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At Westford conference, a fellowship of Tolkien fans Conference calling

admin — Thu, 24 Mar 2011 07:00:00 +0000

Joy Fields, eager to meet the J.R.R. Tolkien fans with whom she has role-played on the Internet, is flying in from California. Edmund Meskys, with a suitcase stuffed with old fanzines to sell, will make the drive from Moultonborough, N.H. Jan Finder, who likes to go by Pippen, his “Lord of the Rings’’ alias, is heading to town from Albany, N.Y.

They will gather tomorrow and Saturday with other Tolkien enthusiasts at the Regency Inn and Conference Center in Westford for what is being billed as the “3rd Conference on Middle-earth.’’ (Middle-earth is the fictitious setting of Tolkien’s work.) With panel discussions, a party, and Tolkien-themed wares for sale, the gathering will be the ultimate Frodo-fest.

“What I’m looking forward to is having a weekend to treat talking about Tolkien as a serious topic as opposed to the cultural perception that we’re all nerds and geeks who live in our parents’ basements,’’ said Emily Moniz, 29, a doctoral student at The Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C.. She will present her paper, “Gondor Needs No King: Images of Kingship in the Ramayana and J.R.R. Tolkien’s ‘The Lord of the Rings.’ ’’

For Tolkien enthusiasts, it has been a long wait between conferences.

Finder was a graduate student at the University of Illinois when he organized the first Middle-earth conference in 1969. Two years later he held the second at Cleveland State University, where he was working as an assistant dean. Then the conference died out.

Now, in the aftermath of the huge success of the “Rings’’ films and with “The Hobbit’’ now in production, interest in Tolkien is higher than ever before. After a four-decade drought, Finder has brought back the conference.

“I just finally said, ‘I want to do it, and I don’t give a damn if I lose money — I’ll pay for it,’ ’’ said Finder, 72. “This is something I’ve wanted to do for 40 years.’’ He chose the Westford hotel for a simple reason: It’s close to Boston but less expensive than other venues.

Still, there were some chuckles in Westford when word of the conference spread.

“It’s really strange,’’ said Jo Cobleigh, an office manager for the town’s police department. “I’m picturing all these people in costume wandering around the Regency.’’

Science fiction and fantasy conventions dot the landscape, from Dragon*Con in Atlanta and Comic-Con International in San Diego to Arisia in Boston. The Middle-earth gathering won’t be nearly as large.

By yesterday, just 48 people had paid between $ 25 and $ 65 to register.

But attendees said they were looking forward to a conference that they can easily navigate. Eric Van, a Watertown statistician and Tolkien lover, said he is anticipating a chance for fans to talk with one another and listen to presentations without having to jostle for elbow room.

“It looks like it’ll be a small, intense gathering,’’ said Van, who will speak on a panel titled “Two Films to Do ‘The Hobbit’ Is One Too Many!’’ “I’m looking forward to this one because it’s going to be one group of people in one room doing one thing.’’

With just four novels — “The Hobbit’’ and the three volumes of “The Lord of the Rings’’ — the English John Ronald Reuel Tolkien, who died in 1973, was one of the most influential writers in history. The “Rings’’ trilogy has sold more than 150 million copies.

Peter Jackson’s three “Lord of the Rings’’ films grossed $ 2.9 billion and won 17 Oscars, and in the process made Tolkien relevant to a new generation. In 2010, Forbes ranked Tolkien the third top-earning dead celebrity, just behind Michael Jackson and Elvis Presley.

Finder became a Tolkien devotee in 1964, when he found himself so mesmerized with the “Rings’’ trilogy that he spent three straight days curled up at his parents’ house blowing through it.

Now retired, Finder has been struggling with prostate cancer and spent time last week in the hospital. But he said he is eager to come to Westford. Even after all these years, Finder re-reads Tolkien’s work and finds himself particularly drawn to Middle-earth.

“I don’t know if I’d want to live there, but there’s a certain allure to the very earthiness. The pacing is slow, and this is something that a lot of people strive for and look for in their life,’’ he said. “This is why that high-priced lawyer disappears into Vermont and starts a dairy farm.’’

One of the papers that will be presented this weekend lays out John Bentley’s plan to replicate Middle-earth in the Sierra Norte region of Spain. In a phone interview from his home, Bentley described an unspoiled region near Madrid where Tolkien lovers will be able to stay in a hobbit hole and enjoy many of the interests of hobbits, including beekeeping, agriculture, and country crafts. He stopped short of calling it a theme park.

