Happy Holidays

Warm holiday wishes for you and your family.
I hope everyone is warm and safe.

If anybody is actually reading, I'm sure my long
silence must have left you craving more.  I know,
sometimes it's hard to think of stuff that really
makes a difference.

So far, I've sold the Kenwood TS-440s, the
Yaesu FT100, and the Mongoose IBOC 27".
Still left are the Heathkit Power Supply.
The Heathkit Oscilloscope (Might keep that).
And the ah, um, Specialized 26" (Keeping
that as well).  The JVC dual dubbing deck
(eats tapes occasionally) and the JVC single
deck with authentic Sendust Alloy heads.

The Specialized 26" requires the right shifters
rebuilt.  You've all heard this tune before but
even more so now at this time of the year.  I'm
going to Community Bikes where i'll do most
of the repair myself and only get charged $ 10
an hour.  The regular bike shop wants $ 60 an
hour to repair, plus parts.

I Saw on Craigslist the other day someone
wuz giving away Chihuahua/Malteese puppies.
I would be amenable to the concept of getting a
small puppy.  For one thing it would make me
get out and walk a couple times every day.
I just don't know how patient i would be with
the inevitable accidents.  I would pretty much
want the dog from pup to old age and not
have to adopt him/her out.  I would be in it
for the long haul.  I do not know anything
about training a dog and would probably do a
poor job.

So, how about those Macintoshes, geeez.

I have been thinking about getting a
Raspberry Pi. In fact i should.  I did pick up
a Barnes and Nobel Nook Tablet.  This little
guy is really great, I can shell into tertiary
systems and check email.  I can browse the
web and read books.  The Gutenberg Project
has all kinds of books that the copyright has
lapsed on.  I've been reading those.  That and
going to the library.

Well, from my house with Burdy Bird and
Pesto and myself, we wish you a Merry Xmas
and a Happy New Year!!

Pre winter doldrums. oughta sight

well, sheesh - harrumph

getting over the operation moving around
pretty well.  Nobody to walk with.  I guess
that i'll just need to buckle down and do
some kind of exrcise.  Can I even do push-
ups any more?  Last time i tried the ligaments
in my shoulders nagged at me for days.
Swimming would be the optimal exercise.
The stairs are hard on my knees.

I have stuff on Craigslist right now.

http://sfbay.craigslist.org/nby/clt/3263484941.html

that's the Heathkit Power Supply.

This is the Viscount 18 transistor Shortwave
Receiver.

http://sfbay.craigslist.org/nby/ele/3263469394.html

Bid high, bid often, lol

Anyway, guess i could say things are going
swimmingly.  They really are, a few friends have
moved away.  Others have died.  We shall see
what we shall see.  I'm going to see me a urologist.
I have urgency every 15 minutes, with a couple of
table spoons of yield.  That isn't how i was
plumbed, I expect better than that.  I guess in the
best scenario i might have a bladder infection.

adee ohs, folks, g'bye now

The Craigslist Mythos

Redacted

I went into a little rant here about how hard
it was to sell stuff on CL (craigslist).  Anyway,
it worked out a lot better than i expected, the
keys are to take realistic photographs and wait.
The right buyer will come along.  You might
need to renew your add a few times or even
re write it but that stuff is easy, right?

good luck, and happy hunting.

-marcus kg6ghw

Well, Kerry is finally coming thru.  He's getting me
a 12 volt battery, an antenna and an automatic antenna
tuner.  Not to mention a few other things.

What's New?

Gosh lots been happening.  I'm recovering pretty nicely
from my appendectomy.

Lots on my plate these days.  I've started a coding tutorial.
Oh, uh.  It's Javascript.  This is a pretty well known tongue
in the computer programming world.  It's quite challenging.
It tends to rely upon my memory quite heavily.  That's the
memory in my head, not the memory in the computer.
I say started and I mean started.  I'm only up to the 3rd
lesson and i'm kinda stumped.  I'm supposed to make some
sense out of an 'Array'.  Hmm.

Also, been following 'Bridgewire' Reno.  It's a Maker-
space in Reno/Sparks.  They were at Makers Faire in
San Mateo this year.  Their first year since being
chartered.  Quite an interesting bunch there!  However
1.) I do not live in Reno. and 2.) I can't afford the dues.
So, anyway.  Then, there are the Tool Lending Libraries.
Those are pretty neat too.  When you need a tool just check
it out and return it on time.  You're good to go.

