Keyboard wrote
Re geography -- Who knows every country, island, cay, spit, and reef in
the
world better than a Ham Radio DXer ??

Bruce Wrote
True - but there is more to geography than simply knowing where places
are. The physical and social geography of the site is key to
understanding the overall relationship of that place to the rest of
the planet. However, you're right, knowing where the places are is
the start to understanding.

Keyboard writes
Agree, however many DXers take the time to look up country (island)
information.
One of our prime sources is the CIA fact book -- URL:
http://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/

Gives:
Introduction & History
Geography
People
Government
Economy
Communications
Transportation
Military
Transnational Issues

Bruce sed
As an aside, we just got the new National Geopgraphic Atlas as a
(requested) early Christmas gift - if you haven't seen it yet, it is
fabulous, by leaps and bounds one of the most amazing documents I have
laid eyes on. When I have a few minutes to spare, I am able to sink
into that book, pore over it's contents and dream myself to distant
lands...

Bruce Jensen
------------------------------
Keyboard responds:
Yes the National Geographic Atlas is excellent -- in many a DXers library
(mine included)
As well as MS Encarta
http://encarta.msn.com/

It is exciting to look up information on that far away place whether you are
a Ham or a SWLer.

With hams we can talk to people in those far away locations.
Fun to listen -- but a real thrill to talk to real people in far away lands.

To get your Ham license -- see URL:
http://www.arrl.org/hamradio.html


The Anon Keyboard (Obviously an Amateur Radio Operator)
I DX, therefore I Am