How can we fix you up?

It looks fine to me Terry - Utne has a much more bland look the main diffewrence seems to be speed - I thought it was because I had two browsers going, so I dropped out of utne for a bit, but I am still getting real slow loads here - in fact I did it all three ways - both, just here, and just there - in every case - things work much faster over at utne I have an ancient 486 w/ 14,400 modem, so I am sure that does not help, but some folks over there with 33 modems said it was much slower here too - any ideas why? and what about those colored fonts? I frankliy like the idea of going everywhere - it will give the community more elbow room - everything is everything on the web anyway, no? but I am having a bear of a time waiting for my box to respond here, compared to ze utne...

What's the rul to get directly to the minds place on utne?

Woops. Wrong button.

I don't have that URL - I have just been going to www.utne.com and logging in that way - {{duh}} I'm no tech wizard let me take this post to tell you that I am quite pleased with the setup here I thought before that I couldn't do pictures and stuff, but now that you and mr thaler have enlightened me - I see much better now - thanks (adjusting my electrical-taped geek spectacles) how would I scribble a post? or hide one? I saw a hidden heather post somewhere, but couldn't figure that out...

Ya know I've been doing this site for 3 years and no one has ever asked how to scribbe a post before. It can be done, gosh, I'll have to ask Dave Thaler. If you send an email to yapp@umich.edu it gets posted in our yapp conference and winds up in Daves mailbox at the same time. Will you pop him a note about that please? And let me know the answer.

sure thing it's not like I want to scribble a lot, but I would be interested in hiding/getting rid of rotten graphics links, etc.

We'll get it with Dave Thalers help.

Must be an ID hack up there. Surely not maddog stating that he is not really interested in scribbling posts, not he, why, he wouldn't scribble unless it was a dire emergency. There should be a scribble feature IRL, seems to me. Lots of things I've wished I could unsay. And in print media, it would be nice to unprint rather than issue a correction, clarification or retraction...

Yeah. Must be a ringer. Maddog not really interested in scribbling posts? Hi, y'all. Slow for me, but I'm on a 28.8 modem at the moment. Let's see about

Well, putting drymartini in angle brackets made her disappear. Sorry Martha. Uh, what were we talking about? Preview would be nice to have.

We actually have an intercepter that allows you to preview if you put a bad html code in. You want preview option? We could do that.

Just popping in to expand my horizons. Seems I might have been a little late. WER

I keep coming here because I forget we're not talking about the mind buried somewhere in my brain. Today it could certainly use some "fixing up"

stacey; it's getting to the point where the three of us should just have our own conference. So, what's wrong? WER

Really, what can we do to fix you up?

Just dealing with some major frustrations at this point. I love teaching but I'm having difficulty with happiness in my job and, as you might expect, it is negatively impacting other areas of my life. Basically the inefficiency, lost vision and beauracracy of the school district is really dragging me down. The low pay and lack of professionalism doesn't help. I don't want to drag you both down with me but if you have any suggestions, I'd be willing to listen. Right now my plan is to buy myself a bunch of flowers and get to work on my resume. A beer (w/ chocolate) probably would help too!

You've hit on all the major cures. How about a change to a more enlightened school district, did you teach around Austin when you were here? Are there other job options where you are?

Are there any interested parents involved? You don't want to unload on them for sure, but it might help pick things up a bit if you can get support from them.

Hey, a different voice in here. Hi, donnal! Couldn't bring me down much further, stacey. Sounds much like me at my job at the moment. If'n ya find something that works, let me know. WER

Donnal: tons of interested, concerned parents involved! They are the ones coming to me with their frustrations about the school system. The difficult part is, I can do everything in my power but once that child leaves my class- room, I've got very little say in their educational game plan and that is the response left to give the parents.

WER: Sorry to hear you are dealing with similar issues. At this point, I am lokking into other districts but which is worse... the devil you know or the devil you don't know? I am also looking into different careers. Passion is important in my life and the two career related passions I have had were in education and journalism. Right now I'm considering technical writing and a training position for a larger company (large to me spells "room to grow up and move laterally if so desired"). I will keep you updated and let you know how successful I am. My philosophy is that you spend the MAJORITY of your life at work and life is too short to spend it doing something you don't love (or in a place that makes you miserable) Happy wishes for your day at work today!

Did you like your job in Austin? At the place where we worked?

I felt like once the learning curve dropped off, I was settling for mediocrity face it, the whole company was pretty mediocrity based. They wanted to be the first and best until it came time to mantainence! I liked the people and I like the technology aspect. I really would've rather worked with NetRabbit though.

Yeah, I wish we would have hired you back then. But, water under the dam. Do you see yourself working back in high tech for a startup company?

Yes, I could see that. At this point I see more potential in working for a larger company that leaves room for lateral and upward movement. Learning curve is important to me and I like the high tech field... always growing.

Startups are exciting places to work, especially when everyone believes that they have the "thing" that's going to change your life. And then there are those stock options. But nowadays, a company only has a year or two to make or break it, unlike the companies in days of yore when the period was five or more years. It can be a real roller coaster. Rewarding and frustrating at the same time.

