543 lines
25 KiB
Plaintext
543 lines
25 KiB
Plaintext
Volume 5, Number 51 19 December 1988
|
||
+---------------------------------------------------------------+
|
||
| _ |
|
||
| / \ |
|
||
| /|oo \ |
|
||
| - FidoNews - (_| /_) |
|
||
| _`@/_ \ _ |
|
||
| International | | \ \\ |
|
||
| FidoNet Association | (*) | \ )) |
|
||
| Newsletter ______ |__U__| / \// |
|
||
| / FIDO \ _//|| _\ / |
|
||
| (________) (_/(_|(____/ |
|
||
| (jm) |
|
||
+---------------------------------------------------------------+
|
||
Editor in Chief Dale Lovell
|
||
Editor Emeritus: Thom Henderson
|
||
Chief Procrastinator Emeritus: Tom Jennings
|
||
Contributing Editors: Al Arango
|
||
|
||
FidoNews is published weekly by the International FidoNet
|
||
Association as its official newsletter. You are encouraged to
|
||
submit articles for publication in FidoNews. Article submission
|
||
standards are contained in the file ARTSPEC.DOC, available from
|
||
node 1:1/1. 1:1/1 is available for network mail between NMH-1
|
||
hour to NMH+1 hour. At all other times, netmail is not accepted
|
||
although submissions can be uploaded.
|
||
|
||
Copyright 1988 by the International FidoNet Association. All
|
||
rights reserved. Duplication and/or distribution permitted for
|
||
noncommercial purposes only. For use in other circumstances,
|
||
please contact IFNA at (314) 576-4067. IFNA may also be contacted
|
||
at PO Box 41143, St. Louis, MO 63141.
|
||
|
||
Fido and FidoNet are registered trademarks of Tom Jennings of
|
||
Fido Software, 164 Shipley Avenue, San Francisco, CA 94107 and
|
||
are used with permission.
|
||
|
||
The contents of the articles contained here are not our
|
||
responsibility, nor do we necessarily agree with them.
|
||
Everything here is subject to debate. We publish EVERYTHING
|
||
received.
|
||
|
||
|
||
|
||
Table of Contents
|
||
|
||
1. ARTICLES ................................................. 1
|
||
Twas The Byte Before Computing ........................... 1
|
||
2. COLUMNS .................................................. 3
|
||
RegComm - Communications From RegCon ..................... 3
|
||
3. FOR SALE ................................................. 5
|
||
MSO 80386-SX System on Sale .............................. 5
|
||
4. NOTICES .................................................. 6
|
||
The Interrupt Stack ...................................... 6
|
||
Telephone Professional Related Echos ..................... 6
|
||
Latest Software Versions ................................. 6
|
||
5. COMMITTEE REPORTS ........................................ 8
|
||
And more!
|
||
FidoNews 5-51 Page 1 19 Dec 1988
|
||
|
||
|
||
=================================================================
|
||
ARTICLES
|
||
=================================================================
|
||
|
||
|
||
Twas The Byte Before Computing
|
||
by Bert Happel
|
||
(with apologies to Clement C. Moore)
|
||
|
||
Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house
|
||
Not a circuit was working not even in my mouse;
|
||
The files were all loaded on the hard disc with care,
|
||
In hopes that the FAT would list them as there.
|
||
The backups were nestled all snug in their sleeves,
|
||
To keep the bytes from dropping off them like leaves;
|
||
And the disc drive was quiet, taking a rest
|
||
Just waiting to run the next boot-up test.
|
||
When out of the speaker there arose such a clatter
|
||
I sprang to my desk to see what was the matter.
|
||
Away to the keyboard I flew like a flash,
|
||
Threw open the drive-door and heard a loud crash.
|
||
The lights on the breast of the new-fallen dust
|
||
Gave a luster of mid-day to a CRT covered with crust.
|
||
When what to my wondering eyes did appear,
|
||
But a miniature sleigh and the eight data registers I fear.
|
||
With a little old driver, so lively and gloss
|
||
I knew in a moment he was a master of DOS.
|
||
More rapid than eagles his coursers they came,
|
||
And he whistled out and called them by name
|
||
"Now Fido! Now Opus! Now QuickBBS and TBBS!
|
||
On, ConfMail! On, XlatList! On, Bark and WaZoo!
|
||
To the top of the memory! To the top of the stack!
|
||
Now dash away! Dash away! Dash away all!"
|
||
As leaves before the wild hurricane fly,
|
||
When they meet with an obstacle mount to the sky,
|
||
So up on the screen the coursers they flew,
|
||
With a sleigh full of utilities, and DOS commands too.
|
||
As I drew back my head and was turning around,
|
||
Out the RS-232 port he came with a bound.
|
||
He was dressed all in ROM, from his head to his foot,
|
||
And his clothes were all tarnished with bytes and some soot;
|
||
A bundle of data he had flung on his back,
|
||
And he looked like he had a program he wanted to crack.
|
||
His eyes -- How they twinkled! His dimples, how merry!
|
||
His cheeks were like roses, his nose was a cherry!
|
||
His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow,
|
||
And the beard on his chin was as white as the snow;
|
||
The stump of a pipe he held in his teeth,
|
||
And the smoke it encircled his head like a wreath;
|
||
He had a broad face and a round little belly
|
||
That shook when he laughed like a bowl full of jelly.
|
||
He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf,
|
||
And I laughed when I saw him, in spite of myself;
|
||
A flash of the CRT and a twist of his head
|
||
Soon gave me to know I had lost programs to dread;
|
||
He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work,
|
||
FidoNews 5-51 Page 2 19 Dec 1988
|
||
|
||
|
||
And filled all the RAM; then turned, the big jerk,
|
||
And laying a finger aside of his nose,
|
||
And giving a nod, in the RS-232 port he goes.
|
||
He sprang to the sleigh, his team they all whistled,
|
||
And away they all flew like they had sat on a thistle.
|
||
But I heard him exclaim, ere he faded out of sight,
|
||
"Bug-free programs to all and to all a good night!"
|
||
|
||
|
||
Best wishes for the Holidays to everyone.
|
||
Bert Happel
|
||
Sysop, The I.O. Board
|
||
1:231/60
|
||
|
||
-----------------------------------------------------------------
|
||
|
||
FidoNews 5-51 Page 3 19 Dec 1988
|
||
|
||
|
||
=================================================================
|
||
COLUMNS
|
||
=================================================================
|
||
|
||
RegComm - Communications From RegCon.
|
||
|
||
Recently one of the nodes within FidoNet was excommunicated twice
|
||
within a very short period of time. In both cases there were
|
||
definite policy violations, there was more than sufficient
|
||
warning given before action was taken and everything was done by
|
||
agreement between the RC and NC involved. Sounds like a pretty
|
||
simple case history, but nothing ever is.
|
||
|
||
The node filed an appeal to the second excommunication, and
|
||
during the appeal process the RC became quite ill. As there had
|
||
been some delay in the appeal process prior to the illness the
|
||
ZC, in all fairness, requested the NC reinstate the node until
|
||
the appeal could be completed. The NC refused the request. The
|
||
ZC restated the request a little more strongly and the NC again
|
||
refused the request. The ZC was forced to change the request to
|
||
an order. (Keep in mind that at ANY time the ZC could have
|
||
removed the node himself!) The order was ignored and when the
|
||
nodediff was sent in by this NC it was accompanied by a message
|
||
that the change had still not taken place. Now with regret, but
|
||
little choice, the ZC had to remove the NC from the nodelist and
|
||
because there was now no NC for the net the entire net was placed
|
||
on hold.
