F I D O N E W S -- | Vol. 8 No. 32 (12 August 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 Editorial: FidoCon and stuff .................................. 1 2. FIDONET NEWS .................................................. 2 (No FidoNetNews this week) .................................... 2 3. ARTICLES ...................................................... 3 FidoCon 91: International BBSing and Electronic Comm. Confer .. 3 MCRYPT Encryption Utility Update .............................. 5 re: New Jersey's programmer-licensing proposal ................ 5 Abstract: BOARDWATCH Magazine ................................. 7 Collector's Corner Echo! ...................................... 8 Decentralizing the Nodelist ................................... 9 More nodelist discussion ...................................... 10 Update on WorldPol 2 .......................................... 11 International Public Emergency Comunications System! .......... 12 4. RANTS AND FLAMES .............................................. 17 No rants this week! ........................................... 17 5. CLASSIFIEDS ................................................... 18 6. NOTICES ....................................................... 19 The Interrupt Stack ........................................... 19 7. LATEST VERSIONS ............................................... 20 Latest Greatest Software Versions ............................. 20 FidoNews 8-32 Page 1 12 Aug 1991 ====================================================================== EDITORIAL ====================================================================== Editorial: FidoCon and stuff Tom Jennings This coming weekend is the International Fido Con (well, the North American version anyways). If you haven't heard about it, why not?! Following this dull, witless editorial rambling is info on FidoCon. Since both Tim Pozar (the other editor, remember him?) and I will be attending FidoCon, there won't be anyone here to put together FidoNews on Sunday night. Instead, I will produce a truncated version on Wednesday, which will (hopefully) ship out automatically Sunday. (If something fails, I'll be back in San Francisco late Monday night.) Only Murphy can predict, and he's not talking. See you at FidoCon! Be there or be somewhere else! * * * * * An apology to the authors of the UFOlogy article ran last week. It should not have been placed in the Rants 'n' Flames section, which is reserved for complaints about complaints about complaints about... I intended to place it towards the end of the articles section. Sorry! ---------------------------------------------------------------------- FidoNews 8-32 Page 2 12 Aug 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 8-32 Page 3 12 Aug 1991 ====================================================================== ARTICLES ====================================================================== The 1991 International BBSing and Electronic Communications Conference Don't miss the biggest SysOp gathering in history! At this historic gathering (August 16-18, 1991) you will hear: HURRY! Time is running out! For Information, or to Register to Attend: Call [Voice] (303) 426-1847 9AM to 9PM MDT [Data] (303) 426-1942 24Hrs, 3/12/2400 baud or, eSoft, Inc. (Our Official US Agents) [Voice] (303) 699-6565 Fred Clark and David Terry describe the future of PCBoard! Andrew Milner describe the future of Remote Access! Jim Harrer and Rick Hemming describe Wildcat! Release 3.0! Phil Becker demonstrate TBBS Release 2.2! Tom Jennings tell how he started the largest BBS network in the world! Jeff Rush explaining just why he wrote EchoMail! Adam Hudson tell why he wrote QuickBBS! Bob Hartman and Vince Perriello explain why you can't buy BinkleyTerm! Tim Pozar tell you how to link your BBS to Internet! Scott Brinker and Tim Stryker discussing Galacticomm's Major BBS! If listening to the author of your favorite BBS software isn't enough, you can also hear: Mitch Kapor (founder of Lotus Development) and John Perry Barlow explain why they founded the Electronic Frontier Foundation. Steve Jackson (of Steve Jackson Games) tell you why he is glad they did! Lance Rose (SYSLAW and the SysOp's Legal Manual) discussing the legal ramifications of running Electronic Mail and BBSes! Dave Hughes (Sr and Jr) - present NAPLPS and NREN as well as the Montana Big Sky Telegraph program, connecting 800+ schools! Jack Rickard and Phil Becker tell you how to make your BBS pay for itself! John McAfee explain how to detect and cure computer viruses. SysOps of the largest commercial BBS systems in the world explain how they made it happen and keep it working! Chuck Forsberg explaining what Zmodem is Really About! Mike Ratledge discussing the Association of Shareware Professionals and how it provides credibility and support for the independent software author. FidoNews 8-32 Page 4 12 Aug 1991 Helen and Mort Sternheim introducing the Educational Network, k12net, and SpaceMet! If that isn't enough, there's more: Friday evening "Great International SysOp's Pie Fight" for Multiple Sclerosis - Throw a cream pie for for charity! Saturday evening Western Hoe-Down Bar-B-Q followed by awards, surprises, and drawings for everything from a SysOps' "Dream" and "Nightmare" systems (Software and Hardware Included) to GURPS CyberPunk autographed editions, software, and more! Sunday morning Wedding. They Met by Net and now are getting married at the convention. Join in the Joy! This is only a portion of what will happen at FidoCon '91 - a three day blowout in Colorado - with more BBS SysOps of more types of BBS software all gathered in one place than ever before. The key people in every aspect of BBS development, application, and legal implications will be there to share their knowledge with you! Plus SysOps and Users gathered to celebrate the sport! ==--> Special Vendor's Room Pass Just want to see the latest and greatest in all of the software and hardware developments? For $5.00, come and visit the dealers! The pass is also worth $5.00 towards a convention membership. Airline Information Continental Airlines is the official conference airline. Call (800) 468-7022 and request rate code EZ8AP88. HURRY! Time is running out! For Information, or to Register to Attend: Call [Voice] (303) 426-1847 9AM to 9PM MDT [Data] (303) 426-1942 24Hrs, 3/12/2400 baud or, eSoft, Inc. (Our Official US Agents) [Voice] (303) 699-6565 Hotel Reservations through the Lakewood Sheraton 360 Union Blvd., Lakewood, CO 80228 (303) 987-2000 >Participating Vendors (Alphabetically, as of 8/01/91)< Bit Bucket Software {BinkleyTerm and More} Boardwatch Magazine {Communications News} CDB Systems {Hardware} Cardz Computers {Image Processing Systems} Clark Development Company, Inc. {PC Board} CompuCom {Modems} Descu {XRS Offline Reader} Electronic Frontier Foundation {Electronic Rights} eSoft, Inc. {TBBS/TIMS/TDBS} Exactus Corporation {TDBS programs} FidoNews 8-32 Page 5 12 Aug 1991 The Forbin Project {QModem} Galacticomm {The Major BBS} Image Systems {Twincom Modems} Index Systems {Communications Hardware} Mustang Software {Wildcat! BBS} Online Communications {FrontDoor} PRODIGY {Information Services} Searchlight Software {Searchlight BBS} South Coast Engineering {Computer Reset Switches} Star Enterprises {Systems and Telecommunications} U.S. Robotics {Modems} ---------------------------------------------------------------------- MCRYPT Netmail Encryption Utility Update by Eric Jacksch, 1:163/111 (author) Thanks to Chris Farrar for his recent review of MCRYPT, a transparent *.msg netmail base encryption utility. Version 1.30 was recently released. This version is fully functional prior to registration with one exception: It will not execute in a batch file until registered. This change was made in order to allow potential users the ability to fully examine MCRYPT's features at no cost. It's other features, in addition to it's self containted proprietary encryption routines, include the ability to utilize external encryption software and filters on an individual network address basis. The latest version is availible by file requesting MCRYPT from 1:163/111. The current version, MCRY130.ZIP is 44767 bytes. The registration fee is $15 CDN or US, your choice. For further information please contact Eric Jacksch, Fidonet 1:163/111 or Internet jacksch@insom.pc.ocunix.on.ca ---------------------------------------------------------------------- re: New Jersey's programmer-licensing proposal Return-Path: I can't believe all the people who are posting in RISKS that they like the idea of government mandated licensing of the software craft. (I don't care if you call it designing, engineering, programming, or hacking.) What ever happened to the idea of freedom of speech in software? Maybe I'm just an old-timer, but while "some of my best friends" came into software through traditional college courses, most of the best, brightest, and most inventive programmers I know became programmers without formal training. The fathers of the computer revolution you are now staring at and typing to, were able to make the great strides they did, in an incredibly short period of time as measured against any other industry, because there was nobody to say "no, you can't do that". Why would anyone who has the equipment and training that permits them to read this message, want to squelch such creativity and FidoNews 8-32 Page 6 12 Aug 1991 productivity gains for the entire society? I've heard all the drivel about raising standards and driving out the low quality practitioners. Right. What it really does it makes it more painful for *everyone* to