The nature of time

Our brains have limited size and to most people time is a mystery. Certainly my experience is that time passes faster as we get older. Some believe in some sort of life carrying on after we die. I remain agnostic. 

It would be great to be able to experience again some of the good things in our lives. This brings to mind the famous poem called "A Shropshire Lad" by A.E. Housman.

Into my heart an air that kills
From yon far country blows;
What are those blue remembered hills,
What spires, what farms are those?
That is the land of lost content,
I see it shining plain,
The happy highways where I went 

And cannot come again.

I think this was written overseas, knowing the beloved country of his birth would not be seen again, except in memory.

10m 2.5W FT8 (Saturday)

After a brire period on TX around breakfast (2 English stations spotted me), I am RX only. 

UPDATE 0736z: Just I UK stations spotted in G0FWX (135km).

UPDATE 2000z: 23 stations spotted here today. Now QRT.

Frontline for Times Radio

There are rumours that Russia is looking for an off-ramp in the war against Ukraine.  Time will tell. Will Crimea go back to Ukraine?

Sunspots - Saturday April 18th

Solar flux is 107 and the SSN 50. A=4 and K=3.

Pirate?- I think so!

At totally the wrong time of day and an unbelievable strength, I was supposed to have spotted a station in North Korea on 10m FT8 RX. 

I think we can assume this was a pirate, probably in Europe.

Little things please little minds.

Punting on the Cam

When people come to Cambridge, UK they often like to go on the River Cam in a punt. Even better is to be gently punted by a guide whilst you sip a glass of Pimm's. There are even punts selling Pimm's!

QMX from QRP Labs

 This is a tiny transceiver that now includes SSB. Many are using it for SOTA and POTA activations.

Where are they?

For years we had red-legged partridges in our garden. 

For a long time now, they have not been seen. 

Apparently these introduced birds were bred and released a few miles away, but this has now stopped.

Trump Report

Some think President Trump was insane to go to war with Iran. Many were upset by some of his "falling out" with the Pope. Many in the MAGA movement want him not to get involved in foreign wars and concentrate instead on the USA.

Solid state batteries?

A lot of excitement  (and incredulity!) was created at CES26 when a small start-up company announced it had created a sold-state battery with amazing claims. 

Many just don't believe it, when huge companies with massive manpower and investment have failed. They also claim the battery does not use lithium!

Since then, they have been using an independent lab to carry out a series of "drip feed" tests. The only real test will be a tear-down of an actual production battery. If solid state batteries with enormous ranges come to market soon, this could be truly trasformational.

If true, many would be interested in the IP. Tests so far suggest it is indeed a solid state battery. I think "the jury is still out" although we should soon know.