1117 lines
48 KiB
Plaintext
1117 lines
48 KiB
Plaintext
F I D O N E W S -- | Vol. 8 No. 45 (11 November 1991)
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The newsletter of the |
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FidoNet BBS community | Published by:
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_ |
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/ \ | "FidoNews" BBS
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/|oo \ | (415)-863-2739
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(_| /_) | FidoNet 1:1/1
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_`@/_ \ _ | Internet:
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| | \ \\ | fidonews@fidonews.fidonet.org
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| (*) | \ )) |
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|__U__| / \// | Editors:
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_//|| _\ / | Tom Jennings
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(_/(_|(____/ | Tim Pozar
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(jm) |
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----------------------------+---------------------------------------
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Published weekly by and for the Members of the FidoNet international
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amateur network. Copyright 1991, Fido Software. All rights reserved.
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Duplication and/or distribution permitted for noncommercial purposes
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only. For use in other circumstances, please contact FidoNews.
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Paper price: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $5.00US
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Electronic Price: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . free!
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For more information about FidoNews refer to the end of this file.
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--------------------------------------------------------------------
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Table of Contents
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1. EDITORIAL ..................................................... 1
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Editorial: stuff, and an apology .............................. 1
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2. FIDONET NEWS .................................................. 3
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(No FidoNetNews this week) .................................... 3
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3. ARTICLES ...................................................... 4
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New FCC Rule Threatens Higher Long Distance Costs for BBS's ... 4
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Announcing Kitten 1.01 ........................................ 8
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GoldEd - A fully-featured Sysop/Point message reader/editor ... 10
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4. RANTS AND FLAMES .............................................. 16
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5. CLASSIFIEDS ................................................... 17
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6. LATEST VERSIONS ............................................... 18
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Latest Greatest Software Versions ............................. 18
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FidoNews 8-45 Page 1 11 Nov 1991
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======================================================================
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EDITORIAL
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======================================================================
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Editorial: stuff, and an apology
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by Tom Jennings 1:1/1
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Last week I generated enough text to last a few weeks, so I'll stop
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here. Oh, just this one last thing. If you have any historical
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documents (like the old FIDOHISTs, procedural docs pre-POLICYn,
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"ettiquette" docs, whatever) please mail 'em on to 1:1/1. I'm starting
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a collection.
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Well, another thing. I've got word that a number of people have been
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having trouble sending my article submissions. It took a long and
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circuitous loop of people to get word to me.
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I have to ask that if you have problems, you send me a message, with
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as much information as you have. At least, what you were trying to do
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(file attach? message only?), your program/version, a working node
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number (in FidoNet only, not other-nets, I'm not connected to any
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gateways), and log fragment or error message if you have one.
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Half of those I did get reports on, turned out to be "other" problems
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-- for example one program in series had a max. message length limit,
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and destroyed the messsage while in transit (neither mine nor the
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authors' system).
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For demonstrable, persistent problems, let me know, and I'll sit and
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watch my system receive what you're sending; I can debug 99% of
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protocol problems from my logging scheme (at least well enough to tell
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what's broken).
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And at the least, if I'm not aware of problems, I certainly can't be
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expected to fix 'em.
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I am running Fido/FidoNet 12u, which as far as I know is pretty good
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with both FSC-0001 and Wazoo, but problems with all our programs do
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happen.
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And lastly, I owe Thom Henderson an apology.
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Original Message Date: Tue 5 Nov 91 15:47
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From: Thom Henderson on 1:520/1015
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To: Tom Jennings on 1:1/1
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re: Last week's article regarding Thom Hendersons FIDOCON'91 article.
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1) It was listed on the schedule as the "Developers Roundtable".
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Nobody in the audience was there because they wanted to hear Randy
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pontificate. They were there because they wanted to hear you, and me,
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and the other DEVELOPERS. It was very rude of Randy to attempt to
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dominate the session from the floor.
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FidoNews 8-45 Page 2 11 Nov 1991
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2) It is also very rude and childish of YOU to snipe from the
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sidelines by adding "comments" to submitted articles. You already get
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the first word by writing the editorial. Your "comments" are not only
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ambiguous in origin (C programmers may recognize your comment marks,
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but others are quite likely to assume that your words are part of the
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submitted article), they also smack of a person who cannot bear not
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having the last word.
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I stand here, red-faced. You are right, I cannot defend my actions.
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While comments after articles are sometimes appropriate, in this case
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they were not. My apologies once again. --tomj
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----------------------------------------------------------------------
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FidoNews 8-45 Page 3 11 Nov 1991
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======================================================================
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FIDONET NEWS
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======================================================================
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################################################################
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FidoNetNews -- a weekly section devoted to technical and factual
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issues within the FidoNet -- FidoNet Technical Standards Committee
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reports, *C reports, information on FidoNet standards documents
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and the like.
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################################################################
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----------------------------------------------------------------------
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There were no FidoNetNews submissions this week. Tune again in
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next week!
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----------------------------------------------------------------------
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FidoNews 8-45 Page 4 11 Nov 1991
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======================================================================
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ARTICLES
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======================================================================
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Mike Riddle, Esq.
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Nebraska Inns of Court
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1:285/27
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NEW FCC RULE THREATENS HIGHER LONG DISTANCE COSTS FOR BBS'S
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===========================================================
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o WHAT'S HAPPENING?
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In July the FCC, in an action virtually unnoticed by the bulletin
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board community, issued its "Final Rule" in Docket 89-79. The
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innocuous-sounding title is "Amendments of Part 69 of the Commission's
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Rules Relating to the Creation of Access Charge Subelements for Open
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Network Architecture." Industry sources estimate that this rule, when
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fully implemented, will result in an average increase of from three to
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five times the current costs for users of "Enhanced Service Providers
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(ESPs)," such as GEnie, Compuserve, PC Pursuit and Starlink.
