Art Bell now an ex-pat

According to several reliable sources, artie is now living in the Philippines, and has burned his bridges behind him. He says he is NEVER returning to the US. (The ‘exodus’ some have referred to on air.)

He sold his ‘compound’ to Tom in Arizona, who will probably be moving in this next week, and is recruiting help for the move.

artie GAVE his guesthouse to Karen (now the owner of KNYE), and the station controls which were moved there last week. All property rights were also given to Karen on the big sign for KNYE on highway 160, as with the land it sits on, it is worth a huge chunk of money for advertising rights, as no one can buy land anymore to put up signs for advertising.

He gave away one car (not to me!), and sold another to a ‘good friend’.

And to show what kind of man he is, he had all his cats put down. (Now WHAT vet would put down healthy animals? That person should be reported to the Nevada authorities.) It is said that his condominium in Manila does not allow pets… (hmmm, kinda like Ramona, huh?)

And to show what kind of man he is, he did not even say ‘good bye’ to friends he’s had for years. (Nor did he drop a hefty amount into my PayPal account to help with uncovered medical expenses!)

Good riddance! With any luck, the other NAMBPIGs will join him there.

Perhaps now, without artie’s constant threats of lawsuits, complaints to the FCC, and other strong arm tactics, SWL will be ‘fun’, again. With no more ‘late night’ EliteHams, maybe early evening will see more of w6wbj, wb6bnq, k4ze, k6txh, n7js, w7lw, and other interesting HAMS.

Ch...Ch...Ch...Changes

A brief 'wrap up' if you will, of some recent changes:

- Few, if any pics have been changed on www.hamcams.com by Paul Bowman w7mag.

- Ditto www.elitehams.net add to that Jim Southwick's n7js, pic slot is empty, is that temp or permanent? (quick, everyone, go put the theme of 'A Summer Place' on your web site!). Give us a break - take the site DOWN. Are we having fun yet, scotty???

-http://www.radiowingnuts.com/ by Steve Wingate k6txh, has some EXCELLENT new pics up, most hysterically funny, I might add. (Hey, SteveO, hope your neighbor is not just going on a vacation!). And there's no fecal material anywhere in sight!

-The brand new http://www.hamminitup.net/ Little Peeps page, by Terry kb5b, which actually had some non x-rated potential, has more or less closed by posting this message:

***NEWS FLASH ***
Well, the web site lasted two weeks. I was able to withstand fat jokes, religious concerns, etc. etc. but when my "LOYALITY" was questioned because I had a link to Hamfanz website came up in an email. That is enough, as always I treated everyone with the same respect I would like to receive. I don't dislike someone because they don't like some other of my friends. For crying out loud people, grow up..... if we all didn't talk to people that the others dislike we would not be talking to anyone....
Therefore and henceforth, the website is discontinued as it is known now

Terry didn't even get a chance before they piled on him. Sad to say, but there are many of us who could have told him what to expect...

- The LittlePeeps Log http://members.cox.net/kn6z/littlepeoplelog.htm by Glen Thurman kn6z, now has a 'slot' labeled "k6uey Orv’s pre-need slot." Good luck on THAT...

- The Pahrump Receiver. Getting reports that all anyone ever gets is band noise. Did artie leave someone in 'control' or not, and who is it?

-And yes, artie is off to the PI AGAIN, leaving 'susie' behind with his laptop, to try to bait the HamFanz Chatters. And no, no one seems to be missing him on Ham Radio, except perhaps Jim Watkins ki6gu, and Scotty k7mix, and I sure haven't asked them personally...

-The scat on scotty k7mix, is that he is scrambling to keep his job and his house. (All at once now, say: 'ohhhhhhh poor scotty').

- The behind the scenes question (among many!) regarding Ben Gardner kd7bcw, and his new wife Cherry is just HOW much did his MOM have to fork out for her son's new 'toy'???

