Guestbook - Volume 7

October 1999 to March 2000

Date: Sun Mar 26, 2000
From: m.kleine-fs.com.br (Marcos Kleine)
Subject: Kleine Project

HELLO TREKKERS AND FRIENDS!

For those who don't know me, my name is Marcos Kleine. I'm a Brazilian musician, guitar teacher and producer, I have 3 bands - one of them is the "Kleine Project". This project was born 2 years ago and involves versions of TV series themes, especially Star Trek, of which I've been a fan since I was a child. The versions were recorded by me in my studio, where the electric guitar, which is my main instrument, conducts the themes.

Most part of my versions are of Star Trek themes (The Motion Picture/The Wrath of Khan/Generations/First Contact/Insurrection/TOS/DS9/Voyager/Inner Light/A version of Locutus of Borg/A tribute to DeForest Kelley), but I've also made versions of classics like Star Wars, Mission Impossible, Batman, 007, The Flinstones, Green Hornet, Pink Panther, 2001 - A Space Odissey, Blade Runner, S.W.A.T. and X-Files.

Some os the versions sound quite different from the original ones. I'm writing this message to inform that my official website is finally ready and on the air! I'd like to apologize to you, because some of you have never heard of me and must be asking yourselves how I got your e-mail. But I've been visiting several Star Trek sites and I've prepared a mailing list, for I'd very much like my work to be broadcast among fans! But rest assured that your e-mail won't be disclosed, for I'm sendind this message individually.

At my website you will find all the versions I've created so far, information about the project, about how the songs were recorded, all the versions in MP3 format for download, midis, Real Audio, pictures and information about how to get my CD, "Kleine Project".

For the guitar players, there's a column with some tips and exercises for you to practice! And everything is FREE!! And you'll also find information about other works I do and bands with which I play. The site is in Portuguese, but also in English.

I'm very happy for having my website - at last! - and I'd like to thank FROTA ESTELAR BRASIL (Starfleet Brazil, the biggest Star Trek fan club in South America), Edson Santos (the webmaster), my friend Milton Trajano for the sensational drawings, my friend Susana Alexandria, who wrote this version in English, all the websites that are broadcasting my website, and my friend Silvio Vartan, my trekker partner for 15 years and also a founder of the "Kleine Project".

Access my website at www.kleine.cjb.net. If possible, tell your friends about my work, send me your opinions, suggestions and comments! Soon the website will have fresh news! And all Star Trek websites, send me your adresses and I'll gladly put your link there. As a "gift", I'm sending you a midi I created for Star Trek - Insurrection.

Live long and prosper!
Thank you very much!
Marcos Kleine
www.kleine.cjb.net
m.kleine-fs.com.br

[EDITOR'S NOTE: You have quite an impressive collection of Star Trek themes on your web site, Marcos. I encourage other Trek fans to visit, but you'll need to download a short web browser plug-in to view the "Shockwave" enhanced site.]

Date: Fri Mar 24, 2000
From: dk4nier-yahoo.com (Debbie Fournier)
Subject: Guam Tour

You have done a beatiful job on the Guam Tour. It brought tears to my eyes. My husband and I are from Mesa, Arizona, but we were stationed at Andersen AFB in the early 80's. We'd love to go back for a visit someday. It's not even the same place anymore! Thank you for the tour.

-Debbie

[EDITOR'S NOTE: I'm glad you liked the Guam Tour. My wife and I are looking forward to another visit next year when I'll have to go on business.]

Date: Sat Mar 18, 2000
To: jrr-hom.net (James Rathbone)
Subject: Thanks

I was stationed on Guam at Anderson in the early 80's. Thank you so much for the nostalgic look back to what was a great duty assignment]

[EDITOR'S NOTE: I'm glad you like my virtual tour of Guam, James. Guam certainly is a very nice place and the people are very friendly. Too bad it's so far away!]

Date: Mon Mar 13, 2000
From: Doug.Kirkpatrick-usafa.af.mil (Doug Kirkpatrick, Col (Ret))
Subject: Permission to Use a Photograph

I am updating our introductory space textbook entitled, "Understanding Space." In it, I describe the Salyut space missions. I'd love to illustrate one of the missions with a photograph. I found a good image of Salyut 7 on the Geocities website called Sandcastle V.I. Space Projects. I wonder if you can tell me how to obtain permission to use the image in our textbook? Thank you for your time.

Sincerely,
Doug Kirkpatrick

[EDITOR'S NOTE: Doug, the photo of Salyut 7 was scanned from page 143 of the book:

I suggest you write to the publisher regarding the use of the photo in your text book.]

Date: Fri Mar 10, 2000
From: Tim.Hufnell-ghv.com (Tim Hufnell)
Subject: Sandcastle V.I.

Hello,

You have a very well constructed site, your efforts are evident in the high quality of the presentation and content. I have bookmarked "Sandcastle", and intend on regular return visits.

I do have one question though: Who is the woman in the picture at the beginning of each of your "Ventures" pages??

