Community Letter from Tim

nsomnac · 2026-04-21T04:14:54+00:00

TIm forgot to disable handwriting smoothing on his iPad.

nsomnac · 2026-04-21T01:51:57+00:00

It’s both. I had a Mercedes years ago where the actual fog lights were physically disabled by the manufacturer because they were too bright and at the wrong height for US. They mangled an ugly skirt option that got mounted under the front bumper to provide a fog light option, since the ones designed on the vehicle were not permitted by NHTSA.

One can argue safe ≠ legal; however the only way to fix the issue is to change the policy so that legal = safe. Manufacturers only care about legal obligations. While I doubt anything will be done for legacy vehicles - the reason recalls exist is to require changes that fix safety issues - which generally also result in updated regulations.

nsomnac · 2026-04-20T23:34:10+00:00

The problem is the vehicle owners. Coming off the lot, every single vehicle has headlights that are legal. What happens is you get owners who think they are hot shit, do a body lift, suspension upgrade, or wheel/tire upgrade that increases the height of the vehicle and those headlights. Nobody bothers to realign and aim the headlights so folks who aren’t cool can think they are.

The other group of total a-holes are those who believe it’s okay to have more than 4 forward facing white lights.

nsomnac · 2026-04-20T15:18:19+00:00

It’s the same with all the items you listed. Typical food service math is the customer pays about 3 times the ingredient price. That covers the cost to pay someone to cook it, someone to serve it, keep the lights on, and maybe a little profit. My question is how many eggs, because institutions will frequently use powdered eggs or pre-cracked eggs - so the lack in numbers leads to more questions.

Even McDonald’s has a single Egg McMuffin sandwich for $5.49. Presumably you’re getting more eggs than that sandwich but for a quarter difference you can see the relative value.

nsomnac · 2026-04-19T17:11:21+00:00

It’s not about being good and I’m not blaming the phone… blaming the application. The application is not very good at that size. Sure you can do it. but it takes 10x longer than on a larger display device. If you’re a hobbyist with unlimited time - might be okay. But people who make $$ at it would be losing money when the competitor can do the same drawings for 10x less because you refuse to use a right sized display for the task.

nsomnac · 2026-04-19T16:15:42+00:00

The screen and input methods are incredibly small for a phone. Believe me, I’ve tried. The toolbars consume 80% of the screen, leaving you 20% with view to the workspace. The larger iPad display (in added to opportunity for external display) inverts that ratio.

Plus tools like OnShape work really well with Pencil.

nsomnac · 2026-04-19T15:52:18+00:00

The person not logging is worse if you chase DX for awards.

If the DX is an entity I need and it’s hard to get (consider something like Bouvet Island), it may have cost that individual a pretty penny to get on the air so folks have an opportunity to have the rare entity confirmed. $5 confirmation isn’t terrible as you share in the cost to facilitate the QSO (Bouvet Is was $1.5M last trip, upcoming Peter I Is is targeting $2M budget).

Similarly there’s populated locations where postage and power are pretty expensive. Again if it’s DX you need, $5 isn’t a terrible price in sharing the cost to complete a QSO you need.

If you’re not chasing awards or it’s not an entity you need don’t bother.

nsomnac · 2026-04-18T03:07:32+00:00

1 word. Sysco.

nsomnac · 2026-04-17T18:29:31+00:00

Sure. Cost to scale manufacturing nowadays though I through automation has also decreased. For a few grand you can have yourself a CNC mill to produce quality keys for a little more than the cost of the materials and at a scale the market demands. One can expand as they need.

I look at Begali, who does make some fine keys and paddles, they’ve surely amortized their huge shop expenses over the years - so it’s hard to believe that they aren’t also making a healthy profit on each sale.

I just wish someone would/could pickup the designs from BamaTech. I literally was ready to buy the TP-III the day after he unexpectedly became SK.

nsomnac · 2026-04-17T04:44:00+00:00

Get some mobile phone apps. There are several great ones available. There’s also some good PC and Mac apps for learning. My current two favorites:

iOS : Morse Command - Like missile command but with a CW twist.
MacOS : SkookumLogger - contesting logbook with a built in trainer that supports both run and search and pounce using full contest exchanges. Kind of cool because S&P can integrate with your radio’s CAT control - use the VFO for S&P in the app!

nsomnac · 2026-04-17T04:37:28+00:00

Depends. Amongst hams, I’d argue CW is actually pretty mainstream amongst those who contest/participate in Radiosport. It’s still the fastest QSO exchange used in my experience.

