"Emily Postnews Answers Your Questions on Netiquette"
Brad Templeton's (brad@looking.on.ca) satirical and hilarious piece on
how NOT to behave on the net. Emily Postnews, foremost authority on
proper net behaviour, gives her advice. There are many places to ftp this
file, and it is appearing on many gophers. One place to get the file is by
ftp to ra.msstate.edu (130.18.80.10)
Location: /pub/docs/words- l/Funnies
The file is called emily.postnews. Here is a sample:
"Dear Miss Postnews:
How long should my signature be?
-- verbose@noisy
A: Dear Verbose:
Please try and make your signature as long as you can. It's much more
important than your article, of course, so try to have more lines of
signature than actual text. Try to include a large graphic made of
ASCII characters, plus lots of cute quotes and slogans. People will
never tire of reading these pearls of wisdom again and again, and you
will soon become personally associated with the joy each reader feels
at seeing yet another delightful repeat of your signature. Be sure
as well to include a complete map of USENET with each signature, to
show how anybody can get mail to you from any site in the world.
Be sure to include Internet gateways as well. Also tell people
on your own site how to mail to you. Give independent addresses
for Internet, UUCP, and BITNET, even if they're all the same."
"Incomplete Guide to the Internet"
The "Incomplete Guide" was compiled by the NCSA Education Group,
dated September, 1992. It is also available for anonymous FTP at:
ftp.ncsa.uiuc.edu in the /misc directory
This excellent manual is a must.
It even covers SLIP connections and use of Eudora.
Here are some comments about it from cfarmer@ncsa.uiuc.EDU (Chuck Farmer):
"The first half of the text is devoted to the mechanics of telecommunications,
how to connect, what to do once you are connected, etc. The second half of
the manual is devoted to current telecommunications projects, past successful
projects, and resources. The resources include FTP sites, open BBS's and
networks, Free-Nets, subscription services, and where to get more information
on each resource. This resource was complied by the Living Lab program
(NSF funded) at NCSA as an attempt to encourage the proliferation of HPCC
use in the K-12 classroom. We welcome your comments and suggestions.
For further information:
National Center for Supercomputing Applications
605 E Springfield Ave.
Champaign, IL 61820
217/244-6122
"Library Resources on the Internet:
Strategies for Selection and Use" 1992.
RASD Occasional Paper no. 12, selling for $18 to members,
$20 for nonmembers. It can be ordered from:
ALA Order Services
50 E. Huron
Chicago, IL 60611,
800/545-2433
Electronic versions available via FTP
ASCII file from:
host DLA.UCOP.EDU (128.48.108.25)
directory /pub/internet/Libcat-guide
host FTP.UNT.EDU (129.120.1.1)
directory /pub/library/libcat-guide
WordPerfect 5.1 file from:
host HYDRA.UWO.CA (129.100.2.13)
directory libsoft/internet.com
Merit's Cruise of the Internet
This attractive overview looks great on a Macintosh.
I have not seen the Windows version.
From the README text: "Merit's `Cruise of the Internet' is a computer-
based tutorial for new as well as experienced Internet `navigators.'
The Cruise will introduce you to Internet resources as diverse as
supercomputing, minorities, multimedia, and even cooking. It will also
provide information about the tools needed to access those resources."
ftp to NIC.MERIT.EDU /internet/resources. There are Macintosh and
Windows versions, and README text files to explain installation procedures.
A Cruise of the Internet
Version 2.01 for Apple Macintosh computers
December 1, 1992
SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS
This tutorial will run on any color Macintosh which is capable of
displaying 256 colors.
To run the Cruise tutorial you will need:
- A Macintosh II, LC or Quadra series computer
- 8-bit color and any color monitor (12" minimum)
- System 6.05 or 7.x
- Approximately 3 MB of disk space
- 4 MB RAM is recommended
- Internet connectivity and software that does file transfers via FTP.
A Cruise of the Internet
Version 2.0 for IBM-DOS and DOS compatibles running Windows
October 28, 1992
SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS:
This tutorial will run on any IBM-DOS or DOS-compatible computer
which is equipped to display 256 colors at an aspect ratio of 640 x 480.
