I will not mention the page where this happened, but I had a tag line up next to my name which read “Je suis devenu la mort, le destructeur des mondes” which translates into English as “I am become Death, the destroyer of worlds”. This is a famous quote from Oppenheimer referring to the first test of the atomic bomb. I was asked by a moderator (in private which I appreciated) to replace it with something more related to radio. I pointed out the origin and how it was transmitted over the radio and he said that he was aware of this but it might bring complaints from some users. I did take it down as we were conversing and I asked him if someone had complained. He said no but that they have received complaints in the past about some of my tag lines. Ok. Some little thin-skinned snowflake whined to the moderators rather than having the courtesy to say something to me directly. That is so like a grade school kid running to the teacher because someone said something that offended them. When did this world come to this? If I have a problem with someone I address the issue to them rather than whining to an authority figure. If there is no resolution reached then I bring in an outside person. Oh well, the world has turned.
Cats
Wow, just wow
Here are my thoughts as of right now. First off, if your state goes to the effort of installing roundabouts (traffic circles in some areas) then an effort should be made to educate people on how they work. They are supposed to make traffic flow smoothly and folks who pull up to the entrance and sit there waiting for the circle to be completely clear are defeating that purpose. Second, if you pull out in front of someone at least make an effort to get up to the speed limit instead of rolling along at a snails pace. Third, show some courtesy and consideration to truckers. Don’t pull in front of them and slow down, don’t cut them off. Now I do have more things on my mind. You (each and every individual) don’t know everything and your way of doing things is not the only way. If someone shares some information or or an idea with a group, don’t try to show your superiority by making negative comments and/or telling them how wrong they are. By doing this you are not showing anything but how big an asshole you are. 🙂
It was beautiful weather today. I had mown my lawn the other day, right before it snowed and I am glad that I did. It was getting a bit shaggy. Also it was nice to have a bit of slack time this afternoon prior to having to get ready for work. I got to sit with my kittehs and relax …. except for one incident. My largest goldfish somehow found a way to jump out of the aquarium. I picked him and placed him back in the tank. Now we are keeping an eye on him to make sure he is okay.
Enough for now. Namaste, y’all
Coffee and Ham
I am sitting here drinking coffee and sending out calls on my radio. My wyfe and I were outside earlier but now it is time for coffee and radio. I was reading online about how the bands are dead but that doesn’t seem to be the way it is in reality. If you tuned across the bands, you would hear a lot of stations including some participating on QSO parties. My spotting software is also showing a lot of activity, especially from European stations. We are on the upswing of the sunspot cycle and the bands that are higher in frequency are opening up more. There are some special event stations out there to work also.
My cats are all snoozing so I don’t have the fun of shooing them away from my key as I am trying to send. They enjoy hand motion and have to stick their noses into things. They also seem to be attracted to my computer keyboard and can find some really great key combinations to push. I have had to look up combos to get my screen back vertical, etc. Cats are wonderful critters but sometimes do no mix well with radios and computers. TTFN
Ads
Gotta love the ads you get online: wildforkfoods.com/products/fully-cooked-octopus-tentacles
Back to seasonable weather
The weather took a change for the cooler side. I was enjoying the warmth, don’t get me wrong, but there is something to be said for weather that follows the seasons. Iis currently 45F outside (7C for those who are metric) and light rain is falling. Typical for late March. The daffodils are in bloom and I have the pellet stove keeping the chill off of the house. I just lit a stick of balsam fir incense and have a good cup of coffee at hand. A very comfortable evening is shaping up. I am on my radio looking for random contacts and am getting called by a few stations. Why am I writing this? Well consider the fact I could be spouting off about politics or world events, this seems a better choice. We are in a world that prioritizes rushing around and doing things. I think it is better to relax and watch life around me. In a way, I share this philosophy with my cats. Well that is it for now. TTFN
Not quite the Ides
Well, it seems that we are living in interesting times. Folks are sitting on the edges of their seats, drinking in all that they are being told about current events. No matter. The important thing is that band conditions are getting better every day. We are on the upswing of the solar cycle. You can find openings day and night and can always find someone to talk to. I am currently on 17M looking for SKCC and FISTS contacts but will work anyone. There is a sorta zen thing about morse code. The rhythm is relaxing and soothes the spirit. Hearing a reply from a distant station is still thrilling, even with the passage of strange eons. I sit here enjoying my coffee as the remnants of the weather event moves away. It is warm and comfortable and I am thankful for that. My cats are crashed out on the sofa which faces the pellet stove. They are sucking up the heat. My hermit crabs are in the tank behind me and they are moving about, doing hermit crab things. I don’t have to work tonight so I can relax. I think I will leave the radio on for a while to see how many contacts I can make tonight. As I said, the rhythm is soothing. My antennas have lasted the winter in good shape and though Spring is near, don’t need a lot of maintenance. I do need a couple of tree branches cut but that is not critical. I see that I am being spotted on the reflectors and soon someone may be calling me. Again, life is good. TTFN
The end of February
Well here we are, another month of this year gone. Spring is almost here. I wonder sometimes when the Gov’t is going to make Easter, Christmas and New Years Day Monday holidays. I wouldn’t put it past them. We got a new stationary bike the other day. This one is a recumbent bike and is very comfortable. Our former bike was a bike/stair climber/eliptical but my wyfe did not find it comfortable to use. Sh ehas short legs. She scoured the interwebs and found one that is adjustable an seems to work for her well. The only problems is that it required assembly. Don’t get me wrong, I have no problems with projects ike that if the instructions are comprehensible and the assorted parts are easy to access. That was not the case. If it weren’t for the pictures, I would have not been able to follow the assembly manual. I believe the original language of the person who wrote it was an obscure dialect of a long-forgotten language. It was then translated into a succession of 6 other languages before settling on English. The screws and washers were packed neatly on a plastic bubble pack mounted on cardboard. They were very organized and attractive before trying to get to them. I sliced open the compartment where one set of washers was and the whole thing separated from the card backing and it became a jumbled mess of screws and washers. We were able to sort things out and my wonderful and long suffering wyfe kept me sane even though she could not curb my lengthy obscene diatribes about the designer’s parentage. 🙂 Other than that, we had to take one of our cats, Marley, to the vet where he had 7 teeth removed. He is recovering well and seems more comfortable and quite happy. I am off for the next few days and plan on doing a few projects around the place and playing on the radio. For now, peace out!
