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[HEA]
_____________________ ___ _
|___ ______________| | | | |
| | _ | | | |
| || | | | | |
| || | | | | |
| || | | | ____ _ _ _ _ ______ | |
| || | | | / __ \ | | / \_/ \ | ___ \ | |
| || |__ ____ | | / / \ | | /\ /\ \ | | \ \ | |
| || _ \ | _ \ | | \ \__/ | | | |_|| | | |__/ / | |
| || | | || |_|| | | \___/|_| |_| |_| | ____/ |_|
| || | | || |__ | |____________________ | | _
|__||_| |_|\____/ |________________________| | | |_|
| |
Lighting Your Apple II Path On Delphi | |
|_|
>>> WELCOME TO THE LAMP! <<<
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
THINKING KFEST: The Accidental Tourist's Guide to KFest
THE WAY WE WERE: User Group Reprints
AND THE BEST OF THE A2 AND A2PRO MESSAGE BOARDS
"Teaching the Apple II user how to fish since 1998"
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
The Lamp! An Onipa'a Software Production Vol. 2, No. 6
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Publisher & Editor.......................Ryan M. Suenaga, M.S.W., L.S.W.
Internet Email....................................thelamp@sheppyware.net
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
TABLE OF CONTENTS
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
June 15, 1999
OPENING PITCH
Summer Of '99 -------------------------------------------------- [OPN]
A FUNNY THING HAPPENED [FOR]
The Heat Is On ------------------------------------------------- [HET]
Miscellanea [MSC]
Rumor Mill ----------------------------------------------------- [RMR]
Public Postings [PUB]
Best Of The Best ----------------------------------------------- [BOB]
A2Pro_DUCTIVITY
Checking out A2PRO on Delphi ----------------------------------- [A2P]
THE WAY WE WERE
The Best of Both Worlds ---------------------------------------- [WWW]
THINKING KFEST
The Accidental Tourist's Guide to KFest ------------------------ [KFE]
EXTRA INNINGS
About The Lamp! ------------------------------------------------ [INN]
[*] [*] [*]
READING THE LAMP! The index system used by The Lamp! is designed to make
""""""""""""""""" your reading easier. To use this system, load this
issue into any word processor or text editor. In the index you will find
something like:
EXTRA INNINGS
About The Lamp! ------------------------------------------------ [INN]
To read this article, simply use your search or find command to locate
[INN]. There is a similar tag at the end of each article: [EOA].
:: DISCUSSED ON DELPHI ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
: :
: Why read the docs. . . I'm already confused :
: :
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: TONYW1 :::::::::::::
[EOA]
[OPN]------------------------------
OPENING PITCH |
-----------------------------------
From The Editor
"""""""""""""""
by Ryan M. Suenaga, B.A., M.S.W., L.S.W.
[thelamp@sheppyware.net]
SUMMER OF '99
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Yes, it's another hot summer here in the islands I call home, but
it'll be a memorable summer for the same reason it's always been.
Once again, we're closing in on the time to pack up the computer we
love (in real or virtual form) and head on over to the Mecca of the Apple
II--Avila College in Kansas City, Missouri, USA. KansasFest 1999 is fast
approaching. And this summer, like every other since 1995, I'll be there.
It didn't look like I'd make it to celebrate the Apple II's Endless
Summer of Love this year. There was a plan for me to be over in Southern
California this year a few weeks after KFest and there was really no way
for me to be at both. I didn't have the vacation time and no way could I
afford it either.
Fortunately (and unfortunately, as well), things worked out (or
didn't). I won't be in Southern Cal this year, but I will be in Kansas
City. I don't know many people who would prefer going to Kansas City in
the heat of July to Los Angeles. But one thing's for sure.
It would have to be an Apple II kind of guy.
Here we come, Kansas City.
[*] [*] [*]
Would You Care To Buy This Flower Department: One of the things I
would like that I haven't had since we moved the show on over to Delphi has
been a steady stream of contributions from other writers. I've talked
about this before in this column.
That must've done some good. This month we have contributions from
two writers. The first is from Tee Cashmore, who joins us from Canada,
where he shares with us a piece that was originally printed in a user group
publication a few years ago--while some of the information is dated (for
instance, Applied Engineering was still in business then), it's still
valuable for many of you out there. In fact, these older articles are so
valuable that I'm starting a new semi-regular column, called "The Way We
Were", just to give them a special place.
The second is a writer well known around these parts. Doug Cuff,
formerly the editor of _GenieLamp A2_ as well as _A2-Central_ and _II
Alive_, joins us once again for his yearly update to his article taking you
through preparations for the Apple II event of the year, KansasFest.
Speaking of, have you registered yet?
Not to take any focus off of what Tee and Doug have done this month.
Thank you both. For everything.
[*] [*] [*]
Waited For Someone Faithful And True Department: Here's your monthly
Blatant Plug. KansasFest 1999 will be held next month, July 1999, once
again at Avila College in Kansas City, Missouri. Have fun, learn stuff,
don't sleep. As usual, check out http://www.kfest.org for the latest
information.
It's one heckuva way to remember the summer of 1999.
Ryan
thelamp@sheppyware.net
ASCII ART BEGINS
_________ _ _ _
|__ __| | | | | | |
| | | | | | | |
| | | |___ ____ | | _____ __ ___ _ _ _____ | |
| | | ___ \ / __ \ | | /____ \ | v v | | v ___ \ | |
| | | | | | | /__\ \ | | ____| | | /\ /\ | | / \ \ | |
| | | | | | | _____| | | / ___ | | || || | | | | | |_|
| | | | | | | |_____ | |____ | |__| | | || || | | \___/ / _
|_| |_| |_| \______| |______| \____^_| |_||_||_| | |\____/ |_|
| |
| |
|_|
ASCII ART ENDS
[EOA]
[OPN]------------------------------
A FUNNY THING HAPPENED. . . . |
-----------------------------------
Checking out A2 on Delphi
"""""""""""""""""""""""""
by Ryan M. Suenaga, B.A., M.S.W., L.S.W.
[thelamp@sheppyware.net]
* The Heat Is On
* Miscellanea
* Rumor Mill
* Public Postings
* Best Of The Best
THE HEAT IS ON
""""""""""""""
[*] Welcome to A2 ....... Thanks, But No, Notification
[*] Telecommunications ....... A PMP Revival?
[*] Utility Software ....... Does Anyone Own Public Domain?
[*] Hardware Hacker ....... Alternative IIgs Monitors
[*] User Groups & Publications ....... So, Where Are You All?
[*] Hardware Hacker ....... Another Ethernet Card Rumor
MISCELLANEA
"""""""""""
MORE DELPHI TEXT VS. WEB In fact, this latest round of problems comes
"""""""""""""""""""""""" because Delphi wants to keep the text side
compatible with the Web side.
This is just the sort of thing that starts rumours.
Delphi has said, MANY MANY TIMES, that they will keep the text side up and
running as long as they can possibly do so. There are a lot of good reasons
(public relations and other wise) to keep text available when everyone else
is dumping it.
I would not be at all surprised to see textside Delphi available as long as
DELPHI is available.
Note that there is no guarantee that Delphi itself will be here in two
years, or that AOL will be, for that matter. The online services market is
EXTREMELY volatile.
Gary R. Utter
(UTTER, 23068, GO COM A2)
SOME EGO SYSTEMS PRODUCTS SURFACE AT SSII Interestingly enough, Steve
""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" Disbrow is going to be sending
me a package containing his unsold inventory of IIGS software whose
copyrights have remained with Diz.
So, at some point in the next few weeks, the following will all become
available from Shareware Solutions II...
- Balloon
- Cool Cursors Volume 1
- IPC Spy Modules Volume 1
- The AppleWorks GS WP translator for Graphic Writer III
- The RTF Translator for GraphicWriter III
At this point, I have no idea how many packages of each title he'll be
sending me, but I think it's somewhat limited. There are, for example, only
20 packages of Balloon (an NDA that packs/unpacks ShrinkIt archives). More
manuals could be printed up, if need be...
So, since I have no idea how many copies of each I'll have, nor how much
postage will be, let's be real informal for the moment...
If anyone is interested in any of the above software, make me an offer by
e-mail.
Joe Kohn
joko@concentric.net
(JOE_KOHN, 23036, GO COM A2)
>>>>> If you use Graphic Writer III, I heartily recommend getting these
""""" two translators! The RTF translator is essential for cross-platform
work, and the AWGS WP translator does a better job moving AWGS Word
Processing formatting into GWIII than AppleWorks GS does moving WP files
into its own Page Layout module, IMO.
The only problem with either of these, is that you are still restricted by
GWIII's 32K size per text frame - but that is not the fault of the
translators!
Don V. Zahniser (IronTooth)
Woofed to you by OLRight! scripts for ANSITerm via Bernie ][ the Rescue!
(DZAHNISER, 23047, GO COM A2)
ADD A NIFTY FEATURE TO YOUR IIGS PROGRAM If there are any IIGS
"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" programmers out there who want
to add spell checking capabilities to their software, I now have available
the IPC call list for NiftySpell.
As you probably know, NiftySpell is a Universal GS/OS based spell checker
NDA, but what you might not know is that 3rd party programmers have the
ability to interface their software with NiftySpell.
So far, only two Spectrum-based applications have incorporated a spell
check button that performs a NiftySpell spell check: Crock O' Gold v3 and
Spectrum Internet Suite v1.1.
We'd like to see other GS/OS programs have a spell check button.
As it is, NiftySpell itself will perform all spell checking duties. So, all
you really need to know in order to support spell checking directly in your
software is, hopefully, included in the IPC call list info for NiftySpell.
Of course, that info will make no sense at all to a non-programmer.
So, if you're working on any GS/OS software, drop me an e-mail and I'll
send you the IPC call list.
Joe Kohn
(After typing this message in COG3, I hit the Queue button and a spell
check was automagically performed. Wouldn't you like your software to have
that same capability? You can!)
(JOE_KOHN, 23066, GO COM A2)
SO JUST WHAT HAPPENED TO SEVEN HILLS? Earl Childers (email@myesource.com)
""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" is the owner of Seven Hills
Software and he is now well aware of the problems that can happen when a
company (too) quickly changes ISPs and gets new URLs.
The new URL for Seven Hills is http://www.myesource.com
I've been in touch with Earl regarding the new web site and Spectrum
Internet Suite v1.1, and he had this to say:
"The transition to our new site was supposed to be a lot smoother. My plans
to have people automatically redirected from our old url to the new one
collapsed miserably. We appreciate you, Ewen, Geoff, and everyone who is
spreading the word for us. At this point, Dave and I are just trying to put
some finishing touches on the sevenhills part of the site and hoping to
offer SIS 1.1 for sale online."
I've also invited Earl to attend this coming Monday night chat.
As it is, Geoff Weiss and Ewen Wannop completed Spectrum Internet Suite 1.1
and submitted it to Seven Hills for distribution. Geoff and Ewen had a
Product Intro Chat the other week, but SIS v1.1 is now out of their hands,
and in the hands of Seven Hills.
Earl can tell us the non-technical details about SIS 1.1, such as when it
will start going into the mail and/or how they'll offer it for sale online.
That is, if he can successfully figure out how to get a web-side Delphi
account by Monday night at 10PM EDT ;-)
Joe (Friend of Seven Hills) Kohn
(JOE_KOHN, 23101, GO COM A2)
<<<<< Ahhh...I get it now; Seven Hills Software has changed the name of
""""" their company. "My eSource" is the new name for the company.
Contact info:
e-mail address: email@myesource.com
My eSource
1254 Ocala Rd.
Tallahassee, FL 32304
850-575-0566 for phone
850-575-9445 for fax (can only receive, not send, faxes)
Web Site URL: http://www.myesource.com/sevenhills/applesoftware/
(JOE_KOHN, 23170, GO COM A2)
WHICH APPLIED ENGINEERING 3.5 DRIVE IS WHICH? You may have the "AE 3.5
""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" Drive for Macintosh
Computers". I have one of these drives. If you still have the sticker on
the bottom it will have the above quoted name on it. This drive is a
'clone' of the Apple FDHD external drive. It will not work as a 1.6MB drive
and will only work as a 1.44MB drive if used on a Mac or on a IIgs/IIe with
a SuperDrive Controller card.
If in fact you have this drive and are hooking it up to the built-in IIgs
drive connector then you indeed would only get 800K (and 400K!?, I can't
recall seeing this option!) formatting options within the Finder.
So, if your AE drive has lost its label, you could try hooking it up to a
Mac which has an external floppy connector and see if you can read/write
1.44MB disks. This would help confirm that it is the 1.44MB drive and not
the 1.6MB drive.
Paul.
Paul Schultz
schultp@delphi.com
sent your way via Spectrum 2.2 and Crock O' Gold 3.0!
