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F I D O N E W S -- Volume 15, Number 1 5 January 1998
+----------------------------+-----------------------------------------+
| The newsletter of the | ISSN 1198-4589 Published by: |
| FidoNet community | "FidoNews" |
| _ | 1-904-409-7040 [1:1/23] |
| / \ | |
| /|oo \ | |
| (_| /_) | |
| _`@/_ \ _ | |
| | | \ \\ | Editor: |
| | (*) | \ )) | Christopher Baker 1:18/14 |
| |__U__| / \// | |
| _//|| _\ / | |
| (_/(_|(____/ | |
| (jm) | Newspapers should have no friends. |
| | -- JOSEPH PULITZER |
+----------------------------+-----------------------------------------+
| Submission address: FidoNews Editor 1:1/23 |
+----------------------------------------------------------------------+
| MORE addresses: |
| |
| submissions=> cbaker84@digital.net |
+----------------------------------------------------------------------+
| For information, copyrights, article submissions, |
| obtaining copies of FidoNews or the internet gateway FAQ |
| please refer to the end of this file. |
+----------------------------------------------------------------------+
HERE WE GO AGAIN!
Table of Contents
1. EDITORIAL ................................................ 1
The New Year starts with a LARGE Issue! .................. 1
2. LETTERS TO THE EDITOR .................................... 2
Comments on the 1452 Snooze Editorial .................... 2
FidoNews also available here ............................. 2
Announcing ARGUS FidoNet to Internet software ............ 3
FidoNet explained for Internet folks ..................... 4
Needs MajorBBS info ...................................... 5
Comments to News Vol.14, No 52 ........................... 5
3. ARTICLES ................................................. 7
Zone 1 Echomail Coordinator Election List of Candidates .. 7
ZEC Election Questionnaire sent .......................... 8
Candidate questionnaire - Intro .......................... 10
John Glinski questionnaire ............................... 10
Mike Luther's questionnaire .............................. 12
David Calafrancesco questionnaire ........................ 23
Jim Balcom questionnaire ................................. 27
Retrofitting & Updating Conference Naming Conventions .... 30
4. COORDINATORS CORNER ...................................... 33
Nodelist-statistics as seen from Zone-2 for day 002 ...... 33
5. ECHOING .................................................. 34
North American Backbone Echo Changes [Nov-Dec] ........... 34
6. NOTICES .................................................. 36
Future History ........................................... 36
And more!
FIDONEWS 15-01 Page 1 5 Jan 1998
=================================================================
EDITORIAL
=================================================================
The ZEC Election process is underway in Zone 1 and there are several
articles in this Issue pertaining to that effort.
The Article Specifications [ARTSPEC] for FidoNews were updated for
1998 and hatched out last week. If you didn't get a copy via your
regular FidoNews file distribution, check upstream to see where it
went. You can always file-request it [ARTSPEC] from this system or
download it from any of the sources listed in the Masthead at the end
of every edition. The only change was the downsizing of the number of
FidoNet Nodes from over 30,000 to over 20,000.
If you got a new Internet-capable computer this past holiday season,
don't forget all the Internettable FidoNet stuff and places to visit
which are listed in the Masthead. [grin]
On with 1998!
C.B.
-----------------------------------------------------------------
FIDONEWS 15-01 Page 2 5 Jan 1998
=================================================================
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
=================================================================
Comments on the 1452 Snooze Editorial
by Gordon Malone 1:261/1195, g.malone@ix.netcom.com
Season Greets Chris!
I just wanted to take a few minutes to comment on your editorial from
the 1452 edition of the snooze;
"Where are we a year later?"
If no one wants to get the required vote together, I'll be the
International Coordinator... :) There NEEDS to be a leader. We've been
going nowhere fast for far too long.
The Nodelist... You've got to be kidding. Why not? There are tens
of folks who could do that job right here in Net261. We need to get
rid of the "dead wood", don't we.
Why hang on??? All of the above offerings listed in your commentary
and then some. ;)
Continued credit and KUDO's go deservedly out to Mr. Barchuk for
attempting to re-invent Fido into what "it could be" if we all gave
half a hoot and put our though, inventiveness and heart where our
mouths are.
Balance... Naaa. Too many folks complain and not enough folks give
enough of a damn to do anything. Sad, ain't it. Imagine what we
could be if everyone who joined, contributed and participated...
Really sad.
If folks aren't going to participate, why get involved? If you're
not part of the solution...
Cheers!
Gordo
-30-
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Reply-To: <mbelcke@ws02.irvbbs.com>
From: MBelcke@ws02.irvbbs.com (Martin Belcke)
To: "Chris Baker" <cbaker84@digital.net>
Subject: Fidonews
Date: Wed, 31 Dec 1997 17:07:16 -0600
Chris,
I have made available every single issue of Fidonews, since the
beginning issue, as well as yearly archives, all via FTP. They are
FIDONEWS 15-01 Page 3 5 Jan 1998
organized as follows:
FIDO1.ZIP (All of the issues for Volume 1) Replace the number with
the number or letter of the volume as it appears in the FNEWSxxx.ZIP
format. Current would be FIDOE.ZIP
Each issue is also available, so if someone only needs a specific
issue, they can get that issue as well. There is an index file called
00_index.txt that is a complete list of all issues by name, volume and
issue, and date of issue.
All of this is available via anonymous ftp at ftp.irvbbs.com
The name of the directory is fidonews (can't figure out why I
thought of using that name - grin )
If you would like to add a link to the Fidonews web page, feel free to
do so.
--Martin--
-30-
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Date: Sat, 03 Jan 1998 08:39:01 -0800
To: cbaker84@digital.net
From: "Damien Sam" <webmaster@mindsedge.com>
Subject: Mailed From FidoNews Homepage
As I read the FidoNews articles, I am constantly reminded of the
fact by other submitted articles that Fidonet is a dying breed due to
the inception of the Internet.
There have been kudos granted out to systems such as ours that offer
Fidonet Backbone and Filebone feeds to the rest of the world using
usually FTP server access and sometimes e-mail file attaches, although
the latter would not be efficient due to the size of mail packets
and/or files that are passed down the links.
What had occurred was a sort of hybrid mating of Fidonet to the
Internet, however, this form of mail transport still required some
main system that operated servers, and then would have to configure
various "secure" ftp sessions to allow the attainment of mail and
files.
Although efficient, this still seemed to be much work for the
individuals who offered this service. What was required was a more
efficient method of transport and a better "marriage" of Fidonet to
the Internet.
One specific individual/company (Max Masyutin/Ritlabs)
http://www.ritlabs.com/argus/ , has produced a piece of software that
seems to have made the mark! The program is a front end mailer called
ARGUS which has built in TCP/IP support! Although at this moment in
time, it is only available in Win95 and NT flavors! (Please no
tossing of cookies).
Zone 2, and more specifically Russia, has jumped the gun in
implementing new flags to facilitate this new form of technology. The
flags in question are and have been listed in previous editions of the
FIDONEWS 15-01 Page 4 5 Jan 1998
Fidonews; RAW,IFC,BND,TEL,VMP and a few other variants, but more
importantly, "BND" being as the focal point for this new wave of
technology. On the outset, ARGUS is just another Binkley type mailer,
but within it's inner workings lies some new form of technology.
Specifically, the ability to use a TCP/IP connection and allow the
"Re-mapping" of a normal Fidonet Node Number to an Internet IP
address.
So rather than say dialling up a Long Distance node via standard
phone lines, the mailer in effect calls up the TCP/IP address and in
normal fashion, transfers all mail packets and files to the remote
node, only via the Internet, thereby saving the cost of Long Distance
charges...
This has definitely made our lives here much easier, as we are now
connected up to the UK, and Russia, and a few nodes across ZONE 1 and
a pending node in Indonesia, and we are transferring mail and files
with ease using this mailer. No need to setup the secured ftp site,
and all that must go with this task, just the usual setup under the
mail tosser and the mailer itself...and the seemingly greatest benefit
of all this technology, is that our TCP/IP lines are "NEVER BUSY"! We
may be holding files and a node may connect up via TCP/IP, but that
does not tie up our phones lines, so a busy signal is never reached,
another IP node can connect up just as easily and receive their mail
and so on. In fact, other than bandwidth, the TCP/IP connections are
almost limitless!
This is not an advertisement for this company that produces this
mailer, as another company is on the forefront of using this as well,
(BEEMAIL), however, this is more of an informative session to all
those FIDOnet nodes out there that are not aware that this technology
exists right now, and further more, for those *Cs that render the
decisions, and perhaps enlighten them on this technology, so that they
may as well "Push for FLAG CHANGES".
Yes, we offer Fidonet mail and files over the internet, and yes,
we offer it via FTP as well, however, with this new mailer, it has
made life that less complicated for sending and receiving of mail long
distances without costing anyone a single dime in long distance
charges, and to be able to offer the mail to those nodes that may not
be able to currently poll long distance, yet still have an internet
connection.
Yours Truly,
Damien Sam webmaster@mindsedge.com
1:153/750@fidonet http://www.mindsedge.com/knightmare.html
1:153/950@fidonet http://www.mindsedge.com/fidonet.html
-----------------------------------------------------------------
--- Following message extracted from NETMAIL @ 1:18/14 ---
By Christopher Baker on Wed Dec 31 21:11:20 1997
From: Jerry Schwartz @ 1:142/928
To: Editor @ 1:1/23
Date: 29 Dec 97 20:32:10
FIDONEWS 15-01 Page 5 5 Jan 1998
Subj: FidoNet pages
I have an "Intro to Fidonet" type page at
http://owls.com/~jerrys/fidonet.html
Jerry Schwartz
-30-
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Return-Path: jvo@eagle.net
Date: Tue, 30 Dec 1997 17:45:08 -0500
From: "John D. Vo" <jvo@eagle.net>
Reply-To: jvo@eagle.net
Organization: Eagle Communication
To: cbaker84@digital.net
Subject: Fido
Damn, you guys are still around? do you know anything about MajorBBS?
I have one user (yes, one) that really interested in getting Fido-
news/mail....can you help?
John Vo
jvo@eagle.net
-30-
-----------------------------------------------------------------
--- Following message extracted from NETMAIL @ 1:18/14 ---
By Christopher Baker on Sun Jan 04 19:07:36 1998
From: Felix Mueller @ 2:2480/903
To: Christopher Baker @ 1:18/14
Date: 01 Jan 98 20:08:03
Subj: Comments to News Vol.14, No 52
Hi Christopher,
I just received the latest newsletter and read it. There are two
things, I like to say.
The easier: In the FidoSoft part, there are stated two old versions.
BGFax version is 1.70 since a few month. And RAR is 2.02.
Now the second one. I saw Ward's statistics on the Fidonet and was
frightened. Zone 1 is growing down with a 21% step in only 6 month.
Where does Fido in Zone 1 go? I know, that there are a lot of people
are going to use more the Internet, but I have the feeling, that this
isn't the right way. This will loose the privacy and personality,
which we have in Fidonet. So I hope people will find back to Fido.
regards,
FIDONEWS 15-01 Page 6 5 Jan 1998
--------------/ ****************************************
(----- - - ) Felix Mueller
( |-- | \/ | ) email: felix@allfix.com
( | | | ) PGP public key via magic F-PGP
/--------------- ****************************************
-30-
-----------------------------------------------------------------
FIDONEWS 15-01 Page 7 5 Jan 1998
=================================================================
ARTICLES
=================================================================
Zone 1 Echomail Coordinator Election List of Candidates
by Martin Belcke 1:232/10, 1:232/16, mbelcke@ws02.irvbbs.com
To The Members of Fidonet, Zone 1.
In compliance with a directive from the Zone 1 Coordinator, an
election for the position of Zone 1 Echomail Coordinator has
been underway. The first phase, nominations, has concluded.
The following is the result of the nomination phase....
************ REPORT OF NOMINATIONS FOR Z1EC *************
The following candidates have been properly nominated, seconded and
have accepted for the upcoming Zone 1 Echomail Coordinator election.
As per the election rules, these are the only candidates eligible
for election to the position of Z1EC.
CANDIDATE NOMINATED BY SECONDED BY ACCEPTED
NODENUMBER NODENUMBER NODENUMBER DECLINED
====================================================================
Gary Gilmore Keith Wineka Scott Hansen ACCEPTED
1:2410/400 1:2220/10 1:154/750 12/10/97
====================================================================
Wayne DeLisle Sr Jack Sargeant Christine LaBonte ACCEPTED
1:379/33 1:379/12 1:163/384 12/11/97
====================================================================
David Calafrancesco Robert Vaughn Joe Brown ACCEPTED
1:2624/0 1:273/304 1:2625/111 12/13/97
====================================================================
Mike Luther Skeet Masters Jeff Edmonson ACCEPTED
1:117/3001 1:117/100 1:387/510 12/14/97
====================================================================
Jeff Smith Bruce Toothman Andrea Santos ACCEPTED
1:282/1031 1:282/1046 1:135/382 12/20/97
====================================================================
Jim Balcom J Kershaw Ken Thierfelder ACCEPTED
1:109/334 1:2604/514 1:107/460 12/22/97
====================================================================
John Glinski Bill Bogue Ken Sims ACCEPTED
1:320/237 1:320/240 1:120/523 12/24/97
====================================================================
Bob Kohl Jim McLaughlin David Randall ACCEPTED
1:102/861 1:2604/104 1:319/10 12/28/97
====================================================================
One nomination was made by a person who was not a node. This
nomination was invalidated.
The following nodes returned a DECLINED message:
Dave Anderson 1:3619/25
FIDONEWS 15-01 Page 8 5 Jan 1998
Christopher Baker 1:18/14
Ben Hamilton 1:124/7008
Ken Tuley 1:18/0
Jim Smoot 1:395/0
Darryl Gregorash 1:140/86
Adrian Walker 1:153/751
************************ END REPORT *************************
The next phase, campaigning will commence January 1, 1998 and
end January 15, 1998. During this time period, you are encouraged
to question candidates on the issues. Flaming will not be tolerated
and will be dealt with accordingly by the moderator of Z1_ELECTION.
Please turn on the echo Z1_ELECTION so that you may be able to
participate in the election process. All members of Fidonet, Zone 1
are eligible to participate. During the election process, the
moderatorship of the Z1_ELECTION echo will be handled by Lisa
Gronke (1:105/16) as the ELISTed moderator is also the election
coordinator.
This announcement is respectfully submitted to you, the members of
Fidonet, Zone 1, and serves as the official announcement of the
list of candidates for Fidonet Zone 1 Echomail Coordinator. Thank
you for your time and look forward to seeing you participate in the
election.
--Martin Belcke--
Election Cordinator, Z1EC election
Fidonet Node 1:232/10
Fidonet Node 1:232/16
primary e-mail mbelcke@ws02.irvbbs.com
-----------------------------------------------------------------
From: lisa@psg.com (Lisa Gronke)
Subject: Memo:[candidate questionnaire netmailed]
To: mbelcke@ws02.irvbbs.com
Date: Wed, 31 Dec 1997 13:40:23 -0800 (PST)
Cc: cbaker84@digital.net
I just wrote and crashmailed the following netmail to all eight
candidates.
Msg# From To Subject
-------------------- -------------------- ---------------------------
1675-Lisa Gronke Gary Gilmore Candidate Questionnaire
1676-Lisa Gronke Wayne DeLisle Sr. Candidate Questionnaire
1677-Lisa Gronke David Calafranesco Candidate Questionnaire
1678-Lisa Gronke Mike Luther Candidate Questionnaire
1679-Lisa Gronke Jeff Smith Candidate Questionnaire
1680-Lisa Gronke Jim Balcom Candidate Questionnaire
1681-Lisa Gronke John Glinski Candidate Questionnaire
1682-Lisa Gronke Bob Kohl Candidate Questionnaire
[1679 / 1682] Msg.area Net ... NetMail
FIDONEWS 15-01 Page 9 5 Jan 1998
From: Lisa Gronke Pvt Crash
To: Gary Gilmore Msg #1675, Dec-31-97 11:21:56
Dest: Bloom County (1:2410/400) Dearborn Mi
Subject: Candidate Questionnaire
MSGID: 1:105/61.0 34aa9b54
I just posted the Z1EC candidate questionnaire in the Z1_ELECTION
echo. I hope you will take this opportunity to respond to these
questions. Please post your reply in the Z1_ELECTION echo (any time
after midnight).
I will see that your response to this questionnaire is forwarded to
FidoNews.
==================================================
From: Lisa Gronke
To: Candidates Msg #100, Dec-31-97 10:26:58
Subject: Candidate Questionnaire
1998 Z1EC ELECTION -- CANDIDATE QUESTIONNAIRE
--------------------------------------------------
1> What are your qualifications? What FTN positions have you held?
2> If elected Z1EC, would you continue with other currently held FTN
positions?
3> Do you foresee any problems with the list of duties for the ZEC
position?
3> Which of those functions do you consider most important?
4> How do you feel about Echomail Policy?
5> Are there any functions not listed in the job description that you
think are important?
6> Do you anticipate any problems working with the Z1C, the RECs, the
EchoList Coordinator, or those who run the major and minor
distribution systems?
7> What do you think the major echomail problems in the next two years
will be?
8> With a two year term, Jan 1, 2000 comes on your watch. What role do
you see for the Z1EC at that time?
9> Any other comments?
--------------------------------------------------
Lisa Gronke
Z1_ELECTION Moderator Pro Tem
FidoNet: 1:105/16
Internet: lisa@psg.com
-----------------------------------------------------------------
FIDONEWS 15-01 Page 10 5 Jan 1998
The Z1EC Election (a candidate questionnaire)
by Lisa Gronke, 1:105/16
lisa@psg.com
I was asked to moderate the Z1_ELECTION echo during the Z1EC election,
because the regular moderator, Martin Belcke, was serving as Election
Coordinator. My candidate questionnaire (below) is adapted from one
used in the 1991 Z1EC election. The Z1EC "job description" that it
refers to was published in FIDO1449.NWS. I will be forwarding the
candidate replies to FidoNews as they are received.
Two other Z1_ELECTION participants have also addressed lists of
questions to the candidates, David Hallford [1:10/2] & Dale Simmons
[1:202/1100], and a number of good single questions have been posed.
Participate in the Z1_ELECTION yourself, or ask your NEC to keep your
Net informed.
* Forwarded from the Z1_ELECTION echo:
From: Lisa Gronke
To: Candidates Msg #100, Dec-31-97 10:26:58
Subject: Candidate Questionnaire
1998 Z1EC ELECTION -- CANDIDATE QUESTIONNAIRE
--------------------------------------------------
1> What are your qualifications? What FTN positions have you held?
2> If elected Z1EC, would you continue with other currently held FTN
positions?
3> Do you foresee any problems with the list of duties for the ZEC
position? Which of those functions do you consider most important?
4> How do you feel about Echomail Policy?
5> Are there any functions not listed in the job description that you
think are important?
6> Do you anticipate any problems working with the Z1C, the RECs, the
EchoList Coordinator, or those who run the major and minor
distribution systems?
7> What do you think the major echomail problems in the next two years
will be?
8> With a two year term, Jan 1, 2000 comes on your watch. What role do
you see for the Z1EC at that time?
9> Any other comments?
---------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Forwarded from the Z1_ELECTION echo by Lisa Gronke
From: John Glinski
FIDONEWS 15-01 Page 11 5 Jan 1998
To: Lisa Gronke Msg #70, Jan-01-98 20:15:00
Subject: Candidate Questionnaire
-> 1> What are your qualifications? What FTN positions have you held?
Currently in Fido: HC & N320EC
" OtherNets: ZC & ZEC for USnetMail(Zone 587) {Nodes: 60}
ZEC for ScifiNet(Zone 102) {Nodes: 56} Several
Moderator/Host positions
-> 2> If elected Z1EC, would you continue with other currently held ->
FTN positions?
I would maintain my HC status but would request an election for
N320EC commence to find a successor.
My OtherNet positions require little time and would not interfere
with my ZEC functions.
-> 3> Do you foresee any problems with the list of duties for the ZEC
-> position? Which of those functions do you consider most important?
I find no problem with the approved list of ZEC duties. I cannot
state that any one function is most important. Importance of a
function is determined at that point in time. Mediation may be very
important at one time but not at others. The EchoPol initiative is
very important IF done correctly & written properly.
-> 4> How do you feel about Echomail Policy?
My participation in FIDOECHOPOL since its addition to NAB should
speak for itself. For those that do not know me, I believe in
EchoPol, but with restrictions. EchoPol cannot set standards for
Moderators nor impose "membership" requirements on them. Both of
these ideas were discussed in FIDOECHOPOL. EchoPol must be written to
create "standards" without utilizing "police" power tactics for
"enforcement". I know these are general statements but I truly
believe that an EchoPol could be a positive document that in fact
could prevent past echomail abuses and power plays. For example,
EchoPol could establish that *EC must be elected and establish the
Length of Service. This would have a positive effect.
-> 5> Are there any functions not listed in the job description that
-> you think are important?
The listed functions are wide sweeping and until a properly
ratified EchoPol is established I believe they are sufficient.
-> 6> Do you anticipate any problems working with the Z1C, the RECs,
-> the EchoList Coordinator, or those who run the major and minor
-> distribution systems?
FIDONEWS 15-01 Page 12 5 Jan 1998
Hopefully not, at present I have no individuals in the *C, *EC, or
moderator positions that would in any way have a negative disposition
towards me.
-> 7> What do you think the major echomail problems in the next two ->
years will be?
1) NAB, a decision must be made to determine its status in
relation to Zone 1 FidoNet.
2) Internet: An on-going effect to utilize its technology to
further FidoNet. Should be addressed in the Technology section of
EchoPol.
3) Moderators, are they "god" of their echo or not? Could be
addressed in EchoPol.
-> 8> With a two year term, Jan 1, 2000 comes on your watch. What
-> role do you see for the Z1EC at that time?
Hopefully we will still have echomail distribution. :-) We need
to really address mailer/tosser and even BBS software ability to
handle echomail at the turn of the millennium.
-> 9> Any other comments?
We need to attempt to make FidoNet more friendly and supportive if
we are to have any chance of halting the shrinking membership. Yes,
this is a hobby, and its suppose to be fun. :-) At the same time we
need to support/assist each other, that is something that the Inet
lacks. Inet is all too often cold & impersonal and filled with an
excessive amount of "junk" in its UseNet conferences.
I live by a very simple philosophy when I joined FidoNet and any
OtherNet, "I assist my uplink & support my downlink." Period.
Thank you for taking the time to read this and I would be greatly
honored to serve you as Z1EC.
John Glinski
SysOp: Tiger's Lair BBS, Middletown CT
Fido: 1:320/237
Inet: john.glinski@tigers-lair.com
--- QScan/PCB v1.19b / 01-0553
* Origin: Tiger's Lair *Middletown,CT* *860-347-7510* (1:320/237)
---------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Forwarded from the Z1_ELECTION echo by Lisa Gronke
From: Mike Luther
To: All Msg #82, Jan-02-98 06:28:44
Subject: Answer to Lisa's Questions
FIDONEWS 15-01 Page 13 5 Jan 1998
In a message to candidates on Dec-31-97 at 10:26:58 Lisa Gronke
asked:
1> a.) What are your qualifications?
b.) What FTN positions have you held?
Answer 1b:
I have not held an FTN position - that actually may be in my favor,
as I get to make all brand new enemies! Chuckle... I am NC of Net
117.
Answer 1a:
As to my qualifications, you'll either read this long post if you
really want to know, or else - you'll toggle on! :)
Greetings from Central Texas and Mikey!
I'm a Fido SysOp of more than ten years. Node 1:117/3000 was first
assigned to me by Paul Sittler when Net 117 in College Station was
bigger, for a short time, than Net 106 in Houston! I still have a
printed doc copy and original disk of Tom Jennings' Fido BBS program,
though it was replaced soon with the original OPUS program. Both my
Heathkit H89, serial #699, and the early Z100 that ran 1:117/3000 are
still here, with software on which they were retired! They still run.
Ruth Grove ex-NC117, still has my borrowed FidoNet 117 YooHoo 2/U2
tee shirt, so OPIE isn't lonely, I guess. :)
Fido, for me, has always been trying to learn things Fido offers and
putting together unique ways to use them. I'm a management,
programming, hardware and communications system person. Paid my own
way twice through Texas A&M University, along with a Wife and four
Kids, plus almost a full degree for her at the same time. That came
from telecommunications engineering. My Novice license in ham radio
in 1952 became an Extra Class in 1953 at age 14. I work mostly HF CW,
some 2 Meters and am competition oriented. As W5WQN, I've placed
repeatedly in the top ten single-band entries in the USA in the ARRL
CW DX contest, the ARRL Sweepstakes and the CQ WW. I frequently do
not send in scores because year after year the ranks don't change
much. Passing around a coveted piece of paper is more important to me
than having them over and over again..
That should tell you something about what you can expect of me here.
I have an English degree and an MBA in corporate planning from Texas
A&M University and a graduate minor in Sociology, earned where my
Dad, may he rest in peace, was head of the Math Department and made a
heck of a lot of enemies of folks whom didn't want to learn the math.
Incidentally, Mikey is still known at the math department for being
the kid that said, "But I don't want to do it that way!"
That should tell you something else about what you can expect of me
here.
FIDONEWS 15-01 Page 14 5 Jan 1998
Ham radio became a Commercial First Phone and a quite rare Commercial
First Telegraph licenses in sea service for the Oceanography
Department at Texas A&M - while still going to school in chunks. On
the way through I got to help build the first weather radar sets ever
built, then worked on the first color weather radar sets ever built,
and also the forerunner for what is now the Ryan Stormscope for
aviation and your nightly lightning strike display on TV. I got to
build much of the hardware for some of the first computer modeling of
the atmosphere ever done. At sea, I engineered the first long
distance oceanographic seismic runs on single sideband data circuits
ever shot and some of the first remote sensing RF-linked
oceanographic telemetry work ever done. Finally, during the MBA work,
I got to do instrumentation and electronics for the Mach 40 plasma
lab wind tunnel at Texas A&M where some of the Mariner Mars probe re-
entry atmospheric research was done! No, I didn't make it into
computer science back then, but I did get a license to learn out of
all this.
That should tell you something else about what you can expect of me
here.
What expanded into my Narte Senior Telecommunications Engineering
ticket in six professional specialties, launched me into the
business of aviation radio and - flying! That turned into the Chief
Pilot's position at the ROTC flight training school at Texas A&M
during the Viet Nam war. It opened the door to an executive position
with two manufacturing firms that were highly aviation oriented. I
have a substantial number of hours in light twins, much in *VERY*
heavy solid IFR weather operations - flown by hand. When you have to
balance running the money around the sky, covering the payroll,
keeping up with up to 200 people in the plant as a CEO and answering
the bank call every day; as a pilot, you learn to look into things
and problems from the TOP DOWN, while realizing that the MAJORITY can
whip up on you if you make too many errors. You HAVE to do a good job
with what the majority wishes done or your airplane
doesn't come home one dark and stormy night.
That should tell you something else about what you can expect of me
here.
I've earned every one of my 58 year old gray hairs still left on my
head.
That should tell you something else about what you can expect of me
here.
If you think airline food is bad, try franchise food for lunch every
day of the week hand-flying a Beech Baron back from squirreling money
somewhere that IRS won't levy, for three years, to survive. You do
what you have to.
Our product in one operation is in every State in the United States,
every province of Canada, Alaska, Mexico and now, to my knowledge 28
countries on five continents. Twice I've built a National marketing
operation. All the while, we were this Nation's test case for
Manufacturer's Excise Tax for our product, over a claimed $6,000,000
FIDONEWS 15-01 Page 15 5 Jan 1998
in, "Taxes due." They were not; they never were. Everything that
happened to us for 18 years it took to break that claim - properly -
*TWICE* - in Federal court, was done improperly by the "Claimant."
There is a right way and a wrong way about going about taking care of
problems. You never win, but, you do. The complete law on Excise tax
over the issue was re-written to cover what was unjust about the go
around. We will never be #1, but..
That should tell you something else about what you can expect of me
here.
For years, I've operated a FidoNet Private Node that has, in the
opinion of almost all those that have dealt with the issue, been
supportive of both Fido system-wide and VERY much, our local Net 117.
It offers some unique public service emergency gateway access between
land-line and direct air access. That has gained Fido some very
important notice by ARRL and others as a method that could be used
for emergency traffic handling for thousands of needed public service
messages in time of a real emergency. Few FidoNet people, I think,
really understand how closely the ham radio crew and the FidoNet crew
are to each other. Over the years, the interface is more than just a
coincidence. As a programmer and systems-level wanna-bee (aren't we
all?), I rightly or wrongly chose Opie as an actual embedded portion
of some of the code. That's why he is still around, but his time is
coming. You will note that 1:117/3001 is a public node and will soon
host Net 117 - it's being moved to BINK/MAX, FAM/2, OS/2's server
setup and more, as I learn how.
There is always something new and different, some better way to
operate a system, if you really want to learn about it. All it takes
is being willing to take the risk to gain a reward which justifies
the risk. All it takes is the desire to stand up for the right
technical and social answers for the good of the group and not be
beholdin to any one segment. Shakespeare said it well, "Neither
borrower nor lender be, for borrowing oft dulls the edge of
husbandry." I am not a puppet of ANYONE in Fido, nor do I have the
slightest wish to be a puppet master. I only wish to server, pun
intended.
That should tell you something else about what you can expect of me
here. I think that the chance to look at the Z1EC slot and upper
management section of Fido is worth the risk to run.
1.) I think there is a future for Fido if we act quickly to focus
our strengths more vertically as a group, targeting our
"marketing", so to speak, on the sysop here mostly because he
or she wants to be a mini-IP, if you will.
2.) I think local interest by even just a few dedicated users that
interact with a local sysop, much like gossiping over the
backyard fence, will keep Fido here in even heavily trafficked
Internet areas.
3.) I think that there is PLENTY of room for Fido in less developed
parts of the world and though I've never been to very many of
them, I have been to some. I do understand the technical
FIDONEWS 15-01 Page 16 5 Jan 1998
problems of bringing full level telecommunications to those
areas.
4.) Although P4 does regulate Fido, I have *NO* problem in working
with it even as it stands, in bringing forward the final echo
organization that must be done for what was never finished with
P4. The job can be accomplished - if it is organized well.
5.) I think there is room for both the control from assignment and
elected influence.
I'm neither pro-P5 nor anti-P4 in all of this. I am, hopefully, a
good choice for an ADMINISTRATOR and really, simply a COORDINATOR for
what should happen in the echo medium we have here. Heck, the chair
doesn't even vote on a committee, unless actually needed, folks! I
couldn't care less about any power trip here - just believe that I
can make a difference in Fido and can help move it forward into the
future.
I ask your support to let me try to simply chair this group that
really is the technical nuts and bolts of Fido, nothing more.
2> If elected Z1EC, would you continue with other currently held FTN
positions?
Answer 2:
P4 says:
"Coordinators are encouraged to limit the number of FidoNet
functions they perform. A coordinator who holds two different
positions compromises the appeal process. For example, if the
Network Coordinator is also the Regional Coordinator, sysops in
that network are denied one level of appeal."
3> a.) Do you foresee any problems with the list of duties for the
ZEC position?
I've added the (1) as in Z1EC in a few places where I think it
was left out, but maybe that's an error! :)
AT THE PLEASURE OF THE Z1C, THE DUTIES OF THE Z1EC SHALL BE:
1) Coordination between the Z1 distribution systems
Answer - > (See job description for Mule later on.) :)
I'm old enough to recall the old
"20 Mule Team Borax" boxes...
I will be one of the mules... :)
2) Coordination of the RECC and with the Z1 RECs.
The Z(1)EC shall be the chairperson of the RECC. He shall
FIDONEWS 15-01 Page 17 5 Jan 1998
put forth ideas to and/or moderate the discussion of
ideas brought before the RECC.
Answer - > That's the general format in most committees,
I've never had a problem with that.
He shall also act as a tie breaker in the event of a tie
vote. The RECC may overturn a Z(1)EC proposed action/idea
with a 2/3rds majority of the RECC.
Answer - > That's the general format in most committees,
I've never had a problem with that. More
specifically, it is my rule as Chair on all
committees on which I've served, that the
Chair does *NOT* vote, unless to break a tie.
The Chair is, technically, assumed to be <FOR>
the matter at hand, but not - of record.
If the RECC concludes that the Z(1)EC is not active,
ineffective in his/her job or is just not taking care
his/her responsibilities; they may take a vote of
no-confidence. If the vote of no-confidence passes with
a 2/3rds majority, the RECC will refer this issue to
the ZC for mediation or action as the Z1C sees fit
Answer - > That's the general format in most committees,
I've never had a problem with that.
On the same basis, the Z(1)EC shall be allowed to take issue
with RECs that are not participating and/or doing their
job; by taking the matter up with both the host RC
of the RECs hosting region and the Z1C for mediation or
action as the Z1C sees fit. These two actions shall NOT
be taken lightly without all due consideration of possible
extenuating circumstances.
Answer - > That's the general format in most committees,
I've never had a problem with that.
3) Coordination with the other ZECs.
Answer - > I foresee that problems will exist in the future
in that the "culture" of FidoNet is changing
markedly. Technology is molding FidoNet into
a far different dog than it was. You have to
understand language is culture and the reverse
is also true! It wasn't just that FidoNet was
'English', the culture of it was also 'English',
at first. The 'English' way of doing things
also suited it's growth needs quite well.
FidoNet once 'needed' that just to be able to
grow. Now, there are many places in the world
where the 'English' way of doing things is
losing leverage because technology is empowering
even an average participant in ways that make
FIDONEWS 15-01 Page 18 5 Jan 1998
it possible to emplace other cultures quite
readily - if you please. That may not be good.
Sidebar - The ICAO standard 'culture' is English.
Noticed what I think is a significant rise in
major international airline accidents, lately?
Think about this whole language - culture deal
a minute or two and that ....
We will see similar 'accidents' come full force in
the next two years here, in Fido, in my opinion.
Curiously - I also feel that the organization,
to survive - still has to have a 'standard'
culture, if that's what we mean here!
Thus - brought full face-forward by the issues
involving echomail - our major job is to actually
re-define our 'Fido Culture' as something quite
different than we currently see..
Be careful. That can be taken more than
one way... :)
You have to watch Mikey's use of words.
I make a coordinated effort at all things. :)
It is my opinion that is one reason Z1C embarked
on letting this process loose...
Z2 is watching this one closely, I opine.
I think I can speak culture well enough
to help Fido survive.
4) Central repository of information for the various Z1
distribution systems.
Answer - > The Z1EC serves at the pleasure of the Z1C.
However, please note that back in the '20's
in the US'nA, the price of steel magically
rose and rose and rose despite 'guvmint
screaming - Later we found out Andrew
Carnegie was pulling on his left ear lobe too
often. That old encrypted mail issue.,, :)
In order to survive it appears we might need
a large 2 X 4... Z1C will have to issue it
to minimize inter-distribution system fighting.
5) Mediation of Zone 1 echomail issues.
Answer - > Mediation means exactly what it says;
it is often confused with the word
arbitration. Note the difference.
FIDONEWS 15-01 Page 19 5 Jan 1998
You may ask those here that know me
if I know that difference. I think
they will say I do; even though I
didn't ask to marry them at all! :)
In a volunteer organization the equal
and opposite force to, "You will" is;
"I quit."
"Patience is a virtue."
"The constant dripping of water wears
away stone."
I will do everything I can to avoid
arbitration. I prefer that people
learn to exist together rather than
have to be told to leave.
6) Upper level mediation between Moderators, Fidonet
distribution systems on related echomail issues.
Answer - > I foresee that problems will exist in the
future here because cost-push mail offering
will suffer a MUCH heavier assault from
demand-pull enabled lower-level sysops, whom
will have terribly more effective systems,
for peanuts in price, in the near future.
Burnham Woods will march on Dunkirk Castle
in the reign of this Z1EC, if my guess in
correct.
'Get this off my proposed back' - Z1C...
Yes Sir, I'll do my best, Sir. :)
7) Coordination with the Echolist Keeper.
Answer - > If 30,000 'nodes' can be listed weekly and
distributed weekly, so can a 'culturally'
correct Echolist. It can be done one
way or another.
The same type tools that enable Internet
usegroup selection techniques will not
only surface here in the next two years,
they will force a 'standardized' Echolist.
The list will force its keeper into the open.
8) Help in the formation and implementation (in conjunction
with the RECC) of a Zone/Fido-wide Echomail policy. The
Z(1)EC shall keep the RECC informed of these discussions so
that the RECs may pass this information down to their
regional sysops.
FIDONEWS 15-01 Page 20 5 Jan 1998
Answer - > I foresee this to be one of the most important
things we have to do.
Help in.. means.. the Chair is charged with
the responsibility for the organization of
and laying out of the work format.
Comment - The only way I have EVER seen any
committee EVER get anything done was to lay
out the agenda and work it through/
When the list is done - it's reported out to
the boss, Ichi Ban, El Jeffe, El Patrone, Il
Padrone (Z1C + the SysOps of this Zone) and
what's done with it after that will be up
to the decision of the Zone.
9) Term(s) of no more than 2 years. No limit on number of terms
Answer - > Survival is doubtful. Crosses himself, looking
for wallet.
10) Codify, with the RECC, the procedure for future ZEC elections.
All future elections are subject to review by the Z1C..
Answer - > If you don't understand P4, go back and read it
again. This is *NOT* a democracy. The only
purpose for any election in FidoNet, that I
know about, is either defined specifically in
P4 already, or is for the allowed purpose of
feeding input to Empire Central.
"You will." - "I quit." - "So what do we do now?"
"Find another bank." Mikey, to a VP of the
First City Bank, Houston, 1976.. having read
the remark elsewhere before and since.
Any suggestions that I might have for the
future elections should be tempered by
the experiences in this one. I have
confidence we will learn from our experiences
in this election. If it needs to be changed,
I suspect it will be evident. If it works
well, I suspect that will be evident too.
11) Provide for an interim Z1EC, should anything happen to
currently seated Z1EC to prevent him/her from fulfilling
these duties. The single duty of the interim Z1EC shall be
to expedient an election and a smooth transition to the
next Z1EC (should it become necessary). If there are
problems the interim ZEC shall contact the Z1C for help if
the problem cannot be resolved within the RECC.
Answer - > I will.. Boss.
FIDONEWS 15-01 Page 21 5 Jan 1998
Specifically, in a similar manner to the
fact that there is no ANC, but we've had
'one' formally in Net 117, I'll, if
elected, at the outset, determine whom
was the next ranking candidate in this
election...
I'll ask for help.
You never know how much you needed it until you
ask.
The deal you do not investigate is always the deal
you lose.
b.) Which of those functions do you consider most important?
Answer - > Discussing the issue with the Boss, if
it hasn't been left to me to do. :)
When a 30 year client of mine bought his first
radio station with private financing arranged
for by the late John Hicks, a short while later
he called him up and asked, "What should I do?"
John replied, "That's what you got the money for.
It's YOUR problem." :)
4> How do you feel about Echomail Policy?
Answer - > 'Sunfinshed Business. Finish what you started,
before asking for more problems. We need to
finish the Policy.
5> Are there any functions not listed in the job description that
you think are important?
Answer - > Privately.. We are electing a whining rod, which
is OK by me... :)
I can tell this one.. OK? chuckle..
There is a good Jewish joke. Rabbi Cohen was
killed with Father Flannigan, jointly. Heaven
bound, it got too hard for Father Flannigan to
climb. Cohen invited him to be carried the rest
of the way. Peter looked out at the party
approaching the gates. He called out, "Father
Flannigan, so good to see you, park your mule
over there and come on in."
:)
Nice mule.
FIDONEWS 15-01 Page 22 5 Jan 1998
6> Do you anticipate any problems working with the Z1C, the RECs,
the EchoList Coordinator, or those who run the major and minor
distribution systems?
Answer - > Of course - ROTFL mule's ears Off!
Don't worry about the mule - load the wagon.
Mikey the Mule will pull it, 'sbest he can.
7> What do you think the major echomail problems in the next two
years will be?
Answer - > Bandwidth on Demand, which will free many from
the slavery of modem connects to their
'provider', whether it be an IP or a BBS,
a la FidoNet.
There are tools coming on line FAST that will
GREATLY expand the role of client-server
right down into our beloved Fido's dog dish.
They will be cheap. They will be effective.
They will literally tear apart the entire door-
concept BBS that we know of today.
Empires will crumble and new ones will arise.
The problems we face in dealing with echomail
today will be far different and serious when
these tools come on line and Fido assimilates
them, if that happens, which I think it will.
:(
8> With a two year term, Jan 1, 2000 comes on your watch. What role
do you see for the Z1EC at that time?
Answer - > Set the date on your system to ten minutes before
midnight after doing a full tape backup for
restore. Watch what happens. Be prepared to
<CTL C> before anything gets out before hand here..
chuckle.
Restore when through playing.
Z1EC has to both start a program to ferret out
that mess in here *AND* be prepared to recommend
to the Region and El Patron(s) that we force
the network to do certain things, if needed.
It is up to the current COMMITTEE to decide on
the specific action to be taken.. :)
That will probably mean EchoPol may even have to
FIDONEWS 15-01 Page 23 5 Jan 1998
have that in it and proof of compliance to stay
in the NodeList...
which will bring HORRIBLE fireworks from
Zx, Zy and Zzzzzz after which we may
all gracefully have a massive CVA and
never wake up.. :(
Begin a program - top down - to determine Y2K
capabilities here and post that part, at least
to the level of the HUBs, as part of the
directory effort.
9> Any other comments?
Answer - > PLEASE VOTE. Even if you do not vote for me,
please DO vote. I wish to see Zone 1 pulled
back together as a much less fragmented sort
of group. We can operate with many independents,
but we need to be coordinated. This is your
chance to make your voice heard.
Concentrate on the real job of going forward,
not arguing about little details.
Please understand that there is a huge
difference between engineering and management.
What is needed, in my humble opinion, is
a manager in this Z1EC position who can work
with technical people. I believe that I can
do this job well, that's why I accepted the
chance to represent you all.
