Tuesday, March 18, 1997

Email about the Avatar Book and concepts with author

Date: March 18, 1997
From Mark R (helper guy)
To Peter Small - Author of the Web Avatar Project

Hi Peter,

All along one of my biggest pushes for you have been to "write some example, real-world avatars." In a selfish way, I've got some needs for them now. But I was thinking that the avatars would be good end of book example cases. I said you should start working on the end of book now, getting an income, and getting those all-important examples working, filtering, generating results. The examples are going to take time.

You seemed to want to delay avatar creation.

Well, after seeing these reviews -- I think my original ideas were on the money. I should speak it even louder. You need to give Avatar Examples (specific case studies with big results) right away before anything else. Do the book in reverse order. All the philosophy, A-Life examples and wonderful things you've already expressed need to be headed to the back of the book.

This is a how to book. Even better, learn how the sport surf network put avatars to work on its web site and became the #1 web-site in the world.

NEW BOOK OUTLINE:

  1. This is me and my "client". (who)
  2. Here is what we did:
  3. Here is what could be done in general for your business.
  4. Here is how we did it:
  5. Here is why we did it:
  6. Back of book timeline (when)

  7. Here is why you too will be faced with avatars today and tomorrow. (your book goes here)
  8. Prepare yourself so you can sell these ideas to your organization.

Peter asked:
I now appeal to you for you help in getting this book across. Where am I >going wrong? Where do I go from here?
Examples: Working Models. Prove it from the get go. You gotta put the cart before the horse. The good get delivered - and it is easy to see that the goods are good. Put some avatars right into their faces from the get-go. Then, you can put chapter 1 as chapter 10 (nine examples later). Proof of what I'm thinking is found in the reviewers notes:

>without a strong endorsement from people more expert in the field than I am, I cannot pursue this book.
Have them endorse the avatar or the agent. Not the concept of the avatar book.

> I need books that are cutting edge, yes, but also books with a clear purpose, tight focus, and solid grounding in available technology.
Clear purpose! - this pathway for this avatar is x --> y --> Z. Very clear. Very focused. Very tight. The grounding is solid in a commercial endeavor.

>I could find no interesting technical insights
The technical insights are right in the example avatars. Put the avatars and agents in there first and then you have interesting technical insights.

> I think the majority will be broadly interested in the techniques and applications,
Let's do a book on the interesting techniques and applications that you applied to Sport Surf.

>In my experience people buy technology books to understand technology on a high level (business managers), or to solve technical problems on a detailed level.
Give the readers the - solved problems on technical level first - I did X, Y, Z with sport surf - . Then give them the high level business manager for the later part as to the wave of the future.

>This book doesn't state what it will help you achieve.
The Sport Surf site is going to jump from nothingness to greatness with avatars. Your site can do the same. Let's make a fairy tale come true and then people will know it is not a fairy-tale any longer.


Nuff said on that.

Now what. I think I need to give you a better tour as to what I have in mind with my mega site and my plans.

There are areas in my plan where I can see you playing a key role. I visualize this whole operation. How to share all of these ideas (mine and yours) is another matter that would best be solved with a face to face visit of a few days.

How are your frequent flyer miles? Can you come to Pittsburgh, PA, USA?


    Things to still talk about:
  • Peter building a list of lists
  • Peter building the list avatars for Sport Surf.

Take care.

Mark Rauterkus mrauterkus@pittsburgh.net

Reviews of avatar book

Subject:     Reviews of avatar book
Received:    3/18/97 10:10 AM
From:        Peter Small, peter@genps.demon.co.uk

Avatar book reviewers,

Being an author is not the fun life everyone would believe.  Below are some
of the comments from a rejection slip I have just received from one of the
publishers I've been talking to. The comments are not untypical as I have
received many similar comments in the feedback I have received from many of
you.

Fortunately, I've also had a whole batch of complimentary posts which have
stopped me dragging everything I've written over to the trash can and
starting again.

However, it does indicate that the way I am explaining this avatar stuff
just isn't getting through to a lot of people, so, I need your help in
trying to find a way to do it more successfully .

What I am writing about is the implications of a technology which is only
just starting to come on stream - the protocol engines which allow
documents to communicate over the Internet.

Allegiant have started this all off with Marionet. Director 6 is coming out
in June with a whole lot of Web tools which will achieve a similar effect.
SuperCard and HyperCard are soon to be brought out as cross platform
multimedia authoring packages which will have similar Internet
communication tools built into their players. The burning question now is
how to use them.

They is going to make a large difference to the way the Web will be used
and the point is that this is not some "airy fairy" idea for the future,
but, is going to happen within a few months.

The second important issue is that the ability of applications and
documents to communicate with each other opens up a completely new way to
think about and apply communication techniques and information processing.

This is no bull-shit theoretical stuff - it is a real need for an eminently
practical way to think about and design new applications and services for
the Internet. The only problem is that it involves a novel and, to most
people, unfamiliar mind set - namely object oriented thinking.

Understanding this stuff is about conceptualizations and mental modeling
and *cannot* be taught using conventional step by step instructions. This
presents a huge problem as to how to explain it. Do not be confused by the
CC+ use of object oriented programming. Although similar, this conception
of OOPS is mostly applied in top down situations and is quite different
from the bottom up approach needed for the design of Internet stuff.

One way to describe OO thinking, would be to explain the construction of a
complex interactive working model as a proof of concept. The only problem
with this approach is that it would involve masses of technical code and it
would bore most readers to death before they ever got around to getting the
gist of it.

The alternative is to use metaphors. However, the ephemeral nature of the
concepts needed to explain OO requires the use of metaphors which appear
completely unrelated to any practical application.

The use of biological metaphors is, to my mind, apt for this new Internet
technology. Biologists are now getting around to thinking of cells and
biological mechanisms (even life itself) in terms of information transfer.

Those of you who have read "Lingo Sorcery" will be aware of the way in
which complex applications can be constructed from interacting software
objects. Those who have read "How God Makes God" will be aware of the way
in which complex mechanisms of life can evolve from very simple interacting
"objects" which evolve from the mixing of elements in a gene pool.

The point is, this book I am working on is not about some fanciful theories
which I have dreamed up by myself. It is about applying a practical
conceptual framework to the Internet which calls upon recent developments
in a whole number of related areas of science.

Evolutionary biology, medical research into drugs and theories about the
nature of life have changed dramatically over the past five years. These
new ideas and methods are only just beginning to filter through. It is the
application of these new idea to the Internet which I am trying to explain
in this book.

Unfortunately, many older unsuccessful ideas get in the way. In particular
I refer to the concepts of "life" and "intelligence". Up until fairly
recently, MIT have been seen as the leaders in these fields with their huge
research into Artificial Intelligence (AI). This has not produced the
expected breakthroughs or practical applications. It has now been
superseded by the concept of artificial life - or "A-Life" as it is
commonly known as - where the creative center is at the Santa Fe Institute.

A few years ago, all of this A-Life stuff was pooh-poohed as irrelevant
nonsense by the AI world. Now it is providing the answers and breakthroughs
which AI so dismally failed to do (BTW An excellent primer and background
to all this A-Life research is Steven Levy's book "Artificial Life" Penguin
Science ISBN  0-14-023105-6).

I now appeal to you for you help in getting this book across. Where am I
going wrong? Where do I go from here?

I am now working on a third chapter where I am going to try to bring out
the biological metaphor more strongly, give a more accessible explanation
of the object oriented concept and define the principle of "intelligence"
as it applies to avatars and software objects.

I shall also be arranging with a number of universities and private Web
site owners to set up ftp sites for biotelemorphic cells and will be
arranging a list serve to allow the exchange of programming documents as
described in chapter 2 (if any person or group would like to come in on
this please let me know).

In case any one asks, I shall not be getting onto the direct Internet
communication of cells using protocol engines until later in the book.
There is a lot of interesting stuff to cover before this which would be
overly complicated by bringing in Internet communication too early.

Please, I need your help and feedback on this. Take a look below at the
excerpts from my recent publisher's reject slip and see what attitudes I
have to contend with.

Regards

Peter

-----------

The Avatar book can now be read on the Web at:

USA

http://192.41.36.58/avatars/Index.htm

UK

http://www.obsolete.com/dug


-----------------------------------------------

Below are snippets of the rejection slip I have just received from a
publisher. You may well agree with the comments.



Peter,

The reviews are in, and I'm afraid I will not be able to offer you a
contract on "Web Avatars". Of the three reviewers and myself, I believe that
my enthusiasm for the project is the highest, but without a strong
endorsement from people more expert in the field than I am, I cannot pursue
this book. I tried, as I do on every proposal, to get a team of reviewers at
least as qualified as the author. The three reviewers on your proposal have
impecable credentials: one is an expert on virtual communities, one was part
of the original CERN-NCSA-industry coalition that created the Web, and one
is a Web master for a major online search engine. I have included their
reviews below; you will see that they range from disgusted to luke warm.



I am at liberty to take risks, much more
than editors at larger publishing houses. But in terms of image, I cannot
afford risks. Our first few books in this area will determine how customers
and future authors perceive us. I need books that are cutting edge, yes, but
also books with a clear purpose, tight focus, and solid grounding in
available technology. Your book may evolve to meet those standards, but it
does not meet them yet.





