Happy New Year 2012

Don't forget to see

www.RipleyCounty.net

A year to remember.

The most remembered was my moon bounce (EME) contacts, two Ripley County newspapers published the stories. Lots of new friends were made and the two people that have made my life a pure nightmare seem to have let up on the lies and harassment. We were blessed with a new dog called Taco. A new form of Ham Radio digital communication was set up called JT65HF, hundreds of contacts with very low power (QRP) were achieved. A new tri-band yagi beam was erected and performed perfect allowing contacts worldwide. My wind turbine and solar panels were the talk of the town. My web page business (Ripley Computer Service) prospered. My wife and I were able to celibate our 45th wedding anniversary. We spent $$$$ on squirrel and bird feed. A new web cam was placed on the town square. Live streaming audio from my digital radio scanner was set up and continues to have many listeners. Our health continues to be very good. There are lots of other good things that have taken place and I am looking forward to the coming of 2012......... Jack

Christmas

Christmas is both a sacred religious holiday and a worldwide cultural and commercial phenomenon. For two millennia, people around the world have been observing it with traditions and practices that are both religious and secular in nature. Christians celebrate Christmas Day as the anniversary of the birth of Jesus of Nazareth, a spiritual leader whose teachings form the basis of their religion. Popular customs include exchanging gifts, decorating Christmas trees, attending church, sharing meals with family and friends and, of course, waiting for Santa Claus to arrive. December 25–Christmas Day–has been a federal holiday in the United States since 1870.

From:

http://www.history.com

NORAD Santa Tracker

Watch larger format on YouTube

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas

Click here for your card

From Jack & Betty

Patsy Cline - Again

Back just about a year ago I wrote this same post. Sometimes my mine wonders of years ago, Today it stopped on the great songs of Patsy Cline. I played a few songs but remembered a past post I had done in this Blog. A quick search found this one, Yes its a repeat post, but I still think it to be a great repeat. So I give you the Late Great Patsy Cline again..... Jack

.......................................

I was setting in a club bar having a beer after the day was done when a young couple came in. The male ordered a beer and the girl ordered a coke, it was plane to see the girl was under 21. She strolled back to the back where the juke box was located. She stood infront of it for quite a while, she then retured to the bar and said to the barmaid,"What kind of a bar is this? there is no Patsy Cline songs on that juke box". This incident has always stuck in my mine because this cute little girl was not even 21 years old and Patsy Cline had died some 20+ years before she was born. This just shows that Patsy Cline's music will live forever. Hear some of her songs on YouTube and read about her life at Wikipedia
See/hear a Youtube video of Patsy

First class stamp

US first class stamp will increase to 45 cents on January 22, 2012. Postcards will go up to 32 cents. Postage to Canada and Mexico will be 85 cents, and to all other countries $1.05. Don't you wish it were 1968 again?

Flying Tigers

The Tigers' shark-faced fighters remain among the most recognizable of any individual combat aircraft of World War II, and they demonstrated innovative tactical victories when the news in the U.S. was filled with little more than stories of defeat at the hands of the Japanese forces.
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1st Flight December 17, 1903

The Wright Flyer (often retrospectively referred to as Flyer I or 1903 Flyer) was the first powered aircraft, designed and built by the Wright brothers. They flew it four times on December 17, 1903 near the Kill Devil Hills, about four miles south of Kitty Hawk, North Carolina, U.S. The U.S. Smithsonian Institution describes the aircraft as "...the first powered, heavier-than-air machine to achieve controlled, sustained flight with a pilot aboard." The Fédération Aéronautique Internationale described the 1903 flight during the 100th anniversary in 2003 as "the first sustained and controlled heavier-than-air powered flight.
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New Madrid earthquakes Dec 16,1811

The 1811-1812 New Madrid earthquakes were an intense intraplate earthquake series beginning with an initial pair of very large earthquakes on December 16, 1811. These earthquakes remain the most powerful earthquakes ever to hit the eastern United States in recorded history. These events, as well as the seismic zone of their occurrence, were named for the Mississippi River town of New Madrid, then part of the Louisiana Territory, now within Missouri.
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From Wikipedia

F-22_Raptor THE END

The Lockheed Martin/Boeing F-22 Raptor is a single-seat, twin-engine fifth-generation supermaneuverable fighter aircraft that uses stealth technology. It was designed primarily as an air superiority fighter, but has additional capabilities that include ground attack, electronic warfare, and signals intelligence roles. Lockheed Martin Aeronautics is the prime contractor and is responsible for the majority of the airframe, weapon systems and final assembly of the F-22. Program partner Boeing Defense, Space & Security provides the wings, aft fuselage, avionics integration, and training systems.
Read More at:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lockheed_Martin_F-22_Raptor

FOR SALE

Very nice desktop computer
Pentium 4 CPU 3.3 Gig
Windows XP Pro
1 Gig RAM
225 Gig Hard Drive
R/W DVD & Floppy
Wireless Keyboard & Mouse
No monitor
$199.00 Cash or PayPal
jack@wb9otx.com
812-689-5960

Here's your Christmas Card

http://wb9otx.com/card/

And

http://ripleycounty.net/card/card.htm

SCAM ALERT

Dear Customer,
For security reasons, your credit card has been blocked.
As a result of unusual activity, we see that someone has used
your credit card without your permission, for your protection, we
blocked the credit card.
Your case ID Number: 4DQCMW1WZTIJG
To reactivate your card, download the attached form and follow
the step to update the information contained in your credit card.
Note: Failure to verify the records will result in suspension of
your credit card.
Your safety and our responsibility to you .. thanks
Customer Service Support.
Fri, 9 Dec 2011 17:55:38 +0900

December 7, 1941 a date which will live in infamy

On Sunday morning, December 7, 1941 America's naval base in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii was attacked by the forces of the Empire of Japan. More than 2,400 Americans were killed and more than 1,100 were wounded. The attack sank four U.S. Navy battleships and damaged four more. It also damaged or sank three cruisers, three destroyers, one minelayer and damaged 188 aircraft. The day after the attack, the United States declared war on Japan and entered World War II. President Franklin Roosevelt, in a speech to congress, stated that the bombing of Pearl Harbor was "a date which will live in infamy"

Read More

Hear Franklin Roosevelt - Pearl Harbor Address

From: Wikipedia & YouTube

Dec. 5th 1945 - Flight 19 Lost

Flight 19, a squadron of five U.S. naval TBF Avenger torpedo bombers, disappeared in the area now known as the Bermuda Triangle.\\\\

Read more from

DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY

Pan Am -The End 12-4-91

Pan American World Airways, which was the principal international airline of the United States and which was credited with many innovations, ended operations.

