It is interesting, however, that as SW continues to decline (although
you will find those who cite sales of cheap crappy Eton/Grundig
radios as proof that it is doing very well), in the recent New Orleans
crisis, some of the best reporting can be found coming from BBC
and Deutsche Welle (inlcuding BBC reading emails from people in
the Gulf region).


It is interesting, isn't it? It's not so surprising, though.
Shortwave's greatest strength is that it's marginal. It's not a
commercially viable medium in the way that FM or broadcast AM is.
Consequently, all the mindless crap that *sells well* finds its home
elsewhere. What's left for shortwave is variable, unpredictable,
sometimes plain weird and often fascinating. Shortwave's 'death' is
precisely what keeps it going.

Steve