817 lines
37 KiB
Plaintext
817 lines
37 KiB
Plaintext
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BTN: Birmingham Telecommunications News
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COPYRIGHT 1990
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March 1990 Volume 3, Issue 3
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Table Of Contents
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-----------------
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Article Title Author
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Policy Statement and Disclaimer.................Staff
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Editorial Column................................Dean Costello
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What Is The SDN?................................Howard Duck
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A Review Of Norton Commander 3.0................Mike Tyner
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Review & Overview of ProDoor 3.1................Ricky Morgan
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Profile: Eric Hunt.............................Chris Mohney
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Book Review.....................................Karsten Propper
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From The Kitchen................................Chez Stephan
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Known BBS Numbers...............................Staff
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EzNet Multiple Echo List........................Staff
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-----------------------------------------------------------------------
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Disclaimer and Statement of Policy for BTN
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We at BTN try our best to assure the accuracy of articles and
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information in our publication. We assume no responsibility for
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damage due to errors, omissions, etc. The liability,if any for BTN, its
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editors and writers, for damages relating to any errors or omissions,
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etc., shall be limited to the cost of a one year subscription to BTN,
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even if BTN, its editors or writers have been advised of the likelihood
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of such damages occurring.
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With the conclusion of that nasty business, we can get on with our
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policy for publication and reproduction of BTN articles. We publish
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monthly with a deadline of the fifteenth of the month prior to
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publication. If you wish to submit an article, you may do so at any
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time but bear in mind the deadline if you wish for your work to appear
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in a particular issue. It is not our purpose to slander or otherwise
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harm a person or reputation and we accept no responsibility for the
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content of the articles prepared by our writers. Our writers own their
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work and it is protected by copyright. We allow reprinting of articles
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from BTN with only a few restrictions. The author may object to a
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reprint, in which case he will specify in the content of his article.
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Otherwise, please feel free to reproduce any article from BTN as long as
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the source, BTN, is specified, and as long as the author's name and the
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article's original title are retained. If you use one of our articles,
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please forward a copy of your publication to:
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Mark Maisel
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Editor, BTN
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221 Chestnut St.
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BHM, AL 35210-3219
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We thank you for taking the time to read our offering and we hope that
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you like it. We also reserve the right to have a good time while doing
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all of this and not get too serious about it.
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-----------------------------------------------------------------------
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Editorial
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WHITHER BTN?
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by Dean Costello
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It occurred to me one fine evening when I was parasitizing off of
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dear Mark; what would the Birmingham telecomputing scene be like without
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Mark Maisel. I don't know. Let us take a look at the occurrence.
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It is 1992. Mark has surrendered the collating of BTN to a
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consortium of people who decided that they could take over the reins for
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a while. It prospered for a couple of months, and then died a thankful
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death.
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Why?
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Because Mark was not involved in it, that's why. It is his heart
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and soul that keeps BTN in production. It is his ceaseless whining that
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makes people write articles for him. It is his (and Kathy's) pizza that
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keep people happy.
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Consider a BTN party that Mark does not have a large hand in
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preparing. Would people still come to them? Undoubtedly, but that begs
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the question of how many people would still come to them if he was not
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involved with BTN anymore. For example, let us say that Mark has
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dropped out of BTN, and a given sysop hosts a BTN party. I would assume
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that a pretty good percentage of people would still come. Then about 2
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months later, another sysop gives a party. I would say that with each
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succeeding party less and less people would attend.
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Why?
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Because Mark is not involved anymore, that's why. And I feel
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confident that most of you will agree to that assessment. So, the
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upshot of this? Without Mark Maisel involved with the telecommunications
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systems of Birmingham, we would be much the poorer...
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MY GOD! What have I written? Jesus, my pancreas is starting to
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hurt, this is so sicky-sweet. More importantly, why have I written this
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drivel? Oh yes, now I remember. OK Mark, are you satisfied? I
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humiliated myself in front of thousands (or at least tens) of computer
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users all over the city, and even in Torino, Italy. I trust the debt is
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paid off, right?
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I feel like I have been raped... at least metaphorically. Forced to
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give up something (my dignity) against ones will is always a traumatic
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experience. This is the kind of thing that happens whenever it is close
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to deadline, and there is no editorial written, and Mark has the ability
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to hold something over my head. Be fair, picture the situation. We go
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out to lunch, and he offers to pay. Good enough, in and of itself,
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right? WRONG! Since as a result of that, he then has a stick to use
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whenever the mood strikes. And apparently the mood has struck this fine
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day. ARGGGHH! I hate doing things against my will.
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Do you know how this all started? One fine day I was on Crunchy
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Frog, (where he was visiting, and that spineless sysop, Monty let him
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near the keyboard) and he popped in and said, "Hey Dean <this being
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before he called me Deanie Weanie> why don't you drop by so we can meet
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each other>" I said okay, and wandered over. He seemed nice enough, and
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so did his wife, Kathy, for that matter. And do you know what I do now?
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He calls me up and says that he is too 'busy', and he wants me to do the
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shopping for him. Ch-rist, this is too much! Way too damn much!
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The conclusion to be drawn? Hell if I know. He seems to have made
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a difference in the local computer scene. Would someone else have
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filled his position if he weren't around? Got me. All told, probably a
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net gain for Birmingham. For me, it is a different story, but I do know
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this much, I am not convinced that I have gotten the good end of this
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relationship, the way he takes advantage of me all of the time. But
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maybe, just maybe, before I leave, it will all even out.
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Oh yeah, another thing, my folks came down about 3 weeks ago or so.
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Guess who made a good impression on them? You guessed it. And people
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wonder why I want to leave the South. Oh, by the way, I am down here
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against my will since my GPA was so low out of college that UAB was the
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only school in the entire U.S. that would accept me to their program. My
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last day down here cannot come to soon.
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And you know all the articles in this issue? I couldn't care less
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about any of them. So read them for your own lazy-ass self. I don't
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give a damn anymore.
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-----------------------------------------------------------------------
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What Is the SDN?
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by Howard Duck,
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Sysop of The DUCK Pond
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Late last year, I decided I was bored with seeing the same old
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IBM/MS-DOS files lying around here. Some had been here since 1985! I
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couldn't decide which ones to throw away (basically because I was too
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lazy to look at each and every one of them, one at a time). So... I
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threw them ALL away.
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Not really. I did decide to sort of start all over, though. You
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see there was this network that I had heard about some time ago, called
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the SDN. (Actually, the creators of SDN keep insisting that it should be
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called "SDNet/Works!" or something like that, but everyone I know just
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calls it SDN.) At any rate, it's an international network of bbses like
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Fidonet except instead of trading messages, these bbses trade files. I
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had looked into it before when it was just getting started, but now it
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had had time to grow and as I said earlier, I was feeling awfully bored
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with the same old filenames staring me in the face, and besides, my
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phone bill isn't big enough, so...
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I checked around, and I found there was no SDN source in the area,
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which meant I could apply to the gods of SDN for a node number and a
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pickup point. They were satisfied with my credentials (fooled them!)
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and sometime in December (I think, though my memory is notable only for
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its failures) I set-up to receive SDN files. I then threw away 90% of
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my MS-DOS software. Out went all the games, and gifs, and most of the
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utilities. I kept the archivers like ZIP, LHARC, ZOO, etc., and I kept
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some term programs like TELIX. (I figured this is the kind of stuff all
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bbses need for novices.) I also kept about a month's worth of recent
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local uploads. But all the rest I just junked, and now I had plenty of
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room for the files to come. (And boy, it really makes my backups go a
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lot faster!)
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So I began polling my pickup point in North Carolina. The bbs
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automatically calls there three times per week, on Saturday, Monday, and
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Wednesday mornings around 5 a.m. New arrivals are automatically posted
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to the SDN_NEW directory and retained there until early Saturday when
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they are tossed into appropriate directories. I seem to be getting
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about 1 MEG per week, though it fluctuates greatly from week to week.
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(Backups are starting to get a little longer... Hmmm, I wonder what I'll
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do when I've got as much SDN stuff as I had regular uploads? Well,
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that's a long way off.)
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But what are these SDN files? Well, SDN distributes shareware,
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"almost direct" from the author. The author sends his software to a
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central location and from there it is sent via phone to other bbses in
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the network. The idea being that users of these SDN points are thereby
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guaranteed virus-free software, and the authors are guaranteed a speedy
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distribution of their work, without tampering of any kind. I may be
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pressing my luck to say this, but I have yet to have any problems with
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viruses, so this aspect of the SDN doesn't seem all that big a deal to
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me. I did find it frustrating to get uploads from users who had taken
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it upon themselves to remove doc or in some other way alter the
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archive. It is nice to get software and be able to refer to doc files
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instead of curse the uploader for his oversight.
