tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151682672024-03-07T03:19:00.121-05:00follow that qar!An unintended reference to question-and-answer relationships. <br>Begun experimentally, maintained sporadically, and focused personally.scott.xothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10195951997443295501noreply@blogger.comBlogger215125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15168267.post-30207934420309771462021-12-22T08:16:00.003-05:002021-12-22T08:16:49.556-05:00SOTA: Gulf Road HP, December 14, 2021<p>I was a SOTA neophyte when I discovered this summit not far from home. It took a fair bit of head scratching to work out what HP meant: High Point. At 340 m (1115 ft), it's not all that high a point, but a summit is a summit and this one has become a favorite.</p><p>The <a href="https://www.shapleigh.net/ConservationCommission.cfm">Town of Shapleigh</a> has managed 300 acres here as the "Williams Property" (<a href="http://www.shapleigh.net/files/WILLIAMS_BRCH_2012.pdf" target="_blank">brochure PDF</a>) since it was donated to the townspeople in November 2011. <a href="https://mainebyfoot.com/williams-town-park-shapleigh/">There's a nice description of "Williams Town Park" on Maine By Foot</a>. </p><p>Despite its ease of access and proximity to population centers, the summit has only been <a href="https://summits.sota.org.uk/activity/W1/AM-300">activated 10 times through 2021</a>. It was the first summit I activated specifically for SOTA, when I took a long lunch for a warmish January trudge over snow to the quiet peak. That inaugural activation began with a summit-to-summit contact via satellite with KE9AJ, an auspicious start. I managed 4 more satellite QSOs that day, plus I made eight contacts on 30 meters for an acceptable first effort. My failure to make a single 20-meter QSO was my cue to "do better" next time.<br /></p><p>I returned to Gulf Road for the Trans-Atlantic S2S event in November last year, even though I wouldn't gain credit for the activation (the intelligent once-a-year rule). Making 53 contacts that day, many of them with European summits, was a thrill; the day still ranks #1 in my brief SOTA career.</p><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">Logging done: 53 QSOs in 12 countries and 14 states from Bulgaria to California with 24(!) summit to summit contacts taking me from 29 to 102 S2S points <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/summitsontheair?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#summitsontheair</a> <a href="https://t.co/Y18sp4UARh">pic.twitter.com/Y18sp4UARh</a></p>— N1AIA (@scottN1AIA) <a href="https://twitter.com/scottN1AIA/status/1325419374992371713?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 8, 2020</a></blockquote> <script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script> <p></p><p>This month's operation was my sixth activation of 2021, my target number for the year. I brought a quarter-wave ground plane for 20 and a dipole cut for 30 and, thankfully, the vertical performed. I quickly worked through a pileup on 20, then took that antenna down and raised the other. A single QSO on 10 MHz, even after being spotted, was disappointing. I'm still not sure if it was conditions, my antenna, or simple inactivity. A few calls on 2-meter simplex netted nothing, so I was soon on my way. <br /></p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">Finally ✅ another new year’s radio resolution by putting my 6th summit on the air in 2021. 20m vertical comes through again, with 25 Qs in 21 minutes… at least a dozen states and 3 DX, with quite a few new calls. Sunny and 40s—great for December. <a href="https://t.co/g4SFAuxSHd">pic.twitter.com/g4SFAuxSHd</a></p>— N1AIA (@scottN1AIA) <a href="https://twitter.com/scottN1AIA/status/1470927079973826563?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 15, 2021</a></blockquote><p>On each visit to Williams Town Park, I have taken the short, steeper
route to the summit and back, but this time I completed the loop and
gained even more respect for this lovely park. A stellar view of
the White Mountains and a passage by two small ponds convinced me to
return in the spring for my 2022 activation.</p> <script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script> scott.xothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10195951997443295501noreply@blogger.com0Williams Town Park, 126-298 County Rd, Shapleigh, ME 04076, USA43.543369200000008 -70.80438815.233135363821162 -105.960638 71.853603036178853 -35.648138tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15168267.post-20506135357515589522021-11-07T22:03:00.004-05:002021-11-08T19:57:38.933-05:00SOTA: Parker Mountain, November 6, 2021<p>My first Trans-Atlantic S2S QSO Party, in November 2020, was <a href="https://reflector.sota.org.uk/t/trans-atlantic-s2s-qso-party-7th-november-2020-part-2-reports/24280/26">so much fun</a> I was sure to try again. When the first Saturday of November was announced for the 2021 event, I quickly put it on my calendar and hoped for decent weather. I got my wish. The forecast called for clear and comfortable.<br /></p><p>A couple of days ahead, I posted an alert for W1/NL-010 (Parker Mountain) at 1330 UTC. At 1,410 feet, this peak doesn't offer much elevation advantage, but it's only a half-hour drive from home and I had <a href="https://xots.blogspot.com/2020/12/sota-parker-mountain-december-31-2020.html">not yet activated it this year</a>.<br /></p><p>I hadn't even reached the trailhead by 1300 (9 a.m local), but I was close enough by then to stop at a roadside high point for a quick photo of my destination. I pulled into a parking lot, popped out of the car, greeted the camo-uniformed soldier who was happening by, and got my landscape shot. I was just about to pull away when a steady stream of <a href="https://www.yellowribbon.mil/cms/about-us/" target="_blank">yellow-ribboned</a> cadets poured out of the white-trimmed brick building that serves as a National Guard Training Center. I'm guessing they were staging on their way to <a href="https://www.facebook.com/157ARW/photos/a.168044963257698/4603771986351618/?type=3" target="_blank">a nearby training exercise</a>.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF2_lu7wp8MY7MD64TOJaCLn-mn2HKJdGkk4We_kPdLGRQ9oKyKPUuxLAikStWDFkNWi8rOeydTElROJpnRtSSWeplmrnyiRTW-vrlZLqkNNx4Vz1NNTxn0mF2MPcTci4zGZiu/s2048/IMG_4543.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1313" data-original-width="2048" height="410" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF2_lu7wp8MY7MD64TOJaCLn-mn2HKJdGkk4We_kPdLGRQ9oKyKPUuxLAikStWDFkNWi8rOeydTElROJpnRtSSWeplmrnyiRTW-vrlZLqkNNx4Vz1NNTxn0mF2MPcTci4zGZiu/w640-h410/IMG_4543.jpg" width="640" /></a></div> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdKu0mdEfYRLgnTPGYEz_tqXv6QzrMrxL9CZ3g12QaVVJmOnQqyBuPppT-bAq2B9c9bxGt5KW9YFjH16xCkIIpvuNQxZCr_-7gmomSFJ676sWIi0wFGpWbwVM9L4lzaGT13k5N/s2048/IMG_4600.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdKu0mdEfYRLgnTPGYEz_tqXv6QzrMrxL9CZ3g12QaVVJmOnQqyBuPppT-bAq2B9c9bxGt5KW9YFjH16xCkIIpvuNQxZCr_-7gmomSFJ676sWIi0wFGpWbwVM9L4lzaGT13k5N/w640-h480/IMG_4600.JPG" width="640" /></a><h2 style="text-align: left;">Going Up<br /></h2><p>The climb started mostly level then steepened enough that I stopped more than once for breath. Despite an overnight that went to subzero-C, seeps were flowing and I saw no ice. The woods were full of yellow and brown, with foliage well past peak. I scattered juncos twice and occasionally heard a nuthatch or chickadee, but overall it was quiet on the 40-minute climb. Along the way I grabbed one of the geocaches I missed on my last visit.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWzOXh6sT7EJS8juRZ4Kn-cwurV97_TtTGnZsmbjB8L0_ZE4_DJbp5-51HR2E_A_BTV0N3z1FAUxxgrkVB3Qe9gV3TgLvgwxopUzIenXBCnflnkGH2IEQhTxn30QpfECPbQncg/s2048/IMG_4592.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWzOXh6sT7EJS8juRZ4Kn-cwurV97_TtTGnZsmbjB8L0_ZE4_DJbp5-51HR2E_A_BTV0N3z1FAUxxgrkVB3Qe9gV3TgLvgwxopUzIenXBCnflnkGH2IEQhTxn30QpfECPbQncg/w480-h640/IMG_4592.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-9KxUsGJ6OF5B-AKRTLIvoBqqar44lE4ShN1DFb2LwGpx9JoVMkrOW_0-zdHTZicWY8_HpifOPd7ev23HGpgZtDucX2X6n3WDS7UrFZ3Pxr-sbjlImY2aLYlMcR8qSs_xAVbC/s2048/IMG_4547.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-9KxUsGJ6OF5B-AKRTLIvoBqqar44lE4ShN1DFb2LwGpx9JoVMkrOW_0-zdHTZicWY8_HpifOPd7ev23HGpgZtDucX2X6n3WDS7UrFZ3Pxr-sbjlImY2aLYlMcR8qSs_xAVbC/w480-h640/IMG_4547.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><p></p><h2 style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXgk6qzPZ7QCp6i_YEGMFNuDQEHxDp63w49cdQ4GLWCxkKHKQBmfXL-G0AkS0dX1bN-jzxUipe8BBJQORBUOCkDbBQORylW8WHWvQjN7IPEr1EVN2_MxfXp3BP9Horg7LsiPn-/s2048/IMG_4549.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1552" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXgk6qzPZ7QCp6i_YEGMFNuDQEHxDp63w49cdQ4GLWCxkKHKQBmfXL-G0AkS0dX1bN-jzxUipe8BBJQORBUOCkDbBQORylW8WHWvQjN7IPEr1EVN2_MxfXp3BP9Horg7LsiPn-/w486-h640/IMG_4549.jpg" width="486" /></a></div></h2><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrbjvvN6HazhENg6SiXLoc75yltrl92CYzRH-gCvJmTeX7fc1eg3Hkct6wzG41OTd8DCfKnFlLk0POA7MLx7m6vChhdFB4CoqCKOiBJRwGykVQz2ijh4-ojb0mm76PeiLwN-0b/s2048/IMG_4548.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1320" data-original-width="2048" height="258" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrbjvvN6HazhENg6SiXLoc75yltrl92CYzRH-gCvJmTeX7fc1eg3Hkct6wzG41OTd8DCfKnFlLk0POA7MLx7m6vChhdFB4CoqCKOiBJRwGykVQz2ijh4-ojb0mm76PeiLwN-0b/w400-h258/IMG_4548.jpg" title="As found" width="400" /></a></div><br /><h2 style="text-align: left;">Activation</h2><p>Up top I wasted no time getting wires unwound. I found a tree to elevate my 20-foot crappie pole and tied off two radials. The tuner relays in my trusty K1 clicked about twice to reach a 1.1:1 SWR and I started listening at 14:30 zulu. Tuning up from 14.060, I promptly heard Fredi, FM/HB9BHU/P, and we exchanged 559s for my first trans-Atlantic summit-to-summit contact of the day. I had been imagining Europe, but hey, it was all ocean between me and Martinique!</p><p>I pounced on DL4FO/P and N6AN then called CQ. It was slow going; with so many summits on the air, I think chasers were distracted. I did myself no favors by forgetting I had RIT on for a while, so I think I missed a couple of callers who I thought were chasing others.<br /></p><p>After 2 hours on 20 CW, I had made 34 contacts, 20 of them on summits: 7 USA, 7 Spain, 3 Switzerland, 2 Germany, and that surprise Swiss op in the Caribbean. </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmi4zuwwDA0NGvv454pM0UwuegBdqooLbDaWgZeBLY0XPwuHlR9sdNAITRI8ISuBJw8vH5c8lo91NFGyzUTCYXxrm_BPnxUcHGeS8zAWgBhPrkvthb__CMAN4AjWF7AhBFVy1Q/s2048/IMG_4581.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmi4zuwwDA0NGvv454pM0UwuegBdqooLbDaWgZeBLY0XPwuHlR9sdNAITRI8ISuBJw8vH5c8lo91NFGyzUTCYXxrm_BPnxUcHGeS8zAWgBhPrkvthb__CMAN4AjWF7AhBFVy1Q/w640-h480/IMG_4581.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p></p><h2 style="text-align: left;"></h2><h2 style="text-align: left;">Climbing Down</h2><p></p><p>On the way back down, I took an off-trail detour to another geocache. Descending the ledges, stepping between boulders strewn with newly fallen leaves, was a little worrying, but I made it safely down and quickly found the cache and the plane crash it memorializes.<br /></p><p>Back home, I pieced this much together (bearing in mind Internet unreliability): Seventy-five years ago, in early May 1946, a Grumman G-21 Goose piloted by Robert C. Johns and carrying Leslie Louis LeVeque and his wife Elsa Will LeVeque <a href="https://aviation-safety.net/wikibase/type/G21" target="_blank">crashed into Mount Parker</a> during a rainstorm, killing all three. They may have been en route between Portland, Maine, and Columbus, Ohio, where LeVeque was a consequential real estate developer (his company was involved with an amusement park, bowling lanes, and an apartment complex on the banks of the Olentangy River). Just prior to his death, LeVeque had invested with a partner in what is today <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LeVeque_Tower" target="_blank">LeVeque Tower</a>, an art deco skyscraper that, when completed in 1927, was the tallest building in Columbus and fifth tallest building in the world. When word got out the LeVeques may have had a box of jewels aboard the ill-fated plane, locals flocked to the crash site—but they discovered none. Apparently the box was <a href="https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1994-07-17-mn-16600-story.html" target="_blank">in a hotel-room safe</a> in New York.