Westinghouse WR-8, The Columnaire

Posted on May 5, 2012 by Kenneth Carr

Hobbies for me are a sort of hot and cold thing. I jump in all eager and ready to achieve great feats of creativity and discovery. This ‘hot’ stage is followed by the ‘accumulation’ stage in which I collect all sorts of items relating to the hobby of the decade. I literally surround myself with a mass of ‘neat things’ that I plan to arrange, display, repair, restore, or utilize in the final stage, the stage of ‘accomplishment’.

 

Unfortunately I almost never reach stage three. My skills are found to be lacking, my need for immediate positive results is rarely met, and my interest wilts. Where has this all led to? A short list would go like this:

  • A world stamp collection that was given away. All that remains are some dear covers and one partially used US stamp album.
  • Numerous old cameras and related literature stored in boxes, trunks and closets, all waiting for the day they are once again placed on display or my heirs sell them to an antique dealer.
  • About 50 license plates of all years and types stored in boxes and waiting for me to put up the insulation and plaster board in the new garage so they will have a home again.
  • Thousands of books found in numerous library sales and book stores; now reduced to just 2 small bookcases and a few boxes. Most went back to the library to be sold again.
  • Vintage military firearms that were once loaded and used regularly; but that now remain locked away in rented storage until the day I once again have time to join a club and shoot targets.
  • One old 1941 Buick that gets on the road about 10 times per year. Along with the Buick is a closet or two of parts waiting to be installed (it’s a long wait) and cans of paint not yet used.
  • An amateur radio station that is currently on hold due to a nasty RF interference problem that is yet to be solved.
  • Dozens of old radios in various states of repair and disrepair … waiting in closets, boxes, trunks, basement, and even in the shed, for the day when I learn how to make them come to life again.

 

 

One radio made me particularly sad. I purchased it several years ago from a fellow collector who lived in the suburbs of Boston. It was in his basement. The radio is a 1931 Westinghouse model WR-8, also known as the Columnaire. Upon first sight you think that you have found a five foot tall grandfather clock of Art Deco design. Look more closely and you find that the clock movement is an ordinary electric model and is secondary to the piece. The primary focus is the radio. Inside this exquisitely designed cabinet there are two chassis. Together they comprise the power supply and RF deck of the radio. They are almost identical to the internal workings of an RCA Radiola Model 82 radio. Westinghouse got the chassis from RCA and just made those modifications necessary to support it vertically inside a grandfather clock cabinet.

 

 

 

The radio sat in my heated basement for several years. It seemed that every time I moved it another piece of flaking veneer would crack and fall off. When we moved a little over a year ago the radio went right to the unheated basement of the new home. It wasn’t long before I noticed that long sheets of veneer had become unattached and were literally hanging from the side of the unit. The radio was self-destructing and I was just watching. It seemed like another hobby was meeting with a dead end.

 

 

 

 

Then I watched some online videos posted by a Flickr friend of mine who had also acquired a Columnaire. He made quick work of taking it apart and beginning the electrical and cabinet restoration. This motivated me. My son-in-law helped me move the radio two floors up to my radio room (heated) and I began to stabilize the cabinet by gluing down every loose piece. At this point almost all of the exterior walnut veneer is glued down and most of the cabinet interior is also ship shape. I purchased some real nice walnut veneer on e-Bay and have successfully made my first ever veneer repair. Also, the chassis parts are on the workshop bench and I have begun their cleaning. I acquired some new tubes (still need 2 more), have a complete set of drawings, and am close to the point where I will replace capacitors and any faulty resistors. I may finish this project yet. Wish me luck and the will to see it to the end.

 

Shown above is a damaged area near center for which I have cut a replacement walnut patch.

 

 

 

 

 

The new patch was used as a template to cut out the damaged area.  Then the veneer patch was glued in place.   Looking to either side you can see that there is much work to be done.

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Netflix Instant Picks for March, 2012

Posted on March 18, 2012 by Kenneth Carr

I have a few more nice picks for you Netflix Instant Streaming devotees. I must first complain that the search interface for Netflix Instant is really poor. It is just such a pain trying to find something that you like. You are limited to movie title … that’s it. Who ever heard of searching a database on only one field? It’s like they intentionally want to prevent you from finding something worthwhile to watch. Then of course there are the Lifetime movies. Often I will be watching a Netflix film and then suddenly realize that (a) this is dribble and I need to turn it off right now and (2) the quality level is right at the Lifetime cable channel level (that’s about as low as you can get in my opinion; but, don’t ask my wife). Oh well. All that being said, the following movies are all excellent values:

Tucker and Dale Vs Evil, 2010, 1 hr and 26 minutes; Comedy/Slasher

Slasher movies. You’ve seen one, you’ve seen them all. A bunch of teens hang out somewhere isolated, some unknown local crazy hunts them down one by one and finally there is only one survivor left. Oh yeah, the villain never really dies; somehow he (or part of him) goes on living. How else could you have a sequel?

