Volume 7, Number 44 29 October 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 From underneath the Editor's Desk ........................ 1 2. ARTICLES ................................................. 3 Freedom and Elections .................................... 3 The ANSI Club ............................................ 5 ECHOPOL AGAIN?? -- And Sysops Still don't get a vote! .... 8 Response to comments in FidoNews 7-43 .................... 9 A Word From Two Guys ..................................... 11 Universal Mayhem Version 2.0 is ready .................... 13 All Quiet on the BBS Front ............................... 17 RPGA Conference .......................................... 19 And more! FidoNews 7-44 Page 1 29 Oct 1990 ================================================================= EDITORIAL ================================================================= What a great time we're having here. I am really sorry. Because I made one of the all-time stupid mistakes a few weeks back. I said I wanted people to talk about what was in FidoNews instead of what it was (archived) in. Big boo-boo. Is it too late to get back to the topic of archivers? We published an article a few weeks back about (fill in controversial topic here -- FICTH for short) and the merry mixups that occur when FICTH and politics collide in the good ole U S of A. Too bad people always see FICTH when there's a REAL lesson to be learned. Almost nobody got the message. So now we've got people sending us articles about how wrong we were to allow an article about FICTH and how Hitler was a nice guy compared to those FICTH types, and others who want to talk about other FICTH's. I'm even getting submissions from people who seem intent on proving I'll even publish output from their random gibberish generator (take impaired minds, add gin and shake liberally). Wow. Impressive. I bet that one will go down in the history books. Freud overlooked it entirely. I'm so honored to have been part of such an experiment. (BTW, the article makes more sense after you run it through JIVE. Try it and see) Give me a break, folks. Has the average IQ of FidoNet become the reciprocal (Duh, Gee, Tennessee. What's a reciprocal?) of the number of nodes in the net? I sure hope not. Because while you were playing your collective fiddles, George Peace happened to notice that we in FidoNet already had our very own FICTH. He even tried to bring it to your attention by inflicting it on you. Yes, I mean EchoPol. For those of you who were there at the time it was either conceived or misconceived, flame-hardened, voted on, approved by some metric and disqualified by some other metric -- how could you miss the obvious parallels with the FICTH article? I think George implemented it to force a long overdue revisit to the issues the original EchoPol addressed, failed to address, or created on its own. He appears to be genuinely interested in seeing it fixed -- if only people would start talking about EchoPol, instead of either not noticing it, or spending all their time talking about what a fascist he was for implementing it. Funny. The original EchoPol situation was so much like that other FICTH article. The current one is even better. FidoNews 7-44 Page 2 29 Oct 1990 By way of illustration, consider an email equivalent of the (unnecessarily) graphic FICTH description which Jack Decker will bestow on you later in this issue. Simple scenario. Day 1: Moderator forms echo. Day N: Echo is really popular. Moderator arranges to have it placed on the backbone. Day N+1: New moderator. Old one wasn't well liked by *EC's. Yeah, sure the *EC's aren't bad guys (to coin a phrase, some of my best friends are *EC's). But what if they WERE bad guys? Is there anything in EchoPol that says in the event the *EC's happen to BE bad guys, they can't do that? George says that's one of the areas he wants to see fixed. Good. It's one of the areas that most concerns me. But who is handling this fixing (or is it FICTHing)? Where are the "we need to look at this problem with EchoPol" postings? This discussion has thus far consisted of a soliloquy by George. And random noise from a few people who prefer to bash George's brownshirt tactics rather than devoting time to trying to set things straight. Another FICTH is brewing. I can detect the stench from here. In the meantime, so many of you guys seem to keep missing the forest for the FICTH trees. Too bad. I bet you even think that the FICTH that just ended in Washington was some kind of victory for whoever you happen to think is cool down there. Wake up and smell the coffee. And stop looking at the world through sh*t-colored glasses. That's why what you see is an abortion. ----------------------------------------------------------------- FidoNews 7-44 Page 3 29 Oct 1990 ================================================================= ARTICLES ================================================================= Richard Bash FidoNet 1:161/357 Your Freedom and the November Elections This nation is again turning toward its election period and that should cause us to turn back the dusty pages of our history books and see from whence we came. As a former international airline pilot, I have had the privilege of visiting over 108 countries and this great nation is unsurpassed in the overall freedom available to its citizens. Today you and I demonstrate those freedoms in such mundane ways as our BBSing, enjoying the free exchange of information across the breadth of this wonderful country. Ironically, this comes at a time with the Soviet bloc is crumbling, crumbling because it was too totalitarian and its economy was collapsing. But we sometimes need to be reminded that the United States of America was founded with a revolution, a revolution precipitated by a tyrannical government who was callous towards its colony's citizens. That revolution was bathed in blood and sparked at Concord Bridge in Massachusetts over 200 years ago. The issue that set it off was firearms, a topic that today is again drawing its attention to the citizens of America. Over the past 20 years, more than any other period in this country's history, there have been many blatant and often successful attempts to ban classes of firearms or specific firearms from the hands of the American public. Witness the insanity of the bans recently passed in California, New Jersey and Denver, Colorado. The sad truth is that the Founding Fathers of the nation realized that without firearms there can be no freedom. The early documents relating to the formation of this nation are replete with such references. There have even been moves afoot, reported in FidoNews and elsewhere, of attempts to curb the free exchange of information typified by BBS use and networks such as Fido. The past 20 years have seen the Democratic Party, a Party to which I belong, turn its back on the privileges of firearm