The F I D O N E W S Volume 20, Number 29 21 Jul 2003 +--------------------------+-----------------------------------------+ | |The newsletter of the | | Fido, Fidonet and dog-with-diskette are | | | FidoNet community. | | US Registered Trademarks of Tom Jennings| | | | | San Francisco, California, USA | | | ____________| | | | | / __ | Crash netmail articles to: | | | / / \ | Editor @ 2:2/2 (+46-31-944907) | | | WOOF! ( /|oo \ | Routed netmail articles to: | | \_______\(_| /_) | Bjorn Felten @ 2:203/0 | | _ @/_ \ _ | Email attach to: | | | | \ \\ | bfelten@telia.com | | | (*) | \ ))| | | |__U__| / \// | Editor: Bj”rn Felten | | ______ _//|| _\ / | | | / Fido \ (_/(_|(____/ | Newspapers should have no friends. | | (________) (jm) | -- JOSEPH PULITZER | +--------------------------+-----------------------------------------+ Copyright 2003 by Fidonews Editor for Fidonews Globally. Table of Contents 1. FOOD FOR THOUGHT ......................................... 1 2. REBUTTALS TO PREVIOUS ARTICLES ........................... 2 Rebuttal; The Fall of Fidonet BBSing ..................... 2 3. HUMOUR IN A FIDO VEIN .................................... 4 Men of Honor Rewrite ..................................... 4 4. BEN RITCHEY'S FIDONET SOFTWARE LISTING ................... 5 FIDONet Software References .............................. 5 5. SPECIAL INTEREST ......................................... 10 Nodelist Stats ........................................... 10 6. FIDONEWS INFORMATION ..................................... 12 How to Submit an Article ................................. 12 Credits, Legal Infomation, Availability .................. 14 FIDONEWS 20-29 Page 1 21 Jul 2003 ================================================================= FOOD FOR THOUGHT ================================================================= All you need in this life is ignorance and confidence, and then success is sure. -- Mark Twain ----------------------------------------------------------------- FIDONEWS 20-29 Page 2 21 Jul 2003 ================================================================= REBUTTALS TO PREVIOUS ARTICLES ================================================================= The Fall of Fidonet BBSing A Rebuttal By Frank Vest 1:124/6308.1 Last week, Dan Egli made a good point about how hard Sysops need to work to promote BBSs and gain Users. Sadly, I'm going to be a bit pessimistic here. You want Users to call your BBS? Here's some thoughts, experiences and other stuff. Get in contact with some old Users that left the BBS scene because their favorite BBS closed and they couldn't find another one. This will be the best way to get Users back into a BBS. If that is not possible, read on: I've had the occasion while, browsing through some web forums, to post my telnet address to someone that wanted to find a place without all the garbage to read/write messages and discuss things. The small amount of feed back that I've received from these posts has lead me to the following. If you want new Users that have not been on a BBS before, here's some advice: 1. Allow new Users to apply for an account with an alias name. Don't even think of asking for so much as a "real sounding" name. People are used to the web forums where they can call themselves "super stud", "badass" and other such names (handles). If your BBS software has to ask for a real name, put up a screen prior to that part of the application explaining that any name is ok. 2. Don't even think of asking for an address. Asking for a Home address, E-mail or any indication of where a new applicant lives will cause them to hang up or disconnect at that point in the application. Don't even