Merry Christmas 2012

Dreams of a white Christmas come true

Big Stuf !

Granny Box Mystery...Solved!

 

Are over-the-air ATSC digital-to-analog converter boxes now failing with age? Maybe...maybe not!

At work, I oversee over a dozen granny boxes used to receive and convert local over-the-air digital TV channels for viewing on our in-house analog cable TV system. Reception of three channels was problematic, often locking up and freezing at will. The models we use are the most inexpensive available marketed under the brand names 'Micro Gem' and 'Access HD' sold for around $29.95. I tried swapping converters, testing converters for input sensitivity and analyzing the output of the wall-wart power supplies grasping for any clue. What was making decoding these specific channels so unreliable?

I discovered that these converters run fairly hot, especially when perched upon other pieces of gear in equipment racks. One tiny electrolytic capacitor, directly adjacent to the bright metal tuner module, sometimes dries out and limits the sensitivity of the converters. I have replaced a few of those under-rated caps, with good results, but this fix did not cure my endless lock-ups. A listing in The Worldwide TV-FM DX Association's bulletin, VHF-UHF Digest, showed a new WCBS translator on the air on RF Channel 22 from Plainview, Long Island. I could easily see this signal, so I changed antennas and switched to Channel 22 instead looking at the WCBS main transmitter on Channel 33. The results were immediately fruitful: WCBS reception became stable as a rock. Still, the mystery continued!

My troublesome channels are all in the New York City market: WNBC (RF channel 28,) WCBS (RF channel 33,) and WWOR (RF channel 38.) All three broadcast from the iconic Empire State Building and all three broadcast two virtual channels per transmitter. After some pondering and research, I decided to take a look at these transmissions with a spectrum analyzer. All three signals had a distinct and horrifying signature. A competent digital TV signal should have a nice square waveform with an obvious pilot carrier on the leading edge. My troublemakers looked like black diamond ski slopes! Obviously, these would be pretty challenging for my granny boxes, too!

What is the common thread? WNBC, WCBS and WWOR share a master antenna mounted high atop the Empire State Building. A friend described the design as "a bunch of panel antennas strung together with Heliax jumpers." Since I don't have access or design knowledge of this installation, it's very hard for me to comment. One thing for sure, the result is a mess! I can only wonder why no one has reacted to such an anomaly. (WNYW, New York's Fox affiliate, on RF Channel 44, looks crispy and nice using their own antenna also mounted on ESB.)

This is an interesting case. Thinking out loud, I know that ATSC DTV transmitters have sample loops that monitor various aspects of their broadcast signals. The transmitters themselves are most likely producing competent waveforms but, in this case, the antenna system is wildly altering the linearity of the signal equalization presented to the public. Digital TV transmitters pre-distort themselves to insure output signals are tight and square. Obviously, nothing compensates for severe antenna problems. It would take an enormous amount of EQ to correct these bumps! You would think that a glaring problem like this would cause warning flags due to excessive reflected power and lowered efficiency. Maybe not?

Although I have cured my WCBS reception by reverting to receiving another transmitter, I have no recourse for WNBC and WWOR. The closest alternative NBC broadcaster is WVIT Hartford which also uses Channel 33. WWOR is a MyTV affiliate. It features local content, most notably New York sports coverage that cannot be replicated by another station. I guess I will just have to live with the signals available. My granny boxes are not malfunctioning! I just can't resolve rollercoaster digital TV! Is anyone watching?

All Power To You

An evil stepmother must be casting her spell over October 29th. Last year, a ferocious ice and snow storm brought us endless damage and peril as we sat in the dark for seven days without power. Exactly 365 days later, Hurricane Sandy demolished our area like never before. Its severe floods and wind damage crippled modern civilization. Some neighbors are still waiting for power to be restored. Homes and livelihoods were literally blown away. Will severe weather become 'the new normal?'

The night of the hurricane was troubled and dark. Power cut off at dusk, long before the storm fully raged. Little sleep was had as the powerful winds roared. I could hear my roof tearing apart highlighted by startling bangs and booms. Rain flew by horizontally and the trees wildly bended and swayed for hours. A memorable moment came at 8:30 pm. Looking out our back window, my wife asked: 'Where's the pine tree?' The 70 foot behemoth had broken apart leaving a 15 foot high stump and three huge pieces now lying across our hill.

