitty                                    Voice      (408) 479-0850
  Pacific Systems Inc.                           Fax        (408) 479-0595
  Software Developers and Consultants            Internet   wtwitty@netcom.com
  Santa Cruz, California                         Applelink  PACSYS
Newsgroups: rec.boats
From: larry@pdn.paradyne.com (Larry Swift)
Subject: Re: Full Batten Main - Problem
Organization: AT&T Paradyne, Largo, Florida
Date: Thu, 28 Jan 1993 13:00:22 GMT

In article <1993Jan25.190746.19038@galileo.cc.rochester.edu> kellerd@ilex.lle.rochester.edu (David E. Keller) writes:
 (with regard to lazy jack "systems")
>....  Consequently, I believe that rather than a $100 kit (or whatever)
>all you really need is three deadeyes and some line - total cost about $10.

Amen!  IMHO, these "kits" are just another example of oversell to
fleece the inexperienced public.

Larry Swift                     larry@pdn.paradyne.com
AT&T Paradyne, LG-132           Phone: (813) 530-8605
8545 - 126th Avenue, North
Largo, FL, 34649-2826           She's old and she's creaky, but she holds!

Newsgroups: rec.roller-coaster
From: rhb@ucs.usl.edu (Bird Rendell H.)
Subject: Re: Do You Scream?  (Was Re: RollerCoaster! Magazine)
Organization: Univ. of Southwestern La., Lafayette
Date: Tue, 26 Jan 1993 23:23:33 GMT

(Geoff Allen) writes:
>Anyway, rides that have gotten an *unsolicited* sound out of my mouth:
>
>	Colossus, the original (at Magic Mountain), with PTC trains. 
>		Sheer terror.


I rode this back in '88 -- let me tell you, the only thing coming
out of my mouth were   **yawns**!!!      I could have *crocheted* on
the first big turn-around!   I was terribly disappointed. It had looked
so good from the parking lot.


Rendell

p.s. Yes, I know that it is running better now, but I will still hang
on to my hatred for a while yet -- I won't forgive that coaster for
giving me such a terrible ride.
From: mac18@po.CWRU.Edu (Michael A. Cornell)
Newsgroups: rec.roller-coaster
Subject: Re: Top 10 Parks? (by attendance)
Date: 21 Jan 1993 21:00:13 GMT
Organization: Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH (USA)
Reply-To: mac18@po.CWRU.Edu (Michael A. Cornell)
NNTP-Posting-Host: thor.ins.cwru.edu


In a previous article, buckley@powdml.enet.dec.com (Bill Buckley) says:

>
>Joe Schwartz writes...
>
>>>to it's current 3.2 million/year mark (making it the top
>>>Six Flags park, as well as one of the Top 10 parks in the nation)!
>
>>Buck, do you have the list of Top 10 parks by attendance?  I'm sure
>>the top two are Walt Disney World and Disneyland.  
>
>Yes, I do have thatr list.  In fact, I have the Top 40 Amusement Parks,
>as ranked by attendance.  Someday when I have some time, I want to type
>it in, and add it to the FAQ.  Yes, Epcot/WDW came in at #1 with a 
>staggaring 30 million!  Although, Disneyland was not #2...it was further
                         ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^           
>down on the list.  I hope to post this list soon.
>
>
>Buck
>

Probably got beat out by Universal Studios Florida

Mike
Newsgroups: rec.roller-coaster
From: buckley@powdml.enet.dec.com (Bill Buckley)
Subject: Re: cedar point's new ride
Organization: Digital Equipment Corporation
Distribution: rec
Date: Sat, 23 Jan 1993 17:32:36 GMT


Tony Hall writes...

>Does anyone know what the new ride is at Cedar Point.  

A world-record setting Shoot-The-Chutes water ride (read, not a coaster!), 
to be titled SNAKE RIVER FALLS.  The ride will be located in the 
Frontierland section of the park.


>Whatever happened to that ride Arrow was working on (it was on Scientific 
>America - PBS).

You mean the PIPELINE roller coaster?  To my knowledge, Arrow is still working
on it.  There were rumors of a sale of one of these things earlier in 1992,
but there will not be one installed in 1993, and as of this time (and to my
knowledge), not in 1994 either (read - the 1994 Arrow contrats I've heard
about have not included a PIPELINE).


>I would also like any information on contacting, ACE.

ACE's Membership Director, Gary Aulfinger, has an on-line account for
just such purposes.  Send ACE membership questions to: 

	"ga06+ace@andrew.cmu.edu"

>What's the best new ride, being built this year.  It doesn't matter
>what park it is at.

