The final results for the 10th ARDF World Championships have been posted on
the Chinese Radio Sports Association (CRSA) at
http://www.crsa.org.cn/10thardfresult.htm. These results include the
electronic scoring times for each transmitter. As soon as I find out the
location of transmitter #5 for the 80 Meter course, I'll have maps of the
two courses posted to the SBARC Web page. While the maps will be relatively
low resolution to save both server space and download time, they will be
just fine to see the probably course routes that competitors took.
Yep - This is a verified SCAM - no hoax. You can read more about it at:
http://www.snopes.com/ Go to the bottom of the page and click on SEARCH and
input 809. It seems now that the area code 809 will soon, if not already,
break up into the following area codes so all are potential SCAM numbers:
Things are about to get worse, because that infamous off-shore area code
(809) is in the process of breaking up into smaller chunks, and you'll soon
have to think twice about calling any of the following area codes: 242, 246,
264, 268, 284, 345, 441, 473, 664, 758, 767, 784, 787, 868, 869, 876 as well
as 809.
Be smart and stay alert -
73 es God Bless de Denny AD6EZ <><
Goleta, CA
Hi all,
I just received this from an employee of MCI Worldcomm, and while I haven't
checked it out yet, the source is reliable.
*****************
Subject: Fwd: FW: SCAM be Informed
DON'T EVER DIAL AREA CODE 809
This one is being distributed all over the US. This is pretty scary
especially given the way
they try to get you to call. Be sure you read this & pass it on to all your
friends & family so they
don't get scammed!
MAJOR SCAM: Don't respond to Emails, phone calls, or web pages which tell
you to
call an "809" Phone Number. This is a very important issue of Scam Busters!
because it alerts you to a scam that is spreading *extremely* quickly - can
easily cost you $24100 or more, and is difficult to avoid unless you are
aware
of it. This scam has also been identified by the National Fraud Information
Center
and is costing victims a lot of money. There are lots of different
permutations of
this scam, but HERE'S HOW IT WORKS:
You will receive a message on your answering machine or your pager,which
asks you to call a number beginning with area code 809.
The reason you're asked to call varies it can be to receive information
about a family member who has been ill, to tell you someone has been
arrested, died, to let you know you have won a wonderful prize, etc.
In each case, you are told to call the 809 number right away. Since there
are so many new area codes these days, people unknowingly return these
calls. If you call from the US, you will apparently be charged $2425
per-minute. Or, you'll get a long recorded message. The point is, they
will try to keep you on the phone as long as possible to increase the
charges. Unfortunately, when you get your phone bill, you'll often be
charged
more than $24100.00.
WHY IT WORKS:
The 809 area code is located in the British Virgin Islands (the
Bahamas). The 809 area code can be used as a "pay-per-call" number,
similar to
900 numbers in the US. Since 809 is not in the US, it is not covered by
U.S.
regulations of 900 numbers, which require that you be notified and warned
of charges and rates involved when you call a "pay-per-call" number.
There is also no requirement that the company provide a time period
during which you may terminate the call without being charged. Further,
whereas many U.S. phones have 900 number blocking to avoid these kinds of
charges, 900 number blocking will not prevent calls to the 809 area code.
We
recommend that no matter how you get the message, if you are asked to call
a number with an 809 area code that you don't recognize, investigate
further and/or disregard the message. Be wary of email or calls asking you
to
call an 809 area code number. It's important to prevent becoming a victim of
this scam, since trying to fight the charges afterwards can become a real
nightmare. That's because you did actually make the call. If you complain,
both our local phone company and your long distance carrier will not
want to get involved and will most likely tell you that they are simply
providing the billing for the foreign company. You'll end up dealing with a
foreign company that argues they have done nothing wrong. Please forward
this entire message to your
friends, family and colleagues to help them become aware of this scam so
they
don't get ripped off.
I received this a week or so ago, reread it, and thought others might also
enjoy what it has to say.
***************************
Save Our Scouts-Newsletter
Around the Campfire-October 11, 2000
I am often asked the question: "Why is it important to uphold old fashion
values? We are in the 21st century! Get with it! We have progressed past
those old fashion values." This is what I hear from those who don't
understand why I support the Boy Scouts of America's stand on these old
fashion values. Well, these values may be old but they are far from being
out of date. I was reading a study about young teenagers who are sexually
active. The study shows that these youth are more likely to engage in other
self-destructive behavior. I quote from a World Congress of Family Update-
" A little-discussed study by a professor at Indiana University reveals the
hard lives of sexually active youth.
Gary M. Ingersoll is a professor of counseling and educational psychology
and director of the Center for Adolescent Studies at Indiana University
Bloomington.
At a Kinsey Institute Interdisciplinary Seminar held January 21, 1998,
Professor Ingersoll discussed his study of 240 pre- and early adolescents,
ages 11 to 13, wherein he found that eight percent (8%) of the children have
had sexual relations.