Read More

2001 – Dec 2 Beginning of the end

Less than two months after disclosing accounting violations, Texas-based energy firm Enron filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, evaporating nearly $11 billion in shareholder wealth.

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If you love dogs

See full screen

Happy Birthday Mark Twain 176

If you tell the truth, you don't have to remember anything.

Mark Twain

More Twain quotes

This post dedicated to the StoneQueen

SCAM ALERT

The IRS does not contact
you via e-mail

If you receive this email .... Delete it ....

Do not open the attachment.

Dear Taxpayer!

You are encouraged to pay a penalty for the failure to file income tax returns prior to January 31, 2011.

Note, IRC [Section 6038(b)(1)]

provides for a monetary penalty of $10,000 for each [Form 5471]

that is filed after the due date of the income tax return or does not include the complete and accurate information described in [Section 6038(a)].

No penalty will be imposed if the company shows that the late filing was due to reasonable cause.

For more information please refer to attached file.

Thanks,

Internal Revenue Service United States Department of the Treasury.

Links and attachments removed

Carl E. (Eddie) Demaree, 73 of Osgood

Carl E. (Eddie) Demaree, 73 of Osgood passed away Wednesday November 23, 2011 at Margaret Mary Hospital in Batesville. He was born May 19, 1938 in Milan, IN the son of Charles E. and Grace (Patrick) Demaree. He married Marjorie (Knowlton) Demaree September 19, 1959, and she survives. Eddie was a Heavy Equipment Operator for the International Union of Operating Engineers Local 181 since 1959. Eddie was a member of the F&AM Milan Masonic lodge #31. Eddie enjoyed gardening, raising tomatoes, car racing, fishing, and hunting.

Eddie is survived by his wife Marjorie A. Demaree of Osgood, Daughters: Shannon D. Demaree of Batesville, Suzanne C. Grigsby of Osgood. Brother: Jack Demaree of Versailles. Sisters: Fern Strimple of Columbus, IN. Norma Lee Meachum of IL, Vivian Storie of Madison, IN. Two Granddaughters: Carlene J. Eaton and Augusta W. Grigsby, nieces, nephews, cousins and a host of friends. He was preceded in death by his parents, two brothers Charles F. Demaree, James Collinsworth, and two sisters: Faye Sloan, and Edna Horton.

Funeral services will be Sunday November 27, 2011, 2PM at Laws-Carr-Moore Funeral Home, Milan with Pastor Tommy Beatley of the Delaware United Methodist Church. officiating. Burial will follow in Marble Corner Cemetery in Versailles. Visitation will be 5-8PM Saturday November 26 at the funeral home. Masonic service will also be Saturday 8PM. Memorials may be made to the Family. Laws-Carr-Moore Funeral Home 707 S. Main St. PO Box 243, Milan, In. 47031 is entrusted with arrangements.

Thanksgiving Day

In 1621, the Plymouth colonists and Wampanoag Indians shared an autumn harvest feast that is acknowledged today as one of the first Thanksgiving celebrations in the colonies. For more than two centuries, days of thanksgiving were celebrated by individual colonies and states. It wasn't until 1863, in the midst of the Civil War, that President Abraham Lincoln proclaimed a national Thanksgiving Day to be held each November.

Killing Lincoln

If you are a Civil War buff or just like a very good interesting book to read you will enjoy Killing Lincoln. I know that you die hard democrats do not care for the author, get over it, put Bill out of your mind and just enjoy the story. I must confess I did not know the history of this war but I found myself enjoying this great true story and at the same time getting a history lesson. I downloaded the audio version thinking I would burn it to CD so to listen on my set top player or in my car, but after unzipping the file I found it to be in a format that would not play with the standard default player (windows media player) that comes on all Window's OS computers. In order to use the downloaded file you must find, download, and install a program to convert it to the standard MP3 format. This is above most users ability. So I do not recommend getting the book this way unless you are an advanced computer user. Another note, it takes about five hours to download with a very fast broadband internet connection. If you have an Amazon Kindle you can read it for $12.99.

B-2 stealth bomber first displayed 11-22-88

The first B-2 stealth bomber of the United States Air Force was first displayed in public at Air Force Plant 42 in Palmdale, California.
Read More

from: wikipedia

Dog Days

"Dog Days" are the hottest, most sultry days of summer. In the Northern Hemisphere, the dog days of summer are most commonly experienced in the months of July and August, which typically observe the warmest summer temperatures. In the Southern Hemisphere, they typically occur in January and February, in the midst of the austral summer. The name comes from the ancient belief that Sirius, also called the Dog Star, in close proximity to the sun was responsible for the hot weather.
Read More

