No, I was saying I relate to how you feel ... as opposed to the normals.

I'm not in the normals group.....kewl!       (doing my little victory jig....hehe) 

I shouldn't say this, because it's not in my nature to tell others how they should be or whatever, and it's totally off topic, but it's my thread anyway so who cares, I can do what I want   but as someone prone to name calling myself, ("idiots" comes to mind,   a personal favorite...seems like EVERYBODY who gets on my nerves is an idiot....) I've been thinking that maybe we have to find a way to not feel this name calling hostility towards those that we perceive as being "inferior."   I know, it's hard, but just think about it for a moment.   I've been trying to work on it myself.   I've gotten reaaaaally curmudgeon-y lately within my mind, in my thoughts, and I don't like where it's going.   I'm literally wrestling with it these past couple of weeks, like a battle, and to be honest I feel like I'm going under.  But I'll go under fighting back til the bitter end!    I'll keep trying.   An NR friend of mine called it my "shadow dance", as in dancing with my dark shadow.   She forwarded an online tarot card reading site and when I tried it out for myself, amazingly for the cards that represented my hidden and outer mental attitudes, I got cards representing bitterness, bad thoughts, grudge holding, sour attitudes, etc.  !    Grumpy??  Bitter??  Noooo!  Not ME!   haha 

On the one hand I can totally understand the "morons and niggas!!" mentality, but on the other hand I know about personal mirrors.  So I can't fully fall into that anymore without questioning what a thought like that really says about me;  *why* does it bother me?  *Why* do I feel that they are that way?  And most importantly...what can I learn from it and possibly - hopefully - change about me so that I *don't* have thoughts like that anymore?

I TOTALLY don't mean to lecture you, it's not like that.  It's more like random musings outloud.  Cause we ain't the only ones going through this.  Someone else reading it is too, and maybe could benefit, who knows.

Sorry, trying to inject some humor here.    I get your point, totally, but damn, I think that's the first time "niggas" has ever appeared on NR!     I sense some new moon energy aggravation!     

I hope though that you weren't sort of somehow indirectly referring to me in your rant though....?  Because I was complaining about the regulations?   I hope not! 

I'm annoyed.

It seems that "they" have made sure to "own" the airwaves as well.  Yeah yeah, I was aware of the "FCC", but I didn't really *think* about it until researching the Ham radio deal.  Now it's REALLY irking me that they require you to PAY to get a "license"..........so you can talk over a radio....??!?!    Who in the frickity frack owns the fricking AIR???   

sigh.

I am just so tired of the level of control that they try to exert over every little thing.

I often am frustrated by this too.  Then I look around at the average morons and niggas on the street, and can understand why so many rules seem necessary to TPTB.   In a lot of cases the rules are calculated against all the "normal," unthinking MORONS that don't have a brain or a clue, and worse they don't WANT ONE.   Honestly I have no sympathy for those people and think they deserve whatever they get.  The only reason I work towards individual freedom and protection of everyone's rights is for MY OWN SELFISH REASONS -- BECAUSE *I* don't want to be controlled like an animal.   Unfortunately, in order to protect myself, I have to advocate for the rights of all those other people at the same time, and so they in turn benefit as well ... but they don't deserve it.  Freedom ISN'T free, and it's a shame that the masses have always gotten a free ride on the backs of courageous people who've put their necks on the line for it.

Amateur radio is a very respectable and beneficial hobby and we're lucky it exists at all.

Well I never said that I thought it wasn't benefical or that we weren't lucky to have it.  I was just thrown for a loop by all the sites talking about testing, licenses, rules, regulations, etc. and so on.    My comments had nothing to do with slamming the existance of benefits of Ham radio in itself. 

While, like you mentioned later in your post, I would only be interested in going that route should events in this country leave us with no other choice, the way you described here:

My "anarchist side" as you referred to it isn't interested in going to that extreme unless it absolutely has to as a last resort.

But the rest of your advise was good in that it would be beneficial to learn all that I could about how it all works, in the event that later on we need to use Ham radios out of necessity.     Cause right now I don't have a clue how it all works.    Only within the like the last 2 years did I understand even the most rudimentary basics concerning radio waves.  I still don't get what "mega herz" and "hertz" and "giga hertz" and all that means.   I'm a 'tard, I know.   But I plan to learn!    Thanks for the feedback, it's all very good advise, and I will continue to research this topic more.  I have a drive to do so.......maybe for a reason!

