From: gcook@horus.cem.msu.EDU (Greg Cook|xxxxxx)
Newsgroups: comp.misc
Subject: Re: Internet Connection to Congress
Date: 27 Jan 93 13:48:22 GMT
Distribution: usa
Organization: Michigan State University
NNTP-Posting-Host: horus.cem.msu.edu

From article <161@ocdis01.UUCP>, by johnboyd@ocdis01.UUCP (John Boyd):
> In article <1jopsvINN7m8@msuinfo.cl.msu.edu> gcook@horus.cem.msu.EDU (Greg Cook|xxxxxx) writes:
>>
>>Actually, the National Science Foundation has 100's of documents available
>>online.  You can reach there on the internet Gopher system and probably by
>>telnet as well.
> 
> How might I grab them if I only have mail access?  Thanx!

Here's a repost of the message I sent out previously about accessing NSF.
-----------------------NSF PUBLICATION----------------------------------

Title  : NSF 91-10 STIS Brochure
Type   : General Publication
NSF Org: IRM / DIS
Date   : May 27, 1992
File   : nsf9110
 
 
The Science & Technology Information System (STIS) at the
National Science Foundation
 
                 *** What is STIS? ***
 
     STIS is an electronic dissemination system that provides fast,
easy access to National Science Foundation (NSF) publications.
There is no cost to you except for possible long-distance phone
charges.  The service is available 24 hours a day, except for brief
weekly maintenance periods.
 
        *** What Publications are Available? ***
 
     Publications currently available include:
 
     *  The NSF Bulletin
     *  Program announcements and "Dear Colleague" letters
     *  General publications and reports
     *  Press releases
     *  NSF organization charts and phone books
     *  NSF vacancy announcements
     *  Award abstracts (1989-now)
 
                *** Access Methods ***
 
     There are many ways to access STIS.  Choose the method
that meets your needs and the communication facilities you have
available.
 
The Internet Gopher.  If your campus supports a Gopher client, this is
the easiest way to access STIS documents.
 
Electronic Documents Via E-Mail.  If you have access to
Internet or BITNET e-mail, you can send a specially formatted
message, and the document you request will be automatically
returned to you via e-mail.
 
Anonymous FTP.  Internet users who are familiar with this file
transfer method can quickly and easily transfer STIS documents
to their local system for browsing and printing.
 
WAIS (Wide Area Information Servers).  WAIS is a distributed text
search and retrieval system available to many Internet users.
 
On-Line STIS.  If you have a VT100 emulator and an Internet
connection or a modem, you can log on to the on-line system.
The on-line system features full-text search and retrieval software
to help you locate the documents and award abstracts that are of
interest to you.  Once you locate a document, you can browse
through it on-line or download it using the Kermit protocol or
request that it be mailed to you.
 
Direct E-Mail.  You can request that STIS E-mail you a weekly
summary of all the new documents on STIS.  You can also sign
up to get the full text of all documents added to STIS.
 
               *** FOR YOUR REFERENCE ***
 
The following sections tell how to get started with each of the access
methods described above:
 
Internet Gopher
 
You must be on the Internet to use Gopher.  If you are on the Internet,
and your campus doesn't support Gopher, encourage your network
administrator to install Gopher clients.  If you have a Gopher client,
ask your administrator to include STIS in it.  Our server is on host
"stis.nsf.gov" on port 70.
 
Documents Via E-Mail
 
Send a message to stisserv@nsf.gov (Internet) or
stisserv@NSF (BITNET).  The text of the message should be as
follows (the Subject line is ignored):
 
      get index
 
You will receive a list of all the documents on STIS and
instructions for retrieving them.  Please note that all requests for
electronic documents should be sent to stisserv, as shown above.
Requests for printed publications should be sent to pubs@nsf.gov
(Internet) or pubs@NSF (BITNET).
 
Anonymous FTP
 
FTP to stis.nsf.gov.  If you cannot connect, try
128.150.195.40.  Enter anonymous for the username, and your E-
mail address for the password.  Retrieve the file "index".  This
file contains a list of the files available on STIS and additional
instructions.
 
WAIS
 
The NSF WAIS server is stis.nsf.gov (128.150.195.40).  You can
get the ".src" file from the "Directory of Servers" at
quake.think.com.
 
The On-Line System
 
If you are on the Internet: telnet stis.nsf.gov.  If you cannot
connect, try telnet 128.150.195.40.  At the login prompt, enter
"public".
 
If you are dialing in with a modem:  Choose 1200, 2400, or
9600 baud, 7-E-1.  Dial 202-357-0359 or 202-357-0360.  When
connected, press Enter.  At the login prompt, enter public.
 
The on-line system uses a powerful text search and retrieval
system called TOPIC.  If you are not familiar with TOPIC, you will
want to obtain a copy of the STIS User's Guide, NSF 91-19.  You can
request an electronic copy after you log on.  For a printed copy, send
your mailing address to "stis@nsf.gov" (Internet) or "stis@NSF"
(BITNET).
 
Direct E-Mail
 
Send an E-mail message to stisserv@nsf.gov (Internet) or
stisserv@NSF (BITNET).  Put the following in the text:
 
        get stisdirm
 
You will receive instructions for this service.
 
            *** For More Information ***
 
For additional assistance, contact:
 
      E-mail:   stis@nsf.gov (Internet)
                stis@NSF     (BITNET)
       Phone:   202-357-7555 (voice mail)
         TDD:   202-357-7492
                                        NSF 91-10 Revised 5/27/92

-------------------------------------------------

     Gregory R. Cook         |  INTERNET:    gcook@horus.cem.msu.edu
 Department of Chemistry     |               cookgreg@student.msu.edu
Michigan State University    |  BITNET:      cook@msucem.BITNET
 East Lansing, MI  48824     |  COMPUSERVE:  74170,3010