F I D O N E W S -- | Vol. 8 No. 30 (29 July 1991) The newsletter of the | FidoNet BBS community | Published by: _ | / \ | "FidoNews" BBS /|oo \ | (415)-863-2739 (_| /_) | FidoNet 1:1/1 _`@/_ \ _ | Internet: | | \ \\ | fidonews@fidonews.fidonet.org | (*) | \ )) | |__U__| / \// | Editors: _//|| _\ / | Tom Jennings (_/(_|(____/ | Tim Pozar (jm) | ----------------------------+--------------------------------------- Published weekly by and for the Members of the FidoNet international amateur network. Copyright 1991, Fido Software. All rights reserved. Duplication and/or distribution permitted for noncommercial purposes only. For use in other circumstances, please contact FidoNews. Paper price: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $5.00US Electronic Price: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . free! For more information about FidoNews refer to the end of this file. -------------------------------------------------------------------- Table of Contents 1. EDITORIAL ..................................................... 1 2. FIDONET NEWS .................................................. 2 (No FidoNetNews this week) .................................... 2 3. ARTICLES ...................................................... 3 Abstract: 'Computer Underground Digest' ....................... 3 THE ELECTRONIC FRONTIER FOUNDATION ............................ 7 International Public Emergency Comunications System, Inc ...... 13 4. RANTS AND FLAMES .............................................. 18 IS PROFANITY REALLY NECESSARY? ................................ 18 Waste of Space in FidoNews? ................................... 19 5. CLASSIFIEDS ................................................... 21 6. NOTICES ....................................................... 22 The Interrupt Stack ........................................... 22 7. LATEST VERSIONS ............................................... 24 FidoNews 8-30 Page 1 29 Jul 1991 ====================================================================== EDITORIAL ====================================================================== Well, another newsletter. I haven't yet started some of the things I wanted to, mainly soliciting articles from specific authors and groups. My excuse this week is that I just started a new job, which I think is a pretty good excuse. FUNNY FILES: FidoNews submissions must adhere to ARTSPEC.DOC standards. I don't have the time to manually rummage around in .LZH, .ZIP or other funny file formats. (Nor am I adventurous enough to sacrafice my disk drive -- when decompressing one such file, it created three nested subdirectories and put a file in the bottom one!) Other than FidoNews submissions, nodediffs, files from friends, etc., I generally delete files that I did not solicit. If you intend to submit things for inclusion in FidoNews, please read and follow ARTSPEC.DOC, to the spirit and letter. I do! FUNNY MESSAGES: Another thing happened when I became 1:1/1 -- I started getting misdirected mail. Some are of the "Hey Mary, how about goin' fishin' this weekend?", which I just delete. "Important looking" ones I generally bounce back to the author. Fabian Gordon seems to have figured it out -- software that doesn't properly handle zonegating/^AINTL lines, and intra-zone mail gets 'zonegated' to 1:1/1. Oh well. I suppose eventually these old non- functional programs will get replaced by newer versions (hint hint). * * * * * LAST AND LEAST: I will reiterate every week -- if you don't like what you see in FidoNews, write it or solicit it from people doing interesting work. Complaining is boring, and no one likes it except the author. (Meaning, complaining is selfish and inconsiderate of others -- and they go on and on, sometimes weeks after the original "offense".) If you find someone doing interesting work (ingenious uses of FidoNet, unique software, etc) by all means ask them if they've got something written up about their project. If you see an article in a magazine that's short and of interest to FidoNews, by all means write the publisher for rights to republish -- most like that, as it tends to attract new readers. Don't forget -- I am the publisher first, and editor second. I don't write this stuff! You do! ---------------------------------------------------------------------- FidoNews 8-30 Page 2 29 Jul 1991 ====================================================================== FIDONET NEWS ====================================================================== ################################################################ FidoNetNews -- a weekly section devoted to technical and factual issues within the FidoNet -- FidoNet Technical Standards Committee reports, *C reports, information on FidoNet standards documents and the like. ################################################################ ---------------------------------------------------------------------- There were no FidoNetNews submissions this week. Tune again in next week! ---------------------------------------------------------------------- FidoNews 8-30 Page 3 29 Jul 1991 ====================================================================== ARTICLES ====================================================================== Abstract: 'Computer Underground Digest' by Tom Jennings /* NOTE: This is something I'd like to see every week -- abstracts of other electronic newsletters. While at least mine will occasionally contain personal likes dislikes (if you knew me that would be funny), these are meant to be abstracts -- quick descriptive summaries, rather than "reviews" intent on passing judgment of good vs. bad. You can make up your own mind. On the list for the future are the Electronic Frontier Foundation's EFFECTOR, and HOME POWER MAGAZINE's electronic-conference/articles. If you see any others worth considering, either write up an abstract (see definition above) or if you're absolutely lazy, send me one. Though that won't guarantee I'll even read it... -- tomj */ COMPUTER UNDERGROUND DIGEST (CUD) is an electronic-only newsletter, with it's readership centered on the usenet/internet world, though they're widening their audience a bit. CUD comes out weekly, at about 40K bytes of ASCII text. (They are expirimenting with file-format, to allow it to me automatically processed by mailers -- I will be following this one!) It's available from at least one FidoNet node (1:100/345, see below) by filerequest. CUD has two moderators (ie. editors, more or less), Jim Thomas and Gordon Meyer. The content is legal/social more than technical, at least lately dealing with the "hacker" (sic) "busts" (sic) by the FBI and such, as well as the more legitimate busts of actual computer