RadioBanter - View Single Post - OK...So What Are YOU Going To DO About It...?!?!

January 29th 04, 01:55 AM

In article ,
(Steve Robeson, K4CAP) writes:

(N2EY) wrote in message
...
In article ,
(Steve Robeson, K4CAP) writes:

(N2EY) wrote in message
.com...

(Steve Robeson, K4CAP) wrote in message
.com...

I don't think that much of what is "written" is pertinent even if
it were "written" in the next 2 hours. As long as the question pools
are open and the "newcomer" can pick up a verbatim "Q&A study guide",
the tests are relatively irrelevant.

And that's not going to change. Been that way for 20 years, and FCC isn't
going to take back the work that it now gets done for free by unpaid
volunteers.

I don't see where the FCC would have to "take back work". They'd
just have to say "The test pools are closed, adn publishing the
verbatim responses is illegal as it compromises the validity of the
test."

First off, they'd have to replace the entire question pool (all three tests)
because there are many copies of it already out there. And then they'd need a
study guide that wasn't exactly like the questions so we'd know what was on the
tests. Who is going to do all that work, and who is going to foot the bill?

Second, the work of VEs would be complicated by the need to keep the pools and
tests secret.

Third (and probably worst), there'd be nothing to stop Son Of Bash from doing
his thing all over again. In fact, it would be even easier - just let *one* VE
decide to break the rules, and the entire new pool would be on somebody's
website. And untraceable. Sure. 99.999% of VEs aren't going to do that - but as
Bash proved, it doesn't take many.

Any "work" would be that of the VE's to not allow the tests to be
compromised.

See above.

Repeat after me: "Lopressor is a beta blocker administerd SIVP
for the control of hypertension and AFIB with IVR."

"Lopressor is a beta blocker administered SIVP for the control of
hypertension and AFIB with IVR."

Lopressor is a brand name, not a generic drug name, right?

Got it - sort of.

My point exactly.

Got that? Now, WHAT is a beta blocker?

Some kind of drug. Has to do with the mechanisms that cause high blood
pressure and /or hear attacks. Administered intravenously.

MAY be administered intraveneously. Also available in PO (oral)
form, occassionally administered sublingually.

Under the tongue. Like you're supposed to take zinc.

What was the underlying
etiology of the hypertension or the atrial fibrillation that produced
the irregular ventricular response?

Something to do with too much beta. Whatever beta is in this context.

Nope. You did pretty good to here. THAT question was what OTHER
problems CAUSED the A-fib. The Lopressor will correct (temporarily)
the A-fib...

By blocking the excess beta - whatever beta is - but the real problem is
whatever is causing all that beta in the first place. I think.

I figured out all that from context and a hazy layman's exposure to cardiac
medicine. Do I really understand it? Of course not!

Again, my point exactly. Now, change that to any one of the
dozens of test questions for the Amateur exams and we have the same
thing...

Sure. Except that in the case of Lopressor, a mistake can easily kill a
patient. In the case of most ham radio questions, that's not going to happen.

Do you get Newsweek? Good letter/article from an ER nurse on page 12.

Perhaps, Jim, but my take is that the FCC has expressed more than
it's fair share of frustration with the numerous licening strategies
that have been offered, all suggesting that "this one" will be the one
to open the flood gates of new licensees.

I don't see that. What I do see is the FCC taking its time and letting
everyone propose all sorts of stuff, and comment on same. NPRM?
Maybe some months down
the road. Actual rules changes? Don't hold your breath or you'll need more
than beta blockers ;-)

Tell me about it.

'zactly.

I already credit the USMC for keeping me physically fit enough to
avoid most of the pitfalls I see in many of my patients "my age".

HOO-RAH!

I was told once that "there is no such thing as an 'ex-Marine', just ones that
are not on active duty at the moment....

Scares the be-jeebers out of me "coding" guys younger than me!

I know a tiny bit about what you mean, having gone to the funerals of
coworkers at [name of former employer deleted] who were younger
than I am now, and who died of MIs and such after repeated warnings
from health care professionals.

For me, it's running that keeps things in shape. This morning I was too sick -
first time that's been true in months. Tomorrow it's back on the road.

Each has produced a momentary road bump followed by a rapid
return to a steady-if-unimpressive growth rate.

That's because none of them address, or can address, the underlying
problems that limit growth in amateur radio.

I only see ONE underlying problem, Jim, and it's hardly a
"problem"...It's just human nature...Amateur Radio is a technical
hobby. Even in Amateur Radio's "Golden Ages" there were only certain
folks who got interested in it, and an even smaller number that got
interested and stayed!

That's one problem. Here are some mo

- Lack of publicity
- High cost of getting started*
- Competition for time and resources
- Antenna restrictions
- Certain elements of ham radio's appeal have disappeared**

* Yes, it's true that one can get on the air for very little money. But most
newcomers don't know this, and there aren't many who are going to build
an HT from an old TV set. It's true that a computer can cost as much as a
ham rig, but a computer is almost a necessity these days, and its cost can
often be rationalized by all the different things it can do. A ham rig has only
its one purpose, or maybe two if you count SWLing.

** There was an excellent article some time back about why people become
hams. The author cited three types of radio amateur: the experimenter/tinkerer,
the operator, and the communicator.

The experimenter/tinkerer likes the techno end of it, and in extreme cases is
almost never on the air because s/he's working on something new.

The operator likes the thrill of actually communicating by radio, with his/her
own station and skill. DXers and contesters are prime examples. For them,
the media is the message.

The communicator just wants to converse. The technology doesn't matter,
it's getting the message through.

Once upon a time, amateur radio attracted all three because there were
few other options open to the average person of average means. Go back
just 20-25 years - the average person didn't have a cell phone, (let alone a
picture-cellpbone or text messaging) or a computer, (let alone email), or a
fax, or cheap long distance telephone service, etc. etc..Today those things are
so common they are taken for granted. The communicators have lots of options
besides amateur radio, most of them cheaper and faster.

And as for experimenter/tinkerers - when the self-proclaimed "PROFESSIONALS IN
RADIO" use manufactured radios, how can we poor ignorant amateurs be expected
to build anything? Those of us who do build often find ourselves being
taunted and insulted by those self same professional appliance owners....

So what's left are (mostly) the operators.

It's no different than stamp collecting, hang gliding, or
motorcycle racing. Some people will be attracted to it, a great many
others won't. It's no big deal that we don't have ten million
licensees!

Agreed - but try to sell that!

Here's another point: The more hams we have, the more newbies we need to
replace those who drop out. With 683,000 US hams, if only 3% drop out each
year, we need 20,490 newcomers per year just to break even. To have 1% growth,
we need 30,735 newcomers per year.

If/when the proposal becomes an RM, it'll be comment time......

Ditto.

Hope you're keeping warm Jim! It's embarrassing here...I spent
most of the evening with the back door open to let a cool drizzling
breeze pass through the house.

We've had 3 winter storms in the past 4 days. Last night was an ice storm
followed by several inches of new snow. Also lots of flu in this house
despite flu shots. Not pretty.

It was blessedly short-lived but a nasty GI flu. If it was that bad with a flu
shot I don't want to be without one. I also got the anti-pneumonia vaccine some
years back - prolly time to re-up.

See what you're missing?

Time to dig out.

Don't consider it "digging out", Jim...Consider it cardiovascular
exercise!

It all counts. Neighbor and I dug out our shared driveway. Tomorrow I put the
shoes back on...

I'll be driving to work tonight in a windbreaker! (nyuknyuknyuk)

Wait till July...I got yer windbreaker right here!

73 de Jim, N2EY