pozar@hoptoad.uucp (Tim Pozar) (05/11/89)
Volume 6, Number 19 8 May 1989
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| _ |
| / \ |
| /|oo \ |
| - FidoNews - (_| /_) |
| _`@/_ \ _ |
| International | | \ \\ |
| FidoNet Association | (*) | \ )) |
| Newsletter ______ |__U__| / \// |
| / FIDO \ _//|| _\ / |
| (________) (_/(_|(____/ |
| (jm) |
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Editor in Chief: Vince Perriello
Editors Emeritii: Dale Lovell
Thom Henderson
Chief Procrastinator Emeritus: Tom Jennings
Contributing Editors: Al Arango
FidoNews is published weekly by the International FidoNet
Association as its official newsletter. You are encouraged to
submit articles for publication in FidoNews. Article submission
standards are contained in the file ARTSPEC.DOC, available from
node 1:1/1. 1:1/1 is a Continuous Mail system, available for
network mail 24 hours a day.
Copyright 1989 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 at (314) 576-4067. IFNA may also be contacted
at PO Box 41143, St. Louis, MO 63141.
Fido and FidoNet are registered trademarks of Tom Jennings of
Fido Software, 164 Shipley Avenue, San Francisco, CA 94107 and
are used with permission.
We don't necessarily agree with the contents of every article
published here. Most of these materials are unsolicited. No
article will be rejected which is properly attributed and legally
acceptable. We will publish every responsible submission
received.
Table of Contents
1. EDITORIAL ................................................ 1
It's time to speak out on Freedom of the Press ........... 1
2. ARTICLES ................................................. 3
Echo CHIPS IN ............................................ 3
Behind the Scenes on Policy4 ............................. 5
The Hermit's New Software Releases ....................... 9
MORE_ICONS Some more ICONS for artistic types ............ 10
ParaNet Leads The Information Society! ................... 11
3. COLUMNS .................................................. 15
The Veterinarian's Corner: Lymphosarcoma ................. 15
And more!
FidoNews 6-19 Page 1 8 May 1989
=================================================================
EDITORIAL
=================================================================
It's time to speak out on Freedom of the Press
As many of you have no doubt noticed, FidoNews isn't a rigidly
controlled publication. Its content often has little or nothing
to do with the day-in, day-out nonsense involved in being a
member of FidoNet. There are articles and discussions of some
amazingly varied topics, reflecting the similarly varied tastes
of the five thousand member nodes of FidoNet.
I personally believe that it is a major strength of this
publication that any member of FidoNet is allowed to contribute
to a publication that is made available to every other member of
FidoNet. It is, quite literally, a free and open public forum
in which any of us can share anything we consider important with
anyone else.
Of course, there is a "down" side to this openness. The down
side is this: not every issue of FidoNews will be of interest
to everyone in FidoNet. In some cases, there might be one or
two issues in succession that in some individuals' opinions,
would have been better off unpublished. I'm sorry to disagree
with those people, but this is the price that you pay for having
your own turn with FidoNews when YOU want it. There are
sometimes excesses, but we'll gradually learn how to minimize
them without hurting the open policy.
There now appear to be some rumblings in the coordinators'
structure to the effect that FidoNews has too low of a "signal
to noise ratio" and that perhaps the *C's might want to do
something about it. This is apparently largely due to the fact
that readership isn't what it used to be, and many NC's have
been resisting the idea of carrying FidoNews, which is currently
mandated by Fidonet Policy.
I can't resist the temptation to suggest that indeed we have had
the same problem with the *C structure. How about some more
signal and less noise from them? Whatever happened, for
example, to the promised WEEKLY update from the coordinators via
the "RegComm - Communications from RegCon" column? Well, to be
fair, it only claimed to be a "weekly" update in the January 2
and January 9 columns. The January 16 column billed itself as a
"regular" column. Of course, it was the last one submitted.
When humans get that "regular" they usually need an enema.
Look, maybe as an individual you don't always like what appears
in FidoNews. But this is YOUR publication. YOU decide what
appears in it through YOUR submissions. If you don't like the
signal to noise ratio, submit something with a high signal level
and its presence in the newsletter will help keep that ratio
closer to where you'd like it.
FidoNews 6-19 Page 2 8 May 1989
At this point, then, FidoNews seems to have reached a very
important cusp. We need this open and widely distributed forum.
The *C's want something that stays a bit closer to the center of
things. As yet there has been no real concensus among the *C's
on any course of action, and this means that the time is right
for you to be heard on this issue. If you agree that FidoNews
should belong to ALL of us, then you had damned well better get
off your gluteus maximus and write a note to your coordinator
saying just that.
Then, while you're in a writing mood, how about submitting an
article?
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FidoNews 6-19 Page 3 8 May 1989
=================================================================
ARTICLES
=================================================================
Echo "CHIPS" In
for disABLED User
It was a cold day last February 16th in upstate New York,
otherwise known as the Adirondacks of New York state, USA. It
was also a time when the RONDACK Echo was becoming more active.
You know, those wintery months when the hacks come in to play,
where it's warm. For those in the more temperate regions of the
world, I'm talking about a "heat wave" where the temperature got
up to zero farenheit. An article in the newspaper about a 14
year old boy who is suffering from Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome
appears, with a big picture of him sitting at his computer, with
a smile as wide as his 13 inch screen.
The article quotes his mother as saying that her son, Louis,
gets his kicks by using the computer to play games and discover
ways to make the computer work for him. The article touched alot
of people that day, including the users of the RONDACK Echo.
Knowing the potential value echomail could be to Louis, one
of the Rondack'ers, aka Brothers / Sisters found out that he
didn't have a modem. Well... that day, a message was posted in
the RONDACK Echo asking for volunteers to pitch in to purchase a
modem to give to the potential Rondack'r. The response from the
users was great and by the time midnight came around, on the same
day, the modem was nearly half paid for.
Arrangements had been made with the local Independent Living
Center to act as recipient of donations for the modem. This
whole experience was new to the local Independent Living Center
and they welcomed the opportunity to help us out in helping
others in need. Consequently, they have established an open
account for the sole use of accumulating funds to be used in the
purchase of telecommunications equipment and other computer
hardware that can be disbursed to persons within their service
area who can benefit from its use. In addition, some of the echo
participants have offered their time and expertise in helping a
new user get setup, including training.
