This message is going out to all Zipcon Subscribers.

  We appear to be having a problem today with busy signals.  It appears
to be affecting the Kirkland area the worst.  The problem is with the
telephone company and not Zipcon.  It should be fixed up by Monday.

  There have also been some busy signals on the 206-336-1700 lines
lately.  This is also a telephone company setting that should be fixed
this week.  There should be no more busy signals at all.  If you ever
do get a busy signal, please remember that you can always try calling
the 206-336-3235 or 206-524-0612 numbers to get through.

  I've received several complaints about spam lately.  Zipcon runs
anti-spam software (MAPS RBL and DNS checks) on our mail servers, but
its very difficult to catch all unsolicited commercial email.  Usually
people start getting spam after they either post to a Usenet newsgroup,
or subscribe to a mailing list or commercial service.  Please keep in
mind that whenever you give out your email address on the web, there
is a chance it will be going into a list that will then be sold to
spammers.

  There are several easy things that can be done to help with spam
issues.  First, since every Zipcon account includes three email
addresses, you can request another email address.  You can then use the
new address as your primary mailbox, or as the mailbox to make Usenet
posts and as a contact for companies and individuals on the web.  That
way you can keep one email address for your important messages, and
have another that you risk will be spammed.  If you would like an
additional email box set up, please go to http://www.zipcon.net/help/

  Another method is to use procmail or another mail processing/filtering
system to filter your mail as it arrives.  This generally takes a bit
of expertise though.

  Lastly, I wanted to throw in a blurb about DSL.  So far the Zipcon
customers using DSL have been quite happy.  The connection speed with
US West is usually about 500K downstream on a 256K circuit (not always,
but usually).  I'm not sure why its twice as fast, but have heard its
because US West is unable to turn down the speed at this point.

  Zipcon gives out a static IP address with all DSL accounts.  That means
you can run something like Internet Phone, ICQ, or Instant Messenger and
always get incoming connections from friends and/or family.  It also means
you can set up your system to be a host on the Internet, so others can
connect to it at all times.  We offer the ability to filter your
connection for security reasons, if you prefer to not allow people to ever
connect to your computer, or if you only want certain services available.

  If you do decide to order DSL service, please be sure to specify
Semaphore Corporation as the ISP.  Zipcon works with Semaphore to get
DSL access.  For people in the US West are, the DSL line itself is
ordered through US West.  You can check online to see if DSL is available
in your area at http://www.zipcon.net/newdsl/

=========================================================================
UPDATE June 4th, 2001:  Please be sure to specify "ZIPCON" as the ISP now.
=========================================================================

  Please let me know if you have any questions.  Thanks for using Zipcon!

Daniel Pewzner  ------------------The Zip Connection-----------------
zip@zipcon.net        Need help? try http://www.zipcon.net/help.html
voice: 206-524-0612   
data:  206-336-3235 or 206-524-7696 ---------------------------------