F I D O N E W S -- Volume 15, Number 24 15 June 1998 +----------------------------+-----------------------------------------+ | The newsletter of the | ISSN 1198-4589 Published by: | | FidoNet community | "FidoNews" | | _ | 1-209-251-7529 [1:1/23] | | / \ | | | /|oo \ | | | (_| /_) | | | _`@/_ \ _ | | | | | \ \\ | Editor: | | | (*) | \ )) | Zorch Frezberg 1:205/1701 | | |__U__| / \// | | | _//|| _\ / | | | (_/(_|(____/ | | | (jm) | Newspapers should have no friends. | | | -- JOSEPH PULITZER | +----------------------------+-----------------------------------------+ | Submission address: FidoNews Editor 1:1/23 | +----------------------------------------------------------------------+ | MORE addresses: | | | | submissions=> editor@fidonews.org | | | +----------------------------------------------------------------------+ | For information, copyrights, article submissions, | | obtaining copies of FidoNews or the internet gateway FAQ | | please refer to the end of this file. | +----------------------------------------------------------------------+ Time To Spray For Pests? Table of Contents 1. EDITORIAL ................................................ 1 2. LETTERS TO THE EDITOR .................................... 3 RESPONSE TO EDITORIAL IN FIDONEWS DATED 9 JUNE 1998 ...... 3 3. ARTICLES ................................................. 6 Region 10 Coordinator Election is a Joke! ................ 6 Drivin' That Train ....................................... 6 4. COLUMNS .................................................. 9 Lost Beneath The Fold .................................... 9 5. WE GET EMAIL ............................................. 12 6. NET HUMOR ................................................ 13 International Fart Catchers' Association FAQ Sheet ....... 13 7. NOTICES .................................................. 15 Future History ........................................... 15 8. FIDONEWS PUBLIC-KEY ...................................... 16 FidoNews PGP Public-Key Listing .......................... 16 9. FIDONET BY INTERNET ...................................... 17 10. FIDONEWS INFORMATION .................................... 19 FIDONEWS 15-24 Page 1 15 Jun 1998 ================================================================= EDITORIAL ================================================================= It's interesting to see how things scurry about when light is cast on them. The vocal minority in one instance, demanding an election, gets exactly what it asks for. What made it all the more interesting is that no plan, candidate or proposal was in place by this same vocal minority should they achieve their goal...which effectively indicates the level of 'deep thinking' that was behind their efforts, which have been going on for nearly a year. The 'court of public opinion' is only as astute as the lynch mob that is behind it...it probably feels great to 'hang the bastard', but... then what? Wait another year, or accept the first hastily-assembled plan that they can come up with? With regard to last week's editorial, I can only state that readers might want to re-read it carefully, and compare the meanings as _written_ in opposition to the 'selective quoting' done in at least one response to it. Perhaps you will see that there is a wide difference between what you _do_ read, and what you are _told_ as to the meaning of what you read. In essence, the concern floating about is that the editorials in the FidoNews are "too political". Fortunately, the vast majority seems to understand that in a free society, a free press is critical to its survival. There needs to be someone or something to bring out the 'dark side' of the society and without being concerned about censorship, or there would be no room for dissent or even difference of opinion...even for that group that wants dissent or difference of opinion suppressed. Consider what would happen if editorials were 'trimmed' to be "politically correct" or "inoffensive". And, by the same token, the free press, as we have in FidoNet, must also publish what is submitted to it. The only restriction made is that the submissions meet the format criteria...justify left, margin of 70 characters, so that the publication software can handle the materials. To that end, there has been a claim by John Souvestre that the FidoNews has refused to publish articles; further, that 'certain submissions' are refused acceptance by either NetMail or E-Mail, as part of some plan to 'censor' articles that I personally do not agree with. Such a claim has either one of two purposes...the first, to point out that there actually has been censorship. To my knowledge, since becoming Editor, there has been