Extrospective Poem
Since the election
Everybody is in a tizzy
No one seems to focus
Depending on rumors
Needing no verification
Using social media
Defaming others opinions
Ending all true conversation
Seems like the end of civility
Style
A very wise person once said “It is comforting to know that although the moon is much smaller than the Earth, it is also much further away!”
Today I am gonna talk a bit about style. Not a spectacle of anorexic stick-figures strutting down a runway showing off clothes that no one can afford. I am going to make some comments on styles of beer. Beers are categorized by styles as a way to describe characteristics and to provide a map of what to expect for taste, color, thickness, etc. For example, the other day, I kegged a batch of “American Style Brown Ale”. This is an ale, brown in color with a malty backbone and an elevated bitterness. The BJCP defines it as:
19C. American Brown Ale
Overall Impression: A malty but hoppy standard-strength
American ale frequently with chocolate and caramel flavors.
The hop flavor and aroma complement and enhance the malt
rather than clashing with it.
Aroma: Moderate malty-sweet to malty-rich aroma with
chocolate, caramel, nutty, or toasty qualities. Hop aroma is
typically low to moderate, of almost any type that complements
the malt. Some interpretations of the style may optionally
feature a stronger hop aroma, an American or New World hop
character (citrusy, fruity, tropical, etc.), or a dry-hopped
aroma. Fruity esters are moderate to very low. The dark malt
character is more robust than other brown ales, yet stops short
of being overly Porter-like.
Appearance: Light to very dark brown color. Clear. Low to
moderate off-white to light tan head.
Flavor: Medium to moderately-high malty-sweet or maltyrich flavor with chocolate, caramel, nutty, or toasty malt
complexity, with medium to medium-high bitterness. Medium
to medium-dry finish with an aftertaste of both malt and hops.
Light to moderate hop flavor, sometimes citrusy, fruity, or
tropical, although any hop flavor that complements the malt is
acceptable. Very low to moderate fruity esters. The malt and
hops are generally equal in intensity, but the balance can vary
in either direction. Should not have a roasted character
suggestive of a Porter or Stout.
Mouthfeel: Medium to medium-full body. More bitter
versions may have a dry, resiny impression. Moderate to
moderately-high carbonation. Stronger versions may be lightly
warming.
Comments: Most commercial American Browns are not as
aggressive as the original homebrewed versions, and some
modern craft-brewed examples. This style reflects the current
commercial offerings typically marketed as American Brown
Ales rather than the hoppier, stronger homebrew versions from
the early days of homebrewing. These IPA-strength brown ales
should be entered as 21B Specialty IPA: Brown IPA.
History: An American style from the early modern craft beer
era. Derived from English Brown Ales, but with more hops.
Pete’s Wicked Ale (1986) defined the style, which was first
judged at the Great American Beer Festival in 1992.
Characteristic Ingredients: Pale malt, plus crystal and
darker malts (typically chocolate). American hops are typical,
but continental or New World hops can also be used.
Style Comparison: More chocolate and caramel flavors than
American Pale or Amber Ales, typically with less prominent
bitterness in the balance. Less bitterness, alcohol, and hop
character than Brown IPAs. More bitter and generally hoppier
than English Brown Ales, with a richer malt presence, usually
higher alcohol, and American or New World hop character.
Vital Statistics: OG: 1.045 – 1.060
IBUs: 20 – 30 FG: 1.010 – 1.016
SRM: 18 – 35 ABV: 4.3 – 6.2%
Commercial Examples: Avery Ellie’s Brown Ale, Big Sky
Moose Drool Brown Ale, Brooklyn Brown Ale, Bell’s Best
Brown, Smuttynose Old Brown Dog Ale, Telluride Face Down
Brown
Tags: standard-strength, dark-color, top-fermented, northamerica, craft-style, brown-ale-family, balanced, hoppy
WHEW! Quite a lot to think about there. The way I think about it is : A dark beer for sipping on while passing a pleasant evening interacting with my cats and reading a good book or watching a series. It has the taste of comfort and good feelings.
I know my definition is vague and very subjective but that is the way I think. Brewing beer is an art form. I make what I think will taste good and worry about classifying it after it is done, if ever. If I want something based on science and pure methods, I will turn on my ham radio (also very enjoyable).
As always, namaste!
Reflections (not the song)
Here it is, the day before a predicted storm and I am sitting here thinking about stuff. I like to watch science shows and learn from them, for instance, how the human genome includes around 2.5% neanderthal DNA if you are not of African extraction. Addictive personalities are caused by some of the genes. Neat stuff. Somewhere out there in the cosmos is a quasar pointed towards the Earth that might have fired off a gamma ray burst and will wipe us out. This event could have happened millions of years ago and might not hit us for millions more … or could hit tomorrow. Cats were once worshiped as Gods and still behave as if they ARE Gods. And here is something to ponder: on January 15th 1919 a tank holding 2.3 million gallons of molasses in Boston burst open and a wave of black sticky sweet molasses flowed through the streets at about 35 MPH, killing 21 and injuring 150 others. Life can be funny that way.
Nature, Radio, and Me 