criminals. The rest of what follows was clipped from CUD #3.25. /* Begin CUD quote */ "Computer Underground Digest--Sat Jul 13 01:10:10 CDT 1991 (Vol #3.25) " Moderators: Jim Thomas and Gordon Meyer (TK0JUT2@NIU.BITNET) "Today's Contents: Moderators' Corner Spaf's Response to Bill Vajk Comments to Bill Vajk's posting in CuD #3.22 (T. Klotzbach) LOD Members for Comsec Computer Security (News Reprint) Alcor Email (ECPA) Case Settled (Keith Henson) NIST announces public-key digital signature standard (gnu) FidoNews 8-30 Page 4 29 Jul 1991 Secret Service Pays Hacker Call (Reprint from Newsbytes) "Administratia: ARCHIVISTS: ROB KRAUSE, BOB KUSUMOTO, AND BRENDAN KEHOE "CuD is available via electronic mail at no cost. Printed copies are available by subscription. Single copies are available for the costs of reproduction and mailing. "Issues of CuD can be found in the Usenet alt.society.cu-digest news group, on CompuServe in DL0 and DL4 of the IBMBBS SIG, DL1 of LAWSIG, and DL0 and DL12 of TELECOM, by FidoNet file request from 1:100/345, on Genie, on the PC-EXEC BBS at (414) 789-4210, and by anonymous ftp from ftp.cs.widener.edu, chsun1.uchicago.edu, and dagon.acc.stolaf.edu. To use the U. of Chicago email server, send mail with the subject "help" (without the quotes) to archive-server@chsun1.uchicago.edu. "COMPUTER UNDERGROUND DIGEST is an open forum dedicated to sharing information among computerists and to the presentation and debate of diverse views. CuD material may be reprinted as long as the source is cited. Some authors do copyright their material, and they should be contacted for reprint permission. It is assumed that non-personal mail to the moderators may be reprinted unless otherwise specified. Readers are encouraged to submit reasoned articles relating to the Computer Underground. Articles are preferred to short responses. Please avoid quoting previous posts unless absolutely necessary. "DISCLAIMER: The views represented herein do not necessarily represent the views of the moderators. Digest contributors assume all responsibility for ensuring that articles submitted do not violate copyright protections. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- /* Only one example article is included. Note the nice easy to understand format! You might see it in FidoNews... -- tomj */ Date: Fri, 5 Jul 1991 13:52 CDT From: "ROBERT G. HEARN" <9999AH02@UHDBIT.BITNET> Subject: LOD Members for Comsec COmputer Security (News Reprint) Reprint from Sunday, June 23, 1991 Houston Chronicle (1A, 15A) By Joe Abernathy FORMER HACKERS OFFER SERVICES IN COMPUTER SECURITY The most notorious force of computer hacking's heyday is asking forgiveness and joining the forces of good. FidoNews 8-30 Page 5 29 Jul 1991 The storied Legion of Doom, nemesis to the Secret Service, is forming a computer security consulting firm in Houston. Drawing members from around the nation and its name from comic book villains, the youthful hackers' group dominated the underground electronic landscape of the middle and late 1980s. Finally, a controversial penetration of phone company computers landed several members in jail. According to documents, activities of the Legion of Doom were a primary motivation for Operation Sun Devil, a nationwide crackdown on computer crime coordinated by the U.S. Secret Service. But remaining members in Austin and Houston, who disavowed any connection with the phone company incident, now say they are on the right side of the law and are offering their expertise on computer security. "People need us. We're the best," said Scott Chasin, known in his hacking days by the computer handle Doc Holliday. "Ten years from now we'll be the leaders in data security." Computer security is a burgeoning field, but one that is almost impossible to define in terms of dollars lost to penetrations or dollars spent on security. Tales are plentiful among police of losses in the six-figure range that went unprosecuted in order to spare the affected firms embarrassment. Estimates of the yearly loss to industry from computer break-ins range from $500 million to more than $2 billion -- much of it lost to long-distance phone service theft or credit card fraud. Some industry observers welcomed the creation of Comsec Computer Security, as the new company will be known, while others derided it as a new twist on a familiar theme. "There's lots of precedent for that," said Richard A. Schaffer of New York, editor of the industry publication ComputerLetter. "Crooks of all types try to hire themselves out after the fact." "So these guys are purporting to tell you how to protect against folks like them," he mused. "It strikes me that people should refuse to hire them just on principle...although from what I've seen they're qualified." But Linda Laskey of the Computer Security Institute in San Francisco said she believes the firm will provide a valuable service. "They know what they're doing as far as doing as far as security systems go," she said. Laskey said the Computer Security Institute, a worldwide organization of computer security professionals from business and government will be among the first clients of Comsec. FidoNews 8-30 Page 6 29 Jul 1991 The value of computer security is pitched now by those associated with particular security products. Accounting firms also provide security consulting. By contrast, Comsec is banking on its past association with the Legion, which gained a high profile from run-ins with the Secret Service and BellSouth, one of the regional phone companies. Robert J. Riggs, Franklin E. Dardin Jr. and Adam E. Grant were sentenced on Nov. 16, 1990, in federal court in Atlanta for breaking into the computers of BellSouth and stealing a document on the administration of the emergency 911 system. Hacking grew up around the Legion, which wasn't content merely to penetrate computer systems and networks. The deed wasn't finished until the intimate details of each system were written up and electronically published. Legion followers became associated with tutorials on obscure subjects, such things as how to make nitroglycerin and drugs, and with electronic documents on "social engineering," the fine art of the scam. Born in the swirling computer underground of the 1980s and named after the minions of Superman archrival Lex Luthor, the Legion's "educational services" ultimately helped reshape the online community and gave the group a stature beyond its nominal activities. But the best summary may have been written by Comsec principal Chris Goggans, the historian of the Legion and only member associated with it from its official founding in 1984 until it was disbanded late last year. "The Legion of Doom has been called everything from 'Organized Crime' to 'a communist threat to national security' to 'an international conspiracy of computer terrorists bent on destroying the nation's 911 service,'" he wrote under his pseudonym, Eric Bloodaxe. "Nothing comes closer to the actual truth than 'bored adolescents with too much spare time.'" Now Sun Devil has put an end to hacking's innocence and perception of among computer enthusiasts that it is a noble pursuit. As for the Legion members, a few got busted, a few got bored, and the rest are pondering a direction for their lives as young adults. "I didn't want to be 30 years old and still breaking into systems," said Chasin, who is 21. "I want to be securing systems." Chasin and Goggans, 22, will be joined in the firm by Ken Shulman, 21, the son of Houston socialite Carolyn Farb, who is providing discounted office space and other assistance. FidoNews 8-30 Page 7 29 Jul 1991 Comsec will be managed by Robert Cupps, 24, a graduate of Emory University and former securities trader. Chasin and Goggans are pursuing degrees at the University of Houston. "From a marketing standpoint, we've got a real strong presentation," said Cupps, a Baytown native who does not consider himself a computer expert. "What we will do is a brief demonstration. When you can walk into someone's office and get root (administrative privileges) on their system, that says something in itself, that maybe you're the person they should be talking to about securing their systems." The only member of Comsec who has faced criminal charges is Shulman, known vicariously on computer networks as Malefactor, The Mentor, and Jack the Ripper. He pleaded no contest in 1989 to misdemeanor charges of credit card fraud, paid nearly $20,000 in restitution and was put on a year's deferred adjudication -- meaning he emerged from probation without a final conviction on his record. "It was telephones, long distance calls," he said. "I quit everything after that, and that was years ago." Goggans has also had a run-in with the law, however. His Austin home was raided on March 1, 1990, because he allegedly possessed the 911 document. No charges have been filed. Originally held forth as a life-threatening penetration of the 911 system, the document theft is now viewed by computer enthusiasts and others as having been considerably overblown. "The fact of the matter is that there was no damage to the system," acknowledged Scott Ticer, operations manager for BellSouth and spokesman for the security team that lead the investigation. "But the potential for damage was there." "You just can't have people playing around in your network -- it's not some high-tech toyland. This is the telecommunications system." Would BellSouth hire the former hackers whose associates caused it so much grief -- proving their expertise along the way? "We don't use hackers as consultants, period," Ticer said. "Thanks but no thanks." ------------------------------ /* End CUD abstract */ ---------------------------------------------------------------------- ************************************************************ FidoNews 8-30 Page 8 29 Jul 1991 THE ELECTRONIC FRONTIER FOUNDATION General Information ************************************************************ EFF MISSION STATEMENT -- April, 1990 A new world is arising in the vast web of digital, electronic media which connect us. Computer-based communication media like electronic mail and computer conferencing are becoming the basis of new forms of community. These communities without a single, fixed geographical location comprise the first settlements on an electronic frontier. While well-established legal principles and cultural norms give structure and coherence to uses of conventional media like newspapers, books, and telephones, the new digital media do not so easily fit into existing frameworks. Conflicts come about as the law struggles to define its application in a context where fundamental notions of speech, property, and place take profoundly new forms. People sense both the promise and the threat inherent in new computer and communications technologies, even as they struggle to master or simply cope with them in the workplace and the home. The Electronic Frontier Foundation has been established to civilize the electronic frontier; to make it useful and beneficial not just to a technical elite, but to everyone; and to do this in keeping with our society's highest traditions of the free and open flow of information and communication. A LOOK BACK -- June, 1991 That was our mission statement when we began the EFF little more than a year ago. In the past year we have worked hard to fulfil this mission. When we began there was a void separating the pioneers of computer networking and the rest of the world. The technologies were ill understood outside of a small, technically minded part of the population. One of our first tasks was to begin to build bridges between these groups. In our first year The Electronic Frontier Foundation has: Inspired and helped to organize and present the first Computer Freedom and Privacy Conference. CFP was a four day event that brought together, in search of knowledge and common ground, representatives from computer networking, law enforcement, and privacy advocate groups. FidoNews 8-30 Page 9 29 Jul 1991 Worked within Senator Leahy's Privacy Task Force in Washington,D.C. in order to advance the concerns of the computer networking community in the formation of legislation in this critical area. Established a fully staffed, operational headquarters in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Distributed the first six issues of our electronic newsletter, EFFector Online, throughout the net. Published the first issue of our quarterly print newsletter, EFFECTOR. Filed suit against the Secret Service for the unlawful search and seizure of computers, BBS systems, books and manuscripts at Steve Jackson Games in Austin, Texas. Defended Craig Neidorf, unjustly accused of publishing purloined documents. Become a presence on the Internet with our node, eff.org. Created an FTP archive on the net for documents on computer networking and privacy law. Spoken to numerous groups nationwide on the issues of civil liberties and computer networking. Made grants in aid to Computer Professionals for Social Responsibility as well as joining them in numerous projects and workshops around the nation. Testified before the Federal Communications Committee concerning the public access and design needs of the National Research and Education network. Lobbied effectively at the state level to change legislation inimical to computer networking. Developed a network of relationships with the local and national media that has