Well, Mac afficionados, who would've thought we'd have such a
year? About 12 months ago, Robin Williams told Rosie O'Donnell
(on her show) that "shopping for Mac software is like renting porn at the video store. You are shuttled off to a tiny, dark corner and when you emerge with your selection, everyone looks at you funny." A year later, we still have to shop in tiny, dark corners, but the funny looks have all but disappeared, at least in my neck of the woods.
With Apple's help, it's gotten to be very easy for me to take a bitter Wintel fanatic and show them the light. Trust me, I'm not a hard-core, militant, Mac Marine, but the Mac advantage is just so obvious these days.
1998 will be remembered as the year when Microsoft took a nosedive with Windows 98 and Apple emerged from the cellar in a Bondi Blue blaze of glory. No, the iMac isn't everything, but it reminded the masses that we do have a choice. We don't have to deal with corrupted registries and device driver hell. The iMac put our wonderful — though not without its quirks — operating system in the spotlight again. It's been a great year, and I for one can't wait to see what happens next!
 
The Happy Mac's First Ever Web Page of the Month
  What happens when you cross an iMac with Cheech & Chong? Visit
this site to find out!
http://www.nationalgamereview.com/chiamac.html
Should I continue the Web Page of the Month? Let me know by sending email (and suggestions) to daria@applewizards.net .
 
These Sites Just Ooze With The Essence of Mr. Bill
Since I skipped a month of picking on Bill Gates last month, I've decided to make it up to you by discussing two of the funniest Bill Gates "fan pages" on the web. Before continuing, I'd like to make it clear that while these pages make fun of Bill's wealth, I am in no way supportive of the Department of Justice's attempt to restrict Bill from accumulating lots of money. It is our right as Americans to pursue life, liberty, and property. Rue the day that the government tries to tell me that I've become too successful.
Of course, we all know that Bill's products suck big donkey hoof. So what? This is where another American right comes into play: the freedom to make intelligent choices. That is why we have chosen the Mac OS. So why then do I pick on Bill Gates, you ask? Because he has made most of his money by playing the American public for fools. He deserves my wrath.
Bill Gates' Net Worth
http://web.quuxuum.org/~evan/bgnw.html
Every websurfer should visit this site at least once in their online career. This page offers a complete analysis of Bill Gates' incredible wealth by answering questions such as:
How much is Bill worth right now?
What if Bill were a country?
What does the money really mean?
How far can you make your money go?
This site changes every day to reflect fluctuations in Microsoft's stock prices. Go and visit,… now!
Make Me Richer Than Bill Gates
http://web2.airmail.net/gandolf/you.htm
  This has to be my new favorite website. The
author of the site reaches out to all
Americans to send money so that he can be
richer than Bill Gates. His appeal goes
straight for the emotions, a strategy typical
of Democrats everywhere (no offense,
Democrats, I'll pick on the Republicans next
month!). But hey, it works. After I finished reading this website, I found myself searching for a dollar bill to send to the address at the bottom of the page. If you don't have cold hard cash lying around, the author also has a nice little form on the page so that you can pass along your credit card information.
Here's just a sample of what you'll find at the website:
When you do your part to 'Make Me Richer Than Bill Gates' you insure the future of America for yourself and your children. Your contribution enables me to invest in stocks, bonds, and other securities that cause growth and development in the business sector, which in turn creates jobs, increasing the tax base thereby lowering the national debt. Your non-TAX DEDUCTIBLE contribution could be responsible for eliminating the national debt…
 
Reader Mail and Sig File of The Month All-In-One
You always seem to be commanding us to send you e-mails in your  
Happy Mac column, so if you don't like this one you only have
yourself to blame. I think your column in Apple Wizards is superb,
it is always the first column I read. However I feel in your next column you should provide us with a photograph of yourself, just so as we can all see what a true goddess you really are.
The contender for signature file of the month I am sending you, is a short but very wise line which was said to me during during a job interview I had five years ago, the line is this:
The problem with common sense is,
It isn't very common.
James Duffield
Edinburgh Scotland
Thanks for writing, James, and you get extra points for obeying my command to send me email! I would honor your request to include a picture of myself in this column, but there's a small problem. You see, sooner or later, someone would end up pasting my head over the body of a porn star, and before you knew it I'd be more popular than the Tommy & Pamela videos. Then, Erik (the editor) would have to terminate my employment. Worse yet, my bad reputation might keep me from getting that dream job at Apple that I've always wanted. Okay, maybe I'm being a bit delusional… Show me yours and I'll show you mine. :-)
