This must the future of the ´internet cafe´-- at least for this time and this sort of place. It is past midnight, and I sit in an EasyEverything franchise a block from the University of Barcelona. There are more than 300 internet stations, each with DSL, Logitech camera, hard drive jack, sound in and out jacks -- and the darn place is nearly full. Oh, and the cost is under $5 for 24-hour use, about $20 for a month of use. 24 hours a day. As I wander around looking at what people are doing, it is clear that more than a few are doing academic stuff online. A few are unabashedly looking at porno sites. And one is checking into DegreeInfo, keeping one small toe in those waters, while having a glorious time in this fine place. Best regards from John
I'm always amazed that people will do that in public. How crass! Looking at DegreeInfo where everybody can see you doing it? The sheer nerve... Tom Nixon
Dear John Bear-- Last June I attended a seminar held by the Dean of Lewis and Clark studies. (He's involved with the next four national exhibitions marking the bicentennial of their expedition.) He says he trusts NOTHING cited from the internet! Old school? Definitely. And although he always spends July in Oxford, England, I wonder how he'd wonder at your report from "the future" in glorious Barcelona? And what would Captains Kirk/Picard/Janeway say to their forbears of 1803? --Orson
Good wine, food, and gypsy women! Dr. B. Have you tried the Spanish Paella yet? It's gotta be good there! If you like cured ham, you have to try Serrano hams, the pigs are fed black acorns to fatten them up. Ahhhhh, food for the kings! Michael
We are learning that, like many other countries in Europe, Spain is a loose affiliation of quite independent near-countries -- Cataluyna, Alturias, etc. The friend who showed us around Barcelona lives in a household where some relatives don´t even speak Spanish, just Catalan. Paella, however, seems a universal food, although more common where we are now, Bilbao, heart of the Basque country (and, it seems, only one all-night internet parlor). The Guggenheim Museum is the most exciting building we´ve seen (both outside and in) since -- well since the Gaudi buildings in Barcelona last week, but there isn´t a third place, at least in the last 30 years. Internet services here don´t connect to news groups -- at least nothing that begins with ált´-- so I must manage to do without a look at alt.education.distance. Such is life. 10 pm. Nearly time for dinner. Cheers, John
Your not missing much at alt.education.distance. I am addicted to checking it but there is rarely anything of use there. you could always check google.com groups. I do not know much about them other than you can read and post to newsgroups from there. The above mentioned group is available. Enjoy your trip!!
My RoadRunner service stopped carrying alt newsgroups a few months ago. Somehow it doesn't bother me as much knowing that degree mill frauds are peddling their wares when I can't see it. I guess I could use Google but I'm not that big of a masochist, I guess.
In the last year I've probably looked at AED two or three times. There wasn't much of interest, so I haven't been back. I haven't posted there, I believe, in longer than that (and have no desire to). I have no problem giving it up to the degree mill gods. Degreeinfo is infinitely better with Chip (et al) moderating anyway. There is a much better signal-to-noise ratio. Tom Nixon
And now from the 250-terminal cafes of Spain to one ancient machine available 2 hours a day in the village of Lodeve at 8 times the cost 8 euros - abut 8 dollar an hour -- a 28k modem and the standard French keyboard that has 12 keys different places from US; really slowing me down. Fortunately I have no major needs to say things, but it is a delight that the young lady who was ahead of ,e on this machine was using it to do an online course in astronomy fro, DeAnza College in Calif. Small monde.
Northwestern International University, Ltd. John, Will you be able to stop by either Cyprus or Denmark while abroad? I still want to get an idea of what the NIU campus is like. Safe traveling!
EasyInternet I spent some time at the EasyInternet in Brussels a while back. Great service. Great smell if you're into locker rooms.
