W4UOA

The Great Divorce

2012-01-31T15:37:00.003-06:00

The Great Divorce
By DAVID BROOKS
Published: January 30, 2012

I’ll be shocked if there’s another book this year as important as Charles Murray’s “Coming Apart.” I’ll be shocked if there’s another book that so compellingly describes the most important trends in American society.

Murray’s basic argument is not new, that America is dividing into a two-caste society. What’s impressive is the incredible data he produces to illustrate that trend and deepen our understanding of it.

His story starts in 1963. There was a gap between rich and poor then, but it wasn’t that big. A house in an upper-crust suburb cost only twice as much as the average new American home. The tippy-top luxury car, the Cadillac Eldorado Biarritz, cost about $47,000 in 2010 dollars. That’s pricy, but nowhere near the price of the top luxury cars today.

More important, the income gaps did not lead to big behavior gaps. Roughly 98 percent of men between the ages of 30 and 49 were in the labor force, upper class and lower class alike. Only about 3 percent of white kids were born outside of marriage. The rates were similar, upper class and lower class.

Since then, America has polarized. The word “class” doesn’t even capture the divide Murray describes. You might say the country has bifurcated into different social tribes, with a tenuous common culture linking them.

The upper tribe is now segregated from the lower tribe. In 1963, rich people who lived on the Upper East Side of Manhattan lived close to members of the middle class. Most adult Manhattanites who lived south of 96th Street back then hadn’t even completed high school. Today, almost all of Manhattan south of 96th Street is an upper-tribe enclave.

Today, Murray demonstrates, there is an archipelago of affluent enclaves clustered around the coastal cities, Chicago, Dallas and so on. If you’re born into one of them, you will probably go to college with people from one of the enclaves; you’ll marry someone from one of the enclaves; you’ll go off and live in one of the enclaves.

Worse, there are vast behavioral gaps between the educated upper tribe (20 percent of the country) and the lower tribe (30 percent of the country). This is where Murray is at his best, and he’s mostly using data on white Americans, so the effects of race and other complicating factors don’t come into play.

Roughly 7 percent of the white kids in the upper tribe are born out of wedlock, compared with roughly 45 percent of the kids in the lower tribe. In the upper tribe, nearly every man aged 30 to 49 is in the labor force. In the lower tribe, men in their prime working ages have been steadily dropping out of the labor force, in good times and bad.

People in the lower tribe are much less likely to get married, less likely to go to church, less likely to be active in their communities, more likely to watch TV excessively, more likely to be obese.

Murray’s story contradicts the ideologies of both parties. Republicans claim that America is threatened by a decadent cultural elite that corrupts regular Americans, who love God, country and traditional values. That story is false. The cultural elites live more conservative, traditionalist lives than the cultural masses.

Democrats claim America is threatened by the financial elite, who hog society’s resources. But that’s a distraction. The real social gap is between the top 20 percent and the lower 30 percent. The liberal members of the upper tribe latch onto this top 1 percent narrative because it excuses them from the central role they themselves are playing in driving inequality and unfairness.

It’s wrong to describe an America in which the salt of the earth common people are preyed upon by this or that nefarious elite. It’s wrong to tell the familiar underdog morality tale in which the problems of the masses are caused by the elites.

The truth is, members of the upper tribe have made themselves phenomenally productive. They may mimic bohemian manners, but they have returned to 1950s traditionalist values and practices. They have low divorce rates, arduous work ethics and strict codes to regulate their kids.

Members of the lower tribe work hard and dream big, but are more removed from traditional bourgeois norms. They live in disorganized, postmodern neighborhoods in which it is much harder to be self-disciplined and productive.

I doubt Murray would agree, but we need a National Service Program. We need a program that would force members of the upper tribe and the lower tribe to live together, if only for a few years. We need a program in which people from both tribes work together to spread out the values, practices and institutions that lead to achievement.

If we could jam the tribes together, we’d have a better elite and a better mass.

HR-607 Industry wants to take away 70cm band.

2012-01-31T11:18:00.002-06:00

ARRL Communications Video 03/10/2011 from Awecast on Vimeo.

OM35A Amplifier

2012-01-28T07:43:00.000-06:00

Wednesday's Hike

2012-01-26T08:02:00.000-06:00

North Antenna Farm (to be)

2012-01-24T11:03:00.001-06:00

The first two pictures show the center point trees. Picture 3 and 4 show the East and West wire routes.

Defense

2012-01-23T09:30:00.002-06:00

Web Relay

2012-01-22T22:47:00.007-06:00

This looks like a good option to remotely

operate the the FT-2000D TX Req function.

