******** ************************************************** * * * * * The independent guide to BITNET * * * * * * June, 1989 * * * * * * Volume 3, Number 10 * ******** * * * * *** * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * ** * * * * * * How 'bout them toad suckers, * * * ain't they bwag? * ****** * Settin' thar suckin them * * * green toady-frogs. * * * * * Suckin' them hop-toads, * ******** * Suckin' them chunkers, * * * Suckin' them leapy types, * * * Suckin' them clunkers. * * * * * * Lookit them toad-suckers, * * * ain't they snappy? * ******** * Suckin' them bog frogs * * sure makes 'em happy. * *** * * * * * There's hugger-mugger toad-suckers * * * * way down south, * * * * Stickin' them sucky-toads * *** * in they mouth. * * * ****** * How to be a toad-sucker, * * * no way to duck it, * * * Git yerself a toad, rare, ripe, * * * and suck it! * **** * * * -- A Folk Chant from the Ozarks * * * * * * * ****** * * * * * * * * * * ******** * * * * * * * * * * * **** ************************************************** 1 * * ****** ******* * * ***** * * ******* * * ** * * * ** ** * * ** * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * ***** * * * * * * * * * * ******* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * ** * * * * * * * ** * * * * * ****** * * * ***** * * * * * * * * * *********************** ******************************* Editor: Christopher Condon CONDON @ YALEVM ********************* Contents - Issue 31 ********************* ********* * *** * EDITORIAL PAGE____________________________________ * *** * * *** * Bitnotes ....................................... 1 *** *** Save UMNEWS! ................................... 3 * *** * Mythology of the Internet Virus ................ 5 * *** * * *** * ********* ********* * *** * FEATURES__________________________________________ * *** * * **** * Information on ONEnet .......................... 7 * ***** * Announcing VMSSERV ............................ 11 * ****** * Enhancements to the TeX Archive Server ........ 14 * *** *** * * *** **** ********* ********* * * DEPARTMENTS_______________________________________ * ***** * *** * Headlines ..................................... 16 * *** * New Mailing Lists ............................. 18 * *** * Helpdesk ...................................... 23 ***** * Feedback ...................................... 25 * * NetMonth Policies ............................. 27 ********* ****************** 4791 Subscribers Worldwide ****************** 1 Page 1 ********* * *** * Bitnotes * *** * * *** * by Christopher Condon *** *** * *** * Yale University * *** * * *** * CONDON@YALEVM ********* In a Rome laundry: Ladies, leave your clothes here and spend the afternoon having a good time. from "Anguished English" by Richard Lederer Well, after a rainy week the sun is shining again and I find myself in the Yale Computer Center. Why does the weather improve when I decide to spend a day working on NetMonth? No matter. Welcome to NetMonth for June. What happened to NetMonth for May and the new format? Let's just say that the people (and my schedule) have spoken. To coin a phrase, "If it's a little bit broke, you can live with it." So, I promise to continue to produce NetMonth in it's traditional format on a regular basis for as long as humanly possible. Enough said. *** Not counting mail delivery errors, I got almost 250 letters (email) last week. I have a lot to catch up on. I suppose that I should also handle the 50 or so left over from the week before. Most of these (thank goodness) are letter from mailing lists to which I subscribe. I can browse over them or log them away to delete unread at a later date. Luckily, the mail system we use lets me view the Subject: lines of all my mail items before I actually read anything. If I'm lucky I can cut my reading time in half by trashing the items in which I have no interest. Does everyone treat their mail this way? I think that I actually read maybe 25% of my mail, and actually reply to 5% (if that). It's a shame that we can't have mailing lists with filters to keep away mail in which we have no interest (or rather, scan for the items in which we DO). Nahhhh... 1 Page 2 Of course, there are still a few people out there under the impression that my userid is a server. Oh, the joys of one line mail messages that say HELP or SEND BITNET USERHELP. Depending on my mood I have several options: 1. Just send them the information they want. 2. Send then the information they want, along with my typical explanation that after years of study, the medical community has finally concluded that I am, in fact, human, and they would appreciate my being addressed as such, thank you. 3. Ignore them. They'll figure it out eventually. 4. Send them the explanation in option 2, only give them instructions on how they can get the information themselves. 