from: wikipedia

Sunday November 20th 2011

Today:
A gloomy overcast morning but the temperature is warm for this date. The sun has settled down slightly with a flux reading of 140. This reading tells me the Ham bands will be good but not great. I have the radio set on 28 Mhz. and see lots of stations coming in from Europe. I will try to contact a few later. I worked a fellow from Iowa last evening that was only using 2 watts of power on JT65HF mode. Yesterday I tightened up some of the hardware on my moon bounce antennas that had loosened up with the wind we have had for the past few days. I had wanted to take down the array for the winter, but its not going to happen. It is a big job that I can't do by myself. We will see if the wind and ice do it in this Winter. I talked to Mike (k9mdc) from Greensburg this morning. He has installed an antenna that I had suggested. He likes it and tells me it works on the bands 75 through 10 meters. I will put together one for field day next June. I have a best friend in the hospital and I am hoping he is doing better. I received a report yesterday and it was not good. I wish I could do something to get him back to normal. He was one of the fellows I eat biscuts and gravy with each Saturday morning, I am hoping he can rejoin us soon. My wife Betty got a new I-phone and after a glitch with the SIM card it is now working fine. She also received a new Kindle Fire from Amazon. This little jewel is fantastic. I have it on the "N" network wifi system here at home. It is $200 but this is much less than the tablet computers costing about $500. It has internet and email for free and also features all the Kindle books and movies. I don't know why you would want to watch a movie on the tiny screen it has, but to each his own. If you are not near a public wifi it will still connect but it will draw from your data plan. One draw back it looks to me if you would drop it to a hard surface it would be all over. I checked on a case but found them very costly. She will have to be careful with it. I see that Natalie Wood is all over the news. One of my favorite movies was "Inside Daisy Clover" and I haven't seen it for years. I have hundreds of DVD movies but it is not one of them. I looked online to see if I could buy it and I could but the price was too much for me. I will see if I can find it from one of my geeky comrades. Anyone out there have it ?? I did want to tell you about the wonderful program South Ripley students produced for the many Veterans that attended on November 11th. A very well prepared breakfast was enjoyed before the program. A big thank you goes out to the students and staff. ......... Jack

Gettysburg Address - 11-19, 1863

The Gettysburg Address is a speech by U.S. President Abraham Lincoln and is one of the most well-known speeches in United States history.[1] It was delivered by Lincoln during the American Civil War, on the afternoon of Thursday, November 19, 1863, at the dedication of the Soldiers' National Cemetery in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, four and a half months after the Union armies defeated those of the Confederacy at the Battle of Gettysburg.


Four score and seven years ago our fathers brought forth on this continent a new nation, conceived in liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal.
Now we are engaged in a great civil war, testing whether that nation, or any nation, so conceived and so dedicated, can long endure. We are met on a great battle-field of that war. We have come to dedicate a portion of that field, as a final resting place for those who here gave their lives that that nation might live. It is altogether fitting and proper that we should do this.
But, in a larger sense, we can not dedicate, we can not consecrate, we can not hallow this ground. The brave men, living and dead, who struggled here, have consecrated it, far above our poor power to add or detract. The world will little note, nor long remember what we say here, but it can never forget what they did here. It is for us the living, rather, to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced. It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us—that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion—that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain—that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom—and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.

From: wikipedia.org

The Big Wheel Story - Again

This little story goes around just before Christmas each and every year. Is it true ? I know it is, as I knew the girl, the cop, and the owner of the Big Wheel. Read this story & then be like the fellows at the truck stop.
Make someone happy tomorrow........... Jack


In September 1960, I woke up one morning with six hungry babies and just 75 cents in my pocket. Their ather was gone. The boys ranged from three months to seven years; their sister was two. Their Dad had never been much more than a presence they feared. Whenever they heard his tires crunch on the gravel driveway they would scramble to hide under their beds. He did manage to leave $15 a week to buy groceries. Now that he had decided to leave, there would be no more beatings, but no food either. If there was a welfare system in effect in southern Indiana at that time, I certainly knew nothing about it. I scrubbed the kids until they looked brand new and then put on my best homemade dress. I loaded them into the rusty old 51 Chevy and drove off to find a job. The seven of us went to every factory, store and restaurant in our small town. No luck. The kids stayed crammed into the car and tried to be quiet while I tried to convince whomever would listen that I was willing to learn or do anything. I had to have a job. Still no luck. The last place we went to, just a few miles out of town, was an old Root Beer Barrel drive-in that had been converted to a truck stop. It was called the Big Wheel. An old lady named Granny owned the place and she peeked out of the window from time to time at all those kids. She needed someone on the graveyard shift, 11 at night until seven in the morning. She paid 65 cents an hour and I could start that night. I raced home and called the teenager down the street that baby-sat for people. I bargained with her to come and sleep on my sofa for a dollar a night. She could arrive with her pajamas on and thekids would already be asleep. This seemed like a good arrangement to her, so we made a deal. That night when the little ones and I knelt to say our prayers we all thanked God for finding Mommy a job. And so I started at the Big Wheel. When I got home in the mornings I woke the baby-sitter up and sent her home with one dollar of my tip money--fully half of what I averaged every night. As the weeks went by, heating bills added a strain to my meager wage. The tires on the old Chevy had the consistency of penny balloons and began to leak. I had to fill them with air on the way to work and again every morning before I could go home. One bleak fall morning, I dragged myself to the car to go home and found four tires in the back seat. New tires! There was no note, no nothing, just those beautiful brand new tires. Had angels taken up residence in Indiana? I wondered. I made a deal with the local service station. In exchange for his mounting the new tires, I would clean up his office. I remember it took me a lot longer to scrub his floor than it did for him to do the tires. I was now working six nights instead of five and it still wasn't enough. Christmas was coming and I knew there would be no money for toys for the kids. I found a can of red paint and started repairing and painting some oldtoys. Then I hid them in the basement so there would be something for Santa to deliver on Christmas morning. Clothes were a worry too. I was sewing patches on top of patches on the boys pants and soon they would be too far gone to repair. On Christmas Eve the usual customers were drinking coffee in the Big Wheel. These were the truckers, Les, Frank, and Jim, and a state trooper named Joe. A few musicians were hanging around after a gig at the Legion and were dropping nickels in the pinball machine. The regulars all just sat around and talked through the wee hours of the morning and then left to get home before the sun! came up. When it was time for me to go home at seven o'clock on Christmas morning I hurried to the car. I was hoping the kids wouldn't wake up before I managed to get home and get the presents from the basement and place them under the tree. (We had cut down a small cedar tree by the side of the road down by the dump.) It was still dark and I couldn't see much, but there appeared to be some dark shadows in the car-or was that just a trick of the night? Something certainly looked different, but it was hard to tell what. When I reached the car I peered warily into one of the side windows. Then my jaw dropped in amazement. My old battered Chevy was filled full to the top with boxes of all shapes and sizes. I quickly opened the driver's side door, scrambled inside and kneeled in the front facing the back seat. Reaching back, I pulled off the lid of the top box. Inside was whole case of little blue jeans, sizes 2-10! I looked inside another box: It was full of shirts to go with the jeans. Then I peeked inside someof the other boxes: Therewas candy and nuts and bananas and bags of groceries. There was an enormous ham for baking, and canned vegetables and potatoes. There was pudding and Jell-O and cookies, pie filling and flour. There was a whole bag of laundry supplies and cleaning items. And there were five toy trucks and one beautiful little doll. As I drove back through empty streets as the sun slowly rose on most amazing Christmas Day of my life, I was sobbing with gratitude. And I will never forget the joy on the faces of my little ones that precious morning. Yes, there were angels in Indiana that long-ago December. And they all hung out at the Big Wheel truck stop.

