POPnet's topics - tribe.net

Handle?

sfslim — Fri, 17 Oct 2003 04:43:53 GMT

I used to go by Ironman or Buckaroo Banzai.

What were your POPnet names?

posted in POPnet - 44 replies

Welcome POPnetters!

sfslim — Thu, 09 Oct 2003 19:34:54 GMT

So... what have you all been up for the past fifteen years? Are Round Table Pizza and Mountain Mike's still open? Let's have another reunion!

- Aaron Muszalski
aka Buckaroo Banzai / Ironman

ps: Please pass the word about this tribe along to other POPnet veterans; many of the email addresses I gathered from the POPnet reunion website are no longer accurate and bounced.

posted in POPnet - 12 replies

Where's The Party?

Kurt — Mon, 26 Feb 2007 05:19:58 GMT

Hello, folks

If you're planning on having a party, or just want to have a few friends over, put the information up here.

posted in POPnet - 4 replies

Ummm Do you rember me????

Shawna — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 22:36:36 GMT

Hey Its me Garfeild.
I was googling Popnet and I found this! I have been looking arround and wow it is neet that there is a place to get into contact again....
I have been missing my popnet friends.

posted in POPnet - 0 replies

ohhh..am i doing this right??im looking for popnetters..

sassa(samantha) — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 07:30:47 GMT

ugh..welll..this is sassa..errrr..xanadu.does anyone remember me??

JUST KIDDING!!haha i pretty much lived on there hehehe......jim (opus)?tom(dr.d)brad?kurt?CLETE??DEWEY???WHERE IS TRENT??BLUESMAN?AND LEIF?ohh.what was he..man..where is everyone?how about psyche and tennis?and muffin? where is snowed in..and jeff bigfoot..and day dreamer..and bot?werbot?or something.and slick i know where he is..hhehehe jason..i cant wait to tell him about this place where you all are...im so happy to have found you!!stryper..hey is there a place like this for the walnut creek popnet too????shit im so happy to find my childhood computer family and friends..ROFLMAO!!and some tears too..oooo memories..so many memories..lets have ourselves a little get together..no excuses..i have missed them all!!!!!!!!!!somebody catch me up on everyone..im so lost..i been looking for everyone for years....years and years...well..im chilleygirl777 at ya h oo dot com and sassa777 at m y s p a c e dot com if you all wanna see some pics go there and if you waannna email me then chilley would be where...hope to hear from you all.!!!dewey!!!thank you so much..for my favorite childhood passtime..you were a gift to me...:) except i had to fight with aj(wildthang) to get on the computer..so we had to 'take turns' lol...thnaks dewey..really..popnet opened my eyes to computer..your the best..and to the rest of you all!!ohhhh how i have missed u...

posted in POPnet - 1 reply

POPnetters spotted in strange costumes near South Lake Tahoe, California

Kurt — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 19:48:03 GMT

Rumor has it that Flippant Tommy was seen passing some mysterious substances to Thipdar this past weekend.

Thipdar immediately ate them, but when questioned would not admit to what they were or who had provided them.

posted in POPnet - 0 replies

News about Kent Stromsmoe

Nathan — Mon, 04 Jun 2007 04:54:49 GMT

Hello everyone,

This isn't the best way to notify folks but I don't have contact information for everyone out there. Kent died on Friday morning from heart failure and other complications. It happened in the hospital and he was not conscious at the time. There will be a wake/service for him but due to family obligations it will probably be in mid August. Sunday August 19 is the tentative date. The plan is to host it in the back yard of his house.

Please feel free to contact me if you want any more information or would like to be informed on final dates. times, and location for the service. Also please forward this to anyone you feel appropriate.

Nathan
n k a n e a t b a c o n a t e d d o t c o m

posted in POPnet - 9 replies

Recent Contacts

Kurt — Fri, 20 Oct 2006 05:50:53 GMT

Thursday, October 12, I chatted briefly in person with SFSlim. He was running a sbelling bee.
Tonight, October 19th, I spent some time talking with Mithrandir. He's running for office.

posted in POPnet - 1 reply

Post, people, POST!

Kurt — Sat, 12 Nov 2005 16:24:34 GMT

Me? Well, lately I've been making chain mail out of sterling.

posted in POPnet - 1 reply

Hand-made jewelry for sale

Kurt — Tue, 14 Mar 2006 05:04:06 GMT

Hi, folks -

Some of you may remember that on of my interests from my pre-Popnet days (was there really life before POPnet?) was in making necklaces.

I've kept at it and am now making things that are a lot prettier than the things I used to do.

In the last six months or so, I've begun weaving chain mail again. I've got chokers and bracelets made from sterling silver.

Prices start at US$80 for a plain choker and US$50 for a plain braclet.

Let me know if you are interested.

Thipdar

posted in POPnet - 0 replies

Old article, archived online

sfslim — Thu, 29 Dec 2005 00:10:16 GMT

http://mcquaker.org/popnet/article.html

Through POPnet, teen-agers can have a chat by computer
By Jeanie R. Wakeland, Staff Writer

WALNUT CREEK - When Frank Orem came up with the idea of POPnet, he thought the prime attraction of his local call-in computer network would be its games. Instead, he's become the owner of a social network for computer-owning teen-agers.

Home computer owners with a modem dial in, give a password and gain access to games, electronic bulletin boards, and most popularly, open channels. Up to 15 users can chat on the open screen. Using nicknames or handles," subscribers in Concord, Walnut Creek, and San Ramon may communicate with each other, or with those as far away as Oregon, New York and Iowa.