ownership in this United States. This is the same Democratic Party that is involved, if not wholly then in magnificent part, in the S&L multibillion dollar scandal. This is the same Democratic Party that cannot reach a national budget. This is the same Democratic Party that tried unsuccessfully to infringe upon the bulletin boards. FidoNews 7-44 Page 4 29 Oct 1990 Sadly, my life has let me see things that would make most people shudder and become sick, both physically and mentally. I have lived under socialist and dictatorial governments in foreign countries and those governments excelled at doing two things: restricting firearms and information. I ask that this November you be sure to go to the polls and vote for the candidate of your choice. But consider the previous paragraph and consider why this November we need Operation D.R.E.D.: Don't Re-Elect Democrats. The "Party of the People," as the Democratic Party likes to be called, has become ripe with corruption, far exceeding the aspirations of even the Republican Administration under Richard Nixon! Thus, I beg you to vote against the candidates of the Democratic Party to send them a message, a message that only you, the voter. can send: the fundamental firearm privileges, the tax dollars of the citizens of America and our BBS informational exchange medium are not to be dallied with. Your vote against all Democratic candidates will send that message, a message they will feel and one they will heed. Remember, this really is your country and, in the final analysis, you do get the government you deserve. The Democratic Party has been in charge of Congress for decades and is bankrupting this nation, supporting every move to eliminate arms from its populace and costing thousands of jobs to be lost to foreign controlled corporations. Perceived freedom without firearms in the possession of the American citizenry to enforce that freedom is hollow indeed and will blow away as readily as a dried Fall leaf. Vote. Vote wrong if you must, but at least vote this November! Across the borders of Americas and the oceans that surround us, people are literally dying because they cannot vote. Thank you for your attention. Richard Bash Combat Arms BBS SysOp ----------------------------------------------------------------- FidoNews 7-44 Page 5 29 Oct 1990 ANSI File Distribution Network (*.ANS, *.GBS, *.ASC, etc.) Open to all Ansi.Sys Users and lovers of those creative and imaginative Ansi Pictures and Screens The earliest ANSI screen I remember owning a copy of was the Christmas scene with the train that went around the tree and tooted. I recently learned (years later) that a close friend of mine drew that and other ANSI screens long before the local FidoNet Chapter was ever present here in Nashville, TN. Other early fond memories are the ANSI screens of my favorite BBSs (gee I wish I had screen captured some of them). Here in Nashville when we learned about TICK by Barry Geller it was well received. We have had a local "Screens" File echo for well over a year and a half now. About 600 ANSI screens and well over 3 Megs of *good* screens have passed through here. Including, at one point, Violet Stymacks entire screen collection (well over a Meg Unzipped) which a friend file requested direct from the Rhinoceros Kitchen. As member of 7 other File Distribution Networks SDS/SDN/DDS/PDN/ DVNet/WIN*Net/*CADNet*, It Dawned on me that one of my favorite topics wasn't covered anywhere, So about 6 months ago an idea started forming. Time has been a bit of a constraint and I'd be willing to bet quite a few other SysOps run into that one also. I originally undertook co-coordinator and Tech help for *CADNet*, which now has come unto its own. Links are in place and I have some time to devote. I choose to Coordinate the forming and start up of the ANSI Club, but hopefully the artists will actually run the Network. How big do I hope it becomes? I would like to see as many links established before actual startup (Approx Nov 1st). As many local Nets, Regions, Zones, and Networks to be included as we can stand. And *I* can use all the friends I can get ...know what I mean . InFact, courtesy of the GT<>Fido Bridge Ed Cavender runs @ FidoNet 1:116/36 and GT Net 071/001, I am inviting the entire GT Network to join in the fun. Ed has been working on a version of File Echo utility for GT Net for about a year now. In a voice conversation I was assured it is in it's early "working" stages. Ed does say he will need to do a minimum of manual intervention (darn Moths). GT Net has at least 3 well established ANSI Forums of which are all InterNational. Their excellent ANSI Screens and Network wide participation well establish fun as an endeavor. In all instances I have found GT Network SysOps to be Courteous and very welcoming. And really these folks Know how to have fun. And we are talking fun! Though our technologies are slightly different I believe we can have and outstanding relationship and have everything to gain in both Networks. FidoNews 7-44 Page 6 29 Oct 1990 I am already intending to "Break some Rules" with the Echo conferences available through the ANSI Club. The conferences will allow posts with "Any" of the ASCII character set of the IBM and compatibles "including" the extended character set. We of course may Break something ...and will find out what we have to exclude if we do . I have been recieving GT Conferences in FidoNet format for about two years now and they use these characters and haven't broke nuffin' over here yet. And more so, QEDIT which I have noticed IS avaliable on most of the FidoNet Backbone and widely participated in - IS a GT Echo conference. Our ANSI Club Conferences will include the *Best* of ANSI Graphics, which of course will be allowed in the Echo. Whether you run an ANSI door, have an online Art gallery, Collect ANSI Screens, are just plain fascinated by the creativity of the pallet, maybe like to create and share them yourself, or just wanna play. Online or off, I'd bet our File Distribution Network is made for you. The ANSI Club ANSI Art Files Distribution Network Echo Conferences: ANSI_ARTWORK purpose: to allow ANSI art work displayed as messages (optional) may be carried & read with offline editor or *if* you are lucky enough that your Msg base will display Ansi carried online. priviledge level: All ANSI_USER purpose: talk about using ANSI Drawing and Display Programs priviledge level: All ANSI_SYSOP purpose: ChitChat and keeping abreast of Distribution Network Buddies priviledge level: Ansi Club SysOp only Distribution File Echoes: If you are new to file distribution Networks you will need the File Echo Program Tick (latest version Tick200.Lzh). Many FidoNet Systems now run Raid, Think of it as an Areafix for File Echoes. Go ahead and link in and first set up the Echo Conferences and if you run into any confusion or trouble with FidoNews 7-44 