Author: The Timedok

Main Street Didn’t Die of Natural Causes

When I wanted to use a mom-and-pop shop, I was chastised because they were more expensive than a big box store. The truth is that big box stores, and now companies like Amazon, are putting these folks out of business. When small towns turn into empty buildings and “antique shops,” you have yourself to blame.

The Real Cost of “Saving” Money at Big Box Stores

We’ve all been tempted by the lower price tags at big box retailers. But here’s something worth considering: what are you actually getting for your money?When you walk into a locally owned hardware store, nursery, bike shop, or specialty retailer, you’re not just buying a product. You’re buying decades of accumulated knowledge. That owner has likely used, tested, repaired, and lived with the products on their shelves. They chose each item deliberately because they believe in it.

Expertise You Can’t Put a Price Tag On

Local merchants stake their reputation on every recommendation. They live in your community. They’ll see you at the grocery store. They have every incentive to steer you right.They can troubleshoot problems because they understand how their products actually work in real-world conditions.They’ll talk you out of buying something if it’s not the right fit, something a commission-driven or undertrained big box employee will never do.

The Big Box Reality

Large retailers cycle through employees at staggering turnover rates. Many staff members received a few hours of computer-based training before being placed in departments they know nothing about. They’re reading the same box you’re reading. You’re essentially paying less to help yourself.

The Hidden Costs of Going Cheap

That “savings” evaporates quickly when you

buy the wrong product because no one guided you properly,
have to make return trips because of bad advice,
purchase unnecessary extras you didn’t actually need, or
end up replacing a cheap item sooner than expected.

It’s an Investment in Your Community

Every dollar spent locally circulates back through your neighborhood, funding schools, roads, and local services. When a mom-and-pop shop closes, that expertise leaves with it and doesn’t come back.

The few extra dollars you spend at a local shop aren’t a markup. They’re tuition. You’re paying for someone’s lifetime of knowledge, honest guidance, and genuine accountability. That’s a bargain at any price.

put your thoughts and comments below. “Am I right?”

If you could go back in time and leave yourself a message, what would it be?

We have all had that dream or thought, especially when we think of all the stupid things we did as kids. Some of us wonder how we survived it.

While my book Echoes of Tomorrow deals with this prospect in a science-fictional way, we all know that time, at least at present, does not allow do-overs.

The difference between knowledge and wisdom boils down to one question:

Just because we can, should we?

We just lived through a pandemic that still has lasting effects on many. COVID was most probably an early attempt at biological warfare situated in China (and other countries) to give the United States plausible deniability.

That is most probably why there were so many Biden-era Democratic pardons, including Anthony Fauci’s. To make a virus even more dangerous through gain-of-function research is about as irresponsible as creating other weapons of mass destruction, i.e., nuclear weapons.

We will never know if the dropping of the first atomic bombs was the only way to put an end to World War II.

Through treasonous acts, several spies shared (or sold) nuclear information to the Russians, making technological adolescence a real and immediate thing.

Today we are creating AI and robots that if given weapons would make The Terminator look like Winnie the Effing Pooo!

While Echoes of Tomorrow addresses this as a theme, there is another novel I am currently editing in which mankind goes to Mars after making Earth uninhabitable. Unlike Echoes in Time, where aliens facilitate time travel, Quiet Dust is set in a future where humans have already been on Mars for over forty years. Subscribe to this blog for more info on when it drops.

There are theories suggesting that evidence of humanity will be erased over time. The reasons humanity may never make it off the planet in any meaningful way are as follows.

The Great Filter from the Fermi Paradox is the correct framing of the problem. Sagan’s technological adolescence is likely a real and significant component of that filter, perhaps the dominant one for civilizations that reach our stage. But it probably is not the only filter. The total improbability of a civilization reaching interstellar maturity is likely the product of multiple bottlenecks, with self-destruction during technological adolescence being the final and perhaps most severe.

The darkest implication is this: even if a civilization survives its adolescence, it may face recurring filters. Each new transformative technology (nuclear, AI, nanotech, or whatever comes next) reopens the vulnerability window. Adolescence may not be a single phase but a repeating pattern, each iteration more dangerous than the last. If that is true, then the two frameworks converge completely. The Great Filter is technological adolescence, experienced not once but perpetually, with the cumulative probability of survival approaching zero over sufficient time.

So, before I leave you for today, I have an idea that needs wings. It needs to get to Elon Musk, who has the means to make it happen.

This device would visit the earth once in a lifetime to remind those here not to be an idiot!

We sent two satellites, Voyager 1 and Voyager 2, off into interstellar space on one-way trips to nowhere. What if, like Halley’s Comet, we created a device with a similar elongated orbit that passes by Earth every hundred years, making itself known? In that way, after we either blow the planet to bits through our hubris or our flat-out stupidity, we could send future inhabitants a message, much like we might send to our younger selves:

“Don’t do this, idiot!”

Why the future? Have you watched the news? Do you see how irresponsible the media has become and how violence seems to perpetuate into more violence?

Money for clicks and viewership for advertisements are more important than the boring truth.

