FIDONEWS -- 19 Aug 85 00:01:58 Page 1 Volume 2, Number 27 19 August 1985 +----------------------------------------------------------+ | _ | | / \ | | - FidoNews - /|oo \ | | (_| /_) | | Fido and FidoNet _`@/_ \ _ | | Users Group | | \ \\ | | Newsletter | (*) | \ )) | | ______ |__U__| / \// | | / FIDO \ _//|| _\ / | | (________) (_/(_|(____/ | | (jm) | +----------------------------------------------------------+ Publisher: Fido 107/7 Chief Procrastinator: Thom Henderson Fidonews is published weekly by SEAboard, Fido 107/7. You are encouraged to submit articles for publication in Fidonews. Article submission standards are contained in the file FIDONEWS.DOC, available from Fido 107/7. Disclaimer or don't-blame-us: The contents of the articles contained here are not our responsibility, nor do we necessarily agree with them; everything here is subject to debate. We publish EVERYTHING received. Your Fellow Users Fidonet is great. It's wonderful! We have here our very own private electronic mail system. So who's using this thing, anyway? Well, now you can find out. The national user list, which has been mentioned before in this newsletter, is now out. About fourty nodes are reporting so far, and the result is looking pretty good. Matt Kanter has been doing a heck of a job, and the first fruits of his labors are now available. You can download the list from his board, node 107/1, or from 107/7 or 100/51. With any luck, it'll soon be available many other places as well. There are two minor problems, though. One is that not enough nodes are reporting yet. We encourage all of you sysops out there to please run SHIPUSER once a month and send the output to node 107/7. It would be really great if we could get most (if not all) Fido boards to contribute. FIDONEWS -- 19 Aug 85 00:02:00 Page 2 The other little matter is that the output file is a bit on the large size, and will probably get larger as more nodes start sending in their data. Users with fixed disks should be able to handle it, but people with floppy based systems may be out of luck. One possible solution is to publish the thing. (You know, physically, on paper.) Matt was thinking of running off a copy and taking it to one of the many print shops in Manhatten. Back when we were starting this whole deal Ken Kaplan suggested getting it published monthly like a magazine. A small problem is that it costs money to do that. Would you be willing to pay for it? Yes, I know. Why should a sysop send in his data for nothing if someone else is going to make money on it? A few reasons. For one, we're not really talking about making anything on it; we're only talking about covering expenses. For another, a verified list of nationwide users like that could help when it comes to lobbying in Washington (yes, politics again). And last but not least, a national user directory is a darned nice idea all in itself. I'd like it better if we can keep it on disk, but if we can't it would still be useful. We have a mail system, we should have a phone book. FIDONEWS -- 19 Aug 85 00:02:01 Page 3 ============================================================ NEWS ============================================================ The Southern California Network (102) has renumbered all the nodes in its network. The numbering scheme is simple. We have 9 HOSTS so each one is assigned a hundred number group. The host is the hundred number and the first number in his group (100 & 101 for example). Each local under a host then is assigned a number of the hundred group. Following is a translate list of old numbers to new numbers indicating hosts and other changes. NETWORK COMPARISON OF SOCALNET The following is a comparison of the old Network 102 node numbering system to the new. The major changes occur in the addition of two new HOSTS for the SIMI VALLEY and SAN GABRIEL. old node new node net/node comment -------- -------- -------- ------- 0102 0102 102/0 Los Angeles Host 0036 0101 102/101 0032 0102 102/102 0331 0103 102/103 0383 0104 102/104 0411 0105 102/105 0426 0106 102/106 0466 0107 102/107 3601 0108 102/108 3603 0109 102/109 3605 0110 102/110 3607 0111 102/111 3608 0112 102/112 0200 102/200 Oceanside Host 0380 0201 102/201 3609 0202 102/202 0300 102/300 San Diego Host 0350 0301 102/301 0087 0302 102/302 0400 102/400 Riverside Host 0031 0401 102/401 0402 102/402 NEW NODE NUMBER 0500 102/500 Orange Host 0666 0501 102/501 NAME CHANGED 0025 0502 102/502 0066 0503 102/503 0130 0504 102/504 0337 0505 102/505 0370 0506 102/506 0397 0507 102/507 0410 0508 102/508 0422 0509 102/509 FIDONEWS -- 19 Aug 85 00:02:05 Page 4 0470 0510 102/510 0472 0511 102/511 0486 0512 102/512 1031 0513 102/513 3602 0514 102/514 3604 0515 102/515 3603 0516 102/516 0600 102/600 Simi Valley Host 0052 0601 102/601 0421 0602 102/601 0700 102/700 Ventura Host 0430 0701 102/701 0378 0702 102/702 0800 102/800 San Gabriel Host 0379 0801 102/801 0900 102/900 San Fernando Host 0454 0901 102/901 3610 0902 102/902 ------------------------------------------------------------ FIDONEWS -- 19 Aug 85 00:02:06 Page 5 The following was captured, from a BBS in Golden, Colorado, on 12/13/84. Let's not let some thing like this happen in this area! The Telephone company that is refered to, is Mountain Bell. If you wish to see more about this on-going battle, call them at (303) 278-4244. 300/1200 BPS, 8/1/N THANK YOU FOR CALLING IN.. BY THE WAY, IF YOU HAVE MADE IT THIS FAR INTO THE SYSTEM WITHOUT SEVERE DROP-OUTS OR FOUND THAT MOST OF THE TIME YOU CAN'T EVEN MAKE IT IN, WELL... THE GUYS WHO BRING YOU THIS WONDERFUL LINE QUALITY STRIKES AGAIN...!! GUESS WHAT? SINCE THEY GOT A RIFT FROM P.U.C. ABOUT SNEEKING IN A COMPUTER ACCESS TARRIF WHICH WOULD HAVE GRAND-FATHERED IN A COUPLE OF YEARS, THE MOST RECENT MANEUVER SEEMS TO BE DEGRADATION OF VOICE GRADE LINES SO THAT IT WON'T FLATLY PASS 300-3000HZ ANY MORE. (STRANGE THIS PHENOMENON IS, YOU SEE, 3 YEARS AGO, THESE LINES WERE SOOOO PERFECT, EVEN MY REGULAR VOICE LINE WOULD PASS DATA WITHOUT A DROPOUT!!) WELL, WHAT COULD HAVVVVVVVE HAPPENED? NICE GUYS THEY ARE! WE PAY FOR VOICE GRADE LINES, AND WE CAN'T EVEN BE ASSURRED THAT THEY ARE FLAT. MODEMS LIKE TO HAVE 2225HZ AND WHEN THEY TEST YOUR LINE THEY TEST IT AT 1000HZ. NOT EVEN LOOKING AT THE HIGH END OF THE VOICE BAND... THERE IS EVEN SPECS ABOUT DELAY, DISTORTION, HUM, NOISE, CURRENT SUPPLY, AND OTHER SPECS..... JUST WAIT FOLKS! MAYBE YOU WILL HAVE YOUR LINES DEGRADED TOO!! (AND PAY FOR VOICE GRADE AND NOT BE GETTING IT!!) COULD THIS HAPPEN IN AMERICA? OR SHOULD WE SAY W H Y?? THERE ARE STANDARD MODEM TEST LINES AROUND WHERE THEY WILL TELL YOU IF YOU ARE BEING SHORT CHANGED OFF ON THE HIGH FREQUENCIES! IF THIS LINE IS NOT TOTALLY SHUNTED OUT ONE OF THESE DAYS YOU'LL GET THE NUMBER, AND WE WILL PETITION AS A GROUP FOR A CLASS ACTION SUIT LIKE WE SHOULD HAVE IN THE BEGINNING WHEN THEY STARTED THE NONSENSE WITH THE COMPUTER ACCESS TARRIF! THIS TIME THE SUIT WILL NOT BE STOPPED, AND THE OTHER BBS'S AND THEIR SYSOPS WILL JOIN IN ON THE PUBLIC CAUSE. THERE ARE MILLIONS OF COMPUTER USERS ACROSS THE COUNTRY WHO WANT DECENT SERVICE FROM THE UTILITIES WHICH MUST DEMONSTRATE TO THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO BE 'COMMON CARRIERS' AND THAT THEY ARE 'ACTING IN THE PUBLIC INTEREST'. DO YOU KNOW HOW MUCH MONEY 'THEY' STAND TO LOOSE FOR AN FCC ACTION CITED UPON THEIR HEADS FOR DELIBERATE INTERFERENCE IN PRIVATE MATTERS? FIDONEWS -- 19 Aug 85 00:02:11 Page 6 THERE ARE OTHER COMPANIES ACROSS THE U.S.A. WHO HAVE NOT HAD THEIR HANDS SLAPPED FOR THE ACCESS TARRIF; A CLASS ACTION SUIT BRINGING USERS FROM NATION-WIDE WHO HAVE SIMILAR PROBLEMS WOULD BE A PUBLIC BENEFIT, AND CALL ATTENTION TO THOSE WHO ALLEDGEDLY ACT IN OUR INTEREST. LETS KEEP OUR HOBBY RUNNING! AND NOT BE STEPPED ON THOSE WHO CAN'T IN MY OPINION SEEM TO RECOGNIZE THEIR COMMON CARRIER STATUS.. WE CHALLENGE THOSE COMMON CARRIERS TO SHOW THAT THEY CAN MAINTAIN SERVICE SINCE THE BREAKUP! THIS IS OPENING UP A GOOD MEASURE OF COMPETITION'S JUSTIFICATION, SINCE THE 'OTHER GUY' NOW HAS PLENTY TO BEEF ABOUT. LETS HEAR IT FOR ENTERPRISE. THAT IS WHAT MADE IT POSSIBLE TO HAVE COMMUNICATIONS IN THE