Growing fast

Our two grandsons are growing up fast. It seems like yesterday they were tiny babies. 

That’s life.

Infinity

Our brains don’t cope with infinity. 

We struggle to think of an infinite universe or an infinite number of universes. 

With infinity every choice we have ever made may actually exist even though we choose one path.   

No, infinity is impossible to imagine.

Shortwave changing

Shortwave use is changing. 

When I was young, there was a raft of shortwave broadcast stations in multiple languages. Many broadcasters have closed for good as most people now get their information by other means including the internet. Some broadcasters have closed to save costs.  

Also many amateur bands are far quieter as a result of modes like FT8.

No, things are very different today.

People may think of shortwaves as a backup when the internet or satellites are not available. It would not surprise me if the military reserves multiple frequencies.

Sunspots - Thursday July 16th

  Solar flux is 100 and the SSN 25. A=12 and K=2.

Effective FT8 communications

 FT8 is a popular mode, especially if you are chasing DX. This video gives some tips to optimise FT8. I think sometimes people use FT8 in preference to SSB or FM. This is good in the short-term, but most are very unlikely to find the hobby by chance.

Google SPAM filter

Gmail puts things in a SPAM folder that it thinks is junk.  Maybe 1 time in 1000 it gets this wrong so I always do a quick check before deleting.

Most times it tells me (again) that all my photos are about to be deleted and someone has a wet "cat" and desires my company 😂 .

Overall, it does a good job.

What if Spain won the FIFA Football World Cup?

There is a real possibility that Spain could win the FIFA Football World Cup .....in the USA. 

President Trump allegedly hates Spain. Hmm.... Interesting.

The Middle East war

It would seem allegedly that President Trump has made a mess in the Middle East.  Iran still has a hard-line government, and the Strait of Hormuz is a choke point. 

President Trump claims a victory and says Iran is desperate for a deal  .... I have lost count how many times he has said this!

10m 200mW WSPR TX (Wednesday)

My beacon was turned on just before breakfast,

UPDATE 2048z:  43 stations have spotted me. I am being spotted in the USA with the best KQ2Y (5476km).  This station is in Connecticut.

Protein - the new advertising fad

Have you noticed how we are being bombarded by adverts that push proteins? It would seem this is the new fad in advertising.