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Randall,

 RS> I'm relatively new -- just got my ticket 3 years ago while I
 RS> was off work for an extended stretch due to surgery -- and this
 RS> seems to be the norm. It's a "win" to pass all three exams in
 RS> one sitting, or something.

  One local ham did just that several years ago...passed his Tech,
General, and Extra in one sitting. The VE Team leader asked the "zero
to Extra licensee" what he did for a living. When the examinee replied
"I'm currently unemployed", the liaison growled "You have too much time
on your hands!!" (hi hi).

 RS> I did Tech and General to get started, then got my feet wet for
 RS> a few months before upgrading to Extra. Even now, I'm still
 RS> learning A LOT. Massive credit to the welcoming guys in the
 RS> local club who keep us actively learning and honing skills.

  Being an Elmer is the highest compliment a ham can receive. We did
quite a bit of that at a local exam session this morning...2 new Techs,
and 1 upgrade to General...so, everyone walked out with a CSCE.

  Unfortunately, with the "government shutdown" (there's a redundancy
in terms if there ever was one), the new Techs have to wait until the
government and FCC re-open to process their info. All the VEC's are
holding the data in a batch queue, and it might crash the ULS when the
floodgates are opened!! At least those with a callsign and license can
operate immediately with the special suffix identifiers.

 RS> Okay, this one made me giggle. :)

  If you want more ham radio humor, go to the hyperlink on my QRZ bio,
and click on Selected Ham Radio Humor. It has nearly 125 pages of memes
and text...several lately from the Amateur Radio Funnies Group on
Facebook.

 SD> Right now, my living situation does not allow wire antennas but I have a
 SD> 40-foot long aluminum access ramp for my mobility scooter I use to mount
 SD> antennas.

  Right now, I don't have RF gear, due to cost, and because I'm a heart
patient. But, at least my license "isn't just a sheet of paper". There is
a link on the ARRL website, affectionately known as "Free The Antenna". You
go in there, enter your callsign, and the data is populated. Clicking SUBMIT
will create and send a letter to your senator and/or representative, to try
to loosen the restrictions of HOA's for the hams that live within them.

 RS> I picked up a new 3D printer recently (only $200 or so), and
 RS> that's really opened up a whole new world. Printing little bits
 RS> and connectors and mounts and housings and what not.

  I've known several hams who have 3D printers. John, WA8YXM, in Davison,
Michigan, created "Christmas ornaments" with a phrase he heard me use (I
saw it in a meme). There was a little kitten, typing a letter to Santa at
the keyboard...and it said simply "Dear Santa...Define Naughty" (hi hi).
He said those things disappeared as if they were dollar bills!!

 RS> 73!
 RS> Randall
 RS> WZ8Q

  73 from Daryl, N5VLZ.

... I just bought a cured ham...wonder what it had...
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