Dave, AA7EE does many amazing things with radio and recently wrote about a new project in his continuing low-power life adventure. I found his construction of an attentuator capable of throttling small levels of RF to be tantalizing. You know it’s good when you read about a project and want to build one just like it.

Thought for the day: Digital minimalists are all around us. They’re the calm, happy people who can hold long conversations without furtive glances at their phones. They can get lost in a good book, a woodworking project, or a leisurely morning run. They can have fun with friends and family without the obsessive urge to document the experience. They stay informed about the news of the day, but don’t feel overwhelmed by it. They don’t experience “fear of missing out” because they already know which activities provide them meaning and satisfaction.

Having long wanted one of those cool looking TR-45L transceivers, I took my own advice and ordered one before they’re gone. It’s a five-watt CW transceiver that covers the 80, 40, 30, 20, and 17 meter bands. I went with the skinny version as I have no need for the built-in antenna tuner. Internal tuners are incredibly convenient when operating in the field, but this one is destined to remain in the shack.

Bad news for caffeine: Coffee prices hit an all-time high last week. Robusta futures jumped 3.8% on Wednesday to a record $3,800 a tonne, bringing their 12-month gain to 68%. At this rate, the espresso is going to cost more than the martini.

Fear of flying: Here’s what actually happens when a plane is struck by lightning (spoiler alert - nothing really happens to a plane that’s struck by lightning — but it looks cool).

Am I the only one who wonders if new radio enthusiasts believe hams never took radios into the field before POTA? Or if they believe the end-fed half-wave antenna design is a relatively new invention? Nevermind. It’s probably just me…

The Spring 2024 edition of SPRAT magazine from the GQRP Club arrived here yesterday. As those wash across the US the QRP mailing lists light up with happiness and shared joy for each new edition. Invariably, this leads to questions like “what is SPRAT?” and “how can I subscribe?” From the horses mouth: “SPRAT is a quarterly magazine which contains many circuits, technical hints and ideas for QRP construction projects, together with club news, contest and award information and other items of interest to QRP operators. SPRAT is an exclusive QRP journal and contains much practical information in each issue”. Find out how to subcribe here.