FIRST PLACE. WRITE YOUR CONGRESSMAN, BEWARE OF ACTIONS AGAINST FREEDOM OF SPEECH, AND LETS HERE IT FOR THE FCC CHIEF OF THE COMMON CARRIER BUREAU WHO IS ALSO PART OF TELECOMMUNICATIONS DIVISION AND BY THE WAY A COMPUTER USER TOO! THE FCC GRANTS THE CHARTER TO THOSE WHO CAN PROVE THEY CAN FUNCTION AS 'COMMON CARRIER'. DID YOU KNOW THAT THERE IS AN OBSCURE LITTLE PART OF THE FCC RULES AND REGULATIONS WHICH STATES THAT TO COMPLY WITH THE RULES AND REGULATIONS OF HONORING THE CHARTER AUTHORIZING A COMMON CARRIER ITS OPERATIONS, A LITTLE PART THAT SAYS THEY MUST FILE A NOTICE TO THE FCC FOR PUBLIC RECORD THAT 'SERVICE IS BEING DEGRADED', 'REDUCED OR IMPARRED', AN ORIGINAL AND NINE (9) COPIES!!! I WONDER IF THAT WAS FILED???? NOW OF COURSE WE COULD UNDERSTAND A TEMPORARY LACK OF EFFICIENT AND RELIABLE SERVICE DUE TO NATURAL CAUSES, LIKE EARTHQUAKES AND CONTRACTORS DIGGING UP CABLES, BUT WHAT ABOUT SERVICE THAT ONCE WORKED, AND REPAIR SAYS THEY CAN'T FIND OUT WHY IT WON'T WORK ANYMORE??? SOUNDS REALLY ODD... ------------------------------------------------------------ FIDONEWS -- 19 Aug 85 00:02:12 Page 7 SEARCH FOR DATA-CAPABLE FIRE DEPARTMENTS RELENTLESSLY CONTINUES By Christopher Baker, Sysop, Metro-Fire Fido, 18/14 ============================== Somewhere, among the countless 25,000+ readers of FidoNews, there must be a few computer enthusiasts that are also involved with their local Fire departments in some way (other than litigation, that is). Even if it's only to buy a ticket to the Fireman's picnic. Perhaps, you have a relative in the business? Maybe, you're a vendor of goods and/or services to your local smoke-eaters? Or, perish the thought, YOU might be one of the men/women in gray/blue/ black/etc.!? However you may be connected, I need your help. It is my intention (and fondest hope) to bring together as many departments as I can find into a national Fire network. The purpose of which will be to share ideas, programs, tips, warnings, techniques, etc., and to provide a common forum for the dissemination of information to as broad a base as possible. To begin this Herculean task, I need some input. If you belong to or know of or work for a Fire/Rescue department, paid or volunteer, that has telecommunication/data equip- ment, please give them a copy of this article and urge them to contact me through FidoNet or U.S. Mail. Send FidoMail to: Sysop, Fido 18/14. If you wish to sign-on as a user of the board, make the message PRIVATE and in- clude your sign-on name(no handles, please), your City and State, the name and address and phone number of your depar- tment, and the password you would like to use. Please be sure to make the message PRIVATE when including password information. All FidoMail requests for access will be granted within 24 hours (usually, except for requests re- ceived on Monday and Tuesday - my days off). If you wish to send information via U.S. Mail, send to: Christopher Baker Metro-Dade Fire Communications 5680 S.W. 87th Avenue Miami, FL 33173 Attention: Metro-Fire Fido. The results of this preliminary survey will determine the direction of my grand design, so don't let this task lan- guish, if you can help it. I know most of you are very busy with your own operations, but this could be the start of something big (where's Steve Allen, when you need him?)! Thank you, in advance. I'll be waiting to hear from all of you. FIDONEWS -- 19 Aug 85 00:02:15 Page 8 (My birthday has already passed but the South Florida Sysops Association is having their 1st Annual Sysop's Picnic at Tropical Park, Pavillion #2, on Sunday, 25 Aug 85, from 1000 'til ?, if you'd care to list that?)