For those of you that would like to see what being a ham is like and what it is like to be contacting people around the world, check here...
http://www.hamsphere.com/
This is a virtual Ham environment without the need to have a licencse. There is no radio emmission but you can get an idea of what it means to be a radio operator. The sunspot cycle is starting to climb and things will get very busy soon. Now is the time to get your licencse and radio and throw up an antenna.