Regards,

Tim Hufnell
DATA CENTER ANALYST
GENESIS HEALTH VENTURES

[EDITOR'S NOTE: Tim, thanks for the comments about my web site. I don't know who the woman on my Ventures section heading is, but that picture was scanned from the cover of the album "The Ventures Knock Me Out!" from the mid-60s. I thought the woman with the headstock of The Ventures' trademark Mosrite guitars was a good representation for the group.]

Date: Tue Mar 7, 2000
To: ca135805-ansonic.com.au (Andrew Slorach)
Subject: Can You Help Identify This Sci-Fi TV Show?

I was wondering if you could help me indentify a Sci-Fi Tv show.

It aired on ABC Television Australia on a Sunday afternoon in late 87 or early 88, along with the original series of Red Dwarf (this was a strange timeslot, Red Dwarf didn't become popular here till the early 90's)

I only saw one episode, I missed the title. It had a lost in space type theme with a young boy and a robot, very small cast (I'm sure one of the actors was Earnest Borgnine). In this episode their ship was floating adrift on a giant lake. Whenever they (Earnest Borgnine? and the boy) approached it in a dingy, the ship took off and landed on another part of the lake at random (seemed to be malfunctioning), there were exploring a deserted colony on this planet or something...

The production standards and budget of this episode seemed fairly high. The cast and locations looked very European but I'm sure most of the names in the end credits were Japanese. It didn't appear to be dubbed. Looked as if it was made in the early to mid 80's. Maybe it was a telemovie or a pilot.

Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks.

[EDITOR'S NOTE: Andrew, the SciFi series you describe doesn't sound like any I've ever seen. But if I find out any information on it, I'll let you know. -- Can anyone out there help Andrew?]

Date: Sat Mar 4, 2000
From: trevjohns-hotmail.com (Trevor Johns)
Subject: Carriers

Hi Arnold,

I've just found your site and enjoy it immensly. I'm a carrier buff too (though I usually have my clothes on when reading about flat tops ).

I have only one small quibble, and proffer it without wanting to appear a fusty old pedant. When mentioning British and related warships I believe the correct form of address is to call them H.M.S. Blah, rather than "THE" H.M.S. Blah.

A small point but it will save you typing at least. Thanks again for a great site.

Yours sincerely,
Trevor Johns

[EDITOR'S NOTE: Thanks for the comments, Trevor. It would take a lot of effort to go back through the entire carrier history section to remove the "the" before "HMS xxx". But I'll keep your comment in mind for future updates/revisions to the pages.]

Date: Sat Mar 4, 2000
To: LeddZeppelin2000-aol.com
Subject: "Kingdom of the Sun"

I wanted to tell you that your site was informative (I was gathering the Disney movie list up for a report on animation), but I noticed that your piece of info on "Kingdom of the Sun" was a little out-of-date. I'm interested in the movie, and it's undergone some changes. First, it's now called "The Emperor's New Groove," and it's now slated for a Q4 2000 release. If you're wondering, David Spade and John Goodman are the stars. go to www.aintitcoolnews.com for more info. The 2001 Disney movie is going to be "Atlantis."

[EDITOR'S NOTE: Thanks for the info. I'll check it out for updating to my Disney classics pages.]

Date: Thu Feb 3, 2000
From: Nhim99-aol.com (Chris Gurkin)
Subject: Whisper Chambers

Hi,

My name is Chris Gurkin, and I am a Calculus II student at Johnston Comm. College in NC. My class and I, along with our teacher Louise Deaton are trying to find some information on Whisper Chambers. If you have any information or know anyone who does please e-mail me and let me know.

Thanks,
Chris Gurkin

[EDITOR'S NOTE: Sorry, Chris, but "Whisper Chambers" is a topic I don't know anything about.]

Date: Wed Feb 2, 2000
From: brady9-bigpond.com (Helen Wrightson)
Subject: Roulettes

The Royal Australian Air Forces aerobatics display team fly PC-9 training aircraft which are turbine not jet. I (me being Australian) know that we don't have the funds to afford anything decent which could be classed as a jet. But the Roulettes are one of the best aerobatics display teams, mainly because they're all flying instructors. You may have heard that we have a woman flying with us.

[EDITOR'S NOTE: Thanks for the information on the Australian Flight Demonstration Team, the Roulettes. I've updated the entry on the web page.]

Date: Sun Jan 30, 2000
From: sun_stuff-hotmail.com (James Hanson)
Subject: Earth2

I found your web page while surfing today... And I must say that this (Earth 2) was one of my favorite shows that got cancelled...

Anyways I was wondering if you know where I can get copies of all the shows?

Thanks, James

[EDITOR'S NOTE: I'm glad my Earth 2 web page was useful to you. Unfortunately, I don't have any information on the show on video. Even I don't have them. But I do know that the SciFi Channel was playing the shows on either Saturdays or Sundays recently. Maybe www.scifi.com would have info on when you could catch the reruns on TV.]

