[net.news.adm] keeping one's "active" file up to date

bytebug@pertec.UUCP (06/02/84)

I'm new to the net, but I was wondering just how we might automate the
process of keeping the "active" file updated.  Is there some periodic
posting of a master active file for the "net" newsgroups?

The problem I'm getting at is my seeming picking up a lot of "dead"
newsgroups when I joined the net - probably nuked long ago, such as
"net.tv.da".  I understand the purpose of MANUALLY, but once in awhile
it would be nice to see that we all agree as to what newsgroups there
are.

One solution would be to build an `awk' script to go through the 
occasional posting of newsgroup descriptions, and extract a list of
newsgroups to compare with your active file.  Has anyone done this?
Any other suggestions?