fandomhigh | Internet for Dummies, Wednesday 9/13, 3rd Period

The lab is set up with four computer stations in the middle of the room and desks in the back.

"Last week we talked about what the internet is, and this week we're going to learn how to get to the internet." Abby smiled and turned to a list on the white board behind her. "The main kind of connections we're going to study and try out today are dial-up, cable, DSL, and Wi-Fi."

After explaining each of those in more detail, Abby walked to the stations. "You're going to get a chance to try each of these to see the pros and cons. Each station has a different internet service providers or ISP. They offer varying levels of help, annoyance and in some cases, a lot of shiny CD's mailed to your house. Station one and four will be ones you will have to connect to, station two and three you'll already be connected to the internet. I'd like for you to work alone at the first station ~~for my own sanity~~ and with partners for the other three."

"Feel free to ask myself or Mac any questions." Abby walked back up to the front and pointed to a spot on her desk. "I'd like a written paragraph from you about what you liked and hated. Doesn't have to be long or spelled right, just have it on my desk by the end of class."

[~~Wait for OCD please.~~ OCD up! I'll be playing the part of AOL today, which is why you're working alone on that station. Ping into the thread and then I'll guide you through connecting. I should be on all day give or take time for eating and stuff.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Door frowns. She may not live in the world Above, but she does have some knowledge of geography and history.

It's Istanbul, not Constantinople, now. she types.

The window pops up again.

That's nobody's business but the Turks.

...fair enough.

It's not as if the actual city has moved, so obviously people can still find it whatever you call it. And she's not actually there.

Of course, she's not in a valley either, or what with being a tiny island, she'd be covered with water right now.

Door clicks Labbing City, since it's the least wrong choice she can see.

The window changes and another message appears.

The following are the access numbers for Labbing City. Please choose several different ones to connect. The more choices you make, the better chance you have for connection to AOL services.

555-555-1234
555-555-1234
555-555-1234
555-555-1234
555-555-1234
555-555-1234
555-555-1234

They all look like the same number to Door, but she should know from telephones, considering she's never even got a dial-tone before coming to Fandom? Perhaps some of the wires are better hung than others.

She chooses them all.

The running man starts across the screen as the dial-up noise starts.

Dialing 555-555-1234...busy
Hanging up...
Dialing 555-555-1234...busy
Hanging up...
Dialing 555-555-1234...busy
Hanging up...
Dialing 555-555-1234...busy
Hanging up...
Dialing 555-555-1234...busy
Hanging up...
Dialing 555-555-1234...busy
Hanging up...

Would you like to try again?

Door begins to suspect that the little man, despite not being red, doesn't have a lot to do with getting anywhere quickly.

She chooses Yes since she can't think of any other option.

This time the dialing starts and gets through, allowing the computer to make all sorts of fun connecty noises.

Establishing connection...
Checking password...
Signing in!

A very loud male voice erupts from the speakers. "You've Got Mail!"

Door jumps back, almost tipping her chair over.

Then grins, because, well, she's never got mail before. At least not the sort that isn't delivered by hand or tied to someone's wee leg.

She looks for a button or a link that says mail and clicks the most likely suspect.

The mail window opens.

You have 64 messages from: eVIAGRA marked urgent. Would you like to read them now?

Door doesn't know anyone named eVIAGRA; then again she doesn't know anyone on the internet at all. Perhaps de Carabas has found a way to contact her that doesn't involve her going back to London?

She clicks yes.

The email opened and flashed in bright colors.

WOW WHAT A DEAL!!

Just enter your name here to sign up today! N MS TI CAC!

...not from de Carabas then. His spelling's better.

Well, whatever viagra might be, she doesn't need a vending machine for it. Door clicks the delete button.

As soon as the message is deleted, seven more pop up in it's place. Each with the same message.

...Door clicks the delete button a lot.

A button pops up.

You seem to be deleting a lot of email. Would you like to report these emails as TOS violations?

Since she's got no idea what a TOS is, she's got no idea if the e-mails are violating it, but sure, why not. It's practice, after all.

Door clicks yes.

A chat window popped up on screen.

Thank you for report email to TOS violation team, xWeLLhuNg1983.
My name Vindaloo
How can I be helping you today?

Door pokes at the window and discovers she can type in it, so she does. She really doesn't need any help, now that she's got the hang of the delete button, but since it's been offered, she might as well take advantage of it.

xWeLLhuNg1983: Hello.
xWeLLhuNg1983: Do you know what eVIAGRA is?

...
...
R U a girl?

It takes Door a moment to realize that it's not trying to ask her...in a badly-spelled fashion... if there's some girl she rues.

xWeLLhuNg1983: I'm a girl, yes. Why?

Yes, I know viagra
U want 2 C pic?
baybee!

xWeLLhuNg1983: I suppose. Sure.

*sending file bighugejohnson.jpg*
All 4 U, baybee!
I no need viagra!

Door clicks the link that appears. And blinks at it a couple of times.

Ah. Right. Certain things are fairly universal, and she knows the proper response to someone whipping out his...jpg.

...okay, she knows the one her father taught her, which is 'run like hell' and she also knows the one Hammersmith said to give if it happened in the market where she couldn't possibly be in danger.

xWeLLhuNg1983: Does that come in Medium and Large sizes as well?

Re: Station One - AOL ISP

cheerfulgoth.livejournal.com - 2006-09-13 19:56 (UTC) - Expand

notajar - 2006-09-13 22:18 (UTC) - Expand

cheerfulgoth.livejournal.com - 2006-09-13 22:42 (UTC) - Expand

notajar - 2006-09-13 22:52 (UTC) - Expand

cheerfulgoth.livejournal.com - 2006-09-13 22:57 (UTC) - Expand

notajar - 2006-09-13 23:00 (UTC) - Expand

cheerfulgoth.livejournal.com - 2006-09-13 23:17 (UTC) - Expand