The whole experience also converted some "lurkers" to the
official "Un-lurker" status of the echo. It was good to see
evidence of an echo working together to help someone. A pleasant
change from what you read in some echos. We are not a charitable
echo, just an echo with charitable users. Not unlike you, I
suspect. Mmmm, is this a challenge? Yes, why not? I would love
to challenge any other "echo" to DO something to help those
around you. Let the public know about the good things that
FidoNet is capable of, and what its users are doing. If you are
already involved in a project like this, then please share it
with us. I'm sure we would benefit from your experience.
FidoNews 6-19 Page 4 8 May 1989
Submitted by
Ross Calloway, moderator
RONDACK ECHO, 1:267/41
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FidoNews 6-19 Page 5 8 May 1989
Steve Bonine
11/0
Policy4: A Perspective
The new version of FidoNet policy has been released for a vote by
the coordinator structure, the results of which will be announced
in the June 9 nodediff. The new policy document has been
discussed at length in the REGCON echomail conference, and
represents my best attempt to capture the consensus of the
Regional Coordinators who participate in that forum. In this
FidoNews article, I am expressing my impressions of the document,
with some indication of how the consensus was reached. I am but
one of the contributors, but with perhaps a unique perspective.
Rather than publishing the full text of the final draft of
Policy4 in FidoNews, I will discuss the changes between what was
published previously and the final version. The full policy file
will be distributed through the coordinator structure, and is
available for file request from the RC's using the "magic name"
of POLICY4.
I want to emphasize that the opinions expressed in this article
are my own. If you have questions about Policy4, get a copy and
read it. It speaks rather well for itself. I have not been
given any authority to speak for the FidoNet coordinator
structure, and I don't pretend to do so.
Section 1.2 -- Organization, and Organization
------- --- ------------- --- ------------
The original Policy4 had two sections on each level of FidoNet.
For example, there was a section describing a network, and
another describing a network coordinator. These have been
consolidated; for example, there is now a single section which
describes networks and network coordinators. Virtually all the
same words are still there, just organized differently.
Top-Down Organization
-------- ------------
The summary of FidoNet organization, now section 1.2.8, was
clarified. Two exceptions to the strict top-down organization of
FidoNet have been introduced by Policy4: (1) Decisions of the
IC can be reversed by the Zone Coordinator Council, and (2)
Decisions of a ZC can be reversed by a majority of the Regional
Coordinators in that zone.
This was done to provide a check-and-balance at the highest level
of FidoNet. In a sense, this mechanism has always existed; under
Policy3 if a majority of the RC's decided not to support the ZC
then the effect would be the same. This procedure is formal in
Policy4, with the RC's as a check on the actions of ZC's, and the
ZC's as a check on the actions of the IC. Hopefully, none of
this will ever be invoked.
FidoNews 6-19 Page 6 8 May 1989
The appeal process for standard policy complaints is not changed
with Policy4. If you complain to your NC, and don't like the
decision, you still appeal to the RC.
There have been vocal calls for democracy in FidoNet. The
changes which have been implemented are a step in that direction,
although a smaller step than some would prefer. The vast
majority of FidoNet sysops are satisfied with the way that the
network is organized, and if they are not then the procedure
exists with Policy4 to get it changed.
Geography
---------
Policy4 is quite specific that network membership is based upon
technical factors, not social factors. This is entirely
appropriate for a mail network, and this issue is one in which
agreement was close to unanimous in the RC group. Networks exist
primarily for the good of FidoNet, not for the members of that
particular network. When the basic organization of FidoNet is
compromised, then the integrity of the network is compromised.
You don't get more basic than this.
Excessively Annoying Behavior
----------- -------- --------
The attempt to define annoying behavior which appeared in the
initial draft was expanded in the final draft to include the
distinction between annoying and EXCESSIVELY annoying. The
guidelines are still vague, as well they should be, but the
intent was to reduce the quivering from new sysops who are afraid
that they will be lynched if they make the smallest error.
Commercial Use of FidoNet
---------- --- -- -------
In order to protect the coordinator structure from potential
lawsuits, and to clarify the fact that NC's are not generally
thrilled with subsidizing commercial operations by forwarding
commercial mail, specific prohibitions on the use of FidoNet for
strictly commercial purposes have been added. This is a
difficult issue, as information interchange between vendors and
users is an activity which benefits both, whereas strictly
commercial use of a volunteer, amateur network is not
appropriate.
Protocol
--------
It was made clear that the minimum requirement for compatibility
with FidoNet protocol as defined in the FTSC standard FTS-0001 is
not optional. More capability is fine, but basic FidoNet
standard is required.
EchoMail During ZMH
-------- ------ ---
FidoNews 6-19 Page 7 8 May 1989
In the sense that there was quite a bit of spirited discussion,
this issue was the opposite of the geographic-network issue. It
was decided to go with the wording "Echomail should not be trans-
ferred during ZMH." Some RC's wanted the wording stronger; some
wanted no prohibition at all. The bottom line is simple -- if
your coordinator can't get through to you during ZMH, chances are
good that your nodelist entry will disappear. Somehow, the risk
doesn't seem worth the reward.
Voice Telephone
----- ---------
It was decided to require a voice telephone as a part of the
information sent when requesting a node number. In spite of a
desire not to obligate the coordinator to use the voice number to
contact the individual in the case of problems, the consensus was
that requiring a voice telephone number was actually in the best
interests of the person requesting a node number, and certainly
was not unreasonable. After all, why should we issue a node
number with less information than we require to validate a user
on our systems?
Dual Majority
---- --------
The dual majority idea (in which a majority of NC's and a
separate majority of RC's is required to pass a policy change) is
scrapped. The requirement is now simply a majority of the votes
cast.
Language
--------
There are zero occurences of the words "he", "her", "his", and
"hers" except in the case histories.
General Comments
------- --------
With obvious bias, I can say that I feel that Policy4 is a
distinct improvement over Policy3, and should be adopted. The
changes from Policy3 are not dramatic, but we are overdue in
bringing our policy document up to date with the way that FidoNet
operates today. It is perhaps unfortunate that we need such a
large amount of verbiage to define things which should be
obvious, but experience shows that this is indeed the case.
