Mattes's Musings by KC2GIK

Well this is yet another first -- a mobile post! On 09/09/09 I wrote about getting a new Toshiba laptop. At first I was going to wait to post something from a location other than home, but I was so excited I could wait. Well this week I'm in sunny Philidelphia visiting with my brother Pete while my folks are in Delaware! So this is my first official post from the road. Of course Pete has wireless Internet a major Godsend since I'll be here all week. He works out of his apartment, actually his office is in his bedroom. Technically he's working...in sweat pants and the same shirt he wore yesterday. Although he goes on the road travelling to oil refineries and stuff making sure the pumps are working properly He also has his pet birds, Goldie and Charlie to keep him company. He got them when he still lived in Woodcliff Lake so I am used to them flying around him room and landing on furnitre. Although Charlie's favorite pervch is people. When they were still up in Woodcliff

I had something all planned out for this post. It was going to be about how the country, even though people at strugglinmg is still pluggin along after that tragedy that struck us eight years ago today.n Then I saw Glenn Beck (yes I do watch him) and his monologue today included the usual patriotic themes like many other newcasters today. Then Beck turned anmgry, not at Muslim extremists or other terrorist doing harm, but at the US. At first I thought it would be a pointless bathering, but then he asked an amazing question:Why aren't the towers rebuilt? Beck then rattled off other great engineering feats America has accomplished in modern times, like the Hoover Dam which started construction back in 1931 and was completed in 1936! How about the Willis (Sears) Tower in Chicago? They broke ground in 1970 and was COMPLETED three years later!! Folks something is wrong here! While I would never attempt to put myself in the families of victims' shoes, it just seems the best way to s

As all of you know today is 09/09/09. I wanted to write something good today to mark the occasion and I haves two options. First off I am now typing this on my brand new Toshiba laptop!! Yes the HP finally kicked the bucket about a moth and I have been using my parents' computer downstairs which has caused friction between my dad and I. It seems he always has to check his stocks the exact same time I want to check my e-mail. So after weeks of debate I bought this Toshiba notebook yesterday. Well mom picked it up on her way home from work. It has everything I need now let's hope I have enough control to bang it, accidentally or "otherwise. I'm still getting used to the keyboard but it's really not that bad. I haven't figured out the wireless part of it yet, yes I have a wireless modem, but it's left over from my brother Pete and setting it up requires a "magical touch" ahem Sean ahem. However despite still being tethered to a desk I do enjoy this

I was just looking at posts I made the last few years and it seems every August I hit a "slow time" for writing on justinmattes.com. Some might think it's because there's not much going on, but in reality there's a lot going on. So much that I have a hard time finding the time, or the energy, to write about it all. Let's see here I think we'll try something new here... Well the very first day of August I had the Stony Point Lighthouse Activation...this time I was ready with my YAESU radio to do PSK. Even though I only made 19 contacts, the day couldn't have been better. Unlike the rest of the summer the weather was perfect, sunny low humidity and a light breeze off the Hudson River. The group we had was perfect it included 90% of the 10-70 Board and some geust operators. We had a blast and again vowed to make the trip again next year. Although with Howie moving to Reno, it might be tricky. A little aside I did write an article about the day's acti