Knoxville Utility Board Considers Offering Broadband

Chattanooga's EPB has done a great job with providing municipal broadband. I'd love for KUB to follow suit.

They own all the poles and I'm sure there are lots of SmartGrid advantages, too.

Wireless Charger with a Clock

This wireless charger with a clock ($19) is getting closer to my ideal Echo Dot Clock (add wireless charging and a couple of USB ports).

Eclectic Tech Podcost

I'm gonna give the ARRL's Eclectic Tech Podcast a try. The episodes aren't very long and it comes out biweekly.

Ham Radio is Dead, Long Live Ham Radio

From the "News for Nerds, Stuff that Matters" set, a discussion on the future of ham radio.

Since I've been working form home, I've been at the desk with my radios. I've not been spinning the dials on any HF bands, but scanning the local repeaters on 2m has turned up very little rag chewing. I thought folks might be talking more if they are stuck at home.

On-Line Streaming Costs

LOL

These streaming subscriptions are getting out of hand. pic.twitter.com/YgCCnEPRgq

— Dare Obasanjo (@Carnage4Life) July 9, 2020

ABP - Always Be Performing

I've heard people suggest C-SPAN, cable news, and the internet have lead to too much transparency. Compromises don't happen because politicians are always performing for their base. If they don't maintain their extreme positions, the mob attacks. That's how you get this...

via Gfycat

Bad Router

Slashdot.org: Over 100 Wi-Fi Routers Fail Major Security Test -- Protect Yourself Now

My ASUS AC3200 isn't on the list, but as always the best practices apply:

• Change the default password
• Disable remote administration from the internet*
• Turn off UPnP
• Update your firmware and automate it if possible**

* You lose some convenience since you can't make changes from anywhere, but I rarely need that ability.

** Be aware that automatic updates my introduce new bugs.

$9 Wireless Charging Pad

I need to add another wireless charging pad, since I'm working from home and I end up using different rooms depending on who is in the house.

$9 is a good deal.

Nerds Know the Answer to Fake News?

I've been reading Slashdot.org for years. I have a fairly respectable UID under 50000. (You kids get off my lawn!)

I think the moderation system there works pretty well, but I don't know if it would be up to the task of dealing with questionable content on Facebook. 

It would probably be better than "unfollowing" and "snoozing", but not as good as avoiding it all together.

Another 10 Years

I had to renew my ham license. The online process was painless. I had my FCC Registration Number (FRN) documented with my usual reference materials, so it meant I didn't have to go digging for it and avoided that headache.

I'm good for another ten years. Maybe I should actually get on the air again.