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For SpaceNut re Azure test site...
We have had flawless service from our test VM in recent months, to the point that I forgot to check on it.
It did not respond this morning, and I had to spend several hours with Gemini, figuring out what was wrong (full disk) and then, how to deal with the problem. In the course of the work, Gemini showed me features of Azure for emergency recovery, and I'm mighty glad to know they are available.
I had the system back up, and decided to install 90 pending updates. The next step was to delete old files and we released 3 gigabytes of storage.
The new updates required a reboot, and I'm waiting now for that process to complete.
Hopefully the web site for our images will be back up soon.
Update: I'm keeping the site offline ... our demand for images is light, and I'd like to implement security protocols to prevent spammer activity.
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For SpaceNut re possible educational activity...
I'd like you to think about this idea, to see if it's something you'd like me to pursue...
In building a robot kit recently (see Robotics Education topic) I discovered that the kit does NOT perform any useful work after it is constructed. The text in the ad at Amazon did not make that clear. I have opened correspondence with the company, and will report anything I learn.
In the mean time, we (NewMars) might have an opportunity to provide an educational service for customers of this particular company, and potentially of others. Robotics is not something that is easy to master, and the physical size of the robot doesn't make much difference. We are set up to provide useful guidance for kit builders, and more importantly, we are in a position to provide advice to kit builders who have questions, or for software to be exchanged, or described, or debugged when that is necessary.
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For SpaceNut re Daily Recap...
Thank you for supporting the new Daily Recap....
As you can see, I do not yet have the routine memorized ... Performing the Daily Recap procedure requires use of a different computer from the one where the Calendar Update and the Recruiting posts are performed.
Update: SpaceNut, I asked Google's Gemini to rewrite the URL's program to run on the computer where I perform daily maintenance tasks for NewMars.com/forums. The revised program works perfectly, so I'll start using it tomorrow. Hopefully we will have a consistent Daily Recap for you to work on.
Thanks (again) for taking on that time consuming task! I'm hoping our members (and non-member readers) will appreciate your efforts.
Update: The pothole scan is under way... It will cover the stretch from 234001 to 235000. It will run over night. I'll report the results tomorrow.
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For SpaceNut...
The Pothole scan finished with a Green Screen...
Only one post is missing: 234446
That is one out of a thousand. Pretty good performance.
The missing post is #234446.
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For SpaceNut .... thank you for that interesting series on economics in the US covering (about) 1960 through 2025, with the first section focused upon closings and shifts to overseas, and the second half focused upon new businesses.
That was a lot to try to read, but I found myself pulled along and I read the entire series. You placed that series in the Politics Topic. If we had an Economics topic it would have gone well there, but for this particular forum, Politics is as good a place as any.
I recognized (and remember) a lot of the names in the series, but there were quite a few regional names I did not recognize, so I appreciate the opportunity to learn about them.
The folks in Jamaica are about to take a beating, apparently.
Not for the first time, it crossed my mind that a hurricane wind farm would collect a lot of energy during an event like this, but I suspect the investment would get insufficient use to cover expenses plus make a profit.
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For SpaceNut / kbd512 / RobertDyck and all members...
The images site is back up in gated mode. The onslaught of spammers was taking the site down. I have implemented a filter that works, but it depends upon the IP address of the person wanting to pull images from our image storage site.
I just put the rule to find your IP in the HowTo topic.
However, for now, here it is:
Heads-up about member IPs
Many home/office ISPs change IPs. If someone suddenly can’t reach the site:
Ask them to visit https://api.ipify.org to get their current IP and add it.
For frequent changers, consider a VPN/mesh option (WireGuard/Tailscale) or an SSH tunnel for them (keeps the NSG small).
Please send your IP address to the newmarsmember email address published in the Recruiting topic each day.
My assumption is you do not want your IP to become public.
That would definitely NOT be a good idea.
If you do not want images from our Azure image server, don't do anything.
kbd512 is working on a solution that will work for the long term. This is a temporary expedient solution before the Azure account goes away November 14th.
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The attacks are most likely due to the azure site. Then the software which we are making use of the phpbb3.
The newmars site allows me to see all of the ip's that come in for a user and also ip stats of those that tickle the forum.
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For SpaceNut re #3907....
The IP addresses we have on record are the IP addresses members used when they registered. I don't think those IP addresses are updated. You may have access to IP addresses I can't see. Let's start with yours. Please see if the list you have access to includes your IP address. If it does, please send that to the newmarsmember email, and I'll add it to the Azure whitelist. Our goal here is to provide access to images for our members, while blocking the spammers.
