horzepa

It is still nuts!

2012-02-01T18:35:00.001-05:00

It is the first day of February and the temperature reached 58.5° F early this afternoon on Compounce Mountain. Some locales in the state were in the 60s.

But cooler temps will prevail on Groundhog Day.

This is nuts!

2012-01-31T21:53:00.001-05:00

It is the last day of January in west central Connecticut and the temperature reached 53.5° F early this afternoon. It is 9:50 PM as I type this and the temperature is 44°.

Tomorrow is supposed to be even warmer.

Go figure!

Surfin’: When Digital Was Mechanical

2012-01-27T10:08:00.001-05:00

This week, Surfin’ recalls those mechanical digital clocks that once proliferated ham shacks everywhere.

LW Loggings

2012-01-24T07:51:00.001-05:00

Early last evening, longwave conditions were such that I could not hear BBC Radio 4 at all on 198 kHz. However, I did log two new radio navigation beacons, both in Canada:

ZHU - 407 kHz - Montreal-Saint Hubert, QC - 265 mi
YWA - 516 kHz - Petawawa, ON- 365 mi

Snow IV

2012-01-22T10:41:00.004-05:00

The weatherman predicted 8 inches, but only 4 inches of snow accumulated on Compounce Mountain yesterday. Total snowfall this winter is 10 inches.

Surfin’: Doing Something New

2012-01-20T09:33:00.001-05:00

This week, Surfin’ metaphorically connects The Fab Four’s record releases and the ham radio experience.

Snow III

2012-01-20T08:50:00.001-05:00

One inch of snow accumulated on Compounce Mountain last night. Total snowfall this winter is 6 inches.

LW Loggings

2012-01-18T20:29:00.000-05:00

New longwave loggings Wednesday evening:

2Q - 373 kHz - Mont Laurier, QC, Canada - 363 mi
AR - 356 kHz - Providence, RI - 80 mi
JU - 410 kHz - Jefferson, NC - 583 mi

Around 0100Z, BBC Radio 4 - 198 kHz - 3375 mi - was stronger than I ever heard it before.

On the indoor loop antenna project front, I went to Home Depot today and after considering a couple of options, I decided to build the cross-arms of the antenna with PVC pipe. I bought a 10-foot 1/2-inch diameter section of PVC, a cross connector to mate the four cross-arms, and PVC cement to hold it all together.

BBC Radio 4 II

2012-01-17T19:09:00.001-05:00

I powered the TS-440S at 2300 UTC 17 January and tuned to 198 kHz.

I could tell that there was a station there, but it was way down in the mud. The voices sounded like they were mumbling; there was no discernible intelligence.

The signal started coming up at around 2325. An occasional word was intelligible.

At 2330, a female clearly identified the station, "BBS Radio 4."

The signal gradually returned to the mud. Meanwhile, radio navigation station DIW in Dixon, NC, showed up and got stronger as BBC 4 disappeared.

DIW held the frequency for about 15 minutes, then conditions reversed. BBC 4 got stronger and DIW dropped into the mud.

At 0000 UTC, BBC 4 played the Westminster Chimes of Big Ben.

Very cool!

Snow II

2012-01-17T09:42:00.001-05:00

It snowed overnight for the second snow event this winter. Three inches accumulated on Compounce Mountain, but heavy rains are in the forecast for this afternoon, so there may not be much snow left after the rain.

Total snowfall this winter is 5 inches, which is 30 inches less than one year ago.

BBC Radio 4 in the Log

2012-01-16T20:33:00.000-05:00

I logged BBC Radio 4 this evening on 198 kHz. It is my best LW/MW DX thus far, 3375 miles

LW and MW DX

2012-01-13T20:40:00.000-05:00

As I wrote in this week's Surfin', "During the holidays, I began chasing long and medium wave DX using my Kenwood TS-440S transceiver and an inverted V antenna cut for 40 meters."

The December 23 installment of Surfin' about ultra-light radios sparked my interest to explore the long and medium waves. I began monitoring the bands while cleaning and reorganzing the shack.

I started by listening on the long wave band and logged 33 aeronautical navigation stations sending their IDs in CW. The best DX was ZIY in Georgetown, Grand Cayman on 344 kHz.

After hearing all I could hear long wave wise, I began working my way from one end to the other of the AM broadcast band. After a few days, I logged 72 stations. The best DX was WWL in New Orleans on 870 kHz.

