texascavers Digest 28 Apr 2011 00:54:39 -0000 Issue 1300

Wed, 27 Apr 2011 18:00:16 -0700 (PDT) 

texascavers Digest 28 Apr 2011 00:54:39 -0000 Issue 1300

Topics (messages 17671 through 17689):

North Florida Trip Report/Haiku
        17671 by: michael david

Helmet
        17672 by: Floyd Hebert
        17674 by: Andy Gluesenkamp
        17675 by: Fofo
        17678 by: Andy Zenker
        17679 by: Mark Minton
        17685 by: Floyd Hebert

Re: recent discussion on caving
        17673 by: David

Re: TV show featuring a cave with Maya wall ??
        17676 by: Mark Minton

Setting  Pond party date
        17677 by: pstrickland1.austin.rr.com

Cave of the Winds' Wind Walker Challenge Course :
        17680 by: JerryAtkin.aol.com

Antivirus suggestions for TSS computers
        17681 by: Rod Goke
        17683 by: Mark Minton
        17687 by: Louise Power

More hot times in Ft. Davis
        17682 by: dirtdoc.comcast.net

Sunbelt Software's free VIPRE rescue disk Re: [Texascavers] Antivirus 
suggestions for TSS computers
        17684 by: Nigel Dyson-Hudson

Re: Helmet & light combo
        17686 by: Diana Tomchick

East Texas Caver's Cookout - update
        17688 by: David

Re: Alien search effort called off; Deepest-diving sub; Smallest eggs
        17689 by: Mark Minton

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----------------------------------------------------------------------
--- Begin Message --- 
Cora and I had a friend die this year in Tank Cave.
We had to go to Rock Bluff where she spent lots of time exploring to make
peace.
We miss Agnes and love her cave, we'll be spending lots of time in there.

I wrote a trip report haiku for a cave forum....here it is with the video we
took this trip.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G2hrj_hKz9s&feature=channel_video_title

Another cave trip
Such fun diving in Rock Bluff
Taking video

It's humbling diving
training with Dan Patterson
His trim is unreal

The bar is now set
Higher than before, we stretch
to expand our skills

Madison Blue rocks
Godzilla room is still there
Beckoning us in

Amigos is great
Wayne is a stellar person
Cannot wait to move

--- End Message ---
--- Begin Message --- 
I was going to ask everyone what caving helmet to get, but I thought that
might be to vague. So, I'll ask it this way: What helmet would you mount a
Stenlight on?

Thanks,
Floyd

--- End Message ---
--- Begin Message --- 
Ecrin Roc.  You'll need to trim/sand down the angle on the plastic mounting 
bracket to fit the curve on the front of the helmet.  This is true with many 
helmets.  I like the ERoc because I can feed the wires from the battery through 
the vent holes and clips and then out to the light.  It reduces the exposure 
of cables to snag on the outside.  Very nice.   Andrew G. Gluesenkamp, Ph.D.
700 Billie Brooks Drive
Driftwood, Texas 78619
(512) 799-1095
[email protected] 




________________________________
From: Floyd Hebert <[email protected]>
To: Cavers Texas <[email protected]>
Sent: Tue, April 26, 2011 3:52:40 PM
Subject: [Texascavers] Helmet

I was going to ask everyone what caving helmet to get, but I thought that might 
be to vague. So, I'll ask it this way: What helmet would you mount a Stenlight 
on?

Thanks,
Floyd

--- End Message ---
--- Begin Message --- Yup, I second the Ecrin Roc. I've seen people trying out the newer styles of helmets and in the end getting back to Ecrin Rocs. They're very good helmets, and comfortable. 

     - Fofo

On 26/04/11 14:13, Andy Gluesenkamp wrote:

Ecrin Roc. You'll need to trim/sand down the angle on the plastic
mounting bracket to fit the curve on the front of the helmet. This is
true with many helmets. I like the ERoc because I can feed the wires
from the battery through the vent holes and clips and then out to the
light. It reduces the exposure of cables to snag on the outside. Very nice.
Andrew G. Gluesenkamp, Ph.D.
700 Billie Brooks Drive
Driftwood, Texas 78619
(512) 799-1095
[email protected]


------------------------------------------------------------------------
*From:* Floyd Hebert <[email protected]>
*To:* Cavers Texas <[email protected]>
*Sent:* Tue, April 26, 2011 3:52:40 PM
*Subject:* [Texascavers] Helmet

I was going to ask everyone what caving helmet to get, but I thought
that might be to vague. So, I'll ask it this way: What helmet would you
mount a Stenlight on?

Thanks,
Floyd

--- End Message ---
--- Begin Message --- 
I put my sten on both an Ecrin Rock (I use for large and vertical caves) and
a Petzl Elios (I use for tight and crawly caves).  In both cases, I've used
a metal or plastic strap mounted on the helmet to slip the light into with
an elastic band to keep it there.  This gets me that extra half inch of
clearance by not using one of those sten light mounts.
I also run my cables right back into the helmet, through the helmet to the
battery at the back to protect the wires as much as possible.  A couple of
rubber grommets work nicely in the cable holes .

