1699 lines
72 KiB
Plaintext
1699 lines
72 KiB
Plaintext
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F I D O N E W S -- Vol.10 No.29 (19-Jul-1993)
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+----------------------------+-----------------------------------------+
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| A newsletter of the | |
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| FidoNet BBS community | Published by: |
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| _ | |
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| / \ | "FidoNews" BBS |
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| /|oo \ | +1-519-570-4176 1:1/23 |
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| (_| /_) | |
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| _`@/_ \ _ | Editors: |
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| | | \ \\ | Sylvia Maxwell 1:221/194 |
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| | (*) | \ )) | Donald Tees 1:221/192 |
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| |__U__| / \// | Tim Pozar 1:125/555 |
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| _//|| _\ / | |
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| (_/(_|(____/ | |
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| (jm) | Newspapers should have no friends. |
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| | -- JOSEPH PULITZER |
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+----------------------------+-----------------------------------------+
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| Submission address: editors 1:1/23 |
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+----------------------------------------------------------------------+
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| Internet addresses: |
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| |
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| Sylvia -- max@exlibris.tdkcs.waterloo.on.ca |
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| Donald -- donald@exlibris.tdkcs.waterloo.on.ca |
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| Tim -- pozar@kumr.lns.com |
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| Both Don & Sylvia (submission address) |
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| editor@exlibris.tdkcs.waterloo.on.ca |
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+----------------------------------------------------------------------+
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| For information, copyrights, article submissions, |
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| obtaining copies and other boring but important details, |
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| please refer to the end of this file. |
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+----------------------------------------------------------------------+
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========================================================================
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Table of Contents
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========================================================================
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1. Editorial..................................................... 2
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2. Articles...................................................... 3
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AEGIS....................................................... 3
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"Madness in FidoLand... Part I?"............................ 3
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region25 ZC2 does it again.................................. 4
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ARJ vs ZIP, The Faceoff..................................... 5
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Fido ENFORCES ShareWARE Registrations!!!.................... 7
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R24 Update & Some More Thoughts............................. 8
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ZC Is Out of Order.......................................... 9
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To: Billy Cash (1:226/70.0)................................ 11
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Change nodelist achiver..................................... 11
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Policy4's 4th birthday!..................................... 13
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Free Expression in FidoNet (Open letter to Tom Jennings).... 15
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New and Eclectic Environmental and Science Echoes........... 16
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Why do we want geonets??.................................... 18
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MegaLoMania................................................. 20
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UK FidoNet Policy (UKPOL) Document Draft 003................ 23
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New Echos Announcement...................................... 28
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What's actually happening in Region 18?..................... 29
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FidoNews 10-29 Page: 2 19 Jul 1993
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3. Fidonews Information.......................................... 29
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========================================================================
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Editorial
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========================================================================
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Ahhhh, sunburn.
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We went to the free Home County Folk Festival this weekend,
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which is a better-than-usual excuse for getting down to writing
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the editorial late. I met an archetypal old man there who wore
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dread-locks in his *long* beard, and bag-man clothes except they
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were perfectly clean and his fingernails were manicured. He has
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dedicated a book of poetry to Greg Curnoe, and agrees that the
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only reasons for not being a student (i mean, trying to
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understand stuff, not necessarily having an ID card that says
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"student") are laziness or despair. If i hadn't actually
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chatted with him i might have avoided him as a wino. Funny how
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misleading appearances can be, or at least how bound by
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preconceptions i can be.
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Anyway, reflecting upon recent mail, i must apologize to readers
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who might be offended by some small language contained herein below.
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Being revolted by violence, i'm not up to cutting articles.
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Perhaps proper, linguistically sensitive readers might employ
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the 'page down' key, or some similar contrivance if they want
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censorship to happen in their Snooze. As far as i can tell,
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nobody's submitted anything to us that is simplistically intended
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to be offensive (thankyou and i'm not surprised), so i can continue
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to avoid the possibility of being overbearing and repressive over
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yet another issue.
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I'm worried a wee bit that accepting submissions by net mail
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might be misleading here and there. We are still happily
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accepting Net Mail submissions of *articles*. Just because
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the submissions may come by mail doesn't mean FidoNews is now
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an edited echo. Please do not use quotes in articles that are
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submitted by Net Mail, because they get scrambled when we format
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them for the Snooze, and because reprinting what everyone read
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last week meagrely interspersed with comments, is boring.
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three r's: rant, rave, revel...reel real reveal..revellation
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FidoNews 10-29 Page: 3 19 Jul 1993
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========================================================================
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Articles
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========================================================================
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AEGIS
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From: Kenny Teel (1:141/650)
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A global consortium of non-profit BBS in FidoNet has been
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forming.
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What's it called? "AEGIS" (AIDS Education General Information
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System).
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The AIDS Daily Summary and various other data are made available
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each weekday. Data orinates from the Centers for Disease Control
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and Prevention, American Foundation For AIDS Research, National
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Institutes of Health and the likes.
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This is a new, exciting service that has sprung from FidoNet,
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bringing the latest news of research and other developments from
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the various scientific sources to scores of systems around the
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globe!
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The data is freely available to all who request it.
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Echomail stars are:
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West Coast - HIV/AIDS Info BBS - 1:103/927
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Midwest - Starcom - 1:154/69
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North East - NHGCS Network BBS - 1:141/650
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AEGIS media consists of seven Echomail conferences and
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twenty-four TICK style file echos.
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I feel this is news because everything is 100% voluntary and
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free (in the spirit of FidoNet -<g>-).
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Thanks for your attention-
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kt
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----------------------------------------------------------------------
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"Madness in FidoLand... Part I?"
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From: Karl Davis (3:712/510)
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Well, Well, Well.
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I am writing to raise a few points concerning Jeremy Dailey
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FidoNews 10-29 Page: 4 19 Jul 1993
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(1:2613/276)'s article about "Madness in FidoLand... Part I?".
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The main reason I am writing this is to point out to him (and
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other like-minded sysops), that ARC, although being
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'antiquated', is widely supported! There has been a hullabaloo
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here in Zone 3 on compression formats, and rather than repeat
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all that, please, Jeremy, and others, remember that
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NOT EVERYONE uses a PC. * NOT EVERYONE else uses a Mac or an
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Amiga.
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There are other computers connected to Fidonet, and I think it
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is time that everyone was reminded of that. ARJ is not the
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answer to life, the universe and everything. Neither is LHA.
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Fidonet is a machine-independent network, so please keep things
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that way. Although ARC is not new, and probably doesn't give the
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best compression rates, it scores very high on the
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platform-independent stakes.
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For Example - I use the Acorn Risc OS based system with various
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BBS utils and a very good port of BinkleyTerm. I can de-archive
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most formats, but only create ARC or SPARK-16 formats. This is a
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pain, but it shouldn't be a problem as the 'official' archiver
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of Fidonet is ARC. End of problem. At least until the bloke with
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a 486 wants to change the compression format to, say, ARJ. I am
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probably not the only one who faces this problem. Take our Mac
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friends, and then the Atari ST, then ......
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I am also not flaming you, just pointing out a mis-conception
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that a lot of sysops have; namely that everyone is forced to use
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a DOS/OS2/Win etc PC. Some of us are more fortunate than that.
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----------------------------------------------------------------------
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region25 ZC2 does it again
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Hi Folks, I have been reading a lot lately about region 25 and
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Policy 4. For those who "truly" believe that policy 4 is NOT in
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force in zone 2 or region 25, the following may be illuminating:
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##Some text deleted for the sake of brevity.##
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Let's assume that region 25, as a whole, votes against Policy 4.
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The majority of the SysOps (worldwide) vote in favour of it.
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Does this mean region 25 is exempt from it?
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I hope that you can clearly see how ludicrous it is to state
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that simply because region25, or even zone 2 voted against the
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proposition of Policy 4, it cannot apply to them.
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For those of you, and I am sure there are still a few, who
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cannot understand even this simplistic logic and who occupy the
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position of NetWork Coordinator, I suggest the following.
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FidoNews 10-29 Page: 5 19 Jul 1993
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Poll the members of your net and find out their opinion on the
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applicability of policy 4. If they disagree with you, then it's
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time to give up the job and hand it over to someone with a
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better understanding of FidoNet. If they agree with you then
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send me a message informing me that you do NOT accept Policy 4
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as being applicable to your net. Send the same message to every
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member of your net as well as your Regional Coordinator. I will
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see to it that you are no longer bothered by Policy 4.
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Ron Dwight, ZC/2, sometimes known as RonBo ###
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He striketh again and it looks like that unfortunately for some
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of you you will in the future get another massive update. What
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can be done? When is a more realistic policy which allows
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regions to have some say going to be written? Even asking IC for
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help seems to fall on death ears, we asked for an exception
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policy to be applied for special local circumstances for UK
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telephone charging structures it was turned down or even blocked.
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It means that many of us may perhaps lose our node numbers,
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there is no path of appeal left to us, since now ZC2 has decided
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in his infinite wisdom to become RC25 as well. Lunacy is an
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understatement, one sysop has already bee expelled from Fidonet
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because he tried to get an injunction to stop this madness. I
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ask does Fidonet want to grow and encourage Human communication
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or does it want to shrink into the dark ages.
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Those at the top are the only ones that can stop this madness.
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Please help, before we are all renumbered in zone2 and really
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huge nodediffs are seen and the sysops no longer have the
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control over their own systems
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----------------------------------------------------------------------
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ARJ vs ZIP, The Faceoff
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By Scott Miller, The Star Board BBS (1:123/416)
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Who will win the battle of the Archivers? Read on to find out!
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Okay, we have all argued the subject of which compression/
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decompression utility is best. I have been fed up with this subject
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for a while, and since then I have been releasing tests of all the
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major archivers, and have found that two really stand out. Robert K.
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Jung's ARJ, and Phil Katz's PKZIP. There has been much heated debate
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about which of these two arvhivers should prevail as the best in the
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BBS community, so I set up a little test. I completely demolished all
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the resident programs, except DOS, and 4dos. No caches, No memory
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managers, just ARJ, ZIP, and the Unreal Graphics demo, (Thanks to
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Future Crew, for this really fine and BIG demo, which I am proud to
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use in this test.) which is a bit over 2 megabytes in size. Both
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archivers were set to their maximum compression levels, ARJ with the
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-M1 and -JM flags, and PKZIP with the -EX flag. I set up a batch file,
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which used 4DOS's TIMER command to be the most accurate, and it wrote
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the results directly to the below list. Well here it is, the answer,
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to life the universe and everything, or at least the archiver question
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FidoNews 10-29 Page: 6 19 Jul 1993
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(a little joke to all you Douglas Adams fans).
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Test results. The Faceoff. ARJ v2.41 vs PKZIP v2.04g.
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-------------------------------------------------------
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File sizes before:
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-----------------------------
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Volume in drive C is STACVOL_DSK
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Directory of c:\test\*.*
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. <DIR> 7-11-93 22:24
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.. <DIR> 7-11-93 22:24
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readme.now 4521 8-05-92 18:48
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unreal.exe 2310375 8-05-92 19:17
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2,314,896 bytes in 2 file(s) 2,334,720 bytes allocated
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50,012,160 bytes free
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Compression times. ARJ:
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-----------------------
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Timer 1 on: 22:28:01
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Timer 1 off: 22:29:22 elapsed: 0:01:20.96
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File size after. ARJ:
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---------------------
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Volume in drive C is STACVOL_DSK
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Directory of c:\test\unreal.arj
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unreal.arj 1310268 7-11-93 22:29
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1,310,268 bytes in 1 file(s) 1,335,296 bytes allocated
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47,620,096 bytes free
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Compression times. ZIP:
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-----------------------
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Timer 1 on: 22:29:22
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Timer 1 off: 22:31:58 elapsed: 0:02:35.17
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File size after. ZIP:
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---------------------
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Volume in drive C is STACVOL_DSK
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Directory of c:\test\unreal.zip
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unreal.zip 1326664 7-11-93 22:31
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1,326,664 bytes in 1 file(s) 1,327,104 bytes allocated
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45,318,144 bytes free
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Decompression times. ARJ
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------------------------
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Timer 1 on: 22:32:03
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Timer 1 off: 22:33:01 elapsed: 0:00:58.27
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Decompression times. ZIP
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------------------------
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FidoNews 10-29 Page: 7 19 Jul 1993
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Timer 1 on: 22:33:04
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Timer 1 off: 22:33:59 elapsed: 0:00:55.20
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Well, from these results which I have looked over, I believe
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it was a very close race. PKZIP was actually SLOWER in compressing the
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two files, which is a definite change over time, but it remained
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faster in decompressing the file. Take in mind however that the actual
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time difference is very small, but time can be precious. As far as
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file compression, ARJ did better than PKZIP by 1639 bytes, which is a
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tiny difference, but can make a difference when you are dealing with
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hundreds of megabytes, so a little is better than nothing. I would
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just like to say CONGRATULATIONS to the winner, who I personally would
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like to think is ARJ v 2.41, which has taken great steps in many areas
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over the earlier versions, and good luck to both authors, until the
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next faceoff.
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|
|
Scott Miller
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
----------------------------------------------------------------------
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
Fido ENFORCES ShareWARE Registrations!!!
|
|||
|
|
From: Mike Lester 1:170/10011
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
Once upon a time in fidonet........
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
Shareware Author: Mr. NC ANYNET, I wish to file a policy
|
|||
|
|
complaint against NODE GRUNT SYSOP, he has (sniff sniff) been
|
|||
|
|
running my software well past its registration time, and I want
|
|||
|
|
him FORCED to either cough up money he owes me, or i want him
|
|||
|
|
FORCED out of the nodelist, or FORCED to STOP using my software
|
|||
|
|
past its "trial time limit".
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
Mr. NC ANYNET to Shareware Author: Fine, I will EXCOMMUNICATE
|
|||
|
|
Node Grunt Sysop, for running illegle software.
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
From Mr. NC ANYNET to NODE GRUNT SYSOP: I have had a POLICY
|
|||
|
|
COMPLAINT on your NODE. You are to cease and desist using the
|
|||
|
|
Shareware from the referanced author. he wants his money or he
|
|||
|
|
wants you to stop using it. I find that this is within policy4
|
|||
|
|
guidelines and i want an answer now or i will be forced to
|
|||
|
|
"EXCOMMUNICATE" you.
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
From NODE GRUNT SYSOP to Mr. NC ANYNET: Stuff it, i can run ANY
|
|||
|
|
software i want, and its no ones business if its registered
|
|||
|
|
shareware or not.
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
From Mr. NC ANYNET: your outa here, i will remove your node
|
|||
|
|
number from the next nodelist update.
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
End of Story........
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
Sound like FICTION????
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
NOPE, its for real, and the characters names in this story are :
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
FidoNews 10-29 Page: 8 19 Jul 1993
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
Mr. Fidonet NC: 1:170/0, JB Graham
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
Software Author Rep?? (Shareware Police) Policy Complainer:
|
|||
|
|
Bruce Bodger 1:170/400 (btw, this Complainter has no known
|
|||
|
|
AUTHORITY to ACT in behalf of RA ) ( He is only a Support
|
|||
|
|
board, and collects no money, or does any ) ( RA registrations
|
|||
|
|
according to the RA Docs... )
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
NODE GRUNT SYSOP, Jason Garcia, 170/506....age 16 yrs.
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
My Policy Complaint is a matter of public record against Bodger,
|
|||
|
|
and may be file requested from 1:170/10011.0 as BBAPPEAL.TXT
|
|||
|
|
Mike Lester - Alarmist.
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
Comments anyone???
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
Is it me, or does anyone else feel there is a terrable
|
|||
|
|
injustice here...and an opening of one LARGE can of really BAD
|
|||
|
|
worms by a really BAD DOOD...
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
----------------------------------------------------------------------
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
R24 Update & Some More Thoughts
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
"R24 Update & Some More Thoughts"
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
by Juergen Hermann (still one of the good guys),
|
|||
|
|
NL.169 2:241/7554 (49-721-826310, V.32bis),
|
|||
|
|
Internet jh@ccave.ka.sub.org
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
"... the question is, how do we achieve that the consciousness
|
|||
|
|
of the function of law and of its enforcement is brought to a
|
|||
|
|
consent among the whole population. That are processes that
|
|||
|
|
take years. And what you have neglected there, you cannot
|
|||
|
|
repair over night by a certain action."
|
|||
|
|
(Richard von Weizsaecker, 1987 in German TV)
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
First some current statistics: R24 now has 1015 sysops, 83 of them new
|
|||
|
|
since NL169, therefor only (1015-83)/1743 = 53% have accepted their new
|
|||
|
|
NCs and the attendant circumstances of joining the new and improved
|
|||
|
|
R24. All of this numbers represent _persons_, since the latest R24
|
|||
|
|
sports seems to be to create 2-4 additional (ISDN) lines for a node.
|
|||
|
|
Honi soit qui mal y pense! ;-)
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
The R24C claimed that one of the main reasons for his action was that
|
|||
|
|
several NCs abused their power, that NCs fought for nodes ("if you come
|
|||
|
|
into my net you'll get echo mail much cheaper than now") and so on.
|
|||
|
|
Well, so far I didn't see any prove supporting this reasoning, but
|
|||
|
|
let's be trusting. What's much more important is that if it's true, the
|
|||
|
|
R24C failed _miserably_ in performing his duties for approximately two
|
|||
|
|
years! Then, one summer day, he decided to do something against the
|
|||
|
|
"saustall" (pigsty) he did not care to prevent in the first place, by
|
|||
|
|
acting in a way that's totally against THE POLICY, and instead of
|
|||
|
|
resigning and thus making room for a more capable guy.
|
|||
|
|
FidoNews 10-29 Page: 9 19 Jul 1993
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
Furthermore, what makes this attempt of enforcing parts of THE POLICY
|
|||
|
|
which had been ignored for years in many Z2 regions quite ridiculous is
|
|||
|
|
that, without being listed at all in the world-wide nodelist, we (parts
|
|||
|
|
of the old region with the _old_ structures) can perfectly and smoothly
|
|||
|
|
communicate with other regions and zones. The only critical spots are
|
|||
|
|
the out-of-region links, a local issue (local in the meaning of
|
|||
|
|
just-one-session-away). You may believe it or not, and it's just my
|
|||
|
|
personal experience, but after my HUB changed feeds I got echomail in
|
|||
|
|
international conferences that had been dead for a long time. The only
|
|||
|
|
major problem is netmail, but after all Fight-O-Net is there to support
|
|||
|
|
the over-sized egos of *Cs and not to communicate with each other. Not!
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
This indicates that there were no other reasons for this action than
|
|||
|
|
that this rules were there. No operational or other technical reasons,
|
|||
|
|
certainly not the cost issue, it was PURE POLITICS. This is just a
|
|||
|
|
hobby, but I fear some people are mixing hobby communications with
|
|||
|
|
hobby politics.
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
It is also a strong point for the proposed domain name services, they
|
|||
|
|
WOULD work if you only let them and somebody puts enough work into an
|
|||
|
|
implementation. They would also take away the power to remove a whole
|
|||
|
|
region at the will of two persons (RC+ZC), because an alternative name
|
|||
|
|
server can be set up just as easily as alternative echomail links. But
|
|||
|
|
of course no *Cs wants that, because he would lose his only weapon to
|
|||
|
|
force people to accept his subjective view of "FidoNet Paradise".
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
Sweet dreams, Juergen
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
P.S.: To our American friends, Richard von Weizsaecker is the German
|
|||
|
|
President, if you failed to know that. ;-)
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
----------------------------------------------------------------------
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
ZC Is Out of Order
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
by Denis McMahon @ 2:252/20 (for now)
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
Is ZC2 truly acting in the best interests of FidoNet? Look at his
|
|||
|
|
recent record:
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
(a) ZC2 (who lives in Finland) appointed himself RC28 (The
|
|||
|
|
Netherlands) for several months in direct contravention of Policy 4
|
|||
|
|
section 3.5.
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
(b) ZC2 collaborated in the RC24 "geographisation" where several nodes
|
|||
|
|
were allocated node numbers without warning, a move that, whether
|
|||
|
|
permitted under Policy or not, was it seems somewhat lacking in
|
|||
|
|
planning and consultation.
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
(c) ZC2 has found that a Region25 node is guilty of blackmail
|
|||
|
|
(demanding money with menaces) for threatening to take legal action to
|
|||
|
|
prevent the withdrawl of a nodenumber. Does ZC2 place Policy 4 above
|
|||
|
|
national law? It certainly looks like it. ZC2 of course is safe from
|
|||
|
|
FidoNews 10-29 Page: 10 19 Jul 1993
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
British Justice in Finland, and thus he is happy to take action that
|
|||
|
|
is in contempt of the British courts in a case that is sub-judice. I
|
|||
|
|
would suggest that ZC2 would be well advised not to visit the UK in
|
|||
|
|
future, he may find that a warrant has been issued for his contempt.
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
(d) ZC2 has now appointed himself RC25, despite the fact that he
|
|||
|
|
resides in Finnland (region 20) and that he is thus wearing multiple
|
|||
|
|
hats once again (in direct contravention of the spirit of Policy 4).
|
|||
|
|
This may well be my swansong, and you may well see a greatly reduced
|
|||
|
|
region 25 segment in the nodelist shortly - as ZC2 is taking a course
|
|||
|
|
of action which may drive sysops away in droves - and I would not be
|
|||
|
|
surprised if I am now removed from the nodelist for dissension. So,
|
|||
|
|
why do I write this? Simple - FidoNet must find a way to prevent *Cs
|
|||
|
|
abusing their role of co-ordinating node-diff segments! Until FidoNet
|
|||
|
|
can do this, FidoNet will remain at risk of being hi-jacked by people
|
|||
|
|
like ZC2 who are more interested in their petty power games than in
|
|||
|
|
the long term good of the network. Lets look at the way this problem
|
|||
|
|
developed......
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
(1) ZC2 mandated that Region25 must reorganise geographically -
|
|||
|
|
despite the fact that the only complaints about the non geographic
|
|||
|
|
organisation were purely based on policy, and not any problem that the
|
|||
|
|
non-geographic nets were causing.
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
(2) A lot of people opposed geo-nets, but were prepared to accept a
|
|||
|
|
natural wasteage solution, where over a period of, say, a year, people
|
|||
|
|
would move across to the geographically correct nets.
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
(3) RC25 / ZC2 were not prepared to accept this, and in one case, when
|
|||
|
|
a sysop said "We will incur costs" said "So what, Sue Me."
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
(4) When the sysop concerned responded to RC25s public taunts to sue
|
|||
|
|
him by doing just that, both RC25 and ZC2 deemed the sysop to be
|
|||
|
|
excessively annoying.
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
(5) When the RC25 realised that the sysop concerned had a cast iron
|
|||
|
|
case for a restraining suit, he chickened out and resigned the Post.
|
|||
|
|
As a result, ZC2 has now imposed himself as RC25, unwanted by a large
|
|||
|
|
number of sysops in the region.
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
Does FidoNet really want people who seem committed to a route of
|
|||
|
|
disharmony in positions where, by editing a file, they can remove
|
|||
|
|
sysops from the nodelist? I think not - yet this is the state we are
|
|||
|
|
in, today, in Zone 2. *Cs are charged with the technical management of
|
|||
|
|
the network, and to decide that a sysop exercising his legal rights is
|
|||
|
|
worthy of excommunication is a dangerous precedent to set.
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
This may be the last article you see from me, ZC2 will doubtless state
|
|||
|
|
that this is excessively annoying and remove me from the nodelist as
|
|||
|
|
soon as he sees it. More power to his elbow - the only change that
|
|||
|
|
will make over here is that I will no longer be able to import
|
|||
|
|
echomail from Zone 1 and feed it on to Zone 2. That's not my loss, in
|
|||
|
|
fact, it's my gain - as it means my telco bills go down!
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
Sysops in Region 25 and those other parts of Zone 2 that get the feeds
|
|||
|
|
to the echoes concerned through me might feel differently though.
|
|||
|
|
FidoNews 10-29 Page: 11 19 Jul 1993
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
To: Billy Cash (1:226/70.0)
|
|||
|
|
Re: Teen Net
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
In Vol. 10, No. 28 of FidoNews, Billy Cash stated the following in
|
|||
|
|
response to Matt Riedel's Teen Net advertisement:
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
>In an article almost completely devoid of grammar, the author Matt
|
|||
|
|
>Riedel says teenagers are treated differently just because of their
|
|||
|
|
>ages. Rubbish! Do the spelling errors, capitalization mistakes and
|
|||
|
|
>missing verbs mean anything? And what's wrong with being "grown up?"
|
|||
|
|
>I'd hate to be in this network. (Imagine City Council run by a bunch
|
|||
|
|
>of pimply high school kids!)
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
I have to respond to this. Upon first reading your message, I had no
|
|||
|
|
idea you yourself were a teenager you stated it. This may bring up the
|
|||
|
|
question: besides the SysOps of boards you call, who even knows you're
|
|||
|
|
a teenager?
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
If you act like an adult, you can do more than merely get by with their
|
|||
|
|
"good example" - you can actually hold a FidoNet position! There is no
|
|||
|
|
age restriction on being an NC, RC, or even ZC of FidoNet. Even a 10
|
|||
|
|
year old, presuming he acted like an adult and knew what he was doing,
|
|||
|
|
could run Zone 1 of FidoNet!
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
Not to say you should fake your age, but this isn't the United States
|
|||
|
|
government. You don't have to be 35 or older to hold an important
|
|||
|
|
position. I think the question here isn't age, it's maturity. Just
|
|||
|
|
ask any teenage SysOps who were called "Sir" by a 40 year old caller.
|
|||
|
|
;')
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
There are, I am sure, some teenage Net Coordinators among us in
|
|||
|
|
FidoNet. If any of them wish to speak up on this, I think this would be
|
|||
|
|
an excellent opportunity. And I am certain that they do not consider
|
|||
|
|
themselves "pimply high school kids".
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
Thomas Head 1:3632/37
|
|||
|
|
Age 15
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
----------------------------------------------------------------------
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
Change nodelist achiver
|
|||
|
|
By Rob! Blackney "New Kid In Town"
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
Well, how should I start??? Well, I'm no writer (you'll see!),
|
|||
|
|
So I guess I'll just start. After several attempts at starting
|
|||
|
|
a Front End Mailer (FEM) in 92 with some "Help from others" type
|
|||
|
|
document files (Who also could NOT write), I finally in Feb. of
|
|||
|
|
93 sat down and READ the docs for Front Door (FD). Should have
|
|||
|
|
done that in the first place (Oh Well!), set it up and Bingo! I
|
|||
|
|
was on-line. Mind you I had a lot of help from a couple of
|
|||
|
|
GREAT SysOp friends down state (Thanx Doug & Bob). After
|
|||
|
|
FidoNews 10-29 Page: 12 19 Jul 1993
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
several more months of "Learning the Ropes" (and still learning)
|
|||
|
|
I finally feel comfortable.
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
Then, one morning I decided to read the news (Fnewsa26, 27, 28).
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
Now I've seen some messages concerning the changing of the
|
|||
|
|
NodeList because of its size and some other "traffic". But
|
|||
|
|
after reading this thing about R24!!! Well, here are my
|
|||
|
|
thoughts.
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
First, IMHO I really think the "Powers that Be" set a new
|
|||
|
|
"standard" for Archiving. If the current XARC (10/90) were
|
|||
|
|
still supported (updated regularly) there could be no argument
|
|||
|
|
from anyone. However, while XARC still sits there, the others
|
|||
|
|
go on.....
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
Its time a new Standard was chosen, doesn't really matter which
|
|||
|
|
as long as it's better. A new standard IS necessary, take the
|
|||
|
|
current NodeDiff (as of this writing).
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
NODEDIFF.190 220,945 (Raw, Day 190, 1993) NODEDIFF.A90
|
|||
|
|
120,669 (ARC a, V6, 1989) NODEDIFF.A90 120,513 (ARCA, V5,
|
|||
|
|
1988) NODEDIFF.LZH 85,817 (LZH, 1991) NODEDIFF.ARJ 83,488
|
|||
|
|
(ARJ, 1992) NODEDIFF.Z90 83,159 (PKZip, 1993) NODEDIFF.Z90
|
|||
|
|
82,014 (PKZip -- ex, 1993)
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
Considering the obvious, why are we spending money to move even
|
|||
|
|
just one file using this archaic archiver? My suggestion, in
|
|||
|
|
January pick the one that currently are compressing the most, in
|
|||
|
|
two years review and see if a change is necessary. We move
|
|||
|
|
these files 52 times a year using even LHA (this year) would
|
|||
|
|
save us 35k a week (or 1820k, over a meg using the above file).
|
|||
|
|
Mind you I received the Nodediff above in Version six form.
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
Reality is we all have just about every one, because not every
|
|||
|
|
file is self extracting, so we need the errant copy or two.
|
|||
|
|
Changing the standard shouldn't be such a big deal. Is Fidonet
|
|||
|
|
pushing ARC or have they just not thought to change the
|
|||
|
|
standard. Now I don't often need to be hit in the face with a
|
|||
|
|
brick to see what is in front of my eyes. Greater compression
|
|||
|
|
means fewer dollars. In this case save more dollars for
|
|||
|
|
everyone.
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
A standard is important, but when it becomes ridiculous, its
|
|||
|
|
time for a change. Even the military changes when standards
|
|||
|
|
become obsolete or inefficient........... If we're going to
|
|||
|
|
"set a standard" (which IS necessary) let's consider everyone,
|
|||
|
|
and everyone's wallet.
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
Second, the NodeList itself. Isn't it about time it was in the
|
|||
|
|
form of a zone?? I currently run a program called ZONE. It
|
|||
|
|
breaks the NodeList into its 6 zones. It takes up less space,
|
|||
|
|
and because it's smaller, less time to compile. It makes more
|
|||
|
|
sense to have it in zone form at our current size. How many
|
|||
|
|
folks are sending mail to ALL six zones on a regular basis? I'm
|
|||
|
|
FidoNews 10-29 Page: 13 19 Jul 1993
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
sure it's a very low figure in comparison to everyone not doing
|
|||
|
|
it.
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
Which brings me to this overthrow, rebellion, correction, or
|
|||
|
|
what ever you want to label it. How long was that region out of
|
|||
|
|
policy? Was the world Fidonet community considered, let alone
|
|||
|
|
the respective nodes concerning the expense of their actions?
|
|||
|
|
Think about the money spent moving the large nodediff files
|
|||
|
|
because of this problem. It has IMPOSED an expense to the
|
|||
|
|
entire world Fidonet community. Could that expense have been
|
|||
|
|
avoided for everyone?
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
Breaking the Nodelist into individual ZoneLists would have at
|
|||
|
|
least been less expensive to the world at large. Consider for a
|
|||
|
|
moment how small the individual nodediff files would be? How
|
|||
|
|
much shorter the download times would be? Its time to consider
|
|||
|
|
the future, consider the growth of the nodelist, consider the
|
|||
|
|
possibility of this happening again. This is just an opinion,
|
|||
|
|
not an expert solution to things. No, I'm not out to stir up
|
|||
|
|
trouble.
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
Someone or something needs to be in place to avoid this
|
|||
|
|
happening again possibly a safe guard to keep it from ever
|
|||
|
|
happening all. Yeah! no big deal, it cost me a few bucks. Does
|
|||
|
|
anyone want to see it happen every month, because someone
|
|||
|
|
realized people were doing things incorrectly? I'm not saying
|
|||
|
|
let people do things wrong mind you. Surely the "Calling Areas"
|
|||
|
|
alone should have been the number one consideration; Second,
|
|||
|
|
should have been the total effect of changing things. Could it
|
|||
|
|
have been done slower and gradual, so the rest of us were not as
|
|||
|
|
impacted?
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
Better yet, would simply changing the Nodelist into ZoneLists,
|
|||
|
|
reduce the impact of such a change on the entire Fidonet
|
|||
|
|
community? You decide.
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
Maybe it's time for some folks to sit back and look at things
|
|||
|
|
objectively, without being defensive. Think about improving the
|
|||
|
|
system, just for a while, see how many answers you can come up
|
|||
|
|
with. I'm just a new guy. I may have no idea or clue. What if
|
|||
|
|
things could be improved? Can we save ourselves some time and
|
|||
|
|
money? Is there a better "Mouse Trap" out there?
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
----------------------------------------------------------------------
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
Policy4's 4th birthday!
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
"They [politicos] sold us so much bullshit that now we don't even
|
|||
|
|
believe the traffic lights..."
|
|||
|
|
-- Tato Bores, Argentine TV comedian
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
Pablo Kleinman
|
|||
|
|
On the road in Ensenada, Mexico
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
I told you, I told you... I TOLD YOU, DAMNED!
|
|||
|
|
FidoNews 10-29 Page: 14 19 Jul 1993
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
("Celebrating" Policy4's 4th Anniversary)
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
Okay, so you don't like the title, so what? The facts are on the
|
|||
|
|
table, fellas, and reality is frightfully frightening.
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
When I wrote the previous article ("Oy vey..."), I didn't know or
|
|||
|
|
imagine that so many articles with the same topic would come for
|
|||
|
|
the same issue of FidoNews as well as for the two issues that
|
|||
|
|
followed. Just a few days ago I was still laughing at the couple of
|
|||
|
|
episodios ridiculos I wrote about, but now the "laughter" has been
|
|||
|
|
replaced by a grimmer "concerned look" as I get more acquainted
|
|||
|
|
with their consequences.
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
I'd like to dedicate this article to all the many out there that
|
|||
|
|
vocally opposed change for so long, from the good-for-nothing IC
|
|||
|
|
Matt Whelan to "FidoNet celebridades" such as Vince Perriello and
|
|||
|
|
Tomasito Jennings himself... Last month was the 4th anniversary of
|
|||
|
|
the adoption of Policy4 and we still have the same old piece of
|
|||
|
|
shit policy, and you all did your good part to ensure that we'd
|
|||
|
|
arrive to year 4!
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
By no means will I suggest that the "WorldPol proposal" would have
|
|||
|
|
eliminated all the chances for the present trouble the network is
|
|||
|
|
immersed in. WorldPol, for instance, wouldn't have effectively
|
|||
|
|
stopped a "politico RC" like Region 18's. However, ugly episodes
|
|||
|
|
like the German autocoup wouldn't have taken place because the
|
|||
|
|
sysops would have had the power to prevent them.
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
And now that we talk about Germany, I can sadly say that what I
|
|||
|
|
predicted on FidoNews 1026 has happened. Let me quote some
|
|||
|
|
statistical data posted by Roland Schiradin on ENET.SYSOP (the
|
|||
|
|
zone two sysops' conference):
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
NODELIST: '169 '176 '183 '190
|
|||
|
|
Entry total 2240 2214 1651 1403
|
|||
|
|
unique system-name 2195 2154 1611 1366
|
|||
|
|
unique SysOp-name 1725 1653 1228 1040
|
|||
|
|
unique phone-number 2119 2028 1495 1267
|
|||
|
|
Hold-systems 13 12 23 60
|
|||
|
|
Down-systems 11 5 7 6
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
Is this progreso? Progreso las bolas!!!
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
What good can the change be when just over two weeks after it's
|
|||
|
|
happened, 837 entries are history and many more are on their way
|
|||
|
|
to becoming so? All my friends in Germany (I have many) have
|
|||
|
|
disappeared from the nodelist thanks to this putsch... Never before
|
|||
|
|
have I seen anyone do so much harm in FidoNet in so little time
|
|||
|
|
like the German RC Erich Janssen and his cronies have. And the
|
|||
|
|
scary part of this is that the crusade to enforce Policy4's
|
|||
|
|
geographic restrictions is not over. Region 25 (Britain) and Region
|
|||
|
|
28 (Holland) are marked targets.
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
What to do? I have no clue, but something must be done.
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
FidoNews 10-29 Page: 15 19 Jul 1993
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
Personally, I plan to assist any sysop (or group of sysops, as in
|
|||
|
|
R24's case) being persecuted by power-loco coordinators, in
|
|||
|
|
whatever ways I can. This week it seems that a friend who runs an
|
|||
|
|
echomail-hauling system in Hamburg will start picking up echomail
|
|||
|
|
for distribution from me (he had 3 or 4 entries for his multiline
|
|||
|
|
system on the nodelist a few weeks back, but now he's no longer
|
|||
|
|
listed). A group in Germany is coordinating a parallel pre-putsch
|
|||
|
|
REGION24 nodelist segment so all the "exiled nodes" can still
|
|||
|
|
receive mail... hopefully.
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
Time permitting, I will work with whoever is interested in trying
|
|||
|
|
to formulate a solution (and a defense against the dictadores-
|
|||
|
|
coordinadores) so that we can get back to normality and
|
|||
|
|
constructive reality... Yes, I guess I never learn to ignore and
|
|||
|
|
keep my mouth shut, but even if I have little hope of achieving
|
|||
|
|
anything radical, it's better than to watch with cara de culo
|
|||
|
|
what's going on now.
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
I hope others will do something too; the most alternatives, the
|
|||
|
|
most chances we have to get some change. As far as I'm concerned,
|
|||
|
|
the WorldPol concept is no longer practical and we need a very,
|
|||
|
|
very, VEEEEERY brief document that most of all defends the rights
|
|||
|
|
of the members of FidoNet, without whom this network would
|
|||
|
|
obviously cease to exist.
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
I will welcome all mail at either of my nodes (1:10/100 in
|
|||
|
|
Hollywood or 2:343/111 in Barcelona) and hope to hook up with
|
|||
|
|
others out there that are willing to help and to invest some time
|
|||
|
|
in finding (drafting?) a solution. I don't know if creating an echo
|
|||
|
|
conference again is a good idea, but I'll see what others
|
|||
|
|
suggest... Adelante then!
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
Besitos,
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
-Pablo
|
|||
|
|
pablito@scf.usc.edu
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
PS: I heard EuroCon in Luxemburgo was a BIG success despite the
|
|||
|
|
badmouthing it had received on the snooze... any attendees willing
|
|||
|
|
to tell us more?
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
----------------------------------------------------------------------
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
Free Expression in FidoNet (Open letter to Tom Jennings)
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
By Merrill Guice
|
|||
|
|
1:3645/50 (close to the Okefenokee Swamp)
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
Dear Tom,
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
First, good to hear from you in the snooze again. For someone who has
|
|||
|
|
been reading that fetid bog called the Region 18 Sysop Echo, it was a
|
|||
|
|
much needed cool breeze. Did you notice that other nodelist issue
|
|||
|
|
running just above yours in the snooze? Don't you find it hilarious
|
|||
|
|
that someone can attempt to call their bbs the:
|
|||
|
|
FidoNews 10-29 Page: 16 19 Jul 1993
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
20,THE_FUCK_YOU_CHRIS!_BSS_:Home_Of_Bytes_&_Pc's_Rbbs,....
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
and be removed as NC of their net? From what I can tell, if I decided
|
|||
|
|
to call my bbs the:
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
ANAL_SEX_WITH_DOGS_BBS
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
Then my NC is supposed to refuse me a nodelisting or be threatened
|
|||
|
|
with losing his "position". In other words, he's supposed to censor
|
|||
|
|
me.
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
What is even more funny is that I can write down both pseudo-listings
|
|||
|
|
here in the world-wide read pages of the snooze and its ok -- just
|
|||
|
|
don't try to put it in the nodelist where it may offend someone!
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
In your article last week you said:
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
"no person or group can control the content of a persons
|
|||
|
|
communications"
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
You also said:
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
"Anyone who tells you your ability to communicate with FidoNet
|
|||
|
|
depends on the good will or actions or rulesheet of another
|
|||
|
|
is a conniving shit up to no good. Plain enough?!"
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
As the owner of the nodelist, do you allow the /0's to make decisions
|
|||
|
|
of content outside of technical considerations? Are the /0's out of
|
|||
|
|
line if they try to censor the name of a bbs? I sure hate to have you
|
|||
|
|
consult that expensive lawyer again, but me and Pogo and the rest of
|
|||
|
|
the creatures here in the Okefenokee Swamp would like to know your
|
|||
|
|
answer.
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
----------------------------------------------------------------------
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
New and Eclectic Environmental and Science Echoes
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
by Scott Robert Ladd
|
|||
|
|
Coyote Gulch BBS FidoNet 1:128/23
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
You'd think that the hundreds of backbone echoes would
|
|||
|
|
satisfy my conversational needs. What else is there to talk
|
|||
|
|
about?
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
Well, I have a few interests that are NOT covered by
|
|||
|
|
existing echoes. To satisfy my insatiable need for
|
|||
|
|
conversation, I've created the four off-backbone echoes
|
|||
|
|
described hereafter.
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
WILDLIFE
|
|||
|
|
~~~~~~~~
|
|||
|
|
WILDLIFE is a forum for discussing issues about wild
|
|||
|
|
animals. Naturalists, ecologists, hunters, animal-rights
|
|||
|
|
activists, nature photographers, and anyone else concerned
|
|||
|
|
FidoNews 10-29 Page: 17 19 Jul 1993
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
with wild animals should be involved in this conference. I
|
|||
|
|
regularly post news articles about a variety of topics,
|
|||
|
|
ranging from Animal Damage Control to endangered species to
|
|||
|
|
the latest research.
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
WATER
|
|||
|
|
~~~~~
|
|||
|
|
Water is vitally important to life. Living in the semi-arid
|
|||
|
|
Southwestern U.S., I've become intimately involved in water
|
|||
|
|
management issues. I also spent four years working for the
|
|||
|
|
U.S. Bureau of Reclamation. I'd like to find others who are
|
|||
|
|
interested in discussing topics such as: quality, politics,
|
|||
|
|
law, conservation, flood control, etc.
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
BACKROAD
|
|||
|
|
~~~~~~~~
|
|||
|
|
As a non-fiction writer, I travel. The Interstate may be
|
|||
|
|
nice, but I'm happier traveling back roads and jeep trails.
|
|||
|
|
My venerable '77 Jeep Cherokee and I have learned a great
|
|||
|
|
deal about exploring the wilderness and rural areas. I want
|
|||
|
|
the BACKROAD echo to present tips on finding interesting (if
|
|||
|
|
obscure places), vacationing by car, and back country (jeep
|
|||
|
|
trail) driving ethics and techniques.
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
DINOSAUR
|
|||
|
|
~~~~~~~~
|
|||
|
|
I'm an amateur paleontologist; fossils have fascinated me
|
|||
|
|
since my early childhood (long, long ago... <grin). With the
|
|||
|
|
recent interest spurred by the movie Jurassic Park, it seems
|
|||
|
|
only logical that FidoNet should support an echo devoted to
|
|||
|
|
dinosaur fans! In the DINOSAUR echo, I'd like to have
|
|||
|
|
discussions of fossil hunting, news, and recent discoveries.
|
|||
|
|
I'm looking into connecting the Dinosaur Society to this
|
|||
|
|
echo...
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
Anyone is welcome to join these echoes; simply drop me a
|
|||
|
|
line via Fido or Internet, and I'll add you on. To get
|
|||
|
|
things going, I'll be willing to ship these echoes long
|
|||
|
|
distance until they can reach the backbone. Entries for all
|
|||
|
|
four echoes have been submitted to the EchoList.
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
<<<----------------------()=()-------------------------->>>
|
|||
|
|
Scott Robert Ladd coyote@latrans.alphai.org
|
|||
|
|
Coyote Gulch Productions fido: 1:128/112
|
|||
|
|
423 North Cooper Avenue native net: 90:80/3
|
|||
|
|
Colorado Springs, CO 80905-1120 bbs/modem: 719/578-1340
|
|||
|
|
FidoNews 10-29 Page: 18 19 Jul 1993
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
Why do we want geonets??
|
|||
|
|
========================
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
(By a fidonetter, who may well soon become an ex-fidonetter
|
|||
|
|
through his own choice)
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
(*** Hey, look, ANOTHER article from ZONE 2!!! ***)
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
--------------------
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
In days of old, when there were few members of fidonet, the
|
|||
|
|
imposition of Goenets wasn't so silly: it made the mail a bit
|
|||
|
|
easier to send ... or so I am told. You see, the geonet policy
|
|||
|
|
was written in the US, where the telco tarrifs make the use of
|
|||
|
|
geonets more sensible.
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
However, when the US accepted Policy 4, it was accepted as a
|
|||
|
|
guideline by Europe too. Unfortunately, power-mongers since then
|
|||
|
|
have had that policy set into european cement!
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
But policy for the US is NOT neccessarily correct for the rest of
|
|||
|
|
the world.
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
In the UK, we have some very strange long-distance tarrifs:
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
1) Our main carrier, BT, chages for calls (local and LD) in 5
|
|||
|
|
pence "units", so the minimim cost for all calls is 5p. Our
|
|||
|
|
alternative LD carrier, Mercury, charges for calls by the 1/10th
|
|||
|
|
second, minimum 3p, excepet for LOCAL calls (where the minimum is
|
|||
|
|
7p... kinda discourages you using them!!). So, a local netmail
|
|||
|
|
costs 5p (BT) or 7p (Mercury) to send, but a NON-local one is 5p
|
|||
|
|
(BT) or 3p (Mercury).... hey, you know it's CHEAPER to send a
|
|||
|
|
LONG-DISTANCE netmail, if you use Mercury!!!
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
2) There is a special BT Tarrif called MIDNIGHT LINES: for a
|
|||
|
|
single quarterly charge, all inland calls between 00:00 and 06:00
|
|||
|
|
are FREE!! Yes, as many free calls to ANYWHERE in mainland UK as
|
|||
|
|
you can make! As a result, we have many hubs running Midnight
|
|||
|
|
Lines, distributing the mail for their subscribers. For a fixed
|
|||
|
|
cost to the sysop (anbd usually a LOT cheaper than making their
|
|||
|
|
own calls), they get all their mail delivered..... and it matters
|
|||
|
|
not whether the mail is from 500 yards away or 500 miles away!
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
So, where is the rational behind enforced geonets?? Simple:
|
|||
|
|
POLICY SAYS YOU MUST HAVE GEONETS! So it is that "the powers that
|
|||
|
|
be" in Europe are insisting that Geonets are enforced.
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
Geonets are supposed to exist to keep costs down. I don't need a
|
|||
|
|
policy to tell me that I want to save money. I already do what I
|
|||
|
|
can to save on my phone bill! If I could do better, and keep the
|
|||
|
|
reliability & convenience, then I would....
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
However, there are many more factors to consider in 1993 other
|
|||
|
|
than the actual call cost. What about:
|
|||
|
|
FidoNews 10-29 Page: 19 19 Jul 1993
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
1) reliability of the system you call (some are good, others are
|
|||
|
|
always dying.... so why can't *I*choose?)
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
2) compatibility of the mailer systems (don't try and tell me
|
|||
|
|
that ALL mailer software works perfectly together.... we ALL know
|
|||
|
|
that is not true!)
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
3) compatibility of the modems (yeah, we all know V.32 is a
|
|||
|
|
STANDARD... so how many standard modems do YOU have trouble
|
|||
|
|
calling into??)... oh, assuming that they HAVE V.32 (or HST, or
|
|||
|
|
PEP....)
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
4) How HELPFUL is the hub/host?? If it takes me a single (short)
|
|||
|
|
long-distance netmail to get something done, then this is a LOT
|
|||
|
|
cheaper than 5 or 10 LOCAl ones to get nothing done.
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
I'd much rather be involved in a network where the mail flows in
|
|||
|
|
a way to save me money OVERALL, even if it may not be the
|
|||
|
|
closest.
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
So why am I writing all this???
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
Well, we all read recently about what has happened in Germany,
|
|||
|
|
with THEIR enforced re-organisation.
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
Well, despite the feelings of the voting majority in R25 (see
|
|||
|
|
below for explanation...) our "powers that be" seem to change
|
|||
|
|
their opinions / attitudes with their pants.... one moment we
|
|||
|
|
have a good reason for an EXEMPTION from geonets, the next we
|
|||
|
|
need to instantly re-organise INTO geonets.
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
(a recent referendum OVERWHELMINGLY supported the presenting of a
|
|||
|
|
"R25 geonet exemption policy" to the IC. This is still being
|
|||
|
|
considered [delays due to apparent "technicallities"] yet our
|
|||
|
|
"powers that be" seems to want to do a u-turn)
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
Well, from the feelings I have heard in my local net, if our
|
|||
|
|
"powers that be" wish to play silly buggers, then they may end up
|
|||
|
|
being a "power that is" of one less NET..... yes, there is
|
|||
|
|
currently serious feeling that maybe our WHOLE NET should leave
|
|||
|
|
fidonet.
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
Isn't this silly???? After all, the network is supposed to be
|
|||
|
|
something that's there FOR THE SYSOPS.....
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
Luckily, I am already in another network..... I may well join
|
|||
|
|
another one or two soon..... that way, leaving fidonet won't
|
|||
|
|
hurt. But I'd rather not leave.....
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
You know, it's odd how almost every OTHER network around doesn't
|
|||
|
|
have any form of geonet rule, yet THEY don't seem to have
|
|||
|
|
anywhere near the problems that Fidonet has! Nor the same number
|
|||
|
|
of "power grabbers"...
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
FidoNews 10-29 Page: 20 19 Jul 1993
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
A final thought:
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
Fidonet (= Matt Whelan, IC): it is time to change, or you will
|
|||
|
|
become a network linking NOONE!
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
Simply get rid of formal geonets, and replace it with an "open
|
|||
|
|
network", where "closed nets" are not allowed, such that an NC
|
|||
|
|
must, generally, allow ANYONE within their "geo-net area" to
|
|||
|
|
join. Those who wish to "geonet" can, those who don't won't! And
|
|||
|
|
that way Fidonet might again become somewhere that sysops WANT to
|
|||
|
|
be!
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
***********
|
|||
|
|
Stop Press:
|
|||
|
|
***********
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
Our "power that be", our RC25, has just resigned. We are not told
|
|||
|
|
why, but there is NO DOUBT that the current "geonet problem" has
|
|||
|
|
played an important part in his decision!
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
----------------------------------------------------------------------
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
MegaLoMania
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
MegaLoMania
|
|||
|
|
===========
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
By: Nils Hammar
|
|||
|
|
2:205/601@fidonet.org
|
|||
|
|
4341@msg.abc.se
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
Lately I have seen too much about NC:s and/or RC:s that doesn't
|
|||
|
|
do this or do that.
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
From what I see, there are two groups of those people. One group
|
|||
|
|
that doesn't answer netmail for some reason and are almost
|
|||
|
|
non-existent. The other group is attacking anything and
|
|||
|
|
everything. (According to the articles in FidoNews.)
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
Groups.
|
|||
|
|
-------
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
The first group is not a big problem until they fail to update
|
|||
|
|
the nodelist and other things that is important to the net.
|
|||
|
|
Since this is only a hobby, we may accept a delay up to a month
|
|||
|
|
for our coordinators to react (due to vacations and several
|
|||
|
|
other things out of our own control).
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
The other group is a problem, because if every region (or network)
|
|||
|
|
have their own policy about what's legal and illegal inside their
|
|||
|
|
region, it will result in anarchy. Say that I want to be MO, and
|
|||
|
|
my NC says that I couldn't be that since he wouldn't permit
|
|||
|
|
that (Nothing bad about my NC, he's a really nice guy.),
|
|||
|
|
this might result in a badwill for him. If I for some
|
|||
|
|
FidoNews 10-29 Page: 21 19 Jul 1993
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
reason want to have the MO flag in the nodelist, it's my
|
|||
|
|
problem. It's not necessary to have a BBS behind a fidonet
|
|||
|
|
nodenumber. It isn't even necessary fr a fidonet node to carry echomail!
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
The net.
|
|||
|
|
--------
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
The only thing a fidonet member has to be able to do is
|
|||
|
|
accepting netmail during ZMH following the FTS-0001. Everything
|
|||
|
|
else is just add-on that isn't necessary.
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
If I want to have a fidonet nodenumber to get netmail that way,
|
|||
|
|
and then get my echomail in another net, region or domain, it's
|
|||
|
|
only my problem unless I create a dupe loop. If I create a dupe
|
|||
|
|
loop, I will probably be one of the first persons to know about
|
|||
|
|
it, and if I create one, I will know how to avoid one the next
|
|||
|
|
time I set up a new echo. We will all have to accept that dupes
|
|||
|
|
will be generated now and then, and experience is the only way
|
|||
|
|
to avoid the worst cases. If people doesn't have the ability to
|
|||
|
|
run the trial and error race, they wouldn't learn anything.
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
Doing anything wrong?
|
|||
|
|
---------------------
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
How many of you have ever formatted the wrong diskette?
|
|||
|
|
Will you do it again?
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
I will suggest that the answer to the first question is that
|
|||
|
|
almost 95% of the fidonet users have formatted the wrong
|
|||
|
|
diskette, and that at least 20% will do it again.
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
The nodelist.
|
|||
|
|
-------------
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
As I can see, some people care about the contents of the
|
|||
|
|
nodelist, I don't care about the BBS name at all, since It's
|
|||
|
|
unimportant. The necessary information is the flags and the
|
|||
|
|
phonenumber. Everything else is just occupying space. I don't
|
|||
|
|
care if a node is calling itself "Peter's prick". (Yes we have a
|
|||
|
|
point here in sweden that has that name, "Prick" in swedish is
|
|||
|
|
"Dot" or "Point" in english, so much for that annoying word...)
|
|||
|
|
The only part of the non-tech stuff in the nodelist that is
|
|||
|
|
useful is the sysop name, but that is a limited field with
|
|||
|
|
limited use.
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
Policy.
|
|||
|
|
-------
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
My opinion about a policy is the following:
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
- Try to use software that follows the FTS standards.
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
- If you are a coordinator, serve your nodes with the necessary
|
|||
|
|
information to let them be a well-functioning fidonet member.
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
FidoNews 10-29 Page: 22 19 Jul 1993
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
- Don't annoy any other people.
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
- Don't be too easily annoyed.
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
Coordinators.
|
|||
|
|
-------------
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
As I stated above, a coordinator should serve the nodes with
|
|||
|
|
necessary information.
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
What the necessary information is depends on your status as a
|
|||
|
|
coordinator. A NC serves the nodes with general policy
|
|||
|
|
information nodelists and netmail.
|
|||
|
|
A NEC serves the nodes with echomail (But the NEC doesn't have
|
|||
|
|
to be the echomail feed.)
|
|||
|
|
The R*:s and Z*:s are just one step higher in the responsibility
|
|||
|
|
chain, which will render them a larger amount of work.
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
A hub is like a small NC, and I see no big difference between a
|
|||
|
|
NC and a HC (Hub Coordinbator). Even though the normal policies
|
|||
|
|
doesn't state that a HC has any rights to do things in this or
|
|||
|
|
that way, nor has any real network-oriented responsibilities, I
|
|||
|
|
think that the HC can take a lot of the NC:s work, since a lot
|
|||
|
|
of trouble might be solved better if it is solved as close to
|
|||
|
|
the source as possible.
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
Caller-ID.
|
|||
|
|
----------
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
From what I have seen about the caller-ID war, I think that it
|
|||
|
|
is too extreme at both sides. If anybody want to use caller-ID
|
|||
|
|
on his/hers BBS, then do so, but expect to loose users to those
|
|||
|
|
who doesn't use caller-ID. I don't care about if my users use
|
|||
|
|
fake names or not, as long as they behave well. The good
|
|||
|
|
behaviour is the goal for me, not the big brother mentality.
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
International problems.
|
|||
|
|
-----------------------
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
Since I am outside the united states, I have found out that
|
|||
|
|
there are other problems here, that doesn't occur in the US.
|
|||
|
|
Here we have a different action (as it seems from the articles)
|
|||
|
|
from the police when it comes to the raiding of BBS:es, even if
|
|||
|
|
we have had our raids here too.
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
Another problem that we have is the different character sets
|
|||
|
|
that are used. A lot of US programs are more or less annoying to
|
|||
|
|
the swedish users, since we are using the characters over 127
|
|||
|
|
very frequently, and those aren't supported by all US programs.
|
|||
|
|
This has resulted in either usage of other programs or some sort
|
|||
|
|
of kludge solutions. I have invented one myself, and that
|
|||
|
|
solution is a character set translator that I am distributing in
|
|||
|
|
an archive that currently is named PKTXL46.ZIP. This package is
|
|||
|
|
around 50k, and converts the character set on messages in
|
|||
|
|
PKT-files. Three of the most common 8-bit character sets are
|
|||
|
|
FidoNews 10-29 Page: 23 19 Jul 1993
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
handled (PC, MAC and ISO-Latin 1) and several different 7-bit
|
|||
|
|
character sets, as well as the german "umlaut" format.
|
|||
|
|
This package is now available from a few FTP sites, and a few
|
|||
|
|
nodes, mostly here in Sweden. It is of course possible to
|
|||
|
|
request from here.
|
|||
|
|
(Yes this later part is more a commercial than an regular
|
|||
|
|
article, but I hope you don't mind...)
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
Complaints?
|
|||
|
|
-----------
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
I think that I reflect the opinion of many members of FidoNet in
|
|||
|
|
this article, and if you have any complaints, please use
|
|||
|
|
netmail, and not yet another article in this war of articles.
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
----------------------------------------------------------------------
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
UK FidoNet Policy (UKPOL) Document Draft 003
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
UK FidoNet Policy (UKPOL) Document Draft 003
|
|||
|
|
July 1993
|
|||
|
|
D McMahon, FidoNet 2:251/20, 1993
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
=====================================================================
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
Some of you may ask why the UK (Zone 2, Region 25) wants its own
|
|||
|
|
Policy document. The answer is simple - a lot of sysops feel their is
|
|||
|
|
too much power vested outside the region, and that we have lost our
|
|||
|
|
right to a bit of self determination!
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
The UK is in a mess, and a lot of sysops are concerned that it could
|
|||
|
|
get worse with a Region-24 style debacle.
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
This is intended to be a policy proposal that, if adopted by the UK as
|
|||
|
|
a local policy, will get us out of a lot of the present mess.
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
Basically it give us a little more self determination than we have
|
|||
|
|
under Policy 4.06. Anyway, as this is the official bulletin of
|
|||
|
|
FidoNet, this is where I formally publish it.
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
Note, this is for comment, it is still a draft document, and it is
|
|||
|
|
here so that others can see what we're trying to do in the UK - we're
|
|||
|
|
looking for a sensible solution to the deep pile of manure that seems
|
|||
|
|
to be developing!