Mike @ 117/3001
--- Opus-CBCS 1.73a
* Origin: Ziplog Public Port (1:117/3001.0)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Forwarded from the Z1_ELECTION echo
From: David Calafrancesco
To: Lisa Gronke Msg #99, Jan-02-98 00:32:28
Subject: Candidate Questionnaire
Lisa Gronke wrote in a message to Candidates:
LG> 1998 Z1EC ELECTION -- CANDIDATE QUESTIONNAIRE
LG> --------------------------------------------------
Lisa, please don't do anything to discourage questions from the other
members of FIDO. Perhaps your title should read "Lisa Gronke's Z1EC
candidate questions from previous elections" or something to signify
that the questions are recycled and that they are being asked by you
FIDONEWS 15-01 Page 24 5 Jan 1998
as a node and not you as the election echo moderator implying that
other questions will be out of order.
Thank you for compiling these questions from previous elections and
adjusting them to our circumstances. It should help to compare
candidates with what has happened in the past.
LG 1> What are your qualifications? What FTN positions have you
LG 1> held?
I have been a member of FIDO for almost a decade. In that time I have
almost always been a HUB of some sort. I am currently an RHUB in
region 13, as well as NC and NEC of net2624 along with being a feed
source for the net. I have always looked at the costs of moving our
mail and looked for ways to increase reliability while decreasing
costs. I hope to do the same on a zone wide basis. I was briefly
interim R13EC a couple of years ago.
LG 2> If elected Z1EC, would you continue with other currently held
LG 3> FTN positions?
If someone locally was willing to pickup one or both of the local
positions I would pass them on. As the local NC/NEC positions have
only taken a few minutes per month I would otherwise keep them as I
see no particular conflict. I would consider passing the RHub on to
someone else but again the load is not that big. As a ZEC I would not
be expecting to be a ZHub or other major mail mover for the zone, but
instead an interface between the various feed systems and the
regions/networks.
LG 3> Do you foresee any problems with the list of duties for the ZEC
LG 3> position?
LG 3> Which of those functions do you consider most important?
First off, the "list of duties" you are referring to was hashed out
by one of the candidates with some feedback from participants in this
echo among others. As ZEC, I would be working for the ZC. Period. I
also feel it is best to allow the ZEC to define what their job is in
relation to what the ZC expects from them.
Did you know there have been over 500 messages with ZEC and DUT in
the subject in this echo alone? A quick scan finds several revisions,
not one that is listed as a final revision. I will paste the last
version here so we can be sure we are on the same sheet of music.
{begin paste}
Area : Z1_ELECTION
Date : Nov 21 '97, 02:41
>From : Bob Kohl, 1:102/861
To : All
Subj : Re: ZEC duties Rev. 21934575-86721569-35d
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Feel free to crosspost at will:
At the pleasure of the Z1C, the duties for the Z1EC shall be:
FIDONEWS 15-01 Page 25 5 Jan 1998
1) Coordination between the Z1 echomail distribution systems
2) Coordination of the RECC and with the Zone 1 RECs.
The ZEC is the chairperson of the RECC. He or she shall bring ideas
to the RECC and moderate the discussion of ideas. He or she shall also
act as a tie breaker in the event of a tie vote. The RECC may overturn
a ZEC proposed action or idea with a 2/3rds vote of the RECC.
If the RECC concludes that the ZEC is not active, ineffective in his
or her job or not taking care his or her responsibilities per this
list; they may take a vote of no-confidence. If the vote of
no-confidence passes with 2/3rds majority, the RECC will refer this
issue to the Z1C for mediation or action as the Z1C sees fit.
The ZEC shall be allowed to take issue with RECs that are not
participating or doing their job, by taking the matter up with the
host RC of the REC's region and the Z1C for mediation or action.
These two actions shall NOT be taken lightly without all due
consideration of possible extenuating circumstances.
3) Coordination with the other ZECs.
4) Central repository of information for the various Z1 distribution
systems.
5) Mediation of Zone 1 echomail issues/disputes.
6) Upper level mediation between Moderators, Fidonet distribution
systems on related echomail issues.
7) Coordination with the Echolist Keeper.
8) Help in the formation and implementation of a Zone/Fido-wide
Echomail policy. The ZEC shall work in conjunction with the RECC
on this issue, so that the REC's can take this information to
their respective regions for feedback.
9) Term(s) of no more than 2 years. No limit on number of terms
10) Codify, with the RECC, the procedure for future ZEC elections.
All future elections are subject to review by the Z1C..
11) Provide for an interim Z1EC, should anything happen to currently
seated Z1EC to prevent him/her from fulfilling these duties. The
single duty of the interim Z1EC shall be to expedite an election
and the smooth transition to the next Z1EC. The interim ZEC shall
refer to the Z1C for help with problems if the RECC cannot resolve
said issue(s).
BK
{end paste}
LG 4> How do you feel about Echomail Policy?
FIDONEWS 15-01 Page 26 5 Jan 1998
There isn't one. Should there be? If the members of the zone wish to
have an echo policy I would do my best to see that they have the
chance to create one. It would be built with their input. I don't see
there being any particular aura about the title of ZEC that would
confer special wisdom or power over the rest of the zone. I see the
ZEC as being more a facilitator and interface between the different
parts of the echo distribution system. Those parts being the nodes,
the hubs and moderators. All net/region/zone coordinators of whatever
flavor are servants of their respective area and should be doing what
is in the best interest of the area.
In summary, I don't 'feel' much of anything for echomail policy.
LG 5> Are there any functions not listed in the job description that
LG 5> you think are important?
I am sure that my interpretation of the ZEC duty suggestions as
outlined above will differ with others. For example, I interpret #4
as publishing a master list of echos which combines all echo titles
and shows what is available from each distribution system. There is
currently no central source for any node or HUB who is contemplating
a switch to a different feed to know what is available on the other
system.
I would also delegate specific jobs if I found the load too heavy. Of
course I would remain responsible for the proper completion of the
job and any deputy would be answerable to me directly.
Another example, I don't consider #8 to mean the ZEC writes the
echomail policy or puts into it what he feels is advantageous to his
faction. I would interpret that to mean assist in the mechanics of
setting up whatever mechanism the people of Zone 1 want to assist
them in creating an echo policy, should they feel an echo policy is
needed.
I would also ensure that I have a drop dead deputy available to step
in and act on my behalf should something happen.
LG 6> Do you anticipate any problems working with the Z1C, the
LG 6> RECs, the EchoList Coordinator, or those who run the major
LG 6> and minor distribution systems?
Nope... So far I don't seem to have pissed off too many people and I
try to be moderate in all things. I dislike fanatics and fanaticism
and am usually content to ignore them until they go away but have
been known to blast with both barrels on occasion.
LG 7> What do you think the major echomail problems in the next two
LG 7> years will be?
Integrating FIDO with new technology to maintain our supremacy in
high signal to noise ratio mass communications. Our content is very
similar to internet mailing lists in that our conferences are usually
topical and spam free yet we use a method similar to newsgroups in
that any node whose HUB receives an echo can link to it instantly.
Helping FIDO to grow and adapt to the changing technology will become
FIDONEWS 15-01 Page 27 5 Jan 1998
more important as time rolls on. Currently the overwhelming majority
of traffic in FIDO is passing around the zone without standard LD
charges.
Zone 1 has an almost 100% saturation of ISPs available and that means
that almost anyone who wishes can move their traffic via the
internet. That spells an end to the strife caused by CRP feeds. For
pennies per day and an FTP account anyone can get darn near anything.
For years FIDO has had a centralized mail routing system. It
currently flows via the echomail paths. With the increase in
individuals connecting directly to ZHubs class servers mail routing
dynamics are changing. I am not sure if the complexity has increased
or decreased but it seems that reliability is up. It used to be that
hardly anything would arrive on a timely basis if you routed it out
through the net. Now, I am seeing replies back in a few hours from
messages I have sent as routed netmail. Yes, sometimes the various
HUBs get confused as to where someone's mail goes but that is
generally limited to people who have changed feeds recently. Once the
feed is stable, it should remain functional with minimal maintenance.
LG 8> With a two year term, Jan 1, 2000 comes on your watch. What
LG 8> role do you see for the Z1EC at that time?
Much the same as I see it now. The ZEC is a servant of the zone,
working for the ZC, assisting the regions work with the various
distribution systems and working with the rest of the zones on
interzonal echomail issues. Unless something drastic changes in the
next two years, there will still be nodes, echomail, regions, zones
and distribution systems.
LG 9> Any other comments?
FIDO is a hobby for me, it is not a career move. I feel I can make a
decent contribution to the betterment of the zone or I wouldn't have
agreed to run.
Dave Calafrancesco, Team OS/2
dave@drakkar.mhv.net
---
* Origin: Druid's Grove BBS - (914)/876-2237 (1:2624/306)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Forwarded from the Z1_ELECTION echo by Lisa Gronke
From: Jim Balcom
To: Lisa Gronke Msg #66, Jan-02-98 19:44:50
Subject: Candidate Questionnaire
1998 Z1EC ELECTION -- CANDIDATE QUESTIONNAIRE
--------------------------------------------------
1> What are your qualifications? What FTN positions have you held?
FIDONEWS 15-01 Page 28 5 Jan 1998
I was NEC of Net-109 for five years, (one of the larger nets in Zone
1) re-elected to the position annually. I have been REC of Region 13
for 19 months. I have functioned as the major Net-109 echomail hub
for 7 years. I have had RHub status for 3+ years.
2> If elected Z1EC, would you continue with other currently held FTN
positions?
The next REC-13 election is scheduled for the April/May timeframe. I
would not stand for that election. I would probably continue to be a
mail hub. I've always felt that it is important for an *EC to be
active in the mail moving department so that they are aware,
first-hand, of the various problems.
3> Do you foresee any problems with the list of duties for the ZEC
position?
No.
Which of those functions do you consider most important?
Paragraph 6: Upper level mediation (and, adding in co-ordination)
between Moderators and Echomail Distribution Systems.
4> How do you feel about Echomail Policy?
I believe that there needs to be an Echomail Policy. I think that
getting one properly approved is going to be similar to trying to
build a snowman in Panama!
As ZEC, it is something that I would keep on the table with the RECC
and that as a group of 10 REC's and the ZEC that we would keep
plugging away on in an attempt to get some progress made.
5> Are there any functions not listed in the job description that you
think are important?
No. If there were, I would have provided that input during the
formulation of the description.
6> Do you anticipate any problems working with the Z1C, the RECs, the
EchoList Coordinator, or those who run the major and minor
distribution systems?
None at all.
7> What do you think the major echomail problems in the next two
years will be?
We are going to see more and more interaction with the Internet. The
present policies, specifications, and procedures were developed in
the '80's. They don't consider the Internet.
