Welcome to the September 1993 Issue _____ ____ _ / ____) / ___) (_) / /___ / (_ _____ _ ____ / /( )/ ___)/ _ )/ )/ __ ) / (__) // (_ / / ) // // ___/ (______/(____)(_/ (_/(_/(____) __ / ) _ _ _ _ / / (_) ( \ / ) (_) / / _ _ _ ____\ \ /\ / / _ ___ ____ / / / )( \_/ ) / __ )\ \/ \/ / / ) / __)/ __ ) / (__ / / \ / / ___/ \ / / / / / / ___/ (______)(_/ \_/ (____) \_/\_/ (_/ (_/ (____) M a g a z i n e \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\//////////////////////////////////// Editor-In-Chief ..................................... Peggy Herrington Associate Editor ......................................... Donn King Assistant Editor ......................................... Jay Kee Online Editor ...................................... John Peters Contributing Editor .......................... Holly Jahangiri Contributing Editor ........................ Kevin J. McCann Publisher ........................ Robert "Chip" Chiappone Assistant to the Publisher ................ Barbara Byro /////////////////////////////\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ >>> GEnie Information Network's LiveWire Magazine! <<< """""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" ~ September 1993 ~ FROM THE EDITOR ......... [FRM] LEARNING ONLINE ......... [LEA] The NEW GEnie LiveWire. GEnie: An Education Itself! BUDDY BONUS ............. [BUD] LEARNING ONLINE II ...... [LE2] What Price Friendship??? DIALOG with Your Computer. GEnie SPECIAL EVENTS .... [CAL] NEW SERVICES ............ [NEW] GEnie Special Events: Sept.'93 What's New On GEnie. THE GEnie GAMER ......... [GAM] GEnieSTORE .............. [STO] Online Fun & Games. Shop (Online) 'til You Drop! FOCUS ON ................ [IBM] FOCUS ON ................ [WIN] IBM PC RoundTable. Windows RoundTable. FOCUS ON ................ [MAC] FOCUS ON ................ [AMI] Macintosh RoundTable. *StarShip* Amiga RoundTable. FOCUS ON ................ [ATR] FOCUS ON ................ [AII] Atari ST RoundTable. Apple II RoundTable. GEnie MALL .............. [MAL] LIVEWIRE ONLINE ......... [INF] Born to Shop. LiveWire Online Information. [IDX]""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" READING LiveWire! LiveWire has incorporated a unique indexing system """"""""""""""""" to help make reading the magazine easier. To utilize this system, load LiveWire into any ASCII word processor or text editor. In the index you will find the following example: LEARNING ONLINE ......... [LEA] GEnie: An Education Itself! To read this article, set your find or search command to [LEA]. If you want to scan all of the articles, search for [EOA]. [EOF] will take you to the last page, whereas [IDX] will bring you back to the index. """""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" [EOA] [FRM]////////////////////////////// From The Editor / ///////////////////////////////// The NEW GEnie LiveWire """""""""""""""""""""" _ _ ( \ /\ / ) \ \/ \/ / \ / \_/\_/elcome to the wonderful world of digital communications -- as if you hadn't already discovered it! We'll be publishing LiveWire magazine ABOUT and ON GEnie each and every month now, and we encourage you to share it with your friends. LiveWire is available to GEnie members at no cost (even for the time spent downloading), and if you got this copy from LiveWire Page 20, be sure to watch for forthcoming issues on many of GEnie's RoundTables. Back issues will be still available on Page 20, but each new issue will be distributed all over GEnie just before the beginning of every month. We hope downloading it from your favorite RoundTable will be even more convenient. There are loads of advantages to publishing LiveWire this way (not the least of which will accrue to our forests and trees) since it lets us bring you information in a more timely manner. No more lengthy production or mailing schedules for us! This medium permits cutting our lead time dramatically, and that means that you can plan the time you spend online more effectively since you'll know about upcoming events, new Library files and opportunities almost as soon as we do! Publishing online also lets us communicate through the medium of GEnie itself, where "traditions" are sometimes unique. How many of your off-line friends, for example, would get a smile (sideways or otherways) out of this? _____________________________________________________________________ / \\ | "The GEnie Emoticon Family" || | || | || | ."""""". ****** || | / \ ********** || | | #0 \ | **.******.** || | ((| < | |)) **/ \** || | | #0 / | *| (@ \ |* || | \ / {*| < | |*} __ || | ~-- --~ !*| (; / |*! ___|__|___ || | | | <@> \ / <@> /~~~~~~\ || | /--_____| |____--\ * ~-- --~ * | o \ | || | /========\____/=======\ * | | * ""- [| o / |] || | / .==============. \ ____| |____ \\ \_ _/ || | \ /\ | / \ / | | \ \ \ ___| |___ || | \/ \ |\/ \ | | | | \__ `--' \ || | \ \==========| \ ) | |/:\____/:\| | \ . | || | \ \=========| / / | |::::::::::| | | : | || | || \____________________________________________________________________// Artwork from GEnieus RoundTable Bulletin Board, Category 10, Topic 43 "ASCII Art -- Yours goes here!" (Artist, please contact LiveWire.) So don't fret about the future of LiveWire. Our goal is to help you find those particular things on GEnie which interest YOU, while maximizing your online dollar. Don't quote me ;-) but there might be even more exciting plans for the magazine coming up, so stay tuned! Learning Online 'Tis the season for going back to school, and we're here """"""""""""""" to remind you that GEnie can help you there in a big way. Don't miss Donn King's article on the advantages of CALC, CASHE, and the ERT. Unlike me, he'll even tell you what those acronyms mean. And learning doesn't stop there, of course. If you want to Do-It-Yourself, check out Holly's story on the new Home Improvement RoundTable, and learn to travel the electronic highways to the White House with LiveWire's new assistant editor, Jay Kee. Tip for September Did you know you have an Internet electronic mail """"""""""""""""" address? That's right, you can send and receive Internet mail directly from GEnie at standard low connect rates! Your Internet address is your GE Mail address with @GENIE.GEIS.COM appended to it. For example, my GE Mail address is P.HERRINGTON so my Internet address is P.HERRINGTON@GENIE.GEIS.COM -- easy, huh? It can be entered using capital or lower case letters, or any combination. To send Internet mail from GEnie, you must know the recipient's Internet address. Then you simply append @INET# or @INTERNET# to it which tells the GE Mail system how to handle it. Example: Say an elf told you that you could reach Santa Claus by Internet at the address SANTA.CLAUS.NPOLE.COM -- okay? To send him your early wish list from GEnie, you would address your GE Mail letter to SANTA.CLAUS.NPOLE.COM@INET# or SANTA.CLAUS.NPOLE.COM@INTERNET# -- whichever you prefer. Your Internet return address will automatically be included with the letter, but unless you're happy with packet-switched presents, better tell him your chimney's address as well. Internet spans the world, providing unbelievably quick and cost-effective communications. If you want to know more about it, or if you need help using it, drop by GEnie's Internet RoundTable by typing INTERNET-RT or M1405. Multimedia Coming Up! The October issue of GEnie LiveWire will focus on """"""""""""""""""""" one of the most exciting personal computing applications to come along in years: Multimedia. A subject near to my heart, we'll help you explore GEnie for those special things that, well, make multimedia presentations special -- graphics, sound, and ways to present YOUR information that will grab your audience's attention. Seeya online! Peggy [EOA] [LEA]////////////////////////////// LEARNING ONLINE / ///////////////////////////////// GEnie: An Education Itself! """"""""""""""""""""""""""" by Donn King ____ / ___) / (_ / ___) / / (_/or most kids there's only one sale at the mall that strikes terror into their hearts: "Back to School." Well, maybe not terror. Whatever the reaction, though, as fall schooling activities heat up GEnie can help provide quality "fuel" for the process. CASHEing In """"""""""" "Mom, I've decided I'm going to go to college." "Wonderful, honey. How are you going to pay for it?" "Well, I thought ... what I mean is ... well, won't you?" "Better think again, Bubba." A few of us look 20 years ahead and save for college. Most of us find ourselves needing a little help, and whether you're the prospective student or the prospective student's parents, you'll need a lot of CASHE. CASHE stands for College Aid Sources for Higher Education. It was developed by National College Services, Ltd., headed by Dr. Herm Davis, to help find ways to finance a college education. They don't hand out money, but they counsel and educate students and their parents in a very practical course of instruction. The heart of CASHE is a sophisticated scholarship database retrieval system. It contains information on 4,100 sources (individual sponsors/ agencies) handling over 14,000 resources (different funding titles that a source sponsors) with over 150,000 distributions (number of awards included in each resource) including scholarships, fellowships, loans, internships, and work cooperative programs. The database can help with both undergraduate and graduate assistance. As their front door says, "The CASHE system does not guarantee 'awards' nor can it promise results. Only the student and the sponsor of the financial assistance program can make the CASHE system fulfill the end results. CASHE, however, can guarantee that the student will receive the most up-to-date, specific, comprehensive listing of resources to meet the student's educational interests." To find out more, simply type CASHE on