F I D O N E W S Volume 16, Number 24 14 June 1999 +----------------------------+---------------------------------------+ | The newsletter of the | ISSN 1198-4589 Published by: | | FidoNet community | "FidoNews" | | _ | +27-41-581-5913 [5:5/23] | | / \ | June Publication: 1:270/720 | | /|oo \ | | | (_| /_) | | | _`@/_ \ _ | | | | | \ \\ | Editor: | | | (*) | \ )) | Henk Wolsink 5:7104/2 | | |__U__| / \// | Editor Pro Tem (June 99) | | _//|| _\ / | Douglas Myers 1:270/720 | | (_/(_|(____/ | | | (jm) | Newspapers should have no friends. | | | -- JOSEPH PULITZER | +----------------------------+---------------------------------------+ | Submission address: Douglas Myers 1:270/720 | +--------------------------------------------------------------------+ | MORE addresses: | | | | submissions for June: doug@mdtnbbs.com | | | +--------------------------------------------------------------------+ | For information, copyrights, article submissions, | | obtaining copies of FidoNews or the internet gateway FAQ | | please refer to the end of this file. | +--------------------------------------------------------------------+ Table of Contents 1. EDITORIAL ................................................ 1 Ten years of P4 .......................................... 1 Joe was right ............................................ 1 2. GUEST EDITORIAL .......................................... 2 My Road Map - David Moufarrage ........................... 2 3. LETTERS TO THE EDITOR .................................... 5 Snooze Suggestion ........................................ 5 Fidonet is tough to join - Paul J. Bussiere .............. 5 4. ARTICLES ................................................. 7 Z1C Election Conspiracy - Joe Jared ...................... 7 5. COLUMNS .................................................. 9 ECHO TALK - Dissatisfaction 'r' us ....................... 9 6. NET HUMOR ................................................ 10 The Easter Mass .......................................... 10 7. COMIX IN ASCII ........................................... 11 Cow with ceiling mirror .................................. 11 8. ADVERTISE YOUR FREE SERVICE/EVENT ........................ 12 Editor Pro Tem Special ................................... 12 9. NOTICES .................................................. 13 Future History ........................................... 13 10. FIDONEWS INFORMATION .................................... 14 Masthead and Contact Information ......................... 14 FIDONEWS 16-24 Page 1 14 Jun 1999 ================================================================= EDITORIAL ================================================================= Ten years of P4 This last week, on June 9, we marked our tenth year on Fidonet since the adoption of Policy 4.07. Will this be the year it's changed? Many regions throughout the world have adopted the practice of electing coordinators rather than simply appointing them as specified in P4, the International Coordinator follows a policy of allowing geographic exemptions for node listing which potentially abrogates the strict geographic organization specified in P4, internet only nodes are multiplying in Fidonet, yet one of the obstacles to their full acceptance is the requirement to be available for dial-up netmail during Zone Mail Hour, spelled out in P4. It would seem that the time is ripe for change - indeed, all the candidates running in the current Z1C election have spoken of the need for this change - and yet there is no plan afoot. Will this be yet another year that we talk about change, and let it slide to a future which may elude us? ----------------------------------------------------------------- Joe was right... ... when he pointed out a conflict of interest between editing the Snooze and running for election. Only it didn't turn out the way he predicted. He was concerned that I would use the seat as Editor Pro Tem to make an advantage in the election. What's happened instead is that I refrained from writing the editorial here I would have. Were Henk back from vacation, and were I in the position of just another reader sending in articles, I'd have reprinted my thoughts expressed in the Z1_ELECTION echo concerning his accusations of a conspiracy in the SUPER-BITCH echo. Instead, I'll refer readers to that echo if interested, and only make one observation on behalf of Fidonews: The accusations contained in Joe's article "Z1C Election Conspiracy" should be either substantiated or disavowed by the Election Coordinator. These accusations and proposed actions go beyond simple echo moderation and have the effect of endorsement of the theories advanced. ----------------------------------------------------------------- FIDONEWS 16-24 Page 2 14 Jun 1999 ================================================================= GUEST EDITORIAL ================================================================= My Road Map David Moufarrage 1:2613/404 I have been pondering about a "road map" for