affected the climate of opinion about computer networking and begun to reverse the slide into "hacker hysteria" that was beginning to grip the nation. FidoNews 8-30 Page 10 29 Jul 1991 Given a net home at eff.org to groups like Computer Professionals for Social Responsibility and the new Computers and Academic Freedom group. Created a voice that is listened to in Washington on issues concerning computer networking. Joined in an association with the ACLU and the Consumer Federation of America in order to plan and to act in the future to ensure broad public access to the information super-highways of the future. Launched the Open Road program in order to make sure that the needs of the public in the building of the National Public Network are addressed at the beginning of the project. Begun research and development into creating the tools that will allow non-technical individuals using PCs to access the net over voice-grade telephone lines in a simple and straightforward fashion. Defined the problems associated with the questions of protecting nodes and carriers from unwarranted risks and liabilities in providing information services from the producer to the consumer. We are proud that we have been able to accomplish so much in such a short time. We have had a lot of help doing it from friends and supporters from all sectors of American society in the public and the private sectors. In this we have been fortunate. At the same time, we see more clearly that we did a year ago just how far we have to go and how much work lies ahead of us. The issues that those of us in the computer, telecommunications, and computer networking fields of endeavor can see so clearly now will affect every American and most of the people of the entire world within the next ten years. The opportunities are immense and the potential for an increase in human knowledge, wisdom and well-being beyond our calculation. We now know that we cannot know all of what lies ahead. Instead, we can try to prepare as best we can, and to protect the legitimate interests of the individual and society as best we can, for the full dawn of the Global Information Age. We hope that we can count on you for your continuing good will and support. THE EFF STAFF: Mitchell Kapor, President and Co-founder (mkapor@eff.org); John Perry Barlow, Co-founder (barlow@eff.org); Michael Godwin , General Counsel (mnemonic@eff.org); Gerard Van der Leun, Director of Communications (van@eff.org); Christopher Davis, System Administrator (ckd@eff.org); Helen Rose,System Administrator (hrose@eff.org) ; Rita Rouvalis, Administrator (rita@eff.org) FidoNews 8-30 Page 11 29 Jul 1991 THE EFF BOARD OF DIRECTORS: Jerry Berman, John Perry Barlow, Stewart Brand, Esther Dyson, John Gilmore, Mitchell Kapor, Steve Wozniak. ************************************************************ What can you do? For starters, you can spread the word about EFF as widely as possible, both on and off the Net. Feel free, for example, to distribute any of the materials included in this or other EFF mailings. You can become a member of EFF and help us, through your donations to achieve our goals of civilizing the Electronic Frontier. You can turn some of the immense processing horsepower of your distributed Mind to the task of finding useful new metaphors for community, expression, property, privacy and other realities of the physical world which seem up for grabs in these less tangible regions. You can try to communicate to technically unsophisticated friends the extent to which their future freedoms and well-being may depend on understanding the broad forms of digital communication, if not necessarily the technical details. Finally, you can keep in touch with us at any of the addresses listed below. Please pass on your thoughts, concerns, insights, contacts, suggestions, and news. And we will return the favor. ************************************************************ Staying in Touch Send requests to be added to or dropped from the EFF mailing list or other general correspondence to eff-request@eff.org. We will periodically mail updates on EFF-related activities to this list, as well as mailing our biweekly online newsletter, EFFector Online. If you receive any USENET newsgroups, your site may carry two newsgroups in the INET distribution called comp.org.eff.news and comp.org.eff.talk. The former is a moderated newsgroup of announcements, responses to announcements, and selected discussion drawn from the unmoderated "talk" group and the mailing list. Everything that goes out over the EFF mailing list will also be posted in comp.org.eff.news, so if you read the newsgroup you don't need to subscribe to the mailing list. FidoNews 8-30 Page 12 29 Jul 1991 Postings submitted to the moderated newsgroup may be reprinted by the EFF. To submit a posting, you may send mail to eff@eff.org. There is an active EFF conference on the Well, as well as many other related conferences of interest to EFF supporters. As of August 1990, access to the Well is $8/month plus $3/hour. Outside the S.F. Bay area, telecom access for $5/hr. is available through CPN. Register online at (415) 332-6106. A document library containing all of the EFF news releases, John Barlow's "Crime and Puzzlement" and others is available via anonymous FTP from eff.org. Mail ftphelp@eff.org if you have questions, or are unable to use FTP. Our Address: The Electronic Frontier Foundation, Inc. 155 Second Street Cambridge, MA 02142 +1 617 864 0665 +1 617 864 0866 FAX ************************************************************ MEMBERSHIP IN THE ELECTRONIC FRONTIER FOUNDATION In order to continue the work already begun and to expand our efforts and activities into other realms of the electronic frontier, we need the financial support of individuals and organizations. If you support our goals and our work, you can show that support by becoming a member now. Members receive our quarterly newsletter, EFFECTOR, our bi-weekly electronic newsletter, EFFector Online (if you have an electronic address that can be reached through the Net), and special releases and other notices on our activities. But because we believe that support should be freely given, you can receive these things even if you do not elect to become a member. Your membership/donation is fully tax deductible. Our memberships are $20.00 per year for students, $40.00 per year for regular members. You may, of course, donate more if you wish. Our privacy policy: The Electronic Frontier Foundation will never, under any circumstances, sell any part of its membership list. We will, from time to time, share this list with other non-profit organizations whose work we determine to be in line with our goals. But with us, member privacy is the default. This means that you must actively grant us permission to share your name with other groups. If you do not grant explicit permission, we assume that you do not wish your membership disclosed to any group for any reason. FidoNews 8-30 Page 13 29 Jul 1991 >>>>>---------------- EFF@eff.org MEMBERSHIP FORM ---------------<<<<<<< Mail to: The Electronic Frontier Foundation, Inc. 155 Second St. Cambridge,MA 02141 I wish to become a member of the EFF I enclose:$__________ $20.00 (student or low income membership) $40.00 (regular membership) [ ] I enclose an additional donation of $___________ Name:______________________________________________________ Organization:______________________________________________ Address: __________________________________________________ State:_______Zip:________Phone:( )_____________(optional) FAX:( )____________________(optional) Email address: ______________________________ I enclose a check [ ]. Please charge my membership in the amount of $_____________ to my Mastercard [ ] Visa [ ] American Express [ ] Number:____________________________________________________ Expiration date: ____________ Signature: ________________________________________________ Date:______________________ I hereby grant permission to the EFF to share my name with other non-profit groups from time to time as it deems appropriate [ ]. Initials:___________________________ ------------------------------------------------------------ ************************************************************ The EFF is a non-profit, 501c3 organization. Donations to the EFF are tax-deductible. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- International Public Emergency Comunications System, Inc. Todd Looney Michael Hess President/CEO IPECS Inc. Director/Public Relations FidoNews 8-30 Page 14 29 Jul 1991 INTERNATIONAL PUBLIC EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEM, INC. TODAY ----------------------------------------------------- SaudiNet was formed in the midst of a crisis developing in the Middle East, this crisis is now known as the War in the Persian Gulf. The intent of this project was to provide a quick, efficient way to get letters, in the form of electronic mail, to troops stationed in the Persian Gulf. These letters, from family members and well wishers, are entered on a personal computer equipped with a modem while "online" with a computer Bulletin Board System (BBS). There were some systems around the country that operated on a "stand alone" basis. Schools and libraries etc. participated in SaudiNet. These computer Bulletin Board Systems operate voluntarily. The System Operators (SysOps) who maintain these systems give a large amount of their time and money for toll calls, maintenence etc. to provide this service, free of charge, to the public. These individual systems and the people who run them are the very backbone of the entire operation. Without them, this great effort known as SaudiNet, would not be able to run. As with all projects of this scope, SaudiNet has had its growing pains. As problems arose however, they have been dealt with in a manner befitting commercial organizations. There are still nearly 45,000 troops stationed in and around the Persian Gulf Theatre of Operations, and mail continues to flow from systems who belong to SaudiNet, to a Bulletin Board System (BBS) in Saudi Arabia, where they are printed out, stapled and turned over to the Military Post Office. Here in this country, plans are underway to expand the present operation to include crises areas around the world. SaudiNet remains an ongoing project, as long as need be, under the direction of a not-for-profit corporation called the International Public Emergency Communications System Incorporated (IPECS Inc.). This corporation is already unique. The members of SaudiNet are at this time electing representatives from their respective regions to an Advisory Board of Directors. The chairman of which holds a seat on the regular board of directors of IPECS Inc.. This insures that the entire membership will have a voice in the future directions of the network. To our knowledge, this is the first time that this has been done in any, large scale computer communications network. The time is ripe for an organization such as this. With the proliferation of technology available to nearly everyone, a computer network such as this can serve a great need. We can provide nearly instantaneous communications to crises areas around the world. Another important facet of the IPECS Network is being able to provide moral support to crisis victims, as well as making previous experiences and the knowledge gleaned from these past experiences available to others. We sincerely hope that this "global knowledge" will help people from all over the world deal with whatever situation they may find themselves in, and promote understanding between diverse peoples of the FidoNews 8-30 Page 15 29 Jul 1991 world. In 1981, the percentage of schools in this country that had personal computers available to students was 18.2%. This number has risen dramatically and in 1987 was up to 96.4%. At the same time, the number of students per PC has fallen from 56.2 in 1984 to 28.8 in 1987. (1) There has been an incredible increase of sales of PC's as well. In 1981, 1.11 million PC's were sold. These numbers increased through 1984 to 7.61 million units. After a slight drop in 1985 and 1986, 8.34 million units were sold in 1987. (2) Additionally, the use of modems in personal computers has increased. In 1981, 180,000 modems were in use in PC's in the United States. Through 1987, this number has increased to nearly 9 million. Clearly, there is a trend in this country. People utilizing the personal computer as a communications device. Also, it is clear that our children are getting "hands on" experience in the ways of the computer world. A computer network such as the International Public Emergency Communications System Inc., is timely. "User friendliness", and IPECS' dedication to providing crisis communications in an emergency situation, as well as "day to day" communications that will keep the network "primed" and ready for any situation, will be a benefit to people around the world. SaudiNet will continue as long as troops are stationed in the Persian Gulf. As long as there is a need for mail to the troops, and it's much needed, the SaudiNet project will continue. Some may wonder where the Board of Directors of this new corporation, the International Public Emergency Communications System (IPECS Inc.) is going in the future. By "corporation", we speak of the entire network. The individual node is the single, most important element of