Rod,

Man, the more time I spend at G-21, the more I like it. Hat's Off!. When you have the time, why dont you send me a spiffy banner and I'll use that instead of the text link on


Arlington Service site ...

Your site's visual presentation, content and graphics are outstanding!

Are These Guys Shameless, Or What?

How the hell are you? We're very pleased to announce that, thanks in large part to the contributions of our new Director of Public Relations, we have finally completed preparations and have begun taking orders for the new line of stiffs.comwear. Please proceed to http://stiffs.com/stuff.html and make with the Capitalism. Virtually none of your fashion needs will be met, but we just might one day be able to afford the overhaul we so desperately need for the Z-5000.

Thanks for your patience,

The Staff of stiffs.com
The Home Of The Celebrity Dead Pool
http://stiffs.com

And You Think You Get Spammed!

Cyber fitness

Finding ways to cycle while we surf the Internet

SEATTLE, WA February, 15, 1997 - Molly Martin, assistant editor of the Pacific Northwest magazine for the Seattle Times daily newspaper, wrote the very first feature story for a print publication while exercising on the Comfort "Cyber" Cycle, an exercise bike that allows everyone in the cyber community to become fit and healthy while engaged in electrons racing across colorful screens.

Find out what Molly had say:

Follow the links:
http://www.futuremedia.org

CARLENE(our former Misanthropic Bitch) on Thomas Hart - And Vice-versa

EEE-ee-yew!

FROM Carlene, New York City, USA:

Subject: "Hypocrite!"

I appreciate the mention in your "article," but if you think the Web is worthless, in part, because of pathetic "ranters" like me, why the fuck did you write a rant for a Web-based magazine? You claim to dislike the direction the Web is taking, so why do you continue accessing the Web? Are you a masochist? Do you like torturing yourself with, what you consider, mindless drivel? It seems to me that you're like the millions of people who claim to hate something (take Howard Stern, for instance), yet continually flock to it. You asked, "Who cares about these opinions?" Apparently, you. You managed to find on my site a rather obscure rant about Gloria Allred. You apparently don't like what I'm saying, but you took the time to read every word.

I find it amusing that you said "people of color" are not adequately represented on the Web (or words to that effect). How the hell would you know? I could be half black and half Nicaraguan, and you would never know. The Web is completely anonymous. You have no idea who uses it. That is what is so wonderful about it. Everyone has equal access to speak their mind, no matter how useless you think it is.

I'm trying to keep this short, so this is my last point. You bring up the fact the majority of sites are not devoted to "community empowerment" or the voices of the underclass. So what? Why should the Web be devoted to that? Why should anyone feel a moral obligation to waste their time, money, and effort setting up a site for poor, uneducated Guatemalans? What a waste of space! The Web is like all other mediums -- it is meant for entertainment. If you don't like it, I'm sure you have the will power to never "surf" again.

PS -- I rarely feel the need to write serious e-mails, but I have a real problem with people who complain about something (TV, the Web, fashion magazines) they continually subject themselves to. When I dislike something, I avoid it. I don't keep going back for more pain and abuse. I agree with many of your points, which is why my list of bookmarks is rather short, but I still think there are a number of redeeming qualities about the Web. If I ever get to a point where I think it is totally useless (like you), I will cancel my ISP account and find something else to waste my time with.



THOMAS HART Responds: Wowy-Zowy! I put a rant out here on the World Wide Web, AND IN LESS THAN 24 HOURS one of the most infamous, celebrated Ranters in this domain deems it fitting to put me in my place!

Well, Carlene, I just want you to know that I'm honored.

But before you decided to rush(to judgment) to your own defense(Feeling a little defensive, Carli?) you might have taken the time to respond to the article I wrote.

It was about the United States Department of Commerce sending out an $80 million message that people of color and community empowerment efforts on the World Wide Web were important to OUR GOVERNMENT. We the people.

I don't hate the WWW. I'm just saying that it's a total failure,, in that regard. I've been to your web site lots of times. I liked what I saw you write here and I followed the link back to your own site.

But let's face it: Not everybody wants to read your take on the person featured on the cover of People magazine this week.

And that sure as shinola is not what our government, Wired magazine, and columnists like Howard Rheingold, are telling us the World Wide Wait is supposed to be about.

My final words: Anonymity? You go out of your way, on your site, and continued at this G21 to make sure EVERYBODY knows your a 19-going-on-36-year old-with-a-non-filtered-cigarette-sticking out-of-your-lower-lip-and-a-martini-sticking-out-of-your-hand redheaded woman. So where's the Nicaraguan side?