Friday, December 31, 2004

Wiki Beats Britannica Hands Down

Recently went to look at the on-line Britannica and cancelled within 72 hours. The stuff I was researching (broadcasting) was TEN years old. If the articles I was searching were so way off base, I have no trust in the rest.

In the meantime there is already a Wiki on the Great Wave.....

The 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake struck the Indian Ocean on December 26, 2004 and caused tsunamis that killed over 150,000 people, the great majority in Indonesia, making this one of the deadliest natural disasters in modern history. The quake was an undersea megathrust earthquake of magnitude 9.0 off the western coast of northern Sumatra, Indonesia at 00:58:53 UTC (07:58:53 local time). It was the largest earthquake on Earth since the 9.2-magnitude Good Friday Earthquake which struck Alaska in 1964, and tied for fourth largest since 1900.

The tsunamis ravaged coastal regions all over the Indian Ocean, devastating parts of Indonesia, Sri Lanka, India, Thailand and other countries. The tsunamis reached heights of 15 m and flooded coastlines between fifteen minutes and ten hours after the quake. Deadly tsunamis struck as far away as Somalia and several other countries on the east coast of Africa, 4,500 km (2,800 mi) or more west of the epicentre. Global ripple effects were so widespread that wave fluctuations passed into the Pacific Ocean and caused tidal disturbances in North and South America.

Why didn't Tsunami Warning Get Broadcast?

Watch the Wave

When the analysis is done on the tragic events of December 26th, it seems incredible that many broadcasters and meteorological offices in Asia do not share information with each other, nor do they subscribe to warning services such as NOAA ( National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

check this video

If the US is giving out aid, then maybe knowledge could be part of the package. And the broadcasters in the area need to work out how they can get emergency weather information to their people and tourists visiting the country. It seems incredible that the Thai authorities did not issue a warning in Phuket because they were afraid of the Tourist Board (they reacted angrily when a previous warning from the Thai authorities did not eventuate).

RadioLovers.com - Old Time Radio Shows

When Mikes were really Microphones

RadioLovers.com - Old Time Radio Shows is a brilliant website offering hundreds of vintage radio shows for you to listen to online in mp3 format, all for free. Worth a browse.



Tsunami Information Management Centre - Sri Lanka Tourism

Tsunami Information Management Centre - Sri Lanka Tourism:

It seems a bit wierd to read this press statement from the Tourist Board in Sri Lanka on a day of national mourning in the country. Bit early..although it is true that tourism plays an important role for those affected in Galle and other southern towns.

"2:30pm - 31st December 2004 : Tsunami Incident - Colombo, Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka's Tourism leaders Pledge 'Aggressive Bounceback' more than 3,000 affected hotel rooms already restored
Sri Lanka's tourism leaders today pledged to bounce back aggressively to restore the industry that was growing at record levels before last Sunday's Tsunami.

First we saw amazing acts of human kindness from Sri Lankans from all walks of life. Amidst the most staggering grief, I heard so many stories of our people reaching out to touch the lives of our foreign visitors. In so many different ways, Sri Lankans displayed their true hospitable nature' said Mr Udaya Nanayakkara, the Chairman of the Sri Lanka Tourist Board.

'Now there has been an incredible show of unity from all levels of our tourism industry, a determination to bounce back and put tourism on the road to recovery.

'A healthy tourism industry will be the key to the recovery of our economy, the rebuilding of our nation,' he added.

'We have already seen operations restored at more than half of the affected hotels, restoring more than 3,000 of the 5,600 hotel rooms affected by the waves. This has meant that we can supply food, shelter, clean drinking water and sanitation to many in the affected areas, greatly lessening the chances of disease.'

Concluded tourism chief, Mr Nanayakkara: "One of the most heartwarming effects of this tragedy has been the attitude of our foreign visitors. "A large number have refused to leave the country. They have insisted on traveling on to the interior where there is some of the most unique attractions in the world, including six world heritage sites.


Tourism is Sri Lanka's fourth largest source of foreign revenue. It directly benefits more than 200,000 people and contributes about US$400 million per year in foreign earnings. Before last Sunday's Tsunami, the country was on track to achieve record tourist arrivals of 575,000 visitors this year.

Thursday, December 30, 2004

US Public Radio slips back again as news source

More people in the US use Internet as a news source, than listen to public radio. Local television news tops the list of sources where most people in the United States get their daily news, according to a new poll on media usage from the Gallup Organization.

According to poll results released Dec. 22, 51 percent of those surveyed said they turn to local television news daily. Nineteen percent said they view local TV news several times a week. Local newspapers ranked second on the list, with 44 percent turning to papers daily.

Cable news networks ranked third with 39 percent watching daily. Thirty-six percent watch the network nightly news every day.

