Volume 8, Number 4 28 January 1991 +---------------------------------------------------------------+ | _ | | / \ | | /|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 1991, 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 and for the Members of the FidoNet (r) International Amateur Electronic Mail System. 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. ARTICLES ................................................. 1 The Bulletin Board Times ................................. 1 Zone 1 EchoMail Coordinator Election ..................... 3 (Electronic) Gay Community Magazine ...................... 6 Gay and Lesbian Resource Information ..................... 8 MY VISION ................................................ 10 2. LATEST VERSIONS .......................................... 12 Latest Software Versions ................................. 12 3. NOTICES .................................................. 17 The Interrupt Stack ...................................... 17 Universal Mayhem Update .................................. 18 And more! FidoNews 8-04 Page 1 28 Jan 1991 ================================================================= ARTICLES ================================================================= James Hale 1:280/8 "T H E B U L L E T I N B O A R D T I M E S" "There's a whole world of information and entertainment as close as your computer!" I'm pleased to announce the creation of a newsletter speci- fically designed for the bulletin board user. "The Bulletin Board Times" has been awhile in creation and is now in publication. As a sysop, you might recommend this newsletter to your users because we will be covering things like communications software, bulletin board software, modems, transfer protocals -- basically anything that has to deal with communications with bulletin boards. The nice thing about your users receiving this newsletter is that they will no longer have to bother you and ask, "How do I download?", "What should I set my modem at to call ......", and many of the other questions that have plagued you as a sysop. A subscription to "The Bulletin Board Times" is $15.50 a year. If you're a sysop, you can recieve a subscription for only $11.50 a year. If you have a fidonet number, this can be automatically sent to you each month, or you may elect to download the bbs version of the newsletter which currently only supports RemoteAccess and QuickBBS and any other bbs software that handles RemoteAccess-type menus and text files. This is already set up and ready to install on your bbs, all you have to do is copy it to the right places. "The Bulletin Board Times" also caters to shareware authors by reviewing between five and ten new shareware programs a month and publishing reviews on them. If you're a shareware author, you may upload your own personal copies of shareware and have them reviewed by our staff of competent programmers and users. Some of the items that "The Bulletin Board Times" will contain: * Shareware Reviews, covering the newest and best shareware available to you. * National BBS List (sysops may F'Req BBSLIST in order to be listing in our BBS list). FidoNews 8-04 Page 2 28 Jan 1991 * New Hardware Reviews, hardware specifically for tele- communications. * A Classified section open to all (classified ads only run $2 for up to five lines and $.50 a line after that). * Display ads for bulletin board as low as $15 a month (can be as large as two inches wide by four inches tall) * Bulletin board hints and tips for users (Covers all popular formats; RemoteAccess, QuickBBS, OPUS, PCBoard, and many others). * Communications software reviews and tips. * User of the month, find out what people are really like behind that big green eye! * Sysop of the month, find out what that person behind the board really thinks! * Bulletin Board of the month, we call and check out your board and then pass that along to our readers. * Editorials -- Will the baby bells really pull off a bbs coup? Plus! * Letters from our readers. * Open question and answers about modeming and communications. * (and anything else we come up with in the future!) If you're interested in posting a bulletin on your board about "The Bulletin Board Times", you can F'req the magic filename 'BBSTIMES' from the above address 24 hours a day. This file contains all the information that you need to know in order to subscribe and to pass on to your users to let them know. "The Bulletin Board Times" is a periodical that will increase your usage and help your users out and who knows, maybe you'll gain a thing or two from it also! ----------------------------------------------------------------- FidoNews 8-04 Page 3 28 Jan 1991 Zone 1 EchoMail Coordinator (Z1EC) Election George Peace 1:1/0@fidonet Several weeks ago the Zone 1 Region EchoMail Coordinators (RECs) published a letter in FidoNews requesting a ZEC election. Lacking any formally adopted election mechanism, the RECs suggested I use the method outlined in the 10/22/90 proposed EchoPol draft for this election. Rather than select the candidates on my own I asked the RECs to be the nomination committee and round up 5 qualified candidates for our consideration as Z1EC. The RECs have completed that difficult task and I am now pleased to present candidates for your consideration as Zone 1 EchoMail Coordinator. Tony Davis 1:147/100 Dean Lachan 1:124/4115 Amnon Nissan 1:151/100 John Roberts 1:385/49 Butch Walker 1:157/3 As indicated in the proposed EchoPol draft and the REC request; 10 days after the nominees are selected, an election shall be held. The ZEC will be elected by a simple majority of IC, ZC, RCs, NCs, RECs, and NECs in their Fidonet zone. An individual holding more than one position can only cast one vote. That is, if an individual is both a NC and a NEC, they may cast only one vote. Simple majority is defined for purposes of this election as more than 50% of votes cast. Voting will commence 10 days from issuance of the FidoNews issue first carrying this article. The voting period will extend for a period of 14 days. If this article is first published on 28 January, voting will commence on 7 February and end on 21 February. If no one candidate receives more than 50% of votes cast the two candidates with the most votes will enter into a runoff election. Z1EC will be the candidate with the most votes in the runoff election. Votes in each region will be collected REC or a designee announced by the REC. All votes will be tallied and forwarded by the REC to the Zone Coordinator (ZC) at the end of the voting period. Votes submitted directly to the ZC by any NC or NEC will not be counted. FidoNews 8-04 Page 4 28 Jan 1991 Vote tallies and either the name of the new Z1EC or runoff candidates will be published in the first FidoNews issue following receipt of all vote tallies from all Zone 1 RECs. I urge all RCs, RECs, NCs and NECs to cast their vote as representatives of their respective regions and nets. I urge them to consult with the SysOps in their regions and nets before casting a vote. Election Discussion Forum -------- ---------- ----- A backbone EchoMail conference called Z1_ELECTION has been established for Zone 1 Election discussions. I hope all of the Z1EC candidates will find time to be "regulars" in that conference at least until the voting period ends. Candidate Questionnaire --------- ------------- The Zone 1 RECs have provided a list of questions for each Z1EC candidate to consider. The RECs and I invite each of the 5 Z1EC candidates to respond to the questions publicly in the Z1_ELECTION backbone conference and to publish those responses, along with any other candidate position statements, in the next issue of FidoNews. The questions: 1) What are your qualifications? What FTN positions have you held? 2) If elected ZEC, would you continue with other currently-held FTN positions? 3) What changes, if any, would you make to the Backbone (Stars, Regional Hubs, feeds to other Zones, etc.)? 4) How do you feel about Echo Policy? What modifications, if any, would you like to see made to it? 5) How do you feel about the Gateway Policy? What modifications, if any, would you like to see made to it? 6) How do you see the relationship between *ECs and *Cs? 7) How do you see the relationship between *ECs and Moderators? 8) How do you feel about new technology (groupmail, routed net mail, domains, EMSI, etc.)