9 May 2026

Very old videos

 Some of these have been colourised in part. I hope they are genuine. They look as if they are real.

No mow May

Many stick with this so flowers can pollinate and spread.  Also many places look much better with the wild flowers. 

Some cut their lawns around the edge, but leave the middle to grow. This way lawns look still tended.

The photo shows the green in our close this morning. I hope it is not cut.

10m 200mW WSPR (Saturday)


My beacon was turned on at 0528z.

UPDATE 0959z: 5 stations have spotted me this morning. See map by VK7JJ of WSPR Rocks.

New life

 

One of my friends on 365project posted this photo. 

It shows a baby bird in Iowa, USA.

AI

Yesterday I asked Google AI (Gemini?) about G3XBM.  To my surprise it was accurate. Previous attempts have often included mistakes. I guess in the last few years AI must have improved.

Where will AI be in another 10 years?

Sunspots - Saturday May 9th

 Solar flux is 120 and the SSN 75. A=12 and K=2.

8 May 2026

UK politics

At the moment in the UK we are in the middle of council elections in some parts of England and elections for the devolved governments in Wales and Scotland. The latter two have only just started counting.

Results in England so far suggest people are turning away for the two parties that have traditionally been in power for about 100 years. 

Instead people are turning to Reform, the Greens and Liberal Democrats. Reform is generally considered more right wing than the Conservatives, whereas the Liberal Democrats and Greens are more left leaning.

Often these elections are seen as a protest vote, but we do seem to be seeing a swing in how people vote.

10m 200mW WSPR TX (Friday)

My Zachtek beacon has been on since breakfast.


UPDATE  2020z: 
13 stations spotted me, presumably Es. See table.  Now QRT.

Iran

There is little doubt that this war has not gone as President Trump expected. 

I am sure now that he wished he had not started it and his popularity at home and across the world has  dropped. 

The USA was once considered a beacon of democracy, but not anymore. The damage done to the reputation of the USA could last generations.


The joys of homebrewing

This video is several years old. The message is clear: don't be afraid to "roll your own". It may not work first time and you may have to find out why. There are a whole variety of things you can try. 

Speaking from personal experience, start with something simple. This is more likely to work first time. If not, it will be easier to find out why.

Overall, have fun!!  It is much more satisfying than "flashing the cash".