Volume 7, Number 33 13 August 1990 +---------------------------------------------------------------+ | _ | | / \ | | /|oo \ | | - FidoNews - (_| /_) | | _`@/_ \ _ | | FidoNet (r) | | \ \\ | | International BBS Network | (*) | \ )) | | Newsletter ______ |__U__| / \// | | / FIDO \ _//|| _\ / | | (________) (_/(_|(____/ | | (jm) | +---------------------------------------------------------------+ Editor in Chief: Vince Perriello Editors Emeritii: Thom Henderson, Dale Lovell Chief Procrastinator Emeritus: Tom Jennings Copyright 1990, Fido Software. All rights reserved. Duplication and/or distribution permitted for noncommercial purposes only. For use in other circumstances, please contact Fido Software. FidoNews is published weekly by the System Operators of the FidoNet (r) International BBS Network. It is a compilation of individual articles contributed by their authors or authorized agents of the authors. The contribution of articles to this compilation does not diminish the rights of the authors. You are encouraged to submit articles for publication in FidoNews. Article submission standards are contained in the file ARTSPEC.DOC, available from node 1:1/1. 1:1/1 is a Continuous Mail system, available for network mail 24 hours a day. Fido and FidoNet are registered trademarks of Tom Jennings of Fido Software, Box 77731, San Francisco CA 94107, USA and are used with permission. Opinions expressed in FidoNews articles are those of the authors and are not necessarily those of the Editor or of Fido Software. Most articles are unsolicited. Our policy is to publish every responsible submission received. Table of Contents 1. EDITORIAL ................................................ 1 2. ARTICLES ................................................. 2 Fight-O-News! ............................................ 2 A View From the Edge ..................................... 4 Long Distance Competition Comes to Canada? ............... 6 MYBEEF.ART ............................................... 8 Networking the U.S.S.R ................................... 10 3. LETTERS TO THE EDITOR .................................... 16 Letter to the Editor ..................................... 16 4. LATEST VERSIONS .......................................... 22 Latest Software Versions ................................. 22 And more! FidoNews 7-33 Page 1 13 Aug 1990 ================================================================= EDITORIAL ================================================================= This week, I gave the whole archiving issue some serious thought. As usual, I went through the gamut of emotions and kept vacillating between wanting to write the flame of the century, and just quietly pulling the plug. All foolish thoughts. I think that's what friends are for. To help keep foolish thoughts from becoming foolish deeds. I should probably consult them even more often than I do. I have pretty much decided what I am going to do vis-a-vis compression methods for FidoNews. But I'm not up to composing the entire explanation right now. Besides, between Isaac Aziza and Saddam Hussein, I think we're busy enough for this week. On another front, we're trying something different this week. We're publishing an article that includes a picture. This picture is in GIF format. The filename syntax I have decided on is based on the current FidoNews issue and picture number, so the one picture this week will be named FN073301.GIF, which means the first picture in FidoNews Volume 7 Number 33. I don't know how all this is going to work out. It might be the only time I ever try this. We might find a format other than GIF that makes more sense for FidoNews. But it seems relatively harmless to try it once and see what happens. Besides, the story it accompanies is funny enough anyway! Cheers, Vince ----------------------------------------------------------------- FidoNews 7-33 Page 2 13 Aug 1990 ================================================================= ARTICLES ================================================================= [Editor's Note: This article was found, in leaflet format, at the recent Conclave '90 convention. With our usual efficiency, we located the responsible parties and arranged for permission to republish it here. After all, why shouldn't those of you who didn't get to Jersey have to miss out? I hope it goes without saying that this is all tongue-in-cheek. Please try to take it that way.] Fight-O-News! Volume 1, No. 6 Fidocon '90 Edition August 1, 1990 MORAVSIK TAKES OVER FIGHT-O-NET!!! ---------------------------------- [Photograph in File FN073301.GIF] Morristown, NJ -- in an unexpected turn of events, Robert J. Moravsik, an attorney from Morris Plains, NJ has been named International Coordinator of Fight-O-Net, taking office immediately, according to wire services. Moravsik replaces Waylon & Madam as IC, and has already begun work on the tedious task of restoring control of the network to the general membership. In a press conference scheduled for later today, Moravsik is expected to announce the first phase of his "power monger" purge, naming several Fight-O-Criminals to face the excommunication squad. Reliable sources indicate that several persons have been arrested by the Echomail Police and will face prosecution for serious socioecho violations committed over the last several years. Moravsik is also expected to announce the lifting of the Iron Curtain that has kept most Fight-O-Net members in New Jersey under the heavy handed rule of the Deathnet Group Censor. A Moravsik spokesman, shortly after the IC appointment announcement, was quoted as saying "It's Bob-O's intention to liberate Nyet 107, the last bastion of totalitarianist rule in New Jersey, and possibly in all of Fight-O-Net North America." Moravsik is expected to announce his new cabinet later in the week. FidoNews 7-33 Page 3 13 Aug 1990 SSS WORRIED ----------- The Secret Sissy's Society (SSS), the governing body of DeathNet, issued a statement shortly after being informed of the Moravsik appointment. SSS Spokesthing Lord Dimwit