Online services have one thing in common with newspapers, magazines and books. Their offerings vary from provider to provider. The next chapters will focus on the contents of the offerings. Appendix 1 has details about how to access the major service providers.
Often, small online services have interesting offerings in specialized areas, and especially when they are based on local phenomena or events. These services tend to be more personal. They often present their 'wares' in a local language, and offer large collections of free software.
The larger online services have hundreds of thousands of users. Activity is often high. They usually attract interesting (and competent) participants to their conferences and forums, have more free software for download and more news sources and databases to search. In short, they generally give you a wider choice.
In this handbook, we focus on the larger international services, and the Internet in particular. These services are generally available from anywhere without too much effort, and using them comes surprisingly cheap. Therefore, please remember that this book just covers the top of the iceberg. Cheaper services may be found elsewhere, and they may even be better tuned to your particular areas of interest.
There's an overwhelming number of game programs for all types of microcomputers on BBSes, commercial online services, and in Internet archives.
Many games are free. We call them "Public Domain" or "Freeware" programs. Others are distributed free. You do not have to pay to get and try them out. If you want to use them, however, the copyright owner expects you to pay a fee. We call them "shareware" or "user supported" programs.
When the game program has been transferred to your personal computer, you can play without worries about communications costs, or the busy signal on your phone line.
My favorite game is shareware. The name is Arachnid. It is an MS Windows solitaire game (patience) made by SP Services, P.O. Box 456, Southampton, SO9 7XG, England. The desired registration fee is UKP 15.00 (English pounds). You can download the program from my board as WINCARD.EXE. The file is 106 kilobytes large.
WINCARD.EXE is a special distribution file, which contains three games and all supporting files. The EXE extension may fool you into thinking that it is a program, and in a way it is. The file is a self-extract file, meaning that you just enter "WINCARD" on an MS-DOS computer to extract the game files from the "package."
Games are usually distributed in special distribution files. All files used by a game (or several games) are put into one file by special software, and compressed in size. This makes retrieval of programs easier and cheaper. You do not have to download many related files individually. The transfer takes less time. (Read in appendix 3 about how to extract programs from distribution files.)
Asia's possibly largest anonymous ftp archives with games software and more are at ftp://NCTUCCCA.edu.tw/. You may also want to search the archives of the comp.archives.msdos.announce newsgroup using DejaNews' Power Search feature.
GamesDomain is a central reference point for all things "games-related" on the Internet (at http://www.gamesdomain.co.uk/). It also points to information about PBMs, MUDs, MUSHes, Interactive games, and similar offerings.
GameWeb (http://thegw.com/) offers a comprehensive gaming search engine in addition to a cheats database, reviews, demos, patches, game software, tournaments, and links to ranked gaming sites on the Internet.
If you just have email access to the Internet, read this:
Try Archie, a distributed index to all the files available by anonymous ftp on the Internet. The Archie database maintains a list of millions of million files containing over 100 Gigabytes from hundreds of anonymous FTP archive sites. You can search the database by email to find where files are located. Some Archie systems maintain a list of libraries all over the world, while others concentrate on a more limited geographical area. Once Archie has told you where desired programs and files are located, you can retrieve them by telnet, anonymous FTP, FTPmail, and WWW. Read "File transfers through the Internet" in chapter 12 for details, and Appendix 6 about how to use Archie.Getting programs by email is a three-step process:
- Use Archie to find file names and where they are stored,
- Send a message to an FTPmail server to have them retrieved and forwarded to you by email, and
- Use a utility program to convert the file to a useful format. (See "Binary files transferred as text codes" in Chapter 12.)
Chances are that online services in your area also have many programs to offer. Most free bulletin boards have more software than you'll ever get around to try.
Usually, there is a natural specialization between boards. Those using the Unix operating system, have the largest number of programs for such machines. Those running on MS-DOS computers, have more programs for such computers.
Some games are trite and bad. Others are brilliant. There are ladder games, racer car driving, flight control, war, subsea games, electronic versions of traditional games like Backgammon, Yatzy, chess and bridge, educational games for geography, mathematics and history, puzzles, fractal programs that draw beautiful pictures on your screen, psychological tests, text- based adventure games, and more. There is something for everybody.
If you want to get rich in a hurry, go for programs that increase your chances of winning horse race bets, or other "real world" money winning games.
If you are into beautiful girls, fill your hard disk with picture files in GIF, PCX or other graphics formats. (Sorry ladies, there are not many pictures of naked boys around.) There is an abundance of shareware programs that will display the pictures on your computer screen.
Keen users of the more popular games often want to swap tricks and discuss experiences: Players of SNES, Nintendo, Gameboy, Nintendo 64, and the Virtual Boy regularly meet on the SNES-L mailing list. For information, check http://www.io.com/~averyc/snes-l-rules.html.
Have you heard about the Internet Go Server? This is where you can play Wei Qi online, an Ancient Chinese game. Try: telnet://igs.nuri.net:6969/
The ancient Chinese I-Ching can hardly be called a game. People use it to tell their fortunes. Explore the power of prophecy and how it can affect you. Concentrate on a problem or question facing you now. When you have it well visualized, select http://www.facade.com/Occult/iching/ to get your reading.
Usenet excels when it comes to games. Here are some newsgroups:
rec.games.board Discussion and hints on board games. rec.games.board.ce The Cosmic Encounter board game. rec.games.design Discussion of game design related issues. rec.games.go Discussion about Go. rec.games.misc Games and computer games. rec.games.pbm Discussion about Play by Mail games. rec.games.programmer Discussion of adventure game programming. rec.games.trivia Discussion about trivia. rec.games.video.arcade Discussions about coin-operated video games.
With so much going on, it is difficult to stay current on new programs and new versions of old ones. For announcements, check out the Usenet newsgroup called comp.archives.msdos.announce.
It is probably easier to relate to references like "rec.games.video on Usenet," than to TOW@LISTSERV.NODAK.EDU. References to mailing lists are made in various ways throughout the book, as is the case online. This is the basic rule:On the Internet, mailing lists are 'managed' by programs called LISTSERV, Majordomo, Listproc, etc. These programs handle subscription requests, requests for files, and more. When you see a reference like TOW@LISTSERV.NODAK.EDU, then this means that you MUST send your subscription request to one such program at the LISTSERV.NODAK.EDU site. Mail to the TOW forum, however, must be sent to the address TOW@LISTSERV.NODAK.EDU to be forwarded to the other members. (TOW is this handbook's support forum.)
In this book, we typically provide references to these forums in the following way:
The TOW mailing list (on listserv@listserv.nodak.edu). The SWONDER mailing list (on majordomo@darkwing.uoregon.edu).The subscription/signoff addresses are given in parenthesis, and the forum's name is typically given as upper case text.
You may also find it useful to read about email addresses in Chapter 7, and about LISTSERV in appendix 6.
Few online users ever live to see or experience a computer virus, but they do exist. So, read this:
A virus is a small, hidden computer program that can cause the loss or alteration of programs or data, and can compromise their confidentiality. It can spread from program to program, and from system to system, without direct human intervention.
The chance of your computer being infected is small, but you are never safe. Therefore, download a program for virus detection and identification, like VirusScan from McAfee Associates (http://www.mcafee.com). They also have virus disinfection programs.
For background on viruses, start by checking The AntiViral Toolkit Pro Virus Encyclopedia (AVPVE) at http://www.avp.ch/avpve/.
Consider joining the VIRUS-L mailing list. Send the command INFORMATION VIRUS-L to listproc@Lehigh.edu to find out how to subscribe. Usenet has comp.virus, alt.comp.virus, and more.
Did I say listproc@Lehigh.edu? Yes, this is an Internet email address. We will talk more about addressing email in Chapter 7. For now, let us concentrate on what's out there.
CompuServe has the Mac New Users Forum (with a Virus Clinic section), the McAfee Virus Help Forum, the Symantec AntiVirus Forum, and more. FidoNet has a VIRUS echo. ILINK has VIRUS-I. Usenet has comp.virus.