POPNET SUBSCRIBERS from left, Chris Crook ("Dex"), Christine Zimmerman ("Tora"), Chris Weiss ("Dave") and Peter Orem ("Robb") laugh at an onscreen comment from another subscriber known as "Sorceress".

"In effect," said Orem, "the open line is like CB (citizen's band) radio before it got crowded."

Seventy-five percent of Orem's 250 subscribers are under 18, Oren said. "They'd really rather just visit than play games. When they need an alternate to things to say, they play games. They chatter by the hour."

POPnet's mostly male, mostly teen-age audience can send messages to each other, type in song lyrics, offer an autobiography and even consult with an adult teacher, known as "Teacher T," on school nights.

Chris Crook, 18, of Walnut Creek has been a subscriber for a year. Using the handle of "Dex", he spend as much as seven hours a day chatting with people using names like Wonko the Sane, Crustaceo Mutoid, Dust Wizard and Copy Cat. If he gets tired of talking, he can join Fuzzball, Lamborghini, Maid Marion and Dr. Pinch in a game of poker. No cash is passed -- just an electronic tally of winnings. "I sit down with my cans of Coke, turn on my stereo with the remote control and talk," said Crook. "It's easier than voice and it's the ultimate way to plan a party."

POPnetters type in their messages in a rapidfire shorthand. "BRB" means "Be right back." "IDK" is "I don't know." With eight open channels, experienced POPnetters may have several conversations going at once. "After about seven it's hard to keep track of what you're doing," Crook said.

According to co-owner Judy Orem, "It's a safe way of meeting people. You can get your say in without dealing with interactions you get face-to-face."

It's easier to hide behind your handle and say weird things," Crook said. Christine Zimmerman, 16, Concord, has been a subscriber since July. Known as "Tora" online, she once asked a boy out on a date through POPnet. "I never would have done it in person."

Many members do meet face-to-face. This summer a group gathered each week at a Walnut Creek pizza restaurant. Chris met 19-year-old Chris Weiss of Walnut Creek on POPnet. The two have become good friends.

"We're either talking to each other on POPnet or driving around together in a car we bought," said Crook.

What do they talk about? "Jokes, cars, parties, and women," Crook said. Orem doesn't monitor private lines, but if the jokes get too dirty on the open channel, he may yank the offender's password and call him at home to warn against it.

Subscribers have been known to concoct elaborate fantasies on the tube.

"One guy was making up things to tell a cop if you get pulled over," said Weiss, known as "Dave" after the character in the television show "Moonlighting." "We also made up our own religion."

"One time they all pretended they were watching a movie together," said Judy Orem. "They'd say 'Shhh!', 'Pass the popcorn' or 'Sit down! I can't see!'"

There have even been fantasy "marriages" between members, acted out before an audience of computer-linked friends. Zimmerman is currently "married" to a boy nicknamed "Jet Black," who, not coincidentally, is her boyfriend.

POPnet is a relatively simple computer setup. The hardware is one Intel central processing until with 15 available hookups called modems. (For computer aficionados, it's a 640K CPU with a 10 megabyte hard disc. The 15 modems are 1,200 baud.) Subscribing to POPnet costs a one-time $10 fee plus 50 to 70 cents an hour. (Rates depend on time of day.)

The software, or programming, includes the games, message boards and open channels developed by Orem and his son Peter, 17.

A former systems analyst manager for BART, Frank Orem began POPnet when Peter Orem broke one computer in an attempt to upgrade it. Orem bought a new computer, but then a friend repaired the original unit.

"I got the idea that if we had two units, we could talk to each other," he said. Together father and son developed some computer games that used two terminals. But, rather than marketing the games--since software is easily copied without royalty payment--Orem decided to set up a network for users to call in.

Setting up the network, said Orem, has been a profitable small business. The systems are designed to attract a maximum of 400 subscribers living within a local, toll-free calling area. He is now selling the 15- and 23-modem systems for up to $13,500. In addition to the Walnut Creek network, systems are now set up in San Ramon and Maryland. A fourth system is scheduled to open in Berkeley-El Cerrito by the end of the year.

Orem said that parents generally approve of their children using POPnet--"as long as they don't tie up the phone lines. Some of the kids have to get their own phone lines.

"One dad told me he doesn't mind paying the POPnet fee because now is son is talking to people, not just playing games with a machine."

posted in POPnet - 0 replies

If you happen to be travelling to Portland, Oregon

Kurt — Wed, 17 Aug 2005 20:42:13 GMT

Hi, folks -

If you're Portland bound and are looking for a place to stay, I'd appreciate it if you would stay at my hotel there. Ok, so it's not entirely mine, but I do own a piece of it - one of the smallest pieces.

Here's the url for the place: http://www.jupiterhotel.com/

It's hip and the Doug Fir restaurant has good food, their bar is busy and the lounge books some of the most happening acts in the PNW. Check them out at http://www.dougfirlounge.com/

If you know you are going, let me know and I'll give you a VIP pass for the hotel.

Thipdar

posted in POPnet - 0 replies

Trying to track down a few folks..

Chris — Tue, 19 Apr 2005 21:05:18 GMT

Anyone have current contact info for Dex or Donny?

posted in POPnet - 3 replies

Contact info?

sfslim — Fri, 17 Oct 2003 04:46:09 GMT

So, I pulled the email addresses for this tribe invite from the POPnet reunion page, but over half of those addresses bounced. Does anyone have more recent contact info for our fellow (and fellette) POPnet vets?

posted in POPnet - 1 reply

Reunion

sfslim — Fri, 17 Oct 2003 04:44:40 GMT

Did any of you go? I only heard about it recently (like, last week).

Perhaps it's time for another?

posted in POPnet - 0 replies