Just curious as to what vc was. The things running through my mind... Vanderbilt Collection, Viet Cong... some term I was completely unfamiliar with.

Yep, it's a Viet Cong discussion group, Stace! *not* Guess again!

easy now. just a bit unfamiliar with all the linge

OK, was I getting too rought with you? Sorry about that. vc=virtual community

Stacey, I've been dying to find someone here to discuss something (anything) besides Bronte and drooling. What are your interests? :-)

I'm sure Stacey will talk to you, she has returned after an absence due to the loss of her net access. I'm glad she's back. Trying to get more folks to jump in here!

:-)

Yea!! More people! Hello Donnal... Here's the condensed synapsis of me (ie: a very short version): Recently tansplanted to Colorado from Austin. Elementary special education teacher. Enjoying life in the shadow of the Rocky Mountains esp. mountain biking (steeper climbs/faster downhills) and rollerbalding (miles and miles of paved trails). I also enjoy running, cooking, talking to new people, drinking a good beer and reading (although I'm not much of a Bronte fan). Fortunately (for us both) I'm not much of a drooler. There are those times, however, when I'm napping... a little bit out of the corner of my mouth onto my pillow... Glad you're here, let me know what you'd like to chat about! Morning Paul... You should catch a glimpse of the Colorado sunset sometime, it just might make you a bit jealous!

Heh. Sunset or not, I'm more than a bit jealous. I love the Rockies, but don't get out there very often. I live just outside of Little Rock and enjoy hiking, camping, mountain biking. Have not taken up rollerblading, but have thought about it. Given the opportunity, I usually gravitate toward discussions of *ideas* and the more abstract, the better. OTOH you could possibly entice me to tell you about climbing Long's Peak (Rocky Mtn Ntl Park) with my son, camping at Mirror Lake near Tin Cup Pass, and so forth.

Long's Peak! I'm impressed! We just started the Fourteener climbing and so far we've done, Gray's, Tory's, Democrat, Lincoln and Bross. We have done t(excuse me) Long's Peak drive by but have chosen to wait until next summer to do it, already snowing up there again! Abstract ideas, huh? Midweek, all my ideas seem abstract!

Sigh. Here at home, my mountain is a One-er. About 1025 ft with the base somewhere around 300-350 ft. When my work schedule is not too heavy I usually climb it every evening.

I forget, what area of the country are you located, donnal?

At the very east edge of the Ouchita range and south of the Ozarks. (Little Rock)

Great concentration of oxygen in them parts! I'm going for a skate this afternoon ... we'll start at 5300 ft because we have no choice! Work schedule... what do you do, donnal?

Some friends from Kansas City were visiting once and they climbed Pinnacle Mtn with us. We were moving right along, and one of them said, "Boy, this altitude really gets to you, doesn't it?" I replied, "I hate to say it, we're lower here than in your home in Kansas City." Yep, LOT's of oxygen. What do I do? Hmmm. Well, like you, I am an educator, except that all of my students are adults. Some of my teaching is didactic, but most is 'on the job training' so to speak. I'm also involved in a research project looking at the use of computers in education, in decision-making and in documenting what I do the rest of the time. Oh, yeah. I also take care of little babies that require intensive care. (Long way of saying that I am a neonatologist at an academic hospital.)

Thanks for the layman's explanation! I love teaching but I am currently snooping around for a different career path. I've learned that inefficiency, beauacracy and incongruent philosophies make me a very frustrated person. The school district is the epitome of a system that is constantly tripping over itself in contradictions. I feel like administration and frequently the teachers themselves have lost sight of their mission and children no longer come first. I become more agitated daily. I've listed all the "wants" in a future position and all the definite "don't wants" and k=now I'm looking for things that fit the bill.

Hi, everyone, I'll try and jump in here whenver I can, and hope that I'm not interrupting. WER

if you've got good vibes for the special ed teacher who wants a career change, jump away!

I have been trying to find places that offer voice/text chat rooms and so far I have only been able to come up with www.mplayer.com and ON LIVE TRAVELER. I have not been able to get the ON LIVE TALKER yet because the server is down. So I will check that out if it ever comes back up. If anyone has any other points of interest I sure would like to know where they are.