(SCHULTP, 23072, GO COM A2)
>>>>> My AE drive says 'AE 3.5" Disk Drive High Density' on the bottom
""""" label. It came with the 1.6MB driver on a floppy disk, but I also
bought a SuperDrive Controller card at the same time, so I never used the
1.6MB driver. It works just fine with 1.44MB disks, as well as 800KB disks.
I can only speak for my drive, but it will work with either 1.44MB or
1.6MB, depending on where it's connected and which driver is being used.
--
Carl Knoblock - Telephone Tech - Fri 7 May 99 5:40:26 pm
cknoblo@novia.net - Via Spectrum v2.2 & Crock O' Gold v3.0
KansasFest 11, July 21-25, 1999 - 75 days till KFest
Using Marinetti 2.0 - Thank you, Richard.
(CKNOBLO, 23087, GO COM A2)
>>>>> You may be right, Carl. I just checked the bottom of mine and it
""""" says "AEHD 3.5" Disk Drive for Apple Computers". It also has that
HD icon used on high density floppies to the right of the AE symbol on the
front of the drive.
However, I've never been able to get it to format 1.6 MB disks. Maybe I
have the Mac only model. I need to do some more testing with it, though. I
haven't owned it for very long and have had it hooked up for even less than
that. :)
Jeff Blakeney | Dean of the Apple II University in A2Pro |
--------------+----------------------------------------------------+
sent via | HyperCard IIgs Course | GSoft BASIC Course |
COG v3.0 | now in session | now in session |
(JBLAKENEY, 23090, GO COM A2)
TONY WORKS ON PROSEL Y2K COMPLIANCE ProSEL 16 updates will be available
""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" for download later this evening in
both full disk form and a single archive containing all the needed files
for both ProSEL 8 and 16.
ProSEL 16 documentation in AppleWorks format will be included.
Since ProSEL is public domain, there are no restrictions on these Year 2000
corrected versions. The only Y2K issue left is sorting by date, files from
2000 and up will come before files from 19XX. It does not look impossible
to revise ProSEL's utilities and find file to overcome this limitation, but
there are some other issues that need to be addresses first, to make those
viably distributable and maintain the features from the latest release,
ProSEL 16 8.84 Although I just thought of something, there is nothing
really wrong with just providing external EXE files and running them from
the shell, with a menu option. .. by george, I thing I got something. :)
Tony
(T_DIAZ, 23064, GO COM A2)
LOOKING AT THE II THROUGH ALTERNATIVE EYES The Maganvox model was also
"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" sold as the Commodore 1084 and
1084s (for stereo) monitor. I have one that I use with my //e and a
RamWorks III/Colorworks RGB option.
It also doubles as my TV for the room. :)
later.............Howard
(HKATZ, 23131, GO COM A2)
>>>>> I'm not sure about the Magnavox models but I will mention that the
""""" Commodore 1084 works well with the IIgs. I have used both a 1084
and a 1084S (has stereo audio input and is what my main IIgs is using right
now) and I like the larger screen size of these monitors. Larger meaning
having a 13" viewable screen as opposed to the 11" viewable screen of the
standard IIgs RGB monitor.
Also, although I've never tried them, there are some other monitors that
should work. There is a version of the Commodore 1902 that supports analog
RGB, Tandy has an analog RGB monitor that I believe is model number CM-8.
Atari also has at least one model of analog RGB monitor but I'm not sure
what model it is.
There are probably other analog RGB monitors out there that work (the NEC
Multisync II comes to mind) but this at least gives you an idea of what to
look for.
Jeff Blakeney | Dean of the Apple II University in A2Pro |
--------------+----------------------------------------------------+
sent via | HyperCard IIgs Course | GSoft BASIC Course |
COG v3.0 | now in session | now in session |
(JBLAKENEY, 23142, GO COM A2)
>>>>> I also have the Magnavox monitor. Now that I have a SecondSight and
""""" VGA monitor, I use my Magnavox with an old VCR as a TV tuner. In
fact, I'm watching the evening news right now! :-)
The Magnavox model is 8CM515 and is the equivalent of the Commodore 1084.
Paul.
Paul Schultz
schultp@delphi.com
sent your way via Spectrum 2.2 and Crock O' Gold 3.0!
(SCHULTP, 23157, GO COM A2)
WHERE TO GET BULK INK FOR INKJET CARTRIDGE REFILLS Parker (or was it
"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" Schaefer??) made a
fountain pen ink called "Quink" that was perfect for the job (I say made
because they don't carry fountain pen ink at my local office supply stores
anymore so I don't know if it is still being sold). It was much 'blacker'
and far more 'permanent' than ink jet ink (way cheaper too, in case you
care ;o).
HTH,
Habanero
(HABANERO, 23196, GO COM A2)
>>>>> It's Parker. And I bought some about 6 months ago at Staples.
"""""
Paul.
Paul Schultz
schultp@delphi.com
sent your way via Spectrum 2.2 and Crock O' Gold 3.0!
(SCHULTP, 23218, GO COM A2)
>>>>> It is still being made by Parker, and is easily obtainable
""""" everywhere in the UK. It is excellent for use in refilling ink-jet
cartridges, though be careful not to include any of the sediment from the
bottom of the bottle.
The biggest problem I usually have is getting black, as all they seem to
have in stock when I look is blue!
Ewen Wannop - Speccie - Thu 13 May 1999 - 69 days till KFest '99
Delivered without using a IIgs by Spectrum 2.2 & Crock O' Gold 3.0
Bernie ][ the Rescue 2.0 woofing at 55Mhz on a G3/350
http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/ewannop/
(EWANNOP, 23207, GO COM A2)
>>>>> Computer Friends, www.cfriends.com, sells bulk ink. Water-resistant
""""" black ink costs $10.50 for 2 ounces (60 cc), $49.45 for 16 ounces
(480 cc). An HP 51626A cartridge holds 40 cc. Waterproof ink costs a little
more, $12.50 for 2 oz., $52.95 for 16 oz.
I tried some Computer friends bulk in a few years ago; it worked fine. I've
been thinking of buying more. Other contact information:
Info: 503-626-2291
Orders: 888-741-3119
Fax: 503-643-5379
Email: cfi@cfriends.com
Bill Dooley
(WMD01, 23224, GO COM A2)
CAN I GET SOME !HELP! IN HERE? Seven Hills was the inspiration, but
"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" !Help! is not available from them other
than when included on various of the product disks. To get !Help! directly,
download it from my web site. See below...
Ewen Wannop - Speccie - Mon 17 May 1999 - 65 days till KFest '99
Delivered without using a IIgs by Spectrum 2.2 & Crock O' Gold 3.0
Bernie ][ the Rescue 2.0 woofing at 55Mhz on a G3/350
http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/ewannop/
(EWANNOP, 23279, GO COM A2)
A DELAY IN SIS SHIPMENT SIS 1.1 was announced as ready for release, but
""""""""""""""""""""""" unknown to Geoff or anyone else at that point,
Seven Hills changed the addresses of their web sites. The new addresses are
being re-coded into the scripts, and I understand it should be actually
shipped very soon now.
Ewen Wannop - Speccie - Fri 28 May 1999 - 54 days till KFest '99
Delivered without using a IIgs by Spectrum 2.2 & Crock O' Gold 3.0
Bernie ][ the Rescue 2.0 woofing at 55Mhz on a G3/350
http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/ewannop/
(EWANNOP, 23447, GO COM A2)
IF YOU REALLY MUST. . . You can use AOHell to connect to Delphi, not a
""""""""""""""""""""""" problem...
Provided the user is using AOLNet, (Check the setup, next to/near the phone
number dialed it should say "AOLNet", if not then they need to use an
AOLNet dialup, simply changing the selection from say, "Sprintnet" to
"AOLNet" will not work, the phone number has to be an AOLNet one.
With that, they can use the AOL Browser (yuck), run Netscape (better) or
use a telnet client (best). Telnet will get you text side access to Delphi,
and costs a measly $35/year plus the telecom software. ProTERM Mac is the
most recommended, you can get a fully functional 30 day demo from
http://www.intrec.com
Understand that the AOL Application must be open the entire time they are
connected to Delphi as this is the TCP/IP connection. So it's like having a
really large memory hogging version of FreePPP loaded. :)
Tony
(T_DIAZ, 23408, GO COM A2)
MOUSE FIRST AID You have a weakened spring in the microswitch of your
""""""""""""""" mouse. The cure is a new swtich or a new mouse.
My favorite mouse has been through at least three of these switches in the
past dozen years. Last time I bought some, I bought a half dozen, just to
have them on hand.
Assuming you can solder, and that they are still in business, you can get
the switches from....
Soft Solutions
907 River Rd #89
Eugene OR, 94704
541-302-4355
I think they have changed their name, but last I knew they were still at
that number. They also carry replacement mouse cables and other desirable
parts. Prices are reasonable, but they have a minimum order.
Gary R. Utter
(UTTER, 23458, GO COM A2)
>>>>> I replaced the microswitch in my original GS mouse with one I had
""""" 'left over' from my Air Force days. My Dremel came in very Handy
for fitting it, since it was not an exact match.
I have replaced the left switch in my TurboMouse a couple of times, getting
replacements from the right button of PC mice whose left button had died.
Since we don't have any useful electronics parts stores, cheap PC mice are
a fairly reasonable alternate source.
--
Carl Knoblock - Telephone Tech - Sun 30 May 99 10:00:55 pm
cknoblo@novia.net - Via Spectrum v2.2 & Crock O' Gold v3.0
KansasFest 11, July 21-25, 1999 - 52 days till KFest
Using Marinetti 2.0 - Thank you, Richard.
(CKNOBLO, 23480, GO COM A2)
>>>>> Hey, now there's a good tip to keep in mind for those times you see
""""" Intel style mousestuff in thrift stores or even for $4.99 with $5
rebate at CompUSA. . .
-
Ryan M. Suenaga, M.S.W., L.S.W. -- rsuenaga@apple2.org
Editor and Publisher, _The Lamp!_, published monthly on Delphi
Posted by PTMM v2.5 - The integrated information solution
(RSUENAGA, 23482, GO COM A2)
>>>>> Also, another 'kwik' fix sometimes is loosen the screws on the
""""" front of the mouse by a turn or two. That way the case separates a
little. Sometimes the button just rides too low after a while, particularly
if you keep a finger on it constantly. If this is the case, you can also
slip two thin washers in the case and tighten it again.
Tony
(T_DIAZ, 23489, GO COM A2)
>>>>> Also, I forgot the mention, a source for the mouse switches is also
""""" any dead (or working, I suppose..) 800K drive. There are two in the
front of the drive. If you remove the metal lever it is the same switch as
used on the mouse.
If you look at the mouse switch, it even has the mount for the metal lever.
Some mice have a little larger switch, but this one will work just the
same.
Tony
(T_DIAZ, 23490, GO COM A2)
RUMOR MILL
""""""""""
JUICED TO COVER NETWORKING? A dandy idea, indeed. In fact, we're
""""""""""""""""""""""""""" beginning work on a feature about just that
subject. Lots of new stuff is happening on this front, and Juiced.GS will
certainly attempt to stay on the leading edge of the info, just as we did
by having Geoff Weiss tell readers about his own personal Ethernet solution
in the latest issue.
It won't make the next issue, as that one is about to go into the
production phase. But I hope we can get something together later this year.
Max Jones
Juiced.GS
http://www.wbwip.com/juiced.gs
(JUICEDGS, 23202, GO COM A2)
IS THIS THE END FOR GENIE? I appreciate your efforts by starting an A2
"""""""""""""""""""""""""" topic in Genie's Mac RT, but there is
something seriously amiss here. If memory serves, it's been at least 3
weeks since I've managed to access A2. Before that, I have only been able
to access Genie intermittently for some months now.
I do not believe that this is such an insurmountable problem; there are
sinister motives afoot. I'll give them one more week, and then I guess I'll
have to cancel my membership also. I am starting to wonder if this is what
Genie wants?
Pat, if you have any info about the lockout, please let us know here! I am
not interested in setting up a Genie database for myself in the Mac RT for
the sake of a "temporary" topic. And I am loathe to cancel my Genie
membership, but I will not let them soak me if they have no intention of
re-opening A2 any time soon.
TomZ
(TOMZUSKI, 23128, GO COM A2)
>>>>> No need to suspect sinister motives when complete incompetence is
""""" both a good explanation and fits the known facts.
The Y2K bug will take Genie down the tubes on 1/1/00 anyway.
Gary R. Utter
(UTTER, 23137, GO COM A2)
>>>>> One of the Genie online games went down the same day. There may
""""" have been other RTs at the same time that no one noticed because
they were already effectively dead.
