For people seeking the truth in ham radio
Mo-Fo
Or why Mikee ĹKalamazoo Cuckoo' ND8V was "in like Flynn" and continues
to lead a charmed existence with Riley ĹRot' Hollingsworth K4ZDH
Once upon a time in America there came to be a giant of an
organization called the American Radio Relay League (ARRL).
Much later, there appeared a shy and lonely radio amateur with the
Ĺself-effacing' call sign K1MAN [HI, HI].
Sometime, somewhere, somehow yet later K1MAN came to the rather
obvious conclusion that large organizations/associations, such as the
ARRL or the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), in time lose
touch with the constituents they are supposed to serve. This was not
news, in that it has always been so.
Unlike others, who only Ĺbitched' about it, however, K1MAN decided to
start a Bulletin service on 14.275 MHz a la the ARRL's W1AW in part to
poke sticks into the respective eyes of both one-eyed Cyclops.
Surprise, surprise, the ARRL/FCC did not put K1MAN on their respective
Christmas card lists.... Rather, they attempted to shut K1MAN down.
Years and much effort later, they appear to have failed, at least to
the extent that K1MAN remains on the air.
Concurrently and arguably partly as a result of K1MAN's so-called "bad
example", a group of rogue Citizens Band (CB) operators with an
amateur licence [and others without], decided to congregate on 14.313
MHz which frequency in time became a veritable Ĺzoo'. This was during
the time when the amateur spectrum was supposedly
Ĺself-governing/policing'....
Then, some four years ago the ARRL reportedly proposed and the FCC
agreed to hire one Riley Hollingsworth K4ZDH as a Ĺradio cop', to
clean up the Ĺamateur beat' generally. In reality, there were arguably
only two items on Riley's immediate agenda: K1MAN on 14.275 MHz and
the mess on 14.313 MHz but for the obvious and not so obvious reasons,
very much in that order.
Unfortunately K1MAN had in the meantime contracted to teach full-time
and as a consequence had to take a sabbatical from producing the
time-consuming Bulletins. Then, at a series of Ĺhamventions', Riley
the radio cop apparently loudly took credit for driving K1MAN off the
air.... This played well at the FCC and among the Ĺgreat unwashed' and
uninformed in the amateur community and earned Riley the moniker ĹThe
Rotweiler'. Predictably, this had the same effect on K1MAN as a
scarlet handkerchief has on a bull. K1MAN consequently let it widely
be known that he would be back with a vengeance and as they say in
show business, the stage was set....
In the meantime, Riley continued to ineffectively try to come to grips
with the zoo on 14.313 MHz. ND8V a.k.a. ĹKalamazoo Cuckoo' to friends
and detractors alike, was one of the chief rabble-rousers there. He
had attacked Hispanic-speaking stations "for years" calling them
cockroaches, interfered with a maritime mobile net and threatened--on
and off the air--any number of amateurs who stood up to his bullying.
Throughout this, Riley did virtually nothing. Then, when even the US
military reportedly had enough of ND8V's behaviour and caused a search
to be made of his station, Riley ĹThe Rotweiler' was finally forced to
act. He severely beat ND8V up--with a Ĺwet noodle'--by supposedly
suspending his High Frequency (HF) privileges for a curiously
Ĺpregnant' nine months! This again played well at the FCC and even in
the amateur community, to whom 14.313 MHz in general and to some ND8V
in particular, had become such an acute embarrassment.
Unfortunately, Riley had for some strange reason also made a ĹFaustian
bargain' with ND8V in part to the effect that if he behaved himself
for the duration of the suspension, he would [surprise, surprise] be
rewarded! All of his past sins were to be forgiven and forgotten--and
what is most perverse--could not be used against him in subsequent
disciplinary proceedings.... [Obviously, someone had turned their mind
to the possibility--some say inevitability--of subsequent disciplinary
problems. Who? Why?]
Interestingly, as part of this Faustian bargain, Riley apparently
forbade ND8V to operate on 14.313 MHz--something he may not have had
authority in law to do. But what is truly odd, when ND8V returned to
HF--surprise, surprise ~a month before K1MAN's published intension to
resume his Bulletins--he relocated to 14.275 MHz! With virtually the
entire 20 m Band for ND8V to choose from, this was not entirely
serendipitous....
ND8V returned to HF in September 2001 after Ĺserving' only eight of
the nine month suspension [Riley can't count] and virtually
immediately was [surprise, surprise] back in trouble again. Riley was
again forced to use the wet noodle, i.e. to issue another Warning
Letter that, for reasons still unclear, but likely related to the
Faustian bargain, appears to have again Ĺgone away' without
significant or indeed any consequences.
