1775 lines
78 KiB
Plaintext
1775 lines
78 KiB
Plaintext
Volume 7, Number 40 1 October 1990
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| /|oo \ |
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| - FidoNews - (_| /_) |
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| _`@/_ \ _ |
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| FidoNet (r) | | \ \\ |
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| International BBS Network | (*) | \ )) |
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| Newsletter ______ |__U__| / \// |
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| (________) (_/(_|(____/ |
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| (jm) |
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+---------------------------------------------------------------+
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Editor in Chief: Vince Perriello
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Editors Emeritii: Thom Henderson, Dale Lovell
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Chief Procrastinator Emeritus: Tom Jennings
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Copyright 1990, Fido Software. All rights reserved. Duplication
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and/or distribution permitted for noncommercial purposes only.
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For use in other circumstances, please contact Fido Software.
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FidoNews is published weekly by the System Operators of the
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FidoNet (r) International BBS Network. It is a compilation of
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individual articles contributed by their authors or authorized
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agents of the authors. The contribution of articles to this
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compilation does not diminish the rights of the authors.
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You are encouraged to submit articles for publication in
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FidoNews. Article submission standards are contained in the file
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ARTSPEC.DOC, available from node 1:1/1. 1:1/1 is a Continuous
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Mail system, available for network mail 24 hours a day.
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Fido and FidoNet are registered trademarks of Tom Jennings of
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Fido Software, Box 77731, San Francisco CA 94107, USA and are
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used with permission.
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Opinions expressed in FidoNews articles are those of the authors
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and are not necessarily those of the Editor or of Fido Software.
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Most articles are unsolicited. Our policy is to publish every
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responsible submission received.
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Table of Contents
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1. ARTICLES ................................................. 1
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Louisiana meets The Great Abortion Debate ................ 1
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FidoNews now in ECHOMAIL! ................................ 16
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Answer to a squeeking mouse .............................. 17
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News about WorldPol ...................................... 19
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2. LATEST VERSIONS .......................................... 30
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Latest Software Versions ................................. 30
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3. NOTICES .................................................. 34
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The Interrupt Stack ...................................... 34
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FidoNews 7-40 Page 1 1 Oct 1990
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=================================================================
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ARTICLES
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=================================================================
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Alan Jennings
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FidoNet 1:3800/6
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Greetings from The Gret Stet of Louisiana,
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The following is an article which appeared in GrisGris (BR city
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magazine) written by UPI Capital Correspondent Steve Watsky. It
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was uploaded to my system (with his permission AND blessings) by
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Jerry Williams, Gris Gris Business Manager.
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Jerry, who also sysops the LaLaw BBS here in Baton Rouge, is
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making great headway in becoming part of the net. However, his
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software, MAJORBBS, has only recently become friendly to
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networking!
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Anyway, it is both Jerry and Steve's desire to share this story
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of the wonderful 1990 Legislative Session with the world, in
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order that the thinking folks out there know that despite all
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they read, there are a few of us here in Louisiana who have
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retained our reason and who have not succumbed to the insidious
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disease of "YAHOOism"
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Please, read and enjoy this article. Then, if you would be so
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kind, make it available to your callers, and forward this
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article to those whom you know have retained their reason, that
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we may all benefit from the knowledge that we are not becoming
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extinct. Yet.
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*-Alan Jennings
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[Ed's note: This is a really long article. But it's a
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fascinating study in American Democracy. In my opinion, it's
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must reading for anyone who wants some insight into why things
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work the way they do in the United States.
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The issues, while admittedly very powerful ones, are secondary
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to the real message here. I recommend that you sit down before
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starting this article.]
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A B O R T I O N
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PROLOGUE: Another Fashion Statement Bites the Dust
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The blonde network reporter is confused.
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FidoNews 7-40 Page 2 1 Oct 1990
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All the nice people with "Right To Life" stickers on their
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chests are staring at her, and it isn't with that "You're A
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Teevee Star" look.
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No, not hardly.
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This is Wrath of God stuff she's getting from the
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prim-and-proper set.
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In fact, it is apparent to everyone in the packed-to-the-ceiling
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Senate chamber on this Saturday that Ms. Network sticks out like
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a sore thumb as senators debate whether they will override Gov.
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Buddy Roemer's veto of a virtual ban on abortion -- a bill that
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could become the strictest statute in the nation.
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Purple.
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She is dressed in purple. Abortion-rights purple. To add insult
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to the brewing angst among the pro-lifers, her cameraman also is
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dressed in purple.
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"They got me out of bed at 1:30 this morning to come over here,"
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she later explains. "How did I know purple was the
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abortion-rights color? Jeez, purple's such a big fashion color
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this year."
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Well, maybe it is in the other 49 states, but there's only one
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thing purple means this Saturday in Baton Rouge: You're for the
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"killing" of 15,000 unborn children in Louisiana every year.
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Or, as Baton Rouge Rep. Louis "Woody" Jenkins is fond of
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saying, "You're for the killing of 15,000 little PEOPLE" as he
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points to replicas of the fetus at various stages of
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development.
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Jenkins is most proud of his model of a five-month-old fetus,
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which he refers to as this "little boy" or "little girl."
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On the last night of the 1990 legislative session, Ted Koppel is
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in no mood for Jenkins' plastic people. There, for the nation to
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see, is Jenkins explaining on "Nightline" his abortion bill --
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complete with his plastic-person-prop.
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"Put the plastic baby down, Mr. Jenkins," mutters Koppel,
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live-via-satellite from his lofty cocoon in Washington D.C.
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Without knowing it, Ted has condensed three months of often
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surreal moments into three seconds of soundbite-life.
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About the same time "Nightline" is signing off at midnight, the
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Louisiana Legislature is signing off for the session, adjourning
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for good a day after passing an abortion bill.
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FidoNews 7-40 Page 3 1 Oct 1990
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Not just ANY abortion bill. But a real-honest-to-goodness
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"Let's-beat-up-the-flag-burner" abortion bill.
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I: The Holy Crusade
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On a bright April day, three charismatic Christians obtain
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parade permits from the City of Baton Rouge and proceed to quite
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literally shout Bible verse AT the State Capitol. They stand on
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the steps, shouting up at the building that the Legislature's
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"judgement is not God's judgement! The Supreme Court is not the
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most supreme judge of what is right! It is God who is the
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supreme court! Abortion is murder! Repent!"
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For three straight days they repeat this ritual, driving workers
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in the building to distraction because the ministerings can be
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heard all the way up in the 24th floor offices of the attorney
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general. Some workers devise evil torture for the three earnest
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saviors on the steps below that includes boiling oil.
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The push to ban abortion starts in April, almost a year after
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the U.S. Supreme Court in its Webster vs. Reproductive Health
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Services decision said that it would not ban abortion outright,
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but would allow states to set some limits on abortion.
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Jenkins is the point man for the anti-abortion movement for the
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1990 session, ready for the challenge of leading the Pure and
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Righteous to victory, spewing soundbites and showering photo-op
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on the unwashed photographers.
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He files legislation banning abortions unless the woman's life
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is threatened by the pregnancy, and it become House Bill 1637.
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Jenkins' bill will criminalize abortions, making it a felony for
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someone to perform one, punishable by a fine of up to $100,000
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and 10 years in prison.
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He knows from day one that Buddy Roemer will veto such a
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measure. Roemer says the only bill he'll sign is one that
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allows abortions in the cases of rape, incest, or if the woman's
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life is threatened by the pregnancy.
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Politically, Roemer's approach sounds like a pretty good
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compromise. It's the "fight fire with fire" approach. The
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governor gets to give equally good soundbites with words like
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"violent event that is rape" to counter the anti-abortion side's
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"tearing the unborn limb from limb during the abortion."
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But Roemer soon finds he is almost alone in his position. Even
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his handpicked House speaker and Senate president have
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co-authored bills banning abortions.
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II: The Art of No Compromise
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FidoNews 7-40 Page 4 1 Oct 1990
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On the third day of the session, about 1,000 anti-abortion
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supporters crowd on the capitol steps to hear from Senate
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President Allen Bares, House Speaker Jimmy Dimos and Jenkins,
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who promise the Legislature will pass a bill banning abortion.
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"The bottom line is we don't intend to compromise in our effort
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to protect human life," says Sandy McDade, head of the Eagle
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Forum. Those words will come back to haunt McDade less than
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three months later.
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H.B. 1637 goes to the House Administration of Criminal Justice
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Committee, headed by Norco Rep. Ralph Miller who knows the bill
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is hot and promises to devote one day of testimony to the
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pro-life alliance and one day to the pro-choice faction.
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Over in the Senate, a virtual carbon copy of Jenkins' bill is
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sent to the Health and Welfare Committee, coincidentally chaired
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by its author, Mike Cross of Baker.
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What the bill is doing in Health and Welfare to begin with is a
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mystery. By Senate rule, it should be referred to a judiciary
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panel because it deals not with health or welfare, but with
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criminal statutes.