“We don’t want any razzmatazz hotels like Disneyland,’’ said Bentley, a retired British engineer who will not be attending the Westford conference. “We want this to be the Tolkien center in the northern hemisphere. There are [millions of] Tolkien fans in the world. So I reckon. This will be a real Middle-earth for them.’’

Other presentations will focus on Christian elements in the author’s work and a slide show tour of New Zealand, where Jackson filmed much of “Rings’’ and has just begun work on “The Hobbit.’’

There will also be some partying in Westford. Tomorrow night, participants will take part in the “Downfall of Sauron Party,’’ a soirée complete with seed cakes, one of Bilbo’s favorites.

Merchants at the conference will include author Resa Nelson and Methuen’s Ed Trachtenberg, who runs a store called The Dragon’s Lair, which sells stone dragons, pewter unicorns, and other fantasy-themed items. Attendees can also sift through Middle-earthy clothing, which includes long, flowing elf gowns.

Meskys, a 75-year-old retired teacher, will haul a suitcase and box of old Tolkien-themed magazines to the convention. He has been storing them in his garage but thinks it is time to let them go. Money is not his motivation. He plans to sell them for between 25 cents and $ 2 an issue.

“I’m getting old,’’ Meskys said. “I don’t have the energy I used to have. I just want to pass on the material.’’

Geoff Edgers can be reached at gedgers@globe.com.

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http://www.boston.com/ae/books/articles/2011/03/24/at_westford_conference_a_fellowship_of_tolkien_fans/

Conference calling

Question by kman: Conference Calling?
How does one set up a conference calling system does this entail leasing a kind of line in Nigeria or is there another means (not all our partners have access to broadband so solutions like skype are not feasible) thanks

Best answer:

Answer by Dave
You can actually call your telephone provider. They can set up a number for your group to call into. It can be set up on a call by call bases or you can establish a contract if you plan on using them a lot.

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Thank you for calling the NHL Conference calling

admin — Sat, 26 Feb 2011 20:00:01 +0000

Tim Fraser for National Post

Maple Leafs’ button-masher Brian Burke.

It’s been a busy lead up to the deadline for NHL general managers, who have already pulled off over a dozen trades including several blockbusters. Just as busy were the members of the hockey media who raced to break the news of each transaction as quickly as possible, often before a deal was officially done.

Fans may have noticed that these reports often allude to a deal being complete “pending a trade call with the league.” The phrase brings to mind an intense conference call in which league officials grill the participants before grudgingly approving a deal.

But as it turns out, a trade calls is simply a formality. And just like every other phone call you try to make these days, the entire thing is handled through an automated system.

Thanks to league sources, I got my hands on the top secret number and gave it a call. Here’s a transcript of what I heard.

****

Thank you for calling the National Hockey League. For service in English, press 1. For service in French, press 2. For service in whatever language it is that Don Cherry is speaking, press 3.

****

You have selected English. Please listen carefully, as our menu options have recently changed.

If you are a GM calling to complain about a penalty, press 1.

If you are a GM calling to complain about a suspension, press 2.

If you are a GM calling to complain about a goal review, press 3.

If you are a GM calling to complain about having nothing to complain about, press 4.

If you are on owner calling to report that you have recently gone bankrupt, press 5.

If you are calling about a trade, press 6.

****

You have pressed 6. You will now be connected to the NHL trade hotline. At any time, you may press 0 to speak to Darren Dreger.

If you are calling to complain about a trade your son’s team just made, press 1.

If you just realized you’ve accidentally traded for a good starting goaltender when you’re trying to tank for the first overall pick and would like a mulligan, press 2.

If you are calling to report a completely fictional “rumour” in a desperate attempt to trick stupid people into visiting your terrible website, press e5.

If you are calling to report a completed trade, press 9.

****

You have chosen to report a completed trade. Please note that we are currently experiencing higher than normal call volumes. If you are trading away a draft pick, please enter the round number now.

****

You have chosen to trade a first round draft pick. Is this pick lottery-protected in case you finish last? Press 1 for yes or 2 for no.

****

You have pressed 2 for no. Um, do you think that maybe you should rethink that? Press 1 for yes or 2 for no.

****

You have pressed 2 for no. Look, Brian, we’ve talked about this, wouldn’t it make sense to at least ask if …

****

You have angrily mashed 2 for no.

Does your trade involve a player? Press 1 for yes, or 2 for no.

