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Your Web Connection

Dedicated to helping you untangle the World Wide Web

Volume 1 - Number 8

November 23, 1998

Chuck & TerryWelcome to another edition of "Your Web Connection." Terry and I are glad you stopped by. We've got some news and a couple of loose ends to clear up, then we'll have some really cool sites for you to visit this month.

BandyThose of you that follow this column on a regular basis know that recently we acquired a new edition to our family, the "mutt" as Terry so fondly calls him. Many of you have asked me to post a picture. The puppy's name is Bandy which is short for Abandoned, which he was when he found me. It looks like he is a cross between a Border Collie and an Austrailian Shepherd. Even though Terry and I were originally cat people, I've decided that he is pretty OK for a dog. (Terry still isn't sure.) Bandy is being professionally trained and is coming along very nicely. Now if we can only stop the digging in the yard, he'd be perfect!

Finally I've come to a decision to put "Your Web Connection" on hiatus for a period of time. In the coming months, I'll be making a decision whether to continue the column or not, but for the time being, I need a break to recharge mentally. In my new career, I have added responsibilities that will be taking much of my time. I am launching two of my company's web sites as well as heading up their new electronic ordering program. Right now, I do not need the added responsibility of putting together a quality column each and every month. I mentioned quality. Hopefully I have delivered a quality product to you each and every time. Terry and I have both strived to do that.

Authoring three different columns for Star-Telegram Online services has been very fulfilling and rewarding. I have met some of the most wonderful people in the world online. I have had the opportunity to help many of you with the sometimes frustrating online world. I have watched StarText grow from a little, closed, text-based system to the award-winning world-wide organization it is now. What an honor it has been to be associated with such a classy group of people! I'm sure I'll miss putting the column together much like a coach feels after retiring from the game. Lastly, I want to thank all of the wonderful individuals down at Star-Telegram Online Services. Without their help, friendship and recognition, none of the three columns would have ever become a reality. You are a great group of folks!

With that out of the way, let's get on with the column. We've got a really neat site for you today followed by our normal dose of wit and humor. We hope you enjoy our efforts.

 

Wireless Dimension

Recently I was sent a press release for a new site that I've found very useful and I wanted everyone to be aware of it. It is called "Wireless Dimension" and it is a "must visit" site for anyone who has or is thinking about purchasing a cellular phone.

Back in the late 1980's I got my first "hard-wired" mobile telephone. Can you guess what the cost was? It was so expensive, I didn't even purchase it, I leased it. The cost of the phone and installation was over $3,000. Back then my phone cost me over $200 a month. What did that $200 include? Well there was the lease payment, the payment for the phone number, maintenance cost, and a per minute charge of over .50 a minute! Included air time was unheard of. Unfortunately, in the position I was in at the time, it was a needed tool.

Today, everything is different. How many cellular phones do you see now? For better or worse, they have become a way of life and the market has become very competitive with a plethora of phones and rate plans. With over 70 different packages available just in the DFW market, how is a consumer to know which plan is best for him? Fortunately, the folks at Nth Dimension are trying to clear the waters a bit for all of us consumers.

From Nth Dimension's Web site:

Nth Dimension is a publisher of comparison services that empower consumers by helping them make informed purchasing decision. Wireless Dimension lets consumers in the top 50 U.S. markets compare both wireless service plans and phones side-by-side in their own local market. It is the only site that allows consumers to research, compare, select and buy service plans and phones -- all in one place. In addition, Wireless Dimension is the only intelligent shopping agent to recommend wireless products and services based on consumers' individual needs.

So what does this all mean to you? For the first time, in one place, you can compare all of the major brands of phones and services plans without the pressure of someone trying to force a decision from you. Are you a first time buyer? The site has a great section to help you answer those questions and concerns you've wondered about. How do you know how much air time you need? Wireless Dimension has a section to help you there as well. What is PCS and do you need it? How do wireless communications really work? You'll find the answers to all of your questions about wireless at:

http://www.wirelessdimension.com/

Take a look at this very useful and informative site. It may help you save some money and get the right "tool" for your money.

