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   http://www.arrl.org/arrlletter/?issue=2015-12-24   
      
   The ARRL Letter   
      
   December 24, 2015   
   Editor: Rick Lindquist, WW1ME   
      
    *  North Korea on the Air for First Time in More Than a Decade   
    *  FCC Proposes to Penalize California Licensee $25,000 for Causing   
       Intentional Interference   
    *  Philippine Radio Amateurs Respond to Typhoon Threat   
    *  Preliminary CQ World Wide Survey Results Suggest Contesters Trending   
       Older   
    *  US Applicants Move into Next Stage of ARISS Contact Selection Process   
    *  AO-85 Slow Scan TV Image Likely a Prank, Not a Test   
    *  Straight Key Night is a New Year's Day Tradition   
    *  RTTY Roundup is a Good Way to Kick Off the 2016 Contest Calendar   
    *  Kids Day is Sunday, January 3   
    *  International DX Association Announces Humanitarian Fund   
    *  Radio Broadcasting Remote Pickup Pioneer George Marti, W5GLJ, SK   
    *  In Brief...   
    *  Just Ahead in Radiosport   
    *  Upcoming ARRL Section, State, and Division Conventions and Events   
      
   ____________________________________________________________________________   
      
      
   ARRL Headquarters Closing Early on Christmas Eve, Closed on Christmas Day, New   
   Year's Day: ARRL Headquarters will close at 3 PM Eastern Time on Christmas   
   Eve, Thursday, December 24, and it will remain closed until Monday, December   
   28, at 8 AM Eastern Time. In addition, ARRL Headquarters will be closed on New   
   Year's Day, Friday, January 1, 2016. There will be no W1AW bulletins or code   
   practice on December 24, 25, or January 1, and no ARRL Audio News on December   
   25. There will be no editions of The ARRL Letter or ARRL Audio News on   
   December 31/January 1. Both will return on January 7, 2016. We wish everyone a   
   safe and enjoyable holiday season and a happy new year!   
      
   ____________________________________________________________________________   
      
      
   North Korea on the Air for First Time in More Than a Decade   
      
   In an unexpected turn of events, Polish DXer Dom Grzyb, 3Z9DX, who visited   
   North Korea -- officially the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) --   
   this month in advance of a planned Amateur Radio operation early next year,   
   showed up on the air from the most-wanted DXCC entity around 0000 on December   
   20. During a "demonstration" for North Korean officials, P5/3Z9DX made nearly   
   800 DXers -- most of them in Asia -- very happy over the couple of days he was   
   on the air. Grzyb operated mostly on 15 meters with some excursions on 20 and   
   10 meters, SSB only. The P5/3Z9DX preview was the first from North Korea since   
   the 2001-2002 operation by Ed Giorgadze, 4L4FN.   
      
   The surprise appearance of P5/3Z9DZ on the air coincided with some of the   
   worst HF conditions in days, if not weeks, no thanks to a geomagnetic storm.   
   Grzyb's visit to Pyongyang this month had been scheduled to iron out the   
   details of his 2016 operation. The radio equipment he took to North Korea   
   remained behind in government hands, as agreed beforehand. A P5/3Z9DX   
   operation from North Korea now is poised to take place in February.   
      
   While operating from North Korea, P5/3Z9DX was running 100 W to a vertical   
   antenna mounted on a metal fencepost some 7 feet above the ground among   
   government high-rise buildings. He also was handicapped by high ambient noise   
   levels. During the brief on-the-air stint, government officials came and went,   
   apparently to keep a close watch on things. Grzyb told DX-World on December 20   
   that his "real" DX operation in February might take place from a different   
   location. -- Thanks to The Daily DX and DX-World.net   
      
      
   FCC Proposes to Penalize California Licensee $25,000 for Causing Intentional   
   Interference   
      
   The FCC Enforcement Bureau has proposed fining William F. Crowell, W6WBJ   
   (ex-N6AYJ), of Diamond Springs, California, $25,000 for intentionally   
   interfering with other Amateur Radio operators and transmitting prohibited   
   communications, including music. FCC San Francisco District Director David K.   
   Hartshorn released a Notice of Apparent Liability for Forfeiture (NALF) on   
   December 18, detailing the allegations.   
      
