| |
GB7LDI > DATA 09.03.03 10:22l 91 Lines 5246 Bytes #999 (0) @ WW
BID : DNL1141
Read: DB0FHN GUEST OE7FMI
Subj: Jim's Gazette
Path: DB0FHN<DB0RGB<OK0PPL<RZ6HXA<IK1ZNW<GB7CRV<GB7CIP<GB7COV<GB7YFS<GB7HOL<
GB7TDG<GB7VLS<GB7LDI
Sent: 030307/0707Z @:GB7LDI.#35.GBR.EU #:56430 [Swardeston] FBB7.00g25 $:DNL114
From: GB7LDI@GB7LDI.#35.GBR.EU
To : DATA@WW
Jim's GAZETTE
Newsletter #141
5 March 2003
Please feel free to forward this newsletter to any and all interested parties, or to reproduce it in any
publication. All we ask is that you give credit where it is due.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
SHORT NOTES: ThereÕs the Merry Month of May, and April Showers and then there is the
mystery, history and misery of March. ThatÕs my month. Yes, the 31 days before spring really
arrives, 31 days when it still may and often does snow up north, the month when tourists arrive and
clog the streets of what is now my hometown, March represents my claim to the calendar. I share
the Ides of March with a famous Roman, whose name I canÕt recall, but with whom I am perfectly
willing to share so long as that guy Brutus stays away from my door. During my first 77 years, 11
months and 21 days, he has yet to appear, so I assume my 78th birthday will create waves only
among those four old friends who will sup with Gen and me at GallacciÕs, our favorite Italian
restaurant. They may bring no gifts, nor may you send any other than the suggested offering
outlined below.
My favorite and most anticipated gift might or might not appear during the month or on the Ides. In
a word, I would like PROPAGATION for my birthday. It doesnÕt even have to be gift-wrapped!
Just send my way enough of a signal boost to pick up two more decent new DX contacts so I might
have 125 PSK31 countries by my magic date. It is but a small request! Hi
I must add that, even at 78, I am often the younger of the two stations in QSO. Even as I type this I
peeked at the laptop screen and notice the 80 year-old typing away at about 40 or so words per
minute. PSK seems to attract the set that perceives ham radio as a chat mode, not a series of macros
. . . and often, even quite frequently, the experienced citizens of our hobby seem to be a major share
of those who pound the keyboard in search of new friends and countries on this great new mode.
>>>>
There have been no battles of note on the reflectors this past ten days or so. This may stem from a
state of exhaustion on the part of the contest crowd, or it may be the disease some call Spring Fever,
the disease with special impact on the young and eager types who populate the frequencies only
when there is some kind of special activity. If not Spring Fever, it may be some new form of
exhaustion arising from the tiring headlines that batter us throughout the day and night. My
optimistic view suggests that there might be a solution at hand, but it may be difficult to uncover.
WeÕve read the endless professional (read heavy-duty contesters) criticism of those poor,
uneducated riff-raffians who donÕt know how to create and execute a very, very short contest
exchange. Equal electronic tonnage has been devoted to similar attacks on QSL managers, rising
postal rates, the awful performance of those DXpedition folks who spend their own money and time
to give us new DX. And even more, yet again, to the awesome subject of SO2R and the operatorÕs
innocence or guilt, their unbeatable edge and so forth.
ItÕs too easy to get the feeling this time of year that there is nothing great and wonderful left in this
hobby of ours. How easy it is to get swept away with the negativism, the self-centered interests, the
carping, the finger pointing. But, donÕt fall for it. Step back and think about the fellowship we
enjoy, whether at Dayton or the smallest hamfest in the world, or at breakfast on a Saturday
morning with a bunch of cronies. Remember the emergency services rendered by those hams who
have a different kind of interest in our limitless hobby, and the tons of health and welfare traffic for
the thousands of soldiers and sailors away from home, the Winlinks provided those who sail the
seven seas. Consider the efforts of people like the software gurus who labor endlessly to give us
phenomenal and free software so that we might venture into new and unexplored modes and
spectrum. And donÕt forget those who devote their time to helping others discover and participate in
what is arguably the best hobby around. But, most of all, donÕt let their attitudes take from you the
thrill of the chase, the marvel of the DX contact, the pleasure of meeting new and interesting people
around the world, the discovery of friends you didnÕt know existed before you became part of the
amateur community.
Let us enjoy the freedom, our lack of boundaries, our endless opportunities . . . and stress the
positives and the marvelous facets of the RF gift that is ours to use and nurture.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Some real short notes: Don AA5AU has taken over and revamped the RTTY site. Go to
http://www.rttycontesting.com/ and benefit from all of his effort.
Look for a lot of OY activity. All modes, all bands. IÕve got to get this one! TheyÕll fill the airwaves
From March 24 to April 3. So, be there.
DaytonÕs date is closer and closer and closer. Go to www.rttyjournal.com/dayton, register and be done
with it!
And, that dear reader is all I have time for in this busy, busy week.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
73 de Jim N2HOS
jem@n2hos.com
GAZETTE at
www.n2hos.com/digital
Read previous mail | Read next mail
| |