Well, forget all that stuff when you watch this movie. This one turns the entire genre on its collective head. Tucker and Dale has to be the very best slasher film I have ever seen. You just won’t stop laughing, no matter how many people come to a gruesome end. This movie was just too much fun. Warning: the trailer seems to give away a bit too much. Just take my word for it that you are going to love this film and go watch it right now!
Starring: Tyler Labine, Alan Tudyk, and Katrina Bowden.

Benny and Joon, 1993, 98 minutes; Romantic Comedy / Drama

This is another quirky romantic comedy with emphasis on the quirky. It is an early film that features some up and coming stars (Johnny Depp, Oliver Platt) in an odd and fun tale that is notable for its unique story, fine acting, and superb character development. Depp plays Sam, an eccentric bordering on mentally ill, character who falls for Joan (Mary Stuart Masterson) who really is mentally ill. She has been under the protection of her big brother Benny for most of her life. Then along comes Sam. This was a fun and thoughtful moive.

 

Starring: Johnny Depp, Mary Stuart Masterson, and Aidan Quinn.

Mark of Love, 2009, 1 hr and 28 minutes; Romantic Comedy

I know, I’m heavy on the romantic comedies this month. Well, at least some of them, like this one, are pretty good. And believe it or not Jennifer Anniston is not in this film!

Mark is a guy who breaks up with every girl he dates, no matter how great the relationship is. It’s just that when he hears that word ‘love’ he gets really frightened. What to do after a breakup? Take up a new hobby. He has a closet full of old hobbies. This time he opts for karate classes. Unfortunately the karate class turns out to be more of a mental health clinic with a twist. Typical romantic comedy? No. Will you enjoy it? I know I did.

Starring: Bryan Price, Caitlin Shultz and Taylor Dooley.

The Parole Officer, 2001, 2 hr’s. and 8 minutes; Action/Adventure/Comedy

This British film is unusual and well done. The story follows a parole officer (not a very successfully one at that) who manages to uncover some crooked dealings within the police department. On top of that, he is a witness to a murder perpetrated by a senior officer. When he attempts to rat on the felons, he is framed by them. This is the story of how he puts that frame back where it belongs … with plenty of humor. The trailers for this movie are a bit strange. One has “On the Ritz” playing in the background. Then You Tube even has the entire movie available. In any event, this was one great movie. I find that I am liking British comedy very much. Maybe you will too.

Starring: Steve Coogan, Emma Gilmour, Susan Jane Tanner, Lena Headey.

Wonderful World, 2009, 1 hr and 29 minutes; Quirky Movie / Drama / Comedy

A drama, a comedy, who knows? This one was a bit difficult to classify. I do know that it was an enjoyable film that features Matthew Broderick in an unexpected role. Broderick plays a divorced dad who just lost his job and whose roommate enters the hospital due to his lapse into a diabetic coma. Things seem to change a bit when the roommate’s sister flies in from Africa. While all this goes on Broderick is trying his best to relate with his daughter who he sees only on weekends.

After looking around on You Tube it appears that they really pushed this film quite a bit when it came out. Give it a try. You will like it.

Starring: Matthew Broderick, Sanaa Lathan and Michael K. Williams.

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Netflix Instant Picks for January, 2012

Posted on January 7, 2012 by Kenneth Carr

Matthew Lillard as “Spooner”

Netflix Instant Picks for January, 2012

It’s a new year and we are now reevaluating our Netflix subscription. We both agree that the instant streaming will remain but we are seriously considering dropping the mail delivery of new movies. We have experimented with Redbox and so far it seems to work well. Maybe someday Netflix will instantly stream everything, but I don’t think it will happen soon. If it does happen I predict that there will be at least a 50% increase in the monthly fee.

At present, it just takes a little longer to separate the quality streaming movies from the flood of refuse that Netflix stuffs their online offering with. To that end, here are my picks for this month:

 

Blitz, 2010, 1 hr and 37 min.; Action.
This movie from the U.K. is best described as an action/crime/buddy flick. The only hurdle you may have is getting used to the strong accent and quiet delivery of the star, Jason Slatham. The drama centers on a serial killer who is killing cops in one brutal murder after another. The police make the wise and desperate decision to sic their most undisciplined man on the trail of the homicidal brute. Our cop hero teams up with another officer who happens to be gay and therefore not the most popular man about the office. Once these two get going the action never stops. This movie is brutal, just what I was looking for in an action film.
Starring: Jason Statham, Paddy Considine, and David Morrissey

The Vanishing, 1993, 1 hr and 49 minutes; Action/Drama
Imagine losing your girlfriend at a highway rest stop. You both get out of the car, maybe you go to purchase some food and she heads for the ladies’ room. Then she never comes back. Would you spend three years looking for her? The lead character in this movie did. It may sound like a long haul; but, this thriller will have you on the edge of your seat for every minute. (Note: Sandra Bullock was in this in what turns out to be a minor part.)
Starring: Jeff Bridges, Keifer Sutherland, and Nancy Travis
PS: There is also a Dutch version of this film (in French) that came out in 1988.

