2398 lines
117 KiB
Plaintext
2398 lines
117 KiB
Plaintext
F I D O N E W S -- Volume 13, Number 35 26 August 1996
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+----------------------------+-----------------------------------------+
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| The newsletter of the | ISSN 1198-4589 Published by: |
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| FidoNet community | "FidoNews" |
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| _ | 1-407-383-1372 [1:1/23] |
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| / \ | |
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| /|oo \ | |
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| (_| /_) | |
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| _`@/_ \ _ | |
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| | | \ \\ | Editor: |
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| | (*) | \ )) | Christopher Baker 1:374/14 |
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| |__U__| / \// | |
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| _//|| _\ / | |
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| (_/(_|(____/ | |
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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: FidoNews Editor 1:1/23 |
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+----------------------------------------------------------------------+
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| MORE addresses: |
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| |
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| submissions=> cbaker84@digital.net |
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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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DOES ANYBODY READ THESE HEADLINES?
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Table of Contents
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1. EDITORIAL ................................................ 1
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FidoNews is more accessible than ever, et al ............. 1
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2. ARTICLES ................................................. 3
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Does Fido have an Echomail problem? ...................... 3
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The Internet as an extension of Fido ..................... 4
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What's new in FidoNet Panama ............................. 4
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Two Choices: UPGRADE or DIE .............................. 6
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3. FIDONET HISTORY .......................................... 9
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FidoNet's first formal Policy document ................... 9
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4. REVIEWS .................................................. 23
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Six Mail Processors Reviewed [II] ........................ 23
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5. COORDINATORS CORNER ...................................... 26
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Nodelist-statistics as seen from Zone-2 for day 236 ...... 26
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6. ECHOING .................................................. 27
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Candidates for the REC 17 election ....................... 27
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7. NET HUMOR ................................................ 29
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Ask Dr. Internet? ........................................ 29
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8. COMIX IN ASCII ........................................... 32
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Comic relief for FN_SYSOP? ............................... 32
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9. QUESTION OF THE WEEK ..................................... 33
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Old Nodelist sources? .................................... 33
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10. NOTICES ................................................. 34
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Future History ........................................... 34
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11. FIDONET SOFTWARE LISTING ................................ 36
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And more!
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FIDONEWS 13-35 Page 1 26 Aug 1996
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=================================================================
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EDITORIAL
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=================================================================
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First, I'd like to say thanks to everyone who works for FidoNet and
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FidoNews by making their personal resources available to everyone at
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no charge and just for fun. Several people have contributed assistance
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to FidoNews this week and they should be lauded by one and all.
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jim barchuk's HTML FidoNews reading and archive page on the Internet
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is now operating 24 hours a day. If you'd like to wander over and read
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FidoNews in HTML format, go to:
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http://www.geocities.com/athens/6894
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and you can sift through the weekly Issue by individual articles in
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the comfort of your web browser. Thanks, jim!
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Ross Cassell has produced a nifty little utility called STRIPFF that
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will remove the formfeeds from FidoNews [or any other text file] for
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those of you who want to put FidoNews up for online reading without
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having to manually edit out all those paging formfeeds inserted by the
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MAKENEWS program during FidoNews creation. His program is freeware and
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is available on his system, on this system, on the new FidoNews
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Homepage [more on that later], and was hatched into SDS area SOFTDIST.
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thanks, Ross!
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ALL of the FidoNews archives are always available on the Southern Star
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ftp site at:
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ftp://ftp.sstar.com/fidonet/fidonews
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if you're ever in need of an old issue. See the listing at the end of
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every FidoNews Issue in the Masthead. Thanks, John!
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Thanks, too, to ALL the FidoNet Coordinators who take their
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responsibilities seriously and get FidoNews out to all their Nodes
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every week without fail! It is appreciated.
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FLASHNOTE:
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FidoNews now has its own Official Homepage on the Internet.
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This site contains the latest Issue in .ZIP format for
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download and text format for online reading or ASCII
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download. I operate and maintain this site from my personal
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webpages. FidoNews will be available world-wide mere
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minutes after it is compiled here on this Homepage. Also
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available there is the FidoNews PGP public-key, the
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calendar of Future History, and the STRPFF10.ZIP archive
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containing Ross' formfeed stripper for FidoNews. To reach
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the new Official FidoNews Homepage, go to:
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http://ddi.digital.net/~cbaker/fidonews.html
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and check it out! This space is provided courtesy of my
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FIDONEWS 13-35 Page 2 26 Aug 1996
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ISP, FLorida Online at Digital Decisions. Thanks, Jerry!
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FidoNews goes onto this site immediately after compilation
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and while FidoNews is being sent to ZC1 for distribution.
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It is the fastest source of the current FidoNews Issue in
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the world! [grin]
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Please be sure to sign the Guestbook so we'll know you were
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there. You can also leave suggestions in your comments for
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additions to the FidoNews Homepage. You'll be able to view
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the Guestbook and even send mail to the other signers. The
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Guestbook is provided courtesy of Lpage.com. Thanks,
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Lpage.com!
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That should do it for this week. The compilation is already behind due
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to these extra notes being added. [grin]
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C.B.
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-----------------------------------------------------------------
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FIDONEWS 13-35 Page 3 26 Aug 1996
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=================================================================
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ARTICLES
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=================================================================
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Does Fido have an Echomail problem?
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I've been a member of FidoNet for many years. I can
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remember a time when there was no cost recovery. A time when there
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was less than twenty members in my net. (look at it now) I can
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remember when most people didn't have a clue what a BBS was.
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In the old days it wasn't unusual for mail polls to be
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infrequent. But modem speeds have improved dramatically, cost
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recovery plans enacted, satellite systems built and the Internet
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has been harnessed. It's not that expensive to have multiple
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polls a day. So why do I go for whole weekends with no new,
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non-local mail? And during the week I generally see one good
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mail bundle a day. Let me back up a minute and discuss my
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echomail situation. I have spent most of my FidoNet career in
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net280 in Kansas City, Missouri. Net280 also has one of the North
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American Backbone star systems. Recently I moved about 45 miles
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east to the little college town of Warrensburg and I became a PVT
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system. I pull my mail feed via the Internet from 1:280/169.
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Does that seem strange to anyone? I'm one hop off of
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one of the largest mail movers in North America and mail flow
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is inconsistent? I'm not pointing fingers, Roy (/1) has given
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a lot to this net in the past. Both as a previous NEC and as
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a star system. But I have had many conversations with Brian
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(/169) and he swears that there is just no mail waiting when
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he polls. This concerns me since it could indicate a problem
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in the future.
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So I wonder if we don't depend on Roy, John, and George
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just a little too much. We have allowed mail distribution duties
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to grow beyond the capabilities of the average Fido hobbyist. The
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last thing I would want to do is belittle what these guys have
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done for us in the past. But what happened to the FidoNet of old
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where things were done in the most efficient, cost effective manner?
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It seems we could tackle a couple problems at the same time,
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inter-zone communication and alternative, free mail distribution,
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by getting a few volunteers to start hubbing mail through Internet
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Telnet and FTP sessions. If you have an Internet account, the
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whole world is a local call.
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Comments anyone? You've got my addresses. Or better yet,
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write an article of your own.
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Lee Lefler
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1:280/5
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infinityll@juno.com
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-----------------------------------------------------------------
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FIDONEWS 13-35 Page 4 26 Aug 1996
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The Internet as an extension of Fido
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I know some of you will think that should be the other way
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around. Especially if you are aware of the fact that the Internet
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is really just a group of smaller networks. FidoNet has really
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been a part of the Internet for several years, we just choose to
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ignore it. There have been Fido echos distributed as part of
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Usenet. There are Fido nodes that you can Telnet into. We try
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so hard to stay away from the Internet that we ignore what it
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has to offer. An inexpensive means of bringing Fido's zones
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closer together.
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Many of you have heard me ramble about this before. As
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a matter of fact, there is even another article from me in this
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issue of FidoNews. But this time I want to make a proposal. I
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would like to find some volunteers to work with me to put
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together a free mailer that would establish FidoNet mail sessions
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across TCP/IP via Telnet.
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I'm looking for programmers from various platforms that
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would be willing to contribute code to the project. Once complete,
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the mailer would be released on several platforms with full source,
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similar to Binkley or GNU.
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Here's what I have to offer to the project. I am a
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programmer. But I'm just now getting around to learning C. And
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since C is probably the only language that would allow real
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portability, that seems like the ideal development environment.
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Possibly something along the lines of GCC, since it is readily
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available on numerous platforms and can be used for free. I have
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been a member of Fido for many years and know how a mailer
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functions. I also have a great deal of code that I put together
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over the years for things such as; EMSI sessions, MSG and PKT
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formats, as well as a healthy protocol library. Unfortunately,
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it's all in Pascal. I have also been picking up my mail over
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the Internet using my normal mailer and VModem. And that
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experience alone is enough to tell me that the project _could_
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be scaled down a little by just supporting EMSI with FTP
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transfers and leaving the rest out. ZModem is just not real
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efficient over TCP.
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So, if you want more details or want to volunteer, you
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know how to get ahold of me.
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Lee Lefler
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1:280/5
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infinityll@juno.com
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-----------------------------------------------------------------
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From Zone 4, Net 920, Node 65, Net Coordinator, Republic of Panama
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Hello from way down in Panama!! We are here! Really!!
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A current events brief of FidoNet in Panama:
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FIDONEWS 13-35 Page 5 26 Aug 1996
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Hello FidoNet community! Long before I was a SYSOP of a FidoNet BBS,
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I was a user. I used to log onto FidoNet BBS's back in Dallas Texas
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in the mid to late '80's for programming conversations. I now work for
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the U.S. Navy and moved to Panama in '92. Living on a U.S. military
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base overseas really has it's drawbacks. One is that you give up what
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little you have of a life. In order to keep in touch with my family
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and friends, and have some intelligent conversation I began calling
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BBS's again. In '93 there were only a few FidoNet BBS's in Panama,
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and they could only afford to carry a couple of echos because they
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were pulling them via AT&T from Louis Oaken (Kudos Louis!) Florida!.
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I went ahead and built a BBS using Remote Access and Fmail and
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contributed my little bit to help out. Later I discovered there were
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other software packages out there and purchased a good one, bought a
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mail tosser and began the slow process of registering all (well...
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most of my shareware).
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The history of FidoNet in Panama (we call it PanamaNet) is pretty
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short -and really pretty sparse. We know that some guy started it
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back in the late '80's (I'd like to know who he was.. If you know
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please email me) and carried it over to Dave Dillard, who turned it
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over to Neil Armani, who turned it over to Jim Murphy and myself.
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The BBS users here in Panama are an unusual crowd. I mean - some
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don't read or write English - so building bilingual menus is very
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important, and difficult if you don't know another language. For the
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most part, the local users are either wealthy, students using school
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computers, or "gringos" (U.S. military). Many of the user questions
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are in Spanish, so I had to invest in a translator. Since there
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aren't many BBS's here, anything I did to better the BBS was viewed
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with awe. The users raved and cheered when I purchased Searchlight
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BBS and created RIP graphics! Pop up menus, etc. all in RIP. They
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thought that was the cat's meow. Now with graphical www in Panama,
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people aren't easily amused by lights, bells and whistles.
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Zone 4 has *not* *provided* *any* *support* to speak of since I've
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been here. Gamey recently resigned, however the *only* time we EVER
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heard from him was during the elections <grin>. If it weren't for
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Louis Oakin@sunshine.com we never would have been able to carry on
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FidoNet down here. This last year the Republic of Panama has allowed
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some ISP's to move in. This gave us a REAL opportunity to advance.
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Now we FTP our FidoNet Echo mail from SSTAR in Louisiana! Since this
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wonderful advancement we have picked up about 40 echos ++ !!! It's
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been a godsend. Using AT&T to get the mail really took a toll on us
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this last year. The biggest problem that we have here in Panama is
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that most of the phone lines were built back in the 40's and 50's. We
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get better connections calling a BBS in the U.S. then we do calling
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next door! So now that our packets are getting larger, it's getting
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difficult to distribute them. And - to compound things -those of us
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who work for the military are only allowed one phone in our quarters
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(house). We end up using phone switch boxes which makes users add
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,,22,22,22 to the end of the phone numbers. That is very difficult,
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because (inevitably) users don't get the string right and wake us up
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at 0300am.
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The BBS's here are mostly either American Military or Spanish Locals.
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The locals are mostly interested in Mexican Link - while the Americans
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FIDONEWS 13-35 Page 6 26 Aug 1996
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are interested in all the echos. For the most part, we all enjoy the
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conversations and connectivity. The U.S. Military presence is leaving
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Panama as per the Treaty of the Panama Canal signed by Carter in the
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'70's. We will all be out by the year 2000. Once we are gone it will
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be up to the local BBS population to maintain a FidoNet presence in
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Panama.