***SCAM*** Direct Deposit payment ID 42868876300 ***SCAM***

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Dear Customer,

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ACH Network Rules Department

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Phone: 703-561-1100 Fax: 703-787-0996

Using Google Public DNS

You may want to change your DNS servers as I did a long time ago. I have never encountered a problem using Google DNS. I think it makes your pages load much faster and is safe to use. Give it a try, read how to do it HERE.

Veterans Day - November 11

http://www.va.gov/opa/vetsday/

'Those who live today remember those who do not. Those who know freedom remember today those who gave up life for freedom.'

President Reagan

1988 Veterans Day speech

Happy Birthday Marines - Nov 10th, 1775

http://www.marines.com/?WT.srch=1&WT.mc_id=G_MARINE_CORPS_B#hps03

Edmund Fitzgerald sinks in Lake Superior November 10, 1975

The SS Edmund Fitzgerald was a 729-foot (222 m) Great Lakes freighter that made headlines after sinking in Lake Superior in a massive storm on November 10, 1975, with near hurricane-force winds and 35-foot (11 m) waves. The Fitzgerald suddenly sank approximately 17 miles (27 km) from the entrance to Whitefish Bay, at a depth of 530 feet (160 m). Her crew of 29 perished without sending any distress signals, and no bodies were recovered; she is the largest boat to have sunk in the Great Lakes. The Fitzgerald carried taconite from mines near Duluth, Minnesota, to iron works in Detroit, Toledo and other ports. Many theories, books, studies and expeditions have examined the cause of the sinking. Her sinking is one of the most well-known disasters in the history of Great Lakes shipping and is the subject of Gordon Lightfoot's 1976 hit song, "The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald".

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How Stuff Works

• How WiFi Works
  
• WiFi Quiz
  
• How WAP Works
• How Routers Work
  
• 5 Tips to Improve Your WiFi Connection
  
• How to Secure Your Home Network
  
• How WAP Works
• How Municipal WiFi Works
• How Home Networking Works
• How Firewalls Work
• How Internet Infrastructure Works
• How Virtual Private Networks Work

This is a test an only a test - Nov. 9th

Nationwide Test of the Emergency Alert System

Wednesday, November 9 at 2:00 PM EST

Read the full story

nightmare 2 days

After a nightmare 2 days with my ISP ComCast I still have a major problem with my network that provides uploads. This is my live video, live sound, and live camera images. I will attempt to configure it on Monday with the help of a professional located in Shelbyville. Wish me luck ........... Jack

FLASH 1

After hours on the phone Comcast tells me the problem is in my system. Funny, it all worked prior to Comcast installed a different modem and static IP. I will call Comcast again today and try to convince them to put me back as I was before the modem and IP change. I have over ten hours into this nightmare. I hope I wake up today. ...... Jack

Flash 2

After another 1 1/2 hours on the phone with Comcast idiots I have been sent back to where I was a week ago.
I will install the camera back to its location on the roof in the morning. All should be back to where it was in a day or two as I have to configure all the components after the hard reset. This has been a very trying few days for me as Comcast kept telling me it was in my configuration, It was not. As soon as I reverted back to my old modem all began to work again. I have over 12 hours trying to straiten this Comcast mess out............ I knew it was their fault and I was not at fault. Give me a few days to get the web addresses and equipment back configured correctly. Stay tuned .......... Jack

Nov. 6th 1935 - Edwin Howard Armstrong

Before the Institute of Radio Engineers in New York, American electrical engineer and inventor Edwin Howard Armstrong presented his study on using frequency modulation for radio broadcasting. Read more about Armstrong from wikipedia.

I am old enough to remember when FM radio was was just a sideline of the big AM stations. In the 1950s and even in the early 60s there were few FM home receivers and no cars had FM. I can't remember the first car I owned that had an FM radio, I know my 57 chev had none. It must have been in the late 60s or early 70s and I'm sure it was an option. The first FM radio was purchased with the money from the sale of a calf. It was an A and B battery powered and the cost was about $60. That was big money back then. The 90 volt big battery was short lived and cost about $6. The FM stations only played what is now known as elevator music with no or very few commercials. As a kid I did not listen to the FM band very often. Armstrong received a very undeserved welcome with his invention by RCA, and Westinghouse. .......... Jack

falling behind on sleep ?