none. FIDONEWS 15-24 Page 2 15 Jun 1998 If there has been, I ask that those who have submitted such articles to come forward and present both logs and articles since I have been Editor. The second purpose, however, is probably the most likely one...to do little more than cast doubt on the sanctity of the FidoNews to FidoNet, and create controversy where none exists... In other words, to play politics as usual, though I will stop short of claiming it is to protect his own commercial interests in FidoNet. One of the key points in FidoNet is that the process itself should never be politicized or commercialized. Individuals may be political in their efforts, but the actual functions and processes themselves should be above that...such as the granting or removal of FidoNet nodes, or the handling of the EchoList or EchoMail areas, among others. When we allow the control of the EchoList to come under the sway of politics, or even be influenced by commercial entities, the idea of FidoNet will indeed die off. The commercial entities exist because of FidoNet...we do not exist because of the commercial entities. In other news, several EchoList replacement projects are currently in the works, the most public being that of Thom LaCosta (1:261/1352). At present, all projects are in 'testing mode'; I have been made aware of two specifically, and I've been reminded as well of the effort to hand over all EchoList functions to Zone 2 as part of an earlier proposal to merge the Zone 1 and Zone 2 ELIST functions, along with Zone 3. But perhaps it is time for the various moderators to gather their collective thoughts on just *how* an EchoList should be established. I would caution the moderators not to demand any specific proposal; rather, to suggest reasonable developments within the confines of technology and necessity within Fido, as well as rational administrative concerns on both sides, lest we see yet another imposed administrative plan from persons with 'vested interests'. Let's see if cooperation and communication still exist in FidoNet before we start pushing weight around. -zf- ### 30 ### ----------------------------------------------------------------- FIDONEWS 15-24 Page 3 15 Jun 1998 ================================================================= LETTERS TO THE EDITOR ================================================================= Dear Editor, aka Zorch, aka Mark Hernandez, aka Snoopy: Your editorials contain as much fiction as fact. Last week: Fact: Adrian Walker has stepped down as the Z1 EchoList Coordinator. Fiction: Adrian handed over the EchoList or it's source code to me. Needless to say, your conclusions are equally flawed. Get some facts! Regards, John ----------------------------------------------------------------- RESPONSE TO EDITORIAL IN FIDONEWS DATED 9 JUNE 1998 By Ben Hamilton, FidoNet 1:124/7008 This letter is in response to the editorial that was included in the FidoNews issue on June 9, 1998. The editorial contained several inaccuracies that I would like to talk about. Hopefully, the personal knowledge I have of some of the issues will be of more value than the best guesses of the editor. > Adrian Walker has stepped down as the Zone 1 EchoList Coordinator, > with the June 1998 ECHOLIST being his final publication. While > Adrian is admired for his work, it is odd that he would hand over > his source code, long stated as both his own and not to be > disclosed, to John Souvestre... Not odd at all. In fact, Adrian, in his message which notified us that he was leaving, he praised his working relationship with John. To clarify, Adrian handed over only the source code to the Backbone Robot, not the Echolist Robot. The editorial simply says "source code," which is misleading. > In another odd development, the RECC, in the guise of Ben Hamilton, > has cast a 'no confidence' vote against Bob Kohl, the Zone 1 > EchoMail Coordinator. To me, and I'm sure to many folks, the word "guise" implies some sort of cover or cloak, and I am wearing none. I am simply a FidoNet sysop, an elected Region Echomail Coordinator, and a member of the RECC who has specific personal knowledge of the recent vote of confidence that was taken. FIDONEWS 15-24 Page 4 15 Jun 1998 I speak only for myself. I am not the spokesperson for the RECC. I do not speak on their behalf. They were aware that I was posting the results of the vote in FidoNews, but they neither assisted in nor approved any specific wording in last week's submission. > the RECC holding secret meetings and refusing to discuss matters > with the ZEC, and other similarly puerile activities, make it odd > that Ben and the RECC would not include their 'list of grievances' > that they claim would prove