Buonozo the Excessive stated that no democratic takeover of Fight-O-Net would be tolerated while the SSS says it's in control. "The appointment of Moravsik is meaningless. Any attempt at democracy that is not drafted or at least approved by the SSS will not be permitted and will not be tolerated. If Moravsik thinks he can have democracy without our approval, then we'll just have to invent enough nodes to cast enough votes to vote him out." When informed of possible opposition by the SSS, the Moravsik camp simply responded that "excommunicated nodes have no say in matters that concern the network." According to insiders, one of the first people to be charged with serious socioecho violations will be Emperor Fabozo Gordinski. Gordinski has been charged with doctoring origin lines and node numbers in order to deceive conference participants. It is not known at this time if Gordinski is actually in custody. Moravik's rise to power began with his uncontested election to the post of Moderator of the SYSOP conference, his hard-hitting investigation of the ConGate scandal, and his revelation of echomail profiteering in the network. Once an unwilling member of the DeathNet regime, Moravsik defected in May of 1989 and devoted his energies to uncovering rampant abuses, censorship, and coverups in that organization. ----------------------------------------------------------------- FidoNews 7-33 Page 4 13 Aug 1990 Preston McMurry A Sometime Sysop A View From the Edge Is it just me, or does it seem like there is a general lack of tolerance in some echoes? Specifically, the HUMOR echo and some of the adult echoes. Users seem to take the controversial nature of those echoes as an license to violate the FidoNet rule against flaming. Constantly. With great vehemance. Granted, some people are going to be offended by the very nature of certain echoes (GAYNEWS, for example). But that is not an excuse to join an echo just to criticize it. Nor is THAT an excuse to turn on full afterburners in response. You don't need to respond to twits. You shouldn't respond to twits. If you see an attack on something you believe in, or on someone you like, it is human nature to want to answer the challenge. Instead, think about whether you really should reply. If you violently disagree with what you just read, a reply may not be the best idea ... Chances are if you don't respond, the twit will not continue his/her disruption. The only reason twits do twit-like things is to get attention. Call them 'Terro-twits.' Remember, humor is the best response. And a string of expletives isn't, despite what Eddie Murphy might believe, funny. I can deal with 'terro-twits.' I know what their game is, and I don't let it bother me. But what really gets me is those folks who respond to 'terro-twits': They cause the problem to get blown up out of all proportion to the original damage done and, in my opinion, are even more annoying than the original dummy who started the whole fracas. USERS, if you feel that another user has been 'excessively annoying,' let your sysop know. S/he can do something about it. You can't. Especially not by escalating the verbal war. Let the moderators and sysops handle the twits - it's their job. SYSOPS, if the twit is on another board, let the twit's home sysop know - not the whole echo. Try to deal with the problem at the lowest level possible. MODERATORS, keep a closer eye on your echoes. If a 'terro-twit' strikes, don't try to reason with him/her. Just send netmail to the originating board letting the sysop know that one of his/her users is being a weenie. If the behavior continues to occur (and don't forget the inherent delays in echo - there may still be some twit garbage in the system), cut that board off. FidoNews 7-33 Page 5 13 Aug 1990 As a user, it bugs me when I have to wade through a single 'terro-twit' incursion, and several dozen indignant responses, just to get a few on-topic messages. As a sometime sysop, it costs me. I now return you to your regularly scheduled newsletter ... ----------------------------------------------------------------- FidoNews 7-33 Page 6 13 Aug 1990 Jack Decker 1:154/8 LONG DISTANCE COMPETITION COMES TO CANADA? An article in the August 6, 1990 issue of _Communications Week_ (a U.S. telecommunications industry publication) tells how Toronto-based Unitel (a company jointly owned by the Canadian Pacific Railway and Rogers Cable) wants to build a long distance voice network and link it to the networks of the local exchange carriers owned and operated by Bell Canada. Of course, Bell Canada is opposed to this, saying that Canada is too small in terms of population (25 million as opposed to some 250 million in the U.S.) to support two networks carrying long distance traffic. Unitel feels that competition would force Bell Canada to lower its rates and improve its network. What's interesting and potentially important to Canadian sysops is one statement in the article: "Unitel ... already competes with Bell Canada for long distance data traffic." A previous article, in the January 29, 1990 issue of _Network World_ (another U.S. telecommunications industry publication) clarifies the situation: "Although [CNCP Telecommunications, the predecessor to Unitel] provides some switched services today on its long-haul, fiber-optic, microwave network, it is prohibited from dumping switched voice onto the public network." Later in the same article: "If CNCP was able to enter the switched voice market ... the company would follow the same tack it has taken with facsimile service, which it began offering in 1989 at prices 25% to 30% below those available through the public switched network. "CNCP offers fax service over a network of several Northern Telecom, Inc. DMS-250 switches, which also handle the company's private switched voice traffic." Stop and think about this for a moment... don't fax machines use plain old ordinary garden variety telephone lines to communicate with each other? So the question arises, if CNCP (now Unitel) can handle fax transmissions, why couldn't someone