I could use a cook, stacey! WER

mcblob, you may want to check out Forrest's site at http://www.stroud.com and our related conferences, we have quite a few reviews of voice on the net apps. Wow, a cookin' gig for Stacey.

Are you anywhere near Denver, WER? The job's frustrating but boy, do I love the scenery!

WER is in Austin. He's a gourmet cook.

Thanks for the complement! (And as far as I know you ain't never et my cookin') WER

But I've heard the stories.

Beautiful response! And thanks again, WER

Well, here I am. I learned about The Spring from via The WELL's conference on Virtual Communities. I have been a lifelong philosopher. Even taught philosophy at San Francisco State University for a while. Socrates was my model of a great teacher: using dialogue to get to the meat of life. So it is quite a natural thing for me to find myself in the prime media of dialogue in the world -- virtual communities. I could say a lot more more. But I don't like to fill up screens with text. I wait.

Welcome Americ, have you done the tour of conferences yet. Any thoughts on how we could make your entry easier or more interesting?

I am kind of a random explorer. Does html work in this environment. bold Does this system recognize web links?

Can I go to http://www.well.com/~americ or to GoldWarp?

Or, just go to www.barra.com

I am happy!

The easiest way for links is to put the whole address down with the http:// just like you did. Colors also work, as does font sizes. I've also seen people link in images. Haven't tried much else myself. WER

Images require brackets img src="http://www.spring.com/~terry/cap.jpg" like the above.

Myself:

Hey, nice picture Americ. What's up everybody? My name is Brian Castelli and I am 22 years old. I am a fifth year senior at the University of Michigan. I am currently taking a Communications class in which we are discussing vc's (I just read that article in Wired on "The Well"), and it's some interesting stuff. I think they are a great forum for unbiased (given and recieved) ideas, in the fact that we are represented by our minds and nothing else. You know, like that MCI commercial...connecting Intelect. Cheesey cause it's a commercial, but fascinating in the break down of race and gender barriers and all stereotypes of that sort. Just minds communicating ideas and nothing else! Whatd' ya think?

How'd you hear about the Spring? In the class? I'd be interested in hearing more about this class and what they're covering.

I'll be listening, too, so talk away. WER

The class is title Communications 464, Communication Processes and Technologies. It's goal is to help us gain some perspective on the influences that our rapid transition to the Digital Age will have on almost every aspect of society. We also discuss what effects these new technologies are likely to have on the human condition: on sense of identity as individuals, on how we form and regulate our communities (which is where vc's come in) and how our nation and world function politically, socially, econom cally, and so on. It's extermely interesting, and I believe that it's a great idea to get America's youth in-tune with the impact that this new medium is going to have on us, not just in this country but globally as well.

Which online communities have you discussed in your class?

We were required to read "The Well" from the May edition of Wired Magazine. So we've talked about that one extensively, and we have a link to Howard Rheingold's Links to virtual Worlds, on the class Web site. That page has a link to Spring, ad that's how I came across you guys. I've never participated in an online community before, and I wanted to check it out and see what it was all about. How would you define the community you have set up here? Is there a lot of history behind Spring?

There's quite a bit, and I've begun to expound it some in a topic in the Austin conference. History that is. We've been through 3 years now and three versions of conferencing software: springtalk, caucus and now the yapp software.

How would we define this? That's tough. We seem to be inventing ourselves as we go along. I can pin a definition that will stick, as the folks here will move this whatever direction they want. I guess I would define this as a flexible infrastructure for discussions and collaboration. The 'community' tag could be debated. I would hope that we evolve in that direction. I feel a definite sense of community with some of the folks here now and I try to get the community of folks I know in Austin to join here also.

Brian -- Sounds like your class was similiar to one that I thought at Golden Gate University titled "BeingWired, Being". We had 8 students. We started out being half face-to-face and half online. By the end we were most online (using WELL Engaged software). We created about 300 pages of online text discussions. One of the most rewarding experiences of my teaching life. And, yes, everyone was required to read WIRED which include the article regarding The WELL. You can find some of the notes for the class at http://internet.ggu.edu/~aazevedo/beingwired.

Thanks Americ, I'll check it out! I think that the off-line communication probably led to a richer on-line community. Was this true? Terry, I think that the Spring is well on its way to becoming a community. What about its evolution leads you to believe that its not already? Does it differ from the WELL in the fact that its not as tightly knit? What steps do you plan on taking to guide it?