their position...in a public setting. Much discussion takes place in the RECC Mailing List. This is a mailing list set up with only the current sitting REC's. As for a "list of grievances," the ZEC duties that Bob Kohl wrote sum it up quite nicely, so there was no reason to include one. Again, to quote the relevant section of Kohl's duties: >> If the RECC concludes that the ZEC is not active, << >> ineffective in his/her job or is just not taking << >> care his/her responsibilities; they may take a << >> vote of no-confidence. << Careful consideration has been going on for about two months. Also, we never refused to discuss this with the ZC. I think we each welcome discussing this with Bob Satti at any time. > After all, the RECC posted the vote in public; why _not_ the > reasons? Again, I speak only for myself. My submission last week was not done on behalf of the RECC. If I had been speaking on behalf of them, I would have said so and signed the message accordingly. > Butch effectively disappeared as the OBO after his unilateral > declaration that all nodes which distribute EchoMail are under > the direct authority of the OBO and the NAB. > > Strange that the RECC was so deathly silent on that issue, acting > as individuals instead of a group... There was nothing to say. What Butch said was his own personal opinion. He is certainly entitled to that. And that declaration did not produce even a fraction of the controversy that continually surrounds Bob Kohl. > It is hoped that the Z1C sees past the rhetoric and lack of > reasoning involved, and directs the RECC to accept mediation... We tried mediation for the first month. You may recall Bob Kohl's first act as ZEC: Advice from the RECC on how to remove an NEC from their position. It went downhill like a snowball headed for Hell from there... Bob Kohl did remove that NEC. Then he removed an NC. His REC quit, naming Bob Kohl as the reason. Kohl allows non-approved nodelist flags to fly. He discloses in-transit netmail. He routes FIDONEWS 15-24 Page 5 15 Jun 1998 netmails only when the mail includes text that he personally approves of, it appears, revoking the routing agreements at will, without proper notification of such. Sysop-level election? He doesn't even believe in holding elections in his own region! Region 10 business, frankly, is none of our business. However, things that happen in Region 10 do make it easy to see what can happen when the "multiple hats" suggestion in Policy 4 is ignored. I considered not responding. The editor certainly has a way with words. When he turns these around, as I am sure he will, I will be back to offer what I'm sure will be a quite different personal perspective known as "the truth." Again, I speak only for myself. The views expressed in this letter to the editors do not necessarily reflect the views of any other RECC members. -Ben Hamilton FidoNet 1:124/7008 Internet: ben.hamilton@compconn.net ----------------------------------------------------------------- FIDONEWS 15-24 Page 6 15 Jun 1998 ================================================================= ARTICLES ================================================================= Region 10 Coordinator Election is a Joke! by Richard Ratledge 1:119/88 (Region 10) ratledge@jps.net Former N119C/N119EC 6/12/1998 00:50 I just received an echomail message posted by Brenda Donovan which was apparently Bob Satti's (ZEC/IC) instructions on how to conduct an election for Region 10 Coordinator. He has given until midnight tomorrow (6/13) to submit nominations. After the nominees are announced (no date given for that) he is allowing only until 6/20 for votes. This has to be the quickest election I have ever seen conducted in Fidonet. Even our little net elections often took a month to complete. It appears to me that Bob Satti and Bob Kohl are in cahoots to see that a fair election is not held. My only possible guess as to why is to ensure that Bob Kohl retains the R10C position. I hope I am wrong in my assessment. I will state for the record though that if Bob Kohl continues as R10C, I will leave Fidonet. This decision is based not only on the fact that Bob Kohl has been a major hindrance to the smooth operation of Region 10 but now it appears that Bob Satti is condoning BK's actions. Region 10 (and Fidonet) has already lost its Regional Echo Coordinator because of Bob Kohl's antics. With the way Fidonet is being run, it is rapidly losing members. Perhaps I am forseeing the worst. I hope a fair, honest, responsible and intelligent person is elected R10C even given the unreasonable constraints of this election. Finally, I have to say that I do appreciate the gesture of holding an election. However, I strenuously