Comments for dixson.org http://dixson.org news and rants for family & friends Wed, 14 Mar 2012 10:38:20 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 Comment on We know what device you use in the bedroom by Mike http://dixson.org/2012/03/we-know-what-device-you-use-in-the-bedroom/comment-page-1/#comment-35 Mike Wed, 14 Mar 2012 10:38:20 +0000 http://dixson.org/?p=646#comment-35 Good morning Chris, that sure is strange and I have spoken with the cable company many times. I have to say you can have some fun with the computerized voice....just guess you will have to remember where you said your TV was when you speak with tech support. Good morning Chris, that sure is strange and I have spoken with the cable company many times. I have to say you can have some fun with the computerized voice….just guess you will have to remember where you said your TV was when you speak with tech support.

]]> Comment on About by Custom Safari Style Sheets (Using CSS to Remove Facebook Ticker) – dixson.org http://dixson.org/about/comment-page-1/#comment-29 Custom Safari Style Sheets (Using CSS to Remove Facebook Ticker) – dixson.org Wed, 21 Sep 2011 17:12:58 +0000 http://dixson.org/?page_id=2#comment-29 [...] and rants for family & friendsHomeAboutSeptember 21, 2011 You are here: Home / Uncategorized / Custom Safari Style Sheets (Using CSS to [...] [...] and rants for family & friendsHomeAboutSeptember 21, 2011 You are here: Home / Uncategorized / Custom Safari Style Sheets (Using CSS to [...]

]]> Comment on The software install cascade by Chris http://dixson.org/2011/03/the-software-install-cascade/comment-page-1/#comment-16 Chris Wed, 09 Mar 2011 23:22:11 +0000 http://dixson.org/?p=413#comment-16 I think it had something to do with, ... with... hmm. I think it had something to do with, … with… hmm.

]]> Comment on The software install cascade by Jamie Todd Rubin http://dixson.org/2011/03/the-software-install-cascade/comment-page-1/#comment-15 Jamie Todd Rubin Wed, 09 Mar 2011 23:12:52 +0000 http://dixson.org/?p=413#comment-15 And do you even remember what it was you intended to do in the first place? And do you even remember what it was you intended to do in the first place?

]]> Comment on Yarmouth Nova Scotia Lobster Eating Champ by Coach Jay "Hot Tamale" Lodico http://dixson.org/2009/07/nova-scotia-lobster-champ/comment-page-1/#comment-12 Coach Jay "Hot Tamale" Lodico Wed, 29 Jul 2009 02:58:34 +0000 http://www.dixson.org/?p=372#comment-12 Can't take credit for your iron constitution, my friend. You gave it your all, 110%. Next stop, Nathan's! I will play 'Bela Karoli' to your 'Nadia' anytime ... Can’t take credit for your iron constitution, my friend. You gave it your all, 110%. Next stop, Nathan’s! I will play ‘Bela Karoli’ to your ‘Nadia’ anytime …

]]> Comment on Off the Grid: Eighty Hours without Commercial Power by Chris http://dixson.org/2009/01/off-the-grid-eighty-hours-without-commercial-power/comment-page-1/#comment-10 Chris Mon, 19 Jan 2009 19:09:43 +0000 http://www.dixson.org/?p=276#comment-10 Thank you for the additional & helpful ideas! :-) I especially like, "Nail down the generator, such things have a way of growing legs in the night..." So true. I read that some generator thefts did indeed occur. Thank you for the additional & helpful ideas! :-) I especially like, “Nail down the generator, such things have a way of growing legs in the night…” So true. I read that some generator thefts did indeed occur.

]]> Comment on Off the Grid: Eighty Hours without Commercial Power by AC0KG http://dixson.org/2009/01/off-the-grid-eighty-hours-without-commercial-power/comment-page-1/#comment-9 AC0KG Mon, 19 Jan 2009 15:33:38 +0000 http://www.dixson.org/?p=276#comment-9 Some ideas. Part of my planning includes battery powered LED night-lights. These plug into the wall and keep themselves charged and work as regular night-lights. When the power goes out they automatically switch to high brightness. You can take them out of the wall and switch them to 'flashlight' mode. Some models run on NiMH AA cells and are intended for use as battery chargers. I like them because they're always charged, in the same place and easy to find. They run about 10-15 bucks each. Make sure you can cold-start any gas-based appliances. My fireplace will run with the power out (without the circulation fan), but it won't turn on if the power is out. I also have some recycled computer UPSs that won't cold-start on battery power. Nail down the generator, such things have a way of growing legs in the night during extended power outages, particularly if they can be heard at night. Drill regularly and randomly. At unexpected times during the year, cut power to the house (or most circuits anyway) and restrict yourself to using only what would be available in a given emergency situation. This kind of drilling quickly reveals holes in your planning. Note the problem on paper and try to cope with it (in an emergency that's what you'd have to do anyway). Take notes about what would make things easier, what supplies you discovered you were low on or were using faster than expected. Working through the notes later will make sure you are always well prepared and know what to do. Also be sure you address not just the deficiencies you discover, but the cause of them. For example, if you're low on aluminum foil and so can't grill some food properly, find out why you haven't purchased a replacement yet (generally, because people shop for stuff after they notice they one they have is getting low or is gone. I buy a new one as soon as I've opened a fresh package, so I've always got at least one unopened one on the shelf). I try to make all my regular activities emergency-compatible, so that I have less to think about during an emergency situation. I also try to make sure I have backups for all my backups :) Some ideas.