GEnie. Learning About Learning You hear a lot about the state of our """"""""""""""""""""""" educational system today. You may even SAY a lot about it. On GEnie, you have the opportunity to DO something about it. "Don't tell us people don't care!" said Education RoundTable (ERT) sysop Bobbi Pournelle. "We in the ERT are devoted to solutions. Instead of sitting around wringing our hands over all the awful things that are happening in schools, we get our fingers busy on the keyboard to seek out those solutions." The Bulletin Board comprises a lively exchange among parents, teachers, and students. For example, one high-school English classroom is exchanging papers with a middle-school, and a teacher's college class mentors an elementary classroom. The Bulletin Board offers categories dealing with Preschool and Kindergarten Education, Primary Education, Secondary Education, College and University Education, Special Education, Middle Schools, Home and Private Schooling, Student's Education/Communication Category, Topical Discussion of Educational Subjects, Educational Computing and Technology, Special Education and Alternative Teaching Styles, Machine Specific Educational Technology, The Educational System, Books PLUS Audio/Video Library, Professional Conferences, Training and Development, and Student's Lounge - 18 and under. Homeschooling GEnie's ERT hosts one of the largest and most active """"""""""""" online groups of homeschoolers. "Did you know that the major ivy-league schools are recruiting homeschooled students?" Pournelle asked. "One of our kids was accepted at five top schools and he shared how he handled all the paperwork and scheduling." Anne Wasserman, ERT assistant, keeps tabs on all aspects of homeschooling, such as how to start and figuring which laws affect you. The ERT Software Library contains dozens of useful text and program files for several platforms. For teachers there are such programs as file #749 GBPLUS.ZIP, a demo version of Gradebook Plus v4.1 which "has many useful record-keeping features and prints rosters, data entry and attendance & tardy sheets." Parent, teacher, or student could use file #762 WORLD92.ZIP, the 1992 edition of the CIA Fact Book which gives population, religion, government system, trade, and gobs of other information on nearly every country and territory in the world. File #795 Wilstar Ver. 2.3 Freedom Papers and Historic Documents (FREEDM23.ZIP) is a menu-driven program that allows on-screen display of several historic documents from the Magna Carta to the Pledge of Allegiance and flag-flying guidelines. It will also display the lyrics of three patriotic tunes and actually play them. Not only that, since it's public domain -- it's FREE! One of ERT's ongoing services is the posting of the Daily Report Card every day. For instance, file #834 D930708 contains a report on the nation's schools for July 9, 1993. Regular Real-Time Conferences connect students, parents, and teachers. Teachers from grade school through college meet Wednesday evenings at 9:30 PM Eastern time, and homeschoolers meet on the first and third Tuesday of each month. Type ERT to get there on GEnie. CALCulate the Advantages Take learning into your own hands with CALC, """""""""""""""""""""""" GEnie's Computer Assisted Learning Center. CALC is a non-profit, national learning center which offers instructional services for the entire GEnie community. Services are provided by certified and experienced teachers from across the nation who are committed to giving you and your family a quality education. Founded by Director Margaret Morabito the service developed in 1984 and has been in operation online since 1986. "CALC is set up like a local community college, but we accept students of all ages," she said. CALC's Online Campus opens its Fall Term Course Registration on September 1st with a full lineup of courses for adult continuing education and job skills enhancement. Classes start on October 6th. See the complete Fall Term Course Catalog inside CALC on GEnie Page 174. Annual Family Membership in CALC is $45. Course registration fees range from $25 to $55. CALC Online Campus -- 1993 Fall Term Course List """""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" o C Programming I o Object-Oriented Programming in C++ I o Object-Oriented Programming in C++ II o PC Communications I o PC Communications II o BASIC Programming I o Advanced BASIC Programming o COBOL Programming o Introduction to Windows o dBASE IV Fundamentals o Word/WordPerfect for Windows or DOS o Introduction to Spreadsheeting (Windows or DOS) o Advanced DOS and Hard Disk Management o ARexx Programming o Chemistry I o Chemistry II o Celestial Delights o Time Travel With Planet Earth o Survey of Pre-Calculus o Beginning Calculus o Calculus II o Algebra o Short Story Writing Workshop o Express Yourself o Fundamental Tools of Fiction o New Testament As Literature o 20th Century Novel o Reading Short Stories o Effective Business Writing o Grammar Review For The Office o Introduction to Financial Planning o NASD Series 6/63/26/65 o Economics o Small Business Management I o Small Business Management II o Principles of Real Estate Investment o Business Communications o Business Law o Business Ethics o Accounting I o Intermediate Accounting o Managerial Accounting o Income Tax Preparation I & II o Family Law o Personal Investing o Total Quality Management NEW! Special Certificate Programs in CALC """"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" o SAT Review o GED (High School Equivalency) Preparation o Paralegal Sciences Learning Program o PC Applications Certificate o Computer Programming Certificate Course Materials CALC uses the Bulletin Board, Software Library, and """""""""""""""" Real-Time Conference structure GEnie members are familiar with. Some courses build around text files downloaded from the Library; others use scheduled Real-Time Conferences for live interaction with a teacher and other students. Of special interest to students NOT enrolled in CALC courses, who participate in off-line schools or homeschooling, are the homework help and tutoring resources. Bulletin Board Categories 2-5 deal with tutoring in English, math, science, and social studies. Type CALC on GEnie for more information. Info in an Instant Term paper got you down (whether yours or your """""""""""""""""" kid's)? Through GEnie you have the easiest access to instant information. Look it up, find further references, and capture it from your computer screen for direct import (with appropriate credit) into your paper. The ARTIST Gateway System provides a number of databases and reference services. For instance, professional educators can turn to the Educator's Center for information in education research, psychology, child abuse studies, and even directories like Ulrich's Periodicals and A-V Media. (See the "ARTIST for Hire" article in the July/August 1993 LiveWire to learn how to navigate Educator's Center.) If you want just about ANY type of information, turn to the new Dialog Database Center provided through ARTIST. GEnie Product Manager Scott Melnick said, "It was designed in an attempt to get virtually everything on Dialog available to GEnie subscribers." ARTIST Manager Dan Meyer observed that the new service delivers between 90 and 95 percent of the information available through another popular gateway service and is both easier to use and much more economical. (See "DIALOG with your computer" elsewhere in this issue.) Timely Education Tip Remember that the speed with which you can work """""""""""""""""""" with CASHE makes it ideal for this time of year. If you or someone in your family plan to attend college, don't wait until the week you start! Many resources have application deadlines, and some require several interactions to occur on a schedule. Start NOW to put together your financial resources for academic year '94-95. CASHE in on what's available. ____________________________________________________________ | | | GEnie's Education Resources | |------------------------------------------------------------| | Type Keyword or MOVE ### at any GEnie Page Prompt | |------------------------------------------------------------| | Service/RoundTable Keyword Page# | |------------------------------------------------------------| | College Aid Sources for Higher Education CASHE 408 | | Education RoundTable ERT 405 | | Computer Assisted Learning Center CALC 175 | | Educator's Center [$] EDUCATORS 1286 | | Dialog Database Center [$] DIALOG 1242 | |____________________________________________________________| [EOA] [BUD]////////////////////////////// BUDDY BONUS / ///////////////////////////////// What Price Friendship??? """""""""""""""""""""""" _ _ ( \ /\ / ) \ \/ \/ / \ / \_/\_/ho says you can't put a price tag on friendship? GEnie has! _______________ ( / | ) / BUDDY | Thanks to the GEnie Services' ( | | `--|O $10.00 | Buddy Bonus Promotion! | ~~~~~~ | """""""""""""""""""""" \ BONUS | \_______________| Each and every one of your friends *COULD* be worth $10 to you. Just tell them about GEnie and get them to subscribe. If you and your buddy are still active GEnie subscribers three months from the date your buddy signs up, YOU get a $10 usage credit on your GEnie account! That's right! $10 for each and every buddy you sponsor who stays a GEnie subscriber for at least three months! Of course, you'll probably want to follow-up with your buddy ... by phone, mail or in person... in case they have any questions and so you can "twist" their arm a little. (You *DO* want the $10, don't you?) Like everything good, there ARE a few rules for the GEnie Buddy Bonus Program. You'll find the complete Program rules - including what it takes to be a "qualifying buddy" - on the GEnie Services Buddy Bonus Promotion page (type