The good news is that most large providers of computer programs now have sophisticated virus scanning programs integrated into their services.
First, familiarize yourself with the Chess Frequently Asked Questions files at http://www.cis.ohio-state.edu/hypertext/faq/usenet/games/chess/.
CHESS-L, the Chess Discussion List is at listserv@nic.surfnet.nl.
On LISTSERV mailing lists, you subscribe by using the command "SUB <mailing-list-name> Your-full-name" in the body of your email. Replace "Your-full-name" with your real name.
To play or watch real-time chess with human opponents, try the Internet Chess Club at http://www.chessclub.com. Here, you can play 24 hours a day with people from all over the world. Blitz chess and slow chess. Get ratings, watch games, make friends, play in tournaments, study games with people, search their database of Grandmaster games. Scheduled visits from internationally famous Grandmasters. Guest visitors can play unrated games, or watch others play, for free.
Also, check out http://www.brokersys.com/~kcyong/ for links to Xiangqi, Weiqi (GO), and Taijiquan. Play Chinese Chess on telnet://128.103.28.15:5555/ .
CompuServe has a Chess forum (GO CHESSFORUM) with message sections called: Chess Basics, Theory & Analysis, News Wire, Hardware/Software, Casual Games, Electronic Knights, Oriental/Variants, Tourneys (Open), USCF Rated Games, Team Play, and Time Out.
The game of bridge is one of the world's most fascinating card games, with the same rules all over the world. For good starting points, link to http://www.okbridge.com. If you don't mind paying a membership fee, check out BPlive at: http://www.bridgeplayer.com/. Usenet has the rec.games.bridge newsgroup.
Interactive games, like bridge and chess, chat, and use of Internet phone technology, often lead to the inevitable question: "When should we meet?"
If your partners live in your country, a quick "Let's meet at 20:00!" may be enough. It may not be that easy if they live elsewhere. Terms like "My time" or "Your time" are often misinterpreted because of differences in local daylight savings times (also called "summer time").
The solution is to use a time that does not change by season and location. Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) is one such number. It has long been used as a basis for standard time around the world, and is also called Zulu time and World Time. Normally expressed in 24-hour time.
There are many services that provide the time right now expressed in GMT. My favorite is at: http://www.kidlink.org/cgi-bin/gmt. You'll find the real thing at http://www.greenwich2000.com/time.htm.
Now, just say: "Let's meet at 20:00 GMT." Connect to the Web address above to find out what this means. If your local time right now is 14:00, and GMT is 13:00, then you have a meeting set for 21:00 your time.
Why not investigate online adventure games? There are many alternatives. On the World Wide Web, Nintendo is at http://www.nintendo.com .
Among the offerings is a "chat room." Here, online gamers can talk with other gamers, Nintendo's Game Play Counselors, invited guest speakers, and video game celebrities.
Bulletin boards throughout the world invite to role playing games. Some have graphics, music and sound effects. Dungeons & Dragons is a popular choice.
On Exec-PC, play Startrek. Select an identity and "play it out" according to its character. If a real aficionado, check out rec.arts.startrek.info on Usenet.
STARGAME hosts several roleplaying game and discussion lists. For information of available lists, send an email message containing the command "lists" to Majordomo@stargame.org.
MUD is also a popular game.
Multi-User Dungeons (MUD) is a structured and user-modifiable online environment. It allows users not only to interact with each other, but to do role-playing, build and furnish living areas and interaction areas, extend and create the interactive "space," and make rules for using that space.As programmers create new types of MUDs, new names appear. These include TinyMud, DUM, MOO, MUCK, MUG, and many others.
For information, including addresses to places where you can try them out, consult the Frequently Asked Questions files at http://mailserv.cc.kuleuven.ac.be/faq/faq.html. Perform a keyword search for "mud."
Then, check out http://www.godlike.com/muds/
Popular choices on CompuServe are strategy games like The Island of Kesmai and Megawars. One game can last for weeks at a time. On CIX (England), many prefer the multi-user dungeon game DiscWorld.
If you prefer sport fantasies in the armchair, try Sierra's multiplayer Football Online on WorldPlay Entertainment. They also have over 40 multiplayer games and hundreds of chat rooms, bulletin boards and tournaments. (http://www.inngames.com/home.html).
Nintendo offers online games through the Famicom Networks in Japan and the U.S. Your PC must have a special graphics card to play games like GO and Shogi, a Japanese game of chess.
Chat, or "keyboard talking," is a popular attraction, and in particular on the large online services.
Your first attempt will probably be a strange experience. Your monitor will look like an unfolding screenplay, with you speaking one of the several parts.
When many people talk simultaneously in chat, incoherent sentences seem to fly over your computer screen. It takes some training to be able to read what each of them is saying.
CompuServe's Citizen Band Simulator (GO CB) is an electronic version of the hams' short-wave radio. It has 72 CB Simulator channels. You can chat with anonymous members, have fun and find new keypals.
Some users are serious about chatting. Several large companies are heavy users, and it also has educational applications. Although this kind of talking is a slow process, it has advantages. It is easy to document the discussion. People from places geographically far apart can meet and talk at a low cost.
Some online services charge less for chats than for other services.
The India Humor, Jokes & Fun Site (http://rajiv.com/india/humor/) is filled with jokes, cartoons, funny facts. For South African humour, jokes and fun, visit the za.humour newsgroup.
For the occasional joke, visit these two Web sites: The Barking Spider (at http://www.winn.com/bs/, and The Biggest List of Humor Sites On the Web (at http://www.bigron.com/). The latter offered the following "favorite" quote: "I want to die in my sleep peacefully like my grandfather, not screaming and in terror like his passengers."
Finally, lean back and enjoy HUMOR (on listserv@uga.cc.uga.edu). It distributes humor of all types, topics and tastes.
There are online forums for most hobbies: collection of stamps and coins, genealogy, music, holiday travels, skiing, purchase of consumer electronics, video, filming, and more.
The people you meet in these "clubs" share your interests. They come there to exchange information and experiences, to listen, swap stamps or coins, participate in club auctions, and exploit favorable group discounts when buying things for their hobby.
The main attraction is the open messages that people write to each other. Many clubs also have libraries filled with special software, like database programs for collectors, and information files.
The STAMPS mailing list (on listserv@psuvm.psu.edu) is for people who love philately.
The SKI-L mailing list on listproc@yukon.cren.org is about all topics on skiing except water skiing. Topics may include alpine and/or Nordic skiing, competitions, etc. The GoSKI Network World Resort Database (at http://www.goski.com) lists over 1,500 mountain resorts, with skier and snowboarder reviews, facts, contact information, and snow conditions. It said this about Hemsedal in Norway (1996):
Hemsedal, Norway 240 km northwest of Oslo (about 4 hours by train/bus). [IMAGE] Vertical Drop: 800m/2,624' Lifts: 15 (5 chairs, 10 surface) Trails: 30 Marked Runs: 40 km Cross Country: 90 km groomed Snow Conditions: 32 06 22 55 Tourist Office: 32 06 01 56
Sony (Japan) has launched an Internet-based service providing data from its music, movie and electronic publishing companies. Here, users can retrieve or watch music video clips, and hear brief sound samples from current and upcoming projects. Sony Online is at the Web address: http://www.sony.com.
If you prefer classical music, and have a sound card in your computer, point your Internet browser at The WebMuseum Auditorium ( http://sunsite.doc.ic.ac.uk/wm/snd/). Offerings include Johan Sebastian Bach's "Toccata and Fugue in d Minor," Johann Strauss's "Le beau Danube bleu," and Beethoven's "Hymne a la joie."
The LUDWIG mailing list (on listserv@maelstrom.stjohns.edu) is about the life and musical compositions of the German composer Ludwig van Beethoven. The CLASSM-L mailing list is on listserv@brownvm.brown.edu.
Medieval & Renaissance Music is available from mailbase@mailbase.ac.uk. To subscribe, send "join MED-AND-REN-MUSIC [your name]". For Middle-Eastern Music, send to middle-eastern-music-request@nic.funet.fi.
Mail the command "Subscribe UNDERCOVER" to majordomo@pobox.com to join the Rolling Stones mailing list. The http://www.stonesworld.com Web page pays tribute to the Stones in other ways. Frank Sinatra is on the SINATRA mailing list on listserv@listserv.temple.edu, and his fan club on the following Web address: http://www.sinatraclub.com. The Michael Jackson Internet Fan Club is at http://fred.net/mjj/.
For jazz, try the ILINK conference JAZZ, rec.music.bluenote on Usenet, MILES on listserv@hearn.nic.surfnet.nl (about Miles Davis), or BLUES-L at listserv@brownvm.brown.edu and the bit.listserv.blues-l newsgroup. On another jazz oriented list, SATURN (on listserv@hearn.nic.surfnet.nl), they discuss Sun Ra, the free-jazz big band leader.
Visit http://itchy.faa.uiuc.edu/22.html for information about the Elton John mailing list. Genesis is at (paperlate-request@atom.ansto.gov.au).
There's an U2 (Wire) mailing list. For further information, check the FAQ at http://www.gartholamew.com/MailingLists/u2-list/.
For an overview of music oriented mailing lists, check up the music selection at http://www.liszt.com/.
If interested in New Zealand bands, send the command INFO NZPOP-L to listserv@mitvma.mit.edu.
Try http://www.gartholamew.com/MailingLists/hey-joe/ for information about the "HEY-JOE" list for fans of Jimi Hendrix and his music. If Bruce Springsteen is your choice, check http://www.mcs.net/~kvk/luckytown.html.
A comprehensive Beatles page is at http://www.sonic.net/~custom/beat.html. Usenet has rec.music.beatles. HWY61-L is the Bob Dylan discussion list (on listserv@listserv.acsu.buffalo.edu). SWONDER focuses on Stevie Wonder (on majordomo@darkwing.uoregon.edu).
Write to brass-request@gly.fsu.edu to join a discussion on brass band music. It is for brass musicians in any sort of group (orchestra, wind band, quintet, jazz, etc). See http://www.smsltd.demon.co.uk/ for The Brass Band WWW Page.
"J-Pop" (jpop-request@wystan.bsd.uchicago.edu) has discussions about Japanese pop/rock of today.
Brian Beuchaw invites to the RMUSIC mailing list using these words:
Rmusic is a general music discussion list - we talk about *any* kind of music here (from Broadway shows to classical to industrial to electronica to EZ listening and beyond). Rmusic is short for ouRmusic (we're kinda like a family around here, which is why it's *our* music). The only rule we've really got is no flames - differences of opinions are fine, but no flame wars, please.
Join by sending "Subscribe RMUSIC" to majordomo@lists.enteract.com
You want to buy music, preferably at a low price. CDnow! has over 140,000 CDs, cassettes and videos at discount prices (1995), accepts credit card payments, and ships around the world. Web site: http://www.cdnow.com/
Search for artist name, like "Bjork" to order this Icelandic artist's "Debut" CD, or "Venus as a boy," and charge it to your credit card. My wife wanted classical music by Albinoni, Vivaldi, and Pachelbel played by the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra.
By the way, Bjork is at http://www.bjork.co.uk/bjork/.
Tablature/chords for guitar is available from several archives. To find the Online Guitar Archive (OLGA), check the newsgroups alt.guitar.tab, or rec.music.makers.guitar.tablature for a list of archive locations.
There are several Lyric/Music Servers, including http://www.leeds.ac.uk/music/Menu/mus_archs.html .
If you're into Chinese music, check out http://sunsite.unc.edu/pub/multimedia/chinese-music/ . Choose between Model Beijing Opera, Ceremonial songs and music, Songs during the "Cultural Revolution" (mostly for Mao), Dream Of Red Mansion, Folk songs and local opera, Historical Voices, Pop songs after the down- fall of "Gang Of Four," Post Liberation, Pre Liberation, Current Hits, Chinese traditional music (various instrumental). Also included are some music from Taiwan and the Hong Kong area.
Usenet has
rec.music.country.western
rec.music.indian.misc
alt.music.ebm
alt.music.enya
alt.punk
alt.rap
alt.rave
alt.rock-n-roll.hard
alt.rock-n-roll.metal
and over forty other music groups.
CompuServe's Coin/Stamp/Collectibles Forum has sections for collectors of stamps and covers, coins and currency, sports cards, books and media, autographs, sports memorabilia, music, dolls and figurines, and more.
DOM_BIRD (on listserv@plearn.edu.pl) is a discussion list for owners, breeders and farmers of domesticated birds. Topics include anything from the nutritional requirements, to the shows and events held for displaying the many variety of fancy breeds of domesticated birds. If you wish to discuss equipment used for incubating eggs, the veterinary care and management of adults or chicks, or find the best way to handle any aspect of domesticated bird ownership, you can be expected to be welcome.
Usenet has:
rec.pets Pets, pet care, and household animals in general. rec.pets.birds The culture and care of indoor birds. rec.pets.cats Discussion about domestic cats. rec.pets.herp Reptiles, amphibians and other exotic vivarium pets. alt.pets.rabbits Coneys abound. alt.pets.hamsters Pretty popular rodent pets alt.aquaria Fish and Aquarium discussion alt.aquaria.killies Killifish, members of family cyprinodontidae sci.aquaria Scientifically-oriented postings about aquaria rec.pets.dogs Any and all subjects relating to dogs as pets. rec.pets.dogs.activities Dog events: showing, obedience, agility rec.pets.dogs.behavior Behaviors and problems: housetraining, chewing rec.pets.dogs.breeds Breed specific -- breed traits, finding breeders rec.pets.dogs.health Info about health problems & how to care for dogs rec.pets.dogs.info General information and FAQs posted here rec.pets.dogs.misc All other topics, chat, humor, rec.pets.dogs.rescue Information about breed rescue, placing and adopting
Frequently Asked Questions information about dogs is on the Web at http://www.zmall.com/pet_talk/dog-faqs/. The Dog Information page (at http://www.woofs.org/) also has interesting information.
The CANINE-L mailing list (on listserv@psuvm.psu.edu) covers a wide variety of dog-related topics. The FELINE-L mailing list is for people who have cats as companions in their lives (on listserv@psuvm.psu.edu), while the Cat Fanciers Home Page at http://www.fanciers.com has a plethora of frequently asked questions about all issues cat-related.
CompuServe has the Pets/Animal Forum (GO PETS) with message sections like Dogs' World, Cat's Meow, Caged Birds, Reptiles/Exotic, Ask-A-Vet, Horse Keeping, Cat Breeders World, The Support Group, Small Mammals, Horse Training, Livestock, and a bulky archive with information files.
For more on pets, try Pets World (http://info-s.com/pets.html). It has over 1400 pet related links covering 19 subjects (1997).
Some people prefer to fill the stomach rather than their ears. If this sounds right, what about some French culinary art? Visit chef Paul Bocuse at the Lyon Life Gastronomy page. Learn how to make Truffles Soup Ilysie, and read Paul's wise words about cooking:
"Memory and hunger are the main ingredients of cooking. I still think to the roast calf that my grand mother used to make. I still see her digging a small well in the mashed potatoes to pour the sauce whose inimitable taste still makes me salivate. Cooking is the dish that one places on the table, which steams, which smells good, which one serves twice. There is only one cooking, the good one."
The Web address http://www.ec-lyon.fr/tourisme/Rhone-Alpes/Cuisine/ may be hard to remember, but not so with the taste of Paul's truffle soup!
