Subject: Subversive Summer Greetings from B&B
 
 Today we celebrate the start of summer.  Today's newsletter is called 

   "Chicken Soup for the Despondent Dilbert Cube Occupant's Soul." 

   I wrote it to cheer you up.   

   When I was a kid, the beginning of June meant school was out.  It was 
my personal symbol of freedom. 

   But for all us Dilbert Cube occupants, summer now means 3 months of 
suppressed rage and hot sludgy coffee each morning on a steamy 
expressway.  

   Work is not all gravy and bonus points!  That's why this newsletter 
arrives in your inbox with glad tidings. 

   You can momentarily escape the gloom by purchasing a clever gadget 
for your computer.  You see, we don't sell GPS systems, cameras or 
PDA's - you can't put those on your expense report.  But USB 
extenders and BLUETOOTH adapters - those things help you finish 
your projects.  Right?  

   We won't tell your boss that your purchase requisition was scratching 
your gadget itch.  So here's what's fashionable in June 2004: 

-USB for Data Acquisition: Working for a big, soulless corporation 
can make you feel like an interchangeable drone.  But you won't 
feel that way anymore with our 8-input, 4-output USB Data Acquisition 
System.  

   You can read sensors and control relays and analog signals, all 
from the convenience of your PC's USB port. You can log and display 
data with graphical controls, set outputs, and view changes in real 
time. If you prefer to write your own application, a Visual Basic 
reference library is provided. 

   At B&B, we know that writing your own application in VB gives you more 
job security than an off-the-shelf application would provide.  Heck, 
if you can't write symphonies or develop a new vaccine, you can 
at least have the company's equipment running on your own proprietary 
software: 

http://www.bb-elec.com/product.asp?sku=UD128A8D&s=e062204

-Extend USB up to 100 Feet: USB normally only extends 5 meters, 
but this gadget takes it six times as far.  Keeps you from having 
to move your laptop back and forth when you're doing field measurements; 
all you need is a CAT-5 cable: 

http://www.bb-elec.com/product.asp?sku=UCE50&s=e062204

-Optical Isolation: Better than Chewable Antacid Tablets 

   Right now we're in the thick of thunderstorm season, and voltage 
surges can have devastating consequences.  Why flirt with the 
lurking unknown?  Protect your equipment and your job with... 

DIN-Rail mount surge suppressor for RS-422 & 485: 
http://www.bb-elec.com/product.asp?sku=HESP4DR&s=e062204

Isolated USB hub for extreme environments: 
http://www.bb-elec.com/product.asp?sku=UISOHUB4&s=e062204

   Gentle reminder: Even as you scratch your gadget itch and write 
proprietary VB programs, always remember to be cheerful and accommodating.  

   As always, thanks for your support! 

Cheers, 

Mike Fahrion 
B&B Electronics 

Rants?  Raves?  Rude Asides?  Email me: mailto:support@bb-elec.com