Issue 104 — JANUARY 2002
Monthly Newsletter of the Southern Oregon Amateur Radio Club
SOARC, P.O. BOX 1164, GRANTS PASS, OREGON 97528
VISIT THE SOARC WEBSITE AT: http://www.qsl.net/soar/SOARC/
EDITOR: MIKE WRIGHT, N7GEI, 432 GRANDVIEW AVE., G. P., OR 97527
PHONE: 541-471-0440 E-MAIL:
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The President's Corner
OK, here we go! Another year is already rolling. I have been working a lot of CW. I hope you have been having fun inside. We should have a fun time with our club this year! I look forward to seeing you there!
73, Jim, WA6OTP
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2001 SOARC Officers and Board
| President: Jim McNutt, WA6OTP, 479-5630 |
Vice President: Bill Tyner, WX7U, 476-2703 |
| Secretary: Sean Smithers, N7ZWU, 476-7964 |
Treasurer: Ann Randall, KB7TGO 476-2456 |
| Board of Directors: | |
| Mike Wright, N7GEI, 471-0440 |
Anita Malmstrom, KC7MGH, 476-2339 |
| Elmer Seutter, W6IGK, 955-5240 |
Bill Leiken, KC7IXX, 846-7682 |
| Gary Ingram, KB7FCI, 474-7974 |
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Welcome From Your Editor
A new year, a new (recycled) lineup of officers and board members, a new war against terrorism, new eyes with which to view a much different world than we knew, and a new world to see. So much has changed, yet so much is still the same. Three months ago, our congress was united in grief and resolve to right the great wrong that had befallen us. Now, it's back to partisan politics and nothing substantive is being passed. Hundreds of millions collected for the 9-11 victims' families; now class action suits from the families of victims of prior terrorist attacks who received little of no compensation. What about the families of the Oklahoma City bombing victims? What about the families of our servicemen who are deliberately put in harm's way in the fight against terrorism? What, if anything, does this country actually owe the survivors? If we give to one, shouldn't we give to all? Regardless of how you feel, do you think anyone will ever really do anything to resolve this matter, or just sweep it under the rug? We're back to the status quo.
If you have anything to submit for publication in the Gnus, see the contact information below the masthead.
73, Mike, N7GEI
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NEXT CLUB MEETING
TUESDAY, 15 JANUARY
1900
SENIOR CENTER
3RD & B STREETS
GRANTS PASS
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Coming Attractions
Tuesday's meeting will feature the election of officers and board members. The current slate of officials has agreed to run again, with the exception of Board Member Gary Ingram. Warren Olney, KB7EKF, is seeking Gary's spot on the board. Nominations from the floor will be accepted before the elections are conducted.
Next month's meeting will feature a presentation about the local 911 emergency communications system.
As usual, we invite all amateurs to bring in their latest projects and tell us all about them.
73, Bill Tyner, WX7U
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Calling All Ladies
Western Belles is a women's ham radio chat group that meets at 7:30 PM on the 1st and 3rd Thursdays of every month on the 147.300 repeater. Please check in!
The ladies get together regularly for lunch and all female hams are invited to attend. At the next luncheon we will be celebrating our 2nd anniversary at 11:30 on Saturday, February 2nd, at the Black Forest Restaurant in the Grants Pass Shopping Center, 820 NE E St. Our husbands will be invited to help us celebrate.
73, Wilma, W1LMA, and Anita, KC7MGH
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2002 VE Exams
Here are the dates for SOARC-sponsored ARRL VE license exams for 2002. This is how they appear on the KK1A website that Karl issues bi-monthly. Walk-ins are welcome.
February 22
May 31
August 30
November 29
Come by and test your code speed. SOARC still offers code speed certification tests rewarded by a very attractive certificate to attest to your Morse prowess.
73, Bill Tyner, WX7U
VE Liaison
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It's Great To Be A Man!
Your last name stays put.
The garage is all yours.
Wedding plans take care of themselves.
Chocolate is just another snack.
You can be president.
You can wear a white T-shirt to a water park.
Car mechanics tell you the truth.
You don't give a rat's ass if someone notices your new haircut.
The world is your urinal.
You never have to drive to another gas station because this one's just too icky.
Same work...more pay.