Page 7 29 Oct 1990 any new software additions we can work it out in the ANSI_SYSOP echo conference. On the GT Net side Ed can help you with his version of File Echo Utility ..He claims there are a few mites yet, but his vigilance and determination shall soon overcome. In the mean- time Think of this as new Beta Software. ANSI_ART - ANSI display files (naming Convention *.ans *.gbs) Please No .Exe or .Com Files. ANSI_SYS - ANSI drawing, animation, view, & display Programs ANSI_NEW - Newsletters, Tutorial, Textfiles, Etc Interested folks by Zone & Region and Network: FidoNet Zone 1 Region 11 Stan Waldrup 2200/141 Builders Workshop Region 13 Tom Hendricks 266/61 Avi-Technic Region 17 Larry James 105/72 Big Larry's RBBS-PC (V32) Sue Coleman 343/105 Crystal Cavern Region 18 Patrick Curry 3621/425 Shoes CPU Ed Cavender 116/36 Control Systems GT<>Fido Michele Hamilton 369/21 Sunshine PCBoard Kevin 116/29 the Dawg Byte Region 19 Dean Lachan 124/4115 Southern Crossroads Zone 2 Region 25 Andrew Sporton 251/29 Doughnut City BBS GT Network Hubs please contact Ed Cavender, Control Systems 071/001 for linkups. If you would like to participate and join in the Fun, Please let me know, we shall try our best to get you linked in. Also if you would like to Hub for the Network ..let me know. Send in enough info about yourself and your system to give us a good idea of who our new friends are. KevFun 1:116/29 14.4 HST ----------------------------------------------------------------- FidoNews 7-44 Page 8 29 Oct 1990 Jim Deputy 1:103/158 ECHO POLICY AGAIN?? Today, just by accident I have found that there is a move to resurect ECHOPOL 1, and make it effective as of Oct. 22. Today is Oct. 24. It was just by a chance comment that I saw in one of the regional sysop echos that I found out about it. Had I not seen it, I would not have even been aware of it. Granted, I may be a little out of touch with FidoNet, FidoNews is not readily available in our network (My NC only had up to Fnews73 something). For well over two years we have been given to understand that any elections, or policy changes, and things of that nature would always be announced in the PROLOG of the NODELIST! And in fact have been hassled by some of the *C's for not keeping up with the info in the Nodelist. Yet, for well over two months the Prolog has only said "No news is good news." At least two NC's that I contacted also said..."there wasn't anything in the Nodelist on it." And the comments went downhill from there. I contacted 161/7 and picked up 740-743, and low and behold, not only does it look like we are going to be coming up with a repeat of EchoPol, but also some stuff is being discussed about a new FidoNet Policy. I've noticed that the *EC and *C structure has again stacked the deck in their favor on voting for the New Echo Policy. Especially since no grunt sysop has a right to vote. I also note, that no moderator has any rights to vote. In fact, basically the moderators rights are stripped from them. And the Echo can be stolen from them by a vote of the *EC's. There is also no provision in this policy for those of us who do moderate backbone echos to remove them from the backbone if we choose not to go along with this dictatorial edict. We can only leave them there, and hope that the *EC Network doesn't decide to steal our work. ----------------------------------------------------------------- FidoNews 7-44 Page 9 29 Oct 1990 Jack Decker 1:154/8 RESPONSE TO COMMENTS IN FIDONEWS 7-43 I've just finished reading the articles by David Rice and Randy Edwards in FidoNews 7-43. Because I am unabashedly pro-life, my first inclination is to write a scathing article denouncing the pro-murder-of-the-unborn side (I refuse to call it pro-choice because the unborn baby really has NO choice in the matter). However, by doing so, I'd be just as guilty of placing irrelevant material in FidoNews as the others have been. I happen to disagree with our esteemed editor AND both of the above-named respondents for one reason and one reason only: Those in the *C structure are REQUIRED by Policy4 to obtain FidoNews, and to make it available to those under them. If FidoNews is going to promote a leftist political agenda, then I feel that coordinators who don't wish to further that agenda should not be forced to carry FidoNews. I have no problem with folks publishing articles that promote their particular political viewpoints. Randy Edwards, bless his misguided heart, frequently publishes a collection of left-leaning articles in his Progressive News, which is distributed via the Software Distribution System. But no one, by virtue of being a Fidonet coordinator, is forced to carry that publication or to make it available to every node in their Zone/Region/Net. I could start an ultra-conservative electronic publication and (hopefully) distribute it the same way, but I would not expect or even desire that anyone who strongly disagrees with my views be forced to carry it. Can the liberals say the same? It seems to me that it is usually those on the left who insist on promoting their viewpoints in inappropriate forums, and on forcing others to hear their views whether they want to or not. FidoNews (along with Policy and the Nodelist) is referred to in Policy as "the glue that holds us together." However, if it becomes a forum where the left-wing and right-wing forces slug it out each week, it will be the knife that cuts us apart instead - particular if some coordinators feel compelled to resign rather than help promote viewpoints that they strongly disagree with. I'm still waiting to see what happens when some supporter of the Ku Klux Klan, or some neo-Nazi starts submitting articles to Fidonews on a regular basis. We'll see how "open-minded" folks are then. Yes, I could post articles telling you all about what REALLY happens in the abortionist's office, or about those women who feel so victimized by a "legal" abortion experience that they have committed suicide, or required extensive counseling, or have sued their abortionists. I could post articles about the development of the unborn and what really happens to an unborn baby during an abortion. The data is out there and there's no FidoNews 7-44 Page 10 29 Oct 1990 shortage of it. Why do I have the feeling that if I had done that in the past, some of the very people who are congratulating the editor now would instead be screaming about the inclusion of those types of articles? (It's worth noting, by the way, that I have written netmail messages to Randy Edwards rebutting some of the articles in his Progressive News. So far, he's not seen fit to publish even so much as one word from any of them. I guess that he doesn't feel the need to live up to the same standards that he'd impose on the FidoNews editor). The bottom line is, if FidoNews is going to print anything that comes in (strictly speaking, that isn't true either - I have