Friday January 31st: Topic with KC1SOO: Monday's Earthquake
Embedded Files
Earthquake rattles New England
Earthquake rattles New England
An earthquake centered off the coast of New England Monday morning was felt for hundreds of miles, including in the Boston area and parts of Pennsylvania.
The Monday-morning quake hit offshore at 10:22 a.m. about 8 miles east of Portsmouth, New Hampshire, and about 6 miles southeast of York Harbor, Maine.
The temblor was centered underwater about 4.5 miles southeast of York Harbor, Maine. The U.S. Geological Survey gave it a preliminary rating of 4.1 magnitude, later downgraded to 3.8.
Police and fire scanner audio from York County, Maine captured the initial response to the earthquake.
"We're not sure what's going on. We're getting calls from all over town about an explosion," a dispatcher can be heard saying.
"We had a very large shake here at the station as well," another person says.
Residents in York say it was a frightening experience.
"I was standing right here, and it was 'boom,' and then instantly, all at once, the whole house was shaking. And I looked up and the lights were swinging," Cindy McKenna said, "I picked up and called 911, then I just ran outside."
"I was vacuuming, and all the sudden, it sounded like a truck or an airplane engine or something, I mean, and the house shook," said Gene Raymond.
"A couple of things fell off my shelf and we literally thought something exploded, that's what it sounded like, the building shook," Dawn Milbury said
Nancy Begert was working at an OB/GYN office in Portland, Maine when the building started to shake.
"We all kind of looked at each other, like, what's happening? And then when it was done, we said, 'I think that was an earthquake," Begert said. "One of the girls in another room had something fall off the desk, but no damage."
Home damage after earthquake
The Maine Emergency Management Agency was asking residents not to call 911 unless there was an emergency. But they did ask residents to make sure they check for any damage to their homes.
"That's the standard thing you should do after an earthquake. Check your house, make sure nothing cracked. If you have a hook up of some sort of flammable heating source make sure you check that to make sure nothing was damaged" Emergency Management Director, Nicole Pastana said.
More Information: https://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/eventpage/us6000pmk3/executive
https://www.masslive.com/news/2025/01/earthquake-rattles-maine-days-after-shaking-felt-in-mass.html
Wednesday January 28th: Topic with KC1HHK: Challenger Disaster - 39 Years Ago
On January 28, 1986, the Space Shuttle Challenger broke apart 73 seconds into its flight, killing all seven crew members aboard. The spacecraft disintegrated 46,000 feet (14 km) above the Atlantic Ocean, off the coast of Cape Canaveral, Florida, at 16:39:13 UTC (11:39:13 a.m. EST, local time at the launch site). It was the first fatal accident involving an American spacecraft while in flight.
Where Were You & What Were You Doing? What Was Your Reaction?
Monday January 22nd: Topic with KC1HHK: EVs in Winter
Electric Cars and Charging: Things to Know for Winter Use
Quick Tips on Electric Cars in Cold Weather
Electric cars have less range in freezing temperatures than in mild weather because they consume more energy to heat the battery and interior.
Charging a battery that sat overnight in frigid weather might take twice as long to fully recharge.
Using heated seats and a heated steering wheel consumes much less power than heating the cabin using the electric vehicle’s heat pump.
The amount of time it takes your electric vehicle battery to drain can vary seasonally. However, you’ll likely find that cold winter weather has the biggest impact on your car’s range and its recommended charging routine. If you’re in the market for an electric car or looking for ways to optimize battery life during colder months, keep reading. Here’s what you need to know about charging an electric vehicle (EV) in freezing temperatures.
· Range Expectancy in Cold Weather
· Tips for Winter EV Charging and Driving
What Is EV Range?
When it comes to an electric vehicle, the term “range” refers to how far you can drive on a fully charged battery. Some EVs can be driven beyond 400 miles on a single charge under the right conditions. The range will vary based on driving habits, vehicle size, weather conditions, and other environmental factors.
