pozar@well.UUCP (01/12/87)
Volume 4, Number 2 12 January 1987
+---------------------------------------------------------------+
| _ |
| / \ |
| /|oo \ |
| - FidoNews - (_| /_) |
| _`@/_ \ _ |
| International | | \ \\ |
| FidoNet Association | (*) | \ )) |
| Newsletter ______ |__U__| / \// |
| / FIDO \ _//|| _\ / |
| (________) (_/(_|(____/ |
| (jm) |
+---------------------------------------------------------------+
Editor in Chief: Thom Henderson
Chief Procrastinator Emeritus: Tom Jennings
FidoNews is the official newsletter of the International FidoNet
Association, and is published weekly by SEAdog Leader, node 1/1.
You are encouraged to submit articles for publication in
FidoNews. Article submission standards are contained in the file
ARTSPEC.DOC, available from node 1/1.
Copyright (C) 1987, by the International FidoNet Association.
All rights reserved. Duplication and/or distribution permitted
for noncommercial purposes only. For use in other circumstances,
please contact IFNA.
DON'T FORGET TO VOTE
Table of Contents
1. ARTICLES
Various Subjects: In Response To FidoNews 3.49
PC World's Andrew Fluegelman Award - Let's Nominate T.J.
Commercial Exploitation of Fido
GAGS Shareware Status Report
Genealogy EchoMail Update
Fido's Home for Utilities and Software
2. FOR SALE
Magazine On Disk for IBM PC and Compatibles
UNDER-C(tm) Library
3. NOTICES
The Interrupt Stack
Announcing Diplomacy Game F3
Official IFNA By-laws Ballot
Fidonews Page 2 12 Jan 1987
=================================================================
ARTICLES
=================================================================
Daniel Tobias
Soft Fido (380/2)
Shreveport, LA
TO NOTCH OR NOT TO NOTCH?
In response to Joe Lindstrom's column cautioning against double-
notching disks for Commodore computers: SOFTDISK and LOADSTAR,
our magazines on disk for Apple and Commodore computers
respectively, have been distributed on double-sided, double-
notched diskettes since our founding in 1981. Despite this, we
have not had any more customer complaints of bad disks than would
be expected given the number of disks we distribute. (By the
way, our policy is and has always been that if any of our disks
won't run, for any reason, we will replace them free with no
questions asked.) Thus, we intend to continue to use the double-
notch system to give our subscribers twice as much material as
would fit otherwise. (BIG BLUE DISK, our sister publication for
the IBM PC and compatibles, does not have double notches, since
IBM disk drives are double-sided.)
I certainly empathize with you over the loss of an important
program; I've had important programs and data get lost on
occasion on all forms of media, including single- and double-
sided disks and hard disks. The solution is to always keep
backup copies of everything important that is irreplaceable.
"CANNED" MESSAGES
Regarding Ron Bemis' notes on "canned" messages (such as those
sent by his shareware programs), I am a registered user of his
programs, including OUTER and NEWFILES. I find them to be
excellent programs, and I have made a special effort recently to
send the requested Shareware contributions to the authors of all
such programs I've been using. I have to admit Mr. Bemis' canned
messages encouraged me to put his programs at the top of my list
to send the contributions, just to get those silly messages to
stop; however, I would have paid the fee regardless.
Despite my paying up, I'm not very happy about the canned message
scheme; I get very uneasy about programs messing around in my
message bases, particularly when it involves placing long-
distance phone calls automatically. In my case, one of Bemis'
programs (I think it was NEWFILES) started sending messages with
the program name field messed up. (It said something like "Thank
you for trying #$@#%^%$#$". Perhaps the copy I was using had
garbled data; at any rate, the messages stopped once I had
obtained a registered copy, as they're supposed to.) This makes
me scared of what else could get screwed up by such a program; if
there is a bug or something it might go wild and start sending
thousands of messages to Fido systems in Indonesia. Thus, my
Fidonews Page 3 12 Jan 1987
feelings about such devices are similar to my feelings about
devious copy-protection schemes which do bizarre things to your
disks.
