F I D O N E W S -- Volume 14, Number 12 24 March 1997 +----------------------------+-----------------------------------------+ | The newsletter of the | ISSN 1198-4589 Published by: | | FidoNet community | "FidoNews" | | _ | 1-904-409-7040 [1:1/23] | | / \ | | | /|oo \ | | | (_| /_) | | | _`@/_ \ _ | | | | | \ \\ | Editor: | | | (*) | \ )) | Christopher Baker 1:18/14 | | |__U__| / \// | | | _//|| _\ / | | | (_/(_|(____/ | | | (jm) | Newspapers should have no friends. | | | -- JOSEPH PULITZER | +----------------------------+-----------------------------------------+ | Submission address: FidoNews Editor 1:1/23 | +----------------------------------------------------------------------+ | MORE addresses: | | | | submissions=> cbaker84@digital.net | +----------------------------------------------------------------------+ | For information, copyrights, article submissions, | | obtaining copies of FidoNews or the internet gateway FAQ | | please refer to the end of this file. | +----------------------------------------------------------------------+ WHY DO SOME FIDONET FOLKS JUST DISAPPEAR? Table of Contents 1. EDITORIAL ................................................ 1 Lots of articles and another loss to FidoNet? ............ 1 2. CORRECTIONS .............................................. 2 Error in Region 14 Internet listing last week ............ 2 3. ARTICLES ................................................. 3 Burt Juda's system no longer in the Nodelist? ............ 3 Cash and Carry - Financing FidoFolks ..................... 3 Solid Oak Software's extremist, fascist behavior ......... 5 Doomsday is only when you decide it to be ................ 9 Fidonet versus Internet: A Followup ...................... 11 Fidonet Technical Standards Committee - NOTICE OF NOMIN .. 14 Ides of March..Hog Wash! ................................. 15 4. REVIEWS .................................................. 20 TransNet - A new Fidonet/Internet gateway ................ 20 5. GETTING TECHNICAL ........................................ 22 FSC-0052 - Making the PATH zone aware .................... 22 FSC-0053 - Specifications for the aFLAGS field ........... 24 6. COORDINATORS CORNER ...................................... 28 Nodelist-statistics as seen from Zone-2 for day 080 ...... 28 7. WE GET EMAIL ............................................. 29 ZEC/RC19 Election notice ................................. 29 8. NET HUMOR ................................................ 31 If MicroSoft was in Alabama? ............................. 31 9. ADVERTISE YOUR FREE SERVICE/EVENT ........................ 32 And more! FIDONEWS 14-12 Page 1 24 Mar 1997 ================================================================= EDITORIAL ================================================================= This Issue is packed with .ARTs from all over the world. I guess we've finally got the readership stirred up. [grin] But in the midst of all this input we lost something, namely: the uucp Gate at 1:13/10. Burt Juda no longer appears in any capacity in the FidoNet Nodelist. Why? And WHO was going to tell us? ZC1 was unaware of it last I asked. James Young and I have been discussing it in email for several days and his last communication from Juda appears later. This lack of communication in a network dedicated to communication mystifies this writer. What effect does this have on Internet gating or the fidonet.org domain? Is there now a NEW Guucp honcho? Who? Don't forget you can post info, answers, and articles et al, in the FIDONEWS Echo available everywhere. Otherwise, we will be waiting for input to next week's Issue for some answers/news. The Internet listings in the FidoNet by Internet Section now only include Region level and up listings. Net listings by Region are available on the FidoNews webpages listed in the Masthead. Personal sites may be linked to the FidoNet International WebRing also listed in the Masthead. C.B. ----------------------------------------------------------------- FIDONEWS 14-12 Page 2 24 Mar 1997 ================================================================= CORRECTIONS ================================================================= The Region 14 page listing should read 'netins' instead of the 'metins' that appeared in 1411. This error has been corrected in this Issue. Sorry for any confusion. Ed. ----------------------------------------------------------------- FIDONEWS 14-12 Page 3 24 Mar 1997 ================================================================= ARTICLES ================================================================= [Burt Juda's Guucp Node and all other Nodes under his name no longer appear in the FidoNet Nodelist. Here's a little info on this event from an ongoing conversation in email.] Ed. Date: Sun, 23 Mar 1997 09:43:03 -0600 From: James Young To: Christopher Baker Subject: Re: 1:13/10 CB> did he say something else would replace it or is he finished? CB> what is/was his email address? i'd like to get something into CB> FidoNews tomorrow. Here's a copy of the message I received: ================================================== Subject: Re: 1:13/10 Date: Fri, 21 Mar 1997 10:14:34 -0500 From: merlin@mcastl.ieee.org (Burt Juda) Organization: Merlin's Castle, Edison, NJ To: James Young At 04:25 PM 3/14/97 -0600, James Young wrote: JY> I've been using 1:13/10 for some time now as my gateway and JY> appreciate the service that you have provided. > JY> For the last several days, however, my system has not been able to JY> connect with it. Is 1:13/10 down for a while? Down permanently .. hardware crash. ====================================================== -30- [Does this mean anything to the fidonet.org domain for FidoNet to Internet email routing? An official notice would have been nice. [sigh] Guucp gurus please reply to FidoNews.] Ed. ----------------------------------------------------------------- Cash and Carry - Financing FidoFolks by: Clay Tannacore (1:372/136) Just when you thought it was safe to start reading FIDONEWS again. I'm back! This time with an unforgiving message to all of the Network FIDONEWS 14-12 Page 4 24 Mar 1997 EchoMail Coordinators, and the SysOps who have by way of their acquisitiveness damn near annihilated FidoNet. These parsimonious individuals who have persuaded themselves that users, and/or EchoMail recipients have a reverential responsibility to pay for whatever they (NECs or SysOps) elect to charge for. Some-how these weasels have decided that a federation such as FidoNet that was established as a network of hobbyists, should now (to suit their greedy souls) become the Federal Savings and Loan Association for Retarded (OOPs, did I misspell that last word?) SysOps and NECs. This technique of self enrichment is a plague within the FidoNet community and requires immediate attention. When I say "immediate action" I do not mean some co-conspirator *looking into it*, I mean every damn Regional Coordinator launching a extensive inquiry into this agendum. I'm sure that this form of self enrichment has won the wide embrace of those who have profited by it, but the rest of us are witnessing the demise of our user base, and FidoNet as our parent organization. For those of you who are not familiar with what I have been doing in the most recent past. I have for the last 76 days been researching complaints in reference to the charging of fees to users and the pay as you go fees charged for EchoMail (NEC's) distribution. Be it known that I have only been able to accumulate statistics from 26 different nets. This was accomplished by personal contact with various SysOps in those nets, and obtaining copies of their respective EchoMail policy documents. Without elaborating on individual net policies, I will state that there are a number of bulletin board systems that charge a user fee (aka, a donation, registration fee, or voluntary contributions) for services that should (under POLICY4.) be free of any expense. The proceeding statement includes access to FidoNet (and international) EchoMail, local EchoMail, files (sometimes shareware) including Copyrighted material. As a matter of fact the greatest number of Pay-For-Access bulletin board systems, are nothing but illegal software distribution points, catering to those who want low cost (copyright infringements) programs. However, to be fair about this statement, there are an abundant amount of boards that only charge for access to the Internet. Something that is exclusively harmful and destructive in nature to FidoNet as a whole. There are correspondingly many Network Coordinators that are for reasons unbeknown to me allowing the Network EchoMail Coordinators to place monitory assessment in excess of the cost of providing their services to their nets SysOps. The *buddy-buddy system* is widespread, and individual SysOps are being assessed amounts that can not be justified once telephone LD charges are reviewed. A *buddy* may only pay a penance for the import of 30 or more Echoes while another SysOp who hasn't been initiated into *The Brotherhood* will have to supplement the NEC's coffers by paying (his FAIR share) 10 to 20 times as much as an amigo, even though the SysOp only carries 4 or 5 Echoes. Don't get me wrong, there are a number of NEC operations that are completely within the parameters set forth in Policy 4. There are many NEC's that will for reasons justified to him, wavier the requirement of fees for certain systems. I'm in one of those nets that do. The NEC here (in the 372 Net) has allowed my system to operate without the burden on fees for EchoMail. While my system only imports 3 national Echoes (totally for Disabled American Veterans) it is without a doubt a Godsend not to have to expend the FIDONEWS 14-12 Page 5 24 Mar 1997 extra bucks each month. The trouble is, not very many other NEC's will do that. They have an agenda to fill, along with their pockets, and wouldn't give a worthwhile cause the time of day, without an interest payment. I have read over 19 of the local EchoMail policies, and without a doubt they all sound like a *financial statement* rather than a policy document. Sometimes this is an attempt by the NEC to *explain* to the SysOp why he must help out financially, and what he will receive in return for his buck. Nevertheless, there are policy documents that I have reviewed that are nothing more than the NEC's way of intimidating the SysOp's with refined threats. Even in my own net, the policy document is little more than a business type financial proclamation. There is a time and place for this sort of document, but rather than constructing a policy document laden with "what has to be paid", why not give a demonstration (factual, of course) of what it costs to operate for a month. Surely this way will serve two purposes. One, the SysOp gains an understanding as to why he is paying, and what he is getting for his money. Two, there is a *full disclosure" of what is *really* spent for mail distribution and