The morning of October 30th brought up familiar memories. Again, we would experience a wet and muddy world filled with the smell of fresh tree sap from numerous felled maple and pine trees. Broken branches and limbs were scattered everywhere. Shingles littered lawns and debris torn from nearby houses surrounded us. Listen carefully and you'd still hear a large branch or limb fall, hopefully in the distance. Other sounds combined to create a multi-voiced harmony for the next ten dark days: the whirring of gasoline engines and the rip of power saws. This time recovery would be longer and harder than ever.

Hurricane Sandy was the third event in one calendar year that brought week-long power outages. In the aftermath, many families made the best of a bad situation migrating to friends' and relatives' homes that still had electrical service. Hotel rooms were cherished and usually impossible to find. Others subsisted by huddling in warm cars and mini-vans and using their workplaces as havens to maintain sanity. One item was on everyone's most-wanted list: generators!

The smell of gasoline once again annoyed our noses. Hauling five-gallon jugs back and forth from the gas station became part of many daily routines.Pouring the gas, especially without a funnel, only heightened the aroma. Wear gloves or your hands will stink forever!

Our area did not suffer too badly from long gas lines. New Jersey was another story. Miles and miles of cars idled along highway shoulders waiting for the gas considered nearly unavailable. This madness seemed to be the result of media hype. Travel a few exits down the parkway and you would find gas available for immediate purchase without waiting.

The storm left its signature everywhere. One neighbor had an enormous pine tree fall across her driveway violently tearing power, telephone and cable TV lines away from her house. She subsisted on gas generator power, via an octopus of extension cords through a window, for over three weeks. Cable TV was replaced by connecting up her old trusty roof-mounted TV antenna. She delighted watching good old over-the-air TV! With very little power draw, all she needed was a twice-daily fill-up of her generator gas tank and life was good.

Out of necessity, I became acquainted with the world of generators. Having managed the power of many, many TV remote trucks and a few amateur radio Field Days and a lifetime of household repairs, I was not a stranger to how to properly proceed when handling electrical hook-ups. I had one moment of complete horror. A good friend had purchased a generator at a local Home Depot. After trying to use it with just a few extension cords, he decided his basic design was inadequate. He recruited a local electrician who provided a quick fix to his problem. I was mortified to see what he had done!

I called the electrician on the phone and simply asked: ‘Is this really up to code?’ Even after he said ‘yes,’ I found it hard to believe. He added: ‘Just remember to keep your main breaker open. It’s your responsibility!’ What he had done was unbelievable. The electrician had wired in a standard male 3-prong plug to one breaker of my friend’s power panel. You could then use an everyday single A/C extension cord to connect the generator to the power panel and backfeed it bringing power to all the circuits in his house. Yikes!

As a public service announcement, I beg you to never do this! You may think you are achieving great results, but great danger can result. Using this jury-rigged arrangement, if you do leave your main breaker closed you could be feeding your generator’s electricity up to your streetside utility pole or farther. This could be life-threatening to workers trying to restore power to your neighborhood. Should your regular power be energized unexpectedly, it would directly hit your generator causing permanent damage, fires or explosions. In simplest terms, don’t do this!

To add to the peril, backfeeding power also stresses the extension cord that is probably not rated for a full 20 or 30 amps of power. Applying one phase 120 volt A/C to circuits looking for 240 volt power is another bad idea. Stressing household wiring runs inside walls can produce fires and other chaos. It isn’t difficult to install generator power correctly. Please do!

It’s inexpensive and easy to do the job right. All you need is a transfer switch. Now you will be able to switch back and forth from generator power with safety and grace. It allows you to manage your power distribution to each discreet circuit. I recommend using a 10 or 12 circuit switch adequate to feed all the essential power needs of your home.

A transfer switch is not a master A/B switch between your generator and utility power. It switches each household circuit on or off individually. This also aids installation. If it were designed as a true master switch, the power feed from your utility pole would need to be turned off during installation. Using the individual circuit method, all power management remains at a serviceable level. Many transfer switches include ammeters so you can monitor exactly how much your generator is providing at any given moment.

The transfer switch is energized via a special weather-proof 4-prong A/C outlet usually mounted outside your house. A single heavy-duty 4 conductor twist-lock power cord connects the generator to the transfer switch. The power cord is a short length of four large diameter conductors rated beyond what your generator can provide. Each individual circuit of the transfer switch is independently protected by its own circuit breaker. Now you can operate with safety and confidence!