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Anyway, I have been receiving SDN shareware for several weeks now
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and am now a bit more familiar with the kind of thing one can expect
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from the network. Most of what comes through is business-oriented
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programming. Here's a sample of a recent week's worth of SDN
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transmissions (This is a copy of my files list from the SDN_NEW files
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area, including the header.):
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- THE FOLLOWING SDN FILES ARRIVED SINCE THE PREVIOUS FRIDAY -
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-(As with all SDN files, use PAK210 to extract individual files)-
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- (Use the OPUS T command to view the .SDA description files) -
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BLKBRD74.SDA Desc. of (BLKBRD74) excellent text editor
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BLKBRD74.SDN BlackBeard v7.4 the "programmers editor"
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CLEANZ12.SDA Desc. of (CLEANZ12) another Herron utility
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CLEANZ12.SDN Clean-Z removes the control-Z or EOF mark
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CLNOUT13.SDA Desc. of (CLNOUT13) file utility
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CLNOUT13.SDN CleanOut v1.3 update of Phil Herron utility
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DSKRAK2.SDA Desc. of (DSKRAK2) database your diskettes
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DSKRAK2.SDN DSKrak! v2.0 the diskette catalog database
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MULTRK.SDA Desc. of (MULTRK 1-2) from INTEGRA
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MULTRK1.SDN MultiTrack client/prospect/project planner
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MULTRK2.SDN MultiTrack disk
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PC_NAMES.SDA Desc. (PC_NAMES) the complete name manager
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PC_NAMES.SDN PC-Names - database, labels, addresses etc
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SALLOG10.SDA Desc. of (SALLOG10) initial release.
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SALLOG10.SDN Sales Log v1.0 tracks products, sales, more.
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SIGN33.SDA Desc. of (SIGN33) educational and unique.
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SIGN33.SDN Sign Friends! learn sign language! Needed!
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SPCI211.SDA Desc. of (SPCI211) by I.J. Smith
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SPCI211.SDN SPC-Inventory v2.11 for business and...
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The files with the .SDN extension are archives. The files ending
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in .SDA are ASCII text files that the user can read via the OPUS Type
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command while online. They contain brief descriptions of the associated
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.SDN files. As you can see, the files aren't all fun'n'games. In the
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past two or three months I don't think I've yet seen one game come
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through. Maybe someday.
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On The DUCK Pond, the SDN files are in the following areas:
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# 9 SDN: NEW ARRIVALS
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#10 SDN: Business and Financial
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#11 SDN: Communications
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#12 SDN: Databases and Spreadsheets
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#13 SDN: Graphics, CAD, Entertainment, Learning
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#14 SDN: Programming and Programming Languages
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#15 SDN: Miscellaneous Shareware
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#16 SDN: Utilities, File Management, etc.
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#17 SDN: Word Processing, Text Editors, Printer Utilities
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#18 SDN: Non-shareware Specialties & SDN HELP FILES
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Note, that unlike the other file areas on The DUCK Pond, users
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can't upload to SDN areas. That is part of the no-tampering/virus-free
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guarantee. Files in these ten areas are provided by the author, not
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uploaded by a local user.
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By now, most of these areas have something listed. One of the
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more useful ones appears to be AMTAX89.SDN, a rather full-featured tax
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program. It has the more common forms built-in, and can even print them
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ready for submission to the IRS. Probably not as good as the commercial
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programs like MACINTAX but it looked superior to anything I'd seen
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before in the shareware category. Here's the way the AMTAX89.SDA file
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described it:
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AM-Tax 1989 REGISTRATION $20-60
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BUSI FEB90 AMTAX AM TAX 1040 IRS FEDERAL
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FILES: amtax89.sdn
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New to SDN
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AM-Tax is a software program designed to assist you in the
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preparation of your 1989 federal tax return. There are three
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versions of AM-Tax, a shareware program and two versions of
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the registered program. This is the shareware version of
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AM-Tax. It can prepare a complete tax return consisting of
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the Form 1040 and any of the Schedules (A, B, C, D, E, F, R,
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and SE).
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The printed copy of the Form 1040 cannot be filed (you'll
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need to transfer the figures to an official form). However,
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this program will print all of the Schedules in a format
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accepted by the IRS. For those with relatively simple tax
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situations, the shareware version may be all you need to use.
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You should find AM-Tax easy to learn since it's designed
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around the federal 1040. Supporting documents are accessed
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by pressing the F6 key when you're on a line calling for one
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of the schedules or forms included in the AM-Tax program.
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General-purpose worksheets are also available to enhance your
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record keeping. For instance, to keep a permanent tax record
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of your medical expenses, tell AM-Tax to itemize that line of
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the Schedule A. AM-Tax will add up the expenses, transfer
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the total to the line itemized, and print a detailed list for
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your records. Up to 50 lines of your tax return can be
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'itemized' and up to 45 items can be listed on each
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worksheet.
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(SDA format Copyright 1990 SDN Project for SDNet/Works! (sm))
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Sounds pretty good to me, but I'm too poor (sob) to have any use
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for a tax preparation program, so I've not used it. Maybe someone else
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out there will try it and give the rest of us a review. (Mark paid me
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to say that.)
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So that's it. SDN is here in Birmingham if anyone is interested.
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(It's even here if no one is interested.) So if you are paranoid about
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viruses, and especially if you are looking for productivity software for
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business, word processing, graphics or education, I think SDN is worth
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investigating. The phone number for The DUCK Pond is (205) 822-0956.