IPECS Inc. and SaudiNet. Without the dedication of the individual member, SaudiNet would have been an utter failure, and IPECS Inc. would have no future. Now that we have the basic system in place, IPECS Inc. will continue to provide similar services during future crises, wherever they may strike in the world. We have proven, with astounding success, that that we can function in accordance with our charter in the worst of all possible scenarios, that being wartime communications. General H. Norman Schwarzkopf expressed interest in SaudiNet in a letter, February 27, 1991. FidoNews 8-30 Page 16 29 Jul 1991 INTERNATIONAL PUBLIC EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEM, TOMMORROW ----------------------------------------------------- Our mission is not like other organizations whose basic structure is the same. We are not here to provide emergency communications links between rescue and relief teams and their offices in the United States. Our mission is to provide an invaluable communications link between the families, friends, loved ones, and general supporters in this country and the people who live and work in those foreign countries beset by tragedy. Be it war, as in the Gulf, or natural catastrophe such as earthquake, fire, flood, or whatever may come along, IPECS Inc. will be there to provide timely, computer communications. Our Board of Directors consists of selected members of our current SaudiNet network. We intend to include prestigious members from corporate America, the Senate, and Congress as well. We have earned much in the way of credibility in the past months or so, and we will continue to do so until it is traditionally accepted of us. We will be a respected and credible organization whose services will be sought after by humanitarian organizations and government agencies throughout the world. We have, in fact, already been approached. We are expanding the existing IPECS network to include support to the American and Canadian civilians who are rebuilding Kuwait, and all the existing SaudiNet nodes who want to join us will make up IPECS' general membership. We will continue to provide the valuable service we have been to date, honing our skills, waiting and ready for the next crisis. Our membership will eventually total in the thousands. From within the ranks of our growing membership, we will recruit, and train, Crisis Action Teams who will, on very short notice, pack up our equipment and travel to the scene of a catastrophe to begin establishing our essential links to that country. We are approaching various foundations and corporations for the funding necessary to accomplish this humanitarian effort. We will have our own computer and communications equipment, including our own satellite communications link to transmit IPECS members letters of support, concern and sharing of ideas anywhere in the world. We will have our own facilities to store and repair this equipment. We will have offices staffed with full time employees from where we will conduct business just as any successful charitable organization. Our headquarters will have several data and voice 800 lines, as will each of our regional coordinators in the field. Our operation will be entirely computerized, operating virtually paperless in order to streamline efficiency, and the HQ will house the IPECS BBS System which will be online 24 hours per day, accessible through an 800 number, to provide membership and outreach services to the general public in accordance with our charter. FidoNews 8-30 Page 17 29 Jul 1991 Between crises, our CAT members will "drill and train" in preparation of the next call for our services. Our communications commitee will look at what was learned from previous projects, and those mistakes that will inevitably be made, planning for the next emergency utilizing this information. Our membership committee will actively seek out new volunteer BBS sysops. Our technical committee will work with our existing member nodes, as well as new members as they come online, to insure they have all the tools they need to provide effective, efficient services to the general public during the next emergency. Our funding committee will actively solicit contributions from a wide variety of foundations and corporations. Our Public Relations Director will continue to work with the general public, as well as corporations, making our services known to them through various publications and media events. Our executive staff will continue to strengthen our contacts in the world with applicable agencies and organizations so that we may call on their expertise during future crises no matter when or where they occur. If you would like to join us in our humanitarian efforts, please Freq the IPECS, Inc. Application/Registration form, IPECSAPL.001, from the IPECS HQ BBS system at FidoNet node 1:143/27 (HST DS). Our Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws are available for Freq to anyone desiring them as ARTICLES.ZIP from FidoNet 1:143/27 24-hours per day. For more information contact: Todd Looney Michael Hess President/CEO IPECS Inc. Director/Public Relations 1505 De Rose Way, Suite 6 1789 S. Union Rd. San Jose, CA 95126-4186 Dayton, OH 45418-1517 Data phone : (408) 298-2740 Data phone : (513) 835-5258 Voice phone: (408) 947-8439 Voice phone: (513) 835-5822 FidoNet 1:143/27 FidoNet 1:110/395 IPECS Net 90:90/1 IPECS Net 90:90/28 (1) Market Data Retrieval, CT, Microcomputers in Schools, 1986-87 and unpublished data. (2) Future Computing/Datapro, Inc., Dallas, TX, and unpublished data. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- FidoNews 8-30 Page 18 29 Jul 1991 ====================================================================== RANTS AND FLAMES ====================================================================== _(*#$_(*@#(* (*^$+)#(%&+| #$)%(&*#_$ @_#( @$ ^@#+)(#&%$*+)$%&*+$*%&#@(@#_|)*%|)#%&)#*%&+(@#&*_+(@#*^&@### *&#_($*&#$_(*#&$_(#*$&$ _(#$*#$+)#($&*+#)$ &#+$*&# ()*&#$_(&^#$_(#*$_#($^&#_$(^&#_$(&^#$_(&#^ damn right _(#^&$_(#^& $*&#$_+(* #)$&(%($%+)($%*+$)%($* it's ugly _#&%^# & #($_*#$_ FidoNet (*$&%_@#_(*&@#_(@*#&_ @#_(*&@#_(* )*&#$ Flames *^$+)#(% (not for the timid) @_#( (*#$_(*^@#+) and #_|)*% &+(@#&*_+(@#*^&@### (#$*&#_($*&#$_(*#&$_(#* Rants *&+#$*&#+$*&# )*&#$_(a regular feature)^&#_$(&^#$_ $^&#$_(#^ (*^#$_*#^&$)*#&$^%)#*$&^_#($*^&#_($ Section #&%^_ _(*#&$_(#* #($*& #$* _(*&@#_(@*# *&@#_(*& )&*+_)*&+)*&+))&*(*& (*&_(*&_(*& ---------------------------------------------------------------------- IS PROFANITY REALLY NECESSARY? by Richard Bash - 161/357; Castro Valley, California A recent article in FIDO829 was very thorough, even to the point of including expletives making reference to sexual