If you decide to purchase a generator, auto-throttle is a feature that should not be overlooked. This circuit monitors the amount of current draw at any given moment and adjusts the generator’s idle speed to match. This one feature will minimize your gasoline usage and maximize the amount of time your generator will run before another fill-up. It also makes the generator run very, very quietly. What a pleasure to not having a mechanical roar going on outside your house 24 hours a day. Don’t forget wheels! Two wheels make moving generators so much easier to do!

Another invaluable feature is an intelligent voltage regulator. Sensitive electronic gear, like your computer or HF transceiver, won’t appreciate a delivery of 140 or 150 volts! Good generators also closely regulate the amount of alternation to exactly 60 cycles. Remember: Safety first! Ground your generator to a good earth ground. Operate the generator outside, not indoors or in an enclosed space!

Creating your own electrical oasis has all sorts of fringe benefits. Not only will you live in luxury when utility power goes off, you’ll be very popular with your friends (especially if they are in the dark!) Keep your generator well-maintained throughout the year and it will also serve as a perfect addition to your Field Day efforts. All power to you!

 

Congratulations, President Obama !

Victory Speech Conclusion

America, I believe we can build on the progress we’ve made and continue to fight for new jobs and new opportunity and new security for the middle class. I believe we can keep the promise of our founders, the idea that if you’re willing to work hard, it doesn’t matter who you are or where you come from or what you look like or where you love. It doesn’t matter whether you’re black or white or Hispanic or Asian or Native American or young or old or rich or poor, able, disabled, gay or straight, you can make it here in America if you’re willing to try.

I believe we can seize this future together because we are not as divided as our politics suggests. We’re not as cynical as the pundits believe. We are greater than the sum of our individual ambitions, and we remain more than a collection of red states and blue states. We are and forever will be the United States of America.

And together with your help and God’s grace we will continue our journey forward and remind the world just why it is that we live in the greatest nation on Earth.

Thank you, America. God bless you. God bless these United States.

- President Barack Obama    November 6, 2012

Pumpkin Pi

Bush Tree 2012

The world-renowned Port Austin Bush Tree continues to grow! Our eagle-eyed correspondent has discovered a remarkable new development: A nearby bush is now showing signs of growing it's own accessory tree. Look carefully and you will see a new small pine branch emerging from the side of the neighboring bush. There must be something in the water! Will this miracle happen twice? Stay tuned to our exclusive coverage!

LOST

Do you know what it's like to lose an old friend? Are you afraid you'll never see them again? I've worked with you for almost 30 years and now you are gone. I guess I'll have to find some sort of replacement, but it won't be easy. They don't make things like you anymore. What will I do?

Such a tale of remorse, I'm sad to say. I didn't give up hope easily. I recounted every step of every day since I last saw you. I searched all the likely and unlikely places. I remembered taking you out of my trunk to make room to load something in. I distinctly recall saying to myself 'this isn't a good idea.' I'd better put you back in immediately. I swore I did just that. Where could you be?

I thought for hours trying to extract some clues from my brain. I had some great ideas. None of them bore fruit. So, I waited and waited, like everyone else who has been in this situation, and said 'Oh, it will turn up.'


The next day I grew solemn. I began to resign myself and give up hope. Never would I see you again. All the places we had been, through decades of jobs and strange situations, all over the country and all over the world. The pieces were assembled, found and adopted in the strangest of ways. I even found one piece dropped in the middle of a road one day. 'Easy come, easy go' was my rationale. Parting would not be so easy!


Some stories about your history will never be known. Brand new, you were first owned by a young man of Cypriot descent named Setrak Kendir. He preceded me the year before I started a new job in 1985. His name remains as a reminder on your cover. Nearly 30 years later, I can only wonder where he may be, but his signature lives on in perpetuity.


Days passed and I came to a realization. I just couldn't work without my old friend. I needed a 'Plan B.' If I ordered every last missing part, it would take weeks to get delivery. Some things were so old they were beyond exact duplication.


I delved into my basement and I was amazed how much I could amass. I couldn't believe how much I did find. I even found a pouch quite similar but, of course, not quite as good. This collection sufficed for a couple of days. I still wasn't ready to let go. No, not yet.


