Mattes's Musings by KC2GIK

Ok if you didn' t read last year's post regarding the Amateur Radio Field day go back and take a peek ! Even though this wasn't my first Field Day, it certainly was the best because not only did I use my own radio, I got to actually stay up during the entire event instead of going home when the bands just starting to heat up. Over the past year I became real close friends with the 10-70's VP, Isaac,NJ3C, he's gotten me to the meetings this year ands has really helped me setup my base station right, though I'm STILL not finished! Anyway Isaac,NJ3C, knew this year he was going to try to get me to stay overnight, it's not like we sleep that much anyway!! So anyway I had my radio and arranged for a laptop, "borrowed" a table that was in the lodge and patiently waited as Paul,KC2CJW, built my station. Paul and Issac had an unspoken deal, Isaac would get me up there, and Paul would set me up. Well after a handful of tying different laptops to see if they...

By now you have heard that during a rally in  Texas Representative Jasmine Crockett decided to take a swipe at  Governor Gregg Abbott's immigration policy. During her speech, or rant depending on your views, Crockett seemed to take a jab at Abbott, who uses a manual wheelchair, "Governor Hot Wheels".  After a few comments from people, Crockett realized her mistake, but didn't apologize.  Of course the first reaction from the right was she made fun of someone in a wheelchair, and the left's defense was to trot out the time President  Trump made fun of a reporter with a disability. There was another time where Trump order a wheelchair user removed because he refused to move when he was told he was blocking a fire exit. These two instances caused real backlash,  and in my opinion  people swooped in to defend   both people. nb  They were made into saints overnight. It's soo predictable it's sad Governor Greg Abbott didn't have that luxury! Y...

Once again I have coverted a Facebook post into a blog entry. There have been mixed reactions about President Trump shutting down the Department of Education. My only fear is what will happen to IDEA (Individuals with Disabilities Education Act). W e will see what  happens   Here I am listening to all the noise about the future education in this country. I've heard parents, from those who fully endorse the public education to ones who home school. I;ve heard from teachers who of course hate the idea to students who have excelled in carter schools. Now you're going to hear from ME, a former student who survived special education, was fully mainstreamed, but lacked to confidence to continue to college. You've heard stories how I had great high school experiences, which I did, but the previous eight years before high school were pure hell. I went to a pub lic school that never recognized I had a brain. My mother fought them tooth and nail for them to provide me basic services...

 This came in the mail in early Feburary of last year, it's my new membership card signifying I paid my 2024 dues to the Automobile License Plate  Association. It's especially special because it means I have been withALPCA for 30-years, I joined in 1994 when I was 16. Well I didn't "join" I received it as a Christmas gifit from my parents, but my license plate collecting story starts a full year earlier. I decided to end my 30th year in ALPCA by writing a little about how I started and then highlighting some of  entries I have written  When I was around 14 I started to pay attention to the different licenses platess on cars. First it was antique cars that in NJ had the letters"QQ" either at the beginning or the end of the license plate. Then I looked at police cars and firetrucks had "MG" and some had "CG". I later found out later in New Jersey "MG" stood for "Municipal Government", "CG" stood for "C...

 WELL here we are folks one quarter of the way into this century!! I have been thinking about writing this email since the beginning of December but of course I am a month late. I am happy to report the Mattes Family is healthy!  Chirs, Natalie, Zander and Quinn are busy as ever! Zander is now a sophomore and studying for his written test to get his driving permit! I half to double check that fact because it's so hard to believe. Quinn is doing well in eighth grade and is on a travelling soccer team which plays in tournaments all over the country. She has one coming up in Florida in  February that dad and I are thinking about going down for a few days to watch her. They BOTH are getting as tall as their uncle Jay which is very hard for him to accept! The family adopted three kittens which as a dog person even I admit they are cute!! We spent Christmas with them and got  to see the new Bob Dylan movie, partly filmed right here in Cape May. Unfortunately, I didn't get ...

          The drones flying over Northern NJ reminds everyone about the Chinese spy balloons that flew over the country during the Trump and Biden administrations. Americans already had enough of the Chinese government after the entire Corona virus debacle. We're still waiting for the WHO to stop covering for China and admit the virus started in a C hinese lab. Then the spy ballons started. It was later revealed the Chinese were flying spy ballons sooner than the government admitted. Of course the Democrats were quick to point out that the spy ballons started under President Trump. Given the relationship between the federal government and the former president I wouldn't be surprised if President Trump wasn't given the complete picture on purpose. The conspiracy theories spread and soon after came the finger pointing. Everybody under the sun promised investigations into the ballons, but like most government investigations it disappeared from the news cycle...