2PR FM NOW BROADCASTING LIVE - Second Test Broadcast

CURRENT MOOD: Excited

Ah, well, the blood is pumping, I'm awake, and what? Its happening, it's happening. A stream is coming out of LoudCIty, and it seems to be the sound of 2PR warming up for its second test broadcast.

My head is spinning, and my feet feel like they have been sucked down to the mantle of the earth, but it's all been worth it. When that WIMAMP stream was pumping through my computer, and outputting to my Philips D8514 boombox, it was a great reminder that after hours of hard work, the result is worth every bit of it.

3:00 yesterday afternoon, I processed the payment, and within five minutes, my LoudCity account was set up. After a bit of playing around, I finally found how to configure the station page setup, and after an hour or so, it all started taking shape.

The next part was now configuring the radio station software, so that it would communicate to loudCity. This meant the inputting of several config screens. At first, it all seemed quite simple, when it was just a simple copy from LoudCity's webpage, direct into my software. After another two hours, it was obvious that I was doing something wrong, so it was a dash through yahoo, google, and some of the radio forums to find some info why my stream was dead.

After further problem elimination, it was down to LoudCity giving me an incorrect password. They were apologetic about it, and finally at 5:30 this morning, the stream was up and running.

It was now time to get a heap of press-releases out to the newspapers, and some notable websites. Now it is 7:10, and after being up for an odd 23 hours straight, it's time for me to get a few hours nap.

In the end, I'm glad to say that our second test broadcast is up and running. :)

Major changes for 2PR FM ahead

CURRENT MOOD: Nauseated

2PR FM has been a quite achiever over the last ten odd years, growing and changing through the years, through thick and thin. What started as a two page album review yahoo site in 2000, has now developed into a fully live station.

A lot of stuff has been happening behind the scenes this year, which mainly has been the migration of the radio station from a pre-recorded program website, into a fully live web broadcaster.

This has included encoding several hundred of my CDs, and still several thousand still to be done, the purchase of a new computer, new software, and wait for it... finally the transmitter, or as they say in internet radio...... the full live stream. Yes, it is not too far away, but before that, it's the reality of making sure we broadcast legally, and with that, checking what we can, and what we can't do.

We have finally come across a streaming service that will let 2PR FM legally broadcast. The provider we have in mind, has a rather simple system for copyright per listener payments, and unlike other streaming servers, has an easy to understand page of rules and regulations.

This unfortunately is why this morning is what you could say a rather bitter-sweet experience has happened. With much reluctancy, and almost ten years of programming, I've had to close down 2PR FM's entire "audio on demand" schedual, the low band, broadband, and podcasting sections. Upon deleting all the shows, I felt my stomach drop, like I swallowed a ten pin bowling ball. It was such an empty feeling, but in my true tradition, I never brew on these things, as it is in deed for the better.

I am very glad to say, that this is definitely NOT the end of 2PR, as in 2010 I'm planning a number of test broadcasts.

Stay tuned to this channel for more to come soon.

The Government DEN Service (disordered employment network)

CURRENT MOOD: annoyed

It was a mild Wednesday night on October 14th when suddenly the voice of Centrelink CEO Hank Jongen came on the radio. Speaking with Tony Delroy, he spoke about the assistance they are providing for the unemployed.

I thought with a nationwide audience, this would be the perfect opportunity to get through, and note the difficulties a person with Asperger Syndrome faces.

I bought his attention to the repeated frustrations I've encountered with the various Disability Employment Network agencies. This is how they all sign me up the same way, and then don't bother producing any meetings or interviews with potential employers.

This is in the light of my successful completion of several courses and work experiences since leaving school, and operating my own internet radio station.

The main issue I bought up was that I was with Mission Employment, Job Skills, Skill Share, Nova Employment, Salvo's Employment plus, and 121 Employment. This also included my second stint with Nova Employement; and how not one of them has offered or found me a job interview.

My call comes 19 minutes and 40 seconds into the program.

http://www.2prfm.com/sources/20091014tonydelroyhankjongen56k.mp3

Boyzone vocalist dead at 33

Though not a high impacting group musically, Boyzone still had moderate success on my top 40 charts during the 1990's. There biggest three hits were "Father and son" in May 1996, another cover version, "Words" in December of the same year, and their last big hit "no matter what" in October 1998. Their first hit was "Love me for a reason", which reached a modest #19 in late March 1995.