I am building an indoor loop antenna, which I hope to complete this weekend, which I hope will result in new log entries.

By the way, I am indebted to William Hepburn's LW Radio Beacons and The am-dx.com Western Hemisphere List for their lists of LW and MW stations, respectfully, that helped me identify what I heard.

Surfin’: Listening Anew

2012-01-13T09:25:00.001-05:00

This week, Surfin’ describes how to become a PopComm monitoring station and obtain another call sign to boot.

Snow

2012-01-12T07:34:00.001-05:00

First snow of the season fell overnight. About 1-2 inches at the top of Compounce Mountain followed by heavy rain and rising temperatures, so the snow will not last.

In comparison, on this date one year ago, we had a 17-inch snowfall, which added up to 35 inches total for the winter at that point (there was lots more to come).

Surfin’: Going Techno

2012-01-06T10:23:00.001-05:00

This week, Surfin’ discovers a techie surprise under the Christmas tree.

Surfin’: Excellence in Websiting

2011-12-30T10:15:00.000-05:00

This week, Surfin’ visits a personal ham radio website that can be a model for other personal websites.

Merry Christmas

2011-12-24T11:43:00.001-05:00

It figures that a ham would have an aluminum Christmas tree! (That's our Squeaky posing next to our 50-year-old "antique" tree.)

Anyway, Merry Christmas and 73 from all the WA1LOU family on Compounce Mountain, Wolcott, Connecticut!

Surfin’: Going Long

2011-12-23T09:53:00.000-05:00

This week, Surfin’ goes long without stepping on the gridiron.

Surfin’: Where’s Sebastian?

2011-12-16T10:54:00.001-05:00

This week, Surfin’ asks “Where’s DO8SEM?” and finds him -- along with some cool Mac OS X SDR applications.

Surfin’: Ultralight -- An Appetizing Radio Diet

2011-12-09T08:38:00.001-05:00

This week, Surfin’ discovers ultralight radios, which are most definitely not your fathers’ transistor radio.

Surfin’: Developing New Digital Voice Software, Continued

2011-12-02T14:33:00.001-05:00

This week, Surfin’ checks back in and discovers VK5DGR’s amazing progress in the digital voice software field.

Surfin’: Tracking the Dead Zone

2011-11-25T08:48:00.001-05:00

This week, Surfin' describes how hams can participate in an International Space Station experiment to test a spacecraft propulsion technology’s effects on RF.

Surfin’: Smörgåsbording

2011-11-18T09:15:00.001-05:00

This week, revisit two recent installments of Surfin’ and learn all about ham radio in the 21st century.

Surfin: Going Galena

2011-11-11T08:59:00.001-05:00

This week, your Surfin’ Contributing Editor did not have the remotest idea that he'd be building a do-it-yourself radio next week.

Surfin’: When One Thing (Music) Leads to Another (Radio)

2011-11-04T10:08:00.001-04:00

This week, Surfin’ considers different way of assembling a software defined radio (SDR).

Lucky 13

2011-11-01T13:48:00.001-04:00

For the past two years, I have kept a running total here of the amount of snow that falls at my home on Compounce Mountain. I start the count on December 1 and end it whenever the last snow falls in the spring.

So what do I do with the 13 inches that fell here October 29-30?

Although most of the leaves had fallen from the trees in my neck of the woods, that was not the case in the surrounding area. The heavy wet snow that landed on the trees still full of leaves caused tree branches, as well as whole trees to fall and damage the power infrastructure.

As a result, my house has had no power, no telephone, no Internet access, no weather station, and no ham radio since Sunday morning. My electricity pimp has not dared to estimate when it expects to restore power, so the prospects for a quick fix look bleak.

The little woman says that we should buy a generator. I wonder how well that will go over as her Christmas gift?

Probably not very well.

Surfin’: Experimenting on 600 Meters

2011-10-28T09:46:00.001-04:00

This week, Surfin’ goes way up near the top: 600 meters.

Surfin’: What a Deal, But Only Until Monday

2011-10-21T10:17:00.001-04:00

This week, Surfin’ scopes out a real deal for the do-it-yourself ham radio crowd.

Surfin’: Got Updates?

2011-10-14T10:36:00.001-04:00

This week, your old -- but young at heart – Surfin’ conductor provides updates to past episodes the column.

Surfin’: Got Parts, Maps and Macs?

