Is user active or not ?

I find myself in need of an easy way to check whether the account of a remote 
user on the lan is active or not.

Is there an easier way than to ssh, then grep $USER /etc/shaddow | grep !

And is there a way to automate the ssh connection in a script ?

TIA,
 
Ron.
-- 
                    Pain is life,                        
                    and death is when the pain goes away.
                                         -- Keith Roberts
                                    
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