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First-time users are allotted 30 minutes and can download up to 300k.
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Registered users get 120 minutes and a 3 MEG download limit per day.
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-----------------------------------------------------------------------
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A Review of Norton Commander 3.0
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by Mike Tyner
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Every now and then, a piece of software comes along that makes
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itself indispensable. One such program is Norton Commander. NC is a
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directory program and application launcher which nearly eliminates the
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need to know DOS commands. NC version 3.0 is available mail-order for
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about $55, is not copy-protected, and works with DOS 2.0 and above.
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For the novice user, NC shortens the DOS learning curve immensely.
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After introducing several beginners to it, I find they need about two
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minutes to learn what directories are and how to navigate them. After 10
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minutes, they can copy, move, delete, and edit files with ease.
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For advanced users, NC saves time and keystrokes. There are other
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shell programs and directory guides, with diehard user bases. And there
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are some users who will refuse to quit pounding out "CD \". This article
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is for the rest. It reviews the highlights of NC version 3.0, released
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in October, 1989.
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NC 3.0 occupies only 13008 bytes of main memory. It prefers to be
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the last file loaded by AUTOEXEC. When loaded, it displays two
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independent DOS directories in panels on each half of the screen. The
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familiar C: prompt remains at the bottom of the screen, ready for typed
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commands, which are seldom necessary. NC is designed to run full-time
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underneath other programs, and runs with no open files: it does not need
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to be exited before the computer is turned off. An integral
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screen-blanker (with a pleasant twist) can be set for different
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intervals or defeated.
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Parent directories are identified by ".." at the top of each
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listing, and subdirectories are capitalized. A cursor highlights one
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|
file or a group of files, and the file is launched by pressing <Enter>
|
|||
|
on the highlighted file. Pressing <Enter> on a parent or subdir entry
|
|||
|
displays the contents of that directory. A menu bar at the bottom of the
|
|||
|
screen labels the function keys, which NC uses heavily. If NC finds a
|
|||
|
mouse driver, the mouse can be used to highlight files and select
|
|||
|
functions.
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
Applications can be started from either panel, and the TAB key or
|
|||
|
mouse will switch from panel to panel. When the application finishes, NC
|
|||
|
resumes at exactly the same point. Either or both panels can be switched
|
|||
|
off. Directories in either display can be sorted by name, size, time, or
|
|||
|
unsorted with simple commands. The displays can be brief, showing only
|
|||
|
filenames, or full, showing size, time, and date. In the brief display,
|
|||
|
the bottom line of each panel shows size, time, and date for the file
|
|||
|
under the cursor. One panel can be dedicated as a "Tree" display,
|
|||
|
showing the user exactly where the displayed directory is in the overall
|
|||
|
disk structure.
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
Function keys F1-F10 are used to edit, view, move, copy, and delete
|
|||
|
files. F1 calls a hypertext help system. F3 safely displays the contents
|
|||
|
of ANY file, in ASCII or HEX, wrapped or unwrapped. The function keys
|
|||
|
are relabeled for search and display options. F4 similarly displays any
|
|||
|
file, with the added ability to edit the file. (This makes batch files
|
|||
|
and BBS messages a breeze!) Text and program files are viewed or edited
|
|||
|
by overlaying the included program WPVIEW.EXE. NC 3.0 also includes
|
|||
|
viewers for WordStar and other formats, selected at installation, or you
|
|||
|
can choose your own such as QEdit, E88, or Blackbeard.
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
If F3 is pressed on a Lotus file, a different viewer is overlaid,
|
|||
|
displaying the file formatted and totalled as it would appear in Lotus.
|
|||
|
If the file is a .DBF file, the viewer DBFVIEW pages through the dBase
|
|||
|
file record by record. If the file has a .PCX extension, PCXVIEW will be
|
|||
|
called, displaying the graphic as PC Paintbrush would show it. Are you
|
|||
|
impressed yet? Wait... there's more...
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
If the user presses <Enter> on a non-executable file, NC politely
|
|||
|
does nothing. But NC accepts definitions in an "extension" log, which
|
|||
|
will run the application you choose based on the extension of the chosen
|
|||
|
file. I set up a definition for ZIP files, so that when I press <Enter>
|
|||
|
on any zip file anywhere, NC runs PKUNZIP to unpack it into the
|
|||
|
directory C:\COMM\ARC\WORK. If I press <Enter> on a Lotus worksheet, it
|
|||
|
runs 123 with that sheet loaded. If I press <Enter> on a .FOX program,
|
|||
|
Foxbase runs that application. In this way, NC becomes a true
|
|||
|
"point-and- shoot" directory manager.
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
F2 is a menu key. NC allows one or multiple "user menus" to be
|
|||
|
defined. For the absolute beginner, this menu system makes navigation
|
|||
|
foolproof. For the power user, it starts any application with one or two
|
|||
|
keys, from any directory.
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
F5, F6, and F8 move, copy, and delete, either the single file under
|
|||
|
the cursor, or multiple files highlighted with the <Ins> key or right
|
|||
|
mouse button. F7 creates a subdirectory (F8 will delete a highlighted
|
|||
|
directory if empty). NC asks for confirmation on all destructive
|
|||
|
operations and actions on multiple files.
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
F9 is the configuration key, calling a pull-down menu system of
|
|||
|
general options and commands, or independent settings for each panel.
|
|||
|
F10 removes NC from memory completely.
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
The <Alt> key reassigns several function keys for miscellaneous
|
|||
|
tasks. <Alt>-F7 performs a directory search. <Alt>- F8 calls up a
|
|||
|
command history, where previous commands (typed or generated by NC) can
|
|||
|
be chosen with a menu bar. F10 generates a full-screen Tree display so
|
|||
|
directories can be chosen with the cursor.
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
My favorite is <Alt>-F9: it switches between 25- and 50-line VGA
|
|||
|
display. NC handles EGA and VGA nicely, and it's awesome to see nearly
|
|||
|
300 files neatly sorted and organized every time I exit to DOS. I'll
|
|||
|
never "CD" again!
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
ProDoor 3.1 of 10-08-89;
|
|||
|
Copyright (C) 1987, 1989 Samuel H. Smith
|
|||
|
by Ricky Morgan
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
ProDoor Utilities
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
I hope at this point that everyone who has had the perseverance to
|
|||
|
wade through all these articles has learned something about ProDoor.
|
|||
|
This is the last installment, I promise. There are just a few commands
|
|||
|
that I would like to cover and then I will return you to your regularly
|
|||
|
scheduled BTN.
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
(H)otkeys! [on/off]
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
This is a neat little command that allows instant response to your
|
|||
|
typing. You don't have to press ENTER after each command. When you
|
|||
|
select Hotkeys, you have block cursor pop up in place of the regular
|
|||
|
cursor. This is to remind you that you are in Hotkey mode.
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
From this point on, ProDoor will respond to any letter you type.
|
|||
|
You will have to remember not to hit the space bar if you are stacking
|
|||
|
commands. The space bar will act just like pressing ENTER. To stack
|
|||
|
commands you would just use a semi-colon instead.
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
F;1;ns To list file directory 1 in non stop mode.
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
If you don't want to stack the commands, just type the letter of
|
|||
|
the command you want and press Enter, space or wait a second or two and
|
|||
|
ProDoor will automatically initiate the command for you.
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
Hotkeys are good for people too lazy to hit enter.
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
(M)ode [graphics]
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
This mode should be fairly self explanatory. It turns the ANSI
|
|||
|
graphics capabilities of ProDoor (and PCBoard) on and off. If you have
|
|||
|
ANSI capabilities I recommend at least looking at the graphics of the
|
|||
|
board you are on from time to time. There are some talented people out
|
|||
|
there and some real great graphics.
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
(X)pert [menu on/off]
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
This turns the full screen menu on and off. With the menu on,
|
|||
|
after each command you get a full listing of the Main menu. Then, as you
|
|||
|
issue the commands, you will receive prompting for choices. In the
|
|||
|
Message section you will have a two line prompt to remind you of your
|
|||
|
choices:
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
(?)help, (S)ince-last, (+)next, (-)prior, (J)oin-topic, (NS)non-stop,
|
|||
|
(N)o more, (Q)uick-scan, (RE)ply, (X)pert, (Z)ip-search, (H)otkeys!
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
With Expert off, you are on your own and must rely on memory for
|
|||
|
the commands. You can toggle expert on and off at any main command
|
|||
|
prompt.
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
How about <Elsewhere>?
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
This is for areas that are generally outside of ProDoor.
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
(LIB)rary disks
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
This is for the larger systems that have extra storage areas, (such
|
|||
|
as CD ROM disks), for storing files. If the system supports Library disk
|
|||
|
follow the prompts. If the system doesn't support the function you will
|
|||
|
be prompted: (LIB) Function is not supported.
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
(OPEN) other doors
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
This is how you got into ProDoor in the beginning. Some systems
|
|||
|
have all sorts of DOORS. Game doors, Caller Verification Doors, Mail
|
|||
|
Doors, the list goes on and on. This command simply allows you to move
|
|||
|
from one door to another without going back to PCBoard first.
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
(QUIT) to BBS
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
This returns you to PCBoard.
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
(G)oodbye [logoff]:
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
This command logs you out of ProDoor and off the system. You do not
|
|||
|
have to exit ProDoor to quit off the system.