Andy Z

On Tue, Apr 26, 2011 at 4:29 PM, Fofo <[email protected]> wrote:

> Yup, I second the Ecrin Roc. I've seen people trying out the newer styles
> of helmets and in the end getting back to Ecrin Rocs. They're very good
> helmets, and comfortable.
>
>     - Fofo
>
>
> On 26/04/11 14:13, Andy Gluesenkamp wrote:
>
>> Ecrin Roc. You'll need to trim/sand down the angle on the plastic
>> mounting bracket to fit the curve on the front of the helmet. This is
>> true with many helmets. I like the ERoc because I can feed the wires
>> from the battery through the vent holes and clips and then out to the
>> light. It reduces the exposure of cables to snag on the outside. Very
>> nice.
>> Andrew G. Gluesenkamp, Ph.D.
>> 700 Billie Brooks Drive
>> Driftwood, Texas 78619
>> (512) 799-1095
>> [email protected]
>>
>>
>> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
>> *From:* Floyd Hebert <[email protected]>
>> *To:* Cavers Texas <[email protected]>
>> *Sent:* Tue, April 26, 2011 3:52:40 PM
>> *Subject:* [Texascavers] Helmet
>>
>> I was going to ask everyone what caving helmet to get, but I thought
>> that might be to vague. So, I'll ask it this way: What helmet would you
>> mount a Stenlight on?
>>
>> Thanks,
>> Floyd
>>
>
> ---------------------------------------------------------------------
> Visit our website: http://texascavers.com
> To unsubscribe, e-mail: [email protected]
> For additional commands, e-mail: [email protected]
>
>

--- End Message ---
--- Begin Message --- This is really just a discussion of which helmet people prefer. The Sten Light has a standard flat blade, so it will mount on any helmet that has a lamp bracket or other means for mounting a caving lamp. 

Mark Minton

At 06:35 PM 4/26/2011, Andy Zenker wrote:
I put my sten on both an Ecrin Rock (I use for large and vertical caves) and a Petzl Elios (I use for tight and crawly caves). In both cases, I've used a metal or plastic strap mounted on the helmet to slip the light into with an elastic band to keep it there. This gets me that extra half inch of clearance by not using one of those sten light mounts. I also run my cables right back into the helmet, through the helmet to the battery at the back to protect the wires as much as possible. A couple of rubber grommets work nicely in the cable holes . 

Andy Z

On Tue, Apr 26, 2011 at 4:29 PM, Fofo <[email protected]> wrote:
Yup, I second the Ecrin Roc. I've seen people trying out the newer styles of helmets and in the end getting back to Ecrin Rocs. They're very good helmets, and comfortable. 

    - Fofo

On 26/04/11 14:13, Andy Gluesenkamp wrote:
Ecrin Roc. You'll need to trim/sand down the angle on the plastic
mounting bracket to fit the curve on the front of the helmet. This is
true with many helmets. I like the ERoc because I can feed the wires
from the battery through the vent holes and clips and then out to the
light. It reduces the exposure of cables to snag on the outside. Very nice.
Andrew G. Gluesenkamp, Ph.D.
700 Billie Brooks Drive
Driftwood, Texas 78619
(512) 799-1095
[email protected]

------------------------------------------------------------------------
*From:* Floyd Hebert <[email protected]>
*To:* Cavers Texas <[email protected]>
*Sent:* Tue, April 26, 2011 3:52:40 PM
*Subject:* [Texascavers] Helmet

I was going to ask everyone what caving helmet to get, but I thought
that might be to vague. So, I'll ask it this way: What helmet would you
mount a Stenlight on?

Thanks,
Floyd


Please reply to [email protected]
Permanent email address is [email protected]
--- End Message ---
--- Begin Message --- 
@ Andy Zenker I really like this feedback. In my mind, A stenlight meets its
full potential in large open vertical caves. Those are the times I wish I
had a stenlight. I have worn both helmets, get the same impression. I feel
like the Elios is more convenient in tight crawl spaces, but the Ecrin is a
safer and more suitable for vertical. I think I'm going to go with a Ecrin.

Thanks Guys,
Floyd

On Tue, Apr 26, 2011 at 5:35 PM, Andy Zenker <[email protected]> wrote:

> I put my sten on both an Ecrin Rock (I use for large and vertical caves)
> and a Petzl Elios (I use for tight and crawly caves).  In both cases, I've
> used a metal or plastic strap mounted on the helmet to slip the light into
> with an elastic band to keep it there.  This gets me that extra half inch of
> clearance by not using one of those sten light mounts.
> I also run my cables right back into the helmet, through the helmet to the
> battery at the back to protect the wires as much as possible.  A couple of
> rubber grommets work nicely in the cable holes .
>
> Andy Z
>
>
> On Tue, Apr 26, 2011 at 4:29 PM, Fofo <[email protected]> wrote:
>
>> Yup, I second the Ecrin Roc. I've seen people trying out the newer styles
>> of helmets and in the end getting back to Ecrin Rocs. They're very good
>> helmets, and comfortable.
>>
>>     - Fofo
>>
>>
>> On 26/04/11 14:13, Andy Gluesenkamp wrote:
>>
>>> Ecrin Roc. You'll need to trim/sand down the angle on the plastic
>>> mounting bracket to fit the curve on the front of the helmet. This is
>>> true with many helmets. I like the ERoc because I can feed the wires
>>> from the battery through the vent holes and clips and then out to the
>>> light. It reduces the exposure of cables to snag on the outside. Very
>>> nice.
>>> Andrew G. Gluesenkamp, Ph.D.
>>> 700 Billie Brooks Drive
>>> Driftwood, Texas 78619
>>> (512) 799-1095
>>> [email protected]
>>>
>>>
>>> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
>>> *From:* Floyd Hebert <[email protected]>
>>> *To:* Cavers Texas <[email protected]>
>>> *Sent:* Tue, April 26, 2011 3:52:40 PM
>>> *Subject:* [Texascavers] Helmet
>>>
>>> I was going to ask everyone what caving helmet to get, but I thought
>>> that might be to vague. So, I'll ask it this way: What helmet would you
>>> mount a Stenlight on?
>>>
>>> Thanks,
>>> Floyd
>>>
>>
>> ---------------------------------------------------------------------
>> Visit our website: http://texascavers.com
>> To unsubscribe, e-mail: [email protected]
>> For additional commands, e-mail: [email protected]
>>
>>
>

--- End Message ---
--- Begin Message --- 
In a perfect Utopian world or vacuum, it might be easier to plan and coordinate
a caving trip and invite other cavers.

But there are realities that prevent this in the real caving world -
especially in
Texas.

Sometimes there are spur of the moment trips, that fall into place because
the leader's schedule and the schedule of other cavers suddenly aligns
unexpectedly.

Sometimes there are complications with the land-owner that make it impossible to
bring unexpected people along.

In some cases it is difficult to spend a 2 or 3 day weekend crammed in a vehicle
with some person you don't really bond well with.     It maybe something minor
like they want to sing Lady GaGa music the whole trip, or maybe they just have
really really bad breath.     Or it could be something worse, like you
can tolerate
them at a grotto meeting for a few minutes, but that is the peak of
your resistance.
Or they could just be complete cluster-f*cks, and you have to go out of your way
to make sure they don't know about the trip.

And there are enough other reasons, that someone could probably write a nice
article.     Like taking cavers, that don't financially contribute to
the cost of the trip,
or the trip is a fragile cave with speleothems or endangered fauna.

Texas cavers that want to go caving need to make an effort on their own to get
on trips, or create their own trips.

I have been telling cavers for nearly 20 years that there are 3 very
nice caves in Langtry, that
someone just needs to make an effort to get to know the rancher, and try to get
him to drop his $ 100 per caver ( per day ! ) requirement.


And on the subject of brochures,

This is the 21st century.     Get with the program.
The thing to do is make a nice YouTube video explaining how caving in
Texas works
and how it is different from other regions.    Also, make a
tablet-friendly slide-show on-line,
explaining the same information.

This ain't Indiana, or Arizona or Britain.     Caving in Texas is
different here.    Being a caver
in east Texas really sucks, unless you prefer to hop on a plane to go
to your favorite karst
area.


Also,

I would like to go to Carlsbad on May 13th if anybody is heading that
way from east Texas.

David Locklear
armchair caver with a hernia
281-995-8487


P.S. I will not be doing any caving until I get my hernia fixed.
But I am willing
to sit top-side and camp.

And the East Texas Caver's Cookout is still on as of 4-26-11.

--- End Message ---
--- Begin Message --- If you have Google Toolbar <http://www.google.com/toolbar/> installed, you can easily get Google to automatically translate Danish to English for you. It's a machine translation, of course, but in this case it's mostly pretty readable. 

Mark Minton

At 01:32 PM 4/26/2011, Allan Cobb wrote:
In 2001, I was on a project to "open a wall in a Maya cave to discover the secrets that were hidden behind it" that was chronicled by Danish TV and newspaper through the DK Explorer. Unfortunately, we were not able to get permission from the village to enter the cave. It added lots of drama as we negotiated with the village to get in. That whole fiasco was an adventure and story in itself.
You can find a little more information at http://templehunter.dk/photo.htm if you scroll down to Ekspeditionen i 2001. I hope your Danish is good but you can see some photos there and might even recognize some Texas cavers. The rest of the website (http://templehunter.dk/) chronicles the adventures of the great Danish explorer Christian Christianson who travels to Guatemala in search of temples and caves. Christian is mostly a legend in his own mind but he does have a website and managed to come up with some money for us to work with for a while. There may be some information archived in DK Explorer website but having knowledge of Danish would help. 

