What would you do with $950? - Page 2

iceman (Mike) · #21 04-02-2009, 05:07 PM

Why do we need two threads that degenerate into politics?

spacezebra (Petra) · #22 04-02-2009, 05:54 PM

Im afraid that I am guilty of already spending it, oopps.. Guidescope arrived today, yippeee..

Cheers Petra d.

erick (Eric) · #23 04-02-2009, 10:21 PM

My wife has said that I can have half of hers for a camera lens. Isn't she lovely.

I won't get any of my own.

Craig.a.c (Craig) · #24 05-02-2009, 03:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jjjnettie

The money is going towards a slab so I can finally set up my observatory.
I'm sick of seeing it sitting in pieces in the front paddock while I'm having to constantly set up and pull down every time I want to observe.

How is slab going to help set up your ob.....oh, you mean a concrete slab, I understand now.

I wouldn't mind a decent 2" eyepiece, 25mm and a 2x or 3x barlow.

Gargoyle_Steve (Steve) · #25 05-02-2009, 03:55 AM

I agree with Geoff, et al, up above - if you spend the money on astro gear you are supporting (hopefully!) an Australian vendor, but a significant portion of that money is still going overseas to the manufacturer. ONLY by buying an Argo Navis are you truly keeping the money HERE in Australia.

(If anyone else in Australia actually manufactures serious astronomy hardware please let me know, I may want to buy some!)

Now since I already HAVE an Argo Navis I can't really use another one, although Gary knows I'm ready to buy a particular new encoder mount set once he has developed it.

In the meantime I may just use the money to pay off some credit card debt - to cover the "other" recent astro gear purchasing.

The ED80 Pro is very nice .....

citivolus (Ric) · #26 05-02-2009, 04:57 PM

If I were actually eligible, I'd be spending it on camera or astro gear; however I'm just over the cap for both the "back-to-school" and taxpayer ones. I may get the single income earner if I am lucky.

Amusingly if it were means tested as an average of both my (stay at home mother) wife's and my income, we'd get both at the full amount.

When we lived in California, stuff like this was calculated using average income for married couples. I wish it were here too.

iceman (Mike) · #27 05-02-2009, 05:06 PM

ditto, Ric! A mortgage and 3 kids on 1 income with a stay at home wife is hard!

Though I'd probably put the money on the credit card or to some work around the house.

mozzie (Peter) · #28 05-02-2009, 06:42 PM

it will be hearly enough to buy a 17mm ethos

just convincing the wife is the other prob

mozzie

Ric · #29 06-02-2009, 08:10 PM

I know what you mean Mike, there is always that other priority that pops up and throws a spanner in the works.

I have often encountered them much to my frustration, but in the end you know you have done the right thing and usually there is a little bit left to squirrel away into that secret astronomy fund.

Cheers

Marko of Oz (Mark) · #30 06-02-2009, 08:53 PM

Hmmmm, I'd like to upgrade my basic eq6 to a goto. But it'll probably go on more mundane things.

Glenhuon (Bill) · #31 06-02-2009, 10:14 PM

Buy fuel to take me back to WA

Bill

AstroJunk (Jonathan) · #32 07-02-2009, 03:05 AM

I'd count it.

1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11,12,13,14,15 ,16,17,18,19,20,21,21, oops, start again ...

That will keep me busy whilst the economy goes down the pan

ving (David) · #33 09-02-2009, 03:23 PM

i'd buy myself a cottage by the sea :p

i'll probably just save it after kevin bought my 500mm len with the last handout.

erick (Eric) · #34 09-02-2009, 03:54 PM

Seems there is a bushfire appeal and probably a flood appeal that could use donations.

Jen · #35 09-02-2009, 05:24 PM

spend it spend it spend it
and buy a slab and kick back and watch JJJ put her observatory up

I would love to get some more astro gear but being the only astro geek in the house besides my 7 year old son im out voted for now so i will have to buy some things for around the house

Gerald Sargent · #36 09-02-2009, 06:56 PM

If I were to get it, which is not expected I would donate it to Victims of the
Victorian/NSW disasters.
By my calculation folk have suffered losses in the tens of billions and that
our idiot PM wants to thrown money about like confetti I find immoral
What is he going to do in 6 months time when the recession really begins
to bit ?. He will go out of power leaving a bill that will take many many years
to pay off. Gerald.

Omaroo (Chris Malikoff) · #37 10-02-2009, 06:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gerald Sargent

If I were to get it, which is not expected I would donate it to Victims of the
Victorian/NSW disasters.
By my calculation folk have suffered losses in the tens of billions and that
our idiot PM wants to thrown money about like confetti I find immoral
What is he going to do in 6 months time when the recession really begins
to bit ?. He will go out of power leaving a bill that will take many many years
to pay off. Gerald.

Good call Gerald. This thread started well prior to the disaster, and will hopefully show how priorities can change so quickly. Given the levity of the recent $950 handout, those who otherwise planned to frit it away on our collective behalves might think about spending at least some of it in another way. I won't get a cent out of Rudd this time around, but I'll be donating the same amount to Victoria on Rudd's behalf. Hopefully that will make a difference to someone. I urge those that can do the same to do so.

Hagar (Doug) · #38 10-02-2009, 08:18 AM

I doubt my family will get any of this but should we be fortunate to get some it will be rolled into the bushfire fund. Having seen the devestation first hand, a lot of the less wealthy amongst us who have no insurance etc, will need all the help they can get. y daughter who got her first pay packet as a teacher this week is donating half her pay to this appeal. Please follow her lead. God knows so many will need so much.

Omaroo (Chris Malikoff) · #39 10-02-2009, 08:22 AM

Congratulations must be passed on to your daughter Doug. She's got the right spirit. Good on her.

Hagar (Doug) · #40 10-02-2009, 08:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Omaroo

Congratulations must be passed on to your daughter Doug. She's got the right spirit. Good on her.

Thanks Chris. She knows what it is like as she has lived through 2 major bushfires in her 21 years and has probably spent as much on phone calls to keep in touch and trying to find out the condition of her school friends who still live in this area fo these fires.
She has lived in all the areas affected by the fires in Vic and has friends in the Kinglake, Beechworth and Marysville areas. I have worked and lived in all these communities in the last 20 years.