5. Get their phone number and call them, offering any kind of assistance possible. After all, a plea for help is a plea for help. This is an especially attractive option if the letter is from a young woman with a cute name at a local University. This hasn't happened yet, but I'm waiting. Speaking of mail, let's hear it for the fact that Bitnews will now only post items that have something to do with BITNET. Amazing concept. I was getting tired of announcements about Supercomputing Symposiums in Italy. Mail, mail, mail... well, at least I don't get bills over the network (yet). Virtually, Chris Condon@YALEVM 1 Page 3 ********* * *** * Save UMNEWS! * *** * * *** * by Andrew T. Robinson *** *** * *** * University of Maine * *** * * *** * ANDY@MAINE ********* As you may or may not know, the funding for the UMNEWS project will be exhausted on 1 July 1989. The search for continued funding has been unsuccessful, and unless more funding is found, the UMNEWS server will be shutdown permanently on or about that date. My purpose in sending you this note is to encourage you to use your "voice" to appeal the fate of UMNEWS to the University of Maine administration. UMNEWS has been a BITNET institution (under various names, such as VMNEWS and CSNEWS) since August 1984. According to a recent survey performed by a person in Germany, out of 101 BITNET information servers, UMNEWS processes 100 times as many requests as any of the other servers. We have an active user base--over any 120-day period--of between 6000 and 8000 people. This success is not a fluke. It is a result of the fact that UMNEWS has always been more responsive to the BITNET user community than any other server system. The University of Maine administration needs to be made aware that UMNEWS is worth funding. At the current time, I think most of the administrators who *are* aware of UMNEWS feel that it is a novelty, but not worth spending the money necessary to retain the motivated people who have developed and worked with it. If we could get enough letters of support, the administration might see things differently. Unfortunately, even with thousands of users it is difficult to get even 1% to respond to a letter drive. We need more than 1%. We need every UMNEWS user to write a letter to the University of Maine administration, telling them that UMNEWS is a worthwhile service and deserves funding. Don't be apathetic. Don't just purge this mail and go on to the next one. WRITE, today. It might take 30 minutes to write an intelligent, articulate letter that might change the fate of the UMNEWS server. The address to write to is: 1 Page 4 Dale W. Lick President's Office University of Maine Orono, ME USA 04469 If you do choose to write, please send electronic mail to ANDY@MAINE so we can keep track of how many letters have been sent. I really do not relish sending this "letter drive" sort of thing to you. I know how often I get junk mail asking me to save one thing or another that I really don't care about. But I'm hoping that most of the people who will receive this letter will not consider it junk mail. I hope you take the time to write now, because we have less than five weeks before UMNEWS is shut down -- and then it will be too late. * Ed. Note: Andy Robinson is the Computer Information Services Manager of the University of Maine Computer Science Department. 1 Page 5 ********* * *** * Mythology of the Internet Virus * *** * * *** * by Ivars Balkits *** *** * *** * University of California - Davis * *** * * *** * ISBALKITS@UCDAVIS ********* Mythology of the Internet Virus In regard to the BITNET/CSNET Joint Statement on Internet Virus mentioned in Netmonth 3:9, I share the shock at public comments about the event that seemed to praise the perpetrator of this costly crime: * Robert Tappan Morris, Jr., alleged author of the virus, was compared (by friend Paul Graham, computer scientist at Harvard) to Mathias Rust, the West German who flew his light plane through Soviet defenses into Moscow's Red Square a year or so ago. * SRI International security expert Paul Neumann called Morris a "folk hero" for bringing to national attention the vulnerability of its computers. * Morris, Sr., chief scientist at the National Computer Security Center in Bethesda, MD., called his son's alleged action "the work of a bored graduate student." That this may have been the expression of post-adolescent rebellion cannot be taken into consideration in judging this criminal act. Nor should the fact that his father is national computer security expert (likely with powerful central connections). Nor should the fact that his act alerted computer security experts to weaknesses in the system (we really don't need those reminders, just more people working on that problem). Nor should any comment comparing the Internet virus author to Davy Crockett, Paul Bunyan, whatever, go unchallenged. Likewise, we should be aware and protest whenever any virus writer is depicted as a technical wizard, a Doctor Frankenstein whose 'genius' gives us a secret thrill, whose lawlessness challenges us. We should make it clear in letters to editors of local and national newspapers (and other media) that emotionally-atrophied individuals who have lost touch with a common ethic and common sense deserve no praise. 1 Page 6 Once we begin demystifying the criminal hacker, we stop contributing to the myth that these persons are 'special.' Instead of killing their viruses, we do better to concentrate on killing their desire to become famous or infamous, as the case may be. 1 Page 7 ********* * *** * Information on ONEnet * *** * * **** * from the NETINFO Filelist * ***** * * ****** * Network Information Center * *** *** * * *** **** LISTSERV@BITNIC ********* * BITNET-CSNET Merger Timetable (Note that events have overtaken the timetable in some cases.) MARCH 1989: 1. UCAR President appoints five (5) people to serve as board members of ONEnet until the first official election. APRIL 5/6 TT MEETING: 1. Update on the process to select the official name for ONEnet (to be called ONEnet until an official name is selected). 2. Review latest draft of bylaws and agree before requesting review by an attorney. 3. Recommendations for a legal firm. 4. Outline of policy manual and time table to complete. 5. Quote for officers and directors insurance. 