Wrinkles add character.
Wedding dress $5000; tux rental $100.
People never stare at your chest when you're talking to them.
The occasional well-rendered belch is practically expected.
New shoes don't cut, blister, or mangle your feet.
ONE mood, ALL the damn time.
Phone conversations are over in 30 seconds flat.
You know stuff about tanks.
A five-day vacation requires only one suitcase.
You can open all your own jars.
Dry cleaners and hair stylists don't rob you blind.
You can kill your own food.
You get extra credit for the slightest act of thoughtfulness.
If someone forgets to invite you to something, he or she can still be your friend.
Your underwear is $8.95 for a three-pack.
If you are 34 and single, nobody notices.
You can quietly enjoy a car ride from the passenger's seat.
Three pairs of shoes are more than enough.
You don't have to clean your house if the maid is coming.
You can quietly watch a game with a buddy for hours without thinking "He must be mad at me".
You don't mooch off other's desserts.
You can drop by to see a friend without having to bring a little gift.
You are not expected to know the names of more than five colors.
You don't have to stop and think of which way to turn a nut on a bolt.
You almost never have strap problems in public.
You are unable to see wrinkles in your clothes.
The same hairstyle lasts for years, maybe decades.
You don't have to shave below your neck.
Your belly usually hides your big hips.
One wallet and one pair of shoes, one color, all seasons.
You can do your nails with a pocketknife.
You have freedom of choice concerning growing a mustache.
You can do Christmas shopping for 25 relatives, on December 24th, in 45 minutes.
Damn, It's Great to Be a Man!
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Take A Number: FRN Now Mandatory
Anyone filing an Amateur Radio application now will be asked to supply a 10-digit FCC Registration Number (FRN) issued by the FCC's new Commission Registration System, or CORES. The requirement applies to FCC applications filed on-line or on paper. The FCC also has supplanted Universal Licensing System (ULS) registration with "CORES/Call Sign" registration, so applicants no longer need to register separately in both systems.
Most, if not all, hams who registered previously with the ULS already have an FRN, although they may not know it yet. The FCC just completed another cross-registration to include those already on the ULS books within the CORES "entity registration" database, and another is scheduled. Amateurs can learn their FRNs by doing a license search on the FCC's Universal Licensing System page http://wireless.fcc.gov/uls/ FRNs also are displayed via the ARRL call sign server on ARRLWeb http://www.arrl.org/.
The FCC has updated its ULS page http://wireless.fcc.gov/uls/ to reflect the new reality and to make the page a bit less confusing. Amateurs not yet registered in CORES who click "CORES/Call Sign" registration will be redirected to the CORES site to complete that process. Amateurs who click "Online Filing" are advised to proceed to CORES to register if they do not already have an FRN, then return to ULS for filing.
Those filing on-line applications now are asked to supply either an FRN or a Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN--a Social Security Number for an individual) plus a password, typically the same for both CORES and ULS.
The process is a bit more daunting for new club station applicants, who now will be asked to register in CORES as business entities. Such applicants also may file with a Club Station Call Sign Administrator using Form NCVEC 605 and simply leave the FRN field blank. ARRL VEC Manager Bart Jahnke, W9JJ, says that in those cases, the Club Station Call Sign Administrator (CSCSA), such as ARRL, will register the club station entity in CORES on the applicant's behalf.
The FCC also now only accepts FCC Form 159 (Remittance Advice) dated February 2000 or later, which requires providing an FRN. A copy of the acceptable version is available on the FCC Web site http://www.fcc.gov/fees. At the left side of the page, click on "Form 159".
For more information about the Commission Registration System or on obtaining an FRN, contact the CORES Help Desk, 877-480-3201, cores@fcc.gov.
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Just another kind of code! (Adult Material?)