communications, leaving no undisclosed data to cause derogatory or speculative talk. Gentlemen what I have just expounded upon is true. You know it, you live under it day by day. You, (whether you are a user or SysOp), know the practices and circumstances I quoted above are factual. You've seen it in almost every net. So, why not do something about it? Let your Regional Coordinator know your feelings. Have your NEC post in an open message base, his phone bill for the previous month. Maybe the last two or three months. Get on the NC of your net relating to what you feel is an unjust and inequitable way you must support the EchoMail system. One word of caution here. When and if you do as I propose, be sure you have a valid complaint. Talk to others in your net, find out their charges for their EchoMail. Compare the charges they are required to pay, and ask them to inquire of their friends as to their *contributions*. ----------------------------------------------------------------- Solid Oak Software's extremist, fascist behavior Fredric L. Rice (frice@stbbs.com) The Skeptic Tank, 1:218/890.0. (818) 335-9601 http://www.linkline.com/personal/frice/index.htm Right-wing extremist groups operating in the United States have been using the rhetoric of "Save the children!" to advance their occult agendas for decades. Now, with the help of technology, a new fascist business called "Solid Oak Software" has managed to rise above all the rest and get noticed. As described below, their Internet-access software limits the information that the company's leader -- Brian Milburn -- wants his customers to access. Even though customers are told it "saves the children!" the company doesn't advertise [1] the fact that the parents who purchase the software have no say-so in what it will allow access to and what it will not; the buyer unthinkingly purchases the extremist bias of the company's leader. FIDONEWS 14-12 Page 6 24 Mar 1997 Indeed, it gets worse: Mr. Milburn refuses to divulge the sites that the software won't access and has implemented very weak encryption to make sure that parents never learn about his extremist bias. He gets upset when people publicly report on some of the sites that he doesn't want anyone to access. (If he's embarrassed by his prejudices, he shouldn't expose them, I opine.) Buyer beware. As for myself, I've asked to have my web pages included in the list of banned sites. The cult _does_ provide a highly valuable service to educational organizations like mine by limiting the access to their web pages to educated, intelligent people. As more and more people become aware of what the software does, only people who share the company leader's bizarre bias will use it --and I don't want those types of people accessing my materials any way. Do you? [1] This may change. The company may have to start publicly admitting that customers can't select what they can or can not access (perhaps the company has already started.) People who purchase Internet- censoring software have the right to at least know that in addition to limiting the access to pornography, the software also limits access to educational systems and charity organizations. -=- CyberWire Dispatch // Copyright (c) 1996 // December 20 Jacking in from the "Your Agenda is Showing" Port: Washington -- It's a long held maxim that technology is "agenda neutral." Until now. As an earlier Dispatch investigation proved, the so-called "blocking software" industry, praised for enabling parents, teachers and corporations to block porn from being sucked into the computers of those trolling the Web, often comes with a shrink-wrapped, encrypted agenda in the form of the database of web sites and newsgroups these programs actually block. Porn sites aren't the only ones blocked. Sites with decided political or activist agendas, such as the National Organization for Women (NOW) or animal rights groups, also are blocked. Trouble is, these blocking software programs don't make this known to the user. For some companies, shedding a spotlight on their underlying agenda, makes them sweat bullets or foam at the ascii mouth. Such is the case with Brian Milburn, president of Solid Oak Software, developer of an insipidly named blocking program called "Cybersitter." When confronted with his agenda ridden software, Milburn isn't shy about it, indeed, he was outright indignant when he originally told Dispatch: "If NOW doesn't like it, tough... We have not and will not bow to any pressure from any organization that disagrees with [our] philosophy." So when Bennett Haselton decided to put a sharp edge on this subject by focusing on Cybersitter with laser like precision, Milburn went off FIDONEWS 14-12 Page 7 24 Mar 1997 the charts. Milburn wrote to Media3, the ISP that houses Haselton's website , saying he was adding the entire domain of Media3 to the Cybersitter blocking database, in order to keep anyone using his company's product from gaining access to Haselton's article. Milburn ranted to Media3 that Haselton had made it "his mission in life to defame our product" exhibiting "extreme immaturity," by "routinely" publishing names of sites blocked by Cybersitter. Milburn claimed that Haselton may have "illegally reversed engineered" the Cybersitter database. Milburn has threatened legal action. Haselton, however, found a white knight. After hearing about Milburn's actions, Mike Godwin, legal counsel for the Electronic Frontier Foundation, decided to represent him. In an Email to Wired News correspondent Rebecca Vesely, who wrote about Milburn's beef with Haselton, Milburn said he was swamped with "geek-mail" from Wired News' "loyal following of pinhead idiots." Milburn characterized Haselton, "an aspiring felon" and said that he had confirmation that Haselton was the "ghost writer" for the original Dispatch article that broke the story of the hidden agendas in blocking software. All this bluster over Haselton, an 18-year-old with too much time on his hands. If right about now you're thinking that Milburn should pick on someone his own size, well, he's already "been there, done that" and got his ass kicked in the process. You see, after the first Dispatch article, Milburn sent us a saber- rattling Email. His Aug. 15th Email claimed that "your willful reverse engineering and subsequent publishing of software code is a clear violation" of copyright law. And although he claimed he was sure he could win a case in civil court, he was instead seeking "felony criminal prosecution" by going to the FBI with his beef. I referred Milburn to my lawyers at Baker & Hostetler, who promptly pointed out that Dispatch hadn't been the one to hack the cybersitter database. Further, our article was "protected by the full force of the First Amendment," our lawyers said. And because Dispatch only published "fragments" of the Cybersitter database (a word used first by Milburn in his own threatening letter), such publication "fits squarely within the fair use provisions" of the copyright act, our lawyers reminded Milburn. Finally, Milburn was left to chew on this: "If you persist in accusing [Dispatch] falsely of copyright infringement and if you proceed with your ill-conceived threat to encourage the FBI to commence activities... you should understand that, unless the information you provide is accurate and complete, you and your firm may be incurring liability of your own." Not a peep has been heard from Milburn since he received that letter, until he decided to pick on the kid. FIDONEWS 14-12 Page 8 24 Mar 1997 Milburn is apparently operating in some alternative reality. His so- called "confirmed sources" about Haselton "ghost writing" our original story are utterly false. Haselton had nothing to do with our article. Dispatch obtained the cracked code of Cybersitter and the other programs we mentioned from an entirely different source. Haselton did nothing but build on the work of our original story, but never wrote a single word of the article nor did he provide us with the hacked databases. All of Milburn's heartburn has me confused. Rather than try and slay Haselton, he should pay him for the right to reprint his article and findings. Milburn makes no apologies for his agenda; indeed, he is proud that one of his major distributors is "Focus on the Family" a conservative Christian organization. And for people that brook with the conservative, straight-arrow family values ideals that Focus on the Family advocates, Cybersitter is the perfect fit. Indeed, this is the free market working at its best. Products spring up in direct response to demand. Cybersitter fits that model for a particular segment of the society. You may not like it; I certainly wouldn't use a product with this built in agenda, but nobody is making us buy it. You would think that Milburn would eat up such "negative" press and wear it like a badge of honor. But he is too petty; too small minded. And when he discovers that Haselton did nothing more than run Cybersitter through its paces, much the same way that a reviewer for computer magazine might, and then report the findings, he'll have nobody left to harass. I hope he doesn't have a dog he can kick... Have a Merry Christmas, Mr. Milburn. Peace on Earth, Good Will to Men. Meeks out... -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- Cybersitter Goes after Teen by Rebecca Vesely 8:00 pm PST 9 Dec 96 - A teenager who founded a Net anti-censorship group could face a lawsuit from the owner of the popular blocking program Cybersitter, Solid Oak Software, on grounds that he illegally obtained the list of sites blocked by the program. But the 18-year-old student at Vanderbilt University who founded Peacefire, Bennett Haselton, says that he merely ran the blocking software on his computer and kept track of which sites were blocked - such as the National Organization for Women, Mother Jones, and The Well. "According to our sources, he has engaged in illegal criminal copyright violations to further his juvenile teenaged political agenda, and reduce the effectiveness of our product," said Brian Milburn, president of Solid Oak Software. FIDONEWS 14-12 Page 9 24 Mar 1997 Solid Oak has added Peacefire to its list of blocked sites and has asked Peacefire's Internet provider, Media3, to remove Peacefire from its server. Milburn has also said he will block out all content Media3 hosts if it does not remove Haselton's site. "It's pretty ironic that Cybersitter, which is supposed to help kids, is blocking a student-run organization," Haselton said. Peacefire was founded in August and now has about 100 members, of whom the average age is 15 years old. Haselton wrote an article naming some of Cybersitter's blocked sites last month on the Peacefire Web site, but the site wasn't blocked until Friday, after Haselton contacted Milburn to discuss the company's blocking practices, Haselton said. The student was then told that Solid Oak had referred the matter to its legal department. "There was no way he