(For those of you coming in from out-of-town, take State Road 826 to Bird Road (S.W. 40th St.) and go west 1/4 mile to Tropical Park. Pavillion #2 is just west of the ball- field. Bring your own food, everybody knows sysops are frugal or broke.) ------------------------------------------------------------ FIDONEWS -- 19 Aug 85 00:02:15 Page 9 How FidoNet Can Help Fight Against Federal Legislation Restricting BBS Operation After reading the article in the July 29th issue of FidoNews by Chip Berlet on the new federal computer laws being proposed I decided to follow up and see how we could pool our resources in order to support the efforts of those individuals or groups that represent the majority of our bona fide BBS users and sysops. The only formal group that I found was the National Association of Bulletin Board Operators started by Chicago attorney Paul Bernstein who also runs a BBS for lawyers called LAWMUG. This is a relatively new group that currently includes Paul and a number of other Chicago residents. They are against federal efforts restricting bulletin boards and are currently soliciting support via messages on several bulletin boards, as well as the Source. If you would like more information or would like to send contributions their address is: National Association of Bulletin Board Operators c/o Paul Bernstein 600 N. McClurg Ct. Chicago, Ill. 60611 I also contacted the office of Senator Paul Tribble and was sent a copy of Senate Bill 1305. For those of you that may not be familiar this is a Bill to "establish criminal penalties for the transmission by computer of obscene matter, or by computer or by other means, of matter pertaining to the sexual exploitation of children, and for other purposes". Exchanging information pertaining to sexual crimes is not prohibited under current law. The problem with this Bill is that it doesn't stop there. Quoting from the Bill "any obscene, lewd, lascivious, or filthy writing, description, picture, or other matter entered, stored, or transmitted by or in a computer" will constitute a crime. I'm no lawyer, but I'm certainly not in favor of governmental efforts that force me to ensure that nothing illegal occurs on my system. With Fido we have all the checks and balences to keep our boards clean without intervention. The ACLU opposes the Bill because it infringes on First Admendment rights. I would like to hear the opinion of others on this matter as I may be asked to testify on some of the positive aspects of bulletin boards. (Fido in particular). The hearings are scheduled for late September or early October. If you would like to comment or know more about this matter you can contact: Paul S. Trible,Jr. United States, Senator Virginia or Darren S. Trigonoplos Legislative Assistant for Senator Trible FIDONEWS -- 19 Aug 85 00:02:18 Page 10 United States Senate Washington, D.C. 20510 The Senate Bill 1305 is called the Computer Pornorgraphy and Child Exploitation Prevention Act of 1985. It is currently under study in the Senate Subcommittee on Juvenile Justice. Ken Kaplan SYSOP Fido 100/22 or 100/51 ------------------------------------------------------------ FIDONEWS -- 19 Aug 85 00:02:18 Page 11 23 June 1984 Sir: This is one of those once upon a time letters...... Once upon a time, this writer decided to upgrade his IBM-PC with a hard disk option. As prices were dropping almost every week, it became a game to spot the ad that provided the most for your money. Everyone who at one time or another has gone through this drill and is installing a hard disk will tell you that the first concern is to install a 135 watt (PC-XT) power supply. This is what I did. The ad's at that time that provided the best deal were PC's LIMITED in Austin Texas. I called and ordered a power supply. In a very short time, the power supply arrived, was installed, and found to be working. Within days, it was noted that the fan on the supply varied in pitch up and down almost to the point of stopping. A letter was sent that asked about this situation and also asked about more information on their hard disk. The letter was hardly in the mail when the fan failed. The power supply was removed and returned to PC'S LIMITED with a very detailed letter included that described the problem. Three weeks passed with no word. A call to this organizations repair facility was answered with "What is your return authorization number?" My what!?! At this point you should open the 23 July issue of PC Magazine to page 93. Be careful now