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Cross grabs the first headlines in the holy crusade.
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Just 45 minutes before his committee is to meet on June 5, he
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abruptly places his abortion bill on the panel's agenda. Cross
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says he is not sure how much longer he will chair the panel
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because of committee shakeups instituted in the wake of the
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ouster of Bares as president and the ascent of Sammy Nunez.
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The disorganized abortion-rights people are stunned when they
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enter the committee room and see it jammed to the rafters with
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anti-abortion supporters. The word has somehow gotten out to the
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pro-life lobby but not to the pro-choice folks that Cross is
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taking up the bill.
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During a mere 30-minute hearing, Cross repeatedly cuts off
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testimony by abortion-rights activists. Several efforts to
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bottle the bill up in committee are killed, including one to put
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off action for a week.
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"Why don't you also make a motion that we meet next week at
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Memorial Stadium," Cross angrily and sarcastically suggests.
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He is joining Jenkins on the abortion high ground.
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"I don't care -- I don't -- if 80 percent of the people in my
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district are pro-abortionists. I am not going to change my
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mind," he says.
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FidoNews 7-40 Page 5 1 Oct 1990
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His district includes the Bethany World Prayer Center, one of
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the heavy hitters in the anti-abortion battle.
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Three days after the Cross bill is approved in Senate committee,
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the House Criminal Justice panel takes up H.B. 1637.
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Jenkins opens the hearing the first day by testifying before the
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panel it has "the opportunity to influence not only what is
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happening in our state, but in the entire United States."
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Dr. Jerome Lejeune, a noted French geneticist, testifies "the
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symphony of life" begins at the moment the sperm pierces the
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egg, meaning any abortion -- including those for rape and incest
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-- is murder.
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Those arguments are shot down the next day by a host of
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abortion-rights experts, who testify no one knows when life
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actually begins.
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After two days -- seven hours of testimony -- the committee
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unanimously approves the bill and sends it back to the full
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House for debate.
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Miller explains the panel did so because it wanted a "clean
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record of testimony," in case the bill is finally approved and
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makes its way to the Supreme Court where it could be used by
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anti-abortionists to test Roe vs. Wade, the 1973 landmark
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decision legalizing abortion.
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But a couple of members of the panel privately say they're
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"trying to stick it to Roemer," so they vote the bill out of
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committee without objection.
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The bottom line in the Legislature is that the anti-abortionists
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have enough votes to pass some form of the bill in both
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chambers. If they do, Roemer -- who is not popular with the
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Legislature -- will have to put his signature where his rhetoric
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is and veto the measure.
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III: Cheers From Angola
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Despite the obviously impending approval of H.B. 1637 in the
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House, some representatives are still concerned.
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Because the bill prescribes such a stiff penalty for a person
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committing an abortion, River Ridge Rep. Robert Garrity claims
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the measure could end up in a state court testing Louisiana's
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second-degree murder statutes -- never mind ever making it to
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the nation's high court.
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Garrity, an attorney, says the bill appears to create a separate
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crime of second-degree murder for doctors, as well as the
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10-year, $100,000 penalty. He worries the penalty clause is a
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sure way of having the bill tossed out in court because current
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second-degree murder statutes usually carry a term of life in
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prison.
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FidoNews 7-40 Page 6 1 Oct 1990
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"I've got some guys up at Angola (serving life for
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second-degree murder) who are clapping and cheering about the
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bill," muses Garrity. "They want to see it pass because the
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first thing they're going to do is come in and file a writ
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saying, 'If he (doctor) gets 10 years, then I want 10 years.'"
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A week later, the full House takes up the bill, and it's
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showtime for Jenkins.
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He starts his speech with LeJeuene's perfect soundbite, "The
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symphony of life..."
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The abortion-rights lawmakers are slaughtered in their attempts
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to at least amend on the rape and incest clauses. Dimos, a
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co-author of the bill, also rules several attempts to make the
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state responsible for the children born of mothers who wanted an
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abortion are not pertinent to the legislation.
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New Orleans Rep. Mitch Landrieu also questions Jenkins about
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the clause, "Whoever commits the crime of abortion..." The word
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"doctor" or "abortionist" is nowhere to be found, leading
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Landrieu and others to worry that if a woman induced an abortion
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on herself, she could end up in the slammer for 10 years.
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Jenkins says that would never happen, but it is clear the bill
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offers the woman no protection against prosecution.
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Amid shouts of "Amen" and "Hallelujah," the House votes 74-27 in
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favor of H.B. 1637.
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Some admittedly pro-choice representatives say they voted for
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the bill to simply snub Roemer. Even the majority of the
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governor's handpicked floor leaders and committee chairmen had
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voted in favor of the bill.
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IV: Rabbi Roasting and Doctor Cooking
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About a week after the House approval, State Police radios
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throughout the capitol crackle that something is going on down
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at the entrance to the House chamber. Bemused troopers
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congregate as a House sergeant-at-arms politely explains to the
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pro-choicers they are not welcome inside, what with their
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unorthodox dress style.
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One young woman is dressed in a black body stocking with white
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tights. Around the crotch, prop-blood is spattered. Another
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young woman wears a headpiece festooned with coathangers. They
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are protesting the possible return of the back-street abortion.
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"Jesus, we hoped those kinds would stay out of this," says an
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embarrassed abortion-rights lobbyist who watches.
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FidoNews 7-40 Page 7 1 Oct 1990
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On June 20, Jenkins' bill moves to Cross' committee, again an
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apparent contradiction of Senate rules.
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The hearing room is filled to capacity, with another 100
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pro-life supporters patiently waiting outside for seats.
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Jenkins, plastic babies in hand, tells the committee about "The
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symphony of life..." Reporters take out their crossword puzzles.
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Cross makes it perfectly clear he will tolerate little from the
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pro-choice crowd when he asks a testifying rabbi a series of
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embarrassing questions. Some committee members are stunned by
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his performance.
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Panel member Richard Neeson of Shreveport even refers to the
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questioning of the cleric as "rabbi roasting."
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"I guess after rabbi roasting comes doctor cooking," quips Dr.
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Holly Galland, who followed the rabbi to the witness table.
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Cross dismisses that thought, but Galland is proved right when
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the senator characterizes one of her responses as "the most
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irresponsible answer I've ever heard."
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The panel deadlocks 3-3 on the bill because Alexandria Sen. Joe
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McPherson is absent. Lobbyists say some of the pro-choice crowd
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got to McPherson.
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The panel eventually breaks its deadlock and passes the bill out
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of committee without recommendation.
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Now the full Senate must vote whether to debate the bill, since
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this action gives it no place on the upper chamber calendar.
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That very afternoon, it does.
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The holy crusade reaches the Senate June 26. The national media
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descends on Baton Rouge and one network producer sends the
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message to Nunez that they'd Like it Very Much if the Senate
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votes on the measure by 4 p.m., giving them enough time to get
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the story on the evening news.
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"We heard testimony in committee that the symphony of life..."
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Cross starts. Industrious capitol reporters send out for snacks.
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The national media meanwhile is snacking on soundbites and
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photo-ops.
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"This is what this bill is all about today," Cross continues,
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holding up one of Jenkins' plastic fetuses.
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No, counters New Orleans Sen. Jon Johnson, it's about something
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else.
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FidoNews 7-40 Page 8 1 Oct 1990
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"I don't have a right to say to the women of this state when you
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should or should not have an abortion, and you know what
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gentlemen? You don't have that right either," Johnson says.
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Hours later, after every attempt to amend on Roemer's rape and
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incest exception is killed, the Senate votes 24-15 in favor of
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the bill and sends it to the governor.
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The pro-life forces are ecstatic, but have missed the point by
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not understanding the significance of the vote.
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While the Senate has approved the bill, it has fallen two votes
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short of the two-thirds that will be needed to override Roemer's
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inevitable veto.
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The bill scoots back over to the House for concurrence on a
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couple of minor Senate amendments that clean up some of the
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language problems.
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Pineville Rep. Carl Gunter takes the opportunity to Shed Some
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Light on this whole rape-incest question, envisioning a race of
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superhumans created out of the horror of incest.
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"When I got to thinking, the way we get thoroughbred horses and
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thoroughbred dogs is through inbreeding. Maybe we could get a
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super-sharp kid," Gunter says. Some representatives are seen
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burying their heads in their hands.
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V: Tastes Great, Less Filling
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Because the Legislature is still in session, Roemer has 10 days
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to either sign, ignore, or veto the bill. If he ignores it, the
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bill becomes law without his signature, a sort-of
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"hold-your-nose" act.
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The governor says he'll veto it. The anti-abortionists say
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they'll override. Tastes great. Less filling. Tastes great. Less
|
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filling.
