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ISIConnect NEWS - September 2002
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Welcome to the September edition of ISIConnect NEWS.

Another month, another ISIConnect NEWS, and more exciting things
to learn about the world and how you can use ISIConnect to 
explore it.

The saucy new ISIConnect website is up and running, so go and 
check it out. While you are there you can also customise your sent 
mail, which is featured in ISIConnect NEWS this month. You can win 
free chat time by telling us about your favourite mode of transport, 
or just tell us what you think of the service.

You can also check out some fabulous festivals this months, from the 
best wine in the world, to the most wearable art you have every seen. 
The Missing Link gives you some tips of booking sports tickets or 
following your favourite sports teams while you are away.

All this and more in this month's ISIConnect NEWS.

Happy trails!

The ISIConnect Team

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THIS MONTH IN ISIConnect NEWS
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1. What's new? -  The new website and listen to emails is here!
2. Win US$ 50 each month - Your favourite mode of transport.
3. Travel whispers - Your most relaxing holiday.
4. Best of the fests - Lawn mowers, French wine & art you can wear.
5. Spotlight on...  - Customising your sent mails.
6. The Missing Link - Great travel sites.
7. One from Left Field - Whacky world news.
7. The Vent  - Your place to exhale.

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1. WHAT'S NEW?
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~~ The new & sexy website is here! ~~

The sleek 2002 version of the ISIConnect website is now up and 
running. This model is zippier than Speedy Gonzales, even easier to 
navigate and has a look and feel that would not be out of place in 
your local art gallery. 

If you have not had the pleasure of using our brand spanking new 
website, get along and check it out now.