as this is a trick question. What is the smallest thing noted in this ad? Give up? It is the 1 1/32x21/32" block with 66 words that spell out the terms and conditions of PC"S LIMITED sales. Read it! I stated my problem and the fact that I had "failed" to request an authorization number. I was willing to bite the bullet and pay the restocking fee. "I'm sorry sir, I can't find your power supply without a number." To date..... Three months have passed. Three (unanswered) letters, Eight, I repeat Eight phone calls with no return calls, and I don't have a power supply or my money. Not to be outdone, I then ordered a power supply from G&L INC, Anaheim,Ca. This one came in and lo and behold it had the wrong Motherboard connector! It was a one piece connector meant for a pc clone, not a PC. Five, I repeat Five phone calls later and I have received every excuse under the sun and I still don't have the right connectors. OK fellows, thats it. I work for a large corporation in the United States with a very large, company sponsored Computer Club and a very large Fidonet Bulletin Board. This letter is being submitted to the following: 1.To my club newsletter 2.To PC Magazine 3.To PC Week magazine FIDONEWS -- 19 Aug 85 00:02:21 Page 12 4.To the Austin,Tx Better Business Bureau 5.To the Anaheim,Ca. " " " 6.On the Fidonet Board for nation wide distribution Edward G. Kotkiewicz 1325 Carribean Dr. Edwardsville, Il 62025 ------------------------------------------------------------ FIDONEWS -- 19 Aug 85 00:02:21 Page 13 FIDO 19/918 Uploaded to BEGARE TECH **(806)742-5328** by Neato Dude, the Apple Advisor. Story originally by Neato Dude. This story was graded an A in English class for the 9th grade. I hope you like it! Steve Narhar moved for the first time in hours from the chair in his bedroom. He had been connected to the bank's computer for ages it seemed, and now he had cracked the access codes, and could do as he pleased with the bank. "Let's see how much money you got, Mr. First Federal Savings and Loan of Los Angeles." he muttered to himself. His fingers raced across his home computer's keyboard, as he entered the command "GO:TOTAL ACCOUNTS:ALL". His computer screen told him there was a total of $475,562,271.23 in the accounts. He then selected "TRANSFER:ALL,NARHAR" and watched happily as all the money went from the total number into his account. "Another day, another $475,562,271.23" he said, turning his computer off and going to bed. At the same time, in the Los Angeles bank, Mr. Bill Kuhar, bank manager, was using the bank's computer to check how things had gone during the business day. It was pitch black outside, and he wanted to hurry up and finish, so he could go home. "Oh look at that, will you just look at that! Miss Penny gave Mr. Jupmar $0.13 cents over his balance! I'll have to remember to fire her tomorrow. Hired help these days, makes you wonder. Why, when I was young, I worked 12 hours a day for 35 cents, never made a mistake, and..." he grumbled to no one in particular, since the office was empty. "WHAT THE..." he gasped, as he saw all his wondeful, glorious $475,562,271.23 disappear from everyone's accounts and into a single account, #82564 STEVE NARHAR. "AAAAARGH!!" he cried in anguish, "It's one of those "hackers" like you read about in the newspapers! I'm ruined! Well! We'll just have to get this Narhar! " Mr. Kuhar keyed in "TRACE:CURRENT", and settled back to wait for the caller to be traced. Two minutes later, the information came on the screen. NUMBER:(402)856-2741 CITY,STATE:Omaha, Nebraska CONNECTED:5 hours, 36 minutes "Omaha, huh...we'll just pay him a visit tomorrow morning. " he said with a fiendish laugh. The next morning, Steve bolted upright from his bed, at the sound of a police siren. He threw on a pair of jeans and a T-shirt, and ran outside to see what the commotion was about. A big, white van pulled up alongside the curb. A large, heavyset man leaned out, and asked him if he knew anyone by the name of Steve Narhar. "You're lookin' at him. FIDONEWS -- 19 Aug 85 00:02:24 Page 14 What is