Downwinders
August 26th, 2011 at 7:07:16 PM
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I'm the type of person that doesn't take "I don't know" as an answer very well. Things get under my skin that nobody has a good answer for. Like:
One question that I came up with I discuss in my blog entry Parowan Cemetary. For those who don't want to read it, I mused about why there were so many young people buried in the cemetary in Parowan, Utah.
I just came back from three days of camping in Zion National Park. While there I got to chatting with a shop owner in Springdale. She was a cheerful and attractive woman who I spoke with for quite a while. Eventually I asked her about the Parowan Cemetary mystery. I think asked the right person.
She said that during the days of atomic testing at Nellis AFB the winds usually blew the radioactive fallout over southern Utah. The Parowan/Ceder City area was especially hard hit. The scientists tended to wait for days when the wind blew north-east, away from Las Vegas, and populated California. The lady said her sister died young of cancer as a result, as well as numerous other people she knew. I asked her pull up my blog entry and she recognized most of the family names on the tombstones.
When I got home I looked it up and found this page about it. I'm not saying this explains every death there, but I do think this probably had something to do with it. Just thought some of you might like to know.
- Why is there a sign above Winnie the Pooh's door that says "Mr. Sanders"?
- Four states call themselves commonwealths, but how are they any different from the other 46 states?
- Why do old UHF/VHF televisions have no channel one?
One question that I came up with I discuss in my blog entry Parowan Cemetary. For those who don't want to read it, I mused about why there were so many young people buried in the cemetary in Parowan, Utah.
I just came back from three days of camping in Zion National Park. While there I got to chatting with a shop owner in Springdale. She was a cheerful and attractive woman who I spoke with for quite a while. Eventually I asked her about the Parowan Cemetary mystery. I think asked the right person.
She said that during the days of atomic testing at Nellis AFB the winds usually blew the radioactive fallout over southern Utah. The Parowan/Ceder City area was especially hard hit. The scientists tended to wait for days when the wind blew north-east, away from Las Vegas, and populated California. The lady said her sister died young of cancer as a result, as well as numerous other people she knew. I asked her pull up my blog entry and she recognized most of the family names on the tombstones.
When I got home I looked it up and found this page about it. I'm not saying this explains every death there, but I do think this probably had something to do with it. Just thought some of you might like to know.
"For with much wisdom comes much sorrow." -- Ecclesiastes 1:18 (NIV)
August 26th, 2011 at 8:16:34 PM
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Mr Sanders used to own the house Winnie the Pooh lived in. Not much of an explanation is given in the books except he lived under the Name of Mr Sanders, because his door had the name Mr Sanders above it.
As for no channel 1, I believe it came about when dividing up the spectrum, the gave so much over to TV, but then they took an extra channel for another use, I think FM, which happened to be the lower end.
Of course, this is only relevant in North America, as you can tell by BBC 1 in the UK :)
As for no channel 1, I believe it came about when dividing up the spectrum, the gave so much over to TV, but then they took an extra channel for another use, I think FM, which happened to be the lower end.
Of course, this is only relevant in North America, as you can tell by BBC 1 in the UK :)
"Then you can admire the real gambler, who has neither eaten, slept, thought nor lived, he has so smarted under the scourge of his martingale, so suffered on the rack of his desire for a coup at trente-et-quarante" - Honore de Balzac, 1829
August 26th, 2011 at 8:28:29 PM
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Quote: thecesspitMr Sanders used to own the house Winnie the Pooh lived in.
How do you know?
"For with much wisdom comes much sorrow." -- Ecclesiastes 1:18 (NIV)
August 26th, 2011 at 8:56:06 PM
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This is lifted from here
Quote:One answer comes from author Ann Thwaite in her biography, A.A. Milne: The Man Behind Winnie-the-Pooh (Random House, 1990). In her Notes (page 522, referring to page 262) we read: "under the name of Sanders The Sanders referred to was Frank Sanders, who had a printing works in the Snow Hill area of London." This firm apparently printed some of A.A. Milne's work, although all four children's books are printed by Jarrold of Norwich. Information comes from Douglas Sanders, Frank's nephew, 1989. Frank Sanders was certainly a friend of illustrator E.H. Shepard, but there is no reference to him by A.A. Milne that would confirm this private joke.
(Courtesy of John Wheeler).
Wisdom is the quality that keeps you out of situations where you would otherwise need it
August 27th, 2011 at 2:19:49 AM
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Quote: Wizard
She said that during the days of atomic testing at Nellis AFB the winds usually blew the radioactive fallout over southern Utah.
Didn't Vegas locals have picnics and drive their cars as close to the testing
area as they could get, just to watch the bomb go off? Those were the days.
"It's not called gambling if the math is on your side."
August 27th, 2011 at 3:34:10 AM
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Quote:Why do old UHF/VHF televisions have no channel one?