   "Deliberate interference undermines the utility of the Amateur Radio Service   
   by preventing communications among licensed users that comply with the   
   Commission's rules," the FCC said in its NALF. "Mr Crowell's deliberate   
   interference to other users, using voice, noises, and music, directly   
   contravenes the Amateur Radio service's fundamental purpose as a voluntary   
   noncommercial communications service..."   
      
   An Advanced class licensee, Crowell is no stranger to the Enforcement Bureau,   
   which warned him as far back as 2000 about intentional interference. In 2008   
   the FCC designated his current license renewal application for hearing,   
   alleging that he had caused intentional interference, interrupted others'   
   communications, transmitted music, and made one-way transmissions, including   
   some containing "indecent language," the FCC said. His license, which expired   
   in 2007, has not been renewed, but Crowell may continue to operate while his   
   application is pending. Prompting the December 18 NALF were complaints earlier   
   this year by members of the Western Amateur Radio Friendship Association   
   (WARFA), which conducts nets three times a week on 75 meters.   
      
   The Enforcement Bureau recounted that its agents and the High Frequency   
   Direction Finding (HFDF) Center monitored Crowell's transmissions during the   
   WARFA Net on 3908 kHz on August 25 and August 27. As the agents and the HFDF   
   Center listened, Crowell "repeatedly interrupted other amateurs using noises,   
   recordings, and music, in addition to talking over amateurs affiliated with   
   the WARFA Net, so as no not allow them to transmit on the frequency," the FCC   
   said in its NALF. "His transmissions and recordings included racial, ethnic,   
   and sexual slurs and epithets." According to the NALF, the interference   
   continued until the net shut down.   
      
      
   Philippine Radio Amateurs Respond to Typhoon Threat   
      
   The Philippine Amateur Radio Association (PARA) activated its Ham Emergency   
   Radio Operations (HERO) on December 12 as Typhoon Melor -- locally called   
   Typhoon Nona -- threatened the Philippine archipelago. The storm boasted winds   
   up to and slightly in excess of 100 MPH. National Traffic System Chairman Jojo   
   Vicencio, DU1VHY, announced the activation during the early-morning DU NET.   
   HERO used 7.095 MHz for emergency traffic, and other hams in the region   
   cooperated in keeping the frequency clear.   
      
   Stations from the Eastern Visayas area hit by Super Typhoon Haiyan in 2013 as   
   well as various emergency communication groups and clubs checked into the net.   
   Melor made its first landfall between Catarman, Northern Samar, and Sorsogon,   
   Southern Luzon. Stations in Eastern Samar and Tacloban City were on alert.   
   Some hams embedded with local disaster risk reduction and management   
   councils/offices.   
      
   The eye of Typhoon Melor made a second landfall over Bulusan, Sorsogon. The   
   province of Albay declared a state of imminent emergency. Workers and students   
   were sent home, and stores and shops closed. Pre-emptive evacuations were   
   undertaken in coastal towns in danger of dangerous storm surges, as reported   
   by HERO stations. As the storm progressed through the Bicol region, PARA   
   members continued to give reports on 7.095 using emergency power.   
      
   The typhoon abruptly weakened into a tropical storm on December 16. Philippine   
   Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA)   
   forecasters lifted high-level storm warnings, as winds dropped to between 75   
   and 90 MPH. -- Thanks to Ramon J. Anquilan, DU1UGZ, via IARU Region 1 News   
      
      
   Preliminary CQ World Wide Survey Results Suggest Contesters Trending Older   
      
   The CQ World Wide Contest Committee has posted the preliminary results of its   
   September survey of CQ WW participants. The committee received 5117 responses   
   from contesters around the world, the greatest number -- nearly 2600 -- from   
   Europe. An analysis of the results showed that most survey participants were   
   in the older age brackets and that there were not many youth participants.   
      
   "This is especially true when we look at the age distribution in North   
   America," said the analysis, prepared by Doug Zwiebel, KR2Q. "There is very   
   little survey participation in North America from those under 40 years of   
   age." More than 900 of the nearly 1500 respondents from North America were at   
   least 60 years old, according to the survey.   
      
   CQ said the situation in Europe was "a little more optimistic," where the age   
   curve trended about 10 years younger overall.   
      
   "While the missing young people could be a symptom of the survey methodology,   
   any look around a ham radio club meeting [or] convention reveals similar   
   findings," the survey commentary said. "Should we be concerned about the   
   future of radiosport (and Amateur Radio)? What can we do to encourage more   
   young people to participate?" it went on to ask.   
      