Unfortunately, since most Shareware users don't seem to be paying
for the programs (even I was lazy about this for a while, but I
have remedied it), devices like this might be necessary. It's
too bad.
Speaking of Shareware, I have released a program, SCOREKPR, to
let you keep an online, running scoreboard in your OUTSIDE
section. Version 2.00 has just been released, with several
enhancements over earlier versions. It is available for download
on SOFT FIDO at (318) 636-4402. There are no booby-traps to
encourage payment of registration fees, but I hope you do send
the requested contribution if you like the program and make
regular use of it.
Several games and other programs designed to work with SCOREKPR
are also available for download.
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Fidonews Page 4 12 Jan 1987
David Dodell
Node 114/15 - 1/98
Let's nominate Tom Jennings for New
PC World's Andrew Fluegelman Award - 1987
In the January 1987 issue of PC World there is a call for
nominations for the First Annual Andrew Fluegelman Award - 1987.
The purpose of the award "is given annually to encourage personal
computer software excellence and to recognize a software
programmer .... We are looking for people who have made a
substantial, innovative contribution to the personal computer
community in commercial, shareware or public domain software."
The judging of the award "will be evaluated according to the
following criteria:
o It advances the state of the art of personal computing
o It manifests innovation in concept and design
o It demonstates orientation to personal computer users"
I think this is a perfect opportunity for us, the Fidonet nodes,
to get Tom Jennings recognized for the credit he so richly
deserves. While there have been many excellent software packages
released to support or enhance FidoNet, I feel Tom deserves our
nomination since he originated the concept of linking bulletin
boards together in a non-commercial network. I feel that all of
the above criteria are meet from above. If it wasn't for Tom
taking the initial plung, we would be 1400 nodes totally
unassociated with each other.
To support Tom, please feel out the following form below and
submit * five * copies to:
Andrew Fluegelman Award
Attention:Shirley Gines
PCW Communications, Inc.
501 Second Street
San Francisco, CA 94107
If you would prefer, complete the form in your word processor and
send by netmail to 114/15 or 1/98 in the form of a file attach
where XXXXYYYY.AWD (XXXX/YYYY = Net/Node) and I will accumulate
all submissions and send in bulk to PC World. Nominations must
be in by February 1, 1987.
-----------------------------------------------------------------
1987 Andrew Fluegelman Award Nomination Form
Please type your entries; no handwritten entries will be
accepted.
Name of Program:
Fidonews Page 5 12 Jan 1987
Creator:
Software Marketer:
Brief Description of Program (100 words or less):
Reason for your nomination (100 words or less):
Software Program Release Date:
Nomination Submitted by:
Company Name:
Phone Number:
Address:
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Please get these in so we beat the February 1st deadline.
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Fidonews Page 6 12 Jan 1987
David Lescohier Fido 101/138
Ron Bemis' latest gambit to extract money from hard working
Fido Sysops could almost be described as a quasi trojan. No
one appreciates little features built into a piece of software
that cause aggravation for the user. Gee what's next, is he
going to put a little routine in his next release that alters
your user list if you don't pay him in a certain number of
days? The possibilities for punishing and harassing
"freeloaders" are almost limitless.
However, Ron's latest "Modest Innovation" raises more
fundamental issues for the rapidly developing FidoNet System.
Us participants, for the most part are hobbyists and amateurs
who want to separate our FidoNet hobby from the mundane
commercial realm in which most of us work most of the time.
One of the attractions of FidoNet is that the participants, by
joining and participating in the FidoNet and becoming members
of the IFNA, become members of a fraternity of people who share
a common interest in promoting telecommunications and providing
a voluntary public service.
The freedom from regulation, the opportunity to experiment and
develop new concepts, techniques, extend the potential inherent
in the telecommunication art is, I believe, threatened by
attempts to commercialize FidoNet. Sure there are obvious
commercial applications of what we are doing. I expect that
FidoNet will be the inspiration for many commercial ventures.