Date: Wed Jan 19, 2000
From: TBohnstedt-PLPORTER.com (Tom Bohnstedt)
Subject: The X-15

Hello Arnold,

I have been enjoying your website, particularly those sections devoted to aviation and spaceflight. I grew up around the aerospace industry; my father has worked in aerospace industry for many years starting with the Apollo program at Rocketdyne in Canoga Park, California, then Boeing in Seattle, and then several companies in Southern California again, including Rockwell Space Division, where he worked on the Space Shuttles in Palmdale.

Looking back I feel that I am fortunate to have had the opportunity to grow up in the high desert around places like Edwards Air Force Base and all of the history there. Although I must admit to be a little envious of anyone living in the Virgin Islands.

The X-15 program was before my time, by which I mean that it was going on before I was old enough to have an appreciation for this sort of thing. But once I was old enough to appreciate it, the X-15 became one of my favorite aviation topics, and still is. I was looking at the list of X-15 astronaut flights in your website, and I noticed the list of astroflights.

Okay, here's my confusion: It is my understanding that "space" (where the atmosphere is so lacking that it is considered "space"?) begins at about 328,000 feet more or less, about 62 miles. On the other hand, I've also heard the figure of 50 miles up, which is about 264,000 feet.

So my question is this: obviously Walker exceeded 328,000 feet twice (flights 90 and 91). But what about the others? They must have exceeded the "50 mile" mark, or 264,000 feet. So is this only the U.S. Air Force's definition of space? What is the internationally recognized definition of "space"?

I disagree with the movie "The Right Stuff" in several places, including the end where it describes astronaut Gordon Cooper as the "last American to go into space alone". At the very least it was Joe Walker. But what about the others? How is this defined?

Thanks,
Tom Bohnstedt

[EDITOR'S NOTE: Tom, thanks for the compliments on the Spaceflight web site. The X-15 has always been one of my favorite aviation programs, and I've tried to collect as much information as possible on it.

You're right about the distinction between the international definition of where "space" begins and the USAF/NASA definition. I've copied below the list of "astroflights" and added the recorded altitude for each one. Under the international definition of the Federation Aeronautique Internationale, space begins at 328,000 feet (62 miles - 100 km), and only flights 90 and 91 would qualify as "spaceflights." But the USAF/NASA used the unofficial definition of 264,00 feet (50 miles) as being the beginning of "space." This list is included in a couple NASA publications and in the books "An Illustrated History of Space Shuttle: US Winged Spacecraft - X-15 to Orbiter" by Melvyn Smith (Haynes Publication, California: 1985) and "Space Flight: The Records" by Tim Furniss (Guiness Superlatives, England: 1985). The "Guiness" book says that "theoretically it can be claimed that Joe Walker was an official spaceman," but notes that "none of these X-15 'astroflights' pilots has been officially recognized as a spaceman."

07/17/62   X-15 #3 Flight  62   Robert M. White       314,750 ft.
01/17/63   X-15 #3 Flight  77   Joseph A. Walker      271,700 ft.
06/27/63   X-15 #3 Flight  87   Robert A. Rushworth   285,000 ft.
07/19/63   X-15 #3 Flight  90   Joseph A. Walker      347,800 ft.
08/22/63   X-15 #3 Flight  91   Joseph A. Walker      354,200 ft.
06/29/65   X-15 #3 Flight 138   Joseph H. Engle       280,600 ft.
08/10/65   X-15 #3 Flight 143   Joseph H. Engle       271,000 ft.
09/28/65   X-15 #3 Flight 150   John B. McKay         295,600 ft.
10/14/65   X-15 #1 Flight 153   Joseph H. Engle       266,500 ft.
11/01/66   X-15 #3 Flight 174   William H. Dana       306,900 ft.
10/17/67   X-15 #3 Flight 190   William Knight        280,500 ft.
11/15/67   X-15 #3 Flight 191   Michael J. Adams      266,000 ft.
08/21/68   X-15 #1 Flight 197   William H. Dana       264,000 ft.

I hope this information helps.]

Date: Sun Jan 16, 2000
From: orchid999-home.com (Frances Inous)
Subject: Fan

I accidently dropped by your website and enjoyed the memorable album covers very much as I was and still am cheering for The Ventures. They were really popular in Japan and came to entertain us so many times, ages ago (I was living there at one time) -- they were part of my teen years. I hope each of the Ventures are doing well and that they know they still have fans scattered everywhere.

Frances

[EDITOR'S NOTE: Thanks for the comments, Frances. In case you're interested, the official Ventures web site is at http://www.theventures.com]

Date: Tue Jan 4, 2000
From: blankcohj-lbcs.com (JUAN FERNANDO BLANCO HERNANDEZ)
Subject: Congratulations

I begin looking for the page of THE VENTURES because I am a FAN of them maybe from year 65; I was looking for long time at this country for music of this group; now I have a lot of information of the group and another love of mine SPACE FLIGHT. Thank you very much for all information you have,

I am from COLOMBIA; I had over there FABULOUS VENTURES; SUPER PSYCHODELICS; HAWAII FIVE-O and SWAMP ROCK but I remember was different; one of the songs I like to much was SNOOPY vs. RED BARON and that is the song I am looking for; thank you to your great information I will be buying right CD by reference; for now I have like 20 old long plays and like 16 CDs only from THE VENTURES; I took pictures from BLUE ANGELS and some from THUNDERBIRDS; and I have a brochure from THUNDERBIRDS maybe with some autographs from years 69 or 70 last year they went to COLOMBIA; for me is a tresure.