To run the Cruise tutorial you will need:
- An IBM-DOS or DOS-compatible computer
- XGA- or XGA-compatible adapter set to display 256 colors at 640 x 480
- Microsoft Windows(TM) version 3.1
- Approximately 1.5 MB of disk space
- 2 MB RAM minimum
- Internet connectivity and software that does file transfers via FTP.
"Mining the Internet"
The Net as mine metaphor is a popular theme. Tunneling through the
network matrix in search of gems and ore is not far from fact.
Sometimes it is hard work, and a lot of it is working in the dark.
There is a guidebook called "Mining the Internet", available from
University of California at Davis. Here is how the Gold Country Mining
Instructions begin:
"Jist durn tuckered o' workin' eight t' five for a salary. ain't you?
An' you wanna set out for parts unknown. You're hankerin' for an a'venture.
Come'n then go `Mining the Internet' with me, father of Clementine
(that's my darlin'), and I'll tell you some old timey tales and
introduce you to a new resource for students, faculty, and staff called
wide area networking 'Taint goin' to hurt you any, and the prospect looks
good for a lucky strike."
"Mining the Internet" and "Using the Internet A&B" available from:
Computing Services
University of California
Davis, CA 95616-8563
916/752-0233.
Or electronically by anonymous ftp from
ucdavis.edu (128.120.2.1)
directory /ucd.netdocs/mining
NSF Network Service Center (NNSC)
NSF Internet Tour HyperCard Stack--borrow a Macintosh long enough
to view this, worth the effort! Includes net history, net maps,
net poetry and lore. Free.
They also publish a very complete Internet Resource Guide ($15).
Many items, including the HyperCard Tour to the Internet, freely
available by anonymous
ftp from nnsc.nsf.net
NNSC
Bolt Beranek and Newman Inc.
10 Moulton Street, Cambridge, MA 02138
617/873-3400
nnsc@nnsc.nsf.net
New User's Guide to Unique and Interesting Resources on the Internet 2.2.
Available from NYSERNet (New York State Education and Research Network).
It is over 145 pages and lists some 50 sources. OPACS, databases,
information resources, and more. The New User's Guide is available
in hard copy at the cost of $25.00. (NYSERNet Members: $18.00)
It is available electronically at
nysernet.org (192.77.173.2)
in the directory
/pub/resources/guides
It is called the new.user.guide.v2.2.txt
For more information:
NYSERNet, Inc.
111 College Pl.
Syracuse, NY 13244-4100
315/443-4120 FAX 315/425-7518
info@nysernet.org
NorthWestNet User Services Internet Resource Guide
NorthWestNet has released a 300-page guide to the Internet, covering
electronic mail, file transfer, remote login, discussion groups,
online library catalogues, and supercomputer access.
Copies may be purchased for $20.00 from NorthWestNet.
It is also available via anonymous ftp:
ftphost.nwnet.net
in the directory
/nic/nwnet/user-guide
NorthWestNet
15400 SE 30th Place, Suite 202,
Bellevue, WA 98007
206/562-3000 FAX: 206/562-4822
"There's Gold in Them Thar Networks! or Searching for Gold in all the
Wrong Places" written by Jerry Martin at Ohio State University. This
document is available via Internet message to Infoserver@nnsc.nsf.net.
Once inside the message area, give the following commands to retrieve the
document: REQUEST:NSFNET
TOPIC:NETWORK-TREASURES
REQUEST: END
"The Yanoff Lists"
"Special Internet Connections" Compiled by Scott Yanoff.
This is an indispensable weekly list of network resources
available using telnet and ftp.
It includes a few Online Public Access Catalogs, chat lines, weather
servers, Campus Wide Information Systems, and reference resources.
Send e-mail to the list manager (Scott Yanoff) at:
yanoff@csd4.csd.uwm.edu
or
ftp to csd4.csd.uwm.edu
The filename is inet-services.
How to Find out More About Discussion Lists
Thousands of discussion groups, LISTSERVs, and mail reflectors exist on
the Internet. Here are several ways to find lists of interest to you.
LISTSERVs available from NYSERNet.org
Nysernet.org hosts over 20 lists, including folk_music and PUBLIB for
public librarians. Send a LIST GLOBAL command in an interactive
message to our host. For example:
To: LISTSERV@nysernet.org
Subject:
Message: LIST GLOBAL
The SRI NIC Maintained Interest-Groups List of Lists
This is available by FTP from ftp.nisc.sri.com (192.33.33.22) in the
directory /netinfo/interest-groups.