Twenty-seven percent watch national television morning news shows and public television news programming every day. The poll also found that 21 percent of adults turn to talk radio for news, 20 percent rely on Internet sites, 17 percent listen to National Public Radio for news and 7 percent turn to national newspapers like The New York Times and the Wall Street Journal.

The only news source to grow in use among the public was the Internet. In 2002, a Gallup poll found 15 percent relied on the Internet, 5 percent fewer than the 20 percent mark reached in this year’s poll.

Since 2002, there has been a decline in the reported use of public television news, nightly network news and local television news. Public television news declined by 8 percent, nightly network news has fallen by 7 percent and local news dropped 6 percent. Reliance on NPR as a source for news dropped 5 percent, which the Gallup Organization reported being slightly higher than the poll’s margin of error.


Tuesday, December 28, 2004

Amateur Radio & Tidal Wave in Sri Lanka


Victor Goonetilleke Posted by Hello

Victor Goonetilleke, a long time radio colleague, lives just outside the capital of Sri Lanka, Colombo. He sent this e-mail on Tuesday morning.

The tragedy is horrendous. Some of the video is frightening and so pathetic.
All of us are OK but working flat out trying hard to organize some emergency amateur radio communications. We're also doing some food distribution and things like that. Since the affected areas are so widespread in the country, things are very hard. Everyone within 1000 metres or so of the coast have been badly affected right along the coast from North to South on the eastern side of the island. In some areas as far as 2-3 kms inland. On the Western side not so bad, about 100 metres from the coast is seriously affected. As the quake was on the Eastern side of the island and the tidal waves came from the East/ South East. You have to be here to see the vast destruction..frightening.. Even though my family or very close friends have not been affected, we know too many who have perished. Some heart breaking stories are aleady emerging.

I got back to my home after a hectic day on Monday 27th. We are sending a radio amateur team to the worst affected area to link on HF (shortwave) and try VHF through one of our functioning repeaters. A coordination centre will be set up Tuesday 28th at "Temple Trees" at the Prime Minister's official residence in Colombo. We have some more volunteers who would go, but we have a shortage of portable equipment, transport, etc. to the affected areas etc. I hope our efforts tomorrow to link Hambantota which is in the deep South is successful as it has been totally cut off since the first waves hit..

Sri Lanka

Amateur Radio in Other Areas Affected

The US Amateur Radio Organisation, ARRL, is carrying another update on the current situation in India, the Andaman and Nicobar Islands and Sri Lanka, with thanks to Bernie McClenny, W3UR, and from Horey Majumdar, VU2HFR.


News agencies now report estimates of more than 27,000 feared dead from the tsunamis(tidal waves) that took place in the Bay of Bengal December 26. The estimated death toll in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands ranges from 2000 to 5000. Horey Majumdar reports that radio amateurs in India are handling hundreds of pieces of health and welfare traffic regarding people missing and from relatives of those living in Andaman and Nicobar Islands, which are closer to the earthquake's epicenter.

"There is presently no communication from Nicobar Islands," Majumdar reports, noting that Nicobar received more damage than Andaman. McClenny says a radio-amateur expedition in the area at the time (VU4RBI/VU4NRO DXpedition team) continues to pass emergency traffic. C. K. "Ram" Raman, VU3DJQ, reports he was in contact with Sarath, 4S7SW, a physician operating from the vicinity of a hospital in Mathara, Sri Lanka, which also was heavily hit by the tsunamis. "He is requesting food, clothing and medicines for relief," Raman reported. "He will be listening on shortwave on the frequencies of 14.195 MHz and 21.295 MHz." Telephones are not working in that part of Sri Lanka, he said.

McClenny and Majumdar agree that it was fortuitous that the VU4RBI/VU4NRO DXpedition was under way when the disaster struck. "If there is a positive aspect to this disaster, it may very well be that the Indian government--and others--realize the ability of Amateur Radio during these difficult times," McClenny observed.

The initial earthquake off the Indonesian Island of Sumatra just before 0100 UTC on December 26 now has been upgraded to 9.0 on the Richter scale. Since then, the National Earthquake Information Center has reported some 18 aftershocks split between the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. The most recent, just before 0100 UTC today, registered 6.1 on the Richter scale.

Sandeep Baruah, VU2MUE, reports two emergency frequencies have been established. VU4NRO, the team at Port Blair, will be QRV on or near 14.190 MHz. The club station VU2NRO in Hyderabad on the mainland will relay traffic to and from Port Blair.

Other emergency traffic frequencies being reported include 14.193 and 14.160 MHz in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, 7.050 MHz in South India, 7.055 MHz in Indonesia and 7.075 in Thailand, where stations from 4S7, VU2 and 9M2 were reportedly heard.

D.V.R.K. Murthy, VU2DVO,and Jose Jacob, VU2JOS, are now in Port Blair. Reports indicate that some telephone lines are now working, but there still is no water or electricity at the Hotel Sinclair, where the VU4 DXpedition was headquartered.