Immediately upon K1MAN's return, he was [surprise, surprise] subjected
to organized and vicious interference (QRM) by ND8V and his toadies
from the zoo on 14.313 MHz now increasingly congregating on 14.275
MHz. [Interestingly, most of these were/are from the 4th Call
District.] Riley/the FCC reportedly sat back and listened, but
pointedly took no action. Curiously, however, between this relentless
QRM'ing and otherwise bad mouthing of K1MAN and
inconvenient/neighbouring others, ND8V could be heard loudly praising
Riley--in nauseating fashion--the just completed suspension and by now
extensive Ĺrap sheet' at the FCC and elsewhere notwithstanding....
Things were getting curiouser and curiouser....
Within yet another month or two, ND8V organized another attack, this
time on a Polish-speaking amateur from New York City (the New Yorker),
on the neighbouring frequency of 14.273 MHz for in effect usually
speaking in a foreign language and being too close to "his" newly
chosen frequency. Now, 14.273 MHz had for only some fifty years
unofficially been known/used as the worldwide ĹPolish Calling
Frequency'. For the obvious reasons, many consider such informal
arrangements a very effective and efficient use of the radio spectrum.
But, this was shortly after "9/11" and ND8V's apologists say that he
should be forgiven for this misguided sense of ĹAmerican patriotism'ů.
Surprise, surprise, this attack on the sometime Polish-speakers
generally and on the New Yorker in particular had a similar modus
operandi (MO) to that used a year earlier on the Hispanics! ND8V also
in quick succession organized his toadies from 14.275 MHz to write two
transparently fictitious complaints to Riley against the New Yorker.
Perversely, these involved allegations of Ĺperceived' overly-wide
signals and interference no less, backed up by the Ĺthinnest' of
malicious Ĺdrivel' off the Internet. One concerned chiefly what were
clearly fraudulent rebroadcasts of the New Yorker's CQs [they taped
and retransmitted his signals on top of their own and then complained
to Riley about it!]. To even casual observers, this was/is the
well-known MO of CB'ers and together with voice imitations, was/is a
recognized specialty of the zoo in general and ND8V in particular. As
such, the complaints were an obviously Ĺput up job'.
Nevertheless, without checking the bona fides of the complaints or
their chief instigator/organizer, or apparently doing any independent
investigation whatsoever, Riley obligingly quickly issued two Warning
Letters in succession to the New Yorker. These were then published on
the ARRL website. This was/is Riley's standard operating procedure.
Several knowledgeable and legally trained observers have aptly called
this approach to enforcement "Trial By Press Release". [The ARRL's
by-and-large noble institutional memory should be ashamed to be party
to this.]
These Warning Letters emboldened ND8V who was then openly heard
bragging to his toadies that he would drive the sometime
Polish-speakers off the neighbouring frequency in general and the New
Yorker off the air in particular.
Then, two of the sometime Polish-speakers on 14.273 MHz [one American
and one Canadian] stepped into the breach and attempted to defend
their fellow amateurů.
Initially, first the American and then the Canadian helped the New
Yorker draft and send three lengthy and increasingly detailed
double-registered letters of reply to Riley--not one of which to-date
has even been acknowledged!
The American then sent a double-registered letter covering an
audiotape evidencing malicious QRM and a death threat to the New
Yorker uttered by none other than--surprise, surprise--ĹDumbo Bobbie'
WD4AWO--one of the original complainants and ND8V's regular toady from
the backwoods of Tennessee. For some curious reason, Riley has not
to-date deigned to acknowledge this serious incident eitherů.
Over the next several months the Canadian followed up with some 20
detailed e-mails, each one evidencing at least one instance of serious
malicious QRM by ND8V. After several insistent prompts Riley finally
laconically if inarticulately acknowledged some of these--not to be
confused with answering them--but of course he did nothing substantive
about them as usualů.
Then, after about six months of this benign neglect--and worse--and
the continuing vicious attacks by ND8V, Riley finally attempted to
placate the increasingly irate Canadian by advising that he would hold
a review of ND8V's licence status at his upcoming renewal time.
Inexplicably, however, a couple of months later, Riley/the FCC renewed
ND8V's licence without any review whatsoever! When confronted about
this by the Canadian, Riley professed utter surprise and blamed the
supposed error on some administrative Ĺfoul-up'. Others thought/think
otherwiseů.
Then, after nearly a year of inaction and Ĺflip flops', the Canadian
finally read Riley the Ĺriot act'ů.
