So I'm Back

Looks like I missed a lot of fun things on the radio front during the last week and I hope to get caught up. See, I wasn't here. I was there. There being Disney World (fun) and then Atlanta (not fun).

We took our daughter and went with another family to see Mickey. Six plus luggage for a fun few days in Orlando via a rented minivan. It was a blast. We saw plenty of princesses and rode lots of rides. The Toy Story Midway Mania at Hollywood Studios may be the best.

We then started home on our 600 mile return trip. Unfortunately, that put us in Atlanta as the storm hit and they closed every school, the government, and every business at the same time. Atlanta's roads couldn't handle that on a regular day much less when the roads are getting slick. At one point, it took us almost exactly an hour to go one mile. We decided to find shelter and made it to the Crown Plaza. (We were too slow in deciding to seek shelter I have determined in my AAR.) I thought the six of us would probably end up spending the night in the lobby.

There were some people there for a conference. Two of them took pity on us and decided they would bunk together and give us a room. I am so grateful for their gift. We ended up with another lady in our room that had a 15 month old with a broken leg. They were Atlanta locals, but couldn't get home either. So, five adults, two pre-school girls, and the infant. The hotel brought up a crib. The mother slept on the coach. The girls in our group had the beds and the two dads had the floor. The infant was not happy - hungry, teething, who knows - and would cry/scream every 15 minutes. I have bruises on my hips from "sleeping" on the floor. And I can't tell you how grateful I was to be there. It could have been so much worse.

Before we bedded down, I should also mention that the Crown Plaza opened up their restaurant and fed everyone for free. They were even giving away drinks.

The next day, the six of us moved four miles to home of a friend from church back in Knoxville. He and his family took us in for the night. We got hot showers and more food. I even got to watch the UT basketball game on TV. They were so generous.

We left the next morning and made it back to Knoxville yesterday afternoon - safe and sound. I'm leaving out a lot of details. It is all a bit of a blur still. But, I'm back and need to catch up on home stuff, the job search, my PMP studies, and some radio news.

I'm very happy to be home.

Gun Box

So a gun case that opens with an RFID chip on a bracelet. I'm not sure I feel that is a good idea. I guess it is no worse than having a key that can be taken. Or even a combination that you are "encouraged" to share. I do like that you can get an extra RFID sticker. Maybe put it inside a book cover.

It is a lot prettier than other gun cases I have seen. Add a couple of fake antennas and people would think it was a wireless router.

A clear positive is that it has two USB ports for charging devices.

Via Uncrate

VHS Opportunity

Looking at this chart, I may invest in VHS. I think it is due for a come-back. No DRM. No privacy issues.

Minority Report - Commerce Division

For get Sunday deliver. Forget delivery by drones. Amazon is going to use precogs to ship before you order.

Actual story at the WSJ via Slashdot.

Caldwell AR-15 Magazine Charger

This AR-15 magazine loader puts my Uplula to shame.

Worst Passwords

Here are the worst passwords of 2013.

I should be safe. Mine is:

123456password12345678qwertyabc1231234567891111111234567iloveyouadobe123123123adminletmeinphotoshop1234monkeyshawdowsunshine12345password1princessazertytrustno1000000

Books in a Twitter World

From @rablivingstone:

Via Business Insider

Logos

I like to see re-imagined logos.

Hipster NFL Logos

NBA as Football/Soccer

Prepper Cabinet

Just write a check ($14,500) and have them drop-off a fully stocked cabinet.