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Already someone is reading this and saying something like:
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"Hoo boy! Doesn't this jerk realize that's an old rumor?"
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Well, I'm sorry to say I wish it was, but it isn't. For those who
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want to know all the details (and I'm one of them), the Notice of
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Proposed Rule Making NPRM is 89-79, FCC 89-105, and the Final Rule was
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announced at 56 Fed Reg 33879-01 on July 24th, 1991. It took effect
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on August 23, 1991.
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What it seems to me, after some hours of research and analysis, is
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that the FCC is attempting to do indirectly in 1991 what it could not
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do directly in 1987. If you remember the history, in 1983 the FCC
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created the access charge structure. It granted exemptions from
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usage-sensitive access charges for Enhanced Service Providers (ESPs)
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for a number of reasons.
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In 1987, Docket 87-215, the FCC proposed to remove the exemptions. We
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all know what happened then. The Commission and Congress received an
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unprecedented public input on a telecommunications regulatory issue.
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The plan to remove the exemptions was dropped.
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While Rep. Markey, among others, thought the idea was dead, period,
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the Commission appears to have merely gone into hiatus.
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The current rule, if I have it analyzed correctly, attempts to do
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three things:
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FidoNews 8-45 Page 5 11 Nov 1991
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1. Preserve ESP exemptions "in their current form."
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2. Create incentives for new services, known as BSEs, under
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the ONA proposals. ESPs would have to pay access charges to
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use these services.
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3. Ultimately require the removal of the existing feature
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groups the BSEs would replace.
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The result in the end, usage-sensitive access charges for ESPs,
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the very concept thought killed in 1987.
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o WHY ARE WE JUST HEARING ABOUT IT?
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The "posture of the proceeding" is important. When the FCC issued the
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NPRM in 1989, it seemed to imply that the exemptions would continue,
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so no one got real upset. This was, after all, only 18 months or so
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after the 87-215 fiasco.
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When the final rule was released in July, effective in August, it
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took people a while to figure out the probable impact. As a result,
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what the Enhanced Service Providers and others are asking for from
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their users is support for their petition to reconsider the rule.
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o OKAY, YOU CONVINCED ME! WHAT SHOULD I DO?
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Public input, to the FCC, to key Congressmen and Senators, and to your
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own Congressional delegation, will likely make a difference now, just
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like it did in 1987. GEnie, among the services I use, has taken the
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lead on generating public input. The last part of this article is the
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GEnie "Call to Action." Some of you may have seen it before.
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+------------------------------------------------------------------+
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| If you do choose to write, please do NOT call it a "modem tax." |
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| It isn't a tax at all, and most likely you'll be told (with a |
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| straight face) there isn't any such proposal. To the best of my |
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| knowledge this is *NOT* the case. No new taxes on existing |
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| services are currently under consideration. |
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+------------------------------------------------------------------+
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The issue which we need to mention is the FCC's *approved* pricing for
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Open Network Architecture (ONA) services [passed by the Commission on
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July 11, 1991 as part of CC Docket No. 89-79 "Amendments of Part 69 of
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the Commission's Rules Relating to the Creation of Access Charge
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Subelements for Open Network Architecture"]. We need to ask the
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Commission to reconsider its decision to require "enhanced service
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providers" and other end users that wish to subscribe to federally
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tariffed basic service elements, to pay usage-based rates for access
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to these new services. You should write the Commission, supporting
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this request for reconsideration.
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FidoNews 8-45 Page 6 11 Nov 1991
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o WHAT DO I SAY?
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Here's the GEnie "Call to Action" (reproduced verbatim with
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permission):
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"The Federal Communications Commission ("FCC") has adopted rules that
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will increase by up to five-fold the price of local telephone lines
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that use new network features to provide access to information
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services. The new rules could have as serious an impact as the FCC's
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1987 access charge proposal, which was successfully defeated through a
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massive letter-writing campaign.
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"Any information service provider that wishes to take advantage of new
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network features -- which are to be made available as part of the
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FCC's Open Network Architecture ("ONA") -- must start paying the
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higher charges. Although the FCC would allow information service
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providers to continue using their existing lines at current rates,
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providers choosing this option would be denied the use of much
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existing and future network functionality. Many state regulators are
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compounding this problem by following the FCC's lead.
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"These pricing rules will needlessly inflate the costs of providing
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information services. Information service providers will have no
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option but to pass these added costs on to their subscribers in
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increased prices. This is bad for the information service providers,
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bad for subscribers, and bad for the United States. At a time when
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the FCC should be encouraging the widest possible use and availability
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of information services, the FCC has adopted rules that will have
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precisely the opposite effect.
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"It's not too late to stop the FCC from implementing its new ONA
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pricing rules. GEnie (through its trade associations ADAPSO and IIA),
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CompuServe, Prodigy, BTNA (formerly Tymnet) and others have petitioned
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the FCC to reconsider its rules, and the FCC is now considering
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whether it should grant those petitions.
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"You can help by writing to Al Sikes, Chairman of the FCC, and sending
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copies of your letter to his fellow Commissioners. You should also
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write to Congressman Ed Markey and Senator Daniel Inouye, the Chairmen
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of the House and Senate Subcommittees that have jurisdiction over the
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FCC. (You may also wish to send copies of your letters to your own
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U.S. Senators and Representative).
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"Tell them that:
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- You use information services and how you use them.
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- You will curtail your use of these services if prices increase
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as a result of the FCC's new ONA pricing rules.
