Subj : Re: Eggs! To : Daryl Stout From : Nancy Backus Date : Thu Feb 06 2020 20:23:48 -=> Quoting Daryl Stout to NANCY BACKUS on 02-Feb-2020 00:44 <=- NB>> Lots of good reasons for liking the hamfests, then... :) DS> The thing is, many of the smaller hamfests are "shutting down" DS> because they can't get attendees, vendors, or workers. Most folks order DS> the stuff online, and have it shipped to them. There isn't even a ham DS> radio store in Arkansas anymore. That's a shame... the camraderie is such a big part of the hobby, just as with others.... NB>> Misses the point of the exams, anyway, to try to cheat on them... DS> You'd be surprised how many want to try to get something via DS> nefarious means. No, I'm not surprised, really.... sad, though.... NB>> Again missing the point.... DS> In relation to a license expiration, had the same thing happened DS> with his drivers license, and had he gotten pulled over by law DS> enforcement, he might have been arrested. Some people think they are above the law, or that it doesn't apply to them.... and sadly, quite a few seem to get away with it.... NB>> Perhaps ham radio isn't quite so critical as, say, exams for a NB>> doctor's certification, but still that just isn't right... DS> In emergency communications, it is. When all other regular modes DS> fail, we can still get out. Indeed, that is a critical function you perform.... :) DS> Years ago, the exams were fill in the blank, you didn't know what the DS> questions were in advance, and you had to draw schematic diagrams. To DS> make it worse, you had to pass the Morse Code exam (send AND receive) DS> beforehand, or you were sent home. The FCC dropped the Morse Code exam DS> for all U.S. ham radio licenses 13 years ago. Higher standards before... :) But I understand that there's less of a need for ham operators to be quite so technically proficient now... NB>> So that people could somewhat study to the test, but more importantly, NB>> have an idea what they need to know, not just for the test, but to do NB>> the "job" well afterwards.... :) DS> One thing they do NOT teach is "on the air etiquette". In the DS> aftermath of World Wars I and II, the FCC wanted a group of DS> electronics experts...but technologies have changed so much over the DS> years, and the question changes haven't kept up. Guess they'd need to have some people just dedicated to upgrading the exam questions.... :) DS> If you're a certain class of license (General, Advanced, or Amateur DS> Extra), you can submit questions for the Technician, General, or DS> Amateur Extra)...but you can only do that for the license class lower DS> than yours. The one exception is the Amateur Extra...that's "the top of DS> the ladder". So, for Amateur Extra, it's a peer-to-peer setup... :) NB>>>... Religious backup.....pray nothing goes wrong DS>> No kidding. But, that doesn't work when a Sysop goes on vacation. DS>> The BBS comes down with an extreme case of separation anxiety, and DS>> promptly crashes. I save it the trouble, and "let it have an extended DS>> vacation nap". NB>> Might as well... ;) DS> It gets a rest during thunderstorms, which are forecast here Monday DS> night into Wednesday, with a threat of severe weather as well DS> (unfortunately). Hopefully it wasn't too bad... ttyl neb .... MeoOWW SPLATT! WooOOF SPLAT! (Raining cats & dogs) --- EzyBlueWave V3.00 01FB001F * Origin: Tiny's BBS - http://www.tinysbbs.com (454:1/452) .