Notices by Bud Talbot (bud_t@m.ai6yr.org)

I'm trying to get an early start logging the #FFWN check-ins for this week. So far, we are not a superstitous group, but there are a few gems in there that made me laugh!

The web page was updated with last week's check-ins: https://w0rmt.net/ffwn/

#hamradio
#amateurradio

@steter @AE4WX @ai6yr @c_dan4th @faraiwe exhibit A: this is a pretty nice bike, but $6k

https://boulder.craigslist.org/bik/d/lafayette-moots-33/7894986432.html

@ai6yr @c_dan4th @faraiwe you should look at bikes on Boulder Craigslist. There are lots of *used* bikes over $5k.

And yeah, I'm in the $2-3k bike crowd but can't imagine spending more than that unless I was absolutely swimming in cash. And honestly one of my most fun bikes was $300

This morning's message on the overpass near the bus stop in Louisville #Colorado reads "snap not ballroom"

Story time.

I was getting my hair cut today in our local 4 chair barber shop. I was just finishing up when one of the barbers frantically asked another to call 911. I looked over and saw a customer slumped over in the chair, apparently passed out. I jumped up and went over to assess him, and got on with the 911 operator. Male, mid-50s (?), unresponsive, shallow breathing and low respiration rate, weak distal pulse, sweating profusely. I'm thinking stroke or seizure. Starts minor convulsion, looks like he's going to puke. I ran through some stroke dagnostics once he came back around, and he looked ok. Paramedics were on the way. We made a good handoff and he is under their care.

While I was assessing I noticed the ballcap we was clutching - a #MAGA hat. Did this make any difference in the care I was providing? Not in the slightest. During the episode I think I even just ignored it so I could work.

The guy needed help. Just like when fighting a wildland fire in some MAGA-infused area, it made no difference in what I did for him. I still cared for this guy, and said goodbye and wished him well when I left. It doesnt matter what bullshit he believes. He is a fellow human who needed help.

I tell this story not to give myself accolades or to ask for thanks. I tell it because this is the #America that I want to live in. One in which we respect each other's dignity as human beings and help each other when needed.

And I worry that we'll never have that America again...

😞

Exclusive: #NSF faces radical shake-up as officials abolish its 37 divisions | Science | AAAS
https://www.science.org/content/article/exclusive-nsf-faces-radical-shake-officials-abolish-its-37-divisions

Following up on this article about #NSF - this is twice that we have learned something from a Science article before we've seen it in an internal memo. (I'm currently a Program Director/Program Officer at NSF). This is frustrating because we have *a lot* of good science work to do, and we're trying to do it but things (big things!) change so quickly that we can't be strategic. It's really hard to be reactionary all the time. This is the antithesis of "efficiency."

Of course these are my views and don't represent the agency, blah blah blah. But I think my time is limited. Until then, I'll keep doing my best to move good science forward.

I'm very, very proud of this work and of NSF! It means so much to so many of us and to our country. I would not be where I am today without NSF funded research.

Listening to the Colorado preparedness net on #hamradio, which sometimes turns into the Colorado paranoia net imho 🤣

I have to admit that I really like having a separate cell phone just for work. I used to think it would be horrible to carry two phones but it's actually great. I can turn that one off at the end of the day and turn it on at the beginning of the day. It's kind of liberating to separate things so cleanly

WaPo article on #NIFC

#wildfire

https://www.washingtonpost.com/climate-environment/2024/07/28/fires-west-california-burn/

The respectful and supportive comments are out numbering the hateful and disrespectful comments on my #Inclusivity in #hamradio post on @kb6nu blog.

Arguing for justice and equity takes time. It is a long game, not a reactive "I'm threatened and yelling" process. I'm very happy to see people continue to speak up and support efforts to be inclsuive and welcoming in ham radio. The very vocal and threatened/hateful minority will always be out there, but together was can move forward and do good things.

Thanks, everyone.

https://www.kb6nu.com/inclusivity-in-amateur-radio/

OK friends here is my shiny new #hamradio blog (still very much a work in progress).

This is where you can read my open letter to the #ARRL and their response, along with my thoughts on that.

pls boost

https://w0rmt.net/

I should be working on other things, but I am finishing up my open letter to the #ARRL. I'm really motivated to get this finalized and sent.

**If you would like to be a co-signatory, either reply to me here (public or private) or comment in the doc by Monday Feb 19 at 1200 UTC**.

And thank you again for helping to make our hobby more inclusive.

pls boost!

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1i6S-_xPrU2dNZoCsnXFLgFXJ1New7hUr_vmRXEcK3Z8/edit?usp=sharing

#hamradio

Well, I received a reply to my open letter to the #ARRL. It was defensive, and said that my call for a position statement on inclusive ham radio was "political" and they would make no such statement.

I need to process and think about it before deciding what to do, but this is disheartening to say the least.

I may just be done with the League altogether.

#hamradio

@N1ZZZ I have thought about that, but I don't take want to get death threats. Seriously

This is kind of hilarious, and I want to build one.

Walking Desk Is More Annoying Than A Standing Desk | Hackaday
https://hackaday.com/2023/11/26/walking-desk-is-more-annoying-than-a-standing-desk/

@KC8JC agree 100%! I'd much rather read a pdf or some kind of user manual than listen to somebody ramble on in a video. Why don't people write anymore? It's not that hard.

@ingalls @Edwin085 @BakerRL75 @ai6yr a paved cave? Interesting and slightly concerning

@ai6yr Then of course there is Natural Tunnel in Virginia, which carries a rail line through a cave https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Natural_Tunnel_State_Park

Happy #IndependenceDay, America! I saw this on the way to a drop point this morning.

#wildfire