Just a bunch of 'little stuff' folks, not one of which is big enough for a full blown HamFanz Grudge Report, but as we all know, "inquiring minds," etc.

Elites kissed & made up?

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.)

HamStreams Gone!

Well that didn't last long! Perhaps the idea was good, but there were too few willing to participate in a non-political site (or was it?). Maybe the timing of HamStreams was off; perhaps it would have 'made it' three or five years ago...

My own hopes for HamStreams was that we would get more Hams streaming audio. That could still be in Jim Southwick n7js, future, or so a lot of us hope!

At any rate, n7js has his reasons, which he goes into in depth. There is much to cogitate on in his 'closing statement' below. Your own comments on this are, of course, welcome!

April 20, 2008 (A letter to myself):

I've given this a lot of thought and watched quite a bit of history with this group. I've had things shared with me - some that is public and some that may never be made public. This too has helped with this decision. No, no one pressured me into anything. I feel it is in my best interests to get back to basics - which was being part of a site created with a sole interest to explore various creative endeavors of the marriage between radio and computer or other creative related endeavors. That is, my original site JimandLeah.Com. It was devoid of personalities obviously (other than myself) and therefore politics, attacks, direct influences (good and bad), which allowed me to explore and express without the need to worry about pleasing or offending others based on the fickleness of their own loyalties (which seems to change with the wind or their last fart). If somehow, someone is deriving some sense of importance from associations or hierarchy as relating to ham radio (it's a hobby!) - then obviously they have something missing in the old internal department. If associations somehow motivate you to be a better human being or hell, write you a paycheck - I could see it. Otherwise, that stuff is far too adolescent for me on an ongoing basis except if maybe I have a dozen beers and feel like masturbating my ego and winding up the most aberrant parts of my unconscious. Mind you, I'm human and like to occasionally engage in that, but my psyche (and my body) can only sustain that 2 or 3 weeks out of the year. Far too little to play in a major role in a theater of the absurd if I desired it in the first place. The themes of either you are "with us or against us" rubs completely against my constitution. The themes of constant attack and/or obsession also runs counter. I realize by the recent site I created (hamstreams.com) - it became somewhat of another conduit for expressing the very bullshit of any other site based on personalities....worse in some ways. I combined what seems to now be a multi-forum of hate that probably helps feed more hate vicarously in private little conversations, chats, PM's, etc. What the hell was I thinking? What I was thinking was I could try to bridge a path between the various facets of personalities (hence my theme of Saints and Assholes). I thought maybe I could combine something into an area of provoking rants, disagreements, agreements, stated positions, defense of positions, expression of differences, commonalities, and hence introspection visually, auditorally, and verbally due to the openess and concept of the site. What I didn't realize was I was trying to do it with an invitation to a large percentage of people who think in black and white redneck realities. What an idealistic joke. I must have been out of my mind. I now realize they are all doomed (in a philosophical sense) unless you can somehow inject a large percentage that categorically reject that thinking AND have loose and non-need associations with each other. It works, because I run another one with 100 times the people here and I've ran it for years. As I see it, it ain't happening w/ this crowd. These sites (if they are interactive in any way and with the make up of personalities) - eventually degrade to the lowest common denominator of attacks or else they become a milk toast place of sycophants and alpha males looking for validation of shallowness and abnormalities. It's completely predictable. If I ever go for my Doctorate in Psychology, I swear to God I'm going to do my thesis on this. So here it is as I see it - I don't want to be placed in either of these categories with direct associations and hence the accompanying pressure of a group mentality. It's a pathetic road when you view it objectively and unfortunately I haven't always done that. I catch myself at times feeling the pull of useless importance. I don't want to be pigeon holed...therefore allowing me to talk to anyone and be part of no one. I realize this will cause some people not to want to talk to me who fit the descriptions above. Therefore I am deleting HamStreams.Com. It will simply forward to my original site in a few days. I have asked Greg W6EZV to remove my cam spot from his site. I have asked Scotty K7MIX to remove my spot and image on elitehams. Now what about Paul's site? Paul's ham cam site is actually a "static" site and basically low on interactivity. In addition, the base is now diverse enough to dilute the major parts of aberration (see above). At one time, I did request to be pulled based on a theme that was going on that I considered embarrassing on a whole, but I didn't want to hurt feelings and come right out and say it. I actually currently consider Paul's site quite good based on his evolving approach (and thankfully the evolving approach of pics) so it doesn't feel stifling to belong there. Hopefully he will avoid the pitfalls but it requires autonomy and being counter-intuitive. This isn't an attempt at burning bridges, but an attempt not to see them all burned eventually. So having said all of this, I realize many of you don't give a damn, and now I don't have to give a damn whether you do or not. Talk to you on the radio and if not.....wavin the bird at ya.

