Subj : Re: Delta Division News
To   : Sean Dennis
From : Daryl Stout
Date : Mon Jul 24 2023 14:36:00

Sean,

 SD> They'll never see any money from me again.  That's just too much,
 SD> especially now that you have to pay extra for the printed magazine.

  I resigned from The Diamond Club, as I told them I could not afford to 
send them extra money, being on a fixed income...and that's what I had
noted in my survey response. I read MAYBE 1/8 of QST a month...I look at 
the Happenings column, info from the VEC, the Silent Keys column, and 
maybe a few others. But, I just get electronic documents now...I was 
never much of a bookworm (although my late wife, Janice, was). 

  The last item I studied/read, was the Accreditation Manual for ARRL/VEC 
to become a VE...which I've been doing for nearly 16 years now. It has 
been the most rewarding thing I've done in ham radio. The hardest thing,
though...is trying to convince someone who failed the exam, that they are
NOT a failure. I tell them "if it takes you a dozen tries or more to pass
the exam, even if just barely, you have as much right to be on the air as
someone who aced it the first time". Then, another VE said "the guy or girl
who graduates DEAD LAST in medical school is STILL....a Doctor!!". Yet, I
might not want them doing a prostate check or pelvic exam. When I noted
this, the female examinee crossed her legs, and we all roared with raucous
laughter!! (hi hi).

  As for the money, I'm reminded of the saying "I'll pee in one hand,
and spit in the other...and we'll see which one fills up first" (hi hi).

  The electronics was never my forte' (even with Violet's help (hi hi)),
and as per a packet net I was on several years ago, one ham thought
that E.D. stood for "electronic doofus" (hi hi). The Sysop of the BBS
where the net was being held, typed "I'm curious to see how Ed is going
to explain E.D. to Roger" (the 2 hams in the discussion). The XYL of
the Sysop was Net Control, and when Ed typed to her "Billie?? Do you
know Morse Code??"...she typed "Yes, and I know a lot of other things
as well!!". I thought I was going to pee my pants, as I was laughing
so hard!! (hi hi). 

  For the full deal on "The E.D. Net", go to the first hyperlink on my 
QRZ bio (it goes to http://www.wx4qz.net/elk.htm), and download "The 
E.D. Net". Aside from my needing 3 blind hams to help me get out of a
hamfest parking lot (prior to cataract surgery), that was the funniest 
thing I had ever had in ham radio. Both of those are also in the "Ham
Radio Humor" file on that same page.

  While I'm an ARRL Life Member, the ONLY thing I do with them is via
the VEC with the license exams. At least I can scan all my session data,
compile it to a PDF file, and upload it...I don't have to mail anything
back in. If I get low on items, I just fill out a Field Stocked form,
and have them send me what I need.

  I'm also a Life Member of the Quarter Century Wireless Association
(QCWA)...doing their VoIP Net on CQ100 on Friday morning, their
Sunflower Net on Saturday morning, and their Digital Net on Sunday
afternoon. As a side note, if one was first licensed in the year 1998
or earlier, and is currently licensed, they qualify for membership.

  I'm also a Life Member of the Portage County Amateur Radio Service
(PCARS) Club in Ravenna, Ohio...and of Handi-Hams. 

  Then, I'm a regular member of the Philadelphia Digital Radio
Association (PDRA), and the Memphis Digital Amateur Radio Club
(MDARC)(it's known as the DARC side of Digital)...and lastly, an
Associate Member of the British Columbia Frequency Modulation
Communications Association.

  Lastly, I'm the VE Team Liaison for the University Of Arkansas At
Little Rock (UALR) Ham Radio Club (my collegiate alma mater). We
normally test 4 times a year, but the session earlier this month
got canceled, as the Faculty Advisor came down with Covid.

  I didn't have the heart to ask him if he took "the redneck Covid
test", although I may have told him about it previously. For those
who don't know about this "specialized test", it's designed for
those 18 and over.

  You take your favorite bottle of wine (you might want it chilled).
Pour some into a glass, and bring it up to your nose. If you can
smell the fragrance, take a sip. If you can taste it, you're negative
for Covid-19 -- repeat as many times as needed (hi hi).

  A friend of mine said "I had to do it 20 times the other day", and
a nurse at my cardiologist's clinic quipped "I'm going to do it when
I get home!!" (hi hi).

  One of the drivers of the Lyft vehicle I took to a run to the Post
Office Box recently, had noted "she was married, and liked wine". So,
I told her that "you can tell your husband you're testing for Covid"
(hi hi). She howled with laughter. :)

 SD> ... I hit my CTRL key but I'm STILL not in control.

  The CTRL key fell off of my keyboard, so that was the night I lost CTRL.

  It's Monday...so we need something to laugh at.

Daryl, WX4QZ

.... I *CAN* type...my computer keyboard is illiterate.
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