962 lines
42 KiB
Plaintext
962 lines
42 KiB
Plaintext
![]() |
Volume 5, Number 17 25 April 1988
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| / \ |
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| /|oo \ |
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| - FidoNews - (_| /_) |
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| _`@/_ \ _ |
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| International | | \ \\ |
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| FidoNet Association | (*) | \ )) |
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| Newsletter ______ |__U__| / \// |
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| / FIDO \ _//|| _\ / |
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| (________) (_/(_|(____/ |
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| (jm) |
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+---------------------------------------------------------------+
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Editor in Chief Dale Lovell
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Editor Emeritus: Thom Henderson
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Chief Procrastinator Emeritus: Tom Jennings
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Contributing Editors: Al Arango
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FidoNews is published weekly by the International FidoNet
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Association as its official newsletter. You are encouraged to
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submit articles for publication in FidoNews. Article submission
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standards are contained in the file ARTSPEC.DOC, available from
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node 1:1/1.
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Copyright 1988 by the International FidoNet Association. All
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rights reserved. Duplication and/or distribution permitted for
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noncommercial purposes only. For use in other circumstances,
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please contact IFNA at (314) 576-4067. IFNA may also be contacted
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at PO Box 41143, St. Louis, MO 63141.
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Fido and FidoNet are registered trademarks of Tom Jennings of
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Fido Software, 164 Shipley Avenue, San Francisco, CA 94107 and
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are used with permission.
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The contents of the articles contained here are not our
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responsibility, nor do we necessarily agree with them.
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Everything here is subject to debate. We publish EVERYTHING
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received.
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Table of Contents
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1. EDITORIAL ................................................ 1
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Questions Concerning FidoNet ............................. 1
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2. ARTICLES ................................................. 3
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New EchoMail Conference: OS/9? ........................... 3
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Two and Three Dimensional Numerical Movements ............ 4
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3. NOTICES .................................................. 10
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The Interrupt Stack ...................................... 10
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Latest Software Versions ................................. 10
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4. COMMITTEE REPORTS ........................................ 12
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New Discounts for IFNA Members ........................... 12
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FidoNews 5-17 Page 1 25 Apr 1988
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=================================================================
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EDITORIAL
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=================================================================
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QUESTIONS CONCERNING FIDONET
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Do you believe that FidoNet should be used to promote
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international communications and good-will?
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Do you believe that FidoNet should be used to assist a wide
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variety of charitable concerns?
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Do you wish to enjoy more communications-oriented and ancillary
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services?
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Do you wish to reduce the size of your monthly phone bill?
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Do you believe that FidoNet's future directions should be decided
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not by a few but democratically by all those concerned?
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Do you think that FidoNet should be a place of fair treatment,
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justice and respect for one another?
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Do you want to see an end to the squabbling and confusion and see
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everyone turn their attention toward making FidoNet all that it
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can be?
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Do you believe that FidoNet should be protected from adverse
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outside influences?
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Do you believe that the financial burden of supporting FidoNet
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should be borne by others than sysops only?
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If you have answered "Yes" to any of the questions above, you
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have a reason for joining and supporting IFNA. IFNA supports and
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is working for implementation of all those ideals stated above.
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There is a popular misconception that IFNA is some outside
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agency, come to wrest control of FidoNet from those that are
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currently running it. In fact, nothing could be further from the
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truth. The Coordinator Structure was originally created by past
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and present leaders of IFNA. It is fully supported by IFNA which
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recognizes the benefits of maintaining the current separation of
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responsibilities wherein the operational concerns are handled by
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the coordinators while the IFNA structures deal with all the
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political considerations. Efforts are underway now on both sides
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to jointly define the limits of responsibility of the respective
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bodies and the details of the necessary interfaces between them.
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Nearly every Regional Coordinator has, by joining IFNA, stated a
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recognition of the need for the political organization that IFNA
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can provide for representing FidoNet's interests with all outside
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agencies and for making sure that FidoNet is responsive to the
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needs and will of all, not just a few.
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FidoNews 5-17 Page 2 25 Apr 1988
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Who are the leaders of FidoNet who have not become members of
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IFNA? Not very many. And why? Because those diligently working
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to serve FidoNet recognize that there are many potential benefits
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to be gained for FidoNet from such an organization. That's
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certainly not to say that everyone agrees on what those benefits
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should be or how they should be attained, but IFNA still provides
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the structure and rules that presently allow the greatest chance
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for these and similar questions to be resolved.
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Have you noticed that Tom Jennings, the "Father of FIdoNet" is
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not only an IFNA member and supporter, but has also charged IFNA
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with executing his long-standing principles of promoting FidoNet
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for the good of all that would use and serve it well? Who do you
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think TJ supports - those that are trying to make the most out of
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the many opportunities that IFNA offers FidoNet or those that
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would cripple or destroy it? On which side are you?
