 |
 | Home | Contact Us | FAQ | Search & Site Map | Link to Us |
 | Sign In | Join | Other 45 Sites in Network |
| PhotoKB HomeDiscussion Groups Digital Photography Digital PhotoDSLR CamerasZLR CamerasPoint & Shoot CamerasFilm Photography 35 mmLarge FormatMedium formatDarkroomFilm and LabsOther EquipmentPhoto Technique Nature PhotographyPeople PhotographyTechnique GeneralGeneral Photo Topics General TopicsAustralian PhotographyUK PhotographyDirectoryPhoto Clubs |
Photo Forum / Digital Photography / Digital Photo / May 2008DAMN YOU, GOOGLE!
I've been forwarding all of the Chinese garbage to groups-abuse@google.com If everyone here and everywhere else started doing it, the idiots at Google may get the message. I wouldn't mind if the stupid spam were restricted to Google Users, but the regular NNTP servers get the same garbage. This group is getting unusable and my filter isn't too easy to adapt. mike > I've been forwarding all of the Chinese garbage to groups-abuse@google.com > [quoted text clipped - 8 lines] > mike > Soon it will stop because they need to save face for the Olympics and Tibet will keep them busy. > I've been forwarding all of the Chinese garbage to groups-abuse@google.com > > If everyone here and everywhere else started doing it, the idiots at > Google may get the message. Wouldn't happen -- your complaints don't cut into their profits. > I wouldn't mind if the stupid spam were restricted to Google Users, but > the regular NNTP servers get the same garbage. > > This group is getting unusable and my filter isn't too easy to adapt. You *can't* filter them with TB. You can filter them this way: http://improve-usenet.org/filters_ex2.html  SignatureBlinky Killing all posts from Google Groups The Usenet Improvement Project: http://improve-usenet.org Blinky: http://blinkynet.net >> I've been forwarding all of the Chinese garbage to groups-abuse@google.com >> [quoted text clipped - 11 lines] > > http://improve-usenet.org/filters_ex2.html Strange, I am filtering them with TB. Yes, I have to add something just about every day, but it DOES work. >>> I've been forwarding all of the Chinese garbage to groups-abuse@google.com >>> [quoted text clipped - 14 lines] >Strange, I am filtering them with TB. Yes, I have to add something just >about every day, but it DOES work. Having to add something just about every day isn't my definition of working *well*. Take a look at the link above. I've been using NewProxy for a weeks now and haven't had to add anything beyond the first day when I filtered Message-Id's containing googlegroups. No spam since. Steev >>>> I've been forwarding all of the Chinese garbage to >>>> groups-abuse@google.com [quoted text clipped - 20 lines] > for a weeks now and haven't had to add anything beyond the first day when > I filtered Message-Id's containing googlegroups. No spam since. Note that he's not really filtering on the Message-ID header. His TB will no more filter on that header than your Free Agent will; he'd need a solution like you're using -- a local server/proxy to pre-chew groups for his client. SignatureBlinky Killing all posts from Google Groups The Usenet Improvement Project: http://improve-usenet.org Blinky: http://blinkynet.net >>>>> I've been forwarding all of the Chinese garbage to >>>>> groups-abuse@google.com [quoted text clipped - 25 lines] >solution like you're using -- a local server/proxy to pre-chew groups for >his client. Since I started using NewsProxy, the spam has disappeared. Give it a try. >>>>>> I've been forwarding all of the Chinese garbage to >>>>>> groups-abuse@google.com [quoted text clipped - 29 lines] > > Since I started using NewsProxy, the spam has disappeared. Give it a try. Give what a try? *I* don't see spam. SignatureBlinky Killing all posts from Google Groups The Usenet Improvement Project: http://improve-usenet.org Blinky: http://blinkynet.net >>>>>> I've been forwarding all of the Chinese garbage to >>>>>> groups-abuse@google.com [quoted text clipped - 24 lines] > Since I started using NewsProxy, the spam has disappeared. Give it a > try. Yes, and who has control of just WHAT is defined as spam? If YOU don't have control of it, then you don't know just what ELSE you might not be seeing, now do you? Thanks, but I will do my own driving.... >> Since I started using NewsProxy, the spam has disappeared. >> Give it a try. [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > ELSE you might not be seeing, now do you? Thanks, but I will > do my own driving.... Generic rules based on excessive multi-posting (distinct but identical messages) and excessive cross-posting (message posted to too many newsgroups) are reportedly very effective. You wouldn't be missing much ham that way as most real news servers already have some filtering of that nature in place. Don't know whether that is what NewsProxy does, though. SignatureAndré Majorel <URL:http://www.teaser.fr/~amajorel/> (Counterfeit: lipenuh@curlew.com nibyn@luminescent.com) Have you played buzzword bingo ? >>>> I've been forwarding all of the Chinese garbage to groups-abuse@google.com >>>> [quoted text clipped - 20 lines] > > Steev Unfortunately, Googlegroups is NOT the only source of spam. I blocked that easily the first time it appeared. Currently, the incidence of spam from China is about to convince me to insist to my congress-critters, that they make it clear that 'cyber-war' is a sufficient cause to abrogate the 'most favored nation' trade status, with the penalties that implies. Google is just an irritation, the Chinese spam, and outright attacks from many sites, is far from 'just an irritation', it is an attack. >>>>> I've been forwarding all of the Chinese garbage to groups-abuse@google.com >>>>> [quoted text clipped - 29 lines] >Chinese spam, and outright attacks from many sites, is far from 'just an >irritation', it is an attack. You should really try NewsProxy or something similar to filter by Message-ID. If you did that you'd see that googlegroups really is the only source of spam. I've not had a single China spam, or any other kind that I've noticed, in at least the past week. The only time I see it at all is when someone else responds to it and quotes the spam. Steve > You should really try NewsProxy or something similar to filter by > Message-ID. If you did that you'd see that googlegroups really is the > only source of spam. I've not had a single China spam, or any other > kind that I've noticed, in at least the past week. The only time I > see it at all is when someone else responds to it and quotes the spam. I filtered out Google last week and have noticed exactly the same thing. Signaturehttp://www.petezilla.co.uk >Unfortunately, Googlegroups is NOT the only source of spam. I blocked >that easily the first time it appeared. Currently, the incidence of >spam from China[...] >Google is just an irritation, the >Chinese spam, and outright attacks from many sites, is far from 'just an >irritation', it is an attack. I suggest you check where all that "chinese spam" actually originates from. You may be surprised that _VIRTUALLY ALL_ of it is posted via GoogleGroups. This is trivially proven by e.g. - the Message-ID suffix: ....