When TX Req is shorted the FT-2000D

transmits a CW carrier. This product is

manufactured by CONTROLbyWEB.

FT-2000 CAT Software

2012-01-22T12:55:00.015-06:00

Several of you have asked about what I use for FT-2000 CAT control. I have some experience with three programs: TRX-Manage r; Ham Radio Deluxe (HRD); and FT-2000RC. The following images are current screen shots from my installation.

I find that each has many features to recommend it. In addition to offering fairly comprehensive radio control from a local Windows PC, each includes a built-in server to provide remote control over the Internet. Each offers many common and unique features--too numerous to list here. Rather, let me tell you what I find most useful about each application. Your operating conditions may recommend other features.

Remote Operations

Remote operations can be achieved in two primary ways. You can connect to the remote radio control computer using remote connection software such as Windows Remote Desktop; PC Anywhere; LogMeIn; and many others. I personally use Windows Remote Desktop and find it very effective. Once connected to the remote computer, you run the control program as if you were sitting in front of the remote computer.

The second approach uses the application servers built in to each of the control programs. The application server built into the application (TRX-Manager, HRD, and FT-2000) "listens" on the designated port for you to connect from your local PC.

There are advantages to each approach. I may discuss the relative advantages of each approach at some later time.

In either case, I use Skype for the audio link.

TRX-Manager

TRX-Manager tightly integrates logbook, DX-Cluster, and rotor control, and in my experience offers the best remote CW keying when run using a local desktop connection such as Windows Remote Desktop. I use TRX-Manager when I would to work CW from my remote station.

Ham Radio Deluxe (HRD)

HRD provides a very stable, polished and easily customizable interface. The macro feature allows you to develop your own command sets to control radio features and to attach these commands to a button on the layout. If you look closely at the screen shot above, you can see my customized layout and the ability to put macros "behind" buttons. I find this feature to be extremely useful. It is for this reason, that I use HRD the majority of the time I operate both locally and remote. I encourage you to load my customized layout and macros to see how these features might be of value to you.

FT-2000RC

FT-2000RC is the most elegant of the FT-2000 radio control programs--and, I suspect, in time may become the best FT-2000 control program. I find that FT-2000RC offers the lowest latency of the three when run with its built-in remote server. I believe DF3CB is dedicated to providing access to all of the radio's features through both an exact look and feel visual model and graphical controls as appropriate. Not all of the radio's features are yet available through the interface but I suspect that is just a matter of time. I encourage you to look closely at this application and to support his efforts.

Home Grown

If you have an interest in doing your own program development, I would be pleased to send you a Visual Basic 2010 serial port engine that will talk to the FT-2000 on the COM port and at the BAUD rate of your choosing. This particular engine uses interrupt driven communications and can handle the high speed telemetry available on the FT-2000. For an illustration of this high speed telemetry, note the received (RX) and transmission (TX) times in this log file.

73,

de W4UOA

Alpha 9500

2012-01-21T13:18:00.002-06:00

Owner's Manual

Finish!

2012-01-15T15:37:00.002-06:00

LA5MDA FT-2000D Equalizer Settings

2012-01-10T12:38:00.013-06:00

Mic Equalizer -- Processor Off

Mic Equalizer -- Processor On

FT-2000D Setting Ranges

2012-01-10T09:18:00.001-06:00

Equalization Before

2012-01-09T09:00:00.002-06:00

New Year 2012 Caption Contest!

2012-01-07T14:01:00.005-06:00

I knew we were in trouble when Rosie said "Recalculating!"

New Buttons in HRD

2012-01-05T17:29:00.001-06:00

Visits since November 2011

2011-12-30T08:30:00.001-06:00

Do you know anyone here?

2011-12-30T08:09:00.002-06:00

60M Band Plan

2011-12-28T08:05:00.004-06:00

Dec 24, 2011 Remote Ops

2011-12-24T09:07:00.002-06:00

Thursday Morning Ops

2011-12-22T08:00:00.002-06:00

SWR Plots W8JI at The Cottage

2011-12-21T15:11:00.005-06:00

The FT-2000 can tune the entire amateur HF spectrum with the W8JI.
Though I did not include 6 Meters it tunes just fine.
Thanks to John**2, Jack, and everyone else for your great suggestions!

W8JI Resistance at the Tuner

2011-12-20T09:13:00.000-06:00

Cute!