I believe A2 is now history on Genie. We knew it would happen sooner or
later. I don't believe there are sinister motives per se--it's possible,
but, the truth is that Genie has not managed to fix so much as one bug
that's cropped up in the last couple of years. This is because they have
-no- programmers or engineers on staff anymore who know anything about the
GEIS network. When stuff breaks, it stays broken. This has been true for
some time.
You haven't even been able to sign up for a new Genie account for a couple
of years. Why? Because a Y2K bug won't allow the system to accept credit
card expiration dates past 99. They've known that for a couple of years and
never, ever fixed it, even though it should be trivial to fix.
I am 99% certain at this point that Genie is being used as a tax writeoff,
and that's the only reason it still exists at all.
We pledged to everyone that we would go out of there with our heads high
and do our best to maintain the best possible support until the lights went
out. We knew they'd go out sooner or later.
It's been almost two weeks and they still haven't got anyone who can fix
it. I think it's toast.
---
Dean Esmay - http://www.syndicomm.com/thoughts.html
(ESMAY, 23148, GO COM A2)
IF YOU BUILD ETHERNET, THEY WILL COME You get it made, and I will be up
""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" front amongst the first hundred or
so people clamouring on your door for one. If you can get a working card
made, and get the software drivers written as well, you are on to a winner!
Ewen Wannop - Speccie - Mon 17 May 1999 - 65 days till KFest '99
Delivered without using a IIgs by Spectrum 2.2 & Crock O' Gold 3.0
Bernie ][ the Rescue 2.0 woofing at 55Mhz on a G3/350
http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/ewannop/
(EWANNOP, 23278, GO COM A2)
>>>>> You build one, and I'll write a driver for Marinetti for you.
"""""
Regards,
Richard
(RICHARD_B, 23282, GO COM A2)
>>>>> Put me among the interested in any case. I also know from another
""""" candidate for building up a IIGS ethernet card, who apparently and
unfortunately gave up because of software and timing problems . . .
Best regards, Ulrich
(UHAUSMANN, 23283, GO COM A2)
>>>>> Yes, I would buy one....maybe two or three.
"""""
Chris
(CVAVRUSKA, 23291, GO COM A2)
>>>>> If it's not outrageously expensive, I'd get several. Provided, of
""""" course, we get the proper software support in place.
-
Ryan M. Suenaga, M.S.W., L.S.W. -- rsuenaga@apple2.org
Editor and Publisher, _The Lamp!_, published monthly on Delphi
Posted by PTMM v2.5 - The integrated information solution
(RSUENAGA, 23293, GO COM A2)
>>>>> Another raised hand here!
"""""
-- Michael
(SAR, 23326, GO COM A2)
BUT BEFORE YOU BUILD IT, EXPLAIN WHAT IT IS In practical terms, a card
""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" that allows a computer to
attach to an ethernet network, not unlike how the IIgs's LocalTalk port
allows it to attach a LocalTalk network.
-
Ryan M. Suenaga, M.S.W., L.S.W. -- rsuenaga@apple2.org
Editor and Publisher, _The Lamp!_, published monthly on Delphi
Posted by PTMM v2.5 - The integrated information solution
(RSUENAGA, 23368, GO COM A2)
>>>>> Ethernet and the Internet are not the same thing. In fact they
""""" really have nothing to do with each other at all.
Ethernet is simply a local are networking protocol (LAN), just as AppleTalk
is one for Apple IIs, Apple IIgs and Macintosh.
Where you have an Ethernet network, such as the one we shall see at Avila
during KFest, you can link this to the Internet using bridges and routers.
Over an Ethernet network, you can pass many different kinds of data. For
instance, I use one between two Macintoshes to pass AppleTalk data. At
Avila. it would be used to pass TCP/IP data through the college router to
the Internet...
Ewen Wannop - Speccie - Sat 22 May 1999 - 60 days till KFest '99
Delivered without using a IIgs by Spectrum 2.2 & Crock O' Gold 3.0
Bernie ][ the Rescue 2.0 woofing at 55Mhz on a G3/350
http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/ewannop/
(EWANNOP, 23386, GO COM A2)
AND WHY YOU WANT IT For starters, it would allow transfer of data over a
""""""""""""""""""" network much faster than the existing LocalTalk port.
Additionally, it would provide compatibility with much more networking
hardware than is currently available.
-
Ryan M. Suenaga, M.S.W., L.S.W. -- rsuenaga@apple2.org
Editor and Publisher, _The Lamp!_, published monthly on Delphi
Posted by PTMM v2.5 - The integrated information solution
(RSUENAGA, 23380, GO COM A2)
>>>>> So I can link my real IIgs into my Macintoshes, and talk to them at
""""" a decent speed. Ethernet is faster than the slower AppleTalk. Of
course the actual speed of the IIgs bus may not be up to such lightning
transfer rates, but it would be fun trying!
Ewen Wannop - Speccie - Sat 22 May 1999 - 60 days till KFest '99
Delivered without using a IIgs by Spectrum 2.2 & Crock O' Gold 3.0
Bernie ][ the Rescue 2.0 woofing at 55Mhz on a G3/350
http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/ewannop/
(EWANNOP, 23387, GO COM A2)
PAUL PARKHURST SURFACES ON DELPHI First off... hello Delphites! I haven't
""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" actually posted here since I used to
get on using my IIGS through SprintNet back in... oh, geez, 1995 or 1996
was probably the last time :-) Now, I'm back on a PC using the web
interface.
Anyway, here's a message I just posted to csa2. Let me know what you think
:-)
--
Paul Parkhurst
Email: {<mailto:paulmp@usa.net> paulmp@usa.net}
=======
Hi everyone :-) It's been awhile (other than one little post I made a
couple of weeks ago) since I frequented csa2. In case anyone is wondering
what happened to me, I went over to "the Dark Side". I'm now a senior
software engineer working on the Windows platform. However, you'll be happy
to know I still have my IIGS set up and on my desk. I'll never get rid of
it!
Anyway... I was just wondering what sort of interest people might have in
me releasing ANSITerm and PMPFax for the GS again? Any thoughts? Yay? Nay?
Is there still a market for fax and terminal software? I haven't done
anything with them for a long time, and I doubt I'd be able to update or
enhance them, but if they're still of use to anyone, I wouldn't mind
releasing them again.
Also, one thing I never got around to doing is releasing the Translator
specs for PMPFax that allows you to create your own fax translators and
add-ins. They're basically a set of IPC calls (about 70 or so, if I
remember correctly) that you can use to communicate directly with PMPFax. I
could also release the actual source for the APF translator that I included
with the program just to get programmers started. I have C header files
with macro definitions for all of them that allow you to use these calls
just like C functions.
Anyway, I'm just kicking the idea around. Let me know what you think!
A][ Infinitum :-)
(PPARKHURST, 23236, GO COM A2)
>>>>> Ship that puppy! :)
"""""
And my offer to lend a hand fixing any known problems stands. :)
---
Eric (Sheppy) Shepherd
sheppy@sheppyware.net
http://www.sheppyware.net
(SHEPPY, 23264, GO COM A2)
>>>>> I entered the Apple IIGS community as a magazine publisher
""""" (Juiced.GS) in 1995-96, right about the time you were easing out,
but I've always heard good things about you from folks such as Ryan, Cindy,
Kellers and other assorted Apple II characters. :-) It would be great to
have you and your products back in circulation, even in a limited way.
I do believe your fax and terminal products would be of interest to the
remaining Apple II users. There aren't as many of us as there was,
obviously, but we do continue to greet new folks who have obtained IIGSes
second hand and are interested in powering up their units and getting all
they can out of their computer.
I would encourage you to re-release both PMPFax and AnsiTERM. The interest
the products generate would probably be directly linked to the price you
set on them. What sort of prices did you have in mind?
I know we at Juiced.GS would be thrilled to see any and all PMP products
back on the IIGS market, and would be more than willing to write about them
and help users get the most they can from them. I would also be happy to
assist in distribution, if you decide you'd like to have help on that
front.
It was great to see your post here. Welcome back .... :-)
Max Jones
Juiced.GS
http://www.wbwip.com/juiced.gs
(JUICEDGS, 23242, GO COM A2)
>>>>> Hi Paul! Good to see you made it here, even if you're using that
""""" dastardly other computer. :)
People ask all the time about what telecom software is available for the
Apple II. I always like to push ANSITerm in addition to ProTERM and
Spectrum, but ANSITerm hasn't been available for a while so it's hard to
recommend it unless someone is selling a used copy. I think it would be
great if you put it back on the market. Same goes for PMPFax.
------------------------------------------------------------------
Tony Ward, A2 Database Manager - Sun May 16, 1999 4:15:22 am
[Delivered with Spectrum v2.2 and Crock O' Gold v3.1b21]
--
(TONYW1, 23265, GO COM A2)
>>>>> Welcome back to Delphi!
"""""
I think it would be marvelous if you were to find a way to offer both
ANSITerm and PMPFax for sale again. I for one continue to find great
enjoyment with ANSITerm, and take great pleasure working with the scripting
language.
I also have PMPFax - better success sending than receiving, although I have
only the very occasional need to use Fax capabilities. Perhaps now that I
have a more capable 'GS', I will find the time to put into really learning
how it works.
Thanks for two great products!
Don V. Zahniser (IronTooth)
Woofed to you by OLRight! scripts for ANSITerm via Bernie ][ the Rescue!
(DZAHNISER, 23274, GO COM A2)
PUBLIC POSTINGS
"""""""""""""""
THE SWEET SMELL OF SUCCESS Sweet16, the premier Apple IIgs emulator for
"""""""""""""""""""""""""" BeOS, is about to be updated to version 0.9.3,
the next step toward the elusive goal of version 1.0! :)
This will be the first Sweet16 release to be delivered by Eric "Sheppy"
Shepherd after he took over development of the product under license from
F.E. Systems.
You can get some preliminary information about the upcoming release at
{<http://www.sheppyware.net/software/sweet16_be/>
http://www.sheppyware.net/software/sweet16_be/.}
---
Eric (Sheppy) Shepherd
sheppy@sheppyware.net
http://www.sheppyware.net
(SHEPPY, 22974, GO COM A2)
MORE ON JOINING TEAM SHEPPYWARE More on the RC5 contest offer:
"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""
The URL to see Team SheppyWare's stats (and to join the team) is actually
{<http://rc5stats.distributed.net/rc5-64/tmsummary.php3?team=4034>
http://rc5stats.distributed.net/rc5-64/tmsummary.php3?team=4034.} It
changed recently. Sorry for the misdirection.
---
Eric (Sheppy) Shepherd
sheppy@sheppyware.net
http://www.sheppyware.net
(SHEPPY, 22985, GO COM A2)
ANOTHER RE-RELEASED PIECE OF QUALITY SOFTWARE First Aid with Reddy is
""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" also now Freeware, released
by Scantron Quality Computers.
Later.............Howard
(HKATZ, 23134, GO COM A2)
JUICED.GS FOR THE UNINITIATED Juiced.GS is indeed a current product that
""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" concentrates specifically on the IIGS. As
Sheppy already noted, it is a quarterly, printed publication in magazine
format that offers a variety of information from a diverse group of
knowledgeable writers. I think you would find it both interesting and
entertaining.
Each issue offers at least 20 pages (most have 24), and contains a cover
story on a hot topic. We cover software, hardware, programming,
telecommunications, desktop publishing, emulation, shareware, and general
Apple II news. If something important is going on in the Apple II
community, you'll read about it here.
Juiced.GS is in its fourth year of publication, and all back issues are
still available. The first issue of the year was published in March. The
second issue is in production now and will be mailed in mid-June.
You can read more about our magazine at the Juiced.GS Web site:
http://www.wbwip.com/juiced.gs
You will even find some sample articles and columns at the Web site, in
addition to a complete back-issue index and subscription information.
An 1999 subscription is $14 in the U.S., Canada or Mexico, $20 elsewhere in
the world. Back issue packages for 1998, 1997 and 1996 are available for
$14 each. I can accept checks or money orders in U.S. funds. (I do not have
credit card capabilities. Sorry ...)
I would like to send you a sample issue from last year if you're
interested. As it happens, the sample issue is Fall '98 (Volume 3, Issue 4)
and comes with a floppy disk (courtesy of Byteworks and Juiced.GS)
containing the free version of GSoft BASIC, the newest Apple IIGS
programming language.
Send me your postal address via e-mail to juicedgs@delphi.com, and I'll get
your sample issue in the mail pronto. :-) This offer applies to anyone else
who visits the Delphi A2 Forums and sends me an e-mail request.
Good luck with your new IIGS! You're going to have a great time with this
fabulous computer.
Max Jones
Juiced.GS
http://www.wbwip.com/juiced.gs
(JUICEDGS, 23241, GO COM A2)
COG 3.1 KILLS BUGS DEAD I have now released Crock O' Gold 3.1. You can
""""""""""""""""""""""" download it from my home pages, or as the archive
is 376K, you can get it on disk from JuicedGS or ShareWare Solutions II.
