aisearch is a C++ class library with built-in tree/graph search algorithms. You provide the problem representation, then invoke unidirectional or bidirectional depth-first, breadth-first, best-first, uniform-cost, or AND/OR search. The code is richly commented and comes with a LaTeX/.dvi tutorial. Look on comp.sources.misc, or FTP aisearch.zip or aisearch.tar.Z from /pub/peter on obelix.icce.rug.nl. [Peter Bouthoorn (peter@icce.rug.nl), comp.ai, 1/3/94. David Joslin.]

Microsoft has announced Intellisense, a heuristic programming language to monitor work patterns and suggest efficient ways to use Word, Excel, Project, Powerpoint, etc. [Intelligent Systems Report, 10/93. Gregory Piatetsky-Shapiro (gps@gte.com), KDD Nuggets, 12/93. Chris Matheus.]

AppleScript is a top-level scripting language (or "shell") for Mac applications. An easy way to get it on diskette is to purchase "The Tao of AppleScript," $24.95 from BMUG or from Hayden Books, (800) 428-5331. If you work in HyperCard, get Bill Johnston's aete-resource-for-hc21.hqx to make HC 2.1 aware of AppleScript. [johnston@me.udel.edu. Bill Park, 11/20/93.]

Many companies require that their programming contractors be paid through an agency, for tax or legal purposes. (There is a lot of confusion about Section 1706, but you do it the employer's way or don't work.) A contractor may negotiate his or her own contract, which is then implemented through an agency as a "passthrough." One agency offering this service at $4 per billed hour is Chancellor and Chancellor (chancell@crl.com). [ba.j.contract, 12/10/93. Bill Park.] (Other agencies might provide health coverage, retirement benefits, collection of delinquent accounts, or other services.)