Review One:
---------------------------------
>Well, I think it's bullshit.  I could find no interesting technical
>insights in the "Web Avatars" material.  Apparently the guy has
>written an interesting book on Lingo tips, and now has "second-system
>syndrome": he feels his next book should be some great vessel of wit
>and wisdom.
>



Review Two:
---------------------------------

>The audience these days is pretty large. I think the majority will be
>broadly interested in the techniques and applications, but not to the
>depth of a book.
>
>After reading of the proposal, it's on-line comments, and chapter 1,
>I believe that only digital media people, with an interest in the Web,
>and, at a push, online comunity people are going to be sufficiently
>intrigued and excited.


>I feel the main use of the metaphors is to attach questionable validity
>to the author's models and claims. Some of them are contrived, some
>distract from the topic and make it appear complicated.



>There is no clear purpose. In my experience people buy technology books
>to understand technology on a high level (business managers), or to solve
>technical problems on a detailed level. This book doesn't state what it
>will help you achieve. Worse, it talks about its techniques as the new
>True Way, to be embraced by everyone. The Internet doesn't work that way.
>I don't have time to invest my attention into a fairytale.
>



>>The author makes use of philosophical parallels. Is this helpful.
>
>They [philosophical parallels] suffer from similar problems as the
>metaphors -- they distract, they
>complicate, and worse, the have an attitude: "I have enreached enlightenment,
>if you can understand this subject and agree with me you are also a cool dude,
>otherwise your brain must simply be missing something". Give me a break.
>
>I find language like "it does not take long to realise",
>"triggered some form of enlightenment", and
>"perhaps you have already clicked on"
>condencening.
>
>Also, there are always limits to anything. Describing the limits to
>your approach is helpful, and shows a deeper understanding. The material
>I have reviewed is positioned as limitless, with a holy ring to it.
>But there is no philosophy involved. You need not be a guru to think this up
>or understand it. It is not "life". It is not a standard. It is limited.
>It is not cross-platform. It is not language independent. Security/privacy
>issues are not addresses. Efficiency and performance is not addressed.
>This does not instill me with great confidence.
>
>
>Finally I'm not that impressed with the author's writing. Of course it has
>not gone through editorial control, but some of the language just doesn't
>flow very well. My own spelling skills are not the best (as a non-native
>speaker), but I am pretty attentive when it comes to parsing sentence
>constructions on paper (maybe because I'm a non-native speaker).



>
>In summary, thumbs down, some salvageable material, eccentric/dubious author.
>

Review Three:
---------------------------------



>However, the general population
>of Web professionals is highly unlikely, in the beginning of
>something this new and technically difficult, to purchase
>this text.



>This reviewer would not initially purchase a text of this
>type. With limited resources, proven, existing tools are
>preferred. Eventually, if "Web Avatars" prove fruitful, a
>purchase of this text would be likely.
>



Reactions from Mark Rauterkus and reply to Peter. The letter is titled, the cart goes before the horse.

Monday, February 17, 1997

Notes with bundle partner meeting(s)

I was putting together the bundles of internet software applications. One asset I was able to provide to the other publishers in the bundle alliance was with their documentation and the management of their published books and even byteserved versions of documents.

I had been a beta tester for Adobe Acrobat 3.0 and was good at 'distilling' the documents with hyperlinks and making them so they could be served on the web, a page at a time and with quicker downloading.

agenda notes:

bundles (resale agreements and next phases of products)

digital duplication rights and policies for CD-ROM delivery

joint marketing of products. Do you want to extend your product line and better interact with others in the bundle?

co-location of documents. Edits of documents. Un-official sites for power-users (SIGs).

outsourced services based on utilities of software bundle. Ping sites for a fee with PageSentry, for example.

A UK book author is doing project on agents and avitars and we'd like to get a chapter in there about your software.

Non-exclusive speakers booking service.

Cross platform development issues.

Apple Computer Demonstrates First DVD-Enabled Macintosh at Milia 97

Subject:     Apple Demos DVD Mac
Sent:        2/16/97 12:16 PM
Received:    2/17/97 4:17 PM
From:        MacDev-1 Moderator, MacDev-1-Moderator@listmail.xplain.com
To:          MacDev-1, MacDev-1@listmail.xplain.com

This message comes to you from MacDev-1(tm).
See below for more info on this list (including sub/unsub details).

Apple Computer Demonstrates First DVD-Enabled Macintosh at Milia 97

Company makes commitment to DVD, among the first computer makers to
standardize on DVD-ROM; announces intent to establish DVD Web site

Milia 97, Cannes France - February 12, 1997 - Apple Computer, Inc.
(Cupertino, CA) today publicly demonstrated the first DVD-ROM Macintosh(R)
prototype and announced support for the DVD-ROM format throughout most of
the Apple Macintosh product line.  DVD is a new industry standard for
consumer electronics and computers that delivers vastly superior audio and
video compared with current CD-ROM technology.

As part of a MILIA presentation, Apple also noted that the first
DVD-enabled Macintosh system could appear as soon as late 1997, with
several new PowerBook(R) and desktop models expected to be shipping with
DVD-ROM by early 1998.

"Just as Apple was the first computer vendor to standardize on CD-ROM ten
years ago, we now expect to take a leadership position with Macintosh and
DVD-ROM," said Carlos Montalvo, vice president of Apple's Interactive Media
Group.  "Integrating DVD-ROM with our leading multimedia and upcoming
processor technologies is a top priority for Apple Computer.  These include
QTML (QuickTime(R) Media Layer) for integrated A/V, 3D and VR technologies,
500 MhZ + PowerPC chips from Exponential for blazing speed, plus
cutting-edge multimedia processing power from the Philips TriMedia(TM)
chip."

The Apple DVD-ROM prototype, a modified Performa(R) 5400, culminates
several years of Apple research and development on DVD technology, in
collaboration with leading Japanese and European consumer electronics
companies.

DVD-ROMs - which look identical to CD-ROM discs - can hold up to 18 GB of
multimedia data, including any mixture of CD-quality sound, AC-3 surround
sound information, MPEG-2 video and computer binary data.  The current CD
format holds only 680 MB of content, with no built-in provisions for
surround-sound or MPEG-2.

At Milia, several leading DVD developers and pre-mastering software
vendors, including Sonic Solutions (Novato, CA), Sumeria (San Francisco,
CA), Short Cinema Journal (Venice, CA), Wired, Inc. (Mountain View, CA) and
Daikin (Novato, CA) pledged their support for Macintosh as the ideal
pre-mastering and content delivery platform for rich multimedia DVD titles.

Lastly, Apple announced its plan to create a DVD Web site in the near
future.  The Apple DVD Web site will serve as a clearing-house for
interested consumers and developers on the latest DVD information, as well
as providing links to third-parties with DVD solutions for the Macintosh.

"As the leading multimedia computer platform, Apple plans to take an
aggressive role in promoting the latest technologies to keep our customers
on the leading-edge of content development," said John Cook, DVD program
office director with Apple Computer, Inc.  "DVD-ROM is the next step in
bridging the gap between big-screen entertainment and the desktop -- Apple
fully intends to have the best possible solution for this technology.  We
are collaborating with the leading vendors in both software and hardware to
integrate best-of-breed multimedia technology on the Macintosh and DVD-ROM
is clearly the future for content delivery on our platform."

Apple Computer, Inc., a recognized pioneer and innovator in the information
industry, creates powerful solutions based on easy-to-use personal
computers, servers, peripherals, software and personal digital assistants.
Headquartered in Cupertino, California, Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL) develops,
manufactures, licenses and markets products, technologies and services for
the business, education, consumer, scientific and engineering, and
government markets in over 140 countries.


Press Contacts:

Saturday, February 01, 1997

Market Week speaker

I was a speaker at a college class and marketing club meeting in Athens, Ohio, at OU.

I also got to explore the National Business Incubation Assocation, http://www.nbia.org, and talk with the Asst. Director of On-line Services Clearninghouse for Strategic Alliances, Gregory Kaple.

Disney and online sports

News from Feb 1997:


Internet Site Founders Give Back to Their University

* Yahoo! internet service founders, David Filo and Jerry Yang, have funded a new chair at Stanford University and are the youngest persons ever to have done so.

  • they quit their PhD studies at Stanford to turn their Yahoo! Internet search site into one of the Web's most successful companies.
  • donated $2 million to Stanford.


Sports Sites Go for Big Bucks

* Walt Disney Co. is reportedly in talks to buy a major stake in Starwave, the Web site company owned by Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen.

  • Starwave operates sports and entertainment websites and operates, with Disney, the ESPNet-SportsZone site.

Sunday, November 10, 1996

Colin and Mary get hitched in California -- we're there!

Great wedding! Great couple.

We share the same anniversary.

Colin McKinney, and his two brothers, Kevin and Pat, lived just two doors away from us growing up.

Saturday, October 12, 1996

Prayer for Geri Ann and John -- as they get hitched.

Please respond, Lord, hear our prayer.

