763 lines
36 KiB
Plaintext
763 lines
36 KiB
Plaintext
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Volume 4, Number 7 16 February 1987
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| / \ |
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| /|oo \ |
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| - FidoNews - (_| /_) |
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| _`@/_ \ _ |
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| International | | \ \\ |
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| FidoNet Association | (*) | \ )) |
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| Newsletter ______ |__U__| / \// |
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| / FIDO \ _//|| _\ / |
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| (________) (_/(_|(____/ |
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| (jm) |
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+---------------------------------------------------------------+
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Editor in Chief: Thom Henderson
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Chief Procrastinator Emeritus: Tom Jennings
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FidoNews is the official newsletter of the International FidoNet
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Association, and is published weekly by SEAdog Leader, node 1/1.
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You are encouraged to submit articles for publication in
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FidoNews. Article submission standards are contained in the file
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ARTSPEC.DOC, available from node 1/1.
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Copyright (C) 1987, by the International FidoNet Association.
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All rights reserved. Duplication and/or distribution permitted
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for noncommercial purposes only. For use in other circumstances,
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please contact IFNA.
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Table of Contents
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1. EDITORIAL
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FidoNews versus EchoMail
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2. ARTICLES
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EchoMail Censorship
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IFNA Board of Director Elections
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Fido on the air
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My Reply to Mark Welch, Re: Shareware Expenses
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3. FOR SALE
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Magazine on Disk for IBM PC and Compatibles
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4. NOTICES
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The Interrupt Stack
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Fidonews Page 2 16 Feb 1987
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=================================================================
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EDITORIAL
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=================================================================
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FidoNews versus EchoMail
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An excerpt from a recently overheard conversation:
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"I have an idea for a FidoNews article."
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"Don't send it to FidoNews, put it in EchoMail! Everyone
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will get it faster that way."
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This brings up an interesting question. Is this true? Well,
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partly.
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It's true that EchoMail is usually faster. Not always by any
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means, but usually. But does everyone read EchoMail? Is there
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any one given EchoMail conference that is more widely read than
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FidoNews? I think not.
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One of the EchoMail backbone hubs recently told me the results of
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some studies he's done. He analyzed the "seen-by" lists of all
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of the message traffic on the "big four" conferences (SYSOP,
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IFNA, TECH, and ECPROG), plus several other popular conferences
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he carries, and he's found that only about a hundred nodes show
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up in all conferences combined. Even if twice as many nodes see
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those conferences than ever show up at his node, that's still
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much less than a quarter of all sysops.
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I might be biased, but I think that FidoNews is still an
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important channel of communication between sysops, and I think
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those numbers back me up. On a more subjective level, I feel
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that FidoNews articles tend to be more considered, more thought
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out, while EchoMail tends more to reflexive, off-the-cuff
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reactions. This in turn makes FidoNews more valuable for
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reference and for historical reasons. Not too many people keep
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histories of EchoMail conferences, but quite a few people keep
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full back-issue sets of FidoNews.
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So why am I banging your ear(eye) about this? It's become a
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matter of some concern to me lately. As you may have noticed,
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the last couple of issues of FidoNews have been a bit shorter
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than usual. This is because submissions have been dropping off.
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It's been going on longer than you may have realized. I've had a
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supply of "filler" on hand to take care of the occasional slow
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issue, but recently I've had to dip into it more and more, and
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recently I ran out. I can probably dig up some more, but what
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I'd really rather have is something from YOU!
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-----------------------------------------------------------------
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Fidonews Page 3 16 Feb 1987
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=================================================================
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ARTICLES
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=================================================================
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Karl Andrews, 138/241
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An Essay Supporting Censorship of EchoMail Conferences.
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NetMail has some similarities with the service provided by the
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Post Office, and like that Mail, should NOT be subject to
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censorship, short of the standard requirement that it not be
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illegal. EchoMail, on the other hand, can be thought of as a
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group of magazines that we subscribe to, because we are
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interested in the known subject matter and/or editorial policy.
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Just as you, as a subscriber to Byte, would be upset to find the
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current issue full of articles about the mating habits of the
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Bolivian Field Cricket, so too are the readers of a given
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conference perturbed to find it full of irrelevant material.
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Magazines can avoid the inclusion of inappropriate articles and
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the printing of offensive correspondence by the exercise of
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editorial control at the point of origin. Because of the
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distributed origin of EchoMail, no single person can control the
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content of any given conference; therefore the only way to insure
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that a given conference sticks to its stated subject matter is
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for each of us to control its input.
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If an author who submitted an article on microprocessor
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architecture to Better Homes and Gardens were to complain about
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its rejection, who of us would be upset? Wouldn't we say that
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the author should have known better and should have addressed the
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article to the appropriate audience? Would we condemn the
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magazine for refusing to accept the article, or in the unlikely
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event of the article being published, be surprised when the
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subscribers complained? A large proportion of us are subscribers
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to various EchoMail conferences, in that it costs us real money
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for the service. Should we have any less rights than the
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subscribers to a printed magazine?
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Unfortunately, we have no single editor or publisher to complain
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to. We as sysops are simultaneously subscribers, publishers and
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editors, and in effect we comprise a distributed editorial board.
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We subscribe to a given conference because we are interested in
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the subject matter, and have a right to expect that the
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preponderance of material in that conference pertain to the
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stated subject. The only way this state of affairs may be
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attained is for each of us to control the input to the various
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areas, and not allow the introduction of extraneous material.
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The position of Moderator is titular; there is no effective way
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for that person to exercise any sort of control over the rest of
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the participants in a conference. Some people (I can predict who
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many of them will be) will flame about this being unethical,
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immoral, and illegal, but we are not talking about censoring
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NetMail, only EchoMail.
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Fidonews Page 4 16 Feb 1987
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We have the right and obligation to restrict the introduction of
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non-pertinent material (even a rose in the midst of a bed of
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marigolds is a weed) into our Echo conferences to prevent their
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degeneration into general chatter areas. If we don't exercise
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this right, eventually the sysops who pay for the distribution
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will drop out of the conference, and then nobody will get it,
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including those who would complain about the censorship, as well
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as those who corrupt the conferences with irrelevancies and
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inanities.
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I can justify the expense of using my work machine, my company
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phone, and my time to keep this board running only if the results
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remain beneficial. As long as I can reasonably say this exercise
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in frustration contributes to my professional expertise, I have
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the support of my manager, but when the conferences become little
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more than chit-chat, I won't be here anymore, and my nine
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downstream nodes will be the losers.
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May I remind those of you on List 23 (knee-jerk flamers) that
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IFNA does NOT have anything to do with EchoMail, so don't even
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bother beating that horse. We are not talking about NetMail,
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only EchoMail.
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-----------------------------------------------------------------
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Fidonews Page 5 16 Feb 1987
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Bob Morris
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Opus 141/300
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IFNA Board of Directors Elections
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Having been appointed, based on my response to the question about
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working for IFNA, by Ken Kaplan to headup the Nominations and
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Elections Committee. I have been joined by Phil Ardussi and we
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are in the process of composing the letters which will be going
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out to all IFNA Members requesting self-nomination to the
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position of Director within IFNA.
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As established within the By-Laws which outlines the procedure
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Directors will be asked to send in their Declaration of Intention
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to run, along with the support of ten (10) IFNA Sysops to the
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address which will be attached to the Ballot. Furthur details
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will be forthcomming.
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This procedure will be a lengthy process and with that in mind, I
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have recommended to the existing Board of Directors (Ken Kaplan,
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Ben Baker and Thom Henderson) that they appoint a person from
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each voting Division, to act as a Director until the ballots are
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printed in FidoNews during the week of April 13th. This
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recommendation was made based upon the fact that we would need to
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hold two elections this year, the first for a period of six (6)
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months and the second for the normal full-term assignments.
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Rather than attempting to do this thing twice and tick everyone
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off, I have gained the approval of the BoD for the recommendation
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to take effect immediately.
