OK, since a large number of folks use Google Groups to access this
newsgroup and the recent glut of Spam and Spam complaints, I have
decided to offer a solution rather than the useless banter. The
solution I will lay out for you is 100% free and does not require you
to install any software to your PC! I should note that this HOWTO is
geared for Windows computers, but I'll be happy to help someone if
they have a Mac/Linux.

1.) First is to get a program to access newsgroups (Usenet). There are
many options, some free some not. There are far too many to get into
here, but feel free to try a few. I am going to use Xnews. Xnews is
100% free, and does not need installed... just unzip the file to a
directory and it runs!

Here is a direct link to download Xnews: http://xnews.newsguy.com/release/xnews.zip

If you are interested in trying out other programs, here is a site
with many programs listed: http://www.usenet.com/software.cfm

2.) Unzip the file to a folder. You can unzip it anywhere you'd like.
If you are unsure unzip it to a folder on your desktop called "Xnews."
or under My Documents to a folder called "Xnews." (If anyone needs
help here let me know and I will offer step by step instructions)

3.) In the new folder that was created you will see a colorful icon
named "Xnews.exe" Double click this to start the program.

4.) Click on the word "Server" in the upper-left of the Xnews window,
then click "New"

5.) Enter 202.177.16.121 into the box. Just the numbers, exactly as I
have listed them including the periods. Then click "OK"

6.) You will now be prompted for an Alias/Nickname, type in: Freenews
and then click OK.

7.) Click "Okay" on the next screen, you do not need to make any
changes or do anything here.

8.) It will now ask you if you want to retrieve the entire list of
newsgroups, click "Yes" This will take some time, even longer if you
are on dial-up, but it is a one time only thing so don't worry.

9.) This free news server houses almost 60,000 newsgroups. As they are
all indexed you will see at the bottom of this window a green number
in a black background counting up... to the left of this you will see
a blank text box (drop down box). Type: rec.food.drink.tea into that
box and you will see our group appear as the only group listed with a
little red sphere to the left. Right Click on it and choose
"Subscribe"

10.) Now double click on rec.food.drink.tea and it will open up! You
are now accessing the group through a proper news client!

That wasn't too bad now was it? 10 steps to free yourself of the
detritus and Spam... but wait... all that junk is still there... just
in a new and strange window... on to step 11.

11.) Real news clients offer a number of ways to filter and adapt the
appearance and content of the group. One is called a "Killfile" you
can killfile spammers, people you don't care for (at least keep me out
of yours for a day since I took the time to help you , or other
bothersome people. As an example I will show you how to get rid of all
of the "MI5 Persecution..." junk:

Click once on one of these messages to highlight it. Now click on the
word "Article" at the top of the window. Now select "Killfile this
poster (*plonk*)"

Now close the window and then double click on rec.food.drink.tea to
reopen it and they will be magically gone from your life, along with
any new posts from this (ab)user! Joy!

I know this is a little intimidating if you are not a techie, but it
truly is not that hard and I along with others here (I'm sure) will be
happy to get you going. There are many more features and options, and
there is a help file as well as help on the Xnews website: http://xnews.newsguy.com
- I actually don't use Xnews myself, I chose it because it was free,
small, and did not need installed. I will bone up on it though in case
anyone needs help.

Hopefully that helps someone,
- Dominic

Hopefully that helps someone,
- Dominic

If you are able to install software on your PC (work/home/library)
then you may want to check out the Thunderbird email program, it is a
very capable newsreader and also totally free. It is very easy to set
up and use.

A great (but commercial) newsreader is Agent, it is fairly inexpensive
at ~$20 and has a nice interface.

If anyone has a favorite free newsreader or even suggestions for
commercial ones, feel free to post them. I keep hoping Google will
institute some sort of filtering/killfile option... that would solve a
large part of the current problem.

- Dominic

On Aug 27, 7:42 am, "Dominic T." wrote:
Hopefully that helps someone,
- Dominic

If you are able to install software on your PC (work/home/library)
then you may want to check out the Thunderbird email program, it is a
very capable newsreader and also totally free. It is very easy to set
up and use.

A great (but commercial) newsreader is Agent, it is fairly inexpensive
at ~$20 and has a nice interface.

If anyone has a favorite free newsreader or even suggestions for
commercial ones, feel free to post them. I keep hoping Google will
institute some sort of filtering/killfile option... that would solve a
large part of the current problem.

- Dominic

Dominic,

Thanks for taking the time to post this info.

