812 lines
42 KiB
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812 lines
42 KiB
Plaintext
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°°°°°°Ü °°Ü °°°ÜÜ°°°Ü °°°°°°Ü °°°°°°Ü °°Ü °°°ÜÜ°°°Ü °°°°°°Ü °°°°°°Ü
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°°Ûß°°Û °°Û °°Û°°Û°°Û °°Ûßßßß ß°°Ûßß °°Û °°Û°°Û°°Û °°Ûßßßß °°Ûßßßß
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°°°°°Ûß °°Û °°Û ßß°°Û °°°°°Ü °°Û °°Û °°Û ßß°°Û °°°°°Ü °°°°°°Ü
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°°Ûß°°Ü °°Û °°Û °°Û °°Ûßßß °°Û °°Û °°Û °°Û °°Ûßßß ßßß°°Û
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°°Û °°Û °°Û °°Û °°Û °°°°°°Ü °°Û °°Û °°Û °°Û °°°°°°Ü °°°°°°Û
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ßß ßß ßß ßß ßß ßßßßßß ßß ßß ßß ßß ßßßßßß ßßßßßß
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=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
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JUNE RELAYNET INTERNATIONAL MESSAGE EXCHANGE NEWSLETTER 1991
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=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
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---------------------------------------------------------------------------
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Table of Contents
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---------------------------------------------------------------------------
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Article# Subject Author
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1 Editors Corner Michael Brunk
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Node ID ->CSPACE
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2 Conference News Dan Deady
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Node ID ->PGHS
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3 Blipverts Mike Gunderloy
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Node ID ->ALBANY
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4 Interview: Frank LaRosa Inez Harrison
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Node ID ->MOONDOG
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5 One Day in the Life of a Sysop! Malia Boaz
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Node ID ->MWB
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6 RIME Rumors Michael Brunk
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Node ID ->CSPACE
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7 Be Your Own Programmer Robert Bogue
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Node ID ->IBMNET
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8 Poetry Corner Inez Harrison
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Node ID ->MOONDOG
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9 RelayNet BBS Highlight
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10 Notices
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--------------------------------------------------------------------------
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=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
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1 - EDITORS CORNER by Michael Brunk, Node ID ->CSPACE
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=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
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Is it June already?! Where has the year gone? This issue is a bit
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late primarily due to problems with my own BBS this last week. I was
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finally able to wrestle it to a deadlock and it seems to be ok now
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(knock on wood) allowing me to get to this NEXT project on what seems
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to be an endless list! This issue is somewhat sparse compared to our
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last, let's get some articles rolling in people! I'd *LOVE* to get
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some 'regulars' lined up so if you have ANY kind of idea for a
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monthly column please drop me a line!
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And now... on with the show!
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=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
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2 - CONFERENCE NEWS by Dan Deady, Node ID ->PGHS
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=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
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Official Announcement From The Conference Coordinator:
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The following Hosting changes are to be noted:
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41 MILITARY - Mike Dutton ->MEDINFO
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44 WINDOWS - Gregg Hommel ->CRS
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Bob Malakoff ->PROPC
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69 MYSTERY - Edwin Albetski ->NETEAST
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73 CUISINE - Howard Karten ->CHANNEL
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74 UNIX - Dennis McCunney ->RUNNINGB (this is an interim hosting)
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179 STRANGE - Michael Solinas ->PDSSIGI
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232 HOME SCHOOLING- Scott Hodgins ->LOCKSOFT
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The following conference is a new conference on the network:
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NAME: GRAPHIC BBS
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NUMBER: 261
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DESCRIPTION: This conference is for development of the Graphic BBS
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package that originally started development in the Pascal
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Conference. This will also serve as the support conference
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once the project is complete.
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HOST: Jason Hills Node ID ->ALPINE
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ACTIVITY: * NEW * Date: 06/11/91
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=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
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3 - BLIPVERTS by Mike Gunderloy, Node ID ->ALBANY
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=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
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[Editor's Note: These reviews are reprinted from FACTSHEET FIVE]
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CALENDAR MATE v4.0 (Shareware version CALMATE4.ZIP; registration
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$25 from Hawk Software, PO Box 3961, Regina, SK, S4T 3R9,
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CANADA): Unlike most other calendar programs, this one is
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oriented towards printed versions instead of on-screen reminders.