6. Options for state of incorporation. 7. Discussion of managerial organization. 8. Draft agenda for first ONEnet board meeting. 9. Transition plan and budget (to Jan 90). 10. Outline of business plan and budget for FY 90 (Jan 90- June 90) and FY 91 (July 90 - June 91). 11. Agenda for this meeting sent over network prior to meeting. 1 Page 8 APRIL/MAY: 1. Review of bylaws by attorney. JUNE TT MEETING: 1. Agree on new name to recommend to ONEnet board. 2. Finalize agenda for first ONEnet board meeting. 3. Acceptance of bylaws as revised by attorney and approve recommendation to ONEnet board. 4. Agree on he managerial function for recommendation to the ONEnet board. 5. Review draft Articles of Incorporation. 6. Review draft of business plan and budget for FY 90 and FY 91. JUNE BITNET BOARD MEETING: 1. Approval, in concept, of ONEnet bylaws. 2. BITNET Board appoints five (5) people to serve as board members of ONEnet until the first official election. JUNE ONENET BOARD MEETING: TT presentations and recommendations: 1. New name for ONEnet. 2. Officers and directors insurance. 3. Bylaws. 4. Prime contractor. 5. Transition plan to Jan 90. 6. Business strategy plan for FY 90 & 91. 7. Draft Articles of Incorporation. 8. Legal firm. 9. Filing for tax-exempt status. Board actions to include: 1. Election of officers. 2. Appointment of long-term committee for development of hardware/software/services. 3. Action on TT recommendations (above). 1 Page 9 JULY UCAR BOARD MEETING: 1. Approval, in concept, of ONEnet bylaws. JULY: 1. Filing for incorporation in state selected by the ONEnet board. 2. Filing with IRS for non-profit status. SEPTEMBER ONENET BOARD MEETING: 1. Approval to implement the merger. SEPTEMBER BITNET BOARD MEETING: 1. Approval to implement the merger. OCTOBER UCAR BOARD MEETING: 1. Approval to implement the merger. OCTOBER/NOVEMBER: 1. Assignment of contracts and licenses of CSNET and BITNET. JANUARY 1990: 1. Transfer of all assets and liabilities of CSNET and BITnet to ONEnet, except for a small amount of cash to be maintained by UCAR and BITnet to insure that all obligations are met. The unused cash will be transferred to ONEnet by March 1990. * BITNET-CSNET Estimated Costs of Transition CONSULTANTS' FEES (GFA) Initial report $35,762 BITNET summary (cost not shared) $4,693 1 Page 10 MEETINGS, estimated at $1,000 per person travelling for no other reason; includes travel, lodging, food, meeting room December '88 at BBN and ... January '89 in SF 17,000 February '89 in Palo Alto 7,000 April '89 5,000 June-July Board & 1 other 20,000 LEGAL FEES Bylaws, Incorporation, Tax-exempt 6,000 TRANSFER OF ASSETS 2,000 (Need BITNET & CSNET audits -- paid from their individual assets, not included as separate transition costs). NOTE: Staff time is folded into existing expenses of the individual networks --------- ---------- SHARED COSTS $92,762 BITNET-Only Cost $4,693 * Rather than printer the entire draft of the ONEnet bylaws, I will print an excerpt here and you can decide if you want to wallow in the legalese. The entire file is available from LISTSERV@BITNIC if you send it the command SENDME ONENET BYLAWS. The better parts: "ONEnet is a not-for-profit membership corporation chartered by its Member institutions to provide national and international data-communication and related services in support of teaching, research, development, and related collaborative activities of the academic community and of the government and industrial research communities. The primary purpose of ONEnet is to provide computer-based communication among scholars and researchers throughout the world." The not-so-great parts: "In the appropriate cases, the singular shall be deemed to include the plural, the plural the singular, the feminine gender the masculine, and the masculine gender the feminine, as the sense of their use shall herein require." 1 Page 11 ********* * *** * Announcing VMSSERV * *** * * **** * by Joe Meadows * ***** * * ****** * Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center * *** *** * * *** **** JOE@FHCRCVAX ********* VMSSERV@FHCRCVAX is a file server at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center storing many files and utilities of interest to users of Digital VAX systems. The user communicates with VMSSERV using a small vocabulary of commands. These commands can be sent to VMSSERV either as interactive messages or as electronic mail. Commands sent via mail are included in the body of the memo, not in the Subject: line. A memo may contain more than one command as long as there is only one command per line. * Commands VMSSERV currently understands the following commands which may be abbreviated to the upper case portion in this list: DIRectory Õfile-specå Return a list of files available GET Õfile-specå Synonym for SENDME HELP Return a list of valid commands INDex Õfile-specå Return a FILELIST SENdme Õfile-specå Return a file STATUS Return status information VMSdump Õfile-specå Return a file in VMSDUMP format. PUNch Õfile-specå Return a file in IBM Punch format ? Synonym for HELP Please note that VMSDUMP and PUNCH within the body of a mail message will not send the file in VMSDUMP or PUNCH format, the file will be mailed back. 1 Page 12 * Transferring Binary Files You can transfer binary files (.EXE, .TSK, .SAV) to a remote system only if you are running Jnet V2 or later system. These files must be transferred with the VMSDUMP command. VMSDUMP is recommended for all requests from Jnet nodes as it protects you from any non-standard character set conversion. * VMS File Specifications Filenames on DEC systems use a DOT ('.') to separate the filename from the filetype. For example, SEND FILE PACKAGE Is INCORRECT SEND FILE.PACKAGE Is CORRECT * Large Files Files larger than 200 blocks will not be sent until after 20:00 PST * $PACKAGE files Files with the type of .