For people of all religions everywhere, that we spread God's messages of love and peach though our actions and words. ....

For those hwo have travelled to be with us, may they continue to have a safe journey...

May the love that we witness between John and Geri Ann remind and rekindle the love we share in our own relationships...

For Geri Ann and John, that they grow together as friends, lvoers and soul mates...

For those special people who have come before us in the past and have helped to make us who we are today...

For the creative and artistic people of today, may they all have the confidence of their creativity and let us pray for the creativitiy found in each of us...

For all teachers and wrestlers everywhere. May they have the patience and wisdom to meet their challenges head on throughout all of life.

Tuesday, July 23, 1996

Market Research Software for World Wide Web to be part of New High-Performance Software Bundles

News release from Yearick-Millea, 700 River Ave #216, Pittsburgh Contact was Mark Rauterkus for SSS. 
CHICAGO, July 23, 1996 -- The Planet Group, an Internet Service Provider (ISP), announced today that its Virtual-Poll softwrae will be included in a World Wide Web software package called Village Compass Bundle. Virtual-Poll is an optimized Web Server that manages the creation and analysis of market research data at a fraction of the cost of phone surveys, focus groups or mailing. The software enable users to collect real-time market data information on the Internet and receive immediate results. It automatically produces, manages and administers the entire market research process. Surveys, tests, evaluations, quizzes and polling of all types can be customized to the end-user's specifications. Village Compass Bundle is a package of high-performance, service-software-tool sets that help businesses develop or expand sites on the World Wide Web. Virtual-Poll software will be included on Village with as many as 21 other software programs, which exhibit superior product harmony. "Village Compass Bundles enter the marketplace offering a turn-key solution with some of the most advanced software available on the market today," Mark Rauterkus, organizer of the Village Compass Bundle, said. "Virtual-Poll adds one more highly cost-effective solution to an already strong package of software." The bundled package of Village software creates dramatic savings for end-users -- as much as 65 percent off retail prices. The initial package, in addition to Virtual-Poll, contains a variety of highly-sophisticated softare functions strategic to building a web site, such as cataloging, information handling, communication, graphic production, and site management and maintenance. Village has numerous bundled software packages, with prices starting at $1,475. Most of the software titles run on Macintosh computers, but some titles are for Windows NT. A free working copy of Virtual-Poll can be downloaded from the Web by visiting, http://pg.net, or call Plante's customer service. More information on the Village Compass Bundle can be found at http://village.compass.bundle.com/ or by sending email to bundle@. Village Compass Bundle is a worldwide coalition of software developers in six countries who produce products for Web site development. Village was organized by Pittsburgh software and book publisher, Mark Rauterkus.

Cover Letter

Executive Summary
	
Some of the original goals for the Village Compass Bundle have been reached.	
The sales of the VCB has been below expectations - due to a number of reasons.	
We have plenty to do - and progress is occuring.	
	
	
Sales for the Village Compass Bundle are poor and well below expectations.	
	
	
	
	
Some of my original goals for the VCB have been reached.
Successful happenings:	
Right from the outset of this bundle process, I thought that it was important for the first release of any bundle to be a high-performance, cutting-edge, money saving, better than Apple Computer’s Internet Server Solution - eye-popping bundle. Well, IMHO, I feel that the VCB is a great solution, and it is better than Apple’s. 	
The VCB is huge in terms of product titles and capabilites. It was too big for us to master in a couple of months given our starting point. 	
Here we are in September, and I have played with each product but I’ve not been able to master them. 	
The desire to team with smaller to mid-sized developers with hot technology applications from all-across the USA and world has been met.	
Getting a “turn-key” solution to the marketplace was also a priority.	
Media	
Fact: The Trade Press does NOT cover bundle news. Bundle news is considered a non-news event. New products are news. Bundles are not newsworthy.	
	
Trade Products Among Bundle Players	
	
Long Shot Ideas	
Java Use and the Java Venture Capital Fund	
Use server-side Java and take InfoDepot documents onto the WWW.	
Use server-side Interaction and client side Java for CHAT faces from DB	
Presentation Program for the WWW 	
	
Original Goals	
Thirty-Six Web Developers Join iCat

Monday 96.09.23 - (E.COMMERCE TODAY) - Seattle, WA USA - iCat Corp.
announced that 36 Web development companies have joined the iCat Commerce
Partner (iCP) program.

These firms are now using their Web development expertise to customize and
extend the iCat Electronic Commerce Suite, offering their business customers
the most complete and flexible electronic commerce solution for selling
products and services via the Internet and CD-ROM.

The following list of iCat Commerce Partners can assist those merchants and
businesses that need help in developing commerce-enabled Web sites:

Compudoc of Warren, NJ (www.compudocinc.com) 
Oculus Interactive of New York, NY (www.ocu.com) 
Vision Graphics of Ludlow, MA (www.visiongroup.com) 
Didax LLC of Chantilly, VA (www.didax.com) 
Image Soft, Inc. of Halifax, 
PA Shablow/Beaumont of Birmingham, AL (www.sbmc.com)
Web Adept of Daytona, FL (www.webadept.com)
Free Range Media of Seattle, WA (www.freerange.com) 
01 Publishing of Seattle, WA (www.01pub.com) 
DigiCOLOR of Seattle, WA (www.digicolor.com) 
Printing Control of Seattle, WA (www.printingcontrol.com) 
AcmeNET of Woodinville, WA (www.acmenet.com)
ComVista of Bellevue, WA (www.comvista.com) 
Quebecor Interactive of Bellevue, WA (www.qinteractive.com) 
Ogle Publishing of Lake Oswego, OR (www.oglepub.com) 
The Catalog Site of Santa Monica, CA (www.catalogsite.com) 
Hybrid Media of Palo Alto, CA (www.hybridmedia.com)
Computer Network Specialists of Irvine, CA (www.netspec.com) 
Entrusted Design of San Jose, CA 
Internet Commerce Company of Exeter, CA (www.icomco.com) 
Intermedia Synergy of Aliso Viejo, CA (www.intermediasynergy.com) 
On-Line Foods of Oakland, CA (www.onlygourmet.com) 
Insentiv Media of Oakland, CA (www.insentiv.com)
Network Architects of San Ramon, CA (www.archnet.com) 
Interactive Cafe of Vancouver BC (www.icafe.com) 
COSMO21 of Burnaby BC (www.cosmo21.com)
Characters of Houston, TX (www.characters.com) 
POS one of Houston, TX 
TruNet / Truco Enterprises, Inc. of Dallas, TX (www.truco2@airmail.net) 
Tesseract Systems Group, Inc. of San Antonio, TX (www.liquidwebs.com) 
Data Pub Group of Chicago, IL (www.datapub.com)
Mmedia.com Industries of Manhattan, KS (www.mmedia.com) 
The Virtual Flyshop of Ft. Collins, CO (www.flyshop.com) 
Custom Tech Systems, Inc./Cosmo21 of Milwaukee, WI (www.customtech.com)
Netalliance, Inc. of Minneapolis, MN (www.netalliance.net) 
Pathlight Data Systems of Rocky River, OH

iCat is at http://www.icat.com
	

Saturday, May 18, 1996

Pondering domain uses at SportSurf.Net - names

Domain plans for SportSurf.Net:

Text. 

See the PDF at https://cloh.org/wp/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/SportSurf-plan-DOMAINS.pdf

Domains for Email Usage domain description example priority

Headquarter’s controled For headquarters staff and internal projects.

•root <none> This is for headquarters staff and internal
projects.
webmaster@sportsurf.net 1

•robots bot For robot usage. news1@bot.sportsurf.net 2

•auto-responder auto For auto-responder mailings. offer1@auto.sportsurf.net 2

•temporary temp Short-term email accounts used for a semester
or so. Good for probation periods.
Joe_Blow@temp.sportsurf.net 5

Associates and partner
assistance is permitted
Partners who are operating in the range of the
guidelines set forth by the umbrella
organization can use a set quantity of these
mailing addresses to further everyone’s cause to
bonified people.

•moderator aid forum leader, moderator, list-assistant music_guru@aid.sportsurf.net 4

•reader read for those who are in a reading group 3

•sponsor sponsor advertiser, business person in these industries Ted_Turner@sponsor.sportsurf.net 4

General Population Anyone can sign-up for these domains based
upon the honor system.

