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Volume 5, Number 15 11 April 1988
+---------------------------------------------------------------+
| _ |
| / \ |
| /|oo \ |
| - FidoNews - (_| /_) |
| _`@/_ \ _ |
| International | | \ \\ |
| FidoNet Association | (*) | \ )) |
| Newsletter ______ |__U__| / \// |
| / FIDO \ _//|| _\ / |
| (________) (_/(_|(____/ |
| (jm) |
+---------------------------------------------------------------+
Editor in Chief Dale Lovell
Editor Emeritus: 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.
Copyright 1988 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.
The contents of the articles contained here are not our
responsibility, nor do we necessarily agree with them.
Everything here is subject to debate. We publish EVERYTHING
received.
Table of Contents
1. EDITORIAL ................................................ 1
2. ARTICLES ................................................. 5
Did You See THAT? ........................................ 5
WARNING TO LAP-TOP OWNERS ................................ 11
3. COLUMNS .................................................. 12
Let's YACK about Starting a FidoNode ..................... 12
4. NOTICES .................................................. 14
The Interrupt Stack ...................................... 14
Region Coordinator Position Open For Region 10 ........... 15
Latest Software Versions ................................. 15
5. COMMITTEE REPORTS ........................................ 16
IFNA Request for BoD Candidates .......................... 16
IFNA Organizes a "Job Bag" ............................... 17
FidoNews 5-15 Page 1 11 Apr 1988
=================================================================
EDITORIAL
=================================================================
Well, things look a little better this week. I'm over the
depression that lead to last week's editorial. However, I am
somewhat disappointed in the number of submissions still arriving
not matching ARTSPEC.DOC. If you need a copy of this, it is
available for SEAdog style file requests from 1/1 and it is also
available to first time callers for downloading. It is not my
responsibility to get the specifications to you, it is your
responsibility to get the document yourself. I am going to make
it easy to match the specs.
First off the specs are easy to match. There aren't that
many rules. The first rule is no characters below space or above
tilde ("~"). This includes the tab character and characters with
high bit flags (which I associate with Wordstar in the document
mode). The second major rule is your line length can not go
beyond 65 columns. Your text should have a flush left. MakeNews
(the program that puts FidoNews together) will indent the text
for you. If you have a chart or graphic picture, by all means
indent it. MakeNews just inserts a few spaces before every line.
The reason you shouldn't put in the spaces as a general rule is
because different people would indent a different number of
spaces and that would result in a poor looking FidoNews. If you
want an entry in the table of contents, your first line should
start with an asterisk. This tells MakeNews to use this line as a
table of contents entry. This line will not appear in your
article. If you want a title in the article as well, you will
have to have another line that tells the readers what this
article is about. It is also suggested that you include your name
and a network address either at the beginning or end of your
article. That's all you really need to worry about inside your
article.
The filename you submit your article under is also
important. MakeNews uses the file extension to determine the type
of submission. "ART" extensions are articles, "COL" extensions
are columns, "NOT" means a notice and "SAL" is a for sale ad. If
you have a series of articles or columns you want to run in a
certain order, you can easily number your articles so that they
run during consecutive weeks. If you named your articles
SAMPLE1.ART, SAMPLE2.ART and SAMPLE3.ART; SAMPLE1.ART would run
the first week, SAMPLE2.ART the second and SAMPLE3.ART the third
week. This allows you to send in a collection of related articles
(or columns) and not have to worry about sending a different
article each week. Instead you can send the whole batch at once
and not have to worry about the order.
The grand finale to all of this is a short submission tester
I almost wrote. I have been thinking about doing something like
this since Bob Arnold (editor of the Opus Gazette) suggested a
program to do this some time ago. Due to the number of
submissions not matching specs, I decided to write such a program
last week. While it doesn't test for everything I'd like it to at
FidoNews 5-15 Page 2 11 Apr 1988
this point. It does make for a start. Since I had the full source
code to MakeNews, and could easily find the section that tests
article submissions I decided to try it the easy way. I called up
Thom Henderson at System Enhancement Associates (who wrote
MakeNews) and asked him if it would be alright if I "borrowed" a
piece of his program and explained the reasons why. He was kind
enough to let me do this, so I really didn't write that much of
this program. Following this editorial, you will find a complete
source code listing for TESTART, the submission tester. In it's
present state, all it tests for is that the file you specify
contains no illegal characters and that no line is longer than 65
columns. Sometime in the future, I hope to put in sections that
will check for a title line as well as try and check for a
netmail address. If you write these sections yourself, please
send me a copy and I'll reprint the source code. Many thanks to
Thom for saving me a few hours work (and hopefully a few hours
every week!). If you don't have access to a C compiler, you can
file request (SEAdog style) the executable program from 1/1 under
the magic filename of TESTART. If you can't make a SEAdog style
file request, it is available for download to first time callers
in the recent uploads and FidoNews directories.
Over the next few weeks, my editorials are going to vanish
again. I'm working on a new MakeNews which may make much of this
unnecessary. I'm trying to make more easily configured as put in
some punitive formatting for those of you who seem to be having
problems matching specs. This is unfortunately going to take some
time away from FidoNews, so try and keep to the specs I've
outlined. Until the next time I have some words of wisdom to
impart....
Your Editor,
Dale Lovell
1:1/1 (1:157/504)
216/642-1034 (data)
Home Work
3266 Vezber Drive Parma Computer Center
Seven Hills, OH 44131 5402 State Road
216/524-1875 (voice) Parma, OH 44134
216/661-1808
-----------------------------------------------------------------
/* TESTART - Article submission tester
Version 1.0
Portions copyrighted by System Enhancement Associates
and used with permission.
Description:
This program attempts to test a file to see if it matches
the specifications for FidoNews. Hopefully this will cut
FidoNews 5-15 Page 3 11 Apr 1988
down the number of bad submissions that have been
annoying this editor.
Please try and test your own submissions before submitting
them to FidoNews. If you do not have access to a C
compiler, it should be available from 1/1 under the
"magic" filename "TESTART"
Note: This program has been tested with Microsoft Quick C and
C version 5.0 as well as Computer Innovations C86 Plus ver 1.1.
*/
#include <ctype.h>
#include <stdio.h>
main(argc,argv)
int argc;
char *argv[];
{
FILE *art; /* file with article to test */
int c; /* one character of file */
int peek; /* another character of file */
int wid = 0; /* width counter */
int len = 0; /* length counter */
if (argc!=2)
{
printf("Incorrect usage. Correct usage is:\n\n");
printf("testart <filename>\nWhere <filename> is the file ");
printf("you are submitting.\n");
exit(5);
}
if ((art=fopen(argv[1],"r"))==NULL)
{
printf("Can not open the file: %s",argv[1]);
exit(5);
}
c=fgetc(art);
for( ; c!=EOF; c=fgetc(art)) /* scan the article */
{
printf("%1c",c);
if(c=='\n') /* new line */
wid = 0; /* reset width */
else if(c>=' ' && c<='~' || c==0xfa || c==0xf6)
wid++;
else if(c==0x1d)
{
ungetc(peek=fgetc(art),art);
FidoNews 5-15 Page 4 11 Apr 1988
if(isspace(peek)) /* these don't always add width */
wid++;
}
else
{
printf("\n -- Illegal character (%02x hex)\n",c);
exit(10);
}
if(!isspace(c)) /* check width */
{
if(wid>65)
{
printf("\n -- Line too long\n");
exit(10);
}
}
}
fclose(art);
printf("\nFidoNews Submission appears good.\n");
}
-----------------------------------------------------------------
FidoNews 5-15 Page 5 11 Apr 1988
=================================================================
ARTICLES
=================================================================
Chuck Allen
FIdoNet 1:129/41 Maltese Alien AlterNet 7:522/1
Did You See THAT?
"Did You See THAT"? An appropriate title for this article, based
on a running joke on my BBS, started by Keith Vogt, I believe.
The object of the joke is: there was nothing to see!
Last November, Thom Henderson asked me to do a guest editorial
for FidoNews on why "FidoNet isn't fun anymore". Here it is,
Thom. Greatly late. I plead it is no fun to write about not
having fun.
The article I composed the first time around was so damned
depressing I destroyed it. In this rewrite, I will be quoting
from recent FidoNews editorials and articles. I have done this
as I know no other way to convey the sense of what I feel. I
have made no attempt to quote in completeness, the selection is
arbitrary. If I have quoted someone out of context, it is
unintentional.
"As alot of you know region 18 went thru alot of flexing
and turnoil in the last several months. For those who don't
know, our regional coordinator was replaced without hardly a
wisper in the middle of the night. We had no say. The zone
coordinator said it and it was done."
"The new region 18 coordinator is a nice guy. Means well
and all that, but I have to wonder if FIDO would have wanted
it that way. I mean you know what happened in Boston some
years ago. Something about the rights of the governed."
FidoNews 5-05, Page 12, 1 Feb 1988 by Ben Mann
"Why do I bring this up? Because FidoNet is based on RELIABLE
communication between systems. While many may only be concerned
about EchoMail, there is much more to FidoNet than EchoMail. This
isn't to say that EchoMail isn't important these days, because it
is. EchoMail may be one of the most important concepts ever
introduced to FidoNet. But EchoMail is only a part of FidoNet,
and even it is based on reliable communication. While catching up
on some EchoMail conferences this past weekend, I noticed how
this idea seems to be fading. If it ever does vanish, we may very
well see the end to FidoNet. After all, if I can no longer count
on my mail getting through, why bother sending it at all."
"Another idea that seems to be vanishing is RESPONSIBILITY.
FidoNet is not a right. When you joined FidoNet you were
accepting the responsibility for several things. Primarily to
"not excessively annoy others," "not be easily annoyed," and most
FidoNews 5-15 Page 6 11 Apr 1988
important of all to make your node available only to other nodes
during National Mail Hour (NMH). While NMH may be a little
outdated these days with so many running continuous mail programs
like SEAdog and BinkleyTerm, it is still important to observe
NMH. Many nodes are unable to process mail at anytime of the day,
and can only send and receive mail at specified times. To these
people, NMH is the only way they can reliably send and receive
mail. When the nodes they're trying to contact are always busy
due to receiving a large batch EchoMail or allowing users, it
only serves to annoy others. In time, it could even be classed as
excessively annoying."
"New software could easily cause the net to come apart in days.
The base FidoNet protocol is very important. Any program meant
for use in FidoNet NEEDS to be able to fall back and use this
original. Without this, no one would ever know where it was safe
to try sending mail. While this may be considered archaic by
some, it is the basis of this network. Without complete
compatibility, we are endangering something that many of us have
worked hard to see continue. I ask that all network software
authors keep this in mind, lest they become known as the
destroyer of FidoNet just because they need the ego trip of a
"title" like creator of whateverNet."
FidoNews 5-08, Pages 1 and 2, 22 Feb 1988, by Dale Lovell
"To say a bill of rights is needed in FidoNet is like saying a
drain plug is needed in the swamp. "Sir, I have no time to drain
the swamp, I'am to busy fighting the aligators." Region 18 has a
new EchoMail coordinator. Located in a non-PCP city.
Good thinking. At least he has a 9600 baud HST and a sence of
humor. The sence of humor is more important."
"Every NC in Region 18 cast their vote (pun intended) and the
outcome was a new EC."
"Can anyone anywhere tell me why and how this happens? Does a
friend of a friend call someone late in the night and make the
change? Are there greater forces (farses) at work?"
FidoNews 5-09, Page 9, 29 Feb 1988, by Ben Mann
"It used to be you could trust what you read in EchoMail, not to
mention FidoNews. Everyone treated FidoNet (and it's users and
sysops) with respect and decency. If you received a netmail
message from someone, you knew it was legitimate. Likewise, no
one would have thought of impersonating anyone in EchoMail. What
brings all this up? Let me tell you..."
"I thought it very odd when some messages supposedly written by
Thom Henderson popped up in the sysop echomail conference. I
thought it very odd because they didn't sound like Thom, besides
which I was under the impression he was leaving FidoNet alone.
Well, the other day I received a phone call at work. Even though
Thom is now in AlterNet, we keep in touch. This was unusual only
because I was the one who usually placed the call. Thom's main
FidoNews 5-15 Page 7 11 Apr 1988
reason for the call was to find out if I had seen any messages
from him in the sysop echomail conference. After a long
discussion with Thom, I am convinced that he isn't the one who
sent those messages. If you've received a nasty message from
Thom, odds are you've been hit by someone with a juvenile
mentality and no respect for FidoNet."
FidoNews 5-10, Page 1, 7 Mar 1988, by Dale Lovell
"I've gotten a few people upset by referring to FidoNet as a
"mature technology". Those of you who would dearly love to "play
games" with the protocols (like the late, unlamented Yahoo
experiment) rail at that designation, but in few (if any) cases
have I been allowed to explain. By "mature" I mean that it is no
longer solely (or even mainly) a province of the hackers. Few on
your network either know or care how the stuff works. All they
care about is that it does. And THAT is the true strength of
your network, if you would only realized it. A percent or two of
performance, or a widget or two that maybe three out of three
thousand will use, is of little import compared to the mighty
throng to whom your network is a powerful tool for COMMUNICATION.
It is for them that Tom Jennings, Randy Bush, Ben Baker, and
myself saw the need for a standards committee, because for THEIR
needs stability is more important than widgets."
FidoNews 5-11, Pages 1 and 2, 14 Mar 1988, by Thom Henderson
"--- A Resolution --- Cut here ---"
"AREA:DISINC"
" The corporation of the International FidoNet Association <tm>
has claimed to represent the FidoNet and it has been trying to
function in this capacity for some time now. We've gone through
IFNA's birth, its growing pains and have struggled to make it
grow. Now after it has been in power and has shown us what type
of organization IFNA is, we, the Sysops of the FidoNet call on
the IFNA Board of Directors to disband and disincorporate the
International FidoNet Association."
"Signed,"
"<Name>, <Net/Node>"
"--- Cut here ---"
"Let the sysops of the FidoNet decide IFNA's fate."
FidoNews 5-12, Page 12, 21 Mar 1988, by Randy Edwards
"One of the people who has benefitted most through this approach
now believes that the time has come to get rigorous. To only
implement to published standards. To not "make a big deal of
any random group that meets at a wide spot in the road". Pardon
me while I cough my lungs up into my handkerchief."
"Okay, I'm back. Now, why do I disagree with this point of view?
As a netmail author and a member of the FidoNet Technical
Standards Committee I should be cheering this, right? Wrong.
FidoNews 5-15 Page 8 11 Apr 1988
We still have work to do. To limit what we can do in the
network to published specifications would be very wrong at this
point. We still need to properly implement direct interzone
mail. To add other protocols to our abilities, particularly
such things as the Janus protocol and the X.25 code that is
apparently working out so well in Europe, neither of which would
have happened if we only allowed our mail transfers to take
place using protocols documented by the FTSC. Why did I cough
(an impolite thing to do while someone else is talking)? Well,
to my knowledge there is no FTSC document describing SEAlink
protocol, SEAlink Overdrive, passwords in packet headers,
procedural guidelines for password mismatching, the so-called
"BARK" method of requesting files from a remote system, or even
the addressing method used by the author of the previous article
(the address was in the form "net1/node1-net2/node2" where
apparently you need to send mail for net2/node2 to net1/node1
but who can tell without a document?)."
FidoNews 5-12, Pages 15 and 16, 21 Mar 1988, by Vince Perriello
"But the net as a whole cannot just stand by and "let IFNA do it"
or hope that perhaps someone else will speak out against
injustices. If you believe in the perpetuation of FidoNet you
must now take a stand against any and all such practices as have
been directed against Randy and others. Each and every one of
you should call for a stop of these blatant violations of rights
and should demand that those in positions of authority take all
necessary steps to see that the individuals responsibile for such
acts be removed from FidoNet and that clear guidelines exist to
prevent reoccurrences."
"This stand must be taken NOW, before it's too late -- if,
indeed,
it's not too late already."
FidoNews 5-13, Pages 1 through 3, 28 Mar 1988, by Don Daniels
"BBSs have escalated in complexity way out of proportion to their
usefulness; most BBSs are used by highly skilled people with lots
of resource$ to talk to people like themselves. This is fine, but
most of the world isn't in the position to sit $1,000 (or more!)
in a corner of the room for one special purpose only.
Also, the trend is towards larger, more complex systems, wide
area networking, extremely high throughput data transfers and
other things that just push the likes of Fido, Opus, TBBS an
order of magnitude or two out of the range of many (if not most)
people who might benefit from them.
Seems we've forgotten that the original intent of BBSs was to
communicate with other people. It is not obvious to me that
talking to more people is better. The best BBSs I've ever used,
of any type, were all very small systems; RCP/Ms, Apple][/GBBS,
etc. Most used awful software, but were still the best (meaning
FidoNews 5-15 Page 9 11 Apr 1988
most useful or most amusing) systems I've run across. There's a
hint there, I think."
From Puppy's Documentation by Tom Jennings.
Dear FidoNet Leadership, Echomail Leadership, and IFNA:
I have quoted above from several recent issues of FidoNews. I
did not quote from SYSOP, IFNA, or POLICY4; I try to limit my of
depression to the Minimum Recommended Daily Allowance. I had to
go back to FNEWS3xx to regain mental balance before continuing
this missive.
Gentlemen, we have a problem in FidoNet. You, as leaders
(elected, appointed, self-appointed), have failed miserably. The
time came and went to exert any sort of control over the anarchy
reigning in FidoNet. You have allowed distrust to permeate the
very heart of FidoNet. Hang your heads in shame.
There, I feel better.
Should we blame the leadership (actually, the lack thereof)? No.
If we must place blame, look into a mirror. We, the sysops of
FidoNet, have allowed this to happen. We have allowed this to be
done to us. We can stop it. Without destroying the net.
Step number 1 - join another net. This eliminates any control
the IC, ZC, and RC have over you. Dave Dodell, as IC and ZC, or
Ray Gwinn, as RC, can delete my node number from the nodelist and
Maltese Alien wouldn't skip a beat. Things might be delayed
while my friends changed mail destined here from one node number
to the other, it would be minimal.
Step number 2 - don't join IFNA. Without members or membership
dues, IFNA is nothing.
Step number 3 - Assume tyrants run the backbone and stars.
Decide how to pick up echoes if the tyrant gets out of hand.
These days, control of echomail is often control of the net.
Some of you are using echomail as weapons, withholding it from
nodes you don't like. Or in an attempt to usurp power from your
net coordinator. You remind me of slugs and cockroaches.
Step number 4 - Quit reading the "sysop" echoes. There are two
sorts of people who participate in them. People who care and
irresponsible egomaniacs bound and determined to bend the net to
their will. You can tell the difference by who supports
elections for net positions and those who crave "back room"
politics. I say to the people who care, "Quit talking and DO IT
NOW". Would Dave Dodell or Don Daniels stand in the way of an
elected IC who received 2000 votes? For that matter, who would
care if they did try to stand in the way?
Step number 5 - Ignore the egomaniacs. These people enjoy
arguing. Some don't even use their real name. Like spoiled
FidoNews 5-15 Page 10 11 Apr 1988
children, they will sulk home crying if ignored. Too bad, eh?
Step number 6 - What do your USERS (remember them?) want from a
BBS? Could it be that TJ is right? Do we need ten terabit per
second transfer rates, full screen color Word Star compatible
message editors, multiple options on questionnaires, and all the
other bells or whistles? Before you answer, ask your users for a
candid evaluation of what is important on your BBS. What do they
enjoy? Are you a "good sysop?" You may be surprised. I was.
Step number 7 - Ignore the people who abuse echomail by trying to
tarnish someone's name. These people are the lowest scumwads
around, seeking attention like the naughty spoiled rotten
children they are.
Step number 8 - If all else fails, pull the plug on FidoNet. If
we are worth anything as sysops, our users will NOT abandon us.
They are our friends first and users second, right?
Step number 9 - Ignore this article. Thinking about solutions to
problems and acting on them is much harder than sitting back;
waiting for the nodelist and echomail to arrive. If you take an
active part in shaping FidoNet's future, you can't blame someone
else. Be an Ostrich sysop, do nothing except take and take and
take and take......
Now I go back to being happy. You see, I don't read the "sysop"
echoes. I don't acknowledge Dave Dodell's authority, the worst
he can do is delete my node from the nodelist. Who cares? I
won't renew my IFNA membership. I won't lose any sleep if
FidoNet comes crashing to a halt because of improperly designed
or incompatible software.
Don't get me wrong. Dave Dodell, Don Daniels, Butch Walker, Bob
Hartman, Thom Henderson, Vince Perriello, and others too numerous
to mention are fine people. We owe a great deal to many people.
However, it does not follow that fine people make fine leaders.
