Just back from the Dayton Hamvention, Steve Bible, N7HPR, was more enthused than usual about ham radio (the Hamvention does that), and he suggested that I check out this video on YouTube.

Steve said, "Not only is this wow-gee-wiz, but listen to the end where Johnny Lee comments about posting his work on YouTube. We as hams can learn a lot from this. Hams should be posting more of their work on YouTube. Maybe Johnny Lee's video will stimulate hams to post more videos on the Internet."

Search YouTube and Google Video and you will find Amateur Radio related videos, but we can do more -- so kick start your Web cams and show us what you're doing on the net.

Hamvention Videos and Images

Did you miss the Dayton Hamvention last weekend (like I did)? Or did you make it to the "big show," but want to relive the experience? Well, hop on-board Mr Peabody's WABAC machine and check out some Web sites that have images and videos from the Hamvention.

YouTube has a bunch of videos. Type "Hamvention 2008" in their search engine to find this year's collection. Hamvention video maven, Joe Eisenberg, K0NEB, has his 2008 installment here. And Tom Medlin, W5KUB, has an online slideshow here.

The ARRL Web site has photos here (taken by my editor Khrystyne, K1SFA, as well as a story she wrote) and videos and more photos here by QST Editor Steve Ford, WB8IMY.

flickr has a lot of photos. The easiest way to find them is type "Hamvention" into the flickr search engine, then sort by "Most Recent" to find the 2008 photos.

Star Wars, Warts and All

Hams like Star Wars. Maybe not all hams and maybe not all Star Wars, but there is definitely a connection between George Lucas' saga and many residents of the Amateur Radio Nation. So as a public service, I recommend the following: A free e-book, The Secret History of Star Wars.

Until next time, keep on surfin'!

Editor's note: Stan Horzepa, WA1LOU, stopped watching Star Wars when the Muppets made an appearance. To communicate with Stan, send him e-mail or add comments to his blog. By the way, every installment of Surfin' is indexed here, so go look it up.

Stan Horzepa, WA1LOU
Contributing Editor