A Crummy Commercial

The DSWK chip is back in stock: http://wb9kzy.com/dswk.htm Previously I had used the PIC16F628a chip for both the DSWK and the various Zerobeat kits.  But then I went to a PIC16F627a chip as a cost reduction for the Zerobeat kits.  Since the DSWK doesn't sell quite as well as the Zerobeats (there is a point with any item where everyone who wants one has gotten one) I just keep 2 in stock.  So after two DSWK orders last year I had been waiting on re-ordering the blank chips for no particularly good reason and got caught without any in stock.   The DSWK is the last "brain replacement" type of "kit" that I'll ever try.  The DSWK began as a request by a customer who didn't care for the stock DSW keyer.  He also wanted some other features.  Looking at the DSW kit, it was a big job to replace the stock PIC, lots of DSW kit variations and changes along the way.  The DSWK is a clean sheet design, I didn't have any technical knowledge of the stock PIC othe...

Recently deceased: moviemaker, Frederick Wiseman, and actor, Robert Duvall.   Duvall was in LOTs of TV shows and movies - each role seemed to be completely unique although all feature that eerie penetrating gaze.  One of my favorite Duvall appearances was on The Outer Limits two parter called: The Inheritors .  Duvall plays a relentless government investigator of weirdness and strangeness with his trademark intensity. definitely NOT Fox Mulder part 1:  https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x6okyqt Wiseman made documentaries that could also be eerie.  Every once in a while his latest film would get played on PBS, one time and that was it.  There aren't any full examples on the internet but I do remember this from Belfast, Maine (packing sardines scene): don't let me hear any whining about how hard work is in the 21st century source:  https://youtu.be/Tc_Zim1Ra-0 In addition, Youtube recently served up this pretty freaky little movie: flamboyant in N...

I've mentioned this before: https://wb9kzy.blogspot.com/2024/02/dialing-it-in.html Recently I was watching this video by Big Clive: source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eGho4TCdtj8 which is quite interesting - this kind of accurate scale used to be REALLY expensive - fancy instrumentation op-amps and calibration.  But now anyone can get these scales (even with the tariff-tax) at reasonable prices.  The cool kids use them for measuring flour for baking - more accurate than dipping a measuring cup. But it occurred to me that I could use a digital scale to measure maple syrup with the result of a more consistent starting point for a boil.  I checked the scale I have: And it can handle 6000 grams maximum which should be more than enough for 4 liters of sap plus a container.  One problem:  I don't have a good container for 4 liters - 4 quarts is no problem but since 4 liters is 7.2 oz. larger, the Rubbermaid pitcher is just a little too small.  I will look at...

Waiting on 4 USPS packages: I was *supposed* to get the last item on Wednesday - what a lot of bunk: "Held at Post Office, At Customer Request"   It is some boards for kits, why would I delay delivery ?  I suspect they just forgot to deliver it and that was the closest excuse on the system ?  Note that I did get one piece of junk mail on Wednesday.   The first item (which was fulfilled by Amazon)  arrived on the Island Wednesday but the USPS doesn't deliver until the next day.  Wouldn't any other business deliver the same day ?  I realize it's the winter ferry schedule but still, it never used to be this way. The Digikey item is also for a kit order - BTW, Digikey also baked in a extra day before sending the order: "unavoidable delay" So I guess I shouldn't complain about the USPS delays if even Digikey now has feet of clay :( Update: the Amazon package and the "held at customer request" package did show up:  But 9:55a ?   I didn't ...

The first thing I thought of when I saw this page in an Army VOM manual: please don't mention that last line to an AI source:  https://archive.org/details/multimeter-ts-297-u-manual-and-supplement/page/n5/mode/2up was this phrase from Lost in Space: source:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HyGxJLCG6qw Yes, I am from the 1960s - and I still want to know: is it better to be good or to be remembered ?  Also, how much benefit would the enemy be getting from a 1000 ohms per volt VOM ?  :) Best Regards, Chuck, WB9KZY http://wb9kzy.com/ham.htm  

Above is a picture of "the Mangler" along with two other needle nose pliers I found in the house.  Last mentioned "the Mangler" here: https://wb9kzy.blogspot.com/2026/02/enough-is-enough.html The two "new" ones have springs but not sure that will prevent mangling.  But the jaws on both blue handled pliers are serated so that may improve the grip over "the Mangler".  I'll put "the Mangler" away and start using the new pliers - if they aren't any better I'll have to go completely nuts and buy decent ones :) I also found this in the pantry: It is the last jar of maple syrup from 2025.  So I will crack it open and start using it before the 2026 vintage. Finally the VFW now sends four nickels in their solicitations - I'm not quite sure why they do that - certainly doesn't inspire confidence that any contributions will be spent wisely.  I guess that's the treadmill all advertisers are on, once they start displaying the...

I am getting OLD !  When I saw this video I was intrigued: source:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z_g5w2a40aw A Mamachari bike has fenders which are always nice to have in wet conditions.  It also has a kickstand which appears to work well enough that it will safely support a fairly heavy load like a small kid.  The "girls bike" frame makes it easy to get on the bike (it's hard to kick your leg over a big basket on the back rack of a bike, I know).  And of course there are electric versions.  The only style a Mamachari bike has is the practicality. However when I was a kid the Schwinn Varsity was THE bicycle: That $66.95 price (slighter higher in south and west :)  inflates to: But that fairly high price for a kid's bike helped keep the Captain and Mr. Green Jeans on the air: BTW, I don't think I ever saw Mr. Green Jeans in color - it was just a name when I was a kid :) source:  https://www.etsy.com/listing/759765166/captain-kangaroo-mr-green-je...