Jim

Chats, Chats, and more Chats

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???

Move over Mrs. Miller!

Yes, well, Mrs. Miller could sing, kinda sorta. For her bio please see: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mrs._Miller

Trish Ray k4ze, a 'SWL turned ham, 3840 used to be', composes and sings. She even sells her own CD's on her site, or at least she did at one time. I can't seem to find her page at the moment; she updates her sites so often even the search engines can't keep up with her!

Bill Crowell w6wbj, can't sing, but he does not let that stop him! He really belts 'em out when he's in the mood, or has something to say. (Wonder what he sounds like in the shower? ) Not only that, but he can play that piano! And work with music on many levels.

I, on the other hand, can not sing. I can not carry a tune in the proverbial hand basket! I may not have the 'broadcasting voice' that art bell w6obb, n7js, ki6gu, or wg6k, have -- but I have a great deal of experience with 'literary readings' and poetry.

It was something that was fated to happen someday, and today is that day! A melding of great talents if you will. So for your enjoyment, MONEY, by Bill Crowell & evvy garrett...

The Art (w6obb) of Domination

“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...

Jim Southwick n7js, Looking for EVERYTHING in the wrong places!

It would seem that the ‘Rev’ is lost, can no longer find his way around the net!

Yesterday, I received several emails containing this quote (apparently from the 3840net chat):

Big
Hamfanz Supporter
Sure hope she writes a new Grudge Report soon. I'm
starting to get the Grudge Report D.T.'s.
1:24 AM
n7js
I
hope she does too, because that one about me sounds like nothing but sour
grapes.

“Nothing but Sour Grapes”? In what way? Sour Grapes, or the truth? It is not my fault if Jim does not like what he has become! I had no input in his choice of ‘roads’.

What I find most interesting is that Jim did not comment on this blog on the article referenced, where he might have been able to enter into discourse with folks about his views. He chose to comment in a place were only a very few of his cohorts hang, even then, no one stepped up to agree with him.

Not only could Jim have posted to this blog, but he definitely has my email, knows where the HamFanz Chat room is, and probably belongs to the HamFanz Yahoo Group.

Those whom ‘hit & run’ or ‘hit and hide’, as in this case (on frequency or someplace where ‘hitting back’ is impossible), quickly lose my respect! Add to that, if they are of the male gender, certain parts of their anatomy shrink each time such an ‘unmanly’ act is committed.

People, people, I am not difficult to find! And neither are you...

Jim Southwick n7js, Looking For Love in All the Wrong Places

Last night, a lone, plaintive, (begging?) voice was heard in the wee hours. Jim n7js, was inviting (begging), Hams to come to 3.720;

"Come on up, we're open, we're receptive, we'll talk to you, listen to you. Is anyone on this frequency? n7js. You can't tell me no one is listening. Well tell you what, we're on 3720, come on up, we're open, we're receptive, the water's fine. n7js QSY 3.720"

No Jim, no one was listening. They might have been had you not taken your online tuner down, though!

