1260 lines
61 KiB
Plaintext
1260 lines
61 KiB
Plaintext
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BTN: Birmingham Telecommunications News
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COPYRIGHT 1993 ISSN 1055-4548
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March 1993 Volume 6, Issue 3
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Edition 1
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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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From The Editor................................Scott Hollifield
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Letters to the Editor..........................BTN Readers
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U.S. Robotics V.FAST Announcement..............U.S. Robotics
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BBSing In The Real World.......................Damion Furi
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Freedom........................................Lurch Henson
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Sysop >< Software >< User......................David Moss
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Local Music In March...........................Judy Ranelli
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Special Interest Groups (SIGs).................Barry Bowden
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BTN Profile: Billy Bob Crawdad.................Anonymous
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Known BBS Numbers..............................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 damage
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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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Publisher, BTN
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606 Twin Branch Terrace
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BHAM, AL 35216
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(205) 823-3956
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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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F R E E B I E : G E T I T W H I L E I T S H O T !
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The following boards allow BTN to be downloaded freely, that is with no
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charge to any existing upload/download ratios.
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ADAnet One Alter-Ego Bone Yard
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Bus System The Castle Channel 8250
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Crunchy Frog DC Info Exchange F/X BBS
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Gateway BBS Hardware Hotline Homewood's Hell Hole
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Joker's Castle Lemon Grove Martyrdom Again?!
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The MATRIX Milliways BBS Night Watch
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The Outer Limits Owlabama BBS Owl's Nest
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Playground Safe Harbor Southern Stallion
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Starbase 12 Teasers BBS T.G.U.E. BBS
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Thy Master's Dungeon Weekends BBS
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(Please note that this list includes some systems which are not local to
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Birmingham and therefore not included on our BBS Numbers list.)
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If you are a sysop and you allow BTN to be downloaded freely, please let
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me know via The Matrix or Crunchy Frog so that I can post your board as
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a free BTN distributor. Thanks. SH
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-----------------------------------------------------------------------
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N E W S F L A S H
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NON-LOCAL READERS!
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Feeling isolated and alienated because you
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can't upload submissions or leave letters without paying
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long distance charges?
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God, I hope so, because if you have access to an Internet
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site, you can send me anything you want to through that method.
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My Internet address is:
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scott.hollifield@the-matrix.com
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-----------------------------------------------------------------------
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From the Editor
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by Scott Hollifield
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Well, well, well, time for this stuff again already?
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Yep, past time in fact - BTN is late this month, partially due to a
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certain cycle of cosmic events beyond my portent or control, but also
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partially because I simply put off writing my editor's column until I
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just couldn't stand it anymore. That's right, whoever it is out there
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with the voodoo doll, you can stop now. Why is it so difficult for me
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to just sit down and crank this kind of thing out? I'm a champion
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procrastinator, true, as anyone who knows me even remotely will confirm
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(including the lady at the breakfast place every morning who stands
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tapping her foot while I fret over which precise combination of pocket
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change to give up). And yet, there's something else, something that's
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been sitting at the back of my brain, scratching and making little
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obnoxious comments, like Robin Williams as a cartoon bee.
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I think that this comes from certain vague guilt pangs I've been
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having concerning the end result of my efforts. Very slight, very
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vague, very marginal, but there nonetheless. I'm not talking about the
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task of filling Mark Maisel's shoes -- I got over THAT one the minute I
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volunteered for this job. And people have been kind; I was particularly
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pleased to see a lengthy positive review a few months back from Damion
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Furi, a relatively new local user of some opinionated note. (Of course,
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we're all now onto the real truth, that this was just buttering on
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Damion's part to smooth the path to becoming a regular BTN writer, but
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the joke's on him -- it's ridiculously easy to be a regular BTN writer,
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and I wish more people knew it -- but I'm glad he bothered anyway.)
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Still, take a steady gander at our tables of contents from the last
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few issues and you'll see a marked similarity. Not that I mind having
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guys like Damion Furi and Lurch Henson contribute regularly (in the
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sense that I wouldn't mind having ANYone contribute *regularly*), but
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I'd hate for BTN to devolve into five guys with five monthly articles
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entitled "My Opinions About Certain Things", "#1" through "5".
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And I know that more than once now, I've tried to make things seem a
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little more exciting by hinting of things to come, which haven't quite
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arrived yet (such as last month's hint of "a few [new] ideas" which were
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supposed to be in this issue). Truthfully, I DO have new ideas for BTN.
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It's just that I haven't yet found the time or energy to implement them.
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Rest assured, they are coming. Let's talk a little about what's in
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store for the BTN of the near future.
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Beginning next month, I'm going to drop my personal responsibilities
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concerning the much-loved "Known BBS Numbers List", and hand them over
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to a comrade. James Minton, current sysop of Outer Limits BBS and one
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of the longest-running, currently-serving sysops in Birmingham, has
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volunteered to take up this awesome duty (and unless you've ever called
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eighty bulletin boards in one evening, you don't know the meaning of the
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words "awesome duty"). I know that other people have volunteered for
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this task before, even back when I first became editor of BTN, and I do
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appreciate the thoughts of all who did. I'm not intentionally slighting
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anyone -- it's just that James happened to ask at precisely the right
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time, i.e. the time when I was actually beginning to seriously give the
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List to someone else. I hope he realizes what he's getting into with
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it.
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Also, something special is coming up soon: the fifth anniversary of
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BTN. That's right, it's been five years since that very special first
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issue of BTN, back in May 1988. We've been places, friends; we pre-date
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the election of George Bush, both Batman movies, and most of the Farm-
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Aids. So you can imagine that we must have a special issue to mark this
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special occasion, and that we must have a special number of special
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articles from our special friends. There are indeed plans in the works
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to make the May 1993 issue of BTN extra-special, but if you've got any
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ideas, drop me a line.
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Not only that, but I've gotten semi-solid article commitments from
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several people whose names are NOT Lurch Henson, Damion Furi, or Judy
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Ranelli. We love the members of our family, of course, but we'd like
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our family to grow! Isn't that a lovely metaphor? Ah, springtime
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draweth nigh.
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Well, I've beaten out my last column by 20 lines or so, and that's
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good enough for me. Let me remind you that if you're interested in
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submitting something for BTN, it's VERY easy -- just upload it as a
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private file to either the Crunchy Frog or the Matrix, and tell the
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sysop it's for me. Until next month, be kind to your fellow oxygen-
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breathers, and please use your turn signal when changing lanes.
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-----------------------------------------------------------------------
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Letters to the Editor
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From: David Moss
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I've been meaning to take the time to write to BTN and comment about
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some of the conferences around town. My favorite, this last couple of
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months, has to be EZNet.
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In EZNet, you can find any topic of conversation you might want,
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anything from recipes to politics. The first of these, I won't touch
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with a ten foot pole. <grin> It is the second issue that I do wish to
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comment on. Primarily, "Gays In The Military".
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It seems to me, that with all the REAL issues facing this country,
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that the press could find a more urgent one to "sensationalize". But,
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since this topic appears to be the "hot potato", I'll take a shot at it
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too.
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There will come a time in this country, when "the draft" will have
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to be reinstated. With this in mind, how can we afford to have a
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system, by which, if a young man did not want to go, all he has to do is
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say, "Uh, gee Sarge, I'd like to, but I'm gay". I have a feeling that
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that line will be the longest at the recruitment center.
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For those who doubt a draft, remember this: man will always be at
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war with man. So it is inevitable that a war will flare up somewhere,
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a war that will require the young men and women of this nation to be
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called upon to defend it.
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I have heard all the hysteria about why homosexuals should not be
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allowed in the military, but I have not heard any REASONS, only
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excuses. There is no reason why a homosexual cannot serve a
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distinguished career in the military, if allowed to do so. If we as a
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nation attempt to take away fundamental rights, and I'm talking about
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"....and bear arms", then why not take away some more, like "taxes"?
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Considering the state of this nation, I feel there are a few more
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urgent issues that affect all of us. This issue will have very little
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effect on any of us. I am waaaaay past the age of serving, so it does
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not affect me, but I still find myself voicing opinions on it.
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Whichever side of the issue you take, then by all means, write your
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congressman and let him know. While you are writing him, ask what he
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plans to do about, unemployment, taxes, welfare, prison systems, social
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security, health coverage, drugs, children with guns, adults with guns,
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crime, stock brokers that bilk millions from us and walk away clean,
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Somalia, Cuba, Haiti, Bosnia, Iraq, and TV stations that mislead the
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public about BBS's. (I had to do that)
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There are many many more issues that face us (all of us) that, to
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me, should be acted on and publicized more so than this issue. This
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issue has made front page headlines across the nation. I ask you, is
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this a ploy to take our minds off the real state of this nation?
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I can be e-mailed at WEEKENDS, or any EZNet conference, and I should
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get it eventually.
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Congratulations to BTN for it's upcoming fifth anniversary.
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[David Moss is the sysop of Weekends BBS (841-8583) and is also a
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contributing writer to BTN as of this month, with an article you'll see
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later in the issue.]
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-----------------------------------------------------------------------
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[Editor's Note: The following article was scheduled to be included in
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last month's issue of BTN, but was accidentally left out.]
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Well, here is the U.S.R. announcement, in, I think, it's entirety,
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courtesy of the Internet:
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Following the anouncment is a discuession with US Robotics, Dale Walsh,
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one of the committee members of the CCITT study group developing the
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CCITT V.Fast Standard.
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U.S. ROBOTICS ANNOUNCES THE LAST MODEM YOU'LL EVER BUY
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Provides Migration Path to Forthcoming CCITT 28.8 Kbps Standard
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---------------------------------------------------------------
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SKOKIE, Ill. -- June 8, 1992 -- U.S. Robotics today announced an upgrade
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program for the CCITT-proposed standard of 28.8 Kbps, previously referred to
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as V.FAST. The Courier V.32bis, Courier HST Dual Standard and Shared Access
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Modem Sharing Kits are the products currently included in the program. Field
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upgrades will be available for $299 as soon as the CCITT 28.8 Kbps draft
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recommendation is completed. Official approval of the standard is not
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expected until January, 1994.
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"The CCITT-proposed 28.8 Kbps standard won't be a reality for most
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manufacturers until 1994," said Jonathan Zakin, U.S. Robotics executive vice
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president, sales and marketing. "By offering modems ready for 28.8 Kbps now,
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we're providing insurance against technical obsolescence. Customers can
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purchase a Courier high-speed modem or Shared Access Modem Sharing Kit now
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and take advantage of the most updated technology available. When the 28.8
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Kbps standard becomes available later, they'll already have a cost-effective
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upgrade option and won't have to re-invest in new equipment."
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"Key to the 28.8 Kbps program is the fact that the upgrade to the
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Courier high-speed modems and Shared Access Modem Sharing Kits can be
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completed by the end user at their worksite, which reduces their `down' time
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and eliminates excess costs like shipping and handling," continued Zakin.
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"You may hear about other 28.8 Kbps modems that are available now, but until
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the standard is defined, no one knows what hardware will be needed to comply.
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Our unique modem architecture makes future `field' upgrades a realistic and
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simple procedure."
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Because of U. S. Robotics' advanced modular modem architecture, the
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company's Courier V.32bis, Courier HST Dual Standard, and Shared Access modems
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are readily upgradable to 28.8Kbps. The modems are made up of a motherboard and
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a smaller daughterboard, which holds the modems' microprocessors and firmware.
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The current, high-speed daughterboard can easily be replaced with a new board
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containing the 28.8 Kbps CCITT standard. U.S. Robotics is the only modem
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manufacturer to implement this kind of flexible design.
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"In the CClTT, the previously called `V.FAST' standard has gained
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universal support at the 28.8Kbps speed," said Dale Walsh, U.S. Robotics vice
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president, advanced development and participant in the CCITT committee on the
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28.8 Kbps standard, "This is how our modular architecture works. The data
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pump (which executes the modulation and demodulation of the data), and the
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key controller functions (which perform the data compression, error control
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and the AT command set) are on one board, making upgrades simple. We can
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easily make the data pump faster and upgrade the controller functions to keep
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up with the new speed. It's all in just one small plug-in card."
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Because compatibility with CCITT standards is crucial, U.S. Robotics'
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availability and implementation of the 28.8Kbps standard will depend on the
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CClTT's progress. At this time, the standard is expected to define a connect
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speed of 28.8 Kbps, two times faster than V.32bis, the fastest CCITT
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standard now available.
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U.S. Robotics is one of the first vendors to announce a program for
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28.8Kbps compatibility. The company has a history of industry "firsts,"
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including the first CCITT V.32bis modem from a major manufacturer, the first
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self-managing modem management system and the first portable CCITT V.32
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modem.
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U.S. Robotics will upgrade any Modem Sharing Kit to 28.8Kbps. Current
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Courier models, which have the smaller footprint and a higher, 57.6 Kbps DCE
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to DTE (modem-to-computer) interface speed, are also upgradable. The
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company's upgrade program does not include WorldPort and Sportster modems.
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U. S. Robotics Courier modems offer a wide range of features, including
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fax, remote configuration, and synchronous capabilities. The Shared Access
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Modem Sharing Kits, which began shipping in March, 1992, allow for the
|
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pooling of modems on a LAN so that a LAN user can access them for dial-in or
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dial-out communications.
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The following products will be upgradable to 28.8 Kbps:
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Courier V.32 bis, internal and external (57,600 bps versions only)
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Courier HST Dual Standard, internal and external (57,600 bps versions only)
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Courier V.32 bis FAX, internal and external
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Courier HST Dual Standard FAX, internal and external
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Shared Access Modem Sharing Kit Single Port and Dual Port
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-------------------------------------------------------------------
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BBSing In The Real World
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by
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Damion Furi
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:DISILLUSIONED
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I have a confession to make. I am a prejudiced snob. And a
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very disillusioned one, at that.
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Before those of you scenting blood attempt to charge for the
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kill, let me explain something. I am not your ordinary prejudiced
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snob. I care not a whit whether you are rich or poor, white or
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black, heterosexual or homosexual, male or female, physically
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handicapped or healthy, nor do I care about any other such label
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that normally attracts the prejudiced as sharks to blood.
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I am an intellectual snob, and I have a marked prejudice
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against the willfully ignorant and the arrogantly stupid.
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Yes, ladies and gentleman, Damion is going to rant. I am
|
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going to go on such a binge of ranting as you have rarely
|
|||
|
experienced. Allow me only a moment to pull my soapbox out from
|
|||
|
under my desk...Ah, much better. (I've always maintained that one
|
|||
|
simply cannot rant properly without a good old-fashioned wooden
|
|||
|
soapbox.)
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
Now, where was I? Oh, yes; the willfully ignorant and the
|
|||
|
arrogantly stupid.
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
I failed to recognize it until just very recently, but I
|
|||
|
realized that I suffered a severe disillusionment from the state of
|
|||
|
our BBSs. I did not - quite - expect an electronic ivory tower.
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
But neither did I expect a digital reflection of the
|
|||
|
stupidities of the real world.
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
For the most part, as I have said before, BBS users and sysops
|
|||
|
tend to be a breed apart, as helpful and generous as any you could
|
|||
|
wish to meet. And yet, they still carry over into our private
|
|||
|
worlds the attitudes of the outside world: the pettiness, the
|
|||
|
viciousness, and the unconscious lousiness of their small-minded
|
|||
|
prejudice and hate.
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
It must be a lonely feeling, really, to be a two-cent Hitler
|
|||
|
from the warmth and comfort of their apartments and homes in the
|
|||
|
United States of America ("Land of the Free, Home of the Brave").
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
It must be a lonely feeling to be absolutely and unswervingly
|
|||
|
convinced that something must be "wrong" with "faggots," and that
|
|||
|
"niggers" are "so obviously" subordinate to "us masters," and that
|
|||
|
"bitches" are just "absolutely and unquestionably" good for nothing
|
|||
|
but "cleaning house" and doing certain other things that our
|
|||
|
Beloved Editor would be forced to censor if I were so crude and
|
|||
|
tasteless as to actually state the case in black and white in what
|
|||
|
is intended to be a "family" magazine (whatever that means).