The loss of my old pals only made me appreciate just how familiar they had become. With my backups, I could still achieve almost everything, but it just wasn't the same. I missed the perfect feel in my hands, the colors of the collection and how everything combined to make a team. Never more?

Maybe I could plea for help. Signs were posted in all the possible places of departure: LOST. Would someone please have pity upon me and return my loss as fast as can be? I need them to do my work. There were no replies, only silence. The sadness was joined by frustration and even a little anger. 'How could I have lost something so essential to my existence?' I just hate losing things, especially ones I regularly use and need.


Another morning arrived with more gifts of recollection. My big blue carry-all bag still felt unusually heavy. I took a moment, just before work and looked once again to see what was inside.


Angels must have heard my pleas. Tucked invisibly behind a fold of my bag, it magically appeared! All I could say, over and over again was 'Wow!' As my Mother used to say 'If it had been a bear, it would have bit ya!' Reunited, I gained a new light to my step. How did I overlook something so obvious? Was my mind so careless? Am I getting that forgetful and old? Was I blind from emotion and loss? It didn't matter. There they were. My tools once again would be in my hand ready to do work in old familiar ways. Oh, happy day.

Knowing What I Know Now

Shawn Colvin’s new memoir reads more like the transcript of an extended radio interview than a legitimate book. It is a casual collection of every on-the-road war story Shawn can remember and then some. Reading this quickie chronicle will reveal all sorts of nuggets relating to her vast catalog of songs and how they all came to be. For devotees of Ms. Colvin, (count me in,) you’ll enjoy this fascinating stuff.

The book’s unifying thread, of course, is Shawn’s spider-web of a life. It’s been a rocky road, indeed. You’ll hear all about her many lovers, her encounters with nearly everyone she ever admired and her challenges being a mother. At times you may be turning your head away slightly as the detail becomes thick and murky.

On several occasions, I found myself thinking ‘too much information!’ Comments regarding her oral gratification of her husband and how her daughter discovered her private parts were a little out of the scope of what I would expect. Like a bad lounge comic, I thought Shawn was reaching towards the outrageous just to make the book more credible, commercial or maybe just to keep our attention. It wasn’t necessary. There are much better details to ponder and digest here.

One part of her life story was quizzically missing. I always thought that Shawn had a very strong friendship with Mary Chapin Carpenter. Back in the 1990s, the two of them seemed inseparable like close sisters. Nearly nothing was mentioned here about Chapin. The only inclusion was a small picture of the two of them in the back of the book. Is this omission the one part of Shawn’s life she doesn’t want to talk about?

‘Diamond in the Rough’ is not a polished work of a great writer. It is a stream of consciousness journal of a very, very talented songstress.  I saw Shawn Colvin a couple of weeks ago at a beautiful venue in Connecticut. Performing is what she was meant to do and what she does best. Her shows are just as fresh and spell-bounding as she was when I first discovered her at the old Bottom Line back in 1988. If you love her work, you should read this book. If you want true insight into the soul of a struggling singer-songwriter, read this book. Shawn has simply handed us her life seen through her own eyes. It’s all right there. Accept the gift!    

Bring A Mallet

Ladies and gentlemen, I am here to tell you that it can be done! The Western Digital My Book Live can work with a Mac computer. If you try really, really hard and show the determination of an Iditarod husky dog, you can reach this place in Nirvana. I have seen it! I have been there! Honestly, it can be done!

Please don’t let me lead you astray. This goal is not easy to attain. You have a lot to learn. First, master the meaning of the little LED built into the front panel. Idle drives are blue. Yellow means its loading or waking up. Actually working? It glows green. Flashing green? Oh, boy! It’s really working and working hard.


I’ll save you some time. Many, many, many reboots will be needed for the drive to even appear as a wireless asset. Your Airport will be waiting a long time for a landing if you don’t. You might want to use a utility program to see when the drive finally starts breathing. This will prompt you when you have a fighting chance to begin.


Use the enclosed support file CD only to initially reach the unit. Load the very latest software immediately. Oh, but here’s a catch: The only way to do this with grace and style is to use a Windows computer to do it. Macs running OS 10.6.x just won’t easily go there. Go ahead. Cheat. Use a Windows PC!