intercourse. This letter to the editor is a condemnation of the acceptance of that and similar articles containing obvious profanity. Gentle reader, the nut cases that permeate this network have a right to have their point of view and the editorial policy of this publication seems to accept all articles (including mine). But good taste dictates that there is absolutely no need for this Lenny Bruce mentality. Yes, that's censorship. But there are all kinds of SysOps OF ALL AGES who read this stuff. So, if you are a submitter of articles to FidoNews, please clean up your act. Additionally, learn to use a word processor and a spelling checker. Buy a copy of The Chicago Manual of Style if you do not have a clue as to how to construct a sentence or if the word "grammar" has little meaning to you. In any event, it is time for Tom Jennings and crew to add a couple of lines of code to their program that processes these articles and trash articles that contain socially unacceptable language. I, like anyone else, can cuss like a sailor. Good taste prescribes that it not appear in this otherwise meaningful journal. Being an editor requires a modicum of editing. Let's see that talent put to use, for pity's sake. Otherwise this good publication will deteriorate even more. The inclusion of such profanity reflects upon the entirety of this worldwide net and its editor(s). Let's grow up a bit, OK? Your use of common courtesy will be appreciated. Thank you. FidoNews 8-30 Page 19 29 Jul 1991 Respectfully submitted, Richard Bash - 1:161/357 Combat Arms BBS SysOp 2869 Grove Way Castro Valley, CA 94546 Voice: (415) 538-6544 BBS: (415) 537-1777 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Christopher Baker Rights On!, 1:374/14 In FidoNews 821, the case for publishing EVERYTHING submitted to FidoNews regardless of content or applicability was dealt another blow. Publishing anything has resulted in a torrent of similar stuff in every issue since this article was first written [the day after 821 came out]. This was not the first non-FidoNet related article to be published but it was sufficient to get me to the word processor. Though some are offended by religious proselytizing of that sort, I found it more pitiful than offensive and certainly a waste of space and transport time in FidoNews. It is also an invitation to jihad from every other nutbar superstition that decides to use FidoNews for GoodNews or BadNews. [sigh] And it's not only religious fundamentalism but the other articles on socialism and gender identity and rambling trash on the state of the world that bears no resemblance to anything of FidoNet or computers in general. Historically, FidoNews has published anything sent to it. This happened even when there was no identification on the material and when it was out of spec for publication. Is this a good idea anymore? I don't think so. It would be reasonable to restrict content in FidoNews to things actually related to FidoNet and telecommunications. It would be reasonable to permit announcements of non- FidoNet related Echo conferences since Echomail is an integral part of FidoNet. It would be reasonable to permit announcements of software and discussion of same since this is a computer-based Network. It would be reasonable to permit the inevitable political give and take concomitant with Policy debate and complaint. It would be reasonable to permit personal response to personal attack [though both should be nipped in the bud by the Editor prior to publication] so long as it did not become an endless free- for-all. FidoNews 8-30 Page 20 29 Jul 1991 Point is: do we want to be reasonable? I suggest the FidoNews specifications be modified to allow material related to FidoNet and to discourage the submission of personal problems or pronouncements that have nothing whatsoever to do with FidoNet operations or the computer world in general. The new [old] Editor has decided to continue the policy of publishing anything sent that is within specs [ARTSPEC.DOC] and not illegal. While that may be a noble ambition, I don't think that view particularly realistic [of course, they laughed at Fulton, too.] nor conducive to encouraging reading of the FidoNet newsletter. In the current edition [829], the Editor warns of the evils of Television and opines that restricting input to FidoNews based on actual content will result in 'bland'. On the contrary, I think it might result in more readership. A socially driven newsletter rather than a topically driven newsletter is not the path to follow in this Sysop's opinion. The time is ripe for bringing FidoNews back to FidoNet. What better time than the changing of the Editorial guard? I suggest we start a Netmail writing campaign to Tom J. at 1:1/1 [1:125/111] protesting the publishing of 'extraneous' and non-FidoNet/computer material. FidoNet and computer ops is wide enough a venue for FidoNews. Maybe we can start a FIDONEWS Echo for discussing Editorial policy? [grin] Think about it. Thanks. TTFN. Chris ---------------------------------------------------------------------- FidoNews 8-30 Page 21 29 Jul 1991 ====================================================================== CLASSIFIEDS ====================================================================== ADVERTISEMENT POLICY: Submissions must be 20 lines or less each, maximum two ads per advertiser, 70 characters per line maximum. No control codes except CR and LF. (Refer to contact info at the end of this newsletter for details.) Please notify us if you have any trouble with an advertiser. FidoNews does not endorse any products or services advertised here. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- FidoNews 8-30 Page 22 29 Jul 1991 ====================================================================== NOTICES ====================================================================== The Interrupt Stack 15 Aug 1991 8 Sep 1991 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 Nov 1991 Area code 301 will split. Area code 410 will consist of the northeastern part of Maryland, as well as the eastern shore. This will include Baltimore and the surrounding area. Area 301 will include southern and western parts of the state, including the areas around Washington DC. Area 410 phones will answer to calls to area 301 until November, 1992. 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. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Tomas Hood FidoNet 1:352/777 ICDM Network 77:77/1 NOTICE: FINEARTS ECHO NOW AVAILABLE! FINEARTS is a conference for anyone who enjoys the Fine Arts, from Theatre to Poetry, Painting or Sculpure, and all in between. This is for the person who performs, or simply enjoys. This is an open conference. We pass on film festival info, talk about Longfellow, or discuss oil painting. Join us! FidoNews 8-30 Page 23 29 Jul 1991 It is, at present, a non-backbone Echo Hosted and Moderated by Tomas Hood [1:352/777]. It is now on the Ragion 17 backbone, 1/217. The Echo is open to anyone who desires to discuss the topic of the Fine Arts. A sample of the first few messages and the statement of purpose of the Echo is available as FNART (majyk name for FNART.ARJ) from this system anytime, if you wish to get an idea of whether to commit disk space to the Echo. The ARJ archive utility is also available as "ARJ." I hope you will join us or ask your Sysop to request a link via Netmail to 1:352/777. Cheers! Tomas Hood ---------------------------------------------------------------------- FidoNews 8-30 Page 24 29 Jul 1991 ====================================================================== LATEST VERSIONS ====================================================================== Latest Software Versions * New Updates MS-DOS Systems -------------- Bulletin Board Software Name Version Name Version Name Version DMG 2.93 Phoenix 1.3 TAG 2.5g Fido/FidoNet 12u+ QuickBBS 2.66 TBBS 2.1 GSBBS 3.02 RBBS 17.3B TComm/TCommNet 3.4 Kitten 2.16 RBBSmail 17.3B Telegard 2.5 Lynx 1.30 RemoteAccess 1.01* TPBoard 6.1 Maximus 1.02 SLBBS 1.77A Wildcat! 2.55 Opus 1.14+ Socrates 1.10 WWIV 4.12 PCBoard 14.5a SuperBBS 1.10 XBBS 1.17 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 2.00 Prune 1.40 ConfMail 4.00 InterMail 2.01* SysNL 3.14 Crossnet v1.5 PRENM 1.47 XlatList 2.90 DOMAIN 1.42 SEAdog 4.60* XlaxDiff 2.40* EMM 2.02 TIMS 1.0(Mod8) XlaxNode 2.40* 4Dog/4DMatrix 1.18 Gmail 2.05 GROUP 2.16 GUS 1.30 HeadEdit 1.18 IMAIL 1.10 InterPCB 1.31 LHARC 1.13 MSG 4.1 MSGED 2.06 MsgMstr 1.21* MSGTOSS 1.3 Oliver 1.0a PK[UN]ZIP 1.10 PolyXarc 2.1a* QM 1.0 QSORT 4.04 ScanToss 1.28 Sirius 1.0x SLMAIL 1.36 FidoNews 8-30 Page 25 29 Jul 1991 StarLink 1.01 TagMail 2.41 TCOMMail 2.2 Telemail 1.27 TMail 1.21 TPBNetEd 3.2 TosScan 1.00 UFGATE 1.03 XRS 4.50* XST 2.3e 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 2.1a* Qsort 2.1 Raid 1.0 Remapper 1.2 Tick 2.0 VPurge 2.07 Xenix/Unix 386 -------------- BBS Software Mailers Other Utilities Name Version Name Version Name Version BinkleyTerm 2.32B Unzip 3.10 ARC 5.21 ParseLst 1.32 Vpurge 4.08 [Contact: Jon Hogan-Duran 3:711/909, Ommm 1.42 Willy Paine 1:343/15, Eddy van Loo Msged 2.06 FidoNews 8-30 Page 26 29 Jul 1991 2:285/406] Zoo 2.01 C-Lharc 1.00 Omail 1.00 MSGREN MSGLNK 1.01 Apple II ---------- Bulletin Board Software Network Mailers Other Utilities Name Version Name Version Name Version GBBS Pro 2.1 Fruity Dog 2.0* ShrinkIt 3.23 DDBBS + 7.4* ShrinkIt GS 1.04 deARC2e 2.1 ProSel 8.69* 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 0.41 Hermes 1.5 StuffIt Classic 1.6 FBBS 0.91 Compact Pro 1.30 Precision Systems 0.95b* TImport 1.92 TeleFinder Host 2.12T10 TExport 1.92 Timestamp 1.6 Tset 1.3 Import 3.2 FidoNews 8-30 Page 27 29 Jul 1991 Export 3.21 Point System Software Sundial 3.2 PreStamp 3.2 Name Version OriginatorII 2.0 AreaFix 1.6 Copernicus 1.0 Mantissa 3.21 CounterPoint 1.09 Zenith 1.5 Eventmeister 1.0 TSort 1.0 Mehitable 2.0 UNZIP 1.02c Zip Extract 0.10 Amiga ----- Bulletin Board Software Network Mailers Other Utilities Name Version Name Version Name Version Falcon CBBS 0.45 BinkleyTerm 1.00 AmigArc 0.23 Paragon 2.082+ TrapDoor 1.50 AReceipt 1.5 TransAmiga 1.07 WelMat 0.44 booz 1.01 ConfMail 1.12 ChameleonEdit 0.10 ElectricHerald1.66 Lharc 1.30 Login 0.18 MessageFilter 1.52 oMMM 1.49b ParseLst 1.64 PkAX 1.00 PolyxAmy 2.02 RMB 1.30 Roof 44.03 RoboWriter 1.02 Rsh 4.06 Skyparse 2.30 Tick 0.75 TrapList 1.12 UNZIP 1.31 Yuck! 1.61 Zippy (Unzip) 1.25 Zoo 2.01 Atari ST/TT ----------- Bulletin Board Network Node List Software Version Mailer Version Utilities Version FidoNews 8-30 Page 28 29 Jul 1991 FIDOdoor/ST 2.4.0* BinkleyTerm 2.40l ParseList 1.30 QuickBBS/ST 1.04* The BOX 1.20 Xlist 1.12 GS Point 0.61 EchoFix 1.20 LED ST 1.00 sTICK/Hatch 5.50 MSGED 1.96S Archiver Msg Format Other Utilities Version Converters Version Utilities Version LHARC 1.32* TB2BINK 1.00 ConfMail 4.03 STZIP 0.80* BINK2TB 1.00 ComScan 1.02 ARC 6.02 FiFo 2.1n* Import 1.14 PKUNZIP 1.10 OMMM 1.40 Pack 1.00 FastPack 1.20 FDrenum 2.4.0* Trenum 0.10 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) * New Updates Utility authors: Please help keep this list up to date by reporting new versions to 1:103/950. It is not our intent to list all utilities here, only those which verge on necessity. If it's not here, or it is the wrong version, drop me a note & I'll update it for ya. Dave ---------------------------------------------------------------------- FidoNews 8-30 Page 29 29 Jul 1991 ------- FIDONEWS MASTHEAD AND CONTACT INFORMATION ---------------- Editors: Tom Jennings, Tim Pozar Editors Emeritii: Thom Henderson, Dale Lovell, Vince Periello Special thanks to Ken Kaplan, 1:100/22, aka Fido #22 "FidoNews" BBS FidoNet 1:1/1 Internet fidonews@fidonews.fidonet.org BBS (415)-863-2739 (9600 HST/V32) (Postal Service mailing address) FidoNews Box 77731 San Francisco CA 94107 USA Published weekly by and for the Members of the FidoNet international amateur electronic mail system. It is a compilation of individual articles contributed by their authors or their authorized agents. The contribution of articles to this compilation does not diminish the rights of the authors. Opinions expressed in these articles are those of the authors and not necessarily those of FidoNews. FidoNews is copyright 1991 Fido Software. All rights reserved. Duplication and/or distribution permitted for noncommercial purposes only. For use in other circumstances, please contact FidoNews (we're easy). OBTAINING COPIES: FidoNews in electronic form may be obtained from the FidoNews BBS via manual download or Wazoo FileRequest, or from various sites in the FidoNet and via uucp. PRINTED COPIES mailed may be obtained from Fido Software for $5.00US each PostPaid First Class within North America, or $7.00US elsewhere, mailed Air Mail. (US funds drawn upon a US bank only.) Periodic subscriptions are not available at this time; if enough people request it I will implement it. SUBMISSIONS: You are encouraged to submit articles for publication in FidoNews. Article submission requirements are contained in the file ARTSPEC.DOC, available from the FidoNews BBS, or Wazoo filerequestable from 1:1/1 as file "ARTSPEC.DOC". FidoNews 8-30 Page 30 29 Jul 1991 "Fido", "FidoNet" and the dog-with-diskette are U.S. registered trademarks of Tom Jennings of Fido Software, Box 77731, San Francisco CA 94107, USA and are used with permission. -- END ----------------------------------------------------------------------