If you've been falling behind on sleep, this is the weekend to fall back into bed for an extra hour and take advantage of the transition from daylight saving time to standard time. ("fall back") The change officially takes place at 2 a.m. daylight saving time on Sunday, Nov. 6th, which instantly becomes 1 a.m. standard time

The last flying B-29

I have been aboard this aircraft a few years ago. See the video I have online HERE
........ Jack

Enjoy this 7:50 minute video. The Mustang intercept is perfect.

This one will positively warm your heart. The only remaining flying B-29 in the world.

http://www.eaavideo.org/video.aspx?v=1143348987001

A Sister’s Eulogy for Steve Jobs

Mona Simpson is a novelist and a professor of English at the University of California, Los Angeles. She delivered this eulogy for her brother, Steve Jobs, on Oct. 16 at his memorial service at the Memorial Church of Stanford University.

Read the Eulogy here

IN THE MOOD - GLENN MILLER ORCHESTRA

One of my most favorite songs. ........... Jack

A Salute to Veterans’ Concert - 1Nov. 6, 2011

We would like to invite you to the Veteran's Day concert at the Indiana State Museum in Indianapolis. The Indianapolis Municipal Band
Dr. Daniel P. Bolin, Music Director
Mr. Leroy Lane, Associate Director
Presents
A Salute to Veterans’ Concert
Sunday, November 6, 2011 – 3:00 pm
The Indiana State Museum
650 W. Washington St. Indianapolis, IN 46204
Guest Conductor
Col. Michael J. Colburn, Director
“The President’s Own” United States Marine Band Washington, DC

Amanda Lewallen
Events Committee
USO of Indiana

The Boeing 787 Dreamliner

The Boeing 787 Dreamliner(pictured) makes its
inaugural commercial flight, from Tokyo toHong Kong.

The Boeing 787 Dreamliner is a long-range, mid-size wide-body, twin-engine jet airliner developed by Boeing Commercial Airplanes. It seats 210 to 290 passengers, depending on the variant. Boeing states that it is the company's most fuel-efficient airliner and the world's first major airliner to use composite materials for most of its construction. The 787 consumes 20% less fuel than the similarly-sized Boeing 767. Some of its distinguishing features include a four-panel windshield, noise-reducing chevrons on its engine nacelles, and a smoother nose contour.

Read more

Taking Chance

Not very often do I see a movie that has no cuss words or sex. I have watched this movie three time and in time will watch it again I'm sure. It is a very sad movie and carries a true story. You can rent it or buy it from Amizon.com The story line hit home with me as I did a video for Cpl. John C. Bishop USMC when his body was returned home to Versailles. Watch the movie, you will like it...... Jack

.....................................................................

Based on the true experiences of Lt. Colonel Michael Strobl, who wrote eloquently of them in a widely circulated 2004 article, Taking Chance is a profoundly emotional look at the military rituals taken to honor its war dead, as represented by a fallen Marine killed in Iraq, Lance Corporal Chance Phelps. Working as a strategic analyst at Marine Corps Base Quantico in VA, Lt. Col. Strobl (Kevin Bacon) learns that Phelps had once lived in his hometown, and volunteers to escort the body to its final resting place in Wyoming. As Strobl journeys across America, he discovers the great diligence and dignity in how the military, and all those involved with preparing and transporting the body, handle their duties. Equally important, he encounters hundreds of people affected by Chances death, a vast majority of whom never knew him. This collective grieving eventually causes Lt. Col. Strobl, a veteran of Desert Storm now assigned to office duty, to probe his own guilt about not re-deploying to Iraq for the current conflict. Arriving in Wyoming, Lt. Col. Strobl completes his catharsis when he encounters Chances gracious family and friends, and discovers an extraordinary outpouring of community support.

Freddy Cannon

After posting the below video I watched Freddie singing Palisade Park. This song was a favorite of mine, but my girlfriend hated it. This was because everytime we were riding around in my '57 Chev I would turn the volume up very very loud when it came on. At any rate this song sure brought back good memories for an 'ol geezer like me......... Jack

Frederick Anthony Picariello Jr. (born December 4, 1939), known as Freddy Cannon, is an American rock and roll singer, whose biggest international hits included "Tallahassee Lassie", "Way Down Yonder In New Orleans", and "Palisades Park".
See his hits on YouTube

Palisades Amusement Park was an amusement park located in Bergen County, New Jersey, across the Hudson River from New York City. It was situated atop the New Jersey Palisades lying partly in Cliffside Park and partly in Fort Lee. The park operated from 1898 until 1971, remaining one of the most visited amusement parks in the country near the end of its existence. Essentially, it became a victim of its own success and inadequate facilities to deal with the generations of families and children who flocked to its gates. After the park closed, a high-rise luxury apartment complex was built on its site.

Runaround Sue #1 in Oct. 1961

See full size on YouTube

Dion and the Belmonts were a leading American vocal group of the late 1950s. The group formed when Dion DiMucci joined The Belmonts - Carlo Mastrangelo, Freddie Milano, and Angelo D'Aleo - in late 1957. After an unsuccessful first single, the group were signed to Laurie Records. Their breakthrough came when «I Wonder Why» made # 22 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, and the group appeared for the first time on the Dick Clark TV show. They followed it with the ballads «No One Knows» (#19) and «Don't Pity Me» (#40). This success won Dion and the Belmonts their first major tour in late 1958, with The Coasters, Buddy Holly and Bobby Darin, and this was followed up by the «Winter Dance Party» tour with Holly, Ritchie Valens and The Big Bopper. On 2 February 1959, after playing at the Surf Ballroom, Dion decided that he could not afford the $36 cost of a flight to the next venue. The plane crashed, and Holly and the other stars were killed. However, the tour continued, with Jimmy Clanton and Bobby Vee being added to the bill. In March 1959, Dion and the Belmonts' next single, «A Teenager in Love», was released, making #5 in the Billboard Hot 100 and #28 in the UK Singles Chart, and this was followed by an album, Presenting Dion and the Belmonts. Their biggest hit, «Where or When», was released in November 1959, and reached #3 on the Billboard Hot 100. However, in early 1960, Dion checked in to hospital for heroin addiction, a problem he had had since his mid-teens.

Princess Summer Fall Winter Spring

Click to see the original post and her photo.

I was reading a page in your blog from Tuesday, July 14, 2009, on the ref’d. Howdy Doody character. Noticed that someone told you that the “puppet” replaced the live actress, Judy Tyler, after her death in an auto accident. Actually, the original character was a “puppet” and Tyler replaced the puppet in 1951 or 52, in a “mystical” smoke filled episode of the show where the Princess was changed to a live person. Tyler left the show in 1953 or 55(depending on the source you read) to pursue an acting career, and was in a Rogers & Hammerstein musical, Pipe Dream, then got a role in Jailhouse Rock, opposite Elvis. She was killed in a car accident shortly after finishing that in 1957. She was replaced as the Princess when she left the show in 1953 or 55 by actress, Gina Genardi, who was replaced by Linda Marsh, or vice versa(depending on the source) until the end of the show in 1960.

http://www.doodyville.com/trivia.cfm & all the sites about Tyler & Howdy Dowdy). Why am I writing this? I don’t know. I guess for the same reason you do your blog, and was “googling” for info on Howdy Doody & other old TV shows when I saw yours.

Good luck,

Ford

I Love Lucy - Happy Birthday 10/15/1951

I Love Lucy is an American television sitcom starring Lucille Ball, Desi Arnaz, Vivian Vance, and William Frawley. The black-and-white series originally ran from October 15, 1951, to May 6, 1957, on the Columbia Broadcasting System (CBS). When the original series ended, the show continued for three more seasons with 13 one-hour specials, running from 1957 to 1960, known first as The Lucille Ball-Desi Arnaz Show and later in reruns as The Lucy-Desi Comedy Hour.

I Love Lucy was the most watched show in the United States in four of its six seasons, and was the first to end its run at the top of the Nielsen ratings (an accomplishment later matched by The Andy Griffith Show and Seinfeld). I Love Lucy is still syndicated in dozens of languages across the world.

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WB9OTX using JT65HF Ham Radio

See larger video on YouTube

Happy Birthday US Navy - 13 October 1775

Read the history of the USA Navy

"We have an H.R. on this flight."

I received this email today from a close friend. I have received it before several times, but I always take a minute or two to read it again. I don't know if it is a true story or not, it makes no difference. The message it gives is all that matters. Before you read it go get a Kleenex, you will need it........ Jack

.....................................................................

He writes:

My lead flight attendant came to me and said,

"We have an H.R. on this flight." (H.R. stands for human remains.)

"Are they military?" I asked.

'Yes', she said.

'Is there an escort?' I asked.

'Yes, I already assigned him a seat'.

'Would you please tell him to come to the

flight deck. You can board him early," I said..

A short while later, a young army sergeant entered the flight deck. He was the image of the perfectly dressed soldier.

He introduced himself and I asked him about his soldier.

The escorts of these fallen soldiers talk about them as if they are still alive and still with us.

'My soldier is on his way back to Virginia ,' he said.

He proceeded to answer my questions, but

offered no words.

I asked him if there was anything I could do for him and he said no.

I told him that he had the toughest job in the

military and that I appreciated the work that

he does for the families of our fallen soldiers.

The first officer and I got up out of our seats to shake his hand. He left the flight deck to find his seat.

We completed our preflight checks, pushed back and performed an uneventful departure.

About 30 minutes into our flight I received a call from the lead flight attendant in the cabin.

'I just found out the family of the soldier we are carrying, is on board', she said. She then proceeded to tell me that the father, mother,

wife and 2-year old daughter were

escorting their son, husband, and father home.

The family was upset because they were unable to see the container that the soldier was in before we left.

We were on our way to a major hub at which the family was going to wait four hours for the connecting flight home to Virginia .

The father of the soldier told the flight attendant that knowing his son was below him in the cargo compartment and being unable to see him was too much for him and the family to bear.

He had asked the flight attendant if there was anything that could be done to allow them to see him upon our arrival.

The family wanted to be outside by the cargo door to watch the soldier being taken off the airplane..

I could hear the desperation in the flight attendants voice when she asked me if there was anything I could do..

'I'm on it', I said. I told her that I would get back to her. Airborne communication with my company normally occurs in the form of e-mail like messages.

I decided to bypass this system and contact my flight dispatcher directly on a secondary radio.

There is a radio operator in the operations control center who connects you to the telephone of the dispatcher.

I was in direct contact with the dispatcher..

I explained the situation I had on board with the family and what it was the family wanted.

He said he understood and that he would get back to me.

Two hours went by and I had not heard from the dispatcher.

We were going to get busy soon and I needed to know what to tell the family.

I sent a text message asking for an update. I saved the return message from the dispatcher and the following is the text:

'Captain, sorry it has taken so long to get back to you.

There is policy on this now and I had to check on a few things.

Upon your arrival a dedicated escort team will meet the aircraft.

The team will escort the family to the ramp and plane side.

A van will be used to load the remains with a

secondary van for the family. The family will be taken to their departure area and escorted into the terminal where the remains can be seen on the ramp.

It is a private area for the family only.

When the connecting aircraft arrives, the family will be escorted onto the ramp and plane side to watch the remains being loaded for the final leg home.

Captain, most of us here in flight control are

veterans. Please pass our condolences on to the family.

Thanks.'

I sent a message back telling flight control thanks for a good job. I printed out the message and gave it to the lead flight attendant to pass on to the father.

