Arizona Scorpions and CactusCon

A message to QRP-L from Paul Harden, NA5N about this event almost had me seeking flight reservations. It really sounds great. Wish I could go. But wait! A virtual visit is possible, because they plan on providing live video streams of the presentations. And last year's talks are also available. Go Scorpions! Check it out:
http://www.azscqrpions.org/CactusCon2009.htm

Shep: UHF and Deep Space Communications

On this one, it takes a while for Shep to get to the radio stuff, but it is worth the wait. Or you could fast forward to around the half-way point (but in doing so you will miss the commercial for Miller High-Life, and Shep's discussions of Monolopy and the Game of Love).

http://ia310115.us.archive.org/2/items/JeanShepherd1965Pt1/1965_04_15_Radio_Signals.mp3

Shep: CW, Conrad, Lake Erie Swing, QRP ops (2 Watts on 20)

April 13, 1965. Jean Shepherd discusses Morse Code, propagation, the Signal Corps and a QRP adventure on 20 Meters. You guys will love this one. Thanks to Bob, N1BE for sending this along. More tomorrow.

http://ia310114.us.archive.org/2/items/JeanShepherd1965Pt1/1965_04_13_Code_School.mp3

SolderSmoke 112

http://www.soldersmoke.com/soldersmoke112.mp3

July 26, 2009
Jean Shepherd comments on solder smoke
Back to Sicily
Apollo 11
Hans Summers' Heroic Homebrew Grenadian QRSS Adventure
Regen progress (they ARE possessed)
Knack-related maladies
Amateur astronomer discovers scar on Jupiter
A reading from SolderSmoke (the book)
MAILBAG

Smoke on the way

SS 112 has been recorded. I'm out in the Sabine Hills right now but
should be able to upload around 2000 UTC tonight.

Homebrew Telescope Finds Earth-sized Scar on Jupiter

Wow! Amateur astronomer Anthony Wesley in Australia was the first one to see this new scar on Jupiter. Reminds me of the Shoemaker-Levy 9 comet impact back in 1994. I saw the results of that strike direct from my front yard in the Dominican Republic using a Tasco 4 inch reflector. (The story of that adventure is in the book, "SolderSmoke -- A Global Adventure in Radio Electronics.") Exciting stuff!

Icing on the cake: The discovery was made with a HOMBREW telescope! Here is the web page of the fellow who made the discovery:
http://jupiter.samba.org/
I really enjoyed reading his account of the discovery.

Here is a news article about the event:
http://www.cnn.com/2009/TECH/space/07/24/hubble.jupiter.scar/index.html

Apollo 11

I was 10 years-old and totally involved with the mission. Armstrong
was my hero. I kept a scrapbook (still have it). There is an
interesting Italian angle: Collins was born in Rome. His dad was with
the US Embassy. Glad to see Buzz is doing well. There is a great story
in the book Moondust about his dealings with an obnoxious reporter. I
think Buzz handled it perfectly.