Amateur Radio

Here’s my new hobby: amateur radio (ham radio). To do amateur radio, you must get 26 or more questions correct on a 35 question test. Tests have to be given by three General class or higher amateur radio operators. Tests are given from time to time by local clubs. If you pass the test, a few days later you will get mail from the FCC (in the USA) with two copies of your license. Your license will tell you what your callsign is. For example, I’m KI6ZON. Now that you have your callsign, you can get a radio and get on the air.

For my information on amateur radio, visit the amateur radio relay league at ARRL, or Google amateur radio.

If you live in the Sonoma County, California area, try contacting me on the local repeaters.

If you are an amateur radio operator or want more information, post a comment, or email us at mackidsblog@donaldlaird.com

Have fun!

Skype Spam Message

I got this message from Skype today. This is the second message I’ve gotten about a virus on my PC (yes, I am on my Mac). The link for the “fix” has been removed for the safety of PC users everywhere. If you get one of these messages, DO NOT click the link. It is problably worse than whatever your “PC” has.

WINDOWS REQUIRES IMMEDIATE ATTENTION

=============================

 

ATTENTION ! Security Center has detected

malware on your computer !

 

Affected Software:

 

Microsoft Windows Vista

Microsoft Windows XP

Microsoft Windows 2000

Microsoft Windows NT Server 4.0

Microsoft Windows Win98

Microsoft Windows Server 2003

 

Impact of Vulnerability: Remote Code Execution / Virus Infection /

Unexpected shutdowns

 

Recommendation: Users running vulnerable version should install a repair

utility immediately

 

Your system IS affected, download the patch from the address below !

Failure to do so may result in severe computer malfunction.

 

I sure am glad I’m not a PC user.

TextEdit Icon Text

Have you ever wondered what the icon in Mac OS X’s TextEdit says? I did too. So, here it is.

Dear Kate,

Here’s to the crazy ones. The misfits. The rebels. The troublemakers. The round pegs in the square holes. The ones who see things differently. They’re not fond of rules. But they have no respect for status quo. You can praise them, disagree with them, quote them, disbelieve them, glorify or vivify them. About the only thing you can’t do is ignore them. Because they change things.

Take Care,

John Appleseed

Does it make any sense? No, none at all. Can you make any sense of it? Leave a comment!

Blog Searches

I just added MacKids Blog to a bunch of blog search engines and I am supposed to link to them. Check out these sites if you have a blog or are looking for a blog about a certain topic.

http://condron.us

http://www.blogsearchengine.com
http://www.readablog.com
http://blogs.icerocket.com/
http://www.blog-search.com
http://www.zuula.com

Happy Birthday Macintosh!

I know it’s a little late, but I put together this video and System 1.1 tour for the 25th birthday of the Macintosh. Enjoy!
Happy Birthday Macintosh and Sytem 1.1 Tour

A Comment About Comments

Please comment if you have any input about any post! All you need is a name (don’t use your real name) and an email address (just ask your parents to use theirs). Ignore the URL box. That is only if you link to me. Please, if you have any input, comment!

P.S. Your comment won’t be on the post instantly, we have to hand-approve every comment.

Polling: What Games OS 9

What is your favorite game for OS 9? Post a comment with your game and it just might get reviewed. This poll is for OS 9, an OS X one came earlier. Along with my Intel iMac, I have a PowerBook G3 WallStreet running 9.2.2. Games should be able to run on it, but if you don’t know if it will, that’s OK too. Please say which computer you have in your post.