1474 lines
62 KiB
Plaintext
1474 lines
62 KiB
Plaintext
![]() |
|
|||
|
R a N d O m A c C e S s H u M o R RAH! RAH!
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
Volume 0 Number F December 1993
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
A rag-tag collection of fugitive humor, some of which
|
|||
|
is vaguely related to the BBS/Online System world.
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
Editor: Dave Bealer
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
Member of the Digital Publishing Association
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
Copyright 1993 Dave Bealer, All Rights Reserved
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
Random Access Humor is an irregular production of:
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
VaporWare Communications
|
|||
|
32768 Infinite Loop
|
|||
|
Sillycon Valley, CA. 80486-DX2
|
|||
|
USA, Earth, Sol System, Milky Way
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
WARNING! WARNING! WARNING! WARNING! WARNING! WARNING! WARNING!
|
|||
|
The "look and feel" of Random Access Humor has been specifically
|
|||
|
earmarked, spindled and polygraphed. Anyone who attempts to copy
|
|||
|
this look and feel without express written consent of the publisher
|
|||
|
will be fed to rabid radioactive hamsters by our Security Director,
|
|||
|
Vinnie "The Knife" Calamari.
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
TABLE OF INCONTINENCE:
|
|||
|
About Vaporware Communications.....................................01
|
|||
|
Editorial - The Flashing Red and Green Light Special...............01
|
|||
|
Lettuce to the Editor..............................................01
|
|||
|
Hand-Me-Down PCs...................................................03
|
|||
|
PC Programming.....................................................05
|
|||
|
Predictions for 1994...............................................07
|
|||
|
New Game from UnfoCus:.............................................08
|
|||
|
The Truth About Data Compression...................................09
|
|||
|
Holiday Gift Giving Ideas..........................................11
|
|||
|
The Twelve Bugs of Christmas.......................................12
|
|||
|
UNIXmas............................................................14
|
|||
|
End of Term Blues..................................................14
|
|||
|
The Comp Sci Song..................................................15
|
|||
|
Press Release: DPA Announces '93 Digital Quill Award Winners.......16
|
|||
|
Top Ten Ways To Tell You're Having a Really Rough Day In BBS Land..17
|
|||
|
RAH Humor Review: America Online's Comedy Club.....................18
|
|||
|
Announcements......................................................19
|
|||
|
Taglines Seen Around the Nets......................................20
|
|||
|
Masthead - Submission Information.................................A-1
|
|||
|
RAH Distribution System...........................................A-2
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
Random Access Humor Page 1 December 1993
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
About Vaporware Communications
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
VaporWare Communications is an operating division of VaporWare
|
|||
|
Corporation, a public corporation. Stock Ticker Symbol: SUKR
|
|||
|
VaporWare Corporate Officers:
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
Luther Lecks
|
|||
|
President, Chief Egomaniac Officer
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
Dorian Debacle, M.B.A. Gabriel Escargot
|
|||
|
V.P., Operations V.P., Customer Service
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
Pav Bhaji, M.Tax.(Avoidance) Carlos Goebbels
|
|||
|
V.P., Finance V.P., Political Correctness
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
Kung Pao Har Hoo, M.D., Ph.D., D.Sc. F.A.C.S, C.P.A., S.P.C.A.,
|
|||
|
Y.M.C.A., L.E.D., Q.E.D., op. cit., et al.
|
|||
|
V.P., Research & Development
|
|||
|
---------------------------------------------------------------------
|
|||
|
Editorial - The Flashing Red and Green Light Special
|
|||
|
by Dave Bealer
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
Here we go, heading for the biggest marketing opportunity of the
|
|||
|
year; a real orgy of consumerism. It makes me proud to be an
|
|||
|
American. RAH has even jumped on the holiday bandwagon and included
|
|||
|
some unique gift giving ideas for that hard-to-shop-for friend or
|
|||
|
family member.
|
|||
|
- - -
|
|||
|
This will be the last RAH issue using the current format. Both the
|
|||
|
ASCII Text and Readroom editions will be different next month. For
|
|||
|
one thing, the new RAH logo will make its debut. In order to blend
|
|||
|
it into the ASCII Text edition, the "cover" will have to be re-
|
|||
|
designed. The Readroom edition will begin to make use of some new,
|
|||
|
advanced features of the READROOM.TOC architecture.
|
|||
|
- - -
|
|||
|
RAH now has a private support site on the Internet. For complete
|
|||
|
details, see the Announcement section.
|
|||
|
- - -
|
|||
|
RAH finished in a tie for third in the "electronic serial" category
|
|||
|
of the 1993 Digital Quill Awards. This is a great honor, considering
|
|||
|
the quality of the other magazines named in the top four. See the
|
|||
|
included press release for details.
|
|||
|
---------------------------------------------------------------------
|
|||
|
Lettuce to the Editor
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
The following was not, strictly speaking, a letter to the editor.
|
|||
|
It is my response to a comment from a new user on my BBS who is a
|
|||
|
"sophmore" at a local college and had just filled out the new user
|
|||
|
survey. (The name of the user has been changed to save him from
|
|||
|
some well deserved ridicule - his father might be a lawyer.)
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
Random Access Humor Page 2 December 1993
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
On 11-08-93 Joe User wrote to Dave Bealer...
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
JU> Thanks for replying to my SECOND message. All you had to
|
|||
|
JU> say was that I can only up/download in public areas. By
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
I did tell you that. As far as instantaneous responses, don't
|
|||
|
expect them here. This BBS is only one of my many responsibilities.
|
|||
|
If you require immediate service, you would be better off seeking a
|
|||
|
board run by a full time sysop on a PAYING basis. This board is free
|
|||
|
and, as usual, you get what you pay for. :-)
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
JU> the way, I am the most intelligent, prolific reader on your
|
|||
|
JU> board, I'm sure. I can read rings around anyone and
|
|||
|
JU> everyone. The problem was that the information I needed
|
|||
|
JU> was not where I expected it to be - where it is on most
|
|||
|
JU> boards. Sorry about the confusion.
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
Since you're so well read, you'll already know that the term
|
|||
|
sophomore stems from the Greek words meaning "sophisticated moron."
|
|||
|
Folks who need to tell everyone how intelligent and well read they
|
|||
|
are are rarely either.
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
The information you sought was in Bulletin Menu option #1, which
|
|||
|
is displayed for your rapidly reading eyes each and every time
|
|||
|
you log on this BBS. I fail to see where else the information
|
|||
|
should be.
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
In any event this story does have a happy ending. You did manage
|
|||
|
to read the directions and fill out the validated user survey.
|
|||
|
Welcome aboard as a validated user of The Puffin's Nest! I'll
|
|||
|
put out some rings for you to read around.
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
Dave
|
|||
|
- - - - - - - - - - - -
|
|||
|
Riku Saikkonen of Espoo, Finland asks: "Did you have 2.6 million
|
|||
|
distribution sites in September as you predicted?"
|
|||
|
The answer is: "No, but we probably would have made it if we had
|
|||
|
Bill Clinton's staff doing our statistics."
|
|||
|
- - - - - - - - - - - -
|
|||
|
We want to hear from our readers! Get the same kind of respectful
|
|||
|
answers to YOUR questions.
|
|||
|
Send you letters to:
|
|||
|
Internet> lettuce@rah.clark.net
|
|||
|
FidoNet> lettuce at 1:261/1129
|
|||
|
You can also ask your questions in one (or both) of our two new RAH
|
|||
|
reader conferences. Internet users can subscribe to our rahuser
|
|||
|
mailing list (see the announcement section for instructions), and
|
|||
|
FidoNet users can ask their sysops to pick up the new RAHUSER echo
|
|||
|
from the RAH Publication BBS (1:261/1129).
|
|||
|
---------------------------------------------------------------------
|
|||
|
Sound Byte:
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
Q. How does Al Gore's household keep Christmas politically correct?
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
A. On Christmas morning, they give the presents TO the tree.
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
Random Access Humor Page 3 December 1993
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
Hand-Me-Down PCs
|
|||
|
by Dave Bealer
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
The weather outside is frightful, and it looks like a good day to
|
|||
|
try out that new PC. Well...not exactly new. Your cousin Ernie,
|
|||
|
who normally wouldn't walk across the street to save your life,
|
|||
|
suddenly came over all generous and gave you an old personal computer
|
|||
|
he didn't need anymore.
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
Even though this is the first PC you've ever owned, it will be a
|
|||
|
piece of cake to install. After all, you've been using qBASE and
|
|||
|
WordBlemish at the office for years. How difficult can this be?
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
So...take the new toy out of the rather battered cardboard boxes in
|
|||
|
which it was delivered by good old Ernie. What's this? It has a
|
|||
|
*monochrome* monitor? Yuck! Well, that just might keep the kids
|
|||
|
from playing that disgusting "Chopping Off Body Parts" game by
|
|||
|
DahmerSoft that they saw down at Rotten Egg Software. Besides,
|
|||
|
you've seen some spectacular monochrome VGA graphics.
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
The keyboard is next...hey, what's this? Where are the function
|
|||
|
keys? They're not at the top of the keyboard where they belong.
|
|||
|
Oh...some idiot put them on the left side of the keyboard. Hmm. Why
|
|||
|
would they do that?
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
Alright, next is the system unit itself. My, it sure does look kind
|
|||
|
of thin. Maybe it's just your imagination. OK, plug the keyboard
|
|||
|
and the monitor in the back. It takes a few tries to figure out
|
|||
|
which of those strange shaped receptacles on the back of the system
|
|||
|
case fits the monitor cable. Only a few of the pins were broken off
|
|||
|
in the process - it should still work. You've seen electrical
|
|||
|
diagrams of some of these cables, most of the wires in them are just
|
|||
|
used for grounding and other useless stuff anyway.
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
All set up now - time to turn it on. Sure enough, things start
|
|||
|
humming, clicking, squeaking and beeping inside the system case.
|
|||
|
Nothing on the monitor yet...oh, that's right; you have to turn that
|
|||
|
on too. Sheesh, you even have to find a place to plug it in.
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
Eventually the little green light on the front of the monitor begins
|
|||
|
to emit photons. Seconds later, a few of the pixels on the screen
|
|||
|
begin to glow amber. They form the characters:
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
Turbo - XT BIOS 1986
|
|||
|
Speed 4.77/8 MHz Version 1.84
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
Bad or missing ANSI.SYS
|
|||
|
Error in CONFIG.SYS line 3
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
Current date is Tue 01-01-1980
|
|||
|
Enter new date (mm-dd-yy): _
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
Random Access Humor Page 4 December 1993
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
That's odd. Today isn't January 1, 1980. How could this stupid
|
|||
|
machine think it was 1980? It wasn't even built until 1986.
|
|||
|
Besides, the system at work always has the right date when you turn
|
|||
|
it on in the morning. One hour (and two aspirins) later you realize
|
|||
|
you can't figure this stuff out yourself. You're going to have to
|
|||
|
call Burt, the computer wizard from work.
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
This will require chugging a couple of liters of pride, since Burt is
|
|||
|
one of the most insufferable people you've ever met. He's ever so
|
|||
|
smug about his absolute knowledge of computers, and the worst thing
|
|||
|
is he's usually right. Convincing Burt to come over in this weather
|
|||
|
proves simple after you remind him that you helped him move last
|
|||
|
spring. Why anyone would save (and move!) boxes of empty peanut
|
|||
|
butter jars is beyond you. Even worse was moving that full sized
|
|||
|
video arcade game...that doesn't work!
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
An hour or so later Burt shows up in his new 4 by 4 utility vehicle,
|
|||
|
which he claims he needs because he's so indispensable at work. It's
|
|||
|
absolutely disgusting. Taking off his coat, Burt gets right down to
|
|||
|
business and whips out a box of diskettes of varying sizes and (he
|
|||
|
claims) densities. They look to you like they all weigh about the
|
|||
|
same.
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
Burt types in the correct date and time, then uses something called
|
|||
|
the Cramden Utilities to check the status of all the system
|
|||
|
components. He tells you that according to SYSNOOP you only have an
|
|||
|
MDA display on this system, not VGA or Hercules graphics. You don't
|
|||
|
care if it has Socrates graphics, as long as it runs the software you
|
|||
|
stole from work.
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
Burt turns off and unplugs the system, then opens the system case and
|
|||
|
pokes around inside. The bad news is that the battery for the system
|
|||
|
clock is dead. He shows you where the battery is and how to replace
|
|||
|
it, which knowledge will come in handy after you journey down to the
|
|||
|
local Computer Shed store to pick up a new one.
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
A half hour later Burt is on the way out the door. He got rid of
|
|||
|
that "Bad or missing ANSI.SYS" message by installing the proper file.
|
|||
|
He tells you it won't do much good, since you can't display anything
|
|||
|
other that plain text or the "extended IBM characters," whatever they
|
|||
|
are. You also have some tough decisions to make. You can resign
|
|||
|
yourself to running ancient, hard to find text based applications, or
|
|||
|
you can make a serious investment in new display hardware. Both a
|
|||
|
new monitor and display card will be required.
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
As Burt departs, he recommends you put this machine to its best use,
|
|||
|
as a boat anchor. He claims you'd be better off buying a fast 386
|
|||
|
machine, which can be had for a song now that the Pentiums are out.
|
|||
|
A minute later you're standing out in the snow watching Burt drive
|
|||
|
off. As you stand there in the incredible silence that occurs only
|
|||
|
during snow storms, you can almost pick out a sound from the whisper
|
|||
|
of the falling snow. There it is again...echoing in the distance can
|
|||
|
be heard the hideous laughter of cousin Ernie. {RAH}
|
|||
|
--------------
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
Random Access Humor Page 5 December 1993
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
Dave Bealer is a thirty-something mainframe systems programmer who
|
|||
|
works with CICS, MVS and all manner of nasty acronyms at one of the
|
|||
|
largest heavy metal shops on the East Coast. He shares a waterfront
|
|||
|
townhome in Pasadena, MD. with two cats who annoy him endlessly as he
|
|||
|
writes and electronically publishes RAH. FidoNet> 1:261/1129
|
|||
|
Internet: dave.bealer@rah.clark.net
|
|||
|
---------------------------------------------------------------------
|
|||
|
PC Programming
|
|||
|
by Greg Borek
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
You sent for me, sir?
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
Yes, Bungle, yes. Come in, take a seat. As you know, it is
|
|||
|
difficult to compete in the current software marketplace. We have to
|
|||
|
run a lean and efficient company just to be competitive. This is
|
|||
|
often complicated by burdens placed on the company from outside.
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
I don't quite follow you, sir.
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
I won't beat about the bush, Bungle. I've spent all morning meeting
|
|||
|
with our legal people and they say in order to reduce the risks of
|
|||
|
future lawsuits the company needs to conform more closely with
|
|||
|
President Rodham's "Politically Correct Guide to Removing Creativity
|
|||
|
and Productivity from the Workplace". They suggested that we
|
|||
|
establish some behavioral guidelines and counsel some of our
|
|||
|
employees about their behavior.
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
How does this involve me?
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
Frankly, Bungle, they are concerned about the behavior of the
|
|||
|
programmers on your team.
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
I don't understand. I've made sure all the members of my team have
|
|||
|
been to every required sexual harassment seminar. I've made sure my
|
|||
|
programmers do not tell naughty jokes, comment on any female
|
|||
|
employee's clothing, ask female employees on for phone numbers or
|
|||
|
dates, or hold doors for them. Policy is still not settled on the
|
|||
|
carrying of heavy objects since Anderson got written up for not
|
|||
|
carrying those 3 VAX 750s for Ms. Hardacre... I think we left it that
|
|||
|
if the object weighs 30 times your own weight or less you are
|
|||
|
supposed to carry it, but only in a subservient manner.
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
No, Bungle, no, you don't understand. This isn't about that nonsense
|
|||
|
at all. They merely suggested that you and your programmers, well,
|
|||
|
uh, act more like programmers.
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
What do you mean, sir?
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
Well, according to the guidance provided by the lawyers, programmers
|
|||
|
are supposed to behave in certain predictable ways, thus relieving
|
|||
|
some of the stress on the other employees by enabling them to predict
|
|||
|
the programmers' behavior.
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
They want us to conform to a stereotype?
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
Random Access Humor Page 6 December 1993
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
Oh, yes, yes. I'm not very clear on why, but the lawyers seem to be
|
|||
|
behind this concept in a big way. Maybe because of the uniformity of
|
|||
|
the esteem afforded lawyers they want to foster these stereotypes.
|
|||
|
Anyway, here are a few items that the legal people suggested I pass
|
|||
|
along. Remember, these items take on an almost religious
|
|||
|
significance to most programmers so make sure you and your people
|
|||
|
memorize every detail, no matter how apparently insignificant. To
|
|||
|
begin, here are all 45 episodes of Monty Python's Flying Circus.
|
|||
|
Memorize the sketches in every program and be prepared to recite
|
|||
|
random bits of dialog in a loud, high voice at inappropriate times.
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
Monty Python tapes. Got it. OK, what else?
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
Here are some tapes of the original Star Trek series. Memorize the
|
|||
|
dialog for these too, as well as many irrelevant details and
|
|||
|
scientific contradictions as possible. You don't need to know the
|
|||
|
names of the security people that inevitably get killed on "away
|
|||
|
teams," although one of them is always named Ensign Liebowitz. Don't
|
|||
|
pay too much attention to the recurring themes of freedom and
|
|||
|
independence; these recently outmoded concepts can be passed off as
|
|||
|
'60s naivete.
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
Original Star Trek. Check.