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If you are a sysop that cares about FidoNet's future and
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believes in all the benefits that so many can can derive from
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it, you owe it to them, yourself, and those that have already
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committed so much to FidoNet, to take full advantage of the
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opportunities IFNA provides:
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o Leadership - If you have ideas of what FidoNet should be,
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IFNA provides you many positions from which you can promote
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them.
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o Representation - If you can't participate directly, you can
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utilize the various democratic processes of IFNA to still
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have your concerns and ideas heard and acted upon.
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o Optimization - By pooling resources and talents you can
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optimize the efforts of yourself and others towards whatever
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aspects of the common good you choose.
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o Fellowship - By forgoing a contentious position and joining
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in with fellow sysops actively trying to solve current
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problems and meet future needs, you should share a greater
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understanding and respect. And the fun should come back.
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If you don't accept IFNA as simply a tool that you can manipulate
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to accomplish what you want for FidoNet, then you are cheating
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yourself and all of FidoNet.
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Don Daniels, President
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International FidoNet Association
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1:107/210
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If you doubt what has been said above, send me a message. Please
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include your voice line and indicate a good time for a return
|
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call. We're willing to try and find the common ground so that we
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all may build upon it.
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-----------------------------------------------------------------
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FidoNews 5-17 Page 3 25 Apr 1988
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=================================================================
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ARTICLES
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=================================================================
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New EchoMail Conference: OS/9?
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Robert Heller @ Locks-Hill-BBS.NA.FIDONET (1:322/410.0)
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I am looking for other people who are interested in the OS/9
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operating system, particularly the 68000 version. I have two
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68K systems: an Atari 1040ST (running TOS and OS/9-68000 V2.2)
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and a Stride 440 (running CP/M-68K V1.2). OS/9 is a somewhat
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UNIX-like operating system, but smaller and saner. It was
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originally written for the Radio Shack ColorComputer (a
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6809-based BASIC-in-ROM toy), but has been ported to the 68000
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family, including the Atari ST series. I plan to port it to my
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Stride 440 this summer.
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If you are interested in carrying an OS/9 echo, please
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contact me via NetMail.
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-----------------------------------------------------------------
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FidoNews 5-17 Page 4 25 Apr 1988
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Fredric L. Rice
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(103/503.3 - Astro-Net)
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There is a program which allows the operator to symbolically
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move objects within a two dimensional representation of a grid
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whose dimensions are usually one hundred by one hundred points.
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Working within these limits, the object is moved from point
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to point searching for other objects by employing a limited
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field of vision. This program, if you haven't already guessed,
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is the old Star Trek game.
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Variations tried years after the initial release, after the
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newness of hunting down defenseless Klingons and reducing them
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to numeric rubble, included the movement of the searching ship
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within a three dimensional model, usually cubic though there
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have been spherical implementations which were experimentations
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on various search patterns within a limited volume while trying
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to maintain a distance from the limits at velocity.
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Within this article I have described the numerical methodology
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and formula for performing symbolic movement within a two
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dimensional and three dimensional grid of infinity sans one
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grid points, (which means that no limit detection code has been
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included).
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We will use the "Galileian system of co-ordinates" to describe
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grid points along lines, squares, and cubes. Because we are to
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work in an almost-infinite model, we will call the "Center" of
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the model our point of reference. Though we will not encompass
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a limitation of visibility, we will restrict the number of grid
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points worked with to usually nine in the two dimensional
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models and usually 27 within the three dimensional models. One
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dimensional concepts will not be tolerated within this article.
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- -
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Two Dimensional movements within a grid:
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Let us suppose that you are standing at Galileian position 2, 2
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in a grid of 3 by 3 points, (referred to as x position 2 and y
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position 2, or simply xpos 2 and ypos 2 from now on). You are
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standing at this position and wish to translate your position
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into another by applying movement towards another point. (Let's
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further assume that movement between points is illegal in this
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universe as that is another article).
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Before applying numerical formula to progress from point to
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point, let's lay down out simple two dimensional model and then
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apply relative values to them:
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1,1 1,2 1,3
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2,1 2,2 2,3
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3,1 3,2 3,3
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We consider ourself to be at xpos 2 and ypos 2. Now let's apply
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FidoNews 5-17 Page 5 25 Apr 1988
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the relative numerical values to use to these points:
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-1,-1 -1,+0 -1,+1
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+0,-1 +0,+0 +0,+1
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+1,-1 +1,+0 +1,+1
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If we wish to apply direction of travel, we would assign each
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grid point reference a number; perhaps like this:
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1 2 3
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-1,-1 -1,+0 -1,+1
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4 +0,-1 +0,+0 +0,+1 6
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+1,-1 +1,+0 +1,+1
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7 8 9
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To move towards direction 1, we take current xpos minus 1, the
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current ypos minus 1, and there we are. 2-1 = 1 and 2-1 = 1 so
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the final translation yields 1,1, where we wish to be.