But since you have to depend on the Pahrump Receiver now, as do the rest of us, may I suggest that you post such messages to the HamFanz Yahoo Group, and to the HamFanz chat - you might reach more people that way...

This audio clip will be available for 24 hours at: http://www.hamfanz.com/ Current Clips.

Man-O-Pause

Ohh My! They 'boys' have been testy of late!

It would seem that they are not happy with the designation "white affluent males", especially Jim Watson ki6gu! What? Are there no mirrors in their abodes???

And artie w6obb finally admits to living in a trailer! Something some have been pointing out for years!

While Jim Southwick n7js is trying to get used to being hated, instead of loved...

The HAM version of Man-O-Pause for sure, after all, they are all about the right age, except of course artie, who has already been there and done that!

To hear this clip for the next day or so, go to http://www.hamfanz.com/ and click on 'Current Clips'. There are now 14 recent audio clips on the 'secret page' (which is my version of the 'secret frequency'!)including a nice one of Cynthia kg6uhj (mark's k6fej wife) making a rare appearance on 3678.

How Many Hams does it take to use Windows Messenger?

In the wee hours of this very morning, the Elites, the ‘cream of the crop’ so to speak, the male, white, affluent Hams that are now meeting on 3720 after midnight, gave me my laugh of the week.

On air was: Jim Southwick n7js, Jim Watkins ki6gu, Scott Baris n6edv, Art Bell w6obb, and Steve Wingate in the background, so smashed he could not even pronounce the simple words.

They have kissed and made up, (well, not including Steve) and were trying to figure out how to add each other to their messengers. It was a riot!

I can only wonder if they added moi to their contacts as artie even mentioned that Kent Nyberg wm7o, was on his list... (Wasn’t it just a few months ago that Jim Southwick n7js told me he was far too busy to play around with an IM program?)

I would suggest that you follow their directions, and invite them to join your Windows Messenger list! Hmmm, wonder how many ‘invites’ they’ll get?

Get yourself something to drink, be prepared to have a good laugh, and go listen to the audio clip of Eaney, Meany, Miney & Moe (and it will only be there for a FEW days!), in “IM Hell” at: http://www.hamfanz.com/Current/Clips.html. You will want to listen to it more than once!

Uneasy Alliance: Hams & SWL

Recently a Ham said to me, “You know, I don’t think anyone has put Hams and SWL together before; at least not to my knowledge. And you have, with HamFanz.”

Yet it seemed to me (5 years ago), to be a marriage made in heaven and the next logical step in the hobby. I have never understood those that cannot recognize that the two ‘hobbies’ are but different sides of the same coin.

The sentiment that Hams and SWL have no business walking on the same ground has come up many times before. Here are some quotes by Hams you might or might not know that have been posted in recent years at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/HamFanz :

11.4.05 Bill Houlne wb6bnq
“There is NO MORAL or LEGAL requirement for ANY Amateur radio operator to provide ANY service of ANY kind to ANY party that is listening in ANY incidental manner of ANY sort. So your position that ANY said Amateur radio operator deserves a lashing or is a BUM is totally without ANY merit. The fact that some people provide receivers listening to Amateur radio frequencies in NO WAY infers ANY liability on the part of the unsuspecting Amateur Radio participants.This seems to be a common attitude of non-participating listeners. For some reason they feel they have a right to be included in an Amateurs pursuit of HIS hobby. Clearly, this is errant behavior on the part of the non-participating listener.If the non-participating listener desires to be included in such activities, then they are welcome to study the relevant material necessary and get their own license. This way they can PARTICIPATE in the hobby in any allowed manner as they so chose.”11.4.05 Bart Baily km6rf
“I agree totally that the participants in an ongoing QSO incur no obligation to parse and explain any QSY movements solely for the benefit of SWLers. I can also understand, and to a degree sympathize with theirfrustration at having their vicarious activities thwarted. Having once been a somewhat high profile rag chewer, as you well know, I can state that frequency changes are more often a matter of accommodating the vagaries of propagation and/or curious technical whimsy, rather than any efforts to cloak and obfuscate the content of the conversation.”

