Dear Friend,
I usually try to write this message as I am publishing the weekly QSO Today podcast. Instead, I needed some time to think about this past week and the most recent news of the "Corona virus" or Covid-19, and its impact.
Israel is in lock down. Flights from Asia and parts of Europe are cancelled, and the El Al, our national airline has laid off 1000 employees. Israelis arriving from affected zones are put into 14 day home quarantine. Thousands are in home quarantine, even those who may have been exposed to tourists who tested positive for the virus. Over 50% of Israelis travel abroad every year. As of this morning we have 25 cases of Covid-19.
Containers from affected countries, such as China, are now sitting for 14 days in quarantine in the port before the contents are removed. Really?
According to the CDC in Atlanta, the seasonal flu killed 80,000 in the USA in 2018, and on the average kills between 20,000 to 50,000 in the USA every year. The Covid-19 has killed over 3000 Worldwide. Is this flu more dangerous than the regular annual flu? I don't know, just asking questions. I am not a doctor, and I am not an expert. I'm just a guy sitting on the sidelines watching the story unfold.
Events are being canceled, including sports games and concerts. I just launched my Great American Songbook project to do its fourth concert at the end of the month, my first venture into concert promotion. I hope that we will not be singing to a bunch of empty seats. I am even entertaining the idea of live streaming it over the Internet to boost my ticket sales to keep from taking a bath on the project.
I can only imagine what the planners of the Dayton Hamvention, and every other regional and national convention, are thinking right now.
Forgive me for sharing my thoughts today.
Are we panicking and causing a Worldwide recession?
Maybe just the constant warnings of handwashing and some self-imposed isolation will keep us all safer than usual this year. Perhaps it will reduce the death-toll for all seasonal flu related deaths.
I myself, have some kind of bug. I am staying home, singing Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star while washing my hands.
The great thing about ham radio is that we can do it in isolation, without leaving the house. Quarantine for us is more operating time, more project work, and more podcast listening.
My QSO this week is with Dale Parfitt, W4OP. Dale's love from his ham radio and electronics background is designing filters and antennas for special problems. He has many great home-brew projects on his website as well. He turned this interest into a business that has served he and his family well for decades. If you operate repeaters, filters are great for getting rid of interference to the input receiver. Dale, of course, has an interesting ham radio story.
Thanks for listening.
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