I doubt that any one individual will agree 100% with everything
in Policy4. We had some spirited discussions in REGCON, and not
everyone got everything they wanted. I hope that the document
does not look like it was written by committee, and that it will
serve us as well as previous versions of FidoNet policy have
served.
Acknowledgements
----------------
FidoNews 6-19 Page 8 8 May 1989
I am not trying to take credit for Policy4. In fact, this is the
first time I have admitted in an open forum that I had anything
at all to do with it. It is sad that any time you do anything in
FidoNet, you open yourself up to personal attack by persons who
disagree with some aspect of what you've done.
I would like to thank several other folks who made significant
contributions to Policy4, but (a) I don't know all of them, and
(b) I'm not sure that they would appreciate my mention of their
name, because of the problem of hate mail. I will, therefore,
content myself with two specific names. Policy4 obviously owes a
great deal to Policy3, and Thom Henderson's work in that area is
well known. The first six drafts of Policy4 were coordinated by
Harry Lee, so things were well under way when I took over the
task.
The real credit goes to the Regional Coordinators who participate
in REGCON. The development of Policy4 is a powerful illustration
that it is possible to do useful work using echomail. We had a
couple of discussions on a voice conference facility, but the
major part of the work was done in REGCON. Zone 3 was repre-
sented, but not zone 2, much to my disappointment. I want to
thank all the RC's who provided their insight; it really is a
joint creation, and all I did was act as listener.
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FidoNews 6-19 Page 9 8 May 1989
The 10 Point Gothic Column
--------------------------
The Hermit's New Software Releases
Greg Glynn - The Airlock Hermit
From 3:712/506.4 - Home of the Brave
SPACE HEROS (SPACEH.ARC - 820Mb)
Great new galactic domination game. Multi player, Multi
user. Supports VGA/EGA/CGA.
Aptly Named because you need to be a SPACE HERO to store a
820Mb game in the first place!
AUTO FLAME (OUCH.ARC - 57Kb)
Echomail utility that generates automatic flame messages.
Many great features like RANDOM-FLAME mode, FLAME-THROWER
mode and VULCAN THE FLAME EATING MIDGET mode.
BURNOUT (BURNOUT.ARC - 12Kb)
Are you a Fidonet "BURNOUT". Find out with this quiz.
Heres an example:
14. When some jerk jumps into a conference half way
through and calls you a "Lilly-Livered Two-Faced
Low-Down Four-Flushing Side-Windin' Crocker-Crocker"
do you..
a. Ignore him
b. Laugh and him and then Ignore him
c. Send a reply through the conference calling him a
"Stupid Git-Faced Half-Baked Broken-Down Lump of
Slimey Gnu Vomit"
WINEO (WINEO.ARC 1K)
Clever little program. Place it anywhere on a hard disk
and all the other files near it will try to move as far
away from it as they can. Thus clearing vast amounts of
disk space around the WINEO.YUK file. Exactly WHY you'd
want to do this is beyond me!
More Great New Hermitware on the way. Look for these exiting
titles on a Bulletin Board near you....
MIXIT.ARC 190K Realistic Cake Mixing Simulation.
NUKE_EM.ARC 489K "Fun" Nuclear War Game.
ROULETTE.ARC 120K Just like Russian Roulette. Will rub out a
random file once every six times you run it.
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FidoNews 6-19 Page 10 8 May 1989
L. Edel
151/2
MO_ICONS_PLEASE
For some reason, the ICONS in a past Fido Newsletter, were not
the icons I have seen in use the past several years!!! Where
did the nose come from? Originally,, the set goes as follows,
excluding some that can only be used on IBM, ATARI, COMMODORE,
etc.
:) - smile/happy :( - frown/sad
:D - big smile or laugh :c - pout
:> - mischievious smile :'( - cry
;) - wink ;> - sly wink
:* - kiss [] - hug
:O - shout/yawn O:) - angel/innocent
]:> - devil/guilty :I - content
:# - grimace/frustrated :/ - disfavor/baffled
:P - sticking out tongue :X - not talking
:d - tastes good :9 8) - wide-eyed surprise
B) - glasses [% - mug
c% - coffee cup U - glass
u - shot glass Y - wine/cocktail glass
---<--<-@ long-stemmed rose
----===== drink sliding down bar
Also worth considering are the following:
OLM - On Line Message OTW - On The Way
OIC - Oh I See H - HUH???
BTW - By The Way LOL - Laughing Out Loud
ROTF - Rolling On The Floor RAO - Rolling All Over
LMTO - Laughing My Tush Off BRB - Be Right Back
AFK - Away From Keys BBL - Be Back Later
BAK - Back At Keys WLCM - Welcome
BCNU - Be Seeing You L8R - Later
ODM - On De Move OTB - Off To Bed
LTNT - Long Time No Type TTFN - Ta Ta For Now
RE - Again (Greetings, as in "re-hi")
LTNS - Long Time No See
M/F - Male or Female (also known as 'MORFING', as in
"Oh no! I've been morfed!!")
I hope this make for more "colorful communicating". Just
remember the quote from Alex Bell (no relationship to the famous
Bell) "Anything that can be said in a few words, isn't worth
saying and should be forgotten". Don't blame me I didn't say
it.
-----------------------------------------------------------------
FidoNews 6-19 Page 11 8 May 1989
ParaNet Leads The Information Society!
On October 14, 1988, 'UFO Cover-Up? Live' made it's television
debut. During the program callers were asked to vote by phone.
Surprisingly, over 60% of the people that called in reported
that they believe in the existence of UFOs. Of that percentage,
several people had reported that they had spotted a UFO.
Although the UFOlogical community found that program to be,
generally, in bad taste, with it's poor treatment of the
subject, many people who have had an experience find it
extremely frustrating when attempting to get information about
the subject.
