Hamming it up

Well here it is three years since my last post. I should hang my head in shame. But I won't, because it has been a busy three years and I've been living it rather than finding time to write about it.

Among other things I got bitten by the amateur radio bug again. I was a pretty active ham operator in the late 1960s and 1970s, but then went on to other things including some major life changes. Now I'm settled down in a nice far suburban home with plenty of trees. Tall trees. Very tall trees. Such trees are ideal for putting up wire radio antennae. More about that later.

At any rate I hit the books in 2014 and passed the Technician Class and Extra Class exams to get my license back. AC2OX is my call and I've spent the past two years exploring some aspects of the hobby that didn't exist when I last had a station on the air. For one digital modes such as JT-65, JT-9 and PSK-31 that couple computers to ham radio transceivers thus taking my long term interest in computing in a wildly new direction.

The FCC dropped the requirement for morse code proficiency more than a decade ago enabling more people to get licensed without struggling with an archaic form of communication. But guess what! A large number of old timers like myself, are "pounding brass" to keep an old artform alive. Hopefully some younger members of the hobby will get interested too. I never excelled at code. I fact I couldn't attain the 20 words per minute required for the Extra Class ticket in the old days. And maybe I never will even with new electronic keyers and all the other do-dads available today, buts that's ok because there are plenty of others that send and receive at more moderate speeds to "rag chew" with.

Younger people, like my children, ask what with the internet and texting via smart phone would I want to get into ham radio again? They just don't understand and perhaps never will. It's a shame too, because they'll miss a lot of fun and adventure.

MySQL 5th Ed.

MySQL Fifth Edition

Developer's Library

Author: Paul DuBois

Published by: Addison Wesley

With a new database project in the planning stage I settled on MySQL for my data base manager. MySQL switched to InnoDB as the default search engine starting with version 5.5. Since InnoDB introduces some primary differences in design and performance over the previously used MyISAM, I thought the latest version of the “MySQL Bible” should be a requirement.

Indeed this change brings a major difference in the way indexes are created and stored. This could cause problems in a large complex database like I'm planning. DuBois does an excellent job of highlighting this difference and how best to accommodate it in Chapter 5 of the book. He continues with extensive treatment on using indexing for maximum benefit and minimum cost. My highlighter got a workout in this section.

The MySQL default data directory is under /usr/local or /var/lib which on my computers are on separate partitions fixed in size. This could become a problem as the database grows. My personal preference is to keep database files in a /home/sub-directory. Since I keep /home on a separate drive it is then somewhat protected against accidental deletion during installation of an updated or different version of Linux. In Chapter 11 the author goes into considerable detail on the location and structure of the data directory. Though I did have to go to a different source to find a sure-fire method for changing the default location.

My planned database will be accessible by other users so security is a major concern. Chapter 13 starts out with a section entitled “How to Steal Data” which can be rather unsettling. The author then presents detailed step-by-step instructions on setting tight permissions on all related directories and files. Many of which I would never have thought of securing. The author also covers MySQL user and administrator privileges in great detail. As with any system, it is important to note that the security is only as good as your passwords. Of course if your root password is compromised nothing is secure.

Lastly, after designing and setting up my database, much of the inputting and accessing of data will be through other software and scripts. Chapters 7, 8 and 9 cover writing programs in C, Perl and PHP respectively in considerable detail. I'm sure these pages will be thumb-worn and full of margin notes in due time. Sadly, however, the author completely ignores the widely popular and my personal favorite Python language. Though there are numerous resources on line, hopefully the author will consider include a chapter devoted to Python in later editions.

Finally Chapter 14 addresses my personal weakness by outlining the procedure for regular secure backups of your data base files. You can use either mysqldump command or with a binary backup. One piece of sage advice here is to store your backups on a separate drive or even a different computer to to avoid a catastrophic loss. The chapter is a good reference for backing up all your important files.

