1084 lines
45 KiB
Plaintext
1084 lines
45 KiB
Plaintext
F I D O N E W S -- Vol.11 No.45 (07-Nov-1994)
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+----------------------------+-----------------------------------------+
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| A newsletter of the | ISSN 1198-4589 Published by: |
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| FidoNet BBS community | "FidoNews" BBS |
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| _ | +1-519-570-4176 |
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| / \ | |
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| /|oo \ | Small animal psychology and |
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| (_| /_) | Spiritual guidance Department: |
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| _`@/_ \ _ | Rev. Richard Visage 1:163/409 |
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| | | \ \\ | |
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| | (*) | \ )) | Editors: |
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| |__U__| / \// | Donald Tees 1:221/192 |
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| _//|| _\ / | |
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| (_/(_|(____/ | Tim |
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| (jm) | Newspapers should have no friends. |
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| | -- JOSEPH PULITZER |
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+----------------------------+-----------------------------------------+
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| Submission address: editors 1:1/23 |
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+----------------------------------------------------------------------+
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| MORE addresses: |
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| |
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| Don -- don@exlibris.tdkcs.waterloo.on.ca |
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| Tim Pozar -- pozar@kumr.lns.com |
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| David Deitch -- 1:133/411.411, deitch@gisatl.fidonet.org |
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| submissions=> editor@exlibris.tdkcs.waterloo.on.ca |
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+----------------------------------------------------------------------+
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| For information, copyrights, article submissions, |
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| obtaining copies of fidonews or the internet gateway faq |
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| please refer to the end of this file. |
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+----------------------------------------------------------------------+
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========================================================================
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Table of Contents
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========================================================================
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1. Editorial..................................................... 2
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2. Articles...................................................... 3
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Consultants and Consulting Organizations Directory.......... 3
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An answer to the "FrontDoor Question"....................... 3
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FrontDoor Net Coordinator Offer............................. 4
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FILTERED MESSAGE IDENTIFICATION FOR FIDONET................. 6
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Response to the letter of James Smith in FIDONEWS44:........ 9
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The History of Fidonet: A progress report................... 11
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FIDONET YESTERDAY, TODAY, AND TOMORROW...................... 12
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New Firearms Related Echomail............................... 13
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FIDONET YESTERDAY, TODAY, AND TOMORROW...................... 14
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The Hawaii Rotary BBS System needs help..................... 15
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PHONE NUMBERS in Europe..................................... 16
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Backbone Echo Changes [Sep-Oct]............................. 18
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3. Fidonews Information.......................................... 19
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FidoNews 11-45 Page: 2 07 Nov 1994
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========================================================================
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Editorial
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========================================================================
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Swamp Swine Magazine
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The First Church of Spandex Tube-Tops,
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Arkansas Rafting & Loan Society,
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P1S 0RF
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Dear Reverend Visage,
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I have been remiss in not writing earlier but I have been
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unaccountably detained by customs in Samoa. It is a
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testimony to the strength of Samoan ale that they formed the
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mistaken impression that I was Ollie North, returning to
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spread large wads of cash around for suspect purposes. I can
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only hope that they elect Ollie to the Senate with all haste
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and that he carpools with Teddy Kennedy at every
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opportunity.
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You will be relieved to note that Zone 1 has finally divined
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from the entrails of roadkill, the wisdom they needed to
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elect a new ZEC. No one is quite sure what a ZEC is
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empowered to do but it'd be a safe bet that a new policy
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initiative will be unleashed on the unsuspecting masses. The
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election rhetoric was most amusing and looked remarkably
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like a convention of Quotaholics. Special mention in that
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regard should go to Alan Rackmill whose last apparent
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original thought was waaay back in the late fifties.
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I shudder to mention Region12, but events have turned even
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more savage and ugly in the last couple of weeks. Our
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narcoleptic RC, Rick "Smart Like Hockey Puck" Johnston, has
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issued a policy complaint appeal decision. For our regular
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reader who may have missed the beginning of this stirring
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saga. A failed NC candidate, Matty "Pampers PosterChild
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1994" Stein, was bigtime miffed that the electorate failed
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to recognize his obvious charms and elected someone else.
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Matty, in a petulant frenzy which would have made Roseanne
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Barr blush, filed a policy complaint against one of his
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tormentors. The NC250 turfed the complaint. Undaunted, Matty
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appealed to our somewhat conscious RC who wrote a decision
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containing some of the world's most contused and confused
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logic. Alas, poor Rickster's attempts to create several
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consecutive sentences must have over-taxed his system
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because he fouled up the nodediff processing for yet another
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week.
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The matter is in the hands of god now, and we can hope
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fervently that Mr. Satti (pausing to burn incense) will
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suggest that Rick "Dan Quayle's Less Gifted Brother"
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Johnston spend some remedial time in Moose Jaw.
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FidoNews 11-45 Page: 3 07 Nov 1994
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I must go Visage. Your secretary is not the least bit amused
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and this has nothing at all to do with the fact that I
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forgot to mention that I'd put the porpoises in the hot tub.
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I suggest that we book her passage on short-haul Indiana
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commuter flights as soon as possible.
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Regards,
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Doc Logger
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Save the Whales: Harpoon a Greenpeacer,
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FlinFlon, Manitoba
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========================================================================
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Articles
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========================================================================
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Consultants and Consulting Organizations Directory
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by Nigel Allen (1:250/438)
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Consultants and Consulting Organizations Directory
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If you run a consulting business in the United States or
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Canada, you may want to get it listed free of charge in the
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Consultants and Consulting Organizations Directory.
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To request a questionnaire for the directory, just write
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to the following address:
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Consultants and Consulting Organizations Directory
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Editorial Code and Data, Inc.
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645 Griswold Street, Suite 3480
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Detroit, Michigan 48226-4015
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U.S.A.
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telephone (313) 961-2926
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fax (313) 961-5919
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Unfortunately, this only applies to consultants in the United States
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and Canada. The directory does not list consultants in other countries.