Allan
----- Original Message -----
From: Mixon Bill
To: Cavers Texas
Sent: Tuesday, April 26, 2011 12:13 PM
Subject: [Texascavers] TV show featuring a cave with Maya wall ??
The AMCS has received the following query about a cave with an ancient Maya wall that was featured in a (Russian, I assume) TV show. I have replied that I have no idea which cave that might have been, and I included a PDF attachment of the article on Balancanche from AMCS Activites Newsletter 27 (2004), which is probably the most famous example of a cave with a wall behind which archaeologists found a lot of neat stuff. If anybody can help Vacheslav about the TV program, please do. I don't know whether the movie was made just for Russian TV or was something imported that you might have seen over here. I have seen no such video, but then I don't even have a TV. 
--Mixon

Begin forwarded message:

From: Вячеслав Бабышев <[email protected]>
Date: April 26, 2011 8:51:15 AM CDT
To: [email protected]
Subject: ASSOCIATION FOR MEXICAN CAVE STUDIES
Reply-To: Вячеслав Бабышев <[email protected]>
Hello! I have a question about the Mayan archeology. In the mid 90's. I watched an interesting TV show. In it a group of people studied karst systems in the Yucatan. In the most profound and far from the surface of the cave they found a small, stuffy stones input (such as having the right kind of masonry), supposedly leading to the lower world (or sanctuary) Maya. This entry is supposed walled Mayan priests to keep out [of] a sacred space aliens (such as Spanish) when they invaded their land. Log razmurovyvat did not. On this TV show has ended. Information about this entry, I never found it. If you know something, please tell us: what was this cave and to actually lead this entry? Thank you in advance. 

Please reply to [email protected]
Permanent email address is [email protected]
--- End Message ---
--- Begin Message --- 
     I am considering June 11th as the date of the Pond Party. Crash said there 
will not be a Colorado Bend trip that weekend and he took it off the calendar 
on "utgrotto.org" Anyone who knows of a major caver conflict with that date, 
please contact me immediately. Pete Strickland (c) 512-897-9235

--- End Message ---
--- Begin Message --- 
In an effort to attract a bit more visitation, many commercial caves are  
adding new "thrill" attractions such as extreme wild caving tours, dinner  
theatres, sluicing for gems, rappelling, climbing walls, etc...  Taking  
advantage of their cliff-side perch, Colorado's Cave of the Winds has added  
their Wind Walker Challenge Course, where a visitor can navigate a series of  
ropes and cables suspended over a cliff edge to test their balancing  skills 
while fighting vertigo.  Price:  $15.
 
_http://ww1.prweb.com/prfiles/2011/04/20/8330512/windwalker1.jpg_ 
(http://ww1.prweb.com/prfiles/2011/04/20/8330512/windwalker1.jpg) 
 
_http://caveofthewinds.com/what-to-expect/wind-walker-challenge-course_ 
(http://caveofthewinds.com/what-to-expect/wind-walker-challenge-course)

--- End Message ---
--- Begin Message ---

I have a question for any of you who are knowledgeable about computer antivirus/anti-malware software. The question is "cave related" in that it deals with the special needs of our TSS computers, which are somewhat different from those of most home and business computers, because the TSS computers are not connected to the Internet.

During the last several months, I have been working together with Christopher Francke and David McKenzie to upgrade the computer facilities at the Texas Speleological Survey (TSS) office. We now have approximately 10 computers, which soon will be interconnected with each other in a local area network, but with no connection to the Internet. Most of these computers are Pentium 4 (or comparable AMD processor) machines running Windows XP Professional, SP 3.

We would like to protect these computers from computer viruses or other malware. Although there is no Internet service at the TSS office, malware contamination is still possible, since people sometimes bring in CDs, DVDs, flash drives, external hard drives, laptop computers, etc., which they temporarily connect to the TSS computers for uploading or downloading data. There is also a possibility that people might occasionally bring in cell phones or other wireless devices with Internet service and connect them to the TSS computers to provide occasional temporary Internet service for TSS. Most antivirus, anti-spyware, and anti-malware software is designed for computers with regular Internet access, and some of it costs significant money to install and continually update on multiple machines. We would like to find some very inexpensive, preferably free, protection software which we can download at home and take to the TSS office (probably on a CD ROM or flash drive) for installation on the TSS computers. Similarly, we would like to be able to download updates at home and take them to the TSS computers at the beginning of each TSS work session.

On at lease one occasion, I believe that David McKenzie did this successfully with one of the free antivirus programs available on the Internet, but our experience thus far has been very limited, and no one has yet done a serious comparison of alternatives for this kind of software, downloaded on a home machine with Internet access and then transferred to machines without Internet access. If you have any experience or knowledgeable recommendations in this area, we'd like to hear from you. You can reply to me off list if you don't think it would interest the general TexasCavers subscribers.

Thanks,
Rod Goke
[email protected]
(512) 892-4186


--- End Message ---
--- Begin Message --- 
Rod,
I have been using Microsoft Security Essentials, <http://www.microsoft.com/security/pc-security/mse.aspx>. This is a relatively new, free service by Microsoft, and seems to work well. Updates may be manually downloaded: <http://www.microsoft.com/security/portal/Definitions/HowToMSE.aspx>. 