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
That about wraps it up people. I hope you have enjoyed these at
|
|||
|
least a little and that a few of you have learned something. Enjoy!
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
G
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
Thank you for using ProDoor, Ricky.
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
Minutes Used: 37
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
Thanks for calling, Ricky!
|
|||
|
9<=<3D>&<26><><EFBFBD>
|
|||
|
NO CARRIER
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
ProDoor 3.1 Copyright (C) 1987,1989 Samuel H. Smith.
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
PCBoard is a registered trademark of Clark Development Company.
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
ProFile
|
|||
|
by Chris Mohney
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
ProFile is a short, half-serious biographical sketch given to
|
|||
|
various computer telecommunications personalities around Birmingham.
|
|||
|
Victims are selected randomly from a group of names put into the
|
|||
|
notorious Hat. Anyone who thinks himself brave or witty enough may
|
|||
|
petition for admittance to the Hat by leaving E-Mail to me (Chris
|
|||
|
Mohney, most boards around town) to that effect. Anyone who wishes to
|
|||
|
suggest more questions or sneakily nominate someone without their
|
|||
|
knowledge may take the same route....
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
---------
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
Pro File on ERIC HUNT
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
---------
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
Age: 18
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
Birthplace: Bangor, Maine
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
Occupation: Full-Time student; Full-Time computer user
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
My hobbies include: Choral Singing, church, telecomputing, reading, and
|
|||
|
helping others.
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
Years telecomputing: 0.583 (Since July '89)
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
Sysop, past/present/future of: NOTHING. Why would I want to kill myself like
|
|||
|
that? (Seriously, I hope to have a board up
|
|||
|
by fall '90)
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
My oddest habit is: Constantly whistling Christmas tunes (I asked
|
|||
|
Matt Henderson what my oddest habit was and this was
|
|||
|
his reply) and making incoherent Donald Duck noises
|
|||
|
(ditto)
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
My greatest unfulfilled ambition is: To bring the world together in total
|
|||
|
telecomputing harmony with a global BBS
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
The single accomplishment of which I am most proud is: Getting thru High
|
|||
|
School and getting enough scholarships to carry me thru college.
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
My favorite performers are: U2, Mr. Mister, The Independant Presbyterian
|
|||
|
Church Choir (NOTE: that is not my home church,
|
|||
|
I am Baptist)
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
The last good movie I saw was: Parenthood
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
The last good book I read was: Hmmmmm. I read The Satanic Verses for my
|
|||
|
English research paper in January, but I just finished
|
|||
|
reading Ringworld and The Ringworld Engineers by
|
|||
|
Larry Niven
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
If they were making a movie of my life, I'd like to see my part played by:
|
|||
|
No one, they couldn't do a good job.
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
My pet peeves are: Crazy drivers, and people who do not care when they
|
|||
|
should
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
When nobody's looking, I like to: Pick my nose, eat pork Chitlin's and
|
|||
|
be a good ole' Southern boy (That was for you,
|
|||
|
Dean) [Really, I like a good nap as well as the
|
|||
|
next guy]
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
Book Review with
|
|||
|
Karsten Propper
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
The book I shall be reviewing is called "Prince of Whales" by R.L.
|
|||
|
Fisher.
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
The book is about, as you may have guessed from the title, whales.
|
|||
|
You find out that are different types of whales. There are regular
|
|||
|
whales and dream singers, whales that sing their song while asleep. Most
|
|||
|
dream singers are outcasts, as was young Toby.
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
He was a dream singer, and all whales thought he would attract the
|
|||
|
iron beasts, or whaling ships, with his singing, or maybe even sharks.
|
|||
|
So, Toby was put on trial, whether to be forced to leave the herd, or
|
|||
|
stay with them. They could come to no decision, so Toby had to make it
|
|||
|
for himself.
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
And he did just that, Toby decided to leave, to brave all the
|
|||
|
dangers of the mysterious sea and go out on his own. He would run into
|
|||
|
more interesting troubles than anyone could imagine. Before he left, he
|
|||
|
had a talk with his aunt, the head of the council, and she said that he
|
|||
|
must find his true voice. Only then could he come back to the herd.
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
This begins a new era for Toby, as he meets many an interesting
|
|||
|
creature on his voyage. For instance, he meets a crab who is slowly
|
|||
|
dying from the pressure at that low a depth. He meets four killer whales
|
|||
|
who take him to a dance club. They ask him to work for them because of
|
|||
|
his beautiful voice.
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
Through working at the club, he plays for prestigious people. He
|
|||
|
also finds out the origin of his dream singing. It is the dream master,
|
|||
|
a creature not really considered as anything. He's not a whale, a crab,
|
|||
|
an orka or anything, just his own species.