Wow Americ! I dig the Web Site (especially the orange background)! The class you tought seems similar, but we aren't required to be on-line. I think that the way you went about it is a much better approach. It would seem to get the students much more in touch with the medium you were discussing. I like the idea of cyberclass! You definitely took it to the next level, with your discussions on-line. I wish that our professor would have had some of the same ideas.

I like the idea of a class being taught on-line -- excitement!!

sounds like a lot of initiative needed -- I like to learn by osmosis.

It wouldn't really be that tough, you just need the right tools. Besides, osmosis never works for me!

Well, beyond the tools... the hardest part for me would be managing my time effectively enough to make the class a priority. I work better under peer pressure *smile*

Oh, if that had been aimed at me...

(LOL) I'm sure you could find a way to redirect it!

I have enough problems with self disillusionment, sweetie, but thanks just the same. *wink*

Thanks for your interest in the being "BeingWired, BeingHuman" class. I think I will open up a topic regarding this within the conference here in The Spring. I am even link some of my own student here into The Spring.

Just above I was saying that I will open a BeingWired, BeingHuman topic in the "Philosophy" conference. (I put "<" brackets around the word but everything disappeared from the post.)

Looking forward to seeing some of your students and other compatriots make the journey to Spring someday!

Hope you're still in that newly groovy state -- even if it is a temporary farce. Half our battles are a state of mind.

Yep! Half the battle are a state of mind. Sometimes, the best question is just to ask: "What's my state, now?" May not be that groovy, but at least it raises us to _self-knowledge_.

And probably the most frightening answer to that question is "I don't know." It means you've truly lost touch with yourself or the ability to listen to your inner workings.

Well...perhaps just to pay attention to the mystery of one's state of mind is an answer. Mostly, there are no words to discribe any state of mind. Words are so approximate. If I were a poet, I might be more optimistic about words. But the fail me all too often.

In certain situations or on a regular basis, IYO?

What does IYO stand for?

In Your Opinion?

That would be it.

Well...there....your words (IYO) and mine...did fail for a moment but we were able to recover with each others help this is so much better than reading books where we don't get to ask the author for a re-write on the spot!

Hi I'm Simon from Brighton UK. We are interested in setting up a conference facility for Brighton UK, not disimilar to this. One of the first questions I'd like to ask is "what software is generally the best?". We have looked at Hylafax and also COW (Conferencing on the Web) which seems quite good and has the added benefit that it's free. Motet doesn't seem (in the few seconds I had to look at it) to offer any more. Can anyone here recommend any good conferencing software? The software used here seems OK but might have some bugs (ie I seem to be logged on 3 times and the guy I'm with doesn't seem to be logged on at all). Anyway, I'll drop in and see what'sgoing on tomorrow. Till then..... goodnight!

Why don't you invite your folks to use the Spring for a while as an incubator, and that way you can see Yapp conferencing software in action and get things moving in the here and now.

Well, the problem is that we more than likely will not be using Yapp software. Therefore, if we invite a group of people here, and then subsequently want to change software on them, that wouldn't be much fun. Our enterprise is significantly different from the Spring, in that there will be a (nominal) charge for usage, and we will be predominantly based in the Brighton area.

You are welcome to use the Spring servers to create a prototype. We'll even build a machine for you.

The hardware isn't in fact the problem! Simon Turner is part of Virtual Brighton, who have plenty of servers etc. to get it up and running. I'm gonna move this convo to the topic I opened on it!

hi ey, a guy from Brighton, I was actually thinking about taking a train down there and have a look at the beach... Well I have one more free week after my exams over here, so maybe Ill check it out... It's funny, how everybody thinks about a something he or she differnetly, I saw a response earlier on in this topic of somebody asking what vc could mean, and funnily the first thing I thought about was Victoria Cross (something I would never have dreamt of if I wouldn't have spent the last half year in London I must admid) but there you can see how much your environment influences even the way you think ;-) Okay, keep communicatin bye Nike

What's Victoria Cross?

The Victoria Cross is the highest award available to anybody in the United Kingdom. It's comparable to the Congressional Medal of Honour, but is conferred even less often. The two last VCs that I know of were in the Falklands War, 1982, to Sergeant Ian McKay (decd.) and Lt. Col Herbert Jones (decd.), both posthumously and both members of the Parachute Regiment...