But I feel very strongly it should be understood, that the
commercial applications should be spun off as a separate
endeavor so that FidoNet, as such, remains strictly the domain
of the amateur and hobbyist. Otherwise, if we allow commercial
interests, such as Ron Bemis is trying to promote, to encroach
on Fidonet, then rapidly on his heels will follow all kinds of
other interference in the form of regulations and restrictions.
If this happens, our opportunity to innovate will inevitably
be undermined, and as a result, one of the most important
attractions of this hobby will be lost. I write with some
experience in Amateur Radio, a hobbyist fraternity which is
constantly vigilant regarding commercial encroachment.
I would like to suggest that Tom Jennings' policy should become
a standard to which all those who write utilities for Fido
should adhere: If you are running a Board for public benefit,
as a hobby, then the software is free. If you are using Fido
technology in order to earn money, then you should pay for the
software. Us members of the Net are providing Mr. Bemis a
service by distributing his stuff. He has the ingratitude to
demand that we pay too. That is how I feel.
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Fidonews Page 7 12 Jan 1987
GAGS Shareware Status Report January 1, 1987
---------------------------- ---------------
by Mark J. Welch
Frequently-asked question: "Does Shareware work?"
Answer: "It depends."
Shareware has not worked for GAGS.
I hope the following brief financial report on the Generic
Adventure Game System (GAGS) will give people an idea of how
Shareware has worked for me.
GAGS is a text-adventure-game development system that runs on
any MS-DOS/808x computer. It was developed over a six-month
period and released on August 25, 1985; it has been upgraded
six times since then; the current version is 1.06b.
Expenses:
---------
The expenses for GAGS include several publicity efforts,
including press releases mailed to most major computer
magazines, and phone expenses to distribute the program to
many BBSs nationwide. Roughly half the program sales came
directly from product write-ups in computer magazines (PC,
MicroTimes, and IEEE Spectrum). I also ran a computer bulletin
board from April 1985 through May 1986, and continue to run a
private Fido/Seadog electronic-mail node; publicity through
distribution of messages and in the FidoNews newsletter has
been substantial but revenues from that avenue have been very
slight. Expenses of update notices are also reflected.
Table 1, below, shows a breakdown of expenses associated with
development of the Generic Adventure Game System. Computer
equipment shows most plainly in the expenses, with phone bills
also quite high. Surprisingly low were postage expenses and
actual "cost-of-goods sold." Unlike many other Shareware
authors, I have spent no money on advertising. Total expenses
over the past two years were $5,393.53.
Income:
-------
Table 2, below, shows a breakdown of income by category. Disk
sales are mostly to people who read about GAGS in magazines or
somehow had trouble downloading it, since GAGS can be
downloaded free from many BBSs and I charge a relatively high
disk fee of $10 while also allowing user groups and many
Fidonews Page 8 12 Jan 1987
commercial firms to sell GAGS on disk for under $7. Very few
people who obtain the program register it, although I have
recently had an upsurge in registrations from people who have
downloaded GAGS from BBSs and, surprisingly, from BBS sysops
themselves who use GAGS to provide on-line game-playing
capabilities to users who may or may not have MS-DOS
computers. The $2,559.84 net income is roughly evenly divided
among disk, registration, and source code payments.
Results:
--------
As can be seen from Table 3, an initial substantial loss has
been partially compensated for by a small profit in 1986. It's
important to note that even the profits for 1986 end up
valuing my time at a very low rate, even ignoring the actual
development time.
What next? About two months ago, I decided that the next
version of GAGS will not be released as Shareware. Future
versions of GAGS will be available only commercially:
Shareware doesn't work. I plan to prepare a printed manual and
make several enhancements to the program. I had intially
planned to release the new version in February 1987, but will
probably delay that release while I negotiate with several
software publishers, since I would prefer not to publish the
program myself. (Of course, no matter what happens, earlier
versions of GAGS will still be available from BBSs and user
groups, and a generous upgrade policy will be provided to
registered users.)
Comments are invited.
Mark J. Welch
P.O. Box 2409
San Francisco, CA 94126
Voice: (415) 841-8759
Email: Fido 161/459
BIX: 'mwelch'
Table 1: GAGS Expenses to Date: December 31, 1986
--------
Books $69.12 (reference works, etc.)
