Miscellany

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A little of this, a little of that.

Wouldn't it be great to be able to support the Summit County Democratic Party next Friday? Just not possible, I'm afraid.

VP6DX Logo

My Political Compass, circa 2008

See the post...

Questionable Ergonomics

It's her XO, but I was the first to share a Chat in the Neighborhood. She caught me demonstrating poor posture.

Maine Bugs Cover?

Play-N-Squeak® Pals Firefly

Postscript: While we're at it, how about Gummi Lightning Bugs as a stocking stuffer?

Oh, but this one is the most realistic I've seen yet: Plush Wild Clingers Lightning Bug.

Postscript December 23

By way of explanation... At this year's Lobstercon, W1REX distributed the Maine Bugs kit, a nifty programmable device designed to mimic crickets and lightning bugs. Cricket chirps indicate an accurate temperature reading and the firefly flashes the callsign of the builder.

Mine was built, programmed, and modified this summer, but I wanted to find a clever way to package it. I hunted for an oversized tin insect to no avail. I followed other paths without luck.

One day last week, I moved something on the workbench and the kit hit the floor. "Alright," I grumbled, "time to button up this project." One last flurry of searches resulted in the cute toys mentioned above, but none looked like a solution. So I pulled out a Hershey's truffle tin (very much like an Altoids tin) and mounted my Maine Bug in that.

If the ideal disguise appears before my eyes, I'll consider migrating the project, but for now it's one more item off the to-do list.

First satellite station

Kitchen counter with VX150, FT470, battery pack, and 8-element 70cm yagi, just after my first satellite QSO.

OLPC G1G1 Badge

OLPC G1G1

OLPC NA G1G1 map

Common Redpoll, chin hidden

Common Redpoll without an obvious black chin patch (at this angle).

Common Redpoll

A Common Redpoll was on the feeder around 10 am on Nov 10. Ate for a few minutes. Not seen again.

Hours earlier I had walked outside and seen a bird on the same perch. I was surprised it did not fly. I made it out to be a goldfinch at the time. Maybe it was. Or maybe it was this bird.

Previous redpoll sightings in the yard were January 23, 2000 (2 feeding under burning bush beside driveway), and January 8, 2006 (6+? with goldfinches, briefly, in the top of the spruce).