Jeez...I feel for Mike (Iceman). All he wanted to do from starting this thread was to have other IIS members spare a thought for those dealing with the recent bush fires and for those IIS members affected by the bush fires to drop us a quick message to let us know how you are doing...it's a shame the original intent of the thread has been somewhat overlooked...possibly forgotten.
The fact that some are unapologetic for steering the thread off topic is even sadder
No, not forgotten at all Hans and no need to "feel" for Mike either I am sure, it is but a thread on a forum...so I think he'll live. Anyone that wishes to post will do so I am sure and I will be relieved to hear any good news.
Have been thinking about my IIS friends living in and around the blue mountains and northern central coast lately.
I know we've got quite a lot up in the blue mountains, including Winmalee.
I hope everyone is safe! Would love to hear from you guys and let us know how it's been - if you're even able to get online!
Shout out to the incredible effort of the firies and volunteers!
Lets get this back on track then and leave the politics for another day, I for one am thankful for these guys and girls that give of their time and energies so freely to protect life and property.
Having volunteered with the Yarrowlumla Bushfire Brigade nearly 3 decades ago when fires burnt all round the Canberra area I saw the devastation to people's lives when faced with fire damage.
It was good to see our GG visit some of the burnt out areas and praise the fire fighters on the ground. It will all help to highlight the damage to lives and property.
It was no surprise to hear that a fire was started by a Defence live fire exercise. I was in the GRes and every time we fired WP rounds we started bushfires. Usually they would burn out due to the range being full of craters.
In 1994 I had just arrived in Melbourne, and my wife called my mobile asking whether I could come home ( next stop was supposed to be LAX ). Asking why, I got the answer we had a dozen or more fire trucks in our street and they wanted to have all residents evacuated. Jayuusss H...what did you just say!???
I flew back that afternoon to the appalling sight from the air of much of Southern Sydney going up in smoke.
Never made it home, as the roads were closed, and was reunited with my family at an out if area friend of a friend's house.
We were allowed back to our street at 2:00am, not knowing whether we had a house to come home to. Our house was spared.
The very next day I called out insurer and jacked up the building replacement value and doubled our contents cover.
Given the prospect of having * everything you own* raised to the ground is very sobering.
Most insurance policies have limits on all sorts of items unless individually specified on the policy. I strongly implore anyone on this group who lives in an area close to the bush to do an audit of replacing an entire household's clothes, shoes, valuables, kitchen appliances, white-goods, computers, cameras, telescopes etc. etc.
Check the policy limits, you may well find the coverage to be woefully inadequate. We changed insurers as a result. Sorry for the long post...but I thought it worth mentioning
Ah Dougie you ol'cranky pants hope we cross paths at a star party again someday and we can sort our differences out properly over a beer
Not Politics just science.
I feel for the fire victims, as we all do and heck I may yet be one myself this summer (then I will be really mad). Watching the terrible devastation unfold in such fires is very sobering and scary and heartbreaking to watch (as it was only a few months ago when we nearly lost the AAO at Siding Spring in the worst fires to hit the Warrumbugles in white mans history) and to lose most or all of your possessions in an instant would be unimaginably upsetting.
The problem is when all the science tells us that the climate change that is occurring will make these events more frequent and more ferocious, yet so many people still ignore the science including our new conservative government who happily aligned themselves (all be it carefully) with the Climate Change denying clan, yes, I am very concerned and it is this that I make no apologies for pointing out.
I was essentially responding to Gary's post regarding the record temperatures we have been getting, you see, Gary is in that group of individuals who are very insightful and highly intelligent and he knows his stuff
Stay safe Doug and I forgive you
Mike
Good move Mike from politics to patronising. Unlike you I have been through many bushfires and disasters of all types working for a rescue organisation in Victoria for many years. Climate change or not, a kid with a match, a strong wind and a hot day will do it every time. Leave politics out of it and show some compasion. Who cares if Siding springs looses a telescope, put your family on the fire line a see if you care about a telescope.
My heart goes out to all those in dire positions and even more so for the volunteer firemen who put themselves on the line every day often only to be greeted with the news that their own properties have been destroyed. It seems to happen every fire and unfortunately there also seems to be a volunteer or two killed or seriously injured.
Thanks to all who make this dedicated effort to help everyone else often at their own expence.
NB, I have done nothing to require your forgiveness.
Following on from Peter's comment on insurance we've been chasing quotes for the place we're moving to next month - a bit closer to the bush.
Every insurance company says the site clearance and rebuild cost for the house is more than we paid for the house and land. This is a well maintained property in suburban Sydney so it's not like the place is a wreck or there are remote area costs involved.