The lead flight attendant was very thankful and told me, 'You have no idea how much this will mean to them.'

Things started getting busy for the descent, approach and landing. After landing, we cleared the runway and taxied to the ramp area.

The ramp is huge with 15 gates on either side of the alleyway.

It is always a busy area with aircraft maneuvering every which way to enter and exit.

When we entered the ramp and checked in with the ramp controller, we were told that all traffic was being held for us.

'There is a team in place to meet the aircraft', we were told. It looked like it was all coming together, then I realized that once we turned the seat belt sign off, ev eryone would stand up at once and delay the family from getting off the airplane.

As we approached our gate, I asked the copilot to tell the ramp controller we were going to stop short of the gate to make an announcement to the passengers. He did that and the ramp controller said, 'Take your time.'

I stopped the aircraft and set the parking brake.

I pushed the public address button and said, 'Ladies and gentleman, this is your Captain speaking I have stopped short of our gate to make a special announcement.

We have a passenger on board who deserves our honor and respect.

His Name is Private XXXXXX, a soldier who recently lost his life.

Private XXXXXX is under your feet in the cargo hold. Escorting him today is Army Sergeant XXXXXXX. Also, on board are his father, mother, wife, and daughter.

Your entire flight crew is asking for all passengers to remain in their seats to allow the family to exit the aircraft first. Thank you.'

We continued the turn to the gate, came to a Stop and started our shutdown procedures.

A couple of minutes later I opened the cockpit door. I found the two forward flight attendants crying, something you just do not see.

I was told that after we came to a stop, every passenger on the aircraft stayed in their seats, waiting for the family to exit the aircraft.

When the family got up and gathered their things, a passenger slowly started to clap his hands. Moments later more passengers joined in and soon the entire aircra ft was clapping.

Words of 'God Bless You', I'm sorry, thank you, be proud, and other kind words were uttered to the family as they made their way down the aisle and out of the airplane.

They were escorted down to the ramp to finally be with their loved one.

Many of the passengers disembarking thanked me for the announcement I had made.

They were just words, I told them, I could say

them over and over again, but nothing I say will bring back that brave soldier.

I respectfully ask that all of you ref lect on this event and the sacrifices that millions of our men and women have made to ensure our freedom and safety in these United States of AMERICA .

Foot note:

As a Viet Nam Veteran I can only think of all the

veterans including the ones that rode below the deck on their way home and how they were treated.

When I read things like this I am proud that our country has not turned their backs on our soldiers returning from the various war zones today and give them the respect they so deserve.

I know every one who has served their country who reads this will have tears in their eyes, including me.

Author Unknown

The things I do

http://ripleycounty.net/rcs/

Happy 15th Birthday Fox News

http://www.foxnews.com/

Just to be fair & balanced on this Blog, look at the other side of the coin.

http://www.cnn.com/

French Lick

A video I had forgotten, made several years ago

Create your own video slideshow at animoto.com.

100 speeches

100 speeches

Everyone will not like this page, But I am a history buff. So this is for the few like me.

My favorite speach: Why can't we elect a president like this one.

And my 2nd one: General Douglas MacArthur

See/Hear all of the 100

First Frost

October second brought the first frost of this Fall. A Ham Radio friend and I left for a radio swap fest at 6am to Bedford Indiana, there was fog in the valleys and near the creeks and streams on our way. I have been attending this swap fest for about 30 years and it has always been very well attended. Last year the crowd was lower, but this year I was amazed, the attendance was about one forth compared to last year. I made the comment to my friend,"there isan't enough people here to start a good fight". Some blame it on eBay, others say it is the economy. I think it is all of the above but the new and young just don't do Ham Fests. The new Hams do not communicate like the ol' timmers did. Seems they don't make friends and do not talk or attend anything like the old guys did. "Things Change" I guess. I will have to mow the yard one more time it looks like. In past years the last grass cutting was the end of September or the week before Pumpkin Show. With Fall arriving the leaves will be changing into beautiful colors. I'll be breaking out the camera and posting a few pictures on the Web soon. It is to warm into the seventies later in the week, this will let me do the things to preparer for the on-coming cold and snow. I don't mind the Winter too much, it is just the fact you must endure living in Indiana. I don't think I would want to live anywhere else. ........ Jack

Chrome - get it

I want to tell you about how nice the new Google browser called "Chrome" works. It is super fast, this is one of the best features. I haven't given up on FireFox but I find I am using Chrome more and more. Give it a try, download it here.

http://www.google.com/chrome

QSL Cards

Here is a real neat product for backing up your QSL cards

Amazon.com Product Description

With one-touch scanning and no PC required, the PhotoLink personal photo scanner/converter from Pandigital makes it easy to enjoy digital copies of all your favorite printed photos. Designed for ease of use, the Pandigital Personal Photo Scanner/Converter saves scanned images directly to SD card for quick and simple transfer to your Digital Photo Frame or PC. The PhotoLink is perfect for the family genealogist, or anyone who needs to quickly and easily scan photographs or business cards.

My YouTube Videos and Picasa Photos

I received an email asking about a video I produced about a year or so ago. I went looking for it and realized I have, in my novice days of video, had produced several that I had forgotten about. Some are pretty bad, some are pretty good. Here is a list of all I have uploaded:

http://www.youtube.com/user/wbotx?feature=mhsn#p/u

Also you can see on Picasa all of the albums of photos I have posted. See them here:

https://picasaweb.google.com/105974274631821525519

Pumpkin Show 2011 is history

It was a damp cool morning for the parade but not enough to halt the fun and tradition. I marched just to the rear of the Versailles Legion Color Guard in my traditional Class A Army uniform. I think this is the last year with the original, but for next year I will buy a size larger shirt. I had much trouble getting the collar button fastened. I will go from size 15 to a 17. I hate to deviate from the original but at age 66 I have been very lucky to get in it this many years. I have posted the video on YouTube of the color guard and parade for those that were not able to attend.