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It has a full set of features for constructing calendars,
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including flexible dating ("Fourth Wednesday of every month", for
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example, or "Tue-Fri") and easy viewing of appointments already
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set up. But after that you can get daily, monthly and yearly
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calendars hot off the press, so to speak. Includes laser printer
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support. Friendly and easy to use. (IBM)[ASP]
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DAYMASTER v. 3.50 (Shareware version DAYM350A.EXE; registration
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$20 from Unicorn Software Limited, PO Box 911, Wabash, IN
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46692-0911): This is a program designed to be run in your
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autoexec.bat file once a day. It combines two functions: trivia
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program and appointment book. Shipped with a database of 2500
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historical events, DayMaster also lets you put in your own
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reminder entries, so your dentist's appointment can share the
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same screen with Ty Cobb's birthday and the signing of the
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Declaration of Independence. The display is somewhat
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minimalistic, but functional. (IBM)[ASP]
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DISKLIST v. 2.10 (Shareware version DISKLS21.ZIP;
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registration $25 from Gulf Sierra, 14809 Clavel St., Rockville,
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MD 20853-1543): This is a slick little utility program to help
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you keep track of what's on floppy disks. Using either standard
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character printers or laser printers, it produces a list of what
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it on a diskette. You can get the final lists sized to 5 1/4" or
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3 1/2" disks, get one to six columns of names, get borders or no
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borders, or get a list of the contents of archive files on the
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diskette. No muss, no fuss, nice simple interface and it beats
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the hell out of handwriting your own labels. (IBM)[ASP]
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EM KLONDIKE, EM PYRAMID and EM POKER SOLITAIRE (Shareware
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versions KLONDK3.EXE, PYRSOL20.EXE and PYRMID10.EXE;
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registration $20 each from EM Software, PO Box 2052, Stn. A,
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Champaign, IL 61825-2052): A trio of excellent card games for use
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with an EGA monitor and a mouse. (You can use the keyboard but I
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wouldn't really recommend it). THe graphics here are simply
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stunning, better than on many VGA games I have seen, and the
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attention to detail, with undo commands, on-line help, changeable
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card backs and so on is also great. Very fine implementations of
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solitaire games that are beautiful to watch as well as fun to
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play. (IBM)[ASP]
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INCONTEXT v. 1.00 (Shareware version INCXT100.ZIP; registration
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$64 from Rams' Island Software, 8 Grand Pl., Newtown, CT 06470):
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Most DOS shells are not a great advance over the stark beauty of
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the DOS prompt itself, since they don't add anything to the basic
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functionality of DOS. InContext is different, being a full-blown
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implementation of object-oriented operation atop a DOS context.
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You can select groups of files by extension, and perform
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extension-specific operations on some or all of them. It moves
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smoothly between directories, and provides calendar management
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and a task list, remembering interrupted tasks and staying ready
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to resume them. There's a full-bodied macro language for
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designing your own actions or customizing the work environment.
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Add in the hypertext-based help system and on-disk manual, and
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the result is a truly flexible and worthwhile environment to work
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within. A very impressive package. (IBM)[ASP]
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KEY TO THE MOUSE release A (Shareware version K2ROD.ZIP; registration
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$20 from Andrew M. Saucci, Jr., 641 Koelbel Ct., Baldwin, NY
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11510-3915): This program implements a simple but clever idea to add
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some mouse control to almost any program. It allows you to use
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environment variables to define strings for each of the mouse keys to
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stuff into the keyboard buffer, and to call a particular program while
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doing so. For example, you can set up your file browser to let the mouse
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keys move you up and down, or use the left for Escape and the right for
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Enter in your database. The program is easy to use, leaves memory
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gracefully when it's finished, and seems to work flawlessly. (IBM)[ASP]
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PCCLOCK v.2.14 (Shareware version PCCLK214.ZIP;
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registration $10 from Michael J. Sadaway, Box 128-P, South
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Walpole, MA 02071): Well, you don't need to worry about getting
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the right time any more on your PC if you have this program. At
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the touch of a function key it uses your modem to dial up the
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National Institute of Standards and Technology (formerly NBS) and
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grab the time from their atomic clock. The program also includes
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a built-in digital screenclock, with all sorts of fancy color
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settings as well as chimes and an alarm. (IBM)[ASP]
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PERUSE v.1.11 (Freeware version PERUSE1.EXE and PERUSE2.EXE; disk
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available for $11 from Falk Data Systems, 5322 Rockwood Ct., El Paso, TX
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79932-2412): This is a minor update, reflecting mainly polishing to the
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documentation and on-line help. PERUSE is a file reader, but it's a
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great one, which can load memory resident, search and print files or
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pieces of files, work in hex or ASCII, and interact with your mouse. It
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also supports a pop-up DOS shell, which can be very handy. (IBM)[ASP]
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PICTURE PUZZLE v.1.2 (Shareware version PPUZZ12.ZIP;
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registration $17 from Software Creations, 26 Harris St., Clinton,
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MA 01510): This is quite simply one of the best new games for the
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PC I have seen come down the pike in a long time. The basic idea
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is pretty simple: take a picture, scramble it on the screen, and
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let the user reassemble it by swapping pairs of pieces. Where
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this program shines is in the attention to detail. You can change
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the number of puzzle pieces (making the same game suitable for
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ages 5 to 95), the color of the grid, the sounds, and more. You
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can use .GIF or .PCX pictures as well as the game's own .PUZ
