i have a hunger.
i want to sit beneath a projected sky and forget about all my troubles.
i want to sit and look at a horizon like adler had .. imagine the city i live in
i want to see stars as i would from the amazon basin. i want to see what i would see from the top of everest
i want to see what increasingly its hard for me to see
i have that hunger. to see what magellean saw as he sailed south along the s. america coast
i have that hunger. to see the southern cross like
i have that hunger.
i dont know why i am even to type this into a computer. it must be a strong hunger
what do YOU have a hunger for in astronomy ? planetariums?
it defies categories.
its just a HUNGER ...
its ok. we have it too gare
Saturday, October 16, 2010
Thursday, October 7, 2010
Nothings the Same except (the Stars)
I read the Time Machine as a kid in the 60s, and unlike HG Wells grim depictation of time travel, I thought it to be the ultimate fantasy. And somehow, alot of it has come true for me!
The internet is a time machine. Pining for that old neighborhood, golf course, baseball field - Google Maps takes me there, albeit from above. Wishing I'd seen Uriah Heep in concert in the summer of 72? Youtube takes me there, front row. Wondering about that longlost Jr High friend? You can probably find him. I've done all three of these things in the last week. Time travel.
But what was it REALLY like? What can we see that is virtually unchanged since Cromwell saw it - the stars really (I know, sky phenomena change, pollution dims, some stars change positions quicker than others) .. but for all practical purposes, I can see the stars the same as Cromwell did.
This I admit is part of the fascination of the plaetarium for me .. I can go to the north pole and look up, I can get in a lifeboat and paddle out northeast from the Titanic . and see the same stars. We are bonded with the past by that. Yet who bothers to wonder?
Time machines are now on the screen before me. But theyve always been in the sky above me.
The internet is a time machine. Pining for that old neighborhood, golf course, baseball field - Google Maps takes me there, albeit from above. Wishing I'd seen Uriah Heep in concert in the summer of 72? Youtube takes me there, front row. Wondering about that longlost Jr High friend? You can probably find him. I've done all three of these things in the last week. Time travel.
But what was it REALLY like? What can we see that is virtually unchanged since Cromwell saw it - the stars really (I know, sky phenomena change, pollution dims, some stars change positions quicker than others) .. but for all practical purposes, I can see the stars the same as Cromwell did.
This I admit is part of the fascination of the plaetarium for me .. I can go to the north pole and look up, I can get in a lifeboat and paddle out northeast from the Titanic . and see the same stars. We are bonded with the past by that. Yet who bothers to wonder?
Time machines are now on the screen before me. But theyve always been in the sky above me.
Thursday, September 30, 2010
Its 2015 .. and in the past 5 years I've ....
Recently I've learned that an adventurer, and thats what we're SUPPOSED to be in life among other things, should start with the end in mind. A vision. A goal, but a detailed one .. in focus. It doesnt mean it cant and wont change, but you are more likely perhaps to stay on course if working towards a detailed picture. So here goes
Its 2015 - and in the past five years I've ....
become somewhat of a well kept secret in the Nashville area among school and scouting groups. I began in late 2010 with a standing ad in the local paper which at first attracted only a few random calls of interest, but once word of mouth took hold I get a couple calls a month for show appointments. This I had to keep flexible due to my shifting retail schedule, and at first I underdid it, with only 1 per month or so. The following summer I tried an advertising blitz and found I overdid it, I couldnt run this as anything more than a hobby and I've since found I have to be comfortable for it to be enjoyable, and found about 1-3 shows a week to be optimal for me.
At first I had grandios plans for workshops, planetarium kits, souvenirs, cd sales etc but found after about a year of failed experiments that I was basically in the EXPERIECE business - give visitors an experience they could only get in my barn. It was all about something different, and that wasnt hard if I followed my own heart, played to my own strengths, and had no expectations. After some time trying to emulate commercial shows I'd seen, shows Id watched, I finally settled on just being me
I found I needed some prerecorded things I could 'play' for visitors - some times I was too tired to talk, some times I imagined people viewed this more as an event or 'show' since I billed myself as a theater with stars just as much as planetarium. I also found I needed to talk and improvise every time too to keep it fresh and unique. I found I really couldnt know what to expect, some times questions were everywhere and sometimes the silence was deafening, with the adults obviously waiting for it to be over.
I ran it year round the past five years, most people could sit in an unheated place for 30 minutes without too much discomfort. I ran into things I hadnt bargained for - people needing to use the house bathroom .. people parking all over the yard .. kids running round the property in the dark ... I had to safety proof as much as possible I never charged admission, being fearful of 'business' liabilities and taxes etc ..