</p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUGIy_4WOymXVzDV33Ffw7Owznk9esQZXqpaiyN8E2jkRJY_Q4wkHGLzDMcM7Oejqi9PbuvjdTwA96rJB-OA4hl2q_vyjkuRDrGJG_TP8ZhH4rOCt45wCmXC-qVJdMOSfgWJ6p/s2048/IMG_4586.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUGIy_4WOymXVzDV33Ffw7Owznk9esQZXqpaiyN8E2jkRJY_Q4wkHGLzDMcM7Oejqi9PbuvjdTwA96rJB-OA4hl2q_vyjkuRDrGJG_TP8ZhH4rOCt45wCmXC-qVJdMOSfgWJ6p/w480-h640/IMG_4586.JPG" width="480" /></a>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB7w3FCNQROGgsj1ASZ-Lme88M1imJI7hHsuvLtQdlG2MbE5eTfu_gM6HkYj6htPDH9yPQbrWbHYTgwZoJDaCuN8jDARgjrU7diBZva-ehvRA7JDUE0uLptogwPRUHSbY_s29u/s2048/IMG_4584.JPG" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB7w3FCNQROGgsj1ASZ-Lme88M1imJI7hHsuvLtQdlG2MbE5eTfu_gM6HkYj6htPDH9yPQbrWbHYTgwZoJDaCuN8jDARgjrU7diBZva-ehvRA7JDUE0uLptogwPRUHSbY_s29u/s400/IMG_4584.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRNC8eeTUUNaEG0QPbQN4DkyZGY4TTaL4U0R_kIqpMNag2VOZle60BUZ-YB7Or3GOYuZoHyJ7DSrxHGtD_Crb8qnePZzgQLSQNQfAFZbNOMVZJDhICt64cEZO0Y0F8tbb6SuMI/s2048/IMG_4585.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1435" data-original-width="2048" height="280" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRNC8eeTUUNaEG0QPbQN4DkyZGY4TTaL4U0R_kIqpMNag2VOZle60BUZ-YB7Or3GOYuZoHyJ7DSrxHGtD_Crb8qnePZzgQLSQNQfAFZbNOMVZJDhICt64cEZO0Y0F8tbb6SuMI/w400-h280/IMG_4585.jpg" width="400" /></a>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpBxfPV0mVdgnH437bVFWmsQWDh7icd_MmA6IxZZEYuNBgPerGB9rf-SLYqVSKP2JiN7XWrSoXKce3OHe962hdKAYuakiYle7Xe6Jtmonqwt45NeYLbAFNGC-t2CUCQNSgpoN-/s2048/IMG_4587.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpBxfPV0mVdgnH437bVFWmsQWDh7icd_MmA6IxZZEYuNBgPerGB9rf-SLYqVSKP2JiN7XWrSoXKce3OHe962hdKAYuakiYle7Xe6Jtmonqwt45NeYLbAFNGC-t2CUCQNSgpoN-/w400-h300/IMG_4587.JPG" width="400" /></a>
</div>
<p style="text-align: left;">To get back to the car, I decided to climb back up the ledges gradually at an angle, hoping to reconnect with the trail below its steepest part. While ascending I encountered a lovely wildflower somehow still in bloom. Now that I have discovered its name, <i>Corydalis sempervirens</i>, I'll think of it as another memorial to those lost in the crash (<i>semper virens</i> = always flourishing, always green).</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4szbOXjR67tnTV3MsWiCIVNwU9Y9ANOVcI3AdFQFFfUiLMWcOfyv_2QFmhp8Qj2h6obtxJWEZ3fV4pJ6Vuk6FnS1UF6de66MqYmCiDsbdSS3frkcGxDYJ_jSE0Vs6dT0GJuEL/s2048/IMG_4590.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1398" data-original-width="2048" height="436" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4szbOXjR67tnTV3MsWiCIVNwU9Y9ANOVcI3AdFQFFfUiLMWcOfyv_2QFmhp8Qj2h6obtxJWEZ3fV4pJ6Vuk6FnS1UF6de66MqYmCiDsbdSS3frkcGxDYJ_jSE0Vs6dT0GJuEL/w640-h436/IMG_4590.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<h2 style="text-align: left;">Addenda</h2>
<p style="text-align: left;">On the location... The Spencer Smith Trail is within the <a href="http://www.strafford.nh.gov/images/Misc%20and%20Other/map%20of%20strafford%20town%20forest.pdf">Strafford Town Forest</a> (PDF). The area is also the ancestral and present-day homeland of the Abenaki, Pennacook, and Wabanaki people.</p>
<p style="text-align: left;">On the crash... If anyone has a copy of the <i>Biddeford Daily Journal</i> from May 7, 1946, it looks like a photo of the wreckage is on the front page. A search for contemporary accounts from southern New Hampshire and Columbus could make interesting reading.</p><p style="text-align: left;">On geocaching along the Spencer Smith Trail...<br /></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBrg37mua3i1HkFZ-cPJgzsb96Vhlvb5Ln8tJj62s4PntzwkFkupZnrSizKqKKqnd1_P92oBPexjuqeN3v08RqxtnOlAWbAwwwcYpZgaa5it2QdbGx82n8lycXQYet0lGFFknr/s739/IMG_4602.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="739" data-original-width="698" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBrg37mua3i1HkFZ-cPJgzsb96Vhlvb5Ln8tJj62s4PntzwkFkupZnrSizKqKKqnd1_P92oBPexjuqeN3v08RqxtnOlAWbAwwwcYpZgaa5it2QdbGx82n8lycXQYet0lGFFknr/w378-h400/IMG_4602.jpg" width="378" /></a></div> <br /><p></p></div></div>scott.xothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10195951997443295501noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15168267.post-36740290412195295912021-10-03T20:32:00.007-04:002021-10-30T20:26:11.847-04:00AMSAT Looks for an Easy-Sat Answer<p>For at least two decades, most radio amateurs getting involved with satellite communications have started on the "easy sats," FM birds that simplify hams' first forays into space. During this time, four satellites produced by AMSAT North America have been wildly popular. Two of them, AO-51 (2004-2011) and AO-85 (2015-2020), are now defunct. The others, AO-91 (2017- ) and AO-92 (2018- ), are limping toward their demise. While a few other FM satellites remain operational, and FM repeater operations are sometimes scheduled from the International Space Station, AMSAT-NA recently acknowledged it should have a role in repopulating the easy-sat stage. <br /></p>
<p>
<a href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:AO-51-2.jpg" title="VE4NSA, CC BY-SA 3.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0>, via Wikimedia Commons"><img alt="Echo, or AO-51, in the lab. Photo: VE4NSA via Wikimedia Commons CC BY-SA 3.0" height="480" src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/ce/AO-51-2.jpg/1024px-AO-51-2.jpg" title="Echo, or AO-51, in the lab. Photo: VE4NSA" width="640" /> </a></p>
<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">AO-51, launched in 2004, was operational for more than 7 years. Photo: VE4NSA.</span></span></div>
<p>In its <a href="https://www.amsat.org/strategicplan/">2021-2035 Strategic Plan</a>, AMSAT committed to developing, deploying, and supporting a series of cubesats to operate in low Earth orbit (LEO). And in the July/August <a href="https://www.amsat.org/apogeeview/" target="_blank">Apogee View</a>, President Robert Bankston, KE4AL, prioritized options for meeting that promise.</p>
<h3 style="text-align: left;">Three Potential Paths</h3>
<p>The AMSAT Board of Directors understandably rejects diverting or dividing the engineers now volunteering on the GOLF project (Greater Orbit, Larger Footprint). That's simply being realistic. The long-term advancement of amateur radio in space and the motivation of today's engaged volunteers are likely tied to this initiative. That means a separate, simultaneous effort is needed for FM LEO.<br /></p><p>Bankston broaches and squelches the idea of an open-source solution in the span of a single sentence. Open source, he says, would work for design, but "there is no current precedent to allow the open-source building of a satellite under U.S. Export Administration Regulations."</p>
<p>Claiming lack of precedent is out of character for an organization that takes pride in its pioneering past. More likely, the reticence reflects AMSAT's stance on open-source spacecraft: anathema. For years AMSAT has bemoaned the constrictions of federal regulation, yet has necessarily adapted to that ecosystem. It has been reasonably effective within this niche, but has it become too comfortable wearing the bonds?<br /></p><p>The third option, which by elimination is deemed the best, is to follow a commercial route to space. Bankston reports that just one company produces a 1U cubesat with an FM repeater and reveals a price tag over $283,000 for getting it ready and into orbit (with its flight spare standing by on Earth). A roughly equal amount would buy and launch two successors at intervals meant to ensure continued easy-sat availability over a decade.<br /></p>
<p>AMSAT's course correction earlier this year, affirming the critical importance of FM repeaters in space, puts it in a tight spot. Which is the board willing to risk: Alienating the GOLF project team? Reaching a potential dead end on an open-source road? Or tarnishing its DIY reputation by injecting an appliance into orbit?</p><p>The most expedient route will satisfy most easy-sat ops and may even bolster the user base, but will donors accept buy-and-fly as a worthy stop-gap or reject it for being beyond the bounds of the AMSAT mission?<br /></p><h2 style="text-align: left;">
Update, October 11<br /></h2><p style="text-align: left;">I was curious about others' views so put a poll up on Twitter, where many of those who follow me are active satellite operators. Fewer than expected expressed an opinion. It was a very balanced outcome.<br /></p><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">The latest Apogee View touches on 3 ways to get the next AMSAT-NA "easy sat" ready for orbit. Two are rejected. One is "the best." How would you prepare the next FM CubeSat for launch? Read the challenges here: <a href="https://t.co/xzsvxXk8Sa">https://t.co/xzsvxXk8Sa</a>.<br /><br />*unsanctioned poll* This is just for fun.</p>— N1AIA (@scottN1AIA) <a href="https://twitter.com/scottN1AIA/status/1444987494936756227?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 4, 2021</a></blockquote><h2 style="text-align: left;">Update 2, October 30<br /></h2><p>The AMSAT-NA Board of Directors on October 29 approved the commercial avenue while deftly requiring 90 percent of the funding to come from external sources. The decision was announced at AMSAT's annual meeting today. Good luck, development team!<br /></p><p>In his remarks, AMSAT President Robert Bankston, KE4AL, dropped a heavy hint that the organization is working toward internal development of future easy-sats. He acknowledged that current volunteers are stretched to the limit so recruitment of new talent will be essential.<br /></p> <script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script> scott.xothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10195951997443295501noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15168267.post-52898331525007002712021-09-19T17:52:00.006-04:002021-09-22T19:42:17.901-04:00SOTA: Pine Mountain, September 18, 2021<p>For a combination <a href="https://www.newenglandqrp.org/qrp-afield-2018/">QRP Afield</a> / <a href="http://w1wqm.org/nhqso/">New Hampshire QSO Party</a> / <a href="https://summits.sota.org.uk/">SOTA</a> excursion, I went to Pine Mountain (<a href="https://summits.sota.org.uk/activity/W1/NL-022">W1/NL-022</a>) in Alton, Belknap County, New Hampshire, a 45-minute drive. The summit is within the <a href="https://forestsociety.org/property/evelyn-h-albert-d-morse-sr-preserve">Evelyn H. & Albert D. Morse, Sr. Preserve</a>, a property of the Society for the Protection of New Hampshire Forests. </p><p>Google delivered me to the non-preferred parking place, which is a narrow, gravel roadside sloping to a ditch. I was the only one there. <br /></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://forestsociety.org/sites/default/files/162_map.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="618" height="800" src="https://forestsociety.org/sites/default/files/162_map.png" width="618" /></a></div>I walked the Mary Jane Morse Greenwood Trail, 1.2 kilometers and "strenuous" per SPNHF, with tall weeds and waist-high saplings in its center. Going up, I counted 7 monarchs, 1 woman, and 1 dog.<p></p>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYLvqhIwRKq_TryZo_O7uKWY9RvVePZglZfKUE6mPuiSAx_o9sVyrFWIUURaBb9Mbl6f9WPPzucbNA8uUH_OwverdBsEHDRBpt5aLAZL_ACAMC6UeIFqhU1YGvRR0ipW1beVuN/s2048/IMG_4361%255B1%255D.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYLvqhIwRKq_TryZo_O7uKWY9RvVePZglZfKUE6mPuiSAx_o9sVyrFWIUURaBb9Mbl6f9WPPzucbNA8uUH_OwverdBsEHDRBpt5aLAZL_ACAMC6UeIFqhU1YGvRR0ipW1beVuN/w480-h640/IMG_4361%255B1%255D.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The "Do Not Block Gate" sign is just to the right of this one.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWV7SIIsfz0OWMelMXRjSaiSXWBkL7TPrKbe-YN-QeYU9Q84uHQRur7sR34ZFDg_EchJM1hXIM0KxuCSLjOxR7Ux9Hqr5tRvtyw1eassiwRsqA57hRZp771WmJmRdNqg4HnHBl/s2048/IMG_4367%255B1%255D.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWV7SIIsfz0OWMelMXRjSaiSXWBkL7TPrKbe-YN-QeYU9Q84uHQRur7sR34ZFDg_EchJM1hXIM0KxuCSLjOxR7Ux9Hqr5tRvtyw1eassiwRsqA57hRZp771WmJmRdNqg4HnHBl/w640-h480/IMG_4367%255B1%255D.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Monarch migration is under way. I counted 7 on the hike up and viewed others from the summit.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table>