@.....googlegroups.com - the Organization: http://groups.google.com - the User-Agent: G2/1.0 - the Path: ....postnews.google.com!e10g2000prf.googlegroups.com!not-for-mail and several other header fields. Yes, there are a few spammers who use other news providers. But their number is absolutely tiny compared to the flood coming from GoogleGroups. If you actually had blocked GoogleGroups, then you would see virtually no spam at all. In particular all the chinese garbage would be filtered out. I think instead you are probably filtering on "gmail" accounts in the From header. Those are easily faked. But more important they have nothing to do with GoogleGroups except that both services are run by the same company. It's like not buying Canon cameras because a Canon photocopier ate your term paper. jue Ron Hunter wrote: Steve wrote:Now that is a big mistake. You need to forward all of the chinese garbage to the Olympic committee Strange, I am filtering them with TB. Yes, I have to add something just about every day, but it DOES work.Wouldn't happen -- your complaints don't cut into their profits. Ron Hunter <rphunter@charter.net> wrote in news:cvGdnbMVpJB_-mjanZ2dnUVZ_g- dnZ2d@giganews.com: > Currently, the incidence of > spam from China Since I started filtering on "Nike," "wholesale" and "China", I have seen almost none of it. > Ron Hunter <rphunter@charter.net> wrote in news:cvGdnbMVpJB_-mjanZ2dnUVZ_g- > dnZ2d@giganews.com: [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > Since I started filtering on "Nike," "wholesale" and "China", I have seen > almost none of it. If you add "from contains .cn", "from contains 126.com" and "from contains 163.com" in whatever format pleases your news reader, you will get rid of even more. I assume that there must be some people who order things from these spams, or they wouldn't keep coming; I hope that none of them are my friends, though. Allen >> Ron Hunter <rphunter@charter.net> wrote in news:cvGdnbMVpJB_-mjanZ2dnUVZ_g- >> dnZ2d@giganews.com: [quoted text clipped - 10 lines] >of them are my friends, though. >Allen All I can say, I bitched at the initiators and Google more than once. greg >>>> I've been forwarding all of the Chinese garbage to groups-abuse@google.com >>>> [quoted text clipped - 22 lines] > >Steev Same here. NewsProxy is awesome! >>> I've been forwarding all of the Chinese garbage to >>> groups-abuse@google.com [quoted text clipped - 15 lines] > Strange, I am filtering them with TB. Yes, I have to add something > just about every day, but it DOES work. I do not add every day but TB does work for over 80% of it. >>> I've been forwarding all of the Chinese garbage to >>> groups-abuse@google.com [quoted text clipped - 15 lines] > Strange, I am filtering them with TB. Yes, I have to add something just > about every day, but it DOES work. No, you're *not* filtering GG posts via the Message-ID header. TB cannot do that. You're using some other filtering, and that's *why* you have to keep tweaking it instead of just sitting back letting a true GG filter do its work. Even if you managed to plug in what *looks* like a Message-ID rule for TB, TB is ignoring it -- it will *not* actually filter on that header. SignatureBlinky Killing all posts from Google Groups The Usenet Improvement Project: http://improve-usenet.org Blinky: http://blinkynet.net >>>> I've been forwarding all of the Chinese garbage to >>>> groups-abuse@google.com [quoted text clipped - 20 lines] > rule for TB, TB is ignoring it -- it will *not* actually filter on that > header. One filter ended the Google groups spam. Perhaps you don't know how to use the filters in TB properly. I should mention that I have been using them since they first were included in the program, and have become quite good at defining them properly to get the result I want, limited though they are. >I've been forwarding all of the Chinese garbage to groups-abuse@google.com > >If everyone here and everywhere else started doing it, the idiots at >Google may get the message. I'm not getting any "Chinese garbage" to forward to anyone. I set a global filter on the main sources a long time ago. Steve SignatureNeural Planner Software Ltd http://npsl1.com EasyNN-plus. Build Neural Networks. http://www.easynn.com SwingNN. Forecast the Future. http://www.swingnn.com > I've been forwarding all of the Chinese garbage to groups-abuse@google.com > [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] > > mike Google does not accept abuse complaints. None. It's years of that attitude that has lead to such spam floods. I just got switched from Supernews to Highwinds. I can no longer fetch headers for filtering Google spam and I can't convince Highwinds of the obvious need for a UDP. What a useless service. SignatureGoogle - The top provider of Usenet spam and criminal activity. Block Google and enjoy your Internet again. >> I've been forwarding all of the Chinese garbage to >> groups-abuse@google.com [quoted text clipped - 15 lines] > headers for filtering Google spam and I can't convince Highwinds of the > obvious need for a UDP. What a useless service. Whoa, hoss! All you need is Message-ID. That's part of the flippin' overview that filtering is first performed on. That's not to say that your *client* can filter on it; I don't know MT-NewsWatcher. Check in at news.software.readers for help with that. SignatureBlinky Killing all posts from Google Groups The Usenet Improvement Project: http://improve-usenet.org Blinky: http://blinkynet.net >> I've been forwarding all of the Chinese garbage to groups-abuse@google.com >> [quoted text clipped - 14 lines] > headers for filtering Google spam and I can't convince Highwinds of the > obvious need for a UDP. What a useless service. Yes, my service provider also uses Highwinds, which I long ago decided was useless, not to mention dead slow. I pay for Giganews. Well worth the money. I only access Google groups via a Surrey public library terminal. Is there any way I can do filtering using a program on my memory stick? >I only access Google groups via a Surrey public library terminal. It would be more interesting to know what you mean by "access Google Groups". Are you talking about the WWW-interface to Usenet that Google provides? Are you talking about the additional proprietary forums that