2011-10-07T09:56:00.001-04:00

This week, Surfin’ returns to RadioShack, Google Maps and Steve Jobs.

Surfin: Negotiating the HPSDR Highway

2011-09-30T10:28:00.000-04:00

This week, Surfin’ considers resources on the Internet to sort out HPSDR hardware, software and firmware.

Wonder How Much an Apostrophe Costs?

2011-09-27T20:37:00.000-04:00

Wenatchee, Washington

Surfin’: Find Your Opening on the Map

2011-09-23T08:32:00.001-04:00

This week, Surfin’ visits a website where a map reveals the real-time status of the VHF band.

Surfin’: Take a Ride on the Wayback Radio Machine

2011-09-16T10:04:00.001-04:00

This week, Surfin’ wanders the Internet wondering where to find more radio history.

Surfin': Got Kits?

2011-09-09T09:54:00.000-04:00

This week, Surfin’ considers those other vintage ham radio kits.

Summer 2011 TAPR PSR is available now

2011-09-05T10:52:00.003-04:00

Spring 2011 of TAPR PSR is now available here.

Table of Contents of the Summer 2011, #116 issue of TAPR PSR:

* President's Corner

* Board of Directors Elections

* DCC Schedules

* Bible’s Blog

* Digital ATV Yahoo Group

* What’s With the ### ?

* Hermes on YouTube

* Time for More Time

* TAPR at Dayton Hamvention

* TAPR Board of Directors Meeting Minutes

* Join TAPR on Twitter & Facebook

* VK6APH Receives Award

* APRS Supports Bicycle Riders Public Service Event

* APRS Tactical Call Signs

* Write Here!

* Fixing A Little TAPR History

* The Fine Print

* Our Membership App

By the way, the TAPR editorial staff is now accepting contributions for the next issue of PSR. October 15, 2011 is the deadline for submissions; send your submissions to the author of this blog.

Surfin’: Got Heathkits?

2011-09-02T09:48:00.003-04:00

This week, Surfin’ celebrates Heathkit’s reentry into the kit business.

Remembering Irene

2011-08-29T08:03:00.001-04:00

There were no visits from Murphy this weekend despite a visit from hurricane Irene, which was downgraded to "tropical storm" status by the time it got here.

The rain was heavy and we totaled 3.76 inches over the weekend, not much when compared to other areas of the state which were pushing two digit totals.

The wind was constant with speeds reaching as high as 43 MPH Sunday morning and it was still blowing steadily when I went to bed Sunday night, but it did not do much damage. The yard was full of leaves, twigs, and branches, including one huge 20-foot branch that I had to subdivide before I could haul it away.

The guyed 55-foot tower was steady as a rock throughout the storm. I was a little concerned that the ground was so saturated that one of the guy anchors might come loose, but it never happened.

And I saved the best for last: we never lost power.

Surfin’: More TV DX

2011-08-26T10:54:00.002-04:00

This week , Surfin’ is still sitting in front of the boob tube waiting for Cuba, Canada or Iowa to come rolling in on Channel 2.

How’s TV DX?

2011-08-19T09:36:00.001-04:00

This week, Surfin’ recalls the lazy, hazy, crazy days of summertime TV DX.

Surfin’: Beyond Digital Voice

2011-08-12T11:19:00.004-04:00

This week, Surfin’ visits the diverse website of an old friend of the old contributing editor.

Surfin’: Got Good Ground? Not So Much

2011-08-05T10:26:00.003-04:00

This week, Surfin’ readers share war stories that are grounded in reality.

Surfin’: Got Good Ground?

2011-07-29T09:58:00.001-04:00

This week, Surfin’ considers our ham radio stations’ connection to Planet Earth.

Surfin’: Updating Surfin’

2011-07-22T10:22:00.001-04:00

This week, Surfin’ revisits and updates recent installments of itself.

Surfin’: Hill-Topping for the Golden Packet

2011-07-15T09:39:00.002-04:00

This week, Surfin’ urges hams to climb every mountain on the East and West Coasts in the quest for the Golden Packet.

Surfin’: Still Fixing Our Writing

2011-07-08T09:57:00.001-04:00

This week, Surfin’ assembles the responses to last week’s attempt at fixing our diction.

Surfin’: Fixing Our Writing

2011-07-01T07:58:00.003-04:00

This week, Surfin’ visits a website that attempts to correct our bad writing habits.

