Here's an update on the "when will FCC drop Element 1?" pool.

Note how almost everyone's date, including mine, has already
passed:

WA2SI: September 13, 2003
KF6TPT: September 29, 2003
KC8EPO: December 31, 2003
K2UNK: January 1, 2004
K2ASP: March 15, 2004
AA2QA: April 1, 2004
N2EY: April 15, 2004
N3KIP: May 1, 2004
KC8PMX: July 1, 2004
WA2ISE: August 1, 2004
K3LT: September 15, 2004
WK3C: December 30, 2004
N4PGW:May 22, 2005
N8UZE: July 1, 2005
AB2RC: July 1, 2007
KB3EIA: July 5, 2007
W5TIT: June 1, 2008

Anybody want to add a prediction? If so, the "rolling rule" (thanks
Dee, N8UZE) applies:

If your prediction on this list is a year or more in the past, you can
add a new one.

At this point N3KIP and everyone before him can add a new prediction.
All predictions stay on the list.

73 de Jim, N2EY

wrote in message
ups.com...
Here's an update on the "when will FCC drop Element 1?" pool.

Note how almost everyone's date, including mine, has already
passed:

WA2SI: September 13, 2003
KF6TPT: September 29, 2003
KC8EPO: December 31, 2003
K2UNK: January 1, 2004
K2ASP: March 15, 2004
AA2QA: April 1, 2004
N2EY: April 15, 2004
N3KIP: May 1, 2004
KC8PMX: July 1, 2004
WA2ISE: August 1, 2004
K3LT: September 15, 2004
WK3C: December 30, 2004
N4PGW:May 22, 2005
N8UZE: July 1, 2005
AB2RC: July 1, 2007
KB3EIA: July 5, 2007
W5TIT: June 1, 2008

Anybody want to add a prediction? If so, the "rolling rule" (thanks
Dee, N8UZE) applies:

If your prediction on this list is a year or more in the past, you can
add a new one.

At this point N3KIP and everyone before him can add a new prediction.
All predictions stay on the list.

73 de Jim, N2EY


Hello, Jim

Well, I lost the original bet. Tell you what, by 2010 there will be no
licensing requirements; by 2011, the U.S. of A. will no longer have any ham
radio licensees.

Everything will be devoted to either big business, Christian Churches, or
the Repooblican party (assuming the brain-dead don't wake up).


73 from Rochester, NY
Jim AA2QA

wrote:
Here's an update on the "when will FCC drop Element 1?" pool.

Note how almost everyone's date, including mine, has already
passed:

WA2SI: September 13, 2003
KF6TPT: September 29, 2003
KC8EPO: December 31, 2003
K2UNK: January 1, 2004
K2ASP: March 15, 2004
AA2QA: April 1, 2004
N2EY: April 15, 2004
N3KIP: May 1, 2004
KC8PMX: July 1, 2004
WA2ISE: August 1, 2004
K3LT: September 15, 2004
WK3C: December 30, 2004
N4PGW:May 22, 2005
N8UZE: July 1, 2005
AB2RC: July 1, 2007
KB3EIA: July 5, 2007
W5TIT: June 1, 2008

Anybody want to add a prediction? If so, the "rolling rule" (thanks
Dee, N8UZE) applies:

If your prediction on this list is a year or more in the past, you can
add a new one.

At this point N3KIP and everyone before him can add a new prediction.
All predictions stay on the list.

73 de Jim, N2EY

Not interested then. Not interested now. Your strangle hold on the
amateur service may not end until the actuarial tables kick in, but
they will end.

"bb" wrote

Your strangle hold on the amateur service may not
end until the actuarial tables kick in, but they will end.

Jim has a "strangle hold" on ham radio? Gee, I didn't know!

Hey, Jim --- loosen up and let me breathe!

did dit ----- Reverse Fransworth
de Hans, K0HB

"KØHB" wrote in news:7UEqe.2534$hK3.1424
@newsread3.news.pas.earthlink.net:


"bb" wrote

Your strangle hold on the amateur service may not end until the
actuarial tables kick in, but they will end.

Jim has a "strangle hold" on ham radio? Gee, I didn't know!

Hey, Jim --- loosen up and let me breathe!

did dit ----- Reverse Fransworth
de Hans, K0HB




Not Jim specifically, but all the Pro Code Test Advocates (PCTA). I think
it was Goethe who said something about new ideas not being accepted until
those who cling to the old ones have died. It has to be said that there is
some truth in that.

I think that the FCC will abolish the code test before we get that far,
though. They are taking their sweet time, though. My XYL is waiting on this
event to go for her General, so that's my main interest.

More countries abolish the code test all the time, although it's slowed to
a trickle. I think Spain ditched the code test quite recently. OTOH, I
think Italy may be one of the very few holdouts in Europe, but I think it
is merely a delay. Canada looks set to do it soon, but has looked that way
for a while, LOL! It will happen here too, but will have taken so long that
some people will be shocked by it, as they will have pretty much forgotten
about it by then.

I don't think I'll add another date. I think it will be this year, though.
All right, put my second guess as December 31st, 2005.

73 de Alun, N3KIP

"Alun L. Palmer" wrote

Not Jim specifically, but all the Pro Code Test Advocates (PCTA).

