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From: Internet Esquire <netesq@dcn.davis.ca.us>
Organization: Internet Esquire(SM)
Newsgroups: davis.general,news.answers
Subject: Davis, California USENET FAQ Part 6 of 6
Followup-To: poster
Summary: This article is Part Six of a Multipart compilation of information
on items of interest to the readers of the davis.* newsgroups and
other parties interested in Davis, California.
Date: 24 Apr 2003 15:40:05 GMT
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Archive-name: davis/faq/part6
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Last-modified: Jun. 24, 1996
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URL: <http://www.dcn.davis.ca.us/~netesq/USENET-FAQs/davis/part6.html >
Ebb: <http://www.dcn.davis.ca.us/~netesq/USENET-FAQs/davis/part5.html >
The Davis, California USENET FAQ Part 6 of 6
Frequently Asked Questions at and about Davis, California
(c) Copyright 1995 & 1996
by
David F. Prenatt, Jr.
Internet Esquire(sm)
P.O. Box 74632
Davis, CA 95617-5632
World Wide Web: <http://www.dcn.davis.ca.us/~netesq >
E-mail: <mailto:NetEsq@dcn.davis.ca.us >
The Davis, California USENET FAQ (Davis USENET FAQ) may be comprised of
more than one part. If it is, please see the TABLE OF CONTENTS in Part One
for a complete list of the questions that I have attempted to answer and
for other important legal information. Caveat emptor: I assume no
obligation to anyone through the publication of the Davis USENET FAQ.
Furthermore, all versions of the Davis USENET FAQ are my personal property
and are protected by applicable copyright laws. All rights are reserved
except as follows: I hereby give my permission to anyone who has access to
this version of the Davis USENET FAQ to reproduce the information contained
herein for non-profit purposes, provided that proper credit is given to me
as the author of this FAQ and that I am notified of any use other than
personal use. I may revoke permission to reproduce any version of this FAQ
at any time.
- - - - -
The Davis, California USENET FAQ Part 6 of 6
Frequently Asked Questions at and about Davis, California
(c) Copyright 1995 & 1996 by David F. Prenatt, Jr.
8) FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT COMPUTERS AND LIFE ON THE INTERNET
FROM MEMBERS OF THE DAVIS COMMUNITY.
8.1) BASIC QUESTIONS ABOUT COMPUTERS.
I have attempted to answer some basic questions about computers in
this section. However, the best place to get answers for your
computer questions is from the Davis Community Network (DCN)-- User
Support team:
World Wide Web: <http://www.dcn.davis.ca.us/ >
Phone support: Mon-Thu, 6pm-9pm, 916-750-0101 ext 6
Email support: <mailto:dcn-tech-help@list.dcn.davis.ca.us >
Walk-in support: Mon-Fri 9am-12pm (Administrative Support)
& Mon-Thu 5pm-6pm (Technical Support)
at DCTV - 1623 5th Street, Davis
Alternatively, contact your own Internet service provider (ISP), or
post an inquiry on the davis.dcn USENET newsgroup (<news:davis.dcn >).
8.1.1) Why should I use a computer?
It is easier and faster to accomplish certain tasks by using a
computer.
8.1.1.1) Do I really need to use a computer?
No. You don't need to use a computer, but many tasks are impossible
to accomplish without a computer.
8.1.1.2) Isn't it difficult to learn how to use a computer?
No. Learning to use a computer is very easy, but this is a very well
kept secret because many people who know how to use computers are very
intimidating to people who do not know how to use them.
8.1.1.3) How can I get the computer training that I need?
Admit your ignorance, both to yourself and to the people who offer you
help. Teaching people how to use computers is extremely difficult,
but it doesn't have to be that way. Many people erroneously assume
that they understand how computers work, and this makes teaching these
people extremely difficult. Of course, people who are technically
proficient may not be able to communicate with you or they may not be
interested in helping you. Avoid these people.
The Davis PC Users Group is a chapter of the Sacramento PC Users
Group, dedicated to the support of people using IBM PC-compatible
computers. If you are learning how to use a PC, you might want to
attend one of the meetings of the Davis PC User's Beginner's Group.
These meetings take place the first Wednesday of every month, and they
are free and open to the public. For more information, contact Jerry
Harrison at (916)758-1011.
8.1.1.4) What practical uses would I have for a computer?
Within the last ten years, the number of practical applications for
personal computers has mushroomed to the point where anyone who is not
computer literate is at a serious disadvantage in the competitive
worlds of education and commerce. Computer games were the original
hook for most consumers, and word processing has since emerged as the
most popular practical application for end users. As useful as these
applications are, however, they are little more than flotsam when
compared with the phenomenal software vessels that sail the vast ocean
of computer technology. But don't take my word for it: Stop by any
store that sells computer software and do some window shopping.
8.1.2) Do I need my own computer?
No. Computers are as ubiquitous as telephones. The only reason you
would want to own a computer is for convenience, much like owning a
cellular phone.
8.1.2.1) What kind of a computer should I buy?
You should buy a computer with the features that you want at a price
that you can afford. If you are reading this FAQ, then you probably
want a Macintosh(r) or an IBM/IBM Clone (PC).
8.1.2.1.1) What is the difference between a Macintosh(r) and an IBM/IBM
Clone (PC)?
Macintosh(r) computers are much higher quality technology than IBM
technology. However, IBM is the standard for computer technology and
is much more affordable than Macintosh(r). Thus, if you are on a
limited budget, you probably want an IBM/IBM clone (PC), especially
because whatever you do buy will be obsolete when you buy it.
8.1.2.1.2) What is an IBM/IBM clone (PC)?
IBM buys its technology on the open market and sets the standard for
other computer companies (at least it used to do so). Many companies
build IBM clones (properly referred to as PCs) that meet or exceed
IBM's standards (i.e., 100% IBM Compatible).
8.1.2.2) What kind of features should I have on a computer?
There is no easy answer to this question, but as a general rule buy
only proven technology and avoid all the bells and whistles. New
technology is inherently unreliable because many bugs are found only
after a product has been released. Members of the Davis community
have access to a variety of computers, so find out for yourself what
features are the most useful and reliable.
8.1.2.3) What kind of accessories should I get on my computer?
It depends upon what type of applications you are using. If you are
reading this FAQ, you probably only need a modem and/or a printer.
8.2) What computer facilities are available to members of the Davis
community?
For a small monthly fee, the DCN will give you 50 hours of access to
the dial-in computer services that U.C. Davis provides to its
students, faculty, and staff. Anyone can telnet to the DCN server to
open an account (<telnet:wheel.dcn.davis.ca.us >). For more
information on the DCN, see the davis.dcn USENET newsgroup
(<news:davis.dcn >) or visit the DCN Home Page on the World Wide Web
(<http://www.dcn.davis.ca.us/ >).
Note that ucd.* and davis.* newsgroups are not available to the
general public. The DCN shares facilities with U.C. Davis as part of
a special research agreement, and some other private ISPs/BBSs such as
mother.com and America OnLine also have access to these newsgroups.
When I directed friends and colleagues of mine to the DCN at its
inception, they were told that the DCN did not offer accounts to
commercial users of the Internet (i.e., those who wanted to maintain
Home Pages on the World Wide Web) and it referred inquiries from
various commercial users to mother.com as a Davis based ISP. Now DCN
has emerged as mother.com's major local competition in Davis.
I have no relationship whatsoever to mother.com, but Steve
Wormley of mother.com was courteous enough to promptly provide public
access to the yolo.* newsgroups in response to my inquiries on behalf
of a sac.general poster who could not access the yolo.* newsgroups.
Moreover, some people have strongly endorsed mother.com as a Davis-
based ISP in USENET posts on sac.general and private e-mail messages
to me. However, I remain hesitant to recommend mother.com as a Davis
based ISP until I know more about their services. For more
information about mother.com's services, visit the mother.com Home
Page on the World Wide Web (<http://www.mother.com/ >).
Due in no small part to the spectacular growth of the Internet
that occurred late in 1995, a number of Davis-based ISPs are now
forming, and a number of low cost ISPs that are not based in Davis are
beginning to maintain a Davis presence. We are living in interesting
times, and it's too soon to tell what the long term effects of this
current market shakeup will be. Taking harbor with an established ISP
will give you no long-term guarantees. as some of the most viable ISPs
were formed very recently. In any event, whatever ISP you choose, you
will have to provide your own computer and your own modem.
8.3) What is the Internet?
The Internet is the product of a worldwide computer network developed
by the military in the late 1960s (ARPANET), nurtured by academicians
over the last 20 years or so, and currently used primarily as a medium
for the communication and free exchange of information and ideas for
anyone who knows how to obtain Internet access. There are more
breathtaking Internet applications, but they are not for "newbies" and
they are well beyond the scope of this FAQ.
8.3.1) How can I obtain access to the Internet?
You can use any computer system that has "telnet" capabilities or you
can use your home computer to telnet via modem to your ISP.
8.3.1.1) How do I telnet from a computer system that has telnet
capabilities?
At the Unix prompt, simply type in "telnet" (without the quotes) and
the name (or IP address) of the computer system which you wish to
access. For example:
telnet computer.system
where computer.system is the name of a hypothetical computer system
that you wish to access by telnet. You will then be asked for your
account name and password, which is assigned to you by your ISP.
8.3.1.2) How do I obtain access to the Internet from my home computer?
You will need a modem and some sort of communications software. Check
with the DCN or your own ISP for further information.
8.3.2) How do I communicate with other people on the Internet?
Communication between individuals on the Internet usually takes place
through the institutions of e-mail and the USENET newsgroups. These
are the most straightforward and easy to use Internet applications.
Live time conversations also take place with the Internet Relay Chat
(IRC); the World Wide Web provides access to multimedia communication.
I hesitate to mention the highly intrusive Internet communication
software "talk/ytalk," but for those of you who want more information
on how to interrupt people with a talk request, contact David T.
Witkowski (<mailto:dtwitkowski@ucdavis.edu >; readers with a web
browser may visit David T. Witkowski's Ytalk Primer on the World Wide
Web (<http://www.ece.ucdavis.edu/~witkowsk/ytalk.html >).
8.3.2.1) Are there any rules for using e-mail and the USENET newsgroups.
In most instances, yes. Most ISPs impose regulations for e-mail and
the USENET. There are also informal rules of conduct that are
enforced by the Internet community (fondly referred to as
"netiquette"). For further information on official regulations on e-
mail and the USENET, contact your ISP. As for netiquette, use your
own good judgment.
8.3.2.2) What is the difference between e-mail and the USENET newsgroups?
The primary difference between e-mail and the USENET is privacy.
However, neither e-mail or the USENET are confidential. An e-mail
message is directed to a particular individual or group of
individuals; a USENET article is directed to anyone who has access to
the newsgroup where the article is posted. If you want to conduct
confidential communications over the Internet, check out an encryption
program such as PGP ("Pretty Good Privacy").
PGP has a public domain version that is available free of charge
to anyone who is using it for non-commercial purposes. It has
thwarted virtually every attempt that computer hackers have made to
crack it. What makes PGP unique is that the key that encrypts your
mail (i.e., your "public key") is distinct and separate from the key
that unscrambles it (i.e., your "private key"). Unless you tell
someone your private PGP key or someone guesses it (which could take
thousands of years of computer time) or discovers it by eavesdropping,
no one can read your PGP encrypted mail.
8.3.2.2.1) How do I use e-mail?
The most straightforward and easy way to use e-mail on the DCN is by
using a program called "pine" (pine is an acronym for "pine is nearly
elm"-- elm was an e-mail program that preceded pine). To use pine,
type in "pine" (without the quotes) at the Unix prompt. The pine
application is menu-driven, so just follow the instructions that you
see on the screen.
8.3.2.2.2) How do I use the USENET newsgroups?
The most straightforward and easy way to use the USENET newsgroups on
the DCN is by using a program called "tin." To use tin, type in "tin"
(without the quotes) at the Unix prompt. The tin program is menu-
driven, so just follow the instructions.
8.3.2.2.2.1) How many USENET newsgroups are there?
There are several thousand USENET newsgroups (more than anyone could
ever hope to read), and there are more being created every day. Thus,
you should decide which newsgroups you want to read.
8.3.2.2.2.2) How do I figure out which newsgroups I want to read?
The USENET newsgroups are organized into a heirarchy that includes
regional and other domains. You can use this hierarchy to select-out
thousands of newsgroups that do not interest you. With tin, use the
"yank" command (with the "y" key), the "search" command (with the "/"
key), and the "subscribe" command (with the "s" key). After you've
subscribed to the named groups that you want, simply yank out the
rest. The "unsubscribe" command (the "u" key) will eliminate unwanted
groups. For more information, use the online help in tin (^g).
8.3.2.2.2.2.1) Which USENET newsgroups are of interest to members of the
Davis community?
It depends upon the individual, but at the very least members of the
Davis community would probably be interested in a number of the
regional domains that are available through the Davis USENET; people
who are new to the Internet would also be interested in a number of
newsgroups found in the news.* domain. You should subscribe to
news.announce.newusers (<news:news.announce.newusers >) until you feel
that you know more than most of the other people that subscribe to
that group. You will also find FAQs on every conceivable topic in the
news.answers newsgroup (<news:news.answers >).
8.3.2.2.2.2.2) What regional domains are available through the Davis
USENET?
The ucd.* domain, the ucb.*, the davis.* domain, the yolo.* domain,
the sac.* domain, the ba.* domain, and the ca.* domain are all
regional domains that the Davis USENET can access through the U.C.
Davis USENET; Netscape can access virtually any regional USENET domain
through the World Wide Web.
8.3.2.2.2.2.3) What USENET newsgroups are available on the davis.* domain?
The davis.* domain is comprised of the following USENET newsgroups:
* davis.arts (<news:davis.arts >).
* davis.business (<news:davis.business >).
* davis.crime (<news:davis.crime >): This newsgroup was
originally moderated by Community Service Officer (CSO)
Christian Sandvig (<mailto:dpd@dcn.davis.ca.us >) of the
Davis Police Department. The davis.crime newsgroup is also
home to the davis.crime FAQ, maintained by CSO Sandvig.
* davis.dcn (<news:davis.dcn >): By far the busiest of the
davis.* newsgroups, members of the DCN use this newsgroup to
discuss technical issues relating to the DCN.
* davis.education (<news:davis.education >).
* davis.environment (<news:davis.environment >).
* davis.general (<news:davis.general >).
* davis.general-plan (<news:davis.general-plan >).
* davis.government (<news:davis.government >).
* davis.health (<news:davis.health >).
* davis.media (<news:davis.media >).
* davis.news.admin (<news:davis.news.admin >).
* davis.rec (<news:davis.rec >).
* davis.religion (<news:davis.religion >).
* davis.seniors (<news:davis.seniors >).
* davis.test (<news:davis.test >).
* davis.youth (<news:davis.youth >).
Most of the davis.* USENET newgroups are deceptively quiet because of
the proliferation of World Wide Web sites on the DCN. Ironically, the
DCN FAQ Project might never reach the vast majority of people on the
USENET newsgroups in need of the DCN FAQs because new users might
never know where to look for the FAQs. The present publication of
this FAQ on davis.general, however, should quickly change all this ;->
8.3.2.3) How do I use the IRC?
To use the IRC, type in "irc" (without the quotes) at the Unix prompt.
There is online help available for the IRC and many of the people who
you meet on the IRC will be willing to answer many of your questions.
You will also find a FAQ on the IRC in the news.answers USENET
newsgroup (<news:news.answers >).
8.3.2.4) How do I access the World Wide Web?
You can access the World Wide Web by using a text-based program, such
as "lynx," or by using a "web browser," such as "Netscape." Access to
the multi-media features of various web sites (i.e., pictures and
sound) is the biggest advantage of using Netscape.
8.3.2.4.1) How do I use lynx?
Simply type in "lynx" (without the quotes) at the Unix prompt and
follow the instructions that you find on the screen.
8.3.2.4.2) How do I use Netscape?
Netscape is easy to use and has many exciting and revolutionary multi-
media/multi-protocol features, but you will probably need help from
someone who knows what he or she is doing to learn how to use
Netscape. For more information on Netscape, visit the Netscape Home
Page on the World Wide Web (<http://home.netscape.com/ >).
8.3.3) What resources are available over the Internet?
In addition to the communication and exchange of information that
people can accomplish over the Internet using e-mail, USENET, and IRC,
people can download archived information from computers on the
Internet using "file transfer protocol" (ftp).
8.3.3.1) What is ftp and how does it work?
The ftp function resembles the telnet function (the basic method of
gaining access to the Internet for e-mail and the USENET), but ftp is
only used for downloading or uploading information. There are
generally two ways to access a computer via ftp, anonymous and
privileged.
8.3.3.1.1) How do I use anonymous ftp?
When you know which anonymous ftp site has the information that you
want, log onto it using the ftp program:
* Type in "ftp" (without the quotes) at the Unix prompt,
followed by the name of the ftp site that you wish to
access. For example:
ftp ftp.site
where ftp.site is the name of a hypothetical ftp site that
you want to access.
* You will be asked to provide your username, type in:
anonymous
* You will then be asked to provide your password.
DO NOT TYPE IN YOUR PASSWORD! *ANONYMOUS* FTP IS SUPPOSED
TO BE *ANONYMOUS*. If you wish, you may type in your
Internet address as a return address, but you do not need to
do so. Virtually any response to the password request will
give you access to an anonymous ftp site.
* Type in the GET command, followed by the exact name of the
file that you want. For example:
get ftp-document
where ftp-document is the name of a hypothetical ftp
document that you want to obtain via ftp. This procedure
will retrieve any ASCII document.
* If for some reason, there is something wrong with the
document you obtain, it is probably not an ASCII document,
so start over at the beginning and set the code to binary by
typing in "binary" (without the quotes) after you have
opened the anonymous ftp site. For example:
binary
This should fix the problem so that you can GET the document
that you want. If it doesn't, then the file you have is
probably compressed or encrypted, so you will need to find
out what program you should use to decompress or decrypt the
file.
Note: Check with the DCN or your own ISP for more information on the
quirks of their ftp programs.
8.3.3.1.2) How do I use privileged ftp?
A privileged ftp site requires an actual username and an actual
password (as opposed to an anonymous ftp site). Privileged ftp sites
have all of the features of an anonyomus ftp site; you can also use
the PUT command with privileged ftp. For example:
put ftp-document
where ftp-document is the name of a hypothetical document that you
want to load to your privileged ftp site.
8.3.3.1.3) How do I obtain ftp files by e-mail request?
For information on ftp by e-mail service, send an e-mail message to
ftpmail@decwrl.dec.com with the text "help" somewhere in the body of
the message. Many ftp sites have mail-server software that will send
ftp files by e-mail request. For example, to obtain this faq by e-
mail, send the following message to mail-server@rtfm.mit.edu:
send usenet/news.answers/davis/faq/part*
. . .
quit
Where * is replaced by the numbers 1 through 6 in successive lines of
text. Other FAQs that I have written are archived at rtfm.mit.edu
under the appropriate archive name in the pub/usenet/news.answers
directory. See Section 1.5 for more information about these other
FAQs. To obtain one of these other FAQs, change the text of your
message on the line that begins with "send" so that the archive names
davis/faq/part* are replaced with the archive names of the other FAQ.
8.3.3.1.4) How can I find out what information is available via ftp?
You can use various "search engines" on the Internet. For example, my
favorite search engine on the World Wide Web is Yahoo
(<http://www.yahoo.com/ >).
8.3.3.1.4.1) What is a gopher?
The term gopher primarily refers to two very closely related things:
A computer protocol and a type of menu-driven computer application.
People use gophers to burrow through the Internet, figuratively
speaking, and help them find the information that they want. Gophers
are named after the mascot of the University of Minnesota where the
gopher protocol was developed. All the gophers in the world are
interconnected, so if you want to use a gopher, simply type in
"gopher" (without the quotes) at the Unix prompt and follow the
directions.
8.3.3.1.4.2) Who (or what) is/are Veronica and Jughead?
Veronica (*Very *Easy *Rodent *Oriented *Netwide *Index to *Computer
*Archives) and Jughead (*Jonzi's *Universal *Gopher *Hierarchy
*Excavation *And *Display) are somewhat dated gopher-based search
engines. You will probably not have call to use them.
8.3.3.1.4.3) Who (or what) is Archie?
Archie (*Archive *Retrieval *C--- *H--- *I--- *E--) is a search
engine that helps you locate computer programs that are archived on
ftp sites on the Internet. To use Archie, simply type in "archie"
(without the quotes) at the Unix prompt and follow the directions.
8.3.3.2) [Miscellaneous sections currently under construction.]
8.3.4) LOCAL LEGENDS ON THE DAVIS USENET.
Nominations for this category are welcome. I will make the final
decision as to who qualifies. As it stands right now, the davis.*
USENET newsgroups (other than davis.dcn and davis.crime) are
conspicuously void of any activity.
- Jf Cacas
Jf Cacas used the davis.crime USENET newsgroup (<news:davis.crime >)
to protest the harsh restrictions on Concealed Weapon Permits in the
town of Davis. In his cause, he found both support and flames from
members of the Davis virtual community.
- Community Service Officer Christian Sandvig
CSO Sandvig was once the moderator of the davis.crime USENET
newsgroup, where he continues to do an admirable job of tolerating the
heckling of anal-retentive nit-pickers such as myself. CSO Sandvig is
an undergraduate at U.C. Davis (one of the dying breed of Rhetoric &
Communication Majors) where he works on the editorial staff of "Think"
magazine (<http://think.ucdavis.edu/ >).
9) REVISIONS FOR FUTURE VERSIONS OF THE DAVIS USENET FAQ.
[Note: Expect periodic revisions in this section and/or its
subsections.] While I intend to add more information to this FAQ in
the future, it has pretty much passed through its puberty. I have
made every effort to make sure that the structure and organization of
this FAQ will not require much change. If information is
substantially changed or deleted, I will include specific notations
bracketed in the section headings as follows:
* [CORRECTIONS]--If information is revised because of
substantial inaccuracy, I will mark the heading with this
notation; I will *not* note minor corrections.
* [Del]--Old section deleted.
* [New]--New section.
* [Rev]--Revised section.
* [Moved from . . .]/[Moved to . . .]--Section moved;
information unchanged.
As the above notations are meant to accomodate regular readers of
this FAQ, these notations will only appear for one month.
9.1) CHANGES IN THIS VERSION OF THE DAVIS USENET FAQ FROM PREVIOUS
VERSIONS.
Due to ongoing changes in various navigational links for city service
on the Davis Web, I deleted two sections and replaced them with a more
generic one. Moreover, I have changed a number of navigational links
that used to access the hypertext version of this FAQ at the USENET
FAQ Project. I did so in response to a major snafu at the USENET FAQ
project that I was powerless to fix.
9.2) CHANGES THAT WILL TAKE PLACE IN FUTURE VERSIONS OF THIS FAQ.
No changes are currently planned for the structure and/or organization
of future versions of this FAQ. I will simply add more information to
the few areas that I still consider deficient and/or add sections for
which I did not have enough information to include at this time. Your
comments are very much appreciated, even though I cannot reply to
every inquiry that I receive. Specifically, please let me know where
you found out about this FAQ and where you think that I should post a
notice of its availability.
- - - - -
End Document:
The Davis, California USENET FAQ Part 6 of 6
Frequently Asked Questions at and about Davis, California
(c) Copyright 1995 & 1996
by
David F. Prenatt, Jr.
Internet Esquire(sm)
P.O. Box 74632
Davis, CA 95617-5632
World Wide Web: <http://www.dcn.davis.ca.us/~netesq >
E-mail: <mailto:NetEsq@dcn.davis.ca.us >
Last document.
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