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1835 lines
89 KiB
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# #
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# BTN: Birmingham Telecommunications News #
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# #
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################################################################
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----------------------------------------------------------------
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COPYRIGHT 1993 ISSN 1055-4548
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----------------------------------------------------------------
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Volume 6, Issue 11 Issue #64 December 1993
|
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----------------------------------------------------------------
|
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||
|
||
TABLE OF CONTENTS
|
||
-----------------
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||
|
||
article title author
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||
----------------------------------------------------------------
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||
Disclaimer/Statement of Policy.............................Staff
|
||
*Party Announcement!*................................Mark Maisel
|
||
From The Editor.................................Scott Hollifield
|
||
Submission Guidelines...........................................
|
||
Letters to BTN.......................................BTN Readers
|
||
First Annual BTN Art Contest...............................Rules
|
||
Editorial..........................................Dean Costello
|
||
The Last Hegemony, Part 3.....................Christopher Mohney
|
||
"Dear Jan"...........................................Jeff Vaughn
|
||
Games Children Play..................................Damion Furi
|
||
Life on the Lines..............................Bernie Starchaser
|
||
Cafe Spotlight: G.G.'s In The Park....................David Moss
|
||
Local Music in December.............................Judy Ranelli
|
||
Notes From The Trenches............................Dean Costello
|
||
BTN ProFile: Bernie Starchaser........................The Bishop
|
||
Special Interest Groups (SIGs).........................Eric Hunt
|
||
Known BBS Numbers...................................James Minton
|
||
----------------------------------------------------------------
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-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
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|
||
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################################################################
|
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DISCLAIMER
|
||
AND STATEMENT OF POLICY
|
||
FOR BTN
|
||
################################################################
|
||
|
||
|
||
We at BTN try our best to assure the accuracy of articles and
|
||
information in our publication. We assume no responsibility for damage
|
||
due to errors, omissions, etc. The liability, if any for BTN, its
|
||
*editors and writers, for damages relating to any errors or omissions,
|
||
etc., shall be limited to the cost of a one year subscription to BTN,
|
||
even if BTN, its editors or writers have been advised of the likelihood
|
||
of such damages occurring.
|
||
|
||
With the conclusion of that nasty business, we can get on with our
|
||
policy for publication and reproduction of BTN articles. We publish
|
||
monthly with a deadline of the fifteenth of the month prior to
|
||
publication. If you wish to submit an article, you may do so at any time
|
||
but bear in mind the deadline if you wish for your work to appear in a
|
||
particular issue. It is not our purpose to slander or otherwise harm a
|
||
person or reputation and we accept no responsibility for the content of
|
||
the articles prepared by our writers. Our writers own their work and it
|
||
is protected by copyright. We allow reprinting of articles from BTN
|
||
with only a few restrictions. The author may object to a reprint, in
|
||
which case he will specify in the content of his article. Otherwise,
|
||
please feel free to reproduce any article from BTN as long as the
|
||
source, BTN, is specified, and as long as the author's name and the
|
||
article's original title are retained. If you use one of our articles,
|
||
please forward a copy of your publication to:
|
||
|
||
|
||
Mark Maisel
|
||
Publisher, BTN
|
||
606 Twin Branch Terrace
|
||
Birmingham, AL 35216
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||
(205) 823-3956
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||
|
||
|
||
We thank you for taking the time to read our offering and we hope that
|
||
you like it. We also reserve the right to have a good time while doing
|
||
all of this and not get too serious about it.
|
||
|
||
|
||
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
|
||
|
||
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################################################################
|
||
FREEBIE!!!
|
||
GET IT WHILE IT'S HOT! Systems That Offer Free BTN
|
||
################################################################
|
||
|
||
The following boards allow BTN to be downloaded freely, that is
|
||
with no charge to any existing upload/download ratios.
|
||
|
||
ADAnet One Alter-Ego Bone Yard
|
||
Bus System The Castle Channel 8250
|
||
C.A.B. The Comfy Chair! Crunchy Frog
|
||
DC Info Exchange Final Frontier The Guardian
|
||
Hardware Hotline Homewood's Hell Hole Joker's Castle
|
||
Leaping's Lounge Lemon Grove Lion's Den
|
||
Martyrdom Again?! The MATRIX Milliways BBS
|
||
The Outer Limits Owl's Nest Playground
|
||
Safe Harbor Southern Stallion Starbase 12
|
||
Thy Master's Dungeon Weekends BBS
|
||
|
||
|
||
(This list includes some systems which are not local to Birmingham and
|
||
therefore not included on our BBS Numbers list.)
|
||
|
||
If you are a sysop and you allow BTN to be downloaded freely, please let
|
||
me know via The Matrix or Crunchy Frog so that I can post your board as
|
||
a free BTN distributor. Thanks.
|
||
|
||
|
||
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
|
||
|
||
|
||
################################################################
|
||
NEWSFLASH!
|
||
NEWSFLASH!
|
||
NEWSFLASH!
|
||
################################################################
|
||
|
||
|
||
ANNOUNCING BY POPULAR DEMAND!!
|
||
|
||
THE ***RETURN***
|
||
OF THE
|
||
---===***>>> BTN PARTY <<<***===---
|
||
!!!!!!!
|
||
|
||
Date: Saturday, Dec. 4, 1993
|
||
|
||
Time: 6:00 p.m.
|
||
|
||
Place: Home of Mark and Kathy Maisel
|
||
606 Twin Branch Terrace, Vestavia
|
||
|
||
What: BTN Party
|
||
|
||
If you need further directions, please call (205)-823-3956. If you
|
||
reach the answering service, do leave a message. Your call will be
|
||
returned, provided you leave a valid phone number in the message.
|
||
|
||
We will probably have some snack foods on hand and soft drinks. If you
|
||
have a preference as to food, then be sure to bring it. If you are of
|
||
legal age, you will be expected to bring your own alcoholic beverage,
|
||
should you desire them. If you are not, then don't bring any as you will
|
||
be asked to leave. Do not bring any illegal substances or items or you
|
||
will also be asked to leave. The Vestavia Police are not known to be as
|
||
forgiving as have been the Birmingham Police.
|
||
|
||
This party has a very special purpose. It has come to my attention that
|
||
many of you would like to write for BTN. The staff and I will be on
|
||
hand to help you with the complicated procedures surrouding the
|
||
submission and publication of your articles, reviews, and editorial
|
||
commentaries. We know that you've always wanted a chance and now you
|
||
will have it.
|
||
|
||
A primitive map follows.
|
||
|
||
MM, Pub
|
||
|
||
The easiest route is to get on Columbiana Road via either US HWY 31 or I-65N
|
||
exit to Vestavia/Hoover. Proceed up Columbiana to Tyler Road. Take Tyler
|
||
Road to Twin Branch Drive. Take the left fork to Twin Branch Terrace. Our
|
||
House is the next to last on the right side of the street. The "X"'s mark
|
||
the location. The asterisks refer to traffic lights. The first is at the
|
||
I-65N exit and goes directly onto Columbiana. The second is Columbiana<6E> <20>
|
||
and Tyler. The third is Hackberry/Southland and Tyler. <20> US <20>
|
||
<20> HWY<57>
|
||
This map is not drawn to scale! <20> 31 <20>
|
||
<20> <20>Columbiana <20> <20>
|
||
Hackberry<72><79> \ \ <20><>Road <20> <20>
|
||
Lane <20><> \ I-65 \ <20><> <20> <20>
|
||
<20><> \ \ <20><> <20> <20>
|
||
__________Tyler Road____________________*3_______\_________\*2 <20> <20>
|
||
<20> <20> <20> <20> \ <20>\ <20> <20>
|
||
<20>Twin Branch <20>Donna <20>Paden <20><> \ <20><> \ <20> <20>
|
||
<20>Drive <20>Drive <20>Drive <20><>Southland \ <20><> \ <20> <20>
|
||
<20> <20> <20> <20><>Drive \ <20><><EFBFBD><EFBFBD><EFBFBD><EFBFBD><EFBFBD><EFBFBD>\ *1 <20>
|
||
<20> <20><><EFBFBD><EFBFBD><EFBFBD>Ŀ \ \ <20>
|
||
<20> <20><><EFBFBD><EFBFBD><EFBFBD><EFBFBD><EFBFBD><EFBFBD><EFBFBD><EFBFBD><EFBFBD><EFBFBD><EFBFBD><EFBFBD>\<5C><><EFBFBD><EFBFBD><EFBFBD>Ŀ \
|
||
<20><><EFBFBD><EFBFBD><EFBFBD> \ <20> <20> \
|
||
<20><> <20>Twin Branch \<5C>\ <20>
|
||
<EFBFBD><EFBFBD> 606<30>Terrace <20> \<5C>
|
||
<EFBFBD> XX<58><--- <20> <20>
|
||
<EFBFBD>_____<EFBFBD>__________________Swiss Lane_____ <20> <20>
|
||
|
||
|
||
|
||
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
|
||
|
||
|
||
|
||
################################################################
|
||
FROM
|
||
THE EDITOR Scott Hollifield
|
||
################################################################
|
||
|
||
|
||
You know, I've never gone in for that "summer equals birth, winter
|
||
equals death" stuff.
|
||
|
||
It makes for some pretty poetry, but it's not really accurate unless
|
||
you're a plant. Our own calendar may end with the onset of winter, but
|
||
it begins with it too. If things die at the approach of night and
|
||
winter, then why are winter nights my favorite? I'm certainly no fan of
|
||
death... quite the contrary. Seeing things in winter is like putting on
|
||
a new pair of glasses. It's feeling cold when our senses are the
|
||
sharpest. And the biggest birthday celebration of the largest religion
|
||
in America takes place in December, a holiday which I am always pleased
|
||
to celebrate for my own reasons.
|
||
|
||
It's with that mood in mind that I am also pleased to present a
|
||
slightly reborn BTN.
|
||
|
||
You've probably already noticed the cosmetic changes, but there are
|
||
other changes beneath the surface which are busy at work, like Santa's
|
||
elves.
|
||
|
||
We're expanding our staff to provide a wider base of interest.
|
||
We've re-thought out a lot of things that make BTN tick, and in the
|
||
months ahead, you can be sure that we'll be tinkering with them a bit.
|
||
Plus, we're reinforcing our commitment to make sure there's a BTN in
|
||
every stocking; in compiling our Known BBS Numbers, we're making the
|
||
list and checking it twice, so to speak.
|
||
|
||
In short, better service, more substance.
|
||
|
||
By example, this month you'll see a brand-new set of submission
|
||
guidelines in case you're interested in writing for BTN but don't know
|
||
how. It's easy, it's free, it's sexy.
|
||
|
||
We're also finally kicking off our First Annual BTN Art Contest,
|
||
whispered about for months now, and I hope we see some responses to
|
||
that.
|
||
|
||
That's it! This is short because we're impatient to get things
|
||
moving. Happy non-death-time, and I hope to see you at the party!
|
||
|
||
|
||
|
||
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
|
||
|
||
|
||
################################################################
|
||
SUBMISSION GUIDELINES
|
||
|
||
################################################################
|
||
|
||
|
||
I. ARTICLE LENGTH
|
||
|
||
Right now, there's no strict enforcement of a length restriction,
|
||
but if your submission is somewhat short, I may request that you make it
|
||
longer. Anyone can sit down and type out a screen's worth of stuff. I
|
||
have yet to encounter an article that was too *long*, so don't worry
|
||
about that.