Spooner, 2008, 1 hr and 23 min.; Romantic Comedy
This is a quirky, slow, indie romantic comedy. My wife fell asleep during this one and she is a great fan of romantic comedies; she just does not have the patience for a slow buildup. I do. All you need do is to coast along with this strange little movie and you will find that you like it more with each passing scene. The story? Spooner is a guy just turning 30 and his parents are finally throwing him out of the house at exactly the same time he meets the most awesome girl in the world. I think you will like it.
Starring: Matthew Lillard, Nora Zehetner, and Shea Whigham

Gunless, 2010, 1 hr and 29 min.; Western?
It’s a western. It’s a comedy. It’s a love story. This little flick is an underappreciated gem. A man pursued by bounty hunters arrives in a North West Canadian town of 17 souls. His interaction with the strangely common residents is a life changing event for all. Relax and enjoy this one.
Starring: Paul Gross, Sienna Guillory, and Dustin Milligan

The Warrior’s Way, 2009, 1 hr. and 40 min.; Martial Arts
A martial arts film? Are you kidding me? I know, I know, you gave up watching that stuff back in the ’80′s. Well, it’s time to take a look at the twenty first century offerings. This is a martial arts film like few others. The greatest assassin the world has ever seen spares the life of his final enemy, an infant girl. He then becomes a marked man as his own tribe members pursue him around the world. Where does the assassin flee to? The American Old West, of course. This does not look like any western you have seen before. The surrealistic settings, extreme violence, and characters painted in glaring hues all combine to make this retribution film work. When it is all over you just may decide that you like it; but, you won’t be sure why.
Starring: Dong-Gung Jang, Kate Bosworth, and Geoffrey Ruoh. Directed by Singmoo Lee.

Note: Previous reviews are also available in my “Movie Reviews” category.

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What’s In Your Backyard?

Posted on January 1, 2012 by Kenneth Carr

What’s in your backyard?  I’ll bet there is more than you might be aware of.  You just have to take the time to walk around and look.  Sometimes it involves crawling behind bushes or stalking an animal that is all too aware (and wary) of your presence.  You may have to venture out at midnight when nature’s nocturnal community members create the noises of the dark.  Sometimes it involves getting down to eye level with a mushroom; how else to see the details that reveal its mighty stretch through the upper layer of your lawn? You may even be tempted to taste that cool looking fungus.  That’s one temptation that it is better to
avoid.  I once took a mushroom course
(Field Mycology, 101).  I soon learned that two of my fellow classmates were members of a mushroom club.  They knew the common and scientific names of every species we collected during our daily hunts.  I clearly recall the day they located a stash of Boletus edulis, or that is what they thought they had.  No spore prints or stain test was necessary for them.  A simple slice with a pocket knife and out flowed a stream of ‘blue blood’.  That was the acid test.  It was indeed the edible variety.  Unfortunately someone had forgotten that blue blood meant just the opposite, it was the poisonous version.  They found out the next day when each of them was suddenly hit with the urge to vomit and sit on a toilet at the same time (a
difficult thing to manage with dignity). One woman was in a bank lobby when her fungal frenzy commenced.  After the bank employees unlocked three sets of doors she was finally granted access to the highly guarded comfort station just in the nick of time.

Mushrooms are a curious lot. They sometimes grow in a pattern that reflects the log or abandoned wood that their subterranean mycelia are anchored to.  If you ever find them in a perfect circle you have found a fairy ring, mushrooms growing around the perimeter of an old buried tree trunk.  One of my favorites is the puffball.  When fresh and firm they are all edible.  When old and dried
they pop open explosively to spew your yard with black clouds of spores as fine as flour.  Then there is the Russula.  I usually find their broad fruiting bodies with chunks missing from them.  That’s sure evidence that a squirrel has been feasting on these poisonous morsels.  Then there are the Amanita.  Their bright
colors, speckles, and persistent annulus (ring around the stalk) are usually enough to warn away the cautious.  All of these and others have appeared in my yard, mostly unnoticed by the casual passerby.

 


An Amanita on the left (quite deadly) and a  puffball below (very edible).

 

 

 

 

 

 

Of course, there is no good reason to overlook my garden, other than the fact that it was declared a disaster area by the FDA.  It seems that I miscalculated the amount of sun that would fall on my chosen plot. The result was stunted or entirely nonproductive plants.  Cucumbers that were supposed to be 10” long were stretching to achieve a maximum length of about 4.5”.  They still did present a photographic opportunity.

All of my cucumber vines were suspended from above to avoid any problem caused by contact with the ground. They were also fed and watered well. The photograph shows you what I got. Each one was worth two bites in a fresh salad.  Maybe next time I will grow pickles … small pickles.

Most people would like to have ferns in their gardens, but they are often difficult to grow.  It requires the right amount of moisture and shade. If you are lucky they will appear all on their own, as they do in our yard.  Our yard is just a little extension of the surrounding forest and as such it reflects what grows there.