BUDDY and select #2 from the menu). Be sure you review the complete rules before you contact your friends. So there you have it! What price Friendship??? GEnie is proving that a GOOD friend is worth at LEAST $10!!! [EOA] [LE2]////////////////////////////// LEARNING ONLINE II / ///////////////////////////////// DIALOG with Your Computer """"""""""""""""""""""""" by Donn King _ _ / \ / ) / \/ / / /\ / (_/ \_/o, that's not a misspelling. I don't mean dialogue; I mean DIALOG. Through the ARTIST Gateway System, GEnie now makes available 400 databases covering major subject areas like computers, engineering, technology, and health, in addition to science, medicine, business, finance, investing, patents, trademarks, copyrights, law, and even U.S. Government news and regulations. Simply select your area of interest and enter your topic, whether it is a subject, person, company, or product. "This service provides custom access to over 2,500 full-text sources and major reference databases to support the GEnie user community," said Dan Meyer, president of ART. "There is no need to learn complex, often confusing command languages. The commands and menus are much the same as the rest of GEnie." GEnie members familiar with other ARTIST products will find the same friendly "Knowbot" in the Dialog Database Center (enter M1242 or keyword DIALOG to get there on GEnie). A few of the Dialog databases you can access include: Accounting & Tax; Aidsline; American Banker; Insider Trading Monitor; Kompass Europe; Business Dateline; Los Angeles Times; Businesswire; Moody's Corporate Profiles; Commerce Business Daily; New England Journal of Medicine; Consumer Reports; Peterson's College Database; Dissertation Abstracts; PR Newswire; and Dun & Bradstreet Market Identifiers. When Time is Money... "The two major advantages of Dialog Database """"""""""""""""""""" Center to GEnie subscribers are ease-of-use and pricing," said D. Scott Melnick, GEnie product manager. "With our hourly non-prime time connect rate of only $3.00, Dialog offers a value which is hard to beat even with per search charges." Time affects your information costs two ways. First, when you need to know something fast, going through hundreds or even thousands of paper-based information sources becomes prohibitively expensive. Second, unless you regularly get large chunks of information, the combination of annual fees and hourly connect charges can make electronic information expensive to get. The Dialog Database Center (DDC) on GEnie saves oodles of time. Just follow the steps on the Knowbot's menus, and you can search across diverse databases and cover years in a few seconds. As a GEnie$Premium service the DDC has charges in addition to connect time but they are economical and not time-based. The only connect time charged is GEnie regular hourly rates. Thus, you HAVE TIME to think out each step rather than rushing to cut down connect time and winding up with either too much or inappropriate information. Still, with thousands of publications, bibliographic citations and summary records available and the potential costs involved, you'll want to put a little thought into your search before you access the Dialog Database Center. Otherwise you're going to end up with a LOT more information than you could ever use! Make your search term specific enough to find the information you want, yet broad enough to ensure that you retrieve everything pertinent. Be sure you check the rates on GEnie page 1242 before you proceed. To head off surprises, the Knowbot keeps you apprised of your DDC charges at every step. Search Know-How """"""""""""""" When you enter the search area, you'll see the following: _________________________________________________________________ / \ | NOTICE! Per search charges apply. See Rates (#2) on page 1242. | | ************************************************************** | | | | Your login session number is: 358420 | | | | Welcome to the Dialog Database Center | | | | DIALOG Database Center Main Menu | | | | 1 Newspapers, Newsletters & Magazines | | 2 Computers, Engineering & Technology | | 3 Health, Science & Medicine | | 4 Education, Associations & Biographies | | 5 Business, Finance & Investing | | 6 Patents, Trademarks & Copyrights | | 7 Law, U.S. Government News & Regulations | | 8 General Reference & Specialty Databases | | 9 Instructions & Pricing | | 10 Practice Area | | | | 11 Return to GEnie | | | | Your Dialog Database Center charges: $0.00 | | Enter #, elp or xit Dialog Database Center? | \_________________________________________________________________/ Each time you enter the Dialog Database Center you'll be reminded that special rates apply. Choose the subject area most relevant to your search topic. Most selections will further divide into more specific subject areas. At that point you will have the opportunity to search multiple databases, or concentrate on a single database. You will also have other options for limiting a search, such as date of publication. You control the search at every point. You can get references only, to pinpoint articles and information you can find at your local library, or choose the option of retrieving the full text of the likeliest-looking sources to capture with your communications software. In the Information Age, education doesn't end with formal graduation from a school; we learn every day. GEnie's Dialog Database Center can make you a practical scholar extraordinaire! [EOA] [SPC]////////////////////////////// GEnie SPECIAL EVENTS / ///////////////////////////////// GEnie Special Events: September 1993 """"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" Eastern Time PM Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday --------------------------------------------------------------------- 8:00 SFRT1 MAC MAC MAC MAC MAC AMIGA BORLAND Help Help Help Help Help 5-MIN News SCORPIA PK AMIGA 3PM-3AM Sierra Poker 5-MIN News Hints Night 6PM-3AM 8:30 GEOWORKS ENABLE 9:00 RADIO SHOWBIZ AMIGA MILITARY PCALADDIN AMIGA ASTROLOGY Listening Live Chat Help General Automate Help GENIEUS PF:Current GENEALOGY FAMILY FAMILY INVEST PETS GEnieJAM! Events Beginners Mothers Teens Q&As Dogs AMIGA SPACE ROMANCE AMIGA WRITERS HelpDesk MAC:Fights Research help Help AMIGA SFRT AMIGA:Help AMIGA DBMS Help Force FAMILY HelpDesk ROMANCE MAC ST:Help GERMANY Aspiring Help Writers ROMANCE Games 9:30 IBMPC A2 IBMPC IBMPC SCORPIA A2 AMIGA General New Users Comms OpSystems A2:TBC Telecom News A2 AUTO A2:Guest A2:Hyprmdia MPGRT AMIGA 3PM-3AM II Speak CarTC SFRT1 AMIALADDIN STALADDIN News A2 SFRT3 WINDOWS Writers SCORPIA WP:WordPrt 6PM-3AM Small Biz FW-Pern Help ERT:Parents Ask Sysops WINDOWS WINDOWS RADIO WRITERS MAC HomeSchool ERT: Educ MPGRT MPGRT Listening All Types Mac UNIX MPGRT Air Warrior BattleTech AMIGA:News Talk Cofee&Code Ask Sysops ROMANCE SFRT3 3PM-3AM SCUBA DTP WRITERS MAC Queen's Own ROMANCE LAPTOPS Non-Fiction Telcom Special WINDOWS WINDOWS SFRT1 MAC MAC Alt.History Hypercard Games PET GERMANY SFRT3 Birds Travel Star Wars PET Games 10:00 AMIGA FLORIDA AMIGA HOME AMIGA ASTROLOGY AMIGA Surprise Orlando Music Moose Manor MMedia Beginners Party FORTH AMIGA WRITERS AMIGA GERMANY SFRT1 MOTO SCA Telecomm Poetry AmiGames AVIATION General LEFTCOAST FOOD ST: Atari CBM ST: Atari MPGRT GENEALOGY CBM CooksChat Portfolio HOME Open House Gemstone HOME FOOD MOTO SFRT2 Open House GERMANY CANADA Q-Hut Beer CBM Star Trek MOTO CBM CBM AMIGA Tasting ST: Atari MPGRT SCA PRO/AM(iga) UNIX Graphics HOME dtp DragGate ROMANCE GEOWORKS INTERNET-RT ROMANCE Parlor- HOSB CBM SFRT2 MOTO Reader's Games HOME UNIX On Screen ATARI8 CBM Purpleberry NeXT GENEALOGY SFRT2 MOTO MAC MOTO History Quantum Leap Help SCA MOTO FOOD Heraldic Cooking&Computers SCA Fighters FAMILY Singles 10:30 SFRT1 MAC JAPAN MAC Horror Powerbooks Fonts MAC EduMac 11:00 CBM MAC SCORPIA CBM PHOTO MUSIC CBM AMIGA Help Star Fleet MAC General Night-Owls AMIGA HelpDesk AMIGA MAC Help MAC MAC HelpDesk HelpDeskHelp AMIGA Help Help AMIGA HelpDesk AMIGA AMIGA HelpDesk Help HelpDesk Midnight ASTROLOGY Mystic [*][*][*] Enter the keyword (shown in capital letters, for example, GENIEUS) at any numbered GEnie page prompt to reach the RoundTable hosting these Special Events. Topics are subject to change without notice. First Friday of EVERY month in the Atari ST RoundTable at 10 PM is Dateline Atari. Chat Lines hosts a delightful variety of Multiplayer Games and fascinating Theme Chats on weekends, weekday evenings and during the wee hours, plus Breakfast Chats at 6AM Eastern time. Complete schedule on GEnie Page 400. [EOA] [NEW]////////////////////////////// NEW SERVICES / ///////////////////////////////// What's New On GEnie """"""""""""""""""" o GEnie Goes To Washington o Consumer Electronics RoundTable o Do-it-Yourself RoundTable GEnie Goes To Washington """""""""""""""""""""""" by Jay Kee _ / \ / - \ / ___ \ (_/ \_)nyone can visit the White House. Just go to 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, Washington D.C., and sign up for a tour. Of course, if you don't happen to live near the District of Columbia, that may not be very practical. And if you actually want to find out what's going on in the government, it isn't very informative either. The Electronic Highway Fortunately, there's an alternative that is both """""""""""""""""""""" practical AND informative. Take GEnie's electronic highway to Page 1600, where you'll find the White House RoundTable. No guided tours here -- just official Electronic Press Releases and announcements right from the White House Office of Media Affairs -- plus a forum for discussion of news announcements, policy decisions and other official positions of the U.S. Government's Executive Branch. It's an idea that caught on quickly. "The first couple of months have been pretty busy," says White