Question:
I have the same problem – I usually paddle in the forward position of my in-law’s Klepper double, and have no place for my feet. It seems to me that in this case, the "right length of legs" is either 1.5 feet or 4 feet.I believe Klepper makes a footrest – has anyone had experience with it, good or bad? What about with building your own? Andrius
There is a footrest available; it clamps onto the keelboard, and has an aluminum heelrest about the width of the keelboard. I tried it with the 2000, and noted that with that kayak you had to put the footrest on before the rib. Don’t know whether this is true for the double; it would depend on the keel width. Anyway, it works pretty well, and is easily adjustable. ~Leander
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Just a note. I did not write the original article, paddleboats; to be honest, I’m not sure what qualifies as a "paddleboat." In any event, this article came from cnct.com (The Connection), which is in New York, whereas I’ve had my halcyon address (North West Nexus), which is in Seattle, WA, since 1989 or so. I’m curious why someone would choose to forge my address onto a post, especially one so innocuous as this one. Anyway, if you want to discuss Klepper vs. Feathercraft with the original poster, please don’t send me email. It wasn’t me anyway. Elf !!! Elf Sternberg I’m not inclined to write pompous Public key available That strikes me as a tremendous waste http://www.halcyon.com/elf of time. – Stephen Jay Gould
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TRAILBLAZER NEWSLETTER Copyright(c)1996 All Rights Reserved July 1996 For FREE Subscription Send E-mail In Subject Heading: TB In Message: Subscribe If you received this edition in your E-mail, you are subscribed DON’T MISS OUR FREE WEB EDITION AT http://www.intercom.net/biz/lma/trailblazer IT CONTAINS: Hot links and graphics for Web-enhanced news Internet Newspaper Columns of Lawrence Mott Internet Commentary from a Woman’s Perspective IHHO (In Her Humble Opinion) by Valerie Powell PGP MERGED INTO E-MAIL APP FTP Software announced it will include the controversial Pretty Good Privacy program in the next version of its E-mail software. This will eliminate the ability of hackers to read their users’ private communications, and undercut government efforts to restrict the public’s use of encryption in their communications. MICROSOFT WAGES WAR IN TEXAS Microsoft Corp has initiated action against 33 retailers and 13 computer manufacturers in Texas for software piracy. Microsoft claims they are placing their software and operating systems on computers without paying licensing fees. Most of the companies settled out of court with Microsoft, but Premium Computers was one company that did not buckle under, and they filed denials to the allegations in court. OLYMPIC SITES NUMBER IN HUNDREDS At last count there were over 200 Olympic sites on the World Wide Web covering everything from the event schedules, to the medals won, to the events surrounding the bombing during the first week of the games. More people experienced the games on the Internet than attended the event. Many sites still linger providing recaps and results. Just fire up any search engine to get a list of them. AT&T WORLDNET TO USE EXPLORER In an agreement to advance both parties’ stake in the Internet, AT&T has announced an agreement with Microsoft Corp to make the Microsoft Explorer available to its Internet customers. AT&T currently provides Netscape for their 300,000 Internet subscribers, and will now provide both. In return, Microsoft has agreed to include the AT&T WorldNet Internet service in their Windows 95 package. JCPENNEY GOES WITH NETSCAPE FOR INTRANET In a move to connect their 200,000 associates, JCPENNEY (www.jcpenney.com) announced they will use Netscape as the basis for their corporate wide Intranet. Their system will incorporate dozens of employee-run sites, and will widen the reach they currently have in connecting 30,000 of their in-store employees on the Internet. TRUSTNET BRINGS INDIGENTS ONLINE TrustNet, at http://tnt.org, is bringing rural African American men online by providing training and computers for those who cannot afford them. The Internet network teaches leadership skills and family responsibility, and attempts to bridge the widening gap to Information Age have-nots. COMPUSERVE SUED OVER PUBLIC OFFERING CompuServe Corp has been named as defendant in a class-action lawsuit which alleges they failed to disclose certain material financial information before the company’s stock opened on Wall Street. Many investors have been dissatisfied with the company’s financial performance since