2011-12-19T21:01:00.000-06:00

Cousins at Opryland

2011-12-19T20:58:00.000-06:00

Nashville Ops

2011-12-17T07:42:00.002-06:00

Carl Sr

2011-12-16T08:46:00.000-06:00

DeSoto State Park Lost Falls

2011-12-14T13:11:00.000-06:00

Switch Screen

2011-12-13T09:32:00.000-06:00

Old version

2011-12-13T09:19:00.000-06:00

Gmail

2011-12-13T09:11:00.000-06:00

Monday's Hike at DeSoto State Park

2011-12-12T17:18:00.003-06:00

Laurel and Hidden Falls

EveryTrail - Find the best Hiking in Alabama

Saturday's Log

2011-12-11T07:51:00.000-06:00

Be sure to notice Carl's little helpers!

2011-12-10T10:57:00.000-06:00

New Router Ready to Configure

2011-12-09T13:48:00.000-06:00

Op Pos this AM

2011-12-09T08:44:00.000-06:00

Road trip to W4EA & morning after!

2011-12-09T08:04:00.001-06:00

Shelf Liner

2011-12-07T08:05:00.000-06:00

Dec 5, 2011 Hike in DeSoto

2011-12-05T15:31:00.000-06:00

DeSoto Trail Mapping Project at EveryTrail
EveryTrail - Find the best Hiking in Alabama

FT-2000 CW Menu Mode Settings

2011-12-05T07:44:00.000-06:00

It's not your father's company!

2011-12-03T12:32:00.002-06:00

Many calls to AT&T and many direct hits later, phone and U-verse service continues to flow through! Amazing!

Probably the most amazing thinking is the number of times the AT&T U-verse tech walked by this mess and said...

"Somebody should take care of this!"

In English.... "Ain't my job!"

Update!

Got to "repair center" and got a "ticket number." Tech should be here before Thursday, Dec 8th. Exciting!

Serious Remote Ops

2011-11-30T22:09:00.003-06:00

W1IMD remote station. See QRZ for details. You won't be disappointed!

Best coffee mug ever!

2011-11-30T13:26:00.008-06:00

I would love to find another mug like this. If you know where I can find such a mug, please leave a comment. Thanks!

Today's Hike: November 25, 2011

2011-11-25T21:04:00.006-06:00

Desoto State Park Lost Falls Trail

Today's 3 mile hike. If the map is black, click on the (-) sign to zoom out. Move the elevation box out of the way if necessary.

Find trail maps for Alabama

Analog Radio Parts

2011-11-25T11:14:00.005-06:00

This is a must see!

This, on the other hand, has to be the MOST

spartan web site I have EVER seen!

If they don't have it, you don't need it!!

Okay! So...who is organizing the field trip?

Road trip!

Morse Machine

2011-11-22T21:33:00.002-06:00

If you are serious about learning morse code please try the Morse Machine. Stick with it. It's tough going at first but very slowly you will see just how fast you are learning. When you have learned the all the letter, numbers, and punctuation you will be receiving at 20WPM.

Trail

2011-11-21T21:49:00.001-06:00

DeSoto Trail Mapping Project

EveryTrail - Find the best Hiking in Alabama

Desoto Trail Mapping Project

2011-11-21T21:26:00.003-06:00

Click on title for an animation. If the screen is black, reduce the size by clicking

on the vertical slide bar on the top left. If the black trip box is in the way, you

can click and hold and move it to one side. Katie and I hope to walk and map

all the trails of Desoto over the next several years. I hope you will join us

when you can.

Drinking from a fire hose!

2011-11-16T12:43:00.002-06:00

If you have ever wondered what it means look at the times when these events occurred. This is a partial log of COM packets to and from the rig as the program starts.

11/16/2011 12:36:49 PM

TX -> 12:36:49.346 AI0;

TX -> 12:36:49.355 ID;

TX -> 12:36:49.356 FA;

TX -> 12:36:49.356 AG0;

TX -> 12:36:49.356 RG0;

TX -> 12:36:49.356 VX0;

TX -> 12:36:49.356 MX0;

TX -> 12:36:49.356 MD0;

TX -> 12:36:49.356 RA00;

TX -> 12:36:49.356 PA00;

TX -> 12:36:49.356 PC;

TX -> 12:36:49.356 BC00;

TX -> 12:36:49.356 PR0;

TX -> 12:36:49.357 MR001;

TX -> 12:36:49.357 MR002;

TX -> 12:36:49.357 MR003;

TX -> 12:36:49.357 MR004;

TX -> 12:36:49.357 MR005;

TX -> 12:36:49.357 MR125;

TX -> 12:36:49.357 MR126;

TX -> 12:36:49.357 MR127;

TX -> 12:36:49.357 MR128;

TX -> 12:36:49.357 MR129;

TX -> 12:36:49.357 MR130;

TX -> 12:36:49.357 AI1;

