[FADCA] Ramblings

Mon Mar 28 14:21:49 EST 2005

On Mon, 28 Mar 2005 13:57:10 -0500, Freeman Crosby <mail at fcrosby.com> wrote:
> First I must apologize for my later remarks for the following reasons and a
> few more I care not to mention:
> 
> --------------------------------------------
> 
> 1. It's a cold, rainy and dreary day.

I guess the front has not moved through there yet, it is nice and clear here
in Tampa.

> 
> 2. I'm down to only 25 mg of "Z o l o f t" daily since my wife died a year
> and a half ago.

Keep at it you will get it lower, but you spent a lot of time with her, that
counts for a lot of the Z product.

> 
> 3. I'm going to weight watchers and have lost 14.5 lbs. I now ( usually )
> have only one beer a day which cuts into my food allocation points and may
> make me grumpy at times. ( If I lose another .5 lbs and I get another
> "Star" but overate at Easter dinner and may not make it this week,  it's
> rumored they may take my last star away).

Keep at it, it is good for you...
> 
> 4. The weather has been cold and rainy with Red Tide since January. No
> exercise at all except walking around Walmart.

That tropical jet has been the pits, my wife has a live bait business
and the red tide has been a plague due to getting bait fish but by the
same token she is able to deliver because she pulls water from out
of the estuary behind the house so no red tide to kill the baits on the
way to the bait shops.

> 
> 5. I have a very persistent leak in the roof over my bed. NOT GOOD
> 
> 6. I loaded Turbo Tax Saturday and am ready to start doing my taxes but
> want to reply so I can concentrate on them.

Sure wish we would go to a federal sales tax and get rid of the penalty of
actually making money.

> 
> 7, It's now 10:30 and I've been at the computer updating various ( not
> FADCA) web sites writing this and answering e-mail since 8:00.
> 
> That over with I must add to Russ's comments on the database.
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
> 
> I usually just "lurk" until I get a direct e-mail but in reviewing past
> postings about the  way we are  handling the web site and database they
> seem to outnumber any positive comments or suggestions.
> 
> It's easy for you guys to suggest all sorts of additions and features, most
> of which I've added but if the basic structure is changed I'm outa-here.

It looks quite good to me... Simple and it works. Period.

> 
> Fancy stuff is great but you will note our database is written in old
> fashioned HTML which can be read in any *browser ( frames or not )

Amen!! I get so tired of having to load a certain browser whose initials
are IE in order to read ie only web pages, and given the amount of security
issues I avoid it at all cost.

> 
> It may look a bit outdated but has been on-line a long time and we want
> visitors to be able to read our site in Timbuktu with any old version
> of  *Netscape or *Mosaic, I'm still getting e-mail from counties where they
> don't have all the things we do and requesting programs I've written in the
> mid 80's so they can get started in packet.
> 
> They do not need CGI scripts, Java, SQL , Open Office etc., Server side
> functions, Front Page add ons or even an Adobe Reader to view most of our site.
> 
> The data is sent to me by Russ and automatically parsed into the HTML web
> pages by various programs I've written.

Free you have done a great job, do not give up...
> 
> These have been developed over several years as each new change or feature
> has been requested.
> 
> I'll admit the database pages (mainly) are not perfect and do not validate
> as valid <!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN"> as
> the code was written before HTML 4.0 came out, but the errors are slight
> and when I get time I may fix that
> 
> BUT -  The last time I checked most of the rest of the FADCA site DOES
> validate.
> Please check any page you hit and let me know if it doesn't as it is time
> consuming to go through each one and I may have made an error when
> updating. ( only do pages with the "Valid HTML" link please as some are
> done with Word or other WYSIWYG programs  to preserve formatting and will
> never be right, believe me)
> 
> In the past you have praised other sites and databases like the FRC's, hey
> anyone can dump a PDF file on-line, ours can be searched LIVE by Frequency,
> Type, District, Callsign and Inactive stations. ( By the way check their
> site for VALID HTML http://validator.w3.org/ )
> I only checked a few pages but none of FRC's validated
> 
> While on the subject of the FRC which I have been reminded we should have a
> site as nice as theirs I can't find a link to FADCA, may have missed it but
> was told we MUST have one to theirs.