House RoundTable sysop Ric Helton. "We attracted several thousand people, and the political chat is lively." Although some issues relate to discussions in the Public Forum, he adds, "the White House RoundTable is specifically set up for White House/Executive Branch material." Better Mileage This isn't just a forum for public opinion. Copies of """""""""""""" every official press release and Presidential statement, plus transcripts of press conferences, daily briefings and other "official" information, are sent directly from the White House to GEnie to be made available to RoundTable members. That information is the same material issued to world-wide press, and you get it first-hand. You can see exactly what the President says, what the White House position is on any given subject, without any "media filter" between you and the facts. New Electronic Press (E-Press) Releases are uploaded to the White House Library daily. If you want to do some catch-up, or just satisfy your curiosity, the first 15 weeks of E-Press Releases are available in there. Archived using the ZIP compression format, the download time is minimal. For a complete list, choose Menu Option #3 "White House Files Library" from Page 1600, then select Option #2 Directory of files. No Map Needed The White House RoundTable is easy to navigate. Bulletin """"""""""""" Board CATegories are labelled so that topics of interest may be found quickly and conveniently, yet that simplicity encompasses an impressive, comprehensive range of material. Whether your interests lie with foreign policy and the economy, or extend to education, health care, and defense, you'll find it in the White House RoundTable. Topics cover everything from the President's economic stimulus package and the First Lady's hearings on health care, to the Crime Bill, gun control, military base closings and the North American Free Trade Agreement. Special Attractions In addition to the information available at Page """"""""""""""""""" 1600, the RoundTable hosts regular Real-Time Conferences. In September, a special Conference will be held on Sunday the 12th at Midnight Eastern (9PM Pacific), to discuss the first months of the Clinton Administration and the effects he has had on the nation. Of course, if you want to tell him yourself, you can do that too, by using GE-Mail. On June 1st, the White House announced that for the first time in history, the Presidency and the Administration will be connected to the public via electronic mail. You can take advantage of that opportunity in the White House RoundTable: Select Menu Option #6 "Send a letter to the White House". That's all there is to it! No Guided Tours Conventional media bombards us with information, """"""""""""""" statistics, images, opinions and analyses, but rarely do we get the chance to be anything other than passive observers. The White House RoundTable provides a unique opportunity to have immediate, first-hand access to the federal government, its policies and decisions, and to form our own opinions through open debate and discussion. Guided tours are nice; exploration is better. Embark on your own personal journey of discovery. Travel the electronic highway to Page 1600 (keyword WHITEHOUSE) the next time you log onto GEnie. Consumer Electronics RoundTable """"""""""""""""""""""""""""""" by Kevin J. McCann _ _ ( \ /\ / ) \ \/ \/ / \ / \_/\_/hen the first VCRs hit the market, it wasn't hard deciding which model to buy -- because there were only a few models available. Nowadays shopping for a new VCR can be a confusing ordeal even for those who consider themselves adept with electrical appliances. There are literally hundreds of models with choices that include analog or digital, number of video heads, mono or stereo (plus what type of stereo), onscreen programming, bar code programming -- to name just a few. The less knowledge you have about a desired product, the more likely you are to wind up with something that doesn't meet your needs. Maybe you wanted a VCR with good editing, but accidentally bought one that has poor video transferring capabilities. Perhaps you know someone who bought a stereo VCR when their TV isn't stereo and they don't have a stereo system. Or maybe they bought a model that did too much when all they really needed was a simple VCR to record and playback. Help at Hand This can lead to unnecessary frustration and cost -- in """""""""""" both time and money. The key word is unnecessary. The Consumer Electronics RoundTable covers a myriad of topics, ranging from audio and video systems through satellite services and home security systems, and stands ready to arm you with the knowledge you need. Whether you're in the market for a CD player, VCR, camcorder, cellular phone, modem, fax machine, calculator -- just about any electrical appliance -- you'll want to swing by the Consumer Electronics RoundTable before cruising to the store. Bulletin Board discussions include audio and video systems (as well as their numerous individual components), telephone systems, electronic gadgets (like electronic rolodexs, organizers, and calculators), home automation and security systems, electrical appliances (microwave ovens, air filters), and more. There's also a potentially valuable Category devoted to electronic service and repair. This allows you to diagnose a problem before taking an appliance somewhere to be repaired. Not only might this help you fix some items yourself, it lets you find out what might be wrong with a product beforehand: Equipped with your newfound knowledge from the Consumer Electronics RoundTable, you can explain to the service center what you think the problem might be, letting them know you aren't a total novice at electronics and possibly preventing costly diagnostics or mistakes. CE Pros The Consumer Electronic RoundTable staff is composed of """"""" professionals in electronics, and their collective expertise encompasses audio/video systems, satellite services, home and office automation, and more. They're there to serve you, and serve you well. Another Category is devoted to buying, selling, and trading. If you've got something in mind but don't want to buy it new (full cost), maybe someone's got it for sale. Or perhaps you have a CD player collecting dust that you want to sell. Here's your personal exchange forum. Real-Time CE Conferences The Consumer Electronics RoundTable is planning """""""""""""""""""""""" a number of special Real-Time Conferences this fall. Topics covered will include buying and setting up a home theater, shopping for cellular telephone equipment and service, how to fight back against rising cable TV rates, and techno-toys for all with Christmas shopping ideas. Watch GEnie's Top Page Banners or drop by the RoundTable for Conference dates and times. Whether you're looking into a new CD player or seeking considerably more specialized help with digital satellite video transmissions, make the Consumer Electronics RoundTable your first stop. Simply type CE or M346 to get there from any GEnie prompt. Do-it-Yourself RoundTable """"""""""""""""""""""""" by Holly Jahangiri _ / ) __ / / ( (_/ / \___/ust drive by any home improvement store on the weekend and you'll see why establishing the Home Improvement RoundTable was a logical step," says sysop Paula Gilbert. "More and more homeowners are joining the ranks of those who prefer the Do-it-Yourself approach, not only for the financial savings, but for the sense of satisfaction they derive from doing their own projects in and around their homes." The Home Improvement RoundTable is staffed with an impressive array of assistants willing to share their experience and advice on a wide variety of home improvement projects. Subjects ranging from carpentry, kitchens and bathrooms, home appliance repair, electrical work, plumbing, heating, and air conditioning to roofing and siding, landscaping, framing, and finishing are covered extensively in the Bulletin Board. Handyman Haven Thinking of remodelling or adding on to your home? Doors """""""""""""" and windows expert Eric Wahlstrom hosts a Real-Time Conference Wednesday nights at 9:00 PM Eastern time to talk about your building concerns. Professional remodeler Mac MacLachlan is available Saturdays at 9:00 PM Eastern to offer tips and techniques with your remodeling projects. Stick around after the Q & A session and unwind with a game of Home Improvement Trivia. If you're still in the planning stages, drop by the Library! Helpful hints in file #3 HOMEINS.TXT include plumbing, roof, water damage and other necessary inspections that should be performed before making a decision to buy or remodel a home. This file features vital things that may be overlooked in a cursory inspection. File #7 HAZARD.TXT offers information about special inspections that may be required. Several programs are available to assist Do-It-Yourselfers in designing and drawing floor plans, including file #6 HOUSE1.ZIP, #12 HOME23.EXE, #11 DREAMHSE.ZIP, and #18 CHEAPCAD.ARC. For an "alternative housing design," check out #15 HEXAFRAM.ZIP which includes floor plans and a photo scan of a model doll house. Library file #4 DRIVEWAY.LZH contains a set of driveway patterns for your home, including correct measurements for width, turnaround, and turning radius. For a nice collection of bathroom design ideas, get #9 BATHMAST.LZH and #8 BATHROOM.LZH. Drawings are Paintbrush (.PCX) format. Carpenter's Dream (#17 CARPDRM.ZIP) is a shareware layout program that will figure all the angles, tread widths, pitches, and more for you. What's the bottom line? You fill in the materials, costs, and suppliers and let easy-to-use construction estimator in #27 CONEST3.ZIP estimate the total project cost by each supplier. Appliances to Plants Recalcitrant refrigerators, stubborn