Oh, i went through a box in the lobby today, some old cell
phones and a bunch of telephone junk, then there it was,
goodness gracious how could somebody bring themselves
to throw it away?  A nice galvanized steel C clamp.  No
rust.  Pristine, like new, and all mine. Sometimes finding
second hand stuff can be so rewarding.  I'm sure i'll use
it eventually, and if i don't.  It is there for someone else.
All they have to do is ask.  Like the other day Danny came
over and needed some adjustments on his bike, i went into
the back room and came up with a set of Allen Wrenches.
I tightened up his seat for him, and he was good to go.

The bike needs some work.  I've been holding off on that.
I need a 12 Volt Lead Acid Battery.  The bike needs the
shift lever for the rear gears replaced, the guy told me
$ 100 I know i can get it done at Community Bikes for
much cheaper. So I'll do that as soon as i can.  Meanwhile
the 12 Volt Lead Acid Battery, more importantly, will be
needed this year.  This month in fact.  Once i have it I
can finish my antenna.

The antenna will be a dipole.  I think 51 feet on a side
will be a magic number.  That is 1/2 of 102 which I think
is a resonant number on 40 meters, which would make
it resonant for 20 meters and 10 meters as well.  If I have
my facts straight.

The formula for that is f/468 where (f) is frequency in
hertz, the result is feet of length.

A dipole is an interesting thing.  It is a feedline going up
and then at the apex, it's split into 1/2 with one strand
going east (north or south), the other going west
(north or south). Just like a giant letter Tee.

See, told ya i been busy ;-)

-marcus KG6GHW

More radio hobby stuff

*** SOLD ***

Kenwood TS-520 Ham Radio. Good Cosmetics.
all knobs and dials accounted for. Frequency 
indicator does not turn, but the knob turns freely.
This is common with radios of this vintage.
If you're looking for a project, this radio was very 
full featured when it rolled off the assembly line.
If you're looking to get on the air right away, then 
this radio probably isn't for you. 

I'll consider all trades, till then i'm asking $200

*** SOLD ***  Thank you Craigslist.

-marcus kg6ghw 

Antenna fabrication

I'm about to embark on a round of antenna fabrication.
I have 450 Ohm ladder line. (about 7 feet) and some
AWG 10 wire for radiating elements.

I have some RG-8 to go from the Tuner to the Radio.

I also have a PSK31 harness that i'm looking forward
to using as well.

I'll keep you posted as this project moves along.

Nice Bike for sale or trade.

*** SOLD ***

I'm selling my bike, I've had it for 4 years and only taken it
out once.

It's a Mongoose IBOC, 21 speed Mountain Bike.  It has
new handlebar grips, new tires, a water bottle cage, and
bosses for another water bottle cage or whatever you want
to put there.  The sadle is brand new.  Indexed thumb
shifters.  Cantilever brakes.  Spring loaded rack in the
back.  Recently tuned up.

All in all this is a nice bike, and if i were a little bit taller i
would be taking full advantage of it.  I did get a smaller
framed bike which i WILL be riding.

Would consider a trade for ham radio gear.  Like a cross
needle antenna tuner, or an HT.  Or maybe a web cam.
(i know that's computer gear)  Use your imagination.

Asking $ 100 for the bike

All in all, all is well.

Just selling cuz i want to free up some space. That and the
fact that the frame is a little tall for me.

*** SOLD ***

Thank You Craigslist

-marcus  (kg6ghw)

Post Op Recovery and pet news

It's been almost 5 months since the operation.  That is the
dirty appendicitis and the following appendectomy.  I feel
fine.  Something seems to stop me from moving too fast
and too forcibly.  There's the angry red scar across my belly
that reminds me of the operation.  Poke or prod there and
you will soon see that there is still healing to be done
underneath the external scar tissue.

Next ham radio thing i'm going to do is string some wire
around the apartment for a random wire antenna.  I bought
70 feet of AWG 10 (I think)...  Paid about $ 17.00 for it
which was an excellent deal. I do wonder however if i got
a full 70 feet, I'm just taking that at face value on what the
guy working in that part of the store said.  It was discounted
because it was a short length.   I didn't do the math.  I think
it was supposed to be $ .27 a foot, let's see that would be
$ 2.70 for 10 feet, 7 times 2.70 is probably 14 plus the seven
times 7 49.  So 14.00 and 4.90 The math says i should have
paid $ 18.90 at $ .27 per foot.  But i didn't i only paid about
$ 17.00  Or suppose it was .25 a foot.  that would be 4 feet
to the dollar.  70/4 let's see that's 17.50.  But then there was
tax.  So, I guess i was paying less than $ .25 a foot.  Or,
I have less than 70 feet.  It's very nice wire, with a tough red
insulator and some nicely stranded copper inside.