I wasn't sure you wanted to do each one, but it doesnt look like we ever talked about this one.
Without looking it up, I always understood that the FCC had determined that no station should be channel one, since there would be an uncompetitive advantage with having that channel. Thus the tuner should only click on possible stations. There still is no company that can call themselves Channel One.
the next time Dame Fortune toys with your heart, your soul and your wallet, raise your glass and praise her thus: Thanks for nothing, you cold-hearted, evil, damnable, nefarious, low-life, malicious monster from Hell! She is, after all, stone deaf. ... Arnold Snyder
August 27th, 2011 at 4:43:33 AM
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The FCC created clear channel stations but didn't ban the commercial use of the name clear channel.
August 27th, 2011 at 5:07:24 AM
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Quote: WizardFour states call themselves commonwealths, but how are they any different from the other 46 states? Why do old UHF/VHF televisions have no channel one?
Not trying to turn this into a bunch of replies that might be urban legends. My apologies if this means you need to split the threa.
As to "Commonwealths" there is no difference in how the state relates to Washington, D.C. As you know, I read deeds and other doccuments from as far back as the 1700s. I can say I have *never* seen a deed say "Commonwealth of PA." They alwasy say, "county of x, state of Pennsylvania." So even then the term was interchangable is some legal sense. All I remember being told in school was that it related to the state charter and how they wrote it.
On the TV thing I remember hearing that very, very, very old sets did have a "Channel 1." But early on the FCC noticed that part of the band causes interference in some other communication so they tool the freequency away. Since there were some TVs in use already it was easier to just drop the "1" than have what would have been every channel in existance drop down one and have to change everything from corporate charter names to letterhead.
There is a flaw or backup to this idea in that in the late 1940s or early 1950s the FCC "re-alligned" many signals for better use and less overlap. Here in Pittsburgh KDKA-TV was on channel 3 when it first went on the air. The FCC made them move to Channel 2 at that time, where they have remained ever since. My dad told me the way it was done was for 30 minutes, during the 12:00 news, they broadcast on both 2 and 3 then stopped transmitting on 3. Some people had 2 TVs and watched it happen on both channels at once.
All animals are equal, but some are more equal than others
August 27th, 2011 at 5:13:41 AM
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Quote: WizardI'm the type of person that doesn't take "I don't know" as an answer very well.
"I can answer any question provided 'I don't know' is considered a valid answer." Isaac Asimov
:P
Donald Trump is a fucking criminal
August 27th, 2011 at 11:37:44 AM
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Thanks for the explanations on the channel one mystery. I think the explanation that the FCC took it back for other uses, or to avoid overlap, sounds reasonable. Also, I recall that the lower channels generally got worse reception at long distances. For example, when I lived in Santa Barbara I could barely pick up LA stations, and generally got the ones closer to 13 better. Maybe a channel one would have been especially bad.
Yes! They were careful that the wind blew the fallout away from the observers. In pictures you see the observers wearing protective glasses. As far as I know observing the tests in those conditions was fairly safe. I wouldn't do it every day, but I think to watch once would be an experience. They do a pretty good mock viewing at the Atomic Testing Museum, I might add, even including the wind.
Quote: EvenBobDidn't Vegas locals have picnics and drive their cars as close to the testing area as they could get, just to watch the bomb go off? Those were the days.
Yes! They were careful that the wind blew the fallout away from the observers. In pictures you see the observers wearing protective glasses. As far as I know observing the tests in those conditions was fairly safe. I wouldn't do it every day, but I think to watch once would be an experience. They do a pretty good mock viewing at the Atomic Testing Museum, I might add, even including the wind.
"For with much wisdom comes much sorrow." -- Ecclesiastes 1:18 (NIV)
August 27th, 2011 at 3:16:00 PM
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Quote: WizardFor example, when I lived in Santa Barbara I could barely pick up LA stations,
When I lived in Santa Barbara, we climbed a pole and ripped
off the cable TV. We did it for years, it wasn't the big deal it
is now. If they caught you, they would disconnect it and we'd
go up the pole and hook it up again. Now they throw you in
jail.
"It's not called gambling if the math is on your side."
August 27th, 2011 at 3:22:29 PM
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Quote: EvenBobWhen I lived in Santa Barbara, we climbed a pole and ripped
off the cable TV.
When I lived on the top floor of the dorm we drilled a hole in the ceiling, crawled up into the attic, spliced the cable TV line to the dorm lounge, ran an extension through the hole into the dorm room. I think at the end of the year I covered up with hole with Dap.
"For with much wisdom comes much sorrow." -- Ecclesiastes 1:18 (NIV)
August 27th, 2011 at 3:29:15 PM
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Quote: WizardWhen I lived on the top floor of the dorm we drilled a hole in the ceiling, crawled up into the attic, spliced the cable TV line to the dorm lounge, ran an extension through the hole into the dorm room. I think at the end of the year I covered up with hole with Dap.