it?" The man was obviously surprised, but quickly regained his composure. Climbing out of the van, he pointed a pistol at Steve's back and whispered, "I would advise you to come with me now." Steve decided he would not like little round holes in his body, so he let the man lead him into the back of the van. The man walked around the side, and then into the driver's seat, and started the engine. Tires squealed as they roared away, and by the direction they were heading, Steve could see they were heading for the airport. The man spoke "I am sorry that we have not been introduced. My name is Mr. Kuhar, the manager of the bank you broke into last night." He reached to his face, and took off his mustache, and then continued with a thick accent Steve had never heard before. "You are probably wondering why you are here. You see, the bank you so rudely invaded was not a regular bank. Oh no, it is more, much more. In fact, it's the entire funding for the Soviet Secret Police operations for the western portion of your America. So now that you know this, you must not be allowed to tell others. So of course, you shall be a prisoner of the Soviet Union, and will be held in a Siberian work camp. But don't worry. You can spend the rest of your miserable life there, having fun mining coal, and meeting other prisoners. Better than summmer camp, no?" By this time, the van had pulled up along side a large wide-bodied jet. Mr. Kuhar dragged Steve, kicking and screaming, into the cargo hold of the Air Moscow jet, and slid the door shut. It was dark in the cargo hold, cold, and above all, extremely noisy. The sound of the screaming engines pounded his ears, and the sinking feeling in his stomach told him that the plane was lifting off. All hope was lost, no one would save him now. After a quick look around, he decided he could not escape here, and he did particulary want to take a bath in the Pacific Ocean. Settling back, he went to sleep for the long plane trip. Steve was startled awake by the screech of the landing gear and the bump as the plane touched down. Immediately after the plane slowed to a halt, two armed guards slid open the door, grabbed him by the arms, and led him into the back of a waiting limousine. The limousine wisked him away, and shortly entered a huge, modern looking building of glass and steel, still on the grounds of the airport. Through the heavily tinted glass of the limousine, he could not see anything, not even the driver. The door was opened as the car drew to a halt, and two more guards pulled him out by the arms, and stood him in front of a large oak desk. Steve looked around the complex in awe. The entire room, the size of a football stadium, was completely flled with computers. The chair in front of the desk spun around, and in it sat an overweight, bald man wearing a black suit. He appeared to be FIDONEWS -- 19 Aug 85 00:02:27 Page 15 about sixty years old, and his face looked weatherbeaten. The man eyed Steve for a full minute, taking in every detail of his fifteen year old self. "So you're the computer expert, eh?" he said, "Kind of young to be breaking into Soviet security systems. Well, enough of that. I am Shaplintine Mustovacos, and you are Steve Narhar. We have a little job we want you to do for us, if you would be so kind. And I'm sure you'll be happy to. Since you're such an expert, we want you to simply break into the main CIA computer in Washington whenever we request. Before you decide if you will do this for us, let me tell you a little joke, ok? If you don't do this, you get sent to Siberia! Hahahahehehoho!! So, tell us, will you, or won't you?" "No!" screamed Steve, as he broke one of the guard's jaw with his fist. The guard went sprawling across the floor, his automatic rifle flying right into Steve's hands. RATARATARATATPOWPOWPOW erupted the gun, bullets spraying into the guards and Mustovacos as all three were sent to the ground. Steve ran out of the building as fast as he could, and onto the runway. More guards, hearing the noise, went charging to the complex, and opened fire