Direct link to video.

Perhaps you would enjoy Mike’s blog too.

We’re talking a 2.5 watt AM carrier/8 watt peak on a board that measures 3.5″ x 5.27″.

It’s supplied with a 3885 kHz transmit crystal, although a number of other crystal frequencies are available from both US and European suppliers.

It’s receiver is tunable over a range of 45-50 kHz, and both receiver and transmitter functions contain ALC circuitry to maintain decent audio quality.

$65 in the US and Canada and $70 everywhere else. Get ‘em while they’re hot!

The Teachers Institute on Wireless Technology (TI) is a week long, in-residence learning opportunity designed for motivated teachers and other school staff who want to learn more about wireless technology and bring that knowledge to their students. A variety of topics are covered during the 4 days of the TI including basic wireless technology literacy, electronics, and the science of radio; bringing space into the classroom; ham radio operation; introduction to micro controllers; and basic robotics.

Education Services Manager Debra Johnson, K1DMJ writes:

We are currently accepting enrollments for the 2010 sessions of the Teachers Institute on Wireless Technology. Word of mouth has often been our best recruiting method so we invite the ham radio community to recruit teachers in their local schools who would find this opportunity interesting and rewarding.

The Teachers Institute is an exceptional professional development opportunity for teachers who want to explore the fundamentals of wireless technology, basic electronics, robotics and use amateur radio as a tool for learning in the classroom. The four day expenses paid seminar is funded by ARRL Education & Technology Fund donors. Teachers can also apply for graduate credit for the seminar.

The schedule of dates and locations for this year’s sessions, as well as an agenda of topics, a downloadable brochure and applications are available on our website. If you would like to request copies of the printed brochure, please contact the Education Services Department.

Sounds like an amazingly useful grassroots program … how did I miss it? How did you?

Besides, I don’t know about you, but I rarely ever read a book more than once and books take up space. Buying a book, reading it, and then storing it for the rest of my life seemed a fairly inefficient use of the space in my home.

Now, in my head, the concept of electronic book publishing seems like it would be a dream for publishers too. They require no printing or assembly, and no storage or shipping. Surely if I buy a hardback book from Borders for $29.99 then at least half that cost, and probably more, has to be in the printing, assembly and physical distribution to thousands of bookstores.

Or so one might think.

With the Kindle the only real game in the e-book world, Amazon had a strong bargaining position with the publishers who either played ball on price or didn’t publish for this new medium. But the introduction of the iPad has messed that up and now we’re seeing e-book prices escalating from the once common $9.99 per title to $14.99 and higher.

Gee, thanks Apple!

All of this got me thinking a bit more about the e-book business and suddenly, it doesn’t look so good to me anymore.

Here’s one example of how it’s been working for me since the advent of the Kindle…

I’m a Clive Cussler fan and read everything he writes. When one of his new releases hits the market it generally retails for $29.99 at most brick and mortar bookstores. Amazon will offer that same title for $21.99 plus shipping. The electronic Kindle edition costs $9.99.

But there’s a stiff penalty for buying that book as soon as it’s released. If you wait nine months, that same hardback book that retailed for $29.99 will be selling for $5.99 in the bargain bin at any decent bookstore. That’s almost half the cost of the electronic version – and the electronic version price is never discounted below $9.99.

So if you discover a book that you want that’s been out for awhile, the best price will undoubtedly be in the bargain bin.

And consider this … when you buy an electronic version, you’re only buying the right to read that book on a specific device. You can’t sell it in a garage sale a year later because you don’t have that right. If you decide to sell your Kindle you can’t legally sell your purchased e-book collection along with it. And if you decide you don’t like your Kindle anymore and you get rid of it, you lose everything in your digital collection.

It would seem that these problems will only be perpetuated with new devices like the iPad and others who are actually a little late to the e-book party. Each will be an isolated little island where whatever you purchase will only be usable on that little island.

(Interestingly enough, the Kindle software is currently available on the iPhone which means it should also be available on the iPad. But given Apple’s draconian App Store history who wants to bet that as soon as they get their iBooks Store up and running they won’t banish the Kindle software claiming it’s a duplication of their own effort?)

Suddenly, physical books don’t seem quite so archaic.

And considering that part about me usually only reading a book one time, I started to think that maybe we ought to come up with a service that lets us all share the books that we’ve already read with each other.

And then it dawned on me that we’ve had that for a long, long time and it works quite well.

It’s called a public library.

The iTelegraph kit allows you to send Morse code over the Internet to other iTelegraphs and you can even use an antique key and sounder with this kit.

It uses an Ethernet module and microcontroller to connect to the receiving iTelegraph, creating a virtual "main line."

A computer is not needed, allowing you to create a stand-alone telegraph interface. You can enter the remote IP address as well as configure the device using the intuitive LCD and button interface.

Imagine, you can pound brass for as long as you like without the band suddenly going south and leaving you wanting more. If you’ve got an Internet connection and a little gumption, you can spend the next century pounding brass to your hearts content…

Direct link to YouTube video.

In this flyover of Egypt, two pyramids are clearly visible.

If someone comes to your door claiming to be a census worker, ask to see a photo ID and a badge that shows that the person represents the U.S. Census Bureau. The worker will also have a hand-held device that is used to take your information, a canvas census bag and a confidentiality notice.

Census workers will not ask for your Social Security number or for information about your bank accounts or credit cards. The Better Business Bureau advises you not to invite the worker, or anyone you don’t know, into your home. To protect against identity theft, the BBB also warns you never to give out personal or financial information to anyone who shows up at your door.

For more tips, go to the Better Business Bureau website.