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
Am I really being so naive to expect better from a group that
|
|||
|
consistantly shells out thousands of dollars of hard-earned money
|
|||
|
to participate in a technological bonanza? Am I being so naive to
|
|||
|
expect intelligent, rational thought from a group that has spent
|
|||
|
millions of man-hours learning the various mysteries of a thing as
|
|||
|
opaque as the computer?
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
So it would seem. I was naive, and now I am disillusioned.
|
|||
|
I have seen the nature of the beast, so to speak, and so walk on
|
|||
|
hurt, confused, and dazed. Please believe me when I say that
|
|||
|
little is so painful as having your illusions ripped from your mind
|
|||
|
and violently shredded in front of your eyes.
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
I wonder how many share my views, and how many will continue
|
|||
|
to espouse the putridness of their souls?
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
How many of you will continue to seek justification for your
|
|||
|
narrow-minded hate? How many of you will continue to harrass
|
|||
|
others politically, socially, or physically weaker than yourselves?
|
|||
|
How many of you will continue to voice of your despite of others
|
|||
|
that are, in the final analysis, as human as yourselves?
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
And, regardless of whom you hate, they are indeed human. They
|
|||
|
bleed, they laugh, they cry, they fail, they succeed, they work,
|
|||
|
they play, they are members of families much like your own... They
|
|||
|
have human failings, human virtues, human goals, and human dreams.
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
These whom you hate are as deserving of the chances you've had
|
|||
|
as you are now deserving of future chances - to do anything!
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
Anything at all...
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
----
|
|||
|
Damion Furi owns Freelance Support Services, an administrative
|
|||
|
and computer support service primarily serving other
|
|||
|
freelancers, which he runs from home.
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
Services include OCR & color scanning, desktop & disktop
|
|||
|
publishing (including AutoDesk animation), managerial, and
|
|||
|
administrative services.
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
For a current list of services, E-Mail your request c/o
|
|||
|
Nirvana, Owlabama, Teaser's, The Matrix, or Baudville.
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
Freedom
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
or
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
Will You PLEASE Grow Up?!?!?!
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
by
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
Lurch Henson
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
I was laying in bed this afternoon, reading through the Sunday
|
|||
|
paper, when I found something that really ticked me off. I wondered why
|
|||
|
the comic strip that was usually on the last page was now on the second,
|
|||
|
and I certainly found out why..... Here's what I found when I turned to
|
|||
|
the last page of the funny papers.....
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
"WE ARE OUTRAGED!
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
And we're not going to put up with it any longer!
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
We're a group of mothers, fathers, grandparents and other
|
|||
|
citizens who are outraged at how today's movies, TV-programs, music-
|
|||
|
videos and records are hurting our children, our families and our
|
|||
|
country. For example:
|
|||
|
We're DISMAYED that today 1.1 million girls between the ages of
|
|||
|
15 and 19 get pregnant each year.
|
|||
|
We're SHOCKED when we learn that two thirds of all births to 15
|
|||
|
and 19 year old girls are out of wedlock.
|
|||
|
We're FRIGHTENED at the way violence and crime are spreading
|
|||
|
everywhere and threatening our children, our families and our homes.
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
We say it's time to put the blame where we think it belongs:
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
SHAME on the music industry for letting singers who are the
|
|||
|
idols of our children put out RECORDS and MUSIC-VIDEOS which
|
|||
|
blatantly encourage sex and 'say' to our children that sex is proper
|
|||
|
at any age...that everyone is 'doing it'...and abstinence is old
|
|||
|
fashioned.
|
|||
|
SHAME on Hollywood for an endless stream of films filled with
|
|||
|
PROFANITY, NUDITY, SEX, VIOLENCE and KILLINGS. For example, the
|
|||
|
giant hit "Basic Instinct" features murders during orgasms, setting
|
|||
|
a new standard of perversion even for today's movies.
|
|||
|
SHAME on NBC-TV for allowing "Saturday Night Live", which is a
|
|||
|
favorite with young people, to put on skits about masturbation,
|
|||
|
morticians having sex with dead people etc., etc., ad nauseam.
|
|||
|
SHAME on TV programmers whose desire for ratings and profits
|
|||
|
results in the average child of 16 having seen more than 200,000
|
|||
|
ACTS OF VIOLENCE AND 33,000 MURDERS. Is it any wonder violence is
|
|||
|
epidemic?
|
|||
|
SHAME on the film industry which long ago stopped reflecting the
|
|||
|
values of most families and has now abolished the "X" rating,
|
|||
|
replacing it with "NC-17" so sex-filled, erotic, bloody films will
|
|||
|
no longer be barred from community movie houses.
|
|||
|
SHAME ON TV Soap Opera producers whose standards of decency have
|
|||
|
sunk so low that one of them tells his writers, "Hot, make it hot",
|
|||
|
and another admits they are trying to see "just how far they can
|
|||
|
'push it' on daytime"...when they KNOW that during the afternoon
|
|||
|
hours more than two thirds of all TV viewers are children!
|
|||
|
Yes, we are OUTRAGED at all this...and a great deal more. We
|
|||
|
say the tragic price our children, families and country are paying
|
|||
|
demands something be done to end what's going on. Alone we can't
|
|||
|
stop it. But together we think we can.
|
|||
|
The REAL CAUSE of the sex, violence, filth and profanity is with
|
|||
|
the writers, directors, producers, singers, actors, etc. But THEY
|
|||
|
can be controlled. All it takes is for the Boards of Directors of
|
|||
|
their companies to order them to stop! Remember when movies were
|
|||
|
wholesome family entertainment? That's when people at the top SET
|
|||
|
STANDARDS AND ENFORCED them. We're going to insist that happen
|
|||
|
again."
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
Well, I agree with them in one place.....but ONLY in one place.
|
|||
|
I DO think it's well past time to place the blame for all the problems
|
|||
|
in the USA today....but it damn well isn't with the entertainment
|
|||
|
industry. It rests firmly, and solely, with the PARENTS! Yes, you
|
|||
|
HEARD ME! It's ALL YOUR FAULT! Wake up and smell the garbage you're
|
|||
|
shoveling, people! Have you got ANY idea where your kid was last night?
|
|||
|
Are you SURE? I'll bet you're WRONG! And the reason is that the VAST
|
|||
|
majority of the parents would rather find some other reason, ANY other
|
|||
|
reason, for why their kids are turning out so badly than to admit the
|
|||
|
simple truth, that THEY SCREWED UP. Get off it, parents! Accept the
|
|||
|
fact that you made a BIG mistake, and FIX IT! Don't look for scapegoats
|
|||
|
in Hollywood, you are the ones that are supposed to be in charge of the
|
|||
|
developement of your children. YOU handle their education. YOU design
|
|||
|
their world view. And YOU are the ones that are FULLY RESPONSIBLE for
|
|||
|
the beings you are turning loose on the world when they turn 18 (and
|
|||
|
yes, in the state of Alabama you are LEGALLY obligated to provide for
|
|||
|
them UNTIL 18. If you throw them out before then, because you can't
|
|||
|
handle the RESPONSIBILITY, they can take YOU to court over it, and WIN.
|
|||
|
A girl in Lower Alabama did just that, and now she charges her parents
|
|||
|
rent in the house she won from them in the settlement). But, let's look
|
|||
|
at this tirade that was a FULL PAGE AD on the last page of the Sunday
|
|||
|
Comics section of the Birmingham News.
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
First off, I'm REALLY ticked off because of where they put it.
|
|||
|
I can just see it now....you've got a little girl that's just learning
|
|||
|
how to read, and is enjoying using the funny papers to do so. Into the
|
|||
|
kitchen wanders your little girl with the funnies, and sits down next to
|
|||
|
you at the breakfast table.....