•professor prof university professors in health, physical
education, recreation, dance, and many other
allied health fields such as nutrition as well as
other fields such as psychology and sociology
Will_Smith@prof.sportsurf.net 5

•author author for those who have or expect to authored book,
magazine articles, software. May be creative
works put into the public domain.
Kevin_DeForrest@author.sportsurf.net 5

•media media Those who work as journalists, broadcasters,
editors, publishers, photographers
Jim_McKay@media.sportsurf.net 6

•athletic department ad athletic directors, athletic department workers,
recreation department leaders, administrators,
league office personnel, band-directors
Peter_Uberoth@ad.sportsurf.net 7

•umpire/referee/rules/
officials
ump Rule makers and rule enforcers for on and off
the field in volunteer or paid capacity in any
sport.
Ron_Luciano@ump.sportsurf.net 7

•coach coach head, assistant, on-court, retired, want-a-be,
etc.
Paul_Bryant@coach.sportsurf.net 5

•star athlete star athlete or former athlete that has experienced a
groove performance
Tiger_Wood@star.sportsurf.net 8

•medical body medical doctors, allied health practitioners
from audiologist to zoologists
David_House@body.sportsurf.net 6

•student student for those under the age of 21 - can get a second
handle when desired - with the student handle
to
Billy_Smith@student.sportsurf.net
-- later this person can pick-up a second alias,
i.e. Bill_Smith@HIS-PICK.sportsurf.net
9

•booster go board members, parents, avid fans, friends of
sportsmanship, etc.
Tiger_Paul@go.sportsurf.net 9

•inventor/problem solver solve inventors, programmers, problem solvers,
engineers, Ben_Franklin@solve.sportsurf.net 9

Bonified Targets People who wish to sign-up for these domains
are going to need to supply some extra information on their application.

•professional athlete pro professional athletes. Those who have ever
gotten paid to play
Michael_Jordan@pro.sportsurf.net 8

•Olympian oly Olympians - summer, winter, James_Ryun@oly.sportsurf.net 8

•trainers act certified athletic trainers Barry_McGlumphy@act.sportsurf.net 6

•soul soul PENDING Pending 9

•cyber punk punk computer artist, software wizards Bill_Gates_Jr@punk.sportsurf.net 5

Friday, May 17, 1996

Name Spectrum Standard, part 2

 





Name Spectrum  for Majordomo Services at SportSurf.Net

The community email lists, web pages and MajorDomo services in operation at SportSurf.Net utilize a spectrum of names to help organize your mailbox, clarify topics areas and customize content interests. With so many lists and such a wide audience, please become familiar with this name spectrum standards. This tutorial covers the subject in full detail.


Under Construction:
Suggestions and changes are welcomed. Mailto:List-Clerk@SportSurf.Net

Outlets:
This tutorial is available via web-pages, email auto-reply messages and PDFs.


Name Spectrum Standard: A Cornerstone
This tutorial details one aspect of our services.  Mastering this network includes an awareness of this name-spectrum standard, as well as: swelling, stimulating, splintering, syncronizing and sub-hosting.

Name Spectrum:
   Three-part naming structure of Prefix-Topic-Suffix. Could become a new internet/community standard.

Syncronizing:
   Easy on and off subscribing with one-stop command.

Swelling:
   Starting and growing a subscriber and scratch for subscribers on the way to a viable virtual community

Stimulating
   Injecting ideas and discussions so the load of conversation is spread among other services

Splintering:
   Dividing one major topic area into sub-groups for specializations for various topic areas and various populations.

Sub-Hosting:
   Groups in various locations can ride aboard this server's sub-hosting bandwagon.

-----------------
Name Spectrum Standard: three-part identificiation
The name spectrum uses a three-part naming structure with Prefix + Topic + Suffix. Hyphens, not plus signs, join the three words into one. The hyphen is on the top row of the keyboard between the zero and the equal sign. For example, the first list ever hosted at SportSurf.Net was the Better-Swim-List. 

This identification system can confuse at first glance. In due time, the names help to understand, grow and navigate these virtual communities. 

Various names, much like part numbers, are used to better identify, locate and describe things. For example, the term of "football-player" can come to represent number of various things to different people in different places. These names help to ground the conversations in shared meanings with various spaces and times. Specializations are important, as is shared understandings. 

Within the spectrum of names, the middle word describes a specific topic. Obviously, to talk about swimming, go to a list with "swim" in its title. Then check to see if your understanding of swimming matches that found in the info and intro documents you'll get as a process of your subscription welcome.

Behavior ramifications, both implied and expressed, become a secondary purpose for this name-spectrum formula. Public email messages should blend with one's expectations and fit within appropriate settings. Behaviors differ at scientific seminars, honor banquets, marketplaces and competitive events.

For example, you'll find that it is okay to blab about one's new commercial invention with postings to better-swim-noise. However, blabing about commercial products isn't a good idea unless you've got some new supporting research data to back-up your claims when posts go to  better-swim-peer.

Smorgasboard of the Various Names within the Name Spectrum Standards
A combination of more than 50 words are used with the various names. Some of the names used here are obvious. Others are not. Bluff lists are about geographical locations. Local lists are about body-parts. Look stands for futurists. Peer comes to represent scientific peer-review.

A Name is a Name is a Name:
The decision to create additional top-level domains may not solve the
current crowding in Internet domain names, says columnist Wendy Grossman:
"Judging from the comments I've seen, people hate the names: .firm, .store,
.web, .arts, .rec and .nom (for personal domains).  'What is the problem we
are trying to solve?' asks Donna Hoffman, an electronic commerce specialist
at Vanderbilt University.  If, she argues, we want to create more 'good'
names, this system fails because companies will register multiple names.  If
the goal is a directory structure, it fails again, because the names are
confusing.  'The categories should be mutually exclusive and exhaustive but
also flexible enough to accommodate evolution,' she says...  The right
structure could solve a number of persistent problems if it took into
account the changing nature of the Net, the fact that rules will always be
broken, and the increasing value names and concepts acquire with use.  The
current plan does not do enough of the first two things, although it
correctly says that domain names are a public trust, reflecting the human
ability to create something valuable out of nothing."  (Scientific American
Oct 97)


PrefixTopicSuffixSubject-line PrefixFamily Strata


Spectum words in no particular order.
<TABLE BORDER=3 CELLSPACING=3 CELLPADDING=3 BGCOLOR="#FFFFCC">
<TR ALIGN=Center VALIGN=Middle>
	Noise
	Hype
	Chat
	Folks
	Lime
	Globe
	Talk

<TR ALIGN=Center VALIGN=Middle>
	List
	Peer
	Forum
	Course
	Sum
	Announce
	Aid

<TR ALIGN=Center VALIGN=Middle>
	Digest
	Dig
	Study
	Peeks
	Pride
	Trips
	Tours

<TR ALIGN=Center VALIGN=Middle>
	Stretch
	HQ
	Test
	ABCs
	Devs
	Hurt
	Injury

<TR ALIGN=Center VALIGN=Middle>
	Rehab
	Peek
	Case
	Peer
	Honor
	Gateway
	Synk

<TR ALIGN=Center VALIGN=Middle>
	Score
	Swell
	Pros
	Meca
	Look
	Tykes
	TitleTs

<TR ALIGN=Center VALIGN=Middle>
	Midas
	L2k:
	Splash:
	News:
	Schools
	
	

</TABLE>


Prefix Spectrum Names Include:

Subject-Line Prefix Include:
L2k:
Splash:
News:

Topic Terms Include:

Suffix Terms Include:

Subject-line Prefix

<H5>Sports-Specific Suffix Spectrum:</H5>





<H5>Sphere of Mostly Water Suffix Spectrum</H5>



<H5>Sphere of Proving Ground Spectrum</H5>



<H5>Sacks of Mostly Water Suffix Family</H5>


TitleTs


<P ALIGN=Right><FONT SIZE=-1>* Key:  <FONT COLOR="990099">Read Only <FONT COLOR="663300"> In-house use for moderators/volunteers </P>

Prefix Keywords
The prefix part of the name helps to group lists in various target groups. For example, all the competitive sports lists with a focus of self-improvement and performance have the prefix, "Better". 
Prefix keywords in use include:

Better, covers competitive sports, self-improvement, higher performance
Bluff, covers geographical destinations
Elsewhere, covers topics not dealt within SportSurf.Net - and perhaps ANTI overviews too
Inside, covers SportSurf.Net insider and agent news
Local, covers body-parts
Look, covers lookout and future
Midas, covers finances, greed, money, professional-sports, poverty issues too
Prove, covers technology-related topics of the Proving Ground


Topic Keywords
The middle word in the name spectrum deal with the central topic, activity or location. With so many keywords and a growing list, don't expect to see all the topics listed here. However, the best way to get a look at the listing is to visit our <A HREF="http://www.sportsurf.net/majorcool/majorcool.cgi" TARGET="MajorCool">MajorCool Interface.
<H4>Sports Keywords</H4>
In time, nearly every sports, health, fitness topic is going to be covered.
<H4>Elsewhere Keywords:</H4>
TicketsSteroidsTobaccoGamblingDrugsHuntingMotorizedAnimalisticFishingCelebrityFlaming

Suffix Keywords
Suffix keywords are utilized in the name spectrum for easy identification of content-flavors and list-policies. The suffix keywords come in a few different families. Each suffix family has an associated string of siblings.
Suffix Families:
Sport-Specific (and Technology-Specific) Suffix String
Spheres of Mostly Water Suffix String
Sacks of Mostly Water Suffix Strings/UL>

<H5>Specific Suffix Strings</H5>
Noise  -  Hype  -  Chat  -  Folks  -  Lime  -  Tykes  -  Globe  -  Swap  -  Dealers  -  Talk  -  List  -  Peer  -  Sum -  <FONT COLOR="990099">Announce  -  <FONT COLOR="990099">Dig  -  <FONT COLOR="990099">Digest  -  <FONT COLOR="990099">Dust  -  Gate  -  <FONT COLOR="663300">Aid


Example: <BR>
Email your messages to: <FONT COLOR="0000FF">Specific_Topic-Noise@sportsurf.net

Key:

Noise
Okay for advertisers, sponsors, commercial content, sorta-off-topic posts. Boasting, "sky-is-falling" posts, and in-depth-personal insights of the $.02 and $.03 varieties are tolerated. If something screams, "Eeeks" -- it should be on noise.