$PACKAGE simply contain a list of files that belong together (i.e. part of acomplete package). If you request the file Utility.PACKAGE, the file Utility.$PACKAGE will be read, and all the files it describes will be sent to you. Note that there is not really a file called Utility.PACKAGE, however that is what you should request! For example, part of a DIR listing includes something like: HEADERS.$PACKAGE HEADERS.1_OF_2 HEADERS.2_OF_2 If you request HEADERS.PACKAGE, the file HEADERS.$PACKAGE will be read (which simply contains the names of the HEADER.n_OF_n files), and the two files HEADERS.n_OF_n will be sent to you. * Some of the more interesting $PACKAGEs: BITNET: This package contains two short programs. GRAB is an example program that captures broadcast messages and simply outputs them to a file pointed to by the logical SYS$OUTPUT. LPUNCH is a program that converts files in listserv punch format. It accepts a list of wildcarded filenames, and converts the files that are in lpunch format. HEADERS: This contains various headers used by the utilities. These files were all made with UNSDL, so if you have UNSDL, you 1 Page 13 don't really need this. Note that the other utilities look for these header files via the logical name UTIL$HEADER. FILE: This is a utility which allows you to display and or change header information about a file. It is most usefull when you have somehow transferred a file from a non-VAX/VMS system to a VAX/VMS system (or vice versa), and you need to change characteristics of the file, such as changing the record size, or putting fortran carriage control back on a file. This utility does not create a new version of a file, it changes the information stored in the file header, making it quite fast. A good knowledge of RMS is usefull (necessary) when using this tool. Requires headers from HEADERS. FIND: This allows you to search very quickly through the file system for files based on a wide variety of criteria. By mapping the index file into memory it performs The Fastest searches of any utility like it. Basically you can search based on any attribute found in the file header (creation date, amount of fragmentation, logical block numbers, whatever), given a minimum and maximum value. You can perform AND or OR searches on multiple criteria. You can also control what information will be displayed about the file. Requires headers from HEADERS. MENU: This is a simple single column or free flow menu program. It has quite a few nice features, including hidden commands, ability to force commands, ability to add new internal commands, plus many others. SD: This is a simple SET DEFAULT. One feature this has that most others don't is the ability to specify a wildcarded filespec and it will find the file and move to the directory where the (first matching) filespec is found. STATUS: This is a fancy cluster/network wide SHOW USERS type of program. You can specify what you want to see, and how you want to see it. It can display any GETJPI item, several GETSYI items, plus several other things. You can select which processes you want displayed. It is also very easily modified. If you do make modifications, I would be happy to try and add them to this distribution in the future. Requires headers from HEADERS. VERB: This is a utility to make it possible to modify (or simply look at) command definitions. 1 Page 14 ********* * *** * Enhancements to the TeX Archive Server * *** * * **** * by Michael DeCorte * ***** * * ****** * Clarkson University * *** *** * * *** **** MRD@SUN.SOE.CLARKSON.EDU ********* The archive server here at Clarkson has undergone a lot of changes in the past few months. It is finally stable but still changing. Briefly, most of the files that are stored at Score are now also at Clarkson and updated very often. Also everything that was in the latex-style depository has been classified into more appropriate groups. Below is a list of all of the groups and a brief description of each. amstex The AMSTeX macros that are at score amstex-style contributed style files for AMSTeX bibtex The .web, documentation and styles from Leslie Lamport that are at score bibtex-style contributed style files for BibTeX version 0.99 bibtex-style-0.98 contributed style files for BibTeX version 0.98 cm-fonts The .mf sources for the cm fonts that are at score lamport style files and .mf files by Leslie Lamport that are at score latex-style contributed style files for LaTeX tex-doc manuals and documentation on TeX and MF that are at score tex-fonts contributed mf fonts tex-inputs the .tex files needed to build TeX that are at score tex-programs contributed useful program for TeX tex-sources The .web files for TeX that are at score tex-style contributed style files for TeX tex-test .web files to test TeX that are at score texhax Collection of TeXhax's by Pierre MacKay (Malcolm Brown) texmag Collection of TeXMaG's by Don Hosek tugboat files from TugBoat that are at score uktex Collection of UKTeX's by Peter Abbott Instead of listing all of the files that are being stored I encourage you to get an Index as it changes frequently and the Index of Indexes itself changes often enough. 