M.E.T.E.R.S. Newsletter - October 2005

A monthly publication of the Middle East Tennessee Emergency Radio Service, Inc.

(METERS is a registered non-profit service organization based in Knoxville, serving all the surrounding area.) 

Meetings are held at 7 PM, the 4th Tuesday every month, at the Red Cross Building, 6921 Middlebrook Pike, near the Weisgarber Rd. Post Office in Knoxville, TN. Licensed Amateur Radio Operators are invited to join METERS and assist in meeting the needs of our served agencies.  Club call sign is KG4NLF. Website: www.metersinc.org 

Members’ submissions are invited for this newsletter, in .rtf, .doc, .wps and plain text formats, subject to space available and editing. Editor: Larry Osterman, W8JYQ, e-mail to w8jyq (at sign) arrl dot net.         

 

 

Presidents Statement for October 2005

By Alan Sims KG4MMG,

 

Greetings and Thanks to all METERS active participants.

 

Now that we have radios stationed around the county, and have acquired ID badges from the Health Department, we have plans in the works. It is now time to put our training and knowledge to work and do good things for our community. It is time to show that METERS can, and will, help in a communication emergency, and each operator is prepared.

 

By testing Hospital radio stations, by doing drills, by helping in Nets, -through all these activities other “ham” operators in our community will hear what we do, and why. Maybe they too will get fired up and think, “How can I help?”, and maybe they will show up at a METERS meeting to learn what we are about. Maybe they will join us, and support the need for trained operators who can work with all served agency groups. 

 

Keep up the Good Work METERS members, and remember this is a Group Effort. Stay Active, Stay Prepared, and Stay Safe.  -Alan, KG4MMG

 

 

Treasurer Talk!

By Dave Ogle, KE4YBZ

 

Hi Folks!

 

Yes. it's that time again. Time to avoid the rush of the upcoming holidays and re-up for next year while you still can!  Yes, it's time for your 2006 METERS Membership Dues!  Only TEN Bucks!  (What a deal!)  I will be taking Cash and/or checks at the next METERS meeting, slated for Tuesday, October 25th. so remember to stop by the ATM on the way. Come ready to re-up!

 

After taking over as Treasurer last month, I have been examining the books, and it looks like METERS, Inc. is in pretty good shape.  I will certainly do my best this year to make sure all our finances are on the up & up, and will try to uphold the very high standards that Tyra has set.

 

Seriously, here at METERS, Inc., our only true revenue stream comes from our membership dues. And when we complete our budget for the coming year in January, we will only have that revenue to draw from.  If anyone has any fundraising ideas, now is the time!  There are a lot of things we could use some cash for: such as study materials, EmComm Books, Guest Speakers,

the list could go on and on, but we only have limited funds.

 

Don't forget - we still have a few METERS T-Shirts available!  In our own little department store we currently have: 4 XL size shirts; 7 Large Shirts; 2 Medium Shirts; and only 1 Small.  They are still $10 each, so get them while they last!  If demand dictates, we will order more. but we have no plans to place a new order unless and until we get enough requests for new shirts.

 

Thanks guys!  Talk to you at the next meeting!  -Dave

 

 

 

Notes and Observations  (-Ed)

 

a) Ten-Tec had a great ham-fest event a few weeks ago over in Sevierville including factory tours, equipment demonstrations, a few seminars, and lots of free parking for visitors. A highlight was the spacious flea market and trunk sale area with lots of old and some not-so-old stuff. The weather cooperated nicely, although that was the day gas prices hit $3.19/gal. in Knoxville, but only (?) $2.99/gal in Sevierville. Wandering on the grounds I wondered how a prospective buyer like myself, could possibly figure out what was a good buy and what not. Someone suggested checking the QST archives, and there it was: a list from CQ dated 1998, listing the auction and sale prices of hundreds of old rigs by manufacturer, with prices realized. I still don’t know what the features of some of these things are, but it’s nice to know there is a reference of sorts.

 

b) Oak Ridge Amateur Radio Club had a nice ham-fest on Saturday Oct. 15. Some familiar faces from the prior event, but not as many participants. ORARC did have the advantage of an indoor flea market area for the bigger venders, and on a rainy day that would’ve been a bigger attraction. Among other venders, there was perhaps the biggest display of old tubes I have seen in many a year. Bill, WR4MS, is retrieving the business card of the vender with this huge selection.

 

c) Ham-fests are an opportunity to see and touch lots of equipment, and get a look at the history of our hobby. They are a reminder of what a huge technological leap we have been part of over these past many years. With the arrival of the faceless transceiver cases, (SDR’s) with two or three connectors to connect to your computer and the antenna system, we are on the verge of another big shift in how we operate our equipment. The days of twiddling the knobs are slip sliding away. But isn’t it interesting how the prices of some 1950’s and 60’s equipment, with analog controls, are starting to go up and up. Now, if only the same would happen to my old computers stacked in the garage, how nice that would be.  CP/M anyone?

 

 

Definitions for Tough Times:

By Larry Osterman, W8JYQ, Editor

 

We are steadily reminded of the threats to our way of life from disease, natural disasters, and perhaps worst of all, extremists seeking to destroy our socio-economic system(s). In an attempt to clarify our mutual understanding of terminology, following are some definitions from Webster’s New Collegiate Dictionary, 2nd Edition. (Your additions and corrections (!) to this list are invited. -ed)

 

Espionage: The practice of spying on others, or employment of spies.

Foment: (2) To nurse to life or activity; to excite, rouse, or instigate.