His study revealed that, among these sexually active youths, they were:
* 7.5 times more likely to smoke cigarettes,
· 10 times more likely to use alcohol,
· 46 times more likely to use marijuana,
· 34.5 times more likely to use other drugs,
· 6 times more likely to have planned to drop out of school,
· 54 times more likely to have been suspended from school,
· 12 times more likely to have attempted suicide,
· 3 times more likely to report a history of physical abuse, and
· 19 times more likely to report a history of sexual abuse.
When asked, "What conclusions do you draw from this data?" Professor
Ingersoll responded, "While this study does not demonstrate a causal
relationship, the data offer a compelling picture that precocious initiation
of sexual intercourse is part of a pattern of increased risky behaviors."
Why is it important? The evidence is overwhelming. But people on the other
side of the issue can't see the whole picture or won't. Under the guise of
tolerance these people want to put at risk the one thing we hold most dear,
our children. If we are forced to accept the sexually active behavior of
others and call it normal, what are we teaching the children? And based on
this study, do we want them taking on these self-destructive behaviors? No
we don't! Old fashion they may be, but life saving they are.
I am very pleased to include an article of one of our Generals in this
Cultural war, Congressman Chris Cannon, who has been there for us many times
in our efforts to save our scouts. He is a member of the Advisory board and
truly understands what is at stake in this war. Thank you for your continued
support and for all of those who have e-mailed me offering help. We will
need you to fight this most of important battle, the battle for our
children.
Gavin Grooms
National Director
The following is a portion of a quarterly letter put out by Meg Ryan, CEO of
Ebay. Ebay has show phenominal growth since it first started and is one of
the few profitable Internet companies. This is something to read and think
about with regards to how a *successful* company has grown. The complete
letter can be seen at:
http://calculus.ebay.com/aw/announce.shtml
on the announcement dated 10/19/00 at 15:37:02 PDT. Long range planning is
not an option for a successful organization.
************************
The fundamental principles by which we govern and build this company for the
future remain unchanged.
First: Profitablity
We have delivered profitability and have always held to the principle that
the true measure of success is building a consumer brand and a great company
while retaining the discipline of the bottom line.
Second: Singularity of Focus
We have only one focus to build the worlds largest trading platform. This
is a proven business concept and the greatest value we can provide our
shareholders, employees and community of users lies in remaining true to
this vision. We will not be distracted by fashionable and unrelated
ventures.
Third: Execution
We are relentless in measuring success based on what we deliver. This
principle of accountability and results permeates the organization. Our
results this quarter with record revenue growth, record profits and record
user acquistion is testament to this drive.
And lastly: Leadership
We remain focused on maintaining and extending our leadership. The growth of
our platform is continually reinforced by its reach and success. We have
built a profitable company that is generating over $5 Billion of economic
activity in just 5 years with only 1,500 employees. We are not resting on
this success. With an enormous addressable market, we recently set out new
goals to be $3 billion in revenue in 2005. The best is yet to come!
The next southern California on-foot direction finding
practice/demonstration
session will be Saturday, October 28 from 11 AM to 4 PM at Tri-City Park in
Placentia. It is sponsored by David Corsiglia WA6TWF and the SuperSystem
UHF
Amateur Radio repeater network. All ages are welcome. A ham radio license
and/or knowledge of radio equipment is not required. This is a "welcome
home" event for members of ARDF Team USA, following its participation in the
ARDF World Championships in China from October 13-18.
The festivities begin at 11 AM with a hamburger barbecue and potluck. Cost
is $3 for hamburger or hotdog plus soft drink and paperware. If possible,
please bring a side dish or dessert to share. Transmitter hunts will follow
the potluck.
The hunts will be informal, with practice transmitters on the two meter (146
MHz), 70 centimeter (445 MHz) and 80 meter (3.5 MHz) bands. Experienced
ARDFers will be present to help you get started. There is no charge for
participation in the hunts.
If you have them, bring a handi-talkie, receiver, or scanner covering the
two-meter band for each person who will be going ARDFing. If you have
directional antennas, attenuators, or other on-foot RDF equipment, be sure
to
bring it too. Make sure all batteries are fresh. For those with no radio
gear, few extra ARDF receiver/antenna sets will be available.
Tri-City Park entrance is at the corner of North Kraemer Boulevard and East
Golden Avenue in Placentia. The park is just southeast of the Imperial Golf
Course. Maps to the site are at the Homing In Web site, URL below. The
barbecue and hunt start will be in picnic areas 5 and 6, which are at the
south end of the lake. Look for the orange and white Orienteering flags and
signs. Parking is free, but empty spaces near the picnic site may be
difficult to find if the park is crowded, so consider carpooling.
Call K-zero-O-V on K6QEH/R, 146.97(-) PL 136.5 for talk-in. On the 70 cm
band, call on 446.000 simplex.
Joe Moell K0OV
USA ARDF Coordinator
http://www.homingin.com
Well today we had, of course, the 80m ARDF event.
Again we had the amazing police escorted trip to a remote
location. It
rained, despite
the fine weather forecast.
Even so, the villagers lined the streets of the towns and
villages as
we
drove through
the misty rain. It seemed every village had a police car there to
direct
us through.
They decided to extend the time limit to 140 minutes due to the
rain.
