For now to stop some of the spammers I have renamed the trackback file. I will name it back later when I feel like it. But now since I have not ever gotten a real trackback, and nothing but spam via the trackback API. I will be getting alot of 404’s in my error log for now. Maybe this will get my site put on some type of spammer blacklist as being brocken.
I have deleted about 100 spam posts so far from my blog; I am blocking every IP address that is used to spam my site. I hope that maybe some day that I will block so many IP address it will be too much trouble, in the form of cost, to bother to try to spam my site. I have new IP address banned on site now.
Here is a list of all the IP address I have banned from site as of now.
213.228.82.66 12.176.242.108 81.62.54.176 82.194.62.16 66.74.33.126 62.203.56.203 66.237.84.20 68.190.16.2 80. 66.119.34.59 212.123.204.115 62.0.13.2 62.128.250.198 82.190.181.197 217.70.126. 81.80.26.105 208.147.1.7 63.247.74.90 200.125.195.194 207.248.240.119 207.250.30.3 68.152.252.74 219.93.211.74 202.66.28.152 220.65.210.146 200.143.76.174 211.76.98.132 202.175.234.163 210.111.230.61 217.219.94.71 211.248.151.130 217.218.233.73 203.197.217.200 207.248.240.118 148.244.150.58 202.14.68.240 209.10.134.58 205.238.226.40 148.244.150.57 200.55.26.65 220.245.178.134 65.215.15.82 219.22.50.60 205.204.242.23 211.114.68.60 217.219.37.238 200.77.229.133 61.11.26.142 61.66.137.2 212.0.138.14 129.33.12.41 62.77.41.21 62.193.254.168 148.244.150.52 213.86.212.230 168.143.113.138 194.165.141.28 195.185.151.235 200.69.231.181 202.83.174.42 203.116.254.122 203.197.234.177 204.169.23.246 205.208.226.59 206.219.94.10 207.134.160.78 208.63.112.82 213.156.52.96 213.42.2.10 213.42.2.27 216.234.203.132 217.219.57.5 218.228.198.218 61.19.243.11 61.19.243.12 63.81.44.2 64.19.80.100 64.3.231.3 65.102.221.43 66.137.18.140 66.144.5.25 66.213.135.3 67.128.27.136 68.161.240.236 81.118.4.13 81.118.4.16 81.118.4.4 82.145.166.126 209.86.122.188 24.1.76.123 212.23.3.155 212.157.42.20 195.235.180.15 64.132.161.7 83.138.128.89 212.23.3.153 130.206.11.232 212.23.3.151 213.152.66.19 194.254.103.248 81.19.14.254 128.6.194.142 193.251.169.174 193.219.147.212 204.186.238.30 62.210.20.28 193.131.222.67 83.146.17.76 128.39.225.98 193.251.169.170 82.209.200.19 193.190.128.253 64.62.168. 144.132.221.8 168.143.113.58 212.0.138.94 212.0.138.93 207.232.201.69 24.178.175.175 81.176.65.76 83.236.139.14 195.175.37.23 212.0.138.90 192.197.97.83 209.212.118.249 193.77.153.171 163.25.101.251 195.116.244.17 61.221.199. 211.94.140.74 82.237.216.153 203.187.176.185 203.162.128.37 203.160.171.181 202.92.86.12 203.130.233.100 202.44.183.9 61.129.44.201 200.35.90.202 65.164.90.166 216.13.18.3 194.149.76.42 207.195.51.20 200.71.56.154 212.138.47.15 212.138.47.14 212.138.47.21 212.138.47.23 65.123.150.16 212.138.47.18 194.213.222.133 212.138.47.24 212.0.138.91 200.175.252.34 203.162.128.38 200.67.169.246 62.248.110.2 62.37.236.193 81.10.194.233 212.0.138.92 202.94.229.4 69.93.91.234 200.27.57.140 212.30.210.171 210.21.73.206 204.202.252.202 81.22.99.97 198.65.102.84 161.58.49.73 195.169.128.221 217.11.114.227 211.23.87.21 69.57.154.67 212.138.113.16 203.162.3.77 212.138.47.17 203.162.230.142 202.61.30.203 207.232.63.45 213.56.31.71 24.190.19.54 61.183.60.155 61.171.34.226 218.80.142.8 219.134.108.242 222.208.239.123 218.94.215.239 222.208.238.105 61.141.204.7 61.145.157.73 222.208.236.167 62.197.126.10 62.245.167.6 220.170.42.74 219.134.108.182 195.131.171.29 218.6.244.12 195.228.75.233 64.114.124.137 201.12.106.2 129.44.134.186 83.103.70.58 24.148.25.199 203.167.253.98 62.97.72.76 164.58.253.45 82.254.10.134 207.234.208.66 209.88.159.4 210.17.213.37 202.69.200.15 209.200.31.105 213.95.17.132 64.86.235.210
We now have Tropical Storm Nate in the Atlantic. So far we only had one major storm this year. Lets hope that we only have 1 major storm. I don’t think Nate will be a major storm, I don’t even think Nate will make it to a Hurricane either. There is a possible Tropical Storm above Florida right now. If this formation holds together across Florida, it could form into something in the Gulf of Mexico, just as Katerina did, she was only a Cat 1 when she entered the Gulf, but grow rapidly into a cat 5 in the Gulf. So if this Tropical Depression that is over Florida at this time, makes it to the Gulf we could see something of interest later on in the week, but that is only if it makes it to the Gulf.