could have known who was on our list without breaking into our system," said Solid Oak spokesman Mark Kanter. "The filter had to be decoded by reverse engineering" - a process of taking a piece of technology and, without any knowledge of the techniques used to create it, making a copy. In an email written to Media3 on Friday, and forwarded to Wired News by Media3's administrator, Joe Hayes, Milburn said that Haselton "has made it his mission in life to defame our product," and warned that all content to Media3 - some 2,500 domain names -would be blocked on Cybersitter if Peacefire was not removed. "We realize this is an extreme measure and regret that our customers will no longer have access to any sites serviced by Media3. I am not sure if any of our current customers are Media3 subscribers, but as they will no longer be able to access their email and such, we will offer any affected customers complete refunds," Milburn said in the email. Hayes said Solid Oak has given him no proof that Haselton has done anything illegal, so he would not remove Peacefire, and noted that among the content on Media3's server is a Mayflower Society Bulletin Board and "everything to do with Pilgrims and Plymouth Rock." Hayes added that Media3's attorneys have been alerted to the situation, and if the ISP is blocked, it will take legal action. Solid Oak does not normally inform sites they have been blocked. Copyright (c) 1993-97 Wired Ventures, Inc. and affiliated companies. All rights reserved. ----------------------------------------------------------------- Subject: Doomsday is only when you decide it to be. I have been a SysOp for 7 years.. and a member of FidoNet for 6 years. When I first joined the network, FidoNet's NodeList wasn't very large at all, in fact, it was puny compared to 1995. But the quality of messages was far greater and made up for the few nodes. The quality FIDONEWS 14-12 Page 10 24 Mar 1997 of FidoNet's messages even now is far higher than that of the InterNet, which has a gigantic amount of nodes that kills our count by a longshot. Quality far outweighs magnitude. Through my experience with the BBS world I have found that we have always struggled for our hobby. This struggle in many cases has faced the shut-down of our systems or networks in one way or another. During the years of 1994 through 1996, the number of BBSes grew by the thousands. But were ALL of these systems quality BBSes? In many cases no. It was until my second year as a SysOp that I learned what the true meaning of the word was. During that second year my Seagate ST251 MFM Hard Disk died, it literally burnt up the spindle motor as a result of a shot power regulator. I lost everything I had made of my BBS, which at the time had about 1000+ members and about 30 callers per day. All of this work was lost, and I knew there was no way I could retrieve it. It quite unfortunately went up in smoke, I came home one night and smelled burning epoxy in the air... and immediately feared the loss of my Bulletin Board System. After three long weeks and about twenty litres or more of Pepsi, I knew that I was a true SysOp... I could not give up. I *WANTED* my BBS, I wanted to have that feeling that I was offering a free service to the public... I wanted to be respected for my efforts. My BBS stayed online until December 16th, 1995.. when I could no longer afford the bills to maintain my computer and the phone line. I felt like my life had ended, because it was and is still all that I have ever had. If it weren't for the BBS world, I would not have met my best friends, who have brought the best times of my life. I would not have known that my strengths lie in computers. Forget the InterNet, anything can have Balloon Curtains and Fluffy Bunnies, but when there is slime packaged inside, it becomes unattractive very quickly. BBSes retain character, and quality.. and offer something the InterNet will never have, because of the commercialization and magnitude which the InterNet thrives upon; the FidoNet is a warm caring community, which is controlled and managed, this is quite clearly not shown on the InterNet. I worked for many months and finally paid all of my bills, and have put my system online only three weeks ago. "You're crazy!", "You won't get your users back!" people would say... But I know that I can bring them back, not the same users, but I will get back good users. That's all that will be left, and that's all I ever wanted. Back in 1995, the BBS world became more strongly oriented towards files and such, when it used to be communication and entertainment. The InterNet offers these, but they are abused and not managed. The BBS world is not shown on TV or flashed in newspapers only because it does not bring profit. That's the media for you, but I don't want that attention... I want to provide a means of communication which is precisely what FidoNet provides and always has provided to its clients and its clients users. Three weeks have passed since I put the BBS back online, and I already have over thirty users and eight calls a day average, which I am quite impressed with at this time. After all of the dust has blown off, the goodness of the FidoNet community will shine through and continue to be what it always has: An Icon to the connected world, a free service which has much higher standards than that of any commercial service. Those who remove themselves from the FidoNet Nodelist are quitters, I am not a quitter. FIDONEWS 14-12 Page 11 24 Mar 1997 Let all of those nodes drop like flies, but the nodes which remain will bring the great quality they have always provided to the FidoNet Echos. And the users from those systems which drop, will call the systems which remain. And the BBS world will thrive once again... the way it should be. Fidonet's doomsday is not today, and I will not allow for it to happen tomorrow. Statistics are pointless, a curve of dropping nodes will not remain, as the number of users reverting to other systems will increase, the with-drawn node addresses will decrease. And there will certainly always be a BBS community, as long as there are people like me, and hopefully all those who read FidoNews. Carl Hultay - SysOp of Cannibal Bar & Grill BBS 1:259/546 egon@idirect.com ----------------------------------------------------------------- Followup to Pete Snidal's Fidonet/Internet Comparison by Dave Aronson, sysop of Air 'n Sun (1:109/120) PS> FIDONET Is a system of hobbyist-operated bulletin boards, Well, mostly. To nitpick, there are some professional nodes. However, I feel that your point is basically correct and should be expanded upon. The important part IMHO is that most Fidonodes are one-line DOS-PC dialups, operated from the sysop's home. By contrast, an ISP typically has hundreds or thousands of lines, hooked to large computers, operated in a "machine room" in commercial space. PS> which connect and exchange data PS> regularly, usually on a nightly schedule. Where local calling is cheap, it's very common for high-traffic nodes to get an "unlimited local calling" line, and connect to local links whenever there is anything to send. PS> INTERNET Is a system of server computers, also spanning the PS> world, Or would that be "spamming the world"? B-( PS> which are virtually connected to one another at all times. Not necessarily. There are many that are only occasionally connected, but these do not generally host any of the "real time" services that most people think of when they think "Internet", like web pages and ftp directories. PS> The "Noise/signal ratio" of these echoes is quite low, FIDONEWS 14-12 Page 12 24 Mar 1997 So let's look into HOW this miracle is achieved. It is in fact IMHO one of the most important differences, concerning day-to-day use. In Internet, almost all newsgroups are unmoderated -- any twit can wander in, say whatever he wants (not only off-topic chatter, but flames, trolls, ads, etc.), AND he can instantly spew it into every newsgroup in creation. The only recourse is public pressure on his ISP, who may or may not be willing to do a damn thing. (Usually not, so long as he pays his bills and doesn't generate too many complaints to ignore.) There are SOME moderated newsgroups, but this is a very heavy burden on the moderator, as THEIR type of moderation means that the moderator must pre-screen each and every post for approval. Fidonet echoes, on the other claw, usually (always, in the case of the backbone) have a moderator, who is authorized to eject unruly posters, and if the sysop refuses, the moderator can have that entire node ejected from the echo! However, it rarely comes to that, as the sysop has no vested interest in refusing, as he's almost certainly not getting any money from the user, nor does the sysop have support staff to deal with the complaints for him. Also, it is impossible on most Fidonet BBSes to "crosspost", at least in the Internet sense of having the whole thread continue to be crossposted to all the newsgroups the original was in, barring manual intervention. PS> files of particular interest may even be "File PS> Requested" from other systems. ...though the sysop will have to pay for the call, and may require that the user reimburse the cost. PS> Sending of commercial messages in Fidonet is prohibited, and PS> "Spamming" - electronic junk-mail - is impossible. Not impossible at all... just MUCH more difficult, and of course our sysops are MUCH faster to DO something about it! B-) PS> "Spamming" - the sending of electronic junkmail to your personal PS> email box - is seriously frowned upon, and sort of prohibited, Hunh? There are currently no laws against it anywhere that I know of; the closest are some USA laws against junk faxes, but some courts have held that it doesn't apply to email. Many ISPs have a clause against it in their Terms Of Usage (or whatever they call it), but most are very slow to enforce it. PS> but the fight with those who would capitalize on this resource PS> in this way is ongoing. Amen! Americans, PLEASE lobby your Congresscritters to have the "no junk faxes" law extended to email!!! Others, do whatever you can.... By the way, I have thought up two slogans that I would like to get spread as widely as possible. First, inspired by Woodsy Owl's admonition to litterbugs, "Give a damn, don't spam!". Secondly, inspired by the reaction of a Vogon to Arthur Dent's struggles, NOT the Borg as some may think, "Resistance is UCE-less!". (UCE is an FIDONEWS 14-12 Page 13 24 Mar 1997 Internet abbreviation for Unsolicited Commercial Email.) PS> INTERNET Allows access to the "World Wide Web." (Probably the biggest thing that helped the Internet explode in popularity with the Great Unwashed.) PS> FIDONET Costs the user nothing. Free basic access is a PS> fundamental given on all Fidonet systems. User support is PS> sometimes encouraged, but never demanded. True in, I'd guess, 99% of cases, but don't take it for granted that Fidonet means free. Also, many nodes offer a basic level of service for free, but reserve some goodies for donors. However, these are usually things that the sysop must shell out significant money for, like extra phone lines, Usenet newsgroups, echoes he must make long-distances calls to get, etc., and the fee is usually a tiny fraction of a typical ISP's. PS> FIDONET Encourages the use of Pre-Windows computers, or PS> "dosboxes." More like, Fidonet *allows* the use of *ANY* computer, or even a dumb terminal, so long as it has a modem, and is efficient enough that it can even be a SLOW modem. This is a huge contrast to how, ever since the Web exploded, it's very difficult to do much on the Internet without a GUI, fast CPU and modem, and tons of disk space and RAM. PS> node and bbs software, [...] all of which run fine in Dosboxes PS> such as 286's and even XT's, with small hard drives, or no hard PS> drives, and with memory as low as the basic 640K. ...or on a wide variety of NON-DOS boxes, like Macs, Amigas, Atari STs, assorted flavors of Unix, etc.! Standards and compatibility.... PS> INTERNET "No tickee, no launlee" is the motto of the ISP. The PS> Internet is a strictly commercial, no-bones money-making PS> proposition. As far as today's ISPs are concerned, yes. However, do realize that the roots are quite different. It was spun off from ARPANET, built by the Defense Advanced Projects Research Agency, as a network to supply government communications need in times of emergency, being able to withstand even a direct nuclear strike on most major nodes. Until the price of computers fell fast enough to let the Great Unwashed afford the Internet, it was generally the province of those lucky enough to work at a connected company or attend a connected university, with the institutions usually doing a lot of defense research. PS> For the number of the fidonet bbs nearest you (there is likely PS> one in your town,) consult your local computer outlet or computer PS> paper. For details on hooking up to the internet, consult your PS> yellow pages. That really says it all. B-( FIDONEWS 14-12 Page 14 24 Mar 1997 ----------------------------------------------------------------- ========================== NOTICE OF FTSC NOMINATIONS ========================== by Adrian Walker, 1:153/752 Since 1 December 1996, discussion has been underway in the FTSC_PUBLIC echo defining the mission and operating procedures for a revitalized Fidonet Technical Standards Committee (FTSC). These have been formalized in two new documents, FTA-1000 (FTSC Charter) and FTA-1001 (FTSC Operations) which have been hatched into the FTSC file echo and are also available from: File Request - 1:153/752 as FTA-1000.TXT and FTA-1001.TXT Internet - http://www.portal.ca/~awalker/ftsc.htm With the finalization of these documents, nominations are now being accepted for FTSC Standing Members. The following extract from FTA-1001 describes the nomination and voting process: FTSC members are appointed for a two year renewable term. [50 % of appointments on initial formation of the FTSC shall be for a 3 year renewable term, to ensure continuity of the Committee on expiry of the terms.] To be selected as a FTSC member, an individual must be a Fidonet node, and should be actively involved in Fidonet. Examples include having put out a Fidonet-related product or having updated a product in the preceding two years, or having experience as a Coordinator, Echomail Coordinator or mail or file Hub. Standing members may be nominated Fidonet-wide by all of the following methods: 1. any RC or REC 2. a nominating committee established for the purpose by the FTSC 3. a nominating committee established for the purpose by the ZCC A nominating committee may not consist of any current member or officer of the FTSC. Standing members are appointed on the basis of a vote by all RCs and RECs who are nodelisted as holding those positions at the time the nominations are published. A successful candidate must receive approval by a majority of votes. Publication of the nomination and the voting procedure, and posting of RC and REC votes, shall take place openly in the FIDONEWS 14-12 Page 15 24 Mar 1997 FTSC_PUBLIC echo, and voting shall close three weeks after publication of the vote. [Majority as defined in FTA-1001: more than fifty percent of all votes cast. =============== ACTION REQUIRED =============== Since there is no nominating committee at this stage, those persons interested in becoming a Standing Member of the FTSC should state their interest to any currently-serving RC or REC and request that the RC or REC nominate them either by message in the FTSC_PUBLIC echo, or by netmail to Bruce Bodger (1:170/400) or Adrian Walker (153/752), who are administering the initial committee setup. The closing date for such applications to be an active Standing Member of the FTSC will be Friday 18 April 1997. At that time a list of all applicants having been properly nominated will be published, and the voting process will then be followed as defined above. ---OOO000OOO--- ----------------------------------------------------------------- Beware the Ides of March..Hog Wash!!!! by Clay Tannacore 1:372/136 I have just completed reading the article written by a young man named Ken Reaverson. Now, I don't know if this is just one of the editor's (Chris Baker) spurious names, but I certainly hope so. Because if this isn't, we have yet another case of FidoNet Brain- washing, here. Allow me to elaborate somewhat on this point. The young man says he has been *around* FidoNet for some time, but has only recently became a Fido SysOp, sometime around the first of this year. To this point everything appears about right. However, what appears rather strange to me is his everlasting devotedness to an association he is only vaguely familiar with. A short three months as a FidoNet SysOp, and he is all ready to sacrifice his first born to King Fido. He has already forgiven those nasty old SysOps who wanted him to pay for access to their systems. Not only that, but this young man is ready to join the Pay-For-Access crowd who have bestowed upon FidoNet the title as the FREE (for a fee) HOBBYIST (semi-commercial) INFORMATION (flame thrower) SERVICE. He states that "These days, I like Fido", well I do to, it's just some of the deceitful folks within the Fido family that cause me to toss my cookies. Another really *great* thing this young man finds with the FidoNet community is the *information and help* he has received, and is now "able to provide my users with access to Internet email or USENET groups". Fine! Just what FidoNet needs, another access path to the Internet. Another way to draw on the user base of FidoNet. Another brain fart, thought up by people who don't give a damn what happens to this association of ours. Just when the hell are FidoNet SysOps going to start supporting FidoNet, again? I said this before and may as well repeat it here, FIDONEWS 14-12 Page 16 24 Mar 1997 because no one pays any attention to an old fart like myself, but it WAS FidoNet that paved the way for the new nouveau riche we now lovingly (?) call The Internet. It is not my intention to make an example of this young man (Ken), but only to show what has happened in the (Fido) community in the last few years. In plain English, the damn organization has fallen apart. We haven't got an IC, and as far as an election goes, you may as well be spitting in the wind. There are just to many self serving dolts with their own agendas in positions within the association to hold out much hope for a FidoNet rebirth. To many power insatiate people in the organization to ever have a FidoNet that once was an entity with pride and purpose. To many egotistical SOB's who can't stand to see the organization get bigger than their own subliminal selves. Just to many blackguards to ever revive FidoNet, at least not to the decorated position it once held amongst computer users. Let us once again take a close look at this dilapidated piece of paper, we so insipidly call a policy document. This ridiculous clump of words with the title of POLICY 4! Talk about a waste of writing. This asinine document that over the years has been the cornerstone of FidoNet, in that it is suppose to guide various IC's, ZC's, RC's, and NC's in the operation of their positions, and the function intended for FidoNet itself. Needless to say, much is lacking in this useless assemblage of gibberish we are suppose to consider a *bible* for the organization. Much is lacking, but one of the basics considerations that is missing is intelligence. I hate to admit to it, but I was around when this diseased document was originally written and voted upon. I didn't like it then, and I sure as hell can't stand the idea of it, today. It is time a new (and improved) POLICY document were written. A team of Fido people have to be assembled to formulate a coherent policy document. Whether they are brought together in one area as a group, or via the EchoMail process, there has to be action taken on this new policy document, if FidoNet is to survive. A set of guidelines, or rules, or even procedures must be written with the goal of standardizing and regulating the day to day operation of Fido Net, and the thousands of nodes down the line, while there are still enough nodes to even bother. Okay people! A new song and dance. I know you're sick of the same old doom and gloom. Lets touch upon the Regional Coordinator position, and what they are doing, and what they should be doing. On a whole the RC's in *most* Nets are doing a fine job considering the lack of any real guidelines they have to work with. Of course I'm speaking of that piece of wreckage christened POLICY 4. Again the document with less testosterone than a flaccid Oscar Mayer Wiener. The lack of procedural material within that spent instrument never ceases to amaze me, and keeps me forever wondering just how any Regional Coordinator can administer the nodes they are responsible for. Consequently, we have a number of destructive individuals at the Network Coordinator level who whether or not they mean it, are contributing to the demise of FidoNet. The RC's are (and damn sure should be) responsible for each NC within their region. The RC *HAS* to involve himself (or herself) in the individual Nets under his control, and *NOT* by placing all his apples in one bushel. The RC is going to have to listen to those within that Net, that find his FIDONEWS 14-12 Page 17 24 Mar 1997 choice of NC disagreeable and inappropriate. RC's have to understand that the SysOp's under the command of his choice of NC, feel anxious about making a complaint to him, for fear of retaliation. The RC's (whether or not they agree with this) are going to have to set up a system, to allow not only the SysOp's who fall within their jurisdiction, but individuals who use (called users, in case you've forgotten) the numerous Nets within their regions. Like it or not, these RC's are going to have to become diplomats, and deal with the problems that are semi-rampart within FidoNet, today. Encouragement of new users, new systems (SysOp's) and users who do not feel totally alienated because of the *I'm better than you* attitudes that many SysOp's and Network Coordinators demonstrate towards them. The new or seasoned user who has been in some way *wronged* by a decision or judgment of some moderator or NC, has to be able to see a way to attain justice (even if no REAL wrong was performed) in what he/she perceives as an unjust system. Here is an example of what could happened (and has) happened, when the *GOOD OL' BOY* mentality is put in place. A user said something that the moderator of a certain local Echo didn't feel was in the proper spirit of *his* Echo. The Moderator, in an open message to the user, explained his *rules* for access to that particular Echo. The Moderator felt it was absolutely beyond the limits (in HIS Echo) for the user to denounce the way that messages were being written. He used the word damn in one of his posts, and out of the Echo he went. The user feeling this was not a valid reason to be excommunicated requested of the moderator that he be given another chance. The moderator said "no, and that's final." The user wanted to appeal the moderators decision as per the normal course of such petitions. He went to the NC, who informed him that if the moderator had banned him from that Echo (or any other) he (the NC) would support the moderator. Now, this scenario sounds familiar to many of you, and it also sounds proper. However, this user was extraordinarily upset about his banishment and requested help from another SysOp in the Net. What this SysOp learned was that the user had been denied the right of appeal, due to the fact that the moderator was *not* a FidoNet SysOp, and thus, the user was denied his right to appeal, by the fact the one level of the appeal process was not there You know, the *appeal* process that FidoNet members are supposed to have (?). Here is a personal exemplification of what happens when the NC of a Net, takes a disliking to one of his SysOp's, and allows his (supposedly) impartial attitude to become predominating. I have been with FidoNet since 1985 (December 4, to be exact) and in all that time my node number has been 1:372/4. In 1991, due to numerous medical (thank you Uncle Ho & Co.) problems, and 992 days in the hospital I had to leave the local net, thus giving up my node number. When I returned to the (same) local net (and FidoNet) I requested my old node number back, as no one had been assigned that number. Not only did I not get that number, but I was enlightened to the fact that my request for a *private* node was disapproved. Of Course, due to FidoNet's antipathy for the .Pvt node flag. I really did understand that, but in view of the need for the private flag, and what it was requested for, I asked the NC to please reconsider. He didn't, but in all fairness to him, he did pass on my request to the Regional Coordinator. The RC after reading the reasons why the private flag was required, nullified the NC's decision, and allowed me FIDONEWS 14-12 Page 18 24 Mar 1997 a node number (1:372/136) to operate Vet_Net_South. Anyway, I think this action perhaps compiled with other idiosyncrasy has caused a rift between the NC and myself, and this is why, when I again requested that I be assigned my old node number (1:372/4) if for no other reason than old time sakes, I was informed that it would be a QUOTE: "make-work" thing and "I'm not inclined to do it." UNQUOTE. This type of attitude is not in the best interest of an already unhealthy FidoNet, and it is up to the RC's to terminate these kinds of practices. The antecedent is not a criticism of the NC I have mentioned, but is being utilized as an example of what sort of predilection that has crept into the ranks of FidoNet. These sort of incidences can do nothing for FidoNet, but enhance its demise. Furthermore, occurrences similar to the above, do nothing but harm to the individuals involved, thus doing nothing for the Net in which the misdeeds took place. I have been around long enough to not allow this method of *muscle flexing* to bother me. However, what of the new SysOp in a net? Will he/she be as constrained as I am? No, I think in all reality not. Once the new SysOp is faced with a situation similar to the above, and is informed by other SysOps in that Net, that the Regional Coordinator almost always sides with the NC in matters of this kind, he begins to feel the old FidoNet alienation, and either sits back and contemplates his/her revenge, or simply does the only other thing open to him/her. He/She drops out of the Net, opens up an account on the Internet, and FidoNet pays the price by another divestiture of personnel. Enough of this, right? You have reached that point in reading where you have decided that a formal complaint for being excessively annoying is in order. Well, hell, go ahead, I need the rest, anyway. Just be aware of the fact the Chris Baker (editor of FIDONEWS) asked me for another article (as I promised) in public. What was that a great man once said? Oh, yea, I remember, "Forgive him Father for he knows not what he does." I probably misquoted Him somewhat, but what else would you expect from a guy who just pooped in his own mess kit, by partially trashing his NC. Oh hell, what could happen? No node number? So what! I can always put my head up my anus blow hot air, count some money, and everyone will think I'm Bill Gates. Apply for a new node number under the Gates acclaim, and sit back and laugh. Just a footnote for all of you out there who are thinking about a way to assassinate me, via NetMail. My phone number is unpublished, my mailbox (snail mail type) has an anti explosive device built in. I have no E-Mail address on the Internet (gag), and all my daughters are grown up, gone away (with one exception) and impregnable. My dog isn't gay, and the parrot is a wino, and doesn't give a poop what you do to him or me. My wife is meaner than my old First Sergeant, and would probably kick your booty before you got to me. Anyway, the Veterans Administration has top priority when it comes to wasting me. I have to say this before I leave you fellow SysOps, RC's, NC's. If I have offended anyone, in anyway. If the language I used was aberrant to any person. If what I said was a blow to your self esteem, and if after reading all that I wrote, you feel downhearted I say this from the bottom of my heart: "I DON'T GIVE A DAMN!"......[smile] FIDONEWS 14-12 Page 19 24 Mar 1997 ----------------------------------------------------------------- FIDONEWS 14-12 Page 20 24 Mar 1997 ================================================================= REVIEWS ================================================================= Review of TransNet - A new Fidonet/Internet gateway by Marc S. Ressl, ressl@interactive.com.ar Some months ago, while looking for a Fido/Internet gateway for our private network DLD from Argentina, I realized that I couldn't find any that suited our needs. What I was looking for should only require a single POP3 email account, and, by the way, be able to import and export echogroups as mailing lists. So, after some daydreaming :) I started working, and this is what came out: the TransNet gateway. The program runs under MS-DOS, and has two main functions: It links net and echomail to email and mailing lists, and manages mailing lists. And, indeed, it uses only ONE POP3 email account. Now you'll ask yourself how it resends emails to Fido users? It uses a trick with the subject line: email senders specify there a keyword, which can be a Fido address, a mailing-list, or any of these special keywords: SYSOP, HELP, or MAILMAN (to access the mailing list manager). Real subjects go after the keyword. This system might look somewhat weird, but after testing it for the whole summer it proved to work, and didn't cause big trouble to users. There is also template support in TransNet, so you can put some help at the beginning of each exported/imported messy. And to make it even easier, keywords may be aliased, so people can put in the subject "Peter" instead of the cryptic "1:234/567.89". The Fidonet part works like most gateways. The program also features a security system, so you can ban annoying users, or deny access to groups. It also resends error receipts from the Internet correctly. Regarding connection to the Internet, TransNet comes with two Internet mail add-ons, one for MS-DOS, and the other for Windows 95. There is also another add-on, for those who prefer things in Spanish. Last but not least, TransNet needs a FrontDoor-style mailer, support for Binkley/Xenia will be added soon. TransNet is shareware, and is freely distributable. For more information, visit my program's page at: http://www.geocities.com/SiliconValley/Lakes/2382 And if you wish to contact me: FIDONEWS 14-12 Page 21 24 Mar 1997 Marc S. Ressl ressl@interactive.com.ar http://www.geocities.com/Vienna/1914 Marc S. Ressl Buenos Aires: ressl@geocities.com Rosario: ressl@interactive.com.ar http://www.geocities.com/Vienna/1914 ----------------------------------------------------------------- FIDONEWS 14-12 Page 22 24 Mar 1997 ================================================================= GETTING TECHNICAL ================================================================= [This is part of the continuing series of FidoNet Technical Standards Committee documents demonstrating FidoNet history. These docs are reformatted to the 70 columns for FidoNews where required.] Ed. Document: FSC-0052 Version: 001 Date: 23-Sep-90 ZPTH ---- A proposal for making the PATH zone aware Gerard van der Land FidoNet 2:283/1.5 Status of this document: This FSC suggests a proposed protocol for the FidoNet(r) community, and requests discussion and suggestions for improvements. Distribution of this document is unlimited. Fido and FidoNet are registered marks of Tom Jennings and Fido Software. The PATH line can be a more accurate source of information than the SEEN-BY line to determine if a message is a duplicate. TosScan with Circular PATH Protection (CPP) enabled will consider messages that already have your address in them as duplicates. This works fine in conferences that are distributed within one zone, but in conferences spread across zones it can cause problems. Unlike SEEN-BY lines, PATH lines are not stripped at the zone gate, because they have a very important purpose: to be able to determine the used echomail topology and troubleshooting, like finding the cause of duplicate messages. Unfortunately this also means that if a message is entered at 1:283/1 and my boss would be running TosScan with CPP enabled, the message would be considered as a duplicate, because "283/1" is already in the PATH lines. If such messages are not deleted but stored in a duplicate directory, you will of course notice this happen and disable CPP, but you can't know if messages never reach your system because they were deleted for the same reason by another node that had CPP enabled. That's why I have the following proposal. If a message travels from one zone to another, the zone gateway should move FIDONEWS 14-12 Page 23 24 Mar 1997 all information in the current PATH lines to kludge lines with the following format: ^aZPTH: : The receiving system in the destination zone creates a new PATH with his address in it. There is no need to support or allow 4D addresses in the ZPTH, since it is only supplements the existing PATH lines. Simple sample ------------- A message originating at 1:154/40 arrives at 1:260/340... ^aPATH: 154/40 970 9 157/200 265/7 13/13 260/340 ...and is sent to Europe. This is how I would see it: ^aZPTH: 1:154/40 970 9 157/200 265/7 13/13 260/340 ^aPATH: 310/11 507/1 512/0 280/0 283/1 Now suppose that 283/1 would gate it to zone 3, it would look like this when it gets there: ^aZPTH: 1:154/40 970 9 157/200 265/7 13/13 260/340 ^aZPTH: 2:310/11 507/1 512/0 280/0 283/1 The receiving node in zone 3 now creates a new PATH line with his address in it. Advantages ---------- 1) It enables Circular PATH Protection (CPP) on conferences that travel across zones without the risk of messages that are erroneous considered as duplicates and deleted. 