multiband photos on Flickr

Billy Ruane was a whirlwind of energy, an avid music enthusiast and something of a madman. He was a galvanizing, if occasionally polarizing, figure on the Boston rock scene for three decades.

Ruane promoted shows and danced with reckless abandon all over town. At various times, he was banned from two of his favorite clubs, the Middle East and T.T. the Bear’s Place, for his over-the-top antics.

Wednesday night, the life of Ruane - who died from a heart attack last month at 52 - was celebrated at both clubs with a multiband concert.

He had planned a similar celebration for his Nov. 10 birthday. After his death, his longtime friend, singer Mary Lou Lord, organized an expanded gathering for an Irish wake-styled memorial. The local rock community made it a sellout. Lord predicted “chaos of epic proportions,” adding that “Billy wouldn’t have it any other way.”

Chaos there was. Not everything went off on time. But no matter. There was stirring music from longtime Ruane favorites like Willie Alexander, with his hypnotic, beat-infused piano-based songs; Chris Brokaw, with feedback-drenched electric guitar skronk; and Buffalo Tom, with infectious noise-pop. Ruane’s latest find, the young singer Aly Spaltro (also known as Lady Lamb the Beekeeper), delivered a closing segment of wrenching and soulful punk-blues.

Pat McGrath, Ruane’s adviser, emceed at the Middle East and paid tribute to his late friend, warts and all. Southie novelist Michael Patrick MacDonald read a passage based on an encounter with Ruane at a loft party in the ’80s. Though MacDonald’s rough upbringing was far different than Ruane’s life of privilege, they found common ground in punk rock - and liberation through music.

Early on, Randy Black played a tear-jerking version of the Beatles’ “In My Life” and recalled the multiple wet kisses Ruane would plant on him and everyone else. “He connected this community,” Black said. “There was glue in that spit.”

Peter Wolf did three songs, including a mournful “Start All Over Again.” “I’m talking about those good days, those sad days, those happy days,” Wolf sang in the coda. The sometime J. Geils Band singer recalled his first encounter with Ruane after a Geils gig. The dapper, suit-clad Ruane introduced himself before vomiting on Wolf. Nevertheless, a friendship formed, one based on a love of literature, poetry and music.

Ruane’s sister, Lili Ruane, took the stage at the Middle East several times. “You guys are his family,” she said. “You accepted him as he was. He was brilliant, a genius and expressive, as you know.”

The second time she spoke, her boyfriend Win Smith came out to propose as she held the brass urn that contained her brother’s ashes. She accepted. At night’s end, she tossed some of Billy’s ashes into the crowd. (Ultimately, his urn will reside at the Middle East.)

“I understood Billy’s role,” said Jon Langford, a Chicago-based Brit and longtime favorite of Ruane’s whose band Skull Orchard played a ripping set at T.T. the Bear’s. “Billy was a complete maverick, this strange weird thing, totally involved in music.”

Ruane was known for his support, emotional and financial, of numerous musicians. He loved many different kinds of music and that diversity was well represented onstage Wednesday.

“It was a great night,” said singer Linda Viens, who performed with Catherine Coleman. “Billy’s not gone. He lives on in the camaraderie, in the communion, in the great, majestic noise of rock ’n’ roll, and in the hearts of all those destined to love it and to play it.”

BILLY RUANE MEMORIAL

At the Middle East and T.T. the Bear’s Place, Cambridge, Wednesday night.

The 3.5, 7 and 10.1 MHz resonators by csete

Eagle Nebula seen by Spitzer by Stuart Rankin

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Edited Spitzer Space Telescope image of the Eagle Nebula (M16) where Hubble took the famous "Pillars of Creation" image a while ago.

Original caption: This majestic view taken by NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope tells an untold story of life and death in the Eagle nebula, an industrious star-making factory located 7,000 light-years away in the Serpens constellation. The image shows the region's entire network of turbulent clouds and newborn stars in infrared light.

The color green denotes cooler towers and fields of dust, including the three famous space pillars, dubbed the "Pillars of Creation," which were photographed by NASA's Hubble Space Telescope in 1995.

But it is the color red that speaks of the drama taking place in this region. Red represents hotter dust thought to have been warmed by the explosion of a massive star about 8,000 to 9,000 years ago. Since light from the Eagle nebula takes 7,000 years to reach us, this "supernova" explosion would have appeared as an oddly bright star in our skies about 1,000 to 2,000 years ago.

According to astronomers' estimations, the explosion's blast wave would have spread outward and toppled the three pillars about 6,000 years ago (which means we wouldn't witness the destruction for another 1,000 years or so). The blast wave would have crumbled the mighty towers, exposing newborn stars that were buried inside, and triggering the birth of new ones.

The pillars of the Eagle nebula were originally sculpted by radiation and wind from about 20 or so massive stars hidden from view in the upper left portion of the image. The radiation and wind blew dust away, carving out a hollow cavity (center) and leaving only the densest nuggets of dust and gas (tops of pillars) flanked by columns of lighter dust that lie in shadow (base of pillars). This sculpting process led to the creation of a second generation of stars inside the pillars.

If a star did blow up in this region, it is probably located among the other massive stars in the upper left portion of the image. Its blast wave might have already caused a third generation of stars to spring from the wreckage of the busted pillars.

This image is a composite of infrared light detected by Spitzer's infrared array camera and multiband imaging photometer. Blue is 4.5-micron light; green is 8-micron light; and red is 24-micron light.

Messier 17 (M17) • NGC 6618, Omega Nebula • Swan Nebula by Robert Sullivan

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The Messier Catalog, sometimes known as the Messier Album or list of Messier objects, is one of the most useful tools in the astronomy hobby. In the middle of the 18th century, the return of Halley's comet helped to prove the Newtonian theory, and helped to spark a new interest in astronomy. During this time, a French astronomer named Charles Messier began a life-long search for comets. He would eventually discover 15 of them. On August 28, 1758, while searching for comets, Messier found a small cloudy object in the constellation Taurus. He began keeping a journal of these nebulous (cloudy) objects so that they would not be confused with comets. This journal is known today as the Messier Catalog, or Messier Album. The deep sky objects in this catalog are commonly referred to as Messier objects.

The New General Catalogue of Nebulae and Clusters of Stars (abbreviated as NGC) is a catalogue of deep-sky objects compiled by John Louis Emil Dreyer in 1888 as a new version of John Herschel's General Catalogue of Nebulae and Clusters of Stars. The NGC contains 7,840 objects, known as the NGC objects. It is one of the largest comprehensive catalogues, as it includes all types of deep space objects and is not confined to, for example, galaxies. Dreyer also published two supplements to the NGC in 1895 and 1908, known as the Index Catalogues, describing a further 5,386 astronomical objects.

A dragon-shaped cloud of dust seems to fly out from a bright explosion in this infrared light image (top) from the Spitzer Space Telescope, a creature that is entirely cloaked in shadow when viewed in visible part of the spectrum (bottom).

The infrared image has revealed that this dark cloud, called M17 SWex, is forming stars at a furious rate but has not yet spawned the most massive type of stars, known as O stars. Such stellar behemoths, however, light up the M17 nebula at the image's center and have also blown a huge "bubble" in the gas and dust that forms M17's luminous left edge.

The stars and gas in this region are now passing though the Sagittarius spiral arm of the Milky Way (moving from right to left), touching off a galactic "domino effect." The youngest episode of star formation is playing out inside the dusty dragon as it enters the spiral arm. Over time this area will flare up like the bright M17 nebula, glowing in the light of young, massive stars. The remnants of an older burst of star formation blew the bubble to the left.

The visible-light view of the area clearly shows the bright M17 nebula, as well as the glowing hot gas filling the "bubble" to its left. However the M17 SWex "dragon" is hidden within dust clouds that are opaque to visible light. It takes an infrared view to catch the light from these shrouded regions and reveal the earliest stages of star formation.

The top image is a three-color composite that shows infrared observations from two Spitzer instruments. Blue represents 3.6-micron light and green shows light of 8 microns, both captured by Spitzer's infrared array camera. Red is 24-micron light detected by Spitzer's multiband imaging photometer. The bottom visible light image is a composite of visible light data from the Digitized Sky Survey (DSS) from the UK Schmidt telescope. The image combines two observations that represent the blue and red light from the region.

The 3.5 and 7 MHz resonators by csete

The 10.1 MHz resonator by csete

LINCOLN TR-970, Nine Transistor Multiband Receiver (LW/MW/SW), Circa 1963, Made in Japan by Realtone Electronics Inc. by José G. Sánchez González

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Is identical to Realtone TR-970, "Voyager": large and very well constructed multi band receiver with its characteristic cabinet in the form of a slightly pronounced "V" and thin for its size.