Google provides and which are not part of Usenet? Are you talking about using GG as a Usenet server (don't know if Google provides this functionality)? Are you talking about something totally different? >Is >there any way I can do filtering using a program on my memory stick? Do library policies allow to run programs from your memory stick? Then you could use your own Newsreader and filter software. That and other solutions may or may not help depending upon which sceanario you were talking about. jue > >I only access Google groups via a Surrey public library terminal. > [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > using GG as a Usenet server (don't know if Google provides this > functionality)? Are you talking about something totally different? I think I'm talking about your first suggestion. > >Is > >there any way I can do filtering using a program on my memory stick? [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > > jue I don't know about policies, but I can certainly run programs off my stick. The trouble is that I would have to know the library's web ports, but their Internet Explorer settings are disabled to users so I can't find out. Dave W >> >I only access Google groups via a Surrey public library terminal. >> Are you talking about the WWW-interface to Usenet that Google [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] >> >Is >> >there any way I can do filtering using a program on my memory stick? Well, then you are stuck with whatever filtering the Google web interface provides. I have only a very rudimentary knowledge about it, but http://groups.google.com/advanced_search allows only positive filtering (show me the matches) and only on Subject, Author, and Date. What you are looking for is negative filtering (don't show me the matches) on Message-ID, or Organization, or Path, or some other unique header field. The SafeSearch (http://www.google.com/intl/en/help/customize.html#safe) seems to be a negative filter, but it only filters for perceived pornographic content and doesn't seem to be customizable. My advise: get a newsreader. jue > >> >I only access Google groups via a Surrey public library terminal. > >> Are you talking about the WWW-interface to Usenet that Google [quoted text clipped - 17 lines] > > My advise: get a newsreader. Well, *if* you need to use a web-based browser to follow Newsgroups, then perhaps Firefox could be a choice. http://en-us.www.mozilla.com/en-US/firefox/about/ FWIW, it has add-ons that can help it filter google... http://www.penney.org/ggkiller.html I have not used either one, but others have mentioned that they both work. - JT just offering a suggestion SignatureThe Usenet Improvement Project: http://improve-usenet.org "The pendulum of the mind oscillates between sense and nonsense, not between right and wrong." - Carl Jung >>> >I only access Google groups via a Surrey public library terminal. >>> Are you talking about the WWW-interface to Usenet that Google [quoted text clipped - 12 lines] >matches) on Message-ID, or Organization, or Path, or some other unique >header field. Any Google search can have negative terms -- just prefix the term with a minus sign; e.g., "trees -evergreen" You may want to read up on advanced search operators and syntax: http://www.google.com/support/?ctx=web&hl=en SignatureBest regards, John Navas Panasonic DMC-FZ8 (and several others) >>>> >I only access Google groups via a Surrey public library terminal. >>>> Are you talking about the WWW-interface to Usenet that Google [quoted text clipped - 15 lines] >Any Google search can have negative terms -- just prefix the term with a >minus sign; e.g., "trees -evergreen" I wonder if you are confusing web search and Google Groups search/display. On the page http://groups.google.com/advanced_search where exactly and how would you specify "Message-ID does not contain Google-Groups"? jue > > I've been forwarding all of the Chinese garbage to groups-abuse@google.com > > [quoted text clipped - 14 lines] > headers for filtering Google spam and I can't convince Highwinds of the > obvious need for a UDP. What a useless service. Kevin, Highlight the text and drag/drop it into your MT-NewsWatcher filter list: # # These filters were exported from MT-NewsWatcher # # Version: 3.5.2 # Date: Friday, April 4, 2008 # # You can drag this text into the Filters window of MT-NewsWatcher # to import these filters. # GROUP=. KEPT=kFalse # STRING=googlegroups.com HEADER=Message-ID MATCH=kContainsTheString IGNORECASE=kTrue SCORE=0 LABEL=33 # NewsWatcher grabs the Message ID line as part of Xover header info for each newsgroup that you read... It doesn't take any extra time to fetch the info. My email addy works should you need to ask any questions away from the group. - JT hope this helps SignatureThe Usenet Improvement Project: http://improve-usenet.org "The pendulum of the mind oscillates between sense and nonsense, not between right and wrong." - Carl Jung > > > I've been forwarding all of the Chinese garbage to groups-abuse@google.com > > > [quoted text clipped - 46 lines] > - JT > hope this helps I created one manually and it works. Over half of today's postings vanished and I see real content again. Sweet. SignatureGoogle - The top provider of Usenet spam and criminal activity. Block Google and enjoy your Internet again. Nice sig, Kevin. SignatureBlinky Killing all posts from Google Groups The Usenet Improvement Project: http://improve-usenet.org Blinky: http://blinkynet.net > I created one manually and it works. Over half of today's postings > vanished and I see real content again. Sweet. Trouble is, half the 'real content' is about how to get rid of Google! Paul >> I created one manually and it works. Over half of today's postings >> vanished and I see real content again. Sweet. > > Trouble is, half the 'real content' is about how to get rid of Google! Yes, that's been a problem. I've been waiting to see that traffic dimish as the people who are going to filter have got their filters in place. And it's happened. So in the long run it's positive -- the temporary and beneficial off-topic traffic has lead to a more enjoyable group for many. SignatureBlinky Killing all posts from Google Groups The Usenet Improvement Project: http://improve-usenet.org Blinky: http://blinkynet.net > > I created one manually and it works. Over half of today's postings > > vanished and I see real content again. Sweet. > > Trouble is, half the 'real content' is about how to get rid of Google! 53 Articles this morning, 7 killed outright for spam content... Articles dealing with improving the signal-to-noise ratio 4. 