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FidoNews 8-45 Page 7 11 Nov 1991
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- The FCC's new ONA pricing rules will create the wrong incentives
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by discouraging information service providers from taking
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advantage of new network features.
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- The FCC should reconsider the rules it adopted in Docket 89-79
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and allow information service providers to use new network
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features without being required to pay usage-sensitive access
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charges that are three to five times higher than existing rates.
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"Write to:
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Honorable Alfred C. Sikes
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Chairman
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Federal Communications Commission
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1919 M Street, N.W., Room 814
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Washington, D.C. 20554
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Honorable Sherrie P. Marshall
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Commissioner
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Federal Communications Commission
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1919 M Street, N.W., Room 826
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Washington, D.C. 20554
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Honorable Andrew C. Barrett
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Commissioner
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Federal Communications Commission
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1919 M Street, N.W., Room 844
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Washington, D.C. 20554
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Honorable James H. Quello
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Commissioner
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Federal Communications Commission
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1919 M Street, N.W., Room 802
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Washington, D.C. 20554
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Honorable Ervin S. Duggan
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Commissioner
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Federal Communications Commission
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1919 M Street, N.W., Room 832
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Washington, D.C. 20554
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Honorable Edward J. Markey
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Chairman, Subcommittee on
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Telecommunications and Finance
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U.S. House of Representatives
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2133 Rayburn House Office Building
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Washington, D.C. 20515-2107
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Honorable Daniel K. Inouye
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Chairman, Subcommittee on
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FidoNews 8-45 Page 8 11 Nov 1991
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Communications
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United States Senate
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722 Hart Senate Office Building
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Washington, D.C. 20510-1102
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"Fax Numbers:
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Federal Communications Commission
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202-632-7092
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Senator Daniel K. Inouye
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202-224-6747
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Congressman Edward J. Markey
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202-225-8689
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"To the best of our knowledge, the FCC has only one fax number. If
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you send your letter via fax (standard fax or GE Mail-to-FAX), the
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body of your message should indicate that it is intended for Mr. Sikes
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and that copies should be provided to the other Commissioners."
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----------------------------------------------------------------------
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Thom Henderson
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System Enhancement Associates, Inc.
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Announcing Kitten BBS version 1.01
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Maybe you've seen Kitten before, but not like this! And if Kitten is
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new to you, then you're REALLY in for a treat!
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Kitten is the programmable BBS from System Enhancement Associates.
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Don't let the "programmable" part scare you -- if you can write a
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batch file, you can program Kitten. Sysops running Kitten have called
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it "a script that answers the phone", or even "the batch file BBS".
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The possibilities are almost limitless.
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Kitten is controlled completely by text script files written in the
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MEOW (Mnemonic Execution of Operator Wishes) language. You can use
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either of two sample setups provided with Kitten, or you can go off on
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your own as far as your imagination can roam. Here are just a few of
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the features offerred by Kitten version 1.01:
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* 26 string variables, stored between calls
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* 26 numeric variables, stored per user
|
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|
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FidoNews 8-45 Page 9 11 Nov 1991
|
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|
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* 32 user flags, stored with the user data, allowing all sorts of
|
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access customization and special effects
|
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* External protocols to allow a wide range of file transfer
|
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capability to your users
|
||
|
||
* Internal support for PC Board, RBBS, QBBS, and RA door programs
|
||
|
||
* Internal support for running any arbitrary program that performs
|
||
standard character I/O, with carrier watchdog and time limiting.
|
||
|
||
* Support for Caller*ID, either via a Caller*ID modem or by using a
|
||
separate Caller*ID interface (such as the Classmate 10).
|
||
|
||
* 57 system variables, giving you consistent access to user and
|
||
system data in menus, download lists, and even in text files!
|
||
|
||
* Conditional expressions, allowing you to make menus that customize
|
||
themselves on the fly
|
||
|
||
* "Mark and go" file download management, which can give your users
|
||
a "clipboard" for selecting downloads
|
||
|
||
* Wildcard searches, keyword searches, and "new file" searches in
|
||
file download areas.
|
||
|
||
* Multiline support (when used with SEAmail)
|
||
|
||
|
||
And that's just scratching the surface! Let me give you an example of
|
||
what you can do. Suppose that you want to enforce a file
|
||
download/upload ratio of ten to one. Kitten doesn't do that
|
||
automatically, but don't let THAT stop you! Take a look at this:
|
||
|
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"(D)ownload files
|
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if %fdnlds% * 10 < %fuplds%
|
||
*D echo I'm sorry, but you must maintain a ratio of 10 to 1
|
||
else
|
||
*D dnld files
|
||
endif
|
||
|
||
Let me explain that piece by piece.
|
||
|
||
"(D)ownload files
|
||
^^
|
||
||
|
||
|This is menu text displayed to the user.
|
||
|
|
||
The quote means that this line is menu text.
|
||
|
||
if %fdnlds% < %fuplds% * 10
|
||
FidoNews 8-45 Page 10 11 Nov 1991
|
||
|
||
|
||
^ ^
|
||
| |
|
||
| This is an arithmetic expression. "%FDNLDS%" is how many files
|
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| the user has downloaded. %FUPLOADS% is how many he's uploaded.
|
||
| From there on it should be obvious.
|
||
|
|
||
This means that this line is a conditional expression.
|
||
|
||
*D echo I'm sorry, but you must maintain a ratio of 10 to 1
|
||
^^ ^ ^
|
||
|| | |
|
||
|| | This is the text that is echoed.
|
||
|| |
|
||
|| This is the menu command. This one tells Kitten to show
|
||
|| the text to the user.
|
||
||
|
||
|This is the key the user hits to trigger this command.
|
||
|
|
||
The asterisk means that this line is a menu command.
|
||
|
||
I think you can take it from there. Hopefully this gives you a taste
|
||
of the power and flexibility that Kitten brings to you.
|
||
|
||
Kitten can be obtained free of charge by calling the SEA Technical
|
||
Support BBS (SEAboard) at (201) 473-1991, or you can file request
|
||
KITTEN10.ARC from any of the following network addresses:
|
||
|
||
|
||
AlterNet fidonet EGGnet
|
||
|
||
2400 baud MNP 7:510/519 1:107/519 99:9220/519
|
||
|
||
USR Courier HST 7:520/517 1:107/517 99:9220/517
|
||
|
||
----------------------------------------------------------------------
|
||
|
||
|
||
GoldEd - A fully-featured Sysop/Point message reader/editor for the
|
||
IBM-PC and compatibles
|
||
|
||
Written by Odinn Sorensen
|
||
|
||
David Peterson
|
||
Dippy's Point
|
||
3:635/504.4
|
||
|
||
Message reading is the one of the better parts of BBSing, and I have
|
||
been after an easy-to-use and powerful editor/reader since I became a
|
||
point. Luckily, I stumbled across GoldEd. GoldEd has made message
|
||
reading and writing easier than ever with a simple interface that can
|
||
perform everything from the basic, to the advanced.
|
||
|
||
FidoNews 8-45 Page 11 11 Nov 1991
|
||
|
||
|
||
This article will try to point out some of GoldEd's features, so people
|
||
who are after a better way to handle messages can become more
|
||
productive. Note that I am not associated with Odinn Sorensen, the
|
||
author, in any way apart from talking to him via netmail a few times,
|
||
and registering the product. I'm just a very happy user!
|
||
|
||
GoldEd definitely IS a fully featured message reader and editor. Almost
|
||
everything is user definable, from message areas, to language files,
|
||
and message templates.
|
||
|
||
GoldEd has all the standard equipment for any message editor, including
|
||
Replying to a message, Quote-Replying, Comment Replying (Replying to
|
||
the TO name), Moving, Copying, Deleting, Exporting and Forwarding (in
|
||
the same or a different area) of messages and changing of a message
|
||
after it has been written. GoldEd also has keys to move to the next,
|
||
and previous messages, as well as next and previous in a thread, the
|
||
first and last in an area, a particular message number, the next and
|
||
previous area and more. Carbon Copy and Crosspost are also supported.
|
||
|
||
Most known kludges and all attributes are supported, including extended
|
||
QBBS/RA attributes. Any of these can be changed at any time.
|
||
|
||
On start up of the program, a welcome screen is displayed. Where GoldEd
|
||
goes next is user definable, but the default action is to move straight
|
||
to the message area selection. Message areas in GoldEd can come from
|
||
several different sources at the same time, from a QBBS/RA Hudson-type
|
||
message base, to the Fido .msg style.
|
||
|
||
The area selection screen shows the ECHOMAIL ID of the area (if
|
||
applicable), as well as an extended message area description. The total
|
||
number of messages, and number of the last message read are the two
|
||
other columns in this screen.
|
||
|
||
One thing should be mentioned about the message numbers. GoldEd
|
||
internally renumbers each message area, so messages are numbered
|
||
sequentially starting at one. This allows instantaneous knowledge of
|
||
how many messages are in an area, and where you are in the area. This
|
||
does not change the ACTUAL message numbers. Again, this is user
|
||
configurable - GoldEd can still display the REAL message numbers if
|
||
wished.
|
||
|
||
Once an area has been selected, the message reading screen appears.
|
||
This screen is divided into three sections. The first, occupying the
|
||
top six lines of the screen, shows the writer and recipient, message
|
||
number, date and time, subject and other header information. The bottom
|
||
line (line 25, or 43/50 on extended screens) holds a small GoldEd logo,
|
||
information on the current status of the program (Reading, editing
|
||
etc), memory free and current time. The rest of the screen is devoted
|
||
to the message contents.
|
||
|
||
Colors (also user definable) play a prominent part of the message text.
|
||
The message body takes one color, quotes take another and kludge lines
|
||
and origin/tear information a third. If the message is to or from you,
|
||
your name will be highlighted If you have not read the message yet,
|
||
GoldEd will beep (also user-definable). Kludge lines can be hidden or
|
||
shown and twit messages (Messages to/from a person or subject) can be
|
||
FidoNews 8-45 Page 12 11 Nov 1991
|
||
|
||
|
||
skipped. A page bar appears on the right hand side of the page that
|
||
shows which portion of the whole message is being viewed.
|
||
|
||
GoldEd can display a list of all messages in an area, for quick
|
||
scrolling. There is also a very powerful message marking facility. Any
|
||
particular message, or a group of messages can be marked. You can also
|
||
mark your personal mail, messages in the current thread, or messages
|
||
with a certain string within the header of body. These marked messages
|
||
can then be moved, copied, deleted etc just the same as with one
|
||
message. Another option screens the messages so only those that are
|
||
marked are shown, and read. As yet, GoldEd cannot automatically scan
|
||
for personal mail in all areas (a planned future feature), but personal
|
||
messages can be scanned, marked, read, and replied to in each area
|
||
without scanning through every other new message.
|
||
|
||
GoldEd can search the messages in an area from the current message, and
|
||
find a string in the message header of body. GoldEd can either stop on
|
||
the first message found, or mark all messages containing the string.
|
||
This is very handy for reading all messages from or to a certain
|
||
person, or to find a particular message when all that was remembered
|
||
about that message was one or two key words.