object to the manner in which it is being held. ----------------------------------------------------------------- Drivin' That Train, High on Cheesecake? by Gerry Calhoun, 1:2004/200 gerry@petpride.org In efforts to resolve ongoing problems in Region 10, by all appearances Bob Satti has adorned himself with a new hat. This new hat does not look like a traditional Fido one, however. The new hat is navy blue with white stripes. He must have received it from someone who works for Union Pacific because he is pulling a railroad job the likes of which is unheard of in the history of Fido. FIDONEWS 15-24 Page 7 15 Jun 1998 There has been an election announced for the R10C position. What is really astounding though is the election schedule. Less than two days for a nomination period and voting by NC's concludes a week later. This quick pace sounds like the vote of confidence that Kohl spearheaded for Satti in the Z1C position last year. For many I am sure it will be much less than two days for a nomination period though since I have learned of this "election", not through normal FidoNet channels, but through a listserv setup by some of the sysops in R10. A quick netmail to my NC to ask if he had heard anything of this came back with a "What the hell do you mean? I have never heard of an election being conducted this quick! " I sent him a copy of a message by Brenda Donovan, N202C and 10/3 RHUB in which she copied a message from Bob Satti. I was contacted back by my NC soon thereafter, and he said he had just gotten netmail on this from Brenda. He then asked how he was to gather a consensus of who to vote for in such a short time when the candidates are not even announced nor any discussion forum decided upon to hear the candidates platforms. I then reminded him that in the recently concluded ZEC election, that Kohl did not publish any platform until after the discussion period. My NC wrote back and told me he would not expect Kohl to publish his platform until the year 2000 then. Another sysop stated we should vote for a candidate who at least sets term limits and does not mess with anyones' netmail. How anyone, especially someone who has the reputation of being fair as Satti does, can expect a regional election to be conducted with this kind of time frame is unbelievable. I can not even begin to think that Satti can expect a true representative outcome from an election conducted like this. Most of the NC's in R10 are not elected. To expect open discussions within each net, and to have the NC's vote according to the wishes of the nodes under them with this kind of time frame is unthinkable. Let's face it, there is not enough time allowed for the sysops to know what each candidate may stand for, let alone who they are. One can only conclude that Sharon locked Bob out of the house all winter and his brain has not yet fully defrosted or perhaps he is only suffering a bout of hypoglycemia from all that cheesecake. In Satti's message to those in R10, he mentions that "last week Bob Kohl and I came to an agreement to call for an election for RC in region 10." This quote almost makes it look as though the election was forced on Kohl. It could be that Kohl in turn had the task to devise the terms of the election, but I doubt it. There is no doubt, however, that both Bobs wish the election to be haste and swift, witness the following statement on the matter by Bob Kohl, "please respond in a timely fashion so that we can wrap this up and move on to other pending matters." One also has to wonder how Satti can allow Kohl to be a candidate, while Satti has an active Policy Complaint against Kohl on his desk, the outcome of which could conflict with Kohl's ability to function as R10C. A ruling on this PC is due two days after the conclusion of the election. It would have been prudent to postpone the ballot period until after the Policy Compliant has received at least Satti's ruling. This would have allowed a one week nomination/debate period, and then the ballot. Lest we not forget, there appears to be FIDONEWS 15-24 Page 8 15 Jun 1998 another Policy Complaint against Bob Kohl waiting in the wings on the same transgression. Another thing clearly missing in Satti's notice of election is any time frame regarding a term of office. What we in Region 10 are being asked to do is vote for an RC for life. While this is better than an appointed RC for life, it is not realistic. Bob Kohl has been the R10C for over 2 1/2 years. With no term defined, there is no indication that the person who wins will ever be replaced, after all at that time they will be the elected coordinator for the region. Satti has said he does not want those outside of Region 10 to be