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----------------------------------------------------------------------
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An answer to the "FrontDoor Question"
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by Shawn McMahon, 1:19/34
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smcmahon@infomail.com
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Latest FrontDoor licensing questions
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||
|
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-----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE-----
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In Fidonews volume 11, issue 44, we were all treated to a lengthy
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discussion of what the FrontDoor distributor would be doing to all the
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naughty users who run the latest version without registering it.
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(I should add, at this point, that I am a firm believer that those who
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wish to be paid for their code should be paid, and that I would view
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anybody who ran FrontDoor beyond it's "free" period with disdain.)
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FidoNews 11-45 Page: 4 07 Nov 1994
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Folks, you know you're going to get caught if you run FD too long.
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They're paranoid enough to put in code so that all of us can pay long
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distance charges for the priviledge of helping them track illegal usage
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of their software.
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Therefore, I'd like to remind everybody of the three options you have
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for dealing with this eventuality.
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1) Register the damn thing. It's not that expensive.
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2) Use FrontDoor 2.02/NC. You never have to register, and it works
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reasonably well.
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3) Blow it off and use Binkleyterm. It's free, and it works just as
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well. And *IT* doesn't have features crippled out of it in the
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non-registered version.
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(At this point, somebody connected with FD will probably claim that
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there's nothing "crippled" in FD 2.02/NC. Ignore them, because there
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are menu options listed in that program that say "only in commercial
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version" when you attempt to select them. If that doesn't meet the
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definition of "crippleware" then I've completely failed to understand
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that definition in my 17 years in this business/hobby.)
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If everybody will do this, we can all enjoy the priviledge of *NOT*
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seeing any more lengthy articles from FrontDoor distributors.
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||
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-----BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE-----
|
||
Version: 2.61
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||
Comment: Privacy is a basic human right.
|
||
|
||
iQCVAwUBLrc44ebJC2KuabptAQGWDQP/Qwq+4CsQ2uEE27lP9kBSKKQ+XT13LLJT
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||
havxABKkxUShUgGznSXOiItwwywSkhDfNVo7yt+ZV7k/tyvpPSyl6V9XzAhNycA6
|
||
q3JOL3y8QVO8XQwHr2xdPybE7W80cA1Qc08dw0MEdbOrHf3/HBKqsi4lfHpDOh1e
|
||
3cn05o3U8So=
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||
=fvbl
|
||
-----END PGP SIGNATURE-----
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----------------------------------------------------------------------
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FrontDoor Net Coordinator Offer
|
||
FrontDoor Net Coordinator Offer
|
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by James Smith
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Online Communications, Inc.
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Distributor of FrontDoor for the Americas
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Online Communications, Inc. is pleased to acknowledge the contribution
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of Network Coordinators throughout FidoNET with a special reduced
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price on the multiline version of FrontDoor. Regular $149, the current
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version (2.20.c/ml) is available at the reduced price of $100 plus
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shipping and handling.
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Plus, with the next release, you will automatically receive the software
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upgrade (softcopy), keeping you current with the latest version!
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FidoNews 11-45 Page: 5 07 Nov 1994
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Note:
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This special offering will be keyed to the net's NC node address,
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enabling free transfer to next NC should local changes take affect, or
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re keyed to the purchasers permanent node address should upon change in
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the NC position.
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To purchase, utilize the following order form. This offer is limited to
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Zone 1 NC's only, and is good through November 30th. One NC offer per
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Net.
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If you have questions regarding the capabilities of FrontDoor for your
|
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application or this offer, netmail us direct at 1:132/300.
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James Smith
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Online Communications, Inc.
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-----------------------------------------------------------------------
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Online Communications Inc. Order Form 11/01/94NC
|
||
22 State Street Voice: 207-941-1110
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Bangor, Maine 04401 Fax: 207-990-2293
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______________________________________________________________________
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Qty Program Version Unit cost Total
|
||
______________________________________________________________________
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||
____ FrontDoor (NC special) v2.20c.ml $100.00 $ _________
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||
(FidoNET Net Coordinator use only)
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All software comes with 30 day voice support and
|
||
unlimited netmail/bbs technical support.
|
||
|
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Maine residents please add 6% sales tax $ _________
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||
Shipping and handling (US only) $ _________
|
||
(Order total $ 25-$300, shipping/handling: $ 8.00
|
||
___________
|
||
Total $ _________
|
||
|
||
Payment: [] Check [] Money order [] Visa [] MasterCard
|
||
(payable to Online Communications, Inc. - US funds only)
|
||
|
||
Credit Card # _______________________________ Expiration Date ________
|
||
Signature ________________________________________________________
|
||
|
||
Name ________________________________________________________
|
||
Company ________________________________________________________
|
||
Address ________________________________________________________
|
||
________________________________________________________
|
||
|
||
Phone (day) ______________________ (data) __________________________
|
||
|
||
Network address: (zone:net/node, if affiliated) _1:______/0___
|
||
______________________________________________________________________
|
||
Netmail orders accepted at 1:132/300@fidonet and 255:2001/1@fdnet.
|
||
Please allow 10 - 14 days for delivery.
|
||
All prices subject to change without notice.
|
||
______________________________________________________________________
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||
FidoNews 11-45 Page: 6 07 Nov 1994
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This is the last line of our article.
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||
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----------------------------------------------------------------------
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FILTERED MESSAGE IDENTIFICATION FOR FIDONET
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by John Mudge @ 1:352/111 or jmudge@wln.com
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FILTERED MESSAGE IDENTIFICATION FOR FIDONET
|
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*DRAFT II*
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FIDONET TECHNICAL COMMENT
|
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Author : John Mudge
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Fido : 1:352/111
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Date : 02OCT1994
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ABSTRACT:
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The following document proposes a standard for filtered message
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identification for Fidonet and Fidonet-based electronic mail
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systems.
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The proposed standard will assist in filtered-message detection.
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The standard consists of mandatory provisions.