Mark Minton

At 02:26 AM 4/27/2011, Rod Goke wrote:
I have a question for any of you who are knowledgeable about computer antivirus/anti-malware software. The question is "cave related" in that it deals with the special needs of our TSS computers, which are somewhat different from those of most home and business computers, because the TSS computers are not connected to the Internet.
During the last several months, I have been working together with Christopher Francke and David McKenzie to upgrade the computer facilities at the Texas Speleological Survey (TSS) office. We now have approximately 10 computers, which soon will be interconnected with each other in a local area network, but with no connection to the Internet. Most of these computers are Pentium 4 (or comparable AMD processor) machines running Windows XP Professional, SP 3.
We would like to protect these computers from computer viruses or other malware. Although there is no Internet service at the TSS office, malware contamination is still possible, since people sometimes bring in CDs, DVDs, flash drives, external hard drives, laptop computers, etc., which they temporarily connect to the TSS computers for uploading or downloading data. There is also a possibility that people might occasionally bring in cell phones or other wireless devices with Internet service and connect them to the TSS computers to provide occasional temporary Internet service for TSS. Most antivirus, anti-spyware, and anti-malware software is designed for computers with regular Internet access, and some of it costs significant money to install and continually update on multiple machines. We would like to find some very inexpensive, preferably free, protection software which we can download at home and take to the TSS office (probably on a CD ROM or flash drive) for installation on the TSS computers. Similarly, we would like to be able to download updates at home and take them to the TSS computers at the beginning of each TSS work session.
On at lease one occasion, I believe that David McKenzie did this successfully with one of the free antivirus programs available on the Internet, but our experience thus far has been very limited, and no one has yet done a serious comparison of alternatives for this kind of software, downloaded on a home machine with Internet access and then transferred to machines without Internet access. If you have any experience or knowledgeable recommendations in this area, we'd like to hear from you. You can reply to me off list if you don't think it would interest the general TexasCavers subscribers. 

Thanks,
Rod Goke
[email protected]
(512) 892-4186


Please reply to [email protected]
Permanent email address is [email protected]
--- End Message ---
--- Begin Message --- 
Instead of doing all of that, why don't you just get a Mac? They are virtually 
virus and malware proof.
 


List-Post: [email protected]
Date: Wed, 27 Apr 2011 01:26:12 -0500
From: [email protected]
To: [email protected]
CC: [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; 
[email protected]
Subject: [Texascavers] Antivirus suggestions for TSS computers





I have a question for any of you who are knowledgeable about computer 
antivirus/anti-malware software. The question is "cave related" in that it 
deals with the special needs of our TSS computers, which are somewhat different 
from those of most home and business computers, because the TSS computers are 
not connected to the Internet.

During the last several months, I have been working together with Christopher 
Francke and David McKenzie to upgrade the computer facilities at the Texas 
Speleological Survey (TSS) office. We now have approximately 10 computers, 
which soon will be interconnected with each other in a local area network, but 
with no connection to the Internet. Most of these computers are Pentium 4 (or 
comparable AMD processor) machines running Windows XP Professional, SP 3. 

We would like to protect these computers from computer viruses or other 
malware. Although there is no Internet service at the TSS office, malware 
contamination is still possible, since people sometimes bring in CDs, DVDs, 
flash drives, external hard drives, laptop computers, etc., which they 
temporarily connect to the TSS computers for uploading or downloading data. 
There is also a possibility that people might occasionally bring in cell phones 
or other wireless devices with Internet service and connect them to the TSS 
computers to provide occasional temporary Internet service for TSS. Most 
antivirus, anti-spyware, and anti-malware software is designed for computers 
with regular Internet access, and some of it costs significant money to install 
and continually update on multiple machines. We would like to find some very 
inexpensive, preferably free, protection software which we can download at home 
and take to the TSS office (probably on a CD ROM or flash drive) for 
installation on the TSS computers. Similarly, we would like to be able to 
download updates at home and take them to the TSS computers at the beginning of 
each TSS work session.

On at lease one occasion, I believe that David McKenzie did this successfully 
with one of the free antivirus programs available on the Internet, but our 
experience thus far has been very limited, and no one has yet done a serious 
comparison of alternatives for this kind of software, downloaded on a home 
machine with Internet access and then transferred to machines without Internet 
access. If you have any experience or knowledgeable recommendations in this 
area, we'd like to hear from you. You can reply to me off list if you don't 
think it would interest the general TexasCavers subscribers.

Thanks,
Rod Goke
[email protected]
(512) 892-4186

--------------------------------------------------------------------- Visit our 
website: http://texascavers.com To unsubscribe, e-mail: 
[email protected] For additional commands, e-mail: 
[email protected]

--- End Message ---
--- Begin Message --- 


More fires around Ft. Davis. 



It is rather awful and likely to get worse.  There is a chance (depends on the 
winds - which were VERY strong in Terlingua yesterday - right now at dawn calm 
here) that the latest (Shurley Fire) could get the rest of Mt. Livermore and 
the Davis Mts Resort.  Lets hope not. Go to http://www.marfapublicradio.org/  
for images, map, and updates. 



