[Coco] Another OT post...

farna at att.net farna at att.net
Fri Apr 1 20:03:53 EST 2005 

I know this is a CoCo list, but you guys are all computer nuts like me! I need some PC help. Does anyone have a Windows 95 or 98 book or recommendation for someone who knows little about computers? I promised a young lady I'd send her an older model laptop I have, but won't be there to teach her anything. I can write something up for the basics, but what then? Forget "Windows 98 for Dummies" -- writing is still to technical. "Windows 98 for Kids" (if there is such a thing!) would be more like it. The only thing I found that is halfway decent is a laminated quick reference pamphlet for Windows 2000 (close enough to 98 anyway). Once she figures a bit out that wil help a lot. 

This could be a long story, but I'll keep it short. While I was in Korea I "adopted a niece". Now all you perverts keep the dirty thoughts to yourself, it wasn't like that!! She's a 25 year old Phillipino girl who really is a nice kid. Like about 30% of the girls there she's just doing what she can to help out her family. The others either enjoy working the bars flirting with all the guys in relative safety, or are just out on their own. 

The military has cleaned up the place a lot since I was there 15 years ago! There is still some prostitution, but it's very hush-hush. Paying "bar fines" to take the girls home (basically paying the bar what they expect to make off the girl for the night) is strictly prohibited, and GIs face stiff punishment (usually restriction to base for 30 days the first time, possible loss of some pay) if they get caught. Bars will be put off-limits for 30 days for promoting bar fines and permanently of limits for promoting prostitution. Even 30 days can put one out of business when 99% of their business is GIs! Bar fines don't mean anything but getting the girl the night off. Many enterprising girls have coerced guys into paying the fine only to go off with their boy friends (usually another GI). The sucker can't do anything about it, though one half drunk one did go complain to the military police, and promptly got 30 days restriction to base for paying in the first place! 

Anyway, the kid reminded me a lot of my 17 and 22 year old daughters. So I would go to the bar and buy her a drink or two (you buy the girls $10 drinks that are 4-6 ounces with maybe 1/2 once of alcohol -- they keep $2-$3 per drink the bar gets the rest -- no direct tipping allowed) when I had nothing better to do and actually sit and TALK, not try to "get anywhere" with her. She appreciated that and came to trust me. 

Well, I sort of became a bit "attached" as well. Yep, told my wife all about it. The wife was a bit upset for a while, but finally realized that I had a chance to trade her in for a cute little (very petite -- not much more than 4.5') 25 year old and decided it was best to keep her. ;>  Might have been fun for a while, but she's so small (I'm 6') and reminds me so much of my girls that I just wouldn't have been able to go there for long! She's 25 but could pass for 18-19 easily. In fact, she told me she got real mad back home because 18-20 year olds were always asking her out, thinking she was their age! My wife told a friend that I "adopted a niece" while I was over there, and that really is an appropriate and accurate description of the relationship - I treat her like a favorite niece. 

What upset the wife most was I wanted to keep in touch with the kid, especially while she's in Korea working at the bar (will be there through December -- they work on a one year contract). But she finally realized it was nothing but good natured concern on my part. I told the kid that if she had any trouble with one of the GIS to make sure she asked where they worked -- specifically what unit they worked for. I doubt they would answer, but I told her if they asked why she anted to know, or did answer, to tell them her Master Sargent friend told her to ask that if she had any trouble with anyone. That should get their attention! Long distance phone cards and prepaid cell phones are cheap over there. I also told her to call me if she had trouble with the bar owner wanting her to go home with any of the customers (unless she wanted to -- which isn't likely). I still know who to call to at least get the bar investigated, and a warning sent that they could be placed on the off-limits list if complaints continued. I really feel a bit sorry for the kid -- her family couldn't do anything for her if they wanted to, and wouldn't know who to call anyway. The girls get paid $400-$500 a month plus room/meals. 4-6 girls usually share a two bedroom apartment furnished by the bar owner. I told her it was comparable to a young GI on the base (E-1 to E-4 have two guys to a room instead of three though!). 

Like a lot of people in the PI the kid and her family have virtually nothing compared to us. No, I didn't get a sob story. She just revealed bits and pieces at a time during our conversations. I've been around girls like this a bit too -- I think I know the difference between a snow job and reality. When I first mentioned sending her the old laptop she flatly refused, saying it was to much. It took about 15 minutes to convince her that I really had no use for the computer. It's a Pentium 133 that's sat on a shelf for nearly two years! 