After you reach the drive, look for the feature that allows you to revert to factory defaults. Use it! This is especially true if you have received a replacement drive as a warranty swap. My first My Book Live died after about four month’s use. The new drive I received came completely loaded with a full 3 terabytes of data. I had to wipe it clean before I could even start. The WD technical support representative I worked with on-line was named 'Mallet.' I know there was a hidden meaning here.


When you attempt your first Time Machine backup, turn off all settings on your Mac that might put the computer into sleep mode when idle. The initial backup will take a very, very long time. I have three Mac users in my house. I averaged about 18 hours per initial backup! After that, the system only backs up new information, so its activity is gleefully shorter.  


The My Book Live is a nifty device on paper. Combine an unimaginable amount of storage with a Wi-Fi interface, and you can enjoy a very useful backup solution available, anywhere in your home or office at a moment’s notice, without having to plug it in or boot it up. It waits for your use. What a wonderful thing! 


What it doesn’t do is stay on-line. Without the latest software, it will not respond resulting in on-screen messages that the drive is unavailable or has an OS incompatibility. Past that point, I tried several times for a full initial backup. Hours of painstaking drive activity later, the Mac or drive might unexplainably halt ruining your day. It’s so frustrating! Another hint: Always log-in as 'Guest.' The name and password you established will never work. Mallet told me so.


Find your way through all these steps and idiosyncrasies and you may have a plan. I have been there twice. After the system begins to work, it really is a useful device. Unfortunately, most mortal humans won’t invest the time to find out. It is a shame that a clever product like the My Book Live doesn’t include support software for easy set-up and operation. Western Digital is so close but yet so far away.

Yum!

When I close my eyes and think of summer, I can taste lemon ices. The recipe is so simple: Shave some ice by hand until you’ve made some snow. Scoop some of the snow into a corrugated little white paper cup. Squeeze some lemons and pour the juice lightly over the snow and enjoy! Don’t worry about lemon pits. They only add to the authenticity. No extra flavoring, high fructose corn syrup or cane sugar needed. On a hot summer day, nothing could be so pleasant, so simple and so satisfying. Yum.




Look back to Oyster Bay, Long Island in the late 1950s. Walk down South Street, walk past Snouder’s Drug Store and make a left on Audrey. Pass the movie theatre and on the left side of the street, at the end of the block, you’ll find a little wooden stand. If you are really lucky, the guy who makes the ices would be there. Single cups were a nickel…maybe a dime. Nothing could be more satisfying as a quick snack going to or from the beach.



This was a time of simplicity. There were no computers or iPhones, no air conditioners and the TVs were black and white. You had a choice of six or seven channels and you could watch your favorite shows for free. Who needed more than Rocky and His Friends? You entertained yourself playing stick ball with ‘Spauldeens’ or chasing the kid next door. Equally simple and simply perfect, lemon ices were a rare treat that fit right in.



Now the world is complex, noisy and continually immediate. No need to send away box tops or save green stamps for a special prize. Letters no longer require a mailman and a barking dog to announce their arrival. No one waits for anything. Gratification must be immediate. Slow down! You move too fast! You’ve got to make the morning last! If only I could go back in time. Well, I can!



Imagine my delight when I discovered that the little snack stand in Oyster Bay still exists! Could it be? They still sell snowy lemon ices sweetened with juice and dotted with pits! The Bonanza family continues the tradition that made us delight and smile. If you ever visit the North Shore of Long Island, make a point of driving by and enjoying the delicious fresh taste. It’s magical and delicious! Close your eyes and its 1958 again!



Read all about it at: http://bonanzasitalianices.com/ Happy summer!

O Canada!

The second largest country in the world, home to 35 million people, is just north of the United States. Most of us know so very little about it. As omnipresent as it may be, Canada is a mystery to most of us. Outside of stereotypes of Mounties riding horseback in red uniforms, hockey players and vast lands of snow and igloos, Americans are often blind when looking north.

I have discovered Canada! I have become fascinated with our neighbor and its cultures. Although dominated by British and French influences, aboriginal people have lived here for thousands and thousands of years. Their heritage is rich and quite varied, composed of many different tribes each holding a legacy all their own. Include everything Canada’s worldwide immigrant population has added and you’ll find a cornucopia just as diverse as America’s but with a personality all its own.

