Thanks Ed, that was very informative. As you mentioned, I'm OK now, but I
was NOT clear on the procedure.
Cal


"Ed Zollars, CPA" <ezollar[at]mindspring.com> wrote in message
news:catq0d011gd[at]news2.newsguy.com...
- quote -


======================================= MODERATOR'S COMMENT:
Please trim the post to which you respond. Even an obviously brilliant one. <grin

cal-lester wrote:

- quote -

I know your issue is solved, but just for the information of others
reading along. Access to newsgroups depends on how the news server
you use is configured. There is no "centralized" location where
misc.invest.financial-plan or any other usenet newsgroup is
stored--the system is completely decentralized.

Well, what is a news server? It's just a machine that
cooperatively "shares" information with one or more other news
servers on the internet. For most users, their ISP will run a news
server and that specific server will limit access to only
subscribers to that specific ISP. So, for instance, I can access a
news server run by Cox Cable (the western one actually <grin> ).

What your newsreader does is query that server to find articles in
specific groups that are handled by that server, just as your mail
client contacts a specific mail server to get your email. As
misc.invest.financial-plan is part of a "mainstream" hierarchy,
you'll find it on most newsservers that claim to offer anything
approaching a "standard" feed.

Also, some organizations run independent news servers which you can
subscribe to for a a few, and few "free" independent servers also
exist. Finally, Google archives usenet newsgroups on
groups.google.com for web access. Google communicates with
newsservers and then stores the postings on their Groups website.

What that all means <grin> is that most often the posters here can't
help much with access issues (nor can the moderators for that
matter). Generally, if you are using Outlook or a similar
newsreader on your machine, you need to contact your ISP to see what
you need to enter as a server for that program to access.

--
Ed Zollars, CPA
Phoenix, Arizona

My Gateway computer developed Alzheimer's, and I got a new E-Machine XP-Home.
Unfortunately, I can NOT find this N/G. It is listed on the Gateway as:


netnews.attbi.com (1)
alt.business.insurance
misc.invest.financial-plan

Will somebody pleas E-MAIL me instructions on how to access this N/G with Outlook Express.
Cal Lester CLU

cal-lester[at]comcast.net