What happened to...........

OpenMind · Post by **OpenMind** » Sun Aug 13, 2006 3:50 am

A nice account, Spot. Mobile phones were bricks even then (although improvements over the first ones). There should have been non-geographic lines then. These were made available to the general public when the telephone service went private. (I still see phones with the Mercury button on them.)

CiX is often referred to by PC Pro as a very valuable source of information even now. Pioneering days - very exciting for those who were there. Unfortunately, I didn't even get my first PC until 1998. I still have it, but it's been decommissioned now. I got dial up in 2001 after building my own PC for the purpose.

theia · Post by **theia** » Sun Aug 13, 2006 5:32 am

I wonder where this post will end up...hopefully at the end and not the middle of this thread...problems reading and posting

Post by **Betty Boop** » Sun Aug 13, 2006 8:53 am

arrangements for the next FG meet?

I know the American side were considering Las Vegas (my brother said he'd have my children for me so I could go, but I don't think I could expect him to do that!)

What about the Brits, whens it going to be and where? :driving:

OpenMind · Post by **OpenMind** » Sun Aug 13, 2006 9:01 am

I think it would be best to get a list of who wants to come to the meet. Then, we can choose somewhere that is fairly central in terms of traveling time.

If anyone would have trouble coming on the basis of financial difficulty, we have a choice. Either we arrange the meeting close to them, or we club together to pay for their accommodation while someone could pick them up on the way.

Post by **Betty Boop** » Sun Aug 13, 2006 9:04 am

OpenMind wrote: I think it would be best to get a list of who wants to come to the meet. Then, we can choose somewhere that is fairly central in terms of traveling time.

If anyone would have trouble coming on the basis of financial difficulty, we have a choice. Either we arrange the meeting close to them, or we club together to pay for their accommodation while someone could pick them up on the way.

Good idea! My names on the list, now, whos going to stop by and pick me up!:wah:

OpenMind · Post by **OpenMind** » Sun Aug 13, 2006 9:20 am

Betty Boop wrote: Good idea! My names on the list, now, whos going to stop by and pick me up!:wah:

My name's up for the meeting.

If someone picks me up, I'll get them to pick you up.

Rapunzel · Post by **Rapunzel** » Sun Aug 13, 2006 9:49 am

I'll come and so will Weeder when she comes to stay with me. :-6

Post by **Betty Boop** » Sun Aug 13, 2006 9:51 am

Rapunzel wrote: I'll come and so will Weeder when she comes to stay with me. :-6

When's she coming?? or is she waiting on the date of the meet? :-6

Bez · Post by **Bez** » Sun Aug 13, 2006 9:56 am

I'll come....

Rapunzel · Post by **Rapunzel** » Sun Aug 13, 2006 10:00 am

Betty Boop wrote: When's she coming?? or is she waiting on the date of the meet? :-6

I think she was thinking of next summer. It was kind of a sketchy arrangement made on May 6th, in London, this year. However, I hope she'll be able to come and stay with us cos she wants to sail to the Isle of Wight!

Rapunzel · Post by **Rapunzel** » Sun Aug 13, 2006 10:01 am

Oh, oops, I think she was waiting for the next meeting to be arranged first!

Dooble oops!

:wah: I'm sorry if I've pinched her from under yours and Theia's noses Betty.

But you've had her! It's my turn! :yh_rotfl

Post by **Betty Boop** » Sun Aug 13, 2006 10:31 am

Rapunzel wrote: Oh, oops, I think she was waiting for the next meeting to be arranged first!

Dooble oops!

:wah: I'm sorry if I've pinched her from under yours and Theia's noses Betty.

But you've had her! It's my turn! :yh_rotfl

:wah: Dooble! Oh my what have I done to poor Theia!

I'm sure she'd love the Isle of Wight, she can't come over a second time and stay in the same place can she! She's got to see it all!

cherandbuster · Post by **cherandbuster** » Sun Aug 13, 2006 11:13 am

Hey Ladies

Tell me about Weeder. I've yet to 'meet' her.