Surfin’: My Field Days

2011-06-24T10:31:00.003-04:00

This week, Surfin’ considers the ham radio event of the year, ARRL Field Day.

Surfin’: Hammin’, Hackin’ and GPSin’

2011-06-17T07:42:00.003-04:00

This week, Surfin’ considers hacking ham radio projects and one thing leads to another.

Surfin’: Hammin’ North to Alaska

2011-06-10T08:17:00.002-04:00

This week, Surfin’ counts backwards and visits our 49th state ham radio-wise.

RadioShack Seeking Suggestions for DIY Parts

2011-06-03T09:19:00.001-04:00

(This story appeared on ARRL News earlier this week.)

“RadioShack is now looking for input from us, as members of the larger DIY community, on parts we’d like to see them carry. There’s a video explaining what they’re looking for, and a place to add comments.”

Read the rest of the story here.

Surfin’: Hammin’ in Hawaii

2011-06-03T08:05:00.002-04:00

This week, Surfin’ revisits a website all about ham radio in the Aloha State.

Surfin’: Oh! The Places You’ll Go!

2011-05-27T18:36:00.004-04:00

This week, Surfin’ recounts seeing great sights at the Hamvention.

Surfin’: I Can See For Miles

2011-05-22T20:15:00.002-04:00

This week, Surfin’ considers elevation, weather and propagation.

Spring 2011 of TAPR PSR is now available

2011-05-16T09:21:00.002-04:00

Spring 2011 of TAPR PSR is now available here.

Table of Contents of the Spring 2011, #115 issue of TAPR PSR:

President’s Corner
TAPR Digital Forum
Research Opportunity Related to Packet Switched Communication Networks
openHPSDR Update
Present at the Creation
Write Here!
100W Class-A Amplifier for Penelope
2011 TAPR ARRL DCC
A Little TAPR History
The Fine Print
Our Membership App

By the way, the TAPR editorial staff is now accepting contributions for the next issue of TAPR PSR (August 15, 2011 is the deadline for submissions). Send your submissions to wa1lou at tapr.org

Surfin’: One Week ’til Dayton

2011-05-13T13:27:00.002-04:00

This week, Surfin’ gets more ready for the Dayton Hamvention®.

Surfin’: Two Weeks ’til Dayton

2011-05-06T09:34:00.002-04:00

This week, Surfin’ gets ready for the Dayton Hamvention.

My Sad Bat Story

2011-05-02T18:24:00.010-04:00

Oliver, our "Number One Cat" escaped just before dark yesterday.

He returned about 30 minutes later with a trophy. In the past, he has brought home dead birds, moles, voles, chipmunks, and mice. Last night, he brought home a bat and deposited it in his trophy case, also known as our front porch.

My job is to bury the dead. Actually, I just dump the dead in the storm drain so that our dogs don't find and perhaps eat the carcasses.

I got a small shovel to scoop up the remains. As I began to scoop up the bat, it chirped at me and fluttered its wings. The poor thing was still alive, but one wing was damaged (a big hole) and its body was cut up badly and seeping blood. In that condition, it was evident it would never fly again and would probably die sooner or later, so I decided to put it out of its misery.

I used a sharp chisel to do the job. I hated doing it.

Surfin’: Moving Packets with DDP

2011-04-29T09:37:00.001-04:00

This week, Surfin’ looks at a new protocol for moving packets through the ether.

Spring Snow IV

2011-04-23T11:31:00.003-04:00

The temperature only got down to 36 last night, but it snowed enough to coat everything outside. The rain since then has made that snow coating disappear.

Surfin’: Eyeing Apps for the Apple of My Eye

2011-04-22T10:15:00.003-04:00

This week, Surfin’ looks to Woz’s old stomping grounds for ham radio applications.

Surfin’: Tell Your Story

2011-04-15T10:18:00.001-04:00

This week, Surfin’ relays an invitation to tell how ham radio touched your life and news about some new allies on the GPS QRM front.

The Big Time

2011-04-14T07:33:00.001-04:00

My daughter Hayley is pursuing a writing career. She has been blogging for awhile in various places on the Internet, but yesterday, she hit the big time when her blog post appeared on The Huffington Post for the first time.

Needless to say, I am very proud!

70 With Snow

2011-04-11T16:31:00.004-04:00

The temperature hit 70 about ten minutes ago, but as I type this, I can still see a pile of snow sitting on the curb across the street. The accompanying photo juxtaposes that snow pile with the daffodils that are ready to bloom in our front yard.