ask for a birth date. 3. If you have a screen that even vaguely indicates that you might be logging activity, remove it. If a new User thinks you might be doing a look-up of his/her IP address, they will drop the connection. If you actually do scan for their IP address or other info, be sure they can not find out about it. 4. Forget about asking for "new User feedback". The Internet has taught people to be paranoid about everything. People are afraid that if they give any indication of where they live, you will locate them and rob, rape or murder them or their family. Spam prevention has taught people that any request for reply (feedback or otherwise) is giving indication that you are "there" and asking for FIDONEWS 20-29 Page 3 21 Jul 2003 spam. Do not think that a screen explaining that you are not trying to gather information for illegal purposes or to sell, track or whatever will convince people that you really are a "good guy". The exact opposite will in fact happen. The Internet has taught that this kind of message is in fact just a method to "draw" someone in and gain their confidence for spamming or worse. In thinking about all this so far, I wonder why anyone has an Internet account to begin with? Anyway, onward and downward: 5. If your BBS is part of a message network (echomail), do not carry any message areas (echos) that require real names (see #1 above). 6. Do not carry any message areas that are moderated. Moderating prevents "free speech" and Moderators can track Users and... well... see the first 4 items above. So, in conclusion: If you want "new" Users and some teen accesses your BBS calling him/herself "ass kicker", jumps into your message base and tells all the people there how big his penis is or how wet her vagina is (in terms not as nice as I've written here), let them. Otherwise, you will lose that User. Oh yeah. Don't try to explain to potential new Users what a BBS really is. They have been taught that the web forums and "guest books" that abound on the Internet are "REAL" BBSs. Of course, these potential new Users believe that will all their heart and soul and will curse you forever if you try to tell them otherwise. After all, if the Internet says it, it must be true. ----------------------------------------------------------------- FIDONEWS 20-29 Page 4 21 Jul 2003 ================================================================= HUMOUR IN A FIDO VEIN ================================================================= Men of Honor Rewrite By Frank Vest 1:124/6308.1 Rewrite of the speech given by Robert De Niro in the movie; "Men of Honor" A Sysop is NOT a paid technician, he is an unpaid repairman! If a mail packet is lost, he finds it! If the mailer is locked up, he unlocks it! If the BBS goes down, he brings it back up! If he is lucky, a User will write a message of thanks! For that is the CLOSEST he will EVER come to getting paid! HELL!! I don't know why ANYONE would want to be a SYSOP!! ----------------------------------------------------------------- FIDONEWS 20-29 Page 5 21 Jul 2003 ================================================================= BEN RITCHEY'S FIDONET SOFTWARE LISTING ================================================================= -=:{ FIDONet Software Reference }:=- Type: M=Mailer T=Tosser B=BBS D=Door C=Comm/Terminal P=Points E=Editor I=Internet U=Utility ?=Info .- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -. |Software: Author |Type |URL, Contact, Ver, Notes Help Node| `- - - - - - - - - - -+- - -+- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -' Argus |M |http://www.ritlabs.com/argus/ 2:469/84 | | argus@ritlabs.com Tel: 373-2-246889 | | v3.210 on Mar 20th 2001 BeeMail: |M |http://beemail.gexonline.net 1:105/10 Stephen Proffit | | beemail@gexonline.net BinkleyTerm XE |M |http://btxe.sourceforge.net 1:1/102 | | v2.60XE/Gamma-6 on Nov 11th 1998 BinkD |MI |http://2f.ru/binkd/ | | maloff@corbina.net | | v0.94 on Jul 24th 2000 FIDO-Deluxe IP |MPUI |http://www.fido-deluxe.de.vu 2:2432/280 Michael Haase | | m.haase@gmx.net | | v2.3 on Jul 18th 2003 Fidonet to Internet: |MI |http://www.terminate.com Bo Bendtsen | | sales@terminate.com | | v2.00 on Mar 23rd 1997 FrontDoor, FD/APX: |MTPC |http://www.defsol.se 2:201/330 Definite Solutions | | sales@defsol.se 1:1/101 | | v2.26SW & v2.33ml FD, v1.15 APX Husky Project |MTPUI|http://husky.sf.net | | v1.4.0 on Feb 11th 2003 InterMail, InterEcho |MT |http://www.ifido.com 1:1/133 | | bob@nwstar.com | | v2.50 IM, v1.19 IE Radius (based on |M |http://fido5012.narod.ru/ 2:5012/38 Argus) | | fido5012@zaural.net Tel: 7-3522-469463 | | v4.009 on Jan 2nd 2003 Terminate |MBP |http://www.terminate.com | | v5.00 on Aug 7th 1997 Tmail |MI |http://www.tmail.spb.ru v2608 WildCat! Interactive |MTBEI|http://www.santronics.com FIDONEWS 20-29 Page 6 21 Jul 2003 Net Server, Platinum| | sales@santronics.com Xpress: Santronics | | Tel: (305) 248-3204 Software, Inc. | | AUP 450.2 on Jul 9th 2002 +- - - - - - - - - - -+- - -+- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -+ Fidogate |TUI |http://www.fidogate.org | | Martin_Junius@m-j-s.net v4.4.4 FMail |T |http://fmail.nl.eu.org 2:280/1076 | | wijnstra@fmail.nl.eu.org v1.60 JetMail: JetSys |TU |http://www.jetsys.de js@jetsys.de (ATARI ST only) | | v1.01 on Jan 1st 2000 Squish |T |http://www.lanius.com | | sales@lanius.com v1.11 | |http://www.vector11.com/maximus/ Watergate |TUI |http://www2.sbbs.se/hp/ramon/ | | ramon@sbbs.se | | v0.93p9 on Dec 14th 1998 +- - - - - - - - - - -+- - -+- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -+ BBBS |BI |http://www.bbbs.net b@bbbs.net | | v4.00MP on Oct 25th 1999 2:22/222 ELEBBS: The Elevator |B |http://www.elebbs.com Software Production | | elebbs@elebbs.com | | v0.10.RC1 on Jun 9th 2002 EZYCom BBS |BT |http://homepages.ihug.com.au/~dcbbs/ | | pjs@optushome.com.au 3:633/104 | | v2.0 on 3 May 2003 Falken BBS |B |http://falkenbbs.com | | v12.0 on Feb 2nd 2002 Hermes II Project |B |http://www.hermesii.org | | info@HermesII.org v3.5.9 Beta Final Maximus BBS |B |http://www.lanius.com | | sales@lanius.com v3.01 | |http://www.vector11.com/maximus/ MBSE BBS: |BI |http://mbse.sourceforge.net 2:280/2802 Michiel Broek | | mbroek@users.sourceforge.net | | v0.33.21 on Jun 4th 2002 Mystic BBS |B |http://www.mysticbbs.com | | v1.07.3 on May 13th 2001 Nexus BBS |B |http://www.nexusbbs.net | | groberts@nexusbbs.net | | v0.99.41.001 beta on Jun 10th 2001 Proboard BBS |B |http://www.proboard.be FIDONEWS 20-29 Page 7 21 Jul 2003 | | v2.17 on Jun 9th 2002 RemoteAccess BBS: |B |http://www.rapro.com 1:1/120 Bruce Morse | | bfmorse@rapro.com | | v2.62.2SW Spitfire BBS: Buffalo|B |http://www.angelfire.com/ia/buffalo/ Creek Software | | MDWoltz@aol.com 1:1/150 | | v3.6 on Aug 20th 1999 Synchronet BBS |BT |http://www.synchro.net | | sysop(at)vert(dot)synchro(dot)net | | v3.10L Beta Telegard BBS |B |http://www.telegard.net | | support@telegard.net | | v3.09g2 SP4 +- - - - - - - - - - -+- - -+- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -+ Atlantis Software |D |http://www.jimmyrose.com/atlantis/ | | last update: Jun 2002 BBS Central |D |http://www.rpcomputers.com Bentstone |D |http://www.srupc.com/mall Capabilities Group | | info@stonebenders.com Cheepware: |D |http://www.midnightshour.org/cheepware/ Sean Dennis | | hausmaus@midnightshour.org 1:11/200 DDS (Doorware |D |http://www.doorgames.org 1:2404/201 Distribution System)| | ruth@doorgames.org Ruth Argust | | DoorMUD |D |http://www.dmud.thebbs.org | | v0.98 Jun 1st 2002 Elysium Software |D |http://www.elysoft.com | | mpreslar@mailcity.com Jibben Software |D |http://www.jibbensoftware.com | | scott@jibben.com | | 1995-99 Release dates JNS Software: |D |http://www.geocities.com/jnssoftware/ Rusty Johnson | | rustyjohnson57@hotmail.com | | Tel: (304) 733-0113 John Dailey Software |D |http://www.johndaileysoftware.com | | support@johndaileysoftware.com LORD (Legend of the |D |http://www.lordlegacy.org Red Dragon) Reborn | | mike@lordlegacy.org | | v4.06 on Feb 5th 2001 Lord-II IGMs |D |http://www.shelby.net/wizards/lord2igm/ FIDONEWS 20-29 Page 8 21 Jul 2003 PC Pursuits |D |http://www.pcpursuits.com | | brucep@pop.kis.net | | Tel: (301) 240-6653 Shining Star |D |http://www.shiningstar.net/bbsdoors/ | | nannette@shiningstar.net Sunrise Doors: |D |http://www.sunrisedoors.com Al Lawrence | | al@sunrisedoors.com | | Tel: (404) 256-9518 The Brainex System |D |http://www.brainex.com/brainex_system/ | | stanley@brainex.com 1994-99 Releases Trade Wars |D |http://www.eisonline.com/tradewars/ | | jpritch@eisonline.com | | v3.09 (DOS-32) in 2002 Vagabond Software: |D |http://www.vbsoft.org 1:124/7013 Bryan Turner | | vagabond@vbsoft.org | | last update: Jul 17th 2002 (various) |D |http://www.webnexus.com/users/etow/ +- - - - - - - - - - -+- - -+- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -+ APoint |PI |http://www.apoint-mail.de | | dirk.pokorny@apoint-mail.de | | v1.25 2:2426/1210.13 OpenXP/32 |PI |http://www.openxp.com 2:248/2004 | | mk@openxp.de v3.8.7 beta Aug 3rd 2002 OpenXP/16 |P |http://www.openxp16.de 2:2433/460 | | my@openxp16.de v3.40 RC3 Apr 28th 2002 CrossPoint (XP) |P |http://www.crosspoint.de | | pm@crosspoint.de v3.12d Dec 22nd 1999 PPoint |P |http://www.alcuf.ca 1:249/114 | | v3.04 on Jan 10th 2000 +- - - - - - - - - - -+- - -+- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -+ GoldEd+ |E |http://mik.nu/golded-plus/ 2:203/6600 | | v1.1.5 Snapshot on Feb 28th 2003 SqEd32 |E |http://www.sqed.de | | v1.15 on Dec 15th 1999 TimEd |E |http://blizzard.dnsalias.org/fidonet | | mail@ozzmosis.com /timed | | v1.11.a5 in March 2003 3:633/267 +- - - - - - - - - - -+- - -+- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -+ Allfix |U |ftp://ftp.nwstar.com 1:140/12 | | bob@nwstar.com | | v5.13 (v6?) GiGo |UI |http://www.gigo.com FIDONEWS 20-29 Page 9 21 Jul 2003 | | v0109 on Jan 9th 1997 Internet Rex: |UI |http://members.shaw.ca/InternetRex/ Charles Cruden | | telnet://xanadubbs.ca 1:342/806 (Khan Software) | | v2.29 on Oct 21st 2001 PeopleComm Terminal |CUI |http://www.peoplecomm.org 1:128/148 (BBS & Telnet w/ | | edward.williams@adelphia.net ZModem) | | v1.01a on Feb 11th 2003 TransNet |UI |http://www.ressl.com.ar/transnet/ | | transnet@ressl.com.ar | | v2.11 on Jul 18th 1998 TransX: Multiboard |UI |http://www.multiboard.com/software/ Communications, Inc.| | support@multiboard.com 1:2401/305 | | v3.5 +- - - - - - - - - - -+- - -+- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -+ National BBS List |? | http://www.usbbs.org Hispanic FIDO/BBS's |? | http://www.conecta2.org/pucela_bbs/ (in Spanish only) | | (Extensive software & BBS Listings) +- - - - - - - - - - -+- - -+- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -+ File Archives: http://archives.thebbs.org http://www.filegate.org http://sysopscorner.thebbs.org http://www.juge.com http://www.dmine.com/bbscorner/ http://garbo.uwasa.fi http://www.simtel.net http://wuarchive.wustl.edu http://hobbes.nmsu.edu Note: most also provide FTP access (use ftp:// vice http:// above) *=-=*=.