SWMBO thought that our contents were seriously over-insured but since I started packing I'm not sure about that. I am going to have to specify all the photo and astro gear because none of the insurers will cover those items for replacement cost without them being listed.
Good move Mike from politics to patronising. Unlike you I have been through many bushfires and disasters of all types working for a rescue organisation in Victoria for many years. Climate change or not, a kid with a match, a strong wind and a hot day will do it every time. Leave politics out of it and show some compasion. Who cares if Siding springs looses a telescope, put your family on the fire line a see if you care about a telescope.
My heart goes out to all those in dire positions and even more so for the volunteer firemen who put themselves on the line every day often only to be greeted with the news that their own properties have been destroyed. It seems to happen every fire and unfortunately there also seems to be a volunteer or two killed or seriously injured.
Thanks to all who make this dedicated effort to help everyone else often at their own expence.
NB, I have done nothing to require your forgiveness.
I must appologise first for highjacking this thread which is supposed to be a vote of appreciation to the RFS who do such a wonderful job in the bush fire season. Some have tried to put forward the political reason for the hot summer so I will also put forward a far better reason: Daylight saving!
As we all know in the summer months we get an extra hour of daylight (that's what we are told). This extra hour in the sun every day must surely be raising the summer temperatures.
Then answer then to stop the temperature rise is to cancel daylight saving.
I must appologise first for highjacking this thread which is supposed to be a vote of appreciation to the RFS who do such a wonderful job in the bush fire season. Some have tried to put forward the political reason for the hot summer so I will also put forward a far better reason: Daylight saving!
As we all know in the summer months we get an extra hour of daylight (that's what we are told). This extra hour in the sun every day must surely be raising the summer temperatures.
Then answer then to stop the temperature rise is to cancel daylight saving.
Barry
By golly, Gabby Johnson's right, what a great idea more imaging time too Bazza
Ok, no more highjacks...and just in case, that video link was just meant to be light hearted and in no way intended to detract from the seriousness of the fires, the devastation they cause and the guys who fight them. I am putting in place a few plans for our property so hopefully I'll be right.
Forty years ago, growing up on a fairly remote farm, we used to do our own fuel reduction burn off on and around the property in the cool season. It seems like common sense to do regular fuel reduction burns adjacent to all populated areas.
We never would have dreamed of building a house amongst the trees as people do these days though - makes the house a sitting duck.
Given the prospect of having * everything you own* raised to the ground is very sobering.
Sure is Peter.
Not sure if this has been previously posted, but here are the before and after images of Van Slyke Instruments (Black Forest Fire), taken from their website (http://www.observatory.org/). It is enough to make one cry.
I hope they recover from it, I am not sure I could.
Au contraire... lets make it $200 plus a hundred for the bush fire service.
You have me a little confused Clive. What are you betting on, that I can shut up or that Mike will crush me?
Either way you loose. Just make the donation, I'm sure they need it.
Not sure if this has been previously posted, but here are the before and after images of Van Slyke Instruments (Black Forest Fire), taken from their website (http://www.observatory.org/). It is enough to make one cry.
I hope they recover from it, I am not sure I could.
Pete
Gee some beautiful gear lost there. I imagine the Stromlo workshops would have looked something like that back in 2003 too ...the good thing is after being risen from the ashes the Stromlo workshops are even better now
Firies THANK YOU session at Katoomba Airfield this Saturday
I've been speaking to the manager of Katoomba Airfield about the Blue Mountains situation over the last couple of weeks. Things were have started winding down at the Airfield. Last night they had just 6 aircraft stay overnight, well down from the upto 13 they were having last week. Only one sky crane was there last night when last week they had two.
Our regular astro session at the Airfield had been a very fluid one for this coming Saturday. The Airfield manager has given us the OK for our session for this Saturday! While the fires will burn for many weeks still, there is no current threat to the Airfield or surrounds. And while there are still many fire fighters up on the 'Mountains, we have offered these brave folks an astro viewing session at the start of the night as a little way of saying Thank You, and as a small distraction from their labours.
If you feel you could come along with a scope, please do. This is just an informal thank you from us astronomers. More details on the Firies astro night and on the Airfield can be found on the current Katoomba Airfield thread. Post No. 1 has the Airfield details. Post No.23 has the Firies Night details.
Fingers crossed that the wind blows from the south to keep the smoke away.
you ol'cranky pants 
hope we cross paths at a star party again someday and we can sort our differences out properly over a beer 
perhaps you deserve a medal? 
