Ryte
Bytes is the
monthly newsletter of the Commodore Users Group of Kansas City (CUGKC). This
newsletter will not appear on CUGKC's website before that month's scheduled CUGKC meeting. This is in deference to
actual CUGKC members. The Webmaster will strive to publish it no later than 10
days after that month's scheduled CUGKC meeting.
If you would like to join CUGKC, we would love
to have you!
by Jack Kincaid / jkinca1@cugkc.cjb.net
Now that old man winter has thrown his last hissy fit the spring can begin. Now all we have to worry about is wind, floods, hail, and tornadoes. Such is life! Well, back to the lawn mowing and leaf raking, or in my case weeds and dandelions.
Speaking of tornadoes, Scott told the group at the meeting that the guy we get the LoadStar from lived in the housing addition in Denver where the tornado hit. Luckily his and a few others were spared, but the LoadStar disk will be a little late.
At the April meeting we were missing some people! Four was all we could muster; however, we talked about things Commodore and things PC. Hopefully the May meeting will be better.
Speaking of the May meeting, it will be on May 10th, 2007 at the Plaza branch of the Kansas City Public Library, at 6:30 pm in the small meeting room.
And speaking of Commodore a moment ago, I still have some of those wonderful marvels sitting in the Kincaid basement doing nothing. For a minimal fee, you can have one (or several) of them working for YOU in YOUR home (not mine!). Give me a jingle on the landline or visit me at the next CUGKC meeting. My phone number is 816.761.4777 and I am home around four in the afternoon.
Financial Report
Balance Mar. 2007 ................... $351.12
Income: Apr. 2007 ................... $ 0.00
Expenses: Apr. 2007
Newsletter (4 months) ............ -$ 28.92
Other Postage .................... -$ 1.83
Total Expenses: Apr. 2007 .......... -$ 30.75
Closing Balance Apr. 2007 ........... $320.37
by Lenard Roach / lroach1@cugkc.cjb.net
Another milestone has been here at the editor's desk of Ryte Bytes. For the second time since I took over the newsletter, we have filled a second 5.25 disk of graphics and fonts from using the Newsroom graphics disk. It took us 17 months to make this disk, from December 2005 to May 2007. This disk will join its cousin disk in its special "Ryte Bytes Newsroom" case and be shipped by special armored courier to its special place in the Commodore wing of the Roach Motel, Museum, and Sewage Treatment Plant.
I read the same thing that Scott did about Commodore Dave Moorman having his Holly, Colorado neighborhood ravaged by three tornadoes. From reports I've received, only Dave and his neighbor across the street had their homes spared by the fury of the funnels; all other homes were either destroyed or the city has considered them unsafe for occupancy. Reverend Moorman is presently living in his 5th wheel and will produce the next installment of LoadStar as quickly as possible.
It's been a busy week here at the Roach Motel with two newsletters due out this month. I also work on the FCUG newsletter, The Interface. It keeps me in practice and I appreciate the chance to serve. But y'know, I know there is a way to convert Commodore text into IBM, but does there exist a method to accomplish the reverse? I know there was once upon a time, but how about now, with IBM word processors being so complicated in conjuring up text? It may be worth investigating.
When your illustrious editor goes to speak at the CommVEx this year, it will be the fulfillment of a personal milestone. I will be speaking on the book, Run/Stop-Restore which will complete the list of what I wanted to accomplish as a writer. This list is short but it makes me happy to think that what I started years ago is about to come full circle. In 1992, I got published for profit in RUN magazine with the program and article “Check It Out”. In 2000, I wrote and published the work Run/Stop-Restore. With this I got to deal with the entire publishing process. In 2005, lightning struck twice as I was blessed to be published again, this time for no profit, in LoadStar #245 with the program and article “Envelope Addressor”. In 2006, the Glad Tidings Assembly Of God Youth Players produced my play entitled “The Innkeeper's Story”, which was written entirely on a Commodore machine. Now in 2007, I will be making a one city tour to talk about and promote Run/Stop-Restore. Reviewing this list, I also noticed that all these milestones were reached, either directly or indirectly, on the Commodore computer. Thanks to my family and the capable people of the Commodore Users Group of Kansas City, who in 1995 convinced me to get back in the saddle (after a disastrous ministry adventure in 1987) and start pushing keys again by granting me my own feature in Ryte Bytes about my BBS called The Pulpit. I never knew how good this could have felt if it wasn't for such positive convictions from the aforementioned. Thanks again.
From Jack's report the ranks are getting thin at the meetings, but I do have to raise the question: What else is there to talk about? Some clubs I communicate with are opening their ranks to other format users to increase membership, thus creating a fading effect as the more modern and popular formats begin to take over and choke out the original format that started the whole organization. I used to favor opening the club to other formats, but after reading (and hearing) what can happen when that is done, I have to reconsider. Sure, I'm up to increasing membership, but not at the sacrifice of the Commodore altogether. I never thought of that until a pastor explained to me how churches are "taken over" without so much as a dime exchanging hands. What can be done? I don't know.
Well, with all that reminiscing and contemplating done, I've worn out my welcome for this issue. So, with a hearty Hi Ho Silver, I whisk away into the pages of another issue of Ryte Bytes. Be sure to be here next issue to read what else I prattle on. Besides, you all will need something to line your birdcages with.
The Commodore Users Group of Kansas City is a not-for-profit educational support group for persons using Commodore computers.
Membership benefits include a monthly newsletter as well as access to CUGKC's library of over 1000 public domain and shareware disks.
Dues are $15 the first year, $10 annually thereafter. Disks of the month and library disks cost $3 each for members.
Meetings are held on the second Thursday of every month at the Plaza branch of the Kansas City Public Library, located at 4801 Main Street in Kansas City, Missouri. Visitors are welcome to attend any meeting. For more information, contact any officer:
Email us at cugkc@cugkc.cjb.net or visit our web site at http://ballz.ababa.net/cugkc. Our snail-mail address is:
CUGKC
6025 Corona Avenue
Kansas City, Kansas 66102