   The CQ WW Contest Committee analysis concluded that older-skewing operators   
   may lead to lower operating times, increased multioperator entries, or   
   eventual less overall activity.   
      
   CW was far and away the most popular operating mode, at least among   
   participants age 40 or older. Nearly 62 percent of those participating in the   
   CQ WW survey indicated they were either serious contesters or part-timers   
   trying for the best score.   
      
   "It was very gratifying to receive so many survey responses in such a short   
   time," the CQ WW Contest Committee said in summary. "The CQ WW community is   
   passionate and engaged -- both on the air and in considering the future of the   
   event." Other summary highlights:   
      
    *  Europe is the leader for contest activity.   
    *  Contesters are getting older.   
    *  There is a wide range of interest levels.   
    *  CW is the favorite operating mode.   
      
   The CQ WW Contest Committee said that a future blog post would discuss the   
   results of questions related to possible rule changes.   
      
      
   US Applicants Move into Next Stage of ARISS Contact Selection Process   
      
   Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) has announced that   
   the proposals of 17 schools and organizations submitted during the recent   
   application window will move forward into the next stage of planning to host   
   Amateur Radio contacts with ISS crew members. Once scheduled, the contacts   
   will take place between July and December 2016.   
      
   "This is a significant step in ARISS' continuing effort to engage young people   
   in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) activities and raise   
   their awareness of space exploration, space communications, and related areas   
   of study and career possibilities," the ARISS announcement said.   
      
   The 17 schools/organizations now must complete acceptable equipment plans that   
   demonstrate the ability to execute a contact. Once the ARISS technical team   
   approves equipment plans, the final selected schools/organizations will be   
   matched up with contact opportunities offered by NASA.   
      
   The schools and organizations are Boca Raton Christian School, Boca Raton,   
   Florida; The Children's Museum of Indianapolis, Indiana; Frontiers of Flight   
   Museum's "Moon Day 2016," Dallas, Texas; Howell L. Watkins Middle School, Palm   
   Beach Gardens, Florida; iSPACE, Cincinnati, Ohio; John Glenn Middle School,   
   Maplewood, Minnesota, and Kopernik Observatory & Science Center, Vestal, New   
   York.   
      
   Also, Lawrence Public Library, Lawrence, Kansas; Museum of Innovation and   
   Science, Schenectady, New York; Northland Preparatory Academy, Flagstaff,   
   Arizona; Peoria Riverfront Museum, Peoria, Illinois; University of Nebraska's   
   Peter Kiewit Institute, Omaha, Nebraska; South Street School, Danbury,   
   Connecticut; Space Jam 10, Rantoul, Illinois; United Space School, Seabrook,   
   Texas; US Space & Rocket Center, Huntsville, Alabama, and World Genesis   
   Foundation, Goodyear, Arizona.   
      
   ARISS is a cooperative venture of AMSAT, ARRL, and NASA in the US, and other   
   international space agencies and Amateur Radio organizations around the world.   
   Its primary purpose is to organize Amateur Radio contacts between ISS crew   
   members and classrooms or informal education venues.   
      
      
   AO-85 Slow Scan TV Image Likely a Prank, Not a Test   
      
   A Slow Scan TV (SSTV) image that a Brazilian radio amateur reported receiving   
   on December 13 from Fox-1A (AO-85) was most likely a prank, not any sort of   
   official test of the satellite's SSTV capabilities. AMSAT Vice President for   
   Engineering Jerry Buxton, N0JY, said the Robot 36 image, which depicted a   
   cartoon fox and the legend "Testing Fox-1A/AO-85 AMSAT satellite," was of   
   terrestrial origin and transmitted via the AO-85 satellite's transponder.   
      
   "I can tell you that in South America, they are having some fun, and that our   
   analog-to-digital to analog IHU processing of the audio seems to work very   
   well at SSTV frequencies!" Buxton told ARRL. "I don't know who uplinked the   
   signal, but it was a ground-satellite-ground contact, nothing that originated   
   on AO-85." Buxton called the prank "just a very good demonstration of the   
   capability of the FM repeater on the Fox-1 series satellites." The FM   
   satellite uplink is at 435.170 MHz (67 Hz CTCSS tone required). The downlink   
   is at 145.978 MHz. Both frequencies are subject to Doppler shift.   
      