As I listened to a PBS program on internet acronyms it occured to me that these "acronyms" are simply another kind of updated morse code. Kids are using them to talk in "code" on their cell phones. A great deal of study is needed to master this internet shorthand, just like code. The similarities continue as you compare them. Here are some that I've copied off of a site that seemed "most interesting" to me. For the full list go to this site:
http://bovis.gyuvet.ch/3dict/390ainet.htm
WX7U
AMF - Adios My Friend; (I left out the real meaning) AWGTHTGTTA - Are We Going To Have To Go Through This/That Again AWHFY - Are We Having Fun Yet BAD - Broken As Designed BBB - Busy Beyond Belief BBR - Burnt Beyond Repair BC - Basket Case <BEG> - Big Evil Grin BFD - (do I have to print this?) BFMI - Brute Force and Massive Ignorance BMHATK - Banging My Head Against The Keyboard BMTIPG - Brilliant Minds Think In Parallel Gutters BOHICA - Bend Over Here It Comes Again BOS - Big Orange Switch BS - (you don't know this one?) BSEG - (or this one?) BTDTGTTS - Been There Done That Got The T-Shirt BTSOOM - Beats The Sh*t Out Of Me BTW - By The Way BYKTA - But You Know/Knew That Already CPF - Can Pigs Fly CYA - Cover Your A*se D&W - Ducking And Weaving DILLIGAFF - Does It Look Like I Give A Flying (?) DNPM - Darn Near P*ssed Myself DTTAH - Don't Try This At Home ESOSL - Endless Snorts Of Stupid Laughter FDROTFL - Falling Down Rolling On The Floor Laughing FIGMO - (blank) It Got My Orders FISH - First In Still Here FITB - Fill In The Blank FSD - Fools Seldom Differ FTASB - Faster Than A Speeding Bullet FUBAR - (blanked) Up Beyond All Repair/Recognition FUD - Fear Uncertainty And Doubt FWIW - For What It's Worth GAL - Get A Life GGP - Gotta Go Pee HHOK - Ha Ha Only Kidding HOYER - Hanging On Your Every Word IANAC - I Am Not A Crook ICBW - I Could Be Wrong, But ICCL - I Couldn't Care Less ILIWAPCT - I Love It When A Plan Comes Together IMCDO - In My Conceited Dogmatic Opinion IMMOR - I Make My Own Rules (goes nicely with IMCDO) IRL - In Real Life IUTKATS - I Used To Know All That Stuff KISS - Keep It Simple Stupid KWIM - Know What I Mean LAB&TYMO - Life's A Bitch And Then You (finish AWYL) LLTA - Lots and Lots of Thunderous Applause LMAOROTF - Laughing My A*se Off Rolling On The Floor LSFIAB - Like Shooting Fish In A Barrel LSHIPMP - Laughing So Hard I Peed My Pants MCIBTY - My Computer Is Better Than Yours MHBFY - My Heart Bleeds For You MIPS - Meaningless Information Per Second MSCEA - My Southern Comfort's Empty Again MYOB - Mind Your Own Business NAVY - Never Again Volunteer Yourself NBL - Not Bloody Likely NIDWTC - No I Don't Want To Chat NIMBY - Not In My Back Yard NPLU - Not People Like Us NSS - No Sh*t Sherlock NTIBOA - Not That I'm Bitter Or Anything OTL - Out To Lunch OTOH - On The Other Hand PABG - Pack A Big Gun PhD - Piled Higher and Deeper PITA - Pain In The A*se PO - Piss Off POM - Phase Of the Moon PTMM - Please Tell Me More PW - Pathetic Wanker RHIP - Rank Hath Its Privileges ROFFNAR - Rolling On the Floor For No Apparent Reason ROTFLAS - Rolling On The Floor Laughing And Snorting RTFM - Read The (BLANKING) Manual SAPFU - Surpassing All Previous (Blank) Ups SAR - Smart A*se Remark SHTSI - Somebody Had To Say It SNAFU - Situation Normal All (Blanked) Up SNERT - Snot-Nosed Egotistical Rude Teenager SSDD - Same Sh*t Different Day SUNOILTY - Shut Up No One Is Listening To You SWMBO - She Who Must Be Obeyed SWYP - So What's Your Problem
TJATAW - Truth Justice And The American Way TNTL - Trying Not To Laugh TPS(S) - This Program Sucks (Severely) TPTB - The Powers That Be TRDMC - Tears Running Down My Cheeks TS - Tough Sh*t TTSP - This Too Shall Pass TWIAVBP - The World Is A Very Big Place WAEF - When All Else Fails WALOC - What A Load Of Crap WCAGA - What Comes Around Goes Around WDYMBT - What Do You Mean By That WFM - Works For Me WTF - What The (Blank) WTTRW - Welcome To The Real World WYSIWYG - What You See Is What You Get YABA - Yet Another Bloody Acronym YGGM - Your Guess is as Good as Mine YGTBK - You've Got To Be Kidding YWSYLS - You Win Some You Lose Some ZAC - Z's Are Calling (time for bed)
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Spark Gap Signal Heard For Hundreds Of Miles
David Wilson, VE3BBN, reports his commemorative spark gap transmissions on December 12 to celebrate the 100th anniversary of Marconi's 1901 transatlantic experiments were heard hundreds of miles away. Wilson, who lives near Niagara Falls, Ontario, built a low-power rotary spark transmitter and secured permission from Industry Canada (that country's FCC equivalent) to use it briefly on 80 meters. He transmitted "MARCONI S" twice a minute and said he got more than 450 reports, but estimated that only about 60 of them were valid. "The best distance was Kansas City," he said--some 850 miles away. He noted that the majority of the reports were in the 200- to 400-mile range. Additional information, photos, and audio of what his transmitter sounds like are available on the "Spark Gap Transmitter Signals for Marconi Centennial" website:
http://www.qsl.net/g4rfr/marconi.htm.
