LET'S COMMUNICATE
Agriculture Communication Newsletter
March 2005, No. 111

Contents

• Campus Modem Pool to be Removed in May
• Quick Reminders from Ag Communication
• Write the Right Word
• Filter Spam into a Separate Folder
• Family and Friends can be Spammers, Too
• Cleaning LCD Monitors
• The Core Rules of Netiquette

Campus Modem Pool to be Removed in May

If you sometimes dial in to campus using Information Technology Service's 231-8660 number, remember that the campus dial-up modem pool will be removed in May. ITS says, "The University spends a large amount of money each year to support the modem pool. Eliminating the modem pool will allow money to be reallocated from the ITS budget and the Technology Fee to the wireless networking initiative. People accustomed to using the campus modem pool to access the University network have several other options available to them." Those options and more information are under Modem Pool at http://its.ndsu.nodak.edu/  .

Ag Comunication currently has two lines/modems separate from the ITS lines. Because of this limitation, that number should be used sparingly, primarily by the off-campus facilities in Fargo.

The Ag Com modems can be expanded if/when needed. Ag Com staff are researching options and costs, and the Ag IT Advisory Group will make a recommendation to Ag Administration. However, since probably all of us use the Internet for personal in addition to work use from home, please consider subscribing to an Internet Service Provider. Several Fargo-area options are listed on the ITS Web site.

These changes will not affect the WATS line available through Ag Communication. WATS charges are billed to the originating office at 16 cents per minute, so the 1-800 should be used sparingly.

If you have questions about dialup, contact the Ag Com Computer Service help desk at 231-9666 or accs@ndsuext.nodak.edu .

Roger Egeberg, 231-7382, regeberg@ndsuext.nodak.edu,  and Becky Koch, 231-7875, bkoch@ndsuext.nodak.edu 

Quick Reminders from Ag Communication

* All orders (print shop, graphics, etc.) must include fund numbers for billing.

* Many faculty and staff have access to the X drive. Don't put files with private information on the X drive.

* Start publications with Educational Materials Coordinator Sharon Lane who tracks them through the editorial, graphics and printing processes. They should not go directly to an editor or graphic artist.

* Include costs for communications services (editorial, graphic design, video, distance education development, printing, etc.) in grant proposals. Projects supported with grant funds will be charged for all Ag Communication service, not just materials.

* Sign up for an online writing short course called "The Unwriting Workshop" by e-mailing Becky Koch at bkoch@ndsuext.nodak.edu . An actor portraying Mark Twain will help you write using short words, sentences and paragraphs; avoiding unnecessary words; and identifying hidden and passive verbs.

Write the Right Word

Here are a few errors that have appeared in recent communications:

Principle/principal - A principle is a fundamental truth, law, doctrine or motivating force. She studied the principles of physics. They stuck to their principles. A principal is someone or something first in rank, authority or importance. The students caught fighting were sent to the principal's office. The cost was her principal objection to the project. Principal also is a monetary sum. They used the interest from the endowment fund, but left the principal untouched.

Making letters plural - With single letters, add 's. Mind your p's and q's. She received three A's and two B's on her report card. With multiple letters, just add s. He knows his ABCs. The musician will autograph her book and CDs.

Dibs - This means to have rights or a claim to something. I have dibs on Nancy's desk when she moves to her new office.

Try to - Use try to when you mean someone is attempting to do something, not try and, which some grammarians argue is substandard English. He will try to improve his grades next semester. She can try to do better on her next test. Try to suggests that something may or may not be accomplished. Try and implies that something will be attempted and accomplished, no doubt about it. Besides, try and is a waste of words. If something is going to be accomplished, why bother mentioning that someone will try to do it?

Ellen Crawford, 231-5391,ecrawfor@ndsuext.nodak.edu

Filter Spam into a Separate Folder

Recently there has been a dramatic increase in the amount of spam delivered to our e-mail inboxes. While there is no guaranteed cure for this problem, there are steps we can take to help reduce and control this epidemic.