FIDONEWS 15-01 Page 29 5 Jan 1998
Law enforcement agencies are becoming more computer-literate. There
is more and more public pressure to get 'obscene' information off of
the Internet. The Internet is a hard animal to attack. Fidonet Sysops
are much better defined and much easier to see and find. I think that
Fidonet is going to be subjected to much more scrutiny by law
enforcement agencies as to the content of the traffic they are
carrying and moving, primarily because it's a lot easier to find a
Fidonet Sysop, than it is to find the "Internet". I think that
Fidonet Sysops will be seeing more 'witch-hunts' about the content of
echomail.
8> With a two year term, Jan 1, 2000 comes on your watch. What role
do you see for the Z1EC at that time?
That question is not clear to me. On the one hand, it is redundant to
Question 7. If you are referring to the 'Year 2000 Problem', I doubt
that it will have a lasting effect on Fidonet Sysops. We may see some
'interesting' quirks during the first few weeks, particularly with
software that is checking the age of messages, but those should be
able to be dealt with swiftly.
If you mean, "What will the Z1EC's job be in January 2000?", I don't
have an answer for that one. I think that in the next two years that
we will see a lot of changes, just as we have seen a lot of changes
over the past 18 years in any two-year segment you want to pick. A
lot is going to depend on the mix of REC's and the thoughts and ideas
that they bring to the RECC table.
9> Any other comments?
As ZEC, I would like to see some standardization for the movement of
echomail. The specifications that we are presently working with are
7-15 years old. This, in a technology that vastly changes on a daily
basis. Software authors are pulling their hair out trying to write
software that will work under all imaginable conditions - including
some VERY bizarre conditions that they should not have to be
considering.
Ideally, I would like to see a Fidonet-wide FTSC become VERY active
and to codify some specifications so that all authors would be
singing out of the same hymnbook. Barring that, I believe that it is
possible to formulate a set of technical criteria that all traffic
entering the "Echomail Distribution System in Zone One" has to meet.
This has nothing to do with content or purpose. But, it does mean
that all traffic must be technically correct. Time/date fields
properly formed. A proper Origin Line. A Path line. A MSGID line.
Etc. Major mail movers already know what those problems are and are
trying to protect the distribution systems from damage caused by
those problems. I believe that, in some way, we need to 'officialize'
much of this.
I believe that there is room in the "Echomail Distribution System in
Zone One" for a multitude of distribution systems. I see no reason
why all of them can not work together in a harmonious, co-operative
relationship. As ZEC, I would work diligently toward that end.
Retailers have done this for ages.
FIDONEWS 15-01 Page 30 5 Jan 1998
I see the ZEC in a true co-ordinator role. He depends heavily on
input from the REC's, and moves forward with their ideas, even if he
doesn't fully agree with the majority of them. The future of
Fidonet's echomail is more in the hands of the REC's than in the
hands of the ZEC. But, even more than in the hands of the REC's, is
the work and efforts put forth by the NEC's!
-= Jim Balcom =-
++ Jim ++
--- Alexi/Mail 2.02b (#2)
* Origin: Bottomless Pit - balcomj@idkent.com - Alexandria, VA
(1:109/334)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Retrofitting & Updating Conference Naming Conventions
12/29/97
Net 261 Local EchoMail & FileBone Naming Convention Proposal
(Maybe even the Entire Network)
by Gordon Malone 1:261/1195, g.malone@ix.netcom.com
I originally intended to present this proposal to my local and
Neighboring Nets, 261 and 109. Only after contemplating the
possibilities and benefits did it make sense to offer it to the entire
net as food for thought and hopefully action.
Since joining FidoNet some 8 years ago I noticed that tossers were
incomplete in the way they sort or display listings. Sure, they work
fine by default to sort by name, but not by group. Some authors of
processors have made attempts and some have even had success (Harald
Harms - ALLFIX file processor) in providing a means for displaying
areas by group to facilitate easy maintenance.
Unfortunately, not all tossers of either flavor, mail or file have
adopted this common sense approach as a 'standard' and we're left to
muttle through due to lack of foresight as best we can and Fido as a
whole, is slow to implement forward thinking ideas and concepts that
would foster growth and ease of use or operation. There are MANY
networks now available to join with echoes that certainly duplicate
echo names.
With that in mind, I'd like to propose that we take steps to improve
and insure two things.
1) An easily identifiable naming convention prefix for the net that
would both make grouping and editing much easier and faster,
2) Eliminate the possibility of duplication of conference names
imported and processed from any source.
This could easily be accomplished through the use of a naming PREFIX
FIDONEWS 15-01 Page 31 5 Jan 1998
policy much like that used by the InterNet. Why shouldn't we adopt
tried and true solutions? It only makes sense that we use FIDO.261
as our prefix...
I'd like to put this suggestion to all of FidoNet and especially our
neighbors in Net109 with whom we share local echoes. Who knows, maybe
it'll spread throughout Fido. I'm surprised it hasn't happened sooner.
Proposal:
Below is an actual sample of areas in our FIDONET.261 area file
that our NEC just released:
ADS109 ;ads, including commercial
AUTO109 ;automatic announcements (mainly files)
AUTO261 Automatic messages OPEN
BALTIMORE-BBS BBS Notices, Ads 1000
BURPNET ;Brewers United For Real Potables
CATS Feline Friends (Local) OPEN
COMMUNITY Community Association Stuff 1000
Under the new naming convention they would look like this using the
network.net.<areaname> Prefix:
FIDO.109.ADS109
FIDO.109.AUTO109
FIDO.261.AUTO261
FIDO.261.BALTIMORE-BBS
FIDO.261.BURPNET
FIDO.261.CATS
FIDO.261.COMMUNITY
It's real easy to see what area comes from where and there is
little possibility of duplication prohibiting the addition of
duplicate echo names from different networks.
Conclusion:
I realize that this would cause some minor disruption during the
renaming period, but the future benefits and ease of operation, I
feel, make it well worth the small amount of work involved for us all
to accomplish this. Maybe the MODERATOR conference would be a good
place to discuss a possible self imposed cutoff date which could be
agreed upon to have the ELIST updates submitted by.
Kinda funny when you stop to consider all of the power we have, yet we
don't know how to harness and exploit it like everything else we
devour... Years ago I thought we'd have .WAV or some kind of
compressed voice email conferences with threads going by now... If
only we knew what we were doing. It's scary, or is it just me...?
If we're all not working to constantly improve and build on the net,
what's the point? Isn't that what a network of like minded folks is
all about!
FIDONEWS 15-01 Page 32 5 Jan 1998
As you can see, not only does this naming convention make it
undeniably clear of the echo origins, but editing within *any*
processor system will be universal. Searching and constant referencing
printouts, or jumping between windows would be eliminated when doing
updates. All areas would be displayed in order, together and sorted by
NETWORK.NET.<ECHONAME> regardless of the processor used, as long as
they utilize some sort of sorting method, which most do.
An added bonus to the two benefits above, AUTOADDING in a myriad of
processors and BBS systems, with more control of defaults will now be
possible, allowing and promoting greater participation and/or
expansion locally.
In closing, I respectfully request that our leadership, software
authors, moderators and potential new echo submitters seriously
consider implementing this proposal, for all of the reasons and
benefits stated above. We can retrofit and bring the net up to speed
if we want to...
At the risk of sounding 'corny', IMHO it is our duty, if we truly
enjoy and care about this hobby, to do whatever makes sense to build
upon and improve every aspect of the hobby that presents itself...
Comments Anyone? :)
Cheers!
Gordo
-----------------------------------------------------------------
FIDONEWS 15-01 Page 33 5 Jan 1998
=================================================================
COORDINATORS CORNER
=================================================================
Nodelist-statistics as seen from Zone-2 for day 002
By Ward Dossche, 2:292/854
ZC/2
+--------+-------+----------+----------+----------+----------+--+
!Zone/Jul!Ndl-339!Nodel.-346!Nodel.-353!Nodel.-360!Nodel.-002!%%!
+--------+-------+----------+----------+----------+----------+--+
! 1/360 ! 6338 ! 6338 0! 6225 -113! 6199 -26! 6199 0!27!
! 2/002 ! 14627 !14654 27!14605 -49!14523 -82!14538 15!63!
! 3/360 ! 591 ! 591 0! 592 1! 580 -12! 580 0! 3!
! 4/353 ! 436 ! 434 -2! 434 0! 435 1! 435 0! 2!
! 5/353 ! 92 ! 92 0! 92 0! 91 -1! 91 0! 0!
! 6/318 ! 1091 ! 1091 0! 1091 0! 1091 0! 1091 0! 5!
+--------+-------+----------+----------+----------+----------+--+
! 23175 !23200 25!23039 -161!22919 -120!22934 15!
+-------+----------+----------+----------+----------+
-----------------------------------------------------------------
FIDONEWS 15-01 Page 34 5 Jan 1998
=================================================================
ECHOING
=================================================================
North American Backbone Echo Changes [Nov-Dec]
by Lisa Gronke, 1:105/16
lisa@psg.com
Summary of backbone & quasi-backbone echo changes during Nov & Dec.
Brought to you courtesy of (unix) diff.
diff (backbone.na + backbone.no) 02-Nov-97 04-Jan-98 [edited].
Echotag change
--------------
< WC!_CHAT Wildcat 3rd Party Support [old tag]
> WILDCAT!_SUPPORT Wildcat 3rd Party Support [new tag]
Added to the backbone
---------------------
> ARGUS Argus Support Echo
> ART_BELL The Art Bell Talk Radio Show
> BFDS_MAIL Batch File Distribution System, Coordination
> DIABETIC_RECIPES Recipes for people with Diabetes!
> EFC Earth: Final Conflict series discussions
> IFTP_SUPPORT iFTP Support
> IP_CONNECT Fidonet IP Integration Discussions
> IRC_CHAT IRC_CHAT Discussion Conference
> IRC_SCRIPTS IRC_SCRIPTS Discussion Conference
> NASCAR_CONTEST (low traffic since 12/1/97)
> NATURE Discussion of Nature and Natural Science
> OT_SUPPORT (low traffic since 12/1/97)
> SERVERS Servers Conference
> STATS Echomail Stats & Info
Removed from the backbone or quasi-backbone
-------------------------------------------
< ADEPTSOFT (low traffic since 10/1/97)
< BAHAI (low traffic since 7/1/97)
< BE (low traffic since 7/1/97)
< CAP_NAT (low traffic since 7/1/97)
< CAR_AUDIO (low traffic since 10/1/97)
< ECPROG (low traffic since 7/1/97)
< FENCE_POST (low traffic since 7/1/97)
< FIDS_DEV (low traffic since 9/1/97)
< FIDS_SYSOP (low traffic since 9/1/97)
< MACWOOF (low traffic since 9/1/97)
< METAWORLDS (low traffic since 7/1/97)
< RANMA_1/2 (low traffic since 7/1/97)
< RIGHTS (low traffic since 8/1/97)
< ROMULAN_STAR_EMPIRE (low traffic since 6/1/97)
< SHARING (low traffic since 7/1/97)
< SHOTGUN_USERS (low traffic since 7/1/97)
< WGW (low traffic since 7/1/97)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
FIDONEWS 15-01 Page 35 5 Jan 1998
o There are 660 echos in backbone.na [04-Jan-98] (down 19)
o There are 114 echos in backbone.no [04-Jan-98] (up 16)
o for a total of 774 backbone & quasi-backbone echos (down 3)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
FIDONEWS 15-01 Page 36 5 Jan 1998
=================================================================
NOTICES
=================================================================
Future History
12 Jan 1998
HAL 9000 is one year old today.