<br /><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNB-F0u_tcBxF7Fl4thLdVimdqmisvIsDO2hrwjTmyhW3OQVq6gA9b1rwwE_9OTSZc2exPnoeBrHkXlwqlfMwZAY6ttB37Fu_IdBIycxcPz3uufb3yK4Swsw3tep3R_V7GTPZ3/s2048/IMG_4370%255B1%255D.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNB-F0u_tcBxF7Fl4thLdVimdqmisvIsDO2hrwjTmyhW3OQVq6gA9b1rwwE_9OTSZc2exPnoeBrHkXlwqlfMwZAY6ttB37Fu_IdBIycxcPz3uufb3yK4Swsw3tep3R_V7GTPZ3/w640-h480/IMG_4370%255B1%255D.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><p>My one roadblock was easy to overcome.<br /></p></td></tr></tbody></table><br />
<p></p><p>Up top, I was surprised to find more people — a hawk watcher and two others. Since there hadn't been any other cars along the road, I thought I'd be alone. The main trail delivered another dozen people over the next 3 hours. </p><p>The summit was brushy but bald enough for me to find an out-of-the-way spot with a convenient pine for holding a wire. The deployment wasn't the best and, once again, I was weaker than I should have been. Twenty meters was my only reliable band. That's where I met my SOTA and NHQP goals and logged a few for QRP Afield, just 2 of whom sent NEQRP numbers: W0ITT and W1PID.<br /></p><p>I mistakenly wrote W1/NL-002 on my logbook cheat sheet and sent the wrong reference during a couple of early CQs and my first summit-to-summit contact (corrected via email). On my 12th QSO, AC1Z (tnx Bob) informed me of my error (from W4V/HB-033!) and I stopped pretending I was on Belknap; spots were correct. I logged 38 on HF while participating in the Scandinavian Activity Contest, Washington State Salmon Run, Texas and Iowa QSO parties, Wisconsin Parks on the Air event, and the aforementioned on-air activities. I missed the NJQP, failed to get the attention of WB1Z (WBZ centenary), and didn't hear W1Chowdercon. It was the 37th activation of Pine Mountain and 11th this year (5 by AC1Z). </p>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgceA2xLIOFOM4Ch9dV1iNvgwm94jgDT7ad_QqHdfzTSIPl3VwtEgLzOGRIkia60gu_-UA0nFfJJeGLjdtyT_ayWZ3Pal_l6nkwiuJQJc7JM6XUcat7FTrO5OyzNSJXakNrSYFb/s2048/IMG_4368%255B1%255D.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgceA2xLIOFOM4Ch9dV1iNvgwm94jgDT7ad_QqHdfzTSIPl3VwtEgLzOGRIkia60gu_-UA0nFfJJeGLjdtyT_ayWZ3Pal_l6nkwiuJQJc7JM6XUcat7FTrO5OyzNSJXakNrSYFb/w640-h480/IMG_4368%255B1%255D.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Alton Bay opens up to Lake Winnipesaukee. This view comes from below the summit, where the early-seral brushland meets the forest edge.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table>
<p>After 2 hours operating (15:50-17:50 UTC), I packed up and put out a few calls on 146.58 and .52, raising nothing. I watched for hawks, looked for a geocache, and after an hour tried one last plea on .52. Success! <a href="https://km1ndy.com/summits-on-the-air-whiteface-passaconaway/">KM1NDY</a> had apparently just summited Whiteface Mountain and gave me a S2S and the Grafton multiplier (my only NH in the NHQP).</p><p>My original plan had me activating 3 other counties in the afternoon, but first I tarried then I decided to skip the driving. The Salmon Run, especially, left little room for a QRP CQ in a party that paled by comparison. I didn't want the day to devolve into frustration.</p>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2OPO0sA6L4EKL0qkOiRSx8OvN1UWXw-tRCHZC9iJIPO7IwP2Rzft_LvbG-GrCweJfMK55to9VG-eSdkCz9DCf1sW_qGIAdRgUvsZZhBGp2TRTV_6M_q96guiAmWp2W0JjpDP9/s2048/IMG_4371%255B1%255D.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2OPO0sA6L4EKL0qkOiRSx8OvN1UWXw-tRCHZC9iJIPO7IwP2Rzft_LvbG-GrCweJfMK55to9VG-eSdkCz9DCf1sW_qGIAdRgUvsZZhBGp2TRTV_6M_q96guiAmWp2W0JjpDP9/w640-h480/IMG_4371%255B1%255D.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mindy and her hiking ham pal are out there. Whiteface is about 1/4 of the way toward the right edge of the plaque, number 2 in the Ossipee Mountains group, but way over to the left on the real horizon.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table>
<br /><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>Would activate again. </li><li>Winter is well within reason (11 activations in January and February). </li><li>Next time, use the town forest parking lot.</li></ul><p> </p><p><br /></p>scott.xothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10195951997443295501noreply@blogger.com0Alton, NH, USA43.4543228 -71.218972115.144088963821154 -106.3752221 71.764556636178838 -36.0627221tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15168267.post-38640277461996150522021-06-26T22:25:00.000-04:002021-06-26T22:25:02.755-04:00SOTA: Province Mountain, June 10, 2021<p>In my continuing quest to spend time hiking and operating rather than driving on my Summits on the Air excursions I chose Province Mountain, less than an hour's travel from home and an easy, quick climb to a partial view.</p><p>I also like clarity about permission and certainty about my route up. I found <a href="https://summits.sota.org.uk/summit/W1/AM-409">W1/AM-409</a> met both criteria.<br /></p><p></p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnygmCxxyt3YOXrBENQJZ-D8o22lprv7zvdT0u4hxWW_lMjxNjiPp3UQ1wC4_wEY50pj5TjqSSBPxjy9T34ex02UEhXJAApwj77pA73pr3S5oXZLXFD4wsKT-WwYT4PqFZk-Cy/s2048/IMG_4004.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Sign says: This is a private drive. Mountain hikers are welcome. Please park below the gate. Have a nice day." border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnygmCxxyt3YOXrBENQJZ-D8o22lprv7zvdT0u4hxWW_lMjxNjiPp3UQ1wC4_wEY50pj5TjqSSBPxjy9T34ex02UEhXJAApwj77pA73pr3S5oXZLXFD4wsKT-WwYT4PqFZk-Cy/w640-h480/IMG_4004.JPG" title="Sign says: This is a private drive. Mountain hikers are welcome. Please park below the gate. Have a nice day." width="640" /></a></div><p></p><p>On the way down, I apparently forked right instead of left and came back out to the road at a spot marked, for now, by a downed birch. It's a little steeper this way than the segment I went up.<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6RoM-3dmHEMQRrMkdcPRemLdNXiZ1OqJtmHUcI9hlqaHpdJrKIUGCB9JFUPipzui58Z7R7YWUPjqtib4Qxf5GUjS06ex8asQrQVTYiGipvQ5z1Mt8xT6YjfZWVGoSepL1A4v6/s2048/IMG_4015.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6RoM-3dmHEMQRrMkdcPRemLdNXiZ1OqJtmHUcI9hlqaHpdJrKIUGCB9JFUPipzui58Z7R7YWUPjqtib4Qxf5GUjS06ex8asQrQVTYiGipvQ5z1Mt8xT6YjfZWVGoSepL1A4v6/w640-h480/IMG_4015.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<p>But on the way up, I didn't see that opening and instead continued to this clear and courteous sign.<br /></p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9juwafFJf31AWnVQ2JgbJ_I4OUsjBc5LhlRbiZ9dveaYoMm8YRxv_HDEuTclDlRynv4Cbfq1gUvsIO59zf03jhy60GSHZxJjvBCVEbL-PqOgTud6y_UobOeROhwMFRp9xx5qJ/s2048/IMG_4005.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9juwafFJf31AWnVQ2JgbJ_I4OUsjBc5LhlRbiZ9dveaYoMm8YRxv_HDEuTclDlRynv4Cbfq1gUvsIO59zf03jhy60GSHZxJjvBCVEbL-PqOgTud6y_UobOeROhwMFRp9xx5qJ/w640-h480/IMG_4005.JPG" width="640" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The trail starts in East Wakefield, New Hampshire, but on the way up it crosses into West Newfield, Maine. There's a granite post beside the trail to mark the spot. Was it really put here in 1898? If so, it was probably in a big field back then.<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQZhD9QJS3Tdd-xR5E8HDXN9sTwG-7yzR8YxLxYG3-S0ARFvF7MGPGH6wt19Wc20xqwszTx2afJGT_dNwUYTlJwVOTHtLlXPblig1R7kjKYjA8sza7wfJW2V_rwwBVU-6RNCjJ/s2048/IMG_4008.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQZhD9QJS3Tdd-xR5E8HDXN9sTwG-7yzR8YxLxYG3-S0ARFvF7MGPGH6wt19Wc20xqwszTx2afJGT_dNwUYTlJwVOTHtLlXPblig1R7kjKYjA8sza7wfJW2V_rwwBVU-6RNCjJ/w640-h480/IMG_4008.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXq0kt7teWAedADEe_txvOyM4P1L0AHO62bu4bnzVVcpb_a85_R1I1fkCaGxEx8D2VnOymYZemPYjtJRrddVbLlhJpnksKmqBAFpPegUINLx4iljMqFBU2jDvfXtWTnBqRyU-4/s2048/IMG_4006.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXq0kt7teWAedADEe_txvOyM4P1L0AHO62bu4bnzVVcpb_a85_R1I1fkCaGxEx8D2VnOymYZemPYjtJRrddVbLlhJpnksKmqBAFpPegUINLx4iljMqFBU2jDvfXtWTnBqRyU-4/w480-h640/IMG_4006.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjpCMgC-yaZs3hMcqppSTZk148HsS49oJbRh9iJUOliwQTS2qLr4r8rezonZQOwZIvKCtNSk-VL9mO9SzaPfQJiFDL0-zdwDZZXzuBWG-GVwoGospRgqlOlx1XxC0lGxgLmP0o/s2048/IMG_4007.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjpCMgC-yaZs3hMcqppSTZk148HsS49oJbRh9iJUOliwQTS2qLr4r8rezonZQOwZIvKCtNSk-VL9mO9SzaPfQJiFDL0-zdwDZZXzuBWG-GVwoGospRgqlOlx1XxC0lGxgLmP0o/w480-h640/IMG_4007.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
<p>Just after the marker, there's a nice stretch of hemlocks. Blackburnian warblers were singing here.<br /></p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCa4YHuPhLskHfTU7eb-NPv3HgaCFnIN2Yf4DC7sMCzEOD9HnP_RxmbzkuIPsCvkIDHVHVBwJRDcTOVe-Ler0vtAdK3FGzgH43_NyPCGCrZ7YPgyG-Ay1-FWN1tckKErRsLoKr/s2048/IMG_4009.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCa4YHuPhLskHfTU7eb-NPv3HgaCFnIN2Yf4DC7sMCzEOD9HnP_RxmbzkuIPsCvkIDHVHVBwJRDcTOVe-Ler0vtAdK3FGzgH43_NyPCGCrZ7YPgyG-Ay1-FWN1tckKErRsLoKr/w640-h480/IMG_4009.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<p>It's not a long hike to the top and once there you can take a break on a sturdy bench with a nice view of Province Lake and the White Mountains. <br /></p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI7LHlHP6_rHm_oqMZ5JPq11mjsJzBwY5H-0RYES20wqsyl4OFCABlwWieBpdhil3q8brDKg61GwYbAyERCjzz5xW7-5Oy85hdvEFFFZ60Wi-qxSsCZ9tmSEJk1aBnGYiUfjla/s2048/IMG_4013.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI7LHlHP6_rHm_oqMZ5JPq11mjsJzBwY5H-0RYES20wqsyl4OFCABlwWieBpdhil3q8brDKg61GwYbAyERCjzz5xW7-5Oy85hdvEFFFZ60Wi-qxSsCZ9tmSEJk1aBnGYiUfjla/w640-h480/IMG_4013.JPG" width="640" /></a>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI7LHlHP6_rHm_oqMZ5JPq11mjsJzBwY5H-0RYES20wqsyl4OFCABlwWieBpdhil3q8brDKg61GwYbAyERCjzz5xW7-5Oy85hdvEFFFZ60Wi-qxSsCZ9tmSEJk1aBnGYiUfjla/s2048/IMG_4013.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyjdp47sGxacEbEEL3v1l6L4X44MkNRFsiBkSmRIeeCoeLwWfta7IUuMCA2dE6FjaeXTX3CsEi6JEizo_86W-vuazvvJ9YBOZiMKak0f8PsDnXu_4SlnaLyFG103b9GKjWt37Q/s2048/IMG_4010.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyjdp47sGxacEbEEL3v1l6L4X44MkNRFsiBkSmRIeeCoeLwWfta7IUuMCA2dE6FjaeXTX3CsEi6JEizo_86W-vuazvvJ9YBOZiMKak0f8PsDnXu_4SlnaLyFG103b9GKjWt37Q/w640-h480/IMG_4010.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<p style="text-align: left;">I got out of the sun and set up for a few hours of operation and experimentation. Neither the bands nor my antennas were all that great, but I managed enough CW QSOs on 20 meters to succeed with the activation. Only two other people visited during my lengthy weekday stay.<br /></p>
</div>scott.xothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10195951997443295501noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15168267.post-4685900055439555822021-05-03T20:45:00.008-04:002023-04-26T20:24:05.169-04:00New England QSO Party<p>The <a href="http://www.neqp.org/">New England QSO Party</a> has been running since 2002. I haven’t missed one yet.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqzY4lY2-yadAYLOO3rwoM5AN5dn9UYh87D8VrZ9y75MxWk0ZXSJwNKXgk6ITsGQrYq1CVp61lLhAnAx-nDOJxn9LvWGR_F0qQo7Fi145m6J06ECAt8lIBmIHclhvOulq4Ed3O/s728/NEQP2019.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="1px" data-original-height="728" data-original-width="552" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqzY4lY2-yadAYLOO3rwoM5AN5dn9UYh87D8VrZ9y75MxWk0ZXSJwNKXgk6ITsGQrYq1CVp61lLhAnAx-nDOJxn9LvWGR_F0qQo7Fi145m6J06ECAt8lIBmIHclhvOulq4Ed3O/s320/NEQP2019.jpg" /></a></div>