? FidoNews 8-04 Page 5 28 Jan 1991 9) What goals would you set as ZEC? 10) Any other comments? Peace to All, George ----------------------------------------------------------------- FidoNews 8-04 Page 6 28 Jan 1991 Rex Rivers Fido 1:291/9 The (Electronic) Gay Community Magazine has been in operation since July of 1990 and has found a great deal of acceptance among gay and gay-supportive BBS systems. (E)GCM contains news and information of interest to gay men and lesbian women from all across the country. If you wish to carry The (Electronic) Gay Community Magazine on your system it will cost you nothing other than the telephone charges to pick it up. The magazine may used it as an incentive for new users or subscriptions to your system. This is what the magazine contains: +-------------------------------------------------+ | |+ | The (Electronic) Gay Community Magazine || | || | [F]=JUDICIAL Our Legal System || | [H]=HEALTH Staying Healthy || | [A]=AIDS/ARC On the Frontline || | [P]=POLITICS The Legislature || | [R]=REVIEWS Books & Movies || | [L]=LIFESTYLE The Gay 90's || | [U]=UNIVERSITY Campus Update || | [B]=BRIEFS News Shorts || | [C]=CAMPAIGNS Camp & Satire || | [E]=EDITORIALS Informed Opinion || | [D]=DOWNLOAD Pictures & Stuff || | [I]=INFORMATION About (E)GCM || | || +-------------------------------------------------+| +-------------------------------------------------+ To make the magazine work on your system, create a menu where the display of each file is an option on that menu. Each week, poll node 1:291/9 for the GCM.ARC file. When you receive the magazine archive, simply extract the files from the archive with the replace option so that the "old" magazine files are overlaid with the "new" magazine files. A simple weekly batch file can do the job automatically for you. The GCM.ARC file will be "freshened" as needed on a daily basis. On average one section of the magazine is updated every day. It is estimated that picking up the archive once a week (pick any day you wish) will be sufficient to keep up. The INFORMATION file which contains information about (E)GCM will be changed when new (E)GCM distributors are added to the list. If your system carries the magazine please let us know so that you may be added to the list and benefit from this "free" advertising. FidoNews 8-04 Page 7 28 Jan 1991 The (Electronic) Gay Community Magazine will be available for polling 24 hours a day (except for maintenance time) from The Land of Awes computer in Wichita, Kansas. If your computer system is not able to poll for the (E)GCM files you may download the file from The Land of Awes computer system at 316-269-4208. The file may be found in the News section of the computer. If you have questions or problems contact: Rex Rivers The Land of Awes Post Office Box 16782 Wichita, KS 67216-0782 316-269-3172 NETMAIL (Fido 1:291/9) 316-269-4208 BBS/FAX 316-269-0913 VOICE ----------------------------------------------------------------- FidoNews 8-04 Page 8 28 Jan 1991 Dan Smith 1:153/755 The Gay Exchange BBS (604) 731-0538 Vancouver, B.C., Canada Tonight I sat down and read the most recent FidoNews editorial and decided it was about time I wrote something to do my share, as we are all encouraged to do, and I have something I would like to say for the sake of all of us. The following article is a little bit about the BBS I run. I hope you find it interesting and informative. I operate a BBS which provides information for gay and lesbian computer users. Our bbs is a non-profit, public service for use not only by gays and lesbians, but heterosexuals, gender non- specific users, cross-dressers, people who don't know just exactly what their sexual orientation is, and anyone else who might find our service of some importance and interest to them. We provide an abundance of information, such as legal issues, AIDS and ARC related conferences, counselling and guidance (to the best of our ability), places to see and things to do pertaining to gays and lesbians, the latest public domain and shareware files, and user profiles. Our BBS began operation on April 29, 1989 and has run continuously to this day. In this time, we have had over 10,500 calls to the system and currently hold almost 275 users. This is quite small compared to some of the larger US boards of the same nature, where the number of users sometimes exceeds 500 or more. I'd also like to say that I have been extremely pleased as to the amount of usage our board is presently getting, from 45-50 percent on weekdays and 50-60 percent on weekends. We give callers a sense of security and anonymity, knowing that they don't have to disclose who they are. We take these points into consideration, as there are people out there who don't feel comfortable calling a gay bulletin board for the very first time. We also act as an outlet to help people release some of the feelings they might be experiencing and don't know who to tell. By operating and moderating our board, there might be a slim chance that we can contribute to the understanding of people who don't (or choose not to) understand us. Perhaps there might be a chance that we can make the anti-homosexual a 