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STATUS OF THIS DOCUMENT:
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This FSC suggests a proposed protocol for the Fidonet(R)
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community, and requests discussion and suggestions for
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improvements. Distribution of this document is unlimited.
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Fido and Fidonet are registered marks of Tom Jennings and Fido
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Software.
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BACKGROUND:
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Currently, filtered messages are not uniquely identified.
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No schemes are in place to determine whether a message
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received by a Fidonet node has been filtered. Current Fido Policy
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(Policy4) prohibits modifying routed encrypted material except as
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required for technical purposes. This FSC proposes a method
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of identifying such traffic in order to allow downlinks to identify
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messages that have been tampered with.
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IFNA KLUDGE LINES:
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Fidonet supports a general method for sending additional information
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embedded in a message known as the "IFNA kludge line". This is a
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line of text beginning with the ASCII SOH character (^A). The
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characters following SOH are a word indicating the type of kludge
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line, and the remainder of the line contains information specific
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to that type. This standard introduces a new type of kludge line,
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the FILTER.
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FORMAT OF A MESSAGE ID - MANDATORY:
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FidoNews 11-45 Page: 7 07 Nov 1994
|
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The mandatory portion of the ^AFILTER line shall consist of the
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Ascii SOH character immediately followed by the uppercase characters
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FILTER and a colon and one space.
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It is further required that the unique part of all ^AFILTER lines
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consist of a unique product identifier following the same format as
|
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specified in FSC-0046 for ^APID kludge lines and identifying the
|
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program used for filtering. This product identifier is to be one
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word and is to be followed by a space and the 3D, 4D, or 5D node
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address belonging to the system doing the filtering.
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EXAMPLE:
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^AFILTER: NOBOGUS134 1:352/111.0@fidonet.org
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with NOBOGUS134 to be replaced with a two digit hex identifier at such
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time as a central product registry exists.
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MANDATORY REVIEW OF FILTER CONFIGURATION:
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Since message filters that currently exist (GMD, NOBOGUS, and PKTIM
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come to mind) can easily be configured in such a manner as to violate
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Policy, this standard also requires that copies of the configuration
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portion of any message filtering programs currently in use or having
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been used by a system within the prior 30 days be made available for
|
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public scrutiny by use of the standardised MAGIC name FILTER The use
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||
of MAGIC names in File Requests within Fidonet and FTN compatible
|
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networks is documented in the .DOC files included with most FTN
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compatible mailers but has not yet been the subject of an FTSC
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proposal.
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IMPLEMENTATIONS:
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As of this writing, no products exist to implement this proposal.
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SUMMARY:
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As of this date, no public repository exists for encryption/decryption
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product registration, but the FTSC is suggested as is the application
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form presented in FSC-0022.
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I am publishing this information as a Fidonet technical comment in
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hopes that other Fidonet products will eventually incorporate all or
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part of this standard as well, and that it will eventually form part
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of a Fidonet Technical Standard.
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CREDITS:
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I would like to thank all of the pioneers of Fidonet for making all of
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this possible. The ^AFILTER proposal is the result of the collective
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efforts of many of the participants of Fido who jealously guard the
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spirit inherent in free and open communications on a global level.
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Much of the wording and structure for this document I stole from
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authors of previous FSC proposals. Special thanks go to the brave
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FidoNews 11-45 Page: 8 07 Nov 1994
|
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souls who have recently exposed the use of message text filtering
|
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within one of the largest mail movers in North America.
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A PLEA:
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I hope to see the Fidonet Technical Standards Committee adopt this
|
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proposal without delay and that the mandatory portions of this
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standard be immediately placed placed into effect and that the
|
||
penalty for violation be immediate and permanent excommunication for
|
||
any node caught modifying messages in any fashion other than those
|
||
allowed within Policy and the FSC/FTSC standards and proposals.
|
||
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||
Recent events indicate that adoption of this proposal and immediate
|
||
compliance must be handled on an emergency basis.
|
||
|
||
---ooo000ooo---
|
||
|
||
----------------------------------------------------------------------
|
||
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||
Darrrrling Madam Emmy?
|
||
|
||
Q: What was the biggest disaster performed by the editrix?
|
||
|
||
A: She tried to tell people what to read a couple of issues ago,
|
||
with regard to copy-right. YEACH!
|
||
|
||
Q: What's the big deal about the satellite dish affair?
|
||
|
||
Q: What do you think of gun laws?
|
||
|
||
Q: What do you think of copy-right?
|
||
|
||
Q: What do you think of free speach?
|
||
|
||
A: I don't like those questions.
|
||
|
||
Q: Why?
|
||
|
||
A: They make me feel preachy if i have one answer for them.
|
||
|
||
Q: Why haven't you done more work?
|
||
|
||
A: So that i can be penetant and petulant and feel bad to feel good.
|
||
|
||
Q: That's rather oblique. Why don't you simply do whatever you
|
||
want rather than orchestrating badly?
|
||
|
||
A: I'm watching. That's what i'm doing. Naa-na-naaa.
|
||
|
||
Q: That's not enough. bzzzzzzzzt. <g> <g>
|
||
!
|
||
|
||
ooooooh
|
||
|
||
A: You're going to have to lock yourself in a room with paints and
|
||
FidoNews 11-45 Page: 9 07 Nov 1994
|
||
|
||
no modem and a freezer full of hot-dogs for three weeks now to do some
|
||
work to justify your existence, or everyone will be mad at you.
|
||
|
||
Q: You're a masochist. You like to think that way.
|
||
|
||
A: I HAVE MY STANDARDS. All _you_ have are questions.
|
||
|
||
|
||
----------------------------------------------------------------------
|
||
|
||
Area Netmail, Msg#446, Nov-03-94 00:46:20
|
||
From: Detlev Rackow (2:241/1032)
|
||
|
||
Hello Sylvia,
|
||
|
||
would you be so kind as to post this in the Snooze. I'm sorry that
|
||
I did not freq ARTSPEC.DOC from your BBS, but connections to Z1 cost
|
||
just too much.