6 Articles from "clowns" having been, or in need of filtering. I'd say that overall this groups readability has improved dramatically... AFWIW, I'm now working on white-listing those posters who continually provide "topical" content. Blinky did a "good" thing in trying to improve group readability. - JT separating the wheat from the chafe is an on-going process SignatureThe Usenet Improvement Project: http://improve-usenet.org "The pendulum of the mind oscillates between sense and nonsense, not between right and wrong." - Carl Jung > 53 Articles this morning, 7 killed outright for spam content... Articles > dealing with improving the signal-to-noise ratio 4. 6 Articles from > "clowns" having been, or in need of filtering. I'd say that overall this > groups readability has improved dramatically... AFWIW, I'm now working > on white-listing those posters who continually provide "topical" content. I have not noticed any posts to white list in two days. I put a filter on to label the google posts and move them to the bottom and it looks like almost all of the google posts the last two days were spam. I think there was one poster who used google for a real post and I don't see much reason to white list him. SignatureCharles > > 53 Articles this morning, 7 killed outright for spam content... Articles > > dealing with improving the signal-to-noise ratio 4. 6 Articles from [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] > think there was one poster who used google for a real post and I don't > see much reason to white list him. I'm talking about posters, not necessarily article postings... Those posters regardless of where the post originates from, that generally offer sound advice to questions asked. And this is somewhat subjective, and probably varies from person to person, so I'm not going to list them here. I've got many filtering options, including "highlighting" which could be used for say those of us (tinu) using Mac OS, or Nikon, Epson, etc... I also tend to use a score number (undesirable postings are -9999). But the vast majority of undesirable posts occur from "googlegroups.com" and in one group I read, had several 100 posts made by the same email ID in a few minute period this morning... - JT just my thoughts, your mileage my vary SignatureThe Usenet Improvement Project: http://improve-usenet.org "The pendulum of the mind oscillates between sense and nonsense, not between right and wrong." - Carl Jung > I'm talking about posters, not necessarily article postings... Those > posters regardless of where the post originates from, that generally > offer sound advice to questions asked. And this is somewhat subjective, > and probably varies from person to person, so I'm not going to list them > here. That is what I meant, posters. What I mean is that there does not seem to be that many real posters, as opposed to spammers posting, using google groups. So it is not going to be that difficult to white list anyone that I choose subjectively to white list. It is not going to be a huge list. I think it is worth white listing rather than taking the attitude that all google groups posters are lame and doing a blanket filtering of them out along with the junk. SignatureCharles > > I'm talking about posters, not necessarily article postings... Those > > posters regardless of where the post originates from, that generally [quoted text clipped - 9 lines] > attitude that all google groups posters are lame and doing a blanket > filtering of them out along with the junk. Definitely worth it to white-list... I've got "googlegroups" highlighted with a filter score against subject keywords. Perhaps overkill, but it gives me the desired result that I'm looking for. Anyone employing a filtering system needs to use whatever method works for them. - JT MT-NewsWatcher's article list is if nothing else, very colorful. SignatureThe Usenet Improvement Project: http://improve-usenet.org "The pendulum of the mind oscillates between sense and nonsense, not between right and wrong." - Carl Jung >> > I'm talking about posters, not necessarily article postings... Those >> > posters regardless of where the post originates from, that generally [quoted text clipped - 14 lines] > gives me the desired result that I'm looking for. Anyone employing a > filtering system needs to use whatever method works for them. Having, I hope, helped out some here, I'm trying to stay out of further talk about filtering as a way of now letting the group return to normal (or normal-less-GG-trash). But your description made me think of a new page I added to the Project a couplethree days ago that is I think a nice illustration. It's not intended to *encourage* showing-but-highlighting GG posts (see the text), mind you. http://improve-usenet.org/results.html I would think that at its peak, the noise in this group was/is proportionately even higher. If I've posted this link before, sorry. And if I haven't said thanks for the link in your sig, thanks. SignatureBlinky Killing all posts from Google Groups The Usenet Improvement Project: http://improve-usenet.org Blinky: http://blinkynet.net > >> > I'm talking about posters, not necessarily article postings... Those > >> > posters regardless of where the post originates from, that generally [quoted text clipped - 21 lines] > illustration. It's not intended to *encourage* showing-but-highlighting > GG posts (see the text), mind you. As these last few threads come to end, the group is indeed getting back to the business of photography, which is a "good" thing. > http://improve-usenet.org/results.html Yep! Only my list has more colors to it. ;-) > I would think that at its peak, the noise in this group was/is > proportionately even higher. > > If I've posted this link before, sorry. And if I haven't said thanks for > the link in your sig, thanks. You have said thanks, and you're welcome. - JT will now go back to reading mostly SignatureThe Usenet Improvement Project: http://improve-usenet.org "The pendulum of the mind oscillates between sense and nonsense, not between right and wrong." - Carl Jung >> >> > I'm talking about posters, not necessarily article postings... >> >> > Those posters regardless of where the post originates from, that [quoted text clipped - 29 lines] >> > Yep! Only my list has more colors to it. ;-) My normal one does, too -- I set that up with only one rule (GG) and thus only one color. :) >> I would think that at its peak, the noise in this group was/is >> proportionately even higher. [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] > - JT > will now go back to reading mostly Ditto. Regards. SignatureBlinky Killing all posts from Google Groups The Usenet Improvement Project: http://improve-usenet.org Blinky: http://blinkynet.net > > > 53 Articles this morning, 7 killed outright for spam content... Articles > > > dealing with improving the signal-to-noise ratio 4. 