sign up for that service, then unplug the fax machines, plug in a couple of telephones, and carry on a conversation at rates 30% below the rates offered by their local phone company? Well, apparently, the answer is that they could, except that it's not "legal", and some equipment has been installed to prevent this. To further quote from the Network World article: "Users access the fax network by dialing into their local carriers, which maintain dedicated links to the CNCP long-haul network. Although this network could be used to transmit switched voice to the local exchange, CNCP is currently required to install devices that shut down a circuit if voice traffic is transmitted for more than a minute." FidoNews 7-33 Page 7 13 Aug 1990 If I were a Canadian sysop, and were moving any volume of mail via long distance within Canada, I'd sure want to investigate the availability and pricing of access to that Unitel fax/data network. After all, modem tones are modem tones, whether they come from the modem within a fax machine or the modem attached to a personal computer. Their network should be able to handle either one perfectly well. If the folks at Unitel aren't currently courting personal computer users as customers, it's probably only because they don't realize that there's a market out there. Personally, I live about two miles south of the border, so this service is of no real use to me. But since most Canadian sysops probably don't have access to these U.S. publications, I thought I'd at least pass the word on this. If you'd like to have competition in voice long distance traffic as well (and get some of the lower long distance rates that we in the states have enjoyed for the last few years), this might be a good time to let the CRTC know about it. The CRTC has already rejected competition in switched voice services once, back in 1985, but if you want it now, perhaps you can convince them that the time is right. In the meantime, let me know if you have any success in getting your echomail via Unitel's network, and if the savings are as good as claimed. ----------------------------------------------------------------- FidoNews 7-33 Page 8 13 Aug 1990 Richard Bash 1:161/357 MY BEEF Dear whomever: OK, I read with considerably less than glowing enthusiasm the comments of the person who wrote the editorial in FIDO731.NWS. That genius did not leave a name for all his/her efforts. Perhaps that name is familiar to more senior SysOps (I have played this Fido game for about a year). I presume that because there was no name that he/she decided to hide behind the skirt of obscurity. So much for the niceties. I have a major beef about the use of the LZH style archive. Regardless of whatever possible merits it may have (meaning that it is in the public domain, it's free to all the cheapos in Fido, etc.), the LHARC routine and its LZH tag on files archived with it are anything BUT standard. Look, folks, there are two standards: ARC and ZIP. If you don't like ARC, go to ZIP. Another point (you folks'll love this one) is that LHARC is a Japanese product. Frankly, I'm fed up to my eyeballs with Japanese products! So, show a little patriotism and pick an American archiver, for Pete's sake. All right, you say, this bozo's upset about our Japanese cousins, doesn't understand the love-hate relationship the gurus of Fido have with SEA, doesn't understand that an amatuer network requires a free software package, and doesn't understand that Phil Katz (author of the ZIP method of archiving) requires registration. Wrong on all counts, sweetheart. I am certain there are far more articulate SysOps out there than this tired, greying head. Those who are can better phrase this: frankly, I don't care about your romance or lack of it with SEA. They seem to be a barrier here, so let's go around them. Fido should have dropped ARC a zillion years ago in favor of ZIP. Katz has a good product. Let's use it and move on. Enough of this LZH nonsense. Dear leaders of Fido, either ARC the files or ZIP the files. But do one or the other and do it now, please. No more surprises. Thanks for your apt attention. FidoNews 7-33 Page 9 13 Aug 1990 Love and kisses, Richard Bash Combat Arms BBS - 1:161/357 2869 Grove Way Castro Valley, CA 94546 BBS: 415-537-1777 Voice: 415-538-6544 ----------------------------------------------------------------- FidoNews 7-33 Page 10 13 Aug 1990 Dennis McClain-Furmanski Fido 1:275/2.1 Networking The Soviet Union Since the Iron Curtain has been pulling aside, communications with what was the Eastern Bloc has been on the increase. This is due to the relaxation of what's called security restrictions on both sides, and to the interest and commitment of some of the just plain people involved. Already, there has been a regular Aeroflot flight scheduled across the Bering Straits to Nome, Alaska, carrying visitors and mail between newfound friends. Several Soviet citizens involved in that nation's computer community have been travelling here regularly for conferences, and last June held one of their own in Moscow. The time is right for the opening of the East, and its introduction into our network. As Fido grew, the idea that it was for everybody to be able to communicate with everybody else has been maintained. We are now at the point where we can act to expand that principle significantly. As they said in "The Six Million Dollar Man", we have the technology. First, some background. I'm the senior editor for an international newsletter for Apple users called The Road Apple. Last summer, the publisher, Al Martin of Portland, OR was at an Apple conference in Kansas City, MO where he met Vladimir Federov of Moscow. Vladimir is the chief of a Soviet company called LIDAR which produces laser spectrography equipment for pollution research, that runs on their Apple //e clone, the Pravetz-82. Last January, Al made a visit to the Soviet Union to visit LIDAR and the Pravetz factory, and asked Vladimir to act as our Soviet Union editor. Vladimir is also part of the International Computer Club in Moscow, and