1048 lines
51 KiB
Plaintext
1048 lines
51 KiB
Plaintext
Volume 4, Number 22 8 June 1987
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| /|oo \ |
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| - FidoNews - (_| /_) |
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| _`@/_ \ _ |
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| International | | \ \\ |
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| FidoNet Association | (*) | \ )) |
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| Newsletter ______ |__U__| / \// |
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| / FIDO \ _//|| _\ / |
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| (________) (_/(_|(____/ |
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| (jm) |
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+---------------------------------------------------------------+
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Editor in Chief: Thom Henderson
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Chief Procrastinator Emeritus: Tom Jennings
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FidoNews is published weekly by the International FidoNet
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Association as its official newsletter. You are encouraged to
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submit articles for publication in FidoNews. Article submission
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standards are contained in the file ARTSPEC.DOC, available from
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node 1:1/1.
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Copyright 1987 by the International FidoNet Association. All
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rights reserved. Duplication and/or distribution permitted for
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noncommercial purposes only. For use in other circumstances,
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please contact IFNA.
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Ten Weeks to FidoCon!
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Table of Contents
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1. EDITORIAL ................................................ 1
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Shades of Grey ........................................... 1
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2. ARTICLES ................................................. 2
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Echomail Censorship: Con ................................. 2
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Echomail Censorship: Pro ................................. 3
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BBS Picnic -- You are invited ............................ 6
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Tandy User Group Newsletter .............................. 7
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3. COLUMNS .................................................. 12
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The Regular Irregular Column ............................. 12
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4. NOTICES .................................................. 16
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The Interrupt Stack ...................................... 16
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Notice: Echolist 102 now available! ...................... 16
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Latest Software Versions ................................. 16
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IFNA Board of Directors Ballot ........................... 18
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International FidoNet Conference Registration Form ....... 21
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FidoNews 4-22 Page 1 8 Jun 1987
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=================================================================
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EDITORIAL
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=================================================================
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Shades of Grey
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This should be an interesting issue. Most of you are probably
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aware of the current controversy surrounding the creation and use
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of the EchoChop utility by yours truly.
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In this issue we have a pair of articles about EchoChop. One,
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written by myself, argues against it. The other, written by
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David Garrett (a noted opponent of EchoChop), argues in favor of
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it. At best this will be illuminating, and at worst it may serve
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to illustrate that no issue ever truly resolves itself into black
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and white, but only into shades of grey.
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For, opposed as we are, we both do realize that there are
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multiple sides to the issue. While we have come to different
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conclusions, both of us are quite capable of appreciating the
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other side. I personally feel that no one is able to rationally
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resolve any question unless that person is able to see it from
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more than one viewpoint. Remember, your opponent never thinks of
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himself as wrong.
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-----------------------------------------------------------------
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FidoNews 4-22 Page 2 8 Jun 1987
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=================================================================
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ARTICLES
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=================================================================
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Thom Henderson, 107/6.1
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Echomail Censorship: Con
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Censorship of echomail is a dangerous and deadly precedent. By
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and large FidoNet operates on trust, and trust is a fragile
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thing. If it is abused, then our entire network can fall to
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pieces about our ears.
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Echomail already carries about it a strong scent of anarchy. No
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one really knows what conferences exist and who carries them (in
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spite of the valiant efforts of Tom Kenney to track them). By
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its very nature echomail is not subject to any sort of central
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control, which is one of its greatest strengths. But if this
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anarchy is carried to extremes, if any given sysop along the path
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is allowed unlimited discretion regarding echomail content, then
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the entire structure becomes anarchical to the point of collapse.
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It only works, when it does work, because those who promote it
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have dedicated themselves to a higher purpose.
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Just as the various coordinators of FidoNet mail in general
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concern themselves only with the movement of messages and not
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their content, so have the various nodes of the echomail backbone
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dedicated themselves to the broadcast of messages without regard
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to content. Theirs is not to judge, but to distribute. This is
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the burden they knowingly accepted, and this burden they are free
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to lay down at any time if they are less than willing to abide by
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all of the consequences.
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One of the basic tenets of FidoNet is that any sysop is free to
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do pretty much as he or she wishes on his or her own board, but
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that no sysop may dictate to any other sysop. Censorship of
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echomail is contrary to this ethic.
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We are not children here. There is no need for any "Big Brother"
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to dictate tastes and choices to sysops at large. All sysops are
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presumed able to make their own decisions. They should be given
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the opportunity to do so.
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-----------------------------------------------------------------
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FidoNews 4-22 Page 3 8 Jun 1987
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David Garrett, 103/504
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Echomail Censorship: Pro
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Regulation of echomail content is long overdue. Those opposed to
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echomail regulation base their opposition on one of three primary
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arguments, namely, censorship, violation of trust, or that the
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time is not right to open this "can of worms". These arguments
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must be evaluated against Fidonet's controlling philosophy that
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all sysops have the right to control their own board so long as
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it does not adversely effect other sysops. It is becoming
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obvious that echomail must be cleansed of the defamatory messages
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which so frequently consume our time and disk space.
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When the arguments against echomail censorship are stripped of
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their emotional appeal, then these arguments become much less
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persuasive. An objective evaluation of the competing interests
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involved leads to the an obvious conclusion in support of
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echomail censorship.