5.27.06 Pete Slagle k6xl
“SWLs can listen whenever they want, but, IMHO, that is unrelated to whatmakes ham radio unique and valuable.”

2.8.06 Carl Richardson kb5fjx
“...Well I have to respond to this one, and I want to make something very clear. Amateur Radio Operators are not on the air to entertain SW Listeners...”

What the above opinions have in common (other than being totally self-serving and niggardly) is that they do not take into account the fact that many Hams not only want to be heard, want an audience, but also want their own fans. Many (certainly not all) Hams found their way into Amateur Radio in because of thwarted, cut short, or fantasized broadcasting careers.

Many SWL’s found the world of Amateur Radio because they WANTED to listen to live productions. They craved the drama, and vicarious living that used to be a part of broadcast radio (talk shows?).

A number of these SWL are elderly, ill, disabled, poor, and perhaps even alone. Exciting or boring, there is nothing like that voice from the radio to help you get through the night.

Then there are the SWL’s who are actually licensed Hams, and just do not have the equipment or circumstances to currently be on air.
What many Hams (like those quoted above) do not realize, is that they too, could easily be in the position of being a SWL by any number of common life circumstances.

As one SWL stated recently in an email; "Do you know of any place online to hear 3840 streaming? Do you know where www.smeter.net was getting it from, the URL or IP number? I think it was some HAM in Ogden, UT. www.smeter.net is down and they usually have it. I have MS and I'm in bed a lot and up all night with pills. It's the highlight of my night to hear that crowd. LOL"

I had to reply that I did not. Since Jim Southwick n7js, has decided he has put enough time, money and effort into his online tuner, it is SWL like the one quoted above that suffer, with no choice except to listen to Art Bell w6obb, Pahrump Receiver (I for one, am grateful to him for streaming the audio of 3.678.)

The thing I do not understand is the uncompleted syllogism of 1) Hams like to talk 2) Hams want listeners 3) (uncompleted) Every frequency (Ham) or group streams their audio to listeners.

As one Ham (requesting anonymity) put it: “It really would be nice if someone just did a dedicated streamer for 3.840 (a fifth grader can figure that out although most hams probably can't unfortunately).”

So where ARE the audio streams for 3.740, 3.840, and other frequencies??? HamFanz is still trying to put Hams and SWL’s together!

Addendum To: Jim Southwick n7js, Shuts Tuner Down

Would just like to add a couple of things I feel either were not included in the original article, or were not made clear enough (It was written on the ‘fly’).

1) Jim has every right to decided how he spends his time, money, and effort.
2) When you provide a service that folks depend on, it is better to NOT discontinue the service without notice. It is also preferable to set up an alternate if possible.
3) When you are in the ‘public eye’ of ANY circle, expect to take flack on ANY decision.
4) Perhaps if Jim had gotten support in the way of donations, the tuner would still be available. (How many of you have ‘donated’, even ONCE, to Jim’s Tuner during the last five years?)
5) If Jim reincarnates his online tuner (or if anyone else sets one up), I feel that it should be on a subscription only basis (affordable, of course!), and I have told him that many times.