Dehumanizing your political opponent will trigger the emotionally unbalanced to act, and politicians know this. Politicians are desperate and will do anything to keep power, including importing twenty million new voters. Power is money and those two are addictive, much like Felony Glitter…

I hold little hope for humanity, and I have to wonder if Elon’s vision of Mars has him thinking the same thing.

Please like, comment, and follow, as well as read Echoes of Tomorrow.

Authors like me need all the assistance we can get in order to provide more thought-provoking, entertaining novels for you, when you are not watching hypnotoad programming, designed to make you disbelieve your lying eyes.

my version of hypnotoad feeding the masses lies.

Follow the Money

The 1970s Gas Crisis: Causes and Consequences

April 18, 1977

“The Oil Supply will be gone by 1981…Those are just the facts.” Carter

This address came four years after the Arab oil embargo of 1973, when energy prices had soared and the impacts were still reverberating through the American economy. Carter’s speech became known as part of his broader energy policy initiative, reflecting the genuine anxiety about resource depletion that characterized the late 1970s. It is worth noting that while Carter’s warnings about oil running out by the early 1980s did not materialize as predicted, his speech captured the very real energy concerns of that era and the need for conservation and policy changes. The gas lines of the 1970s were caused by a combination of geopolitical tensions and domestic policy decisions that created both real shortages and panic-driven demand.

The OPEC Oil Embargo

The primary trigger was OPEC’s aggressive action in response to Middle East conflicts. In October 1973, the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries raised the price of crude oil by 70 percent, and Arab oil-producing nations implemented an embargo against the United States. This embargo was a direct response to American support during the Yom Kippur War and severely disrupted oil supplies to the nation.

Or…was it a way to drive the price of oil up?

America’s Oil Dependency

The crisis was exacerbated by America’s growing reliance on foreign oil, particularly from the Middle East. The United States had become increasingly dependent on imported petroleum, making the nation vulnerable to supply disruptions orchestrated by OPEC nations.

Why, one might ask, were we so dependent on their oil? Democratic administrations throughout history have been guilty of making domestic exploration and drilling for oil difficult and expensive, hobbling companies from using our resources and reducing leverage over the Middle East. Now that might speak to dark money being used to win elections but…that is speculation on my part.

The real question is, who are these politicians working for? To me, and anyone with a brain…the highest bidder.

Domestic Policy Mistakes

Ironically, government price controls made the shortage worse. The United States attempted to curb high gas prices and inflation through price ceilings in the 1970s. However, these controls backfired; they led to reduced supply from producers and increased demand from consumers, creating artificial scarcity and the infamous long lines at gas stations.

Why… Because the profit margins from oil companies were declining and they dont really care about the effects on you and I. IMO

The Result

The combination of the Arab oil embargo, OPEC’s price increases, America’s foreign oil dependency, and misguided price control policies created a perfect storm that left Americans facing gas rationing, mile-long lines, and widespread frustration.

Oil supplies did not run out by 1981 or in the years that followed.

Here is what actually happened:In fact, the price of Brent crude during his speech was around $8.50 a barrel, compared to today’s $76.01.

If you read between the lines, those gas lines and the energy shortage most probably had a lot more to do with oil companies’ greed for more profit and a lot less to do with instability in the Middle East.

History is rife with false flags and what I call “Chicken Little politics.” Oh look, the sky is falling; we need to take away your muscle cars and trucks and put you in battery-operated tin cans with little computers monitoring your every move.

What is going on?

Energy Market Responses

The warnings, while alarming, actually spurred several practical developments:

Increased domestic oil exploration and production: Companies invested heavily in new drilling.
Conservation efforts: Americans did reduce consumption through more efficient vehicles and home heating practices.
Alternative energy research: Solar, wind, and other renewable programs received more attention and funding.

Long-term Effects

Oil prices eventually stabilized and declined in the 1980s as new supplies came online.
The “peak oil” crisis narrative faded as new extraction technologies emerged.
Consumer behavior shifted toward fuel efficiency, which had lasting impacts on the auto industry.

The Broader Impact

Carter’s warnings, while not accurate in their timeline, did create psychological effects: some beneficial (energy consciousness, efficiency standards) and some problematic (public anxiety, distrust in government predictions).

The historical lesson is that doomsday predictions about resource depletion, while sometimes motivating positive changes, often fail to account for human innovation, market adaptation, and technological advancement.

Do you remember how the public mood shifted once 1981 passed and oil was still available?

Again, it is the sky is falling.

We learned nothing.

For the last several years, Gore has been making bank flying around the world in his private jet, selling the same Chicken Little philosophy about climate change.

The result is that most of us who remember these things do not trust the government, and we vote.

What we do know is that the earth is not replenishing fossil fuel as fast as we are using it.

Is it morally right to “nudge” people with Doomsday fabricated science?

If we assume that oil, gas, and so on is finite (and they use petrochemicals in a lot of things, not just your gas tank), what other choices do we have, and should we not have started around 1981?

We did, kind of.

Gas mileage increased from a few miles to the gallon to forty or more in some cases.

I traded my Good Times Van, with all the luxury of a mobile living room, when gas spiked to $1.32 a gallon for a Ford Escort station wagon that got 22 miles per gallon versus the 13 in the van. I still miss the van.

The world was being nudged into giving up comfort and “real cars” for plastic, transverse-mounted engines (cheaper), and fuel-injected, computer-controlled, emission-controlled cars that required more expensive gas to save the planet and conserve energy. That change also made almost impossible for the owner to work on thier own car thus becoming a slave to outragious repair bills for a $12 part.

As the demand for gas declined, the prices went up to compensate the oil companies.

Who got screwed?

We were nudged into giving up our land yachts for cars that, if you got into an accident, the likelihood of a fatality was much higher.

The insurance industry, catching the brunt of this, sent their folks from Avenue K over to Congress to rewrite the laws to make seat belt use, airbags, and other safety devices mandatory. More of our freedoms removed for the bottom line of the insurance industry. Fewer fatalities, lower insurance payouts, and we are all footing the bill for the profit of insurance companies and oil companies.

Cars went from a few thousand dollars to an incredible amount. A standard F-150 in 1981 was less than $6,000. Today, prices range from $47,000 to $65,000.

The point of this blog post is this: you can bet that whatever the media is telling you regarding cause and effect almost certainly has nothing to do with reality and more to do with big business manipulating the puppets in Washington to do their bidding.

If your emotions are tweaked, you are most likely being manipualted.

It only takes knowing history and turning off the mainstream media to understand why the world is so messed up.

In a future blog post, we will evaluate the need for energy that is renewable but not necessarily destructive to our way of life or to the property values of those who have left the city to live in the country. Rural areas, it seems, are under assault from “heat islands” created by solar farms and data centers. Will these heat islands have any effects on the way we live? Film at eleven.

Your thoughts? Comment below.

When Signals Travel One Way: Exploring HF Propagation on 7.185 MHz

Last night, after three years of not using the ham radio, I was listening to a net on 7.185 MHz.

To be clear, I enjoy rag chewing. I want to get to know people, hear their stories, and just maybe include bits and pieces of them in some future book. (I am an author.)

While I was working in the shop, the net ended, and the group decided to chase DX, or distant stations typically located in a different country.

After a CQ call and things being slow, I picked up the mic and tossed my call into the ether.

KD2DMR eventually welcomed me; they were a friendly group of folks.

To my surprise, a station in South Africa responded to me.

Jeremy in Illinois heard him, but I did not.

The first point of this post is simple: if you’re a ham, you might want to listen to 7.185 at night. They are a friendly bunch.

The second part of the post, and clearly the question I was asking myself, is this: why could I not hear this fellow in Nimbini when he heard me?

Of course I knew what the answer was but…Why not share?

Think “asymmetrical propagation.”

On HF bands like 40 meters (7.185 MHz), asymmetrical propagation is actually quite common.

Here are the likely culprits:

1. Ionospheric Conditions and Skip Zones:The ionosphere’s state changes constantly. His signal may have taken a different propagation path to reach me than my signal took to reach him. At certain times, one direction might have a clear skip path while the other does not. This is especially true for long-distance contacts, where the signal bounces off the ionosphere at different angles.

2. Polarization Mismatch:My 260-foot horizontal wire antenna radiates horizontal polarization. When HF signals bounce off the ionosphere, the polarization can shift unpredictably. His receiving antenna may have been oriented to better capture the polarization of my transmitted signal, while my antenna was not optimally positioned to receive his return signal’s polarization state after it bounced back.

3. Antenna Directivity and Takeoff Angle:My long wire antenna has directional characteristics that vary with frequency and height. At 30 feet on 40 meters, my antenna likely has a relatively high takeoff angle, which is good for medium-distance skip but may not be optimal for receiving signals coming back from South Africa at a different angle than my transmission went out.

While the long wire is a perfectly fine antenna for general-purpose communication, including DX, antennas (which to me in 1973 were simply magic) are the stuff of amateur radio’s dreams and fascinations, and they are one of the simpler things to experiment with.

If I had a Vertical antenna that I was listening on, there is a high probability I would have heard him. Many DX chasers have two antennas, one for transmitting and another for receiving for this reason. Even a simple inverted V for 40 might have made the difference.

There is even something called a beverage antenna, for receive only…If you want to maximize receive capability specifically, a Beverage antenna is legendary for HF reception. It is a long, low wire (typically 1 to 4 wavelengths long, running 6 to 10 feet high) that is highly directional and excellent at rejecting noise while capturing weak signals. Many serious DXers use Beverage antennas for receiving while transmitting on a separate antenna. *

If you are interested in such things, I would encourage you to find your local ham radio group and get your feet wet. If you are a ham, I will make a point to be listening on 7.185 and chat with them more, if they ever simply rag chew.

Best, and 73 to the hams out there.

About the Cover Picture:

When the world teeters on the brink of nuclear annihilation, a retired Air Force general is given an impossible second chance: to rewrite history. Sent back in time to 1962 by mysterious alien beings, he wakes up trapped in the body of his ten-year-old self—armed with decades of knowledge, but stripped of his power and authority. With the Cuban Missile Crisis looming, global tensions rising, and secrets hidden in the shadows of the past, he must navigate a world that sees him as a child while carrying the burden of preventing humanity’s self-destruction.