Riley's reply to this Ĺdressing down' was apoplectic, but informative
for a change. He wrote that the Canadian should not bother him with
"blow-by-blow" details--each one carefully crafted as a possible
exhibit to any number of affidavits! Riley also stated that he had
"just noticed" that the writer was a Canadian amateur!! This, recall,
after more than 20 e-mails, all except one of which [a forward from
the American] were very clearly identified with a Canadian call
sign!!! The logical conclusion to be drawn from this is that Riley is
either grossly inattentive to detail and/or that he doesn't recognize
a Canadian call sign when he sees one some 20 times in succession
and/or that he is disingenuous [for those not familiar with the last
word, look it up under "L" in the dictionary]. Irrespective, Riley
thereby very arguably proved himself to be unfit for the important
position that he holdsů.
In his reply, Riley also unilaterally changed Ĺthe rules of
engagement' in mid-stream and suggested that the Canadian send him
audiotapes instead of the blow-by-blow e-mails. It is interesting to
note in passing that the form of complaint to the FCC is nowhere
specified. In fact, an FCC Commissioner had shortly before this
delivered a Ĺrocket' to the Enforcement Bureau [of which Riley is
Special Counsel, you might recall] on this very point. Also, there are
serious and possibly insurmountable evidentiary problems with tapes
made by Ĺvarious and sundry'.
Nevertheless, the Canadian subsequently sent Riley a detailed letter
covering a tape recording of a typical example, among others, of
ND8V's usual sociopathic QRM. This incident was even independently
corroborated by a station from California--which was 2 kHz down and
was contemporaneously also maliciously QRM'ed by ND8V--and luckily
caught on the same tape! Despite this Ĺdouble whammy', from two
independent sources that did not previously know each other, Riley
never replied to the Californian [a retired Sergeant of police,
incidentally] and only grudgingly acknowledged the Ĺpesky' Canadian.
But, to-date, he has taken no substantive action on the incidents as
usualů.
All the while ND8V perversely continued to praise Riley on the air as
if he were his Ĺlong lost bud' and bragged about unprecedented access
to and sometimes daily telephone contact with him [while practicing
attorneys regularly could not get through].... To subjective and
objective observers alike, things were not only getting curiouser and
curiouser, but increasingly bizarre....
Then on 25 November 2002 Riley wrote ND8V an unprecedented strong
Warning Letter noting that the FCC continues to receive complaints
about him concerning the "ůappropriation of certain frequenciesů" and
"ůinterference to certain operators". Riley inter alia cautioned that:
"Any future incidentsůeven a single incident, will result in a
monetary forfeiture and revocation proceeding against your license"
and requested that ND8V refrain from operation on the 20 m Band. This
unprecedented Ĺůlast warning, to last warning, to last warning,
etc....' was again based on multiple, independent and well-founded
complaints from several amateurs operating tens of kHz apart. At least
two of these complaints were from mature, highly credible and wholly
independent sources who did not then even know of the other's
existence [but Riley obviously knew--and gave both the "mushroom
treatment"]. Interestingly, both of these sources were also legally
trainedů. Moreover, one of the complaints was in addition reduced
to/backed up by a very persuasive/extensive Statutory
Declaration/Affidavitů.
Surprise, surprise, distressingly similar historical fact patterns and
well-founded/drafted independent complaints notwithstanding, ND8V was
able to dispose of them via only one "private" telephone call to his
Ĺbud' Riley! Therein, in true sociopath style [aided by his "calm
voice characteristics" no doubt--ND8V later bragged about this
on-air], he simply described the multiple independent and unconnected
complaints to Riley as "all lies". Now Mikee is an accomplished
practitioner of ĹThe Big Lie' approach. But, what is nevertheless so
inexplicable and bizarre in the circumstances is that Riley obviously
Ĺbought' this preposterously Ĺthin' excuse!
STOP PRESS!
SPECIAL COUNSEL RILEY ĹROT' HOLLINGSWORTH K4ZDH AGAIN SNOOKERED BY
ĹCALM VOICE CHARACTERISTICS' OF MIKEE ĹKALAMAZOO CUCKOO' ND8Vů.
After receiving such Ĺunimpeachable evidence to the contrary' from
ND8V--Riley then shamelessly rescinded the Warning Letter--before it
was even published!!!