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At the very heart of this hobby, for most of us, is the desire to
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run our own independent Bulletin Board over which the Sysop
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reigns supreme. Sysops defiantly maintain the right to control
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the nature of the files and messages on their individual boards.
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Should a sysop not wish to receive echomail on particular
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subjects or from particular individuals, he is entirely within
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his rights to do so. If a node wishes to receive an edited
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version of an echomail area then this is also well within the
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sysop's rights so long as he can find an echo feed which will
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accommodate him. Conversely, should an unadulterated version be
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desired then the sysop is under no compulsion to receive echomail
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from any particular source and is free to find a link that
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satisfies his own desires. Echomail censorship (echochop) is
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consistent with this philosophy. As Sysops we have the right to
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decide what to receive and what expenses to incur. A sysop
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should not be required to receive echomail that he does not want
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nor should he be required to incur costs in obtaining echomail
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that he has no desire to read and which will be immediately
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deleted.
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It has become apparent that there is an extreme need to be able
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to in someway limit the number of defamatory messages which often
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consume the echomail areas. These messages act like a cancerous
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growth in the echomail areas quickly choking out the enjoyment
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that we all seek to gain by participation in echomail. Initial
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attempts at ignoring the offending messages as well as requests
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to stop entering them have been futile. The situation has
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reached the point where numerous sysops have stopped
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participating in echomail altogether as a result of the offensive
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character of certain echomail areas. Obviously, when things
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deteriorate to the point that participation is discouraged then
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something must be done. Echochop is an acceptable solution. It
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does not go so far as to completely censor the offending nodes
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but rather merely seeks to reach an acceptable middle ground
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where those sysops that have been driven from the area can still
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feel free to participate without risking the exposure to
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FidoNews 4-22 Page 4 8 Jun 1987
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offensive material. As such echochop seeks to protect the
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interests of all individuals since it gives an option as to the
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content of the messages received.
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In evaluating the allegation that echomail violates the trust
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upon which Fidonet is based, it is obvious that there exists
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different levels of "trust" within Fidonet. In this writers
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opinion, "trust" as it relates to echomail is much different than
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"trust" as it relates to netmail. In the case of netmail, both
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the sender and recipient trust the nodes in the stream of
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distribution to not delete the mail. However, echomail is a much
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different form of communication and should be treated
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differently. Echomail is primarily an open discussion forum
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where the intent to communicate with any one particular
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individual is not as critical as participating in the discussion
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with the group as a whole. As such, the sender of echomail
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generally is not that concerned that the mail reach any
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particular recipient and hence does not place the same level of
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trust on the delivery process. With regards to the recipient,
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there exists an element of trust with the feed that recipient is
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receiving and an unadulterated version of the conference. Where
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as in the case of net 107, the filtering is occurring with the
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knowledge and consent of the recipient then this trust is not
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being violated. As such echochop does not violate anyone's
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"trust" in the echomail system.
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The allegation of censorship is simply without merit. Censorship
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does not occur merely by creating two conferences from one. This
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is particularly true where both conferences are made available to
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all recipients. This situation is analogous to television where
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one has the ability to selectively view desired programs.
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Additionally, since there is not any effect on the ability to
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process replies the net result is that there is not an effect of
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censorship on the echomail area.
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With regards to not opening the "can of worms" at the present
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time, it becomes obvious that this argument looses its appeal
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under careful consideration. With the continual rise in the
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number of nodes in Fidonet it is much better to deal with growing
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pains such as the current censorship issue at the present time as
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opposed to later when the number of nodes has risen to the point
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of where there is no possibility of reaching a consensus.
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One must also keep in mind the fact that the only real effect
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that the filtering of the sysop area has is to change the
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location of where the messages are removed from a given echomail
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conference. Obviously, if a downstream node does not wish to
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read any messages from another individual then he won't do so.
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By allowing the offensive messages to be segregated upstream then
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a more cost effective allocation of resources occurs in that the
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downstream node does not have to receive mail that will be
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deleted anyway. This does not adversely effect the sender of the
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message since it would not have been read anyway.
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In conclusion, Echochop (censorship) appears to be the least
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restrictive method of protecting the interests of the sysops
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FidoNews 4-22 Page 5 8 Jun 1987
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participating in echomail. It does not violate anyone's trust
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but rather allows sysops to be selective as to the message
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content of their message areas.
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-----------------------------------------------------------------
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FidoNews 4-22 Page 6 8 Jun 1987
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John Kelley, 107/331
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Sysops:
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If you could be so kind as to post this info on your system, it
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owuld be greatly appreeciated. We have had this event for
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several years and it never fails to be a great event. We would
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like to welcome you and your callers to our BBS Bash.
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Thank you so much
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*****************************************************************
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BBS Picnic -- You are invited
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Planet Shadowstar BBS in co-operation with MicroFone MultiLine
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BBS takes pleasure in announcing the 3rd annual bbs picnic to be
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held from 11am - dusk in Roosevelt Park, Edison, NJ on Saturday
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August 1st. Price is $7 per adult, $4 each for ages 5-12. Under
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5 is free. This includes hamburgers, hot dogs, soda and beer --
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all you can eat.
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Attendees are asked to bring a covered dish to put on a table to
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be sampled by all. This can be a hot or cold dish. If you can
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bring some ice, that would be nice. There will be a baseball
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field, playground for kids, tennis & basketball courts. Please
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bring sports equipment if you have it. It will be a fun day. If
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you want to go, send a check made out to
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Larry Feldman
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PO Box 2052
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Menlo Park, NJ 08818
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Include a note to let me know how many adults & children.
