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Wednesday, June 29, 2016

Low Field Day Score Leads to Club Disbanding


Sad.  But failure has consequences my friends.

http://hamhijinks.com/finger-pointing-name-calling-as-club-fails-miserably-at-field-day/

Thanks to Jeff Murray K1NSS for alerting us to this sad situation.  

Tuesday, June 28, 2016

Useful Boards From Whole Foods


Maybe it has something to do with the fact that this chain of stores is sometimes referred to as "America's Temple of Pseudo-Science" but I just don't seem to find a lot of radio-useful stuff in Whole Foods.   However, at the check-out stand this week something caught my eye:  Grilling Planks!  Who knew?   Apparently you soak these boards ("Sustainably Produced in the Pacific Northwest - USA") in water, then you grill your food on them.  They are available in various wood types -- above you can see Cedar and Hickory.  I put the Altoids can in there for a size reference. These grilling planks seem well suited to serve as breadboard-style chassis, front panels  or even cabinets for homebrew rigs.  

Monday, June 27, 2016

Free Book!

I decided to make my book "Us and Them -- An American Family Spends Ten Years with FOREIGNERS" available to a wider audience. The suits at Amazon Kindle allow me to make it available in e-book Kindle form FOR FREE for a five day period starting today. So this would be a good time to put a copy in your Kindle. I think it would be a good book for the beach.

Please spread the word -- let friends know of the free book offer.

Here's the link: https://www.amazon.com/Us-Them-American-Family…/…/B00L8DR4RK

SolderSmoke HQ Station WINS Field Day! Again!


First, I need to make clear that that is NOT me in the picture above.  This year I chose to compete as an "E" station:  "At home, with the air conditioner on, but using a battery instead of the normal AC poser supply."  This is, of course, only one step from the bottom on the laziness scale -- I did hook up the 12 volt gel-cell.

But I made up for it with an unusually large dose Knack-ness.   I used my BITX Digi-Zia scratch-built homebrew SSB transceiver.  So, with my whopping 11 contacts I feel confident that I won the "1E Homebrew SSB Transceiver, Northern Virginia" category.    


Sunday, June 26, 2016

NASA'S New Mars Recruiting Posters

Artist's concept of an astronaut pointing to the viewer with Earth, the Moon, and Mars in the sky. It is a more peaceful version of the World War I and World War II posters of Uncle Sam pointing to recruits with the slogan 'I want you.'

More like this one here:
http://marsmobile.jpl.nasa.gov/multimedia/resources/mars-posters-explorers-wanted/


Bill,

Doesn't this fabulous artwork remind you of the 1950-60's era and the intense interest we all had in space and spacemen?
http://marsmobile.jpl.nasa.gov/multimedia/resources/mars-posters-explorers-wanted/

I recall there was so much inspiring artwork showing men in spacesuits, even though at the time it was before we had put men in obit around the earth never mind set foot on our moon. Packets of breakfast cereal came with plastic model spacemen and rockets.

It struck me that amateur radio will play a huge part for those who venture to Mars and Phobos, as they will need the type of people who have the practical abilities to improvise and repair equipment while severely restricted in the availability of spare parts.

NASA should do a poster showing an intrepid Mars Soldersmoker with his workbench with some piece of electronic equipment in pieces.
73
David GM4JJJ

-------------------

Jeff K1NSS? 
http://www.dashtoons.com/




Tuesday, June 21, 2016

Some Sympathy from the New York Times Crossword Puzzle


Hi Bill,
Pete "The Crossword Guy" K4PHS here again.
In the New York Times Crossword for Tuesday June 21, 2016 the clue for 52 across is:
"Enough, Enrico!"
And the answer is:
"Basta!"
72, Pete, K4PHS


And from October 5, 2015

Hi Bill,
The clue for #7 across in todays New York Times Monday Mini Crossword puzzle is:
“special talent”
And, of course, the answer is KNACK!
72, de K4PHS Pete
"Keep Calm and Melt Solder"





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