Summer Breezes

A phenomenon happens on many summer eves

Especially near the coast, when comes an ocean breeze

As refreshing cool winds bring down the heat

And gives all of us a reviving, special treat

Often night skies are clear, you can view the stars

Enjoying the show, no matter where you are

As the moon and planets move across the skies

Bringing childish wonder, again to your eyes

Relaxing back on the lawn or a patio chair

With a peace of mind all could wish to share

by James H. Cavanaugh, KD1FW

Topics for Wednesday, July 7

June 30 Was The
Hottest Day Since 2011

The heat advisory remains in effect until 7 p.m. Wednesday as heat values are expected to reach the triple digits, according to the National Weather Service.

“Oppressive heat and humidity peak today!” forecasters tweeted Tuesday morning.

By 2:54 p.m. Tuesday the temperature at Logan International Airport was 97 degrees, and the heat index — which is what the temperature feels like — was 102 degrees.

On Monday the temperature in Boston hit 97 degrees, which tied the old record-high temperature that was set back in 1901, forecasters tweeted.

The weather service is reminding people about the importance of staying cool and hydrated, and to take precautions when spending time outdoors.

“Drink plenty of fluids, stay in an air-conditioned room, stay out of the sun, and check up on relatives and neighbors,” the heat advisory said. “Young children and pets should never be left unattended in vehicles under any circumstances. ... When possible reschedule strenuous activities to early morning or evening. Know the signs and symptoms of heat exhaustion and heat stroke.” Source: Boston Globe 6/30/21

Firefighters Can't Take the Day Off!

What Does a Firefighter Wear?

Firefighting is an extremely dangerous occupation. In addition to fighting actual fires, firefighters must contend with smoke, water, hot embers, falling objects and collapsing floors. They perform their jobs under stressful time constraints, given that they often have precious few minutes to get occupants safely out of burning structures. Modern firefighters wear a full range of personal protective equipment to help protect them during their potentially dangerous work.

Fire Helmet

Fire helmets are made of durable, heat-resistant materials to protect firefighters from both heat and falling objects. Most fire helmets display the identifying shield of the fire department on the front and fire station number on the side. A yellow helmet is usually worn by rank-and-file firefighters; red or orange helmets are usually worn by captains; and white helmets are typically worn by fire chiefs.

Turnout Pants and Jacket

Firefighters wear turnout pants and jackets made of a two-layer fabric designed to repel heat and wick away any moisture that gets inside. Turnout pants and jackets usually feature bright orange, yellow or reflective silver stripes to make firefighters more easily seen through smoke.

Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus

A self-contained breathing apparatus is standard protective gear for firefighters at most fire departments. The breathing apparatus includes a mask with a hose connected to a tank filled with breathable air. It is worn on the firefighter's back to provide oxygen for at least 30 minutes. A breathing apparatus allows a firefighter to safely explore smoke-filled areas to search for unconscious victims.

Gloves

Firefighters wear thick leather gloves as a basic part of their protective equipment. Firefighting gloves are heavily insulated and stretch past the wrist, so that firefighters can safely handle hot objects as they work their way through a burning structure.

Boots

Waterproof firefighting boots are thick, natural rubber boots with rubber soles that function well on wet surfaces. Most firefighting boots are reinforced with steel or another tough metal alloy in the toes and soles to protect firefighters from sharp debris they might accidentally kick or step on.

Personal Alert Safety System

Many fire departments include a Personal Alert Safety System, or PASS, as standard-issue equipment for firefighters. The device, worn by a firefighter, monitors his position via global positioning system, or GPS. A firefighter can activate the small transmitter if he needs help or gets trapped. The device will operate automatically if no movement is detected for a specific period of time. The signal emitted from the PASS transmitter enables rescuers to pinpoint the location of the firefighter, even in a burning building.

The weight of a fire hose varies depending on its size, but all are pretty heavy. A 1 ¾-inch fire hose is approximately 20 pounds per 50 feet (dry). A 50-foot section of 2.5-inch fire hose when full might weigh 129 pounds and a 5-inch diameter fire hose weighs approximately 55 pounds per 50 feet dry (110 pounds per 100 feet dry) and more than 900 pounds when full!

Topic for Monday, June 28

Cape Ann Field Day 2021

Topics for Wednesday, June 23

Field Day Check List

In this Nov. 22, 2009 photo made available by NASA, astronaut Leland Melvin, STS-129 mission specialist, exercises in the Unity module of the International Space Station while the space shuttle Atlantis is docked with the station. Space station astronauts exercise two hours every day to counter the muscle- and bone-withering effects of weightlessness, quickly leaving their workout clothes sweaty, smelly and stiff. Their T-shirts, shorts and socks end up so foul that they run through a pair every week, according to Melvin, a former NASA astronaut and NFL player. (NASA via AP)

Dirty Laundry in Space

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) — How do astronauts do laundry in space? They don’t.