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Deadline for the money is July 10th. There will be a minimum of
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100 people in attendance. I hope you will add to that amount.
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Meet your fellow bbs-ers.
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Thank-You
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Larry Feldman - picnic control --- TBBS v2.0
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-----------------------------------------------------------------
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FidoNews 4-22 Page 7 8 Jun 1987
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Bill Crawford, OpusNODE 362/1
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Chattanooga, Tennessee
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(615) 892-7773
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Tandy User Group Newsletter
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||
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The day "full compatibility" became a myth! The MS-DOS
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standard is still intact, but IBM has joined the rest of us in
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being not quite hardware compatible. Actually, they made
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themselves a lot less compatible than many of us have been.
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The Model 30, IBM's new "low-end" product still uses PC and
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XT compatible expansion boards, but that's about where it stops.
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Our understanding is that most monitors won't work (the PC and XT
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used digital monitors while all the new products use analog
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units). Previous units used 5-1/4" drives, while the Model 30
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(and the Convertible) use 760Kb 3-1/2" units... and the remainder
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of the new models use 1.44Mb 3- 1/2" drives!
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Remember the Tandy 1000 and 2000 "non-standard" keyboards
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with 12 function keys across the top (IBM had ten keys on the
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left end of the keyboard) and our separate cursor keypad??? Guess
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what. IBM now supplies their Enhanced Keyboard on all units
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with... yep, twelve function keys across the top and a separate
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cursor keypad.
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So, the bottom line is that IBM currently has at least three
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hardware configurations which are not compatible... their
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original PC, XT, and AT... the new Model 30 and the
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convertible... and the new Models 50, 60, and 80.
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IBM is offering improved graphics on all models, but the
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Model 30 is a subset of what's available on the 50, 60, and 80
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series. Product literature I've seen indicates that if you want
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the new graphics on your PC or XT (or compatible), IBM will have
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an expansion board.
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RAINBOWFEST CHICAGO
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April 11 and 12 at the Hyatt Regency Woodfield, were wild
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days for CoCo enthusiasts! One hears about devoted Apple fans,
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Commodore devotees and others, but I've never seen a more
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enthusiastic and dedicated group of computer buffs anywhere. Fran
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McGehee (who is responsible for PR on our Color Computer) and I
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flew to Chicago for the show. We shared the hotel courtesy
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shuttle from the airport with a doctor from South Carolina who
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had flown in for the show. He owned one of the original silver
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CoCos.
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I saw our doctor friend several more times during the show.
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As of our last meeting, he hadn't succumbed to the temptation to
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pick up a new CoCo 3, but CoCo 2s, 3s, monitors, software and
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accessories were being carried out of the place in what at times
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looked like a bucket brigade.
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When the room became almost too crowded to move in, I looked
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FidoNews 4-22 Page 8 8 Jun 1987
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at the registration line outside the door, and it was still at
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least three abreast around the corner, a hundred or so feet down
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the hall. A new addition this year, was CoCo Cat in person,
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greeting show attendees.
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At the CoCo Community Breakfast on Saturday morning, the
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room was packed. Dr. Marty Goodman gave a very entertaining talk
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on how he happened to get into the Color Computer business, and
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on the history (or rumored history) of the Color Computer.
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All in all, it was a great show, and Lonnie Falk and his
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crew are to be complimented on an outstanding effort.
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ONE THOUSAND MAGAZINE
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There's a new Tandy-specific magazine that I don't think
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I've told you about. It is devoted exclusively to owners of the
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Tandy 1000 family of computers. It's called "One Thousand", and
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it's published by Jeff Thurston and Michael Sakacsi. They've been
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around for about a year now, and report their intention to go on
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newsstands soon.
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The 58-page April issue made the offer to sendsubscription
|
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information and a sample issue to any Tandy 1000 owner who
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requests it. The address is Thursak Publishing, Inc., 2153 Muren
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Blvd., Suite A, Belleville, IL 62221-4136. Or call'em at (618)
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277-3526.
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READER RESPONSE
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Robert Sullivan, president of the New England Coconuts club,
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recently sent some requests and suggestions that I would like to
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address.
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||
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Mr. Sullivan complemented us on information like the
|
||
software compatibility data in the January '87 issue. He hopes
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that type of information will be made available to stores.
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Actually, I took it from a monthly memo to the stores issued by
|
||
our computer merchandising department, so es, they have it.
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He feels that I may have spent too much time recently on
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||
industry issues like the errors in PC Magazine's review of the
|
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1000 EX and SX. He suggests that the magazine's "letters" column
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is the appropriate place for that type of response. That's a
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valid point. I did write. I had dinner with PC editor Bill
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Machrone and executive editors Paul Sommerson and Bill Howard,
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just three nights ago in New York, and he tells me my letter
|
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should appear very shortly.
|
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The reason I have also addressed some of those issues here
|
||
is that every time something like that happens, I receive
|
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anywhere from 2 or 3 to more than a dozen letters from Tandy
|
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owners, calling it to my attention and saying they hope we will
|
||
register a strong objection. My interpretation of those letters
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||
was that Tandy owners take real pride in their computers, and
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want to know that we make a strong effort to refute published
|
||
FidoNews 4-22 Page 9 8 Jun 1987
|
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|
||
|
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misinformation. It's all part of the "behind the scenes" non-
|
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technical information we hoped to provide by this newsletter. I
|
||
would welcome other comments, since I want to keep this
|
||
publication valuable to you.