<p>Nine times I've taken 1st Place Maine Single Operator QRP. In 8 other years, I managed just 1st York County QRP (usually the only QRPer in the county). For four parties I was a pooper, making too few contacts to qualify for a certificate. </p><p>I finished 2nd QRP New England in 2012 and 2021, 3rd in 2016, and 5th in both 2002 and 2020. </p><p>My top scores have been 18,283 in 2021 and 11,120 in 2010, and my average score through 20 competitions was 3,618.</p><h3 style="text-align: left;">2021</h3><p>A New Year's Radio Resolution challenged me to set a personal best for this contest in 2021. The weekend arrived before I got to do any antenna upgrades or additions and conditions on Friday didn't seem too hot. With a lot to do IRL I was tempted to sneak out of my commitment, but by the time I put in a couple of hours on Saturday I was confident I could reach my goal.</p><p>I ended up claiming 198 contacts (3 of them my first SSB QSOs in 20 years of NEQP) and 48 multipliers. I lost 2 QSOs and a multiplier during log checking, but was still a secure second to W1UU in a field of 13 QRPers.<br /></p><table><tbody>
<tr> <td>Year</td> <td>QSOs</td> <td>SPC</td> <td>Score<br /></td> <td>Status</td> </tr>
<tr> <td>2002</td> <td>58</td> <td>24</td> <td>2784</td> <td>5th New England, 1st Maine Single Op QRP</td> </tr>
<tr> <td>2003</td> <td>43</td> <td>21</td> <td>1806</td> <td>1st Maine Single Op QRP</td> </tr>
<tr> <td>2004</td> <td>13</td> <td>6</td> <td>156</td> <td>1st Maine Single Op QRP</td> </tr>
<tr> <td>2005</td> <td>32</td> <td>14</td> <td>896</td> <td>2nd Maine, 1st York County Single Op QRP</td> </tr>
<tr> <td>2006</td> <td>37</td> <td>17</td> <td>1332</td> <td>4th Maine, 1st York County Single Op QRP</td> </tr>
<tr> <td width="10%">2007</td> <td>2</td> <td>2</td> <td>8</td> <td width="60%">last New England, 1st York County Single Op QRP</td> </tr>
<tr> <td>2008</td> <td>56</td> <td>25</td> <td>2800</td> <td>1st York County Single Op QRP</td> </tr>
<tr> <td>2009</td> <td>63</td> <td>23</td> <td>2898</td> <td>1st York County Single Op QRP</td> </tr>
<tr> <td>2010</td> <td>139</td> <td>40</td> <td>11,120</td> <td>2nd Maine, 1st York County Single Op QRP</td> </tr>
<tr> <td>2011</td> <td>6</td> <td>4</td> <td>48</td> <td><br /></td> </tr>
<tr> <td>2012</td> <td>129</td> <td>37</td> <td>9546</td> <td>2nd New England, 1st Maine Single Op QRP</td> </tr>
<tr> <td>2013</td> <td>51</td> <td>20</td> <td>2040</td> <td>2nd Maine, 1st York County Single Op QRP</td> </tr>
<tr> <td>2014</td> <td>73</td> <td>28</td> <td>4088</td> <td>3rd Maine, 1st York County Single Op QRP</td> </tr>
<tr> <td>2015</td> <td>6</td> <td>6</td> <td>72</td> <td>Last QRP, Last Maine</td> </tr>
<tr> <td>2016</td> <td>57</td> <td>23</td> <td>2622</td> <td>3rd New England, 1st Maine Single Op QRP</td> </tr>
<tr> <td>2017</td> <td>3</td> <td>3</td> <td>18</td> <td>2nd to last, New England</td> </tr>
<tr> <td>2018</td> <td>44</td> <td>20</td> <td>1760</td> <td>1st Maine Single Op QRP (29/19/986?)</td> </tr>
<tr> <td>2019</td> <td><br /></td> <td><br /></td> <td>728</td> <td>1st Maine Single Op QRP (23/12/552?)</td> </tr>
<tr> <td>2020</td> <td>114</td> <td>41</td> <td>9348</td> <td>5th New England, 1st Maine Single Op QRP<br /></td></tr>
<tr> <td>2021</td> <td>196</td> <td>47</td> <td>18,283</td> <td>2nd New England, 1st Maine Single Op QRP</td></tr>
<tr> <td>2022</td> <td>96</td> <td>34</td> <td>6,528</td> <td>2nd Maine, 1st York County Single Op QRP</td></tr>
</tbody></table><h2 style="text-align: left;">Trivia</h2>
<p style="text-align: left;"></p><p>My 2010 and 2020 scores were both the median scores among the 11 QRP entries from New England.</p><p><br /></p><p><i>Original page: June 10, 2006<br />Last update: April 26, 2023</i><br /></p>scott.xothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10195951997443295501noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15168267.post-14928566451609021762021-01-02T17:45:00.002-05:002021-01-02T17:45:48.490-05:0020 Years of Amateur Radio on the International Space Station<p>Amateur radio achieved 20 years of continuous operations on the International Space Station in December and celebrated with a slow-scan television (SSTV) event at the end of the month. The ISS crew set up automated SSTV transmissions of 12 different images and multitudes of Earth stations received them.</p><p>I managed to copy 7 of the 12, plus the very bottom of an eighth, using my makeshift setup: an iPhone with the Black Cat SSTV app held at the speaker of my Kenwood TH-F6A handheld. I used a rooftop 7/8-wavelength 2-meter vertical for my first attempts, which gives good results except for some noise banding. My best images came with the Arrow antenna I use for all satellites.</p><p>Like many other listeners, I uploaded my image files to the <a href="https://www.spaceflightsoftware.com/ARISS_SSTV/">ARISS SSTV Gallery</a>, then requested a certificate of accomplishment. It arrived promptly today.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWLf8aavS1O1x7CJ-xJ8Bc_baBu8GJJhDc9dDagwy5XRlbww7uXma76snTpuY77NloDxW8y9WZ3Ztl4BwaN07N7lFLlYgsg6qxQe989i8mrmTvoNyiEQBNvw9Z3QsD9blN4f9q/s2048/Diploma.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1448" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWLf8aavS1O1x7CJ-xJ8Bc_baBu8GJJhDc9dDagwy5XRlbww7uXma76snTpuY77NloDxW8y9WZ3Ztl4BwaN07N7lFLlYgsg6qxQe989i8mrmTvoNyiEQBNvw9Z3QsD9blN4f9q/w452-h640/Diploma.png" width="452" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>The first successful <a href="https://www.ariss.org/">ARISS</a> contact with a school happened December 21, 2000. Since then, astronauts have made more than 1300 school contacts all over the world.<br /></p>scott.xothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10195951997443295501noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15168267.post-2423063377407413162021-01-01T09:56:00.002-05:002021-01-01T12:40:23.622-05:00FCC to Collect Application Fees for Amateur Radio Licenses<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.fcc.gov/sites/default/files/fcc-seal-rgb-2020.png" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="500" height="400" src="https://www.fcc.gov/sites/default/files/fcc-seal-rgb-2020.png" width="400" /></a></div>
<p>
The Federal Communications Commission spends $35 to process amateur radio
license applications, a cost it will soon pass on to hams.
<a href="https://www.congress.gov/bill/115th-congress/house-bill/4986/text#toc-H0E17E9B31495420C997BC35825F76030">Congress directed the FCC</a>
"to adopt cost-based fees for processing applications" when it passed the RAY
BAUM'S Act of 2018 (H.R.4986). Amateur radio licensing was caught up in this
effort to Repack Airwaves Yielding Better Access for Users of Modern
Services.<br />
</p>
<p>
Amateur radio licenses are valid for 10 years, so even though the hit comes
all at once, the $3.50 annual amount should not raise a barrier to anyone
intending to participate in practically any aspect of amateur radio during their licensed
period.<br />
</p>
<p>The FCC will collect fees for five application types: new license, special
temporary authority, rule waiver, renewal, and Vanity Call Sign (Amateur Radio
Service). Licensees requesting minor administrative updates, such as address
changes, will not incur charges.<br />
</p>
<p>
In explaining the new fee structure, the Commission acknowledged the public
safety and special emergency radio services provided by radio amateurs in
times of crisis, saying it is "very much aware of these laudable and important
services amateur radio licensees provide to the American public."
</p>
<p></p>
<p>
Congress made an exception from regulatory fees for amateur radio licensees in the RAY
BAUM'S Act, but still required the FCC to recover the costs of employee pay,
other employee benefits, and nondiscretionary spending related to processing
applications.
</p>
<p>
The Commission received over 3900 comments on its
<a href="https://www.fcc.gov/document/amendment-schedule-applications-fees" target="_blank">Notice of Proposed Rulemaking</a>, released August 26, wherein it had proposed a $50 fee.
<a href="https://www.fcc.gov/document/amendment-schedule-application-fees-2">In its final rule</a>, adopted December 23, the commissioners stated, "We agree with commenters asserting this fee is
too high to account for the minimal staff involvement" in processing Amateur
Radio Service licenses.
</p>
<p>I'd say that's a win. </p><p>The fees go into effect 30 days after publication in the Federal Register, which had not occurred by the end of 2020.</p><p>Yes, I made my view known: </p><p></p><blockquote>I support the FCC's effort to simplify and streamline the fee structure for licensed services, but I believe fees should be waived for all or part of the Amateur Radio Service. The Amateur Radio Service is largely self-regulating, freely provides communications equipment and expertise for the public good and during emergencies, enhances STEM education, and delivers significant technological innovation. Licensed radio amateurs produce these benefits while enjoying a service that is identified in Section B17 as recreational and non-commercial. The Amateur Radio Service is an excellent training ground for future engineers, programmers, and communications professionals. For this reason, young radio amateurs, at least, should be exempt from the proposed license fees. Thank you for the opportunity to comment.</blockquote>Yes, Ray Baum was someone. He was an admired bipartisan whose career
and character were praised after his death, early in 2018, not long before the Act was passed. He had served as senior policy adviser to the U.S. House of
Representatives Committee on Energy and Commerce, Subcommittee on
Communications and Technology. <p></p><p></p>
scott.xothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10195951997443295501noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15168267.post-67911381664373350152020-12-31T17:00:00.005-05:002020-12-31T17:20:30.478-05:00SOTA: Parker Mountain, December 31, 2020<p class="mobile-photo">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGWB0KnSqAnjtkk2HlA_pCN6QNEbil4nD80ykohwUW2z_TTgDy3uM8322WwfnW_702swS1JRJbD55TKt6FP4V7UMqyVjChkUBs46uJn_MFcn2MRzuZ2AbIXnHQ1ssmeUGE-66n/s1600/image1-741615.jpeg"><img alt="" border="0" height="640" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6912519407585120994" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGWB0KnSqAnjtkk2HlA_pCN6QNEbil4nD80ykohwUW2z_TTgDy3uM8322WwfnW_702swS1JRJbD55TKt6FP4V7UMqyVjChkUBs46uJn_MFcn2MRzuZ2AbIXnHQ1ssmeUGE-66n/w480-h640/image1-741615.jpeg" width="480" /></a>
</p>
<p class="mobile-photo">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBJXIKbt5-VcE8Wdt2sZ_jswgMV9qxdNb1UkDv4nurxFgSmFQ2bPbsgM-vA2dtXiAATRqBCRnOS260nppupkP4bDAB8cC9vgnAviYDiydVrlmHpfppXviYrk_EOz0mwiMxh33j/s1600/image0-739043.jpeg"><img alt="" border="0" height="640" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6912519390833416642" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBJXIKbt5-VcE8Wdt2sZ_jswgMV9qxdNb1UkDv4nurxFgSmFQ2bPbsgM-vA2dtXiAATRqBCRnOS260nppupkP4bDAB8cC9vgnAviYDiydVrlmHpfppXviYrk_EOz0mwiMxh33j/w480-h640/image0-739043.jpeg" width="480" /></a>
</p>
<p>
I wanted to activate the last of the close summits before the end of 2020 so I
would be eligible to go again in the new year. I don't see long drives to high
peaks on the horizon and aim to make the most of the 1-pointers that will fit
into a 6-hour trip. <br />
<br />I'd been up Parker Mountain once before, 10 years ago on a letterboxing
jaunt for
<a href="https://www.atlasquest.com/showinfo.php?boxId=53293">Kollaps's 12-carve series</a>
with moongazer. I found one of those boxes again today, tucked under a small
slab beside a short pine, a glaring lock n lock that needed a good rehiding. I
also found a geocache and made a trade.<br />
</p>
<p>
The way up was mostly clear, with stretches of trampled snow, stony drainages
filled with beech and oak leaves, and. some. steep. parts. Rocks and ledges had an icy
sheen. I placed no foot there. Except for a few chickadees, nuthatches, and a
creeper, the woods were quiet. Above them I heard only occasional squawks from
ravens.<br />
</p>
<p>
My goal was to make my first contact by 14 zulu and I made it (or just about) thanks
to a friendly local on .52 who ended up being my only VHF QSO.