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
There are some assorted books here, too. J.R.R. Tolkien's "The Lord
|
|||
|
of the Rings" trilogy and "The Hobbit" are required reading. Also,
|
|||
|
memorization of Douglas Adams "Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy" is
|
|||
|
imperative. As a general rule, you can't go wrong with including any
|
|||
|
science fiction. As for games, you should play a lot of Dungeons &
|
|||
|
Dragons. The rules are hideously complex and there are many, many
|
|||
|
tables of items, spells, monsters, and abilities. Spend endless
|
|||
|
hours thinking of how to resolve contradictions in the rules like
|
|||
|
whether an invisible person casts a shadow. And play chess, too.
|
|||
|
Mind you, you don't have to play very well, just talk a good game.
|
|||
|
Make wild unsupportable claims about your ability.
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
What about diet, sir?
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
Good point, Bungle, good point. Restrict the programmers to high
|
|||
|
sugar, high caffeine beverages like sweetened coffee or soda. Try
|
|||
|
and restrict their food intake to pizza, but this isn't strictly
|
|||
|
necessary as any food that can be delivered by a delivery person of
|
|||
|
foreign birth is sufficient. That reminds me: except for the
|
|||
|
possibility of throwing frisbees, programmers are not supposed to
|
|||
|
exercise. Programmers are supposed to be recognizable by body shape.
|
|||
|
The guidelines for this are a bit spotty but a good rule of thumb is
|
|||
|
the widest part of the programmer should be somewhere around the
|
|||
|
middle. Furthermore, a nice deathly pallor is always taken for a
|
|||
|
sign of intelligence or death, so keep the programmers out of the
|
|||
|
sunlight. As a matter of fact, get them to change their sleeping
|
|||
|
habits so they more closely resemble a vampire's.
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
Random Access Humor Page 7 December 1993
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
My goodness, I had no idea we were supposed to be filling our brains
|
|||
|
with all of this information. Obviously, sir, we won't have enough
|
|||
|
time to memorize all of this and still maintain the same level of
|
|||
|
code production.
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
I know, Bungle, I know, but remember that in the '90s it's more
|
|||
|
important to be politically correct than productive. {RAH}
|
|||
|
--------------
|
|||
|
Greg Borek is a C programmer with a "Highway Helper" (OK, "Beltway
|
|||
|
Bandit" - but don't tell his boss we told you) in Falls Church, VA.
|
|||
|
He has previously been mistaken for a vampire. Netmail to: Greg
|
|||
|
Borek at 1:261/1129. Internet: greg.borek@rah.clark.net
|
|||
|
---------------------------------------------------------------------
|
|||
|
Predictions for 1994
|
|||
|
by The Great Koznac
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
Here we are again, rapidly approaching the end of another year just
|
|||
|
as one famous coyote rushes headlong toward another cliff edge. This
|
|||
|
year proved to be another astounding year on all accounts, from
|
|||
|
politics to computers, entertainment to ecology. After reflecting on
|
|||
|
the events of 1993, I make the following predictions for 1994:
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
o In order to position themselves against the PowerPC, Intel will
|
|||
|
skip production of their next two generations of chips - the
|
|||
|
Quantum and the Millennium - to begin development and production
|
|||
|
on the Ultimatum. This chip is said to be so powerful that it
|
|||
|
generates its own commands and decides which ones to process when
|
|||
|
it feels like it.
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
o After having difficulties with "Chicago", Microsoft will move to
|
|||
|
"New York", "Atlanta", and finally "Albuquerque" which will turn
|
|||
|
out to be the right turn for the project.
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
o Next year, three new politically-oriented viruses will make their
|
|||
|
appearance. The first, Clinton, will use up all available cache.
|
|||
|
The next virus will be Limbaugh which will set the system date to
|
|||
|
the end of the Clinton Administration. Finally there is Perot,
|
|||
|
which will cause the computer's speaker to make a large sucking
|
|||
|
sound.
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
o The latest mergers between telephone and cable companies will
|
|||
|
continue into next year, setting foundation for the information
|
|||
|
highway. The end result will increase the number of channels
|
|||
|
with useless, boring programming by a factor of ten.
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
o The government will rule that Microsoft has broken federal
|
|||
|
anti-trust laws and should be broken up. In answer to this,
|
|||
|
Gates will clone himself so that he may still own and operate
|
|||
|
the resulting smaller companies.
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
o Vice-President Al Gore will trace back his lineage and find that
|
|||
|
he is a descendent of the giant redwood trees.
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
Random Access Humor Page 8 December 1993
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
o A scandal will rock Washington D.C. late in 1994 when space
|
|||
|
aliens land on the White House lawn. When the aliens ask
|
|||
|
security to be taken to their leader, they will escort the aliens
|
|||
|
to Hillary Clinton.
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
o System programmers and analysts will continue to scramble to
|
|||
|
modify code to accommodate the complexities of the year 2000 and
|
|||
|
beyond. As of January 1, there will only be -94 years to resolve
|
|||
|
the problems resulting from abbreviating the years in the next
|
|||
|
century.
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
o A certain electronic publication which originates from the
|
|||
|
Chesapeake Bay area will experience continued success and growth,
|
|||
|
spreading humor wherever it is distributed and read. {RAH}
|
|||
|
--------------
|
|||
|
Ray Koziel is a systems programmer/analyst for a consulting firm in
|
|||
|
Atlanta. Since Ray has started contributing to RAH, his wife has
|
|||
|
become more at ease now that he has a new target for his weird sense
|
|||
|
of humor.
|
|||
|
---------------------------------------------------------------------
|
|||
|
New Game from UnfoCus:
|
|||
|
By John J. Downey
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
- BONED: A new role-playing adventure from the people who brought
|
|||
|
you DORK, WITLESS, INFIDELITY, and THE BURPING HORROR.
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
- Where YOU, a mild-mannered computer nerd, surmount impossible
|
|||
|
odds to set up your BBS to accept FidoNet.
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
An excerpt from the game:
|
|||
|
------------------------------------
|
|||
|
>CONFIGURE TOSSER/SCANNER AND PROCESS MAIL
|
|||
|
The tosser portion performs flawlessly, while the scanner grabs all
|
|||
|
outgoing messages in a two-mile radius and reduces it to
|
|||
|
undecipherable goop. Obviously you set something wrong.
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
>READ DOCUMENTATION
|
|||
|
You don't have the documentation.
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
>PRINT OUT DOCUMENTATION
|
|||
|
You print out the 400+ pages of documentation, painfully aware of
|
|||
|
how many trees gave their all so you could have electronic mail.
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
>READ DOCUMENTATION
|
|||
|
Okay.
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
"Define Area Management Groups according to your mailer, which
|
|||
|
should be enabled for C3PO emulation. If your mailer conforms to
|
|||
|
the SLAMDOORINFACE configuration, set optional run-time parameters
|
|||
|
to '-LK4' and set each EchoArea to match Input Screening Table V.
|
|||
|
Set Pulverize Default to Yes."
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
Random Access Humor Page 9 December 1993
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
>SCREAM
|
|||
|
You begin to get a sore throat.
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
>CALL FRIENDLY, HELPFUL SYSOP
|
|||
|
After asking so many questions, there are no more friendly sysops.
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
>FIND PHRASE "OUTGOING" IN DOCUMENTATION
|
|||
|
There is no such reference here. Should there be?
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
>SCREAM AGAIN
|
|||
|
Arrrrgggghhhh!
|
|||
|
You are growing thirsty.
|
|||
|
The phone is ringing.
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
>ANSWER PHONE
|
|||
|
It is your EchoMail Hub, obviously upset about that accidental
|
|||
|
packet you sent yesterday, which consisted of 1,233,975 messages
|
|||
|
that read, "This is a test."
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
>BEG FOR MERCY
|
|||
|
He will have none of it. He projects himself through the phone
|
|||
|
line and uses his mighty thumb to crush you like an insect.
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
*** YOU HAVE BEEN REMOVED FROM THE NET ***
|
|||
|
Your score is -34245, which qualifies you as a Rad D00d in Search
|
|||
|
of Warez.
|
|||
|
(R)estart, Re(S)tore, or (Q)uit?
|
|||
|
--------------------------------------
|
|||
|
Available now for $75.00 a month! (Includes phone line,
|
|||
|
electrical, and EchoMail charges)
|
|||
|
================================================
|
|||
|
John is a 30 year old Planetarian (Trans: "He Who Bores In Round
|
|||
|
Dark Room") and the Sysop of The Dome Ideas BBS. (FidoNet
|
|||
|
1:272/104.) He occupies his off-hours by planting light bulbs.
|
|||
|
---------------------------------------------------------------------
|
|||
|
The Truth About Data Compression
|
|||
|
by Pablo Biannuci
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
Most of the people using personal computers have been amazed by the
|
|||
|
prodigy of data compression. It's very difficult to imagine how that
|
|||
|
long, long file filled with nonsense numbers could get squeezed into
|
|||
|
a small, small file filled with nonsense numbers. In this article
|
|||
|
I'm going to explain all the secrets about the compression of
|
|||
|
computer data, even those that the software companies do not want to
|
|||
|
see published. There are several data compression algorithms. An
|
|||
|
explanation of each follows, along with a brief summary of its
|
|||
|
applications.
