Volume 3, Number 19 12 May 1986 +---------------------------------------------------------------+ | _ | | / \ | | - FidoNews - /|oo \ | | (_| /_) | | Fido and FidoNet _`@/_ \ _ | | Users Group | | \ \\ | | Newsletter | (*) | \ )) | | ______ |__U__| / \// | | / FIDO \ _//|| _\ / | | (C) Copyright 1986 by IFNA (________) (_/(_|(____/ | | (jm) | +---------------------------------------------------------------+ Editor in Chief: Thom Henderson Chief Procrastinator Emeritus: Tom Jennings FidoNews is the official newsletter of the International FidoNet Association, and is published weekly by SEAdog Leader, node 1/1. You are encouraged to submit articles for publication in FidoNews. Article submission standards are contained in the file FNEWSART.DOC, available from node 1/1. The contents of the articles contained here are not our responsibility, nor do we necessarily agree with them. Everything here is subject to debate. Table of Contents 1. EDITORIAL Avoiding Computer Chauvinism 2. ARTICLES Hayes Bell/CCITT compatible modems LOGMSG - A new Utility to log Sysop comments to MAILER.LOG New Version of SYSREPT for FIDO 11v 3. COLUMNS ADVENTURE Revisted FIDO Bug Reports (Killing Fido's Fleas) Notes from Abroad 4. WANTED ECHOMAIL Information 5. FOR SALE Entertainment Software for your PC! Public Domain Software Library Sale!! Special Offer to FidoNet Sysops 6. NOTICES Trojan Horse Warning! The Interrupt Stack CARTOON: Gruesome George, by Bruce White FidoMail Diplomacy Metro-Fire Fido Celebrates First Birthday Notice of Renumbering - Net 124 Sysops Passwords In Use Fidonews Page 2 12 May 1986 ================================================================= EDITORIAL ================================================================= WHICH BRAND IS BEST? AVOIDING COMPUTER CHAUVINISM Mike Guffey In the process of adding to our stable of electronic paraphernalia, it is sometimes easy to forget just what our computers are: collections of switches that turn on or off. Yes, some are much fancier and faster and sleeker than others, but there is a price to be paid for more buttons, knobs and gizmos. It is easy to forget just how useful smaller, slower, less expensive machines are for some people and perhaps once were for us as well. To paraphrase Peter McWilliams, computers don't become obsolete, they just become last year's models. So, in searching for (or even recommending) a new computer, we must not forget just what we should be looking for: greater utility. And if that utility is measured in speed, color graphics, storage capacity, and the like, then fine. But, if instead, we fall victim to marketing hype and spend more than we should or need to we are likely be seduced by each expensive new bell or whistle and never be satisfied with what we buy. It is fundamental that the more expensive the basic computer, the more expensive the cost of upgrading. Knowing when to stop spending money may be =the= hardest computing lesson to learn. It's an undocumented lesson. We must never forget that the best selling computing device on the face of this earth is still the ancient abacus. It suffers neither from power failures nor complicated and undecipherable documentation. It's just slower. ----------------------------------------------------------------- Fidonews Page 3 12 May 1986 ================================================================= ARTICLES ================================================================= Dave O'Shea, 107/35 Hayes Bell/CCITT compatible modems For some reason or another, overseas communications have come to be much more common than they once were. Maybe all of us modem addicts have run out of new BBS's to call within the US, or maybe we've just made a subconscious decision to make Ma Bell rich. Anyhow, There seems to be a major bottleneck with the problem of incompatible modems. Bell has one standard, CCITT another. Hayes microcomputer products, of Smartmodem fame, has just redone their smartmodem line again.All new Hayes modems have builtin Bell/CCITT compatability. All you have to do is flip a switch. I also understand that the user can select Bell or CCITT through software, but I'm not sure what the command is. I'm sure it's referenced somewhere in their manual. I am production manager for a PC distributor in Manhattan, and I can tell you that Hayes puts out a quality product. It costs a little extra, but it's well worth the expense. Very rarely will I see a Hayes box in the returns pile. Any feedback on these modems is welcome, and may be directed to Fido 107/35. ----------------------------------------------------------------- Fidonews Page 4 12 May 1986 Don Daniels, 107/211 LOGMSG A new Utility to log Sysop comments to MAILER.LOG As more and more BBS support processes become automated, it becomes more difficult to monitor just what worked correctly and what may have failed. In order to provide a consolidated record of just what does go on, LOGMSG was created to simply append comments to MAILER.LOG. It is expected to usually be executed from inside an automated batch file. The format of the execution command for LOGMSG is: LOGMSG comment where "comment" is a 1 to 120 character string of any ASCII characters that the user wishes to add to the end of MAILER.LOG. All blanks immediately following "LOGMSG" are ignored as "comment" is assumed to start with the first non-blank character. It may contain as many embedded blanks as desired, however. By default, LOGMSG will append the given comment to the file: D:\FIDO\MAILER.LOG If you wish to change this default it is necessary to run the program LMSETUP. This is done by entering the command: LMSETUP Note that it is required that LOGMSG.EXE be located in the default directory when this command is entered. LMSETUP will display the current default FILESPEC and allow you to enter a replacement. Any valid DOS filespec, complete with full path, may be entered as long as the total length does not exceed 44 bytes. In the event that you do not wish to change the current default, just hit enter instead of entering a new filespec. LOGMSG.ARC, which includes LOGMSG.EXE, LMSETUP.EXE and an expanded version of this file, LOGMSG.DOC, is available for downloading from: D2-FIDO (107/211) 516-682-8525 evenings or weekends at 1200 bps DANIELS-FIDO (107/211) 516-367-9626 most any time/day 2400-300 It is distributed under the Shareware concept and may be used for free by all users other than those with direct commercial application. ----------------------------------------------------------------- Fidonews Page 5 12 May 1986 Alfred Anderson, 14/61 SYSREPT ======= A new version of SYSREPT is now available. Version 1.52 was released April 28, 1986. This version now correctly interprets the upload/download logs of FIDO Version 11v. It is not compatible with pre-version 11v releases of FIDO. If the format of the SYSOP.LOG file remains constant, this new release of SYSREPT will be around for a while. For those not familiar with SYSREPT, this is a utility that provides management data to FIDO SYSOPS. The reports are too comprehensive to be included in this article (they also require a full 80 columns). However, a few partial examples might be of interest: The Compressed Console Log Report provides a daily listing of all callers showing the time they called, baud rate, length of connection, name, incorrect password attempts, file uploads, file downloads, and identifies first time callers. The Download Log Report shows, during the analysis period, how many times various files have been downloaded. Arranged alphabetically, this helps a SYSOP determine when certain files should be removed. The Upload Log Report lists files uploaded as well as the names, dates, and times the uploads took place. This is an excellent means of determining who uploaded selected files. However, the real power if SYSREPT is in the Utilization Report. The entire report cannot be contained in a FidoNews article due to column width limitations. However, this should give you a good idea as to how it looks: Fidonews Page 6 12 May 1986 FIDO UTILIZATION REPORT FOR RAMS - Node 14/61 From 20 Apr 86 to 26 Apr 86 Percentages Averaged over this 7 day period Report Printed on: 5/03/1986 at 23:29 Data From: SYSOP.LOG 100%-| | - | | | | | - - | | 90%-| | | | | | | | | - - - | | | | | 80%-| | | - | | | | - | | | | | | | | | | | | | | * 70%-| | | | | | | | | | * | - | * | | | * | | | * | | | 60%-| | | | | | * | | | | | | | | | * * | | * - | | | | | 50%-| | - * | | | | | | * | | | * | | | | | | | | | * | | | | | 40%-| | - | | | | - | | | | | | | | | | * * | | | | | | | - | | | 30%-| | | | | - | | | - | | | | | | - - | | | - | | | | - 20%-| - - | - - - - | - - - | | | | - 10%-| * * * | | | | 0% |--------------------------------------------------------- 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 Midnight Noon Calling Baud Rates Utilization Statistics ------------------ ---------------------- 300 Baud - 52 ( 18%) Total Up-Time- 10080 Min 1200 Baud - 178 ( 61%) In-Use-Time- 5042 Min 2400 Baud - 60 ( 21%) FIDONET (est)- 420 Min ------------------ Avg Utilization- 52.2% Total Calls This Period - 290 (about 41 calls per day) Incomplete Logins - 23 (about 3 per day) Average Call Duration - 17.4 (+/- 15.6) min. FidoNet active from 3:00am to 4:00am. File Upload/Download Activity ----------------------------- Transfer Type Total this period Avg/Day ------------- ----------------- ------- Uploads 28 4.0 Downloads 255 36.4 Fidonews Page 7 12 May 1986 SYSREPT may be downloaded from several nodes. The most current version is always available from FIDO 14/61 (507-289-8452, 2400 baud/ 23hrs ) in File Area #1 (Fido Software). You could also check 100/22 or other nodes in St. Louis. They have an early copy because without Ben Baker's help, the new version of SYSREPT would only be a gleam in my eye. Ben offered many excellent suggestions and provides considerable quantities of test data. Although SYSREPT will now handle the SYSOP.LOG file, there are still a few anomolies that are difficult to interpret. Since we humans cannot figure out what the .LOG file means in all circumstances, SYSREPT will err on the side of being conservative. It will not report a file as being downloaded unless it can prove that the download was successful. Please feel free to forward comments/criticisms etc, to: Alfred Anderson FIDO 14/61 (Note: SYSREPT is available to any FIDO Sysop free of charge. It is made available to help others. No request for "donations" is being made. Just enjoy using the software.) ----------------------------------------------------------------- Fidonews Page 8 12 May 1986 ================================================================= COLUMNS ================================================================= ADVENTURE Revisted By Jim Butterfield Adventures are good for you. The increase literacy and exercise your mind. They can be fun to create, and fun to solve. And (don't quote me on this) they're fun to cheat on, too -- sneaking answers out of the program when you can't figure out what to do next. It's worth making comments on the "sneaking" part. When I'm asked "How do you get past the snake?" or some other question spawned from utter frustration, I tend to have a standard reply: "Ask me again, and I'll tell you the answer ... but first, think and be sure you really WANT it." It's annoying to be told something that you would have thought of yourself... any moment now. Similarly, in anticipation of clever adverturers listing the program and browsing through my files, I carefully encrypted the command list. This is particularly Machiavellian on my part, I think. An experienced programmer can find out what might happen, but still not how to make it happen. I'm talking, of course, about the original Adventure, which was written by Crowther and Woods. It grew -- in organic manner -- at M.I.T., and quickly spread to all Digital Equipment Corporation (DEC) computer systems, worldwide. Many big computer users didn't even know they had it, but file advent was there, all right. It took up a huge amount of memory. The architecture of large systems allowed such programs to be restricted to quiet times, so that the command HOURS would list -- from the system log -- the non-priority hours during which Adventure could be played. When micros started to gain attention, Adventure became a common case in point for computer users. Many users said: "These small computers are all very well, but I can tell you one problem which will never fit..." -- meaning the original Adventure. And when 8K machines expanded to 16K and then 32K, I decided I needed to take a shot at it. I viewed the game as a "classic"; I didn't want to change it or put in my own cute things. For memory and run time considerations, I abbreviated a few small parts of the game. Let me tell you a little about Adventure, if you've never been there. You begin by finding yourself at the end of a road before a small brick building. A stream runs out of the building. From that point on, you're on your own -- except for a rumour that somewhere nearby is supposed to be a Colossal Cave, filled with fabulous wealth. Fidonews Page 9 12 May 1986 When you find the cave, you're confronted by dozens of events. The cave is populated by dwarves, a troll, a dragon, a giant clam, a tiny bird, a shadowy figure off in the distance, something that rustles as it follows you, a little plant that whispers "water," a fierce green snake, and a bear. Some of the treasures seem to have special problems: a delicate Ming vase can be picked up, but breaks when it's dropped; a gold nugget makes the exit stairway vanish if you pick it up; and a platinum pyramid is not only invisible in a dark room, but won't fit through the tiny exit hole. But -- as is often said -- there are no problems, there are only challenges. Even in the early days, Adventure inspired a host of emulators. TPUG President Michael Bonnycastle wrote Caves and Stygian Tombs, so as to devise an interesting adventure that would fit within 8K of memory. As a response, I wrote an "array" adventure called Explore to demonstrate how to fit the maximum number of rooms within limited memory. As systems grew in memory size and general capability, even the classic Adventure was overtaken by successors. The Zork series allows much more flexible syntax: where Adventure permits permits only two words, a verb and a noun, Zork will deal with a sentence such as: "Put the cake on the table." A few words of caution: it's very easy to make adventure writing an ego trip: putting in clues that nobody will be able to solve if they aren't "in." Players tire very quickly of a game if they feel that it's not a challenge, just an exercise to show how clever the writer is. On the other hand, an adventure shouldn't be a dull recital. Nothing is more booring than