|
||
|
||
|
||
II. SUBJECT MATTER
|
||
|
||
Again, there's no hard-and-fast rules about subject matter. I'm
|
||
interested in seeing material on a wide variety of topics. That
|
||
includes BBSs, politics, music, books, or better yet, something that
|
||
doesn't neatly fall into any one category. Next to that, my favorite
|
||
articles are the ones that have something to do with BBSing, since that
|
||
is supposedly what we're sort of about. Technical reviews are also
|
||
good. I tend to kind of frown on fiction, but I'm willing to take a
|
||
look at anything you've got. If it's interesting enough, your chances
|
||
are good.
|
||
Politics is fine, but try not to rant--and make whatever you have to
|
||
say original. I can go out and find ten Rush Limbaughs if I want.
|
||
Also refrain from "This Is What Happened To Me Today" slice-of-life
|
||
articles unless it's leading somewhere good.
|
||
Reviews should be both informative and opinionated. Don't be too
|
||
objective, but still tell us about what you're reviewing.
|
||
|
||
|
||
III. FILE FORMAT
|
||
|
||
Plain and simple ASCII is preferred, but we can convert WordPerfect
|
||
files if need be.
|
||
|
||
|
||
IV. STYLE GUIDELINES
|
||
|
||
1. Use a right margin of 72 columns.
|
||
2. Indent paragraphs at the fifth column.
|
||
3. Put two spaces after each sentence.
|
||
4. Skip a line after each paragraph.
|
||
5. Refrain from using BBS-specific devices like "<grin>" and ":-)".
|
||
6. Be sure to give your article a title.
|
||
7. Try to use correct grammar, spelling and capitalization! My staff
|
||
proofread as best as we can, but a well-typed article makes our job
|
||
easier.
|
||
8. The dash is correctly typed as two hyphens, like "--". Use it to
|
||
set apart phrases and clauses--as with this sentence.
|
||
9. To emphasize a word, place a pair of asterisks around it, like
|
||
*this*. This takes the place of italics (except for titles; see
|
||
12).
|
||
10. If you have to emphasize a group of words, use capitals, AS IN THIS
|
||
EXAMPLE. I generally don't like the way that looks, so use it
|
||
sparingly, if at all.
|
||
11. If you're unsure whether to spell out a number or not, leave it in
|
||
numeral form.
|
||
12. Titles of books, films, plays, albums and works of art are
|
||
surrounded by underlines, like: U2's _The Joshua Tree_. This takes
|
||
the place of italics in this regard; I call it "title-cizing".
|
||
On the other hand, television shows, songs, poems, article titles
|
||
and short stories are surrounded by quotation marks.
|
||
|
||
|
||
V. HOW DO I SUBMIT AN ARTICLE?
|
||
|
||
The easiest way is to upload it as a private file on one of two
|
||
systems: The Matrix and the Crunchy Frog. (Their phone numbers are
|
||
listed at the end of this feature.) To upload a file privately, begin
|
||
your file description with a slash ("/"). Then leave me (SCOTT
|
||
HOLLIFIELD) a private message telling me what the file name is, so that
|
||
I can have the sysop make it available for me.
|
||
Another way is to leave me the article as a private message, or a
|
||
series of private messages.
|
||
If you become a regular contributor to BTN, you can get access to
|
||
the private BTNWA conference, which is for BTN writers. There we
|
||
discuss articles, policy, ideas, etc. The BTNWA conference also
|
||
contains a private file directory which I can access more easily than a
|
||
private file outside BTNWA.
|
||
|
||
That's it!
|
||
|
||
Get to work!
|
||
|
||
|
||
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
|
||
|
||
|
||
################################################################
|
||
LETTERS TO
|
||
THE EDITOR From BTN Readers
|
||
################################################################
|
||
|
||
|
||
|
||
From: DAVID LARUSSA
|
||
BBS: The Matrix
|
||
|
||
Dear BTN,
|
||
I am slowly becoming a regular reader of your newsletter. I would
|
||
like to say how much I have enjoyed it, and admire the dedication of the
|
||
guys behind it. This newsletter is an important part of the BBS
|
||
community, or should I say BBS culture. It gives this virtual world
|
||
some badly needed solidity.
|
||
Here are some suggestions for articles:
|
||
I like the interviews with people. How about interviewing the sysops
|
||
of some boards. I know you guys have probably heard each other's
|
||
stories, but I would like to hear them too.
|
||
Please! No more political commentary. It's boring and in no way
|
||
could it be labeled as telecommunication news. The world needs no more
|
||
Rush Limbaugh clones.
|
||
How about some articles on hardware and software? The possibilities
|
||
here are endless.
|
||
Experiences people have had are also enjoyable to read.
|
||
What is it like being young, old, female, or handicapped? I am sure
|
||
these people have a unique perspective to share. I would like to hear
|
||
it.
|
||
|
||
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
|
||
|
||
FROM: Rocky Rawlins
|
||
BBS: The Matrix
|
||
|
||
[NOTE: Rocky is the sysop of The Matrix. This letter was written in
|
||
response to issue #62's "The Last Hegemony (Part 2)" by Christopher
|
||
Mohney.]
|
||
|
||
Chris, while I know your article was tongue-in-cheek, I felt I
|
||
should reply to it to over this particular issue. This issue is one
|
||
that I had always felt rather strongly about.
|
||
|
||
First, let me clear up one point that many people already know but a
|
||
good number of new folks may not. The MATRIX (like most BBS's) has run
|
||
at a net operating loss every year since its inception. Last year our
|
||
corporate tax return showed a $7000 net operating loss. Despite the
|
||
well-known myth that all sysops make lots of money by running a BBS, the
|
||
average salary for Birmingham sysops is about -$.50/hour. Our recent
|
||
rather controversial rate increase was done in an attempt to provide
|
||
funding for the many new and expensive services that people want.
|
||
|
||
Now to my primary concern. The entire issue of censorship,
|
||
community standards, adult contents of messages and files is or should
|
||
be of concern to every single individual who operates or uses a BBS,
|
||
online system, or any other type of electronic communications.
|
||
|
||
The principles of privacy and freedom of speech are firmly rooted
|
||
in the constitution of the United States, and have been upheld from the
|
||
lowest courts all the way up to the Supreme Court of the United States.
|
||
These protections are extended to telephone conversations, postal mail,
|
||
and just about every form of communications. The Electronic Communi-
|
||
cations Act of 1992 seems to extend these same protections to *all*
|
||
electronic communications. *However*, many states feel free to
|
||
interpret the definition of "electronic communications" in different
|
||
ways. Even the federal government seems to have problems deciding
|
||
exactly what they are.
|
||
|
||
The incident with Steve Jackson Games where the Secret Service
|
||
seized the BBS and computer network at a games publisher is a good case
|
||
in point. The BBS was seized because of alleged criminal activity by
|
||
one of its users. A warrant was issued to seize it to capture the
|
||
evidence, and the Secret Service in a dawn raid did exactly that,
|
||
seizing the entire computer network at the company including all of
|
||
their publishing projects. What ultimately came out in court during
|
||
Steve Jackson's lawsuit against the Secret Service was that the Secret
|
||
Service did *not* have warrants to seize the electronic communications
|
||
of the hundreds of *outher* users on the system, which they not only
|
||
seized by physically removing the system, but spent weeks looking
|
||
through for possible criminal activity in violation of search and
|
||
seizure laws. They were also prohibited by federal law from seizing
|
||
"works in progress" from a publisher. That is one of the oldest
|
||
principles of law in the United States. But because the Secret Service
|
||
decided not to view electronic media as "real" works, they simply
|
||
ignored one of the oldest principles of United States law protecting
|
||
freedom of the press. When these facts were brought out in court
|
||
during the trial, the judge lost his temper and actually yelled at the
|
||
Secret Service defense attorneys in outrage at their actions. And these
|
||
are some of the people tasked with enforcing federal law. (By the way,
|
||
the Secret Service lost the case and paid damages not only to Steve
|
||
Jackson Games but to the individuals whose messages were seized.)
|
||
|
||
In the state of Alabama, we have the *only* attorney general in the
|
||
United States who has attempted to (and succeeded) in banning satellite
|
||
broadcasts of which he did not approve. This is unprecedented in the
|
||
history of this country to my knowledge, and to me, it says that this
|
||
man puts his personal political ambitions and prejudices ahead of
|
||
technological advancement in this state. Whatever you may think of the
|
||
Playboy Channel, when you abrogate *your* right to make choices to
|
||
someone like Jimmy Evans, you have willingly given up your right to
|
||
free speech.
|
||
|
||
The issue of freedom of speech in the electronic world is still a
|
||
new one and many people as well as many of the courts have not made up
|
||
their mind about the issues involved. Does an electronic message enjoy
|
||
the same legal status as a postal letter? Is it *still* a protected
|
||
communication if it is public? Is it still protected *after* you have
|
||
read it and it is sitting here on your drive? If you embed a file in
|
||
your message, is the file protected like the words you type? If you
|
||
send an illegal message who is responsible for it? You, us, anyone who
|
||
reads it, every system it passes through? If you send a message that is
|
||
legal in *our* state but is illegal in Georgia, who broke the law? You,
|
||
us, the systems it passed through, the system holding the message at
|
||
destination?
|
||
|
||
These are just a few of the issues that have yet to be resolved
|
||
with some definitive ruling.
|
||
|
||
If someone decides that *we* are responsible for the content of
|
||
messages that pass through our system, then that means that we
|
||
personally would have to read and approve every message you leave. Do
|
||
you really want us reading and passing judgement on your personal and
|
||
business messages like Prodigy does? Who in their right mind would use
|
||
electronic communications for business or really personal communications
|
||
knowing that someone else was censoring their messages? Would you use
|
||
the telephone if you knew that an operator was always monitoring your
|
||
conversations or the mail if you knew every letter would be opened and
|
||
read before delivery?
|
||
|
||
The local TV stations make a big deal out of dirty pictures and
|
||
sexual matters but the issue doesn't change. When was the last time the
|
||
phone company was attacked because people use it for obscene phone
|
||
calls? In an obscene phone call, an individual is misusing a technology
|
||
but does that lead to a condemnation of the technology and telephone
|
||
operators? Does obscene material sent through the mail result in an
|
||
attack on postal employees and the postal system? Of course not. The
|
||
idea is ludicrous. Yet similar misuse of BBS technology leads to an open
|
||
global condemnation of BBS and the people who operate them.
|
||
|
||
We have been trying for a year to get some kind of definitive
|
||
ruling from the Alabama attorney general or the district attorney on
|
||
some of these issues and have met a complete stone wall.
|
||
|
||
The ironic thing (and what bothers me about your article) is that
|
||
it is not *our* problem. It is *your* problem, Chris, yours and
|
||
everyone else who uses a BBS.
|
||
|
||
*You'll* be the loser Chris. *You* will no longer be able to
|
||
communicate privately electronically. *You* will have your articles
|
||
subject to seizure and prior restraint because electronic publishing is
|
||
not "real" publishing. *You're* the one who will suddenly be limited to
|
||
using Compuserve with its sky-high prices and department of lawyers to
|
||
defend themselves from people like Jimmy Evans. And if Jimmy Evans
|
||
should act against them and win in court as he did against a satellite
|
||
company, then Compuserve would simply cut off service to Alabama. No
|
||
skin off their nose.
|
||
|
||
Chris, I don't think you realize or fully understand the issues at
|
||
stake here. Georgia, in response to similar TV stories there, passed
|
||
state laws that make it a felony to discuss, distribute, or even mention
|
||
the issue of sexual matters on *any* type off electronic communications.
|
||
Any message that you send to a BBS in Georgia that refers to sexual
|
||
matters is now a felony. If you respond on The MATRIX to a message from
|
||
someone in Georgia asking where they can find Adult discussion
|
||
conferences Chris, *you* have committed a Felony under Georgia state law
|
||
and could conceiveably be arrested and prosecuted if you entered the
|
||
state of Georgia, or even extradited from Alabama to Georgia to face
|
||
trial there. Farfetched you say? The laws provide the mechanisms; and
|
||
remember who the Attorney General of Alabama is?
|
||
|
||
I'm not particularly worried about the existance of The MATRIX in
|
||
the long run. If the courts (or Jimmy Evans) decides that *we* are
|
||
responsible for the content of *every* message that appears on or passes
|
||
through The MATRIX, then we'll simply close the system down (as would
|
||
most BBS operators), refund any outstanding subscriptions, and I'll
|
||
spend all my sudden free time and spare cash building a wood shop in the
|
||
basement, and I'll do my private communications by legally protected
|
||
telephone or postal mail.
|
||
|
||
Frankly Chris I've become rather discouraged over the response in
|
||
the BBS user community to this issue. Of over four thousand users on
|
||
The MATRIX, and who knows how many more users on other BBS's, about one
|
||
hundred showed up to protest at Channel 13. Is the community really
|
||
that unconcerned with the issue? Is it just that people don't give a
|
||
damn and are willing to let someone like Jimmy Evans and Channel 13 make
|
||
their decisions for them? Sometimes it appears so.
|
||
|
||
Once upon a time I worked for causes. I picketed, I protested, I
|
||
*fought* for what I believed in. Maybe that's old fashioned and is out
|
||
of style. Maybe this generation doesn't believe in "principles"
|
||
anymore. I'm getting older now, and have a family that takes up much of
|
||
my time. I have a wife that I want to spend time with, kids that I want
|
||
know better before they move away. There are a lot of books I have
|
||
always wanted to read that I *intend* to read before I die, a lot of
|
||
things I haven't had time for that I intend to do.
|
||
|
||
I can raise issues, but I can't lead battles for them anymore. I'm
|
||
too old, worn out, and tired to be a knight in shining armor. These
|
||
days, wounds hurt more and take longer to heal. Worse is that no one
|
||
seems to care whether the battle is fought at all, much less who wins
|
||
it. That is the saddest thing of all.
|
||
|
||
Articles like yours that jokingly or seriously make these issues
|
||
out to be somthing that I and other BBS operators are concerned with at
|
||
the expense of users make me wonder whether to even bother. If *you're*
|
||
not concerned about the issue, why should I be? It's not *my* fight,
|
||
Chris. It's *yours*. If you don't care to fight it, I'm certainly not
|
||
going to force you. We've seriously considered here whether to just
|
||
delete any controversial material, since no one seems to much care about
|
||
the issue, and I can't see being a sacrificial lamb over an issue that
|
||
is of no importance to anyone.
|
||
|
||
|
||
Rocky
|
||
|
||
|
||
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
|
||
|
||
|
||
################################################################
|
||
FIRST ANNUAL
|
||
BTN ART
|
||
CONTEST Rules by Mark Maisel
|
||
################################################################
|
||
|
||
|
||
It is with great pleasure that I announce the First Annual BTN Art
|
||
Contest. It purpose is twofold. First, it provides an outlet for the
|
||
visually creative. Second, it provides a good advertisement for BTN.
|
||
|
||
We have come to realize that not everyone is familiar with BTN and
|
||
that some publicity may be due. To that end, an art contest in two
|
||
formats will be held. The common theme of the entries is to be BTN, its
|
||
promotion, etc. Art in standard ANSI and the new RIP graphics format
|
||
will be accepted.
|
||
|
||
Winners in the ANSI format and RIP format will be selected by a
|
||
panel of judges. The winning ads will be displayed in the news or other
|
||
prominent place on cooperating bbs' about town.
|
||
|
||
Rules (such as they are)
|
||
|
||
1. The contest is open to anyone who can use an ANSI or RIP editor to
|
||
create original graphic art.
|
||
|
||
2. Obscene or offensive graphics and text will be disallowed.
|
||
|
||
3. The discretion of the judges shall be final.
|
||
|
||
4. The winning submissions will become the property of BTN.
|
||
|
||
5. The contest will run from December 1, 1993 through January 14, 1994.
|
||
This is to allow both sufficient time for submissions and for BTN to
|
||
publish the winning submissions in the February 1994 issue.
|
||
|
||
6. For ANSI submissions, all viewable characters in the IBM character
|
||
set are allowed as is use of color. Submissions must be in 80 x 25
|
||
character text mode and not exceed 24 lines in length. This is to
|
||
insure that the submissions may be viewed in a single screen.
|
||
|
||
7. For RIP submissions, color graphics compatible with the RIP format
|
||
are accepted provided that they do not exceed a single screen when
|
||
displayed.
|
||
|
||
8. All artwork must be original and created by the person submitting
|
||
it. Cooperative efforts are allowed but all parties involved must
|
||
be named.
|
||
|
||
I wish you all the best of luck! Be creative and get those
|
||
submissions rolling in soon. Have us drowning in them!
|
||
|
||
|
||
[Ed.: Please send your submissions as a private upload, mentioning the
|
||
contest in the file description, to The Matrix or Crunchy Frog; or
|
||
send it as a private message to MARK MAISEL on either of those boards.]
|
||
|
||
|
||
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
|
||
|
||
|
||
################################################################
|
||
EDITORIAL:
|
||
BTN, Take... Three? Dean Costello
|
||
################################################################
|
||
|
||
|
||
Every so often I think about why I write. I mean, sometimes I get
|
||
feelings in my soul that say if I don't write, I will simply explode on
|
||
the spot, or at least throw a blood clot and lose control over such
|
||
bodily functions as drool containment.
|
||
|
||
But why do I write? Excitement, probably. You know: the magic, the
|
||
joy, the machismo, the chicks, the leather, but mostly the excitement.
|
||
I will be wandering through yet another airline terminal somewhere, and
|
||
I will notice Something Neat, begin to smile, and proceed to mentally
|
||
lash together a good article. Sometimes it will be the surly
|
||
individuals at the metal detectors. (I have wondered if the continuous
|
||
exposure to x-rays rots the medulla oblongata, since every one of those
|
||
little devils, be it Tri-City Airport in Tennessee, or Pensacola
|
||
Airport, or New Haven Airport, has the precise same expression; a mix of
|
||
frustration with one's lot in life, disdain for those that pass through
|
||
their portals, and the maniacal joy of being able to pick any one person
|
||
out of the crowd for pointless harassment; these emotions are all
|
||
controlled by the medulla oblongata, you know.) Sometimes it will be
|
||
that the rubber bands on the handrests of the escalators move a little
|
||
bit more slowly than the stairs. Sometimes it will be amazement on how
|
||
much food in airport costs.
|
||
|
||
The thing is, whenever I come up with one of these observations, I
|
||
am forced to tell someone. The problem occurs when I don't have anyone
|
||
or anything handy to tell it to, and the Somethings Neat start to back
|
||
up. As a result, when I haven't spoken to an individual in a while, I
|
||
usually conduct a 15-minute monologue to get up-to-date.
|
||
|
||
Events like this happened tonight. I was watching "60 Minutes", and
|
||
they were interviewing Dave Berry. I'm personally not a big fan, since
|
||
the magic of humor like "The Ten Father Commandments" is somewhat lost
|
||
on me. ("1. I am not a sitcom Dad. I am not stupid, and I always
|
||
remember to turn the gas stove off when the pilot light goes out. 2. If
|
||
my offspring is male, I will live vicariously through you. 3. If my
|
||
offspring is female, I will live vicariously through you. 4. If you
|
||
are pretty good at Little League when you are ten, I will buy you a car
|
||
when you are sixteen (see Commandments 2 and 3)", etc.)
|
||
Anyway, a couple of things that were said got me to thinking about
|
||
why I write, and I have narrowed it down to two things:
|
||
|
||
1. The excitement, chicks, leather, etc. as described above.
|
||
2. Icky things.
|
||
|
||
Icky things run the gamut from thinking about how the country is
|
||
spinning to the right so hard I've had a sore neck from political
|
||
whiplash, to thinking about my dead grandfather and how my brother has
|
||
turned in to a schmoe over the last couple of years.
|
||
|
||
I somewhat disregarded the second reason for writing for many years,
|
||
since it struck me as a silly and simplistic reason for writing. (Mark
|
||
Maisel once told me that the best writing I do is when I am disturbed or
|
||
upset. Unfortunately, that kind of writing is very emotionally taxing,
|
||
as well as sometimes, umm, "erratic" in quality.) But as I view the
|
||
reasons for writing tonight, and the last bunch of articles I've
|
||
written, he may have a point.
|
||
|
||
The thing is is that my life has been pretty much "normal" as of
|
||
late. When I say normal, I mean uneventful for the most part; no major
|
||
emotional traumas to speak of, a couple of reconciliations, one or two
|
||
separations; more or less maintaining an even strain. But over the last
|
||
couple of months, things seem to have gone downhill in a big, big hurry,
|
||
relatively speaking, thus generating a faint need to write, but the
|
||
impetus to write in this particular forum has been lacking.
|
||
|
||
To be frank, I didn't really want to be associated with BTN. For
|
||
whatever reason, when Scott Hollifield took over BTN about a year or so
|
||
ago, the perceived quality of the publication has gone to hell in a
|
||
fairly large handbasket. The people that were writing for BTN during
|
||
this time were by-and-large poor writers (I was debating using the word
|
||
"hack" to describe many writers, but the word "hacks" implies a basic
|
||
competence), with only the faintest grasp of the basic concepts of
|
||
grammar and/or lacking the fundamental ability to get information across
|
||
to people. I feel that I write better than most people. I now write
|
||
(technically) for a living. I simply didn't want to be tarred with the
|
||
brand "BTN" while it consisted of a "staff" of crappy writers, an
|
||
editorial group which gives new definition to hands-off management, but
|
||
with a more-or-less widespread distribution.
|
||
|
||
Scott is in the process of instituting long-delayed changes which I
|
||
think will be for the better. We shall see how it turns out. However,
|
||
just prioritizing BTN higher than a mail packet from interminable "Star
|
||
Trek" conferences which key on Important Questions of Our Time, such as
|
||
why Data uses contractions when he's not supposed to, will probably go a
|
||
long way to making BTN a better periodical.
|
||
|
||
Or so I thought. In conversation with Scott in the not so distant
|
||
past, he implied that the changes I have been hoping for may be a bit
|
||
far-reaching at this time. He apparently is keying on such things as
|
||
aesthetics as opposed to content at the moment. There are plans to even
|
||
improve content over time, by generating a writer's guide, attracting a
|
||
"new breed" of writer, as well as soliciting new topics, and more
|
||
emphasis on the actual editing process, including getting a proofreader
|
||
to look over each issue before it hits the streets and making a
|
||
concerted effort to improve the quality of writing that is commonly
|
||
available. [Ed.: Just for that, I'm not going to make that sentence any
|
||
more readable.]
|
||
|
||
Well, hope does spring eternal, and maybe, with a little luck, and
|
||
perhaps some leadership for a change, we may see writers that are capable
|
||
of using such advanced concepts as the indirect object. We shall see
|
||
how Scott makes out with his changes. So, for the meantime, it looks
|
||
like I am writing here again.
|
||
|
||
Res ipsa loquitor.
|
||
|
||
|
||
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
|
||
|
||
|
||
################################################################
|
||
THE LAST HEGEMONY:
|
||
AN INFORMATION AGE COSMOLOGY
|
||
Part 3: The Ant Farm Christopher Mohney
|
||
################################################################
|
||
|
||
|
||
|
||
The author has disappeared;
|
||
God and man died a common death.
|
||
|
||
- Michel Foucault
|
||
|
||
|
||
|
||
Probably the most influential force of the last five to ten years
|
||
of the Information Age (and that influence shows no signs of
|
||
diminishing) is that collection of data exchange networks known as the
|
||
Internet. For the purposes of this article, I designate the Internet as
|
||
that collection of systems which are essentially free, including but not
|
||
limited to academic and government networks and excluding info-
|
||
conglomerates like Compuserve and Prodigy. It is somewhat difficult to
|
||
nail the Internet down, as (quite rightly) it is more often thought of
|
||
as a road than a destination.
|
||
|
||
Still, what's the big deal? What's so different about Internet that
|
||
makes it any different than a big-dog version of the nets and systems
|
||
discussed earlier in this essay? The answer: not much. Internet is
|
||
much more interesting in its effects on still other, ancillary
|
||
Information Age phenomena than as a force in itself. Certainly it
|
||
carries great meaning, as it has the best chance of eventually evolving
|
||
into a worldwide "centralized" information network. Its lack of clear
|
||
boundaries, its polymorphous nature and absorptive tendencies are its
|
||
strengths. The appearance of some kind of Internet would seem
|
||
inevitable, given the geometrically increasing demand for telelectronic
|
||
access.
|
||
|
||
However, there is a difference. Previously, the systems and system
|
||
operators discussed were concerned with information as currency.
|
||
Someone clearly benefiting from access could be found at any particular
|
||
point where information was stored. But the Internet is not a
|
||
repository; it is a network linking repositories together. Who is the
|
||
system operator of Internet? Most everyone is, of course. The
|
||
governance of Internet is the work of a vast bureaucracy so diaphanous
|
||
and convoluted that any kind of centralized power structure is
|
||
unthinkable. Each node or collection of nodes is almost a kingdom in
|
||
itself, with complete sovereignty and freedom to secede. They are free
|
||
to refuse passage to and in most cases alter any information that passes
|
||
through their domain. This feudal structure is repeated in an atomic
|
||
fashion; a holistic analysis of the Internet will show the feudal model
|
||
repeating on almost every level until the sheer, overwhelming, global
|
||
number of voices belonging to competing sovereign nodes dissolves into
|
||
one colossal blast of binary static. Viewed in this light, the Internet
|
||
is a mindless bureaucracy that exists only to perpetuate itself.
|
||
|
||
Of course, could it be any other way? Once again, humanity is
|
||
confronted with technological advances that have far outstripped our
|
||
ability to erect new ethnological constructs to contain them. In a
|
||
sense, the Internet is becoming the ideal Machiavellian state, endlessly
|
||
perpetuating itself mindlessly; yet, a headless State never has to fear
|
||
being decapitated, and as its mass is for all purposes indestructible by
|
||
virtue of its sheer size, the headless telelectronic State becomes
|
||
functionally immortal.
|
||
|
||
This leads to a questioning of the Internet similar to the question
|
||
posed in Part 1. One could write dozens of volumes of what the Internet
|
||
*is*, but the question we are asking here is what does the Internet
|
||
*mean*? What effect has it had, besides the obvious and well-belabored
|
||
benefits of increased access and near-limitless information storage and
|
||
retrieval?
|
||
|
||
Much like the effect of the BBS on the atomic level, the Internet
|
||
means that we have to re-examine certain premises that are basic to how
|
||
we function as a society. Technology is forcing us to admit, tardily,
|
||
that concepts we take for granted as static can be little more than
|
||
artificial templates that are poorly suited for much further use. Many
|
||
people who might fit the models presented in Part 2 are only too happy
|
||
to make use of the Internet, since they may see it as a tool valuable to
|
||
whatever ends they pursue. But make no mistake-- nowhere is the idea
|
||
of the "user" more ironic than on the Internet. Unbeknownst to most of
|
||
the telelectronic feudal lords who "use" it, the Internet by its very
|
||
self-perpetuating nature is actually "using" them, and if the Internet
|
||
continues its logical evolution it can do no less than completely
|
||
annihilate the feudal niches that have become so comfortable for so
|
||
many. What keeps a feudal system going is the enforceable idea of
|
||
property, and this is no different in the feudal telelectronic
|
||
community. As long as information can be gauged and quantified as
|
||
property, telelectronic feudalism can survive. It would be foolish to
|
||
ignore, however, that the laxity of the regulation of information as
|
||
property is almost directly proportional to the growth and perpetuation
|
||
of information networks; this should be readily apparent, as the two
|
||
factors are related so intimately now that it is difficult to determine
|
||
which is actually causing the other. Regardless, as long as one
|
||
increases, so will the other. The reasonable end of this double growth
|
||
is complete freedom of information coupled with an omnipresent Internet,
|
||
either of which leads to the dissolution of the feudal model and the
|
||
dislocation of those at home within it.
|
||
|
||
Society is very nervous about this. Property is the physical
|
||
manifestation of capital, which is the basis of our global capitalist
|
||
system. Should information become, in an almost Marxist move,
|
||
universally distributed (a possibility much more likely than universal
|
||
capital) all those who have benefited from the former arrangement will
|
||
have their socio-economic rug pulled out from under them. As the idea
|
||
of property evaporates, so does the idea of the owner, even the idea of
|
||
the author. Consider the complex social construct of the "owner" and
|
||
the seemingly endless trouble we have when we try to import this idea
|
||
into the Information Age, imprinting ownership or authorship on an
|
||
abstraction that by its very nature battles against such an imprinting.
|
||
|
||
The significance of these possibilities cannot be overstated.
|
||
Pandering to economics and philosophies that do not work, retreating
|
||
into safe havens for fear of the sure trouble that change brings will
|
||
only cause that change to be all the more painful. Even in the most
|
||
technologically advanced and well-educated countries on the planet, the
|
||
main run of the population has only a fearful and shamanistic
|
||
relationship to the technology that is shaping their lives and will
|
||
determine the futures of their children. If we expect to reap any
|
||
ultimate benefit from this sociological free-play we must be ready to
|
||
adapt and adapt quickly, or else suffer the consequences of our stubborn
|
||
backward glances.
|
||
|
||
|
||
|
||
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
|
||
|
||
|
||
################################################################
|
||
"DEAR JAN"
|
||
A Glimpse at
|
||
The Matrix's "Chat Goddess" Jeff Vaughn
|
||
################################################################
|
||
|
||
|
||
In June 1993, a new face appeared on The Matrix by the name of
|
||
Jan Murphree. Jan's husband Chris brought home some computers from
|
||
his job on occasion, and Jan decided to start tinkering with them. The
|
||
computers were the begining of a BBS addict's usual rolling thunder, and
|
||
the modem set things into full-blown locomotion. Jan had no earthly
|
||
idea that it would become somewhat of a homebound career in less than
|
||
four months time.
|
||
|
||
On the 15th of June, Jan logged in under her husband's account and
|
||
went "where she had never been before". It wasn't the final frontier,
|
||
but it definately qualified as undiscovered country. On the first few
|
||
logons, Jan discovered "chat", and probably had no idea this would be
|
||
her ticket to being a "SysGoddess" (or demi-SysGoddess in the terms of
|
||
those divine ones). In less than a week, she was completely hooked
|
||
(indeed, this is an understatment). Jan was calling, chatting, and
|
||
writing e-mail like a typical BBS addict. Jan wasn't an online games
|
||
devotee like many addicts usually are, but she practically lived in The
|
||
Matrix's chat lines.
|
||
|
||
Around the middle of August, Jan finally broke down and bought a
|
||
"ginormous" (my word, not a misspelling) hunk of time on The Matrix.
|
||
Jan broke the old check book and bought 250 hours (yes, before the rates
|
||
increased), probably another all-time record in The Matrix's history
|
||
book. Chatting was in her blood now, and there just wasn't enough time
|
||
in her husband's account to feed the chat addiction. I'm sure Chris was
|
||
definately relieved to hear about that. Thanks to Jan's charisma and
|
||
plain all-around fun attitude (no need for any butt-kissing, we're buds
|
||
already), she made a ton of friends in a very short time, Rocky Rawlins
|
||
and Tom Egan being among the large group. The group is still steadily
|
||
growing.
|
||
|
||
It seems that Jan made a lasting impression on our two local
|
||
SysGods because Tom suggested that she become a sysop a few months
|
||
later. "Dear Jan's" chat line (channel 7) was implemented on October
|
||
1 of this year. Being a person who frequently chats with Jan, I can
|
||
say it was a definately a hit. Sometimes I had to wait in line to get a
|
||
word in edgewise. I finally decided to sit on another channel and talk
|
||
with my usual group of individuals while swapping private messages with
|
||
Jan until the crowd died down. It was a long wait, sometimes it was 2
|
||
a.m. before Jan dropped in.
|
||
|
||
On October 15th of this year, Jan became a full-fledged sysop. She
|
||
was decreed the "Chat Sysop", but a sysop nonetheless, and in record
|
||
time for any sysop on The Matrix. Jan also got a few extras on the job.
|
||
Her initial job was to oversee the chat lines and invoke her divine
|
||
wisdom when and wherever required. (She's gonna get me for that.)
|
||
Along the way, Jan picked up a few more responsibilities. She became
|
||
Matrix's official "welcome wagon", and the voice validator for the new
|
||
users. There was something in there about a woman being better for the
|
||
job and I decided not to question it since she was doing such an
|
||
incredible job. Jan's batting average on the Matrix definately spoke
|
||
for itself as far as qualifications went.
|
||
|
||
Two days later, Jan struck again. Even though her work load was
|
||
enourmous with all the back-logged call verification, a lightbulb
|
||
popped on in her head, and she came up with another idea, the BBS
|
||
Addicts conference (#17). Even with the small group the conference
|
||
started out with, the messages began flowing in. Some ideas for the
|
||
conference are still up in the air, and Jan's always looking for new
|
||
addicts. The general idea behind the conference was for a group of
|
||
people who loved the modem to get together and just chew the fat (or
|
||
whatever BBS addicts chew on).
|
||
|
||
As we all know, curiosity sometimes gets the better of us, so Jan
|
||
decided to work up an annual event for all the BBS addicts where they
|
||
can all get together and meet. Right now, it's being held every six
|
||
months, but I have the feeling that this might become an even more
|
||
frequent event than even Jan knows. Only time will tell. The first one
|
||
is being held at Ryan's on the 14th of November, but depending on when
|
||
this issue of BTN gets out, the expression might be "was held on the
|
||
14th of November". Jan and I generally work these things out and it
|
||
will be rotated to different areas (just to be fair) for the BBS
|
||
addicts who are "way out".
|
||
|
||
|
||
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
|
||
|
||
|
||
################################################################
|
||
GAMES
|
||
CHILDREN
|
||
PLAY Damion Furi
|
||
################################################################
|
||
|
||
|
||
I was sitting there minding my own business, smoking a cigarette
|
||
after dinner, watching CNN Headline News. The world, CNN assures me,
|
||
is falling apart on schedule, President Clinton leading the way.
|
||
|
||
The kids were outside playing, and Virginia and I were discussing
|
||
Bob Dole and the possibility that Congress will pass an amendment to
|
||
require the President to get congressional approval before making any
|
||
military moves. We agreed with each other that any such amendment would
|
||
de-ball whatever power remains to the Executive office.
|
||
|
||
And, as usual, the kids were popping in, making noise, getting
|
||
chewed out for it and hastily leaving again. The news was of no
|
||
interest to them.
|
||
|
||
At one point, however, Brenda came in complaining about grass in her
|
||
hair. Virginia asked her what she had been doing.
|
||
|
||
"Playing 'Drive-By,'" Brenda replied, with 11-year-old glee.
|
||
|
||
Virginia and I just glanced at each other, and I could see Virginia
|
||
repress a shudder.
|
||
|
||
"What is that?" Virginia asked carefully, her voice carefully devoid
|
||
of any particular emphasis.
|
||
|
||
"Well, you know what a drive-by is, Mom," Brenda said, grinning.
|
||
"Somebody in a car drives by and shoots somebody. We were, um, doing
|
||
cartwheels and, um, rolling in the grass and practicing our, um, death
|
||
scenes."
|
||
|
||
Poor kid.
|
||
|
||
|
||
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
|
||
|
||
|
||
################################################################
|
||
LIFE ON THE LINES
|
||
Bernie Starchaser
|
||
################################################################
|
||
|
||
|
||
Greetings to all! Yes, I have decided to revive Life On The Lines,
|
||
a look at BBSing today from the point of view of an old hand who
|
||
remembers what it was like when 300 BPS was not just a good idea, it was
|
||
the *law*!
|
||
|
||
As I have thought about what I might discuss in this revival, a
|
||
nagging little item has been bouncing around my head, so I decided to
|
||
just go with it. Here goes...
|
||
|
||
|
||
BBS ETIQUETTE, OR THE LACK THEREOF
|
||
|
||
All right, I think it's safe to assume that most people who have
|
||
sense enough to buy a computer, install a modem, get their COMM software
|
||
configured, find a BBS number, get logged on and read and post messages
|
||
would have to be fairly intelligent. That established, why oh why do I
|
||
keep seeing a complete lack of social graces in the conferences? I'm
|
||
not talking about the little wisecracks you see with an emoticon by
|
||
them, those are obviously tongue-in-cheek. I'm talking about people
|
||
simply spouting off at the keyboard with no consideration for the rights
|
||
or feelings of whomever may read their drivel. THIS HAS GOT TO STOP!
|
||
|
||
Look folks, I'll be the first to admit that the guilty parties do
|
||
not by any means represent a majority, or even a small minority, of BBS
|
||
users as a whole. Indeed, they probably aren't more than the bottom one
|
||
percent of the bottom one percent, but they still stick out like a sore
|
||
thumb and do nothing *whatsoever* to enhance the image of BBS's or
|
||
BBS'ers in the eyes of the common people. People *do* tend to remember
|
||
the worst parts of an experience longer than any other aspect. What
|
||
sort of image are we sending out?
|
||
|
||
The sort of thing I'm talking about usually takes the form of some
|
||
individual who is convinced of their own intellectual/moral/political
|
||
superiority, who belittles and degrades those who do not agree with him
|
||
or her unmercifully, without bothering to back up their own positions
|
||
with logic or reason. Ladies and gentlemen, intelligent people do not
|
||
need to resort to name-calling to make their points, just in case you
|
||
hadn't heard. Also, it may not have occurred to you that your own
|
||
positions would carry a *lot* more weight if you backed them up with
|
||
logic, rather than simply demeaning those who don't see it your way.
|
||
|
||
I don't believe you'd talk that way in a face-to-face meeting. As
|
||
I said, most of us are obviously intelligent beings. We recognize and
|
||
observe certain rules of social behavior when we gather. So what's a
|
||
BBS besides the biggest gathering place in town? Why can't those same
|
||
rules apply to the boards?
|
||
|
||
I know I'm carrying on a bit, but I'm really incensed about this,
|
||
and maybe a little disappointed. And I want to reiterate that I am not
|
||
broadcasting this to the general BBS populace. The guilty parties know
|
||
who they are, as do most of us. I'm not going to name names or
|
||
conferences. I merely want to put out a general call to all: please
|
||
exercise the same sort of decorum on a BBS as you would when you were a
|
||
guest in home. And for those who cannot find it in themselves to do
|
||
this simple thing, all the rest of us should just ignore these boorish
|
||
malcontents and enjoy ourselves in spite of them.
|
||
|
||
I've said enough.
|
||
|
||
|
||
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
|
||
|
||
|
||
################################################################
|
||
CAFE SPOTLIGHT:
|
||
G.G.'s In The Park David Moss
|
||
################################################################
|
||
|
||
|
||
G.G.'s In The Park
|
||
3625 8th Ave. So.
|
||
254-3506 -- 254-9052
|
||
Seafood, Steak & Lobster
|
||
Your Host: Frank Brocato
|
||
|
||
|
||
G.G.'s has got to be one of my all time favorite places to eat.
|
||
You can count on the food being very good, and the service is the same.
|
||
|
||
For a period of time, G.G.'s was owned and operated by someone other
|
||
than the original owners. Now back in the hands of the original owners,
|
||
the food, portions, and service are back to where they used to be.
|
||
|
||
One of the first things you'll see when entering GG's is a tank of
|
||
live Maine lobsters. It is these lobsters that GG's has become famous
|
||
for. While other restaurants attempt to reduce overhead by offering
|
||
Florida lobsters, GG's continues a long tradition of offering the
|
||
freshest live Maine lobster. Make no mistake, there is a difference.
|
||
The Maine lobster, having spent its life in the cold waters off New
|
||
England, has a much better taste than Florida lobsters do. There is a
|
||
vast difference in price too. The menu at GG's has "Market" in the
|
||
price column for the lobster, so be sure and ask the price before you
|
||
order.
|
||
|
||
The appetizers on the menu are the best selection you'll find
|
||
anywhere, from escargot to fried apple wedges with cinnamon and ice
|
||
cream. Although not on the appetizers menu, I selected a cup of seafood
|
||
gumbo ($2.95). The gumbo is good, but not as good as what I've had in
|
||
the past.
|
||
|
||
For the main course I chose fried, large gulf shrimp ($12.95).
|
||
These are undoubtedly the best shrimp I have tried anywhere. They
|
||
are jumbo select shrimp, which means simply that they are so large
|
||
that they have to be split down the middle and then battered and fried.
|
||
The shrimp dinner can also be ordered broiled.
|
||
|
||
All seafood dinners come served with French onion soup, farm fresh
|
||
combination salad, baked potato, and fresh homemade yeast rolls. These
|
||
rolls rank as the best anywhere. And the French onion soup? I guess
|
||
you have to be a fan of onion soup, which I'm not, so I won't offer an
|
||
opinion on it. I will say that since it does come with the meal, I did
|
||
sample it.
|
||
|
||
For beverages, GG's offers all the soft drinks you'd find elsewhere.
|
||
You can also order your favorite cocktail from your waiter/waitress.
|
||
GG's has one of the finest wine lists available in this city. This is
|
||
no joke. I have seen wine lists from several restaurants in this city,
|
||
and none compare to GG's. From $5.95 for a half carafe, to $160.00 a
|
||
bottle, you'll not find a finer wine list anywhere.
|
||
|
||
If you arrive at a crowded time, you may wish to relax in the bar.
|
||
You can order your favorite beverage, or merely watch the current
|
||
sporting event on television while waiting for a table. It may be a
|
||
good idea to call for reservations if you plan to dine on a weekend
|
||
where there is a game at Legion Field. GG's usually fills up rather
|
||
quickly after a game.
|
||
|
||
Don't forget your dessert (if you still have room). Known for their
|
||
homemade Black Bottom Pie, made with real whipped cream, GG's serves a
|
||
mouth watering list of desserts. The pies are all $2.95 a slice. So
|
||
take some time to indulge yourself in a very good piece of pie.
|
||
|
||
With all of the items on the menu, GG's may be considered a little
|
||
pricy. GG's may not be for the every-night diner. But it is certainly
|
||
a restaurant for that special occasion. If you need a restaurant for an
|
||
important business meeting, a very special date, or one that will simply
|
||
offer you a wide array of good food, then GG's will fit the occasion.
|
||
|
||
|
||
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
|
||
|
||
|
||
################################################################
|
||
LOCAL MUSIC
|
||
IN DECEMBER Judy Ranelli
|
||
################################################################
|
||
|
||
|
||
Wednesday December 1
|
||
X at The Nick
|
||
Well, they cancelled. I just wanted to include that fact. And,
|
||
since I suspect it would have been an embarassing show, I'm kinda
|
||
relieved. After Nirvana/Breeders tonight, I'm sure I would have just
|
||
rolled over there and blown alot of money, because I have great love and
|
||
respect for older X material, but there's no way I'd get much more for
|
||
my money than to touch Exene's hem and wish Billy Zoom were around.
|
||
John Doe's no slacker either, neither D.J. Bonebrake, but I think
|
||
Exene's solo work is better than X's current slush.
|
||
|
||
Friday December 3
|
||
24TH CENTURY QUAKERS at The Nick
|
||
Reminds me of the old days trying to sound different and complex,
|
||
yet somehow supple and yielding. Not exactly with these guys; they are
|
||
rough, and sometimes beautiful, and the longer they stick around, the
|
||
better they'll gel. Auditory ride in the industrial clothes dryers at
|
||
the diaper service.
|
||
|
||
Sunday December 5
|
||
DADDIES at Smokey Joe Cafe
|
||
My oldest brother's band playing Paul Revere and the Raiders, the
|
||
Animals, etc... and a bit of blatant nepotism from me but, hell, if you
|
||
like this kind of music you should know it's available. Besides,
|
||
everything else playing on this night is flaccid and familiar.
|
||
|
||
Tuesday December 7
|
||
Battle of the Bands at Zydeco
|
||
Well, Mr Bubble made it, cool, but so did the Autumn Lords, yawn,
|
||
but you get seven bands for your entertainment dollar, and you can watch
|
||
their friends and relatives vote.
|
||
|
||
Wednesday December 8
|
||
GARGOYLES/WHITE COLLAR CONSERVATIVES at The Nick
|
||
Gargolyes are weird Boykin family reunion tunes and WCC are
|
||
hardcorish young future leaders with a kickass drummer on a little
|
||
Gretch kit, if I remember correctly.
|
||
|
||
Thursday December 9
|
||
Battle of the Bands at Louie Louie
|
||
What is this? The Ticks battle not, we're too cool for that, but
|
||
I'm not too cool to avoid seeing what's up, especially since I don't
|
||
know what bands are in the competition. Imagine feeling like "The Best
|
||
Band in Birmingham" award meant something.
|
||
|
||
Friday December 10
|
||
CACTUS PIE/SHAME IDOLS/MOTHER'S DAY OUT at The Nick
|
||
Shake those pounds away and smell the atmosphere of a Shame Idols
|
||
show with two gambles (don't know how they sound) to sweeten the pot.
|
||
|
||
Saturday December 11
|
||
Lots of stuff:
|
||
TOPPER PRICE weaving his way through legendary
|
||
lusty ad executives with a shot of whiskey and a harmonica down at the
|
||
22nd St Jazz Cafe, doubtlessly damaging the foundations of the tiny club
|
||
with the sound and the smoke...
|
||
Then over to The Nick for another three
|
||
band thing (becoming the norm? I hope not) of unknown music (never heard
|
||
SEA OF RAINS/VIOLENT SKY/MARILYN'S NEIGHBORS)...
|
||
Or drunk driving to Tuscaloosa for frat nightmare DASH RIP ROCK, or
|
||
go to the movies and fall asleep instead.
|
||
|
||
Sunday December 12
|
||
JAMES HALL BAND at The Nick
|
||
Not my exact cup of tea but if you want to see other leather jackets
|
||
like yours and mine and get a loud heavy show, go on down there, man.
|
||
|
||
Monday December 13
|
||
Toys for Tots Benefit at Louie Louie
|
||
THE TICKS may put their names in the hat, from which players are
|
||
drawn randomly to play ad lib covers for charity. I'm working till
|
||
midnight, but we are trying to see if I can come down afterward and play
|
||
"Rock and Roll Sewer" or some such song or two. I think one should
|
||
bring a toy donation to enter, but there may be a cover as well.
|
||
|
||
Wednesday December 15
|
||
SPACE CAMP at Oasis
|
||
I still think this is one of the cooler bands to hear because the
|
||
songs are so good. Oasis is a nice cubby hole to hear them in; they
|
||
have an outside deck area if it's not too cold, and the players can hear
|
||
your requests without your bellowing them.
|
||
|
||
Friday December 17
|
||
FIVE EIGHT/AUTUMN LORDS at The Nick
|
||
Five Eight is fun to dance to especially if you're grumpy, which I
|
||
always am, and I think you should know that the Autumn Lords, with Chris
|
||
the Lush King (my friend), have made the embarassing error of taking
|
||
stage names. I don't know all of them, but the bassist actually calls
|
||
himself Bobby Dilautid and poor Chris, well, that's something like "DJ
|
||
StarShaker" to you bub.
|
||
|
||
Saturday December 18
|
||
PAUL WESTERBURG in Atlanta (don't know club name)
|
||
He's my man, if he can't do it, no one can! Probably a great show,
|
||
though I may remain in town for a friend's party, and no, you can't come
|
||
but you can go see SHALLOW at the Nick; they're darnright nice, and even
|
||
if I liked their earlier incarnation, Volume, better, I can get a nice
|
||
head buzz from that guitar blitz static.
|
||
|
||
Buy Christmas gifts for the next few days, then:
|
||
|
||
Wednesday December 22
|
||
SHAME IDOLS/CACTUS PIE at The Nick
|
||
What's left of my hearing, I try to donate to good shows, so I'll
|
||
give a little slice of high end to this night.
|
||
|
||
Friday December 24
|
||
BIG DIXIE at The Nick
|
||
I heckled them, so they call me some unpleasant names, but they're
|
||
just fine and dandy nonetheless. Even if they cover "Sugar Shack", they
|
||
also cover "Sukiyaki".
|
||
|
||
Saturday December 25
|
||
I'll be at the Nick playing and having a Christmas party thing
|
||
going. Other options include recovering from salmonella in your
|
||
Grandma's cooking or watching those Macy's Thanksgiving Parade tapes.
|
||
Merry Christmas, by the way.
|
||
|
||
Sunday December 26
|
||
PRIMITONS at The Nick
|
||
Ah, those were the days! I fully recommend tryng to catch these
|
||
songs, some of which I miss, from the pre-drag-show Mots-Roden-is-a-
|
||
songwriter era. I just hope they practice and this isn't a throw-
|
||
together, because the songs are so good they deserve it.
|
||
|
||
|
||
That's it; you're just going to have to make these decisions for
|
||
yourself for the rest of December. I'm taking a Christmas vacation from
|
||
this responsibility.
|
||
|
||
A few comments, though. Seeing reunions of old bands become more
|
||
frequent, or in the case of the Ho-Ho Men, become permanent, is not a
|
||
good thing. Why? Becuase after just noticing that even the deadhead
|
||
$1.07 Band is doing a reunion, I think it's time these guys did new
|
||
things. Newer, better, different. Primitons once is a Christmas
|
||
present. Back to 1988 is a standstill. I'm waiting, and watching for
|
||
the eventual outcome of this trend. One things for damn sure: ain't
|
||
gonna be no VBS comeback tour!
|
||
|
||
Shonen Knife is performing on the 3rd in New Orleans with Nirvana,
|
||
and I almost opted to go, but I just might have gotten stuck there a
|
||
whole weekend with no way to attend the BTN party, and that would have
|
||
made Mark too happy. I am getting a shirt out of it, if my friends
|
||
decide to be a bit more reliable.
|
||
|
||
Louie Louie is under new management. I heard murmurs that it's
|
||
connected to the Ivory Tusk, and hopefully it will continue to book live
|
||
entertainment. The Rocking Horse got busted for male strippers without
|
||
a licence... And I'm putting a new Seymour Duncan in the SG.
|
||
|
||
Happy Holidays!
|
||
|
||
|
||
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
|
||
|
||
|
||
################################################################
|
||
NOTES FROM
|
||
THE TRENCHES:
|
||
What the Hell is Going On? Dean Costello
|
||
################################################################
|
||
|
||
|
||
I came home from work this evening, which is not all that unusual.
|
||
I am vaguely tired and vaguely hungry and vaguely bored, trying to
|
||
determine what to do for the rest of the night (the lack of real
|
||
emotions has been vaguely disturbing me over the last couple of months,
|
||
but that's not for this forum). Choices are probably the same as the
|
||
last couple of years : read a magazine or journal while dinner is
|
||
cooking, maybe play a computer game or two while watching "Roseanne",
|
||
watch some more television until approximately 9 or 9:30, undress, hang
|
||
up pants and tie from work, take a shower while listening to a comedy
|
||
tape (tonight looks like Bill Cosby), read a bit, then go to sleep at or
|
||
around 11:00. The joy of adult life.
|
||
|
||
Tonight commemorates my ninth straight spaghetti dinner. Tonight
|
||
also commemorates that fact that I have crossed the $33,000 mark (gross)
|
||
for the year. Note the dichotomy between those two statements. I know
|
||
I have.
|
||
|
||
Let us examine this ugly circumstance, shall we? On a bi-weekly
|
||
basis, I net approximately $880 (more or less). Six percent of my pre-
|
||
tax wage goes immediately into a 401K plan. Something like $30/
|
||
paycheck is used to pay for my dental plan. $20/paycheck is automat-
|
||
ically deposited into a savings account I have with the credit union
|
||
(there is about $400 in the account, paying about four percent). The
|
||
end result is about $850 per paycheck.
|
||
|
||
Let us assume that I am going to gross about $40,000 this year when
|
||
all is said and done. (I think that will be pretty close.) That means
|
||
that after taxes, et al (as discussed above) are removed, I will net
|
||
about $25,000.
|
||
|
||
"Ahhh," you say, "that's a lot of money. What the hell do you spend
|
||
it all on?" Good question. Let's take a look.
|
||
|
||
|
||
|
||
Item Cost/year
|
||
|
||
1-Apartment 9600
|
||
2-Student Loans 4800
|
||
3-Credit Card 2400
|
||
4-Telephone 2400
|
||
5-Car Stuff 1800
|
||
6-Car Insurance 800
|
||
7-Cable 600
|
||
8-Electric 500
|
||
-----
|
||
Total 22900
|
||
|
||
Comments:
|
||
|
||
1-Yes, my apartment is a bit pricey. This is the cost of living in
|
||
the Nation's Capital.
|
||
|
||
2-I have to pay at least $400/month for my student loans. God
|
||
bless Reagan for cutting student grants. People ask me why I
|
||
cannot contribute to the economy by buying a big thing like a car.
|
||
I wonder why...
|
||
|
||
3-For my foolishness of working for an oil refinery, I was given a
|
||
Mastercard with a $16,000 credit limit. For my sins, I was
|
||
accepted to graduate school. For my silliness, I burned through a
|
||
lot of credit. I am paying about $200/month to retire that debt.
|
||
|
||
4-My phone bill is not outrageous, about $200/month. It depends on
|
||
whether I am on the road or at home. When I am on the road, I
|
||
have to use the phone card, when I'm at home, I dial direct.
|
||
|
||
5-I think I am being conservative on the car stuff. I am assuming about
|
||
$60/month for gasoline, the occasional tune-up and oil change, as well
|
||
as one or two major repairs/year (say, $250 or more).
|
||
|
||
6-What can I say? When I had a Ford Probe as a rental car, I got busted
|
||
for speeding three times in two weeks. Alas...
|
||
|
||
7-Cable is about $50/month. This includes the basic service of 122
|
||
channels, as well as two channels of Cinemax (the double Cinemax doesn't
|
||
cost any more than a single Cinemax).
|
||
|
||
8-I simply don't use much electricity. During the summer months, I burn
|
||
a lot of fossil fuels since I like the apartment at about 65 degrees at
|
||
night ($75). During the winter, I don't fool with heat at all, so its
|
||
pretty cheap ($20).
|
||
|
||
Okay, that leaves approximately $2000 to spend how I will. What to
|
||
buy, what to buy. Well, just to be cool, maybe I'll eat. Let's assume
|
||
that I spend a total of $50/week total for food (lunch and dinner).
|
||
That implies a total of $2500-ish for food. Now, since I only have
|
||
$2000, that can't be right, and it isn't. I am out in the field for
|
||
approximately three to five months of the year. That means that my food
|
||
cost can be cut approximately in half, which means that my true food
|
||
cost is about $1250. Lovely. That leaves me a total of $750.
|
||
|
||
$750. Hmmm. With $750 I go on two vacations per year, I have to
|
||
buy presents and such for relatives, go to movies, drink, get magazine
|
||
subscriptions, have fun, travel around here for no good reason, buy
|
||
software, buy hardware--hell, buy anything.
|
||
|
||
Tricky business, this.
|
||
|
||
From what I can tell, the circumstance that I describe is not all
|
||
that uncommon. A lot of people of my age bracket describe very
|
||
similar circumstances. There are about five people at the office who
|
||
are approximately in my same demographic. One friend is paying
|
||
off a two bedroom condo mortgage of $109,000. Another person
|
||
built a house with her husband, who works as a land-raper turning
|
||
mountainsides into golf course/condo complexes (to be fair, this
|
||
is an economic outlyer). A third person is splitting a townhouse
|
||
with three other people that, surprisingly enough, do the exact
|
||
same thing that he does. I live in an apartment by myself.
|
||
Somewhere between 50 and 75% of us are living from one paycheck to
|
||
the next. Two of the five of us have to return to parents every
|
||
so often, on bent knee, to make ends meet.