ChatInformal talk and wondering around the topic areas are okay. Younger-participants go here!

HypeMessages for the masses. Sports leaders often wonder about how to bring their games and athletes to a wider audience. Often rule changes need to occur, but those drastic measure can upset the traditions. Another option is to bring the masses to the games and not the game to the masses. My sport is better that that hype is fair grounds here too. Plus, all the PSA (public service announcements) take root here.

FolksPersonal introductions, welcome messages. The postings to folks must follow the rigid guidelines. See the info files. Any and all follow-ups to the introductions at Folks go to that person and not to any list. The introductions help build community and provide insights and all the people in these discussions. Everyone can posts introductions from scientist to volunteer to youthful athletes.

Lime: i.e., LimelightHeadlines, breaking news, covering those people, events, and happenings in the limelight, media and analysis.

Globe: i.e., Global/International/Multi-LingualNon-english posts are welcomed here.

SwapPerson to person swaps, trades, barters concerning sport-specific goods, services and equipment.

DealersShop owners, institutional equipment providers, inventors, dealers, manufactures, trade-show coordinators, sales reps, sponsors, publishers, import/exporters, bulk-specials mentions are all welcomed.

TalkSuited to serious posts, more advanced knoweldge base, only on-topic tips/hints


ListOften owned by closed organizations or must join "club" with FAQ guidelines


Peer: i.e., Peer ReviewMost academic, high-minded, science supported facts desired

Sum: i.e., SummaryFAQs, summary posts, significant follow-ups where information is synthizied from a few different sources

AnnounceModerated. Includes news releases. Read only.

DigDig is an informal digest. Batches of posts sent out in one larger mail message in a digest format for the more informal siblings. Read only.

DigestBatches of posts sent out in one larger mail message in a digest format for the more formal siblings. Read only.

DustDust in short for digital dust. The pack-rat subscribers get all the posts to all the lists in the family in an individual fashion with one "subscription" message. Read only.
to the dust lists get individual posts as they occurto this family in an indiv sent out in one larger mail message in a digest format. Read only.

GateGate stands for gateways(s). A gate is like a meta lists, Gate lists are often best-of lists hosted at other locations on the net. Mirrored lists can converge on a meta lists at SportSurf.Net. Even usenet discussions can be gatewayed to these lists. Read only.
<BR>
Aid: i.e., List Lifeguards & VoluneersFor the worker-bees, volunteers, early-adopters, giving netizens, list-lifeguards, staff, and others who have expressed a desire to assist with the operations and discussions at SportSurf.Net. This is NOT a help list, rather it is a list for helpers.





Sphere of Mostly Water Suffix Tips
The subscriptions in this section utilize the following suffix plan. For further information visit the tutorial on the SportSurf.Net's Name Specturm Standard.


<A HREF="#study">Study  -  <A HREF="#peeks">Peeks  -  <A HREF="#pride">Pride  -  <A HREF="#trips">Trips  -  <A HREF="#tours">Tours  -  <A HREF="#stretch">Stretch  -  <A HREF="#hq">HQ  -  <A HREF="#test">Test  -  <FONT COLOR="990099"><A HREF="#dig">Dig  -  <FONT COLOR="990099"><A HREF="#digest">Digest  -  <FONT COLOR="663300"><A HREF="#aid">Aid




Suffix Key for Bluffs -- Center of the Universe Family

<A NAME="study">StudySuited to school studies, pen-pals, language exploration, easy research. Posts from abroad are welcomed here. Noisy school-yard study stuff tolerated.

<A NAME="peeks">PeeksOn and off-topic tips, hints, insights. Commercials need to be about sports and localized! Digital landscape posts welcomed too. Pointers to politics, weather, cutlure, industry, entertainment and such must be very brief.
<A NAME="pride">PrideCulture, Sports, teams, leagues, professionals, updates, news. Positive first-person accounts are fine.
<A NAME="trips">TripsFor those planning individual and small group travel, and locals who might like to offer suggestions. 
<A NAME="tours">ToursSuited for those with advanced travel plans and group travel. All-star matches, training trips, etc.
<A NAME="stretch">StretchStrictly business, high-class travel talk that is suited for those with gold-card credit, corporate limo expectations, cyber-hook-up requirements, and high-performance fact-of-life mentalities.

<A NAME="hq">HQDesigned for the national and state sports authorities, Olympic Committee folks, scholastic sports organizers. Calling for tryouts, team directors, regional coordination.

<A NAME="test">TestAll things about TEST Matches, any sport. In test matches the teams are most often fielded from different countries.
<A NAME="dig">DigThe Digest format for the more infomal lists in this family. Included: Study  -  Peeks  -  Pride  -  Trips.
<A NAME="digest">DigestThe digest format for the more formal lists in this family. Includes: Tours  -  HQ  -  Test.
<A NAME="aid">Aid: i.e., List Lifeguards & VoluneersFor the worker-bees, volunteers, early-adopters, giving netizens, list-lifeguards, staff, and others who have expressed a desire to assist with the operations and discussions at SportSurf.Net. This is NOT a help list, rather it is a list for helpers. English only.

Additional digests for regions are expected later.


<H5>Sacs of Mostly Water Suffix Family</H5>
Hurt  -  Injury  -  Rehab  -  Case  -  Peer   -  <FONT COLOR="990099">Digest   -  <FONT COLOR="663300">Aid


Example: <BR>
Email your messages to: <FONT COLOR="0000FF">Specific_Topic-Noise@sportsurf.net

Key:

Hurt
Okay for advertisers, sponsors, commercial content, noise, sorta-off-topic posts. Boasting, "sky-is-falling" posts, and in-depth-personal insights of the $.02 and $.03 varieties are tolerated. If something screams, "Eeeks" -- it should be on hurt. Also the place for folks, limelight, meta, global, talk-like posts.

InjuryFormal talk and wondering around the topic areas are okay. Hangout for trainers, coaches, those with new injuries. Suited to serious posts, more advanced knoweldge base, only on-topic tips/hints/help.

RehabClinicians, injured atheltes, long-term motivations and progress reports are okay.

CaseFormal case study presentations, poster-type sessions. Dedicated mainly to college students, continuing eductation, clinicians, coaches.

Peer: i.e., Peer ReviewMost academic, high-minded, science supported facts desired.

DigestBatches of posts sent out in one larger mail message in a digest format for all the siblings. Read only.

Aid: i.e., List Lifeguards & VoluneersFor the worker-bees, volunteers, early-adopters, giving netizens, list-lifeguards, staff, and others who have expressed a desire to assist with the operations and discussions at SportSurf.Net. This is NOT a help list, rather it is a list for helpers.

Additional digests for regions of the body may be started later, such as upper-body, lower-body.


<H4>For Future Standards:</H4>

<DL>
Needs41: i.e., Needs for oneNeeds postings for one person, most often for yourself. Includes swaps.

Needs4org: i.e., Needs for organizationNeeds postings for an organization, group, team, league, school. Obviously more than one person.

SorrySorry Sports. More news to come.

GiversGive it up here. More news to come.

TakersLog in here. Componet with Givers. More news to come.

ForumForums can be for classroom use, and even for distance learning. More news to come.

</DL>



Gateway Lists
Gate lists, gateways, and meta lists are coming. Meta lists are cool. However, no further information on meta lists, their policies and operations are going to be posted here at this time.


Deployment
Various services are being rolled out this month. However, openings are expected to continue for some time into the future. The fluid creation process means that some lists are open but inactive. You are encouraged to submit your subscription but don't be surprised to find little or no mail at this time.

Suggestions Welcomed

If you have a way to improve upon our name spectrum standard, or the explanation of this standard, please send email to: list-mom@sportsurf.net.

Still Confused?
Email your messages to: <FONT COLOR="0000FF">Feeder@sportsurf.net<BR>
People operate a help-desk at the feeder address. If you are confused, send the message to that address, and the message gets reviewed, altered slightly if needed, and posted to suitable locations on the net. The feeder is a great place to go if you are unsure of things and if you don't want to make a goof with your email.


<H5>A Tip on CAPS and lower-case typing</H5>
Capitalizations and lower-case letters are not a factor with Majordomo. The webmaster types "
Better-Swim-List" for easy reading, but all of the following names work the same way: 
BETTER-SWIM-LIST; <FONT COLOR="FF0000">better-swim-list; or even <FONT COLOR="FF0000">bETTER-sWIM-lisT. When you send in your email to majordomo, you can use either caps or lower-case typing for the both address and the command. Of course, the hypen between words is a hypen and not an underline.