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format. You can save puzzles in progress or get on-screen help
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for those tough pieces. On top of all this, the puzzles the have
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available are top-notch, with several extra collections also for
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sale. Dangerously addictive fun. (IBM)
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THE POOL MANAGER v.2.0 (Shareware version POOL.ZIP;
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registration $25 from American Systems, PO Box 604, LaGrange, IL
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60525-0604): This is a program to let you run your office
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football pool (or other sports pool, although the NFL roster is
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built in) without being accused of mopery and dopery or having to
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learn higher math. It starts out by asking for a schedule and a
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list of picks, and from there all you have to do is put in the
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results. It features customizable reports, different options for
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breaking ties, statistics by the week and by the season, and
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more. A well-done piece of specialized software. (IBM)[ASP]
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SWIMBASE v.1.20 (Shareware version SWIMDB12.ZIP;
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registration $49 from Words to Go, 2710 Apple Way, Dunkirk, MD
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20754-9705): A specialized, menu-driven database for those who
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need to run or keep track of the results of swim meets. It
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follows the USS (United States Swimming) rules for event names,
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age groups and scoring. It stores personal data on the swimmers
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too, so you can print rosters, address lists or mailing labels,
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as well as reports on the meets. Plus, it's flashy enough that
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you can probably convince one of the swimmers to do all the work
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if you're the coach. (IBM)[ASP]
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WinEdit v. 1.1A (Shareware version WINEDIT.ZIP;
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registration $59.95 from Wilson WindowWare, 2701 California Ave.
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SW #212, Seattle, WA 98116): This is a full-featured text editor
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designed for use with the Windows environment. It is intended
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mainly as a programmer's editor, supporting files up to 16MB
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long. It also allows you to proceed through the compile/link
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cycle from within the editor, calling your external programs and
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reporting the error messages back, even jumping to the correct
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line of code to fix them. It is reasonably fast and will hope
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between multiple open files with ease. About the only problem I
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had was that some of their icons were too cutesy to be
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immediately obvious, but there is also a full menu system to get
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to everything. (IBM)[ASP]
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WinZip v. 1.00A (Shareware version WINZIP.ZIP;
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registration $29 from Nico Mak, PO Box 919, Bristol, CT
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06011-0919): This is a shell program designed to help run the
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popular PKZIP/PKUNZIP suite of programs under MicroSoft Windows
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3.0. It features an interface that will look familiar to any
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Windows user, and the ability to add and subtract files from a
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.ZIP file by just selecting them. It is of course somewhat slower
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than working from the raw command line, so this program is not
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for power users, but the occasional user who just needs a few
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zips once in a while should certainly look into it. Also
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available is PMZIP, which provides the same functionality for
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those using OS/2. (IBM)[ASP]
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=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
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4 - INTERVIEW: FRANK LAROSA - CREATOR OF SEARCHLIGHT BBS SOFTWARE
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by Inez Harrison, Node ID ->MOONDOG
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=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
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When I was first introduced to Frank LaRosa last year, I smiled
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and said hello as one does upon meeting a stranger but after
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learning that he was the brain behind Searchlight Software
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("SLBBS") I took more of an interest. So this was the face
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behind the SLBBS software that I had been seeing everywhere.
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Frank LaRosa is 25 years old, single, born in Queens, and
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living StonyBrook.
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On with the interview!
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Q: Tell us exactly what SLBBS is and how it all started?
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Searchlight is a bulletin board program: the software that
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enables you to turn turn your computer into a BBS system.
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Searchlight started in 1985. I had just gotten a modem for
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my TRS-80 (1200 baud was the top speed in those days) and
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enjoyed it so much, I decided to open my own board. Back
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then, there wasn't much BBS software you could buy, and what
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there was, wasn't too impressive in my opinion, so I decided
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I'd have a go at writing my own program. The first version
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of Searchlight was written in BASIC and ran on a 48K TRS-80
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Model III with two 180K floppy drives. It ran for about 2
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years in more or less the same configuration (more floppy
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drives were added later) until I rewrote the program in
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Turbo Pascal and switched to a PC in 1987. A few copies of
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Searchlight were sold to local Sysops in 1987 but it didn't
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become well known until the first shareware version it was
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released in '88.
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The basic concept behind SLBBS is to design a remote bulletin board
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system that uses the kind of interface you'd expect to find in any
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modern PC program. Other BBS programs, no matter how sophisticated the
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are internally, rely on simple line-oriented input and output.
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Searchlight broke that mold by becoming one of the first systems with
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built in full screen editing, and the only system with screen oriented
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option field editing and Lotus 1-2-3 style menu bars.
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(Searchlight has a UTI driver now which supports PC Relay,
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as well as FIDOnet.)
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Q: What was developing SLBBS like and how much time was devoted to it:
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A: Developing SLBBS required a strong devotion to the product
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because it took almost a year of programming time before I
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began to see any income from the product. Fortunately, I had
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the time and energy necessary to do it.
