From: mhw@wittsend.atl.ga.usa (Michael H. Warfield)
Newsgroups: rec.crafts.brewing
Subject: Re: Compuserve
Date: 21 Dec 92 20:55:15 GMT
Organization: Thaumaturgy & Speculums Ltd.


	Disclamier: This is totally off the topic in this newsgroup and
for that I apologize in advance.  However, I just can't let this slip by...

In <1992Dec16.162001.12068@sernews.raleigh.ibm.com> murray@rocky.raleigh.ibm.com (Charlie Murray) writes:
>What it boils down to is this.  CompuServe, and services like them, are
>available to ANYONE who has the right equipment.  Usenet is only available
>to those individuals who are fortunate enough to gain access through a
>university, government organization, or company willing to pay for the
>connection.  There are not enough local Usenet access nodes around the country
>to provide connections for all individuals, and those that exist, all charge
>subscription fees for connect time ala CompuServe.

	BULLSH*T!!!!  All it takes is the "right equipment" and YOU
DON'T NEED a TCP/IP connection to the INTERNET!  INTERNET != USENET

	My system is entirely private and the majority of the sites
downstream from mine are private.  I'm a local hub in the Atlanta area.
I offer free local UUCP connections (as do most of my downstream sites).  I
get my UUCP news and Mail feeds free from two major Internet sites.  There
are two commercial sites here in town who provide feeds one hell'v'a lot
cheaper that Compuserve (yes I've got a Compu$erve account too).  Some
areas may not have "local call" connections to USENET (fewer and fewer every
day) but access is readily available to anyone with a little snooping.

	I even feed this corner of FIDO NET (hold down the flames) from
WittsEnd.  That covers one whale of a lot of BBS's.  Most FIDO NET BBS's
can reach USENET and Waffle BBS's are almost designed to be a part of
it.  Many of these BBS's have nominal fees attached but don't restrict
contributions to USENET.  How much access do you want?  How cheap do you
want it??

	According to a recent industry magazine article, while Compuserve
and Prodigy have the vast majority of readers for commercial services,
USENET still out ranks commercial readership!  (Can't find the article for
exact figures but I'm still looking!  I think it was in "Network Computing".)

>As I have said before, Usenet is NOT free.  It is funded by the NSF using
>federal money, and paid for by companies (to the tune of around $10,000/year).

	NO NO NO NO NO NO NO........   USENET is not funded....  Period....
Parts of the Internet, yes (Remember USENET != Internet).  NSF does NOT even
fund ALL of the INTERNET!  This is one hell'v'a hugh world wide network.
We even reach into Russia now.  I don't think NSF would be funding anything
near the width and breadth of USENET.  And $10,000 per year would be peanuts.
That wouldn't even pay for one fraction of one sysadmin.

>All of you with "free" access to usenet, ask yourselves this.  If you didn't
>have this access, what would you do?  CompuServe is a reasonable alternative
>to those of us faced with this question.

	Compuserve is an alternative for those who have more money than
time to locate and setup a USENET system.  Obviously a number of individuals
on Compuserve are rather ignorant about the nature of USENET and the
source they're tapping for all of this wonderful information!  This isn't
real suprising since USENET is NOT FUNDED, has no advertising budget, and
no publicity department.  Someone wants access, they have to do the leg work
and track us down.  USENET is not real friendly when it comes to MS-DOG
either.  It's easier to use Compuserve than learn a new operating system
or the archania need to make MS-DOG talk to USENET.

	BTW...  Just so this isn't totally off the subject.  This forum
and HDB has been a wealth of information.  While it is certainly within
their "rights" to hijack free information without contributing in return,
it is certainly typical of a corporate mentallity to take as much as they
can and give as little as they have to...

	I've learned more from just listening to this forum than from
several books.  I like to think I've made some positive contributions in
return.  That's been along with a FEW MISTAKES for those of you with good
memories.  :-) :-)  But we all learn from out mistakes (most of the time).

	I want to thank ONE AND ALL for your contributions!  Even some
of the "noise" has been entertaining at the least! :-)  I certainly
hope to be reading and occasionally contributing to this forum for a long
time to come.

	Merry Christmas to rec.crafts.brewing and HDB!

>--------------------------------------------------------------------
>  Charlie Murray           CompuServe:  73707,1752
>  Consulting at IBM        Internet:    73707.1752@compuserve.com

	Mike
-- 
 Michael H. Warfield	| (404) 925-8248	| mhw@WittsEnd.atl.ga.us
  (The Mad Wizard)	| NIC whois: MHW9	| wittsend!mhw@emory.edu
An optimist believes we live in the best of all possible worlds.
A pessimist is sure of it!
Newsgroups: rec.crafts.brewing