To be sure you have the correct IP address, please be sure to run the lookup that I provided in the HowTo topic. Or you can run Speedtest.net, which also shows the current address you are using.
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For SpaceNut and RobertDyck's two topics about warp drives....
RobertDyck just created a new topic about warp drives:
Real Warp Drives by RobertDyck
Science, Technology, and Astronomy 1 Today 22:26:51 by tahanson43206
2
Negative Matter - key to Warp Drive by RobertDyck
Interplanetary transportation 14 2025-10-18 11:20:30 by tahanson43206
He seems to have both bases covered now. We have negative and positive versions!
It should be fun to see which one wins the race to realization. I note that the positive one cannot exceed the speed of light, but jaunting around the Solar System should be a good application for the method.
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For SpaceNut ... just FYI ....
The (proposed) URL for the new image store is: http://newmars.com/myimages
There is nothing there now but that is the URL that kbd512 and I discussed for the new store.
The first step is for kbd512 to install the phpBB3 system in the myimages folder. After that we need to configure the site to look like the one on Azure.
I'm hoping we can simply zip up the database on Azure and unzip it in newmars.com in the MySQL folder.
Hopefully this will all happen in the next two weeks.
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rebuilding the house
Its been at a stand still due to contractor being a ghost and town code protecting rather than going after him.
Got Lawyer filing papers to terminate unperformed work getting refund of up front deposits and then filing papers with States AG for criminal and civil suits.
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For SpaceNut re 3911
Thanks for the update! It is disappointing to hear that! I hope you are able to recover the deposit.
The gent appears to have run into family/health issues that took down his independent business.
You are in need of work to be done, and can't wait for this setback to be resolved. Please let us know as you secure a more reliable business partner. It is uncommon for the home owner to put money up front, and I just remembered that when I contracted for a new roof they asked me for a sizable deposit. I had forgotten about that. Most contracts with vendors were for smaller amounts and they waited until the work was done to ask for payment. I think the key for future is to use the escrow system. In that system you and the contractor agree on a Bank to hold the deposit, The deposit is released when the work is done, or if the contractor cannot do the work.
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The lawyer's office sent the engagement email with signature letter for the retainer today. It is pricy but in the end if it get the house done that's all that matters.
Government shutdown sucks as I am working everyday but not getting any pay until the budgets get signed.
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For SpaceNut re post in Platform topic ...
Thanks for the image and links you added to the Landing Platforms topic! It occurred to me that the process of sintering regolith to make firm surfaces might help to keep dust down on Mars. The same might be true on the Moon, with the added advantage that lunar dust is much worse because it is sharp edged.
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I put links to images that GW created ... you can't see them yet, because you have not yet sent me your IP address. One of the images shows how to make a solid platform using the Roman Road method. Apparently you do not need concrete or mortar or any other artificial device if you use the Roman technique.
If you want to see the images, you can find your IP address using speedtest.net, and then send that IP address to me at newmarsmember at gmail.com.
Otherwise, you can just wait until kbd512 completes installation and configuration of the image server on the Mars Society servers.
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What are you doing while you wait for recovery of your down payment for the roof? Is the roof still covered with tarps? Will they last the winter?
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The shutdown is doing a number on those that are still working but not getting paid. Sure once a budget gets passed all will be corrected but it hurts now for many that are living paycheck to paycheck.
160 hrs worked but zero pay does where on many, sure far I am ok but that last until I need more than the money set aside for house construction.
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Its been raining now for a couple of days and had to go up on the roof to pull a tarp over it to stop the rain from coming in.
I was scared the whole time I was on it to the point of being ill to the stomach but its on until wind tears it off.
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For SpaceNut re #3916....
Sorry to hear of this challenging experience, and the situation as a whole. Glad you were able to pull a tarp over the leaking area.
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Speaking of buildings.... Calliban just posted about a web site that (apparently) allows folks to design buildings/?cities using a tool that downloads something that runs on a Windows machine.
I'm interested in encouraging folks who have Windows computers ** and ** who are interested in design of buildings and whatever else this site supports.
I've invited Calliban to think about where he might like to see a topic devoted to this tool.
Members (present and future ones) could create designs and save images on our image server, when kbd512 gets it set up.
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For SpaceNut re port of image server to Mars Society servers...
kbd512 and I are making progress ... I have copied the database with images to my local machine and will shortly have it up on Dropbox for kbd512 to retrieve.
We still have three days and possibly 4 to pick up anything else he needs from the Azure site, before Microsoft pulls the plug.
