gambit32's New Writeups

Enabling diagnostics mode on a Garmin Geko GPS (thing)

2004-05-15T23:38:47Z

To enable diagnostic mode on an Geko, Hold OK when powering the unit on. You'll get a screen with a lot of information (http://home.wish.net/~marx/etrexd.jpg)

Displays


BRAVO Ver 6            -Operating system version

Software ver. 2.09     -Software version

10:41:09 pm            -The time (f course)

temp         27'c      -Internal temp

bat          2.94v     -Battery voltage

ext--------------v     -External voltage(from outside source)????

freq 16368323          -The frequency it's tuned to?????

Drft--------------     -Frequency drift???????

Rdrj--------------     -Rejected? Rejected what?

Sgnl        1671       -Signal strength?  It keeps changing.

SNR            0       -Signal to Noise Ratio? It sometimes changes.

BRV          pass      -Something that was checked passed, but what?

RAM          pass      -Random Access Memory check passes?

ROM          pass      -Read Only Memory

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Homeland Security Advisory System (thing)

2002-03-12T15:49:46Z

A new color-coded U.S. threat advisory system that creates a national framework and a common vocabulary so that government and the private sector can deal effectively and efficiently with threats of terrorist attack. Unveiled on March 12th, 2002, approximate six months from the attacks on September 11th on the World Trade Center and Pentagon, this new system adds to the system previously known as FPCON (unveiled June 2001, previously THREATCON). The primary difference and advancement of this new system is to be overlayed on a map, so threat assessment levels can be localized by region or state, and can therefore act accordingly. This new system allows certain regions to be aware of risks in their locality, without mobilizing the entire nation to a certain threat assessment level.

RED - Severe - Severe Risk of terrorist attacks

Assigning emergency response personnel and pre-positioning specially trained teams; Monitoring, redirecting or

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Challenge Coin (thing)

2002-03-10T16:46:50Z

Challenge Coins are developed for specific units (military or otherwise) and is used to identify the bearer with their organization. These coins have a whole mystique about them. (e.g., they can't rightfully be pierced and used as a keychain fob as an example). If a group of service people are in a bar and one of them asserts a challenge, everyone within earshot has to produce their challenge coin or they have to stand the challenger to a drink. If the challenger fails to produce his/her own coin if asked to, they have to buy a round of drinks for those with coins.

There are nuances and subtleties with Challenge Coins. If you own one and somebody asks to look at it, that person can keep the coin if you hand it to them. The correct procedure is to put it on a table or bar and then move away so that the other person can look at it. It's generally understood that the owner should not go more than three feet from the coin. However, the person…

WWJD (thing)

2001-11-26T20:20:29Z

WWJD is the FM radio station for Alice Loyd College in Pippa Passes, Kentucky. Licensed to broadcast at 91.7, WWJD has been keeping us informed since January 28th, 1998.

WRRV (thing)

2001-09-30T01:04:55Z

A radio station originally based in Middletown, NY (Tower located at 41° 27' 25.00" N Latitude, 74° 26' 24.00" W Longitude) ; broadcasting on 92.7 FM. Part of the Aurora Communications Group, and began broadcasting in 1995.

Currently an Alternative Rock station, with "Music All Morning with Boris" (their leading show), and "big chunks of music all day."

In 1997, the station added a second antenna in Poughkeepsie NY( located at 41° 43' 9.000" N Latitude 73° 59' 47.00" W Longitude) , broadcasting on 96.9 FM, under the name of WRRB At some point after, their main offices were moved from Middletown, to the office suite on Pendell Rd. in Poughkeepsie.

Current Motto: The "New" Rock Alternative

Suitcase-sized nuclear demolitions devices (thing)

2001-09-19T18:41:34Z

In September 1997, reports emerged that the Soviet military intelligence agency (the GRU) had developed numerous "suitcase bombs." These reports alleged that the bombs measured 24 x 16 x 8 inches (60 x 40 x 20 centimeters), and were to be used by intelligence agents in Western cities in the event of a superpower war.

On 7 September 1997, the CBS newsmagazine Sixty Minutes broadcast an alarming story in which former Russian National Security Adviser Aleksandr Lebed claimed that the Russian military had lost track of more than 100 suitcase-sized nuclear bombs, any one of which could kill up to 100,000 people.

Though doubts have been raised as to the credibility of the reports, a bomb this small is theoretically possible. Carey Sublette of the Federation of American Scientists notes that the smallest critical mass for plutonium is a 10.5 kg sphere 10.1 cm across. While this minimal critical mass…