helped to arrange a conference in Moscow last June for any hardware and software companies to introduce themselves to the Soviet marketplace, and make connections with Soviet outlets so we may import what is produced there. With currency still not convertable, business arrangements are slow going. But the personal contacts are booming. The International Computer Club consists of users of the Soviet computers, the Apple clone - Pravetz-82, and the IBM clone, Pravetz-86. (Pravetz is the birthplace of the president of Bulgaria, where the original computer factory was built. The number is the year of that model's introduction). There's also some western computers that have found their way there, and a domestic CP/M machine, but these are vastly outnumbered by the Pravetz models. FidoNews 7-33 Page 11 13 Aug 1990 The Pravetz-86 is given primarily to engineers and scientists, while the Pravetz-82 is distributed to the schools around the country, and to the Red Army. (The Red Army's administration uses a Cyrillic alphabet version of the thrice superseded AppleWorks 1.3 to take care of things, meaning either that program is much more powerful that most suppose, or else that we have little to fear from the Red Army in terms of organization). There are enough of these machines in use that many people are familiar enough with them to perform their own modifications, and to undertake tasks other than what were originally planned for the machine. As yet, the machines are not available for private ownership, but that may change along with everything else, and there are enough of them installed and used for hobbyists to have access at the workplace. Those hobbyists have banded together, and are taking every step they can to expand their computing horizons beyond their national borders. I propose that the time is right for us to reach towards an already outstretched hand, and offer our expertise and especially our existing software, so that we can form a bond with these fellow computerists. To accomplish the extension of the network to the Soviet Union, we first of all need to transfer software to them. Since there is no Apple compatible Fidonet software available (I'm working on rewriting PUPPY, with Tom Jenning's blessings, but it's slow going) they would need to have MS-DOS compatible versions of BBSs, mailers and FOSSILS. All of their computers use 5.25 inch drives, the IBM compat drives being 360 K only. I have already sent them a series of disks from a local sysop, with the complete Technical Standards and Policy statements, Remote Access, X00 and Front Door. The SPACE Echo moderator, Bev Freed, has offered to send me a complete version of OPUS. What I would ask of the members of this network is that they send complete working copies (unconfigured, of course) of the available software of all sorts, so that it can be transferred to them for use. Also, any technical assistance and advice that can be written down and passed along would be appreciated. To get this to them, couriers must be used. The Soviet postal systems has taken it upon themselves to protect the Motherland from subversive elements, by promptly losing packages containing disks, or X-raying them into oblivion. Hand carrying them is allowed, and no problems have been encountered with Soviet customs over bringing disks into the country. Security restrictions have been lifted, but only in person it seems. Micromanagement appears to be an international concept. To get this software to them, then, I would ask everybody interested in participating to send the disks to me. I am in contact through business and hobby with several people who make trips between us, from either origin. I can arrange for the packages to be at the appropriate place for delivery to the person who will in turn get them to Moscow. This is STRICTLY due to the problem with the postal service there, and not to any FidoNews 7-33 Page 12 13 Aug 1990 security situation. Baggage is often checked, as many of the people who make the trip can attest. They can also attest that they have no questions asked of them by customs concerning the content of the disks. Besides, I'm not asking for anything that isn't available publically already. If the KGB wanted it, they would have logged on to our systems long ago and downloaded it. Shareware fees are somewhat of a problem. Since the currency isn't convertable from the Soviet Union (in fact even *within* the Soviet Union) payment arrangements are tough. The I.C.C. is dedicated to honoring all copyrights and fees for software, as opposed to most of the rest of the USSR, since there's no copyright adherence agreement between them and anyone. I can't speak for the I.C.C., but I do know that they would try to make any arrangement possible with software authors. I will go out on a limb, and request that in the interest of this project, shareware fees be forsaken. This would of course be entirely voluntary, but this is after all a good will gesture. Please consider it. If you can figure out how to create a trade agreement with them, I'm certain it will be honored. Money saide, copyrights and anti-piracy measures are strictly enforced by the I.C.C. Lest someone get the idea that this is a (not so) clever ruse to obtain software for my own use, let me state that my own MS-DOS compatibility is in the form of a daughterboard in my Apple IIgs, called a PC/Transporter. It has no BIOS, but only a translator program to allow the Apple side to take care of all the details. I do not have the ability to run *any* FOSSIL, so this software will do me absolutely no good. If I could run something myself, would I be rewriting PUPPY for the Apple? If you wish, sealed packages with description on the outside can be sent. I have no intention of opening or inspecting any package addressed to them. (A thought occurs to me here, that this would be the optimal time to create a network library of the available software. If there's enough response, it could be started at this time. Y'all decide that.) Once sufficient software is in the hands of the