******** ************************************************** * * * * * The independent guide to BITNET * * * * * * September, 1990 * * * * * * Volume 4, Number 5 * ******** * * * * *** * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * ** * * * * * * * * * * ****** * * * * ************* * * * ************************ * * ********* *********** * ******** * ***** ********** * * * *** ********* * * * ** ********* * * * * ******** * * * * ******* * * * * ***** * ******** * **** * * * *** * * *** * ** * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *** * * * * * * * ****** * * * * * * * * * * * * * **** * * * * * * * * * * ****** * * * * * * * * * * ******** * * * * * * * * * * * **** ************************************************** 1 * * ****** ******* * * ***** * * ******* * * ** * * * ** ** * * ** * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * ***** * * * * * * * * * * ******* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * ** * * * * * * * ** * * * * * ****** * * * ***** * * * * * * * * * *********************** ******************************* Editor .................... Christopher Condon, CONDON @ YALEVM ********************* Contents - Issue 36 ********************* ********* * *** * EDITORIAL PAGE____________________________________ * *** * * *** * Bitnotes ........................................1 *** *** Running a Mailing List ..........................3 * *** * Getting an ISSN for an Electronic Journal .......5 * *** * * *** * ********* ********* * *** * FEATURES__________________________________________ * *** * * **** * The Netnews Service .............................7 * ***** * MAILSERV - A List Server for the VAX ............8 * ****** * Postmodern Culture ............................ 10 * *** *** * * *** **** ********* ********* * * DEPARTMENTS_______________________________________ * ***** * *** * Headlines ..................................... 12 * *** * New Mailing Lists ............................. 14 * *** * Policies ...................................... 20 ***** * * * ********* ********************** Subscribers: 7044 *********************** 1 Page 1 ********* * *** * Bitnotes * *** * * *** * by Christopher Condon *** *** * *** * Yale University * *** * * *** * CONDON@YALEVM ********* "Where is NetMonth?" It's a good question and it probably deserves a good answer, especially because so many people have asked it in the past few months. Unfortunately, the answer entails a long and drawn out tale of woe, and I hate long and drawn out tales of woe. (Well, I hate *writing* them, at least... I'm sure that you hate reading them.) In deference to your patience (and mine) here is the Reader's Digest condensed version: I had Telenet dial-in access to Yale so I could work on NetMonth from home, since YCC is quite a drive and a long- distance call away. Yale stopped paying for Telenet access, citing the work I do being more for for the benefit of the network (translation: money is tight, we can't afford you). I ask the BITNIC if they will pay. In November they say yes! In February there is still no Telenet access, but I know that shuffling beans back and forth takes time, so I do NetMonth. In June, YCC and the BITNIC get their ducks in order and lo! I have Telenet access. In the meantime, there have been no issues since February. Well, it's back, though it took me two months to get this issue together (I won't tell you the tale of woe of why it took me so long -- just chalk it up to the unpaid overtime I've been putting in on my day job... but *I* won't complain.. not me...) All of this said, I'm glad to be back, albeit not quite in the thick of things (yet). The next big news is that I'm going to make yet another attempt at changing the NetMonth format (oh no!). There are two major problems with the magazine that must be addressed if you are going to get issues quickly: 1. The magazine is too big and unwieldy to produce in a reasonable period of time, at least the time I have. 2. The magazine is too big and unwieldy to send across the network in a reasonable period of time. 1 Page 2 NetMonth distributions can (and have) clogged up the network for days on end. Even with LISTSERV, distributing files of this size to 7000 people is not trivial. For starters I am going to cut down on the bulk in NetMonth. In the future we may try some alternate distribution scheme (one copy per node to be posted online, etc.) but I am not confident that the issues would make it to everyone under those circumstances. I know that you like the current format, but it doesn't do you any good if the issues don't get to you, or arrive garbled. The new NetMonth will be largely succinct and to-the-point, with somewhat less commentary than before. This isn't so say that we won't have fun with it, though. Funny or not (usually not) there will still be some level of humor. In the meantime, enjoy the last *big* issue of NetMonth. I'll see you next month. Really. I will. Trust