Refer NetStream's web site design services to a friend or business and receive a cool $200 cash. That's right, any design work over 10 hours performed by NetStream's staff of design engineers earns you $200 - no strings attached. Any design work under 10 hours earns you $50. Either way you get CA$H!! Click here for the promotion details.

Tips and Tricks

Did you know that you can send and receive E-mail online? At a friend's house or out of town? No problem. All you need is a connection to the Internet. Just go to www.netstream.net, click on the "members" link and then on "Internet E-mail". Enter your user name and password and bingo, you're set. It's that easy.

Tech Update

NetStream gets new hardware.

On November 15 at midnight we will be updating our systems and adding more hardware to ensure you continue to receive the fastest, most reliable service we can offer. Consequently, the system will be down for four hours between midnight and 4 a.m.

New Policy for
"Sleepy" E-mail

In order to provide the best service to all our customers, any E-mail left on our servers for over 90 days will be automatically deleted. Don't know if you have E-mail older than 90 days? Call our tech support department at 414-908-4638 ext. 105 or E-mail us at [email protected] and one of our technicians will be glad to clear up any questions you may have.

Manager's Take
by Joe Ulm

Expectations

Okay, I admit it. I'm excited. In fact, I'm not just excited, I'm really excited. Over the past few years I have been professionally involved with technology in a number of regards: as a network administrator, a network design engineer, and as a consultant. Now, as the manager of an ISP, I'm more excited than ever. Of course, I was excited about all the other positions too, but somehow this one seems different. And that made me wonder. Why was I so much more excited about this position than I had been about the others? What exactly was it that makes this seem so different? Was it the challenges of a new position? No, no, there were new challenges in the other positions. Was it that I could see greater opportunities in this position? Not really. Each of the previous positions had their own opportunities. In fact, a few of them presented some great opportunities. Hmmmm, what actually was the difference, I wondered? I continued to contemplate my excitement. In the car on the way to work. While grocery shopping. At the gym. Nothing. No answer to the source of my excitement. I actually began to think that maybe I was just becoming a more excitable person. Can that really happen? Then finally (mercifully) it hit me. Completely out of nowhere I figured it out: It was all about my expectations.

Ah, yes, expectations. They're all around us. We expect things from our wives, husbands, friends, coworkers, children, neighbors, teachers, jobs, and most of all, ourselves. Think about it. What would our world be without expectations? To this day I can remember the first Christmas I really had my heart set on a particular gift. It was an Atari video game system (I started down the road to geek-dom at a young age). Man, I would have delivered all Santa's gifts myself if I thought I could have the last gift be an Atari video game system. Christmas Eve that year was one of the greatest and most terrible days of my life. An entire Atari video game system was on the line. No small stakes here. I tried to sleep, but the night dragged on. As soon as the first ray of sunlight shined through my window, I jumped out of bed to wake the rest of the house. I was bursting with excitement. I looked through all my gifts for the one that would fit the right size and shape of my beloved Atari. And then I saw it. Under the tree, way in the back, just beneath the crumpled paper Santa ornament I had made for mom two years ago. I dashed to the gift to make sure it had my name on it. It did. The package was wrapped in paper with big silver bells on a red background with a bow carefully laid on the corner. I could stand it no longer. I ripped through the bells with no remorse and finally laid my eyes on the source of weeks of anticipation - and felt pure joy. There it was in all its glory, a brand new Atari video game system.

Now granted, my excitement at managing NetStream doesn't quite compare to a child's excitement on Christmas morning, but the example does illustrate my point. Excitement is derived from the expectations we have, and right now I have some very high expectations for what NetStream can bring to each person who utilizes our services. Okay, maybe that's a bit melodramatic, but I really believe that as an ISP we can do some great things, particularly in today's age when technology changes so rapidly. No, I don't think an ISP can bring world peace, or always make a person's day better, but it can be an important and positive influence on our lives and society as a whole. It can bridge long distances between family and friends. It can provide a window to more information than was ever available before. It can be a great resource for personal and business needs. And I believe it can be even more.

So, what can you expect from your ISP? You can expect a reliable, innovative, and service-oriented partner that has intelligent, professional, caring people providing your services. You can also expect that I will start feeling some of that joy I felt years ago as soon as I know your expectations are being met.

We are very excited that we are now offering a new line of DSL services. Our residential DSL service begins at only $49 per month and our business class DSL service can be purchased for as low as $69 per month. Don't know what DSL service is right for you? Just call one of our sales representatives at 414-908-4638 ext. 112 and we will be happy find the service that is right for you.

What's New

Well, fall is in full swing. Colder weather is here, the Packers are in midseason stride and the leaves are changing all around us. Believe it or not, things are not so different here at NetStream. We, too, are experiencing a number of changes. The first change is in front of you right now. That's right. The NetStream Newsletter. The NetStream Newsletter will provide important information regarding network updates, current promotions, and changes in technology. It will also contain some more lighthearted sections, such as a contest section where members can win prizes and free Internet services. Most of all, it will provide a window through which you can get to see and know the people behind the technology. In an age where information is sent and received by machines in the blink of an eye, it is good to know that there are caring people behind the scenes who make it work each and every day. Look for a copy of the NetStream Newsletter in your E-mail at the beginning of each month.

The final item in our "What's New" bag is our new manager. Joe Ulm recently came on board and will be taking over operations for the Internet division. Joe has a background in technology and will be a welcome member to the team. Questions or comments? Suggestions? Just want to say Hi? Joe will be happy to take your call at 414-908-4638 ext. 112 or E-mail him at [email protected].

This month's contest is sponsored by our new manager, Joe, who apparently has too much time on his hands. Three winners will be randomly chosen out of all the correct submissions. This month's winners will receive a free 1-year dial-up Internet access account. Send your answers to [email protected]. Be sure to include your name address and telephone number. Good Luck!

Word Wizard

What is the longest word in the English dictionary in which each letter is only used once? Here's a hint: If your guess is 13 letters long, you are probably two short of a "lucky" guess. The answer, along with the winners will be published in next month's newsletter.

*Click here to view the details of the contest.