Fidonet for some time now, for more time than I have been thinking about what I could do as Zone 1 Coordinator. Much of it is just like planning a trip: Figure out where you want to go, then look at what route you'll be taking and what you'll need along the way. However, unless you know where you are, you won't know how to get to your destination. Trying to figure out where Fidonet is, is a collective effort, just like our ultimate destination. This collective effort is carried out in discussions we find in our echos, FidoNews, and, to some degree, is reflected in conversations surrounding this election. So, where are we? ================= 1. The world is changing. The shrinking nodelist is a reflection of that change. It says to me that Fidonet didn't adapt at the rate necessary to retain its following. Fidonet needs to respond to those changes. 2. Fidonet has gone through a change in attitude. The "top-down" structure of Policy 4 is definitely no longer desired by the majority of nodes I see posting in echos. 3. Fidonet is still largely a POTS network. Fido/IP is still in its infancy. Fidonet programs are mostly text-based and more cumbersome to operate than the commercial Internet software bundled with todays PCs. Where does this leave us? ========================= 1. Now is the time to support efforts which get our arms around Fido/IP and its implications. We need to assure a cohesive network, where POTS nodes and IP nodes can continue to communicate with each other. This requires the development and approval of common standards. Those standards are currently being developed by the FTSC. 2. Taking Fidonet into the 21st century will require that we listen to one another. It requires the ability to bring varying opinions under one roof. Fidonet is still a world-wide venture. We must treat it that way. We must strive to stay a cohesive network that uses FIDONEWS 16-24 Page 3 14 Jun 1999 technology to better communicate and not let technology divide us. 3. We must continue supporting our developers and try to attract new ones. New users can only be attracted by easy to use, GUI-type programs. Likewise, new nodes will look for more sophisticated bbs systems with features offered by programs such as WinServer, BBBS and EleBBS. Where do I come in? =================== I have been a node in Net2613 since 1994. My first interaction with the Fido "establishment" was in late 1994 when I was asked by some users and points to prevent the hijacking of an echo. I successfully lobbied with Mike Fuchs and Bruce Bodger, an experience that left me with somewhat of an unpleasant taste for policy loopholes. Within a few month I was elected Hub Coordinator, and later Net Coordinator. The nodes of Region 13 elected me their RC in 1997. The decision to run for RC was initially made because I wanted to avoid having some jerk stick his/her nose into every aspect of local business, something we were quite used to in Region 13. We were also used to a lot of fighting in our regional echos, something that has almost completely stopped. We still discuss and disagree, but the climate is generally friendly and non-abrasive. It is very much conducive to reaching consensus on issues. On a Zone-wide and Interzone level I have been involved in several areas: 1. I actively participated in the search for, and nominated, several candidates for the "new" FTSC. All of my nominees were elected and, with the exception of [Craig Box, still serve.] 2. I actively promoted the "multiple distribution system" concept which has led to the acceptance of a choice of uplink providers. This also promoted the emergence of additional free feeds. 3. I have promoted the use of Fido/IP technology, interacting with FTSC members, developers, the RCC, the Z1C and the Z2C, to create a common standard and approach. As a result of my efforts, Zone 1 introduced the 1:1/3xxx segment, which lists IP nodes in the Zone segment and raised awareness of this technology. I currently am administrating that segment. 4. Together with David Hallford I introduced the INODELST FDN. This File Distribution Network distributes a weekly extract of IP nodes in a variety of formats. This FDN consists of a number of file echos which are available through the FileGate and the Filebone. 