involved with this election since it does not concern them. I ask that those of you who would otherwise write Satti on this travesty to the election process to withhold doing so. He has stated it is an internal matter to R10. However, since Satti himself is involved, it is, therefore, an action that the RCC is involved with. If you feel you must send a message to someone on this Region 10 action, drop a message to your RC and urge them to bring the matter up with the RCC. Looking at this, one has to wonder who is driving the train, who is the conductor and where the hell is the brakeman who can put a stop to this madness? ----------------------------------------------------------------- FIDONEWS 15-24 Page 9 15 Jun 1998 ================================================================= COLUMNS ================================================================= Dear Editorbeing, This article is submitted by Doc Logger (163/110) who was busy dodging speed traps on the south shore of the St. Lawrence River. Fortunately, the drogue chutes on the mid-life Crisis car opened long enough to haul him to a stop near a telephone booth. With only minor adjustments with C4 plastique, an acetylene torch, and Lee-Anne Rimes music, he was able to extract a working pair of phone wires to connect to the modem. Roll da flic, Zorch..... Dear Reverend Visage, I have heard disturbing reports that you have traveled to the headwaters of the Orinoco where you have been engaged in a yage bender which has lasted for weeks. I am sure that I don't need to remind you that when you reach one of your tryptamine moments of delirium, you tend to scream about hordes of attacking ducks. I can only hope that your secretary is still an excellent shot with the curare dart gun. Speaking of paralyzed beasts, Visage, you'd be impressed that Bob "noted" Satti has remained in stasis...waiting patiently for a thought to wander through the lonely desert of his cerebrum. He has informed the Fidoserfs in Z1C that dealing with Kohl's excesses requires devoting all night, every night, trying to muster a coherent thought. Our prayers and our edible underwear (cheesecake flavoured) should go out to him in his hour of need. The messages from the tribal drums were garbled, but it appears that an election for RC has been called in Region10. The indications are that the nominating period will have closed 48 hours after the announcement which is pretty amusing since it takes at least that long for echomail to escape the event horizon of the screwed up mail distribution system in the region. There are already vague rumblings that the fix is in, and that this is another shotgun mandate of the type particularly favoured by Satti & his Merry Fartcatchers. What is amazing is that the other RCs (with a few notable exceptions) appear to have no shame or decency and have sat idly on their thumbs while Satti & Kohl proceed in the trashing of a whole region. If there is an election in Region10 which is sanctioned by Satti, then this bodes well for applying the same principle to have the ZC finally stand for election. Satti doesn't FIDONEWS 15-24 Page 10 15 Jun 1998 have a prayer of obtaining a sysop level mandate which probably explains his desire to keep scampering beneath the skirts of policy whenever he is reminded that his presumptive powers are all in the infertile reaches of his imagination. I see that His Zorchness is getting excitable about the Evil Empire aspirations of John Souvestre and has made his usual incorrect statements about the ELIST in his latest editorial. This discussion has reinvigorated the usual cretinous jackals who question whether His Zorchness should be the Snoozlord. One of the combatants went so far as to suggest that the previous editor appointed His Zorchness to the position which I'd bet half my stuffed armadillo collection that the claim has little basis in fact. Hell, the only one who has a prayer of being more fun as the Snoozlord would be Bob Moravsik who would have to learn to write in English before taking the job. I don't think I'll include a pithy quote for this week's Chautauqua but rather draw from several passing references to books that have mulched their way to the top of my reading pile. When I was a teenmonster I used to read science fiction that often referred to terraforming whole planets. This generally involved a presumed betterment of the habitation factor for the humanoid race, and often neglected to deal with the consequences to other lessor lifeforms. Rarer still was a philosophical discussion about whether the humanoids had the moral right to terraform anything. The first tidbit that caught my eye was that some of the hydro megaprojects have subtly