|
||
|
||
A 'bookmark' is also implemented. This bookmark can be set, and jumped
|
||
back to at any time. Another feature allows the current message in a
|
||
thread can be book marked, and the thread be scanned. Press the "jump"
|
||
key to return to where you left off sequential reading.
|
||
|
||
As already mentioned, GoldEd is completely user-definable, with all
|
||
commands definable by easy-to-change configuration files. Future plans
|
||
by the author include writing a setup program, so the configuration
|
||
files are not needed.
|
||
|
||
Message areas can be defined within these configuration files, or
|
||
GoldEd can be instructed to read the areas from another format.
|
||
Currently supported formats include FD, Opus, ME2, Imail, Tosscan,
|
||
Maximus, RA, QBBS, Duchie, D'Bridge and AREAS.BBS.
|
||
|
||
GoldEd has an internal editor, and supports a user definable external
|
||
editor. Messages with the external editor can be handled using a
|
||
HARDLINE feature. Briefly, you type your message into the editor, and
|
||
where you wish a paragraph to end, you can either leave a blank line
|
||
after the end, or place a user definable hardline character (I use the
|
||
default, <<). GoldEd uses these characters to re-format the message to
|
||
look respectable before sending. Also supported is a way to place logs,
|
||
or program text, where you don't want GoldEd to reformat the text.
|
||
Quotes in reply messages are also re-flowed, so there is no nasty
|
||
effect where one line is quoted into 2 lines, where the second line
|
||
contains one word.
|
||
|
||
Message templates and origin lines are also fully user-configurable. A
|
||
Template provides a "Template" of the message, holding macros that
|
||
define where GoldEd will place the recipient's name, the sender's name,
|
||
the reply text, as well as any other information that can be provided.
|
||
There is also a very good "Cookie" generation system, that places a
|
||
random piece of text in every message. I use this feature to place
|
||
either of "David", "David Peterson", "David 'Dippy' Peterson", "Dippy"
|
||
FidoNews 8-45 Page 13 11 Nov 1991
|
||
|
||
|
||
and a few multiple line tags to the end of my messages. There can be
|
||
multiple message templates per area, and different areas can have the
|
||
same template.
|
||
|
||
Multiple origin and tear lines can be defined for any area, with a
|
||
random choice being made by GoldEd if more than one is defined. I have
|
||
a lot of interesting origin lines setup for my local areas, and two
|
||
variations of "Dippy's Point - Pointing off High Voltage" for the
|
||
national and international echos I receive. When quoting origin lines,
|
||
they can be invalidated automatically. A quoted " * Origin" can be
|
||
converted to " ! Origin", and tear lines can be changed from "---" to
|
||
"-!-" so that old message tossers and readers are not confused. This
|
||
technique can also apply to SEEN-BY's. The replacement string is user
|
||
configurable.
|
||
|
||
Another powerful addition to GoldEd recently, has been the facility for
|
||
a Spell Checker. The actual spell checker is not in-built, but
|
||
external. GoldEd includes a key to shell out to the checker, and
|
||
re-load the message into the internal editor once it has been checked.
|
||
A Grammar checker can also be placed here. Macros are supported to a
|
||
limited extent. I do not use this feature, so cannot comment on it.
|
||
|
||
As mentioned previously, GoldEd's configuration files include the
|
||
facility to change ANY message that is placed on the screen. This means
|
||
that alternate languages, or just a Customization to suit an
|
||
individual's tastes, can be catered for.
|
||
|
||
The nodelist can be read by GoldEd and Netmail messages can be
|
||
addressed to a node number (with GoldEd automatically looking for and
|
||
inserting the sysop name). The full nodelist can be browsed if wished.
|
||
File attaches, and requests are fully supported, with a selectable file
|
||
list being generated if wild cards are specified as the file request.
|
||
|
||
Among other user-definable features, GoldEd supports Character
|
||
translation (The standards described in FSC-0050, FSC-0051 and FSC-0054
|
||
are three of the types supported), configurable online help, a totally
|
||
reconfigurable keyboard, ROT 13 en/decryption and Areasort (areas with
|
||
the most number of unread messages are placed first in the area list).
|
||
|
||
The last public release of GoldEd was 2.31, but GoldEd revisions are
|
||
available, and are up to 2.31p currently. There is a new release
|
||
expected within the next month. Odinn allows all registered users to
|
||
become beta testers, with these users being able to request the latest
|
||
beta from most support sites.
|
||
|
||
GoldEd has a few bugs, but most of them have been stamped out in 2.31p
|
||
(the version I am using). The internal message editor has a few
|
||
problems with word wrapping when typing near the end of the line, but
|
||
Odinn has assured us that that will be totally fixed in a future
|
||
version (he originally imported the source for another, already buggy,
|
||
editor into GoldEd. While he fixed most of the bugs, he has decided to
|
||
write one of his own). Another minor gripe is the disk space needed to
|
||
hold GoldEd's nodelist index files. They use nearly 690K of disk space
|
||
for the full day 298 nodelist. Of course, if not using Netmail, the
|
||
nodelist is not needed.
|
||
|
||
FidoNews 8-45 Page 14 11 Nov 1991
|
||
|
||
|
||
GoldEd has supported message base sharing on and off in the last few
|
||
betas. It was implemented, but due to some problems, was taken out. It
|
||
is now implemented again, in version 2.31p. The Author suggests that
|
||
care should be taken though, as the feature has not been tested by him
|
||
(He doesn't have a multitasking machine, or network).
|
||
|
||
There are seven support sites located worldwide. GoldEd can be
|
||
registered from any of these sites, and the latest BETA is available to
|
||
registered versions.
