In order to receive an license to operate in the Amateur Radio Services (also known as ham radio), the applicant must pass a test. The test is administered by “volunteer examiners” who have been certified and cleared to administer the test. Before Christmas I sent in my paperwork to be certified as an examiner, and the paperwork finally arrived! Three examiners have to administer the exam, none can be close relatives. However, it’s a way to give back to the amateur radio community! I participated as an examiner in my first exam session on January 29th. Four people took the Technician Class license exam and all four passed.

Before the exam, I talked a little with them about test-taking strategies. Since this is a multiple choice test of 35 questions and there is no penalty for a wrong answer, it’s best to answer every question, even if you have to guess! I also told them that their first answer is usually right and they should be very careful about second guessing their answer! One of the test takers changed two answers … from the right answer to the wrong answer, and further left one question unanswered. The test-taker passed, but barely! Fortunately, once you’re licensed, no one is interested in how you scored on the test.

One of the people I work with in Idaho Falls took her Technician Class test a week go and is anxiously awaiting her call sign. I just checked the database, but her call sign hasn’t been assigned yet. It’s been fun talking with her about the many facets of this wide-ranging hobby.

A significant snow storm finally blew through here last night. Today was my every-other-Friday-off day, so I got the snow blower out and cleaned the driveway and sidewalks of a bit more than three inches of snow. It was fairly light and fairly dry snow, however. It was welcome … with prayers for a whole bunch more to come. We’ll gladly take it here and give the east coast some relief!

The Winter Olympics have started and I’m quite happy about that. I really enjoy the games. I’ve also been quite disappointed in all the criticism I’m seeing on social media about Russia and about NBC. Things are getting just too partisan. Just too critical. Not willing to cut anyone any slack. It’s all quite contrary to the spirit of the Olympics.

A local case in point: The headline in today’s Idaho State Journal reads: Man shoots retriever for mating with his dog: Canine’s death leads to fight between neighbors.

A Robin man is facing misdemeanor animal cruelty and battery charges after allegedly shooting a neighbor’s dog and killing it, then getting into a fight with the neighbor after disclosing what he had done.

According to court filings, Rodney Lish told his neighbor in early November that he shot his golden retriever a day earlier after finding it “locked up and mating,” with his son’s dog.

That was just plain wrong. Animal cruelty and battery charges have been filed against Lish and trial is scheduled for March 21st.

And, to top it all off, I’ve caught a cold. I’ve been thinking it would be mild and just go away, but today I’m not so sure any more. It’s kind of threatening to move down into my chest. Argh.

Time to go back to the TV and watch the Olympics!

Ta ta for now!