So, what skills, familiarities, languages, etcetera, do you think are currently the most necessary to switch to the computer world? WER

Nowadays, I'd say the quickest path would be to know Windows NT 4.0 Server and Workstation inside and out. It helps to know TCP/IP networking, UNIX (AIX, BSDI, Solaris, SunOS, etc.), C++ is a good language to know, SQL Server, IIS (the webserver used by NT), Microsoft Access 97, the list goes on. A lot of companies are looking for Internet/web saavy folks who can build dynamic websites. I'll try and get you a more complete checklist.

It's the "everyone help stacey switch careers" conference site. Everyone is welcome!

Hey, it's the web site of the day. By the way I found an ftp program you might be interested in: AbsoluteFTP Clients that pattern themselves after the Windows Explorer interface have inundated the FTP scene as of late, yet a new entrant like AbsoluteFTP can still make quite an impact despite following the trend. Unlike most of the competition, AbsoluteFTP presents an Explorer-like view of both the remote and the local directories. This allows you to easily drag and drop files between the sites after either tiling or cascading the sites' windows. You can even launch multiple sessions simultaneously and carry out file operations on different sites concurrently. Like CuteFTP, AbsoluteFTP gives you an option of either quickly connecting to a site (via the QuickConnect icon) or selecting from one of the many sites listed in the Connection Manager. The Connection Manager comes pre-configured with more than 200 useful and cool FTP sites, and you can also add your own sites using the intuitive Session Wizard. Another cool feature in AbsoluteFTP is that it imports your file types from Explorer, so when you want to view a file on a remote site AbsoluteFTP will automatically run the application that is associated with the file. Additional features in AbsoluteFTP include caching of remote host directory listings, auto-resume for interrupted file transfers Network Neighborhood support, an abort option, auto hide of dot files, PASV support, and many of the same features found in the Explorer client (like multiple layout views, quick sorting options, and property tags for files). While AbsoluteFTP does sport several features that you won't find in the competition, several important features that you will find in other FTP clients are noticeably absent in AbsoluteFTP. The most glaring omissions are file find capabilities, site synchronization tools, a configurable toolbar, remote file editing capabilities, firewall/proxy support, options for changing the attributes of a file, support for macros and custom keyboard commands, site bookmarks, Keep Alive functionality, and advanced configuration options. Pros: Allows you to browse multiple sites simultaneously, attractive interface, inexpensive price tag Cons: Lacks many critical features that are found in competitive FTP clients For the latest information on AbsoluteFTP, check out: http://cws.internet.com/32ftp.html#absolftp Sorry, I got excited about the prospect of kitchenmanager getting his content up on his website. What was the name of that website of yours again?

Me or stacey... Ok, back to you, stacey, or not. I've heard web design, Java, and networking were the big three... WER

Add security/electronic commerce and you have the big 4.

Back to other stuff... Installed crt today, and an updated hyperterminal, still won't let me in. ????? WER

Hmm, you may want to call me and I'll talk you through some things. I tried dropping you an email from my cell phone while I was running around Austin today. My cellphone emails tend to be very brief. I suspect you may need to look in to AOHell's optional tcp/ip "stack". You'll find this on their Internet section. This would let you run normal, everyday garden variety apps like everyone else. Otherwise, go for a local Austin ISP like BCSI. They're at Spicewood Springs and Mesa Drive on the northwest corner in a little office bldg. up on the 2nd floor. Email cliff@bcsinetwork.com and mention that I referred you. Or call 338-4824.

cellphone emails?!?!?

Yeah! I gotta tell ya' about this cool cell phone I got. The service is called AT&T PocketNet and the phone is called a Samsung Duette. Whenever I get an incoming email, on the Spring or any of my email accounts, a copy gets forwarded to the phone where it beeps and I can scroll through it in a little window. I can reply to it (though typing on a phone keypad is a bit awkward, they've put in some shortcuts to make it faster than you would imagine), I can forward it, I can send it along as a fax and I can save the senders email in my bookmarks. It also browses the web and I can store information on my pocketnet website and access it. Also there are quite a few other pocketnet websites for geting stock reports and looking up nationwide yellow and white page listings, etc. From their website: "It keeps you in touch with your desktop organizer and directory when you're nowhere near your desk, and it gives you the convenience of easy dialing to all of the numbers in your address book." http://www.mobile.att.net/pocketnet Pretty incredible.

WOW!

Yeah it's cool to actually stay caught up with my calls and emails when I'm out and about and actually keep up with the rapid pace of things. When I leave my office, I put my phone on forward and my emails already forwarding all the time. Now, if I can figure out a way to pipe all these comments to it???

Like just now I heard three beeps on my cellphone and it was an incoming email from kitchenmanager. He's just realized what's wrong. And expects to have it fixed tonight.

Doesn't sound efficient so much as cutting edge neat!