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Another example might be to travel towards direction 7 where we
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take current xpos plus 1 and current ypos minus 1. 2+1 = 3 and
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2-1 = 1 so the final translation offers 3,1.
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If no movement along a dimension is required, such as is moving
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towards direction 6, we take current xpos plus 0 and current
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ypos plus 1. Yield is 2+0 = 2 and 2+1 = 3 or 2,3.
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Simple enough; now let's apply "distance" to move using the
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same model:
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Let's move outside the model towards direction 6 for a distance
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of four. To do such, simply multiply the reference grid by four
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to yield the proper offsets to center:
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At direction 6, 0 times 4 = 0 and 1 times four = 4. Apply the
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current xpos of 2+4x0 = 2 and current ypos of 2+4*1 = 6, or a
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new grid reference of 2,6. We can make verification by
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expanding out the model if you wish:
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1,1 1,2 1,3 1,4 1,5 1,6
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2,1 2,2 2,3 2,4 2,5 2,6
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3,1 3,2 3,3 3,4 3,5 3,6
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From 2,2 towards direction 6 for 4 points you get 2,6.
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A simple way, then, to represent such movement within a game is
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to put your reference grid into an array:
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dim reference%(9)
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for rloop% = 1 to 9
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read reference%(rloop%)
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next rloop%
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data -1,-1,-1,0,-1,1
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data 0,-1, 0,0, 0,1
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data 1,-1, 1,0, 1,1
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FidoNews 5-17 Page 6 25 Apr 1988
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To move from current xpos, ypos to new xpos, ypos, for a number
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of grid points "distance" in direction "direction" would then
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be:
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xpos = xpos + (reference%(((direction - 1) * 2) + 1) * distance)
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ypos = ypos + (reference%(((direction - 1) * 2) + 2) * distance)
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Note that by performing the above formula from a near-edge grid
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point, you may leave the model by allowing new xpos and ypos to
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go negative or exceed the desired limits if any.
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For the non-programmers among FidoNet; direction is
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decremented and then multiplied by two. The result is
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incremented and the result is used to index into the array to
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acquire the reference information. That value is multiplied by
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the distance which is then added to the current xpos. The
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calculation of the ypos is much the same yet two is added to
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the index when acquiring the reference value from the array.
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A current xpos of 2 and ypos of 2, towards direction 6 for a
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distance of four could then be calculated as:
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direction - 1 = 5
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5 * 2 = 10
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10 + 1 = 11
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reference%(11) = 0
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0 * distance = 0
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xpos + 0 = 2 or a new xpos of 2
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direction - 1 = 5
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5 * 2 = 10
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10 + 2 = 12
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reference%(12) = 1
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1 * distance = 4
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ypos + 4 = 6 or a new ypos of 6
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- -
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Three dimensional movements within a cube:
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Visualization of the reference grid created for three
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dimensional movements is a little more complicated so the
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models drawn here are done in a three-tiered or three-level
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method. There will, however, be an additional convention used
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and that is ypos to represent the additional dimension.
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To represent movement from enter out to all other points will
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require 81 reference points where "Center" is considered to be
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point 2,2,2 using Galileian system of co-ordinates:
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1,1,1 1,2,1 1,3,1
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2,1,1 2,2,1 2,3,1
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3,1,1 3,2,1 3,3,1
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FidoNews 5-17 Page 7 25 Apr 1988
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1,1,2 1,2,2 1,3,2
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2,1,2 2,2,2 2,3,2
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3,1,2 3,2,2 3,3,2
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1,1,3 1,2,3 1,3,3