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Now before everyone starts sending FLAME Mail to 141/300, let me
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tell you that this procedure effects approximately 200 people
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throught the known FIDO/OPUS/SEADog Community and does not effect
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any other Sysop in any manner.
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I will be asking the backbone Echomail Hubs to initiate an area
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called "NOM", which will be utilized by those affected to send in
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their nominations to Phil Ardussi and myself. This will be a
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sysop only area, therefore, the existing BoD will see these
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ballots and the supporting documentation, and those who would
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also like to see these things will be able to do so as well.
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If anyone has comments concerning this matter, they may contact
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me via FidoMail at 141/300 or 141/333.
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Bob Morris, Chairman
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Nominations and Elections Committee
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-----------------------------------------------------------------
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Fidonews Page 6 16 Feb 1987
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Andy Bakkers, 500/100
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FIDO ON THE AIR
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During the Hobby Computer Fair last november in Utrecht The
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Netherlands, Fido was connected to a radio amateur
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receiver/transmitter via a packet radio modem called TNC-1. In
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the Fido code all AT type instructions were deleted and replaced
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with TNC-1 equivalents. A swith in Fido to allow the use of a
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packet radio modem TNC-1 would be better. The following PR TNC-1
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settings were required:
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ABAUD 300 This is because the Fido handshake with the PR
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modem did not work. Packet Radio transmissions
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were at 1200 Baud so the 300 Baud between the
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Fido computer and the TNC-1 did eleminate the
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need for handshaking.
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Recommendations: Implement the handshake in
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Fido!
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CANLINE $00
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CANPAC $00
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CPACKTIME ON
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CR OFF
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DELETE OFF
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ECHO OFF
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FLOW OFF
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MALL OFF
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MONITOR OFF
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MTO NONE
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MYVADR $00
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PACTIME AFTER 3
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PASS $00
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REDISPLAY $00
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RETRY 3 :TO PRVENT NEEDLESS RETRIES
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SENPAC $0A
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XFLOW OFF
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All other parameters default value.
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The only other problem encountered was the inability of Fido to
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turn the Fido echo OFF. This would avoid redundant echoing via
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the air, because the echoing was already done between the PR
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modems en the computers.
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In order to have more efficient transmission of the menus, I
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suggest the possibility to limit the Menus to 128 characters (one
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maximum packet length) end use a special end of menu character so
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that this character may be used as a SENPAC character in the TNC-
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1 allowing efficient menu transmission within one packet.
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The result was a very workable setup. With the above mentioned
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changes the Fido will be a perfect match to amateur radio.
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Fidonews Page 7 16 Feb 1987
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(The flow control mentioned by Andy is essentially the CTS
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handshake. As I understand it OPUS and Fido generic use special
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serial drivers. The OPUS!Comm driver from Bob Hartman is capable
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of CTR handshake if initialized this way. A switch in OPUS's
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control file ? HEY WYNN are you listening ? -henk wevers)
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-----------------------------------------------------------------
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Fidonews Page 8 16 Feb 1987
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Jeff Sheese
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Sysop, THUD BBS (Opus), 110/10
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Data: 513-890-0422
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Usenet: ihnp4!itivax!m-net!jeffery
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M-Net: 313-994-6333
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My Reply to Mark Welch, Re: Shareware Expenses
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This editorial is in response to the article written by Mark
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Welch published in the Fido Newsletter Volume 4, Number 2, dated
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12 January 1987.
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Now personally I agree with the sharware concept, provided that
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it does in fact work. But let me start out explaining my
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position in this matter before making any comments directly
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concerning the reference made on the previous articles published
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concerning shareware.
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I've been involved in telecommunications both as a hobby and as a
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vocation since 1981. In my experience I've seen a lot of both
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good and bad bulletin boards. I've also seen my share of both
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good and bad public domain software distributed on these boards.
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Telecommunications originally peaked my interest due to the user
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interaction achieved as well as the distribution and sharing of
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public domain software. But as a whole I probably saw 10 bad
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programs for every one good program. This in no way reflected
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the expertise of the author, because good programs result in hard
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work and dedication to the final purpose, not to mention a lot of
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time.
