[CW] Zen and the Art of Radiotelegraphy

[SX-25]

Thank you Carl, IZ0IGJ for your efforts writing ZEN AND THE ART OF RADIOTELEGRAPHY. The
publication presents many positive and effective points.

I also must agree with N6KB whose posting here is most valid.

I am sorry that I cannot sing the high praises of satellite technology as some. As a commercial
airline pilot I have had my share of useless GPS when preparing to shoot approaches into airports
throughout the world. Not all of the globe is covered with a useable footprint from satellites. I
wonder what happens when a ship goes down in those same regions? Heck, here in the good ol' US of A,
more times than I can count, the darned thing fails its RAIM test and I have to rely on "old fashioned"
terrestrial approach systems that thankfully and wisely remain.

I am sure the Nebraska couple that froze to death recently while relying on their satellite technology
would concede that GPS has its limitations.

Regrettably we have become a nation/society/culture of myopic people hypnotized and lured by the
newest thing to the total exclusion of that which came before it. Until we get it through our
thick skulls that back-up systems and techniques, especially those that have stood the test of
time, are a good thing we'll continue to be foolishly reliant on things unworthy of such trust.

By the way, many years ago my wife, who knows no Morse code other than only the letters "S O S,"
summoned me while she sat in our car and I was inside a post office mailing a letter and a guy tried to get into our car. The area was noisy and she could not convey the need for help in her circumstances so she started
hitting "S O S" on the car horn which I heard inside the building and was able to run to her aid.

Beauty in simplicity.

WA9VLK

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