[Milsurplus] Wayne

[Todd, KA1KAQ]

On Sat, Jul 20, 2013 at 4:58 PM, Hue Miller <kargo_cult at msn.com> wrote:

>
> I found a small "tell it all" booklet about Wayne Greene, by one of his
> long term dedicated
> enemies, at a hamfest a while back. I don't recall the title right now. In
> some ways the
> account it tells is like some of the tabloids you see at the checkout
> counter with their
> outrageous revelations.
>


Now there's a big surprise: a questionable book written about you by one of
your enemies. Probably at least as credible as some of Wayne's "theories".

As it was explained to me, Wayne had an earlier computer magazine that he
lost to his wife when they divorced. He later came out with 'BYTE' as a
response. Wasn't into computers then, don't know which was which or why.
But I'll ask Wayne the next time I see him at NEAR-Fest. A few years back
when I was running the Forums, Workshops, and Guest Speakers, we had Wayne
as a speaker on Saturday.

The place was packed and he was mobbed by folks afterward wanting to chat
with him. True to form, he spoke about ham radio, 73 magazine, and
eventually wandered into other topics like speaking to flies and such.

I always chuckle when someone mentions one of Wayne's far out ideas and
think of how much attention and publicity it always got him. As someone
mentioned, it sure seemed to bring people back. My guess is that Wayne
isn't as dumb, foolish, or crazy as some would think.

Some years back I remember a discussion on one of the lists about the late
Leo Meyerson and how he was a con man, ripped people off selling
marginal/garbage gear, blah blah blah. I always thought he provided a lot
of hams with a path to owning amateur equipment that couldn't afford
Collins, National, Hammarlund or whatever other commercial gear. Guess it
depends who's telling the story.

Always enjoyed reading Tom Kneitel's musings too, in EI and S9 magazines.
Recently came across some CB Horizons magazines from the early 60s that he
wrote for. Was surprised to see the same stories that I'd read a decade or
more later.

They were all part of the fabric for many of us, many/most are now gone,
and who do we have in their place?

Fact of the matter is, if every radio book or publication we picked up was
a dry read like a clinical, sterile medical book or tech manual, the hobby
we enjoy so much wouldn't be quite as enjoyable. The eccentricities, the
human factor add depth and texture to the otherwise flat technical
descriptions. If that bothers or offends anyone, they should stick to
reading the dry stuff and, as Hank Arney would say, "getting the fly sh*t
out of the pepper". (o:

As to 73 magazine being in the public domain, it's been available for
download in different places for several years, now. I have the full set on
CDs sent to me by a friend who found them online while on station overseas
and passed some time one weekend downloading and burning them for myself
and several friends. Many others have them, too. I always thought the
reason you wrote an article for a hobby publication was to help out those
with the same interest, not to gain some perceived fame and fortune. If the
latter is true, you picked the wrong hobby. Then again, if being famous in
a hobby is that important to someone, well.....'nuff said.

~ Todd,  KA1KAQ/4