|
Introduction
I've taken the liberty of preparing this FAQ in an attempt to address some of the more common questions that periodically make their way to me via e-mail. Though I have made an honest effort to answer the obviously urgent inquiries, I simply have been unable to provide personal responses to all or even most of the e-mailed inquiries that visitors to this site have sent in recent months. For this I offer my sincerest apologies; unfortunately, even my very best efforts have been unable to overcome a simple lack of free time. My hope is that this FAQ will help alleviate this problem by providing answers in advance to the questions that people seem to have while browsing my pages. Before e-mailing me, please check this FAQ; there is a chance that the information you seek is contained somewhere in this document. If not, do feel free to contact me and I'll try to get back to you as soon as possible, though I can't make any promises on exactly when that will be. Thanks for your patience, and I hope that at least some of you find this useful. 1.0. General Site Questions
2.0. Vulture's Row
3.0. State of the Russian Navy
4.0. "There I Was..."
5.0. Adding Links
6.0. International Naval Studies Group
7.0. Miscellaneous
1.0. General Site Questions Q1.1. When is the next site update going to be? A1.1. Without wanting to sound too unhelpful, "whenever I have time." I gave up a long time ago on trying to devise regular update schedules, since other pressing things in my life tended to show very little respect for such a schedule anyway. The trouble is that the updates that go into my sites are highly research-intensive, and require a significant investment of time and energy in order to be worthwhile. Therefore, major updates tend to coincide with major holidays and/or extended down time (long weekends, vacation time, etc.). Unfortunately, given my current circumstances, that's about the best estimate I can provide. Hopefully things will improve sometime in the future.
Q1.2. Your pages look weird on my system. What platform/browser is this site written on, anyway, and with what tools? A1.2. I don't specifically tailor these pages to any particular platform/browser combination, but understand that I write and proof them on my own system and I am very likely to be totally unaware of any compatibility quirks. I design the pages to be viewed at a screen resolution of 800 pixels by 600 pixels, with a color depth of at least 16 bits (so long as you're displaying more than 256 colors, I think you should be okay). My browser of choice is Microsoft Internet Explorer 4.0 (okay, okay, quit with the hissing -- it just seems more stable to me), but I try to stay away from MSIE-specific tags -- if you're using Netscape you should do fine. As for creation tools, I manually mark up my pages using a text editor (currently, NoteTab Standard) and create my own graphics using the CorelDRAW 7.0 suite of graphics applications. My primary Web machine is currently a Dell Inspiron 3200/P2-233 notebook with a 1024x768 XGA display, so you may gradually see my pages creep ever so slightly beyond the 800x600 boundary, but I don't do that intentionally. I try to keep my HTML to a spec that is at least one version below the current release, both for compatibility reasons and because I can't even begin to keep up with all the new tags these days. My HTML markup habits are appalling ("if builders built buildings the way I mark up web pages, the first woodpecker that came along would destroy civilization"), but when you adhere to the KISS (that is, Keep it Simple, Stupid) principle, you can get away with a lot. Words to live by.
Q1.3. I would like to start my own site on similar subjects. Do you have any suggestions or guidance for a budding webmaster?
A1.3. Take the time to do a thorough web search for what's already out there, so that you don't unnecessarily duplicate information. The most important thing you can bring to the World Wide Web today is original content. By that I don't mean you need volumes of literature that you've written yourself; simply providing a collection of links that nobody else has thought to assemble in one place can be very useful. Think about how you're going to add value to a Net that is already awash in a flood of information.
2.0. Vulture's Row Q2.1. When is the next site update going to be? A2.1. See Q1.1.
Q2.2. Where can I find current information on the status and location of USN aircraft carriers? A2.2. The U.S. Navy now provides regularly updated public information on the status and activities of each of its deployed carriers, in a manner that is more reliable and authoritative than my own feature. Given that there no longer appears to be a need for it (and that I can't maintain it in any meaningful fashion anyway), I have phased out my own Carrier Status page in favor of The CV Guide, which provides more permanent carrier information.