As he re-encounters his family, a young JFK, and the love of his life before they’ve even met, he discovers that saving the future isn’t just about stopping a war—it’s about proving that humanity is worth saving. Along the way, secrets buried deep in Area 51, a chilling conspiracy within the U.S. government, and the cryptic motives of the alien beings reveal the stakes are higher than he could have ever imagined.

Echoes of Tomorrow is a sweeping tale of time travel, love, loss, and redemption. With the weight of the world on his young shoulders, one man must face the ultimate question: can the future truly be changed, or is humanity destined to repeat its greatest mistakes?

This gripping journey will captivate fans of thought-provoking sci-fi, historical intrigue, and heart- through time and the fragile threads of destiny.

Get Your Copy Here

*Why It Is Called a Beverage Antenna

The Beverage antenna is named after its inventor, Harold H. Beverage, an American radio engineer who developed and patented the design on June 7, 1921.

The name is entirely unrelated to drinks; it is simply an eponym honoring the man who created it.

A Bit of History: Harold Beverage (later known by his amateur radio call sign W2BML) was working at RCA when he invented the antenna as part of his efforts to improve the reception of transatlantic radio signals.

The design quickly gained popularity for its excellent performance in long-distance communication.

One of the most impressive early implementations was built by AT&T in Houlton, Maine, for the first transatlantic telephone service.

This massive array consisted of four phased Beverage antennas, stretching three miles long and two miles wide.

Why It Remains Popular

More than a century after its invention, the Beverage antenna is still widely used by amateur radio operators, shortwave listeners, and professional monitoring stations. Its ability to deliver an extremely low noise floor and a clean directional pattern makes it unmatched for receiving weak signals on the low bands, typically 160 meters through 40 meters.

The design is elegantly simple: a long wire (often several wavelengths in length) suspended low to the ground and terminated with resistors at one or both ends. This configuration allows it to function as a traveling wave antenna, capturing signals along its length while rejecting interference from unwanted directions.

That Flattering Email in Your Inbox? It’s Probably a Scam.

Let’s be honest: authors have egos. I’m no exception. We pour our souls into our work, and when someone notices—really notices, it feels like validation wrapped in a warm hug. Scammers know this. They count on it. And they’re getting disturbingly good at exploiting it.I’ve seen my fair share of suspicious emails over the years, but I have to admit—this one nearly got me.

The Email That Almost Fooled Me

Picture this: a polished, professional message lands in your inbox from someone claiming to be a “Consulting Publisher at Bloomsbury Publishing (UK).” The tone is warm. The praise is specific. They mention your book by name and describe it with the kind of glowing language that makes your heart skip a beat.Here’s what “Faiza S. Khan” had to say about my novel, The Ocean Within:

“I was genuinely impressed by its compelling blend of scientific speculation, environmental intrigue, and high-stakes suspense… The novel’s focus on the fragile balance between human progress and the immense, often unpredictable forces beneath the Earth’s surface creates a story that is both intellectually engaging and emotionally compelling.”

Flattering, right? They even praised its “strong commercial appeal” and suggested it “extends beyond genre conventions.” This email knew exactly which buttons to push.

The Red Flags Hiding in Plain Sight

Here’s the thing about well-crafted scams: they sound almost legitimate. But when you slow down and look closer, the warning signs emerge:

Unsolicited contact from a major publisher. Traditional publishers like Bloomsbury don’t typically cold-email unknown authors gushing about their self-published or small-press work.
Vague next steps. The email asks about your “current publishing arrangements” and whether you have an agent—information that helps scammers tailor their pitch (or their ask for money).
Too much flattery, too little substance. The praise is elaborate but generic enough to apply to almost any thriller with environmental themes.
No verifiable contact details. A quick search often reveals these “consulting publishers” don’t exist on the company’s official website.

Why This Matters

Scams like this prey on our deepest hopes as writers. They exploit the dream of being “discovered” by a prestigious publisher. And once they have your attention? The requests begin…fees for “editorial reviews,” payments for “international distribution,” or contracts that sign away your rights.So what should you do if an email like this lands in your inbox?

Pause before you respond. Excitement clouds judgment.
Verify the sender. Search the person’s name on the publisher’s official website or LinkedIn.
Contact the publisher directly. Use contact information from their official site—not the email.
Trust your gut. If it feels too good to be true, it probably is.

The Bottom Line

I won’t pretend I wasn’t tempted, even for a moment to believe that Bloomsbury had stumbled upon my work and fallen in love with it. That’s the power of a well-crafted scam. But the best defense we have as authors is awareness, skepticism, and community.If you’ve received something similar, you’re not alone. Share your experience, warn your fellow writers, and remember: your talent is real, even when the emails praising it aren’t.

Have you encountered a publishing scam? Drop your story in the comments—let’s help each other stay vigilant.

