blog Saturday, August 20, 2005

The view from my desk




  7:04 PM
 
Thursday, August 18, 2005

On the can



I count 67 blackeye peas on the can. You?

  7:43 PM
 
Tuesday, August 16, 2005

Six months of blogging


The six-month anniversary of blogging here passed quietly July 31. Let's see how I've lived up to the vision set forth in my inaugural post:

...My premise is set: You don't care what I have to say about things. I don't blame you, and I don't much care myself.


I'm starting this blog as a creative outlet for entertainment purposes only. I promise there will be no heady opinions. You won't read a political screed. There will be no philosophical angst. You will see a mix of things. Some funny, some not. I hope this happy place is a refuge of amusement in a world of hand-wringing and furrowed brows.


I will try some moblogging (mobile blogging). I'll send some pictures from the wireless now and then. I'll try some audioblogging. I will use all means at my disposal to create something interesting and of some value to someone. At the very least, the blog will stand as a rich source of archival information to settle disputes over dates.


The funniest part of being a frequent visitor here will be looking at how long I keep it up.



You decide for yourself how successful this has been.* No audioblogging, yet. Mostly pictures. For a period of time, I forgot the blog existed. This is an inherent problem with blogs taking over the world. They are, for most people, at best (two qualifiers!), an afterthought.


I'm pleased to say that I've put exactly as much effort into this as I've wanted.



* There were no postings in the entire month of July.

  4:08 AM
 

The most pompous man on TV



It's CNN's Aaron Brown! If you've never heard of him, don't worry. No one has.

But if you want a good laugh at someone's gassy, self-indulgent pontificating and musing, tune in tonight at 10 p.m. Eastern on CNN. You will enjoy the pretense.

  1:33 AM
 
Saturday, August 6, 2005

A trip to the WPTF transmitter!




Alright, kids, let's load up and go to the WPTF transmitter on Chatham Street in Cary! Yay!

WPTF puts out 50,000 watts. You can hear it at night in the Bahamas. You can also hear it on most of the telephones in that part of Cary.

I went last weekend with my pal, Bart Ritner, who worked at WPTF for many moons (and you can still hear him, if you listen closely). Also joining us was Bart's friend Larry and Larry's daughter. Fine people, indeed, and wonderful company. Larry was chief engineer at WCKY/Cincinnati when he was my age, so he understood everything that was happening.

All of this was possible thanks to the very generous Eddie Harrell, current chief engineer at WPTF, who came out on a Saturday to show us around. Thanks!

Now, I'm trying to remember any of the details from what I saw. Tell me if I got anything wrong.

  1:29 PM
 

The tower



The main tower of the three. Bart says "WPTF" used to be spelled out in red neon along the side of the tower. Some shattered bits of neon were sprinkled in the sand beneath the tower.

The energy from the signal is so intense, you can hear the station's air signal in the physical vibration of metal coils in equipment under the tower. I didn't vomit.

Don't get within a foot of the tower, though. You'll get flash-fried.


  1:22 PM
 

The building


Beautiful architecture, and it's getting a fresh coat of paint, I'm told! I haven't been by there at night in a long time, but I recall when the sign out front lit up in red.

  1:18 PM
 

A great stairwell


Heading down into the transmitter building's dungeon-like basement, there's a marvelous winding stairwell. Rich!


  1:15 PM
 

Vintage turntable


This is a huge turntable from the 50s, maybe. Bart says putting an ink bottle on the arm would work well while playing warped records.


  1:12 PM
 

The doomsday studio


This is the basement studio from which WPTF would broadcast during an nuclear war. Charming, isn't it?


  1:11 PM
 

The staircase


This is the staircase that leads into the basement.


  1:08 PM
 

Inside the auxiliary transmitter



  1:07 PM
 

Engineering project


I hope I remember this correctly. This is a old, 10,000-watt transmitter once used for training purposes. It's been pillaged for spare parts over the years, but has few hours and apparently could be restored to working condition.


  1:06 PM