Range Expectancy in Cold Weather
EPA range estimates for electric cars are based on 45% highway and 55% city driving over 15,000 annual miles. These valuations are not specific to any season, so it’s important to understand how long, harsh winters affect the overall performance.
In temperatures below freezing, most EVs will suffer range loss — some by more than 30%. It takes significantly more energy to power a car when the battery is cold than when it’s warm. The initial energy conversion goes toward warming the battery and heating the inside cabin.
Do Electric Cars Work in Cold Weather?
Many potential buyers wonder about electric cars in cold climates. The short answer is yes, EVs work in cold weather. Just not as well. Outside temperatures in the 70s might be optimal for an EV, but having electric cars in cold climates is nothing new. Norway, for example, experiences plenty of freezing temperatures. Still, it also has significant EV adoption, with more than 26% of country’s vehicles now fully electric.
Winter Charging Times
No matter what type of charger — Level 1, Level 2, or Level 3 — you use to charge your EV battery, it will take longer in extreme cold.
Level 1: If you’re charging overnight on a Level 1 charger, most of the energy will go toward keeping the battery warm instead of boosting your power levels. We do not recommend using a trickle charge in freezing winter temperatures.
Level 2: If your car has been powered off and sitting for a prolonged period, a Level 2 charger will charge more slowly at first. Once the battery is warm enough, the charging times will pick up and level off. This rate will vary based on the external temperature and how long the vehicle has been sitting idle in the cold. Use the manufacturer’s mobile app (if applicable) to keep an eye on how the charging times fluctuate when the weather drops below freezing. Use that information to adjust your routine accordingly when the forecast shows frigid weather.
Level 3: DC fast chargers will still be the quickest option for recharging your EV battery in the winter. Many DC stations can push the battery in a newer EV from a 20% to 80% state of charge in 20 to 30 minutes. In times of extreme cold, you’re less likely to reach 80% in such a short amount of time. It may take twice as long to hit that threshold. The difference won’t be as significant if the battery is already warm from a longer drive. Still, keep this in mind if you rely on a fast charge during your regular grocery runs and errands.
Why Do Cold Temperatures Hurt EV Charging Times?
Often, charging an electric car takes longer in the cold than when the temperature is mild. Like many humans, EV batteries work better in moderate temperatures and not as well in extremes. The battery pack’s chemical and physical reactions happen more slowly if the unit is cold. Preconditioning a cold EV battery helps get it to its optimal operating temperature. When charging a cold battery without preconditioning in frigid weather, much of the initial power goes toward heating the battery so it can efficiently store energy. If the driver preconditions the battery, an EV’s charging rate is not significantly slower in cold conditions.
Tips for Winter EV Charging and Driving
Covered Parking: Electrify America, one of the nation’s largest DC fast charging networks, recommends parking in a garage during the winter. If that’s not possible, a covered parking deck can also make a big difference in shielding your car from frigid wind chill.
Plan Ahead: Some electric vehicles let you schedule charging sessions and can precondition through the manufacturer’s mobile app. If the charger is connected, it will prep and charge the battery to be ready for your departure. The small effort can make a big difference in ensuring your battery has enough juice for each trip. Newer EVs allow drivers to start preconditioning functions on the way to a charging destination.
Preheat: Like an oven, many electric vehicles have a preheat mode. Schedule this through the car’s mobile app to warm the inside cabin while it’s still plugged in and charging. This will prevent the battery from draining as it heats the interior. By the time you’re ready to start driving, the battery and the cabin will both be warm and ready for the road.
Heated Seats: If available, consider using the EV’s heated seats and heated steering wheel instead of heating the entire cabin. These features use significantly less energy than the car’s climate control, which can affect how quickly the battery drains.
Eco Mode: If your car has an “eco” mode or similar economy setting, use it — especially in cold weather. It’s a great way to maximize the time between each charge and help preserve the battery power to increase your range.
