[ETSList] FWD: End of an era...

[Phil Galasso]

----- Original Message -----
From: "Ronald A. Loneker Sr. KA2BZS"
Subject: [ETSList] FWD: End of an era...


> NEWINGTON, CT, Oct 10, 2003--After completing 43 years of publication,
> 73 Amateur Radio Today magazine is calling it quits. According to
self-proclaimed "El
> Supremo and Founder" Wayne S. Green II, W2NSD, it was a simple matter of
> economics.

In its early days, 73 was a decent magazine. It had a lot of technical
content and promoted modes such as RTTY and VHF FM repeaters that were long
ignored by CQ and QST. Green's editorials also provided an alternative to
the ARRL party line and didn't fail to blast the League for some stupid
moves that it made over the years (e.g., incentive licensing and opposition
to amateur radio deregulation). On the other hand, Green would often get on
"kicks" that had nothing to do with amateur radio. The content of 73 would
reflect those kicks, in that the magazine would be replete with CB-related
articles (1974-76), computer articles (early 1980s), or even articles on
general aviation! I dumped my subscription in the eighties, as I didn't give
a rat's butt about what to do with a TRS-80 or Commodore 64 computer and I
was not interested in automating my ham station. (I don't participate in
contests and I still keep old-fashioned paper logs.)

Several years ago, Green began writing long, rambling editorials in 73 that
strongly suggest that he belongs in a place with foam rubber wallpaper,
where one is not allowed to handle hot liquids or sharp objects. He is
probably senile and his rantings scared away subscribers and advertisers.
With the pressure of publishing the magazine now gone, Green should probably
check himself into a mental hospital and tell the good doctors all about
cold fusion and his ideas for curing AIDS and cancer.

The saddest thing is that we don't have any decent mainstream amateur radio
publications in this country anymore. CQ is nothing but contest results and
QST is filled with appliance operator stuff and syrupy human interest
stories. Worldradio is news-oriented, but most of us have already read that
news on the Internet.

Phil K2PG