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
Random Access Humor Page 10 December 1993
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
Non-Repeat Packing
|
|||
|
---------- -------
|
|||
|
This is the simplest (and worst) compression method. It is based on
|
|||
|
the fact that if you write one 'A' instead of twenty, you'll save a
|
|||
|
lot of space. Actually, its savings aren't too impressive, but it is
|
|||
|
known to have saved a life when a message saying "I'll kick yer butt"
|
|||
|
was compressed to "I'l kick yer, but" (There is a committee
|
|||
|
investigating the sudden appearance of the comma, but they don't
|
|||
|
agree that a comma is there yet.)
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
Huffman Tree
|
|||
|
------- ----
|
|||
|
This is one of the first algorithms that yielded a relatively
|
|||
|
acceptable compression ratio. (relatively means E=mc^2, where E is
|
|||
|
the compressed file size, m is the original file size and c is the
|
|||
|
speed of light).
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
It is quite simple; all you have to do is to count the appearances
|
|||
|
of each character (A, B, C, D, and so on) and then build a binary
|
|||
|
tree with them so that the characters will be its leaves. Once the
|
|||
|
tree is built, just get a sharp axe and cut it down. Chop it in
|
|||
|
small fragments, and pile them neatly. It will occupy just a
|
|||
|
fraction of the space it occupied before, so it will be compressed.
|
|||
|
Currently the Huffman algorithm is not so frequently used because
|
|||
|
there must be some kind of identification in each piece of tree, and
|
|||
|
that takes so much space that it's almost bigger than the tree. MNP
|
|||
|
modems use a modified version of this method, but instead of chopping
|
|||
|
the tree with an axe they chop it with a MicroCom Chop-O-Matic
|
|||
|
machine, which is much faster.
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
LZW
|
|||
|
---
|
|||
|
LZW is a more modern algorithm. It is widely used, sometimes
|
|||
|
together with Huffman. Its name (kinda cryptic, isn't it?) derives
|
|||
|
from its authors initials: Lempel, Ziv and Welch.
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
The idea behind this method is revolutionary: To reference part of
|
|||
|
the contents to things before it. (It is revolutionary in data
|
|||
|
compression, it has been widely used in most other life aspects.)
|
|||
|
To be more clear to those of you not accustomed to technical jargon,
|
|||
|
what this algorithm does is to insert footnotes instead of the actual
|
|||
|
data. Let's see an example. The original text is : "As I was looking
|
|||
|
at my reflection in the mirror, I was playing reflections with my
|
|||
|
look, and I broke the mirror." (Just a selected text sample. It's
|
|||
|
not a reflection of the author's mental state. In fact, mine is a
|
|||
|
bit worse.) The compressed text would be: "As *1* *3* my *2* in the
|
|||
|
*4*, *1* playing *2* with my *3* and *1* broke the *4*."
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
Footnotes: "1:I (was) / 2:reflection(s) / 3:look(ing) / 4:mirror.
|
|||
|
As everybody can see, it is tightly compressed, and now it fits into
|
|||
|
a pocket book's page.
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
Random Access Humor Page 11 December 1993
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
Shannon-Fano Trees
|
|||
|
------------ -----
|
|||
|
This is another vegetal algorithm. The difference is that this
|
|||
|
method uses the so-called "Sliding Dictionaries," which make it
|
|||
|
better. To compress data this way, you have to take it, dig some
|
|||
|
holes in fertile ground and scatter parts of it (the data) in the
|
|||
|
holes. After some nice trees have grown up (the Shannon-Fano trees,
|
|||
|
and they grow quite fast), you tie some ropes to their branches and
|
|||
|
place a dictionary so that it is able to slide up and down the rope.
|
|||
|
(Be sure the rope is strong enough, or don't use an unabridged
|
|||
|
Webster's dictionary.) I cannot figure out why this compresses the
|
|||
|
data yet, but it works, so I'll leave it alone for now.
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
There are more compression methods out in the computer world, but I
|
|||
|
didn't have access to the confidential information about them.
|
|||
|
(Lunch time in the software company that uses it is an example.)
|
|||
|
Also, some methods aren't single algorithms, but a mixture of two or
|
|||
|
more of them. For example, the world-wide known Imploding is a LZW
|
|||
|
algorithm with a Shannon-Fano Tree performed after, which leads to
|
|||
|
a data collapse and posterior implosion, but I won't be going in much
|
|||
|
farther detail.
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
So here ends our lesson about data compression. I *1* this *6*
|
|||
|
*7* *2* useful *8* you *2* it *6* *7* *8* me, *2* a way *5* spend
|
|||
|
my time at *3* *4* hospital. Hey! Who *6* turned on *3* LZW?
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
1:hope / 2:as / 3:the / 4:psychiatric / 5:to / 6:has / 7:been / 8:for
|
|||
|
--------------
|
|||
|
Pablo Biannuci is the sysop of Atomic World BBS in Avellaneda, Buenos
|
|||
|
Aires, Argentina. FidoNet> 4:901/225
|
|||
|
---------------------------------------------------------------------
|
|||
|
Holiday Gift Giving Ideas
|
|||
|
by Muffy Mandel
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
The holiday gift buying and giving season is upon us again.
|
|||
|
If you're reading this you have no taste whatsoever, so here
|
|||
|
are a few turkeys that should appeal to you.
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
Blowing People's Heads Off in Slow Motion
|
|||
|
(Mindless Violence Associates)
|
|||
|
Another hit title for personal computers by the new leader
|
|||
|
in educational software. Stunning graphics (or stunningly
|
|||
|
graphic, depending on which side of age 13 you are).
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
Dave Bealer - Unhinged, Seated, Holding a Live Grenade
|
|||
|
(Permanent Insanity Records, Tapes & CDs)
|
|||
|
The allegedly funny ravings of one of the few humans with
|
|||
|
less mental stability than Charles Manson.
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
Kevlar Pajamas (Bobbitt Protective Systems)
|
|||
|
Bottoms include a steel reinforced cup to protect against
|
|||
|
knives and scissors. The perfect gift for the violent,
|
|||
|
abusive husband.
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
Random Access Humor Page 12 December 1993
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
Micro-Books (various publishers)
|
|||
|
In keeping with the average American's shortened attention
|
|||
|
span, publishers have been issuing shorter books. A few
|
|||
|
of the more popular titles follow:
|
|||
|
. "Successful Applications of Artificial Intelligence" by HAL9000
|
|||
|
. "Great GUI Solitaire Games for Under $100" by Bill Gates
|
|||
|
. "Honest Politicians Through The Ages" by Richard Nixon
|
|||
|
. "How to Improve Your Memory" by Ronald Reagan
|
|||
|
. "Elections I Have Won" by H. R. Clinton
|
|||
|
. "Great Blonde Thinkers" by Madonna
|
|||
|
. "Winning Debate Tactics" by Ross Perot
|
|||
|
. "A Tree Grows in Washington" by Al Gore
|
|||
|
. "A Guide to User Friendly Software" by The RTFM Group
|
|||
|
These make great stocking stuffers.
|
|||
|
---------------------------------------------------------------------
|
|||
|
The Twelve Bugs of Christmas ....
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
For the first bug of Christmas, my manager said to me
|
|||
|
See if they can do it again.
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
For the second bug of Christmas, my manager said to me
|
|||
|
Ask them how they did it and
|
|||
|
See if they can do it again.
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
For the third bug of Christmas, my manager said to me
|
|||
|
Try to reproduce it
|
|||
|
Ask them how they did it and
|
|||
|
See if they can do it again.
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
For the fourth bug of Christmas, my manager said to me
|
|||
|
Run with the debugger
|
|||
|
Try to reproduce it
|
|||
|
Ask them how they did it and
|
|||
|
See if they can do it again.
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
For the fifth bug of Christmas, my manager said to me
|
|||
|
Ask for a dump
|
|||
|
Run with the debugger
|
|||
|
Try to reproduce it
|
|||
|
Ask them how they did it and
|
|||
|
See if they can do it again.
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
For the sixth bug of Christmas, my manager said to me
|
|||
|
Reinstall the software
|
|||
|
Ask for a dump
|
|||
|
Run with the debugger
|
|||
|
Try to reproduce it
|
|||
|
Ask them how they did it and
|
|||
|
See if they can do it again.
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
Random Access Humor Page 13 December 1993
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
For the seventh bug of Christmas, my manager said to me
|
|||
|
Say they need an upgrade
|
|||
|
Reinstall the software
|
|||
|
Ask for a dump
|
|||
|
Run with the debugger
|
|||
|
Try to reproduce it
|
|||
|
Ask them how they did it and
|
|||
|
See if they can do it again.