1 Page 15 To retrieve files or help documentation send mail to ARCHIVE- SERVER@SUN.SOE.CLARKSON.EDU with the body of the mail message containing the command help or index or send. The send command must be followed by latex-style (or the appropriate group) and then the files you want. To: archive-server@sun.soe.clarkson.edu Subject: path user@host.UUCP send latex-style Readme Index send latex-style resume.sty There is one limitation that you must be aware of, the archive- server will not send files more than 100k. That means that you can not request large files such as tex.web and that if you request a large number of files in one message it may be rejected because the sum is greater than 100k. * Editors note: Thanks to Don Hosek for sending this article along. 1 Page 16 ********* * * Headlines * ***** * *** * edited by Christopher Condon * *** * * *** * Yale University ***** * * * Send your headlines to BITLIB@YALEVM. ********* * Due to copyright problems, they Lyrics server is no longer available. Thanks to Penny Ward for this update. * A KERMIT Filelist: LISTSERV at HEARN stores a copy of all the files from KERMSRV@CUVMA. On every sunday morning obsolete or changed files are replaced by the new versions. Users in Europe should use this server in order to relief intercontinental traffic. Commands should be send to LISTSERV@HEARN. For a list of files, send the command INDEX KERMIT. * The Alaskan Oil Spill: The University of Alaska Computer Network has set up a special account so that the volunteers working to help clean up the Prince William Sound oil spill can receive electronic messages of thanks. Mail sent to THANKS@ALASKA is sent to the volunteers, and is reportedly helping keep their spirits up amidst the muck. Feel free to post this up in your labs, to other lists or wherever. THANKS is handled by a part-time instructor at Prince William Sound Community College. None of the people there are employed by the oil companies; they are doing this for free. So, DO NOT flame THANKS about the situation. (Jonathan Clemens, University of Alaska Southeast) Thanks to Sylvia Jacyno for forwarding this note. * JBH Online becomes Online-L: JBH Online (ISSN 0896-8241) is a digest of selected English-language news and information from outside the USA monitored by shortwave radio in South Bend, Indiana (41 40'33"N, 86 15'01"W). It occasionally includes supplemental specialized information from other sources as well. Mailed directly to reader/subscribers from its inception in November 1987 until February 1989, JBH Online is now distributed as Online-L through the ListServ utilities at various institutions listed below. To subscribe, send the following command to LISTSERV@IRLEARN via mail or message: SUB ONLINE-L you_full_name. 1 Page 17 * BITNIC Staff Changes (from Jim Conklin): The BITNET Network Information Center is undergoing major staff changes as a result of its move from Princeton, New Jersey to Washington, D.C. The first of these changes occurred on April 28, as we bid a fond adieu to Elizabeth Kilcoyne, Isabel Sellers, and Pat Noeth. Their dedication and enthusiasm have been vital to the BITNIC's monthly preparation of the node information required for routing-table generation and for updating the many reference files maintained by the BITNIC; also to distribution of materials to prospective and new BITNET members, maintenance and improvement of BITNET documentation, and answering the thousands of questions received each month by the BITNIC. We wish Elizabeth, Isabel and Pat the very best as they move to new opportunities. In the D.C. office, we are fortunate to have located two very highly qualified people to fill the first positions there. Amanda Spiegel joined BITNIC in February, as its Executive Assistant, responsible for most of the office management and operational aspects of BITNIC. She has been organizing the office, including its budgetary and financial activities and its Director. She has also been leaning the monthly procedures for handling node data, routing-table generation, file updates, and message distribution. Amanda comes to the BITNIC with academic, BITNET, and computer experience gained in the Cornell Department of Astronomy, and supplemented by office management experience with law firms in Baltimore and D.C. Responsibility for BITNIC software development and support will be assumed by Michael Hrybyk, who has accepted the position of Senior Programmer-Analyst and Network Consultant effective May 15. Prior to his present position with a D.C. consulting firm, Michael had been the BITNET Technical Representative at Johns Hopkins University where he managed both the academic computing services and the local-area network. In addition to his knowledge of BITNET, Michael is experienced in VM/CMS, VMS, and Unix, in the SMTP and RFC822 mail protocols, and in TCP/IP. While at Johns Hopkins, he modified UREP and mmdf to run on AT&T System V Unix systems. We are still in the process of selecting the less senior staff for the new D.C. BITNIC office. We are confident that the time and care spent in selecting such top-notch staff as Amanda and Michael will prove to be best for BITNET and all of you who use it. Thanks in advance for your help and understanding during the transition. 