'friend of the family'. I know that for some people, that's like trying to find a needle in a haystack, but if they will read what we have to say and find out for themselves that we are not all bad people and we shouldn't be classified as 'perverts' or another deroggatory word or words on the list of what-have-you's, one day, hopefully, we can call each other friends instead of enemies. FidoNews 8-04 Page 9 28 Jan 1991 Thank you for letting me take a little of your time to tell you about our service. I hope that by this article, our BBS will attract more users interested in changing their attitudes about homosexuality. We have ourselves a goldmine of information available for the taking. Please utilize it at your leisure. I might also add that if you're just out for 'bashing' your thoughts and feelings are not welcome on our bbs. However, if you are open for some thought-provoking conversation and discussion, our doors are always open. ----------------------------------------------------------------- FidoNews 8-04 Page 10 28 Jan 1991 Alan Jennings FidoNet 1:3800/6 MY VISION We have indeed become a global community. Ideas, thoughts, and opinions from all around the world find their way to our personal computers. We read, we select, we ponder, and we choose those ideas and thoughts which become part of our being. We discard much, add much, and forever learn and grow. Or so we can if we choose. Many of us involved to this level in this vast network are the thinkers and the doers. And while there is no small number of closed-minded folk who will assault you with their beliefs and condemn you for thinking otherwise, I think we can be thankful they, too, can find something of value if they stay long enough to hear some other ideas. We are all the pioneers of a new way of communicating. Soon, these terminals will be as common a fixture as the telephone is today. We will soon be able to leave our messages for anyone anywhere and anytime. It will not replace voice contact, nor will it replace our face to face gatherings, our newspapers, our books, our magazines, our televisions, radios, etc. But it will supplement them considerably. As we can have personal dialogue with someone across the globe at a comfortable time when we can be receptive to the message. And, because of that personal contact, we can -- indeed MUST -- truly effect a lessening of global misunderstandings. If so, we may be able to achieve our global dialogue just in time. As this process unfolds, so does the spirit of man... the indomitable force that hurls us into the 21st century with these remarkable tools of communication. Yet no tool even yet to be imagined can begin to compare with our mind and our spirit. And each person is making a contribution to this global consciousness by the very act of living. We automatically fuel our intellect in this medium. And we will find food for our spirit here, too. There are many, many ministers in these electronic halls. Ministers who are traditionalists, and ministers who are not so traditional. There are ministers who are credentialed and ministers who are not. And there are as many religious beliefs as there are people. But the operative word here is "minister." In my journey through these halls, I find more and more of us every day. And I see many (who had forgotten what they were) are beginning to be of service again. My vision is kind of hard to put into words. But I think the time is right for each of us to recognize our personal ministry. Distinct and apart from our "religious doctrines and dogmas," our personal ministries are a true extension of what we believe moreso than what we say we believe. I see continued heightened awareness. I see bigotry becoming enlightened. I see people willing to get deeper than the semantic dogfights we all see on the surface. FidoNews 8-04 Page 11 28 Jan 1991 I see people becoming ordained to be free in themselves to do that which is right according to their own conscience and beliefs as long as it does not impinge on the rights of others. I believe this IS that day for every man to recognize his personal stake in the outcome and to take responsibility for it. The opportunity is as great as we can imagine if we but have the courage to seize it. *-Rev. Alan Jennings, Pastor CompuChurch (tm) ----------------------------------------------------------------- FidoNews 8-04 Page 12 28 Jan 1991 ================================================================= 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 2.66 TBBS 2.1 GSBBS 3.02 RBBS 17.3B TComm/TCommNet 3.4 Lynx 1.30 RBBSmail 17.3B Telegard 2.5 Kitten 2.16 RemoteAccess 0.04a TPBoard 6.1 Maximus 1.02 SLBBS 1.77A Wildcat! 