In the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, the most devastated area is Car Nicobar, which has been totally cut off. It is possible that Amateur Radio operators may travel to this area after obtaining clearance from local authorities.

Club station VU2NCT and VU2MUE in Calcutta all are helping with the efforts to pass emergency traffic to Port Blair.

Baruah is operating club radio station VU2NCT in coordination with the National Disaster Control, New Delhi. The Calcutta VHF Amateur Radio Society has set up a control station from Calcutta. Majumdar is operating that station and has been in touch with VU4RBI in the Andamans.

Charly Harpole, K4VUD, who had been visiting the VU4RBI/VU4NRO operation and filing regular reports via The Daily DX now is reported back on the Indian mainland.

Majumdar also tells ARRL that hams from Bangalore and Chennai on the Indian mainland are moving toward Nagapattinam to set up ham radio disaster communication stations at Nagapattinam in Tamil Nadu--the worst-affected areas on the mainland. The Indian Army is assisting stations on Andaman by providing logistics and backup batteries.

Majumdar says radio amateurs from Bangalore, Chennai and other parts of South India are trying to set up stations in the affected areas of Tamil Nadu.

James Brooks, 9V1YC, provided additional information via The Daily DX. He says Andaman and Nicobar Islands authorities have asked the DXpedition team for relief communications help. They have requested one station at the deputy commissioner's office in Port Blair and another on the remote Nicobar Islands. VU2RSB will be manning the station at the deputy commissioner's office in Port Blair, and VU2RSI will staff the station at the current DXpedition site until further notice.

He reports the Indian Army will be flying VU2MYH and VU2DVO out to the Nicobar Islands with three days' food, a rig, batteries and an inverted V antenna. The VU4RBI/VU4NOR team was allowed back into the damaged hotel building and Bharathi Prasad, VU2RBI, "is bravely operating on the fifth floor using the Yagi antenna" despite continued aftershocks. Telephones in the building are also working again. Commercial power is returning slowly, but the DXpedition team continues to use battery power most of the time.

Friday, December 24, 2004

Norwich Christmas 2004


Spending Christmas 2004 in Norwich, Eastern England. Famous for its cathedral and castle. Rather rural, but a great place to live. Not in the craptowns collection (great series of books). Took this picture while Christmas shopping...shops were empty on Friday 24th...getting ready for the sales on Monday. Posted by Hello

Tuesday, December 21, 2004


They say Amsterdam is the Venice of the North. When you see the newly developed harbour area East of Central Station, it shows what can be done when you get inner city planning right. This has the potential to be a creative part of town in the future... Posted by Hello

Saturday, December 18, 2004

USC Center on Public Diplomacy | Home

USC Center on Public Diplomacy is a fascinating new site covering the US media presence in the Middle East, plus a media blog by Gordon Robison based in Amman. Well worth a browse.

Nearly finished my two big projects and can return to regular blogging.

Thursday, December 16, 2004

Dutch Connection Christmas in Amsterdam


The Dutch Connection Christmas Party in Central Amsterdam. Great things will happen in 2005...just you wait and see! Posted by Hello

Friday, December 10, 2004

Cooking For Engineers

Cooking For Engineers is a great new site for those with an analytical mind. I'm busy on two media projects which seem to be struggling for the same deadline - hence the blogger silence for the time being.

Tuesday, December 07, 2004

Passwords to Avoid

The following list is a compilation of several common password lists plus some lists of common words and common names (the most common of the U.S. Census common name lists) purged of duplications. In reality, any word that appears in the dictionary used by an intruder, would be cracked as quickly as any of these. These are worse than some others only in that they are likely to appear in any dictionary used by any cracker. Other words and names are almost as common and thus almost as likely to appear in any cracking dictionary. It's likely that some words and or names more common than some of these have been missed. If a cracker uses an unabridged dictionary or combinations of dictionaries, it will be very hard to find any word or name they won't crack. This includes any variations such as discussed in Password Cracking.

The list includes words likely to be offensive to some.