Surfin’: Got GPS? Maybe Not For Long!

2011-04-08T11:58:00.002-04:00

This week, your Surfin’ conductor wears a worry-wart about losing a reliable friend.

Spring Snow III

2011-04-01T22:25:00.000-04:00

It snowed again with a 1- to 2-inch accumulation on the ground and roads. That's 76 inches total snowfall since the first day of winter!

Surfin’: Visiting Your AM Radio Days

2011-04-01T10:45:00.001-04:00

Last week’s return to Surfin’s radio roots begat this week’s return to your radio roots.

Surfin’: AM Radio Days

2011-03-25T10:52:00.001-04:00

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

Spring Snow II

2011-03-24T13:48:00.001-04:00

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

2011-03-22T09:51:00.001-04:00

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

2011-03-18T11:10:00.001-04:00

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

Springing

2011-03-17T20:09:00.004-04:00

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

2011-03-13T13:21:00.001-04:00

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

2011-03-12T09:23:00.001-05:00

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

2011-03-11T11:04:00.001-05:00

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

2011-03-11T10:51:00.001-05:00

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

Surfin’: See Spot Sun

2011-03-04T19:52:00.001-05:00

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

Snow XII

2011-02-27T08:17:00.001-05:00

Three more inches of snow fell last night; 70 inches is the total snowfall for this winter on Compounce Mountain. Compounce Mountain, snow, Stan Horzepa, WA1L

Surfin': Field Day Planning

2011-02-25T10:23:00.001-05:00

This week, Surfin’ considers potential new tools for Field Day operators.

Snow XI

2011-02-21T13:33:00.000-05:00

Three more inches of snow fell last night and this morning bringing the total to 67 inches for this winter on Compounce Mountain.

Surfin’: Hamming and a Steel Pedal Guitar

2011-02-18T09:48:00.001-05:00

This week, Surfin’ rediscovers the hamming father of the steel pedal guitar.

Valentine Day

2011-02-14T20:09:00.003-05:00

Driving home from work today playing my iPod in random shuffle mode, a song comes on just as I turned on to the street where my house is located. The song is an instrumental that I don't recognize.

As I drive up to the driveway, I glance at the iPod to see what it is playing. It was a Paul McCartney tune from his first solo LP, McCartney. The name of the song was Valentine Day.

With 12,355 songs on my iPod, what are the odds?

No Snow

2011-02-14T20:02:00.002-05:00

On the contrary, instead of snow, it was a beautiful sunny day with the temperature topping out at an unseasonable 52° F on Compounce Mountain. It hit 55° at BDL, which broke the record for February 14 high.

Surfin’: I See Live Hams

2011-02-11T08:12:00.001-05:00

This week, your Surfin’ editor sees hams in the salt water antenna video and maybe on The Big Bang Theory.

Snow X

2011-02-08T12:31:00.001-05:00

After some major melting the past three days, two more inches of snow fell last night and this morning bringing the total to 64 inches for this winter on Compounce Mountain.

Surfin’: Spring Can’t Come Quick Enough

2011-02-04T13:04:00.001-05:00

This week, Surfin’ visits websites with warmer weather in mind.

Snow IX

2011-02-02T18:48:00.002-05:00

Good news is that the groundhog did not see his shadow.

Bad news is that it snowed, sleeted, and freezing rained. The snow was compressed by the sleet and freezing rain by the time I got to measure it, so I estimate that we received about two inches before it turned into a hard concrete-like crust. So the total snowfall is now 62 inches on Compounce Mountain so far this winter.

This is the worst winter in my lifetime snow-wise and we still have over six weeks to go.

Snow VIII

2011-02-01T19:01:00.002-05:00

Three more inches of snow fell today for a grand total of 60 inches on Compounce Mountain so far this winter.

I hope that the groundhog does not see his shadow tomorrow!

Radio City Music Hall, New York City

2011-01-29T20:51:00.005-05:00

I added Radio City Music Hall, New York City to my postcard collection last week. This postcard is unused, but it is a "linen" intended to look like cloth, a popular postcard style from the 1930s through the 1950s.

Originally named International Music Hall, the "names 'Radio City' and 'Radio City Music Hall' derive from one of the complex's first tenants, the Radio Corporation of America" (RCA) (source: Wikipedia). You can read more about its history here on the Radio City Music Hall website.