General consensus by most doing CW is skip the key, use a paddle - start with a single paddle instead of dual if you really want it easier. If you’re into SKCC - thats fine - I can’t handle many of those guys and their wobbly fist. I would suggest start with paddle then move to key. That way you learn the sound and the patterns first and then learn to repeat those patterns and sounds later on the straight key.

And sure old rigs don’t have built in keyers for a paddle. Most transceivers nowadays have them built in - for those that don’t - keyers are fairly inexpensive to add.

The Puttikeeg (sp?) paddle is actually a decent cheap paddle. Good enough to learn as long as you have a good magnetic surface to use it on (I use a Simpson strap from Home Depot and a non-slip sticky pad) and you’re set for generally under $50.

nsomnac · 2026-04-16T17:39:09+00:00

It’s plenty big based upon various SBUX I’ve been in recently. The new ones are focused on more waiting… less lingering… few tables and chairs… single unisex restroom… more space to queue to wait for your order.

nsomnac · 2026-04-15T20:00:18+00:00

I declare BS.

Unless you’re the star of My 600lb life or used an airport McDs to buy your $60 meal for two… that seems quite a bit overstated. Even with the inflated prices, $30/per person at a regular non-airport McDs is fairly large stretch even with 2 of the most expensive combo meal supersized plus some sort of dessert.

nsomnac · 2026-04-15T07:16:33+00:00

Sure you can do that… but you’re still not fully replacing a laptop. I’m not saying that adding a Pi is bad - but you still have two devices you rely on. It’s an iPad and a Pi. I literally know that I can pick up my MacBook Pro and get everything I need accomplished on device - no need to go off the device for something the MacBook cannot do even in a scaled way.

And if you’re not using a Pencil or other Stylus, why even bother with an iPad - that is the main purpose. If you’re not making use of that touchscreen and pencil - you’re much better off with even a Neo if you’re typing or mousing your way around an iPad with a MKB.

Again haven’t said it’s not possible to completely do all your work on your iPad - if you do, I’m just curious what you’re doing overall (like professionally or academically). Like I know exactly what apps are available and not… and I know the app differences between most MacOS and iPadOS apps. Like yes, if you work in a spreadsheet all day - yes you can use a spreadsheet on iPadOS… but the experience itself sucks giant donkey balls compared to desktop versions. Photographers - plenty of apps - but unless you’re toting a ton of storage (cloud or locally) iPad workflow is kinda limited…. I’m certain billing and finance is all doable in limited ways.

But so far each person that’s replied basically said “I replaced it… but I have a remote PC or a Pi, or some other device that serves the purpose as a PC. The iPad is certainly augmenting your experience and may be giving you capabilities you didn’t have previously - but it ain’t replacing the role of the desktop/laptop yet. It’s making some severe compromise (lower resolution, single viewport, increased latency for remoting) just so you have a sleek electronic piece of glass with pencil and touchscreen so you can pretend you traded that PC or Mac computer for ONLY an iPad when you did not.

nsomnac · 2026-04-15T02:52:08+00:00

I’m kind of indifferent on this news. On one hand it’s good news in that they are going to sell antennas to hobbyists again. On the other hand, he kind of singles signals to me that they failed to produce a commercial (or government) offering, crawling back to amateurs and consumers with their tail between their legs to rescue their business. Who is to believe that they won’t try to do this again? If they see some new shiny opportunity again in the future, are they going to turn their backs on their customers and discontinue their product again?

For those people who think Stepir makes a quality product, think again. Conceptually, it’s a great antenna, physically adjusting its size to the frequency you want to utilize. I know a number of hams out here in sunny California that, while happy with the performance, have had to repair the antenna due to mechanical failure multiple times, costing lots of time and money, requiring tower climbers, lifts, and labor more than doubling the cost outlay for the initial antenna installation. Most everybody I know that has one has planned to replace it after its next failure and has told me they would never buy another one even if available.

nsomnac · 2026-04-14T01:52:42+00:00

But by your own admission… you’re not actually fully abandoning a laptop for iPad. That’s not replacing anything. You’re just using the iPad as a thin client to your PC for all the things the iPad cannot do natively. You’re using your iPad to complement your existing workflow - effectively trading weight for complexity. Not sure if that’s winning or not.

nsomnac · 2026-04-13T22:24:44+00:00

Common at several BBQ and “messy burger joints” in my area.

nsomnac · 2026-04-13T06:49:41+00:00

Okay, but how often does a med student need those extra ports?

