A practical, what-you-need-to-know guide to getting started making amateur radio contacts via FM radios and satellites.All that's required to begin is a good handheld radio, an inexpensive antenna, and a smartphone. Of course, you can get complicated (and expensive) in this area of the hobby, but we're going to keep it to the basics here.Inside you'll find step-by-step tutorials on finding out where, when, and how to connect to the various "Amsat" satellites that can be acc...

SDR (Software-Defined Radio) is a generic term for a device that includes a full radio tuner in a "black box" with few or no external controls. All the tuning and output must be controlled through an external computer. This book covers the installation, setup, and operation of one particular very popular and inexpensive SDR device, the SDRplay, and the manufacturer's version of the SDR software, called SDRuno.The SDRplay has an enormous range of frequencies available, including tho...

Yes, you can write a book and self-publish it worldwide using only your iPad.In this book, we'll go over the reasons why you might want to write your book on an iPad. Then we'll look at the various models of iPad and decide which is suitable for your needs.We'll look at optional and recommended accessories, everything from a bare iPad to a full desktop setup with a monitor, mouse, and external drives. What will work for you, and what won't?Next, we'...

Horror Monthly June 2025 (#45)The newest issue of Horror Monthly includes reviews of everything we reviewed last month. This month, we've got a weird mix of films, both excellent and excruciating as usual, but they were all fun!Each film contains a complete synopsis, including spoilers (so beware!), as well as our commentary on the quality of the story and production.Movie Reviews1956 Earth Vs. The Flying Saucers1973...

A jargon-free, plain-language introduction to the foundational ideas of Buddhism and real-world tips for practicing Buddhism while balancing life in the real, modern world. This book goes easy on the mystical mumbo-jumbo and simply introduces the ideas that will help you live in the present and feel different about the world and your place in it.Geared towards people who were raised outside of Asia and people with a secular or Christian background who want to learn more of the phil...

Thinking about buying a Chromebook but not sure if Google's operating system will suit your needs? Just bought one and want to learn the ins and outs of how to use it? Have you been using ChromeOS, and want to take your usage to the next level and go Chromebook-only?This book begins by introducing you to the differences between regular computers and Chomebooks, explaining the different options and benefits involved with purchasing them, and then wa...

What if, instead of simply plugging an external or internal hard drive into your working computer, you could have a file server located somewhere in your home or office? One that offers access to files for any device on the premises, taking into account security settings that you can set up?This is the function of a NAS, or "Network Attached Storage" device. This file server does nothing except act as a go-between between the network and the hard drives. The Raspberry Pi, a super-i...

A jargon-free, plain language introduction to the foundational ideas of Buddhism and real-world tips for practicing Buddhism while balancing life in the real, modern world. This book goes easy on the mystical mumbo-jumbo and simply introduces the ideas that will help you live in the present and feel different about the world and your place in it.Geared towards people who were raised outside of Asia and people with a secular or Christian background who want to learn more of the phil...

A jargon-free, plain-language introduction to the foundational ideas of Buddhism and real-world tips for practicing Buddhism while balancing life in the real, modern world.This follow-up to the immensely-popular "Five-Minute Buddhist" continues the tradition of easily-understood application of Buddhist principles and ideas to your everyday life.After a brief "Buddhism Refresher," this book presents approximately 150 short topics, mostly reader-submitted questions and answer...

Horror Monthly July 2025 (#46)The newest issue of Horror Monthly includes reviews of everything we reviewed last month. This month, we've got a weird mix of films, both excellent and excruciating as usual, but they were all fun!We've reviewed fewer than usual short films this year so far, but this month, we've brought back shorts with a vengeance!Each film contains a complete synopsis, including spoilers (so beware!), as well as our commentary on th...

Horror Monthly December 2025 (#51)The newest issue of Horror Monthly includes reviews of everything we reviewed last month. This month, we've got a weird mix of films, both excellent and excruciating as usual, but they were all fun!We've got a big pile of 2025 releases this month, and only a few oldies as we start to close out the year.Each film contains a complete synopsis, including spoilers (so beware!), as well as our commentary on the quality o...

"Anyone want to go to Japan and teach English for a half a year?"That's how it all started. I was 38 years old, and a returning student in a Master's Degree in English program.The bulk of this book is a daily journal/blog of my adventures while getting TEFL (Teaching English as a Foreign Language) certified and my trip to Japan, where I taught English to students of all ages.I did a lot of things right, and I also did a lot of things in the most difficult way imagin...