She sounds exceptional :-6

Rapunzel · Post by **Rapunzel** » Sun Aug 13, 2006 11:59 am

She's gorgeous cher. The sort of person you gotta hug till she turns blue! :wah:

Seriously, you know you sometimes just meet someone and think 'I REALLY like them' - well that's her, in fact, thats ALL the FGers from the London Town meet, they were ALL so totally lovely. :yh_flower

But Cher, just look in the mirror. Look deep in your eyes and see what a gorgeous person you are - you're just like her and I would have to hug you till you turned blue too!

:yh_flower

Rapunzel · Post by **Rapunzel** » Sun Aug 13, 2006 12:03 pm

Betty Boop wrote: :wah: Dooble! Oh my what have I done to poor Theia!

I'm sure she'd love the Isle of Wight, she can't come over a second time and stay in the same place can she! She's got to see it all!

You gals are both sweethearts and so is Bez. I can't wait to see you all again!

Bez · Post by **Bez** » Sun Aug 13, 2006 12:06 pm

Rapunzel wrote: You gals are both sweethearts and so is Bez. I can't wait to see you all again!

That day in May when we all met was one of the high lights of my life....now when I post, I can 'see' everyones face...it makes it so real.:-4

OpenMind · Post by **OpenMind** » Sun Aug 13, 2006 12:29 pm

Bez wrote: That day in May when we all met was one of the high lights of my life....now when I post, I can 'see' everyones face...it makes it so real.:-4

How many forums can boast that experience, eh.?

Bez · Post by **Bez** » Sun Aug 13, 2006 12:33 pm

OpenMind wrote: How many forums can boast that experience, eh.?

Not many Rog I'll bet !

OpenMind · Post by **OpenMind** » Sun Aug 13, 2006 12:37 pm

Bez wrote: Not many Rog I'll bet !

I don't get around many forums, but I think a few people here do. I wonder if they know of any other forums where the members have met?

Rapunzel · Post by **Rapunzel** » Sun Aug 13, 2006 12:37 pm

Bez wrote: That day in May when we all met was one of the high lights of my life....now when I post, I can 'see' everyones face...it makes it so real.:-4

I know what you mean Bez! It was SUCH a wonderful day!

Such a shame it could only be one day and not longer! (well, for some of us! hehehehehe)

:wah:

OpenMind · Post by **OpenMind** » Sun Aug 13, 2006 12:41 pm

Rapunzel wrote: I know what you mean Bez! It was SUCH a wonderful day!

Such a shame it could only be one day and not longer! (well, for some of us! hehehehehe)

:wah:

I hope I don't have to get up so early this time.

Post by **spot** » Sun Aug 13, 2006 12:59 pm

OpenMind wrote: I wonder if they know of any other forums where the members have met?Fifteen years back, a meal out followed by a late-night party once a quarter - that usually got around twenty people turning up - and a monthly pub night that got anything between three and ten. Most times there would be someone new showed their face, mostly without any warning, mostly feeling very shy about it. That went on for four years or so. It might even be time to arrange a where-are-they-now get-together for that lot. I know where to find... eight of them off the top of my head. I bet I could track down another four within five minutes. If they each grab one more, that's a quorum and we're on for an anniversary pizza.

I'd hesitate to introduce them here en masse, mind - they were a really odd crew.

OpenMind · Post by **OpenMind** » Sun Aug 13, 2006 1:13 pm

spot wrote: Fifteen years back, a meal out followed by a late-night party once a quarter - that usually got around twenty people turning up - and a monthly pub night that got anything between three and ten. Most times there would be someone new showed their face, mostly without any warning, mostly feeling very shy about it. That went on for four years or so. It might even be time to arrange a where-are-they-now get-together for that lot. I know where to find... eight of them off the top of my head. I bet I could track down another four within five minutes. If they each grab one more, that's a quorum and we're on for an anniversary pizza.

I'd hesitate to introduce them here en masse, mind - they were a really odd crew.

