[Lowfer] Alternate Morse code test

[Ed Phillips]

Bill Ashlock wrote:
> 
> Jay
> 
> >What other reason could there be? Just for the record I'm not an ARRL hater
> >(worked there for 6 years) - I just disagree with their thought process.
> 
> Wouldn't be the first top-notch organization (including some companies I've
> worked for) that went down the tubes due to out-of-touch upper leadership.
> It would be a tough and unpopular decision to stiffen the requirements, and
> the short term effect would be negative (because we ALL want more
> membership, Right?), but the long-term effect might just be a real positive.

	I don't know whether or not they are really out of touch, but sure
seems to me that QST is dumbed down and more devoted to commercial gear
than in the past.  In the days where kids grow up watching TV stuff like
Star Trek and the like (gotta be careful what I say here, my wife's a
"Trekkie" and doesn't like remarks about pseudo science), seeing violent
movies, and playing video games it is entirely possible that ham radio
seems too tame to be of interest.  "There's always the Internet and
email."

	Back in the early 1970's I heard Pete Hoover (now W6ZH) speak of "the
codfish curtain" on several occasions, in spite of his family
affiliation with ARRL.  He certainly felt they were out of touch with us
"W6's".

	The ARRL is a major publisher now and I suspect they're turning enough
profit there to keep going for a long time.

Ed

By the way, what does being "in touch" mean to some of you?  I'm not
quite sure here.