The EAT-L mailing list (listserv@listserv.vt.edu) is a club for FoodLore/Recipe Exchange. You'll find an abundance of recipes in this file archive: ftp://gatekeeper.dec.com/pub/recipes/
If your interest is more academic, subscribe to FOODWINE (on listserv@cmuvm.csv.cmich.edu) - "For those seriously interested in the academic study of food and its accompaniments in the 1990's, including a variety of disciplines, such as marketing, communications, hospitality, consumer affairs, hotel and catering management." This mailing list has nothing to do with the Global Gourmet site at http://foodwine.com/, except a profound interest in food.
OZWINE is for the discussion of Australian and New Zealand wines. To subscribe, send "subscribe" in the body of your email letter to ozwine-request@gospel.iinet.net.au.
See http://www.cs.wits.ac.za/faq/wine/WineFAQ.html for South African wines, http://vino.eunet.es/vino/index.html for Spanish wines, and http://www.vinonet.com for German wines. The World Wine Web and The Wine Encyclopedia (http://www.winevin.com/) has French and English language details about vineyards, viticulture, winemaking and aging by producer and vintage.
Usenet has rec.food.cooking, rec.food.recipes, rec.food.restaurants, rec.food.drink, and rec.food.veg for vegetarians. For links to European recipes, try http://www.goodcooking.com/euro.htm.
Call CompuServe for the Cooks Online forum (for gourmets), and the Wine and Beer Forum (for their throats). The latter even has its own "smoking" section, called "Cigars/Pipes."
On FidoNet, pursue INTERCOOK for words of wisdom on International Cooking. On ILINK and RelayNet, join CUISINE. That is where we found the following recipe for Mexican Meatloaf:
2 lb Ground Beef
1 ea Bell Pepper, Diced
10 1/2 oz Cream Chicken Soup
10 oz Cheddar Cheese
4 oz Green Chilies, Diced
1 ea Onion, Chopped
8 oz Taco Sauce
1 pk Tortillas
4 oz Mushrooms (fresh optional)
2 ea Jalapenó's (to taste)
1. Brown ground beef and drain.
2. Mix onions, green peppers, mushrooms, green CHILIES, taco
sauce, jalapenó's and cream chicken soup into skillet with
ground beef.
3. Simmer until vegetables are soft.
4. Shred cheddar cheese.
5. In crock pot or dish, layer meat mixture, cheese, and
tortillas; heat until cheese melts.
Bon apetit!
As usual, Usenet has a lot. These are some examples:
rec.backcountry Activities in the Great Outdoors. rec.birds Hobbyists interested in bird watching. rec.boats Hobbyists interested in boating. rec.boats.paddle Talk about any boats with oars, paddles, etc. rec.climbing Climbing techniques, competition announcements, etc.
Scouts participate in SCOUTER on FidoNet (International SCOUTING Conference) and SCOUTS-L (listserv@tcubvm.is.tcu.edu). Golfers meet in GOLF-L (on listserv@listserv.acsu.buffalo.edu).
Photo enthusiasts may want to start with The ACE Indexes "Reading Room" (http://www.acecam.com/fotomags.html). It has links to almost 100 online photo and digital imaging magazines from around the world, describing each in detail. Here is also information on over 500 photographic commerce web sites, including camera stores, and manufacturers.
DPI and PhotOZine (http://www.digitalphoto.com.nf/) are Australia's two online photography magazines, covering both digital imaging and traditional photographic techniques. Finally, track PHOTO-L. To join the discussion, send your subscription request to listproc@csuohio.edu (Command: Sub PHOTO-L Your-Full-Name).
If you're into 3-d (stereo) photography and closely allied subjects, enroll in the PHOTO-3D mailing list. Here, they define 3D as the presentation of separate and different single images for the left and right eyes. (Write to listserv@bobcat.etsu.edu to subscribe.)
There are clubs for all popular outdoor hobbies.
"Contact 3d-request@bfmny0.bfm.com" above means that you must write a message to this Internet email address with a subscription request, or to receive further information about how to join. This mailing list does not have automatic subscriptions.
CompuServe's Great Outdoors SIG is for those preferring nature for the computer screen. Its sections are called:
General/Photography, Scouting, Power Boating, TROUT UNLIMITED, Fishing, Hunting, Cycling, AUDUBON/Birding, Canoe/Kayak/Raft, Camp/Hike/Walk/RV, Snow Sports/Climb, OWAA, CIS/Computers, Firearms, NRA, Environmnt/Wildlife, OUTDOOR LIFE mag.
If you dream of visiting Alaska to hunt, fish and explore the wilderness by canoe, then this is the place. Add the Outdoor Cooking section of the Cooks Online Forum to make it perfect.
CompuServe has a Photography Forum, and its SCUBA Forum has a section for underwater photography. There is "Photography" on Exec-PC and The Well, PHOTO on RelayNet, and PHOTOSIG on ILINK.
Scandinavian bulletin boards on the MIX network exchange the "JAKT_FRILUFT" conference. ILINK offers OUTDOORS, which focuses on outdoor hobbies.
Tracing family history used to be difficult. In the days before personal computers and data networking, performing the necessary record research in far-flung libraries, courthouses and cemeteries could take a lifetime. Sometimes logistical barriers prevented the proper research from ever being carried out.
With data networking capabilities, researchers can exchange information, tips and family records. Now, a genealogy buff in Toronto or Wien can ask a favor of a comrade in Buenos Aires or Sidney to look up a record or two, check out a graveyard or provide some missing bit of information about local history and family names. Sometimes these networking hobbyists even discover that they are related!
ROOTS-L (Roots-L-request@Rootsweb.com), and the many Usenet newsgroups in the soc.genealogy hierarchy (like soc.genealogy.misc for starters), are all about genealogy. Here, you will get tips about tools and techniques. You can exchange information about ancestors, and find new friends and partners for joint research, and learn about genealogical Web sites.
On the World Wide Web, start with the following genealogy links:
CompuServe has The Genealogy Forum. One message section is called Overseas Ancestry. Remember to check out the Family History Library, a newsletter bringing news from the library for genealogical research in Salt Lake City, U.S.A. (stored in Library 10.)
Members of the female sex have their favorite meeting places. Usenet has alt.feminism and soc.feminism. Those with limited access to Usenet, may subscribe to "feminism-digest." Send email to
feminism-digest@ncar.ucar.edu
to get on the mailing list.
The LIBFEM mailing list (on majordomo@ifi.uio.no) describes its purpose as follows:
LIBFEM (liberty & feminism): The mailing list for Liberty and Feminism; individualist feminists -- feminism based on an individual rights approach to feminist issues, supporting liberty, diversity and social cooperation.The focus of LIBFEM is the classical liberty and individual rights perspective as applied to feminist issues, such as issues about ideology, politics, culture, gender, etc., to create a network for information, discourse, cooperation, encouragement and consciousness raising. There has always been an element of individualism in the various women and feminist movements, although this element seems to have been somewhat neglected in recent movements.
For more about the list's purpose, send the command INFO LIBFEM to the Majordomo address as given above.
There is also the FEMISA list on listproc@csf.colorado.edu, and remember to check out this Web site: http://www.igc.org/women/feminist.html
Bisexuals have "Sappho". See http://www.sappho.org/pub/sappho/ about how to join. There are also BIFEM at http://www.bifem.net ("a social and general mailing list for online and real life Bisexual and Lesbian Women and their friends"), BISEXU-L (on listserv@brownvm.brown.edu), and others.
Spanish speaking users can subscribe to ARENAL (Lista de discussion para hispanos/as que desean acabar con la homofobia). Subscribe by email to listserv@mx.gw.com
Usenet has lots of it: soc.motss, alt.politics.homosexuality, alt.sex, alt.sex.bondage, alt.sex.pictures.d, alt.sex.motss, and alt.sex.pictures.
Conferences called "SEXUALITY" are alive on FidoNet and The Well. CompuServe has a Human Sexuality Adult Forum and a Human Sexuality Open Forum. STOPRAPE (on listserv@brownvm.brown.edu) is a Sexual Assault Activist List.
Finally, there are many pictures of nudes in all possible and impossible positions. Most of them are childish, some are decidedly pornographic, a few are beautiful and erotic. Penthouse Magazine is at the Web address http://www.penthousemag.com/, while Playboy Magazine is at http://www.playboy.com/.
The online services' policies vary about what kind of pictures and picture programs to make available. The larger the service, the more conservative they tend to be.
The Popular Mechanics magazine (USA) has a great Web site at http://popularmechanics.com/.
KUNGFU is an open, unmoderated discussion list about Kung Fu and the martial arts. KUNG Fu, Tai CHi and other martial art styles and techniques are likely to be discussed. Subscribe by email to majordomo@cuy.net.
It is no rule that a service need to have a conference about a hobby, to have interesting programs available for downloading. Programs float around from service to service much easier than conference items. Still, the best programs for a given hobby are normally found on services where hobbyists meet to discuss.
You will find:
Chess and bridge programs,
Morse code training programs for ham amateurs,
Astrology programs,
Database systems for keeping track of music cassettes or records, video cassettes, books, stamps, coins, etc.
Information systems for wine lovers,
Recipe programs (tell me what you've got, and I'll tell you what you can make), and much more.
On the Internet, search the Virtual Shareware Library for things of interest (see Chapter 10).
You can buy almost anything online: video cameras, books, music, Bonsai plants, golf equipment, canned cakes from Gimmee Jimmy's Cookies, Levi's trousers, a four-door Nissan Pathfinder SE-V6 car, air tickets for Mexico, and computer equipment (see "Buying computers and stuff" in Chapter 5).
Shoppers who let their modem do the "walking" are already a few steps ahead of people still stuck shopping the old-fashioned way. Experienced online shoppers know that you can tap a world of stores without ever leaving your keyboard, and that you can browse and buy with very little effort.
Some services present their wares "for your information only." It is like reading newspaper ads. You must contact the seller to buy. Other services have large online supermarkets with many stores, and you can by while you visit.
On the World Wide Web, there's a directory of links to U.S. Shopping Mall Retailers at http://www.ecola.com/ez/retail.htm.
For cars, the BMW-DIGEST list (on majordomo@lists.balltown.cma.com) is for lovers of BMW autos. Send the command GET BMW-DIGEST README to the same address for information.
There's also an ITALIAN-CARS list (italian-cars-request@sol.crd.ge.com), and a BRITISH-CARS list (subscribe by email to majordomo@autox.team.net. Add an extra line containing the command "list" to learn what other car related mailing lists exist on this server).
If you're into Skoda cars, visit their Czech Republic Web site (at http://www.skoda-auto.cz/).
Beginners, gurus, mechanics and non-mechanics, restorers and daily drivers are welcomed. The discussion is about how-to stuff, parts availability, mechanical questions, show dates, swap meets, club addresses, favorite stories, etc. To subscribe, send a message to robert@whiplash.er.usgs.gov.
Alfa Romeo (Italy) is at http://www.alfaromeo.com/, and the Porsche Net home page at http://www.porsche-net.com/. Roadsters Muscle Cars are at http://www.roadsters.com/muscle.html, and PartsVoice lets you find auto parts online (at http://www.partsvoice.com/).
So get ready for your vacation. The more planning, the more fun and value. A simple equation.
Normally, your first step will be to select a destination, be it next door, or in a remote country. You may want to start with an idea about how far your money can take you.
City.Net (at http://www.city.net) combines the features of an atlas, gazetteer, and almanac. It offers general information, tourist guides, and pictures for thousands of places. Select a region, country, or search for a desired city to get information. Comprehensive!
Lonely Planet online (http://www.lonelyplanet.com.au/) is another favorite.
UNESCO's World Heritage list (http://www.unesco.org/whc/) contains special cultural and natural historic sites around the world worth visiting. For links to Virtual Museums around the world, check this British resource: http://www.comlab.ox.ac.uk/archive/other/museums/world.html.
SETII - The Search Engine for Travel Information on the Internet - is at http://www.setii.com/. Help you find information on hotels, bed and breakfasts, vacation rentals, timeshares, camping, airlines, airport information, car rentals, cruises, recreation vehicles, motorcoaches, trains, tour operators, and anything else travel related.
"Hotel Anywhere!, The Internet Travel Grid Home Page" offers a directory of thousands of travel related Web sites from over 200 countries, 3500 locations. Includes accommodations, airlines, local information, skiing, golf, cruise lines, travel agents, Usenet groups, and anything else travel related. At http://www.setii.com/.
If you're looking for links to city night life around the world, try http://www.sftoday.com/enn2/nitelife.htm.
You must check out the Rec.Travel Library, maybe the most comprehensive travel and tourism information source on the Internet. They try to maintain specific information on destinations around the world, as well as general travel tips. The library is at http://www.solutions.net/rec-travel//
The U.S. STATE DEPARTMENT TRAVEL INFORMATION texts are also interesting. Their Web site also offers maps and flags (see http://travel.state.gov/travel_warnings.html). Their December 16, 1994 bulletin for travellers to Nigeria said:
"The onset of the holiday season and the continuation of bad economic conditions in Nigeria increase the incidence of automobile checkpoints by persons wearing police or military uniforms. Many of these checkpoints are not sanctioned by the government, but are improvised, usually in darkness, by bands of police, soldiers, or bandits posing as or operating with police or soldiers. The purpose of these unauthorized checkpoints generally is to extort cash. The best defense against unauthorized checkpoint shakedowns is to avoid night travel, and act cautiously at all times. Checkpoint personnel should be considered armed and could be dangerous."
Check http://www.fco.gov.uk/ to balance the U.S. viewpoints with reports from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in London.
The Central Intelligence Agency-produced World Factbook provides facts on geography, people, government, economy, communications and defense of countries around the world. The full text of the book is available at http://www.odci.gov/cia/publications/factbook/index.html. You may also want to consult http://www.state.gov/www/background_notes/index.html.
If you feel like making plans in real detail, why not start with subway trips? The Subway Navigator (http://metro.jussieu.fr:10001/) lets you find a route in subway networks in several cities around the world. The choices include Vienna, Montreal, Santiago de Chile, Prague Helsinki, Paris, Berlin, Frankfurt, Athens, Hong Kong, Calcutta, Budapest, Milano, Tokyo, Mexico City, Amsterdam, Madrid, Barcelona, Stockholm, Kiev, London, New York City, Miami, San Francisco, Washington D.C., and many more.
The Internet Atlas and Timezone Server (http://www.astro.ch/atlas/) lets you search for a destination city anywhere in the world to find the current time and date there. Compare with your local time to find the difference, and tell relatives left behind.
Moon Travel Handbooks, publishers of travel guides to North America, Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean, Asia, and the Pacific Islands, is at http://www.moon.com/.
Have you ever arrived home feeling as though you had been on a whirlwind tour of too-touristy sites? A tour bus approach may be the only way to get it "all in" during a couple of day's time, but who said you had to see it all anyway?
The best way to learn about the place you want to visit is to have a local guide or a fellow traveler familiar with the territory. Someone who can direct you to the sights that bus passes and tourbooks overlook. Therefore, check out the online conferences and their file libraries also.
The TRAVEL-L forum (write travel-l-request@lists.utah.edu to subscribe) is where everyone is welcome to tell about their adventures or inquire about future travels.
If you want information about indigenous, native, or aboriginal people, culture, and issues throughout the world, check out The Center For World Indigenous Studies and The Fourth World Documentation Project at http://www.halcyon.com/FWDP/fwdp.html .
For travel health information, point your Web browser at http://www.intmed.mcw.edu/travel.html.
Many conferences and information sources concentrate on particular parts of the world. Here are some of them. You may want to supplement with some of the sources listed in Chapter 11, and the news providers in
Finally, check out http://home.c2i.net/jrath/honey//webcam.html for some fun. This page is filled with links to live cameras around the world. Travel to Antarctica, Rio de Janeiro or Hawaii without leaving your airmchair.