Jim Southwick n7js, Shuts Down Online Tuner

Copied and pasted directly from Jim’s site http://www.jimandleah.com/

After 5 years and much thought and consideration - JimAndLeah's User Controlled Online Tuner is no longer. Due to increasing costs, equipment issues, age of computers (requiring eventual repairs and upgrade) and most of all - time debt, I have made a decision to take things down. I may re-visit the whole thing in the future, but I would like to tackle other learning curves at this time. The online tuner was fun, but I took it about as far as I could take it (including 2 major published articles). I simply don't find joy unless something is progressing and advancing. It is unfortunate that the whole hobby of user controlled online tuners has taken some massive hits as of late. With the demise of DXtuners, a great resource was lost and I am hesitant to throw more water on it. It is the technical aspects, costs, and upkeep that separate these unique mechanisms from mere audio streaming - hence the commitment level is much much greater. It's this aspect that frankly makes them overly abused while being under appreciated. I do want to say however, that I have appreciated those that have supported me over the years. This came in the form of encouragement, links, and financial support. I am grateful. I'm not one to just completely yank the carpet, so my site will still exist and will be a dynamic ever changing medium - depending on my whim. Within the next few days it will be converted to display live weather data from sensors around my home. I will also be streaming live police and fire for all you excitement fanatics. It may not be as entertaining as 75 meters, but it will have to do for now. I may expand this to include other audio streams from those interested in participating and ultimately push it all at my forgotten site - www.hamstreams.com In the meantime, don't forget about www.smeter.net which is probably one of the last (if not the last) site that has a focus on consolidating controllable radio's. I know that was his ultimate goal, and it is my hopes that the future holds more of these vs. mere audio streaming.

Well, it seems that is exactly what Jim has done “yanked the carpet” and added to the demise of both Ham Radio, and Short Wave Listening.

Though I have ‘sensed’ this was coming for a long time, as Jim just hasn’t seemed interested in providing this ‘service’, (and that’s what it was, a service) for quiet a period of time.

I did notice that the above statement is all about ‘Jim’, his costs, his time, his fun. There seemed to be no concern for others, or the effect such a move would have on anyone but himself. Is everyone involved in Ham Radio a clone of narcissistic artie, w6obb?

Wonder how many will be interested in ‘live police and fire’ from Ogden UT? Or weather data from Jim’s home? I guess Jim will...
Should we all just pack it in? (This includes both HAMS/SWL’s many of whom have equipment, but just get poor reception.) Or will there be folks out there who will set up dedicated, live streams of their fav frequencies?

Chaos Reigns

I know there is not a full moon; are we not just barely past a full moon, or was it a new moon? Could it be sunspots? Something has ‘triggered’ absolute chaos across the bands! Is it a conspiracy of some type? Or did 'they' think I was just not busy enough to keep those donations coming in...

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1) Jim Southwick n7js was removed for the second time from http://www.hamcams.com/ , allegedly for posting a ‘pornographic pic. Paul Bowman w7mag, said the stick figure with the gas
nozzle was offensive to his daughter. I would assume the pic of a very pregnant Airyn Bell in only a bra was not, since artie’s pics are still present.

1A) Scott Baris n6edv, was ‘demoted’ on the http://www.hamcams.com/ page. Was there a reason? Did he also post a pic that Paul’s daughter found offensive? Could it be that he can be heard on 3.840 (as is Jim n7js)?

1B) Which goes a long way to prove that artie w6obb, still, ‘owns’ Paul Bowman and HamCams.

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2) 3840 was jammed for HOURS starting with traditional ‘call to battle’ bagpipe music. (Find audio clips: 2007_05_16_KI6GU_Bagpipes_Are_Overwhelming_Here.mp3 & 2007_05_16_WB6BNQ_W6WBJ_All_Done_Jamming_Now_Greg.mp3 Bill Crowell w6wbj, on air, claimed that Greg Sousa w6ezv was the source. Others were wondering if Billy was doing the jamming himself. Why would the ‘world’s biggest jammer’ be upset by a little jamming anyway? (Again, a case for the fact that Billy w6wbj, can dish it out but not take it!)

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3) Steve Wingate k6txh, again deeply under the ‘influence’ and losing it on 3.840 for HOURS in the wee hours of 5.18.07 (Clip: KI6GU_W6EZV_K6TXH_Steve Goes Nuts (again).mp3 ). When Steve was asked, fairly nicely at first I might add, to shut up or leave, and he chose to do neither, it was revealed that he was growing marijuana for sale, at his Northern California home. (Which, I may add, was alluded to here, in The HamFanz Grudge Report earlier. Click on the k6txh link!). Will law enforcement soon be visiting SteveO? Will the FCC take any action? I will believe neither until I see it.

