HAPPY BIRTHDAY MARINES!

This issue of Sitrep focuses on NEW MEMBERS.  We have 24 of them and I hope you guys welcome each one in to the LZ.  There are even a couple of good stories on their web pages, already!.  Just click the "New Members" button above and check them out!

After a long process of getting my computers healthy and my health computerized, I'm rolling again as Webmaster for LZ Russell.  After this Sitrep I will be taking both computers down for a tune-up and gearing up for processing videos and audio, then get to work revamping the site.  Look for lots of media and a major change in the entire structure and presentation of our web site that will include a collaboration site where everyone can pitch in and help create "The LZ Russell Story".  This will also include an improved Message Board System that will include the ability to chat live with each other...even hold board meetings!  It may seem like a lot of work for me, but the changes will actually reduce my work load, once they are installed.

As always, I welcome any suggestions you guys have regarding the web site.  The site belongs to YOU, so don't be shy.

Skip

3/12 Network Mothballed - 2/4 Revamped - DANG!

If you click on the 3/12 Network link on his page, you notice it has been shut down!  Dang!  Tom Tilque hasn't sent me any information about it, but whatever the case, we are sad to see it go.  Tom is one of the guys who helped get the LZ going and he has put in a lot of work on the LZ, processing pictures for us.  So, if you're out there, Tom, let us know what's going on, OK?

If you are a 2/4 Association member, you probably already know they have entirely revamped their web site...and it looks pretty good, too!  You may also notice when you close out this web page, you will have a Pop-up selling screen savers.  That came from 2/4's web site, not us!  You might mention this to the 2/4 Webmaster.  He might not know it is happening.

Hats, Jackets, T-Shirts, Lighters and Stuff

Kenny Heins and a couple of the other guys have put together some LZ Russell stuff you guys can buy.  The link to where to get it is somewhere on our site, but I'm going to re-design the whole section to make it easier to get the stuff.  I'll let you know when I get it ready, but you can contact Kenney Heins in the Roster and he'll set you up with the info on how to get the stuff.  It's neat stuff, too.  100% of the proceeds goes to the LZ General Fund and can be taken as a tax deductable donation when the IRS comes after you.

Speed, Movies and Music

If you don't have a high speed Internet connection, you will be missing out on a lot of stuff the New LZ will be providing.  Movies and music take high speed connections to view properly.  If the movie at the top of this page didn't play right, or not at all, it is probably because your internet service is too slow.

To do this, you need a computer that will handle it.  Web TV will NOT handle it.  It may, in the future...but that "future" may still be 5 years off.  So you will need a modern desktop or laptop computer.

You need at least 128 K to see any of it, but even that speed will give you choppy streamed videos.  Music usually comes out fine, though.  I recommend 300K or above.  It will cost you more than your dial-up connection, but if you plan to stay on the Internet, you will have to get it.  Dial-up is being phased out of most Internet web sites because it is just too dang slow!  Most Internet Service Providers will charge less for one-way high speed.  Unless you upload a lot of stuff to web pages, you don't need high speed for uploading.  You only need to be able to download stuff TO your computer at a faster rate.

There are many kinds of high speed internet services that include DSL, Cable, Wireless and Satellite.  Which one you choose will depend on availability in your area, price and quality.

Dial-up is where it all got started.  You told your computer modem to connect you and then you heard that beeping and buzzing as it made the call to the ISP for your connection.  Amazing stuff when it first came out, but so was the round wheel.  You may live in an area where you can't get high speed connection, not even Satellite. If that is the case, then you will have to start raising hell with the phone company to get DSL.  They will do it, when forced to by your state untility commission.  Otherwise, you'll have to go find a public computer at a library, or a business, that has a high speed connection.  If you want to use your computer, then hopefully you bought a laptop.

Cable is usually the best choice.  It is usually cheaper than DSL and provides higher speeds for less money, plus better quality (meaning they don't go out of business every time it rains on their phone line hubs). Cable Internet is available just about anywhere you can get Cable TV, but not everywhere.  Some rural companies still don't provide it.  If you can get it, go cable.

DSL is the phone company.  It allows you to have a phone line that remains active even when you are on the Internet.  It is always on, so you don't have to access it every time you start your computer to get on the Internet.  It can be very fast, but is usually pricey and phone companies traditionally tend to try to screw you...they have to, or other phone companies will laugh at them.  For instance, don't let them try to sell you a 128 "twisted pair" line.  It is cheaper than DSL, but too slow to be of any value.  You might as well stay on Dial-up.  Many phone companies try to tell you that you HAVE to buy an extra phone line to get DSL.  This isn't true at all, but they have most state utility commissions believing it so you will have to pay the price...like I do, here in Florida.  I use DSL to run the LZ Web Site, but only because I can't get Cable or Wireless and Satellite is too slow for uploading large files to web pages.

Satellite is fine if you don't need to upload much to a web site...which most people don't.  It is the most expensive consumer grade service, but the advantage is that you can use it almost anywhere you have an open sky to the South and electricity.  It is provided by Sat TV guys and It has serious high dowload speeds that will handle anything you'll ever want to see on the Internet.  The disadvantage is you still need to use your phone line for sending stuff...like emails...unless you pay for the enormously expensive 2-Way Sat system and even with that you will not be able to send much faster than dial-up.  It is used only where you can't even get a phone line...like on a motor home that moves around alot.  It is NOT good in rainy country, like the Pacific Northwest Coast.

Wireless is as good as any of them, if it isn't raining.  Rain will put it out as fast as it puts out Satellite, because the rain blocks the signal enough to corrupt it.  More than likely, Wireless will take over the entire Internet Providing System, but that is still a few years off.  I have used it and had excellent access quality, when it isn't raining.  They are working on tying it in to the wireless phone business and that may solve the rain problem...which would be great unless they want to charge you cell phone rates to stay connected...which they do at present.  Having wireless capability in your laptop is almost as important as having a screen.  A wireless rigged laptop can access hundreds of thousands of free internet access points that companies, libraries and even some towns provide.  The only drawback is you usually have to be within a few hundred feet of the wireless access point.  A mucipal grade wireless system will provide a larger access zone (the whole town) and is an excellent choice if you can get it.

The LZ is going High Speed.  The reason is because if we don't, then we are doomed to simple text and pictures and will miss out on the entire multi-media revolution that has taken over the Internet.  And it isn't simply a matter of preference.  In order to make our web pages, it HAS to be high speed, or I would never get anything done!

Besides, high speed is more fun!  I have videos of Terry Webber parking his hot-rod in his garage at 100mph!  I have videos of a 1957 Plymouth driving through Dong Ha in 1968.  I have videos of LZ Russell, Mutter's Ridge, LZ Cates and more!

And then there is the music and sound files.  I have cuts of 2/4 calling in an Arty strike.  I have Lee Rittenour broadcasting from Armed Forces Radio, Vietnam.  I have Hanoi Hannah saying "Merry Christmas" to the Marines.  What I DON'T have is music.  And there is a reason why.

Music like "Give Me Shelter" and other traditional "vietnam" songs can greatly enhance our web site.  So, what I need is for you LAWYER TYPES to help me out here. 

I can get and post music that can be played, but not downloaded as a music file (such as .mp3).  So no music publisher could claim we posted it for redistribution or commercial purposes.  But is that enough?  And if not, then how do we get legal?  Otherwise, you'll have me playing and singing songs I made up.  That, in itself, should be sufficient inspiration to help me find a legal solution to avoid paying ASCAP and BMI around $350 a year, EACH, just to post a couple of songs to enhance our web pages....songs that were written 35 years ago!  Please, contact me about this.  Thanks!