In the net I found the book invaluable in understanding the inner working of MySQL for designing and building my database. This I'll keep it close at hand as I flesh out the structural details and set to work at my keyboard. Later on it will serve as a primary reference on SQL syntax and query structure.

They're Back!

I first blogged about the Cicada Killer Wasps back in 2009 when a half dozen dug burrows in our front lawn. They've returned to do they same each year hence. In ever increasing numbers!

Two years ago we had our in-ground swimming pool removed from the back yard. The contractor filled in the hole and topped it off with so-so quality top soil. Consequently the new grass has taken some time to establish a good thick turf. Meanwhile the wasps have found this area ideal for establishing their nest burrows.  Literally hundreds of little mounds of excavated soil dot the landscape. It is unsightly for sure to say nothing of inhibiting the development of a the luxurious carpet of lawn to which every suburbanite aspires.

Well, they're back again this year doing their thing. They find cicadas up in the trees and paralyze them with a sting. Then gripping their prey under their body fly down to their burrows to stow them away and deposit their eggs in them. Gross eh? Occasionally the wasps will miss the bare landing area by their nest and being unable to take off with their heavy load they have to struggle though the grass to make it home.

Suddenly the bluejays returned to the yard after more than a month's absence. I noticed the jays will sit on the fence or clothes line poles and occasionally make a quick visit to the ground. What are they after? When it spots a wasp trying to drag its booty through the turf the jay will swoop down knock the wasp over and steal the cicada. Quite the opportunist.

“You can observe a lot by just watching.”
     - Yogi Berra
    

Dont't Tread on Me!

Yesterday I watched a portion of the broadcast of the House Ways and Means Committee hearing regarding the IRS alleged targeting of conservative groups and individuals through intimidation and harassment. I came away saddened and ashamed that an arm of my government would so flagrantly trample upon the rights and freedoms of its employers -- the people. Our nation, which holds itself up to the rest of the planet as a symbol of freedom and liberty for all now has a big glob of egg on its face.

The idea that we periodically elect (or re-elect) officials and representatives to manage the affairs of our great nation in the best interest of ALL its people has become a farce. We have become increasingly like any third rate banana republic with a government that will use its power primarily to stay in power. The whole idea that federal and local governments are constrained and limited by the articles and amendments of our constitution is becoming more and more vaporous.

All that said, there is something causing me even greater concern and trepidation as the future unfolds. That being, throughout history governmental regimes built upon the charisma and seductiveness of a single individual rarely end gracefully.

"Don't tread on me!"

Eclipsed

Gosh, it's been a long time since the last post. Both of my readers have likely either moved on or died.

Needing a break from my routine and some adventure in my life, I've decided to travel to the 'left coast' to view the up coming solar eclipse on May 20, 2012. Since I have avoided air travel since the implementation for the latest TSA rules, this could be a new and exciting (?) experience.

The next several posts will be about the foibles of my planning and packing for this adventure. Depending on the success (or lack there of) of the trip I may even have some photos to share here later.

Census

We filled in our census questionnaire and mailed it in a few weeks ago. Pretty painless. So I am in the majority (barely) of people that did so in our area. I'm not sure what the objection some have to being counted. Americans are strange creatures in some ways. We'll rail about the government trying to invading our privacy while we think nothing of posting intimate information on FaceBook or other social web sites. Go figure.


How about filling out your form and get counted. Make 100% our goal. (That was the first embedded link on this blog. I was dying to try it.)

But then I read elsewhere barely half of U.S. households pay federal income tax. The rest pay nothing. What's up with that? Come on people! You're enjoying the benefits of living in this great society. We need you to pony up your share of Obama care and other government handouts. The same article pointed out that the top ten percent of tax payers pay 73% of the taxes. And we still hear a clamor to "tax the rich". It's nuts. The time is approaching when the few tax payers left will no longer be able to support the growing number of leaches in our society. What happened to our pride?

