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FOUR SEASONS BREEZE | OCTOBER 2025 49 Our Book Club selection for Oct. 14 is e Humans by Matt Haig. Here is a brief description from Amazon.com: "When an extra-terrestrial visitor arrives on Earth, his first impressions of the human species are less than positive. Taking the form of Professor Andrew Martin, a prominent mathematician at Cambridge University, the visitor is eager to complete the gruesome task assigned to him and hurry home to his own utopian planet, where everyone is omniscient and immortal. He is disgusted by the way humans look, what they eat, their capacity for murder and war, and is equally baff led by the concepts of love and family. But as time goes on, he starts to realize there may be more to this strange species than he had thought. Disguised as Martin, he drinks wine, reads poetry, develops an ear for rock music, and a taste for peanut butter. Slowly, unexpectedly, he forges bonds with Martin's family. He begins to see hope and beauty in the humans' imperfection and begins to question the very mission that brought him there." Our meetings are held on the second Tuesday of each month at 9:30 am in the RCN, Activity Room #3. All our book selections are recommended by book club members. Someone volunteers to lead the discussion about the book we have chosen for the month. For more information about the Four Seasons Book Club or to get your name on our mailing list, please contact me at michelesrosen@gmail.com. ~ Micki Rosen Book Club Ham radio's origins stem from early wireless communication experiments conducted by figures like Marconi and Tesla. It evolved from a hobby into a formal system by the early 20th century. The term "ham" was ironically adopted from its derogatory use by professional telegraph operators. In 1927, the U.S. government established regulations and assigned specific frequencies for amateur radio operators, creating the official "ham radio" bands. Hams serve as vital communication links during natural disasters or emergencies when traditional power grids and communication systems fail, often acting as a lifeline for communities. Operators contribute to the development of new wireless technologies and experiment with various forms of radio communication — from bouncing signals off the moon to communicating with the international space station. This hobby allows people worldwide to connect, build friendships, and engage socially with like-minded individuals. Additionally, ham radio operators support local events like parades and marathons by providing reliable communication for coordination. The technology promotes global connectivity, fostering cultural exchange and understanding between operators in different countries. Ham radio is used by a diverse range of individuals, including emergency responders, hobbyists, technologists, and public service volunteers, all sharing an interest in radio communication and experimentation. Users can be of any age or background, including students and professionals, and they often use ham radio for non- commercial purposes like disaster communication, international conversations, and self-training in electronics. Our club welcomes anyone interested in radio communication and technology, especially those willing to use these tools to assist other residents of our community in times of need. We hold weekly informational nets (on-the-air meetings) each Wednesday at 5:30 pm on frequency 145.645 Mhz. Four Seasons residents are encouraged to check into these nets after the regular roll call as visitors. Our monthly in-person meetings are held on the last Friday of each month at 10 am in RCN Activity Room #3. The next meeting is Friday, Oct. 31. Please note: Due to Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays, our meetings on Nov. 28 and Dec. 26 will not be held. Everyone is welcome to join us, learn about what we do, and consider becoming a member. Please visit our website at www. w6fsb.org. ~ Henry ciesielski, hwciesielski@yahoo.com Amateur Radio Guglielmo Marconi Portable Ham Radio Setup

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