Versailles Indiana legion Color Guard 2011

Versailles Indiana legion Color Guard

marching in the Pumpkin Show Parade 2011

Watch in larger format on YouTube

Versailles Pumpkin Show Parade 2011

After I returned to the Legion after marching I shot some video with a very small Flip Video camera.
The video is not good quality, but better than none at all.
Click HERE to see it on youtube
or
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M6MSXeP4p08

Fall Equinox - 9/23/11

An equinox occurs twice a year, when the tilt of the Earth's axis is inclined neither away from nor towards the Sun, the center of the Sun being in the same plane as the Earth'sequator. The term equinox can also be used in a broader sense, meaning the date when such a passage happens. The name "equinox" is derived from the Latin aequus (equal) andnox (night), because around the equinox, the night and day have approximately equal length.

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The Big Picture - out of the past

When I was very young I remember watching the TV series The Big Picture that was dedicated to the military. Another TV show was Victory At Sea. This was pure Navy. I have ten hours or so of this program that was recorded on VHS and now transferred to DVD. Sometimes when its raining or bad snowy cold weather I dig these classics out and watch them. I can't help it, I just love this stuff.
See on YouTube:
"The Big Picture" and "Victory at Sea"

Pumpkin Show - Versailles Indiana

If you live far away and can not attend as so many do, you still can have a small view of the festivities. You can see the Northwest corner of the town square. The image updates every one minute between the hours of 8am to 5pm. I would like to thank the Ripley County American Red Cross for hosting the camera.
http://webcam.wb9otx.com/cam/

See more still photos

Flo Pegee Skeen - A Versailles Icon

I am ask about Flo Pegee several times a year by email and in person. I always state that I don't really know much about her. I did have the chance to talk to her on two occasions when I was very young, 11 or 12 as to the best I can remember. I was walking from our farm to the Versailles show I and all of the other kids never walked past her house on her side od the street, Why, we were afraid of her because of the stories being told about her as a witch. As I passed across from her converted green tavern (where she lived later in life) she called out,"young man oh young man, could you help me a minute". As I walked across the street to her I must tell you I was very afraid, but I kept walking to her. As I came near she said, "Can you lift this flower pot from the porch for me"? I did not reply but did as she said putting it on the sidewalk as she pointed where to place it. She said thank you so much. I replied you are welcome mam. As I turned to walk away she shouted "but I didn't pay you", as she was opening a little change purse pulling out a dime. I said "no mam you do not owe me anything". She told me in a very grateful voice, "you have been raised proper thank you". I walked away on my way to the show. I never told any of the other kids about the encounter with Flo. The second time was about a year later. Flo was in her yard and remembering the last encounter I just said good morning mam. She replied just a simple hello. As I look back I feel she was a very misunderstood lonely lady. I have never judged her as I have no proof of the roomers that were told about her. Even today if you mutter the words Flo Pegee, witch will he heard. She did dress in black and always wore a large hat, does this make her a witch, I think not. The photo here shows her as a young very attractive lady. I know of no photo of her in later years of her life. All of the photos I have collected are posted here:

https://picasaweb.google.com/105974274631821525519/FloPegeeSkeen

Here is a paragraph from the Alan Smith Sr. authored book "Tales of Versailles"
http://wb9otx.blogspot.com/search?q=flo+pegee+skeen

Flo taught me to judge people as you see them, not from what others say.
......... Jack

happy bithday to me !

The big news today is a big happy bithday to me ! 66 today.
I received a nice home made card and photo from my grand daughter. I will go to the local pub this afternoon for my birthday beer and a kiss on the cheek (I hope it is a bar main working today). I worked two moon bounce stations last night, one from Oklahoma and one from Russia. Conditions are poor but I will try again tonight. I added a few more QSL EME cards to my online EME log page. See them here. I took a few photos of the lot where they are building the new Courthouse Anex (or what ever they are calling it). I will post them on the Net soon. It is a bright sunny day with a nice 7MPH breeze from the South West, a perfect Fall day. The Friendship Shoot is going on this week and Versailles Pumpkin Show is in two weeks. I hope the weather will hold for these events. Work is slow for my computer business, I hope it picks up so I can buy more toys. Lunch time now, ....... Jack

Moon Myths: The Truth About Lunar Effects on You

The moon holds a mystical place in the history of human culture, so it's no wonder that many myths — from werewolves to induced lunacy to epileptic seizures — have built up regarding its supposed effects on us.

"It must be a full moon," is a phrase heard whenever crazy things happen and is said by researchers to be muttered commonly by late-night cops, psychiatry staff and emergency room personnel.

It's been a long time since the Big Cheese revealed any new secrets as important as this week's announcement that traces of water exist all across its surface. Coincidentally, a study this week found zero connection between the full moon and surgery outcomes.

Full Story

Harvest moon

All full moons rise around the time of sunset. In general the moon rises about 50 minutes later each day. As it moves in orbit around Earth, the Harvest Moon and Hunter's Moon are special because, around the time of these full moons, the time difference between moonrise on successive evenings is shorter than usual. This means that the moon rises approximately 30 minutes later from one night to the next, as seen from about 40 degrees N. or S. latitude. Thus, there is no long period of darkness between sunset and moonrise around the time following these full moons. In times past this feature of these autumn moons was said to help farmers working to bring in their crops (or, in the case of the Hunter's Moon, hunters tracking their prey). They could continue being productive by moonlight even after the sun had set. Hence the name Harvest Moon.The reason for the shorter-than-usual rising time between successive moonrises around the time of the Harvest and Hunter's Moon is that the ecliptic—the plane of Earth's orbit around the sun—makes a narrow angle with respect to the horizon in the evening in autumn.
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