|
||
|
||
Mr. Sullivan asked for an overview of what happens with a
|
||
software product between the time a developer gives it to us and
|
||
the time it reaches the stores for sale. I'll provide that below.
|
||
|
||
He was especially interested in the story behind OS-9 Level
|
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II. He asks why, at Princeton Rainbowfest last Fall, developers
|
||
were using OS-9 Lv II, before most of you could even get CoCo 3s.
|
||
|
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Simple... early versions of the CoCo 3 were supplied to
|
||
applications developers, along with early copies of OS-9 Lv II,
|
||
to encourage them to begin development of applications programs
|
||
using OS-9 Lv II. Unfortunately, early hardware and software
|
||
isn't always "bug free", and so developers' ability to get an
|
||
early start can be hampered until "final" versions reach them.
|
||
Those early versions are what you saw at Rainbowfest.
|
||
|
||
He also asks what is and is not allowed in Radio Shack
|
||
stores and Plus Computer Centers in relation to Tandy User
|
||
Groups. The answer is we allow our stores to post notices for
|
||
Tandy-specific clubs, listing the club name, contact person,
|
||
along with times, dates and places of regular meetings. In most
|
||
stores, we can post a single letter-size leaflet, but please
|
||
don't ask us to distribute a quantity of leaflets or newsletters.
|
||
Stores are not allowed to offer their location for meetings, due
|
||
to insurance restrictions.
|
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|
||
SOFTWARE DEVELOPMENT
|
||
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It's been quite a while since I've written about this issue,
|
||
and Mr. Sullivan's question reminded me that it's probably time
|
||
to do it again. We've learned a lot in our ten years in the
|
||
computer business, so the problem isn't of the magnitude it was
|
||
even 5 or 6 years ago. But when delays happen, it's a major
|
||
irritation to those of you who are waiting for a product. Here's
|
||
a simplified overview of what happens to a new software product.
|
||
|
||
I think most of you know that now, Tandy relies almost
|
||
entirely on third-party, name-brand software suppliers. We
|
||
develop (in house) only three applications products... Scripsit,
|
||
Quartet, and DeskMate.
|
||
|
||
The question specifically related to third-party software.
|
||
First of all, we have to divide those products into two
|
||
categories. Number one is "strategic" software... those items we
|
||
sell in our stores. Second is "express order" software, which is
|
||
not stocked, but is electronically special ordered for you, and
|
||
normally shipped to your store within 24 hours.
|
||
|
||
Most new software enters our catalog through the express
|
||
order system. When we decide to carry an item, it is tested by
|
||
our quality assurance people, but not to the extent a "strategic"
|
||
FidoNews 4-22 Page 10 8 Jun 1987
|
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|
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|
||
product is. Since the original intent of express order was to
|
||
offer market-proven programs, those products have already
|
||
achieved a high degree of market acceptance by the time they
|
||
reach us. We don't feel it's necessary to go over them in such
|
||
great detail. Express order products are supported by the author
|
||
or publisher. "EOS" products generally reach the market quickly,
|
||
unless our testing uncovers a serious defect or problem.
|
||
|
||
Strategic products... like OS-9 Lv II... are another matter.
|
||
When the vendor delivers to us, the work has just begun. It is
|
||
not unusual for the software to undergo several hundred hours of
|
||
exhaustive testing. Our software engineers have to become
|
||
thoroughly familiar with it. Vendors make the required
|
||
corrections, retest, and return the package so we can resume our
|
||
testing. Fixing one software problem has been known to cause
|
||
others. The test and correct process goes on until we're
|
||
comfortable with the product's performance. hat's the way
|
||
software is developed.
|
||
|
||
Editors go over the manuals to try to make them as easily
|
||
understandable as possible, often making extensive changes. Once
|
||
the manual is edited, it goes out for typesetting. That can take
|
||
weeks on an extensive manual. The typeset pages must be
|
||
proofread, and corrections made. Then printing can take several
|
||
weeks. Disks must be mastered, and the masters retested, before
|
||
mass production can be started.
|
||
|
||
When manuals are printed and master disks are approved, a
|
||
few sample packages are assembled for final approval, and almost
|
||
immediately production begins. When the plant ships to our
|
||
warehouses our incoming Quality Assurance personnel must inspect
|
||
and approve the packages. Then they go into warehouse inventory,
|
||
available for shipment to stores. Depending on how initial
|
||
distribution is planned, the time from warehouse stock to store
|
||
shelves is 1 to 3 weeks, including shipping.
|
||
|
||
It sounds complex, and it is. We'd like nothing better than
|
||
to build and ship, without delays, but we can't do it and supply
|
||
a quality product.
|
||
|
||
If all our plans went like clockwork, you wouldn't see the
|
||
delays. If it took two years to bring the product to market,
|
||
you'd simply see the ads when it was ready, and walk into a store
|
||
and take a copy home. We try to plan it that way. Magazine and
|
||
newspaper ads are not normally placed until product is in the
|
||
warehouse. Sometimes, ongoing testing uncovers a problem after
|
||
that time, and we suspend shipments until it's fixed.
