Monty KD6CAE's rants

Weather was picture perfect for Thanksgiving 2009
It's truly amazing how nice the weather was for Thanksgiving 2009. Temperatures here were in the upper 60's to around 70 or so, and down in the Los Angeles Basin and Inland Empire, temperatures were in the upper 70's to low 80's! Mornings are naturally a bit on the cool side, but the weather was good. I spent the day watching home alone, the classic Christmas movie from 1990, as it was on all day yesterday on the FX network. I wish they had ran at least Home Alone 1 and 2 instead of just Home Alone, as they are both good movies. Something else that was kind of neat that happened over this Thanksgiving, was that the crew of space shuttle Atlantis on shuttle mission STS-129 was on orbit, enjoying their final day in space. This was the 8th time that the space shuttle has been on orbit over the Thanksgiving holiday, and I believe it was the first and likely only time that the space shuttle was on orbit on 2 consecutive Thanksgiving holidays. Last year STS-126 was on orbit during Thanksgiving as well.
Today, just about 5 hours ago, space shuttle Atlantis landed at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida, on time and with no issues at all. In fact, the STS-129 mission was the smoothest mission I've seen in quite a while. It launched on time, landed on time as well on the first attempt, and even during the flight, they were able to not only acomplish their planned objectives, but they also were able to do several get ahead tasks during their 3 space walks, as they finished all planned tasks early. The STS-129 mission was also neat because during the launch, NASA invited 100 people to view the launch from the KSC press site, during the NASA tweetup. I can only imagine how awesome that must have been for those that got to participate in that event.
There are now just 5 space shuttle missions left in the entire shuttle program! It'd be cool if I could make it out for the last shuttle launch ever, but I'm not holding my breath on that one. The next flight for the shuttle will be in early February
around February 6 or so, and the next flight for Atlantis will be in May 2010 on STS-132.
The holiday shopping season has now officially begun, as today is black Friday, and my roomates Kiera and Robert ar out finding deals as I write this. It's tempting to get a 1.5TB hard drive for my computer, but I really gotta try and save my money if I want to have any chance of going to the ACB national convention next July which I'm really hoping to be able to do.
And that my friends, is pretty much all the exciting news I have from here. Everyone have a safe rest of the holiday weekend. Hope everyone didn't get too stuffed.

events of the past day
Here's what I've been up to over the last 24 hours. You don't have to read this, but you may miss something cool that may have happened that I may have forgotten to mention in this here blog. So read on.

02:35 Just went to pick up Robert, now back, and going to bed #

08:25 Good morning, happy Thanksgiving to everyone. STS-129 shuttle Atlantis lands at 9:44 AM edt tomorrow at KSC #

12:18 Watching mythbusters marathon on Discovery channel #

12:34 If you want to watch the classic home alone, it's on the FX network right now #

15:34 Temperatures today here are around 70, and down in the LA Basin and surrounding area they're in the low 80's, very nice #

19:04 This is the 8th time in shuttle program history that the shuttle has been on orbit for thanksgiving. #

19:05 The most recent Thanksgiving spent on orbit prior to today was just last year on STS-126 #

19:08 I believe this may be the only time in history that the shuttle was on orbit for 2 consecutive Thanksgiving days, kind of cool #

These daily entries are provided thanks to LoudTwitter

00:52 Going to bed, night all #

09:21 Download Speed: 14689 kbps (1836.1 KB/sec transfer rate), Upload Speed: 1189 kbps (148.6 KB/sec transfer rate), as good as my internet gets. #

09:21 Good morning all, barely waking up #

13:04 rt @toonhead: Freedom Scientific! Please for the love of God keep out of the courts and work on fixing your screenreader! #

13:47 I've been using Qwitter 2.31 like forever, let's attempt to upgrade to latest version and hope nothing breaks. #

13:56 On the new Qwitter 3.10 and yay the Sound pack I'm using is still there #

14:18 Current temperature here is 70 degrees. Down in Los Angeles Basin temperatures are in the upper 70's. #

14:19 And just because I know you need to know, it's currently minus 31 degrees F down at the South Pole, that's almost hot, lol. #

15:12 Just had lunch, peanut butter and jelly sandwich and Barbecued chips yum #

16:34 Can't believe how nice our weather is for this Thanksgiving. #

21:37 I'm very full, had 3 cheeseburgers for dinner #

21:56 doing my daily modifications to the STS-129 mission audio, now saving the result, it takes about 27 minutes to complete. #