sent in articles in the past that haven't been printed, though I think I know why in each case), and if they are not going to try to restrict the content to that which has at least SOMETHING to do with communications or computers, then I feel that carriage by the coordinator structure should be made optional. It is not fair to require any sysop to help promote a viewpoint that he or she strongly disagrees with. Distribute FidoNews via the SDS, along with all the other special-interest electronic newsletters currently carried there. By the way, are there any other conservatives on this network? I was only half-joking about the need for a conservative electronic newsletter (the "ultra-" was the half I was joking about). Send me netmail if you're interested. ----------------------------------------------------------------- FidoNews 7-44 Page 11 29 Oct 1990 Anonymous, Somewhere in Net 269 THOUGHTS ON RECENT FIDONEWSES AND OTHER SEMI-RELATED MATTERS Excerpted from a chat on 10-28-90 the participants of which were not all there. Note that all carriage returns have been removed so you can not tell who is typing. This is for our own good and also adds to the pieces aesthetic value. (Heh.) Mhm. Boy has FNews been getting ridiculous. 741 in particular. There have been like 0 fido related articles in the past 4 issues I KNOW.. half of one of them was taken, no more than half, 3/4 of one was taken up by some insane guy from a magazine. Damn enviro articles too! Arhghh. But that one was the pinnacle of ridiculousness. I can understand an eco article once in a while but the FNews was 80,000 bytes!!! How much is that doggie in the window? haha You know, if we wrote an article, Vince would most likely publish it. He publishes anything. No matter what. Seriously, let's do something moronic and totally sarcastic... "Why Fidonews Has 'Gone to the Dogs'" HAHAHAHAHAH. "We love to wake up each monday morning to read the latest fidonews, which, by this week, has grown to nearly the size of the New York Times"... hea! yeah.. Let's rename it. "The Forum for Voluble Eco-Expounders, Personal- attack Cravers, and Pro-Abortion Maniacs." Would you help me write something? sure.. Woudl you write something? hm.. ok. Tap out some ideas lazily in chat. I have capture on and can easily piece something coherent together from it like I did with your stupid joke. Harhar.. Well to start off the tone should be 100% Barry. Much satire, sarcasm, and tongue in cheek style. Mhm, make some statements about the state of FNews I like that first one we love... new york times, except it should be a dave-barry sounding newspaper like which by this week will probably have grown to nearly the size of the new testament... hehe ha. OK, how about the ridiculous article in FNews741 which took up 75% of the newsletter? Yes we should do something about that... something like "We would also like to thank the author of that excellent, patriotic article, that has swayed our opinions so much.." Ha- maybe do a parody of part of it. This is kinda funny as it is.. Just a jumbled mess of thoughts... I wonder if he would publish that as is? "The following was excerpted from a chat on 10-28-90 of which the participants were not all there." Hahaehea yeah.. and compact! won't use up too much space in FNews! Could save people loads of cash. Duherr. But seriously... Can you make up an article in time for next week's FNews? why not use this? Unrestrained weirdness! I just made a capture file of that.. How about put a title like "Uncensored, from a chat with the sysop" or "A chat with the sysop" or somthing? on it then just UL it as is, but people are gonna think we are morons for doing this.... fix the typos too haehe, ok.. I'll fix everything. We've gotta get a copy of ARTSPEC. What is that? Specifications for article submissions.. format and stuff. Now we're gonna submit this anonymously? or do we want to be embarrassed? It doesn't matter it's better than all this 80,000 bytes of environment crap.. I FidoNews 7-44 Page 12 29 Oct 1990 thought the purpose of fidonews was to talk about fido.. haha! haha! well if "Kwityer Bychin" can do it, we can have a nom-de-plume too! Naw, I think we'll have to sign it: Signed, Anonymous Sysop & Cosysop, Net 269 We will also have to say Erik and Peter in there somehwere, mention our names so people in 269 recognize who it is from, heheh ----------------------------------------------------------------- FidoNews 7-44 Page 13 29 Oct 1990 Universal Mayhem Version 2.0 is ready Fredric Rice 1:102/901.0 It's been over two years since the first release of Universal Mayhem yet we are just entering the second general release. In these past two years, the project has been shaped and re-worked according to requests (demands also) by SysOps and users alike. The SysOps demanded tighter disk file information compressions and the users demanded fun features and greater speed. At the risk of sounding my own horn, I think I have come close to what the Mayhem sites have requested. There are still bugs in the code; compatibility problems within the FidoNet software still need to be ironed out -- but these problems are quirks that can be ignored. The vast majority of FidoNet SysOps have never encountered the Universal Mayhem project so a little background on the game may be needed: Universal Mayhem is a doors game that is basically economically oriented in the domain of a universe. There are, in fact, several universes in the game, each accessible through gateways at various points. Space ships are commanded to perform commerce loops between the planets to buy and sell goods to raise enough credits with which to purchase planets. Alliances may be forged between the captains of the ships or bitter enemies may decide to wage a horrible war; perhaps a war where the ships alliances are duty bound to assist in. There are many features: Sector scanning for pirates, planets, stars, black holes, mines, slaver death weapons, attack sleds, and a variety of other objects. Short leave for the crew. Taxes to be paid to the Galactic Police or to your ship if other captains trade at your planets. Automation script files which are used to automate ships according to the captains wishes when ships are not currently active. Remote robot sensors which can be attaches to enemy ships, or friends if you don't trust them. Buy plague from the pirates and seed an enemy ships planets with it. Board an enemy ship and take everything. Leave an enemy ship drifting or destroy it as you wish. Board an allied ships star base to take on supplies. Name the various comets in the universe. Distribute attack sleds around your sector of space to fight off invaders. Bit on ships that are up for auction because they haven't paid taxes after being warned on many occasions. Navigate to known star coordinates through the on-board nav computer. Send subspace mail to all other players (Echo