I went one a nice bike ride today to visit my parents in the south hills. I decide to bypass Mount Washington so I took the T down and then hopped onto route 19. I forgot how many hills route 19 had on it. But I got a good bike ride in. I was going to ride back home, but it was 9 pm and my mother did not want me on the roads after dark. I told her that I would be fine I had all the lights that I needed. But you know how mothers are, she told me that I was going to ride back home with my father in his truck, so what choice did I have, so I got a lift home in my dads truck, oh well.
I am planning on a ride tomorrow with a friend. I am going to show him 2 of the trails that are on the Mon.
This year has been very active for hurricanes. Last year Ivan was born as a Tropical Depression (#9) on September 2. Here we are now on September 4 and we have Tropical Storm Maria, the 12th named storm for this year. Maria was formed on September 1 as a Tropical Depression (#14). Last year during September we had a total of 5 Hurricanes/Tropical Depressions that lived in that month (2 of them were formed in August of that year, and lived into September of last year) Last year we also made it up to Tropical Storm Otto (Otto was formed November 29th of 2004 and lived as late as December 3rd) so at this point of this year we have had 5 more Tropical Depressions formed above what we had last year. I will admit I find Hurricanes and Tropical Depressions some what interesting, I been following these things for a bit this year, I started my first post this year about them on Hurricane Jose. Also part of me is looking forward to next year. My own name is up for one of the names to be used next year, maybe we will see Hurricane Michael next year.
Well I heard that the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court has passed way. That is sad news, and not what we need at this time with the disaster in New Orleans. My condolences go out to the Rehnquist’s family. We have been hit with some bad news as of late, the devistating news of New Orleans and now the Chief Justice has passed from this valley of tears.
The Salvation Army’s Satern group (the ham radio operation branch of the Salvation Army) Has a web site setup for people to submit info about their loved ones and friends. So if you need some info on your loved ones, try there, I have heard that the Red Cross does not want to be bothered with that kind of stuff, but the Salvation Army wants to help people out in this area. The Red Cross has asked people to stop calling about health and wellfair questions (This is what I have heard over the ham bands).
Well Yesterday I picked up a converter for the Phone jack of the Short Wave radio. Tonight was I was surfing the waves I came onto a show called “The Power Hour” This is some of the extreme far right wing nut job militants. This is not the worst of the stuff that I have heard, but this is very mild compared to what I have heard on the short wave. I will try to record some of the news from a foreign country tomorrow; I will try for Radio Sweden if I can get it, other then that I will try for what ever I can get tuned in.
Click here for the mp3 of the show, sorry that audio is not that great but that is the nature of Short Wave radio listing. Well enjoy.
Since I don’t drive around at all, I don’t even own a car. So when I heard on the ham radio some one say he just paid $2.80 per gallon for gas, I right off did not believe it. So I walked down to the Sunoco on Bayard and Craig St. Not only did I see that he was not inflating the price to make it sound worse then it was, but it was worse then that, see the picture below, it reads for Regular $3.19 I can not believe that, I don’t even want to think about how much it would cost to fill up a car at these prices, I am so glad that I ride my bike all over the place. Ouch is all I can say.