Eaasy SABRE - the American Airlines reservation system - is on the Web at http://www.travelocity.com with air fares, hotel accommodations, car rental rates in your local currency. You can make reservations, and purchase tickets online.
TravelWeb links the reservation systems of twenty of the largest hotel chains with those of the world's airlines. URL: http://www.travelweb.com.
CNN provides four day weather forecast for over 3.600 cities worldwide (http://www.cnn.com/WEATHER/). For more weather information, visit INTELLiCast (at http://www.intellicast.com/weather/intl/), and AccuWeather (at http://www.accuweather.com/).
Search for additional background information using CompuServe's Magazine Database Plus, if you do not mind paying a wee surcharge. Look up places to stay in the ABC Worldwide Hotel Listing.
For distances between cities around the world, their populations, elevation, latitude/longitude, try http://www.indo.com/distance/. Learn that a bird flying from Lima, Peru to Oslo, Norway must travel over 11,024 kilometers (6850 miles), unless it has a pretty good built-in compass. ;-)
Finally, before going there, don't forget to adjust your clock. Check http://www.stud.unit.no/USERBIN/steffent/verdensur.pl for local time around the world just now.
Africanet (http://www.africanet.com) covers all 56 countries of the African continent with information on such subjects as visa requirements, climate, airlines, transport, currency.
The African Studies Program at the University of Pennsylvania (USA) is a particularly rich offering of African news and information. (On the URL: http://www.sas.upenn.edu/African_Studies/AS.html)
AFRICA-L is the Pan-Africa Forum discussion list (subscription requests for AFRICA-L should be sent to listserv@brownvm.brown.edu).
ALGNEWS (on listserv@gwuvm.gwu.edu) is the French language Algeria News List. TUNISNET (on listserv@psuvm.psu.edu) is The Tunisia Network.
For EGYPT-NET, the Egypt Discussion and News forum, write egypt-net-request@das.harvard.edu . You will find many links to Egypt and Egyptology resources throughout the Web at http://pages.prodigy.com/G/U/N/guardian/egypt.htm. Categories include: General Egypt Pages, Pyramids, Sites and Monuments, Egyptian Art & Music, Egypt Travel, and more.
Egypt's Regional Information & Communication Network (http://www.ritsec.com.eg/) offers country profiles for Algeria, Egypt, Morocco, Syria, and Tunisia, and information about economy, geography, communication, research, government, people. While visiting, take a look at Collection of Arabic and Islamic manuscripts, Treasures of the Egyptian Museum, and Tut the King.
For information on Ethiopia, check the soc.culture.ethiopia.misc and soc.culture.ethiopia.moderated newsgroups.
ZAIRE-L (on listserv@thor.cmp.ilstu.edu) is a discussion list about Zaire and surrounding Francophone countries, like Rwanda, Burundi, Congo, Gabon, Zambia, Angola and Sudan.
Nigeria On the Net (http://www.nigeria.com/) caters to the Nigerian community and her friends, and brings Nigerian affairs from a Nigerian perspective.
If you plan a safari in Zimbabwe, Zambia, Botswana, Namibia, Malawi, Tanzania, Uganda, and Kenya, check out these South African offerings:
http://www.exinet.co.za/travel/travel.html http://www.africa.com/~venture/
The NYASANET mailing list is for Malawians and others interested in things Malawian. See http://spicerack.sr.unh.edu/~llk/ about how to subscribe, and for information about Malawi.
The Cape Town page is at http://www.aztec.co.za/aztec/capetown.html, and for more South African tourism information, check out this Web address: http://www.africa.com/captour/.
The African National Congress (ANC) gopher (gopher://gopher.anc.org.za) has information about South African history, policy documents, and press statements. A summary of South African demographics by region is on http://www.exinet.co.za/sa_regn.html.
The South Africa FAQ (http://www.cs.wits.ac.za/faq/africa/africa.html) has country specific information on Abyssinia, Eritrea, Malawi, Ethiopia, Sao Tome e Principe, and South Africa. The Abyssinia FAQ has information on Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Somalia and Somaliland.
On Usenet, check out
soc.culture.african Discussions about Africa & things African. soc.culture.maghreb North African society and culture. soc.culture.nigeria About Nigeria soc.culture.arabic Technological & cultural issues, *not* politics. soc.culture.somalia News from Somalia. soc.culture.berber
There are many South African newsgroups under the za hierarchy, like:
za.culture.xhosa For discussions of Xhosa language and culture. (Ingxoxo ngolwini, amasiko nezithete zakwaXhosa.) za.events Conferences, events and happenings nationally za.misc General chat, comments, announcements etc za.net.misc Miscellaneous ramblings on networking in ZA za.sport Finer points of jukskei or the Comrades marathon
The za hierarchy is also distributed outside South Africa.
You may also find things of interest in soc.culture.misc (discussion about other cultures), and soc.culture.native (Aboriginal people around the world.) Also, it may useful to search or monitor Usenet more broadly for African country specific information using Reference.COM (see Chapter 11).
On the Web, http://www.pata.org is the official site of The Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA). Provides destination and travel info about 41 member nations through links to their tourist offices.
The soc.culture hierarchy on Usenet has area codes like afghanistan, asian, arabic, asean, australian, bangladesh, china, filipino, hongkong, indonesia, israel, iranian, jewish, korean, laos, lebanon, malaysia, nepal, new-zealand, pakistan, singapore, sri-lanka, taiwan, thai, turkish, and vietnamese. The alt.taiwan.republic is a variant of soc.culture.taiwan, only different.
If your destination in the Middle East, you may find the quarterly MIDDLE EAST RESOURCES newsletter interesting. It is published by the Arab World And Islamic Resources and School Services (AWAIR) for Social Studies Educators. Write awair@igc.org for information.
The Arab Countries' Sites page (http://www.liii.com/~hajeri/arab.html) is also worth a visit. It offers information on Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Middle Eastern and African countries, Islam, and Arabic newspapers. The Saudi Arabia page (http://www.saudi.net/) has information on culture, arts, travel, etc., and arab.net (http://www.arab.net/) offers links to Bahrain, Egypt, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Morocco, Oman, Qatar, Saudi, Arabia Syria, Tunisia, UAE, and Yemen.
The official travel guide to Singapore, Singapore Online Guide, is at http://www.travel.com.sg/sog/surf.html. The Singapore Info-Map is the country's home page on the net (http://www.sg).
Heading for Australia? Why not check the Australian Back Packers Guide (http://www.aaa.com.au/Back_Pack.shtml)? For information about Phuket, Thailand, try http://www.phuket.net/.
Many links and information on exciting Papua New Guinea can be found at http://coombs.anu.edu.au/SpecialProj/PNG/WWWVL-PNG.html, and don't forget Mongolia (http://www.magicnet.mn/english/). It's an interesting place to visit for horse riding, swimming, trekking, birdwatching, climbing, rafting, and more.
For an online journal for the study and exhibition of the arts of Asia, visit http://www.asianart.com.
Sushi, geishas, green tea, bullet trains, and sumo wrestlers. If this is your first visit to Japan, consider learning about the territory through TWICS in Tokyo. It used to present itself like this:
"Japan is an island nation, full of communities in villages, towns, and cities squeezed in between the mountains and the sea, with ports of various sizes and shapes through which communication flows between communities.Our own online community is organized in the same terms, an island community "BEEJIMA" (Bee Island), with our village ("MURA"), a port ("MINATO"), and our very own volcanic mountain ("YAMA").
In the village, there is a village office ("YAKUBA"), a community meeting place ("YORIAI"), a high-tech corner ("AKIHABARA") named after the famous electronics district in Tokyo, a health center ("EMEDICA"), a place to hang around and read things ("HON YA"), a school ("GAKKOU"), and a market ("ICHIBA"). The port has holding areas and leads to other parts of Japan ("NIPPON") and the world ("SEKAI"). The mountain has a hot springs ("ONSEN") recreational area, and a lively outdoor bath ("IN THE OFURO") which has become the social center of our island.