Gore Gored?

Last year my 1995 Chevvy Tahoe succumbed to the ravages of old age. The brake lines rotted away. I replaced two only to expose weakness elsewhere. It had been a good set of wheels, but its time had come. The price at the pump was still hovering up around the four dollar mark so I should be looking for one of the gas sipping little toys that you put on with a shoe horn and zip up the back, right? Not me. I came of age in the '50s when the coolest cars had fins that knifed through the sky like the tail of an F-16. Four barrel carbs and dual exhausts were the mark of a man. Cars that actually allowed rear seat passengers to have feet. I did, however, downsize a mite to a low mileage 2003 Ford Explorer. A V-6 instead of the Tahoe's V-8. Mind you my gas mileage improved from 16.5 mpg all the way to about 18. For that I had to give up the ability to tow my 24 foot travel trailer cross-country. In reality we haven't done any traveling with in the last few years, but now the dreams are gone too.

Even though I downsized my carbon footprint somewhat I still gets those looks. The looks that acuse me of destroying the planet with my gas guzzler. Every time I fill up at the pump I'm snatching an ice floe from the grasp of some fuzzy little polar bear somewhere. Now I normally drive less than 4000 miles per year, mind you, using about 200 gallons of fuel. Still I can imagine Mr. Gore scolding me from behind the tinted windows of his Escalade as he races to the airport on his way to another planet rescue meeting in some far away exclusive resort hotel complex. Maybe Dubai with its indoor ski hill on man made snow. Shit!

Now I'm not necessarily a global warming skeptic. I know the Earth is warmer now than a century or so ago when it was still coming out of the mini ice age. I also know it was warmer than today during the medieval warm period when the Vikings were growing crops and playing football in Greenland. What I am skeptical of is the hysteria and media hyperbole surrounding the anthropological contribution to climate change. I see the social and political elite telling the huddled masses they must huddle closer to save on heating fuel. Huddle tighter to fit into public transportation. Lose weight to fit into ever shrinking airline seats. Whether it's print media or television news they don't feel their job complete until we're filled with feelings of anxiety and guilt about what we're doing to planet Earth.

Consider for a moment the profit motive behind such hyperbole. Government research grants to study the "problem" and develop new methods to combat it. New industries to develop products to assuage the guilt ridden public. New opportunities to levy taxes and pass laws to control our lifestyle. That's a lot of incentive to keep this ball rolling. It's every futuristic science fiction movie all rolled into one big nightmare.

And then someone pulls back the curtain exposing the mighty Oz. Hackers broke into the computer system at Britain's University of East Anglia Climate Research Unit (CRU) and downloaded a potful of emails going back for years. Now from what I've been able to glean from the excerpts posted online the emails are no smoking gun of a deceitful plot to promote the myth of global climate change. They do, however, shed some light on conflict among scientists and how they work behind the scenes to discredit opposing views. Climate skeptic bloggers are having a hay-day with the news.

Now I'm no advocate of illegal computer hacking and cyber-theft in general, but maybe it's time that the public gets a look at how scientific consensus is built and promoted. I'm waiting to see how it all shakes out in the public spotlight. The scientists at the CRU are in damage control mode right now. The steps they take in that effort may tell a lot about comfortable they are with their dirty laundry. Personally I would like to see the paper trail behind the funding of much of the climate research done by both sides. I imagine it would be about as easy to decipher as the health care reform bill.

I think someone should tell Al Gore that the debate over climate change may be open again and it's still a long time before the fat lady sings.

11/28/09 Update:
Boy it didn't take long to hit the fan. The blogoshpere is tingling with electricity and the established media is finding it difficult to ignore. I look for the pendulum to swing the other way while some prominent researchers purge their computers and maybe freshen up their resumes. The whole climate change issue has become such a political football that the truth won't surface until the non-scientists have grown tired of kicking it around.

Note that I've added to the list of blogs that I follow.