RX -> 12:36:49.366 ID0252

RX -> 12:36:49.382 FA07230000

RX -> 12:36:49.383 AG0255

RX -> 12:36:49.385 RG0255

RX -> 12:36:49.396 MD01

RX -> 12:36:49.398 PC255

RX -> 12:36:49.412 MR00103740000+002000100000

RX -> 12:36:49.414 MR00103965000+000000500000

RX -> 12:36:49.428 MR00107191000+000000500000

RX -> 12:36:49.429 MR00107230000+000000500000

RX -> 12:36:49.444 MR00107230000+000000100000

RX -> 12:36:49.444 MR00105332000+001000200000

RX -> 12:36:49.460 MR00105348000+000000200000

RX -> 12:36:49.461 MR00105368000+000000200000

DynDNS Log

2011-11-16T07:39:00.002-06:00

MiniRig for the FT-2000

2011-11-14T07:56:00.000-06:00

Yaesu MiniRig

2011-11-09T21:11:00.001-06:00

Animation v. Animator!

2011-11-09T11:42:00.003-06:00

Animate me!

November 8, 2011 Hike

2011-11-09T07:48:00.002-06:00

ChartFX

2011-11-08T12:57:00.001-06:00

W8ZR Bench

2011-11-07T08:17:00.001-06:00

Game day in Tuscaloosa! Roll Tide!

2011-11-05T10:18:00.001-05:00

Rich, Jim, Coop, and Josh.

Role of the Diplexer

2011-11-01T06:51:00.002-05:00

Starting to return to normal!

2011-10-27T08:24:00.000-05:00

Today is cleaning day!

Well...here it is....

2011-10-26T00:40:00.000-05:00

Morning on the mountain

2011-10-25T07:45:00.000-05:00

I put a little paint on last night. Hope to make a run to the finish
line today. Fall is coming to north Alabama.

Ready for final painting

2011-10-24T21:18:00.000-05:00

Final Trim Work to be Done

2011-10-24T08:17:00.004-05:00

The wall trim needs to be installed here. I have to cut a rabbit

in the wall on the left side to accept the trim board. The second image,

shows how this is done. I will come back later and do the same for the

base cabinets.

Progress on Wall to Wall

2011-10-24T08:07:00.000-05:00

I will do final sanding today and final painting. Will probably install equipment
tomorrow. Need to give final painting a chance to really dry.

Base and Wall Units Installed

2011-10-22T12:54:00.001-05:00

The wall units installed. The shelf units are screwed to the south wall and to each other. Next step is trimming out; caulking and filling; touch up painting; drilling shelf holes; and trimming shelves to length. I cut the shelves about 1/8 too long to allow for a little play as unit goes together.

Access Holes on Wall to Wall

2011-10-20T07:37:00.000-05:00

First Shelf Unit Under Construction

2011-10-18T20:21:00.000-05:00

New Software Project

2011-10-15T21:54:00.005-05:00

You have to keep dreaming.... This is an FT-2000 RC
program currently under development. The intention
is to produce a compact version of FT-2000RC that
does not try to reproduce the totally look and feel of
the rig face but give the user access to all the rigs
functions using a point, click, and slide GUI. I have no
idea if it will every reach final development but it's fun to
think about what it might look like. Comments always
welcome.

Cabinet painted!

2011-10-12T07:57:00.000-05:00

I'll start the drawers this morning. Will probably not finish draws until this weekend. We're off to Nashville tonight and Tuscaloosa tomorrow. Back on the mountain Friday.

FT Payne airport below minimums this morning!

2011-10-12T07:50:00.000-05:00

FT-2000RC New Release

2011-10-11T23:01:00.002-05:00

Survey results are in!

2011-10-11T08:07:00.002-05:00

Ready for assembly!

2011-10-11T07:55:00.000-05:00

Time Lapse Landscapes

2011-10-09T21:22:00.002-05:00

You will need a little bandwidth to see this in full screen with sound. Do make it full screen with sound. It's worth it.

Landscapes: Volume Two from Dustin Farrell on Vimeo.

Painting shelves and walls

2011-10-09T20:29:00.001-05:00

I probably have one more day of painting before assembly begins.

Sunset at the Home QTH

2011-10-07T10:39:00.007-05:00

I was working with pictures today and came across this picture of the tower take some years ago. Still one of my favorites. Look closely between the driven element and the director and you can see a bat getting his fill of Tuscaloosa insects!

The window with the reflected sunset is where the shack is located...looking out onto the garden below.

