I never hear people complain about:
1. The amount of junk food other hams eat
2. Smokers at hamfests

Junk food is a staple at club meetings and Field Day. At my club's
meetings, you can always find plenty of salty potato chips (not the
low-salt Pringles Right Crisps), coffee cake, glazed muffins, sweet
rolls, and other unhealthy food. There is always plenty of soda pop
to drink. True, apple pie snacks and cookies are junk food too, but
at least they taste good. Kentucky Fried Chicken and donuts are
served at each of our annual Field Day weekends.

I am the only ham radio operator who complains that other hams eat too
much junk food. As a Morse Code testing opponent, I hate to say this,
but junk food seems to be an EVEN MORE sacred tradition than Morse
Code tests. The trend has been towards reducing Morse Code testing
requirements, but I see no sign that the junk food tradition is ready
to head off into the sunset.

People complain about hams with body odor at hamfests, but I can't
remember reading anyone complaining about smokers at hamfests. I
don't notice people's body odor - I don't run around sniffing
everybody. But the foul tobacco smoke spreads like wildfire. I don't
think body odor can spread 10-20 feet away very easily.

Hmmm, I see a great idea for a compromise on the Morse Code testing
issue. The anti-Morse-testing side complains that the Morse Code test
is unnecessary. The pro-Morse-testing side complains that removing
the Morse Code test will make it too easy for people to become
licensed. I propose that we replace the Morse Code test with health
requirements. The replacement license requirements will be:
1. Your Body Mass Index (http://nhlbisupport.com/bmi/bmicalc.htm)
must be below 19. Of course, if I gain 5 pounds this fall and winter,
I'll have to revise the cutoff upward to 20.
2. No smokers may earn ham radio licenses.
3. No club is allowed to serve soda pop, donuts, glazed muffins, or
potato chips with more than 135mg of sodium per serving.
4. At all club Field Day events, vegetables must be served for
dinner.

Hey, these requirements would make it nice and challenging for people
to earn their licenses. We want our hams to be healthy. Too many are
afflicted with obesity, heart disease, high cholesterol, high blood
pressure, and other health problems. We won't give licenses away -
hams will need to cut the fast food, junk food, and tobacco out of
their lives. This will be quite a challenge given how sacred the
Kentucky Fried Chicken, soda pop, and donuts are.

Jason Hsu, AG4DG

Assuming that your post is serious and not intended to be humerous, Jason,
I'd say that you should be careful not to neglect your mental hygene. Eating
right and staying away from tobacco is nice, but it won't ultimately do you
any good if your thinking is toxic.

I don't smoke, but I would gladly take up smoking as an alternative to
becoming another miserable, obnoxious member of the PC-police.

There's probably only one hope for you now, Jason, and that is to buy
yourself a pack of Chesterfields or Luckies and fire one on up on your way
to "Golden Corral" to take advantage of that all-you-can-eat buffet.

"Smoking section, please!"

Charles Brabham, N5PVL


"Jason Hsu" wrote in message
om...
I never hear people complain about:
1. The amount of junk food other hams eat
2. Smokers at hamfests

Junk food is a staple at club meetings and Field Day. At my club's
meetings, you can always find plenty of salty potato chips (not the
low-salt Pringles Right Crisps), coffee cake, glazed muffins, sweet
rolls, and other unhealthy food. There is always plenty of soda pop
to drink. True, apple pie snacks and cookies are junk food too, but
at least they taste good. Kentucky Fried Chicken and donuts are
served at each of our annual Field Day weekends.

I am the only ham radio operator who complains that other hams eat too
much junk food. As a Morse Code testing opponent, I hate to say this,
but junk food seems to be an EVEN MORE sacred tradition than Morse
Code tests. The trend has been towards reducing Morse Code testing
requirements, but I see no sign that the junk food tradition is ready
to head off into the sunset.

People complain about hams with body odor at hamfests, but I can't
remember reading anyone complaining about smokers at hamfests. I
don't notice people's body odor - I don't run around sniffing
everybody. But the foul tobacco smoke spreads like wildfire. I don't
think body odor can spread 10-20 feet away very easily.