Nor does it follow net developers make fine leaders. In simple
terms, all of the current problems can be traced to absent or
inept leadership.
I will help anyone I can. I will do what I can to assure mail
moves from here to my friends. I will ask my USERS (remember
them?) what they like. I will treat honest people honestly and
ignore the ignoble slobs abusing echomail. I will test new
software to make sure it doesn't break anything on another's
system (the egomaniac net developers might not test it too well,
if at all). I will ignore flames and messages from anyone
ashamed to use their given names in echomail (hear that you
sleaze bags hiding behind pseudonyms?). And I will end this
article to go cough up a lung by the random group that meets at a
wide spot in the road.
Quote for the day: "Really big turds float to the top."
-----------------------------------------------------------------
FidoNews 5-15 Page 11 11 Apr 1988
Don Daniels
1:107/210
WARNING TO LAP-TOP OWNERS
The other night while walking home with my lap-top slung over on
my back as usual, the plastic D-ring connecting the strap to the
bag suddenly snapped and, before I even realized I had a problem,
my Zenith 183 crashed to the concrete.
Incredibly enough, when I checked it all out on the train, it
seemed to still be functioning fine although the case was broken
and the latches don't work. (When I expressed surprise of its
survival to a Zenith official he was less so, saying that they
are specially engineered, well, not for that exactly, but
certainly for the odd bump or two).
However, if this can happen once it can happen again and as I
know of several other Zeniths in the Net I thought a word to the
wise would be in order. Note that this happened with no apparent
wear whatsoever -- the ring just gave out. Zenith (which BTW has
been very responsive on this and an earlier software incompat-
ability I experienced) has requested the D-ring for analysis.
I'd suggest that ALL lap-top owners regulary check their cases
and rig up some kind of a back-up to protect from failure of the
weakest link and the sickening feeling I experienced.
-----------------------------------------------------------------
FidoNews 5-15 Page 12 11 Apr 1988
=================================================================
COLUMNS
=================================================================
YACK
Yet Another Complicated Komment
by Steven K. Hoskin
( STEVE HOSKIN at 1:128/31 )
Episode 6: Starting a FidoNode
I've wanted to start a FidoNode since I first heard of
FidoNet. I've been intensely interested in FidoNet and its
survival and expansion as long as I can remember knowing about
it.
Well, the time was drawing near; Money just isn't the
problem now that it once was. This is the time to do all those
things that one just never gets around to, for whatever reasons.
I don't want to go part-way into FidoNet; when my time
comes, I want to dedicate a system to the FidoNet. So now's the
time to buy that spare computer (prices on XT compatibles are
incredible right now!), put one of my hard disks into it and get
that FidoNode going.
My housemate just put a damper on my enthusiasm. He's put
his system up as a part-time BBS and - lo and behold - has
joined the FidoNet. I am now an assistant SysOp on EagleTech BBS
(1:128/31). But my foot's in the door to FidoNet, and someday
I'll have my own Node.
But just what is it like to bring up a FidoNode these days?
Most of you know, since most of you are FidoNet SysOps. But for
the future FidoNet SysOp out there, here's a little heads-up on
our experiences.
First, we were fairly convinced we were going for Opus or
Opus/Binkley as our setup. Most of the boards around town here
run Opus, some with SEADog or Bink as a front-end. Well, we may
be better off than we were, but we're not rich. $100 for Fido
and $60 for SEADog just didn't cut it for starters. I
personally planned to go to SEADog after awhile because I've
seen it run and I like the way it interacts with human users.
So I was biased to pay the $60 for SEADog after we were up and
running.
Then a friend suggested QuickBBS, commenting that he was
HIGHLY impressed with it. So we borrowed a copy of it, being
shareware and only $25 if you go for it. Seemed like a good
price.
So my housemate loaded QBBS and got the DOCs printed and
FidoNews 5-15 Page 13 11 Apr 1988
started to set it up. We were almost there - minor problems
getting the modem to behave properly with QBBS - when the
computer came up with "Internal Stack Failure - System Halted".
My home-built system gets that a lot if you hold down on a key
with the keyboard in fast-repeat mode. The keyboard flat
outprocesses the system and blows it open (custom BIOS is the
culprit, I believe). But his system NEVER gets that error.
His system refused to boot, and the dual-colored LED on the
second hard disk was red and flashing instead of green and being
happy. We disconnected the culprit drive and the system booted.
After farting around with the drive, we found an arm inside
the chassis which said "DO NOT TURN" on it, we turned the arm,
replaced the drive and all was fine - except all the data was
gone. Somehow we'd overwritten the 809 cyl/6 head format with
information that it was 615 cyl/4 head. We just re-did the
low-level format, then reformatted the drive and went on our way.
The main drive had been backed up, but QBBS was being
installed on the drive that went bye-bye on us, so it wasn't
backed up. Unfortunately, all my housemate's archives were on
that drive. No backup. You'd think we'd known better, being
programmers. Hmm. Perhaps a message here...
I still had his nearly-fully-configured QBBS on my system,
but by this time, for a multitude of reasons, he decided to take
Opus from the Net Host's board and grab a PC FOSSIL driver from
a PC user in the Net. So it was like starting over.