|
||
|
||
Catalogs are another matter. They have very long lead times.
|
||
Our August catalog is committed in April. If we aren't very
|
||
confident of delivery, we don't include the product. But if only
|
||
one new product out of 2 dozen is delayed, you and we forget the
|
||
twenty-three that went according to plan, and that one becomes a
|
||
major problem to us all. We just aren't willing to deliver a
|
||
product with a known problem, in order to make a deadline.
|
||
|
||
FidoNews 4-22 Page 11 8 Jun 1987
|
||
|
||
|
||
Specifically, in the case of OS-9 Lv II, remember that it
|
||
took 3 years to develop OS-9. With Tandy's backing, the new
|
||
windowing system included in Lv II was developed in about one
|
||
year. My software gurus tell me that the windowing portion of OS-
|
||
9 Lv II is actually more code than OS-9 itself, and the Lv II
|
||
manual is 1,200 pages!
|
||
|
||
If you haven't been intimately involved in software
|
||
development, it's hard to fathom the procedure. The bottom line
|
||
is that Tandy tries very hard to produce quality software. Our
|
||
normal policy is not to announce products until you can walk out
|
||
of a store with them. If in a specific instance that doesn't
|
||
happen, you can be assured of two things. One, there was a good
|
||
reason; and two, a lot of folks are under considerable pressure
|
||
to correct the situation.
|
||
|
||
Thanks, Mr. Sullivan, for providing several subjects that
|
||
should be of considerably widespread interest.
|
||
|
||
TIP TO HARD CARD OWNERS
|
||
|
||
Our technical support people have found that there is a
|
||
significant possibility of damage to your system if you transport
|
||
it with a 20Mb hard disk card installed. We strongly suggest that
|
||
if you ship or transport it, you emove the card first. We
|
||
recommend you save the hard card carton, in case you have to ship
|
||
it anywhere at a later date.
|
||
|
||
See you next month.
|
||
|
||
Material contained herein may be reproduced in whole or in part
|
||
in user group newsletters. Please quote source as Tandy
|
||
Corporation/Radio Shack.
|
||
|
||
Send questions/suggestions to:
|
||
|
||
Ed Juge, director of market planning
|
||
Radio Shack
|
||
1700 One Tandy Center
|
||
Fort Worth, TX 76102
|
||
|
||
You can also join the Tandy EchoMail Conference by contacting
|
||
Neal Curtin 343/1 or myself 362/1 for more information.
|
||
|
||
-----------------------------------------------------------------
|
||
|
||
FidoNews 4-22 Page 12 8 Jun 1987
|
||
|
||
|
||
=================================================================
|
||
COLUMNS
|
||
=================================================================
|
||
|
||
|
||
-- The Regular Irregular Column --
|
||
Dale Lovell
|
||
157/504
|
||
|
||
Well, I seem to have gotten past the thirteenth column in
|
||
one piece. I finally had some time this past week to take a look
|
||
over some of the stuff that had been building up in my pile of
|
||
"things that I should look at real soon now." While this may
|
||
sound great, I didn't have the time to do any in depth testing of
|
||
any of the products. I plan to keep exercising most of the
|
||
programs and will keep you updated on anything new I find
|
||
out. First up is Dennis Baer's Structured Programming Language.
|
||
|
||
-- The Structure Programming Language (Pledge of $50-$100) --
|
||
|
||
SPL is not currently meant to be a stand alone programming
|
||
language. It works with a BASIC interpreter or compiler. While it
|
||
resembles Pascal, it has many of the functions you may have
|
||
become accustomed to in BASIC. Overall I'm not that impressed
|
||
with it and don't think I'll be using it much. I do think it
|
||
could have a great use as a preprocessor for a BASIC compiler
|
||
(or even an interpreter). If more people started off using SPL
|
||
instead of straight BASIC, it would help avoid some of the
|
||
problems I've seen with a few self-taught programmers. I don't
|
||
mean to downplay BASIC, I've used it myself. The problem is too
|
||
many people place too much importance on it. I've run into quite
|
||
a few "programmers" who have had severe problems in trying to
|
||
learn any new languages or write what I would consider acceptable
|
||
code (and I'm not that picky) because of the bad habits they had
|
||
picked up from BASIC. I think SPL could help stop some of these
|
||
problems. Anyway, enough of my preaching.
|
||
|
||
Since SPL translates its' code into BASIC, just about
|
||
everyone should be able to run it (most people have BASIC for
|
||
their MS-DOS machines compliments of Microsoft). The language
|
||
itself is structured enough to meet with my approval, although it
|
||
could use better support on nesting (it currently has a maximum
|
||
of 10 nested statements) and recursion. Procedures are declared
|
||
pretty much as they are in Pascal, so I felt right at home. While
|
||
there wasn't that many different variable types allowed, I found
|
||
them adequate for simple use (real, integer, string, and arrays
|
||
of all types). I would have liked to seen data structures as well
|
||
(it would have been a nice addition to the regular BASIC variable
|
||
types), hopefully the next release will have them. The language
|
||
isn't that bad, my only real complaint is that its' generated
|
||
code runs so slow under GW-BASIC. This could probably be improved
|
||
by using a BASIC compiler, but I haven't gotten around to
|
||
purchasing one yet. I'd recommend it to someone just learning how
|
||
to program. The extra steps involved in running a program should
|
||
also help to acquaint a person with the real world (text editor,
|
||
compiler, source level debugger, etc.). Since SPL has many of the
|
||
FidoNews 4-22 Page 13 8 Jun 1987
|
||
|
||
|
||
functions in BASIC, you get the flexibility of BASIC (even full
|
||
screen functions) without picking up many of BASIC's "bad habits"
|
||
(GOTOs, needing line number, etc.).