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As for me, I'm leaving Panama in November. I will be moving to
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Virginia Beach, Virginia. I will revert back to being a BBS user and
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begin a new life as a Net Surfer. Additionally I hope to work on some
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new FidoNet programming projects that I haven't had time for.
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I've been watching the BBS's close down as the Internet really picks
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up steam, and I really hope that FidoNet will adapt to the Internet.
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It would be nice to have a Front Door that could connect through
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internet service providers to other Front Doors on the net and pass
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mail back and forth. It's really getting to the point where there is
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an internet connection almost anywhere. I mean if we have it here in
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Panama......
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FidoNet Sysops: Never give up - if you build it - they will call
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Shannon.talley@f65.abcd.fidonet.org
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clutch.sinfo.net
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dudemaster@hotmail.com
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*************************************
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[- SYSOP at Fido 4:920/65 -]
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[-TeleServe BBS, Republic of Panama-]
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*************************************
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-----------------------------------------------------------------
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Two Choices: UPGRADE or DIE
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by Jon M. Craig <pazuzu@amphigory.com>, 1:201/0
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With all the talk in recent FidoNews issues about the impending death
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of FidoNet, I thought I should add my $.02 on the whole thing.
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As the title of this article suggests, we have two choices: UPGRADE
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or DIE. What do I mean by this? Well, quite simply, we need to move
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ourselves into the 90's as far as technology and ease-of-use goes.
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We need to be progressive, up-to-the-minute with technology.
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BinkleyTerm and Maximus just don't cut it in '96. Today's users (and
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sysops) want advanced graphics, and easy-to-setup software. And we
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need to make it easy for people to GET NODE NUMBERS! Stop being
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elitist scum (and this is a generalization, but my experience, and
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that of most people I've talked bears it out).
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Using mail and news on the Internet is dirt simple with all the new
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graphical-based software available. In contrast, the average BBS
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package used by a FidoNet sysop is quite clumsy and hard to figure
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out by comparison. This is not necessary. Sysops want to hold onto
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the BBS package they were running back in '85. This is ridiculous -
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FIDONEWS 13-35 Page 7 26 Aug 1996
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you don't still use the computer you used in '85, do you? Then why
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use its software? Even up-to-the-microsecond graphical BBS packages
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like Excalibur for Windows now have Fidonet capability. There's even
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a fully Windows-based mailer that's NOT simply an old MS-DOS mailer
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with a Windows shell wrapped around it. And how many such systems
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are in FidoNet? To my knowledge, ONE -- Myself. Why? Yeah,
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BinkleyTerm works great. So did my '286 back in '87, but... This is
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1996.
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Even from a Sysop standpoint, joining FidoNet is difficult. You've
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got to first figure out how the whole thing works, and there's NOT
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ONE SINGLE CREDIBLE DOCUMENT ON IT ANYWHERE! And don't talk about
|
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the standards docs, either! No human can decipher those. Then
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you've got to assemble the eight million different programs you'll
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need to make it all happen. Then you've got to find someone to give
|
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you a node number. This should be easy. It doesn't need to take any
|
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longer than 24 hours. But it doesn't work that way. Sometimes your
|
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NC won't get back to you within a week. Sometimes he'll NEVER get
|
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back to you. Sometimes you'll be told your BBS doesn't qualify for
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their "local standards of behavior", whatever that means. We can't
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exclude people from FidoNet based on their personal beliefs, no
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matter how much we might disagree with them.
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The average person has this "hard-to-use-straight-ugly-ASCII-based"
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view of what FidoNet is, even if they've never used a FidoNet system.
|
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This has to be changed. It doesn't suit people's tastes anymore.
|
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Even if you refuse to run Windows & a graphical BBS system, at least
|
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ditch your 5 year old copy of RBBS for something a little more
|
||
up-to-date. There's plenty of DOS-based ANSI system which use
|
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lightbar menus and such, which is light years ahead of where 95% of
|
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Fidonet systems are right now.
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The Internet is reaching critical mass. The InterNic is running out
|
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of net numbers to give out. Pretty soon, it'll be tricky to get your
|
||
domain name registered, because it'll be already taken. Usenet has
|
||
become SPAM Central. MLM's, Pyramid Schemes, 1-900 Sex Lines, that's
|
||
all you see anymore.
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People won't put up with it for long. Eventually, the only thing
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the SPAMmers will be able to SPAM to are OTHER SPAMMERS! People will
|
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need somewhere else to talk. Will it be FidoNet? It could be.
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We've got a lot going for us. We have message control. Someone
|
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posts off-topic messages, *BAM* they get a warning. Do it again,
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*BAM*, they're banned from the Echo. Their Sysop doesn't comply,
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*BAM*, no mas node number. You think AOL's gonna ban Mr. Joe
|
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Spamboy? Hell no, he pays his bill!
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If we want to survive, though, we'll need to provide people with
|
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attractive, easy to use BBS's, and we need to make it DIRT SIMPLE for
|
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Sysops to get into the net. All that's required is some
|
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documentation.
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In conclusion, as my title states, we've got two choices: UPGRADE or
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DIE. Upgrade our software, upgrade our documentation, upgrade our
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technology, upgrade our acceptance procedures, or just shut the damn
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net down right now.
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FIDONEWS 13-35 Page 8 26 Aug 1996
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-----------------------------------------------------------------
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FIDONEWS 13-35 Page 9 26 Aug 1996
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=================================================================
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FIDONET HISTORY
|
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=================================================================
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|
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Part of the continuing History of FidoNet series...
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|
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F I D O N E T
|
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|
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Policy and Procedures Guide
|
||
|
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Version 2
|
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|
||
26 June 1986
|
||
|
||
_______ ____
|
||
Section Page
|
||
|
||
1 Overview ...................................................... 1
|
||
1.1 The Levels of FidoNet ..................................... 1
|
||
2 Sysop Procedures .............................................. 3
|
||
2.1 How to get a node number .................................. 3
|
||
2.2 If you are going down ..................................... 4
|
||
2.3 How to join a network ..................................... 5
|
||
2.4 How to form a network ..................................... 5
|
||
3 Network Coordinator Procedures ................................ 7
|
||
3.1 Routing inbound mail ...................................... 7
|
||
3.2 Assigning node numbers .................................... 8
|
||
3.3 Maintaining the node list ................................. 8
|
||
3.4 Passing along node lists and FidoNews ..................... 8
|
||
3.5 Forwarding newsletter submissions ......................... 9
|
||
4 Regional Coordinator Procedures ............................... 10
|
||
4.1 Assigning node numbers .................................... 10
|
||
4.2 Maintaining the node list ................................. 10
|
||
4.3 Encouraging the formation and growth of networks .......... 11
|
||
4.4 Passing along node lists and Fidonews ..................... 11
|
||
4.5 Forwarding newsletter submissions ......................... 11
|
||
5 International Coordinator Procedures .......................... 12
|
||
6 Resolution of Disputes ........................................ 13
|
||
6.1 Problems with another node ................................ 13
|
||
6.2 Problems with a network coordinator ....................... 13
|
||
6.3 Problems with a regional coordinator ...................... 13
|
||
6.4 Problems with the international coordinator ............... 14
|
||
6.5 Appeals to the international coordinator .................. 14
|
||
6.6 Case Hostories ............................................ 14
|
||
6.6.1 The Case of the Crooked Node ........................ 14
|
||
6.6.2 The Case of the Hacker Mailer ....................... 15
|
||
6.6.3 The Case of the Network Mutiny ...................... 15
|
||
6.6.4 The Case of the Bothered Barker ..................... 15
|
||
6.6.5 The Case of the Busy Beaver ......................... 16
|
||
6.6.6 The Mark of the Devil ............................... 16
|
||
6.6.7 The Case of the Sysop Twit .......................... 16
|
||
6.6.8 The Case of the EchoMail Junkey key key ............. 16
|
||
7 International Business Meetings ............................... 17
|
||
|
||
FIDONEWS 13-35 Page 10 26 Aug 1996
|
||
|
||
|
||
Chapter 1
|
||
|
||
OVERVIEW
|
||
|
||
FidoNet is an amateur electronic mail system. As such, all of its
|
||
participants and operators are non-paid volunteers. From its early
|
||
beginnings as a few friends swapping messages back and forth, it has
|
||
now grown to (June 1986) over 1000 different systems on four
|
||
continents.
|
||
|
||
FidoNet is large enough that it would quickly fall apart of its own
|
||
weight unless some sort of structure and control were imposed on it.
|
||
Multinet operation provides the structure. Decentralized management
|
||
provides the control. This document is an attempt to describe the
|
||
procedures which have been developed to manage the network.
|
||
|
||
1.1 The Levels of FidoNet
|
||
|
||
With the introduction of multinet Fido in early 1985, FidoNet has
|
||
developed a hierarchical structure, with the following levels:
|
||
|
||
o The international coordinator; The international coordinator
|
||
compiles all of the node lists from all of the regions and
|
||
networks and creates the master node list, which is then
|
||
distributed over the net.
|
||
|
||
o The country coordinator; In some cases the International
|
||
coordinator will appoint a country coordinator to oversee network
|
||
operations in a given country. The exact duties and
|
||
responsibilities of any given country coordinator are assigned by
|
||
the international coordinator, and will not be discussed here.
|
||
|
||
o The regional coordinator; The regional coordinator maintains the
|
||
list of independent nodes in his region, and encourages
|
||
independents to join existing nets or to form new nets. A
|
||
regional coordinator does not perform routing services for the
|
||
nodes in his region.
|
||
|
||
o The network coordinator; The network coordinator is responsible
|
||
for maintaining the list of nodes for his net, and for receiving
|
||
and forwarding any mail coming to the net from outside.
|
||
|
||
o The network routing hub; Network routing hubs exist only in three-
|
||
tiered regional nets. They generally share some or all of the
|
||
duties of the host, in order to ease the management of a large
|
||
regional net. The exact duties and procedures are a matter for
|
||
the network coordinator and his hubs to settle, and will not be
|
||
discussed here. The network coordinator is still responsible for
|
||
the maintenance of the net.
|
||
|
||
o The system operator (sysop); The sysop formulates his own policy
|
||
for running his board and dealing with his users, so that will not
|
||
be discussed in this document. However, the sysop must also mesh
|
||
with the rest of the FidoNet system if he is to send and receive
|
||
____
|
||
mail, and that will be discussed here.
|
||
FIDONEWS 13-35 Page 11 26 Aug 1996
|
||
|
||
|
||
o The user; Policy and procedures for the individual user on any
|
||
given board is determined by the system operator of that board,
|
||
and will not be considered in this document.
|
||
|
||
Chapter 2
|
||
|
||
SYSOP PROCEDURES
|
||
|
||
A sysop of an individual node can pretty much do as he pleases, as
|
||
long as he observes the mail events, is not excessively annoying to
|
||
other nodes on the net, and does not promote the distribution of
|
||
pirated copyrighted software.
|
||
|
||
National Mail Hour is the heart of FidoNet, as this is when network
|
||
mail is passed between systems. Any system which wishes to be a part
|
||
____
|
||
of FidoNet must be able to receive mail at this time. A system which
|
||
is a member of a regional network may also be required to observe
|
||
additional mail events, as defined by his network coordinator.
|
||
|
||
Failure to observe the proper mail events is sufficient grounds for
|
||
any node to be dropped from the net without notice (since notice is
|
||
generally given by FidoNet mail).
|
||
|
||
A system which has been dropped from the network is said to be
|
||
______________
|
||
excommunicated (i.e. unable to communicate). A node which has been
|
||
excommunicated may or may not be listed for a time in the "dog house",
|
||
which is included in the comments at the end of the node list. If you
|
||
find that you have been excommunicated without warning, then that
|
||
means that your coordinator is unable to contact you. You should
|
||
rectify the problem and report back.
|
||
|
||
National Mail Hour is observed from 0900 to 1000 GMT every day,
|
||
weekends included. In each of the United States time zones, this
|
||
would be as follows:
|
||
|
||
Eastern Standard Time 4 AM to 5 AM
|
||
Central Standard Time 3 AM to 4 AM
|
||
Mountain Standard Time 2 AM to 3 AM
|
||
Pacific Standard Time 1 AM to 2 AM
|
||
Hawaii Standard Time 11 PM to Midnight
|
||
|
||
___
|
||
FidoNet does not observe daylight savings time. In areas which
|
||
observe daylight savings time the FidoNet mail schedules must be
|
||
adjusted in the same direction as the clock change. Alternatively,
|
||
you can simply leave your system on standard time.
|
||
|
||
2.1 How to get a node number
|
||
|
||
You must first obtain a current node list, so that you can send mail.
|
||
You do not need a node number to send mail, but you must have one in
|
||
order for others to send mail to you.
|
||
|
||
The first step in obtaining a current node list is to locate a Fido
|
||
FIDONEWS 13-35 Page 12 26 Aug 1996
|
||
|
||
|
||
bulletin board. No help there; you're on your own. Most bulletin
|
||
board lists include at least a few Fido systems, and usually identify
|
||
them as such, so this shouldn't be too hard.
