A Bigger Collider...?

The initial proposal was floated by CERN yesterday.  100 TeV, up from the current LHC's 14 TeV.

The problem is that the LHC was specifically designed to pin down the existence and properties of the Higgs boson, which it did, and which had been predicted decades before, and on which the entire Standard Model hinges.  What's more, there was a faint glimmer of its existence from the previous-generation 1 TeV Fermilab accelerator.   They had a pretty firm idea that they'd find the Higgs with the LHC, and there was some hope they'd see something new and interesting out at 14 TeV.  That last part didn't work out however, and there are currently no solid predictions as to what will show up in this next energy regime.

Building this proposed collider is therefore a largely speculative step.  In the worst case, it could certainly rule out a number of theories, or at least bound them in some way that they seem less reasonable.  And of course in the best case something completely new and unknown might show up.

It's a lot of money for a slim chance at a real payoff.  Without some solid theoretical predictions that something interesting will be found, funding currently seems unlikely.  Time will tell.

The Mystery of Easter Island Solved – ?

Over at artnet:

Archeologists Discover that Easter Island's... oh hell, just go over there and read it.  This new theory says that they were carved to mark fresh water sources.  I will say, it's the first idea for what those big heads are about that even begins to make sense.

Hat tip to The Darling Daughter for sending this story in.

An Interesting Music Site

Garagerocktopia – Where Rock and Roll LIVES!

It's waaay better than anything out there with a blogspot.com URL should be.  Go have a look.

Yes: Vincent's in New Orleans

Yes, if given the opportunity, try Vincent's on St. Charles.  Link: https://vincentsitaliancuisine.com

That is all for the moment, but it it is enough of a post for one evening.

Two Easy Extras for the Yaesu FT-817etc

Here are some pics of a cardboard front cover and tiny heat sink for the FT-817.  The subsequent 817nd and 818nd have the same dimensions and this'll work fine for them too.

The cardboard cover is good for keeping the knobs and screen protected when the radio is stuffed into a pack.  The rest of the radio is relatively tough-skinned, but a sheared-off knob or a busted screen could easily happen.  The cover relies for structure on some aftermarket Portable Zero rails (link; $72) that everyone working in the field with an 817 should have already.  The cover fits over the rails and the radio's face, like a cap, and is held fast with painter's tape.  You can make one in five minutes out of scrap cardboard and duct tape.  Be sure to make the top part long enough to cover the A-B-C buttons on the top of the faceplate.  Cost: free.  Weight: nil.



With that done, slip the whole thing into a gallon zip-lock bag for some scratch and water resistance.  Cost: $0.05.  Weight: nil.  Not counting the rails, this is probably the lightest and cheapest go-bag for these radios possible.  Ideas like this come from watching too many hiker youtube videos, where cheap and light are at a premium over durability and brand name.

This last pic shows the back end of the radio with a little stick-on heat sink.  It's blue, and tucked in on that frame extension next to the power port.  This corner of the radio occasionally gets warm when operating digital modes.  Be sure to clean where you're putting it before sticking it down; windex on a paper towel works.  A friend in the local ham club had to order a mega-pack of these to get the couple he needed and was giving them away at a club meeting last fall.  Cost: free (to me anyway; you can find'em on eBay and Amazon for cheap).  Weight: nil.  



Yes, these mods are small things that really are almost trivial.  However, they do add to the radio's packability, cost very little (even counting the rails), and weigh almost nothing.

To wrap up, a friend and I tried to set up in a park over on Henderson Point this morning, but we got rained out.  It was a good chance to scout out likely trees for antenna support the next trip, however.  There's always a next trip.

I'm Down With This One

What's the Rush?  The Power of a Slow Morning

Article over at the WSJ.  TLDR version: If you start your day with a time hassle, you'll feel frazzled and be unproductive all day.  Practical stuff, makes a lot of sense.  I do it every chance I get, and now feel even less guilty about the whole deal.

Enjoy your weekend!

What's up on St. Joe Peninsula?

Public hearing next Tuesday about what is to be done with Eagle Harbor Pass.  Details at this article in the Port St. Joe Star.  It looks like public commentary is running largely in favor of leaving nature to take its course, but that's all online and extremely non-binding.  Unfortunately it's a six hour drive for me to make the meeting, but I'm sure full details will be in next week's Star.  Anyway, here's a somewhat recent picture of the new pass in question:

Interesting times we live in.