273 lines
9.5 KiB
Plaintext
273 lines
9.5 KiB
Plaintext
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================================================================
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USBBS127.LST News
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A List of PC Bulletin Boards for DOS Users
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December 1994
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Editor: Bob Breedlove
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----------------------------------------------------------------
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Home BBS: BOBsBBS 916-929-7511 (Messages to SYSOP)
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bobsbbs!system@sactoh0.sac.ca.us or bob@sactoh0.sac.ca.us
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================================================================
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E-MAIL UPDATES
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The USBBS List now accepts updates by Internet mail. Here is the ONLY
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way that these updates will be accepted:
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1. Download USBUP100.ZIP from BOBsBBS (916-929-7511) or via anonymous
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FTP from oak.oakland.edu:/pub/msdos/bbslist.
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2. Use USBBSUP.EXE to create USBBS.DAT.
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3. E-mail USBBS.DAT to bobsbbs!update@sactoh0.sac.ca.us or upload
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the file to BOBsBBS using the special update feature in the (O)ther
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BBS (P)hone list, USBBS (U)pdate feature.
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Please note, mail updates other than those created by USBBSUP.EXE will
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be ignored. Thank you for your cooperation.
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----------------------------------------------------------------
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EASIER UPDATES AT BOBsBBS
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It is now quicker to update your BBS information at BOBsBBS
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(916-929-7511). Simply log on with the ID "USBBS UPDATE"
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(no password). This will take you directly to the USBBS
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update script and log you off after updating your information.
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----------------------------------------------------------------
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BOB BLACHER'S COMPUTER CONNECTIONS IS BACK
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407-451-9364 FL Boca Raton Robert Blacher B 29D 126*
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CompConnx 6/2
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Computer Connections is back ! Bob's board will continue
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to carry the USBBS list.
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Bob has long been a long-time friend and supporter of
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USBBS, first as the sole update point and then as a
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distribution point for the list.
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----------------------------------------------------------------
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NEW BBS DESIGNATIONS
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I have started changing some of the older BBS designations:
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I = TriBBS
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If you have additional suggestions, please let me know.
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----------------------------------------------------------------
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USBBS AVAILABLE ON THE INTERNET
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USBBS is available over the Internet. You can get the
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entire list or request area codes or state selections to
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customize a list. The paragraphs below explain how.
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The Whole List via USENET
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It is posted to "alt.bbs.lists" at the same time it is
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distributed to the update points. The USBBS###.LST file is
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posted in multiple pieces. The entire archive file is not
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posted because of the difficulty some people have with
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uuencoded files.
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The archive is available via FTP from oak.oakland.edu. It is
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posted there shortly after the weekend distribution and will
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be available sometime during the next week. Request
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/pub/msdos/bbslist/usbbs###.zip (where "###" is the edition
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number).
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Customized List
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BOBsBBS now supports a "customized list server" which is
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available via e-mail. This server will prepare a customized
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list for you of selected area codes and/or states. Send an
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e-mail request to:
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bobsbbs!usbbs@sactoh0.sac.ca.us
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In the body of the request, the server recognizes the
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following commands:
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AC <area code>
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You may include a maximum of 5 of these area code
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commands. example: AC 916
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ST <2 character state abbreviation>
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You may request a maximum of 2 states. Use the two
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character state abbreviation. You may also enter FGN
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for foreign or UNK for unknown areas. Canadian boards
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use the two character abbreviation for the province.
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example: ST CA
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REPLY <your internet ID>
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Include this command to be sure that the server can
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return the mail to you. The "from:" field in messages
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is often not accurate.
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example: REPLY bobsbbs!usbbs@sactoh0.sac.ca.us
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HOW-TO
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Request the how-to get USBBS text file which
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accompanies the list.
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NEWS
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Request the USBBS news file.
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HELP
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Send current information on the mail server.
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QUIT
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The list command in the message.
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All other commands/lines in the message are ignored.
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NOTE: This server collects mail about once per day. Please
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be patient. In most cases your request will be returned to
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you within 24-72 hours. You can NOT request the entire list
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through this mechanism, please do not ask. This is a
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service in testing and MAY NOT BE AVAILABLE AT ALL TIMES.
