Light Pollution Reflection / Refraction Number 18

Posted July 29, 2008

WARNING:

I guarantee my reflections and refractions will create controversy and confrontation; and quite likely I'll step on many toes, but it's time to be brutally honest.

The Tale of Two Conventions: The Aftermath

Please read R and R number 16 (Tale of Two Conventions: ALCON and ICCI) first

Well, the ALCON and ICCI conventions are over for another year. Congratulations to the local DMoines Astronomical Society for hosting the ALCON. Having helped organize and lead a couple of smaller astro-conventions myself back in the GODs (Good Old Days), I know how much work is involved. But...

But...now I gotta wonder...will there be less light pollution in Des Moines next July due to the AL's two or three day presence? In short, what did the Astronomical League and its thousands of individual astronomer members and hundreds of club, society, organization members do to dim light pollution whilst in town?

Astronomical League, you'll never know just what a HUGE and near-perfect opportunity you let slip right through your fingers, and in the presence of a mayor likely to be far more sympathetic to dark skies and welcoming with the light pollution issue than any other mayor in the country! By the way, AL big shots: did you ever think to contact the mayor of DMoines about the issue of light pollution or the mayor in any other community in which you hold your meetings? Nah, I didn't think so. That would be thinking outside the ol' telescope tube, wouldn't it?

Oh, and by the way, did you know that the DMoines mayor was at the ICCI meeting Friday night (July 18th), chatting it up with us so-called hard-core hippie activists, not at the ALCON!? What do I have to do or say that will get your attention, AL? The IDA is already hopelessly impotent and inert! Does the AL have some sort of deathwish desire to go the same direction? Extinction?

I wonder, will the Astronomical League step forward after this year's ALCON and begin fighting light pollution? Yes, I know it's not part of the AL's "mission", but it can't be THAT hard to change the mission, can it?

What if you don't do something about light pollution now? What if all the astronomical associations, clubs, societies, orgs, members, individual astronomers don't do something about light pollution NOW? Well, the night sky will be forever lost!

I WANT SO VERY MUCH TO HOPE THE AL WILL STEP UP, BUT...

Ok, I'm going to digress here and describe some of what took place at the ICCI meeting. I'll try to be brief. I know my Rs and Rs are supposed to be about light pollution not a bunch of crusty, old, white-haired hippies lookin' to fight corporate factory farmers trying to take over Iowa. BUT...

On Saturday morning (July 19th), whilst the ALCONers were probably still asleep in their hotel beds with visions of the Orion Nebula dancing in their heads, we ICCI folk were loading buses for our annual ACTION, where Iowa CCI (Citizens for Community Improvement) members take our concerns directly to the people whose beliefs and actions are likely controlled by corporate money and greed and lack of good common sense!

Anyway, dozens of us placard totin' ICCI members boarded 3 buses Saturday morning for a short ride to the Gov's mansion (Terrace Hill). We walked the last 100 yards or so--chanting all the way--in hopes of meeting with our elected governor, Chet Culver, known around Iowa as the Big Lug. Being a bit more than rotund myself, I know what it's like to be called a Big Lug. We were all in good spirits, hoping we'd have a little eye-to-eye chit-chat with Chet...

Alas, Homeland Security in the form of two of Iowa's cleanest-cut Highway Patrol Troopers, intercepted us before we could deliver a letter to Big Lug reminding him that as a demoncrat campaigning for the gov-ship, he promised to support local control; that is, give each county control over where these smelly hog hockey huts can be built. In other words, real people could decide, not some corporate deciders! Apparently, Big Lug has been so "culverized" by the BIG OUT-OF-STATE CORPORATE AGRICULTURE types that he's forgotten all about real Iowans and the local control issue. Mad cow, Lug?

Well, I guess that good old Farm Bureau money must smell mighty good in Chet's campaign chest in the attic of Terrace Hill, but I s'pose he's gotta keep the Corps. alive so's they can keep contributin' ever more $$$$. Of course, high on Terrace Hill in downtown Des Moines, Big Lug likely never smells the lovely hog hockey aroma wafting in on local winds, so I guess he can't be expected to understand what it's like livin' next to one, or worse, a hundred of 'em. Hey, Lug, have you ever taken a short tour of Hardin County, Iowa, where few real farmers live anymore due to the rancid smell of the swill from thousands of factory farms? I have! It's NOT a happy sight or a sweet aroma!

Remember, 'Mericans, there's a good chance the pork you're eatin' tonight came from Hardin County, Iowa; but then factory farms don't have much interest in keeping you informed of where your meat comes from! That would cut into their profits! Had any factory farmed salmonella-ed tomatoes or peppers lately? Hmmm.

It's not the hogs' fault, you know! Pigs are, by nature, very clean, and don't like to stink! Indeed, when properly raised on free-range farms, like those on our farm, they DON'T stink! That's how hogs used to be raised and still can be raised, sustainably, environmentally sound, and most importantly for those entre-manures, er, entrepreneurs, out there-- PROFITABLY! So, that crap you always hear from the Farm Bureau about "the smell of hog hockey is the sweet smell of $$$$$ and success," is, well, you guessed it, just another Farm Bureau MYTH!! And again, before you believe the Farm Bureau hog hockey as gospel, you need to read Amber Waves of Gain.

BUT THIS R AND R ISN'T ABOUT HOGS OR LUGS, SO...

Again, what did the Astronomical League do about light pollution at ALCON 2008? My operatives at ALCON say not much of anything, so maybe it's a good thing I didn't show up, even though I LOVE astronomy a whole awful lot more than fighting hog hockey!!! In truth, I really would have loved to attend a national astronomy convention right here in my own backyard, but hey, in my backyard, where my little observatory sits, mostly unused these hot, humid midsummer Iowa nights, IT STINKS with the aroma of hog hockey!

It's so sad, too: the Astronomical League...a national organization peopled (sheepled?) by thousands of astronomers from all over the country, and the "leaders" won't even lend a few hours of ACTION to the biggest issue facing y'all in a century--light pollution--and the elimination of the very essence of what y'all do--observe!

Astronomers: What'll move y'all to ACTION!? What'll it take to shake y'all into ACTION? What'll madden y'all enough to jerk you into ACTION? What can I say that'll squeeze you hard enough to make y'all shout out:

TURN OFF YOUR GUL-DURNED LIGHTS AND SAVE THE MILKY WAY!

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