Hmmm, I see a great idea for a compromise on the Morse Code testing
issue. The anti-Morse-testing side complains that the Morse Code test
is unnecessary. The pro-Morse-testing side complains that removing
the Morse Code test will make it too easy for people to become
licensed. I propose that we replace the Morse Code test with health
requirements. The replacement license requirements will be:
1. Your Body Mass Index (http://nhlbisupport.com/bmi/bmicalc.htm)
must be below 19. Of course, if I gain 5 pounds this fall and winter,
I'll have to revise the cutoff upward to 20.
2. No smokers may earn ham radio licenses.
3. No club is allowed to serve soda pop, donuts, glazed muffins, or
potato chips with more than 135mg of sodium per serving.
4. At all club Field Day events, vegetables must be served for
dinner.

Hey, these requirements would make it nice and challenging for people
to earn their licenses. We want our hams to be healthy. Too many are
afflicted with obesity, heart disease, high cholesterol, high blood
pressure, and other health problems. We won't give licenses away -
hams will need to cut the fast food, junk food, and tobacco out of
their lives. This will be quite a challenge given how sacred the
Kentucky Fried Chicken, soda pop, and donuts are.

Jason Hsu, AG4DG

"charlesb" wrote in message om...
Assuming that your post is serious and not intended to be humerous, Jason,
I'd say that you should be careful not to neglect your mental hygene. Eating
right and staying away from tobacco is nice, but it won't ultimately do you
any good if your thinking is toxic.

Come on, how seriously can you take anything in
rec.radio.amateur.policy?

I don't smoke, but I would gladly take up smoking as an alternative to
becoming another miserable, obnoxious member of the PC-police.

I guess the "PC police" are more evil than Phillip Morris, whose
products kill millions around the world every year. Wouldn't you
rather rebel against Phillip Morris? They represent everything you
hate about the Establishment!

There's probably only one hope for you now, Jason, and that is to buy
yourself a pack of Chesterfields or Luckies and fire one on up on your way
to "Golden Corral" to take advantage of that all-you-can-eat buffet.

Smoking is so disgusting that I wouldn't even do it if it were
healthy.

If it's any consolation to you, the Atkins diet followers think I
guzzle carbs the way a 1972 Cadillac guzzles fuel. (According to news
articles, these people now have their own grocery stores and
restaurants. Ugh.) The anti-meat anti-fat Ornish diet followers
think I guzzle fat the way a 1972 Cadillac guzzles fuel.

I guess I must be eating right if other hams think I'm on a crash diet
and the followers of the latest diet fads think I eat like a hog.

Jason Hsu, AG4DG

"Jason Hsu" wrote in message
om...

I don't smoke, but I would gladly take up smoking as an alternative to
becoming another miserable, obnoxious member of the PC-police.

I guess the "PC police" are more evil than Phillip Morris, whose
products kill millions around the world every year. Wouldn't you
rather rebel against Phillip Morris? They represent everything you
hate about the Establishment!

Nope. The tobacco companies are great benefactors of mankind, compared to
the PC police... Tobacco may poison individuals, but "PC" poisons entire
cultures, causing much more damage and expense than all of the tobacco
companies combined.

One quick example: Irrationally afraid of nuclear power, the "PC police"
has seen to it that we stick with the burning of fossil fuels for our
electricity. How clever.

The main problem with "PC" is not to be found in individual examples of PC
actions though, but rather in the pervasive stupidity it imposes upon the
entire culture. It is basically an instrumnent of deconstructionists who
insist that there is no truth, there is no history, so its "OK" to lie as
long as its allegedly for somebody else's "good".

"PC" sees it's fullest expression in California, the cereal-bowl state.

(Once you get past the fruits and nuts, the only thing left are the flakes.)

Charles Brabham, N5PVL

Quite frankly, Charles, I'd love to see all of the smokers suddenly stop.
Really. Then everyone would find out what this is *really* all about. It's
about money. You can't cut income taxes the way the government has without
reducing spending - and they found a way to grab more money from the 25% of
the adult population that smokes - and make it politically 'correct' as
well! Our county found a way to sell that "future" tobacco income and raise
a ton of money. Guess what? They spent it. Now Monroe County is facing
some nasty decisions. New York state now charges $1.50 or $1.55 per pack
plus 8.25% sales tax on that tax (at least here in Monroe County). I see a
sign at the local grocery store - over $50.00 per carton plus 8.25% sales
tax. Was it Alabama that rejected property tax hikes to support schools?
What is happening is the elimination of support for necessary items (schools
do come to mind). Unemployment has new wrinkles designed to keep folks from
collecting even if they were laid off for business reasons. Yes, they now
will pay for college education if you can't find a job after a year;
unfortunately, there has been no funding for that since 2001! If you work
for a company with a company paid pension and you are eligible to collect
it, they will reduce unemployment by that amount - even if you aren't
collecting it! Lovely.