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
LITTLE GIRL: "Mommie, what's an ORGASM? And why do you kill somebody
|
|||
|
when they have one?"
|
|||
|
MOMMIE: "WHAT! Where did you hear THAT?!?!?"
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
I'll tell you, Mommie....she read that out of her funny papers,
|
|||
|
right there on the last page, in the ad full of big words she was having
|
|||
|
lots of fun sounding out to herself a few minutes ago, where it was
|
|||
|
talking about a movie named "Basic Instinct". A movie which this little
|
|||
|
girl would known nothing about, because mommy probably didn't take her
|
|||
|
when she and daddy went to see it, before coming home and going to bed
|
|||
|
early and making all those nice, warm, loving sounds in the bedroom all
|
|||
|
night long..... But now, thanks to an ad which is trying to PROTECT
|
|||
|
this little girl, she wants to know from her loving mommie what an
|
|||
|
orgasm is, and why it's so bad that you have to kill someone that has
|
|||
|
one. Well, I don't know about YOU, Mommie, but I've NEVER had one that
|
|||
|
was that bad.......now look what you have to straighten out. Little
|
|||
|
early for that "talk" you planned to put off until she was 18, isn't it?
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
Secondly, it REALLY upsets me when someone else wants to tell me
|
|||
|
what I can and can not watch, see, or WRITE. Yes, WRITE. You see, I'm
|
|||
|
also one of those TERRIBLE PEOPLE that are destroying this country by
|
|||
|
writing "erotica". So what? I DON'T go stand outside of a schoolyard
|
|||
|
and grab little boys and girls and make them read it. I DON'T take
|
|||
|
mine, or anyone else's, to ANYONE of ANY age and force them to read or
|
|||
|
view it. I don't know of ANYONE that has been tied down, their fingers
|
|||
|
broken and the battery taken out of their remote control (because
|
|||
|
everyone knows there is no other way to change the channel than by
|
|||
|
remote control) so they HAVE to watch these TERRIBLE things that are
|
|||
|
broadcast on TV every day. And I DEFINATELY don't know of anyone that
|
|||
|
has been forced to watch a Soap Opera...... Not too many years ago a
|
|||
|
preacher did something I'm never going to forgive him for. Some
|
|||
|
preacher here in this great state decided that he didn't like a satelite
|
|||
|
TV channel named American XXX-tasy. So what did he do? Not watch it?
|
|||
|
No, that would have been the intelligent thing to do. Instead, he
|
|||
|
decided that he'd have to get rid of it. He decided, for you, that he
|
|||
|
didn't want ANYONE to watch it. Maybe he just felt that if it were
|
|||
|
still being broadcast to this state, he'd be too tempted to go over to
|
|||
|
his friend's house and watch it, I don't know. All I know is that this
|
|||
|
man decided that *I* could no longer watch that particular satelite TV
|
|||
|
channel, and he managed to get it blocked from reception to all of the
|
|||
|
state of Alabama. How, I do not know. The mechanics of it is something
|
|||
|
that I puzzle over even today. I would REALLY like to know how it's
|
|||
|
done, but no matter, it's done, and now I CAN'T watch it any more. He
|
|||
|
made HIS choice, he doesn't watch it anymore. But he ALSO made the
|
|||
|
choice for every other person in this state. NO ONE in this state can
|
|||
|
now watch it, except for those few along the borders that can barely
|
|||
|
pick it up where it's being sent to the states around us. These people
|
|||
|
are trying to do the same thing, but to EVERYONE, not just the state of
|
|||
|
Alabama, and NOT JUST ONE CHANNEL, but ALL CHANNELS, as well as ALL
|
|||
|
MOVIES, VIDEO TAPES, RADIO STATIONS, BOOKS, NEWSPAPERS, MAGAZINES, in
|
|||
|
fact, ANYTHING that can be determined to be ANYTHING that THEY don't
|
|||
|
like.....which basically can be interpreted to be almost anything that
|
|||
|
*I* DO like.....
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
Think about it for a minute, people. They are calling for an
|
|||
|
end to all of the things that make life interesting these days. They
|
|||
|
want all the movies that come out of Hollywood to be carbon copies of
|
|||
|
the movie "It's a Wonderful Life". You know the one....Jimmy Stewart
|
|||
|
gets to find out what life would be like without him in it....the one
|
|||
|
that plays OVER and OVER again every Christmas. How many of you get
|
|||
|
sick of it when you hear it starting up? I thought so..... What these
|
|||
|
people want is for all the people that are making so much money off of
|
|||
|
these movies to stop making them. THINK a minute. So much money.
|
|||
|
Hmmmmmm, well, where does the money come from? Someone must like these
|
|||
|
movies..... Someone must like these movies ALOT. It's these few that
|
|||
|
DON'T like them, or don't like US liking them. The mere fact that so
|
|||
|
much money is made from all these "destructive" things is because they
|
|||
|
are POPULAR. They are what people WANT. Don't think that just because
|
|||
|
SO MANY like it that it can't be taken away, though. People liked that
|
|||
|
satelite TV channel too, but a handful of people got rid of it. The ad
|
|||
|
that ran Sunday states that they have 738,983 petitions to put a stop to
|
|||
|
this entertainment, and it was far less than that that got rid of a TV
|
|||
|
channel.
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
One of the last things in the ad is this....
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
"Spare us the censorship lecture - you in the entertainment
|
|||
|
industry. And this is not an appeal for prudery. All we want
|
|||
|
is to get the movie, TV and record industries to act
|
|||
|
responsibly. Our children, our families and our country are
|
|||
|
being hurt too much for us to remain silent."
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
The movie, TV, and record industries ARE acting responsibly, it
|
|||
|
is YOU, the parents, that are not. Like I said above, quit trying to
|
|||
|
find a scapegoat and get to work RAISING your kids. It's YOUR job, YOUR
|
|||
|
responsibility, and YOUR children. In the end, you're going to be the
|
|||
|
only one you can blame if you screw it up, so grow up, and then help
|
|||
|
your children to do so. In fact, you might even want to go so far as to
|
|||
|
TRY and learn a little from you children. Chances are, they're a Hell
|
|||
|
of alot more adult than most of you..... Don't complain when they start
|
|||
|
lieing to you and blaming other children for their mistakes....after
|
|||
|
all, it's what you're teaching them to do right now.......
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
9303.1
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
Sysop >< Software >< User
|
|||
|
by David Moss
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
Recently, I made a flippant statement regarding the success of
|
|||
|
software being dependant on the user. The exact quote later. So, after
|
|||
|
a ton of messages, all of which is overwhelmingly against that
|
|||
|
statement, I wish for equal time for a rebuttal. Now for the (infamous
|
|||
|
and profound) statement that got me into all of this:
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
"The success of the software is determined by the user, not the
|
|||
|
sysop."
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
At first glance, it seems innocent enough, but, after a few messages
|
|||
|
to me on this subject, I started to do some thinking on it. You see,
|
|||
|
the statement was made in response to the controversy over the new Robo
|
|||
|
BBS software. It seemed an appropriate concept (at that time) that if
|
|||
|
the users took a liking to it that it would probably succeed. Before we
|
|||
|
go to far, keep in mind that I am referring to "software", and not a
|
|||
|
particular bulletin board.
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
When a person sets out to start a bulletin board (after his or her
|
|||
|
analyst has prescribed proper medication), one of the first decisions
|
|||
|
he or she will be faced with is the selection of "software". Now there
|
|||
|
are other considerations (divorce lawyers, telephone lines, modems,
|
|||
|
computers, where you will leech your files from, and so forth), but for
|
|||
|
now, lets stay with the "software".
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
Let's say you've got a catalog in front of you that lists every
|
|||
|
available BBS "software" on today's market. The first column your eyes
|
|||
|
may be attracted to is the price column. And that's okay, because
|
|||
|
everyone does not have an unlimited budget. What the average person may
|
|||
|
do here is set a limit, and attempt to get the most for his or her
|
|||
|
dollar. (NOT ME, I put mine on VISA and worried about paying for it
|
|||
|
later; I hid the bill, and told hun it was the "test drive version", but
|
|||
|
then you already knew I'm not average.)
