"Rip" wrote in message:

Hey, thanks for the kudos! (I'll take anything I can get). I just (as in
2 weeks ago) quit my job with Hewlett Packard/Agilent, where I was a
Senior RF/Microwave engineer.

Wow! So - you must be *really* weird by now??! 8-).....

snip

Decades ago RF design was slide rules and Smith charts, but it
has devolved to "plug and play" modules that any EE can make sing
together.

Those days are coming back. All the semiconductor makers are
obsoleting those "plug and play" modules so it's back to buckets of
discrete components if you really want to build something (and can't
afford custom silicon). Hmmmm.....I predict a lucrative second
career for you as a consultant if you want to stay in the game 8-)

The day of the 10 picofarad calibrated wet finger is
dead,(your finger may vary) or at least on it's last legs.

I always thought I could make a fortune if I could come up with a
solid state "finger simulator" - you know - something you clip on to
the rabbit ears so the family doesn't have to argue about who gets to
stand beside the TV and hold the damn things...8-) Everyone would
want one!!! Then along comes cable... sigh...

Bill