CONVENTIONS USED HERE

• I have slightly changed the numbering scheme for each issue. Rather than just a number, I now use a volume and an issue. However, to be somewhat conistent, the volume numbers continue from before. Thus, the last issue was number 8, and this one is volume 1, number 9.

• I give the location of all items as URLs (Uniform Resource Locators). In general, they are of the form method://host/location, where method is telnet, gopher, ftp (anonymous unless otherwise stated), and http (for World Wide Web resources). Host refers to the computer that is the server for the data; for instance, I currently use whale.st.usm.edu. Finally, the location denotes the directory or directories and the file name. For telnet, there may be additional material for a password and userid. In that case, the URL is telnet://userid:password@host/location. Finally, some URLs require the "port" number on the server. This will follow the host with a colon preceding it.

  Note that many resources can be accessed in a variety of ways. Generally, World Wide Web (often called "www" or the "web") and gopher are the easiest to use. In fact, web clients, such as Mosaic, Cello, and Lynx, can access any resource denoted by a URL (i.e. telnet, gopher, ftp and the web). Thus, if you're new to the Internet, you should seriously consider such client software as your primary tool.

  Some client software can use URLs directly; in fact, URLs basically came from work on the web. However, many gopher clients cannot use URLs, so I have given gopher directions in a variety of ways to suit different levels of expertise and clients. The first I call direct, where I give the gopher server and any directories you might need to move to the desired area. For many users, this might be the easiest method. The second is indirect; on most gopher menus, there is an entry for something like "Other Gophers" from which one can navigate gopherspace by geographical regions. The indirect method shows how to move through these regions. Finally, I list bookmark information, which many gopher clients can use (if the path is not given, then the desired material is in the root directory). Since material on gophers and web servers often moves, if you can't find it, try starting from the top.

  However, if you're completely new to the Internet, I'd suggest that rather than just going by the above description, you also take a look at the section titled "USEFUL BOOKS, PROGRAMS, AND RESOURCES ABOUT THE INTERNET" and consult local guides.

• Items in " " are typed directly as commands, or denote directories and files. The context should make this clear.

• Most of the gopher and web sites devoted to economics are interconnected; no mention is made of this below since it would take a lot of space to say who is connected to whom. The gophers at Sam Houston State University, the Economics Department at Washington University in St. Louis and RiceInfo seem to have the greatest number of interconnections.

• Information about compressed files, converting binary files to text so they can be emailed and converted back to binary, and locations of gopher and web software can be found in the section titled "USEFUL BOOKS, PROGRAMS, AND RESOURCES ABOUT THE INTERNET."