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News:  Getting groups we don't get on halcyon


Q.  I hear there are over 13000 newsgroups available on Usenet.  Where does 
    one find out about the newsgroups that aren't available on halcyon? 

A.  On halcyon, look at the file /news/newslib/newgroups.  It's a listing of
    the current Usenet newsgroups.  For example, here's what it looked like
    at the beginning of April 1996:
 
         csh> cd /news/newslib
         csh> ls -l newsgroups
         -rw-r--r--  1 news       694719 Apr  8 16:05 newsgroups
         csh> wc -l newsgroups
            13209 newsgroups
         csh>

    Typing "newsgroups" at the shell prompt also give an informative set of
    lists about what groups you have subscribed or unsubscribed at that
    moment.


Q.  What groups *do* you get?

A.  Look in the same place at the file named

         active

    In April 1996, it had about 6969 groups in it.


Q.  Okay, where can I find and read the groups that halcyon doesn't get?

A.  First, check that halcyon really isn't getting the group.  Use trn or tin
    or a relative to try to subscribe to the group, using the exact spelling
    you found in the newsgroups file.  If that fails, the next step is
    depends on which group you're looking for.  For most groups (like comp.*,
    for example), there are addgroup messages that propagate to each site and
    cause new groups to be added; this sometimes takes a while, so hang in
    there for a day or so.

    Halcyon doesn't automatically add alt.* groups; there are so many of
    them, and not all of them are, shall we say, pertinent (although
    alt.dinosaur.barney.die.die.die certainly seems indispensible).  Some of
    the foreign-language groups also aren't carried.  If there's something
    you want that halcyon doesn't get, send electronic mail to
    support@halcyon.com), requesting the group; this is preferable (and more
    effective!) than posting in the halcyon.general newsgroup.

    Halcyon doesn't carry the alt.sex.* or all of the alt.binaries.pictures.*
    groups, along with some others; requesting the addition of those is
    unlikely produce results.  


Q.  Does Northwest Nexus "censor" newsgroups?

A.  Not unless you think the corner grocer who doesn't carry your favorite
    brand of canned pears is censoring fruit.  We carry some groups and not
    others, as space and choice permits; you're free to get the others from
    other sites.

    There are some public-access news sites on the net that you can use to
    get other groups; information on what they are and how you get them can
    be found by typing:

         help news servers

    ...at the shell prompt.

                                                                            
(10-Apr-96/newggwdg/WRD)
______________________________________________________________________________
Copyright 1996  Northwest Nexus Inc.  All Rights Reserved.
This document may not be reproduced nor redistributed in any form without
express permission; contact us at support@halcyon.com with questions.