me. Virtually, Chris Condon@YaleVM 1 Page 3 ********* * *** * Running a Mailing List * *** * * *** * by H. Alan Montgomery *** *** * *** * Texas A & M University * *** * * *** * FHD@TAMCBA ********* I run two lists called SEDSNEWS (which covers news about the space program here and abroad and occasionally private space projects) and SEDS-L (which handles club communications for SEDS). Initially I was joyful every time someone signed on. I would look up the node of each new subscriber using BITNAMES and find where it was and something about it. I would be crushed every time someone would sign off. SEDSNEWS was supposed to cater to Students for Exploration and Develoment of Space (SEDS) which is an international organization with a good reputation. Somehow it has grown past that. I have subscribers all over the world and on many networks. The problems start when the bouncebacks started to come in. VAX's have limits on mail size. Other computers are off the net for extended periods of time. Some people loose their accounts periodically (seemingly for no reason). The computer changes its name. All the errors listed above are accompanied by message which can be diplomatically described as cryptic. I try to give people the benefit of the doubt. I will not take someone off the list unless the account is unknown. Otherwise I wait a while for them to log back on and handle the problem of overloaded mail. Unless, of course, I feel like , then the a subscriber can be unsubscribed just because his computer is habitually off-line. Most of the time I just monitor what is going on and handle the bouncebacks. Occasionally another user will ask me to sign someone onto the list who can't find his nose much less type TELL LISTSERV at TAMVM1 SUB SEDSNEWS. The real goodies are the people who are on another network and cannot figure out their own address much less mine. The only advantage to running the list is that you know that whenever you sign on (no matter what time you sign on) someone will have sent you mail (a not unpleasant prospect). Some of the mail is junk (most), some of it interesting. A lot is just stuff to be read and forgotten. All in all running the two 1 Page 4 lists has been a preasurable experiance. I am really thankful that the list is not one where people become irate at the drop of a bit. 1 Page 5 ********* * *** * Getting an ISSN for an Electronic Journal * *** * * *** * by Charles W. Bailey, Jr. *** *** * *** * University of Houston * *** * * *** * LIB3@UHUPVM1 ********* ÕThanks to Ted Werntz for bringing this to my attention. - Ed.å The International Standard Serial Number (ISSN) is a unique eight-digit number that identifies a particular serial. For serials published in the U.S., ISSN numbers are assigned by the National Serials Data Program (NSDP) of the Library of Congress. Recently, NSDP assigned an ISSN to The Public-Access Computer Systems Review, an electronic journal that complements the Public-Access Computer Systems Forum (PACS-L@UHUPVM1). The PACS Forum is a moderated BITNET list that deals with all computer systems that libraries make available to their users, and it currently has over 1,100 subscribers in 25 countries. The PACS Review, which is published three times a year, deals with the same subject matter as the PACS Forum. When an issue is published, PACS Forum users are notified by a table of contents message, which describes that issue's article files and provides instructions for retrieving the files. NSDP also created a bibliographic record for the PACS Review in the OCLC Online Union Catalog, a twenty-million-record database that is widely used by libraries for cataloging, interlibrary loan, reference, and other purposes. (A more powerful, user- friendly version of the OCLC Online Union Catalog called EPIC has just been made available for fee-based searching.) A bibliographic record describes a serial (or other work) in a standard machine-readable format according to established cataloging rules. It is noteworthy and commendable that NSDP took the initiative to assign the PACS Review an ISSN number and to catalog it; I never contacted them requesting that they do so. NSDP staff learned of the PACS Review as the result of two speeches I made about the publication at a recent national library conference. The assignment of an ISSN number and the creation of a bibliographic record on OCLC makes an electronic journal more accessible to libraries and their users. Electronic publishers 1 Page 6 are fortunate that NSDP has taken a progressive, proactive stand on electronic journals, and it is treating them seriously. I would urge other electronic publishers to contact NSDP and obtain ISSN numbers for their electronic journals. The appropriate application form is contained in a brochure called "ISSN is for Serials," which is available from NSDP. For further information about getting an ISSN number contact: Library of Congress National Serials Data Program Washington, D.C. 