Q2.3. Your information is wrong in some respect. If I report it, will you ever fix it? A2.3. Yes, although it may take awhile. If I do get around to making a correction but somehow fail to give appropriate thanks in the credits section, please let me know of my omission and I'll fix that immediately.
Q2.4. I am looking for [people who served in a certain squadron, aboard a certain ship, etc.]. Can you help? A2.4. In the vast majority of cases, no. It was never my privilege to serve in the United States armed forces and therefore my circle of acquaintances within its ranks are relatively limited. In those few cases where the individual you are seeking is credited on one of my pages, I may be able to provide a lead in the form of a return e-mail address (which in some cases may be several years old). However, as a general matter you will have much better luck contacting a veterans' organization with your inquiry.
Q2.5. I am seriously considering a career in naval aviation. Can you tell me a little bit about your own naval career so that I can better make this decision? A2.5. Again, I'm afraid not. While I have a tremendous interest in naval aviation, I have never been fortunate enough to count myself among those who actually make it work -- I am simply a civilian subject matter enthusiast. If you would like to contact active and retired naval aviators for their input, I highly recommend placing an inquiry with the Tailhook Association or the Association of Naval Aviation (ANA), both of which will be quite willing and able to help.
Q2.6. I am looking for information on [historical naval event]. Can you help? A2.6. Possibly. My principal area of specialty (such as it is) is limited to roughly the last fifteen to twenty years of American naval history -- that is, the late and post Cold War periods. While I am familiar with other historical periods, there are many people on the Net who are far, far more knowledgeable than I on those subjects. A good place to start is Usenet -- sci.military.naval and the other military newsgroups are frequented by people with real expertise on these topics and more. You may also wish to contact the U.S. Naval Historical Center for information on events in American naval history; their site is quickly becoming one of the more useful naval resources on the net. Please also note that my sources and I are often parted; that is to say, I may not have my key subject matter references readily at hand at any given time. If you need a quick answer, a much better bet is to post your inquiry in sci.military.naval.
Q2.7. I am looking for information on [a particular ship]. Can you help? A2.7. I can probably provide basic details, but there are much better sources for this sort of thing. Andrew Toppan used to maintain Haze Gray and Underway, which is probably the most comprehensive warship data site anywhere on the net. That site has since been incorporated into the United States Naval & Shipbuilding Museum and USS Salem. The U.S. Naval Historical Center also has some ship information, including the encyclopedic Dictionary of American Fighting Ships (portions of which are available online through the USS Salem web site).
3.0. State of the Russian Navy Q3.1. When is the next site update going to be? A3.1. See Q1.1.
Q3.2. Where do you get all of this information?
A3.2. All of the information appearing on my Russian Navy site comes from open sources. See About the State of the Russian Navy Site for a more detailed answer to this question.
Q3.3. Why aren't there any technical specifications, photographs, etc.?
A3.3. This site is not meant to be a comprehensive reference to the units and hardware of the Russian fleet. Such an undertaking is far beyond its scope and, given my present outside commitments, well beyond my ability. Instead, it is intended to provide a brief look at current developments in the Russian Navy based on highly perishable information from various news sources. For any deeper background, I direct you to the usual stable of hardcover reference sources -- Jane's Fighting Ships and Combat Fleets of the World. I acknowledge that in recent months the site has not been updated very frequently and has therefore lost most of its value as a news source. This, of course, is a problem. Eventually, as my life settles down, I hope to be able to deliver value through this site again; until then, I thank you for your patience.
Q3.4. I have a business proposition for [the Russian Defense Ministry, Russian defense contractors, etc.]. Can you provide me with contacts?
A3.4. I have no contacts within the Russian defense establishment. You might try the U.S. Department of Commerce's Russian business directory, which includes contact information at various enterprises and shipyards.
Q3.5. Where can I find a comprehensive description of the disposition of the Russian fleet?