They wear their underwear, gym clothes and everything else until they can’t take the filth and stink anymore, then junk them.

NASA wants to change that — if not at the International Space Station, then the moon and Mars — and stop throwing away tons of dirty clothes every year, stuffing them in the trash to burn up in the atmosphere aboard discarded cargo ships. So it’s teamed up with Procter & Gamble Co. to figure out how best to clean astronauts’ clothes in space so they can be reused for months or even years, just like on Earth.

The Cincinnati company announced Tuesday that it will send a pair of Tide detergent and stain removal experiments to the space station later this year and next, all part of the galactic battle against soiled and sweaty clothes.

It’s no small problem, especially as the U.S. and other countries look to establish bases on the moon and Mars.

Rocket cargo space is tight and expensive, according to NASA, so why waste it on new outfits if their clothes could be kept looking and smelling fresh? When you figure an astronaut needs 150 pounds (68 kilograms) of clothes in space per year, that quickly adds up, especially on a three-year Mars mission, said Mark Sivik, a chemist specializing in fabric and home care technology for P&G.

There’s also the health — and ick — factors.

Space station astronauts exercise two hours every day to counter the muscle- and bone-withering effects of weightlessness, quickly leaving their workout clothes sweaty, smelly and stiff. Their T-shirts, shorts and socks end up so foul that they run through a pair every week, according to Leland Melvin, a former NASA astronaut and NFL player.

“After that, they’re deemed toxic,” said Melvin, who’s serving as a spokesman for the project. “They like have a life of their own. They’re so stiff from all that sweat.”

While NASA and the other space station partners have looked into special antimicrobial clothes to prolong wear, it’s not a long-term solution.

In its initial experiment, P&G will send up detergent custom-made for space in December so scientists can see how the enzymes and other ingredients react to six months of weightlessness. Then next May, stain-removal pens and wipes will be delivered for testing by astronauts.

At the same time, P&G is developing a washer-dryer combo that could operate on the moon or even Mars, using minimal amounts of water and detergent. Such a machine could also prove useful in arid regions here on Earth.

One of the many design challenges: The laundry water would need to be reclaimed for drinking and cooking, just like urine and sweat are currently recycled aboard the space station.

“The best solutions come from the most diverse teams,” Melvin said, “and how more diverse can you be than Tide and NASA?”

Source: Associated Press

What's Your Next Radio, Antenna, or Radio Accessory and What Will It Do For You?

Even if you don't have a radio wish list, pretend that you received a substantial gift certificate for Ham Radio Outlet. What would you get?

Topics for Monday, June 21

This Day in History: June 21

Japanese resistance on Okinawa was finally crushed this day in 1945, less than three months after U.S. troops landed there as the last stepping-stone before the planned assault on Japan's main islands in World War II. Source: Britannica

Summer Solstice: The longest ‘day’ of the year

TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — The summer solstice marks the official start to the (astronomical) summer season and typically occurs on June 20th, 21st, or the 22nd every year. This year, (in 2021), the summer solstice occurs at 11:32 pm ET on June 20.

It is the day with the longest amount of daylight in the Northern Hemisphere and shortest amount of darkness.

Earth has four different seasons due to the 23.5 degrees tilt of the earth’s axis. The tilt remains unchanged throughout the year meaning half the year, the north pole is tilted more toward the sun and the other half it is tilted away.

The start of each season is determined by the position of the earth in orbit around the sun and which direction the tilt is pointing.

The day and exact moment in time the summer solstice (for the northern hemisphere) is determined is when the sun reaches its highest latitude or the point at which it is as far north from the equator as it will get all year.

At this moment, the sun is directly in line with, or overhead of, the imaginary line circling the globe 23.5 degrees north of the equator, known as the tropic of cancer.

Another way to look at it is when Earth’s North Pole is pointed toward the sun and is receiving the most amount of sunlight possible. This point also marks the start of astronomical winter for the Southern Hemisphere, as the South Pole is pointed as far away from the sun as possible and receives no sunlight during this time.

This year, (in 2021), the summer solstice occurs at 11:32 pm ET on June 20. It occurs at the same time around the world.

Topics for Wednesday, June 16

Valentina Tereshkova, in full Valentina Vladimirovna Tereshkova, (born March 6, 1937, Maslennikovo, Russia, U.S.S.R.), Soviet cosmonaut, the first woman to travel into space. On June 16, 1963, she was launched in the spacecraft Vostok 6, which completed 48 orbits in 71 hours. In space at the same time was Valery F. Bykovsky, who had been launched two days earlier in Vostok 5; both landed on June 19.