The SRI NIC list-of-lists is also available via electronic mail. Send a
message to mail-server@nisc.sri.com with the following line in the
message body:
Send netinfo/interest-groups
Example:
To: mail-server@nisc.sri.com
Subject:
Message: Send netinfo/interest-groups
The List of Lists
A comprehensive list-of-lists can be obtained from some larger host
computers running LISTSERV software, by sending a LIST GLOBAL command
in an interactive message. This will return a "one line per list"
list of all lists known to that host as of that date.
For example:
To: LISTSERV@VM1.NoDak.EDU mail
Subject:
Message: LIST GLOBAL
The global list can also be searched online.
For details send LISTSERV the command INFO DATABASE
Network Accessible Database Server
Only available on the LISTSERV@VM1.NoDak.EDU is a searchable interest
groups database. For example, to search of the databases for lists
on "cats" you would send the following statements (copy them exactly into
your mail message to the LISTSERV):
//DBlook JOB Echo=No
Database Search DD=Rules
//Rules DD *
Select cats in lists
index
Select cats in intgroup
index
Select cats in new-list
index
These statements search the global LISTSERV list of lists ("in lists"),
and the local copy of the SRI-NIC Interest Groups ("in intgroup"), and
the archives of the "new-list" list ("in new-list"). Send LISTSERV the
command INFO DATABASE for more information.
The 5th Revision of the Directory of Scholarly Electronic Conferences
This resource is available at LISTSERV@KENTVM or
LISTSERV@KENTVM.KENT.EDU and via anonymous FTP to
ksuvxa.kent.edu
in the
library
directory.
This announcement is extracted from the ACADLIST README FILE
"This directory contains descriptions of 805 electronic conferences
(econferences) on topics of interest to scholars. E- conference is the
umbrella term that includes discussion lists, interest groups, e-journals,
e-newsletters, Usenet newsgroups, forums, etc. We have used our own
judgment in deciding what is of scholarly interest -- and accept any advice
or argument about our decisions. We have placed the entries into
categories by deciding what the *dominant* academic subject area of the
electronic conference is."
"The 5th Revision involves an attempt to make it easier to feed the
Directory into HyperCard(TM), dBase(TM) and other database programs.
The first step in this effort has been to use field labels for each part of
each record. We've also reduced the size of each record by trying to keep
topic information between 25-50 words (some are still bigger). Advice on
this topic will be gratefully accepted at dkovacs@kentvm.kent.edu."
"In addition, information about editorial policy and archive availability
and frequency have also been included in each record. Where possible the
information in each record has been checked for currency and accuracy by
checking the LISTSERV header in the case of LISTSERV based e-conferences
and contacting the moderators of other kinds of e-conferences."
"The field labels are as follows:
LN: (e-conference name)
TI: (topic information)
SU: (subscription information)
ED: (edited? Yes or No)
AR: (archived? if Yes, frequency, private=subscribers only)
MO: (moderator, editor, listowner, manager, coordinator, etc.)
IA: (`official' institutional affiliation)."
"Topic descriptions are taken in whole or part from the descriptions
provided by each listowner, editor, moderator or coordinator to the
New-List, the List of Lists, and the Internet Interest Groups file."
"Any errors are the responsibility of the compiler of the Electronic
Conferences for Academics Files. If you can provide corrections or
additional information about any of these electronic conferences,
please contact:
Diane Kovacs (Bitnet) DKOVACS@KENTVM (Internet)
DKOVACS@KENTVM.KENT.EDU
These files are available on the Directory of Scholarly E-Conferences:
ACADLIST README (explanatory notes for the Directory)
ACADSTCK HQX (binhexed, self-decompressing, HyperCard Stack of
entire Directory - Keyword searchable)
ACADLIST FILE1 (Anthropology- Education)
ACADLIST FILE2 (Geography-Library and Information Science)
ACADLIST FILE3 (Linguistics-Political Science)
ACADLIST FILE4 (Psychology-Writing)
ACADLIST FILE5 (Biological sciences)
ACADLIST FILE6 (Physical sciences -now includes Academic Computing
and Computer Science)
ACADLIST FILE7 (business, Academia, news)
ACADWHOL HQX (binhexed self-decompressing Macintosh M.S. Word
4.0 document of all 7 directories)
ACADLIST.CHANGES (Major additions and deletions)
How to retrieve the abovefiles via mail
1. Send an e-mail message addressed to LISTSERV@KENTVM or
LISTSERV@KENTVM.KENT.EDU.
