Questions Thread

[The Bear]

Use a razor and some aftershave balm and it doesn't itch. The knobsack that is. 

Edited 13 October 2024 by The Bear

[Parafox]

1 minute ago, The Bear said:

Use a razor and some aftershave balm and it doesn't itch. The knobsack that is. 

 

Do Turkish barbers offer this service?

[tom27111]

22 minutes ago, The Bear said:

Use a razor and some aftershave balm and it doesn't itch. The knobsack that is. 

 

From personal experience, using the sharpest thing possible on the wrinkliest part of my body isn't pleasant. 

 

In related news, my Mrs once walked in to the bathroom whilst I had one foot on the side of the bath with the other foot firmly planted on the floor, kind of squatting above a mirror, with razor in my hand 

[Izzy]

No way a sharp razor is going anywhere near my wrinkly old ball sac.

 

Trimmer with guard on at level 2 leaves a bit of stubble but clears the forest sufficiently.

[Unabomber]

WTF some guys don’t shave their balls? 

[Daggers]

Deviant list:

1. Jattdogg
2. The Bear
3. Tom
4. Una
5.  

[The Bear]

49 minutes ago, tom27111 said:

 

From personal experience, using the sharpest thing possible on the wrinkliest part of my body isn't pleasant. 

 

28 minutes ago, Izzy said:

No way a sharp razor is going anywhere near my wrinkly old ball sac.

You don't do it one handed FFS. You use your weaker hand to pull the skin nice and taut so the razor can just glide along. That way you don't slice your ballbag to ribbons. 

 

Never, EVER use clippers without a reasonable length guard down there. I repeat NEVER. I learnt that the hard way when I was younger.... 

[tom27111]

1 minute ago, The Bear said:

 

You don't do it one handed FFS. You use your weaker hand to pull the skin nice and taut so the razor can just glide along. That way you don't slice your ballbag to ribbons. 

 

Post of the century right there, sound advice 

[Izzy]

4 minutes ago, The Bear said:

You don't do it one handed FFS. You use your weaker hand to pull the skin nice and taut so the razor can just glide along. That way you don't slice your ballbag to ribbons. 

Using this as my new signature I reckon 

[Daggers]

Never have i ever regretted starting a conversation on here as much as I have this one.

 

...And I started a thread about Monster Munch one close season. 

 

...And one on sheds.

 

I feel nauseous. 

[Jattdogg]

5 hours ago, The Bear said:

 

You don't do it one handed FFS. You use your weaker hand to pull the skin nice and taut so the razor can just glide along. That way you don't slice your ballbag to ribbons. 

 

Never, EVER use clippers without a reasonable length guard down there. I repeat NEVER. I learnt that the hard way when I was younger.... 

Ah yes, the bat wing technique. Also, used in this game.....

 

YouTube "batwing waiting" funny movie.

Edited 14 October 2024 by Jattdogg

[Izzy]

@The Bear and @leicsmac and anyone else who's into space/planets etc.

 

Watching this latest Brian Cox series on the Solar System has made me want to buy a telescope but I've no idea what I want to look at or where to even begin.

 

Anyone out there a star gazer with any tips on telescopes?

[Mike Oxlong]

I really love the Brian Cox stuff but without fail I fall asleep 2-3 times per episode 

 

I think it's my brain shutting down trying to comprehend the magnitude of everything 

Edited 2 November 2024 by Mike Oxlong

[Izzy]

19 minutes ago, Mike Oxlong said:

I really love the Brian Coc stuff but without fail I fall asleep 2-3 times per episode 

 

I think it's my brain shutting down trying to comprehend the magnitude of everything 

Like you I am a simpleton, and struggle with the vastness of it all.

 

All this space stuff is obviously easy to understand for geniuses like @leicsmac but I feel like a six year old trying to figure it all out.

