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Ballinrobe v Claremorris

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Another reason to stick with AVG

Thousands of PC's worldwide have been left useless by a faulty antivirus update, according to reports.

McAfee has downplayed the effect the antivirus infection has had on users

Users found their computers endlessly rebooting after the update from security firm McAfee confused a Windows file for a virus.
Hospitals, universities, businesses and other non-domestic users of Windows XP were apparently hit by the fault on Thursday.
McAfee quickly released an update to fix the issue, but the damage to their reputation was already done, analysts say.

"It is not often that a security vendor takes out a large number of their clients," said Rob Enderle of Enderle Group in Silicon Valley.

"Customers don't forget this stuff any time soon. This is going to hurt McAfee," he added.

The Internet Storm Centre, which monitors the web for problems, had reports of "networks with thousands of down machines and organisations who had to shut down for business until this is fixed".

Yet McAfee said it was not aware of a significant impact on consumers.

"We believe that this incident has impacted less than one half of one percent of our consumer base and enterprise accounts globally," a company statement said.

But one technology blogger was less convinced. Ed Bott tweeted: "I believe McAfee's statements on this issue are composed of equal parts BS (b******t) and CYA (cover your a**). Spun, not stirred."

Hackers added insult to injury by tricking users into visiting fake websites offering fixes - but those who took the bait had their computers infected with viruses designed to steal sensitive information.

Jonathan Robins, Sky News Online

Croke Patrick Day Out with the family

OKTVF at LKPR / Ruzyn_ Int'l / Prague

Photo Courtesy of Mirek Kubicek

Cumulonimbus Cloud Over Africa

Cumulonimbus Cloud Over Africa

High above the African continent, tall, dense cumulonimbus clouds, meaning 'column rain' in Latin, are the result of atmospheric instability. The clouds can form alone, in clusters, or along a cold front in a squall line. The high energy of these storms is associated with heavy precipitation, lightning, high wind speeds and tornadoes.

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Ballinrobe Town AFC v Clew Bay United

Drogheda Stabbing

Here is the One O Clock News by RTE.ie about the stabbing on West Street in Drogheda.

Its a joke that you cannot go for a Birthday Drink with your family and this happens.

Rescue at Sea

 
Pacific Ocean: Three 14.300 MHz Amateur Radio 'Networks' respond to an urgent 'PAN PAN' call for emergency assistance from David KF7GWI, one of five crewmen aboard the (36) foot recreational vessel, “S/V Wind Child”, enroute to the Marquesas Islands.
April 3, 2010 by Rex J. Weinheimer KC5AGO, Stonewall, Texas
The Intercontinental Traffic Network (INTERCON), the Maritime Mobile Service Network (MMSN), and the Pacific Seafarers Network (PACSEA) are three volunteer amateur radio “Networks” which sequentially conduct radio watches for up to eighteen hours per day, 365 days per year on HF 14.300 MHz USB; the HF radio frequency now designated world-wide as a “Centre of Activity” for emergency communications in the 20 Meter Amateur Radio Band by the International Amateur Radio Union, Regions I, II, and III.
At approximately 10:09 AM EDT, on Thursday 04/01/2010 David KF7GWI amateur radio operator aboard the S/V Wind Child transmitted a “PAN PAN” on 14.300 MHz. The call was heard by “Network” member Bill KI4MMZ of Flagler Beach, FL. Immediately KI4MMZ established contact with KF7GWI and determined the vessels position as being in the Pacific Ocean at (09°-30’N x 126°-47’W), approximately 1,400 miles SW of San Diego, CA. KF7GWI reported a medical emergency with request for immediate assistance. At 12:45 UTC, a 57 y/o male crewmember had sustained a traumatic injury; an internal and external crushing to his throat, extreme laceration to the tongue, and a deep puncture wound to the back of the skull. The patient lost consciousness and had ceased respirations for a period. KI4MMZ quickly established a telephone patch with USCG Sector Alameda, CA and reported the details of the incident.
Within a matter of minutes, USCG Sector Alameda had a Flight Surgeon on the telephone with KI4MMZ. The Flight Surgeon remotely assessed the patient’s condition, asking pertinent questions and receiving responses as passed thru amateur radio “Network” relays with KF7GWI responding from S/V Wind Child.
The USCG determined that a Med-Evac Mission was necessary and swiftly set into motion a very complex plan to rescue the injured crewman and deliver him to a medical facility for treatment as soon as possible. The rescue event is ongoing and hopefully will be successfully concluded by Sunday night.
The amateur radio “Networks” established and maintained a recurring hourly communication schedule with the S/V Wind Child. Amateur radio operators from the “Networks” continued to procure the orderly flow of updated patient information and timely position reports which in turn were passed to the USCG and Flight Surgeon via telephone so that last minute plans could be adjusted.
The USCG and California Air National Guard, jointly communicating with the assistance of “Network” amateur radio operators providing the long-distance communications link to the S/V Wind Child, were successful in delivering the four Para-Jumpers, along with their inflatable boat, rescue, and survival gear to the S/V Wind Child. Per the “AMVERS” alert issued by the USCG, HF radio contact had earlier been established by “Network” radio operators with the M/V Cap Palmerston which had diverted her course and was headed to the S/V Wind Child to assist in the rescue.
The “Network’s” hourly communication schedules were downgraded to a “listening watch” after the fact was made known that the Para-Jumpers were successfully aboard the S/V Wind Child.
The patient and the four Para-Jumpers were successfully transferred to the M/V Cap Palmerston. The ship is currently headed to San Diego. On Easter Sunday, the M/V Cap Palmerston will rendezvous with a task group of (2) MH-130 Hercules fixed-wing tankers and (2) HH-60 Hawk helicopters approximately 500NM west of San Diego, CA.
The helicopters will pick-up the patient and the four Para-Jumpers, and then transport the patient back to San Diego, CA for further medical treatment.
We heartily applaud the professional efforts of the USCG, the Para-Jumpers, the California Air National Guard, the M/V Cap Palmerston, and the many amateur radio operators that assisted in, or stood silently ready to assist in this seamless and successful, combined agency rescue at sea. Kudos for David KF7GWI whom as late as January 5, 2010 received his amateur radio license especially for this voyage of S/V Wind Child; “David felt one person on board should have a license for just such an eventuality!”
Oh yes, one last note of interest, Satellite Telephone service was unobtainable at the scene of the incident.
For more information concerning the Ham Radio Networks that operate on 14.300 MHz, please visit http://14300.net and http://14300.net/windchild.html