|
||
|
||
Response to the letter of James Smith in FIDONEWS44:
|
||
|
||
Dear James,
|
||
|
||
in your letter concerning the license policy of FD 2.xx, you told us,
|
||
that :
|
||
|
||
> Shareware Products:
|
||
|
||
> Our shareware agreement grants a limited use license for both
|
||
registered
|
||
> and unregistered non-commercial use of the product. Non-registered
|
||
use
|
||
> is limited to a 30 day trail or evaluation of our shareware products.
|
||
> After 30 days, the user must stop using the product, or register it
|
||
by
|
||
> purchasing a license to use (LTU) through Online Communications.
|
||
> Continued unlicensed use of the product beyond the 30 day period
|
||
> constitutes copyright infringement which we are prepared to litigate.
|
||
|
||
When I read this statement, a different file came to my mind. It is
|
||
included in
|
||
BDOC_250.ARJ, and its title is license.250. It starts this way:
|
||
|
||
---------------------------cut here------------------------------------
|
||
NO WARRANTY
|
||
|
||
BECAUSE BINKLEYTERM IS LICENSED FREE OF CHARGE, WE PROVIDE ABSOLUTELY
|
||
NO WARRANTY. EXCEPT WHEN OTHERWISE STATED IN WRITING, BIT BUCKET
|
||
SOFTWARE CO. AND/OR OTHER PARTIES PROVIDE BINKLEYTERM "AS IS" WITHOUT
|
||
WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EITHER EXPRESSED OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING, BUT NOT
|
||
LIMITED TO, THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR
|
||
A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. THE ENTIRE RISK AS TO THE QUALITY AND
|
||
PERFORMANCE OF BINKLEYTERM, AND THE ACCURACY OF ITS ASSOCIATED
|
||
DOCUMENTATION, IS WITH YOU. SHOULD BINKLEYTERM OR ITS ASSOCIATED
|
||
DOCUMENTATION PROVE DEFECTIVE, YOU ASSUME THE COST OF ALL NECESSARY
|
||
FidoNews 11-45 Page: 10 07 Nov 1994
|
||
|
||
SERVICING, REPAIR OR CORRECTION.
|
||
[...]
|
||
Please feel free to contact us at any time to share your comments about
|
||
our software and/or licensing policies.
|
||
|
||
----------------------------cut here-----------------------------------
|
||
|
||
The attitude is somewhat different, don't you think?
|
||
|
||
When I started my career as a Fidonode, I used FD 2.02/nc (who
|
||
hasn't?). The actual release was 2.11/sw. The setup showed me lots of
|
||
options (esp. for multiline-operation), which were excluded from the
|
||
non-commercial version.
|
||
|
||
Later, I discovered Binkleyterm. The setup was crude, and I played with
|
||
it for one evening, then deleted it again, as I had neither the time nor
|
||
the attitude to work through the docs.
|
||
|
||
About two weeks later, I had no special plans for the weekend, and after
|
||
two days of hard work, my Binkleytermsystem ran much smoother than my
|
||
old FD 2.02.
|
||
|
||
BT offers bidirectional protocols, fax-reception, easy multiline-
|
||
operation, and a very effective use of multitaskers; I have succesfully
|
||
tested the operation of 1 analog 19K2 and 2 digital 64k lines (passive
|
||
cards, very demanding on the cpu!) on my 486DX33 with OS/2. I could even
|
||
use DOS-versions of BT under OS/2, dial my second ISDN-Line and freq
|
||
files at more than 7000 cps.
|
||
|
||
Now, about 11 months after my conversion, I am still quite happy with
|
||
BT/2 2.59a. Some fellow sysops around have also converted, especially
|
||
when they set up their second line.
|
||
|
||
So, why do I write this letter? Simple and easy answer:
|
||
|
||
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
|
||
!!!!!!!!!!!!To say THANK YOU to the guys in the Binkley-Team!!!!!!!!!!!!
|
||
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
|
||
|
||
By spending so much time on this great mailer, you helped hundreds of
|
||
nodes and even more points to set up smoothly running bbses around the
|
||
world.
|
||
|
||
Btw: Is there a german translation of some part of the docs? Maybe this
|
||
would give me a starting point to make a german doc which is completely
|
||
up-to-date.
|
||
|
||
Ciao,
|
||
|
||
Detlev
|
||
|
||
--- GED/2 2.50+|FE 1.40+|Itrack/2|BT/2 2.59a+
|
||
Via 2:241/1032@Fidonet @19941102.004714.70 Itrack
|
||
FidoNews 11-45 Page: 11 07 Nov 1994
|
||
|
||
|
||
The History of Fidonet: A progress report
|
||
|
||
The History of Fidonet: A Progress Report
|
||
|
||
by Marge Robbins 1:283/120 or mrobbins@wps.com
|
||
|
||
If it's possible for a snail to move at a fast pace, that would be
|
||
an apt discription of my progress. I've interviewed Tony Davis and
|
||
am in the process of transcribing that interview. Bob Hartman has
|
||
agreed to talk. And Wow! Am I looking forward to that. Bob Satti
|
||
has agreed to talk. Though I think I am going to have to fly to
|
||
Canada and sit on him to actually accomplish that interview. He's a
|
||
busy man. One of my users, bless her heart, is so fired up about
|
||
Fidonet that she and her children have volunteered to type some of
|
||
the old nodelists and articles from TJ's collection. Once that's
|
||
done I will make them available via the 'net and the Fidohist FDN.
|
||
The old nodelists make fascinating reading.
|
||
|
||
Drum Roll!!!!!!! Big announcement here, so wake up. I now have a
|
||
home page on the Internet's World Wide Web that I have opted to
|
||
dedicate to Fidonet and its pioneers. To access it you need to be
|
||
able to run a program like Lynx or Moasic. <Moasic is best, you can
|
||
look at the purty pics. I am in the process of putting in some
|
||
graphics> The URL is http://www.infonet.net/showcase/fidonet/
|
||
It has some basic information about Fidonet and the history project
|
||
with links to Fido resources elsewhere on the 'net. More stuff will
|
||
be added as time allows.
