Bill Shaw
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Who I am and how I got that way. or "There I was, this is no shit, thought I was gonna die..."
I was born in '49 in Lorain; a small northern Ohio town. I did the usual growing-up stuff and made it through high school. Uncle Sam was intent on sending me and most of my classmates on that long senior trip in '67. I figured it was inevidable so as a preemptive strike I joined the Air Force. I still went to Vietnam, but at least I wasn't out in the bush. Four years later I was back on track and went to college and got an engineering degree. Then into the Army to be all I could be for another 17 years. I put that life behind me in '92 and set out to change the world. I landed near DC and smack on top of a computer. I was a damned fine computer programmer for about 14 years. Then I set my sights on retiring and spending my days on a sailboat. Jane, my very understanding wife of 30+ years, has allowed me to indulge myself in this and other pursuits. Michelle, our little girl, has graduated from college, married, and begun to wander down her own paths. However, she is still in Kansas. As I experiment with this web site, I experience firsthand the intoxicating liberty of freedom of expression: The ability to say what I believe to be true without reservation or fear. No one is required to read these words; and perhaps few will. Some will disagree; and that's OK, too. This freedom of expression is what I have defended. And, partaking of it, I see that that effort was worthwhile.
Me at play in 1999: The radio is an ICOM 706MIIG; the key is a Bencher RJ-2; the antenna is a trapped dipole up 25 ft. The clutter in the background represents some of my other toys.
Me at play in 2006: The boat is our Westsail 32, Galena. The picture was taken as we cruised the Bahamas
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