6 Articles from [quoted text clipped - 13 lines] > and probably varies from person to person, so I'm not going to list them > here. <edited for brevity> Hello, JT's Ghost: Well, I've always tried to "offer sound advice to questions asked," here, but have sometimes been forced to post from Google Groups, when my free NNTP server (aioe.cjb.net) has balked...I just hope I won't end up in everybody's "kill filter," because of it. <g> Cordially, John Turco <jtur@concentric.net> > > > > 53 Articles this morning, 7 killed outright for spam content... > > > > Articles [quoted text clipped - 26 lines] > (aioe.cjb.net) has balked...I just hope I won't end up in everybody's "kill > filter," because of it. <g> Added (John Turco) to my white list... - JT Attempting to learn more by listening (reading) then by talking (posting) SignatureThe Usenet Improvement Project: http://improve-usenet.org "The pendulum of the mind oscillates between sense and nonsense, not between right and wrong." - Carl Jung <edited for brevity> > > Well, I've always tried to "offer sound advice to questions asked," here, but > > have sometimes been forced to post from Google Groups, when my free NNTP [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > - JT > Attempting to learn more by listening (reading) then by talking (posting) Hello, JT's Ghost: And from one "JT", to another -- thanks, man! ;-) Cordially, John Turco <jtur@concentric.net> >> > > 53 Articles this morning, 7 killed outright for spam >> > > content... Articles dealing with improving the [quoted text clipped - 26 lines] > just hope I won't end up in everybody's "kill filter," because > of it. <g> Consider a more reliable free server (and one that isn't blocked by some servers, like aioe is). Try news.motzarella.org. SignatureBlinky Killing all posts from Google Groups The Usenet Improvement Project: http://improve-usenet.org Blinky: http://blinkynet.net <edited for brevity> > > Well, I've always tried to "offer sound advice to questions > > asked," here, but have sometimes been forced to post from Google [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > Consider a more reliable free server (and one that isn't blocked > by some servers, like aioe is). Try news.motzarella.org. Hello, Blinky: Okay, I just added news.motzarella.org, to Netscape Communicator 4.8's list of Usenet servers; I was only able to subsribe to six Motzarella and five "Posenet" newsgroups, alas! Thus, in order to add "rec.photo.digital" and others, I needed to visit this Web page, first: Motzarella - User registration <http://news.motzarella.org/RegisterNewsAccount.php?language=en> After creating a "UserID" and password, and then entering them (in Communicator), a very long column of groups became available. (I'm sending this particular reply, from news.motzarella.org, in fact.) Thank you, for the tip! Cordially, John Turco <jtur@concentric.net> PS: I still think aioe.cjb.net is pretty good, nonetheless. > <edited for brevity> > [quoted text clipped - 24 lines] > (in Communicator), a very long column of groups became > available. They have a good selection of groups, yes. > (I'm sending this particular reply, from news.motzarella.org, in > fact.) There ya go. > Thank you, for the tip! My pleasure, John. Enjoy. :) SignatureBlinky Killing all posts from Google Groups The Usenet Improvement Project: http://improve-usenet.org Blinky: http://blinkynet.net > > <edited for brevity> > > [quoted text clipped - 29 lines] > > There ya go. Hello, Blinky: Also, both here and in news:comp.sys.ibm.pc.hardware.storage, certain posters' messages failed to appear, when I was using aioe.cjb.net; I could only see what they'd written, when it was quoted, in others' replies. (That's not a problem, anymore.) There's only one annoyance, however. When I access news.motzarella.net, initially (in Communicator 4.8), it always asks me for my UserID and password. As yet, I've been unable to find a way around this minor hassle...any suggestions, please? > > Thank you, for the tip! > > My pleasure, John. Enjoy. :) I do; thanks, once again. <g> Cordially, John Turco <jtur@concentric.net> >> > <edited for brevity> >> > [quoted text clipped - 34 lines] > only see what they'd written, when it was quoted, in others' replies. > (That's not a problem, anymore.) Exellent. > There's only one annoyance, however. When I access news.motzarella.net, > initially (in Communicator 4.8), it always asks me for my UserID and > password. > > As yet, I've been unable to find a way around this minor hassle...any > suggestions, please? No Communicator experience for probably more than a decade (might've been called something different back then, too.) Can't think of why it doesn't remember your auth info. Why don't you check into news.software.readers; perhaps someone there is using Communicator. Offhand, I can't think of anyone, but it's worth the cost of trying. :) See you there. If nothing else, someone might know of a group for that software. I don't think mozilla.support.thunderbird would be close enough (news.mozilla.org), but that would probably be an even better place to get a redirect. Mention that you're mostly looking for a redirect so they don't think you think Comm'r and TB are the same thing. In either group, drop my name. :) SignatureBlinky Killing all posts from Google Groups The Usenet Improvement Project: http://improve-usenet.org Blinky: http://blinkynet.net <edited for brevity> > > Also, both here and in news:comp.sys.ibm.pc.hardware.storage, certain > > posters' messages failed to appear, when I was using aioe.cjb.net; I could [quoted text clipped - 13 lines] > called something different back then, too.) Can't think of why it doesn't > remember your auth info. Hello, Blinky: Well, Communicator 4.8 was released, back in 2003 (which is how long I've been using it). Since then, Netscape, itself, has gone out of business! > Why don't you check into news.software.readers; perhaps someone there is > using Communicator. Offhand, I can't think of anyone, but it's worth the [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > for a redirect so they don't think you think Comm'r and TB are the same > thing. In either group, drop my name. :) All right, I just did subscribe to <news:news.software.readers>. It's a very lively and topical group, with only two spam posts, that I noticed. Regardless, I doubt that anybody, anywhere, can solve my problem. It's simply something I'll need to put up with, for utilizing such a decrepit news reader, it seems. Yet, Communicator suits my particular wants (both for Usenet and e-mail), more than any other program. (Its Web browser became nearly worthless, years ago, so I supplanted it, with