1 Page 18 ********* * * New Mailing Lists * ***** * *** * from NEW-LIST * *** * * *** * North Dakota State University ***** * * * Send list announcements to NEW-LIST@NDSUVM1 ********* Each of the lists described here is maintained on a LISTSERV machine unless otherwise noted. To subscribe to one of these lists you would send the following command to the the appropriate server via mail or message. SUBSCRIBE listname Your_full_name For example, if your name is Kristen Shaw and you want to subscribe to a list described as "DIAPERS@YALEVM" you would send the following command to LISTSERV@YALEVM: SUBSCRIBE DAIPERS Kristen Shaw To make contributions to the list you would send mail to DIAPERS@YALEVM. Please note that this is just and example and to my knowledge there are no mailing lists about diapers (although you never know). ***** GAELIC-L @ IRLEARN An open, multi-disciplinary discussion list set up to facilitate exchange of news, views, information in Irish/Scots Gaelic. Ta/ se/ fosgailte do achan duine teachtaireacht a chur isteach chuig an liosta, ach i/ a bheith i nGaeilge na hE/ireann no/ i nGai\dhlig na hAlban. Ni/ ga/ imni/ a bheith ort ma/ ta/ do chuid Gaeilge lapach. Cuirfear fa/ilte roimh do theachtaireacht cibe/ ar bith. APL-L @ UNB This list is intended for a discussion of the APL language, its implementation, application and use. Contributions on teaching APL are particularly welcome. 1 Page 19 CANDLE-L @ UA1VM A forum for the discussion of Candle products. Topics could include installation, performance monitoring, or any other subject related to the use of Candle products on VM or MVS. These products include OMEGAMON, EPILOG, AF/REMOTE, CL/CONFERENCE 1000, CL/GATEWAY, CL/MENU, CL/SUPERSESSION and any other future products. SWAPS-L @ TECMTYVM New foreign debt restructuring in indebted countries such as Mexico, Argentina, Brazil, Philipines, etc. is changing its philosophy. Different instruments have been proposed, ranging from debt-to-equity swaps, to exit bonds, etc. The topic has been discussed and some countries, such as Mexico, have been negotiating new conditions and criticizing debt-to-equity swaps. This discussion list will include opinions and proposals from members of the group. FUSION @ NDSUVM1 The Fusion list is a BITNET/NetNorth/EARN Redistribution list for the "alt.fusion" group of usenet news and the fusion@zorch.uucp mailing list. The list is for discussion of nuclear fusion. It is relayed from the original list. Submissions to the Fusion list should be sent to fusion@zorch.uucp (fusion%zorch@uunet.uu.net). NAC @ NDSUVM1 The "NAC" list is a BITNET/NetNorth/EARN Redistribution list for the "News.Announce.Conferences" group of Usenet News. The group is used to post calls for papers and conference announcements. Contributions should be submitted to news- announce-conferences@mcmi.uucp. EMUSIC-L @ AUVM EMUSIC-D @ AUVM EMUSIC is a complementary pair of lists, EMUSIC-L and EMUSIC-D, both devoted to the discussion of Electronic Music. The intent of the lists is to provide as open a forum as possible, while allowing the subscriber to actively choose the degree of participation, based on particular interests in any attendant sub-topic. The list EMUSIC-L is organized as an open conversation, with all input immediately distributed to the subscribers. Discussions on this list change rapidly, can be brief or long- winded, and range from aesthetics to technology. 1 Page 20 The list EMUSIC-D is a digest, and tends more toward a question and answer format. At times, if a topic seems to be likely to spin off from the main threads of discussion, the editor will recommend that it be transferred to the conversational list. In no case is dual subscription necessary. All input to EMUSIC-D is passed directly to EMUSIC-L, and relevant information generated there is edited into the digest. Both lists are actively monitored and moderated. BIOSPH-L @ UBVM This list replaces the now defunct list OZONE@ICNUCEVM. The new name reflects better the topics discussed. Anything relating to the BioSphere, pollution, CO-2 effect, ecology, habitats, climate etc etc can be discussed. Basically anything that exerts an influence of some kind or another on the BioSphere. ANU-NEWS @ NDSUVM1 A discussion for administrators and users of the ANU-NEWS software for VAX/VMS systems. ANU-NEWS is a software system that allows VMS systems to act as Usenet nodes. Topics include bugs, fixes, integrating lists from other networks, and discussion of new features. Although the list is primarily for communication among ANU-NEWS administrators, users are also welcome. OS-2 @ BLEKUL11 The purpose of the hereafter presented discussion forum is to gain information on, extend the knowledge about, and increase the insight in the fundamentals of The IBM/Microsoft OS/2 Operating System for Personal Computers. To avoid noise, to keep this list interesting, OS-2 will be moderated by editors, with messages from participants being blocked in newsletters. Seperate parts for answers on previous questions and new unanswered questions will be achieved through editing. The only language supported will be english. ALLMUSIC @ AUVM This list is dedicated to the discussion of all forms of music, in all its aspects. Its founding is based on the understanding that most people who listen to and enjoy music do so from a variety of standpoints, and that a general, unlimited forum is desirable for both the integration and expansion of musical ideas, techniques, and understanding. Therefore, all topics 1 Page 21 having to do with music are welcome, including but not limited to: composition, performance, recording; research, critique, inquiry, advocacy; instrument design, ethnomusicology, psychacoustics, orchestration; jazz, classical, funk, plainchant; and anything else you can think of. If a topic is running that you have something to say about, or to question, jump in. If you have something entirely different in mind, start up another thread. Music is universal. With the advent of