Thank you again for your great pages,
Cordially,
Fernando Blanco H.

[EDITOR'S NOTE: Fernando, thanks for the comments. It sound like you found a lot of information on topics that you like.]

Date: Mon Jan 3, 2000
From: tarrain-netzero.net (T.R. Arrain)
Subject: Early Road Races - Mexico

Hi,

Recently acquired a computer, and I am still a little awkward at this E-Mail thing.

I remember as a kid, th ere were some wild road races in Mexico in the early 50's. Mostly stock machines, and as I remember,. Lincolns took most of the winnings. I have surfed a little but I was wondering if you knew where I could go to pull up any information on that time and specfic series of races. I can imagine, the handicaps those guys were under, considering rayon tires, king-pin suspentions and all the other early technology of the day.

Thanks for your help.

Regards,
Thomas R. Arrain

[EDITOR'S NOTE: I've heard about the Mexican road race series you're talking about, but I don't have any information about it. There was something called the "Panamerican Race" or Panamerican Cup", which might be the same Mexican race -- kind of like a Latin American "Mille Miglia". I'll try to do some web searching and will get back to you if I find anything.]

Date: Sun Jan 2, 2000
To: lesco-thegrid.net (Mike)
Subject: How-dee

Very much enjoyed you Auto Racing web pages, well done. We would like to ad them as a link in ours if that is o.k.?

Mike
www.4-lesco.com

[EDITOR'S NOTE: Thanks for the comment, Mike, and a link to my Auto Racing Classics page would be most welcome.]

Date: Wed Dec 29, 1999
From: wildcard-revelstoke.net (Ed Nelson)
Subject: The Ventures.

Morning.

Are you the man who put together this web site? If so I am looking for the album learn to play gutiar with the Ventures. Any help is gladly received.

Thanks,
Ed

[EDITOR'S NOTE: Ed, those "Play Guitar" albums were released on CD a couple years ago by One Way Records (US) and See for Miles Records (UK), but without the booklets that included the figuring diagrams. You might want to check http://www.thinkcdvideo.com or http://www.cdnow.com for availability.]

Date: Wed Dec 29, 1999
From: RES0209-aol.com (Rick Shirley)
Subject: Beachfront Housing

I am curious as to the affordability of beachfront housing in the islands. Is is more affordable than in the States? What would a 2 or 3 bedroom cottage, nothing fancy, cost beachfront? Oceanview?

Thanks for your time,
Rick Shirley

[EDITOR'S NOTE: Rick, actually there isn't a lot of "beachfront" housing in the Virgin Islands because the beaches are either government-owned or have resort hotels on them. as for oceanview, St. Thomas is only 4x8 miles, so just about everything is "oceanview." In general, housing is more expensive than in the U.S. (with the possible exception of large metro areas) and you can expect to pay anywhere from $200,000 and up for a decent 3-bedroom house. The primarily concrete construction for hurricane protection, need for self-contained water catchment/storage, and need to import all building materials are the main reasons for the high costs.]

Date: Mon Dec 27, 1999
From: Sammler-firemail.de (Frank Brewe)
Subject: Walt Disney Trips

Hello Arnold !

I am a great friend of everything concerning Walt Disney and I found your adress at www/sandcastlevi.com/travel/disney/wdworld.htm. For me it is not possible to travel to the US for the next years and so I am looking for people who will be at Walt Disney parks sometimes.

I would like to ask you, if there is a planned trip to a Disney park and if there is, the possibilty to get a postcard from there??

If you will be so kind to send me a postcard from Disney please send me a short email and I will send you my postal address here in Germany.

Thank you very much in advance.

I wish you a happy new year 2000 and much fun with Disney in the future...

Best regards from Braunschweig / Germany
Frank Brewe

[EDITOR'S NOTE: Thanks for the comments on the Disney World tour pages over on my "hometown edition" web site. I don't have any immediate plans for a trip to a Disney theme park, but if I get there, I'll be happy to send you a postcard.]

Date: Sun Dec 26, 1999
From: mollybee-Centurytel.net (Chuck & Joan Hammer)
Subject: THANK YOU

We were stationed on Guam from 1965 until '68 and returned in '69 and came home in '71. It was the best time in our lives. We lived in the village of Dededo when we went back for the second tour. Every week-end we were out on the beaches or driving around the Island. My husband was stationed at Anderson AFB, and was in charge of about 50, 18 and older young men, that worked in what was called the BOMB DUMP. He was a very good Sgt. and all the boys liked him so when we would drive around the Island we were sure to see people that knew him. We were invited to all the fiestas, weddings. Your pictures and writings brought back to mind how we spent Christmas while away from home. We love the people and the Island dearly and are planing a trip back when we retire again. Thank You again and God Bless you for putting this on the Net. I would be interested in other pictures if you care to share them.

