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Volume 7, Number 21 21 May 1990
+---------------------------------------------------------------+
| _ |
| / \ |
| /|oo \ |
| - FidoNews - (_| /_) |
| _`@/_ \ _ |
| FidoNet (r) | | \ \\ |
| International BBS Network | (*) | \ )) |
| Newsletter ______ |__U__| / \// |
| / FIDO \ _//|| _\ / |
| (________) (_/(_|(____/ |
| (jm) |
+---------------------------------------------------------------+
Editor in Chief: Vince Perriello
Editors Emeritii: Thom Henderson, Dale Lovell
Chief Procrastinator Emeritus: Tom Jennings
Copyright 1990, Fido Software. All rights reserved. Duplication
and/or distribution permitted for noncommercial purposes only.
For use in other circumstances, please contact Fido Software.
FidoNews is published weekly by the System Operators of the
FidoNet (r) International BBS Network. It is a compilation of
individual articles contributed by their authors or authorized
agents of the authors. The contribution of articles to this
compilation does not diminish the rights of the authors.
You are encouraged to submit articles for publication in
FidoNews. Article submission standards are contained in the file
ARTSPEC.DOC, available from node 1:1/1. 1:1/1 is a Continuous
Mail system, available for network mail 24 hours a day.
Fido and FidoNet are registered trademarks of Tom Jennings of
Fido Software, Box 77731, San Francisco CA 94107, USA and are
used with permission.
Opinions expressed in FidoNews articles are those of the authors
and are not necessarily those of the Editor or of Fido Software.
Most articles are unsolicited. Our policy is to publish every
responsible submission received.
Table of Contents
1. ARTICLES ................................................. 1
FidoCon '90 Update! ...................................... 1
Environment: A Cooperative Topical Database .............. 2
The Christian Distribution Network (CDN) ................. 9
File Echos & Support Group NetWorks ...................... 11
RULES FOR CURMUDGEON TOSS . . . at the Region 17 Conven .. 14
SIGN FRIENDS-A Sign Language Tutorial .................... 16
FIDOCON 1990 REGISTRATION FORM ........................... 18
2. COLUMNS .................................................. 21
Talk Me Through It, Honey ................................ 21
3. LATEST VERSIONS .......................................... 24
And more!
FidoNews 7-21 Page 1 21 May 1990
=================================================================
ARTICLES
=================================================================
What's new with FidoCon '90:
Well, the first discount deadline has passed, however, if you
get your registrations in before June 1st, you can STILL save
$50 on the conference fees! Send your application (included in
this issue of FidoNews) to 1/90@FidoNet.
If you can't pay for the entire conference all at once, don't
forget that you can reserve your discount by sending in a non-
refundable deposit of $100.
Phil Becker will be attending FidoCon, and will be talking about
TBBS, TDBS, and his latest creation, The Integrated Mail System
for TBBS, or TIMS, which gives multi-line TBBS systems
continuous mail capability!
Thom Henderson will also be giving a seminar on several of
System Enhancement Associates' products, as well as a look to
the future for SEA.
Jack Rickard of BoardWatch Magazine will be there!
US Robotics will make their usual appearence at the convention,
and will have several announcements for future USR products!
Good Egg Net has also announced that their national convention
will be held at Conclave '90, making the fourth amateur network
to participate!
Bit Bucket Software is also going to participate, though details
are not yet available at this time.
With all the early registrations, this FidoCon looks to be the
biggest ever, so be sure to get your reservations in soon!
Bill VanGlahn, FIDOCON '90 Committee Chairman
1:1/90@FidoNet
-----------------------------------------------------------------
FidoNews 7-21 Page 2 21 May 1990
William J.Bradley. (1:163/223)
THE WORLD WE LIVE IN
--------------------
A couple of nights ago as I drove up to the farmhouse
in that I share with my wife and five sons, I was struck by the
beauty of the sunset that was in progress at the time. It remind-
ed me of when I was a boy delivering the morning newspaper when
many mornings began with such a beautiful sunrise that I often
wished that it would never end.
We live in such a beautiful world and in the intervening
45 years since my boyhood sunrises and my more recent sunsets,
we have managed to do terrible things to this lovely gift of
creation. All of us who live in N.America have had a part in the
problems that have developed. For example, most of us own, use
or drive vehicles that don't run on hay and you can't eat when
you are finished with them. Most of us also, in this part of the
world, wear synthetic clothing that burns with the ferocity of
petrochemicals and with the same smell and polluting ability.
(We had to find all-cotton Tee shirts for one of our sons who
was in a body brace. Such Tee shirts were almost impossible to
find. A friend visiting overseas finally brought some home for
us!) Finally, as I sit here writing this article on my PC, some-
thing is burning or radiating somewhere, to give me the power
to use this computer. As the power is produced, so is waste that
someone, somewhere has to figure out how to get rid of.
Most of my life has been spent in a health technology of
one sort or another. About two years ago I left that work to go
into analytical laboratory work. I am now a project coordinator
for an organic and inorganic analytical laboratory that spends
a lot of its time doing environmental analyses for government and
industry. It has been through this work that the idea for
this project developed.
Some of the pictures that come to mind when I think of
the word "environment" and "environmentalist" are ones of either
confrontation or of 'doom and gloom'. The confrontation is often
with large organizations and the 'doom-and-gloomers' are often
scientists. Yet when you look at the daily press a little more
closely you often find quite a lot of people struggling with day
to day environmental problems and often finding useful solutions.
For example I live in a small rural community and haul
my trash to a small local dumpsite. About two years ago the
Ministry of the Environment stopped municipalities from burning
off the refuse in their dumpsites. That was fair enough as
burning only moves the dump to another site via the air that we
need to breathe and live. However the consequence has been that
the dump filled with astonishing rapidity and will close in
another two months. In its place there will be a door to door
pick up, throughout the county, by a contractor. Whoever wins
the contract will have to prove by sub-contracts, that he has
a recycling destination for most of the refuse. The householders
FidoNews 7-21 Page 3 21 May 1990
will then be expected to sort all of their trash into various
categories such as glass, tin, paper and plastics etc..
Then there were the two families that were featured on
a TV program who hardly have need of garbage pick-up at all. The
last time one lady used the garbage service was six weeks before
the filming of the TV program. The other lady could not remember
when she had used the garbage collection service. Both of these
women had organized their households in such a way that every-
thing was re-used and composted.
Some people will not use disposable diapers. A hundred
years from now an Archeologist specializing in our dumpsites
will be digging up the outer wrappings of Junior's diaper. In
the same way you read of people who will not use styrofoam cups
or patronize take-out food businesses that package their food
in styrofoam containers.
All of this sparked my interest and I began clipp-
ing environmental articles out of the newspapers. Then I categ-
orized them, paraphrased them, (Wrote a short description of the
article.) put them on a database and sorted them. The result of
this effort was fascinating reading. When I described this exper-
ience to friends and clients alike, they expressed an interest
in seeing something like what I had done, put out on a regular
basis.
Having given it a lot of thought, what I would like to
do is establish a database of clipped newpaper articles, on the
environment, from as wide an area as possible. This desire then,
leads me to all of you who participate in the worldwide FIDO
network. What I would like to ask of you is this:
1. Would you be interested in clipping articles
from your local newspaper and sending them
to me. When you clip them I will need:
a. Name of the newspaper
b. Page number
c. Date of publication
2. Having clipped the article, would you be inter-
ested in helping out further by writing a 4 to
5 line paraphrase (description) of the article.
(AS I UNDERSTAND IT, AND CORRECT ME IF I AM WRONG PLEASE, I AM
ALLOWED TO PUBLISH THE DESCRIPTION OF AN ARTICLE (A PARAPHRASE),
AS LONG AS I SUPPLY DETAILS OF THE SOURCE.)
Once the database was established I would do a number
of things with it:
FidoNews 7-21 Page 4 21 May 1990
A. The database in its entirety would be offered for use
to all who participate in the FIDO network.
B. Establish a non-profit organization to offer the use of
the database to private individuals, industry and govern-
ment, anywhere in the world who may wish to use it. The
indications I have at the moment are that such database
would be welcomed. In this latter instance a fee would be
charged. This project will consume a lot of time and will
require people to work at it full time, so it will need to
earn enough to pay its own way.
At the present time there is a start-up committee of two
Ph.D. level scientists. A Ph.D. level university professor
who teaches economic ethics, a businessman who manufactures
laboratory products and myself.
Following are the categories that I have used so far,
any further suggestions would be appreciated. After the categ-
ories you will see a few examples of paraphrased clippings.
We are all, each and every one of us, contributors to
the environment that we live, therefore we all have a respons-
ibility - each in his or her own way - to contribute what we can
to improve the health of that environment and in this way, the
health of us all. So get out the scissors.......! You can reach
me by post at the following addresses:
William J. Bradley,
Box 330,
Chesterville, Ontario
Canada K0C 1H0.
or
William J. Bradley,
c/o Solar Biologicals Inc.,
Box 269,
Ogdensburg, NY, 13669.
or
William J. Bradley,
c/o CHANNEL-23 Communications
Box 357,
Orleans, Ontario
Canada K1C 1S7
CLASSIFICATIONS
---------------
FidoNews 7-21 Page 5 21 May 1990
ENVIRONMENT ....................... 10E
HEALTH............................. 20H
POLLUTION.......................... 30P
- Acid Rain........................ 30PAR
- Air........... .................. 30PA
- Dumping.......................... 30PD
- Fines & Convictions.............. 30PFC
- Food............................. 30PF
- Fresh Water...................... 30PFW
- Global Warming................... 30PG
- Hazardous Waste.................. 30PH
- Industrial....................... 30PI
- Land............................. 30PL
- Oil Spill........................ 30POS
- Pesticides....................... 30PP
- Pulp Mills....................... 30PPM
- Sea.............................. 30PS
- Toxic Spill...................... 30PT
POPULATION......................... 40P
RESOURCES.......................... 50R
- Agriculture...................... 50RA
- Animal........................... 50RAN
- Energy........................... 50RE
- Forest........................... 50RF
- Fresh Water...................... 50RFW
- Land............................. 50RL
- Sea.............................. 50RS
- Underground...................... 50RU
TRANSPORTATION..................... 60T
WASTE MANAGEMENT................... 70W
- Landfill......................... 70WL
- Recycling........................ 70WR
- Sewage Treatment................. 70WS
- Waste Incinerator................ 70WI
The classifying number at the top of each paraphrased article
breaks down in the following way:
90: Year 02: Month 08: Day 30PFC: Class (See above)
C: The newspaper 2: Page No. of the newspaper.
90020830PFCC2
================================================================
FINES OR CHARGES:
FidoNews 7-21 Page 6 21 May 1990
Cameco, the crown owned uranium mining company in Saskatchewan,
faces a second pollution charge after a spill of radioactive water
at its Rabbit Lake Mine. Cameco was fined $10,000 last December
for a 2 million litre spill.
90020730PDC3
================================================================
POLLUTION-DUMPING:
In Carleton Place Ontario, Kenden Industries which operates a
wood products plant on an island in the Mississippi River, will
be required to clean up a hazardous waste dump says the Ministry
of the Environment.
90020850RAC5
================================================================
RESOURCES-ANIMAL:
An official from the World Wide fund for Nature said, in Belgium
last Wednesday, that the international ban on ivory trading is
proving effective in the struggle to save the elephants of
Africa.
90011650REc6
================================================================
RESOURCES-ENERGY:
Sheik Ahmed Zaki Yamani has launched the Centre for Global Energy
Studies, in London, last Monday. It is aimed at co-operations
among oil producers, companies and consumers to avoid another
oil crisis.
90020730PFC9
================================================================
POLLUTION-FOOD:
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration through its Centre for
Science in the Public Interest, supplies a number of hints for
those who are concerned about pollutants in fish. Among the
hints are to vary the species, cook properly, select young
or small fish and trim away the skin and dark meat.
89-9010EC10
================================================================
ENVIRONMENT:
FidoNews 7-21 Page 7 21 May 1990
Environmental groups are rallying behind the federal Environment
Minister Lucien Bouchard, in what they see as a tough battle to
get environmental assessment legislation through the federal
bureaucracy.
89-9010EC12
================================================================
ENVIRONMENT:
The U.S.Congress has announced that legislators from 33 nations
will come to Washington next spring to consider global warming
and other environmental issues.
89-9010EC17
================================================================
ENVIRONMENT:
In Portland, Maine, an international conference was told that
Canadians and Americans will have to work together, if the Gulf
of Maine is to be protected against mounting threats from
pollution and overfishing.
89-9010EC18
================================================================
ENVIRONMENT:
One hundred students from the Renfrew County Board Education
gathered at Central Public School to discuss environmental
concerns and see how each and everyone of us affects the
environment and possible solutions to the problem.
89-9010EC19
================================================================
ENVIRONMENT:
Japan spends $230 million to shore up an isle and keep it above
water, so that under international agreements, Japan can retain
vast fishing and sea-floor mining claims.
89121210EC20
================================================================
ENVIRONMENT:
Organizers in Vancouver said that former Norwegian Prime Minister
Gro Harlem Brundtland, will head the guest list at an environ-
mental trade show and conference to be held in Vancouver this
coming March.
FidoNews 7-21 Page 8 21 May 1990
90010910EC22
================================================================
ENVIRONMENT:
A single mother in Ottawa is doing her bit for the environment
by making custom made cloth diapers for the environmentally
sensitive parent. Her six month old business is booming!
***************
Please address any netmail to me at 1:163/223 or to one of the
addresses above.
Thank you for taking the time to read this article. I hope to
hear from many of you from around the world.
-----------------------------------------------------------------
FidoNews 7-21 Page 9 21 May 1990
Pat Mulcahy
FidoNet 1:115/790, NetWork 8:7003/2007
What is the Christian Distribution Network?
Through a pleasant association with the SDN Project, Ray Waldo
came up with the idea for the Christian Distribution Network
(CDN) Project (sm). Although the SDN Project made available a
vast array of excellent shareware files, the Project didn't
specifically address the special interests of those who use their
computers for Church-related or Christian-related endeavors. It
is Ray's intent to bridge that gap with the CDN Project.
Ray Waldo is CDN's founder and Project Manager. Over the last
several months, he has been busy creating the CDN Project and
fine-tuning the details. His enthusiasm for the project has
pushed it to grow and develop, with new systems joining each
week.
The CDN is made up of BBS operators, software developers, and end
users. Any of these may be clergy, laity or Church staff. CDN
uses TICK or FLEA to automatically distribute acceptable software
and text files that have been developed to support Christian
computing. The idea is to make available files that can be of
help to the Christian SysOp or computer user.
Distribution is carried out in file echos, which are basically
the same as message echos, except that files and not messages are
exchanged. CDN currently has several file echos available. The
first is CDN, which is for general Christian and Church software.
CDN_TEXT is to distribute Christian text; CDN_TROL is CDN's
distribution of 'THE ROCK' On-Line files, dealing with
Contemporary Christian Music. Currently under development are
CDN_CFC to distribute Computers for Christ's text files; CDN_MJCN
for the Messianic Jewish Computer Network; and CDN_MIDI to
distribute Christian-Related MIDI files.
CDN has two message echos as well. CDN_SYSOP is for SysOps in
the CDN project. CDN_FILES is the echo for anyone interested in
CDN and the files it distributes. This echo is the primary means
of notification to the general public of all files distributed.
From time to time, CDN makes certain large files available
through postal distribution. For example, recently the Online
Bible (13 360K diskettes) was considered too large to distribute
by modem, so it was made available to those interested through
postal distribution. The package went to the first SysOp on the
list, who sent it to the next, and so on until it was returned to
Ray.
FidoNews 7-21 Page 10 21 May 1990
There are several types of CDN members. Full members carry the
UCDN flag in the FidoNet or NetWork nodelists. Full members must
carry all program file areas, maintain files for a specified
length of time, and not change the compression type or remove the
Security Envelope for at least three weeks. Limited members do
not carry the UCDN flag. They are not required to carry all
program file areas, and may make any legal changes in the
compression technique, remove the security envelope or delete the
files from their systems after all pending transfers have taken
place. Finally, a recipient is considered a "user" of the CDN
net distributor, and have no restrictions placed on them.
Those interested in joining the CDN project in any capacity
should look for their local CDN node (search the nodelist for the
UCDN flag) and request the file CDN_JOIN.EXE. That file contains
the current policy document, as well as information on joining
the project. CDN_JOIN.EXE is also avaialble from 1:115/790 (aka
8:7003/2007) or from Ray's system, 1:394/1 (aka 8:7003/1); both
are 9600 HST systems.
-----------------------------------------------------------------
FidoNews 7-21 Page 11 21 May 1990
File Echos & Support Group NetWorks
(the Best thing to happen to networking since Mail)
Many times within the constraints of already existing Networks
(i.e. FidoNet, RBBSNet, BBSNet, GhotiNet, etc) develops a
Support Group, Informational Network, Distribution System or
unique Topical File Echos. Right now file echos are spreading
like wildfire. Much in the same manner that echos originated,
file echos are headed. In fact, now the latest FidoNews and
Nodediff comes echoed via Tick in two distinct file echos
NODEDIFF and FNEWS to most local networks.
With file echos, files can go directly online (to the area of
recieving sysops choice) with a description. File echos use a
secure environment and have a dupe catcher so, no worries mate.
In the old days, as sysops, we could send each other File
Attatches and the receiving sysop would have to move the file
online and type a description into the display file for users.
Now, with new technology we can send files not only to each
other but the description comes with it and it can be
immediately avaliable for the our users, and friends too.
The utility that changed my life was Tick, written by Barry
Geller. The latest avaliable version is 2.00 usually found as
Tick200.Lzh. Seems right after that, the next great invention
came out; Raid, by George Peace, which is an Areafix for Tick
and can be used to turn file echos on and off. Current Raid
release version is 1.00 found mostly as Raid100.Lzh. There is
to be a new Raid with an "Announce" function built in and
it will "AutoCreate" new File echo areas. I am willing to bet
Release Two will be out shortly. Ticket, by Paul West, is one
of many file announcement programs. Also avaliable is RFP
(Recieved for Processing), by Tom Hendricks is another Great
and completely configurable File Announcement Program. Yes,
Its getting better all the time <Lennon and McCartney>.
I can't say what was the first file echo. But shucks, I was just
mesmerized by the SDS. When our Local NEC who at the time was
Bill Anderson started distributing the SDS to us it was it was
like discovering ice cream for the first time <grin>. A
chocolate soda fountain had been turned on we had only dreamed
existed. Before this, we all shared new releases that someone
was lucky enough to File Request. When someone got a new some-
thing or other that helped the operation of their BBS, they
would announce it in the local sysop echo and we would out and
wazoo it, FReq it, or any other manner at our disposal. Since
the SDS came to town they all would mysteriously just show up.
The concept of file echos caught on so strong here in our local
FidoNews 7-21 Page 12 21 May 1990
community that a group of about 7 of us formed over 75 local
file echos which we use to share new shareware programs and
uploads via our local network(s). One I originally contacted
Barry Geller about some problems I was having with a "C" Echo,
I renamed to CEE and is now distributed in 3 regions in Fido-
Net. And since then too, I began help with beta testing Tick and
finally Raid at Barry and Georges invitation and my persistance
<grin>.
That was about two years ago and other things have changed here
and now Ed Cavender and I pick up the SDS & DDSDOORS for
Nashville and distribute them to anyone interested. Ed and I
even have had the chance to send a couple files back the other
way.
I would like to do some more in this great new age which is
dawning. I am not a programmer though so that leaves out quite
a few of the fun type jobs <grin>. I have been listening and
watching and helping tie my local network into some of the new
support and informational networks. EET (the School Electronics
BBS) has recently started carrying the SDN and through a fellow
network member, Jerry Dunlap of Dickson County BBS, I brought in
DVNet to Nashville and with permission both he and I carry the
support files online. But now an even better idea has come to
mind!
In the backbone echo ECHO_REQ you can post and read about
queries, requests to link into echos, and new echo
announcements. As an alternative and with the growing interest
in file echos, I recently suggested an echo conference where one
might find information about file echos, support networks, and
distribution systems. Information on what goes with what and who
to contact to get linked in. Maybe even a few folks there to ask
how the traffic is and what to expect. Still other alternatives
are starting new file echos or support networks. So an new echo
conference is born: "FILE_REQ"
I had in mind some ideas for support/informational networks
myself to either link into or help create. One is an electronics
info & programs network and the other is a CAD netWork. The
other BBS I run here in Nashville is at a technical college and
sponsored by the electronics engineering technologies
department. It has plenty of electronics oriented programs but
there are always different ones which do specific anylaysis and
help with design projects. Most time one ends up writing a
program which already exists or if you go looking ..well.. this
may take a while. More recently the only board here in Nashville
that was carrying an AutoCAD file area and the national backbone
echo A_CAD went down. So I set aside about 20M and put CAD-CAM
and A_CAD online. And with the aid of a very active AutoCAD user
it has become a regular CAD hangout in the community. Now don't
FidoNews 7-21 Page 13 21 May 1990
get me wrong ..I have in mind a few more selfish reasons to
..I would like to see a national ANSI file echo <grin> and
I'd be willing to bet there are some more great ideas all of
us have in common.
So far FILE_REQ is avaliable from Nashville, TN at 1:116/29,
and from NEC18 Amnon Nissan at 1:151/1003 and 100, and Dean
Lachan (Region 19) 1:124/4115, and (Region 13 and Tick Central)
Barry Geller at 1:266/12 and more recently (SDS Coordinator)
Tom Hendricks at 1:261/662.
.
Kenneth "Kevin" Snively
EET BBS 1:116/24
the Nashville Hub System 1:116/28
the Dawg Byte 1:116/29
-----------------------------------------------------------------
FidoNews 7-21 Page 14 21 May 1990
Janet Murray
Fido 1:105/23
CURMUDGEON TOSS RULES at the
REGION 17 FIDONET(r) CONVENTION
(Thanks to Ken Zwaschka, 1:105/54)
1. Due to budgetary constraints, a surprising reluctance of Nike
and other local athletic shoe companies to provide
sponsorship, and the intervention of government agencies who
simply do not understand, the "Curmudgeon Bungee Diving" event
promised as a highlight at the Region17 Convention has been
replaced by an equally exciting contest: "Curmudgeon Tossing"
at the Menucha swimming pool.
2. "Curmudgeon Tossing" is a team sport. Teams may consist of
two or more individuals.
3. Since there is only one Curmudgeon, and there will certainly
be a large number of contestants, teams must provide their own
Curmudgeon Clone who meets the following criteria:
A. Must be a human being (at least in the biological sense);
otherwise, animal rights activists have threatened a major
media event.
B. Must be a current *C in the FidoNet organization.
(Handicap points will be awarded based on the *C's ranking:
e.g. 1 point for an N*C, 2 points for an R*C, etc.)
C. Additional handicap points will be awarded for Curmudgeon
Clones attired in Levis, a flannel shirt, and Birkenstock
sandals (1 point for each item.)
D. The Curmudgeon Clone must be a _WILLING_ participant, prior
to the beginning of the TOSS, and may withdraw to a hot
shower at any time.
4. Objective: TOSS the Curmudgeon Clone into the exact center of
the 30x75' pool from the "long" end. The Curmudgeon Clone can
help (by diving toward the center) - or hinder (depending on
HOW willingly he offered to participate.) Although not against
the rules, it is considered unCurmudgeonlike to indicate -
until the last minute - the degree of cooperation the team can
expect from the Curmudgeon Clone.
5. Each team will get three tries,with their best score counting.
6. Although points will be carefully logged, final standing will
be based on the totally subjective anarchical/dictatorial
decision of the Judgeon.
FidoNews 7-21 Page 15 21 May 1990
Certificates will be awarded in the following categories:
No comment, mention or acknowledgement (the highest rating -
for silence from the Curmudgeon is the best recognition!)
Take it to another echo
Dweeb
7. There will be no winner: just cold, wet, shivering, and
humiliated *C's - that should be MORE than enough.
8. The JUDGEON will, of course, be the CURMUDGEON himself. No
decisions will be final, and can be disputed, debated, and
flamed endlessly without any resolution.
===============================================================
| |
| IF you are considering attending the Region17 Convention, |
| please send NetMail to Ken Zwaschka at 1:105/54 - THIS WEEK! |
| |
| Otherwise, we cannot guarantee that there will be places |
| available for late (and especially) last-minute registrants. |
| |
===============================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------
FidoNews 7-21 Page 16 21 May 1990
Anthony Grillo
Fido 1:272/94
SIGN FRIENDS-A Sign Language Tutorial
One of my callers, Fran O'Gorman, wrote a program designed to
teach sign language using a computer. I was so impressed by the
program and its ability to help many people in all parts of the
world that I offered to be a distribution point for the program.
In addition I will be hosting an echo supporting SIGN FRIENDS. I
asked Fran to write a little article about her program and I
present it here.
********
Sign Friends is an interactive program designed to teach sign
language utilizing the graphic and animation capabilities of the
computer. Compressed into 3 files, so that it can be extracted
onto either a floppy or hard drive system, it consists of SIGN1
(file name is SIGN37-1.EXE) and SIGN2 (file name SIGN37-2.EXE)
and SIGN3 (file name SIGN37-3.EXE). A .DOC file (SIGN.DOC) also
accompanies these, describing installation procedures.
Written in GWBasic, the user will need either that or BASICA if
he/she has a true IBM, and CGA capabilities in order to run the
program. Further details are described in a read.me file
included with the programs.
Sign Friends is topically arranged according to chapters of
approximately seven words each, with the exception of the
alphabet and numbers. There are over 200 words to date in Sign
friends. An index concludes SIGN1 and SIGN3. Each chapter
includes a practice and a test portion. Student results are
displayed at the end of each test. Sign Friends is totally
menu-driven and requires little or no computer competence for
its use. The vocabulary is on an elementary level, little
reading ability is required, thus it is suitable for use with
children as well as adults. The program includes a
fingerspeller.
Sign Friends was written for my brain-injured child who, while
hearing, is unable to speak and depends on sign for expressive
communication. It is my hope that a world more fluent in sign
will be a world more accessible to her and children like her.
Fran O'Gorman
********
SIGN FRIENDS is available here on the Monroe Electronic Mall
(1:272/94) as self extracting files:
SIGN37-1.EXE, SIGN37-2.EXE, SIGN37-3.EXE
and as ZIPPED files:
SIGN37-1.ZIP, SIGN37-2.ZIP, SIGN37-3.ZIP
At the present a local message area exists for the support and
FidoNews 7-21 Page 17 21 May 1990
discussion of SIGN FRIENDS. If you would like to partake in an
echo about this program please contact me for setting it up. If
enough interest is generated in the echo I will request backbone
tie-in at a future date. Your input on this program will enable
Fran to add additional chapters and refine the program to help
all those who need it.
Anthony Grillo
Sysop-Monroe Electronic Mall
914 783-0992 1:272/94
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FidoNews 7-21 Page 18 21 May 1990
The Secret Sysop Society presents __
*** Conclave '90 *** / \
The SYSOPS Convention /|oo \
Home of FidoCon 1990 (_| /_)
Lyndhurst, New Jersey _`@/_ \ _
August 1-5, 1990 | | \ \\
| (*) | \ ))
______ |__U__| / \//
/ Fido \ _//|| _\ /
(________) (_/(_|(____/ (tm)
Rate Plan Schedule: Before 6/1/90: Before 5/1/90:
-------------- --------------
A. Single Occupancy.......$595.00 $545.00 $495.00
B. Double Occupancy.......$450.00 $400.00 $350.00
C. Conference w/ meals....$300.00 $250.00 $200.00
D. Conference w/ Banquet..$205.00 $155.00 $105.00
E. Conference only........$175.00 $125.00 $ 75.00
F. Banquet only...........$130.00 $80.00 $ 30.00
G. Registrant & Spouse....$720.00 $670.00 $620.00
(All rate plans except plan F include all conference and hotel
fees. Those registering before 5/1/90 get a $100.00 discount,
those registering before 6/1/90 get a $50.00 discount.)
You must pay by Check, Money Order, or Credit Card. Please send
no cash. All monies must be in U.S. Funds. Checks should be
made out to: "Conclave '90"
The following registration form must be completed and mailed to:
PO Box 12
Lyndhurst, NJ 07071
You may register by Netmailing this completed form to 1:1/90 for
processing. Rename it to ZNNNXXXX.REG where Z is your Zone
number, N is your Net number, and X is your Node number. US Mail
confirmation is required within 72 hours of electronic filing.
If you are paying by credit card, please include the required
information. For your own security, do not route any message
with your credit card number on it. Crash it directly to 1:1/90.
The official Conclave '90 airline is American Airlines.
American offers a 5% discount the lowest applicable round-trip
fare, including 1st class travel, subject to availability of
inventory. All fare rules and restrictions apply. In addition,
American offers 40% off their round trip unrestricted day coach
fare. International travelers qualify for special benefits,
including complimentary admittance to the Admiral's Club Lounge
at any American Airlines terminal. Newark is an American Air-
lines city with direct flights to most major cities. When making
reservations, you must call American's Toll-free reservation
number at 800-433-1790, and reference Star number 13704F.