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2,1,3 2,2,3 2,3,3
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3,1,3 3,2,3 3,3,3
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Again, lets apply numeric values to each grid point so that a
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since of direction may be applied when moving from 2,2,2 to all
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other points:
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1 2 3
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1,1,1 1,2,1 1,3,1
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4 2,1,1 2,2,1 2,3,1 6
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3,1,1 3,2,1 3,3,1
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7 8 9
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10 11 12
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1,1,2 1,2,2 1,3,2
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13 2,1,2 2,2,2 2,3,2 15
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3,1,2 3,2,2 3,3,2
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16 17 18
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19 20 21
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1,1,3 1,2,3 1,3,3
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22 2,1,3 2,2,3 2,3,3 24
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3,1,3 3,2,3 3,3,3
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25 26 27
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To apply reference points for this model, let's change the
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rules just a little. Rather than applying -1, +1, and 0 to the
|
|||
|
model, lets simply apply the symbols - + and o respectively:
|
|||
|
(Well it saves paper...):
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
+-- +o- ++-
|
|||
|
o-- oo- o+-
|
|||
|
--- -o- -+-
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
+-o +oo ++o
|
|||
|
o-o ooo o+o
|
|||
|
--o -oo -+o
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
+-+ +o+ +++
|
|||
|
o-+ oo+ o++
|
|||
|
--+ -o+ -++
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
As with the two dimensional model, practical applications in a
|
|||
|
program would look something like this:
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
dim reference%(81)
|
|||
|
for rloop% = 1 to 81
|
|||
|
read reference%(rloop%)
|
|||
|
next rloop%
|
|||
|
data 1,-1,-1, 1,0,-1, 1,1,-1
|
|||
|
data 0,-1,-1, 0,0,-1, 0,1,-1
|
|||
|
FidoNews 5-17 Page 8 25 Apr 1988
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
data -1,-1,-1, -1,0,-1, -1,1,-1
|
|||
|
data 1,-1,0, 1,0,0, 1,1,0
|
|||
|
data 0,-1,0, 0,0,0, 0,1,0
|
|||
|
data -1,-1,0, -1,0,0, -1,1,0
|
|||
|
data 1,-1,1, 1,0,1, 1,1,1
|
|||
|
data 0,-1,1, 0,0,1, 0,1,1
|
|||
|
data -1,-1,1, -1,0,1, -1,1,1
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
By progressing the above formula used to move from center to
|
|||
|
another grid point, we can assume the following:
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
xpos = xpos + (reference%(((direction - 1) * 3) + 1) * distance)
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
ypos = ypos + (reference%(((direction - 1) * 3) + 2) * distance)
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
zpos = zpos + (reference%(((direction - 1) * 3) + 3) * distance)
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
(Notice that this time, the number of the multiplier has been
|
|||
|
changed from 2 to 3 to represent the number of dimensions).
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
Though a good cube can not be drawn here with all of the grid
|
|||
|
points referenced, we can still apply the formula.
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
Assume a current xpos of 2, ypos of 2, and zpos of 2. Further
|
|||
|
assume a direction of 22 for a simple distance of one, (make a
|
|||
|
reference to the above model to see that the result should
|
|||
|
equal 2,1,3). Here we will be moving in two directions within a
|
|||
|
three dimensional grid matrix.
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
direction - 1 = 21
|
|||
|
21 * 3 = 63
|
|||
|
63 + 1 = 64
|
|||
|
reference%(64) = 0
|
|||
|
0 * distance = 0
|
|||
|
xpos + 0 = 2 or a new xpos of 2
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
direction - 1 = 21
|
|||
|
21 * 3 = 63
|
|||
|
63 + 2 = 65
|
|||
|
reference%(65) = -1
|
|||
|
-1 * distance = -1
|
|||
|
ypos + -1 = 1 or a new ypos of 1
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
direction - 1 = 21
|
|||
|
21 * 3 = 63
|
|||
|
63 + 3 = 66
|
|||
|
reference%(66) = 1
|
|||
|
1 * distance = 1
|
|||
|
zpos + 1 = 3 or a new zpos of 3
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
By "stacking" dimensional reference offsets in this way, we may
|
|||
|
acquire simple movements among any number of dimensions. I
|
|||
|
would invite a fourth dimensional progression on this theme to
|
|||
|
be documented and posted to FidoNews by the readers interested
|
|||
|
FidoNews 5-17 Page 9 25 Apr 1988
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
to see if an elegant solution can be developed to create the
|
|||
|
array. Anyone interested might look into providing a matrix
|
|||
|
rather than an array.
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
- -
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
A drawing using "Prodesign (c)" is available upon request which
|
|||
|
shows a cube with alphabetical references for the grid points
|
|||
|
and the three-dimensional reference values neatly plotted out.
|
|||
|
You may FileRequest the drawing CUBE.PD1 from Astro-Net,
|
|||
|
(103/503), (714)-662-2294, if you have Prodesign (c). If you
|
|||
|
would like a file containing plotter commands which can be
|
|||
|
dumped to a plotter, send network mail to 103/503.3 Fredric
|
|||
|
Rice describing the plotter you have available and I will put
|
|||
|
it into the format you require in a file name WHICH YOU MUST
|
|||
|
CHOOSE. It will be made FileRequestable within a week of your
|
|||
|
request to you will need to call back one week later. If you
|
|||
|
wish, you may request a graphics printer format as well though
|
|||
|
the resolution will obviously be degraded.
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
Fredric L. Rice
|
|||
|
(15/Apr/88)
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
FidoNet (103/503.3)
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
-----------------------------------------------------------------
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
FidoNews 5-17 Page 10 25 Apr 1988
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
=================================================================
|
|||
|
NOTICES
|
|||
|
=================================================================
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
The Interrupt Stack
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
16 May 1988
|
|||
|
Digital Equipment Corporations Users Society Spring Symposium.
|
|||
|
Will be held May 16-May 20 in Cincinnati, OH.
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
25 Jun 1988
|
|||
|
EuroCon II starts in Tiel, Holland. Sponsored by the Dutch
|
|||
|
Hobby Computer Club. Will run for 2 days. Contact Hans
|
|||
|
Lichthelm at 2:2/999 for information.
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
16 Jul 1988
|
|||
|
A new areacode, 508, will form in eastern Massachusetts and
|
|||
|
will be effective on this date. The new area code will be
|
|||
|
formed from the current areacode 617. Greater Boston will
|
|||
|
remain areacode 617 while the rest of eastern Massachusetts
|
|||
|
will form the new areacode 508.
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
25 Aug 1988
|
|||
|
Start of the Fifth International FidoNet Conference, to be
|
|||
|
held at the Drawbridge Inn in Cincinnati, OH. Contact Tim
|
|||
|
Sullivan at 108/62 for more information. This is FidoNet's big
|
|||
|
annual get-together, and is your chance to meet all the people
|
|||
|
you've been talking with all this time. We're hoping to see
|
|||
|
you there!
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
24 Aug 1989
|
|||
|
Voyager 2 passes Neptune.
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
If you have something which you would like to see on this
|
|||
|
calendar, please send a message to FidoNet node 1:1/1.
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
-----------------------------------------------------------------
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
Latest Software Versions
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
BBS Systems Node List Other
|
|||
|
& Mailers Version Utilities Version Utilities Version
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
Dutchie 2.81* EditNL 3.3 ARC 5.21
|
|||
|
Fido 12g* MakeNL 2.03 ARCmail 1.1
|
|||
|
Opus 1.03b Prune 1.40 ConfMail 3.31
|
|||
|
SEAdog 4.10 XlatList 2.86* EchoMail 1.31
|
|||
|
TBBS 2.0M MGM 1.1
|
|||
|
BinkleyTerm 1.40*
|
|||
|
QuickBBS 2.00*
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
* Recently changed
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
Utility authors: Please help keep this list up to date by
|
|||
|
FidoNews 5-17 Page 11 25 Apr 1988
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
reporting new versions to 1:1/1. It is not our intent to list
|
|||
|
all utilities here, only those which verge on necessity.
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
-----------------------------------------------------------------
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
FidoNews 5-17 Page 12 25 Apr 1988
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
=================================================================
|
|||
|
COMMITTEE REPORTS
|
|||
|
=================================================================
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
I.E.E.E. L.I. BBS
|
|||
|
1:107/211
|
|||
|
New Discounts for IFNA Members
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
The following two items are available to registered members of
|
|||
|
IFNA (or the IEEE) at substantial discounts:
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
1. The Touchbase Systems WorldPort 2400 Portable Modem
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
This modem comes with both an AC adapter and a 9-volt battery
|
|||
|
which will power it for approximately six hours. Roughly the
|
|||
|
size of a package of cigarettes, this engineering marvel
|
|||
|
supports the extended Hayes AT command set and is compatible
|
|||
|
with Bell 103/212A and CCITT V.21/V.22/V.22bis. It has a
|
|||
|
built in speaker, four call monitoring LEDs, special acoustic
|
|||
|
coupler adapter cable, 25-pin female DB-25 connector, and a
|
|||
|
standard RJ-11C modular connector telephone line interface.
|
|||
|
It has substituted for a Hayes 2400 on this BBS with no
|
|||
|
changes or problems. Bundled in this offer is CARBON COPY
|
|||
|
PLUS version 4.0 which provides both a terminal emulator
|
|||
|
program and a Remote PC Operation capabilty in the same
|
|||
|
package. GREAT for lap-tops!
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
List price for this modem is $395 (CARBON COPY lists for $195
|
|||
|
alone). Both are available to IFNA members for $216 plus any
|
|||
|
applicable taxes and shipping charge.
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
2. The CAT Image Scanner Model SI
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
This scanner package was a hit at the recent Computer
|
|||
|
Graphics Show in New York City. It attaches to your printer
|
|||
|
and is driven by the print mechanism to capture 50 to 300 dpi
|
|||
|
images in either Line Art or Half-tone modes. Scanned images
|
|||
|
can be cropped, scaled, printed, or combined to make posters,
|
|||
|
T-shirts, or viewgraphs. Captured images can be converted
|
|||
|
into PCX, TIFF or PFF print formats for use by various
|
|||
|
graphic packages or you can do your own desktop publishing
|
|||
|
with any word processor package. Listing for $195, this item
|
|||
|
is available to IFNA members for $126, plus shipping/taxes.
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
Printers supported: Panasonic KX-P1080, 1091, 1092
|
|||
|
Epson MX 80/100, RX 80/100, JX 80, FX 80/100, FX 85/182
|
|||
|
FX 86/286, Fx 86e/286e, EX 800/100, LQ 800/1000
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
For more information on these items see pages 52 and 317 of the
|
|||
|
April 26, 1988 edition of PC magazine (the one that reviews 9600
|
|||
|
baud modems) or send a msg with your voice phone number and
|
|||
|
address to 1:107/211. Supplies are limited, so don't delay!