Joan & Chuck

[EDITOR'S NOTE: Hi and thanks for the comments about my Guam Tour pages. It's nice to know that the pictures brought back some nice memories of your time on Guam.]

Date: Fri Dec 24, 1999
From: tanuki-execpc.com (Charles Jarvis)
Subject: Enterprise

Hi:

Found your web site and saw your offer of JPEGs and thumbnails and GIFs, oh my! (Sorry about that. My six year old daughter is bouncing off the walls waiting for Santa to come and I guess it's becoming infectious.) Anyhow, I'm interested. Could you let me know the details of acquiring them?

Thanks,
Charlie Jarvis

[EDITOR'S NOTE: Charlie, I intend on putting together a CD/ROM version of my book on the History of the Enterprise, which would include full-screen versions of the thumbnail photos in the web version plus additional graphics, like maps of the various vessels' travels, etc. I would hope to be able to sell the thing for about $20-25 each, which would allow me to recover the rather substantial research and photo licensing costs I've incurred on the project over the years. But I don't have a timeframe for getting everything together. Working all week and taking care of chores at home (plus keeping this web site up to date) doesn't leave me too much free time for other things.]

Date: Thu Dec 23, 1999
From: leber-scoe.stan-co.k12.ca.us (Lance)
Subject: Guam Tour

Excellent!!!!!!! I lived at Anderson Air Force base from '84 to '87 and just loved it. I was in 10th - 12th grade and had a chance to see the island as a teenager. What an experience.

Your tour of Guam was great and brought back a lot of great memories. The island sure has changed a lot. One day, I hope to visit again and take my family to see what a beautiful place it is.

[EDITOR'S NOTE: Thanks for your comments, Lance. I'm glad you liked the Guam tour and that it brought back some good memories. Guam is a really nice place ... if only it wasn't so far away from from the U.S.]

Date: Mon Dec 20, 1999
From: comodore-mweb.co.za (J.J. Lombard)
Subject: The Ventures

Sir, I have been trying to locate some music of the Ventures for approximately 20 years, particular my two favorites, "Telstar' and "The Lonely Bull". Any information as to where I can aquire these two songs, either as wave files, MP3, or audio cassette, will be greatly appreciated. Thank you for your effort in helping me.

J.J. Lombard
Rustenburg
South Africa

[EDITOR'S NOTE: Try this Ventures fan web site (in Russia) for MP3 files of many Ventures songs -- http://ventures.pl.ru. For CDs by the Ventures, go to -- http://www.thinkcdvideo.com, which might also have a few Ventures cassettes.]

Date: Thu Dec 16, 1999
From: carl_duffy-dakota.ie (Carl Duffy)
Subject: Star Trek Reviews

Excellent reviews. They are particularly useful for me as I live in Ireland and there seems to be a 6-7 month delay between the airing of the shows on SKY television. Anyway thanks for the reviews. By the way do you know if they are planning another Star Trek series. As Voyager will be ending in next season (I presume), do they have plans for future shows.

Carl D

[EDITOR'S NOTE: Carl, thanks for the comments about my Star Trek: Voyager reviews. As for future Star Trek series, I read recently that there are, indeed, plans for a new Star Trek series after Voyager has finished, but specifics of that series are not available to the public yet. Personally, I'd love to see a "prequel" series that showed us the formation of the Federation and Starfleet and first contact with the Klingons and Romulans, leading up to the time when Captain Kirk took command of the first Starship Enterprise.]

Date: Tue Dec 14, 1999
From: MAPOLLARD1-prodigy.net (Mary Alice Pollard)
Subject: 1831-1844 Enterprise

Would this ship have sailed near the Society Islands? I recently learned that an ancestor, Justin Meserve or Meservey, was lost at sea near the Society Islands and was on a ship named Enterprise. This event happened in 1839. I am told there is a memorial to Justin made of wood with seashells cemented on that has an inscription "Sacred to the memory of Justin Meservey who died June 1839 on board ship Enterprise near the Society Isles, P.O. aged 22 years". This item is supposedly in the Wiscasset or Lincoln County, (Maine) Historical Society's possession.

Mary Alice Pollard

[EDITOR'S NOTE: Mary, the 1931-1844 USS Enterprise was active around South America and the Pacific, and very well may have visited the Society Islands (French Polynesia) around 1839. Maybe the historical society you mentioned could provide you with more information on P.O. Justin Meservey. Good luck in your search for information]

Date: Fri Dec 10, 1999
From: Bob14dob-aol.com
Subject: The Ventures Surfin' Deluxe

Hello,

I am looking for a Surfin' Deluxe CD by The Ventures. My dad had found a copy of it way back when, and it seems to have run away. To make a long story short. I was looking for a copy of it for his Christmas present and I was wondering if you could give me some places to look for it. I have already checked most of the online stores and can't seem to find it anywhere. So, I would appreciate it if you would send me some information.