Just so you know, the CAPS and lower-case letters are very important when it comes to URLs (such as http://www.sportsurf.net/PROVING). The domain name part is not case sensative, but everything after "net" must be typed with the correct case. The domin here is SportSurf.Net, but you can type the domain with or without capitals. In the example within this paragraph, the word "PROVING" needs to be in capital letters. Other servers may or may not be case-sensative. On this server, typing "www" is optional. 

Thursday, May 16, 1996

Name Spectrum Standard, part 1

Name Spectrum Standards

The community email lists, web pages and MajorDomo services in operation at SportSurf.Net utilize a spectrum of names to help organize your mailbox, clarify topics areas and customize content interests. With so many lists and such a wide audience, please become familiar with the name spectrum standards.

This tutorial is available via email auto-reply message and PDF.

Name Spectrum Standard: A Cornerstone

This tutorial details one aspect of our services. Mastering this network includes an awareness of this name-spectrum standard, as well as: swelling, stimulating, splintering and sub-hosting.

  1. The Name Spectrum Standard: (below) Three-part naming structure of Prefix-Topic-Suffix
  2. Swelling: Starting and growing a subscriber and scratch for subscribers on the way to a viable virtual community
  3. Stimulating: Injecting ideas and discussions so the load of conversation is spread among other services
  4. Splintering: Swells splinter into splashes of various topic areas for various populations
  5. Sub-Hosting: Special interest groups for various locations can ride aboard this server's sub-hosting bandwagon

Name Spectrum Standard: three-part identification

The name spectrum uses a three-part naming structure with Prefix + Topic + Suffix. Hyphens, not plus signs, join the three words into one. The hyphen is on the top row of the keyboard between the zero and the equal sign. For example, the first list ever hosted at SportSurf.Net was the Better-Swim-List.

A combination of more than 50 words are used with the various names. This identification system can confuse new users at first. Once people become aware, the names help to better understand, grow and navigate our virtual communities.

Various names, much like part numbers, are used to better identify, locate and describe things. For example, the term of "football-player" can come to represent number of various things to different people in different places. These names help to ground the conversations in shared meanings with various spaces and times. Specializations are important, as is shared understandings. Within the spectrum of names, the middle word describes a specific topic. Obviously, to talk about swimming, go to a list with "swim" in its title. Then check to see if your understanding of swimming matches that found in the info and intro documents you'll get as a process of your subscription welcome.

Behavior ramifications, both implied and expressed, become a secondary purpose for this name-spectrum formula. Public email messages should blend with one's expectations and fit within appropriate settings. Behaviors differ at scientific seminars, honor banquets, marketplaces and competitive events.

For example, you'll find that it is okay to blab about one's new commercial invention with postings to better-swim-noise. However, blabbing about commercial products isn't a good idea unless you've got some new supporting research data to back-up your claims when posts go to better-swim-peer.

Smorgasbord of the Various Names within the Name Spectrum Standards

Some of the names used here are obvious. Others are not. Bluff lists are about geographical locations. Local lists are about body-parts. Look stands for futurists. Peer comes to represent scientific peer-review.
  1. Prefix
  2. Topic
  3. Suffix
  4. Subject-line Prefix
  5. Family Strata


Spectrum words in no particular order.

NoiseHypeChatFolksLimeGlobeTalk
ListPeerForumCourseSumAnnounceAid
DigestDigStudyPeeksPrideTripsTours
StretchHQTestABCsDevsHurtInjury
RehabPeekCasePeerHonorGatewaySynk
ScoreSwellProsMecaLookTykesTitleTs
MidasL2k:Splash:News:Schools

Prefix Spectrum Names Include:

  • Subject-Line Prefix Include:

  • L2k:
  • Splash:
  • News:
  • Topic Terms Include:

  • Suffix Terms Include:

  • Subject-line Prefix

      Sports-Specific Suffix Spectrum:

      Sphere of Mostly Water Suffix Spectrum

        Sphere of Proving Ground Spectrum

          Sacks of Mostly Water Suffix Family
            TitleTs

          * Key: Read Only In-house use for moderators/volunteers


          Prefix Keywords

          The prefix part of the name helps to group lists in various target groups. For example, all the competitive sports lists with a focus of self-improvement and performance have the prefix, "Better".

          Prefix keywords in use include:

          • Better, covers competitive sports, self-improvement, higher performance
          • Bluff, covers geographical destinations
          • Elsewhere, covers topics not dealt within SportSurf.Net - and perhaps ANTI overviews too
          • Inside, covers SportSurf.Net insider and agent news
          • Local, covers body-parts
          • Look, covers lookout and future
          • Midas, covers finances, greed, money, professional-sports, poverty issues too
          • Prove, covers technology-related topics of the Proving Ground

          Topic Keywords

          The middle word in the name spectrum deal with the central topic, activity or location. With so many keywords and a growing list, don't expect to see all the topics listed here. However, the best way to get a look at the listing is to visit our MajorCool Interface.

          Sports Keywords

          In time, nearly every sports, health, fitness topic is going to be covered.

          Elsewhere Keywords:

        • Tickets
        • Steroids
        • Tobacco
        • Gambling
        • Drugs
        • Hunting
        • Motorized
        • Animalistic
        • Fishing
        • Celebrity
        • Flaming

          Suffix Keywords

          Suffix keywords are utilized in the name spectrum for easy identification of content-flavors and list-policies. The suffix keywords come in a few different families. Each suffix family has an associated string of siblings.
            Suffix Families:
          • Sport-Specific (and Technology-Specific) Suffix String
          • Spheres of Mostly Water Suffix String
          • Sacks of Mostly Water Suffix Strings/UL>

            Specific Suffix Strings
            Noise - Hype - Chat - Folks - Lime - Tykes - Globe - Swap - Dealers - Talk - List - Peer - Sum - Announce - Dig - Digest - Dust - Gate - Aid

            Example:
            Email your messages to: Specific_Topic-Noise@sportsurf.net

            Key:

              Noise
              Okay for advertisers, sponsors, commercial content, sorta-off-topic posts. Boasting, "sky-is-falling" posts, and in-depth-personal insights of the $.02 and $.03 varieties are tolerated. If something screams, "Eeeks" -- it should be on noise.

              Chat
              Informal talk and wondering around the topic areas are okay. Younger-participants go here!

              Hype
              Messages for the masses. Sports leaders often wonder about how to bring their games and athletes to a wider audience. Often rule changes need to occur, but those drastic measure can upset the traditions. Another option is to bring the masses to the games and not the game to the masses. My sport is better that that hype is fair grounds here too. Plus, all the PSA (public service announcements) take root here.

              Folks
              Personal introductions, welcome messages. The postings to folks must follow the rigid guidelines. See the info files. Any and all follow-ups to the introductions at Folks go to that person and not to any list. The introductions help build community and provide insights and all the people in these discussions. Everyone can posts introductions from scientist to volunteer to youthful athletes.

              Lime: i.e., Limelight
              Headlines, breaking news, covering those people, events, and happenings in the limelight, media and analysis.

              Globe: i.e., Global/International/Multi-Lingual
              Non-English posts are welcomed here.

              Swap
              Person to person swaps, trades, barters concerning sport-specific goods, services and equipment.

              Dealers
              Shop owners, institutional equipment providers, inventors, dealers, manufactures, trade-show coordinators, sales reps, sponsors, publishers, import/exporters, bulk-specials mentions are all welcomed.

              Talk
              Suited to serious posts, more advanced knowledge base, only on-topic tips/hints

              List
              Often owned by closed organizations or must join "club" with FAQ guidelines

              Peer: i.e., Peer Review
              Most academic, high-minded, science supported facts desired

              Sum: i.e., Summary
              FAQs, summary posts, significant follow-ups where information is synthesized from a few different sources

              Announce
              Moderated. Includes news releases. Read only.

              Dig
              Dig is an informal digest. Batches of posts sent out in one larger mail message in a digest format for the more informal siblings. Read only.

              Digest
              Batches of posts sent out in one larger mail message in a digest format for the more formal siblings. Read only.

              Dust
              Dust in short for digital dust. The pack-rat subscribers get all the posts to all the lists in the family in an individual fashion with one "subscription" message. Read only.

              to the dust lists get individual posts as they occur to this family in an individual sent out in one larger mail message in a digest format. Read only.

              Gate
              Gate stands for gateways(s). A gate is like a meta lists, Gate lists are often best-of lists hosted at other locations on the net. Mirrored lists can converge on a meta lists at SportSurf.Net. Even usenet discussions can be gatewayed to these lists. Read only.


              Aid: i.e., List Lifeguards & Volunteers
              For the worker-bees, volunteers, early-adopters, giving netizens, list-lifeguards, staff, and others who have expressed a desire to assist with the operations and discussions at SportSurf.Net. This is NOT a help list, rather it is a list for helpers.


            Sphere of Mostly Water Suffix Tips

            The subscriptions in this section utilize the following suffix plan. For further information visit the tutorial on the SportSurf.Net's Name Spectrum Standard.


            Suffix Key for Bluffs -- Center of the Universe Family

              Study
              Suited to school studies, pen-pals, language exploration, easy research. Posts from abroad are welcomed here. Noisy school-yard study stuff tolerated.