Add to this soc.culture.japan on Usenet, and the following discussion lists:
CJS-L (Center for Japanese Studies List). Send the command
INFO CJS-L to listserv@uhccvm.uhcc.Hawaii.Edu.
If this is your first visit, see http://www.gol.com/jguide/jinfo.html before you go. Then, visit gopher://gan.ncc.go.jp/11/JAPAN for information on Japan's culture, diplomacy, economy, events, food, geography, government, history, cultural history, society, and more.
If you are very determined, try NIHONGO (listserv@utkvm1.utk.edu), a forum for discussion of the Japanese language. (The mailing list is crossposted to the sci.lang.japan newsgroup on Usenet.)
Japan's Sumo Association home page (http://www.sumo.or.jp/) offers video images of matches from the six grand sumo tournaments held each year, wrestler profiles and interviews, a database of previous matches, and information about how to buy tickets.
There is a map of China at http://www.cnd.org:8014/Other/china.jpg, and regional information at http://www.ihep.ac.cn/tour/china_tour.html with details about
Anhui, Beijing, Fujian, Gansu, Guangdong, Guangxi, Guizhou, Hainan, Hebei, Heilongjiang, Hubei, Henan, Hunan, Inner Mongolia (Nei Monggu), Jiangsu, Jiangxi, Jilin, Liaoning, Ningxia, Qinghai, Shandong, Shanghai, Shan1xi1, Shan3xi1, Sichuan, Tianjin, Tibet (Xizang), Xinjiang, Yunnan, and Zhejiang.
The CND InfoBase (http://www.cnd.org) offers many high-resolution scenery pictures of China.
The Chinese Community Information Center (http://www.ifcss.org) claims the world largest collection of Chinese magazines and newsletters in computer file form, as well as Chinese texts, ranging from Confucius classics to Wang Shuo's fictions.
Traveller Sergio Paoli in Argentina maintains what is possibly the largest collection of links to India related information on the Internet ( http://webhead.com/~sergio/india.html).
The India Network and Research Foundation (USA) offers detailed information about India, such as tourism (including customs & baggage rules, clickable map, and images), major news headlines, culture and fine arts, film music, recipes, sports which include hockey, cricket and tennis. URL: http://india.bgsu.edu/
It has links to Embassy of India in Washington, DC (USA) resources, other Research Resources on India, and several digests (on News, News and Discussion, Personal Network, Telugu, Faculty).
India Online has information about travel related services and places of interest (http://indiaonline.com/travel.html). Their travel guide has tips, things to do, places to visit, means to travel etc.
A travel agent survey is posted monthly on many Indian related soc.culture groups. The most recent version can be retrieved by electronic mail to pkohli@prism.gatech.edu, and at http://www.cc.gatech.edu/grads/k/Prince.Kohli/Prince.Kohli.html
India Online offers information about Indian food, including listings of Indian Restaurants around the world, recipes, etc at http://indiaonline.com/food.html .
There are many India-related newsgroups, including:
alt.culture.karnataka Culture and language of the Indian state of Karnataka. alt.culture.kerala alt.india.progressive Progressive politics in the Indian subcontinent. misc.news.southasia News from Bangladesh, India, Nepal, etc rec.music.indian.classical Hindustani and Carnatic Indian classical music. rec.music.indian.misc Discussing Indian music in general. rec.travel.asia Traveling in Asia. soc.culture.indian Group for discussion about India & things Indian. soc.culture.indian.info Info group for soc.culture.indian, etc. soc.culture.indian.telugu The culture of the Telugu people of India. soc.culture.tamil soc.culture.punjab soc.culture.indian.kerala soc.culture.bengali soc.culture.indian.marathi
There are several mailing lists, including:
INDIA-D (listserv@indnet.bgsu.edu) - Discussion on the affairs of the Indian subcontinent, and issues facing Indians living abroad. Background information at http://india.bgsu.edu/ FROI-L (listserv@uafsysb.uark.edu) Friends of India. Write to FROI-L-Request@UAFSYSB.UARK.EDU
The TIBET-L mailing list is about Tibet and the Tibetan people. Subscribe by email to listserv@iubvm.ucs.indiana.edu.The Tibet Information Network (http://www.tibetinfo.net) provides background information on Tibet including a glossary of Tibetan and Chinese terms, population statistics, administrative terms and a bibliography.
The Indoz-net (INdonesia-OZtralia-NETwork) mailing list deals with anything about Indonesia (on listserv@cc.utas.edu.au). More information at http://www.gu.edu.au/gint/ozlists/indonesia.html. For Bali, check out http://bali.simplenet.com/.
The purpose of the Tehran Archive (http://tehran.Stanford.Edu) is to distribute materials related to Iran and to Persian culture. Also, check out FarsiNet at http://www.farsinet.com/ for links to interesting Persian Web sites.
Arabnet's page of Iraq (http://www.arab.net/iraq/iraq_contents.html) also has links to other Iraq-oriented web pages.
To brush up your Portuguese, consider joining one of the mailing lists in the Brazilian Bras-Net network. The Continental-European part of the list is called BRAS-NET (on listserv@vm.gmd.de). The BRAS-NET-BRASIL list is at listproc@listas.ansp.br. See http://psg.com/~walter/brasnet.html for more information.
For general information about other Brazilian interest groups, send the command LISTS to listserv@fapq.fapesp.br.
If you understand Spanish and are intrigued by the old Maya indians, try El Mundo de la Cultura Maya at http://www.yucatan.com.mx/mayas/mapamay.htm
On Usenet, check out
soc.culture.latin-america Topics about Latin-America. soc.culture.argentina All about life in Argentina. soc.culture.brazil Talking about the people and country of Brazil. soc.culture.chile All about Chile and its people. soc.culture.mexican Discussion of Mexico's society. soc.culture.peru All about the people of Peru. soc.culture.uruguay Discussions of Uruguay for those at home and abroad. soc.culture.venezuela Discussion of topics related to Venezuela.
Usenet has
alt.culture.austrian You'll find more Austrians in soc.culture.austria. soc.culture.austria Austria and its people. soc.culture.french French culture, history, and related discussions. soc.culture.netherlands People from the Netherlands and Belgium. (The newsgroup's FAQ file is interesting.) soc.culture.portuguese Discussion of the people of Portugal. soc.culture.spain Spain and the Spanish. alt.comedy.british Discussion of British comedy in a variety of media. alt.fan.british-accent "Oooh, he just sounds soooo cool! *Giggle*" alt.politics.british Politics and a real Queen, too.
The soc.culture hierarchy has area codes like british, celtic, europe, german, greek, italian, magyar, nordic, polish, soviet, and yugoslavia.
The United Hostels of Europe homepage has a selection of youth hostels for the budget traveller (http://www.hostelwatch.com/hostels/welcome.html).
Europrail International (http://www.odyssey.on.ca/~europrail) sells European Rail passes, like Eurailpass, Europass, Eurostar, BritRail pass, and 17 individual country passes.
If off to England, check the UK Theatre Web http://www.uktw.co.uk/ for a list of amateur and professional theatre, opera and dance. Covers the whole country. There's also http://www.officiallondontheatre.co.uk, "The most complete and up to date guide available to what's on where in the West End, compiled by the Society of London Theatre." The British Tourist Authority's comprehensive information site is at http://www.visitbritain.com.
Servicom (at http://www.servicom.es) is a gateway into Spain's culture and offerings, and in particular if you can read Spanish or Catalan. For information about Gibraltar, visit http://www.gibraltar.gi/.
Fancy French jazz? Try http://www.jazzfrance.com/us/. About jazz festivals, jazz TV and radio programs, jazz music awards, jazz magazines, jazz clubs and concerts throughout France. Information in English and French. The French Foreign Office is at http://www.france.diplomatie.fr/. For a virtual visit to Paris, try http://www.cnam.fr/louvre/paris/.