With a few more minor hits in 1997 and 1998, Stephen Gatley and fellow vocalist Ronan Keating made their small mark on nineties contemporary pop. Their hits charted along side fellow boy-groups such as West Life, The Backstreet Boys, and Take that, who had all charted with stronger hit runs. Despite this, it is somewhat sad that we note the death of Stephen Gatley at age 33. He was found dead in his apartment on the 10th of October.

Let's remember Boyzone with their biggest hit, "Words".

2PR FMs first live test is a success!

Well, our first big test has come and gone, and much of it with success. For the first time in it's nine year history, 2PR FM has broadcasted 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, for an entire month just like any conventional radio station. This has been in a big part due to vast improvements in automated music software, and a huge price drop in streaming data services.

With the occasional drop out, listeners have reported great results with the feed. As many are aware, the stream was a moderately low 48kps service, for measuring out how well our hardware will cope, and mainly the software.

Our second test, which at this point is to be announced, will contain a greater range of music, as they are still thousands of new tracks to encode from our vast library. Even more exciting in our next test, our programming material will be an AAC encoded mp3 live stream at a much higher quality rate. It willll equal if not surpass the sound quality of current FM and digital radio. This will make 2PR FM receivable on home computers, and all the latest current mobile devices.

For now, we unfortunately call it an end to our current test, as the further improvements will be made

More info can be found at:
http://www.2prfm.com

The heyday of cassette tape

In a few weeks time, it will be my 40th birthday, and being an old analog nut, I couldn't think of a better way to celebrate, then to grab this rare find off eBay.

It's 140 rare 1983 Maxell UDXLII audio cassettes, yes the good ones with the square shaped hubs.


As many cassette lovers know, the quality of today’s tapes and their cassette shells has deteriorated severely over the years. This is due to the main cassette manufacturers making major cut backs in their tape plants, and trimming every corner possible to save on costs. This is largely due to the main stream take up of digital storage devices, such as CDRs, portable players like ipods, and removable hard-drives.

When it comes to the actual cassette, components and models are stripped down with each successive year. Parts such as pressure pads, specialised slip and press plates used for stable tape travel, and adhesive labels have been completely removed from today’s models. These include Sony's HF's and EF's.

With cassettes getting rarer, members on audio forums, such as tapeheads.net and audiokarma.org are placing extra efforts into lobbying cassette companies. This is in hoping that they will re-consider the introduction of their old tape models again, like Maxell's XLI and TDK's AD. As member’s letters are just getting ignored, it is becoming clearer that the TDKs and Maxells are adamant on no more tape production.

In the end, the remaining "New Old Stock" of blank audio tapes is dwindling by the day, thus ultimately pushing up prices on auction sites like eBay and Amazon.

With this in mind, it's no wonder I was totally blown away with winning these tapes. The last time Maxell used this key technology in their shell design was 1989 for the S-LN range. Since about 1991, all their cassettes have reverted back to the standard rounded hub design, which has become common place with all their current transparent shell models.

2PR FM COMMENCES ITS FIRST LIVE TEST

CURRENT MOOD: ecstatic

I can't believe it, the stream is going, and after an odd nine years in the making, 2PR FM is doing it's very first live test broadcast.

With over 2000 tracksin the library, we're currently broadcasting our live stream, side by side with our archive of past programs. As they say in radio, there is nothing like a live studio.

Since 10:30 this morning, the stream has been powering along smoothly, and with no slip ups so far, the next 31 days is looking very promising.

By checking various streaming services, egihosting seemed to be the most reasonable with their pricing and reputation, as it looks like they're recommended by a number of radio info sites.

Through thick and thin, 2PR FM continues to grow and move with the times. For me, this is certainly a magical moment, in light of what a dead year this has been.

You can tune in at: http://www.2prfm.com and then click listen. Enjoy!

Michael Jackson - The End of an Era

CURRENT MOOD: Gloomy

As I slowly awoke, the cloudiness of my eye-lids soon revealed the crisp blueness of a cool winter sky through my bedroom windows, and what.... my radio.... Michael Jackson dead?

Michael jackson...... god hell, that just came out of the blue.

Despite his popectual eccentricness and his wacky behaviour, Michael Jackson was a major influence to many of us who grew up and, like me, mucked about during the 1980's.

