F I D O N E W S -- | Vol. 8 No. 25 (24 June 1991) The newsletter of the | FidoNet BBS community | Published by: _ | / \ | "FidoNews" BBS /|oo \ | (415)-863-2739 (_| /_) | FidoNet 1:1/1 _`@/_ \ _ | Internet: | | \ \\ | fidonews@fidonews.fidonet.org | (*) | \ )) | |__U__| / \// | Editors: _//|| _\ / | Tom Jennings (_/(_|(____/ | Tim Pozar (jm) | ----------------------------+--------------------------------------- Published weekly by and for the Members of the FidoNet international amateur network. Copyright 1991, Fido Software. All rights reserved. Duplication and/or distribution permitted for noncommercial purposes only. For use in other circumstances, please contact FidoNews. Paper price: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $5.00US Electronic Price: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . free! For more information about FidoNews refer to the end of this file. -------------------------------------------------------------------- Table of Contents 1. EDITORIAL ..................................................... 1 Editorial from afar (temporally) .............................. 1 2. FIDONET NEWS .................................................. 3 3. ARTICLES ...................................................... 4 Zone 1 Nodelist Comments Revisited ............................ 4 Message Spelling Checker! Finally! ............................ 5 SOFTWARE REVIEW: InterMail 2.0 ................................ 6 A Word from the Bible - Christ in you (the Power) ............. 8 A Draft Elections Policy ...................................... 9 4. RANTS AND FLAMES .............................................. 25 5. CLASSIFIEDS ................................................... 26 6. NOTICES ....................................................... 27 The Interrupt Stack ........................................... 27 7. LATEST VERSIONS ............................................... 28 Latest Software Versions ...................................... 28 FidoNews 8-25 Page 1 24 Jun 1991 ====================================================================== EDITORIAL ====================================================================== Editorial from afar (temporally) by Tom Jennings This is a canned editorial that will repeat every week like a bad cold unless Tim Pozar stops it. (Written 19 June 91) I will be out of town until 1 Aug 1991. Tim Pozar is acting as editor (he's on the masthead, in case you didn't notice). He can be reached at 1:125/555. Articles etc still go to 1:1/1. Probably most of the projects I initiated are on hold until I return. 'Salright, we lasted this long without them. Oh yes, about the price on the "cover" -- If you remember the PHRACK electronic-newsletter bust, it was claimed that it was not protected under the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, because it was not a print publication!! Which is patently absurd, of course, but there you go. As a short-term solution, until the perpetrators of such nonsense get straightened out, I offer the following short-term solution: offer your "electronic" newsletter in print. I have done this to FidoNews, as an example of how to implement it (see the boilerplate in the back for a sample), rather than because there is anything of interest to law-enforcement types. To state the obvious, FidoNews is still completely without cost of any kind. The "price" simply covers the cost of manually printing and mailing the thing. No one has taken me up on it yet. Hey! Bye! Have a nice trip! (Wait... that's your line!) ---------------------------------------------------------------------- One more thing: PGP ("Pretty Good Privacy") has been the single most popular download/filerequest I've ever had on my board (See FidoNews 8/24) short of Fido/FidoNet itself. Aargh. I'm so embarrassed I am glad I'm out of town ... the compression method is back to LHARC, but 1.13-level compatibility. Before you seriously consider conspiracies, consider this: not one single person offered that (1) LHARC 1.13 is considered the "universal" compression method or that (2) that is what I should have been using all along for FidoNews. FidoNews 8-25 Page 2 24 Jun 1991 OK, so it was two. Sue me. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- FidoNews 8-25 Page 3 24 Jun 1991 ====================================================================== FIDONET NEWS ====================================================================== ################################################################ FidoNetNews -- a weekly section devoted to technical and factual issues within the FidoNet -- FidoNet Technical Standards Committee reports, *C reports, information on FidoNet standards documents and the like. ################################################################ ---------------------------------------------------------------------- FidoNews 8-25 Page 4 24 Jun 1991 ====================================================================== ARTICLES ====================================================================== Zone 1 Nodelist Comments Revisited George Peace 1:1/0 Hi! I saw the [zone 1] nodelist comments in the latest F'News and thought I'd offer a tidbit. Those nodelist comments are rather imposing when imported en masse (as ;S ...). When I took on the Z1C job I started installing a unique prefix on the announcements section to [try to] make extraction and distribution a bit easier. I never offered any official statement as to intent or application because I was concerned that a few would demand that FTS-0005 be updated in order to make the practice "official". Well, they've lasted [informally] a year now so maybe they'll last yet another. All announcements I insert in the Zone 1 nodediff will be on lines prefixed with ;S | That's actually a 5 character sequence including a trailing blank. That sequence carries forward through blank lines as well. So a rather elementary script might be used to extract the comments into a reproducable and perhaps even publishable format. Here's a starter script using tools the MS-DOS users among us already have available. This is a manually entered script. Automation requires a few changes... FIND ";S | " NODELIST.172 >COMMENTS.172 EDLIN COMMENTS.172 R;S | ^Z E The ^Z is a a CTRL-Z character followed by . I'll do my best to limit comment lines to 65 characters for easier extraction and publishing. Considering the international flair of today's FidoNet I believe any comments reposted in F'News should be identified by Zone. The nodelist is published independently in each zone and as such Z1C shouldn't pretend or appear to represent any other zone. Thanks for listening... ---------------------------------------------------------------------- FidoNews 8-25 Page 5 24 Jun 1991 Fredric L. Rice FidoNet 1:102/901.0 Getting tired of being flamed for your spelling mistakes? I sure the hell was so I did something about it! No, I didn't educate myself! I've asked my computer to think a little more for me: The MsgSpell project! This program will scan through the message areas you describe in the configuration file and will check each message it finds for spelling errors. The configuration file determines if the project is to be run as an automated process or as an interactive process. Usually, you would run the program after answering your mail or entering messages into a conference. -- You and your users, perhaps. But you _could_ run it automatically. If run as an automated process, all unknown words are placed within brackets [] and the messages are moved to a holding directory until it's been examined by the operator. A lot of work, perhaps, for the SysOp. -- I should say a lot of _additional_ work. (The problem with automated mode is that if you are checking more than one AREA:, the messages would need to be tossed to the correct directory again after you corrected the spelling errors. Very time wasteful. If run as an interactive session, the unknown words will cause the operator to be prompted to (A)dd the word to the dictionary, (E)dit the word so that it's replaced in the text, (I)gnore the word, or (M)ark the word with brackets []. In any event, the message that had been corrected is destroyed and then re-created with the corrections you requested. The message number isn't changed, and neither is the date; only the message text. Kludge lines are _not_ looked upon as something to test for spelling errors! Neither are the subject lines. Origin lines _are_ as are tear lines. The project will mark each message as having been spell checked; messages will not be selected to be checked for spelling if it has already been checked once. (This is done by using the times-read flag in the message header and is documented better in the document file that comes with the project.) If you don't want to correct the spelling of everyone's mail, you can configure a list of names of everyone (or just yourself) you wish to correct spelling for. Messages that are entered locally, have not been sent yet, and were entered by either of the personal names you describe, will be checked for spelling. If you want all messages that were entered locally to be checked for spelling, you simply don't configure anyone's name and all local messages which have not been sent yet will be checked. FidoNews 8-25 Page 6 24 Jun 1991 The dictionary is the work of Samuel H. Smiths's project 'EZSPELL.' The File EZSPELL.DCT was used for initial spelling checking and then later added to by taking FidoNews issues, running them through commercial spelling checks, and then importing FidoNews into network messages. Then the MsgSpell project was run on those FidoNews messages and new words were added. In this way, the dictionary is tailored towards the BBS community -- Well, FidoNet anyway. (The Group Mail documentation was also used to add words to the dictionary in this same way.) As with most of the software projects that come from my keyboard, the sourCe code comes with the project. The file is called MSGSPELL.LZH and can be requested with the magic file name of SPELL. Source code is provided so that if faster routines are developed, the updates may be disseminated through-out the network. In addition, you may not like the way I did some things so you're free to correct them. It would be nice if the project offered suggested spellings in the future. Fredric. 1:102/901.0 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- by Alan Gilbertson An (almost) Unsolicited Testimony What can I say about InterMail, other than that it's about the best communication program I've ever used? -- And I've used them all. For the last several months, I've been beta testing the now released InterMail 2.0x. I can talk about it from a number of different perspectives. As a telecom professional, I'm delighted by the fact that InterMail not only works as advertised, but has the first real, honest-to- goodness MANUAL I've seen for a powerful communications package. It's thorough, understandable, easy to use, and (all too scarce in the computer world) well written. In the world of Fido technology, especially, manuals seem to be things written in afterthought, preferably in Ancient Greek, translated into English by anyone who happened to be standing around at the time. Some authors even brag about their hatred for docs. As a Sysop, I'm delighted that the program works. If that seems a strange thing to say, consider all the software you've tried that "almost" works, or "mostly" works. InterMail just... works. First time, out of the package, it works. Watched, unwatched, during mail runs, outside of mail runs, in events and between events, it works. It is also truly tweak-resistant, which will be good news to the many who can't resist trying *that* setting... oops! And to those whose mailers then spend hours trying to send to a system that's down and out. FidoNews 8-25 Page 7 24 Jun 1991 And it's not just the mailer: the editor is a dream; the nodelist manager (yay, nodelist manager!) is simple, elegant and complete -- no other program lets you pop into the routing and control files and tweak them on the fly -- with ASCII editor and import/export facilities; the terminal emulator is fast (scripts run at such blazing speed I'm convinced Peter has snuck in a compiler without telling anyone) and bug free. Under DesqView, the program is so well-behaved it seems to add clock speed to the CPU when it's running - no more bleed through, jerky screen updates, or grinding my teeth because my editor only runs at half speed with the mailer up in the background. As a computer professional, enthusiast, and long-time "power user" (hate that term), I enjoy software that's bug free. I beta test many types of programs, and I do know how to stress-test a package to see where it will break. InterMail doesn't break. In the years I've been a beta tester I have never seen a more boring program to test: it doesn't even crack at the seams a little. Oh, there were a few nit-picky items here and there that were fixed almost before the netmail reply reached me, but as of the release date, bang on it any way you like, the program has no known bugs. (Read my bits: "No known bugs.") As a user, I'm in love with the editor, which is such a pleasure to use. It's unobtrusive, so I don't get distracted by bells and whistles, but it has depth and power enough that I have never been unable to set up a message just the way I wanted it. (Don't get me wrong -- I like bells and whistles as much as the next guy, but not when I'm trying to answer mail.) Like the rest of the program, it runs like a jackrabbit - fast. As all of the above, and above all, I'm thrilled by the tech support: Netmail a question (it doesn't seem to matter what time of the day or night), and the reply comes back speedily. Peter Stewart has help from his fiance and partner, Michele Hamilton. They've answered the dumbest and the most pointed questions I could throw at them, always with patience, wit, and interest. How can you ask for more than that? As one who has endured some of the worst, and enjoyed much of the best tech support out there, I know a good thing when I see it, and if InterMail had nothing else going for it I would still use it just to have that support line. There are few programmers who produce consistently reliable code. Fewer still who can then document it for users. Fewest of all who can then support the user and still find time to turn out more and more stuff and document that, too. Peter is one. InterMail is a magnificent piece of work by any standards. From a Fido perspective, it's thoroughly professional; utterly unique. (Okay, Peter, you can stop blushing now. Come out from under the desk...) FidoNews 8-25 Page 8 24 Jun 1991 Alan Gilbertson 1:3603/230@Fidonet 50:5020/2@Echonet ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Steve Winter FidoNet 1:151/208 209 210 Preface: The purpose of my writings here is not to necessarily "convert" or hassle anyone who is content in their current lifestyle or religion; but rather, to show what the real Biblical criteria for Christianity is, and thereby expose those who are conning others. Whether they are conning people financially, socially, or on the FidoNet echos that allow religious discussion; false preachers and false Christians are doing great harm to their fellow man. Just a basic elementary Bible knowledge could keep current and future "Jim & Tammy" types from conning anyone on or off of FidoNet or other Network. (J & T weren't even teaching the real Bible message, EVER). Christ in you (the Power) Jesus told His apostles and disciples to WAIT for POWER that they did not yet have (even though they had been with Jesus as His disciples and Apostles). Luke 24:49 And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high. Acts 1:8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth. When they received the POWER they ALL spoke in tongues. Acts 2:4 And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. Speaking in tongues is the sign of a true believer, and is repeatedly referred to in the Bible as the evidence that the apostles accepted that a person had been "born again" of the Spirit. (remember John 3:5) Mark 16:17 And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; FidoNews 8-25 Page 9 24 Jun 1991 The Bible predicted that many would prefer false preachers instead of wanting the truth, this also explains the popularity of anti-Biblical teachings in FidoNet echos that "claim" to be "Bible" oriented. II Timothy 4:3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; The Bible also warned that there would be those that would have the form (church services, appearing "good", etc.), but deny "tongues" (denying the POWER). II Timothy 3:5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away. The Bible teaches that those who don't have the real Spirit of Christ (POWER), are "none of His". Romans 8:9 But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his. Jesus declaring HIMSELF to be the Spirit of Truth (the Holy Ghost, the "Power"). Please look carefully. John 14:17 [Even] the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you. The Spirit of Truth (the Holy Ghost) is the form that Jesus is manifesting Himself in, in this dispensation. Those that deny tongues, deny Christ. They are only holding to the form of religion, but they don't have the real thing, they don't have the "POWER". When someone rejects the Holy Ghost speaking in tongues; they are rejecting Jesus Christ. Steve Winter - [moderator HOLY_BIBLE] ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Draft FidoNet Election Policy Revision: 21-Jun-91 Luke Kolin, 1:250/714@fidonet.org As a recognition that FidoNet is based on democratic principles, the positions of the NC and RC shall be made elective. The following is an election policy that intends to fulfill the democratic intent of FidoNet. FidoNews 8-25 Page 10 24 Jun 1991 1) Glossary of Terms "Close of the The time when the ballots are counted. No ballots Election" will be accepted after this date/time. "Elected Officer" Any elected NC or RC. "Immediate The administrator one level higher in the FidoNet Superior" hierarchy. For example, an NC's immediate superior would be the RC, a ZC's would be the IC. "Returning System" The equivelant of Chief Electoral Officer. It is the sysop of this system who will post notices advising eligible sysops as to who is running and the close of the election, will count the ballots and announce a winner. "Semi-Secret This is a ballot where a voter's choice is known Ballot" only by the returning system, and by any routing systems that the returning officer may designate. A voter sends his ballot in with a password. At the close of the election, the returning system will post a list of passwords and the votes asso- ciated with them. Voters may then check to see that their password and votes have been received. 2) Calling of an Election a) An election for a position shall be required by notice of one of the following events being given: i) Resignation of an elected officer; ii) An elected officer seeking a renewed mandate. b) An elected officer who has resigned may appoint another sysop to act in his stead during the election; however, this interim officer must be ratified by the interim officer's immediate superior. He may act as a returning system, as outlined in sections 1c) and 1d). c) Within three (3) days of this occurring, a formal call of election must be given by the immediate superior of the position that shall be voted upon, stating: i) The date of the election; ii) The name of the returning system. d) An election must take place within thirty-two (32) days of the formal call of election, and every reasonable effort must be made to select a returning system acceptable to all. FidoNews 8-25 Page 11 24 Jun 1991 3) Voter Eligibility a) All sysops listed in the FidoNet nodelist as of twenty-one (21) full days before the close of the election are entitled to vote. b) All sysops get one (1) vote only. c) In network-specific elections, only sysops listed in that network and meeting requirement 2a) are entitled to vote. 4) Voter Notification a) All elections shall be conducted via a semi-secret ballot. The identity of the voter shall be known only to the returning system. b) The returning system must post a public message in the regional sysop EchoMail conference informing all systems of: i) The date of the vote; ii) The position being voted on; iii) The returning system's address; no less than thirty (30) days before the close of the election. c) All eligible sysops will receive a netmail message from the returning system informing them of: i) The date/time ballots must be received by; ii) The position being voted on; iii) The candidates; iv) The returning system's address; v) Valid systems to route their ballot through. no less than ten (10) full days before the close of the election. After this message is sent out, ballots will be accepted by the returning system. d) Systems unable to receive the message in 3c) will have a message of notification placed in the regional sysop EchoMail conference no less than seven (7) full days before the close of the election. 5) Candidate Eligibility a) All candidates for the position being voted on must have been listed in the FidoNet nodelist as of twenty-one (21) days before the close of the election. b) Candidates must register by sending a message of intent to the returning system's address no less than fourteen (14) full days before the close of the election. FidoNews 8-25 Page 12 24 Jun 1991 c) All candidates have the right to post up to three (3) messages per week about their candidacy in the regional sysop EchoMail conference and the sysop EchoMail conference of each Net that has any eligible voters. d) No one may prevent any candidate from posting an equal number of messages about their candidacy than another. 6) Voting Procedure, Election Results, and Enforcement a) All ballots must be in by the closing date and time specified in all the notices given. b) All ballots must have a sysop name, FidoNet address, and an alphanumeric password of nine (9) characters or less. c) To avoid toll charges, ballots may be routed through any system listed in the notice specified in 3c). d) The returning system must acknowlege the receipt of each ballot, but since this receipt can be routed, it should not indicate either the password or choice given in the ballot. e) The returning system must acknowledge the results of the election by providing a message: i) Listing all the nodes who voted; ii) Providing a list of passwords and their vote; iii) Providing a total for each candidate; iv) Providing a total of abstentions; v) Providing the total number of eligible systems. to be posted in the regional sysop EchoMail conference, as well as forwarded to all the NCs of Nets that have any eligible voters, no more than three (3) days after the close of the election. f) To be declared the winner, a candidate must receive a simple plurality of all the votes cast. g) Any complaints or violations of this elections policy should be reported to the returning system. The returning system and the immediate superior of the position being voted upon shall rule on any complaints. They have the option of anulling any results and calling a new election. 7) Ratification Votes Ratification votes shall be conducted in a similar matter to the election of a *C with the following differences: a) The RC shall designate a sysop as returning officer, and shall FidoNews 8-25 Page 13 24 Jun 1991 issue a formal notice of a ratification vote which shall be the same as in Section 3c) of this policy, except that the name of the candidates shall be replaced by the name of the document being ratified. This shall be issued no less than fourteen (14) days before the close of the election. b) Eligibility requirements, ballots, and tabulation are the same as for any other election. 8) Miscellaneous a) In this document, the male implies the female, the singular implies the plural, etc., etc., except where it wouldn't make sense. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Original Message Date: Sat 15 Jun 91 16:18 From: Fidocon '91 on 1:104/69 To: Tom Jennings on 1:125/111 Subj: FidoCon '91 Schedual For Immediate Release Denver will be the host of an International BBSing Conference to be held August 16-18, 1991 at the Lakewood Sheraton Hotel and Conference Center. Called FidoCon '91, all BBS System Operators, Users, and those interested in electronic communications and networking are invited to attend. This three day conference will include manufacturers, software suppliers, writers, and dealers, and will be both educational and fun. Special events include a "mud-pie" throw for charity (Friday night, for the Multiple Sclerosis Foundation) - with some SPECIAL guests, A Banquet, and a drawing for a full, multi-line BBS System, complete with modems, hardware and software. Special guests include: Tom Jennings (arriving via natural-gas powered auto) - the "inventor" of Fido; Steve Jackson (CEO of Steve Jackson Games, and GURPS CYBERPUNK) - speaking on BBSing and what to do when your system is seized; Phil Becker (CEO of eSoft) and many others. FOR MORE DETAILS - PLEASE READ THE FOLLOWING ATTACHMENT For Immediate Release FidoCon '91 P.O. Box 486 FidoNews 8-25 Page 14 24 Jun 1991 Louisville, CO 80027-0486 * Zone 1 FidoCon '91 Update FidoCon '91 Committee 1:1/91 FidoCon '91 August 16th through 18th, 1991 fidocon_'91@f91.n1.z1.fidonet.org FidoCon '91 VIP Membership $104 US* Rate Changes July 15th Banquet 25 US === $129 US FidoCon '91 VIP Membership $104.00 US* Significant Other** 9.69 2 Banquet tickets 50.00 ======= $163.69 * After July 15, $169 *NEW* A "No Frills", good from 9am to 6pm, for Seminar and Dealers Rooms ONLY membership (no Convention Hospitality Suite access or ticket for the SuperSystem Drawing) is available for $45 US for the three days or $20 US per day. Full credit can be applied to a VIP membership if you elect to upgrade. *NEW* A "Supporting Membership" for those unable to attend, is available for $25 US. Supporting members Will receive the progress reports and program book. Hotel: Sheraton Lakewood 360 Union Blvd Lakewood, CO (303) 987-2000 Rooms: Single/Double $59 US per night Adjoining Rooms (Pseudo-Suite) 118 US Triple/Quad 78 US Adjoining Rooms (Pseudo-Suite) 156 US FidoCon '91 is a limited attendance event. FidoNews 8-25 Page 15 24 Jun 1991 Guests of Honor: Tom Jennings -- FidoCon '91 Guest of Honor. Tom is credited with starting FidoNet Tim Pozar -- Gateway Guru Vince Perriello -- President of Bit Bucket Software & publisher of FidoNews, Co-Author of Binkley and TIMS. Kibitzer at large. Alan Applegate -- VICE-President of Bit Bucket, Writer of the infamous Binkley Docs & Technical Support for eSoft. Bob Hartman -- Author of ConfMail, ReMapper. Co-Author of Binkley and TIMS. Major asset of eSoft's program development team. Phil Becker -- CEO of eSoft .. publisher of TBBS, TDBS, TIMS Steve Jackson -- CEO of Steve Jackson Games .. Publisher of GURPS CYBERPUNK and center of Secret Service attention for over 8 months. John Perry Barlow -- Internet Guru and one of the founders of the Electronic Frontier Foundation. Those indicating they will be attending: Tom Tcimpidis The first to have his BBS seized by the law enforcement community. Several notable writers of computer columns Several popular Science fiction authors Several distinguished members of the broadcast community. Mitch Kapor Founder of the Electronic Frontier Foundation. Ray Gwinn The Fossil master his self Invited and not yet committed: Steve Wozniack The WOZ, one of the founders of Apple Computer Convention Hospitality Suite by: Kevin "DOC" McNeil and the FidoNet COOKING echo {newsgroup} Featuring: Seadog Casserole, Zip-Tarts, Pak-Man Cookies, Roast Opus Seminars: Tentative Schedule Friday 16 August ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 09:00 Bergen Park Ballroom Opening Ceremonies Meet the commitee, learn about the event. Opening Address FidoNews 8-25 Page 16 24 Jun 1991 10:00 Green Mountain Conference Room For this I gave up my Love Life? Discussions involving the paybacks or coping with the pains of being a SYSOP. Moderators: Karen and Jim Burt 10:00 Mt. Vernon Conference Room The Ethical Software Hacker Discussions involving modifying and distributing shareware. Moderators: Chris Anderson, Craig Baker and Marshall Barry 11:30 Green Mountain Conference Room Dealing with SYSOP burnout Things you can do when the frustration of running a BBS is too much. Moderators: Jim and Karen Burt 11:30 Lookout Mountain Conference Room How to moderate an Echo What techniques work best in moderating an echo. Where to draw the line, and when. Moderators: Michele Hamilton 11:30 Mt. Vernon Conference Room Copyrights demystified What is a copyright and how does it impact distribution of software. What are the rights of the copyright holder. What are the consumer rights and responsibilitys. (c) is NOT a copyright where Copyright is. Moderators: Mike Ratledge, Marshall Barry and a cast of thousands 13:00 Bergen Park Ballroom Hackers, BBS's and the Media Panel discussion with media types about perceptions of BBS Systems operators and other Hackers. What motivates the media. Moderators: Dave Hughs, Mitch Kapor, John Perry Barlow, Jack Rickard 13:00 Green Mountain Conference Room QM -- What's Next? FidoNews 8-25 Page 17 24 Jun 1991 QM Status review and dialogue with alpha/beta testers Moderators: George Peace 13:00 Lookout Mountain Conference Room BBSing in the 90's and beyond Legal issues pertaining to running a BBS. Explore the Electronic Communications and Privacy act of 1986, and other Federal Acts, Regulations and laws. Moderators: EFF Representitives, Steve Jackson 13:00 Mt. Vernon Conference Room How to Start a Communications Network Discussion of what is necessary to start a network .. what hardware, communications equipment and software. Moderators: Chris Anderson 14:00 Green Mountain Conference Room Modem Developers Roundtable Discussions pertaining to the implementation of various standards .. or Why doesn't my XX talk to a YY. 15:00 Green Mountain Conference Room Modem Protocols Demystified Just what is a v.32 modem and why is a v.22 modem only $49 Moderators: Alan Applegate 17:15 Bergen Park Ballroom Mapping Session Introduce yourself and let others know why you are attending and what you have gained from the convention. Moderators: Jack Rickard Saturday 17 August ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 09:00 Bergen Park Ballroom The Electronic Communications Act of 1986, Security, Hacking and You Panel discussion and Question and answer session - 1:30 in duration Moderators: Phil Becker -- John Perry Barlow, Dave Hughs, Steve FidoNews 8-25 Page 18 24 Jun 1991 Jackson, Mitch Kapor 10:15 Bergen Park Ballroom Protection from Electronic Vandals Discussion of methods that reduce incidence of electronic vandalism, breaking and entering, password theft. 10:15 Green Mountain Conference Room Security and Virus Protection Discussion of steps to prevent the spread of Virii and infected programs. Moderators: McAffey 10:15 Lookout Mountain Conference Room What is the Best Software for Me Selecting software to present the best possible BBS Moderators: Panel Discussion 10:15 Mt. Vernon Conference Room Make your Net Work for YOU What is required to get the best possible return on investment from your time, effort and money. 10:15 Union Square Theatre TBBS 2.2\TDBS\TIMS How eSoft products can enhance your Bulletin Board. Moderators: eSoft Representitives 11:30 Bergen Park Ballroom Surviving Government Scrutiny What to do if and when the officials come knock, knock, knocking on your door. Moderators: Steve Jackson, John Perry Barlow, Mitch Kapor 11:30 Green Mountain Conference Room Remote Access system design and implementation. How to install Remote Access (tm) to meet your or your company's needs. Moderators: Remote Access Representitives FidoNews 8-25 Page 19 24 Jun 1991 11:30 Mt. Vernon Conference Room File your own copyrights for $20 Learn how to protect your BBS, Text files, and software at a reasonable cost, by filing your own copyrights. Moderators: Mike Ratledge 11:30 Union Square Theatre TBBS 2.2 System Design Considerations How to use TBBS 2.2 to run a Bulletin Board System. What hardware is required. How to use the Menu Editor, Userlog Editor, CEDIT and System Development Language. Moderators: eSoft Representitives 13:00 Green Mountain Conference Room Gateways - the internetwork connection Overview on communicating between FTC and other networks OR "Just how do I make my messages do that?" Moderators: Tim Pozar 13:00 Lookout Mountain Conference Room XRS/RAX/QMX/SeX/XOR/OREO/MORE/XRS (the Universal Off-Line Reader Editor) Discussions include what benifits is there to an off-line reader editor, how to install XRS on your BBS. Supporting your users, common questions answered. Moderators: Mike Ratledge 13:00 Mt Vernon Conference Room AMAX made easy Learn what AMAX is and how to install and use AMAX. Moderators: Alan Applegate 13:00 Union Square Theatre Getting the most from BinkleyTerm Technical discussions as to how you can hone the performance of your BinkleyTerm to a razors edge. Moderators: Bit Bucket Software Representitives 14:00 Green Mountain Conference Room FidoNews 8-25 Page 20 24 Jun 1991 DOS 4/5, Windows Operating system considerations when running a Bulletin Board 14:15 Lookout Mountain Conference Room Designing TDBS Applications Learn from the masters how to design TDBS applications. Tips on avoiding the common design traps and errors. Moderators: Various 14:15 Mt. Vernon Conference Room Software Development Roundtable Of import to anyone developing BBS and utility software. Moderators: Various 14:15 Union Square Theatre BBS Business Sense Setting your BBS up to support itself and you. Moderators: Phil Becker and Jack Rickard 15:30 Green Mountain Conference Room The Ultimate BBS/BBSing in the future. Various Software developers will sit on this panel, and you can make suggestions for features in their software, or BBS software in general. 15:30 Lookout Mountain Conference Room Your BBS and Doors Find out what a door is and how to select the right door for your users needs. Discussions include what doors are available and from where. 15:30 Mt. Vernon Conference Room Promoting your BBS Drawing the users you WANT to your system, Basics in advertising Moderators: Phil Becker and Jack Rickard 16:45 Lookout Mountain Conference Room Network Ethics What can you expect from a network? What is expected of you? Moderators: Various FidoNews 8-25 Page 21 24 Jun 1991 16:45 Mt. Vernon Conference Room Artisoft Network and your BBS Overview of how Aritisoft Networking Products can enhance your BBS and make your job easier. Moderators: John W. Gould, Artisoft 17:15 Bergen Park Ballroom Mapping Session Introduce yourself and let others know why you are attending and what you have gained from the convention. Moderators: Jack Rickard Sunday 18 August ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 11:00 Lookout Mountain Conference Room Association of Shareware Professionals What is the Association of Shareware Professionals and how it can benifit the shareware developer. Moderators: Mike Ratledge 11:00 Mt. Vernon Conference Room CD-ROMS - Beyond Mass Storage - Databases at your users fingertips. Learn what databases are availble, their costs and benifits. Moderators: Bob Hall 13:00 Green Mountain Conference Room How to setup multi-node QuickBBS QuickBBS; the new frontier System design considerations for your multi-node QuickBBS system. Menu control language and operating system considerations. Moderators: The QuickBBS Group 17:15 Bergen Park Ballroom Closing Session Wrap it all up and plan next years attendence Moderators: Marshall Barry, Michelle Weisblat, Terry Travis BBS Users Groups Activities: TBBS Users Group will be convening as FidoTUG '91 during the FidoNews 8-25 Page 22 24 Jun 1991 convention. AlterCon will be sharing the facilities. AlterNet Costume Banquet Royal Court Meeting of the Dukes Fun Activities: WEDDING: We are pleased to announce the wedding of Peter Stewart & Michele Hamilton, Sunday 18 August, 1991 at FidoCon '91. Michele and Peter met with the aid of the INTERUSER Echo, and Cupid found their hearts. Peter is author of InterMail, co-author of FrontDoor with Joaquim Homrighausen. Come share in the union. Traditional Hard Diskus Throw Floppy Fling The Big Three Brewery Bash National SYSOP Mud Pie Fight -- Proceeds to go to the MS Society Air Force Academy Tour Garden of the Gods Psychic and Physical Tours Golfing Tours of of Colorful Colorado Colorado We are scheduling additional seminars and social activities. Fire off a message letting us know what