Listening to the Little Peeps last night, (And I that IS what I do, SWL.) I don't know which was more disruptive, Steve k6txh, being Steve, or most everyone else complaining about Steve being Steve!
I must say, as a listener, it makes for an interesting, and entertaining, evening. That is till it gets out of hand, when everyone gets too angry, and goes away, leaving me laughing...
So is it Either/Or???
It absolutely had to happen, The Little People Network. The surprise was that it did not happen sooner!
Glen Thurman’s web site, The Little People Log http://members.cox.net/kn6z/littlepeoplelog.htm, is just that, a log.
Though most probably enjoy the fruits of kn6z’s painstaking, night after night work, and keeping track of the Barneys etc, there is no interactivity.
The Little Peeps are ‘graced’ in that artie w6obb (the Lord of the Loop) smiles upon their group (even sometimes joins them), therefore their audio gets streamed though the Pahrump Receiver.
With the addition of http://www.hamminitup.net/ , they now have a place to post their own pics, comments, questions, and polls. (Go make a comment, or ask a question!)
(Perhaps a future place where they can stream audio if artie cuts them off?)
The Little People’s Network is well laid out, (obviously a template, but hey!), pleasing to the eye (other than terribly small text in the body of the page!), has a few well-known links (but not one to HamFanz!), and a potential to grow into a strong component for the Little Peeps AND their listeners. However, the page tends to 'hang' up IE7...THAT needs to be fixed!
Good for them!
On the night of July 7, 2008, the remaining Elites were on the air. Art Bell w6obb, Jim Watkins ki6gu, Scott Barris k7mix, and various other bit players including Jim Southwick m7js, and Bill Houlne wb6bnq (with one line), showed up.
Gu and artie tried very hard to pretend that they hadn’t been on air because propagation has been so bad (and basically it has been), but that didn’t stop the LittlePeeps nor the Short Attention Span Network!
In fact, the Elites have not been on air because there was still another big blow up. It would seem that artie and Scotty accused GU of telling SOMEONE, SOMETHING. So they were calling GU a rat, took all his pics off EliteHams site, etc. and left 3820 (where GU stayed put).
Now, we are right back to square one, where we were years ago, before the FIRST split. Does artie have the right to tell other hams who they can talk to, or what they can say, or when, or how? Many do not think so, thus the repeated ‘splits’.
By now, artie is down to (literally) a handful of ‘worshipers’. So this split left artie wandering the bands in search of a home (what-propagation was not bad those nights?). It is no surprise that artie did not find any takers. I said then, that the Elites would be forced to kiss and make up.
Scotty trailed along on arties travels. When you put all your eggs in one basket, as Scotty has done big time, you are likely to end up with nothing but broken eggs. Scotty only made a very brief appearance towards the end of the night. In recent days, he has claimed that he is working 12-hour days, 7 days a week, so that he does not have time to get on air, or to do the Phone Patch. This may or may not be true, but it sure sounds like a handy and socially acceptable way to ‘distance’ himself from the whole mess.
After many days, the Elites got back together on air. They may have ‘made up’ behind the scenes, but you could almost see the animosity dripping from the radio. The appearance of Jim Southwick (whom GU actually seemed to almost attack), helped fill the long empty silences between the Elites. One cannot help but wonder if he was contacted and invited to the party for just that reason.
That night, I do not think the Elite Hams site, chat, or phone patch was mentioned by any of them. Perhaps they should just take the site down (as has been rumored that Scotty wants to do). But, I am sure that artie will find another loop worshiping subject, to carry the load for him. It is just a matter of time…
(The full, unedited recordings of that night are currently available on the HamFanz Secret Page.)
Last night, the Little Peeps were extremely gracious as artie w6obb, and Stan wg6k invaded their frequency; especially Glen kn6z. and Moody wq6i.
Stan wg6k moves around the bands often, to see whats going on, and seems comfortable everywhere. But artie w6obb? Abandon the Elites? I smell a 'rat'...