30 Apr 1998
Queens Day, Holland.
17 May 1998
Independence Day, Norway.
22 May 1998
Expo '98 World Exposition in Lisbon (Portugal) opens.
14 Sep 1998
Start of International BBS Week [thru 20 Sep 98].
22 Sep 1998
First anniversary of the FidoNews domain of www.fidonews.org.
1 Dec 1998
Fifteenth Anniversary of release of Fido version 1 by
Tom Jennings.
24 Jul 1999
XIII Pan American Games [through 8 Aug 99].
31 Dec 1999
Hogmanay, Scotland. The New Year that can't be missed.
1 Jan 2000
The 20th Century, C.E., is still taking place thru 31 Dec.
1 Jun 2000
EXPO 2000 World Exposition in Hannover (Germany) opens.
15 Sep 2000
Sydney (Australia) Summer Olympiad opens.
1 Jan 2001
This is the actual start of the new millennium, C.E.
-- If YOU have something which you would like to see in this
Future History, please send a note to the FidoNews Editor.
-----------------------------------------------------------------
FIDONEWS 15-01 Page 37 5 Jan 1998
=================================================================
FIDONET SOFTWARE LISTING
=================================================================
[from 1449. Ed.]
Latest Greatest Software Versions
by Peter E. Popovich, 1:363/264
New entry: Tornado, a BBS from Konstantin Klyagin. Welcome to the
list... ;-)
-=- 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 C Contact Name Node Magic Name
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Act-Up 4.6 G D Chris Gunn 1:15/55 ACT-UP
ALLFIX 5.00 T S Harald Harms 2:281/415 ALLFIX
Announcer 1.12 O S Peter Karlsson 2:206/221 ANNOUNCE
BGFAX 1.60 O S B.J. Guillot 1:106/400 BGFAX
Binkley Docs 2.60 M F Bob Juge 1:1/102 BDOC_260.ZIP
BinkleyTerm 2.60 M F Bob Juge 1:1/102 BDOS_260.ZIP
BinkleyTerm-XE XR5 M F Thomas Waldmann 2:2474/400 BTXE_DOS
CFRoute 0.92 O G C. Fernandez Sanz 2:341/70 CFR
CheckPnt 1.0a O G Michiel vd Vlist 2:500/9 CHECKPNT
FastEcho 1.46.1 T S Tobias Burchhardt 2:2448/400 FASTECHO
FastEcho/16 1.46.1 T S Tobias Burchhardt 2:2448/400 FEX
FastLst 1.36 N S Alberto Pasquale 2:332/504 FASTLSTD
FidoBBS (tm) 12u B S Ray Brown 1:1/117 FILES
FrontDoor 2.12 M S JoHo 2:201/330 FD
FrontDoor 2.20c M C JoHo 2:201/330 FDINFO
GEcho 1.00 T S Bob Seaborn 1:140/12 GECHO
GEcho/Plus 1.11 T C Bob Seaborn 1:140/12 GECHO
GEcho/Pro 1.20 T C Bob Seaborn 1:140/12 GECHO
GIGO 07-14-96 G S Jason Fesler 1:1/141 INFO
GoldED 2.50 O S Len Morgan 1:203/730 GED
GoldED/386 2.50 O S Len Morgan 1:203/730 GEX
GoldED Docs 2.50 O S Len Morgan 1:203/730 GEM
GoldNODE 2.50 O S Len Morgan 1:203/730 GEN
FIDONEWS 15-01 Page 38 5 Jan 1998
Imail 1.75 T S Michael McCabe 1:1/121 IMAIL
ImCrypt 1.04 O G Michiel vd Vlist 2:500/9 IMCRYPT
InfoMail/86 1.21 O F Damian Walker 2:2502/666 INFOMAIL
InfoMail/386 1.21 O F Damian Walker 2:2502/666 INFO386
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
JD's CBV 1.4 O S John Dailey 1:363/277 CBV
Jelly-Bean 1.01 T S Rowan Crowe 3:635/727 JELLY
Jelly-Bean/386 1.01 T S Rowan Crowe 3:635/727 JELLY386
JMail-Hudson 2.81 T S Jason Steck 1:285/424 JMAIL-H
JMail-Goldbase 2.81 T S Jason Steck 1:285/424 JMAIL-G
MakePl 1.9 N G Michiel vd Vlist 2:500/9 MAKEPL
Marena 1.1 beta O G Michiel vd Vlist 2:500/9 MARENA
Maximus 3.01 B P Tech 1:249/106 MAX
Max User Ed. 0.18 O F Larry Cooke 1:300/53 MUE
McMail 1.0 M S Michael McCabe 1:1/148 MCMAIL
MDNDP 1.18 N S Bill Doyle 1:388/7 MDNDP
Msged 4.10 O G Andrew Clarke 3:635/728 MSGED41D.ZIP
Msged/386 4.10 O G Andrew Clarke 3:635/728 MSGED41X.ZIP
NEF 2.38 O S Alberto Pasquale 2:332/504 NEFD
NorthStar 3.31.29 B S A&B Darin 1:285/82 NSTAR
Opus CBCS 1.79 B P Christopher Baker 1:374/14 OPUS
O/T-Track 2.66 O S Peter Hampf 2:241/1090 OT
PcMerge 2.8 N G Michiel vd Vlist 2:500/9 PCMERGE
PlatinumXpress 1.3 M C Gary Petersen 1:290/111 PX13TD.ZIP
QuickBBS 2.81 B S Ben Schollnick 1:2613/477 QUICKBBS
RAR 2.01 C S Ron Dwight 2:220/22 RAR
RemoteAccess 2.50 B S Mark Lewis 1:3634/12 RA
Searchlight 4.5 B S Paul Casey 1:343/117 DEMO450.ZIP
Searchlight 5.02 B C Paul Casey 1:343/117 SLBBS50.TXT
Silver Xpress
Door 5.4 O S Gary Petersen 1:290/111 FILES
Reader 4.4 O S Gary Petersen 1:290/111 SXR44.ZIP
Spitfire 3.51 B S Mike Weaver 1:3670/3 SPITFIRE
Squish 1.11 T P Tech 1:249/106 SQUISH
StealTag UK 1.c... O F Fred Schenk 2:284/412 STEAL_UK
StealTag NL 1.c... O F Fred Schenk 2:284/412 STEAL_NL
T-Mail 2.600 M S Ron Dwight 2:220/22 TMAIL
Telegard 3.02 B F Tim Strike 1:259/423 TELEGARD
Terminate 5.00 O S Bo Bendtsen 2:254/261 TERMINATE
Tobruk 0.33 T G Paul Edwards 3:711/934 TOBRUK
Tornado 1.50g B F Konst Klyagin 2:461/22 TORNADO
TosScan 1.01 T C JoHo 2:201/330 TSINFO
TransNet 1.00 G S Marc S. Ressl 4:904/72 TN100ALL.ZIP
TriBBS 11.0 B S Gary Price 1:3607/26 TRIBBS
TriDog 11.0 T F Gary Price 1:3607/26 TRIDOG
TriToss 11.0 T S Gary Price 1:3607/26 TRITOSS
WaterGate 0.93 G S Robert Szarka 1:320/42 WTRGATE
WWIV 4.24a B S Craig Dooley 1:376/126 WWIV
WWIVTOSS 1.36 T S Craig Dooley 1:376/126 WWIVTOSS
xMail 2.00 T S Thorsten Franke 2:2448/53 XMAIL
XRobot 3.01 O S JoHo 2:201/330 XRDOS
OS/2:
FIDONEWS 15-01 Page 39 5 Jan 1998
Program Name Version F C Contact Name Node Magic Name
----------------------------------------------------------------------
ALLFIX/2 5.00 T S Harald Harms 2:281/415 AFIXOS2
BGFAX 1.60 O S B.J. Guillot 1:106/400 BGFAX
Binkley Docs 2.60 M F Bob Juge 1:1/102 BDOC_260.ZIP
BinkleyTerm 2.60 M F Bob Juge 1:1/102 BOS2_260.ZIP
BinkleyTerm-XE XR5 M F Thomas Waldmann 2:2474/400 BTXE_OS2
CFRoute 0.92 O G C. Fernandez Sanz 2:341/70 CFR
FastEcho 1.46.1 T S Tobias Burchhardt 2:2448/400 FE2
FastLst 1.36 N S Alberto Pasquale 2:332/504 FASTLST
FleetStreet 1.21 O S Michael Hohner 2:2490/2520 FLEET
FP-OS/2 97-03-21 O F Mike Bilow 323/107 FPOS2
GEcho/Pro 1.20 T C Bob Seaborn 1:140/12 GECHO
GIGO 07-14-96 G S Jason Fesler 1:1/141 INFO
GoldED 2.50 O S Len Morgan 1:203/730 GEO
GoldED Docs 2.50 O S Len Morgan 1:203/730 GEM
GoldNODE 2.50 O S Len Morgan 1:203/730 GEN
ImCrypt 1.04 O G Michiel vd Vlist 2:500/9 IMCRYPT
Maximus 3.01 B P Tech 1:249/106 MAXP
Max User Ed. 0.18 O F Larry Cooke 1:300/53 MUEP
Msged/2 4.10 O G Andrew Clarke 3:635/728 MSGED41O.ZIP
NEF 2.38 O S Alberto Pasquale 2:332/504 NEF
PcMerge 2.3 N G Michiel vd Vlist 2:500/9 PCMERGE
RAR 2.01 C S Ron Dwight 2:220/22 RAR2
Squish 1.11 T P Tech 1:249/106 SQUISHP
T-Mail 2.600 M S Ron Dwight 2:220/22 TMAIL2
Tobruk 0.33 T G Paul Edwards 3:711/934 TOBRUK
Tornado 1.50g B F Konst Klyagin 2:461/22 TORNADO2
WaterGate 0.93 G S Robert Szarka 1:320/42 WTRGATE
XRobot 3.01 O S JoHo 2:201/330 XROS2
Windows (16-bit apps):
Program Name Version F C Contact Name Node Magic Name
----------------------------------------------------------------------
BeeMail 1.0 M C Andrius Cepaitis 2:470/1 BEEMAIL
FrontDoor APX 1.12 P S Mats Wallin 2:201/329 FDAPXW
Windows (32-bit apps):
Program Name Version F C Contact Name Node Magic Name
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Argus 95/IP 2.704 M S Max Masyutin 2:469/77 A9I
Argus NT/IP 2.704 M S Max Masyutin 2:469/77 ANI
BeeMail 1.0 M C Andrius Cepaitis 2:470/1 BEEMAIL
Binkley Docs 2.60 M F Bob Juge 1:1/102 BDOC_260.ZIP
BinkleyTerm 2.60 M F Bob Juge 1:1/102 BW32_260.ZIP
BinkleyTerm-XE XR5 M F Thomas Waldmann 2:2474/400 BTXE_W32
CFRoute 0.92 O G C. Fernandez Sanz 2:341/70 CFR
FastLst 1.36 N S Alberto Pasquale 2:332/504 FASTLSTW
GoldED 2.50 O S Len Morgan 1:203/730 GEO
GoldED Docs 2.50 O S Len Morgan 1:203/730 GEM
Maximus 3.01 B P Tech 1:249/106 MAXN
Msged/NT 4.10 O G Andrew Clarke 3:635/728 MSGED41W.ZIP
NEF 2.38 O S Alberto Pasquale 2:332/504 NEFW
PlatinumXpress 2.00 M C Gary Petersen 1:290/111 PXW-INFO
Searchlight 5.02 B C Paul Casey 1:343/117 SLBBS50.TXT
T-Mail 2.600 M S Ron Dwight 2:220/22 TMAILNT
FIDONEWS 15-01 Page 40 5 Jan 1998
WinFOSSIL/95 1.12 r4 F S Bryan Woodruff 1:343/294 WNFOSSIL.ZIP
WinFOSSIL/NT 1.0 beta F S Bryan Woodruff 1:343/294 NTFOSSIL.ZIP
Unix:
Program Name Version F C Contact Name Node Magic Name
