Amateur Radio Newsline(tm) Report 1634 - December 5, 2008

Amateur Radio Newsline report number 1634 with a release date of Friday,
December 5th, 2008 to follow in 5-4-3-2-1.

The following is a Q-S-T. Manned ham radio in space hits year 25. We take
you back to the very beginning. Also, a new European 40 meter plan to
become effective in March of 2009 and the story of an award based on a
famous bird of flight. Find out which one on Amateur Radio Newsline(tm)
report number 1634 coming your way right now.


(Billboard Cart Here)

**

HAM RADIO IN SPACE: CELEBRATING THE 25TH ANNIVERSARY OF W5LFL AND STS-9


ARISS -- Amateur Radio on the International Space Station -- is celebrating
the 25th anniversary of the first manned ham radio operation from Earth
orbit by Owen Garriott, W5LFL. Bill Pasternak, WA6ITF, was there a quarter
of a century ago when he was the Field Producer for the film making team
that captured this historic event. Hes here now to take us on a trip back
through time:

--

If you were a ham a decade and a half ago you might remember these words:

--

Roy Neal K6DUE: "This is the story of an expedition, the flight of STS-9.
The Columbia. And these are the explorers: John Young, the commander;
Brewster Shaw the shuttle pilot; and the scientists Dr's Ulf Merbold, Byron
Lichtenberg, Robert Parker and Dr. Owen Garriott -- an astronaut who also
is amateur radio operator W5LFL. This is an expedition to probe the outer
limits of science and amateur radio's newest frontier."

--

That is the late Roy Neal, K6DUE, as he introduced a video titled "Amateur
Radio's Newest Frontier." It was the story of the first ham radio operator
to take an amateur station to space. That ham radio astronaut -- Owen
Garriott, W5LFL.

--

Owen Garriott W5LFL: "I was still in high school and my dad came home from
work one day and said that a friend of his at the office was going to be
teaching a code class and would I like to come along with him? So, at that
point, having not much to else do in the evenings I began going to code
class with my father foe a period of 3 or 4 months at the Enid Amateur
Radio Club which is still in existance -- W5 HTK -- in Enid Oklahoma.

And the a few months later he said that this friend is going to be teaching
a theory class down at the local high school and would I like to come along
to that. So I was still game and my father and I ended up going through
both the code and theory classes and getting our licenses just toward the
end of World War 2.

--

It was on November 28th, 1983 that Garriott rode the spaceship Columbia to
Earth orbit on mission STS 9. A few days later, he became the first ham
radio operator to ever come on the air fromspace. This historic moment was
also captured for posterity in the "Amateur Radio's Newest Frontier:"

--
Owen Garriott, W5LFL: "This is W5LFL in Columbia. W5LFL in Columbia
orbiting the Earth at an altitude of 135 nautical miles and passing over
the U.S. west coast calling CQ. Calling CQ North America. This is W5LFL
in Columbia."

--

A moment later W5LFL held his first contact on-orbit with Lance Collister,
WA1JXN, of Frenchtown, Montana:

--

Lance Collister WA1JXN: "WA1JXN in Frenchtown, Montana, standing by."

Owen Garriott W5LFL: "WA1JXN. Hello WA1JXN, this is W5LFL and I picked up
your signal fairly weekly. I think our attitude is not really optimum yet
but you're our first contact from orbit."

--

Owen Garriott's ham radio adventures on STS-9 ushered in a host of ham
radio in space outreach activities that first evolved into SAREX -- The
Shuttle Amateur Radio Experiment.

--

Actual audio of early SAREX contact between W0ORE and GW6GW. Hear it in
the mp3 version of the newscast downloadable at www.arnewsline.org.

--

With the commissioning of the International Space Station that mission
continues today with ARISS -- the Amateur Radio on the International Space
Station program. And little more than a month or so ago Owen Garriott's
son Richard, W5KWQ, became the first second generation space traveler to
hold QSO's with hams here on Earth.

