NetNews Usenet Archive 1992 #31

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Comments: Gated by NETNEWS@AUVM.AMERICAN.EDU Path: sparky!uunet!paladin.american.edu!auvm!PLAINS.NODAK.EDU!SACKMAN Approved-By: EDTECH Moderator <21765EDT@MSU.BITNET> Message-ID: <EDTECH%92122818071386@OHSTVMA.ACS.OHIO-STATE.EDU> Newsgroups: bit.listserv.edtech Approved: NETNEWS@AUVM.AMERICAN.EDU Date: Mon, 28 Dec 1992 18:04:14 EST Sender: EDTECH - Educational Technology <EDTECH@OHSTVMA.BITNET> From: Gleason Sackman <sackman@plains.nodak.edu> Subject: GeoInfo BBS Network (from comp.infosystems.gis) (from KIDSNET) Lines: 495 ---------- Text of forwarded message ---------- Date: Sat, 26 Dec 1992 23:38:47 EST From: KIDSNET Mailing List <KIDSNET@vms.cis.pitt.edu> To: KIDSNET Subscribers <KIDSNET@vms.cis.pitt.edu> Subject: GeoInfo BBS Network (from comp.infosystems.gis) Date: 23 Dec 92 06:16:24 GMT From: tcsmith@cdmg-hq.UUCP (Ted Smith) Subject: GeoInfo BBS Network Newsgroups: comp.infosystems.gis X-Maildoor: WaflineMail 1.00r GGGGGGG EEEEEEE OOOOOOO IIII NNNN NN FFFFFFF OOOOOOO GG EE OO OO II NN NN NN FF OO OO GG GGG EEEEE OO OO II NN NN NN FFFFF OO OO GG GG EE OO OO II NN NN NN FF OO OO GGGGGGG EEEEEEE OOOOOOO IIII NN NNNN FF OOOOOOO Information as of December 22, 1992 Updated information on the public e-mail network: GeoInfo. This free communication forum is based on qwk/rep mail packets available via public telephone lines accessible to all modem users. The name says it best: geo- " earth " [ from the Greek "ge"] Because we are all students of the earth: "geologists". -Info [ Informal, Information ] Because learning by e-mail is fun! GeoInfo Because GEOgraphic INFOrmation systems (GIS) are advancing the technological frontiers of earth science. We are pleased to offer this communication tool for earth science awareness to connect interested public: geoscientists, teachers, rockhounds, mapping specialists, resource managers, and students across North America. Ours is a new microcomputer network aimed at home computer users as well as academia and business that need rapid dissemination of information or just want to keep in touch with colleagues or know the latest news on earthquake or volcanic events. Whatever the interest or specialty, we are all students of the earth: "geologists". This information bulletin is a public call to BBS SysOps (System Operators) to join our growing net. Our Charter members cover Ontario, Kansas, Colorado, Arizona and California with cross links to numerous BBS's on other networks. Additional nodes are being added in Iowa, Colorado, and California as this is being written. We hope to sign up more geoscience-oriented systems in North America and welcome offshore Bulletin Boards to reach internationally. GeoInfo is a *.qwk packet based echomail network initially established by computer bulletin boards using Wildcat! BBS software (Mustang Software Inc.), the TomCat 3.02+ door and TNET 2.2+ mail tosser or equivalent. If you can handle qwk/rep packets in your e-mail traffic, you probably have the technology to join. We welcome quality Boards! BBS members of this network must have (or plan) a significant earth sciences or GIS content as part of their public offering. Application to join can be made at any Hub or echoed to a Hub via any Node system. Although there is no fee for joining as a Node, BBS membership is screened by one of our Hub members by reviewing the contents of your Board. You may echo from any Hub and we recommend you check the best connection (modem compatibility, distance) before setting up your mail runs. Once accepted as a GeoInfo SysOp, you will automatically have free message access to all our member Boards. The policies are simple: we SysOps have worked hard to develop a valuable communication tool and expect responsible adult standards of all participants. We obey all laws and rules of BBS etiquette. Each member BBS is responsible for the behavior of its message base users. Any BBS identified in breach of criminal laws will be dropped from the Net after one warning. Posting of pirated software, military classified information, copyright infringement, obscene material, etc. would qualify for a warning. Cancellation of privileges is by a vote of network Hubs. There are many networks cluttered with thousands of general interest conferences suitable for hobby hackers and kids. We wish to limit message traffic on the GeoInfo Net to useful information of value to GIS/mapping specialists; geoscience educators and professionals; advanced students and knowledgeable hobbyists (rockhounds, amateur seismologists, naturalists, etc.). We want message quality, not quantity. Because each BBS must absorb the long-distance costs for mail exchange some member Boards charge a modest membership fee for regular users having access to the network. Other Boards get sponsorship via governments, companies or professional societies. But all Boards are public access Boards that welcome new callers. The user fees offset the local BBS costs and encourage GeoInfo to grow. To allow each BBS the opportunity to acquire local users, the net-SysOp access at any Hub is partially controlled by the other nodes in the same telephone area code. Any BBS with a strong geoscience "flavor" is welcome, even within the same area code, as long as it does not impact negatively on the overall development of the network. To join the network, you must have any of the *.qwk/*.rep mail packet generating netmail software (e.g. Tnet, Qnet, Rnet, Rosemail). For echo information, call us at one of the national or regional Hubs or transfer your application via the closest local member Board. CURRENT MEMBERS OF THE GEOINFO NETWORK: ======================================= +======================================================================+ | U.S.A. NATIONAL HUB of GeoInfo | |======================================================================| | GeoNet BBS at (316) 265-6457 2400b Wichita, Kansas | | (316) 265-1994 9600+b | | Running: Wildcat 3.55 multi-line. Novell 3.11. 900 meg | | Fees/Sponsor: Kansas Geological Society, subscribers | | Key SySop: Tyler Sanders, phone (316) 267-4379 | | Co-SysOp: Larry Nicholson, fax (316) 267-4383 | | Modem: USR Dual Standard 9600 V.32bis/42bis set 8-N-1 | | Theme: members of Kansas Geological Society & public. | | On-line service for geology information. No games. | | Voice: (316) 265-8676 | | Snail Mail: Kansas Geological Society | | 212 N. Market St. #100 | | Wichita, Kansas, 67202 U.S.A. | +======================================================================+ +======================================================================+ | CANADA NATIONAL HUB of GeoInfo | |======================================================================| | GeoFuel GeoScience BBS Oakville, Ontario | | at (416) 829-4097 since Mar.1991 | | (416) 829-0858 (soon) | | Running: Wildcat! 3.02 multi-line, Tomcat, Tnet | | Fees/Sponsor: private, subscriptions $29/year | | 1992 Canadian Geological Foundation donation. | | SySop: Dr. Dieter Birk, P.Geol. (geochemist, R&D management)| | Modem: USR Courier HST 14.4 set: 8-N-1 | | USR Courier HST/Dual Standard 16.8 (pending) | | Theme: Geoscience awareness by connecting geologists | | educators and rockhounds. Geoscience files from | | specialist freeware, to games and images. On-line | | technical information, door games, collector | | sites, swap shops. AutoCAD, GIS user groups. | | | | Voice: (416) 829-2716 | | Snail Mail: GeoFuel GeoScience BBS | | c/o Dieter Birk | | 2704 Ashridge Place | | Oakville, Ontario | | L6J 7K3 CANADA | | | | Internet Address: geofuel@gpu.utcs.utoronto.ca | +======================================================================+ +======================================================================+ | WESTERN U.S.A.: REGIONAL HUB of GeoInfo | |======================================================================| | CDMG ONLINE at (916) 327-1208 Sacramento, CA | | Running: Wildcat! 3.55 | | Fees/Sponsor: California Division of Mines & Geology | | (in Department of Conservation). No fees. | | SySop: Ted Smith | | Modem: Hayes Ultra 9600, MNP-5, V42bis | | Theme: California's geology and the wise use of geologic | | information in land-use planning and development; | | geologic hazards reduction; conferences of interest | | to geologists, geographers, GIS-operators, engineers | | and seismologists; information on recent earth- | | quakes; announcements of professional meetings, | | Internet echoes (geoscience and astronomy); info | | about recently released publications of CDMG | | and the California Division of Oil & Gas. | | | | Voice: (916) 322-4149 | | FAX: (916) 445-5718 | | Snail Mail: California Dept. of Conservation | | Division of Mines and Geology | | 801K Street MS 12-30 | | Sacramento, CA 95814-3531 | | | | Internet Address: cdmg-hq!tcsmith@citrus.sac.ca.us | | or: tcs@sactoh0.SAC.CA.US | +======================================================================+ +======================================================================+ |U.S.A. NODE SYSTEMS: | |----------------------------------------------------------------------| | GISnet BBS at (303) 447-0927 Boulder, Colorado | | running Wildcat! 3.02s on Gateway 386/25 | | Fees/Sponsor: Subscriptions $48/year | | SysOp: Bill Thoen | | Modem: Telebit T1600 9600 v.32 set 8-N-1 | | Theme: Geographic Information Systems software, data, | | desktop mapping, satellite imaging, GPS, remote | | sensing. Also monitors geology, meteorology, space | | research. Internet echoes. | | | | Voice: (303) 786-9961 | | Snail Mail: 1401 Walnut St., Suite C | | Boulder, Colorado, 80302 U.S.A. | | | | Internet Address: bthoen@csn.org | |----------------------------------------------------------------------| | PreCambrian BBS at (602) 881-5836 Tucson, Arizona | | Running: Wildcat! 3.55s | | Fee/Sponsor: GeoApplications. No user fees. | | SysOp: Angus Scott-Fleming (Geophysicist) | | Modem: Compucom Speedmodem Star V.32bis, V.42bis, CSP | | Theme: PreCambrian provides client support to supplement | | consulting services of GeoApplications. Initial 1987 | | geoscience consulting has now expanded to include | | custom software and hardware for databases, local | | area networks (NetWare, Lantastic). Clients include | | groundwater consultants, mining companies. SysOp's | | geoscience experience is in exploration geophysics | | (base/precious metals, petroleum, groundwater, | | diamonds). Wife is a hydrogeologist. | | | | Voice: (602) 323-9170 | | Fax: (602) 327-7752 | | Snail Mail: GeoApplications | | P.O. Box 41082 | | Tucson, Arizona, 85717-1082 U.S.A. | | | | Internet Address: 75500.3223@compuserv.com | +======================================================================+ The following systems have indicated interest in joining GeoInfo and should be coming on line in early 1993: Computer-Oriented Geological Society (COGS; in Colorado) PSN San Jose (California) U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) BBS (Menlo Park, California) PSN Pasadena (California) The Computer Plumber BBS (Iowa) CONFERENCE OFFERINGS: (current listing) ======================================== CONFERENCES ALL GEOINFO NODES MUST CARRY: GeoInfoSysop - Member Net SysOps, administration, echo tests. Attached files and private messages allowed. GeoChat - Open chat conference -- you pick the subject. General Geology - Open for discussion of any topic related to geology and geoscience. THEME CONFERENCES (not necessarily carried on all nodes): Astrogeology - Planetary geology, Moon, Space [not Earth] Atmospheric Sciences - Meteorology, weather, the atmosphere AutoCAD 4 Mapping - Computer aided drawing, drafting, AutoCAD as used in map preparation Earthquake Engineering - Structural/civil engineering for earthquakes Engineering Geology - Hazard mitigation; tunneling; urban geology Environmental Geology - Ecology, waste management, etc. Gemology - Gems, crystallography, lapidary Geochemistry - Rock/mineral chemistry, assays, lab-talk GeoEducation - Geoscience education, courses, student/ teacher talk, etc. GeoEnergy - Fuel technology, nuclear, coal, hydrothermal Geography - Physical and cultural geography Geologic Events - Recent phenomena: volcanic eruptions, floods, meteorite impacts, earthquakes, etc. Geomorphology - Earth's surface morphology, glaciology, erosion, etc. Geophysics - Geomagnetism, petrophysics, resistivity, etc. GeoSale - Ads for sale or trade of hardware, field, lab equipment, etc. GeoSci Crossfire - Open discussion of "Hot" topics Geoscience Meetings - Announcements of meetings, workshops, field trips, and short courses Geoscience Software - Geoscience software GIS - GIS Software (ARC/INFO, MOSS, OZgis, etc), geoscience spacial databases. GIS/Geo Legal Issues - Legal issues related to GIS and/or geoscience GPS/Geodesy - Global Positioning Systems, digital earth charts, satellites, geodesy, History of Geology - Famous geologists, antique books, museums old theories, career yarns, historical lies. Hydrology/Hydrogeology - Surface and subsurface hydrology; waste management; stream erosion and sedimentation; floods Job Market - Job opportunities and jobs wanted in the geosciences and GIS field Licensing & Geology - Discussion of pros/cons, history, etc., of licensing of geoscientists Maps & Mapping - Map sources, surveying, field geology Mineralogy & Petrology - Petrology, Mineralogy: rocks, minerals Mining Geology - Mines & mineral exploration: metals & non-metals Oceanography - Oceanography, coastal erosion, storm surges; floods Organic Geology - Kerogen/oil geochemistry, coal, oil shale Paleontology - Fossils, palynology, archaeologic geology, paleoecology Petroleum Geology - Exploration/recovery: oil, gas, tar sand Remote Sensing - Remote Sensing, geophysical instrumentation Rockhounds - Rock & mineral collectors, swap shop Seismology - Seismology as a science, subsurface exploration, earthquake location techniques Stratigraphy - Stratigraphy & sedimentation Private Mail (fees $) - User-to-user, private messages [SysOp readable] and attached files allowed. Expect that some conferences will have low message traffic for this initial year of echo operations. Redundant conferences will be merged in future years. Conference names may be customized on each system and grouping may reflect local themes. BBS's may carry any other Networks and local Conferences as long as rules of cross posting are observed. Private Mail and GeoInfo SysOp are restricted conferences. INSTRUCTIONS TO BBS NODES & HUBS: ================================= These rules are set out in the spirit of international cooperation. 1. All BBS nodes and Hubs must echo #1 (GeoInfoSysOp) as a private conference for sysops only. No other network sysops or BBS users should have access. Private Mail may be restricted by special user fees. 2. All BBS nodes & Hubs must carry the #2 (GeoChat) as the common public forum. Set mail tosser for this and all other GeoInfo conferences (except Private Mail) for public messages only (no private mail). 3. All Boards should echo at least once per week while Hubs should echo more frequently as per message traffic. All Hubs must carry all conferences. To minimize on-line time, all participating Boards should offer their callers access to shareware off-line mail readers as free downloads. 4. All HUBS must carry all GeoInfo conferences. New conferences are added or dead conferences deleted every 6 months by votes cast at the USA National Hub (GEOnet, Kansas). To prevent chaos in the use of script files for automated echoes, each Hub agrees to announce changes to it's log-on format or conference numbering via the GeoInfo SysOp conference. This is a public echo network so all conference mail should be set to "public". Only the Private Mail conference carries private mail. 5. This information file for the network should be available as a publicly accessible download on all Nodes and Hubs. 6. All BBS Nodes and Hubs should identify the conferences by a GeoInfo menu item (e.g.): GeoInfo * Mining Geology echo 7. Mail transfers should have a tagline that indicates the network as follows| SLMR ~* GeoInfo * Your BBS * Your Town, State * (123) 456-7890 8. All nodes should prepare a text file describing their BBS theme and perhaps the history of the board or SysOp for inclusion in any network publicity. Upload this file in ASCII format (or zipped ASCII) to the Hub or post as a message on the GeoInfoSysOp conference. 9. In order to facilitate file exchanges, each Node should upload a file listing periodically to the Hub. Hubs should post and exchange with all other Hubs. Some Boards may wish to exchange files by appending to messages. This should be done ONLY through the GeoSysOp or Private Mail conference and should NOT be a feature available to all users. Automated mail runs that include uncontrolled file exchanges could quickly increase SysOp phone bills to a prohibitive level! 10. Node Boards that do not carry the full complement of GeoInfo Conferences should NOT give echo feeds to unregistered BBS's. 11. Hubs and Nodes should NEVER cross-link GeoInfo Conferences with those from other Networks without the notification and agreement of all Hubs. Agreement will require that one Hub be designated as the gateway between GeoInfo and any other Network. Such cross-posting will require the Hub to have dual Hub status (for both Networks) and the responsibility for appropriate gateway precautions. The Hub will be selected as gateway based on Network transmission costs and topology. 12. Because GeoInfo depends on volunteer labor and financial resources of SysOps or sponsors, all BBS's must agree to minimize expenses by: a. Discouraging messages with embedded files, encrypted *.GIF's etc. b. Discouraging excessive quotes of old messages (a few lines will suffice) c. Encouraging informative messages and intelligent comment or humor. d. Discouraging multiple postings within GeoInfo Conference offerings. e. Encouraging SysOps to acquire high speed modems (9600+). f. Encouraging usage of off-line mail readers and other Netiquette. g. Minimizing on-line bulletins or ANSI screens prior to user log-on and allowing SysOps user access via rapid BBS entry to mail tosser. h. Minimizing the need for changes to script files for automated mail runs. 13. All rules and regulations will be set by consensus of the Hubs after consultation with the Nodes (one vote per BBS). NEW NETWORK FEATURES: ===================== The following enhancements are currently under construction by member Boards of GeoInfo and will be made available in the near future| a. Geoscience File Database: A central database of earth science and GIS files available on member Boards. This will be offered as a Door feature to allow users a ready reference of file location. b. Internet gateway: Some member Boards are currently carrying USENET conferences from the Internet on a "read only" basis. In the future we hope to echo two ways and give access to users of GeoInfo. c. Joint Conferences: Negotiations are under way to allow cross-posting of messages from closely related conferences of certain qwk/rep compatible networks. Specifically, discussions have been held with the Science Factor Network (Washington) and the BRRAnet (a CAD/GIS network). You may apply by modem to any one of our Regional Hubs or Nodes. Please log on to our systems under your real name. Then upload your form and leave a message to the SysOp. Alternatively Call or mail to any one of the Hub addresses. There is NO fee for joining! ======================================================================== = GeoInfo Network: Membership Application (no fee) = ======================================================================== .....................................: Your Full Name .....................................: Your BBS's Full Name .....................................: Sponsor/Affiliation .....................................: Street Address .....................................: City/State/Province/Postal .............: Your home phone # (voice) ..............: FAX .............: Your business phone# (voice) ............: FAX .....................................: Internet or e-mail Address .....................................: Your public access BBS Number(s) [ ] V42BIS [ ] V32 [ ] V32BIS : Modems supported [ ] HST [ ] Telebit [ ] Compucom [ ] 16.8 [ ] Other ________________ .........: Number of nodes ..........: Number of Users .....................................: BBS software used / Version [ ] Yes [ ] No ..................: Do you support QWK mail packets? ...........: What mail door do you use? ..........: Years in Operation .....................................: What other NETs do you belong to? [ ] Node [ ] Regional Hub..........: Status Requested .....................................: Who is your PREFERRED Hub? ...................................... Geoscience theme of Your BBS ? ----------------------------------------------------------------------- NOTICE: IF you are approved, you may ask any Hub for assistance in setting up your mail transfers. We have script files available for some configurations. To facilitate your set-up, capture on-line the latest Conference listing from your preferred Hub using communications software. Run test mail echoes using the GeoInfo SysOps conference. --- * QMPro 1.0 41-6306 * BBSing: One part feudalism, one part anarchy, & all fun ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Gleason Sackman BBS: sackman@sendit.nodak.edu Coordinator Internet: sackman@plains.nodak.edu SENDIT - NoDak's K-12 Telcom Network Bitnet: sackman@plains.bitnet BOX 5164, NDSU Computer Center Voice: (701)237-8109 Fargo, ND 58105 Fax: (701)237-8541