Crisis in Cuba?

It would seem that Cuba is now in deep crisis. It was dependent on fuel from Russia and then Venezuela , both of which have essentially gone. 

It goes to show how heavily dependent we are on energy. It could happen in the UK and the EU.

Quantum computing

Whoever gets there first will have an enormous advantage, being able to run calculations so much faster than conventional computers and do analysis fast on a truly huge scale.

Perhaps Microsoft is first? I did not realise this was a year ago!!

See https://news.microsoft.com/source/features/innovation/microsofts-majorana-1-chip-carves-new-path-for-quantum-computing/

UPDATE  1112z: Some scientists appeared to be sceptical about Microsoft's claims pointing to Google's Willow chip. I do not know, but can understand just how important a breakthrough will be to companies and governments.

8m FT8 RX (Saturday)

For fun, I might go on 8m FT8 RX later in the hope of spotting some EAs by Es. If things are dire I may try 6m later.

UPDATE 1225z: Monitoring 8m FT8 RX. Nobody spotted. I may try 6m FT8 later. For now, I shall continue on 8m FT8.

10m FT8 (Saturday)

Today I hope to get to the bottom of why there is no TX audio on FT8 using the IC-705.

Xi and Trump

To me it is clear China is in the ascendancy. For once President Trump, arguably, met his match.

Sunspots - Saturday May 16th

 Solar flux is 101 and the SSN 46. A=35 and K=5.

UK politics

The ruling Labour party has a huge majority. It gained power about two years ago, but it has disappointed many people. 

Many were expecting them to come in and enact radical powers which would help ordinary people. Instead they have dithered and enacted some policies at odds with Labour traditionally. The winners have been the Reform party which has a right wing agenda. As with Brexit 10 years, people have flocked to Reform,  thinking they will return the UK to as it was in the middle of the last century. They think they are listening.

Many have pinned their hopes on Andy Burnham coming back into government and becoming the new Prime Minister. He is the mayor of Manchester and is well liked.

His policies are left wing and if he was elected the bond market and UK pound might suffer.

Iran and bonds

In my view President Trump was foolhardy to go to war with Iran. The ramifications on the world are huge and dangerous. I really hope he can extricate the USA soon.

10m 3W FT8 - NOT!!

Until I can fix my PC I am unlikely to be on 10m FT8. Hopefully it is something stupid that I can fix. 

I have reinstalled WSJT-X so I know it is not that. Next thing to try is to make sure the TX audio is getting to the USB port. It will be fixed soon, but at the moment I am too tired.

10m 200mW WSPR (Friday)

My beacon is on.

UPDATE 1613z:   13 stations have spotted me today, by Es I think. 20 spots of me in the last day. 

UPDATE 2002z: 14 stations spotting me with furthest EA8BFK (2880km). QRT now. See table for those spotting me today.