Hey everyone, I was wondering if any of you use usenet, and if so, would you would be interested in a joe 90 news group (alt.music.joe-90)?

In case any of you don't know about usenet, it is similar to an AOL Folder or a message board. It can not be accessed as a web page but needs to be accessed via a news reader. I think both Netscape and IE have a news reader included. In Netscape it is under "messenger."

In any case, I enjoy usenet, and think that it would be a cool place to put a Joe 90 group. Unlike an AOL folder, anyone can access it. I also think it is one of the better formatted "mediums" of fan communication. However, it is not worth the trouble of getting one started if no one would use it. Creating a news group involves a written proposal to justify the creation of a new group, which even in the best cases, usually involves a fairly harsh critique and an inundation of suggestions that you FOAD. A proposal for a Joe 90 news group would not nearly be a best case scenario either, as part of the proposal is the justification of numbers, where I [am supposed to] specifically point to at least 900 joe-90 related usenet threads from the last 90 days. So far, I jave found about 50, which is not really surprising since Joe-90 is off topic in almost every news group except perhaps alt.music.counting-crows, and it isn't too relevant there anymore either. However, I have been told that existing mailing lists and message boards may be taken into consideration for the justification of numbers. Worst case, anyone can create a news group, numbers or not...it's just a lot friendlier if you DO have the numbers :)

I also thought about a newsgroup encompassing all of the epluribus bands into one newsgroup (alt.music.epluribus?). I know many of the people here are also Gigolo Aunts fans :) From there, if enough posts were generated, specific bands could branch off in their own groups (IE: alt.music.epluribus.joe-90 and alt.music.epluribus.gigolo-aunts). The epluribus group would also be a bit tricky too as it may be mistaken as a "vanity group" (a news group for the sole purpose of promoting a business, web page, etc). However, I have been told that as long as it is not created by anyone working for epluribus [and unfortunately I am not!], it would not be considered as such. The upside to epluribus group is that I could consider some of the usenet threads mentioning Adam Duritz as relevant to a new group, thereby having stronger numbers to use in the proposal.

I would love to hear any input. Obviously, if you all wouldn't use it then it isn't worth creating. I have already talked briefly to Aimee about this and she seemed to favor the epluribus group over the more specific joe 90 group. I think I do too, just because the proposal for new news groups is rather formal and it would be a lot easier to write one for epluribus given that the numbers will be stronger.

I just thought that it might be something everyone would enjoy, and could possibly help spread the Joe-90 love. Would love to hear what you all think about this idea.

kelly

-- kelly (kellix78@aol.com), February 29, 2000

Answers

Kelly already knows what my response to this is, but i wanted to share with the world that i think it's a totally kickass idea. again, if you need any help, please let me know.

i think YOU are the high priestess of Joe 90 love!

xoxo.

-- aimee.* (satylite2s@aol.com), March 01, 2000.

the usenet thing sounds like a great idea, kelly! it would be cool to have a board in a format like that that no one has to worry about maintaining or anything... and to have a place to discuss my beloved gigolo aunts too, the aol board for them is completely dead, yet the few people who lurk there got all pissy when we tried to take it over :) also, i think you can access that just through the web at dejanews.com, so you really dont even need a newsreader thing, but i know aol has one of those too.

anyway... i think my last post here was somewhat incoherent, but i'm well-rested since then, so i just want to thank you all again for such a great time at the pittsburgh shows! it was awesome to get to see the band for the first time without counting crows, even though they were unfortunately still an opening band, although for one much less deserving. it was cool to get to hear "look" live for the first time too, that's such a great song... i guess they dont do it too often either, since i kept hearing chris tell craig "f sharp! f sharp!" every 10 seconds, that was amusing. anyway, thank you all for such a great time and hopefully i'll see you all again soon!

-- kathy (countcrow1@aol.com), March 01, 2000.

wow kelly, you seem very knowledgeable about the usenet thing! i think it sounds like a great idea, and i'd say the epluribus newsgroup sounds like it would be the best, b/c you'd be able to get more people involved and eventually it could branch off into separate ones for the various groups.

......

-- jenn! (jennmcm@aol.com), March 01, 2000.

I definately agree with this; it's a great idea! I think the Epluribus newsgroup would be tons better, and more productive. If you need someone from Epluribus, I think Mike would be more than willing to help out. Most of you know him from the joe90.net msg board I assume?

Anyway, I really like this idea.

-AJ

-- Amanda Joy (hello@ameritech.net), March 01, 2000.