!@#$% !@#$%^ !@#$%^& !@#$%^&* 000000 00000000 0007 007 007007 0246 0249 1 111 1022 10sne1 111111 121212 1225 123 123123 1234 12345 123456 1234567 12345678 1234qwer 123abc 123go 1313 131313 13579 14430 1701d 1928 1951 1a2b3c 1p2o3i 1q2w3e 1qw23e 1sanjose 2112 21122112 2222 2welcome 3 369 4 4444 4runner 5 5252 54321 5555 5683 654321 666666 6969 696969 777 7777 80486 8675309 888888 88888888 90210 911 92072 99999999 @#$%^& a a12345 a1b2c3 a1b2c3d4 aaa aaaaaa aaron abby abc abc123 abcd abcd1234 abcde abcdef abcdefg abigail about absolut academia access action active acura adam adams adg adidas admin administrator adrian advil aeh aerobics after again aggies aikman airhead airplane alan alaska albany albatross albert alex alex1 alexande alexander alexandr alexis alfred algebra aliases alice alicia aliens alison all allen allison allo alpha alpha1 alphabet alpine always alyssa ama amanda amanda1 amber amelie america america7 amiga amorphous amour amy an analog anchor and anderson andre andrea andrew andromache andy angel angela angela1 angels angie angus animal animals ann anna anne annie answer anthony anthropogenic antonio anvils any anything apache apollo apollo13 apple apple1 apples april archie arctic are aria ariadne ariane ariel arizona around arrow arthur artist as asdf asdfg asdfgh asdfghjk asdfjkl asdfjkl; ashley ask aspen ass asshole asterix at ate ath athena atmosphere attila august austin author avalon avatar away awesome aylmer aztecs azure babies baby babylon5 bacchus bach backup badboy badger bailey baker balls bamboo banana bananas banane bandit banks barbara barber barbie baritone barnes barney barry basebal baseball basf basil basket basketb basketba bass bassoon bastard batman be beagle beaner beanie bear bears beater beatles beautifu beauty beaver beavis because been beer beethoven before bell belle beloved benjamin bennett benny benoit benson benz beowulf berkeley berliner bernard bernie bertha beryl best better betty beverly bfi bicameral big bigbird bigdog bigfoot bigmac bigman bigred bilbo bill billy bingo binky biology bird bird33 birdie bitch biteme black blackie blaster blazer blizzard blonde blondie blowfish blowme blue bluebird bluesky bmw bob bobby bobcat bond007 boner bonjour bonnie booboo booger boogie bookit boomer booster boots bootsie boris boss boston both bowling bozo bradley brandi brandon brandy brasil braves brazil brenda brewster brian bridge bridges bridget bright bring broadway broncos brooke brooks brown browns bruce brutus bryant bubba bubba1 bubbles buck buddha buddy buffalo buffy bull bulldog bullet bullshit bumbling bunny burgess business buster but butch butler butthead button buttons buy buzz by byteme cactus caesar caitlin californ call calvin camaro camera campanile campbell camping can canada canced cancer candy canela cannon cannonda canon cantor captain cardinal carl carlos carmen carol carole carolina caroline carolyn carrie carry carter cascade cascades casey casio casper cassie castle cat catalog catfish catherine cats cayuga cccccc cedic celica celine celtics center cerulean cesar cfi cfj cgj challeng champion champs chance chanel change changeme chaos chapman charity charles charlie charlie1 charlott charming charon cheese chelsea cherry cheryl chester chester1 chevy chevy1 chicago chicken chico chiefs china chip chipper chiquita chloe chocolat chris chris1 chrissy christ christia christin christina christine christop christopher christy chuck chucky church cigar cinder cindi cindy claire clancy clarence clark class classic classroo claude claudia cleaner cleat clipper cloclo clover clusters cobra cocacola coco coffee coke cold coleman colleen college collins colorado coltrane columbia come commrades compaq compton compute computer concept condo connect connie conrad control cook cookie cookies cool coolman cooper copper cornelius corona corrado corwin cosmos cougar cougars could country courtney couscous cowboy cowboys cox coyote cracker craig crapp crawford creation creative creosote cretin cricket crow cruise crystal cuddles curtis cut cutie cyclone cynthia cyrano daddy daemon daisy dakota dallas dan dance dancer daniel danielle danny darren darwin dasha data database dave david david1 davis dawn day daytek dead deadhead dean death debbie deborah debra december deedee defense defoe deliver delta deluge demo denali denise dennis denver depeche derek design desperate detroit deutsch develop dexter dgj diablo diamond diana diane diaz dickhead did dieter digger digital digital1 dilbert direct1 director dirk discovery disney dixie do doc doctor dodger dodgers does dog dogbert doggie doggy dollars dolphin dolphins dominic domino don don't donald done donkey donna doobie doogie dookie doom doom2 doris dorothy doug dougie douglas down dragon dragon1 dragonfl draw dream dreamer dreams drink drizzt drought drums duck duckie dude duke duncan dundee dustin dusty dwight dylan e-mail each eager eagle eagle1 eagles earl easier easter eat eatme eclipse eddie edges edinburgh edward edwards edwin edwina eeyore egghead eiderdown eight eileen einstein elaine electric elephant elizabet elizabeth ellen elliot elsie elvis elwood emerald emily emmitt energy engine engineer enigma enter enterprise entropy enzyme eric ernest ersatz espanol establish estate etoile euclid eugene europe evans evelyn every excalibu except explorer export express extension fail fairway faith falcon family far farmer farming fast felicia felix fender fermat ferrari ferret fgh fiction fidelity find finite fiona fire fireball firebird fireman first fish fish1 fisher fishers fishing five flakes flamingo flash fletch fletcher flight flip flipper float