altered the orbital period of the earth. In other words, the masses of water backed up behind some of the larger dams have been sufficient to change the centre of gravity of the whole planet. The second tidbit was the vast scale of underwater grading of the seabed caused by trawler ships. In some places, such as the Grand Banks area off the east coast of North America, what had once been an underwater topography of rolling hills, valleys and cliffs, have been flattened to uniformity. The scale is equivalent to bulldozering an area the size of Montana into a level plain. The third scrap of information that I've chosen for inclusion in my puzzle is the fact that some of the lushest rainforests also occupy land which is almost infertile by botanical standards. The Amazon basin, for example, which covers an enormous area, has a very thin soil covering. A typical slash & burn agricultural intrusion generally lasts only a few years before the soil is exhausted. The fragile soil chemistry means that recovery from clearing, or reforestation are unlikely or implausible. There is compelling evidence to suggest that the desiccation of the Sudan in Africa, and the expansion of the Kalahari to the southeast, are directly caused by the agricultural pressures of humanoids. If this process becomes the pattern FIDONEWS 15-24 Page 11 15 Jun 1998 in the Amazon the effects on global weather will be enormous. Similarly, the destruction of the Grand Banks ecology will have effects on global sea currents. I think I would have preferred to remain blissfully ignorant of the consequences of human alterations of the planet. My focus has been obtained from the strange weather we've been having in this part of the world. Our winter brought us an ice storm which ripped down trees and hydro lines. The broken tangles of trees in the local forests will almost surely make for forest fire conflagrations in the fall. We are also currently suffering from an extended drought. I find it intellectually unsatisfying to blame El Nino for these atmospheric events. With that in mind, and taking a whole chapter from His Zorchness' book, I'd like to call about John Souvestre right now to stop screwing around with the earth. If His Zorchness is to be believed, Souvestre's reach is so enormous that he *must* be responsible. I must go Visage, I'm scheduled to go fly fishing for Blue Whales off the coast of Newfoundland with Bridgit Bardot. She's a bit squeamish about baiting the hooks with chunks of tofu and needs my assistance. Regards, Doc Logger, In transit: South Armpit, New Brunswick ----------------------------------------------------------------- FIDONEWS 15-24 Page 12 15 Jun 1998 ================================================================= WE GET EMAIL ================================================================= Subject: Z4 www Date: Mon, 8 Jun 1998 20:27:04 -0300 From: "Luis Manterola" To: zorch@repairnet.com Hi Zorch! I just wanted to tell you that zone4 home page is now located at http://www.altern.org/zone4. You may please include this address in the Internet Home pages section of Fidonews. I wanted to put it under the domain z4.fidonet.org but after some months of asking several times without response I put it somewhere else. You may also include Region 90's home page as http://visitweb.com/fidonet and also the net903 as http://www.playagrande.com/refugio. Thankyou Take care Luis Manterola Mailto:lam@rivero.com.ar ----------------------------------------------------------------- FIDONEWS 15-24 Page 13 15 Jun 1998 ================================================================= NET HUMOR ================================================================= International Fart Catchers' Association FAQ Sheet By Lesley-Dee Dylan 1:250/525 hippy@to.org From: Secretary, IFCA To: Propeller Head Junior Subject: FAQ sheet for the International Fart Catchers' Association Thank you so much for your recent application to the International Fart Catchers' Association. Below is a FAQ sheet to provide you with our rules for membership. PHJ> How is one nominated for membership? Membership is usually achieved by nomination by an enemy, but self-nominations are accepted. PHJ> Is membership restricted to only international-quality fart PHJ> catchers? It is unusual to have someone nominated for membership in recogition of duties performed at a regional level rather than an international level, but it can happen. PHJ> Are there any membership dues? The membership fee of 24 tins of baked beans should be delivered, as soon as possible, to Vancouver. This is usually done by the nominator, but if you are self-nominated, you will have to perform this duty yourself. And if you are applying