I would make note of that. In my view they are a most arrogant bunch...
And I have my reasons to say so, given that they pulled our TPALAN repeater
freq without even a curtesy note to us. Our repeater was off line due to work
being done on the building, we did not realize that we had exceeded the time
allowed. I will not go any further than to point out that it is a real
bubba operation.

> 
> --------------------------------------------
> 
> Bring up one of our database pages and "View Source" you can see the way
> the software indexes them, simple but efficient.
> 
> I've had comments "you can't print it":
> 
> For those computer impaired:
> 
> Assuming you are using Windows of some sort, (**  Mac/Linux users are on
> their own, but they usually can do these type of things without help)
> 
> Suggestion 1.
> Open the page you wish to print in a *browser ( Right Mouse Click, [Select
> All], [File], [Print], In the "Page Range Box" Chose [Selection], Click on
> the [PRINT] button. Wow !
> 
> Heck, you could even just hit [Print] and 10-1 it would work.
> 
> Suggestion 2.
> Open the page you wish to print ( Right Mouse Click, [Select All],  Right
> Mouse Click again [Copy]
> 
> Open Word Pad,  Word, Open Office, Word Perfect, Wordstar, Edit or whatever
> your favorite Text Editor is and [Paste] ( various editors will have
> different ways of doing this and some work better than others (** See above)
> 
> You can now print it, or EVEN save it for future reference as a document to
> search through etc.( make sure you remember where you put it )  [CTL+F]
> usually will search for you.
> 
> Suggestion 3.
> If you want a graphic try:
> [Print Screen] ( that is above the SysRq key on my keyboard ) Use
> [Alt+Print Screen] to get just the window in focus.
> 
> You can then paste that into Word pad or other editors as above and print.
> ( or even a graphics program to crop & edit what you want)
> Graphics aren't much use but real simple for the extremely computer
> impaired. Can't get the whole page ? Change your screen resolution till you
> see the whole thing, then [Print Screen] as above . Refer to your "Windows
> Help File for this difficult maneuver" You may need the proper Video
> driver, if so you may want to follow suggestion 5.
> 
> Suggestion 4.
> In most *browsers you can go to the upper left and click on [File] and then
> [Save As] and get the whole thing into your computer as an HTML page,
> remember where you put it and you can reference it as often as you wish
> "off line"
> 
> Suggestion 5.
> Send me an e-mail and ask for the page you want and I'll do it for you and
> reply with an attachment in whatever format you wish.
> 
> These are only a few of the many ways to utilize the database ( using
> whatever you already have in your computer )
> --------------------------------------------
> 
> We have not touched on the "Layered Network Map" which I think is pretty
> slick, we get complaints of data errors but few positive comments, updates
> or corrections. You can still navigate it in a "Non Frames" *browser if you
> want, and even the "Hot Spots" work.
> 
> Bob Harrison did the original map, Bud contributes the data and I've made
> it "click-able"
> 
> --------------------------------------------
> 
> How about all those HTML versions of Bud's Power Point Presentations,
> believe me they didn't convert themselves. Again about any old *browser
> will view them , no pdf reader, no MS  Media Player, Real Player or Flash
> Player to see them.
> 
> --------------------------------------------
> 
> Another strange thing just popped into mind, I'm wondering how many
> actually look at the site, some of the "suggestions" I get for ideas are
> already there.
> 
> --------------------------------------------
> 
> I'm only hitting on a few points here as the taxes are still waiting and
> it's 12:30, WAY past time for my delicious WW lunch and I'm not getting
> anywhere BUT:
> 
> Aside from Bud & Russ I can remember no one helping in any way to make
> things better, lot's of comments and requests for the latest and fanciest
> features but no response to trying to get the basic data correct, we are
> not mind readers and only have what we have to work with.
> 
> As Russ has said, anyone wanting to take our jobs should line up, write
> Bill for confirmation and I'll be happy to delete over 40mb of web space
> devoted to FADCA I pay for personally and have FADCA.org transferred to
> another domain.
> I'll even supply the web site as zip file en-total.
> 
> I guess I'd then have to start paying dues as Bud credits me $10.00  a year
> to offset my costs.
> 
> I have even had comments the $19.00 Domain registration should be less and
> we should shop around, I'm picking up the tab over the $10.00 credit so
> what difference does it make.
> 
> Don't forget with my setup we share 250mb of web space which I can allocate
> to to any of my 8-10 sites as needed and we have built in re-direct from