the vastly superior Internet Explorer.) Thanks, anyway! Cordially, John Turco <jtur@concentric.net> > <edited for brevity> > [quoted text clipped - 17 lines] > > Hello, Blinky: Hey, John. > Well, Communicator 4.8 was released, back in 2003 (which is how long I've > been using it). Since then, Netscape, itself, has gone out of business! [quoted text clipped - 11 lines] > All right, I just did subscribe to <news:news.software.readers>. It's a > very lively and topical group, with only two spam posts, that I noticed. And I don't see those, of course. ;) > Regardless, I doubt that anybody, anywhere, can solve my problem. It's > simply something I'll need to put up with, for utilizing such a decrepit > news reader, it seems. Well, upgrade. > Yet, Communicator suits my particular wants (both for Usenet and e-mail), > more than any other program. You've seriously tried how many others (and no, OE diesn't count)? > (Its Web browser became nearly worthless, > years ago, so I supplanted it, with the vastly superior Internet > Explorer.) Ah...right. :-/ Might want to try something more modern there, too. :) SignatureBlinky Killing all posts from Google Groups The Usenet Improvement Project: http://improve-usenet.org Blinky: http://blinkynet.net <edited for brevity> > > Well, Communicator 4.8 was released, back in 2003 (which is how long I've > > been using it). Since then, Netscape, itself, has gone out of business! [quoted text clipped - 13 lines] > > And I don't see those, of course. ;) Hello, Blinky: They concerned "Movado" wristwatches, if you're curious. <g> > > Regardless, I doubt that anybody, anywhere, can solve my problem. It's > > simply something I'll need to put up with, for utilizing such a decrepit > > news reader, it seems. > > Well, upgrade. Oh, I've been a Netcape nut, dating all the way to 1996, my first year online. I can't "upgrade" to a better version of my favorite news reader, as I've outlived the company, itself! ;-) > > Yet, Communicator suits my particular wants (both for Usenet and e-mail), > > more than any other program. > > You've seriously tried how many others (and no, OE diesn't count)? Thunderbird 1.5.0.9, during the "modern" era, and NCSA "Mosaic" 3.0.0, in antiquity. <g> > > (Its Web browser became nearly worthless, years ago, so I supplanted > > it, with the vastly superior Internet Explorer.) > > Ah...right. :-/ > > Might want to try something more modern there, too. :) I really like IE's feature set, I must say. The latest one is "tabbed browsing," which eliminates (or reduces) having to open new windows, when following links...very handy, indeed! Cordially, John Turco <jtur@concentric.net> > <edited for brevity> > [quoted text clipped - 21 lines] > > They concerned "Movado" wristwatches, if you're curious. <g> With that knowledge, should the Big One hit Los Angeles tomorrow I will be able to go to my final resting place a complete person. Shark. Whatever. :) Blinky's home: http://blinkynet.net/sharks/blinkysat.html >> > Regardless, I doubt that anybody, anywhere, can solve my problem. >> > It's simply something I'll need to put up with, for utilizing such a [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > online. I can't "upgrade" to a better version of my favorite news > reader, as I've outlived the company, itself! ;-) Yeah, I used to drive a Triumph. Until late 2005, in fact. :) >> > Yet, Communicator suits my particular wants (both for Usenet and >> > e-mail), more than any other program. [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > Thunderbird 1.5.0.9, during the "modern" era, and NCSA "Mosaic" 3.0.0, > in antiquity. <g> TB: pah. Brain-dead filtering: only on From, Subject and (of all things) Date headers. :) Meanwhile, did you ever use gopher, archie, veronica or jughead, which predate the Web? >> > (Its Web browser became nearly worthless, years ago, so I supplanted >> > it, with the vastly superior Internet Explorer.) [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] > browsing," which eliminates (or reduces) having to open new windows, > when following links...very handy, indeed! Yeah. Something they learned from the Mozilla and Opera browsers. Of course it took them years. :) SignatureBlinky Killing all posts from Google Groups The Usenet Improvement Project: http://improve-usenet.org Blinky: http://blinkynet.net >> <edited for brevity> >> [quoted text clipped - 53 lines] >Meanwhile, did you ever use gopher, archie, veronica or jughead, which >predate the Web? Started with gopher and Chameleon. ;-) >>> > (Its Web browser became nearly worthless, years ago, so I supplanted >>> > it, with the vastly superior Internet Explorer.) [quoted text clipped - 9 lines] >Yeah. Something they learned from the Mozilla and Opera browsers. Of >course it took them years. :) Damn. Beat me to it. treehugger wrote: >>> I really like IE's feature set, I must say. The latest one is "tabbed >>> browsing," which eliminates (or reduces) having to open new windows, [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > > Damn. Beat me to it. Just like everyone else beat Microsoft. :) SignatureBlinky Killing all posts from Google Groups The Usenet Improvement Project: http://improve-usenet.org Blinky: http://blinkynet.net <edited for brevity> > >> > Yet, Communicator suits my particular wants (both for Usenet and > >> > e-mail), more than any other program. [quoted text clipped - 9 lines] > Meanwhile, did you ever use gopher, archie, veronica or jughead, which > predate the Web? Hello, Blinky: I did toy with those applications, frustratingly, before stumbling upon my current dial-up ISP (Concentric), in February of 1996. Really, I was kind of lost in cyberspace, so to speak. My online debut had occurred, about a month earlier, using the Prodigy free-trial software that came installed on my original PC (Pionex 486 DX2/66MHz); I gave CompuServe a whirl, also. Plus, I inadvertently ran up some hefty long-distance charges, by trying a few BBSes. The Unix-based browser software (running in Windows 3.1) was pretty confusing to me, besides. > >> > (Its Web browser became nearly worthless, years ago, so I supplanted > >> > it, with the vastly superior Internet Explorer.) [quoted text clipped - 9 lines] > Yeah. Something they learned from the Mozilla and Opera browsers. Of > course it took them years. :) Oh, c'mon -- IE7 ain't so bad, now! :-J Cordially, John Turco <jtur@concentric.net> > <edited for brevity> > [quoted text clipped - 38 lines] > Cordially, > John Turco <jtur@concentric.net> That depends. I found IE7 to be somewhat better than IE6, but not in the same class as Firefox. IE8 Beta looks very good. <edited for brevity> > >>> I really like IE's feature set, I must say. The latest one