   While transmitting SSTV images via satellites is not recommended, the South   
   American "experiment" did not appear to interfere with other transmissions.   
   "At some point we will set up a period to try it over the US, but until then   
   please refrain from repeating this experiment," AMSAT VP of Operations Drew   
   Glasbrenner KO4MA said. -- Thanks to Jerry Buxton, N0JY, and Drew Glasbrenner,   
   KO4MA   
      
   ____________________________________________________________________________   
      
   Straight Key Night is a New Year's Day Tradition   
      
   Every day is a good day to operate on CW, but set some time aside on New   
   Year's Eve and Day to enjoy Straight Key Night (SKN). The annual event gets   
   under way a 000 UTC on January 1 (New Year's Eve in US time zones). The   
   24-hour event is not a contest but a day dedicated to celebrating our CW   
   heritage. Participants are encouraged to get on the air and simply make   
   enjoyable, conversational CW contacts, preferably using a straight (hand) key   
   or a semi-automatic key (bug). Activity traditionally centers on CW segments   
   in the HF bands. There are no points or obligatory exchange. The only   
   requirement is just to have fun!   
      
   Send your SKN list of stations work and your votes for "Best Fist" and "Most   
   Interesting QSO" by January 31.   
      
   Concurrent with the ARRL Straight Key Night, AMSAT will hold its own SKN on   
   OSCAR 2015, this year dedicated to the memory of Ben Stevenson, W2BXA, who   
   died in 2011. No log is necessary, but AMSAT also asks for "Best Fist"   
   nominees via e-mail to Ray Soifer, W2RS.   
      
   Stevenson, who was licensed in 1929, was one of the world's top DXers on HF   
   and satellites and held Satellite DXCC No 1. He was the founding president of   
   the North Jersey DX Association.   
      
      
   RTTY Roundup is a Good Way to Kick Off the 2016 Contest Calendar   
      
   The ARRL RTTY Roundup over the January 2-3 weekend is a veritable digital   
   festival, so dust off those keyboards! In addition to conventional Baudot,   
   RTTY Roundup ops may use ASCII, AMTOR, PSK31, and Packet (attended). It's very   
   easy to get on RTTY and other digital modes, and some late-model transceivers   
   even have RTTY and other digital capabilities built right into the radio.   
   Participation in this annual operating event has grown along with the   
   enthusiasm for digital modes, and newcomers are always welcome to join the   
   fray.   
      
   The 2015 ARRL RTTY Roundup runs from 1800 UTC Saturday, January 2 through 2359   
   UTC Sunday, January 3, with operation on 80, 40, 20, 15, and 10 meters.   
   Participants may operate 24 of the 30 available hours. US and Canadian   
   stations send a signal report and state/province, while DX stations send a   
   signal report and consecutive serial number, starting with 001.   
      
   Submit Cabrillo logs via e-mail or by using the web applet. Send paper logs to   
   ARRL RTTY Roundup, 225 Main St, Newington, CT 06111. All logs must be   
   postmarked no later than 2359 UTC Tuesday, February 2, 2015.   
      
   Contact the ARRL Contest Branch for more information.   
      
      
   Kids Day is Sunday, January 3   
      
   The next Kids Day will be Sunday, January 3, 2016, from 1800 to 2400 UTC. The   
   twice-yearly event, sponsored by the ARRL and The Boring (Oregon) Amateur   
   Radio Club, is an excellent opportunity to showcase Amateur Radio and Amateur   
   Radio satellites to youngsters and even to hand over the keys so they can get   
   some hands-on experience. Share the excitement with your own children or   
   grandkids or youngsters in the neighborhood! For youngsters, their positive   
   ham radio experience may foster an interest that leads them to get licensed   
   one day. For veteran radio amateurs, it's a chance to share their stations and   
   affection for Amateur Radio with the next generation.   
      
   To solicit contacts call "CQ Kids Day." The suggested exchange is name, age,   
   location, and favorite color. There is no limit on operating time, and   
   stations may work each other more than once if the operator has changed.   
   Repeater contacts (with permission of the repeater's sponsor) are okay too,   
   and satellite contacts may provide a real thrill. Observe third-party traffic   
   restrictions when making DX contacts.   
      
   All participants are encouraged to post stories and photos to the Kids Day   
   Soapbox page and are eligible to receive a colorful certificate. You can   
   download the free certificate, customized with the youngsters' names, after   
   filling out the Kids Day Survey found on the same page as the certificate   
   generator. Alternatively, you can send a 9 x 12 SASE to Kids Day Certificate   
   Request, ARRL, 225 Main St, Newington, CT 06111.   
      