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
For the eighth bug of Christmas, my manager said to me
|
|||
|
Find a way around it
|
|||
|
Say they need an upgrade
|
|||
|
Reinstall the software
|
|||
|
Ask for a dump
|
|||
|
Run with the debugger
|
|||
|
Try to reproduce it
|
|||
|
Ask them how they did it and
|
|||
|
See if they can do it again.
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
For the ninth bug of Christmas, my manager said to me
|
|||
|
Blame it on the hardware
|
|||
|
Find a way around it
|
|||
|
Say they need an upgrade
|
|||
|
Reinstall the software
|
|||
|
Ask for a dump
|
|||
|
Run with the debugger
|
|||
|
Try to reproduce it
|
|||
|
Ask them how they did it and
|
|||
|
See if they can do it again.
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
For the tenth bug of Christmas, my manager said to me
|
|||
|
Change the documentation
|
|||
|
Blame it on the hardware
|
|||
|
Find a way around it
|
|||
|
Say they need an upgrade
|
|||
|
Reinstall the software
|
|||
|
Ask for a dump
|
|||
|
Run with the debugger
|
|||
|
Try to reproduce it
|
|||
|
Ask them how they did it and
|
|||
|
See if they can do it again.
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
For the eleventh bug of Christmas, my manager said to me
|
|||
|
Say it's not supported
|
|||
|
Change the documentation
|
|||
|
Blame it on the hardware
|
|||
|
Find a way around it
|
|||
|
Say they need an upgrade
|
|||
|
Reinstall the software
|
|||
|
Ask for a dump
|
|||
|
Run with the debugger
|
|||
|
Try to reproduce it
|
|||
|
Ask them how they did it and
|
|||
|
See if they can do it again.
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
Random Access Humor Page 14 December 1993
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
For the twelfth bug of Christmas, my manager said to me
|
|||
|
Tell them it's a feature
|
|||
|
Say it's not supported
|
|||
|
Change the documentation
|
|||
|
Blame it on the hardware
|
|||
|
Find a way around it
|
|||
|
Say they need an upgrade
|
|||
|
Reinstall the software
|
|||
|
Ask for a dump
|
|||
|
Run with the debugger
|
|||
|
Try to reproduce it
|
|||
|
Ask them how they did it and
|
|||
|
See if they can do it again.
|
|||
|
---------------------------------------------------------------------
|
|||
|
UNIXmas
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
better !pout !cry
|
|||
|
better watchout
|
|||
|
lpr why
|
|||
|
santa claus <north pole >town
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
cat /etc/passwd >list
|
|||
|
ncheck list
|
|||
|
ncheck list
|
|||
|
cat list I grep naughty >nogiftlist
|
|||
|
cat list I grep nice >giftlist
|
|||
|
santa claus <north pole > town
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
who I grep sleeping
|
|||
|
who I grep awake
|
|||
|
who I egrep 'badIgood'
|
|||
|
for (goodness sake) {
|
|||
|
be good
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
better !pout !cry
|
|||
|
better watchout
|
|||
|
lpr why
|
|||
|
santa claus <north pole >town
|
|||
|
---------------------------------------------------------------------
|
|||
|
End of Term Blues
|
|||
|
by Pat Johanneson ($JOHANNESONP@brandonu.ca)
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
You know it's late, but you're not sure how late. You haven't
|
|||
|
checked your watch since three AM, and frankly, you don't plan to
|
|||
|
look at it again until the security guards come by and open the doors
|
|||
|
to the science building. You need a pizza. You need a beer. You
|
|||
|
need a soft place to lay your head. You need to finish this program
|
|||
|
before midnight last night, but since you obviously have flubbed that
|
|||
|
deadline, you're going to have to edit the date stamp back. And that
|
|||
|
is not an easy thing to do. It takes a light touch and nimble
|
|||
|
fingers, and right now your fingers feel as light and nimble as
|
|||
|
frozen Maple Leaf weiners.
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
And you *know* you could get your code working, if you could just
|
|||
|
figure out which of the 19 optional flags you need on this particular
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
Random Access Humor Page 15 December 1993
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
call. And then figure out just why you're getting a stack dump every
|
|||
|
time you try to run the concatenation subroutine at the heart of your
|
|||
|
program. Then, by God and Turing, you will be able to go home and
|
|||
|
*sleep*.
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
Ah, the life of a student. No life like it.
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
Except maybe corporate prisoner.
|
|||
|
---------------------------------------------------------------------
|
|||
|
The Comp Sci Song (To the tune of Rawhide, best performed with lots
|
|||
|
of choruses at approximately 4 am.)
|
|||
|
lyrics: Brian Dyck
|
|||
|
inspiration: Brian Dyck, Pat Johanneson, Neil Enns
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
Typing typing typing
|
|||
|
keep those fingers typing
|
|||
|
Keep those fingers typing
|
|||
|
COMP-SCIIIIIII!!!
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
Don't try to understand it
|
|||
|
just prove it by induction
|
|||
|
who knows if you'll survive
|
|||
|
COMP-SCIIIIIII!!!
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
Coding coding coding
|
|||
|
though your fingers are swollen
|
|||
|
keep on keep on CODING
|
|||
|
COMP-SCIIIIIII!!!
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
Magnetic radiation
|
|||
|
late night aggravation
|
|||
|
stress-filled heat prostration
|
|||
|
COMP-SCIIIIIII!!!
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
No matter who you're under
|
|||
|
You are baffled and you blunder
|
|||
|
You can do nothing now but suffer
|
|||
|
COMP-SCIIIIIII!!!
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
Dataloss on diskettes
|
|||
|
Bugged up code not fixed yet
|
|||
|
Nothing left but regret
|
|||
|
COMP-SCIIIIIII!!!
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
Coding coding coding
|
|||
|
though your fingers are swollen
|
|||
|
keep on keep on CODING
|
|||
|
COMP-SCIIIIIII!!!
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
(snap)
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
HeyaaAAAAHHHH!!!
|
|||
|
YAHHHHHOOOOOO!!!
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
COMP-SCIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII!!!!!!!!!!!!
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
Random Access Humor Page 16 December 1993
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
CONTACT: Ron Albright
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
Digital Publishing Association
|
|||
|
1160 Huffman Road
|
|||
|
Birmingham, AL 35215
|
|||
|
Voice: (205) 856-9510
|
|||
|
FAX: (205) 853-8478
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
PRESS NOTICE: For Immediate Release
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
DPA ANNOUNCES WINNERS OF THE SECOND ANNUAL "DIGITAL QUILL" AWARDS
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
Birmingham, Alabama - November 15, 1993: The Digital Publishing
|
|||
|
Association, the first and only trade organization for the
|
|||
|
electronic publishing industry, today announced the winners of
|
|||
|
the Second Annual "Digital Quill" Awards for Excellence in
|
|||
|
Electronic Publishing.
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
The Quill Award competition, originating in 1992, was open to
|
|||
|
all authors and publishers, regardless of DPA membership status.
|
|||
|
The only requirement was that the materials submitted for
|
|||
|
judging must have been previously published in electronic
|
|||
|
format. Submitted materials must have either been uploaded to an
|
|||
|
online system or distributed on disk for reading by computer as
|
|||
|
digital materials.
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
In making the announcement, Ron Albright, President of the DPA,
|
|||
|
said "This volume and quantity of this year's entries clearly
|
|||
|
show that digital publishing is 'alive and well' at the
|
|||
|
grassroots level. While the industry press shows that the "big
|
|||
|
players" are just sticking their toes in the electronic
|
|||
|
publishing waters, the grassroots authors and publishers are
|
|||
|
already swimming about in the waters. This year's Quill entries
|
|||
|
were an amazing array of quality works that are pushing
|
|||
|
'paperless publishing' to the limit of their imagination and
|
|||
|
skills. It is clear to the DPA that 1993 was a 'breakthrough'
|
|||
|
year for digital publishing and that the industry is poised to
|
|||
|
take off in the next 12 months." The Quill Awards are awarded
|
|||
|
during the DPA's annual November "Digital Publishing Month"
|
|||
|
activities. Additional activities are planned during the month
|
|||
|
to publicize the electronic publishing industry to both the
|
|||
|
computer and literary consumer.
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
The winners for the existing categories are as follows:
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
Serial Publication - a weekly, monthly or otherwise
|
|||
|
regularly-scheduled publication that has been issued for at
|
|||
|
least 6 months (or at least 3 editions) available prior to July,
|
|||
|
1993. This category included both fiction and non-fiction
|
|||
|
magazines and newsletters.
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
Random Access Humor Page 17 December 1993
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
First Place - Ruby's Pearls (Del Freeman, Editor)
|
|||
|
Second Place - WonderDisk (Walter Gammons, Editor)
|
|||
|
Third Place (TIE) - Smoke & Mirrors (Lucia Chambers, Editor)
|
|||
|
Random Access Humor (Dave Bealer, Editor)
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
Fiction Book - an original fiction work. Minimum: 30,000 words.