There are at least a dozen different species of fern that grow naturally in Rhode Island.  I
completely forget all the distinctions between them (I did know at one time) and am just too lazy to key out the ones pictured here, one of several in our small domain.  Of course, where there are ferns they may also be wild orchids.  I am speaking about the lady slipper, or Cypripedium sp.  The woods on the edge of my yard (basically the part of our land where the trees were not cut down) contain loads of these.  I always thought they
were difficult to find.  They do well mostly on the east side of the property, right up to the street.  They are always found under the shade of trees and they make a vibrant addition to the mostly green and brown surroundings.  So, I’ll let the lady slipper be my last
photograph for this short guide to the yard flora in Hope Valley.  Next time around I’ll display some of the animals that visit our area … I will even try to post some of the strange sounds they make at night.

 

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Netflix Instant Picks for November, 2011

Posted on November 26, 2011 by Kenneth Carr

TV in 1931 ; not a lot to choose from. It hasn't changed much!

Television.   In my humble opinion, it really is the pits.  I can’t seem to find anything that I care to watch.  Most of the time I would rather read a book or do a little ham radio.  Television just does not have much to make me get excited.  And yes, I do subscribe to cable TV.  The only reason is because my wife insists that we keep it active so she can watch a few of her favorite shows.  It is not worth a fight.

Do I watch any television at all?  Yes.  I like to watch CSPAN, especially in the early morning.   You get intelligent and unbiased discussion of numerous current topics in politics.  Then of course I get to watch Greta each Tuesday morning.  I don’t think my wife likes Greta too much.  I’d watch Greta if she was interviewing Little League players about the size of sand grains that are usually found near first base.  I also watch Survivor, the first and only reality series that my wife and I subscribe to.  We have been watching it since the beginning and hope to continue until the show ends.  Unfortunately a small crimp has been placed in my playbill.  I now work nights and usually don’t get home until 9:30 pm.  The only way for me to watch Survivor is by using the VCR (a pain to set
it up) or on the computer.  Oh well, Jeff will understand.

What else is there on TV?  Well, you can always subscribe to Netflix and watch the TV selections that they provide.  Netflix has TV shows that are as recent as 2010 series or as ancient as some stuff that is over 50 years old.  Is any of it worth watching?  You bet it is!  Let’s look at some of my current suggestions:

Island at War; 2004,6 episodes

This is a British import.
It is all about a Channel Island in 1940.  It seems that Britain abandoned any semblance of military presence on the islands shortly after Germany began its bombing blitz on London.  What happened to the unprotected residents of the Channel Islands that reside between the coasts of Britain and France?  This short series deals with the very real specter of German invasion and control of the islands.  I have only watched the first
episode; but, if the remainder are as interesting as the first I will rapidly complete the series.

Check it out for yourself.

Twilight Zone; 1959, 138 episodes.

This series remains one of my all time favorites.  Rod Serling wrote most of the episodes and he appears at the beginning of all of them (sort of like the way Hitchcock did with his films and TV series).  When you watch Twilight Zone you will be introduced to almost every future star of 1960’s and 1970’s TV programs.  They are all there, including William Shatner as in impulsive gambler on a restaurant fortune-telling machine.  These 30 minute black and white episodes have a timeless quality about them.  They are as fresh today as they were in the ‘60’s.  I never tire of them.

Collision; 2009 Masterpiece Contemporary, 5 episodes.

This is another short run British series.  It’s the old buddy cop movie with a twist.  The two buddies are a man and woman who, if I remember, are former husband and wife.  They are presented with a massive roadway collision which at first appears to be the typical chain reaction mishap.  They dig deeper than their superiors want them to and an elaborate web of life stories is unveiled.  This is a very well done miniseries that will
have you riveted to the TV, even though it is in the typical British slow pace.

The Unusuals; 2009, 9 episodes.

The storyline is described as “a dysfunctional squad of New York homicide detectives” who do a poor job of ‘going by the book’.  I think you will appreciate how these
detectives transcend the paper cutouts that are the current rage of nighttime TV.  This is another one of those series that leave me scratching my head when I realize that it did not come back for a second season.   (You can watch the series for free on Hulu!)

Life on Mars; 2008, 17 episodes.

Did this one get by you like it did me?  Again, I just don’t watch TV, so it is easy for a series to pass me by.  It is very well that I never knew about this show back in 2008.  I would never have had the patience to wait a week to see the next episode.  A week?  I don’t even want to wait for the advertisements.  That’s the great thing about television series on Netflix, there are no advertisements.  You make your own by pressing the Pause
button.

So, what’s with this program?  A present day detective (2008) is run over by a car that he absent-mindedly walks in front of.  Apparently he does not die because when he
wakes he is walking into his precinct house just like any other day.  The problem is that everyone there has long side taps and bell bottoms.  It is 1973, not 2008.  Sometimes I would watch 3 episodes in one night… this show is better than beer!  Don’t pass it up. (Note: Get a look at Gretchen Mol who plays Sam’s girlfriend in 1973!)

That’s it for November.  I am seriously considering dumping the mail portion of Netflix.  I’m lucky if one movie makes it here each week.  Likewise, it is getting more and
more difficult to find good stuff on the Instant View service.  Help!  What are your recommendations?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Feed line Issues Revisited

Posted on November 15, 2011 by Kenneth Carr

Scotch 2228 Moisture Sealing Electrical Tape - Good Stuff!