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Like most software projects, developing SLBBS is a cycle between writing
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code and listening to user feedback, comments and bug reports. The
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unique aspect of writing a BBS program, though, is that the feedback
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comes in almost instantaneously over my BBS, which allows me to test new
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features and respond to problems very quickly.
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Searchlight has consumed the majority of my programming time since I
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started the IBM version in 1987, and that includes countless
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midnight-oil sessions. I don't even want to estimate the number of hours
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I put into Searchlight because if I did, it would probably turn out that
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I made 37 cents an hour for all that time! Many people don't realize
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that Searchlight is my full time occupation but it is, and has been for
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over 2 years.
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Q: What does it give (in your opinion) that others do not?
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A: A great user interface including full screen editors, and a powerful
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conferencing system. Also good support: a company that has a vision and
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a record for improving our product year after year. You won't have to
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switch products a year from now because we didn't keep up with the
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latest developments.
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Q: I've noticed many new BBS/Sysop's start out using SLBBS.
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Any insite as to why?
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A: I think it's a combination of things. For one, Searchlight is very easy
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to use and install. It's also smaller to download than many other
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programs, which may attract people who download the shareware copy from
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BBS, and less expensive to register.
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I think new users who take the time to compare Searchlight to other
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products really get an opportunity to see its superior features.
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Inevitably, anyone who gets involved in bulletin boards tends to favor
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the first program they encounter, and that may be why those who have used
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a different BBS program are reluctant to give Searchlight a try.
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All kinds of Sysops use SLBBS. I think I attract a lot of the younger
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sysops and hobbyist sysops, probably because of Searchlight's low price
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It's really too bad that others get the wrong impression of SLBBS from
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its price tag, because Searchlight equals or surpasses products that
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cost, in some cases, 5 or 10 times its price.
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Q: How successful has SLBBS been?
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A: I've been delighted at its success and at the positive comments I receive
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from so many users. I started Searchlight Software with basically no
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money and have built the company up into a successful full time business
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totally on the strength of Searchlight BBS sales, and in a suprisingly
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short time. Now I've reached the point where I can begin spending money
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on advertising and fancy promotional flyers just like the "big boys" do.
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Searchlight is probably the number 3 product in its class, but it's right
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to that level over a lot of software that never made it very far. I'm
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committed to having Searchlight reach the #1 position within 2 years.
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Not counting unregistered shareware copies, there are currently about
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1100 registered Searchlight systems out there. I've sold copies all over
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the world, including quite a few in Australia and New Zealand. I really
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enjoy talking with overseas Sysops, it's a great fringe benefit to my
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job.
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Q: How did you come up with the name "Searchlight"?
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A: A lot of people ask me that question, which always suprises me.
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Searchlight was the name of the school newspaper that a friend and I
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worked on during our junior and senior years in high school. When we
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graduated, the paper folded, so we've always considered it "our" paper.
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A few years later when I started my BBS, it was the first thing that came
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to mind. Searchlight was actually the name of my BBS itself before it
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became the name of the BBS software product.
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I'm really glad I ended up with the name Searchlight because I hate
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thinking up names for things. In retrospect, Searchlight is really an
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excellent name for the product. If that name hadn't come to me I might
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well have called it "Modem Electronic Services System (MESS)" or
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something equally inane.
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End of interview
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I'd like to thank Frank LaRosa for taking the time to share
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this information with us.
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Additional information can be obtained directly from Frank
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LaRosa as follows:
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Searchlight Software
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PO Box 640
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Stony Brook, NY 11790
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Voice 516/751-2966
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BBS 516/689-2566
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=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
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5 - ONE DAY IN THE LIFE OF A SYSOP! by Malia Boaz, Node ID ->MWB
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=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
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12:00 A.M.
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The BBS goes down for automatic maintenance. I have watched it go
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thru it's paces a zillion times, but today I found a new Door with
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a nightly maintenance program in it and I needed to be sure that it
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doesn't hang the system up. It did fine. It was silly of me to
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stay up and worry. A good 45 minutes of sleep time lost again.
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4:15 A.M
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The BBS goes down for the nightly mail transfer. I have a Telix
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script that has not caused me a moment's problem. It has been
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very reliable and mail transfers work like a charm. I have set
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Telix to "sound on", so that when I am awake and using the
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program, I can work in the kitchen or laundry room and hear the
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end of a d/l. I sleep about 50 feet from the computer with 2
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doors between the room it resides in and my own, but if it
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didn't beep, I'd know it in an instant. In my sleep, I hear the
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|
first beep, (I think), but the second one is too slow in coming.
|
|
I better get up and check and make sure everything went according
|
|
to plan. Darn, it was the second beep I heard, transfer's fine.