Cost of goods sold 470.30 (disks, etc.)
Computer equip. 2,397.40 (computer, printers, etc.)
Development sw 284.29 (compilers, toolkits, etc.)
Misc. 204.51 (magazines, memberships)
Phone 834.03 (includes BBS)
Postage 296.98 (includes ALL postage!)
Software 440.20 (VP-Planner, PC-Write, etc.)
Supplies 396.70 (paper, ribbons, envelopes)
---------
Total: $5,393.53
Fidonews Page 9 12 Jan 1987
1985 total: $3,364.11
1986 total: 2,029.42
Table 2: Sales Total 1986
-------------- ------ ------
Disks $ 857.60 $ 721.05 (at about $10 each)
Registrations 949.44 827.12 (at about $15 each)
Source code 868.90 745.54 (at about $25 each)
Other 266.13 266.13 (upgrades, resold goods)
--------- ---------
Total $2,942.07 $2,559.84
Table 3: Profit/Loss Total 1986 only
----------------------- ---------- ----------
GAGS Sales $2,942.07 $2,559.84
GAGS Expenses (5,393.53) (2,029.42)
---------- ----------
Net GAGS Profit (Loss): (2,833.69) $530.42
This article (and all tables and text in it) are (c)
Copyright 1987 by Mark J. Welch. Permission is granted
to repost or republish this article in any medium at no
charge, provided that the author is identified. Please
send a copy of any printed publication of this article
to Mark J. Welch, P.O. Box 2409, San Francisco CA 94126.
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Fidonews Page 10 12 Jan 1987
David James
Fido 132/104
The National Genealogy Conference
In the July 28, 1986 issue of FidoNews (Vol 3, No 29) I
announced a new EchoMail conference devoted to genealogy.
At that time there were only two nodes, myself and COMMSOFT
BBS (143/26). Since then, the conference has grown to 20
nodes and acquired a new name: the National Genealogy
Conference.
Along the way, the NGC has become a clearinghouse for
information on available genealogical software, both
commercial and public domain, genealogical databases,
hardware and, in general, has begun to focus the development
of genealogical computing applications by bringing together
widely separated researchers in a single forum.
One of the most exciting developments was the decision, in
October, by the National Genealogy Society Computer Interest
Group to join the conference. The principal genealogical
computing interest group in the country, the NGS-CIG also
operates the National Projects Registry, which is
registering and coordinating all genealogically-related
computerization projects in the country.
Another important new member is Brian Mavrogeorge's ROOTS
BBS (125/30) in San Francisco. Brian is coordinator of the
California Genealogical Society's Computer Interest Group
and also SysOp of the oldest continuously operating
genealogy BBS in the country (2 years this December). Brian
pioneered on-line searches of genealogical indexes on his
board and switched from the RBBS format to join the
conference.
Searching your roots is a fascinating experience (even
addictive), and now FidoNet is making it even more
rewarding. Give one of the boards below a call and check it
out for yourself.