|
||
|
||
If the sysop of any Fido system does not have a node list available
|
||
for downloading, then he can probably tell you where to get one.
|
||
|
||
Once you have a node list, you must determine which network or region
|
||
covers your area. Networks always have a three digit number.
|
||
Networks are more restricted in area than regions, but are generally
|
||
preferred since they provide more services to their members.
|
||
|
||
If you cannot find a network which covers your area, then pick the
|
||
region which does. Regions always have a two digit number. The
|
||
United States is divided into ten regions, so that you are certainly
|
||
in a region even if you are not near a network.
|
||
|
||
Once you have located the network or region in your area, send a
|
||
request for a node number to node zero of that network or region. The
|
||
____ ____
|
||
request must be sent by FidoNet mail, and must include at least the
|
||
following:
|
||
|
||
1) Your name.
|
||
2) Your current mailing address.
|
||
3) Your telephone number (voice).
|
||
4) The name of your system.
|
||
5) The city and state where your system is located.
|
||
6) The phone number to be used when calling your system.
|
||
7) Your hours of operation.
|
||
8) The maximum baud rate you can support.
|
||
|
||
Your coordinator may want additional information. If so, he will
|
||
contact you.
|
||
|
||
Please allow at least two weeks for a node number request to be
|
||
processed. If you send your request to a regional coordinator, then
|
||
he may forward your request to the network coordinator who covers your
|
||
area (if any), which may take longer.
|
||
|
||
2.2 If you are going down
|
||
|
||
If your node will be down for an extended period (more than a day or
|
||
___________________
|
||
two), then you should inform your coordinator as soon as possible. If
|
||
you do not do this, then other systems will still try to reach you
|
||
__ ___ _____
|
||
while you are down, much to the annoyance of everyone. Do not under
|
||
___ _____________
|
||
any circumstances put an answering machine or similar device on your
|
||
phone line while you are down. If you do, then calling systems will
|
||
get the machine repeatedly, racking up large phone bills, which is
|
||
____
|
||
very annoying. See the section on Resolution of Disputes for details
|
||
on what happens to annoying people.
|
||
|
||
FIDONEWS 13-35 Page 13 26 Aug 1996
|
||
|
||
|
||
If your system goes down without warning, then you may be placed in
|
||
the dog house, or even removed from the node list completely.
|
||
|
||
2.3 How to join a network
|
||
|
||
If you are an independent node and would like to join a network in
|
||
your area, you must contact the network coordinator. He can be
|
||
reached by sending FidoNet mail to node zero of the network. He will
|
||
inform you of any special mail schedules and/or routing required by
|
||
the network. Your regional coordinator will contact you to confirm
|
||
that you wish to join the network. Once you have been placed in the
|
||
network, you will be informed by the network coordinator.
|
||
|
||
There are many advantages to being in a regional network. First and
|
||
foremost is that it helps reduce congestion of FidoNet during National
|
||
Mail Hour. Also, many nets are "outbound" as well as "inbound", which
|
||
can substantially reduce your phone bills. In addition, network
|
||
members receive regular updates of the node list and Fidonews, while
|
||
an independent node may not.
|
||
|
||
2.4 How to form a network
|
||
|
||
If there are several nodes in your area, but no regional network, then
|
||
you may wish to form your own. Again, this has several advantages as
|
||
outlined above.
|
||
|
||
Your first step is to contact the other sysops in your area. You must
|
||
decide which nodes will comprise the network, and which of those nodes
|
||
is going to be the network coordinator. Your next step is to inform
|
||
your regional coordinator. You must send him a FidoNet message with
|
||
the following information:
|
||
|
||
1) The region number(s), or network number(s) if a network is
|
||
splitting up, that are affected by the formation of your network.
|
||
The regional coordinator will inform the national coordinator and
|
||
the coordinators of any affected networks that a new network is in
|
||
formation.
|
||
|
||
2) The name that you wish to call your network. Please try to select
|
||
a name that relates to your grouping. For example, SoCalNet for
|
||
nodes in the Southern California Area and MassNet for
|
||
Massachusettes Area. Remember if you call yourself DOGNET it
|
||
doesn't help others know what area of the country (or even what
|
||
country) your group is in.
|
||
|
||
3) A copy of the proposed network's nodelist. The nodelist file
|
||
should be named Frrr-nnn.NET where rrr is the proposed host's
|
||
current region or network number and nnn is his current node
|
||
number. For example, if the proposed host is currently listed as
|
||
node 5 in region 13, then you would name the file F013-005.NET.
|
||
This file should be sent attached to the message of application for
|
||
a Network Number.
|
||
|
||
SAMPLE FORMAT OF A Frrr-nnn.NET FILE
|
||
|
||
Host,xxx,St_Louis_Area, St_Louis_MO,Ken_Kaplan, 1-314-432-4129,2400
|
||
FIDONEWS 13-35 Page 14 26 Aug 1996
|
||
|
||
|
||
Pvt ,076,Ben's_Bakery, Godfrey_IL, Ben_Baker, -Unpublished-, 1200
|
||
Down,482,Dirty_Ole_Man, Wood_Riv_IL,Ervin_Cole, 1-618-254-2763,1200
|
||
Down,004,Bulldog, St_Louis_MO,Tony_Clark, 1-314-441-9297,2400
|
||
,010,MDC_RCC, St_Louis_MO,Terry_Mueller, 1-314-232-6881,2400
|
||
,016,Mikes_Board, St_Louis_MO,Mike_Mellinger,1-314-726-3448,2400
|
||
Down,017,DCA_BBS, St_Louis_MO,Jon_Wichman, 1-314-962-2751,1200
|
||
Hold,022,PCLUG, St_Louis_MO,Ken_Kaplan, 1-314-576-2743,2400
|
||
,051,DECUS_Central, St_Louis_MO,Ken_Kaplan, 1-314-432-4129,2400
|
||
,339,Midnight_Cnct, St_Louis_MO,Ray_Weil, 1-314-961-1585,1200
|
||
Pvt ,492,Neu's_Node, Omaha_NB, Paul_Neu, -Unpublished-, 2400
|
||
Pvt ,500,Alex'_Fido, St_Louis_MO,Alex_Hartley, -Unpublished-, 1200
|
||
,501,ZIGGY's_Castle,Fenton_MO, Mike_Cravens, 1-314-225-9684,1200
|
||
,502,ALADINs_Castle,St_Louis_MO,Bob_Russ, 1-314-741-3050,1200
|
||
|
||
When the international coordinator receives the above items from the
|
||
regional coordinator, the information received will be verified and a
|
||
network number assigned. The regional coordinator will send a FidoNet
|
||
mail message to all affected telling them the assigned network number.
|
||
|
||
______
|
||
Do not send a network number request to the international coordinator.
|
||
____
|
||
All network number requests must be processed by the regional
|
||
coordinator first.
|
||
|
||
Chapter 3
|
||
|
||
NETWORK COORDINATOR PROCEDURES
|
||
|
||
A network coordinator has the following responsibilities:
|
||
|
||
1) To receive incoming mail for nodes in his network, and to deliver
|
||
it to its recipients.
|
||
|
||
2) To assign node numbers to nodes in his network.
|
||
|
||
3) To maintain the node list for his network, and to send a copy of it
|
||
to the international coordinator whenever it changes.
|
||
|
||
4) To pass along to his nodes new national node lists and new issues
|
||
of FidoNews as they are received.
|
||
|
||
5) To forward newsletter submissions to the FidoNews publisher.
|
||
|
||
3.1 Routing inbound mail
|
||
|
||
It is your responsibility as network coordinator to receive all
|
||
inbound mail for nodes in your network and to forward it to its
|
||
recipients. You are left to your own discretion as to how best to
|
||
accomplish this.
|
||
|
||
There are certain exceptions to this, however. If a node in your
|
||
network is sending and receiving inordinately large volumes of mail
|
||
you can request that he cease and desist. If he refuses to do so,
|
||
then you can request your regional coordinator to assign the node a
|
||
number as an independent and drop him from your node list.
|
||
FIDONEWS 13-35 Page 15 26 Aug 1996
|
||
|
||
|
||
There are two main reasons why a node might generate exceptionally
|
||
large volumes of mail. Once in awhile a node will try to make a
|
||
"bombing run" (sending one message to a great many nodes). If these
|
||
are being routed through your outbound host, then you can request that
|
||
he cease and desist, on pain of excommunication. If a node in another
|
||
network is making bombing runs on your nodes and routing them through
|
||
your inbound host, then you can complain to the network and/or
|
||
regional coordinator of the offending node. Bombing runs are
|
||
considered to be annoying, and may be dealt with accordingly.
|
||
|
||
The other common source of routing overload is EchoMail. EchoMail is
|
||
a nice invention, and offers great benefits, but it cannot be allowed
|
||
to degrade the ability of the network hosts to handle normal message
|
||
traffic. If a node in your network is routing large volumes of
|
||
EchoMail, you can ask him to either limit the amount of EchoMail, or
|
||
even to stop routing his EchoMail completely. The design of EchoMail
|
||
is such that it is a simple matter to do either of these.
|
||
|
||
3.2 Assigning node numbers
|
||
|
||
It is your responsibility to assign node numbers to new nodes in your
|
||
network. You may also change the numbers of existing nodes in your
|
||
network, though you should check with your member nodes before doing
|
||
so. You may assign any numbers you wish, so long as each node has a
|
||
unique number within your network.
|
||
|
||
You should not assign a node number to any system unless and until you
|
||
have received a formal request from that system by FidoNet mail. This
|
||
will ensure that the system is at least minimally operational. The
|
||
strict maintenance of this policy has been one of the great strengths
|
||
of FidoNet.
|
||
|
||
3.3 Maintaining the node list
|
||
|
||
You should attempt to implement name changes, phone number changes,
|
||
etc. in your node list as soon as possible, and to forward the revised
|
||
node list to the international coordinator whenever a change occurs.
|
||
|
||
You should also on occasion send a "broadcast message" to every node
|
||
in your network to ensure that they are still operational. If a node
|
||
turns out to be "off the air" with no prior warning given to you, then
|
||
you can either mark the node as down, place it in the dog house, or
|
||
remove it from the node list completely, at your own discretion.
|
||
|
||
If a node in your network is acting in a sufficiently annoying manner,
|
||
then you can take whatever action you deem fit, according to the
|
||
circumstances of the case.
|
||
|
||
3.4 Passing along node lists and FidoNews
|
||
|
||
As a network coordinator you should from time to time receive a new
|
||
issue of FidoNews or an updated node list. The node list is posted
|
||
weekly on Friday, and FidoNews is published weekly on Monday.
|
||
|
||
You should pass both of these along to your member nodes as soon as is
|
||
practical after you receive them. It is also desirable that you make
|
||
FIDONEWS 13-35 Page 16 26 Aug 1996
|
||
|
||
|
||
them both available for downloading by the general user, but this is
|
||
not required.
|
||
|
||
FidoNews and the node lists are the glue that holds us together.
|
||
Without them, we cease to be a community, and become just another
|
||
bunch of bulletin boards.
|
||
|
||
3.5 Forwarding newsletter submissions
|
||
|
||
The node list gives us our structure, but FidoNews gives us our
|
||
character. FidoNews is the primary medium by which sysops hear from
|
||
each other. It is FidoNews which gives us the sense of being a
|
||
community of people with common interests.
|
||
|
||
Accordingly, you should encourage sysops and users in your network to
|
||
contribute to FidoNews. If you receive any submissions, you should
|
||
forward them to the FidoNews publisher. Think of yourself as being a
|
||
regional bureau chief on the FidoNews editorial staff.
|
||
|
||
Chapter 4
|
||
|
||
REGIONAL COORDINATOR PROCEDURES
|
||
|
||
A regional coordinator has the following responsibilities:
|
||
|
||
1) To assign node numbers to independent nodes in his region.
|
||
|
||
2) To maintain the node list for his region, and to send a copy of it
|
||
to the international coordinator whenever it changes.
|
||
|
||
3) To encourage independent nodes in his region to join existing
|
||
networks, or to form new networks.
|
||
|
||
4) To pass along to inbound hosts in his region new international node
|
||
lists and new issues of FidoNews as they are received.
|
||
|
||
5) To forward newsletter submissions to the FidoNews publisher.
|
||
|
||
4.1 Assigning node numbers
|
||
|
||
It is your responsibility to assign node numbers to new nodes in your
|
||
region. You may also change the numbers of existing nodes in your
|
||
region, though you should check with the respective nodes before doing
|
||
so. You may assign any numbers you wish, so long as each node has a
|
||
unique number within your region.
|
||
|
||
You should not assign a node number to any system unless and until you
|
||
have received a formal request from that system by FidoNet mail. This
|
||
will ensure that the system is at least minimally operational. The
|
||
strict maintenance of this policy has been one of the great strengths
|
||
of FidoNet.