|
|
Look at that, 367 new messages. Wonder if that guy in Maryland
|
|
resolved his problem with his wife? I sure would like to take a
|
|
quick peek.
|
|
|
|
4:34 A.M.
|
|
Just a quick peek at Men's Issues and I'll hop right back into
|
|
bed. It was so sad, he is divorced and his wife is moving out
|
|
of state. He was going to hire an attorney and see if he couldn't
|
|
get the courts to make her stay. Well look at that 6 personal
|
|
messages. Since I started using SLMR, I have never been so
|
|
tickled, I used to have to wade through all the messages to
|
|
find the ones addressed to me, but now, they are all separated
|
|
and I can go through them very fast. Here's the one I have been
|
|
waiting for, the answer to my WP51 problem. Two answers, both
|
|
say to do something entirely different. Wonder what will happen
|
|
if I try them? Shouldn't take but 10 minutes at the most. Since
|
|
getting RIME, my life at work has become alot easier. I used to
|
|
have to struggle with word processing problems all alone and
|
|
wading thru some of the docs is like learning a foreign language.
|
|
Well, this is for work, so it has to be done. If I can get these
|
|
suggestions to work, it will save me many hours of labor later
|
|
in the day.
|
|
|
|
6:05 A.M.
|
|
Interesting, both suggestions work. Great, will I impress them
|
|
in the office tomorrow morning. "Tomorrow morning", Heaven's,
|
|
it's already here. Usually set the alarm for 6:30 a.m., no sense
|
|
in going back to bed for 15 minutes, cause as sure as I am sit-
|
|
ting here, it will take me longer than that to just shut
|
|
my eyes and fall asleep. Oh well, what else is new in the mail
|
|
packet? That awful person is sending out a prank message.....
|
|
Can't be a year since I paid my last dues, it was just last ....
|
|
let me think....just before Spring Week-end, doesn't seem like
|
|
it, but a year has gone by.....Nothing new from the guy who is
|
|
gone to Israel for a month, guess he's not back yet. Oh this
|
|
looks interesting a new Door for RIME TIMES. Says I can d/l it
|
|
from XXX board. Let's see, it's early enough to still get the
|
|
discount telephone rates. It's the doors that drive me crazier
|
|
faster than anything. The users are always clamoring for
|
|
different and more challenging ones. Last month I spent $80
|
|
registering that messaging utility and the door stacker was a big
|
|
bite but it will pay for itself, easier on the harddrive. Just
|
|
a quick phone call and I'll d/l and configure that new door. Give
|
|
them all a surprise when they call today.
|
|
|
|
8:00 A.M.
|
|
The docs make it sound so easy, just unzip the file and edit the
|
|
small .cfg file and it should work. Works great in local mode
|
|
but why is it not running from remote? Ok, Ok, Malia, calm down,
|
|
go thru the files one more time, it just is something tiny,
|
|
something you are overlooking. There it is, a missing "\" . Oh
|
|
no, going to be late to work one more day. My boss is gonna
|
|
kill me. How many times can you say "the car wouldn't start" or
|
|
"the alarm didn't go off". he is going to get on to me yet.
|
|
Wish I didn't have to go to a job everyday. I love working on the
|
|
computer right here at home, but never have as yet heard of a BBS
|
|
that actually MADE money.
|
|
|
|
10:10 A.M.
|
|
One quick call home to the BBS. The harddrive sounded a bit slow
|
|
this morning. I hope that door is not locking up. Busy! Bet
|
|
it's Mrs. Smith playing Stackem for the hundredth time again.
|
|
She's home most of the day, why does she always have to call when
|
|
I need to get on.
|
|
|
|
10:50 A.M.
|
|
Something's wrong, it's been busy too long. BBS time is only
|
|
30 minutes. She would have had to get off by now. How many times
|
|
will this auto dialer recycle anyway? I hope no one is trying
|
|
to FAX in or out this morning. I have had that darn line tied up
|
|
for the last 45 minutes if not more. One day there is going to be
|
|
a real emergency here at the office and someone is going to get
|
|
wise to the fact that I have been modeming at work using the
|
|
line.
|
|
|
|
11:55 A.M.
|
|
Still not able to get through, I'd better sneak home during lunch
|
|
and see if the board isn't hung up.
|
|
|
|
12:20 P.M.
|
|
Better check the mailbox. It's here, it's here, the Time Door
|
|
I ordered last month! Great, now I can add a new option to the
|
|
BBS. Bet this won't take 5 minutes to install. Needs a Brun30,
|
|
let me see, I had a copy of that somewhere, right, it's on the
|
|
Tape backup, glad I saved it. Ok, so I have to bring the BBS
|
|
down for a few minutes to get it, but it will be worth it when
|
|
the new door goes up. I can't believe this, it's working fine,
|
|
was really just busy the whole time. It's my BBS, you'd think
|
|
I could get on it once in awhile. Oh well, at least it's OK.
|
|
|
|
1:15 P.M.