I thank you very much.

EDITOR'S NOTE: As far as I know, the "Surfin' Deluxe" CD is out of print now, but you might be lucky to find it at used records stores or maybe on Ebay. For currently available Ventures CDs, go to Think CD/Video, which is owned by Tom Barraso, a big Ventures fan. He has just about every Ventures CD -- US and import -- that's available now.]

Date: Tue Dec 7, 1999
From: b2k-gmx.de (Christian Schacht)
Subject: Thank you for all your work!

Dear Mr. van Beverhoudt!!

I just want to thank you for your DS9 and Voyager reviews! As I am from Germany I have to wait 1-5 years for seeing the episodes in TV or importing them for big money. :( Your reviews had been always a GREAT help for me to sort out what episodes to buy (as I am a student I can't buy all the tapes).

I agree with 95% of your ratings (with a +/- 1 point tolerated margin) ;) and especially your look at the long term arc makes your reviews the best I have ever seen (and I also hope for the arc starting now with Voyager).

When I didn't see updates for weeks I was really concerned about you (and my information level), hehe!

Please continue the good work! From my point of view there is nothing to improve on your reviews... other may look better, but nobody is writing them with this kind of precision!

Regards,
Christian Schacht

[EDITOR'S NOTE: Christian, thanks for your comments about my DS9 and Voyager reviews. I'm glad that you find them useful and enjoy reading them. Letters like yours make all the work worth it.]

Date: Tue Dec 7, 1999
17:50:33 -0400 From: matt-creativeconcepts.com (Matt Haag)
Subject: Hello

Great web site!

Could you please add our Ventures songbook to your site? Please check out the book cover scan I have attached. Give me a call or email me if you are interested.

Thank you.

Best regards,
Matt Haag
Vice President

Creative Concepts Publishing Corporation
6020 Nicolle Street
Suite B
Ventura, CA 93003

Phone: 805-339-2999
Email: matt-creativeconcpets.com

New Songbook!
The Ventures Pipeline
Catalog No. 4093 - $19.95
 
Contents:
Interviews with Don, Bob, Mel and Gerry
Reprinted from Vintage Guitar Magazine
Albums Used for These Arrangements
CD Catalog Numbers and Current Distributors
Notation Ledger by Dan Libertino
How to Read These Arrangements and Tablature
Song Tablatures:
- APACHE from the CD "The Ventures Play Telstar"
- BEETHOVEN FIVE-O from the CD "Wild Again!"
- BULLDOG from the CD "Another Smash"
- EIGHT MILES HIGH from the CD "Go With The Ventures"
- FLASHBACK from the CD "Surfing"
- HANG ON SLOOPY from the CD "Where The Action Is"
- HONKY TONK from the CD "Walk, Don't Run" Vol #1
- LET'S GO from the CD "Let's Go!"
- (The) LONELY SURFER from the CD "Wild Again!"
- MR. MOTO from the CD "Going To The Ventures Dance Party"
- OUT OF LIMITS from the CD "The Ventures In Space"
- PENETRATION from the CD "The Ventures In Space"
- PIPELINE from the CD "Surfing"
- QUICKSILVER from the CD "Wild Again!"
- ROAD RUNNER from the CD "Twist With The Ventures"
- RUNAWAY from the CD "Let's Go."
- SHANGHIED from the CD "Twist With The Ventures"
- TALL COOL ONE from the CD "The Fabulous Ventures"
- TEQUILA from the CD "The Ventures Play Telstar"
- TORQUAY from the CD "The Ventures"
- WALK, DON'T RUN from the CD "Walk, Don't Run" Vol #1
- WEB SURFING from the CD "New Depths"
- WHAM! from the CD "Wild Again!"
- WIPE OUT from the CD "Let's Go!"
- WOOLY BULLY from the CD "The Ventures A Go-Go"

[EDITOR'S NOTE: Matt, actually I already have a link to www.creativeconcepts.com near the bottom of my Ventures Resources page, but I'll add the graphic of the book cover and make the link a bit more noticeable.]

Date: Thu Dec 2, 1999
From: marc-navyhistory.com (Marc Schulman)
Subject: A New Naval History Site

Navyhistory.com is pleased to invite you to visit our new site navyhistory.com. The site includes complete histories with photos of all US attack aircraft carriers, battleships, and cruisers. Over the next few months we hope to add information on other naval ships. We invite you to post your own personal memories, so that we can add first hand accounts to the official history.

[EDITOR'S NOTE: Thanks for the information and the information, Marc.]