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During the 10-day period, both sides in the battle gather at
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different times on the capitol steps to hold media events.
|
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The first to put on a show is the abortion-rights side, which
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trots out THE Jane Roe -- Norma McCorvey -- to espouse abortion
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on demand.
|
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The noon event is stolen away from McCorvey by Gloria Allred, a
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Los Angeles-based women's rights advocate who uncorks, "Read our
|
||
lipstick -- no more abortion-restrictive criminal laws."
|
||
|
||
A few moments before the anti-abortion rally is to begin that
|
||
afternoon, Jenkins is preparing to read and hand out to the media
|
||
a handwritten appeal to Sammy Nunez to override. The letter is
|
||
from his mother, but it seems no one had the courtesy, or guts,
|
||
to tell Sammy his mother had joined the crusade. The release of
|
||
the letter is avoided when someone -- possibly Cross -- yanks
|
||
FidoNews 7-40 Page 9 1 Oct 1990
|
||
|
||
|
||
the letter out of Jenkins' hand, who is standing in front of a
|
||
"Jenkins For Governor" banner.
|
||
|
||
Rumors start circulating that some of the pro-life lawmakers
|
||
have less-than-normal sexual predelictions, and have even paid
|
||
for abortions. Another popular rumor deals with one of the
|
||
leading pro-life lawmakers who allegedly propositioned a man in
|
||
a public bathroom.
|
||
|
||
The pro-life movement isn't sitting still, either.
|
||
|
||
A few days after the final approval of H.B. 1637, a telegram
|
||
purported to be from Nobel laureate Mother Teresa arrives at the
|
||
governor's office, urging Roemer to "protect all of God's
|
||
children."
|
||
|
||
Later, it is determined the telegram is from Lafayette priest
|
||
Joseph Brennan. Mother Teresa says those are her sentiments but
|
||
she never gave permission for her name to be used.
|
||
|
||
By the middle of the 10-day period, Roemer still is playing a
|
||
waiting game. He says he is trying to determine if he has the
|
||
votes to sustain the veto before signing the veto message, but
|
||
administration sources say he really is scared Cross will jerk
|
||
his own anti-abortion bill off the Senate calendar and try to
|
||
ram it through the process if the governor vetoes the House
|
||
bill.
|
||
|
||
On July 5, white representatives in the House start telling
|
||
stories of being approached by anti-abortion lawmakers who offer
|
||
them a vote on a key education bill in return for the override
|
||
vote. It's Roemer's single board of higher education bill, a
|
||
measure most conservative whites in the lower chamber support,
|
||
but not enough for the 70-vote majority needed for passage.
|
||
|
||
But two black lawmakers allege they have been approached by the
|
||
same anti-abortion representatives who offer to vote to KILL the
|
||
education bill in return for a vote to override.
|
||
|
||
Dale Smith, a prime anti-abortion mover, is unswayed by
|
||
allegations of double-dealing.
|
||
|
||
While he denies there is any dealmaking going on, Smith does
|
||
concede "the issues coincidentally co-exist, and it's been
|
||
discussed."
|
||
|
||
He also adds, "I feel like swapping the superboard for 15,000
|
||
children (who would not be aborted) is a pretty good deal."
|
||
|
||
An hour after the story surfaces, the House hastily votes to
|
||
kill the superboard bill.
|
||
|
||
FidoNews 7-40 Page 10 1 Oct 1990
|
||
|
||
|
||
A day later, Roemer vetoes the nation's toughest anti-abortion
|
||
bill, and within hours the House is considering an override.
|
||
|
||
VI: Win One for the Barbarians
|
||
|
||
Most of the television cameras are long gone by the time the
|
||
House gets the veto message that day, and Jenkins, apparently
|
||
aware of this, asks the House to make consideration of the veto
|
||
override its first special order for Saturday, the next day.
|
||
That effort fails, but it becomes clear the House has enough
|
||
votes at that moment to override, which it does, 73-31.
|
||
|
||
One Republican lawmaker walks to the front of the chamber to get
|
||
a printout of the vote and mutters, "Welcome to the land of the
|
||
barbarians."
|
||
|
||
At 11 p.m. that night, bleary-eyed senators finally get to the
|
||
veto message, but can't even decide if they want to debate the
|
||
override.
|
||
|
||
In one of the more surreal moments of the abortion debate, the
|
||
upper chamber votes instead to immediately adjourn, drawing a
|
||
chorus of applause from the mostly anti-abortion gallery. The
|
||
few abortion-rights folks just sit and smile, knowing they at
|
||
that moment are close to being the victors.
|
||
|
||
Still, Roemer is worried. The abortion-rights crowd has been
|
||
disorganized throughout the whole debate and has done little to
|
||
stand by him in the face of the anti-abortion fervor.
|
||
|
||
He quietly asks the pro-choicers to stage a rally on Saturday,
|
||
in an effort to shore up Senate support and help him avoid the
|
||
embarrassment of having his veto snubbed by the Legislature.
|
||
|
||
Jenkins gets wind of this rally and calls his own counter-rally.
|
||
In addition, telegrams begin streaming into Baton Rouge, asking
|
||
senators to override. The volume of mail is so great in fact
|
||
that a Senate worker is still sorting through them a day after
|
||
the override debate ends in the Legislature.
|
||
|
||
That Saturday, the battle lines are drawn in the chamber, and on
|
||
the steps of the State Capitol. Huge speakers are placed on the
|
||
steps of the capitol so the more than 1,000 anti-abortion
|
||
supporters can hear the debate. They immediately, and for the
|
||
next three hours, chant "override" -- a chant that can clearly
|
||
be heard in the upper chamber.
|
||
|
||
A few feeble shouts of "sustain" can also be heard. Tastes
|
||
great. Less filling.
|
||
|
||
"Some of these women here really don't know anything," says
|
||
Diana Townsend, who is praying on the steps and casting
|
||
aspersions on her fellow man, or woman in this case. "Being a
|
||
mother is what it's all about. That's what the lord made women
|
||
to do."
|
||
|
||
FidoNews 7-40 Page 11 1 Oct 1990
|
||
|
||
|
||
When an abortion-rights supporter holds up a sign that reads,
|
||
"Support Vasectomies," an abortion foe shouts, "Your father
|
||
should have had one!"
|
||
|
||
Inside, Ville Platte Sen. John Saunders is ripping the
|
||
abortion-rights people.
|
||
|
||
"I haven't seen one sign outside that says 'Abortion,'" Saunders
|
||
says.
|
||
|
||
A young woman in the balcony jumps up and screams, "Yes there
|
||
is, yes there is. I said it, I said it. Abortion when I want
|
||
it." She is hauled out by the troopers.
|
||
|
||
The Senate finally votes 23-16 -- three votes short -- on the
|
||
override. In the chamber, the 200 anti-abortion supporters sit
|
||
in stunned silence, while a sprinkling of pro-choicers scream
|
||
their approval.
|
||
|
||
It's apparent that every senator has made up his mind and isn't
|
||
going to change, but they agree to let the pro-lifers have one
|
||
more shot at override.
|
||
|
||
That night, Nunez is called out of a meeting for a phone call
|
||
purportedly from the Vatican. But after a few minutes, Nunez says
|
||
it was clear the call was not coming from the holy city.
|
||
Finally, he asks the female caller for a phone number where he
|
||
could call her back. She gives him a 504-area-code number.
|
||
|
||
The next day, Jenkins' legislative aide leaves pictures of
|
||
aborted fetuses on the desks of some of the "swing" votes, and
|
||
the crowds are back outside, although not in the same numbers as
|
||
Saturday. On the front steps, someone spray-paints the words,
|
||
"Stop Killing the Innocent" on the wall of the building.
|
||
|
||
The Senate blunders through a series of bills, even taking a
|
||
break for lunch, without again voting on the override.
|
||
|
||
During lunchtime, several women lay hands on the building,
|
||
praying and bobbing their heads. Other pro-lifers circle the
|
||
building holding hands and singing. A reporter from a northwest
|
||
Louisiana Christian radio station explains.
|
||
|
||
"The walls of Jericho thing, you know," he says.
|
||
|
||
In the afternoon, most of the demonstrators are let in the
|
||
rotunda area after a blinding thunderstorm rips through the
|
||
area. In the space of 10 minutes the rotunda is filled to
|
||
overflowing with dripping and angry people. The floor fills with
|
||
half an inch of water, making movement on the granite floor
|
||
treacherous, so the dripping folks just stand still -- afraid of
|
||
creating a wake.
|
||
|
||
FidoNews 7-40 Page 12 1 Oct 1990
|
||
|
||
|
||
At about the same time, Cross and Jenkins disappear to write a
|
||
concession speech. They don't have the votes and figure they
|
||
shouldn't embarrass the movement or themselves with another
|
||
futile attempt to override.
|
||
|
||
Cross breaks the news to the Senate that he is not going to ask
|
||
for another override because he knows he doesn't have the 26
|
||
votes.