Home pages: <http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/ewannop/>
It will be available from the Delphi library in a few days time, when Tony
Ward has got it uploaded and released.
The archive includes both an Installer for those migrating from COG 2.x,
and an Updater for those updating from COG 3.0.
There are various bug fixes and new features:
- An optional Auto-Spell check option has been added since v3.0. This is
only active if you have NiftySpell installed.
- An obscure bug in posting mail and messages has been fixed.
- Uploading of mail messages larger than 5120 characters is now made
through the User workspace. This speeds up transfers and reduces errors
with attached files.
- Uploading of files to the Forum databases is also handled through the
User workspace.
- Any 'Dot' commands introduced while composing messages will be notified.
- Selecting 'OA-G' while already online will now check your Mailbox.
- Uploading messages which included bullets, could cause the script set to
crash. This has been fixed.
- The position flag was not always being set correctly if you let your
message files grow in the InBox.
- Improved handling when starting Crock O' Gold when already connected to
Delphi.
- An obscure problem of missing fields when replying to mail messages has
been fixed.
- Various Installer bugs have also been fixed.
Ewen Wannop - Speccie - Sat 22 May 1999 - 60 days till KFest '99
Delivered without using a IIgs by Spectrum 2.2 & Crock O' Gold 3.0
Bernie ][ the Rescue 2.0 woofing at 55Mhz on a G3/350
http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/ewannop/
(EWANNOP, 23388, GO COM A2)
CARRY ON MY WAYWARD SON MECI is currently selling IBM PS/2 mod 25
""""""""""""""""""""""" carrying cases for $19.95 US. These fit an Apple
IIGS w/ RGB monitor perfectly. I have had one of these for years and it
works great!
The part# is 220-6422
MECI
340 E. First St.
Dayton, OH 45402 USA
http://www.meci.com
meci@meci.com
1-800-344-4465 for orders (North America only, I think)
1-800-344-6324 24hr fax order line
K-Fester's, an easy way to take your IIGS with you
(HABANERO, 23337, GO COM A2)
BEST OF THE BEST
""""""""""""""""
23375 21-MAY 16:20 User Groups & Publications
Shareware Solutions II (Re: Msg 442)
From: JOE_KOHN To: ALL
Pardon me as I reminisce, but it was exactly 12 years ago today that I got
the telephone call that changed my life.
A few months before, I'd been hired by The Source online network to set up
and administer their Apple II forums, and for most of that Spring of 1987,
I'd been working behind the scenes, setting up the message base and
uploading files to the library.
On May 21, 1987, my contact person at The Source called to tell me that
they'd just flipped the switch, and my revamped Applesig was opened to the
public for the first time.
So, today is a very significant day for me, as it marks 12 years since I
started working full-time with my Apple II.
After that brief stroll down memory lane, now returning you to 1999 ;-)
Joe Kohn
http://www.concentric.net/~joko
[EOA]
[A2P]------------------------------
A2Pro_DUCTIVITY |
-----------------------------------
Checking out A2PRO on Delphi
""""""""""""""""""""""""""""
by Ryan M. Suenaga, B.A., M.S.W., L.S.W.
[thelamp@sheppyware.net]
MORE ON THE FST PROJECT PROPOSAL Another easier and more reasonable thing
"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" to do than try to write an FST would be
to write an HFS repair utility for the IIgs; the HFS format is documented,
you just need to write the code.
---
Eric (Sheppy) Shepherd
sheppy@sheppyware.net
http://www.sheppyware.net
(SHEPPY, 2604, GO COM A2PRO)
>>>>> The HFS FST may be a tad slow, but it is workable, and as long as
""""" the patch has been applied, seems not to cause too many problems on
either side of the divide.
I think Sheppy has a good point here, a repair utility for HFS would answer
many of the criticisms of those who do not have access to a Mac to do the
job for them...
Ewen Wannop - Speccie - Sat 1 May 1999 - 81 days till KFest '99
Delivered without using a IIgs by Spectrum 2.2 & Crock O' Gold 3.0
Bernie ][ the Rescue 2.0 woofing at 55Mhz on a G3/350
http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/ewannop/
(EWANNOP, 2605, GO COM A2PRO)
>>>>> And source code for an HFS repair utility is freely available.
""""" Check out Apple's public release of Darwin for a HFS fsck utility.
It will take a bit of work to port that code to the IIgs since it assumes
32 bit ints and freely uses 64 bit ints. But, it also repairs HFS+ file
systems.
IMO, the first logical step for the entire FST project is to patch the
existing HFS FST to make it more stable. I'm sure there is just a B+ tree
logic problem. I've seen HFS floppy disks get corrupted so there is some
order of adding and removing data to the B+ trees that is buggy.
Geoff
(SISGEOFF, 2607, GO COM A2PRO)
<<<<< I agree. Finding and fixing the problem in the HFS FST should be
""""" relatively easy (especially compared to writing a new FST). In
addition, it'd probably be easier to patch the existing HFS FST to be
faster than it would be to write a new FST, as well.
And again, there's public source for an HFS repair utility, so that should
be a priority -- port it to the IIgs.
---
Eric (Sheppy) Shepherd
sheppy@sheppyware.net
http://www.sheppyware.net
(SHEPPY, 2608, GO COM A2PRO)
>>>>> I agree with Sheppy, in that people are underestimating the
""""" difficulty involved with writing an FST. I'm not saying it cannot
be done, just that it is not going to be a simple as you think. It is not
officially documented, for a reason.
However, this project needs to get its raison detre straight. It is to:
UPGRADE THE PRODOS FILING SYSTEM BEYOND THE INHERENT 16 BIT RESTRICTIONS ON
BLOCK SIZES.
To do this, the first step MUST be somebody publishing a paper on how to
physically contain (assuming) 32 bit block numbers within the ProDOS filing
system. Anything else (such as disassembling an FST) and you're kidding
yourself.
IF (and I say IF) a way to update the ProDOS filing system is found, you
then need to decide whether the restrictions of the changes are worth the
effort. For example, it may be that the two versions are completely
incompatible. Is this really worth it when other filing systems already
support 32 bit?
Once a decision to proceed is made, and you have the changes required, only
THEN can you decide how to implement it, whether it be through a new FST,
patches to the current FST or support in ProDOS 8.
Until these initial steps are taken, the project cannot be taken seriously.
(IMNSHO) ;-)
Regards,
Richard
(RICHARD_B, 2606, GO COM A2PRO)
>>>>> "UPGRADE THE PRODOS FILING SYSTEM BEYOND THE INHERENT 16 BIT
""""" RESTRICTIONS ON BLOCK SIZES."
You can ask for this all you want, but I don't think it will never happen.
In fact, I hope it never happens. The same is true for extending the length
of file names or allowing other characters in file names. You really have
to recognize the inherent limits in the OS itself.
The ProDOS file system only allows room for two bytes for block numbers.
That limits you to 65536 blocks per file. Any attempt to increase the
number of blocks would break every application ever written that
manipulates the file system. That does NOT just mean disk optimizers, it
also includes every 8 bit application and most 16 bit applications that can
list the files on the disk, including, but not limited to, Apple's ProDOS
utilities, Mac OS, BASIC.System and ORCA/M.
The same is true for extending the length of a file name.
Many programs would work if you changed the characters allowed in a file
name, especially programs written for Apple IIGS System 4 or later, but
many would break. Frankly, since there is an HFS FST, I'd recommend not
allowing any file names with characters other than those allowed now. In my
opinion, the benefit would be swamped by the confusion and the number of
programs that would not handle the new characters.
It is possible to extend the maximum length of files using ProDOS without
changing the number of blocks that can appear in a file. ProDOS and GS/OS
both flatly state that you can change the size of each block to something
other than 512 bytes per block. Any correctly written program should allow
for this possibility and function correctly if you increase the block size
to, say, 1K to support a 64M drive. This is the same method that HFS used
to support larger volumes. I also know that Apple experimented with changes
to the block size and directory header at one point, making changes that
any correctly written program should support (i.e. one that followed all of
the published rules). They never released the changes because so few
programs--even their own--worked when the changes were installed. In fact,
one of their engineers commented that ORCA/M was one of the very few
programs that could still catalog a disk. :)
Finally, keep in mind that very, very few programs can be changed at this
point, even if you have an unlimited supply of competent programmer time,
which you don't. A lot of the source code simply will not be available.
For all of these reasons, I strongly believe that any attempt to mess with
the maximum size of a file, length of a file name, or the characters
allowed in a file name under ProDOS is a really, really bad idea.
In my opinion, if, by some miracle, you get the source code to System 6.0.1
released, a far better idea would be to concentrate solely on fixing bugs,
especially in the ProDOS and HFS FSTs. Beyond that, making the PC DOS FST
read/write would be very useful.
Mike Westerfield
(BYTEWORKS, 2614, GO COM A2PRO)
>>>>> Absolutely! This is one case where I'd love to be put out of
""""" business!
[Side bar: For years I have seen references to the MSDOS Utilities as "a
port of the MTools package". I had no idea what that meant,
except that I knew my code was written entirely by me (except
for some help with the Win 95 filename checksums). I just
discovered a few days ago that MTools is a package of Unix
commands which bear an uncanny resemblance to my MSDOS
Utilities in both syntax and architecture! Talk about parallel
evolution! (Hmmm, I wonder if the port was the other way...)
;-) ]
Anyway, here is an interesting thinking point about all this FST
disassembly discussion. It's actually not (too!) hard to disassemble an
FST. The problem is _understanding_ it, particularly given all the
undocumented internal calls to the $01/FCxx entry points. Even with the
pre-release documentation (which has many more calls than the final
manuals), there are still many calls whose function is unknown. And the
purpose of many of the "pre-release" calls is not clear either, even if
they do at least have a name.
So it starts to look like it might be necessary to disassemble GS/OS proper
to find out what the calls do. And that's a task not to be undertaken
lightly!
Getting the source to GS/OS? Six months ago it would have been a laughable
suggestion. Today though, maybe there's a chink that we can exploit. I
suspect that at least part of the problem will be that nobody will want to
release the code while it's still in use by non-"hobbyists" (schools, etc).
Especially since if the code is like any I've seen in many places, it will
probably consist mostly of well engineered bits, but with some absolute
"hacks" that they hope will never see the light of day. Still, it has to be
worth a try!
--
Peter Watson
-- Write to MSDOS disks on the Apple IIgs?
-- Impossible! ;-)
(PETERWATSON, 2619, GO COM A2PRO)
>>>>> FWIW, the original premise in this thread was to use the
""""" disassembled ProDOS FST as a framework for developing an FST which
overcomes the limitations of the ProDOS FST. This new FST would NOT be a
replacement for ProDOS but a new FST which is incompatible with ProDOS.
Paul.
Paul Schultz
schultp@delphi.com
sent your way via Spectrum 2.2 and Crock O' Gold 3.0!
(SCHULTP, 2622, GO COM A2PRO)
>>>>> I did miss that distinction. But isn't that essentially what HFS
""""" does? Why reinvent the wheel?
Mike Westerfield
(BYTEWORKS, 2625, GO COM A2PRO)
<<<<< People are dissatisfied with the HFS FST for three key reasons:
"""""
1. It's slow.
2. It has bugs and tends to corrupt data, even with the HFS patch
installed.
3. There are no IIgs utilities to repair HFS disks.
These are all valid points. #2 can probably be fixed through research and
carefully-applied patches. The slowness is a fairly serious problem,
though.
#3 is relatively easy to fix. HFS is documented, and public source
utilities to read and verify HFS disks do exist.
I would point out one other problem with HFS -- you can't boot it.
A custom FST, with a carefully rewritten ProDOS loader file and Start.GSOS
file, could be made bootable.
---
Eric (Sheppy) Shepherd
sheppy@sheppyware.net
http://www.sheppyware.net
(SHEPPY, 2626, GO COM A2PRO)
>>>>> Because just using the HFS FST doesn't get us any closer to fixing
""""" the bugs in the HFS FST or speeding it up. Nor does it get us any
closer to making the MS-DOS FST read/write or allow it to access long
filenames or FAT32 partitions. Nor does it get us any closer to creating
new FSTs to support NTFS, unix or other machine's file systems.
I'm sure there are other benefits as well but I think this is enough for
now. :)
Jeff Blakeney | Dean of the Apple II University in A2Pro |
--------------+----------------------------------------------------+
sent via | HyperCard IIgs Course | GSoft BASIC Course |
COG v3.0 | now in session | now in session |
(JBLAKENEY, 2628, GO COM A2PRO)
>>>>> So what? And the same comment goes for Sheppy's remarks. You're all
""""" still missing the point.