2. Leave the subject and other info lines blank.
3. The message must read: GET Filename Filetype
(e.g.,filename=ACADLIST filetype=FILE1 or HQX or whatever)
4. The files will be sent to you and you must receive them.
5. If you need assistance receiving, etc. contact your local Computer
Services people.
How to retrieve the files via anonymous FTP (File Transfer Protocol)
FTP to KSUVXA.KENT.EDU
1. when prompted for `USERID,' type ANONYMOUS.
2. Your password will be your actual userid on your local machine.
3. Type: cd library
4. Type: GET Filename.Filetype (e.g., filename=ACADLIST
filetype=FILE1 or HQX or whatever)
5. The files will be transferred directly into the directory you ftp'ed
from at your site.
New Lists and List Changes
New lists are being started every day, and old ones fade away.
To find out bout these changes, join the NEW-LIST mailing.
Here is part of their Welcome message:
"The `NEW-LIST' list has been established as a central address to post
announcements of new public mailing lists. In addition, `NEW-LIST' might
be used as a final verification before establishing a list (to check for
existing lists on the same topic, etc.). However, be sure to check sources
such as the Internet List-of-Lists (SIGLIST or INTEREST-GROUPS list),
LISTSERV GROUPS, and the LISTS database on the major LISTSERVs
(we have the LISTS database on NDSUVM1)."
"We will gladly rebroadcast New List announcements, final list proposals
(to avoid conflicts or redundancy), or emergency announcements about the
availability of some list.
List Review Service
These folks subscribe to and monitor a list for awhile and then report on it
to everyone else. It's a great idea and a useful way to "sample" a list.
Here is the subscription information. Email its author to be added to the
List Review Service list, BITNET ADDRESS: SRCMUNS@UMSLVMA
LIST REVIEW SERVICE ISSN: 1060-8192 Published bi-weekly, when school
is in session, by The University of Missouri, St. Louis Libraries.
Raleigh C. Muns, editor.
For more information:
Thomas Jefferson Library
University of Missouri St. Louis
8001 Natural Bridge Road
St. Louis, MO 63121
314/553-5059
Internet Library Guides
Three different Internet library guides are available to help both
beginning and experienced OPAC users.
Art St. George's Internet-Accessible Library Catalogs and Databases includes
directions for Internet libraries and Campus Wide Information Systems as
well as dialup libraries and bulletin boards in the United States.
Available from:
ariel.unm.edu
/LIBRARY/INTERNET.LIBRARY
Billy Barron's Accessing On-line Bibliographic Databases contains a number
of useful features such as guides to local OPAC escape sequences and commands. FTP to ftp.unt.edu
(129.120.1.1)
/LIBRARY/LIBRARIES.TXT
Dana Noonan's A Guide to Internet/Bitnet comes in two parts. Part two is
about Internet Libraries. It is an easy to use guide to many national and
international OPACS and their login and use instructions. (available via
anonymous ftp from vm1.nodak.edu then CD NNEWS (although nnews may not
show up on the directory menu, it works.) A printed version is available
for $10 from Metronet. For more information:
Metronet
226 Metro Square Building
Seventh and Robert Streets
St. Paul, Minnesota 55101
612/224-4801 FAX 612/224-4827
Must-have Books for the Internet Surfer
Kehoe, Brendan. (1993). Zen and the Art of the Internet: a Beginner's
Guide (2nd ed.). Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice-Hall. The first edition is
available for free from many FTP sites (see below) This version has about
30 pages of new material and corrects various minor errors in the first
edition. Includes the story of the Coke Machine on the Internet. For much
of late 1991 and the first half of 1992, this was the document of choice
for learning about the Internet. ISBN 0-13-010778-6. Index. $22.00
To ftp Zen 1.0 in a PostScript version:
ftp.uu.net [137.39.1.9] directory /inet/doc
ftp.cs.toronto.edu [128.100.3.6] directory /pub/zen
ftp.cs.widener.edu [147.31.254.132] directory /pub/zen as zen-1.0.tar.Z,
zen-1.0.dvi, and zen-1.0.PS
ftp.sura.net [128.167.254.179] directory /pub/nic as zen-1.0.PS
It is also available to read on many Gopher servers.