2.55 Opus 1.14+ Socrates 1.10 WWIV 4.12 PCBoard 14.5 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 DOMAIN 1.42 TIMS 1.0(Mod8) XlaxDiff 2.35 EMM 2.02 XlaxNode 2.35 4Dog/4DMatrix 1.18 Gmail 2.05 GROUP 2.16 GUS 1.30 HeadEdit 1.15 InterPCB 1.31 LHARC 1.13 MSG 4.1 MSGED 2.06 MSGTOSS 1.3 Oliver 1.0a PK[UN]ZIP 1.10 QM 1.0 QSORT 4.03 Sirius 1.0x SLMAIL 1.36 StarLink 1.01 TagMail 2.41 TCOMMail 2.2 Telemail 1.27 FidoNews 8-04 Page 13 28 Jan 1991 TMail 1.15 TPBNetEd 3.2 TosScan 1.00 UFGATE 1.03 XRS 4.00* XST 2.2 ZmailH 1.14 OS/2 Systems ------------ Bulletin Board Software Network Mailers Other Utilities Name Version Name Version Name Version Maximus-CBCS 1.02 BinkleyTerm 2.40 Parselst 1.32 ConfMail 4.00 EchoStat 6.0 oMMM 1.52 Omail 3.1 MsgEd 2.06 MsgLink 1.0C MsgNum 4.14 LH2 0.50 PK[UN]ZIP 1.02 ARC2 6.00 PolyXARC 2.00 Qsort 2.1 Raid 1.0 Remapper 1.2 Tick 2.0 VPurge 2.07 Xenix/Unix ---------- BBS Software Mailers Other Utilities Name Version Name Version Name Version 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 FidoNews 8-04 Page 14 28 Jan 1991 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 UNARC.COM 1.20 Macintosh --------- Bulletin Board Software Network Mailers Other Utilities Name Version Name Version Name Version Red Ryder Host 2.1 Tabby 2.2 MacArc 0.04 Mansion 7.15 Copernicus 1.0 ArcMac 1.3 WWIV (Mac) 3.0 LHArc 0.33 Hermes 1.01 StuffIt Classic 1.6 FBBS 0.91 Compactor 1.21 TImport 1.92 TExport 1.92 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 Eventmeister 1.0 TSort 1.0 Mehitable 2.0 UNZIP 1.02c Amiga ----- Bulletin Board Software Network Mailers Other Utilities Name Version Name Version Name Version Paragon 2.082+ BinkleyTerm 1.00 AmigArc 0.23 TransAmiga 1.05 TrapDoor 1.50 AReceipt 1.5 FidoNews 8-04 Page 15 28 Jan 1991 WelMat 0.42 booz 1.01 ConfMail 1.10 ChameleonEdit 0.10 ElectricHerald1.66 Lharc 1.30 MessageFilter 1.52 oMMM 1.49b ParseLst 1.30 PkAX 1.00 PK[UN]ZIP 1.01 PolyxAmy 2.02 RMB 1.30 RoboWriter 1.02 Skyparse 2.30 TrapList 1.12 Yuck! 1.61 Zippy (Unzip) 1.25 Zoo 2.01 Atari ST -------- Bulletin Board Network Node List Software Version Mailer Version Utilities Version FIDOdoor/ST 2.11* BinkleyTerm 2.40jt ParseList 1.30 QuickBBS/ST 1.02 The BOX 1.20 Xlist 1.12 Pandora BBS 2.41c EchoFix 1.20 GS Point 0.61 LED ST 1.00 MSGED 1.96S Archiver Msg Format Other Utilities Version Converters Version Utilities Version LHARC 0.60 TB2BINK 1.00 ConfMail 4.03* ARC 6.02 BINK2TB 1.00 ComScan 1.02 PKUNZIP 1.10 FiFo 2.12* Import 1.14 OMMM 1.40 Pack 1.00 FastPack 1.20 FDsysgen 2.16* FDrenum 2.10 Trenum 0.10 Archimedes ---------- FidoNews 8-04 Page 16 28 Jan 1991 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 8-04 Page 17 28 Jan 1991 ================================================================= NOTICES ================================================================= The Interrupt Stack 16 Feb 1991 Fifth anniversary of the introduction of Echomail, by Jeff Rush. 30 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. 15 Aug 1991 5th annual Z1 Fido Convention - FidoCon '91 "A New Beginning" Sheraton Denver West August 15 through August 18 1991. 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 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 8-04 Page 18 28 Jan 1991 ----------------------------------------------------------------- Fredric L. Rice 1:102/901.0 Yes, well... Ok. I failed to pay my phone bill and I got my ass yanked from the dial-up network. I have mailed MAYHEM23.ZIP to some 25 sites and have another 100 or so to go but it _is_ being mailed; just hang tight, please. The phone line will be reconnected in a week or so and all of the remaining sites that asked for it will get mailed! ----------------------------------------------------------------- Michael Rapp FidoNet 1:106/12 Notice To All Star Trek SysOps -- I run a BBS list of Star Trek Related BBSes distribute it regularly around Houston (I also make it available for FREQ, "STBBS.LST"). If you would like to be added to this list, please send me netmail with the following information: 1. BBS Name 2. FidoNet Address and any other addresses you have (please specify net name) 3. SysOp Name (Handle if desired) 4. Board Phone (with area code!) 5. Maximun Baud Rate 6. BBS Software and Version Number 7. Hours if part-time BBS Thanks! -----------------------------------------------------------------