|
||
|
||
-- MacPaint pictures, READMAC, and more --
|
||
|
||
When the Apple Macintosh was first introduced, many of us
|
||
cringed at the included drawing program (MacPaint). Not only was
|
||
it very easy to impress your friends with the then beautiful
|
||
pictures, it was easy to use. In short order scanners for the
|
||
Macintosh were feeding their output into MacPaint. This left many
|
||
of us PC users feeling mean and nasty (I remember when PC owners
|
||
snarled at the mention of the Macintosh). There weren't any
|
||
inexpensive mice or drawing programs for the PC and even if they
|
||
appeared overnight on the marketplace, the Mac people still had a
|
||
jump on us. The PC world did respond, and you can now get quality
|
||
mice for a PC for about $100. Many of the mice even come packaged
|
||
with a paint program and/or mice menu software. The problem was
|
||
there still wasn't any way to bring the MacPaint pictures over to
|
||
our PCs (and help us PC users catch up quick).
|
||
|
||
These problems were overcome over a year ago with a program
|
||
called READMAC. It allowed an IBM PC with a CGA adapter to
|
||
display and print a MacPaint format picture. In short order there
|
||
were READMAC programs for Hercules monochrome adapters (the EGA
|
||
adapters would have worked with the original READMAC). I've seen
|
||
programs to convert a MacPaint picture to a PC Paint Plus format
|
||
picture, but not in the Public Domain. The program I saw was
|
||
copyrighted by MicroTex (who makes many of the scanners for PCs
|
||
and Macs). If anyone has a public domain equivalent, I'd
|
||
appreciate it if you could pass the news of it onto me (and where
|
||
I can file request it). The part I like is that a conversion
|
||
program would allow me to bring these scanned images into a
|
||
DeskTop Publishing System like Ventura Publisher.
|
||
|
||
While this may not sound like much, I've seen several
|
||
hundred scanned (or drawn) MacPaint pictures. Everything from an
|
||
Escher style print to Clint Eastwood as Dirty Harry. In many
|
||
instances I don't need to find (or buy) a scanner. I can merely
|
||
dig up the MacPaint picture that has already been scanned. This
|
||
could be a big boom for us Bulletin Boards as many companies
|
||
would start taking us seriously. After all, when you've got the
|
||
files that they're looking for, they will take you seriously!
|
||
|
||
The original idea of READMAC has already been copied many
|
||
times. I've come across a very quick READMAC type program for an
|
||
EGA card. It has many features that could not be implemented on a
|
||
CGA card (or herc card for that matter) and only lacks the
|
||
ability to print the picture. The program is called EGAMAC and is
|
||
from Large Scale Computing (the suggested contribution is $5).
|
||
First off this is the fastest MacPaint reader I've ever seen, and
|
||
speed means a lot to me as I do not have a 10 mhz AT. The program
|
||
uses the high resolution modes of an EGA adapter and displays the
|
||
picture without ANY distortion (as far as I can tell). In
|
||
addition it allows you to look at the inverse of the picture and
|
||
allows you to set the background color. If this wasn't enough it
|
||
FidoNews 4-22 Page 14 8 Jun 1987
|
||
|
||
|
||
also allows you to change to pictures characteristics. This
|
||
doesn't mean that you can change the picture, it just means the
|
||
colors used. You can shade it with any of 3 different levels on
|
||
Red, Green, and Blue. This was very convenient for me, as I
|
||
didn't enjoy looking at everything in black and white. Of course,
|
||
it does invite some patented weirdness when trying it out, but I
|
||
found it a nice change of pace from being serious. I'd heartily
|
||
recommend anyone with an EGA system to take a look over this
|
||
software and send in at least a ten dollar contribution. Software
|
||
of this quality is getting hard to find and we all need to
|
||
support those few people still writing it!
|
||
|
||
-- Winding Down --
|
||
|
||
I just came across an update to Hack (I had 3.5 and found
|
||
3.6) and have been busy looking for changes. I haven't really
|
||
noticed any differences, but they might have been at the lower
|
||
levels. I have yet to get past the tenth level, but I'm still
|
||
working at it. Since I was "busy" looking over this "update"
|
||
(I've been told 3.6 has been out for awhile) I didn't have a
|
||
chance to look over any of the newer games sitting around (as
|
||
opposed to an update of an older game). I still like Hack and
|
||
think it is one of the better Public Domain games available for
|
||
PCs. Since it has no graphics it should run on any system with an
|
||
ANSI.SYS driver (DEC Rainbows have it built into the machine). In
|
||
case you missed my comments on awhile back, it's a Dungeon and
|
||
Dragons type program. You attempt to recover the Amulet of Yendor
|
||
out of a Dungeon, you start off with a trusty companion (a small
|
||
dog, who does grow) and the minimal amount of provisions and
|
||
equipment. Along the way you'll find deadly monsters, "playful"
|
||
sprites, and a few shop keepers.
