Chicago TImes Newsletter

[RickR]

All: 

There's a great new TI newsletter available for everyone interested in the TI computers.  Please take a look here:  https://www.chicagotiug.org/chicago-times-newsletter

We're also lucky enough to have creator @John Behnke here. 

Please spread the word and make sure you ask any questions you might have or help you need here in the atari.io forums. 

 

[John Behnke]

Thank you Rick for allowing us the space here to help distribute as well as solicit contributions for the newsletter. It's a bit hard re-starting something that has been dormant for decades but I remember how excited I was to get each issue every month in the mail. There were many other excellent newsletters by other user groups and some are still being printed but this was the one that was most dear.

In restarting this we made a few changes. The first, of course, is that it will not be distributed by mail and it will be free of charge. The cost alone to mail this would be huge but today it's far easier to distribute it in PDF format which also allows us to print it in color. You download it, you print it, read it on your computer or on your phone. It's that simple. Now we will be printing hard copies for those who take the time to attend one of our meetings in person as well as having copies available at the TI Faire but the cost to print those is small vs a worldwide distribution.

So what is the purpose of this newsletter?

1. Nostagia - We're going to handpick some great articles, ads, programs and pictures from the good old days. Right now we have a bit more of this than we would like but until we start gaining fresh sources of new material, we have to fill the pages and I'm sure you do not want to see nothing but my ramblings LOL

2. Drum up support for the community and rekindle some of the fun we all had in better times. Sure we're a bit older and we have even lost a few great friends by way of relocation or in passing but communication is one of the most outstanding things in modern times and we can meet old freinds as well as new by means of great forums such as this and if a newsletter helps in a small way then so be it!

3. If I can create a newsletter in a few hours, so can you! If re-starting this newsletter helps nudge your group into doing the same, let's trade ideas and exchange newsletters and rediscover the special place in our hearts for this little machine we bought so long ago.

4. We'd like this to be an international edition. We've already gotten a few outside contributions and even a few from England.

 

Now before I end this long post, I'd like to ask everyone out there what they would like to see. What they liked about the first few issues and what we could make better. I'd also welcome articles, game and program reviews and we'll even accept small ads for new items for sale that would be of interest to the community. We want to make this the best we can and we could use your help!

Thanks again to this great forum for not only supporting the TI community but also allowing us this space. Thanks!

[socrates63]

That's awesome! Thanks for sharing the news, Rick. It's incredible that the Chicago TI user group has been meeting regularly, and true to old school, in a library room, and there's videos of the meetings 👏 👏 Trivia about Scott Adams, Infocom ❤️

I miss those user group days. I told my wife recently that I want to fly to Texas to attend a T.A.C.O. Atari user group meeting.

Edited April 6 by socrates63

[John Behnke]

I have started work on our Super Summer Edition of the Chicago TImes Newsletter. This newsletter is larger than normal and takes the place of the June-July-August Editions.

 

So with all this extra space I need stuff to put in them. If anyone is selling TI related hardware/software and would like a free 1/2 page ad, please forward the ad to me. I'm also looking for articles and game/program reviews of both new or old software. If you're not great at writing, no worries as I'll clean it up for you if needed.

 

Please forward any material you wish to submit to: chicago.ti994a.usersgroup@gmail.com

 

Thanks!

[- Ω -]

On 4/13/2024 at 1:18 AM, John Behnke said:

I'm also looking for articles and game/program reviews of both new or old software.

Please forward any material you wish to submit to: chicago.ti994a.usersgroup@gmail.com

 

I'll keep this in mind for future reference. 🙂

[- Ω -]

Hey all, I thought I'd "BUMP UP" this thread to remind everyone about the link put here by @RickR in the first message about the Newsletter.  It's high quality, in color and has some good info in it, so be sure to check it out!

[John Behnke]

Thank you for your kind words and the plug.

 

I know that some may be asking why, in 2024, a newsletter is even needed. Well the short answer is that it is not. To be fair, however, you must also answer why the TI-99/4A is needed in 2024. The short answer is that it is not.