Of course, these people must have been part of the early Internet, more like a specialised club. It was very much a different beast then and very few people were part of it compared to the numbers that are now connected. I really should have stressed that I was referring to forums in the present time that are used by the average 'Joe and Mary'. My mistake. But that was an interesting account of the early days of the Internet. What was the internetwork called then?

Post by **spot** » Sun Aug 13, 2006 1:33 pm

OpenMind wrote: Of course, these people must have been part of the early Internet, more like a specialised club. It was very much a different beast then and very few people were part of it compared to the numbers that are now connected. I really should have stressed that I was referring to forums in the present time that are used by the average 'Joe and Mary'. My mistake. But that was an interesting account of the early days of the Internet. What was the internetwork called then?I think clarifying the words might help. It was pre-"World Wide Web", which I first remember seeing in 1994. The Internet existed and (with some sleight-of-hand) emails could be sent out and brought back in to the Internet backbone and reach anyone else who - like us - had an Internet email address. There were heirarchies of networks, the bit I refer to was a local Bulletin Board (it was a lot "cheaper" - I use the word under protest - if one avoided trunk charges) and the local Bulletin Board would swap mail in and out regularly to the national trunk (this one used FIDO) which in turn gated into the Internet proper. In the 80s I had a BT dialup account (first at 300 baud, then at 1200/75 split rate) that did much the same for a lot more money. The advent of Bulletin Boards was a huge drop in costs as was the first national board, CiX, which still exists (and from which Demon was spawned, thus birthing UK ISPs). Non-geographic phone numbers didn't exist back then.

The trouble with mentioning the name of the Bulletin Board is that they'll all creep out of the woodwork and start messaging here if I do, during the next few months, as and when they see the place mentioned on Google searches. It did indeed develop a special interest section, on account of a misinterpretation of the board's name which in retrospect was rather predictable. In compensation, that made for exciting parties - and let he who knows more than I've said maintain a decent silence in that regard.

sunny104 · Post by **sunny104** » Mon Aug 14, 2006 10:04 am

I want to go to England again......:yh_cry

BabyRider · Post by **BabyRider** » Mon Aug 14, 2006 10:14 am

Betty Boop wrote: arrangements for the next FG meet?

I know the American side were considering Las Vegas (my brother said he'd have my children for me so I could go, but I don't think I could expect him to do that!)

What about the Brits, whens it going to be and where? :driving:
OK, this has GOT to be the original post, right? Even though it's showing as #5? This is a very confusing thread!!!

Marie5656 · Post by **Marie5656** » Mon Aug 14, 2006 10:17 am

BabyRider wrote: OK, this has GOT to be the original post, right? Even though it's showing as #5? This is a very confusing thread!!!

Oh, that is part of yesterday's gremlins...post were running wild. The Anything Random thread was really nuts.

OpenMind · Post by **OpenMind** » Mon Aug 14, 2006 10:28 am

BabyRider wrote: OK, this has GOT to be the original post, right? Even though it's showing as #5? This is a very confusing thread!!!

Unfortunately, the FG database was corrupted yesterday. This thread was originally posted by BettyBoop asking about the next UKFG meet up.

BabyRider · Post by **BabyRider** » Mon Aug 14, 2006 10:33 am

OpenMind wrote: Unfortunately, the FG database was corrupted yesterday. This thread was originally posted by BettyBoop asking about the next UKFG meet up.
Hey, all that matters to me is you're still here, OM. I saw your thread about you leaving, so I'm glad to see that you've come to your senses. :yh_rotfl

Glad you're sticking around.

OpenMind · Post by **OpenMind** » Mon Aug 14, 2006 10:35 am

BabyRider wrote: Hey, all that matters to me is you're still here, OM. I saw your thread about you leaving, so I'm glad to see that you've come to your senses. :yh_rotfl

Glad you're sticking around.

I just couldn't leave you guys.:-4 Anyway, I've apparently been debriefed (see same thread).

minks · Post by **minks** » Mon Aug 14, 2006 10:38 am

OpenMind wrote: I just couldn't leave you guys.:-4 Anyway, I've apparently been debriefed (see same thread).