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Sounds Good To Me
When you get ads in your phone or utility bill, include them with the payment. Let them throw them away. Think globally, act locally.
When you get those pre-approved letters in the mail for everything from credit cards to second mortgages, and junk like that, most of them come with postage-paid return envelopes, right? Well, why not get rid of some of your other junk mail by putting it in those cool little envelopes! Send an ad for your local chimney cleaner to American Express or a pizza coupon to Citibank. If you didn't get anything else that day, then just send them their application back! Just make sure your name isn't on anything you send them. You can send it back empty if you want to just keep 'em guessing! Eventually, the banks and credit card companies will begin getting all their junk back in the mail.
Let's let them know what it's like to get junk mail, and, best of all, THEY'RE paying for it! Twice!
Let's help keep our postal service busy since they say e-mail is cutting into their business and that's why they need to increase postage again!
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The Hotel Bill
A husband and wife are traveling by car from Key West to Boston. After almost twenty-four hours on the road, they're too tired to continue, and they decide to stop for a rest. They stop at a nice hotel and take a room, but they only plan to sleep for four hours and then get back on the road.
When they check out four hours later, the desk clerk hands them a bill for $350. The man explodes and demands to know why the charge is so high. He tells the clerk although it's a nice hotel, the rooms certainly aren't worth $350. When the clerk tells him $350 is the standard rate, the man insists on speaking to the manager. The manager listens to the man and then explains the hotel has an Olympic-sized pool and a huge conference center that were available for the husband and wife to use. He also explains they could have taken in one of the shows for which the hotel is famous. "The best entertainers from New York, Hollywood, and Las Vegas perform here," explains the manager.
No matter what facility the manager mentions, the man replies, "But we didn't use it!"
The manager is unmoved and eventually the man gives up and agrees to pay. He writes a check and gives it to the manager. The manager is surprised when he looks at the check.
"But sir," he says, "this check is only made out for $100."
"That's right," says the man. "I charged you $250 for sleeping with my wife."
"But I didn't!" exclaims the manager.
"Well," the man replies, "she was here, and you could have."
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The Cuckoo Clock
The other night I was invited out for a night with "The Boys". I told my wife that I would be home by midnight... Promise! Well, the hours passed and the beer was going down way too easy. At around 3 a.m., drunk as a skunk, I headed for home.
Just as I got in the door, the cuckoo clock in the hall started up and cuckooed three times. Quickly, I realized she'd probably wake up, so I cuckooed another nine times. I was really proud of myself, having a quick and witty solution, even when smashed, to escape a possible conflict.
The next morning my wife asked me what time I got in and I told her 12 o'clock. She didn't seem disturbed at all. Whew! Got away with that one! She then told me that we needed a new cuckoo clock. When I asked her why, she said, "Well, last night our clock cuckooed three times, then said "Oh f***," cuckooed four more times, cleared it's throat, cuckooed another three times, giggled, cuckooed twice more, and then farted.
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That's All Folks!
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