NGS BBS's AS OF DEC 27, 1986
*=2400 maximum baud rate
#=1200 maximum baud rate
============================================================
NATIONAL GENEALOGY CONFERENCE ECHOMAIL NODES
============================================================
BULLETIN BOARD & NODE #
System Operator Location Phone #
============================================================
*AMS BBS (135/10) Miami FL 305-621-0103
Peter Adenauer
#BILLBOARD (107/102) New York NY 212-333-3285
Bill Bertholf
#CHEMIST'S COMPORT (150/190) Wilmington DE 302-479-0302
Larry McGee
Fidonews Page 11 12 Jan 1987
*CKCS TIES (11/302) Lexington KY 606-252-3568
Robert Bowles
*COMMAND POST (19/219) El Paso TX 915-821-8835
Don Shults
#COMMSOFT BBS (143/26) Mt. View CA 415-967-6730
Ken Whitaker
#DOS CENTER FIDO (135/6) Boca Raton FL 305-391-8504
Michael Krasnove
*DOWNEAST ROOTS (132/104) Rye NH 603-964-7912
David James
#DYNASTY BBS (161/10) Elk Grove CA 916-685-8690
Henry Hoover
*FALCON'S ROCK (109/648) College Park MD 301-345-7459
*LINKS.BBS (119/13) Chico CA 916-343-4422
Tom Baughman
#NGS/CIG BBS (109/650) Fairfax VA 703-385-2726
Ray Gwinn, Jim Adams & Richard Pence
#RENEX BBS (109/639) 1. Wash., DC 202-690-7950
Ray Gwinn 2. Woodbrige VA 703-494-8331
*ROOTS BBS (125/30) San Francisco CA415-584-0697
Brian Mavrogeorge
*SCHOLAR'S WORKBENCH (150/200) Newark DE 302-451-8045
#SLEEPING DOGS (10/26) Fresno CA 209-454-8229
Bob Robesky
*SOLID SOFTWARE (128/15) Colorado Spgs CO303-591-4273
Joe Rock
#STARFLEET COMMAND (150/130) Elsmere DE 302-654-2900
Randall Kobetich
*VIETNAM VETERANS' San Jose CA 408-293-7894
VALHALLA/Tod Looney
#WANDERING FIDO (109/647) Oxon Hill MD 301-894-2706
Alan Williams
If you would like to join the National Genealogy Conference,
contact Ken Whitaker at Commsoft via FidoMail. Ken is the
NGC coordinator.
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Fidonews Page 12 12 Jan 1987
Vernon E. Six, Jr.
The Data Emporium BBS
Fido 381/1 and 381/0
Fido's Home for Utilities and Software
With all due respect to Jerry Hindle, I disagree with his
claim to be "THE" Fido Software Distribution Node. Although he
was the first to publish his claim in FidoNews, I feel that there
are at least two Distribution Nodes, Space Station Earth (Jerry's
Board) and The Data Emporium BBS (my board).
As to who was the first or official one, I don't know (or
care!). I will not argue over something like this especially
when we are both trying to provide a much needed service, as this
has never been my style.
I will, however, continue to promote Fido Utilities and
Software in anyway I can I.E. Providing you access to them online
on your first call, writing reviews like this article
periodically, and any other way I can.
Now on to the reviews. This week I will discuss two
utilities. The first is one called CHECK written by Michael
Frye. The second is one by Ron Bemis called Fifi.
CHECK -- This program allows you to automatically check the
questionaire's ANSWERS.BBS file, and process a user according to
what it finds.
If a blank entry is found where there is a required
response, you can tell CHECK to reduce the user's privilege
level, or remove him. Likewise, if the user answers all of the
required questions, it can raise the user's privilege.
It is meant to be a tool in which you don't have to look
over the questionaire and then use the sysop utility to deal with
a user. In addition with versions 3.0 and later you can use an
optional control file to further regulate the users on your
system.
Of course, garbage answers can still be given in some cases,
but CHECK can help you automate some of your 'housekeeping',
either run manually or as a scheduled event.
In this sysop's opinion, CHECK is something that should have
been included in Fido in the first place. I don't see how I ever
got by without it. You can download the latest version of CHECK
from my board in Area 4 with the name of CHECK32.ARC.
Keep up the good work, Mike.
FIFI -- This program gives Fido the little "nudge" it needs
to get going.
Fidonews Page 13 12 Jan 1987
I just hate calling a Fido BBS that makes me press <return>
to detect the baud rate. Fifi solves this problem by answering
the phone, detecting the baud rate and then kicking Fido in the
bottom to get him going.
Fifi is my personal favorite Fido Utility. And I am VERY
PROUD to say, that The Data Emporium BBS is the first official
registered user of Fifi.
This brings up another point. Alot of people have been
talking about Ron's "canned" messages. Yes, Fifi generates these
messages, but for the $20.00 requested registration, I can't see
why anyone would not register it, or become upset with the
"canned" messages. After all, they quit as soon as you register
the program.
I have made arrangements with Ron to always have the latest
version of Fifi on my board. You can download it as FIFI34.ARC.
Ron, I can't wait to see what new features you come up with
for Fifi. Thanks a million!!!!
Currently there are over two and one half megabytes of Fido
Utilities and Software available for download on The Data
Emporium BBS. The number is (915) 595-3896 if you would like to
call and download any. I do not use SEADOG so unfortunately I
cannot respond to File Requests. I do however use Server (if you
have an account).
If you are an author of Fido Utilities, then please give me
a call or use FidoMail, I would most definitely like to have your
utilities. If not, please upload any utilities that you may have
that I do not (or leave me a message how I can get them).
- Vern
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Fidonews Page 14 12 Jan 1987
Mike J 150/900
Randy Kobetich 150/130
- R U S H M A I L -
Does your EchoMail conference take forever for a note to
get from one end of the topology to the other?
Well, have we got a deal for you!
Now, with RushMail, you can cut the travel time in your
conference by 1/2 or more.
RushMail is not a program, just a clever application of
Batch File wizardry and FidoNet Routing and Xternal events.
It requires NO extra programs, (no SEAdog!) just your
standard set of Fido and EchoMail programs.
What RushMail does is this :
first, an example EchoMail topology...
(part of the East Coast star of SFFAN)
109/612
|
150/900 --- 150/130 --- 150/150
|
129/17
150/900 and 150/150 do RushMail, while 109/612 and 129/17
do not. 150/130 is the echomail regional Star (the node
that collects and redistributes the mail).
Here's what happens in chronological order
(i.e. schedule of events)
------------------------------------------
1) Everyone does ScanMail (except the star, 150/130)
2) The participating RushMail nodes (150/900 & 150/150) use
a new mail schedule to transfer their mail to the star
(150/130) and drop off their new echomail notes.
3) The star (150/130) runs TossMail. The RushMail nodes'
notes are now in the star's message areas.
4) The star (150/130) runs ScanMail. The notes written on
his BBS and the notes from the RushMail nodes
(150/900 & 150/150) are included, since they are in his
message areas.
5) During the Main Mail Transfer Time (i.e. National Mail
Hour for most nodes), mail is sent to and received from
the non-RushMail nodes (109/612 & 129/17).
All notes from the star (150/130) and the RushMail nodes
(150/900 & 150/150) are all sent out at the same time.
6) The star (150/130) runs TossMail. All notes from the
Fidonews Page 15 12 Jan 1987
non-RushMail nodes are now in the star's message areas.
7) After a little trickery in the batch file (as will be
shown later) an alternate AREAS.BBS file is used which
only includes the RushMail nodes.
8) After tricking the EchoMark with more batch-magic
(also see later) the star does ScanMail, taking the
non-RushMail nodes' new notes and generating copies for
the RushMail nodes.
9) After the Main Mail Transfer Time, another new small
mail schedule is used, to transfer all new notes to the
RushMail nodes.
10) Everyone runs TossMail. Voila!
Effect : Same day mail transfer from RushMail nodes to
everyone (150/900 to everyone getting mail from
150/130) and same day delivery from non-RushMail
nodes to the RushMail nodes (129/17 to the
RushMail nodes).
The time for non-RushMail node to another
non-RushMail node is uneffected (2 days).
No weird SEAdog/Fido incompatibilities arise
because SEAdog is not necessary. (SEAdog can still
be used for normal mail-transfer).
What you need to do
-------------------
* For the Star (150/130) :
Set up 2 new mail events -
Mail Event 1) prior to running ScanMail
mail from the RushMail nodes is transferred to the
star (150/130)
Mail Event 2) after the batch-magic and special
ScanMail the new mail is transferred from the star
(150/130) to the RushMail nodes
Make a special AREAS.BBS file called AREAS.BBR which
includes only the RushMail nodes.
Add to your TossMail Xternal event in your RUNBBS batch
file -
TossMail (your parameters)
cd \fido\msg\sffan \ CD into each msg area and
copy 1.msg 1.m \ save the EchoMark so after
cd \fido\msg\gaming / ScanMail changes it in the
copy 1.msg 1.m / 2nd scanning for the
Fidonews Page 16 12 Jan 1987
RushNodes, it's not lost for
the non-RushNodes, so they
get the new notes.
ren areas.bbs areas.bbt \ Move the normal AREAS.BBS
ren areas.bbr areas.bbs / aside, and use the special
Rush AREAS.BBR for the 2nd
scan.
ScanMail (your parameters as > the 2nd scan
used in your earlier ScanMail)
ren areas.bbs areas.bbr \ Put back the normal
ren areas.bbt areas.bbs / AREAS.BBS.
cd \fido\msg\sffan \
del 1.msg \ Get rid of the changed
ren 1.m 1.msg \EchoMarks and restore the
cd \fido\msg\gaming /correct one for the
del 1.msg / for the non-RushNodes.
ren 1.m 1.msg /
cd \fido \ Go back to Fido as usual.
(back to Fido)... /
* For the RushNodes :
Set up 2 new mail events -
Mail Event 1) after running ScanMail, and before Main
Mail Transfer Time mail from the RushMail nodes is
transferred to the star (150/130)
Mail Event 2) after Main Mail Transfer Time, and before
running TossMail the new mail is transferred from the
star (150/130) to the RushMail nodes
* For the non-RushNodes :
Business as usual.
Higher Complexity Topologies
----------------------------
For topologies of higher complexity, like Stars-on-a-
string, RushMail can be used to an even higher
effeciency. Normally in RushMail, a star would consider
its bordering stars as just RushNodes, except that mail
would be both sent and received in both of the new
mail events, instead of just sent in one and received in
the other.
Furthermore, more note travel time can be cut out if
the stars did their 2nd mail transfer during the Main Mail
Transfer Time (i.e. National Mail Hour for most nodes)
instead of afterwards. It would reduce the time for
mail to get from a RushNode off of one star to a RushNode
off another star to overnight, instead of taking 2 nights.
Non-RushMail nodes would still remain uneffected, and
no additional calls, beyond RushMail's two, would need to
be made.
Fidonews Page 17 12 Jan 1987
Bullshit
--------
RushMail has proved very effective in keeping conferences
(SFFAN, GAMING, INTERPER, MUSIC, and BUSINESS), very active
due to faster responses cross-country between both RushNodes
and non-RushNodes.
And it doesn't cost a cent...
Any questions should be directed to Mike J, 150/900.
SEAdog, EchoMail, ScanMail, TossMail, are probably
copyrighted trademarks.
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Fidonews Page 18 12 Jan 1987
=================================================================
FOR SALE
=================================================================
MAGAZINE ON DISK FOR IBM PC AND COMPATIBLES
BIG BLUE DISK, the magazine on disk for the IBM PC and
compatibles, is currently available at all Waldenbooks stores
and many other retail locations, as well as by mail
subscription. It is contained entirely on a floppy disk. Each
issue contains programs, articles, feedback from subscribers,
program reviews and demos, and more.
For example, issue 3 (now on sale) contains the following:
- African Desert Campaign: This sophisticated two-player war
game pits Allied forces against the Axis for control of North
Africa.
- Weather Thou Goest: Learn about tornadoes, track hurricanes,
and convert between different meteorological measurements with
this set of three programs.
- Plane 3-D: Use the free 3-D glasses enclosed to view the
images created by this program.
- BASIC Cross-Reference Utilities: Cross-reference the variables
and line numbers in your BASIC programs.
This issue also includes several other programs and articles; it
is a special two-disk issue, including as a "Blue Plate Special"
an interactive set of programs from Cross Educational Software
that is not just a demo.
You can order this issue by direct mail by sending $9.95 (check,
money order, or Visa/Mastercard/American Express accepted) to:
BIG BLUE DISK, PO BOX 30008, SHREVEPORT, LA 71130-0008.
Mail subscriptions are also available: One year (12 monthly
issues) costs only $69.95. (A 41% savings over newsstand
price.) A six-month subscription is available for $39.95.
Lots of interesting stuff is coming up; issue 4 will contain the
complete PC-Write word processor-- a new version that was just
released. Subscribe now and don't miss anything!
BIG BLUE DISK requires an IBM PC or compatible, with at
least 256K of memory and MS-DOS 2.0 or later. Color graphics is
recommended.