Krol, Ed. (1992). The Whole Internet User's Guide & Catalog. Sebastopol,
CA: O'Reilly & Associates. Comprehensive guide to how the network
works, the domain name system, acceptable use, security, and other issues.
Chapters on telnet/remote login, File Transfer Protocol, and electronic
mail explain error messages, special situations, and other arcana. Archie,
Gopher, Net News, WAIS, WWW, and troubleshooting each enjoy a chapter in this
well-written book. Appendices contain info on how to get connected in
addition to a glossary. ISBN 1-56592-025-2. $24.95
LaQuey, Tracey, & Ryer, J.C. (1993). The Internet Companion: a
Beginner's Guide to Global Networking. Reading, MA: Addison-Wesley.
Beginning with a forewordby Vice-President Elect Al Gore, this book
provides an often-humorous explanation of the origins of the Internet,
acceptable use, basics of electronic mail, netiquette, online resources,
transferring information, and finding email addresses. The In the Know
guide provides background on Internet legends (Elvis sightings is one),
organizations, security issues, and how to get connected. Bibliography.
Index. ISBN 0-201-62224-6 $10.95
Marine, April. (1992). INTERNET: Getting Started.. Menlo Park, CA: SRI
International. This book has an international overview, and includes things
the others don't, such as an index to all the RFC's (Request for Comments),
Internet organizations, source information for the TCP/IP CD ROM, and
the answer to "who is in charge of the Internet?" (No one is. The Internet
is a cooperating group of independently administered networks. Some groups
set basic policy though.) ISBN 0-944604-15-3 $39.00
SRI
333 Ravenswood Ave.
Menlo Park, CA 94025
Tennant, Roy, Ober, J., & Lipow, A. G. (1993). Crossing the Internet
Threshold: An Instructional Handbook. Berkeley, CA: Library Solutions
Press. A cookbook to run your own Internet training sessions. Real- world
examples. Foreword by Cliff Lynch. ISBN: 1-882208-01-3 $45.00
Library Solutions Institute and Press
2137 Oregon Street Berkeley, CA 94705
510/841-2636 FAX: 510/841-2926
Magazine
Matrix News, the monthly newsletter edited by John S. Quarterman.
Subscriptions are $30 per year. for a paper edition, $25/yr for an online
edition. Matrix News, Matrix Information & Directory Services, Inc.
(MIDS)
1106 Clayton La.
Suite 500 W
Austin, TX 78746
512/329-1087 FAX: 512/327-1274
mids@tic.com
Organizations
CNI Coalition for Networked Information
1527 New Hampshire Ave., NW
Washington, DC 20036
202/232-2466 FAX: 202/462-7849
info@cni.org
CPSR Computer Professionals for Social Responsibility
PO Box 717
Palo Alto, CA 94302
415/322-3778 FAX: 415/322-3798
CPSR Newsletter, annual Computers, Freedom and Privacy Conference, poster
("Technology is driving the future-- it's time to find out who's steering.")
cpsr@clsi.stanford.edu
EFF The Electronic Frontier Foundation, Inc.
155 Second St.
Cambridge, MA 02141
617/864-1550 FAX: 617/864-0866
Publishes the EFFector in online and print editions. T-shirts,
bumper stickers ("I'd rather be telecommuting"; "ISDN: Make it so.";
"CYBERNAUT")
eff@eff.org
Internet Society
1895 Preston White Drive
Suite 100
Reston, VA 22091
703/620-8990, FAX 703/620-0913
Annual conference, quarterly Internet Society News.
isoc@nri.reston.va.us
=============================================
For more information about this article:
Jean Armour Polly
Manager of Network Development and User Training
NYSERNet, Inc.
111 College Place
Syracuse, NY 13244-4100
315/443-4120
FAX: 315/425-7518
jpolly@nysernet.org
=============================================
End of Project Gutenberg's Surfing the Internet, by Jean Armour Polly