About the cover:

The Ocean Within is a gripping, science-driven thriller that explores the fragile balance between humanity and the forces of nature. Perfect for fans of Michael Crichton, Andy Weir, and Kim Stanley Robinson, this novel will leave you breathless—and questioning how much we really understand about the world beneath our feet.

Get your copy here.

Combatting Scam Calls: Protect Your Phone and Privacy

Scam Calls Are Taking Over: Are Our Phones Becoming Worthless?

Let’s face it: our phones, once cutting-edge tools of connection and convenience, are slowly turning into sources of frustration. If you’re like me, you’ve probably noticed how scam calls are taking over our lives, making us second-guess every incoming call. How many of us actually answer our phones anymore when we don’t recognize the number? For me, it’s almost never. And honestly, can you blame me?I get hundreds of scam calls every week, and it’s exhausting. From fake IRS agents to warranty renewal scams, my phone rings constantly with fraudulent attempts to steal my money or personal information. As a result, I’ve developed a strict “don’t answer” rule: if I don’t know the number, I let it go to voicemail. If it’s important, the caller can leave a message. But is that really the answer? Shouldn’t there be a better solution than just dodging calls?

Why Are Scam Calls Legal?

Here’s the part that really baffles me: why is it legal for scammers to hijack our phones like this? Let’s break it down.

We pay for our phones: We’re the ones footing the bill for our phones, lines, and data plans (not to mention the time we lose dealing with these calls). Yet scammers and telemarketers are allowed to freely intrude on our lives without accountability.
No consent required: Many of these calls come without prior consent. They’re random, unsolicited, and often predatory. It feels invasive, and honestly, it should be illegal.
Robocalls are everywhere: It’s not just scammers. Even legitimate businesses and political campaigns use robocalls to bombard us with messages. And while their intentions may not be criminal, the frustration they cause is very real.

Why Isn’t There Stronger Legislation?

It’s 2026, and the problem seems worse than ever. Why can’t we have effective legislation that cracks down on scam calls and robocalls? Think about it: these callers don’t pay for your phone, your line, or your time, so why do they have the right to disrupt your day?Sure, there’s been some progress. In the U.S., for instance, there’s the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA) and recent efforts like the TRACED Act, which aim to curb illegal robocalls. Technologies like STIR/SHAKEN, which verify the authenticity of caller IDs, are also being implemented by carriers. But let’s be honest; these measures haven’t solved the problem. Scammers are constantly finding loopholes, and enforcement isn’t strong enough to deter them.

The Impact on Everyday Life

Let’s talk about what this means for us, the average phone users. Scam calls don’t just waste our time; they erode trust. We’re now conditioned to ignore calls from unknown numbers, which has real consequences. What if it’s a potential employer? A doctor’s office? A friend or family member calling from a new number? The constant barrage of scam calls makes it harder for us to stay connected in meaningful ways.

What Can Be Done?

So, what’s the solution? Here are some ideas:

Stronger penalties for scammers and telemarketers: Governments need to enforce stricter laws and impose harsher consequences for illegal calls. This includes holding companies accountable for the robocalls they send.
Improved technology: Phone carriers should continue to innovate ways to block scam calls before they even reach us. Apps like Hiya, Truecaller, and Nomorobo are a step in the right direction, but we need these features to be built into every phone system by default.
Public awareness campaigns: Educating people about common scams and how to protect themselves can help limit the success of these fraudulent calls.
Opt-in systems for legitimate calls: What if businesses and political campaigns could only call us if we explicitly opted in? That way, we’d have more control over who can contact us.

What Do You Think?

I’m tired of feeling like my phone is more of a liability than a tool. Scam calls are making our phones almost worthless, and something needs to change. But what about you? Are you facing the same problem? Do you ignore unknown numbers, too? And what solutions would you like to see to stop this epidemic of scam calls?Let me know your thoughts in the comments below. Let’s start the conversation, because if we don’t demand change, who will?

***

About the Cover Picture: What would you do if your body remembered a story the world tried to erase?

Marisol Reyes believed her life was ordinary, until the night words began to surface on her skin. They burn like embers and speak of a past she has never known: a forgotten village, a family secret, and a legacy passed through blood and bone across generations. Her grandmother carried these memories in silence. Now the words have found their way to her.

As Marisol uncovers the truth about San Miguel de la Luz, a village destroyed in 1963 and erased from history, she learns that her family’s story is woven into the ambitions of a powerful corporation desperate to keep its secrets buried. With the help of Daniel Medina (a boy whose own family is bound to the betrayal that led to San Miguel’s destruction), Marisol must choose whether to remain silent or risk everything to bring the truth into the light.

Written in Skin is a gripping novel of magical realism, historical trauma, and the fight to reclaim lost histories. Perfect for fans of Isabel Allende, Silvia Moreno-Garcia, and stories that braid the mystical with the deeply human, this is a tale about memory, resilience, and the power of words that refuse to stay buried.

Get your copy here.

The Social Media Paradox: Election Integrity and the Debate Over the SAVE Act

Social media is a double-edged sword. It connects us, informs us, and sometimes frustrates us, especially when we encounter perspectives from people we know that leave us scratching our heads. A recent scroll through my feed sparked a question I find myself revisiting: Is social media ultimately a benefit or a detriment to public discourse?