stoves, """""""""""""""""""" defective dryers, and wayward washers are no problem for Bill Ellis. Bill runs a home appliance repair shop by day and offers his expertise in the Home Improvement Real-Time Conference area on Thursday nights at 9:00 PM Eastern time. Which humidifier is right for you? HOME file #10 HUMIDITY.ZIP contains valuable information on the care and use of all types of humidifiers and the health problems which may be associated with or encountered without them. For central air conditioner troubleshooting, grab menu-driven, graphic-oriented #1 AIRCOND.ZIP. Let the computer select from a list of 25 faults at random for your diagnosis, or select any fault and observe how your selection affects the operation of the A/C system. The program lets you modify the settings of a simulated on-screen central air system, and requires some knowledge of electrical circuits. Frequently asked questions from the Internet about wiring are answered in file #13 WIRING.FAQ. A database manager designed by horticulture students in file #16 LPM111 will handle info on approximately 20,000 plants and their landscaping usage. A demo file contains information on various trees and shrubs, but the program is designed to hold data on all types, allowing you to search for plants based on their common or genus names. Sunday Open House Sunday nights are Open House at the Do-It-Yourself """"""""""""""""" RoundTable at 9PM Eastern time in their Real-Time Conference area. Drop by and swap home improvement ideas, and share your plans for transforming your house into your dream home. Simply type DIY (which is short for Do-It-Yourself) or M1430 on GEnie to get there. [EOA] [GAM]////////////////////////////// The GEnie GAMER / ///////////////////////////////// Online Fun & Games """""""""""""""""" by Kevin J. McCann ______ (__ __) / / / / (_/here you are, kicked back and watching your favorite football team as they huddle together. It's third down and they're 35 yards from a touchdown, with only a minute remaining in the game. All they need is another two points to put them ahead of the other team and win the day. Your friend says, "time for a field goal." You shake your head, because you KNOW this team; you've been watching them so long you feel like their virtual coach. Sure, they could take the field goal approach and win the game that way, but they won't. 'Your' team wants to show the other team that they can penetrate their defenses and win this game with a touchdown. "No..." you slowly reply, "they'll go for a touchdown." Your friend chuckles, shaking his head as the teams assume their offensive and defensive positions. A kicker is brought in and the play's in motion! The kicker runs at the football, but instead of kicking for a field goal he zooms past, fooling the other team for that second of confusion until they realize what happened. The football's been passed to another player who has pierced the defense's position and is in the clear for a touchdown. As the kicker enters the endzone, your friend asks how you knew they'd take the harder route. "Experience," you reply. "And many hours of watching this team in motion." Armchair Quarterback Welcome to QB1, the multiplayer game on GEnie """""""""""""""""""" brought to you by NTN Communications Inc. QB1 allows YOU to call the plays before they happen. If you call the right play, you earn points. The more difficult the play you predict, the more points you earn if that play is taken. All you need to play is a television set and your computer. While you watch a live NFL or NCAA football game, you predict the quarterback's next play call. You're not just pitted against other GEnie players, you're competing on an international scale: QB1 is played in over 1,000 bars and restaurants spanning the globe. Maximize Your Fun To maximize your playing enjoyment, you'll want to """"""""""""""""" download QB1's graphical front end program. Front ends are available for IBM-compatible, Atari ST, and Amiga computers. Not only do they spice up play-predicting with graphics, they offer an improved interface to make predicting the next play as easy as tapping a key. The front ends also lets you to talk with other players during the game, providing the essential ingredient of interaction. What else could you possibly want? Oh, yeah, prizes! Nothing motivates more than prizes. GEnie players are eligible for prizes ranging from T-Shirts and apparel to Sony Walkmans, color TVs, SVGA monitors, laser printers, and ultimately a date with the Trivia Goddess should you rack up a measly million points! Well, set your your sights where you wish. To find out what prizes are currently available (and their cost in points), plus full details on QB1, simply type M1034 or QB1 on GEnie. The Familiar Face of Space You sip your stale beer, thumbing your way """""""""""""""""""""""""" through a can of peanuts. Outside, gamma rays bounce of your ship's shielding, emanating from two suns. Counting stars has grown old (well, you knew it wouldn't last), and you find yourself wanting a real meal once again. Your ship's warning system blares to life, startling """"""""""""""""" you. Glancing at the spilled beer and peanuts now decorating the floor, you mutter to yourself as you turn to see what caused the intrusion. A planet! A planet that wasn't here when you made your last journey. A sensory scan of the planet's surface reveals that it's hospitable to visitors -- it has a plethora of restaurants! As you enter the ship's atmosphere and steer for the nearest McZook's, you can't help but feel a sense of deja vu. Federation II, GEnie's multi-player game that deals with space trading, politics, wealth, and self-advancement (what more could you want?) is inviting RoundTables found on GEnie to create their own planets! Already scheduled for appearances are a Romance planet (August), Religion and Philosophy planet (September), Sports planet (late September), and a Restaurant planet -- with more in the works. So don't be surprised when a planet designed after a RoundTable you frequent on GEnie suddenly appears in Federation space. Federation II also has a front end program for IBM and compatibles. It features graphics and sound, as well as interface improvements to make Federation II more enjoyable to play. Bigger Is Better GemStone III, GEnie's leading multiplayer fantasy """""""""""""""" role-playing game, released version 2.0 to accommodate the influx of players with GEnie's new rates. While veteran players may not see much difference in the game's look, that's because version 2.0 was primarily an internal rewrite to boost efficiency and ultimately let GemStone III have both a more expansive development environment and to allow more players in the game without sacrificing speed. GemStone III will eventually accommodate as many as 90 players online simultaneously. So if you were ever discouraged about not being able to participate in a quest or special event because the game was filled, there should be more than enough room now -- although being early never hurts. The game has a front end program available for IBM and compatibles. This front end features great graphics, sound effects, and music. Equally important, it simplifies a number of tasks, and can be customized to suit your playing needs providing plenty of macros. The front end may be downloaded at GEnie Page 930. __________________________________________ | | | Multi-player Games Keyword Page | |------------------------------------------| | Air Warrior AIR 870 | | CyberStrike CYBERSTRIKE 1380 | | Hundred Years War HYW 945 | | Dragon's Gate DGATE 915 | | Federation II FED 220 | | Galaxy I GALAXY 925 | | GemStone III GS3 930 | | MultiPlayer Games RT MPGRT 1045 | | MultiPlayer BattleTech BTECH 1135 | | NTN Trivia TRIVIA 1031 | | Orb Wars ORBWARS 895 | | QB1 QB1 1030 | | RSCARDS RSCARDS 875 | | Stellar Emperor EMPEROR 1085 | | Stellar Warrior WARRIOR 860 | |__________________________________________| [EOA] [STO]////////////////////////////// GEnieStore / ///////////////////////////////// Shop (Online) 'till You Drop! """"""""""""""""""""""""""""" _________________________________________________________________________ / \ | User Friendly Softwear and Hardware! | | ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | | | | Genuine GEnie garb lets you show the world your GEnie pride! Choose | | from a great selection of Softwear and Hardware, at low member prices! | | Great Gifts for your GEnie pals! Best of all, shopping is a cinch! | | | | NEW! GEnie Beach Towels 30" x 60", 100% Cotton! | | GEnie Mugs! Black Beauties with colorful GEnie Lamp Logo! | | GEnie Satin Jackets! Ummmmm... Black and smooth! | | GEnie Sweatshirts! Black or navy, embroidered red/grey Logo! | | GEnie Polo Shirts! Navy blue with full-cut set-in sleeves! | | GEnie T-Shirts! Black or white with two types of Logos! | | GEnie Decals and Pins! __________________________________ | | Even GEnie Key Rings! / \ | | | TYPE | | | Finest Quality! | _. _ . _ _.