****

You have pressed 1 for yes. Please note that due to high demand, we have set up a dedicated hotline for teams trading away Ian White. Please call 1-800-IAN-B-GON for assistance. Operators are standing by 24 hours a day.

Please enter the line that the player plays on, and then his salary followed by the pound key.

****

You have indicated that you are trading for a third-liner who makes $ 5-million. Are you drunk? Press 1 for yes, or 2 for no.

****

You have pressed 2 for no. Please indicate why you are making this clearly terrible trade.

If you are trying to satisfy your idiot owner, press 1.

If you are trying to satisfy your idiot fans, press 2.

If you are trying to satisfy your idiot media, press 3.

If you stopped caring once it became apparent that you’re being fired at the end of the season and figure all of this will be the new guy’s problem, press 4.

For all of the above, press 5.

****

You have pressed 5. Your trade is ready for processing. In a few moments it will be finalized, and you may inform the players and announce the deal publicly.

One last thing: Did you remember to check and see if the player has a no-trade clause? Press 1 for yes, or 2 for no.

****

You have drop-kicked your phone out an open window. Thank you for calling the NHL trading hotline. Good bye.

• Sean McIndoe is a hockey blogger who regularly updates the humour site Down Goes Brown. You can follow him on Twitter.

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Read from orginal source…

http://sports.nationalpost.com/2011/02/25/down-goes-brown-pushing-the-nhls-buttons/

Conference calling

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London Businesses Urged to Use Conference Calling During Olympics Conference calling

admin — Fri, 11 Feb 2011 18:49:22 +0000

The UK government advises businesses to use conference calls instead of travelling around the capital to avoid travel disruption during the 2012 London Olympics, says Powwownow.

(PRWeb UK) February 9, 2011

In the run up to the London Olympics in 2012, the UK government has announced that it is encouraging businesses in London to use conference calls instead of face-to-face meetings to stay in touch with clients and colleagues and to avoid any travel disruption. The announcement, which came just as Transport Minster Norman Baker instructed his Civil Servants to make use of conference calls to save time and money on travel, underlines the cost-effectiveness of conference calling – not to mention its green credentials, says Powwownow.

Powwownow’s CEO, Andy Pearce comments: “Conference calling services have been around for a long time, but as they’ve traditionally been seen as a communications tool for businesses, so many people haven’t entertained the thought of trying it out for themselves.” He said: “Conference calls allow users to talk to a number of people at the same time, and can be used anywhere, such as at home on a special occasion or whilst travelling, and situations like the London Olympics are really the ideal time for any individual, not just businesses, to look into using a conference call service.”

The announcement, which was made following the London 2012 Organising Committee’s Travel Advice for Business Service revealed that it will advise business travellers and commuters of the easiest way to travel around the capital during the busy Olympic Game period. During this time government officials have predicted that up to 800,000 spectators will attend the Games each day and over 55,000 athletes, journalists and other professionals will be involved in the event, which will put a huge strain on the public transport system, the roads and London’s resources.

Pearce continues: “The Government’s strategy to help cut down on the number of people travelling to and from work by using conference calls is not only good for an individual’s wallet, but also the environment, as it means less cars will be clogging the roads during what will be an exceptionally busy time for Londoners and tourists. Investing in conference calls next summer could make all the difference between having a very stressful time travelling or a much more relaxing and efficient time working from home.”

About Powwownow:
Powwownow was founded in the UK in 2004, offering customers low-cost conference calling facilities with the ethos of no booking, no billing, no fuss. The customer does not need to book a conference room and never receives a bill from Powwownow. They only pay the cost of their own call, which is added to their standard telecoms bill. The company now operates in 15 countries worldwide including the US and major European markets and recently acquired web conferencing and business collaboration providers, Yuuguu. Turnover for 2011 is predicted to reach £10m.
Powwownow employs 49 people and is based in Richmond and Manchester.

###

Casey Williams
Powwownow
+44 (0)20 79901165
Email Information

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admin — Fri, 07 Jan 2011 23:51:06 +0000

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Jerry Everett

OnConference Inc.
Suite 1150 – 45 O’Connor Street
Ottawa, ON, Canada, K1P 1A4

1(877)GO-ONCONFERENCE | 1(877)466-6266

http://www.onconference.com

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admin — Sat, 01 Jan 2011 02:50:53 +0000

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admin — Wed, 05 May 2010 09:14:11 +0000

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