The Debate Over the SAVE Act

The Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act has become a flashpoint in ongoing discussions about election security in the United States. The legislation aims to strengthen voter verification requirements, and opinions on it are sharply divided.I recently came across a post from an acquaintance who declared, “If this act disenfranchises one person, I am against it.” While I understand the sentiment of protecting voter access, I couldn’t help but wonder: What about the other side of that equation?

Questions Worth Considering

Those who support stronger election integrity measures often raise concerns such as:

Voter roll accuracy: How do we ensure that only eligible (living) citizens participate in elections?
Mail-in ballot security: What safeguards exist to prevent potential fraud?
Vote counting efficiency: Why do some nations with large populations report results within hours, while some Blue States take weeks?

The Heart of the Matter

Free and fair elections are the foundation of a functioning democratic republic. Balancing voter access with election security remains one of our most important civic challenges.What are your thoughts?

About the Cover: The Ocean Within is a gripping, science-driven thriller that explores the fragile balance between humanity and the forces of nature. Perfect for fans of Michael Crichton, Andy Weir, and Kim Stanley Robinson, this novel will leave you breathless—and questioning how much we really understand about the world beneath our feet.

Exploring Digital Modes in Ham Radio

Lately, I’ve noticed an uptick in interest regarding digital modes in ham radio. Instead of receiving comments on a post, I’ve been getting emails from folks who are curious about this topic. It’s exciting to see such enthusiasm, and I wanted to share my findings so far. That said, I’d love to hear from those with experience in these modes to ensure I’m sharing accurate and helpful information.Digital modes are becoming a cornerstone of modern ham radio, thanks to advancements in computer technology. They offer efficient ways to transmit text, images, and even telemetry over radio frequencies. Below, I’ve outlined some of the most popular digital modes and what’s needed to start using them.

Popular Digital Modes

1. FT8 and FT4

Overview: FT8 and FT4 are weak-signal modes that excel in low-power operations and poor propagation conditions. FT8 is slower but more sensitive, while FT4 is faster but requires stronger signals.
Uses: These modes are part of the WSJT-X software suite and are widely used for quick contacts, DXing, and contests.

2. PSK31

Overview: PSK31 (Phase Shift Keying) is a conversational mode designed for real-time, keyboard-to-keyboard communication. It’s efficient in bandwidth and works well with low power.
Uses: Ideal for casual chats and experimenting with text-based communication.

3. RTTY (Radio Teletype)

Overview: One of the oldest digital modes, RTTY uses frequency-shift keying (FSK) to transmit text. It operates at around 60 words per minute.
Uses: Popular in contests and casual QSOs, RTTY remains a classic mode for ham radio enthusiasts.

4. JS8Call

Overview: Built on the FT8 protocol, JS8Call allows for longer, conversational-style messages. It’s especially useful for emergency communications and casual chats.
Uses: Great for ongoing conversations and low-power operations.

5. WSPR (Weak Signal Propagation Reporter)

Overview: WSPR is designed for propagation studies. It transmits low-power signals to analyze how far and where signals travel under current conditions.
Uses: Primarily used by operators studying propagation and antenna performance.

6. Packet Radio

Overview: Packet radio allows you to send data packets, such as emails or telemetry, over radio frequencies. It’s commonly used in APRS (Automatic Packet Reporting System) for tracking and messaging.
Uses: Perfect for location tracking and data transfers.

7. DMR, D-STAR, and Fusion

Overview: These are digital voice modes typically used on VHF and UHF bands. They require specific radios and provide crystal-clear voice communication.
Uses: Popular for local and global communication via repeaters and internet-linked systems.

What’s Needed to Access Digital Modes?

To start operating digital modes, you’ll need a few essential components:

1. Radio Transceiver

A transceiver capable of operating on the desired bands (HF, VHF, or UHF) is essential. Many modern radios come with built-in digital mode support.

2. Computer

Most digital modes require a computer to run software that encodes and decodes signals. Popular programs include:

WSJT-X (for FT8/FT4)
FLdigi (for PSK31, RTTY, and others)
JS8Call

3. Interface

You’ll need an interface to connect your radio to your computer. This could be:

A simple audio cable for basic setups.
A USB interface like the Digimode-4-USB, which manages both audio and CAT (Computer-Aided Transceiver) control.

4. Software

Specialized software is a must for operating digital modes. For example:

WSJT-X for FT8 and FT4
FLdigi for PSK31, RTTY, and other conversational modes
APRS software for packet radio operations

5. License

A valid amateur radio license is required to transmit on amateur bands. The type of license (Technician, General, or Extra) determines which bands and modes you can use.

6. Antenna

A suitable antenna for the frequency band you plan to operate on is critical for effective communication.