|
||
|
||
The best book I've come across is "Assembly Language Primer
|
||
for the IBM PC & XT" by Robert Lafore of The Waite Group (list
|
||
price $24.95). It is a beginning book on assembly language for
|
||
our beloved PCs. I had bought the Microsoft Macro Assembler some
|
||
weeks ago for a program that had come across Usenet. Part of it
|
||
was in assembler, and I really wanted to have it running. Since I
|
||
had bought the assembler, I finally decided to learn how to
|
||
program in assembly language. This book has taught me a lot about
|
||
8088 assembly language and seems to cover the necessary topics.
|
||
You can enter all of the sample programs through the DEBUG
|
||
program included with MS-DOS, so don't worry if you don't own an
|
||
assembler. Robert Lafore has a wonderful writing style that works
|
||
well with what would otherwise be a dry subject. Throughout the
|
||
book you find subtle humor to help carry you through the tough
|
||
subjects introduced. I won't go into assembly language here, as
|
||
I've found it is a tough subject (for me at least). This book is
|
||
one of most well written computer texts I've ever come across.
|
||
Even if you aren't interested in assembly language, I would
|
||
recommend buying this book in order to have a good standard of
|
||
what computer books SHOULD be like.
|
||
|
||
This paragraph is for an unknown individual who sent me a
|
||
package with no return address. The enclosed note was signed
|
||
"Ender Wiggin." Well Ender, how about letting me know who you are
|
||
FidoNews 4-22 Page 15 8 Jun 1987
|
||
|
||
|
||
(and what's with the "four fighter starship?"). I'm hoping this
|
||
will drag my shy friend out of the woodwork. If you know who he
|
||
or she is, please drop me a line as I am getting VERY curious!
|
||
|
||
That ties it up for this week. I'll get around to some of
|
||
the other programs that have been piling up next week. As it is
|
||
this may get into Thom a little late (please excuse any errors as
|
||
I was rushed). I encourage you to write to me (electronic or
|
||
otherwise) and let me know you views on anything I've written
|
||
about (or something you think I should). Below you'll find my
|
||
FidoNet address, Usenet address, and US Mail address. I try to
|
||
answer all the mail that I receive. People sending me mail
|
||
through FidoNet should route my mail through 157/0 or 157/1 (I'm
|
||
a private node in the matrix).
|
||
|
||
|
||
Dale Lovell
|
||
3266 Vezber Drive
|
||
Seven Hills, OH 44131
|
||
|
||
uucp: ..!ncoast!lovell
|
||
FidoNet: 157/504
|
||
|
||
-----------------------------------------------------------------
|
||
|
||
FidoNews 4-22 Page 16 8 Jun 1987
|
||
|
||
|
||
=================================================================
|
||
NOTICES
|
||
=================================================================
|
||
|
||
The Interrupt Stack
|
||
|
||
|
||
22 Jun 1987
|
||
Submissions deadline for echolist #103. All updates should be
|
||
sent to Tomas Kenny at 107/316.
|
||
|
||
1 Aug 1987
|
||
Third Annual BBS Picnic in Edison, NJ. Please register before
|
||
July 10th. Admission is $7 for adults, $4 for 12 and under,
|
||
free for 5 and under. Contact Paul Kelley at 107/331 for
|
||
details.
|
||
|
||
20 Aug 1987
|
||
Start of the Fourth International FidoNet Conference, to be
|
||
held at the Radisson Mark Plaza Hotel in Alexandria, VA.
|
||
Contact Brian Hughes at 109/634 for more information. This is
|
||
FidoNet's big annual get-together, and is your chance to meet
|
||
all the people you've been talking with all this time. We're
|
||
hoping to see you there!
|
||
|
||
24 Aug 1989
|
||
Voyager 2 passes Neptune.
|
||
|
||
|
||
If you have something which you would like to see on this
|
||
calendar, please send a message to FidoNet node 1:1/1.
|
||
|
||
-----------------------------------------------------------------
|
||
|
||
Thomas Kenny, 107/316
|
||
|
||
It is finally true! Echolist 102 is now available from me under
|
||
the name of "echolist.arc". I run SEAdog but no file requests
|
||
from 8-10GMT (NMH-1hr to NMH+1hr). Please be certain to send me
|
||
corrections and additions for the next echolist. The deadline for
|
||
submissions to the next list is 6/22/87. Thanks and enjoy!
|
||
|
||
-----------------------------------------------------------------
|
||
|
||
Latest Software Versions
|
||
|
||
BBS Systems Node List Other
|
||
& Mailers Version Utilities Version Utilities Version
|
||
|
||
Dutchie 2.51* EDITNL 3.3 ARC 5.21*
|
||
Fido 11w LISTGEN 05.25.86 ARCmail 0.60
|
||
Opus 0.00 Prune 1.40 EchoMail 1.31
|
||
SEAdog 4.00 RouteGen 2.81* FastEcho 2.00*
|
||
TBBS 2.0S TestList 8.3* Renum 3.30
|
||
XlatList 2.81*
|
||
|
||
FidoNews 4-22 Page 17 8 Jun 1987
|
||
|
||
|
||
* Recently changed
|
||
|
||
Utility authors: Please help keep this list as current as
|
||
possible by reporting new versions to 1:1/1. It is not our
|
||
intent to list all utilities here, only those which verge on
|
||
necessity.