Although she had no pilot training, Tereshkova was an accomplished amateur parachutist and on this basis was accepted for the cosmonaut program when she volunteered in 1961. She left the program just after her flight, and on November 3, 1963, she married Andriyan G. Nikolayev, another cosmonaut. From 1966 until 1991 she was an active member in the U.S.S.R. Supreme Soviet. She directed the Soviet Women’s Committee in 1968, and from 1974 to 1991 she served as a member of the Supreme Soviet Presidium. In 2008 Tereshkova became the deputy chair of the parliament of Yaroslavl province as a member of the United Russia party. Three years later she was elected to the Duma. Tereshkova was named a Hero of the Soviet Union and was twice awarded the Order of Lenin. Source: Britannica.com

First roller coaster in America opens

On June 16, 1884, the first roller coaster in America opens at Coney Island, in Brooklyn, New York. Known as a switchback railway, it was the brainchild of LaMarcus Thompson, traveled approximately six miles per hour and cost a nickel to ride. The new entertainment was an instant success and by the turn of the century there were hundreds of roller coasters around the country.

Coney Island, a name believed to have come from the Dutch Konijn Eilandt, or Rabbit Island, is a tract of land along the Atlantic Ocean discovered by explorer Henry Hudson in 1609. The first hotel opened at Coney Island in 1829 and by the post-Civil War years, the area was an established resort with theaters, restaurants and a race track. Between 1897 and 1904, three amusement parks sprang up at Coney Island–Dreamland, Luna Park and Steeplechase. By the 1920s, Coney Island was reachable by subway and summer crowds of a million people a day flocked there for rides, games, sideshows, the beach and the two-and-a-half-mile boardwalk, completed in 1923.

The hot dog is said to have been invented at Coney Island in 1867 by Charles Feltman. In 1916, a nickel hot dog stand called Nathan’s was opened by a former Feltman employee and went on to become a Coney Island institution and international franchise. Today, Nathan’s is famous not only for its hot dogs but its hot dog-eating contest, held each Fourth of July in Coney Island.

Roller coasters and amusement parks experienced a decline during the Great Depression and World War II, when Americans had less cash to spend on entertainment. Finally, in 1955, the opening of Disneyland in Anaheim, California, signaled the advent of the modern theme park and a rebirth of the roller coaster. Disneyland’s success sparked a wave of new parks and coasters. By the 1970s, parks were competing to create the most thrilling rides.

By the mid-1960s, the major amusement parks at Coney Island had shut down and the area acquired a seedy image. In recent decades it has been revitalized, however, and remains a popular tourist attraction. It's still home to the Cyclone, a wooden coaster that made its debut in 1927. Capable of speeds of 60 mph and with an 85-foot drop, the Cyclone is one of the country’s oldest coasters in operation today. Source: History.com

Topics for Monday, June 14

www.dxzone.com

Do you repair or build your own gear? SWR meters, Power meters, Transmitter's receivers, Transceiver's, antennas, Balun, SDR'S. or just simply toss them in the trash. Well, The www.dxzone.com offers repair on most modern radios Yaesu, Kenwood, and Icom. Also, Vintage Ham radio Equpment. Just follow the link.

Well, it getting close to field day so let's talk about that today and keep the excitement going.

Topic for Wednesday June 9

20th Century Trivia

No Googling Before the Net !

Until 1930 there were only 8 known planets in this solar system. What was the 1930 planetary discovery and when and why was it subtracted from our current solar system planets list?
What was the 1996 children's toy that created the biggest toy phenomenon ever?
What 1912 Nabisco Company product is still a hit and now cones "double-stuffed?
How far back does the expression "OMG" (Oh my God) go back? The 50s, 60s, or earlier?
In the 1980s game of Pac-Man, all levels of the game had the same amount of dots (to be eaten). How many dots?
Why is Roosevelt on the Dime?
What was the first Dot Com and when did it appear?
Tug-of-War was an official event at the 2nd Modern Olympic Games in 1900. In what Olympics was it last a competition? What other games have "disappeared" from Modern Olympic competitions?
Whose was the first star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, and in what decade was it installed?
What was Barbie's full name?

Topics for Wednesday June 2

Babe Ruth retires

On June 2, 1935, Babe Ruth, one of the greatest players in the history of baseball, ends his Major League playing career after 22 seasons, 10 World Series and 714 home runs. The following year, Ruth, a larger-than-life figure whose name became synonymous with baseball, was one of the first five players inducted into the sport’s hall of fame.