|
||
|
||
If you receive a node number request from a new node that is in an
|
||
area covered by an existing regional network, then you should forward
|
||
the request to the network host instead of assigning a number
|
||
yourself.
|
||
FIDONEWS 13-35 Page 17 26 Aug 1996
|
||
|
||
|
||
4.2 Maintaining the node list
|
||
|
||
You should attempt to implement name changes, phone number changes,
|
||
and so forth in your node list as soon as possible, and to forward the
|
||
revised node list to the international coordinator whenever a change
|
||
occurs.
|
||
|
||
You should also on occasion send a "broadcast message" to every node
|
||
in your region to ensure that they are still operational. If a node
|
||
turns out to be "off the air" with no prior warning given to you, then
|
||
you can either mark the node as down, place it in the dog house, or
|
||
remove it from the node list completely, at your own discretion.
|
||
|
||
If a node in your region is acting in a sufficiently annoying manner,
|
||
then you can take whatever action you deem fit, according to the
|
||
circumstances of the case.
|
||
|
||
4.3 Encouraging the formation and growth of networks
|
||
|
||
One of your main duties as a regional coordinator is to promote the
|
||
growth of networks in your region.
|
||
|
||
You should try to avoid having independent nodes in your region which
|
||
are within the coverage area of a regional network. There are,
|
||
___
|
||
however, certain cases where a node should not be a member of a
|
||
network, such as a commercial system with a large volume of traffic
|
||
which would clog the network. The resolution of such special cases is
|
||
left to your own discretion.
|
||
|
||
If several independent nodes in your region are in a "clump", then you
|
||
should encourage them to form a regional network. Refer to the sysop
|
||
procedure on forming a regional network for details of what
|
||
information you should get.
|
||
|
||
Note that this does not mean to encourage the formation of trivial
|
||
networks. Obviously, one node does not make a network. The exact
|
||
number of nodes required for an effective network must be judged
|
||
according to the circumstances of the situation, and is left to your
|
||
own discretion.
|
||
|
||
4.4 Passing along node lists and Fidonews
|
||
|
||
As a regional coordinator, you should from time to time receive a new
|
||
issue of FidoNews or an updated node list. The node list is posted
|
||
weekly on Friday, and FidoNews is published weekly on Monday.
|
||
|
||
You should pass both of these along to any network hosts in your
|
||
___
|
||
region as soon as is practical after you receive them. You are not
|
||
required to mail them to any independent nodes in your region, though
|
||
you may if you wish. It is also desirable that you make them both
|
||
available for downloading by the general user, but this is not
|
||
required.
|
||
|
||
4.5 Forwarding newsletter submissions
|
||
FIDONEWS 13-35 Page 18 26 Aug 1996
|
||
|
||
|
||
You should encourage sysops and users in your region to contribute to
|
||
FidoNews. If you receive any submissions, you should forward them to
|
||
the FidoNews publisher. Think of yourself as being a regional bureau
|
||
chief on the FidoNews editorial staff.
|
||
|
||
Chapter 5
|
||
|
||
INTERNATIONAL COORDINATOR PROCEDURES
|
||
|
||
The international coordinator for FidoNet has the primary task of
|
||
maintaining the master node list, as well as the node list for
|
||
region 1. From this are derived several additional responsibilities
|
||
and powers. However, these powers are rarely (if ever) used. The
|
||
___
|
||
international coordinator is very much King Log, not King Stork.
|
||
|
||
The international coordinator, if he acts at all, will normally
|
||
restrict himself to negotiating with the parties involved in an
|
||
attempt to achieve a peaceful resolution.
|
||
|
||
If a system has been dropped from the node list, and can present a
|
||
sufficiently convincing case to the international coordinator, then he
|
||
can be granted status as an "independent at large" in region 1.
|
||
|
||
In an extreme case, the international coordinator can order the
|
||
disbanding of a regional net, or can assign a new coordinator for a
|
||
region, but this is highly unlikely. The international coordinator
|
||
____
|
||
will only take such action in an extreme situation which threatens the
|
||
existence and integrity of FidoNet.
|
||
___________________
|
||
The international coordinator will take no action at all unless all
|
||
other means of settlement have already been tried. His first step in
|
||
resolving any dispute will be to contact the regional coordinators and
|
||
network coordinators involved. If they have not been consulted by the
|
||
injured party or otherwise made aware of the situation, then the
|
||
complaint will be dismissed out of hand.
|
||
________________
|
||
He will also take no action unless in his opinion the matter is
|
||
serious enough to warrant his attention.
|
||
|
||
If all means of recourse have been tried to no avail, and if the
|
||
international coordinator feels that the situation is grave enough to
|
||
____
|
||
warrant his intervention, then and only then he will intercede and
|
||
take whatever action he feels is appropriate, at his own discretion.
|
||
|
||
Chapter 6
|
||
|
||
RESOLUTION OF DISPUTES
|
||
|
||
The world not being perfect, sometimes troubles crop up. Any
|
||
organization larger than a cub scout pack needs some sort of grievance
|
||
procedure, and FidoNet is no exception.
|
||
|
||
The FidoNet judicial philosophy can be summed up in two rules:
|
||
FIDONEWS 13-35 Page 19 26 Aug 1996
|
||
|
||
|
||
1) Thou shalt not excessively annoy others.
|
||
|
||
2) Thou shalt not be too easily annoyed.
|
||
|
||
In other words, there are no hard and fast rules of conduct, but
|
||
____
|
||
reasonably polite behavior is expected. Also, in any dispute both
|
||
sides are examined, and action could be taken against either or both
|
||
parties. ("Judge not, lest ye be judged!")
|
||
|
||
6.1 Problems with another node
|
||
|
||
If you are having problems with another node, you should complain to
|
||
your network coordinator and/or his network coordinator. If one or
|
||
both of you is not in a network, then complain to the appropriate
|
||
regional coordinator.
|
||
|
||
6.2 Problems with a network coordinator
|
||
|
||
If you are having problems with your network coordinator and feel that
|
||
you are not being treated properly, there are a few things you can do.
|
||
|
||
The first step is to contact your regional coordinator. If he feels
|
||
that your case has merit, and cannot resolve it in any other way, then
|
||
he may grant you independent status. You will then no longer be a
|
||
part of the regional network, and will probably no longer receive
|
||
FidoNews and node list updates, so don't ask unless you are sure you
|
||
want out.
|
||
|
||
If you fail to obtain relief from your regional coordinator, then you
|
||
can appeal to the international coordinator.
|
||
|
||
6.3 Problems with a regional coordinator
|
||
|
||
If you are having problems with your regional coordinator, then you
|
||
should first try to join or form a regional network in your area. If
|
||
this fails, you can appeal to the international coordinator.
|
||
|
||
6.4 Problems with the international coordinator
|
||
|
||
If you are having problems with the international coordinator, then
|
||
you are out of luck. You can either live with it, drop out and forget
|
||
it, or join with some friends and start another mail system of your
|
||
own.
|
||
|
||
6.5 Appeals to the international coordinator
|
||
|
||
If you are unable to obtain relief from your regional coordinator,
|
||
then you can appeal to the international coordinator. If your case is
|
||
sufficiently extreme and meritorious, then you may be granted status
|
||
as an "independent at large" (that is, an independent in region 1, not
|
||
a part of any network or region).
|
||
|
||
This is an extreme case, and has never actually come to pass thus far.
|
||
The international coordinator has broad and sweeping powers which he
|
||
almost never uses. You should be very, very sure of the strength of
|
||
FIDONEWS 13-35 Page 20 26 Aug 1996
|
||
|
||
|
||
your case before going this far.
|
||
|
||
Also, the first step taken by the international coordinator in
|
||
investigating any dispute is to contact any regional coordinators and
|
||
network coordinators concerned. If you have not followed the proper
|
||
channels, then your case will be dismissed out of hand. In other
|
||
words, don't go to the international coordinator until you have tried
|
||
__________
|
||
everything else.
|
||
|
||
6.6 Case Histories
|
||
|
||
A few actual case histories of past disputes may be instructive to
|
||
show general procedures and methods. Names have been left out to
|
||
protect the guilty.
|
||
|
||
6.6.1 The Case of the Crooked Node
|
||
|
||
A sysop of a local node was using network mail to engage in unethical
|
||
business practices. His network coordinator became very annoyed at
|
||
this, and dropped the local from his node list.
|
||
|
||
The local appealed to his regional coordinator for assignment as an
|
||
independent node. The regional coordinator, on checking with the
|
||
network coordinator, decided that the network coordinator was within
|
||
his rights to be annoyed. Independent status was denied.
|
||
|
||
The international coordinator did not intervene.
|
||
|
||
6.6.2 The Case of the Hacker Mailer
|
||
|
||
A sysop of a local node made use of file attaches for extra users to
|
||
mail himself the USER.BBS file from several local boards. The sysops
|
||
of these boards felt annoyed at this, and appealed to their network
|
||
coordinator, who agreed and dropped the offending node from the node
|
||
list.
|
||
|
||
The regional coordinator was not consulted.
|
||
|
||
The international coordinator did not intervene.
|
||
|
||
6.6.3 The Case of the Network Mutiny
|
||
|
||
Several local nodes became annoyed with their network coordinator for
|
||
failing to provide services. They complained to him, but nothing was
|
||
done.
|
||
|
||
They appealed to their regional coordinator, who decided that they
|
||
were justified in their annoyance and accepted their application for a
|
||
new network number.
|
||
|
||
The international coordinator assigned the network number, based on
|
||
the regional coordinator's recommendation.
|
||
|
||
6.6.4 The Case of the Bothered Barker
|
||
|
||
FIDONEWS 13-35 Page 21 26 Aug 1996
|
||
|
||
|
||
A local node became annoyed with his network coordinator for failing
|
||
to provide services. Repeated complaints to his network coordinator
|
||
did not satisfy him, so he appealed to the international coordinator.
|
||
|
||
The international coordinator, on seeing that the regional coordinator
|
||
had not been consulted, dismissed the complaint out of hand.
|
||
|
||
The local node submitted his complaint to his regional coordinator,
|
||
who investigated the case and discovered that there was some justice
|
||
to the complaint. He advised and assisted the network coordinator in
|
||
configuring his system to provide an improved level of service to the
|
||
local nodes.
|
||
|
||
The regional coordinator also decided that the local node was being
|
||
too easily annoyed, in that he was expecting services not normally
|
||
required of a network coordinator. The local node was informed as to
|
||
the true duties of a network coordinator, and was advised to lower his
|
||
expectations.
|
||
|
||
6.6.5 The Case of the Busy Beaver
|
||
|
||
A local node which was operated by a retail establishment was engaged
|
||
in making "bombing runs" to mail advertisements over FidoNet. His
|
||
network coordinator felt annoyed and handling the outgoing traffic for
|
||
a commercial operation, and asked the local node to leave the network.
|
||
|
||
The local node applied to the regional coordinator, and was granted
|
||
status as an independent node in his region.
|
||
|
||
6.6.6 The Mark of the Devil
|
||
|
||
A local sysop whose board was used in conjunction with voodoo rites,
|
||
hacking, phreaking, and obscene material applied to a network
|
||
coordinator for a node number. The network coordinator deemed that
|
||
this board was exceptionally annoying, and denied the request.
|
||
|
||
The regional coordinator was not consulted.
|
||
|
||
The national coordinator dismissed the case out of hand.
|
||
|
||
6.6.7 The Case of the Sysop Twit
|
||
|
||
A patron of various local nodes had been roundly recognized by all
|
||
sysops as a twit. The user obtained his own system, became a sysop,
|
||
and applied for a node number. The network coordinator denied the
|
||
request. No appeals were made.
|
||
|
||
6.6.8 The Case of the EchoMail Junkey key key
|
||
|
||
A local node became enamored with EchoMail and joined several
|
||
conferences, routing his outbound mail through his regional network.
|
||
He then started an EchoMail conference of his own and began relaying
|
||
EchoMail between several systems, again routing it all through his
|
||
regional network.
|
||
|
||
His network coordinator observed that network performance was becoming
|
||
FIDONEWS 13-35 Page 22 26 Aug 1996
|
||
|
||
|
||
seriously impaired. The offending node was told to hold it down. A
|
||
compromise was reached whereby much of the EchoMail traffic was no
|
||
longer routed through the regional network, and routed EchoMail was
|
||
limited to twenty messages per night. No appeals were made.
|
||
|
||
Chapter 7
|
||
|
||
INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MEETINGS
|
||
|
||
The International FidoNet Association (IFNA) is a non-profit
|
||
corporation. As such, it must from time to time hold a business
|
||
meeting for the election of officers and for general network business.
|
||
These meetings will be held at approximately yearly intervals, as
|
||
scheduled by the international coordinator.
