Subj:  December OnLine
Date:  Mon, Nov 13, 1995 7:19 PM EDT
From:  rhays@ansel.intersource.com
X-From:	rhays@ansel.intersource.com (Rob Hays)
To:	DonHicks@aol.com


Hi Don.
 Here is the December On Line.


On Line Rob Hays December 1995
	This month we will begin by looking at a few more uses for telnet.
Besides allowing you to log onto remote systems, telnet can also be used
to augment the services available from your internet provider.  Archie
	Because of the vast, and rapidly expanding, nature of data
available on the internet, finding a specific file can be frustrating.
Even finding a place to start the search can be a challenge. In a perfect
world, we would already have those intelligent assistants in our computers
that the phone company has been promising us. Just tell the assistant what
you need, and away it goes, returning with the right data every time. In a
slightly less perfect world, there would be a master directory available
that would point you to the data you want. This is the idea behind archie. 
	Archie is a database program that periodically contacts a number
of file libraries across the net, and gets a list of new files each
library has added since the last update. Archie currently tracks about
1000 libraries worldwide. You can access archie three different ways:
through e-mail, by using an archie client on your provider's system, or
through telnet. If your provider does not have archie, you can telnet to
one of the following addresses: archie.macgill.ca; archie.sura.net; 
archie.unl.edu; archie.ans.net; or archie.rutgers.edu. 
	When you are connected, begin the search by typing: 
	prog filename and hit return. Filename can be a partial name, but
wildcards are not recognized. If your system has neither telnet or an
archie client, send e-mail to: 
	archie@quiche.cs.mcgill.ca
	For the body of the message, type: 
	prog filename
	Within a few hours, you will get an e-mail from archie, with the
answers to your queries.  Gopher
	A dictionary might define a gopher as a small, burrowing animal.
On the internet, a gopher is a program that will burrow through the masses
of data available, looking for a match to your request. Unlike archie,
gophers use a menu interface, similar to the menus found on the commercial
services, such as Portal or CompuServe. Named after the mascot of the
University of Minnesota where the system was developed, gophers provide an
almost hypertext-like way to explore net resources. 
	As with archie, you can use telnet to reach a gopher if your local
system lacks one. Telnet to: 
	consultant.micro.umn.edu
	When prompted for a log-in, type: 
	gopher
	This will place you at the start of the menu system. Gophers allow
you to use the keywords "and" and "or" to define searches.  Veronica
	If you remember your comic books, archie has some friends. 
Veronica to net users is actually a specialized type of gopher, rather
than a girlfriend. If archie's specialty is files and their ftp sites,
veronica, and gophers in general, let you search for types of information.
If you want to find museums, or dessert recipes, veronica can help.  WAIS
	As you search for information around the net, you soon realize
that every database has its own idiosyncracies. While gophers smooth over
some of these rough spots, there is another way to simplify your searches.
Wide-Area Information Servers take the gopher menu system one step
further. When you use a WAIS, you only use one menu system. The program
deals with the different interfaces used by the other databases you are
searching through.  Like other resources we have been talking about, you
can telnet to a WAIS if your system does not have it yet. Telnet to: 
	bbs.oit.unc.edu
	Answer the "login" prompt with: 
	bbs
	When you complete your search, you are left with a list of
articles and their sources matching your search word. In addition, WAIS
assigns a numerical rating to each reference to indicate how closely the
reference matches your request.  IRC
	Imagine a world-wide party line, and you have a picture of the
Internet Relay Chat. Actually, it is more like a multi-line party line,
where a number of people can communicate in real-time with each other. 
	Different channels are accessed by the # sign followed by the name
of the channel you want to connect to. The main jumping- off point for
Amiga users is #Amiga. Many on-line conferences will begin here before
moving to a dedicated channel. Recent conferences have featured people
from Escom and AT discussing and answering questions about the future
plans for the Amiga. 
	Of course, there is much more to the internet than we have covered
here in the last few months, but by now you should have an idea of what it
is all about.  Who Ya Gonna Call? 
	Here are some more Amiga BBS's submitted by readers.  NAME: The
Ninth Portal BBS - North Pole, Alaska PHONE: (907) 488-2547 SPEEDS
SUPPORTED: up to 14,4000 bps CONTACT: Rick L. Henderson NAME: The
Intruders BBS PHONE: (716) 731-9113 SPEEDS SUPPORTED: up to 28,800 bps
INFO: use the handle "anonymous", and password
				"pass"  NAME: Acquisition BBS PHONE: (616) 969-9538 SPEEDS
SUPPORTED: 300-28,800 bps INFO: Free NAME: Critical Mass BBS PHONE: (803)
366-6235 SPEEDS SUPPORTED: up to 28,800 bps INFO: In operation since Dec.
1985 CONTACT: John Threatt NAME: Morningstar BBS PHONE: (413) 967-7378
CONTACT: Tim Ferris NAME: Fresno Area Amiga Exchange PHONE: (209) 226-7162
SPEEDS SUPPORTED: 300-33,600 bps CONTACT: c/o Darcy McConnell
				P.O.Box 16216
				Fresno, CA 93755 Where To Find Me
		R.Hays5 on GEnie
		RHAYS on Delphi
		72764,2066 on CompuServe
		Rob Hays on Portal
	Internet users, my provider has recently made a change that allows
a shorter version of my email address:  rhays@intersource.com. 
	For U.S.Mail: 
		Rob Hays
		P.O.Box 194
		Bloomington, IN 47402
	Please include a SASE if you need a personal reply. 
	If you run an Amiga specific BBS, send me the information callers
will need to access your system. Phone number(s), modem speeds, software
settings, etc. As a service to the Amiga community I will include the
information I receive in this column from time to time. Send the info to
any of my addresses above. 
	Next month, we will take a look at which internet services are
offered by each of the commercial on line services. 
	That's all for now. See you On Line! 



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Date: Mon, 13 Nov 1995 18:18:50 -0500 (EST)
From: Rob Hays <rhays@ansel.intersource.com>
To: DonHicks@aol.com
Subject: December OnLine
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