Yes, the HFS FST has some problems. Big deal. A "new" ProDOS FST has even
bigger problems, namely that it doesn't exist at all. That ignores the fact
that a number of applications probably will break under it, and you won't
be able to move files back and forth to the Mac.
Fixing the HFS FST seems easier and makes a lot more sense to me than
inventing a new one. I have not seen any convincing argument that a new
ProDOS FST that has HFS capabilities would be better than HFS in any
possible way. Every disadvantage cited for HFS would apply to the new
ProDOS FST, too. Top that off with the many problems with a new ProDOS FST
in terms of support from existing applications that a fixed HFS FST does
not have, and I still have to ask why anyone would consider creating a new
FST at this point rather than fixing the one we have.
Mike Westerfield
(BYTEWORKS, 2631, GO COM A2PRO)
>>>>> That last post sounded a lot more negative than I intended. I do
""""" truly wonder why anyone would create a new ProDOS-like FST rather
than fixing the HFS FST. At the same time, I'm asking the questions I do to
understand where others are coming from, not to slam any effort that
eventually gets under way. Ultimately, if there are people who want to
write the new FST, that's really all the reason that's needed.
I sure hope the HFS FST gets fixed first, though. :)
Mike Westerfield
(BYTEWORKS, 2632, GO COM A2PRO)
>>>>> Hmm... I replied a few days ago to this thread, but the post never
""""" appeared.
I just wanted to clarify my comments from last week. I said that this
project would not progress properly until its aims were clearly defined
(which they have still yet to be). I also said that anything involving
updating the ProDOS filing system would require analysis of ProDOS before
any disassembly work can even be considered.
I still think this is the case.
To address a few of Jeff's more recent points:
"what we are proposing at present is just a fix for the ProDOS FST."
A fix? Updating ProDOS to support larger volumes is not a fix, it is a
major update. Like VERY major.
"Ultimately, if there are people who want to write the new FST, that's
really all the reason that's needed."
"Yup and no ill-wishers are going to stop us. :)"
Then why not make the aim of the project to disassemble FSTs as a fun
project, instead of disguising it as something useful such as updating a
filing system. If a team was put together to update ProDOS, then 90% of the
time would be spent arguing over who would do the disassembly of the FST.
So why not just do that instead?
On a final note, I want to say that I have no interest in updating ProDOS,
and think the project will fail, and perhaps never even get off the ground.
I was posting possible solutions to at least help out. That doesn't mean I
necessarily agreed with it though.
However, I would have an interest in reading an HFS FST disassembly, just
our of interest. :-)
Hmmm... I don't know why I'm so negative this week. Sorry.
Regards,
Richard
(RICHARD_B, 2635, GO COM A2PRO)
>>>>> From considerable experience in using HFS drives on both a real
""""" IIgs and sharing them with a Mac under GUS/Bernie, I think the
problems of the standard patched HFS FST are minor.
It might be possible to speed up the HFS FST by some careful recoding, but
I suspect that it is just the overhead of more things it has to do that is
slowing it down. A new ProDOS FST would have more things to do, so it too
would probably turn out slower.
Using an accelerated IIgs, I never saw any real speed hit using HFS, expect
perhaps when writing floppies. To a hard drive, it is only a little slower.
The real problem with the HFS FST is that it does tend to build a
collection of 'Missing file records' on an HFS volume. This does not seem
to cause problems on the IIgs side, or the Mac side, and can easily be
fixed by running 'Disk First Aid' on the Mac. What we really need is a
patch to the FST to resolve that, or a utility that can fix the threads
from the IIgs side. A utility to do some basic 'Disk First Aid' work from
the IIgs side would probably be the easiest thing to write.
I agree with Richard, if you change the ProDOS FST, it is no longer ProDOS,
and almost every P8 program I have written, would probably no longer work.
All those utilities such as ProSel would cease to be of use as well, so you
would be looking not only at writing a new FST, but a host of utilities to
go with it!
Let's be realistic here. Who would write any updated FST? I can't see any
of those capable of doing it thinking it is a good idea, and so offering to
write one. So let's just be sensible about this, and resolve the one known
problem of the existing HFS FST that shows up in daily use. Either that, or
write a utility to do what 'Disk First Aid' does on the Mac...
Ewen Wannop - Speccie - Tue 11 May 1999 - 71 days till KFest '99
Delivered without using a IIgs by Spectrum 2.2 & Crock O' Gold 3.0
Bernie ][ the Rescue 2.0 woofing at 55Mhz on a G3/350
http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/ewannop/
(EWANNOP, 2636, GO COM A2PRO)
>>>>> IMO, it should only take a week to fix the existing HFS problems
""""" (say 4-5 hours average per day for seven days). One doesn't have to
know how the FST works in whole to make it work. I'm sure there is just
something wrong with the B+ tree logic with writing.
steps
-----
3 days (12-15 hours) to find a set of repeatable steps which corrupt files
and directories on a floppy
3 days (12-15 hours) to use NiftyList, GSBug, etc. to walk through the HFS
FST code to see what is getting scrambled when the file/directories get
corrupted
1 day (4-5 hours) to write a patch
Pre-reqs
--------
* knowledgeable about B+ trees
* knowledgeable about HFS file and directory structures
* knowledgeable to use IIgs debugging tools
- There is plenty of freely information on the Internet for the first two
areas--shouldn't take more than a week to learn what is needed
- The latter is sort of assumed if someone takes on this project
I see this much easier and much faster than to disassemble and fully
comment existing FST structures. I know Brutal Deluxe has done a lot of
work on this already. Engineering a new file system will definitely take
more than two weeks. This is why I think fixing HFS would be an easier
project and provide a higher level of satisfaction.
I don't want to discourage anybody from wanting to create a new file system
or from disassembling code for the fun of it. I just question the priority
and pressing needs.
Using a IIgs emulator, it is very convenient having 32 meg ProDOS hard disk
images. Backups take 20 seconds to copy the image to another partition.
These images take almost no space on 4 gig or higher drives. If the future
of the IIgs is by use through an emulator, I see no need for a new FST.
Geoff
(SISGEOFF, 2637, GO COM A2PRO)
>>>>> Wow. And I thought _I_ was optimistic about programming project
""""" times! :)
Mike Westerfield
(BYTEWORKS, 2644, GO COM A2PRO)
HOW DO I DO RANDOM NUMBERS IN 8-BIT ASSEMBLY? If you're using ORCA/M,
""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" just use the built-in macro
library. The random number generator uses a very long sequence, but does
not use slow math routines to generate the numbers. It's been thoroughly
tested over the years, too, including by a competitor who was a math
professor at Princeton at the time. :) I'm not aware of anything on the
Apple II that comes close to generating the same quality of random numbers,
and certainly not with as long a bit pattern.
The ORCA/M random number generator is available on both the 8 and 16 bit
sides. Source code is available on both sides, too.
Mike Westerfield
(BYTEWORKS, 2630, GO COM A2PRO)
C PROBLEMS WITH STRNCPY I'm having a problem using strncpy...well, I'm
""""""""""""""""""""""" not sure if it's me or splat that is wrong.
here is what I am doing:
typedef struct abc {
char *data
word moredata;
} abc;
main ()
{
abc new;
char mystuff[20];
new = (abc *) malloc(sizeof(abc));
new->data = (char *) malloc (21*sizeof(char));
/* do something to populate mystuff */
new->data[0] = 20; /* size of the string */
strncpy(&new->data[1], mystuff, 20);
}
Provided that my memory is correct (I'm not in front of the GS at the
moment), am I address receiving field correctly? It looks as though through
splat that it is changing the address of that new->data points to.
I plan on pulling out ORCA debugger tonight to see if it shows something
different.
Any help would be appreciated.
Chris
(CVAVRUSKA, 2656, GO COM A2PRO)
>>>>> Believe it or not, I've found that parentheses can help here. Try
""""" this:
strncpy(&(new->data[1]), mystuff, 20);
I had this problem in gsAIM, and adding the parens around (new->data[1])
eliminated the problem in my case.
---
Eric (Sheppy) Shepherd
sheppy@sheppyware.net
http://www.sheppyware.net
(SHEPPY, 2657, GO COM A2PRO)
>>>>> I saw Sheppy answered already, but you might want to adjust the
""""" optimization flags and see if that helps. I don't know enough about
Orca/C to say which flags are better/worse for optimizations.
Geoff
(SISGEOFF, 2660, GO COM A2PRO)
>>>>> If I'm not mistaken (happened before ;), according to rules of
""""" precedence and associativity, -> binds tighter than & so therefore:
&new->data[1] should be exactly the same as &(new->data[1])
if it isn't, perhaps a bug report should be filed?
-> has precedence 17, is postfix and associates left
& has precedence 15, is unary and associates right
therefore, -> binds tighter than &.
habanero
(HABANERO, 2665, GO COM A2PRO)
>>>>> I have some questions and some comments about your code snippet:
"""""
> typedef struct abc {
> char *data
> word moredata;
> } abc;
>
> main ()
Although it doesn't apply to ORCA/C (unless Byte Works updates it) when the
new ANSI standard (C9X) is published later this year (or early next year)
implicit return of int from functions will not be allowed. i.e. declaring
main () will break your code in new ANSI compilers. If you are planning on
using any new compilers starting soon, declaring int main(void) will be a
good habit to develop right now (for main without args). Implicit return of
int is a throwback to K&R C of which ANSI is disposing.
> {
> abc new;
> char mystuff[20];
>
> new = (abc *) malloc(sizeof(abc));
Has 'new' been declared as a pointer? Perhaps you meant to declare abc
*new; ??
Btw, if you #include <stdlib.h> the cast is unnecessary in ANSI compilers.
malloc is prototyped as void *malloc(size_t size) since a generic (i.e.
void *) pointer is declared it will assume the correct type during the
assignment. i.e.
abc *new;
new = malloc(sizeof(abc));
is all that is necessary. In fact, I have heard that the cast can actually
mask certain kinds of errors, warnings for not #include'ing stdlib.h is one
that comes to mind. I know all the books show to cast the call to malloc
but this all stems from the book "The C programming Language" by K&R of
which both versions were published prior to the ANSI standard. K&R C does
not know of void * which is why the cast is necessary, otherwise the
implicit int will be returned.
> new->data = (char *) malloc (21*sizeof(char));
Once again, the cast isn't necessary, additionally sizeof(char) is
guaranteed to be 1 on every C compiler on every platform (this is a feature
of the C language). Multiplying by sizeof(char) is simply multiplying by 1.
new->data = malloc(21); will do exactly the same thing (on any ANSI
compliant compiler), give you 21 bytes of storage. One other quick note,
the call to malloc should be checked to ensure you actually received some
memory, it will return NULL if there was an error.
> /* do something to populate mystuff */
>
> new->data[0] = 20; /* size of the string */
> strncpy(&new->data[1], mystuff, 20);
strncpy is declared in string.h as
char *strncpy(char *dest, const char *src, size_t n);
Is 'new' a pointer to 'struct abc' or is it declared as 'struct abc'??
Is it possible the call to malloc or the & is giving you address problems??
Just random musings, feel free to disregard ;o)
habanero
(HABANERO, 2666, GO COM A2PRO)
>>>>> if stdlib.h isn't #included, ORCA/C will assume that malloc takes
""""" an integer (it takes a long), which would cause crashing. There's
no reason NOT to take advantage of ORCA/C's ANSI features (ie #pragma lint
-1). A few extra minutes compiling beats a few extra hours debugging :)
string.h should also be #included.
(KWS, 2667, GO COM A2PRO)
>>>>> "if stdlib.h isn't #included, ORCA/C will assume that malloc takes
""""" an integer (it takes a long), which would cause crashing."
Right, ANSI compliant compilers (for now) return int implicitly to
functions without a prototype. I believe that the small overhead of
#including stdlib.h anytime malloc is used in a program is well worth the
extra readability and portability one gets (and don't forget you
automatically get the rest of the functions in stdlib.h for free :o)
Casting, imo, should ONLY be used when it is NECESSARY. I have heard
arguments in favor of the non-standard malloc.h that some implementations
have also, but it is my belief that if malloc.h is there, then there
probably is an implementation specific call to a memory manager that will
work much better than any call to malloc. If you are going to purposely
render your code non-portable, you might as well take full advantage of the
implementation :o).
If casting is required (gosh, I hope not :o) in ORCA/C with stdlib.h
#included, then the compiler is broken, or not ANSI. If it isn't required,
then there is little reason not to #include <stdlib.h> (imo, ymmv ;o)
"There's no reason NOT to take advantage of ORCA/C's ANSI features (ie
#pragma lint -1). A few extra minutes compiling beats a few extra hours
debugging :)"
100% agreement here :o)
"string.h should also be #included."
