Intel Announced Havok Physics Innovation Contest | 2009.01.11

This contest includes prizes like earning cash, a gaming personal computer, exposure, or even a job according to Intel. Entries are based on most innovative use of Havok technologies.

Havok Physics Innovation Contest | Official Rules (link).

Life is high frequency.

K5D Desecheo DXpedition On Twitter Announced By Northern California DX Foundation (NCDXF)

Desecheo DXpedition K5D (link) is now on Twitter. I believe team K5D made ham radio history this evening. They are the first major DXpedition, as far as I'm aware, to connect with ham radio operators who are utilizing the benefits of social networking.

Chase DX.

On Ham Radio Needs A New Suit | Anonymous said, "[G]et real...amateur radio may have had an edge at one time...but that time is gone."

Sometimes blogging throws a curve ball and I thought long about a recent comment. Do I publish those words in there entirety? Or, is this comment, a two-way conversation between anonymous and myself? There is titillation value in one's chosen adjectives however will this contribute to the overall value of public conversation?

This is especially difficult for me, as one who defended our Constitutional right to freedom of speech yet, with this right comes responsibility.

Anonymous, let me be clear, your generalization and characterization is an insult with no redeeming or constructive value whatsoever.

Ham radio is not perfect. And I recognize those imperfections as I recognize my own when looking into the mirror. Is ham radio in need of change from the grassroots to national organizations to non-profits? Yes and many of us are proactive in seeking change that is reflective of our digital century.

Here is a good example of change in ham radio. The Northern California DX Foundation (NCDXF) just announced that K5D [Desecheo] DXpedition (link) is now on Twitter.

I am moving forward and setting my goals according to ham radio's digital century. Thank you for our private conversation.

73 from the shackadelic.

NASA's Constellation Program | Testing New Crew Rocket

The following was stated in NASA's press release; Test in Development of NASA's New Crew Rocket is Successful (link).

• "...Alliant Techsystems, or ATK, successfully tested a critical piece. ATK conducted a full-scale separation test of the forward skirt extension for the Ares I-X flight test at its facility in Promontory, Utah."
• "[T]est simulated the separation event that will take place following the first stage flight of Ares I-X."
• "During the Ares I-X flight, the booster will separate at the frustum, a cone-shaped piece that attaches the first stage to the larger diameter upper stage."

A shout out to NASA and ATK as we take one more step toward the moon and eventually Mars. A photograph of Ares I-X Forward Skirt Extension Separation Test (link).

Think great, act boldly.

YouTube Videos @ KA3DRR Via Friendfeed | Star Trek, 2001 A Space Odyssey, History Of The Internet

Most fascinating and exquisitely narrated video is History of the Internet. Of course, Kubrick's 2001: A Space Odyssey ignited my imagination as a young adult, and the fire continues.

Video Feed Menu (link).

• Star Trek | Official Trailer 2 [Motivational].
  
• 2010 Intro.
  
• 2001 A Space Odyssey | Space Sequences [Remember Dr. Floyd].
  
• 2001 A Space Odyssey | Opening [Music for the muse].
  
• History of the Internet.
  

Life is high frequency.

On Shackadelic Awards | Chris Matthieu, N7ICE replied "I can't wait to see who and what products win..."

Read comment (link).

Many thanks for officially sponsoring our first annual Shackadelic Awards. I share the same excitement and I'm looking forward to a year of bold technological growth from operator's work benches, to programmer's code, to ham radio in near Earth orbit. We are growing out of our legacy era into the digital century. Where one seeks I and Q.

And Shackadelic Awards will be there to recognize the best of the best in ham radio. Thank you Chris for sharing your excitement and your support.

73 from the shackadelic.

Announcing The First Annual Shackadelic Awards | "The Best Of The Best In Ham Radio 2009" | Officially Sponsored By 73s.org

The first annual Shackadelic Awards for "Best Of The Best In Ham Radio 2009" is underway. We are asking for your help in selecting the best of the best through this year. Our goal is to highlight achievements both technical and non-technical within our wireless community. Our anchor theme is, "Ham Radio is fun."

I will present via live video streaming co-hosted with Chris Matthieu, N7ICE who created 73s.org (link), HamBrief, and HamFeed (link) at the end of this year.

The first annual Shackadelic Awards will cover a broad range of diverse, wireless communication modes demonstrating efficient spectrum usage and technical innovation. Additionally, we are searching for shack innovators who are pushing the limits on legacy modes such as single sideband (SSB), continuous wave (CW), frequency modulation (FM), and amplitude modulation (AM).

For this purpose, I have created a room at FriendFeed, Shackadelic Awards For 2009 (link) to begin collecting your recommendations for the year. Likewise, suggestion forms will follow in the near future, stay tuned. And please read, Best Of Ham Radio 2008, for further insight into our effort to engage Web 2.0 concepts and ham radio.

Shackadelic Award Categories.

• Best Product For Less Than $1000 USD.
  
• Best Kit For Less Than $100 USD.
  
• Most Transformative Technology Of 2009.
  
• Best Wireless Mode Of 2009.
  
• Best Open Source Program Of The Year.
• Blogger Of The Year.
  
• Best Of Ham Radio's Web.

Furthermore, what are your suggestions for Shackadelic Award categories for the best of the best in ham radio?

In addition, there is a tiered level of sponsorship in order to fully engage ham radio's manufacturing base, non-profit organizations, and distribution networks with Web 2.0 concepts. We understand the success of ham radio relies on collaborative, team building concepts between operator and manufacturer, non-profits, and distribution networks for this purpose; sponsorship level is based on level of chosen interaction.

Sponsorship cost is zero. Our goal is to demonstrate Web 2.0 utility.

Tiered Level Of Shackadelic Award Sponsorship.

• Titanium.
• Gold.
  
• Copper.
  

The express purpose of tiered sponsorship is to build on Web 2.0 concepts. No monetary charge involved other than level of chosen interaction.

Stay tuned as 73s.org the official sponsor of Shackadelic Awards and I keep you posted through this year. We look forward to collaborating, creating, and communicating with you.

Ham radio is fun.