Introduce Yourself...Redux

[ka9q]

I'm Phil, and I live in San Diego, California. KA9Q is my ham radio callsign. I got my ham license in 1971 while in the 10th grade. The Apollo program was still going on, and that was one of the things that got me interested in radio. I was absolutely awestruck that they could send live TV, voice and data over a quarter million miles of empty space with an antenna that looked like a small umbrella and only 10 or 20 watts of power - about that of a modern compact fluorescent lamp. (Of course the earth antennas were a little larger). That even light needed 3 seconds to make the round trip emphasized the enormous distance.

Everything about Apollo fascinated me. The huge rocket engines. The computers that figured out exactly where, when and how to fire them to get to the moon and back. The tracking systems so sensitive that they could detect a urine dump. The life support systems that kept the astronauts alive. And so on. I was one of the many people of my generation that Apollo helped inspire into science and engineering. I went on to get two electrical engineering degrees and enter a rewarding career in communications research and development. I'm now semi-retired.

Although I've never worked on space professionally, I became a volunteer in AMSAT, a group of radio hams that designs, builds and operates their own satellites. I remain especially interested in deep space communications. I've designed and built several spacecraft data modems including a demodulator/ decoder for the STEREO spacecraft that is in regular use by NOAA. Even though I can do the math and explain the theory, receiving data that has crossed hundreds of millions of kilometers of empty space still has some of the magic I felt when I watched those fuzzy live TV pictures from the moon.

Today there are 7,000,000,000 of us on the planet. The human species faces enormous, potentially civilization-ending problems like resource depletion, energy and global warming that can only be solved through science and technology. And it's sad that we now have nothing like Apollo to inspire and motivate young people into technical careers.

[scooter]

I'm Dave, originally from Ohio until joining the USAF, then all over the place before settling (and retiring '94) in Colorado Springs. Dad nicknamed me "skeeter", maybe scooter is a Ron White thing...

Been a space fan since the beginning, remember watching Shepard's launch in the elementary school lunchroom (where we also ducked under the window ledges for what I imagine was the Cuban Missile thing). Took some Masters courses in Space Systems, which just raised my awe level for those who made, and still make, spaceflight happen. Learned a (little) bit of rocket science along the way. Often wonder where I'd be if I'd gone into the Space side of the USAF, but C3I was challenging as well. I do rocketry on the side, just like things that fly. SEL pilot from way back, but can't afford it now.

Always learning, this place is an excellent classroom. Thanks to all...

[BazBear]

Hi, I'm Barry. I'm 47 and I live in northern Vermont USA. I grew up in Massachusetts, but I've lived up here since '82. Most of my work career has been in the food service field. I served one 3 year enlistment in the US Army back in the late 80's as a unit level communications tech (31V). I've been interested in space flight for as long as I can remember. When I was first exposed to the Apollo hoax theory, my research into this nonsense brought me here. Places like this, JREF, and BAUT have been very educational. Thanks again to all of you who share your knowledge and expertise with us "dummies"

[James]

Hello,

I'm James, I'm 31 years old and I live in BC, Canada, Just a short drive from Vancouver. I work at an MRO facility, where I work on CC-130H's and 737's. I've loved sci-fi and space exploration for as long as I can remember. I only learned about the Apollo hoax in the early 2000's and began trying to debunk HB claims some time after. I've learned so much about space exploration in general, just from all the debunking of HB claims and the members of this forum should get a lot of the credit for that education. 

[Not Myself]

I'm Phil, and I live in San Diego, California. KA9Q is my ham radio callsign. I got my ham license in 1971 while in the 10th grade.

Do people still collect QSL cards?  You might actually like my prefix, and if I ever get around to getting some equipment, I just might be able to reach you over that rather large body of water ...

[ApolloGnomon]

I'm a dad of 3 kids. We shoot black powder at the sky and try not to miss. I googled "moon movie" one day looking for films to watch with the kids and found Bart Sibrel. We exchanged a couple of emails until he blocked me. Then I found this place to discuss and vent my outrage at his utter ignorance.

I had another username when I first got here, but left for a variety of reasons. Then I came back.

I use this name at JREF and David Icke forum. I don't post much here because I'm finding the moon hoax to be increasingly repetitive and decreasingly intelligent.

I'm the Technical Director and Master carpenter for the Ballet school my kids attend. I like to make and fix stuff. And I make moonshine.

[gillianren]

I use this name at JREF and David Icke forum. I don't post much here because I'm finding the moon hoax to be increasingly repetitive and decreasingly intelligent.

But you post at David Icke?

[ApolloGnomon]

The stupidity here is as predictable as a bag of M&Ms. The users at Icke post organically grown, free-range, hand dipped gourmet stupidity.

Very entertaining.

[gillianren]

Fair enough.

[BazBear]

The stupidity here is as predictable as a bag of M&Ms. The users at Icke post organically grown, free-range, hand dipped gourmet stupidity.

Very entertaining.

Yep, that's why I have an account there too. It's always good for a few laughs.

[ka9q]

Do people still collect QSL cards?

Some hams do, but I've always been much more involved in the technical and experimental side of ham radio than in the operating. In fact, I've been a licensed ham for 40 years but I don't think I have ever ordered a batch of QSL cards...

[SolusLupus]

From San Antonio, Texas here, studying to get my major (only about a semester off, if I'm lucky!)  I play videogames and pen and paper RPGs, I like historical swordfighting, and I'm quite enamored with futurism/transhumanism, having some extremist ideas about future possibilities.

Conspiracy theorists are amusing to me, and I was drawn into everything thanks to the book "Bad Astronomy" by Phil Plait.  So many things in there that I didn't know people actually believed!  Soon I discovered the forums, then stopped looking at them until I got an email that they were merging with Universe Today, then I became a rather active member for a while.  Eventually dropped out thanks to stress for myself, and finding discussions on there less enjoyable.


Speaking of conspiracy theories, I wrote a blog post, rather in-depth, about it, where I compare "monkey governments" vs. "shakespeare government" to explain the differences of philosophy between conspiracy theorists and real history:  http://solusl.blogspot.com/2012/04/monkey-governments-and-problem-with-us.html  It goes into another, separate ramble of mine about "Us vs. Them" after mention of a segue.  Just thought someone here might like my ideas on the subject.

[Andromeda]

Hello!

I'm Andromeda, 30 years old with a couple of Physics/Astrophysics degrees.  I've been an amateur astronomer for about 15 years.  I'm British, but have been accused of being a "NASA disinformation agent" a few times - not just for talking about the reality of Apollo but also for denying end-of-the-world/Nibiru/Blue Beam conspiracies.

I'm married to a member here...

[Jason Thompson]

Uh-oh, she found me...

[Andromeda]

Charming!