President Bush has asked people to conserver on gas since the supply will be tight for now. Well to all my friends out there, here is a suggestion on how you can conserver gas. Don’t use any to get where you need to get. Ride your bike to where you need to go to. It is not that hard to do, I do it all the time, I am one of those people that am “car free” that means I don’t own a car, and I get by with out many problems. First if you have children and need to get them somewhere, I do not suggest this for you, this is for those that don’t have children. Ok how can you get things done with out a car. First if you don’t have children, shopping can be done on the bike, I have a “messenger bag” and I can get 6 days of food (if I just by the raw ingredients and make myself, I can get 2 to 3 weeks of food in it if I only by TV dinners) yes you will have to go shopping more often. Also you can bike to work. The messenger bag I mentioned before can be used to carry stuff to work, I can carry my laptop in my messenger bag. Also a side benefits of this is you will get more exercise so it helps not only the nation out, but it helps you out.
This is the brand of messenger bag I have, I have the large size one (any bike shop should have them. Also you don’t need a great bike, for that matter you don’t need a good bike, you can always look to buy a used bike, I have seen them as low as $25 for a used bike. I how ever would say don’t get a bike at walmart or kmart since they will not last very long under the abuse, eather go to a bike shop, if you want a new one, and spend the money for one, I spent $300 for mine that for most people is less then half a month of gas, or look around for a used bike.)
Picture of my messenger bag
Car free is not that hard, the bigs problem going car free is the fear of going car free, just try it, pick a day to do it, and do it. leave the car at home and bike to work.
Also other options are Public transportation.
I just saw on the news that there is a sniper attacking a hospital in New Orleans. This is preventing the people from evacuating the hospital. This is just showing bad people can be.
With New Orleans flooding right now, and not all the pumps working, they know they will not be able to keep up with the water that is rushing in to the city. Well I have been thinking about it, and have come up with a VERY controversial idea for how to handle the problem. Here it is; let New Orleans fully flood. I can hear every one now yelling “WHAT?!?! You are an insensitive jerk!!!!” Well let me defend myself before you pass judgment. First and foremost I wish to extend my condolences to any one that lost any loved ones, or property down there. Next for now keep as many pumps as they can going to slow down the flooding so that they can continue the rescue efforts to help minimize the loss of life, which is way to high now as it is. But after the people are rescues (things can be replaced, people can not be) Rebuild New Orleans further in land and let the old New Orleans stay under water. This has some benefits in my opinion. First they will no longer be under sea level. Second it will be cheaper to rebuild further in land since there will not have to be the chemical clean up costs. If we drain New Orleans all those chemicals that spilled will settle into the soil, causing health problems, if we let them get washed out to sea, it might dilute them enough that they might not have as bad of an environmental impact. This will give New Orleans a new tourist attraction, “cave” diving in the old New Orleans, and in 50 to 60 years the old New Orleans would become a coral reef. Also the new reef might help buffer stronger waves, and help prevent future flooding of New Orleans.
Again my heart and prays go out to any one that lost loved ones, or property there, and I hope they can rescue the last of the survivors that are stranded right now.
Tonight I was listing to the Short Wave radio and I was picking up a radio show called Coast to Coast AM. They have some guy on that is claiming that the Russian government causes the hurricanes. He claims that Ivan, and Katrina were caused by them, part of his proof is that they have Russian names (never mind that the names were picked 6 years ago). He is also claiming that the technology can turn on and off hurricane at will. The nutes that are out there are just to funny. He keeps talking about “they”. Yes those “they” that are always behind all crazy conspiracy theories. He is claiming that they are “hyper-dimensional” What ever that means. I should turn of the receiver, before I split a side open, my side hurts now from laughing so hard. Also they are talking about the USSR, some one should let them know that the USSR fell in 1998.
Hay now is it my time to put out my own conspiracy theory? Well here it is, the people on short wave are trying to kill me by making me laugh myself to death 😉
Today I wanted to keep an ear on the 147.09 repeater, but I was going to be working at my church. I looked up the manual for my Alinco so I could find out how to setup the cross band repeat. It was not as hard to do as I first thought it would be, but at the same time it was not easy to get going. It also has some very odd ways to configure it. It also seams that Microsoft had a part in programming the way to configure it. You have to turn the radio off and back on (rebooting the radio) to turn on the cross band repeat, and then again to turn off the cross band repeat. But it work and I was able to listen and talk on the 09 repeater via a 440 simplex link to the Alinco and the Alinco would pass my signal on to the 09 repeater and send the back response from the 09 repeater. The only problem I had was that the radio would not accept any new transmission if there was already one coming in. Not that I wanted to talk over top of others, but tonight there were a few people that were not letting the repeater drop before they would key up after the other person would un-key. In fact I had to turn off the TOT of the radio, it was set to 5 minutes, and they tripped the TOT 5 times in a row, I had to turn off the radio and back on (Yes that is 35 minutes of the repeater open, they would some times let the beep [repeater reset] happen but then key up well before the repeater would fully drop, there is about a 5 second period between the reset beep and when the repeater drops.) So I could listen to the stuff I had to turn off the TOT on the radio, since no mater how long I could set it to (max 10 minutes) they would trip it.
