Surfin': Finding Missing Sunspots

This week's Surfin' discovers why the Sun's spots are in hiding. Also, Surfin' revisits the etymology of "amateur" and takes note of a "radio lover."

Surfin': Radio Lover

This week's Surfin' seeks and discovers a better definition for the word "amateur."

Surfin': Contesting for the Fun of It

This week's Surfin' recalls contesting the June VHF QSO Party with a lot of enthusiasm, but not much equipment.

how to comment

I received another e-mail today asking how to post a comment to this blog. Since this is the second request for this information, I figure it is time to explain how now.

1. Click on the COMMENTS link located at the bottom of the blog posting you want to comment on.

2. When the POST A COMMENT window appears, type your comment in that window.

3. When you finish typing your comment, use the Comment as drop-down window to select a profile. If you have an account with one of the entities in the list, select that entity. Or select Anonymous or Name/URL.

4. If you select Name/URL, type your name and the URL of your Web site in the appropriate fields of the Edit Profile window, then click on the Continue button.

Note: If you select an entity or Name/URL in the Profile drop-down menu, then a link to your blog or Web site will appear next to your name above your comment.

5. If you wish, click on the Preview button to see what your comment will look like.

6. Click on the Post Comment button to publish your comment.

Your comment will appear sooner or later depending on whether it requires moderation or not.

Surfin': One Ham's Garbage Is Another Ham's Art

This week's Surfin' finds old radio parts recycled as new radio art. The art of KY6R is very cool and I am sure you will enjoy viewing it.

flowers in

My daughter and I finished planting the annuals last night.

Most folks around here are not happy with the weather this spring. Too cool and too much rain is the primary complaint.

On the other hand, this weather has been perfect for putting young plants in the ground; no blazing hot sun to burn them up before they get established. Knock on wood, but unlike past years, I have not lost any vegetable plants and only a couple of impatiens (and I am pretty sure I lost the impatiens due to a varmint and not the weather).

All I need to do now is get a few bags of mulch for the flowerbeds, then I can relax until the next mowing.

here, there and everywhere

I am reading Here, There and Everywhere by Geoff Emerick.

Mr. Emerick was a sound engineer at EMI's Abbey Road studios in London and was in the control room during the Beatles' recording sessions in the 1960s. He writes all about the experience of making records with the Beatles in this 387-page book.

I am a Beatles fan and have read many books about the Fab Four. This book is probably one of the best because Mr. Emerick does not hold back. He calls them as he sees them and in some cases, what he calls them is not flattering.

Also, he gets technical and describes the recording process in just enough detail to reveal how the Beatles' records were made, but not enough to leave the reader bored with the intricacies of the recording process.

For example, Mr. Emerick mentions how early on, flubs were often left in the final recordings because the quality of the early recordings were such that the listener would not likely hear and notice the flubs. (John Lennon was forever flubbing lyrics because his memory was bad and he could not read the lyrics because he was not wearing his eyeglasses.) Emerick says that the flubs became more apparent when the recordings were later re-released on higher quality recording media like CDs.

Wouldn't you know that in the very next Beatles tune I hear, I notice a flub in the lyrics that I had never noticed before.

I'm driving to work this morning with my iPod playing songs randomly and up came Hold Me Tight. Paul sings lead with John and George singing backup. About 1:10 into the song, Paul sings "It feels so right now..." while the backup sings "It feels so right to..." Can't tell if John or George or both flubbed the lyrics, but there was definitely a flub that was left in the final recording.

Right after playing Hold Me Tight, my iPod randomly played another early Beatles' tune, I'll Get You, but I did not notice any flubs in that recording.

I have read about one-fifth of Here, There and Everywhere and so far, I am enjoying the read immensely. I don't expect to be let down in the remaining four fifths, so I recommend the book highly.