----------------------------------------------------------------------
ifmail 2.12 M G Eugene Crosser 2:293/2219 IFMAIL
ifmail-tx ...tx8.6 M G Pablo Saratxaga 2:293/2219 IFMAILTX
ifmail-tx.rpm ...tx8.6 M G Pablo Saratxaga 2:293/2219 IFMAILTX.RPM
Msged 4.00 O G Paul Edwards 3:711/934 MSGED
Tobruk 0.33 T G Paul Edwards 3:711/934 TOBRUK
Amiga:
Program Name Version F C Contact Name Node Magic Name
----------------------------------------------------------------------
CrashMail 1.31 T X Rene Laederach 2:301/133 CRASHMAIL
CrashTick 1.2 O F Rene Laederach 2:301/133 CRASHTICK
DLG Pro BBOS 1.15 B C Holly Sullivan 1:202/720 DLGDEMO
GMS 1.1.85 M S Mirko Viviani 2:331/213 GMS
Msged 4.00 O G Paul Edwards 3:711/934 MSGED
Tobruk 0.33 T G Paul Edwards 3:711/934 TOBRUK
TrapDoor 1.86.b2 M S Maximilian Hantsch
2:310/6 TRAPDOOR
TrapToss 1.50 T S Rene Hexel 2:310/6 TRAPTOSS
Atari:
Program Name Version F C Contact Name Node Magic Name
----------------------------------------------------------------------
ApplyList 1.00 N F Daniel Roesen 2:2432/1101 APLST100.LZH
BinkleyTerm/ST 3.18pl2 M F Bill Scull 1:363/112 BINKLEY
BTNC 2.00 N G Daniel Roesen 2:2432/1101 BTNC
JetMail 0.99beta T S Joerg Spilker 2:2432/1101 JETMAIL
Semper 0.80beta M S Jan Kriesten 2:2490/1624 SMP-BETA
Function: B-BBS, P-Point, M-Mailer, N-Nodelist, G-Gateway, T-Tosser,
C-Compression, F-Fossil, O-Other. Note: Multifunction will
be listed by the first match.
Cost: P-Free for personal use, F-Freeware, S-Shareware, C-Commercial,
X-Crippleware, D-Demoware, G-Free w/ Source
Please send updates and suggestions to: Peter Popovich, 1:363/264
-----------------------------------------------------------------
FIDONEWS 15-01 Page 41 5 Jan 1998
=================================================================
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!
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=61OQ
-----END PGP PUBLIC KEY BLOCK-----
File-request FNEWSKEY from 1:1/23 [1:18/14] or download it from the
Rights On! BBS at 1-904-409-7040 anytime except 0100-0130 ET and Zone
1 ZMH at 1200-9600+ HST/V32B. The FidoNews key is also available on
the FidoNews homepage listed in the Masthead information.
-----------------------------------------------------------------
FIDONEWS 15-01 Page 42 5 Jan 1998
=================================================================
FIDONET BY INTERNET
=================================================================
This is a list of all FidoNet-related sites reported to the Editor as
of this appearance.
============
FidoNet:
Homepage http://www.fidonet.org
FidoNews http://ddi.digital.net/~cbaker84/fidonews.html
HTML FNews http://www.fidonews.org
WWW sources http://www.scms.rgu.ac.uk/students/cs_yr94/lk/fido.html
FTSC page http://www.portal.ca/~awalker/ftsc.htm
Echomail http://www.portal.ca/~awalker/index.html
WebRing http://ddi.digital.net/~cbaker84/fnetring.html
============
Zone 1: http://www.z1.fidonet.org
Region 10: http://www.psnw.com/~net205/region10.html
Region 11: http://oeonline.com/~garyg/region11/
Region 13: http://www.smalltalkband.com/st01000.htm
Region 14: [disappeared?]
Region 15: [disappeared?]
Region 16: http://www.tiac.net/users/satins/region16.htm
Region 17: http://www.portal.ca/~awalker/region17.htm
REC17: http://www.westsound.com/ptmudge/
Region 18: http://www.citicom.com/fido.html
Region 19: http://www.compconn.net
============
Zone 2: http://www.z2.fidonet.org
ZEC2: http://www.proteus.demon.co.uk/zec.htm
Zone 2 Elist: http://www.fbone.ch/z2_elist/
Region 20: http://www.fidonet.pp.se (in Swedish)
Region 24: http://www.swb.de/personal/flop/gatebau.html (in German)
Region 25:
http://www.trak-one.co.uk/net254
FIDONEWS 15-01 Page 43 5 Jan 1998
Region 27: http://telematique.org/ft/r27.htm
Region 29: http://www.rtfm.be/fidonet/ (in French)
Region 30: http://www.fidonet.ch (in Swiss)
Region 33: http://www.fidoitalia.net (in Italian)
Region 34: http://www.pobox.com/cnb/r34.htm (in Spanish)
REC34: http://pobox.com/~chr
Region 36: http://www.geocities.com/SiliconValley/7207/
Region 38: http://public.st.carnet.hr/~blagi/bbs/adriam.html
Region 41: http://www.fidonet.gr (in Greek and English)
Region 48: http://www.fidonet.org.pl
============
Zone 3: http://www.z3.fidonet.org
============
Zone 4: (not yet listed)
Region 90:
Net 904: http://members.tripod.com/~net904 (in Spanish)
============
Zone 5: http://w3.eastcape.co.za/fidonet/index.htm
============
Zone 6: http://www.z6.fidonet.org
Region 65: http://www.cfido.com/fidonet/cfidochina.html (China)
============
-----------------------------------------------------------------
FIDONEWS 15-01 Page 44 5 Jan 1998
=================================================================
FIDONEWS INFORMATION
=================================================================
------- FIDONEWS MASTHEAD AND CONTACT INFORMATION -------
Editor: Christopher Baker
Editors Emeritii: Tom Jennings, Thom Henderson, Dale Lovell,
Vince Perriello, Tim Pozar, Sylvia Maxwell,
Donald Tees
"FidoNews Editor"
FidoNet 1:1/23
BBS 1-904-409-7040, 300/1200/2400/14400/V.32bis/HST(ds)
more addresses:
Christopher Baker -- 1:18/14, cbaker84@digital.net
cbaker84@fidonews.org
cbaker84@aol.com
cbaker84@msn.com
(Postal Service mailing address)
FidoNews Editor
P.O. Box 471
Edgewater, FL 32132-0471
U.S.A.
voice: 1-904-409-3040 [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 1998 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
FIDONEWS 15-01 Page 45 5 Jan 1998
back Issue filenames in distribution format [FNEWSFnn.ZIP] for a
particular Issue. Monthly Volumes are available as FNWSmmmy.ZIP
where mmm = three letter month [JAN - DEC] and y = last digit of the
current year [8], i.e., FNWSJAN8.ZIP for all the Issues from Jan 98.
Annual volumes are available as FNEWSn.ZIP where n = the Volume number
1 - 15 for 1984 - 1998, respectively. Annual Volume archives range in
size from 48K to 1.4M.
INTERNET USERS: FidoNews is available via:
http://www.fidonews.org
http://www.fidonet.org/fidonews.htm
ftp://ftp.fidonet.org/pub/fidonet/fidonews/
ftp://ftp.aminet.org/pub/aminet/comm/fido/
ftp://ftp.irvbbs.com/fidonews/
*=*=*
You may obtain an email subscription to FidoNews by sending email to:
jbarchuk@worldnet.att.net
with a Subject line of: subscribe fnews-edist
and no message in the message body. To remove your name from the email
distribution use a Subject line of: unsubscribe fnews-edist with no
message to the same address above.
*
You may retrieve current and previous Issues of FidoNews via FTPMail
by sending email to:
ftpmail@fidonews.org
with a Subject line of: help
and FTPMail will immediately send a reply containing details and
instructions. When you actually make a file request, FTPMail will
respond in three stages. You find a link for this process on
www.fidonews.org.
*=*=*
You can read the current FidoNews Issue in HTML format at:
http://www.fidonews.org
STAR SOURCE for ALL Past Issues via FTP and file-request -
Available for FReq from 1:396/1 or by anonymous FTP from:
ftp://ftp.sstar.com/fidonet/fnews/
Each yearly archive also contains a listing of the Table-of-Contents
FIDONEWS 15-01 Page 46 5 Jan 1998
for that year's issues. The total set is currently about 13 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
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 [1:18/14] by file-request for FNEWSKEY or by download from
Rights On! BBS at 1-904-409-7040 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.
*=*=*=*=*
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 [1:18/14] 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, P.O. Box 410923, San Francisco, CA 94141,
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-
-----------------------------------------------------------------
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