Somewhere between spring and fall, things get cold, monochromatic and
generally miserable. It's winter. And there's lots to do -- digging cars
out of snowbanks, catching colds, chipping ice off windshields, shovelling
walks, slipping in the mud, freezing your extremities, paying huge heating
bills, eating leftover turkey, and playing referee with the kids. For fun,
you can always doodle on the calendar as you mark the days until spring,
or stare wistfully at pictures of tropical islands.
  
(Of course, if you already live on a tropical island, stop that
chuckling.)
  
For many of us, winter's a bleak, boring landscape that seems to go on
forever. There are few escapes; it's enough to make a grown-up cry. But if
old man winter's got you singing the blues, GEnie can put you in the pink
without costing a lot of green.
  
Hobby Heaven
  
First, start with a hobby. Everybody's got one or two, and GEnie's Hobby
RoundTable on Page 180 (keyword HOBBY) is a gateway to information,
support and advice from experts and fellow-hobbyists. Whether you're into
model railroading or model rockets, collecting baseball cards or
collecting comics, you'll find it in the Hobby RoundTable.
  
And now, with SIX brand new hobby RoundTables added to the family,
hobbyists will find it easier than ever to beat the winter blues.
  
Gardeners can do it in the new Gardening RoundTable, by thinking Spring.
And talking about it. "They can be found talking herbaceous perennials in
Category 11; annuals in Category 14, bulbs in Category 16, and just about
any type of plant that can be found," says RoundTable Director Margaret
Beiner. You can also read about gardens and write reviews for your fellow
gardeners in Category 5 Topic 12, she adds, and check out latest seed
catalogs in Category 7 Topic 1.
  
Stamp Collectors will be in seventh heaven when they travel to the new
Stamp Collecting RoundTable, headed by philatelic writer and former
dealer, Lloyd A. de Vries. "It's the place to get the latest philatelic
news as well as exchange advice and opinions," deVries said. "We're just
getting started, but we expect to host Real-Time Conferences with
organization leaders, writers and top dealers."  The Bulletin Board also
features topics for new and junior (youth) collectors, as well as GEnie
subscribers who m ay have inherited or rediscovered a collection.
  
Artists and hobbyists who enjoy the American tradition of needle-art, will
find a stitch in time at the NeedleARTS RoundTable. "Beat the winter blues
and join us for some informative Real Time Conferences on various forms of
needle work," suggests Sysop Jody McFadden. Good point.
  
Planes, Train and Doodles
  
Planes, trains or automobiles -- the Modelling RoundTable will transport
enthusiasts and hobbyists to a paradise of information, tips, hints,
files, programs and discussion on everything from railroads to rockets.
  
Collectors can rejoice in the company of other collectors in the
Collectibles RoundTable. Whether it's coins or figurines, antiques or
garage sales, the exchange of information and friendly community
atmosphere will turn grey skies to blue.
  
And instead of doodling on the calendar, budding artists can really thaw
out their talents. "Come on over to the Visual ARTS & Crafts RoundTable
and join the fun," invites RoundTable Assistant, Katie Hoeppner. "Learn to
cartoon on GEnie! Lee Suckow, a free-lance caricaturist is teaching an
Online Cartooning & Caricaturing Course in Category 8, Topic 3 of the
RoundTable Bulletin Board."
  
A Little Help
  
Still, what are hobbies without friends? On GEnie, the best place to go to
make new friends -- or find old ones -- is the GENIEus RoundTable at page
150 (keyword GENIEUS).
  
"GENIEus (the GEnie User's RoundTable) is absolutely the best place to be
when the wind is howling around the front door," says Assistant Sysop Jim
Bard. "Designed to help new members learn about GEnie and all its
features, GENIEus is a great first step towards a long and rewarding GEnie
experience."
  
As Bard explains, the GENIEus motif of "users helping users", puts new
users in touch with more seasoned ones, opening the door to everything
from quick answers to GEnie questions, to establishing lasting online
friendships.
  
"The Bulletin Board features a variety of Topics designed to help people
learn about the system as well as for planning get-togethers -- as soon as
the snow melts, of course," he says. "There are also many general
discussion Topics, for those who want to holler, cry, laugh, or ask if
anyone knows where they left their car keys."
  
The Real-Time Conference area offers games, online classes, and meetings
with the SysOps of other RoundTables, and also includes the GENIEus
HelpDesk -- where users can come to get immediate answers to GEnie
questions, or just to share a cup of virtual coffee.
  
The GENIEus Software Library contains files on everything from information
about GEnie, to computers, modems and archives of previous Conferences.
There are even GIFs of some of the people you'll meet on GEnie and
GENIEus.
  
