       ********    **************************************************
             *    *                                                  *
            *     *                 The independent guide to BITNET  *
           *      *                                                  *
          *       *        *****                        March, 1989  *
         *        * *****  *****                                     *
        *         * *****  *****                 Volume 3, Number 9  *
       ********   * *****                                            *
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1

       *     *  ****** ******* *     *  *****  *     * ******* *     *
       **    * *          *    **   ** *     * **    *    *    *     *
       * *   * *          *    * * * * *     * * *   *    *    *     *
       *  *  * *****      *    *  *  * *     * *  *  *    *    *******
       *   * * *          *    *     * *     * *   * *    *    *     *
       *    ** *          *    *     * *     * *    **    *    *     *
       *     *  ******    *    *     *  *****  *     *    *    *     *
       *                       *     *                               *
        ***********************       *******************************


       Christopher Condon    Editor                   CONDON @ YALEVM
       Timothy Stephen       Associate Editor        STEPHEN @ RPIECS
       Craig White           Associate Editor         CWHITE @ UA1VM
       June Genis            Contributing Editor      GA.JRG @ STANFORD
       David Hibler          Contributing Editor    ENGL0333 @ UNLVM
       Henry Mensch          Contributing Editor       HENRY @ MITVMA
       Deba Patnaik          Contributing Editor        DEBA @ UMDC
       Gerry Santoro         Contributing Editor         GMS @ PSUVM
       Valdis Kletnieks      Helpdesk Editor          VALDIS @ CLVM
       Glen Overby           Technical Assistant    NCOVERBY @ NDSUVAX
       Gary Moss             The Eye                    MOSS @ YALEVM


       ********************* Contents - Issue 30 *********************

        *********
       *     *** *  EDITORIAL PAGE____________________________________
       *    ***  *
       *  ***    *  Bitnotes ....................................... 1
       ***     ***  Spacetime Physics .............................. 3
       *    ***  *  Joint Statement on the Internet Virus .......... 4
       *  ***    *
       * ***     *
        *********

        *********
       * ***     *  FEATURES__________________________________________
       * ***     *
       * ****    *  NetCon '89 ..................................... 6
       * *****   *  Behind BITNET II ............................... 9
       * ******  *  Mednews ....................................... 12
       * *** *** *
       * ***  ****
        *********

        *********
       *         *  DEPARTMENTS_______________________________________
       *     *****
       *    ***  *  Headlines ..................................... 13
       *   ***   *  New Mailing Lists ............................. 15
       *  ***    *  Feedback ...................................... 19
       *****     *  NetMonth Policies ............................. 20
       *         *
        *********

      *********************** Distribution: 4572 *********************
1

                                                                Page 1

        *********
       *     *** *  Bitnotes
       *    ***  *
       *  ***    *  by Christopher Condon
       ***     ***
       *    ***  *  Yale University
       *  ***    *
       * ***     *  CONDON@YALEVM
        *********


                          "Yes.  No.  I don't know."


       I haven't played the part of Student for a few years.  That is,
       I haven't  recently assumed the  role where one  takes classes,
       fails tests, and ignores social events.   My persona these days
       is  that of  a young  and hopefully  up-and-coming lower  level
       white collar professional.  Translated into English, that makes
       me a Yuppie in training.

       As such,  my  views of the network  and how it works  (or how I
       think it *should*  work)  are influenced by my  daytime life in
       the  wonderful world  of  business MIS.    I  tend  to view  my
       audience as  a group  of education,   research,  and  computing
       professionals... as opposed to students.  The people for whom I
       write have  practical,  work-related reasons for  being network
       users.  This is probably because the people who come in contact
       with at work and in BITNET usually have practical, work-related
       reasons  for coming  in  contact with  me.    When  I think  of
       students,  I tend to think of those at the graduate level.   In
       my  mind I  imagine them  discussing their  theses on  esoteric
       mailing  lists,   or  contacting  researchers  for  the  latest
       information on genetic engineering, or what have you.

       As you see,  I like to think  of NetMonth readers as a bunch of
       happy, informed, and active network users.  These thoughts, for
       the most part,  have little relation  to reality as we know it,
       but I *do* sleep better at night.  The truth is that I probably
       have had personal contact (such as it is) with maybe 25% of the
       readers, probably less.   That is still about 1000 people,  and
       of those there are maybe 100 with whom I have contact more than
       once a month.  These network "power users" are postmasters, run
       mailing  lists,  or  are otherwise  very  actively involved  in
       BITNET.

       Too often  I forget that  there are  people with access  to the
       network who  don't have a  "practical,  real-world"  reason for
       using it.   Very often they are here  for the same reason as I:
       for the  fun of  it.   They  find it  interesting,  intriguing,
       enlightening.    I think  that this  is the  reason behind  all
1

                                                                Page 2


       reasons when somebody accesses BITNET.   The difference between
       most people and the power users is that the power users have an
       easier time justifying their use of the network.

       However,  this doesn't mean that an undergraduate student can't
       get  some practical  (albeit not  measurable)   benefit out  of
       BITNET.    This  can  be  expressed  in  that  timeless  phrase
       "Experience makes  good Resume Material".   For  example,  this
       excerpt from a resume might remind you of somebody:

       "Yale Computer Center User Services,  5/85 to present:   BITLIB
       Help  System Manager:   Created an  organized  the online  help
       system,  which is  now distributed to over  forty universities.
       Activities  include  regularly  updating   information  on  the
       system,   and  working   as  Editor  for  weekly   and  monthly
       newsletters about BITNET network services for over 4000 readers
       throughout the United States, Canada,  Europe and the Far East.
       As a consultant for users, the manager writes documentation and
       promotes the responsible and effective use of the network."

       Now,   I don't  play this  up nearly  as  much as  I could  (or
       should), but there is a limit to how much text you want to pack
       into  one job  description.   The  attempt here  is to  portray
       myself as someone with self-initiative and ideas.  The entry is
       different enough from your typical "work experience" blurb that
       it might generate enough interest to rate an interview.

       BITNET is ready-made outlet for your initiative,  whatever your
       field may be.    Whether you start a mailing list  or produce a
       newsletter or write a server isn't  the point.   That fact that
       you *do*  something and  gain experience  from that  action is.
       Look for  the gaps in  services or  information you see  in the
       network and fill them.  Opportunity awaits.

       ****

       Finally,  let me welcome Valdis Kletnieks to the NetMonth staff
       as our new  Helpdesk editor.   If you have  questions about how
       and  why   things  work  in  BITNET,    send  them  to   me  at
       BITLIB@YALEVM, and I will forward them to Valdis.  Send in your
       questions!     Valdis  is   a  veritable   font  of   technical
       information.

       Also,  you may note that there are a few articles in this issue
       about practical applications for which BITNET is used.   If you
       have information about an interesting use for the network, tell
       us  about  it!   Everyone  is  looking  for  new ways  to  take
       advantage of BITNET access, and your ideas help.


                                   Chris Condon@YALEVM
1

                                                                Page 3


        *********
       *     *** *  Spacetime Physics
       *    ***  *
       *  ***    *  by Dick Smith
       ***     ***
       *    ***  *  University of West Florida
       *  ***    *
       * ***     *  RSMITH@UWF
        *********


       SPACETIME PHYSICS is a  regular college-course-for-credit being
       taken by 30 students at 8 schools this term.  A physics faculty
       member, referred to as a Liaison Professor (LP), at each school
       has  arranged for  local registration  and subsequent  academic
       credit  for  interested  students,   and  has  agreed  to  meet
       regularly with the group, to administer regular quizzes, and to
       evaluate student  projects.   The course  is supported  by four
       private Lists running on the Listserv at the University of West
       Florida, a fifth list being used to coordinate the course among
       all the LPs.

       The course  topic is Einstein's  Special Theory  of Relativity,
       that part of physics which applies  to objects moving at speeds
       near  the  speed of  light.    Textbook  for  the course  is  a
       prepublication version of "Spacetime  Physics,  Second Edition"
       by Edwin  F.  Taylor and John  Archibald Wheeler.   One  of the
       course  requirements  is  that  each  student  send  a  Reading
       Memorandum  of reaction  to  each chapter  to  Taylor,  who  is
       participating with us  in this pilot course,  and  who is using
       student reactions to fine-tune the revision.

       Weekly  assignments and  discussion questions  are posted  each
       week by the  Discussion Leaders,  Alex Burr  (New Mexico State)
       and myself.   The questions are posed in  such a way as to give
       our  students challenge  and practice  in  using plain  English
       words in  trying to understand  the bizarre predictions  of the
       Special Theory.  The fact that Bitnet is a text-oriented medium
       makes  it suitably  difficult for  students  to retreat  behind
       swarms of equations, the usual safe haven for physicists.

       Schools  participating   in  the   course  are:    Boise  State
       University,   Dickinson  College,  Massachusetts  Institute  of
       Technology,   New Mexico  State  University,  Oberlin  College,
       Towson State  University,  the University  of Vienna,   and the
       University of West Florida.
1

                                                                Page 4


        *********
       *     *** *  Joint Statement on the Internet Virus
       *    ***  *
       *  ***    *  from BITNEWS
       ***     ***
       *    ***  *  Network Information Center
       *  ***    *
       * ***     *  BITNEWS@BITNIC
        *********


       In case you haven't seen it elsewhere, you may be interested in
       the following statement adopted by  the BITNET and CSNET Boards
       after the Internet "worm" incident last fall.

             Jim Conklin
             Director, BITNIC


               BITNET/CSNET Joint Statement on Internet Virus


       The network worm (sometimes called virus)  affair raises issues
       that are very important to our field.  Both the BITNET Board of
       Trustees and the CSNET Executive  Committee have been struck by
       the fact that many public comments  on the event have contained
       statements such as,   "We learned from it," "We  will make sure
       technically it will not happen again," or "He did us a favor by
       showing...," unaccompanied by expressions of ethical concern.

       We  have succeeded  as  a  profession technically  in  creating
       facilities --  the BITNET,  CSNET  and other components  of the
       national  research network  -- which  are now  critical to  the
       conduct of  science and engineering  in our  nation's academic,
       industrial,  and  government research  laboratories.   Further,
       this  technology  has  spread within  our  nation's  commercial
       research  and development  organizations  and  even into  their
       manufacturing and marketing.

       Just as  medical malpractice  can have a  serious effect  on an
       individual's health, one of the costs of our success is that we
       are now in a position where  misuse of our national and private
       computer networks can have as serious an effect on the nation's
       economic, defense,  and social health.   Yet while almost every
       medical college has  at least one course on  medical ethics and
       insists  on   the  observance  of  ethical   guidelines  during
       practice, computer scientists seem to avoid such non-scientific
       issues.
1

                                                                Page 5


       The worm "experiment" caused a major disruption in the research
       community.  Many hours of talent were wasted finding and curing
       the problems raised by this "game".  Many additional hours were
       lost when researchers were unable  to access supercomputers and
       mail systems due to system overload and network shutdown.

       Among other points of attack, the worm exploited an overt,  but
       unadvertised,  trapdoor that had been distributed as a software
       "feature".

       We condemn the perpetration of such "experiments", "games",  or
       "features" by workers in our field, be they students,  faculty,
       researchers  or providers.    We are  especially worried  about
       widespread tendencies to justify,   ignore,  or perpetuate such
       breaches.   We must behave as do our fellow scientists who have
       organized around  comparable issues  to enforce  strong ethical
       practices in the conduct of experiments.

       We propose to join with the relevant professional societies and
       the national research networks to form a Joint Ethics Committee
       charged  with  examining existing  statements  of  professional
       ethics and  modifying them  as necessary in  order to  create a
       strong statement  of networking ethics and  recommendations for
       appropriate enforcement procedures.
1

                                                                Page 6


        *********
       * ***     *  NetCon '89
       * ***     *
       * ****    *  by Reba Taylor
       * *****   *
       * ******  *  Virginia Polytechnic Institute
       * *** *** *
       * ***  ****  REBA@VTVM1
        *********


       NetCon(tm)  is a 'con' or a mini-convention that is planned and
       coordinated by computer users,  like yourself,  whose main link
       is the BITNET.   NetCon89 offers you a chance to meet the "face
       at the other end," meaning that you can finally meet the people
       to  whom  you have  spoken  on  Relay,  UMNEWS,   or  directly.
       NetCon89 allows  you to meet many  of these people at  the same
       time,  in the same location (convenient,  eh?).   You also have
       the opportunity  to visit a  new city  and take in  the sights.
       NetCon89 will also feature speakers whose topics range from the
       birth  of the  Relay to  the  future of  the networks  (BITNET,
       NetNorth, EARN,the InterNet, etc.).

       1.  Time and  Place:   NetCon89 will take place  May 26-29,  in
       Baltimore, Maryland.

       2.  Travel Information:  NetCon, Inc., is working with Piedmont
       Aviation, Inc., to finalize an arrangement for discount airfare
       to Baltimore-Washington International Airport,  a Piedmont hub.
       Once an agreement has been reached, we shall notify you through
       the NETCON-L list.

       If you prefer  to travel by train,  you should  phone Amtrak at
       1-(800)-USA-RAIL.   They should be able to help with scheduling
       and costs.

       Also if you are planning to drive  to NetCon please send a note
       to Reba Taylor (REBAT@VTVM1).  She is trying to help people get
       to NetCon with low travel expenses.   If you need a ride or can
       offer a ride  or be of help,  it would  be greatly appreciated.
       Please do  not wait too long,   or a good opportunity  might be
       missed.

       3. Hotel Information:  All meetings and lodgings will be at the
       Comfort Inn on Franklin Street.   This hotel provides a shuttle
       to/from the BWI airport.   The  hotel is handicapped accessible
       and has handicapped only rooms  available.   (Please specify on
       the registration form if you need one of these rooms.)
1

                                                                Page 7


       Rates vary,   depending on the number  of persons in  the room.
       All rooms have a tax of 11%.

         1 -- $48 per night + tax, totalling $159.84 for the weekend.

         2 -- $52 per night + tax, totalling $173.16 for the weekend.
              This is $86.58 per person.
         3 -- $58 per night + tax, totalling $193.14 for the weekend.
              This is $64.38 per person.
         4 -- $64 per night + tax, totalling $213.12 for the weekend.
              This is $53.28 per person.  (NOTE:  the hotel does not
              recommend 4 persons per room.)

       A deposit of one night's lodging must be sent when you register
       for NetCon89,  so  that we can make your  room reservations for
       you.  Deposits will be as follows:

              Single -- $53.28           Double -- $28.86 each
              Triple -- $21.46 each      Quad   -- $17.76 each

       The city controls the parking in the area.   The parking fee is
       $5.00 per car per night, totalling $15.00 for the weekend.

       Depending on readiness and availability, it is possible for you
       to  check   in  early.     The  hotel   provides  complimentary
       transportation to the  Inner Harbor,  or you may  walk there if
       you prefer.

       4.   T-Shirt Information:    We are  pleased to  offer you  the
       official NetCon89 at a price of  $10.00 per shirt.   The shirts
       come in small, medium, large, and extra-large.  If you desire a
       shirt, please include the price with your registration fees.

       5.  Registration Fees:   The following fees must accompany your
       NetCon89 registration.

           $17.76 (or more) -- One night's lodging for room deposit.
           $15.00           -- NetCon89 registration fee.
           $ 5.00           -- Membership fee in NetCon(tm) Society.
           $10.00           -- NetCon89 t-shirt (optional).

       The registration  deadline is May  1,  1989*.   Note  that Late
       Registrations  impose  a $15  fine  and  no guarantee  of  your
       receiving a room at convention rates.

       NOTE:   Deadline  for registration  if you  order a  t-shirt is
       April 28,  to insure that all shirts are prepared in time.   We
       do not guarantee that there will be extra shirts available at a
       higher price in Baltimore.
1

                                                                Page 8


       6.   If  you wish to  join the  NETCON mailing list,   send the
       following command to LISTSERV@NCSUVM via mail or message:   SUB
       NETCON-L Your_full_name.

       If you have any questions or  need a registration form,  please
       feel free  to send e-mail to  any of the userids  listed below.
       We are always willing to help you.

                           The NetCon Committee

                    Wendel Bordelon      (CI60UCU at TCSVM)
                    Charlene Charette    (CI60UCU at TCSVM)
                    Rick Greene      (18862246 at VUVAXCOM)
                    Ron Jarrell         (JARRELLR at VTCC1)
                    Jon Lewin           (ST6876 at SIUCVMB)
                    Bill McBrayer        (C9M5R at ASUACAD)
                    John McMahon       (FASTEDDY at DFTBIT)
                    Joe Ogulin          (P12I1798 at JHUVM)
                    Lee Radigan            (LIBLJR at SUVM)
                    Christy Russell   (CRUSSELL at SUNRISE)
                    Reba Taylor            (REBAT at VTVM1)
1

                                                                Page 9


        *********
       * ***     *  Behind BITNET II
       * ***     *
       * ****    *  from the NETINFO FILELIST
       * *****   *
       * ******  *  Network Information Center
       * *** *** *
       * ***  ****  LISTSERV@BITNIC
        *********


       BITNET has grown rapidly every year since its founding in 1981.
       This growth  has contributed to  BITNET's success but  also has
       created a pressing problem:   network congestion.   At the same
       time TCP/IP protocols have become widely accepted in the higher
       education community, form the basis for other national networks
       which have substantial traffic capacity, and offer a far richer
       set of communications options than  the RSCS protocols on which
       BITNET is based.   The BITNET II research project was conceived
       to   give  BITNET   access   to   TCP/IP  transport   and   the
       communications flexibility that access represents,  potentially
       helping to  address the  existing BITNET  capacity problem  and
       possibly also allowing direct access to BITNET from the popular
       TCP/IP protocols.

       * The Goal:

       To give BITNET access to TCP/IP as a transmission medium, so as
       to   broaden  options   for   managing  point-to-point   BITNET
       connections,  to  allow BITNET traffic  to be carried  by high-
       bandwidth TCP/IP  networks such as  NSFnet,  and to  reduce the
       dependency on  intermediate hosts  for the  movement of  BITNET
       traffic.

       Note that use of TCP/IP for  BITNET traffic carries a number of
       other possible advantages,  including dynamic routing,  support
       of  redundant links  and  a  wide selection  of  communications
       technologies  and  speeds,   and   the  potential  for  network
       management.

       The  BITNET II  project does  not  seek to  "convert BITNET  to
       TCP/IP," but  rather to add TCP/IP  as one of the  link options
       available for carrying BITNET traffic.  A corollary possibility
       would be to allow connection to BITNET of nodes who do not have
       cost effective options for supporting  RSCS over BISYNCH (e.g.,
       many UNIX hosts).

       * The Concept:

       Encapsulate standard  RSCS NJE traffic  in TCP/IP  segments and
       use standard TCP/IP tools (IP  routers,  X.25 lines,  Ethernet,
1

                                                               Page 10


       whatever)  to deliver those segments  to the destination BITNET
       node  where they  are  unwrapped and  processed  by the  target
       BITNET node's RSCS.

       The above concept is written in  terms of the BITNET networking
       program, RSCS, which runs on IBM hosts because this is all that
       has been  tackled to date.    Nothing precludes  expanding this
       work to be available on DEC VAXes, UNIX hosts and so on, but no
       such work is currently underway.

       * The Pieces:

       For now,  the communications must  always be between two BITNET
       IBM VM/CMS hosts.    Each host must run  the following software
       and hardware:

       RSCS - the standard IBM package supporting BITNET on IBM VM/CMS
       hosts.  The RSCS routing table may be expanded to include LINKs
       to other BITNET II hosts which are reachable via a TCP/IP link.
       Version 2 of RSCS is  strongly recommended for best performance
       by using multiple streams.

       VMNET - a custom package developed  under the BITNET II project
       by Princeton which runs on the IBM host.   VMNET takes RSCS NJE
       data, encapsulates and blocks it in TCP/IP segments,  addresses
       those segments according  to the RSCS next  hop destination and
       delivers them to IBM FAL (see below) for routing.

       IBM FAL  - the  standard IBM package  supporting TCP/IP  on IBM
       VM/CMS hosts.    FAL examines  the IP  destination address  and
       forwards the packets to the appropriate IP router.

       IBM channel/Ethernet  interface,  such as  IBM's 8232  or BTI's
       Ethernet Lan Controller (which BITNET  members can purchase for
       approximately  $5,900  with  reference  to  a  BITNET  discount
       program with  BTI).   The  IP packets are  passed from  the IBM
       hosts onto an Ethernet enroute to an IP router.

       IP router such as made by Bridge, Proteon and others, including
       cisco (which BITNET members can purchase at a 30% discount with
       reference to a BITNET discount program with cisco).  The router
       removes the packets  from the Ethernet and sends  them down the
       appropriate  communications  line toward  the  ultimate  TCP/IP
       destination.   Compatible routers must be used at each end of a
       serial communications line.

       The packets  move through  an indefinite  number of  IP routers
       until they arrive  at their ultimate destination.    There they
       are  forwarded onto  an  Ethernet,   back through  the  channel
1

                                                               Page 11


       interface,  into  FAL and  via VMNET  to the  destination RSCS,
       which,  for all intents and  purposes,  thinks it received them
       via a standard BISYNCH RSCS line.

       * Current status and plans:

       BITNET II software is in test today at Princeton, Cornell, CUNY
       and  Penn   State  using   the  Internet   to  provide   TCP/IP
       connectivity.  Initial tests revealed a problem (RSCS's end-to-
       end acknowledgements were  timing out due to  Internet delays);
       this  problem  has  been  addressed  by  design  changes  which
       eliminate the need for end-to-end synchronization.  The revised
       version goes  into test in  July.   Assuming this  version runs
       well,  the code will  be rolled out to an additional  six or so
       schools (already identified, no volunteers needed yet!).   Once
       this larger configuration has run  successfully for a period of
       time,  the code will be made available to any school who wishes
       to participate.

       Note that  this software  can be  used to  replace half  duplex
       BISYNC point-topoint connections; for example, if both Yale and
       CUNY installed BITNET II it would  be possible to route traffic
       with full duplex IP routers over the existing line using BITNET
       II protocols  and technology,   which can  run faster  than the
       current approximately 14.4Kb throughput.   Even better, with IP
       routing,  BITNET II schools  could potentially avoid bottleneck
       BITNET links  such as  CUNY-Yale and  Penn State-Ohio  State by
       going direct or closer to direct  to their destination node via
       NSFnet.
1

                                                               Page 12


        *********
       * ***     *  Mednews
       * ***     *
       * ****    *  by David Dodell
       * *****   *
       * ******  *  Arizona State University
       * *** *** *
       * ***  ****  ATW1H@ASUACAD
        *********


       "*Jane* is 71 years old; she weighs just 100 pounds.  She works
       mornings  in Washington,   D.C.,  office,   then  travels to  a
       Virginia nursing  home to  care for her  husband,  a  victim of
       Alzheimer's disease.  When she came  down with shingles (herpes
       zoster,  a viral irritation of  the nerve endings),  her doctor
       prescribed a  painkiller he had  used successfully  in patients
       for 20 years so she could keep up her routine.

       "When Jane  took the prescribed  dose at work,   something went
       wrong.   So violent  were  her dizziness  and  nausea that  her
       colleagues rushed her to a nearby emergency room. She was given
       an  electrocardiogram,   intravenous fluids,   and  a  sedative
       injection.  After five hours,  she still needed help in getting
       home, and she was still groggy a week later.

       "Now recovered, Jane blames herself for not being more careful.
       With her small frame, she'd had milder reactions to adult doses
       of both prescription and nonprescription drugs in the past. She
       feels she should have reminded  her long-time physician of this
       when he wrote the prescription.  She wonders whether adult drug
       dosages  shouldn't  be  modified  to   take  into  account  the
       patient's health, weight and age.

       "Jane isn't alone.  In 1986 FDA received over 53,000 reports of
       adverse reactions to drugs. While many reactions are mild, some
       are serious indeed; more than 12,000 deaths or hospitalizations
       suspected of being  related to reactions to  drugs are reported
       yearly. (Not all of these suspected reactions are confirmed.)"

       MEDNEWS is  a weekly  electronic newsletter.    Regular columns
       consist of  medical news  summary from  USA Today,   Center For
       Disease Control MMWR, weekly AIDS Statistics from the CDC, plus
       other interesting medical news items.   To subscribe,  send the
       following command to LISTSERV@ASUACAD via mail or message:  SUB
       MEDNEWS Your_Full_Name.
1

                                                               Page 13


        *********
       *         *  Headlines
       *     *****
       *    ***  *  edited by Christopher Condon
       *   ***   *
       *  ***    *  Yale University
       *****     *
       *         *  Send your Headlines to BITLIB@YALEVM
        *********


       * Note to COMSERVE users:  Comserve's host computer changed its
       name from RPICICGE to RPIECS  on Monday,  March 20th.   Despite
       this,  an arrangement was made to allow messages to Comserve or
       to Comserve's hotlines to continue  to be addressed to RPICICGE
       for several months to come.   Basically,  the host computer has
       two synonymous addresses for the present.   Some correspondents
       may  find that  their  own computer,   or one  in  the path  to
       Comserve,   does not  yet recognize  the  existance of  RPIECS.
       Should that happen, please revert to the RPICICGE node name.

       Users of the Easycom program should  not be concerned about the
       address change since the RPICICGE  address is still valid.   We
       will issue new versions of Easycom  that use the RPIECS address
       well before use of RPIECS becomes mandatory.

       Users of the  PDFILES feature of LISTSERV@RPICICGE  should also
       note this nodename change.


       * John McMahon of the  NASA  Goddard  Space Flight  Center  has
       written a program for 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.   Thanks to John  for taking the  time to
       write this program!


       * BITNET Technical Meeting - Spring '89 (from BITNEWS):

            Host: Emory University   Atlanta, Georgia
                  Woodruff Health Sciences Administration Building
            When: Saturday, May 6, 1989
                  8:30 AM to 5:30 PM (EDT)
            Maps: GET BITTECH DIRECTIO from LISTSERV@BITNIC
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                                                               Page 14


       The objective is to provide a forum for the BITNET community to
       get involved with network-related  issues and develop proposals
       for  submission to  the BITNET  Board of  Trustees through  its
       Committees.

       The meeting opens with a one-hour session at 9:00,  after which
       the  working groups  break off  for  the rest  of the  morning.
       Following  lunch the  groups reconvene,   allowing  time for  a
       summary later in the afternoon.

       Each working group has a chairperson designated from the BITNET
       user community.   Jim Gerland,  Harry Williams and Roger Fajman
       have  long been  supporting numerous  positive changes  through
       this forum.

       One point to make with your management is that airfare is often
       less  when departing  on a  Friday  -- enough  that it  usually
       covers the extra night's hotel.    There is no registration fee

       for  the BITNET  Technical  Meeting  and refreshments  will  be
       served.

       At a typical BITTECH meeting we follow this rough agenda:

       1) Opening session
          a) Status of current projects (BITNET II, CSNET Merger, etc)
       2) Break into working groups
          a) Domains
             i) Discuss issues for implementing 'Domains for BITNET'
          b) Node Management
             i) New NODE ENTRY tags formats
             ii) Generating routing tables
             iii) Postmaster Canon
          c) New INFOREP/TECHREP orientation
             i) Bring them up to speed on current working group activit
             ii) Continue discussion of what needs to be in the 'INFORE
                 and TECHREP Information Packets'
          d) Tools
             i) What's out there and what needs to be converted/written
                for VMS and other non-VM systems
       3) Lunch on your own then back to the working groups
       4) 4:00 all reconvene to summarize working group discussions

       It's always interesting to meet the 'faces behind the userids',
       so we hope to see many of you there.
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                                                               Page 15


        *********
       *         *  New Mailing Lists
       *     *****
       *    ***  *  edited by Christopher Condon
       *   ***   *
       *  ***    *  Yale University
       *****     *
       *         *  Send your list descriptions 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).

       *****

       BIOMCH-L@HEARN - Biomechanics and Movement Science

       This  list  is  intended  for  members  of  the  International,
       European,    American,   Canadian   and   other  Societies   of
       Biomechanics,  and for  others with an interest  in the general
       field of  biomechanics and  human or  animal movement  science.
       For  the scope  of  this list,   see,   e.g.,   the Journal  of
       Biomechanics (Pergamon  Press),  the  Journal of  Biomechanical
       Engineering (ASME), and Human Movement Science (North-Holland).
       The list was  started in October 1988;  at the  time of writing
       this item (Mid February 1989),  membership is about 55 (Canada,
       USA, Europe).


       IDMS-L@UGA - Cullinet user forum

       IDMS-L is  a forum for  users of Cullinet  software.   Cullinet
       system  software and  application software  operate on  several
       platforms.   IDMS/R  is the data  base management  software for
1

                                                               Page 16


       mainframes;   IDMS/SQL (aka  Enterprise DB)   operates on  VAX.
       Goldengate, Infogate, and IDMS/Architect are examples of micro-
       computer software.

       Appropriate discussion topics include (but are not limited to):
       installation/migration issues,   "How To"  questions,  and  any
       other  concerns/problems  encountered  by   users  of  Cullinet
       software.


       SEAC-L@UNCVX1 - Student Environmental Action Coalition List

       This list is for members of local chapters of SEAC and students
       interested  in forming  chapters  of  SEAC on  their  campuses.
       Topics included actions taken  by local chapters,  coordination
       of  national efforts,   conferences  as  well as  bulletins  of
       scientific interest on enviromental topics.

       To subscribe to SEAC-L,  send a MAIL message with the following
       line (no interactive messages)  to MAILSERV@UNCVX1:   SUBSCRIBE
       SEAC-L


       SKEPTIC@YORKVM1 - Discussions of the paranormal

       This  list is  for  the critical  and  _rigourous_ exchange  of
       information regarding claims of the paranormal.  All topics are
       welcome,   and no  one will  be refused  subscribership due  to
       inclination with respect to these claims.

       Topics can include Creationism,  the Bermuda Triangle,  Ancient
       Astronauts(?),  Parapsychological Concerns,  Trance Channeling,
       spoon bending, astrology, UFOs, and so on...

       The moderator of the list will  to try to promote inquiry based
       on  the  best  evidence  avaiable   whether  this  evidence  be
       scientific, anecdotal, or otherwise.   I wish to be as critical
       as possible,  for if these 'phenomena'  are actual,  we want to
       have the  best possible understanding  of them to  continue the
       investigations.

       In addition,  the list will be providing space for the exchange
       of papers on these subjects for  the consideration of those who
       are  interested and  those who  might be  qualified to  provide
       expert critique.


       ESPER-L@TREARN - Esperanto List

       A list on the Esperanto Language.
1

                                                               Page 17


       ADND-L@UTARLVM1 - Advanced Dungeons and Dragons

       This list has the purpose of  discussing all the aspects of the
       Dungeons & Dragons and Advanced  Dungeons & Dragons games;  new
       spells, new monsters, and so on.


       PHOTO-L@BUACCA - Photography List

       This  list  is  a  forum  for  discussion  of  all  aspects  of
       photography, including esthetics, equipment, technique, etc.