Winners of the US$10 account top-ups are: Roberto, Kim, Tex, Glenn, 
John, Quang, Haitham, Beverley, Tom, Tanya, Chris, John, Denis, Sandra, 
Emily, Chris, Jennifer, Emily, Marina, Rosie, Georgina, Rene, Mark, 
Richard, Caitlin, Ben, Narelle, Marieke, Mic, Julie and Lori.

~~~ Listen to emails over the phone! ~~~

You can now listen and reply to your emails over the phone, with 
ISIConnect.

Simply, dial the access number for the country you are in, log in, 
press *1 to listen to messages, press 3 to listen to emails and follow 
the instructions to reply. It's so easy!

Currently only available in English

~~ More recharge amounts ~~
To give you more options, you can now recharge your account on the 
website for US$20, US$30, US$40, US$50, US$60, US$70 or $100.



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2. WIN US$50 - YOUR FAVOURITE MODE OF TRANSPORT
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Enter our competition this month to win one of two US$50 account 
credits. Answer the question below and tell us about your favourite 
mode of transport. Is it being crammed in the comfort of a jumbo jet, 
the al fresco style of a moped, or the hair-raising thrill ride of 
a tuk tuk. We want to know what it is and what made it so special. 

Question: What country are tuk tuk's commonly found?
Answer: Th_ _ l_ _ d

Don't forget to send us the answer and what country you are from. 

A US$50 account credit will go to the two correct and best answers!
Give us a shout at ISIConnectNEWS@ekit.com.

Congratulations to David and Simon who are this months winners for 
telling us about their most relaxing holiday A $50 account credit 
is on its way!

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3. TRAVEL WHISPERS
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 ~~ Your most relaxing holiday ~~

After a week in Russia, the Trans-Siberian train pulled out of 
Moscow, Starting the 7night / 9000 km journey to Beijing. This trip 
was one of the most relaxing things I have done in my life.  Nothing 
to do but read, eat, stare out the window, and chat with fellow 
passengers. 

Most of them were Chinese, returning home from study or work in 
Russia. Many spoke English, and we had some great conversations 
(and a few Chinese language lessons).  They are endlessly curious, 
and will chat on for hours about anything and everything.  There 
were virtually no Russians on the train, so my expectation of 
riotous, vodka-fuelled evenings, followed by painful mornings, 
never eventuated. The train itself was very comfortable - East 
German built, air-conditioned, with 4 berth compartments, and a 
bathroom at each end. I ate in the dining car once, but it proved 
pretty uninspiring.  The fresh food available from hawkers and 
kiosks on the platforms where we stopped proved tastier and fresher 
- at one point, close to Lake Baikal, we had freshly cooked fish 
from the lake - perhaps the freshest and best tasting fish I've 
ever had.

On day 4 we descend down to Lake Baikal, one of the oldest lakes in 
the world (5 million years). It has a shoreline 2000 km long, and is 
16 metres deep at its deepest.  There's enough water in it to supply 
the whole world for 4 years!  The train runs along the shoreline for 
180 km, and the view of the lake lined by mountains is superb. The 
train then runs along some river valleys, with wide, meandering 
rivers, mountains in the distance, and intermittent vegetation in 
between - a beautiful panorama.  Finally, this gives way to the 
Mongolian steppe - gently undulating, virtually treeless plains that 
extend for miles in every direction. 

At about this point we crossed the border into China, which is pretty 
flat and agricultural for most of the rest of the journey south to 
Beijing.

All good things must come to an end, and at 5.40 am on a Friday, six 
days' journey from Moscow, we rolled into Beijing station. 
Back to the crowds, hustle and bustle of real life, Chinese style.

- David Robinson, Australia

The most relaxing place I have been on Holiday is Cape Tribulation, 
north of Port Douglas and Cairns, in Queensland, Australia.  

Why is Cape Trib, as its known to the locals, so relaxing?  Is it 
something to do with the picture perfect beach, golden sand, and lush 
rainforest?  Is it the total absence of any adventure sport junkies, 
18-30 club reps, or salesman pushing the latest backpacker offer?  
Could it be that the crocodiles are even so polite as so not invade 
the cove? (*).

It's the whole combination that suddenly comes together.  You can't 
describe it, there isn't a word for it.  It's just that feeling of 
total relaxation, when you know you've hit the right spot.  

My place to stay is the Cape Trib Beach House.  Big enough to be 
friendly.  Small enough to be relaxing.  Food portions big enough to 
fill, and cheap enough to enjoy. Stop off and see the Bat Colony 
whilst you're at it.  The bat only charges for an Aussie dollar a 
photo (Hey, you would if you're endangered...)

- Simon Foster, United Kingdom

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4. BEST OF THE FESTS
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~~ A what's on guide to the world ~~


19-22 September 
Montana New Zealand Wearable Art Awards
World of Wearable Art & Collectable Cars
95, Quarantine Rd, Nelson, New Zealand

Wearable art has became a sensation in New Zealand since they staged 
their first Wearable Art Awards in 1987. The events has outgrown 
its humble beginnings and moved out into its own home, the World of 
Wearable Arts & Collectable Cars complex. 

The contributing artists have worked all year to forge and create a 
multicultural art and on-stage performance that will be breath taking.

In its inception Nelson Sculptor Suzie Moncrieff intended the Awards 
to simply promote the local gallery. The Awards were such a success 
that the event itself has been an Award winner, and it continues to 
grow in popularity and recognition annually.

The garments are combined with music, choreography and special 
effects lighting to create a performance for each piece on display. 
Each artist is desperate to capture the imagination of the judges and 
the audience with their stunning combinations 

For more information, visit http://www.wearableart.co.nz 

13 September  
National Lawnmower Racing Championships
Lake Mendota
Route 178, Mendota, Illinois, USA

Mowers - water your grass and warm those two stroke engines for the 