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But as the industry progressed so did the users. As more
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advances were made in the computer industry the caliber and
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expertise of the average user increased as well. Better programs
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were resulting from not only upgrades of older versions of
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software, but also the combination of new ideas from other
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available software that were shared. Users of bulletin boards
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were able to share ideas and techniques, as well as offer a
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helping hand to the newer members of this fascinating hobby.
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Never to my knowledge did anyone ask for anything in return for a
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few good words or helpful tips to put someone else on the right
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track to using their computer more productively.
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Then came the concept of shareware and freeware. The authors
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asked that if their software were used on a consistant basis that
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it be registered by sending the author a certain amount of money
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to help cover development costs. This is a fine method for
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distributing good software, since many programs using this
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concept are much better and more professional than most
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proprietary software sold over the counter. Also donations such
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as this help to 'push' the authors into upgrading and expanding
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current software. So it seems only fair that the author of a
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well written program should expect remuneration for his/her time
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and expense.
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But due to human nature, there will always be a few people that
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Fidonews Page 9 16 Feb 1987
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download shareware and use it consistantly without registration.
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I can't name names since my mother always told me that whenever
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you point your finger at someone else you always have the other
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three pointing right back at you. This leads me to believe that
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shareware authors are not rightfully compensated for their
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trouble. I know if I released software using the shareware
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concept that I would probably not receive enough contributions to
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reimburse me for my expenses. I'd be lucky to come close to
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breaking even. Therefore, once the authors of shareware products
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allow the users to help them debug their products, they should
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consider taking them out of shareware distribution and placing
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the polished versions on the open market. But all of this is one
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sided and purely my own speculation.
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But now, to make my point. As I read Mr. Welch's financial
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report concerning his gains and losses on the development and
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distribution of GAGS (Generic Adventure Game System) I was first
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led to believe that he had incurred great loss. But thanks to
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the figures that he provided in his article it comes to my
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attention that he really made MORE money from his software than
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he actually reported. Again these are strictly my own opinions,
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and I'd like to share them with everyone that read his article in
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Fido Newsletter #402. Following are the figures that he provided
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breaking down all expenses, gains, and losses in the development
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and distribution of GAGS:
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Table 1: GAGS Expenses to Date: December 31, 1986
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--------
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Books $69.12 (reference works, etc.)
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|||
|
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
|
|||
|
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)
|
|||
|
---------- ----------
|
|||
|
Fidonews Page 10 16 Feb 1987
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
Net GAGS Profit (Loss): (2,833.69) $530.42
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
Let me stress again that these are only my opinions. First of
|
|||
|
all I'd like to examine table 1 a bit closer. Here are my
|
|||
|
opinions line by line.
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
* Books $69.12 (reference works, etc.) *
|
|||
|
Provided that Mr. Welch purchased these references ONLY for the
|
|||
|
expressed purpose of developing the one software package, then
|
|||
|
these expenses are viable. However, I'd like to see a more
|
|||
|
complete list of these references. My question is, were these
|
|||
|
references placed back on the shelf until the next release of
|
|||
|
GAGS, or were they ALSO used for other purposes not related to
|
|||
|
GAGS. In my opinion this is not a viable expense for GAGS based
|
|||
|
on the fact that these references were purchased for the purpose
|
|||
|
of self education. Therefore the author received benifit from
|
|||
|
these references not only in the development of GAGS, but also in
|
|||
|
the development and use of other software and hardware not
|
|||
|
associated with GAGS. Now providing that these references were
|
|||
|
originally purchased for the development of GAGS, I'll give him
|
|||
|
half of this figure on my own expense sheet to reflect:
|
|||
|
** Books $34.56 (reference works, etc.)
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
* Cost of goods sold 470.30 (disks, etc.)