people from the I.C.C., they can go to work building a network of their own, and learning what is necessary to keep it running. From what I've seen of their work, that will take nearly no time at all. The next step, of course, will be for the net to make the arrangements as to where they will fit in. I.E., will they be an extension to Zone 2? (Unlikely. Ground line communications in the U.S.S.R. is notoriously bad. Calling out to western Europe probably won't work). Will they be a Zone of their own? What is needed here is (1) educating them as to how to work with a gate, and (2) setting one up on this end. These details are beyond my humble comprehension, being a mere User and Moderator. I defer to the FidoPowers to forge this concept. [Sorry, I didn't finish this in time for the New Jersey meeting. I trust you all found enough to argue about anyway. ;) ]. FidoNews 7-33 Page 13 13 Aug 1990 With the administration of the network connection decided, the final step will be to create a stable and consistent network signal feed. There's been some investigation done along these lines. I've been working with NASA on a volunteer basis, trying to arrange network access information for all the schools involved in the S.E.E.D.S. project (the tomato seed growth experiment with seeds kept on the Long Duration Exposure Facility satellite for 6.5 years), and the Video Teleconference project. Our plans are to augment these projects with information on how to access the net, and therefore the SPACE Echo, so that participants, children, educators, scientists, administrators and astronauts/cosmonauts alike, can carry on follow-up conversations pertaining to the subjects they're involved in. The SPACE Echo moderator, Bev Freed, has already agreed to offer her services to administrate the traffic through her National Space Society BBS (1:129/104). Tom Jennings has given his copyright release for the public distribution of NODELIST divided up into area codes (contingent on the concurrent availability of the unaltered NODELIST), for the use by the schools to find their nearest available nodes. NASA has been deeply interested in the project, to the point of assigning a representative of the Educational Services division at Langely Research Center to act as point of contact. NASA Administrator Admiral Richard Truly has expressed personal interest in this project, and requested a synopsis of the structure and operation of Fidonet, which I subsequently provided. The majority, but not the entirety, of my involvement of this project has been altrusitic. One of the Video Teleconference projects was to be a link between Johnson Space Center and Moscow, to reunite the Apollo-Soyuz cosmonauts and astronauts. There was talk of including computer communications with this, and subsequent conferences. It occured to me that if they can make it happen whne they want to, then perhaps with enough reason, they would maintain one measley voice channel over their satellite network for an hour a night, so that all of us might benefit from the connection. To this end, I'm still working on the project, and doing my best to give NASA reason for gratidue enough to do this. An alternate technology that could be used is amateur packet-switched radio. Although I've been given contacts to discuss this with, I've not yet persued it. It's a more likely channel to work out for the connection, but I have a personal habit of persuing the pipe dreams first. They're more imbued with "neatism" when they work out. What I am proposing then, is a three part involvement in this project by the members of Fidonet. FidoNews 7-33 Page 14 13 Aug 1990 (1) Collection and shipping of software to the Soviet Union, specifically the International Computer Club, that will give them the ability to form a network, with the expressed intention of joining Fidonet. As I am already involved doing this, I offer my services as the collection and distribution center. Other offers of people heading over there, to carry software to the I.C.C., would be gratefully accepted. The point is to get it there, not who is to do it. (2) Network arrangement as necessary to link the Soviet Union's net into our own. You've done it before, although the process is beyond me. You can do it again. (3) Electronic communication to be established by whatever means available, with a signal to noise ratio able to handle modem quality transmission, and with a consistency to allow regular network mail. I have some ideas and running projects, and am quite open to any suggestions and/or offers on this matter. The final message I have is to answer those who might ask why I'm doing this, and what my underlying concerns are. The answer is very simple. World peace. I figure that if enough just plain old citizens become friends, and learn to communicate with each other, then ultimately, their respective governments will do the same. The sooner we do this, the sooner it will come about. Sure, it's a corny reason to some. This is what happens when a hippie grows up, but doesn't grow out of it. If my intentions are still suspect, then by all means, question them. Even cut me off for being excessively idealistic and weird. But if you do, please, somebody carry out this project. The means is unimportant. The end is very important. Don't confuse the government with the people. Fidonet has always been for the people to communicate through. We have a power to change things that's not often considered, since it's very much a background operation. Bill Wilson, co-founder of Alcoholics Anonymous, the most successful self-help organization in the world, once said "No group will ever change the world by setting out to do so. If there is any hope for our troubled world, it will be from those groups who merely give each of us the ability to change our own little part of it." We can change our own little part of it. We already have. Let's help some others change their own little part of it, and join with our part. We've nothing to gain, except friends. Dennis McClain-Furmanski Moderator, APPLE Echo, and