It's pretty efficient, I can keep up with all my calls and emails, and at least give short replies to folks to let them know that I've gotten their email. I get 300 minutes a month talk time and unlimited email and web browsing. I like it that all of this is in one little compact unit that I can wear on my belt. The only major drawback is that you can't get calls while you're in email. They go to voicemail then.

Need call waiting for email?!?! This is life gets too complicated for me and I return to my tv-less hovel and cook over open fire.

You know, Stacey, once I lived back in the woods in Oregon in a little cabin with a wood cook stove by a clear mountain stream, I grew my own food from organic seeds and compost, drank right out of the pure mountain stream, and had no radios, computers, tvs or anything like that. I chopped wood to stay warm. It was a good life. It's a good life now, but things are much more complicated and costly. And you need one of these PocketNet devices to stay in touch. I can see your point though. There are some benefits to living a simple life in nature.

You oughta be able to write a perl script to forward these posts, or configure a mailing list. Don't know the restrictions on yapp, but either should work. WER

We're linked to mailing lists already and conferences can be set up that are linked to mailing lists. I could create a single conference linked to all the popular topics that was linked to a mailing list. Or suggest it to Dave Thaler? Right now I'm working on Snow White for our http://www.childrenstory.com website.

My thoughts exactly. Or, you could set up a spider to run every 15 minutes, fetch posts since its last rounds, and e-mail you what it finds. You can link conferences to mailing lists and newsgroups, but can you link specific topics only to mailing lists? WER

No, whole conferences actually.

Oh, well... WER

Okay, somebody fix me up, I'm breaking down fast. WER

Actually, I think what I need to get something pierced, branded, or tattooed. Some physical damage to alter my outward appearance would just about straighten out my head right now. WER

I'm not qualified or certified in those areas. What brought on this grim reaper period all of a sudden? We could pitch in an offer some suggestions.

Can't explain it all on here. Reality checks happening faster than my head can process, I guess. WER

Ooops, forgot headers gave line breaks. I'll remember next time. Still seeing what tags I can use where here. WER

You can't give us a clue? I promise I won't make light of it.

Things aren't what I thought they were, so I don't know where I am.

hey hon! What be ailing you. What a fright to come back to such sadness. Were you just missing me? Is that what got you so down? My completely uncertified abilities have me believing this is bigger than a bad day at work, is there anything I can do to help? Careful, you keep this up and Little Italy may get an early evening call. Wouldn't that suck, then you'd have to put a voice to the type and my winter visit wouldn't catch you totally off guard. Did'ya succumb to those piercing urges? Any place interesting? *smile* and *hug* I hope you feel better today.

Share share share. There is nothing and no-one to be afraid of here.

Not yet, stacey, can't afford it. However, if'n you're payin' I'll shove it wherever you like... I'm coming to terms with it for now.

Be like Mike. I agree with that, and I hope we keep it that way.

For clarification: The jewelry, stacey, the jewelry. PS--the people here are not what I hava da problems with = )

Glad you're coming to terms with it! Whooo! and thanks for the clarification, you had me thinking all SORTS of things!

Do tell, girlfriend, and be real thorough and descriptive. And actually, I'm relapsing again already. Es mi manera.

At this rate, you'll run out of pierced-free pieces parts! Need a pep talk? I'm usually not too good at them but I'd give it a whirl. When life gets absolutely insane and overwhelming, I typically check out for a day or two for some mental health work -- a drive in the mountains, me and my journal hanging at a coffee shop, a run, a skate, a good cry and kick the neighbors dog. The dog thing was a joke.

Wow, you have a journal!

Do I feel a new topic coming on...

El Nino?

hey, I'm single again after two years. Funny feeling.

You might check in to http://www.minds.org (for singles), one of our newest sites soon to be http://www.clearminds.com

Mike... I hope it is for the best! I'm sure you'll find plenty of whatever you need be it support or someone to get you into trouble, here! Yes Paul, I actually have several journals at any given time. I've kept one ever since I could write.

I'm sure it will be for the best - thanks for your kind words, Stacey. We parted with one of those cheesy "mutual agreements", and we're still "really good friends". It's unfortunate both of those are true, otherwise they'd be great things to laugh about. Maybe they are anyway. Hmm.

Remind me to discourse on the male barometer sometimes.

Discourse all you desire, Paul -- it's what we do best! Okay, we're really good at it anyway!

What does everyone think to my opening a new topic charting the progress of my new, single life?

That would be fine. Go for it!

I have no arguements.

Anyone in here got a cigarette?

you're quitting...

Thanks, Stace.

Anybody in here have a spare day off that I could borrow? Hmmm...please?...I'm begging here...NO? oh, well...

you can have some of mine. but they don't roll around until the middle of June.

Sure, I'll come in and take your place for a day and you can hang out and play all day. Just be sure and leave me directions on what to do.

t'anks! (but with me and my martyr like work ethic, I'll just keep working till one comes my way...looking like that could be as early as next Thursday...keep your fingers crossed...)

that's my birthday!

I know, and now I have your address...

so you gonna use it?

You haven't gotten it yet? I wonder if it got lost with my Christmas present...

i got it. and I got the hint too! (i'll send the christmas present soon...)