|
|
Finished, got the Brun30. Forgot how slow those tape backups
|
|
are, but they sure beat the old way of inserting disks and having
|
|
to sit right by the machine the whole time. Getting that 210 MG
|
|
drive was great but I can't imagine backing it up to floppies.
|
|
Took too long getting the file, I'll have to configure the door
|
|
later. Better get my buns back to work NOW!
|
|
|
|
3:45 P.M.
|
|
I can hardly keep my eyes open. I should have slept last night
|
|
instead of playing with that new door. Will this day ever end?
|
|
My family says I am addicted to the computer. They say I never do
|
|
anything anymore, but I am so tired at the end of the day !
|
|
|
|
5:15 P.M.
|
|
Think I'll stop by the Computer Warehouse tonight on the way home
|
|
and take a look at that new 386 40Mhz machine. Everyone is raving
|
|
about it's speed compared to the new 486. Wonder how much it
|
|
would set me back? I just upgraded 4 months ago to my own 386SX
|
|
16Mhz from the old 8088. How come just as soon as I buy something,
|
|
there is something else newer to replace it with. I really wanted
|
|
to save for the 9600 baud modem but a grand is alot of money.
|
|
Someday!
|
|
|
|
6:45 P.M.
|
|
21 calls today, not bad. 432 minutes used. 8 files d/l ed. They eat
|
|
those things faster than I can find new ones. Just glad there are
|
|
programmers out there making them everyday. Oh, I missed the phone
|
|
bill when I was home for lunch, sure hate to open up this baby.
|
|
$122.16, not that bad, I was worried that those calls I made to
|
|
California were going to really drive it up, but considering last
|
|
month's bill, $200 odd dollars, this isn't bad. Better get
|
|
started now, Time Door waits!
|
|
|
|
8:35 P.M.
|
|
"OK, OK, John, I'm coming". Just when I was finally beginning to
|
|
understand the docs with the new Time door, someone wants to page
|
|
me. If this guy only knew how to type. Takes him 3 minutes a
|
|
letter. I could be here for hours. "What? Scan78 IS not on my
|
|
board. I never posted it, remember the Message I had up about it
|
|
being a Trojan? I was the one to tell you first. No, I don't
|
|
want it, don't care, keep it for yourself" Sometimes, I wonder if
|
|
they have any brains at all. Last week he u/l's me 3 files all
|
|
dated 85/86. Who even has DOS 2.0 anymore. Primitive files, a
|
|
waste of my time and his. He d/l's about 15 files a week from
|
|
off the BBS, bet he is doing the same thing somewhere else, why
|
|
doesn't he u/l one of those?
|
|
|
|
10:05 P.M.
|
|
There, got both RIMENEWS and TIMEDOOR working. What a relief.
|
|
Thought I'd never get them configured right. Hey, what's this?
|
|
LivCat!! LivCat!!!. I was sure I checked the spelling on that
|
|
new Main menu screen. Great!!! 5 different screens and they all
|
|
have to be corrected. This is murder. I talked with another
|
|
sysop who always has such tailored screens on his BBS. Wish I
|
|
had the guts to capture someone else's screens and display them
|
|
as my own. I be afraid that one day one of them would call me
|
|
and see what I have done.
|
|
|
|
11:30 P.M.
|
|
There, menu screens are done, thank G-d for ANSIIDRAW, I'd hate
|
|
to have to do this all by hand one letter at a time. Ok, time to
|
|
hit the sack. Am I ever beat. But it's so close to midnight and
|
|
the new TIMEDOOR has a routine for the midnight maintenance, just
|
|
30 more minutes and I can rest, assured that it cycled thru
|
|
correctly. BBS is ringing.... Hey, it's Sam, what a great guy,
|
|
Sam knows everything about Computers, wonder what he thinks about
|
|
that new 386 40Mhz I saw today, I'll just chat with him awhile
|
|
until maintenance time. How did this ever happen to me? My lawn
|
|
hasn't been mowed in 2 weeks, the house is a mess, laundry piled
|
|
up in the back room. What is a grocery store, I have forgotten
|
|
what it looks like inside. Too many pizza deliveries, All for the
|
|
love of a computer.
|
|
|
|
11:55 P.M.
|
|
I'll sleep this week end, after I do the backup, compress the
|
|
drives, pack the message base, update the file folders, read and
|
|
answer all my messages and clean house!
|
|
Lord, give me strength!
|
|
|
|
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
|
|
6 - RIME RUMORS by Michael Brunk, Node ID ->CSPACE
|
|
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
|
|
|
|
[Editors Note: We refuse to be held responsible for the following
|
|
article. Any resemblence to actual news or factual information is
|
|
entirely coincidental.]
|
|
|
|
Anyone notice Howard acting a little strangely lately? Reliable
|
|
sources tell us he's been so relaxed he's seen at his PC sans bowtie.
|
|
Might this indicate the rumor that he's actually been composing
|
|
11-line messages in ANSI color off-line may be true?
|
|
|
|
RIME Times is pleased to reveal that we have determined that there is
|
|
*NO* truth to the rumor that difficult connections at NetHub have
|
|
been caused by the relocation of Bonnie's server into the trunk of
|
|
her car so that she can operate it while on the New Jersey Turnpike.
|
|
This one turned out to be a false report. Indications are it was
|
|
leaked by a high-ranked RIME official to throw RT investigators off
|
|
the REAL story. What are they trying to hide?
|
|
|
|
PCBoard sysops are grumbling about MarkMail these days. Apparently
|
|
trouble reports have been met with slow responses. Could this have
|
|
something to do with the giddy grins coming from the Gap BBS camp?
|
|
|
|
Wild speculation is flying concerning the next generation networking
|
|
software that RelayNet will use. After reading all of the
|
|
suggestions and specifications being bandied about, an RT expert
|
|
consultant concluded that the new hub will incorporate a time bending
|
|
capability and harness the power of a black hole to instantly
|
|
compress waiting mail. If anyone can do it Kip can!
|
|
|
|
Heard a good rumor lately? Got some info under your pillow you just
|
|
HAVE to tell someone but have been afraid to? Did you accidently
|
|
read a message meant for someone else with some REALLY juicy tidbits
|
|
enclosed? The rumor mongers at RIME Times want to know! Route a
|
|
message, preferably R/O, to Michael Brunk at Node ID ->CSPACE.
|
|
|
|
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
|
|
7 - BE YOUR OWN PROGRAMMER by Robert Bouge, Node ID ->IBMNET
|
|
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
|
|
|
|
One of the toughest problems, if not the toughest problem,
|
|
that a programmer has to face is understanding what it is that the
|
|
user (you) wants.
|
|
There is talk in the computer world of the user interface
|
|
which is nothing more than what you as a user see of the program.
|
|
It does not deal with the internal workings of the program although
|
|
it conveys the results to you. This critical piece of work is not
|
|
the end to understanding your problem nor is it the solution.
|
|
That is what programmers as a group are charged with. Finding
|
|
solutions to peoples problems (as they relate to computers) and
|
|
conveying that solution to the person who needs it. The unfortu-
|
|
nate circumstance of this is that programmers necessarily need to
|
|
know a great deal about the problem, often much more than can be
|
|
easily explained.
|
|
The explanation of a problem is the weak link. You understand
|
|
your problem and probably know of a manual method of solving the
|
|
problem but you need to convey all of the information that you used
|
|
to come up with the manual method to allow the programmer to come
|
|
up with a computerized method, or do you?
|
|
The information you used to make your judgement was probably
|
|
not just based on the tangible evidence at hand but by years of
|
|
experience as well. Just as you can't teach one of your employees
|
|
your experience, you can not teach a programmer your experience.
|
|
Luckily programmers are very efficient at translating a manual
|
|
method into a method that can be computerized.
|
|
If you already have a manual plan for dealing with a particu-
|
|
lar problem then it would definitely be to your advantage to give
|
|
that to the programmer you wish to solve your problem, it will make
|
|
your explanation time much shorter and in general leads to a more
|
|
accurate solution. I would suggest, however, that the time savings
|
|
during the programs creation and the greater accuracy of the
|
|
program should be reason enough to create a manual plan before
|
|
going to a programmer. (It is very important to test your manual
|
|
plan to make sure it works or else the program surely won't.)
|
|
By generating a plan, a set of actions that the programmer can
|
|
set up within a program you have eliminated most of the interpreta-
|
|
tion of your explanation. If the plan is detailed enough that a
|
|
person can do the job then the programmer will be able to translate
|
|
those actions into a program. More often than not, however, a plan
|
|
or an explanation is not detailed enough to handle all of the
|
|
intricacies. For instance, recently I was asked to correct a
|
|
transaction history report since it reported activity on inactive
|
|
accounts. The programmer who was initially asked to write the
|
|
program was not informed to exclude inactive accounts and therefor
|
|
made no efforts to exclude them. So as you can see subtle
|
|
problems can not always be detected by examination of a problem
|
|
from an outside source.
|
|
Since an outside source can not very often understand all of
|
|
the intricacies to a problem and has the potential of overlooking
|
|
something that you would find important why bother giving this task
|
|
to another person to do? Why don't you learn programming and write
|
|
your own solutions? There are several answers but a few that
|
|
spring to mind are... 1. You don't have the time to learn program-
|
|
ming, let alone create all of the programs you need. 2. 'You
|
|
always let a tank builder build tanks if you want them to work.'
|
|
In our case, programmers are trained to write programs and to
|
|
understand some of the hidden "Gotcha"s of programming. 3. It
|
|
almost requires a different mind-set that most people are not
|
|
willing to obtain.