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Sounds like its in good hands.
My last couple of days have been up on the roof in the rain and wind covering the roof with a tarp since the rain was coming down through it.
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For SpaceNut .... Thanks for updates on the new tarp covering for the roof. Safe footing!
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Since you had expressed an interest in the billing procedure for the Microsoft Azure account, this is what the invoice heading looks like. The invoice itself is set up to look they way you would expect, but it is delivered in pdf format which is not needed for this post.
Your statement is ready for review (see attached). Sign in to view it. If you’ve already paid, disregard this email.
If paying by credit card, we'll automatically charge the card we have on file within two days of the billing date.
Invoice number: G122944665
Amount: $20.80 USD
Billing period: October 1, 2025 - October 31, 2025
Billing date: November 9, 2025
Due date: November 9, 2025
I am expecting this monthly invoice to go away when Mcrosoft closes the account on November 14th. We are making progress in porting the image server from Azure to Mars Society servers. I have backed up the database and moved it to Dropbox for kbd512 to retrieve. Meanwhile, kbd512 is working on setting up phpBB3 on the Mars Society server. He has tentatively suggested we might make the image server available with a new subdirectory, similar to our current "forums" directory.
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For SpaceNut re status of Image Server port to Mars Society Servers and Azure backup
Yesterday I reported the steps taken to secure the data from our image server and the config.php file that may be needed for the new installation.
This post is about a backup of the VM (Virtual Machine) I've been using the past year or so, on Azure. With Microsoft closing the low level service I've been using, I decided to see if I might be able to take a backup of the VM. It looks as though I might have created a backup. At least Azure says there is now a file in my directory that has the name I requested. I had to stop the VM for the backup. It is now back running.
The next procedure is to try to pull a copy of the back up down to my local machine. That looks more complicated than I want to tackle right now. Hopefully there will be time to pull the file. I get the impression the account will remain open even if the VM stops working.
Meanwhile, kbd512 has been working on (or thinking about) how to proceed to set up the phpBB3 system next to our existing forum. Hopefully that will go smoothly but we'll just have to wait for kbd512 to let us know.
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For SpaceNut re Materials under Engineering
Recently, you created a new Category for Engineering...
We have at least two engineers in the active membership...
Here is what you've set up to date:
Engineering
Projects
My question is ... what would it take to create new titles under Engineering. Please don't do anything at this point. I'm just curious to know what is involved.
Possible titles would include Materials, but GW Johnson and Calliban may have additional suggestions.
I'm interested in the potential we have to create a repository of useful information.
Wikipedia is available as a resource for reference, as are countless web sites.
What I have in mind is giving future Mars residents a place to find everything they need to carry out a particular development activity.
The original forum categories were set up for discussion, and for the most part they have served well for that purpose. I would like the forum to progress to serve as a knowledge store for future Mars residents, and by extension, for those who will become Mars residents. Those individuals are alive on Earth today. We don't need to wait around for them. They are right here, on the planet.
Update: A consideration is that the entire Engineering Category is visible only to registered members who are logged in.
If we can build up a store of knowledge in the Engineering Category, then membership in the forum would (potentially) have value to those who would be interested in helping to build and to maintain it.
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For SpaceNut re artificial lichen....
Thank you for adding a reminder to the new topic, that on Earth, lichen depend upon water.
The new topic is about artificial (human made) lichen that consume Carbon Dioxide, and do NOT use water at all.
When you get time, please read the posts about how that might be done.
It is important for you and every reader to keep in mind that the proposed lichen for Mars will NOT use water.
The proposal is to use nanotechnology to emulate the structures that biology has created on Earth, but to adapt to the situation on another planet.
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For SpaceNut re Bricks on Mars...
Thanks for that interesting post: https://newmars.com/forums/viewtopic.ph … 67#p235467
You've introduced the idea of tapering the bricks. Please read the post by Calliban so you get a sense of the size of the structure he is talking about. Then, please go back to the AI and ask it to calculate the angle needed to build the structure Calliban shows us in his drawing.
While you're at it, please ask the AI for advice on how to build a dome that large without using scaffolding.
It would be interesting to see what the AI comes up with. There is a famous example of a cathedral in Europe that was constructed with a large dome without using scaffolding. Instead, the architect used a clever technique (that I have forgotten already) to allow bricks to be added at the top without falling into the courtyard below. Calliban was describing a system a bit like that.
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Of course all changes in scale as bricks are small and blocks are just larger ie cinder blocks. so what come next to build something larger?
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