Mail, AREA:MAYHEM). System Operator Maintenance menu. Full color. Ships standings, names, and statistics. Collect a bounty for ships that have destroyed planets. Look at a map of the multiple universes to see where your hardware is. Long range sensor scans. Send scout ships to the far corners of the universe and have them either stay where they are sent or FidoNews 7-44 Page 14 29 Oct 1990 return to where ever your ship is. The scout ships report on the location of anything interesting they may find such as other space ships and planets. Chat with the SysOp. There is much more this game offers. If you kill the Galactic Police star ship, they remember when they are replaced. They will hound you and you will always be on the run until some other ship takes them on. Leave the cops along, however, and they'll leave you alone. Pay your taxes, and they won't impound your ship. The most interesting aspect of this game is the way it considers the fact that there are many Mayhem sites. Universal Mayhem will create what I called a 'statistics feature' message addressed to me with a File Attach. An entry in the games configuration file tells your mailer if you want to have my system poll for it as Mayhem can put the message on hold for pick up, or if you want the message to be mailed directly to my system. The File Attach file contains exports of space ships from your system of all ships that have 'command' files. These are the files that automate the ships when the player isn't active but some other ship is. These files reach my system where they are then mailed to all other Mayhem sites. Each Friday, Universal Mayhem will create an export file addressed to me (or any entry you wish that's put in the configuration file). You can force the creation of a statistics file as well. When the other Mayhem sites receive the export file, it imports the remote ships into its own data files and the ships are marked by Mayhem as remote players. They can be fought against as though they were local players space ships. When a remote players ship or star base is destroyed, Mayhem will create an AREA:MAYHEM Echo Conference message letting the remote player know that his or her ship had been destroyed. The network address of the system and the name of the ship that killed it is offered so that revenge can be focused. The future of Mayhem is clear: o Shore leave can be peaceful or you can send down an invasion force to take the planet away from another ship that owns it. The battle will be fought on the planet and the star ship will be out of reach but usable on a limited basis to re-supply. The focus of the game will change when you are in an invasion mode. o Boarding an enemy ship is easy because of the holes you had to hammer through the enemy ships hull to attach a shuttle craft. In future versions, your boarding crew will meet with resistance. Your boarding crew will have to fight its way to what's left of the bridge and seize control. Your crew can then be told about what to do with the prisoners if any survive. The FidoNews 7-44 Page 15 29 Oct 1990 focus of the game will change as it does during an invasion: your ship will be out of reach as you command the boarding crew. If need be, you can call in a strike from your ship if the boarding battle goes against you. o Boarding an enemy base will be much like boarding an enemy ship. The context of the game shifts to finding your way around the star base and locating key positions for control. Don't take too long as the bases star ship may be on its way to assist repel you. Usually, however, people destroy the captains ship and then goes after its base. Of course you have the alliances the enemy captain made to worry about. o Board a friends base to take on supplies and then turn on its crew for a sneaky twist. If the enemy ships captain suspects something is up, his ship may be on the way before you turn tails so be careful. The MAYHEM Echo Conference discusses what changes should be made to the game and bugs are reported. Ideas are never thrown away and I think I can say that support for the game is absolute. Many of the features found in todays Mayhem have been suggestions made in the past year and this method of enhancing the game continues. If you are interested in being a part of Universal Mayhem, here are some File Request file names you might be interested in: MAYHEM20.ZIP - The entire Version 2.0 Mayhem Game. At 2400 baud the package requires 20 minutes to download. MAYDOC.ZIP - Just the documentation for the game. If you are not sure you are interested in running such a complex game, you could download just the documentation to see what the game is about. You can File Request at any time. If you would like, send me a request for the file and I would be glad to send it to you on my dime. Also, please let me know if you would like to be included in the Mayhem echo. I POLL every Sunday, Wednesday, and Saturday all Mayhem sites. - - - Universal Mayhem has never been a product that must be registered or paid for in any way. I have distributed the game freely with the notice that it must be likewise freely distributed. In the past, some systems have been unsure if the project needed support and I have returned what was sent to me with the notice that, though I don't consider my work valueless, I recognize the fact that all SysOps put in a great deal of effort, time, and money to keep the Fido Network fun. FidoNews 7-44 Page 16 29 Oct 1990 Because of this, I offer full support and my life to Mayhem. I do ask that the Mayhem sites keep in touch and report any bugs they might notice. In the next couple of years, I suspect that the project will continue to grow is dimensions that have not been envisioned yet. ----------------------------------------------------------------- FidoNews 7-44 Page 17 29 Oct 1990 John Kelly J & M Systems BBS 3:712/625 ALL QUIET ON THE BBS FRONT -------------------------- (Vince's article on Fidonews and submissions, especially his reference to the fact that not everyone in the world has an IBM-PC prompted the writing of this). I, like the majority of other SysOps who run BBS's, did not start out with a "Super-Charged, All-Singing, All-Dancing IBM-PC". Rather, my entry to the world of computers was via a Tandy Colour Computer, with a gigantic 16k of memory. It was indeed fun, with its cassette storage system, and program paks. Graduating initially to 64K seemed like going from an abacus to an 80386, and the advent of disk drives for it seemed even greater. A bit of hardware here, with the latest mods seemed to establish the system as something that you could really get your teeth into.. The ultimate in additions to the system back then was a modem. Modem communications opened a whole new world for a lot of us. Previous views of computer and modems were that they were a mischievous device - as outlined in films and books - that could get the user