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
He's very powerful, and he invades dreams, trying to suck the life
|
|||
|
out out of anything whose dreams he can invade. Well, the story goes
|
|||
|
into Toby's fight between the dream master, millions of people who want
|
|||
|
to kill the whales, and himself. It is a very emotional and touchy book
|
|||
|
at that stage, and was very enjoyable.
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
I don't want to give it all away, so find out who wins. You really
|
|||
|
enjoy the book.
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
From The Kitchen
|
|||
|
by Chez Stephan
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
Well guys and Dolls
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
I know you guys have really missed me so here we go again. This
|
|||
|
month we are going to feature some things from the Alabama Peanut
|
|||
|
Sampler. This is a recipe book that is available from the Alabama Peanut
|
|||
|
Producers Association. If you would like to obtain a copy of the booklet
|
|||
|
or more information about Alabama peanuts or peanuts in general then the
|
|||
|
address will follow. So let's get on with it.
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
Alabama Cheese Ball
|
|||
|
1 8 oz. package cream cheese, softened
|
|||
|
1 5 oz. jar sharp cheddar spread
|
|||
|
1 5 oz. jar smokey cheese spread ( smokey Swiss seems best )
|
|||
|
1/4 cup smooth peanut butter
|
|||
|
1/4 cup crumbled blue cheese
|
|||
|
1/4 cup chopped peanuts
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
Combine all ingredients thoroughly. Chill 1 hour. Shape into a
|
|||
|
ball and roll in more chopped peanuts. Serve with an assortment of
|
|||
|
crackers.
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
Southern Style Peanut BBQ Sauce
|
|||
|
1 cup vinegar
|
|||
|
1/3 cup peanut butter
|
|||
|
1/3 cup mayonnaise
|
|||
|
1/3 cup peanut oil
|
|||
|
1/4 cup Worcestershire sauce
|
|||
|
1/4 cup mustard
|
|||
|
Juice of one lemon
|
|||
|
1 tablespoon salt
|
|||
|
1 tablespoon black pepper
|
|||
|
1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
|
|||
|
1/4 teaspoon white pepper
|
|||
|
A few drops of Tabasco sauce
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
Combine all ingredients in a medium bowl. Stir to mix well. Serve
|
|||
|
over grilled chicken or ribs.
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
Homemade Reese Squares
|
|||
|
1 cup butter
|
|||
|
2 cups smooth peanut butter
|
|||
|
1 1/4 cups graham cracker crumbs
|
|||
|
1 pound confectioners sugar
|
|||
|
1 6oz. package chocolate morsels
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
Melt butter and peanut butter. Add graham cracker crumbs and sugar.
|
|||
|
Mix well. Press into 13X9 inch pan. Melt chocolate morsels. Spread over
|
|||
|
mixture in pan. Cool, then cut into squares.
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
Cream of Peanut Soup
|
|||
|
1/4 cup butter
|
|||
|
1 cup thinly sliced celery
|
|||
|
1 medium onion, chopped fine
|
|||
|
2 tablespoons all purpose flour
|
|||
|
7 cups of chicken stock or broth
|
|||
|
1 cup creamy peanut butter
|
|||
|
1 cup of light cream (Half and Half will work )
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
Melt butter in large sauce pan over low heat and add celery and
|
|||
|
onion. Cook until tender, but NOT browned. Add flour and stir until
|
|||
|
mixture is smooth. Gradually add chicken broth and bring to a boil.
|
|||
|
Blend in peanut butter and simmer 15 minutes. Stir in cream just before
|
|||
|
serving. Yields 8 servings.