Once you've connected with friends, new and old, you'll want to get
together and chat. So, pull on your coat, hat, gloves and scarf, slip into
your heavy boots and trudge outside and hope the car starts -- OR pop over
to the GEnie CHAT lines on page 400 (keyword CHAT).
  
There you can jump into dozens of ongoing discussions on all sorts of
topical topics, get into various free-form and structured role playing
games, play Trivia, talk about news or current events, or get help. "It's
a PARTY every night!"
  
And now you can even put a face with the handle by joining the Chat Lines
Photo Album, and either grabbing a picture of someone you're chatting
with, or sharing your picture with everyone else. Simply select item #9
from the main menu.
  
Fun and Games
  
Irving Berlin is credited with saying, "There's no business like show
business." And when it comes to escaping the icy clutches of winter,
there's no RoundTable like the Show Biz RoundTable. Simply moving to page
185 (or typing SHOWBIZ at any GEnie prompt), gets you a ticket to the
latest and greatest in movies, television, theatre, radio, soaps and home
video. There are even categories on opera, books, home entertainment
technology, and show-business professionals.
  
Of course, what better way to put a smile on your face when the wind's
howling at your door than to snuggle up in front of a cozy computer and
play a few games? And not just any games, but RSCARDS.
  
RSCARDS, at page 875 (keyword RSCARDS) is a graphics-based games system
developed by J. Weaver Jr. of Factory Programming. With it, you can take
part in six different multiplayer games -- Blackjack, Backgammon,
Checkers, Poker, Reversi or Chess -- with GEnie members from all over the
world.
  
In addition to the standard text-based version, you'll find a special
graphics Front-End in the RSCARDS Software Library. The Front-End (which
supports versions for IBM-compatibles, Amiga, Apple Mac and IIgs, and
Atari), will display each playing area in complete graphic detail and let
you use a mouse to make your moves.
  
Song Sung Blue
  
Winter may be shades of white and grey threatening to turn you blue, but
GEnie can put the color of spring back into your world. Give grumpy old
man winter the boot; log on today. To paraphrase the old song: "The
weather outside may be frightful; but here on GEnie, it's delightful."
  
  
              New RoundTables Mentioned
              -------------------------
              Collectibles RoundTable..............Page 1490
              Gardening RoundTable.................Page 1495
              Modelling RoundTable.................Page 1500
              NeedleARTS RoundTable................Page 1505
              Stamp Collecting RoundTable..........Page 1520
              Visual ARTS and Crafts RoundTable....Page 1510
  
ͻ
 Collectibles RoundTable Real-Time Conferences           Page 1490      
 Conference                               Day/Date       Time    Room   
 ----------                               ---------      -----   ----   
 Collectibles.............................Monday.........9PM ET    3    
 Hallmark Collector's.....................Tuesday........9PM ET    3    
 Refunding................................Wednesday......9PM ET    3    
 Sweepstaking.............................Thursday.......9PM ET    3    
 Coins....................................Friday.........9PM ET    3    
                                                                        
                                                                        
 Gardening RoundTable                                    Page 1495      
 Conference                               Day/Date       Time     Room  
 ----------                               ---------      -----    ----  
 Gardener's Gathering.....................1st..Tuesday   9PM ET    3    
 Ornamental's.............................3rd..Tuesday   9PM ET    3    
                                                                        
                                                                        
 Modeling RoundTable                                     Page 1500      
 Conference                              Day/Date         Time    Room  
 ----------                              ---------        -----   ----  
 Static Modelling.........................1st Monday     9PM ET     1   
 Railroads................................All Tuesday    9PM ET     1   
 Aviation.................................1st Wednesday  9PM ET     2   
 Rockets..................................1st Thursday   9PM ET     3   
                                                                        
                                                                        
 NeedleARTS RoundTable                                   Page 1505      
 Conference                                 Day/Date     Time     Room  
 ----------                                 ---------    -----    ----  
 NeedleARTS BB Help Desk....................Monday      9:30PM ET   1   
 Online Quilters'...........................Tuesday     9:30PM ET   3   
 Online Needle and Fibre Artist's RTC.......Wednesday   9:30PM ET   2   
 NeedleARTS Game Night......................Friday      9:30PM ET   3   
                                                                        
                                                                        
 Visual ARTS and Crafts RoundTable                        Page 1510     
 Conference                                 Day/Date      Time    Room  
 ----------                                 ---------     -----   ----  
 RubberArt Stamping.........................Tuesday      9:30PM ET   3  
 Visual ARTS................................Wednesday    9:30PM ET   3  
 Crafts.....................................Thursday     9:30PM ET   3  
                                                                        
 All times Eastern U.S.                                                 
ͼ