We hacked through the setting up of Opus, and eventually
found that, for whatever reason, using a 9-pin serial port to
the modem didn't work right, while using a 25-pin serial worked
just fine. That could easily have been what was keeping QBBS
from working; we may never know. Armed with a 25-pin RS-232 COM
port, my housemate got Opus up and running, and proceeded
to try to test it both local (keyboard) and remote modes. We'd
though ahead in this area; we already had two phone lines.
Good to go on February 29, 1988. Need I say what happened
on March 1st? You guessed it - good old Opus 1.03a had its
little date problem, and another day or two was lost getting
upgraded to 1.03b using FIXDATE.COM.
Now armed with 1.03b, my housemate sent a Network Mail
message to the Net Host requesting a node number, which has been
approved, and by the time you read this in FidoNews should be a
part of the National NodeList.
I'd like to thank all the people that helped get EagleTech
BBS up and running cleanly, especially Richard Evers, Net Host
of Net 128 and Joe Rock (128/15), whose technical assistance
reduced the headaches of starting a FidoNet BBS to a mere
irritating itch. It's really not as bad as it seems. :-)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
FidoNews 5-15 Page 14 11 Apr 1988
=================================================================
NOTICES
=================================================================
The Interrupt Stack
16 May 1988
Digital Equipment Corporations Users Society Spring Symposium.
Will be held May 16-May 20 in Cincinnati, OH.
25 Jun 1988
EuroCon II starts in Tiel, Holland. Sponsored by the Dutch
Hobby Computer Club. Will run for 2 days. Contact Hans
Lichthelm at 2:2/999 for information.
16 Jul 1988
A new areacode, 508, will form in eastern Massachusetts and
will be effective on this date. The new area code will be
formed from the current areacode 617. Greater Boston will
remain areacode 617 while the rest of eastern Massachusetts
will form the new areacode 508.
25 Aug 1988
Start of the Fifth International FidoNet Conference, to be
held at the Drawbridge Inn in Cincinnati, OH. Contact Tim
Sullivan at 108/62 for more information. This is FidoNet's big
annual get-together, and is your chance to meet all the people
you've been talking with all this time. We're hoping to see
you there!
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 1:1/1.
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Just a follow up on the January 12, 1988 article titled
"FidoNet Cuts Across BBS Borders" by Christopher Johnson
that appeared in "PC Magazine" in the After Hours Section.
The article included a reader service card follow up and
IFNA has just received the 500th inquiry. The article
seems to have made its way across Europe, Africa and the
Middle East and today we received our first inquiry from
India at the PO Box. Anyone know how to flame a budhist? ;-)
Ken Kaplan
1:1/10
-----------------------------------------------------------------
FidoNews 5-15 Page 15 11 Apr 1988
Region Coordinator Position Open
for Region 10
David Dodell
FidoNet Node 1:1/0 or 1:114/15
Steve Jordan has tendered his resignation as the Region
Coordinator for Region 10. I am therefore asking individuals
interested in serving in this position to please contact me by
netmail.
I would appreciate a short message telling me a little about
yourself, including your experiences in FidoNet (i.e. Net
Coordinator, Echomail Coordinator, etc.)
Steve would like to transfer the responsibilities on May 1, 1988.
Therefore, please contact me as soon as possible.
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Latest Software Versions
BBS Systems Node List Other
& Mailers Version Utilities Version Utilities Version
Dutchie 2.81* EditNL 3.3 ARC 5.21
Fido 12g* MakeNL 2.03 ARCmail 1.1
Opus 1.03b Prune 1.40 ConfMail 3.31
SEAdog 4.10 XlatList 2.86* EchoMail 1.31
TBBS 2.0M MGM 1.1
BinkleyTerm 1.40*
QuickBBS 2.00*
* 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 5-15 Page 16 11 Apr 1988
=================================================================
COMMITTEE REPORTS
=================================================================
Nominations and Elections Committee
1:103/501
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
* * U R G E N T ! ! * *
* * * *
* * Time is running out for you to announce your candidacy * *
* * for a position as a Director of IFNA. Candidates are * *
* * required for Divisions 2, 10, 12, 14, 16, and 18. In * *
* * addition, five more directors are required to fill at- * *
* * large positions. If you are interested in campaigning * *
* * for one of these positions, please send a message to * *
* * 1:103/501 immediately. * *
* * * *
* * Once you have announced your candidacy you only have * *
* * until April 25th to get your nominating petition, which * *
* * must be endorsed by ten (10) voting members, to the * *
* * above address or to the Secretary of IFNA. (If your * *
* * only problem is getting the ten endoresements, let us * *
* * know and we'll see if we can be of help). * *
* * * *
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
-----------------------------------------------------------------
FidoNews 5-15 Page 17 11 Apr 1988
Administration and Finance Committee
1:148/122
CREATION OF AN IFNA "JOB BAG"
Being volunteers, there just isn't enough time available to do
many of the things that we would like. Either we don't have the
time to adequately define a job or, when we need something in a
hurry, we can't seem to find anyone to help out, and end up doing
it all ourselves, perpetuating the cycle in the process.
There are a couple approaches to addressing this concern. One
will be the establishment of what has been called an IFNA
'head-hunter' -- essentially an internal 'personnel office' that
maintains resumes of candidates for certain IFNA posts.
Leading up to (or concurrent with) that, we are establishing the
IFNA Job Bag. Any IFNA officer or Committee Chairman will be
able to submit jobs to the Job Bag. These will then be
advertised here and volunteers will be able to respond to a
centralized clearing-house. Actually, we're not 100% sure as to
how this will all work because, as can be seen below, one of our
first jobs is that of running this effort for the Administration
an Finance Committee.