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
-----------------------------------------------------------------
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
FidoNews 5-17 Page 13 25 Apr 1988
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
THE TREASURER'S REPORT Part II?
|
|||
|
--------------------------------
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
A few of you may recognize my name, with its trailing initials,
|
|||
|
as that of the treasurer of International Fidonet Association,
|
|||
|
Inc. (IFNA), but today I write as Leonard Mednick, JAS (Just
|
|||
|
Another Sysop)! Right now I'm reminded of an experience I had
|
|||
|
when I was in the third grade of elementary school.
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
THUMP! THUMP! THUMP!
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
Things were moving just a tad too slowly for me that day. The
|
|||
|
teacher, whom I dearly adored, just wasn't reaching me at the
|
|||
|
moment so I did the most logical thing I could think of, and
|
|||
|
that was to bang my head against my desk. THUMP! THUMP!
|
|||
|
THUMP! <pause> THUMP! THUMP! THUMP!
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
"Leonard," my beloved teacher announced, "Did you ever notice
|
|||
|
that the emptiest heads make the loudest noise?"
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
Everyone in class focused on me. There were giggles and there
|
|||
|
was laughter. How I loathed my school chums. How I disliked my
|
|||
|
former academic paramour for heaping me with this shame and
|
|||
|
ridicule. And how I hated myself, for getting trapped with all
|
|||
|
this contempt.
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
What a lesson I learned from school that day. "Empty heads make
|
|||
|
the loudest noise!" And its corollary, "Engage brain before
|
|||
|
putting mouth in gear!"
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
ELECTRON THUMPING
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
Which brings me to the point of this missive. There's been a lot
|
|||
|
of ELECTRON THUMPING, lately and it doesn't sound like the result
|
|||
|
of brain engagements.
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
OK. You guys wanted an accounting. And an accounting you got in
|
|||
|
the form of a SUMMARY of the accounts for the year ending
|
|||
|
12/31/87. Just like every other entity that reports to its
|
|||
|
members, stockholders, or THE IRS. How do you expect IFNA or
|
|||
|
any other company, etc. to report to EACH of its constituents?
|
|||
|
Do you expect a copy of the check register, the general ledger,
|
|||
|
and all the other books and workpapers to be UPLOADED to each of
|
|||
|
you? Or even published in the FIDONEWS? Be reasonable. The
|
|||
|
books are available for inspection AS THEY ALWAYS HAVE BEEN!
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
Now I really love Hawaii, where I've lived and raised a family
|
|||
|
for the last 27 years. Did you think that I was going to change
|
|||
|
my residence to St. Louis or Tennessee while I was treasurer just
|
|||
|
so someone could stroll over to my office one day to inspect
|
|||
|
those books and papers? What about the next treasurer. If he or
|
|||
|
she lives in California, is that going to be any more convenient
|
|||
|
to our members in St. Louis or in Tennessee (or even Holland?) I
|
|||
|
think not.
|
|||
|
FidoNews 5-17 Page 14 25 Apr 1988
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
TWO REASONABLE SOLUTIONS
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
A moment ago I asked you to be reasonable. This is what I mean
|
|||
|
by "reasonable." First, be aware that Honolulu is the eleventh
|
|||
|
largest city in the U. S. We have offices here that house each
|
|||
|
of the "Big Eight" accounting firms. Additionally, there are
|
|||
|
about 2,200 CPA's actively making a living performing accounting
|
|||
|
services for others. If you can't, or won't make the trip here
|
|||
|
to inspect IFNA's books, why not ask YOUR ACCOUNTANT to recommend
|
|||
|
one of OUR LOCAL ACCOUNTANTS to inspect the books for you. Give
|
|||
|
him/her specific instructions how you would like the accounting
|
|||
|
to look like when they are completed as there is NO ONE WAY TO
|
|||
|
ACCOUNT for transactions irrespective of what you may think or
|
|||
|
have been led to believe.
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
A second solution would be to ASK to have a copy of ALL THE
|
|||
|
RECORDS in the treasurer's possession sent to you or a nominee of
|
|||
|
your choice. Be prepared to pay for the reproduction costs of
|
|||
|
these records. (You really don't expect IFNA to shoulder this
|
|||
|
expense for EVERY MEMBER that does not want or cannot inspect the
|
|||
|
books at the treasure's domicile, do you?)
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
In any case, the two solutions offered are a heck of a lot
|
|||
|
cheaper than any court room engagement. And more substantial
|
|||
|
than the threats, intimidation, harassment, inuendoes, slurs, and
|
|||
|
other slings and arrows our, make that your, directors and
|
|||
|
officers had to endure. And your directors and officers are all
|
|||
|
UNPAID VOLUNTEERS, to boot!