ParaNet was founded three years ago by Jim Speiser to provide an
electronic outlet for the latest up to the minute UFO
information, sightings, investigative findings and any other
information which is related to the phenomenon. The first
ParaNet system was located in Phoenix, Arizona. Jim worked hard
to get factual information out to the public and the users of
ParaNet have grown to over 2000 worldwide. Since it's
beginning, ParaNet has grown to over 18 online systems located
throughout the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom and
Australia. All ParaNet systems are on Fido and are accessible
by computer and modem. The systems carry a wide variety of
files, over 5 megs, that detail reports, sightings, news
clippings and articles contributed to ParaNet by users and well
known authors and investigators. ParaNet has earned a high
degree of respectability among top research people and published
authors such as Dr. Bruce Maccabee, a Navy Physicist, and Phil
Imbrogno, author of Night Siege. These and many other people
use ParaNet and provide the users with an interface to what is
currently going on in the community. In addition, we are now
interfaced with UFO Magazine in Los Angeles, California. The
publisher and editor, Vicki Cooper maintains an echomail
conference called Ask UFO which allows users to ask Vicki
questions concerning the phenomenon. Recently, ParaNet has
started a SIG on Compuserve in the ISSUES Forum area 7 which is
designed to give them more accessibility to people who want to
know what is going on.
ParaNet has a goal of getting a BBS in every major city around
the country. We are looking for sysops who have an interest in
the subject and the paranormal in general. We provide an
exciting forum and welcome serious inquiries. There is no
obligation to joining ParaNet, nor do you have to devote your
system to it. Michael Corbin, the new Administrator and
Director invite you to explore the world of ParaNet. For an
application, send net mail to Michael Corbin at 1:104/422 and
request that an application and information packet be sent to
you. This is your chance to become part of one of the most
exciting and informative news organizations to ever come to the
world of the electronic bulletin board system.
Below is a list of the ParaNet nodes around the world:
FidoNews 6-19 Page 12 8 May 1989
ParaNet Alpha -- Headquarters Node
Denver, Colorado
Michael Corbin Sysop - Administrator and Director
Don Ecker - Cosysop and Director of Public Relations
Fido Address: 1:104/422
Telephone: (303)431-1343 9600 Baud HST
ParaNet Gamma
Lexington, Kentucky
Doug Rogers - Sysop
Fido Address: 1:108/110
Telephone: (606)271-0558 2400 Baud
ParaNet Delta
Saskatoon, Saskatchewan Canada
John Bowden - Sysop
Fido Address: 1:140/32
Telephone: (306)934-2919 9600 Baud HST
ParaNet Epsilon
Warren, Michigan
Jacques Leclerc - Sysop
Fido Address: 1:120/80
Telephone: (313)751-4057 2400 Baud
ParaNet Zeta
Bethany Park, Indiana
Terry Fields - Sysop
Fido Address: 1:231/40
Telephone: (317)831-1827 2400 Baud
ParaNet Theta
Fareham, United Kingdom
Archie Clark - Sysop - Bureau Chief United Kingdom
Fido Address: 2:251/15
Telephone: 011-44-329-45824 9600 Baud
ParaNet Iota
Gosport, United Kingdom
Simon Rowe - Sysop
Fido Address: 2:251/23
Telephone: 011-44-705-511501 2400 Baud
ParaNet Kappa
Manassas, Virginia
Jim MacDiarmid - Sysop
Fido Address: 1:265/12
Telephone: (703)368-4642 2400 Baud
ParaNet Lambda
Fairport, New York
Brad Langton - Sysop
Not echomail capable
Telephone: (716)377-3985 2400 Baud
ParaNet Mu
FidoNews 6-19 Page 13 8 May 1989
Sandy Hook, Conneticut
Brett Siedman - Sysop
Fido Address: 1:141/790
Telephone: (203)270-1913 2400 Baud
ParaNet Xi
Sapulpa, Oklahoma
Lanny Conn - Sysop
Fido Address: 1:170/701
Telephone: (918)224-1766 9600 Baud
ParaNet Omicron
Bushkill, Pennsylvania
Paul Faeder - Sysop
Fido Address: 1:13/60
Telephone: (717)588-7549 9600 Baud
ParaNet Pi
Austin, Texas
John Cauley - Sysop
Fido Address: 1:382/53
Telephone: (512)331-7447 2400 Baud
ParaNet Tau
Fort Smith, Arkansas
Bryon Smith - Sysop - Public Relations CoDirector
Fido Address: 1:19/19
Telephone: (501)646-5812 2400 Baud
ParaNet Phi
Birmingham, Alabama
Bill Freeman - Sysop
Not echomail capable
Telephone: (205)854-2308 2400 Baud
ParaNet Chi
Nashua, New Hampshire
Ralph Schwarz - Sysop
Fido Address: 1:132/113
Telephone: (603)888-3840 9600 Baud
ParaNet Psi
Flagstaff, Arizona
Linda Murphy - Sysop - Network Coordinator
Fido Address: 1:304/1
Telephone: (602)527-0043 9600 Baud
ParaNet Omega
Kingsbury, Victoria Australia
Bob Fletcher - Sysop - Bureau Chief Australia
Fido Address: 3:633/360
Telephone: 011-61-3-467-7984
You are welcome to call Michael by voice at:
(303)420-6758
FidoNews 6-19 Page 14 8 May 1989
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FidoNews 6-19 Page 15 8 May 1989
=================================================================
COLUMNS
=================================================================
The Veterinarian's Corner
Excerpts from the ANIMED GroupMail Conference
by Don Thomson, 1:102/1005
(From an ongoing conversation in ANIMED):
Well...
I don't have really good news. "xxxx" has cancer of the lymph
nodes, called lymphosarcoma. He has a type called multicentric
lymphosarcoma, which just basically means that all of his lymph
nodes appear to be involved. This is probably the most common
type, and stage that this disease is diagnosed. Sadly, there is
no ultimate cure for this disease. Ultimately this will kill
him. I'm sorry.
On the positive side....
The disease while incurable, can be brought into remission, that
is completely free from apparent disease in about 85-90% of the
cases in which chemotherapy is used. In most cases the pets are
happy and healthy in all respects during treatment - no
vommiting, no hair loss, no diarrhea etc that the words
chemotherapy always tends to bring to mind. Remissions
generally can be maintained for a period of between 3 months and
30 months. In terms of biological equivalents, 3 months of
cancer remission in the dog is comparable to 15 months in man.