The best (and easiest) step is to create spam filters in our e-mail client (Pegasus). Currently our e-mail system works to identify and mark suspicious messages as '{Spam?}'. Creating filters helps us automatically identify these messages and move them to a special spam folder where they will not clog our inbox. This allows us to browse them at our leisure to make sure no legitimate e-mail was mislabeled.

While this does not completely solve the spam problem, it does make the task of sorting and removing spam much more manageable.

For instructions on how to create a spam filter, visit:

http://www.ag.ndsu.nodak.edu/agcomm/accs 

Under 'Top Topics,' click on 'Reduce Spam Using a Filter in Pegasus.'

Jerry Ranum, 231-6395, jranum@ndsuext.nodak.edu

Family and Friends can be Spammers, Too

How many times have you received a supposedly 'factual' e-mail about a person or event from a friend or family member with the spamming instruction to forward this to everyone you know? Some stories are near tear-jerkers; others are just downright meant to hurt someone's reputation.

I recently received one listing several oil companies (gas stations) that supposedly support terrorism because they buy their oil from countries that have terrorist ties. Also listed were the 'good' places to buy gas because they were more American.

Another good example was the e-mail that told how Mr. Rogers, the children's TV program star, had more than 150 kills as a Marine sniper in Vietnam. Fred Rogers never served in the military.

You should probably just delete all these e-mails, regardless who sent them to you. However, if the story intrigues you and you would really like to pass it on to a couple thousand of your closest friends, so they can do likewise, at least first see if it is true.

The three Web sites listed below research many of these stories and shed some light on how much, if any, of the statements are true. The next time you get one of these e-mails, see if it is true before you forward it on. Or, put on your educator hat and reply to the sender saying the story is probably not true (if that is what you found) and supply the URL to the supporting documentation. Maybe next time the person who sent it to you will check the story out before forwarding it.

http://www.breakthechain.org/
http://www.snopes.com/
http://urbanlegends.about.com/
Dave Rice, 231-7381, drice@ndsuext.nodak.edu

Cleaning LCD Monitors

LCD (liquid crystal display) screens are found on both notebook computers and as desktop monitors. They are often referred to as flat panel monitors and require some extra care. Keep fingers and sharp objects away from these screens since they are susceptible to damage and scratches.

You don't have to turn the monitor off before cleaning it, but this will help you see the smudges and smears. If your screen is merely dusty, wipe gently with a soft cotton cloth. Do not use paper towels on an LCD screen as they can scratch the screen. It is good to have a special clean cloth that is dedicated for this use. Do not pick up any old rag, as dirt particles in the rag can scratch the surface of the screen.

If this does not completely remove the dirt and splotches, there are commercial products specifically designed to clean LCD screens. Or, use a small amount of vinegar with water. Always spray on the cloth and never directly onto the screen. Never use acetone, ammonia, ammonia-based cleaners or strong cleaners that can cause the surface to yellow and become brittle.

The best cleaning method is to stroke the cloth across the screen in one direction, moving from the top of the display to the bottom.

Sue Hendrickson, 231-7397, shendric@ndsuext.nodak.edu

The Core Rules of Netiquette

In her book Netiquette, Virginia Shea lists 10 core rules. Rule 10 is: Be forgiving of other people's mistakes.

Everyone was a network newbie once. So when someone makes a mistake - whether it's a spelling error or a spelling flame, a stupid question or an unnecessarily long answer - be kind about it. If it's a minor error, you may not need to say anything.

Even if you feel strongly about it, think twice before reacting. Having good manners yourself doesn't give you license to correct everyone else.

If you do decide to inform someone of a mistake, point it out politely, and preferably by private e-mail rather than in public. Give people the benefit of the doubt; assume they just don't know any better. And never be arrogant or self-righteous about it. Just as it's a law of nature that spelling flames always contain spelling errors, notes pointing out netiquette violations often are examples of poor netiquette.