OM! You lost your briefs?????

OpenMind · Post by **OpenMind** » Mon Aug 14, 2006 10:43 am

minks wrote: OM! You lost your briefs?????

Nope, they were taken deliberately and I know who it was despite the false claims.:sneaky:

cherandbuster · Post by **cherandbuster** » Mon Aug 14, 2006 10:46 am

OpenMind wrote: Nope, they were taken deliberately and I know who it was despite the false claims.:sneaky:

Adn I'm NOT giving them back

stuffs them under her pillow :p

minks · Post by **minks** » Mon Aug 14, 2006 10:47 am

cherandbuster wrote: Adn I'm NOT giving them back

stuffs them under her pillow :p

Watch out for that Cher, she is a bad one.....

cherandbuster · Post by **cherandbuster** » Mon Aug 14, 2006 10:48 am

minks wrote: Watch out for that Cher, she is a bad one.....

I'll have you corrupted in no time at all, Minxsy :sneaky:

:-4 Minxsy :-4

ZAP · Post by **ZAP** » Mon Aug 14, 2006 10:49 am

Why does the song Desperado come to mind when I think of Open Mind?

minks · Post by **minks** » Mon Aug 14, 2006 10:51 am

cherandbuster wrote: I'll have you corrupted in no time at all, Minxsy :sneaky:

:-4 Minxsy :-4

Ohhhhh nooooo my credibility will be going down the toilet now....

OpenMind · Post by **OpenMind** » Mon Aug 14, 2006 10:55 am

Zapata wrote: Why does the song Desperado come to mind when I think of Open Mind?

Give up. Why? Where do boxer shorts ever come into Desperado?

cherandbuster wrote:

And I'm NOT giving them back

stuffs them under her pillow :p

Come on Cher. Do I have to fight you for them?:rolleyes:

cherandbuster · Post by **cherandbuster** » Mon Aug 14, 2006 10:55 am

minks wrote: Ohhhhh nooooo my credibility will be going down the toilet now....

Ehhh

Credibility is overrated anyway

It's better to have fun :guitarist

OpenMind · Post by **OpenMind** » Mon Aug 14, 2006 11:25 am

Hamster wrote: I'd like to come to the UK meet too-even if to cry in my beer!

My cars turbo has just gone and its gonna cost me £500 to fix it!:yh_cry

Did we arrange a date yet? ( And can anyone give me a lift? :yh_cry)

No date has been fixed yet, Hamster. I don't think it's going to be until after Christmas. We don't even know where yet.

You'll be more than welcome to cry in your beer as long as you're prepared to be photographed at the same time.

minks · Post by **minks** » Mon Aug 14, 2006 11:28 am

cherandbuster wrote: Ehhh

Credibility is overrated anyway

It's better to have fun :guitarist

ok then back to Om's briefs :-3

OpenMind · Post by **OpenMind** » Mon Aug 14, 2006 11:33 am

Hamster wrote: Thanks OM although I may not be crying-just found out it may only be £450...Lower ...lower.... I feel like Bruce Forsythe :wah:

Any donations are greatly welcome!!!:D

Please make cheques payable to "Keep Hamster On The Road Fund"......

Oh yeah. Keep ringing around.

OpenMind · Post by **OpenMind** » Mon Aug 14, 2006 11:34 am

minks wrote: ok then back to Om's briefs :-3

Wot! Have you got them now. You women have got me going round in circles. Think of my dignity!!!

cherandbuster · Post by **cherandbuster** » Mon Aug 14, 2006 11:38 am

OpenMind wrote: Wot! Have you got them now. You women have got me going round in circles. Think of my dignity!!!

Ommm

We've stripped you of all of your dignity

In fact, I've started a new thread on your briefs a minute ago :p

OpenMind · Post by **OpenMind** » Mon Aug 14, 2006 11:45 am

Hamster wrote: How about a pint then instead???:wah:

Yes please.