|
||
|
||
HELP NEEDED COLUMN
|
||
|
||
I still need someone or several someones to help organize and check
|
||
for accurate references the stuff I have pulled from back issues of
|
||
the snooze.
|
||
|
||
The timeline literally sucks! I have a wealth of information about
|
||
the first few years. Our early pioneers have been very generous
|
||
with their time and memories. But then we have the big gap between
|
||
then and now. I have little or nothing on the formation of your
|
||
individual nets or the developement of your regions. Now come on
|
||
guys, how hard can it be to ferret out who your first NC was and
|
||
when your net was organized and send it to me? Some nets have given
|
||
me complete histories.
|
||
|
||
Zones 2-6 WHERE ARE YOU??????????????????????????????????? The
|
||
project is in serious danger of becoming a history of zone 1. And
|
||
TAHT is the last thing I want. So PLEASE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
|
||
|
||
Software! I am still looking for early versions of mailers, tossers,
|
||
BBSes, utils and etc whose developement aided the growth of the net.
|
||
|
||
I'm also looking for early tech standards, old nodelists and diffs,
|
||
early info packets, help files and anything else that is part of
|
||
Fidonet's past.
|
||
|
||
FidoNews 11-45 Page: 12 07 Nov 1994
|
||
|
||
People memories If you were around in the early and not so early
|
||
days and would like to be interviewed, to contribute what you know
|
||
PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE contact me.
|
||
|
||
----------------------------------------------------------------------
|
||
|
||
FIDONET YESTERDAY, TODAY, AND TOMORROW
|
||
|
||
FIDONET YESTERDAY, TODAY, AND TOMORROW
|
||
|
||
by Marge Robbins 1:283/120 or mrobbins@wps.com
|
||
|
||
Working on the history of Fidonet is giving me the unique
|
||
oppertunity of seeing our network in a different perspective. Its
|
||
fascinates me, but at the same time it gives me pause and concern.
|
||
|
||
At present I have very little responsibility in Fidonet save for
|
||
moderating ZEC and working on the history of Fidonet. I move very
|
||
little echomail, my board runs itself, and I have no coordinator
|
||
responsibilites. This gives me the time and freedom to spend many
|
||
hours a week listening to voices from the past as I either
|
||
interview early pioneers or convert those interviews to electronic
|
||
media. At the same time my position of moderator of ZEC gives me
|
||
the oppertunity to watch history in the making more as an observer
|
||
than an active participant.
|
||
|
||
The result is both exhilarating and alarming. Fidonet ten years
|
||
ago was much different than it is today. It was smaller, more
|
||
intimate. "Everybody knew everybody else", was how one old timer
|
||
described it to me. It was a more peaceful time, a more congenial
|
||
place to be. The focus was on taking Tom's idea of getting two
|
||
fidos to talk to each other and expanding it to a multitude of
|
||
systems and boards all sharing with each other. That was
|
||
accomplished in a wonderful way. There is no doubt that the growth
|
||
of Fidonet is nothing short of phenomenal. I love it when I can
|
||
spend an hour or so working on one of my tapes and "living in the
|
||
past".
|
||
|
||
But....then we come to todat. To an era of chaos. To an era of
|
||
bickering. To an era where cooperation seems to be a dirty word.
|
||
We hear phrases like policy complaint, sue, packet ramming, mail
|
||
bomb, I can do whatever I want. I never agreed to follow pol 4,
|
||
control freak, etc, etc, etc, on and on and on. I have seen THREE
|
||
ZECs driven out of office by those whose only goal in Fidonet
|
||
seems to be to see how much chaos and conflict they can cause. I
|
||
have seen an entire zone in chaos with many sysops left out of the
|
||
nodelist through no fault of their own.
|
||
|
||
All this makes me shake my head and wonder. Is this the same
|
||
Fidonet that Tom, and Butch, and Tony, and Randy, and Bob, and
|
||
David have told me so much about? Or is this a malignant changling
|
||
posing as Fidonet?
|
||
|
||
I also have to wonder. Where will we be ten years into the
|
||
future? Will we be a backwater fight-o-net struggling for
|
||
FidoNews 11-45 Page: 13 07 Nov 1994
|
||
|
||
survival? Or will we be part of the brave new world I see
|
||
unfolding before my vary eyes on the information highway?
|
||
|
||
Wish I know, folks. I really wish I knew. Where will Fidonet be ten
|
||
years from now? I do know one thing. Our present cours is not
|
||
going to tak us to the heights of our capabilities. It can't. Too
|
||
much time and energy is being wasted on senseless conflict that
|
||
accomplishes nothing.
|
||
|
||
Let me close with a famous quote. If you aren't part of the
|
||
solution you are part of the problem.
|
||
|
||
|
||
----------------------------------------------------------------------
|
||
|
||
New Firearms Related Echomail
|
||
|
||
Two New Echomail Areas Now Available!!
|
||
======================================
|
||
|
||
As of 11/4/94, two REC's have requested that the following two new
|
||
firearms related echos be added to the backbone and FIDONET.NA file.
|
||
A big thank you goes to Rick Ashworth (R11EC) and Jerry Seward (R13EC)
|
||
|
||
GUNS
|
||
====
|
||
An echo dedicated to the discussion of firearms, and the
|
||
advancement of their uses in target shooting, hunting, defense,
|
||
collecting, and just about any other legal means. This echo is not a
|
||
political echo but the ocassional RTKBA discussion will not be frowned
|
||
upon. Moderation of this echo is by the level headed Elmer Cooper,
|
||
who is always willing to lend a hand. Discussions of all firearms,
|
||
both military and civilian, are welcome. Welcome to GUNS, where
|
||
safety comes first.