Yes, Chris' code snippet didn't show it, but I assume he has it in his
actual code. If not, his troubles have just begun :o)
Regards,
habanero
(HABANERO, 2668, GO COM A2PRO)
<<<<< This wasn't the actual code, so there may have been a typo or two.
""""" I did have the new declared as a *new (this was one of those
typos). anyway, something funky is happening in orca C that is screwing up
the pointers. I need to figure out what the heck is happening here. I think
I am going to have to rewrite the code that is having the problem and bring
it down to the basics and work from there. Logically it looks right.
Thanks,
Chris
(CVAVRUSKA, 2669, GO COM A2PRO)
>>>>> Well, before you rewrite the code let me make sure another of your
""""" constructs wasn't a typo. (I am simplifying what I think your code
says, correct me if I make an error).
#include <stdlib.h>
#include <string.h>
int main(void);
{
abc *new; /* declare new a pointer to abc type */
char mystuff[20]; /* and mystuff a 20 member character array */
new = malloc(sizeof(abc); /* let new point to something */
new->data = malloc(21); /* let data, a char buffer, point somewhere */
new->data[0] = 20; /* assign int value 20 to first byte of char buffer */
/* and let the assignment do the conversion */
strncpy(&new->data[1], mystuff, 20);
So if the above is correct, without a typo, then I think you are confused.
try strncpy((new->data) + 1, mystuff, 20) without the 'address of'
operator.
you don't want the address of new->data so you don't need the &
what you want (I think, and I am no expert) is some pointer arithmetic to
start copying into your offset from new->data
If it is a typo, then perhaps you could post some of your actual code and
explain what is doing, as opposed to what you want it to do.
Regards,
habanero
ps I don't guarantee any of the above to be correct, but hey, I'm trying
:o)
(HABANERO, 2670, GO COM A2PRO)
>>>>> Oops, after I posted I noticed two of my own typos
"""""
forget the semi-colon after int main(void)
and add a ) to new = malloc(sizeof(abc)
habanero
(HABANERO, 2671, GO COM A2PRO)
[EOA]
[WWW]------------------------------
THE WAY WE WERE |
-----------------------------------
User Group Reprints
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
by Tee Cashmore
[teec@execulink.com]
The Best Of Both Worlds
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
One of the unsung heroes of the Apple II world has to be Applied
Engineering's "PC Transporter". Simply put, it is an "IBM" XT Turbo on a
card that fits in an Apple ][+, //e, or IIgs slot and acts like an IBM with
640K. If you want to read genuine IBM disks (360K 5.25" or 720K 3.5", not
high density) you will also need a "TransDrive", which has the space to add
a 3.5" drive above the 5.25", or an Apple 3.5" drive, which can read both
IBM and Prodos formats. You also get 768K of memory to use with
_Appleworks_ and other ProDOS programs that use Apple's Memory Expansion
Protocol. As with many peripherals, a hard drive helps a lot and it
doesn't matter if you can't partition the drive, as the system works under
a ProDOS file anyway. It also requires MS DOS 3.1 or higher-- MS DOS 5.0
seems to work like a charm. With a ][+ it requires an IBM style extended
keyboard, also recommended for a //e, but a IIgs keyboard is fine.
One very interesting and useful piece of included software enables you
to transfer files from MS DOS to ProDOS and vice versa, enabling one to
work on _WordPerfect_ files on _Appleworks_ and then save them in a manner
that can be read on an IBM at the office. This system is somewhat easier
than _CrossWorks_, as you don't have to connect 2 machines to modems or
cables to transpose data.
I recently had the frustrating experience of attempting to import a
database file with 1300 records from one IBM program to another. After
spending 22 hours trying unsuccessfully to accomplish my goal, I enlisted
the efforts of Sam Latella to change the data to ProDOS and Terry Steeper
to help me set up an _Appleworks GS_ database file. Bingo! The transfer
was done and I have enhanced, sorted and manipulated the file in many ways,
which my cohorts still have trouble doing on their IBM programs and they
think I did it with a Mac, the only Apple most people know exists.
It is a pity that Applied Engineering has not seen fit to upgrade the
system to work with high density drives and be memory expandable, in fact
it appears that the PC Transporter is destined to be discontinued. Pity!
Applied Engineering is currently selling the PC Transporter, kit,
software and choice of drives for 33% less than normal retail prices!
There are also a few used Transporters available for even less cost. About
9 London Apple Club members either still have, or did have PC Transporters,
most so that they could work on IBM programs at home and take the results
back to the office. Two members went through University with the help of a
PC Transporter, one in Engineering, one in Computer Science and while some
IBM programs are not compatible, most work fine.
If you have to work with IBM files, but don't want to lose the user
friendliness of your Apple and haven't got the desktop space for 2
machines, why not consider a PC Transporter? It may just fit your needs
for a lot less cost than a new computer.
[Tee's 1999 note: I have read about a number of Delphi members that still
use their PC Transporters in 1999 and I wrote the above article in 1993.]
[EOA]
[KFE]------------------------------
THINKING KFEST |
-----------------------------------
KansasFest 1999
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
by Douglas Cuff
[doug@cuff.com]
The Accidental Tourist at KansasFest
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Copyright 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999 by Douglas Cuff. All rights reserved.
The Accidental Tourist travel guides were described by Anne Tyler in
her 1985 novel of the same name (later a movie starring William Hurt,
Kathleen Turner, and Geena Davis). The Accidental Tourist guides were
designed for the business traveller whose reactions to travel were feelings
of anxiety and defenseless. The guides were meant to soothe and comfort
the non-adventurous traveller.
If you've never been to KansasFest before, you should find that this
guide will do the same for you. If you're an old hand at KansasFest, this
guide will provide you with some helpful reminders.
(If you've read this far with a growing sense of _deja vu_, that's
because this article originally appeared in _GenieLamp A2_ Vol. 5, Issue 52
[July 1996], and was reprinted in _GenieLamp A2_ in 1997. This is its
second revision in _The Lamp!_)
One word of warning: If there's a conflict between the advice you
receive from the Accidental Tourist and the instructions you're given from
the information packet when you arrive at KansasFest--pay attention to the
official info packet. These folks know the score.
KansasFest began in 1989 as the A2-Central Developer Conference, and
didn't begin calling itself KansasFest until its third year, 1991.
KansasFest takes place in Kansas City, Missouri. (Not Kansas City, Kansas.
The Kansas border is less than a mile away, if that comforts you any.)
This will be the eleventh annual KansasFest, and it's not just for
programmers and developers any more. If you've never been to KansasFest
before, you don't know what you're missing! It's a great chance to learn
about your Apple II, mingle with other users, and see what software other
people are working on. This is the Apple II event of the year. I can't
say exactly how many people will there, but a safe estimate is 50-100
attendees (counting those who stay off-campus).
What campus? KansasFest takes place entirely at Avila College, in the
southmost part of Kansas City. Here's the address:
Avila College
11901 Wornall Road
Kansas City, Missouri 64145 U.S.A.
phone (816) 942-8400
Avila College is small--approximately 1500 students--which means you
can walk anywhere on campus in five minutes. Use of a car is therefore as
optional as it's ever going to get, assuming you fly to Kansas. The one
time you are going to be hollering for a vehicle is when you try to get to
and from Kansas City International airport. More on that shortly.
This year, KansasFest is scheduled for July 21-July 25, but dorm rooms
are available for the nights of July 20-July 25.
PM Tue July 20 early arrival
Wed July 21 registration and keynote address (evening)
Thu July 22 scheduled sessions
Fri July 23 scheduled sessions
Sat July 24 demos (morning); vendors' fair (afternoon)
AM Sun July 25 farewell
Check-in time is 1-4 PM Wednesday. Check-out time is 11 AM-1 PM
Sunday.
How much the conference costs depends on when you pay for it and what
kind of accommodation you require. You can save a few bucks if you're
willing to share a room--private rooms cost more. (The prices went up by
$50 on April 16.) Arriving early costs a little more, naturally.
arrival: Wed. Tue.
private room $325 $358
shared room $275 $300
spouse rate $225 $250
conference only $225
It is possible to stay at a hotel for about the same price, but
staying on campus is still a better idea, since after-hours activities are
a big part of KansasFest. If you've ever attended a conference held in one
hotel but stayed in another hotel, you'll remember how much you'd wished
you'd stayed "on site".
Also, the campus room rates include meals from Wednesday evening
dinner on July 21 through Sunday morning breakfast on July 25, with the
exception of the Saturday evening meal.
One note on meals for all attendees: For the first eight years of
KansasFest, free lunch at Avila's cafeteria used to be included for _all_
KFesters, even those not staying on campus. These days, those not staying
on campus must provide their own lunches. Fortunately, being banished from
the Avila cafeteria ought not make anyone weep.
Those staying on campus should also note that no meals are provided on
Tuesday or Wednesday (because both dates are before the official start)
night nor on Saturday night (because that's the unofficially official night
on the town). Keep in mind that you're on your own your last night there.
You can get a breakfast on Sunday, though, if you're staying on campus.
You will be staying in Ridgway dormitory, which was built in 1963.
For those of you who have never experienced dorm life or have forgotten
what it was like, expect spartan surroundings. Forget the idea of a
private bathroom, but you'll be glad to know that the rooms are
air-conditioned.
BEFORE YOU GO As with any trip, you need to arrange for several things:
"""""""""""""
o conference attendance;
o accommodation (included in package);
o meals (included in package);
o transport to/from conference.
Those attending from outside the United States will also need:
o passport/visa;
o medical insurance;
o US currency/traveller's checks.
Conference Attendance There are 80 spaces for on-campus attendees,
''''''''''''''''''''' and even if you register late, there may be room
for off-campus conference attendees. You may be able to register at Avila
on July 20/21. Check first.
You can get more KansasFest information by checking out the KFest Home
Page at http://www.kfest.org. For specific information, E-mail
kfest-help@kfest.org. There's also a KFest mailing list, which you can
subscribe to by sending email to majordomo@kfest.org, and including the
words "subscribe kfest" in the body of the message (the body, not the
subject).
If you'd like to register, contact:
KFest '99
c/o InTrec Software, Inc.
3035 E. Topaz Circle
Phoenix, AZ 85028-4423
USA
Web page: http://www.intrec.com/a2.html/kfest.txt
Please make checks and money order payable to InTrec Software--in US
dollars, and drawn on a US bank.
Credit card registration is also available. Just call InTrec
Software, Inc. with your Visa, MasterCard, Discovery, or American Express
number at (602) 992-1345, Monday-Friday 8:00 AM-5:00 PM Mountain Standard
Time. You can also fax your registration with credit card account number
and expiration date to (602) 992-0232 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Or E-mail your credit card account number and expiration date to
kfest@intrec.com.
In summary, to register by credit card:
o write to the address above (checks also okay here);
o phone (602) 992-1345;
o fax (602) 992-0232; or
o e-mail kfest@intrec.com
But remember, that's only when you know you want to register. If you
have questions first, send e-mail to kfest-help@kfest.org.
Accommodation If you're staying at Avila College campus, chances are good
''''''''''''' that you're going to be sharing a room with one other
person. Space is limited, so you're unlikely to end up in a room by
yourself unless you specifically request a private room (which costs more).
The rooms are _not_ co-ed (aside from the occasional married couple), but
the dorms are.
There aren't any hotels within walking distance of Avila College, so
plan on having transportation if you're staying off-campus.
Here are some hotels said to be near Avila College. Please be warned
that I haven't stayed at any of them, so I can't make recommendations.
Approximate room rates are shown.
Fairfield Inn--Overland Park
4401 W. 107th, Overland Park, KS 66207
913-381-5700
$55-$75
(closest hotel to KansasFest in Kansas)
Courtyard by Marriott South
500 E. 105th St., Kansas City, MO 64131
816-941-3333
$99
(closest hotel to KansasFest in Missouri)
Candlewood Suites
11001 Oakmont, Overland Park, KS 66210
913-469-5557
$89-119
DoubleTree Hotel Kansas City Corporate Woods
10100 College Boulevard, Overland Park, KS 66210
800-222-TREE / 913-451-6100
$109-$159
Drury Inn--Overland Park
10951 Metcalf Avenue, Overland Park, KS 66210
913-345-1500
$72-91
Overland Park Marriott Hotel
10800 Metcalf Avenue, Overland Park, KS 66210
800-228-9290 / 913-451-8000
$129-$155
AmeriSuites
6801 W. 112th, Overland Park, KS 66211
800-833-1516 / 913-451-2553
$107-$127
Red Roof Inn--Overland Park
6800 W. 108th St., Overland Park, KS 66211
913-341-0100
$46-$76
Residence Inn by Marriott--Overland Park
6300 W. 110th Street, Overland Park, KS 66211
800-331-3131 / 913-491-3333
$109-$159
Sumner Suites
5001 W 110th Street, Overland Park, KS 66211
913-491-9002
$99
Wyndham Gardnen Hotel--Overland Park
7000 W 108th Street, Overland Park, KS 66211-1163
913-383-2550
$74-$109
Clubhouse Inn & Suites--Overland Park
10610 Marty Avenue, Overland Park, KS 66212
800-CLUBINN / 913-648-5555
$75-$95
Courtyard by Marriott
11301 Metcalf Avenue, Overland Park, KS 66212
913-339-9900
$124-$134
Embassy Suites Hotel--Overland Park
10601 Metcalf Avenue, Overland Park, KS 66212
800-362-2779 / 913-649-7060
$129-$159
(charges for local calls)
Hampton Inn--Overland Park
10591 Metcalf Frontage Road, Overland Park, KS 66212
800-HAMPTON / 913-341-1551
$84-$94
Homewood Suites
10556 Marty Avenue, Overland Park, KS 66212
913-341-5576
$119-$149
Meals If you're staying on Avila campus, meals are included in the
''''' package price (except Saturday evening). If you aren't staying at
Avila, you're completely on your own.
