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Still here, beside you…

Hey.. Love is Love. If you disagree, check your hearts to make sure they’re still in there. Two is cool 👀 but forced binaries are low and artificial. ☀️ Full stop.

Rainbow – Lahaina, HI

Changed? Darn right we changed. We all do everyday or we ain’t moving forward. Look at plants, they grow, become root bound, and eventually need a bigger pot to thrive but we don’t judge them for that.

Metamorphosis/Transformation

Time and time again, we drop our figurative anchors into the oceans of data, down to what we consider the literary bedrock. That’s ok, we all need our rest.

D1v1ng down though, you might be surprised to find out that our anchors have been swallowed by sad whales dragging us along for a ride. (no offense to actual 🐋’s intended ☺️)

sum(my unsolicited .02) = Awaken, go inside, find YOU, do your work, ask for help, rest and heal when you need too, wear sunscreen and find shade when you need it, eat mindfully, drink plenty of water, sing, dance, pull up your anchors, and sail into the New World each day with your framilies! Stay Weird! Stay Kind! Seek diverse perspectives! Look out for one another! Find your Joy Growing and Adventuring Together! Remember to Care! I love you all! Glad you’re still with us! 🖖🏼

Update: I am happy to report that I have found the secret entrance. 🤣

I Support WA House Bill 1098

Dear friends and fellow Washingtonians,

As someone who was once a born-in 30 year member of the Jehovah’s Witness community, served 7+ years in the Computer Department at their World Headquarters in New York, and has seen firsthand the challenges of balancing religious beliefs and legal and ethical responsibilities, I want to express my support for House Bill 1098, which would make clergy mandatory reporters of child abuse or neglect in Washington state.

Jehovah’s Witnesses have long preached about the “how much more so” principle Jesus promoted (Luke 11:11-13, Matthew 7:11) , which encourages individuals to do even more good than what is required of them. However, when it comes to child protection, I believe that this principle must be applied more strictly to prioritize the safety and well-being of children above any religious practice.

It is clear that the Jehovah’s Witnesses, like many other religious organizations, have struggled to balance the duty to report suspected child abuse with the confidentiality of spiritual matters. However, we must recognize that the safety and well-being of children should always take precedence, and that any religious principle should be subservient to this primary objective.

By making clergy mandatory reporters of child abuse or neglect, we can take a significant step towards protecting the most vulnerable members of our society. This is especially important given the recent allegations of sexual assault cover-ups by the Jehovah’s Witnesses in Washington state, which have highlighted the inadequacy of the state’s current reporting requirements.

As someone who has witnessed the devastating impact of child sex abuse on many friends and family members, I know firsthand the importance of reporting such incidents and ensuring that abusers are held accountable for their actions. It is my belief that by applying the “how much more so” principle in the context of child protection, we can help prevent cycles of abuse and provide the support and justice that victims need.

I urge lawmakers to support House Bill 1098 and its companion bill in the Senate 5280, and to take a stand for the safety and well-being of children across Washington state.

Sincerely,

Brandon Gregory Fiquett

References:

Come out of the Cave

Dear Friends,

I hope this letter finds you well. I write to you today as a fellow human being who cares deeply about your well-being and your search for truth.

As a Jehovah’s Witness, you have likely spent a great deal of time studying the Bible and memorizing its teachings. This is certainly a noble pursuit, and I commend you for your dedication to your faith.

However, I would like to encourage you to consider the possibility that there may be more to the world than what you have been taught. In Plato’s famous allegory of the cave, he describes a group of people who have been imprisoned in a cave their whole lives, watching shadows on the wall and believing them to be reality. Only when one of them is freed and sees the outside world for the first time does he realize the truth.

I believe that many active Jehovah’s Witnesses find themselves in a similar situation. They have been taught a certain set of beliefs and have been encouraged to memorize them and share them with others. However, it is my belief that many would rather believe something they memorized over the actual objective truths.