              Peeks
              On and off-topic tips, hints, insights. Commercials need to be about sports and localized! Digital landscape posts welcomed too. Pointers to politics, weather, cutlure, industry, entertainment and such must be very brief.

              Pride
              Culture, Sports, teams, leagues, professionals, updates, news. Positive first-person accounts are fine.

              Trips
              For those planning individual and small group travel, and locals who might like to offer suggestions.

              Tours
              Suited for those with advanced travel plans and group travel. All-star matches, training trips, etc.

              Stretch
              Strictly business, high-class travel talk that is suited for those with gold-card credit, corporate limo expectations, cyber-hook-up requirements, and high-performance fact-of-life mentalities.

              HQ
              Designed for the national and state sports authorities, Olympic Committee folks, scholastic sports organizers. Calling for tryouts, team directors, regional coordination.

              Test
              All things about TEST Matches, any sport. In test matches the teams are most often fielded from different countries.

              Dig
              The Digest format for the more infomal lists in this family. Included: Study - Peeks - Pride - Trips.

              Digest
              The digest format for the more formal lists in this family. Includes: Tours - HQ - Test.

              Aid: i.e., List Lifeguards & Volunteers
              For the worker-bees, volunteers, early-adopters, giving netizens, list-lifeguards, staff, and others who have expressed a desire to assist with the operations and discussions at SportSurf.Net. This is NOT a help list, rather it is a list for helpers. English only.

            Additional digests for regions are expected later.

            Sacs of Mostly Water Suffix Family
            Hurt - Injury - Rehab - Case - Peer - Digest - Aid

            Example:
            Email your messages to: Specific_Topic-Noise@sportsurf.net

            Key:

              Hurt
              Okay for advertisers, sponsors, commercial content, noise, sorta-off-topic posts. Boasting, "sky-is-falling" posts, and in-depth-personal insights of the $.02 and $.03 varieties are tolerated. If something screams, "Eeeks" -- it should be on hurt. Also the place for folks, limelight, meta, global, talk-like posts.

              Injury
              Formal talk and wondering around the topic areas are okay. Hangout for trainers, coaches, those with new injuries. Suited to serious posts, more advanced knowledge base, only on-topic tips/hints/help.

              Rehab
              Clinicians, injured athletes, long-term motivations and progress reports are okay.

              Case
              Formal case study presentations, poster-type sessions. Dedicated mainly to college students, continuing eductation, clinicians, coaches.

              Peer: i.e., Peer Review
              Most academic, high-minded, science supported facts desired.

              Digest
              Batches of posts sent out in one larger mail message in a digest format for all the siblings. Read only.

              Aid: i.e., List Lifeguards & Volunteers
              For the worker-bees, volunteers, early-adopters, giving netizens, list-lifeguards, staff, and others who have expressed a desire to assist with the operations and discussions at SportSurf.Net. This is NOT a help list, rather it is a list for helpers.

              Additional digests for regions of the body may be started later, such as upper-body, lower-body.

              For Future Standards:

                Needs41: i.e., Needs for one
                Needs postings for one person, most often for yourself. Includes swaps.

                Needs4org: i.e., Needs for organization
                Needs postings for an organization, group, team, league, school. Obviously more than one person.

                ABCs
                Basics, Newbies, Elementary Questions.

                ABCs areas are support forums that are for the K-12 market. Experts and productive users can join to answer questions from children and inexperienced users. In time enough well rounded kids can come to answer all questions being posted (they like to show off what they know). More appealing to schools, the ABCs areas are support list there specifically for schools and newbies.

                Sorry
                Sorry Sports. More news to come.

                Givers
                Give it up here. More news to come.

                Takers
                Log in here. Component with Givers. More news to come.

                Forum
                Forums can be for classroom use, and even for distance learning. More news to come.


              Gateway Lists

              Gate lists, gateways, and meta lists are coming. Meta lists are cool. However, no further information on meta lists, their policies and operations are going to be posted here at this time.

              Deployment

              Various services are being rolled out this month. However, openings are expected to continue for some time into the future. The fluid creation process means that some lists are open but inactive. You are encouraged to submit your subscription but don't be surprised to find little or no mail at this time.

              Suggestions Welcomed

              If you have a way to improve upon our name spectrum standard, or the explanation of this standard, please send email to: list-mom@sportsurf.net.

              Still Confused?

              Email your messages to: Feeder@sportsurf.net
              People operate a help-desk at the feeder address. If you are confused, send the message to that address, and the message gets reviewed, altered slightly if needed, and posted to suitable locations on the net. The feeder is a great place to go if you are unsure of things and if you don't want to make a goof with your email.

              A Tip on CAPS and lower-case typing
              Capitalizations and lower-case letters are not a factor with Majordomo. The webmaster types "Better-Swim-List" for easy reading, but all of the following names work the same way: BETTER-SWIM-LISTbetter-swim-list; or even bETTER-sWIM-lisT. When you send in your email to majordomo, you can use either caps or lower-case typing for the both address and the command. Of course, the hyphen between words is a hyphen and not an underline.

              Just so you know, the CAPS and lower-case letters are very important when it comes to URLs (such as http://www.sportsurf.net/PROVING). The domain name part is not case sensitive, but everything after "net" must be typed with the correct case. The domain here is SportSurf.Net, but you can type the domain with or without capitals. In the example within this paragraph, the word "PROVING" needs to be in capital letters. Other servers may or may not be case-sensitive. On this server, typing "www" is optional.

  • Monday, January 15, 1996

    SSS NDA example

    Collected a big binder of NDAs, Non-disclosure agreements. This one is from a helper via NZ.
    Stopped doing NDAs, mostly, after this exercise. Never needed to really leverage them. But, our efforts for The Sports Dorm were in plans that went to AOL and elsewhere. 




    Sunday, January 07, 1996

    Book review: he Treasure Within - A Swimmer's Logbook

    Review was published in 1996, January / Feb edition of SWIM.
    By Kevin DeForrest, SSS publisher, 178 pages.

    Review by Wayne McCauley

    This book will appeal to many Masters swimmers who need a better way to focus on their goals. Kevin DeForrest, a top Masters swimmer, uses self discovery and self awareness techniques to develop not only the swimmer within but the whole person. His use of the Four Part hormony model for life may appeal to many. Throughout the book are pages upon page of inspirational quotations, from Einstein, Lao Tzu, and the Bible to Kermit the Frong. There are ten essays in the book coverin gmany different topics not specifically related to Masters swimming.

    The author believes all things are connected. He uses goal setting and goal sheets that are swimming specific, conbining these goals with a one week record of daily events. The goal sheets and weekly logs are designed for you to write in the book. Each week you reflect on the data from the log sheets and determine lessons learned and objectives achieved.

    Other version of the book scheduled for release are hardcover, spiral binding and audio and computer disk formats. But a goo dreview of a swim video or book focuses on the ideas that are expressed, not the packaging. The ideas contained in The Treasure Within make it an important asset to have and use.

    Friday, January 05, 1996

    NorCal / Pacific Coaches Clinic, 17th edition

    17th Annual Pacific Swim Coaches Clinic


    January 5, 6, 7, 1996

    Mariott Hotel

    Napa, California


    Sponsored by

    SPEEDO
    NorCal Swim Shop
    Sports Support Syndicate, Inc.

    A.S.C.A.Certified 20 Units

    Clinic Schedule

    Friday - January 5, 1996
  • 10-Noon - Coaches Safety Training (Re-certification Only)
  • Noon-2pm - First Aid
  • 12-6pm - ASCA Level 2 Stroke School- Rick Klatt
  • 2:00-5:00 - CPR
  • 5:00-8:00 - CST - 1st Timers Only and EWS


    Saturday - January 6, 1996

  • 7:30-8:30 - REGISTRATION - Hospitality Suite Open
  • 9:00-10:00 - Dr. Alan Goldberg - "Developing Winning Motivation"
  • 10:00-10:15 COFFEE BREAK
  • 10:15-11:15 - Peter Motekitis - "Teaching Backstroke from Novice to Nationals"
  • 11:15-12:15 - Dick Jocums - "Discipline and Desire in the 90's"
  • 12:15-1:15 LUNCH BREAK
  • 1:15-2:15 - Mark Schubert - "Butterfly"
  • 2:15-3:15 - Robert Strauss - "The Basics- Spatial Relationship with Water"
  • 3:15-3:30 BREAK
  • 3:30-4:30 - David Marsh - "Breaststroke"
    or - Pat Avilla - "Coaching the Swimming Dork"
  • 4:30-5:30 - Kevin King - Round Table Discussion: "The Future of Age Group Swimming"
    or - Catherine Palmer, PhD - "Communication Strategies and Technological Solutions- Make Sure Your Coaching Message is Heard-The First Time" A sample chapter can be sent to you. Into the SUBJECT: type 6009 and then SEND.
  • 9:00-11pm - Coaches Social Sponsored by Speedo


    Sunday, January 7, 1996

  • 8:00-9:00 - REGISTRATION - Hospitality Suite Open
  • 9:00-10:00 - David Marsh "The Auburn Sprint Program"
  • 10:00-10:15 BREAK
  • 10:15-11:15 - Mark Schubert - "Designing a Season Program"
  • 11:15-12:15 - Robert Strauss - "Practical Applications of Physiology to Training Methodology according to the Functional Areas"
  • 12:15-1:15 LUNCH BREAK
  • 1:15-2:15 - Nort Thorton - "Freestyle"
  • 2:15-3:15 - Ed Spencer - "Distance Training and 400 IM Training"
  • 3:15-3:30 Break
  • 3:30-4:30 - Alan Goldberg  "Training Parents" or - Mark Rauterkus  "Understanding and Applying the Internet -- Benefits for Your Team and the World"


    Pacific Swim Coaches 17th Annual Clinic


    Speaker Bios


    Mark Schubert - Trojan Swim Club and the University of Southern California. The winningest coach in U.S. club history, Mark's teams have won 63 U.S. national titles from 1972-1992. He was recently names one of two assistant coaches for the 1996 Olympic team in January.

