fetching RSS / ATOM autimatically

Dear mailinglist users,

I want to fetch rss data of scarab automatically by a script, but I'm
not really sure, how my script should log in. I could use the cookie
based login, but I think it's a bit overhead. A http basic auth would do
the job concerning security, and is implemented in nearly every http
lib.

Perhaps you could give me a hint, how I can do that in a basic way (or
where I missed a pargraph in the docs)...

Regards,
Max Ferstl
-- 
I ran out of gas. I had a flat tire. I didn't have enough money for cab
fare.  My tux didn't come back from the cleaners. An old friend came in
from out of town. Someone stole my car. There was an earthquake! A ter-
rible flood! Locusts! It wasn't my fault, I swear to god!  (Jake Blues)