Weeknotes Week 30 2023: July 23-29

• The summer heat was a bit oppressive at the start of the week only to taper off and be tolerably hot toward the end of the week.
• I had a jury summons notice for July 24th, and didn't check the website till later that morning. I could have already been in trouble, but luckily my group was not called. Fully expected to check every day for 10 business days. Each day I checked, my group was not called. On Friday it said my group was dismissed, thanks for being available. I am free from jury duty for at least another 18 months.
• On July 24th, I got the final piece to my "radio manpack" using my first ever HF ham radio, the Yaesu FT-857D. The last piece in question is a Digirig external USB sound interface that hooks directly into the radio and enables all manner of digital modes of communication via laptop computer. Completing the pack, I used an Armoloq TPA-857B frame on the mobile radio for protection, a TTP limited edition 857 Manpack, and used my self-built DenCo 11Ah QRO battery. See more on my tweet here.

• A lot of meetings this week at work. Projects are moving along. After a rigorous interview panel two weeks ago, this week I got to tell an engineer that he was promoted to Senior Engineer, which was nice since I was his original hiring manager when he first joined as an intern several years ago.
• Finally started up my podcast Hamdom Thoughts again with an international guest interview on Friday. The episode releases this coming Wednesday morning, kicking off what I call the start of Season 2.
• I edited and re-edited the video of the fights of my classmates from G-Elite Martial Arts. The matches can be seen below on my martial arts YouTube channel: