Mixmaster Questions

Is there an automated way I can keep my PUBRING.MIX and TYPE2.LIST files updated automatically? (I'd prefer to be able to "finger" them from somewhere and redirect the results into a file.) Also, does anyone do a periodic "ping" of Mixmaster remailers to make sure they're up and running? I only run Mixmaster as a client, and not as a remailer, and I'd like a way to make sure I don't send a message to the bitbucket by accidentally chaining it through a "dead" remailer. Also, what is the latest version of Mixmaster? Thanks.