|
||
|
||
I was talking with supply-side economist Cecilia Masson whom I asked
|
||
about this strange circumstance of the poverty-striken upper-middle
|
||
class. "Well, there are probably a couple of reasons. The one that
|
||
best comes to mind is that during the early '80s, Ronald Reagan cut
|
||
college grants to students. The students were then forced or cajoled
|
||
to take student loans which were not conceived as being a real debt to
|
||
the student at the time. Now, look at the interest rates on the 'great
|
||
deals' that were being handed out to the students." (My student loan
|
||
rates are five, nine and twelve percent.) "You can get a car loan with
|
||
a lower interest rate these days." Between that, and a soft employment
|
||
picture, the circumstance seems somewhat biased against the Best and the
|
||
Brightest.
|
||
|
||
I'm sure that there are other reasons for my plight. If I didn't
|
||
live in D.C., I imagine that the cost of living would be somewhat lower.
|
||
I assume that I could always get a better job, maybe in a different
|
||
region, which I am trying to do right now. I don't think that my
|
||
spending is outrageous, but I could reasonably cut back my telephone to
|
||
$100/month, which would free up about a thousand or so, which would in
|
||
turn be plowed directly into reducing my personal student debt. I
|
||
think, though, that the basic problem is that I came out of school into
|
||
a very bad economic situation, and now I am paying the price. Its not
|
||
as if I live an extravagant lifestyle. If I did, I can live with this
|
||
high-income poverty. But like I said, I have a nice apartment; not
|
||
wonderful, just nice. I have fairly good stereo equipment, but I bought
|
||
that two years ago. I don't "party", I don't drink, I don't buy silly
|
||
things. I would go almost so far as to say that it is a spartan
|
||
existence here. When I go on vacation I don't get carried away; I buy
|
||
some items for friends of mine to make up for a debt from grad school.
|
||
But it isn't as if I have an apartment full of dopey shit that I bought
|
||
because I thought it was "cute".
|
||
|
||
So, right now I am sitting here typing this screed out on a seven-
|
||
year-old computer, watching cable on a 19" television, slowly digesting
|
||
yet another spaghetti dinner. Hell, it ain't even real spaghetti. It
|
||
is a bag-o-spag ($2.50/5-pound bag), using a sauce with 1/3 stick of
|
||
butter and 1/3 can of sauce), knowing full well that I am not being paid
|
||
until next Friday and things aren't going to be getting much better in
|
||
the near future since I have already spent my next paycheck paying off
|
||
these student loans, and I can't help but think that something is
|
||
fundamentally wrong.
|
||
|
||
|
||
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
|
||
|
||
|
||
################################################################
|
||
BTN PROFILE
|
||
This Month: Bernie Starchaser The Bishop
|
||
################################################################
|
||
|
||
|
||
The ProFile is a light-hearted attempt at allowing the BBS community
|
||
to get to know the selected user or sysop better. The harassees...er...
|
||
candidates for the ProFile are selected purely by random (or maybe not--
|
||
read up on "chaos"). If anyone has any suggestions for questions to be
|
||
included in the ProFile, or for users to be harassed by the ProFile, then
|
||
feel free to E-Mail them to me (THE BISHOP on the Crunchy Frog, or AARON
|
||
DEES on most other boards in town).
|
||
|
||
|
||
------------------------------------------------------------------------
|
||
ProFile: Bernie Starchaser
|
||
------------------------------------------------------------------------
|
||
Age: 27
|
||
------------------------------------------------------------------------
|
||
Birthplace: Birmingham, AL
|
||
------------------------------------------------------------------------
|
||
Occupation: Sales
|
||
------------------------------------------------------------------------
|
||
My hobbies include:
|
||
Computing (BIG SURPRISE), Model Railroading, writing, collecting
|
||
CD's, others too personal to mention
|
||
------------------------------------------------------------------------
|
||
Years telecomputing: 11
|
||
------------------------------------------------------------------------
|
||
Sysop, past/present/future of:
|
||
ORION (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, *and* 7, you'd think I would've gotten the
|
||
hint!)
|
||
------------------------------------------------------------------------
|
||
System(s)/Conference(s) frequented:
|
||
Matrix, 8250, Alter Ego mains, Frog Main, Argument, BTNWA
|
||
------------------------------------------------------------------------
|
||
My oddest habit is:
|
||
That would have to be a tossup between singing while driving and
|
||
pretending my car is equipped with assorted weaponry whenever other
|
||
drivers do mind-bogglingly stupid things (well, that *is* odd,
|
||
isn't it?)
|
||
------------------------------------------------------------------------
|
||
My greatest unfulfilled ambition is:
|
||
I have several: 1. becoming obscenely rich, 2. Being a nationally
|
||
known BBS personality, 3. getting my wife to use BBS systems,
|
||
4. teaching my parakeet to pick good stocks/horses/dogs/football
|
||
teams/etc.
|
||
------------------------------------------------------------------------
|
||
The accomplishment of which I am most proud is:
|
||
Having the good sense to stop trying to run a BBS on a Commodore
|
||
64!!! Also actually meeting Mark Maisel in person <G>
|
||
------------------------------------------------------------------------
|
||
My favorite performers are:
|
||
Music: RUSH; Movies: Christopher Walken, Christopher Lambert,
|
||
Christopher Lee, Christopher Lloyd (see a pattern here?) and Sean
|
||
Connery (GOTCHA!); TV: Leonard Nimoy, Jeremy Brett, Tom Baker,
|
||
Peter Davidson, Sylvester McCoy (The Dr. Who connection), Patrick
|
||
Stewart, Mark Lenard, others too numerous to list (or too
|
||
boring).
|
||
------------------------------------------------------------------------
|
||
The last good movie I saw was:
|
||
Oddly enough, _Aladdin_! Yes, add Robin Williams to the above list.
|
||
Also, of course, _Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country_, which
|
||
means I guess you'd better add David Warner to the list above, too.
|
||
Getting a little out of hand, isn't it? Well, you *did* ask!!
|
||
------------------------------------------------------------------------
|
||
The last good book I read was:
|
||
The last really good book I read was _Prime Directive_, which, not
|
||
surprisingly, was a Star Trek novel.
|
||
------------------------------------------------------------------------
|
||
If they were making a movie of my life, I'd like to see my part
|
||
played by:
|
||
Christopher Lambert, Christopher Walken, or Robin Williams
|
||
------------------------------------------------------------------------
|
||
My pet peeves are:
|
||
People who mispel words and PEOPLE WHO TYPE IN ALL CAPS!
|
||
------------------------------------------------------------------------
|
||
When nobody's looking, I like to:
|
||
Throw things at them and yell "Reflex Check!" at the last moment.
|
||
------------------------------------------------------------------------
|
||
|
||
|
||
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
|
||
|
||
|
||
################################################################
|
||
SPECIAL INTEREST
|
||
GROUPS (SIG's)
|
||
[COMPUTER RELATED] compiled by Eric Hunt
|
||
################################################################
|
||
|
||
|
||
BIPUG Alabama UniForum
|
||
Birmingham IBM-PC Users Group Homewood Public Library
|
||
UAB Nutrition Science Blg 1st Tuesday
|
||
RM 535/541 Shawn Cleary 870-6130
|
||
1st Sunday (delayed one week
|
||
if meeting is a holiday)
|
||
Marty Schulman 967-5883
|
||
|
||
Birmingham Apple Core
|
||
Informal breakfast meeting every Saturday, 9am - 11am
|
||
@ Kopper Kettle, lower level Brookwood Village Mall
|
||
Formal meeting held second Saturday of each month, location
|
||
variable (to be announced at breakfast meetings and in the
|
||
user group's newsletter "The PEEL".)
|
||
President: Sam Johnston - 322-5379
|
||
Vice-Prez: Marie Prater - 822-8135
|
||
|
||
The SIG listing is being re-verified. If you know of an active
|
||
Computer Related user's group, please let me know.
|
||
|
||
I can be reached via Internet email at
|
||
eric.hunt@the-matrix.com or drop me a note directly on The
|
||
MATRIX.
|
||
|
||
|
||
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
|
||
|
||
|
||
################################################################
|
||
KNOWN BBS NUMBERS
|
||
FOR THE
|
||
BIRMINGHAM AREA
|
||
################################################################
|
||
|
||
Sysops, PLEASE check your listing to make sure everything is
|
||
correct, especially the networks. Corrections should be mailed on
|
||
the Matrix to either James Minton or Scott Hollifield, or in a Sysop
|
||
Comment on Outer Limits.