+ Cabinet De-Humidifier, Dry Rod
+ Power Bar - 6 Outlet, included with cabinet
+ 12 ft 20 Amp Grounded Extension Cord
+ 3 Prong Adapter
+ Master Lock with Changeable Combination
+ Adhesive Contents Decal for Interior Left Door
+ Wolfram Decal for Doors
+ Sea Bags for Taking Items with You
+ New MillenniumEnergy Bar Pack, 36,000 Calories, 5 Year Life
+ Mainstay Food Ration, 36,000 Calories, 5 Year Life
+ S.O.S Emergency Food Ration, 36,000 Calories, 5 Year Life
+ Aqua Box Case, 24 - 8 ounce water packs, 5 Year Life
+ Water Filter, Katadyn Base Camp - Gravity Blue Bag
+ Water Purification Tablets
+ Coffee Filters, Tapered, Brown, Premium - Qty 100
+ 100 Gallon Bathtub Liner, with pump & pipe
+ 5 Gallon Collapsable Water Container, Clear Plastic
+ 5 Gallon, Square Water Containers
+ 2.6 Gallon Collapsible Bucket
+ Siphon Hand Pump
+ Counter Rack for 5 Gallon Water Bottles, Silver Metal
+ Dispenser & Valve for 5 Gallon Water Bottles, 55 mm,
+ Multipurpose Threaded Valve Cap for Water Jerry Can
+ 4 ft RV hose to attach to hot water tank
+ Garden hose shut off nozzle
+ Solar Charger - Nomad 13 with Battery Pack
+ Goal Zero Guide 10 Plus Power Pack w/4 AA NiMH Rchrg Bttrs
+ Midland - Hand Crank Radio, ER102 NOA AM/FM Emg
+ Midland - 24 mile Rand Two Way Radios
+ Lanterns, Coleman CPX 6
+ Coleman CPX Rechargabel Power Cartridge
+ 100 hour liquid parafin candles, package of 6
+ Spot Light, Waypoint
+ Solar Rechargable Flashlights
+ Flashlights, Stream Light
+ Petzl Duo LED Headlamp
+ Enduro Streamlight, Small Headlamp
+ Waterproof Match Case with Stormproof Matches
+ Stormproof Matches
+ All Weather Lighter
+ Marine Rescue Flares - 4 Pack
+ Butane Cartridge for Lighter
+ Marine Rescue Horn, 8 Oz
+ 12 Pack Glow Sticks, 3 Colors - Orion
+ 3 minute smoke flare, 40,000 cubic feet, Pack of 12
+ 1 minue smoke flare, 13,000 cu ft, Pack of 12
+ Orion USCG Orange Distress Flag
+ Orange Spray Paint
+ Rite n the Rain Full Size Notebook
+ Lumber Crayon
+ Pencils, box of dozen
+ Batteries - AA, Rechargeable, NiMH
+ Batteries - D, Alkaline
+ First Aid Kit - AMK Guide 1
+ Women’s First Aid Kit
+ Trauma Pack
+ SOL 2 Person Emergency Bivy
+ 12 x 14 Tarp
+ General Poncho
+ Hot Hands Hand Warmers, Box
+ 100 ft bundle of 3/8 Roap
+ Surgical Masks, 3M N95HC Particulate & Surgical,R Qty 20
+ Nitrile gloves, 30 pack
+ Collapsable Sea to Summit Bucket, 2.6 Gallon
+ Fresh Bath Body Wipe - 10”x8”, 8 pack
+ Dial Soap - 4 Bars
+ Luggable Loo
+ Lava Hand Soap
+ Toilet Paper - Charmin
+ Cloth Hand Towels - 18 Pack, Micro Fiber
+ Luggable Loo Double Duty Bags - 32
+ Therma Cell - Olive Green Standard
+ Therma Cell Replacement Pack 4 Butane, 12 Mats
+ Natrapell 8 hour, 12 individual wipes - DEET Free
+ Bleach - 1 Gallon, Concentrated Bleach
+ Vinegar - Household 2 Qt
+ Contractors Weight 42 Gallon Plastic Bags, 24 count
+ Propane Camp Stove, 2 Burner Coleman Titan
+ Propane Tank Adaptor - to grill style propane tanks
+ Propane Cylinders Small for Stove
+ Coleman 5 Pc Family Cookset, non-stick, red
+ Camp Coffee Pot, 9 Cup blue enamel
+ Polycabronate Plates, Bowls & Cups - 4 Setting
+ Box Disposable Silverware
+ 3 Piece, Non Stick Camp Utensil Kit, Spatula, Fork & Spoon
+ Sturdy Can Opener
+ P-38 GI Can Opener
+ Collapsable Sea to Summit Sinks
+ Kitchen Towells - 12 Pack, 100% cotton
+ Dish Brush, 12 inch
+ Hard Nylon Scrub Pads, Scotchbrite Heavy Duty Pads, 3 pk
+ Paper Towell Roll
+ Kitchen Knife
+ Liquid Dish Soap - Dawn Ultra 24 oz
+ Box of ZipLoc Bags - 1gallon, 24 count
+ Fuel Siphon Kit
+ Funnel - Goose Neck, Fuel, Galvanized
+ XRP Sawsall & Hammer Drill w/Batteries & Case, 18 Volt
+ Sawsall Course Pruning Blades - 12”, 6 pack
+ Sawsall Metal Blades - 9” General Purpose, 6 pack
+ Drill & Tool Bit MultiPack (3 Sets), 77 Pc Drl,Drv,Impc Ready
+ Biel Fire Axe Tool & Hydrant Wrench
+ Gerber Camp Axe, Extra Long
+ Bow Saw - 36”
+ Bow Saw Blades, 36” Replacement Blades
+ Crow Bar - 36”- Bostich
+ Sledge Hammer - 8 lb, Fiberglass Handle Smooth & Check Faced
+ Short Handle - 24” Mini Fixed Blade Square Shovel
+ Short Handle - 24” Mini Fixed Blade Spade Shovel
+ 18” Bolt Cutters
+ Framing Hammer, 22 oz, steel shank, checkered face
+ Crescent Wrench - 12”
+ 8 Piece Screwdriver Set
+ Channel Lock Pliers - 12” Square Bite
+ Sheet Metal Shears, Yellow center cut, 18 gauge
+ Vice Grip - 12”
+ Razor Knife - Classic 99
+ Razor knife blades, 50 pack
+ Box of 3” Coated Coarse Thread Deck Screws, Phillips
+ Nails, 16 Nails, 5 lbs, Common, Bright
+ Canvas Military Style Tool Bag
+ Wire Nuts, min 2, #14, max 4, #12 - qty 100
+ Small Zip Ties, 8” - 30 Pack
+ Large Zip Ties, 18” - 15 Pack
+ Electrical Tape, 60 ft
+ Duct Tape, 1.88 x 55 yds, Highgrade Scotch
+ 4” Pipe Plug, Threaded, Test Titan Mechanical Plug
+ 3” Pipe Plug, Threaded, Test Titan Mechanical Plug
+ Goggles
+ Safety Glasses/Goggles
+ Ear Plugs, 8 count, multicolor, foam disposable
+ Dust Masks - Box of 20, Fiberglass & Gypsum
+ Rubber Coated Work Gloves - XL
+ Leather Work Gloves - Large, Cowhide Basic
+ Leather Work Gloves - XL, Cowhide Basic
+ Blaze Orange Work Gloves
+ Utility Shutoff Tag - Water
+ Utility Shutoff Tag - Gas
+ Utility Shutoff Tag - Electric, with double sided tape

Via Uncrate

Ten-Tec

Ten-Tec, here in my backyard, is having a change of leadership.  It sounds like they are staying committed to ham radio for now. I've heard some speculate that might not always be the case.