This is a scene right out of Cady Shack. Where's Bill Murray when you need him?

How do you weather-proof your feed line connections and the coax itself?  Some coax claims to be direct-bury or buriable (my word processor spell check does not like that word).  Just cover it over with dirt and forget about it.  That idea never appealed to me so I have always insisted on running short lengths of PVC and placing my coax inside that conduit.  The last time I did this I
neglected to seal the underground junction of the two 10 foot pieces before placing it under the soil.  Water got in.  Of course, there was no harm since I had to dig it up anyways.  My original plan was to bury the PVC and then snake the RG8X coax through it.  That works well for about the first six inches.  Then it won’t go anywhere.  You can do it with RG8, the thick stuff, but not RG8X.  So, I dug up the PVC, glued together the underground portion, dropped the coax through it and then snugged the 90 degree angles at each end.  That went well enough.

It looks like somebody used too much of that purple PVC cleaner goop.

Next, how do I keep the connection between the short length of coax coming from the antenna and the feed line dry?  In the past I would wrap it with a very fine product called Coax Seal.  It came in 5 or 12 foot x ½” rolls.  The product is quite flexible and nicely conforms to the connectors and keeps water out.  I would also cover the whole mess with electrician’s tape just to be sure.

Recently when I wanted to purchase some more Coax Seal I ran out of luck.  My old standby, Radio Shack, no longer sold it.  They are not the source of ham radio supplies they once were.  I was lucky to get out of there with a roll of solder.  I checked  online sources and found that a 12 foot by ½” roll was going to cost about $6.00 plus another $6 for shipping at most places.  That didn’t  sound like a very economical way to make a purchase.  I know, I could just buy $50 worth of other stuff and it would even out; but,  I did not need all that other stuff!  Where to go?

I went to my local box store, Home Depot.  I came away with something called Duct Seal.  They use it to seal those heating ducts that are in your house.  It said it was moisture resistant and I recalled seeing it used on holes in the house that the cable guy made outdoors.  I gave it a try.  Once again I smothered the my PL-259’s and barrel connector with the product.  Then I wrapped it all in electricial tape.  The first time it rained I had big mess of goop and plenty of trapped water.  That was a failure.  It looked like I was going to have to order $50.00 worth of Coax Seal.

I made one more desperate search of Home Depot and I happened upon Scotch
Professional Grade 2228 Moisture Sealing Electrical Tape.  Wow, that name sounded like a description of just what I was looking for.  For about $8.97 I got a 1 inch by 10 foot roll (that would be equivalent to 20 feet of one half inch material).  The stuff works great.  Since it is so wide it does not take much to cover up the connection quickly.  It stretches nicely and adheres tightly.  I put it to use and did not use any electrical tape.

One more way to recycle a water bottle.

The only other precaution I am now using is my water bottle.  I surrounded the entire junction with a plastic water bottle to help keep the majority of the rain out.  So far it is working well.  I expect it will get through the winter just fine!  Bring on the DX.

Note: While cutting a hole in the bottom of the water bottle I managed to let the craft knife slip.  This produced much blood and four stitches to close up the wound.  It’s kind of like those old cartoons in QST where the guys only put up antennas when it is snowing.  I am real good at injuring myself.  Maybe you can learn from my mistakes.  Always cut AWAY from your hand.

 

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Impressions from a ride home

Posted on September 30, 2011 by Kenneth Carr

Route 95, southern RI; woods, blacktop, and hawks on light poles

It’s a crowded parking lot. If I back the truck out straight and then swing left there will be plenty of room to then go out the way I came in. Why is that guy turning back to look at me? Had I taken his parking spot when he went out to lunch? Well, the space is open now.

The sixties Mercedes for sale is still parked outside the Esso station. It has to have been there at least three years. I wonder if it has that air ride system that used to rot away.

Freeway entrance on the right; not many cars at the driveshaft place next to where I used to work.
I can see the old box truck in the front yard of the shop; being laid off makes me not want to go near the place.

The traffic isn’t that bad as I merge with the right lane of route 95 south.
I’m staying in the second lane at 57 mph … I don’t care who wants to pass me; I’m not putting up with all that merging traffic and disappearing lanes.

I’m getting real hungry… I missed lunch today because of waiting for John to come by to do the well water samples. Maybe I’ll stop at McDonald’s for a couple of hamburgers? No, go straight home. There’s some steak in the refrigerator. I have to eat quickly because I told Ed I would come over to take some pictures for him and maybe fix his camera.

This traffic is pretty light. Another 30 minutes and I’d be caught in the first wave of the rush home.
The truck is a joy to drive. It only has 30,000 miles on it because we have been using the small car. The Civic does 36 mpg.
We’re down to two lanes now. I’ll have to stay to the right. I’m not pushing it to 70 when I only get 16 mpg.

It’s a dark day. Those clouds are almost black. They are a dirty blue.
Three cell towers off to the left, their bases obscured by the tree line. One of them has its red light on.

