Legal Stuff
Nick's Very Simple Explanation of What You Get for Free
I will answer, through the mailing list only, one question a week, which I will pick from all the questions I get addressed to the Nick Lite mailing list. It may or may not be your question. But I'll do my utmost to make the answer simple, understandable, clear, complete, and interesting.
You also get to peruse my lists of what I consider to be good books in each of several categories,and my favorite movies. Those lists will change as new books and movies come out, so check back regularly. You also get the opportunity to buy those books and movies through a convenient link to Amazon.com
Nick's Very Simple Explanation of What You Get for Your Membership Fee
Everything the for-free folks get, plus:
I'll answer two additional questions per week (again, only from those submitted to The Full Nick by members, and they'll also be questions I pick from all the questions, so I may not necessarily answer your question, although your odds will certainly be better, won't they?).
You can search through the database of all the questions and answers from the history of the list (that list will continue to grow as time goes by, of course)
You get access to the online forums. Naturally enough, I can't be held accountable for what other people say in these forums. Going into the forums means you understand that. Take everything said in there with a grain of salt.
Nick's Very Simple Explanation of What He Will Do With Your Personal Information
Nothing. I won't sell it, trade it, give it away, loan it, make a gift of it to anyone, or spam you. Nothing. Your personal information is yours. I'm privileged and humbled that you're willing to share it with me for this one purpose. I will use your email address to send you my newsletter. That's all.
Of course, every time you visit here, this Web server (like all Web servers) collects some basic data about that visit, including your IP address (so it knows where to send back the pages!), what browser you say you're using, what operating system you say you're using, and a couple of other things. While I might share that generic information with potential advertisers at some future date, I will never disclose your individual identity or personal data. At no time will I ever give any outside company enough information so that they could make contact with you or identify you in any way.
I may also, at some point, start using cookies to do things like track site usage, in order to improve things around here. You, of course, can control whether or not you accept cookies, and I will never use a cookie to invade your privacy. Of course, Amazon.com and any other site which you may visit through here has the ability to assign cookies to you, and I have no control over that.
Conversely, if you leave your email address or any other personal information in the Guestbook, everybody can see it. Your choice; your fault.
My lawyer insists that I warn you that if I am required by law to give up your information in a court proceeding or to a government agency or law enforcement authority, I will have to do it. But I promise I'll snarl while I do it.
Nick's Very Simple Explanation of The Disclaimer
Neither I nor anyone else can guarantee that the information you get from me or from anyone else is absolutely going to work, and even worse, it could do serious damage. I don't know all there is to know about your machine, and there are a hundred thousand things that make your machine unique. You have to take the responsibility for anything you do to your computer, no matter who you get the information from. It is, after all, your computer. Before you accept and use any advice you get from me (or anyone), think! And, always, back up your machine. Twice!
Remember, using any information you find on or through this Web site or either mailing list constitutes your understanding of and agreement that whatever happens is your doing, and your responsibility. The 90s are over; we're taking responsibility for our own actions again.
Nick's Very Simple Explanation of Forum Etiquette
This is where I live on the Internet. It is my virtual home. I expect you to act in my virtual home the same way I expect you to act in my analog home. Prop your feet on the dog, spit on the cat, and discuss anything you like (as long as it's legal). But, since this is my home, here are my rules for discussion:
You will be polite to each other. You will respect each other as you expect to be respected yourself. In my home, you are expected to behave with dignity, and treat everybody else with the same dignity. You will, at all times, watch your language as you would in front of your mother. Better yet, my mother. Break the rules, and you get a strict talking-to (privately). Break the rules badly enough, and you get asked to leave. Decision of this judge is final. Think twice, write once.
Oh, and you will stay on topic!