proceeding along and killing everything in sight. Maybe your strength will give out, or maybe you'll make it through, but there's little exercise for the mind here. I recall having a discussion with an adventure-writer about non-violent adventures. The idea was that you couldn't get killed or hurt, and couldn't lose the game. The thought was laudable, but the game was a little dull; if you knew you couldn't fail, you didn't have the same motivation. In contrast, a preschool game called Thirsty Nellan offers challenge and a good interest level. Educators have told me that adventure games make a major contribution to reading skills. Kids who are almost illiterate will learn to read better in order to understand the adventure situations ... and will learn to spell better. After all, if you want to take the necklace and type TAKE NECKLISS, the computer won't give you the booty. (c) Copyright 1985 Jim Butterfield. Permission to reprint is hereby granted provided this notice is included in the reprinted material. ----------------------------------------------------------------- Fidonews Page 10 12 May 1986 David Dodell, Fido Bugs West, 1/98 Marvin Shelton, Fido Bugs East, 1/99 FIDO Bug Reports Killing Fido's Fleas The amount of reports has steadily been increasing, however most reports are due to sysop error or some type of set-up problem. However, this week a serious problem was detected, but the report reached me in a round-about fashion - delaying getting the report to Tom Jennings. If you find a problem with FIDO, please send it direct to either 1/98 or 1/99 - do not send it to 1/0 or any of the help nodes - this just delays the process of getting the reports to the correct source. Problem: You can attach FILES.BBS as a netfile and it overwrites the present FILES.BBS; Tom's response: File attach of FILES.BBS: yes, that does happen. I don't consider it a bug, per se. File attach is sysop only, for tons of reasons, such as accountability, legal file limit checks, etc etc. This is one of those; the whole philosophy of Fido's design is that the sysop has complete power, and only users are limited in what they can do. Moral: with power comes responsibility. Problem: File Transfer name was described incorrectly, mixup with MODEM7 and BATCH; Tom's response: FILEXFER.HLP: yes, that's an oversight, I had not thought of that. I would suggest the easiest solution is for sysop's to edit. I'll change my distribution copy here also. Problem: Problem with specific modems; Tom's response: My position on modems is: if its not specifically listed in the manual as supported, problems with it are not my responsibility. This is a classic example why. Supposed "Hayes compatible" modems aren't , I warned against this heavily in the manual. It is unfortunate, but I can't do anything about it. Obviously it is returning a funny result code. I bet there is a simple work around, maybe an ATXn command, to eliminate the funny result code. Put them into the usual FIDOMDM.BBS. The Hayes 1200 returns only 1 CONNECT, 2 RING, 3 NO CARRIER or 5 CONNECT 1200. Others return BUSY, VOICE, etc, so this modem is returning non- standard result codes, and hence is NOT Hayes compatible. I will repeat my standard blab, which you can pass on: "AT commands do not make a Hayes compatible modem." Problem: The scheduler is not starting up at event #1 and scanning the list down; Tom's response: Fidonews Page 11 12 May 1986 I'm not sure what is happening with the event stuff. It was my understanding as well that it should find the first runable one in the list, ie. the lowest numbered event. Unless there is some bug, it's probably operator error. Make sure the event is not 0 length, etc. OH YES, there is a bug .... it has to do with midnight. Events over the midnights edge (00 o'clock) aren't noticed until after midnights. i.e. a user calling in at 11 pm wont be notified of an event running at 12:01 am. The scheduler will have the same limitation. Ahh ... the control flow used to select the next runable event is NOT straightforward ... it is extremely complex, and even worse, undocumented. It makes sense most of the time, and was chosen (ie. it grew) to cover 99.99% of all cases, and except for the midnight bug, works well. With a few exceptions. My advice: fiddle it until it works. I hate to say! The scheduler has some subtle problems to get around, such as the aforementioned overlapping events, and tries to do things in the order a person would do them, not necessarily in the order you think a dumb machine would do them in. Oh well, if its not one thing its another ... Problem: Kermit Transfer continued: KERMIT BUG: If 8 bit quoting is enabled, and exactly two successive 7e hexes are found in the data, uploading to Fido will treat them as a repeat count prefix and wreck the data. There is a fixup file by a sysop or user called FIDOKFIX, but I have repaired the code and the next revision will have it working