       HP-28@NDSUVM1 - HP-28 series caclulators

       This list is for users/owners of HP-28C and HP-28S calculators,
       ranging  from  "everyday-type"   questions/discussion  to  more
       advanced and  technical-type support--  This list  will be  for
       open discussion,  posting of programs (see footnote)  technical
       support, advancements, and problem solving.

       Things you may want to share/talk about:   Bugs in the HP-28's,
       Nifty  programs,    Uses  of   SYSEVAL,   Modifying   Hardware,
       Accesories/Hardware, Other HP clubs and organizations,  Machine
       Language Programming,  New Models,  Making your 28C more like a
       28S, Music and Graphics processing, and so on.


       PSUNEXT - NeXT computer discussion

       PSUNEXT list established to support discussion among developers
       and users of the NeXT workstation.    The list is maintained at
       Penn State University.   In addition to university folks,  many
       of the support staff from NeXT, Inc. are members of the list.


       MECH-L@UTARLVM1 - Mechanical Engineering Discussion List

       MECH-L  was  formed to  discuss  any  topics pertinent  to  the
       Mechanical    Engineering   communities    such   as    meeting
       announcements, software evaluation, composite material research
       and others.   MECH-L welcomes any  suggestions and comments and
       encourages faculty/students in ME-related areas (such Aerospace
       and Civil) to join the list.


       STORM-L@UIUCVMD - Weather related phenomena

       The list STORM-L has been created for the purpose of discussing
       weather-related phenomena  such as  severe storms,   tornadoes,
       forecasting,  interesting local weather  events,  SKYWARN storm
1

                                                               Page 18


       spotter groups, and tornado chasing --to name several.  You can
       subscribe  by sending  an interactive  message  to LISTSERV  at
       UIUCVMD as follows:


       BEE-L@ALBNYVM1 - Discussion of Bee Biology

       BEE-L  is  for  the  discussion  of  research  and  information
       concerning the biology of bees.    This includes honey bees and
       other  bees (and  maybe  even  wasps).   We  communicate  about
       sociobiology,    behavior,    ecology,    adaptation/evolution,
       genetics, taxonomy, physiology, pollination,  and flower nectar
       and pollen production of bees.


       CYBSYS-L@BINGVMB - Cybernetics and Systems

       The  Cybernetics  and Systems  mailing  list  is an  open  list
       serving   those  working   in  or   just   interested  in   the
       interdisciplinary fields of Systems Science,  Cybernetics,  and
       related fields (e.g.   General Systems Theory,  Complex Systems
       Theory,   Dynamic   Systems  Theory,   Computer   Modeling  and
       Simulation,  Network  Theory,  Self-Organizing  Systems Theory,
       Information Theory, Fuzzy Set Theory).  The list is coordinated
       by  members of  the Systems  Science department  of the  Watson
       School  at   SUNY-Binghamton,   and  is  affiliated   with  the
       International Society for the Systems  Sciences (ISSS)  and the
       American Society for Cybernetics (ASC).
1

                                                               Page 19


        *********
       *         *  Feedback
       *     *****
       *    ***  *  edited by Christopher Condon
       *   ***   *
       *  ***    *  Yale University
       *****     *
       *         *  Send your letters to BITLIB@YALEVM
        *********


       From:     Gabriel Basco 
       Subject:  LISTSERV

       In the  February issue  of Netmonth,  Eric  Thomas told  us how
       LISTSERV came around. That article gave me a view of the person
       behind a  product most of  us use.  I  would love to  hear more
       about these people  'behind the scenes'.  BITNET is  not just a
       cold medium,  but a group of real people.  I would like to hear
       from people who made and  are making important contributions to
       the network.   Give a  face and  personality to  things we  use
       almost everyday.


       From:     Bob Gray 
       Subject:  How BITNET Works

       I have recently started to subscribe to Netmonth magazine,  and
       have read your articles.   I am  very pleased with the magazine
       so far.   I would  like to ask for your assistance  if you have
       the time to help  me.   As part of the Networks  course here at
       the University  of Vermont,  the graduate  students,  including
       myself,  have been asked make a presentation to the rest of the
       class about  some aspect of  Computer Networks.   Since  I have
       worked with Bitnet extensively when I worked for the Center For
       Academic Computing  at Penn  State,  I am  trying to  find some
       information about Bitnet.   Specifically, I am looking for some
       kind of technical manual about how  Bitnet works on the inside,
       not just how to use it, but how it works on the inside.  If you
       could tell me where to call or  send for a manual of this type,
       I would greatly  appreciate it.   Thank you in  advance for any
       assistance you can give me.
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."

       ***************************************************************