</p>
<p>
Stringing wire took longer than planned; it was almost 15z before I got on
HF. Over the next hour I managed 27 contacts, mostly on 20 meters. Fifteen
offered nothing and 40 and 30 were slow going. I was receiving reports that
shrank confidence in my antenna and my numb fingertips were ruining my code,
so it was easy to throw the switch at 16:00.
</p>
<p>
I was almost done packing when two hikers passed through. On the way down I
said hello to a couple with dogs and, a while later, a solo hiker. This last
was a neighbor who clears the trail when treefall blocks the way. He remarked
how difficult it is to attract strong, young helpers for himself and the
septuagenerians who do most of the trail work.<br />
</p>
<p>I was home for lunch before 1 o'clock and done with uploads a little past 2. This was the 20th activation of W1/NL-010 and the sixth this year. I added the first 30-meter contacts to the collective log and brought its total to 274. Would return.</p>
scott.xothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10195951997443295501noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15168267.post-23321934549393915502020-09-25T20:41:00.001-04:002021-02-12T20:15:33.936-05:00SOTA: Blue Job Mountain, September 25, 2020<p></p><p>Off to W1/NL-024 after breakfast. Arrived 8:40 with 6 cars in the lot. Got to the tower at 9:05. Turned the rig on at 9:42 and off at 10:51, making 18 QSOs in between. Explained operation to curious passerby. Tried 2m FM before and after HF but got nothing. Back at the lot at 11:44. 8 cars. Home for lunch.<br /></p>scott.xothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10195951997443295501noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15168267.post-19069330591244978662020-09-01T21:45:00.107-04:002020-12-25T22:34:29.960-05:00FN53 Activation, September 2020<h2>FN53: Bailey Island, September 1, 2020</h2>
I was almost to Giant's Staircase, my ultimate destination, but knew I would be too late to catch the morning Atlantic pass of AO-91. I had all but promised the grid to a Northern Ireland op, but the 2-lane, twisting, hilly peninsular road down Bailey Island had few safe places to stop with a clear view and a low horizon. When I found a wide spot next to a long driveway with an open field across the road, I pulled over, unloaded gear, worked him and two more, packed up, and carried on in the span of about 7 minutes.
Not long after, I reached the small parking area for Giant's Staircase
and cut through the shrubs to reach a rocky promontory where I settled
in to wait for the next AO-91 pass. That one gave me 17 QSOs and I
soon had a few more on AO-92.<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZUpn3gONRCIZKvcXIRUp4j0x4FCthTZXMC8b90YcYW817tCsgjqxRxf6eAUo7xE8qO8Xwaun70Ul9Y2oOwO5BYSS6BQ1-T3JXN2XZ11uoKPJjX1VkPHvZ-yaa5idAIVopqjVS/s2048/IMG_3246.JPG" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZUpn3gONRCIZKvcXIRUp4j0x4FCthTZXMC8b90YcYW817tCsgjqxRxf6eAUo7xE8qO8Xwaun70Ul9Y2oOwO5BYSS6BQ1-T3JXN2XZ11uoKPJjX1VkPHvZ-yaa5idAIVopqjVS/s600/IMG_3246.JPG" width="600" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOj6ntf4XHJwebslDGvDZ93Z7JfvVD2TGm3ekRYrb068zqPr8d-nDn2OVnZVPAb2ayrTRKd4WBWxlSjrcmTnxbtGRjKoxQDAL2w249I6g1aQSwaDcsA0xyto3mdDTPQRNctmGH/s2048/IMG_3247.JPG" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOj6ntf4XHJwebslDGvDZ93Z7JfvVD2TGm3ekRYrb068zqPr8d-nDn2OVnZVPAb2ayrTRKd4WBWxlSjrcmTnxbtGRjKoxQDAL2w249I6g1aQSwaDcsA0xyto3mdDTPQRNctmGH/s600/IMG_3247.JPG" width="600" /></a></div>
I relocated for a better western view and put several 7s in the log, then kept going with SO-50 and PO-101. On the day, I made 48 FM satellite contacts.
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivuMDzLjtX0JbALAG1UUok4qCyyPKyeoad9OtB-5qltw-oee1Ols60Wmv1oHEbJRHOxUd79OS_d0axyyF7A2DyDdmWvUlmQj2QGu0v1I9Qzkeij1NWax5dlgoIJRgoaZbfT0D3/s1334/IMG_3250.PNG" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="1334" data-original-width="750" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivuMDzLjtX0JbALAG1UUok4qCyyPKyeoad9OtB-5qltw-oee1Ols60Wmv1oHEbJRHOxUd79OS_d0axyyF7A2DyDdmWvUlmQj2QGu0v1I9Qzkeij1NWax5dlgoIJRgoaZbfT0D3/s400/IMG_3250.PNG" /></a></div>scott.xothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10195951997443295501noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15168267.post-7843073546191699452019-05-24T21:26:00.002-04:002019-05-24T21:26:57.402-04:00One White HeronA 2-ounce packet of an organic black tea, Dubliner's Breakfast, from White Heron Tea of Portsmouth, New Hampshire, found its way into my Christmas stocking. Santa knows.<br />
<br />
I inferred this would be a hearty, rich brew, that would brace me for morning. Dubliners are Irish, no? Instead, I tasted a nuanced, fruity cup with less kick than anticipated or desired. The packet went into the afternoon collection, taking an honored place in the rotation especially when the mood was more cerebral than kinetic. Three and a half stars.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://cdn10.bigcommerce.com/s-j4wqi2qe/product_images/white-heron-logo_1524939871__14353.original.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="99" data-original-width="367" height="86" src="https://cdn10.bigcommerce.com/s-j4wqi2qe/product_images/white-heron-logo_1524939871__14353.original.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />scott.xothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10195951997443295501noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15168267.post-34608263857682836842019-02-20T22:14:00.004-05:002020-12-26T07:39:19.668-05:00Distance Record on AO-92<p>On 2019-02-20 at 13:08Z, EB1AO and I completed a 4,936-km QSO between IN52pe and FN43rg, <a href="https://www.amsat.org/satellite-distance-records/">setting a distance record</a> for the U/v repeater on AO-92. It was a -11° pass — Celsius (12°F… brrr). Really, it was a 1° pass — maximum elevation at my end.<br />
<br />
Jose's map tells the story, though the time reported is his <abbr title="Acquisition of Signal">AOS</abbr>, not QSO time.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9WXppO4YhRIbt4YkmBJ-VBwEFuCYuiioKaPpPJFhbDDWnDgkWFGp5WDUTgOSM-poFcRPH-3He2NiKrGF628hXd-Qdn8rxUoH8d2mA6ADEp8JFHryiAfK8hBrI_0CYG5myyqcn/s1600/eb1ao-ao-92-map.jpeg"><img border="0" data-original-height="307" data-original-width="602" height="203" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9WXppO4YhRIbt4YkmBJ-VBwEFuCYuiioKaPpPJFhbDDWnDgkWFGp5WDUTgOSM-poFcRPH-3He2NiKrGF628hXd-Qdn8rxUoH8d2mA6ADEp8JFHryiAfK8hBrI_0CYG5myyqcn/s400/eb1ao-ao-92-map.jpeg" width="400" /></a><br />
<br />
We both recorded the contact. Mine is in Dropbox: <a href="https://www.dropbox.com/sh/hkdnq1tposwmzqr/AACryW-kBe0B-4RY1vpRYkfEa?dl=0">eb1ao_AO-92.wav</a>.<br />
Thanks EB1AO. Thanks <a href="https://www.amsat.org/">AMSAT-NA</a>.<br />
</p><p>UPDATE: Our record was surpassed by F4DXV and VE1VOX, who added 75 km to the distance, in August 2020.</p><p><i>Page reviewed December 2020.</i><br /></p>scott.xothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10195951997443295501noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15168267.post-91261286989062430602019-02-18T09:07:00.000-05:002020-12-26T07:09:26.658-05:00FN42 & FN53 Activations, February 2019<h2>FN42: Halibut Point State Park, Massachusetts</h2>
I went from Boston's Logan Aiport through Lynn and Salem, then out the Yankee Division Highway through Gloucester and Rockport, and up Route 127 to Halibut Point State Park in time for a mid morning AO-91 pass over the Atlantic. It was well below freezing, but sunny and relatively calm for the walk up to an old quarry pond with a great vantage northeast. I made 4 European contacts, with the furthest being PD0HCV at 5637km. I relocated to the rocky shoreline before the next pass so I would have a good horizon for the bird coming out of the south. I added 5 more, from Puerto Rico to Manitoba, at that spot.
<p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaFW4b97Vyp4WwZADAA2OQN8c9mjqt8eUOiFy7q_6v9p8OgRoU9BDubvSkzaXgVQgQZrfV2MIxm6rmX19SmBHAgXylVmHX13GfXj_pMpJHn3KNfx3AldE6phbAqOq2aUI0VG56/s1334/IMG_1095.PNG"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="1334" data-original-width="750" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaFW4b97Vyp4WwZADAA2OQN8c9mjqt8eUOiFy7q_6v9p8OgRoU9BDubvSkzaXgVQgQZrfV2MIxm6rmX19SmBHAgXylVmHX13GfXj_pMpJHn3KNfx3AldE6phbAqOq2aUI0VG56/w180-h320/IMG_1095.PNG" width="180" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv9WEBg4whF6dVL1nUB0aD5hthNOg9JGsZ8uul-877BAknc3VvEaKSSMtcgJQH9Z_B3kxROtm8SMBcL7QcrsF7HGQFYTfcpqC9uU8cNRd1cgF_WG0GVYA8-uOneoimh2iTFz3B/s2048/IMG_1096.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv9WEBg4whF6dVL1nUB0aD5hthNOg9JGsZ8uul-877BAknc3VvEaKSSMtcgJQH9Z_B3kxROtm8SMBcL7QcrsF7HGQFYTfcpqC9uU8cNRd1cgF_WG0GVYA8-uOneoimh2iTFz3B/w320-h240/IMG_1096.JPG" width="320" /></a></p>
<h2>FN53: Taste of Maine Restaurant, Maine</h2>
Next day, I raced the clock to reach my coastal Maine destination before the early AO-91 pass, but ran behind and had to pull over early. Lucky thing the Taste of Maine sits up high and right on Route 1 for a quick activation from an empty parking lot. I worked three of the regulars in France, England, and Scotland before packing up and driving to Reid State Park.
<p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlvwj8sjtpmAWhDxeQ1shq_g0UCYWb5NJia7hxfiu-udece3B1qOdyOCZKA0y3gi_cPrARlwnjdKs7LtBaRfPbz6ibtaqTaBVeMOk-OdloMoiuwKN9UdE5zN_p9nSMaEWzoO3h/s1600/image2-718577.jpeg"> <img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6910157070035013858" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlvwj8sjtpmAWhDxeQ1shq_g0UCYWb5NJia7hxfiu-udece3B1qOdyOCZKA0y3gi_cPrARlwnjdKs7LtBaRfPbz6ibtaqTaBVeMOk-OdloMoiuwKN9UdE5zN_p9nSMaEWzoO3h/s320/image2-718577.jpeg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTgStzehI4SCRCJES9mj6-YwB9h1ef2E2JVWlxRVHg9Jx5eGVYAPmcuvoTyD9fYTbkFWPKD5way0ClOJwBbcqpvApjYZAEoItyBnBXhxRDff7IGgF4h6ZuLs_8S0_-lwiXturB/s1600/image3-719057.jpeg"> <img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6910157076123767890" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTgStzehI4SCRCJES9mj6-YwB9h1ef2E2JVWlxRVHg9Jx5eGVYAPmcuvoTyD9fYTbkFWPKD5way0ClOJwBbcqpvApjYZAEoItyBnBXhxRDff7IGgF4h6ZuLs_8S0_-lwiXturB/s320/image3-719057.jpeg" /></a></p>
<h2>FN53: Reid State Park, Maine</h2>
I reached the park in time for two more AO-91 passes, along with two on AO-7. I got on from both the parking area and Griffith's Head, which had a gorgeous view. Altogether, I worked 14 from here.