The big deal was to get a blackmarket HBO box. You could buy one
for $10 and watch HBO and Cinemax for free. HBO is so much better
when you don't have to pay for it. We had to do something, because
of the mountains that surround SB, regular TV was a joke.
"It's not called gambling if the math is on your side."
August 27th, 2011 at 3:31:27 PM
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When I moved into this house 13 years ago, we got cable internet, but not TV.
The cable guy ran a cable from the pole to my basement, to a point right next to where the antenna lead came down tot he splitter to the rooms. He put a plug on the cable, attached it to a double female connector, and ran another cable up to my computer.
He said doing that would make it easier for the next installer if I ever order cable TV.
Fair enough.
After he left, I wondered what would happen if I took out the double female, and put in a Y connector, and hook up the TVs. I was hoping to get better reception on the standard local channels. Instead, I got the full spectrum of cable TV. I.E. All the local channels, plus whatever additional channels you could get with a standard cable ready TV. Sweet! That lasted until about 5 years ago.
The cable guy ran a cable from the pole to my basement, to a point right next to where the antenna lead came down tot he splitter to the rooms. He put a plug on the cable, attached it to a double female connector, and ran another cable up to my computer.
He said doing that would make it easier for the next installer if I ever order cable TV.
Fair enough.
After he left, I wondered what would happen if I took out the double female, and put in a Y connector, and hook up the TVs. I was hoping to get better reception on the standard local channels. Instead, I got the full spectrum of cable TV. I.E. All the local channels, plus whatever additional channels you could get with a standard cable ready TV. Sweet! That lasted until about 5 years ago.
I invented a few casino games. Info:
http://www.DaveMillerGaming.com/
Superstitions are silly, childish, irrational rituals, born out of fear of the unknown. But how much does it cost to knock on wood? 😁
August 27th, 2011 at 3:33:21 PM
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Quote: DJTeddyBearAll the local channels, plus whatever additional channels you could get with a standard cable ready TV. Sweet! That lasted until about 5 years ago.
Thief!!!
"It's not called gambling if the math is on your side."
August 27th, 2011 at 3:35:30 PM
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I seemed to have learned somwhere that channels one through six were reserved in the 1930's for vhf tv. During world war two channel one was then reserved for military use only. In the late 40s channels 7-13 were allocated. The fm band was located at frequencies between channels six and seven.
I assume that since 2-6 were the first ones available, this is the reason that the major city stations have these channels like WCBS in New York.
I assume that since 2-6 were the first ones available, this is the reason that the major city stations have these channels like WCBS in New York.
August 27th, 2011 at 4:02:05 PM
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Quote: EvenBobWhen I lived in Santa Barbara, we climbed a pole and ripped
off the cable TV. We did it for years, it wasn't the big deal it
is now. If they caught you, they would disconnect it and we'd
go up the pole and hook it up again. Now they throw you in
jail.
That was done here in PA for years. You really couldn't rip off all cable TV, but to get HBO was to unscrew a small filter. I mean, it was a joke. In grade school people would openly say if they got HBO "free" or if they paid for it. It was no big deal because it was one of those "new" crimes that didn't fit in many definitions of a crime. After about 1982-3 they finally criminalized it. Like Napster after some folk got sued the practice dried up. Later they got addressable technology and could send what they wanted from the main HQ.
Ah, the days of youth watching "Smokey and the Bandit" on pirated HBO. If you are really old, you will remember that HBO didn't even start their broadcast day until 4:00 PM or so.
All animals are equal, but some are more equal than others
August 27th, 2011 at 4:48:10 PM
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Quote: matildaThe fm band was located at frequencies between channels six and seven.
Which is why if you live in a city where there is a Channel 6, it would actually show up at the extreme low end of many FM radios (88.7). 6ABC in Philly used to advertise that they were the only station "simulcast" on the FM dial for your convenience. But it had nothing to do with them simulcasting anything; the audio of every channel 6 was located at 88.7MHz. (some FM radios only go to 88.9). Unfortunately, with the forced switch to digital and the termination of the analog signals in '09, it doesn't work like that anymore.
August 27th, 2011 at 6:03:59 PM
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Read my post again. The cable company wired my house for me. I did nothing to get cable TV into my house. Once it's there, it's mine to attach to any TVs.Quote: EvenBobThief!!!Quote: DJTeddyBearAll the local channels, plus whatever additional channels you could get with a standard cable ready TV. Sweet! That lasted until about 5 years ago.
Hell, if you're really old, you remember that broadcast channels, including the major network affiliates, were not 24 hour either. Unless you count several hours of a test pattern as part of their broadcast day.....Quote: AZDuffman...If you are really old, you will remember that HBO didn't even start their broadcast day until 4:00 PM or so.