--

Actual ARISS audio of contact between W5KWQ and W4TNJ. Hear it in the mp3
version of the newscast downloadable at www.arnewsline.org.

--

Now to celebrate 25 years of manned amateur radio operations from space,
the ARISS group has planned a set of special event opportunities during the
month of December and part of January 2009. A special certificate is being
developed for those who communicate with the ISS, either 2-way direct with
the crew, through the digipeater, or using the on-orbit cross band
repeater. Certificates will also be available for one-way reception of
SSTV or voice downlink signals.

Twenty-five years ago, Amateur Radios Newest Frontier ended with these
words:

--

Roy Neal, K6DUE: "STS-9 was only a beginning. The communicators off
amateur radio are truly on their way to the new frontier of space and no
one, no one can predict exactly how far they will go."

--

We still do not know the final answer as to how far ham radio in space will
go. Maybe to the moon. To Mars or beyond. What it is safe to say is
that in the past 25 years, manned ham radio operations from space have
come a long, long, way. And ARISS says that this is the time to celebrate
the past and to say thank you to Owen Garriott, W5LFL, for opening the door.

For the Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Bill Pasternak, WA6ITF, in the newsroom
in Los Angeles.



--

More information about this 25th anniversary celebration of Owen Garriott,
W5LFL, first on-orbit mission is on-line at www dot ariss dot org or www
dot rac dot ca slash ariss. Copies of the movie Amateur Radio's Newest
Frontier suitable for viewing as a club meeting program should still be
available from the American Radio Relay League. (ARNewsline(tm), ARISS)

**

HAM RADIO IN SPACE: SOUTH AFRICA TO LAUNCH 2ND HAMSAT IN MARCH

Ham radio will soon have another orbiting star in the sky. This with the
announcement that South Africa's second satellite carrying a amateur is now
scheduled to be launched on March 25th, 2009.

The bird I called SumbandilaSat. The amateur radio portion will be an FM
voice repeater on-orbit. Specifically, it's a crossband transponder with
an uplink in the 2 meter band and a downlink in the 440 MHz amateur
allocation.

Also on board will be a store and forward voice digipeater. This unit acts
as a parrot immediately repeating back transmissions beamed to it in the
same way a packet digipeater repeats back data.

Last is a rather unique beacon system. It to is voice rather than the more
common Morse C-W found on most other ham radio satellites.

But SumbandilaSat will not be totally dedicated to amateur radio. The
satellite will also contain a number of scientific experiments. These
include a Very Low Frequency radio research project for researchers
at the University of KwaZulu-Natal and an architectural radiation
experiment for commercial off the shelf devices by the University of
Stellenbosch.

Further information on the launch of SumbandilaSat is available at
www.amsatsa.org.za. (AMSAT-SA, Southgate)

**

RESTRUCTURING: NEW EUROPEAN 40 METER PLAN IN LATE MARCH

A new 40 meter European bandplan is set to go into effect in the first
quarter of 2009. At the recent IARU Region 1 Conference in Croatia, a new
advisory band plan was adopted for the 7 MHz band to be effective from
March 29th, 2009.

Why March 29th? This is the date by which broadcast stations should have
vacated the 7.1 to 7.2MHz segment. It then becomes an amateur primary
allocation. This, in accordance with the agreements made at the 2003 World
Administrative Radio Conference and agreed to under international
treaty. (GB2RS)


**

RADIO RESTRUCTURING: GROUP PROPOSES MOVING THE AM BROADCAST BAND

Here in the USA, a group calling itself the Broadcast Maximization
Committee, has recommended the conversion of all AM stations to digital
broadcasting and their migration to a new spectrum allocation over an
extended period of time. It also proposes relocating the Low Power FM
service to a portion of this spectrum.

In a nutshell, the Broadcast Maximization Committee plan would extend the
current FM band downward to include frequencies 76.1 to 87.7 MHz with a 100
kHz channel spacing. This would create 117 new channels. The first eight
channels from 87.0 to 87.7 MHz would be reserved for non commercial use as
they would be contiguous to the current non commercial broadcasting
allocation.