their initial public offering. INTELSAT OFFERS FREE SATELLITE TIME FOR SCHOOLS Intelsat, a consortium of 139 countries which has banded together to launch and operate communications satellites, is planning a "Distance Education and Training Network of the Americas" pilot program that will give free satellite time to educational and medical institutions in North, Central and South America for an entire year. Later they plan on charging for the service. USA TO STUDY CYBERTERRORISM President Clinton signed an executive order forming a study group to report to him on their findings about the possibilities of cyberterrorism. Fearing the shut down of the utilities or financial transactions infrastructures, Clinton wants the panel of experts to recommend countermeasures for protecting the US. The Deputy Attorney General Deputy, Jamie Gorelick, recently stated "It is our clear view that a cyberthreat can disrupt the provision of services and disrupt our society, disable our society even more so than can a well-placed bomb." Experts in the field state there are currently no known terrorist groups with the know-how to wage cyberattacks. They say the United States government is probably the only entity that does have that capability. Editor: It’s not enough that they want to search our persons for bombs, now they will want to search our computers too. These people are an absolute hoot! (g) MACROMEDIA INTROS APPLETACE Macromedia Corp has announced a Java application which will allow Web designers to use Java Applets without having to code them from the bottom up. AppletAce uses a GUI to assist developers with their banners, image maps, news feeds, animated bullets and other Java induced, advanced Web features. You can get AppletAce for both Windows and Power Mac at www.macromedia.com. FBI TESTIFIES AGAINST ENCRYPTION EXPORTS Louis Freeh, the Director of the FBI, testified before Congress that, "Encryption products used unchecked by criminals and terrorists for their illegal activities pose an extremely serious and, I believe, unacceptable threat." With that he recommended the US not legalize the open export of currently available encryption software such as PGP. Encryption advocates point out that PGP is already widely available and freely downloadable on the Net. Criminals already have and are using it. Also, companies in foreign markets sell it to anyone they wish to worldwide. It is only US companies, who developed it, who are being banned from exporting it. Netscape claims they are forfeiting $40 million per year in lost sales. The Clinton administration wants encryption exports to be allowed only if a decoding "key" for the devices is left with a third party, like a bank or insurance company. This way, law enforcement personnel with a court order could break the code. MSNBC DEBUTS The combined strengths of NBC and Microsoft Corp have formed a cable/Internet news service positioned to compete head on with CNN Interactive. Lining up talent the likes of Tom Brokaw, Jane Pauley, and Bob Costas, MSNBC has entered the households of 22 million cable TV viewers in the US. YAHOO! STARTS NEWS SERVICE IN JAPAN The Japanese partner of Yahoo!, Softbank Corp, is forming a venture with Weather Information Inc., to begin providing world, business, financial and sports news to Japanese computer users. The service will be accessible at the Yahoo! address in that country. UPCOMING EVENTS AND CONFERENCES http://www.kweb.com/ WORLD LEADERS ONLINE A listing of modern rulers from 179 countries has been launched at http://www.ehu.es/~ziaorarr/. Each file contains a head of state and information about the government he leads, their ruling terms, and their dates of death. In many cases, further info about other offices they held, what kind of regime they rule, and the party in power with them is also provided. BBB SEEKS TO SET ONLINE STANDARDS The US Better Business Bureau has announced it will begin offering (for a fee of course) its "seal of approval" for online businesses. Members displaying their logo must adhere to their code of conduct and be willing to submit to voluntary arbitration to settle complaints if needed. They hope to inspire confidence in the online marketplace and can be found at http://www.bbb.org. Editor: How about that rug dealer in Afghanistan outside US borders? Good luck in the Wild West BBB, you’re gonna need it! (g). DELPHI IS BACK Delphi Internet, the grand daddy of mass Internet access, has revitalized its Internet service and is offering its features through smaller, local ISPs throughout the country. Delphi will kick back a percentage of revenue it receives from subscribers who sign on through its