flores florida flower flowers floyd fluffy fly flyers foobar fool foolproof footbal football for ford foresight forest format forsythe foster found fountain four fourier fox foxtrot fozzie france frances francis francois frank frankie franklin freak1 fred freddy frederic freedom french1 friday friend friends frighten frodo frog frog1 froggy frogs from front242 frosty fubar fucker fuckme fuckoff fuckyou fugazi full fun fungible funny future gabriel gabriell gaby galaxy galileo gambit gandalf garcia garden gardner garfield garlic garnet garrett gary gasman gateway gator gauss gave gemini general genesis genius george georgia gerald german gertrude get ghost giants gibson gilles ginger give gizmo glacier glenn global gloria gnu go goalie goat goblue gocougs godzilla goes gofish goforit going gold golden goldie golf golfer golfing gone gonzales gonzalez goober good goofy gopher gordon gorgeous gorges gosling got gouge grace graham grandma grant graphic grateful gray graymail green greenday greg gregory gretchen gretzky griffey griffin groovy grover grow grumpy gryphon guess guest guido guinness guitar gumption gunner guntis guru gymnast h2opolo hacker had hal9000 hall hamlet hammer hamster handily hanna hannah hansolo hanson happening happy happy1 happyday harley harmony harold harris harrison harry harvey has hatton have hawaii hawk hawkeye hayes hazel he health heart hearts heather hebrides hector heidi heinlein helen hell hello hello1 help helpme henderson hendrix henry her herbert here herman hermes hernandez hershey hiawatha hibernia hill him his history hobbit hockey hockey1 hola hold holly home homebrew homer honda honda1 honey hoops hootie horizon hornet hornets horse horses horus hot hotdog hotrod house houston how howard hughes hunter hunting hurt huskers hutchins i ib6ub9 icecream iceman idiot if iguana iloveyou image imagine imbroglio impala imperial in include indian indiana indigo info informix ingres inna innocuous insane inside intel intern internet into ireland irene irish irishman ironman is isaac isabelle isis island it italia italy its jack jackie jackson jacob jacqueline jaeger jaguar jake jamaica james james1 jan jane janet janice january japan jared jasmin jasmine jason jason1 jasper jazz jean jeanette jeanne jeff jeffrey jenifer jenkins jenni jennifer jenny jenny1 jensen jeremy jerry jesse jessica jessie jester jesus jesus1 jewels jim jimbo jimbob jimmy jixian jkm joan joanna joe joel joey john john316 johnny johnson jojo joker jonathan jones jordan jordan23 jose joseph josh joshua josie joyce jsbach juan judith judy juggle julia julian julie julie1 jump junebug junior jupiter justice justin justin1 karen katherin katherine kathleen kathryn kathy katie kayla keep keith kelly kelly1 kelsey kennedy kenneth kermit kernel kevin kevin1 khan kids killer killme kim kimberly kind kinder king kingdom kingfish kirkland kitten kitten12 kittens kitty kleenex knicks knight knights know koala koko kombat kramer kristen kristi kristin kristy krystal lacrosse laddie ladle lady ladybug lakers lakota lambda lamer lamination larkin larry larry1 larson laser last laugh laura lauren laurie law lawrence lazarus lebesgue ledzep lee legend leland lennon leon leonard leroy leslie lestat let letmein letter lewis library light like lillian lincoln linda lindsay lindsey lionking lisa list little live liverpoo lizard ljf lloyd logan logical lois london long look looney lopez lori lorraine loser louis louise love lovely loveme lover loveyou lucas lucky lucky1 lucy lulu lynn lynne mac macha macintos macintosh mack maddock maddog made madison maggie maggot magic magnum mailer mailman major majordom make malcolm malibu mantra many marc marcel marcus margaret maria mariah marie marilyn marina marine marino mario mariposa mark market markus marlboro marley mars marshal martha martin martin1 martinez marty marvin mary maryjane master master1 masters math matrix matt matthew maurice maveric maverick max maxime maxwell may mayday mazda1 me medical megan melanie melissa mellon memory memphis meow mercedes mercury merlin metal metallic mets mexico michael michael. michel michele michell michelle mickey micro midnight midori mikael mike mike1 mikey miki mildred miles miller millie million mimi mindy mine minimum minnie minou minsky mirage miranda mirror misha mishka mission missy misty mitch mitchell mittens modem moguls molly molly1 molson mom monday monet money money1 monica monique monkey monopoly monster montana montreal moocow mookie moomoo moon moore moose more morgan morley moroni morris mortimer mother mountain mouse mouse1 mozart much muffin murphy music mustang my myself nancy naomi napoleon nascar nat natasha nathan nautica ncc1701 ncc1701d ncc1701e ne1469 nebraska nellie nelson nemesis nepenthe nesbitt ness netware network never new newcourt newpass news newton newuser newyork next nguyen nicarao nicholas nick nicole niki nikita nimrod niners nirvana nirvana1 nissan nite no none norma norman not nothing notused now noxious nss nugget number number1 number9 nurse nutrition nyquist oatmeal obiwan oceanography ocelot october of off oil old olive oliver olivetti olivia olivier on once one online only open opus or oracle orange oranges orca orchid orion orlando orwell oscar osiris other ou812 our out outlaw over own oxford pacers pacific packard packer packers painless painter pakistan paladin pam pamela panda pandora pantera panther papa papers paris parker parrot part pascal pass passion passwd passwor password pat patches patricia patrick patterson paul paula peace peaches peanut pearl pearljam pebbles pedro peewee peggy penelope penguin penny pentium people peoria pepper