I envy Charles Messier, the comet hunter who, after all these years, is remembered for his list of things he didn't want to see. Talk about irony! He writes down things that might be confused for a comet - things that got in his way - and what do people remember him for? That's right, things he didn't want to see.
So if it works for him, why not Joanie? As an optics specialist, here is my list of things
I don't want to see. 1. More binoculars made in China. Hey, how many more binoculars that all look alike, perform alike, are packaged alike, have the same instruction manual in the same twenty languages does the world need? I say give someone else a chance. What about Lower Slobovia or Garfooeyistan? At least change the box color.
2. More telescopes smaller than 114mm that advertise over 500x. Would it kill some of these people to be a little more honest? Or maybe they should have someone who has actually looked through a telescope write the ad copy.
3. Customers who ask, "How far can I see with this?" I don't really know how far anyone can see. At my age, I can barely see myself. All I can say is a 10x bino will allow you to see 10x farther.
4. More zoom binoculars. That just makes more work for us when people have to return them.
5. Words that almost mean "waterproof". A binocular is waterproof or it is not. Throw out water-resistant, climate proof, rain proof, spray-resistant, sprinkle-proof and all the other wannabe words.
6. Riflescopes with a BDC for shooting at 500 or even 1000 yards when only a handful of people can hit a barn at a fraction of that distance, even from a rest. Give me a break.
7. More software programs that allow you to control your telescope from a PC. Somehow popping a bowl of popcorn, sitting on a couch and seeing planets on a screen is not the same as the astronomy I have always known. In the old days, we called such activity "watching TV".
8. Spotting scopes and riflescopes with huge objective lenses that perform as poorly as small objective lenses. Defintely the "empty calories" approach to optics. Dr. Joanie says, "Not good for your health!"
9. Noisy GOTO telescopes. I think mufflers should be required for all GOTO telescopes. Ever stand between two big GOTO telescopes at an astronomy club outing? How would they like it if I made "whirring" sound effects every time I moved ny Dob?
10. The last thing I want to see is a huge telescope collecting dust in a garage or closet because it is too much of a hassle to set up and use. This is telescope cruelty, pure and simple. People who can't care for a large telescope should give them away to people who will give them more loving attention. Me, for instance!
Love
Joanie
