International short wave stations...

Still many broadcasting to many (developing) parts of the world. In dozens of languages. The cutbacks, with the internet, seem greatest in Europe and North Merka. But the (FINALLY) rising sun spot cycle index, making for improvements in reception and transmission, is improving things everywhere.
This morning, after a few chats on the ham frequencies, I switched from SSB to AM, and cruised on up to 49 meters. Radio Marti, Havana, Beijing, others, and the usual God squaders, were coming in strong. On a lark, I sauntered up to the higher reaches of the band, usually not very active. Only to find radio Japan, NHK, booming in with news, etc, in Portuguese! Sure, it had a bit of the Brazilian dialect, after all, it was there that the antenna engineers focused their signals. But what a treat for a Gnome struggling with this tongue, so close to Spanish, yet sometimes, so far away.
As I've blogged, listening to these programs can often be just listening to propaganda, on many sides. Yet often, from what's said, it is possible to ferret out a good deal that;s not only likely valid, but inportant, for effective world citizenship.
Used to be that it was necessary to spend large on radio receivers to add this to our knowledge base But those thousands who read my rants, know, what a cheap bastard I am. Just ordered a great AM, FM, SW receiver---with an MPV card reading decent music and voice recorder, for USD 17, delivered, direct from the one party stat of the PRC. Reviews say its terrific, but I'll blog if it's the usual Chinese cheap consumer trash. Pressing my thumbs.
Keep it valid, folks, and if critical, and even a tad bit acerbic, try to do so only as to obvious signs of lower class.