correctly. ----------------------------------------------------------------- Fidonews Page 12 12 May 1986 Notes from Abroad The Never Ending Story by Helge Vindenes I have just read what Frank wrote about the Dataflex Modem, and being the one who jumped on a plane to London to pick up the modem, I feel I have to share some of my experience with the modem with you. The Dataflex Modem is everything that it claims to be, and when it says that it is totally Hayes compatible, then it is true. But there is one BIG bug and that bug means that the modem is useless outside UK. The reason is that when someone calls my Fido and then hangs up the phone before they are logged in to the Fido or if they log off before my modem has disconnected them, then the modem takes hold of the dial tone and believes that the tone is a carrier. It can then hang on the dial tone for years. Perhaps it is not correct to call it a bug, it is rather an error because of the difference in British telephone system and the one we have in Norway and most other places in Europe. In UK you can pick up the phone and if you don't start dialing within 30 seconds the dialing tone will disappear and telephone will be dead. And then the problem is over for the English. The modem will disconnect and everything is ok. But in Norway and Holland, if you don't start dialing after 30 or 40 seconds then you will have the occupied tone from the phone and Dataflex takes that one for a carrier as well. And then there is only one thing to do: switch the computer off and then on again. And if it is a lucky day then you have to repeat this operation ten or twenty times. I have talked with Bob Manekshaw about this problem and he is working on it. I hope to hear from him soon. But until this thing has been fixed I think you should wait if you are thinking about buying a Dataflex modem. Conclusion: As soon as the above mentioned problem is solved I will strongly advise you to order a Dataflex modem. It is well designed and the documentation is good. And I wouldn't be surprised if Dataflex would come with a 1200 2400 FD modem before next summer. If not, I guess I have to buy a ticket to USA and get a US Robotic. * I'm afraid many of us in the UK have the same problem, me included. I too have to reset the modem when this problem occurs. When I spoke to British Telecom about this problem they suggested that I have my lines changed to ones that cannot make outgoing calls...... ----------------------------------------------------------------- Fidonews Page 13 12 May 1986 ================================================================= WANTED ================================================================= Thomas Kenny, 107/316 I'm very interested in ECHOMAIL networking. I know this is a can of worms, since some (many?) think ECHOMAIL may (will?) ruin FidoNet. Well I'm open minded and think it just might work out. Now to finally get to the point. I've been on a few different FIDOs across the country and have discovered that the use of ECHOMAIL is much more widespread then I originally thought! I've seen several interesting topics being networked, but would have never known about them. Since there is nobody (as far as I know) acting as an ECHOMAIL coordinator I'd like to volunteer. I'd like to do two things. 1 Find out which Sysops are running ECHOMAIL and for what topic. 2 Create a wishlist registry. This way if a Sysop wants to network an ECHOMAIL topic or generate interest in a new ECHOMAIL topic there will be a clearing house for such an activity! I ask everybody that is reading this to please send me FidoNet mail if you: 1 Are a sysop running ECHOMAIL (what topic & routing), 2 know of a system running ECHOMAIL (what net/node & topic), 3 wish there was somebody else that shared a common interest (what topic). Thank you very much, Thomas Kenny, Metatek FIDO, 107/316. ----------------------------------------------------------------- Fidonews Page 14 12 May 1986 ================================================================= FOR SALE ================================================================= ENTERTAINMENT SOFTWARE FOR YOUR PC! SUPERDOTS! KALAH! Professional quality games include PASCAL source! From the author of KALAH Version 1.6, SuperDots, a variation of the popular pencil/paper DOTS game, has MAGIC and HIDDEN DOT options. KALAH 1.7 is an African strategy game requiring skill to manipulate pegs around a playing board. Both games use the ANSI Escape sequences provided with the ANSI.SYS device driver for the IBM-PC, or built into the firmware on the DEC Rainbow. Only $19.95 each or $39.95 for both exciting games! Please specify version and disk format. These games have been written in standard TURBO-PASCAL and run on the IBM-PC, DEC Rainbow 100 (MSDOS and CPM), CPM/80, CPM/86, and PDP-11. Other disk formats are available, but minor customization may be required. BSS Software P.O. Box 3827 Cherry Hill, NJ 08034 For every order placed, a