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
Now that you are faced with capabilities, what exactly will this
|
|||
|
"software" do? What do you need it to do? Do you need it with door
|
|||
|
capabilities? What about file transfer protocols? Does it support all
|
|||
|
of the standard ones in use today? Does it come with a mail door (for
|
|||
|
dummies like me who can't type)? Is it multi-node? (You may want this
|
|||
|
type; you can always hide the phone bill, and another modem is real easy
|
|||
|
to hide.) Does it support a front end mail tosser? What about editing
|
|||
|
options? How many users will the database support? Has it got graphic
|
|||
|
capabilities? Are graphics optional or mandatory? Does it come with a
|
|||
|
screen saver? What about maximum file areas? (THIS IS IMPORTANT for
|
|||
|
when you REALLY begin sucking files from other boards.) Okay, I think
|
|||
|
you've got the picture. You must agree that there are a plethora of
|
|||
|
questions for considerations on the "software" alone.
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
You see, things like modems are easy to make a decision on. (Do
|
|||
|
like I did: have a "pair" of 16.8 "dualies" Fed-Exed in from U.S.
|
|||
|
Robotics -- Visa of course -- and tell hun they're "smoke detectors".
|
|||
|
After all, you will need two modems. You can't have the board down due
|
|||
|
to a lame modem. MAKE SURE that you are the one who gets the bill on
|
|||
|
this little stunt! One slip here, and you may need that attorney I
|
|||
|
mentioned earlier.)
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
Ok, for some final conclusions, we finally come to setup. Is this
|
|||
|
software easy to set up? Or do you have to sit with the manual in your
|
|||
|
lap? Are you constantly on the phone to the author in Poland? Since
|
|||
|
you will be the very first person to USE this "software", it should be
|
|||
|
easy to set-up, structure the security profiles, conference definitions,
|
|||
|
door assembly, and leave a small "footprint".
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
Now you should be ready for the first few callers. Here is where I
|
|||
|
originally thought the success was determined. And, there is some merit
|
|||
|
to the "Statement". Right here is where your USER takes over (although
|
|||
|
not entirely, so don't write me on this one point). If the USER logs on
|
|||
|
and has little or no trouble negotiating the "software", then can you
|
|||
|
say it will be a success? Not hardly! You see, when I "shot from the
|
|||
|
hip" with that statement I was thinking of the USER as the person who
|
|||
|
calls the board and logs on. And I was right to a certain degree. I
|
|||
|
only forgot one thing! And that is that the very "first" person that
|
|||
|
logs onto that board will be the sysop. If this "software" does not
|
|||
|
work for the very first user (which will be the sysop), then that user
|
|||
|
will determine the success of that particular "software".
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
In closing, when I made that fateful statement, I was confusing user
|
|||
|
with sysop. In reality, they are both users; that particular "software"
|
|||
|
must function properly for both: the sysop, who will probably spend more
|
|||
|
time logging on than anyone else, and the user, who calls on occasion.
|
|||
|
Whichever side of the fence you're on, you must agree with that.
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
"The User Determines The Success of The Software". ( period )
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
How was that for weaseling my way out of a fix?
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
One final word: This is such an expensive hobby. If you decide to
|
|||
|
take the plunge, take the time to do a little research. Ask some
|
|||
|
friends for advice, ask manufacturers for pamphlets or even "test drive
|
|||
|
versions". Don't just plug a phone wire in and call yourself a BBS.
|
|||
|
You will find that it takes a lot of money and time to do this stuff,
|
|||
|
all with very little thanks from anyone. But, to me, it's the greatest
|
|||
|
hobby in the world! And if I ever get in a tight, I can always sell a
|
|||
|
couple of used "smoke detectors".
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
See ya in a conference somewhere, I hope!
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
----
|
|||
|
David Moss is the sysop of Weekends BBS (841-8583).
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
Local Music In March
|
|||
|
by Judy Ranelli
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
Mon. 1
|
|||
|
Celebrity Toast and Jam at The Nick
|
|||
|
What is the world IS this? I have no idea. One sometimes has to
|
|||
|
take chances. If it's awful, you can always leave.
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
Tue. 2
|
|||
|
ITCHY WIGS at The Nick
|
|||
|
Mark Kimbrell is one of those people who manages to keep revolving
|
|||
|
players in a band and still kick butt.
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
Thur. 4
|
|||
|
SPUNKADILLY at Flamingos
|
|||
|
They are from Huntsville and are one of the weirdest acts I've seen
|
|||
|
lately. If you're in the SCA and its ilk you probably would like them.
|
|||
|
Jury's still out on my vote.
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
Fri. 5
|
|||
|
SUGAR LA-LAS/PINKY THE STABBER at Louie Louie
|
|||
|
Wouldn't you know that two of my favorite bands are finally playing
|
|||
|
together! I don't have to work, so I'm going to have fun.
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
Mon. 8
|
|||
|
GOD'S FAVORITE BAND/BUMPING UGLIES at The Nick
|
|||
|
The Uglies are completely chaotic and anything with the name God's
|
|||
|
Favorite Band gets my attention, even if just for a brief visit. Not
|
|||
|
for Journey fans.
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
Tues. 9
|
|||
|
TOPPER PRICE at Oteys
|
|||
|
He has a penchant for pissing off club owners and plays music too.
|
|||
|
What more could you want?
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
Thurs. 11
|
|||
|
SUGAR LA-LAS at The Underground (in Montevallo)
|
|||
|
I point this out because I was unaware that this place existed, and
|
|||
|
I like the La Las, so it would be something I'd attend if I wanted an
|
|||
|
excuse for a short road trip. I might even get some free beer out of
|
|||
|
the La Las.
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
Fri. 12
|
|||
|
ELLEN JAMES SOCIETY at the Rock'n Horse
|
|||
|
Didn't know this band still existed. Have no idea what they sound
|
|||
|
like, but they are from Atlanta (oooooooh). Will write home soon.
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
Sat. 13
|
|||
|
PINKY THE STABBER at The Nick
|
|||
|
Okay, I already mentioned them earlier this month but if you missed
|
|||
|
that you should see this.
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
Wed. 17
|
|||
|
REMY ZERO at The Nick
|
|||
|
Their fabled contract, according to sources, is on Capitol. It
|
|||
|
appears they intend to perform live these days, so come check them out.
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
Thur. 18
|
|||
|
MAMBO COMBO at Oteys
|
|||
|
This strange mutation of the Ho-Ho Men rises again to surprise me.
|
|||
|
I enjoyed them years ago: if it's the same members I'll enjoy them now.
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
Fri. 19
|
|||
|
HO-HO MEN at The Nick
|
|||
|
Ah, I see the light! Apparently Ho-Ho Men reunions are going to
|
|||
|
consistently occur on my worknights. I'm jealous of you who shall
|
|||
|
attend.
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
Sat 20
|
|||
|
WEBB WILDER at Louie Louie
|
|||
|
He has been here many times and his shows are consistently fun.
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
Thurs. 25
|
|||
|
BISCUITS at The Underground (in Montevallo)
|
|||
|
Led by Will Kimbrough, of Will and the Bushmen. He is a very nice
|
|||
|
person, one heck of a guy, and I just may go down there and see his
|
|||
|
band. I expect they will be great.
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
Sat. 27
|
|||
|
DASH RIP ROCK/BARKING TRIBE at The Nick
|
|||
|
Do you like Dash Rip Rock? I don't, actually, but lots of people
|
|||
|
do. I'm just too cool to like anything that popular, you know what I
|
|||
|
mean? So I'll slink inside and lurk in a corner to watch the Barking
|
|||
|
Tribe. Then I'll leave and everyone else can dance and drink and have
|
|||
|
fun.
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
Mon. 29
|
|||
|
GRISTLE TWINS at The Nick
|
|||
|
There is NO band that I have heard more talk about lately then the
|
|||
|
Gristle Twins. Everyone who talks about them insists that they are
|
|||
|
great. If I were you, and you happened to be 21 or 22, and a "120
|
|||
|
Minutes" addict, and you were bored and free this Monday, I would go
|
|||
|
check it out. After all, if you hate it, you can always blame me.