you'd like to see and do. If you would like to see someone special, let us know as well. *** FidoCon '91 Dealers Room will be open from 9:00 am to *** 6:00 pm Friday and Saturday, 9:00 am to 3:00 pm Sunday Confirmed dealers Bit Bucket Software CDB Systems eSoft Mustang Software, Inc. CompuCom U.S. Robotics Online Communications, Inc. Boardwatch Magazine DECUS Clark Development Company Exactus Drawings & Prizes Including: 16 Line TBBS/TDBS/TIMS Sysop Dream SYSTEM CPU with a 486 with sufficient power to run a multi-line system 700+Meg of fixed or hard disk, 4 port Digiboard and up to 4 9600 bps modems, who FidoNews 8-25 Page 23 24 Jun 1991 knows, maybe a CD ROM Drive .. depending on number of attendees. A portion of the memberships and vendor fees go to purchasing this system. Autographed copies of the books that made Steve Jackson a household name, GURPS CYBERPUNK. For the SYSOP that has everything 300 baud acoustic Sysop Nightmare System All kinds of donated equipment and software, some even working. Hospitality Suites eSoft Bit Bucket Software Boardwatch Magazine More as it comes to being. Subscribe to the FIDOCON_91 Echo. This will be THE BBSing Event of '91, BE THERE. ================= FidoCon '91 Registration Form =============== Name: _________________________________________________________ Street Address: _______________________________________________ City: _______________________ State/Province: _________________ Postal Code: _______________________ Country: _________________ Voice #: ___________ Data #: _____________ Net Address: _______ Name: ___________________ Membership Type: ____ Amount: _______ Name: ___________________ Membership Type: ____ Amount: _______ No. of T-Shirts: __ Sizes(S/M/L/XL): _____ @ $15/ea = _______ Complaints: _ Banquet Tickets: ___ @ $25/ea = _______ TOTAL $_______ Visa/Mastercard Number ___________________ Expire Date: _______ Signature: _______________________ Date: ________ Please make checks payable (in U.S.A. Dollars) to FIDOCON '91 and Mail To: FidoNews 8-25 Page 24 24 Jun 1991 FidoCon '91 P.O. Box 486 Louisville, CO 80027-0486 Any suggestions as to how I can shorten this little beasty up? ---------------------------------------------------------------------- FidoNews 8-25 Page 25 24 Jun 1991 ====================================================================== RANTS AND FLAMES ====================================================================== _(*#$_(*@#(* (*^$+)#(%&+| #$)%(&*#_$ @_#( @$ ^@#+)(#&%$*+)$%&*+$*%&#@(@#_|)*%|)#%&)#*%&+(@#&*_+(@#*^&@### *&#_($*&#$_(*#&$_(#*$&$ _(#$*#$+)#($&*+#)$ &#+$*&# ()*&#$_(&^#$_(#*$_#($^&#_$(^&#_$(&^#$_(&#^ damn right _(#^&$_(#^& $*&#$_+(* #)$&(%($%+)($%*+$)%($* it's ugly _#&%^# & #($_*#$_ FidoNet (*$&%_@#_(*&@#_(@*#&_ @#_(*&@#_(* )*&#$ Flames *^$+)#(% (not for the timid) @_#( (*#$_(*^@#+) and #_|)*% &+(@#&*_+(@#*^&@### (#$*&#_($*&#$_(*#&$_(#* Rants *&+#$*&#+$*&# )*&#$_(a regular feature)^&#_$(&^#$_ $^&#$_(#^ (*^#$_*#^&$)*#&$^%)#*$&^_#($*^&#_($ Section #&%^_ _(*#&$_(#* #($*& #$* _(*&@#_(@*# *&@#_(*& )&*+_)*&+)*&+))&*(*& (*&_(*&_(*& ---------------------------------------------------------------------- FidoNews 8-25 Page 26 24 Jun 1991 ====================================================================== CLASSIFIEDS ====================================================================== ADVERTISEMENT POLICY: Submissions must be 20 lines or less each, maximum two ads per advertiser, 70 characters per line maximum. No control codes except CR and LF. (Refer to contact info at the end of this newsletter for details.) Please notify us if you have any trouble with an advertiser. FidoNews does not endorse any products or services advertised here. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- FidoNews 8-25 Page 27 24 Jun 1991 ====================================================================== NOTICES ====================================================================== The Interrupt Stack 26 Jul 1991 WORLDCON '91 -- July 26-28 -- The First Global Fidonet Conference - London England. Details From 2:25/102 or 1:103/158 freq magic name WORLDCON. 15 Aug 1991 8 Sep 1991 7 Oct 1991 Area code 415 fragments. Alameda and Contra Costa Counties will begin using area code 510. This includes Oakland, Concord, Berkeley and Hayward. San Francisco, San Mateo, Marin, parts of Santa Clara County, and the San Francisco Bay Islands will retain area code 415. 1 Nov 1991 Area code 301 will split. Area code 410 will consist of the northeastern part of Maryland, as well as the eastern shore. This will include Baltimore and the surrounding area. Area 301 will include southern and western parts of the state, including the areas around Washington DC. Area 410 phones will answer to calls to area 301 until November, 1992. 1 Feb 1992 Area code 213 fragments. Western, coastal, southern and eastern portions of Los Angeles County will begin using area code 310. This includes Los Angeles International Airport, West Los Angeles, San Pedro and Whittier. Downtown Los Angeles and surrounding communities (such as Hollywood and Montebello) will retain area code 213. 1 Dec 1993 Tenth anniversary of Fido Version 1 release. 5 Jun 1997 David Dodell's 40th Birthday If you have something which you would like to see on this calendar, please send a message to FidoNet node 1:1/1. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- FidoNews 8-25 Page 28 24 Jun 1991 ====================================================================== LATEST VERSIONS ====================================================================== Latest Software Versions MS-DOS Systems -------------- Bulletin Board Software Name Version Name Version Name Version DMG 2.93 Phoenix 1.3 TAG 2.5g Fido 12t+ QuickBBS 2.66 TBBS 2.1 GSBBS 3.02 RBBS 17.3B TComm/TCommNet 3.4 Lynx 1.30 RBBSmail 17.3B Telegard 2.5 Kitten 2.16 RemoteAccess 1.01* TPBoard 6.1 Maximus 1.02 SLBBS 1.77A Wildcat! 