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Today's meeting remains on track for midnight UTC.
It appears I'll have a little something to show at Show and Tell time.
The attempt to implement the Python web site on Azure failed with file permission and access configuration issues.
However, the local machine version is producing some output that gives a sense of what might be possible.
(th)
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The waiting room is open at 23:59:54
kbd512 is here
Post meeting report ...
From my perspective this was a productive meeting.
kbd512 explained Calliban's post about a wave action Trompe device. I appreciated kbd512's patient explanation of the words and lines in the sketch by Calliban, showing a way to push air down a tube from the surface of the ocean, using wave action to accumulate sufficient mass above the water column to push the water out the bottom of the tube while releasing the air carried down the tube. Now that I understand the principles at work, I can see that this is NOT a perpetual motion machine as I had originally thought. The energy for the process comes from the Sun (like most energy on the planet) and the implementing action is wave motion.
Pretty clever!
(th)
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Continuing from post #177 due to AISE...
The second phase of tonight's meeting focused upon the water supply problem for Phoenix, Arizona.
AISE objected to something in the post, but I'll try to add that we have an entire topic dedicated to the problem.
Look for the word "phoenix" in the title of the topic, if you are interested.
kbd512's contribution was to remind everyone that thermal processing of sea water using solar energy is more efficient than creating electricity and then using the electricity to perform the separation.
(th)
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We have scheduled another weekly Google meeting for tomorrow...
I am hoping that kbd512 (our esteemed Webmaster) has made progress in setting up the FluxBB 1.5.12 system on a new directory at Dreamhost.
It has been over a year since the crash that took Mars Society and NewMars.com/forums offline, and we are close to having a solution in hand to allow our forum to resume operation using modern PHP and MySQL software.
If GW Johnson is able to attend we have a number of activities that might be available for discussion.
If anyone else shows up that would be a nice surprise.
Our European members are welcome to request a meeting that is more convenient than the existing time, which is great for the US but not so good for Europe.
(th)
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System test at 22:57 ... everything seems to be working ...
The Waiting room is due to open a few minutes before midnight, UTC.
Opening waiting room ....
Post meeting summary:
From my perspective this was a most productive session.
kbd512 showed me work he's been doing on the FluxBB upgrade, and then I got to watch as he tried a variety of commands on the Dreamhost server.
We concluded that we need a bit more capability to complete the task in a safe way, so i have accepted a todo item and will work on it as soon as I complete this post.
(th)
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Our regularly scheduled meeting is on track for midnight UTC on Sunday.
We've invited Mr. James Burk of the Mars Society to drop by, although chances he can free up the time are slim.
We are in a bit of a holding pattern for our software upgrade to FluxBB 1.5.12.
If GW Johnson can stop in we have plenty of catching up on all of his projects.
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This is a system check of the Google Meeting hardware and software. Ubuntu just updated and a few minor changes seem to have occurred.
The session seems to be working with Chromium but not with Firefox at this point.
GW Johnson will try to attend.
Mr. James Burk was invited but the invitation went out to the office email address, which he may not see until Tuesday, because Monday is Labor Day in the US.
I'm hoping that kbd512 will be able to drop by.
We have an opportunity to try to help GW to assemble a book from multiple chapters.
He's been selling his ramjet book as a set of individual chapters.
Update at 23:00 UTC ... Firefox apparently needed more time to settle in after updates. It now seems to be handling Google Meeting normally.
Update at 23:39 UTC.... this session is opened on a separate computer. The primary Ubuntu system is busy working with Azure. I decided to re-install part of the software that supports wsgi for Flask. It is taking a long time. I decided on this action because a file that (apparently) is needed for wsgi was empty, and it's Python 3 version was only 256 bytes, which ChatGPT4o thinks is too small.
Update at 23:58 ... the waiting room is open...
(th)
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Post meeting report....
From my perspective, this was a successful meeting...
SpaceNut dropped in by cell phone, and showed us his pallet project in progress. It was dark in New Hampshire, so we were shown the scene illuminated by an electric torch. The last time SpaceNut visited at about the same time, it was still twilight, so it is clear that the Sun is headed back South!
kbd512 and I are in a holding pattern for the FluxBB upgrade until Mr. Burk finds a few minutes to make an adjustment to the environment.
GW Johnson showed up and provided the Main Event ... The Middle Ring ... He agreed to tackle the problem of how to merge chapters into a Word document and not loose formatting. kbd512 had a computer with Word installed, and talked GW through the steps and we succeeded in merging two test documents using one of four possible methods. We started work on the "Master Document" method, and made some progress, but we must not have reached the goal line, because the master document did not create a fully populated pdf output file. One more work session like this one should put GW over the top with that method as well.
In separate correspondence, GW reported that a professor bought one of his 9 chapter emailed copies of the book, and has invited GW to visit the University to speak to the class. I ** think ** the school may have been University of Texas, but I'm not sure which of the many campuses.
(th)
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We are on track to hold our weekly Google Meeting at Midnight UTC.
I've received Spectrum equipment to increase/improve performance, but have not yet installed it.
The download rate I am seeing now (with a temporary rig) is 8 Megabits per second. The new equipment offers 500 Mb.
The upload rate is unchanged, at 20 Mb.