Date: Wed Dec 1, 1999
From: tom.hinders-oberlin.edu (Tom Hinders)
Subject: The Ventures and Surf Music

Hi Arnold,

Thanks for letting me know about your pages. Great pages! I really like your Ventures pages a lot. The Ventures' album reviews and ratings are very useful. I just wanted to let you know that I've added a link to your Ventures pages from the surf pages on my Tsunami Soul page. You will also notice that I have a link for Don Ressler's band Breaking Point!, but it's not their official page that I link to. This page is just one that I put up to give contact information and to give them a link until their official page goes up.

As you probably know, Don has been a Ventures fan for a long time. In fact, all of Breaking Point! are fans and know a lot about The Ventures' music. I recently met them and they have already told me a lot that I didn't know about the Ventures. Breaking Point! sound a lot like the Ventures because they are such good players and are very melodic. They have inspired me to buy some more of those 2-on-one CDs!

Take care. I'll make sure that you get the URL for Breaking Point! Good luck with your great pages!

Tom Hinders

Date: Wed Dec 1, 1999
From: wrms-msn.com (Don Ressler)
Subject: Breaking Point

Hello,

Our surf Band Breaking Point is working on a web page with webmaster Tom Hinders from Oberlin Ohio. We have been together for 6 plus years. We all grew up listening to the Ventures just like you. Your page is great!! Our page should be up and running this weekend. The address will be homepages.msn.com/LyricLn/pickniks. I'll drop you an e-mail when it is done. What state are you in? We live in the Cleveland area. The band appeared on North Coast Kicks.

Hope to hear from you.
Don Ressler

[EDITOR'S NOTE: Thanks to Tom and Don for their comments about my Fabulous Ventures pages and for the information on the Breaking Point surf band. I've added a link on my Web Links page.]

Date: Mon Nov 29 Nov, 1999
To: DENANGEL1-aol.com (Denise Angelone)
Subject: Review of Tour

I certainly enjoyed the tour of St. Croix with valuable information on the bays, Buck Island, and various landmarks. My husband and I will be visiting in March and as it is our first visit, any suggestions you may have for an early March visit will be appreciated. We would like to snorkel and horseback ride and wondered what your suggestions would be for both.

Thank you for the tour and any information you can provide.

Sincerely,
Denise Angelone

[EDITOR'S NOTE: Thanks for your comments on the St. Croix Tour page. As you've probably heard or seen on the news, Hurricane Lenny did a bit of damage on St. Croix, but nothing like the massive destruction to some of the Dutch and former British islands to our east. Things on St. Croix should be completely back to normal by the time March rolls around.

Buck Island, a small uninhabited island about two miles north of St. Croix is owned by the U.S. National Park Service. It has the clearest water you'll find just about anywhere in the Caribbean and a beautiful coral reef surrounding the island that's teeming with colorful tropical fish. You shouldn't have any problem finding one of the many tour boats that take tourists out to the island for a day of sailing, swimming, and snorkeling. St. Croix is a lot more "laid back" than St. Thomas, where I live. It has a lot of history and you'll find lots of interesting sights from the days when Denmark owned the island and it was a big center for the growing of sugar cane. The Estate Whim Plantation is one such "don't miss" spot, and the St. George's Botanical Gardens is another. Towards the western side of the island (near the town of Frederiksted) you'll be able to get guided horseback excursions. If you're into that kind of thing, a hotel/casino will be opening its doors within the next couple of months also. May I suggest visiting the U.S.V.I. Net web site at: www.usvi.net, where you can get more specific information and links to web sites of hotels and other estabishments on St. Croix and the other islands.

I hope you and your husband have a great time on your vacation.]

Date: Sun Nov 28, 1999
From: rwb-jsb-worldnet.att.net (Joe Bagnato)
Subject: Need Info

Hi, my name is Joe and I was looking at your Buck Rogers site and I'm glad that you have all the episodes in order. I was woundering if you had on video, "Planet of the Slave Girls," "Flight of the War Witch," "Time of the Hawk," "Plot to Kill a City," and "Journey to Oasis." Please e-mail me any info, because Buck Rogers is not on SciFi Channel or any of any other local TV stations.

Thank you,
Joe Bagnato
Lead singer, Spread Eagle

Date: Tue Nov 23, 1999
From: dragonrug-netzero.net (Jeremy Prindle)
Subject: Buck Rogers

Hi, how are you this morning. I was hoping you could help me and give me some info on anyone selling all episodes of Buck Rogers on VHS. If you can help me I would greatly appreciate it.

Thanx,
Jeremy

[EDITOR'S NOTE: Jeremy and Joe, except for the 2-hour pilot movie, I haven't seen Buck Rogers on videotape. I know it played on the SciFi Channel a few years ago after they had finished with Battlestar Galactica. I think that Galactica was on on Sundays recently, so maybe they'll play Buck Rogers again sometime soon. Keep checking the TV listing for the SciFi Channel. Sorry I can't be of more help.]

Date: Fri Nov 26, 1999
From: eagleway-netzero.net (Jean-Paul Hellendall)
Subject: Battlestar Galactica Revival

Are you also a fan of Battlestar Galactica?