|
||
|
||
--------------------------------------------------
|
||
Where Who Node
|
||
--------------------------------------------------
|
||
Denmark/World Odinn Sorensen 2:231/77
|
||
U.S.A. Mike Ernst 1:3812/215
|
||
Holland ROn van.der.Nagel 2:500/133
|
||
Germany Stefan Rubner 2:246/10
|
||
Australia Adrian Collings 3:640/208
|
||
Austria Johannes Mistelbauer 2:310/30
|
||
Italy <Position available>
|
||
Canada Robert Marcoux 1:167/245
|
||
Belgium <Position available>
|
||
England Mick Spice 2:440/6
|
||
--------------------------------------------------
|
||
|
||
Note : There are positions available for sites in Belgium and Italy.
|
||
Contact Odinn if you wish to be a support site for these countries.
|
||
|
||
A echomail area for GoldEd support is available on all major back bones
|
||
around the world. The author is present, and does his best to answer
|
||
questions. Most support sites are also active in this echo. The area is
|
||
requestable with the name GOLDED.
|
||
|
||
Registration of GoldEd costs DKK 250, or US$40. If registering from the
|
||
author directly, an extra currency conversion cost is needed. This is
|
||
not necessary when registering with a local site. The non-registered
|
||
version of GoldEd is only crippled in the use of the tear line : It can
|
||
not be changed. Registration lifts this restriction.
|
||
|
||
GoldEd is an ongoing program, and the author plans to implement more
|
||
features into future versions. A few of these features include a new
|
||
internal editor, scanning for personal mail in all areas, replies
|
||
reading mode, Nodelist browsing in levels a'la FrontDoor, Xpress and
|
||
XRS compatibility, other message formats such as XBBS, better mouse
|
||
support, conditional macros and macro recording, Windows 3 version
|
||
(GoldEd 3.xx) and many other features!
|
||
|
||
From the day I first unpacked the GoldEd archive, I have been hooked.
|
||
On my recommendations, my Fido Boss looked at the archive too, and is
|
||
now hooked as well. We are now both registered users, and very happy.
|
||
GoldEd does not suit every application, but points and sysops, will
|
||
benefit greatly, with reduced message reading time, which makes more
|
||
time for users.
|
||
|
||
FidoNews 8-45 Page 15 11 Nov 1991
|
||
|
||
|
||
GoldEd should be available at your local BBS under the name GOLD????,
|
||
where ???? is the version number.
|
||
|
||
(Thanks to Michael Ernst (USA Registration Site) for supplying some
|
||
needed information quickly when preparing this article.)
|
||
|
||
David Peterson
|
||
FidoNet : 3:635/504.4
|
||
Compuserve : 70272,2374
|
||
|
||
|
||
----------------------------------------------------------------------
|
||
|
||
FidoNews 8-45 Page 16 11 Nov 1991
|
||
|
||
|
||
======================================================================
|
||
RANTS AND FLAMES
|
||
======================================================================
|
||
|
||
_(*#$_(*@#(* (*^$+)#(%&+| #$)%(&*#_$ @_#( @$
|
||
^@#+)(#&%$*+)$%&*+$*%&#@(@#_|)*%|)#%&)#*%&+(@#&*_+(@#*^&@###
|
||
*&#_($*&#$_(*#&$_(#*$&$ _(#$*#$+)#($&*+#)$ &#+$*&#
|
||
()*&#$_(&^#$_(#*$_#($^&#_$(^&#_$(&^#$_(&#^ damn right _(#^&$_(#^&
|
||
$*&#$_+(* #)$&(%($%+)($%*+$)%($* it's ugly _#&%^# &
|
||
#($_*#$_ FidoNet (*$&%_@#_(*&@#_(@*#&_ @#_(*&@#_(*
|
||
)*&#$ Flames *^$+)#(% (not for the timid) @_#(
|
||
(*#$_(*^@#+) and #_|)*% &+(@#&*_+(@#*^&@###
|
||
(#$*&#_($*&#$_(*#&$_(#* Rants *&+#$*&#+$*&#
|
||
)*&#$_(a regular feature)^&#_$(&^#$_ $^&#$_(#^
|
||
(*^#$_*#^&$)*#&$^%)#*$&^_#($*^&#_($ Section #&%^_
|
||
_(*#&$_(#* #($*& #$* _(*&@#_(@*# *&@#_(*&
|
||
)&*+_)*&+)*&+))&*(*&
|
||
(*&_(*&_(*&
|
||
|
||
|
||
|
||
----------------------------------------------------------------------
|
||
|
||
FidoNews 8-45 Page 17 11 Nov 1991
|
||
|
||
|
||
======================================================================
|
||
CLASSIFIEDS
|
||
======================================================================
|
||
|
||
ADVERTISEMENT POLICY: Submissions must be 20 lines or less each,
|
||
maximum two ads per advertiser, 70 characters per line maximum. No
|
||
control codes except CR and LF. (Refer to contact info at the end of
|
||
this newsletter for details.)
|
||
|
||
Please notify us if you have any trouble with an advertiser. FidoNews
|
||
does not endorse any products or services advertised here.
|
||
|
||
|
||
----------------------------------------------------------------------
|
||
|
||
FidoNews 8-45 Page 18 11 Nov 1991
|
||
|
||
|
||
======================================================================
|
||
LATEST VERSIONS
|
||
======================================================================
|
||
|
||
Latest Greatest SoftWare Versions
|
||
Last Update: 11/01/91
|
||
----------------------------------------------------------------------
|
||
|
||
MS-DOS Systems
|
||
--------------
|
||
|
||
BBS Software Network Mailers Other Utilities
|
||
Name Version Name Version Name Version
|
||
-------------------- -------------------- --------------------
|
||
Aurora 1.32b* D'Bridge 1.30 2DAPoint 1.41*
|
||
DreamBBS 1.05@ Dreamer 1.06 ARCAsim 2.31
|
||
Genesis Deluxe 3.2* FrontDoor 2.02* DEMM 1.06@
|
||
Kitten 1.01 InterMail 2.01 DGMM 1.06@
|
||
Merlin 1.39n@ Milqtoast 1.00 DOMAIN 1.42
|
||
ProBoard 1.17* PreNM 1.48* EEngine 0.32*
|
||
QuickBBS 2.75* SEAdog 4.60 EMM 2.10*
|
||
RemoteAccess 1.01 SEAmail 1.01@ EZPoint 2.1@
|
||
Socrates 1.11 4Dog/4DMatrix 1.18
|
||
TAG 2.5g FGroup 1.00
|
||
TComm/TCommNet 3.4 NodeList Utilities GateWorks 3.06e*
|
||
WWIV 4.20 Name Version GMD 3.00*
|
||
-------------------- GMM 1.21@
|
||
FDND 1.10 GoldEd 2.31p
|
||
Parselst 1.33* GROUP 2.23
|
||
XlaxNode/Diff 2.53* GUS 1.40*
|
||
HeadEdit 1.18
|
||
IMAIL 1.20
|
||
Compression InterPCB 1.31
|
||
Utilities Lola 1.01d
|
||
Name Version MSG 4.2*
|
||
-------------------- MsgLnk 1.0c@
|
||
ARC 7.12* MsgMstr 2.03a*
|
||
ARJ 2.20 MsgNum 4.16d@
|
||
LHA 2.13 Netsex 2.00b*@
|
||
PAK 2.51 Oliver 1.0a
|
||
PKPak 3.61 PolyXarc 2.1a
|
||
PKZip 1.10 QM 1.00a*
|
||
QSort 4.04
|
||
Raid 1.00@
|
||
StarLink 1.01
|
||
TCOMMail 2.2
|
||
TGroup 1.13
|
||
TMail 1.21
|
||
TPBNetEd 3.2
|
||
Tosscan 1.00
|
||
UFGATE 1.03
|
||
FidoNews 8-45 Page 19 11 Nov 1991
|
||
|
||
|
||
VPurge 4.09e*@
|
||
WildMail 1.01b*
|
||
XRS 4.51*
|
||
ZmailH 1.25*
|
||
|
||
|
||
OS/2 Systems
|
||
------------
|
||
|
||
BBS Software Network Mailers Other Utilities
|
||
Name Version Name Version Name Version
|
||
-------------------- -------------------- --------------------
|
||
Kitten 1.01@ BinkleyTerm 2.50* ARC 7.12
|
||
SimplexBBS 1.04.02*+ BinkleyTerm(S) 2.50*@ ARC2 6.01*
|
||
SEAmail 1.01@ EZPoint 2.1@
|
||
FGroup 1.00@
|
||
GROUP 2.23@
|
||
LH2 2.11*
|
||
MSG 4.2*
|
||
MsgEd 2.06c*
|
||
MsgLink 1.0c
|
||
MsgNum 4.16d*
|
||
oMMM 1.52
|
||
Omail 3.1
|
||
Parselst 1.33*
|
||
PKZip 1.02
|
||
PMSnoop 1.30*@
|
||
PolyXOS2 2.1a
|
||
QSort 2.1
|
||
Raid 1.0
|
||
Remapper 1.2
|
||
VPurge 4.09e*
|
||
|
||
|
||
Xenix/Unix 386
|
||
--------------
|
||
|
||
BBS Software Network Mailers Other Utilities
|
||
Name Version Name Version Name Version
|
||
-------------------- -------------------- --------------------
|
||
|Contact: Jon Hogan-uran 3:711/909, |
|
||
|Willy Paine 1:343/15 or Eddy van Loo|
|
||
|2:285/406 |
|
||
|
||
|
||
Apple II
|
||
--------
|
||
|
||
BBS Software Network Mailers Other Utilities
|
||
Name Version Name Version Name Version
|
||
-------------------- -------------------- --------------------
|
||
DDBBS + 8.0* Fruity Dog 2.0 deARC2e 2.1
|
||
GBBS Pro 2.1 ProSel 8.70*
|
||
FidoNews 8-45 Page 20 11 Nov 1991
|
||
|
||
|
||
ShrinkIt 3.30*
|
||
|Contact: Dennis McClain-Furmanski 1:275/42| ShrinkIt GS 1.04
|
||
|
||
|
||
Apple CP/M
|
||
----------
|
||
|
||
BBS Software Network Mailers Other Utilities
|
||
Name Version Name Version Name Version
|
||
-------------------- -------------------- --------------------
|
||
|
||
|
||
Macintosh
|
||
---------
|
||
|
||
BBS Software Network Mailers Other Software
|
||
Name Version Name Version Name Version
|
||
-------------------- -------------------- --------------------
|
||
|
||
|
||
Point System
|
||
Software
|
||
Name Version
|
||
--------------------
|
||
|
||
|
||
Amiga
|
||
-----
|
||
|
||
BBS Software Network Mailers Other Software
|
||
Name Version Name Version Name Version
|
||
-------------------- -------------------- --------------------
|
||
DLG Pro. 0.96b TrapDoor 1.80 Areafix 1.48
|
||
Falcon CBCS 1.00 AReceipt 1.5
|
||
Paragon 2.082+ ChameleonEdit 0.11*
|
||
XenoLink 1.0 Compression ElectricHerald 1.66
|
||
Utilities GCChost 3.6b@
|
||
Name Version MessageFilter 1.52
|
||
NodeList Utilities -------------------- Message View 1.12@
|