Although Radio City is only 90 minutes away, I have only been there twice. First time was in 1962, when Aunts Nellie and Stephanie took my sister Jeanette and I to see the live show (the Rockettes and all) and a film (Rome Adventure). The second time was in 1991, when my wife Laurie, daughter Hayley, and sister (still Jeanette) attended the Christmas live show (the Rockettes and all), but no film. Between 1962 and 1991, they jettisoned the film, but increased the admission price!

And so it goes.

Surfin: Snow -- Is There an App For That?

2011-01-28T11:07:00.001-05:00

This week, your Surfin’ editor gets his mind out of the snowbank and explores the new Mac App Store searching for Mac ham applications.

Snow VII

2011-01-27T08:08:00.004-05:00

"This is insane!," is how my sister Gigi aptly summed it up this morning.

The latest snow storm started mid-morning yesterday and it snowed off and on all day, but the accumulation was only about one to two inches by bedtime. I got up this morning and overnight, the accumulation grew to ten inches!

That adds up to 57 inches on Compounce Mountain so far this winter.

Vote for Our Dog

2011-01-25T17:10:00.000-05:00

Click here to vote for our dog Q.T. Pie in the Cutest Dog in New England Contest. There is no need to do anything else after you click on the link.

Q.T. Pie thanks you!

Snow VI

2011-01-25T17:00:00.000-05:00

Three more inches of snow this morning for a total of 47 inches on Compounce Mountain so far this winter.

Abbott and Costello Live

2011-01-25T00:12:00.000-05:00

This actually happened on an episode of Antique Roadshow that I watched last night.

Very old gent brought a portrait of a woman to get an estimate of its value.

The antique expert says, "We think it was painted by a man named 'Ware.'"

Old gents asks, "Ware?"

The antique expert replies, "From Vermont."

I thought I was hearing a lost Abbott and Costello routine.

No Snow

2011-01-24T07:29:00.001-05:00

No new snow, but the temperature bottomed out at –2°F this morning on Compounce Mountain. I cannot recall it being below zero in years.

Woolworth Building and City Hall Park, New York City

2011-01-23T15:52:00.005-05:00

I acquired Woolworth Building and City Hall Park, New York City at the same time I acquired Singer Building, Broadway, New York. The Woolworth Building became the tallest building in the world in 1913, beating out the Metropolitan Life Insurance Company Tower, which previously had beaten out the Singer Building for that honor. At 57 stories and 792 feet, the Woolworth Building was the tallest building in the world until 1930. (The completion of 40 Wall Street and the Chrysler Building dethroned the Woolworth Building.)

The building was headquarters of the F. W. Woolworth Company until 1998. Its location is in Lower Manhattan at 233 Broadway, one block east of the site of the World Trade Center and four blocks north of the site of the Singer Building.

This postcard has a 1947 postmark and is a "linen" card because it is intended to look as if it was printed on cloth, which was a popular postcard style from the 1930s through the 1950s.

Singer Building, Broadway, New York

2011-01-22T15:55:00.008-05:00

I have been collecting postcards of New York City architecture for about a year or so.

My latest acquisition is the "Singer Building, Broadway, New York," at the corner of Broadway and Liberty Street in Lower Manhattan, which was the headquarters of the Singer Manufacturing Company.

The 47-story 612-foot building was the tallest building in the world from its completion in 1908 until the 700-foot Metropolitan Life Insurance Company Tower claimed the highest honor in 1909.

In 1968, the Singer Building was the third tallest structure ever demolished.

The postcard I acquired was unused, so there is no postmark to date it. But it is a "divided back" style postcard that was popular from 1907-1914, which makes the postcard 100 years old more or less.

Snow V

2011-01-21T08:49:00.003-05:00

Another 4 inches of snow fell overnight and early this morning, for a grand total of 42 inches this winter. (Last year, the total was 44 inches for the whole winter.)

Surfin’: I Tune, Do You?

2011-01-21T08:36:00.003-05:00

This week, Surfin’ describes why hams should respect antenna tuners.

Snow IV

2011-01-18T13:23:00.003-05:00

This is shaping up to be a bad winter weather-wise.

Three inches of new snow fell before dawn. The precipitation changed to sleet around dawn, then to freezing rain around noon.

Total snowfall this winter now stands at 38 inches.