Here's a great clip of artie saying something I am sure he 'choked' on:
http://www.fileden.com/files/2007/9/22/1450734/2008.06.09_w6obb%20BackToGlen.mp3
As usual, the full unedited recordings are on the now HamFanz FREE Secret Page!
In recent weeks, Greg w6ezv, has been heard on The Short Attention Span Network. But last night, he not only got on with The Little Peeps, but when questioned why he was there, he replied, and it sounded truthful to me.
There was then an absolutely GREAT discussion about Art Bell and the Elites by ag7g, wq6i, kn6z, w6ezv and others.
If you did not get to listen, you can find it at (for a couple of days only!): http://www.hamfanz.com/AudioClips/Clips.html
You could easily spend an hour going though all the current chat sites, see many duplicate pics, read many cross-posted comments, and you would have probably wasted your time.
Newest on the roster is (within the past week), Jim Southwick’s n7js HAMSTREAMS http://www.hamstreams.com/ with 10 picture slots and a chat. Jim seemed sure that all ten slots would go ‘to the first takers’ quickly. But there are reports of folks being turned down for picture slots, and as of this writing, there are still two slots available. Lower on the page is HAMSTREAMS ‘one stop chat center’ containing the HamStreams chat, followed by duplicates of w6ezv Greg Sousa’s chat, then Steve Wingate’s k6txh chat. (Though Jim Southwick has protested mightily that HIS site ‘will not be ruled by ham politics’ – notice that HamFanz chat is not there, though I would not have given permission had I been asked. There are also ‘reports’ that Jim felt ‘pressured’ into doing this site. If that is not politics, what is?). I am hoping that this site will eventually stream a LOT of audio, something Jim is so very good at doing.
Almost in the same 24 hours, Greg Souse w6ezv, set up a site and a chat at http://webpages.charter.net/burbank_station/. Unfortunately, all HE did was COPY the defunct 3840aa or Sawyers LateNightHams page. After several days, he has not yet bothered (or figured out how?) to delete all the dead links. (did he get Sawyer’s permission for this ‘copy’?).
Which takes us to 3840aa which was turned into LateNightHams by Sawyer, we assume at Art Bells request, so his ‘phone patch’ callers would have a place to gather and converse. (Here’s what some of the Little Peeps think of the phone patch: http://www.fileden.com/files/2007/9/22/1450734/2008.04.02_LittlePeepsChatRooms.mp3) There was MUCH brouhaha over the sudden demise of LateNiteHams site. With Art Bell saying that it was Sawyer (who on 3.27.08 posted this statement on the closed site, “This is not fun for me anymore, So I'm done with latenighthams.com. 'Sawyer' ”. Art Bell sent me copies of the emails Sawyer sent to him regarding closing the site. Sawyer himself verified that he had sent the emails to Art Bell. Oddly enough though, neither Sawyer nor Greg Sousa replied when asked for further comments. While I do not doubt for a moment, that Sawyer chose to take down LateNiteHams (Sawyer is not known for his ‘staying power’); I also do not doubt that there is a ‘story’ behind this ‘story’, that we are not hearing. This does not even touch on some of the ‘comments’ posted on the LateNightHams chat before it closed by SOMEONE with the nic ‘Art’; comments such as: 1) Art Thu 16:35 ...This chat, like on air has turned to poison my guess is it's days are about up. Bye”, and 2) Art Thu 20:49 ...This chat and that site are going down because of people like Greg, Billy, Wingnut and yes Gene who could not help but put stuff up about Wingnut. Bye”
This brings us to the ‘NEW’ LateNiteHams web site and chat. I really do hope it comes off as planned! If they exclude the trouble makers (and you know who you are!), put artie’s ego on hold, get chat software that requires a valid email addie, set up some basic rules, and ‘monitor’ but don’t ‘censor’ it, I think it could be ‘fun’, especially for SWL’s (though they probably will not let moi in!). Isn’t fun what it’s supposed to be about???