Much like old things that serve little practical use in 2024, things from the past server another purpose. Often the term "retro" is tossed around in regard to "accepted" items from the past that people tend to collect which holds a warm spot in their heart of times past. Such is the TI and, hopefully, this newsletter.

Much like newspapers and magazines are dying, newsletters are a product of the past when you would actually find out useful information in that monthly periodical. In the age of instant communication via the internet, text messages and e-mail, I know full well that there is nothing practical about a newsletter.

 

To be direct, we brought this back for pure nostalgia and as a means of trying to unify the members of our community that we have left. I have tried to fill it with humor, nostalgia, games and retro graphics. I've even printed old ads along with some new and tossed in a few type in games for good measure. Almost all of this, of course, can be found somewhere on the internet.

So in closing, if you take 5 mins to look at the newsletter each month and something in it stirs up a fond memory or makes you smile, well then I consider the work involved to be worth it. In the end, this is only going to work if the community wishes it as I will eventually run out of material and without some fresh input, this newsletter will have a short run. While it is my intent to keep this baby going for as long as possible, in the end it will be up to the contributors. When the Chicago Group had 2000 members, we had a ton of submissions but in 2024, I'm not sure we have that many worldwide.

 

So thank you for all the support, kind words and submissions that keep this thing going. The Super Summer Edition is about 75% done. It's going to be a huge issue and I hope it's the best so far.

Later All!

[- Ω -]

14 minutes ago, John Behnke said:

Thank you for your kind words and the plug.

 

I know that some may be asking why, in 2024, a newsletter is even needed. Well the short answer is that it is not. To be fair, however, you must also answer why the TI-99/4A is needed in 2024. The short answer is that it is not.

Much like old things that serve little practical use in 2024, things from the past server another purpose. Often the term "retro" is tossed around in regard to "accepted" items from the past that people tend to collect which holds a warm spot in their heart of times past. Such is the TI and, hopefully, this newsletter.

Much like newspapers and magazines are dying, newsletters are a product of the past when you would actually find out useful information in that monthly periodical. In the age of instant communication via the internet, text messages and e-mail, I know full well that there is nothing practical about a newsletter.

 

To be direct, we brought this back for pure nostalgia and as a means of trying to unify the members of our community that we have left. I have tried to fill it with humor, nostalgia, games and retro graphics. I've even printed old ads along with some new and tossed in a few type in games for good measure. Almost all of this, of course, can be found somewhere on the internet.

So in closing, if you take 5 mins to look at the newsletter each month and something in it stirs up a fond memory or makes you smile, well then I consider the work involved to be worth it. In the end, this is only going to work if the community wishes it as I will eventually run out of material and without some fresh input, this newsletter will have a short run. While it is my intent to keep this baby going for as long as possible, in the end it will be up to the contributors. When the Chicago Group had 2000 members, we had a ton of submissions but in 2024, I'm not sure we have that many worldwide.

 

So thank you for all the support, kind words and submissions that keep this thing going. The Super Summer Edition is about 75% done. It's going to be a huge issue and I hope it's the best so far.

Later All!

Well, as an old man I actually PREFER the newsletter type format for informational and non-discussion type of stuff.  I printed up each and every Shift 838 Newsletter when Chris was making them.   I also printed up each and every Yesterday's Newsletter the late Sparkdrummer made.  Both of those newsletters are stored in their own individual binders.  After issue six of this newsletter I plan to do the same.

 

 

[John Behnke]

Well from one old man to another bravo 🙂

[MistaMaddog]

On 5/24/2024 at 3:54 PM, John Behnke said:

Thank you for your kind words and the plug.

 

I know that some may be asking why, in 2024, a newsletter is even needed. Well the short answer is that it is not. To be fair, however, you must also answer why the TI-99/4A is needed in 2024. The short answer is that it is not.

Much like old things that serve little practical use in 2024, things from the past server another purpose. Often the term "retro" is tossed around in regard to "accepted" items from the past that people tend to collect which holds a warm spot in their heart of times past. Such is the TI and, hopefully, this newsletter.