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
The Nick is trying an experiment called "Saturday Night Six Pack" this
|
|||
|
March 20, which is rumored to be six little known local bands in a row.
|
|||
|
The logistics of this concept stagger me. First, they will have to fit
|
|||
|
six bands worth of equipment in the club. Then they will have to do six
|
|||
|
sound checks (poor soundman!) and each band will have to play a very
|
|||
|
short set. Finally, the bands will have to split the pay six ways.
|
|||
|
Will this work? I can't see how it would work *smoothly*. Will I
|
|||
|
attend? If I can, out of curiosity. Personally, I think that it's
|
|||
|
high time some lesser known bands got the opportunity to play weekends
|
|||
|
in Birmingham. Bands are in a Catch-22: they are expected to draw a
|
|||
|
crowd on a weeknight, when everyone has to work the next day, in order
|
|||
|
to earn a weekend night. The end result is a couple of popular bands
|
|||
|
remain popular and the rest spin their heels on weeknights. Then, when
|
|||
|
the popularity of a weekend band fades, there is nothing to replace
|
|||
|
them. I hope this changes.
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
Louie Louie is making a sincere effort to book alternative bands. They
|
|||
|
offered Alice Donut last month and Suzanne Vega sometime soon (although
|
|||
|
I couldn't find out when.)
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
----
|
|||
|
Judy Ranelli is a local musician who has started listing "BTN
|
|||
|
Music Editor" on her resumes.
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
[Note from the editor: The following BTN ProFile was not submitted by
|
|||
|
our usual ProFiler, The Bishop, or anyone else on our staff, as far as
|
|||
|
I know. It was a private submission, and thus it shall remain.]
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
BTN ProFile
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
If you've perused the message bases (most notably the Baud Brothers
|
|||
|
and RoadKill Ralph's conferences) on Alter Ego, you may have run across
|
|||
|
a curious phenomenon who just burst on the scene. Not being one to deny
|
|||
|
your right to the latest breaking news, I have managed to catch this
|
|||
|
newcomer in our midst and grab him long enough to ask him a few
|
|||
|
questions. I know you're just dying for the answers, so without further
|
|||
|
delay, here's a:
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
ProFile on Billy Bob Crawdad
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
Age: I'm in my prime, son! Oh, you want an actual number? In that
|
|||
|
case, let's just say 40+.
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
Birthplace: Nashville, TN
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
Occupation: Homeless vagabond and one-time goat and pig farmer.
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
My hobbies include: Trying to get my twin brother, Bob Crawford, to
|
|||
|
invite me over for Chili. I want to see if his
|
|||
|
recipe approximates that of our dear old mother.
|
|||
|
I doubt I will be able to make this comparison
|
|||
|
since he continues to deny my existence.
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
Years telecomputing: Less than 1. Three days, actually.
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
My oddest habit is: Herding all the goats into the barn, locking the
|
|||
|
doors, turning the lights down low and... No,
|
|||
|
wait. That's my brother's oddest habit.
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
My greatest unfulfilled ambition is: To be accepted and loved by my
|
|||
|
dear brother, Bobbles!
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
The single accomplishment of
|
|||
|
which I am most proud is: Finding the kind folks at Alter Ego who were
|
|||
|
nice enough to give me a forum in which to
|
|||
|
entreat my brother to open up his heart to
|
|||
|
me. That, and graduating the third grade.
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
My favorite performers are: The Everly Brothers, The Bee Gees and the
|
|||
|
Smothers Brothers
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
The last good movie I saw was: "Brother Rat" with Ronald Reagan, an
|
|||
|
actor's actor.
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
The last good book I read was: "The Brothers Karamazov"
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
If they were making a movie of my life,
|
|||
|
I'd like to see my part played by: Why, Bobbles, of course. There's
|
|||
|
such an uncanny resemblance.
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
My pet peeves are: Being thought of as the figment of my brother's
|
|||
|
imagination.
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
When nobody's looking, I like to: Herd all the goats into the barn,
|
|||
|
lock all the doors and...oh. I
|
|||
|
told you about that already.
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
SIG's (Special Interest Groups), Computer Related
|
|||
|
-------------------------------------------------
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
BEPCUG CCS
|
|||
|
Birmingham East PC Users Group Commodore Club South
|
|||
|
Jefferson Sate Jr. College Springville Road Library
|
|||
|
Ruby Carson Hall, Rm 114 2nd & 4th Tuesday (C64/C128)
|
|||
|
3rd Friday, 7-9 PM 3rd Monday (Amiga)
|
|||
|
Paula Ballard 251-6058 (after 5PM) 7:30-10 PM
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
BCCC BIPUG
|
|||
|
Birmingham Commodore Computer Club Birmingham IBM-PC Users Group
|
|||
|
POB 59564 UAB Nutrition Science Blg
|
|||
|
Birmingham, Al 35259 RM 535/541
|
|||
|
UAB School of Education, Rm 153 1st Sunday (delayed one week
|
|||
|
2nd and 4th Sundays, 2 PM if meeting is a holiday)
|
|||
|
Rusty Hargett 854-5172 Marty Schulman 967-5883
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
BACE FAOUG
|
|||
|
Birmingham Atari Computer First Alabama Osborne Users
|
|||
|
Enthusiast Group
|
|||
|
Vestavia Library, downstairs Homewood Library
|
|||
|
2nd Monday, 7 PM 1st Saturday, 1PM
|
|||
|
Benny Brown 822-5059 Ed Purquez 669-5200
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
CADUB BGS/CIG
|
|||
|
CAD Users of Birmingham Birmingham Genealogical Society/
|
|||
|
Homewood Library Computer Interest Group
|
|||
|
3rd Tuesday, 6:30PM-8:30PM Birmingham Public Library
|
|||
|
Bobby Benson 791-0426 3rd Floor Auditorium
|
|||
|
2rd Sunday, 2:30 PM
|
|||
|
Robert Matthews 631-9783 or
|
|||
|
Bone Yard BBS
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
RAHSPCUG
|
|||
|
Ramsay Alternative High School PC Users Group
|
|||
|
Ramsay High School
|
|||
|
1800 13th Avenue South
|
|||
|
last Wednesday of each month (September-April)
|
|||
|
from 3:02-3:35
|
|||
|
Lee Nocella 581-5120
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
SIG's, Non-Computer Related
|
|||
|
---------------------------
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
BBC Birmingham Astronomy Club
|
|||
|
Blue Box Companions Subject: Astronomy
|
|||
|
Subject: Dr. Who Red Mountain Museum Annex
|
|||
|
Hoover Library 4th Tuesday, 7:30PM
|
|||
|
1st Saturday, 2PM-5PM
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
If you belong to or know of a user group that is not listed,
|
|||
|
please let us know by sending E-Mail to Barry Bowden on
|
|||
|
The Matrix BBS.