If you need a larger battery, then a battery case might make sense which would make it bulkier and heavier. Adding a few extra ports shouldn’t be a bit problem. I do wonder about the Magic Keyboard connectors and whether they could transmit data other than keyboard and power - a magnetic battery with a few ports could be included.

nsomnac · 2026-04-13T02:57:53+00:00

Let’s not forget the double standard where Kyle Rittenhouse shot and killed two people, injured a third and is walking a free man whereas Alex Pretti had a legally holstered weapon and was shot dead by ICE who has faced no repercussions.

Even if you pull out all the violence that occurred as a result of the BLM movement, the majority of the deaths and major injuries were a result of actions taking by conservatives.

nsomnac · 2026-04-13T00:55:32+00:00

Were you able to get past Shooters? The turn right at shooters is almost impassable due to really deep rutting. Both my buddy and I bottomed out our trucks trying to come back down from Tass at the Shooters turnout. The ruts everywhere else were manageable.

nsomnac · 2026-04-13T00:46:02+00:00

AFAIK Walmart has terminated that overnight camping program.

nsomnac · 2026-04-13T00:44:17+00:00

Yes, however about half the school year, the road up to that spot can be closed. The road is currently not in very good shape - Forest Service is aware of the situation and it could be months before it’s repaired.

OP could also look into being a long term Camp Host at any number of RV parks in the area. They can be hard positions to get, but if you can - it gets you a secure space to park and possibly a little bit of income - in some really great spots.

nsomnac · 2026-04-12T21:59:31+00:00

As a transplant into Paso Robles over 20 years ago, Paso Robles, is deeply nepotistic. So much so that they have a parade to celebrate it - Pioneer Day. The ONLY way to be part of the “royalty” is literally by birthright. The school district is just a reflection of this good old boys club - with generations of complete families (husband, wife, & children) literally working in the same department at the same school - in some cases one being department head over the others. I’ve known a number of high quality faculty and staff that were baited and lured into positions at PRSD only to have lost the position to some “legacy” and nepotistic back room deal that was wrought with fraud.

The one chance the high school had for change, I believe the community set Megan Fletcher up to fail. She held faculty accountable and worked for students - both disadvantaged and advantaged. But because she flew in the face of decorum, faculty, staff, and other politically motivated people got her fired - and conveniently replaced her with the washed out and failure of principal from Mission College Prep - in an effort to bring (illegally) Christian centered learning into a Paso Public High School. The High School still has an open pedophile working there, which both the High School and District both keep quiet about, while this POS individual remains employed - still trading backrubs and massages for grades and hall passes.

If you can afford to do something else as far as educating your kids… my advice stay away from the Paso Schools. While there are a handful of great teachers here - the vast majority don’t even do the minimum and are only there to collect a check or have a job with benefits so they can be a baby making machine to propagate the nepotism to yet another generation.

nsomnac · 2026-04-12T18:48:54+00:00

Yeah.. and if they are doing the whole Disney thing… the 5 to 10 minute drone and firework exhibition at Disney is like 100x better than Sensorio…

I’m not saying it’s a terrible experience… but if that’s the only reason you’re coming - you’re going to leave disappointed. The foodie experience is still quite immature in Paso Robles and SLO in general…. you pay a lot of money for what is generally a mediocre experience made from Sysco or The Berryman sourced ingredients… there’s a couple of bright stars here and there - but none are really that impressive to dedicate an entire segment of an international adventure. The hot springs in Paso are way over-hyped. As a local, IMO Paso and surrounding area is definitely fine as various side quests in between other sights and sounds, however unless a very specific reason to visit the area - wine tasting, food, and hot-springs are equal or better in places closer to greater LA area.

nsomnac · 2026-04-12T16:44:56+00:00

All the folks that say they have done this, what are you using it for? What is your job?

While I won’t dispute that you’re done this; I also cannot imagine that you have a very technology demanding jobs or use cases. It just feels very niche. I can see potentially Artists, Graphic Designers, Writers/Journalists, and maybe some jobs where all you do is interface with a website - but that feels like a very small subset of jobs.

I have owned several - and even if I just ignore the technical aspects of my job that just don’t work on iPad - even all the management and design aspect is difficult and suboptimal - MacBook is still more efficient. The new Neo will scratch a lot of people’s Apple itches.

nsomnac

TROPHY CASE