An average lifespan of a dog with multicentric lymphosarcoma
UNTREATED is 1-3 months. Treated an average survival is 9-12
months. I have had one patient of mine do well for 1 1/2 years.
On the other hand, I have had a few cases that did not respond to
treatment at all, but like I said, we are able to induce
remission in at least 85% of the patients treated. There are
other less aggressive treatments, mainly classified as
'paliative', which slow the progress of the disease, but rarely,
if ever, induce remission. These have few side effects, but
generally are effective for less than 4-5 months.
There are reported cases of prolonged remission greater than 3
years, which we consider a 'cure', but these cases are rare. The
most successful case I know of was in remission for 3 years.
DB Thomson, DVM
1:102/1005
9:871/16
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FidoNews 6-19 Page 16 8 May 1989
The following is the third in a series of four columns Fred Grosby
(a federal government employee, and a user on "The Falcon's Rock")
has written. He deserves all the credit for writing them. I
suggested that he upload them to my system, because I enjoyed
reading them in our local Mensa newsletter, Capital M. I hope you
enjoy reading them, too. The archive of all four is available for
file request from 1:109/501 as BSOUTH.ZIP.
Notes From Bureaucracy South (Part 3)
By Fred Grosby, a user on 1:109/501
Five years ago, we got our first desktop computers. They were
weird-looking things, with murky screens and clunky disk drives.
They came with graphics printers that could not be driven by any
software known to humankind and the most incompatible modems
available. Definitely not State Of The Art. Still, they were what
we had, so we found lots of useful things to do with them.
Over the years, we have upgraded those old clunkers to make them
work better. We have added hard disk drives and more memory.
We've upgraded the software, too, replacing the semi-obsolete stuff
that came with the hardware with the latest upgrades. We even
found a way to get those incompatible graphics printers to print
graphics. Still, even with all of our upgrades, our systems were
still not State Of The Art. So the Computer HArdware and software
Modernization Project (CHAMP) task force was formed, and studies
were conducted, and bids were let, and $8 million of your tax money
was obligated, and today we are proud users of our new, State Of
The Art CHAMP micros.
I know that this stuff is State Of The Art because starting six
months before the first installment showed up the CHAMP people put
out a barrage of propaganda that told me so. Of course, I also
have the evidence of my own eyes. There it is, printed right on
the back of our new high-end monitors: UL Pending. I've never
seen that before. Every piece of electronic equipment that I have
ever seen has been UL Listed. These are UL Pending. Folks, these
monitors are so State Of The Art that Underwriters Laboratories
hasn't even had time to approve them yet. Still, I kind of worry.
What if that monitor would have failed some critical Underwriters
Laboratories test? What if the thing blows up in my face? I guess
that there are some risks involved in being on the cutting edge of
technology.
The video circuit board is also State Of The Art. That's what the
guy who replaced the one in my computer told me. Damn thing turned
my monitor into a psychedelic display. So I asked him, if these
things are State Of The Art, how come mine only lasted two weeks?
Well, he said, this was a big job, and the contractor had delivered
a lot of equipment, and with that much equipment you have to expect
a failure or two. Maybe he meant that when you use State Of The
Art, UL Pending equipment, you have to expect a failure or two.
Well, with all due respect to this guy, no, I do not expect a
failure or two. The failures are never expected.
The computer that I use has failed three times, and twice it has
FidoNews 6-19 Page 17 8 May 1989
been the fault of the bocaboards. Bocaboards are State Of The Art
circuit boards that control the input and output ports for things
like printers and modems. What makes them State Of The Art is that
you set the configuration of the board with a software program
instead of with little dip switches, so that the configuration of
the board can be changed from within a program. Well, that's OK, I
guess, although why you would want to change ports in the middle of
the stream is beyond me. The problem is, the settings must be
maintained in the bocaboard's internal memory even when the
computer is switched off. That is done with batteries. Batteries
that drain. Batteries that die, with regularity and without
warning. Arrrrrrgh! The repair woman claims that the contacts lie
at such an angle that they actually short out the batteries. The
last time she replaced the batteries on my bocaboards, she bent the
contacts so that would not happen again. Sure.
The bocaboards in my computer have developed a new trick. They
just sort of go on strike. I start the computer. No bocaboards.
No ports. No printer. No modem. No nothing. I run the software
program. The software says that everything is working fine. I run
my application again. No problem. A couple of days later, I go
through it all again. This happened the day after one of the CHAMP
people came through and did a quality check on the computers in our
office. Quality check, indeed!
Not only are our CHAMP micros State Of The Art, they are User
Friendly. This means that the systems came to us all set up and
ready to go, with a swell menu system that fires up your software
at the push of a key. Well, they did forget a couple of little
things. Like setting the communications software to use the
correct serial port. Or setting the new word processor to work
with the new printers. Or giving us the manuals so we could figure
out how to do it ourselves. I guess that when a system is User
Friendly you don't need manuals.
We also got some new word processing software that is both State Of
The Art and User Friendly. It will do all sorts of neat stuff,
most of which we have no use for whatsoever. Unfortunately, it
will not do something that we really need it to do. I guess that
makes it, well, Nearly Perfect. What Nearly Perfect will not do is
Print Pause. To accommodate our archaic filing system, we need to
print file information on the copies of a document, but not on the
original. With our old word processing software, you could put in
a print pause and terminate printing before the original got
adulterated. Nearly Perfect would not do this when we got it.
Panic ensued. After much consultation, the Nearly Perfect people
came up with a solution that involves hitting a function key
combination, going into a menu, saying you want to print, saying
what you want to print, saying how much of it you want to print,
and then telling the thing to start printing, damnit! For every
document, whether you actually use Print Pause or not. User
Friendly.
As if all of this wasn't enough, in a few weeks, or months,
or...well, one of these days they are going to hook all of our
computers together into Local Area Networks, which is supposed to
FidoNews 6-19 Page 18 8 May 1989
be the ultimate in State Of The Art. What they are going to do is
wire our computers up to central file servers. Then they're going
to take all of the software off of our computers and put it on the
file servers, turning our nice, State Of The Art microcomputers
into dumb remote terminals. This doesn't sound like State Of The
Art to me, but the CHAMP people know what they are doing, I guess.
They sent me to a training course on the Local Area Network. They
had sixteen computers hooked up to file server, and we got to try
it out. I learned two things. I learned that when sixteen
terminals all try to access the same software all at once, the
whole system slows right down, to about the speed of one of our old
clunkers. And I learned that when the file server crashes, nobody
can get anything done. And it is "when", not "if." You see, our
building has power problems, and occasionally we get a surge. Now,
all of our micros have surge protectors, so they just shrug it off.
The file servers, however, have State Of The Art uninterruptable
power supplies. That's fine, except that when that power supply
gets hit with a surge, it's response is to drop all of the
terminals off the network and shut the file server down. No
server, no software, no work.
The specter of having all of our software trapped in some dead file
server has led to the formation of a small band known as The
Software Squirrels. We are squirreling away copies of our software
in out-of-the-way places, against the day when the file servers
crap out. Somebody suggested that this might violate some rule or
other, but that is not the issue. Survival is the issue, and we
will do what we must. I do not intend to be held hostage by a file
server, State Of The Art or not.
Back in a little cubbyhole between two cubicles is one of our
original computers. It is one of the rarest of the breed, with
it's color monitor and built-in hard disk. All day, every day, for
five years, that old clunker turned out useful work of every sort.
We don't use it for much any more, but when we need it, it still
gets the job done. It has the best monitor in the place, a simple
print pause, and no batteries anywhere. And it has never broken
down. Not once.
Soon enough, that old clunker will be gone. A CHAMP micro will
take it's place, and some contractor will show up and take it away,
to be sold for scrap. I'll be sorry to see it go. It has been a
good and loyal friend, and although the new computer that replaces
it will be faster, it will not necessarily be better. God knows it
will not be as reliable. But it will be State Of The Art, and
that's what counts here at Bureaucracy South.
-----------------------------------------------------------------
FidoNews 6-19 Page 19 8 May 1989
A Public Service Announcement
Recognizing Our Roots
FidoNet has come an awfully long way in a very short period
of time. Anymore, file requests, ARCmail, Zmodem mail
transfers, crash mail capability, EchoMail, update requests,
zones, points, multiple networks and so on are considered 'de
rigueur.'
It's important to recognize and realize our roots as a
network. When was the last time you ever unpacked a copy of
Fido 11w and took a look? Have you EVER examined a copy of
Fido 11w? Fido 11w, for those that don't know, was the last
version of the Fido BBS (written by the venerable Tom
Jennings) to be released for free non-commercial use. If you
take a look at Fido 11w, then compare its features to that of
your sleek, modern mailer, you'll be truly amazed at what's
happened to the network in just a couple of years.
Fact is, compliance with the Fido Technical Standards
Committee document FSC-0001 is still considered the "bare
minimum" to be admitted to the network. Fido 11w is a perfect
example of a to-the-letter implementation of FSC-0001 - no
more, no less.
My printed copy of FSC-0001 is dated April 25, 1987, and
though there are later revisions, the document hasn't changed
a great deal. The spec does not provide technical information
on file requests, multiple zones, multiple networks, Zmodem
mail transfers, SEAlink mail transfers, ARCmail, crash mail,
update requests, EchoMail or any of the other niceties to
which we've grown accustomed. (Some of them are casually
mentioned in the text, but not expanded upon on a technical
level.)
Although it's healthy and necessary for technology to grow,
and it's nice for us to be here to see it all happen, it's
necessary to recognize what it was that got us here.
It's fun to talk about 3.8 liter V-6 supercharged engines
under the hoods of our new sports cars with their digital
dashes, trip computers, power windows and high-wattage car
stereos. But a complete appreciation for that technology
cannot be had without knowledge of such history makers as the
Ford Model T.
And so it is with FidoNet. We owe a lot to people like Thom
Henderson, Jeff Rush, Wynn Wagner, Vince Perriello, Joaquim
Homrighausen, Bob Hartman, and many, many others too numerous
to mention. But the fact of the matter is, if it weren't for
Tom Jennings toying around with a new idea to economically
keep in touch with friends by computer, we wouldn't all be
here playing around with a nifty piece of technology that's
within reach of so many.
Appreciate your roots. A message brought to you by your local
FidoNews 6-19 Page 20 8 May 1989
FidoNet historian.
-----------------------------------------------------------------
FidoNews 6-19 Page 21 8 May 1989
=================================================================
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
=================================================================
From: Daniel Tobias of 380/7.0
To: Fidonews Editor of 1/1.0
Subj: My Submission in This Issue [Fidonews V. 6, Nr. 18]
Thank you for publishing my submission regarding drug
legalization. Since it has been nearly two months since I sent
it, I had feared it had run afoul of the new, tighter FidoNews
policy, or had been lost in the shuffle at the change of
editors.
However, in the interim since submission, I have changed my
FidoNet address, so those who try to contact me at the address
given in the article won't get through. My new address is
1:380/7. My new system, Dan's Den, is reachable at (318)
424-9260. One of the primary subjects of interest supported by
this system is libertarianism, the philosophy of individual
liberty.
Please inform your readers of my new address so that any
responses to my article can be properly directed.
-----------------------------------------------------------------
FidoNews 6-19 Page 22 8 May 1989
From: ROP GONGGRIJP of 280/1.0
To: SYSOP of 1/1.0
Subj: Galactic Hacker Party Announcement for FIDONEWS
GALACTIC HACKER PARTY
2nd, 3rd, 4th of August 1989
PARADISO, AMSTERDAM, HOLLAND
During the summer of 1989 the world as we know it will go into
overload. An interstellar particle stream of hackers, phone
phreaks, radioactivists and assorted technological subversives
will be fusing their energies into a media melt-down as the
global village plugs into Amsterdam for three electrifying days
of information interchange and electronic capers.
Aided by the advanced communications technology to which they
are accustomed, the hacker forces will discuss strategies, play
games, and generally have a good time. Free access to
permanently open on-line facilities will enable them to keep in
touch with home base -- wherever that is.