2) A zone gate can optionally parse the ZPTH lines to see if his zone or the destination zone has already seen the message (CZP, Circular ZPATH Protection), which means a duplicate message will never go to another zone. Of course this could only be used if it sure that messages shouldn't re-enter a zone. 3) You get a much better view on the used echomail topology, sometimes it is very hard to see where a message goes from one zone to another. 4) It will not screw up with any echomail processor as long as they ignore unknown kludges. Only nodes gating echomail from one zone to another would need to have a processor that supports the ZPTH kludge. 5) It will hardly increase the size of compressed mail FIDONEWS 14-12 Page 24 24 Mar 1997 archives. -30- ----------------------------------------------------------------- Document: FSC-0053 Version: 002 Date: 08-Dec-92 Specifications for the ^aFLAGS field Joaquim H. Homrighausen 2:270/17@fidonet or joho@ae.lu December 8, 1992 Status of this document: This FSC suggests a proposed protocol for the FidoNet(r) community, and requests discussion and suggestions for improvements. Distribution of this document is unlimited. Fido and FidoNet are registered marks of Tom Jennings and Fido Software. Purpose To explain and document the existing usage of the ^aFLAGS field used by many software packages, including FrontDoor, TosScan, and D'Bridge. And to inform software authors of its proper usage. Prologue One of the problems with the FTS-1 (stored) message format is its limitations in regards to message attributes. Several bits are used (reserved) by SEAdog, another by several packers and editors - even though most mailer authors don't support them, they remain. One reason would be backward compatibility with older software. Unfortunately, this presents a problem for software authors that would like to pass extended message attributes for use and handling by other software. Some software packages have been using an alternate method called "FLAGS" which is 7-bit ASCII placed behind FLAGS somewhere near the beginning of a message. The various flags will now be described. Flags The FLAGS string should be placed somewhere near the beginning of the message text, and is preceeded by a (^a) character. There is no need to support all or any of the below mentioned FIDONEWS 14-12 Page 25 24 Mar 1997 flags. If flags are stripped when a message passes through a system, all relevant and correct FTS-1 status bits should be updated to indicate the original contents of the FLAGS field. Flag Brief Long description ----------------------------------------------------------------- PVT Private Indicates that the message may only be read by its addressee and author. HLD Hold Message should be held for pickup by its destination system. CRA Crash High-priority mail. K/S Kill/Sent Remove message after it has been success-fully sent. SNT Sent Message has been successfully sent (used for message without Kill/Sent status). RCV Received Message has been read by its addressee. A/S Archive/Sent Place message in "sent mail" archival system after it has been successfully sent. DIR Direct Message must be sent directly to its destination and may not be routed. ZON Zonegate Send message through zonegate (if possible). HUB Hub/Host-route Host- or Hub-route message (as appropriate). FIL File attach Message has one or more files attached to it. FRQ File request Message has one or more file requests in subject field. Flag Brief Long description ----------------------------------------------------------------- IMM Immediate NOW!-priority mail. Send at first opportunity, override any transmission restrictions enforced by events, costs, or qualification. XMA Xmail Message has alternate form of compressed mail attached. KFS Kill file Remove attached file(s) after they have been successfully sent. Only valid for FIDONEWS 14-12 Page 26 24 Mar 1997 file attach message. TFS Truncate file Truncate attached file(s) to zero length after they have been successfully sent. Only valid for file attach message. Primarily used by Conference Mail processors. LOK Lock Prevent message from being processed. This includes sending, deleting, purging, and editing. RRQ Receipt REQ When the mailer/packer at the message's final destination unpacks the message, it's asked to generate a receipt to the author of the message that indicates that the message arrived at its final destination. CFM Confirm REQ When message is read by its addressee, a Confirmation Receipt should be generated to the author of the message. HIR HiRes FAX: Hi-Resolution image. COV CoverLetter FAX: Cover sheet. SIG Signature FAX: Signature. LET LetterHead FAX: LetterHead. | FAX Fax image The filename specified in the message's | subject field contains a fax document | that should be viewed using software | capable of doing so. Flag Brief Long description ----------------------------------------------------------------- | FPU Force pickup Treated as a message with an IMM flag. | This instructs the mailer to keep | calling the destination system, if the | connection is aborted for some reason, | until a valid "End of files" signal is | received (i.e. no more files remain to | pick up). Notes Xmail is related to the ARCmail 0.60 standard as adopted by the FTSC. The exception is that any type of compression method may be used and the naming convention isn't necessarily limited to that of the ARCmail 0.60 standard. Epilogue Feedback would be appreciated and can be sent to me at the FIDONEWS 14-12 Page 27 24 Mar 1997 addresses specified on the title page. Please send feedback via netmail. --- end of file "fsc-0053.001" --- -30- ----------------------------------------------------------------- FIDONEWS 14-12 Page 28 24 Mar 1997 ================================================================= COORDINATORS CORNER ================================================================= Nodelist-statistics as seen from Zone-2 for day 080 By Ward Dossche, 2:292/854 ZC/2 +----+------+------------+------------+------------+------------+--+ |Zone|Nl-052|Nodelist-059|Nodelist-066|Nodelist-073|Nodelist-080|%%| +----+------+------------+------------+------------+------------+--+ | 1 | 9527| 9405 -122 | 9405 0 | 9107 -298 | 9088 -19 |33| | 2 | 16051|16116 65 |16083 -33 |15996 -87 |15956 -40 |58| | 3 | 812| 807 -5 | 800 -7 | 800 0 | 800 0 | 3| | 4 | 541| 541 0 | 545 4 | 547 2 | 548 1 | 2| | 5 | 87| 87 0 | 87 0 | 87 0 | 87 0 | 0| | 6 | 1071| 1088 17 | 1088 0 | 1088 0 | 1088 0 | 4| +----+------+------------+------------+------------+------------+--+ | 28089|28044 -45 |28008 -36 |27625 -383 |27567 -58 | +------+------------+------------+------------+------------+ ----------------------------------------------------------------- FIDONEWS 14-12 Page 29 24 Mar 1997 ================================================================= WE GET EMAIL ================================================================= --- Following message extracted from NETMAIL @ 1:18/14 --- By Christopher Baker on Tue Mar 18 00:50:20 1997 From: Bruce Bodger @ 1:170/400 To: Christopher Baker @ 1:18/14 Date: 16 Mar 97 15:09:42 Subj: . Here's another one for submission, Chris. It (almost) negates the previous one. I don't think it would hurt a bit if they both were to run in the same issue. Thanks. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- On: Sun 16 Mar 97 11:52a By: Bruce Bodger To: All Re: ZEC / RC Election St: Local Sent ---------------------------------------------------------------------- From the ZEC echo: Last week I cross posted a message here (and in many other places) which I had originally written to the RECs of Zone 1. The message instructed them to: "... conduct a survey of their respective Regions to determine if they, the Regions, would prefer either another (ZEC) election being conducted or an affirmation and acceptance of my willingness to serve another term (as ZEC)." I asked them to come back to me with one of the following 2 statements; My Region would like an election to be conducted =or= My Region would like you to stay on for another term. I set the earliest date for replies to Mar. 24 and required that they survey their Regions. Shortly before I wrote the above message I had been nominated to run for the postion of Region Coordinator of Region 19. I accepted the nomination. Knowing my own schedule committments I felt that I could handle both positions without allowing them to interfere with each other. However, there is something that I failed to consider and that is that I owe my Region more than just a part time committment as their Region Coordinator. FIDONEWS 14-12 Page 30 24 Mar 1997 I have been a member of Region 19 for about 9 years. The Region has been good to me, supporting me in all of my campaign bids including 2 terms as their REC, through the past ZEC election, as well as the current REC polling process. Region 19 is about to lose on of the best Region Coordinators that it has ever had, James Ray. Jamey (:-)) has served 2 outstanding terms as R19C but has decided to allow his family to get to know him for a while :-) Had it not been for James' decision to "retire", I would never have accepted the nomination for R19C. In order to afford my Region the attention it deserves, I have decided to cancel what's come to be known as the "vote of confidence" and will begin organizing an election for the postion of Zone 1 EchoMail Coordinator. I will not be one of the candidates. If the Region allows me the honor of serving as its Coordinator I will do my best to follow in James Ray's footsteps. We have worked very well together through the years and he has set an excellent example for his successor. AllTheBest, Bruce Via 1:170/400@fidonet @19970316.211049.UTC O/T-Track+ 2.65.b0307 -30- ----------------------------------------------------------------- FIDONEWS 14-12 Page 31 24 Mar 1997 ================================================================= NET HUMOR ================================================================= From: "Mike Riddle" To: "Baker, Christopher" , Date: Wed, 29 Jan 97 08:12:05 -0600 Reply-To: "Mike Riddle" Subject: Fwd: Microsoft spam: Fwd: A joke ==================BEGIN FORWARDED MESSAGE================== From: FA2930E To: RedSilk103 How things would be different if Microsoft Headquarters was in Alabama... 