Conclusion

Digital modes have revolutionized ham radio, offering new ways to communicate and experiment. From weak-signal communication with FT8 to real-time chats with PSK31 or JS8Call, these modes cater to a variety of interests and operational styles.If you’re new to digital modes, all you need is a capable transceiver, a computer, an interface, some software, and your ham license to get started. I encourage anyone interested in the digital side of ham radio to dive in and explore. The versatility and global reach of these modes make them an incredible tool for amateur operators.Lastly, if you’re an experienced ham or actively using these modes, I’d love to hear from you! Feel free to share your insights or correct anything I might have missed. Let’s keep the conversation going!

About the Cover, When the world teeters on the brink of nuclear annihilation, a retired Air Force general is given an impossible second chance: to rewrite history. Sent back in time to 1962 by mysterious alien beings, he wakes up trapped in the body of his ten-year-old self—armed with decades of knowledge, but stripped of his power and authority. With the Cuban Missile Crisis looming, global tensions rising, and secrets hidden in the shadows of the past, he must navigate a world that sees him as a child while carrying the burden of preventing humanity’s self-destruction.
As he re-encounters his family, a young JFK, and the love of his life before they’ve even met, he discovers that saving the future isn’t just about stopping a war—it’s about proving that humanity is worth saving. Along the way, secrets buried deep in Area 51, a chilling conspiracy within the U.S. government, and the cryptic motives of the alien beings reveal the stakes are higher than he could have ever imagined.
Echoes of Tomorrow is a sweeping tale of time travel, love, loss, and redemption. With the weight of the world on his young shoulders, one man must face the ultimate question: can the future truly be changed, or is humanity destined to repeat its greatest mistakes?
This gripping journey will captivate fans of thought-provoking sci-fi, historical intrigue, and heart- through time and the fragile threads of destiny.

A Reflection on the Changing Soul of Amateur Radio

From the warm amber glow of a dial light, or perhaps the soft illumination behind the S-meter, the art of radio has never been lost on me. There’s something almost sacred about those old rigs that modern equipment, for all its capabilities, struggles to replicate.

1973: The Golden Era of Homebrew

In 1973, I had a homebrew transmitter, a borrowed crystal set to 7.107 MHz on the 40-meter band, and a Hallicrafters SX-99—a receiver that had already earned legendary status among hams since its introduction in 1953. The SX-99, with its general coverage from 538 kHz to 34 MHz and distinctive slide-rule dial, represented the pinnacle of accessible shortwave reception for countless operators during the post-war boom of amateur radio.That year, amateur radio was thriving. The hobby had grown substantially following the lifting of the World War II ban on amateur operations in 1945, and by the early 1970s, there were approximately 300,000 licensed hams in the United States. Homebrew was not just common—it was a rite of passage. Building your own transmitter demonstrated both technical competency and dedication to the craft.I clearly remember my first CW contact to a fellow in Little Rock, Arkansas. The anticipation of hearing my call sign returned through the static, the careful hand on the straight key, the thrill of bridging hundreds of miles with equipment I had built and understood intimately—Morse code was mandatory then, required for all license classes until the FCC finally eliminated the requirement entirely in 2007.

Wow, Have Things Changed

Indeed they have. Following up on my post about Field Day, the disappointment was real. Field Day, that annual tradition started by the ARRL back in 1933 as an emergency preparedness exercise, once represented the pinnacle of amateur radio camaraderie. Clubs would gather, antennas would rise against the summer sky, and for 24 hours, the airwaves crackled with activity and friendly competition.Today, participation tells a sobering story. While the ARRL reports continued interest, many local clubs struggle to muster the enthusiasm—and the operators—that once made Field Day a highlight of the ham calendar.

The Digital Divide

I’m aware that digital modes exist that I have yet to explore. FT8, developed by Nobel laureate Joe Taylor (K1JT) and released in 2017, has revolutionized weak-signal communication, allowing contacts with stations that would be impossible to hear with human ears alone. JS8Call, WSPR, and countless other modes offer new frontiers.Yet I cannot shake the feeling that the age of the thrill of DX—of spinning that dial, straining to pull a rare station from the noise, of earning the contact through skill and patience—has been relegated to the dustbin of history. When a computer algorithm can decode what the human ear cannot, and contacts are reduced to automated exchanges of signal reports, something ineffable is lost.

The Club Conundrum

Retired from corporate America, one of the things we must all face is not only can we afford to retire, but what will we do when we retire? Having friends from the local area was most certainly on my list.When I moved here, I researched the local ham club, visited their website, and sent dues money thinking they would contact me, invite me to a meeting, welcome me into the fold. Not even a thank-you email.Sadly, this experience is not unique. Studies and surveys within the amateur radio community reveal a troubling pattern: the average age of a licensed ham in the United States now exceeds 68 years old, and many clubs have become insular, struggling with declining membership while paradoxically failing to welcome new blood. The ARRL itself has acknowledged challenges in club vitality and member engagement.Is this the same attitude that pervades the hobby at large? A community so accustomed to its own decline that it no longer reaches out to those who seek connection?

A Question for Fellow Hams

If you are a ham, I am curious about your thoughts. Have you experienced this same disconnect between the promise of amateur radio fellowship and its reality? Is the hobby we loved transforming into something unrecognizable, or are there still pockets of that old spirit waiting to be found?The dial light still glows. The question is whether anyone is still listening.