Those who rightly fear the threat of information tyranny and
want to learn what they can do about it are urgently invited to
interface in Amsterdam in August. There will be much to learn
from people who know. Celebrity guests with something to say
will be present in body or electronic spirit.
The Force must be nurtured. If you are refused transport
because your laptop looks like a bomb, cut off behind enemy
lines, or unable to attend for any other reason, then join us on
the networks. Other hacker groups are requested to organize
similar gatherings to coincide with ours. We can provide
low-cost international communications links during the
conference.
For further information, take up contact as soon as possible
with:
HACK-TIC PARADISO
P.O. box 22953 Weteringschans 6-8
1100 DL Amsterdam 1017 SG Amsterdam
The Netherlands The Netherlands
tel: +31 20 6001480 tel: +31 20 264521 / +31 20 237348
fax: +31 20 763706 fax: +31 20 222721
uucp : ..!mcvax!neabbs!rop
fido : 2:280/1 Hack Tic
telex: 12969 neabs nl
Please relay this announcement through all channels of
communication that you can access.
SPREAD THE BYTE,SPREAD THE BYTE, SPREAD THE BYTE,SPREAD THE BYTE
FidoNews 6-19 Page 23 8 May 1989
----------------- Amsterdam, spring 1989 -----------------------
-----------------------------------------------------------------
FidoNews 6-19 Page 24 8 May 1989
=================================================================
FOR SALE
=================================================================
ATTENTION SYSOPS - EARN $$$$ for your system.
- FAITES $$$$ pour votre systeme
*N=O=U=V=E=A=U* *N=E=W* *N=O=U=V=E=A=U* *N=E=W*
Premier Automation Inc., master distributors for OSBORNE
Computers in Canada is pleased to announce that it has been
appointed the Master Distributor of
EZ-DOS 4.0+ (tm)
EZ-DOS 4.0+ (tm) is a powerful single-user, single tasking DOS
4.xx compatible operating system for use on computers utilizing
the full family of Intel micro- processors.
Key Features include:
* Single-user, single tasking DOS 4.xx compatible
operating system
* Runs DOS 1.x, 2.x,3.x, 4.x applications
* Supports DOS 3.x file-level and byte-level
record locking
Media Support:
* Full DOS 4.x media and file system support
* Multiple DOS partitions greater than 32 megabytes, up
to 512 Megabytes
* Password protection of files and subdirectories
* ESDI and SCSI ROM definitions supported
Utility Support:
* Complete utility set compatible with DOS 3.x utilities
* Built-in help screens describing options available to
the user.
Implementation:
* DOS-compatible BIOS
* Supports DOS-compatible loadable character and block
device drivers
Internationalization:
* International keyboard support
* 8 bit and 16 bit filename support
* Separate message files for ease of translation
* Support for double-byte character sets (Kanji,etc.)
Target System:
* Systems based on the Intel(r) 8086, 8088, 80286, or
80386 processors
* Recommend 256 Kbytes of RAM
* Supports VGA(tm), EGA, MCGA, CGA, MDA, or Hercules(tm)
graphics
S=P=E=C=I=A=L P=O=U=R L=E Q=U=E=B=E=C
Disponible en Francais avec manuel et aide commandes a l'ecran en
francais.
FidoNews 6-19 Page 25 8 May 1989
EZ-DOS 4.0+ (tm) comes bundled with the following software:
* TopDOS, a powerful file manager with built text editor
* Gem/3 Desktop, Windows type icon-based interface
* True Basic 2.0, High level transportable basic
Suggested list price for the English package is $149.00
and for the French package is $169.00
Sysops: For more details on your cost prices
Contact Rene Champagne at 684-6610 Voice
or send a message to OZZIE's FIDO 167/101
-----------------------------------------------------------------
FidoNews 6-19 Page 26 8 May 1989
New Echo Mail Processor For QuickBBS
The Mojave Group is pleased to announce the release of the Zzyzx
Integrated Mail Processor for QuickBBS (ZMailQ).
ZMail is a replacement for echogen/qecho, mailscan, and
mailtoss. It is fully zone capable and is point aware.
ZMail uses an intelligent disk an memory management algorithm
that allows it to unpack large quantities in minimal disk space
and memory overhead. In testing ZMail has been able to
completely process a 3Mg mail packet in 1.7Mg of disk space,
while forwarding to 3 other systems. If ZMail can not process
an entire packet in one pass it can save it's location and pick
up after the system has had a chance to send some of the
outbound messages.
ZMail generates a log of all activity.
ZMail will create a traffic report detailing what echo areas
have received traffic and what the average daily message traffic
is.
ZMail will not count "Passthrough" areas against the 200 board
limit of QuickBBS.
ZMail will allow the sysop to determine how many duplicate
signatures to keep. Thus reducing the amount of disk space
required for the program.
ZMail imports SEEN-BY and PATH lines.
ZMail uses a Closest-Address Algorithim to determine the systems
address for outbound mail.
ZMail comes on a disk with a printed manual and tech support
available.
Currently ZMailQ is selling for $10/per copy. We will begin
shipping on May 5th. The price for the program will be
increased to $20 on May 19th. To get your copy at the
introductory price please send a check or money order to:
The Mojave Group
7735 Osceola St.
Westminster, CO 80030
Colorado Residents please add $.30 for sales tax. Denver Metro
Area Residents please add $.36 for sales and RTD tax.
Westminster Colorado Residents please add $.68 for sales and RTD
tax.
be sure to include your primary address including zone, net,
node, and point number if any.
To qualify for the introductory price you letter must be
FidoNews 6-19 Page 27 8 May 1989
postmarked no later than May 19, 1989.
