Osten Family Blog

Sunday, May 05, 2024

Slab Is Done

It was been quite a while, but the slab is done!

The slab looking towards Thumb Butte

Lily likes the slab

Lily in the shade of a juniper

First phase of lumber got delivered as well

Saturday, May 04, 2024

Moving Weekend

We bid farewell to Encinitas and made the move to Prescott.

Stuffed full container

Loading the Conex

Tuesday, April 30, 2024

Reasons Why People Move to Georgia and Not California

Sensible nuclear electricity generation.

Property rights for landlords.

Monday, March 18, 2024

Mammoth Cross Country Skiiing Weekend

After getting canceled last year due to excessive snow, we finally got up to Mammoth for a XC skiing weekend. The drive up was uneventful and we checked into the Tamarack Lodge. The weather was nice so we did a snowshoe hike up to the top of Panorama Dome which had great views even with the low clouds. The lodge restaurant was booked so we headed over to the Mammoth Tavern for a nice dinner.

The next day, we had our XC lesson. The instructor was very patient and had Jyoti up and skiing. After lunch, we skied around the groomed trails. For dinner, we had a cheese plate in the fun and cozy lodge bar. We went to bed early since we were worn out. The next morning, we go up early and headed out. We made a stop in Randsburg which was very cool.

Panorama Dome summit

Learning to ski

Hitting the trails

Downtown Randsburg

Wednesday, March 13, 2024

Hitler Had Some Good Ideas?

Hitler in Munich, April 12, 1922:

"thus we were the first to declare that this peace treaty was a crime. Then folk abused us as 'agitators.' We were the first to protest against the failure to present this treaty to the people before it was signed. Again we were called on the masses of the people not to surrender their arms, for the surrender of one's arms would be nothing less than the beginning of enslavement. We were called, no, we were cried down as, 'agitators.' We were the first to say that this meant the loss of Upper Silesia. So it was, and still they called us 'agitators.' We declared at that time that compliance in the question of Upper Silesia must have as its consequence the awakening of a passionate greed which would demand the occupation of the Ruhr. We were cried down ceaselessly, again and again. And because we opposed the mad financial policy which today will lead to our collapse, what was it that we were called repeatedly once more? 'Agitators.' And today?

Of course, he took the guns and enslaved those he didn't like.

Monday, March 11, 2024

Ham Shack

I have been doing a lot of radio stuff lately. Mostly in the field but doing configuration and testing in my shack. Thought it would be nice to highlight my home station.

My primary home rig is an Alinco DX-8R. It is a nice, fairly easy to use HF 100W transceiver. I can use in digital modes as well with some special cables. I bought it used from a retiring ham and got a nice Alinco power supply with it. With power poles everywhere, I can power all my stuff very easily.

I have been doing lots of emcomm operations, so have my Yaesu FT-817 and QRLabs QDX going as well. Also been operating various rugged computers and tablets, like the CF-20 pictured below.

The primary antenna I use at home is a Wolf River vertical coil. I have various coils and whips to go to 80M. Living in a condo, I have a small space so the vertical is very handy. I can get a dipole up sometimes but it will go out into the sidewalk.