.IF DSK1.C3 .CE 2 *IMPACT/99* by Jack Sughrue STILL BREATHING .IF DSK1.C2  A NEW USER GROUP? Every time I read in some newsletter or other that our TI World Community is dead, I think of Mark Twain's comment when he read about his supposed demise: "I think the reports about my death have been slightly exagerated." So it is with our TI. I know I use it for word processing about 35 hours a week and for games and examination of new programs and doing practical stuff with utilites - in that order - for another 20, so I feel that the "death" of my 4A is a bit premature. Most of my TI friends would say the same, particularly as there are two new TI magazines in our marketplace to go along with the wonderful MICROpendium. And there are new pieces of software coming out - it seems - almost daily from all over the world. [I have on my desk exactly 34 disks in a shoebox marked "To Look At!" They are disks of Public Domain and Fairware materials of all sorts. I have another entitled "Education" which has 13 disks. And another of commercial disks I've bought during the past two months with 11 packages of disks unopened. In short, I have too much new stuff to even get to LOOKING at it, at this point in my life.] And there is new hardware coming out everywhere: P-Boxes from Canada and Australian, Gramulator that does all Gramkracker did and much more, harddisks, computers on a card, very advanced keyboards, and more, more, more. Does this sound like a dead computer? And newly-formed user groups are making an appearance here and there, while some long-established groups are joining forces to make megagroups (for reduced costs [housing, newsletters, etc.] and greater buying and sharing power, among other things). Among these new groups is one that I think the TI World Community should be aware of: The Oakland Computer Club which meets at Atwood-Tapley School in Oakland, Maine. What makes this club unique is that is is make up of all kids from kindergarten through grade 6. The club recently earned statewide recognition for the innovative ways computers were used in the school. Eunice Spooner, an indefatigable volunteer at the school, a member of the school committee, and a former elementary school teacher, received the award this spring from the Technology in Main Schools Committee for her work. What makes this award unusual is that it is for efforts done on the TI/99-4A. What makes this more unusual and a remarkable story in its own right is that fact that Eunice Spooner is a quadriplegic. This unusual woman broke her neck in a car accident in 1982 and, as she said to me on the phone, "had a choice of giving up or getting on with it." That she chose the latter is unquestioned. In addition to operating founding and operating this new computer club of 30 members (more than many TI clubs in the New England area), she teaches 11 TI computer classes in the school each week with six students in each class across the whole elementary level. When the 4As came down in price and many people gave up on them, Ms. Spooner saw a golden opportunity to use "these great computers with the students." She immediately began to put out an all-call for any consoles, TVs, tape recorders that could be gotten. The school now has three of its own consoles, but some of the 30 club members share their computers with the school. With Mrs.^Spooner in the classrooms, the students under her charge learn BASIC programming and have written many of their own programs. The Oakland Club, however, is strictly voluntary and meets every Monday night. Maurice Anderson, a teacher in Oakland, assists Mrs.^Spooner, makes arrangements for field trips, and works with the more experienced youth. Mrs.^Spooner works with the younger children. "It's interesting to see how many parents stay for these meetings and get caught up in the computer activities of their children," she says. The club has begun to develop a library of their own written programs and modules of educational programs and games. These materials are demonstrated at the Monday meetings (with particular emphasis on student-written works) and may be checked out later and worked on or played at home. "Right now the club is looking for more consoles. We'd love to find some that are no longer being used, as it would permit us, obviously, to do a lot more for more youngsters." The club could also use any TI educational programs or materials of any kind for these children. Although their software consists mainly of tapes and modules, they do have one disk drive system, too, so all you readers who have extensive libraries or materials you have grown out of or haven't used in years might consider packing it up and mailing it to Eunice Spooner, Box 3720, Webb Road, Waterville, ME 04901. It would be a good investment in the future of a lot of kids. These junior TIers, themselves, are very interested in finding some other kids to correspond with. The group would also love to see newsletters and basic-type programs from anyone. Oh, one more thing regarding the remarkable Mrs.^Spooner. She's a sysop on her own board. Credit system; upload first, Northeaster BBS - 207 465 9065 - log on, TI programs, author uploads. Give her a call. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ HELPFUL HINTS Many readers send in lots of questions which I try to answer in the Helpful Hints section of this column. One question which comes up again and again is "Do you know of a good cribbage game?" I don't know of any, other than Corey Cheng's wonderfully intelligent but INCREDIBLY SLOW Cribbage Game. It needs a good assembler (or compiler) to make this game worth it for most players. There must be a LARGE market for such a game, if the requests I get for such info are any inkling. (Programmers, are you listening?) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The next batch of questions recur so often I am going to deal with them all at once. I hope the companies and groups and people I left out will not be offended, but these are my honest answers. RECOMMENDATIONS: I'm often asked what are the best sources for materials and service and information for our TI-99/4A. For me, the following are excellent: MICROpendium istheMAGAZINE for TI owners. Except for newsletters, no other periodical is ENTIRELY devoted to our computer. The (usually) 48-page monthly magazine costs $20 per year. MICROpendium, PO Box 1343, Round Rock TX 78680 ASGARD Software is one of the oldest SOFTWARE COMPANIES around and one of the best developers of innovative TI programs in the world. It supports TI owners with tapes, disks, books, and a new magazine. Free catalog and information: ASGARD Softwarel, PO Box 10306, Rockville MD 20850 TIGERCUB Software is not just for programmers. Jim Peterson has some of the best single programs and collections of XB stuff for adults and kids. His TIPS and his NUTS 'n BOLTS for beginner or techie programmers is, simply, extraordinary. $1 for catalog (returned with first order) to TIGERCUB Software, 156 Collingwood Ave., Columbus OH 43213 GENIAL TRAVelER puts out a DISKAZINE six times a year. These jam-packed disks have EVERYTHING (and Barry Traver always throws in additional bonus disks). Each disk contains a half year's supply of goodies. For what you get, $36 a year is a steal. Ask for the entire first volume, if you don't yet have it. Two-year subscription only $65. GENIAL TRAVelER, 835 Green Valley Drive, Philadelphia PA 19128 BITS, BYTES && PIXELS is the unique newsletter put out by the Lima, Ohio, 99ers. This USER GROUP is, in my mind, one of the very best you could ever join by mail. And it is only $15 a year including subscription. In addition, they have large, free access disk and tape libraries. This group is exceptional. (I will be writing a column about other exceptionl user groups and newsletters in an upcoming IMPACT.) SISTER PAT TAYLOR, 1050 Carmel Drive #456, Dubuque, Iowa 52001 is a novice TIer who is rapidly becoming an expert. She also is a prolific letter-writer. So, if you'd just like to write to another 99er buff, she's the one. GOOD SAMARITAN CORNER. In summary, our brand-new user group that has just recently been formed in Maine. Except for its leader, Eunice B. Spooner, and her helpers, all the members are kids. They could use some kids' stuff, educational stuff, any stuff. Preferably on tape, but any configuration to DSSD would be great. If you have anything you could help start this library, mail to Eunice B. Spooner, RFD #1, Box 3720, Webb Road, Waterville, Maine, 04901. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ PLUS! is the only fairware stuff I have. These articles may be used freely as they are Public Domain. Everything else I have done is also Public Domain and in most user-group libraries and not worth owning. But I thank all those people who have asked. And, yes, I am a teacher and a writer and, no, I do not own a pair of Mickey Mouse andirons. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ [Jack Sughrue, Box 459, E.Douglas, MA 01516] If any newsletter editor prints these articles, please put me on your mailing list. Thanks - JS Հ