I am the founder of No-Code International. Although there were outspoken opponents of code-testing before NCI, no organization represented us. I felt that no-coders needed to "go public" if we were ever to have a chance of getting changes in Amateur licensing rules. As an Extra who had passed the 20 WPM, I made a good initial spokesperson for the organization, because a change in the rules would not get me any more privileges. The success of NCI since then is obvious.
If you read the FCC's restructuring rule-making, mine is the first comment cited (on page 3), and I'm cited several times throughout the document. I'm also the person who got the no-code story published on the front page of the Wall Street Journal. My most off-the-beaten-path no-code presentation so far was a talk last year at the Icelandic national club in Reykjavik.
Besides my Amateur Radio activities, I am the primary author of the "Open Source Definition", the generally-accepted definition of Open Source software. I co-founded the Open Source Initiative (with Eric Raymond) and I've advised IBM, Novell, and other companies on Open Source licensing. I've been a Linux developer since 1994 and a Unix developer since 1981, and my software is part of every brand of Linux system. I served as project leader of the "Debian GNU/Linux Distribution" for about two years and helped get the Debian system on the Space Shuttle - the first documented use of Linux in space. I also worked for Pixar Animation Studios as a systems programmer for 12 years, and have a credit on "A Bug's Life" and "Toy Story II".
I am now owner of Technocrat.net, chairman of the board of Progeny Linux Systems (progenylinux.com), and CEO of Linux Capital Group (linuxvc.com). Linux Capital Group is a business incubator and venture capital firm for Linux and Open Source, located in Albany, California. I serve as a director or advisor for several other companies.
I was first licensed in the early 70's as WA2TNM. As a protest, I have never used CW on the air, even though I've passed the 20 WPM test. I'll happily go on the air with CW once code testing is eliminated as a prerequisite for any Amateur license. I'm active in the local ARES/RACES organization. My favorite modes are the data ones - packet and spread-spectrum, and then VHF voice, but I'm planning to become more active on HF and am assembling a satellite station as well.
I'm 42 years old and married. We will become parents (for the first time) on or about April 25, 2000. The baby will be a boy. His name will be Stanley Charles Perens, for my dad and Valerie's granddad. I'm told that he's in good health so far and that all of his chromosomes are in the right places.
My personal web site is http://www.perens.com/. You can find articles I've written and other information about me there.