I was very fortunate in that I found another job within the company I work
for. They have hollowed out the pension system and use the savings to hire
new top managers (the new president only had to show up for work. He could
quit or be fired the same day and would receive $175,000 per year for life.
If he stays 9 years, he gets $1,000,000 per year for life.).

Interestingly, a new store was built about 5 blocks from me. I tried it and
was amazed. The groceries are the same quality as I'm used to and are far
cheaper. 3 *large* reinforced shopping bags (one of which was so heavy it
was cutting into my hand) cost me $38.20. Hmmm ... I wonder how the main
store (Wegman's) is going to fair when folks discover this? So, Sam's club
for meat and this other store for everything else as far as I'm concerned.

Back to the smoking. I really wish everyone could stop smoking. You think
Social Security is in a mess (you are aware that the feds have "borrowed"
those funds?) now, just wait until 25% of the population starts living an
extra 5 to 10 years! Many folks (non-smokers as well) live their final few
years in a nursing home. The big difference in costs between smokers and
non-smokers is the 5 or 10 years of Social Security that the non-smokers
collect. Even a modest check of $1200 per month is $14,000 per year. That
comes to $140,000 for an extra 10 years.

Maybe we should pay the ball players $100,000,000 per year instead of only
$10,000,000. That should fix things just fine. At least their kids will
get a decent education.


73 from Rochester, NY
Jim AA2QA



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"charlesb" wrote:

One quick example: Irrationally afraid of nuclear
power, the "PC police" has seen to it that we stick
with the burning of fossil fuels for our electricity.
How clever.


Irrationally afraid of nuclear power? According to the UN, there have been
386 serious nuclear power plant accidents around the world (serious defined
as a significant release of nuclear material into the atmosphere). Several
of those accidents have been right here in this country. In addition, there
have been over 6,000 nuclear weapons tests, resulting in millions of tons of
radioactive material spread across this planet. Nobody is certain how many
nuclear weapons accidents there have been. And, since records are not kept,
nobody is certain how many accidents there have been at nuclear research
facilities. The nuclear industry, peaceful or military, has been no friend
to this planet or it's people. And that's not a "PC" perspective - it's
simple common sense.


Dwight Stewart (W5NET)

http://www.qsl.net/w5net/

"Dwight Stewart" wrote in message
nk.net...
"charlesb" wrote:

One quick example: Irrationally afraid of nuclear
power, the "PC police" has seen to it that we stick
with the burning of fossil fuels for our electricity.
How clever.


Irrationally afraid of nuclear power? According to the UN, there have
been
386 serious nuclear power plant accidents around the world (serious
defined
as a significant release of nuclear material into the atmosphere). Several
of those accidents have been right here in this country. In addition,
there
have been over 6,000 nuclear weapons tests, resulting in millions of tons
of
radioactive material spread across this planet. Nobody is certain how many
nuclear weapons accidents there have been. And, since records are not
kept,
nobody is certain how many accidents there have been at nuclear research
facilities. The nuclear industry, peaceful or military, has been no friend
to this planet or it's people. And that's not a "PC" perspective - it's
simple common sense.


Yes, irrationally afraid of nuclear power. Nothing you said there convinced
me otherwise.

Keep in mind the fact that fossil-fuel burning plants pollute while working
perfectly. Unlike the nuclear plants, they don't have to wait for an
accident in order to cause a problem.

Charles Brabham, N5PVL

"Dwight Stewart" wrote in message
nk.net...
"charlesb" wrote:

One quick example: Irrationally afraid of nuclear
power, the "PC police" has seen to it that we stick
with the burning of fossil fuels for our electricity.
How clever.


Irrationally afraid of nuclear power? According to the UN, there have
been
386 serious nuclear power plant accidents around the world (serious
defined
as a significant release of nuclear material into the atmosphere). Several
of those accidents have been right here in this country. In addition,
there
have been over 6,000 nuclear weapons tests, resulting in millions of tons
of
radioactive material spread across this planet. Nobody is certain how many
nuclear weapons accidents there have been. And, since records are not
kept,
nobody is certain how many accidents there have been at nuclear research
facilities. The nuclear industry, peaceful or military, has been no friend
to this planet or it's people. And that's not a "PC" perspective - it's
simple common sense.

The following comments address power plants only. Weapons is an entirely
different issue.