donation will be made to the Fido coordinators! Also, if you have a previous version of KALAH and send me a donation, a portion of that donation will also be sent to the coordinators. When you place an order, BE CERTAIN TO MENTION WHERE YOU SAW THE AD since it also appears in PC Magazine and Digital Review. Questions and comments can be sent to: Brian Sietz at Fido 107/17 (609) 429-6630 300/1200/2400 baud ----------------------------------------------------------------- Fidonews Page 15 12 May 1986 Now available from Micro Consulting Associates!! Public Domain collection - 300+ "ARC" archives - 10 megs of software and other goodies, and that's "archived" size! When unpacked, you get approximately 17 megabytes worth of all kinds of software, from text editors to games to unprotection schemes to communications programs, compilers, interpreters, etc... This collection is the result of more than 10 months of intensive downloads from just about 100 or more BBS's and other sources, all of which have been examined, indexed and archived for your convenience. Starting a Bulletin Board System? Want to add on to your software base without spending thousands of dollars? This is the answer!!! To order the library, send $100 (personal or company check, postal money order or company purchase order) to: Micro Consulting Associates, Fido 103/511 Post Office Box 4296 200-1/2 E. Balboa Boulevard Balboa, Ca. 92661-4296 Please allow 3 weeks for delivery of your order. Note: No profit is made from the sale of the Public Domain software in this collection. The price is applied entirely to the cost of downloading the software over the phone lines, running a BBS to receive file submissions, and inspecting, cataloguing, archiving and maintaining the files. Obtaining this software yourself through the use of a computer with a modem using commercial phone access would cost you much more than what we charge for the service... Please specify what type of format you would like the disks to be prepared on. The following choices are available: IBM PC-DOS Backup utility Zenith MS-DOS 2.11 Backup Utility DSBackup Fastback Plain ol' files (add $50, though, it's a lot of work and takes more diskettes...) Add $30 if you want the library on 1.2 meg AT disks (more expensive disks). There are no shipping or handling charges. California residents add 6% tax. For each sale, $10 will go to the FidoNet Administrators. ----------------------------------------------------------------- Fidonews Page 16 12 May 1986 SEAdog Electronic Mail System Special Offer for FidoNet Sysops System Enhancement Associates, the makers of the popular ARC file archive utility, are proud to announce the release of the SEAdog electronic mail system. SEAdog is a PC-based electronic mail system which is fully FidoNet compatible. In addition to all the functionality of FidoNet mail, SEAdog adds the following: o User directory support, for automatic lookup of node numbers o Return receipts o Audit trails o Message forwarding, with or without a retained copy o Twenty four hour mail reception o High priority mail for immediate delivery o The ability to request files and updates of files from other SEAdog systems. o No route files needed! o A full screen user interface that our beta test sites fell in love with! SEAdog is NOT a bulletin board system, but it can be used as a "front end" for Fido (version 11q or later), allowing you to add the full functionality of SEAdog to your existing system. SEAdog normally sells for $100/node, but for a limited time only we are offering SEAdog to registered FidoNet sysops for only $50! Orders may be placed by sending a check or money order to: System Enhancement Associates 21 New Street, Wayne NJ 07470 Or by calling (201) 473-5153 (VISA and MasterCard accepted). ----------------------------------------------------------------- Fidonews Page 17 12 May 1986 ================================================================= NOTICES ================================================================= **** WARNING *** WARNING *** WARNING *** WARNING *** WARNING **** There is a program called ARC513.COM floating around, which many well meaning users are uploading to a number of boards. This is NOT an authorized release of ARC! The latest version of ARC is still version 5.12. ARC513.COM appears to be a hacked version of 5.12, and has been reported to trash the boot sector of the current drive. If this file is on your board, please delete it. If you see this file on any board, please advise the sysop of its true nature. **** WARNING *** WARNING *** WARNING *** WARNING *** WARNING **** ----------------------------------------------------------------- The Interrupt Stack 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 FidoNet node 1/1. ----------------------------------------------------------------- Bruce White, 109/612 Gruesome George by Bruce White +-------------------------------------------------+ |_ | | \ | | \ | | Now, George, I AAARRRGGGHHH!!! | | think you're | | | overreacting. | ____\__ | | One mistake FATAL ERROR | |_| \ | | in four hours \ _____ |\ | | is no reason \_| _ | | | | to get so upset. ______ | |_| | | | | __(______)_|_____|___ | | | ||-----------------|| | | | ______ || || | | | \ {} / || || | | |(c) 1986 bw \__/ ||_________________||__|__| +-------------------------------------------------+ Fidonews Page 18 12 May 1986 ----------------------------------------------------------------- Robert Eskridge, 124/109 As an answer to the difficulties of playing Avalon Hills premier board game, Diplomacy, either over a table or by US Mail, a Fido board dedicated to the game is now in operation. - THE DIPLOMAT - Fido 124/109 (214) 242-9399 2400 baud In the interests of learning from others, we are soliciting any information on previous games played by electronic mail. Items of particular interest are: - Where was the game (City, board, network)? - Who played? - Who judged the game? (a program?) - What kind of time table did was used? - What did you like most (and least) about the game? If you have any information at all, or if you would like to apply to play in the first game (tentative start 5/21/86), please send FidoMail to BRYNY at Net 124/109. ----------------------------------------------------------------- Metro-Fire Fido, 135/14, will be celebrating its First Birthday with a Birthday Bash Picnic Extravaganza and Floppy Throwing Contest. This momentous event will take place on Sunday, 18 May 1986, at the East Everglades estate of Liz Pittenger from 1100- 1900. All users of Metro-Fire Fido and their families and guests are invited to attend. A further invitation is extended to all FidoNews readers wherever you may be. If you are going to be in Miami, Florida on the 18th of May, come on over and have a Hot Fido (dog) and a Classic Coke. Details are on the BBS. Call 305- 596-8611 for Fido or 305-596-8576 for me. See you there! Christopher Baker, Sysop, 135/14. ----------------------------------------------------------------- Chuck Lawson, 124/102 Notice of Renumbering of Net 124 Fidonews Page 19 12 May 1986 Effective with the May 2nd Nodelist, Net 124 (Dallas Metroplex Net) has been renumbered. The following is a conversion table: New Number Name Old Number --------------------------------------------------- 124/100......Dallas Inbound (Hub).........Unchanged 124/101.....Schnee's Friendly Fido...........124/7 124/102.....Inside Track Edition............124/12 124/103.....Micro Fido......................124/14 124/104.....WARBLE2.........................124/16 124/105.....Night City.......................124/6 124/106.....Star's End.......................124/5 124/107.....The Computer Shoppe.............124/19 124/108.....The P.O.L.E. ...................124/20 124/109.....The Diplomat....................124/21 124/110.....Flying Dutchman #1..............124/22 124/111.....Pink World Fido................124/101 124/200......Dallas Outbound (Hub)........Unchanged 124/201.....Fido Daltex......................124/1 124/3.......Dodge City...................Unchanged 124/203.....Tri-C............................124/8 124/10......Big D Fido...................Unchanged 124/205.....Video Bar BBS...................124/11 124/206.....Rising Star.....................124/16 124/207.....ComputerCraft Supportlink.......124/17 124/208.....Arlington Fido...................124/4 124/210.....SCA Inc.........................124/18 124/211.....Flying Dutchman # 2.............124/23 If you are sending mail to Dallas, please be sure to update your nodelist. If you maintain any lists of specialty Fidos, echomail to, or send robot mail to any nodes in 124, please note any changes. Thanks One and All, and thanks to all the sysops in Net-124 for putting up with the reorganization! ----------------------------------------------------------------- Mike Hamilton, 103/510 Due to several occurrences of violation of privileges here on the West Coast it has become necessary to request the following help from our fellow SYSOPS. On several occasions my name and the name of Glenn Bowes have been used in attempts to break in to other systems or used as the logging in names to leave obscene files or messages on other boards. In an attempt to protect us all we make the following request. Please remove the following two occurrences of users from any and all boards on which it occurs: NAME Password City Mike Hamilton MIKE Garden Grove,CA or Fidonews Page 20 12 May 1986 Anaheim,CA Glenn Bowes DELTA Torrance,CA or Anaheim,CA If you feel this is too drastic a measure for your board then please advise us individually where we are logged in by net mail direct to our boards. Mine is 103/501. Glenn's is 102/104. I apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused but we can put the blame directly on other sysops for making this necessary. -----------------------------------------------------------------