into a lot of trouble. I think of myself as the average SysOp, who was initially tempted to run a BBS from the moment I logged onto my first Bulletin Board. To do so, one needed even greater hardware on the computer - especially if you started with a small computer like I had. Many months were spent looking for software to run on it, thru support magazines and other computer users. I purchased a few packages, but they never seemed to be what I was looking for. Then came the ultimate decision. Buy a PC and run PC BBS software on it. The cycle started again - trying to find the best PC based BBS software to run. We then all started what has become known nowadays as BBS WARS. "My BBS is a lot better than yours because it runs Doors !!" to which the reply was "No !!, It couldn't be. Mine talks to Fidonet !!!" We have to all admit, we all have participated in BBS WARS to one extent or another. Unfortunately, I think we all forgot the little people with the little machines plodding along with what they had, rather than taking the easy way out and going the way of a PC. They seem blocks behind us all now. Too much time is spent on bickering about whether one PC based BBS software package is better than another, or whether one mailer package is greater than another. Unnecessary flames occur even when it comes down to what particular format our Fidonews is compressed in. We have all lost sight of ourselves, and the FidoNews 7-44 Page 18 29 Oct 1990 cooperation that we had in the start when we all set out on the long road to computer telecommunications. Our participation in BBS WARS, whether it be large or small, does nothing for the BBS community at large. If we are crazy enough to run a system, and like the majority run it out of our own pockets, we should be sensible enough to respect the decision made by another SysOp to what package they decide to run on their system, and live with their decision, rather than abuse it. I am please to see that the Colour Computer (aka the CoCo) is now up with the rest of us with the RiBBS software package from Ron Bihler. Nice to see my sentimental favourite get there. I am sure there are other sysops who have over the last couple of years seen their sentimental favourites join the ranks of Fidonet. If you are such a SysOp, write and tell us all of the advancements into Fidonet that your particular non MS-DOS machine has done. Might even put a few of us back on the cooperative track. ----------------------------------------------------------------- FidoNews 7-44 Page 19 29 Oct 1990 Ronald Garcia FidoNet 1:141/775 Role-Playing Game Association Conference The RPGA echo is a discussion of the Role Playing Game Association, role playing games in general, gaming convention announcements, and gaming convention reviews. Questions about the RPGA can be asked and answered. Discussion about game systems, game mastering, playing, and new products will take place. Convention announcements will be made for conventions running RPGA events as well as any other conventions having gaming. Whenever posssible a reveiw of the previous year's convention will accompany the announcement. Reviews will be done for all conventions that the moderator attends and other reviews will be encouraged. Help is also availible for those who would like to start a convention as well as those who would like to add RPGA events to an existing convention. The RPGA echo originates from the Twilight Zone, node 141/775, Sysop Ron Garcia. Inquires about carrying the echo can be addressed to Ron there. Twilight Zone can be reached directly at (203) 775-9774. Inquires can also be addressed to Sysop Dave Yale at A Place in the Sun, node 141/535. Right now one of the nodes carrying the echo will have to be polled to pick it up. We hope to be on the backbone as soon as we can show sufficient interest. The Moderator is Willi Burger. He has been playing role playing games for over 12 years. He is the RPGA Regional Director for CT, NY, NJ and is ranked as Masters level Player and Grandmasters level Judge by the RPGA. He is also the moderator for the NorthEast Convention Coordinators Committee and is the Convention Coordinator for ConnCon and Falcon. ----------------------------------------------------------------- FidoNews 7-44 Page 20 29 Oct 1990 Democracy in Fidonet Gets Another Kick in the Ass. By Kwityer Bychin Hi Ho, folks! Miss me? No? Well, much to your chagrin, HERE I BE. Back to blast! Yessiree, looks like we have something NEW AND EXCITING to BITCH about here in Fight O'Net these days. Ya know, lotsa you guys and gals run around like chickens with your butts on fire screaming about how BADLY you want DEMOCRACY in our little totalitarian empire here. But WHAT do you do about it? SKWATT!! (our sincere thanks to Mahatma Ravsik for the spelling). Ever hear the old line about "WRITE YOUR CONGRESSMAN" when stuff happens you don't like? Did you ever DO it? No? Oh! you didn't think it would do any good eh? Well, OF COURSE it WON'T DO ANY GOOD, you BONEHEAD! But, should that stop you from doing it ANYWAY? OF *COURSE* NOT! So, what's this rambling preamble leading to? Ha! Not paying much attention to the Snooze these days are ya!? Well listen up Homer, because THIS week, we're going to BEAT UP ON ... E C H O P O L !!! Hey, have a look at the Snooze a couple or three issues ago. In it, you'll find this "document" that according to the ZONE 1 COORDINATOR, went into effect on October 22, 1990 . This document supposedly establishes rules and regulations for BACKBONE ECHOMAIL TRAFFIC. This document is called the Magna Ca... er... ECHOPOL. Yeah. And it does some neat stuff too. You know what? It creates ANOTHER (that's right, ANOTHER) administrative layer in Fight O'Net. The "*EC" structure. Obviously, the current adminstrative structure can't even tie its shoes properly, so SOMEONE decided that we need MORE chiefs in the indian camp. I find the term "*EC Structure" rather cumbersome, so I'll just refer to it as the "Echo Gestapo", cuz it kinda has a ring to it you see... See, the Echo Gestapo has some really cool powers. Network Coordinators (you know, NCs) are guys that are supposed to move the netmail around Fight O'Net. They ain't supposed to read other people's mail, and they ain't supposed to care about what's in it. Now, you'd figure that the Echo Gestapo would be kinda like the same thing, only with echomail, right? NICE TRY. See, the Echo Gestapo can REMOVE a moderator. They can FORCE a conference to HAVE moderator. Not only do these guys pass the echomail around, they get to have some CONTROL over what goes ON IN the echos! FidoNews 7-44 Page 21 29 Oct 1990 Pretty neat! But wait, that's not even the best part. Guess what people voted on this policy? Give up? Ok, I'll tell you... NOBODY voted on it. Not one soul approved this thing. Oh wait, I'm lying. One person DID approve it. GEORGE PEACE approved it. Yep. GEORGE