A3.5. A new online source that has popped up recently is the Russian Fleet section of World Navies Today, hosted by the United States Naval & Shipbuilding Museum & USS Salem site. Andrew Toppan, master of the fleet list, has done it again, compiling a technical accounting of the fleet that is as complete as anything I've seen, and compares favorably to the popular hardcover references. This is good stuff.
4.0. "There I Was . . ." Q4.1. I sent in my story and got no response from you. When, if ever, is my masterpiece going to be posted? A4.1. It should be posted eventually. Stories that are mailed to me require some formatting markups and other technical preparation before they can make it to the site. I generally do a whole batch of these at one time, an event which generally coincides with long weekends and other concentrations of free time. However, if you receive no acknowledgement from me at all, that is a good sign that your story has been lost in transit (don't ask; between all the mailboxes it sometimes happens). In those cases send me a note letting me know that I've dropped the ball and I'll square things away.
Q4.2. What are the criteria for getting my story published in "There I Was..."?
A4.2. There are no fixed criteria. Generally it should a first-person narrative derived from a mission or experience in a computer flight simulation, although exceptions for other vehicle simulations may eventually be made. Length is variable, although it should be long enough to constitute a "story" and not a "paragraph." Please proof-read your work before you submit, and if you have a small thumbnail screen-shot available, that would be much appreciated.
Q4.3. Where can I find more stories and/or discussion like this?
A4.3. Try comp.sys.ibm.pc.games.flight-sim, the Usenet newsgroup from which "There I Was . . ." really sprang. The most serious flight-sim fans in the world (a surprising number of which have taken jobs with various sim producers) hang out there, and are always willing to trade stories between the flame wars.
Q4.4. Help! My [copy of EF2000 or other flight simulation] won't work. Can you help me fix it?
A4.4. No. Although I have received many inquiries from people who appear to believe otherwise, I have no connection to Digital Image Design or any of the EF2000 support team, and can provide no useful technical assistance. (I can, however, provide useless technical assistance, beginning with "make sure it's plugged in...").
Q4.5. Hi, can you send me all the keys to [flight simulation]? Thanks.
A4.5. Yes: "`1234567890-=QWERTYUIOP[]\ASDFGHJKL;'ZXCVBNM,./". The problem of which key does what is left as an exercise for the reader.
5.0. Adding Links Q5.1. Can I please add you to my list of links? A5.1. Sure. There is no need to ask my permission for this -- go right ahead, and thank you.
Q5.2. Can you please add me to your list of links?
A5.2. In general, I would be happy to do so, with the qualification that it may be a little while before I get around to the next site update. Feel free to remind me from time to time if I forget to include your link during an update.
6.0. International Naval Studies Group Q6.1. How do I join the INSG? A6.1. Send me your name, e-mail address, and principal areas of naval interest. I will then add you to the membership roster and to the mailing list, and you're all set.
Q6.2. What is the current status of the Group?
A6.2. At the moment, it's rather dormant. We have no research projects ongoing at this time.
7.0. Miscellaneous Q7.1. Are you the same Robin who reviews flight-sims for Computer Gaming World?A7.1. No. The gentleman you're thinking of is Robin G. Kim, a longtime veteran of the flight-sim community whose valuable reviews can be found in an increasingly number of publications. Rob has been around the newsgroup for as long as I can remember and is one of the genuine pillars of the community there. As a general matter, he's the person to ask when you've got a question about how a simulation models rotary-wing aerodynamics -- a double compliment, when you consider that he's not a professional helicopter pilot (or even an amateur one, to my knowledge). I, on the other hand, know next-to-nothing about rotary-wing aerodynamics ("all's I know is not to stick mah head in the fan") and have never written anything for CGW, though I hope one day to blackmail Denny Atkin into letting me write a feature or two.
Q7.2. Why is your A7.2. Oh shut up.
Q7.3. And why haven't you provided a picture of yourself anywhere on this site? That's very suspicious. You aren't a fugitive from justice, are you?
A7.3. Not usually. But that evil twin of mine is kind of a shady character.
That idiot didn't include my question in here. Mail Robin Lee. Return to Robin Lee's Home Page
|