Last night, after almost two weeks of ‘group’ silence, the Elites, Ben Gardner kd7bcw, Art Bell w6obb, Scott Barris k7mix, Jim Watkins ki6gu, (sans Greg Sousa w6ezv) returned to the air.
After ‘leaking’ to the chat boards where they would be, sure enough, the Elites appeared on 3.807 after midnight.
Though both kd7bcw, and w6ezv have been heard, not together, on different frequencies in the last couple of weeks, and artie was on briefly with the Little Peeps a couple of nights ago, mainly, they have been quiet. This uncharacteristic ‘silence’, which spilled over to the Ham sites and chat rooms, promoted wild conjecture and supposition among Hams & SWL’s.
When in reality it was probably just another ‘split’, or a clash of egos. Rumor has it that there was a big blow up, with Sousa w6ezv being the instigator.
The Elites tried to pick up where they left off, rather unsuccessfully, their return boring and anticlimactic.
While they were off air, life went on; there was some terrific listening on The Short Attention Span Network, and even Glen Thurman’s kn6z, description of his upcoming vacation on the Little Peeps was more interesting than the secretive antics of the Elites!
By eliminating anyone interesting from their ranks, the Elites have reduced themselves to a little clique of predictable ‘worshipers of the loop’ (artie).
This audio clip is from the first on air minutes of 3.807 last night. The full audios will be uploaded to The HamFanz Secret Page.
http://www.fileden.com/files/2007/9/22/1450734/2008.03.19_3708%20GuOffAir.mp3
There has been nothing less than stupid conjecture on the ‘chat’ boards (especially the newest one, artie's www.LateNightHams.com !) regarding w6wbj and his latest communication with the FCC.
Yes, the Enforcement Bureau is trying to refuse to answer any of w6wbj’s interrogatories, but there IS a difference between the Enforcement Bureau and the Administrative Law Judge.
The Bureau's refusal is not provided for by the FCC Rules for ALJ hearings. Those Rules contain nothing permitting the Bureau to file such a blanket objection.
Instead, the Bureau is supposed to answer the interrogatories to which they do not object, and state their precise reasons for objecting to each interrogatory they feel is objectionable. They did neither.
W6wbj has now filed a motion with the ALJ to compel them to answer on the ground that, in effect, by filing their blanket refusal, they failed to object at all, and that therefore they have waived the right to object.
As of this date, there has been no ruling on w6wbj’s motion from the ALJ.
This 'situation' just keeps getting more and more interesting!
Some interesting links about this subject:
http://users.innercite.com/bcrowell/other_files/interrogs.doc
http://forums.qrz.com/showthread.php?p=1148223#post1148223
I did hear it announced on air recently, but I also just checked out the LITTLE PEOPLE website http://members.cox.net/kn6z/littlepeoplelog.htm. And sure enough, just a couple of paragraphs under the EGO GRID (Fun! Dontcha just love it?) was the announcement: "In less than two weeks WE ARE MOVING to 3670 or thereabouts."
I don't know WHY they are moving, don't listen enough to really know, and Glenn Thurman, kn6z doesn't say on his log.
But wouldn't this be a great time to CHANGE THEIR NAME???
After all 'THE LITTLE PEOPLE' is a moniker that Jim Watkins ki6gu, coined and applied to that specific group of Hams. Yes, this would be a fortuitous time indeed, for that group to PICK their own name!
All in favor, raise your hand!
“I really am a strong personality, and it is not unusual for me to dominate other people.” This is a quote from THE ART OF TALK by Art Bell, published by Paper Chase Press, 1998.
So is this what artie did to ‘rid’ himself of his Amateur Radio headaches? And just how did he do it?
After a month’s long hiatus, during which he may have taken the back seat, perhaps trying to wait out the solution to all the thorns in his side (Hams), artie stepped forward to solve his Ham woes.