I continually developed new shows, going against my first impulse to develop a couple elaborate shows and 'run them into the ground' .. this got boring quickly and it was essential over the years to keep ME interested, this couldnt be a job. I was much happier when I completely divorced money from all my thoughts.
I found the public side of this weird hobby to be hard to balance with my previous, private 'HPA' side, building, writing about planetariums etc .. but over the years I thought both were worthy of attention and so kept them both as valued things in my life and hopefully the life of some others.
I didnt build what I thought I'd build .. I got lazy in that regard .. I built one other projector and was sortof happy with that .. never say never though
Over the past five years I've tried to remain philsophical about it all - Ive never rekindled the amateur astronomy thing, I never developed an interest in a portable planetarium traveling around, and I never really pursued my publishing dreams. Perhaps I am saving them .. its 2015, Im only 63, theres time yet (I hope)
Ive currently no plans to escalate this into a fulltime 'retirement' job, but I plan right now to keep it going indefinitely, as long as I can 'see' stars the thrill is still there, and I think right now it always will be
written Sept 30, 2010
Its 2015 - and in the past five years I've ....
become somewhat of a well kept secret in the Nashville area among school and scouting groups. I began in late 2010 with a standing ad in the local paper which at first attracted only a few random calls of interest, but once word of mouth took hold I get a couple calls a month for show appointments. This I had to keep flexible due to my shifting retail schedule, and at first I underdid it, with only 1 per month or so. The following summer I tried an advertising blitz and found I overdid it, I couldnt run this as anything more than a hobby and I've since found I have to be comfortable for it to be enjoyable, and found about 1-3 shows a week to be optimal for me.
At first I had grandios plans for workshops, planetarium kits, souvenirs, cd sales etc but found after about a year of failed experiments that I was basically in the EXPERIECE business - give visitors an experience they could only get in my barn. It was all about something different, and that wasnt hard if I followed my own heart, played to my own strengths, and had no expectations. After some time trying to emulate commercial shows I'd seen, shows Id watched, I finally settled on just being me
I found I needed some prerecorded things I could 'play' for visitors - some times I was too tired to talk, some times I imagined people viewed this more as an event or 'show' since I billed myself as a theater with stars just as much as planetarium. I also found I needed to talk and improvise every time too to keep it fresh and unique. I found I really couldnt know what to expect, some times questions were everywhere and sometimes the silence was deafening, with the adults obviously waiting for it to be over.
I ran it year round the past five years, most people could sit in an unheated place for 30 minutes without too much discomfort. I ran into things I hadnt bargained for - people needing to use the house bathroom .. people parking all over the yard .. kids running round the property in the dark ... I had to safety proof as much as possible I never charged admission, being fearful of 'business' liabilities and taxes etc ..
I continually developed new shows, going against my first impulse to develop a couple elaborate shows and 'run them into the ground' .. this got boring quickly and it was essential over the years to keep ME interested, this couldnt be a job. I was much happier when I completely divorced money from all my thoughts.
I found the public side of this weird hobby to be hard to balance with my previous, private 'HPA' side, building, writing about planetariums etc .. but over the years I thought both were worthy of attention and so kept them both as valued things in my life and hopefully the life of some others.
I didnt build what I thought I'd build .. I got lazy in that regard .. I built one other projector and was sortof happy with that .. never say never though
Over the past five years I've tried to remain philsophical about it all - Ive never rekindled the amateur astronomy thing, I never developed an interest in a portable planetarium traveling around, and I never really pursued my publishing dreams. Perhaps I am saving them .. its 2015, Im only 63, theres time yet (I hope)
Ive currently no plans to escalate this into a fulltime 'retirement' job, but I plan right now to keep it going indefinitely, as long as I can 'see' stars the thrill is still there, and I think right now it always will be
written Sept 30, 2010
Institutionalize!
(From HPA Newsletter Issue 20)
We've all heard the old saying.. whether its a million dollar shortstop, the orchestra conductor of 30 years, or the guy who mops the floor for time immemorial... they're an institution. But how the word has changed.. museums are on thing, but its not the Smithsonian Museum, its the Smithsonian Institution. Colleges, Universities, they are ongoing institutions of higher learning, not fixed in a point of time, but preserving and growing at the same time. But theres a dark side..we placed him in an institution... A dead end.
So which is it?