Sincerely,
Claude Warren
1:104/62.0
-----------------------------------------------------------------
FidoNews 6-19 Page 28 8 May 1989
=================================================================
LATEST VERSIONS
=================================================================
Latest Software Versions
Bulletin Board Software
Name Version Name Version Name Version
Fido 12k Opus 1.03b TBBS 2.1
QuickBBS 2.03 TPBoard 5.0 TComm/TCommNet 3.4
Lynx 1.30* Phoenix 1.3 RBBS 17.1D
Network Node List Other
Mailers Version Utilities Version Utilities Version
Dutchie 2.90C* EditNL 4.00 ARC 6.01
SEAdog 4.50 MakeNL 2.12 ARCmail 2.0
BinkleyTerm 2.20* Prune 1.40 ConfMail 4.00
D'Bridge 1.18* XlatList 2.90 TPB Editor 1.21
FrontDoor 2.0 XlaxNode 2.32 TCOMMail 2.2*
PRENM 1.40 XlaxDiff 2.32 TMail 8901
ParseList 1.30 UFGATE 1.03
GROUP 2.07*
EMM 1.40
MSGED 1.99
XRS 2.0*
* Recently changed
Utility authors: Please help keep this list up to date by
reporting new versions to 1:1/1. It is not our intent to list
all utilities here, only those which verge on necessity.
-----------------------------------------------------------------
FidoNews 6-19 Page 29 8 May 1989
=================================================================
NOTICES
=================================================================
The Interrupt Stack
15 May 1989
Denmark changes telephone numbers from 7 to 8 digits.
19 May 1989
Start of EuroCon III at Eindhoven, The Netherlands. Contact
Hans Ligthelm of 2:500/3 for details.
5 Jun 1989
David Dodell's 32nd Birthday
2 Aug 1989
Start of Galactic Hacker Party in Amsterdam, Holland. Contact
Rop Gonggrijp at 2:280/1 for details.
24 Aug 1989
Voyager 2 passes Neptune.
24 Aug 1989
FidoCon '89 starts at the Holiday Inn in San Jose,
California. Trade show, seminars, etc. Contact 1/89
for info.
5 Oct 1989
20th Anniversary of "Monty Python's Flying Circus"
11 Nov 1989
A new area code forms in northern Illinois at 12:01 am.
Chicago proper will remain area code 312; suburban areas
formerly served with that code will become area code 708.
If you have something which you would like to see on this
calendar, please send a message to FidoNet node 1:1/1.
-----------------------------------------------------------------
FidoNews 6-19 Page 30 8 May 1989
=================================================================
REPORTS
=================================================================
IFNA Nominations and Elections Committee
c/o 1:107/210
Director Nominations Reminder
Remember that written nominations (as required by the Bylaws) for
the position of Director of IFNA are due in to the IFNA Secretary
by May 24. Complete details on the process are available in
FIDONEWS #615.
If you are interested in running for a Director position, please
notify the Nominations and Elections Committee immediately at
1:107/210!
-----------------------------------------------------------------
FidoNews 6-19 Page 31 8 May 1989
OFFICERS OF THE INTERNATIONAL FIDONET ASSOCIATION
Mort Sternheim 1:321/109 Chairman of the Board
Bob Rudolph 1:261/628 President
Matt Whelan 3:3/1 Vice President
Bill Bolton 3:711/403 Vice President-Technical Coordinator
Linda Grennan 1:147/1 Secretary
Kris Veitch 1:147/30 Treasurer
IFNA COMMITTEE AND BOARD CHAIRS
Administration and Finance Mark Grennan 1:147/1
Board of Directors Mort Sternheim 1:321/109
Bylaws Don Daniels 1:107/210
Ethics Vic Hill 1:147/4
Executive Committee Bob Rudolph 1:261/628
International Affairs Rob Gonsalves 2:500/1
Membership Services David Drexler 1:147/1
Nominations & Elections David Melnick 1:107/233
Public Affairs David Drexler 1:147/1
Publications Rick Siegel 1:107/27
Security & Individual Rights Jim Cannell 1:143/21
Technical Standards Rick Moore 1:115/333
IFNA BOARD OF DIRECTORS
DIVISION AT-LARGE
10 Courtney Harris 1:102/732 Don Daniels 1:107/210
11 Bill Allbritten 1:11/301 Mort Sternheim 1:321/109
12 Bill Bolton 3:711/403 Mark Grennan 1:147/1
13 Irene Henderson 1:107/9 (vacant)
14 Ken Kaplan 1:100/22 Ted Polczyinski 1:154/5
15 Scott Miller 1:128/12 Matt Whelan 3:3/1
16 Ivan Schaffel 1:141/390 Robert Rudolph 1:261/628
17 Neal Curtin 1:343/1 Steve Jordan 1:206/2871
18 Andrew Adler 1:135/47 Kris Veitch 1:147/30
19 David Drexler 1:147/1 (vacant)
2 Henk Wevers 2:500/1 David Melnik 1:107/233
-----------------------------------------------------------------
FidoNews 6-19 Page 32 8 May 1989
__
The World's First / \
BBS Network /|oo \
* FidoNet * (_| /_)
_`@/_ \ _
| | \ \\
| (*) | \ ))
______ |__U__| / \//
/ Fido \ _//|| _\ /
(________) (_/(_|(____/ (tm)
Membership for the International FidoNet Association
Membership in IFNA is open to any individual or organization that
pays a specified annual membership fee. IFNA serves the
international FidoNet-compatible electronic mail community to
increase worldwide communications.
Member Name _______________________________ Date _______________
Address _________________________________________________________
City ____________________________________________________________
State ________________________________ Zip _____________________
Country _________________________________________________________
Home Phone (Voice) ______________________________________________
Work Phone (Voice) ______________________________________________
Zone:Net/Node Number ____________________________________________
BBS Name ________________________________________________________
BBS Phone Number ________________________________________________
Baud Rates Supported ____________________________________________
Board Restrictions ______________________________________________
Your Special Interests __________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
In what areas would you be willing to help in FidoNet? __________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
Send this membership form and a check or money order for $25 in
US Funds to:
International FidoNet Association
PO Box 41143
St Louis, Missouri 63141
USA
Thank you for your membership! Your participation will help to
insure the future of FidoNet.
Please NOTE that IFNA is a general not-for-profit organization
and Articles of Association and By-Laws were adopted by the
membership in January 1987. The second elected Board of Directors
was filled in August 1988. The IFNA Echomail Conference has been
established on FidoNet to assist the Board. We welcome your
input to this Conference.
-----------------------------------------------------------------
--
...sun!hoptoad!\ Tim Pozar
>fidogate!pozar Fido: 1:125/406
...lll-winken!/ PaBell: (415) 788-3904
USNail: KKSF / 77 Maiden Lane / San Francisco CA 94108