electronic communication, so are we. EDTECH @ OHSTVMA This list was conceived to bring together students, faculty, and "interested others" in the field of Educational Technology to share ideas and information, to explore articles, books, and presentations you've found interesting. To share information about course offerings and Educational Technology graduate program requirements, notable educational hardware and software, current dissertations, and research projects in Educational Technology. YACHT-L @ GREARN A new list has been created at GREARN. Its the YACHT-L, the Yachting, Sailing, Design and amateur BoatBuilding list. This list offers to the pepole that are interested in the above subjects a way to communicate. Discussions about, new yachts, designs, construction techniques, races etc are welcome. BRS-L @ USCVM BRS/Search is a full-text retrieval system which runs on platforms including MS-DOS, XENIX, BSD 4.3 and AT&T System V UNIX, IBM VM/CMS and MVS/CICS, and Data General MV series machines. LITERARY @ UCF1VM LITERARY is a list for any lover of literature. Discussions will include favorite authors, favorite works, literary styles, criticisms, etc. (in fact, basically anything you can think of regarding literature, unless postings become too numerous). Postings from scholars as well as interested parties are welcome. BIOMED-L @ NDSUVM1 BIOMED-L is a discussion list on the topic of BIOMEDICAL ETHICS. Since the field of medicine and medical technology are rapidly changing and the field is so broad, it is difficult to 1 Page 22 have clearly delineated rules as to what should and should not be discussed, but possible topics, for starters, might include: Paternalism Fetal Cell Transplant The Right to Die AIDS Suicide Patient Autonomy Abortion Drug Legalization Euthanasia Respirator Withdrawal Transplants Allocation of scarce resources and many, many others too numerous to list here. The discussions may be ethical, philosophical, religious, political, social or even, in some cases, personal. Open discussion, disagreement and dissent is encouraged. Open flames are most certainly *not*. AMNESTY @ JHUVM This list distributes Amnesty International's urgent action appeals, usually one per month. They are 1 or 2-page summaries of a specific case of human rights abuse, such as a small group of people who have been arrested wihtout reason, or are being held secretly, or tortured, etc. They give the prisoners' names, why they were arrested, who to write to, and what they suggest you say. Amnesty International is concerned with human rights, not just amnesty. Sometimes they ask members to write letters requesting not freedom, but better or more just treatment. You don't have to be a member of or endorse Amnesty International to receive this list. Additional discussion or info from other organizations may be distributed. 1 Page 23 ********* * * Helpdesk - a question and answer column * ***** * *** * feeble attempts at answers by Christopher Condon * *** * * *** * Yale University ***** * * * Send your questions to BITLIB@YALEVM ********* *Q* I read your article in the March issue of the APA newsletter on computer use with great interest as I am a new user of BITNET. Thanks for the explanation of the node names in some addresses--this was a mystery to me! Perhaps you can answer a question: our VM system has a NAMES command in which I can store addresses of my correspondents. But the space for the node only allows for seven characters and I can't figure out how to put in longer addresses to other gateways. Is this possible or do I just have to type them? - Mort Winston *A* There is an exec for VM named LNAME which works like NAMES but will handle longer addresses. It is available from any of the NETSERV file servers. For a list of the LNAME files you can send the command SENDME PROGRAMS FILELIST to one of those servers. *Q* Hi. I am a student at Southwest Texas State University in San Marcos, Texas. I am just learning about the vax, and just got a copy of something you sent out covering the various way's of communication. What I was wondering is, first, is there any way to log in somehow at someother school for cases like reading their bulletin board. Ours here is filled with just about anything you would want to read, but thought it would be neat to see what other schools have on theirs. - Kent Meredith *A* You can't look at bulletin boards on other people's systems per se, but some servers (for example UMNEWS and VMBBOARD) include local and public bulletin boards to which you can add comments or browse. 1 Page 24 *Q* Could anyone tell me, if it is possible, how to contact directly from BitNet somebody on the AppleLink network. I was looking for a gateway, but never found one. - Willy Trappeniers *A* This is bound to come up now and then because it's SOooo non-standard. The "official" gateway for BITNET is to: Send email to: XB.DAS@STANFORD Subject: user@APPLELINK Weird huh?! (but it DOES work). user%Applelink@Apple.COM will work, but it's a violation of proper administrative procedure. Given the oddball nature of the DASNET gateway, it's hard to be sympathetic about administrative rules. The DASNET gateway was introduced as an "experiment" (I wonder if anyone plans to draw any conclusions about its utility) before Apple was granted an Internet connection. - Murph Sewall (Thanks to Willy for submitting this question/answer) 1 Page 25 ********* * * Feedback - a Letters column * ***** * *** * edited by Christopher Condon * *** * * *** * Yale University ***** * * * Send your letters to BITLIB@YALEVM ********* From: Greg Jackson Subject: NetMonth 31.0 I like it -- and especially that the sucker turns up as mail, instead of a file. Pieces one by one as mail would be EXCELLENT, to coin an adjective. From: Steve Cavrak Subject: NetMonth 31.0 PLEASE turn off the right justification on the news letter. It was bad enough having to deal with it once a month, but now getting it nearly every day ! From: Hank Radwanski Subjetc: NetMonth in pieces I, for one, DO NOT like the idea of getting NetMonth in lots of little pieces. I have unsub'd from the NetMonth list. From: Thomas Permutt Subject: NetMonth 31.0 No, I don't like it. The thing is, I get lots of mail from lots of people about lots of things. To have, once a month, one big NetMonth which I can print out and read at leisure is a good thing. To have, every few days, an article about net- something mixed in with my other mail will, I predict, be so annoying that I will sign off. Please reconsider. I suppose I could achieve the effect I want by signing off the list but signing up for automatic distribution of the archive file. I'm not sure I know how to do that, and I am sure there are others like me who don't. If you do keep the new scheme, maybe you could put out an article about this possibility. NetMonth has a special identity, distinct from all the other Bitnet junk-mail lists. It is, after all, NetMONTH, and not NET-L. Don't you want to keep it that way? 1 Page 26 From: Theresa F.M. Muir Subject: NetMonth 31.0 We miss the frog!!!! From: Morris Bennett Altman Subject: NetMonth 31.0 Stop sending me this! From: Elsa Henderson Subject: NetMonth logistics -- advice needed I was interested to hear of the new scheme for distributing NetMonth. It will complicate our lives here at RLG but we will cope. Here at RLG, we print off one copy in paper form and circulate it to interested staff via an internal routing list. We also archive each month's copy on-line for a few months. Under the new system, we plan to wait until the end of each month and then obtain a copy of the full month's complete file (e.g., NETMONTH 1989MAY) for circulating and archiving here. It would be counter-productive and involve a great deal of needless overhead to circulate and archive each piece as it comes to us throughout the month. So, as I said, we will cope with your new scheme but don't promise to love it. I do have one question, however: Where, precisely, will we obtain the archived file from? I'm going to write up a little program to send for the file automagically each month and thus need to know where it will live. Will it be NETSERV@bitnic or NETSERV@my-closest-netserv or someplace else? I'm assuming I'll issue a "GET filename filetype" command -- is that right? Help! From: Natalie Maynor Subject: Excellent Idea My one little voice down here in Mississippi wants to say that your idea of breaking up NETMONTH into small segments is excellent. I had considered unsubscribing because I rarely made it through the long files. Now I'm looking forward to receiving its bits and pieces. Thanks! From: Joel Spolsky Subject: NetMonth How do I unsubscribe to NetMonth? 1 Page 27 ********* * * NetMonth Policies * ***** * *** * Everything you ever wanted to know... * *** * * *** * ...but were afraid to ask. ***** * * * BITLIB@YALEVM ********* NetMonth is a network service publication distributed free of charge to students and professionals in BITNET and other networks. This magazine and its companion file, BITNET SERVERS, are the work of the BITNET Services Library (BSL) staff and contributors from around the network. BITNET SERVERS is BITNETs list of servers and services. If you know of servers not listed in BITNET SERVERS, or if some listed are no longer available, please contact the NetMonth Editor. * Subscribing to NetMonth and BITNET SERVERS: Send the following command to LISTSERV@MARIST by mail or messgage: SUBSCRIBE NETMONTH Your_full_name A subscriber can delete him/herself from the mailing list by sending LISTSERV@MARIST the command: UNSUB NETMONTH Internet users may use these methods, but must address the mail to LISTSERV@MARIST.BITNET * Back issues: BITNET users may get NetMonth back issues from the file server LISTSERV@CMUCCVMA. For a list of files, send the server the the command: INDEX NETMONTH * Letters to the Editor: If you have questions or comments about BITNET or NetMonth that you would like to see printed here, mail your letter to BITLIB@YALEVM. Make sure that you specify in the "Subject:" header or somewhere in the letter that it is for the NetMonth letters column. 1 Page 28 * Article Submissions: The only requirements for NetMonth articles and columns are that they be informative, interesting, and concern some BITNET-related topic. Send your articles and to BITLIB@YALEVM. * Printing this file: VM users can print this file by using the "( CC" option of the PRINT command. VAX/VMS users should RECEIVE NetMonth with a format of FORTRAN. John McMahon of the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center has written a program or VAX/VMS users which changes Fortran form feeds in an issue of NETMONTH to ASCII form feeds. This allows a user on a VAX/VMS system to RECEIVE a copy of NETMONTH, reformat it using this procedure, and print it using the standard VMS PRINT command. The program is internally documented, and you can get a copy by sending the following command to LISTSERV@CMUCCVMA or MARIST: SENDME NETMONTH COM _ __- __--- The __----- BITNET __------- Services ___________ Library "Because We're Here." ***************************************************************