for a membership based on duties performed at a regional level, you will also be required to deliver a similar membership fee to your RC. PHJ> How often are the members required to renew their PHJ> membership? In most cases, annually, but in cases where there is outstanding performance of fart-catching duties, a life-membership is awarded. PHJ> Do you have to be a resident of the zone/region in which you PHJ> are doing your best fart-catching? We have accepted the nomination of Clay Tannacore for recognition of fart-catching in a region other than his own and are in the process of creating a new category of membership. Alec Grynspan will be required to submit membership dues to Rockledge, Los Angeles and Vancouver. FIDONEWS 15-24 Page 14 15 Jun 1998 PHJ> I've seen magenta beanie caps and puce beanie caps. Is there PHJ> a significance to the color differentiation? Are there any PHJ> other colors available? The beanie caps are reversable, and can be worn magenta side to the brain or puce to the brain. The propellers are always green and orange striped with purple pokadots. But remember, you must unscrew the wing-bolt on the underside of the cap to remove the propeller, and then screw it on upside down when you turn the cap inside out. Bob Kohl recently found this out the hard way, and caused some minor injuries. Fortunately, he had a small brain, and it wasn't too badly hurt by the scrambling it got. PHJ> How did you get to be recording secetary of such an esteemed PHJ> body as the Fart Catchers? Unfortunately, none of the member Fart Catchers are capable of handling the duties. None of them seem to be able to handle important details like transferring in-transit mail without forwarding it to the Chief Farter, or maintaining up-to-date nodelist segments, or membership lists. One is even unable to appoint an REC. So the Fart Catchers had to appoint an outsider as their recording secretary. The administration of the IFCA is perfectly aware that fart catching has a harmful effect on the intelligence of the catcher, since the brain capacity is reduced by the hot gasses caught, so if you have any questions, please do not hesitate to ask. We have learned patience and understanding in the administrative capacities we choose to serve. ----------------------------------------------------------------- FIDONEWS 15-24 Page 15 15 Jun 1998 ================================================================= NOTICES ================================================================= Future History 3 Jul 1998 FidoNet European Convention (see issue #20 for details). 14 Sep 1998 Start of International BBS Week [thru 20 Sep 98]. 22 Sep 1998 First anniversary of the FidoNews domain of www.fidonews.org. 1 Dec 1998 Fifteenth Anniversary of release of Fido version 1 by Tom Jennings. 24 Jul 1999 XIII Pan American Games [through 8 Aug 99]. 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. 1 Jun 2000 EXPO 2000 World Exposition in Hannover (Germany) opens. 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 15-24 Page 16 15 Jun 1998 ================================================================= FIDONEWS PUBLIC-KEY ================================================================= FidoNews PGP Public-Key Listing [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: Democracy Requires A Free And Uncensored Press. mQENAzUDQfgAAAEH/2cZjrzKxinfyk1NRYy2D78JEU8jFx6fvGyisnN2SX+QwRrA AxBbsMuseM3x60SFhHV7r93CxKWJylPCBJKvDazmWwy+vgBr+ZJvl7Ypj/IB4pWS Apngg8cmDH1h5d0VeYNORsuJ2udHZYRezkZ0eeJlaOsJCj5Xu0QImSp++VU/0oB1 6XRoNPy548xq8Qles1pLC8Kw7HU7Vff1WeaU3mPPQeaGZqn2qSAu5t6Z0Bhm27Pq zNaJ+JWNHaLCHlwrRHV+p9bCdfl3u303OxKPne0cSpxfe+gQBTlVta7B14ssgnzQ mnBFhvKWgM7LT105YD3EcWW9IJE1ByNHwo25a3EABRG0D0ZpZG9OZXdzIEVkaXRv cokAlQMFEDUKMDDrSgiY3KJNQQEB16YD/2tYVRC+dxghA/OwIWNH20GvQXw1zgfv cB6r8gYHcczTCqGu5qbjDOTftoBXY9vI3/CZNsSbvp0ibQinpN6zSgyy2+4wwPbu db/VnjXwBByq7ygTpNwQBMsYjs+iyndwTnR90dH3FewsveBCzeqjmP0Y/PJliElw zEmGKxoFr1SM =G82W -----END PGP PUBLIC KEY BLOCK----- File-request FNEWSKEY from 1:1/23 [1:205/1701] or download it from IKVHFoT! BBS at 1-209-251-7529 anytime Zone 1 ZMH at 300-9600+ V34. The FidoNews key is also available on the FidoNews homepage listed in the Masthead information. ----------------------------------------------------------------- FIDONEWS 15-24 Page 17 15 Jun 1998 ================================================================= FIDONET BY INTERNET ================================================================= This is a list of all FidoNet-related sites reported to the Editor as of this appearance. NOTE: I am looking for a comprehensive list of Telnet, VMODEM, BinkP, Argus and other TCP/IP based nodes operating FidoNet on the InterNet, either by Zone or worldwide, to post here as well. - Ye Editor ============ FidoNet: Homepage http://www.fidonet.org FidoNews http://www.fidonews.org [HTML] http://209.77.228.66/fidonews.html [ASCII] WWW sources http://www.scms.rgu.ac.uk/students/cs_yr94/lk/fido.html FTSC page http://www.goldware.dk/ftsc Echomail [pending] WebRing http://ddi.digital.net/~cbaker84/fnetring.html [TFN] General http://owls.com/~jerrys/fidonet.