Progress on the Wall to Wall

2011-10-04T08:33:00.004-05:00

Shelf Units in Process

2011-10-02T20:08:00.001-05:00

Fire in the Sky

2011-10-02T19:19:00.002-05:00

Newly Painted for the Fall Weather!

2011-10-01T08:21:00.001-05:00

ICOM Remote Control App

2011-09-30T13:41:00.004-05:00

For you ICOM users, see the new ICOM remote control app. Screen shot shown below or the PDF. I really like the tight minimalist GUI. Makes me think I need to do one for the Yaesu FT-2000.

DTS-4

2011-09-30T07:18:00.004-05:00

DTS-4 Antenna Switch dialog shown below is a Windows

application I wrote for controlling an LDG DTS-4 antenna

switch. If you would like a copy, my e-mail is good in QRZ.

These screen shots and the previous post show the app

being used to switch DTS-4.

2011-9-30 on the W8JI

2011-09-30T07:05:00.001-05:00

Remote antenna switching with DTS-4 and Remote Desktop.

2011-09-30

2011-09-30T06:58:00.000-05:00

Center Shelf

2011-09-27T08:06:00.002-05:00

Cottage Update

2011-09-27T07:47:00.002-05:00

Power Transfer Switch
3,000 Watt Generator for Emergency Power

Load Measure

Valley View from the Mountain

1st day draws to a close....

2011-09-23T21:33:00.002-05:00

The last slide in the sequence show tomorrow challenge. Picking up power will be easy. The register will take a little longer. I'll build a small chase to turn the air and vent it under the front kick plate of the cabinet.

Cottage Wall to Wall Bookshelf

2011-09-23T17:58:00.001-05:00

More functional than fancy but I think it will be a nice addition to The Cottage. I can't say enough good things about Google Sketchup. I encourage all you woodworkers and Saturday afternoon architects to take a close look at what it has to offer. And yes, it's free!

Evening on the Mountain

2011-09-22T07:40:00.000-05:00

Builtin for South Wall

2011-09-21T23:35:00.000-05:00

A little history thanks to Phil....

2011-09-20T19:47:00.004-05:00

Can you believe it? They don't mention remote ops!

Where does your candidate stand?

2011-09-19T20:33:00.007-05:00

This morning, the President proposed the "Buffett Rule," which would require those earning more than $1 million a year to pay the same share of their income in taxes as middle-class families do.

This proposal makes sure millionaires and billionaires share the responsibility for reducing the deficit. It would correct, for example, the fact that Warren Buffett's secretary currently pays taxes at a higher rate than he does.

The other side is already saying it's "class warfare" -- that's their rhetorical smokescreen for providing millionaires and billionaires special treatment.

As the President said this morning, "This is not class warfare -- it's math."

The wealthiest Americans don't need further tax cuts and in many cases aren't even asking for them. Requiring that they pay their fair share is the only practical way forward. The Republican alternative is to drastically slash education, gut Medicare, let roads and bridges crumble, and privatize Social Security. That's not the America we believe in -- but many in the Republican leadership actually prefer those policies, which explains their refusal to act.

That's why they'll say "tax increase" over and over again, trying to muddy the waters and trick ordinary Americans into thinking the Buffett Rule will hurt them. And if we don't speak out right now, they just might get away with it.

Of course, the Buffett Rule won't really touch most Americans--only 0.3% of households will even be affected.

And without it, the only way to reduce our debt is to savage the programs that seniors and middle-class families rely on.

That's exactly what the President refuses to do -- in fact, he's said he'll veto any bill that changes benefits for folks who rely on Medicare but doesn't raise serious revenue by asking the wealthiest Americans or biggest corporations to pay their fair share.

This isn't just a commonsense approach to cutting the deficit -- it's the only way to make sure we can provide security to people who work hard and play by the rules.

Born Again American from Born Again American on Vimeo.

So, where does your candidate stand?

Monday, 2011-09-19

2011-09-19T08:51:00.003-05:00

New Palstar Tuner

2011-09-18T08:46:00.004-05:00

W4EA: One very cool shack!

2011-09-17T23:43:00.005-05:00

American Politics at Its Finest!

2011-09-16T21:20:00.008-05:00

Your caption would read?

Mouse without Borders

2011-09-15T08:52:00.002-05:00

Mouse without Borders is a great app!

Google "Mouse without Border" for full details.

Susie's desk is finished!

2011-09-13T08:07:00.001-05:00

I'll deliver Susie's desk today.

W8JI western end height above ground...

2011-09-12T07:14:00.001-05:00

20m Open to Europe

2011-09-11T15:38:00.001-05:00

Big opening to Europe today...all modes.

New W8JI Western Support Weight

2011-09-11T14:49:00.000-05:00