DirtDoc 




KRTS News KRTS Update: Tuesday (April 26) 8:50 PM 


KRTS has confirmed reports of a large fire on the Shurley Ranch, about 26 miles 
south of Marfa. We spoke to Marfa Volunteer Fire Department Chief Gary 
Mitschke, who only had a moment to confirm the report before heading back to 
battle the blaze. 

7:15 PM: Highway 17 north of Fort Davis toward Balmorhea closed as VFD from 
Alpine and Fort Davis fight the blaze that began near the Y intersection north 
of Fort Davis at the split between Highways 118 and 17. The fire then moved 
north toward Scobee Mountain. 

8 PM: Highway 118 closed north of Limpia Crossing (north of Fort Davis) on road 
to the McDonald Observatory. 

8:45 PM: Highway 17 once again open. Hazy, smoky conditions persist on area 
roadways. 




  

Fort Davis, April 26, 2011, smoke near Fort Davis Motor Lodge & Poco Mexico 
KRTS News KRTS Update: Tuesday (April 26) 5:45 PM 


KRTS is investigating new reports of a fire behind Fort Davis Motor Inn and the 
restaurant Poco Mexico. That fire is currently moving north. Fort Davis VFD and 
Alpine VFD are on the scene. 

Separately, Reeves County officials are evacuating residents in the area around 
Balmorhea Lake. Officials are asking residents who live on the outskirts of 
Balmorhea, to come into town, as a precaution. Residents in and around 
Balmorhea can get further information at a command center set up at Balmorhea 
City Hall. The Balmorhea State Park has been closed for a second day. 


  


KRTS News KRTS Update: Tuesday (April 26) 1 PM 


KRTS just spoke to Catherine Hibbard, lead public information officer for the 
Southern Area Incident Management Team. According to Hibbard, yesterday the 
fire grew by 10,000 acres, bringing total acreage burned up to 230,904 acres. 

KRTS will be reporting at the top of every hour on the Rock House Fire. Here’s 
the most recent update from the Southern Area Incident Management Team: 

Yesterday the Rock House Fire spread over Madera Canyon, around Forbidden 
Canyon, and over Timber Mountain and is now about a half mile from Cherry 
Canyon. 

West winds are expected to move fire along ridge tops in an easterly direction. 
Wind gusts of 35-60 mph could contribute to rates of spread of 3 mph or 
greater. Backing fires, or fires that move against the wind or down slope, are 
expected to the south and west of Madera Canyon. As the fire moves up slopes it 
could throw spots up to 500 feet over the top of the slope. 

A predicted Haines index of 5, which is a measure of atmospheric instability 
and dryness, is expected to promote fire growth today. Ground crews will 
continue to monitor fire behavior, improve control lines, and provide point 
protection for structures. Firefighters are focused on safety and will not be 
getting in front of the fire as winds, terrain, weather, and extremely dry 
fuels could align to increase rates of spread, flame lengths, and intensity. 
Numerous aerial resources will be available to assist ground crews, but high 
winds may keep them grounded. 

Additionally, there will be a status update on the fire for residents and 
neighbors of the McDonald Observatory this evening at 6:30 PM in the Visitors’ 
Center.

--- End Message ---
--- Begin Message ---
Ron,
 
Check out the free rescue disk from Sunbelt Software, live.sunbeltsoftware.com.
The VIPRE Rescue Program is a command-line utility that will scan and clean an infected computer that is so infected that programs cannot be easily run.
 
Someone can download a copy every month or so and scan all the systems.
 
I keep a current copy of the VIPRE Rescue Program on all my systems and several USB sticks. This way I can press F8 at Windows boot time and get into DOS mode. Then I can scan a system for critters. I have had to do this several times on the family PC for stuff that Norton missed.
 
If you did buy an AV program, since TSS is network but not Internet connected, then someone would have to do like they do for disconnected Government computers - someone would have to download the virus definition  and program updates then manually move the updates over.
 
Sunbelt does offer a Home site license for those with 3 or more PCs - $50 for 1 year to $125 for 3 years.

Nigel
 
> I have a question for any of you who are knowledgeable about
> computer antivirus/anti-malware software. The question is "cave
> related" in that it deals with the special needs of our TSS
> computers, which are somewhat different from those of most home and
> business computers, because the TSS computers are not connected to
> the Internet.
....
>
> Thanks,
> Rod Goke
> (512) 892-4186
>
> --------------------------------------------------------------------
> - Visit our website: http://texascavers.com
> To unsubscribe, e-mail: [email protected] For
> additional commands, e-mail: [email protected]

--- End Message ---
--- Begin Message --- 
FWIW, I have recently purchased a customDUO insert to replace the halogen bulb 
in the headlamp (see details below). This was intended to complement the 14-LED 
side module in the headlamp. It took about 4 weeks to ship from the UK, and I 
received it in time to install it on the first evening of the TSA Convention in 
my Petzl Duo headlamp. Installation was really simple and only required a small 
screwdriver from my Leatherman tool. Several cavers joined me in walking off 
into the woods to compare the light output of this insert (cost: about $100) 
with a Stenlight S7 (cost: about $310 for the standard version, including 
charger and extra battery; $60 extra for version with premium LEDs) and a 
Scurion 700 model (cost: about $700, including spare battery and charger).