1. Their #1 product would be "Microsoft Winders". 2. Instead of an hourglass icon you'd get an empty beer bottle. 3. Occasionally you'd bring up a window that was covered with a Hefty bag and some duct tape. 4. Dialog boxes would give you the choice of "Ahh-right", "Naw", or "Git" instead of "Yes", "No", or "Cancel" 5. Instead of "Ta-Da!", the opening sound would be Dueling Banjos 6. The "Recycle Bin" in Winders '95 would be an outhouse 7. Whenever you pulled up the Sound Player you'd hear a digitized drunk redneck yelling "Freebird!" 8. Instead of "Start Me Up", the Winders '95 theme song would be "Achey-Breaky Heart" 9. PowerPoint would be named "ParPawnt" 10. Microsoft's programming tools would be "Vishul Basic" and "Vishul C++" 11. Winders 95 logo would incorporate the Confederate Flag 12. Instead of "VP", Microsoft big shots would be called "Cuz" 13. Hardware could be repaired using parts from an old Trans Am 14. Four words: Daisy Duke Screen Saver 15. "Well, the first thing you know old Bill's a billionaire...." 16. Flight Simulator replaced by Tractor-Pull Simulator 17. Microsoft CEO: Billy-Bob (a.k.a "Bubba") Gates ===================END FORWARDED MESSAGE=================== ----------------------------------------------------------------- FIDONEWS 14-12 Page 32 24 Mar 1997 ================================================================= ADVERTISE YOUR FREE SERVICE/EVENT ================================================================= by Nigel Allen (1:250/438) ndallen@interlog.com Free Listings in the Encyclopedia of Associations People who start new non-profit associations (including othernets, lobbying groups and associations having nothing to do with BBSes) should get their group listed, free of charge, in the Encyclopedia of Associations, so that prospective members, journalists and researchers can get in touch with them. Groups based in the U.S. should write to the following address and ask to be listed: Editor Encyclopedia of Associations Gale Research Inc. 645 Griswold Street, Suite 835 Detroit, MI 48226-4094 Telephone (313) 961-2242 Fax (313) 961-6815 Groups based outside the United States should instead get listed in International Organizations, a directory published by the same company. Its address is: Editor International Organizations Gale Research Inc. 645 Griswold Street, Suite 835 Detroit, MI 48226-4094 U.S.A. Telephone +1 313 961-2242 Fax +1 313 961-6815 As well, groups based outside the United States may also want to get listed in single-country association directories published in their own country, such as the Directory of Associations in Canada. Any librarian should be able to tell you how to get in touch with your country's national association directory, if one exists. Most large libraries have a copy of the Encyclopedia of Associations in hard copy or CD-ROM, but it is probably too expensive for someone to buy for home use. See also my Web page, http://www.interlog.com/~ndallen/ ----------------------------------------------------------------- FIDONEWS 14-12 Page 33 24 Mar 1997 ================================================================= NOTICES ================================================================= Future History 17 May 1997 Independence Day, Norway. 6 Jun 1997 National Commemoration Day, Sweden. 11 Jun 1997 Independence Day, Russia. 1 Jul 1997 Canada Day - Happy Birthday Canada. 9 Jul 1997 Independence Day, Argentina. 13 Oct 1997 Thanksgiving Day, Canada. 1 Dec 1997 World AIDS Day. 10 Dec 1997 Nobel Day, Sweden. 12 Jan 1998 HAL 9000 is one year old today. 22 May 1998 Expo '98 World Exposition in Lisbon (Portugal) opens. 1 Dec 1998 Fifteenth Anniversary of release of Fido version 1 by Tom Jennings. 31 Dec 1999 Hogmanay, Scotland. The New Year that can't be missed. 1 Jan 2000 The 20th Century, C.E., is still taking place thru 31 Dec. 15 Sep 2000 Sydney (Australia) Summer Olympiad opens. 1 Jan 2001 This is the actual start of the new millennium, C.E. -- If YOU have something which you would like to see in this Future History, please send a note to the FidoNews Editor. ----------------------------------------------------------------- FIDONEWS 14-12 Page 34 24 Mar 1997 ================================================================= FIDONET SOFTWARE LISTING ================================================================= Latest Greatest Software Versions by Peter E. Popovich, 1:363/264 Awk! I didn't realize how far behind I've gotten. Events in my personal life have conspired to keep me away from the keyboard during my recreational time. Heck, I'm late for a meeting right this very second. Phased out this week: "Amiga" and "Atari ST/TT" Sections. -=- Snip -=- Submission form for the Latest Greatest Software Versions column OS Platform : Software package name : Version : Function(s) - BBS, Mailer, Tosser, etc. : Freeware / Shareware / Commercial? : Author / Support staff contact name : Author / Support staff contact node : Magic name (at the above-listed node) : Please include a sentence describing what the package does. Please send updates and suggestions to: Peter Popovich, 1:363/264 -=- Snip -=- MS-DOS: Program Name Version F C Contact Name Node Magic Name ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Act-Up 4.6 G D Chris Gunn 1:15/55 ACT-UP ALLFIX 4.40 T S Harald Harms 2:281/415 ALLFIX Announcer 1.1 O S Peter Karlsson 2:206/221 ANNOUNCE BGFAX 1.60 O S B.J. Guillot 1:106/400 BGFAX Binkley Docs 2.60 M F Bob Juge 1:1/102 BDOC_260.ZIP BinkleyTerm 2.60 M F Bob Juge 1:1/102 BDOS_260.ZIP BinkleyTerm-XE XR4 M F Thomas Waldmann 2:2474/400 BTXE_DOS CFRoute 0.92 O G C. Fernandez Sanz 2:341/70 CFR CheckPnt 1.0 O G Michiel vd Vlist 2:500/9 CHECKPNT FastEcho 1.45a T S Tobias Burchhardt 2:2448/400 FASTECHO FastEcho/16 1.45a T S Tobias Burchhardt 2:2448/400 FE16 FidoBBS (tm) 12u B S Ray Brown 1:1/117 FILES FrontDoor 2.12 M S JoHo 2:201/330 FD FrontDoor 2.20c M C JoHo 2:201/330 FDINFO GIGO 07-14-96 G S Jason Fesler 1:1/141 INFO GoldED 2.50 O S Len Morgan 1:203/730 GED GoldED Docs 2.50 O S Len Morgan 1:203/730 GEM GoldNODE 2.50 O S Len Morgan 1:203/730 GEN Imail 1.75 T S Michael McCabe 1:1/121 IMAIL FIDONEWS 14-12 Page 35 24 Mar 1997 ImCrypt 1.04 O G Michiel vd Vlist 2:500/9 IMCRYPT InfoMail 1.11 O F Damian Walker 2:2502/666 INFOMAIL InfoMail/386 1.20 O F Damian Walker 2:2502/666 INFO386 InterEcho 1.19 T C Peter Stewart 1:369/35 IEDEMO InterMail 2.29k M C Peter Stewart 1:369/35 IMDEMO InterPCB 1.52 O S Peter Stewart 1:369/35 INTERPCB IPNet 1.11 O S Michele Stewart 1:369/21 IPNET JD's CBV 1.4 O S John Dailey 1:363/277 CBV Jelly-Bean 1.01 T S Rowan Crowe 3:635/727 JELLY Jelly-Bean/386 1.01 T S Rowan Crowe 3:635/727 JELLY386 JMail-Hudson 2.81 T S Jason Steck 1:285/424 JMAIL-H JMail-Goldbase 2.81 T S Jason Steck 1:285/424 JMAIL-G MakePl 1.9 N G Michiel vd Vlist 2:500/9 MAKEPL Marena 1.1 beta O G Michiel vd Vlist 2:500/9 MARENA Maximus 3.01 B P Tech 1:249/106 MAX McMail 1.0 M S Michael McCabe 1:1/148 MCMAIL MDNDP 1.18 N S Bill Doyle 1:388/7 MDNDP Msged 4.10 O G Andrew Clarke 3:635/728 MSGED41D.ZIP Msged/386 4.10 O G Andrew Clarke 3:635/728 MSGED41X.ZIP Opus CBCS 1.73a B P Christopher Baker 1:374/14 OPUS O/T-Track 2.63a O S Peter Hampf 2:241/1090 OT PcMerge 2.7 N G Michiel vd Vlist 2:500/9 PCMERGE PlatinumXpress 1.3 M C Gary Petersen 1:290/111 PX13TD.ZIP QuickBBS 2.81 B S Ben Schollnick 1:2613/477 QUICKBBS RAR 2.00 C S Ron Dwight 2:220/22 RAR RemoteAccess 2.50 B S Mark Lewis 1:3634/12 RA Silver Xpress Door 5.4 O S Gary Petersen 1:290/111 FILES Reader 4.4 O S Gary Petersen 1:290/111 SXR44.ZIP Spitfire 3.51 B S Mike Weaver 1:3670/3 SPITFIRE Squish 1.11 T P Tech 1:249/106 SQUISH StealTag UK 1.c... O F Fred Schenk 2:284/412 STEAL_UK StealTag NL 1.c... O F Fred Schenk 2:284/412 STEAL_NL T-Mail 2.599I M S Ron Dwight 2:220/22 TMAIL Terminate 4.00 O S Bo Bendtsen 2:254/261 TERMINATE Tobruk 0.33 T G Paul Edwards 3:711/934 TOBRUK TriBBS 11.0 B S Gary Price 1:3607/26 TRIBBS TriDog 11.0 T F Gary Price 1:3607/26 TRIDOG TriToss 11.0 T S Gary Price 1:3607/26 TRITOSS WaterGate 0.92 G S Robert Szarka 1:320/42 WTRGATE WWIV 4.24a B S Craig Dooley 1:376/126 WWIV WWIVTOSS 1.36 T S Craig Dooley 1:376/126 WWIVTOSS xMail 2.00 T S Thorsten Franke 2:2448/53 XMAIL XRobot 3.01 O S JoHo 2:201/330 XRDOS OS/2: Program Name Version F C Contact Name Node Magic Name ---------------------------------------------------------------------- ALLFIX/2 1.10 T S Harald Harms 2:281/415 AFIXOS2 BGFAX 1.60 O S B.J. Guillot 1:106/400 BGFAX Binkley Docs 2.60 M F Bob Juge 1:1/102 BDOC_260.ZIP BinkleyTerm 2.60 M F Bob Juge 1:1/102 BOS2_260.ZIP BinkleyTerm-XE XR4 M F Thomas Waldmann 2:2474/400 BTXE_OS2 CFRoute 0.92 O G C. Fernandez Sanz 2:341/70 CFR FastEcho 1.45a T S Tobias Burchhardt 2:2448/400 FE2 FleetStreet 1.19 O S Michael Hohner 2:2490/2520 FLEET FIDONEWS 14-12 Page 36 24 Mar 1997 GIGO 07-14-96 G S Jason Fesler 1:1/141 INFO GoldED 2.50 O S Len Morgan 1:203/730 GEO GoldED Docs 2.50 O S Len Morgan 1:203/730 GEM GoldNODE 2.50 O S Len Morgan 1:203/730 GEN ImCrypt 1.04 O G Michiel vd Vlist 2:500/9 IMCRYPT Maximus 3.01 B P Tech 1:249/106 MAXP Msged/2 4.10 O G Andrew Clarke 3:635/728 MSGED41O.ZIP PcMerge 2.3 N G Michiel vd Vlist 2:500/9 PCMERGE RAR 2.00 C S Ron Dwight 2:220/22 RAR2 Squish 1.11 T P Tech 1:249/106 SQUISHP T-Mail 2.599I M S Ron Dwight 2:220/22 TMAIL2 Tobruk 0.33 T G Paul Edwards 3:711/934 TOBRUK XRobot 3.01 O S JoHo 2:201/330 XROS2 Windows (16-bit apps): Program Name Version F C Contact Name Node Magic Name ---------------------------------------------------------------------- BeeMail 1.0 M C Andrius Cepaitis 2:470/1 BEEMAIL FrontDoor APX 1.10 P S Mats Wallin 2:201/329 FDAPXW Windows (32-bit apps): Program Name Version F C Contact Name Node Magic Name ---------------------------------------------------------------------- BeeMail 1.0 M C Andrius Cepaitis 2:470/1 BEEMAIL Binkley Docs 2.60 M F Bob Juge 1:1/102 BDOC_260.ZIP BinkleyTerm 2.60 M F Bob Juge 1:1/102 BW32_260.ZIP CFRoute 0.92 O G C. Fernandez Sanz 2:341/70 CFR GoldED 2.50 O S Len Morgan 1:203/730 GEO GoldED Docs 2.50 O S Len Morgan 1:203/730 GEM Maximus 3.01 B P Tech 1:249/106 MAXN Msged/NT 4.10 O G Andrew Clarke 3:635/728 MSGED41W.ZIP PlatinumXpress 2.00 M C Gary Petersen 1:290/111 PXW-INFO T-Mail 2.599I M S Ron Dwight 2:220/22 TMAILNT WinFOSSIL/95 1.12 r4 F S Bryan Woodruff 1:343/294 WNFOSSIL.ZIP WinFOSSIL/NT 1.0 beta F S Bryan Woodruff 1:343/294 NTFOSSIL.ZIP Unix: Program Name Version F C Contact Name Node Magic Name ---------------------------------------------------------------------- ifmail 2.9 M G Eugene Crosser 2:293/2219 IFMAIL ifmail-tx ...tx7.9 M G Pablo Saratxaga 2:293/2219 IFMAILTX Msged 4.00 O G Paul Edwards 3:711/934 MSGED Tobruk 0.33 T G Paul Edwards 3:711/934 TOBRUK Amiga: Program Name Version F C Contact Name Node Magic Name ---------------------------------------------------------------------- CrashMail 1.23 T X Fredrik Bennison 2:205/324 CRASHMAIL CrashTick 1.1 O F Fredrik Bennison 2:205/324 CRASHTICK DLG Pro BBOS 1.15 B C Holly Sullivan 1:202/720 DLGDEMO GMS 1.1.85 M S Mirko Viviani 2:331/213 GMS Msged 4.00 O G Paul Edwards 3:711/934 MSGED Tobruk 0.33 T G Paul Edwards 3:711/934 TOBRUK Atari: Program Name Version F C Contact Name Node Magic Name FIDONEWS 14-12 Page 37 24 Mar 1997 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- BinkleyTerm/ST 3.18pl1 M F Bill Scull 1:363/112 BINKLEY Function: B-BBS, P-Point, M-Mailer, N-Nodelist, G-Gateway, T-Tosser, C-Compression, F-Fossil, O-Other. Note: Multifunction will be listed by the first match. Cost: P-Free for personal use, F-Freeware, S-Shareware, C-Commercial, X-Crippleware, D-Demoware, G-Free w/ Source Old info from: 01/27/92 --------------------------------------------------------------------- MS-DOS Systems Other Utilities Other Utilities -------------- Name Version Name Version -------------------- -------------------- Network Mailers 2DAPoint 1.50* Netsex 2.00b Name Version 4Dog/4DMatrix 1.18 OFFLINE 1.35 -------------------- ARCAsim 2.31 Oliver 1.0a D'Bridge 1.30 ARCmail 3.00* OSIRIS CBIS 3.02 Dreamer 1.06 Areafix 1.20 PKInsert 7.10 Dutchie 2.90c ConfMail 4.00 PolyXarc 2.1a Milqtoast 1.00 Crossnet 1.5 QM 1.00a PreNM 1.48 DOMAIN 1.42 QSort 4.04 SEAdog 4.60 DEMM 1.06 RAD Plus 2.11 SEAmail 1.01 DGMM 1.06 Raid 1.00 TIMS 1.0(mod8) DOMAIN 1.42 RBBSMail 18.0 EEngine 0.32 ScanToss 1.28 Compression EMM 2.11* ScMail 1.00 Utilities EZPoint 2.1 ScEdit 1.12 Name Version FGroup 1.00 Sirius 1.0x -------------------- FidoPCB 1.0s@ SLMail 2.15C ARC 7.12 FNPGate 2.70 StarLink 1.01 ARJ 2.20 GateWorks 3.06e TagMail 2.41 LHA 2.13 GMail 2.05 TCOMMail 2.2 PAK 2.51 GMD 3.10 Telemail 1.5* PKPak 3.61 GMM 1.21 TGroup 1.13 PKZip 1.10 GROUP 2.23 TIRES 3.11 GUS 1.40 TMail 1.21 NodeList Utilities Harvey's Robot 4.10 TosScan 1.00 Name Version HeadEdit 1.18 UFGATE 1.03 -------------------- HLIST 1.09 VPurge 4.09e EditNL 4.00 ISIS 5.12@ WEdit 2.0@ FDND 1.10 Lola 1.01d WildMail 2.00 MakeNL 2.31 Mosaic 1.00b WMail 2.2 Parselst 1.33 MailBase 4.11a@ WNode 2.1 Prune 1.40 MSG 4.5* XRS 4.99 SysNL 3.14 MsgLnk 1.0c XST 2.3e XlatList 2.90 MsgMstr 2.03a YUPPIE! 2.00 XlaxNode/Diff 2.53 MsgNum 4.16d ZmailH 1.25 MSGTOSS 1.3 ZSX 2.40 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - BBS Software Macintosh Other Software Name Version --------- Name Version FIDONEWS 14-12 Page 38 24 Mar 1997 -------------------- -------------------- FBBS 0.91 Network Mailers MacArd 0.04 Hermes 1.6.1 Name Version Mantissa 3.21 Mansion 7.15 -------------------- Mehitable 2.0 Precision Sys. 0.95b Copernicus 1.0 OriginatorII 2.0 Red Ryder Host 2.1 Tabby 2.2 PreStamp 3.2 Telefinder Host StuffIt Classic 1.6 2.12T10 Other Software SunDial 3.2 Name Version TExport 1.92 -------------------- TimeStamp 1.6 Point System ArcMac 1.3 TImport 1.92 Software AreaFix 1.6 Tset 1.3 Name Version Compact Pro 1.30 TSort 1.0 -------------------- EventMeister 1.0 UNZIP 1.02c Copernicus 1.00 Export 3.21 Zenith 1.5 CounterPoint 1.09 Import 3.2 Zip Extract 0.10 MacWoof 1.1 LHARC 0.41 -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- Key to old info: + - Netmail Capable (Doesn't Require Additional Mailer Software) * - Recently Updated Version @ - New Addition -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- Please send updates and suggestions to: Peter Popovich, 1:363/264 ----------------------------------------------------------------- FIDONEWS 14-12 Page 39 24 Mar 1997 ================================================================= FIDONEWS PUBLIC-KEY ================================================================= [this must be copied out to a file starting at column 1 or it won't process under PGP as a valid public-key] -----BEGIN PGP PUBLIC KEY BLOCK----- Version: 2.6.2 Comment: Clear-signing is Electronic Digital Authenticity! 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BBS at 1-904-409-7040 anytime except 0100-0130 ET and Zone 1 ZMH at 1200-9600+ HST/V32B. The FidoNews key is also available on the FidoNews homepage listed in the Masthead information. ----------------------------------------------------------------- FIDONEWS 14-12 Page 40 24 Mar 1997 ================================================================= FIDONET BY INTERNET ================================================================= This is a list of all FidoNet-related sites reported to the Editor as of this appearance. ============ FidoNet: Homepage http://www.fidonet.org FidoNews http://ddi.digital.net/~cbaker84/fidonews.html HTML FNews http://www.geocities.com/Athens/6894/ WWW sources http://www.scms.rgu.ac.uk/students/cs_yr94/lk/fido.html FTSC page http://www2.blaze.net.au/ftsc.html Echomail http://www.portal.ca/~awalker/index.html WebRing http://ddi.digital.net/~cbaker84/fnetring.html ============ Zone 1: http://www.z1.fidonet.org Region 10: http://www.psnw.com/~net205/region10.html Region 11: http://oeonline.com/~garyg/region11/ Region 14: http://www.netins.net/showcase/fidonet/ Region 15: http://www.smrtsys.com/region15/ Region 16: http://www.tiac.net/users/satins/region16.htm Region 17: http://www.portal.ca/~awalker/region17.htm Region 18: http://www.citicom.com/fido.html Region 19: http://ccove.n-link.com/ [not answering] ============ Zone 2: http://www.z2.fidonet.org ZEC2: http://fidoftp.paralex.co.uk/zec.htm [not answering] Zone 2 Elist: http://www.fidonet.ch/z2_elist/z2_elist.htm Region 24: http://www.swb.de/personal/flop/gatebau.html (in German) Region 25: http://members.aol.com/Net254/ Region 27: http://telematique.org/fidofr.shtml (in French) Region 29: http://www.rtfm.be/fidonet/ (in French) Region 30: http://www.fidonet.ch (in Swiss) FIDONEWS 14-12 Page 41 24 Mar 1997 Region 34: http://www.pobox.com/cnb/r34.htm (in Spanish) REC34: http://pobox.com/~chr Region 36: http://www.geocities.com/SiliconValley/7207/ Region 48: http://www.fidonet.org.pl ============ Zone 3: http://www.z3.fidonet.org ============ Zone 4: (not yet listed) ============ Zone 5: (not yet listed) ============ Zone 6: http://www.z6.fidonet.org ============ ----------------------------------------------------------------- FIDONEWS 14-12 Page 42 24 Mar 1997 ================================================================= FIDONEWS INFORMATION ================================================================= ------- FIDONEWS MASTHEAD AND CONTACT INFORMATION ------- Editor: Christopher Baker Editors Emeritii: Tom Jennings, Thom Henderson, Dale Lovell, Vince Perriello, Tim Pozar, Sylvia Maxwell, Donald Tees "FidoNews Editor" FidoNet 1:1/23 BBS 1-904-409-7040, 300/1200/2400/14400/V.32bis/HST(ds) more addresses: Christopher Baker -- 1:18/14, cbaker84@digital.net cbaker84@aol.com cbaker84@msn.com (Postal Service mailing address) FidoNews Editor P.O. Box 471 Edgewater, FL 32132-0471 U.S.A. voice: 1-904-409-3040 [1400-2100 ET only, please] [1800-0100 UTC/GMT] ------------------------------------------------------ FidoNews is 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. Authors retain copyright on individual works; otherwise FidoNews is Copyright 1997 Christopher Baker. All rights reserved. Duplication and/or distribution permitted for noncommercial purposes only. For use in other circumstances, please contact the original authors, or the Editor. =*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*= OBTAINING COPIES: The most recent issue of FidoNews in electronic form may be obtained from the FidoNews Editor via manual download or file-request, or from various sites in the FidoNet and Internet. PRINTED COPIES may be obtained by sending SASE to the above postal address. File-request FIDONEWS for the current Issue. File-request FNEWS for the current month in one archive. Or file-request specific back Issue filenames in distribution format [FNEWSEnn.ZIP] for a FIDONEWS 14-12 Page 43 24 Mar 1997 particular Issue. Monthly Volumes are available as FNWSmmmy.ZIP where mmm = three letter month [JAN - DEC] and y = last digit of the current year [7], i.e., FNWSFEB7.ZIP for all the Issues from Feb 97. Annual volumes are available as FNEWSn.ZIP where n = the Volume number 1 - 14 for 1984 - 1997, respectively. Annual Volume archives range in size from 48K to 1.4M. INTERNET USERS: FidoNews is available via: http://www.fidonet.org/fidonews.htm ftp://ftp.fidonet.org/pub/fidonet/fidonews/ ftp://ftp.aminet.org/pub/aminet/comm/fido/ *=*=* You may obtain an email subscription to FidoNews by sending email to: jbarchuk@worldnet.att.net with a Subject line of: subscribe fnews-edist and no message in the message body. To remove your name from the email distribution use a Subject line of: unsubscribe fnews-edist with no message to the same address above. *=*=* You can read the current FidoNews Issue in HTML format at: http://www.geocities.com/Athens/6894/ STAR SOURCE for ALL Past Issues via FTP and file-request - Available for FReq from 1:396/1 or by anonymous FTP from: ftp://ftp.sstar.com/fidonet/fnews/ Each yearly archive also contains a listing of the Table-of-Contents for that year's issues. The total set is currently about 11 Megs. =*=*=*= The current week's FidoNews and the FidoNews public-key are now also available almost immediately after publication on the Editor's new homepage on the World Wide Web at: http://ddi.digital.net/~cbaker84/fidonews.html There are also links there to jim barchuk's HTML FidoNews source and to John Souvestre's FTP site for the archives. There is also an email link for sending in an article as message text. Drop on over. =*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*= A PGP generated public-key is available for the FidoNews Editor from FIDONEWS 14-12 Page 44 24 Mar 1997 1:1/23 [1:18/14] by file-request for FNEWSKEY or by download from Rights On! BBS at 1-904-409-7040 as FIDONEWS.ASC in File Area 18. It is also posted twice a month into the PKEY_DROP Echo available on the Zone 1 Echomail Backbone. *=*=*=*=* 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 Editor, or file-requestable from 1:1/23 [1:18/14] as file "ARTSPEC.DOC". ALL Zone Coordinators also have copies of ARTSPEC.DOC. Please read it. "Fido", "FidoNet" and the dog-with-diskette are U.S. registered trademarks of Tom Jennings, P.O. Box 410923, San Francisco, CA 94141, and are used with permission. "Disagreement is actually necessary, or we'd all have to get in fights or something to amuse ourselves and create the requisite chaos." -Tom Jennings -30- -----------------------------------------------------------------