FUCKING TOTALLY POWERFUL! Okay, that's just slang for File Transfer Protocol--one of the most powerful Internet tools. FTP gets you right into other computers--known as servers--and helps fill your plate with tasty music goodies. You don't even have to leave a tip.

In fact, you'll be using FTP in disguise--as that infamous guy who wrote half of the world's schlock literature--Anonymous. Log on to an FTP site as 'anonymous', enter an indent or your e-mail address as a password, and thus cleverly disguised, freely cruise the tunes.

Accessing the Internet with SLIP or PPP and graphic interfaces, FTP'ing is simple. It's a point-and-click process that saves the novice from post- surf hangovers. You shouldn't need me to hold your hand for that, but if you do, I'll happily put on a waitress outfit and guide your fingers across the keys. Follow the restaurant rule of thumb: If you have to ask 'how much?' for that choice menu item, you can't afford it.

However, text-based users new to FTP might be put off by Unix directory structures and command lines, and for this more difficult task I'll gladly share some basic jingle. It's more confusing than it looks, I promise.

Here's a condensed example of the ftp.leo.org site, which has lyrics, chord sheets and all kinds of fun information for music lovers:

drwxr-xr-x songs

-rw-r--r-- AllAlongTheWatchtower.crd

Anything with a "dr" is a directory. "-rw" is a file. To move to a directory, type "cd directoryname" at the ftp prompt. Example: ftp<cd songs

To list the contents of a directory, type "ls" ftp>ls To get a file, type "get filename" ftp<get AllAlongTheWatchtower.crd And voila', the file, in this case the guitar chords for "All Along the Watchtower," will be transferred to your workspace. Keep in mind that Unix is CaSe SeNsItIvE.

If a file is named AllAlongTheWatchtower.cmd you must type it exactly as you see it, not all in lower case or upper case, but the mix as it appears.

Totally baffled? Good. Go out and get a SLIP or PPP account and use a GUI (graphic user interface). This way you can totally avoid Unix (which, by the by, is rumored to have been developed in part by the military. That might give you a clue as to its, um, unique qualities). Furthermore, there are transfer sites built right into GUI software so you don't have to wait until next month to learn how to be truly FTP.

And yes, if you're stuck, you can ask me sweet: mollyh@indirect.com
--Molly Who

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