3A) Greg Souse was on air on 3.840 via a phone patch, compliments Jim ki6gu.

3B) In retaliation for the above, Steve Wingate w6txh, banned Jim Watkins ki6gu, and Scott Baris n6edv (after reposting a pic of ki6gu), from his http://www.3840hams.net/ site. (Like the police knocking on your door and a felony conviction are equivalent to not having a place to post personal pics!) This doesn't seem to leave much of a web site.



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4) There is gossip that ‘Sawyer’ is still one more of billy’s w6wbj, multiple ID’s! As Jim’s Tuner remains off line, yet ‘Sawyer’ (whose only email is at his 3840aa site), and who claims he is a SWL, is recording and posting audio clips. BTW, ‘Sawyer’ (which rhymes with lawyer), never chats about his radio, antenna etc. as do most SWL’s.



...So many of these Hams have ‘fallen’ so many time, from so many things, that they not only have the properties of dominos, knocking down the next in line, but I suspect some (like SteveO), are actually developing spots on body and soul, white, yellow, or otherwise!

My phone and email has been ‘hot, hot’ hot’ the last few days and I have been trying to sort out fact from wishful thinking! As I get more background on these events, I will follow up! If you have MORE information, let me know...

Withdrawal?

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...

Jim’s Tuner n7js, two weeks and counting!

It has been over two weeks now since Jim’s tuner went down. There is no ‘update’ on his site http://www.jimandleah.com/ about the status of the Icom R-75’s repairs, or an approximate date when the site will again be functional.

Jim has not even posted to his private blog http://jimandleah.blogspot.com/ since Jan. 2007! Not a word on it about the Icom.

And what’s with Trish k4ze? On her blog http://patriciaray.blogspot.com/ she’s quoting the bible and talking about death! She is no longer streaming audio on her site http://patriciaray.net/index.html. Her latest interest seems to be videos. Jeeze...

But I digress, some SWL’s have been reduced to listening to artie’s w6obb, Pahrump Receiver; and about all that can be said about that is, it is better than nothing, and it may be better than Coast to Coast AM.

Others have actually ‘fallen back’ to the poorly edited, old ‘clips’ on SWL (or Ham stalker?) Sawyer’s audio page at: http://3840aa.com/index.php, or to the better collection of recordings to be found at http://www.archive.org/details/3840_HOM_Radio . Since Jim’s Tuner is ‘down’ neither of these sites has any recent recording posted.

For those who are flush, I would like to remind you of http://www.dxtuners.com/ , way back when it was free, and I am talking YEARS ago, I listened there almost every night. If you are really going nutso, it is a viable, if expensive, option.

Something that has surprised me is the lack of ‘streamers’. I would have thought that the egos that like to ‘perform’ for an audience most would have jumped in with temporary (or permanent?) streams, if not actual tuners. In fact, with the ‘squabbling’ going on amongst the ‘groups’ now, I would have thought that each group would have their own web sites with dedicated streams, hit counters, forums, and chats, to see who got the largest share of the audience.
Then again, perhaps this is just part of the death of amateur radio, and you all have just fallen apart (in many ways) since the departure of artie from the air, just as he suggested you would.

Jim’s n7js, Tuner is Down, Down, Down

This note appeared today on Jim’s Online Tuner Site:

ON APPROX. MARCH 23RD, THE ICOM R-75 UNEXPECTEDLY LOST ALL SENSITIVITY IN THE SHORTWAVE SECTION. IT IS ASSUMED AFTER MANY TESTS, THAT THIS IS A FAILURE IN THE FRONT END OF THE RECEIVER - MOST LIKELY CAUSED BY INTENSE STATIC ELECTRICITY IN THE AREA. THE RADIO IS BEING SHIPPED TO SULTAN ELECTRONICS AND THEREFORE WILL BE OFF-LINE UNTIL REPAIRS CAN BE COMPLETED. MORE THAN EVER, WE APPRECIATE YOUR CONTRIBUTIONS FOR THE CONTINUATION OF THIS SYSTEM.