National Lawnmower Racing Championships. The competition that could 
only happen in America started as an April Fool's joke in 1992. Since 
then the event has evolved into a serious and passionate contest. 

British motor enthusiasts actually spawned lawn mower racing when 
they turned their backs on the expensive car racing circuit way back 
in 1973. Since spawning into life in the USA regional racing spread 
like weeds in lush grass, and fierce competition takes place to win 
the honor to compete at the national titles. 

Many racers take pride in their lawn, but most are speed junkies 
operating on the smell of an oily rag. The cost effective nature of 
lawn mower racing attracts many petrol heads that lack the funds to 
race larger vehicles.
 
The models have been adapted and improved in backyards across the 
country. The blades are removed for the races as the maniac mowers 
regularly reach speeds of 60mph and cartoon-style shredding of 
opponents' tyres is strictly forbidden.

For more information, visit http://letsmow.com 


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5. SPOTLIGHT ON...
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Each month we'll highlight a useful part of the ISIConnect service. 
This month it's:

~~ Customising your sent mails! ~~

Did you know that you can edit your full name, reply-to address and 
signature for all sent messages?

How?
1. Login to the website.
2. Click Message settings in the side bar.
3. Enter your full name, preferred signature and reply-to address into 
   the applicable fields. 
4. Click Ok.

Your name entered will appear in the 'From' column in the recipient's 
Inbox. If you do not enter a name, your email address will appear in 
the 'From' column instead. 

The email address entered will appear as your reply address in your 
email. All replies to your emails will be sent to your reply email 
address. If you do not enter a reply address, your reply address 
appears as your address at this email system. 

The signature entered will appear at the end of every email you send. 
If you do not enter a signature, nothing will appear at the bottom of 
every email you send. 

From the Message settings page you can also select whether you would 
like up to 10, 20, 50 or 100 messages to be displayed on any one page 
in your folder. The lower the number, the faster the page loads. 


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6. THE MISSING LINK
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~~ Great "sport" sites ~~

http://www.tickets.com 
Jump the line and get online to book your tickets for sporting events 
such as NFL football, MLB baseball, NBA basketball, NHL hockey, 
auto-racing, horse racing, golf tournaments and tennis tournaments. 
There's also tickets for concerts, the arts plus a large variety of 
family events. 

http://espn.go.com/abcsports
Don't miss a game whilst you're on the road, follow favourite sporting 
team's performance over the web. Visit ABC Sports for all your sporting 
results! Can't find the results? You can always search for them at 
http://espn.go.com

http://australiannews.net
Need to find out how your team is stacking up in the AFL football? 
Want a link to your favourite Australian newspaper? Or perhaps you 
just want to find out how the weather is in Melbourne? Cold no doubt! 
Check out this site for all your Australian news.  


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7. ONE FROM LEFT FIELD
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~~ We think the world's a wonderful, whacky place- we have the trivia to prove it ~~

The Narcissistic Society 
In March, this year's Miss Brazil admitted to four plastic surgeries and 
19 other cosmetic procedures (including ear reductions) in her quest for 
perfection, but perhaps she merely reflects the obsession of her country, 
which has the world's highest per capita rate of plastic surgery. Meanwhile, 
in the United States, an April raid in New York City closed down an 
unlicensed, makeshift liposuction/implant shop that had been serving 
(at cut-rate, but still high, prices) dozens of largely dissatisfied 
customers, many of whom were spotted by neighbors staggering out the door, 
bleeding. And in Miramar, Fla., a woman died in March from illegal silicone 
injections to her buttocks by a man whose day job is house cleaner, and 
authorities warned of neighborhood, Tupperware-style, silicone-injection 
"parties." 
[Chicago Sun-Times-National Post, 4-8-01] [New York Times, 4-21-01] 
[St. Petersburg Times, 4-18-01]

"That's one giant Nestle "crunch"
In 1994, the international food company Nestle UK was fined about $20,000 in
January for injuries suffered by its employee Alex Tuvey-Smith, 36, at a
plant in York, England. While cleaning excess chocolate off the sides of a
giant mixing bowl, he slipped and fell in, triggering the mixing paddles,
which whipped him for more than a minute before they were shut off.

News from http://www.westernfrontonline.com


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8. THE VENT
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~~ Everybody's got an opinion. What's yours? ~~

Hi ISIConnect,

The new set-up looks mighty slick and works fast too. The new layout 
prompted me to explore the site and the services you offer. Previously, 
I had only ever used the voice-mail service and would zip straight to 
the inbox. Now, I am interested in the fax facility and the handy Travel 
Safe. I have been using ISIConnect to stay connected with my boyfriend 
on and off for the past two years as he travels for work and, more 
recently, the U.S. Discriminatory immigration laws for same-sex couples 
have seen us forcibly separated. We are working on rectifying the 
situation ;-) Honestly, ISIConnect has helped us heaps. Where else can 
you leave 5- minute messages in a voicemail box that goes where you go?
ISIConnect is a GREAT concept - and yeah - I don't know what I'd do 
without it.

- Narelle

Thanks Narelle for your contributions to ISIConnect NEWS - a US$20 
account credit is on its way!

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rock your world or induce a spontaneous siesta? Were you enlightened, or 
did you switch off? Tell us what you think of ISIConnect News, and what 
you want to see in the next edition. Send your thoughts to 
ISIConnectNews@ekit.com.
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