These daily entries are provided thanks to LoudTwitter

10:19 Awake. Wow I slept well. Haven't awoken at 10:20 AM in a while #

13:09 Just had some hot dogs, very good #

14:58 Temperatures in the area currently: Lancaster 64, Burbank 73, Riverside 75, very pleasant day with warming expected through Thanksgiving #

These daily entries are provided thanks to LoudTwitter

14:20 Current temperatures in the area, Lancaster 66, Burbank 77, Ontario 75, Riverside 77, very nice day #

16:24 Reading about C band satellites and wild feeds and cool stuff like that #

20:37 Had some very good chicken for dinner, and a bunch of folks and their friends are partying over here. #

These daily entries are provided thanks to LoudTwitter

11:20 Hello everyone, I'm just here, awake and stuff. #

11:40 Just had some cereal, delicious it was. #

12:17 rt @tallin32: Tribute to NW flight 188 "Tweetin' On A Jet Plane" tinyurl.com/yhhk5rt #

12:22 My previous RT tweet just made it to my favorites on Youtube, that was awesome #

18:12 Listening to some music on myspace, now if I can just remember how to add some of it to my playlist on my profile there. #

19:14 How do I add songs to my profile playlist when on an artist's playlist page on myspace? #

19:53 OK I added songs to my myspace playlist before, now how the heck did I do it? I sure ain't having much luck now. #

20:14 OK just added a song to my myspace playlist, but haven't a clue how I did it, or which of the 2 songs I wanted to add actually got added. #

22:59 Had a fun time adding music to myspace, and finding cool Youtube videos today, going to bed in a bit. #

These daily entries are provided thanks to LoudTwitter

08:23 I'm awake, slept like crazy last night, now watching NASA TV as shuttle crew does this spacewalk. #

08:36 Editing yesterday's shuttle recording to bring the level up just slightly, I want to thank @RicksterTheGeek for providing these recordings #

08:37 As far as me doing shuttle audio recordings, I'm still looking for my darn cable, gurrrrr. #

10:37 Hanging out watching space shuttle mission STS-129 coverage #

17:00 Just purchased DGL Season 12 Mp3's, you want them? That'll be $15. #

20:00 Finished dinner and now listening to things and stuff #

21:57 Headed to bed listening to shuttle audio, good night. #

These daily entries are provided thanks to LoudTwitter

09:20 Good morning all, I slept very well last night just watching NASA TV and editing a file #

10:05 File edited, now saving it #

10:06 I just had a sausage, egg and cheese biscutt, yummy #

15:18 Wonders what the read/write speeds on USB thumb drives are. #

15:19 When writing data to thumb drive, I got about 3.5 megabytes/sec, when reading data from drive I broke 40 Megabytes/sec, is that about right? #

16:11 I've just removed the video I'd previously posted to Youtube of the launch of STS-127, the launch I was at. Continued #

16:12 Apparently, video quality was utter crap, so at the indirect request of original owner, I have removed it, continued #

16:14 I wanted to be able to share my experience of viewing a shuttle launch with everyone, however at least for now that won't happen, final. #

16:15 If you want to view a shuttle launch check out my favorites on my youtube channel, I've got hopefully some good ones there #

16:42 I do believe the Star Trek 2009 DVD is out, wonder if I can find me a copy. #

17:38 Just finished dinner #

These daily entries are provided thanks to LoudTwitter

05:01 I'm up at 5 AM watching NASA TV, hope to dig up patch cable today so I can record audio direct from cable box. #

12:56 Just uploaded video of STS-127 launch as captured from my friend Traci's camera. www.youtube.com/watch?v=g72ei6mRIhE #

12:59 STS-127 was the launch I saw in person from KSC visitor complex back on 7/15. The video just posted was from my friend Traci's camera. #

14:18 Holiday sales plummet for Blind Recording Artists: Access for Blind Net Surfers Blocked by CDBaby bit.ly/2Rtxez #

17:06 OK why does my USB thumb drive stop being recognized at random? I unplug and plug back in and it comes back. hmmm #

21:55 Getting tired, think I wil pretend to be dead for a while #

These daily entries are provided thanks to LoudTwitter

08:13 Hi all, I'm awake and watching the docking of STS-129 shuttle Atlantis to the space station #

08:48 Atlantis now about 5 minutes from docking, closing at 0.1 feet per second. #

08:52 Captured confirmed at 8:51 AM local Pacific time Atlantis and STS-129 crew now docked with space station. #

