To use the links in this newsletter, you must be connected to the Internet.  PC Eudora users: to see this and other html mail properly you must check the box "Use Microsoft's Viewer" in the "Viewing Mail" options.

As all of you jr. skulkers have no doubt heard on the news, a Federal judge in San Francisco ordered Napster to block any downloads of copyrighted music by tonight.  WebSkulker predicted this and gave alternatives to Napster in several past issues, so you shouldn't have any problem continuing to download music.  (Remember: these music sharing technologies are strictly for files that you have a legal right to share.  It may be illegal and wrong to share copyrighted MP3 files.)  So check out these articles:

http://www.webskulker.com/archive/2000-04-28.html   Gnutella

http://www.webskulker.com/archive/2000-05-01.html   iMesh

http://www.webskulker.com/archive/2000-06-06.html  VNN & Freenet

http://www.webskulker.com/archive/2000-06-22.html   ZDnet article about others
 

Also check out these Napster alternatives that WebSkulker recently learned about.  These two sites go together, and tell you how to use the Napster software with other servers that should remain in operation:

http://opennap.sourceforge.net
http://www.napigator.com
 

http://www.webzone.net/machadospage/bellsystemplan.html

http://www.privateline.com/Switching/EarlyWork.html

http://www.privateline.com/Switching/EarlyYears.html

WebSkulker recommends these three articles for jr. skulkers interested in the history of telephone switching systems.  The first is a "transcript of SER (Switching Engineering Report) No.48, prepared by W. O. Turner of the Systems Engineering Department of the Bell Telephone Laboratories, dated February 1, 1957. It regards the Bell System Telephone Numbering Plan - Case 38931."  This gives the history of the U.S. nationwide numbering plan, i.e. how we came to have three-digit area codes and seven-digit numbers, and how the earlier local systems were integrated into the nationwide plan.

The second is an article from a 1953 issue of the Bell Laboratories Record on the very early history of automatic telephone switching machines, mainly before 1900.  These were not necessarily for subscriber dialing; operators also used dialing machines that weren't directly accessible to the public.

The third is a follow on to the second, and continues the story through the early history of the Strowger step-by-step system.

http://lightningstorm.com/lightningstorm/gpg/lex1/mapdisplay_free.jsp

http://www.lightning-strike.com

WebSkulker found the first site interesting and Ms. Cat insisted on publishing the second, even though it has absolutely nothing to do with the topic.  The first site is Lightning Explorer:  "Featuring actual lightning information from the National Lightning Detection Network, Lightning Explorer gives you a view of all lightning activity in the continental United States. Your screen reflects lightning activity from the last 2 hours, available in 15-minute updates. Just click the Refresh button to get the latest map available. The National Lightning Detection Network (NLDN) constantly detects lightning discharges to ground. Each lightning event, called a flash, is recorded at the Network Control Center for the NLDN. The dots on your map reflect these recorded flashes."

The second site has nothing to do with lightning, but is a support page for people who recently lost a beloved pet.  "It is called Lightning Strike because we hope it provides lightning-fast assistance and support for the grieving owners of dead, dying, sick and missing animals that walk, crawl, fly, hop, and swim our great earth."  They forgot to mention ones that dictate our great newsletters.

http://www.funshack.com/hehe.html

Jr. Skulker Tom McWilliams recommends this site for jr. skulkers who like to push buttons and have nothing better to do.  Do any of you know a way to get out of this type of site other than CTRL-ALT-DELETE and killing the browser?  Actually forget that I just said that because it might discourage you from visiting the site.  Go try it.  You will have fun.  Trust WebSkulker.

Submitted by Jr. Skulker Sidney Bernay

You know you are old when:

...  your friends compliment you on your new alligator shoes and you're barefoot. 

... the porn you bring home is "Debby Does Dialysis." 

... your doctor doesn't give you x-rays anymore, but just holds you up to the light. 

... a sexy babe catches your fancy and your pacemaker opens the garage door nearest your car. 

... you remember when the Dead Sea was only sick. 

... your wife says "let's go upstairs and make love," and you answer, "honey, I can't do both!"

----------

You know you are from California when: 

1. The fastest part of your commute is down your driveway 

2. You were born somewhere else 

3. You know how to eat an artichoke 

4. The primary bugs that you worry about are electronic 

5. Your car has bulletproof windows 

6. Left is right and right is wrong 

7. Your monthly house payments exceed your annual income 

8. Your mouse has only one ball 

9. If you need a new TV, you can run down to the local riot and pick one up 

10. You dive under a desk whenever a large truck goes by 

11. You can't find your other earring because your son is wearing it 

12. You drive to your neighborhood block party 

13. Your family tree contains "significant others" 

14. Your cat has it's own psychiatrist 

15. You don't exterminate your roaches, you smoke them 

16. You see 25 lawyers chasing an ambulance 

17. More than clothes come out of the closets 

18. "The Dead" are best live 

19. You go to a tanning salon before going to the beach 

20. Your blind date turns out to be your ex-spouse 

21. More money is spent on facelifts than on diapers 

22. Smoking in your office is not optional 

23. You pack shorts and a T-shirt for skiing in the snow, and a sweater and a wetsuit for the beach 

24. When you can't meet schedule because you must "do lunch" 

25. Your children learn to walk in Birkenstocks 

26. Rainstorms or thunder are the lead story for the local news 

27. You'll reluctantly miss yoga class to wait for the hot tub repairman 

28. You consult your horoscope before planning your day 

29. A glass has been reserved for you at your favorite winery 

30. When all highways into the state say: "No fruits" 

31. All highways out of the state say: "Go back"

WebSkulker is a daily newsletter in html format. To subscribe or unsubscribe, go to our web site at http://www.webskulker.com  or send email like this:

To subscribe:
to: listserv@webskulker.com
subject: subscribe-webskulker

To unsubscribe:
to: listserv@webskulker.com
subject: unsubscribe-webskulker

Before you even think about unsubscribing, we strongly suggest you go to our web site, click on "unsubscribe", and read the story of the two farmers.  You will be shocked at the consequences!

To change your subscription to a new email address, unsubscribe from the old address and then subscribe to the new address.

This newsletter is copyrighted 2000 by The WebSkulker.  You may use any material in this issue for any reason provided that you attribute it to the WebSkulker Newsletter and include the URL to our web site: http://www.webskulker.com .