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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American Airlines Flight 11

American Airlines Flight 11 was American Airlines' daily scheduled morning transcontinental flight from Logan International Airport, in Boston, Massachusetts, to Los Angeles International Airport, in Los Angeles, California. On Tuesday, September 11, 2001, the aircraft flying this route—a Boeing 767-223ER—was hijacked by five al-Qaeda terrorists and intentionally crashed into the North Tower of the World Trade Center in New York City, as part of the September 11 attacks.
Read the full story

From: wikipedia.org

Today 9-10-11

A busy day has already started for me. A trip to Milan for the RCARC Ham Radio breakfast at 8:30am, Had to pick up a radio and deliver a hardline connector there. Back home at 9:30, put the camera on charge for taking photos at Cliff Hill for the Cpl. Bishop memorial that starts at 11:00. I took a look on 15 meter ham band but nothing coming threw yet switched to 20 mtrs and the band is open. I looked for a few periods with the JT65HF mode but seen no new countries I needed. The VHF contest starts at 2pm today but the moon rise for me is not till 8:30pm. I will give a few calls on 2 mtr. sideband but I will concentrate on moonbounce tonight. The Friendship Shoot starts today and will last all week. I will try to at least make it there one day. I received a very nice email from a long time friend Ham Don Faris complimenting me on the things I have done with Ham Radio, Thank you so much Don......... There are loads of County and State Police on the roads today, I guess it is because of the 10 year 911 thing, Don't speed today. More later....... Jack
Now off to the BA for a cup of coffee.
Back from taking the photos of the Memorial for Cpl. John C Bishop - I have posted them HERE

An American Indian Proverb

"Only when the last tree has been cut down; Only when the last river   has been poisoned; Only when the last fish has been caught; Only then   will you find that money cannot be eaten."  (American Indian Proverb)  

Today -Sept. 06,2011

I'm sure you've heard it before "If you don't like the weather in Indiana, Set on a rock for five minutes and it will change". This is so true as it was over 100 degrees only a week ago, but this morning it is 56 as I type this. Pumpkin show usually bring jacket weather and the Friendship Shoot brings rain. What will the weather be this year ? Your guess is as good as mine. After looking at the grass in the front yard I'm thinking I may only have to cut it one more time this year. With the price of gasoline I have my fingers crossed. There is an ol' saying,"Fish bite the least when the wind is out of the East". This was proven wrong as Shawn Halcomb landed a very large bass over the week end. See the video of the catch here
The NASCAR race at Atlanta was rained out but will be run today at 11am, I guess I'll have to watch it, that is if the phone doesn't ring with work for me. I watched a movie yesterday and a quote from it caught my attention, "You cant stop what's coming", this is a fact and I think it has now come. No history today, Enjoy the day..........Jack

Old Postcards

Here I go with the old stuff but I just can't help myself. This page contains loads of old postcards from around Indiana. Hit the > to start the slide show.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/hoosier_recollections/6077419480/in/photostream/lightbox/

Labor Day 2011

Today I looked over the past few days of Blog postings and find it contains mostly posting of history. I do love history but I think I have went slightly overboard with it. So today and from now on I will try to focus on a mixture of past and present. I lost a lot of sleep last night listening to the police scanner. The cops have narralded the search down to a location near Milan. At 9am this morning one escapee is still at large from the jail break Sunday morning. A very nice article appeared in the Versailles Republican newspaper about my adventures with moon bounce. This article came after one published two weeks ago in the Batesville Herald. Both reports were very flattering to me. As of today I have worked 55 plus stations on every continent except Oceanic . As soon as I work New Zealand or Australia I will have "Worked all Continents" (WAC Award). Very few have obtained this award on the 144 Mhz. (2 meter) band. See my EME log here.
Another Ham Radio thing I'm doing is a mode called WSJT65HF. Unlike moon bounce on 144 Mhz. WSJT65HF uses 1.5 to 28 Mhz. This is a very weak signal mode (QRP) and I only use 5 watts of power. This is less power than it takes to light your car's single tail light.I have worked about 50 countries in all parts of the world. This is a fairly new mode and is gaining popularity every day as new stations come on with it. With Labor day today it signals the end of Summer to me. Spring brought rain almost every day, but Summer has been very hot with temperatures of over 100 and very dry. Cooler temperatures are forecast this next week though. I am looking forward to marching in the Pumpkin Show Parade with my original Army uniform. "It still fits". See it here:
This is a lazy day and I will be napping after loosing the sleep last night, I'm on break ........ Have a nice day, Jack

Voyager 1 launched September 5, 1977

The Voyager 1 spacecraft is a 722-kilogram (1,592 lb) space probe launched by NASA on September 5, 1977, to study the outer Solar System and eventually interstellar space. Operating for 34 years as of today, the spacecraft receives routine commands and transmits data back to the Deep Space Network. It will be the first probe to leave the Solar System and is the farthest man made object from Earth.
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