|
|||
|
Please explain 'etc.'? A wild guess will tell me that
|
|||
|
documentation, source code, work disks for compilers and toolkits
|
|||
|
number really no more than 30. That would be enough diskettes to
|
|||
|
back up a 20 meg hard disk about 3/4 full. Considering that 90
|
|||
|
disks were sold (as in Table 2) this would number to 120. Twelve
|
|||
|
boxes of the best floppies at about $18 apiece would be about
|
|||
|
$216. Providing for extra mailers, lables, and 'etc.' and I
|
|||
|
would guess:
|
|||
|
** Cost of goods sold 300.00 (disks, etc.)
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
* Computer equip. 2,397.40 (computer, printers, etc.)
|
|||
|
How did this one slip by? Does he use this for personal work
|
|||
|
such as word processing, database, spreadsheets? Is this machine
|
|||
|
set aside for the expressed purpose of GAGS development or is it
|
|||
|
used only for occasional debugging and updates of GAGS? I would
|
|||
|
guess that this system is used for GAGS on an occasional basis,
|
|||
|
and does not qualify as an expense for GAGS. Now considering the
|
|||
|
wear and tear in the development process, as well as the amount
|
|||
|
of utilities expended (not to mention coffee) I would agree to:
|
|||
|
** Computer equip. 400.00 (computer, printers, etc.)
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
* Development sw 284.29 (compilers, toolkits, etc.)
|
|||
|
Again, this rates with the reference works. Based on the above
|
|||
|
paragraph regarding my opinion on reference works, I'll give him
|
|||
|
half.
|
|||
|
** Development sw 142.15 (compilers, toolkits, etc.)
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
* Misc. 204.51 (magazines, memberships)
|
|||
|
Rates with reference works as above. So to be fair, I'll give
|
|||
|
him half. This also assumes that he uses this as an income tax
|
|||
|
deduction.
|
|||
|
** Misc. 102.26 (magazines, memberships)
|
|||
|
Fidonews Page 11 16 Feb 1987
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
* Phone 834.03 (includes BBS)
|
|||
|
Does his BBS only stock GAGS and no other files available for
|
|||
|
download? Does his message base talk about nothing but GAGS?
|
|||
|
Assuming he had lot of Fidomail both sent and received concerning
|
|||
|
GAGS, I can only agree to:
|
|||
|
** Phone 200.00 (includes BBS)
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
* Postage 296.98 (includes ALL postage!)
|
|||
|
I agree, because this would not only show the expense incurred in
|
|||
|
sending the actual disks, but also the time and trouble of making
|
|||
|
sure that timely updates and announcements would arrive at the
|
|||
|
distribution sources. Also including technical support and bug
|
|||
|
reports, I think he might have short changed himself in this one.
|
|||
|
In all fairness I give him:
|
|||
|
** Postage 400.00 (includes ALL postage AND time!)
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
* Software 440.20 (VP-Planner, PC-Write, etc.)
|
|||
|
Reference works again, unless these packages are used exclusively
|
|||
|
for the updating and reporting of GAGS and associated expenses.
|
|||
|
I'll give him half.
|
|||
|
** Software 220.10 (VP-Planner, PC-Write, etc.)
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
* Supplies 396.70 (paper, ribbons, envelopes)
|
|||
|
This I will agree with since he has kept accurate records
|
|||
|
reflecting other expenses. Is this the 'etc.'?
|
|||
|
** Supplies 396.70 (paper, ribbons, envelopes)
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
Therefore I figure total expenses to be:
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
** Books $34.56 (reference works, etc.)
|
|||
|
** Cost of goods sold 300.00 (disks, etc.)
|
|||
|
** Computer equip. 400.00 (computer, printers, etc.)
|
|||
|
** Development sw 142.15 (compilers, toolkits, etc.)
|
|||
|
** Misc. 102.26 (magazines, memberships)
|
|||
|
** Phone 200.00 (includes BBS)
|
|||
|
** Postage 400.00 (includes ALL postage AND time!)
|
|||
|
** Software 220.10 (VP-Planner, PC-Write, etc.)
|
|||
|
** Supplies 396.70 (paper, ribbons, envelopes)
|
|||
|
---------
|
|||
|
Total: $2195.77
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
So, for Table 3, I compute:
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
** GAGS Sales (Table 2 above) $2942.07
|
|||
|
** GAGS Expenses (My figures) $2195.77
|
|||
|
-------------------------------------------
|
|||
|
Total Profit (Loss) $746.30
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
I'm not questioning Mr. Welch's figures, but how he arrives at
|
|||
|
these figures. I'm not a tax lawyer and do not profess to be.
|
|||
|
But it seems to me that after all these expenses he should
|
|||
|
consider himself lucky to break even. My question is, did he
|
|||
|
learn how to use a computer for personal benefit of the hobby, or
|
|||
|
to make money?