|
||
|
||
Every FidoNet system is considered to be a member of IFNA. Members
|
||
are grouped according to their network or region, with each network
|
||
and region receiving one vote.
|
||
|
||
Every network and region coordinator should attempt to attend each
|
||
business meeting. If it is not possible for a coordinator to attend,
|
||
then he should designate a member of his network or region to go and
|
||
vote on behalf of the network or region. Any network or region that
|
||
does not have a designated representative present at the meeting will
|
||
lose its vote.
|
||
|
||
Each coordinator should send a message by FidoNet mail to the
|
||
international coordinator stating who (if anyone) will be voting on
|
||
behalf of the region or network at the meeting.
|
||
|
||
Any IFNA member who has anything he would like discussed at the
|
||
business meeting should send a message by FidoNet mail to the
|
||
international coordinator, who will schedule topics for discussion and
|
||
motions to be voted on.
|
||
|
||
[end of Policy 2 document]
|
||
|
||
[notice the much less uptight and less restrictive language of this
|
||
version compared to many parts of the current Policy document. Where
|
||
did we go wrong?] Ed.
|
||
|
||
|
||
-----------------------------------------------------------------
|
||
|
||
FIDONEWS 13-35 Page 23 26 Aug 1996
|
||
|
||
|
||
=================================================================
|
||
REVIEWS
|
||
=================================================================
|
||
|
||
|
||
Six Mail Processors Reviewed [II]
|
||
Damian Walker, 2:2502/666
|
||
|
||
This is the second of my six-part series of articles which looks at
|
||
six mail processors. Last week's article looked at FastEcho, and this
|
||
week's article is about GEcho. A full feature table for all six mail
|
||
processors will be produced in the sixth article.
|
||
|
||
GECHO
|
||
|
||
GEcho is a popular mail processor written by Gerard van der Land.
|
||
The version I have here is 1.00 which, to my knowledge, is the latest
|
||
evaluation version despite its 1992 release date. Later versions
|
||
include 1.11+ (registered users only) and 1.20/Pro (commercial
|
||
version).
|
||
|
||
First Impressions
|
||
|
||
The first thing which strikes me as I unpack GEcho is the age of
|
||
the evaluation version. While GEcho 1.00 is a fully working piece of
|
||
software (with the traditional shareware messages and some shareware
|
||
limitations), the fact that it hasn't been updated with the shareware
|
||
versions means that it probably doesn't give a good idea of the
|
||
registered program's capabilities.
|
||
The main thing which strikes first time sysops of modern systems
|
||
is the lack of support for any of the more advanced message bases such
|
||
as JAM or Squish which are common in Fidonet systems today. You're
|
||
limited to Hudson or *.MSG.
|
||
This is fine for points, but it is of little use for sysops who
|
||
want to evaluate the package on large systems with a busy message
|
||
base. For this reason, such sysops may pass GEcho over entirely, even
|
||
though later versions are far more versatile in message base support.
|
||
Another feature conspicuous by its absence is automatic creation
|
||
of unknown areas when mail is received in them. Although GEcho is
|
||
very easy to set up, the fact that new areas have to be added manually
|
||
may put points off using the software.
|
||
These gripes can be put into perspective when you consider that
|
||
this is the evaluation version of GEcho. However, it would have been
|
||
useful to have a more up to date evaluation version available, even if
|
||
all features over and above those in 1.00 were disabled; this would
|
||
allow sysops to see the potential of the registered package.
|
||
Now that the advanced age of the package has been discussed at
|
||
length, let's not dwell on it further, but instead, see what the
|
||
package is capable of.
|
||
|
||
On Further Examination...
|
||
|
||
Upon loading and using the setup program, one thing which I found
|
||
pleasing was the clean interface. Although rather spartan in
|
||
comparison with the other packages, the GEcho interface is consistent
|
||
and very easy to use.
|
||
FIDONEWS 13-35 Page 24 26 Aug 1996
|
||
|
||
|
||
What is slightly disappointing is the lack of 'hot keys' in the
|
||
menu interface. Each option must be selected using the cursor keys
|
||
and ENTER; there are no single-letter keypresses to choose options in
|
||
a menu.
|
||
In common with most other Fidonet-related software, fields in a
|
||
data entry screen are amended by highlighting their field names and
|
||
pressing ENTER before typing or selecting a new value for the field.
|
||
This contrasts to the method FastEcho uses, where the cursor always
|
||
sits in a field, and the up/down/enter/tab keys are used to navigate
|
||
from one field to another, rather like a standard GUI interface.
|
||
The method GEcho uses, whilst a little more cumbersome, is
|
||
slightly more consistent. Merely moving past a multiple choice field
|
||
does not invoke its menu, as with FastEcho; this allows easier
|
||
navigation of a screen when only one or two fields need to be changed;
|
||
you can move up and down through the fields using the cursor keys
|
||
without inadvertently changing them.
|
||
There is a help system with GEcho, which is context sensetive, but
|
||
it is not a hypertext system like those used by FastEcho and IMail.
|
||
Instead, it merely allows you to view the relevant part of the manual
|
||
in a window, which is not quite as helpful. However, full text search
|
||
facilities are present, and you can scroll the window to view any part
|
||
of the manual.
|
||
Speaking of documentation... The manual for GEcho is quite clear
|
||
and comprehensive. It is rather slim, but this is to be expected with
|
||
the age of the evaluation package and the lack of advanced features.
|
||
Only the addition of an index would serve to improve it.
|
||
One feature present in GEcho, which of the packages reviewed here
|
||
only FastEcho shares, is a description import feature. Having
|
||
imported an AREAS.BBS (as I often do), you find your area database
|
||
lacking descriptions. GCONVERT, a bundled utility, comes to the
|
||
rescue, with a feature which takes a standard echo list and imports a
|
||
descriptions for every echo entry currently lacking one (ie. entries
|
||
which already have a description are left alone).
|
||
People are occasionally in doubt about this feature's usefulness,
|
||
so a little example by way of explanation might be in order. The
|
||
region 25 backbone currently has around 550-600 echoes, which I have
|
||
access to. My downlinks and I only take around 150 of these, but I
|
||
still like to have all 550-600 echoes in my echo database so that
|
||
downlinks get a complete list of available echoes when they issue a
|
||
%LIST to AreaFix (most packages only list echoes in your echo
|
||
database, even if requests for other areas can be forwarded). The
|
||
ability to import areas from an AREAS.BBS, then import descriptions
|
||
from an echolist, is therefore invaluable for those wishing to provide
|
||
a complete %LIST to their points and downlinks.
|
||
Another feature important to many sysops is the ability to import
|
||
personal netmail which has been read or sent, into special message
|
||
areas. This differs from the normal netmail import feature in that it
|
||
imports netmails with the Sent flag into a 'Sent Netmail' area, and
|
||
netmails with the Rcvd flag into a 'Received Netmail' area. This is
|
||
useful if you (as the sysop of your node or point) want to keep your
|
||
netmail correspondence for future reference without having to manually
|
||
forward messages into a certain area once you've read (or posted)
|
||
them.
|
||
GEcho has a good AreaFix system. In keeping with the rest of the
|
||
package, it is short on the advanced features of more modern
|
||
evaluation packages, but it contains all the necessary features for a
|
||
FIDONEWS 13-35 Page 25 26 Aug 1996
|
||
|
||
|
||
full node, such as echo grouping (with the ability to restrict access
|
||
to special groups such as sysop areas), forwarding requests to
|
||
uplinks, and a full set of areafix commands. Read-only access is not
|
||
present, however; a node or point either has full access to an echo
|
||
group or none at all.
|
||
One impressive aspect of the package is its speed. The evaluation
|
||
package is only an 8086 executable (ie. no fancy DPMI or 386
|
||
instructions), yet in the Hudson message toss test it was second only
|
||
to FMailX, itself a 386 executable. This is surprising for a package
|
||
which was released in 1992, and the later versions of the program are
|
||
reputed to be even faster.
|
||
The exact timing for a message toss of 91 echomail messages into
|
||
a newly created Hudson message base is 9 seconds, including the time
|
||
it took to unarchive the messages. The same archive took only 11
|
||
seconds to be tossed into previously empty *.MSG areas.
|
||
(For readers in doubt as to the impressiveness of such speeds,
|
||
take note of the humble hardware the tests have been performed on--
|
||
this is more fully detailed in the first article in this series).
|
||
|
||
Summary
|
||
|
||
Despite the age of the evaluation package, GEcho has some
|
||
impressive attributes. If the cleanliness and consistency of its
|
||
interface are not enough, then its speed will impress. However, the
|
||
age of the evaluation version, and its lack of general features,
|
||
detract from its attractiveness.
|
||
Unless you know someone running the registered version of GEcho,
|
||
you can't be sure of what features the current registered version
|
||
possesses, and how well they work. A more up to date evaluation
|
||
package is sorely needed, even if it only displays the more advanced
|
||
features of the modern package in registered-user-only form.
|
||
In next week's Fidonews you should see the third part of this
|
||
series, in which I poke and prod Folkert J Wijnstra's FMail echomail
|
||
processor software.
|
||
|
||
-----------------------------------------------------------------
|
||
|
||
FIDONEWS 13-35 Page 26 26 Aug 1996
|
||
|
||
|
||
=================================================================
|
||
COORDINATORS CORNER
|
||
=================================================================
|
||
|
||
|
||
Nodelist-statistics as seen from Zone-2 for day 236
|
||
By Ward Dossche, 2:292/854
|
||
ZC/2
|
||
|
||
+----+------+------------+------------+------------+------------+--+
|
||
|Zone|Nl-208|Nodelist-215|Nodelist-222|Nodelist-229|Nodelist-236|%%|
|
||
+----+------+------------+------------+------------+------------+--+
|
||
| 1 | 12786|12691 -95 |12622 -69 |12530 -92 |12435 -95 |39|
|
||
| 2 | 16462|16462 0 |16426 -36 |16408 -18 |16391 -17 |52|
|
||
| 3 | 1023| 1023 0 | 1023 0 | 1023 0 | 969 -54 | 3|
|
||
| 4 | 636| 637 1 | 637 0 | 637 0 | 638 1 | 2|
|
||
| 5 | 99| 99 0 | 99 0 | 99 0 | 99 0 | 0|
|
||
| 6 | 1018| 1018 0 | 1020 2 | 1020 0 | 1020 0 | 3|
|
||
+----+------+------------+------------+------------+------------+--+
|
||
| 32024|31930 -94 |31827 -103 |31717 -110 |31552 -165 |
|
||
+------+------------+------------+------------+------------+
|
||
|
||
-----------------------------------------------------------------
|
||
|
||
FIDONEWS 13-35 Page 27 26 Aug 1996
|
||
|
||
|
||
=================================================================
|
||
ECHOING
|
||
=================================================================
|
||
|
||
|
||
--- Following message extracted from FN_SYSOP @ 1:374/14 ---
|
||
By Christopher Baker on Sun Aug 25 19:33:45 1996
|
||
|
||
From: Lisa Gronke
|
||
To: All
|
||
Date: 22 Aug 96 10:47:38
|
||
Subj: REC 17 Election
|
||
|
||
* Forwarded (from: RGN17-ADMIN) by Lisa Gronke
|
||
* Originally from Dallas Hinton (1:17/0) to All.
|
||
* Original dated: Thu Aug 15, 22:11
|
||
|
||
Hi All!
|
||
|
||
List of Candidates for REC 17 position (in alphabetical order):
|
||
|
||
1) John Mudge (352/0, 352/111)
|
||
2) Bob Seaborn (140/1, 140/12)
|
||
===================
|
||
|
||
As previously stated, voting may now begin. Bob and John may, if they
|
||
wish, post a message (each) describing their qualifications,
|
||
experience, etc. If you wish to ask questions of either gentleman,
|
||
you're welcome to do so in RGN17-ADMIN. Please remember that there
|
||
may be a considerable time lag since both John and Bob are LD from me
|
||
and don't call for mail every day.
|
||
|
||
I would like to see netmail ballots from each NC, each NEC, and each
|
||
RHUB containing the name of their candidate of choice from the above
|
||
list. All ballots received at either 153/715 or 17/0 before 00:01 PST
|
||
on Thursday August 29th, 1996 will be counted.
|
||
|
||
Ballots should contain a password which I will use for confirmation
|
||
when I post results. Only the first received ballot per person will
|
||
be accepted.
|
||
|
||
Results
|
||
=======
|
||
|
||
The winning candidate will be selected by a simple majority of votes.
|
||
The results of the vote will be announced no later than September 5th,
|
||
1996. If a majority of votes clearly favor one candidate before this
|
||
date, then that candidate may be declared the REC without waiting for
|
||
the close of voting.
|
||
|
||
If a runoff is needed, I'll post the guidelines at that time.
|
||
|
||
My thanks to both Bob and John for letting their names stand -- good
|
||
luck to you both!
|
||
|
||
Region 17 -- working together to make FidoNet better!