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
First Place - Vamp! (Larry Blasko)
|
|||
|
Second Place - The Angel of Death (Bruce Gilkin; FloppyBack)
|
|||
|
Third Place - Eternal Man (Vernon Davis)
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
Non-Fiction Book - an original non-fiction book in digital
|
|||
|
format. Length: 35,000 words minimum.
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
First Place - Civil War Computer Archive (Bob Patterson)
|
|||
|
Second Place - Prism Guide (Gary Smith)
|
|||
|
Third Place - Financial Survival (Vernon Davis)
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
Publishing software - a software program (Shareware or
|
|||
|
traditionally marketed) designed for publishing text and/or
|
|||
|
graphics and facilitating their distribution and viewing.
|
|||
|
Nominations will be accepted from users as well as original
|
|||
|
authors.
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
First Place - DART (Ted Husted)
|
|||
|
Second Place - ReadRoom (Michael Gibbs; Exhibit A Communications)
|
|||
|
Third Place (Tie) - Orpheus (Rod Willmot)
|
|||
|
HyperRead Generator (David Leithauser)
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
Miscellaneous - a niche to encompass poetry, graphic collections,
|
|||
|
comics, CD-ROM and other publications outside the standard
|
|||
|
categories.
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
First Place: NEWSBYTES Archives (Newsbytes Staff; CD-ROM)
|
|||
|
Second Place: "It All Comes Does to ___" (Robert Kendall)
|
|||
|
Third Place: "Mack the Mouse" (Don Lokke)
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
Announcement of the winners for the "Short Story" category
|
|||
|
(featuring a single original story appearing either alone or as
|
|||
|
part of an anthology or magazine and published in digital
|
|||
|
format) will be delayed due to the complicated judging involved
|
|||
|
in evaluating the nearly fifty entries in this category.
|
|||
|
---------------------------------------------------------------------
|
|||
|
Top Ten Ways To Tell You're Having a Really Rough Day In BBS Land
|
|||
|
Copyright (c) 1993, Joe DeRouen All rights reserved
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
10. SysOp changes your handle to "Ima Leech"
|
|||
|
9. Microsoft releases Windows NT, and you're happy
|
|||
|
8. Psych 101 paper gets juxtaposed with alt.sex file from Internet
|
|||
|
7. President of local computer user group marries your sister
|
|||
|
6. FIDO doesn't like your front-end mailer - and neither does Spot
|
|||
|
5. Your wife finds your GIF collection
|
|||
|
4. National debt pales in comparison to your upload/download ratio
|
|||
|
3. You find your *wife's* GIF collection
|
|||
|
2. Chastised by angry RIME conference host for being off topic
|
|||
|
1. Artificial Intelligence program won't hot chat you
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
Random Access Humor Page 18 December 1993
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
RAH Humor Review: America Online's Comedy Club
|
|||
|
by Dave Bealer
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
This month's RAH Humor Review takes us to the Comedy Club, one part
|
|||
|
of the "Games & Entertainment" section of America Online. Alright,
|
|||
|
you may well be wondering what a DOS command line cowboy like me is
|
|||
|
doing anywhere near a GUI-based online system like AOL. The answer
|
|||
|
is deceptively simple: they sent me a free trial membership. I may
|
|||
|
be a grouch, but I'm also cheap.
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
Yes, AOL is slow, but that is almost a relief on the first call
|
|||
|
since the main "menu" offers a bewildering variety of icons you can
|
|||
|
click on. A few of these icons even make sense once you figure out
|
|||
|
what they're supposed to mean.
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
The Games section of AOL is extensive, offering everything from
|
|||
|
online role playing games to an online casino. On the same main icon
|
|||
|
is the Entertainment section, which features an entertainment news
|
|||
|
section. But my attention was immediately grabbed by the Comedy Club
|
|||
|
which is listed in this area.
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
Sure enough, the Comedy Club features both messages and files related
|
|||
|
to humor and comedy. The message areas seem to contain many of the
|
|||
|
same blonde jokes seen everywhere else in the online universe.
|
|||
|
Sometimes I get the feeling that every humor/funny/laughs conference
|
|||
|
is linked together - with some demented twerp in Cleveland dumping
|
|||
|
all these lists of moldy jokes and chain letters into them.
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
The file area also contains much of the same old stuff seen on any
|
|||
|
BBS with a decent humor collection. The only difference is this area
|
|||
|
is not being maintained. The most recent file posted for download
|
|||
|
was uploaded on 06/20/93 (I was there in November). "Maybe they're
|
|||
|
not getting any uploads," I thought. A few issues of RAH should take
|
|||
|
care of the boredom. Three issues from last summer were dutifully
|
|||
|
uploaded. Upon checking back a week later, nothing had been done.
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
"Hmm. It had been so long since anything was posted, maybe the
|
|||
|
sysop gave up looking in the upload directory on any kind of regular
|
|||
|
basis." I left a note using the "Ask the Staff" icon. A few days
|
|||
|
later I received a message from a fellow who said he used to run the
|
|||
|
Comedy Club, but not anymore. He said he'd pass my note on.
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
Another week or so went by, and my free trial month was drawing to a
|
|||
|
close. Since absolutely nothing had been done to post RAH for
|
|||
|
download, I decided to cancel my membership. The nearly frantic
|
|||
|
phone call asking why I cancelled came a week later. I explained
|
|||
|
what happened, and was politely offered another free month to try and
|
|||
|
work things out. Since it had been about five months since the file
|
|||
|
area of the Comedy Club had been touched by official hands, I decided
|
|||
|
it just wasn't worth the effort. Since the nice lady acted like she
|
|||
|
was going to be brutally murdered by her bosses if I didn't stop the
|
|||
|
cancellation process, I was nearly forced to hang up on her. Low
|
|||
|
pressure 90's marketing strikes again.
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
Random Access Humor Page 19 December 1993
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
The final analysis: slow and mostly repetitive of any networked BBS
|
|||
|
with a decent humor collection. The only unique thing was the
|
|||
|
"Improv" area, which contains short bios of a few fairly well known
|
|||
|
stand up comedians, like Rick Duccomun. Once these folks have you in
|
|||
|
their talons, they're most reluctant to let go.
|
|||
|
---------------------------------------------------------------------
|
|||
|
Announcements and Observations
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
As of the January 1994 issue, the Readroom edition of RAH will be
|
|||
|
formatted for version 3.0 of the READROOM.TOC specification. Sysops
|
|||
|
should note that they will need Readroom V3.0 or higher to display
|
|||
|
RAH online for their callers.
|
|||
|
- - -
|
|||
|
RAH now has a private support site on the Internet. This is not a
|
|||
|
"live" site, so telnet and FTP are not supported. By January we
|
|||
|
hope to have an e-mail fileserver operating at the site. At that
|
|||
|
time users will be able to request RAH back issues, which will be
|
|||
|
sent as UUENCODED file attaches to e-mail messages.
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
In the meantime, free RAH subscriptions are available to readers with
|
|||
|
an Internet account (FidoNet users *cannot* make use of this service
|
|||
|
through the Internet <> FidoNet gateway). Simply send an e-mail
|
|||
|
message to our listserver at: listserv@rah.clark.net
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
In the body of your message, include a line like this:
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
SUB rahtext Your Name
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
Where "Your Name" is your username on your Internet host machine.
|
|||
|
This will place you on the subscription list for the uncompressed
|
|||
|
ASCII Text edition of RAH, which is sent as a UUENCODED file attach
|
|||
|
to an e-mail message.
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
If you would prefer to receive the ASCII Text and Readroom editions
|
|||
|
as UUENCODED ZIP archives, place the following line in the body of
|
|||
|
your message:
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
SUB rahzip Your Name
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
Finally, you may join in the discussion in our new Bitnet-style
|
|||
|
mailing list. There you can ask questions of the RAH staff. To
|
|||
|
join this list, place the following line in the body of your message:
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
SUB rahuser Your Name
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
In the unlikely event you wish to unsubscribe from any list you have
|
|||
|
joined, simply send a message to the listserver with the following
|
|||
|
line in the body:
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
UNSUB listname
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
Where listname is the name of the mailing list you joined.
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
Random Access Humor Page 20 December 1993
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
--- Tagline Seen Around the Nets
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
One Christmas I got a battery with a note saying, "toy not included."
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
I knew that rubber chicken was gonna get me in trouble.
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
Check for toilet paper *before* sitting down.
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
Vegetarians eat vegetables. Beware of humanitarians!
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
Newsflash! Birdland Bar closed for serving mynahs.
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
If space is a vacuum, who changes the bags?
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
"Junior, quit playing with your floppy!"
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
Crime wouldn't pay if the government ran it.
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
Drag me, drop me, treat me like an object.
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
In DBLSPACE no one can hear you scream.
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
Happiness is planet Earth in your rearview mirror.
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
Saying a good politician is like saying an honest burglar.