10:33 Hatches now open between space shuttle Atlantis and space station. They were opened at 10:28 AM #

These daily entries are provided thanks to LoudTwitter

00:11 Holy crap! I was just made aware that time Warner Cable in my area is now carrying NASA TV on ch. 234! It's about time #

00:15 NASA TV was the 1 channel I couldn't get on TWC that I wanted, and with Edwards Air Force base so close, it was odd that it wasn't offered #

00:17 Now that I've finally got NASA TV on my cable lineup, I gotta find my patch cables so I can record mission activities. #

06:10 RT @Orbitcast Do you have an inactive XM radio Turn it on! XM is airing 60 channels for free starting today. More info: bit.ly/21XXpc #

06:29 Listening to Joey Weston do his show at radio360.us #

09:27 Watching NASA TV on the cable, something I thought I'd never be able to do. Strange it's not on the channel lineup though. #

11:30 Pirate bay tracker shuts down for good: torrentfreak.com/the-pirate-bay-tracker-shuts-down-for-good-091117/ #

18:05 A friend's IRLP linux box has been up for 326 days 10 hours and counting. That's the longest uptime I've personally seen, can it make 1Year? #

18:06 This linux box is on a home internet connection also, so this guy's UPS certainly works well. #

21:07 Was just chatting on the radio for last couple of hours, now going to find goodies to eat. #

23:14 Had some fish sticks and beans for dinner. #

23:52 Watching NASA TV for a bit before I go to bed. #

These daily entries are provided thanks to LoudTwitter

Cool weather and STS-129 launches on time.
It's most certainly no longer summer, with temperatures plunging in to the upper 20's to low 30's in the mornings in recent days around here, and high's in the low to mid 60's tops. When our weather changes, it sure happens fast. Not much in the way of rain though. It's been 11 months since that freak rare snow event that hit the Antelope Valley and dumped 8 inches of snow on the valley floor back on December 17, 2008, and I wonder if we'll see anything like that this season.
Yesterday, the launch of STS-129 occured at 11:28 AM Pacific time, taking space shuttle Atlantis to the international space station. And for once, unlike the previous I don't know how many missions, this flight got off the ground on time on the first attempt with 0 issues during the launch countdown. It was the smoothest space shuttle launch countdown since early this year. If only STS-127, the launch which I saw in person, had gone this smoothly.
Last night I got a nice surprise. I got a phone call from Robert, who was out visiting a friend, and he wanted me to turn my TV to channel 234. When I did so, I discovered I was watching NASA TV. NASA TV is free to air and for cable companies to carry on their networks, yet even with Edwards Air Force Base being right here in the Antelope Valley service area of Time Warner Cable (TWC), NASA TV has not been carried for some time. Back in the 90's, our local channel 3 would periodically give us NASA TV during portions of shuttle missions. But I haven't seen even that in many years now.
TWC carried every channel I'd want to watch except NASA TV, and that very fact had me considering the possibility of switching to satellite TV, where I'd for sure get NASA TV. With the discovery of Time Warner Cable carrying NASA TV at least for the moment on channel 234, I can officially say that I can get all TV networks and channels I'd want to watch via TWC. I don't know if NASA TV will be a permanent part of the lineup, or if it's just around on the cable network for this mission, but I'll take advantage of it regardless. Interestingly, the main channel lineup for my area on the web does not show that channel 234 is part of the lineup. I'm therefore also not sure if others in Southern california serviced by TWC are getting NASA on their lineups, but I hope that at least some folks are, and that this isn't limited to just the Antelope Valley. Though even if it is just limitted to the Antelope Valley, it's being carried in a service area which contains both Edwards Air Force base, as well as Plant 42 in Palmdale, where alot of the shuttle was worked on, so I won't complain.
Now I just have to find my patch cables that allow me to connect my computer to my digital cable box, so I can record NASA TV and Space shuttle mission coverage, just as I did when I was in Palmdale last year.
That's all the goings on from me at this point in time. 73 for now.

