[Here is Linda introducing a new Voice "Community" writer! He is passionate about animal rights and is a Gemologist. He found his love connection through the ads and you will just have to read about that...right here. Also, read about how he founded the famous "Mighty Webateers."--ck]
Nelson Tankus is a man of many names to those of us who know and love him. He goes by htmlwriter, feelrealgood, the Nelson, and the walking thesaurus along with a few other choice names that his Webateers! have so lovingly given him or he has picked up along his journey through the superhighway. He is also a new writer for Net4TV. I was privileged to be able to interview him. I have known Nelson for close to six months and have found him to go from one extreme to the other. Whether it be gentle as a kitten or as strong as a lion, there has always been one thing that stood out most with this man through so many changes. He has always had a passion for words. He is the type of guy who, after writing a paragraph, could make the most literate person go, "huh?"
Nelson thinks of himself as a simple netizine with not much to offer. How wrong can one person be? Even his journey into webhood was as fascinating as the man himself. It seems this listmiester was hanging out at the CD rack at Circuit City when he overheard a salesman explaining the WebTV to a customer. While he listened to them, he noticed a table with WebTV units that were enclosed in plastic bags. As he looked closer, he noticed that they also carried brand new units that were not contained in a box. Ergo, he bought a Sony Plus and a keyboard complete for $100. The warranties were also included in this spectacular deal. He left the store a happy man. He did, however, return to Caldor's two months later only to find, on their last day of being open, two Sony keyboards for $10 each. "That is what I call a good deal," says Nelson.
That was eight months ago and now Nelson and his WebTV have bonded in that "special way" that all WebTV addicts can comprehend. He was ecstatic about going on the internet and taking flight into the unseen interconnecting lines of the World Wide Web that not only connect the world together but so many lives as well. He soon came to realize that the one who was the receiver of his e-mail was also a real person with a real life and an imagination such as his. He could expand his web horizons by using the specialty he is best known for in his circle of friends and that is of being a friend.
Nelson met his lovely wife, Debra, through the Washington Post personal ads. Debra was the first ad he responded to. He was looking for an intelligent, sophisticated and well-read woman of character. He found her to be a woman of the nineties. She is "elegant and refined." According to Nelson, Debra was looking for that someone special herself. They talked on the phone for a couple of weeks and together decided to meet. It turns out they fell in love and became a family with a marriage "made in heaven." He also went on to say that he was given a "bonus reward" for smart shoppers. The reason he says this is because his family now also consisted of two teenage boys, Adam, who is a vibrant 14 year old and Aaron, who is an energetic 12 year old. They have six cats and two dogs that are a part of the family as well.
The Tankus family resides in Glen Burnie, Maryland were Nelson drives a truck making local deliveries. If this is not interesting enough, Nelson also shared the fact that he studied with Antonio Bonnano, who is an imminent Gemologist. He spent sixteen weeks attending classes and even received a certificate as a Gemologist. He considers this as more of a hobby, although he has "sold and appraised some colored stones and loose diamonds." He has even worked at some of the most exclusive jewelry boutiques. He finds dealing with loose stones is much more stimulating than working with stones which are mounted. "The great diversity in colors occurring in the same mineral is fascinating and beautiful."
Nelson figures he was also lucky, not only for his wonderful family and his job, but because his wife had no interest in WebTV. He found this didn't last long. As soon as he set the machine up, Debra told him that it looked like fun. Soon the "friendly conversations" began on who was going to use the machine. Neither one have an interest in interactive television so the Internet is where they spend their time. [Oh, a man of good taste!] Nelson discovered newsgroups and at the time thought they were wonderful, but it didn't last long. He found fighting and "insensitivity" within some groups and decided it was too much for him. It is also a very slow way to communicate and in his humble opinion became "a forum for abuse."
Nelson soon discovered e-mail lists and discovered even being on the list, he was waiting for that friend or acquaintance to mail the group. He studied how the group owner/moderators treated their members and decided he could do the same and maybe even strive to do better. The only step next was to start his own e-mail list. He decided to start his list at ONElist and used the combination of the Musketeers and the connection to the web. He came up with The Mighty Webateers!. He felt that if "he built it, they would come." This was a very nerve racking time for Nelson. He invited eight to ten friends to join the list and he soon had two members. Since that time a few months ago, the Webateers! have grown to thirty members. He feels that is about how many he wants.
The Webateers! have what Nelson considers to be thirty wonderful friends and he enjoys all their company. He made this list an adult list so everyone could come and relax and unwind. In most areas of the net, one has to be very careful of the young web users. With this list, one does not have to worry because it is restricted for anyone who is younger than twenty-one years old. He belongs to a "nice" list called Internetjunkies where he does enjoy the good people and the friendly attitudes. With his list, however, the members can "let their hair down" and enjoy belonging.
How did Nelson get this far? He started out at ADH - Homepage Helpers and has had a great time with that group. He found himself in need of a tutor so he asked for one. He was given a wonderful lady by the name of Tina. She turned out to be a fantastic, patient person who spent a lot of time with Nelson getting his homepages started which he so labeled, "I Call This Place Home!"
Because of Tina, he started to enjoy HTML and felt like he had both feet planted firmly on the ground. Then he received that much dreaded "Dear Nelson" letter saying he was being let go as a student. He felt like he was being kicked out of the nest and it was a sad day for him but wanted to do something to help give back what was given him. He said that even though his nick is htmlwriter, he feels "like a dope." He only chose that name because he thought of it while listening to Paperback Writer. He said he does not really know that much about it, but he knows how to make people feel comfortable about trying new things. This is where he thought his skills would be best suited so he became a tutor himself. He has been guiding those new to WebTV into places like Angelfire so they could start their own homepages.
"This is my real skill. Just getting them started." Nelson has had four or five successful students that have built some great sites. This to him is the most satisfying feeling in the world.
Nelson wanted to mention a few people he is thankful for and their homepages. First, Tina, whose homepage is found by clicking here. Second, he wants to thank his very patient wife, Debra, whose homepage can be found by clicking here. Third, he wanted to mention two other lists he is a member of and that is OUR-HUMOR and Ersman. And lastly, he wanted to thank someone who "has pulled him out of few spots" and who is a good friend of his. Linda Anderson. [Thank you, Nelson. I am blushing.]
[Community Editor's Notes: Welcome aboard, Nelson!! And for those who do not know this kind gentleman, he favors feeding dogs on his route daily. He consistently carries those dog bonz to make each dog feel wanted and loved. There is a special dog in the confines of a chained link fence that he especially befriends. This dog lives outside year round and Nelson has seen this particular dog shivering to the bone on those, cold, cold days. The owners? In their warm house close by, coddling another small wee animal they favor over the one outside. Big heart, Nelson. Love to that animal!!!--ck]
Email: Nelson Tankus
