A Sidewalk Astronomer

joebee (Joe) · #1 31-12-2011, 08:21 PM

I have just watched the above movie on John Dobson, the grandfather of the Dob, what an amazing and brilliant man he is. The amount of information he has in his brilliant mind is just amazing and should all be harnessed before he goes, his simple explanation of all things astronomy and the universe is so easy to understand and his zest for people to learn is what out there is so infectious.

mozzie (Peter) · #2 31-12-2011, 08:27 PM

yes joe it is a great doco !!!!!
it inspired me to go and set my dobbie scope up at the local shopping centre and show people the moon,or planets......

brian nordstrom (As avatar) · #3 09-01-2012, 05:36 PM

Yes it is a great docco. I had it on VCR and watched it many times , loaned it out heaps , what a cool guy John Dobson is .

But like all good and well watched VCR's it got eaten by my vcr player , and the second one now is so fuzzie its unwatchable .
I will look for it on DVD .
Brian.

Suzy · #4 16-01-2012, 10:36 AM

I posted a thread last year in celebration of John Dobson's birthday where I supplied the link to this doco on YouTube, but it's sad to see that it's no longer there- I would really like to watch it again.

I also posted a second thread on Dobson within the same month where I gave out a link for a recent interview between Mike Simmons (AWA- Astronomers Without Borders) and John Dobson. It was a great interview- I highly recommend people watch it if you'll want to know more about John Dobson. I can't say I agree on some of his views on cosmology though- I think they're a bit whacky!

Aside from that, what an interesting & amazing man he is.

Anyway, have a look at the two threads I did on John Dobson, there's some wonderful stories throughout from people here on the forum that have had the privilege to meet and spend time with him.
In the second link, I try and break down with the guys in the science forum his bizarre views on what defines a star to a planet. As well as the A.W.A. interview link mentioned above (It's a five part-er).

John Dobson - A Side Walk Astronomer

John Dobson's View on Defining Gas Giants as Stars or Planets

And finally- if anyone can point me to where I can get a hold of the Sidewalk Astronomer Movie,

please could you let me know.

joebee (Joe) · #5 16-01-2012, 10:16 PM

It's on demonoid as a torrent Suzy but with only one seeder, that is where I got my copy from. Are you familiar with torrent files, I use utorrent to download torrents.

Suzy · #6 17-01-2012, 10:09 AM

Thanks Joe, but I don't use torrents- hubby doesn't want me touching them.

brian nordstrom (As avatar) · #7 20-01-2012, 08:35 PM

Mr Dobson would be ...???? , come on .
Brian

mswhin63 (Malcolm) · #8 21-01-2012, 03:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Suzy

Thanks Joe, but I don't use torrents- hubby doesn't want me touching them.

I have to agree Suzy, allowing other computers to take files off your computer so that you can download other stuff is very data intensive and ends up costing a lot of internet data as well (mainly upload). If you have IINet account it is not too bad but torrent are heavily hacked because of open connections made from one computer to another.

I also ban Torrents in my home as well.

Mliss (Mel) · #9 21-01-2012, 07:09 PM

wow torrents?? really??

I've downloaded more things than i can remember and have been doing so for more than 10 years and i've never had a problem.

Suzy, i'm posting your disc today (will be heading out in the next 15mins) and these are all torrents. There are the 3 Stargazing shows that aired in the UK during the week and just to fill up some space 4 eps of the Wonders of the Universe. No doubt you have these anyway...

but you might be in the mood for some more Brian

Kevnool (Kev) · #10 22-01-2012, 01:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mliss

wow torrents?? really??

I've downloaded more things than i can remember and have been doing so for more than 10 years and i've never had a problem.

Suzy, i'm posting your disc today (will be heading out in the next 15mins) and these are all torrents. There are the 3 Stargazing shows that aired in the UK during the week and just to fill up some space 4 eps of the Wonders of the Universe. No doubt you have these anyway...

but you might be in the mood for some more Brian

Watching the 3 set series now.

Suzy · #11 22-01-2012, 03:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mliss

wow torrents?? really??

I've downloaded more things than i can remember and have been doing so for more than 10 years and i've never had a problem.

Suzy, i'm posting your disc today (will be heading out in the next 15mins) and these are all torrents. There are the 3 Stargazing shows that aired in the UK during the week and just to fill up some space 4 eps of the Wonders of the Universe. No doubt you have these anyway...

but you might be in the mood for some more Brian

Mel, thank you so much!!!
It was very frustrating that the Stargazing Live series was only available to to the UK for download off their site. So unfair.

And yes I have Brian's Wonders, but a back up copy would be great as I prefer this series to the Solar system one and I MISSED the first episode so you've done me a huge favour. I've even got the book "Wonders of the Universe" which goes into even more depth than the series. Love it.
And(!) full sized pinups of Brian through out the book to keep the girls happy.

You know, our favourite memories of him... playing in the sand, blowing bubbles, "thinking" Brian etc.

And errrr, torents

just as long as I didn't do it.

And if you're going to make me take them by posting them to me, well who am I going to argue with.

Suzy · #12 22-01-2012, 03:40 PM

I've managed to get a hold of The Sidewalk Astronomer movie!

Thanks everyone for your help.

Smigatron (Ben) · #13 22-01-2012, 06:41 PM

You have options to limit upload rates with most torrent clients. Even so, if you're not downloading anything, don't open the program.

joebee (Joe) · #14 23-01-2012, 08:17 PM

You can throttle back uploads and you can use Malwarebytes program to run while downloading torrents and that stops sites from connecting to you automatically. I use it all the time and the torrent site I mentioned is the only one I use and people comment on the files if they are fake or if it is a bad file or not, and they thank the uploader as well. No problems ever from my side at all.

CarlJoseph (Carl) · #15 24-01-2012, 06:29 PM

Finally watched this doco. Great stuff indeed.

John Dobson seems like a wonderful person with a true passion for what he does. He also has the ability to explain and excite others in a way which is not often seen.

Now, with no disrespect to him nor his accomplishments, is it just me and Suzy, or are his theories on cosmology (e.g. big band) a little loopy?

Cheers,
Af.

Suzy · #16 25-01-2012, 01:22 AM

Hi Carl,
See here

It's not just us, don't worry.

Mliss (Mel) · #17 25-01-2012, 04:01 AM

Suzy!!!!!

you crack me up! and it was really too easy

and yes, i do feel guilty for watching it first.

with the downloads - i use utorrent too.

as for sites, i like isohunt, pirate bay, demoniod - who ever has the file really.

but my fave is a private UK tracker

. Speeds are fast and there is no risk of little nasties.

I know a few years ago, their memberships were tight and you could only join by invite. but i'm not sure what the status is now. being a private tracker (and i'm sure you crafty people out there already know) you are responsible for your dl/ul ratio and there's no cheating.

i'm more than happy to spread the love to any one interested via pm