I do not mean to insult or belittle your faith in any way. I understand that it is a deeply personal and important part of your life. However, I would like to encourage you to consider the possibility that there may be other ways of understanding the world that do not contradict your faith.

One of these ways is through science. Science is a method for understanding the world around us that is based on observation and evidence. It has allowed us to learn incredible things about the universe, from the smallest subatomic particles to the largest structures in the cosmos. And it has led to amazing advances in technology and medicine that have improved our lives in countless ways.

I encourage you to explore the world of science and see how it can complement your faith. You may find that there are ways of understanding the world that you had never considered before, and that these can deepen your appreciation for the beauty and complexity of creation.

In conclusion, I urge you to come out of the cave (please) and explore the world with an open mind. There are many amazing things to discover, and I believe that you will find that they enrich your life and deepen your understanding of the world and of yourself.

Sincerely,

Brandon

APRS contact with International Space Station

IMG_0389Shortly after learning about APRS (Automatic Packet Reporting System), I decided to see if I could interface my cheap BaoFeng UV-5R with my iPhone for use with PocketPacket.

A quick google search yielded the a schematic designed by KK6GIP. A good place to start.

A quick dig around in the junk box yielded the necessary components, a piece of recycled project board, an old busted iPhone headset, and the cheap headset that came with the radio. A few minutes later after some wire trimming and soldering – Voila! – an iPhone to BaoFeng audio interface.

IMG_0383

I tuned the radio into 144.390 MHz (a common 2m APRS frequency) and transmitted an APRS data burst. This resulted in my coordinates and message being received by K2PUT (a local digipeater) which was forwarded to an internet gateway.

Ok that was fun. What next?

When the International Space Station isn’t using its ham radio for voice, it operates as a FM Packet Radio Digipeater on 145.825 MHz.

scene composition: litho, frame 22

So I connected my homemade 2m yagi antenna, tuned to 145.825 and set my digipeater path to ‘VIA ARISS’.

Now all I had to do was wait for the ISS to pass overhead. The ISS completes around 15 orbits a day, so this didn’t take too long.

Using an iPad application called ProSatHD, I was able to determine down to the minute when and where the station would pass overhead.

Continue reading “APRS contact with International Space Station”

12V DC Ammo Can Power Box v1.0

IMG_5260

I wanted to build a custom rugged battery box on a budget for amateur radio communications and emergency charging. The ammo can was found in poor condition at an army surplus and was restored by sanding to remove rust, re-painting, and lubricating the rubber seal. I’m not yet satisfied with the internal fabrication and will continue to improve upon its design later. Future improvements to include: led switch, solar charge controller, improved mounting panel, volt/amp meter.

more photos below and materials list below…

Continue reading “12V DC Ammo Can Power Box v1.0”

Amateur Radio Transmits 1000 Miles On Voice Power

Many of us tried the old “Two tin cans connected by a string” experiment as kids. [Michael Rainey, AA1TJ] never quite forgot it.  Back in 2009, he built “El Silbo”, a ham radio transmitter powered entirely by his voice. El Silbo is a Double Side Band (DSB) transmitter for 75 meters.

via Pocket http://hackaday.com/2013/11/26/amateur-radio-transmits-1000-miles-on-voice-power/

Get into HAM radio for $45 dollars

 Why should I get a HAM radio & license?300px-International_amateur_radio_symbol_svg

  • How will I communicate with friends/family in a disaster scenario when internet/cellular/land communications are disrupted?
  • Could I be helpful in coordinating and relaying messages related to emergency and disaster relief?

What is HAM radio?

  • Amateur radio (also called ham radio) is the use of designated radio frequency spectra for purposes of private recreation, non-commercial exchange of messages, wireless experimentation, self-training, and emergency communication.

Do I need a license? Yes

  • There are 3 levels:
    • Technician – Entry Level – VHF/UHF & Limited HF privileges (pdf)
    • General – All tech privileges plus HF privileges (communicate around world) (pdf)
    • Extra – All General privileges + shorter call sign & additional HF privileges (pdf)

How much would it cost to get started? $45

Who can get a tech license? Is the test hard?

