Interestingly enough RiceVM1 is closer to Stanford than RUTVM1... especially since there is a Bitnet II link between RICEVM1 and UCBCMSA. Your friend probably subscribed after you did and after the Rice--Berkeley (spelling?) link was made. And no, peered lists are not automatically exploded (move subscribers to best peers)... /Gary P.S. Because of the local topology here, Canada is "closer" to Rice than Akron, Ohio (which is two nodes from OHSTVMA)! ;-)