Much like newspapers and magazines are dying, newsletters are a product of the past when you would actually find out useful information in that monthly periodical. In the age of instant communication via the internet, text messages and e-mail, I know full well that there is nothing practical about a newsletter.

 

That's why I like to read old newsletters & magazines about vintage computers like the Ataris, it also gives a sense on how people used those machines back then long before there even was the current Internet.  Of course I do have to read them online not only for convience but b/c I can't read printed material w/o bifocals. 🧓

I'm happy that the TI community has a current newletter to read...

 

[- Ω -]

14 hours ago, MistaMaddog said:

That's why I like to read old newsletters & magazines about vintage computers like the Ataris, it also gives a sense on how people used those machines back then long before there even was the current Internet.  Of course I do have to read them online not only for convience but b/c I can't read printed material w/o bifocals. 🧓

I'm happy that the TI community has a current newletter to read...

 

I've alway liked being able to get real comfortable in the recliner before reading, with a bright light behind me and some music in the background.  Not having to boot up the computer every time I want to read something is a plus as well.  Lately, another reason is arthritis, moving that little wheel on the mouse repeatedly can get quite painful.

[- Ω -]

Since the Chicago TImes Newsletter & Club has been around for so long, it's a good bet that we'll continue seeing many newsletters from @John Behnke in the future, so I uploaded a PDF for anyone wanting to insert into the spine of a large 3 ring binder.  Awesome newsletters deserve to be printed up and stored.

Anyway this is what it looks like...

Chicago Times - Spine.pdf

[- Ω -]

I put my spine in a spare TI-Writer binder.  This is what it looks like finished...

[John Behnke]

Wow that's great work! Thanks for doing this and I hope the Super Summer Edition is one everyone enjoys. It should be out early in a week or two.

[John Behnke]

The Super Summer Edition of the Chicago TImes is now available at www.chicagotiug.org

 

Edited June 13 by John Behnke

[John Behnke]

It has come to my attention that some of the newsletter links were not working. All issues should be resolved. Please let me know if you have any problems. Thanks

[- Ω -]

Only 19 days until the next Chicago Times Newsletter!  Waiting is such a drag!

[John Behnke]

Proof copy is done. It came in larger than I would have liked at 32 pages but there was one great article (that most have prob read) that I had to include. It will be out soon. Hope you all like it.

Edited August 31 by John Behnke

[John Behnke]

Since we moved the meeting back a week due to member vacations, I've made the September edition of the newsletter available now FYI.

[- Ω -]

Why does the vampire woman on page 25 of the October newsletter remind me of Amy Lee?

[John Behnke]

Dunno... maybe inspired by her LOL. Either way I think if she was real I would allow myself to be bit 🙂

[John Behnke]

Due to the faire being held so close to our normal meeting day (1st Saturday of each month), our November meeting will be cancelled and the next meeting will be held on Pearl Harbor Day.

The November Newsletter will still be published, probably with a ton of faire photos, but depending on how long it takes me to recover, I can guarantee that it will not be out the first week of November LOL. When I get a better idea on the date I will post here.

 

See you all at the faire!

[John Behnke]

November Newsletter is out. It's the Faire Photo issue so almost 100% Faire photos. Regular content will continue with the December Issue.

[John Behnke]

The December issue is in Proof status. Will be out right after the next meeting.

[- Ω -]

On 11/7/2024 at 4:06 AM, John Behnke said:

November Newsletter is out. It's the Faire Photo issue so almost 100% Faire photos. Regular content will continue with the December Issue.

Yeah, I printed it up anyway as I want to have ALL the issues.  I did the same with the SHIFT838 Newsletter and the Yesterday's News... dunno know why though, after I kick the bucket somebody will probably just throw them all out.  Actually, because I don't want everything thrown out I've been thinking about liquidating all my TI equipment, but who would have a truck big enough to take all the stuff and the armoire?  I sure as heck ain't gonna ship it!