Part of my planning includes battery powered LED night-lights. These plug into the wall and keep themselves charged and work as regular night-lights. When the power goes out they automatically switch to high brightness. You can take them out of the wall and switch them to ‘flashlight’ mode. Some models run on NiMH AA cells and are intended for use as battery chargers. I like them because they’re always charged, in the same place and easy to find. They run about 10-15 bucks each.

Make sure you can cold-start any gas-based appliances. My fireplace will run with the power out (without the circulation fan), but it won’t turn on if the power is out. I also have some recycled computer UPSs that won’t cold-start on battery power.

Nail down the generator, such things have a way of growing legs in the night during extended power outages, particularly if they can be heard at night.

Drill regularly and randomly. At unexpected times during the year, cut power to the house (or most circuits anyway) and restrict yourself to using only what would be available in a given emergency situation. This kind of drilling quickly reveals holes in your planning. Note the problem on paper and try to cope with it (in an emergency that’s what you’d have to do anyway). Take notes about what would make things easier, what supplies you discovered you were low on or were using faster than expected. Working through the notes later will make sure you are always well prepared and know what to do.

Also be sure you address not just the deficiencies you discover, but the cause of them. For example, if you’re low on aluminum foil and so can’t grill some food properly, find out why you haven’t purchased a replacement yet (generally, because people shop for stuff after they notice they one they have is getting low or is gone. I buy a new one as soon as I’ve opened a fresh package, so I’ve always got at least one unopened one on the shelf).

I try to make all my regular activities emergency-compatible, so that I have less to think about during an emergency situation. I also try to make sure I have backups for all my backups :)

]]> Comment on Chris’ Journey into Amateur Radio – Part I by dixson.org » Off the Grid: Eighty Hours without Commercial Power http://dixson.org/2007/01/chris-journey-into-amateur-radio-part-i/comment-page-1/#comment-5 dixson.org » Off the Grid: Eighty Hours without Commercial Power Sun, 18 Jan 2009 16:10:38 +0000 http://www.dixson.org/?p=47#comment-5 [...] made my way over to the “shack” or amateur (ham) radio room, grabbed a flashlight and headed off to bed. I figured the [...] [...] made my way over to the “shack” or amateur (ham) radio room, grabbed a flashlight and headed off to bed. I figured the [...]

]]> Comment on MT 4 Install Part II by Chris http://dixson.org/2008/05/mt-4-install-part-ii/comment-page-1/#comment-8 Chris Tue, 27 May 2008 17:16:30 +0000 http://www.dixson.org/?p=75#comment-8 KB1JCY: You said it. MT 4 has been highly 'modularized.' This basically means that the header, footer, banner, and sidebar code are in separate modules that get pulled into the template pages. This makes perfect sense but it's just been a bit of an adjustment in thinking. It's not complicated but I was hoping it would of been less of a time drain - especially given that this blog is for personal use and no one is paying me to dive into it. ;-) P.S. Thunder & lightening here, hope you got those antennas down. KB1JCY: You said it. MT 4 has been highly ‘modularized.’ This basically means that the header, footer, banner, and sidebar code are in separate modules that get pulled into the template pages. This makes perfect sense but it’s just been a bit of an adjustment in thinking. It’s not complicated but I was hoping it would of been less of a time drain – especially given that this blog is for personal use and no one is paying me to dive into it. ;-)

P.S. Thunder & lightening here, hope you got those antennas down.

]]> Comment on MT 4 Install Part II by KB1JCY http://dixson.org/2008/05/mt-4-install-part-ii/comment-page-1/#comment-7 KB1JCY Tue, 27 May 2008 16:52:06 +0000 http://www.dixson.org/?p=75#comment-7 Yikes, that's messy. I've been through the same thing with SMF which Ham Radio Talk runs on. Yikes, that’s messy. I’ve been through the same thing with SMF which Ham Radio Talk runs on.

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