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
I can only answer that question for myself. I never really
|
|||
|
Fidonews Page 12 16 Feb 1987
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
planned on making money on distributing shareware software when I
|
|||
|
purchased my computer. I've taught electronics as well as
|
|||
|
computer programming, interfacing, and design for 6 years. I
|
|||
|
consider myself very lucky to enjoy computers, electronics, and
|
|||
|
communications as both a hobby and a vocation. What has happened
|
|||
|
to the hobbiests of today? Do they expect to distribute a few
|
|||
|
programs and get rich?
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
In 1981, I wrote a program called EM.COM for CP/M version 1.4 in
|
|||
|
8080 assembly language. It is an 8080 mnemonic emulator. The
|
|||
|
purpose of this program was to allow a person to enter a machine
|
|||
|
language instruction directly into the computer and watch how it
|
|||
|
affects both the registers and the flags. Sort of an extension
|
|||
|
of DDT. With it, you had a machine language 'immediate' mode
|
|||
|
similar to BASIC. After you enter the command as a mnemonic, you
|
|||
|
see immediately how the registers and flags are affected. I
|
|||
|
wrote the program originally to learn both the CP/M operating
|
|||
|
system and 8080 assembly language. It took me about 4 months to
|
|||
|
complete, and was still ridden with bugs. After it was working
|
|||
|
to the point that it was useable, I uploaded it to to remote CP/M
|
|||
|
board here in Dayton. That was in 1981. I forgot about it after
|
|||
|
that. When I moved to Detroit in the summer of 1984, I was
|
|||
|
suprised beyond belief to see the SAME program on Royal Oak
|
|||
|
RCP/M. I downloaded it, worked out a few bugs, and uploaded it
|
|||
|
again under the name of EM200.LBR. After making even more
|
|||
|
extensive bug fixes and upgrades, I uploaded EM220.LBR to the
|
|||
|
same board in 1985. Just this past summer (1986) I saw it on an
|
|||
|
RCP/M board in California. The latest version, EM300.ARC, is
|
|||
|
available on my board. I upgraded and fixed it on an IBM XT
|
|||
|
clone using a V20 processor and V20-80.ARC, and now has even more
|
|||
|
extensive documentation, source code, and RESOURCE data files.
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
I'm not comparing EM300 with GAGS. My point is this: I have
|
|||
|
gotten more enjoyment and experience in writing and repairing the
|
|||
|
program and documentation than any amount of money could have
|
|||
|
given me. I feel very honored to recieve both complaints and
|
|||
|
laudations concerning this program. It gives me a warm feeling
|
|||
|
inside whenever I can do anything to help another learn about
|
|||
|
computers. As a part of my own copyright notice, I even allow
|
|||
|
both public and private institutions to use EM300 provided they
|
|||
|
make a copy of the original documentation available to their
|
|||
|
students.
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
Am I a dying breed? Am I a dinosaur that is quickly becoming
|
|||
|
extinct? Time will tell...
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
-----------------------------------------------------------------
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
Fidonews Page 13 16 Feb 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 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 5, which should be on the stands by the time
|
|||
|
you read this, contains 2 disks full of features, including:
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
- Disk Indexer: Index your hard disk or floppy disk collection.
|
|||
|
This handy program can alphabetize thousands of files.
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
- SuperDots: A challenging version of a traditional strategy
|
|||
|
game.
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
- Periodic Table: A tutorial for beginning chemistry students.