So I guess my question (just out of curiosity) is, is Sirius exempt from FCC regulations?   For Howard to move over to there says to me that Sirius must be exempt or removed in some way from the constrictions he's experiencing with mainstream FM radio.

No, Sirius is operating on a portion of radio spectrum that they've paid for, so it's a purely commercial system.  In other words, however many channels of audio they have available to use, they're going to fill with content designed to maximize their revenues.   In other words, I wouldn't count on a "Noble Realms Talk" channel appearing anytime soon.   Howard Stern, on the other hand ... big audience = $$$.  Plus, since it's not on the PUBLIC AM/FM bands, but rather a private carrier, he can have an uncensored show.    Sirius is to AM/FM radio as HBO and Showtime are to the network TV stations.

Now it's REALLY irking me that they require you to PAY to get a "license"..........so you can talk over a radio....??!?!    Who in the frickity frack owns the fricking AIR???   

When I was perusing around through various links it amazed me the level of programming I was seeing with the puppets, spouting what they've been told to believe -  "Operating a ham radio without a licence is unethical!"

Unethical??  How?? 

"Operating a ham radio without a licence is illegal!"

I'm sure it is.  But they don't have to sound like they agree and are morally outraged about it with some sort of emotional investment involved.     Personally, I could care less if someone is operating a radio "GASP!!!!!!!!!!  WITHOUT A LICENSE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! AHHHHHH!  DAMN THEM!!!!!"

As someone familiar with the subject, I can tell you that the amateur radio service is one little part of culture worldwide that is for the most part self-regulated, with minimal governmental interference.  In the USA, in order to get your ham "ticket" (license) you just need to learn basic radio theory and commonly accepted rules on how to establish contacts and so forth.    I'd compare it to a law requiring you to know the rules of the road in order to get a driver's license -- how to signal, when you can turn on red, etc.   The only difference is that governments love to pull driver's licenses for political reasons (you didn't pay your child support, you got caught smoking dope) while that's not the case with ham radio.   Amateur radio has been around for about a century and was started by people interested in the hobby and the rules governing it evolved out of their own best practices.   All the tests are given by volunteer examiners who are also hams (I'm one myself) who do it out of love for the hobby.  The small fees charged for the tests are used just to recoup some of the costs of administering what is overall a very good system.    The only way things could be any more free in this case would be to get rid of ANY sorts of licensing, rules, or standards of conduct on air -- which would destroy the hobby by turning into just another CB radio.   

Anyway I won't go into all the details here but suffice it to say I think you've got the wrong idea.   Amateur radio is a very respectable and beneficial hobby and we're lucky it exists at all.   The American Radio Relay League, the main lobbying organization for hams, is always dealing with constant threats to our radio bands from private interest groups who are willing to pay the government good money to take over the spectrum that is currently allocated to amateur ( 100% noncommercial ) use.  And for that to happen would be a real shame. 

I'm sure if you do end up getting involved you'll see what I mean.  Might I suggest finding a local club and talking to some of the people there?  There are a lot of great people in the hobby and if you are truly interested, then it's well worth your time.   I'd leave out the bit that you're interested in pirate radio though!       That would be highly frowned upon ... and while that might grate against your anarchist side, I'd wager that if you did end up getting your own license, you'd be proud of having done so and might have a better understanding of why things are done as they are.   

As far as how this would tie in to your original idea of pirate broadcasting ... well, my idea would be to get involved in the hobby first to learn a lot about radio, make some friends, get involved in something positive and worthwhile.  Then, as a result,  you'd be prepared for a possible future where circumstances require you to get on the air for more subversive (bwoo ha ha!) purposes.

You might consider "podcasting" and having your own show ... that's free except for a minimum amount of equipment/programs ... a microphone/computer.  Obviously IF/when the internet goes down --- so will podcasting but in the meantime you could have a great time with a podcast.  Google it and you'll see.

WR,
Christine

I'm annoyed.

It seems that "they" have made sure to "own" the airwaves as well.  Yeah yeah, I was aware of the "FCC", but I didn't really *think* about it until researching the Ham radio deal.  Now it's REALLY irking me that they require you to PAY to get a "license"..........so you can talk over a radio....??!?!    Who in the frickity frack owns the fricking AIR???   

sigh.

I am just so tired of the level of control that they try to exert over every little thing.  And most people don't even question it.  It's natural to the public to have to go out and *pay money* to *take an exam* and *get a license.*   No questions asked.   So programmed is the population.  Fees, fees, and more fees, on top of regulations and stipulations.  It's all about control.  They've found a way to turn just about EVERYTHING into SOME kind of controlled, money making industry!!!

