Msg: 6443 *Conference*

04-19-96 07:49:41

From: RICHARD HANSON

To : ZINA BERGMAN

Subj: HTML

In response to part of your last message ... under a new thread ... 

 > You're right the actual HTML code is really a no brainer -- the hard part is
deciding WHAT to do and HOW to do it. 

You bet'cha!!!  It's programming, business planning, publication layout, and a
whole lot of other things all wrapped up in one.  There ain't no way someone
can just do it, walk away and it's a killer presentation.  No way.  Jose!
However, as a labor of love, I've been working on some HTML files on a Model
102 ... heck, it's just ASCII!!!  What's cool is trying to visualize it in your
mind.  Again, it's just like programming anything ... you've got to be able to
visualize the end result of your code. 

I've been working on the overall design, function and maintenance of our new
online publication, The Dock! (Internet Edition) @ www.The-Dock.com.  It is to
be a complete online news service.  I currently have some editors that write
monthly columns, a handfull of local content providers, such as Weekender
Magazine (events around the county), TCI-TV, KCRT-TV and CC-TV (program
listings), and several other news sources, like Rotary District 5160, etc. but
that's not enough. 

Note: The Dock! (Interactive Edition) has been online as a BBS and Gateway
since 1993.  You may log on at 510-676-5359. 

The Dock! (Interactive Edition) uses TBBS, TDBS, Tiger, Tims, Sysom, etc. on a
Novel Lite Network of 3 computers and 16 lines at a site on Clayton Road,
Concord, CA.  We're pushing over 150,000 e-mail message, daily (local,
internet, and fidonet), keeping about 50,000 mesage online daily ... we're the
fidonet hub for our area.  We offer a lot of stuff, attracting about 70 local
readers, daily.  We have about 150 advertisers.  And, I now have a full-time
advertising sales department via an independent business firm in Walnut Creek,
Words Unlimited, under the ownership of Barbara Linchey. 

For The Dock! (Internet Edition) the idea is to build an online service
dedicated to our community (in this case, Contra Costa County) as if it were a
newspaper.  PressTime Magazine reports that newspapers around the country are
doing this same thing.  We have a very powerful local newspaper called the
Contra Costa Times, now owned by Knight-Ridder, Inc.  If they so choose, they
can blow us out of the water and I'd be back on the street, looking for what
I'll do next.  They haven't, so I'm persuing a dream, along with my friend,
Drew Blanchar. 

Putting an extensive news service on the "Nut" is a big job in planning,
execution and maintenance ... with maintenance being the biggest, constant
problem.  I'd like to program a clipping service here at home, using one of my
computers on my new ISDN line to retrieve certain news items, put them into
pre-named files, log into our web server and upload, (overwriting the old). 

----

 > I've been overwhelmed at work -- you'd think Phd's would be smarter than
they really are -- no common sense seems to be the order of the day. 

Hey ... none of that!  You are smart.  And, you have a steady pay check for
heaven's sake ... something I wish the hell I had.  With all the stuff I do, to
do what I do, I find it very tough to do, things I'd like to do, without
feeling guilty for not doing things that I must do.  Frankly, life is do, do,
do, do ... doo doo! 

On the flip side ... like I needed something to flip ... I got the opportunity
to teach, again.  I just finished up two classes.  One for UC Berkeley
Extension and the other for the University of San Francisco.  UCB was
telecommunications, and USF was Office Automation.  I miss teaching (did 12
years from 1980 thru 1993).  I was once in a PhD program and was looking for a
steady gig (tenure track position) but it just didn't work out.  So, be
thankfull for what you have, Zina.  You've got a good gig going ... grow it,
use it, do some good. 

----

 > I've been monitoring the Tandy news group on the Net and Club 100 is spoken
highly of -- glad I'm aquainted with a good group of folks.  thanks again. zina


Wow!  On behalf of all those who contribute to Club 100 content and services, I
really appreciate the feedback.  Thanks again.  -Rick-

PS: I did receive the disk you sent (thank you) but have not had the chance to
look it over.  I will, of course.  Everything takes time.