pepsi percolate percy perez perry persimmon persona pete peter peterson petey petunia phantom phil philip phillip phillips phish phoenix phoenix1 photo phyllis piano picard picasso pick pickle picture pierce pierre piglet pinkfloy pirate pisces pizza planet plato play playboy player players please plover pluto plymouth pmc poiuyt polaris police politics polo polynomial pomme pondering poohbear pookie pookie1 popcorn popeye pork porsche porsche9 porter portland poster powell power ppp praise precious prelude preston pretty price prince princess princeton prof promethe property protect protel protozoa psalms psycho public puckett pull pumpkin puneet punkin puppet puppies puppy puppy123 purple put pyramid python q1w2e3 quality quebec quest qwaszx qwert qwerty qwerty12 rabbit racerx rachel rachmaninoff racing racoon radio raider raiders rain rainbow raindrop raistlin raleigh ralph rambo1 ramirez ran random randy ranger raptor raquel rascal rasta raven raymond read reader reading reality really rebecca rebels red reddog redrum redskin redwing reebok reed reefer reggie remember remote renee republic research retard reynolds reznor rhonda richard richardson rick ricky ride right ripper ripple river rivera robbie robert robert1 roberts robin robinhoo robinson robotech robotics rochester rock rocket rocky rodman rodriguez roger rogers rolex roman romano ronald rooster root roping rose rosebud rosemary roses rosie ross round roxy roy royal royals ruben ruby rufus rugby rules run runner running russel russell rusty ruth rux ruy ryan sabrina sadie safety said sailing sailor sal sales sally salmon salut sam samantha sammie sammy sampler sampson samson samuel sanchez sanders sandra sandy sango sanjose1 santa sapphire sara sarah sarah1 sasha saskia sassy saturn savage saxon say sbdc scamper scarlet scarlett scheme school science scooby scooter scooter1 scorpio scorpion scotch scott scotty scout scruffy scuba1 sean seattle secret security see sendit senior sensor septembe serenity sergei server service seven seven7 sexy shadow shadow1 shadows shall shalom shannon shanti shark sharks sharon shawn she sheba sheena sheffield sheila shelby sheldon shelley shelly sherry shirley shit shithead shiva shivers shoes shooter shorty shotgun show shuttle sidney sierra signature silver simba simmons simon simple sing singer single sit six skater skeeter skidoo skiing skinny skipper skippy slacker slayer sleep small smashing smile smiles smiley smith smiths smokey smooch smother snake snapple snatch snicker snickers sniper snoopdog snoopy snow snowbal snowball snowman snuffy so soap soccer soccer1 socrates softball soleil some sonics sonny soon sophie sossina space spain spanish spanky sparky sparrow sparrows special speech speedo speedy spencer spider spike spirit spit spitfire spooky sports spring springer sprite spunky squires squirt ssssss stacey stanley star star69 stargate start startrek starwars station stealth steele steelers stella steph stephani stephanie stephen steve steven stever stewart stimpy sting1 stingray stinky stop storm stormy strangle strat stratford strawber strider stuart student studly stupid stuttgart subway success sugar summer sun sunbird sundance sunday sunflowe sunny sunny1 sunrise sunset sunshin sunshine super superman superstage support supported supra surf surfer susan suzanne suzuki swearer sweetie sweetpea sweets sweety swimmer swimming sydney sylvia sylvie symbol symmetry system t-bone tacobell taffy take tamara tammy tandy tangerine tango tanker tanner tanya tape tara tardis target tarragon tarzan tasha tattoo taurus taylor tazman teacher teachers tech techno teddy teddy1 telecom telephone tell temp temporal temptation ten tennis tequila teresa terry test test1 test123 test2 tester testing testtest texas thailand than thank that the theatre theboss their theking them theman then there theresa these they think this thomas thompson those three thumper thunder thunderb thursday thx1138 tiffany tiger tigers tigger tigre tim timber time timothy tina tinker tinman tintin to toby today todd together toggle tom tomato tomcat tommy tony too tootsie topcat topgun topher topography toronto torres tortoise toyota tractor tracy trails training travel travis trebor trek trevor tricia trident tristan trivial trixie trombone trouble truck trucks trumpet try tubas tucker tuesday turbo turner turtle tuttle tweety twins two tyler umesh undead unhappy unicorn unknown up upon urchin us use user1 utility utopia vader valentin valerie valhalla vampire vanessa vanilla vasant velvet venus vermont veronica vertigo very vette vicky victor victoria victory video viking vikings village vincent violet viper viper1 virginia visa vision volley volleyb volvo voodoo voyager walk walker walleye wally walter wanda wanker want warcraft ward warez warm warner warren warrior warriors was wash washington water watson way wayne we weasel web webmaste webmaster webster weenie weezer welcome welcome1 well wendy went were wesley western whales what whateve whatever whatnot wheeling wheels when where which whisky white whiting whitney who why wicked wilbur wildcat will william williams williamsburg willie willow willy wilson win win95 windows windsurf winner winnie winston winter wisconsin wisdom wish with wizard wolf wolf1 wolfgang wolfman wolverin wolves wombat wonder wood woodland woodwind woody word work wormwood would wqsb wrangler wrestle wright write www xanadu xavier xcountry xfiles xxx xxxx yaco yamaha yang yankees yellow yellowstone yoda yomama yosemite you young your yvonne zachary zap zapata zaphod zebra zenith zephyr zeppelin zeus zhongguo ziggy zimmerman zombie zorro zxcvb zxcvbnm