Alan

"Dominic T." wrote in message
ps.com...
OK, since a large number of folks use Google Groups to access this
newsgroup and the recent glut of Spam and Spam complaints, I have
decided to offer a solution rather than the useless banter. The
solution I will lay out for you is 100% free and does not require you
to install any software to your PC! I should note that this HOWTO is
geared for Windows computers, but I'll be happy to help someone if
they have a Mac/Linux.

/snip/
Hopefully that helps someone,
- Dominic

Concur with Dominic, Xnews is a good product, free and has a small
footprint. I use it at home and can recommend it.

Outlook Express also has these features (killfiles and message rules to get
rid of the unwanted chaff). It is also free and is already installed (if you
are using Windows). Of the two OE is probably easier to drive, IMO. But
Xnews is far better for browsing multimedia centric news groups - especially
encoded posts (Yenc etc).

Have also been using Express for years (on a different machine), but I
understand some may have a philosophical objection to Microsoft products -
or know of some flaws in OE that I am yet to come across. The option is
there nonetheless.

Cheers
Mal
Oz

On Aug 27, 8:50 pm, "Mal from Oz" wrote:
"Dominic T." wrote in message

ps.com...

OK, since a large number of folks use Google Groups to access this
newsgroup and the recent glut of Spam and Spam complaints, I have
decided to offer a solution rather than the useless banter. The
solution I will lay out for you is 100% free and does not require you
to install any software to your PC! I should note that this HOWTO is
geared for Windows computers, but I'll be happy to help someone if
they have a Mac/Linux.

/snip/
Hopefully that helps someone,
- Dominic

Concur with Dominic, Xnews is a good product, free and has a small
footprint. I use it at home and can recommend it.

Outlook Express also has these features (killfiles and message rules to get
rid of the unwanted chaff). It is also free and is already installed (if you
are using Windows). Of the two OE is probably easier to drive, IMO. But
Xnews is far better for browsing multimedia centric news groups - especially
encoded posts (Yenc etc).

Have also been using Express for years (on a different machine), but I
understand some may have a philosophical objection to Microsoft products -
or know of some flaws in OE that I am yet to come across. The option is
there nonetheless.

Cheers
Mal
Oz


I actually had used Outlook Express for all of my newsgroup needs for
years back during Windows 98 days, it is just that now I primarily run
Linux and my Windows-centric use is mainly work related. If you want
to offer a quick rundown of how to set it up for newsgroups, you can
use the IP address I listed above (202.177.16.121) it is a free news
server that allows posting.

If I get time, I'll try to add this.. but anyone is welcome to throw
it out there.

- Dominic

"Dominic T." wrote in message
oups.com...
On Aug 27, 8:50 pm, "Mal from Oz" wrote:
"Dominic T." wrote in message

ps.com...

OK, since a large number of folks use Google Groups to access this
newsgroup and the recent glut of Spam and Spam complaints, I have
decided to offer a solution rather than the useless banter. The
solution I will lay out for you is 100% free and does not require you
to install any software to your PC! I should note that this HOWTO is
geared for Windows computers, but I'll be happy to help someone if
they have a Mac/Linux.

/snip/
Hopefully that helps someone,
- Dominic

Concur with Dominic, Xnews is a good product, free and has a small
footprint. I use it at home and can recommend it.

Outlook Express also has these features (killfiles and message rules to
get
rid of the unwanted chaff). It is also free and is already installed (if
you
are using Windows). Of the two OE is probably easier to drive, IMO. But
Xnews is far better for browsing multimedia centric news groups -
especially
encoded posts (Yenc etc).

Have also been using Express for years (on a different machine), but I
understand some may have a philosophical objection to Microsoft
products -
or know of some flaws in OE that I am yet to come across. The option is
there nonetheless.

Cheers
Mal
Oz


I actually had used Outlook Express for all of my newsgroup needs for
years back during Windows 98 days, it is just that now I primarily run
Linux and my Windows-centric use is mainly work related. If you want
to offer a quick rundown of how to set it up for newsgroups, you can
use the IP address I listed above (202.177.16.121) it is a free news
server that allows posting.

If I get time, I'll try to add this.. but anyone is welcome to throw
it out there.

- Dominic


Fair enuff ! The vendor supplied Help for Outlook Express actually
provides a reasonably good set of instructions. Follow the 'Getting started
with Outlook Express' topic after you hit the F1 (Help) key. Look under
'Basic Setup' - Add an e-mail or newsgroup account

Where the help text refers to the news server name, simply substitute the IP
address Dominic provided us. If you decide to try the OE reader and still
need help, email me offline (draconusATS1GNbigpondD0Tcom) and I'll be happy
to help. We should keep this lot tea related I suppose ;-))

Cheers
Mal
Oz