=*=-=*=.=*=-=*=.=*=-=*=.=*=-=*=.=*=-=*=.=*=-=*=.=*=-=*=.=*=-=* Note: Please send corrections & additions to: Ben Ritchey, 1:393/68 ( or FReq Magic INFO direct for E-mail address ) WildCat! BBS at +1-337-232-4155 24/7 33.6kBps,8,N,1 Internet: http://bellsouthpwp.net/c/m/cmech617/fidosoft.txt Emeritus: Todd Cochrane, Frank Vest, Peter Popovich ----------------------------------------------------------------- FIDONEWS 20-29 Page 10 21 Jul 2003 ================================================================= SPECIAL INTEREST ================================================================= Nodelist Stats Input nodelist nodelist.199 size 976.8kb date 2003-07-18 The nodelist has 8528 nodes in it and a total of 11293 non-comment entries including 6 zones 60 regions 442 hosts 598 hubs admin overhead 1106 ( 12.97 %) and 1003 private nodes 291 nodes down 365 nodes on hold off line overhead 1659 ( 19.45 %) Speed summary: >9600 = 685 ( 8.03 %) 9600 = 7418 ( 86.98 %) (HST = 154 or 2.08 %) (CSP = 1 or 0.01 %) (PEP = 11 or 0.15 %) (MAX = 0 or 0.00 %) (HAY = 1 or 0.01 %) (V32 = 3965 or 53.45 %) (V32B = 400 or 5.39 %) (V34 = 4924 or 66.38 %) (V42 = 4121 or 55.55 %) (V42B = 423 or 5.70 %) 2400 = 83 ( 0.97 %) 1200 = 6 ( 0.07 %) 300 = 336 ( 3.94 %) ISDN = 770 ( 9.03 %) ---------------------------------------------------------- File Req Flag Applicable software Number of systems ---------------------------------------------------------- XA Frontdoor <1.99b 2902 Frontdoor 2.02+ Dutchie 2.90c Binkleyterm >2.1 D'Bridge <1.3 TIMS Xenia -------------------------------------- FIDONEWS 20-29 Page 11 21 Jul 2003 XB Binkleyterm 2.0 10 Dutchie 2.90b -------------------------------------- XC Opus 1.1 11 -------------------------------------- XP Seadog 6 -------------------------------------- XR Opus 1.03 41 -------------------------------------- XW Fido >12M 334 Tabby KittenMail -------------------------------------- XX D'Bridge 1.30 3818 Frontdoor 1.99b Intermail 2.01 T-Mail -------------------------------------- None QMM 1406 -------------------------------------- CrashMail capable = 2654 ( 31.12 %) MailOnly nodes = 4704 ( 55.16 %) Listed-only nodes = 665 ( 7.80 %) Other = 505 ( 5.92 %) [Report produced by NETSTATS - A PD pgm available from 1:106/100] [ Revised by B Felten, 2:203/208] ----------------------------------------------------------------- FIDONEWS 20-29 Page 12 21 Jul 2003 ================================================================= FIDONEWS INFORMATION ================================================================= How to Submit an Article If you wish to submit an article for inclusion in the Fidonews, here are some guidelines, if you send it as an attached file; the preferred method if you want reasonable control over how the published article will appear in the Fidonews: a) Plain ASCII text. If you could type it on your keyboard, it's probably quite OK... b) Put a title to the article. Put the title in two times. The first time, on the first line, with an * before it. The second time, on the second line, without the * and centered. This will help in the format since the title with the * is removed and used in the index, the second line will become the headline. On the third line, put your name and FidoNet address, present or former. If former, you may want to add some other address where you can be reached for personal comments. c) Deadline for article submission is Sunday, 12:00 UTC. Help the Editor by following the above guides. Below are some subjects and the file extension for the article as set in the configuration file for the making of the Fidonews. Please help by putting the file extension of the correct subject on the file