The first time I heard "Billy Jean", it was a cool morning when I wagged school, "Human Nature", the second day of family holidays in the Netherlands, and the track "Thriller" entered the Australian charts, the day when I poured an entire two litre PET plastic bottle of Pepsi, down that kids back at school, the one that always bullied me.

Thriller came out when I was turning fourteen, so it was the major album of my youth during 1983-1984. Every radio station, television music show and program would have songs and video clips from this album. From the word go in December 1982, Thriller had my personal top 40 charts on fire with the hits (chronilogically) "The girl is mine", "Baby be mine", "Billy Jean", "Beat it", "Gotta get starting something", "Human Nature", "Thriller", and the last hit single "PYT (Pretty Young Thing) in May 1984.



When I started my personal top 40 during March 1979, his first hit was "Shake your body (down to the ground" (September 1979), "Blame it on the boogie", "December 1979", "Don't stop till you get enough", "Rock with you", "Off the wall", and "Girl friend", a track written by Paul McCartney, and "Can you feel it" with the Jackson Five, perhaps one of the first epic video clips I ever saw.

He then had a minor hit during November 1981, "One day in your life", originally recorded in 1976 under the Jackson Five name. Aside from "Thriller" he also released another album in 1984 "Victory" with the Jacksons, which yielded another two hits "State of shock' with Mick Jagger, and "Torture" during early October that year.

His final good album in my opinion was "Bad", released during September 1987. "I just can't stop loving you" (with Siedah Garrett) was a pre-release in July that year, which was followed by the single "Bad", "The way you make me feel", "Man in the mirror", "Smooth Criminal", "Leave me alone", and "Dirty Diana" in May 1989".

One thing of particular interest, was that Michael Jackson and Prince were going to release a song called "Street Walker" during the later part of 1986. Unfortunately Prince pulled out, and the song was never released. The first time I heard it was off his 20th anniversary album of "Bad" back in 2007. With stunningly layered harmony lines, and a synth motiv like no other, it's somewhat unbelievable that it was never released as a single. "Street Walker" would of been the killer hit, that would of made "Bad" just as good, if not better then "Thriller"

But for the record, "Thriller" stands as his best album. I love every track on it, except "The lady in my life".

Going back to this week in June 1985

Welcome to my new look blog on blogger. As per usual, it's another slip down the tunnel of far gone time, through the galactic twist of 24 years, and back to this week in June 1985.

On television, we were watching Wavelength and Hey Hey it Saturday on Channel 9, with the last series of Knight Rider. Mad Max beyond Thunderdome debuted in the cinemas, and Bob Hawke was in power, with John Howard as opposition leader.

Australian Top 20 - Sunday 16th June 1985
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1. Rhythm of the night - DeBarge
2. Would I lie to you - Eurythmics
3. Solid (as a rock - Ashford and Simpson
4. Heaven - Bryan Adams
5. Love don't live here anymore - I'm Talking
6. Money for nothing - Dire Straits
7. One more night - Phil Collins
8. Just a gigolo - David Lee Roth
9. Nightshift - The commodores
10. Lover come back - Dead or Alive
11. We close our eyes - Go West
12. Crazy for you - Madonna
13. You're only human - Billy Joel
14. Axel F - Harold Faltermeyer
15. I know him so well - Elaine Paige and Barbra Dixon
16. Into the groove - Madonna
17. Wide boy - Nik Kershaw
18. Suddenly - Billy Ocean
19. Walking on sunshine - Katrina and the Waves
20. Boombox - The Vita-Beats

Coming toward a crossroad

CURRENT MOOD: Good

Since leaving TAFE in November 2008, I have been busy working on a large digitising project, in the effort of moving 2PR FM from a pre-recorded radio station, into a live streaming service.

This has involved the conversion of all my CDs and Vinyl into wave files. When processing, all the files have to be normalised at the same volume output, so that programming material will flow more easily.

Many CDs have a silent gap at the start of every track, while some don't have it at all. This portion of the track also has to be uniformily the same, so automatic mixing can take place without any gaps or dead air, while at the same time, preventing premature mixing. This is when one track starts, when another song hasn't quite finished yet.

Initially, the entire project seemed quite daunting. Having so much music to convert meant that I had no idea where to start. This issue was soon resolved when I decided to compile tracks by era.

