From: Kevin Atkinson <kevina@clark.net>
Subject: Announcing: The begging of the Usenet Bible! But I need help. (Update) 
Newsgroups: comp.infosystems.announce
Followup-To: news.future,news.groups
Keywords: usenet, bible, news, internet

Hello you all:

Here is an updated post on the UseNet Bible

I am beginning work a master list of all the UseNet newsgroups
including:

	-A Short Description of the group.
	-A Long Description of the group
	-Any FAQ's that go with the group
	-The Moderators name and e-mail address if moderated
	-Where and how the group is archived, if at all.
	-Its average volume
	-Its average number of readers

I would also like to include in the future:

	-The estimated Noise ratio. (High, Medium, Low, None, etc.)

I am aware of ALL the lists being posted to news.lists and I plan on
making use of that information by using perl scripts.

I am also aware of the collection at ftp.uu.net however, these charters
are not in any neat format that I can use with perl scripts like the
postings to news.lists which means that the only way to make use of them
is to go through them my-self which I might do in the near future.
(However I would appreciate some help on this)

I was not aware of Cameron Laird list of archived newsgroups however I am
now and plan on making use of this list as long as forwarding any
information on where a group is archived to Cameron.

I was also somewhat aware of news.groups.reviews however I really didn't
give it much thought.  I now also plan to make use of it if the moderator
of the group doesn't have any objection to it.  (Like Copyright matters)

I also what to add that if someone is going to print a book very similar
to what I am posting my reaction is WHO CARES.  You have to pay for there
book while my list Is going to be available free of charge.

I will make it a regular FAQ posting (if its not tooo long) as soon as it
gets to a somewhat descent level and will keep you guys informed of its
status.

What I need from you guys now is help.  You can help in several ways.
One of those ways is by contributing a long description or archived
site for any given group.

To submit a description start the Subject line with either "D: " or
"Desc: " and follow it by the newsgroups name, the space after the colon
is important so please don't leave it out.  The body of the message should
be the description.  The message should be sent to UseNet-b@clark.net
For example here would be a submission for rec.arts.startrek.current:

  From: Kevin Atkinson <kevina@clark.net>
  To: UseNet-b@clark.net
  Subject: Desc: rec.arts.startrek.current

  Discussion of Star Trek television programs, movies and books aired or 
  released for the first time within the past four months, information
  about future programs, movies and books, and speculation of same, if
  based on information still current (such as speculation of cliffhanger
  resolutions).

Please be aware that the description may get reformatted so do not include
charts and such within the description.(If you must please leave a comment
and we might be able to work something out) If you wish to leave a comment
to the review (the one that will either approve or reject you submission)
like why you think it is better then the one that is there please put it
after a line with the number signs like this:

  (Body of message)
  ###
  I think you should chose this description over the previous one because
  it is longer and explains what posts are not allowed in this group.

You can send a location to where the archive is sent in a similar fashion
except that you should begin the Subject with either "A: " or "Arch: ".
Also, the first line (of the body) should contain the pointer to the ftp
site in the "site:/path/" style or the e-mail address.  You should then
leave a blank line before you give the information on how it is archived or
how to get a post if it is a mail server.  You should also include the time
range the archive covers.

Once a submission is send it will be proceed by a perl script (to see if
there is already something there) and will be mailed to a reviewer for
inspection.  The reviewer will either accept, reject, or ask you to make
changes to it before it gets accepted.  You will be notified as soon as
it gets accepted or rejected and you name will go down as an contributor.

I strongly encourage you to first check what's there before submitting by 
sending a message with a subject line "See: Newsgroup" for example
to see what's there in news.answers you would send a line with a subject
"See: news.answers".  Upon receiving the request the server will mail
you the raw database file.

I also have a list of newsgroups which lack long descriptions.  To get it
send mail as above by giving " desc-still-needed" as the Newsgroup name.
If you wish to receive a list of all the newsgroups use "desc-have" as the
Newsgroup.  This files are also available via ftp under ftp.clark.net:/pub/usenet-bible/info.

----

I could also use some people to help me review the submissions sent to
me, so if you are TRULY interested please let me know and I could tell
you what's involved.

----

An abbreviated version of the bible is available under
ftp.clark.net:/pub/usenet-bible/report/ it is currently around 500K long.
This is the only version I plan on making available at my home site.  All
other versions of the BIBLE will appear at the mirror sites. (Once I create
them with perl scripts) (To avoid the load on my system)  I already have
one mirror for my files at "usenet.eel.ufl.edu:/usenet/bible" (however
there isn't anything there yet) and I am also hoping to get rtfm.mit.edu to
mirror my files.  I will keep you informed on the status of mirrors for
the USENET Bible.

I plan on creating a plain text version, a TeX version, a PS version form
the TeX and/or the RTF file, an HTML version, a RTF version, and a windows
help version.  However I will start with a plain text version and work from
there.

----

If you can think of any other way you can help me (like help me with
my perl scripts) please let me know.

--
PS: I will NOT respond to flames about how this is impractical and such.

If it is not a direct submission please send it to kevina@clark.net, NOT
usenet-b@clark.net.