<p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRzL2i-gHJ5Fr9Md3Hv8r1syA_gwRvEQBEZlc4dS8d4nSOFohghhw3yXODqxL7rnpB1LTZa3Az0vzYnKZO4LrDzehyphenhyphenXEhzi9t4OV6vx7DSu7ljgJ8Rkg4IEPwQxGYrFglbnD2u/s1600/image1-718081.jpeg"> <img alt="" border="0" height="200" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6910157072453622850" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRzL2i-gHJ5Fr9Md3Hv8r1syA_gwRvEQBEZlc4dS8d4nSOFohghhw3yXODqxL7rnpB1LTZa3Az0vzYnKZO4LrDzehyphenhyphenXEhzi9t4OV6vx7DSu7ljgJ8Rkg4IEPwQxGYrFglbnD2u/w113-h200/image1-718081.jpeg" width="113" /></a></p>
<p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTemeA3MfcXi68KA-w30d7Nvbx_J5ZRJD67x7iPHaHbnban7_qsssQpaJlOBN5q2HJ7VQwIHUHSeWjXCnRTsqaZJmZc4z0Thl1nUD5D3VVi_BD4VsOpkMcAb-LL9XmqtoKgIrQ/s1600/image0-716957.jpeg"> <img alt="" border="0" height="480" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6910157066173991522" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTemeA3MfcXi68KA-w30d7Nvbx_J5ZRJD67x7iPHaHbnban7_qsssQpaJlOBN5q2HJ7VQwIHUHSeWjXCnRTsqaZJmZc4z0Thl1nUD5D3VVi_BD4VsOpkMcAb-LL9XmqtoKgIrQ/w640-h480/image0-716957.jpeg" width="640" /></a></p>
scott.xothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10195951997443295501noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15168267.post-76872677384265007022019-01-11T21:13:00.000-05:002019-01-11T21:19:51.233-05:00Red Claws vs. Drive, March 29, 2015In this thrilling home finale to a division-topping regular season, Maine took its only lead of the game as the final seconds ticked away, yet minutes after the final buzzer the outcome was still unknown. Did the Grand Rapids buzzer-beater beat the buzzer or not? Finally, no. "It was still in my hand on my follow through," admitted the Drive's Kevin Murphy after seeing the replay. Maine won 108-107.<br />
<br />
A real crowd-pleaser.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.centralmaine.com/2015/03/29/claws-rally-for-improbable-108-107-victory/">Good write-up by Glenn Jordan</a>.scott.xothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10195951997443295501noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15168267.post-65887709446964490422018-02-26T21:43:00.002-05:002018-10-30T22:39:50.815-04:00Red Claws versus Bulls, February 25, 2018After losing 8 straight over the past month, Maine got its 17th W of the season with a 112-109 win at home against Windy City. Kadeem Allen (28 pts), Daniel Dixon (24 pts), and Guerschon Yabusele (23 pts) led the Claws, with "Dancing Bear" Yabusele adding 16 rebounds. Maine hit <a href="https://youtu.be/qKdYW_NNxq0">20 3-pointers</a> on the afternoon, capped by Trey Davis's 27-foot jumper with 26 seconds left that defined the margin of victory.<br />
<br />
The Bulls led only once, for a few seconds, but were never out of the game, thanks largely to the G League's leading scorer, Antonio Blakeney, who anchored his team with 37 points.<br />
<br />
Read more in the <a href="https://www.pressherald.com/2018/02/25/claws-hang-on-for-112-109-victory/">Portland Press Herald</a>.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY2yB9jmyodaFM4wsd6J6oug7Qn5CA6E-6plqQZlKIEIllOvmP5ZstyfTyNwIpWYkFyMu7djvEbvF7HW2lTIkCH2zvQUEG0j_AT5JyaXYMXwnwreuW7lQN3SEtmmoI16jb2vN_/s1600/IMG_5066.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY2yB9jmyodaFM4wsd6J6oug7Qn5CA6E-6plqQZlKIEIllOvmP5ZstyfTyNwIpWYkFyMu7djvEbvF7HW2lTIkCH2zvQUEG0j_AT5JyaXYMXwnwreuW7lQN3SEtmmoI16jb2vN_/s640/IMG_5066.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kadeem Allen (5), Guerschon Yabusele (42), and other Maine Red Claws gather around head coach Brandon Bailey during the third quarter.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
scott.xothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10195951997443295501noreply@blogger.com0Portland Expo43.6560085 -70.27709270000002618.133974 -111.58568670000002 69.178043 -28.968498700000026tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15168267.post-60756915109324244382018-01-04T14:10:00.000-05:002018-03-25T16:34:14.683-04:00Bird of the Year Poses Typographical Challenge<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmA1gZnWQUMRF0Ko5D5TN7lDrcyE2qraZWXQL1AyQz9SPyhk5HNatDBgln1wtpd89hmDG5AS9vxZJpn4Qya3iTPttwTFeN1tc6jGxSUTca2SC_3GEA0r7lpQhzxOLck-WSffoK/s1600/iiwi.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="910" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmA1gZnWQUMRF0Ko5D5TN7lDrcyE2qraZWXQL1AyQz9SPyhk5HNatDBgln1wtpd89hmDG5AS9vxZJpn4Qya3iTPttwTFeN1tc6jGxSUTca2SC_3GEA0r7lpQhzxOLck-WSffoK/s400/iiwi.jpg" width="301" /></a></div>
The American Birding Association's selection of the ʻiʻiwi as its 2018 Bird of the Year poses a typographical challenge: What to do about the ʻokina? That "single quote" at its start, and right between the i's, is one of two <a href="https://www.hawaii.edu/site/info/diacritics.php">Hawaiian diacritical marks</a>. It denotes a glottal stop, a quick throat-catch like that in uh-oh, so ʻiʻiwi is pronounced <i>ee-EEvee</i>.<br />
<br />
The ʻokina appears once in the main heading of the <a href="http://aba.org/boy/">Bird of the Year</a> page, but is omitted throughout Nate Swick's explanation of why the honeycreeper was chosen. This inconsistency is avoidable and the omission is undesirable. The ʻokina is not optional punctuation but a purposeful letter.<br />
<br />
The ABA isn't awkward alone. The <a href="https://birdsna.org/Species-Account/bna/species/iiwi/introduction">Birds of North America account</a> at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology spells ʻiʻiwi three ways (unique treatments in heading and citation, main text, and image caption). The <a href="https://abcbirds.org/bird/iiwi/">American Bird Conservancy</a> gives this bird two marks but resorts to the straight quote (prime) rather than employing the proper character. The <a href="http://www.hawaiiaudubon.org/">Hawaii Audubon Society</a> leans on the backtick (grave accent) on the web, but at least uses good-looking ʻokina in its printed handbook <i>Hawaii's Birds</i>. The <a href="http://checklist.aou.org/taxa/1901">American Ornithological Society checklist</a> presents iiwi without any ʻokina, as does brilliant Bird of the Year artist H. Douglas Pratt in his <i>Enjoying Birds in Hawaii</i>. Pratt justifies his choice by stating the Hawaiian name has been adopted as an English name and so is acceptable without the marks. Maybe this reflects the thinking at the ABA and AOS, too.<br />
<br />
On the other hand, here's Ted Floyd covering his bases on Twitter:<br />
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
<div dir="ltr" lang="en">
The American Birding Association (<a href="https://twitter.com/ABA?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ABA</a>) is delighted to announce the 2018 BIRD OF THE YEAR, THE IIWI (also 'I'iwi, or Scarlet Honeycreeper), Drepanis coccinea. <a href="https://t.co/nEi8J55zL3">pic.twitter.com/nEi8J55zL3</a></div>
— Ted Floyd (@BirdingMagazine) <a href="https://twitter.com/BirdingMagazine/status/948661138857721856?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 3, 2018</a></blockquote>
<script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script><br />
<br />
Years ago, cautious ʻokina workarounds may have been necessary in web publications, but the character needn't be misrepresented today. The <a href="http://www.fileformat.info/info/unicode/char/2bb/index.htm">Unicode standard</a> identifies the ʻokina as being encoded U+02BB (modifier letter turned comma), which can be rendered in HTML by the entity <code>&#699;</code> or in Windows with alt +699. If all else fails, writers can find a correct character and simply copy/paste.<br />
<br />
This nit is little and I'll admit my own long-held ʻokina consternation. What's more important is that the ABA is highlighting the ʻiʻiwi's plight. This charismatic icon persisted through an exploited past only to face a risk-rich future. Focusing attention for 2018 on the bird, however it's named, is a mahalo moment.<br />
<br />
Update: No surprise this is far from unexplored territory: See the ABA <a href="http://blog.aba.org/2013/04/hawaii-heard-only-cats-and-okinas.html">blog on this very subject</a>. Consistency, though, remains key.<br />
<br />scott.xothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10195951997443295501noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15168267.post-53745681255561433382017-02-04T08:46:00.001-05:002019-01-11T20:52:07.811-05:00Red Claws versus Swarm, January 28, 2017<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3zQ1oXXNYDc9KDWy8CpQoFx9slrxl0EbFbyOiyRcc56ZfThfpvjeTqDBLdyP_FqcyGu8a8eUK1J42bXLtEvwkGuHT7wQ70EBd5JIz1hIFY0M7pV8FaKDuFIHiktt2kBLh7qQj/s1600/Redclaws.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3zQ1oXXNYDc9KDWy8CpQoFx9slrxl0EbFbyOiyRcc56ZfThfpvjeTqDBLdyP_FqcyGu8a8eUK1J42bXLtEvwkGuHT7wQ70EBd5JIz1hIFY0M7pV8FaKDuFIHiktt2kBLh7qQj/s320/Redclaws.jpeg" width="278" /></a></div>Maine climbed to 19-11 with an easy 111-98 victory over Greensboro (9-20) in this Saturday night game with few dramatic moments. Marcus Georges-Hunt (27 points) and Ryan Kelly (22 points) led the Claws, with the latter delivering on a late-game alley-oop that brought the evening's loudest cheer. We had a chance to see Celtics rookie Demetrius Jackson (14 points), who has bounced between Boston and Portland all season and looked a little disoriented.<br />
<br />
Greensboro nipped Maine on Friday night, but was never close in this one. Aaron Harrison (22 points) and Mike Tobey (10 points) were scoring leaders and Xavier Munford showed above-average spark. Overall, it looked like the team needed a charge but never amped up.scott.xothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10195951997443295501noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15168267.post-69084587410305878692017-01-16T19:24:00.001-05:002017-01-16T19:24:57.959-05:00The Peregrine and the Waning Gibbous<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/61/Falco_peregrinus_-Morro_Rock%2C_Morro_Bay%2C_California%2C_USA_-flying-8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/61/Falco_peregrinus_-Morro_Rock%2C_Morro_Bay%2C_California%2C_USA_-flying-8.jpg" width="320" height="320" /></a></div>I kept my <a href="http://ebird.org/content/ebird/news/newyear2017/">#ebird365</a> streak alive on Sunday morning by committing an hour to window watching. I gave most of my attention to the windows facing the feeders, alternating between the kitchen and the dining room to get good angles at all six feeders. As usual, the birds came in waves. Cardinals peaked at six, house sparrows at eight. Juncos, trees, white-throats, and chickadees were in and out in low numbers. Finches took stations when they saw openings, then stayed put. Jays roved at will, usually causing a stir wherever they went. A composed dove sat still, blending right into the dried grass where snow had receded.<br />
<br />
On occasion, I went to the far end of the house, where a second-floor glass slider opens to a view of a broad back yard. My scans for movement in the bare branches of our looming maple revealed a downy, but not much more. By opening the door and poking my head into the cold, birding by ear, I added more jays, cardinals, and a crow.<br />
<br />
On my last foray to the loft, I stepped up to the glass and spied a songbird flying across my view, silhouetted and quick. It was beyond reach too soon, but as I straightened my sightline, I saw another bird on the same path as the first. This one was much larger, fusiform, and beating long, tapered wings. A falcon. I managed to lift binoculars just as it passed and caught its black mask and white breast. A peregrine. With its strong and steady flight, the bird rapidly moved away.<br />
<br />
At the improved angle, I studied the exiting rarity. I've never had such a leisurely posterior view. Against the clear blue sky, the peregrine's rolling quiver of a wingbeat was transfixing. As I kept it in binocular view, my bird entered the luminous semicircle of the setting moon for a second or two. An awesome intersection.<br />
<br />
Happenstance is so rewarding. Hope in having the usuals punctuated by an unexpected is a potent force behind my birding. After the fact, dwelling on the surprise keeps the excitement alive.<br />
<br />
This time, I went to <i>Hawks in Flight</i> to reinforce my ID and was moved by how Dunne, Sibley & Sutton described the flight of a peregrine falcon:<br />
<br />
"The wing beat is fluid, rhythmic, elastic, and whiplike. The flap... seems to roll down the long wing in undulating pulses."<br />
<br />
Lovely.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<i>Photo: Falco peregrinus at Morro_Bay,_California by Mike Baird CC BY 2.0</i>scott.xothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10195951997443295501noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15168267.post-16807652401309683802016-10-29T16:55:00.001-04:002016-11-22T20:23:13.517-05:00K Records Friends & Neighbors Report<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS3Wzpoj0QIWmSM3BUaBqseC4zggCTVH_QP3v9vYjnci3GNpQ-Jmb5lS4TjVqFOBm-XNJ3Id7T3lu_XIWP3p5Kdb6TJ2l_2pavzMfumP49gu_IjTpBVIQG71tIWX26iBHXWY9K/s1600/File+Oct+29%252C+16+49+39.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="Top 4 CDs in the set" border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS3Wzpoj0QIWmSM3BUaBqseC4zggCTVH_QP3v9vYjnci3GNpQ-Jmb5lS4TjVqFOBm-XNJ3Id7T3lu_XIWP3p5Kdb6TJ2l_2pavzMfumP49gu_IjTpBVIQG71tIWX26iBHXWY9K/s400/File+Oct+29%252C+16+49+39.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div>
A K <a href="http://shop.krecs.com/collections/friends-and-neighbors/products/friends-and-neighbors-cd-grab-bag">warehouse-clearing deal</a> put a big stack of CDs in the mailbox for less than the cost of one at retail. The friendly mail order department "miscounted," so I had 14 new discs to spin. First time through, I picked blind. Second time through, I better knew what was coming, but still had things to learn and opinions to form. As a result, I've made a keep-or-pass list that looks like this (rated against each other, not all of musicdom):<br />
<br />
Sylvain Sylvain & The Criminal$: Bowery Butterflies (2000) Munster <a href="http://www.vogue.com/13372049/sylvain-sylvain-new-york-dolls-truth-and-soul-clothing/">vogue</a><br />
***** Not-too-raucous rock'n'roll straddling the boppin' '50s and punk '80s.<br />
<br />
Various Artists: Shipwreck Day (2002) Knw*Yr*Own <a href="http://knw-yr-own.com/post/93433653199">web</a><br />
***** That original What-the-Heck-Fest musta been some kind of fun.<br />
<br />
the Weeds: The Faraway Flying of Broken Beating (2004) independent? <a href="http://www.diversband.com/bio/">web (arc divers)</a><br />
**** Emily Ana Zeitlyn leads. Some genre hopping. Most works.<br />
<br />
Landing: Oceanless (2001) Strange Attractors Audio House <a href="http://www.landingsite.net/index.html">web</a><br />
**** Dark sonic ecosystem with layers of rhythmic space noise.<br />
<br />
The Gift Machine: …don't turn me off (2002) Knw*Yr*Own <a href="http://www.gift-machine.com/">web</a><br />
*** Hooky rockin-pop with an uplift and a wink.<br />
<br />
Supersnazz: The Devil Youth Blues (1996) Time Bomb <a href="http://nippop.com/artists/Supersnazz/">info</a><br />
*** Pop-punk out of Osaka. Starts strong but fades.<br />
<br />
Sarah Dougher: Day One (1999) K <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sarah_Dougher">web</a><br />
*** Easy on the ear. Bella Abzug and a couple more rise above the neutral.<br />
<br />
le ton mité: Tickets to Real Imaginary Places (2006) Zicmuse, Richmond County Archives, K<br />
*** Striving, occasionally achieving. Voice straining, instruments stabler.<br />
<br />
Bryce Panic presenta… Better Bizness Bureau (2006?) self<br />
** Infrequent clicks in this vocab-rich hip-hop shtick.<br />
<br />
Josh Bucci: Pan Da Mix Tape II (2005?) self-produced <a href="http://electricorganic.blogspot.com/">web</a><br />
** Oddball gets B for effort, but results lag in 1991-2005 retrospective.<br />
<br />
Wolf Colonel: The Castle (2000) K<br />
** Messing around after a bad breakup. Keep practicing.<br />
<br />
Various Artists: Balance (1999) Readyrock<br />
** Short-of-middling rap, often quite.<br />
<br />
Various Artists: Wade-free Wherever, A Schtufff... Compilation (1995)<br />
** Speedpunkmetal of insufficient interest.<br />
<br />
Miranda July: 10 Million Hours a Mile (1997) Kill Rock Stars<br />
* Poemish egocentric artpunk fails.<br />
<br />
All these someones committed something to semipermanence, suspecting sometime somewhere someone else would take it in and care. The hits reveal where I do. For those most potent, I wish I'd been there then.scott.xothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10195951997443295501noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15168267.post-74998725940814408232016-07-27T21:31:00.002-04:002019-01-11T20:52:27.951-05:00Red Claws versus Drive, March 13, 2016<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHT8yJAPcwzadF5WnR3509brex_n8RBAtmUHWX4ZH59sRNw1wmqog7CPnxM84I_55GloN9S8KLIV1bi9NbEtwwonb7qNPn1cUcTADizW7W8u19eTC3eBRNAaudWwIcEnYirSQ8/s1600/Redclaws.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHT8yJAPcwzadF5WnR3509brex_n8RBAtmUHWX4ZH59sRNw1wmqog7CPnxM84I_55GloN9S8KLIV1bi9NbEtwwonb7qNPn1cUcTADizW7W8u19eTC3eBRNAaudWwIcEnYirSQ8/s320/Redclaws.jpeg" width="320" height="320" /></a></div>First-place Maine (Atlantic) took on fourth-place Grand Rapids (Central) two days after crushing them 132-107. Jordan Mickey led the Claws with 28, followed by Corey Walden with 22 and Malcolm Miller with 20. The Drive got their spark from Kelsey Barlow, who put up 32, with help from Henry Sims (28), Devin Ebanks (25), and Lorenzo Brown (24). Maine was down by 10 at the half, but came back to take the game 129-123. The win clinched a playoff spot for the Red Claws.<br />
scott.xothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10195951997443295501noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15168267.post-75147968821757821422015-12-27T10:41:00.019-05:002023-10-19T07:53:18.486-04:00A Tea Record<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHmxQAJDBBb4kCDII4RY5cbXwiGHgcHXUizUbFCM0Ho51PK9WFygQC_jwKeiSHQrMWdzsQpX-D2RkDfYkVGtW1LVc-jBNq_q5wmS50hJOhQOmH3yW9AqmG7RsJ2bVI_D2Hd9VV/s1600/640px-Tea_in_different_grade_of_fermentation.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="241" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHmxQAJDBBb4kCDII4RY5cbXwiGHgcHXUizUbFCM0Ho51PK9WFygQC_jwKeiSHQrMWdzsQpX-D2RkDfYkVGtW1LVc-jBNq_q5wmS50hJOhQOmH3yW9AqmG7RsJ2bVI_D2Hd9VV/s400/640px-Tea_in_different_grade_of_fermentation.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p>
<br />
My first cup of tea came at the end of a night's work when, vague memory tells me, the cool New England air, the convenience of Dunkin Donuts, and an experimental mood led me to order a cup. I imagined it would be unpleasant, so I assented to sugar. The girl scrunched up her eyebrow when I asked for three. That hot syrup hit close enough to the mark that I brought the drink, with rapidly lessened sweetening, into my beverage routine.<br />
<br />
At the supermarket, I managed to skip past Lipton, Tetley, Nestea, and Red Rose, instead going for Bigelow then Twinings on a friend's recommendation. Not long after, out west, I found <a href="http://www.stashtea.com/">Stash</a> at the grocery store and discovered <a href="https://www.marketspice.com/#">Market Spice</a>'s loose-leaf array. From this point, I sought tea shops for stocking up and had pretty good luck overall, but a move back east into a semirural area meant mail order would become the new order.<br />
<br />
SpecialTeas' style, selection, and price made me a regular. I supplemented my SpecialTeas favorites, for a couple of years, with selections from Portsmouth Tea Company scooped straight from the warehouse barrel. Then that shop made a couple of missteps (leading to its demise) and SpecialTeas got absorbed by Teavana (a company for which I had already <a href="http://steepster.com/discuss/1330-specialteas-dot-com-is-gone">gained an aversion</a>), so I was forced to seek out a new online source. I landed at <a href="http://uptontea.com/store/home.asp">Upton Tea Imports</a> and have stuck there since. Gifts and random finds keep variety on the shelf.<br />
<br />
Upton says I've ordered these. I use ***** for the best. Four stars is threshold for "would order again."<br />
<br />
BTP1: Old South Meeting House Breakfast Blend (October 2023)<br />
DJ70: Tindharia Estate 2nd Flush Darjeeling GFTGFOP1 (November 2016)<br />
NT06: St. Isaac's Blend (August 2020+) **** Orange and cedar?<br />
NT77: Thé Mélange Russe (August 2020++) **** Suits any mood<br />
TA04: Season's Pick Assam FTGFOP Organic (July 2011)<br />
TA07: Season's Pick Assam GFOP Organic (December 2015 ++) ****<br />
TA20: Tippy Orthodox FBOP Assam (November 2016 ++++) **** Good for breakfast<br />
TA28: Mangalam Estate Assam FTGFOP (September 2017)<br />
TA40: Tippy Orthodox GFOP Assam (April 2017 +++) **** Anytime no nonsense<br />TB01: Organic English Breakfast Blend (October 2021 bonus) *** Quiet and inoffensive<br />
TB02: Leadenhall Street Blend (June 2016 ++) **** Full and earthy (*** 05/19)<br />
TB05: Mincing Lane Breakfast Blend *** Assam and Yunnan<br />
TB10: Bond Street English Breakfast Blend - I have forgotten<br />
TB12: CTC Irish Breakfast Blend (April 2017+) **** Sure, why not?<br />
TB14: Scottish Breakfast Blend (++++++) **** Malty a.m. kick<br />
TB20: River Shannon Breakfast Blend (++++++) **** Reliable day-starter<br />
TB51: East Frisian BOP (+) **** Nice breakfast alternative<br />
TB52: East Frisian TGFOP (November 2016) *** Adequate, not exemplary<br />
TB60: Russian Caravan (2023 bonus) ** Not much there<br />
TB70: Finest Blend Russian Caravan (March 2021 bonus +) **** A proper cup<br />
TB75: Baker Street Afternoon Blend (annual) ***** Smoky but balanced<br />
TB84: Robert Fortune Blend 41 (January 2020 +++) **** <br />
TB86: Richmond Park Blend (September 2019) <br />
TB89: South Street Breakfast Blend (September 2019) ***<br />
TC57: Somerset Estate BOP (April 2020) ** Added ingredients required <br />
TC102: Ceylon OP Lover's Leap (October 2023) <br />
TE01: Season's Pick Earl Grey Crème Vanilla (May 2015) *** Vanilla overpowers bergamot<br />
TE10: Original Earl Grey (September 2019) ****<br />
TE11: Extra Bergamot English Earl Grey ** Too much extra<br />
TE19: Devonshire Earl Grey (June 2016) **** Straightforward Earl Gray<br />
TE57: New England Harvest Blend ***<br />
TI69: Jolotigo Estate Java Orthodox BT (December 2015) *** Meh bonus sample<br />
TM72: Donyi Polo Arunachal Pradesh (April 2019 bonus) **** Tipply mouth mystery<br />
TSA8: Colombian Bold Breakfast Blend Organic (June 2021 bonus) *** Fair and bright<br />
TV11: Vietnam Eastern Beauty Oolong (January 2020 bonus) <br />
ZGP6: Silver Sprout Green (2018 bonus) <br />ZG18: China Chun Mee Moon Palace Organic (August 2020)<br />
ZK11: China Keemun First Grade (April 2019 +++) **** Assured every day<br />
ZK21: Premium Keemun FOP<br />
ZK22: Hubei Province Keemun Ji Hong (March 2023 bonus)<br />
ZK97: Keemun Mao Feng (September 2017) ***** Undertones and overtones<br />
ZK98: China Keemun Mao Feng<br />
ZP22: Panyang Congou Select<br />
ZP76: China Panyang Congou (June 2016) **** <br />
ZP78: China Congou Wu-Yi Golden Monkey *****<br />
ZY24: Yunnan Black Mao Feng (April 2017)<br />
ZY30: Yunnan FOP Select (2022 bonus +) **** Pleasant breakfast alternative<br />
ZY45: Yunnan FBOP (2022 bonus) *** Nothing stands out<br />
ZY75S: Yunnan Black Dragon Pearls (August 2022)