|
||
|
||
RELOAD
|
||
======
|
||
An echo devoted to the rifle, shotgun, and pistol cartridge reloader
|
||
and those that would like to learn more about this fast growing art
|
||
form.
|
||
|
||
How much does it cost?
|
||
Where can I get the equipment?
|
||
Which powder is best?
|
||
Is it legal?
|
||
Does it really save money?
|
||
Are handloads more accurate than factory?
|
||
|
||
Find the answers to these and many many more questions in the RELOAD
|
||
echo. RELOAD is also moderated by Elmer Cooper. Elmer has been
|
||
reloading his own for years and is a vast source of reloading
|
||
knowledge.
|
||
|
||
Did you know that you can reload your own shotgun shells for less than
|
||
$2.00 a box? Some pistol cartridges can be reloaded for less than
|
||
FidoNews 11-45 Page: 14 07 Nov 1994
|
||
|
||
three cents a round. Find out how! Subscribe to RELOAD today.
|
||
|
||
RELOAD and GUNS should be available on the backbone by the time this
|
||
gets published, just ask your NEC to turn it on. If you have problems
|
||
getting the echo in your area, please notify Brian Murrey at
|
||
1:231/30
|
||
|
||
Currently GUNS is running about 100 messages a week, and RELOAD is
|
||
running close to 60 a week.
|
||
|
||
|
||
----------------------------------------------------------------------
|
||
|
||
FIDONET YESTERDAY, TODAY, AND TOMORROW
|
||
|
||
FIDONET YESTERDAY, TODAY, AND TOMORROW
|
||
|
||
by Marge Robbins 1:283/120 or mrobbins@wps.com
|
||
|
||
Working on the history of Fidonet is giving me the unique
|
||
oppertunity of seeing our network in a different perspective. Its
|
||
fascinates me, but at the same time it gives me pause and concern.
|
||
|
||
At present I have very little responsibility in Fidonet save for
|
||
moderating ZEC and working on the history of Fidonet. I move very
|
||
little echomail, my board runs itself, and I have no coordinator
|
||
responsibilites. This gives me the time and freedom to spend many
|
||
hours a week listening to voices from the past as I either
|
||
interview early pioneers or convert those interviews to electronic
|
||
media. At the same time my position of moderator of ZEC gives me
|
||
the oppertunity to watch history in the making more as an observer
|
||
than an active participant.
|
||
|
||
The result is both exhilarating and alarming. Fidonet ten years
|
||
ago was much different than it is today. It was smaller, more
|
||
intimate. "Everybody knew everybody else", was how one old timer
|
||
described it to me. It was a more peaceful time, a more congenial
|
||
place to be. The focus was on taking Tom's idea of getting two
|
||
fidos to talk to each other and expanding it to a multitude of
|
||
systems and boards all sharing with each other. That was
|
||
accomplished in a wonderful way. There is no doubt that the growth
|
||
of Fidonet is nothing short of phenomenal. I love it when I can
|
||
spend an hour or so working on one of my tapes and "living in the
|
||
past".
|
||
|
||
But....then we come to todat. To an era of chaos. To an era of
|
||
bickering. To an era where cooperation seems to be a dirty word.
|
||
We hear phrases like policy complaint, sue, packet ramming, mail
|
||
bomb, I can do whatever I want. I never agreed to follow pol 4,
|
||
control freak, etc, etc, etc, on and on and on. I have seen THREE
|
||
ZECs driven out of office by those whose only goal in Fidonet
|
||
seems to be to see how much chaos and conflict they can cause. I
|
||
have seen an entire zone in chaos with many sysops left out of the
|
||
nodelist through no fault of their own.
|
||
|
||
FidoNews 11-45 Page: 15 07 Nov 1994
|
||
|
||
All this makes me shake my head and wonder. Is this the same
|
||
Fidonet that Tom, and Butch, and Tony, and Randy, and Bob, and
|
||
David have told me so much about? Or is this a malignant changling
|
||
posing as Fidonet?
|
||
|
||
I also have to wonder. Where will we be ten years into the
|
||
future? Will we be a backwater fight-o-net struggling for
|
||
survival? Or will we be part of the brave new world I see
|
||
unfolding before my vary eyes on the information highway?
|
||
|
||
Wish I know, folks. I really wish I knew. Where will Fidonet be ten
|
||
years from now? I do know one thing. Our present cours is not
|
||
going to tak us to the heights of our capabilities. It can't. Too
|
||
much time and energy is being wasted on senseless conflict that
|
||
accomplishes nothing.
|
||
|
||
Let me close with a famous quote. If you aren't part of the
|
||
solution you are part of the problem.
|
||
|
||
|
||
----------------------------------------------------------------------
|
||
|
||
The Hawaii Rotary BBS System needs help
|
||
|
||
By Ron Skates 1:345/0
|
||
Fidonet 1:345/9 helps Rotary Clubs in Hawaii
|
||
|
||
The following appeared in the October issue of the
|
||
Rotarian, in the By the Way section.
|
||
|
||
Hawaii Online: Rotarians in Hawaii USA
|
||
(District 5000) can now communicate via an
|
||
existing Inter Island Bulletin Board (BBS) E-
|
||
Mail system called Fidonet. The main system is
|
||
located on Oahu and is called the Hawaii
|
||
Community BBS. There is a special area called
|
||
The Rotary BBS on this system that hosts and
|
||
shares a statewide conference on Rotary with
|
||
other BBSs on the neighbor islands. Rotarians
|
||
can share information about different club
|
||
projects, club bulletins or just have
|
||
fellowship. A listing of Clubs, meeting times
|
||
and places is also on line for visiting
|
||
Rotarians to Hawaii. Information like the
|
||
Rotary News Basket, and other information on
|
||
Rotary International is spread this way also.
