FCC kills Morse Code requirement for hams

I'm a man of useless talents -- balancing the end of a broom on my finger, wiggling my ears, Morse code -- but not all at the same time.  After a couple of years of studying, I got a ham license in 1965 (WAØKKR then, but N7DH since 1975) and have kept it ever since, but my last period of sustained activity ended in 1976.  However, when I was active, it was primarily on Morse code.  I got so I could copy about 50 words per minute in my head and about 40 wpm on a typewriter (remember typewriters?) if the sender knew what he or she was doing.  Over about 25 wpm, Morse becomes another language instead of dots and dashes, and it's elegant -- beautiful even.  But this week, the FCC finally killed off its Morse requirement for amateur radio licenses in order to let in the riff raff broaden the appeal of this service and make life a little easier for themselves.  I guess those are laudable goals.  Matt Largey had the story for NPR's All Things Considered.  --Dennis didididahdidah