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
If you can see your net / region or zone going down the same road as
|
|||
|
|
Europe, then perhaps you want to think about doing something the same.
|
|||
|
|
I can warn you of two pitfalls I can see already:
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
(1) If your proposal sets itself up to override future policy
|
|||
|
|
versions, the IC will, and in my opinion quite correctly, refuse it.
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
(2) If your proposal is worded in such a way as to antagonise someone
|
|||
|
|
up the *C chain, don't be too surprised if it doesn't get through!
|
|||
|
|
FidoNews 10-29 Page: 24 19 Jul 1993
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
=====================================================================
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
This is a draft working document. It is issued to promote discussion
|
|||
|
|
of its content. Recipients are requested not to modify the document,
|
|||
|
|
proposed changes and accompanying rationale should be submitted to the
|
|||
|
|
the above address to enable configuration management. Recipients are
|
|||
|
|
welcome to forward unmodified copies to other parties who they feel
|
|||
|
|
may have constructive comment to offer.
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
=====================================================================
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
Summary:
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
Sections 1 .. 3
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
The document applies to R25 if accepted by the sysops and ratified by
|
|||
|
|
the IC. It is dependant upon P4.06, and is revoked if the IC decides
|
|||
|
|
to do so, if P4.06 is superseeded, or if the sysops vote it out.
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
Section 4
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
P4.06 applies unless this document explicitly states otherwise.
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
Section 5
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
RC is chosen by simple majority vote of the NCs from amongst the
|
|||
|
|
sysops in the region. RC may not also normally be an NC or ZC.
|
|||
|
|
Impeachment by electorate (ie NCs), removal by ZC. Emergency procedure
|
|||
|
|
for vacant post is choice of ZC.
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
Section 6
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
Geographic organisation of networks, but RC may grant an exemption.
|
|||
|
|
Nets may have local policy, such policy not to contradict UKPOL /
|
|||
|
|
P4.06 combination without IC approval.
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
Section 7
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
NC should be chosen etc in accordance with net policy (s6), failing
|
|||
|
|
that apply RC procedures but electorate is whole net concerned. RC may
|
|||
|
|
replace NC for failing to comply with requirements of UKPOL / P4.06.
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
Section 8
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
Duty of *Cs to consider the implications for all aspects of network
|
|||
|
|
operations and all network users when making decisions.
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
=====================================================================
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
FidoNet Zone 2 Region 25 Policy Document.
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
(1) Scope.
|
|||
|
|
~~~~~~~~~~
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
FidoNews 10-29 Page: 25 19 Jul 1993
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
This document (UKPOL) defines the operating policies and procedures of
|
|||
|
|
FidoNet within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern
|
|||
|
|
Ireland (FidoNet Zone 2 Region 25, or R25), and where appropriate
|
|||
|
|
expands upon or modifies FidoNet International Policy version 4.06
|
|||
|
|
(P4.06) as implemented by an announcement in FidoNews on 12th June
|
|||
|
|
1989. It is a local policy within the meaning of Section 1 of P4.06,
|
|||
|
|
and is only applicable to R25.
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
(2) Adoption.
|
|||
|
|
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
(2.1) This document will come in to force upon its approval by the
|
|||
|
|
FidoNet International Coordinator (IC), to whom it shall be offered
|
|||
|
|
for approval upon a simple majority vote of the sysops within the R25
|
|||
|
|
nodelist segment indicating that they wish it to be adopted within
|
|||
|
|
R25.
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
(2.2) Such vote will be carried out by secret ballot, and the only
|
|||
|
|
valid votes for the determining of a simple majority will be those
|
|||
|
|
either in favour of, or against, the adoption of this Policy.
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
(2.3) The schedule and procedure for the vote is:
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
The person proposing this policy to the Sysops of R25 will do so by
|
|||
|
|
publishing it in national sysop conferences, and sending copies to all
|
|||
|
|
current NCs within R25, and the current RC of R25.
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
The Nodelist published the following Friday will be used to determine
|
|||
|
|
those sysops elegible to vote.
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
Within 7 days, the Regional Co-ordinator (RC) of R25 will appoint a
|
|||
|
|
Returning Officer (RO) to receive votes.
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
Voting will commence 14 days after the Friday referred to above, and
|
|||
|
|
will be open for 21 days.
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
Votes are to contain a password for authentication. They are to be
|
|||
|
|
delivered by direct netmail to the RO.
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
Within 7 days from the close of polling the RO shall publish a list of
|
|||
|
|
the sysops who have voted, and a list of the validation passwords both
|
|||
|
|
for and against adoption.
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
Publication of the list of passwords enables sysops to verify that
|
|||
|
|
their vote has been counted correctly. Publication of the list of
|
|||
|
|
sysops voting enables those sysops who do not vote to ensure that
|
|||
|
|
their vote has not been fraudulently applied by another node.
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
Provided that there is no challenge to the published results within 14
|
|||
|
|
days of their posting, the RO shall declare the result.
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
(3) Modification, Withdrawl, Revocation.
|
|||
|
|
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
This document will be deemed to have been automatically revoked should
|
|||
|
|
FidoNews 10-29 Page: 26 19 Jul 1993
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
any of the following occur:
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
(3.1) If P4.06 changes or is replaced, in which case to remain in
|
|||
|
|
force the document shall require to be re-adopted (with any
|
|||
|
|
appropriate modifications to take in to account the changes to FidoNet
|
|||
|
|
International Policy) by the sysops of R25, and re-approved in
|
|||
|
|
accordance with that new FidoNet International Policy.
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
(3.2) If the IC changes, in which case to remain in force the document
|
|||
|
|
shall have to be re-approved by the new IC.
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
(3.3) If the Sysops of R25 vote for its withdrawl, in which case R25
|
|||
|
|
will revert to P4.06.
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
(3.4) If the Sysops of R25 vote to replace this Policy, in which case
|
|||
|
|
it will remain in force until such time as the replacement UKPOL has
|
|||
|
|
been approved by the IC.
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
(4) Compatibility With The Rest Of FidoNet.
|
|||
|
|
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
Unless this document explicitly details otherwise, all nodes within
|
|||
|
|
R25 will comply with all aspects of P4.06.
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
(5) The Regional Co-ordinator.
|
|||
|
|
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
(5.1) Selection of Regional Co-ordinator
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
Selection of the Regional Co-ordinator (RC) is carried out using the
|
|||
|
|
method for the selection of a Zone Co-ordinator (ZC) under P4.06,
|
|||
|
|
extended to a Regional level. The RC is selected from amongst the
|
|||
|
|
Sysops of R25 by means of a simple majority vote where the persons
|
|||
|
|
elegible to vote are the NCs within R25. The tenure of the RC post is
|
|||
|
|
a period of one year. RC25 shall not, whilst holding the RC25 post,
|
|||
|
|
hold any NC post within R25. Should the RC be chosen as ZC2, then he
|
|||
|
|
shall be deemed to have resigned the post of RC. Should an NC be
|
|||
|
|
chosen as RC, they shall be deemed to have resigned the NC post. The
|
|||
|
|
procedures and timescales for balloting are to be those outlined in
|
|||
|
|
paragraph (2.3) above.
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
(5.2) Removal of RC25
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
The FidoNet Zone 2 Co-ordinator (ZC2) may require that a new RC25 be
|
|||
|
|
selected if it appears that the RC25 is not complying with the
|
|||
|
|
requirements of P4.06 as amended by UKPOL.
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
The NCs within R25 may remove the RC25 by means of a simple majority
|
|||
|
|
vote requiring that the RC25 be replaced. If this is the case,
|
|||
|
|
paragraph (5.4) comes in to force. This shall be carried out in the
|
|||
|
|
same manner as the ballot for adoption of this policy described at
|
|||
|
|
(2.3) above.
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
(5.3) Procedure on Adoption of UKPOL
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
FidoNews 10-29 Page: 27 19 Jul 1993
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
Upon adoption of this policy, the current RC25 shall remain in that
|
|||
|
|
position until they become inelegible to hold that post under
|
|||
|
|
paragraph (5.1) above, or are removed under paragraph (5.2), or until
|
|||
|
|
a maximum of one year has passed from the date of coming in to force
|
|||
|
|
of this policy.
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
(5.4) Emergency Procedure
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
In the case where, for whatever reason, the RC25 post falls vacant
|
|||
|
|
unexpectedly, ZC2 shall appoint a temporary RC25 who shall be required
|
|||
|
|
to initiate the selection procedure (5.1) within two weeks of the
|
|||
|
|
appointment. Under this clause, the restriction on RC25 holding an NC
|
|||
|
|
post within R25, or the ZC2 post, is relaxed, but not P4.06 section
|
|||
|
|
3.5.
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
(6) Networks.
|
|||
|
|
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
(6.1) R25 is divided in to networks organised on a geographic basis.
|
|||
|
|
As the number of nodes in these networks increase, it is anticipated
|
|||
|
|
that new networks will form, and the areas allocated to these new
|
|||
|
|
networks will include nodes in existing networks. Such nodes in
|
|||
|
|
existing networks are encouraged to join the newly formed network. New
|
|||
|
|
nodes are likewise to be encouraged to join the network appropriate to
|
|||
|
|
the area in which they are located.
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
(6.2) No sysop may be refused entry to a network for any reason apart
|
|||
|
|
from those identified in P4.06, as amended by UKPOL. Likewise, no
|
|||
|
|
sysop shall have grounds to not join the appropriate network unless
|
|||
|
|
they can show good reason that they should be either a regional
|
|||
|
|
independant node, or located in a net other than the one
|
|||
|
|
geographically allocated to the area in which they are situated. In
|
|||
|
|
such cases the RC in consultation with the NC(s) concerned shall
|
|||
|
|
consider the case for the node being independant or in a network other
|
|||
|
|
than the one in which it would normally be located, and may approve
|
|||
|
|
the non geographic entry, just as a ZC may approve a node being listed
|
|||
|
|
in a region other than the geographically correct one (P4.06 section
|
|||
|
|
1.3.2).