 

Hoping a user friendly telescope and an easy to read beginners guide book might ease me in to all even at my ripe old age 

[The Bear]

I'm not helping you now you haven't tagged me in the genius comment above 🖕

 

 

Well that and the fact I've never owned a telescope so haven't got a scooby. 

 

 

[leicsmac]

38 minutes ago, Izzy said:

@The Bear and @leicsmac and anyone else who's into space/planets etc.

 

Watching this latest Brian Cox series on the Solar System has made me want to buy a telescope but I've no idea what I want to look at or where to even begin.

 

Anyone out there a star gazer with any tips on telescopes?

Truth be told, it's been a very long time since I've been in a position to use a telescope for star viewing, but I'll do what I can.

 

For beginners, a quality pair of 10*50 binoculars actually give you a good general look at things without having to break the bank.

 

If you have your heart set on a telescope, however, a simple refractor like the Sky-Watcher Mercury 707 (https://www.tringastro.co.uk/sky-watcher-mercury-707-1808-p.asp) or slightly more complex reflector like the Sky-Watcher Explorer 150PL OTA (https://www.tringastro.co.uk/sky-watcher-explorer-150pl-ota-21095-p.asp)  would be good places to start. They'll give great viewing of starfields and allow you to see detail on the Moon and other planets, including the Jovian moons and Saturn's rings. As scopes go they're reasonably affordable, too.

 

My knowledge on this is sadly limited however, so that's about all the advice I feel I can offer.

 

 

8 minutes ago, Izzy said:

Like you I am a simpleton, and struggle with the vastness of it all.

 

All this space stuff is obviously easy to understand for geniuses like @leicsmac but I feel like a six year old trying to figure it all out.

 

Hoping a user friendly telescope and an easy to read beginners guide book might ease me in to all even at my ripe old age 

It can be bloody difficult to grasp at times. Feel free to ask questions.

[Zear0]

9 hours ago, Izzy said:

Like you I am a simpleton, and struggle with the vastness of it all.

 

All this space stuff is obviously easy to understand for geniuses like @leicsmac but I feel like a six year old trying to figure it all out.

 

Hoping a user friendly telescope and an easy to read beginners guide book might ease me in to all even at my ripe old age 

ZWO Seestar S50 is worth a look at as it's about as user friendly as they come. 

[leicsmac]

5 hours ago, Zear0 said:

ZWO Seestar S50 is worth a look at as it's about as user friendly as they come. 

Looks like an absolute lovely one for a beginner, that. IMO rather steep price tag for a very first option unless you've got the money to go hard or go home, mind.

Edited 2 November 2024 by leicsmac

[Wymsey]

A property tax question:

 

My partner this week has informed the local council that I've been loving at hers for two years (in a flat) - even though I've told her, on numerous occasions, that she should've declared this a good while back to the council..

 

Forgetting about the set-to-be monthly increase in council tax, when the council will change the property situation to a two-person property council tax charge - I take it that the council might charge us extra for the many months I've stayed in the property (September 2022)?..

Edited 2 November 2024 by Wymsey

[FoxesDeb]

3 hours ago, Wymsey said:

A property tax question:

 

My partner this week has informed the local council that I've been loving at hers for two years (in a flat) - even though I've told her, on numerous occasions, that she should've declared this a good while back to the council..

 

Forgetting about the set-to-be monthly increase in council tax, when the council will change the property situation to a two-person property council tax charge - I take it that the council might charge us extra for the many months I've stayed in the property (September 2022)?..

If they've now been informed that she has not been entitled to the single person reduction since September 2022 I would imagine they will now send a bill for the difference in what should have been paid, yes

[SpacedX]

19 hours ago, Izzy said:

Like you I am a simpleton, and struggle with the vastness of it all.

 

All this space stuff is obviously easy to understand for geniuses like @leicsmac but I feel like a six year old trying to figure it all out.