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
Known BBS Numbers For The Birmingham Area
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
NAME NUMBER BAUD RATES MODEM BBS SOFTWARE
|
|||
|
SUPPORTED TYPE
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
221-B Baker Street 856-7034 1200-2400 VBBS 5.6
|
|||
|
[vi, al]
|
|||
|
ADAnet One (Nodes 1-3) 854-9074 1200-2400 PCBoard 14.5
|
|||
|
[ez, fi, ad]
|
|||
|
ADAnet One (Node 4) 854-5863 9600-14400 USR DS PCBoard 14.5
|
|||
|
[ez, fi, ad]
|
|||
|
Alcatraz BBS 608-0880 300-9600 VBBS 5.6
|
|||
|
[he]
|
|||
|
Alter-Ego BBS 925-5099 1200-9600 USR HST PCBoard 14.5
|
|||
|
[ez, mn]
|
|||
|
Asgard 663-9171 300-9600 V.32 WWIV 4.21a
|
|||
|
[ez, al, te]
|
|||
|
Baudville (Node 1) 640-4593 300-2400 Major BBS 6.02
|
|||
|
[none]
|
|||
|
Baudville (Node 2) 640-4639 300-2400 Major BBS 6.02
|
|||
|
[none]
|
|||
|
Baudville (Node 3) 640-7243 300-2400 Major BBS 6.02
|
|||
|
[none]
|
|||
|
Baudville (Node 4) 640-7286 300-2400 Major BBS 6.02
|
|||
|
[none]
|
|||
|
Bert's BBS 424-2872 300-2400 WWIV 4.21
|
|||
|
[none]
|
|||
|
Bone Yard, The 631-6023 300-9600 USR HST PCBoard 14.5
|
|||
|
[fi, ez]
|
|||
|
Bus System 987-5419 300-2400 PCBoard 14.2
|
|||
|
[none]
|
|||
|
Byte Me! 979-BYTE! 2400-14400 USR HST WWIV 4.12
|
|||
|
[ez, th, al]
|
|||
|
Cannibal Cafe 942-9576 300-2400 VBBS 5.52
|
|||
|
[none]
|
|||
|
Castle, The 841-7618 300-2400 Image 1.2
|
|||
|
[none]
|
|||
|
Castle Rock 995-9900 1200-19200 VBBS 5.6
|
|||
|
[vi, al, he]
|
|||
|
Channel 8250 (Node 1) 744-8546 300-14400 USR DS PCBoard 14.5
|
|||
|
[ez, un]
|
|||
|
Channel 8250 (Node 2) 744-5166 300-14400 USR DS PCBoard 14.5
|
|||
|
[ez, un]
|
|||
|
Christian Apologetic 808-0763 1200-14400 V.32bis Wildcat! 3.55
|
|||
|
[wi, bc, ru]
|
|||
|
Cow's Head 856-2465 1200-2400 Hermes 1.7
|
|||
|
[none]
|
|||
|
Crunchy Frog (Node 1) 823-3957 300-14400 USR DS PCBoard 14.5
|
|||
|
[ez, mn, lu]
|
|||
|
Crunchy Frog (Node 2) 823-3958 300-14400 USR DS PCBoard 14.5
|
|||
|
[ez, mn, lu]
|
|||
|
DataLynx BBS 328-7688 300-2400 WWIV 4.21
|
|||
|
[ez]
|
|||
|
DataWorks BBS! 664-0406 300-2400 PCBoard 14.5
|
|||
|
[un, sm, dv, rf, rs, in]
|
|||
|
Deep Space 9 (Node 1) 980-1089 300-14400 Wildcat! 3.60
|
|||
|
[di, fi]
|
|||
|
Deep Space 9 (Node 2) 991-2095 300-14400 Wildcat! 3.60
|
|||
|
[di, fi]
|
|||
|
Den, The 933-8744 300-9600 USR HST ProLogon/ProDoor
|
|||
|
[ez, mn, il]
|
|||
|
Digital Publishing 854-1660 300-9600 V.32 Wildcat! 3.01
|
|||
|
[pl]
|
|||
|
Drawing Room 951-2391 300-2400 Wildcat! 3.02
|
|||
|
[di]
|
|||
|
EcoBBS 933-2238 300-2400 VBBS 5.6
|
|||
|
[al]
|
|||
|
Family Smorgas-Board 744-0943 300-2400 PCBoard 14.5
|
|||
|
[ez, fi, mj, bc, fa, ic, cf, cd, np, ag, ve, ad]
|
|||
|
Flip Side 798-3961 300-2400 Renegade 8.27
|
|||
|
[none]
|
|||
|
Frat House 252-1274 300-9600 V.42bis FirstClass 2.09
|
|||
|
[none]
|
|||
|
Gateway BBS 425-8772 300-2400 Image 1.2
|
|||
|
[none]
|
|||
|
Genesis Online (Nodes 1-4) 620-4144 300-14400 V.32bis Major BBS 5.3
|
|||
|
[mr]
|
|||
|
Guardian, The 425-1951 1200-9600 V.32bis VBBS 5.6
|
|||
|
[vi]
|
|||
|
Hacker's Corner 674-5449 1200-2400 MNP4 PCBoard 14.5
|
|||
|
[none]
|
|||
|
Hardeman's BBS 640-6436 1200-14400 Wildcat! 3.51
|
|||
|
[wi, di, bc]
|
|||
|
Hardware Hotline 631-6629 300-14400 V.32/42 VBBS 5.52
|
|||
|
[none]
|
|||
|
Headland, The 991-0947 300-14400 V.32bis VBBS 5.6
|
|||
|
[he, vi]
|
|||
|
Highlander BBS 856-9391 300-2400 VBBS 5.6
|
|||
|
[none]
|
|||
|
Homewood's Hell Hole 870-9067 2400-14440 V.32bis VBBS 5.6
|
|||
|
[he]
|
|||
|
Hoots With Owls 520-9540 1200-14400 V.32bis TriBBS 3.3
|
|||
|
[cc, tr]
|
|||
|
Illuminatus BBS 871-0489 1200-9600 VBBS 5.6
|
|||
|
[vi, al]
|
|||
|
Infinite Probability 791-0421 2400-14400 VBBS 5.6
|
|||
|
[vi, al]
|
|||
|
Intruder Enterprizes 969-0870 300-9600 V.32 VBBS 5.6
|
|||
|
[vi, al]
|
|||
|
Joker's Castle 664-5589 300-14400 USR DS PCBoard 14.5
|
|||
|
[ez, mn, un]
|
|||
|
KickAxis BBS 733-0253 1200-14400 USR DS VBBS 5.6
|
|||
|
[he]
|
|||
|
Last Word 663-4721 300-2400 VBBS 5.6
|
|||
|
[he]
|
|||
|
Lemon Grove 836-1184 300-12000 V.42bis SLBBS 2.25
|
|||
|
[fi, sl]
|
|||
|
Lion & The Unicorn 424-1599 1200-57600 VBBS 5.6
|
|||
|
[ga, al, vi]
|
|||
|
Magic City 664-9883 300-14400 V.42bis Wildcat! 3.55
|
|||
|
[cc, dx, tr]
|
|||
|
Magnolia BBS 854-6407 300-14400 USR HST PCBoard 14.5
|
|||
|
[ez, mn]
|
|||
|
MATRIX, The (Nodes 1-14) 323-2016 300-2400 PCBoard 14.5
|
|||
|
[ez, mn, th, il, in, al, sh, sc, gl, ic, ri, fr]
|
|||
|
MATRIX, The (Nodes 20-23) 323-6016 9600-14400 USR DS PCBoard 14.5
|
|||
|
[ez, mn, th, il, in, al, sh, sc, gl, ic, ri, fr]
|
|||
|
MATRIX, The (Node 25-26 458-3449 9600-14400 V.32bis PCBoard 14.5
|
|||
|
[ez, mn, th, il, in, al, sh, sc, gl, ic, ri, fr]
|
|||
|
MetaBoard 854-4814 300-14400 USR DS Opus
|
|||
|
[fi, ad]
|
|||
|
Milliways BBS 956-3177 1200-14440 V.32 VBBS 5.6
|
|||
|
[he, vi, al]
|
|||
|
Missing Link 853-1257 300-16800 USR DS C-Net Amiga 2.31
|
|||
|
[none]
|
|||
|
Neon Moon 477-5894 300-14400 TriBBS 3.3
|
|||
|
[dx]
|
|||
|
Night Watch 841-2790 1200-14400 USR DS TriBBS 4.0
|
|||
|
[cc, tr, di, fi, ez, ab]
|
|||
|
Nirvana 942-6702 300-14400 V.32bis VBBS 5.6
|
|||
|
[al, vi]
|
|||
|
Outer Limits (Node 1) 425-5871 1200-14400 USR HST Wildcat! 3.60
|
|||
|
[fi, do, ec]
|
|||
|
Outer Limits (Node 2) 426-2939 1200-14400 V.32bis Wildcat! 3.60
|
|||
|
[fi, do, ec]
|
|||
|
Owlabama BBS 856-2521 1200-14400 GTPower 17.06
|
|||
|
[gt, ez, mn, cc, tr, sc, ab]
|
|||
|
Owl's Nest 680-0851 300-14400 USR DS PCBoard 14.5
|
|||
|
[ez, mn]
|
|||
|
Party Line 856-1336 300-14000 V.32bis TriBBS 4.0
|
|||
|
[cc, tr, di]
|
|||
|
Penny Arcade 699-4625 300-2400 Running Force! 3.75
|
|||
|
[none]
|
|||
|
Playground 836-4200 300-14000 V.32 TriBBS 4.0
|
|||
|
[tr, di, cc, ez, al, fr]
|
|||
|
Posys BBS 854-5131 300-9600 V.32 PCBoard
|
|||
|
[none]
|
|||
|
Quiet Zone 833-2066 300-2400 ExpressNet
|
|||
|
[none]
|
|||
|
Razor's Edge 995-0412 1200-2400 VBBS 5.6
|
|||
|
[he, al]
|
|||