Greetings all: Coming from Fairbanks, Alaska. Just wanted to say hello and check this site out. I lived in Denver for 2 years, and as beutiful as it is, I am glad to be back north where the winters "blow" and the fishing is excellent!

and a very merry welcome to you, too...

Welcome E Squared, hope you find some things of interest here. What do you do for a livlihood in the far north?

I am currently attending the Univ. of AK. Fairbanks. My field of specialty is History and Education. If all goes well I should be graduating by this time next year. Thanks for the response Terry!

Welcome Eric - good to see you. Have you checked out any of the other conferences on the Spring? "Porch" is a good place to check out for general information.

I'll admit that when I first saw vc, I thought, "vietcong". I found out otherwise in another conference. Eric, are you implying that the winters, in Denver, suck?

I was going to say that, "Evidently invitations work, Terry. Thanks for the invite." I'm a middle aged guy that's just been wandering around most of my life and I just wandered in here after Terry sent me email. Well Perhaps that's not exactly true. I've done customer support for some local ISPs and I'd like to come to terms with that concept of local. I am keenly interested in what has value to people. Unfortunately, time is always a problem for me, just like everyone else in this pre/inter millenium haze. (I could also use a good spell checker)

Hey Chad glad you made it, so are you currently working for a local Austin ISP?

Welcome, Chad, and thanks for giving us the time to check us out!

Thanks for the welcome. Sort of, Terry, I'm currnently fiddling around in San Marcos. They let me answer connectivity questions for SMI,inc (San Marcos Internet, Inc.) We're just talking the dialup. The xDSL and ISDN etc.or out of my league.

Where's your office in SM in relation to Jeffs?

JeffK is right off the square, SMI is down by the parks, Rio Vista Swimming pool. (We're 'bout a mile toward the IH35 form Jeff's place. Close enough for a 700 to 900+ Kbps ADSL connection.)

What are your current projects? Hey, did you make it down to Schlitterbahn this past summer?

I just fiddle around watching other people do stuff. Mostly a jack of all trades, master of none. My background in graphics with a smattering of electronics from the military. Nope, Closest I've come to vacations has been the California ISPcons the last couple of years.

What kind of graphics are you involved with, Chad?

Hi. I just got here the other day and still feeling my way around. Confining myself to this one conference for now. I am an Utne regular for that last couple of years. Looking around for a new home. Haven't been kicked out yet, but it could be just a matter of time since I'm coming up against the authoritarian aspect over there. Will I get mobbed by twenty people just for saying that. Is it save here. How do I summarize who I am? Mid 40's, poor, educated, intelligent, sincere, honest, anti-patriarchy in a big way, Canadian, SWM. INterested in organizational communications, mythology, networks, transformations of consciousness on a global scale. That should be enough to either interest you or scare you away.

Welcome, ov, though I'm just as new here as you are... And no, it is not SAFE here, but then nothing you care about *is*. ;)

Surely there must be a place of sanctuary somewhere.

Hi Ov. It's good to see you here.

Greetings Barry Still getting used to the software. How does a person read offline. I've noticed that when I'm offline I get nothing put missing data error message and told to repost. Being able to read offline is essential for me and I won't use a conferencing system that doesn't allow this.

You can do it with a shell account pretty easily. Would you like one?

Is there someplace here that explains the details on this and what's involved. I might just wait awhile Terry, but thanks for the offer, and nice to know that it is an option. Let's find out if I'm going to be a permanent resident before I move in all my stuff. :-)

Welcome Robert. I do not scare very easily and I like your interests. Please stay and get comfortable. I don't recall a single instance of being born knowing Yapp software. You make your mistakes and we all understand.

Over a year since a posting in here was made. I just joined. I guess I'll look around and see if the whole place is unused. The topic heading askes "who are you," etc. I'm a regular patron at the Utne Caf� and The Gate. I live in Lincoln, Nebraska, having moved up here from Austin, Texas (Anderson Mill area) way back in '88. I'm from L.A., Calif- ornia originally. World traveler. Slowed that down a bit since coming here and settling in more ways than one. Gonna look around now. See ya!

Welcome, Jerry, and Aloha!

Thank you, Marcia. I'm still kind of feeling my way around the software here.