Discover Ireland West

My garden got flooded by the rain over the last few days. . . again, my self and my daughter decided to make a bit of a sketch. Tell me what you think?

Ballinrobe –v- Swinford

Ballinrobe Town AFC played Swinford today at home on the Green in Ballinrobe, Both sides played well with the final score 0-0.

To view the Slideshow click the Play Button.

VOIP contacts now valid for ham radio awards

 

With the growing popularity of ham radio simulations like QSONet andHamSphere, I guess it had to happen sooner or later. According to an announcement just out on the IARU website, from today contacts made using these VOIP systems are now officially amateur radio contacts and can count towards amateur radio awards.
The announcement says: "There is an ever increasing use of computer and internet technology to facilitate the making of contacts between amateur radio operators. For many years use of the DX Cluster has been permitted to locate DX contacts to work and many operators now use internet sites to arrange skeds for needed contacts. We also see the development of new digital modes that can make possible contacts between stations that neither side can even hear. Permitting the use of VOIP modes to make contacts is simply an extension of the use of this facilitating technology, by removing the unreliability caused by the behaviour of the ionosphere. This move will also be welcomed by the many radio amateurs living in antenna-restricted locations who are no longer able to be active on what have traditionally been regarded as 'the airwaves'."
Addressing the criticism that no radio is actually used when making contacts via QSONet or HamSphere, the statement says: "Many amateur operators nowadays use laptop computers which are connected to the internet via a wi-fi router. This does, of course, involve the use of radio. Initially, therefore, only contacts made using a laptop with a wireless connection will be allowed to count under this new ruling. The frequency should be logged as 2.4GHz. This restriction will be reviewed at a later date."

New Social Dance Classes

Announcement for People in Co. Mayo:

New Social dance classes for absolute beginners will begin next Thursday the 8th of April in the community centre, Neale, Co. Mayo. Learn Jive, Waltz, Foxtrot and Quickstep. No partners or booking required all are welcome. Classes are from 8:30pm-10:30pm. E10 for 2 hours of dancing. For any all enquires just mail me or call me on . Contact Niall on 0879181863 for more information

LDYN Ballinrobe Building for the Future

Yesterday I got a chance to speak to one of the directors of the LDYN Ballinrobe, in the  Tacύ Resource Centre on Glebe Street, Ballinrobe. I was curious to see the new plans for the new location of the facility.

 

 

 

LDYN Ballinrobe has just procured this building and renovation has begun. The LDYN (Lake District Youth Network) Ballinrobe is hoping to be running many youth and family programs in which students from all over the Lake District area can attend at there new facility. The name Lake District was used by the centre, as the facility covers many towns and areas from Tourmakeady to Roundfort and areas from Balla to Cong.

LDYN Ballinrobe is hoping to have many youth groups such as No Name, to be able to have access to the facility to do there own events like dance classes or computer courses, the management of the facility are all in favour of promoting anything that will keep our youth of today safe and off the streets.

The Tacύ Centre also runs a number of programs through out the week such as Aware on Thursday nights, parent and toddler classes, male cancer support and a writers group, so from the second you walk in the door the place is bursting with projects, information, classes and much more. The Tacύ Resource Centre also has speakers who come in and give a casual chat on the area they work in or a subject in which they are familiar with, recently they had Joanne Heins from the local chemist up town giving a talk on medication.

Left: Artwork by Tacύ Children’s Visual Arts Summer Camp 2009

So with the plans in place and the contractor on site the LDYN is looking forward to six months time where hopefully the facility will be open and ready for use.

For more information in on LDYN Ballinrobe you can visit there facebook page or contact them directly on 094 - 95 429 08 or pop in to the Tacύ Resource Centre, Glebe Street, Ballinrobe.

Weather Not Looking Too Good