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
All of these recipes have been tried by me and they are GREAT
|
|||
|
!!!!!!! If you like things with a nutty flavor then please send off for
|
|||
|
this booklet because it has some fantastic things in it. these address
|
|||
|
to send for the Sampler is:
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
Alabama Peanut Producers Association
|
|||
|
P.O. Box 1282
|
|||
|
Dothan, Alabama 36302
|
|||
|
Telephone (205)792-6482
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
Good Eating, And Ciao for Now, Chez Stephan
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
Known BBS Numbers For The Birmingham Area
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
NAME NUMBER BAUD RATES SUPPORTED MODEM TYPE
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
*American BBS 674-1851 300, 1200, 2400
|
|||
|
*Bus System BBS 595-1627 300, 1200, 2400
|
|||
|
*Byte Me 979-2983 1200, 2400
|
|||
|
Cat House 854-5907 300, 1200, 2400
|
|||
|
*Channel 8250 744-8546 300, 1200, 2400, 9600 HST, V.32
|
|||
|
*Crunchy Frog 956-1755 300, 1200, 2400
|
|||
|
D3 Systems BBS 663-2759 300, 1200, 2400, 9600 HST, V.32
|
|||
|
+Duck Pond BBS 822-0956 300, 1200, 2400, 9600 HST, V.32
|
|||
|
Eazy's Playhouse 870-0434 300, 1200, 2400
|
|||
|
Elite Fleet 853-1257 300, 1200, 2400
|
|||
|
EzNet Central 785-7417 1200, 2400, 9600 HST
|
|||
|
+I.S.A. BBS 995-6590 300, 1200, 2400
|
|||
|
*Joker's Castle 744-6120 300, 1200, 2400
|
|||
|
*Little Kingdom 823-9175 300, 1200, 2400
|
|||
|
LZ Birmingham 870-7770 300, 1200, 2400
|
|||
|
*Magnolia BBS 854-6407 300, 1200, 2400, 9600 HST
|
|||
|
Role Player's Paradise 631-7654 300, 1200, 2400
|
|||
|
Shadetree BBS 787-6723 300, 1200, 2400
|
|||
|
Sperry BBS 853-6144 300, 1200, 2400, 9600 Hayes
|
|||
|
*ST BBS 836-9311 300, 1200, 2400
|
|||
|
Teletech BBS 674-0852 300, 1200, 2400
|
|||
|
The Commodore Zone 856-3783 300, 1200, 2400
|
|||
|
The Connection 854-9074 1200, 2400
|
|||
|
The Islands BBS 870-7776 300, 1200, 2400
|
|||
|
The Matrix Nodes 1-4 323-2016 300, 1200, 2400
|
|||
|
The Matrix Node 5 251-2344 300, 1200, 2400, 9600 HST
|
|||
|
*The Professional's Board 856-0679 300, 1200, 2400
|
|||
|
Willie's DYM Node 1 979-1629 300, 1200, 2400
|
|||
|
Willie's DYM Node 2 979-7739 300, 1200, 2400
|
|||
|
Willie's RBBS 979-7743 300, 1200, 2400
|
|||
|
Ziggy Unaxess 991-5696 300, 1200
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
Boards with a "*" before their name are members of our local network,
|
|||
|
EzNet, and public messages left in the EzNet Conferences of any of these
|
|||
|
boards will be echoed to all members.
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
Boards with a "+" before their name are members of FidoNet, an
|
|||
|
international network that provides a variety of public forums as well
|
|||
|
as private mail services all over the world.
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
EzNet Multiple Echo List
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
EzNet now supports multiple conference echoing but there are a few
|
|||
|
things you should be aware of regarding private mail.
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
A. You have one 'address' for private mail. If you are registered for
|
|||
|
private mail on Channel 8250 and someone sends you a private
|
|||
|
message in the MS-DOS conference from Crunchy Frog it will wind
|
|||
|
up in the Hardware conference on Channel 8250 as it should.
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
However, if you were registered for private mail on Magnolia and
|
|||
|
someone sends you a private message in a conference that Magnolia
|
|||
|
does not support (echo) then the message will wind up in the
|
|||
|
twilight zone.
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
B. If you go by a handle on one BBS and your real name on another even
|
|||
|
if the private message goes where it is supposed to, you will not
|
|||
|
be able to read it because it is addressed to someone else as far
|
|||
|
as PC Board is concerned. PC Board has no way of knowing that Red
|
|||
|
Foxx and John Doe are the same person. No tickee, no washee.
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
Advice on sending private mail: If you don't know if the person you
|
|||
|
are sending private mail to is registered for private mail then keep a
|
|||
|
copy of the message in case you have to find an alternate route. EzNet
|
|||
|
Central will delete your private, undelivered message and inform you
|
|||
|
that the user you attempted to reach is not registered for private mail
|
|||
|
on any EzNet Node.
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
This is a list of the current echoes that I am aware of. More are
|
|||
|
in the making and will be posted in future issues. If you are a sysop
|
|||
|
and are running an echo not listed for your board, please make us aware
|
|||
|
of it so we may correct it next issue.
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
Eznet Program IBM Adult Scitech BTNWA
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
American BBS ........ * ..... ..... ..... ..... ..... ..
|
|||
|
Bus System BBS ...... * ..... * ..... * ..... ..... * ..... * ..
|
|||
|
Byte Me ............. * ..... * ..... * ..... * ..... ..... ..
|
|||
|
Channel 8250 ........ * ..... * ..... * ..... ..... * ..... ..
|
|||
|
Crunchy Frog ........ * ..... ..... * ..... * ..... ..... * ..
|
|||
|
Joker's Castle ...... * ..... ..... ..... * ..... ..... ..
|
|||
|
Little Kingdom ...... * ..... * ..... * ..... * ..... * ..... ..
|
|||
|
Magnolia BBS ........ * ..... ..... ..... ..... ..... ..
|
|||
|
Professional's Board * ..... ..... ..... ..... ..... ..
|
|||
|
ST BBS .............. * ..... ..... ..... ..... ..... ..
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
|