Please respond to 148/122 if you are interested in taking on one
of these jobs. And please don't be upset if it turns out you are
not selected -- there should be plenty more to come!
IFNA JOB BAG
JOB EST.
NO. JOB TITLE TYPE FOR EFFORT
001 IFNA Job Bag Manager Perpetual Admin Comm. 3hrs/wk
This person will establish the procedures for the IFNA Job
Bag, post qualified requests received, accept and screen
applicants, and make the assignments in some cases.
002 IFNA Statistician Perpetual Admin Comm. 3hrs/wk
This person will collect and maintain various historical
data relative to FidoNet and will provide services to the
other areas of IFNA. Should have the expertise to answer
questions like "What is the projected rate of growth for
FidoNet in 1989?" "How many nodes will there be in 1990?"
003 NodeList Editor Perpetual President 3hr/mo
The Nodelist which IFNA licenses to DAK will be replaced
periodically. Each time, it will have to be edited to
remove non-applicable entries (a list of these will have to
be maintained) and shipped to them in an appropriate format.
When required, turn-around time must be immediate.
PLEASE, do not bother to respond to any of these unless you are
sure you have the resources to do a good job!
FidoNews 5-15 Page 18 11 Apr 1988
-----------------------------------------------------------------
FidoNews 5-15 Page 19 11 Apr 1988
Don Daniels, President
International FidoNet Association
FidoNet 1:107/210
IFNA Status Report for April 1988
PROGRESS DURING THIS PERIOD
General
One of the major problems facing IFNA is the fact that, as an
all-volunteer organization, we are all subject to many outside
influences on our limited time to which we attach higher
priority. As a result, our good intentions for IFNA are not
realized. This is very apparent to the officers of IFNA, but,
because we don't adequately report this to our membership (that
time bugaboo again) the membership feels free to create its own
reasons for our setbacks.
This is an area which we are now trying to address. To begin
with, I'm making reporting to the membership my highest concern.
I've instructed the Committee Chairman to restructure their
committees so that each includes its own Executive Board. The
intent is that they will run each committee while the Chairman
need only be responsible for general direction, management, and
reporting.
There are so many things that we are trying to undertake to do
that there is no way to get it all done. We could/should cut
back on our scope of effort, but the membership keeps rightly
clamoring for services which they feel are needed. It is our
intention to make a reality of IFNA's original goal: to make
it and FidoNet equivalent by expanding IFNA's operations
throughout the entire membership. Expect to see quite a few
opportunities for this in the future.
This is not a "we vs. them" situation, despite misconceptions to
the contrary by a few. It is only all of US struggling to do
what's best for FidoNet.
In order to cut-down on the length of this report, the usual
PROGRESS/PROBLEMS/PROGNOSIS format has been combined.
ADMINISTRATION AND FINANCE
Under the brand new Chairmanship of Greg Small in Canada, this
committee spent most of this period trying to get itself
organized. There are quite a few ideas underway whereby this
committee will truly provide the needed administrative services
the rest of IFNA requires, such as committee operating
procedures, information repositories and services, and job
handling and personnel functions.
FidoNews 5-15 Page 20 11 Apr 1988
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
The BoD has experienced quite a few technical difficulties with a
recent change of topology and the resignation of its moderator
Bob Hartman who feels that he no longer can give the level of
effort required.
BY-LAWS AND RULES
I was expecting a verbal report from Steve Jordan on some
concerns relative to this committee but it has not been received
by press time. Work is underway trying to make the By-laws
reflect the desires of the membership, but its almost impossible
to know what their concensus is. We are looking into taking some
straw votes on certain issues in order to write modifications for
presentation in time for the summer voting. It appears that
other pressures are calling upon those most active in this
committee and that they will have to augmented, if not replaced.
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
Essentially, our tie-ups with other concerns have left little
time for efforts here. However, it was decided to proceed with a
member's offer to provide an independent report on IFNA's books
for the period prior to 1988. The process of copying all the
necessary information and forwarding it on to the CPA has begun.
INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS N
For the most part, this Committee is only operating in Europe as
there are too many obstacles yet to be resolved for full
international involvement. There are still very real concerns
relative to the ZoneGates. Not so much in the technical sense,
but the financial. This is a very expensive undertaking which
IFNA would like (but is presently unable) to be better able to
address. Europe will be having their FidoCon in southern Holland
the last weekend of June.
MEMBERSHIP SERVICES
This is one of the committees that has been involved in
discussions regarding the missions of various committees and how
we might better define and structure them to meet all our goals.
As this committee is so important to our future support and
success, particularly from the user community, it is a prime
candidate for reorganization and expansion. Part of these
discussions have been consideration of such items as the IFNA
"Head Hunter" for pre-qualifying individuals for certain jobs so
that we don't go into panic mode everytime an xC or committee
chairman steps down. NOTE: this would be a SERVICE which any
authority in the Net could ELECT to utilize.
FidoNews 5-15 Page 21 11 Apr 1988
There appears to be a need for some regional FidoCons. This
would help to get more people involved and, through direct
interaction, aware of our true situation and objectives. The
problem with this is the work getting it to happen. Essentially,
it must be left to the various regions to provide the necessary
level of effort required, but we could provide some expertise and
general support.
