Surfin’: AM Radio Days

This week, Surfin’ returns to its radio roots: 520-1610, before kc became hertz.

Spring Snow II

It snowed overnight with a 1- to 2-inch accumulation on the ground and roads. That adds up to 74 inches total snowfall since the first day of winter!

Enough already!

Spring Snow

First full day of spring yesterday and it snowed, sleeted, and rained most of the day with a 1- to 2-inch accumulation of snow on the ground, but not the roads.

The weather guys promised more of the same tomorrow.

Surfin’: APRS’ing the Tsunami

This week, Surfin’ describes how APRS provided vital information during last weekend's tsunami.

Springing

Saw my first groundhog of the year today (see photo) during my daily walk around the business park here in Wallingford where I work.

Also, the daily Waterbury rag reported yesterday that black bear #49 is out and about in Wolcott, so I took in my bird feeder and suet cage last night to avoid any close encounters between #49 and The Pies.

By the way, there still is some snow in my yard.

Snow Summary

This was the worst winter I ever experienced in my six decades of existence.

I measured 70 inches of snow this winter on Compounce Mountain. The last of the snow on the roof of the house disappeared on Monday, March 7, but the yard is still full of snow. There are many bare spots in the yard, but there are also many places where the snow is still one to three feet deep!

Meanwhile, skunk cabbage shoots have broken through the ground in spots where there is no snow.

Amazing

I was editing the Winter 2011 issue of TAPR PSR on Sunday afternoon with my Mac Pro in my lap and a cup of coffee on the arm of the sofa.

As is my wont, I bumped the coffee cup and it began a descent towards my Mac Pro. I quickly intercepted its fall and changed its trajectory but in the process, I karate-chopped the 16-Gbyte USB flash drive inserted in my Mac and broke it.

I ordered a replacement on Wednesday from Amazon. I was amazed to find it in my mailbox on Thursday.

Kudos to Amazon and USPS.

Winter 2011 TAPR PSR is now available

Winter 2011 of TAPR PSR is now available here.

Table of Contents of the Winter 2011, #113 issue of TAPR PSR:

• President’s Corner
• SDR Cube Transceiver
• TAPR at Hamvention
• 2011 TAPR ARRL DCC
• A Volunteer
• Metis
• AVRS - Automatic Voice Relay System
• Write Here
• AVRS Java Parsers
• The Fine Print

By the way, the TAPR editorial staff is now accepting contributions for the next issue of TAPR PSR (April15, 2011 is the deadline for submissions). Send your submissions to wa1lou at tapr.org

Surfin’: Eschewing Clutter

This week, Surfin’ complains about the clutter confounding the Internet.

Surfin’: See Spot Sun

This week, Surfin’ now knows why there was a dearth of sunspots for two years.