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
THUMPERS' ACCOMPLISHMENTS
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
As a matter of fact, in many cases your officers and directors
|
|||
|
weren't ever the THUMPERS' directors. MANY OF THE LOUDEST
|
|||
|
THUMPERS ARE NOT MEMBERS OF IFNA. But incredibly they want an
|
|||
|
accounting just the same! WANNA TALK ABOUT YOUR BASIC CHUTZPAH!
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
So what have these THUMPERS accomplished. Let me begin . . .
|
|||
|
First, they burned out many sysops who tried to put together an
|
|||
|
organization whose sole purpose was to BETTER THE POLITICAL,
|
|||
|
ECONOMIC, TECHNICAL, AND SOCIAL ENVIRONMENT OF SYSOPING! They
|
|||
|
sapped the vitality out of those sysops. They continue to leech
|
|||
|
this energy of the remaining board and then complain that IFNA
|
|||
|
has no direction, no purpose, no results. My fellow sysops, HOW
|
|||
|
IN HELL do you expect your board to function when ELECTRONIC
|
|||
|
WOLVES are sniping at your flanks, MERCILESSLY, while at every
|
|||
|
turn our fellow directors are being devoured!
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
Is my metaphor to strong? Too graphic? I think not! How else
|
|||
|
to explain the loss of the wonderful guidance and services of
|
|||
|
outstanding human beings and humanitarians like Ben Baker, Thom
|
|||
|
Henderson, and Bob Hartman to name but three. There are others,
|
|||
|
too many for me to remember at 2:30 in the A.M. as I am writing
|
|||
|
this. My apologies for not mentioning their names. In their
|
|||
|
hearts and OUR MINDS we know who they are.
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
FidoNews 5-17 Page 15 25 Apr 1988
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
THUMPERS OF THE WORLD -- WHERE ARE YOU?
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
Did any of these THUMPERS volunteer to DONATE THEIR SERVICES to
|
|||
|
help IFNA go "in the right direction?" I can assure you that all
|
|||
|
they had to do was ask and our board would have showered them
|
|||
|
with appreciation . . . and work! I know, because even from
|
|||
|
someplace AS FAR OFF AS IN HAWAII, I got the thankless job of
|
|||
|
whipping your books into a semblance of order so that you could
|
|||
|
have the ACCOUNTING WE WERE ALL ENTITLED TO!
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
No one of us is looking for THANKS. But for CHRISSAKES, no one
|
|||
|
of us was looking to be dumped upon, either! Have a little
|
|||
|
humanity in your soul.
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
HOORAY FOR FIDOCON88
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
By the way, if neither of the solutions I've mentioned earlier
|
|||
|
works for you, here's a third. YOUR PRECIOUS BOOKS with their
|
|||
|
jots and tittles of IMPORTANT INFORMATION, upon which THE FUTURE
|
|||
|
OF ALL MANKIND DEPENDS will be at the FIDOCON88, if you can wait
|
|||
|
that long. Would it kill the few BIG THUMPERS among you to wait
|
|||
|
until then?
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
COME BACK GUYS! PLLLEEEASE!
|
|||
|
(we'll all be your best friends for life)
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
And while we're waiting, would it be too much for us to ask,
|
|||
|
beseech, and beg Ben, Thom, Bob, and the others to reconsider and
|
|||
|
please COME BACK! IFNA NEEDS YOU! So do we all, NEED YOU, NOW!
|
|||
|
Only when we all PULL TOGETHER, will we solve the real problems
|
|||
|
of our BBS community: Integrated Alternate Nets, Government
|
|||
|
Incursions, Electronic Law and Order, and most important, WHERE
|
|||
|
HAS ALL THE FUN GONE!
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FidoNews 5-17 Page 16 25 Apr 1988
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OFFICERS OF THE INTERNATIONAL FIDONET ASSOCIATION
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Ken Kaplan 100/22 Chairman of the Board
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Don Daniels 107/210 President
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Mark Grennan 147/1 Vice President
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Dave Dodell 114/15 Vice President - Technical Coordinator
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Tom Marshall 107/524 Secretary
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Leonard Mednick 12/1 Treasurer
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IFNA BOARD OF DIRECTORS
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DIVISION AT-LARGE
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10 Steve Jordan 102/2871 Don Daniels 107/210
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11 Bill Allbritten 11/301 Hal DuPrie 101/106
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12 Leonard Mednick 12/1 Mark Grennan 147/1
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13 Rick Siegel 107/27 Brad Hicks 100/523
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14 Ken Kaplan 100/22 Ted Polczyinski 154/5
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15 Jim Cannell 128/13 Kurt Reisler 109/74
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16 Vince Perriello 141/491 Robert Rudolph 261/628
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17 Rob Barker 138/34 Greg Small 148/122
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18 Chris Baker 135/14 Bob Swift 140/24
|
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19 Vernon Six 19/0 Larry Wall 15/18
|
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2 Henk Wevers 2:500/1 Gee Wong 107/312
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FidoNews 5-17 Page 17 25 Apr 1988
|
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__
|
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|
The World's First / \
|
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|
BBS Network /|oo \
|
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|
* FidoNet * (_| /_)
|
|||
|
_`@/_ \ _
|
|||
|
| | \ \\
|
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|
| (*) | \ ))
|
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|
______ |__U__| / \//
|
|||
|
/ Fido \ _//|| _\ /
|
|||
|
(________) (_/(_|(____/ (tm)
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
Membership for the International FidoNet Association
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
Membership in IFNA is open to any individual or organization that
|
|||
|
pays a specified annual membership fee. IFNA serves the
|
|||
|
international FidoNet-compatible electronic mail community to
|
|||
|
increase worldwide communications.