5. Through interaction with a number of WC!5/WinServer nodes which wanted to join Fidonet I noticed the need for additional help files and tutorials. As a result I created a graphical tutorial on the setup of the Argus mailer, which allows a node to setup as a regular FIDONEWS 16-24 Page 4 14 Jun 1999 POTS node or a Fido/IP node. There is a lot more work to be done. Much of the work ahead will involve creating consensus among nodes from all Zones. I believe I can help create that consensus. I have good relationships with the Zone 1 RCC, the IC, the Z2C and the Z4C, as well as a number of developers and current FTSC members. Most of all, I have good relationships with "regular" nodes all over. I have a track record in my net, my region, and, as outlined above, also on a Zone and Interzone level. ---------------- Editor's Note: The bracketed information in item 1 above, missing in the original text, was supplied by the author in echomail conversation. ----------------------------------------------------------------- FIDONEWS 16-24 Page 5 14 Jun 1999 ================================================================= LETTERS TO THE EDITOR ================================================================= Message to : Douglas Myers @1:270/720 From : rwhr@bigfoot.com @1:270/212 Subject : Snooze Suggestion Could you please include a "FILE_ID.DIZ" inside the archive stating the Issue and Volume Numbet and also say a copy of the Contents? Thanks. BTW you're doing a great job... Regards, Raymond ICQ# 6612058 -------- Editor: I've added a small file_id.diz generator to the batch file which archives the newsletter. The idea of adding the table of contents is a fine one, but it was a little beyond my capabilities on short notice. ----------------------------------------------------------------- Fidonet is tough to join Paul J. Bussiere webmaster@checksix.net Forgive me, for I am new but just begining to follow up the Fido News. I have been a long time Sysop of a BBS up here in Bangor, Maine (USA). We've been running Wildcat! BBS since 1992 and currently run the Santronics WIN Server package, and their Platinum Express Fidonet program. Maybe I am that guy that is shouting to the stage from the back of the theater but I have to tell you, Fidonet has to be the most difficult of all the networks to join, yet its eyed as the best of them all. While many BBSs were dropping left and right, the few that did remain and convert to offering access via the Internet have all but been ignored by the Fido folks for all too long. My modem users quickly left my services in favor of the local ISPs. As a result, I have no modem lines and haven't had them since 1996. I get more visits and business from people OUT of my local calling range than I ever did with a modem line, so the old requirement of a modem line quickly annoyed me and convinced me Fido was slow to move with technology. But, thankfully, it appears things have changed. Now, I am in the process of getting my system configured to join Fidonet. Todd Cochrane has been key to getting me in Fido, as has FIDONEWS 16-24 Page 6 14 Jun 1999 Andrea Santos from Santronics Software. But where has Fidonet been? It DOES appear to be a monarchy of sorts, from this spectators eyes, anyways. And the Princes and Lords of each region seem to pass along different versions of Fidonet policy towards Net Systems. Why is there such anxiety over Net-BBSs (or Web BBSs, as many of us call them)? I think its amazing that some Web-Oriented Systems have endured the wave of the Internet. But rather than Fido welcoming us in with open arms, it seems as though we are treated like a leper or something. It seems that all to many measure a BBS merely by if you have a modem attached to your system. That seems prejudiced, at best. If I know I have no modem callers anymore, why should I invest in the cost of a modem and a reccuring monthly bill? Just for the namesake of 'qualifying' to carry Fidonet? I think not. And that's why I have joined other systems that have seen the light. RIME/RelayNet has been the easiest network of all to join. I have recommended and seen many Sysops join RIME and gleefully welcome the 1,200 or so messages a day filter in through their systems. Sure, its not Fidonet, but you dont have to be a politician to get in. But I digress... IF Fidonet is truly trying to pull in new nodes, you folks have to see the big picture. BBSs are on the decline. Many are either gone or on the way. Then again, many have jumped onto the Internet, like myself, and found a niche for themself (like in my case, we host several websites for customers)...others have gone from large BBS to very successful ISP. And of course, there are some BBSs out there that seem lost in time, still chugging along, taking numerous ANSI calls a day over their modem lines. And I envy them. DONT make it a royal act of congress to get in. Here's a daring thought...how about INVITING systems to join in? Why not have other Sysops mention it to sysops that are not in the network? Fido has always struck me as an elitist click of people...you are required to run special software, follow huge rules and regulations, and you are effectively assimilated into some huge collective. I'm finding (thanks to the aforementioned folks) that Fido DOES have a lot to offer, once you wade your way through the crap. You folks need a facelift, and some attitudes need changing. You can grimace and despair and the number of systems dwindling from your network...or you can make a valiant effort to remdy it some, by showing folks that you truly want more Nodes and welcome those that have gone to the Internet as a means to stay connected. Sorry for the rant, I open it has fallen on an open mind. Paul J. Bussiere