A lot of people have worked hard to produce audio and VCR tapes
at two of the FidoCon meetings. We are still struggling to find
a way to get them out to the folks who want them.
NOMINATIONS AND ELECTIONS
This committee has suffered from a recent change of chairmanship
but appears to be making necessary efforts to meet the By-laws
requirements for this summer's elections. David Garrett has just
stepped right into the firing line on this one. No status
report was received for this period.
PUBLICATIONS
The committee has reviewed the existing FidoNews publication
policies and has determined that they should be confirmed for the
present. There are still quite a few issues to be resolved
relative to the format of FidoNews and any possible additional
publications.
Tim Sullivan says, "I must reiterate that neither this committee
nor the BoD decides what is/is not published in FidoNews on a day
to day basis, that is the job of the Editor. The Editor does
what an editor is supposed to do: manage and run the day to day
affairs of the newsletter.
"We still receive article submissions that don't even come close
to specs. This is resulting in Dale spending much more time than
should be necessary preparing each week's issue."
He also report the problems with lack of time.
TECHNICAL STANDARDS
No written report was received. I did have a chat with Randy who
described a few happenings and concerns but, frankly, it was so
late at night that I can't remember them, let alone repeat them.
Hopefully, we'll have a report next month.
ETHICS COMMITTEE
This is a new Committee just getting underway. No report was
received from its Chairman Bill Allbritten.
FidoNews 5-15 Page 22 11 Apr 1988
VP-TC
Dave Dodell (with his IC hat on) reports, "Still trying to get
South America on line on their own. Granted them Region status
so they could have a little more independence, but that has not
come about. Every time I give them a block of node numbers to
use, they reinvent the wheel with numbers that they want to use.
"Also will be breaking the eastern half of Canada into a new
region within the next couple of weeks. This is also to give
them some independence on a national level.
"Have been working with Randy Bush and FTSC to develope an
assignment scheme for nets/region numbers. At the moment,
there is no clear formula to assignment of regions to zones,
and nets to regions."
FIDOCON LIAISON
This report did not come through the Vice-President (liaison
according to the By-laws) but was received directly from Tim
Sullivan.
"Monies have been received from IFNA to aid in start-up costs.
We have spent much time organizing and assessing future
directions. Early registration has been opened up. Vendor and
Attendee information packets are being developed. The business
of putting on an international conference is progressing on
schedule [although] there never seems to be enough time or
resources available.
"Because the SYSOP of our registration node 1/88 moved, accessed
to this board was interrupted and should be back on-line shortly.
We are still soliciting speakers for the conference. We have not
yet found an appropriate guest speaker for the banquet.
"Registration will be in full swing and we will try to
accommodate most special requests. The attendee information
packets we hope to have ready for mailing by mid-May. We may
delay this if registration is slow. Site preparation and planing
will also be an area of concentration.
"After a rough start planning and preparation for this event is
in full swing. We are VERY optimistic about the quality of this
year's conference. Much effort is going into this event to
ensure a success. However, net participation is the key to great
time. IFNA can help by encouraging participation by all members
of FidoNet. I would like to see more discussion about FidoCon'88
in Echo areas just to bring about more awareness. Any help along
these lines would be appreciated."
-----------------------------------------------------------------
FidoNews 5-15 Page 23 11 Apr 1988
__
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
c/o Leonard Mednick, MBA, CPA
700 Bishop Street, #1014
Honolulu, Hawaii 96813-4112
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 first elected Board of Directors
was filled in August 1987. The IFNA Echomail Conference has been
established on FidoNet to assist the Board. We welcome your
input to this Conference.
-----------------------------------------------------------------
FidoNews 5-15 Page 24 11 Apr 1988
INTERNATIONAL FIDONET ASSOCIATION
ORDER FORM
Publications
The IFNA publications can be obtained by downloading from Fido
1:1/10 or other FidoNet compatible systems, or by purchasing
them directly from IFNA. We ask that all our IFNA Committee
Chairmen provide us with the latest versions of each
publication, but we can make no written guarantees.
Hardcopy prices as of October 1, 1986
IFNA Fido BBS listing $15.00 _____
IFNA Administrative Policy DOCs $10.00 _____
IFNA FidoNet Standards Committee DOCs $10.00 _____
SUBTOTAL _____
IFNA Member ONLY Special Offers
System Enhancement Associates SEAdog $60.00 _____
SEAdog price as of March 1, 1987
ONLY 1 copy SEAdog per IFNA Member
Fido Software's Fido/FidoNet $100.00 _____
Fido/FidoNet price as of November 1, 1987
ONLY 1 copy Fido/FidoNet per IFNA Member
International orders include $10.00 for
surface shipping or $20.00 for air shipping _____
SUBTOTAL _____
HI. Residents add 4.0 % Sales tax _____
TOTAL _____
SEND CHECK OR MONEY ORDER IN US FUNDS:
International FidoNet Association
c/o Leonard Mednick, MBA, CPA
700 Bishop Street, #1014
Honolulu, HI. 96813-4112
USA
Name________________________________
Zone:Net/Node____:____/____
Company_____________________________
Address_____________________________
City____________________ State____________ Zip_____
Voice Phone_________________________
Signature___________________________
-----------------------------------------------------------------
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