      
   International DX Association Announces Humanitarian Fund   
      
   The International DX Association (INDEXA) has announced the formation of a   
   fund -- "Hams with Hearts" -- to support humanitarian projects carried out by   
   DXpedition teams. Thanks to an initial contribution by Zorro Miyazawa, JH1AJT,   
   INDEXA will be able to begin humanitarian support grants beginning in   
   mid-January 2016, the announcement said.   
      
   "To qualify for humanitarian grants, DXpeditions must present a clear plan for   
   a humanitarian project to coincide with their DXpedition," the announcement   
   said. "The project must provide direct, physical benefit to the local   
   population and go beyond leaving behind ham equipment, making a video, or   
   giving a class in Amateur Radio."   
      
   INDEXA said acceptable projects might include such things as providing school   
   supplies, clothing, medical supplies, first aid equipment, or water   
   purification supplies. The INDEXA board will review the plans and decide   
   whether or not to fund the project.   
      
   "In the early years of this fund, it is likely that grants will be modest,"   
   INDEXA allowed. "We therefore will be seeking low-cost but high-impact   
   projects. As this fund grows it may be possible to encourage DXpeditions to   
   conduct humanitarian projects by supporting both the DXpedition itself and the   
   humanitarian project it carries out. We are grateful to Zorro for his   
   generosity and acknowledge the many humanitarian projects he has carried out   
   on a personal level. With this new fund we hope to benefit humanity and   
   enhance the image of Amateur Radio around the world."   
      
      
   Radio Broadcasting Remote Pickup Pioneer George Marti, W5GLJ, SK   
      
   George Marti, W5GLJ, who pioneered and manufactured remote pick-up (RPU)   
   technology to allow radio stations to originate broadcasts away from the   
   studio wirelessly -- and lobbied the FCC to authorize its use -- died on   
   December 13 at age 95. Marti lived in Cleburne, Texas, where he had served as   
   mayor for 12 years.   
      
   A radio station owner himself, he developed his first RPU unit to broadcast   
   local high school football games back to the studio, bypassing the use of   
   expensive and sometimes unreliable telephone lines. His company, Marti   
   Electronics, also developed and sold studio-transmitter link (STL) equipment.   
   An early Marti RPU is on display at the Smithsonian's National Museum of   
   American History.   
      
   A radio amateur since his teens and a US Marines veteran, Marti also was a   
   cattle fancier, banker, and philanthropist. He sold Marti Electronics in 1994   
   to Broadcast Electronics. In 1991, the National Association of Broadcasters   
   honored Marti with its Radio Engineering Achievement Award. In 2010, the Texas   
   Association of Broadcasters awarded Marti its Lifetime Achievement Award; he   
   also was inducted in 2002 into the Texas Broadcasters Hall of Fame.   
      
      
   In Brief...   
      
   ARISS Postpones Anniversary SSTV Event: The Amateur Radio on the International   
   Space Station (ARISS) Slow-Scan TV event set for December 26-27 has been   
   postponed due to "complications in planning," ARISS has announced. ARISS now   
   is targeting mid-January as the next possible opportunity. This year marks the   
   15th anniversary of continuous Amateur Radio operations on the International   
   Space Station. The first ISS crew conducted its inaugural ham radio contact   
   from NA1SS in November 2000. The first Amateur Radio on the International   
   Space Station (ARISS) school contact took place the following month. ARISS   
   will post more information as it becomes available.   
      
      
   Digital Communications Conference Presentations Available Online Some of the   
   presentations from the 2015 ARRL/TAPR Digital Communications Conference now   
   are available on YouTube, courtesy of Gary   
   Pearce, KN4AQ, of "HamRadioNow." He also has produced audio podcasts. To   
   subscribe to the "HamRadioNow" podcast, enter this URL manually into a podcast   
   app: http://HamRadioNow.tv/hrn/hrnrss.xml.   
      
