a) Most people will want to use the web based archives described in b) below.

"Old timers" may prefer to retrieve messages from LISTSERV@LISTSERV.UGA.EDU using the method described in Listserv Reference Card.

For instance sending the command GET SPSSX-L LOG9912 to the LISTSERV would cause the listserv to email you the full text of postings in December 1999. More commands are described in the Listserv Reference Card. Note that it is also possible to do searches, for instance one can ask the listserv to forward a copy of all messages which include the word !ENDDEFINE or the word covariance and were posted between January 1, 2000 and December 1, 2000 (or any other date range).

b) There are two web based archives of SPSSX-L messages:

The best one is www.listserv.uga.edu it is quick and easy to use. Postings can be sorted by subject, by date or by author by month. There is also a search facility.

The second choice (if the first one is not available) is www.marist.edu (be patient this server is slow; look at the bottom of the page for the search facility).

c)  Unlike a mailing list, one does not "register" to a newsgroup. One simply go and either post, read or search the newsgroup. The Web site groups.google.com contains searchable archives of most usenet newsgroups including comp.soft-sys.stat.spss.