For awhile artie hung with the Little People on 3.678. He was accepted, welcomed even. Ahh, but another thorn in artie’s side; he was not worshiped, nor the leader (though he tried a coup). After month’s of being left to their own devices, The Little People had formed a fairly cohesive ‘group’ of their own; they had a format, and each had a role with Glenn Thurman kn6z being the glue. So artie wisely moved on (as was predicted in The HamFanz Grudge Report as early as July 2, 2007 http://hamfanz.blogspot.com/2007/07/art-bell-w6obb-retires-again.html).
Now 3.720 is ‘his’ and it is pre-stocked with the chosen. (A sub-cult of the Cult of the Loop?). The elite, Hams that artie enjoys talking to, AND who could be manipulated, bought (in one way or another), or blackmailed into complying to artie’s domination. The starting line up for 3.720 consists of: Jim Watkins ki6gu, Scott Barris, w6edv, Bill Houlne wb6bnq, and Jim Southwick n7js. (With w6wbj and w6txh dropping in just because they cannot resist it once in awhile, but not to the point of vexing artie!) Most are former acquaintances/enemies, or Hams that artie himself alienated in recent years.
But how exactly did artie ‘dominate’ all these Hams, bend them to his whim, to accomplish the forming of the 3.720 Elites? Does no one else think it odd that in about one month’s time:
-ki6gu left 3.840 something he swore he would never do
-n7js shut down his online tuner, thus 3.840 would have a much diminished audience, and there would be few recordings of the anti-artie rants floating about?
-w6wbj STOPPED all jibes, insults, verbal and written attacks on artie?
-w6wbj and w6txh seem to have stopped jamming the Elites
Well I think it is strange! Though I know that numerous phone calls, emails, and chats initiated by artie were the starting point, or the basis of arties domination of these Hams; I cannot help but wonder what else was involved.
I think a LOT more than calls and emails went on behind the scenes. Did he threaten some with litigation (w6wbj, k6txh)? Did he somehow ‘buy off’ the materialistic Rev n7js, into closing a tuner that had been his second hobby for 5 years? Did he offer ‘friendship’ and trips to Pahrump to the lonely ki6gu?
“When I decide to do something, I insist it be done my way. No exceptions. And if there are other people involved in what I am doing, they must conform to my direction”, still another quote from THE ART OF TALK by Art Bell, published by Paper Chase Press, 1998.
It would seem that Hams do not read books, which is really too bad, as THE ART OF TALK is nothing but an artie manual. Or they do not mind, or actually prefer, being ‘dominated’ and manipulated by artie...
upgrading his License. He sticks out like a sore thumb on 3.678. Sorry, but he just is not as boring or as dull as almost everyone else is there.
Is there a requirement that if you are mannerly and considerate of others, you have to be boring? I do not think so. That is what has happened to 3.678 since artie made his appearance. I liked it much better when Glen Thurman kn6z was in the ‘lead’.
On top of which, when artie is on 3.675, most of the other Hams involvement and participation is limited in the extreme. They are walking on eggs so to speak; it is the old ‘you could cut the tension with a knife’ situation.
Is it because they do not want to inadvertently touch on a topic, or say something to ‘upset’ artie, or that they are resentful of his intrusion on their frequency (which they worked hard to build up) and just will not say so.
Artie, stop trying to ‘fit in’, it does not suit you. Get back to 3.720, and let them come to you (those that want to, that is)! Let the Little People's Network be what they are...
It’s been over a month now since Jim's Tuner n7js, went down and I'm still suffering withdrawal symptoms.
I sorely MISS listening to the Short Attention Span Network of an evening! I do not even know how my 'god-dog' Cookie is doing or his pal Tony ae6qv!
Off and on, (and when someone is there), I do listen to the 'Little People' on the Pahrump Receiver. All I can say about that is it is better than nothing. (Why do so many of the 'Little People' have the same ‘voice’? Glenn kn6z, Moody wq6i, and Ben kd5bcw being the exceptions.) I must try to remember to tune in Saturday nights to hear the 'Little People' rendition of the 'Barny Song'. Right...