|
||
FIDONEWS 13-35 Page 28 26 Aug 1996
|
||
|
||
|
||
Cheers... Dallas
|
||
RC17
|
||
|
||
Origin: EastSide Data Services (1:105/61)
|
||
|
||
-----------------------------------------------------------------
|
||
|
||
FIDONEWS 13-35 Page 29 26 Aug 1996
|
||
|
||
|
||
=================================================================
|
||
NET HUMOR
|
||
=================================================================
|
||
|
||
|
||
Who is Dr. Internet?
|
||
|
||
From: "Mike Riddle" <mriddle@monarch.papillion.ne.us>
|
||
To: "Baker, Christopher" <cbaker84@digital.net (Christopher Baker)>
|
||
Date: Thu, 25 Jul 96 09:01:32 -0500
|
||
Reply-To: "Mike Riddle" <mriddle@monarch.papillion.ne.us>
|
||
Subject: Re: [Fwd: The New Dr. Internet]
|
||
|
||
On Wed, 24 Jul 1996 19:30:56 -0500, jenniferrose wrote:
|
||
|
||
From: Humor Net <rustin@prolog.net>
|
||
X-Sender: rustin@ns1.ptd.net
|
||
Subject: The New Dr. Internet
|
||
|
||
I have been alerted to the presence of a "Dr. Internet" column which
|
||
claims to be authoritative, but in fact contains several errors. This
|
||
alternate version obviates this difficulty by making no such claim,
|
||
but does try to project the aura of quiet wisdom found in the original
|
||
"Ask Dr. Science." It was apparently written by our overnight janitor
|
||
one evening when I forgot to logoff. (Yeah, that's the ticket.)
|
||
1. How big is the Internet? When did it start? How did it grow?
|
||
|
||
The Internet is actually much smaller than most people think. It
|
||
is primarily composed of fiber optic cables no thicker than a
|
||
human hair, which can be conveniently rolled up and stored in a
|
||
foot locker. Janitors at the National Science Foundation do this
|
||
on the third Tuesday of every month when they wax the floors.
|
||
|
||
Since fiber optics are the size of human hairs, they also make
|
||
attractive wigs. The next time you watch a Sprint commercial,
|
||
you'll see that Candice Bergen's alleged hair is really the T4
|
||
backbone.
|
||
|
||
The earliest origins of the Internet can be traced to Ancient
|
||
Greece, where a loosely connected set of networks was used to
|
||
discuss exploration in the Black Sea. The Argonets, as they were
|
||
then called, were entirely subsidized by the government, and won
|
||
one of William Proxmire's first Golden Fleece awards.
|
||
|
||
The Internet grows hyperbolically, but is usually described
|
||
elliptically.
|
||
|
||
|
||
2. Who owns the Internet?
|
||
|
||
There is no one person or agency that owns the Internet. Instead,
|
||
parts of it are owned by the Illuminati and parts are owned by
|
||
Free Masons.
|
||
|
||
|
||
3. What do the Internet addresses mean?
|
||
FIDONEWS 13-35 Page 30 26 Aug 1996
|
||
|
||
|
||
Precise meanings are often hard to determine. The address
|
||
baker.lib.washington.edu--which is sometimes written
|
||
baker@lib.washington.edu--seems to refer to a computer either
|
||
owned by a baker or by someone named Baker. This can be deceiving
|
||
however; names like this actually refer to where a computer is
|
||
located. This one is on top of Mt. Baker.
|
||
|
||
In addition to names, computers on the Internet also have numbers.
|
||
This is part of the whole right brain/left brain thing.
|
||
|
||
|
||
4. Tell me how to get on and off various lists and discussion groups.
|
||
|
||
Getting off on various lists is currently the subject of pending
|
||
legislation.
|
||
|
||
|
||
5. What is "Netiquette?"
|
||
|
||
"Netiquette" is one of many cutesy neologisms created by combining
|
||
two other words. In this case, "network" and "tourniquette"
|
||
combine to describe a program that shuts down a computer if it
|
||
starts transmitting information too fast.
|
||
|
||
|
||
6. What is "Flaming?"
|
||
|
||
Along with an improvisational approach to floating point
|
||
arithmetic, early Pentium chips were noted for generating heat.
|
||
While some hackers speak fondly of roasting marshmallows over
|
||
their first P60s, others found themselves badly singed as the
|
||
chips caught fire. This "flaming" sometimes occurred while the
|
||
user was composing e-mail, resulting in poorly chosen or
|
||
excessively vitriolic verbiage.
|
||
|
||
|
||
7. What is "Bandwidth?"
|
||
|
||
As capacity on the Internet has increased, people have begun to
|
||
transmit material other than simple text. One notable example is
|
||
audio recordings of rock concerts. These audio files are much
|
||
larger than even very long books, so they have become a standard
|
||
unit of network usage. One Rolling Stone song equals one "band"
|
||
width, and so on.
|
||
|
||
|
||
8. Why can't I FTP to some places?
|
||
|
||
There are two main reasons for this. The first is that the site
|
||
you want to ftp files from is exercising a certain degree of
|
||
control over its network resources; in network parlance, this is
|
||
called "fascism."
|
||
|
||
The second reason is that the remote site may be dabbling with
|
||
such network fads as gopher or the World Wide Web. This is called
|
||
"keeping up with the times."
|
||
FIDONEWS 13-35 Page 31 26 Aug 1996
|
||
|
||
|
||
9. What is the World Wide Web, Gopherspace, etc?
|
||
|
||
The World Wide Web, or WWW, is an experiment in generating
|
||
acronyms that are much more difficult to pronounce than the words
|
||
they replace.
|
||
|
||
Gopherspace is an older network term. In response to the Soviet
|
||
space program's early use of dogs in space, NASA mounted a program
|
||
to orbit a number of different rodents. The programmers involved
|
||
in this project adopted the motto "Gophers in space!" which has
|
||
since been shortened. The only actual gopher to go into orbit had
|
||
been digging up the carrots in Werner Von Braun's garden, and was
|
||
named Veronica after his daughter.
|
||
|
||
|
||
10. Why can't I get some WWW stuff via FTP?
|
||
|
||
It can be hard to say this, but some users of the Internet are
|
||
unable to do things because they are stupid. The comparatively
|
||
trivial task of getting an ftp client to do every single thing a
|
||
WWW browser can do is beneath this column's attention.
|
||
|
||
|
||
Tune in next time for Ask Dr. Internet--
|
||
|
||
"I have a master's degree....in Internet!"
|
||
|
||
Dr. Internet, Master of All Knowledge
|
||
Benedictine On the Rocks With a Twist
|
||
No official connection to Dr. Science
|
||
`````````````````````````````````````````````````````````
|
||
* Courtesy of: 'Here Comes Treble' *
|
||
`````````````````````````````````````````````````````````
|
||
|
||
/~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~\
|
||
/~\ /~\ Compliments of: "WEIRD THINGS" /~\ /~\
|
||
/~~~\ /~~~\ `````````````````````````````````` /~~~\ /~~~\
|
||
_/~~~~~\_/~~~~~\___Yet Another HUMOR NET Mailing!___/~~~~~\_/~~~~~\_
|
||
| ~~~~~~~ A Time Wasting Service of Rustin Kreider ~~~~~~~ |
|
||
Direct SUBSCRIPTION and other /~~\ HUMOR NET is a daily humor service
|
||
\ information requests to: / Ho \ Your comments and submissions /
|
||
\ rustin@prolog.net / Hooo \ of HUMOR are very welcome. /
|
||
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
|
||
|
||
-----------------------------------------------------------------
|
||
|
||
FIDONEWS 13-35 Page 32 26 Aug 1996
|
||
|
||
|
||
=================================================================
|
||
COMIX IN ASCII
|
||
=================================================================
|
||
|
||
|
||
Date: 03 Mar 94 22:14:36
|
||
From: Bob Madden
|
||
To: All
|
||
Subj: Comedy Relief
|
||
_____________________________________________________________________
|
||
[the Meadow replaced with FN_SYSOP] Ed.
|
||
|
||
Hello All!
|
||
|
||
|
||
.------.. _------__--___.__.
|
||
/ \_ / ` ` \
|
||
/ \ |. \
|
||
/ \ \ |
|
||
/ .--._ .---. | \ |
|
||
| / -__- \ | ~-/--`-`-`-\ |
|
||
| | | | | \ |
|
||
|| || | | |
|
||
|| ,_ _. || Heh heh heh.. | | |
|
||
|| e e || Hey Beavis, | _-- | |
|
||
|| _ |_ || Ain't FN_SYSOP _| =-. |.-. |
|
||
@| (o\_/o) |@ gettin a little o|/o/ _. |
|
||
| _____ | too serious? / ~ \ |
|
||
\ ( /uuuuu\ ) / (/___@) ___~ |
|
||
\ `=====' / Heh huh |_===~~~.` |
|
||
\ -___- / Fer sur... _______.--~ |
|
||
| | Dill Hole \________ |
|
||
/-_____-\ \ |
|
||
/ \ __/-___-- -__
|
||
/ \ / __\
|
||
/__| AC / DC |__\ -| Metallica|| |
|
||
| || || | || || |
|
||
| || || | || || |
|
||
| || || | / | / /
|
||
|
||
|
||
Origin: Bob's BBS * San Diego * 619-222-1202 * (1:202/921)
|
||
|
||
-----------------------------------------------------------------
|
||
|
||
FIDONEWS 13-35 Page 33 26 Aug 1996
|
||
|
||
|
||
=================================================================
|
||
QUESTION OF THE WEEK
|
||
=================================================================
|
||
|
||
|
||
We've found the source of all the old FidoNews Issues. I now have a
|
||
request to find the source of all the old Nodelists.
|
||
|
||
The Question of the Week is:
|
||
|
||
Do you have old Nodelists and where and how do we get them?
|
||
|
||
As always, send your answers in Netmail, the FIDONEWS Echo, email, or
|
||
as articles to FidoNews. See the Masthead for contact info.
|
||
|
||
Thanks.
|
||
|
||
|
||
-----------------------------------------------------------------
|
||
|
||
FIDONEWS 13-35 Page 34 26 Aug 1996
|
||
|
||
|
||
=================================================================
|
||
NOTICES
|
||
=================================================================
|
||
|
||
Future History
|
||
|
||
2 Sep 1996
|
||
Jo Ann KING Hodgens receives greetings from husband Rick on the
|
||
occasion of her birthday.
|
||
|
||
12 Oct 1996
|
||
General Elections, New Zealand.
|
||
|
||
29 Oct 1996
|
||
Republic Day, Turkey.
|
||
|
||
5 Nov 1996
|
||
Election day, U.S.A.
|
||
|
||
5 Nov 1996
|
||
Guy Fawkes Day, England.
|
||
|
||
1 Dec 1996
|
||
Twelfth Anniversary of FidoNews Volume 1, Issue 1.
|
||
|
||
12 Dec 1996
|
||
Constitution Day, Russia
|
||
|
||
26 Jan 1997
|
||
Australia Day, Australia.
|
||
|
||
6 Feb 1997
|
||
Waitangi Day, New Zealand.
|
||
|
||
16 Feb 1997
|
||
Eleventh Anniversary of invention of Echomail by Jeff Rush.
|
||
|
||
29 Feb 1997
|
||
Nothing will happen on this day.
|
||
|
||
11 Jun 1997
|
||
Independence Day, Russia
|
||
|
||
26 Jul 1997
|
||
FidoNews Editor turns 48.
|
||
|
||
6 Dec 1997
|
||
Gallileo takes close-ups of Europa to resolution
|
||
of 11 meters at the north pole.
|
||
|
||
1 Dec 1998
|
||
Fifteenth Anniversary of release of Fido version 1 by
|
||
Tom Jennings.
|
||
|
||
15 Sep 2000
|
||
Sydney (Australia) Summer Olympiad opens.
|
||
FIDONEWS 13-35 Page 35 26 Aug 1996
|
||
|
||
|
||
-- If YOU have something which you would like to see in this
|
||
Future History, please send a note to the FidoNews Editor.
|
||
|
||
-----------------------------------------------------------------
|
||
|
||
FIDONEWS 13-35 Page 36 26 Aug 1996
|
||
|
||
|
||
=================================================================
|
||
FIDONET SOFTWARE LISTING
|
||
=================================================================
|
||
|
||
|
||
Latest Greatest Software Versions
|
||
by Peter E. Popovich, 1:363/264
|
||
|
||
Not much to say this week.
|
||
|
||
Phase-out highlights:
|
||
This week: Aurora 1.32b. Deadline for info: 6 Sep 1996.
|
||
Last week: ADTBBS 1.50. Deadline for info: 30 Aug 1996.