Questions:
Do you own or know someone who owns an EV?
Do EV’s drive any differently on snow or ice?
With temps in the sub-freezing range for long stretches of time how much longer does it take for your EV to reach a drivable level?
Monday January 20th: Topic with K1KL: Keeping Warm 🥵
COLD
As we start the work week on a holiday, Martin Luther King Jr. Day, many of us are shoveling and clearing sidewalks and driveways. Depending on where you live, you may be dealing with just a little bit of snow or moving over half a foot of the stuff.
The storm that was responsible for our overnight snow and rain is now quickly pulling up into Eastern Canada. As this storm continues to move farther northeast, cold Arctic air is going to replace it.
It’s been about two years since we saw a strong blast of Arctic air and while it is going to be cold for the next several days, it won’t be as cold as it was in February of 2023 when damage occurred to the stone fruit crop and many of our early flowering trees and shrubs. That cold was more unusual; this cold is more typical.
Temperatures today will be in the mid-20s and any cloudiness this morning will clear, leaving us with mostly sunny skies. Don’t forget your sunglasses since there will be a lot of glare off the freshly fallen snow.
Wind chill values will start out at only zero to 10 below before climbing only a little to the teens and then eventually dropping into the single digits by the end of the day. The bitter cold single-digit wind chills will persist in the afternoon both Tuesday and Wednesday.
Net Discussion Topic
How do you heat your spaces, oil, gas, electric, forced hot air, forced hot water, heat pump, radiant, other?
What do you think is the best way to heat and why--- considering comfort, cost, and reliability?
Friday January 17th: Topic with KC1SOO: Green Screen Movies
Green Screen Movies
Green Screen Movies
History of the Chroma Key Green Screen
History of the Chroma Key Green Screen
The green screen, also known as chroma key, is a visual effects technique that has been used in the film and television industry for decades. It allows filmmakers to superimpose one image or video over another by replacing a solid-colored background with another image or video. The green screen was first introduced in the 1940s, but its popularity took off in the 1980s with the advent of affordable computer graphics.
One of the earliest uses of the green screen was in the 1940s, when it was used to produce special effects in the film industry. During this time, bluescreens were also used, but green was found to be a better color for chroma keying as it was less likely to be present in the subject being filmed and was easier to key out in post-production. The first use of green screen in a feature film was in the 1950s when it was used in the film "The Ten Commandments."
In the 1980s, with the advent of affordable computer graphics, the green screen became more popular. This allowed filmmakers to create more complex and realistic special effects, as well as making it easier to superimpose one image over another. The green screen was used extensively in blockbuster films such as "Star Wars" and "Jurassic Park."
Today, the green screen is still widely used in the film and television industry and has become a staple in visual effects work. With the advancement of technology, it has become easier to produce high-quality chroma key effects, and the green screen can now be used in many different ways. From virtual backgrounds in video conferencing to special effects in video games, the green screen has become an important tool for filmmakers and visual effects artists.
The green screen has a rich history in the film and television industry, dating back to the 1940s. Over the years, it has become a vital tool for filmmakers and visual effects artists, allowing them to create more complex and realistic special effects. With the advancement of technology, the green screen continues to play a crucial role in the world of visual effects.
Below are some of the many uses of the green screen.
Film and Television: The green screen is widely used in the film and television industry for special effects. With the help of chroma keying, filmmakers can create a virtual background and superimpose it over live-action footage. This allows them to create anything from a simple change of scenery to a fully immersive world.
Video Conferencing: With the rise of remote work, video conferencing has become more important than ever. The green screen is used to provide virtual backgrounds during video calls, allowing people to appear in front of any background they choose. This is a useful tool for remote workers and can help to create a more professional look during online meetings.
Gaming: The green screen is also used in the gaming industry for special effects. Gamers can use the green screen to create immersive environments and interactive backgrounds, making the gaming experience more realistic and engaging.