|
|
So what am I saying? How do you become your own programmer?
|
|
By eliminating part of the programmers job by providing them with
|
|
a step-by-step plan for solving the problem. Then you don't need
|
|
to learn all of the programming languages, and the hardware, etc.
|
|
All you have to worry about is how would I solve the problem.
|
|
Solve your own problems, that is what a major part of being a
|
|
programmer is.
|
|
|
|
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
|
|
8 - POETRY CORNER by Inez Harrison, Node ID ->MOONDOG
|
|
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
|
|
[Editors Note: Two poems this month, both dedicated to dad's everywhere!]
|
|
|
|
To Dad
|
|
|
|
As far back as I can remember
|
|
You were there--
|
|
When you came home from work
|
|
My world lit up with joy--Daddy's home!
|
|
|
|
As I grew, you became my friend
|
|
I could share my accomplishments with you
|
|
And you smiled--
|
|
You were proud of everything I did
|
|
As for my sorrows and downfalls
|
|
You were the shoulder to cry on
|
|
The rock I climbed to reach the top once more
|
|
Because of you--
|
|
I have the strength to live in the world today
|
|
|
|
Life may not always have been perfect
|
|
I know you wanted the best for me
|
|
And you gave everything you could
|
|
The most important thing is--
|
|
You gave me complete and total love
|
|
And knowing that I can live without your presence
|
|
|
|
You are always in my heart, Dad
|
|
For as long as I live--
|
|
You will never completely die
|
|
You gave the world--and me--your best
|
|
And I love you for it
|
|
|
|
--Posted with love and remembrance
|
|
Teri Brayall
|
|
|
|
|
|
A father is, so many things...
|
|
this much is shale-and-lime,
|
|
For both are soft, and used a lot
|
|
and re-main through-out all time.
|
|
|
|
Your steadfast love and wisdom have
|
|
prepared me for the trials...
|
|
Which seem to come-and-go with life,
|
|
In is an honor-to-be your child.
|
|
|
|
By: John Scudder
|
|
|
|
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
|
|
9 - RELAYNET BBS HIGHLIGHT
|
|
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
|
|
|
|
This month we highlight Directory Assistance BBS, RelayNet Node ID
|
|
->DIRASNT. Jim Goodenough, sysop, has had the board online in Santa
|
|
Rosa, CA since April of 1988. The board is currently using RBBS
|
|
17.3B with modifications. It currently supports two remote nodes and
|
|
one local node using LANtastic.
|
|
|
|
Directory Assistance serves as a support/distribution site for
|
|
JIMMER, {COMMO} and SHEZ. Latest releases are always available for
|
|
download. Jim also provides BBS support for the PC Users' Group of
|
|
the Redwoods.
|
|
|
|
You can reach Directory Assistance at (707)538-8710 HST or
|
|
(707)538-8780 2400 Baud.
|
|
|
|
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
|
|
10 - NOTICES
|
|
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
|
|
|
|
The RIME Times staff is now maintaining the newsletter AUTOSEND list.
|
|
If you are a RelayNet node and would like the newsletter sent to your
|
|
board automatically each month send a message to Michael Brunk, Node
|
|
ID ->CSPACE or John Dodson, Node ID ->CANTINA. Please check to see
|
|
if your hub will AUTOSEND it to avoid duplication.
|
|
|
|
Current listing of Bulletin Board software participating in RelayNet:
|
|
|
|
SpitFire GAP TriTel
|
|
QuickBBS GT Power
|
|
Remote Access MajorBBS
|
|
PCBoard/ProDoor dBBS
|
|
RBBS EIS
|
|
Wildcat! UltraBBS
|
|
|
|
To make life easier for the editors, the following submission guidelines
|
|
are suggested:
|
|
|
|
1) To be included in the current month newsletter all articles must be
|
|
submitted by the 5th of the month.
|
|
|
|
2) A routed private message in either the COMMON is acceptable. Please
|
|
address and route to: Michael Brunk, Node ID ->CSPACE or John Dodson
|
|
Node ID ->CANTINA.
|
|
|
|
3) Your name as used on RIME.
|
|
|
|
4) Your node id if you are a RIME sysop or your "home" board id if you
|
|
are a RIME user.
|
|
|
|
5) Any special instructions.
|
|
|
|
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
|
|
The RIME Times is published monthly by the membership of RelayNet
|
|
International Message Exchange as its official newsletter. Users and
|
|
Sysops are encouraged to contribute. Submissions and questions may be
|
|
directed to the editor Michael Brunk, Node ID ->CSPACE.
|
|
|
|
(c)Copyright 1991, The RelayNet International Message Exchange. Permission
|
|
is hereby granted for unlimited distribution and duplication, provided
|
|
such distribution and duplication are strictly for non-commercial purposes
|
|
only. All other rights reserved. RelayNet and RIME are registered
|
|
trademarks.
|
|
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
|