Some of my interests:
- Broadcast Radio
- Long gone are the days when just about any
"mom and pop" business with the resources and desire could put their
own
station on the air and try out this "newfangled medium," with
vast
potential for entertainment, education, and the promotion of
commerce. Programming was as free as "the ether," reflecting the
(still alive) belief in "freedom of speech." Little of this went
unnoticed, however. Those in power - who wished to remain in
power
- started taking control of broadcast radio by requiring all stations
to
be "licensed." From a spectrum management point
of view, this certainly made sense. There simply were not enough
frequencies available for everyone to have their own station.
Under the simple premise that the "airwaves" are the property of the
public, some forms of government control seemed an obvious
necessity. The newly licensed broadcasters were required to serve
"the public interest" in exchange for permission to air their
programming (and the 'commercials' that supported most of them).
Suddenly, the government was forced to define what was in "the best
interests" of the public at large. Beyond assuring that
broadcasters had the means and intention to serve the public with
sufficient hours of programming and defined, protected coverage areas
(subject to "proof of performance"), content soon became an
issue.
Broadcasters were subject to censorship
pressures from both the government that "permitted them to exist," and
the interests of those who sponsored their operations - the
corporations. Freedom of speech became an abstraction under these
conditions. Commercial broadcasters could survive only if their
programming (and political views) conformed to those of big business,
while staying within the confines of what the government deemed "in the
public interest."
- Since "before the beginning," not everyone
bought into the stifling environment crafted by the the government and
corporations. Even after the government gave itself the power to
impose large fines and imprisonment upon those who broadcasted
illegally
(via the Communications Act of 1934), there were those with
something to say and something to contribute to the real "public
interest" that could never qualify for a license. Most held to
ideals of free speech, and were not backed by large commercial
interests. Their programming - free of censorship and regulation
-
often presented alternative views not found elsewhere "on the
dial." Some managed to obtain licenses and a degree of government
approval. "Listener sponsored radio" is still an excellent
example of these (relative) success stories. The rest were forced
to operate "bootleg" stations .. they were (and are!) .. the "pirates"
of broadcast radio!
- Unlicensed broadcast radio comes in a variety
of flavours. Governments
have often used "pirate" broadcast stations to further their
interests. These stations usually carry alternative news
and
views designed to inform target audiences whose access to "the truth"
is
limited by their own governments. As a mouthpiece
for external "propaganda," these stations have been instrumental in
undermining "repressive regimes." These stations are more
politely
referred to as "clandestine," which is a good semantic match for their
actual function.
- What happens when the "clandestine"
broadcaster comes from within? These are the ones who earn the
label "pirate." Their programs and politics are as diverse as the
individuals who dare to put their fortunes and freedom on the line, in
both self and "public interest." The central issue - control of
all media (and, therefore, all minds) - has become a problem of
increasing concern to those who value freedom of thought and
expression. Recent regulatory changes have moved us closer
to media-monopoly
than ever before. In the minds of large corporate interests,
there
is no room for an alternative voice. Their agenda equates "public
interest" with their own political views and quest for power.
Stay tuned for much, much more on this and
related subjects. For now, you can find additional reading here:
and please have a look here as
well:
- Communications
- Amateur ("ham") radio has been a hobby of mine since 1968.
The hobby itself has been around as long as radio itself. Many
discoveries and developments associated with radio communications are
the direct result of work done by radio amateurs. I also enjoy
Shortwave
and Scanner listening. Thanks to the internet, it is easy to take for
granted communicating with people from all over the world, but for me,
radio still has a special quality that is not found anywhere else. My
career in engineering radio systems grew out of my hobby. I consider
myself extremely fortunate to be working at something that I love to
do!
There are so many ways to enjoy this hobby that you could spend a
lifetime exploring them, and never run out of new things to try.
It's easier than ever to get a
license these days, so if this interests you, check out this link:
- Linux
- Visit this site to find out all about my favourite
Operating System. You can have all the power and flexibility of
this OS for free!
While this is generally not for someone who's not interested in what
goes on "under the hood" of their machines, everything you ever wanted
in either a command line UNIX environment or a "click and grunt"
X-Windows desktop is available - and it keeps getting better! My
first experience with Linux and X-Windows was using a spare 386-40 with
only 8 MB of RAM - and it performed well! Try doing that with NT, 95, or OS/2!
Mainstream applications are becoming more available and affordable too: Corel WordPerfect
for Linux is FREE for personal use, as is the entire StarOffice
suite! Where do I want to go today? Right here :
- Telnet Talkers
- Countless people have found chatting over the net to be an
enjoyable pastime. IRC certainly ranks high in popularity, and
even various forms of 'Web Chat' using Browser software have been
pressed into service. While these channels may serve the interests of
many, I have found keyboard chat using telnet to be the best for
me. Speed, anonymity, and stability are just a few reasons why I
choose telnet over all others. Many of the best telnet talkers are
based
on the NUTS (Neil's Unix Talker Server) code, and my all time favourite
is no exception. Fire up your telnet software, log in, and see
just how good it can be!
Click on the picture to visit the
Alice's Looking Glass homepage, or click on the door to drop right down
the rabbit hole:
