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.
Mentoring
Adventures in Snowblowing
Anyone who lives/has lived in a northern climate knows the joys of having to clean up after a snow storm. Today I after I woke up, I had to do that. First we had to make a trip down to my mum-in-laws place ( a senior community) and clean out her car. The folks who run the place contract for someone to plow the main part of the lots and the sidewalks but they end up burying the residents’ cars, for the most part. Most of the residents don’t have the physical ability to clean their cars off and un bury them. We and other relatives of the residents go down there and clean up.
Once that was done we came back home. I had to purchase some shear pins the other day as 2 of them had snapped in my blower. I went to replace them and found a large rock wedged under the auger on one side. I was able to hammer the rock out of there and then I had to drive the broken pins out of the shaft. Once this was done, I got the blower started and did the clean up in my driveway and the walk up to the house. Gotta love winter!!
Confessions of a pet owner
Recently my wyfe and I have added to our pets. We each have hermit crabs on our respective desks. Hers are named Bowie and Hermie. Mine are Compo and Clegg. Hermits are nocturnal which makes them sorta interesting as they are most active when I am sitting at my radios and computer. I will have to post some pics at a later time. Right now I am trying to get the humidity up in my tank. It is currently about 75% and I would like to see it a bit higher. The temperature is good, stable around 80 F. I have some more tank essentials coming soon. Things for them to climb on and some spare shells for them to use as they get bigger.
We also have 4 cats, each of which has a story. Mote is our oldest at 7 years. He is a grey tabby. His mother, Mabel, left him on our back porch the day before she got killed by a car. We took him in and bottle fed him until he was ready to eat solid food. Mote is cuddly but only on his terms. Marley is Mote’s nephew. Marley looks like Mote except he is bigger … a lot bigger. He weighs almost 30 lbs. He is 6 years old and a real love bucket. Mayhem and Foggy are both 3 years old and from the same litter. Mayhem is a sweet little girl who is a very pretty torti and has a lot of personality. Foggy is a 3 legged turbo charged cyclone. He had to have one of his back legs amputated at a young age because someone kicked him (I have my suspicions but can’t prove it) and broke the leg at the hip. He gets around very well and is lively and entertaining.
That is my list of terrestrial pets. I will post pictures at a later time.
Veterans Day and other stuff
Hi all. First a shout out to all the vets out there. Thank you for your service.
I would like to change the subject a bit and put in a plug for FISTS, the International Morse Preservation Society. This is a group of ham radio operators dedicated to using Morse Code (CW) on the air. The club promotes fellowship and mentoring. From their webpage:
“FISTS is a well established and recognized CW (Morse Code) organization in the world of amateur radio. Founded in 1987 by Geo Longden, G3ZQS, it now has a world-wide membership in the thousands and growing daily.What FISTS wants to accomplish.
1. To further the use of CW on the amateur bands.
2. To encourage newcomers to the CW mode.
3. To engender friendship within the membership.”
Their webpage is http://www.fistsna.org. They hold activities on the air such as sprints and other contests. Best thing of all is there is no dues! You can join online.
Now for something a bit more different, a 1970 film promoting ham radio from the ARRL and posted on Youtube:
Queens and Princesses
Here is a thought I had today. Most of the fairy tales we know and love involve princesses and queens. A certain company that I will not name makes big money off of the movies and merchandise associated with these stories. Think about this: the princesses are all kind, and good natured and faultlessly good. The queens are warped and mean and totally evil. Wait a second …. don’t princesses become queens? Do these wonderful princesses evolve into the epitome of evil when they ascend the throne? The plots of these stories revolve around the evil queen trying to destroy the good princess. What if the queen had received an instinctual or intuitional premonition that the princess will become evil when she becomes a queen and the “evil” queen is trying to save the world from a princess that turns evil? Wouldn’t that make the queen “good” for trying to eliminate “evil”? Food for thought, people.
A book Review
The book I am reviewing today is “Today I Am A Ham” by Ethelyn M Parkinson. My wife found it at a yardsale. For a youth-oriented book, I found it interesting and enjoyable. 14 year old Eric aspires to be a ham while maneuvering through typical family and school and friend issues. He isn’t the athlete that his coach father wants him to be; he also is’t the perfect brother that his drama queen sister wants him to be. He gets the full support of his other sister and, with the help of friends and local adults, he is able to get his ham ticket. As for sports, I will leave that to you. On the whole, it was a good read. Below is a link to some reader reviews:
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1697633.Today_I_Am_a_Ham
A Fresh Start
Howdy. I am starting a new blog about ham radio. It may not be the only subject but it will be the primary focus. Sit back and see where my mind takes us!
According to the ARRL (American Radio Relay League), Amateur Radio (ham radio) is a popular hobby and service that brings people, electronics and communication together. People use ham radio to talk across town, around the world, or even into space, all without the Internet or cell phones. It’s fun, social, educational, and can be a lifeline during times of need.
In this blog I intend to publish matters of interest to hams and to the general public. Feel free to leave me feedback and suggestions!
Nature, Radio, and Me 