I invented a few casino games. Info:
http://www.DaveMillerGaming.com/
Superstitions are silly, childish, irrational rituals, born out of fear of the unknown. But how much does it cost to knock on wood? 😁
August 27th, 2011 at 6:16:14 PM
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Quote: DJTeddyBear
Hell, if you're really old, you remember that broadcast channels, including the major network affiliates, were not 24 hour either. Unless you count several hours of a test pattern as part of their broadcast day.....
The days when "there is nothing on TV" meant just that.
All animals are equal, but some are more equal than others
August 27th, 2011 at 6:16:31 PM
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Quote: AZDuffmanIf you are really old, you will remember that HBO didn't even start their broadcast day until 4:00 PM or so.
I remember when cable first started, what a big deal it was. We
had 3 stations and they went off the air at 1am. To have TV that
never went off, and then a Betamax to record it, it was like the Jetsons
lifestyle had come at last.
"It's not called gambling if the math is on your side."
August 27th, 2011 at 6:24:56 PM
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My neighbor in Florida had cable TV (1972?). Itl was lots of stations but not much worth watching. Same as today.
Sanitized for Your Protection
August 27th, 2011 at 6:38:05 PM
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Quote: DJTeddyBearHell, if you're really old, you remember that broadcast channels, including the major network affiliates, were not 24 hour either. Unless you count several hours of a test pattern as part of their broadcast day.....
*sigh* Count me as really old then.
"For with much wisdom comes much sorrow." -- Ecclesiastes 1:18 (NIV)
August 27th, 2011 at 6:43:48 PM
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I remember B&W TV :P
Donald Trump is a fucking criminal
August 27th, 2011 at 6:53:43 PM
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Quote: NareedI remember B&W TV :P
It was a huge deal around 1965 when most network shows
went all color. We had to watch it at the neighbors, and when
we finally got a color set, it was like the whole world changed.
Watching reruns of Gilligans Island and Beverly Hillbillies was
wonderful. Wasn't the first season of Gilligan in B/W?
"It's not called gambling if the math is on your side."
August 27th, 2011 at 7:29:36 PM
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I remember when you couldn't watch TV without having to get up and try to adjust the vertical or horizontal hold to try to fix the damn picture. And no remotes to change channel. Unless you count your parents telling you to change it.
...and walking uphill in the snow, both ways. Unlike today, where you get to walk downhill once in awhile. Yeah, it was a Dali landscape then, with melted clocks and all that.
...and walking uphill in the snow, both ways. Unlike today, where you get to walk downhill once in awhile. Yeah, it was a Dali landscape then, with melted clocks and all that.
Sanitized for Your Protection
August 27th, 2011 at 7:45:34 PM
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Quote: NareedI remember B&W TV :P
Ditto. Very cool seeing color TV for the first time as a youngster.
I think it was Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea and the submarine
was yellowish at a friend of my Dad's house. Maybe a sly nod to
the Beatles ?
There's emptiness behind their eyes
There's dust in all their hearts
They just want to steal us all and take us all apart
August 27th, 2011 at 7:46:52 PM
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Quote: rxwineI remember when you couldn't watch TV without having to get up and try to adjust the vertical or horizontal hold to try to fix the damn picture. And no remotes to change channel. Unless you count your parents telling you to change it.
The upside of remembering all that is that you know today's TVs can be turned on and adjusted without a remote.
Donald Trump is a fucking criminal
August 27th, 2011 at 7:54:49 PM
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Quote: WizardThings get under my skin that nobody has a good answer for.
OK, just gotta ask, as long as we are looking for good answers, what does the
title of this thread mean ?
There's emptiness behind their eyes
There's dust in all their hearts
They just want to steal us all and take us all apart
August 27th, 2011 at 8:12:59 PM
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The Downwinders were the folks in Southern Utah who got to absorb the fallout from the Test Site during the days of above ground testing.Quote: JohnnyQOK, just gotta ask, as long as we are looking for good answers, what does the
title of this thread mean ?
"Win with a smile, lose with grace."
August 27th, 2011 at 8:40:49 PM
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I read it as winder with a long "i", as in sidewinder, not winder as in wind.
Makes more sense now !
Makes more sense now !
There's emptiness behind their eyes
There's dust in all their hearts
They just want to steal us all and take us all apart
August 27th, 2011 at 8:54:09 PM
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My first remote was mechanical. It had a motor that clicked the manual
dial around the 12 numbers. It was wired, it had a wire that ran from the
TV to the remote in your hand. But let me tell you, it was a wonder in its
time.
dial around the 12 numbers. It was wired, it had a wire that ran from the
TV to the remote in your hand. But let me tell you, it was a wonder in its
time.
"It's not called gambling if the math is on your side."