PEACE is the guy that decided to take this document and make it LAW, whether YOU like it or not! He just went and DID it. Well, there WAS a vote on "AN ECHOPOL DOCUMENT" almost two years ago. And rumor has it that it was approved. But THIS ain't THAT document. But WAIT! There WILL be a vote on this thing. Sometime in January. But are we gonna wait until its APPROVED before it goes into effect? Nooooo!!! We're gonna make it THE LAW OF THE LAND NOW, and vote on it *LATER*. REAL Democratic. Oh but there's MORE! Are you a conference moderator? Are you a grunt sysop like the rest of us that make up 99% of the ENTIRE network? You ARE??? Oh BOY that's TOO BAD! Because YOU DON'T *GET* to vote on it! Nooo!! Only people with TITLES get to vote on it! Yeah! Now we can't have the Fight O'Net rank and file approve the rules we have to live by, now CAN WE? Of COURSE NOT, HOMER! Because if that's the way we did things, the Great Almightly Zone Coordinator wouldn't be able to SHOVE stuff like this down our throats now WOULD he?? He wouldn't have CARTE BLANCHE anymore, now WOULD he? OF *COURSE* NOT! And we CAN'T LET *THAT* happen!! So what to do about it? Hmmm... Good question! Hey, we gotta do SOMETHING about it! If all you're gonna do is sit back, whine and moan, and not get off your butt, then KWITYER BYCHIN!! We don't need BYCHIN, we need ACTION! So, next time you have your message editor fired up, drop 'ol Georgie boy a netmail and tell him to PACK his ECHOPOL, and GET THE HELL OUT. Send your netmail as often as you feel necessary to get the point across. 1:1/0 is the place to send it. In the meantime, do what the REST of Fight O'Net is doing. IGNORE THE THING. Pay NO attention to it until YOU, the *SYSOP* get to vote on the rules YOU have to live by. Maybe the next ZC we wind up with will GIVE A SH*T about the PEOPLE in the network, and not get all wrapped up in his TITLE. K.B. '90 ----------------------------------------------------------------- FidoNews 7-44 Page 22 29 Oct 1990 Bob Moravsik Fidonet 1:269/107 aka /100 Comments, on Article, The State of the Universe by Al Saveriano In the 7-43 issue of Fidonews Mr. Al Saveriano commented on the State of the universe as he preceived it. Although we "network" together, we strongly disagree on many of the issues brought to the surface. On the matter of Wonton soup it has been my experience that if you reverse the order, the waiter will understand and bring the soup first. It is a known mathematical certainty that if you reverse any sequence twice it will revert back to the original sequence. This well know property was totally and obviously ommitted. Personally the rule clearly does not apply if you change the order to Egg Drop. Dropping eggs is just not the correct way to prepare such an gourmet dish. I seriously question the rational and wisdom of using arbitrary rhymes to force an i to appear before an e except after c. The better method is to use the Wonton rule quoted above and that is to REVERSE the order of these three letters so instead of cei one has iec. Then add the first two but reverse the order to iecei. This states the rule in but five letters and the interesting part is that even if one applies the Wonton rule to the 5 letters the rule remains the same. Iecei reversed is iecei. Maybe daughters are similiar to sons but they must be lacking something. To relate the Game_Boy scandal of '88 to an additive set of numbers which increase by a power of two ignores a very important property in that the first number quoted is simply the square root of the number that was not quoted and conviently left out. If one extends any theory one cannot simply take it to an artificially created limit and then drop it assuming the human mind will extrapolate the series. Unlike the rule above that appears to remain static even if reversed this rule explaining additive sets changes drastically. Thus a better and more exact approach is to take the two digits of the year 88, divide sequentially by 11 11/2 11/4 and 11/8 to obtain the series that Mr. Saveriano derived by a much more elaborate process. I would like to get some idea if there is a substantial set of individuals who can comment on these developing areas. Only then will the true topology of these issues be understood. ----------------------------------------------------------------- FidoNews 7-44 Page 23 29 Oct 1990 ================================================================= COLUMNS ================================================================= Henry Clark 124/6120 Preparation Comdex -- In two weeks I get my first trip to Comdex. Really it's an excuse to play golf and gamble, veiled in 'business convention' expense reporting. It's like doctors going to a live-nude dancing bar and calling it "work related". I'm going to try and select a suitably hot new personal computer while I'm there. I'm also looking for a board manufacturer for my co-processor project. Exhibitor Guest Pass Honors go to Compaq, with their timely insert in their quarterly magazine. I should win a dual 486-33 Systempro for that plug ! Well, maybe I'll just save 75 bucks. Everyone is invited to 'Talk me through it'. Send your "Don't forget to..." hints for this first time Comdex attendee. Par for the Course -- Honey's going to work, and I'm going to retire for the New Year. This assumes I get those new golf clubs for Christmas. Well, that's the PLAN. Well, actually it may be both Birthday and Christmas. I've had my current clubs for 17 years. This time around I'm getting them built for my height and swing. My sister, brother-in-law and I will play golf in Las Vegas at Comdex. We need a fourth. Wouldn't you know it. As soon as I badmouth US Robotics in the Snooze, they up and send me those V.42 ROMs. And then, they sent them to me again. And then, they don't make a difference in ZIP file transfer speed. And to top it all off, Kevin saw how I opened up the modem ! The TAB Key -- A new standard in keystroke conventions is emerging, it's the Filename Completion command, and it's on your TAB key. Suppose I want to delete a file called CONFIG.OLD in the current directory. From DOS I enter del co ==> is expanded to ==> del config.old FidoNews 7-44 Page 24 29 Oct 1990 The complete filename is found from a quick scan of the current directory. Professional CED ( Cove Software ) gives me that. 4DOS ( J.P. Software ) uses the F9 key, unfortunate but useful. Suppose I'm editing a file, and I want to read in another file. I enter the alt-r and get the filename prompt, to which I enter xyz and the filename is found. Brief ( Solution Systems ) gives me that. If more than one file is found to match the given criteria, CED will rotate through them with more presses of the TAB key. Brief will put up a little window where you can select the specific file. The sequence *.TXT works as expected. I hope this standard catches on. It's extremely useful