I
have a picture
of the competitors camped at the waiting area. Digital pictures
are
not
allowed in the actual
start area due to the risk of someone transmitting an image of
the map
to a competitor
somehow. This is all taken pretty seriously at a World
Championship.
Adam headed off first, and despite following a very strange and
lengthy
route managed a very
credible 114 minutes and 26th place. An excellent effort in
difficult
conditions.
Again this was a harder course than we've ever done before
(including
the 2m event 2 days
ago!). Going down steep and muddy hills, you use the bamboo to
slow
you
down, but in the
process you shake the wet bamboo resulting in a mini deluge !
I was next a couple of hours later (it's a long wait, but we
chatted
to
the Yanks and the
Dutch team we were sharing a shelter with.
Here's a brief description of my course:
Headed out the Woman/Senior corridor to the West. 5 was ahead, 1
to
the
right, 2 the left
and 3 & 4 up the top of the map somewhere.
I was planning on doing 5, but after coming down the other side
of the
big hill around the
start decided I was close and I should do it first. It was near a
village in the middle of
the map. Went to 5 next in the SW. Lost myself a bit on the map,
so I
was uncertain to
within 100m of where it actually was. Next was #2 for me in the
SE.
Turned out to be
well to the SE, and here the tracks didn't do what I expected
from the
map, so I'm only
vaguely aware of where this one was. Not good. Still, doing ok
with
approx 1 hour for the
1st 3. 3 and 4 were right up the Northern end of the map so a
good
long
run. Did 4
pretty quickly considering (making up some time), and quickly
followed
by 3 in a blinding
10 minutes -:) . Now is where things fall apart, unfortunately. I
have
over 20 minutes to get
to the Finish, and it is only an easy 10 minute run away. I pop
out on
a
North-South track
and head South. It is a very crappy track, but it is on the map
and it
should get me to the
finish quicker than the road which is harder to get to. I should
have
learnt from the
2m map inaccuries, but soon the track became quite indistict. I
could
not find a left
turn I needed to take and gradually it started to head the wrong
way.
In
an attempt to
correct the problem I thought I'd just head through the bush
Southwards.
Bad Idea ! It became
inpenetrable. Fox Hunt inpenetrable ! It even took me quite a
while to
back out of the
disaster. 10 minutes wasted. Only 7 minutes left. Damm ! I head
the
only
way I can, on the non-track (sort of a vague passage through
jungle)
which insisted on taking me West. I
ended up on the side of the map, almost furthur from the Finish
than I
was at TX3.
Time has run out. I walk dispirited (ok, I was pissed off -:)
back to
the distant start.
A whole hoard of school children had recently arrived at the
Finish so
I
had to run down
the finish to their cheers (too embarassing to walk). Anyway,
that was
me out.
Bryan found 3. He didn't have time to get either of the other
Northern
transmitters, but
it was a good finish.
The Australian team therefore didn't fare as well on the 80m
hunt,
mainly due to a dodgy
map. Oh well !
I was encouraged to hear speaking to a Norwegian that he exactly
thed
same as me
(4->3->Finish), but he had 30 minutes to throw away on the non-
track,
which he
succeeded in doing in a very similar way to myself. He was also
overtime.
Tonight was the award ceremony and banquet. Quite a different
affair
from Korea.
Surprisingly it was very informal and quite brief. Most teams
chatted
around the
periphery during the prise giving. We had adequate gifts this
time and
of course the
little Koalas and Kangaroos are always very well received.
Team result was 15th out of 18, but we still beat Korea and
Mongolia.
Adam was 26th in
the Senior with 114 mins, and the best time was 59 minutes from
Czech
Replublic.
Again, photos will appear at
http://www.qsl.net/vk3zpf/china/day3.htmhttp://www.qsl.net/vk3zpf/china/day4.htmhttp://www.qsl.net/vk3zpf/china/day5.htm
This may or may not be my last message from China. We will see.
Meanwhile, Cheers from Nanjing,
Bruce, VK3TJN
(PS: Sending this from another account since I can get this to
work
at the moment, but please reply to brucep(a)netspace.net.au)
***** Remember, an out of tune piano makes noise, not music! *****
call, (805) 966-7060 .
E-MAIL: dennis(a)rain.org .
*** Bye from the Paradise Playground of the Pacific Beaches.
*** Dennis Schwendtner *** WB6OBB ***
*** http://www.rain.org/~dennis ***
*** Schwendtner Piano and Service ***
WB6OBB repeater web-site ***
Santa Barbara Amateur Radio Club
SBARC Upcoming Meeting
Friday, October 20, 2000 7:30 PM
(Doors open at 6:45!)
Location: Goleta Union Schools Administration Board Room 401 N. Fairview Ave.
(across from the Goleta Public Library)
Visitors are cordially invited!
Talk in is available on K6TZ 146.79/19 (131.8).
Topic: HC8N Contest Station in the Galapagos by Trey Garlough, N5KO.
The acquisition and construction of the Galapagos Contest Station, HC8N, with
Trey Garlough (N5KO) is a multi-media presentation and a great travelog
program for the whole family.
The SBARC Bookstore, Membership table, and swap tables will also be available.
Everyone is welcome!