This again of course only emboldened ND8V who then sold his perfectly
serviceable FT-1000D and bought an IC-756 PRO--so as to more
effectively Ĺkeep watch' on and Ĺsplatter' the sometime
Polish-speakers especially, in what he instructively called "War
Mode". Subsequently, according to ND8V and his toadies, 14.275 MHz and
vicinity was "always occupied", even when no one was using it! ND8V
published a "schedule" to that effect on QRZ.com and anyone--but
especially the sometime Polish-speakers--attempting to use any
frequency between ~14.270 MHz and ~14.280 MHz would then immediately
be Ĺstomped on' and/or [surprise, surprise] loudly and perversely be
accused of interfering with him!
If a few of the sometime Polish-speakers [eventually there were only
two!] could not thus be chased off and stood their ground, ND8V would
then threaten them with being reported to his "friend and lawyer",
Riley. For effect, he would even occasionally pass out Riley's
direct/private telephone numbers! He also repeatedly threatened the
Canadian with a report to Industry Canada (IC), the Canadian
equivalent of the FCC [and equally ineffective]. All the while ND8V's
regular toadies [chief among them ĹRambo Dan' W4NTI, ĹDumbo Bobbie'
WD4AWO, ĹRude Rube' K4RUB and ĹMiami Boob' W4ASX to partially name
only a few of the more unbalanced and guilty], were ready and more
than willing in the background to uncritically back him up in whatever
he said or didů. Soon, no one--Ĺrednecks' from the 4th Call District
and/or ND8V's usual sycophants excepted--was safe in the middle of the
20 m Phone Band! All the while Riley/the FCC and even IC, despite
being repeatedly advised, did nothingů.
The American subsequently sent Riley another handful of
double-registered letters covering some dozen tapes/instances of
serious malicious QRM by ND8V. But of course Riley did not acknowledge
this considerable effort and expense eitherů.
Then in February 2003 ND8V together with his toadies organized a
series of vicious on-air attacks on the two sometime Polish-speaking
holdouts. That these attacks were also premeditated, organized and
racially/ethnically driven is beyond question. Several amateurs and
even a short-wave listener independently reported ND8V and his toadies
Ĺlaying in wait' and preparing for them as such. The attacks were on
an unprecedented scale and of ferocious intensity. Many of them
literally lasted for hours! Some again involved repeated threats of
death and/or bodily harmů.
Fortuitously, all of these attacks were taped--including the
all-important beginnings--both by the American and the Canadian. This
should have Ĺput paid' to Ĺwho was on first, first and who second',
who attacking and who defending, who calling whom racial/ethnic slurs,
who threatening, etc. Riley/the FCC [and sometimes IC] were
contemporaneously informed and on occasion provided the tapes and/or
access thereto.
But again, nothing constructive materialized--actually, quite to the
contraryů.
Surprise, surprise, ĹKalamazoo Cuckoo' ND8V and ĹRambo Dan'
W4NTI--those paragons of American radio amateur virtue--verbally
reported the Canadian to IC and the American to the FCC! Because Mikee
can't write, the manner in which they did this is again instructive.
First, they repeatedly read out the respective and sometimes toll-free
telephone numbers using a continuous loop feature and fraudulently
exhorted anyone and everyone listening to call in a complaint. Then
[surprise, surprise], they conveniently called the numbers themselves!
This, perversely, after first viciously QRM'ing and threatening the
American and Canadian--for more than three hours--using the usual full
legal power +, a five element mono-bander [typically directed at the
Canadian, because the American was too close], in splattering War
Mode. All of which, including again as to who first properly occupied
the frequency, etc., was/is unequivocally evidenced on tapes
independently provided Riley by the American as well as the Canadian!!
Surprise, surprise, the ephemeral nature of verbal complaints and the
supposed requirement for tapes/hard evidence, etc., notwithstanding,
both of these Ĺaugust' organizations were then perversely apparently
speedily preparing to act--against the two Ĺrecalcitrant' sometime
Polish-speaking holdouts--who so "unreasonably" refused to be driven
off any frequency they first lawfully/properly and demonstrably
occupied!!!
Almost in desperation, the American then put a $1,000 US Ĺbounty' for
information leading to the arrest, prosecution and conviction of their
tormentors/QRM'ersů. Not to be outdone, the Canadian subsequently
raised the bounty to $2,000 CDN and for effect added "Dead or Alive",
ĹTexas/Dubya'-styleů.
In March 2003 the Canadian also drafted and whenever seriously QRM'ed
read to his American colleague for comment, evolving versions of "The
Life of Riley"--which ultimately called for Riley's removal from the
FCCů.
