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02-01-2024 - From my corrections consultant - The Texas Department of Criminal Justice has a new recruiting ad playing on local television. This ad shows nothing about the daily life of a TDCJ Correctional Officer. Are they afraid it would scare away prospects? This looks more like a "bait and switch" scheme to me. They make it look like all you do is walk around, greet other officers, pick up some paperwork, etc. What you end up with is people quitting at or near the end of the academy. But then, there are people who go through the academy just to get 6 weeks' worth of pay with no intention of staying on to do the job.

02-01-2024 - I made contact with Lawrence Creek State Nature Preserve in Indiana (US-10247) on 20 meters (14 MHz) CW (Morse code) in the Amateur (ham) Radio Parks on the Air® program.

02-01-2024 - NWS forecast - Today: Partly sunny, then gradually becoming sunny, with a high near 73. South southwest wind 8 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 23 mph. Tonight: Partly cloudy, with a low around 53. South wind 8 to 13 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.

02-01-2024 - It's February, and it's not often that we start February with a forecast of 73 degrees. I'll take it, but we'll probably pay the price before the month is over. The coffee is ready, and the group at 1947 kHz is on the air. I listen to them because they're close by and easy to hear on my ground plane antenna that's not even close to resonant on the 160-meter band. I'll be switching to some Morse code on another band before long.

01-31-2024 - At 3:45 PM I'm hearing what sounds like Kate Burgess Elementary School on 462.7125 MHz. This is a Family Radio Service frequency and, judging by the "roger beeps", they're possibly using inexpensive "bubble pack" radios. I'm listening on one of my "storm antennas" which are "discones" mounted in the attic. More monitoring is required.

01-31-2024 - I made contact with K2JVB in Nissequogue River State Park (US-2114) on 20 meters (14 MHz) CW (Morse code) in the Amateur (ham) Radio Parks on the Air® program.

01-31-2024 - From my law enforcement consultant. Police applicants were being administered the "physical agility" test. Part of that test was a calculation of "body fat percentage" using calipers as part of that test. The officer with the calipers was visibly overweight and was rejecting applicants on which he could "pinch more than an inch", or whatever the standard was. I don't remember any rejected applicants complaining.

01-31-2024 - From my corrections consultant - a story about Smudge Monkeys. I "spit-shined" my shoes. I was one of the few Correctional Officers who did. During those days you had to remove your shoes and run them through the x-ray machine. Then, one of the "inspection" officers would pick up my shoes by the toes, and mash down on the toes. This procedure can only tell you one thing: my feet are no longer in the shoes. There's no way it will tell you if there's contraband in the shoes. Only one thing was accomplished: my spit shine was smudged. To prepare for the Smudge Monkeys, I carried two cotton balls in my transparent lunch box so I could re-apply the shine. One of the Smudge Monkeys thought they were marshmallows. Without fail, the Smudge Monkeys were wearing shoes that looked like they were shined with a chocolate bar.

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01-31-2024 - At 6:30 AM our local Air Evac Lifeteam helicopter is on a mission. Tune in with your scanner radio at 159.900 MHz.

01-31-2024 - NWS forecast - Today: Sunny, with a high near 72. Calm wind becoming south 5 to 9 mph in the afternoon. Tonight: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 49. South wind 7 to 9 mph.

01-31-2024 - Good morning! January is shot, let's see what February brings. An ice storm, probably. I went for a walk yesterday and, even though it was only 72 degrees outside, I thought I was going to burn up. I took the Icom IC V80 handheld radio with me but forgot all about it and never made a call as intended. I might try it again today. It's 5:30 AM and my coffee is ready!

01-30-2024 - I'm listening to the Wichita County Jail operations on 152.520 MHz where a few of the Detention Officers sound like they are talking into a vibrating potato rather than a handheld radio. Maybe my ears are just getting old.

01-30-2024 - It was around 2001 or so when a man arrived at the Wichita Falls Municipal Airport (later the Regional Airport), and took a taxi to the Budget Car Rental call center located at Airport Drive and I-44 to pick up a rental car. He was a little upset to learn that the rental cars were at the airport he just left, not at the national call center. I guess it all worked out in the end. I'm wondering why the taxi driver didn't pick up on this error before it snowballed.

01-30-2024 - The 2024 NWS Norman Skywarn Spotter training for Wichita Falls will be held Saturday, Feb 10, 9:00 AM at the Multi-Purpose Events Center (MPEC) - Ray Clymer Exhibit Hall, Hayley Eye Clinic Seminar Room, 1000 5th Street Wichita Falls, TX.

01-30-2024 - The Montague County Amateur Radio Club conducts a simplex net every Saturday at 9:00 AM on 147.500 MHz. All licensed Amateur (ham) Radio Operators are invited to check in. Scanner listeners are also welcome.

01-30-2024 - At 5:00 PM I heard a station on 146.520 FM simplex announce that he was "aeronautical mobile" over Bowie, Texas. Just as I was reaching for the microphone, he answered another station's call. The two had an extended conversation covering several topics. Before long, he faded away.

01-30-2024 - The Clay County Amateur Radio Club conducts a weekly Skywarn practice net on Tuesdays at 8:00 PM on the club's 146.800 MHz repeater. All licensed Amateur Radio Operators are invited to check in. Scanner listeners are also welcome.

01-30-2024 - From the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics - In December 2023, unemployment rates were higher than a year earlier in 18 states and the District of Columbia, lower in 15 states, and stable in 17 states. Over the month, jobless rates increased in 15 states, decreased in 1 state, and were little changed in 34 states and the District.

01-30-2024 - I made contact with Weeki Wachee Springs State Park (US-3666) in Florida on 20 meters (14 MHz) CW (Morse code) in the Amateur (ham) Radio Parks on the Air® program.