|
||
|
||
Conceived by Ron Skates, a new member of the
|
||
Metropolitan Club of Honolulu, it has quickly
|
||
grown beyond the Metro Club to a statewide
|
||
project. Other participants like Ron Nagy of
|
||
the Honolulu Club, Leo Kamata of the Waikiki
|
||
Club, and Adrain Lee of the Ala Moana Club are
|
||
helping to guide the system to meet the ever
|
||
changing needs of Rotary. They have decided to
|
||
FidoNews 11-45 Page: 16 07 Nov 1994
|
||
|
||
Open it not only to Rotarians but the public
|
||
also so they can learn about Rotary. They all
|
||
hope it will lead to a worldwide network of
|
||
BBS<42>s carrying Rotary information and
|
||
fellowship. For more information contact Ron
|
||
Skates at 808/599-4994 or via computer modem at
|
||
808/528-5515, up to 28,8 Baud 8 Data Bits/1 Stop
|
||
Bit/ No Parity.
|
||
|
||
Since then I have recieved calls from New Zealand to
|
||
Germany by Rotary Memebers. I am looking for other
|
||
Fido boards who would be willing to carry information
|
||
about Rotary clubs for Roatrians and the general
|
||
public. My long term goal is to establish an
|
||
international Rotary conference and File area. The
|
||
reason I want to use Fidonet is because it's structure
|
||
is very similar to that of Rotary International, and
|
||
the fact that the conferences are moderated rather
|
||
than the free for all format of Internet. If any
|
||
Sysops are interested, please net mail me via 1:345/0.
|
||
If you are a Rotary member who uses a BBS please ask
|
||
your Sysop to consider getting involved. If you do
|
||
decide to carry it, I will make it a point to notify
|
||
the Rotary District in your area to let their
|
||
members know to help build your user base. Rotary is
|
||
a worldwide organization that is very community
|
||
oriented both locally and internationaly.
|
||
|
||
----------------------------------------------------------------------
|
||
|
||
TO........ All in FidoNet.lst
|
||
FROM...... John Bone
|
||
SUBJECT... Re: Phone number field Changes
|
||
DATE...... 03:08pm 1st-Nov-94
|
||
|
||
Hi, everyone
|
||
|
||
PHONE NUMBERS in Europe
|
||
|
||
If you do not read the fidonet nodelist, a reminder that, you that the
|
||
United Kingdom (GreatBritian, (England, Wales, Scotland, Northern
|
||
Ireland, and their off-shore iles, access-ed by Country Code "44" )
|
||
have altered (as from 1st August 1994) ALL their geographic Area Codes.
|
||
|
||
Please note. The 'old' area codes will stop working on 16th april 1995.
|
||
|
||
For most towns and city the new code changes are fairly simple.
|
||
|
||
Eg. LOTT my OPUS_CBCS/BinkleyTerm site. was -44-91-478-6272
|
||
|
||
and now is .............................. -44-191-478-6272
|
||
|
||
So almost all new area codes have a '1' added;-
|
||
|
||
eg. London has two area codes 081 and 071 these are now 0181 and 0171.
|
||
FidoNews 11-45 Page: 17 07 Nov 1994
|
||
|
||
|
||
FreePhone (0800) & (0500) and Premium Rate (900)&(0891) and Mobile
|
||
Cellnet/Vodaphone radion mobile telephone "area" codes are NOT altered.
|
||
|
||
However, there arte six TOTALLY NEW CITY AREA CODES:-
|
||
|
||
The six large towns have totally different area codes, subsituted for
|
||
their old codes, and have at the same time, an added an prefix digit
|
||
to all subscribers numbers.
|
||
|
||
Eg.
|
||
|
||
Town_name Old Area code New Area Cod
|
||
City_Name ( + six digit Tel Number) ( + new 7 digit Tel Number )
|
||
|
||
LEEDS 0532 nnn nnn 0113 2nn nnnn
|
||
Nodelist 44-532-nnn-nnn 44-113-2nn-nnnn
|
||
|
||
SHEFFIELD 0742 xxx xxx 0114 2xx xxxx
|
||
Nodelist 44-742-xxx-xxx 44-114-2xx-xxxx
|
||
|
||
NOTTINGHAM 0602 ccc ccc 0115 9cc cccc
|
||
Nodelist 44-602-ccc-ccc 44-115-9cc-cccc
|
||
|
||
LEICESTER 0533 xxx xxx 0116 2xx xxxx
|
||
Nodelist 44-533-xxx-xxx 44-116-2xx-xxxx
|
||
|
||
BRISTOL 0272 nnn nnn 0117 9nn nnnn
|
||
Nodelist 44-272-nnn-nnn 44-117-9nn-nnnn
|
||
|
||
The UK nodediff will be moving network over to the newer numbers,
|
||
during the next 10 weeks. September to December 1994.
|
||
|
||
Oh, yes, and IF you are over here calling "home", you must remind
|
||
'ET' to dial 00-(country code)-(national number).
|
||
|
||
It is Not now 010-XX-NN-NNNNNN etc etc.
|
||
|
||
Still no talk of 911 in addition to 999 for the emergency services
|
||
too! (But no real date for this change...)
|
||
|
||
Have a nice cup of tea dear!
|
||
|
||
Cheers
|
||
|
||
John Bone (G7OOE)
|
||
|
||
LOG-ON-THE-TYNE OPUS BBS
|
||
2:256/18 and 2:256/17
|
||
|
||
SysOp@ LOTT
|
||
|
||
--- Opus-CBCS 1.72a
|
||
* Origin: LOG_on_the_TYNE (1v73_LOTT) (2:256/17.0)
|
||
FidoNews 11-45 Page: 18 07 Nov 1994
|
||
|
||
|
||
Backbone Echo Changes [Sep-Oct]
|
||
by Lisa Gronke, 1:105/6
|
||
lisa@m2xenix.psg.com
|
||
Summary of backbone & quasi-backbone echo changes during Sep & Oct.
|
||
|
||
Brought to you courtesy of (unix) diff.
|
||
|
||
diff (fidonet.na + fidonet.no) 04-Sep-94 (ditto) 30-Oct-94 [edited].