The next 100 channels from 77.0 to 86.9 MHz would be used to migrate AM
stations to the proposed FM new extended band channels, where they would
operate in digital mode. One channel at 76.9 MHz would be set aside for
NOAA and other government use nationwide. The last eight channels from
76.1 to 76.8 MHz would be for Low Power FM use. Lastly, the vacated AM
band from 540 to 1700 kHz) would open up for multiple uses including an
improved AM broadcast service.

While the policies, standards and priorities for an AM migration would need
to be developed, the Broadcast Maximization Committee has offered a
technical plan to show that its proposal is possible and to encourage
further discussions. What the group has not addressed is what to do about
the 10's of millions of people who want to listen to AM radio the way it is
on a $5 radio that anyone can afford to own. (RW, BE, others)

**


BREAK 1

From the United States of America, We are the Amateur Radio Newsline,
heard on bulletin stations around the world including the WB5RAP repeater
serving Purcell, Oklahoma.

(5 sec pause here)


**

ENFORCEMENT: $1500 FINE FOR JAMMING A SCHOOL BUS

The FCC has affirmed a $1500 Forfeiture to Dale Lloyd Allred of Tunnel
Hill, Georgia. This, for willful and repeated operation of an unlicensed
transmitter and interference with licensed radio communications in nearby
Dalton, Georgia. Amateur Radio Newsline's Bruce Tennant, K6PZW, says it
all revolves around a business contract that was lost:

--

In response to several complaints over last summer of interference to
school bus radio operations coming from Dalton Communications, Inc., agents
from the Commission's Atlanta Office of the Enforcement Bureau monitored
the frequency 157.5675 MHz in Dalton. They observed repeated radio
transmissions directly on top of school bus communications, often
disrupting the school bus radio transmissions. Using a mobile direction
finding vehicle, identified the location of the interfering radio
transmissions as the office and radio shop of a company called Tri-County
Communications.

The agents conducted an inspection of radio equipment at Tri-County
Communications and interviewed Dale Lloyd Allred who they identified as its
chief executive officer. Allred admitted that he had intentionally
operated a radio transmitter on 157.5675 MHz to cause the interference that
day and on other days as well as at other times. Allred told the agents
that he was interfering with Dalton Communications' transmissions, because
Dalton Communications had taken the school bus communications contract away
from his company.

On October 16, 2008, the Atlanta City Office issued a Notice of Apparent
Liability for Forfeiture to Allred in the amount of seventeen thousand
dollars. Allred submitted a response to the requesting cancellation or
reduction of the proposed forfeiture and at that time changed his
story. He denied that his operation was intentional or that he maliciously
caused interference to the school bus communications. Instead he claimed
that his equipment was mounted incorrectly in his service vehicle which
caused the Push to Talk button to activate when it hit another radio. He
also stated that he was intimidated by the police officer who accompanied
the agents during the interview and that he would have admitted to anything
at the time. He also claimed that a $17,000 fine would produce a financial
hardship and provided documentation to back up his claim.

The FCC did not buy his explanation as to how the repeated jamming took
place. It noted that Allred does not dispute that transmissions on
157.5675 MHz were sent from his handheld transceiver and sent on more than
one day. It says that even assuming that the transmissions were not
willful, that he admitted that his operation was repeated. The FCC noted
that it need not find his violation of Section 301 of the Act to be willful
to assess a forfeiture.

As to the hardship claim? That the FCC did accept. After reviewing the
financial documentation that Allred provided, it conclude that a reduction
of the forfeiture to $1,500 would be appropriate. It then notified him that
he was being assessed that amount.

For the Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Bruce Tennant, K6PZW, in Los Angeles.

--

Allred was given the usual 30 days to pay the fine or to file a further
appeal. (FCC)

**

ENFORCEMENT: FCC FINES LOUISIANA BRIADCASTER $15000 FOR FAILURE TO ID

The FCC has fined a Corinth, Mississippi broadcaster $15,000 for failure to
transmit legal ID's. It has also refused to let the licensee to pay the
forfeiture in six installment payments.

