Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP
Path: utzoo!linus!axiom!adelie!ora!tim
From: tim@ora.UUCP (Tim O'Reilly)
Newsgroups: net.news,net.space
Subject: Re: Article on USENET in the for-real press
Message-ID: <109@ora.UUCP>
Date: Sat, 21-Jun-86 09:03:51 EDT
Article-I.D.: ora.109
Posted: Sat Jun 21 09:03:51 1986
Date-Received: Sun, 22-Jun-86 12:20:26 EDT
References: <1463@brl-smoke.ARPA>
Organization: O'Reilly & Associates, Inc., Newton, MA
Lines: 48
Keywords: news
Xref: linus net.news:4183 net.space:5593
Summary: Author apologizes, if necessary

> A recent (May 86) issue of the DEC PROFESSIONAL magazine is a "DEC Pro Extra"
> special issue on UNIX. As far as that is concerned, it probably would be
> of little interest to those already experienced with UNIX, as it seems
> to aim at those who do not already use it. However, and why I am posting
> this, there is an article in it (pg 26-33) on USENET News by Tim O'Reilly.
> 
> It is oriented toward "readnews", and, as such, might make a handy
> introductory handout to people at your site if you use that news-reading
> software.
> 
> Also, I'm curious -- the author used "live" USENET traffic (from
> net.space) as examples in his article. Are there any of you out there
> who saw this article and whose names appeared in the examples? If so,
> how do you feel about this -- flattered, annoyed, indifferent? I know
> I eagerly scanned the examples to see if my name showed up (it didn't).
> Names shown include Ethan Vishniac, Paul Dietz, Kenall Auel, Ed Turner,
> Bruce Lowerre, Rob Kenyon, & Dave Platt -- Did Mr. O'Reilly contact
> any of you in advance to let you know your names would appear in a
> national publication or to ask permission? I doubt that any of us would
> say that he should do that; I just wondered if he did... 

I am the author of the article in question; I made the assumption that
material posted to Usenet was effectively published information, and
therefore subject to the fair use rule in reprinting material in
reviews et al.

More to the point, it never occurred to me that anyone might be
offended.  If anyone was, I apologize.  In particular, I chose the
group net.space because I know that most space-exploration and
development boosters (like me and many of the readers of net.space)
are eager to see space activities mentioned in print at any
opportunity.

Again, if anyone was offended, I apologize.

(Incidentally, the article (though not the example of live traffic)
was adapted from two short handbooks published by my company, Using
UUCP and Usenet, and Managing UUCP and Usenet.   These handbooks
obviously provide a more complete introduction to USENET, readnews, 
vnews and rn than the article in question.)

Tim O'Reilly
O'Reilly & Associates, Inc.
171 Jackson Street
Newton, MA 02159
(617) 527-4210

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