FAQ Welcome to Sci.Geo.Geology (fwd)

[rowe@lepomis.psych.upenn.edu (Mickey Rowe)]

I've just discovered that listproc doesn't like any message that
contains:

  Version:

at the beginning of a line.  If it gets to be a problem, I'll remove
that feature.  In any case, it prevented a recent submission by Ray
McAllister from being distributed.  I'm forwarding it here now (I'll
add a comment at the end):


  From: Ray McAllister <mcallist@gate.net>
  To: dinosaur@lepomis.psych.upenn.edu
  Subject: FAQ Welcome to Sci.Geo.Geology (fwd)

  Hi all, this seems like a FAQ that we should forward, in abbreviated
  form, to young folks asking questions. Then give them a few leads to
  the *literature*. Even the poorest schools should have aschool
  library and "The Readers Guide to Periodical Literature" as a K-8
  starter, and a local Community College or University libraru for
  9-BS students or higher.

  Ray McAllister, Prof (Emeritus) Ocean Eng., FAU, Boca Raton, FL 33064
  Diving Dinosaur, Geologist/Oceanographer/Ocean Engineer, 43 years SCUBA
  mcallist@gate.net (305) 426-0808, Author Diving Locations, Boynton/Dania

  ---------- Forwarded message ----------
  Date: Thu, 16 MAR 95 09:04:33 -0500 
  From: R. Spencer Ramshaw <rsr@amethyst.dweomer.org>
  Newgroups: sci.geo.geology
  Subject: FAQ Welcome to Sci.Geo.Geology 

  FAQ Welcome to sci.geo.geology 
  ------------------------------

  The purpose of this post is to introduce you to the newsgroup and
  give you a few hints. Please realize that this is the Usenet and
  this document can't dictate anything to you. That said let's go on.

  sci.geo.geology (or s.g.g.) is a Usenet newsgroup for and about
  geology and related interests. It is read by the most eclectic and
  diversified group of people ever to concern themselves with
  geology. Generally these people are tolerant and forgiving readers
  who answer inappropriate posts (except for creationist trolling)
  with utter silence. They do take offence at being asked to do your
  homework or provide an essay question for tomorrow's exam. Heartfelt
  posts explaining a problem you don't understand will be answered
  nicely.
  
  Please glance through the FAQ or Bill Thoen's wonderful compilation
  (retrieval instructions in the FAQ) before posting.  In urban areas
  of the world the best way to get an answer to a general geology
  question is to consult with your public librarian, your local
  university geology/geography department or local government
  geologists. Doing this before you post will save bandwidth and
  time. Most of these local people are waiting for your phone call
  right now!

  When posting to s.g.g. it is very important to attach a descriptive
  subject to your message. A well-thought out subject is the
  difference between a read post and an ignored post. Cross-posted
  items should contain a Follow-up: header that directs responses to a
  single newsgroup.
  
  Due to the open nature of the newsgroup it is highly recommended
  that you attach some statement of what education level you would
  like an answer directed to. If you are a high school student or an
  interested non-geologist identifying yourself as such will save on
  frustration.
  
  Make sure that the geographical locations of you and your question
  are well-defined in the body of your message. Message headers give
  little information as to where you are located and what you mean by
  local.
  
  Low-key commercial postings or press releases are generally
  tolerated (despite what some usenetter's say) because geologists are
  usually starved for information relating to their
  specialties. However repeated postings of the same junk will just
  annoy and if you are in business can you afford to annoy.
  
  REMEMBER, sci.geo.geology is international, please act accordingly.
  
  At this point the question racing through your mind is probably;
  
  Where do I get the latest version of the faq?
  
  For the latest copy of the FAQ double-check your site's news.answers
  or sci.answers newsgroups first. If that doesn't help then you
  should be able to request the latest copy of the faq by sending an
  e-mail to mail-server@rtfm.mit.edu with the following message body:
   
  send usenet/news.answers/geology-faq/faq
  
  Note: The FAQ is currently undergoing radical revisions so the rtfm
  version may not reflect what is currently flowing through the
  newsgroup.


  Please send updates, corrections and comments to:

  rsr@amethyst.dweomer.org

  Remember the FAQ when you are posting to s.g.g.  Many things can
  cause me to miss something that should be included in the FAQ.
  CC:'ing me with the answer that you just posted will make sure I
  don't miss it.

  Thank you,

  R.Spencer Ramshaw 
  Ramshaw's Computer Solutions 
  141 - 295 Water Street 
  Guelph, Ontario, 
  N1G 2X5 Canada

  tel: 519-823-1336 e-mail: rsr@amethyst.dweomer.org

  *** End of FAQ sci.geo.geology Welcome ****

MR-> Much of the material in the above message is much too specific
for s.g.g., but if others think it's a good idea, the message can
certainly be modified for our venue.  If you think so (or not), please
write to me rather than the list.  Sooner or later we're going to have
to talk about dinosaurs rather than talk about talking about
dinosaurs... 

-- 
Mickey "I'm back from the Valley" Rowe (rowe@lepomis.psych.upenn.edu)