20540 (202) 707-6452 1 Page 7 ********* * *** * The Netnews Service * *** * * **** * by Linda Littleton * ***** * * ****** * Pennsylvania State University * *** *** * * *** **** LRL@PSUVM ********* A news package for VM is available that can help to offload LISTSERV traffic. It is called NETNEWS and is available via LISTSERV. NETNEWS can gateway LISTSERV lists into bulletin board format and make them centrally available on a local public disk, thus (theoretically) reducing the number of users who subscribe individually to LISTSERV lists. In addition, NETNEWS can receive USENET feeds via either Bitnet or NNTP (NetNews Transfer Protocol, which will let a Unix site feed a VM site over TCP/IP), set up local discussion groups, and control read and post access on a per-group basis. The user interface has a "Filelist-like" feel to it, with three levels. First there is the Newsgroup Menu, listing all groups available. The user selects a group via cursor and PFkey and gets that group's Article Menu, which lists all current articles in the group. Finally, the user chooses an article (again with cursor and PFkey) to be displayed. The software can keep track of what groups the user wants to see and what articles have already been read. For information, send the command GET NETNEWS PACKAGE to LISTSERV@PSUVM via interactive message. It will send you an Administrator's Guide, a User's Guide and information on how to get the package. The LISTSERV discussion list on this is NETNWS-L@NDSUVM1. 1 Page 8 ********* * *** * MAILSERV - A List Server for the VAX * *** * * **** * Edited by Christopher Condon * ***** * * ****** * Yale University * *** *** * * *** **** CONDON@YALEVM ********* ÕFrom the documentationå MAILSERV - a list server for the VAX Look! Up on the fax! It's got mailing lists! It's... Mailserv? MAILSERV@SMCVAX is a PMDF Mailing List service offered by St. Michael's College to any user interested in the topics hosted by this service. Currently the following commands are available, and may only be sent to MAILSERV in a MAIL message. MAILSERV does not accept interactive messages. HELP sends a help file. INDEX sends an index of all files currently available on the MAILSERVer. This command takes no parameters. INFO sends the help file. This command is the same as HELP. LISTS sends a list of mailing lists for the site. This command takes no parameters. These are the topic lists to which you may subscribe. SEND sends the requested file. You can specify a directory, filename, and file type when using the SEND command. Some examples of valid send commands (given that the files exist): SEND HELP.TXT SEND ÕRUSHåGEDDY.LEE SEND/LIST sends the requested mailing list. You specify the name of the mailing list. Some examples of valid SEND/LIST commands are (given that the lists exist): SEND/LIST MAILSERV-L 1 Page 9 SUBSCRIBE adds you to the specified mailing list. You specify the name of the mailing list. Some examples of valid SUBSCRIBE commands are (given that the lists exist): SUBSCRIBE MAILSERV-L SUBSCRIBE ALIFESON-L UNSUBSCRIBE removes you from the specified mailing list. You specify the name of the mailing list. Some examples of value UNSUBSCRIBE commands are (given that the lists exist): UNSUBSCRIBE BOINK-L UNSUBSCRIBE POLICY-L Note that the St. Michael's MAILSERV currently has no available files, so commands like INDEX and SEND will not work. Comments and problem reports for MAILSERV at St. Michael's may be addressed to Dave Goodwin, GOODWIN@SMCVAX. 1 Page 10 ********* * *** * Postmodern Culture * *** * * **** * by John Unsworth * ***** * * ****** * North Carolina State University * *** *** * * *** **** JMUEG@NCSUVM ********* An Electronic Journal of Interdisciplinary Criticism -- First Issue, Fall of 1990 -- Postmodern Culture is a peer-reviewed electronic journal which provides an international and interdisciplinary forum for discussing contemporary literature, theory, and culture. It emphasizes open debate and intellectual engagement: readers may respond to essays and their comments will be made available to the authors and to other readers. Postmodern Culture does not promote any one definition of the term "postmodernism," nor does it advance any one framework for debate; on the contrary, it encourages critical and ideological diversity, solicits dissent, and invites the participation of those outside the usual boundaries of the discussion of postmodernism. Submissions to Postmodern Culture may be made via electronic mail or on disk; hard copy is also welcome. Both finished essays and working papers will be considered; most issues of the journal will also include one or two works of fiction or poetry, and at least one full-length book review. The recommended maximum length for finished essays is 8,000 words, and documentation should follow the current MLA style. Working papers should be presented in extended abstract form (up to 3,000 words), with an emphasis on argument rather than