Actually, much has happened during the month since Jim's tuner has been down, in the background so to speak, some of it Grudge worthy, some not! (I WAS right about Ben kd5bcw, yes?).
Do not worry, dear readers, by the temporary lack of HamFanz Grudge Reports (I have been busy with other things!) as I have made note of it all; have ‘reports’ I am working on, stuff in process. I will not forget and all will eventually be revealed...
Ben Gardner kd7bcw, of Little People fame, is going to be married in about 8 to 10 weeks. (The marriage was supposed to occur sooner, but there is some hang-up.) He is going to go to the Philippines to marry Cherry, the cousin of Airyn Ruiz Bell w6obb, and Sharon Ruiz Richardson kd5fjx. Her picture was briefly up on www.hamcams.com, but alas, I did not save it. (But remember, you READ it here, in The HamFanz Grudge Report first!)
The newest newlyweds are planning to live happily ever after with Ben’s Mom! Of course, Ben is trying to keep this all hush-hush, is it because he is embarrassed, or ashamed of what he is doing? Is this something a ‘morally superior’ Ham would do?
Obviously, artie introduced Ben, via computer, to his wife’s cousin, just as Carl Richardson introduced artie to Airyn, his wife’s sister. All of this sharing of the Ruiz women, in a technical sense makes all these men pimps and/or Johns. How many more women does that Philippine family have for sale? Though I do not blame the Ruiz women involved, they are smart enough to recognize when they have hit the jackpot.
Supposedly, Art Bell is paying for Ben’s trip just as he paid for Carl Richardson’s trip. There is no doubt that Ben could not afford it. When I checked the airlines, the going round trip fare was anywhere between $987 and $2000 to Manila. Will artie also pay for hotels, meals, the ceremony, etc? Who is artie going to supply with a Ruiz women next, perhaps Jim Watkins ki6gu? Jeeze, will artie pay to import a Philippine Ruiz boy toy (houseboy of course!) for moi?
Ben makes no bones about being on disability, though no one seems to know why. In fact, he lives with his mother, in his mom’s house. He claims that he lives with his mom ‘to help her out’. (Yea, right, and if you will buy that, I have a bridge for you.) I would like to know how much did he ‘help her out’ before he became disabled. (Yet he continually puts me down for trying to make a legitimate buck, and I do not have a ‘mom’ who owns a home, to live with, or ‘share’ expenses with!).
The scuttlebutt is that Ben’s mom is thrilled with the upcoming nuptials. I do not doubt this. There will now be another woman in the house to do Ben’s laundry, shopping, and other stuff, besides mom, who has been doing it for years now.
These three hams seem to believe whole-heartedly on ‘keeping it in the family’ as well as in ‘the old boys (fools?) club’. This makes the fourth Ham to marry an asian in the past year (Dan Van Hoy vr2hf, married an asian woman named Zane just last week-but her origins are as yet unknown, as is the status of how they met.)
Does anyone else find all this completely disturbing and disgusting?
Is still another ‘flip flop’ in the making? Trish has been heard briefly a couple of times lately, talking with some of the Little People on 3.765.
Then her site www.livehamcams.com is down; it has been for the last few days. Her personal site www.patriciaray.net is up and running, though there does not seem to be any new content, and the link to www.livehamcams.com from her main site, does not work, you just get a 404.
Her Blog ‘Ham Radio News And Views, Thoughts And Opinions’ at http://patriciaray.blogspot.com/ has not had a new entry since February 7th 2007, and that was a rewrite of a prior entry. (Come on you HAM bloggers, you gotta keep up!)
Has Trish gone on another vacation to Jerusalem without telling us, has she given up on Amateur Radio, is she suffering a depression (seems to be a lot of that going around), or are ‘other’ changes in the works?
Given the standing, Trish has (used to have?) among HAMS, I am somewhat surprised that no one has made note of any of this.
Trish, do tell us what's up!