The station in question is WTKN located in the city of Corinth and owned by
Perihelion Global. Its trouble began when the FCC inspector out of the New
Orleans office found a large hole in the locked gate around the tower and
then couldn't reach anybody at the station. It also failed to do its
mandatory top-of-the-hour IDs while the agent was on-site at the
transmitter.

In it reply, the station requested that it be permitted to pay the fine in
six payments. In denying the request the FCC said that Perihelion Global
had failed to provide the requested documentation about ability to pay .

One of the morals of the story: You have to pay attention when the FCC
comes to visit. (FCC, "Taylor On Radio" newsletter)

**

RESCUE RADIO: THOSE GOOD VIBRATIONS GET THROUGH

With today's cars and light trucks designed to lock out road and traffic
noise, how does an emergency vehicle signal a driver to pull over and let
him pass. Maybe some good vibrations are the answer. No, we are not
talking about the 1960's Beach Boys tune. This is modern technology as we
hear from Jim Linton, VK3PC:

--

Just image driving along the road and your car starts to vibrate? Is it
an earthquake you think, a service overdue or are the wheels about to fall
off?

No, it will be a blast from the latest low frequency howler being fitted
to ambulances to augment their traditional lights and sirens. These send
pulses of low frequency tones every eight seconds vibrate cars and other
things including pedestrians within range of an ambulance on an emergency
dash. This will hopefully alert motorists who may be not concentrating
on the driving task, perhaps with their car stereo's turned up too
loud, or dare we say ... they're on the mobile phone.

The Emergency Medical Services Authority in Oklahoma is among the
first to be installing them in ambulances. If they prove successful in
reducing delays and intersection accident collision rates of ambulances
then we can expect others to fit this latest technology.

I just can't wait to experience the good vibrations.

I'm Jim Linton VK3PC.

--

This is just one of many ideas that engineers are looking at as a way to
clear the roads to make way for emergency vehicles when the situation
arises. (WIA News)

**

RADIO EDUCATION: BROADCASTERS TO DEVELOP NEW ENGINEERING POOL

Wisconsin broadcasters are committing money to the future to develop new
engineering talent. The announcement is from the Wisconsin Broadcasters
Association and the W-B-A Foundation says that a new summer intern program
has been created and that it will issue up to 10 grants to stations at
$2,500 each. This, to cover engineering internship stipends and expenses.

Separately, Fellowship Grants will provide funding for experienced
broadcast engineers at member stations to acquire continuing
education. The foundation will award five grants of $1,000 to be used for
continuing-ed courses in Information Technology networking, engineering
leadership and management as well as electrical or transmission engineering.

In either case the money may not be used for trade shows, but factory
training does qualify and travel expenses may be covered. Hopefully, other
broadcast groups around the country will follow the Wisconsin broadcasters
lead and develop similar programs in their geographic regions. (RW)

**

BROADCAST FUN: WKRP IS ON THE AIR - FOR REAL

WKRP is back on the air in Cincinnati, but this time as a TV station.

Several industry news reports say that a low-power TV station has
changed its call letters to WKRP. Those are the same call letters used in
the 1970's hit series "WKRP in Cincinnati."

Until recently the station went by the call WBQC television. But changed
its call letters to promote its new digital TV signal. General Manager
Elliott Block says the new call letters give the station recognition
because so many people remember the television sit-com.

The station says that its getting a lot of calls, e-mails and letters
asking how people can see this 21st century WKRP. According to its website
-- www dot wkrp dot com, that's only possible if you live within 15 to 20
miles of downtown Cincinnati. It also says for optimum reception an
outdoor antenna is recommended. (Broadcasting OnLine)


**

RADIO HAPPENINGS: RADIO NETHERLANDS ENDS SHORTWAVE TRANSMISIONS TO NORTH
AMERICA

According to the new issue Popular Communications Magazinen now on
newsstands, Radio Netherlands has decided to end its shortwave broadcasts
beamed to North America. This, after a survey showed a decline in
listeners to the service.