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
- * BLUE PLATE SPECIAL * Power Reading: An interactive demo
|
|||
|
showing how you can increase your reading speed.
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
- The CP Command: An enhanced file copy command.
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
- Monsters and Microchips: An in-depth interview with Richard
|
|||
|
Garriott, the author of Ultima.
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
In addition, there are other programs, articles, and regular
|
|||
|
features, including feedback from our readers.
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
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, DEPT F2, 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 6 contains our
|
|||
|
April Spool Foof... er, I mean April Fool Spoof, taking a peek
|
|||
|
(and a poke) at PC-STRIFE, the ONLY magazine on disk. Subscribe
|
|||
|
now and don't miss anything!
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
BIG BLUE DISK requires an IBM PC or compatible, with at least
|
|||
|
256K and MS-DOS 2.0 or later. Color graphics is recommended.
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
Send questions/comments to Daniel Tobias on FIDO 380/2.
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
-----------------------------------------------------------------
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
Fidonews Page 14 16 Feb 1987
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
=================================================================
|
|||
|
NOTICES
|
|||
|
=================================================================
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
The Interrupt Stack
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
21 Feb 1987
|
|||
|
The Next Occasional MetroNet Sysop Meeting, to be held at the
|
|||
|
SEA office in Clifton NJ. Spouses and POSSLQs welcome.
|
|||
|
Contact Irene Henderson at 107/9 for details and directions.
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
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.
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
-----------------------------------------------------------------
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
Metatek Fido (107/316) is the home of the Echomail Scribe.
|
|||
|
I created the original Echomail Conference List, and I
|
|||
|
published it around Jan 15th (1987). I planned on doing
|
|||
|
monthly updates but the second issue will be delayed.
|
|||
|
The list is available on my system 1-201-286-2567. I'm
|
|||
|
running SEAdog so you can file request it, otherwise
|
|||
|
first time callers can download it. If you have any
|
|||
|
updates or corrections please let me know. Thank you
|
|||
|
very much, your Humble Echomail Scribe, Thomas Kenny.
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
-----------------------------------------------------------------
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
Fidonews Page 15 16 Feb 1987
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
__
|
|||
|
The World's First / \
|
|||
|
BBS Network /|oo \
|
|||
|
* FidoNet * (_| /_)
|
|||
|
_`@/_ \ _
|
|||
|
| | \ \\
|
|||
|
| (*) | \ ))
|
|||
|
______ |__U__| / \//
|
|||
|
/ Fido \ _//|| _\ /
|
|||
|
(________) (_/(_|(____/ (jm)
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
Membership for the International FidoNet Association
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
Membership in IFNA is open to any individual or organization that
|
|||
|
pays an annual specified membership fee. IFNA serves the
|
|||
|
international FidoNet-compatible electronic mail community to
|
|||
|
increase worldwide communications. **
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
Name _________________________________ Date ________
|
|||
|
Address ______________________________
|
|||
|
City & State _________________________
|
|||
|
Country_______________________________
|
|||
|
Phone (Voice) ________________________
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
Net/Node Number ______________________
|
|||
|
Board Name____________________________
|
|||
|
Phone (Data) _________________________
|
|||
|
Baud Rate Supported___________________
|
|||
|
Board Restrictions____________________
|
|||
|
Special Interests_____________________
|
|||
|
______________________________________
|
|||
|
______________________________________
|
|||
|
Is there some area where you would be
|
|||
|
willing to help out in FidoNet?_______
|
|||
|
______________________________________
|
|||
|
______________________________________
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
Send your membership form and a check or money order for $25 to:
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
International FidoNet Association
|
|||
|
P. O. 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
|
|||
|
in formation and Articles of Association and By-Laws were adopted
|
|||
|
by the membership in January 1987. An Elections Committee has
|
|||
|
been established to fill positions outlined in the By-Laws for
|
|||
|
the Board of Directors. An IFNA Echomail Conference has been
|
|||
|
established on FidoNet to assist the Elections Committee. We
|
|||
|
welcome your input on this Conference.
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
-----------------------------------------------------------------
|
|||
|
|