This huge truck is pulling out from behind me to pass. He’s only feet in front now in the second lane. Will he pull in behind that guy who is 500 yards ahead or pass him too? He pulled in. Surprising, he had the speed.
A state police car is coming up quickly on the outside lane. He’s way back there. I’ll bet that’s what the truck driver saw.

The gray police car is passing me now. He is moving pretty fast.

This is the long stretch. Not much happening and the driving is easy. Maybe I’ll get off and take route three home. It’s slower. But then I won’t pass McDonald’s. I decided to eat at home anyways so that does not matter. Staying on 95 … I’m way past any of the route three exits. There’s the route 102 exit, Alton Jones. We used to take the kids there on busses for field trips. So long ago. Now I live even beyond that distant place.

Dead raccoon in the breakdown lane. He was there yesterday. A really fat one. He had a good life.

Two state police cars in the grass flanking a gray pickup. Both officers are out of their cars. The pickup driver is standing on the grass near the first cruiser. He is in handcuffs … what does the detained man look like?… closer now … a white guy … he is looking forward in the same direction as the traffic flow on 95. He thinks that is where he belongs, not here in cuffs, his good day ended. His hair is swept back like Elvis, a distinct brown color, his jacket is black leather (shiny new). None of this seems to match the baby face. The cops are not close to him. He seems to be standing alone. Are they searching? The license plate on the nearest cruiser is 317. I am past now. How much can you see at 60 mph?

Another dead raccoon on the side of the road just beyond the police and their suspect. His wet and scraggly body is like the closed parentheses to the scene I just witnessed.

Getting closer to my exit now.
There are some very large birds walking around on the grassy area beside the road. Are they large crows feasting on road kill? Too big, might they be vultures? Turkey vultures are ugly. I see them well now. They are turkeys; seven of them. I always count.

Exit 3B. I’m in the exit lane and slowing down. The lake is coming up on the right.
Six minutes to home.

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Netflix Instant Picks for September

Posted on September 27, 2011 by Kenneth Carr

I once again have what I believe is an impressive batch of movies that are all offered as Instant View (streaming) selections through Netflix.  All of the featured flicks on this list rate 10/10 on my scale.  As a bonus I will also include a couple of runner ups that I rate at 8 or better.  They may not get you real excited but they at least won’t make you feel like you wasted your time by watching them.

The Way Back, 2010, 2 hr and 13 min.; History / Adventure / True; Rating: 10/10

The Russians also had labor camps during WWII.  The people in those camps were a mixture of nationalities.  They were incarcerated for reasons of religion, politics, and ordinary criminal offenses.  The camp described in this movie was in Russian Siberia.  This brutal true story tells of the escape made by a small band of prisoners who were determined not to die in prison.  The goal of their trek was to reach India; that is one incredible walk.

Starring: Jim Sturgess, Ed Harris, Collin Farrell

 

Tattoo: A Love Story, 2002, 1 hr and 35 min.; Romantic / Independent; Rating: 10/10

Sarah is a very straight and proper elementary school teacher.  Then one of her students brings a tattoo artist into class for show and tell.  This is not your typical romantic comedy.  The film was cute, funny and different.  You just have to watch it – don’t let the
kooky storyline scare you away.

Starring: Megan Edwards, Virgil Mignanelli, and Benjamin Burdick

 

Suspect Zero, 2004, 1 hr and 35 min.; Mystery / Detective; Rating: 10/10

We begin with a FBI agent who has a rather poor past performance.  He has made some big mistakes in the past and is presently on the downside of a lackluster career.  Then he uncovers a very strange coincidence regarding a string of murders.
It seems that all of the victims were themselves serial killers.  Sounds a little like Dexter, doesn’t it?  This is an awesome original film that is sure to keep you in your seat (no bathroom breaks with this one).

Starring: Aaron Eckhart, Ben Kingsley, Carrie-Anne Moss

Apocalypto, 2006, 2 hr and 18 min; Adventure / Drama; Rating: 10/10

A Central American Indian tribe is raided by Mayans who are in need of people to sacrifice to their sun-god.  The action centers on a heroic native who is determined to escape.  Mel Gibson directed this awesome and gruesome adventure.  Put aside any distaste you may have for Gibson and let this movie make your heart beat fast for its entire length.  I thought I was going to have a cardiac arrest during this one!

Note: This movie contains brutal violence and significant historical inaccuracies.  Just watch it for the pure animal excitement, great acting, and splendid photography.

Starring: Rudy Youngblood, Dalia Hernandez, Jonathan Brewer

Jane Eyre, 1996, 116 minutes; Romance; Rating: 10/10

The classic Charlotte Bronte novel comes to life once again in the form of a movie.  This is one romance that many have heard about and an equal number have read.  Now it is the time to watch the movie.  The director Franco Zeffirelli has created a wonderfully rewarding film.  Classic romance at its best.

