Robert Perkins wrote:

News to me. I thought the regs stated that if you had a radio, you had
to use it.

You're probably thinking of the transponder.

Clearly most reporters need to get the *&^&*%^%^& out of aviation
reporting.

Most reporters are abysmally ignorant of anything other than the peculiarities
of their own jobs and hobbies. If expertise in the subject matter were required,
the profession would be eliminated.

George Patterson
To a pilot, altitude is like money - it is possible that having too much
could prove embarassing, but having too little is always fatal.