Computer Hippie 1:275/2.1 1:275/32 (netmail) 2565 Shore Drive Virginia Beach, VA 23451 FidoNews 7-33 Page 15 13 Aug 1990 (804) 496-3839 (voice) Al Martin, Publisher The Road Apple 1121 NE 177th Portland, OR 97230 (503) 254-3874 International Computer Club, and Vladimir Federov: 103813, Moscow, Centre, CCCP PROEZD Serova, 4 "ZNANIE" Building V. Federov / ICC - A2 LINK USSR Phone Moscow, 921-0902, Fax 1500 to 0500 Greenwich Mean Time voice at other times. Telex, 411630 (prefered). A SASE will get you an I.C.C. brochure. Snail mail is notoriously slow. My thanks to Bev Freed, George Peace and Tom Jennings for all the assistance and encouragement I've received. Peace. ----------------------------------------------------------------- FidoNews 7-33 Page 16 13 Aug 1990 ================================================================= LETTERS TO THE EDITOR ================================================================= Jack Decker 1:154/8 Letter to the Editor: This is my response to Steve Bonine's "Letter to the Editor" regarding the use of LHARC as a compression method for FidoNews. Normally, I would not jump on someone who's only expressing their opinion, even if I disagree. But for some odd reason, Steve felt the need to drag my name into the issue by making the comment: "Considering the content, I was led to wonder why Jack Decker had been asked to write a guest editorial for FidoNews." Now, it should be fairly obvious to anyone who knows anything about FidoNews that I had nothing to do with that editorial. For one thing, the writer begins the article by saying, "Vince foolishly keeps handing me the keys to FidoNews." I can think of a few people that Vince might hand the "keys to FidoNews" to, but somehow I doubt that I'm one of them. For another thing, the writer later goes on to say: "Systems requesting FidoNews, FNews*.Arc, or anything similar WILL have their requests honored, but with LHArc flavored files. If this means my system will no longer be listed as 1/1, so be it. There's nothing special about having a 1/ listing; it's actually a pain in the butt, done only because someone I respect greatly asked." Now Steve knows that I am not now and never have been listed as 1/1. In fact, if you look in the nodelist for the listing for 1/1, and then do a search for the same phone number elsewhere in the nodelist, you quickly discover that this node is operated by Randall Greylock. For some reason, Steve Bonine seems to feel the need to drag my name into conversations that I'm not participating in, and that have nothing to do with me. He made a rather nasty (and totally uncalled-for) crack about me in the REGION11 conference shortly after he stepped down as ZC, and was rather roundly castigated for it by other participants of the echo. On the other hand, it's true that I have been a rather outspoken proponent of using a more efficient archiving method than ARC, first for echomail and then for FidoNews and the Nodediffs, so perhaps this comment was intended as sort of a backhanded compliment. Or maybe it's just that Steve and I rarely agreed on anything, but more often that not, the opinions of the "fellow sysops" that Steve seems so concerned about (so concerned that he would keep sticking them with higher phone bills than are really necessary by forcing everyone to keep shipping stuff around that has been compressed with ARC) tended to side with my opinions rather than his (it was a close call sometimes, but I think Steve's opinions were more representative of the old-line Fidonet power structure than of the "average sysop"). FidoNews 7-33 Page 17 13 Aug 1990 Much as I hate to under the circumstances, I do have to agree with Steve that it would have been nice to have at least one week's warning that a change was coming. My batch file was "broken" by the change, too. On the other hand, this was one time when I was happy to have to fix my batch file! It's now set up to receive and process FidoNews in LHARC format, and I have no desire to change it back to using ARC. Steve make the comment: "I was amazed, upon reading the editorial, to find that I had been forced to use products of SEA. Silly me! All these years I've been unpacking FidoNews using non-SEA products, and that was wrong!" Well, in re-reading the editorial I didn't find any statement saying that anyone had been forced to use a SEA product. What I do find is a statement that the creators of ARC are making statements to the effect that ARC has become "the industry standard." I disagree with that notion, since many sysops have abandoned ARC for newer, better, and (in some cases) more freely-available compressors. If ARC is making the claim to being "the industry standard" in part because it's still seen as the "official" compression method for Fidonet, then I feel it is our duty to stop showing favoritism to the products of one company when most of the sysops in Fidonet rarely use ARC for any reason other than to unARC FidoNews and Nodediffs. Please note carefully: I have been accused in the past of being anti-SEA. I am NOT. In fact, I wish that the latest version of GroupMail (which overcomes most of the deficiencies of earlier versions) was more widely used in Fidonet. I just happen to feel that Fidonet should not be lending "official support" to the products of any one company over that of another. Steve concludes with: "I can remember when the editor of FidoNews CARED about FidoNet." That's a cheap shot. Actually, I think the editor of FidoNews cares a lot about Fidonet. He cares enough to be part of a team that has released one of the finest pieces of software available in Fidonet (BinkleyTerm), a program that is superior to some of the commercial programs, and has made it freely available, without requesting any payment at all from non-commercial users. I think that shows that he cares plenty about Fidonet. What software have you given to the net, Steve? What have you ever done for the net besides trying to find new and creative ways to kick people out of it? (Okay, that's MY cheap shot for the day... but from my