Programming that used to come via skywave will now be delivered using more
modern means. This includes streaming audio on the Internet, satellite
transmissions and over the Sirius subscription service.

PopComm notes that many listeners are upset with the Radio Netherlands
decision. They say that they do not want to be shackled to a computer to
hear the programs that they have been able hear froma shirt pocket sized
receiver for years. The full article and other interesting shortwave
listening news is on page 8 of the December issues of the magazine.
(PopComm)

**

NAMES IN THE NEWS: MUNS TO HEAD CQ RTTY CONTESTS

A name in the news. Ed Muns, W0YK, of Los Gatos, California, has been
named Director of 'CQ' magazine's RTTY radioteletype contests. Muns
succeeds Glenn Vinson, W6OTC, who has been CQ's RTTY Contest Director since
2000. CQ sponsors the world's two most popular annual RTTY
competitions. These are the CQ World Wide RTTY WPX Contest each February
and the CQ World Wide RTTY DX Contest held every September. (CQ)

**

THE SOCIAL SCENE: ORLANDO HAMCATION FEB 13 - 15 2009

Turning to the ham radio social scene, 2009 kicks off with the 63rd annual
Orlando Hamcation. The dates are February 13th to the 15th.at the Central
Florida Fairgrounds in Orlando. Tickets are only $10 at the gate. More
information on this winter getaway ham radio treat is on line at www.
hamcation.com. (Orlando Hamcation)

**

HAM RADIO ON THE NET: HAMRADIOTUBE.COM

A new website dedicated to ham radio and hobby radio related films is now
on line. Called www.hamradiotube.com, the site contains many amateur radio
video clips and shows covering the past 70 years. Also there are a large
number of videos showing to other aspects of hobby radio including some
about 1960's off-shore radio broadcasting. Again the site is
www.hamradiotube.com for hours of watching all aspects of hobby radio at
its best. (Via e-Mail)

**

BREAK 2

This is ham radio news for today's radio amateur. From the United States
of America, We are the Amateur Radio Newsline with links to the world from
our only official website at www.arnewsline.org and being relayed by the
volunteer services of the following radio amateur:

(5 sec pause here)

**

THE CHANGING OF THE GUARD: GENE HARLAN, WB9MMM - SK

The changing of the guard in amateur radio continues with the sad news out
of Rockford, Illinois, of the passing of Eugene Harlan, WB9MMM, reportedly
from complications of ALS. ALS is better known as Lou Gehrig's Disease..

Eugene Harlan was best known for his work in amateur television. He ran
Harlan Technologies which published the ATV Quarterly magazine for amateur
television enthusiasts. The company also provided amateur television gear,
accessories along with software and name tags.

Harlan's last major public appearance was in May at the Dayton Hamvention
ATV Forum. At that event he was using a motorized scooter to get around.

Memorial services for Eugene Harlan, WB9MMM were not announced. He is
survived by his wife Sharon, N9SH. (WB9QZB, AG9D, W9XA)

**

CHANGING OF THE GUARD: CQ'S SCRATCHI - GEORGE FLOYD JR., WA4DGA - SK

George H. Floyd, Jr., WA4DGA of Lynchburg, Virginia, has become a silent
Key. Floyd, the former W2RYT, spent more than two decades entertaining
thousands of his fellow hams writing as a politically incorrect Japanese
American ham with fractured English and used contorted spelling.

From 1947 to 1971 Floyd wrote a letter to the editor of CQ magazine unsung
the pseudonym Hashafisti Scratchi. He suppodsedly lived in or near Feenix,
Arizona -- spelling the city's name FEENIX. He began each column with
"Deer Hon. Ed.," and regularly skewered the pomposity and poor operating
practices he encountered on the air. He passed away on November 22nd at the
age of 91.

