I've seen so much April fools stuff on so many lists today, I 
expected exactly what we got actually  lol. Didn't surprise me at all.

At 08:45 PM 04/01/2006, you wrote:
>They got your attention didn't they?  I was thinking that it was something
>talking about them lifting the requirement which seems  to be the
>direction they are headed.
>
>
>
>
>
>On Sat, 1 Apr 2006, John Miller wrote:
>
> > lol that makes it official, half the lists I'm on have seen an April
> > Fools thing now.
> >
> > At 08:33 PM 04/01/2006, you wrote:
> > >International Press, Washington, DC.
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >Today, in an unprecedented move, the Federal Communications Commission
> > >issued an emergency reinstatement of Morse code requirements for 
> all amateur
> > >and commercial radio licenses.  In addition, the amateur radio license
> > >structure has been reverted to 1985 standards.  All codeless amateur and
> > >commercial licenses have been placed on a "conditional 30 day temporary
> > >permit" and all such license holders will have to pass an 
> appropriate Morse
> > >code test by May 1, 2006 or face permanent revocation of their  licenses.
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >All American registered commercial vessels are now required to have a
> > >crewman onboard that can copy Morse code at 13 WPM or they will be denied
> > >port clearance.  A temporary provision has been made in the FCC 
> regulations
> > >that will allow amateur radio operators that completed FCC administered
> > >Morse code tests prior to the implementation of the VEC program 
> to meet this
> > >requirement.  This generated such a demand for licensed amateur radio
> > >operators that the pay scale quickly escalated to $1000 per day for  such
> > >services.  In a bidding war, many major shipping companies have provided
> > >generous expense accounts,  luxury accommodations on vessels, 
> sponsorship of
> > >DX-peditions and immediate long term pension benefits.
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >In a related issue, this action has caused a significant shortage of Morse
> > >code keys, and surplus military J-38 keys that sold for a dollar 
> each after
> > >WW II are now fetching upwards of $300 each on ebay, regardless of
> > >condition.
> >