___ _ _ _ | | | ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | | _ |_ |\| | |_ (_ | | | |_) |_ | | | | |_| |_ | | | |_ ._) | |_| | \ |_ | | \_______________________________| |___/ | For Details & Orders | \__________________________________/ [EOA] [IBM]////////////////////////////// FOCUS ON... / ///////////////////////////////// IBM PC RoundTable """"""""""""""""" by Laura K. Tanner ______ (__ __) / / / / (_/he IBM PC RoundTable is a great place to turn for new ideas and new information on almost any subject. It can be, in fact, a sort of continuing education center on any number of topics. The IBM PC RoundTable is not just for information on IBM-compatible personal computers and software, but a Library for software and data on many topics, presented in a format for the PC. If you are looking for intellectual enrichment, turn to the IBM PC RoundTable for an electronic instructor of sorts. For example, there are extensive files for self-study language programs including Japanese (file #21079 JAPANTUT.ARC) and even Russian (#26815 RUSSIAN.ZIP). Many others are available, most notably a large selection of Spanish files. Search under keyword SPANISH to get a list of all appropriate files and choose the best one for you. The IBM PC RoundTable also houses a large number of files designed to tutor school-age youngsters on such topics as algebra, language skills, geography and more. If you have a young one who needs a little extra push in a particular subject, you may be able to offer some electronic assistance through shareware educational programs. Many of these scholastic helpers are packaged in the form of games, for less frustrating and more entertaining study. To brush up on geography, a notoriously poor subject for Americans, try your hand with file #21886 WORLDODY.ZIP, a world geography puzzle. Of course, learning can be fun and is not always specific to the three R's. If you are looking to improve your command of a pet subject as a hobby, check out some of the fun files in the IBM PC RoundTable. For the musically inclined, there's an electronic metronome (#12890 METNOME.ARC). For astronomy buffs, there's a planetarium (#30522 SKYGL35.ZIP). Crazy about crosswords? There are several, including programs to create your own puzzles. And for those interested in stimulation beyond the five senses, there's even a program for testing your psychic powers. If you're truly psychic, you already know it's in file #18502 ESP.ZIP. The IBM PC RoundTable is also the natural choice for information, tutorials, helpful utilities and educational shareware. Any number of topics and disciplines of computer science are covered on a number of skill levels. Check out the Library for tutorials on programming languages, add-on help files to supplement your knowledge of your favorite applications, and even electronic teachers--programs that will check your work as you learn the ins and outs of various subjects. For beginners, or for a refresher, there are such back-to-basics files as a guided tour of your PC (file #31867 WHTSBOX.ZIP), and a DOS tutor (#28227 DOSSUM20.ZIP). There's even a typing tutorial. (Don't we all wish we were a little more adept at the keys when we're chatting online?) That's file #30103 FTVGA10.ZIP. And there's more to learn from the IBM PC RoundTable than just downloading brainy shareware. If you're looking to learn more about modems, or track down a shortcut for working with your favorite applications, or troubleshoot a hardware problem with your system, you'll find lots of online help from the members of the IBM PC RoundTable. Post a request for help, advice or assistance in an appropriate Bulletin Board Category and you'll likely be on the receiving end of lots of good advice and ideas from other users, and even from industry vendors. The IBM PC RoundTable can be a sort of study group. If you're eager to learn for school, work, or personal pleasure, start with the IBM PC RoundTable for PC-based education on just about anything. [EOA] [WIN]////////////////////////////// FOCUS ON... / ///////////////////////////////// Windows RoundTable """""""""""""""""" by Holly Jahangiri _ _ / \ / ) / \/ / / /\ / (_/ \_/ow that you've torn the shrink wrap off the package, how do you install Windows and get it working effectively for you? You bought it to make computing easier, not harder, right? To learn the ins and outs of Windows, as well as tips and tricks you can use to fine-tune your system, type M1335 or WINDOWS on GEnie to open the door to the Windows RoundTable. Immediate, one-on-one help is available most nights in the Real-Time Conference area. The Help Desk is staffed with experienced Windows users and computing professionals. For current Help Desk hours, see the banner on Page 1335. General Windows questions are addressed in the Bulletin Board, with categories covering installation, hardware, operation, and applications such as word processing, spreadsheets, graphics, data bases, communications, and more. If you're heading back to school, you'll want to work smarter, not harder. Take advantage of the wide selection of educational software for Windows, some of which is available in the Windows RoundTable Software Library. Back to School Take the chore out of keeping score! This Windows """""""""""""" Gradebook program (file #1232 GB.EXE) is absolutely loaded with features including support for custom terms, tasks, and grading systems, multiple periods, overall department and school statistics, individually weighted tasks and categories, curves, percent scores, total points, score and grade distributions with charts, teacher notes and MUCH more. Gradebook lets you export data to Microsoft Excel spreadsheets to create your own customized graphs and reports. The on-line Help is excellent, and includes helpful "Teacher Hints" to let you fully utilize all the features of this impressive program. Gradebook is sure to get an A+. When you need to learn and remember facts fast, flash cards can help! Design your own sets of question and answer pairs, customizing the priority and frequency of questions. WinFlash(file #1294 FLASH-21.ZIP) is easy enough for a child to use, yet flexible enough to meet the needs of older students and professionals! For a creative approach to problem solving and organization, consider TurboThought (#257 THOUGHT.ZIP). This is a unique, but fairly simple, brainstorming tool that lets you look at a problem and the factors associated with it in a variety of ways. LogicLab (#621 LOGICLAB.ZIP) is an educational program for basic logic functions. This demo version lets you graphically configure elements like AND, OR, NOT, and XOR, then display of the operation of those elements. Still using the two-finger hunt and peck method to type your reports, letters, or term papers? Super easy-to-use Touch Typing Tutor for Windows (#371 TTTWIN.ZIP) helps beginners learn touch-typing skills and experienced typists develop professional speed at the keyboard. Challenge your mind, even in play--download a collection of Brain Games (#1274 BGAMES.ZIP) for Windows. Or try your hand at #1290 CLICKIT.ZIP, a double click dexterity game. Software Development The Windows RoundTable is a great place to learn """""""""""""""""""" more about Windows software development issues. Seven Bulletin Board categories (30-36) are devoted to topics covering general questions, kernel and graphics functions, user interface functions and design, printing functions, programming tools, and the DDK. The software libraries also contain a rich store of information for programmers. The OLE 2.0 Specification (file #1189 OLE2SP.ZIP) from Microsoft is essential reading for the Windows software developer. OLE 2.0 is the key to all future versions of Windows. The second issue of Electrified Visual Basic Magazine (#1062 EVBMAG02.ZIP) is now available, and it's even bigger and better than the first. It includes software and Visual Basic book reviews, Visual Basic tips and tricks, source code and more. An electronic magazine in Windows Help format, Electrified Visual Basic Magazine is rich in graphics and hypertext. The Visual Basic 3.0 runtime library (#1315 VBRUN3.ZIP) is required by all Visual Basic 3.0 programs. This version, not in the original release, will work on 286 PCs. Much as you hate to do it, the product just isn't FINISHED until you write the documentation. Learn how to create on-line help and impressive electronic publications using Windows Help. Join us for a Real-Time Conference, "How to Create Windows Help" on September 26 at 9:30 PM Eastern Time. [EOA] [MAC]////////////////////////////// FOCUS ON... / ///////////////////////////////// Macintosh RoundTable """""""""""""""""""" by Stephen Kahn _ _ ( \ /\ / ) \ \/ \/ / \ / \_/\_/e had a fellow who was teaching night classes and wanted to keep the day students from getting into his files, so he put them in a folder marked, STAY AWAY. We warned him he would have much better luck if he named the folder EDUCATIONAL SOFTWARE." Rob Whitelock ruefully tells this story to illustrate the common stereotype that anything to do with education must necessarily be dull. A few minutes of conversing with Rob, the enthusiastic "Educational Mac" Category/Conference leader for the Macintosh RoundTable, will quickly convince you that education on the Mac is anything but boring. The Joy of Learning Rob is deeply involved in the hands-on world of """"""""""""""""""" Macintosh educational computing. He's a geography teacher at Lion's Head High School in Ontario, Canada, and computer coordinator for the school's "near-space-age" computer lab which includes equipment for desktop publishing, scanning, video, and robotics. Plus, he's an active leader-participant in the Ontario-wide Federation of Teachers telecommunications network. (In regard to the Ontario education network, Rob notes in passing that MacPro Sysop Erik Thauvin, author of the popular GEnie Navigator front end for Microphone II, has been developing a similar front end for that network on a volunteer basis.) Monday Night Get-Togethers Rob hosts the weekly Monday night """""""""""""""""""""""""" "Educational Mac" Conference. He emphasizes that the sessions are rarely "teacherish," to the exclusion of the general Macintosh user. Topics range from educational software and games to productivity software and a variety of hardware options and issues. He frequently brings interesting guests online, with representatives from Claris (he's a fan of the latest version of Claris Works), and The Learning Company, publisher of the delightful "Rabbit" series (Reader Rabbit, Math Rabbit, etc.) scheduled to appear