|
||
|
||
Our present policy was followed to the letter. Evidently the NC
|
||
in question did not understand the management structure within
|
||
FidoNet and thought, with the RC responsible incapacitated by
|
||
illness, there was no management. The ZC, well aware of every-
|
||
thing that had transpired and feeling that there could be no
|
||
success in the appeal of the node STILL followed due process and
|
||
asked for reinstatement until policy could be followed. But
|
||
failure to recognize the management chain resulted in an entire
|
||
net being placed in limbo.
|
||
|
||
We all need to realize there is a management chain within this
|
||
network. That chain starts at the IC/ZC level and ends at the
|
||
node level. Oh, yes, the node is a part of management. The
|
||
management of one's own node is an important part of net manage-
|
||
ment as an error in software implementation at the node level can
|
||
impact the local net, the region and even the entire network. As
|
||
in any organization, there is a need for management within
|
||
FidoNet and the *C structure IS that management. Failure to
|
||
follow the requests of management within FidoNet will result in
|
||
the same actions you might expect for failure to follow the
|
||
requests of management in any business or organization.
|
||
|
||
Now that our regional management team has improved their communi-
|
||
cations you can expect to see actions taking place much more
|
||
quickly than in the past. We will do all we can to enforce
|
||
present policy while we continue to work towards updating that
|
||
policy to better address the problems created by a network that
|
||
is expanding at the rapid rate that FidoNet is demonstrating.
|
||
FidoNews 5-51 Page 4 19 Dec 1988
|
||
|
||
|
||
We don't ask you to follow blindly, as in any management team we
|
||
still have the infamous `middle management' and we have managers
|
||
who have had little training. All the problems of the *C team
|
||
and all problems we will constantly be addressing. We do ask
|
||
that you communicate with management, let us know problems as you
|
||
perceive them and give us the opportunity to act on your
|
||
requests. But please do not make our job more difficult by
|
||
failing to recognize the requests of the management team, as to
|
||
do so leaves that team little choice as to the course of action
|
||
it must follow.
|
||
|
||
("RegComm" will be a weekly column in FidoNews and your comments
|
||
are welcome. Please address your concerns and comments via
|
||
NetMail to your Net or Regional Coordinator, you should receive
|
||
an answer within a few days. It's your net and we are in need of
|
||
your input in order for us to fairly represent you.)
|
||
|
||
-----------------------------------------------------------------
|
||
|
||
FidoNews 5-51 Page 5 19 Dec 1988
|
||
|
||
|
||
=================================================================
|
||
FOR SALE
|
||
=================================================================
|
||
|
||
Jim Deputy (aka Sir Dep)
|
||
204/40 204/386
|
||
|
||
MSO Computers is announcing special pricing on their Jet-386/SX
|
||
System. The system includes:
|
||
|
||
Intel 80386-SX Microprocessor, 1 MB of 100ns SIM Modules,
|
||
2 Serial/1 Parallel Ports, 1:1 Interleave (FD/HD) Controller,
|
||
Either a 1.2 MB or a 1.44 MB Floppy Drive, 230 Watt Power
|
||
Supply, Real-time CMOS Clock/Calendar, 101-key tactile key-
|
||
board, Amber monitor with mono video card.
|
||
|
||
The System Features are:
|
||
|
||
Full 32-Bit Internal Architecture, Runs under MS-DOS, OS/2,
|
||
UNIX, or PICK. Virtual Memory Support (EEMS 4.0), Page Mode
|
||
Interleave Support, Mother board will handle up to 8MB in 1MB
|
||
SIM Modules. Fully IBM Compatible. 20 MHz operating speed. On
|
||
204/386 this machine (286 version) does a complete nodediff
|
||
update (using Xlaxnode) in less than 1.5 minutes.
|
||
|
||
The price is: $2386.00 (plus applicable tax)
|
||
|
||
This price is for a limited time. Those interested should con-
|
||
tact me at either 204/40 or 204/386, or call either 408-945-
|
||
4270 or 800-YES-4MSO, and mention my name.