In fact, I'm looking for something a bit better. Found an off-lease company with some PII 300 laptops in good working condition with 128MB RAM or more for under $150 (no operating system or software). I hate to send that slow as molasses P133 (24MB RAM) since it is barely usable, even for a total beginner! I have Win98 on it now, Win95 should perform a bit better but I think I'll put the 133 on e-bay and try to get $50-$75 for it and get the PII. Unless someone has one similar they'd like to donate. Would like a USB port if possible. Must be in good working condition, not concerned about cosmetics as long as operation isn't inhibited. I have an external CD-ROM (PCMIA card type) that I can use if no CD. 



--
Frank Swygert
Publisher, "American Independent 
Magazine" (AIM)
For all AMC enthusiasts
http://farna.home.att.net/AIM.html
(free download available!)
			

 -------------- Original message ----------------------
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> Today's Topics:
> 
>    1. Re: Princeton Message Archive (John T Chasteen)
>    2. Re: OT - need help finding part (Dennis Bathory-Kitsz)
>    3. Re: Coco3 BASIC manual (jdaggett at gate.net)
>    4. RE: OT - need help finding part (Ken Carlin)
>    5. RE: OT - need help finding part (Roger Merchberger)
>    6. Re: OT - need help finding part (Torsten Dittel)
> 
> 
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
> 
> Message: 1
> Date: Thu, 31 Mar 2005 10:52:34 -0500
> From: John T Chasteen <johnchasteen.2 at juno.com>
> Subject: Re: [Coco] Princeton Message Archive
> To: coco at maltedmedia.com
> Cc: coco at maltedmedia.com
> Message-ID: <20050331.105235.3020.5.johnchasteen.2 at juno.com>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii
> 
> Boisy
> 
> What URL did you use to get back to 1993?
> 
> John Chasteen
> *********************************************
> 
> On Thu, 31 Mar 2005 07:13:33 -0600 "Boisy G. Pitre"
> <boisy at boisypitre.com> writes:
> > Does anyone know where I can get the archive of the original 
> > coco at pucc... listserv messages?  Google only goes back to late 1993 
> > or 
> > early 1994, and the earliest I've found was on Chet Simpson's site.. 
> > he 
> > has messages going back to Jan 1 1993.  Anyone know where the 
> > earlier 
> > messages can be found?
> > --
> > Boisy G. Pitre
> > E-Mail: boisy at boisypitre.com
> > Mobile: (337) 781-3997
> > Web: www.boisypitre.com
> > 
> > 
> > -- 
> > Coco mailing list
> > Coco at maltedmedia.com
> > http://five.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/coco
> > 
> > 
> 
> 
> " May the LORD bless you and take care of you;
>    May the LORD be kind and gracious to you;
>    May the LORD look on you with favor and give you peace."
>                       Numbers 6 verses 24,25,26
> 
> 
> ------------------------------
> 
> Message: 2
> Date: Thu, 31 Mar 2005 10:55:22 -0500
> From: Dennis Bathory-Kitsz <bathory at maltedmedia.com>
> Subject: Re: [CoCo] OT - need help finding part
> To: <coco at maltedmedia.com>
> Message-ID: <3.0.6.32.20050331105522.00972e20 at maltedmedia.com>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
> 
> At 10:47 AM 3/31/05 -0500, Ken Carlin wrote:
> >I have a need for a few (say 5 to 10) blank 5 1/4" faceplates that would
> >cover the opening in a PC drive bay.  I have yet to find anyone that sells
> >them online, and I'm hoping that someone knows of an online vendor.
> 
> I have 7 that I can send you. I toss them in a box hoping to find a home
> for them. Six of these have four tabs 90 degrees from the front so they
> snap in place, and the last has four holes to screw in from the back. If
> you want them, just give me an address.
> 
> Dennis
> 
> 
> 
> 
> ------------------------------
> 
> Message: 3
> Date: Thu, 31 Mar 2005 11:08:55 -0500
> From: jdaggett at gate.net
> Subject: Re: [Coco] Coco3 BASIC manual
> To: CoCoList for Color Computer Enthusiasts <coco at maltedmedia.com>
> Message-ID: <424BDA47.8272.102D04 at localhost>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII
> 
> David
> 
> I have Chapters 1 throu 8 already in PDF form and the complete 
> Basic09 in MS WORD 2000 format. The last four chapters need to 
> be completed in formating to be presentable. 
> 
> I can finish up by the weekend and email them to you in one big file 
