Still find it hard to believe another year has come and gone. Maybe now that everyone is connected things just seem to move faster. We all need to sit as a family in front of a TV hooked up to the antenna on the roof, no remotes, get up and change the channel, just go back in time for one night. Things were certainly a slower pace.
Who remembers Guy Lombardo on New Years Eve? I was a kid back than but he was always on and it was clean and classy. Heard on the news tonight Miley Cyrus is one of the acts outside in Times Square, O boy. They interviewed a young lady this morning at 6:30AM already grabbing a spot for tonight. Mind you its very cold in New York today, 31 F with a real feel of 21 F. She has on 5 pairs of pants, 7 shirts, 3 scoffs, hat, gloves and ready.....2 pairs of diapers. Don't want to lose the spot I guess but I prefer my living room.
Great New Years Eve song by Mr. John Lennon - Imagine
Just want to wish everyone a Happy Healthy New Year!
50 years ago today the Bell System in the U.S. introduced dual tone multi-frequency technology which ended up replacing the rotary dial phone with the push button.
These old videos are classics!
I still remember the big dial of the rotary with the slow spin when calling my friends. The worst is when you dialed the wrong number and had to start all over. Who can't forget the old fashion bell ringing when a call came in. No music playing like today's cell phones just a serious ring. Simple times!
Here's a clip from 1963 Worlds Fair.
We hit the big time when my father installed the push button phone attached to the kitchen wall.
On a side note: Hope everyone is OK with those big storms in the mid-west yesterday, scary.
Just heard a classic Rush song on the FM dial, The Spirit of Radio.
Begin the day with a friendly voice,
A companion unobtrusive
Plays that song that's so elusive
And the magic music makes your morning mood.
Off on your way, hit the open road,
There is magic at your fingers
For the Spirit ever lingers,
Undemanding contact in your happy solitude.
Invisible airwaves crackle with life
Bright antenna bristle with the energy
Emotional feedback on timeless wavelength
Bearing a gift beyond price, almost free
All this machinery making modern music
Can still be open-hearted.
Not so coldly charted, it's really just a question
Of your honesty, yeah, your honesty.
One likes to believe in the freedom of music,
But glittering prizes and endless compromises
Shatter the illusion of integrity.
For the words of the prophets were written on the studio wall,
Concert hall
And echoes with the sounds of salesmen. Of salesmen. Of salesmen.
We had a wonderful time at the NY Maker Faire yesterday!
A slight mist of rain but than the sky cleared with a bright sunshine.
Tons of electronics & kids which was very nice to see. The learn to solder booth was packed & had a waiting line to get in. Kids of all ages building and many hands on type projects for all.
Highlights:
Arduino and Raspberry Pi kits were hot.
The Mentos guys and the soda bottles was a must see.
3D printers were cool to see in operation.
The life size mousetrap drew a big crowd.
Tons of small vendors.
I did see 2-3 amateur radio displays, even a tuna tin qrp rig.
Robots seemed to be everywhere.
A free hugs robot, can't beat that.
Looking forward to taking the family to the 2013 Maker Faire in Queens, New York tomorrow.
This should be fun filled day with 650+ exhibits. The only issue is the call for rain in the afternoon.
There is a live video feed in you want to check the faire out.
If you live on the East Coast be sure to head outside tonight and look for the NASA spacecraft LADEE due to liftoff at 11:27PM. Depending on conditions the rocket should be visible from South Carolina to Maine.
20 meters SSB has been up and down this afternoon with signals coming and going fast. As one operator said 20 is pretty rough and I have to agree with him. Heard 40 is not much better.
The stations I am hearing are putting out some serious power. Of course I always call CQ with a my mighty 10 watts just for the heck of it.
My antenna is a Par 20M end fed between a push up painters pole to a maple tree in the yard and an Icom 718 rig of various powers set up in my garage. We had a few drops of rain earlier but it has been mostly dry. The sun popped out for a few minutes and I was tempted to bring the station outside but that did not last long before the clouds came back.
The plan is to hang out on 20 into early this evening and see if the band opens up.
If you need any kits or components please keep us in mind.
Today was a nice sunny day, ended up washing two cars and waxing one. I was able to do a few miles on the bike this afternoon, need the exercise.
Tomorrow sounds like a rain out so it will be a good day to work on that oscillator that has been on the project back burner, hoping for good band conditions for Sunday afternoon.
In the background as I write this UFC fighting is on TV, these fighters are tough, WOW!
This week will be a good test for the air conditioners with the temps in the ninety degrees range and hearing on Wednesday 95 F. This is a good time to hide indoors and stay cool.
For the past two Saturdays I have been volunteering with my son on a field clean up and an event for physically challenged kids. The event was a wonderful experience and the kids had a ball. It was fun to help out will be back next year.
Sunday took off for a few hours of fly fishing and trail hiking. Caught one rock bass, it was nice to be by the waters edge and get away for some quiet time. In the afternoon I set up the Buddipole in the yard and checked out 40 meters with the Ten-Tec R4020 QRP rig. Not one contact in my limited time operating in the shade but always nice cruising the bands checking out the conditions.
It anyone decides to enter let me know and we can promote it for hopefully a few extra votes and get you in the winners circle. The contest is co-sponsored by Instructables and Radio Shack. I would not mind having a few of the prizes.