is "tabbed > >>> browsing," which eliminates (or reduces) having to open new windows, [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] > That depends. I found IE7 to be somewhat better than IE6, but not in > the same class as Firefox. IE8 Beta looks very good. Hello, Ron: Well, then, I'll wait till IE8 leaves the "beta" stage. Cordially, John Turco <jtur@concentric.net> > <edited for brevity> > [quoted text clipped - 14 lines] > Cordially, > John Turco <jtur@concentric.net> For those who are scared by the word 'beta', I have found IE8Beta to be MORE stable than IE7 ever was. Safer too. [] > For those who are scared by the word 'beta', I have found IE8Beta to > be MORE stable than IE7 ever was. Safer too. Ron, you may want to look at Firefox as well - it does have some useful add-ons (like the EXIF Viewer for any displayed JPEGs). Cheers, David > [] >> For those who are scared by the word 'beta', I have found IE8Beta to [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > Cheers, > David You are preaching to the choir. I have been using Firefox since it was known as Phoenix. >> [] >>> For those who are scared by the word 'beta', I have found IE8Beta to [quoted text clipped - 8 lines] > You are preaching to the choir. I have been using Firefox since it was > known as Phoenix. Was that before or after Firebird? After, right? SignatureBlinky Killing all posts from Google Groups The Usenet Improvement Project: http://improve-usenet.org NEW --> Now evaluating a GG-free news feed: http://usenet4all.se >>> [] >>>> For those who are scared by the word 'beta', I have found IE8Beta to [quoted text clipped - 9 lines] > > Was that before or after Firebird? After, right? Before. The name changed several times in a short period of time. Seems GM thought the name might confuse people that didn't know a browser from a 'muscle car'. Sheesh! >>>> [] >>>>> For those who are scared by the word 'beta', I have found IE8Beta to [quoted text clipped - 13 lines] > Seems GM thought the name might confuse people that didn't know a > browser from a 'muscle car'. Sheesh! Ah. Google Groupers. Gotcha. :) SignatureBlinky Killing all posts from Google Groups The Usenet Improvement Project: http://improve-usenet.org NEW --> Now evaluating a GG-free news feed: http://usenet4all.se > <edited for brevity> > [quoted text clipped - 16 lines] > I did toy with those applications, frustratingly, before stumbling upon my > current dial-up ISP (Concentric), in February of 1996. I used Concentric for a while a couple years later. > Really, I was kind of lost in cyberspace, so to speak. My online debut had > occurred, about a month earlier, using the Prodigy free-trial software > that came installed on my original PC (Pionex 486 DX2/66MHz); I gave > CompuServe a whirl, also. My first connections were via BBSs in 1992. I think my first GUI ISP was Sprint, not too long after, but before that I had a text-only account with Netcom -- before they even added their ix subdomain for those fancy new "browsers" and stuff. :) That was with this box, by the way -- originally a 386SX-16 with 2MB RAM and a 35MB HD. It's evolved for 18 years, now; not a single part, including the case, is from the original. >> >> > (Its Web browser became nearly worthless, years ago, so I >> >> > supplanted it, with the vastly superior Internet Explorer.) [quoted text clipped - 11 lines] > > Oh, c'mon -- IE7 ain't so bad, now! :-J Yes, it is. :) SignatureBlinky Killing all posts from Google Groups The Usenet Improvement Project: http://improve-usenet.org Blinky: http://blinkynet.net <edited for brevity> > > Really, I was kind of lost in cyberspace, so to speak. My online debut had > > occurred, about a month earlier, using the Prodigy free-trial software [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] > originally a 386SX-16 with 2MB RAM and a 35MB HD. It's evolved for 18 > years, now; not a single part, including the case, is from the original. <edited> Hello, Blinky: My first PC was a bit better than your 386SX-16, it seems. You see, the Pionex was not only a 486 machine, nor merely a DX2/66MHz "rocket" -- verily, it was endowed with a "whopping" 4MB of memory and a "huge" 425MB hard disk! :-) Within a couple of years of purchase, I'd maxed out the RAM (at 32MB) and replaced the old HDD, with a 2.5GB model. I made a number of other upgrades, also; I still have the passe puppy, burried away, around here. (It hasn't even been switched on, since the early 2000's.) Cordially, John Turco <jtur@concentric.net> > <edited for brevity> > [quoted text clipped - 17 lines] > not only a 486 machine, nor merely a DX2/66MHz "rocket" -- verily, it was endowed > with a "whopping" 4MB of memory and a "huge" 425MB hard disk! :-) <turns green with retroenvy> :) My 2MB ram was a factory upgrade -- standard for it was 1MB. And each MB took 9 separate chips (8 + 1 parity). SignatureBlinky Killing all posts from Google Groups The Usenet Improvement Project: http://improve-usenet.org NEW --> Now evaluating a GG-free news feed: http://usenet4all.se >> <edited for brevity> >> [quoted text clipped - 20 lines] > My 2MB ram was a factory upgrade -- standard for it was 1MB. And each > MB took 9 separate chips (8 + 1 parity). I had the IBM XT with a huge 10 MB hard drive. Borrowed it from work. Most of the rest of the employees struggled along on ITT XTra models with 256 MB memory. I used to have to teach them WordStar, and then troubleshoot when they saved too many files to the root directory of their floppy. Before that, my dad has one of those fancy Osbornes. >>> <edited for brevity> >>> [quoted text clipped - 24 lines] > Most of the rest of the employees struggled along on ITT XTra models > with 256 MB memory. I used to have to teach them WordStar, and then ^^^^^^^^^^^^^ Math check? > troubleshoot when they saved too many files to the root directory of > their floppy. > > Before that, my dad has one of those fancy Osbornes. I had an Apple IIe. And a couple Sinclairs, before that. Wrote my first program in 1965. Fortran. Punch cards. For one of these: http://blinkynet.net/stuff/comp/cdc3600.jpg SignatureBlinky Killing all posts from Google Groups The Usenet Improvement Project: http://improve-usenet.org NEW --> Now evaluating a GG-free news feed: http://usenet4all.se >>>> <edited for brevity> >>>> [quoted text clipped - 37 lines] > > http://blinkynet.net/stuff/comp/cdc3600.jpg Wrote my first programs about that same time, for a Burroughs 263. <edited for brevity> > > My first PC was a bit better than your 386SX-16, it seems. You see, the Pionex was > > not only a 486 machine, nor merely a DX2/66MHz "rocket" -- verily, it was endowed [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > My 2MB ram was a factory