name if known.. Ideas for Subject areas: Subject File | Subject File ----------------------------------|---------------------------------- From the *C's *.css | Rebuttals to articles *.reb Fidonet Regional News *.reg | Fidonet Net News *.net Retractions *.rtx | General Fidonet Articles *.art Guest Editorial *.gue | Fidonet Current Events *.cur Fidonet Interviews *.inv | Fidonet Software Reviews *.rev Fidonet Web Page Reviews *.web | Fidonet Notices *.not Getting Fidonet Technical *.ftc | Question Of The Week *.que Humor in a Fido Vein *.hfv | Comix in ASCII *.cmx Fidonet's Int. Kitchen *.rec | Poet's Corner *.poe Clean Humor & Jokes *.jok | Other Stuff *.oth Fidonet Classified Ads *.ads | Corrections *.cor Best of Fidonet *.bof | If you don't know or are not sure, send the article anyway. Put a .TXT on it and I'll try to figure out where it should be in the Fidonews. If you follow these simple guidelines, there should be little problem in getting your article published. If your submission is too far out of specs for the Fidonews, it will be returned to you and/or a message sent informing you of the problem. This DOES NOT mean that your article is not accepted. It means that there is something in it that I can not fix and I need your help on it. FIDONEWS 20-29 Page 13 21 Jul 2003 Send Articles via E-mail or Netmail, file attach or message to: Bj”rn Felten Fidonet 2:2/2 E-Mail bfelten@telia.com Please include a message, telling me that you have sent an article. That way I will know to look for it. ----------------------------------------------------------------- FIDONEWS 20-29 Page 14 21 Jul 2003 Credits, Legal Infomation, Availability + -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- FIDONEWS STAFF - -- -- -- -- -- -- -- + | | | Editor: Bj”rn Felten, 2:2/2, editor@fidonews.org | | Crash mail attached: Editor@2:2/2 | | E-Mail attached: bfelten@telia.com | | Webmaster: Jim Barchuk, jb@fidonews.org | | Columnist: Warren Bonner - Ol'WDB's Corner | | Columnist: Frank Vest - (reserved for future use) | | Columnist: Luke Kolin - Catcalls from the Cheap Seats | | | + -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- + + -- -- -- -- -- -- -- - EDITORS EMERITI - -- -- -- -- -- -- -- + | | | Tom Jennings, Thom Henderson, Dale Lovell, Vince | | Perriello, Tim Pozar, Sylvia Maxwell, Donald Tees, | | Christopher Baker, Zorch Frezberg, Henk Wolsink, | | Doug Meyers, Warren D. Bonner, Frank L. Vest | | | + -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- + Fidonews is published weekly by and for the members of Fidonet. Fidonews is Copyright (C) 2003 by Bj”rn Felten, though authors retain rights to their contributed articles. Opinions expressed by the authors is strictly their own. Noncommercial duplication and distribution within Fidonet is encouraged. Authors are encouraged to send their articles in ASCII text to the Editor at one of the addresses above. The weekly edition of Fidonews is distributed through the file area FIDONEWS, and is published as echomail in the echo FIDONEWS. These sources are normally available through your Network Coordinator. The current and past issues are also available from the following sources: + -- -- -- -- -- -- - FIDONEWS AVAILABILITY - -- -- -- -- -- -- + | | | File request from 2:2/2: | | current issue FIDONEWS | | back issue, volume v, issue ii FNEWSvii.ZIP | | ftp://ftp.nwstar.com/fidonet/fidonews/ | | http://www.fidonews.org | | email subscription: majordomo@fidonews.org | | (subject: help body: list) | | ftp mail: ftpmail@fidonews.org (subject: help) | | | + -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- + -----------------------------------------------------------------