What do you want to be with your planetarium? A hobby maybe, thats just you and invited guests - private. A shrine? Thats a static display with no living parts. A business? That invokes endless repetition of a formula designed to milk dollars. No I say, be the good kin of institution! Be the kind that has both ivy on the walls and children running in the doors. The kind that has generated lasting memories, and is planning future ones as well. One that has annual records on the shelf going back decades and also exciting visions to come. One that shares a legacy of joy, learning, and great times will go a long way towards your own satisfaction when you're hopefully rocking on that porch some day. Knowing you were involved. Knowing you were there.
Knowing you were an institution.
We've all heard the old saying.. whether its a million dollar shortstop, the orchestra conductor of 30 years, or the guy who mops the floor for time immemorial... they're an institution. But how the word has changed.. museums are on thing, but its not the Smithsonian Museum, its the Smithsonian Institution. Colleges, Universities, they are ongoing institutions of higher learning, not fixed in a point of time, but preserving and growing at the same time. But theres a dark side..we placed him in an institution... A dead end.
So which is it?
What do you want to be with your planetarium? A hobby maybe, thats just you and invited guests - private. A shrine? Thats a static display with no living parts. A business? That invokes endless repetition of a formula designed to milk dollars. No I say, be the good kin of institution! Be the kind that has both ivy on the walls and children running in the doors. The kind that has generated lasting memories, and is planning future ones as well. One that has annual records on the shelf going back decades and also exciting visions to come. One that shares a legacy of joy, learning, and great times will go a long way towards your own satisfaction when you're hopefully rocking on that porch some day. Knowing you were involved. Knowing you were there.
Knowing you were an institution.
Monday, September 27, 2010
Stories and Myths and Facts, oh MY! Stories and ..
It occurs to me, now that I have three places I can give 'shows' to the public, that there are roughly three categories of 'show' to give ..
Stories .. fictional or science fictional voyages concerning the stars
Myths .. the stories handed down from those cave paintings and Chaldean shepards and greek/roman dudes
Facts ... as Elton sang, and all the science I dont understand, its just my job five days a week (from Rocket Man)
Most planetarium shows I suppose mix and match these elements. Little of this, little of that .. Heres Cygnus the Swan of antiquity, Deneb is a blue supergiant, and kids, imagine the swan getting its tailfeathers wet in the milky way!
Im almost leaning towards using my 'childrens' dome for the stories - my own stories, I once wrote my own starmyth concerning the bears .. myths and history in another .. pyramids, castles, dragons, sinking ships in another .. with the stars as background and inspiration .. and facts, science etc in the third ..
a tripod if you will of interests, creative outlets, educational opportunities, inspirational venues ..
stories and myths and facts, oh my! stories and myths and facts, oh my!
Stories .. fictional or science fictional voyages concerning the stars
Myths .. the stories handed down from those cave paintings and Chaldean shepards and greek/roman dudes
Facts ... as Elton sang, and all the science I dont understand, its just my job five days a week (from Rocket Man)
Most planetarium shows I suppose mix and match these elements. Little of this, little of that .. Heres Cygnus the Swan of antiquity, Deneb is a blue supergiant, and kids, imagine the swan getting its tailfeathers wet in the milky way!
Im almost leaning towards using my 'childrens' dome for the stories - my own stories, I once wrote my own starmyth concerning the bears .. myths and history in another .. pyramids, castles, dragons, sinking ships in another .. with the stars as background and inspiration .. and facts, science etc in the third ..
a tripod if you will of interests, creative outlets, educational opportunities, inspirational venues ..
stories and myths and facts, oh my! stories and myths and facts, oh my!
Sunday, August 22, 2010
Serendipity
MM asked 'why do we do this'. Thoughftul answers have ensued. It strikes me that the few of us here, that have STUCK here are thinkers as well as tinkerers. Collectors but doers. Writers as well as engineers. Poets really in addition to opticians and electricians. Teachers in addition to artists. Musicians and scientists. Each in our own way, doesn't matter what we do for a living.
So why do I do it? I've seen Ron and Owen and Ken eloquent on this question, I see MM and Charlier equally eloquent. Recently someone new asked a similar question.
I keep coming back in my own mind to word I head George Martin use in his biography of recording the Beatles. Serendipity. A Blue Nun bottle left on a Leslie speaker cabinet begins vibrating at the end of a White album cut and they leave it in .. that sort of thing
Serendipity is a propensity for making fortunate discoveries while looking for something unrelated.
Coined by Horace Walpole (1717-92) in a letter to Mann (dated Jan. 28); he said he formed it from the Persian fairy tale "The Three Princes of Serendip," whose heroes "were always making discoveries, by accidents and sagacity, of things they were not in quest of."