If you find the cafeteria food not to your liking--and many
don't--you'll be relieved to know that there's a supermarket about 25
minutes' walk away. Here's how to get there:
Start at Carondelet dorm. Stand with your back to the dorm entrance,
so that you can see the Marian Center if you look left. Turn right from
Carondelet and walk down to the parking lot. Turn left and walk out of the
parking lot, down Sister Oliver Louise Drive. This private road takes you
to 118th Street. Turn left and walk on 118th until you reach Wornall Road.
Turn right on Wornall until you reach the intersection of Wornall and
Minor. Turn right onto Minor Drive.
Once on Minor, ten minutes' walk will bring you close to the end of
Minor, to the point where you can see a large parking lot. Veer left and
you'll be at a small shopping mall that boasts a bank, a supermarket, and a
restaurant. (Note: This trip can be made a few minutes shorter, but these
directions are simpler, and can be easily adapted for use by motorists as
well as pedestrians.)
If you're not staying on Avila campus, you're probably sufficiently
adventurous to know how to find decent food in a strange city. Be aware
that Saturday evening is when the group has a night out at a restaurant
(often either KC Masterpiece or Jess & Jim's). Let them know you want to
be part of the crowd that night! And there may be other excursions on
other nights... you'll hear about them if you keep your ears open.
Transportation 101/A--Getting to Kansas Many of you intend to fly to
''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''' Kansas City. The airport you
will be arriving at is Kansas City International (MCI). The airport has
three arc-shaped terminals. If you're meeting someone there, be sure that
everyone intends to go to the same terminal, or that everyone is catching
the (free) shuttle to the same car rental agency.
You can pick up a city map at one of the airport magazine stands. The
Gousha map has Avila College marked (grid location I-19). If you have the
(1998) AAA map, you'll find Avila College at grid location AX-24. If you
don't have a map, better pay close attention:
If you drew a map of Kansas City on a 8x11 sheet of paper, the airport
would be in the upper left corner, to the northwest. Avila College would
be near the bottom of the piece of paper, near the center. Point taken?
The distance between Avila College and the international airport is
not small. It's perhaps 45 miles by the recommended route (below), so
allow an hour's travel time at a bare minimum. What with collecting your
luggage and arranging/co-ordinating ground transportation, it's probably
safer to assume it will take you two hours to get from the airport to
Avila, starting from the time the plane's landing gear touches the tarmac
and stopping when you sling your suitcase onto the dorm bed.
If you need more information on the Kansas City International Airport,
you can check out their World Wide Web page: http://www.kcairports.org.
Transportation 101/B--Getting to Avila Since the distance from the
'''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''' airport to Avila College is 28
miles as the crow flies, and about 45 miles by car, you don't even want to
think about taking a taxi. You'd pay $35 minimum, possibly as much as $60.
For a one-way trip.
If you book ahead, you can get one of the airport transportation
services to take you to Avila College at a more reasonable rate. In the
past, I've recommended Quicksilver, but they seem to have disappeared two
years back, in 1997. (Last year, some people within the United States were
able to get through to them, but not me.) So this year I'm afraid your a
bit more on your own than I'd like to leave you.
Here are some numbers for limousine services. I HAVEN'T TRIED ANY OF
THEM. (You have no idea how much it hurts to have to say that.) I don't
know how much any of them charge--they may even be more expensive than
taxis.
Airport Transportation Cab Service 816-421-7000
Arya Airport Transportation 816-531-1001
KCI Shuttle 816-243-5000
La Plant Airport Transporation 816-421-7611
Usually, you _must_ book these limo services in advance; they
generally need at least one's day's notice. IF YOU DON'T MAKE A
RESERVATION, THEY CAN'T TAKE YOU. Don't think you can call them once you
arrive at the airport--you can't.
(If you want to research possible other numbers, try pointing your web
browser to http://www.kcairports.org/kci/limos.htm but be warned that this
page is out of date, since it still lists Quicksilver. You could also try
http://www.thetrip.com/ride/MCI/ but again be warned that I can't vouch for
anything listed there. Sorry, folks.)
If you don't want to rent a car, you could also take the Airport
Express van to the Overland Park Marriott hotel and take a cab from there.
(Those of you renting cars at the airport: we'll discuss the route
shortly, in the ARRIVAL section.)
PREPARING FOR THE TRIP Get plenty of sleep before you go, because you're
"""""""""""""""""""""" not likely to get much sleep at KansasFest.
KansasFest days are 18 hours long, unless they're 20 or 24 hours long.
There's too much going on to waste time in sleep!
On the same note, make sure you don't schedule anything important
(like operating heavy machinery) for the day after KansasFest--Monday, July
26. You'll have had so little sleep that you won't feel your best.
Packing--Computer Stuff Lots of people bring computers. If you're doing
''''''''''''''''''''''' this, make a backup of your hard drive and leave
the backup at home. If you won't feel safe unless you take a backup with
you, make two backups.
If you're bringing a hard drive and you're travelling by plane, you
may want to consider packing the hard drive in your carry-on luggage. That
way, you can extract the hard drive from the luggage before it gets X-rayed
(!). Tell the attendant that what you are carrying in your hand is a hard
drive for a computer, and that it might be damaged by the X-ray machine.
Chances are they'll handle it differently. If they tell you that no damage
could possibly be caused, don't believe them. (You may have to obey them,
but don't believe them.) Try insisting--politely!--on special handling
anyway. Incidentally, X-rays are not good for diskettes either.
Bring plenty of extension cords, power bars, and surge suppressors,
plus a phone cord if you bring your modem, or a properly configured
Ethernet cable if you'll be using a Macintosh or WinTel box. (For Ethernet
cable details, see Ryan Suenaga's KFest FAQ, available at
http://www.kfest.org/kfestfaq.html.) Bring plenty of blank disks. Bring
anything you'd like to show off, either software or hardware.
Packing--Other Stuff A word about clothing: KansasFest is "dress
'''''''''''''''''''' casual", and Kansas City in July is hot and humid,
so light clothing would be a good idea. If you're bringing anything that
you want to hang in the closet, bring your own hangers.
You should pack a bathrobe or something you don't mind walking the
halls in when you rise in the morning. The dorms will be housing both
sexes, and there are no private bathrooms.
Towels are supplied, but you can pack an extra one if you feel so
inclined. Be sure to bring all the usual toiletries: soap, shampoo,
toothbrush, and all the etceteras.
There are modular phone jacks in all the dorm rooms, but phones are
not provided, so pack a phone, if only for local calls (which are free).
If you know who your roommate is, you can assure her or him that you're
bringing the phone and save her or him the trouble.
If you're serious about making the morning sessions, an alarm clock is
a good idea. If you're _really_ serious about attending morning sessions,
ear plugs--for the night before--couldn't hurt either. <grin>
Unless you're a private soul, some sort of sign for your door is a
good idea, so that people can find you. Many people take the trouble to
make these before they leave.
Don't forget your airline tickets and other travel documents, if any,
but don't pack them in your checked luggage. Also don't forget a quarter
(and possibly a dime too) for a phone call.
ARRIVING
""""""""
Getting from the Airport to Avila If you've arranged with an
''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''' airport transportation service to pick
you up at the airport, as you leave the "gate", look for someone holding up
a sign with your name on it. (The sign will probably also have the name of
the service written on it.)
Of course, these "airport limos" have been known to get busy at
KansasFest time. If no one is there looking for you, start by looking for
them. Their people are usually easy to spot. If there's no one from the
airport transportation service in the terminal, don't panic. Just call
them--it'll be a local call from the airport. (You did remember the money
for a phone call, didn't you?)
Remember that you usally _cannot_ ride with an "airport limo" service
unless you have made a reservation in advance.
Driving from the Airport to Avila If you're renting a car, start looking
''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''' for the desk of the rental agency
you're dealing with. (If you have to go to another terminal, remember that
there are shuttle buses among the three terminals.)
Once you've got your car, exit through the airport's main gate
(Cookingham Drive) onto Interstate 29 heading south. At highway 152, exit
west. Follow 152 west to I-435. Take I-435 south and follow it around
until it reaches Wornall Road from the west. Take the Wornall Road exit.
Then turn in at Avila College (which is a left turn off Wornall if you
approach it from I-435). Check our handy Avila map below for where to
park. The best place is probably the lot near the dormitories.
After Hours Arrival It's Wednesday night, and it's dark already.
''''''''''''''''''' The airport limo has just dropped you off... or
you've just parked the rental car. You're tired after the long drive from
the airport. You've never been to Avila College before. Now what do you
do?
Well, if you know beforehand that you're going to arrive after hours,
you should contact Cindy Adams so that she can let the Avila staff know
about late arrivals. Suppose, however, that you've arrived late by
accident--your flights was delayed, or your car had a flat? What do you do
now?
It's easy. The campus at Avila is small, and there are only three
building that KFesters need to explore:
I. Whitfield Conference Center: This is where most of the actual
conference sessions take place. It's sufficiently small that you'd have to
try really hard to get lost here. If you walk the path to Whitfield from
one of the other buildings listed below, go down the stairs as soon as you
get inside the door. If you enter Whitfield from the roadway, you're at
the main conference entrance, so don't worry.
II. Marian Center: This is where the cafeteria is. Unless you're
booked into a nearby hotel, this is where you come to eat. This is also
where the celebrity roast is traditionally held. Yes, you're allowed to
attend the roast even if you're staying at a hotel.
III. Ridgway Dormitory: This is where you sleep, at least in theory.
Even hotel-dwellers need to know about the dorms, since you'll spend a lot
of your evenings hanging out here.
Look at the map of the campus below and get your bearings:
AVILA COLLEGE CAMPUS
* ___________ *
* ########## | | *
* ########## ... | *
* ########## . |___________| *
* . . ########***
* ______ . ......... ######## *
* | | . ___.____ *
* | | . | | *
* |______| . | Marian | *
* . | center | *
* ______ . |________| *
**** | | . . *
* | | . .............. *
* | | . . ____._____ ##
* |______| ................................ | | ##
* . _____ . |Carondelet| ##
* ________.__ | | . | dorm | ##
___ * | | | | . |__________| ##
| | * [| Whitfield | | | ____._____ ##
| | #*#[| center | |_____| | | ################
| | #*# |___________| | Ridgway | ################
|___| #*# | dorm | ################
#*# |__________|
*
*
... = pathway
*** = roadway
### = parking
[ = main entrance (Whitfield)
A good place to start may be Marian Center, since dinner and the
keynote address are taking place there on Wednesday night. If it's late
Wednesday night, forget about registering for the _conference_. Check-in
ended at 4 PM. Concentrate on registering for your _room_, so at least
you'll have a place to sleep tonight.
If it's extremely late at night, the front doors of the dorms may be
shut. Look for a buzzer that will rouse a member of the staff.
The best thing to do is to read the instructions in your preliminary
information packet, but if they don't produce satisfactory results, wander
about one or both of the dorms until you find someone who'll take pity on
your and let you collapse onto a bed. You'll get a room assignment and a
room key. (You may even get a sheet of paper that tells you who you've
been billeted with and how to register for the conference on the following
morning.) However, don't collapse the minute you see your room key. The
lowest number it will have on it is 401. That does _not_ mean you're on
the fourth floor. (Particularly as Ridgway has only three floors.) If
your room number begins with 4, it means you're on the first floor (or
"ground floor" to most Europeans). Similar deal for the second and third
floors. If your room number doesn't begin with 4, 5, or 6, it means you
aren't staying at Ridgway--you're probably staying at Carondelet.
If wandering around the dorms doesn't produce any results, try Marian
Center. If you still can't find anyone, wander down toward Whitfield.