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
Everyone has a photographic memory. Some don't have film.
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
"I'm so cool you can store meat in me." - Zaphod
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
Just as I think I've hit bottom, somebody hands me a shovel.
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
If we can send one man to the moon, why can't we send them all?
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
Bad command or file name! Go stand in the corner.
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
I'll live forever. Or die trying.
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
I can't hear you. I have a banana in my ear.
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
Support the arts - shoot a critic.
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
A social life? What board can I download THAT from?
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
I've got morals, I just keep misplacing them.
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
Betazoid modem: it downloads the files it senses you want.
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
All I want for Christmas is a box of Smurfs and a mallet.
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
Random Access Humor Page A-1 December 1993
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
Random Access Humor Masthead:
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
Editor & Publisher: Dave Bealer
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
Contributing Editors: Greg Borek, Ray Koziel
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
Contact: The Puffin's Nest BBS
|
|||
|
FidoNet: 1:261/1129 (1200-14400/V.32bis)
|
|||
|
BBS: (410) 437-3463 (1200-16800/HST)
|
|||
|
Internet: dave.bealer@rah.clark.net
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
Regular Mail: (Only if you have no other way to reach us!)
|
|||
|
Random Access Humor
|
|||
|
c/o Dave Bealer
|
|||
|
P.O. Box 595
|
|||
|
Pasadena, MD. 21122 USA
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
Random Access Humor (RAH) is published monthly by Dave Bealer as a
|
|||
|
disservice to the online community. Although the publisher's BBS may
|
|||
|
be a part of one or more networks at any time, RAH is not affiliated
|
|||
|
with any BBS network or online service. RAH is a compilation of
|
|||
|
individual articles contributed by their authors. The contribution
|
|||
|
of articles to this compilation does not diminish the rights of the
|
|||
|
authors. The opinions expressed in RAH are those of the authors and
|
|||
|
are not necessarily those of the publisher.
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
Random Access Humor is Copyright 1993 Dave Bealer. All Rights
|
|||
|
Reserved. Duplication and/or distribution is permitted for non-
|
|||
|
commercial purposes only. RAH may not be distributed on diskette,
|
|||
|
CD-ROM or in hardcopy form for a fee without express written
|
|||
|
permission from the publisher. For any other use, contact the
|
|||
|
publisher.
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
RAH may only be distributed in unaltered form. Online systems whose
|
|||
|
users cannot access the original binary archive file may offer it for
|
|||
|
viewing or download in text format, provided the original text is not
|
|||
|
modified. Readers may produce hard copies of RAH or backup copies on
|
|||
|
diskette for their own personal use only. RAH may not be distributed
|
|||
|
in combination with any other publication or product.
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
Many of the brands and products mentioned in RAH are trademarks of
|
|||
|
their respective owners.
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
Copies of the current issue of RAH may be obtained by manual download
|
|||
|
or Wazoo/EMSI File Request from The Puffin's Nest BBS (FREQ: RAH), or
|
|||
|
from various sites in several BBS networks. Back issues of RAH may
|
|||
|
be obtained by download or file request from The Puffin's Nest BBS.
|
|||
|
Internet users may obtain RAH issues via anonymous FTP from :
|
|||
|
etext.archive.umich.edu Dir: pub/Zines/RAH
|
|||
|
nic.cic.net Dir: pub/nircomm/gopher/e-serials/alphabetic/r/rah
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
Article contributions to RAH are always welcome. All submissions
|
|||
|
must be made electronically. File attach your article to a netmail
|
|||
|
message to Dave Bealer at 1:261/1129. E-mail may also be sent via
|
|||
|
Internet to: dave.bealer@rah.clark.net
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
Random Access Humor Page A-2 December 1993
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
Tagline and filler submissions may be made via e-mail. Article
|
|||
|
submissions should be made via file. Submitted files must be plain
|
|||
|
ASCII text files in normal MS-DOS file format: artname.RAH; where
|
|||
|
artname is a descriptive file name and RAH is the mandatory
|
|||
|
extension. Your text should be less than 70 columns across for
|
|||
|
widest readability. If your article does not conform to these simple
|
|||
|
specs, it may get lost or trashed. Also note that such imaginative
|
|||
|
names as RAH.RAH might get overlaid by the blatherings of similarly
|
|||
|
minded contributors. If your hardware is incapable of producing file
|
|||
|
names in the proper format, you may send your article as one or more
|
|||
|
e-mail messages. It may not be possible to make private responses
|
|||
|
to any submissions or correspondence received.
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
The editors reserve the right to publish or not to publish any
|
|||
|
submission as/when they see fit. The editors also reserve the right
|
|||
|
to "edit", or modify any submission prior to publication. This last
|
|||
|
right will rarely be used, typically only to correct spelling or
|
|||
|
grammar misteaks that are not funny. RAH is a PG rated publication,
|
|||
|
so keep it (mostly) clean.
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
RAH can accept only the following types of material for publication:
|
|||
|
1) Any material in the public domain.
|
|||
|
2) Material for which you own the copyright. If you wrote it
|
|||
|
yourself, you are automatically the copyright holder.
|
|||
|
3) Authorized agents for a copyright holder (typically an
|
|||
|
organization) may submit material on behalf of that holder.
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
In writing jargon, RAH is deemed to be given "One Time Rights" to
|
|||
|
anything submitted for publication unless otherwise noted in the
|
|||
|
message accompanying the contribution. You still own the material,
|
|||
|
and RAH will make no use of the material other than publishing it
|
|||
|
electronically in the usual manner. Your article may be selected for
|
|||
|
publication in a planned "Best of RAH" electronic book. If you want
|
|||
|
your copyright notice to appear in your article, place it as desired
|
|||
|
in the text you submit. Previously published articles may be
|
|||
|
submitted, but proper acknowledgement must be included: periodical
|
|||
|
name, date of previous publication.
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
RAH Distribution System:
|
|||
|
(Sites bearing the <contrib> designation will accept your
|
|||
|
contributions and forward them to the editors.)
|
|||
|
(All these systems would be good places to find sysops with a sense
|
|||
|
of humor...seemingly a rarity these days.)
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
The Puffin's Nest Pasadena, MD. Sysop: Dave Bealer
|
|||
|
FidoNet> 1:261/1129 (410) 437-3463 16800 (HST/Dual)
|
|||
|
<contrib>
|
|||
|
Current RAH Issue (text format): FReq: RAH
|
|||
|
Current RAH Issue (Readroom format): FReq: RAHR
|
|||
|
Back Issues of RAH: (text) FReq: RAHyymm.ZIP
|
|||
|
(RAH9209.ZIP for premiere issue)
|
|||
|
Back Issues of RAH: (Readroom) FReq: RAHyymmR.ZIP
|
|||
|
(RAH9302R.ZIP and later only)
|
|||
|
Complete Writers Guidelines: FReq: RAHWRITE
|
|||
|
Complete Distributor Info: FReq: RAHDIST
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
Random Access Humor Page A-3 December 1993
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
RAH Gateway Systems:
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
Pooh's Corner Fells Point, MD. Sysop: Mark Truelove
|
|||
|
FidoNet> 1:261/1131 (410) 327-9263 14400 (V.32bis)
|
|||
|
RBBSnet> 8:936/206 FilNet> 33:410/0 CandyNet> 42:1031/1
|
|||
|
<contrib>
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
H*A*L Muskogee, OK. Sysop: Lloyd Hatley
|
|||
|
FidoNet> 1:3813/304 (918) 682-7337 14400 (V.32bis)
|
|||
|
RFNet> 73:102/1 RANet> 72:918/21 LuvNet> 77:101/1
|
|||
|
DoorNet> 75:7918/205 <contrib>
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
The Shop Mail Only Flushing, NY. Sysop: Steve Matzura
|
|||
|
FidoNet> 1:2603/203 (718) 460-0201 14400 (V.32bis)
|
|||
|
