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  #21  
Old 10-06-2012, 07:20 AM
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pmrid (Peter)
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Originally Posted by multiweb View Post
Regardless of anything else it was a once in a lifetime opportunity and that is what made it special.
I was struck by the Cap'n Cook connection. This is where it all began for Australia. It struck me as less interesting astromically than historically. Having a look at the transit was a little like looking over Captain Cook's shoulder. I got a buzz out of it.

The Townsville Bulletin article struck me not so much for it's banality as for the use of the language (w.t.f for example). Is this journalism? I think not.

Peter
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  #22  
Old 10-06-2012, 08:04 AM
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Originally Posted by Lee View Post
Kathleen Skene?.... I've never heard of her.... and I doubt I ever will again....
Ditto Matt
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  #23  
Old 10-06-2012, 08:34 AM
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jenchris (Jennifer)
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I feel the same way about the 100 metre dash in the olympics.

But I don't feel that way about the transit.

To me it is awe inspiring this is only the second series since Cook.

The 100 metre dash is in every school in every class every summer. But they all show it on TV like it is something remarkable - oooh I did it 0.001 second faster than you....
So in ten kilometres, you'd be 100 metres in front of me and possibly quite tired and out of breath - yawn.
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  #24  
Old 10-06-2012, 09:32 AM
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lacad01 (Adam)
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Originally Posted by troypiggo View Post
She's a journalist? That read more like a FaceBook post than a newspaper article!
Yep my thoughts also, unfortunately a reflection of where journalism is heading.
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  #25  
Old 10-06-2012, 09:50 AM
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Irish stargazer (John)
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Probably more interested in the latest iPhone release than a cosmic event unfortunately there is a significant audience for this kind of "journalism"
There is so much noise and distraction in people's lives these days that it takes a cosmic event to put it all back in perspective.
I was amazed at the reactions of people during the event we held at work. Most were amazed at what they were seeing and when it was mentioned that Venus was similar in size to the Earth there were lots of comments like "wow, we really live on a black spec, make me feel insignificant". Had some comments that it was way overrated too and that's fine, at least you went to the trouble of having a look at it.
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  #26  
Old 10-06-2012, 09:51 AM
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Baddad (Marty)
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Someone tell her that the transit of Mars will be truly spectacular.
She will wait forever. LOL

Cheers
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  #27  
Old 10-06-2012, 10:20 AM
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I wonder if she actually saw it as it happened through a scope or just looked at a picture afterwards.

Maybe her views might have been totally different.

Then again maybe not.
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  #28  
Old 10-06-2012, 10:42 AM
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There is so much noise and distraction in people's lives these days that it takes a cosmic event to put it all back in perspective.
Nahhhh, just turn off the electricity or sewerage. :-)
( or worse than that, disable their wireless system )
I wonder how exciting so called "boring" stuff becomes then.
I suspect the problem these days is that people like the mentioned journalist no longer know what is truly amazing as they just take it all for granted.

Andrew
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  #29  
Old 10-06-2012, 10:49 AM
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First of all I had no idea a newspaper journalist should be allowed to write like that (re, bad language & slang)- what's the world coming too.
I've never read anything like that in a paper in my life... guess I'm sheltered.

Secondly, I have a burning desire to give her a black eye.
I just a need a crate to stand on- she looks tall.
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  #30  
Old 10-06-2012, 11:13 AM
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For even the most moderate of interested people this event at least should have been able to give them some real life tangible idea of how big the sun is compared to earth seeing as venus is very close to the same size as us and that was very significant even more so when you consider there was about 65 million miles between them. You just dont get those real life, see it with your own eyes type of comparisons very often .. in this case once every 105 or so years.

Its one thing to not be interested .. its another to present a take on it like that ... Anyway not to give it too much of my time ..
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  #31  
Old 10-06-2012, 12:03 PM
bobson (Bob)
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Weather you like it or not what she wrote in the newspaper she achieved what she wanted.
Attention!
So many here said she should be ignored yet again there are two pages on this topic. Interesting how we like to criticize someone else way of writing and what she compared the event to.
Yet some people mentioned Anzac, Captain Cook, dashing to 100 meters and other things just to prove their point of view? Some even said they never heard of her and probably never will again? Ever wonder has she heard of any one of you? Some would go that far of giving her black eye! She was called dozy cow! Wow!
This just proves how much we love this hobby but at the same time how much some of us are ignorant to other things in life.