05:01 Good morning all, up early to watch countdown of STS-129 launch today. #

05:03 Burr it was 26 when I awoke this morning, now it's 27, burhrhrhrhrhrr #

05:22 all set for watching countdown of STS-129 space shuttle Atlantis launch. #

08:28 STS-129 launch has a tweetup going on, wish I were at the #NASATweetup, enjoying spaceflightnow's coverage #

10:12 Continuing to watch STS-129 countdown, things looking good #

10:15 We're at t-20 minutes and holding #

11:03 We're now about 26 minutes away from launch, of STS-129,yayness #

11:17 No Constraints for launch all positions reporting go, launch now 12 mins away for STS-129! #

11:24 Around 4 minutes to launch now for STS-129 yay! #

11:28 under 30 seconds to launch of STS-129 now! #

11:28 And we have lift off! Beautiful countdown and launch! #

11:31 This mission is the final crew rotation flight where an astronaut returns home on shuttle #

11:38 Perfect launch and climb to orbit for STS-129 Atlantis, sweet! Hope this tweet doesn't post twice. #

12:26 Testing this better post only once. #

14:32 I'm re-listening to the spaceVidcast feed of STS-129 which I recorded some of. #

23:53 Had some food, now going to bed night all, it's another cold night here #

These daily entries are provided thanks to LoudTwitter

08:24 Beginning to awaken now, burr it was cold this morning, low's in the upper 20's, that's the coldest this season. #

10:09 Weather still forecast 90 percent "go" for Monday's launch of shuttle Atlantis at 2:28p EST on STS-129, yay! #

12:25 Installing Goldwave on my computer so I can try and raise volume of this low documentary I just downloaded #

18:12 Had some delicious chilli dogs for dinner. #

20:49 Going to bed early tonight. Remember STS-129 launch is tomorrow at 2:28PM EST. #

These daily entries are provided thanks to LoudTwitter

01:52 Going to bed, see everyone upon my awakening. #

09:21 I'm listening to @planethitsradio's holiday channel for the first time this season and christmas across the lands is on. #

11:37 Had some captin crunch cereal with a banana for breakfast, very tasty. #

13:43 Listening to this awesome Vertical Horizon concert I am downloading, nice stuff #

13:47 Getting Thirsty, going to go get some water then maybe play some uno or something. #

16:07 I won the last game, and currently sitting this Uno game out. #

16:10 Jeffery won the final game yay #

16:14 Looks like we'll have one on one between Paulette and walley #

18:31 Had good dinner, chicken sandwiches and duritos chips, good stuff #

22:16 Getting ready for bed, night all #

These daily entries are provided thanks to LoudTwitter

06:34 For Monday's launch of space shuttle Atlantis at 2:28 pm, the weather forecast looks good-90% chance of favorable weather. #

06:35 That last was via @explorespaceksc #

06:36 And that by the way will be the first time since STS-126 I think that weather will be that good for launch. #

15:11 It's currently a cool 55 degrees here now with winds about 20mph, warming expecting by next week. #

15:11 We had light rain in Southern California last night causing some mud sliades in recent burn areas #

21:17 Just had a cheeseburger, actually 3 of them, very good dinner. Now watching a documentary. #

These daily entries are provided thanks to LoudTwitter

01:59 Putting together a windows 98 SE box for my roomate Robert who needs a dos based system 4 his dos programmable radios. #

09:55 Waking up #

16:24 rt @kd0ess: Starting July 1, 2010 Overdraft Fees Will Require Consumer Consent. my query, why would ya wanna opt in for them? #

19:07 I need to check out latest Gilead Lane funcast. Hearing rumors of a possible 13th episode for season 12, if true, just wow! #

21:29 Yes there will be a 13th episode of Down Gilead Lane which will air November 21, so says latest DGL funcast. Umm wow this ought to be good! #

23:20 Had some delicious apple pie just now. #

These daily entries are provided thanks to LoudTwitter

06:38 Waking up now that it's 6:38 AM. #

10:51 On this Veteran's day I can't help but wonder how us being in Iraq is helping our freedoms, we're just getting killed there, no fun. #

12:08 This is my 2,937th tweet, not that anyone will care or anything. #

17:32 My god, while searching for items with KD6CAE in them for the fun of it, I found a posting I made back in January 2001 I'd forgotten about! #

19:44 Is it not possible for a blind person to access java speedtest applits anymore? I can't get any of them to show their buttons gurr #

These daily entries are provided thanks to LoudTwitter

20:14 Finished dinner, very quiet day around here today, chicken was dinner tonight. #

These daily entries are provided thanks to LoudTwitter

13:26 Hello all, just browsing the web. #

13:56 Listening to the brutal uno game between @gb123geo and myself. Wow that was a crazy game. #

16:44 Installing realspeak voices off my Jaws11 DVD which I just received #

20:21 Had a couple chicken sandwiches, and some corn dogs for dinner, now hanging out #

23:30 OK going to bed, good night all #

These daily entries are provided thanks to LoudTwitter

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