The chassis has nine NEC transistors, distinguishing the two large/round black audio output transistors, NEC 2SB165, powered by four "AA" size batteries.

This particular item is in very good condition and functioning, but requires fresh electrolytic capacitors.

10-20-2017 Band Alumni & Friends Reception by UMass Amherst Alumni

Band alumni, parents, and friends gathered before Multibands to enjoy great company, drinks, and hors d’oeuvres. The 2017 recipients of the Band Alumni Scholarship and the 2017 Minuteman Band Hall of Fame class were honored and attendees got the first look at a special portrait of legendary former Minuteman Band announcer Jim MacRostie — as well as the band’s new uniforms!

160m resonator by csete

Marines maintain multiband satellite by Marines

Sgt. Robert J. Bauer, a St. Louis, Mo., native and maintenance management non-commissioned officer with 9th Communications Battalion, I Marine Expeditionary Force, conducts preventative maintenance on the Lightweight Multiband Satellite Terminal, April 13, at Camp Leatherneck, Afghanistan. 9th Comm. Bn. is in charge of keeping communications up 24 hours a day for Camp Leatherneck and all outlying areas containing Marines within Helmand province.

Eagle Nebula seen by Spitzer, annotated by Stuart Rankin

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Edited Spitzer Space Telescope image of the Eagle Nebula (M16) where Hubble took the famous "Pillars of Creation" image a while ago. I annotated the location of the "Pillars of Creation" in color.

Original caption: This majestic view taken by NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope tells an untold story of life and death in the Eagle nebula, an industrious star-making factory located 7,000 light-years away in the Serpens constellation. The image shows the region's entire network of turbulent clouds and newborn stars in infrared light.

The color green denotes cooler towers and fields of dust, including the three famous space pillars, dubbed the "Pillars of Creation," which were photographed by NASA's Hubble Space Telescope in 1995.

But it is the color red that speaks of the drama taking place in this region. Red represents hotter dust thought to have been warmed by the explosion of a massive star about 8,000 to 9,000 years ago. Since light from the Eagle nebula takes 7,000 years to reach us, this "supernova" explosion would have appeared as an oddly bright star in our skies about 1,000 to 2,000 years ago.

According to astronomers' estimations, the explosion's blast wave would have spread outward and toppled the three pillars about 6,000 years ago (which means we wouldn't witness the destruction for another 1,000 years or so). The blast wave would have crumbled the mighty towers, exposing newborn stars that were buried inside, and triggering the birth of new ones.

The pillars of the Eagle nebula were originally sculpted by radiation and wind from about 20 or so massive stars hidden from view in the upper left portion of the image. The radiation and wind blew dust away, carving out a hollow cavity (center) and leaving only the densest nuggets of dust and gas (tops of pillars) flanked by columns of lighter dust that lie in shadow (base of pillars). This sculpting process led to the creation of a second generation of stars inside the pillars.

If a star did blow up in this region, it is probably located among the other massive stars in the upper left portion of the image. Its blast wave might have already caused a third generation of stars to spring from the wreckage of the busted pillars.

This image is a composite of infrared light detected by Spitzer's infrared array camera and multiband imaging photometer. Blue is 4.5-micron light; green is 8-micron light; and red is 24-micron light.

Marines with 9th Communications Battalion by Marines

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Marines with 9th Communications Battalion, I Marine Expeditionary Force, stand in front of the Lightweight Multiband Satellite Terminal, April 13, at Camp Leatherneck, Afghanistan. 9th Comm. Bn. is in charge of keeping communications up 24 hours a day for Camp Leatherneck and all outlying areas containing Marines within Helmand province.

North America Nebula • NGC 7000 • Pelican Nebula • IC 5070 • IC 5067 by Robert Sullivan

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The New General Catalogue of Nebulae and Clusters of Stars (abbreviated as NGC) is a catalogue of deep-sky objects compiled by John Louis Emil Dreyer in 1888 as a new version of John Herschel's General Catalogue of Nebulae and Clusters of Stars. The NGC contains 7,840 objects, known as the NGC objects. It is one of the largest comprehensive catalogues, as it includes all types of deep space objects and is not confined to, for example, galaxies. Dreyer also published two supplements to the NGC in 1895 and 1908, known as the Index Catalogues, describing a further 5,386 astronomical objects.

Stars at all stages of development, from dusty little tots to young adults, are on display in a new image from NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope.