Surprise, surprise, within ~a week of the third weekly Ĺreading',
Riley at long last decided to act--in a manner of speaking. He wrote a
letter accusing ND8V of: causing deliberate interference, broadcasting
and threatening [the life of the American, no less!]. All of this
arising from just one relatively mild attack in the series--lasting
only about an hour--on 26 March 2003 as patently incompletely reported
by some third party [the identity of which is still unknown].
Nevertheless, Riley again categorically threatened ND8V's licence
with: either a suspension and revocation hearing, or a loss of voice
privileges for the remainder of the licensing term [i.e. for the next
~nine years]. But, despite the unequivocal nature of the underlying
evidence [eventually Riley received three tapes of the same event from
three independent sources!] and the relatively strong if curiously
obtuse language used, Riley did not call it a Warning Letterů.
Moreover, being the petty bureaucrat that he is, Riley did not like
having his feet put to the fire, especially in so public a fashion.
Thus, even while appearing to take some action against ND8V, he also
decided to get even--with [surprise, surprise] the American, being the
only one over whom he had some power. Riley disingenuously accused him
of conduct "ůas bad as or worse thanů" ND8V. Now, that is a standard
indeed!!! Shame on you, Riley!
Incidentally, this was the only substantive communication the American
had ever had from Riley in his life--the ~dozen reports and costly
double-registered tapes he had submitted on ND8V notwithstanding!
But, no one should be/is fooled. As previously admitted and long
suspected in any event, Riley has obviously been sitting near his
energized antennas for much too long! To knowledgeable amateurs,
Riley's recent self-serving and semi-articulate musings in general and
about ND8V and the American and the ĹPolish Calling Frequency' in
particular, in the circumstances do not even pass Ĺthe giggle test'ů.
This latest wet noodle lashing and the requirement to reply "within 20
days" notwithstanding, as of the time of writing of this piece, or
some six months--but in reality two years--later, Riley is yet to do
anything substantive to ND8V who continues to terrorize 14.275 MHz and
vicinity with manifest impunityů.
How come ĹKalamazoo Cuckoo' ND8V is still licensed and leads such a
"Life of Riley", many thinking amateurs ask???
There are some cynics who answer generally that the ties that
bind--and blind--to this extent are to be found only within Ĺsecret
societies'--such as the Masons, the Ku Klux Klan and groups which meet
for trysts in Ĺbath houses'ů. But, being cynics, they probably
over-generalize, if not over-state.
Others, who are less jaded, muse simply that Riley is ineffective
because he is fundamentally incompetent. Some suggest that Riley's
secretary is weak in basic fact investigation and reasoning ability
and has too ready an access to his rubber-stamp signature.Those who
are legally trained, laconically submit that Riley is simply Ĺwet' on
the law. Still others suggest that Riley is legally, administratively
and otherwise unethical. A few point out the obvious--that Riley is
also from the 4th Call District--and as such is simply covering the
Ĺbutts' of his fellow southern rednecks [and/or Klan wannabes]. Some
have even suggested that Riley is intellectually and otherwise
dishonest. While K1MAN bluntly states--on-air and in writing--that
Riley is a "cheap and corrupt politician".
Some of these characterizations might be true, in whole or at least in
part. But, after only two years of close monitoring and observation,
the "relationship" between Riley and ND8V appears to be both much
simpler and at the same time much more complex than that....
In a nutshell, ĹKalamazoo Cuckoo' ND8V arguably leads "The Life of
Riley" because Riley continues to treat this Ĺuseful ~400 lb. idiot'
and his uncouth toadies on 14.275 MHz and vicinity as the radio
equivalent of thugs and Ĺbrown-shirts' in his battle to get K1MAN and
his Bulletins off the air. Riley was/is playing the dangerous game of
Ĺthe enemy of my enemy is my friend' and provides this crude racist
bully Ĺdeep cover', convenient Ĺescape clauses', lenient sentences and
Ĺget out of jail free' cards virtually on requestů.
But, why has this gone on for so long? Arguably, because now
ĹKalamazoo Cuckoo' ND8V also knows Ĺwhere Riley's bodies are buried'ů.
Whatever the short and/or long-term tactical merits of Riley's ad hoc,
unprincipled and ultimately Machiavellian approach, because of the
collateral damage it causes to non-combatants and innocent others, it
constitutes highly irresponsible and unethical administrative
behaviour and brings great discredit not only to amateur radio and the
FCC, but also to the United States of America as a whole.
It is past time, therefore, not only for Mikee ĹKalamazoo Cuckoo' ND8V
but also for Riley ĹRot' Hollingsworth K4ZDH to go....
73
DE Karol VE7KFM
ę 2003
A PDF version of this artical is available for download here.
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