Stamp Column Archives

The Glassine Surfer Column Archive

This column originally appeared in the American Philatelic Society's monthly magazine, "The American Philatelist." Since then some of the information may be out-of-date depending on how far back you're reading.

January 1999

[Ninety-nine is here,
Happy New Year.]

Looking back, looking ahead, reflection, determination and resolution.  Bah-Humbug:  You have a new socks and it's cold outside.

That gives you three months to get ready for spring, so why spoil things with promises you don't want to keep.  Afterall you've spent the last few decades perfecting yourself already, and there's probably nothing much left to work on.

Instead, compile a list of resolutions for others.  They may appreciate your thoughtful consideration of their inner plights, foibles and bad habits.  Remember election law and only promise what you have already done and what they should do.  

On the other hand, if you don't deliver your good intentions with a smile, you may be using a sponge to dampen your stamp hinges for the next few months.  

Here's my list of resolutions for the "Wring of Wayward Webmasters"

1) Resolve to stop using multiple frames on web site pages.

2) Resolve to eliminate big, pretty, fluffy pictures on websites, unless the visitor has the option to load them or not.  They're the web equivalent of a Twinkie.

3) Resolve to eliminate all those unwanted, time consuming web site annoyances known as pop-up ad screens.  Boycott URLs that subject you to them.

4) Resolve to obliterate all animated pictures of spinning E's, fluttering flags, running dogs or revolving globes.

5) Please resolve to trash embedded music files that you can't turn off.  Some of those tunes were awful in original stereo.  MIDI or .wav doesn't help.

6) Ban web sites designed by the color-blind.  Though I support the Americans with Disabilites Act, these sites can be dangerous.  Black-green backgrounds with flourescent red text can be lethal.  I have even seen black on black, which might more accurately be said to say, "I have not-seen black on black."

7) Resolve to use the < table > tag to full effect to help organize and present more factual content in an easy-reading environment.

8) Resolve to learn one new thing about the Net easy week and then email it to someone.

9) Resolve to read one book from the local public library each month and to let the reader have the final say.

10) See #9 and email it in.

You might want to check out the Bud Uglly Web Site
http://www.wwwvoice.com/bud/bud.html

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[NetMinder]

You know the story.  You search the Net and come across a site that says, "Frontier Mail Bags Unearthed at Little Big Horn."  

The writer, say an assistant professor at Big Horn State, describes the recovery of 125 perfectly preserved letters and envelopes and says he'll scan them for the web site right after he recovers from his surgery.

You could check back every two days for the next few months or even years, or you could have NetMinder e-mail you the site is updated.  Just go to NetMinder and fill in the form.
Yes, it's free.

Netminder
http://www.netmind.com

In fact you could even use NetMinder to update you about this APS column.  The links to the sites mentioned here are posted at the APS' website every month.

Hint: First visit the site-page you want watched. Highlight the URL in your browser's address box, and copy it to memory (Ctl+C), then go to NetMinder and paste (Ctl+V) it into the URL box for the site you want watched.

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[Universal Street Corner]

Usenet (use-net) is a network of newsgroups, and a newsgroup is a universal Net bulletin board.  Each newsgroup covers one topic, and their universality has made them very popular around the world.

The beauty of a newsgroup is that you never know what's next.  The group is a list of messages sent in by anyone, new and old collectors, the serious and the loopy, the educated and the exceedingly opinionated.

The beast-within is that most groups are unmoderated, which means no one's policing the beat and inappropriate scams sometimes surface, along with random personal attack.

There are two ways to access these groups.  The first is the News Reader portion of your web browser.  Your Internet provider (AOL, ATT or local company) copies the newgroup messages to their computer and you read them from there. But if you're provider doesn't subscribe to the newsgroup, you're out of luck.

The other way to check out the newsgroups is a Net company called DejaNews.  Just go there and follow the directions, but when "searching" always use the "complete" database option.  

Deja News
http://www.dejanews.com/home_if.shtml

For stamp collectors two major newsgroups are
1) rec.collecting.stamps.discuss
2) rec.collecting.stamps.sales

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