The cosmic community is called the North America nebula. In visible light, the region resembles the North America continent, with the most striking resemblance being the Gulf of Mexico. But in Spitzer's infrared view, the continent disappears. Instead, a swirling landscape of dust and young stars comes into view.

This image focuses in on the Gulf of Mexico cluster of young stars. Several hundred young stars, seen here as the red dots, huddle together along their natal dark cloud -- what can be seen as the dark "river." In the main image, data from both the infrared array camera and multiband imaging photometer are included, showing infrared wavelengths of 3.6, 4.5, 5.8, 8, and 24 microns. In the inset, only data from the infrared array camera are shown, including wavelengths of 3.6, 4.5, 5.8, and 8 microns. The inset highlights jets from young stars, seen as green streaks near the stars.

SEDA Transistor Multiband Receiver: UZUN(LW)/ORTA(MW)/KISA(SW); 1960´s, Made in Turkey by ELEKTRONIK ENDUSTRI T.A.S., Istambul. by José G. Sánchez González

This is my first and only receiver from Turkey that I incorporate into my collection. Very similar, both inside and out, to the typical European designs of that time, in fact the modular chassis has six Telefunken transistors (TFK) and requires four D-size batteries.

Unfortunately it does not work and is a bit mistreated but it is still a good piece to collect.

It was given to me by my friend Armando Pous, collector of phonographs and radios, and that was part of the exhibition: MEMORIA DE OTRO TIEMPO SONORO (Sound memory of other times), sample of radios and old gramophones, that was held during July and August 2017 in the "FONOTECA NACIONAL", Francisco Sosa 383, Barrio de Santa Catarina, Coyoacán, Ciudad de México.

THe 160m resonator by csete

Space_Vend by Missy Restless

This infrared image from NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope shows the Helix nebula, a cosmic starlet often photographed by amateur astronomers for its vivid colors and eerie resemblance to a giant eye.

The nebula, located about 700 light-years away in the constellation Aquarius, belongs to a class of objects called planetary nebulae. Discovered in the 18th century, these cosmic butterflies were named for their resemblance to gas-giant planets.

Planetary nebulae are actually the remains of stars that once looked a lot like our sun.

When sun-like stars die, they puff out their outer gaseous layers. These layers are heated by the hot core of the dead star, called a white dwarf, and shine with infrared and visible-light colors. Our own sun will blossom into a planetary nebula when it dies in about five billion years.

In Spitzer's infrared view of the Helix nebula, the eye looks more like that of a green monster's. Infrared light from the outer gaseous layers is represented in blues and greens. The white dwarf is visible as a tiny white dot in the center of the picture. The red color in the middle of the eye denotes the final layers of gas blown out when the star died.

The brighter red circle in the very center is the glow of a dusty disk circling the white dwarf (the disk itself is too small to be resolved). This dust, discovered by Spitzer's infrared heat-seeking vision, was most likely kicked up by comets that survived the death of their star. Before the star died, its comets and possibly planets would have orbited the star in an orderly fashion. But when the star blew off its outer layers, the icy bodies and outer planets would have been tossed about and into each other, resulting in an ongoing cosmic dust storm. Any inner planets in the system would have burned up or been swallowed as their dying star expanded.

The Helix nebula is one of only a few dead-star systems in which evidence for comet survivors has been found.

This image is made up of data from Spitzer's infrared array camera and multiband imaging photometer. Blue shows infrared light of 3.6 to 4.5 microns; green shows infrared light of 5.8 to 8 microns; and red shows infrared light of 24 microns.

Product pic for a Second Life network vendor system I am working on.

SEDA Transistor Multiband Receiver: UZUN(LW)/ORTA(MW)/KISA(SW); 1960´s, Made in Turkey by ELEKTRONIK ENDUSTRI T.A.S., Istambul. by José G. Sánchez González

This is my first and only receiver from Turkey that I incorporate into my collection. Very similar, both inside and out, to the typical European designs of that time, in fact the modular chassis has six Telefunken transistors (TFK) and requires four D-size batteries.

Unfortunately it does not work and is a bit mistreated but it is still a good piece to collect.

It was given to me by my friend Armando Pous, collector of phonographs and radios, and that was part of the exhibition: MEMORIA DE OTRO TIEMPO SONORO (Sound memory of other times), sample of radios and old gramophones, that was held during July and August 2017 in the "FONOTECA NACIONAL", Francisco Sosa 383, Barrio de Santa Catarina, Coyoacán, Ciudad de México.

AS113 - 05 by Hans Wendland

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