It was a fun experiment, and I found that it works and works well, so if I ever need it in the future I have it there to use, and if you have no idea what I was talking about don’t worry, this post was more geared to a ham radio audiance.
Why was I interested in monitoring the 09 repeater? Well the NWS was talking about how it might get bad earlier in the day so I wanted to keep an ear out for any possible skywarn net.
Well today as posted about earlier that I pulled out the two other radios. I got the power adapter built. I am supplying the power to the Alinco that is being used by the Icom. I also tuned up an antenna for my Alinco, it works well, only has a 1.4:1 SWR on both bands. At first today I thought the radio was damaged because I tried a different antenna, it is a “real” dual band antenna, but it does not work at all, there is so much reflected power that the radio’s output power is cut so low that it does not even register on the power meter. But an hour after trying this antenna, I tried one of my other antenna, it is just a mag mount and a nineteen inch rod in it. I worked on it till I tuned it down on 2 meters, when I got it down to 1.2:1 on 2 meters I started to work on 70 centimeters, got it down to 1.4:1 then I checked out the SWR on 2 meters and it read 1.4:1 this time, so I figured it was below the 1.5:1 that they say is the area you want to keep it in, so I was happy and just left it there. Then I started to make another 100 feet antenna out of speaker wire, for a HF reciver that a friend gave me about a year and a half ago. I am not have as much luck with it as I wish I was having with it. But right now I am barley getting something but, I have only spent about one hour tuning thought the bands, so I can not really say one way or the other. I stopped playing with that antenna because the mic on the Icom started to stick and I could not get it to unkey. At that point I was in a QSO with some other hams, so I just jumped over to the Alinco and turned off the Icom. I took the mic off and took it apart to see what was wrong. I was able to find where it was sticking but I can not say what was wrong, nor did I know how to fix it. But when I put it back together it seams to be working again. Another ham suggested to me I might want to try (the next time the mic sticks) cleaning the parts that are sticking inside the mic with some pure alcohol.
I fiannly got the attena tuner today, and have set it up. Now here are some pics of my setup. First here is my setup where I sit to operate the radio. You can see the ham computer I have setup, the ham radio and the tuner, and my late mothers old shortwave radio (a[…]
While my FT-891 works great with my ATAS-120A Antenna on my car. But I been unable to get a good attena working for my FT-710, I been tring to use 2 ham sticks setup in a dipol setup, but I can not get the SWR under 5:1, so I kind of given up, so I[…]
Back on Nov 24th I went out to the DE Ham Radio Outlet, to get a Yaesu FT-710 feild. While I was out there I also picked up a FT-891 for my car, since I recently got my general upgread for my ham license. I have not had a chance to play with the FT-710[…]
The other day I went down to a local home depot to pick up some stuff to build a small attena mast for my balcony. One of the items I needed was a block of wood for the base. When I went to the wood section the guy there was helping another customer cut some[…]
Back on Oct 11, I took the test to upgread my ham licnense from Tech to general, yesterday I got the email from the FCC that my license in the database has been updated. Also last week I decided to join the ARRL. Over the years I have heard of 3 things that the ARRL[…]
Tonight I setup my 40m attena to tune around the 20m band of the ammature radio band, while I did not key up (still have yet to make any contacts on my new privileges that passing my general exam granted me) I did enjoy tuning around. It took me some time to get my attenas[…]
Well I been Furlough durning this goverment shutdown. I have decided to not waste the time. So I took a Skywarn class and got a skywarn certification. That was on Friday Oct 3rd, so now I am a weather spotter. Then last week I spent studing to upgread my Ham radio License from Technitian to[…]
For the last few years I have been off the air. And recently decided to get back on the air (Amature Radio) This was persipitated when my old car (a Scion IQ) died, the computer of it got fried. So I had to get a new car. With the change of the car I took[…]
I think Nintendo is make a mistake with the “game key cards” the new digital only game cards that Nintendo is doing. With the situation where more 3rd parties are doing those instead of a real game card. I will not buy a game that not fully on the disc or on the cart, which[…]
Well looking at the new switch 2 that is to come out soon, I originally was excited and was thinking of pre-ordering it. But after the news of both the system, and the games, my doubt started to set in. Then I looked at the launch line up, and found none that I wanted. And[…]