Photography: The green screen is also used in photography. Photographers can use chroma keying to replace a green or blue background with any image they choose, creating a professional-looking background for their subjects. This is a useful tool for portrait photographers who want to create a custom background for their subjects.
Live Broadcasting: The green screen is used in live broadcasting to provide virtual backgrounds. This is useful for news and weather broadcasts, where presenters can appear in front of a map or weather chart without having to physically be in front of it.
Virtual Reality: The green screen is used in the creation of virtual reality experiences. This is done by capturing live-action footage in front of a green screen and then replacing the green background with a virtual environment. This creates a more immersive experience for the viewer and allows them to interact with a virtual world.
Net Topic Question:
What is your favorite movie or show that you know uses a Green Screen?
Wednesday January 15th: Topic with KC1HHK: Wikipedia Day January 15
Wikipedia
Wikipedia is a free-content online encyclopedia written and maintained by a community of volunteers, known as Wikipedians, through open collaboration and the wiki software MediaWiki. Wikipedia is the largest and most-read reference work in history, and is consistently ranked among the ten most visited websites; as of August 2024, it was ranked fourth by Semrush, and seventh by Similarweb. Founded by Jimmy Wales and Larry Sanger on January 15, 2001, Wikipedia has been hosted since 2003 by the Wikimedia Foundation, an American nonprofit organization funded mainly by donations from readers.
Initially only available in English, Wikipedia now exists in more than 300 languages. The English Wikipedia, with over 6.9 million articles, remains the largest of the editions, which together comprise more than 64 million articles and attract more than 1.5 billion unique device visits and 13 million edits per month (about 5 edits per second on average) as of April 2024. As of November 2024, over 25% of Wikipedia's traffic was from the United States, followed by Japan at 6.2%, the United Kingdom at 5.6%, Russia at 5.0%, Germany at 4.8%, and the remaining 53.3% split among other countries.
Wikipedia has been praised for its enablement of the democratization of knowledge, extent of coverage, unique structure, and culture. Wikipedia has been censored by some national governments, ranging from specific pages to the entire site. Although Wikipedia's volunteer editors have written extensively on a wide variety of topics, the encyclopedia has been criticized for systemic bias, such as a gender bias against women and geographical bias against the Global South (Eurocentrism). While the reliability of Wikipedia was frequently criticized in the 2000s, it has improved over time, receiving greater praise from the late 2010s onward while becoming an important fact-checking site. Articles on breaking news are often accessed as sources for frequently updated information about those events.
Openness
Unlike traditional encyclopedias, Wikipedia follows the procrastination principle regarding the security of its content, meaning that it waits until a problem arises to fix it.
Review of changes
Wikipedia's editing interface
Although changes are not systematically reviewed, Wikipedia's software provides tools allowing anyone to review changes made by others. Each article's History page links to each revision. On most articles, anyone can view the latest changes and undo others' revisions by clicking a link on the article's History page. Registered users may maintain a "watchlist" of articles that interest them so they can be notified of changes. "New pages patrol" is a process where newly created articles are checked for obvious problems.
In 2003, economics PhD student Andrea Ciffolilli argued that the low transaction costs of participating in a wiki created a catalyst for collaborative development, and that features such as allowing easy access to past versions of a page favored "creative construction" over "creative destruction".
The fundamental principles of the Wikipedia community are embodied in the "Five pillars", while the detailed editorial principles are expressed in numerous policies and guidelines intended to appropriately shape content. The five pillars are:
Wikipedia is an encyclopedia
Wikipedia is written from a neutral point of view
Wikipedia is free content that anyone can use, edit, and distribute
Wikipedia's editors should treat each other with respect and civility
Wikipedia has no firm rules
Wikipedia is the most popular wiki-based website, as well being one of the internet's most popular websites, having been ranked consistently as such since at least 2007. Wikipedia is not a single wiki but rather a collection of hundreds of wikis, with each one pertaining to a specific language. The English-language Wikipedia has the largest collection of articles, standing at 6,939,413 as of January 2025.