|
||
|
||
Copies of the Cross speech are distributed to the media. It
|
||
contain ellipses, the "..." favored by broadcasters when writing
|
||
dramatic pauses into their scripts.
|
||
|
||
Cross allows Shreveport Sen. Sydney Nelson to make a motion the
|
||
override question be tabled, a move approved by the upper
|
||
chamber.
|
||
|
||
Almost everyone breathes a sigh of relief. For the lawmakers, it
|
||
ends almost three months of being called out of the chamber to
|
||
face either a confrontational, often scripture-laden lecture, or
|
||
an in-your-face question like, "Do you have the right to decide
|
||
what the women of this state can do with their bodies?"
|
||
|
||
VII: The Sacrifice of the Flag Burners
|
||
|
||
In the rotunda, Jenkins is standing on a receptionist's desk
|
||
near the front door, exhorting the folks down on Rotunda Lake by
|
||
saying they are within a vote of passage but they can't get that
|
||
One Vote. Some members of the upper chamber snicker at Jenkins'
|
||
contention that he had found two votes.
|
||
|
||
"We will not give up!" Jenkins ironically shouts, not knowing
|
||
what's going on back in the Senate chamber.
|
||
|
||
Ville Platte Sen. John Saunders, confined to a wheelchair, rolls
|
||
up to the front of the chamber and knocks the Senate into
|
||
stunned, jaw-hanging silence.
|
||
|
||
He announces he wants the Senate to consider a bill by Dry Creek
|
||
Rep. James David Cain, which would lower the misdemeanor
|
||
penalty for beat up a flag desecrator to $25. But Saunders first
|
||
wants the Senate to consider an amendment -- the abortion bill
|
||
that will be tacked onto the"let's-beat-up-the-flag-burner-bill."
|
||
|
||
"We'll sacrifice the flag-burner bill for the abortion bill,"
|
||
Saunders tells the Senate.
|
||
|
||
There is an audible gasp in the chamber. Cross explodes out of
|
||
his seat shouting his objection, but Nunez decides the move is
|
||
legal as long as Saunders strips every bit of the flag-burner
|
||
stuff out of the bill. What's left of the bill is not the
|
||
"Crime of Simple Battery" but the "Crime of Simple Battery of
|
||
Abortion." The Senate debates the amendment, adds it to the
|
||
bill, then approves it 32-7.
|
||
|
||
FidoNews 7-40 Page 13 1 Oct 1990
|
||
|
||
|
||
The House immediately takes up the bill, and after cutting off
|
||
debate, votes 83-22 and sends it back to Roemer.
|
||
|
||
Anti-abortionists are confused. There is a huge gap now between
|
||
the fundamentalists and protestants on one side and the
|
||
Catholics, led by Saunders, and New Orleans Sens. John Hainkel
|
||
and Ben Bagert who apparently have engineered the "triumph," on
|
||
the other side.
|
||
|
||
The protestants say privately they've been sold down the road.
|
||
Jenkins even votes against passage of the bill, as all around
|
||
him lawmakers are building a new, compromised, moral high
|
||
ground.
|
||
|
||
"It's more than half a loaf," says one pro-lifer, trying to
|
||
snatch victory out of the jaws of defeat. "It's more like
|
||
three-quarters of a loaf."
|
||
|
||
A Republican representative walks out into the rotunda area,
|
||
which is filled with half-wet anti-abortionists, surveys the
|
||
scene and shouts, "At least now y'all will all go home!"
|
||
|
||
Roemer is given another anti-abortion bill, and has 20 days to
|
||
do something with it because the session is ending. If he vetos
|
||
it, there are rumblings the Legislature would come back to Baton
|
||
Rouge in a first-ever veto session to attempt to override.
|
||
|
||
VIII: Billy Guste Explains Birth Control
|
||
|
||
On the last night of the session, the steps are blissfully clear
|
||
of of demonstrators. The only folks out there are the reporters,
|
||
who by tradition toast the end of the session with drinks while
|
||
standing on the Louisiana step.
|
||
|
||
One reporter, half-wasted on Canadian whiskey, has taped
|
||
printouts of all his abortion copy over the last week end to
|
||
end. It stretches 40 feet, cascading down from the Louisiana
|
||
step.
|
||
|
||
He sets it on fire. It's an emotional moment.
|
||
|
||
Four days after adjournment, a group calling itself the Symbolic
|
||
Art Wing of Louisiana Choice holds a poorly attended performance
|
||
demonstration on the steps of the State Capitol.
|
||
|
||
It has something to do with lemons, which are nestled in a Radio
|
||
Flyer wagon. They hand some of the lemons -- apparently
|
||
signifying the status of the anti-abortion bill -- to reporters.
|
||
The reporters have a field day, pitching lemons back and forth.
|
||
The performance artists drag their wagon over to the governor's
|
||
mansion, but either Roemer is not home or in no mood for a
|
||
symbolic performance on the wrongs of the anti-abortion bill.
|
||
|
||
FidoNews 7-40 Page 14 1 Oct 1990
|
||
|
||
|
||
At first, sources in the governor's office say Roemer will
|
||
simply let the bill become law without his signature. That seems
|
||
like the best idea at the time because it allows Roemer to avoid
|
||
the embarrassment of a veto session.
|
||
|
||
According to both factions, the bill is patently defective from
|
||
the get-go.
|
||
|
||
Constitutionally, it is unclear whether it was even legal for
|
||
the Senate to graft the statute onto the flag-burner bill.
|
||
|
||
There's more. The bill indeed has a rape clause, but it requires
|
||
the woman to first report the rape to the police, then get an
|
||
abortion within seven days when most women would not even know
|
||
if they are pregnant. In addition, the bill apparently would not
|
||
allow abortions in the case of simple rape, generally defined as
|
||
when a woman does not do everything in her power to prevent the
|
||
attack.
|
||
|
||
Then there's the IUD question.
|
||
|
||
The standard definition of the intrauterine device is that it
|
||
works by preventing the fertilized egg from attaching itself to
|
||
the walls of the uterus, so the devices theortetically would be
|
||
banned under the new bill which prohibits the use of any device
|
||
to "terminate" a pregnancy.
|
||
|
||
"What's an IUD?" asks Attorney General William Guste when a
|
||
reporter questions him whether the device would be banned.
|
||
|
||
Guste says if that's the way they work, they'd be prohibited but
|
||
"who's going to report the crime? Who's going to know?"
|
||
|
||
A couple of weeks after the session ends, someone spray paints
|
||
numerous pro-choice slogans, such as, "Leave women's bodies
|
||
alone" on the capitol. State troopers are forced to work
|
||
overtime, sitting out front of the building at night protecting
|
||
it from more grafitti.
|
||
|
||
As the deadline day draws near, Roemer has a change of heart. He
|
||
says he is influenced by his daughter and estranged wife, but a
|
||
good bet is he also was influenced by the battering Louisiana
|
||
was getting in the national press over the way the bill was
|
||
created.
|
||
|
||
On Friday, July 27, Roemer puts pen to paper and vetos the
|
||
bill.
|
||
|
||
The Legislature now has the chance to override, but in the
|
||
Senate at least, there isn't much sentiment for the move. A
|
||
majority of the upper chamber is against the override session,
|
||
and votes against returning to Baton Rouge Aug. 18 for the
|
||
attempt. The abortion issue finally dies for 1990 in Louisiana.
|
||
|
||
FidoNews 7-40 Page 15 1 Oct 1990
|
||
|
||
|
||
EPILOGUE: Another Loaded Question
|
||
|
||
The British-sounding network reporter is confused on the phone.
|
||
|
||
The IUD business is bizarre, she says. But there is a bigger
|
||
question she asks the reporter at the other end of the line in
|
||
Baton Rouge.
|
||
|
||
"How can you stand to live there?" she asks.
|
||
|
||
STEVEN WATSKY is capitol bureau manger for United Press
|
||
International in Baton Rouge. He is a contributor to the
|
||
national magazine In These Times, and frequently slots himself
|
||
on public affairs television and radio programs in Baton Rouge
|
||
and New Orleans.
|
||
|
||
|
||
-----------------------------------------------------------------
|
||
FidoNews 7-40 Page 16 1 Oct 1990
|
||
|
||
|
||
Michele Hamilton
|
||
FidoNet 1:369/21
|
||
Fidonews Now in an Echo!
|
||
By Michele Hamilton
|
||
|
||
As you may, or may not, already know, a new echo has been formed
|
||
to present the FidoNet News as messages in an echo for yourself
|
||
and your users to read online. While this brilliant idea came
|
||
about primarily because of my laziness in unarcing the news, then
|
||
loading it into a word processor or editor or List to read, it
|
||
met with the approval of our wonderful Editor-in-Chief, Vince
|
||
Perriello when I presented the idea to him at Conclave90.