I am with Chris about this transit.

cheers

bob

Last edited by bobson; 10-06-2012 at 12:14 PM.
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  #32  
Old 10-06-2012, 12:03 PM
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astroron (Ron)
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Is she trying to be the Townsville counterpart of Kyle Sandilands
I am a big fan of Captain Cook, and what I saw on Wednesday connected me to his voyage to observe the transit of 1769 and the subsequent "Discovery" of Australia.
The Historical fact alone should have been enough for observing the transit.

I must say that the Television Media was very supportive, and showed some brilliant images and video's of the transit.

I suppose the old adage, for every positive reaction, there is a negative reaction holds sway here .

I had quite a few people drop in to have a look at the transit through the various Telescopes and Binoculars, and did not get one adverse reaction
I suppose I would say, that her opinion will really not effect all the people in Townsville and surrounds who saw the transit and read her rant, will treat it with the contempt it deserves.
Cheers

Last edited by astroron; 10-06-2012 at 12:16 PM.
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  #33  
Old 10-06-2012, 12:07 PM
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So what would inspire her?
Make a list. Feel free to add to it.

Some royal getting pregnant.
Some underwhelming singer winning a TV show competition.
What a Kardashian(?sp) is up to.

I'm sure there are plenty more.
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  #34  
Old 10-06-2012, 12:33 PM
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tlgerdes (Trevor)
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I personally think her comments are a sad indictment on us all, (especially those Townsville IIS'ers ) to not do a better job of educating the populace.

The captain cook connection to Australia is one of importance, but also the mathematics of time of him, and why it was important to measure this astronomical event.

Back in his time, we had no proven knowledge of how far the Sun was from us, let alone how big it was, or the size of Venus in itself. All these things were finally measured and theories were proven due to this event.

We discussed these aspects at our recent ASNSW Astro Imaging meeting and the mathematics are fascinating.
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  #35  
Old 10-06-2012, 02:13 PM
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Shark Bait (Stu)
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Quote:
Originally Posted by pmrid View Post
Having a look at the transit was a little like looking over Captain Cook's shoulder.

Peter
You summed it up in one short sentence.
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  #36  
Old 10-06-2012, 02:13 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Suzy View Post
First of all I had no idea a newspaper journalist should be allowed to write like that (re, bad language & slang)- what's the world coming too.
I've never read anything like that in a paper in my life... guess I'm sheltered.

Secondly, I have a burning desire to give her a black eye.
I just a need a crate to stand on- she looks tall.
I guess she's a glass is half empty type of girl Suzy. I wouldn't dignify her with any kind of response.

NEXT!

Baz.
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  #37  
Old 10-06-2012, 02:20 PM
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rcheshire (Rowland)
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Journalism - WTF. It's a question of censorship - what we allow - perhaps a reflection of what has become accepted as every day narrative in a wider circle of society.

I don't like it because it reminds me of the materialistic world that is ever more pervading of higher contemplation and thoughtful reflection.

Not a lot of well considered argument there.

Personally, my interest in the transit is passing - no pun intended.
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  #38  
Old 10-06-2012, 03:22 PM
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I have never heard of her before, but her little writeup is not popular up here. As with any place in Aus there are those loved the Transit, and those who didnt care, shes just an ignoramus, and not typical of Townsville. Alas, her comment seems to be making her famous
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  #39  
Old 10-06-2012, 04:02 PM
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Alas, her comment seems to be making her famous
As intended...
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  #40  
Old 10-06-2012, 06:30 PM
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Poor journalistic skills but she probably tailored it deliberately to a certain audience with like IQ's.
Just noticed that there is an email address. I think I might drop the dear girl a line and point out what science there was in the event.
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