 

Humor Time and Other Noteworthy Bits of Interesting Readings

TOP NINE SIGNS YOU WORK IN THE 90'S

  1. You think Einstein would have been more effective had he put his ideas into a matrix.

  2. You ask your friends to "think out of the box" when making Friday night plans.

  3. You know the people at the airport hotels better than your neighbors.

  4. You think that "progressing an action plan" and "calendarizing a project" are acceptable English phrases.

  5. You eat out of vending machines and at the most expensive restaurant in town within the same week.

  6. You find you really need Power Point to explain what you do for a = living.

  7. You refer to the tomatoes grown from your garden as deliverables.

  8. You get all excited when it's Saturday so you can wear sweats to work.

  9. You lecture the neighborhood kids selling lemonade on ways to improve their process and estimate the present value of future cash flows.

 

Collateral Holdings

Before going to Europe on business, a man drove his Rolls Royce to a downtown NY City bank and went in to ask for an immediate loan of $5,000. The loan officer, taken aback, requested collateral. "Well, then, here are the keys to my Rolls Royce," the man said. The loan officer promptly had the car driven into the bank's underground parking for safe keeping, and gave him $5,000.

Two weeks later, the man walked through the bank's doors, and asked to settle up his loan and get his car back. "That will be $5,000 in principal, and $15.40 in interest," the loan officer said. The man wrote out a check and started to walk away.

"Wait sir," the loan officer said, "while you were gone I learned that you are a millionaire. Why in the world would you need to borrow $5,000?"

The man smiled. "Where else could I park my Rolls Royce in Manhattan for two weeks and pay only $15.40?"

 

Capital Punishment

These three guys go down to Mexico one night and get drunk and wake up in jail. They found out that they are to be executed for their crimes but none of them can remember what they have done.

The first one is strapped in the electric chair and is asked if he has any last words. He says, "I am from the University of Richmond School of Divinity and I believe in the almighty power of God to intervene on behalf of the innocent."

They throw the switch and nothing happens, so they figure God must not want this guy to die, so they let him go.

The second one is strapped in and gives his last words. "I am from the University of Virginia School of Law and I believe in the eternal power of Justice to intervene on the part of the innocent."

The switch is thrown and again nothing happens. They figure that the law is on this guy's side, so they let him go.

The last one is strapped in and say's "Well, I'm a Virginia Tech Electrical Engineer, and I'll tell you right now you'll never electrocute anybody if you don't connect those two wires."

 

The Duck

Duck walks into a bar and orders a beer. Barman says, "Hey, you're a duck"

"Nothing wrong with your eyesight," observes the duck.

"Yeah, but I mean - you can TALK" says the barman.

"Guess your ears are fine, too," answers the duck. "Now, can I have a beer please."

Barman serves the duck a pint and asks him what he's doing in the area.

"Oh," says the duck. "I work on the building site over there. We'll be here for a couple of weeks, and I'll be in each lunchtime for a pint."

And each day the duck waddles over from his job at the building site and has his lunchtime lager.

Next week, the circus comes to town on its annual round. Circus owner comes in for a pint, and the barman tells him about the talking duck.

"You should get it into your circus," he says. "Make a lot of money out of a talking duck. I'll speak to him about it."

Following day, the duck comes in at lunchtime.

Barman says: "You know, the circus is in town, and yesterday I was chatting to the owner. He's very interested in you."

"Really?" says the duck.

"Yeah. You could make a lot of money there. I can fix it up for you easily."

"Hang on," said the duck. "You did say a CIRCUS, didn't you?"

"That's right."

"That's one of those tent things, isn't it? With a big pole in the middle?"

"Yeah!"

"That's canvas, isn't it?" said the duck.

"Of course," replied the barman, "I can get you a job there starting tomorrow. The circus owner's dead keen."

The duck looked very puzzled.

"What the hell would he want with a brick layer?"

 

That's all for this issue. Thanks for stopping by. Terry and I hope to be back in the near future. Once again, we want to thank everyone for all of their readership and support. We write the column for you and we were well rewarded for our efforts. Take care and we wish everyone a happy and safe holiday season.


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"Your Web Connection" was last modified: December 24, 2000

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