[MilCom] RE; Pop'Comm Columnist Wiretap Retraction??

[Steve Douglass]

Thanks for your comments Ken.

I felt a clarification on the wire tap issue was needed when certain 
remarks (taken out of context) were posted on this and other lists 
and seemed to cast doubt on this columnists veracity.

Certain people took those remarks as very serious (although they were 
clearly intended to be taken with tongue planted firmly in cheek) and 
it alarmed some to even consider the possibility that a monitoring 
enthusiast's phone could possibly be tapped by federal agents.

As it turned out it probably wasn't the case and I am sorry if it 
alarmed anyone.

As for being "dismayed" that more people aren't submitting their 
logs? Well, I wouldn't  to go so far as Ken did saying I was 
"dismayed."

I am concerned that more monitors don't take the opportunity to share 
(in print) with readers their expertise and great monitoring catches.

Although Ken's remarks seem to hint it is due to what he thinks is 
unpopularity of this author, I think it is more due to a general 
assumption that by the time the posts appear in the magazines they 
are months old so what's the point?

True, Internet posts are almost real-time but there is still much 
information to be had (especially for novice monitors) including 
modes, frequencies used,  propagation trends (and not to mention) the 
thrill of seeing that the same station you logged was also logged by 
someone half-way around the world.

Although it's hard for most of us to believe, not everyone has an 
Internet connection and I receive many letters from readers who's 
only source of monitoring information are the monitoring hobbyist 
magazines such as Monitoring Times and Pop Comm.

As I state in my column every month, UCD is what you monitors make of it.

It has never been (as some suggest) just the personal ravings of 
Steve Douglass.

It's like the old saying, "everyone gripes about the weather but 
nobody does anything about it."

So.. as I brace myself for the onslaught of "I hate Steve Douglass" 
e-mails that seem to follow my posts, I only have to reply: " so do 
something about it!"

If one can take the time to write and post a  lengthy tirade against 
this author(or my counterparts at Monitoring Times) one can also take 
the time to send in something constructive (news we all can use) that 
won't be a waste of bandwidth!

My goal is the same as yours, to get out the word to as many people 
as I can that communications monitoring is a great past-time.

Although I have been writing about this great hobby for over 15 
years, when I read ( the intelligent) posts I can't help but realize 
how much more I have to learn about this great hobby.  You guys are 
the real experts.

I'm well aware that I'm just your steward and it's for you I write.

Thanks for your comments and constructive criticisms.

_Steve Douglass



-- 
"There is no sin in getting knocked down. The real sin is in not 
getting back up."