|
||
|
||
|
||
ADAnet One (Nodes 1-3) 250-0013 1200-2400 PCBoard 14.5
|
||
[ez, fi, ad]
|
||
ADAnet One (Node 4) 254-6050 2400-14400 USR DS PCBoard 14.5
|
||
[ez, fi, ad]
|
||
Alcatraz BBS 608-0880 300-9600 VBBS 6.0
|
||
[he, vi]
|
||
Alter-Ego BBS 925-5099 1200-9600 USR HST PCBoard 14.5
|
||
[ez, mn]
|
||
Baudville (Nodes 1-7) 995-0013 300-2400 Major BBS 6.12
|
||
[none]
|
||
Bus System 987-5419 300-2400 PCBoard 14.2
|
||
[none]
|
||
Byte Me! 979-BYTE! 2400-14400 USR HST WWIV 4.12
|
||
[ez, th, al]
|
||
Castle, The 841-7618 300-2400 Image 1.2
|
||
[none]
|
||
Channel 8250 (Node 1) 744-8546 300-14400 USR DS PCBoard 14.5
|
||
[ez, un]
|
||
Channel 8250 (Node 2) 744-5166 300-14400 USR DS PCBoard 14.5
|
||
[ez, un]
|
||
Cherry Tree 681-1710 1200-14400 TriBBS 4.01
|
||
[wm, ca]
|
||
Christian Apologetic 808-0763 1200-14400 V.32bis Wildcat! 3.55
|
||
[ez, wi, bc, ru]
|
||
Crocodile Country BBS 477-6283 1200-16800 USR DS Searchlight 3.5 *RIP*
|
||
[sl]
|
||
Crunchy Frog (Node 1) 823-3957 300-14400 USR DS PCBoard 14.5
|
||
[ez, mn, lu, ll]
|
||
Crunchy Frog (Node 2) 823-3958 300-14400 USR DS PCBoard 14.5
|
||
[ez, mn, lu, ll]
|
||
Crystal Village 856-3749 1200-2400 VBBS 6.10
|
||
[cr, cs, al, ho, co, fn, vi]
|
||
Den, The 933-8744 300-9600 USR HST ProLogon/ProDoor
|
||
[ez, mn, il]
|
||
Digital Publishing 854-1660 300-9600 V.32 Wildcat! 3.01
|
||
[pl]
|
||
Electro-BBS 491-8402 300-14400 V.32/42 Maximus 2.01
|
||
[fi]
|
||
Family Smorgas-Board 744-0943 300-2400 PCBoard 14.5
|
||
[ez, fi, mj, bc, fa, ic, cf, cd, np, ag, ve, ad]
|
||
Final Frontier 838-5634 300-14400 VBBS 6.11 *RIP*
|
||
[al, he, re, fn]
|
||
Genesis Online(Nodes 1-6) 620-4150 300-14400 V.32bis Major BBS 6.11
|
||
[mr]
|
||
Guardian, The (Node 1) 425-1951 1200-14400 V.42bis VBBS 6.11
|
||
[vi]
|
||
Guardian, The (Node 2) 425-1956 1200-14400 V.42bis VBBS 6.11
|
||
[vi]
|
||
Hardeman's BBS 640-6436 1200-14400 Wildcat! 3.51
|
||
[wi, di, bc]
|
||
Homewood's Hell Hole 987-7823 2400-14440 V.32bis VBBS 6.10
|
||
[he, bi]
|
||
Joker's Castle 664-5589 300-14400 USR DS PCBoard 14.5
|
||
[ez, mn, un]
|
||
KickAxis BBS 733-0253 1200-14400 USR DS VBBS 6.0
|
||
[he]
|
||
Leaping's Lounge 856-2521 1200-14400 GTPower 17.06
|
||
[gt, ez, mn, cc, wm, sc, ab]
|
||
Lions Den 969-5733 300-14400 USR DS Wildcat! 3.90
|
||
[wi, fi]
|
||
Lumby's Palace 520-0041 300-14400 VBBS 6.0
|
||
[he]
|
||
Magic City 664-9883 300-14400 USR DS Wildcat! 3.55
|
||
[cc, di, wm, wi]
|
||
Magnolia BBS 854-6407 300-14400 USR HST PCBoard 14.5
|
||
[ez, mn]
|
||
MATRIX, The (Nodes 1-14) 323-2016 300-2400 PCBoard 15.0 *RIP*
|
||
[ez, mn, th, il, in, al, sh, sc, gl, ic, ri, fr]
|
||
MATRIX, The (Nodes 20-23) 323-6016 9600-14400 USR DS PCBoard 15.0 *RIP*
|
||
[ez, mn, th, il, in, al, sh, sc, gl, ic, ri, fr]
|
||
MATRIX, The (Node 25-26) 458-3449 9600-14400 V.32bis PCBoard 15.0 *RIP*
|
||
[ez, mn, th, il, in, al, sh, sc, gl, ic, ri, fr]
|
||
MetaBoard 854-4814 300-14400 USR DS Opus CBCS 1.73
|
||
[fi, ad]
|
||
MetroMac BBS (Node 1) 323-6306 1200-14400 V.32bis TeleFinder 3.1
|
||
[none]
|
||
MetroMac BBS (Node 2) 252-0582 1200-14400 V.32bis TeleFinder 3.1
|
||
[none]
|
||
Milliways BBS (Node 1) 956-3177 1200-2400 Major BBS 6.11 *RIP*
|
||
[none]
|
||
Milliways BBS(Nodes 2-6)956-2731 1200-2400 Major BBS 6.11 *RIP*
|
||
[none]
|
||
Missing Link 853-1257 300-16800 USR DS C-Net Amiga 2.63
|
||
[cl, cn]
|
||
Neon Moon 477-5894 300-14400 TriBBS 4.0
|
||
[dx]
|
||
Outer Limits (Node 1) 426-5611 1200-16800 ZyXEL Wildcat! 3.90 *RIP*
|
||
[fi, do, ec, er, pn]
|
||
Outer Limits (Node 2) 425-5871 1200-16800 ZyXEL Wildcat! 3.90 *RIP*
|
||
[fi, do, ec, er, pn]
|
||
Outer Limits (Node 3) 426-2939 1200-16800 ZyXEL Wildcat! 3.90 *RIP*
|
||
[fi, do, ec, er, pn]
|
||
Party Line 856-1336 300-14000 V.32bis TriBBS 4.0
|
||
[cc, wm, di]
|
||
Penny Arcade 699-4625 300-2400 Running Force! 3.75
|
||
[none]
|
||
Playground 681-5070 1200-14000 V.32 TriBBS 5.0
|
||
[wm, di, al, ez]
|
||
Posys BBS 854-5131 300-9600 V.32 PCBoard
|
||
[none]
|
||
Programmer's Shack 988-4695 1200-9600 HST DS Renegade
|
||
[ae, di, ws, fi, it]
|
||
Quiet Zone 833-2066 300-2400 ExpressNet
|
||
[none]
|
||
Safe Harbor (Node 1) 665-4332 300-2400 GTPower 17.06
|
||
[gt, ez, mn, il]
|
||
Safe Harbor (Node 2) 665-4355 300-14400 USR DS GTPower 17.06
|
||
[gt, ez, mn, il]
|
||
Sam's Domain 956-2757 1200-14400 VBBS 6.0
|
||
[da, he]
|
||
Safety BBS 581-2866 300-2400 RBBS-PC 17.4
|
||
[none]
|
||
Southern Stallion 322-3816 300-16800 ZyXEL PCBoard 15.0
|
||
[an, ez, lu, pr, th]
|
||
Sperry BBS 853-6144 300-2400 V.32/42b PCBoard 14.5
|
||
[none]
|
||
ST BBS 836-9311 300-2400 PCBoard 14.2
|
||
[ez]
|
||
StarBase 12 647-7184 300-2400 TriBBS 4.0
|
||
[ez, mn, cc]
|
||
The Light 979-0368 300-14400 V.32bis PCBoard 15.0
|
||
[ch, nl]
|
||
Thy Master's Dungeon 940-2116 300-57600 V.32/42b PCBoard 14.5
|
||
[fr]
|
||
Torch Song 328-1517 300-9600 V.32 Wildcat 3.6
|
||
[pr, se, st, do]
|
||
Travelog BBS 491-3898 300-2400 TriBBS
|
||
[none]
|
||
Weekends BBS 841-8583 2400-16800 USR DS Wildcat! 3.9
|
||
[ca]
|
||
Willie's DYM (Node 1) 664-9902 300-2400 Oracomm Plus
|
||
[or]
|
||
Willie's DYM (Node 2) 664-9903 300-2400 Oracomm Plus
|
||
[or]
|
||
Willie's DYM (Node 3) 664-9895 300-2400 Oracomm Plus
|
||
[or]
|
||
Willie's DYM (Node 4) 664-9896 300-2400 Oracomm Plus
|
||
[or]
|
||
Ziggy Unix BBS 991-5696 300-1200 UNaXess
|
||
[none]
|
||
|
||
|
||
*RIP* = BBS Software is RIP Graphics capable. You must be using a RIP
|
||
compatible term software to view them. RIPTerm or QmodemPro v1.50 are
|
||
the only two I know of that support it at this time. RIPTerm is shareware
|
||
and can be downloaded from most BBS's. QmodemPro is a commercial product.
|
||
|
||
The two-letter abbreviations you see on the line below the names of
|
||
many of the bbs' in the list signify that they are members of one or
|
||
more networks that exchange or echo mail to each other in some organized
|
||
fashion.
|
||
|
||
ad = ADAnet, an international network dedicated to the handicapped
|
||
ae = ANet, uncertain at press time
|
||
ag = AgapeNet, a national Christian network, multi-topic
|
||
al = AlaNet, a local network, multi-topic
|
||
an = AnnexNet, an international network, multi-topic
|
||
at = AdultNet, a national network, adult-oriented
|
||
bc = BCBNet, a local network, religion-oriented
|
||
bh = BhamTalk, a local network, multi-topic
|
||
bi = BitchNet, uncertain at press time
|
||
ca = CafeNet, a local network, restaurant/dining, recipes, etc.
|
||
cc = Coast2Coast, a national network, multi-topic
|
||
cd = CDN, a national Christian network for file distribution
|
||
cf = CFN, a national Christian network, multi-topic
|
||
ch = ChristNet, a national Christian network
|
||
cl = CLink, uncertain at press time
|
||
cn = CNet, multi-topic
|
||
co = ComicNet, a local net for comic book readers
|
||
cr = CrystalNet, uncertain at press time
|
||
cs = ChaosNet, uncertain at press time
|
||
cy = Cybernet, uncertain at press time
|
||
da = DateNet, uncertain at press time
|
||
de = DevNet, an international network for programmers and developers
|
||
di = Dixie Net, a regional network, multi-topic geared toward the south
|
||
eastern United States
|
||
do = DoorNet, a national network for the distribution of BBS doors
|
||
ec = EchoNet, an international network, multi-topic
|
||
er = ErosNet, an international network, adult oriented, files & messages
|
||
ez = EzNet, a local IBM compatible network
|
||
fa = FamilyNet, an international network, multi-topic
|
||
fi = FidoNet, an international network, multi-topic
|
||
fn = FrontierNet, a local network, multi-topic
|
||
fr = FredNet, a regional network, political discussion
|
||
ga = GameNet, a local network, uncertain at press time
|
||
gl = GlobalLink, an international network, multi-topic
|
||
gt = GTNet, an international network, multi-topic
|
||
he = HellNet, a local network, multi-topic
|
||
ho = HobbyNet, a local network for hobbyists
|
||
ic = ICDM, an international Christian network, multi-topic
|
||
ie = Intelec, a national network, multi-topic
|
||
il = ILink, an international network, multi-topic
|
||
in = InterNet, an international network, linking businesses,
|
||
universities, and bbs', multi-topic
|
||
it = ITCNet, uncertain at press time
|
||
ll = LlamaNet, a national network, freeform correspondence
|
||
lo = LocalNet, uncertain at press time
|
||
lu = LuciferNet, an international network, adult oriented
|
||
ma = MAXnet, a local network, connecting WWIV and VBBS systems
|
||
mj = MJCN, an international network for Messianic Jews
|
||
mn = Metronet, an international network which echoes RIME, multi-topic
|
||
mr = MajorNet, an international network, multi-topic
|
||
nl = NewLife, uncertain at press time
|
||
np = NPN, a national network for new parents
|
||
or = OraNet, a national E-mail network
|
||
pl = PlanoNet, a national network, multi-topic
|
||
pn = PoliceNet, an international network, law-enforcement only
|
||
pr = PrideNet, a local homosexually oriented network
|
||
rf = RF Net, a national network for ham radio users and hobbyists
|
||
ri = RIME, an international network, multi-topic
|
||
rb = RoboLink, a national network, multi-topic
|
||
re = RealityNet, uncertain at press time
|
||
rp = RPGnet, a local network for role-playing games
|
||
rs = RoseNet, a national network, technically oriented
|
||
ru = RushNet, a national network for Rush Limbaugh fans
|
||
sc = Science Factor Net, a national network, science and technology
|
||
oriented
|
||
se = SEC, a regional network, homosexually oriented geared toward the
|
||
southeastern United States
|
||
sh = Shades N Shadows Net, a national network for role-playing games
|
||
sl = SearchlightNet, a national network, multi-topic
|
||
sm = SmartNet, a national network, multi-topic
|
||
sn = ShadowNet, a national network for role-playing games
|
||
st = StudsNet, a national network, homosexually oriented
|
||
te = TECHnet, a local network, hardware and utility oriented
|
||
th = ThrobNet, an international network, adult oriented
|
||
un = U'NI-Net, an international network, multi-topic
|
||
ve = VETLink, a national network for military veterans
|
||
vi = VirtualNet, an international network, multi-topic
|
||
wi = WildNet, a national network, multi-topic
|
||
wm = World Message Exchange, an international network, multi-topic
|
||
ws = WishNet, uncertain at press time
|
||
ww = WWIV-Net, an international network, multi-topic
|
||
|
||
|
||
|