|
||
|
||
-=- Snip -=-
|
||
|
||
Submission form for the Latest Greatest Software Versions column
|
||
|
||
OS Platform :
|
||
Software package name :
|
||
Version :
|
||
Function(s) - BBS, Mailer, Tosser, etc. :
|
||
Freeware / Shareware / Commercial? :
|
||
Author / Support staff contact name :
|
||
Author / Support staff contact node :
|
||
Magic name (at the above-listed node) :
|
||
|
||
Please include a sentence describing what the package does.
|
||
|
||
Please send updates and suggestions to: Peter Popovich, 1:363/264
|
||
|
||
-=- Snip -=-
|
||
|
||
MS-DOS:
|
||
Program Name Version F S Contact Name Node Magic Name
|
||
----------------------------------------------------------------------
|
||
FidoBBS (tm) 12u B S Ray Brown 1:1/117 FILES
|
||
FrontDoor 2.12 M S Joaquim Homrighausen
|
||
2:201/330 FD
|
||
FrontDoor 2.20c M C Joaquim Homrighausen
|
||
2:201/330 FDINFO
|
||
GIGO 07-14-96 G S Jason Fesler 1:1/141 GIGO
|
||
Imail 1.75 T S Michael McCabe 1:297/11 IMAIL
|
||
InfoMail 1.11 O F Damian Walker 2:2502/666 INFOMAIL
|
||
InterEcho 1.19 T C Peter Stewart 1:369/35 IEDEMO
|
||
InterMail 2.29k M C Peter Stewart 1:369/35 IMDEMO
|
||
InterPCB 1.52 O S Peter Stewart 1:369/35 INTERPCB
|
||
IPNet 1.11 O S Michele Stewart 1:369/21 IPNET
|
||
McMail g5 M S Michael McCabe 1:1/148 MCMAIL
|
||
Opus CBCS 1.73a B P Christopher Baker 1:374/14 OPUS
|
||
PlatinumXpress 1.1 M C Gary Petersen 1:290/111 PX11TD.ZIP
|
||
Silver Xpress
|
||
Door 5.4 O S Gary Petersen 1:290/111 FILES
|
||
Reader 4.3 O S Gary Petersen 1:290/111 SXR43.ZIP
|
||
|
||
Windows (32-bit apps):
|
||
FIDONEWS 13-35 Page 37 26 Aug 1996
|
||
|
||
|
||
Program Name Version F S Contact Name Node Magic Name
|
||
----------------------------------------------------------------------
|
||
PlatinumXpress 2.00 M C Gary Petersen 1:290/111 PXW-INFO
|
||
|
||
Unix:
|
||
Program Name Version F S Contact Name Node Magic Name
|
||
----------------------------------------------------------------------
|
||
ifmail 2.8e M G Pablo Saratxaga 2:293/2219 IFMAIL
|
||
ifmail-tx 2.8e-tx7.6 M G Pablo Saratxaga 2:293/2219 IFMAILTX
|
||
|
||
|
||
F: B-BBS, M-Mailer, N-Nodelist, G-Gateway, T-Tosser, C-Compression,
|
||
O-Other. Note: Multifunction will be listed by the first match.
|
||
S: P-Free for personal use, F-Freeware, S-Shareware, C-Commercial,
|
||
X-Crippleware, G-Source
|
||
|
||
|
||
Other info (pending verification or other work on my end):
|
||
MS-DOS:
|
||
Remove Tritel 2.0; Add TriBBS 10.0, TriToss 10.0, and TriDog 10.0
|
||
by Mark Goodwin 1:328/104, shareware
|
||
Update: D-Bridge 1.58, BinkleyTerm 2.60, ARJ 2.50,
|
||
ARC 6.02 (7.12 commercial), PKZIP 2.04g
|
||
Investigate: Xlax 2.54 (need clarification, XlaxDiff is up to 2.57)
|
||
Add: Announcer by Peter Karlsson, 2:204/145.42
|
||
MORON and QRATIO by Melle Koning, 2:281/731.29
|
||
|
||
|
||
Old info from: 01/27/92
|
||
---------------------------------------------------------------------
|
||
|
||
MS-DOS Systems
|
||
--------------
|
||
|
||
BBS Software NodeList Utilities Compression
|
||
Name Version Name Version Utilities
|
||
-------------------- -------------------- Name Version
|
||
ADTBBS 1.50@ EditNL 4.00 --------------------
|
||
Aurora 1.32b FDND 1.10 ARC 7.12
|
||
DMG 2.93 MakeNL 2.31 ARJ 2.20
|
||
DreamBBS 1.05 Parselst 1.33 LHA 2.13
|
||
Genesis Deluxe 3.2 Prune 1.40 PAK 2.51
|
||
GSBBS 3.02 SysNL 3.14 PKPak 3.61
|
||
Kitten 1.01 XlatList 2.90 PKZip 1.10
|
||
Lynx 1.30 XlaxNode/Diff 2.53
|
||
Maximus-CBCS 2.00
|
||
Merlin 1.39n
|
||
Oracomm 5.M.6P@ Other Utilities(A-M) Other Utilities(N-Z)
|
||
Oracomm Plus 6.E@ Name Version Name Version
|
||
PCBoard 14.5a -------------------- --------------------
|
||
Phoenix 1.07* 2DAPoint 1.50* Netsex 2.00b
|
||
ProBoard 1.20* 4Dog/4DMatrix 1.18 OFFLINE 1.35
|
||
QuickBBS 2.75 ARCAsim 2.31 Oliver 1.0a
|
||
RBBS 17.3b ARCmail 3.00* OSIRIS CBIS 3.02
|
||
RemoteAccess 1.11* Areafix 1.20 PKInsert 7.10
|
||
SimplexBBS 1.05 ConfMail 4.00 PolyXarc 2.1a
|
||
FIDONEWS 13-35 Page 38 26 Aug 1996
|
||
|
||
|
||
SLBBS 2.15C* Crossnet 1.5 QM 1.00a
|
||
Socrates 1.11 DOMAIN 1.42 QSort 4.04
|
||
SuperBBS 1.12* DEMM 1.06 RAD Plus 2.11
|
||
SuperComm 0.99 DGMM 1.06 Raid 1.00
|
||
TAG 2.5g DOMAIN 1.42 RBBSMail 18.0
|
||
TBBS 2.1 EEngine 0.32 ScanToss 1.28
|
||
TComm/TCommNet 3.4 EMM 2.11* ScMail 1.00
|
||
Telegard 2.7* EZPoint 2.1 ScEdit 1.12
|
||
TPBoard 6.1 FGroup 1.00 Sirius 1.0x
|
||
TriTel 2.0* FidoPCB 1.0s@ SLMail 2.15C
|
||
WildCat! 3.02* FNPGate 2.70 SquishMail 1.00
|
||
WWIV 4.20 GateWorks 3.06e StarLink 1.01
|
||
XBBS 1.77 GMail 2.05 TagMail 2.41
|
||
GMD 3.10 TCOMMail 2.2
|
||
GMM 1.21 Telemail 1.5*
|
||
Network Mailers GoldEd 2.31p TGroup 1.13
|
||
Name Version GROUP 2.23 TIRES 3.11
|
||
-------------------- GUS 1.40 TMail 1.21
|
||
BinkleyTerm 2.50 Harvey's Robot 4.10 TosScan 1.00
|
||
D'Bridge 1.30 HeadEdit 1.18 UFGATE 1.03
|
||
Dreamer 1.06 HLIST 1.09 VPurge 4.09e
|
||
Dutchie 2.90c ISIS 5.12@ WEdit 2.0@
|
||
Milqtoast 1.00 Lola 1.01d WildMail 2.00
|
||
PreNM 1.48 Mosaic 1.00b WMail 2.2
|
||
SEAdog 4.60 MailBase 4.11a@ WNode 2.1
|
||
SEAmail 1.01 MSG 4.5* XRS 4.99
|
||
TIMS 1.0(mod8) MSGED 2.06 XST 2.3e
|
||
MsgLnk 1.0c YUPPIE! 2.00
|
||
MsgMstr 2.03a ZmailH 1.25
|
||
MsgNum 4.16d ZSX 2.40
|
||
MSGTOSS 1.3
|
||
|
||
|
||
|
||
|
||
OS/2 Systems
|
||
------------
|
||
|
||
BBS Software Other Utilities(A-M Other Utilities(N-Z)
|
||
Name Version Name Version Name Version
|
||
-------------------- -------------------- --------------------
|
||
Kitten 1.01 ARC 7.12 oMMM 1.52
|
||
Maximus-CBCS 2.00 ARC2 6.01 Omail 3.1
|
||
SimplexBBS 1.04.02+ ConfMail 4.00 Parselst 1.33
|
||
EchoStat 6.0 PKZip 1.02
|
||
EZPoint 2.1 PMSnoop 1.30
|
||
Network Mailers FGroup 1.00 PolyXOS2 2.1a
|
||
Name Version GROUP 2.23 QSort 2.1
|
||
-------------------- LH2 2.11 Raid 1.0
|
||
BinkleyTerm 2.50 MSG 4.2 Remapper 1.2
|
||
BinkleyTerm(S) 2.50 MsgEd 2.06c SquishMail 1.00
|
||
BinkleyTerm/2-MT MsgLink 1.0c Tick 2.0
|
||
1.40.02 MsgNum 4.16d VPurge 4.09e
|
||
SEAmail 1.01
|
||
|
||
|
||
FIDONEWS 13-35 Page 39 26 Aug 1996
|
||
|
||
|
||
Xenix/Unix 386
|
||
--------------
|
||
|
||
BBS Software Network Mailers Other Utilities
|
||
Name Version Name Version Name Version
|
||
-------------------- -------------------- --------------------
|
||
ARC 5.21
|
||
C-LHARC 1.00
|
||
MsgEd 2.06
|
||
|Contact: Willy Paine 1:343/15,| MSGLINK 1.01
|
||
|or Eddy van Loo 2:285/406 | oMMM 1.42
|
||
Omail 1.00
|
||
ParseLst 1.32
|
||
Unzip 3.10
|
||
VPurge 4.08
|
||
Zoo 2.01
|
||
|
||
|
||
QNX
|
||
---
|
||
|
||
BBS Software Network Mailers Other Utilities
|
||
Name Version Name Version Name Version
|
||
-------------------- -------------------- --------------------
|
||
QTach2 1.09 QMM 0.50s Kermit 2.03
|
||
QCP 1.02
|
||
NodeList Utilities Archive Utilities QSave 3.6
|
||
Name Version Name Version QTTSysop 1.07.1
|
||
-------------------- -------------------- SeaLink 1.05
|
||
QNode 2.09 Arc 6.02 XModem 1.00
|
||
LH 1.00.2 YModem 1.01
|
||
Unzip 2.01 ZModem 0.02f
|
||
Zoo 2.01
|
||
|
||
|
||
Apple II
|
||
--------
|
||
|
||
BBS Software Network Mailers Other Utilities
|
||
Name Version Name Version Name Version
|
||
-------------------- -------------------- --------------------
|
||
DDBBS + 8.0* Fruity Dog 2.0 deARC2e 2.1
|
||
GBBS Pro 2.1 ProSel 8.70*
|
||
ShrinkIt 3.30*
|
||
|Contact: Dennis McClain-Furmanski 1:275/42| ShrinkIt GS 1.04
|
||
|
||
|
||
Apple CP/M
|
||
----------
|
||
|
||
BBS Software Network Mailers Other Utilities
|
||
Name Version Name Version Name Version
|
||
-------------------- -------------------- --------------------
|
||
Daisy 2j Daisy Mailer 0.38 Filer 2-D
|
||
MsgUtil 2.5
|
||
Nodecomp 0.37
|
||
FIDONEWS 13-35 Page 40 26 Aug 1996
|
||
|
||
|
||
PackUser 4
|
||
UNARC.Com 1.20
|
||
|
||
|
||
Macintosh
|
||
---------
|
||
|
||
BBS Software Network Mailers Other Software
|
||
Name Version Name Version Name Version
|
||
-------------------- -------------------- --------------------
|
||
FBBS 0.91 Copernicus 1.0 ArcMac 1.3
|
||
Hermes 1.6.1 Tabby 2.2 AreaFix 1.6
|
||
Mansion 7.15 Compact Pro 1.30
|
||
Precision Sys. 0.95b EventMeister 1.0
|
||
Red Ryder Host 2.1 Export 3.21
|
||
Telefinder Host Import 3.2
|
||
2.12T10 LHARC 0.41
|
||
MacArd 0.04
|
||
Mantissa 3.21
|
||
Point System Mehitable 2.0
|
||
Software OriginatorII 2.0
|
||
Name Version PreStamp 3.2
|
||
-------------------- StuffIt Classic 1.6
|
||
Copernicus 1.00 SunDial 3.2
|
||
CounterPoint 1.09 TExport 1.92
|
||
MacWoof 1.1 TimeStamp 1.6
|
||
TImport 1.92
|
||
Tset 1.3
|
||
TSort 1.0
|
||
UNZIP 1.02c
|
||
Zenith 1.5
|
||
Zip Extract 0.10
|
||
|
||
|
||
Amiga
|
||
-----
|
||
|
||
BBS Software Network Mailers Other Software
|
||
Name Version Name Version Name Version
|
||
-------------------- -------------------- --------------------
|
||
4D-BBS 1.65 BinkleyTerm 1.00 Areafix 1.48
|
||
DLG Pro. 0.96b TrapDoor 1.80 AReceipt 1.5
|
||
Falcon CBCS 1.00 WelMat 0.44 ChameleonEdit 0.11
|
||
Starnet 1.0q@ ConfMail 1.12
|
||
TransAmiga 1.07 ElectricHerald 1.66
|
||
XenoLink 1.0 Compression FFRS 1.0@
|
||
Utilities FileMgr 2.08
|
||
Name Version Fozzle 1.0@
|
||
NodeList Utilities -------------------- Login 0.18
|
||
Name Version AmigArc 0.23 MessageFilter 1.52
|
||
-------------------- booz 1.01 Message View 1.12
|
