Phyllis, et al.,
Gail Desler (AMF 99) is a list member <[log in to unmask]>. I saw the subject
line of the message in routine list maintenance files, but strangely, as a
member of the list, I did not receive it. The illegible text is an
attachment that didn't convert properly. This may be a good thing.
I did receive a strange message via the list from Robert Spear
<[log in to unmask]>, another list member. This message had the header "Aus
diesem Grund unterstützt," a few words (in German) about audio files, and
then an attachment that didn't convert properly through the listserv
software to my email software.
Although adding attachments to regular email messages is really easy to do,
it's been a rule of this forum that we do not send file attachments to the
list, but make efforts to convert data to plain ascii characters (regular
email text) and/or offer the files we might attach off-list to individuals
or post URLs. This is for three reasons:
1. Listserv software sometimes does strange things with the attachments.
2. Attachments create long downloads and not everyone can deal with them.
3. Viruses and worms are generally sent as email attachments, but you
cannot get a virus from a plain old ascii email message, even via a
mailing list server.
I suspect that both cases were caused by mistakes, or worse,virus- or
worm-infected computers or mail servers. (Gail and Robert, please don't
feel bad if this is the case -- stuff happens.) Both files were executable
files, a.k.a. programs. The "brother" message's attachment had a .bat
extension and the other an .exe extension . (Mac users should be safe from
the BAT file -- it's used by DOS.) I don't know about the .EXE file. For
some, the attachments managed to get through. **Unless we hear from Gail
and Robert that they're safe, please don't open them.** In general, please
take a moment to think before opening any email attachment. If something
way off-topic comes through this list, please do not assume it is
safe. Some of these viruses get into folks' email software (particularly
Outlook, lately) and send infected files to anyone in the unlucky
recipient's address book.
Please everybody, treat yourself to an updated virus scanning software so
that you can relax a little about email attachments. Since I never
received the first message, my scanning software may have actually blocked it.
I'm still trying to get the listserv software to tell me what's going on.
Your list manager,
Betty
At 10:17 AM 11/27/01 -0500, you wrote:
>---------------------- Information from the mail header
>-----------------------
>Sender: American Memory Fellows <[log in to unmask]>
>Poster: Phyllis DiBianco <[log in to unmask]>
>Subject: Re: Continue reading My Brother Sam Is Dead. 12: 40 1:20
> LUNCH.
>-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
>Is anyone else receiving unreadable looooong messages--I'm not including
>the actual message because it took forever to download. This one is
>from gailhd <[log in to unmask]>
>
>-Phyllis
>
>**********************
>Phyllis DiBianco, Library Media Specialist
>Scarsdale High School
>1057 Post Road, Scarsdale, NY 10583
>Fax: 914 721-2494
>
>[log in to unmask]
>www.scarsdaleschools.k12.ny.us/hslib
>http://home.computer.net/~dibianco/index.html
_________________________________________________________
Elizabeth L. Brown
Digital Reference Librarian
Library of Congress, Washington, DC 20540-1330
[log in to unmask] telephone: 202/707-2235
Library of Congress American Memory Home Page:
http://memory.loc.gov/
_________________________________________________________
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