Arriving after hours means you get to check in to your room. You
still must register for the conference in the morning. We'll cover that in
the "Business Hours Arrival" section. For now, what about your room?
Your Room Rooms at the Avila College dorms each have two beds. If your
''''''''' roommate is there, smile and introduce yourself. If your
roommate isn't there, don't be alarmed. Your roommate may not have arrived
yet, in which case you get to grab the best bed. (I'm joking. Neither bed
will be any less loathsome than the other.) Probably your roommate has
already arrived, grabbed the best bed, and is out visiting others.
Near the beds is a long institutional-looking unit with two closets,
two sets of drawers, and assorted storage space. The opposite side of this
unit is a desk long enough for two people to work at. There's plenty of
room for two computers on this desk, but there's just one outlet per
computer. If you don't have a power bar or a Kensington System Saver or an
AE Conserver, you're going to be limited to plugging in the computer and
the monitor--no hard drive, no modem, nothing else. (Those of you with
internal hard drives can stop being smug right now.)
Near the desk are two outlets that seem to be phone jacks. They
_aren't_ phone jacks--they're Ethernet ports (RJ-45 connectors to a 10
Base-T connection, for the technically-oriented). The phone jack is on the
other side of the room, by the beds. If you didn't bring plenty of phone
extension cord, you'll have to set up your computer at the foot of your
bed. (Don't laugh. It's happened.) Don't waste time looking for the
phone; they aren't supplied, which is why you had to bring one in your
suitcase. To find out the phone number of your room (so that people can
call you), ask one of the Avila staff. If you didn't bring a phone, you
can still use one of the pay phones in the hallways.
When dialing out from your dorm room, either with a phone or a modem,
you'll need to prefix the number with a 9 to get an outside line. If
you're using a modem, you may be able to use its "wait for dialtone"
feature before you dial the number. So the proper sequence would be:
ATDT9w4741778
If your modem doesn't support "wait for dialtone", try using a few
commas (,) to create a pause:
ATDT9,,4725178
You may also need to set your software up so it waits about 45 seconds
for a connect instead of the standard 30 seconds, because it takes a bit
longer to get through to the number you're dialing.
(There's information about dialing Delphi later in this article.)
Of course, if you've brought a Macintosh or WinTel box, you may be
able to use the Ethernet connection instead of the phone line. There are
several gotchas here. Check out Ryan Suenaga's KFest FAQ (in last month's
issue) for more information.
The only real luxury that the rooms boast is air-conditioning. No
private baths here, but you'll find bathrooms just down the corridor a
piece. The one I frequented had one bathtub, two showers, three toilets,
four sinks (one with an attachment for washing hair), and assorted mirrors.
Every floor also seems to have a TV lounge and a small kitchen.
Business Hours Arrival If you arrive at Avila between 9 AM and 5 PM
'''''''''''''''''''''' (preferably between 1 PM and 4 PM Wednesday!), you
can register for the conference and your room (if applicable) at the same
time. Check your pre-conference packet for information on where to
register. It will be somewhere in one of the four buildings mentioned
above, of course.
One note of warning: if you've been told to register somewhere--say,
the cafeteria at Marian center--and no one has shown up fifteen minutes
after the listed start time, then by all means check the dorms and
Whitfield center to see if registration has been moved there. It's
unlikely you'll have to worry about something like this, but it doesn't
hurt to be prepared.
ONCE YOU'RE THERE
"""""""""""""""""
Curricular Events Originally, KansasFest was a conference for Apple II
''''''''''''''''' developers--people who wanted to create software and
hardware for others to use. Nowadays it's for users, too. Don't worry
that you don't belong there--you do and you're welcome, whether you've come
to party or come to learn.
The sessions--no one dignifies them with the name "seminars"--are
mostly held at the Whitfield conference center. The main conference room
is right inside the main doors (the doors closest to Wornall Road). If you
don't know how to get to the session you want to attend, come here. It
will either be in this room or someone in this room will know where the
right room is.
There's a social aspect to this part of the occasion as well. You'll
see plenty of schmoozing in Whitfield lobby, right outside the main
conference room. Expect cameras, both still and video, and demented people
operating them. Cameras are used to record the presentations, or people
meeting, or the general craziness that's going on!
"Formal" sessions have been known to take place in the dorms as well.
_Informal_ sessions have definitely been known to take place in the dorms!
On the Saturday of KansasFest, there's a demonstration of new and
upcoming products and a vendors' fair. The fair is a chance to pick up
hardware and software at special KFest prices, and to see and buy software
never before released.
Semi-curricular Events While not officially part of the proceedings, some
'''''''''''''''''''''' products _may_ be released at KansasFest. (I
sometimes think Apple II programmers would never ever ship if it weren't
for KansasFest and Christmas.) This year, I haven't heard any
announcements, so you'll have to attend to find out what's up-and-coming.
Even if nothing gets released, you're practically guaranteed some
product previews. At this point, in previous years, I've made a few wild
guesses at what you might see. Sadly, this year I've been so busy (working
full-time at last) that I haven't been in a position to hear any rumors.
Extra-curricular Events It is perfectly possible to attend KansasFest,
''''''''''''''''''''''' attend the sessions 9-5, and go back home. But
why would you want to?
One reason you might want to is that you're shy. You're shy at any
gathering, but you can't imagine conversing with Tony Ward, Mike
Westerfield, Joe Kohn, Max Jones, Tony Diaz, Geoff Weiss, or Ewen Wannop!
There's no reason to be shy. Do what Dean Esmay did at his first
KansasFest: walk around introducing yourself. To everyone. You'll meet
lots of people just as awestruck as you are, and you can swap tips,
stories, recommendations, and lies. Don't be intimidated by meeting
well-known Apple II figures. Heck, we're all "just folks".
Don't let yourself leave KansasFest without having mingled. Wander
around the dorms. If there's one person sitting at a computer, just say
"hi". You're intelligent enough to know how to figure out if the person is
hard at work or at home to callers. If there are a bunch of people--which
is far more likely, particularly during the evening--you might be shy about
joining the group. Don't be. Just announce your presence ("Hi, everybody!
Room for one more?"). You'll be surprised how welcome the group will make
you feel. Whatever the group is doing, it's probably in "kibitz mode", so
join in!
What will the group be doing? Hard to say. They might be:
o trying out software that hasn't been released yet;
o trying to get a piece of software to crash;
o trying to get it to stop crashing (i.e. debugging it);
o sending a group message to Delphi or Genie;
o playing a game;
o fixing hardware;
o reminiscing about previous KansasFests; or
o telling stories about the heyday of the Apple II.
There's a chance that the group will be "multi-tasking"--that is,
doing more than one of these things at the same time.
There are other extra-curricular events that have almost become KFest
traditions: Nerf(TM) warfare and a game called Bite the Bag, which
involves a paper bag and a sense of balance. But what about the "real"
traditions?
Tradition I: Celebrity Roast If the term "celebrity roast" is new to
''''''''''''''''''''''''''''' you, rest assured that it's not dangerous,
not even to the celebrity. Open flame is not involved, except
metaphorically. A roast is simply an event where members of a panel give
short speeches which "honor" the celebrity guest by dishing out
good-natured insults and back-handed compliments: "Ewen Wannop is a
talented guy, but his opinion of himself can make it hard to reason with
him. For instance, last night it took me six solid hours to persuade him
to stop walking on the water." (Except that most of the jokes will be
funnier than that.) Ideally, the person being "roasted" is the keynote
speaker from the previous KFest, but this isn't always possible. This
year, the celebrity being roasted is Ewen Wannop, author of Spectrum
telecommunications software for the Apple IIgs.
This event is catered and held in the Avila cafeteria in the Marian
center. It's open to all KansasFest attendees, not just those staying on
campus.
Tradition II: Calling Delphi The link between KansasFest and Delphi is a
''''''''''''''''''''''''''''' relatively new one, but as people always
managed to find time to post early reports on Genie in years past, people
also will find time to do the same on Delphi--it's the service with the
hottest connection to KansasFest.
Here are the SprintNet numbers, through which you can access both
Genie and Delphi:
300/ 1200 816-221-9900
2400 816-472-1430
9600/14400 816-421-5783
To sign on to Delphi using SprintNet:
1. Dial the local SprintNet number.
2. Wait to be connected.
o If your modem is 300 or 1200 baud, press Return, then
press D, then Return again.
o If your modem is 2400 baud or faster, type @D, then press
Return.
3. When TERMINAL= appears, press Return.
4. Wait for @ to appear, then type C DELPHI and press Return.
Don't worry about long-distance charges within the city. The greater
metropolitan area of Kansas City is in two states with two area codes (816
for Missouri and 913 for Kansas). However, nearly all calls within the
Kansas City metropolitan area are local.
Remember that you need to prefix the number with a 9 (to get an
outside line) and either a "wait for dialtone" command (w) or "pause"
command (,) before you dial the number.
ATDT9w472-5178 or ATDT9,,472-5178
Tradition III: Dining Out It's traditional at KFest to take at least one
"""""""""""""""""""""""""" meal at one of two restaurants (or both!)--KC
Masterpiece and Jess & Jim's.
This is guaranteed to happen on Saturday night--it's scheduled; it's
in the programme. But it may happen on other nights too. If you hang out
in the dorm rooms, you're bound to hear of groups heading off to "dine
posh". Ask to be counted in... and tell me what happens, all the gory
details. The thought of breaking bread with some of these people intrigues
me.
A TYPICAL DAY A KansasFest day doesn't begin when you might it expect it
""""""""""""" to. It begins right after supper. The pressing question
of something to eat over with, you take the aperitif of your choice--Jolt!
cola, Dr Pepper, or Mountain Dew--and wander around the dorms to see who's
doing what. Some people will be staying up until _very_ late. The reason
for this is that program bugs stay hidden until at least 2 AM, and the
really obscure ones wait until 5 AM.
When morning comes, you may or may not have gotten any sleep. If you
have, chances are that you didn't get much of it. The cafeteria staff stop
serving breakfast at 8:30, but you may decide that sleep is more important
than food. In fact, you may decide that sleep is more important than being
at the first session. Or the first two sessions. Or world peace.
Eventually you get out of bed and dither over which of the
simultaneous sessions you want to attend. You can bring paper or a
computer to take notes, if you wish--no one will laugh or point. No one
will frown if you don't take notes, either.
All sessions will run over their allotted time. This is an immutable
rule. The domino theory rapidly comes into play here, which wreaks merry
havoc with the schedule.
After the morning sessions, there's an hour to get some lunch at the
cafeteria at Marian center. No one takes attendance here, either.
During lunch, the stragglers begin to arrive, and afternoon sessions
may be more generously attended and received, since pretty much everyone is
now awake and reasonably certain that life is worth living. The afternoon
sessions will officially end at 5:00 or 5:30, but they may last a while
longer, since no one else is waiting to use the room. It's possible to get
so involved in the final session for the day that you miss the evening meal
at the cafeteria.
Or perhaps you've decided to give the cafeteria a miss. Someone might
be headed to a restaurant for a meal--ask around. After you've eaten,
well... the cycle begins all over.
LEAVING Avila College hosts events other than KansasFest--in fact,
""""""" Avila's summers are tightly booked. In previous years, both
Ridgway and Carondelet dorms have been available to KFesters, but in recent
yeas the organizing committee could only get one. That should give you
some idea of how hectic things are.
Because Avila is playing host to others after KansasFest is over, be
sure to check out on time. This year, you have the option of staying over
on Saturday night and checking out on Sunday, but don't push it. Check-out
time is 11 AM-1 PM Sunday. Avila wants you out of there by 1 PM on Sunday
at the _latest_!
Incidentally, if you're travelling with Quicksilver or another similar
outfit, don't forget that you must have booked your return trip to the
airport at least 24 hours in advance. Since most people leave at much the
same time, it may be possible to cadge a lift to the airport if you've made
friends with someone heading that way.
This is far from the end. In fact, it's not even the beginning. If
you've been reading this, it's undoubtedly to prepare for KansasFest, which
means it's all still to come! So have a great time at KansasFest--and if
you spot the man who began it all, Tom Weishaar (a/k/a "Uncle DOS"), give
him my warmest regards.
:: DISCUSSED ON DELPHI ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
: :
: I have a rock garden. Last week, three of them died. :
: :
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: LUMITECH ::::::
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About The Lamp! The Lamp! is published on the fifteenth of every month in
""""""""""""""" the Database of the II Scribe Forum on the Delphi online
service (GO CUS 11).
This publication produced entirely with real or emulated Apple II computers
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* The Lamp! is (c) copyright 1999 by Ryan M. Suenaga, M.S.W. All
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* Back issues of The Lamp! are available in the II Scribe Forum on
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http://lamp.sheppyware.net.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Opinions expressed herein are those of the individual authors, and do not
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Material published in this edition may not be reprinted without the
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