  • Just about anyone could take the technician’s exam and pass after putting forth a little effort studying and taking practice tests
    • For Moms, Dads, Sons, Daughters, Sisters, Grandparents, etc.. 8 years old and up
  • Learning morse code is no-longer a requirement
  • Basic math, no algebra or calculus required
  • Simple electronics

 


Chromecast update breaks root-friendly exploit

We hope you weren’t planning to tinker with your Chromecast this weekend. GTVHacker has confirmed that a recent firmware update to Google’s streaming media stick plugs the bootloader exploit that many are using to get root access.

via Pocket http://www.engadget.com/2013/08/02/chromecast-update-breaks-root-friendly-exploit/

Pwnie Express’ Pwn Plug R2 + Solar + Quadcopter = Flying Security Nightmare

Pwnie Express has a knack for stuffing powerful security testing tools into innocuous housings, and this time their flexing that unique talent with the Pwnie Plug R2.

via Pocket http://www.engadget.com/2013/07/31/pwnie-express-pwn-plug-r2/

Pwnie Plug R2 with 4G cell connection + software defined radio + solar battery charger + quadcopter = Flying security nightmare

I want one now!! Makes my Fonera (Jasager) and TPLink pineapple look like toys.. Software Defined Radio….shudder

Core features:

  • Onboard high-gain 802.11b/g/n wireless supporting packet injection & monitor mode
  • Onboard dual Gigabit Ethernet for NAC bypass and network monitoring
  • External high-gain Bluetooth adapter (up to 1000′) supporting packet injection
  • External unlocked 4G/GSM cellular (SIM not included)
  • Automated wired NAC/802.1x/RADIUS bypass
  • Simple web-based administration and in-product updates with “Pwnix UI”
  • One-click Evil AP & Passive Recon services
  • Persistent reverse-SSH access to your target network
  • 6 different covert channels to tunnel through application-aware firewalls & IPS
  • Supports HTTP proxies, SSH-VPN, & OpenVPN
  • Out-of-band SSH access over 4G/GSM cell networks
  • Runs Pwnix, a custom Debian distro based on Kali Linux
  • OSS-based pentesting toolkit includes Metasploit, SET, Kismet, Aircrack-NG, SSLstrip, nmap, Hydra, w3af, Scapy, Ettercap, Bluetooth/VoIP/IPv6 tools, & many more
  • Unpingable and no listening ports in stealth mode

Hardware specs:

  • Processor / RAM: 1.2GHz Armada-370 CPU / 1GB DDR3
  • Disk storage: 32GB microSDHC (Class 10)
  • Onboard wireless: High-gain 802.11b/g/n, packet injection & monitor mode, 8” external antenna
  • Onboard I/O: 2x Gigabit Ethernet, 2x USB 3.0, serial console, microSD slot
  • External high-gain Bluetooth adapter (up to 1000′ range) supporting packet injection & monitor mode
  • Optional support for Zigbee/Zwave, RFID, and Software-Defined Radios (SDR)
  • Voltage: 110-240v (Adapters available)
  • Power draw: 5 watts idle, 15 watts max
  • Dimensions: 5.2″ x 3.7″ x 0.8″
The included unlocked 4G/GSM adapter is:
  • Compatible with SIM cards from AT&T, T-mobile, Vodafone, Orange, and GSM carriers in over 160 countries (SIM card not included)
  • HSDPA/UMTS (850/1700/1900/2100MHz)
  • GSM/GPRS/EDGE (850/900/1800/1900MHz)

Chromecast Has Been Rooted – Bootloader Exploit

Well that didn’t take long. The team over at GTVHacker have worked their magic on Chromecast. The HDMI dongle announced by Google last week was so popular they had to cancel their 3-free-months of Netflix perk.

via Pocket http://hackaday.com/2013/07/29/chromecast-bootloader-exploit-it-runs-android/

Here’s the how-to: Bootloader Exploit Package
Waiting on my USB OTG cable to come….