</p>scott.xothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10195951997443295501noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15168267.post-59831800671424714192015-09-05T20:24:00.002-04:002019-01-11T20:52:44.443-05:00Sea Dogs fall to Fightin Phils, May 23, 2015It's just about season-over for the Portland Sea Dogs. It's also clear-off-the-desk time here, which means the scorecard and program are headed to the recycle bin. Before that happens, I'll take a moment to record what we saw in the one game we attended.<br />
<br />
The Sea Dogs lost to the Reading Fightin Phils in a 7-inning game, the first of a rain-forced double header on May 23. The early end confused me; I still don't know why the game was shortened. After all, the ticket claims a Sea Dog game is "your nine inning vacation."<br />
<br />
The Phils' lineup was Roman Quinn, KC Serna, Aaron Altherr, Brock Stassi, Art Charles, Brodie Greene, Brian Pointer, Gabriel Lino, and Gustavo Pierre, with Tom Windle getting the start and Tyler Knigge the save. Lino and Serna had the best at bats and Windle got the win.<br />
<br />
On the Dogs' side were Blake Tekotte, Carlos Asuaje, Jantzen Witte, Oscar Tejada, Keury de la Cruz, Luis Martinez, David Chester, and Jonathan Roof. Justin Haley was on the mound for 5-2/3 innings and Pat Light finished the game. Tejeda and De La Cruz reached base more than any teammates, but nobody really got the crowd going.<br />
<br />
A & I liked the seats in section 201, row C.scott.xothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10195951997443295501noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15168267.post-70572270092366052222014-01-12T14:57:00.005-05:002014-01-12T14:57:55.070-05:00XW-1 Output Power, January 12<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJNWaEJjHeZCJOwGfLbvRnAZdFN7o0uyJV0fMm2j8CpHQT1u3hgdNS9VSSzjfuKj4bEpxMzSXaXHajsjgEKj1e2Q6GpWqaysSI7WJOw9l9G9Qbsja2DCJzkPTLoPY2RPqTpJmv/s1600/xw-1_20140112-1317z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJNWaEJjHeZCJOwGfLbvRnAZdFN7o0uyJV0fMm2j8CpHQT1u3hgdNS9VSSzjfuKj4bEpxMzSXaXHajsjgEKj1e2Q6GpWqaysSI7WJOw9l9G9Qbsja2DCJzkPTLoPY2RPqTpJmv/s400/xw-1_20140112-1317z.jpg" height="203" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">HO-68 output ranged from 65 to 165 mW over 12 minutes.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
scott.xothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10195951997443295501noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15168267.post-62645860100162125602013-11-23T01:44:00.000-05:002020-12-26T07:46:07.732-05:00Remembering GENERATEMy <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/54746833@N04/10664418423/in/set-72157637291371265">GENERATE</a> day was cool and bright from morning to night, an adventure for edging ahead. Its true start was the bridge walk, a brisk excursion after the drive. My aim was to log a letterbox and I did. I also enjoyed a second fortuitous find, a sign left behind. Then I was off to the Andross entry.<br />
<br />
"Accidental collisions," Adam Burk said, and my note taking began. It was TEDxDirigo Sunday and I sat self-satisfied.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5n4r0LQYxklnedgPIkCc92Mnlziq2d8pkb1W_ZRH389c8zq0Qsu5bngTWQ-Y6M-EcvFOPYas4j5Dxx60Xri_HOiFYTzoiadyEvTZShouVOCynUBkUOK1nGlq3BQjq9Eh0KnPN/s1600/IMG_0594.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5n4r0LQYxklnedgPIkCc92Mnlziq2d8pkb1W_ZRH389c8zq0Qsu5bngTWQ-Y6M-EcvFOPYas4j5Dxx60Xri_HOiFYTzoiadyEvTZShouVOCynUBkUOK1nGlq3BQjq9Eh0KnPN/s320/IMG_0594.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1t72e2PDNKXK8RP2CnxKnzshsntbMDe9n4M3XGBFVl1B51KSP5bIDzMang97AZoBd2BDcCSslKSSuMVQnqN49Ym0Z_qvnu4XTfFMCVbm6_ZVqryA4OFUvGulPoC1HsySGNww2/s1600/IMG_0602.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1t72e2PDNKXK8RP2CnxKnzshsntbMDe9n4M3XGBFVl1B51KSP5bIDzMang97AZoBd2BDcCSslKSSuMVQnqN49Ym0Z_qvnu4XTfFMCVbm6_ZVqryA4OFUvGulPoC1HsySGNww2/s320/IMG_0602.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6qbAadB1FV8puEZ1yMp6HLoFyE5R-Of5GV-_oLAt7UAF6q6Yw_7BeoVfV45q9VGRMJ6OEl5YKD8bOHluTwP4NG5EbsyC_ErzwVcr9poSMrmE7HSi7kzWjYqtvWlS-_I_mM1Fi/s1600/IMG_0604.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6qbAadB1FV8puEZ1yMp6HLoFyE5R-Of5GV-_oLAt7UAF6q6Yw_7BeoVfV45q9VGRMJ6OEl5YKD8bOHluTwP4NG5EbsyC_ErzwVcr9poSMrmE7HSi7kzWjYqtvWlS-_I_mM1Fi/s320/IMG_0604.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
The first talk was excellent: <a href="http://www.mainebiz.biz/article/20131014/CURRENTEDITION/310109988&template=MobileArt">Voot Yin</a> of <a href="http://www.mdibl.org/">MDIBL</a> and <a href="http://novobiosciences.com/">Novo Biosciences Inc</a> focused on tissue regeneration with ZF143 (ZF for zebra fish, which regrow a clipped tail at an astonishing rate; ZF143 for "a nontoxic drug that rescues defects in regeneration"). Might humans effectively regenerate damaged tissue with such a drug? That's what he hopes to find out. Along the way, I assume there'll be scads of "induced amputations" among sacrificial subjects: fishes, salamanders, and other lesser creatures.<br />
<br />
Three cheers for <a href="http://www.aliciaeggert.com/about/">Alicia</a> <a href="http://fellows.ted.com/profiles/alicia-eggert">Eggert</a>, speaker two, who weaves subtle surprise into clever sculptures. Her videos were fun to watch, though <a href="http://www.aliciaeggert.com/work/pages/pulsemachine.html">Pulse Machine</a> made me wonder how many parts will get replaced before the paired elements clock their last beat. I appreciated her Strunk-and-White-ish goal to "communicate as clearly and concisely as possible."<br />
<br />
Local <a href="http://tedxdirigo.com/speakers/maina-handmaker/">Maina Handmaker</a> promoted her laudable quest to repurpose ancient freight barns into a year-round farmer's market, Jenny Ryan experimented with the TED format to press a point about design, and Rafael Grossman hyped Google Glass. Then Chas Lester vocally percussed at us up to the break.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx-3ES1-YaBxS1n615kKXUj-b8aBGleK9mdlrz0f1bmozTJHM0JsNpsCJN4xtMcXAh5Pt4ssKFnxlzZc40IJWsvySxUIpiCg-Rx_JPXKdXsqkgwTWwVDjDlSxKuZqLAb6kHp54/s1600/IMG_0613.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx-3ES1-YaBxS1n615kKXUj-b8aBGleK9mdlrz0f1bmozTJHM0JsNpsCJN4xtMcXAh5Pt4ssKFnxlzZc40IJWsvySxUIpiCg-Rx_JPXKdXsqkgwTWwVDjDlSxKuZqLAb6kHp54/s320/IMG_0613.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ3KQZNaYs4R1tNQLzPqn9mgjx0IaJsXfIt_-oxroWzdznn2k-MhCe-VHB9urPoTkv6IzRpC8aVS5fsnq-mVFZgHmCcPQnC6Xyp5AUhU7XXk0_WuRotGLtRvIbrfklTnbLOrOx/s1600/IMG_0617.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ3KQZNaYs4R1tNQLzPqn9mgjx0IaJsXfIt_-oxroWzdznn2k-MhCe-VHB9urPoTkv6IzRpC8aVS5fsnq-mVFZgHmCcPQnC6Xyp5AUhU7XXk0_WuRotGLtRvIbrfklTnbLOrOx/s320/IMG_0617.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
After lunch, but before lunch was over, I went back to the presentation hall and found Apparatus Dance Company on the ropes. It was the right kind of unexpected. They opened Session Two with a performance and an explanation of how they created the <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/54746833@N04/10664106713/in/set-72157637291371265">back wall art</a> while practicing, making "maps of where the dance has been" for reperformance or revision. (I had thought the art was a preschool's contribution.)<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dzOVdYcSWahXSai1HeQ07r9NSr5JieBtKEjloOAWAmSx42ADxXeREvRdCWbQUD5W7d-HA5BmaII9QU' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<br />
Insert <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=57dzaMaouXA">#hashtag video</a> here, followed by <a href="http://tedxdirigo.com/speakers/david-buchanan/">David Buchanan</a> telling of Clarence Thurlow and the Fletcher Sweet, Mohamed Nur saying while living here he has "never experienced peace," Liz Neely remarking on paper while wearing a dress to start a chain reaction, Eli Mellen (the next link) pointing me at <a href="http://mainemakers.me/">mainemakers.me</a>, and <a href="http://tedxdirigo.com/speakers/gkisedtanamoogk/"><span class="speaker-name">gkisedtanamoogk</span></a> unwittingly completing the apparel trifecta. The elder draped a wampum belt over his left hand while addressing <a href="http://www.mainewabanakitrc.org/">truth and reconciliation</a> and leading me to consider "What does it mean to acknowledge we live on the homelands of Indian country?"<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYtxeuSEnEvBEXT3fTmfOOS9MzfyhyVKuVAfLriYl0USzHlyaYIpbXCg7MKFcoTIKNqWM8QkYCgAgoPEEA6T27L5Sz9GQ76vqDuW0msOkEfJeYnWY5_mVN0W_qjikmwHvwT0w2/s1600/IMG_0618.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYtxeuSEnEvBEXT3fTmfOOS9MzfyhyVKuVAfLriYl0USzHlyaYIpbXCg7MKFcoTIKNqWM8QkYCgAgoPEEA6T27L5Sz9GQ76vqDuW0msOkEfJeYnWY5_mVN0W_qjikmwHvwT0w2/s320/IMG_0618.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
The tiramisu line at break didn't abate till nearly too late, but I got a tasty little bowl to take back in. I sat next to the knitter in the glow zone and started a tweet.<br />
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en">
May be shallow, but really enjoyed fashion shifts between <a href="https://twitter.com/lili_czarina">@lili_czarina</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/eli_oat">@eli_oat</a> and gkisedtanamoogk at <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23TEDxDirigo&src=hash">#TEDxDirigo</a> (great messages too)<br />
— Scott Richardson (@scott_xot) <a href="https://twitter.com/scott_xot/statuses/397079642240479232">November 3, 2013</a></blockquote>
<br />
Adam said, "This dot is a cool elevator" and I now knew why. TED's red circle centers attention, gives a lift.<br />
<br />
Next up on the crimson disk was <a href="http://tedxdirigo.com/speakers/yona-belfort/">Yona Belfort</a> putting hoarder and minimalist on opposite sides of the value threshold and equating shopping with gambling. And what was it <a href="http://www.scilogs.com/a_mad_hemorrhage/eating-urchins/">urchin eater</a> Graham Morehead was saying about discovering simple solutions through <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Complex_systems">complex systems</a>?<br />
<br />
Nancy Andrews kept me off balance for a bit. She was inhabiting <a href="http://www.nancyandrews.net/section/delirious">delirium</a> once upon a time and works out her post-ICU Syndrome in gently unsettling <a href="http://artandscienceofdelirium.wordpress.com/">art</a>. In an abrupt shift, Serena Galleshaw brightly reviewed how she and her friends created their own reasons to stay (and as their neighbor I'm grateful they did). John Coleman <a href="http://tedxdirigo.com/speakers/john-coleman/">said</a> do nothing. He also said stay toiling. Then Bianca Fresh (Abdalla) got us to stomp and clap and slap thighs in a 500-hand hambone. She and Chas went playfully head to head to end it.<br />
<br />
<br />
I did a little post-intensity wandering over the old mill floor, stabbing at a couple of chats as the crowd thinned, but that was a wrap. It was five and almost night, a chilly march back to the car. After one wrong turn I just aimed at twilight to find <a href="http://www.aves-specta.com/">home</a>.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwTz8u9vIfd5WKKAv4jgwNI2KjSNJ48ZYHAj6Nyvwghryd76tEXWTN-P71z-FuyJ6Lr292oygdTPq7R5dhIy8hn2f6IwtotZusvycvSuqv1bx2q0mvs7La1Yaj2A22jDshcIU9/s1600/IMG_0623.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwTz8u9vIfd5WKKAv4jgwNI2KjSNJ48ZYHAj6Nyvwghryd76tEXWTN-P71z-FuyJ6Lr292oygdTPq7R5dhIy8hn2f6IwtotZusvycvSuqv1bx2q0mvs7La1Yaj2A22jDshcIU9/s320/IMG_0623.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgju-sVnBP5E54cR2sRpyRORLzrookOxzERp3Bw5ZwR2PIBx2e8crU50E7vGwU0DBGxaHThWB4GEf8wXFfWmAd7JkZjDhEYC9KYXAuikvFx9Bsbb69ONT3-oOhJUF27bantywJB/s1600/IMG_0625.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgju-sVnBP5E54cR2sRpyRORLzrookOxzERp3Bw5ZwR2PIBx2e8crU50E7vGwU0DBGxaHThWB4GEf8wXFfWmAd7JkZjDhEYC9KYXAuikvFx9Bsbb69ONT3-oOhJUF27bantywJB/s320/IMG_0625.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />scott.xothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10195951997443295501noreply@blogger.com0