[NJARC] What Happened to the Electronics Hobbyist?

[Robert Flory]

News of their demise is premature.

There are whole categories out there whose activities are less visible to
us than the traditional ones.  Many still call themselves "hackers" and are
interested in modifying equipment to add features.  This is a reflection of
the fact that stuff is too complicated to start from scratch  and too cheap
to duplicate by building it yourself.  The magazine "Make" has articles in
it every time about how to modify commercial electronics.

The DJ "Grandmaster Flash", who was recently inducted into the Rock and
Roll Hall of Fame, did a bunch of hacking to commercial mixers etc. to
produce unique features he wanted to practice his art.  Sounds like Les
Paul in that respect.

I recently heard a story on "circuit benders" on NPR that described people
who more or less just goof around with radios etc. to make them produce
wierd, unpredicted effects.  

Rob Flory
robandpj at earthlink.net
www.home.earthlink.net/~navyradio  WWII Navy Radio
www.home.earthlink.net/~robandpj    Les Flory Television and Electronics