on performance. Submissions of both types should address themselves to an educated but not a specialized or a converted audience. Essays dealing exclusively with the application of computer hardware/software will not be considered unless those essays raise significant aesthetic or theoretical issues. In every issue, Postmodern Culture will carry announcements of upcoming conferences, calls for papers, and other items of general interest. These announcements will be free of charge, and will be limited to 250 words. Postmodern Culture is distributed via electronic mail, through Bitnet and Internet, at no cost to the subscriber; simply write to PMC@NCSUVM and request to be added to the subscriber list. 1 Page 11 The journal is also available on disk and microfiche: the subscription rate for these formats is $15 for individuals, $30 for institutions (in Canada, add $3; overseas add $7). You can mail the payment to: Postmodern Culture Box 5657 Raleigh, NC 27650 1 Page 12 ********* * * Headlines * ***** * *** * edited by Christopher Condon * *** * * *** * Yale University ***** * * * Send your BITNET SERVERS updates to BITLIB@YALEVM. ********* * A guide on sending mail to and from different networks ÕThanks to Art St. Georgeå: As a service to network users, I have placed the latest version of John Chew's Inter-Network Mail Guide on LISTSERV@UNMVM. The Guide "documents methods of sending mail from one network to another. It represents the aggregate knowledge of the readers of comp.mail/misc and many contributors elsewhere." To retrieve the file, the command GET NETWORK GUIDE to LISTSERV@UNMVM via mail or interactive message. Revisions to the guide will be posted as they become available. You may receive these updates. To learn how to do this, send the command INFO AFD to any LISTSERV. * Cost of CREN Membership and Services Õfrom Jim Conklinå: The file CREN COST on LISTSERV@BITNIC has been updated to show the July 1, 1990 - June 30, 1991 fiscal-year CREN Dues, Fees, and Usage Charges, for easy reference. Institutional Representatives should have received a mailing with the relevant cost schedule some time ago, to facilitate their planning. Those from higher-education whose institutional budgets have increased to the point that their dues have jumped to a higher bracket are also being notified of that fact. Except for changes caused by increased members' budgets, the cost to educational and other non-profit organizations for BITNET services is identical to what it has been since 1987. Many for-profits face an increase for BITNET, because the cost to for-profits of BITNET services was MUCH lower than CSNET costs for similar levels of services. Most CREN members receiving both BITNET and CSNET services will pay considerably less than in the past. CREN members receiving CSNET services only are mixed in the effect of the new dues and fees structure. BITNET and basic CSNET services are included as part of CREN membership or affiliation, which no additional fees. Additional fees are charged for CSNET Dial-up (PhoneNet and 1 Page 13 Dial-Up IP), X25Net, Leased-Line, and West-Coast Cluster services, to cover the higher cost of providing those services. Usage-based charges are continued for CSNET Dial-up services. * New NETSERVs Õfrom Rober Carrå: There are now two new NETSERV file servers: UTARLVM1 - Serving the Texas region of BITNET TECMTYVM - Serving Mexico * Who is that? Õfrom Duane D. Weaver, Juan Pizzorno, and Eduardo Rodriguezå: A new name server, WHOIS@OHSTVMA, has been installed at Ohio State University. It accepts commands via mail or message. Also, the LISTSERVs at UFRJ (Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro Nucleo de Computacao Electronica) and UCHCECVM (University of Chile Centro de Computacion) have had the /WHOIS name server extensions installed. * Dental amalgam and mercury poisoning Õfrom Siegfried Schmittå: RZAMAL-L is an electronic newsletter for people who want to know more about some special aspects of chronic mercury poisoning. It is mainly used for distribution of bibliographical data. If you want to get more information, you should send the following commands to LISTSERV@DKAUNI11 via mail or message: SUB RZAMAL-L Your_full_name and IND RZAMAL-L. Note that all articles are written in German. * Changes of Address Õfrom Pter M. Weisså: The United States Data Defense Network server, formerly had its address in the format SERVICE@SRI-NIC.ARPA. This should now be SERVICE@NIC.DDN.MIL. 1 Page 14 ********* * * New Mailing Lists * ***** * *** * edited by Christopher Condon * *** * * *** * Yale University ***** * * * Send your 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 DIAPERS 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). ***** POLAND-L on LISTSERV@UBVM POLAND-L is a mailing list devoted to the discussion of Polish culture and events. We are interested in all subjects related to Poland, Polish Americans and Eastern Europe (related to Poland). CWIS-L on LISTSERV@WUVMD This list is for discussing the creation and implimentation of campus-wide information systems. The term CWIS includes systems which make information and services publicly available on campus via kiosks, interactive computing systems and/or campus networks. Services routinely include directory information, calendars, bulletin boards, databases and library information. 