FidoNews 7-21 Page 19 21 May 1990
C O N C L A V E '90 R E G I S T R A T I O N F O R M
Name: __________________________________________________________
Address: _____________________________ Apt. or Suite: _________
City: _________________________ State or Province: ____________
Postal Code: __________________ Country: ______________________
Voice Phone: ______________________ Data: _____________________
Zone:Net/Node.Point@Domain: ____________________________________
Special requirements: __________________________________________
+---------------+---------------------+-----+----------+-------+
| Option | Full | | Pricing | Line |
|(Choose 1: A-G)| Name | Qty | Thru 5/1 | Total |
+---------------+---------------------+-----+----------+-------+
| PLAN A* | | | $495.00 | |
+---------------+---------------------+-----+----------+-------+
| PLAN B* | | | $350.00 | |
+---------------+---------------------+-----+----------+-------+
| PLAN C* | | | $200.00 | |
+---------------+---------------------+-----+----------+-------+
| PLAN D* | | | $105.00 | |
+---------------+---------------------+-----+----------+-------+
| PLAN E* | | | $ 75.00 | |
+---------------+---------------------+-----+----------+-------+
| PLAN F | | | $ 30.00 | |
+---------------+---------------------+-----+----------+-------+
| PLAN G* | | | $620.00 | |
+===============+=====================+=====+==========+=======+
| NJ Beach Trip | | | $ 24.50 | |
+---------------+---------------------+-----+----------+-------+
| Eve. NYC Tour | | | $ 37.50 | |
+---------------+---------------------+-----+----------+-------+
| Broadway Show | | | $ 75.00 | |
+---------------+---------------------+-----+----------+-------+
| NYC Shop Tour | | | $ 36.50 | |
+---------------+---------------------+-----+----------+-------+
| Costume Ball* | | | $ 50.00 | |
+---------------+---------------------+-----+----------+-------+
* includes all conference fees & Hotel | Total $ | |
** includes dinner, show, and costume +==========+=======+
MC _____ Visa _____ Card Number: _____________________________
Expiration: ___________ Signature _____________________________
( Credit card registrations require valid signature )
FidoNews 7-21 Page 20 21 May 1990
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FidoNews 7-21 Page 21 21 May 1990
=================================================================
COLUMNS
=================================================================
Henry Clark
124/6120
Programmer and Tester --
My neighbors and I had an interesting discussion concerning the
relative merits of large software projects and software quality
control. Really it was two on one, with myself (micro software
and minimum person project advocate) and Mike (mainframe
software project manager and tired of the maximum person
projects) versus Ken (workstation software salesman and
wondering why developers can't make software without bugs).
I'll spare you the details of the opening volleys of small
versus large projects, time and cost considerations and the
personal biases of each of the participants. The really
interesting part was about the role of software tester.
Primary to the argument was the role and relative skill level
of the software testing team, or Quality Control group. From a
cost and marketing standpoint, it behooves a company to get
lots of experts testing and retesting a software product before
it goes out the door. Support dollars spent up front rather
than later when you have an irate customer. Sort of a pay me
now or pay me later kind of approach.
An often overlooked criteria for the software tester is that
he/she must possess about the same skill level as the end user.
This does not mean experts, and certainly not developers. This
works well for two reasons, 1) you can't get developers to test
other people's software and 2) you can't get developers to make
'uninformed' decisions about what actually needs to be tested
and how to test.
The bottom line ? Hire a few computer literate high-schoolers
this summer to run through all your software functions. Give
them the documentation, a diskette, and a stack of Problem
Report sheets.
Window Washer --
Windows 3.0 arrived over at my pardners BIG WINDOWS development
shop. It sure is pretty. Unfortunately, without the /r
switch, none of his existing apps will run. Looks like upgrade
time for a bunch of software.
FidoNews 7-21 Page 22 21 May 1990
I was unhappy with one important feature, SETUP install new
applications. You get several options for scanning to look for
PIFs, etc. but no specific way to install ONE new app, for
example one that you just unarced. Setup gives you options
like whole disk and just path; on a big disk, this is a real
pain.
Sure is pretty though. I've been trying to think how I could
really use it. Seems to me that WordPerfect, ScanMan and
Ventura would fit the publishing bill. I'm a Brief/MS C kind
of guy, that's character mode too. All the good comm programs
are character mode. Lotus is still numero uno.
I guess it's true, you are what you are. Lot's of folks have
called me a character; no one has ever called me an icon.
Honey's New Car --
"Well I got me a car, it's as big as a whale, and it's about to
set sail... Yeah I got me a Chrysler, it seats about twenty,
so hurry up, and bring your juke box money... Well the Love
Shack is a little old place where, we can GET TOGETHER...
Love Shack baby..."
I can not believe these car dealers. Used to be, they'd snap
up a profit, turn that money into another car, and smile doing
it. Now days, it appears, they think they got something
special.
Hey New Car Dealers : We all know your manufacturers invoice
price, and how that includes your 3% volume rebate, and 1%
marketing fund. You make money selling it 'below cost' ! What
really hurts is the amount of time wasted HAGGLING, especially
when you start bidding at sticker plus !
"Love Shack, that's where it's at, Love Shack, baby, that's
where it's at..."
Just goes to show, it's who you know, not what. I got a buddy
who runs a leasing company; he has a fleet number and
apparently, all three of us made money, but I got my price ! I
drove out exactly 14 hours after calling him.
It sure is pretty, Junebug <smile>.
"Bang, bang, bang on the door baby... I can't hear you. BANG
BANG, on the door baby, BANG BANG on the door baby, WHAT ?"