President CheckSix.Net | Check Six! BBS web http://www.checksix.net telnet bbs.checksix.net ----------------------------------------------------------------- FIDONEWS 16-24 Page 7 14 Jun 1999 ================================================================= ARTICLES ================================================================= Z1C Election Conspiracy * By Joe Jared 1:103/301@fidonet joejared@fidonews.webworldinc.com To those of you confused, this is a response to the participants of the super_bitch echo. As soon as a full archive is made available to me, I'm quite sure I will be sickened even more by some of our participants in the z1_election echo, but in the mean time some changes have been made to this article to complete a few thoughts, seeing as my tosser stole the message out from under me and sent it upstream before it could be completed. To continue... I just finished reading 80 messages in the super_bitch echo, and am completely discusted with the lack of maturity of you individuals. Anyone who has actively participated in that echo at the level I've seen will be cut if their post attacks a candidate in any way and is dated after June 12th. In particular: Ruth Argust: Get a life. If you think anything you do would change my opinion of any candidate, you need to rethink things. Even before reading that echo I suspected what you were up to, and sent notices to you. In your case, the date is June 11. In particular, your coordination of this effort to ruin this election is something that at some level should require punishment. Fortunately for you, this is echomail, but your tampering with the election is something that should be considered at bare minimum, annoying. My own personal choice of who I would want Has no bearing on this. Fair is fair, and what you are doing is wrong. Additionally, as Douglas Myers posted, I think you should consider the fact that a year ago, when we in region 10 were all fighting against a conspiracy to have you excommunicated, you in turn have become a conspirator. "Lesley-Dee" Dylan: Your proposed attacks of Dallas Hinton because Todd is "dead in the water" will result in you being treated in like manner. Other participants in the super_bitch echo: Guilt by association. If anyone of you participating in this echo berates, baits, taunts, or otherwise attacks a candidate, you will be cut from z1_election. As soon as my archives of that echo are received, I will start taking names out of it. If I find less than honorable participation you will be put on notice one time and then cut. Douglas Myers: FIDONEWS 16-24 Page 8 14 Jun 1999 Thank you for your high road message. I would suggest that you disassociate yourself from the participants of the super_bitch echo, so that at bare minumum, you could get a fair shake at the election. What they are doing isn't fair, and isn't right. Then again, who knows what I find in the entire super_bitch archive. If you were active then, and ultimately chose to take the "high road", my hat's off to you. Summary: The participants of the super_bitch echo owe Zone 1 an appology. Whether or not it will ever be seen is questionable, but it's a debt owed. You couldn't have thought even in your wildest imaginations that you would get away with this, could you? Seriously! ----------------------------------------------------------------- FIDONEWS 16-24 Page 9 14 Jun 1999 ================================================================= COLUMNS ================================================================= . -- -- -- -- -- ECHO TALK -- -- -- -- -- . | Food for thought from Fido's echomail. | | Purloined without permission by D Myers | ` -- -- -- -- -- -- - -- -- -- -- -- -- ' Overheard in the Z1_POLITICAL echo this week, David Hallford expresses his dissatisfaction with the Zone 1 Coordinator election. -------------------------------------------- > I'm sure there will be considerable second- guessing no matter > what the outcome of the election, but open processes in general > yield satisfactory results. Hi Douglas, The tomato season is right around the corner and I will be a little busy so I would like to go ahead and voice my dissatisfaction now. Please fill in the blanks at the appropriate time. Thanks, Dave ============================================= Jesus H. Keerist am I pissed about this election! It's obvious to the most dense person on the face of the earth that ______________ should have won and it was only due to the conspirital machinations of ___________, __________, and _____________ that the will of the SysOps was denied and their candidate ______________ was installed as per their pre-ordained election outcome. The chances now of progress for Fidonet in the area of ____________ is now non-existant. The ability to accomplish ____________ will never happen now. You know of course that ___________ is the real power behind the throne and that _____________ is merely a puppet figurehead. Their next target will be ______________ _________ _______ _________ _________, and you know it! They can all just kiss my ______. I'm moving on to __________. ================================================= ----------------------------------------------------------------- FIDONEWS 16-24 Page 10 14 Jun 1999 ================================================================= NET HUMOR ================================================================= The Easter Mass Years ago in Ireland there was a priest who was very anti-British. Every Sunday he would blast them from the pulpit. He became so notorious that the pope himself summoned the priest to Rome for an audience. "Father," said the pope, "I want that there should be peace between the British and the Irish. You're not helping matters at all. I want you to kiss my ring and swear by the Blessed Virgin that you'll never so much as mention the British in public again." "But your grace, I - I - " the priest stammered. "No buts," said the pope. "Swear it here and now or I'm going to excommunicate you!" "Aye, Holy Father," sighed the father. "All right. I swear it." The very next Sunday just happened to be Easter. And the father was back at his pulpit in Ireland giving his annual Easter sermon. He got to the part of the Easter story where Jesus said, "And one of you shall betray Me." The father continues: "Saint Andrew jumps up and says, 'Is it I Lord?' and the Lord says, 'Nay, Andy darlin, it's not you. Sit down now and dunna worry. Eat your supper.' Then Saint John the Divine gets up with tears in his eyes and cries, 'Is it I Lord?' And the Lord says, 'Nay, Johnny me boy, it's not you. Sit down now and dunna fret yourself. Eat your supper.' "Then that dirty dog Judas Iscariot slowww-ly rises to his feet. And he looks the Lord right in the eye and says, 'Blimey, Mate. Ya think it's me?" ----------------------------------------------------------------- FIDONEWS 16-24 Page 11 14 Jun 1999 ================================================================= COMIX IN ASCII ================================================================= ^^ ^^ Cow with * ||----|| ceiling \ | || mirror \-------/\ (oo) ( ) >< ( ) (oo) /-------\/ / | || * ||----|| ^^ ^^ ----------------------------------------------------------------- FIDONEWS 16-24 Page 12 14 Jun 1999 ================================================================= ADVERTISE YOUR FREE SERVICE/EVENT ================================================================= Editor Pro Tem Special Maybe you've wanted to publish your own Fidonews article, but weren't sure how to go about it. Or perhaps you found the instructions in ARTSPEC.DOC, but they were daunting. Well, it's time to speak up! During the month of June, I'm running an "Editor Pro Tem" special. Concentrate on what you have to say and get it to me in some kind of readable ASCII, and I'll do the necessary formatting for publication. You can send articles netmail to Douglas Myers at 1:379/720, or email to doug@mdtnbbs.com. ----------------------------------------------------------------- FIDONEWS 16-24 Page 13 14 Jun 1999 ================================================================= NOTICES ================================================================= Future History 24 Jul 1999 XIII Pan American Games [through 8 Aug 99]. 10 Sep 1999 10th anniversary of Zone 5 operations. 26 Oct 1999 Thirty years from release Abbey Road album by the Beatles. 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. 21 Sep 2000 10 years of FidoNet in +7 (xUSSR) 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 16-24 Page 14 14 Jun 1999 ================================================================= FIDONEWS INFORMATION ================================================================= ------- FIDONEWS MASTHEAD AND CONTACT INFORMATION ------- During the month of June, 1999, the Fidonews Editor is on vacation. Editor Pro Tem during this period is Douglas Myers, 1:270/720, doug@mdtnbbs.com. Please address correspondence, article submissions, etc to the above addresses during this time. Editor: Henk Wolsink Editors Emeriti: Tom Jennings, Thom Henderson, Dale Lovell, Vince Perriello, Tim Pozar, Sylvia Maxwell, Donald Tees, Christopher Baker, Zorch Frezberg "FidoNews Editor" FidoNet 5:5/23 BBS +27-41-581-5913, 2400/9600/V34 more addresses: Henk Wolsink -- 5:7104/2, hwolsink@catpe.alt.za (Postal Service mailing address) FidoNews Editor P.O. Box 12325 Port Elizabeth, 6006 South Africa ------------------------------------------------------ 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 and/or the Editor. Authors retain copyright on individual works; otherwise FidoNews is Copyright (C) 1999 Henk Wolsink. 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 FidoNet and the 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 [FNEWSGnn.ZIP] for a FIDONEWS 16-24 Page 15 14 Jun 1999 particular Issue. 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"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 -----------------------------------------------------------------