|
||
|
||
Added to the backbone
|
||
---------------------
|
||
> CNET_BBS International C-Net BBS support
|
||
> HOLISTIC Holistic Thought & LIfestyle
|
||
> MTG_WOC Magic-the-Gathering card games
|
||
> MYTHOLOGY Mythology Conference
|
||
> NBA_ECHO National Basketball Association Discussion
|
||
> ROTTIES Rottweilers discussion
|
||
> TBB4SALE Breadboard Distribution System
|
||
> TCM Traditional Asian Medicine & Bodywork
|
||
> TRAPFAX Trapfax support
|
||
> VHEAL Vibrational Healing
|
||
> WC!_CHAT Wildcat 3rd Party Support & Sysop info.
|
||
> WCCODE WildCat wcCODE author support Echo
|
||
> Z1_BACKBONE Zone One Mail Backbone - Users
|
||
|
||
Removed from the backbone or quasi-backbone
|
||
-------------------------------------------
|
||
< AFRICA_TODAY (not in EchoList since 3/1/94)
|
||
< AMIGA_NET_DEV (not in EchoList since 12/1/93)
|
||
< DECONONET (not in EchoList since before 1/1/92)
|
||
< EXOTIC_BIRDS (not in EchoList since 10/1/93)
|
||
< HANDY.SYSOP (not in EchoList since 11/1/93)
|
||
< HOLY_BIBLE Bible, Wholly Bible Related Discussions.
|
||
< HOME_REPAIR The Home Repair Echo
|
||
< INET.EFF.TALK (not in EchoList since 9/1/92)
|
||
< PERFECT WordPerfect Corporation Products Basic Echo
|
||
< PERFECT_MACRO WordPerfect Corporation Products Advanced Echo
|
||
< QMODEM (not in EchoList since 11/1/93)
|
||
< REAL The Real Estate Discussion Echo
|
||
< ROBO RoboBoard/FX Support Conference
|
||
|
||
o There are 644 echos in fidonet.na [30-Oct-94] (up 19)
|
||
o There are 22 echos in fidonet.no [30-Oct-94] (down 21)
|
||
o for a total of 666 backbone & quasi-backbone echos (down 2)
|
||
|
||
FidoNews 11-45 Page: 19 07 Nov 1994
|
||
|
||
|
||
========================================================================
|
||
Fidonews Information
|
||
========================================================================
|
||
|
||
------- FIDONEWS MASTHEAD AND CONTACT INFORMATION ----------------
|
||
|
||
Editors: Donald Tees
|
||
Editors Emeritii: Thom Henderson, Dale Lovell,
|
||
Vince Perriello, Tim Pozar
|
||
Tom Jennings
|
||
"FidoNews" BBS
|
||
FidoNet 1:1/23
|
||
BBS +1-519-570-4176, 300/1200/2400/14400/V.32bis/HST(DS)
|
||
|
||
more addresses:
|
||
Rev. Richard Visage -- 1:163/409
|
||
Don -- 1:221/192, don@exlibris.tdkcs.waterloo.on.ca
|
||
Madam Emilia -- 1:221/194, max@exlibris.tdkcs.waterloo.on.ca
|
||
Tim -- pozar@kumr.lns.com
|
||
|
||
(Postal Service mailing address)
|
||
FidoNews
|
||
128 Church St.
|
||
Kitchener, Ontario
|
||
Canada
|
||
N2H 2S4
|
||
|
||
voice: (519) 570-3137
|
||
|
||
Fidonews is published weekly by and for the members of the FIDONET
|
||
INTERNATIONAL AMATEUR ELECTRONIC MAIL system. It is a compilation
|
||
of individual articles contributed by their authors or their
|
||
authorized agents. The contribution of articles to this compilation
|
||
does not diminish the rights of the authors. Opinions expressed in
|
||
these articles are those of the authors and not necessarily those of
|
||
FidoNews.
|
||
|
||
Authors retain copyright on individual works; otherwise FidoNews is
|
||
Copyright 1994 Sylvia Maxwell. All rights reserved. Duplication
|
||
and/or distribution permitted for noncommercial purposes only. For use
|
||
in other circumstances, please contact the original authors, or the eds.
|
||
Articles by Madam emilia may be retransmitted freely through
|
||
cyber-space.
|
||
|
||
OBTAINING COPIES: The most recent issue of FidoNews in electronic
|
||
form may be obtained from the FidoNews BBS via manual download or
|
||
Wazoo FileRequest, or from various sites in the FidoNet and Internet.
|
||
PRINTED COPIES may be obtained by sending SASE to the above paper-mail
|
||
address, or trade for copy of your 'zine.
|
||
|
||
INTERNET USERS: FidoNews is available via FTP from ftp.fidonet.org,
|
||
in directory ~ftp/pub/fidonet/fidonews.
|
||
|
||
Anyone interested in getting a copy of the INTERNET GATEWAY FAQ may
|
||
FidoNews 11-45 Page: 20 07 Nov 1994
|
||
|
||
freq GISFAQ.ZIP from 1:133/411.0, or send an internet message to
|
||
fidofaq@gisatl.fidonet.org. No message or text or subject is
|
||
necessary. The address is a keyword that will trigger the automated
|
||
response. People wishing to send inquiries directly to David Deitch
|
||
should now mail to fidonet@gisatl.fidonet.org rather than the
|
||
previously listed address.
|
||
|
||
SUBMISSIONS: You are encouraged to submit articles for publication in
|
||
FidoNews. Article submission requirements are contained in the file
|
||
ARTSPEC.DOC, available from the FidoNews BBS, or Wazoo filerequestable
|
||
from 1:1/23 as file "ARTSPEC.DOC". Please read it.
|
||
|
||
"Fido", "FidoNet" and the dog-with-diskette are U.S. registered
|
||
trademarks of Tom Jennings, and are used with permission.
|
||
|
||
"the pulse of the cursor is the heartbeat of fidonet"...
|
||
-- END
|
||
----------------------------------------------------------------------
|
||
|