upgrade -- standard for it was 1MB. And each > MB took 9 separate chips (8 + 1 parity). Hello, Blinky: Okay, then, prepare to become even more envious! :-) When I originally put together this home-built system, in 1997, these were its "awesome" specifications: Microsoft Windows 95 M-Tech R526WP (AT mainboard) Karpo MPU-250P (250W AT PSU) Intel Pentium 120MHz 32MB RAM Western Digital "Caviar" 2.5GB IDE Creative Labs 8x CD-ROM Diamond Stealth 3D 2000 (PCI, 4MB DRAM) Creative Labs Sound Blaster AWE32 (ISA) Pixie 17" CRT Spot Technology flatbed scanner (proprietary ISA controller card) DEC DECcolorwriter 550ic (PPT black inkjet) After countless upgrades, here are its current components: Microsoft Windows XP/SP2 Tyan S1830S "Tsunami" (AT mainboard) Enermax EG365P-VE (350W ATX PSU) Intel PIII 1GHz (Slot 1) 1GB RAM (2) Samsung SP1614N 160GB IDE LG Electronics GSA-4120B (12x "Super Multi" writer) LG Electronics DRD-8162BB (16x DVD-ROM) ATI AIW Radeon 8500DV (AGP, 64MB DDR) Creative Labs Sound BlasterLive! MP3+ (PCI) Syba USB V.2.0 4+1 port (PCI card) Generic 7-in-1 USB card reader (internal) Sceptre X24WG 24" widescreen LCD SimpleTech 160GB (USB external HDD) Mustek 1200 UB (USB flatbed scanner) Hewlett-Packard Photosmart D7160 (USB color inkjet) Samsung ML-6060 (PPT black laser) Through it all, I've been using the same AT tower case (Karrie KCS-226). The only other thing that hasn't been replaced, is my Teac 3.5" floppy drive. Cordially, John Turco <jtur@concentric.net> > <edited for brevity> > [quoted text clipped - 11 lines] > Okay, then, prepare to become even more envious! :-) When I originally put together > this home-built system, in 1997, these were its "awesome" specifications: But I do have years on you -- this box started in March 1990. :) > Microsoft Windows 95 3.0 here. > M-Tech R526WP (AT mainboard) > Karpo MPU-250P (250W AT PSU) > Intel Pentium 120MHz I just ran across an old P133 in a box. I can't bear to toss it. :) > 32MB RAM Wow. :) > Western Digital "Caviar" 2.5GB IDE I've had a few WDs, fershure. The other day I unearthed a a Caviar 2340 -- 340MB. > Creative Labs 8x CD-ROM > Diamond Stealth 3D 2000 (PCI, 4MB DRAM) > Creative Labs Sound Blaster AWE32 (ISA) I think I had one of those. > Pixie 17" CRT > Spot Technology flatbed scanner (proprietary ISA controller card) Never heard of Spot Technology. My first scanner was a Microtek SCSI job. > DEC DECcolorwriter 550ic (PPT black inkjet) I still have a Panasonic 24-pin dot matrix impact printer in the closet. > After countless upgrades, here are its current components: > [quoted text clipped - 15 lines] > > Through it all, I've been using the same AT tower case (Karrie KCS-226). How'd you get that ATX PSU to fit? > The only other thing that hasn't been replaced, is my Teac 3.5" floppy > drive. Somebody's still using floppies -- I saw piles of them at Fry's the other day, for $15US. Or maybe not...maybe that's why those piles are there. :) SignatureBlinky Killing all posts from Google Groups The Usenet Improvement Project: http://improve-usenet.org NEW --> Now evaluating a GG-free news feed: http://usenet4all.se >> <edited for brevity> >> [quoted text clipped - 81 lines] > other day, for $15US. Or maybe not...maybe that's why those piles are > there. :) Your all newbees, my first computer had 256 bytes of core memory. It was great as core memory retains it data with the power off. My next computer had dual 180k floppy disks and 64K of RAM, it was hot stuff! John Passaneau >Your all newbees, My newbees? No idea what you are talking about, I don't have any newbees. >my first computer had 256 bytes of core memory. It was >great as core memory retains it data with the power off. My next computer >had dual 180k floppy disks and 64K of RAM, it was hot stuff! But only if you bought the expensive 16kB extension card. Otherwise the top 16kB in those 64kB would be mapped into the ROM that contained the OS and the BASIC interpreter. jue >> Your all newbees, > [quoted text clipped - 10 lines] > > jue Other than a few CPM micros and IBM and Wang minis, the first PCs I used at work, were identical to John's except they had whopping big _360K_ floppy drives. The main thing I remember is that the first packages of floppies we bought were $80 US for ten diskettes. Gee, what a bargain--360 K for only $8! Of course, that same $8 (actually probably worth $3 so in current money) will buy you a one gig USB drive now--and if pants still had watch pockets, you could carry three or four of them. I also remember that we paid around $7500 for the early IBM PC XTs (the 10 meg hard disc machine), including a dot matrix printer and a green or amber monitor. This was in a bank with branches all over Texas, and our department was by far the most effective one in the state, from both the expense and production angles. The main reason was that if someone asked for a computer, in every other department the first question was always "Can you ever get time on another computer?" If the answer was yes, then no dice. In ours, it was "Do you ever have to _wait_ to use a computer?" we would walk down the street a couple of blocks and buy one. Even at those extremely high prices, they were a bargain. But can you even, in your wildest dreams, imagine doing any photo editing on those machines? Allen >>> <edited for brevity> >>> [quoted text clipped - 85 lines] > great as core memory retains it data with the power off. My next computer > had dual 180k floppy disks and 64K of RAM, it was hot stuff! That last one sounds kind of like my Apple IIe. (I never said that my first computer was an IBM compatible. <g>) SignatureBlinky Killing all posts from Google Groups The Usenet Improvement Project: http://improve-usenet.org NEW --> Now evaluating a GG-free news feed: http://usenet4all.se <heavily edited for brevity> > Your all newbees, my first computer had 256 bytes of core memory. It was > great as core memory retains it data with the power off. My next computer > had dual 180k floppy disks and 64K of RAM, it was hot stuff! > > John Passaneau Hello, John: My first PC (Pionex DX2/66MHz) came with two floppy drives installed, a 5.25" and a 3.5". (And they were both "High Density" devices, I might add! <g>) Cordially, John Turco <jtur@concentric.net> > <heavily edited for brevity> > [quoted text clipped - 8 lines] > My first PC (Pionex DX2/66MHz) came with two floppy drives installed, a > 5.25" and a 3.5". And, of course, my Apple had two 5.25's. Good thing, too -- since there was no HDD. :) SignatureBlinky Killing all posts from Google Groups The Usenet Improvement Project: http://improve-usenet.org NEW --> Now evaluating a GG-free news feed: http://usenet4all.se |
Enable EMail Alerts
Start New Thread
Reply to this Message