Yes, irrationally afraid. The number of deaths from nuclear power plants
pales into insignificance in comparison to the number of minors who have
died to bring us coal to burn not only from accidents but black lung
disease. The damage done from nuclear power plants pales into
insignificance in comparison to the damage done from oil spills. More
people have died from dams breaking than power plant accidents.

If we applied the same logic and standards to other sources of power as we
do to nuclear, we would not have any electricity at all. We'd have to shut
down every coal, oil, and hydroelectric power plant in the world.

Nuclear power is the cleanest, safest, most efficient form of power
generation available at this time.

Wind and solar have to be excluded at this time since the technology doesn't
exist to make these forms widely available on an efficient basis. And if we
follow the logic of some people in this group on other items, wind power is
too antiquated since it's been used for hundreds if not thousands of years.

And let's compare nuclear power to some non-power industries. Are you aware
of how devastating accidents at chemical plants can be? Have you ever seen
a grain elevator explode from sparks causing the suspended dust to explode?

I'd rather live next to a nuclear power plant than any other type of power
generating facility or any of several other industrial endeavors.

Dee D. Flint, N8UZE

In article ,
(Jason Hsu) writes:

"charlesb" wrote in message
. com...
Assuming that your post is serious and not intended to be humerous, Jason,
I'd say that you should be careful not to neglect your mental hygene.
Eating
right and staying away from tobacco is nice, but it won't ultimately do you
any good if your thinking is toxic.

Come on, how seriously can you take anything in
rec.radio.amateur.policy?

So you were trolling. OK...

I don't smoke, but I would gladly take up smoking as an alternative to
becoming another miserable, obnoxious member of the PC-police.

I guess the "PC police" are more evil than Phillip Morris, whose
products kill millions around the world every year. Wouldn't you
rather rebel against Phillip Morris? They represent everything you
hate about the Establishment!

Does Phillip Morris force anyone to smoke? Or is it a choice people make?

There's probably only one hope for you now, Jason, and that is to buy
yourself a pack of Chesterfields or Luckies and fire one on up on your way
to "Golden Corral" to take advantage of that all-you-can-eat buffet.

Smoking is so disgusting that I wouldn't even do it if it were
healthy.

Well, it's unhealthy, so you're off the hook.

True fact: The *original* antismoking campaigns had nothing to do with health
concerns. Their real problem with smoking was that it was perceived to be an
activity done *only* for pleasure - and therefore evil! (You have to eat and
sleep, so those activities were not targeted as much).

If it's any consolation to you, the Atkins diet followers think I
guzzle carbs the way a 1972 Cadillac guzzles fuel. (According to news
articles, these people now have their own grocery stores and
restaurants. Ugh.)

Why "ugh"? If that diet works for some people, that's a good thing.

Do you understand the relationship of carbs and insulin?

The anti-meat anti-fat Ornish diet followers
think I guzzle fat the way a 1972 Cadillac guzzles fuel.

There are all kinds of fats. Some are needed, some are almost poison.

I guess I must be eating right if other hams think I'm on a crash diet
and the followers of the latest diet fads think I eat like a hog.

No, you're eating right *for you* if your weight and other indicators are good.


George Sheehan used to say that each of us is an "experiment of one", and that
a big part of living is trying out different approaches and seeing what works
best for each of us at various times of our lives.

For example, I've found that eating mostly sugary and carb-y foods causes me to
gain weight and be tired. Plus I'm hungry all the time that way. Eating the
same number of calories in protein and healthy fats causes me to lose weight,
have more energy, and be much less hungry. So instead of cereal and skim milk
for breakfast I have a veggie omelet. Works for me. YMMV.

73 de Jim, N2EY

"N2EY" wrote:

True fact: The *original* antismoking campaigns had
nothing to do with health concerns. Their real problem
with smoking was that it was perceived to be an
activity done *only* for pleasure - and therefore evil!
(You have to eat and sleep, so those activities were not
targeted as much).


Actually, I have a much more suspicious mind. The government's effort
against smoking stepped up greatly in the late 50's, just in time to draw
attention away from the health effects of the nuclear weapons tests of that
time period. And, amazingly so, the "discovered" negative health effects
commonly associated with smoking are almost identical to the negative health
effects commonly associated with nuclear fallout (lung cancer, etc.).
Amazing coincidence, isn't it? If true, an anti-smoking campaign would be a
great "smoke" screen.


Dwight Stewart (W5NET)

http://www.qsl.net/w5net/