We would ALL appreciate it if someone would contribute a SECOND Icom R-75 to Jim Southwick n7js! It probably would not even have to be new...

Come on all you tightwads! I KNOW there are a few of you out there that could afford to do this; if I had an extra buck to my name, I would have sent him TWO of these by now (and purchased one for me and hired a local ham to ‘hide’ an antenna on my roof, sigh) by now.

And if you are unable to do that, at least send the guy some CASH, so he will have the resources to operate a quality service, including back up hardware and systems! Go use that PayPal Button at: http://www.jimandleah.com/

Notice, Jim did not say when he expected to have his Tuner back up, something I feel that does not bode well for any of us. Guess I am going to get caught up on my reading.

Jim Southwick n7js, Scott Baris n6edv, Green Eggs & HAMS

Early on Friday evening, March 2, on 3.850 (because of contesting on 3.840), two Misfit HAMS, both married and without children as far as I know, ended up talking to a group of youngsters in Wyoming who were on a campout.

The kids took turns on the radio, and were polite if too soft spoken. Some seemed bored with the whole thing, but others seemed awed. Future HAMS all...

Scott Baris soon got ‘Cindy’ his wife on the radio to talk to the kidlets, and he wandered away to do something else. By the way, Cindy has a nice a voice and attitude, to match that body we have all seen so many pictures of over the years. Jim Southwick stuck it out for the duration.

Though the Wyoming Station was at times difficult, if not impossible to hear, the resulting QSO was fun, uplifting, and entertaining.

You can find an unedited recording at: http://www.hamfanz.com/GrudgeFiles/scouts.html

Jim's n7js, Tuner - New Feature Curbs Vout!

Recently, folks using Jim's n7js Tuner, have insisted it be tuned to 3.678! This in spite of the fact that the Pahrump Receiver is DEDICATED to 3.678 (and/or THAT group, following them where ever they might go)!

Specifically, Vout, a long time SWL, who's affiliated with the group that USED to be (and apparently still is; it just has renamed itself) known as the Midnight Hams (or the Mental Hens) practiced this policy. Reason unknown. Other than it seemed she either likes 'control' or doesn't want folks to listen/record 3.840. Who knows.

This became such a problem, by tying up TWO tuners on one frequency, that Jim Southwick has inserted a direct 'link' button to the Pahrump Receiver, instructing folks that if they wish to listen to 3.678, they should 'click' the button.

Here is an example from the Chat at Jim's Tuner BEFORE the NEW Pahrump Link button and instructions were installed.


<1> Please go to Pahrump receiver to listen to this freq.
<1> may i tune?
<2> oh my...this is a communty radio remember?
<1> Folks can go to Pahrump to listen to 3765, it's dedicated.
<2> you can go there too
<2> jim's tuner is not dedicated to any freq...free for all
<1> And u know where U can go...
<1> Pahrump is dedicated to 3765
<2> i guess u know too
<2> good for them
<1> folks can go there to listen to that freq
<2> good for them
<2> we were in the midst of a qso...play nice!
<1> go to Pahrump to listen to YOUR qao
<1> qso
<2> get a ife
<2> dont be rude
<1> Why don't u just go to pahrump to listen?
<1> U are one being rude.
<2> because im here
<2> TX looks like she is going to force her way again...sorry about that
<1> It is stupid to listen to 3765 HERE, when it's dedicated at Pahrump.
<2> tell someone who cares
<1> Why have 2 tuners on same freq?

And this went on nightly! So folks, if you wish to listen to 3.678 (or whatever frequency they move too), please don't use Jim's Tuner to do so!