This month I am asking how many of you have ever dissected your phone bill. I have been frustrated with the latest taxes that were added by the Federal Government, the same Government that said they passed legislation protecting us from an Internet tax. I noticed some taxes are more for the second line than the first line.

I decided to take a close look at my phone bill, and really saw red. I have (had by now) two lines, the second line for my fax and computer. Each basic service is $10.45. I found 16 (sixteen) different taxes on that bill, including federal, state, county and local taxes. For example, the access fee is $3.50 on my first line, and $5.00 on my second line.

Fact is, those 16 taxes totaled $15.26 cents. In my book, that translates to over 73% tax on my basic phone service. That much taxation is more like extortion, considering the phone is something most people cannot give up. Some people's jobs depend on the phone to establish work hours, such as myself. I will sorely miss the second line, but it has to go. I think it's time to write my congressmen.

I urge you to examine your phone bill and see if you get as disgusted as I am. Don't just talk about it, do something about it. At least write your congressman. My congressmen tried to explain to me that some are "fees," not a tax. If it walks like a duck, IT IS A DUCK. On my bill, they were stated as "tax."

Much of the information in last month's column is still good. I hope you keep copies of the column for reference. I don't plan to publish the Corel Co-op specials, since they are mailed to each user group and should be available to you at your meetings. If they are not, ask whoever is receiving them to please lay out the order forms for those specials.

Forget the IDT Centaur deals because Mike Bruzzone is history and I assume the user group program is also dead.

Down But Not Out

Check out their URL at to get more information. Brian Graham e-mailed me with this information, but I'm still not clear on how the electronic subscription will take shape. He says the latest information suggests that a 12-month subscription will be $19.95.

Brian states that WP Magazine subscribers will be delighted to find the editorial core of the magazine alive and well in the web version with the same writers. Anyway, visit their web site, and I assume Brian will keep me posted.

A New Word Processor from an Old Friend

Their flagship product is called "Yeah Write for Windows" and is said to be very fast, very small (only 2 MB of hard disk space), and very easy to learn and use. Instead of the standard blank screen, WYSIWYG approach, Yeah Write lets users choose a document type, and fill-in-the-blanks. In addition to letters, memos, and general purpose (free form) documents, customers can print envelopes, keep a journal or diary, make a to-do list, take notes and phone messages, maintain an address book and edit text files.

Until lately, Yeah Write was only available on the Internet, but was named one of the top 100 computer/software products of 1997, even though it was not available in retail stores. Yeah Write is available for Windows 3.1, 3.11, 95, 98, NT, requiring only 4 MB RAM minimum and just 4 MB free disk space.

For more information, visit their web site at or .. Their phone is 1-800-549-5682 or 1-801-221-7777. Here's the deal: standard price is $19.00 for the Internet version (no media or manual) and $29.00 + $5.00 S&H for the boxed version. Mention this column, or your user group name, for free S&H. Two copies will be $34.00 with free S&H. Many user groups already knew about this deal, but be advised the Sept. 1 deadline has now been extended to the end of 1998.

I took a copy of "Yeah Write" to our WordPerfect SIG one evening and the SIG leader installed it. We had great fun exploring it. I know for a fact that a couple of those people are using and enjoying it. When I tried it I had problems doing a couple of things, but their tech support quickly put me on the right track. Yeah Write is a bit different. It does have some shortcomings listed in the brochure (call to ask if you're curious), but for most everyday tasks it works well.

How About Calendars For The Web!

Major new features include "Web Site Export Wizard" which walks the user through a series of simple steps to create complex calendar-based web sites, and the "Event Manager," which gives the user much better access to the event database. In addition, Calendars for the Web 2.0 now includes transparent GIF and HTML table-based calendars.

The desktop publishing aspects of the software have been greatly enhanced with the addition of Word Art, the Picture Frame object, shadows, and Background Art. Installation requires 20 MB of disk space and 16 MB memory. A demo version of Calendars for the Web can be downloaded at (7.3 MB). This software runs under any Windows version.

To purchase, user group members are entitled to a $10.00 discount. A password to further unlock all the features of the demo version can be purchased for $39.95 (reg. $49.95). A CD-ROM version can be purchased directly from Great Hill Corporation for $49.95 (reg. $59.95), and if you wish the GIF export capability in either version you order, add $10.00. Their phone is 1-800-949-3334, or fax 1-203-894-1374.

How Do You Print a Cake?

"Sweet Art" is for real. I'm not making this up! Here is the overview from Sweet Art. The "Sweet Art Jet Decorating" system's fully automated equipment designed to create FULL COLOR images on any pre-iced, light-colored surface, by dispensing finely atomized edible food coloring.

The desired image is digitized by a scanner, displayed on a full-color monitor where, through user-friendly prompts, you may adjust the size, add text, or reproduce several images at a time on cakes, cookies or cupcakes. The finished image is then captured by a computer and automatically printed directly on the icing surface by the decorating system. The decorating system uses a mechanical arm that travels across the pre-iced product and transfers the image, via food coloring cartridges, to surfaces ranging in size from 1/2" to 8" x 10."

Maximum time for an 8" x 10" image is less than seven minutes. The Sweet Art Jet Decorator has the ability to decorate all cake and cookie products using most scratch and traditional icings, including butter cream, sugar icing, fondant, and most non-dairy (Lite) icings, provided they are smooth and without excessive surface moisture. Experience has shown that butter cream icings prove to be the best icings for maintaining the exceptional quality of the picture. Portraits can also be done in light colored cheesecakes and white chocolate.

Is that neat, or is that neat! Just print your kid's picture on his birthday cake. Problem is, the price makes it impractical for the home user, but I know a few computer users are bakers, and a few folks do specialized baking from their home. What a chance to improve your visibility by doing a job few bakers do right now.

Here is the scoop: the initial price for the cost of the "Sweet Art Decorating system" is $11,000.00. Cartridges are $45.00 for b/w and $60.00 for color. Remember you may not need a complete system since you probably already have a computer, and perhaps a scanner. There is no special offer on the purchase price, but there is a special on a lease program. The cheapest is the $281 monthly lease for 60 months.

If you actually do have an interest, call Sweet Art at 1-913-495-9825 and ask for Rick Hernandez. He can better explain it and give you the details, or send you brochures. I'm not sure if it will print XXX pictures or not.

That should do it for this month. You can reach me at . Meet me here next month for whatever else I can find. Bob (The Cheapskate) Click.

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