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 13: http://www.smalltalkband.com/st01000.htm Region 14: Region 15: Region 16: Region 17: Region 18: http://techstop.pdn.net/fido/ Region 19: http://www.compconn.net ============ Zone 2: http://www.z2.fidonet.org ZEC2: Zone 2 Elist: http://www.fbone.ch/z2_elist/ Region 20: http://www.fidonet.pp.se (in Swedish) FIDONEWS 15-24 Page 18 15 Jun 1998 Region 23: http://www.fido.dk (in Danish) Region 24: http://www.swb.de/personal/flop/gatebau.html (in German) Region 25: http://www.trak-one.co.uk/net254 Region 26: http://www.nemesis.ie REC 26: http://www.nrgsys.com/orb Region 27: http://telematique.org/ft/r27.htm Region 29: http://www.rtfm.be/fidonet/ (in French) Region 30: http://www.fidonet.ch (in Swiss?) Region 33: http://www.fidoitalia.net (in Italian) 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 38: http://public.st.carnet.hr/~blagi/bbs/adriam.html Region 41: http://www.fidonet.gr (in Greek and English) Region 48: http://www.fidonet.org.pl ============ Zone 3: http://www.z3.fidonet.org ============ Zone 4: http://altern.org/zone4 Region 90: http://visitweb.com/fidonet Net 903: http://www.playagrande.com/refugio Net 904: http://members.tripod.com/~net904 (in Spanish) ============ Zone 5: http://w3.eastcape.co.za/fidonet/index.htm ============ Zone 6: http://www.z6.fidonet.org Region 65: http://www.cfido.com/fidonet/cfidochina.html (China) ============ ----------------------------------------------------------------- FIDONEWS 15-24 Page 19 15 Jun 1998 ================================================================= FIDONEWS INFORMATION ================================================================= ------- FIDONEWS MASTHEAD AND CONTACT INFORMATION ------- Editor: Zorch Frezberg Editors Emeritii: Tom Jennings, Thom Henderson, Dale Lovell, Vince Perriello, Tim Pozar, Sylvia Maxwell, Donald Tees, Christopher Baker "FidoNews Editor" FidoNet 1:1/23 BBS 1-209-251-7529, 300/1200/2400/9600/V.34/V.90 more addresses: Zorch Frezberg -- 1:205/1701, zorch@repairnet.com zorch@qnis.net zorch@kumr.lns.com (Postal Service mailing address) FidoNews Editor P.O. Box 642 Fresno, CA 93709-0642 U.S.A. voice: 1-209-446-9038 [voice mail = 'blind' numbers not returned] ------------------------------------------------------ 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 1998 Zorch Frezberg. 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 [FNEWSFnn.ZIP] for a particular Issue. Monthly Volumes are available as FNWSmmmy.ZIP FIDONEWS 15-24 Page 20 15 Jun 1998 where mmm = three letter month [JAN - DEC] and y = last digit of the current year [8], i.e., FNWSJAN8.ZIP for all the Issues from Jan 98. Annual volumes are available as FNEWSn.ZIP where n = the Volume number 1 - 15 for 1984 - 1998, respectively. Annual Volume archives range in size from 48K to 1.4M. INTERNET USERS: FidoNews is available via: http://www.fidonews.org http://www.fidonet.org/fidonews.htm ftp://ftp.fidonet.org/pub/fidonet/fidonews/ ftp://ftp.aminet.org/pub/aminet/comm/fido/ ftp://ftp.irvbbs.com/fidonews/ *=*=* 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 may retrieve current and previous Issues of FidoNews via FTPMail by sending email to: ftpmail@fidonews.org with a Subject line of: help and FTPMail will immediately send a reply containing details and instructions. When you actually make a file request, FTPMail will respond in three stages. You find a link for this process on www.fidonews.org. *=*=* You can read the current FidoNews Issue in HTML format at: http://www.fidonews.org 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 13 Megs. FIDONEWS 15-24 Page 21 15 Jun 1998 =*=*=*= The current week's FidoNews and the FidoNews public-key are now also available almost immediately after publication on the FidoNews Editor homepage on the World Wide Web at: http://209.77.228.66/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 1:1/23 [1:205/1701] by file-request for FNEWSKEY or by download from IKVHFoT! BBS at 1-209-251-7529 as FIDONEWS.ASC in File Area X. 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 [1:205/1701] 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- ### --------------------------------------------------------------------- -----------------------------------------------------------------