Starring: William Hurt, Charlotte Gainsbourg, Joan Plowright

 Now for a couple of runer up films:

Who’s Harry Crumb, 1989, 89 minutes; Comedy, Mystery; Rating : 9/10

If you are a John Candy fan, as I am, this is a must see movie.  Candy plays Harry Crumb, a bungling detective and heir to a detective agency run by a creep.  This movie is great fun in the John Candy tradition.  It is a bit dated but well worth the watch.  I recently watched an old interview with John Candy where he complained that Tristar Pictures did a terrible job of promoting the movie and the result was a bomb.  I’d have to agree – this is a fun video that has taken lots of bad press.

Starring: John Candy, Jeffrey Jones, Annie Potts

The Broken, 2008, 1 hr and 28 min.; Rating: 8/10

This one is about a woman who runs into her double (doppelgänger) and as a result her life gets turned upside down.  This mystery will have you bewildered for the duration.  You may figure it out right at the very end.  Strange, brutal, interesting.

Starring: Lena Heady, Richard Jenkins, Asier Newman

That’s it for this month.  If by any chance you watched one of these films after I recommended it and you liked it, let me know!

 

 

 

 

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Getting The Coax In

Posted on September 20, 2011 by Kenneth Carr

You won't get through to the floor above with a 4" drill bit!

How many different techniques for bringing a signal into the shack have you experimented with?  I’ve tried a number of them.  My first shack, outfitted with a Heathkit HW-101 transceiver, was in the basement.   Immediately to the left of the HW-101 was the foundation, sill plate, and as yet unfinished studded wall.  There was also a single window.   When I was using an end-fed long wire as my radiator I merely tied it
off outside the window and then continued inside with a short insulated extension that slipped under the frame of the closed window and terminated it at a post on an MFJ antenna tuner.  Everything changed when I switched to a G5RV fed by coax.  That time I drilled a hole directly through the outer shingles and plywood wall and on through my new inner wall (diagonal furring strips).  I lined the hole with a short piece of PVC tubing that was filled on both ends with Coax-Seal putty.

Things changed when I moved up one floor to the now vacant bedroom left to me by my son when he moved away to college.  I placed a copper-clad panel between the window and sill and studded it with through-mount SO-239 connectors.  These afforded me
access to a roof-mounted VHF antenna, a tree-bound G5RV, and a ground mounted
Gap Titan vertical.  At this higher elevation  the ground wire was getting a little longer than I wanted it (10 meter in-shack radiation was sometimes a problem).

Then we moved to the new house which is a colonial; two full floors and a basement.  First I adapted the window panel to fit my new second floor window.  Later I decided to change things because I wanted to install the shortest possible RF ground wire and put
the screen back in the window (I now have one-piece screens, they do not move
on a track).  An advertisement for the MFJ soffit entrance panel got me thinking about a new entrance for the transmission line.  If I purchased the MFJ unit I would have to figure out how to remove a section of the soffit that makes up part of the overhang of my second floor room.  I found that this involved the removal of lots of nails, molding, and panels.  I like to keep a job simple.  My solution was to drill a hole directly through the soffit right on up to the floor of my shack.  My soffit is covered with vinyl siding.  Under the siding is what looks like 3/4” plywood followed by about 9” of insulation-filled space which is topped by the floor boards and rug of my ham shack.  My room also has walls and a bookcase; I did not want my drill bit to come up in either one of those places.

So how did I do it?  I first made very careful measurements as to where I wanted the entrance hole to emerge from my rug.  This was in the corner of the room and about
5” from each adjoining wall.  If I missed my mark I could end up in the wall or under the bookcase.  I dropped a weighted line (plumb line) out the window and measured from the place on the rug where I wanted the hole to the edge of the line going out the window.   Then I went outside and marked the point on the soffit that was exactly
the same distance from the string line as the prospective entrance point was.  All I needed now was a depth measurement.  I measured from a point 5” inside the window to the outside vinyl siding.   Then I was able to find the intersection of the two lines; I had my drilling spot.  I purchased a long 5/8” x 16” spade bit (it will make a clean hole that is 14” deep).  I could have got one that was 1-1/4” in diameter, but that would have more than doubled the $10.00 price.  I drilled the hole from the outside and in spite of my careful measurements I was about 2” off, but not in the wall or under the bookcase.  I then opened up  each hole (floor, siding, soffit) with a 1-1/4” spade bit that only had to penetrate less than one inch on both sides.   Then I attempted to feed the coax through the hole.  That did not go well.  Although the hole was large enough the coax tended to go off to one side or another and never quite make it to the shack floor.  I solved this problem by

PVC entering hole which will be finished off with chrome wash basin bushing

cutting a piece of ¾” Schedule 40 PVC and lining the hole with that.  The end that protruded into the shack was terminated with a ¾” connector that is usually used to connect two lengths of PVC tubing.  The connector prevented the PVC from falling out of the hole.  On the soffit side I used some liquid nails to glue a chrome sink drain surround over the hole to make it look better and that was it.

The PVC pipe has been cut to size and capped with a 3/4" connector.

