PE> 1. Get a UUCP connect happening automatically every Saturday morning to
PE> my ISP.

db> What sort of dial-up connection will you be using?  IP-based, or TTY (dumb 
db> terminal)?  If the former, then make sure the UUCP you're using supports 
db> UUCP via IP (SLIP or PPP).

I asked my feed the wrong question.  The end result is I have to ask again,
but I have progressed.  I am now pretty sure what I want is UUCP. Can I
assume that TTY is the simpler system than SLIP/PPP, and I'm more likely to
be able to write my own version of the TTY setup, using PDCOMM etc (so that
I end up having the facility on all my systems, not just Linux)?

db> Try the UUCP-HowTo (it's on disc 3).

Ok, they refer to taylor.  Did anyone think that it would be a good idea to
provide these things as executables, given that there's 6 bloody CDs?  So I
use taylor and I use pine, right?

PE> 5. Edit UNXBINK/config and put in your UUCP name and ISP address.

db> Ahh, UUCP via TTY-based dial-up?  Kiss FTP good-bye.  For that, you'll 
db> require SLIP or PPP.

My feed has said that I can probably get organized with "autoftp".

db> You may want to consider SLiRP or some other alternative for downloading 
db> gobs of net.news when you dial-up.  POP3 should handle your email nicely - 
db> depending on your MUA, it should connect to the POP3 server at your ISP and 
db> download all the mail to a mailbox on your PC where you can read/reply.

Come on David.  You know I've got no idea what MUA etc is.

PE> 10. Whenever you want to read + write mail, simply go "unxmsgd".

db> Sounds all nice and neat, and you've got the basic idea.  But I'd suggest 
db> playing around with using your machine as a "client"
first, before starting 
db> to download net.news (UUCP) and other odds and ends just yet.  
db> Step-by-step...

You want me to be an ISP before I start calling an ISP?  I don't think so,
David.  What I want to see is some inbound packets, watch them get tossed
into my messagebase, and then fire up pine and verify that they got there
intact.

Jesus Christ.  Hasn't anyone heard of simple solutions for simple people? 
This Linux stuff is horrific.  I'd love to see how far Joe Bloggs gets. 
Anyway, I have some more criteria.  My ISP suggested using tkmail, and then
asked "or do you still do everything via emacs". Since I can't
reply conveniently yet, I haven't answered, but the answer is right about
emacs.  Except I have to use jmacs on linux at this point in time (that was
the executable provided).  And me and X don't get on very well.  X wants me
to know the innards of not only my video card, but also my monitor.  And
actually it was a hell of an effort to find the documentation, and first of
all I tried a lot of guesses. The guesses didn't work.  I found some
documentation.  That didn't work either.  X does actually work, I just have
to have some stupid (ie low) resolution, making the pictures look stupid. 
Half of the executables don't work either.  And anyway, what I learnt was
that with a 14" or 12" or whatever this monitor is, it is a small
monitor.  Characters can only be displayed at 80*25 and still be readable. 
So now I realise that the solution needs to be TTY based, like msged.  I
use the Alt-F1 etc screen switching in Linux.  That is really good.  I
would like colours on my reader too, like msged.  So.  taylor + pine. 
Hmmm, I don't see a mailprocessor there.  BFN.  Paul.
@EOT:

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