London is at http://www.cs.ucl.ac.uk/misc/uk/london.html, and Zagreb at http://tjev.tel.etf.hr/hrvatska/HRgradovi/Zagreb/Zagreb.html. There are links to Copenhagen, Helsinki, Stockholm, Oslo, Aalborg, Gothenburg, and other Scandinavian cities at http://www.it-kompetens.com/nordic/.
Finland's Virtual Embassy is at http://virtual.finland.fi/. If you are intrigued by northern lights, browse the Northern Lights Planetarium (Norway) site: http://www.uit.no/npt/nordlyset/nordlyset.en.html.
The British Eurodollar car rental company is on the World Wide Web at URL: http://www.eurodollar.co.uk. Timetables of German railway stations and other European cities are at http://www.mcs.net/~dsdawdy/cyberoad.html. Also, visit Europe by Eurail at http://www.eurail.com/.
If you want to check up the weather on the British Isles, or plan to travel around, check out http://www.uktravel.com/. Today's weather map is at http://src.doc.ic.ac.uk/public/weather/images/uk/.
The Scotland Travels and Business Exchange is at http://www.ibmpcug.co.uk/~ecs/ .
To practice your French over the Internet, try at Branchez-vous! at http://www.branchez-vous.com/.
Windows on Italy (http://www.mi.cnr.it:80/WOI/) offers information about cities and regions, daily news by ANSA (National Agency of Associated Press), cultural tidbits, tourist information, and more. The famous Opera theatre Teatro alla Scala of Milano is at http://lascala.milano.it/.
The THRACE mailing list (on listserv@vm.ege.edu.tr) is a forum for discussions of Greek West Thracian (A Province in Greece) Turkish Minority issues. For a virtual tour of Athen's Acropolis, try WebAcropol, at http://www.mechan.gsd.ntua.gr/webacropol/. When starting detailed planning, check http://www.vacation.forthnet.gr/.
BALT-L (listserv@listserv.rl.ac.uk) is focusing on the Baltic states. European weather forecasts: http://www.csc.fi/molbio/fun/wmap.html.
CompuServe let you read reviews of theater performances, books, movies and restaurants, opera, symphonies, ballets, dance, museums and art galleries. They have information about airline schedules and prices, hotels and the latest ski weather forecast.
The soc.culture hierarchy on Usenet has many interesting newsgroups, including soc.culture.canada.
CompuServe's Travel Forum has sections called United States, Canada, and Hawaii. There are also a California Forum, a Florida Forum, West Coast Travel, and the Zagat Restaurant Guide.
For a North American music events calendar, point your Web browser at http://concerts.calendar.com/.
In addition to this, you will find an abundance of information on travels in the United States on most major networks.
REESweb, at http://www.pitt.edu/~cjp/rees.html, offers a comprehensive list of links to WWW Servers in Russia, Ukraine, Belarus, the Baltic countries, Armenia, Georgia, Albania, Azerbaijan, Bulgaria, Bosnia, Chechnya, Croatia, Czech Republic, Hungary, Kazakhstan, Moldavia, and more.
Sources are grouped under broad subject areas, such as Language, Literature, Music, Art, Culture, Government and Public Affairs, Science, Technology, Engineering, Computers, Business, Communications, Economics, Law, History, Geography, Sociology.
The Pushkin Museum of Fine Arts is one of the major art collections in Russia, exhibiting foreign works of arts ranging from ancient times to the present (http://www.global-one.ru/english/culture/pushkin/). For Russian Museums, try the multilingual site at http://www.museum.ru/.
Relcom's Window-to-Russia page http://www.kiae.su/www/wtr/ has information about almost everything, from finances to securities.
Usenet has
soc.culture.bulgaria Discussing Bulgarian society. soc.culture.bosna-herzgvna The independent state of Bosnia and Herzegovina. soc.culture.croatia The lives of people of Croatia. soc.culture.romanian Discussion of Romanian and Moldavian people. soc.culture.yugoslavia Discussions of former Yugoslavia and its people. soc.culture.czecho-slovak Bohemian, Slovak, Moravian and Silesian life. soc.culture.soviet Topics on Russian or "Soviet" culture. alt.culture.tuva Topics related to the Republic of Tuva, South Siberia.
Start by visiting The Links to Government Servers and Information page at http://www.eff.org:80/govt.html. It is long, but very comprehensive.
The Parliamentary Elections Around the World page offers an extensive database by country on election results and parties. World Wide Web address: http://www.geocities.com/~derksen/election/frame3.htm.
The Politician Government Address Directory contains the addresses of most nations' leaders and provincial governors on the planet. Web address: http://www.trytel.com/~aberdeen/.
These newsgroups are filled with political discussions:
alt.india.progressive Progressive politics in the Indian sub-continent. alt.politics.british Politics and a real Queen, too. alt.politics.clinton Discussing Slick Willie & Co. alt.politics.datahighway Electronic interstate infrastructure. alt.politics.economics War == Poverty, & other discussions. alt.politics.elections All about the process of electing leaders. alt.politics.greens Green party politics & activities worldwide. alt.politics.homosexuality As the name implies alt.politics.korea A forum for political issues in Korea alt.politics.libertarian The libertarian ideology. alt.politics.org.misc Political organizations. alt.politics.radical-left Who remains after the radicals left? alt.politics.reform Political reform. alt.politics.sex Not a good idea to mix them. alt.politics.socialism.trotsky Trotskyite socialism discussions. alt.politics.usa.republican Discussions of the USA Republican Party. alt.religion.sexuality The politics of sexuality and religion. relcom.politics Political discussions. soc.culture.arabic Technological & cultural issues, *not* politics. soc.culture.burma Politics, culture, news, discussion about Burma. soc.culture.jewish Jewish culture & religion. soc.culture.palestine Palestinian people, culture and politics. soc.culture.polish Polish culture, Polish past, and Polish politics. talk.politics.animals The use and/or abuse of animals. talk.politics.china Discussion of political issues related to China. talk.politics.drugs The politics of drug issues. talk.politics.medicine The politics and ethics involved with health care. talk.politics.mideast Discussion & debate over Middle Eastern events. talk.politics.theory Theory of politics and political systems. talk.politics.tibet The politics of Tibet and the Tibetan people. za.politics Politics in Southern Africa
Amnesty International is at http://www.amnesty.org/, and Greenpeace International at http://www.greenpeace.org/index.shtml.
DERECHOS-L (write to derechos-l-request@lists1.best.com) is a Spanish language mailing list for the discussion of human rights issues (derechos humanos). The list covers human rights in general, but there is an especial emphasis on issues of human rights in Spanish speaking countries, civil and political rights, and impunity and social reconciliation. Also, see http://www.derechos.org/nizkor/ for more information.
The Fourth World Documentation Project documents important documents about the social, political, strategic, economic and human rights situations being faced by Fourth World nations. They have a historical archive of the political struggles waged by Indigenous Peoples in the Americas, Africa, Europe, Asia, Melanesia and the Pacific to assert their rights as sovereign nations. (http://www.halcyon.com/FWDP/fwdp.html)
Clarinet's commercial newsgroups has many offerings (validation required for access).
The European Union's Europa site has a "Governments On-Line" home page with a list of Web addresses providing "a starting point for those wishing to locate and explore citizen-oriented information issued by governments and other official institutions of European Union member states." Click at http://europa.eu.int/en/gonline.html.
The White House (U.S.A.) is at http://www.whitehouse.gov/, The Tasmanian Government Web Server at http://info.dpac.tas.gov.au/, the Australian Commonwealth Government Entry Point at http://www.fed.gov.au/, The Government of Pakistan at http://www.pak.gov.pk/, Iceland's Althingi at http://www.althingi.is, the Japanese Government at gopher://gan.ncc.go.jp/11/JAPAN, the Government of the Republic of Croatia is at http://www.vlada.hr/. For more sites, try http://www.soc.umn.edu/~sssmith/Parliaments.html.
Albania's Ministry of Foreign Affairs are at http://www.tirana.al/minjash/. Finally, take a look at the leads in Chapter 9 and 11.