    David Marsh - Head Coach, Auburn University. 1994 NCAA Coach of the Year. 3rd place finish last at Men's NCAA, the highest since 1978. Women's 4 year consecutive top 15 finish @ NCAA. Former club coach at Dynamo in Atlanta and Las Vegas Gold, Marsh believes "that athletes who have their life in order out of the pool tend to be more centered on their athletic endeavors once they get to the pool." A great speaker not to be missed.

    Nort Thorton - Head Coach, Cal Berkeley Men's swimming. ASCA Coach of the Year, ASCA President, Olympic Coach, one of the great thinkers of our time! Come listen to the new things Nort is doing with freestyle.

    Dr. Alan Goldberg - Competitive Advantage, Northampton, MA. Alan Goldberg is one of the leading sports psychologists in the field of swimming. Back by popular demand, this year marks his third speaking engagement with this clinic.

    Robert Strauss - An internationally renown speaker who operated Swim Gym Swim School in Florida, Robert has given presentations in South America and Mexico as well as being a translator for ASCA Clinics and the Elite World Clinic. Robert's Tai Chi approach will inspire you. (Presented by Richey Industries)

    Ed Spencer - Reno Aquatic Club. ed has done great things at Reno Aquatic Club after many successful years in Southern California at Industry Hills Aquatic Club. Seven swimmers at Nationals in the 400 IM is amazing.

    Peter Motekitis - Head Coach, Davis Aquatic Club and UC Davis. Recently appointed Men's Coach, UC Davis, Peter is a long time coach of Davis Aquatic Club, a club of over 300 swimmers ranked as one of the top 10 largest clubs in the United States.

    Dick Jocums - Santa Clara Swim Club. Dick returns to coaching after a brief absence having been a world class coach of the world class athletes. Dick has been there, knows how to get there and will be there again.

    Pat Avilla - Assistant Coach, San Ramon Livermore Aquatics. Long time assistant age group coach, Pat has developed many successful age group swimmers.

    Mark Rauterkus - Swimming Sports Syndicate, Pittsburgh, PA. This former swim coach and writer for Swimming World has gone out to the publishing world and has started giving back to coaches a source for information for swimming, water polo, sports psychology and fitness. The Internet looms large and Mark's perspective and direction can sort out the real issues for busy coaches. Get the tools and energy necessary for cyberspace.
    The Speaker's Notes from Mark's presentation can be sent to you by requesting:
    SUBJECT: 6020
    Note: You must type the 4-digits shown above into the header (SUBJECT) part of the e-mail message.

    Catherine Palmer - Assistant Professor at University of Pittsburgh, Department of Communication, Sciences and Disorders. Catherine recently authored the book, Time Out! I Didn't Hear You. She has lectured and published numerous articles in the area of communication strategies and technological solutions including extensive work in amplification. Catherine is a teacher, clinician, researcher and audiologist.
    sample chapter of Catherine's book can be sent to you by requesting:
    SUBJECT: 6009
    Note: You must type the 4-digits shown above into the header (SUBJECT) part of the e-mail message.

    Kevin King - Age Group Chairman, Pacific Swimming. Here is your chance to contribute to the future of age group swimming.

  • Monday, November 27, 1995

    Africa Book Services seek to sell SSS titles



    News and Notes

    Year End News & Notes from the SSS


    Business Plan Update

    A 50-page first draft of a business plan for the SSS including SportSurf.Net was sent to insiders in early October.

    The second draft, now available has an electronic book version and printed version. The third draft needs to be banker ready and should have plenty of financial history and projections for venture capital investigators.

    Management team members need to get a one-page resume to Mark ASAP. The listing of the management team is on-line in the AUTO-RESPONDER, but it is password protected for insiders only.

    If you want to see part of the plan and help to work to its eventual completion, and you didn't get a copy, contact Mark. We can send you part of the plan via fax or e-mail. The opening letter is three pages and the Executive Summary is less than five pages.


    Authors Booked at Big Book Events

    Kevin DeForrest was booked for two presentations at the Rocky Mountain Book Festival in Denver this fall, and Mike Collins got invited to the Sacramento Reads event.

    Judd Biasiotto had a book autograph session at the past American Booksellers Assn meeting in Chicago and three other SSS authors visited the windy city at that time.

    The publisher attended Internet World in Boston in November.

    Future events include:

    NorCal / Pacific Swimming Coaches Clinic in Napa in January
    MacWorld & MacActivity in SF in January
    Chicago visit for ISHA in January
    Visit to Denmark in January
    The Sports SuperShow in Atlanta in February
    Utah for AAA in March
    Volleyball Clinics with The Sports Group - held throughout the first half of 1996
    American Booksellers Association Show in Chicago in June
    Olympic Games in Atlanta in July!


    New Swim Book and Visiting Kona

    Ruth Kazez, a world championship racer in the triathlon and IronMan Competitor, plus a brilliant painter, will be publishing a new swim book with the SSS in 1996. She was featured in an article this summer in Triathlete magazine as someone who has a life outside of the sport.

    Ruth's book will have a different format and its artwork is outstanding. Like all of our books, this one will let the author's personality exude from its pages.

    Ruth made it to the IronMan in Hawaii in 95, turning in a great swim by the way, just as other books were being rushed to the event 2nd Day UPS. That book, The Road to Kona Never Ends is by Patrick McCary. Dr. McCary is on the IronMan Foundation Board and one day we hope to get his book into the organization's hands for use as a major fundraising tool.

    If anyone wants to volunteer to deliver books to Kona, please let us know. There are no book printers in the state.


    Equipment Arrives -- Installation Pending

    We picked up a used 20-inch paper cutter recently -- all eight of us and in pieces at that. Presently, the massive, manual cutter is unassembled, but is expected to come in handy for many jobs in the future. Jerry O'Neil swears the cutter would make a great boat anchor. The off-on "switch" is 6-foot tall and weighs 140 pounds. Assembly is expected the next time our weightlifting friends come to town.

    Additional equipment includes 2 Multi presses and the regular assistance of Mr. David Smith, retired printer from Penn Hills.


    News of Water Polo in Pittsburgh

    A local newspaper, The Post Gazette, did a feature story on Bucknell swimmer and water polo player, Jay O'Neil. Jay was a team captain when Mark coached swimming at Plum High School. Jay played in the experimental water polo program Mark conducted. Both were mentioned in the article.

    Chapters have arrived in-house for the second water polo, a more basic book to accompany the existing technical one. Photos are being taken now in California.

    Get an advanced peek at the pending book, Water Polo -- Learning and Teaching the Basics, by using our e-mail on demand AUTO-RESPONDERSUBJECT: 6025
    Note: You must type the 4-digits shown above into the header (SUBJECT) part of the e-mail message.

    Monte Nitzkowski has been busy. Monte is the head of the World Water Polo Coaches Association. Many rule changes are about to impact the game and behind the scenes work is being done for the good of the sport. Monte has visited 20 different countries and states in the past 2 years, writing a new chapter for the next book whenever the opportunity exists.

    See the testimonial letter from a customer / coach from the UK. His postal letter arrived to our office in September.


    Radial Saw & Fixtures

    In the heat of the summer, the offices were closed for custom construction of five birch, 7-foot-tall, free-standing book cases for the publishing office. Plus the mail-order table and room was finished. The self-help construction team continued the building fix-up and mastered the new radial saw and router. A production room was built in the past. Next job: Finishing the Publisher's Showroom.


    New Office Help Arrives

    Three new office helpers have come aboard in temporary capacities in the past number of weeks: Linda Ryan, former librarian and customer service helper; Mary Byram, BS from RIT in photography and experienced desk-top-publisher is learning HTML and pdf; Chuck Farah is the printing, physical space and inventory/binding assistant.

    "We are making some great progress, but we have a long way to go. Each person has a real chance of becoming a full-time employee," reports Mark Rauterkus.


    Insider Newsletter

    Insider E-newsletters, called Strokes, are now being delivered by the Sports Support Syndicate. Short, sweet and simple news goes out onto the net and via fax.

    The SSS is in a tremendous position and is embarking on rapid grow with a network of vendors, managers, investors, and insiders. Hopefully this news can extend our reach into your office and help to generate more business for us all.