Topics for discussion might include:
1) FluxBB upgrade now that a crucial capability has been added
2) GW Johnson's many projects
3) SpaceNut's pallet initiative
4) Wooden and fabric aircraft still very much alive and well
5) Quaoar's interest in low Oxygen planets
6) The inquiry from a new Mars Society member
7) Other items depending upon who attends
(th)
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Early equipment check at 22:28 UTC
The new Spectrum service is working for part of the network.
The section where this meeting software runs is not performing all that much better, but it is a ** little ** bit better.
We'll go with it.
The waiting room will open just before Midnight UTC as usual.
(th)
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The waiting room is open at 23:59 UTC
kbd512 is here...
It appears that the new test database is fully populated with data copied from the primary database.
The next step will be to install the updated FluxBB package to work with the new test database.
kbd512's plan is to let members try the new package, much as we tested on the Azure environment.
After a period of testing, a date for cutover will be announced.
On that day, for a short period of time, logins will be disabled while the contents of the production database are copied over to the new database.
After the data is copied and all is found to be working, the logins will be enabled again, and our members will be using the new software on the new database.
The old system will be left in readiness to allow fallback if necessary. If all seems well, the new database and programs will become production.
This all will take a few weeks, but our members should see no inconvenience, other than that brief interval when logins will be disabled.
The ** main ** benefit of the new software is elimination of the AISE errors that have been a recurring problem.
Beyond that, the new system should be able to survive an outage such as the one that occurred a year ago July.
***
In the second half of the meeting, kbd512 discussed wooden aircraft, World War I aircraft, and he even spent a few minutes looking at modern electric trainers, which appear to be further along than I had realized.
(th)
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The weekly Google Meeting for NewMars is on track.
If all goes well, the waiting room will open a few minutes before midnight UTC.
That will be 7 PM Houston time, and 8 PM in New Hampshire, where SpaceNut has been working on a pallet building project.
(th)
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Tonight's Google Meeting is on track. Equipment appears to be working properly.
The waiting room is open. Midnight UTC.
(th)
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tahanson43206,
I was able to re-upload and unzip the file.
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For kbd512 re #189
This is terrific news!
Remaining steps include adjusting the config.php file and (I'm pretty sure) the config table in the MySQL database.
Congratulations on your patience as I struggled to recover from the move and the resulting dim memory.
Fortunately we found the answer.
(th)
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For SpaceNut re Sunday evening Google Meeting
I'd like to offer our weekly meeting as an opportunity for you to share what you may feel comfortable sharing, as you go through this major change, with the loss of your wife, and the responsibility of three kids still at home.
GW said he would be planning to attend...
Gary Johnson
3:57PM (3 hours ago)
to meI will definitely try to be there.
The Meeting will be set up at the usual time, Midnight UTC.
The link is in Post #1 of this topic.
(th)
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Today's Google Meeting is on track.
(th)
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Our weekly meeting remains on track ...
If SpaceNut joins us then I propose we let the time flow his way.
If there is time in addition, we have made progress in our FluxBB project recently, so there may be news there.
The next major event will be announcement that members can start testing the new package.
Testing will probably start with admins, as we did previously.
As soon as there is consensus, I expect the test site will be opened to members, as the Azure site is now.
(th)
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Google meeting is open ....
SpaceNut is here .... he's showing the pallet project
RobertDyck joined us at 00:29 UTC
Many thanks for SpaceNut and RobertDyck for this special Google Meeting!
We were treated to family pictures as SpaceNut remembered all the years with his wife and six sons.
RobertDyck explained a little bit about the complicated election process in Canada, in addition to reminding me of his recent travels for his remote IT support customers.
All in all, although this was an unusual meeting due to the special circumstances, I thought it was as interesting as ever!
(th)
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Our weekly Google Meeting is on schedule for Midnight UTC
All are welcome.
The main agenda item is the final touches that have hopefully been completed to put the updated FluxBB package into test mode on the Mars Society servers.
There will be opportunities for NewMars members to provide updates on projects they have under way.
(th)
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Equipment check at 23:30 seems OK...
Waiting room is set to open a few minutes before Midnight UTC
kbd512 and
SpaceNut are here.
SpaceNut has made amazing progress with his pallet shed project!
Conversation extended to tools, and then to ship yards.
This is quite interesting, if anyone is up and able to tune in.
We've wound things down just as the free hour expired. Thanks again to kbd512 and SpaceNut for stopping by.
(th)
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A week has gone by, and it's time for a Google Meeting once again.
If all goes well the Waiting room will open a few minutes before midnight UTC.
SpaceNut has been making progress with his shed built from pallets. I've been impressed to see the quality of workmanship, given the nature of pallets I've seen.
kbd512 may have progress to report in implementing the new FluxBB software in a test environment.
GW Johnson is out of town and not available.
(th)
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Setup for today's meeting is starting...
Equipment seems to be working....
OK ... set up and ready at 23:59
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Follow up for kbd512...
Could you please confirm we are running the current version of PHP and MySQL?
I'm pretty sure you would have checked that but I am trying to cover all bases.
For all.... kbd512 has made significant progress in bringing up the new FluxBB software in the Mars Society server.
However, there are a couple of little problems that need to be corrected before the system is made available to the Moderators for testing.
After a period of Moderator testing we would expect to be opening the system for member testing.
(th)
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tahanson43206,
The PHP and MySQL versions appear to be current.
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