Send questions/comments to Daniel Tobias on FIDO 380/2.
(Please note the new node number, formerly 19/216.)
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Fidonews Page 19 12 Jan 1987
Stanley Quayle
Fido 126/1
The UNDER-C(tm) Library
Due to business volume, Quayle Research, Inc. has reduced the
price of its UNDER-C Library from $95 to $39.95.
The UNDER-C Library is a collection of functions and utilities
callable from C and other languages. It has 122 BIOS, DOS, and
other functions, including functions to build screens similiar
to dBase.
Also included are utilities such as MAKE; CPRINT, a
general-purpose printing program; and PFS2TXT, which translates
pfs:Write and IBM Writing Assistant files to text format.
Complete SOURCE CODE -- No royalities -- Not copy-protected.
Includes 200-page manual and five 5-1/4" floppy disks.
The UNDER-C Library works with IBM PC-compatibles using the
following C compilers:
Microsoft C, version 4.0
Lattice C, versions 3.10 and 2.15
Computer Innovations C86
DeSmet C
Instant-C
Send $39.95 to: Quayle Research, Inc.
6548 Edgerton Road
N. Royalton, OH 44133
Ohio residents please include 6-1/2% sales tax.
For more information, contact Myrna Quayle on 157/502, or
Stanley Quayle on 126/1, or call (614) 276-6557.
UNDER-C is a trademark of Quayle Research, Inc.
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Fidonews Page 20 12 Jan 1987
=================================================================
NOTICES
=================================================================
The Interrupt Stack
17 Jan 1987
Deadline for voting on the proposed bylaws. Your ballot MUST
be received by this date!
17 May 1987
Metro-Fire Fido's Second Birthday BlowOut and Floppy Disk
Throwing Tournament! All Fido Sysops and Families Invited!
Contact Christopher Baker at 135/14 for more information.
24 Aug 1989
Voyager 2 passes Neptune.
If you have something which you would like to see on this
calendar, please send a message to FidoNet node 1/1.
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Announcing Diplomacy Game F3
Robert Eskridge
Fido 124/109
The Russian and Turkish jaws are slowly crushing Germany and the
remnants of the French army as Game F1 enters 1909. In Game F2
the Anglo-Prussian alliance is deadlocked against the
Austro-Turkish conspiracy in early 1908. These games are
absorbing to those that need to grind a victory out of their
position, but the rest of us need some excitement! So for
Diplomacy fans anywhere on the net we are pleased to announce:
-*> Diplomacy Game F3 <*-
Play by FidoMail
One Week Turns
Starts Feb 1, 1986
Contact Bryny at 124/109 for details.
(Diplomacy is a trademark of Avalon Hill Game Co.)
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Fidonews Page 21 12 Jan 1987
Official IFNA Articles of Association and By-laws Ballot
We, the interim directors of IFNA, submit for ratification the
Articles of Association and By-laws as published in FidoNews
number 349. In accordance with the recommendation of the By-laws
Committee, each person listed as the Sysop of one or more FidoNet
nodes, as of NODELIST.311 dated November 7, 1986, is entitled to
ONE vote.
The proposed IFNA Articles of Association and By-laws, as
published in Fido349.NWS dated December 22, 1986, should be:
(Check one line) Adopted ________
Rejected ________
I am the SYSOP of record a FidoNet node which was listed in
NODELIST.311 dated November 7, 1986 and have the right to cast
one vote. There will be ONLY be one vote per person. There will
be ONLY one vote per net/node number. I understand these rules
and cast my ballot in accordance with them.
_______________________ ___________
Signature Date
_____/______
Net Node
Return this ballot via U. S. Mail to arrive not later than
January 17, 1987 at:
IFNA Ratification
C/O Christopher L. Bonfanti, CPA
Aselage, Kiefer & Co.
701 Emerson Road, Suite 201
Creve Coeur Corporate Center
St Louis, Mo. 63141-6709
Aselage, Kiefer & Co. are Certified Public Accountants and will
provide an independent count of the vote and publish the results
in FidoNews. Votes received by Saturday, January 17th will be
included in the results.
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