|
||
|
||
|
||
-----------------------------------------------------------------
|
||
|
||
FidoNews 5-51 Page 6 19 Dec 1988
|
||
|
||
|
||
=================================================================
|
||
NOTICES
|
||
=================================================================
|
||
|
||
The Interrupt Stack
|
||
|
||
|
||
24 Aug 1989
|
||
Voyager 2 passes Neptune.
|
||
|
||
5 Oct 1989
|
||
20th Anniversary of "Monty Python's Flying Circus"
|
||
|
||
If you have something which you would like to see on this
|
||
calendar, please send a message to FidoNet node 1:1/1.
|
||
|
||
-----------------------------------------------------------------
|
||
|
||
Jim Deputy (aka Sir Dep)
|
||
1:204/40
|
||
|
||
Telephone Professional Related Echos
|
||
|
||
I am attempting to organize two Echos for those who work in
|
||
the Telephone Industry. I am in a PC-Pursuitable area.
|
||
|
||
The first Echo, Telephone Professionals (TELEPRO) for those
|
||
who are actively working in the telephone industry in any
|
||
capacity from telemarketing to system sales. Where informa-
|
||
tion can be passed between users on various topics of inter-
|
||
est.
|
||
|
||
The second Echo, Telephone Consultants, (TCONSULT) for those
|
||
who are selling, consulting etc on various types of telephone
|
||
systems. A place to pick-up tips, locate equipment, etc.
|
||
|
||
Let me know if you would like to link into either of these
|
||
echos.
|
||
-----------------------------------------------------------------
|
||
|
||
Latest Software Versions
|
||
|
||
BBS Systems Node List Other
|
||
& Mailers Version Utilities Version Utilities Version
|
||
|
||
Dutchie 2.90b EditNL 4.00 ARC 5.32*
|
||
Fido 12i MakeNL 2.12 ARCmail 1.1
|
||
Opus 1.03b Prune 1.40 ConfMail 4.00
|
||
SEAdog 4.10 XlatList 2.86 EchoMail 1.31
|
||
TBBS 2.1* XlaxNode 2.22 MGM 1.1
|
||
BinkleyTerm 2.00 XlaxDiff 2.22 TPB Editor 1.21
|
||
QuickBBS 2.03 ParseList 1.30* TCOMMail 1.1
|
||
TPBoard 4.2 TMail 8812*
|
||
TComm/TCommNet 3.2 UFGATE 1.02*
|
||
Lynx 1.10 GROUP 2.0*
|
||
D'Bridge 1.10
|
||
FidoNews 5-51 Page 7 19 Dec 1988
|
||
|
||
|
||
FrontDoor 2.0
|
||
|
||
* Recently changed
|
||
|
||
Utility authors: Please help keep this list up to date 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 5-51 Page 8 19 Dec 1988
|
||
|
||
|
||
=================================================================
|
||
COMMITTEE REPORTS
|
||
=================================================================
|
||
|
||
Don Daniels
|
||
1:107/210
|
||
|
||
|
||
Request for Members of IFNA Committees
|
||
|
||
Three of IFNA's Committees are presently in need of additional
|
||
volunteers. There is need for both workers and leaders. If
|
||
interested, review the material below and, if you are prepared to
|
||
take on part of the effort described, please send a message to
|
||
Don Daniels at 1:107/210.
|
||
|
||
Nominations and Election Committee - IFNA BYLAW 34: "The
|
||
Nomination and Elections Committee shall be responsible for:
|
||
a) finding and qualifying candidates;
|
||
b) reviewing voting procedures and recommending modifications
|
||
as necessary;
|
||
c) performs other duties as described in applicable By-Laws."
|
||
|
||
As indicated, this committee runs and oversees the entire
|
||
election process. It has various tasks to do between now and
|
||
FidoCon relative to the election. The Chairman will present
|
||
the election results to the BoD at FidoCon.