      
   Boston Marathon Seeks Amateur Radio Volunteers with Technical Skills:   
   Preparations are under way for the 120th running of the Boston Athletic   
   Association's Boston Marathon, which takes place on Patriots' Day, April 18,   
   2016. Nearly 300 trained Amateur Radio volunteers staff the event each spring,   
   providing vital communication services over the entire 26-mile course.   
   Volunteers are recruited, selected, and managed by the BAA's Communications   
   Committee, now in its second year. "A major initiative of the Committee this   
   year is to bolster the technology we use on Marathon Monday," said   
   Communications Committee member Matthew Forman, K6MCF. "To do so, we're   
   forming a Technical Infrastructure Subcommittee (TIS) and seeking amateurs who   
   can offer current skills in analog and/or digital modes (UHF/VHF), repeaters,   
   and infrastructure. We'd like to have the TIS consist of one technically   
   seasoned member from Amateur Radio clubs in Massachusetts, Southern New   
   Hampshire, and the northern parts of Connecticut and Rhode Island." Committee   
   member Mark Richards, K1MGY, will assist in representing the TIS to clubs and   
   other interests. Contact Richards for more information.   
      
   ____________________________________________________________________________   
      
      
   Just Ahead in Radiosport   
      
    *  December 26 -- DARC Christmas Contest (CW, phone)   
    *  December 26-27 -- World Wide Iron Ham Contest (CW, phone, digital)   
    *  December 27 -- Stew Perry Topband Challenge (CW)   
    *  December 27 -- RAEM Contest (CW)   
    *  January 1 -- ARRL Straight Key Night   
    *  January 1 -- AGB New Year Snowball Contest (CW, phone, digital)   
    *  January 1 -- SARTG New Year RTTY Contest   
    *  January 1 -- AGCW Happy New Year Contest (CW)   
    *  January 1 -- AGCW VHF/UHF Contest (CW)   
    *  January 1 -- QRP ARCI New Years Sprint (CW)   
    *  January 2 -- PODXS 070 Club PSK Fest   
    *  January 2-3 -- WW PMC Contest (CW, phone)   
    *  January 2-3 -- Original QRP Contest (CW)   
    *  January 2-3 -- ARRL RTTY Roundup   
    *  January 2-3 -- EUCW 160 Meter Contest (CW)   
    *  January 3 -- Kids Day (phone)   
    *  January 5 -- ARS Spartan Sprint (CW)   
    *  January 6 -- UKEICC 80 Meter Contest (phone)   
      
   See the ARRL Contest Calendar for more information. For in-depth reporting on   
   Amateur Radio contesting, subscribe to The ARRL Contest Update via your ARRL   
   member profile e-mail preferences.   
      
   ____________________________________________________________________________   
      
      
   Upcoming ARRL Section, State, and Division Conventions and Events   
      
    *  January 9 -- TECHFEST, Lawrenceville, Georgia   
    *  January 10 -- New York City-Long Island Section Convention, Bethpage,   
       New York   
    *  January 15-16 -- Southern Florida Section Convention, Fort Myers,   
       Florida   
    *  January 15-16 -- North Texas Section Convention, Forest Hill, Texas   
    *  January 17-23 -- Quartzfest, Quartzsite, Arizona   
    *  January 29-30 -- Mississippi State Convention, Jackson, Mississippi   
    *  January 29-31 -- Puerto Rico State Convention, Hatillo, Puerto Rico   
    *  February 6 -- South Carolina State Convention, N. Charleston, South   
       Carolina   
    *  February 6 -- Virginia State Convention (Frostfest), Richmond, Virginia   
    *  February 12-14 -- ARRL National Convention, Orlando, Florida   
    *  February 13 -- Georgia ARES Convention, Forsyth, Georgia   
    *  February 19-20 -- Southwestern Division Convention, Yuma, Arizona   
    *  February 20 -- Arkansas State Convention, Hoxie, Arkansas   
    *  February 27 -- WCF Section Technical Conference, Tampa, Florida   
    *  February 27 -- New Mexico TechFest, Albuquerque, New Mexico   
    *  February 27 -- Vermont State Convention, S. Burlington, Vermont   
      
   Find conventions and hamfests in your area.   
      
   ____________________________________________________________________________   
      
      
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   )\/(ark   
      
   "So let me ask you a question about this brave new world of yours. When you've   
   killed all the bad guys, and when it's all perfect, and just and fair, and   
   when you have finally got it exactly the way you want it, what are you going   
   to do with the people like you? The trouble makers. How are you going to   
   protect your glorious revolution from the next one?" - The twelfth Doctor   
      
   ... Before you beat a dog, learn his master's name. Chinese Proverb   
   ---   
    * Origin:  (1:3634/12.73)