Month: June 2006

The Devil Drove Up To Dayton

The devil drove up to Dayton, he was lookin’ for a hamfest deal.

He was in a bind, cause he was way behind, so he was ready to make a deal.

When he came across this young man sittin’ in the Salem Mall parking lot.

And the devil jumped up on a Skywarn van, he said, “Boy let me tell ya what!”

“I bet you didn’t know it, but I’m a ham operator too.”

“So if you care to take a dare, I’ll make a bet with you.”

“Now you send pretty good code ol’ boy, but give devil his due.”

“I’ll bet a straight key of gold against your soul, cause I think I’m better than you.”

The boy said, “My name’s Mikey, and it might be a sin, but I’ll take your bet, and you’re gonna regret, cause code’s all I ever send!”

Refrain:

Mikey plug in your key and send them dits and dahs. Cause hell’s broke loose in Dayton, and the devil deals the cards. Now if you win you’ll get that shiny straight key made of gold. But if you lose, the devil gets your soul.

The devil plugged in his key, and he said, “I’ll start this gig.” And sparks flew from his linear amp as he was tunin’ up his rig. And he started sendin’ dits and dahs, and they made an evil hiss. And then a band of demons joined in, and it sounded somethin’ like this.

(Insert CW QRM Noise)

When the devil finished, Mikey said, “Well you’re pretty ole’ son, but sit down on that linear amp, and let me show ya how it’s done.”

(In CW he sent)

Hey now devil, I got some skill. Devil’s lookin’ for a hamfest deal. Listen now devil, don’t ya whine! That gold straight, she’s a gonna be mine!

Well the devil bowed his head, because he knew that he’d been beat. And he laid that golden straight key on the ground at Michael’s feet. Michael said, “Devil just come on back if ya ever wanna try me again.” “I done told you once you son of a b-tch, I’m the best that’s ever been!”

73, and all apologies to Charlie Daniels,
KU4UV

Lightship New Bedford rolls over at its berth

This story is based on an article in the New Bedford Standard-Times of June 2, 2006.

Apersistent leak has caused the Lightship New Bedford to roll over on its side at its berth at the Commonwealth Electric Pier in New Bedford. The ship, owned by the city of New Bedford, could remain on its side for at least a week, according to John Simpson, executive director of the New Bedford Harbor Development Commission. The city is seeking estimates to lift the vessel out of the water for examination and repair, he added.

“We need to determine the cause (of the leak) and prevent it from happening,” Simpson told reporters.

According to the Coast Guard, the overturned lightship does not create any navigational or environmental hazards. “From what we know, there is no fuel onboard,” said Petty Officer Tiffany Carvalho of Marine Safety Detachment New Bedford.

The deactivated lightship has been leaking for several week, Simpson said, and had been pumped periodically. The city had intended to seek financial assistance from the Massachusetts Seaport Advisory Council for repairs. “It’s now a situation we have to deal with,” he said.

The 133-foot (40.5 m) lightship was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1980. One of only 13 surviving U.S. lightships, it has been in poor condition for years and is listed on the Lighthouse Digest Doomsday List. Lighthouse preservationists were quick to express their concern. “Let’s hope efforts to right the vessel and stop the leak that caused this disaster are successful. With so few lightships left in the country, we can ill-afford to lose this treasure,” said Bob Trapani of the American Lighthouse Foundation.