The first part of the project was gathering every charting track from March 1983 through to August 1984. This first part of the project resulted in over 500 tracks on five DVDs. The second portion of the project is gathering all the smaller hit makers of the 70's. This has taken the best part of three months, and so far has resulted in 1200 tracks on eleven DVDs.

Over the last month, I've been gathering all the charting tracks from March 1989 through to September 1990, something I seemed to be at the tail end now. They were a few gaps in my CD collection, so I had to by some CD singles from Chris Rea, The Hoodoogurus, Boris Grebenshikov, Stevie Nicks and Al Green. Though I've got most of them, I'm still awaiting some to arrive. I should have this section wrapped up by the end of this week. I can then burn some back-ups off, and then get it off my hard-drive in readiness for the next era of tracks.

At this stage it's looking like compiling all the charting tracks from September 1979 to March 1983.

Though this project is going to continue, I feel I'm coming to another crossroad where I may have to change my priorities. It seems that commercial radio is about to go digital, meaning that they will be able to broadcast extra channels, parallel to their current radio services. I hope with the experience of my recent digitising project, certificate acquisition, and similar goals, that the people in the Australian Radio Network can consider me for a program director for their new digital radio service.

Though I like to keep an open mind, that a miracle can happen, I somehow already know the conclusion to this one. I guess its fingers crossed and see what happens.

If they accept my proposal for a new digital service, then I will fast-track the digitising project. I guess though if it falls through, then this project will have to take a back-seat to the continuation of my earth two novel.

Banks lapping it up

CURRENT MOOD: Tired

Interesting to note that even during a fully blown recession, the banks still have the nerve to keep lapping it up.

Bill tops $2m for NAB strategy trip
From the Sydney Morning Herald
Friday 22nd May 2009
Artical by Mark Hawthorne and Eric Johnston

AS MANY as 100 National Australia Bank executives have secretly jetted to San Francisco at shareholders' expense to attend a strategy conference, with the bill expected to top $2 million on airfares and accommodation.

The Melbourne-based bank confirmed that 24 executives were in San Francisco, but disputed claims from senior bank staff that 100 had been sent.

The trip coincides with revelations in a Reserve Bank report that Australia's banks receive $11.6 billion in fees from customers, as well as unprecedented taxpayer support to help deal with the global financial crisis.

According to the report, bank fees have risen $885 million, or 8 per cent over the last year.

The industry has also been criticised in recent months for failing to pass on to home owners the full amount of official interest rate cuts, even after the Government provided a universal deposit guarantee to buttress the banking system.

An NAB spokesman, George Wright, confirmed the training program was taking place, but disputed the number of people involved. "Only 24 are put through the program at a time."

He said 24 executives had finished and a further 24 were about to start. The executives were from NAB's Australian, New Zealand and British operations.

"We have established a senior leaders program which we intend to put a number of senior leaders through over the next four years," Mr Wright said, adding that it was more economical to send the executives to San Francisco than have those involved sent to Australia.

The tailor-made program includes academics from business schools including Harvard and Stanford universities and the London Business School.

This week's trip to the US is the second by NAB executives in just three months. In February, 25 flew to San Francisco to attend a leadership program.

One of the most recent programs included the bank's chief executive, Cameron Clyne, who talked up the benefits of the leadership scheme at a briefing to investors earlier this year.

Mid-ranking executives at NAB's Melbourne headquarters said they were not informed of the San Francisco trip by senior executives. "There's no one around to sign off on anything," one complained. "We only worked out what had happened by Wednesday, when it was evident just about everyone's boss had disappeared. Many are tacking on … annual leave … and won't be back until next month."

Those on the latest trip are said to include the head of nabCapital, Shaun Dooley, and the chief risk officer, Bruce Monro.

The cost of the February event, including accommodation, was hundreds of thousands of dollars. Qantas charges about $14,600 for a return business-class flight to San Francisco. If 100 were attending, as suggested by NAB staff, the latest event could top $2 million on travel and accommodation, without including the cost of the tailored training course and executive expenses.