George Herman Ruth was born February 6, 1895, into a poor family in Baltimore. As a child, he was sent to St. Mary’s Industrial School for Boys, a school run by Roman Catholic brothers, where he learned to play baseball and was a standout athlete. At 19, Ruth was signed by the Baltimore Orioles, then a Boston Red Sox minor league team. Ruth’s fellow teammates and the media began referring to him as team owner Jack Dunn’s newest “babe,” a nickname that stuck. Ruth would later acquire other nicknames, including “The Sultan of Swat” and “The Bambino.”

Ruth made his Major League debut as a left-handed pitcher with the Red Sox in July 1914 and pitched 89 winning games for the team before 1920, when he was traded to the New York Yankees. After Ruth left Boston, in what became known as “the curse of the Bambino,” the Red Sox didn’t win another World Series until 2004. In New York, Ruth’s primary position changed to outfielder and he led the Yankees to seven American League pennants and four World Series victories. Ruth was a huge star in New York and attracted so many fans that the team was able to open a new stadium in 1923, Yankee Stadium, dubbed “The House That Ruth Built.”

The southpaw slugger’s final season, in 1935, was with the Boston Braves. He had joined the Braves with the hope that he’d become the team’s manager the next season. However, this dream never came to pass for a disappointed Ruth, who had a reputation for excessive drinking, gambling and womanizing.

Many of the records Ruth set remained in place for decades. His career homerun record stood until 1974, when it was broken by Hank Aaron. Ruth’s record of 60 homeruns in a single season (1927) of 154 games wasn’t bested until 1961, when Roger Maris knocked out 61 homers in an extended season of 162 games. The Sultan of Swat’s career slugging percentage of .690 remains the highest in Major League history.

Ruth died of throat cancer at age 53 on August 16, 1948, in New York City. His body lay in state at Yankee Stadium for two days and was visited by over 100,000 fans.

Source: History.com

Mask? No Mask?
New Rules Leave Americans Recalibrating, Hour by Hour

The C.D.C. said fully vaccinated people could safely go most places without a mask. Not everyone was sure, or ready.

CHICAGO — For Americans whose bare faces had scarcely been seen in public for a year, there were suddenly options. Would they leave the mask behind for a jog? What about the coffee shop? What about the neighbor’s house? The office?

Masking, a rare practice in the United States just 14 months ago, has become a normal part of American life. Some people questioned the C.D.C.’s abrupt shift in guidance — noting that the agency’s position on masks has shifted before — and wondered aloud whether the latest turn was really safe.

Gerry Corn, 56, who was picking up food to-go on Friday night in Los Angeles, said he had concerns about how long vaccine protection would last. “I’m thinking that until we really know more about it from empirical scientific evidence, that we should keep the mask in place, especially in public,” he said.

“It freaked me out,” Mary Beagan, 77, said of riding the elevator in her Minneapolis apartment building on Friday and seeing a woman step on with no mask. Yes, Ms. Beagan had heard about the C.D.C’s announcement. And yes, she has had her Covid-19 vaccines. Still, after all these months, it felt kind of scary.

“I wasn’t ready,” Ms. Beagan said. “I have to learn to deal with this.”

The new guidance seemed to scramble all the presumptions people had come to understand about who wears masks and who does not.

Someone with no mask might still signify that they oppose masks and doubt the risks of Covid-19 — or it now might mean the person is fully vaccinated and following C.D.C. guidance to the letter. And someone with a mask might now be signaling their support for virus-control efforts but rejection of the latest C.D.C. guidance — or it might mean that a person is unvaccinated and following the rules to stay masked. Or it might mean something else altogether. Easy labels have vanished.

The shifting guidance was a relief for some, especially those who had long been mask skeptics.

Marina Zaslavskaya, 34, a fitness instructor and college student in Massachusetts, said she resented mask mandates and was eager for them to end. As she lounged on the grass with her boyfriend in front of a public library in Cambridge, she said she never wore masks outside and, at times, had people yell at her.

“I think they should let us live our lives and be responsible for ourselves,” said Ms. Zaslavskaya, who said she planned to eventually get vaccinated.

But for some who had long followed federal mask guidance, the new suggestions meant a move toward normalcy. Dave Rubin, 66, said he was ready to start going out more without wearing a mask. But he was taking a cautious approach, especially at crowded places like movie theaters.

“I’m not going to run around 100 percent without my mask,” said Mr. Rubin, who lives in Orlando, Fla. “I’ll always have a mask in my pocket.”

Source: Excerpts from a New York Times Article 5/15/21 by Mitch Smith