Also, I'm thinking back to Howard Stern's big ruckus., always wrestling with the censors about what he can and can't say.  It resulted in him deciding to transfer over to Sirius Satellite radio in 2006, which synchronisitically ties into the thread morningsun76 started today about Sirius.   So I guess my question (just out of curiosity) is, is Sirius exempt from FCC regulations?   For Howard to move over to there says to me that Sirius must be exempt or removed in some way from the constrictions he's experiencing with mainstream FM radio.

Anybody have any input on this?  Again, just wondering out of curiosity.   

When I was perusing around through various links it amazed me the level of programming I was seeing with the puppets, spouting what they've been told to believe -  "Operating a ham radio without a licence is unethical!"

Unethical??  How?? 

"Operating a ham radio without a licence is illegal!"

I'm sure it is.  But they don't have to sound like they agree and are morally outraged about it with some sort of emotional investment involved.     Personally, I could care less if someone is operating a radio "GASP!!!!!!!!!!  WITHOUT A LICENSE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! AHHHHHH!  DAMN THEM!!!!!"

Anyway, rant done.    Couldn't help but noting the money making industry to it all, and how people are so programmed to follow along with the system.   It's frustrating to see.

You also have an excellent point about the idea of phones and internet going down, and having to rely on good old fashioned radio transmissions to talk to each other......

I got my license when I was 16, but haven't really been active since and consequently have since forgotten most of the theory.   If I can find the time one of these days I'll have to brush up.

If you're interested, let me know and I'll try to answer any questions you might have.   A good book to get started with is Now You're Talking.

Okay, here's the set up:

http://www.rense.com/general67/hatm.htm

An excerpt:

ENDING FREE SPEECH RADIO
 
"If this amendment is approved, FCC restrictions will soon descend on American talk show hosts, with lists of banned topics.   Hosts will be fined or imprisoned and stations will lose their broadcast licenses, just as in Canada, if they violate these restrictions.
 
In Canada in Aug. 2004, "CHOI FM," Quebec City's most popular talk show station, was dissolved by the Canadian government. Its 33 employees were put out of work. Its offense? One of its talk show hosts criticized African dictators whose children were educated in Canadian universities. This was considered a "hate crime" against blacks........."

------

The first thing I thought of?

Pirate Radio.

Not Pirate Radio, the glam metal rock radio station from SoCal in the late 80's, early 90's,   but good old fashioned pirated radio frequencies.

What's odd is that the other day I had an image flash through my mind for some unknown reason of a scene from the Steven Spielberg produced miniseries, "Taken."  Towards the end of the series there is a talk radio host who broadcasts his show from an ever-moving RV that trolls up and down the highways and byways of America in the middle of the night.   It's never explained why this is;  you the viewer are supposed to infer, based on the content of his radio show which was a cross between Coast to Coast and Rense and all of them.   It's implied that he has to do things this way.  He can't just sit in a stationary building and broadcast his gig.   

So at any rate, "underground" radio broadcasts is what flashed through my mind the second I read this article, and I remembered my flash thought from "Taken" from the other day as well.   I know nothing about radio and electronics and broadcasting though.  But I'm about to find out and learn, let's just put it that way.   The idea of talk radio being shut down under the guise of "anti-hate laws" doesn't sit well with me.   I'm all about the spread of information which leads to knowledge, don't care for the idea of that being squelched.   It was inevitable though I suppose, just a matter of time.    On a side note, what's very funny is that a psychic friend of mine from NR told me several months ago that she saw "broadcasting" in my future.  Which seemed so unlikely to me at the time, and even her when she saw it.   When I read her email, I though "hanh?"   But I didn't dismiss it, because she's the real deal as far as intuition and all that is concerned.  So I thought huh, okay.  And put it on the backburner.  That's about all you can really do with predictions.   Life will unfold the way it's going to unfold, in due time.   Sometimes it's hard to see or even imagine how you're going to wind up at some point or place, so all you can do is just put it aside and live your life and watch things unfold on their natural course without any expectation, or even forget about it altogether until a distant point in the future.   So who knows, maybe broadcasting really will be in my future after all.     I didn't put two and two together until reading this article today. 

So....anybody out there know about radio broadcasting?  Any sort of input one could offer up?   What about pirating radio signals?    I'm going to research it on the 'net as well.   Will post more...