The Internet

Hallmark August 1998. Calling all Net-heads! by Mike Robbins

Lacey Green on the world wide web?

Surely not…

Sadly yes!

Did you know that Lacey Green is now on the Internet with its own web-site? The site welcomes surfers to the Lacey Green Village Web Site and claims that "The primary aim of this site is to keep residents informed of the goings on in the local community"

Think of it as an on-line, regularly updated, interactive, hyper-linked version of Hallmark. Indeed, the latest copy of Hallmark is already present on-line for those of you who would rather surf your copy than read the printed word (no, don't put down your printed copy yet – Editor).

And the site is destined for a whole lot more.

If you are a member of a society, club or association in the village, get your information on the web-site now. Let the web site be an additional tool to help you to communicate with past, present and future members, and the outside world.

Watch out for a special Youth Interests Page: co-ordinated by a special youth!

Information submitted to the Web Master by e-mail can be on line within a few days, possibly even the same day!

If you have a connection to the net, visit the site now (http://www.laceygreen.org.uk).

If you don't have net access, find a friend who does and find out what you're missing!

Surely, we are ready for the 21st century now?

webmaster@laceygreen.org.uk

Hallmark November 1998. Internet Access is now FREE! Report by Mike Robbins

Did you know that access to the Internet is now available for the cost of a local phone call alone?

The Dixons Group (Dixons, Currys, PC World etc.) has introduced a service where there are no costs involved whatsoever, other than that of the telephone call itself. If you are connecting to the Internet using a service provider that is charging you a monthly fee then stop now, you’re paying too much!

Pop along to one of the above stores and pick up a free CD, which will enable you to sign up.

How do they do it? Quite simply, they use an alternative telecom provider to BT who are so hungry to take business away from BT that they pay the Dixons Group part of the local call charge. Compare this with BT’s new ‘Click’ service where they charge you a penny a minute above the local call charge. Ooops!

Believe me, this is the future. Any – Internet Service Providers (ISPs) that choose I not to follow the lead WILL go out of business. It’s a harsh world when you’re happy ripping people off!

Now that’s off my chest, what about the Lacey Green Website? *

It’s been running for 5 months now and the number of visits to the site, on a daily basis, is very encouraging indeed. It only goes to show that Lacey Green and Loosley Row residents are ‘hungry’ for information about the village.

If you haven’t visited yet, then listen up. The Website has the most up to date information on the progress of Project 2000. Any event that’s happening in the village is (or should be!) up there, so if you’re feeling like going out tonight, look there first. There’s a local news section with stories about local people and local issues. There’s space reserved for every organisation in the village to advertise itself and communicate with its members (though not all are using it yet!).

This copy of Hallmark will already be there before you even get it, let alone read it! So, if you have a PC and a Modem, take a look! If you have a PC but no Modem, get one! If you don’t have a PC, why not? You can’t hide forever.

Get sociable, get with it, get online!

If you would like to contribute anything to the Website, send me e-mail. If you don’t have e-mail then phone me on 01296 436665. If you get my machine then I’ll be busy surfin!

Comment by Ted Janes in Hallmark May 1999 :-

On another subject, can I say how much I agree with the contents of Michael Hardy’s letter regarding Hallmark on the Internet. Personally, I have already had enough of the “w, w’s, dots and slashes etc., but we have to accept this is the modern form of communication, but surely not for a small village magazine that goes into every house in the Village, 80% of which like me have no idea of the system, or any likelihood of having the availability.

I trust that when the new Halli is up and running the practice of putting up notices on the notice boards or telegraph poles to invite us to such and such a function is not forgotten, and we do not have to “surf the Net” to find out what is on and order our tickets; if so I am afraid the dedication, commitment and support the Hall has received over the last 75 years will not be forthcoming.

Letter in Hallmark May 1999. by James Moorcroft. (click James & Linda Moorcroft for more about James).

Dear Sir,

Turning to “Letters to the Editor” I was very sad to see a much different, personal attack on someone I admire...Mike Robbins. Quite apart, from his invaluable contributions to past LGP productions (he has raised the quality hugely), his efforts in putting together and maintaining our village website, thereby bringing us into the 21st century, deserve hearty congratulations. At the very least they deserve a bemused “good for you”.

What is totally undeserved is the line by line demolition of Mike’s well intentioned article on the Internet, written so that others could benefit (free of charge) from Mike’s considerable knowledge and experience of computer-related topics. Turning (or surfing!) to the site itself, the writer would find that Mike Robbins is totally dependent on the co-operation of local organisations and residents to feed him news and information. He doesn’t make things up or attempt any journalism, merely acting as a “posting board” for items of local interest. He has succeeded by skill and effort in making it a visually attractive and lively site, well worth visiting time and again.

The website will not replace traditional media like Hallmark for many years. Hallmark is a great magazine which I (having Internet access both at work and at home) would not be without. The Internet adds a different dimension. Who knows - one day the Hallmark may read itself out to partially sighted folk.

I hope I have avoided making the kind of attack I am lamenting. I know Mr. Hardy plays an active part in our community for which we are very grateful. Maybe if the “Tele Cottage” in our new Village Hall comes to fruition there will be a chance for him, and all villagers, to visit our website. Then I think we could all agree to give praise where praise is certainly due.

Hallmark May 1999. Excerpt from Parish Council report by Linda Moorcroft. --- "Thanks to Mike Robbins’ superb work, there are plans afoot to post the Council minutes on the Internet so that the increasing number of villagers “on-line” can easily find out what is going on. Otherwise, the minutes are available to read in Princes Risborough library". click James & Linda Moorcroft for more about Linda.