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
(6.3) Networks may implement local policies covering matters such as
|
|||
|
|
the selection method of the NC, local network mail periods, internal
|
|||
|
|
mail routing procedures etc. Provided those policies do not contradict
|
|||
|
|
UKPOL, and where applicable P4.06, network policies may be implemented
|
|||
|
|
without recourse to any authority outside the network. If such local
|
|||
|
|
policy contradicts P4.06 as modified by UKPOL, then the IC shall have
|
|||
|
|
to approve the local policy.
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
(7) Network Co-ordinators.
|
|||
|
|
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
(7.1) NCs shall be chosen, dismissed etc in accordance with the policy
|
|||
|
|
in place within the network. Where no such policy is in place, or such
|
|||
|
|
policy does not define such procedures, the procedures outlined in
|
|||
|
|
paragraphs (5.1) through (5.4) shall be applied, with the following
|
|||
|
|
modifications:
|
|||
|
|
FidoNews 10-29 Page: 28 19 Jul 1993
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
For "RC25" read "NC"; For "NCs within R25" read "all sysops within the
|
|||
|
|
network"; For "ZC2" read "RC25".
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
(7.2) Paragraphs (6.3) and (7.1) notwithstanding, RC25 may require the
|
|||
|
|
replacement of any NC who is, in the opinion of RC25, not carrying out
|
|||
|
|
the requirements of P4.06 as amended by UKPOL.
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
(8) Echomail Traffic, Points, Users and Files Distribution.
|
|||
|
|
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
Whilst none of these is formally recognised as having any direct
|
|||
|
|
bearing on network operation and / or administration by P4.06, it
|
|||
|
|
would be foolhardy and irresponsible in a network dedicated to
|
|||
|
|
promoting electronic communication and data transfer to fail to take
|
|||
|
|
in to effect, when making decisions, the effects upon all aspects of
|
|||
|
|
network traffic, and all persons potentially affected by the decision.
|
|||
|
|
Thus the RC and NCs should take in to account the effect upon the
|
|||
|
|
administration etc of Echomail Traffic and Files Distribution, and the
|
|||
|
|
implications for users and point operators as well as sysops, of the
|
|||
|
|
decisions they make.
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
=====================================================================
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
Footnote - I have attempted to use non gender specific text wherever
|
|||
|
|
possible, I apologise to anyone who is offended either by my
|
|||
|
|
deliberate use of non gender-spoecific text, or by any gender-specific
|
|||
|
|
references that I have failed to re-word.
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
----------------------------------------------------------------------
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
New Echos Announcement
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
Announcing the formation of the following private(for the moment)
|
|||
|
|
Echo's:
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
Tag Name Definition
|
|||
|
|
TOASTER_PRO All Video Toaster related Chat(non-LightWave)
|
|||
|
|
Amiga (or Mac?) Related
|
|||
|
|
LIGHTWAVE_PRO LightWave related Chat(Toaster 3D software)
|
|||
|
|
Amiga Related
|
|||
|
|
3D_PRO All other 3D chats
|
|||
|
|
All 3D platforms related
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
If any node is interested in carrying this, please send NetMail to me:
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
Jim Mixon--SYSop
|
|||
|
|
Media Zone BBS
|
|||
|
|
1:135/355
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
ThankYou.......
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
FidoNews 10-29 Page: 29 19 Jul 1993
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
What's actually happening in Region 18?
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
Christopher Baker
|
|||
|
|
Rights On! Titusville_FL_USA
|
|||
|
|
1:374/14 [1:18/0 - RC18]
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
"MadDog, My Aunt Susie's Petunia!"
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
It is quite common for Sysops who imagine slights or injuries to
|
|||
|
|
themselves by way of their FidoNet membership to post one-sided
|
|||
|
|
and very colorful articles to FidoNews proclaiming their complete
|
|||
|
|
astonishment that little old them could possibly have been removed
|
|||
|
|
or replaced or repositioned for any real reason. It's common and
|
|||
|
|
it's very misleading for the casual FidoNews reader although the
|
|||
|
|
experienced FidoNetter knows most of these are a case of 'doth
|
|||
|
|
protest too much'.
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
Such is 'the case of the replaced NC' in Net 3655 of Region 18
|
|||
|
|
you were all lambasted with in FidoNews 1028 on 12 Jul 93.
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
The former NC in question failed to perform his duties and
|
|||
|
|
responsibilities in accordance with the requirements of Policy4,
|
|||
|
|
the standard practices of FidoNet, and the simple direction of
|
|||
|
|
his RC.
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
That's all there is to it. Anything else is imaginary on the
|
|||
|
|
former NC's part and is not supported by any of his traffic or
|
|||
|
|
actions. He did his best to be disruptive and got his wish to
|
|||
|
|
be replaced for failing to get the job he VOLUNTEERED for done.
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
That is the way things work in FidoNet. It's not mysterious nor
|
|||
|
|
Machiavellian nor 'maddog'.
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
There will probably be a few more of these "we're being driven
|
|||
|
|
to hell in handcart by our egomaniac dictator RC" articles. These
|
|||
|
|
things often get out of hand. I'll apologize in advance for any
|
|||
|
|
you have to read. Some people just don't get the whole FidoNet
|
|||
|
|
concept. Don't send them any nasty Netmail. It won't help.
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
A vast majority of the volunteer coordinators in this Region and
|
|||
|
|
elsewhere in FidoNet do their jobs quite well. It's ONLY a hobby.
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
Thanks.
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
TTFN.
|
|||
|
|
Chris
|
|||
|
|
RC18
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
----------------------------------------------------------------------
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
========================================================================
|
|||
|
|
Fidonews Information
|
|||
|
|
========================================================================
|
|||
|
|
FidoNews 10-29 Page: 30 19 Jul 1993
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
------- FIDONEWS MASTHEAD AND CONTACT INFORMATION ----------------
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
Editors: Sylvia Maxwell, Donald Tees, Tim Pozar
|
|||
|
|
Editors Emeritii: Thom Henderson, Dale Lovell, Vince Perriello,
|
|||
|
|
Tom Jennings
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
IMPORTANT NOTE: The FidoNet address of the FidoNews BBS has been
|
|||
|
|
changed!!! Please make a note of this.
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
"FidoNews" BBS
|
|||
|
|
FidoNet 1:1/23
|
|||
|
|
BBS +1-519-570-4176, 300/1200/2400/14400/V.32bis/HST(DS)
|
|||
|
|
Internet addresses:
|
|||
|
|
Don & Sylvia (submission address)
|
|||
|
|
editor@exlibris.tdkcs.waterloo.on.ca
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
Sylvia -- max@exlibris.tdkcs.waterloo.on.ca
|
|||
|
|
Donald -- donald@exlibris.tdkcs.waterloo.on.ca
|
|||
|
|
Tim -- pozar@kumr.lns.com
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
(Postal Service mailing address) (have extreme patience)
|
|||
|
|
FidoNews
|
|||
|
|
172 Duke St. E.
|
|||
|
|
Kitchener, Ontario
|
|||
|
|
Canada
|
|||
|
|
N2H 1A7
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
Published weekly by and for the members of the FidoNet international
|
|||
|
|
amateur electronic mail system. It is a compilation of individual
|
|||
|
|
articles contributed by their authors or their authorized agents. The
|
|||
|
|
contribution of articles to this compilation does not diminish the
|
|||
|
|
rights of the authors. Opinions expressed in these articles are those
|
|||
|
|
of the authors and not necessarily those of FidoNews.
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
Authors retain copyright on individual works; otherwise FidoNews is
|
|||
|
|
copyright 1993 Sylvia Maxwell. All rights reserved. Duplication and/or
|
|||
|
|
distribution permitted for noncommercial purposes only. For use in
|
|||
|
|
other circumstances, please contact the original authors, or FidoNews
|
|||
|
|
(we're easy).
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
OBTAINING COPIES: The-most-recent-issue-ONLY of FidoNews in electronic
|
|||
|
|
form may be obtained from the FidoNews BBS via manual download or
|
|||
|
|
Wazoo FileRequest, or from various sites in the FidoNet and Internet.
|
|||
|
|
PRINTED COPIES may be obtained from Fido Software for $10.00US each
|
|||
|
|
PostPaid First Class within North America, or $13.00US elsewhere,
|
|||
|
|
mailed Air Mail. (US funds drawn upon a US bank only.)
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
BACK ISSUES: Available from FidoNet nodes 1:102/138, 1:216/21,
|
|||
|
|
1:125/1212, (and probably others), via filerequest or download
|
|||
|
|
(consult a recent nodelist for phone numbers).
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
A very nice index to the Tables of Contents to all FidoNews volumes
|
|||
|
|
can be filerequested from 1:396/1 or 1:216/21. The name(s) to request
|
|||
|
|
FidoNews 10-29 Page: 31 19 Jul 1993
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
are FNEWSxTC.ZIP, where 'x' is the volume number; 1=1984, 2=1985...
|
|||
|
|
through 8=1991.
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
INTERNET USERS: FidoNews is available via FTP from ftp.ieee.org, in
|
|||
|
|
directory ~ftp/pub/fidonet/fidonews. If you have questions regarding
|
|||
|
|
FidoNet, please direct them to deitch@gisatl.fidonet.org, not the
|
|||
|
|
FidoNews BBS. (Be kind and patient; David Deitch is generously
|
|||
|
|
volunteering to handle FidoNet/Internet questions.)
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
SUBMISSIONS: You are encouraged to submit articles for publication in
|
|||
|
|
FidoNews. Article submission requirements are contained in the file
|
|||
|
|
ARTSPEC.DOC, available from the FidoNews BBS, or Wazoo filerequestable
|
|||
|
|
from 1:1/23 as file "ARTSPEC.DOC". Please read it.
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
"Fido", "FidoNet" and the dog-with-diskette are U.S. registered
|
|||
|
|
trademarks of Tom Jennings, and are used with permission.
|
|||
|
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Asked what he thought of Western civilization,
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M.K. Gandhi said, "I think it would be an excellent idea".
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-- END
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