I wasnt in quest of any of this when I went to Adlier in 1964, or the Abrahms in 74 and heard the band in the starchamber. Those same weeks I probably went to movies, plays, classes, stores etc. When I projected stars in the closet I wasnt in quest of writing and giving shows, stuffing barns full of strange objects. When I bought a plant light I wasnt in quest of an aurora projector, it was just a yardsale trinket. When I had a Sky and Tel in my hand reading about a star cylinder in Arizona I wasnt in quest of HPA, I was looking at telescopes and planning on seeing M42.
Its like I'm exploring a cave and new undiscovered chambers keep opening up, dark at first but filled with wonders if I but shine in a light. Its like everything I do links in.. everything I remember. everything I ever loved or wanted to do keeps popping up
Why do I do it? Its my lifestyle now. I cant NOT do it.
So why do I do it? I've seen Ron and Owen and Ken eloquent on this question, I see MM and Charlier equally eloquent. Recently someone new asked a similar question.
I keep coming back in my own mind to word I head George Martin use in his biography of recording the Beatles. Serendipity. A Blue Nun bottle left on a Leslie speaker cabinet begins vibrating at the end of a White album cut and they leave it in .. that sort of thing
Serendipity is a propensity for making fortunate discoveries while looking for something unrelated.
Coined by Horace Walpole (1717-92) in a letter to Mann (dated Jan. 28); he said he formed it from the Persian fairy tale "The Three Princes of Serendip," whose heroes "were always making discoveries, by accidents and sagacity, of things they were not in quest of."
I wasnt in quest of any of this when I went to Adlier in 1964, or the Abrahms in 74 and heard the band in the starchamber. Those same weeks I probably went to movies, plays, classes, stores etc. When I projected stars in the closet I wasnt in quest of writing and giving shows, stuffing barns full of strange objects. When I bought a plant light I wasnt in quest of an aurora projector, it was just a yardsale trinket. When I had a Sky and Tel in my hand reading about a star cylinder in Arizona I wasnt in quest of HPA, I was looking at telescopes and planning on seeing M42.
Its like I'm exploring a cave and new undiscovered chambers keep opening up, dark at first but filled with wonders if I but shine in a light. Its like everything I do links in.. everything I remember. everything I ever loved or wanted to do keeps popping up
Why do I do it? Its my lifestyle now. I cant NOT do it.
Friday, August 6, 2010
Do Not Fear the Birthing Broth
After spending 3 days with my retired father in Florida, I returned to my farm and drew comparisons. His is a pristine house, after losing mom 7 years ago he has functioned with signature frugality that I admire in so many ways. Returning to my farm (we've both been in the same place 25 years), I noticed a complete difference. Being a boomer, I don't know the meaning of 'frugal'. I have sheds full of stuff, and when they filled up I built lean tos onto lean tos, new sheds rose up .. and filled .. Now its true my father has his garage with an odd mixture of his fishing, hunting, mining (geodes, saphires) gear .. lawn care .. washer/dryer - typical garage fare .. but neatly arranged. Contrast the tiny covered work area I built onto the back of my planetarium - junk is piled in random piles .. and this despite innumerable trips to the landfill, a dozen yardsales .. the problem may be I keep bringing it IN ...
But I've come to call my junk 'the birthing broth' .. for where else can I find exactly the strange part I need to hold up a pyramid, or clamp on a twilight lamp. I gaze in awe at the cast metal fittings on commercial planetariums - I'd have used a coat hanger there, and a hose reel there .. but out of my stuff comes dreams.. they are birthed by ideas that lie in the woodpile so to speak
So whether you live in suburban pristine-ness .. or on an old country estate .. a friend of mine has stuff in airplane hangars .. another in an old tire shop .. or an apartment with a storage cage .. do not fear the birthing broth. Who knows what lurks there, what idea will see light .. today.
But I've come to call my junk 'the birthing broth' .. for where else can I find exactly the strange part I need to hold up a pyramid, or clamp on a twilight lamp. I gaze in awe at the cast metal fittings on commercial planetariums - I'd have used a coat hanger there, and a hose reel there .. but out of my stuff comes dreams.. they are birthed by ideas that lie in the woodpile so to speak
So whether you live in suburban pristine-ness .. or on an old country estate .. a friend of mine has stuff in airplane hangars .. another in an old tire shop .. or an apartment with a storage cage .. do not fear the birthing broth. Who knows what lurks there, what idea will see light .. today.
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