vantage point, it was very true that Steve expended far more energy trying to get certain people, me especially, kicked out of the net than he ever spent in giving anything to the net as a whole. I understand that he has some ardent supporters within Net 115, but relatively few outside that net. Of course, one could always take the view that anyone who was not a supporter of Steve probably didn't last long in Net 115. Steve was one of the most vocal proponents of keeping geographic restrictions in Fidonet, and I still have to wonder why). FidoNews 7-33 Page 18 13 Aug 1990 I would like to conclude this article with the letter that I sent to Randall Greylock on this issue: Message #123, Area "NetMail" From: Jack Decker To: Randall Greylock Tue 07 Aug 90 10:52 Subject: FidoNews compression cc: Vince Perriello 132/491 cc: George Peace 270/101 I just wanted to let you know that I for one very much appreciate the fact that you have started using LHARC for compression of FidoNews. I feel that it is highly appropriate to do this for three reasons: 1) LHARC is about as close to a public domain product as you can get, and is therefore highly suitable for use in an amateur communications network, 2) LHARC compresses much better than ARC, and is sometimes even better than ZIP (especially on text-based files), thus saving everyone money on transfer times, 3) LHARC decompressors are available for just about every type of computer for which Fidonet-compatible software is available, due to the wide availability of source code. I know that you know all of the above (indeed, I think you made essentially the same points in your editorial) but it bears repeating. Besides all of that, the fact is that the ONLY reason that many sysops even keep a copy of ARC around anymore is to have the ability to decompress fidonet-related files and the OCCASIONAL ARC file that a user may upload (which is often promptly converted to some other format, such as LZH, ZIP, or PAK). It's also worth pointing out that many of us had to change our batch files to accommodate the .LZH format FidoNews... I did not mind doing that a bit, since I realize the savings involved! But if I have to change my batch files to go back and handle FidoNews in the inefficient ARC format again, I don't think I'll bother. I would truly like to see the NODEDIFF's distributed in .LZH format also. I think the time has come to make this change, which would probably collectively save the sysops of Fidonet several hundred dollars each year. You will probably get a few complaints from those who basically say "but we've never done it this way." Please ignore them. If Fidonet had never changed, we'd still all be using 1200 bps modems, XMODEM derivatives for file transfers, and ARC only for compression of echomail (hardly any major echomail distributor uses ARC as the primary compression method anymore). In the near future I suspect we will be looking at a new nodelist FidoNews 7-33 Page 19 13 Aug 1990 format, a new format for message packets, and other changes that will make Fidonet more efficient (and give it greater ability to interconnect with other networks). The only things that don't change are DEAD. The change to the use of a more efficient compression method for FidoNews and Nodediffs is LONG overdue, and I'm glad to see that you've taken this initiative. THANK YOU! Jack [end of copied message] One afterthought... here's a suggestion for Fidonews: It would be nice if there were a piece of software running on 1:1/1 that could scan the netmail area for messages starting with a certain keyword sequence, and if such a message is found, convert the text of the message to an article file. For example, if the message started with the line: ARTICLE: MYTEXT.ART ...and ended with the line: ARTICLE END ...then the text found between those keywords would be converted to an article file for Fidonews! This would make submission of short articles much easier for some (especially those in other Zones, who may be reluctant to attempt a file attach to 1:1/1), since it would allow those short articles to be submitted via netmail. I don't know if Vince or Randall would be open to using such a piece of software, though... what do you think, guys? [Editor's Response: I find myself in the interesting situation of agreeing with you. Harry thinks that's about the funniest thing that has happened to me this year. Maybe he's right. I do have two comments to make on your message, however. I think that you slammed Steve just a trifle harder than was necessary, and I believe that, in retrospect, his time at the helm in Zone 1 was about as good as it could have been. I see no need to spit on his grave now. We can wait and see how it all looks in about a year, when it's easier to look at his tenure in the proper perspective. Maybe you'll be surprised at how you feel then. As for your submission idea, Send Code .] FidoNews 7-33 Page 20 13 Aug 1990 ----------------------------------------------------------------- FidoNews 7-33 Page 21 13 Aug 1990 From: Bob Beilstein of 260/369.0 To: Vince Perriello of 1/1.0 Subj: Please don't change things yet AGAIN (please?)! I just read your Fidonews editorial, Vince. While I was NOT happy with the change to LHARC, I would be even less happy with having to change my batch files yet again! I really hope you will just leave things as they now are, and continue to use LHARC. I just wish the nodelist came LHARC'ed! / Bob [Thanks for the support. We'll have an editorial next week in which we'll announce our decision. -- Vince] ----------------------------------------------------------------- FidoNews 7-33 Page 22 13 Aug 1990 ================================================================= LATEST VERSIONS ================================================================= Latest Software Versions MS-DOS Systems -------------- Bulletin Board Software Name Version Name Version Name Version DMG 2.93 Phoenix 1.3 TAG 2.5f* Fido 12s+ QuickBBS 2.64 TBBS 2.1 Lynx 1.30 RBBS 17.3A TComm/TCommNet 3.4 Kitten 2.16 RBBSmail 17.3A Telegard 2.5 Maximus 1.00 RemoteAccess 0.04a* TPBoard 6.1 Opus 1.13+* SLBBS 1.77* Wildcat! 