Old time CQ readers are invited to submit reminiscences of Scratchi for a
tribute in an upcoming issue of the magazine. A special e-mail address has
been set up at . (CQ)

**

WORLDBEAT - EUROPE: PUBLICIZING HAM RADIO TO THE EUROPEAN PARLIMENT

Amateur Radio is being promoted in the European Parliament. Jeramy Boot,
G4NJH, reports from Nottingham, in the UK:

--

An Amateur Radio 2009 Year Planner has been sent to all 785 Members of the
European Parliament along with an introductory letter, co-signed by MEP
Fernando Fernandez-Martin, EA8AK and IARU Region 1 EUROCOM Working Group
chairman Gaston Bertels, ON4WF.

The Year Planner was created by RSGB staff and highlights the use of
amateur radio in Space and Emergency Communications, amongst other aspects
of the hobby.

I'm Jeramy Boot, G4NJH.

--

Hams across Europe appear to favor his approach of bringing the word of
radio amateurs directly to the various government administrations that make
the rules governing their operations. (GB2RS)

**


WORLDBEAT - UK: SOS RADIO WEEK FUND RAISER

From the U-K comes word that the Royal National Lifeboat Institution S-O-S
Radio Week will be held early next year. The event starts at 00.01 on 24th
January 2009 and ends at 23.59 on 30th January.

S-O-S Radio Week is part of the organizations SOS Fund Raising Day. To take
part all U-K hams need to do is decide whether you want to operate as a
team or on your own. Then, get as many sponsors as you can in the lead up
to the event. Once S-O-S Radio Week starts, you make as many contacts as
you can and then convert the sponsors and contacts made in to money.

Sound confusing? Not really and all you need to know is on-line at
www.sosradioweek.org.uk. (RSGB)

**

WORLDBEAT - BANGLADESH: BANGLADESH RESUMES HAM TESTING

The Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission has resumed amateur
radio license testing after a gap of four years. A test session was held
on November 27th using a computer based testing system that required 18
correct answers of 33 questions on the exam.

A total of 84 candidates took the exam and 62 passed. This equates to 62
new S 21 prefix stations soon to be on the air. The administration of ham
radio exams in Bangladesh had been suspended in 2004. (S21RB)

**

ON THE AIR: NI6IW FROM THE USS MIDWAY DECEMBER 7

On the air, listen out for special Event Station NI6IW operating from the
USS Midway Museum Radio Room on December 7th. This, in commemoration of
Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day.

The station will be on 1700 to 2359 UTC.using C-W, SSB, PSK, MT63 and RTTY
on both 40 and 20 meters. The station will include a D-Star radio,
connected to the PAPA System D-Star Gateway which will be linked to San
Diego Reflector REF012C and can be heard locally on the 145.615, KI6MGN
Palomar Mt. D-Star Repeater.

QSL with a self addresses stamped envelope to the USS Midway CV-41 Museum
Radio Room, 910 North Harbor Drive, San Diego CA 92101. (W9EN, D-Star
Remailer)

**

ON THE AIR: 75th ANNIVERSARY OF FM RADIO

The Major Edwin H. Armstrong Memorial Radio Club will operate special event
stations W2XMN and W2XEA, December 13 and 14. This to celebrate the 75th
anniversary of the invention of FM radio by Major Edwin H. Armstrong in
1933. The operation is from 1400 to 2200 UTC each day on 7.270 and 14.270
SSB and 29.600 and 52.525 FM. QSL with a self addressed stamped envelope
to the Major EH Armstrong FM Association, PO Box 1584, Loxahatchee, FL
33470. (Press Release)

**

DX

In D-X, word that E51QQQ will be on the air from Manihiki Atoll in the
North Cook Islands until December 9th. Activity will be on 80 to 10 meters
using CW, SSB and possibly digital modes. QSL to JA1KAJ.

A team of six operators from Brazil will show up as ZV5Z or ZV5V from Paz
Island. This, from December 6th to the 13th. QSLs direct via PP5CIT.

EP3SMH, has been on from Iran operating on 20 meters RTTY around 1400 UTC.
He has been calling for North America on a regular basis. It is suggested
to listen carefully because he likes to operate on his calling frequency.