Incite: To arouse to action; to spur on.

Indict: To charge with an offense.

Instigate: Connotes incitement with underhandedness or evil intent.

Insurgent: (adj.) Rising in opposition to authority; rebellious manifesting insurgency.

Insurgent: (n.) One participating in an insurgency; often a rebel not recognized as a belligerent.

Insurrection: (n.) A rising up against civil or political authority.

Jihad: A religious war against infidels.

Jihadist: A participant in a jihad.

Rebellion: Open resistance to, or defiance of, any authority.

Recalcitrant: (adj.) Stubbornly rebellious, obstinate in defying constituted authority.

Sedition: Excitement of discontent against the government, or of resistance to lawful authority.

Traitor: One who betrays a trust; One who violates his allegiance and betrays his country.

Traitorous: (adj.) Guilty of, or capable of treason; treacherous, perfidious, faithless.

Treason: (n.) (2) The offense of attempting by overt acts to overthrow the government of the state to which the offender owes allegiance. (U.S. Constitution, Art. 3, Sect. 1, - Treason against the U.S. shall consist only in levying war against them (the U.S.), OR in adhering to their enemies, giving them aid and comfort.)

 

Sedition vs. Treason: Sedition is resistance without overt acts, while Treason is conduct marked by overt acts aiming to overthrow the government.

 

 

 

(Following via Gary Buczkowski AG4XO.  Abbreviated -ed)

 

October 8, 2005 (NY Times)

Bush Plan Shows U.S. Is Not Ready for Deadly Flu

By GARDINER HARRIS

WASHINGTON, Oct. 7 - A plan developed by the Bush administration to deal with any possible outbreak of pandemic flu shows that the United States is woefully unprepared for what could become the worst disaster in the nation's history.

A draft of the final plan, which has been years in the making and is expected to be released later this month, says a large outbreak that began in Asia would be likely, because of modern travel patterns, to reach the United States within "a few months or even weeks." If such an outbreak occurred, hospitals would become overwhelmed, riots would engulf vaccination clinics, and even power and food would be in short supply, according to the plan, which was obtained by The New York Times. The 381-page plan calls for quarantine and travel restrictions but concedes that such measures "are unlikely to delay introduction of pandemic disease into the U.S. by more than a month or two."

 

The plan's 10 supplements suggest specific ways that local and state governments should prepare now for an eventual pandemic by, for instance, drafting legal documents that would justify quarantines. Written by health officials, the plan does yet address responses by the military or other governmental departments. The plan outlines a worst-case scenario in which more than 1.9 million Americans would die and 8.5 million would be hospitalized with costs exceeding $450 billion. It also calls for a domestic vaccine production capacity of 600 million doses within six months, more than 10 times the present capacity.

 

On Friday, President Bush invited the leaders of the nation's top six vaccine producers to the White House to cajole them into increasing their domestic vaccine capacity, and the flu plan demonstrates just how monumental a task these companies have before them. A key point of contention if an epidemic strikes is who will get vaccines first. The administration's plan suggests a triage distribution for these essential medicines. Groups like the military, National Guard and other national security groups were left out.

 

Beyond the military, however, the first in line for essential medicines are workers in plants making the vaccines and drugs as well as medical personnel working directly with those sickened by the disease. Next are the elderly and severely ill. Then come pregnant women, transplant and AIDS patients, and parents of infants. Finally, the police, firefighters and government leaders are next. The plan also calls for a national stockpile of 133 million courses of antiviral treatment. The administration has bought 4.3 million. The plan details the responsibilities of top health officials in each phase of a spreading pandemic, starting with planning and surveillance efforts and ending with coordination with the Department of Defense.

 

Much of the plan is a dry recitation of the science and basic bureaucratic steps that must be followed as a virus races around the globe. But the plan has the feel of a television movie-of-the-week when it describes a possible pandemic situation that begins, "In April of the current year, an outbreak of severe respiratory illness is identified in a small village." As the outbreak peaks, about a quarter of workers stay home because they are sick or afraid of becoming sick. Hospitals are overwhelmed.

"Social unrest occurs," the plan states. "Public anxiety heightens mistrust of government, diminishing compliance with public health advisories." Mortuaries and funeral homes are overwhelmed.

 

Presently, an avian virus has decimated chicken and other bird flocks in 11 countries. It has infected more than 100 people, about 60 of whom have died, but nearly all of these victims got the disease directly from birds. An epidemic is only possible when a virus begins to pass easily among humans.

(Lawrence K. Altman contributed reporting for this article.)

 

 

Another Nuclear Danger Spot - Our Campuses?

By Larry Osterman, Editor

 

In case you missed the ABC investigative reporting effort of October 13th, the 10 PM Prime Time Live Special gave us a look at several journalism students trekking through university campuses around the country attempting to open the doors of nuclear reactor labs. Guess what? No Problem! With only one exception, at the University of New Mexico, the phony students were able to get in for tours of the reactors without any body checks for weapons or cameras. Even such notable research locations as MIT and Texas A&M, didn’t use metal detectors nor any serious security programs. Side doors, back doors, dock doors, all seemed accessible, especially if the people on duty (if any!) could be diverted by an attractive female student. At one location the reporters were able to get a large Ryder rental truck within a few hundred feet of the reactor, although the later explanation from campus security was that the shielding around the reactor pool was sufficient to stop a blast comparable to the Oklahoma City event. - DOE is re-evaluating the security systems at many campus nuclear labs as a result of this and other reports (PBS is now doing some similar investigative work.)