||
Name Version UnZip 4.1 oMMM 1.49b
|
||
-------------------- TrapToss 1.20*
|
||
TrapList 1.40 Yuck! 2.02*
|
||
|
||
|Contact: Maximilian Hantsch 2:310/6|
|
||
|
||
|
||
Atari ST/TT
|
||
-----------
|
||
|
||
BBS Software Network Mailers Other Utilities
|
||
Name Version Name Version Name Version
|
||
-------------------- -------------------- --------------------
|
||
FIDOdoor/ST 2.5.1* Burep 1.1@
|
||
FiFo 2.1v ComScan 1.04
|
||
QuickBBS/ST 1.04 Echoscan 1.10
|
||
FidoNews 8-45 Page 21 11 Nov 1991
|
||
|
||
|
||
FDrenum 2.5.2*
|
||
Import 1.14
|
||
Compression Trenum 0.10
|
||
Utilities
|
||
Name Version
|
||
--------------------
|
||
LHARC 2.01e
|
||
UnJARST 2.00
|
||
WhatArc 2.02
|
||
|
||
|
||
Archimedes
|
||
----------
|
||
|
||
BBS Software Network Mailers Other Utilities
|
||
Name Version Name Version Name Version
|
||
-------------------- -------------------- --------------------
|
||
|
||
|
||
Tandy Color Computer 3 (OS-9 Level II)
|
||
--------------------------------------
|
||
|
||
BBS Software Compression Utility Other Utilities
|
||
Name Version Name Version Name Version
|
||
-------------------- -------------------- --------------------
|
||
RiBBS 2.02 OS9ARC (Arc) 1.0 Ascan 1.2
|
||
OS9ARC (Dearc) 1.0 AutoFRL 2.0
|
||
DEARC CKARC 1.1
|
||
UNZIP 3.10 EchoCheck 1.01
|
||
FReq 2.5a
|
||
LookNode 2.00
|
||
ParseLST
|
||
RList 1.03
|
||
RTick 2.00
|
||
UnSeen 1.1
|
||
|
||
|
||
-- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --
|
||
Key: + - Netmail Capable (Doesn't Require Additional Mailer Software)
|
||
* - Recently Updated Version
|
||
@ - New Addition
|
||
# - Commercial SoftWare(Not In Use Yet)
|
||
-- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --
|
||
|
||
Utility Authors: Please help keep this list up to date by reporting
|
||
all new versions to 1:103/950 in this format:
|
||
|
||
1) Software Name & Version 2) FileName.Ext
|
||
3) Support Node Address 4) Support BBS Phone Number
|
||
|
||
|
||
FidoNews 8-45 Page 22 11 Nov 1991
|
||
|
||
|
||
Note: It is not our intent to list all utilities here, only those
|
||
which verge on necessity. If you want it updated in the next
|
||
FidoNews, get it to me by Thursday evening.
|
||
|
||
--David French, 1:103/950
|
||
|
||
----------------------------------------------------------------------
|
||
|
||
FidoNews 8-45 Page 23 11 Nov 1991
|
||
|
||
|
||
------- FIDONEWS MASTHEAD AND CONTACT INFORMATION ----------------
|
||
|
||
Editors: Tom Jennings, Tim Pozar
|
||
Editors Emeritii: Thom Henderson, Dale Lovell, Vince Periello
|
||
Special thanks to Ken Kaplan, 1:100/22, aka Fido #22
|
||
|
||
"FidoNews" BBS
|
||
FidoNet 1:1/1
|
||
Internet fidonews@fidonews.fidonet.org
|
||
BBS (415)-863-2739 (9600 HST/V32)
|
||
|
||
(Postal Service mailing address)
|
||
FidoNews
|
||
Box 77731
|
||
San Francisco
|
||
CA 94107 USA
|
||
|
||
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.
|
||
|
||
|
||
|
||
|
||
FidoNews is copyright 1991 Fido Software. All rights reserved.
|
||
Duplication and/or distribution permitted for noncommercial purposes
|
||
only. For use in other circumstances, please contact FidoNews (we're
|
||
easy).
|
||
|
||
|
||
|
||
OBTAINING COPIES: FidoNews in electronic form may be obtained from
|
||
the FidoNews BBS via manual download or Wazoo FileRequest, or from
|
||
various sites in the FidoNet and via uucp. PRINTED COPIES mailed
|
||
may be obtained from Fido Software for $5.00US each PostPaid First
|
||
Class within North America, or $7.00US elsewhere, mailed Air Mail.
|
||
(US funds drawn upon a US bank only.)
|
||
|
||
Periodic subscriptions are not available at this time; if enough
|
||
people request it I will implement it.
|
||
|
||
|
||
SUBMISSIONS: You are encouraged to submit articles for publication in
|
||
FidoNews. Article submission requirements are contained in the file
|
||
ARTSPEC.DOC, available from the FidoNews BBS, or Wazoo filerequestable
|
||
from 1:1/1 as file "ARTSPEC.DOC".
|
||
|
||
|
||
FidoNews 8-45 Page 24 11 Nov 1991
|
||
|
||
|
||
"Fido", "FidoNet" and the dog-with-diskette are U.S. registered
|
||
trademarks of Tom Jennings of Fido Software, Box 77731, San Francisco
|
||
CA 94107, USA and are used with permission.
|
||
|
||
-- END
|
||
|
||
----------------------------------------------------------------------
|
||
|
||
|