1 Page 15 BANYAN-L on LISTSERV@AKRONVM BANYAN-L is a new Listserv discussion list about any aspect of Banyan networks (marketed by Banyan Systems, Inc.). DJ-L on LISTSERV@NDSUVM1 A mailing list for campus radio DJ's, station managers, etc to discuss various topics concerning college radio today, including federal and campus regulations, station policy discussions, equipment reviews, etc. (but not MUSIC reviews, there is a separate list for that) GovDoc-L on LISTSERV@PSUVM The focus is specifically on issues of information dissemination throug h Federal Depository Libraries. Issues to be discussed include: electronic dissemination policies of the Government Printing Office(GPO), the 1990 Census, access to Federal documents (Freedom of Information Act issues), automation of document collections in libraries (Marcive v. OCLC tapes; database consideration; retrospective conversion; etc.), document end user education and legislation related to depository libraries. United Nations, State and Foreign Government documents can be included for discussion. CW-EMAIL on LISTSERV@TECMTYVM The recent developments in computer networking have created the need for unified E-Mail systems, capable of handling mail-type communications among users on many different kinds of computers (mainframes, superminis, minis, personal computers), working for the same organization. This communication can be within the organization or directed to other users on the different networks (BITNET, ARPA Internet, etc.). This list strives to provide a forum for developers of such systems. Topics to be discussed are how to carry out such an effort, experiences in the implementation, recommended policies, hardware issues, etc. It is aimed primarily (but not limited to) developers of university campus-wide e-mail systems, hence its name. 1 Page 16 UTS-L on LISTSERV@YSUB The Amdahl UTS discussion is an open forum for discussion of Amdahl's UTS/580 implementation of Unix and for software running in the UTS environment. Some potential topics for discussion: porting software, integrating with bitnet, internet, and servers, requests for help, using UTS-specific features, hardware issues, and anything else that's UTS- related. Discussion should be limited to the UTS environment (under VM or native), so this list does not replace info-unix, unix-wiz, aix-l, or any other mailing list. Postings not specific to UTS should be posted to one of those lists, instead. BDGTPLAN on LISTSERV@UVMVM Discussion of college and university budget and planning issues including, but not limited to: economic and enrollment forecasting, relationships with state governments, innovative approaches to integrating planning and budgeting, strategies for increasing participation, cost center analysis, use of financial databases for modelling and reporting, endowment spending policies, tuition pricing, resource reallocation, financial reporting to boards and legislators, etc. RESPON-$ on LISTSERV@UVMVM Discussion of socially responsible investing by colleges and universities. Particularly for those serving on committees charged with recommending or setting institutional policy on socially responsible investment guidelines, votes on shareholder resolutions, divestment, community investment or other initiatives related to the university's long and short term investments. Internal and external politics. Current issues include South Africa, Northern Ireland, animal testing, environmental protection, corporate PAC's, equal opportunity/affirmative action, and tobacco sales. IMAGEN-L on LISTSERV@UOGUELPH This list has been formed to discuss the various features of the Imagen XP series of printers. Topics of interest include techniques used to create host-based print-spooling and accounting software, TCP/IP and UDP interfaces to the printer via it's LAN attachment and production of Postscript output. 