|
Safe Harbor (Node 1) 665-4332 300-2400 GTPower 17.06
|
|||
|
[gt, ez, mn, il]
|
|||
|
Safe Harbor (Node 2) 665-4355 300-14400 USR DS GTPower 17.06
|
|||
|
[gt, ez, mn, il]
|
|||
|
Safety BBS 581-2866 300-2400 RBBS-PC 17.4
|
|||
|
[none]
|
|||
|
Sleepy Hollow 970-0518 300-2400 VBBS 5.6
|
|||
|
[al]
|
|||
|
Sperry BBS 853-6144 300-2400 V.32/42bis PCBoard 14.5
|
|||
|
[none]
|
|||
|
ST BBS 836-9311 300-2400 PCBoard 14.2
|
|||
|
[ez]
|
|||
|
StarBase 12 647-7184 300-2400 TriBBS 3.3
|
|||
|
[ez, mn]
|
|||
|
Southern Stallion 699-4797 300-2400 V.32bis PCBoard 14.5
|
|||
|
[ez, th, lu, an, pr]
|
|||
|
Teasers 987-0122 300-2400 WWIV 4.21
|
|||
|
[al]
|
|||
|
T.G.U.E. BBS 681-0002 1200-38400 V.42 RoBoBBS v.108/
|
|||
|
[ez, mn, rb] WWIV v.4.21
|
|||
|
Thy Master's Dungeon 940-2116 300-57600 V.32/42bis PCBoard 14.5
|
|||
|
[fr]
|
|||
|
Torch Song 328-1517 300-9600 V.32 Wildcat 3.55
|
|||
|
[pr, se, st, do]
|
|||
|
Trauma Room 823-9127 300-9600 VBBS 5.6
|
|||
|
[vi, al, ww, lo, rp]
|
|||
|
Weekends BBS 841-8583 2400-16800 USR DS Wildcat! 3.6
|
|||
|
[none]
|
|||
|
Willie's DYM (Node 1) 664-9902 300-2400 Oracomm Plus
|
|||
|
[or]
|
|||
|
Willie's DYM (Node 2) 664-9903 300-2400 Oracomm Plus
|
|||
|
[or]
|
|||
|
Willie's DYM (Node 3) 664-9895 300-2400 Oracomm Plus
|
|||
|
[or]
|
|||
|
Willie's DYM (Node 4) 664-9896 300-2400 Oracomm Plus
|
|||
|
[or]
|
|||
|
Word, The 833-2831 300-2400 WWIV 4.12
|
|||
|
[al, ez]
|
|||
|
Ziggy Unix BBS 991-5696 300-1200 UNaXess
|
|||
|
[none]
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
The many symbols you see prior to the names of many of the bbs' in the
|
|||
|
list signify that they are members of one or more networks that exchange
|
|||
|
or echo mail to each other in some organized fashion.
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
ad = ADAnet, an international network dedicated to the handicapped
|
|||
|
ag = AgapeNet, a national Christian network, multi-topic
|
|||
|
al = AlaNet, a local network, multi-topic
|
|||
|
an = Annex Network, uncertain at press time
|
|||
|
bc = BCBNet, a local network, religion-oriented
|
|||
|
bh = BhamTalk, a local network, multi-topic
|
|||
|
cc = City2City, a national network, multi-topic
|
|||
|
cd = CDN, a national Christian network for file distribution
|
|||
|
cf = CFN, a national Christian network, multi-topic
|
|||
|
de = DevNet, an international network for programmers and developers
|
|||
|
di = Dixie Net, a regional network, multi-topic geared toward the south
|
|||
|
eastern United States
|
|||
|
do = DoorNet, a national network for the distribution of BBS doors
|
|||
|
ec = EchoNet, uncertain at press time
|
|||
|
ez = EzNet, a local IBM compatible network
|
|||
|
fa = FamilyNet, an international network, multi-topic
|
|||
|
fi = FidoNet, an international network, multi-topic
|
|||
|
fr = FredNet, a regional network, political discussion
|
|||
|
ga = GameNet, a local network, uncertain at press time
|
|||
|
gl = GlobalLink, an international network, multi-topic
|
|||
|
gt = GTNet, an international network, multi-topic
|
|||
|
he = HellNet, a local network, multi-topic
|
|||
|
ic = ICDM, an international Christian network, multi-topic
|
|||
|
il = ILink, an international network, multi-topic
|
|||
|
ic = Intelec, a national network, multi-topic
|
|||
|
in = InterNet, an international network, linking businesses,
|
|||
|
universities, and bbs', multi-topic
|
|||
|
lo = LocalNet, uncertain at press time
|
|||
|
lu = LuciferNet, an international network, adult oriented
|
|||
|
ma = MAXnet, a local network, connecting WWIV and VBBS systems
|
|||
|
mj = MJCN, an international network for Messianic Jews
|
|||
|
mn = Metronet, an international network which echoes RIME, multi-topic
|
|||
|
mr = MajorNet, an international network, multi-topic
|
|||
|
np = NPN, a national network for new parents
|
|||
|
or = OraNet, a national E-mail network
|
|||
|
pl = PlanoNet, a national network, multi-topic
|
|||
|
pr = PrideNet, a local homosexually oriented network
|
|||
|
rf = RF Net, a national network for ham radio users and hobbyists
|
|||
|
ri = RIME, an international network, multi-topic
|
|||
|
rb = RoboLink, a national network, multi-topic
|
|||
|
rp = RPGnet, a local network for role-playing games
|
|||
|
rs = RoseNet, a national network, technically oriented
|
|||
|
ru = RushNet, a national network for Rush Limbaugh fans
|
|||
|
sc = Science Factor Net, a national network, science and technology
|
|||
|
oriented
|
|||
|
se = SEC, a regional network, homosexually oriented geared toward the
|
|||
|
southeastern United States
|
|||
|
sh = Shades N Shadows Net, a national network for role-playing games
|
|||
|
sl = SearchlightNet, a national network, multi-topic
|
|||
|
sm = SmartNet, a national network, multi-topic
|
|||
|
st = StudsNet, a national network, homosexually oriented
|
|||
|
te = TECHnet, a local network, hardware and utility oriented
|
|||
|
th = ThrobNet, an international network, adult oriented
|
|||
|
tr = TriBBS Net, a national network, multi-topic
|
|||
|
un = Uni'Net, an international network, multi-topic
|
|||
|
ve = VETLink, a national network for military veterans
|
|||
|
vi = VirtualNet, an international network, multi-topic
|
|||
|
wi = WildNet, a national network, multi-topic
|
|||
|
ww = WWIV-Net, an international network, multi-topic
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
If you have any corrections, additions, deletions, etc., please let me
|
|||
|
know via a message on the main board of The Matrix or Crunchy Frog.
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
The following BBSs appeared to be down or malfunctioning the last time I
|
|||
|
tried to verify their existence. If you have any information on their
|
|||
|
status, please drop me a line.
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
Cow's Head Hacker's Corner Hoots With Owls
|
|||
|
Quiet Zone The Word
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
|