partner ISPs who want to use Delphi as a value added service. Subscribers will receive Delphi for 10 free hours and then at a discounted rate should they decide to continue. You can get more info at http://www.delphi.com. SCIENTOLOGY/NETCOM SETTLE LAWSUIT The Church of Scientology has settled a copyright dispute with Netcom regarding one its former members who posted information on Netcom which was authored by L. Ron Hubbard, the founder of the religion. The church invoked its copyrights to get Netcom to remove the material, which Netcom was unwilling to intercede in and do. Details of the settlement remain private. NETSCAPE FILES COMPLAINT AGAINST GATES Netscape Communications filed a complaint with the Justice Department alleging Microsoft Corp. is unfairly preventing some computer users from using Netscape software to create World Wide Web sites. By limiting the number of simultaneous Internet connections that can occur when Netscape software interfaces with Windows NT, it is impractical for NT users to be able to use Netscape server software. Instead, they are prone to use the more expensive Microsoft software that can handle more connections. SERVICE MERCHANDISE DEBUTS Service Merchandise Co., Inc., has opened for business with its own World Wide Web site. The premier jewelry, gift, and home store has established an … read more »
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Sorry to reply as I am a Feathercraft K-light plus owner, but I also seriously considered the Areius 2000. For me, the problem was that the Aerius tended to fall back into its own wake at any kind of reasonable cruising speed. Also, foot placement is a problem unless you happen to have just the right length of legs (I don’t). The packing bag is real tight on the Klepper while the feathercraft backpack has plenty of room for PFD, float bags, paddles, sea-sock and anything else you need on the water. I haven’t had any problem with mildew, or corrosion from salt.
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…snipped… the rumour that the improved Aerius 2000 has never been put into production ever since the Klepper fire,
True, although the last information I received from the company was that the Arius 2000 should start being produced later this year. They wanted to get their doubles and the full-sized singles, and even the new aluminum model up and running first. When the 2000 comes out again, it is supposed to come in a 2 bag set instead of the single rather unweildy bag previously provided. That should help transport. and that the Feathercraft has room for camping equipment, it is a smaller package for carrying and tracks better, etc. etc. etc.
Both the K-light and the Aerius 2000 can handle a decent load for camping. Both track well, and both turn well. You can sail the 2000, and take your dog along, but you can more easily backpack the K-light. She did some research on her own and came up with: The Feathercraft requires that it be put away stone dry or will mildew, the Klepper can be stuffed in its canvas bag with no fear of that funky smell!
ANY folding kayak put away wet and left there will mildew. We make sure to air out both our kayaks when we get home. Feathercraft owners stand out at Kayak shows – bruised knuckles from assembly. The aluminum tubes must be washed on the Feathercraft when used in salt water and lubricated or might need replacement. The Klepper can go for years and if you want to revarnish the boats after ten or so years that is all that’s necessary.
Actually, it’s better to hose them both down with fresh water, as the metal in both kayaks will corrode (don’t forget, Kleppers have metal fittings). As for bruised knuckles, well, I have those, but I also have one of the most difficult of the Feathercraft line to assemble; it’s new, so I’m hoping it will get easier with time. Feathercraft owners say their boats wear after using them a while. Klepper owners say they break in and just get better and even assemble easier. Kleppers, if they ever need to, can be field repaired easier. So on and so
Haven’t heard about Feathercrafts wearing…in what manner? Kleppers do have the wood frame take a set after awhile, and that does ease assembly, but then assembly was never hard to begin with, even right out of the box. I think the smaller size pack and the fact it’ll allow us to go for weekend trips and be able to carry everything on a bus is the main selling point of the Feathercraft. I don’t know if that’s possible with the new Klepper. I have never run into a Klepper Aerius 2000 owner. I know several with the Aerius I and they love it. Any 2000 owners who can help us make this purchase decision?
