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Vol. 3, No. 11

March 14, 1997

Welcome to another Tripod Insider -- your source for all things Tripod. This week, it's all B's around the office: bowling, babies, and a bold new design. Check out the office gossip after the editors tell you what's new on the site.

Content And Services

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Tripod has a new look! Well, some of it does, anyway. As you may know, Mags hired Jesse and Little Matty Quann not just because they're great designers, but because of their fabulous retro ski sweaters... so it shouldn't have surprised any of us when we woke up one morning and the top pages were suddenly chic pastels the likes of which Mother Nature never produced. But if you're feeling lost and confused, don't! The only other significant difference is that our front page and "About Tripod" page are more streamlined and easy to use. Enjoy, and please drop us a line if you have any helpful comments on our new look.

WORK & MONEY

This week, we examine what happens when work disappears. Harry Goldstein takes a hard look at the WEA program in New York City, which many see as a working model for the new Federal Workfare program. Harry concludes that Workfare doesn't work, isn't fair, and may even eliminate your job! Take a look.

In the conclusion of our exclusive interview with G.J. Meyer, the author of "Executive Blues" predicts dark days ahead for the American workforce and offers advice for young job seekers:

Read how one woman dealt with the unexpected loss of her job and livelihood in Margaret McFee's "Tales From The Trenches" column, entitled "Downsized and Out".

How would you bounce back from sudden job loss? (or how did you?) Sound off in our latest weekly survey, and read what other members said.

The debates and dialogues continue in our ongoing "Work Smart" conference topics. Drop by and share your two cents' worth.

Randy Williams, Editor

POLITICS & COMMUNITY

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor's statistics, we have more leisure time now, on average, than any civilization anywhere has ever had before. So why do we all feel so damn busy? As "Speed" month continues in P&C;, take our amazing new Leisure Test, and figure out how much leisure you REALLY have.

In our quest to help you slow down, Tripod interviewed Tom Hodgkinson, the 28-year-old editor of The Idler, Great Britain's fabulous journal of idle philosophy and culture. Read Tom's diagnosis of our masochistic lust for work, and his prescription for laziness.

This week's survey asks, Is slothfulness a virtue? Or is time a terrible thing to waste?

In our "SPEED" conference, Tripod member idspud says, "I was standing in an airport when a young 'fast track' type rushed up and asked an old farmer if he knew the time. The old fellow answered 'Well, the ground is beginning to thaw and the wind is beginning to blow -- so it is probably about half past March.' I decided that my time scale needs recalibrating." Join us.

Josh Glenn, Editor

TRITECA

Star Wars and chronic software upgrades have something in common. See what Bill Gates and George Lucas have to say to each other, in the new Perspective.

You may not be able to blow up the Death Star on your homepage, but some new software does bring special effects into reach. Eye Site looks at Eye Candy.

Whose Java is it anyway? The industry types fight it out over Java standards, in the Lemming Report.

Whether you call it dance music, techno, or thumping sounds, it's rampant on the Web. In the fourth of a series covering music on the Web, Ware/Howz looks at the place where computers and dance beats meet.

The Page Slave rounds up a bunch of pictures: free, easy, legal Clip Art archives, for your personal page pleasure. Where do you get your pics? Let us know.

Michelle Chihara, Editor

HOMELIFE

Last week in L&T;, we got you the perfect apartment. So now you're sitting on a milk crate, staring at a suspicious carpet stain, huh? Before you run out to the nearest disposable Swedish furniture outlet, we have a few words for you: Build your own damn furniture! (Or, at least shop smartly... ever been to a tag sale?) This way to cheap chic!

Then, in this week's survey, share your tips for furnishing an apartment (on a budget).

Nobody's moving out in the Women's Room, but we do chat with a director who's moving up. Sarah Jacobson is the 25-year-old director of "Mary Jane's Not a Virgin Anymore" and current darling of the indie film world. She tells Tripod about sex, Sundance, and jacking off.

Finally, Doctor Bob checks in, with answers on highs, lows, and funny feelings: Learn about irregular bowel movements, how crack works, and what happens when you swallow a penny.

Emma Taylor, Editor

Tripod Insider

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You know that Tripod is always spawning new content and services - now, we've made a baby! Well, not all of us. The Insider is happy to announce that Jodi, our Ad Man in New York, is the proud father of a baby girl. He may have also discovered a whole new revenue stream as he gears up for fatherhood: A baby will go through well over 6,000 diapers and he figures those are ad impressions just waiting to happen. If anyone can sell that inventory, Jodi can.

The other buzz around the office is the newest company pasttime... bowling. It's all the rage. We've finally built up a staff big enough to support our own league, complete with Tripod bowling shirts. Although the games officially start this week, last week we stormed the alleys for a little pre-season practice. 12 lanes, 3 games, and 30 pairs of rented shoes later, the averages are in with a high of 172, a low of 60, and everything else in between.

In honor of the first annual Tripod Bowling League, we'd like to present a little interactive quiz. Click on the bowling name and find out the real identity of the Earl/Earlene Anthony:

• Blanche
• Angel
• EmJ
• Smitty
• The Tongue
• Bruno
• Deke
• Rhonda
• Easy
• Sid
• Fat Stu

Stay tuned for more on Bowl-a-Rama '97!

Tripod Membership

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Thanks for becoming a member of Tripod.

If you have any questions or comments, feel free to email me.
My mailbox is always open.

Tung T. Pham
Membership Director
[email protected]

This has been another issue of the Tripod Insider, the occasional newsletter on what's happening at Tripod. Past issues of the Tripod Insider are also available.

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