||
ParseLst 1.66 LHARC 1.30 oMMM 1.50
|
||
Skyparse 2.30 LhA 1.10 PolyXAmy 2.02
|
||
TrapList 1.40 LZ 1.92 RMB 1.30
|
||
PkAX 1.00 Roof 46.15
|
||
UnZip 4.1 RoboWriter 1.02
|
||
FIDONEWS 13-35 Page 41 26 Aug 1996
|
||
|
||
|
||
Zippy (Unzip) 1.25 Rsh 4.07a
|
||
Zoo 2.01 Tick 0.75
|
||
TrapToss 1.20
|
||
|Contact: Maximilian Hantsch 2:310/6| Yuck! 2.02
|
||
|
||
Atari ST/TT
|
||
-----------
|
||
|
||
BBS Software Network Mailers Other Utilities
|
||
Name Version Name Version Name Version
|
||
-------------------- -------------------- --------------------
|
||
FIDOdoor/ST 2.5.1 BinkleyTerm 2.40n9 ApplyList 1.00@
|
||
FiFo 2.1v The Box 1.95* Burep 1.1
|
||
LED ST 1.00 ComScan 1.04
|
||
MSGED 1.99 ConfMail 4.10
|
||
QuickBBS/ST 1.06* NodeList Utilities Echoscan 1.10
|
||
Name Version FDrenum 2.5.2
|
||
-------------------- FastPack 1.20
|
||
Compression ParseList 1.30 Import 1.14
|
||
Utilities EchoFix 1.20 oMMM 1.40
|
||
Name Version sTICK/Hatch 5.50 Pack 1.00
|
||
-------------------- Trenum 0.10
|
||
ARC 6.02
|
||
LHARC 2.01i
|
||
PackConvert
|
||
STZip 1.1*
|
||
UnJARST 2.00
|
||
WhatArc 2.02
|
||
|
||
|
||
Archimedes
|
||
----------
|
||
|
||
BBS Software Network Mailers Other Utilities
|
||
Name Version Name Version Name Version
|
||
-------------------- -------------------- --------------------
|
||
ARCbbs 1.61 BinkleyTerm ARC 1.20
|
||
Odyssey 0.37 2.06f-wimp !AskFor 1.01
|
||
RiscBBS 0.9.85m BatchPacker 1.00
|
||
DeLZ 0.01
|
||
MailED 0.95
|
||
NetFile 1.00
|
||
ParseLst 1.30
|
||
Raul 1.01
|
||
!Spark 2.16
|
||
!SparkMail 2.08
|
||
!SparkPlug 2.14
|
||
UnArj 2.21
|
||
UnZip 3.00
|
||
Zip 1.00
|
||
|
||
|
||
Tandy Color Computer 3 (OS-9 Level II)
|
||
--------------------------------------
|
||
|
||
BBS Software Compression Utility Other Utilities
|
||
FIDONEWS 13-35 Page 42 26 Aug 1996
|
||
|
||
|
||
Name Version Name Version Name Version
|
||
-------------------- -------------------- --------------------
|
||
RiBBS 2.02+ Ar 1.3 Ascan 1.2
|
||
DeArc 5.12 AutoFRL 2.0
|
||
OS9Arc 1.0 Bundle 2.2
|
||
UnZip 3.10 CKARC 1.1
|
||
UnLZH 3.0 EchoCheck 1.01
|
||
FReq 2.5a
|
||
LookNode 2.00
|
||
ParseLST
|
||
PReq 2.2
|
||
RList 1.03
|
||
RTick 2.00
|
||
UnBundle 1.4
|
||
UnSeen 1.1
|
||
|
||
-- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --
|
||
Key to old info:
|
||
+ - Netmail Capable (Doesn't Require Additional Mailer Software)
|
||
* - Recently Updated Version
|
||
@ - New Addition
|
||
-- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --
|
||
|
||
Please send updates and suggestions to: Peter Popovich, 1:363/264
|
||
|
||
-----------------------------------------------------------------
|
||
|
||
FIDONEWS 13-35 Page 43 26 Aug 1996
|
||
|
||
|
||
=================================================================
|
||
FIDONEWS PUBLIC-KEY
|
||
=================================================================
|
||
|
||
|
||
[this must be copied out to a file starting at column 1 or
|
||
it won't process under PGP as a valid public-key]
|
||
|
||
|
||
-----BEGIN PGP PUBLIC KEY BLOCK-----
|
||
Version: 2.6.2
|
||
Comment: Clear-signing is Electronic Digital Authenticity!
|
||
|
||
-----END PGP PUBLIC KEY BLOCK-----
|
||
|
||
|
||
Pending a formal decision about including 'encrypted' material inside
|
||
FidoNews from the Zone Coordinator Council, the guts of the FidoNews
|
||
public-key have been removed from this listing.
|
||
|
||
File-request FNEWSKEY from 1:1/23 [1:374/14] or download it from the
|
||
Rights On! BBS at 1-407-383-1372 anytime except 0100-0130 ET and Zone
|
||
1 ZMH at 1200-9600+ HST/V32B.
|
||
|
||
This section will contain only this disclaimer and instructions until
|
||
a ZCC decision is forwarded to the Editor.
|
||
|
||
Sorry for any inconvenience.
|
||
|
||
-----------------------------------------------------------------
|
||
|
||
FIDONEWS 13-35 Page 44 26 Aug 1996
|
||
|
||
|
||
=================================================================
|
||
FIDONEWS INFORMATION
|
||
=================================================================
|
||
|
||
------- FIDONEWS MASTHEAD AND CONTACT INFORMATION ----------------
|
||
|
||
Editor: Christopher Baker
|
||
|
||
Editors Emeritii: Thom Henderson, Dale Lovell,
|
||
Vince Perriello, Tim Pozar,
|
||
Tom Jennings, Sylvia Maxwell,
|
||
Donald Tees
|
||
|
||
"FidoNews Editor"
|
||
FidoNet 1:1/23
|
||
BBS 1-407-383-1372, 300/1200/2400/14400/V.32bis/HST(ds)
|
||
|
||
more addresses:
|
||
Christopher Baker -- 1:374/14, cbaker84@digital.net
|
||
cbak.rights@opus.global.org
|
||
|
||
(Postal Service mailing address)
|
||
FidoNews Editor
|
||
P.O. Box 5921
|
||
Titusville, FL 32783-5921
|
||
U.S.A.
|
||
|
||
|
||
voice: 1-407-264-2994 [1400-2100 ET only, please]
|
||
[1800-0100 UTC/GMT]
|
||
|
||
------------------------------------------------------
|
||
|
||
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 1996 Christopher Baker. All rights reserved. Duplication
|
||
and/or distribution permitted for noncommercial purposes only. For
|
||
use in other circumstances, please contact the original authors, or
|
||
the Editor.
|
||
|
||
=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=
|
||
|
||
OBTAINING COPIES: The most recent issue of FidoNews in electronic
|
||
form may be obtained from the FidoNews Editor via manual download or
|
||
file-request, or from various sites in the FidoNet and Internet.
|
||
PRINTED COPIES may be obtained by sending SASE to the above postal
|
||
address. File-request FIDONEWS for the current Issue. File-request
|
||
FNEWS for the current month in one archive. Or file-request specific
|
||
back Issue filenames in distribution format [FNEWSDnn.LZH] for a
|
||
FIDONEWS 13-35 Page 45 26 Aug 1996
|
||
|
||
|
||
particular Issue. Monthly Volumes are available as FNWSmmmy.ZIP
|
||
where mmm = three letter month [JAN - DEC] and y = last digit of the
|
||
current year [6], i.e., FNWSMAY6.ZIP for all the Issues from May 96.
|
||
|
||
Annual volumes are available as FNEWSn.ZIP where n = the Volume number
|
||
1 - 12 for 1984 - 1995, respectively. Annual Volume archives range in
|
||
size from 48K to 1.2M.
|
||
|
||
|
||
INTERNET USERS: FidoNews is available via:
|
||
|
||
http://www.fidonet.org/fidonews.htm
|
||
ftp://ftp.fidonet.org/pub/fidonet/fidonews/
|
||
|
||
|
||
You can read the current FidoNews Issue in HTML format at:
|
||
|
||
http://www.geocities.com/athens/6894
|
||
|
||
|
||
STAR SOURCE for ALL Past Issues via FTP and file-request:
|
||
|
||
Available for FReq from 1:396/1 or by anonymous FTP from ftp.sstar.com
|
||
in the FIDONET\FNEWS directory:
|
||
|
||
FNEWSTOC.ZIP FidoNews, Table of Contents, all issues (1984 - 1995)
|
||
FNEWS1.ZIP FidoNews, Vol. 1, all issues (1984)
|
||
FNEWS2.ZIP FidoNews, Vol. 2, all issues (1985)
|
||
FNEWS3.ZIP FidoNews, Vol. 3, all issues (1986)
|
||
FNEWS4.ZIP FidoNews, Vol. 4, all issues (1987)
|
||
FNEWS5.ZIP FidoNews, Vol. 5, all issues (1988)
|
||
FNEWS6.ZIP FidoNews, Vol. 6, all issues (1989)
|
||
FNEWS7.ZIP FidoNews, Vol. 7, all issues (1990)
|
||
FNEWS8.ZIP FidoNews, Vol. 8, all issues (1991)
|
||
FNEWS9.ZIP FidoNews, Vol. 9, all issues (1992)
|
||
FNEWSA.ZIP FidoNews, Vol. 10, all issues (1993)
|
||
FNEWSB.ZIP FidoNews, Vol. 11, all issues (1994)
|
||
FNEWSC.ZIP FidoNews, Vol. 12, all issues (1995)
|
||
FNEWSD01.ZIP FidoNews, Vol. 13, Nr. 01 (January 1, 1996)
|
||
FNEWSD02.ZIP FidoNews, Vol. 13, Nr. 02 (January 8, 1996)
|
||
(etc)
|
||
FNEWSD34.ZIP FidoNews, Vol. 13, Nr. 31 (August 19, 1996)
|
||
FNEWSD35.ZIP FidoNews, Vol. 13, Nr. 32 (August 26, 1996)
|
||
(etc)
|
||
|
||
Each yearly archive also contains a listing of the Table-of-Contents
|
||
for that year's issues. The total set is currently about 11 Megs.
|
||
|
||
=*=*=*=
|
||
|
||
The current week's FidoNews and the FidoNews public-key are now also
|
||
available almost immediately after publication on the Editor's new
|
||
homepage on the World Wide Web at:
|
||
|
||
http://ddi.digital.net/~cbaker84/fidonews.html
|
||
|
||
FIDONEWS 13-35 Page 46 26 Aug 1996
|
||
|
||
|
||
There are also links there to jim barchuk's HTML FidoNews source and
|
||
to John Souvestre's FTP site for the archives. There is also an email
|
||
link for sending in an article as message text. Drop on over.
|
||
|
||
=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=
|
||
|
||
A PGP generated public-key is available for the FidoNews Editor from
|
||
1:1/23 [1:374/14] by file-request for FNEWSKEY or by download from
|
||
Rights On! BBS at 1-407-383-1372 as FIDONEWS.ASC in File Area 18. It
|
||
is also posted twice a month into the PKEY_DROP Echo available on the
|
||
Zone 1 Echomail Backbone.
|
||
|
||
*=*=*=*=*
|
||
|
||
Anyone interested in getting a copy of the INTERNET GATEWAY FAQ may
|
||
file-request 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 Editor, or file-requestable
|
||
from 1:1/23 as file "ARTSPEC.DOC". ALL Zone Coordinators also have
|
||
copies of 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.
|
||
|
||
"Disagreement is actually necessary,
|
||
or we'd all have to get in fights
|
||
or something to amuse ourselves
|
||
and create the requisite chaos."
|
||
-Tom Jennings
|
||
|
||
-30-
|
||
|
||
|
||
-----------------------------------------------------------------
|
||
|
||
|