on Steve. He dodged the hail of bullets, and raced up to a MiG-25 fighter jet,slammed open the cockpit, and leaped in. Luckily, he had learned how to fly a MiG-25 in the Boy Scouts, back home in Omaha. Steve sent the jet barreling down the runway at full speed, and took off. Setting the course for Washington D.C., he armed a heat-seeking missile, in case someone went after him. Sure enough, someone did. Over West Germany, a Soviet MiG-21 intercepter came rushing toward him at full speed. After locking on the missile to the attacking jet, he released the missile. BOOOOOM!! The missile impacted with the jet, and destroyed it with a great fireball of orange and red flames, pieces raining on the ground. The problem gone, Steve turned his attention to getting to Washington. He would have to watch his fuel. Several hours later, he touched down safely at Washington National Airport. The President gave Steve a formal invitation to dinner, the Air Force was thrilled to have MiG-25 jet to inspect, and the CIA shut down the First Federal Savings and Loan of Los Angeles. Needless to say, everyone lived happily ever after. ------------------------------------------------------------ FIDONEWS -- 19 Aug 85 00:02:31 Page 16 FIDO <==> UNIX Mail by Bob Hartman Sysop Fido 101/101 The UN*X Gateway and Home of ROVER As some of you have already found out, my board (newly named the UN*X Gateway) is capable of taking in mail from UNIX systems, and converting it to FidoNet messages. If any of you want to receive UNIX mail from anyone, just tell that person to send mail to the following system: decvax!encore!vaxine!spark!net#!node#!username or ihnp4!encore!vaxine!spark!net#!node#!username where net# is your FidoNet net number, node# is your FidoNet node#, and username is your user name with all blanks converted to underscores. No special characters are allowed in names except for underscore. This means that single and double quotes or anything else is illegal. REPEAT - NO SPECIAL CHARACTERS IN NAMES. If this rule is not adhered to, then somewhere along the line a UNIX system will barf on the name, and we may lose our access to the UNIX world. An example of a UNIX address to get to me would be: decvax!encore!vaxine!spark!101!101!Bob_Hartman to Tom Jennings: decvax!encore!vaxine!spark!125!0!Tom_Jennings The message will go through a number of UNIX systems, finally arriving at my Fido BBS, where it will be converted to FidoNet format, and sent to the appropriate destination. Anyone wanting to try this out is welcome to. The reverse link (Fido->UNIX) is not quite working yet. There will be another posting when that is finished. Bob Hartman Sysop 101/101 UN*X Gateway FIDONEWS -- 19 Aug 85 00:02:33 Page 17 ============================================================ WANTED ============================================================ From:Robert Hupf Sysop 18/311 Because of hardware problems, we have been unable to get the newsletter for some time and I just recently got caught up on them. There was an article in the May 6 issue about a disk swapping deal of sending a box of diskettes around, but the board that entered the article (464) is down. I am interested in this and if it's being done or if anyone is still thinking about it. Please either call my board (305-830-8494) or send me a Fidonet message. Thanks! FIDONEWS -- 19 Aug 85 00:02:34 Page 18 ============================================================ NOTICES ============================================================ Have you paid for your freeware yet? Remember: user supported software will only work if the users support it! ------------------------------------------------------------ The Interrupt Stack 27 Nov 1985 Halley's Comet passes closest to Earth before perihelion. 24 Jan 1986 Voyager 2 passes Uranus. 9 Feb 1986 Halley's Comet reaches perihelion. 11 Apr 1986 Halley's Comet reaches perigee. 19 May 1986 Steve Lemke's next birthday. 24 Aug 1989 Voyager 2 passes Neptune. If you have something which you would like to see on this calendar, please send a message to Fido 107/7.