Make Battlestar Galactica your 1st priority on December 1st. Join the mailing campaign in our next major push on December 1, 1999 to let people know that Richard Hatch's "Battlestar Galactica: The Second Coming" must be made. Don't read this. take action!

Please add this on to your page by Monday if possible. Go to www.battlestargalactica.com to find out more.

Thanks,
Jean-Paul

[EDITOR'S NOTE: If you're a fan of Battlestar Galactica, please go to the web site indicated in Jean-Paul's letter above and add your voice to the campaign for that fine series' revival.]

Date: Tue Nov 23, 1999
From: rmurphey-aisg.com (Robert Murphey)
Subject: Excellent Spaceflight Site

The subject should say it all... Thanks for building it!

[EDITOR'S NOTE: My reply to Robert are in italics below along with Robert's subsequent responses.]

[Thanks for the comments, Robert. I'm glad you like it.]

You are very welcome... hard work should be recognized.

[It might sound stupid to set up a Spaceflight Directory web site when NASA already has the ultimate space site.]

Not at all, anything that will raise awareness of space is a good thing in my book.

[But I've found that sometimes you can get lost with the wealth of information NASA has, especially if you just want the basics.]

True enough, especially with all the other research efforts NASA is involved in. Setting up an overview site is not at all stupid.

[Also, I'm not aware of many (any?) other sites that have a complete record of the Russian manned programs and missions.]

None that I know of, which is what caught my eye.

I am a Sun UNIX instructor in Houston, TX, and I was looking for names of Soviet spacecraft to use as computer names in a new classroom... I put in "Molniya" and up pops your site :)

There is another encyclopedia site out there, but its different in focus.

And, as Jack H. would say, "Keep Looking Up..."

Date: Mon Nov 8, 1999
From: dpcrape-yt.sympatico.ca
Subject: Vids

Do you know where I can get videos of the TV episodes? I watched when I was a kid and now have two kids that I think would like them. The local video store can only get me the first one but that is not enough.

Thanks for your time,
Darryl Crape

[EDITOR'S NOTE: Darryl, You didn't mention which series you're referring to. But most of the classic space-based science fiction shows (all Star Trek series, Babylon 5, Battlestar Galactica, and Space: 1999) are available as video subscriptions from Columbia House Video. Call them at 800-457-0866 or try their web site at www.columbiahouse.com.]

Date: Tue Nov 2, 1999
From: 4d_programmer-computer.org
Subject: Famous Washington State Musicians

I'm trying to compile a list of famous Washington State musicians. If you know of any, please send their names to me.

My web site is: home.earthlink.net/~request1

So far I have just Oklahoma musicians. Because I lived there for many years. However I was born and currently live in Washington and think it would be nice to have an equivalent page for Washington State.

Thanks,
Paul

[EDITOR'S NOTE: Paul, The only Washington State musicians I know are Don Wilson and Bob Bogle, the original founders of The Ventures. Also, Noles "Nokie" Edwards, the former lead guitarist of The Ventures was originally from Oklahoma but now lives in Oregon.]

Date: Thu Oct 28, 1999
From: jimbeck2-mail.ida.net (Jim Beck)
Subject: Question

Can you tell me what kind of cigarettes James Bond smoked?

Thanks,
Jim

[EDITOR'S NOTE: Sorry, Jim, I have no idea what type of cigarettes James Bond smoked. Perhaps a visitor to this guest book can answer your question.]

Date: Wed Oct 13, 1999
From: JenDeMarco-aol.com (Jennifer DiMarco)
Subject: Your Star Trek Website

This is just to let you know that your Star Trek website was included in The Classic Star Trek Internet Guide compiled by Angela Hyatt.

The guide is now available at www.pride-imprints.com, but will be available at bookstores everywhere, both on- and off-line within 30 days.

If you'd like to know more about The Classic Star Trek Internet Guide or our publishing company, please visit www.pride-imprints.com.

Thanks you for you time and congratulations.

Jennifer DiMarco
Division Manager, Lightning Rod Unlimited

[EDITOR'S NOTE: Thanks for the great new, Jennifer. I'm sure the listing in The Classic Star Trek Internet Guide will steer more fans to my Star Trek episode guides and episode summaries/reviews.]

Date: Mon Oct 4, 1999
From: LLane-Hovensa.com (Linda Lane)
Subject: Fellow Disney Nut

I didn't think there was another "Disney Geek" like myself in the V.I. (St. Croix). My husband and I are going for the 15th time in Dec. 2000.

Like your site, great info. For giggles if you need a "Disney" break sometimes, check out this website for great discussion boards and nightly chats: www.disneyinfo.com.

Have a Disney Day !!!!

LINDA A. LANE

[EDITOR'S NOTE: Nice to meet another Disney fan. You're way ahead of us in number of visits -- we've been to Walt Disney World four times and to Disneyland once. We also collect the Disney animated "classics" and soundtrack albums. Have fun for the turn of the century and millenium (although that's actually next year - 2001). I can just image the party Disney will be putting on!]