ADAnet> 94:7180/1 JayNet> 17:99/100 WorldNet 62:4400/200
|
|||
|
MusicNet.FTN> 88:8001/12 <mail only - no BBS)
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
Cyberdrome Philadelphia, PA. Sysop: Mike Taylor
|
|||
|
FidoNet> 1:273/937 (215) 923-8026 14400 (V.32bis)
|
|||
|
PodsNet> 93:9600/2 <contrib>
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
Abiogenesis Kansas City, MO. Sysop: Scott Lent
|
|||
|
FidoNet> 1:280/310 (816) 734-4732 14400 (V.32bis)
|
|||
|
VirNet> 9:103/110 MailNet> 20:416/310 SuperNet> 43:1315/102
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
Datanet BBS Voorschoten, Netherlands Sysop: Ed Bakker
|
|||
|
FidoNet> 2:281/101 31-71-617784 14400 (V.32bis)
|
|||
|
Digital-Net> 15:200/512 MomNet> 71:2000/2
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
SoftCom Online Istanbul, Turkey Sysop: Tolga Yurderi
|
|||
|
FidoNet> 2:430/1 90-1-2572790 16800 (HST/Dual)
|
|||
|
GlobalNet> 52:9000/1 IntlNet> 57:90/1 HiTNeT> 102:1001/5
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
The Vision BBS Keflavik, Iceland Sysop: Jon Karlsson
|
|||
|
FidoNet> 2:391/20 354-2-14626 14400 (V.32bis)
|
|||
|
IceInet> 354:2/10
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
Incredible BBS Burleson, TX. Sysop: Don Teague
|
|||
|
FidoNet> 1:130/82 (817) 447-2598 14400 (HST/Dual)
|
|||
|
USPolNet> 30:603/103
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
The Harddisk Cafe Nidderau, Germany Sysop: Bernd Hohmann
|
|||
|
FidoNet> 2:244/1682 49-6187-21739 19200 (Z19)
|
|||
|
FidoClassic> 2:248/317 Gamesnet> 144:4906/153 BasNet> 255:1000/0
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
RAH Official Distribution Sites:
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
-= AUSTRALIA =-
|
|||
|
Northern Territory
|
|||
|
Images Unlimited Darwin 3:850/110 61-89-41-1630 V.32bis
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
Victoria
|
|||
|
The Flying Circus Highett 3:635/555 61-3-532-5224 V.32bis
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
Random Access Humor Page A-4 December 1993
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
-= BELGIUM =-
|
|||
|
Proteus/2 Brussels 2:291/711 32-2-3752539 V.32bis
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
-= CANADA =-
|
|||
|
Ontario
|
|||
|
Typecast BBS Kingston 1:249/107 (613) 545-9148 V.32bis
|
|||
|
Echo Valley Vanier 1:243/26 (613) 749-1016 HST
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
-= GERMANY =-
|
|||
|
The Harddisk Cafe Nidderau 2:244/1682 49-6187-21739 Z19
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
-= ICELAND =-
|
|||
|
The Vision BBS Keflavik 2:391/20 354-2-14626 V.32bis
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
-= NETHERLANDS =-
|
|||
|
BIB Aalten Aalten 2:283/401 31-54-3774203 V.32bis
|
|||
|
BBS Sussudio Denhaag 2:281/517 31-70-3212177 HST/Dual
|
|||
|
Midkemia BBS Denhaag (MomNet) 31-70-3361872 V.32bis
|
|||
|
TouchDown Hoofddorp 2:280/401 31-2503-24677 HST/Dual
|
|||
|
Bommel's BBS Schiedam 2:285/800 31-10-4700939 V.32bis
|
|||
|
Pleasure BBS Utrecht 2:281/705 31-30-934123 V.32bis
|
|||
|
Datanet BBS Voorschoten 2:281/101 31-71-617784 V.32bis
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
-= PORTUGAL =-
|
|||
|
The Mail House II Loures 2:362/29 351-1-9890140 V.32bis
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
-= SAUDI ARABIA =-
|
|||
|
MidEast Connection Riyadh (NoFido) 966-1-4410075 V.32bis
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
-= SLOVENIA =-
|
|||
|
R.I.S.P. Ljubljana 2:380/103 38-61-199400 V.32bis
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
-= TURKEY =-
|
|||
|
SoftCom Online Istanbul 2:430/1 90-1-2572790 HST/Dual
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
-= UNITED STATES =-
|
|||
|
Alabama
|
|||
|
J & J Online Chickasaw 1:3625/440 (205) 457-5901 V.32bis
|
|||
|
Digital Publ. Assoc Birmingham (NoFido) (205) 854-1660 V.32bis
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
California
|
|||
|
InfoMat BBS San Clemente (P&BNet) (714) 492-8727 HST/Dual
|
|||
|
Automation Central San Jose 1:143/110 (408) 435-2886 V.32bis
|
|||
|
The Software Station Saugus 1:102/1106 (805) 296-9056 V.32
|
|||
|
Marin County Net Sausalito 1:125/55 (415) 331-6241 HST/Dual
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
Connecticut
|
|||
|
ModemNews Express Stamford (P&BNet) (203) 359-2299 V.32bis
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
Florida
|
|||
|
Ruby's Joint Coral Gables (P&BNet) (305) 856-4857 V.32bis
|
|||
|
The Software Cuisine Miami 1:135/57 (305) 642-0754 V.32bis
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
Random Access Humor Page A-5 December 1993
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
Hawaii
|
|||
|
Casa de la Chinchilla Honolulu (NoFido) (808) 845-1303 HST/Dual
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
Idaho
|
|||
|
Phantasia BBS Boise 1:347/25 (208) 939-2530 V.32bis
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
Illinois
|
|||
|
The Crossroads BBS Chicago 1:115/743 (312) 587-8756 HST/Dual
|
|||
|
The Loonatic Fringe Elk Grove 1:115/542 (708) 290-8877 V.32
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
Indiana
|
|||
|
Digicom Evansville 1:2310/200 (812) 479-1310 HST/Dual
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
Maryland
|
|||
|
Wit-Tech Baltimore 1:261/1082 (410) 256-0170 V.32bis
|
|||
|
Outside the Wall Baltimore 1:261/1093 (410) 665-1855 V.32
|
|||
|
The File Exchange Cockeysville 1:2617/104 (410) 628-7243 HST/Dual
|
|||
|
Pooh's Corner Fells Point 1:261/1131 (410) 327-9263 V.32bis
|
|||
|
Cybersystems Frederick 1:109/713 (301) 662-8948 V.32bis
|
|||
|
Robin's Nest Glen Burnie (P&BNet) (410) 766-9756 V.32
|
|||
|
The Puffin's Nest Pasadena 1:261/1129 (410) 437-3463 HST/Dual
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
Michigan
|
|||
|
Didi's Place Dearborn Heights 1:2410/120 (313) 563-8940 V.32bis
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
Mississippi
|
|||
|
Ranch & Cattle South Columbus (NoFido) (601) 328-6486 V.32bis
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
Missouri
|
|||
|
Abiogenesis Kansas City 1:280/310 (816) 734-4732 V.32bis
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
New Mexico
|
|||
|
High Mesa Publishing Los Lunas 1:317/100 (505) 865-8385 V.32
|
|||
|
Paula's House of Mail Los Lunas 1:317/317 (505) 865-4082 V.32bis
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
New York
|
|||
|
The Shop Mail Only Flushing 1:2603/203 (mail only) V.32bis
|
|||
|
The Wall-2 Middle Village 1:278/612 (718) 335-8784 HST/Dual
|
|||
|
Computers & Dreams New York (NoFido) (212) 888-6565 V.32bis
|
|||
|
ASB Ronkonkoma (NoFido) (516) 471-8625 V.32bis
|
|||
|
Dome Ideas BBS Yonkers 1:272/104 (914) 968-2205 HST
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
Oklahoma
|
|||
|
H*A*L Muskogee 1:3813/304 (918) 682-7337 V.32bis
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
Oregon
|
|||
|
Bitter Butter Better Tigard 1:105/290 (503) 620-0307 V.32
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
Pennsylvania
|
|||
|
Cyberdrome Philadelphia 1:273/937 (215) 923-8026 V.32bis
|
|||
|
Milliways Pittsburgh 1:129/179 (412) 766-1086 HST/Dual
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
Random Access Humor Page A-6 December 1993
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
Texas
|
|||
|
Sunlight Thru Shadows Addison (P&BNet) (214) 620-8793 V.32bis
|
|||
|
Incredible BBS Burleson 1:130/82 (817) 447-2598 HST/Dual
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
Utah
|
|||
|
Vital Signs Midvale 1:311/20 (801) 255-8909 V.32bis
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
Virginia
|
|||
|
Ship to Shore Arlington 1:109/185 (703) 525-1458 V.32bis
|
|||
|
Pen & Brush Burke (P&BNet) (703) 644-5196 V.32bis
|
|||
|
Data Empire Fredericksburg 1:274/31 (703) 785-0422 V.32bis
|
|||
|
Flying Dutchman Newport News 1:271/237 (804) 595-9383 V.32bis
|
|||
|
The Time Machine Newport News 1:271/236 (804) 599-6401 HST/Dual
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
Washington
|
|||
|
Spokane Online Spokane 1:346/20 (509) 327-8540 V.32bis
|
|||
|
Dragon's Cave Tacoma 1:138/198 (206) 752-4160 V.32bis
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
Wisconsin
|
|||
|
The First Step BBS Green Bay 1:139/540 (414) 499-0659 V.32bis
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
=====================================================================
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
Although not official RAH distributors, the following large
|
|||
|
commercial systems carry RAH. (Uploaded by the editor himself.)
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
Channel 1 Cambridge, MA. (617) 354-8873 (Readroom)
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
EXEC-PC Elm Grove, WI. (414) 789-4210 (Readroom)
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
SPACE Menlo Park, CA. (415) 323-4193
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
Software Creations Clinton, MA. (508) 368-4137
|