Road Rules

Hitting the road this holiday? In some areas winter weather means snow, sleet and ice that can lead to slower traffic, hazardous road conditions and unseen dangers. Are you prepared? According to a recent FEMA survey, 52 percent of people reported having supplies set aside for use in a disaster.

If your travel needs call for driving in wintry weather, prepare your car for the trip by updating your vehicle emergency kit with:

• Booster cables;
• Blankets, hats, socks, and mittens;
• Road salt or sand; and
• A fluorescent distress flag.

While on the road, follow these driving techniques to ensure you reach your destination safely:

• Decrease your speed and leave plenty of room to stop;
• Break gently to avoid skidding;
• Do not use cruise control or overdrive on icy roads; and
• Turn on your lights to increase your visibility to others.

Road conditions can change quickly! Should disaster strike when traveling, use the Disaster Reporter feature on the FEMA app to send photos of your location for first responders and response teams to view. You can also keep up with weather forecasts using your NOAA weather radio to plan ahead! Remember safety first. If weather conditions are too severe, it’s best not to drive.

Also, have a fully charged Cell phone in hand before leaving.  Tell people on both ends of the trip when you leave and your route.

As always, Ham Radio can be a lifesaver in an emergency when the Cell Phone is dead.

Happy Thanksgiving.

Santa Net Scheduled

According to Pete, KE5GGY, the 3.916 Nets will be giving good boys and girls a chance to talk to Santa Claus via the magic of ham radio.   The '3916 Santa Nets' will be held on 15 different evenings starting Friday, November 29 through Christmas Eve, December 24th.    The Santa Nets are open to all licensed amateur radio operators who wish to invite kids to their shack to talk to Santa.  Third party rules will apply.  Pete Thomson (KE5GGY), commented on The 3916 Santa Nets.  He said, "Christmas is our favorite time of year on The 3916 Nets.  Each year on the Santa Nets we are blown away by the response.  It's incredible to hear the excitement in kids' voices as they talk to Santa Claus on Ham Radio.   Once again this year we'll be having 15 different Santa Nets on 3.916 MHz.  This should give everyone a chance to get involved."    Thomson added that The Santa Nets are a great way to let kids experience both the magic of Christmas and amateur radio.  He said, "We encourage hams to get their kids, grand kids and even neighbor kids into their shacks to participate in the Santa Net.  The kids love talking to Santa and we get an opportunity to show a young person how amateur radio works."  

Each evening, The 3916 Santa Net will start at 8:30 PM (Central) on 3.916 MHz.  Pre-net check-ins will be taken on the air starting at 8:15 PM.   You can also do a pre-net check in by emailing ke5ggy@gmail.com.

Below is a schedule of the 2013 Santa Nets on 3.916 Mhz.  Net Starts at 8:30 PM (Central)

Friday, November 29
Saturday, November 30

Tuesday, December 3
Thursday, December 5
Saturday, December 7

Monday, December 9
Wednesday, December 11
Friday, December 13

Tuesday, December 17
Thursday, December 19
Friday, December 20
Saturday, December 21

Sunday, December 22
Monday, December 23
Tuesday, December 24

For more information on The 3916 Nets or The Santa Net, contact Pete Thomson, KE5GGY at ke5ggy@gmail.com. 

Does your club offer on the air Santa contacts?  Please add those to comments below.

#AltusOK on Tagboard

Here's a Social Media cool tool for those using multiple social media platforms.

It allows one to follow a hashtag across Twitter, Facebook, Google+, Vine, and Instagram.

It produces a nice collection of posts and pictures along the line of what is available at Twubs.

What cool tools do you use to make your social media life easy?


#AltusOK on Tagboard:

'via Blog this'

Comparison of microblogging services #SMEM #VOST

So you have heard about Facebook, Twitter, Google+, and LinkedIN but have you heard of any of these?

Bebo?  CafeMom?  Care2 or CaringBridge?  How about Spaces?

There's a reason.  For example, if you are user of Rosetta Stone, a venture capitalist, or an early user, you would never have heard of Livemocha.

For the social media practitioner, there's two choices:

1.  Go where your customers are likely to be.  Are they really on Twitter or, if they are Russian Expatriates, are they on LinkExpats, LiveJournal, or Spaces?

2.  Build a community and let them come to you.

Either way, pray that you don't build on what may become one of this list.

You are welcome to choose wisely from the "Comparison of microblogging services"

Once again, focus on the plan and not the tools.

Have you joined a social media group and had the group close?