2.55 Opus 1.14+ Socrates 1.10 WWIV 4.12 PCBoard 14.5a SuperBBS 1.10 XBBS 1.17 Network Node List Other Mailers Version Utilities Version Utilities Version BinkleyTerm 2.40 EditNL 4.00 ARC 7.0 D'Bridge 1.30 MakeNL 2.31 ARCAsim 2.30 Dutchie 2.90C ParseList 1.30 ARCmail 2.07 FrontDoor 2.00 Prune 1.40 ConfMail 4.00 InterMail 2.01* SysNL 3.14 Crossnet v1.5 PRENM 1.47 XlatList 2.90 DOMAIN 1.42 SEAdog 4.60* XlaxDiff 2.40* EMM 2.02 TIMS 1.0(Mod8) XlaxNode 2.40* 4Dog/4DMatrix 1.18 Gmail 2.05 GROUP 2.16 GUS 1.30 HeadEdit 1.18 IMAIL 1.10 InterPCB 1.31 LHARC 1.13 MSG 4.1 MSGED 2.06 MSGTOSS 1.3 Oliver 1.0a PK[UN]ZIP 1.10 PolyXarc 2.1a* QM 1.0 QSORT 4.03 ScanToss 1.28 Sirius 1.0x SLMAIL 1.36 StarLink 1.01 FidoNews 8-25 Page 29 24 Jun 1991 TagMail 2.41 TCOMMail 2.2 Telemail 1.27 TMail 1.21 TPBNetEd 3.2 TosScan 1.00 UFGATE 1.03 XRS 4.50* XST 2.3e ZmailH 1.14 OS/2 Systems ------------ Bulletin Board Software Network Mailers Other Utilities Name Version Name Version Name Version Maximus-CBCS 1.02 BinkleyTerm 2.40 Parselst 1.32 ConfMail 4.00 EchoStat 6.0 oMMM 1.52 Omail 3.1 MsgEd 2.06 MsgLink 1.0C MsgNum 4.14 LH2 0.50 PK[UN]ZIP 1.02 ARC2 6.00 PolyXarc 2.1a* Qsort 2.1 Raid 1.0 Remapper 1.2 Tick 2.0 VPurge 2.07 Xenix/Unix 386 -------------- BBS Software Mailers Other Utilities Name Version Name Version Name Version BinkleyTerm 2.32B Unzip 3.10 ARC 5.21 ParseLst 1.32 Vpurge 4.08 [Contact: Jon Hogan-Duran 3:711/909, Ommm 1.42 Willy Paine 1:343/15, Eddy van Loo Msged 2.06 2:285/406] Zoo 2.01 FidoNews 8-25 Page 30 24 Jun 1991 C-Lharc 1.00 Omail 1.00 MSGREN MSGLNK 1.01 Apple II ---------- Bulletin Board Software Network Mailers Other Utilities Name Version Name Version Name Version GBBS Pro 2.1 Fruity Dog 2.0* ShrinkIt 3.23 DDBBS + 7.4* ShrinkIt GS 1.04 deARC2e 2.1 ProSel 8.69* Apple CP/M ---------- Bulletin Board Software Network Mailers Other Utilities Name Version Name Version Name Version Daisy v2j Daisy Mailer 0.38 Nodecomp 0.37 MsgUtil 2.5 PackUser v4 Filer v2-D UNARC.COM 1.20 Macintosh --------- Bulletin Board Software Network Mailers Other Utilities Name Version Name Version Name Version Red Ryder Host 2.1 Tabby 2.2 MacArc 0.04 Mansion 7.15 Copernicus 1.0 ArcMac 1.3 WWIV (Mac) 3.0 LHArc 0.41 Hermes 1.5 StuffIt Classic 1.6 FBBS 0.91 Compact Pro 1.30 Precision Systems 0.95b* TImport 1.92 TeleFinder Host 2.12T10 TExport 1.92 Timestamp 1.6 Tset 1.3 Import 3.2 Export 3.21 Point System Software Sundial 3.2 FidoNews 8-25 Page 31 24 Jun 1991 PreStamp 3.2 Name Version OriginatorII 2.0 AreaFix 1.6 Copernicus 1.0 Mantissa 3.21 CounterPoint 1.09 Zenith 1.5 Eventmeister 1.0 TSort 1.0 Mehitable 2.0 UNZIP 1.02c Zip Extract 0.10 Amiga ----- Bulletin Board Software Network Mailers Other Utilities Name Version Name Version Name Version Falcon CBBS 0.45 BinkleyTerm 1.00 AmigArc 0.23 Paragon 2.082+ TrapDoor 1.50 AReceipt 1.5 TransAmiga 1.07 WelMat 0.44 booz 1.01 ConfMail 1.12 ChameleonEdit 0.10 ElectricHerald1.66 Lharc 1.30 Login 0.18 MessageFilter 1.52 oMMM 1.49b ParseLst 1.64 PkAX 1.00 PolyxAmy 2.02 RMB 1.30 Roof 44.03 RoboWriter 1.02 Rsh 4.06 Skyparse 2.30 Tick 0.75 TrapList 1.12 UNZIP 1.31 Yuck! 1.61 Zippy (Unzip) 1.25 Zoo 2.01 Atari ST/TT ----------- Bulletin Board Network Node List Software Version Mailer Version Utilities Version FIDOdoor/ST 2.3.2* BinkleyTerm 2.40l ParseList 1.30 QuickBBS/ST 1.02 The BOX 1.20 Xlist 1.12 Pandora BBS 2.41c EchoFix 1.20 GS Point 0.61 sTICK/Hatch 5.50 LED ST 1.00 MSGED 1.96S FidoNews 8-25 Page 32 24 Jun 1991 Archiver Msg Format Other Utilities Version Converters Version Utilities Version LHARC 0.60 TB2BINK 1.00 ConfMail 4.03 LHARC2 3.18 BINK2TB 1.00 ComScan 1.02 ARC 6.02 FiFo 2.1n* Import 1.14 PKUNZIP 1.10 OMMM 1.40 Pack 1.00 FastPack 1.20 FDrenum 2.2.7 Trenum 0.10 Archimedes ---------- BBS Software Mailers Utilities Name Version Name Version Name Version ARCbbs 1.44 BinkleyTerm 2.03 Unzip 2.1TH ARC 1.03 !Spark 2.00d ParseLst 1.30 BatchPacker 1.00 + Netmail capable (does not require additional mailer software) * Recently changed Utility authors: Please help keep this list up to date by reporting new versions to 1:1/1. It is not our intent to list all utilities here, only those which verge on necessity. /* NOTE: Until 1 Aug 1991 versions are on "hold" til the editor gets back and finds a volunteer to maintain this file. -- tomj */ ---------------------------------------------------------------------- FidoNews 8-25 Page 33 24 Jun 1991 ------- FIDONEWS MASTHEAD AND CONTACT INFORMATION ---------------- Editors: Tom Jennings, Tim Pozar Editors Emeritii: Thom Henderson, Dale Lovell, Vince Periello Special thanks to Ken Kaplan, 1:100/22, aka Fido #22 "FidoNews" BBS FidoNet 1:1/1 Internet fidonews@fidonews.fidonet.org BBS (415)-863-2739 (9600 HST/V32) (Postal Service mailing address) FidoNews Box 77731 San Francisco CA 94107 USA Published weekly by and for the Members of the FidoNet international amateur electronic mail system. It is a compilation of individual articles contributed by their authors or their authorized agents. The contribution of articles to this compilation does not diminish the rights of the authors. Opinions expressed in these articles are those of the authors and not necessarily those of FidoNews. FidoNews is copyright 1991 Fido Software. All rights reserved. Duplication and/or distribution permitted for noncommercial purposes only. For use in other circumstances, please contact FidoNews (we're easy). OBTAINING COPIES: FidoNews in electronic form may be obtained from the FidoNews BBS via manual download or Wazoo FileRequest, or from various sites in the FidoNet and via uucp. PRINTED COPIES mailed may be obtained from Fido Software for $5.00US each PostPaid First Class within North America, or $7.00US elsewhere, mailed Air Mail. (US funds drawn upon a US bank only.) Periodic subscriptions are not available at this time; if enough people request it I will implement it. SUBMISSIONS: You are encouraged to submit articles for publication in FidoNews. Article submission requirements are contained in the file ARTSPEC.DOC, available from the FidoNews BBS, or Wazoo filerequestable from 1:1/1 as file "ARTSPEC.DOC". FidoNews 8-25 Page 34 24 Jun 1991 "Fido", "FidoNet" and the dog-with-diskette are U.S. registered trademarks of Tom Jennings of Fido Software, Box 77731, San Francisco CA 94107, USA and are used with permission. -- END ----------------------------------------------------------------------