There are hundreds of thousands of wikis in use, both public and private, including wikis functioning as knowledge management resources, note-taking tools, community websites, and intranets. Ward Cunningham, the developer of the first wiki software, WikiWikiWeb, originally described wiki as "the simplest online database that could possibly work". "Wiki" (pronounced [wiki] is a Hawaiian word meaning "quick".
What are your best uses of Wikipedia?
Friday January 10th: Topic with KC1SOO: Dial Up Internet
"AOL" America Online / Dial-Up Internet
"AOL" America Online / Dial-Up Internet
AOL, short for America Online, wasn't the first ISP, but it became synonymous with dial-up internet access in the 1990s. Its journey began in 1985 as Quantum Computer Services, a small online service for Commodore 64 computers. It wasn't until 1989, with the rebranding to America Online and the rise of personal computers, that AOL began its meteoric rise. AOL distinguished itself through its user-friendly interface, iconic "You've Got Mail!" notification, and a focus on community features like chat rooms and instant messaging.
AOL's success stemmed from its aggressive marketing strategy. Remember those ubiquitous installation CDs that flooded mailboxes and magazine inserts? This tactic brought millions online, many experiencing the internet for the first time through AOL's curated portal. At its peak in the late 90s and early 2000s, AOL boasted over 25 million subscribers, making it the dominant force in the dial-up era. Beyond just internet access, AOL became a cultural phenomenon, shaping online habits and even influencing language with the rise of "internet slang" popularized in its chat rooms.
However, AOL's reign was not to last. The advent of broadband technologies like DSL and cable internet offered significantly faster speeds, challenging AOL's dial-up dominance.
While AOL did offer broadband options, it struggled to compete with established players. Furthermore, the rise of the World Wide Web shifted user preference away from AOL's walled-garden approach to a more open internet experience. Despite its decline, AOL's legacy remains significant. It played a crucial role in democratizing internet access and shaping the online landscape we know today.
AOL, NetZero, EarthLink... What one did you use?
Did you use "AOL" America Online Dial-up Internet back in the day?
Wednesday January 8th: Topic with KC1HHK: Earth’s Rotation Day 2024
Earth’s Rotation Day 2024
Earth’s Rotation Day 2024: Earth’s Rotation Day is observed every year on January 8 and celebrates the incredible phenomenon of Earth’s rotation on its axis. The day is a reminder of the fundamental movement which governs our existence, grants us day and night and shapes the world around us. It is planned with inspiration from Léon Foucault's (pronounced "Foo-koh”) pendulum demonstration in 1851. So, let's spin with gratitude for this incredible planet and its beautiful daily rhythm!
The rotation of the Earth is a charismatic phenomenon which influences climate patterns and provides the basis for the day-to-day calendar. Let’s appreciate the wondrous mechanics of our planet's movement and some interesting facts about Earth’s rotation:
1. At the equator, Earth revolves at around 1,000 miles per hour or 1,525 feet per second. The Earth's axis, an invisible line, is the center of this continuous rotation, which creates the 24-hour cycle that distinguishes day from night.
2. To keep our clocks in line with Earth's time, scientists periodically add or delete a "leap second" due to the irregularities in Earth's rotation.
3. Our planet's rotation has been restrained by the gravitational pull of the moon. Friction from the tides caused by the Moon has caused the Earth's rotation to slow down. Each century, that process extends the day by roughly 2.3 milliseconds.
4. These rings grow at various rates during the day and night. Surprisingly, research on ancient mollusks has shown that the day on Earth was just 23.5 hours long, about 70 million years ago.
5. The stunning aurora borealis and australis are produced by the Earth's rotation. These amazing light shows are produced when charged particles from the Sun contact with Earth's magnetic field close to the poles.
6. The difference in climate change involves more than shifts in temperature; it may also exert an impact on the length of the day.