I need to somehow get my hands on a step ladder.  I might
have to go to Sears and buy one.  Maybe Big Lots.  I can
call around, let my fingers do the walking so to speak. I
remember the one that my Grandmother had around when i
was growing up.  It was very nice and solid.

Oh, I might be getting a new budgie/parakeet.  Some guy
on Craigslist is offering one but he didn't return my call so, i
 may have missed out.  There's a really great bird store way
out on Hall Rd.  They have 100s of Cockatiels  and Parakeets.
Anybody tells ya birds are friendly, tell em to get their head
examined.  That's the main reason i don't have a bigger,
'Man's' bird. A full sized parrot could probably take a finger
off if he so inclined.   My Tiel flew the coop tonight when i
was resetting a perch that he had worried to the point that it
fell on the floor of his cage.  I wasn't going to mess with his
beak.  I just threw a towel over him and put him back in the
cage that way.  Less stress for him, no bites for me.  After
all the stuff he's been thru, i'm surprised he's still with me.
His predecessor was a little more perfect.  This guy has a
blem, his nostril is a little higher on one side than it is on the
other.   He'll sing a little song if you start whistling at him.
He also does a pretty good 'Hi Pretty Bird' when you can
coax it out of him but,  it's like pulling teeth though.

Pesto has been really nice lately, she seems to come more
when i call her.  I don't know why that is, maybe she's getting
older and enjoys together time more than she used to.  She
also likes to listen in on the VHF nets at 8 and 10.

There that's a March blog for all of you out there, dear listeners.
Thanks for tuning into My Late Night Talk...

Green beans

Hi, again, it's Me.  I'm enjoying a bowl of rice a roni chicken flavor.
I found that green beans go nicely in stir fry.  I don't know why I
had never thought of that before.  So the basic stir fry is this.
Cabbage, Green Beans, Bean Sprouts, Bell Pepper, Bok Choi
Broccoli, Cauliflower, Green Onions, and Regular Onion.  The only
problem with these dishes is the vegetables all expire at different
times, so at any one time there can be 3 or 4 vegetables in a
questionable state.  I hate, I absolutely hate to throw away food but
that doesn't mean that i'm going to eat rotten veggies.

I want to go to the Farmer's Market at the Veterans hall here in
town.  I don't know the hours but it's Sunday and Wednesday.

Had a flat tire the other day.  I called a tow truck to get the tire off the
car, i didn't think i had the strength to break the nuts.  So, I am using
the spare.  Need to get the regular tire patched.

Pesto is doing good.  She hides a lot, but sometimes i'll issue a
~kitty kitty kitty~ and she'll come running and jump on my lap other
times she just stays in her hiding spot.  I think she's hiding under the
bed.

I have the Yaesu FT 101 up for sale.  I got a couple of people who
were interested.  In fact 3 people contacted me.  My price is
$ 150, but one guy said he got a basket case for $ 60.00 I told him
if i didn't sell it to one of the other guys then, i would let him have it
for $ 80.00.  He said, 'Call Me'

It's the Yeasu that i mentioned before the FT 101.  I have the
Service Manual for it too.  I could burn it to a CD for whoever
picks it up.  So, that's a plan, as an extra I can burn the Service
Manual to a blank CD.  And give it to the guy as a bonus.  I already
have a mic i'm going to throw in.  So the rig, the power cord, a mic
and the Service Manual.  That sounds like a sweet deal.

Well, that's all for now.

-marcus

Valentines

Hi, there.  It's Valentines Day and it's been 2 months and 1 day since I was
operated on at Sutter Community Hospital.  I can twist my torso smoothly
with only the faintest twinges of pain.  I don't do this often.  I just kinda use
it as a measurement of my mobility.

I am off to balance the checkbook and drink some iced tea.

Vicki will be by soon with homemade Tamales.  These are from some guy
who rides his bike near her work.  He has a cooler built into his bike and
he charges $ 1.50 per tamale. I'm getting three.  I wish she would hurry I'm
hungry.  Hi Hi

I'll keep you posted as things transpire.  Hang in there, fight the good fight.
And keep your chin up.

Oh wow, I thought this was cool.  It's leap year, and I have a counseling
appointment on the 29th of February.  What are the chances of that?
Yes, indeed, I do wonder.