Now all I have to do is run in a ground wire and attach a ground bus bar to the wall where the coax enters.  I may also close off each end of the PVC with some sort of plug such as a piece of rubber or flexible plastic with radiating cuts in the middle to allow the coax to pass through.  I will tightly close off each entrance point with Duct Seal (a kind of putty used by electricians) so all weather and insects will remain outside.

List of Materials and Special Tools:

(1) 5/8” x 14” spade bit (wood boring bit)                                  $10.00

(1) 1-1/4” x 4” spade bit from a set                                                $1.50

(1) 1 pound package of GB Duct Seal                                            $ 1.75

(1) ¾”  Sched. 40 PVC junction                                                     $ 0.40

(1) 10’ x ¾” SCH 40 PVC pipe; ID 3/4″, OD ~ 1-1/16″              $ 3.00

(1) Wash basin drain surround                                                     junk box item

From top: 3/4" PVC connector, 3/4" ID PVC, 5/8" bit, 1-1/4" bit

 

 

Lots of room for cables; now all I need do is to weatherproof the entrance.

 

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Netflix Instant Picks for August

Posted on August 16, 2011 by Kenneth Carr

My wife and I love to watch movies and our favorite way of doing that is by accessing our Netflix account. Some of the movies come in the mail as DVD’s.  The other way we watch them is directly on the TV by way of a Roku interface.  We get all that for one monthly fee that is less than $10.00 per month.  Now Netflix has announced that the service will be split into two, DVD in the mail and Instant.  You have the option of subscribing to both or one or the other.  Of course the monthly combined fee for both is quite an increase (I believe it goes up to $16.00 per month).  We like the service so much that we will be keeping both delivery methods active.  They are worth it when you watch a lot of movies.

One criticism of the Netflix service has been that the older and less popular movies are reserved for the Instant service while the latest and greatest must come by way of DVD in the mail.  We have found that this is true so far as getting the latest big budget movies.
They tend not to make it to Instant for some time.  The idea that the Instant movies are of a lesser quality is probably due to the fact that there are so many available,
many of which are indeed turkeys.  It is possible to find plenty of good ones if you search, though.  The list that I am providing here may help you find the winners a lot sooner.  These short movie reviews are all for films available through the Instant platform.  I have judged every one to be superb.  If you find that your taste matches mine you will be able to spend less time looking for movies and more time watching them by just taking my advice and selecting these films.  Each film has a link to a You Tube trailer so you can get a better idea of what I am talking about.  Let’s get to this month’s list!

 

My Name is Modesty, 2004, 1 hr and 17 min. ; Action/Adventure; Rating: 10/10

Modesty Blaise is a cartoon super-spy who comes to life in this engrossing movie.  The film traces her beginnings as an abandoned orphan and her ultimate rise to the position of casino manager.  The action and the story are top-notch.  I was really surprised by
this one.  Watch it!

Starring: Alexander Staden, Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, Raymond Cruz

Beautiful Creatures, 2000, 1 hr and 29 min.; Action/Comedy; Rating: 10/10

The director sets the stage by presenting to the audience two women who are both abused by their boyfriends.  As things move along the two become accidentally acquainted and end up getting even with their abusive partners.  They get way more than even – lots of violence and blood in this one .. all done with good humor.  We could classify this as a female buddy/comedy/action movie.  This British flick was lots of fun.

Starring: Rachel Weisz, Susan Lynch, Jake D’Arcy

My Name is Jerry, 2009, 1 hr and 40 min.; Quirky Independent; Rating: 10/10

Sometimes we will watch 3 or 4 Instant films in a row for about 7 minutes each.  That is just enough time to determine that they stink and we have to move on to the next one.  We were unsure about this one and thought it might end up fitting the 7 minute category.  We were wrong.

Jerry is a middle-aged book salesman (read that as suit and tie, straight as an arrow) who makes some sudden and significant changes to his life.  These changes include hanging out with punk rockers and getting to know his daughter. Great movie!  (Isn’t that strange, two movies that begin with ‘My Name is’?)

Starring: Doug Jones, Katlyn Carlson, Allison Scagliotti.

Operation Condor, 1991, 1 hr and 29 min.; Action / Comedy;  Rating: 10/10

If you enjoy Jackie Chan movies, you will love this one.  He is at his energetic best throughout the film.  He plays a guy who is somehow roped into looking for long-lost Nazi treasure that is supposedly hidden in the Sahara Desert.  The plot consists of
tissue paper, but who cares?  The action is nonstop and Jackie is always surrounded by beautiful girls.  Enjoy!

Starring:  Jackie Chan, Carol Cheng, and Eva Cobo

Texas Rangers, 2001, 1 hr and 32 min. ; Western;  Rating: 10/10

This is the story of the origins of the Texas Rangers.  Leander McNelly heads the band of poorly trained recruits.  This has to be one of the best westerns ever!  Be forewarned
that there is excessive violence.

Starring: James Van Der Beck, Rachael Leigh Cook, Ashton Kitchner.

That’s it for this month.  If you want to encourage me to make some more of these lists, just provide some feedback in the comments section. There are a lot more recommendations where these came from.  Thanks!

 

 

 

 

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