Canadian broadcast media offers so many interesting alternatives to what we regularly watch and listen to in the fifty states. Three English-speaking networks dominate television offerings for Anglos: the publicly-funded CBC, BellGlobemedia’s CTV and Global. All three present a combination of Canadian and American shows. CBC peppers its schedule with British material, as well, such as Coronation Street. The advent of the Internet and streaming video has made access to Canadian TV and radio easier than ever before. Americans would enjoy a refreshing sample of the Canadian point-of-view.

Canadian news broadcasts seriously consider not only events in Canada and America but the entire world. Entertainment programming is just as fresh. Would you ever expect to see a show called ‘Little Mosque on the Prairie’ on AmericanTV? You wouldn’t believe how entertaining and eye opening this one show has become up north. Another Canadian gem is the dramedy ‘Being Erica’ that recently completed its fourth and final season on the CBC. Set in Toronto, the show received critical acclaim,earned huge audiences and became the most popular show on Canadian TV. It’s all about a woman in her thirties, (played by Alberta-native Erin Karpluk,) who finds herself a therapist with the ability to send herback into her past allowing her to change everything she regrets. The writing is fresh and intellectual and does not depend on violence and intrigue to be entertaining. Distributed worldwide by the BBC, a secondi ncarnation of ‘Being Erica’ is now in development as a new show for ABC-TV stateside. If you can’t wait, the first three CBC seasons are available free on demand at hulu.com.

Three Canadian news shows are worthy of your review: CTV presents ‘Canada AM,’ a three hour newsmagazine seen on-line at: http://www.ctv.ca/canadaAMPlayer/index.html in beautiful 16x9 HDTV quality. Be sure to also check ‘Jeff’s Videos’ for some amazing footage found on the Internet. Be aware that the weather reports include temperature readings in centigrade. It’s not that cold up there! The hard news CTV National News with Lisa LaFlamme is also worthy of your attention at: http://www.ctv.ca/ctvnews/.CBC’s ‘The National’ is a daily hour-long gem with thoughtful analysis and discussion anchored by Peter Mansbridge. A truncated 10 minute version is available on iTunes.

CBC Radio offers a nearly endless supply of programming for every taste. Use Internet Explorer and go to: http://www.cbc.ca/radio/#. Click ‘See what is playing on all live streams’ and it will reveal dozens of different program choices being broadcast to distinct regional areas all over Canada. CBC Radio podcasts are easily available via iTunes or at: http://www.cbc.ca/podcasting/. You could spend years sampling the hundreds of different programs they offer. It’s quite a course in all things Canadian! One Canadian radio show has also captured my fancy. CBC Radio’s ‘Q’ with Jian Ghomeshi is a nationwide phenomenon covering the world of entertainment, arts and culture. Jian’s well-produced and fast-paced show attracts the biggest names in show biz. You’ll delight following his ability to create insightful interviews and commentary that surpass most everything I have ever heard. Many memorable live performances season his already delightful show. ‘Q’ is now being distributed in the United States via Public Radio International and can be heard on WNLK-AM 1350 Norwalk, CT at noon and 7pm weekdays. Free audio and video podcasts of his material can be found on iTunes and on the show’s web site: http://www.cbc.ca/q. CBC’s Radio One is available 24/7 on Sirius satelliteradio channel 159.

My favorite of all media from up north is the independent channel known as NTV from St. John’s, Newfoundland. Here you will see what life is like in Newfoundland and Labrador in a homemade style all their own. A low-powered TV station outside of Tampa, Florida rebroadcasts NTV for all the ‘snowbirds’ who vacation down there. In turn, the Tampa station can be seen via the Internet at wpso.com. Three times a day you can see NTV newscasts: 7 to 8:30 am, 10:30 to 11am and 4:30 to 5 pm. There is also much more to be seen on demand at www.ntv.ca. If you are a certified TV DXer, once in a blue moon you can see NTV directly via e-skip on analog channel 4! If you are looking for something fresh and new or just seeking a new perspective, take a gander at all Canada has to offer. There is so much to see and hear and it’s all free and on-demand. Take a look! (see picture above!) You may find some wonderful and entertaining shows that you never knew existed. It’s all waiting for you and just a mouse click away. Pass the Molson, eh?

R.I.P.

At least I had a long life !
See: http://www.sysoon.com/deceased/karl-zuk-237
May I rest in peace - Karl