Staff at the Melbourne HQ say they have been "left holding the bag", and the trip had been kept secret to prevent media leaks. "It's nice for some, but meanwhile the rest of us are taking the calls from angry customers asking why we haven't passed on interest cuts to their credit cards and their mortgages," he said

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Banks pick up $1b in penalty fees
From the Sydney Morning Herald
Friday 22nd May 2009
Article by Jacob Saulwick

HOUSEHOLDS paid banks almost $1 billion in late or overdraft fees last year - about $50 for every man, woman and child in the country.

The Reserve Bank has for the first time tallied the "exception fees" charged by banks - the costs attached to making a late credit card payment, overdrawing from a deposit account, or running over a credit limit.

It reveals a $960 million bill accrued by households, the bulk from overdrawing deposit accounts and breaking credit card rules, as well as $200 million in fees from businesses.

For consumer groups, who have spent years agitating for the release of the information, the Reserve's report supported their argument that the level of fees charged by Australian banks is unfair.

Further, the burden is understood to fall disproportionately on lower income earners, who can rapidly rack-up a succession of fees because they do not have the wriggle room in their accounts to avoid penalty charges.

"The reason that it is such a pernicious issue is that the fees are paid primarily by the people that can least afford them," said the director of policy and campaigns at the Consumer Action Law Centre, Nicole Rich.

There are no figures detailing the breakdown of charges on different income groups, but the Senate Economics Committee reported last year "strong anecdotal evidence that in some cases at least the impost of high default fees is marginalising people who are already struggling to feel they belong in Australian society."

A spokesman for Choice, Christopher Zinn, said the exception fee bill was much worse than his expectation of about $250 million.

"We believe that you can have secure and stable banking without a billion dollars a year coming from penalty fees," he said.

Total bank fees actually grew at a slower rate than the size of banks' balance sheets during 2008. Household fees increased by 8 per cent, down from an average growth rate of 11 per cent between 2002 and 2007.

Banks charged households $4.8 billion in fees in 2008.

Of that, credit card fees made up $1.3 billion - up 11 per cent from the previous year, but down from an average growth rate of 23 per cent before that.

For its part, the bankers' lobby noted that customers could find ways of avoiding about 30 per cent of all fees.

"By using your own bank's ATMs, ensuring accounts are not overdrawn and your credit card paid on time, money can be saved," said the chief executive of the Australian Bankers' Association, David Bell.

"Avoiding overdrawn fees can be done by checking your account balances before making large purchases." The majority of major banks have also introduced low or zero fee accounts for low-income earners.

Also yesterday, the Reserve Bank released figures showing households used recent government stimulus payments to carve into their debts. Credit card repayments jumped more than 17 per cent in April, the report showed.

In addition to exception fees, customers paid $640 million for using ATMs that were not from their own bank.

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Feeling good, I reached another goal!

CURRENT MOOD: Accomplished

The mood was much more positive tonight when I was invited to South Sydney TAFE's award night. It was something I knew nothing about, until a few weeks ago, when I was informed that I would receive the high achiever award. In reflection to some recent events, it was just one of those things to really lift the spirits.

Upon getting there, the tables of freshly cooked food were just to irresistible. It was a quick feed on some samosa triangles, cooked fish slices, and a few plates of smoked salmon sandwiches. It was good to catch up with some of my old Tafe friends, but then it was time for the awards. They were many people to get through, and it seemed to take for ever, but before I knew it, I was called up to received not one, but three certificates, one of them being the high achiever award. I had never felt so good in such a long time. I had then spoken to some of the TAFE staff that congratulated me on my efforts.

Asperger meeting

CURRENT MOOD: Inspired

It's been a somewhat rainy cool evening tonight, but a night that was very enjoyable. I was one of the guest speakers invited to the South Sydney Autism Meeting. This was a gathering that is organised every month or so, for parents of Autistic children, friends, specialists, and anyone with an interest with Autism and Asperger's to meet up.

They showed a segment of "Rainman goes to RocKwiz", and tested my knowledge on music charts. They were about 70 people attending, as I met several of them toward the end. Unfortunately time was tight and things got somewhat rushed toward the end. There is going to be another one in early June, something to look forward to.

Brisi trip

Brisi trip

CURRENT MOOD: Quiet

With my head firmly above the jetlag line, and my feet firmly down from a smooth landing, it's time to have an iced coffee, or lemonade and share the memories of Brisbane.