> or a group of smaller files depending on whether you have dial up 
> service or DSL service. 
> 
> James
> 
> 
> On 31 Mar 2005 at 20:41, David wrote:
> 
> Date sent:      	Thu, 31 Mar 2005 20:41:11 +1000
> From:           	David <golgotha at toughguy.net>
> To:             	CoCoList for Color Computer Enthusiasts 
> <coco at maltedmedia.com>
> Subject:        	[Coco] Coco3 BASIC manual
> Send reply to:  	CoCoList for Color Computer Enthusiasts 
> <coco at maltedmedia.com>
> 	<mailto:coco-
> request at maltedmedia.com?subject=unsubscribe>
> 	<mailto:coco-
> request at maltedmedia.com?subject=subscribe>
> 
> > Hi-Diddly-Ho
> > 
> > I dont suppose anyone has a spare copy of, or an electronic version
> > of, the Coco3 BASIC manual that came with the machine? - Mine
> > disintegrated many years ago through extreme over-use, and I'd like my
> > boys to have a book to work through as they learn the Coco
> > 
> > Would be willing to pay reasonable price for almost any condition :)
> > 
> > Regards,
> > David
> > 
> > -- 
> > Coco mailing list
> > Coco at maltedmedia.com
> > http://five.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/coco
> 
> 
> 
> 
> ------------------------------
> 
> Message: 4
> Date: Thu, 31 Mar 2005 11:13:44 -0500 (EST)
> From: Ken Carlin <carlin at nauticom.net>
> Subject: RE: [CoCo] OT - need help finding part
> To: CoCoList for Color Computer Enthusiasts <coco at maltedmedia.com>
> Message-ID: <Pine.OSF.4.55.0503311111170.1619 at www.nauticom.net>
> Content-Type: TEXT/PLAIN; charset=US-ASCII
> 
> 
> Thank you for your offer, but Dennis was able to help me out with what I
> needed.
> 
> I'm very impressed with our little group.  Not 5 minutes after I posted my
> request and I got 2 offers to help me out.
> 
> On Thu, 31 Mar 2005, billg wrote:
> 
> > Most computer repair shops I've found around here have dozens of them, but
> > unfortunately, few of them are closely identical.  They are mostly from
> > upgrades, and dozens of types of cases.  I have a couple you are welcome to,
> > but like I said, they are not identical.
> >
> > >I have a need for a few (say 5 to 10) blank 5 1/4" faceplates
> > >that would cover the opening in a PC drive bay.  I have yet to
> > >find anyone that sells them online, and I'm hoping that
> > >someone knows of an online vendor.
> > >
> > >Thanks,
> > >
> > >Ken
> > >
> 
> 
> 
> ------------------------------
> 
> Message: 5
> Date: Thu, 31 Mar 2005 11:26:22 -0500
> From: Roger Merchberger <zmerch at 30below.com>
> Subject: RE: [CoCo] OT - need help finding part
> To: CoCoList for Color Computer Enthusiasts <coco at maltedmedia.com>
> Message-ID: <5.1.0.14.2.20050331112418.00b16e80 at mail.30below.com>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"; format=flowed
> 
> Rumor has it that Ken Carlin may have mentioned these words:
> 
> >Thank you for your offer, but Dennis was able to help me out with what I
> >needed.
> >
> >I'm very impressed with our little group.  Not 5 minutes after I posted my
> >request and I got 2 offers to help me out.
> 
> A little late, but here's a third:
> 
> If Dennis doesn't have what you need, I have *several* different types at 
> my disposal - As was mentioned, they're pretty much case-specific, however, 
> so a digital picture or two (especially next to a ruler) would be handy to 
> find an exact match... I've seen literally dozens of different styles in 
> the last 10 years or so... cover shipping and they're yours.
> 
> Laterz,
> Roger "Merch" Merchberger
> 
> --
> Roger "Merch" Merchberger   | Anarchy doesn't scale well. -- Me
> zmerch at 30below.com.         |
> SysAdmin, Iceberg Computers
> 
> 
> 
> ------------------------------
> 
> Message: 6
> Date: Thu, 31 Mar 2005 18:59:46 +0200
> From: Torsten Dittel <Torsten at Dittel.info>
> Subject: [Coco] Re: OT - need help finding part
> To: coco at maltedmedia.com
> Message-ID: <d2h9nm$7pi$1 at sea.gmane.org>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii; format=flowed
> 
> I could join and throw a zillion in too. But shipping from Germany might 
> be too expensive...
> 
> Torsten
> 
> 
> 
> 
> ------------------------------
> 
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> 
> End of Coco Digest, Vol 18, Issue 118
> *************************************

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