Goodnight

-marcus

Lubuntu on the P3 1.7 GHz 80 GB HDD 512 MB Ram machine

Well, Vicki gave me an old computer.  It's a P3 1.7 GHz machine
with 512 MBs of Ram and 80 GB of hard drive.  I put Lubuntu
on it.  It seems to work just fine.  Now if i could only think of
something to do with it.  It plays YouTube just fine.  If i had an
extra set of speakers i would hook em up to it.  Lubuntu has a lot
of stuff going on.  There's some DVD/CD authoring software.
Libre Office and some KDE stuff.

Picked up Pesto and held her for a while tonight.  I had to buy cat
food at the deli, cuzI forgot to pick it up at the grocery store.

Got 2 loads of laundry done today, and checked the car for oil.
I was surprised to find the car all set for oil.  It wasn't even low.
The laundry was a piece of pie.

I have some chicken quarters to cook.  I'm all out of BBQ sauce.
maybe i'll roast the chicken in the oven.

Tonight i ate 1 whole can of frozen orange juice concentrate, i just
spooned the stuff down like it was ice cream.  Very tasty, a little
too much sugar though.  Definitely not good for my diabetes.

I think tomorrow that Vicki and I will go for a walk.

I'm thinking about my Lubuntu machine, If only i could figure
out something to do with it.  Like i said it has some pretty strong
DVD/CD authoring tools.  Plus Libre Office.

Maybe i'll look online for a spreadsheet tutorial.  I like
spreadsheets they make sense.

c-ya l8r

-marcus

P.S.   Danny's cat, Nancy has died so if you have kittens or know
of any, contact me.  I'll tell him.

Back to normal

It's been 1 month since the operation.  I'm feeling a lot better.  Just a
tad tender in the belly regions, and some deep muscular stuff that will
probably last for a few more months.  I've been walking around and
last night I helped Vicki carry some groceries.

I sold the Kenwood TS440s for $ 200.  Pretty good price for a broken
radio.  I wonder if (Steve)  is going to get it fixed.  Still need to take the
FT 101 Yaesu over to Ed's and see if we can get out on it.  I could be
taken by surprise, and the thing might just work right out of the box.
Then again it could be a boat anchor or a basket case.

I threw Pesto over my shoulder today and went out in the hall.  Then
I knocked on Danny's door and let him give her scritchies, he has a
kitty named Nancy, but she's real finicky about her food and skinny
as a rail, he seems to think that she might be dying.  Kinda makes me
sad.  I'll get him another one via Craigslist.  In the mean time we have
to wait until either she passes away, or he feels like euthanizing her.

John my friend is still roaming about the hills in Northern California.
He's up in Shasta country.  He's running a special event station from
Mount Lassen, call sign N6L I have no idea when the event is
scheduled.  I'll post here when I learn more.

Well, i have things calling for my attention, so i'll say good day.

be well

-marcus

My first major operation.

Well that was a first for me.  Under the knife on the 13th of
December.   My appendix decided to explode.  They put me to
sleep, opened me up and tried to clean all the poop from out my
belly.  Lots of X-rays, Cat Scans, EKGs and EMGs.  They didn't
let me eat or drink for the first couple of days.  Boy that first tray
of food was...  I can't begin to describe, I was ravenous. To make
matters worse i had fasted for a few days prior to the operation
thinking that whatever was wrong with me would work it's way
through my system better if there was no food to digest.

Let's see.  I called the ambulance at 5:00 AM on a Monday that
would have been the 13th.

I had a tube down my nose and throat and into my belly to suck
up stomach juices.  There was a catheter in my urinary tract so
that I didn't have to get up to urinate.  I was on a constant drip
IV of antibiotics through the vein in my neck.  I was on a
constant drip of saline through the same tube.  They tapped a vein
on the back side of both my hands.  There was a 'drain' that
siphoned off the puss from my belly.  Once that stopped filling
up and the drained liquid looked clear they gave me the go-ahead
to go home.  I was in excruciating pain.  The likes of which i had
never experienced before.

I had never spent the night in the hospital since i was a baby.  I
got 13 staples and a hand full of sutures on my belly.  I don't
know how many sutures they used inside.  I just hope i don't
break them until they've done their job.  To their credit they
tried to go in using Lapro Scopy through my belly button.
I guess i was just too far gone for that approach.  Such a
mess.  Well, I owe my life to the doctors and nurses who
were working that morning.  Now, after New Years i'm feeling
much better and i'm really grateful for the help i got at
Sutter Medical Center right here in Santa Rosa.

So, HAPPY NEW YEAR, may it be healthy and happy for all.