F4EGX, continues to be active as FT5YI from the French scientific station
during his free time. He will be there at least until mid-December and try
to be on the air between 2300z and 0200z for North America on or near 14
point 267 MHz. QSL via F4EGX.

Lastly, ON4JM is once operating portable OD5 from the southern part of
Lebanon near the city of Tibnin. He will be there until mid-December as
part of the Belgian Army to assist the United Nations Forces. QSL to his
home call address.

Above from various DX newsletters and other sources.

**

THAT FINAL ITEM: VK HAM WINS JONATHAN LIVINGSTON SEAGULL AWARD

And finally this week, a ham down under has won a prestigious award that
can be aid is truly for the birds. But for the birds in a very positive
way. We have more in this report:

--

At the annual gala dinner of the Australian Radio Communications
Industry Association held at the Melbourne Telstra Dome in front of over
500 people, Peter Young VK3MV, a WIA Director, was awarded the Jonathon
Livingston Seagull Award and Perpetual Trophy in recognition of his
contribution to the
radio industry in Australia.

The concept of the Jonathon Livingstone Seagull award is to recognise
someone who has learned more and risen above what would normally be
expected of them in their usual role in the Industry, and then contributed
back to the industry in a way that doesn't necessarily relate to their
own
direct benefit. This could be through additional training, encouragement
of other people to benefit themselves, a contribution that is to the
benefit of the community, either as a whole in the context of the radio
industry, or perhaps
within their own local community in smaller areas.

The WIA congratulates Peter on this industry recognition, and
again acknowledges his contribution to the Australian Amateur Radio
community in his capacity as a Director on the WIA Board.

--

Now, a bit of history. If the name Jonathan Livingston Seagull is not
familiar to you, then you likely have never been near a small airport or
have not had the opportunity to fly in a small, light plane. You see,
Jonathan Livingston Seagull is the central character in a book written by a
pilot and author named Richard Bach. It is a fable about a seagull
learning about life and flight, and a lesson about self-perfection.

The book tells the story of Jonathan Livingston Seagull, a bird who is
bored with the daily squabbles over food. Instead he has developed a true
passion for flight and dedicates himself to learning everything he can
about flying,

Jonathan's refusal to conform results in his expulsion from his
flock. Nonetheless, he continues to educate himself and this leads him to
a new level of perfection and knowledge in a new higher plane of existence.

But Jonathan is not satisfied. He has a need to share his wisdom and
returns to Earth to find others like him. His mission is successful,
gathering around him others who have been outcast for not conforming.
Ultimately, the very first of his students, Fletcher Lynd Seagull, becomes
a teacher of flight as well.

By the end of 1972, over a million copies of Jonathan Livingston
Seagull were in print, Reader's Digest had published a condensed version,
and the it reached the top of the New York Times Best Seller list. In
fact, it remained for 38 weeks. And in 1973, Jonathan Livingston Seagull
was turned into a movie produced by Paramount Pictures Corporation that
included an original music score and soundtrack by Neil Diamond. Both the
book and the movie are still available from retailers worldwide.

And now you know the story behind the story of the award and the imaginary
bird that made it possible. (WIA News, ARNewsline)

**

NEWSCAST CLOSE

With thanks to Alan Labs, AMSAT, the ARRL, the CGC Communicator, CQ
Magazine, the FCC, the Ohio Penn DX Bulletin, Radio Netherlands, Rain, the
RSGB, the Southgate News and Australia's WIA News, that's all from the
Amateur Radio Newsline(tm). Our e-mail address is
. More information is available at Amateur Radio
Newsline's(tm) only official website located at www.arnewsline.org. You can
also write to us or support us at Amateur Radio Newsline(tm), P.O. Box
660937,
Arcadia, California 91066.

For now, with Bill Pasternak, WA6ITF, at the editors desk, I'm Don
Wilbanks, AE5DW, saying 73 and we thank you for listening.

Amateur Radio Newsline(tm) is Copyright 2008. All rights reserved.