Verdict: customDUO insert compares favorably in light output to the Stenlight 
S7 on highest setting, and to the Scurion700 on lowest setting. The beam 
pattern is intermediate between the highly focused Stenlight and the very 
diffuse low setting of the Scurion.

Details about insert: cd701-XPG twins, two Cree XPG LEDs, focussed and full 
flood. Smooth spot optic. Single mode (700 mA regulated) providing 280 lumens. 
R4 neutral white LEDs.

I have not had the opportunity yet to test this on a caving trip, but will 
report on my impressions of the insert once I get the chance.

More info:

http://customduo.co.uk/twinmodules.aspx

I prefer the Ecrin Roc helmet, it is really sturdy and easy to clean and 
decontaminate and dries quickly.

Diana

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Diana R. Tomchick
Associate Professor
University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center
Department of Biochemistry
5323 Harry Hines Blvd.
Rm. ND10.214B
Dallas, TX 75390-8816, U.S.A.
Email: [email protected]
214-645-6383 (phone)
214-645-6353 (fax)



On Apr 27, 2011, at 12:43 PM, Floyd Hebert wrote:

> @ Andy Zenker I really like this feedback. In my mind, A stenlight meets its 
> full potential in large open vertical caves. Those are the times I wish I had 
> a stenlight. I have worn both helmets, get the same impression. I feel like 
> the Elios is more convenient in tight crawl spaces, but the Ecrin is a safer 
> and more suitable for vertical. I think I'm going to go with a Ecrin.
>
> Thanks Guys,
> Floyd
>
> On Tue, Apr 26, 2011 at 5:35 PM, Andy Zenker <[email protected]> wrote:
> I put my sten on both an Ecrin Rock (I use for large and vertical caves) and 
> a Petzl Elios (I use for tight and crawly caves).  In both cases, I've used a 
> metal or plastic strap mounted on the helmet to slip the light into with an 
> elastic band to keep it there.  This gets me that extra half inch of 
> clearance by not using one of those sten light mounts.
> I also run my cables right back into the helmet, through the helmet to the 
> battery at the back to protect the wires as much as possible.  A couple of 
> rubber grommets work nicely in the cable holes .
>
> Andy Z
>
>
> On Tue, Apr 26, 2011 at 4:29 PM, Fofo <[email protected]> wrote:
> Yup, I second the Ecrin Roc. I've seen people trying out the newer styles of 
> helmets and in the end getting back to Ecrin Rocs. They're very good helmets, 
> and comfortable.
>
>     - Fofo
>
>
> On 26/04/11 14:13, Andy Gluesenkamp wrote:
> Ecrin Roc. You'll need to trim/sand down the angle on the plastic
> mounting bracket to fit the curve on the front of the helmet. This is
> true with many helmets. I like the ERoc because I can feed the wires
> from the battery through the vent holes and clips and then out to the
> light. It reduces the exposure of cables to snag on the outside. Very nice.
> Andrew G. Gluesenkamp, Ph.D.
> 700 Billie Brooks Drive
> Driftwood, Texas 78619
> (512) 799-1095
> [email protected]
>
>
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
> *From:* Floyd Hebert <[email protected]>
> *To:* Cavers Texas <[email protected]>
> *Sent:* Tue, April 26, 2011 3:52:40 PM
> *Subject:* [Texascavers] Helmet
>
> I was going to ask everyone what caving helmet to get, but I thought
> that might be to vague. So, I'll ask it this way: What helmet would you
> mount a Stenlight on?
>
> Thanks,
> Floyd
>
> ---------------------------------------------------------------------
> Visit our website: http://texascavers.com
> To unsubscribe, e-mail: [email protected]
> For additional commands, e-mail: [email protected]
>
>
>


________________________________

UT Southwestern Medical Center
The future of medicine, today.

--- End Message ---
--- Begin Message --- 
The biggest caver gathering in east Texas of the year is less than
3 weeks away.

Everything is still on schedule.

Several cavers from southeast Texas, and possibly a caver from Austin and
Dallas will be there having a relaxing good time, camping, bicycling,
eating, socializing, and enjoying the warm weather, and beautiful scenery.

There will be activities for toddlers and young children.

This is a very inexpensive event.     I am paying for everything
out of my own pocket, in hopes that there will be a few donations
to offset or recoup the expenses.

Mark your calendars,  May 20, 21 & 22.      Anyone that loves caves or bats
is invited.