I think you will be happy with either the K-light or the 2000, if you get what you need. What that means is, which features are more important to you? Do you want a 35 pound or a 45 pound kayak to lug around? Do you want an open cockpit or a standard cockpit? Do you want to sail? Do you want to bring your dog (small or medium size)? Do you like a wood frame, or an aluminum frame? How much do you want to spend? So, either that helped, or it provided even more confusion and indecision. Isn’t it fun, deciding what kayak to buy? Whichever one you decide on, I would recommend you spring for the extra cost of adding decklines to the boat (ie, the lifelines); and remember toget good flotation bags. Happy vacillations! ;-) ~Leander Sorry to reply as I am a Feathercraft K-light plus owner, but I also seriously considered the Areius 2000. For me, the problem was that the Aerius tended to fall back into its own wake at any kind of reasonable cruising speed. Also, foot placement is a problem unless you happen to have just the right length of legs (I don’t). The packing bag is real tight on the Klepper while the feathercraft backpack has plenty of room for PFD, float bags, paddles, sea-sock and anything else you need on the water. I haven’t had any problem with mildew, or corrosion from salt.
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Is your Feathercraft frame worn also, or is it just the hull? What about paddling enjoyment? Do the Kleppers compare to the sleeker Feathercrafts or do most people put up with "driving a tank" just to have it last for 50 years? Julie
I wouldn’t equate Kleppers to tanks; I’d equate them to an all-terrain-vehicle. As an example, my spouse paddles a double Klepper in solo position, and usually runs at the latter part of the pack in calm water (partly because of just getting into shape), BUT when we hit rough confused waters the other weekend, it was the Klepper which zoomed way out in front of the pack, with no increase in paddling effort. Better to be the best boat in rough water, than the best in flatwater…unless of course you’re racing in the Olympics. ;-) ~Leander
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(snip) Also, foot placement is a problem unless you happen to have just the right length of legs (I don’t).
(snip) I have the same problem – I usually paddle in the forward position of my in-law’s Klepper double, and have no place for my feet. It seems to me that in this case, the "right length of legs" is either 1.5 feet or 4 feet.I believe Klepper makes a footrest – has anyone had experience with it, good or bad? What about with building your own? Andrius
Response:
What about paddling enjoyment? Do the Kleppers compare to the sleeker Feathercrafts or do most people put up with "driving a tank" just to have it last for 50 years? Julie
I’ll throw in my two cents. I opted for a Klepper (Aerius II) because of it’s rich tradition and it’s wooden frame. One more unexpected side benefit is the large open cockpit which makes entry and exit extremely easy (I’m 6′4" tall). Most of my paddling is in Lake Michigan and Lake Superior and this thing handles big surf very well. And don’t buy the argument that folders are inherently slow. I recently raced my much-better-in-shape buddy in his Aquaterra hardshell and stayed neck-and-neck with him the entire distance. I agree with Ralph Diaz’s comments regarding both the Klepper and the Feathercraft. Both are outstanding boats. Either way, you’ll be happy.
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Oh…I’m sorry….Where you saying something?