soon. Rob emphasizes the infectious friendliness of these Conferences, which typically involve about 10-15 people. "Someone once remarked after attending a Conference that the people there chatted with each other like they were old friends. In fact, most of them had just met each other that evening!" On September 6, I will be attending the Education Conference to discuss learning and using Microsoft Word. One attendee will win a free, signed copy of my book, "Teach Yourself Microsoft Word 5.1 for the Macintosh," a $24.95 value. Rumor has it that the infamous Little Muse may drop in as well. Adventure Games and More Rob oversees the Education Category of the """""""""""""""""""""""" Macintosh Bulletin Board (Category 4), which includes discussions of reading software, text adventure games, Macs and writing tools, announcements of upcoming Conference topics and guests, notes on music and MIDI; discussions of course-building software, and information on hypertext as a learning tool. One of Rob's goals for the is to further develop this Category by putting more emphasis on tools and resources which help inexperienced Macintosh owners get more from their computers. Don't forget to browse through Software Library 12, the Education Library. There's a wide range of educational materials, from games that are so much fun your kids will never suspect they're learning something, to valuable reference materials for adults. The HyperCard Library (#9) contains an abundant selection of Jeff Iverson's HyperTextbooks, a fascinating example of the way computers are helping us evolve new ways to collect and find information. Keep in Touch When you visit the Macintosh RoundTable, don't forget to """"""""""""" check out the useful and informative items at the Main Menu. New members should take a moment to capture the text file available from Page 605, Menu Option 4, which provides essential information on the organization of the RoundTable, tools for decompressing Library files, Mac front end programs, and more. The Mac RoundTable has just added a weekly hardware Conference to its busy schedule. It happens every Thursday night at 9:30 PM Eastern time in Room 3, and is hosted by Nick Passino. Keep in touch with hot events and topics each week by reading Eric Mueller's lively "GE-MUG News" column at GEnie Page 605, Menu Option 5. Just type MAC to get there. [EOA] [AMI]////////////////////////////// FOCUS ON... / ///////////////////////////////// Amiga *StarShip* RoundTable """"""""""""""""""""""""""" by Jim Meyer ____ / ___) ( (__ \__ \ ___) ) (____/o, you want to learn Chinese, Japanese or Korean? Or perhaps you're just looking for some math drills? Maybe what you're really after is the ability to program in C or ARexx or even AmigaGuide. In any or all of these cases, the answers you're after can be found in the *StarShip* and Amiga Pro/Am RoudTables. Rad Tutor_Jr For Chinese lessons, check out *StarShip* file #19538 """""""""""" RADTUTOR_JR.LZH. This program, written by in AMOS, is described as a "Chinese Character Aid" for the Amiga. It gets its name from the fact that it teaches Radicals (roots), the most basic forms of the Chinese character set. There are 214 Radicals in all, which form the basis for over 10,000 more complicated characters. Not only that, Chinese characters also comprise a large percentage of Japanese characters (42 percent), Korean characters (between 40 and 60 percent), and Vietnamese characters (33 percent), so RadTutor Jr. manages to kill a number of birds with the same stone. RadTutor Jr. presents you with a screen filled with all 214 Radicals. To find out what a particular Radical means, you simply click on it. You then get the primary translation for that character, as well as the Chinese, Japanese, and Korean pronunciations. You also get additional characters derived from the original. For example, click on the character for "Yan" (a covering) and you also get Guang (broad, liberal), Chuang (sofa, bed) and Xu (preface, and several other meanings). Rad Tutor Jr. runs on all Amigas with 1 meg or more of memory, although you'll have to boot in Original Chipset mode on AGA machines. Easy AMOS Programming ESCAPE112.LHA in file #19817 is another AMOS """"""""""""""""""""" program, written by Joseph P. Gill. This time, kids are the audience, and the lesson is arithmetic. The object is to create a trail from the top of the screen, across a grid of blocks, to the bottom. To do so, you must answer basic arithmetic questions, such as 84/7 = ? Each question has a time limit. Get the wrong answer or take too long, and the block you are on will be blown to smithereens. Like RadTutor Jr, Escape isn't AGA-friendly. If you're interested in AMOS, the language used for the two programs I've just described, stop by the Pro/Am Library (M670;3) and download file #1146 75AMOS_ROUTINES.LZH. Each routine comes with the source file, so not only can you paste them into your own AMOS program, you can read through the source and see just how it's done. The routines include graphics, 3-D buttons, and calling AmigaDOS from an AMOS program. You'll need AMOS to view the included files. Amiga Demo Tipster While you're in the Pro/Am Library, there are 2 """""""""""""""""" must-have files for the would-be C and/or assembly language programmer. The first, HOW2CODE7.LHA, file #1142, is a collection of time-tested tips from Comrade J (yes, that's how he lists his name!), a European demo coder of some fame. This file is probably too involved for the casual C programmer, as it deals almost exclusively with Assembly language, but the techniques, caveats, tips, and warnings contained therein are all good things to know for anyone who is thinking about writing Amiga code. If you're a budding C programmer, or even a C wannabe, you'll find a set of helpful tutorials and examples in Pro/Am file #1140 C_TUTORIAL11.LHA. The sample programs cover user input, variables, arrays, math functions, and preprocessor directives. Each code example is accompanied by an executable, so you can not only see what it does, but why. New West Coast HelpDesks That's a sample of the files in the *StarShip* """""""""""""""""""""""" and Pro/Am libraries. In addition, you can learn something new every day by browsing through the Bulletin Board or stopping by the Real-Time Conferences and HelpDesks. Speaking of which, West Coast Amiga owners rejoice! The *StarShip* offers two HelpDesks every night now, one especially for you starting at 9PM Pacific Time. Bring your Amiga and GEnie questions for on-the-spot assistance! [EOA] [ATR]////////////////////////////// FOCUS ON... / ///////////////////////////////// Atari ST RoundTable """"""""""""""""""" by D.A. Brumleve ____ / ___) / (_ / ___) / (_ (____)ducational software" is a broad term encompassing programs as diverse as a Morse Code generator and a child's first onscreen easel. You may find programs with some educational value in nearly any ST RoundTable Library, but two Libraries are specifically designated for this purpose. Library 31 (Children's Applications) contains programs for young children. Some of these provide drill or instruction, while others are designed to encourage creative expression. Library 9 (Education) contains didactic programs, databases and other programs for educators, and applications and utilities to assist those pursuing specific courses of study. Programs in Library 9 may be of interest to children and adults alike. For Example... I recently designed a simple insect-matching game, "Come """""""""""""" Into My Parlor", to augment my local school's primary science curriculum. You'll find it in file #26295 PARLOR12.ARC. Al Baggetta of Baggetta_ware has uploaded a demo of the "Eliemouse Complimentary Coloring Book" (file #28748 ECCBDEMO.LZH), a paint program based on Al's elephant-mouse cartoon character. NEW_ELIE.ARC (file #21379), EXMASPIX.LZH (#26857), ECCBALPH.ARC (#22050), ECCBDINO.ARC (#22602), and ECCBFLWR.ARC (#22680) are among the many additional picture files which will enhance The Coloring Book's variety. Other programs featuring Eliemouse are EALPHAQ.LZH (#29234), an alphabet program for the very young; E_SPELL.LZH (#25931), a spelling program; and E_USA.LZH (#29536), which is designed to familiarize children with the locations of states in the continental US. Virtually all programs for children are written for color monitors. A welcome exception is David Becker's shareware collection of six monochrome-only programs featuring animations, sampled sounds, and speech. Demo versions of the programs include "Super Jumble" (#28351, SUPER.ZIP), "Search and Find" (#28443 SRCHFIND.ZIP), "Sound Search" (#28442, SNDSRCH.ZIP), "Mathematics with Sasha" (#28352 SASHA.ZIP), "Talking Jumble" and "Alphabet Monkey" (both included in file #28350 ABC.ZIP). Multimedia Education David has also created a freeware multimedia """""""""""""""""""" application called Connections (file #27664 CONECT12.LZH), which facilitates the development of databases; several of the Connections families available in the Libraries have educational purposes. "Let's Phone the Zoo" (#26695, ZOOPHONE.LZH), for example, is an interactive storybook for children. Star Trek and ST:TNG fans will learn something new each time they run TREK_FAM.LZH (#26841). Another Connections family (#27073, SPACSHUT.LZH) provides information on space exploration. HyperLINK is another multimedia program with educational applications. RUN_HLNK.LZH (#25781) will allow you to run any of the many HyperLINK applications in the Libraries. WINES.LZH (#25773), for example, provides information on wines and wine-growing regions. CANADA.ARC (#21540) offers a tour of Canada. Stephen Schaper has uploaded a file of interest to students of the stars, an English-language version of the German program Planetarium (#28160 PLANETAR.ZIP). Glenn Ulrich created "God's Word 2," a Bible study and research tool. The complete program requires the following 8 files: GW_DISK1.ARC #25880 GW_DISK2.ARC #25882 GW_DISK3.ARC #25883 GW_DISK4.ARC #25906) GODW2_06.ARC #26099 GW_TOP.ARC #26151) GODSWORD.TXT #25885 GW_TOP.ARC #26151) Educational Tools Educators may want to take advantage of the utility """"""""""""""""" offered by Gary Wren's combination electronic gradebook, statistics, graphing, and grade-calculation program (#25574 CLASS_4.ARC). Mark Warner has provided a similar program for daycare operators in DAYCARE1.ZIP (#29373); this program requires HyperLINK or the HyperLINK run-time module. The Library isn't the only place to look for help with educational computing needs. A variety of topics related to educational software is discussed in Category 29 of the Bulletin Board. And if you need an education in using the ST RoundTable to your best advantage, please join us any Sunday night for the Help Desk Real-Time Conference! [EOA] [AII]////////////////////////////// FOCUS ON... / ///////////////////////////////// Apple II RoundTable """"""""""""""""""" by Tom Weishaar _ / \ / - \ / ___ \ (_/ \_)pple Computer, Inc. has released new system software for the Apple II and we have it ready for you to download in the Apple II RoundTable here on GEnie. Apple IIgs Goodies For the Apple IIgs we have GS/OS System 6.0.1. This """""""""""""""""" new version of Apple's Mac-like operating system for the IIgs comes on six disks. Users who previously obtained System 6.0 need only download three of those disks: Install, System Tools 1, and System Tools 2. Two other disks -- Fonts and SynthLab -- are unchanged and the third, System Disk, can be created if you have the first three. System 6.0.1 brings additional features of the Macintosh's System 7 to the Apple IIgs, including keyboard navigation in the Finder, aliases, and a smart System folder that knows where to put various types of system files. It includes a read-only MS-DOS file system translator, which adds MS-DOS disks to the Macintosh, Apple DOS, Apple Pascal, AppleShare, and CD-ROM file formats that GS/OS can already read. The MS-DOS file system translator requires that your IIgs be equipped with an Apple SuperDrive Card and a 1.4 meg-capable 3.5 drive or other equipment that can read MS-DOS formatted disks. Apple IIe and IIc Apple has also released new system software for Apple """"""""""""""""" IIe and IIc users. This disk, ProDOS System Disk 4.0.2, includes ProDOS v2.0.3, Basic.System v1.5, SysUtil.System v3.1, and FastCopy.System v1.0.1. SysUtil.System allows you to copy, delete, and rename files and disks. It will also copy files between Apple DOS 3.3, Apple Pascal, and ProDOS disks. FastCopy.System allows copying entire 3.5 or 5.25 disks. Also included is Clock.Patch, a program that can be run to update ProDOS so it will display the correct year when the current setting expire. Get 'Em Here! Both GS/OS System 6.0.1 and the ProDOS System Disk 4.0.2 """"""""""""" are new and are in the Apple II RoundTable Library now! Just enter A2 and look in Library number 1. Here are the file numbers and names: 21163 SYSDISK.601.BXY 21161 SNTHLAB.601.BXY 21160 FONTS.601.BXY 21159 STOOLS1.602.BXY 21158 STOOLS1.601.BXY 21157 INSTALL.601.BXY You can also order a copy of Apple's own System 6 manual while you're online. This masterful 392-page user's reference is best manual you'll find anywhere for taking advantage of the Mac-like features of the Apple IIgs. It's just $34.95 (shipping included). Email your postal address and Mastercard or Visa information to A2-CENTRAL. [*][*][*] _____________________________________________________ | | | GEnie's Computing RoundTables | |-----------------------------------------------------| | Type Keyword or M### at any GEnie page prompt. | |-----------------------------------------------------| | RoundTable Sysop Mail Keyword Page# | |-----------------------------------------------------| | IBM PC IBM$ IBMPC 615 | | Windows WIN$ WINDOWS 1335 | | Macintosh DRACO MAC 605 | | *StarShip* Amiga STARSHIP$ AMIGA 555 | | Apple II A2.HELP A2 645 | | Atari ST INFO$ ST 475 | | Atari 8-Bit AT$ ATARI8 665 | | Commodore Flagship FLAGSHIP$ CBM 625 | |_____________________________________________________| [EOA] [MAL]////////////////////////////// GEnie MALL / ///////////////////////////////// Born to Shop """""""""""" by Jay Kee _ _ ( \ /\ / ) \ \/ \/ / \ / \_/\_/hen the going gets tough, the tough go shopping." You've seen the bumper stickers. They're cute, they're funny... and they're true. Because they're attached to cars, and cars are what most people use to go shopping. Traffic jams, parking hassles, gas costs, crowds, polution, and bad weather combine to make shopping an endurance test: You HAVE to be tough, or dedicated --or both-- to survive the experience. If you're a GEnie subscriber, you don't need a car; you don't need to walk or take the bus. You don't even need to leave home. You can access nearly 40 shops and services, choose from hundreds of products, and save countless dollars at the GEnie Mall. All you need do is type MALL at any GEnie page prompt, and you're there. No stress, no mess; a virtual reality that's virtually painless. Getting Around Since the GEnie Mall first opened its doors five years """""""""""""" ago, it has grown to encompass 37 shops, carrying everything from laser discs and cameras to prescriptions, clothing and appliances. You can get insurance, pay bills electronically, order contact lenses, and send flowers; you can buy books, computers, and software. On your first visit to the Mall, take a few minutes and drop by the Information area after typing MALL. Get a list of the shops and their respective keywords by selecting Option #10 Feedback and Mall Information from the Main Menu, or type AISLE 350. This will take you to the Mall Information area, where you can also order gift wrap services and catalogs, obtain shipping information, learn the basics of shopping at the Mall, and determine methods of payment, or send Feedback to the Mall Manager. From there, getting around the Mall is easy. Each shop is identified by its own address or KEYWORD. Instead of the usual page number system found elsewhere on GEnie, the Mall uses Aisle numbers; but the purpose and function is exactly the same. To move from place to place, just type the keyword or aisle number at any prompt, and away you go. The Nickle Tour """"""""""""""" The Mall has more stores than we have space here, so I'll highlight a few now and detail others in future columns. Mall keywords are shown in capital letters: LASERCRAZE Laser Craze offers an extensive, up-to-date selection of """""""""" laser discs listed in their online database. Prices are great, and GEnie members enjoy the added benefit of being able to pre-order upcoming new releases. NOTEWORTHY Noteworthy Music lists thousands of CDs in an online database """""""""" which is updated weekly, and a catalog with even more titles. Prices are competitive; and delivery -- which covers the US, Canada, Europe and Japan -- is fast and efficient. CHIPS Chips & Bits boasts a superb selection of game software at discount """"" prices, and also gives you the option of pre-ordering new releases. OMNI Omni Technics carries everything from radar detectors to CD-ROM """" software. One of their main attractions is their special "RealWare" downloading section, where GEnie subscribers can download off-the-shelf commercial software at greatly reduced prices. CORPORATION The newest GEnie Mall store, The Company Corporation, is a """"""""""" resource to members who wish to incorporate a business, but don't have tons of money to spend on accountants and lawyers. Virtually Painless The GEnie Mall has grown a lot in five years, and """""""""""""""""" continues to expand. The emphasis today is on new directions. "Currently, we are working on filling special interest niches which coincide with the interests of the GEnie population", explains GEnie Mall Manager Lisa Johnson. "For example, we will soon be adding a store called Astro Communications which specializes in astrological charts and other astrology-related items." Also on the list of future additions is a science fiction/fantasy store, and a general interest bookstore. There will always be die-hards who live for the thrill of heavy traffic and the crush of the crowds at the bargain tables; people who don't mind hunting for their cars in the dark depths of cavernous parking lots, or hauling bulky packages up and down endless corridors. Fortunately, for the rest of us, there's the GEnie Mall, a place that was truly born to shop. [EOA] [INF]////////////////////////////// LiveWire ONLINE / ///////////////////////////////// LiveWire Online Information """"""""""""""""""""""""""" GEnie Client Services 1-800-638-9636 GEnie LiveWire is published for subscribers to GEnie online services by GE Information Services, 401 N. Washington St., Rockville, MD 20850. Contents are Copyright (C) 1993 General Electric Company. GEnie LiveWire is freely distributable as long as each issue is kept intact. Inquiries should be sent to GEnie LiveWire, P.O. Box 6413, Rockville, MD 20850, or GE Mail Address LIVEWIRE. JOINING GEnie IS EASY """"""""""""""""""""" 1. Set your communication software to half duplex (local echo) at 300/1200/2400 baud. 2. Dial toll-free 1-800-638-8369 (in Canada dial 1-800-387-8330). Upon CONNECTion, enter HHH. 3. At the U#= prompt type SIGNUP and press RETURN. 4. Have a major credit card account number ready. In the U.S. you may also user your checking account. (c) 1993 General Electric Company. Freely distributable when kept intact. GE Mail: LIVEWIRE Internet: LIVEWIRE@GENIE.GEIS.COM """""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" [EOF]