Thursday morning got off to a good start, when I was ready early with half an hour to spare. Unlike Melbourne last year, it wasn't a mad rush to the last seconds. The sun was shining, and it was a reasonably comfortable day. My friends picked me up in a taxi, which got us to the airport on time, and well, a take off that was nothing short of amazing. We had a window seat on the right side of the aircraft, which meant we were able to look out sort of south and east. Ten minutes into the flight, we would have been above Newcastle, and were able to look all the way to South Sydney, the skies were so clear.

The clouds soon appeared, but then heading into the tropics this time of the year, and particularly in the afternoon, what could you expect. Never the less the view of coming in to Brisi was nothing short of brilliant.

Stephanie, who runs Asperger's Services Australia (ASA), picked us up from the airport, and showed us the offices of ASA. The weather was hot, sticky and humid, but the hospitality was wonderful. It was a relaxing afternoon inside the air-conned motel room, then off to see more friends for dinner. This was the first time I ever walked into a queenslander style house. The concept was different, and airy.

The next day arrived, and so did we all at the Brisbane Tattersalls Hotel. With nearly 200 people from the business community, it was the perfect setting to show how gifted people with Asperger's were. Tony Attwood presented the first speech, which was then followed by Amy from the Southern Suburbs Asperger’s Support Group. A representative from MP Bill Shorten's office also appeared, which was follow by a short video on my success at RocKwiz.

The adrenalin was rushing, as it was my chance to show what us aspies were made of. I noted the perception how an aspie would easily meltdown, with all the lights, noise and excitement of such a television show, and how opinion was totally changed around that night, when an aspie was given the chance. I noted how my team and I became victorious, and how enjoyable the night turned out to be. I also spoke on how important it was for aspies and employers to communicate.

It was time for some beautiful lunch, in which the first bight was deliciously scrumptious. It tasted like fish, with hollandaise source, but something seemed different. It was a taste I never had before in my life. Upon asking one of the other guests, they noted that it was chicken. Unbelievable, I actually liked the taste of chicken. When considering my food allergy, I had to give it a miss, as getting sick was the last thing anyone wanted.

But the next thing of utter resistible temptation was the steamed date pudding.......

This seemed to have fixed any remaining nerves I had left over from the speech. With the lunch over, it was then a site seeing trip with Amy's friends, and a look around the city of Brisbane. The taste buds were watering again, so this time it was time to go italiano. Meeting up with cousins that I hadn't seen for years was a real thrill. We went to Tomato Joe's for a beautifully cooked pizza, and some pasta with Salmon.

Saturday arrived, and it was more steamy Queensland weather. We were off to the Holiday Inn, to present the second day of Asperger's Services Australia's seminars. Various people with the syndrome presented their speeches, as I did my last talk in the after noon. This time I spoke more about the experiences of growing up, and the amount of bullying I received as a teenager. I mainly focused on, how many people with the syndrome get a raw deal in life, but more importantly it was your attitude that made the difference.

Stephanie and the rest of us had some problems with the security, when exiting the car-park to get to the air-port. We arrived very late, and well, we only had fifteen minutes to get aboard. We managed to get the last few seats on the plane; however, it wasn't before one of the flight attendants got their knickers in a knot. They apparently noted, because I was vision impaired, I could not sit on the door seat. This issue came up, just as my friends and I were about three meters away from boarding the plain. Thanks to some finger flicking, we all got on without any more issues.

Our flight was an early evening trip. With having an easterly view, looking out the aircraft's left side, they were some spectacular cloud formations. The one below resembled Mt. Everest, and when flying directly above it, it was a real experience and a half.

The trip went fast, and before we knew it, it was a 7:00 touch-down in Sydney. Again, it was just one of those views that you only get at an air-port, a sunset of such deep yellows and oranges. Unfortunately the camera doesn't do it any justice.

Bags are packed, ready to go!

CURRENT MOOD: Excited

Well, the excitement is in the air, and my bags are all packed tonight for going to Brisbane tomorrow. I've been invited by Asperger's Services Australia to do some speeches on my condition, how it effects me, and how it can benefit potential employers.

The idea of going in a plane again already has the adrenalin flowing, I absolutely love flying, and the prospect of presenting my story in front of a few hundred business people is quite a thrill. There must be at least one person there willing to give me a job.

How it all will pan out though is just the matter of taking it all one minute at a time. I'm also looking forward to seeing some of my cousins, who live up there; I haven't seen them for years.