( (C) B-52 Cosmic Thing )
FidoNews 7-21 Page 23 21 May 1990
-----------------------------------------------------------------
FidoNews 7-21 Page 24 21 May 1990
=================================================================
LATEST VERSIONS
=================================================================
Latest Software Versions
MS-DOS Systems
--------------
Bulletin Board Software
Name Version Name Version Name Version
Fido 12s+ Phoenix 1.3 TAG 2.5d1
Lynx 1.30 QuickBBS 2.64* TBBS 2.1
Kitten 2.16 RBBS 17.2B TComm/TCommNet 3.4
Maximus 1.00 RBBSmail 17.2 Telegard 2.5*
Opus 1.12+* RemoteAccess 2.0* TPBoard 6.1*
PCBoard 14.2* SLBBS 1.76* Wildcat! 2.10
Network Node List Other
Mailers Version Utilities Version Utilities Version
BinkleyTerm 2.30 EditNL 4.00 ARC 6.02
D'Bridge 1.30 MakeNL 2.20 ARCAsim 2.30*
Dutchie 2.90C ParseList 1.30 ARCmail 2.0
FrontDoor 1.99c* Prune 1.40 ConfMail 4.00
PRENM 1.47 SysNL 3.01 Crossnet v1.5*
SEAdog 4.51b XlatList 2.90 EMM 2.02
XlaxDiff 2.35* Gmail 2.05
XlaxNode 2.35* GROUP 2.16
GUS 1.30
LHARC 1.13
MSG 4.0
MSGED 1.99
PK[UN]ZIP 1.10*
QM 1.0
QSORT 4.03
SLMAIL 1.35*
StarLink 1.01
TagMail 2.20
TCOMMail 2.2
Telemail 1.20*
TMail 1.14*
TPBNetEd 3.2
TosScan 1.00*
UFGATE 1.03
XRS 3.20*
ZmailQ 1.10
Macintosh
---------
FidoNews 7-21 Page 25 21 May 1990
Bulletin Board Software Network Mailers Other Utilities
Name Version Name Version Name Version
Red Ryder Host v2.1b10 Tabby 2.2 MacArc 0.04
Mansion 7.15 Copernicus 1.0d* ArcMac 1.3
WWIV (Mac) 3.0 StuffIt 1.51
FBBS 0.91* TImport 1.331
TExport 1.32
Timestamp 1.6
Tset 1.3
Import 3.2
Export 3.21
Sundial 3.2
PreStamp 3.2
OriginatorII 2.0
AreaFix 1.6
Mantissa 3.21
Zenith 1.5
UNZIP 1.02b
Amiga
-----
Bulletin Board Software Network Mailers Other Utilities
Name Version Name Version Name Version
Paragon 2.06+ BinkleyTerm 1.00 AmigArc 0.23
TrapDoor 1.50* AReceipt 1.5*
WelMat 0.35 booz 1.01
ConfMail 1.10
ChameleonEdit 0.10
ElectricHerald1.66*
Lharc 1.10
MessageFilter 1.52*
oMMM 1.49b
ParseLst 1.30
PkAX 1.00
PK[UN]ZIP 1.01
PolyxAmy 2.02*
RMB 1.30
TrapList 1.12*
UNzip 0.86
Yuck! 1.61*
Zoo 2.00
Atari ST
--------
Bulletin Board Software Network Mailer Other Utilities
FidoNews 7-21 Page 26 21 May 1990
Name Version Name Version Name Version
FIDOdoor/ST 1.5c* BinkleyTerm 1.03g3 ConfMail 1.00
Pandora BBS 2.41c The BOX 1.20 ParseList 1.30
QuickBBS/ST 0.40 ARC 6.02*
GS Point 0.61 LHARC 0.51
PKUNZIP 1.10
MSGED 1.96S
SRENUM 6.2
Trenum 0.10
OMMM 1.40
+ Netmail capable (does not require additional mailer software)
* 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 7-21 Page 27 21 May 1990
=================================================================
NOTICES
=================================================================
The Interrupt Stack
26 May 1990
First anniversary of Net 269, Northern New Jersey
3 Jun 1990
Comdex/Spring, which will run from June 3-6 in Atlanta, will be
held at the World Congress Center and other locations.
5 Jun 1990
David Dodell's 33rd Birthday
12 Jun 1990
Fifth anniversary of FidoNet's switch to multiple nets.
14 Jul 1990
Start of Eurocon / Techcon conference in Antwerp, Belgium.
Please note that the date has changed: The conferences are
one day later than originally planned !
27 Jul 1990
The beginning of the REGION 17 Convention at Menucha Resort in
the Columbia Gorge, Oregon. For details contact Ken Zwaschka,
1:105/54.
1 Aug 1990
Start of FidoCon '90. Contact Bill Vanglahn at 1:1/90 for
details.
5 Oct 1990
21st Anniversary of "Monty Python's Flying Circus"
6 Nov 1990
First anniversary of Van Diepen Automatiseert, 2:500/28
14 Nov 1990
Marco Maccaferri's 21rd Birthday. Send greetings to him at
2:332/16.0
1 Jan 1991
Implementation of 7% Goods and Services Tax in Canada. Contact
Joe Lindstrom at 1:134/55 for a more colorful description.
16 Feb 1991
Fifth anniversary of the introduction of Echomail, by Jeff Rush.
FidoNews 7-21 Page 28 21 May 1990
7 Oct 1991
Area code 415 fragments. Alameda and Contra Costa Counties
will begin using area code 510. This includes Oakland,
Concord, Berkeley and Hayward. San Francisco, San Mateo,
Marin, parts of Santa Clara County, and the San Francisco Bay
Islands will retain area code 415.
1 Feb 1992
Area code 213 fragments. Western, coastal, southern and
eastern portions of Los Angeles County will begin using area
code 310. This includes Los Angeles International Airport,
West Los Angeles, San Pedro and Whittier. Downtown Los
Angeles and surrounding communities (such as Hollywood and
Montebello) will retain area code 213.
If you have something which you would like to see on this
calendar, please send a message to FidoNet node 1:1/1.
-----------------------------------------------------------------
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