Location     Camp Happy Hollow
                Happy Hollow Road
                Brenham, TX

Aerial View:

http://www.bing.com/maps/#Y3A9cDB2dHlrNnlxd3kwJmx2bD0xOC4yNTY2MjU1MDc1ODAzMzUmZGlyPTM0NS42MTYzNTE1NTg4NjMxJnN0eT1iJnJ0cD1wb3MuMzAuMTcxOTYyXy05Ni41MDc3NThfMjE0MCUyMEhhcHB5JTIwSG9sbG93JTIwUmQlMkMlMjBCcmVuaGFtJTJDJTIwVFglMjA3NzgzMy02ODYzX19fZV9+cG9zLjMwLjE3MjQ2Ml8tOTYuNTA4MzAxXzIxOTAlMjBIYXBweSUyMEhvbGxvdyUyMFJkJTJDJTIwQnJlbmhhbSUyQyUyMFRYJTIwNzc4MzMtNjg2M19fX2VfJm1vZGU9RCZydG9wPTB+MH4wfg==

Click on Road, and then click on Bird's Eye.

--- End Message ---
--- Begin Message --- 
From: R & D [[email protected]]
Sent: 4/27/2011 12:17:04 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Alien search effort called off; Deepest-diving sub; Smallest
eggs

 
To view this email as a web page, click here.
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April 27, 2011
Today's Topics:
The fight over fracking
--> 
The fight over fracking

A dearth of neutrinos and dark matter

An alien world under the ice

Report: Storage for spent nuclear fuel more crucial than ever

The United States and other countries around the world looking to
nuclear power for their energy needs must consider how spent fuel will
be handled as they construct new plants and examine existing ones,
especially in light of the recent crisis in Japan, according to a
comprehensive study from MIT. Read/Comment

Shrinking funds pull plug on alien search devices 

A steep drop in both state and federal funds has forced the shutdown of
the Allen Telescope Array in California. The $50 million array was built
by SETI and UC Berkeley with the help of Microsoft Corp. co-founder Paul
Allen, but it costs more than a million dollars a year to operate. SETI
will continue its work at other telescopes. Read/Comment

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animations onMEMS device simulation and more. 



NIST nanomagnets offer food for thought about computer memories

Magnetics researchers at NIST colored lots of eggs recently. Bunnies and
children might find the eggs a bit small-in fact, too small to see
without a microscope. But these "eggcentric" nanomagnets have another
practical use, suggesting strategies for making future low-power
computer memories. Read/Comment 

Video of the Day:
New submersible capable of return to deepest ocean depths

Triton Submarines this week announced the impending release of their
Triton 36,000 full ocean depth submersible. Featuring passenger cockpit
approximately six feet in diameter and made entirely of borosilicate
glass developed using a new process from Rayotek Scientific, the sub
will offer the possibility of a return to the deepest part of the ocean
in more than 50 years. Read/Comment

Vacuum Hardware and Chambers 
The Trinos Division of Pfeiffer Vacuum offers a complete line of vacuum
hardware and chambers. Included are standard and custom vacuum chambers;
ISO-KF, ISO-K, ISO-F, CF and COF flange components; hose and flexible
connectors; glass components, valves, feedthroughs, manipulators,
measuring instruments and accessories. Trinos offers the largest
standard component selection with an extensive U.S. inventory. Visa and
MasterCard are accepted with on-line shopping and same day shipping. 
More information 

Caterpillars inspire new movements in soft robots

Researchers have been examining the diverse behaviors of caterpillars to
find solutions for the new generation of search and rescue soft
robots.Read/Comment

'Nanobead' approach could revolutionize sensor technology

Researchers at Oregon State Univ. have found a way to use magnetic
"nanobeads" to help detect chemical and biological agents, with possible
applications in everything from bioterrorism to medical diagnostics,
environmental monitoring, or even water and food safety.Read/Comment

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customizes to your specification. 
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How plants deal with stress

Like people, plants experience stress. And also, like people, the
response to that stress can determine success. People can exercise, or
rest, or talk about the problem. For plants, ways to deal with stress
are internal. And ISU researchers are trying to understand how they do
it. Read/Comment 

NIST prototypes framework for evaluating sustainability standards

As manufacturers and other businesses step up efforts to cut waste,
reduce energy use, and improve the overall sustainability of their
products and processes, the number of planet-friendly standards and
regulations also is increasing at a rapid clip, creating a
sometimes-confusing array of options for "going green." NIST researchers
have prototyped a framework to help organizations of all types sort
through the welter of choices and evaluate and implement sustainability
standards most appropriate for their operations and interests..
Read/Comment

>From R&D Magazine:
Your Tax Dollars at Work

Industry-based researchers recognize the value of government-sponsored
research, but some do not want to pay extra for it. Read/Comment


Tools & Technology:
Software helps aid additive manufacturing

SolidView/Pro, manufactured by Solid Concepts, Inc., is a software
package that allows non-CAD users to view, measure, and markup CAD data
by opening native CAD files without having to own CAD software.
Read/Comment
Tools & Technology:
Solid-state optically pumped semiconductor laser

Coherent, Inc has introduced a commercial, all solid-state optically
pumped semiconductor laser (OPSL) with output at 552 nm. Read/Comment








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