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
Member Name _______________________________ Date _______________
|
|||
|
Address _________________________________________________________
|
|||
|
City ____________________________________________________________
|
|||
|
State ________________________________ Zip _____________________
|
|||
|
Country _________________________________________________________
|
|||
|
Home Phone (Voice) ______________________________________________
|
|||
|
Work Phone (Voice) ______________________________________________
|
|||
|
Zone:Net/Node Number ____________________________________________
|
|||
|
BBS Name ________________________________________________________
|
|||
|
BBS Phone Number ________________________________________________
|
|||
|
Baud Rates Supported ____________________________________________
|
|||
|
Board Restrictions ______________________________________________
|
|||
|
Your Special Interests __________________________________________
|
|||
|
_________________________________________________________________
|
|||
|
_________________________________________________________________
|
|||
|
In what areas would you be willing to help in FidoNet? __________
|
|||
|
_________________________________________________________________
|
|||
|
_________________________________________________________________
|
|||
|
Send this membership form and a check or money order for $25 in
|
|||
|
US Funds to:
|
|||
|
International FidoNet Association
|
|||
|
c/o Leonard Mednick, MBA, CPA
|
|||
|
700 Bishop Street, #1014
|
|||
|
Honolulu, Hawaii 96813-4112
|
|||
|
USA
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
Thank you for your membership! Your participation will help to
|
|||
|
insure the future of FidoNet.
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
Please NOTE that IFNA is a general not-for-profit organization
|
|||
|
and Articles of Association and By-Laws were adopted by the
|
|||
|
membership in January 1987. The first elected Board of Directors
|
|||
|
was filled in August 1987. The IFNA Echomail Conference has been
|
|||
|
established on FidoNet to assist the Board. We welcome your
|
|||
|
input to this Conference.
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
-----------------------------------------------------------------
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
FidoNews 5-17 Page 18 25 Apr 1988
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
INTERNATIONAL FIDONET ASSOCIATION
|
|||
|
ORDER FORM
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
Publications
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
The IFNA publications can be obtained by downloading from Fido
|
|||
|
1:1/10 or other FidoNet compatible systems, or by purchasing
|
|||
|
them directly from IFNA. We ask that all our IFNA Committee
|
|||
|
Chairmen provide us with the latest versions of each
|
|||
|
publication, but we can make no written guarantees.
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
Hardcopy prices as of October 1, 1986
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
IFNA Fido BBS listing $15.00 _____
|
|||
|
IFNA Administrative Policy DOCs $10.00 _____
|
|||
|
IFNA FidoNet Standards Committee DOCs $10.00 _____
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
SUBTOTAL _____
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
IFNA Member ONLY Special Offers
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
System Enhancement Associates SEAdog $60.00 _____
|
|||
|
SEAdog price as of March 1, 1987
|
|||
|
ONLY 1 copy SEAdog per IFNA Member
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
Fido Software's Fido/FidoNet $100.00 _____
|
|||
|
Fido/FidoNet price as of November 1, 1987
|
|||
|
ONLY 1 copy Fido/FidoNet per IFNA Member
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
International orders include $10.00 for
|
|||
|
surface shipping or $20.00 for air shipping _____
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
SUBTOTAL _____
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
HI. Residents add 4.0 % Sales tax _____
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
TOTAL _____
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
SEND CHECK OR MONEY ORDER IN US FUNDS:
|
|||
|
International FidoNet Association
|
|||
|
c/o Leonard Mednick, MBA, CPA
|
|||
|
700 Bishop Street, #1014
|
|||
|
Honolulu, HI. 96813-4112
|
|||
|
USA
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
Name________________________________
|
|||
|
Zone:Net/Node____:____/____
|
|||
|
Company_____________________________
|
|||
|
Address_____________________________
|
|||
|
City____________________ State____________ Zip_____
|
|||
|
Voice Phone_________________________
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
Signature___________________________
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
-----------------------------------------------------------------
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
|