|
||
|
||
In order to accomplish what I wanted, I needed a program. When I
|
||
presented the problem to Eric Carr, 1:365/47, author of EN
|
||
(EchoNews, a newsfile writer similar to MakeNews), he very kindly
|
||
wrote NF for me. NF is a short and sweet little program which
|
||
will take ANY textfile and break it up into *.msg format, either
|
||
according to a set pagelength or when it encounters a formfeed
|
||
character. It will, through control files, place anything you
|
||
wish in to TO and FROM field, but, best of all, it will take the
|
||
name of the file (in our case FIDO???.NWS) and place it in the
|
||
subject line along with the page number. The first page with
|
||
have the page number "i", as an index, all subsequent pages will
|
||
be incremented as needed beginning with "Page 1".
|
||
|
||
So, at last, those of us who want to easily read the news, and
|
||
perhaps chat about it amongst ourselves, can easily do so. The
|
||
areaname of the echo is NEWSCHAT. Currently available from
|
||
myself at 1:369/21 or Orville Bullitt, 1:135/36 who is
|
||
PCPursuitable. We're hoping to get this on the backbone soon and
|
||
the more systems who wish to take advantage of this, for
|
||
themselves and their users, the faster it'll get there.
|
||
|
||
Please understand that although the news messages themselves
|
||
indicate that they are coming from Vince at 1:1/1, they are
|
||
actually originating from my system. Also understand that this
|
||
echo is strictly for the reading of and chatting about Fidonews
|
||
and not an area to place submissions.
|
||
|
||
I hope you'll join us and enjoy reading the news comfortably and
|
||
with ease.
|
||
|
||
Michele Hamilton, 1:369/21
|
||
|
||
-----------------------------------------------------------------
|
||
FidoNews 7-40 Page 17 1 Oct 1990
|
||
|
||
|
||
Mark Bornstein, Island Logistics BBS
|
||
FidoNet 1:101/111
|
||
|
||
Where did you say it was better to rule in ???? or,
|
||
an answer to a squeeking mouse!
|
||
|
||
It appears that some people's computer world, (if not their
|
||
entire world,) has come crashing down around their ears because
|
||
Fidonews is now arriving in a different format. Oh Woe, Oh woe!
|
||
I was forced to insert another short line in my batch file which
|
||
loads the news in the "List" program for my perusal. It's a good
|
||
thing I had the Lharc program in my path else I would have run
|
||
around tearing my hair out. Oh Woe!
|
||
|
||
I mean really, it is almost as if all the complainers, railing at
|
||
Vince's dastardly deed, have instead had their wives leave them.
|
||
(Certainly cause for celebration instead in many cases.)
|
||
(Celebration... by the wives that is!)
|
||
|
||
Now I am an old line conservative from way back and do not like
|
||
my routine interrupted any more than the next guy. However, in
|
||
this case some of you are acting as if your favorite barber had
|
||
died before you, (hence, no more great haircuts,) or your
|
||
favorite bagel bakery now has a new baker making lousy bagels.
|
||
|
||
Accusing someone of being unfair is an argument that the "weak"
|
||
always use against the "strong" when they can't get what they
|
||
want. And what do they want? "[L]engthy consultations with
|
||
others!" To those who want "lengthy" discussion, I firmly suggest
|
||
that you join the ridiculous debate on abortion in the Flame
|
||
echo. Choose any side and take some pot shots! It will make you
|
||
feel strong again.
|
||
|
||
"Lengthy consultation" indeed! This obfuscatory comment would
|
||
have old "Winnie" turning over in his grave. (Winston Churchill
|
||
believed in "full and complete discussion of the subjects at
|
||
hand, followed by complete agreement with what [he] wanted in the
|
||
first place." Those who are objecting to Vince's simple and
|
||
certainly unobtrusive change are quite laughable really.
|
||
|
||
I for one am delighted to see a change entered here, by one who
|
||
is "Churchillian," and sees no need to discuss this situation
|
||
with us lesser mortals. After all, better a "Churchill" than a
|
||
"Mister Rogers" who is complaining about a broken batch file.
|
||
|
||
The mere fact that there are some "lesser mortals" railing at
|
||
Vince, itself indicates the correctness of Vince's decision.
|
||
Besides, why in the devil would a technical giant wish to discuss
|
||
technical details with a boob.
|
||
|
||
Vince must be sitting back chuckling and calling "higher" at the
|
||
furor he has loosed. I sure wish Vince would start acting
|
||
according to his beliefs rather than making things up as he goes
|
||
along.
|
||
|
||
FidoNews 7-40 Page 18 1 Oct 1990
|
||
|
||
|
||
...by Mark Bornstein 101/111
|
||
|
||
|
||
|
||
-----------------------------------------------------------------
|
||
FidoNews 7-40 Page 19 1 Oct 1990
|
||
|
||
|
||
Pablo Kleinman
|
||
FidoNet 4:900/101
|
||
|
||
|
||
-- News about the Worldwide Policy Proposal --
|
||
|
||
After the publication on FidoNews 730 of version 1f of the
|
||
current FidoNet Worldwide Policy Proposal, I got an unexpectedly
|
||
great amount of feedback; remarks, criticism, and even
|
||
congratulations. I was unable to reply to every single message
|
||
received, so here go my apologies and gratitude to all those who
|
||
participated.
|
||
|
||
Here follows the last release of WorldPol (version 1g from
|
||
September 21st) for you to check out and comment. I hope this
|
||
document will be soon voted and hopefully approved to replace the
|
||
current Policy4.
|
||
|
||
Thank you very much for your attention.
|
||
|
||
|
||
|
||
FidoNet Worldwide Policy Document Version 1g
|
||
September 21, 1990
|
||
|
||
This Worldwide Policy document has been released for vote by
|
||
the Coordinator structure and is not yet in force.
|
||
|
||
|
||
1 FidoNet
|
||
|
||
This document installs an international (inter-zonal) policy
|
||
for sysops who are members of the FidoNet organization of
|
||
bulletin board systems worldwide. FidoNet is defined by a list
|
||
of nodes (NodeList) issued on a weekly basis by each of the Zone
|
||
Coordinators, on behalf of the International Coordinator.
|
||
|
||
Each FidoNet Zone is entitled to issue its own policy
|
||
document, according to its own needs and customs. This
|
||
International Policy, determines general rules which must be
|
||
specified -and may not be contradicted- by the Zone Policies.
|
||
|
||
Regions and local Networks may also issue their own policies,
|
||
provided such policies do not contradict this International
|
||
Policy or the respective Zone's policy.
|
||
|
||
|
||
1.1 Overview
|
||
|
||
FidoNet is an amateur electronic mail system.
|
||
As such, all of its participants and operators are unpaid
|
||
volunteers. From its nearly beginning in 1984, as a few friends
|
||
swapping messages back and forth mainly in North America, it
|
||
consists now of an International community of more than seven
|
||
thousand systems all over the world.
|
||
|
||
FidoNews 7-40 Page 20 1 Oct 1990
|
||
|
||
|
||
FidoNet is not a common carrier or a value-added service
|
||
network and is a public network only as much as the independent,
|
||
constituent nodes may individually provide public access to the
|
||
network on their system.
|
||
|
||
FidoNet exists to provide electronic mail services to its
|
||
member sysops.
|
||
To efficiently provide such services, various structure and
|
||
control mechanisms are essential. The structure is organized into
|
||
multiple nets, with decentralized administration.
|
||
|
||
This document delineates all of the procedures at the
|
||
international level of FidoNet, as well as some general rules for
|
||
the lower levels (intra-zonal), developed to manage the network.
|
||
Authorities in the international level not defined by this
|
||
document, shall be defined by the Zone Coordinators Council and
|
||
the International Coordinator.
|
||
|
||
|
||
2 Language
|
||
|
||
Each zone has the right to determine its own official language.
|
||
|
||
At the international (inter-zonal) level, for practical
|
||
purposes, FidoNet adopts English as its official language. All
|
||
the FidoNet documents issued at the international level must
|
||
exist in English. Translation into other languages is encouraged.
|
||
|
||
|
||
3 Access to FidoNet
|
||
|
||
FidoNet membership is open to everybody that fulfills the
|
||
technical standards described in paragraph 5.9. Lower-level
|
||
policies may issue additional restrictions only if particularly
|
||
authorized by the Zone Coordinator Council.
|
||
|
||
|
||
4 Organization
|
||
|
||
The organizational structure of FidoNet, has been developed to
|
||
distribute the administration and control of FidoNet, to the
|
||
lowest possible level, while still allowing for coordinated
|
||
action over the entire system.
|
||
Effective administration is made viable by operating in a
|
||
top-down manner.
|
||
This means, that a person at any given level is responsible to
|
||
the level above, and responsible for administrating the level
|
||
below.
|
||
|
||
If a person at any level above sysop is unable to properly
|
||
perform their duties, the person at the next level may replace
|
||
them. For example, if a Region Coordinator fails to perform, the
|
||
Zone Coordinator may cause the Coordinator to be replaced.