Sunday, December 05, 2004

Pictures Worth Watching


Every hour, a site by Jonathan Harris called 10x10 scans the RSS feeds of several leading international news sources, and performs an elaborate process of weighted linguistic analysis on the text contained in their top news stories. After this process, conclusions are automatically drawn about the hour's most important words. The top 100 words are chosen, along with 100 corresponding images, culled from the source news stories. At the end of each day, month, and year, 10x10 looks back through its archives to conclude the top 100 words for the given time period. In this way, a constantly evolving record of our world is formed, based on prominent world events, without any human input.

Sources.

Currently, 10x10 gathers its data from the following news sources:
Reuters World News
BBC World Edition
New York Times International News
 Posted by Hello

What is holding back radio? The dial. Millions of Euro's worth of great content is still hidden behind a number (or in the old days -the name of the transmitter site). There are some interesting experiments with Electronic Programme Guides in the UK (Unique Broadcasting showed them at IBC 2004) but we're some years before you can choose good radio by the contest. Wish there was Google inside my DAB radio. And I wish DAB wasn't so useless in Holland, as it is being boycotted by the commercial stations. They in turn we're ripped off by the Dutch government trying to make a fast buck on the FM licences. Boy, did that policy backfire! Posted by Hello

Partnerships


The more I look at this photo, the more I wonder if it was Photoshopped. But it is a great symbol of partnerships.  Posted by Hello

Unlease the Power of Mediocrity - Not!


What do we have to do to get Holland innovating again? I fear it is not what the Innovatieplatform have in mind. Their English language website still says "The Innovation Platform started its activities in September 2003 and is installed - by Royal Decree – from september 2003 untill 1 July 2007". Brilliant - translated by a true professional.

At the moment the Netherlands is drowning - not in water - but in mediocrity. I agree with these quotes:-

The most insidious influence on the young is not violence, drugs, tobacco, drink or sexual perversion, but our pursuit of the trivial and our tolerance of the third rate.
* Eric Anderson

The way to get on in the world is to be neither more nor less wise, neither better nor worse than your neighbours.
* William Hazlitt

There's Nothing in the Middle of the Road but Yellow Stripes and Dead Armadillos
* Jim Hightower

When small men attempt great enterprises, they always end by reducing them to the level of their mediocrity.
* Napoleon I

The middlebrow is the man, or woman, of middlebred intelligence who ambles and saunters now on this side of the hedge, now on that, in pursuit of no single object, neither art itself nor life itself, but both mixed indistinguishably, and rather nastily, with money, fame, power, or prestige.
* Virginia Woolf  Posted by Hello

Something to do with a horse....


Apparently, this is a chinese description of what Critical Distance is doing...or I was ripped off at the market in Shanghai. Posted by Hello

Practical Wireless Article August 1979


Just found this article of mine in Practical Wireless August 1979 - in which I predicted the use of digital transmission over AM. I remember the editor at the time saying they would print it - but it was a long shot. That was before compression technology was really thought of. Posted by Hello

VRT - On the Right Track


Impressed by the VRT presentations in Istanbul, both for radio (Studio Brussel) as well as the soon-to-be-relaunched VRT-1. These guys have worked out the role of public broadcasting in a small country. Posted by Hello

Saturday, December 04, 2004

Lodewijk Bouwens Leaves the Biz....