> the old domain so we didn't have to notify everyone who had links to it.
> This is the main reason I stay where I am as web space is cheap now, but
> remember years ago when 5mb was a lot and I had the 250mb THEN.
> 
> I have about 100mb free at the moment
> 
> I type slow and make a lot of errors so it's now 1:30 pm and I'm really
> hungry but can look forward to my 2:30 beer, actually this may be a 2 beer
> day or if I keep the same pace as I have and can have a beer with lunch..
> 
> Hope your weather is better than mine,
> 
> Finally Thanks to Bud & Russ for all they do
> 
> 73/Free
> W1NPR
> 
> P.S.
> 
> * Browser ( What you look at web pages with )
> 
> Guess it's too late to start the Taxes today, can't miss my beer time and I
> want to be alert, glad I wrote this first by the way.
> 
> I had this all composed and highlighted in HTML format and when I went to
> send remembered it has to be plain text, you really missed a lot of points
> I'd emphasized , not sure I should hit send but here goes
> 
> This is really frustrating now as I keep getting this returned as "s p a m"
> by the server, hope I have all the bad stuff out this time
> 
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
> 
> At 12:37 AM 03/28/2005 -0500, you wrote:
> >I am responding or commenting on several messages that have been sent today
> >regarding Paclink and the database.
> >
> ><snip>
> 
> >III.  The FADCA Database.
> >
> >I have some updates that I have received that still need to be posted to the
> >database.  For the delay, I apologize.
> >
> >If District Directors want a copy of the data base for their District to use
> >to see what the details are, I can send it. I have sent it before but
> >received practically no response.  I won't send it unless a Director asks me
> >for it.
> >
> >Sysops or owners can go to the FADCA website and submit an request an online
> >request for coordination of devices that the FADCA coordination policy says
> >can be coordinated on a frequency in the band plan listed on the WEB site.
> >If a new coordination is being requested, and the new coordination is
> >replacing a currently listed device, please explain in the comments section
> >of the coordination.  Don't send me an email.  While you may know what has
> >happened in your area, I have no way of knowing and I don't read minds very
> >well.
> >
> >I am concerned that some people have submitted information regarding a
> >station or device listed on the database and they are not the registered
> >sysop or trustee.  PLEASE CONTACT THE LISTED SYSOP OR TRUSTEE or document
> >that the listed person no longer is in the area, is no longer an operating
> >Amateur, or that attempts to contact the listed SYSOP or Trustee have not
> >been successful.  I don't want us to get in the position of having deleted a
> >device or changed the coordination of a device without the coordination
> >holder aware of an consenting to the deletion or change. I hope we can do a
> >better job than some repeater coordinators have done in this regard.
> >
> >Don't send me a list of changes. They often have no relationship to what is
> >in the data base and it appears that some people who submit information
> >don't even look in the database that is displayed on the Web Site to see
> >what is in the database before sending a lot of "updates" of things that
> >don't even exist in the database.
> >
> >I will update the database with what I have received as I have fallen behind
> >with a lot of things (I once thought were very important) since December 15,
> >2003. I will use the program we have now as it does everything we need it to
> >do and Free is set up to receive the updates using the current program and
> >enter the coordination requests I have received.
> >
> >I don't have time or the interest anymore to start learning a new data base
> >program or re-entering data that is in the existing database.
> >
> >If you want someone to take over and maintain the database on some other
> >program I will be more than pleased to send them what I have and they can do
> >it.  I will have to have someone take it over in the next 18 months anyway
> >and now might be a better time than later.
> >
> >Russ

All of you have done a great job, like everything else in the amateur world
there are 3 that work and 100 that stand around grandstand and give
pointers/instructions... That is why the people that do this stuff get burned
out and quit. No one comes along and offers to take up the load until it is
either too late or they have something that they want to change and once
that is done the whole thing is left to rot again...

Free, the clear air is headed your way, so you should have a nice clear
evening.

-- 
Chuck Hast 
To paraphrase my flight instructor;
"the only dumb question is the one you DID NOT ask resulting in my going
out and having to identify your bits and pieces in the midst of torn
and twisted metal."