[from Kenny Kitzke 990107 8:20 EST]
<Martin Taylor 990106 14:20>
<Just a thought.>
A good one.
I perceive my capability to interpret GIFs or JPEGs, or better yet, HTML
pages is presently zero. I also perceive this to be a *right* direction
for the CSG. I also *believe* it would be good for me to have a reference
perception that I can interpret and communicate in these formats.
Right now, based upon that reference perception, I am being disturbed every
day. When I open my email, there are always a number of messages that I
cannot open. It usually says this is a binary file. I have a Retrieve
button that seems to download that post to a File.
If I open that File, I may find the words of the message, but usually, it
is intermixed with keyboard symbols for spaces, quotation marks, etc., and
is very hard to read. And, of course, these files are no longer active
emails that I can edit, reply to, forward, etc.,
Now some of these posts (ones that will not open and which I have to
"retrieve" to a file), when I go to open the file, still can't be read!
Worst of all, when I am not able to open them, they seem to stay in my
mailbox and I cannot delete them. They actually accumulate in and clog my
mailbox which has a 100 post limit that does not seem to be adjustable.
I know that html, pict, vcard, gif, mime, etc., transmittals seem to be the
culprits. Posts sent in PLAIN TEXT work fine. I think ASCII formats work
but am not sure as I do not ever receive a diagram that is not from
keyboard items such as -- or || constructions.
I am using a Power PC Performa Mac.
For email, I am on both CS (CSG-NET) and AOL.
I still use CS 3.0.1 software.
I have 4.0 but have not installed it. My son Chris who used to work for me
would do all the computer systems. He said the newer CS version would
probably solve most of these problems. But, when he tried to install it,
there were connect incompatibilities between CS and AOL. I would have to
restart my computer going from one to the other (something about PPP?).
Slowly, I became computer illiterate and the technology and terms are
beyond me now. So, I feel stuck. If you or anyone can make sense out of
my predicament and advise what course I should take to be able to receive
such formats as you are recommending, it would not only advance CSG-Net
communication, it would help me read mail that I receive from many sources
that I cannot open.
A Frustrated and Desparate Computer Illiterate (who does not really want to
be a computer expert, just a user) and an effective (or is it "good" as in
moral or righteous? 
adherent of PCT.
HELP!
Kenny