|
||
|
||
Bylaws and Rules Committee - BYLAW 35: "The By-Laws and Rules
|
||
Committee shall be responsible for review and any suggestion
|
||
of changes to these by-laws."
|
||
|
||
There still is a fair amount of work that needs to be done to
|
||
bring our by-laws into shape. Also, it can be expected that
|
||
the current by-laws election may produce a few inconsistencies
|
||
which will require revisions, and changes in IFNA's direction
|
||
may also have to be provided for. If you can write well and
|
||
have a feel for how things should be, this might be for you.
|
||
Most of the committee's work will have to be done before
|
||
mid-June.
|
||
|
||
Security and Individual Rights - This is a new committee, in the
|
||
process of being formed at this time. It will be concerned
|
||
with any and all matters related to security and to privacy.
|
||
As many conflicts between individuals typically occur when
|
||
their respective individual rights come in conflict, this
|
||
committee will look at such areas and provide guidelines as
|
||
they deem best. Work on this committee could continue
|
||
throughout the year, but there are concerns related to the
|
||
Security and Privacy Committee of the Electronic Mail
|
||
Association which this committee will need to address prior to
|
||
meetings Feb 28 - Mar 1 in Scottsdale AZ and in late June in
|
||
San Francisco.
|
||
|
||
Sorry that we can't promise fame, wealth or glory - just work
|
||
towards the common good! Again, if interested in helping, please
|
||
FidoNews 5-51 Page 9 19 Dec 1988
|
||
|
||
|
||
contact Don Daniels at 1:107/210.
|
||
|
||
-----------------------------------------------------------------
|
||
|
||
FidoNews 5-51 Page 10 19 Dec 1988
|
||
|
||
|
||
OFFICERS OF THE INTERNATIONAL FIDONET ASSOCIATION
|
||
|
||
Hal DuPrie 1:101/106 Chairman of the Board
|
||
Bob Rudolph 1:261/628 President
|
||
Matt Whelan 3:3/1 Vice President
|
||
Ray Gwinn 1:109/639 Vice President - Technical Coordinator
|
||
David Garrett 1:103/501 Secretary
|
||
Steve Bonine 1:115/777 Treasurer
|
||
|
||
|
||
|
||
IFNA BOARD OF DIRECTORS
|
||
|
||
DIVISION AT-LARGE
|
||
|
||
10 Courtney Harris 1:102/732? Don Daniels 1:107/210
|
||
11 Bill Allbritten 1:11/301 Hal DuPrie 1:101/106
|
||
12 Bill Bolton 3:711/403 Mark Grennan 1:147/1
|
||
13 Rick Siegel 1:107/27 Steve Bonine 1:115/777
|
||
14 Ken Kaplan 1:100/22 Ted Polczyinski 1:154/5
|
||
15 Larry Kayser 1:104/739? Matt Whelan 3:3/1
|
||
16 Vince Perriello 1:141/491 Robert Rudolph 1:261/628
|
||
17 Rob Barker 1:138/34 Steve Jordan 1:102/2871
|
||
18 Christopher Baker 1:135/14 Bob Swift 1:140/24
|
||
19 David Drexler 1:19/1 Larry Wall 1:15/18
|
||
2 Henk Wevers 2:500/1 David Melnik 1:107/233
|
||
|
||
-----------------------------------------------------------------
|
||
|
||
FidoNews 5-51 Page 11 19 Dec 1988
|
||
|
||
|
||
__
|
||
The World's First / \
|
||
BBS Network /|oo \
|
||
* FidoNet * (_| /_)
|
||
_`@/_ \ _
|
||
| | \ \\
|
||
| (*) | \ ))
|
||
______ |__U__| / \//
|
||
/ Fido \ _//|| _\ /
|
||
(________) (_/(_|(____/ (tm)
|
||
|
||
Membership for the International FidoNet Association
|
||
|
||
Membership in IFNA is open to any individual or organization that
|
||
pays a specified annual membership fee. IFNA serves the
|
||
international FidoNet-compatible electronic mail community to
|
||
increase worldwide communications.