Great send off for Lodewijk Bouwens, former DG at Radio Netherlands, both at the station (on November 4th) and last Friday as part of the local business club.  Posted by Hello

Monday, November 29, 2004

EBU Conference in Istanbul


Great conference in Istanbul. Great views too...interesting that the Asian side is more European than the European side. Istanbul airport has Wi-Fi to the gate...brilliant. Schiphol could learn something from that. Posted by Hello

Sunday, November 28, 2004


Looking towards Asia on the other side of the Bosphorous... Posted by Hello

Inside the Blue Mosque, Istanbul Posted by Hello

Inside the Istanbul Grand Bazaar...4000 shops and around 12000 salesmen...but friendly and willing to bargain. Posted by Hello

Beside the Bosphorous


Just been to a very cold but very interesting Istanbul. Walking around on Friday and Saturday was an eye opener, busting a lot of cliche pictures I had of Turkey and the Turkish. Met some interesting people....definitely not my last safari in that direction. Posted by Hello

USB humidifier?

There is a great French/English blog published by regular visitors to Akihabara, the gadget capital of Tokyo, Japan. They spotted this USB powered humidifier, although I am not sure you want to get water too close to your labtop. But outside the big cities, some form of "air conditioning" is useful in Japanese homes, especially during the summer.

USB Humidifier

Long in the Tooth

Too slooooow and too late. Even though a growing number of cell phone manufacturers are adding Bluetooth capabilities to their products, I don't think the technology is fast enough to survive. Bluetooth technology in the phone and headset allow conversations to be transmitted wirelessly between the devices.

According to research firm IDC, 13 percent of mobile phones shipped worldwide this year feature Bluetooth. By 2008, an estimated 53 percent of the world's phones will have Bluetooth while 65 percent of those shipped in the United States will offer the wireless technology, IDC said. Make a note of that number for future reference - it is way over the top. Have you ever tried to activate a bluetooth connection? Bloody nightmare - especially if you're in a hurry. No, Wi-fi has much more of a future - give me a phone with encrypted wi-fi not Bluetooth. The two technologies also interfere with each other since they use a similar frequency spectrum. Went to a conference in Amsterdam in April 2004 - Bluetooth and Wi-Fi had a REAL problem co-existing in a confined space.

Apple i-pod and Analysts

Make a note of this number for future reference. Analyst Charles Wolf (Needham & Co.) predicts Apple will sell 13.3 million iPods in 2005, with that figure jumping to 23.5 million in 2006. That’s a lot of white headphone-toting individuals waiting to happen!

One of Wolf’s more interesting predictions is the expectation that 100 million Windows users will be iPod owners by 2008. He thinks the iPod trend will generate a critical mass that could result in a surge in Mac sales, even if only a nominal fraction of the Windows-iPod convert.

I think he is over ambitious. It depends whether Apple continues with the software innovation, not so much the player itself. i-tunes at the moment is rather biased towards English language repertoire. I think the success will continue along these lines when foreign language music databases are coupled to i-tunes and you can get this stuff onto your i-pod too. It has to be -act global, think local.

Sunday, November 21, 2004

NORDLYS - Northern Lights

From www.norther-lights.no

Some solar storms today, with more great aurora pictures possible. Planning an expedition to go as see some more "live" sometime soon.

Saturday, November 20, 2004

World Sunlight & CloudCover Map in Real Time

Click here to see where the sun is right now and major cloud cover. Looks great- so why doesn't he allow links for other to put it on their site? Interesting for radio fans as they're interested in day/night propagation.
 Posted by Hello

Just opened a bottle of Bin 7 Australian Shiraz from the Dorrien Estate, Barossa Valley...Wow..Blackberries galore...Highly recommended Posted by Hello

There is money in the "Innovation" debate currently going on in the Netherlands - why has this country slipped so low in the international ratings when it comes to innovation? Lack of ambition - reminds me of the great depair.com slogan - Unleash the Power of Mediocrity! Except with 300,000 empty work-stations in the Netherlands - this is no joke. Posted by Hello

Radio for the Troops -A Petition

Radio for the Troops is a website campaigning for more liberal views on the American Forces Radio & TV Service. They argue that America's soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines currently are only hearing a single politically oriented talk radio host--the intensely partisan Rush Limbaugh.


One way of staying warm in the Arctic! Posted by Hello

Dave says he was in a vehicle about 300 metres out from the towable building complex in which they stayed. See www.tundrabuggy.com for more on what all this is.
 Posted by Hello

Firefox - Rediscover the web

Installed a copy of the Firefox browser today. It seems faster than Microsoft's IE but I can't go fully over to Firefox until the plug-ins are compatible. I am surprised the Blogger plug-in doesn't seem to work - or Snagit - one of the best programs I have found for capturing screen shots.

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