|
||
Coordinators may also be removed by a majority vote of the level
|
||
below. For example, if network Coordinators in a region lose
|
||
faith in the ability of a Region Coordinator to effectively
|
||
FidoNews 7-40 Page 21 1 Oct 1990
|
||
|
||
|
||
perform, they may vote to have a new Coordinator elected.
|
||
|
||
|
||
4.1 International Coordinator
|
||
|
||
The International Coordinator (IC) is the Executive Officer of
|
||
FidoNet and coordinates the joint production of the master
|
||
nodelist by the Zone Coordinators. The International Coordinator
|
||
is responsible for creating new zones in FidoNet, but can only do
|
||
so with the approval of the Zone Coordinator Council.
|
||
|
||
The International Coordinator is selected by unanimous vote of
|
||
the Zone Coordinators, and removed by a majority vote of the Zone
|
||
Coordinators.
|
||
|
||
|
||
4.2 Zone Coordinator Council
|
||
|
||
The Zone Coordinator Council (ZCC) consists of the Zone
|
||
Coordinators -each having a single ballot- and the International
|
||
Coordinator. In the event of a ZCC vote tie, the International
|
||
Coordinator may cast an additional vote to untie the election.
|
||
|
||
The Zone Coordinator Council is the legislative body of
|
||
FidoNet, it represents each of the zones in FidoNet. It is the
|
||
highest authority of the network's Top-Down organization.
|
||
|
||
|
||
4.3 Zones and Zone Coordinators
|
||
|
||
A zone is a geographic area containing one or many regions,
|
||
covering one or more countries.
|
||
|
||
The Zone Coordinator is the Executive Officer of the Zone, and
|
||
the zone's representative to the other zones.
|
||
|
||
The Zone Coordinator compiles the nodelists from all of the
|
||
regions in the zone, creates a master nodelist and a difference
|
||
file, which is then distributed over FidoNet within the zone. A
|
||
Zone Coordinator does not perform message-forwarding services for
|
||
any nodes in the zone, whereas the Zone Coordinator is
|
||
responsible for the formation and/or administration of one or
|
||
more zone-gates to provide interzone mail facilities.
|
||
|
||
The method used for selection of Zone coordinators is left to
|
||
the discretion of the relevant Zone Policy. In the absence of a
|
||
Zone Policy selection method, Zone Coordinators are elected and
|
||
removed by a majority vote of the Region Coordinators in the
|
||
Zone.
|
||
|
||
|
||
FidoNews 7-40 Page 22 1 Oct 1990
|
||
|
||
|
||
4.4 Regions and Region Coordinators
|
||
|
||
A Region is a well-defined geographic area containing nodes
|
||
which may or may not be combined into networks. A typical Region
|
||
will contain many nodes in networks, and a few independent nodes
|
||
which are not part of the network.
|
||
|
||
The Region Coordinator maintains the list of independent nodes
|
||
in the region, and accepts nodelists from the Network
|
||
Coordinators in the Region.
|
||
These are compiled to create a regional nodelist, which is sent
|
||
to the Zone Coordinator. A Region Coordinator is encouraged to
|
||
perform message-forwarding services for nodes within the region,
|
||
but is not forced to, unless the appropriate Zone or Region
|
||
policy imposes such a requirement.
|
||
|
||
The method used for selection of Regional coordinators is left
|
||
to the discretion of the relevant Zone or Region Policy. In the
|
||
absence of such a policy selection method, Region Coordinators
|
||
are elected and removed by a majority vote of the NCs in the
|
||
Region.
|
||
|
||
|
||
4.5 Networks and Network Coordinators
|
||
|
||
A network is a group of nodes, normally but not exclusively in
|
||
a local geographic area. Networks coordinate their mail activity
|
||
to decrease cost.
|
||
|
||
The Network Coordinator is responsible for maintaining the list
|
||
of nodes for the network, and for forwarding netmail sent to
|
||
members of the network from other FidoNet nodes. The Network
|
||
Coordinator may make arrangements to handle outgoing netmail, but
|
||
is not required to do so, unless the appropriate Zone, Region or
|
||
Net policy imposes such a requirement.
|
||
|
||
The method used for selection of Network coordinators is left
|
||
to the discretion of the relevant Zone/Region/Net Policy. In the
|
||
absence of such a policy selection method, Network Coordinators
|
||
are elected and removed by a majority vote of the Nodes in the
|
||
Network.
|
||
|
||
|
||
4.5.1 Network Routing Hubs
|
||
|
||
Network Routing Hubs exist only in some networks. They may be
|
||
appointed by the Network Coordinator, in order to assist the
|
||
management (especially routing tasks) of the network.
|
||
|
||
|
||
4.6 Individual systems (Nodes)
|
||
|
||
FidoNews 7-40 Page 23 1 Oct 1990
|
||
|
||
|
||
The smallest subdivision of FidoNet is the individual system,
|
||
corresponding to a single entry in the nodelist. The system
|
||
operator (SysOp) formulates a policy for running the board and
|
||
dealing with the users. The sysop must mesh with the rest of the
|
||
FidoNet system to receive and send mail, and the local policy
|
||
must be consistent with other levels of FidoNet.
|
||
|
||
|
||
4.6.1 Users of an individual system
|
||
|
||
The sysop is responsible for the actions of any user when they
|
||
affect the rest of FidoNet (i.e. if the user is annoying, the
|
||
sysop is annoying). The users have no rights under this policy
|
||
document.
|
||
|
||
|
||
4.6.2 Points
|
||
|
||
A point is a system that is not in the nodelist, but
|
||
communicates with FidoNet through a node defined to as bossnode.
|
||
A point is generally regarded in the same manner as a user and,
|
||
for example, the bossnode is responsible for mail from the point.
|
||
Points are addressed using the bossnode's nodelist address; for
|
||
example, a point system with a bossnode of 125/111 might be known
|
||
as 125/111.6. Mail sent to the point will be sent to the
|
||
bossnode, which then routes it to the point.
|
||
|
||
Point operators are not FidoNet members, they are only users of
|
||
a FidoNet node, as any other regular user; they have no rights
|
||
under this policy document.
|
||
|
||
|
||
5 General Procedures for All Coordinators
|
||
|
||
5.1 Making Available Difference Files and Nodelist
|
||
|
||
Each Coordinator is responsible for obtaining and making
|
||
available for file request and download by users, on a weekly
|
||
basis, nodelist difference files and complete nodelists.
|
||
|
||
|
||
5.2 Processing Nodelist Changes and Passing Them Upstream
|
||
|
||
Each Coordinator is responsible for obtaining nodelist
|
||
information from the level below, processing it, and passing the
|
||
results to the level above.
|
||
The timing of this process is determined by the requirements
|
||
imposed by the level above.
|
||
|
||
|
||
5.3 Ensure the Latest Policy is Available
|
||
|
||
FidoNews 7-40 Page 24 1 Oct 1990
|
||
|
||
|
||
A Coordinator is responsible to make the current version of the
|
||
International Policy available to the level below, and to
|
||
encourage familiarity with it.
|
||
|
||
|
||
5.4 Minimize the Number of Hats Worn
|
||
|
||
Coordinators are encouraged to limit the number of
|
||
FidoNet-related Coordinator functions they perform. A Coordinator
|
||
who holds two different positions, compromises the appeal
|
||
process. For example, is the Network Coordinator is also the
|
||
Region Coordinator, sysops in that network are denied one level
|
||
of appeal.
|
||
|
||
Multiple hats are also discouraged due to the difficulty of
|
||
replacing services when a coordinator leaves the net.
|
||
|
||
5.5 Be a Member of the Area Administered
|
||
|
||
A Coordinator must be a member of the area administered. This
|
||
is, a Network Coordinator must be a member of the network he is
|
||
to coordinate.
|
||
A Region Coordinator must be either a member of a network in the
|
||
region, or an independent in a region.
|
||
|
||
|
||
5.6 Encourage New Sysops to Enter FidoNet
|
||
|
||
A Coordinator is encouraged to operate a public bulletin board
|
||
system which is freely available for the purpose of distributing
|
||
Policy and Nodelists to potential new sysops. Dissemination of
|
||
this information to persons who are potential FidoNet sysops is
|
||
important to the growth of FidoNet, and Coordinators should
|
||
encourage development of new systems.
|
||
|
||
|
||
5.7 Tradition and Precedent
|
||
|
||
A Coordinator is not bound by the practices of predecessor.
|
||
However, it must be clear that Coordinators are bound by all
|
||
requirements of this document, both as FidoNet sysops and as
|
||
Coordinators. The holding of a Coordinator title does not grant
|
||
license to annoy others or to flaunt policy.
|
||
|
||
|
||
5.8 Technical Management
|
||
|
||
The primary responsibility of any Coordinator is technical
|
||
management of network operations. Decisions MUST be made only
|
||
on technical grounds. A Coordinator has the responsibility to act
|
||
as objectively as possible; objectivity must be considered an
|
||
essential factor when making a decision.