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: Never underestimate the common zip lock baggie. If the thought of packing : around shit filled baggies grosses you out, a fine receptacle can be made : out of a peice of PVC pipe capped at the ends. Now the balancing problem, : you’ll have to work out for yourself… I’m sure it slipped LISARanger’s mind that _most_ sewer and septic systems cannot handle plastic baggies. They just clog up the system and make headaches for the poor people that have to maintain them. (For that matter, plastic baggies aren’t very good for landfills.) Anyway, if you can manage the trick, use small (lunchbag size) _paper_ bags. You can keep them dry until needed in a plastic baggie you reuse. Just pop the used bag into the PVC pipe carry tube. When you get back to shore, find a sanitary dump station (like RVer’s use), uncap one end, place in recepticle, uncap the other and wash/ plunge the contents into the sewer. The paper will decompose nicely. A recent ‘Climbing’ (or was it ‘Rock & Ice’?) magazine had a good one page "How-To" build the PVC carry tube. Be cool & be clean. Ed Humphries
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Janet: I myself like the feathercraft much better, however not for the reasons you mentioned earlier. It’s easy to get into s religious war (like Apple VS Microsoft), but the bottom line is both Feathercraft & Klepper are top of the heap. It is however, like comparing apples & oranges. The bruised kuckle complaint for Feathercraft assembly is NOT exagerated (I’m looking at my scarred knuckles right now!). The worry about mildew & mold is unfounded on the Feathercraft, but you may get that problem with a Klepper as the deck is cotton, and can rot if not cared for. Don’t worry about rinsing the frame on the Feathercraft either. You should however varnish the Klepper annually (or so the manual says. I chose the Feathercraft K2 after much deliberation, as I wanted the faster craft, and needed the 2 cockpits. My partner & I do not have to wear one giant sprayskirt like the Klepper, and for our needs, the enclosed cockpit made a lot more sense. If you have kids, want to bring the pooch along, or fish from the kayak, then you should go with the Klepper (it’s open like a canoe). The Klepper is a time proven success, but then again so was my VW Superbeetle convertable. Very little maintanance, wears well, gets me around. I upgraded to a Miata last year, and again – no maintanance, better lines, faster, etc. This is how I see the Klepper – Feathercraft scene. My best advice: Paddle them both for a few days. Get Ralph Diaz’s book "Complete Folding Kayaker". Make your purchase based on your own personal needs, not the opinions of others. You can’t go wrong with either boat, they are the top of the class! — Mitch Rosenberg Vancouver, British Columbia Canada WWW HTTP://Mindlink.net/Mitch/
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I bought a Feathercraft because of the lower price. I’m sorry now. Kleppers have lasted 50 years with time tested materials. I’d equate this to the way they built cars in American years ago. Strong bodies, industrial strength. Feathercraft is like the cars of today, light, fragile – not built to last. Mine at going on 6 years old is like a worn rag. Kleppers are just about breaking in at this time. <Snip
Hi Elf, Is your Feathercraft frame worn also, or is it just the hull? What about paddling enjoyment? Do the Kleppers compare to the sleeker Feathercrafts or do most people put up with "driving a tank" just to have it last for 50 years? Julie
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Some may look at my comments as a crude form of social commentary. I view them as a necessity. I MUST SHIT, vulgar, but appropriate, might I say DEFECATE every three hours due to a medical condition. Due to these circumstances I’ve avoided any trips longer than this time period. How might I ask in a reasonable manner does one take care of their social needs on a kayak trip? Would one just do it in the water? Actually the thought of a long tentacle belonging to a Portuguess Man-of-war wrapping around my unmentionables immediately comes to mind and at this moment is making me grimace. If it is a large crossing, I can’t imagine dropping a stone as one might say, in the limited confines of my Yukon with Seagulls freely circling my little floating commode as my sea mates look down upon me as if they were a floatilla guarding this squallid floating bilge tank. I’ve noticed in a catalog from the camping outfitter Campmore, they distribute an odd shaped receptacle for women for long voyages, but even now as I contemplate my condition and primal urges, ‘Thoust cup would runneth over!’
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Never underestimate the common zip lock baggie. If the thought of packing around shit filled baggies grosses you out, a fine receptacle can be made out of a peice of PVC pipe capped at the ends. Now the balancing problem, you’ll have to work out for yourself…
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I bought a Feathercraft because of the lower price. I’m sorry now. Kleppers have lasted 50 years with time tested materials. I’d equate this to the way they built cars in American years ago. Strong bodies, industrial strength. Feathercraft is like the cars of today, light, fragile – not built to last. Mine at going on 6 years old is like a worn rag. Kleppers are just about breaking in at this time. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I don’t know about anyone else, but you’ve just sold me on a Klepper. The debate lingers on. My girlfriend is getting into kayaking, now the great dillema. What folding boat should she buy. I’ve tried to convince her to get a Feathercraft. She’s enchanted by the Klepper (her dad owned one and her mom talked about the great trips they went on in the past). She’s thinking about the Aerius 2000.
