EcoLinking#11
by Don Rittner

UseNet -  The Users Network

Usenet is a public series of conferences called newsgroups carried primarily
over UNIX-based computers. 
         
Usenet reaches millions of readers on 55,000+ hosts spanning five continents.
Users access the network on  small PCs at home to supercomputers at large
universities, commercial online services, research organizations, and even
corporations. Although newsgroups are primarily distributed over computers
that use the UNIX operating system, Usenet has gateways to Internet and other
networks.
         
Users post messages called articles and replies all of which are circulated
to all other members of that particular newsgroup.  Special software programs
called readers allow you to read and reply to Usenet articles. These programs
are found on most Usenet sites along with instructions on how to use them .  

There are  6000+ newsgroups and cover a variety of subjects including
environmental issues. The major newsgroups distributed worldwide fall into
seven main categories:
* comp (computer)
* misc (miscellaneous)
* rec (recreation)
* Sci (science)
* soc (social issues)
* news (about Usenet news groups) 
* talk (chatter).  

There  are other groups outside the main categories that may or may not be
carried worldwide, or by every host.
* alt (alternative, not carried by everyone)
* Biz (for computer products)
* Bionet (for biologists)
* Clarinet ( newsgroups gatewayed from commercial news services and other
'official' sources. The host has to pay a fee to carry these)
* inet/ddn (This consists of many newsgroups bearing names similar to
traditional Usenet groups and corresponding to Internet discussion lists)
* Pubnet (or public-access systems)
* unix-PC (groups devoted to users of the AT&T UNIX-PC), and others . 
*Regional (Regional newsgroups are those created by the university or site on
topics of local interest.  These are usually not set out over the net .)

         Newsgroup names consist of an abbreviation of the category name
followed by a period, and an abbreviation of the group name. For example, the
newsgroup  sci.environment  signifies that this group  environment falls in
the science category.
         Most newsgroups distribute everything sent in by subscribers. Others
are  moderated,  the moderator screens submissions to determine which get
posted into the newsgroup.
        
 The Usenet News list of groups and mailing lists are available in
newsgroups "news.announce.newusers" and "news.lists."

To participate on Usenet, you must first get an account with a network or
institution that carries Usenet. Examples include:
         
Wordlink.
This service allows you to subscribe, read, and send Usenet from your own PC
using their software for a monthly fee.

Local college or University
         If you're a student and your school is a Usenet site, you can
probably get an account and participate for no cost. Many local academic
institutions grant external accounts to qualified organizations and
individuals.
         
Commercial Online Services
          America Online  now has a free Internet gateway that lets you
subscribe to any Usnenet newsgroup.  Contact AOL at 800 827 6364, ext 8984.
The WELL ( 415 332-6106) carries many of the Usenet newsgroups. The WELL is a
subscription service and carries a monthly membership fee and hourly connect
charges.
         
UUNET
         UUNET Communications Services (703 876 5050) will set up your
personal computer as a UNIX site so you can subscribe to the Usenet
newsgroups that interest you.
         
Many bulletin boards across the country carry Usenet newsgroups. 
         
Once you find a host site or a BBS that carries Usenet newsgroups ask the
system operator or the host of the site to consider carrying all of the
environmental newsgroups.