|
||
|
||
FidoNews 7-40 Page 25 1 Oct 1990
|
||
|
||
|
||
5.9 Exclusivity of Zone Mail Hour
|
||
|
||
Zone 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 during this time
|
||
using the protocol defined in the current FidoNet Technical
|
||
Standards Committee publication (FTS-0001 at this writing). It
|
||
is permissible to have greater capability (for example, to
|
||
support additional protocols or extended mail hours), but the
|
||
minimum requirement is FTS-0001 capability during this one hour
|
||
of the day.
|
||
|
||
This time is exclusively reserved for netmail. Many phone
|
||
systems charge on a per-call basis, regardless of whether a
|
||
connect, no connect, or busy signal is encountered. For this
|
||
reason, any activity other than normal network mail processing
|
||
that ties up a system during ZMH is considered annoying behavior.
|
||
User (BBS) access to a system is prohibited during ZMH.
|
||
|
||
Zone Mail Hour will be defined by each Zone Policy. In the
|
||
absence of a Zone Policy, it will be defined by the Zone
|
||
Coordinator.
|
||
|
||
|
||
6 Election and Referendum Procedures
|
||
|
||
Any election or referendum at any level of FidoNet, must be
|
||
democratic by western standards.
|
||
Each zone will issue its own election procedures, which must be
|
||
approved by the Zone Coordinator Council before implementation.
|
||
|
||
If a worldwide election, with the participation of all zones,
|
||
is to be held, the Zone Coordinator Council will determine the
|
||
election procedures.
|
||
|
||
|
||
7 Policy Referenda
|
||
|
||
7.1 International Policy
|
||
|
||
A referendum on International Policy modification is invoked by
|
||
the International Coordinator at the direction of a majority of
|
||
the Zone Coordinators, or a majority of the Region Coordinators
|
||
of all zones, a majority of the Network Coordinators of all
|
||
zones, or by one third of all the sysops in all zones.
|
||
|
||
All the members of FidoNet are entitled to vote on an
|
||
International Policy referendum, which is to be held according to
|
||
the procedures described by the Zone Coordinator Council before
|
||
the election is called.
|
||
|
||
FidoNews 7-40 Page 26 1 Oct 1990
|
||
|
||
|
||
7.2 Zone Policy
|
||
|
||
A referendum on Zone Policy modification is invoked by the Zone
|
||
Coordinator, by a majority vote of the Region Coordinators in the
|
||
zone, by a majority vote of the Network Coordinators in the
|
||
zone, or by one third of all the sysops in the zone.
|
||
|
||
All the members of the zone are entitled to vote on a Zone
|
||
Policy referendum, which is to be held according to the
|
||
procedures described on the Zone Policy. If such document does
|
||
not exist, the procedures will be determined by the Zone
|
||
Coordinator with the approval of the Zone Coordinator Council.
|
||
|
||
The formulation of Region and Network Policy documents is
|
||
encouraged, and must be regulated by the Zone Policy documents in
|
||
each zone.
|
||
|
||
|
||
7.3 Transition to a 'Worldwide Policy environment'
|
||
|
||
After the approval of this Worldwide Policy, the previously
|
||
existing policy will still be in effect for the Zone level until
|
||
the approval of a new Zone policy, according to the methods
|
||
provided in this document.
|
||
|
||
All the procedures introduced by this Worldwide Policy document
|
||
adjourn the procedures existing in the previous policy document.
|
||
|
||
|
||
8 Resolution of Disputes
|
||
|
||
The FidoNet judicial philosophy can be summed up in two rules:
|
||
|
||
1) Thou shalt not excessively annoy others.
|
||
|
||
2) Thou shalt not become excessively annoyed.
|
||
|
||
The parties involved in a dispute are encouraged to solve their
|
||
problems directly, without the intervention of a Coordinator.
|
||
|
||
|
||
8.1 Mediation Requests
|
||
|
||
Any of the parties involved may request the intervention of the
|
||
respective Coordinator: Network Coordinator if a dispute between
|
||
members of the same network, Region Coordinator if a dispute
|
||
between members of different networks on the same region; Zone
|
||
Coordinator if a dispute between members of different regions on
|
||
the same zone; International Coordinator if a dispute between
|
||
members of different zones.
|
||
|
||
FidoNews 7-40 Page 27 1 Oct 1990
|
||
|
||
|
||
The Coordinator requested as "mediator", will ask each party to
|
||
provide all the information before two weeks from the request and
|
||
will make a decision within forty-five days after he received all
|
||
the information from the involved parties.
|
||
|
||
A Coordinator, unable to resolve a dispute, may name a third
|
||
party to act as "mediator", provided the parties involved in the
|
||
dispute agree.
|
||
|
||
8.2 Appealing to a Mediator's Decision
|
||
|
||
A mediator's decision may be appealed to the immediately
|
||
superior level if considered unfair: Region Coordinators handle
|
||
appeals from decisions made by Network Coordinators; Zone
|
||
Coordinators handle appeals from decision made by Region
|
||
Coordinators; The International Coordinator handles appeals from
|
||
decisions made by the Zone Coordinators; and the Zone Coordinator
|
||
Council will handle appeals from decisions made by the
|
||
International Coordinator, being the Zone Coordinator Council's
|
||
resolutions, unappealable.
|
||
|
||
For appealing to a decision made by a third person named by a
|
||
Coordinator to act as mediator, it will be as if the Coordinator
|
||
made the resolution and the previously enumerated sequence of
|
||
appealing will be appropriate.
|
||
|
||
For appealing to a decision made by a mediator, the same terms
|
||
and procedures as for any Mediation Request apply.
|
||
|
||
|
||
8.3 Statute of Limitations
|
||
|
||
A mediation request may not be filed more than 60 days after
|
||
the date of discovery of the source of the infraction, either by
|
||
admission or technical discovery of the source of an infraction,
|
||
either by admission or technical evidence. Mediation requests may
|
||
not be filed more than 120 days after the incident, unless they
|
||
involve suspected unlawful behavior, in which the legal statute
|
||
of limitations of the country involved shall apply.
|
||
|
||
|
||
8.4 Echomail
|
||
|
||
Each FidoNet Zone is encouraged to establish it's Zone Policy
|
||
concerning the manner of handling Echomail and the resolution of
|
||
disputes arising from such distribution.
|
||
|
||
No sysop may be required to carry an echomail conference as a
|
||
condition of joining or remaining in FidoNet.
|
||
|
||
|
||
FidoNews 7-40 Page 28 1 Oct 1990
|
||
|
||
|
||
9 "CCC": Comments, Credits and Copyright!
|
||
|
||
This section will be automatically removed upon approval of this
|
||
document.
|
||
|
||
|
||
9.1 Comments on Implementation
|
||
|
||
This document is not final; FidoNet sysops are encouraged to
|
||
make suggestions for changes, as well as comments, which can be
|
||
addressed to FidoNet node 4:4/50 (The Policy5 Project).
|
||
|
||
This World Policy will be adopted according to the mechanisms
|
||
provided on the present policy document.
|
||
|
||
|
||
9.2 Credits
|
||
|
||
Here I list the names of some individuals that had some direct
|
||
or indirect influence in the shaping of this text (in
|
||
alphabetical order):
|
||
|
||
- Raul Artaza (4:900/106)
|
||
- Bill Bolton (3:711/403)
|
||
- Steve Bonine (1:115/777)
|
||
- Randy Bush (1:105/6)
|
||
- Billy Coen (4:900/110)
|
||
- Jack Decker (1:154/8)
|
||
- Daniel Docekal (2:42/0)
|
||
- Tomas Gradin (2:200/108)
|
||
- Rob Hoare (3:712/630)
|
||
- Alejandro Hopkins (4:900/211)
|
||
- Tom Jennings (1:125/111)
|
||
- Glen Johnson (1:269/101)
|
||
- Daniel Kalchev (2:359/1)
|
||
- Raymond Lowe (3:700/725)
|
||
- Rick Moore (1:115/333)
|
||
- George Peace (1:270/101)
|
||
- Jan Stozek (2:480/2)
|
||
- Matt Whelan (3:712/627)
|
||
- Gustavo Zacarias (4:900/202)
|
||
|
||
Special thanks go to Ron Dwight (2:515/1), for his enthusiastic
|
||
cooperation.
|
||
|
||
|
||
9.7 Temporary Copyright
|
||
|
||
This document is Copyright (C) 1990 by Pablo Kleinman.
|
||
Todos los Derechos Reservados / All Rights Reserved.
|
||
|
||
FidoNews 7-40 Page 29 1 Oct 1990
|
||
|
||
|
||
This document is protected under international copyright laws.
|
||
Unauthorized use is subject to criminal prosecution.
|
||
|
||
Disclaimer: This document was written by a Spanish-speaking
|
||
individual, that uses English as a second language. If you find
|
||
any semantic, morphologic or syntactic errors, please forgive.