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The New York Internet Newsletter http://www.news-ny.com August 2, 1996 Sponsored by Silicon Alley Connections, LLC New York’s new media recruiter (http://www.salley.com) technical * creative * production * marketing IT’S A PROBLEM MOST beat reporters face at some time or another: getting too close to the people you cover. In bringing you the story of New York’s vibrant cyberscene, it’s something we’ve wrestled with from the start. How to write fairly about a scene that we’re really a part of? In this issue, @NY introduces another new section that will make it easier to separate the news and the gossip–and to have a little fun in the process. In @News, you’ll find a new exercise in three-dot journalism called Scene (and Heard): Whispers in Cyberspace. It’s a place for rumors, wit, catty criticism, and parody. Want to see something there? Just whisper in our cyberears. And in a more serious vein, we tackle the Great Net Shakeout and what it means for New York. Check out the lineup for Issue 25: We hope you enjoy it. Please continue to send us your news tips, sites, criticism, and suggestions. –The editors Jason Chervokas Tom Watson @ V I E W P O I N T Surviving the Shakeout You’ve heard the news. Companies folding, Web shops cutting back, the so-called Internet boom over. Net stocks have dropped faster than the Cyclone at Coney Island. Advertising hasn’t made the jump to the Web. IPOs pulled. Stock options worth about as much as Confederate money. For months, the Great Shakeout has been under way and doomsayers around town have predicted more bad news in the Internet content business. Things are looking pretty grim. But Microsoft is buying. So is CitySearch. And America Online. AT&T is pouring in venture capital. New venture funds are on the make for good new media companies around town. Old-line publishing houses are also looking for content. Prodigy has spun off a venture fund headed by Ed Bennett. If things are so bleak, why is the money on the move? And why is it flooding into New York? The answer is simple: people. Despite the shakeout, the Internet is within breathing distance of the critical mass needed for it to truly become the mass media everyone envisioned during last year’s super-hype. And the money is following the people. That puts New York in a great position. This is Content Central. Want proof? Okay, sure, everyone knows about Metrobeat’s rise and sale to CitySearch. And there are the well-known Webzines and culture sites like SonicNet, Urban Desires, and Total New York. Many are in negotiations with the large companies as the big boys search desperately for local content now that local Internet content is the flavor of the day. So now’s the time to make a deal, right? This is the window of opportunity, the hot market not to be missed, or so says the conventional wisdom. Once New York’s great content ventures are purchased or aligned with the major companies, it’s time to move on. Not so fast. The software, publishing, and online giants are pursuing more than just content. They believe that by locking up local information and sites, they’ll be locking up people. But they just don’t get it. It’s easier to grab a handful of sand without spilling a grain than to lock up content on the Net. This is a self-publishing medium. Anyone with a good idea can share it with the world and find success. It takes a little money, and some patience. That’s why after the Great Sellout of this summer, there will be another group of content providers on the rise. Heck, they’re already there. left-of-center journal aimed at New York’ labor movement membership. It is the perfect example of a niche publication with style–filled with stories that you won’t find anywhere else. Another interesting entry in the niche market is the new Moscow Channel, published by Russian emigres and dedicated to covering Russian arts, are decidedly different than the Gen-X downtown viewpoint of most local Webzines. Not that there’s no market for a fresh title in that genre either. In Silicon Alley, the new digital design company Kioken–in business since April– is set to release the first issue of Fine Magazine, a beautifully-designed Webzine of art, music, politics, and culture co-sponsored with ArtForum, Atlantic Records, and Free Congress (live in two weeks at http://www.finemagazine.com). Kioken co-founder Peter Kang summed up content development and design in New York rather well in an e-interview this week: "There is a particular brand of new media designer that can only be described as being from New York," he said. "It is true that most of the software development happens out in the West Coast, as well as a lot of graphic design; but Manhattan