 

Hoping a user friendly telescope and an easy to read beginners guide book might ease me in to all even at my ripe old age 

To echo @leicsmac where there are now many superb beginner friendly telescopes on the market I would recommend starting out with a good pair of astro-binoculars and a tripod. The Celestron 20x 80 Skymaster Pro is an excellent buy. Remember, if you are just getting the bug, because binoculars have a much wider field of view it makes it much easier to find objects. And actually, if you are just starting out a pair of 7×35, 8×40 or 7×50 binoculars is probably your best choice. A good set will easily reveal detailed features on the Moon and will show Saturn's rings for example. Larger models (over 80mm) will be better for fainter objects like galaxies and nebulae. In addition to ease of use, you also have portability, upright image orientation and stereo vision for depth perception. 

 

19 hours ago, Izzy said:

Like you I am a simpleton

Don't be ridiculous. Anything but. 

[Izzy]

Thanks @Zear0 @leicsmac and @SpacedX for your help on telescopes.

 

I also watched this YT video last night which really helped explain everything:

 

 

He suggested this Sky-Watcher Heritage 130P Dobsonian which seems decent value at around £200:

 

 

Also seen this book that seems highly recommended for beginners:

 

 

Might be asking Santa for these 

[Zear0]

32 minutes ago, Izzy said:

Thanks @Zear0 @leicsmac and @SpacedX for your help on telescopes.

 

I also watched this YT video last night which really helped explain everything:

 

 

He suggested this Sky-Watcher Heritage 130P Dobsonian which seems decent value at around £200:

 

 

Also seen this book that seems highly recommended for beginners:

 

 

Might be asking Santa for these 

Can't beat Google Sky Map either! Just point your phone and showd you what it is

[SpacedX]

14 minutes ago, Zear0 said:

Can't beat Google Sky Map either! Just point your phone and showd you what it is

I use Star Walk - both are excellent. 

[reporterpenguin]

1 hour ago, Izzy said:

He suggested this Sky-Watcher Heritage 130P Dobsonian which seems decent value at around £200:

 

I've got that Skywatcher and it's a decent beginner scope.

 

Plus points:

- It's a good sized aperture,

- Nice and compact

- You're spending the money on optics rather than fancy electronics or mounts

- I'm a big fan of the red dot finder, especially once you get used to it

 

Downsides:

- I'm not a fan of the focus, it's a screw rather than a rack and pinion which is more common. This can make it hard to maintain the focus and is easily knocked.

- It's not particularly evenly balanced so making fine adjustments to where you're looking can be tricky

- Being a partially truss tube it can get some funny reflections if there's an inconvenient light source around.

 

They do a slightly smaller 100P which has a better focuser, better balanced, is a solid tube, and is cheaper. The downside of course is that you're losing a lot of collecting area (~40%) so what you see will be a lot dimmer. 

 

I'd definitely recommend considering what @leicsmac and @SpacedX suggested about binoculars, they're a great way to get going. Again though, you're getting a lot less collecting area and, as they say, size really does matter...

 

It also depends on what you want to look at. If you want to see faint objects like galaxies, clusters, and nebulae, you want as much collecting area as you can which generally means a Newtonian (like those Skywatchers). If you're more interested on seeing things like planets and the moon which are a lot brighter by need more magnification you need a longer focal length, so a reflector is better suited. You can look at anything with either of those, but each has advantages. There are all sorts of fancy designs that use a combination of lenses and mirrors, but they start off eyewateringly expensive and only go up in price from there.

 

A final point I'd make, genuinely without sounding negative, is to have realistic expectations about what you'll see. The moon does pretty much look like the photos, but even things like Jupiter are basically large dots with some hazy features. Galaxies and nebulae often look not a much more than faint smudges, but you do learn how to see more detail in them as you get used to using a telescope. On a clear night with dark skies you can just about discern the bands of dust in Andromeda with the 130P.

 

That is not in anyway to say it's not spectacular though, there's something incredible about seeing with your own eyes objects so  unimaginably enormous and far away. It's can be a very powerful experience that makes you feel both very very small, and strangely huge that you're seeing them with your own eyes.