2.15 PCBoard 14.2 Socrates 1.00 XBBS 1.13 Network Node List Other Mailers Version Utilities Version Utilities Version BinkleyTerm 2.40* EditNL 4.00 ARC 7.0* D'Bridge 1.30 MakeNL 2.20 ARCAsim 2.30 Dutchie 2.90C ParseList 1.30 ARCmail 2.07 FrontDoor 1.99c* Prune 1.40 ConfMail 4.00 PRENM 1.47 SysNL 3.11 Crossnet v1.5 SEAdog 4.51b XlatList 2.90 EMM 2.02 TIMS 1.0(Mod8)* XlaxDiff 2.35* Gmail 2.05 XlaxNode 2.35* GROUP 2.16 GUS 1.30 INTERPCB 1.20 LHARC 1.13 MSG 4.1 MSGED 1.99 PK[UN]ZIP 1.10 QM 1.0 QSORT 4.03 Sirius 1.0w SLMAIL 1.35 StarLink 1.01 TagMail 2.20 TCOMMail 2.2 Telemail 1.20 TMail 1.15 TPBNetEd 3.2 TosScan 1.00 UFGATE 1.03 XRS 3.40 ZmailQ 1.12* FidoNews 7-33 Page 23 13 Aug 1990 Macintosh --------- Bulletin Board Software Network Mailers Other Utilities Name Version Name Version Name Version Red Ryder Host v2.1b10 Tabby 2.2 MacArc 0.04 Mansion 7.15 Copernicus 1.0d* ArcMac 1.3 WWIV (Mac) 3.0 StuffIt 1.6b1* FBBS 0.91* TImport 1.331 Hermes 0.88* TExport 1.32 Timestamp 1.6 Tset 1.3 Import 3.2 Export 3.21 Sundial 3.2 PreStamp 3.2 OriginatorII 2.0 AreaFix 1.6 Mantissa 3.21 Zenith 1.5 UNZIP 1.02b Amiga ----- Bulletin Board Software Network Mailers Other Utilities Name Version Name Version Name Version Paragon 2.06+ BinkleyTerm 1.00 AmigArc 0.23 TrapDoor 1.50* AReceipt 1.5* WelMat 0.35 booz 1.01 ConfMail 1.10 ChameleonEdit 0.10 ElectricHerald1.66* Lharc 1.10 MessageFilter 1.52* oMMM 1.49b ParseLst 1.30 PkAX 1.00 PK[UN]ZIP 1.01 PolyxAmy 2.02* RMB 1.30 TrapList 1.12* UNzip 0.86 Yuck! 1.61* Zoo 2.00 Atari ST FidoNews 7-33 Page 24 13 Aug 1990 -------- Bulletin Board Software Network Mailer Other Utilities Name Version Name Version Name Version FIDOdoor/ST 1.5c* BinkleyTerm 1.03g3 ConfMail 1.00 Pandora BBS 2.41c The BOX 1.20 ParseList 1.30 QuickBBS/ST 0.40 ARC 6.02* GS Point 0.61 LHARC 0.51 LED ST 0.10* BYE 0.25* PKUNZIP 1.10 MSGED 1.96S SRENUM 6.2 Trenum 0.10 OMMM 1.40 Archimedes ---------- BBS Software Mailers Utilities Name Version Name Version Name Version ARCbbs 1.44* BinkleyTerm 2.03* Unzip 2.1TH ARC 1.03 !Spark 2.00d* ParseLst 1.30 BatchPacker 1.00* + Netmail capable (does not require additional mailer software) * Recently changed Utility authors: Please help keep this list up to date by reporting new versions to 1:1/1. It is not our intent to list all utilities here, only those which verge on necessity. ----------------------------------------------------------------- FidoNews 7-33 Page 25 13 Aug 1990 ================================================================= NOTICES ================================================================= The Interrupt Stack 17 Aug 1990 Start of first ever Searchlight SysOps convention in Chicago, IL. Contact Marge Robbins at 1:283/120 for details. 5 Oct 1990 21st Anniversary of "Monty Python's Flying Circus" 6 Nov 1990 First anniversary of Van Diepen Automatiseert, 2:500/28 14 Nov 1990 Marco Maccaferri's 21rd Birthday. Send greetings to him at 2:332/16.0 1 Jan 1991 Implementation of 7% Goods and Services Tax in Canada. Contact Joe Lindstrom at 1:134/55 for a more colorful description. 16 Feb 1991 Fifth anniversary of the introduction of Echomail, by Jeff Rush. 7 Oct 1991 Area code 415 fragments. Alameda and Contra Costa Counties will begin using area code 510. This includes Oakland, Concord, Berkeley and Hayward. San Francisco, San Mateo, Marin, parts of Santa Clara County, and the San Francisco Bay Islands will retain area code 415. 1 Feb 1992 Area code 213 fragments. Western, coastal, southern and eastern portions of Los Angeles County will begin using area code 310. This includes Los Angeles International Airport, West Los Angeles, San Pedro and Whittier. Downtown Los Angeles and surrounding communities (such as Hollywood and Montebello) will retain area code 213. 1 Dec 1993 Tenth anniversary of Fido Version 1 release. 5 Jun 1997 David Dodell's 40th Birthday If you have something which you would like to see on this calendar, please send a message to FidoNet node 1:1/1. FidoNews 7-33 Page 26 13 Aug 1990 ----------------------------------------------------------------- CIVIL LIBERTIES ECHO AVAILABLE The Arizona Civil Liberties Union, an affiliate of the national ACLU, sponsors the new CIVLIB echo. Focusing on the Constitution and Bill of Rights, CIVLIB is a no-holds barred forum for conservative and liberal viewpoints on subjects including, but not limited to abortion, gun control, free speech, separation of church and state, capital punishment, privacy rights, search and seizure, drug laws, victimless crime, and more. CIVLIB is moderated by Arizona Attorney Bob Hirschfeld, and is distributed (until it achieves backbone status) by direct poll of NCM BBS 1:114/74, HST, 24 hrs/day. (AzCLU BBS, (602) 271 9357 evenings/weekends only, operates as point 74.6 from NCM BBS; therefore please send all inquiries, netmail and Areafix requests regarding CIVLIB to moderator/Sysop Bob Hirschfeld at the distributing node, 1:114/74.) ----------------------------------------------------------------- VICTIMS OF FALSE ALLEGATIONS OF ABUSE - NEW ECHO The new VFALSAC Echo focuses on the growing phenomenon of false allegations of child abuse, especially in the context of domestic relations custody battles. Subjects include the McMartin preschool case, the Elizabeth Morgan/ Eric Foretich matter, excessive actions by Child Protective Services, whether "children never lie about molestation", the SAID Syndrome (Sexual Allegations In Divorce), etc. While not directly connected with the nationwide VOCAL organization (Victims of Child Abuse Laws), VFALSAC deals with most of the issues addressed at VOCAL meetings. This is NOT an echo condoning actual child abuse; rather it seeks to enlighten and inform about the horror of innocent persons being FALSELY accused of physical or sexual abuse. VFALSAC is distributed via direct poll from NCM BBS, 1:114/74, HST. Please address netmail inquiries, Areafix requests, etc. to Sysop/Moderator Bob Hirschfeld. -----------------------------------------------------------------