is home to the best of digital design. Where else would there exist a sub-culture of cyber veterans, wanna-bes, and newbies, all desperately seeking fame and fortune in what is truly a saturated market? . . . the environment itself propels excellence. There is talent everywhere, from the students at New York University, Cooper-Union, and the School of Visual Arts, to the guys on lower Broadway. If you blink you might get run over by some hotshots out of left field. The pace is fast, the air is fierce, it’s the perfect breeding ground for growing talent." That creative conflagration is burning all the brighter. Sure, the easy money has already been made. There is plenty of hard work ahead–not the least of which is putting together a program for local advertisers that works. But in the end, there is one truth about the Net–only original content that is rich and fascinating will get people off the sidelines. Lists, links, more lists, and more links will not hold any intelligent person’s attention for long. Over a platter of steaming Vietnamese noodles this week, a top Net consultant we know offered the simplest of reasons for putting money–and talent–behind content development. "In the end," he said. "There has to be a ‘there’ there." New York remains the "there" at the center of the new media content universe. Forget the Great Shakeout. The smart money isn’t selling. The smart money is buying. –Tom Watson @ N E W S * BENNETT UNBOUND? . . . Last November Ed Bennett cast a long shadow over Silicon Alley–the former Viacom television honcho had decided to tap into New York’s downtown cyberscene as a way of reviving Prodigy. Well, it didn’t quite work out the way Bennett planned. Despite opening an office on lower Broadway near Houston Street, Prodigy’s decisions were still made in suburban White Plains by then corporate parents IBM and Sears Roebuck. But after helping engineer the sale of Prodigy, Bennett’s back at the controls of a new company that could cast a $50 million shadow over Silicon Alley. The new company, created earlier this week, is called Prodigy Ventures, Inc. It’s a venture capital company designed to let Prodigy’s new owners invest in Internet content not built for Prodigy’s subscription service. In an year with special attention on ad revenues, online commerce, and content for a specialized audience (like doctors, lawyers, teachers, architects, musicians). Bennett–and Prodigy’s new owner International Wireless–are also cagily looking for ways to tap international Spanish language and Chinese language markets. According to Bennett the venture company doesn’t even have its investment checks in the bank yet, but his office has already been flooded by more than 100 business proposals–including a software development proposal from a former NASA administrator, and intranet-like proposal from some biomedical researchers, and a classified advertising proposal. "Prodigy is putting up money and will own and equity stake in the ventures, but there are other investors in there," Bennett said. Nonetheless, the new company is not looking to develop projects for Prodigy subscribers. "In order to set up a venture fund you have to be agnostic without regard for any prejudice for your own distribution system," he said. "There’s an opportunity here to actually set up branches around the world if we really want to scale the business that way." * IGUIDE HAMMERED AGAIN. . . More layoffs are apparently under way at Rupert Murdoch’s iGuide Web venture (http://www.iguide.com). The venture has gone through a convulsive evolution starting when Murdoch purchased the Delphi online service and hired a collection of top editorial talent to build an ambitious online news operation. But after MCI pulled out of a joint venture with Murdoch’s News Corp. last year, the venture has been slowly but surely scaled back. The latest cuts–principally to the site’s Web Review section–come as part of Murdoch’s ever-changing Internet strategy. Apparently iGuide will continue to exist to promote and draw content from other Murdoch properties like TV Guide and the Fox television network while a new online news venture may be in the works in conjunction with a forthcoming Fox 24-hour cable news TV channel. Meanwhile News Corp. has spawned a new Internet venture called News Internet Services, … read more »
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Just ask any of these people which boat they’d trust their lives with! Famous Klepper owners and their trips: 1909 C.E. Layton
(this is a sarcasm in case it zoomes over your head) — When you hear the toilet flush, and hear the words "uh oh", it’s already too late. - by anonymous Mother in Austin, TX To reply, replace digi.mon with phreaker.net 
James 