Well, it's hard to say.  *My* opinion is that it will be one of the 
Bollinger and Mabillard coaster going in this year -- KUMBA - 7 loop
sitdown at Busch Gardens Tampa, BATMAN--THE RIDE - 5 loop Inverted
at Six Flags Great Adventure (NJ), or TOP GUN - 3 loop Inverted
at Paramount's Great America (CA).  There are also rumors of a 2 loop
B&M stand-up going in later this year at Six Flags Great Adventure in
New Jersey.


Buck
From: buckley@powdml.enet.dec.com (Bill Buckley)
Newsgroups: rec.roller-coaster
Subject: Re: New Coasters for 1994 (so far)
Date: 26 Jan 93 20:34:29 GMT
Article-I.D.: engage.1993Jan26.213747.26712
Organization: Digital Equipment Corporation


Geoff Allen writes...

>>CONFIRMED (In no specific order):
>>
>>COASTER		TYPE		DESIGNER	PARK		LOCATION
>>=======		====		========	====		========
>>
>>(1) "unnamed"	S, Out/Back	Arrow Dynamics	Blackpool	Blackpool,
>>						Pleasure Beach	 UK

>I thought it was to be called The Ultimate.  No?


Doubt it, as the UK already *has* a steel coaster named the Ultimate.
It is the world's longest (non-looping) steel coaster, at 7,450' long!
It lives at Lightwater Valley.  


>>(5) GROSSLOOP-	S, 3-Looper	Schwarzkopf	Liseberg Park	Goteborg,
>>     INGBAHN							 Sweden

>And we think U.S. coasters have dumb names.  ``Big Looping Coaster'' is
>sure an imaginative name!  ;^)

I like Schwarzkopf's coaster names as they're no BS (e.g., "Drier Looping"
= '3 loops', "Doppel Looping" = Double Loop, etc.)
Newsgroups: rec.roller-coaster
From: buckley@powdml.enet.dec.com (Bill Buckley)
Subject: Re: New Coasters for 1994 (revised)
Organization: Digital Equipment Corporation
Date: Tue, 26 Jan 1993 12:41:00 GMT


Ronnie Swain writes...

>Rumor has it that it will be SFMM that will get the next Batman-The Ride (TM),
>but then this is only a ruler. 

That's what my sources are saying as well, but I won't post SFMM until I hear
something more concrete.



>I'm sure that they should be announcing where it will go around summer 
>time, after we get our new ride.

Just what new ride *is* SFMM getting??


Buck
From: pab@po.CWRU.Edu (Pete Babic)
Newsgroups: rec.roller-coaster
Subject: Re: KI Attendance/GA Cyclone (was Re: Top 40...)
Date: 27 Jan 1993 15:10:56 GMT
Organization: Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH (USA)
Reply-To: pab@po.CWRU.Edu (Pete Babic)
NNTP-Posting-Host: slc5.ins.cwru.edu


In a previous article, aq009@cleveland.Freenet.Edu (David A. Johnson) says:
>
>If I'm not mistaken, this makes Kings Island once again the top seasonal
>park in North America.  (I wonder what spurred the 12% increase...  Must
>have been the Scooby Zoom.)
>
>Anyway, this led me to a question.  Why is it that, whenever I go to Kings
>Island, the lines in general seem much more reasonable than they do at a
>lot of other parks (such as Cedar Point, SF Great America, and [so I hear]
>Great Adventure)?  Attendance figures alone would seem to indicate longer
>lines at KI; however, that doesn't seem to be the case.
>
>Or (the boring explanation):
>
>* Kings Island has a slightly longer operating season than some other
>seasonal parks.

I think that's it. KI opens up (I think) in early to mid April and runs 
through until mid to end of Oct. CP opens on the second Sat. in May and
runs daily through Labor Day and then weekends in Sept. There is a significant
difference in the climate between southern and northern Ohio in early spring
and late fall. I'm pretty sure that CP has a higher average daily attendence
then KI. Also, don't forget the weather factor. We had absolutly AWFULL
weather last summer here on the southern shore of Lake Erie. I'm actually
amazed the CP's attendance was higher in '92 then '91. If the are few nice
days the attendance isn't as spread out over the operating season as it would
be on a typical summer as everyone wants to go on a nice day.


-- 
Pete Babic  -  pab@po.cwru.edu          ///
LIVE TO PARTY, SKI TO DIE!!!           ///  /\
Member of ACE                    \\\  ///  /--\MIGA  
(American Coaster Enthusiasts)    \\\/// MS-DOS or a Mac? What's that?
Newsgroups: rec.roller-coaster