1. How can I get questions answered ?

First, read or skim everything in /waffle/docs .

Then use a file-searching program to search for a few keywords that
might related to an answer.  Then try a few more.

Running a USENET site is not difficult, but it's also not trivial.
Running Waffle is not always immediately self-evident either.

The docs will help... a lot.  Yes, there is a lot to read, and yes, it
seems ponderous, but most of your questions are answered either in the
docs or in this FAQ.

Use of a version of `grep' to scan all the documents for keywords is
highly recommended, or looking in 1.65's new /waffle/docs/index .

2. Is there a USENET newsgroup for Waffle ?

Yes, comp.bbs.waffle (also known as `c.b.w'.)

Don't be shy, there's a lot of expertise in c.b.w .  That's what it's
there for.  However, be sure that you have looked through all the
documentation before posting your question; you will not be appreciated
if you ask a question that is clearly answered in the documentation (or
in the FAQ, for that matter.)

3. Can I get in touch with the author of Waffle ?

Yes.  [Updated answer:  unless you have a cheque, probably not]
[Further updated answer:  sometimes -- work seems to have become
much more reasonable]

Tom Dell reads comp.bbs.waffle, though he doesn't generally post too
often since he's quite busy.

He's also reachable via e-mail at <dell@goonsquad.spies.com>.
Be aware that Tom gets *LOTS* of mail, so replies usually
take a while.  [lately, ranging from eternity to a few hours(!)]

In general, normal questions to comp.bbs.waffle will get quite a few
responses in a very timely manner.  There probably aren't too many
questions you can't get answered in c.b.w .

4. How many Waffle sites are there currently?

It's hard to say since there are sites that are unregistered, not in the
UUCP maps, and/or are mail-only and do not exchange news.

Occasionally, someone counted how many Waffle sites have posted
to USENET in the past 2 weeks.  Bill Fenner, and then Alan Brown:

        921029 930116 930216 930416 940816 941126
1.61:        2      1      2      1      0      0
1.63:        9      8      9      5      0      0
1.64:       81     44     57     46     18     14
1.65:      266    266    280    286    240    274
1.66:        0      0      0      0      0      1
           ---    ---    ---    ---    ---    ---
           358    320    348    339    258    289

(you can't trust the version numbers -- due to these counts being posted,
a few people have put out fake w166w headers...  although it looks like
the home site is sending them out for real.)

the counters now watch for other waffle-specific newsreaders, so the
`waffle' numbers are lower than the actual number of waffle sites.

the numbers used to be posted regularly, but I haven't seen any in a
long time.