|
||
|
||
-----------------------------------------------------------------
|
||
|
||
FidoNews 4-22 Page 18 8 Jun 1987
|
||
|
||
|
||
Bob Morris 141/333
|
||
Chairman, Elections and Nominations Committee
|
||
|
||
The next two pages are your Official ballot for the Election of
|
||
the IFNA Board of Directors. The following are the few rules
|
||
which must prevail in this election:
|
||
|
||
1. You must send a legible copy of this ballot to the address
|
||
listed on the ballot. It must be signed and bear your
|
||
net/node number.
|
||
|
||
2. You may vote for any one person in your region for the
|
||
position of Regional Director. This vote is to be cast in the
|
||
LEFT column of the ballot.
|
||
|
||
3. You may vote for any eleven people in any regions for the
|
||
position of Director at Large. These votes are to be cast in
|
||
the RIGHT column of the ballot.
|
||
|
||
4. Voting will continue until the end of registration at the
|
||
Conference in August. The results will be read during the
|
||
opening of the business meeting on the first day of the
|
||
conference.
|
||
|
||
5. Write-in Votes will be accepted and are requested during this
|
||
election.
|
||
|
||
|
||
|
||
FidoNews 4-22 Page 19 8 Jun 1987
|
||
|
||
|
||
IFNA Board Of Directors
|
||
Ballot
|
||
|
||
Regional At Large
|
||
Region 10:
|
||
Steve Jordan _________ ________
|
||
|
||
|
||
Region 11:
|
||
Ryugen Fisher _________ ________
|
||
Theodore Polczynski _________ ________
|
||
|
||
|
||
Region 12:
|
||
|
||
|
||
Region 13:
|
||
Don Daniels _________ ________
|
||
John Penberthy _________ ________
|
||
Thom Henderson _________ ________
|
||
Gee Wong _________ ________
|
||
Brian Hughes _________ ________
|
||
|
||
|
||
Region 14:
|
||
Ben Baker _________ ________
|
||
Ken Kaplan _________ ________
|
||
Brad Hicks _________ ________
|
||
|
||
|
||
Region 15:
|
||
David Dodell _________ ________
|
||
Larry Wall _________ ________
|
||
|
||
|
||
Region 16:
|
||
Bob Hartman _________ ________
|
||
Hal Duprie _________ ________
|
||
|
||
|
||
Region 17:
|
||
Rob Barker _________ ________
|
||
Randy Bush _________ ________
|
||
Bob Swift _________ ________
|
||
|
||
|
||
Region 18:
|
||
Wes Cowley _________ ________
|
||
FidoNews 4-22 Page 20 8 Jun 1987
|
||
|
||
|
||
Region 19:
|
||
Mark Grennan _________ ________
|
||
Wynn Wagner _________ ________
|
||
|
||
|
||
Region 2:
|
||
Henk Wevers _________ ________
|
||
|
||
|
||
Write-in candidates:
|
||
___________________ _________ ________
|
||
___________________ _________ ________
|
||
|
||
|
||
|
||
|
||
|
||
Name ______________________________ Net/Node ___________
|
||
|
||
Signature______________________________ Date ___________
|
||
|
||
|
||
Please complete this and mail it to:
|
||
|
||
Robert Morris
|
||
IFNA Elections Committee
|
||
210 Church Street
|
||
West Haven, Ct. 06516
|
||
|
||
or bring it with you when you come to the conference in August.
|
||
|
||
|
||
These ballots will be counted by myself since with 200 members
|
||
the charges for a CPA would be very high. Hard copies will be
|
||
made available to anyone wishing to insure that their vote was
|
||
included.
|
||
|
||
Thank You
|
||
|
||
Bob Morris
|
||
Elections and Nominations Committee
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FidoNews 4-22 Page 21 8 Jun 1987
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OFFICIAL REGISTRATION FORM
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FOURTH INTERNATIONAL FIDONET CONFERENCE
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RADISSON MARK PLAZA HOTEL
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ALEXANDRIA, VA.
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AUGUST 20 - 23, 1987
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Name _________________________________ Date _____________
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Address ______________________________
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City & State _________________________
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Phone (Voice) ________________________
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Net/Node Number ______________________
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Phone (Data) _________________________
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Number in Your Party _________________
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Staying at the Radisson? _____________
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Number of Rooms? _____________________
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Arrival Date? ________________________
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Departure Date? ______________________
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Registration Fees: How Many Total
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Full Conference $60.00 each ________ $________
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Late registration $10.00 each ________ $________
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(after Aug. 1)
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Friday Night Banquet $30.00 each ________ $________
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Saturday Luncheon $16.50 each ________ $________
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Total Amount Included (Registration and Meals) $________
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IFNA MEMBERS ONLY:
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How many in your party will
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be attending the Sunday morning
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Board of Directors meeting? ________
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Send your registration form and a check or money order to:
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Fourth International FidoNet Conference
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212 E. Capitol St., Washington, D.C. 20003
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Attn: Brian H. Hughes -- voice: (202) 543-4200
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This registration form does not include hotel accomodations. If
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you wish to stay at the Radisson Mark Plaza Hotel, please contact
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them directly and mention you are with the FidoNet Conference.
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Conference room rates are $80/night for single or double
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occupancy, and $20/night for an extra cot.
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Radisson Mark Plaza Hotel
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5000 Seminary Rd., Alexandria, Va. 22311
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1-800-228-9822
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