|
||
|
||
TOTAL: 3031 WORDS!
|
||
|
||
-----------------------------------------------------------------
|
||
FidoNews 7-40 Page 30 1 Oct 1990
|
||
|
||
|
||
=================================================================
|
||
LATEST VERSIONS
|
||
=================================================================
|
||
|
||
Latest Software Versions
|
||
|
||
MS-DOS Systems
|
||
--------------
|
||
|
||
Bulletin Board Software
|
||
Name Version Name Version Name Version
|
||
|
||
DMG 2.93 Phoenix 1.3 TAG 2.5f*
|
||
Fido 12s+ QuickBBS 2.64 TBBS 2.1
|
||
Lynx 1.30 RBBS 17.3A TComm/TCommNet 3.4
|
||
Kitten 2.16 RBBSmail 17.3A Telegard 2.5
|
||
Maximus 1.02* RemoteAccess 0.04a* TPBoard 6.1
|
||
Opus 1.13+ SLBBS 1.77* Wildcat! 2.15
|
||
PCBoard 14.5* Socrates 1.00 XBBS 1.13
|
||
|
||
Network Node List Other
|
||
Mailers Version Utilities Version Utilities Version
|
||
|
||
BinkleyTerm 2.40* EditNL 4.00 ARC 7.0*
|
||
D'Bridge 1.30 MakeNL 2.20 ARCAsim 2.30
|
||
Dutchie 2.90C ParseList 1.30 ARCmail 2.07
|
||
FrontDoor 1.99c* Prune 1.40 ConfMail 4.00
|
||
PRENM 1.47 SysNL 3.11 Crossnet v1.5
|
||
SEAdog 4.51b XlatList 2.90 EMM 2.02
|
||
TIMS 1.0(Mod8)* XlaxDiff 2.35* Gmail 2.05
|
||
XlaxNode 2.35* GROUP 2.16
|
||
GUS 1.30
|
||
InterPCB 1.31*
|
||
LHARC 1.13
|
||
MSG 4.1
|
||
MSGED 2.00*
|
||
PK[UN]ZIP 1.10
|
||
QM 1.0
|
||
QSORT 4.03
|
||
Sirius 1.0w
|
||
SLMAIL 1.36*
|
||
StarLink 1.01
|
||
TagMail 2.20
|
||
TCOMMail 2.2
|
||
Telemail 1.27*
|
||
TMail 1.15
|
||
TPBNetEd 3.2
|
||
TosScan 1.00
|
||
UFGATE 1.03
|
||
XRS 3.40
|
||
ZmailQ 1.12*
|
||
|
||
FidoNews 7-40 Page 31 1 Oct 1990
|
||
|
||
|
||
Apple CP/M
|
||
----------
|
||
|
||
Bulletin Board Software Network Mailers Other Utilities
|
||
|
||
Name Version Name Version Name Version
|
||
|
||
Daisy v2j Daisy Mailer 0.38 Nodecomp 0.37
|
||
MsgUtil 2.5
|
||
PackUser v4
|
||
Filer v2-D
|
||
UNARC.COM 1.20
|
||
|
||
|
||
Macintosh
|
||
---------
|
||
|
||
Bulletin Board Software Network Mailers Other Utilities
|
||
|
||
Name Version Name Version Name Version
|
||
|
||
Red Ryder Host v2.1b10 Tabby 2.2 MacArc 0.04
|
||
Mansion 7.15 Copernicus 1.0d* ArcMac 1.3
|
||
WWIV (Mac) 3.0 StuffIt 1.6b1*
|
||
FBBS 0.91* TImport 1.331
|
||
Hermes 0.88* TExport 1.32
|
||
Timestamp 1.6
|
||
Tset 1.3
|
||
Import 3.2
|
||
Export 3.21
|
||
Sundial 3.2
|
||
PreStamp 3.2
|
||
OriginatorII 2.0
|
||
AreaFix 1.6
|
||
Mantissa 3.21
|
||
Zenith 1.5
|
||
UNZIP 1.02b
|
||
|
||
Amiga
|
||
-----
|
||
|
||
Bulletin Board Software Network Mailers Other Utilities
|
||
|
||
Name Version Name Version Name Version
|
||
|
||
Paragon 2.06+ BinkleyTerm 1.00 AmigArc 0.23
|
||
TrapDoor 1.50* AReceipt 1.5*
|
||
WelMat 0.35 booz 1.01
|
||
ConfMail 1.10
|
||
ChameleonEdit 0.10
|
||
ElectricHerald1.66*
|
||
FidoNews 7-40 Page 32 1 Oct 1990
|
||
|
||
|
||
Lharc 1.10
|
||
MessageFilter 1.52*
|
||
oMMM 1.49b
|
||
ParseLst 1.30
|
||
PkAX 1.00
|
||
PK[UN]ZIP 1.01
|
||
PolyxAmy 2.02*
|
||
RMB 1.30
|
||
TrapList 1.12*
|
||
UNzip 0.86
|
||
Yuck! 1.61*
|
||
Zoo 2.00
|
||
|
||
Atari ST
|
||
--------
|
||
|
||
Bulletin Board Software Network Mailer Other Utilities
|
||
|
||
Name Version Name Version Name Version
|
||
|
||
FIDOdoor/ST 1.5c* BinkleyTerm 1.03g3 ConfMail 1.00
|
||
Pandora BBS 2.41c The BOX 1.20 ParseList 1.30
|
||
QuickBBS/ST 0.40 ARC 6.02*
|
||
GS Point 0.61 LHARC 0.51
|
||
LED ST 0.10*
|
||
BYE 0.25*
|
||
PKUNZIP 1.10
|
||
MSGED 1.96S
|
||
SRENUM 6.2
|
||
Trenum 0.10
|
||
OMMM 1.40
|
||
|
||
|
||
Archimedes
|
||
----------
|
||
|
||
BBS Software Mailers Utilities
|
||
Name Version Name Version Name Version
|
||
|
||
ARCbbs 1.44* BinkleyTerm 2.03* Unzip 2.1TH
|
||
ARC 1.03
|
||
!Spark 2.00d*
|
||
|
||
ParseLst 1.30
|
||
BatchPacker 1.00*
|
||
|
||
|
||
+ Netmail capable (does not require additional mailer software)
|
||
* Recently changed
|
||
|
||
Utility authors: Please help keep this list up to date by
|
||
reporting new versions to 1:1/1. It is not our intent to list
|
||
all utilities here, only those which verge on necessity.
|
||
|
||
FidoNews 7-40 Page 33 1 Oct 1990
|
||
|
||
|
||
-----------------------------------------------------------------
|
||
FidoNews 7-40 Page 34 1 Oct 1990
|
||
|
||
|
||
=================================================================
|
||
NOTICES
|
||
=================================================================
|
||
|
||
The Interrupt Stack
|
||
|
||
|
||
5 Oct 1990
|
||
21st Anniversary of "Monty Python's Flying Circus"
|
||
|
||
4 Nov 1990
|
||
Area Code 214 fragments. Part will become area code 903.
|
||
|
||
6 Nov 1990
|
||
First anniversary of Van Diepen Automatiseert, 2:500/28
|
||
|
||
14 Nov 1990
|
||
Marco Maccaferri's 21rd Birthday. Send greetings to him at
|
||
2:332/16.0
|
||
|
||
1 Jan 1991
|
||
Implementation of 7% Goods and Services Tax in Canada. Contact
|
||
Joe Lindstrom at 1:134/55 for a more colorful description.
|
||
|
||
16 Feb 1991
|
||
Fifth anniversary of the introduction of Echomail, by Jeff Rush.
|
||
|
||
7 Oct 1991
|
||
Area code 415 fragments. Alameda and Contra Costa Counties
|
||
will begin using area code 510. This includes Oakland,
|
||
Concord, Berkeley and Hayward. San Francisco, San Mateo,
|
||
Marin, parts of Santa Clara County, and the San Francisco Bay
|
||
Islands will retain area code 415.
|
||
|
||
1 Feb 1992
|
||
Area code 213 fragments. Western, coastal, southern and
|
||
eastern portions of Los Angeles County will begin using area
|
||
code 310. This includes Los Angeles International Airport,
|
||
West Los Angeles, San Pedro and Whittier. Downtown Los
|
||
Angeles and surrounding communities (such as Hollywood and
|
||
Montebello) will retain area code 213.
|
||
|
||
1 Dec 1993
|
||
Tenth anniversary of Fido Version 1 release.
|
||
|
||
5 Jun 1997
|
||
David Dodell's 40th Birthday
|
||
|
||
|
||
If you have something which you would like to see on this
|
||
calendar, please send a message to FidoNet node 1:1/1.
|
||
|
||
FidoNews 7-40 Page 35 1 Oct 1990
|
||
|
||
|
||
-----------------------------------------------------------------
|
||
|
||
|