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diff --git a/pod/perlport.pod b/pod/perlport.pod
index 73a6616..ffd7c86 100644
--- a/pod/perlport.pod
+++ b/pod/perlport.pod
@@ -224,6 +224,10 @@ them in big-endian mode.  To avoid this problem in network (socket)
 connections use the C<pack> and C<unpack> formats C<n> and C<N>, the
 "network" orders.  These are guaranteed to be portable.
 
+As of perl 5.9.2, you can also use the C<E<gt>> and C<E<lt>> modifiers
+to force big- or little-endian byte-order.  This is useful if you want
+to store signed integers or 64-bit integers, for example.
+
 You can explore the endianness of your platform by unpacking a
 data structure packed in native format such as:
 
@@ -494,13 +498,35 @@ Don't assume that you can reach the public Internet.
 Don't assume that there is only one way to get through firewalls
 to the public Internet.
 
+Don't assume that you can reach outside world through any other port
+than 80, or some web proxy.  ftp is blocked by many firewalls.
+
+Don't assume that you can send email by connecting to the local SMTP port.
+
 Don't assume that you can reach yourself or any node by the name
-'localhost'.  The same goes for '127.0.0.1'.
+'localhost'.  The same goes for '127.0.0.1'.  You will have to try both.
 
-Don't assume that any particular port (service) will respond.
+Don't assume that the host has only one network card, or that it
+can't bind to many virtual IP addresses.
+
+Don't assume a particular network device name.
+
+Don't assume a particular set of ioctl()s will work.
 
 Don't assume that you can ping hosts and get replies.
 
+Don't assume that any particular port (service) will respond.
+
+Don't assume that Sys::Hostname() (or any other API or command)
+returns either a fully qualified hostname or a non-qualified hostname:
+it all depends on how the system had been configured.  Also remember
+things like DHCP and NAT-- the hostname you get back might not be very
+useful.
+
+All the above "don't":s may look daunting, and they are -- but the key
+is to degrade gracefully if one cannot reach the particular network
+service one wants.  Croaking or hanging do not look very professional.
+
 =head2 Interprocess Communication (IPC)
 
 In general, don't directly access the system in code meant to be
@@ -1080,7 +1106,7 @@ native formats.
 
 What C<\n> represents depends on the type of file opened.  It usually
 represents C<\012> but it could also be C<\015>, C<\012>, C<\015\012>, 
-C<\000>, C<\040>, or nothing depending on the file organiztion and 
+C<\000>, C<\040>, or nothing depending on the file organization and 
 record format.  The VMS::Stdio module provides access to the 
 special fopen() requirements of files with unusual attributes on VMS.
 
@@ -1503,12 +1529,6 @@ suffixes.  C<-S> is meaningless.  (Win32)
 C<-x> (or C<-X>) determine if a file has an executable file type.
 (S<RISC OS>)
 
-=item alarm SECONDS
-
-=item alarm
-
-Not implemented. (Win32)
-
 =item binmode FILEHANDLE
 
 Meaningless.  (S<Mac OS>, S<RISC OS>)