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----------------------------------------------------------------
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USBBS DOWNLOADS AT BOBSBBS
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BOBsBBS supports a set of special ID's which are for downloading
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the USBBS list ONLY. Here they are:
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ID PROTOCOL
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USBBS ZMODEM Zmodem
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USBBS YMODEM Ymodem
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USBBS XMODEM Xmodem-Checksum
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USBBS CRC Xmodem-CRC
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USBBS Xmodem1k Xmodem-1K
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These ID's have no passwords and go through a special script
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which starts the download immediately after logon. To help
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you automate your downloads, here are the phrases to wait
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for and the responses to enter:
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WAIT FOR ENTER
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Graphics <Enter>
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LAST name {id};;
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Protocol starts immediately start protocol download
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Wait approximately 1 second after detecting each phrase.
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Notice that there is a set of two semi-colons (";;") after
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the {id}. This by-passes the password prompt. You MUST
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enter this or you will get the "PASSWORD" prompt. For
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example, you would enter "USBBS ZMODEM;;" in response to the
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"LAST name" prompt.
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The connection is terminated immediately after the download
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is completed.
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----------------------------------------------------------------
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SOME THOUGHTS FOR THE FUTURE
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The following are some thoughts about the USBBS National BBS
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list. It has been around for a long time in about the same
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format. But the BBSing and communications worlds are
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changing rapidly and the list must keep up with those
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changes.
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As always your comments are appreciated. Send them to
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BOBsBBS 916-929-7511 or contact me on the internet at
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"bobsbbs!system@sactoh0.SAC.CA.US"
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Expiration of BBS's on USBBS
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One of the major problems I have with the list is finding out when
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boards go out of existence. They do this quite often and without
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notice. I have been toying with the idea of expiring BBS entries if
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they are more than ONE YEAR old. What do you think?
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The Annotated USBBS List
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(I'm getting closer to producing this list. The key is to
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make sure that it can be produced without too much work on
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my part!)
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I get a number of requests for boards with a specific focus
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or specific features. Sysops are asked to leave this
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information when they update their board information on the
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list.
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Unfortunately, this information is not available on the
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standard USBBS list. Therefore, I propose an "annotated"
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BBS list as an addition to the standard list. This list
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would be in the following format:
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nnn-nnn-nnnn xx xxxxxxxxx . . . <-The standard USBBS list line
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FOCUS: ffffffffffff . . . <-The board's focus (60 chars)
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cccccccccccc . . . <-Comment (60 chars)
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cccccccccccc . . . <-Comment (60 chars)
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The annotated list would be distributed in a separate
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archive (USBANxxx) on the same schedule as the USBBS list.
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"xxx" would reflect the same version number as the standard
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list.
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The following conditions would have to be met by the
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updaters in order to remain on the annotated list:
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<EFBFBD> Qualify for the standard USBBS list
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<EFBFBD> Update information at least once every 90 days by
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calling BOBsBBS (916-929-7511). This will assure that the
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information entered will be correct and compelte.
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----------------------------------------------------------------
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RELEASE SCHEDULE
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This is a release schedule for USBBS for the next several
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months. Unless there is some reason to do so, the list
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is released on the last weekend of the month unless the
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first of the month is on a weekend. All revisions for the
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list should be in by the Wednesday before the release date
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to help assure that I get them.
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PLEASE NOTE: Because I do this for free, I reserve the
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right to change this schedule without notice. Notices about
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distribution are posted on BOBsBBS (916-929-7511). Sorry
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for any inconvenience this causes.
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SYSOPS, please note: I sometimes have difficulty reaching
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the remote update points before the release date. If the
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board is down or constantly busy, I may not be able to
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collect the information before the update for that month.
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Call BOBsBBS (916-929-7511) to be assured that your update
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will be considered for the next edition of the list.
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Edition Weekend Notes
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128 1/1/95 Christmas Weekend
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129 1/28/95
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130 2/25/95
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131 3/25/95
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132 4/29/95
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----------------------------------------------------------------
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FILES IN ARCHIVE
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USBBSxxx.LST The USBBS National BBS list itself.
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USBBSxxx.TXT Information about distribution and update
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points for the USBBS list. This file is
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always included with the list.
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USBBSxxx.NWS News about the USBBS list. This file is
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only included when there is news to pass on
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about the list.
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FILE_ID.DIZ An extended description for the USBBS list
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archive. Always included.
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