When Field Day Falls Flat: A Veteran Ham’s Lament

Every summer, on the fourth full weekend of June, amateur radio operators across North America haul out their gear, string up wire antennas in trees, fire up generators, and take to the airwaves for one of the hobby’s signature events: ARRL Field Day. This year, having relatively recently relocated to East Texas, I made a special effort to track down my local club and introduce myself. My motives were simple. First, I wanted to support the local club. Second, I wanted to see how active and engaged they were in showcasing our great hobby to the public.What I found left me, frankly, disappointed. In all my years in this hobby—and I’ve been licensed since 1973—I have never seen such a lackadaisical display in my life.

What Field Day Is Supposed to Be

For the uninitiated, let me back up and explain what Field Day actually is, because understanding its purpose makes my disappointment a little clearer.Field Day is sponsored annually by the American Radio Relay League (ARRL), the national association for amateur radio in the United States. It began in 1933 and has grown into the single most popular on-air activity in all of amateur radio, drawing more than 30,000 participants each year across the U.S. and Canada.At its heart, Field Day is part emergency-preparedness exercise, part contest, and part public demonstration. The core idea is to practice operating under field conditions—away from the comfort of a home station, often running on emergency or alternative power such as generators, batteries, or solar. The skills exercised are precisely the ones that matter when hurricanes, tornadoes, ice storms, or other disasters knock out conventional communications. Amateur radio operators have a long and proud history of providing emergency communication when nothing else is working, and Field Day is where we sharpen that edge.But Field Day is also about the public. The ARRL explicitly encourages clubs to invite the community, elected officials, and the press to come see what amateur radio can do. There’s even a Get-On-The-Air (GOTA) station specifically designed so that newcomers, visitors, and lapsed hams can sit down, key the microphone, and make a contact under the guidance of a control operator. It is, in the truest sense, an open house for a hobby that depends on bringing in new blood.

What I Found Instead

So what did I find when I rolled up to my local Field Day site? A small parking lot with maybe a half-dozen cars and two—count them, two—air-conditioned trailers. Under a shade tree sat exactly one person, watching over a few folding tables loaded with old CB radios and antiquated equipment from a bygone era.It seemed the event had been repurposed as a swap meet. Meanwhile, the folks who owned those trailers were, as best I could tell, playing radio in air-conditioned comfort with absolutely no public access. They were, in effect, portable shacks—closed off, insular, and inviting nobody in.I won’t name the club they represented, and that’s rather the whole point: I had no idea who they were beyond “some hams,” and judging by the swap-table merchandise, more than a few ex-CBers.

How It Used to Be Done

Contrast this with Field Day as I’ve known it for the better part of five decades. In years past, there was a real rhythm to the weekend. On Friday night we’d gather as a club to erect antennas—dipoles, verticals, beams hoisted on push-up masts—working together, swapping stories, and getting the site ready.From the start time on Saturday afternoon until the quitting time on Sunday, every contact we made went into the log. And critically, visitors were welcomed. We’d encourage them to listen for a bit to the rhythm of the bands, then hand them the microphone to make a contact of their own. That little taste was often enough to whet someone’s appetite—to either upgrade their existing license or to start the process of getting licensed and joining the organization.What I witnessed this year was, quite simply, not that.

The Real Takeaway: Be an Elmer

Here’s the lesson I keep coming back to. In ham radio tradition, an “Elmer” is a mentor—an experienced operator who takes a newcomer under their wing and shows them the ropes. The term has been part of our culture for generations, and it points to the single most important survival mechanism this hobby has.It is clearly up to those of us who know what this event is supposed to be to get involved in our local clubs and Elmer them. We need to gently nudge them in the right direction, remind them that Field Day is not a private swap meet in the air conditioning, but a showcase, an invitation, and a recruiting opportunity. If we don’t, this wonderful hobby may well go the way of the telegraph: a quaint relic remembered fondly but practiced by almost no one.I’m not writing this to scold anyone. I’m writing it as a wake-up call to myself as much as anyone else. The seasoned operators among us carry both the knowledge and the responsibility.

Want to learn more? Visit the ARRL Field Day page at arrl.org/field-day, or search for an upcoming licensing class and Field Day event near you. If you’re a licensed operator, consider being someone’s Elmer this year.

About The Image: Echoes of Tomorrow is a sci fi novel I wrote with Ham Radio as a plot device.

What if the future could speak to you… and what if it had already begun to scream?They said the signal was just noise. Background static. The random hiss of a universe winding down.They were wrong. Buried in the cosmic murmur was a voice—faint, deliberate, and unmistakably human. A voice that hadn’t been spoken yet. A warning sent backward across the silence, carried on frequencies no one was supposed to be listening to. But someone was. In Echoes of Tomorrow, the line between memory and prophecy dissolves. Every choice leaves a trace. Every trace leaves an echo. And somewhere out in the dark between the stars, those echoes are folding back on themselves, reaching for the one person who can still hear them before it’s too late.The past is fixed. The future is listening. And tomorrow has already started sending messages home. Some echoes don’t fade. They wait.