Nope, those guys are just expressing opinions. If there's a "choke hold" (and I
don't agree there is), then it's the FCC with their hands around the throat of
the ARS.

73, de Hans, K0HB

Alun L. Palmer wrote:
"K=D8HB" wrote in news:7UEqe.2534$hK3.1424
@newsread3.news.pas.earthlink.net:


"bb" wrote

Your strangle hold on the amateur service may not end until the
actuarial tables kick in, but they will end.

Jim has a "strangle hold" on ham radio? Gee, I didn't know!

Hey, Jim --- loosen up and let me breathe!

did dit ----- Reverse Fransworth
de Hans, K0HB


Not Jim specifically, but all the Pro Code Test Advocates (PCTA). I think
it was Goethe who said something about new ideas not being accepted until
those who cling to the old ones have died. It has to be said that there is
some truth in that.=20

didit

Alun L. Palmer wrote:
"K=D8HB" wrote in news:7UEqe.2534$hK3.1424
@newsread3.news.pas.earthlink.net:

"bb" wrote

Your strangle hold on the amateur service may not end until the a=
ctuarial tables kick in, but they will end.

Jim has a "strangle hold" on ham radio? Gee, I didn't know!

Hey, Jim --- loosen up and let me breathe!

did dit ----- Reverse Fransworth
de Hans, K0HB

It occurs to me that the references to "actuarial tables" is
a backhanded way of telling me to drop dead....

Not Jim specifically, but all the Pro Code Test Advocates
(PCTA).

It was aimed straight at me.

I think
it was Goethe who said something about new ideas not being
accepted until
those who cling to the old ones have died.

That claim is incorrect.

It has to be said that there is some truth in that.

Not much, if any.

Not all new ideas are good ideas, either.

I think that the FCC will abolish the code test before we get
that far, though.
They are taking their sweet time, though.

Yep - and that may or may not be significant.

My XYL is waiting on this
event to go for her General, so that's my main interest.

With all due respect - it's been five years plus since the 2000
restructuring made 5 wpm the only code test. Most people can learn
code well enough to pass that test in 4-6 weeks of practicing
about a half-hour a day.

More countries abolish the code test all the time, although
it's slowed to a trickle.

That says something. Japan, long the poster-country of nocodetest
amateur radio, just announced reduction but not elimination of
their code testing.

It would be interesting to see a list of countries with and without
code tests.

I think Spain ditched the code test quite recently. OTOH, I
think Italy may be one of the very few holdouts in Europe, but I think =
it
is merely a delay. Canada looks set to do it soon, but has
looked that way for a while, LOL!

IIRC, Canada is also beefing up its written standards.

It will happen here too, but will have taken so long that
some people will be shocked by it, as they will have pretty
much forgotten about it by then.

I don't think I'll add another date. I think it will be this
year, though.
All right, put my second guess as December 31st, 2005.

I think that's way too soon. FCC is obviously going the NPRM
route, and that document isn't even out yet. Even if the NPRM
shows up tomorrow, it will probably have a comment period
lasting months, then FCC will take more months to do the R&O.

73 de Jim, N2EY

wrote:
Alun L. Palmer wrote:

"KØHB" wrote in news:7UEqe.2534$hK3.1424
:


"bb" wrote


Your strangle hold on the amateur service may not end until the actuarial tables kick in, but they will end.

Jim has a "strangle hold" on ham radio? Gee, I didn't know!

Hey, Jim --- loosen up and let me breathe!

did dit ----- Reverse Fransworth
de Hans, K0HB


It occurs to me that the references to "actuarial tables" is
a backhanded way of telling me to drop dead....


Not Jim specifically, but all the Pro Code Test Advocates
(PCTA).

I am a little surprised that Alun would be so prejudiced as to declare
that all PCTAs think exactly the same.

Makes it a lot easier to demonize than, eh? It isn't just you. I think
exactly the same way as you, and say Larry Roll, and ALL the other
PCTAs, in his estimation.

Bad show!


It was aimed straight at me.


I think
it was Goethe who said something about new ideas not being
accepted until
those who cling to the old ones have died.


That claim is incorrect.


He did however, say

"There is nothing more frightful than ignorance in action."




It has to be said that there is some truth in that.


Not much, if any.

Not all new ideas are good ideas, either.




I think that the FCC will abolish the code test before we get
that far, though.
They are taking their sweet time, though.


Yep - and that may or may not be significant.


My XYL is waiting on this
event to go for her General, so that's my main interest.


With all due respect - it's been five years plus since the 2000
restructuring made 5 wpm the only code test. Most people can learn
code well enough to pass that test in 4-6 weeks of practicing
about a half-hour a day.

5 years lost. So is waiting all this time a matter of high principles,
or is it a lack of real interest?

- Mike KB3EIA -

K=D8HB wrote:
"bb" wrote

Your strangle hold on the amateur service may not
end until the actuarial tables kick in, but they will end.

Jim has a "strangle hold" on ham radio? Gee, I didn't know!

Hey, Jim --- loosen up and let me breathe!

did dit ----- Reverse Fransworth
de Hans, K0HB

All PCTA, including those employed by the FCC.