7. The Chandler Wobble is a mild, periodic oscillation in Earth's rotation that causes a little change in the planet's axis. It was discovered in the late 19th century by American astronomer Seth Carlo Chandler, and its usual cycle is 433 days.
8. The erratic flow of molten rock beneath the crust and oceanic tidal pressures also have an impact on Earth's spin. The planet's rotation rate fluctuates due to both of these causes.
9. Earth is an oblate spheroid, or somewhat compressed, despite its appearance of being a sphere. The planet's rotation creates an equatorial bulge as a result of this.
10. The Coriolis effect is a phenomenon brought about by Earth's rotation. Every moving object experiences an odd twist due to the rotation of our globe.
11. The day-night cycle of the Moon is influenced by Earth's rotation, which likewise controls day and night on our planet. A lunar month is almost the same length as a day on the moon, which is roughly 29.5 Earth days.
12. A sidereal day, or complete rotation, lasts for just 23 hours, 56 minutes, and 4 seconds. Our days appear to be 24 hours long because we make up for the extra time lost as a result of Earth's orbit around the sun.
13. The Focault Pendulum device changes its plane of swing over time to illustrate how the Earth rotates using a freely swinging weight. This fascinating scientific experiment is on display at museums all over the world.
14. Earth days were only a few hours long billions of years ago! Earth's spin was delayed by the Moon's gravitational pull as it formed and receded, providing us extra time.
15. The massive magnetic barrier that envelops Earth shields us from the harmful particles from the Sun. The magnetosphere, an intangible barrier that extends well beyond the Moon's orbit, blocks the solar wind, an unceasing stream of charged particles.
A Foucault (pronounced "Foo-koh”) pendulum experiment is a scientific demonstration that uses a long, freely swinging pendulum to visually prove the Earth's rotation by showing how the plane of the pendulum's swing appears to gradually change over time as the Earth turns beneath it, effectively proving the planet is rotating on its axis; this experiment was first performed by French physicist Léon Foucault in 1851, providing one of the first direct visual proofs OF Earth’s rotation without relying on astronomical observations.
Earth’s Rotation Day is a way to appreciate the beauty and complexity of our planet’s mechanism shaping our day-to-day life. Let Earth's Rotation Day be a reminder to cherish our planet and strive to preserve its delicate balance for generations to come.
Friday January 3rd: Topic with K1KL: Ethnic Foods
ETHNIC FOOD FAVORITES
Chinese
A Google Trends analysis found that Chinese food was the most popular cuisine in the United States in 2019.Italian
A National Restaurant Association report found that Italian food was the most popular ethnic cuisine among consumers.Mexican
A Google Trends analysis found that Mexican food was the second most popular cuisine in the United States in 2019.Thai
A Google Trends analysis found that Thai food was the third most popular cuisine in the United States in 2019.Indian
A Google Trends analysis found that Indian food was the fourth most popular cuisine in the United States in 2019.Japanese
A Google Trends analysis found that Japanese food was one of the most popular cuisines in the United States in 2019.Korean
A Google Trends analysis found that Korean food was one of the most popular cuisines in the United States in 2019.Greek
A Google Trends analysis found that Greek food was one of the most popular cuisines in the United States in 2019.Vietnamese
A Google Trends analysis found that Vietnamese food was one of the most popular cuisines in the United States in 2019.Cuban
A Google Trends analysis found that Cuban food was one of the most popular cuisines in the United States in 2019.
Other popular ethnic foods include French, Spanish, Cambodian and Mediterranean.
What Others?
Net Discussion Questions
Do you have a favorite ethnic food and, if so, what is it?
What is your favorite ethnic restaurant in this area and why would you recommend it?
Do you make ethnic dishes at home that are not in your ethnic tradition?
What ethic food not listed above have you enjoyed?
HAPPY NEW YEAR !
Your Resolutions? with KC1HHK January 1, 2025
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