1 Page 17 PAGEMAKR on LISTSERV@INDYCMS A new listserv was recently created for PageMaker users to share their ideas and problems with. This newly created list is for desktop publishers who use PageMaker in either the MAC or PC environment. Since the program runs exactly the same in both settings, all PageMaker users are invited to subscribe. USSR-L on LISTSERV@INDYCMS USSR-L (USSR news & information list) is a public discussion and distribution list dedicated to the dissemination and analysis of non-classified news and information regarding the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics and its constituent republics. It is intended to supplement and complement, rather than to supersede or compete with, other existing electronic mail lists, including but not limited to: Disarm-L, Poland-L, 9Nov89-L, et al. WRITERS on LISTSERV@NDSUVM1 WRITERS is an online discussion group comprised of professional writers and those who aspire to be writers. Discussions will center around the art, craft, and business of writing. We hope to keep members informed about new and varied opportunities for writers. We welcome suggestions from members as to other directions WRITERS might take. EBCBBUL on LISTSERV@HDETUD1 EBCBBUL is short for EBCB BULletin board. This is a facet of the European Bank of Computer Programs in Biotechnology (EBCB). EBCB is a non-profit making organization mainly funded by the European Community (EC). The main goal of EBCB is to stimulate and facilitate the use of computers in biotechnological training and research in Europe. EBCBBUL will not only promote user/user communication, but will also provide users with up to date information (e.g. about courses/ congresses). SCOUTS-L on LISTSERV@NDSUVM1 The SCOUTS-L list was formed to provide an opportunity for members of youth groups world-wide to interact, compare notes on their programs, discuss organizational problems, and communicate with members in distant units. The groups discussed may include, but will not be limited to the Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, Boys' and Girls' Clubs, etc. 1 Page 18 GO-L on MAILSERV@SMCVAX GO-L, a new list for game players interested in the game of GO is now available for public use. The list is sponsored by Saint Michael's College in Winooski, Vermont. The list is intended to serve as a discussion point for GO-related topics, and as a meeting place for EMAIL games between list members. In contrast to the majority of BITNET lists, this one is supported by a DEC uVAX 3400 running the MAILSERV program for VAX/VMS. Consequently, commands used to access the list are slightly different than those used by LISTSERV. To subscribe to the GO-L list, send a mail message to MAILSERV@SMCVAX and in the body of the message just put the command SUBSCRIBE GO-L. Note that you don't need to give a subscription name; MAILSERV gets it from your address. IOUDAIOS on LISTSERV@YORKVM1 IOUDAIOS (Greek for "Jew") is an electronic seminar devoted to the exploration of first-century Judaism; its special interest is in the writings of Philo of Alexandria and Flavius Josephus. The list began as an informal discussion of two papers by Robert A. Kraft (Pennsylvania) but quickly blossomed into an international forum, with participants in North America, Europe, Australia, and The Middle East. The Philonic and Josephan corpora are extensive enough that they invite all sorts of analysis -- from literary, historical, and philosophical perspectives, to name a few. There is also considerable interest, among participants, in the social realities that lie behind these texts. Prospective members are warmly welcomed. (The discussion assumes a significant background in first-century Judaism and also the ability to read Greek.) BALT-L on LISTSERV@UBVM BALT-L is an online forum devoted to communications to, and about, the Baltic Republics of Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia. It aims to further networking with those countries, in two senses of that word: the technical one of establishing the basic links to permit electronic communications; and the softer definition of a network of people building up people-to-people contacts and working together on matters of common interest. A core aim of this list is to foster practical projects. 1 Page 19 HIT on LISTSERV@UFRJ Have you ever wondered how software can start paranoic? Did your last SciFi book described a new kind of energy-plant? Can networks create a new revolution in the world? Is the NeXt the model for your next computer? HIT is a discussion list about Technology that can/can't be developed in the near/far future. Based on Science Fiction and nowadays discoveries, we plan to discuss how to develop and which are the consequences of new and imaginative technology. Suggested topics are: Artificial Reality, Software Psychiatry, new developments in science, space stations, High Energy Physics, etc. Multi-disciplinary ideas are wellcome (as Software Psychiatry). SOVNET-L on LISTSERV@INDYCMS SovNet-L (USSR electronic communication list) is a public discussion and distribution list dedicated to the dissemination and exchange of non-classified information regarding electronic communication to, from and within the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics and its constituent republics. It is intended to treat all forms of electronic communication and to include the Soviet electronic mail discussions begun on RusTeX-L. 1 Page 20 ********* * * 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 21 * 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." ***************************************************************