|
||
|
||
Member Name _______________________________ Date _______________
|
||
Address _________________________________________________________
|
||
City ____________________________________________________________
|
||
State ________________________________ Zip _____________________
|
||
Country _________________________________________________________
|
||
Home Phone (Voice) ______________________________________________
|
||
Work Phone (Voice) ______________________________________________
|
||
|
||
Zone:Net/Node Number ____________________________________________
|
||
BBS Name ________________________________________________________
|
||
BBS Phone Number ________________________________________________
|
||
Baud Rates Supported ____________________________________________
|
||
Board Restrictions ______________________________________________
|
||
|
||
Your Special Interests __________________________________________
|
||
_________________________________________________________________
|
||
_________________________________________________________________
|
||
In what areas would you be willing to help in FidoNet? __________
|
||
_________________________________________________________________
|
||
_________________________________________________________________
|
||
Send this membership form and a check or money order for $25 in
|
||
US Funds to:
|
||
International FidoNet Association
|
||
PO Box 41143
|
||
St Louis, Missouri 63141
|
||
USA
|
||
|
||
Thank you for your membership! Your participation will help to
|
||
insure the future of FidoNet.
|
||
|
||
Please NOTE that IFNA is a general not-for-profit organization
|
||
and Articles of Association and By-Laws were adopted by the
|
||
membership in January 1987. The second elected Board of Directors
|
||
was filled in August 1988. The IFNA Echomail Conference has been
|
||
established on FidoNet to assist the Board. We welcome your
|
||
input to this Conference.
|
||
|
||
-----------------------------------------------------------------
|
||
FidoNews 5-51 Page 12 19 Dec 1988
|
||
|
||
|
||
INTERNATIONAL FIDONET ASSOCIATION
|
||
ORDER FORM
|
||
|
||
Publications
|
||
|
||
The IFNA publications can be obtained by downloading from Fido
|
||
1:1/10 or other FidoNet compatible systems, or by purchasing
|
||
them directly from IFNA. We ask that all our IFNA Committee
|
||
Chairmen provide us with the latest versions of each
|
||
publication, but we can make no written guarantees.
|
||
|
||
Hardcopy prices as of October 1, 1986
|
||
|
||
IFNA Fido BBS listing $15.00 _____
|
||
IFNA Administrative Policy DOCs $10.00 _____
|
||
IFNA FidoNet Standards Committee DOCs $10.00 _____
|
||
|
||
SUBTOTAL _____
|
||
|
||
IFNA Member ONLY Special Offers
|
||
|
||
System Enhancement Associates SEAdog $60.00 _____
|
||
SEAdog price as of March 1, 1987
|
||
ONLY 1 copy SEAdog per IFNA Member
|
||
|
||
Fido Software's Fido/FidoNet $100.00 _____
|
||
Fido/FidoNet price as of November 1, 1987
|
||
ONLY 1 copy Fido/FidoNet per IFNA Member
|
||
|
||
International orders include $10.00 for
|
||
surface shipping or $20.00 for air shipping _____
|
||
|
||
SUBTOTAL _____
|
||
|
||
MO. Residents add 5.725% Sales Tax _____
|
||
|
||
TOTAL _____
|
||
|
||
SEND CHECK OR MONEY ORDER IN US FUNDS:
|
||
International FidoNet Association
|
||
PO Box 41143
|
||
St Louis, Mo. 63141
|
||
USA
|
||
|
||
Name________________________________
|
||
Zone:Net/Node____:____/____
|
||
Company_____________________________
|
||
Address_____________________________
|
||
City____________________ State____________ Zip_____
|
||
Voice Phone_________________________
|
||
|
||
|
||
Signature___________________________
|
||
|
||
-----------------------------------------------------------------
|
||
|
||
|