and it didn't take long to make it a habit. You can reach for the TAB as you reach for the ENTER key. I would like it in Binkley's alt-s Send command. Or online, in Opus' C)ontents command. Another round of upgrades. Tex Macs Cooking -- As I have often thought, and recently spoke aloud to a friend of mine, "It's not what you use, it's what you know how to use." I was happy to barter a free round of golf for a touch of "what, how, why" on business accounting software. He had a nice business, and a computer, but wasn't happy with it. Much to my surprise, his offices revealed a MAC IIfx with laser printer and hard disk full of goodies. Not that I keep up with Mac stuff, but I was looking at a pretty fine setup, that was supposed to do brochure publishing, mailing lists/labels and business accounting. The first two functions were just dandy, but his recently fired consultant had opted for a database package, and the attempt at CUSTOM accounting application writing. It never flew. Anyway, I was being paid to break in and snoop around on somebody else's computer. I fired the machine up and showed my buddy how to change the passwords, and remove some of the inits. Do all Macs boot up with necked women pictures and famous comedian quips ? I think so, yes. Actually, the best I ever heard was the voice of Curly saying "I'm tryin' to think, but nothin's happening" when you clicked somewhere that wasn't clickable. A quick four bucks on MacWorld ( PCWorld ) later, I was reading about 31 accounting packages, and had a pretty good idea what was needed. Remembering that chock full 80 meg drive, I took a look at the review of tape drives, as well. Of course, the main feature on HUGE hard disks got read. The Mac Connection ( yes, PC Connection ) was there in full 8 page ad glory, so I figured even for a PC bigot like myself, this was not going to be a problem. I asked him what his accountant recommended, he said "Buy a PC." FidoNews 7-44 Page 25 29 Oct 1990 ----------------------------------------------------------------- FidoNews 7-44 Page 26 29 Oct 1990 ================================================================= LETTERS TO THE EDITOR ================================================================= Rex Rivers FidoNet 1:291/9 About the content of FidoNews: Freedom of speech does not necessarily imply freedom of publication. If you ever decide to restrict the topics in FidoNews, fine. If you decide to always publish everything, that's even finer. There IS one thing that I wish FidoNews didn't have, and it's not anything that anyone ever submitted in an article. It's those form-feed characters at the beginning of each page. I realize that the MAKENEWS program probably inserts these automatically for you but for me they are a real pain in the backside. You see, I rarely print out FidoNews. I generally view it on the computer screen and only print it out if I come across something that I really, really want to keep. The problem results because my system interprets a form-feed character as a clear-screen function. This generally means that I get to see the first two screenfuls of a page okay, but somewhere along the third screenful everything disappears. I imagine that I have missed quite a lot of interesting stuff because of this. If the MAKENEWS program could be modified to simulate form-feed characters with an appropriate number of line-feed characters I would be most grateful. ----------------------------------------------------------------- FidoNews 7-44 Page 27 29 Oct 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 2.5g* Fido 12s+ QuickBBS 2.64 TBBS 2.1 Lynx 1.30 RBBS 17.3A TComm/TCommNet 3.4 Kitten 2.16 RBBSmail 17.3B* Telegard 2.5 Maximus 1.02* RemoteAccess 0.04a* TPBoard 6.1 Opus 1.13+ SLBBS 1.77* Wildcat! 2.15 PCBoard 14.5* Socrates 1.00 XBBS 1.15 Network Node List Other Mailers Version Utilities Version Utilities Version BinkleyTerm 2.40* EditNL 4.00 ARC 7.0* D'Bridge 1.30 MakeNL 2.31 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 3.14* 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 HeadEdit 1.15 InterPCB 1.31* LHARC 1.13 MSG 4.1 MSGED 2.00* MSGTOSS 1.3* PK[UN]ZIP 1.10 QM 1.0 QSORT 4.03 Sirius 1.0x SLMAIL 1.36* StarLink 1.01 TagMail 2.40 TCOMMail 2.2 Telemail 1.27* TMail 1.15 TPBNetEd 3.2 TosScan 1.00 UFGATE 1.03 FidoNews 7-44 Page 28 29 Oct 1990 XRS 3.40 XST 2.2 ZmailQ 1.12* OS/2 Systems ------------ Bulletin Board Software Network Mailers Other Utilities Name Version Name Version Name Version Maximus-CBCS 1.02* BinkleyTerm 2.40* Parselst 1.31 ConfMail 4.00 VP2 4.07* oMMM 1.52 MsgEd 2.00* LH2 0.50 PK[UN]ZIP 1.02 ARC2 6.00 Xenix/Unix ---------- BBS Software Mailers Other Utilities Name Version Name Version Name Version MaximusCBCS 1.02.Unix.B0 BinkleyTerm 2.30b* Unzip 3.10 ARC 5.21 ParseLst 1.30b ConfMail 3.31b Ommm 1.40b Msged 1.99b Zoo 2.01 C-Lharc 1.00 Omail 1.00b Apple CP/M ---------- Bulletin Board Software Network Mailers Other Utilities Name Version Name Version Name Version Daisy v2j Daisy Mailer 0.38 Nodecomp 0.37 MsgUtil 2.5 PackUser v4 Filer v2-D FidoNews 7-44 Page 29 29 Oct 1990 UNARC.COM 1.20 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 2.07+ BinkleyTerm 1.00 AmigArc 0.23 TrapDoor 1.50* AReceipt 1.5* WelMat 0.42 booz 1.01 ConfMail 1.10 ChameleonEdit 0.10 ElectricHerald1.66* Lharc 1.21 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* FidoNews 7-44 Page 30 29 Oct 1990 Zoo 2.01 Atari ST -------- Bulletin Board Software Network Mailer Other Utilities Name Version Name Version Name Version FIDOdoor/ST 1.5c* BinkleyTerm 2.40* 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 FiFo 2.0b* LHARC 0.60 Lharc 1.13 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 7-44 Page 31 29 Oct 1990 ================================================================= NOTICES ================================================================= The Interrupt Stack 4 Nov 1990 Area Code 214 fragments. Part will become area code 903. 6 Nov 1990 First anniversary of Van Diepen Automatiseert, 2:500/28 13 Nov 1990 Third anniversary of Fidonet in Austria (zone 2, region 31). 14 Nov 1990 Marco Maccaferri's 21rd Birthday. Send greetings to him at 2:332/16.0 16 Nov 1990 100% Democratically elected administration takes over the coordination structure in Zone-4 Latin America 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. 31 Mar 1991 Jim Grubs (W8GRT) was issued his first ham radio license forty years ago today. His first station was made from an ARC-5 "Command Set" removed from a B-17 bomber. 12 May 1991 Fourth anniversary of FidoNet operations in Latin America and second anniversary of the creation of Zone-4. 8 Sep 1991 25th anniversary of first airing of Star Trek on NBC! 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 FidoNews 7-44 Page 32 29 Oct 1990 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. -----------------------------------------------------------------