enter the industry -- the best *and* the worst. It creates a monopoly, ruled by an old boys' "board of licensing" who entrench their idea of proper programming. It's a good thing this bill didn't pass during the "Goto considered harmful" phase, or it might have ended up "Goto considered illegal" and stuck us programming in Pascal forever. (I also note that the explosion of C programming in the last ten years was mostly among people on micros who typically hadn't programmed before. E.g. if you were required to go through college to be allowed to try C, you wouldn't bother, since the college courses of the time taught Pascal and Fortran; you'd have already been taught how to constrain your thinking to what was possible in inferior languages.) By the way, I never went to college at all. Among the three co-founders of my current successful software startup company, only one of us has a degree - and it isn't in computers (I think it's history). And while I am really very talented with computers, if continuing to work with them means getting a government license, I'll just retire on what I've already made in computers, and start exploring one of the other ten or twelve things I've never had time for. I mean, we turn down government contracts now just over the added paperwork! Did you notice in the bill that it allows people to gain a license to be a programmer even if they don't go to an "approved" college? But it requires years of work experience -- which will be illegal to get after the bill passes. Essentially a grandfather clause disguised as an alternative route. It means that the bright kids and 20 year olds and 30 year olds who currently wander into programming from chemistry or physics or MCAD or library science, or bartending (I know a few!), will be banned from the industry. I'd really rather not replace these talented, motivated people with drones who learned how to take tests and warmed a seat in some state college for four years. We need more interdisciplinary people already -- you want to cut the supply to a tiny trickle of those who're willing to sit through two or three entire courses of formal study? My reaction to the NJ bill was: O boy. Now the programmers will all get upset at it, and not only can we kill off this stupid bill, but perhaps while we're incensed, we can even repeal some of the other ridiculous occupational licensing that's already on the books -- like hairdressers, barbers, car mechanics, etc. If you really care about this issue, I recommend that you implement it in your personal life without waiting for the government. Only buy computers designed by licensed and bonded EE's. (Hint: your SPARCstation is not one of them.) Only buy software that was written by programmers who passed the CDP exam. (Better send back Unix, Emacs, Lotus 1-2-3, and Usenet.) I don't think TCP/IP was designed by registered communications engineers either. (Maybe OSI was -- it has that smell.) Well, you can always run DOS -- ahem -- uh, Bill Gates *started* college, but I don't think he ever finished it. Too busy making better products than all those people who wasted four years. FidoNews 8-32 Page 7 12 Aug 1991 But maybe he *hired* a lot of fully certified licensed degreed people to write the code. Or maybe not. Don't forget to restrict your reading to government-approved writers, and your thinking to government-approved thoughts. Sometimes I think the worst mistake the founders of our country made was giving governments the power to control commerce and trade. John Gilmore Cygnus Support ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Abstract: BOARDWATCH Magazine by Tom Jennings BOARDWATCH magazine is a print-only publication edited and published by Jack Rickard, out of Littleton Colorado. Calling itself a "Guide to the world of online services", it is the only print publication to ever cover the BBS world with any accuracy and credibility. Everyone else who's attempted it has failed miserably; BOARDWATCH not only works, but is actually informative and fun to read. The July 91 issue is somewhat typical, though there's a lot of emphasis on FidoCon that'd make a first-time reader think it was a "FidoNet" magazine. BOARDWATCH frequently has *something* about FidoNet, since we're a significant fraction of the BBSs out there, but the emphasis this month is a bit heavy of course. The format is more or less comfortably predictable -- table of contents (samples: DOS 5.0 Lives; 9600bps Modem price breaks $300; List of Sysop modem discount programs; USWest Intro to Caller ID; Adapter links laptops to LANs via parallel port; Bell Atlantic to roll out ISDN-1; New book on electronic commerce; Multitech adds UUCP to V.32 modems; ...), and editorial, articles, rumors & news column, product announcements, a regular COMMUNICATIONS BASICS column by our very own Alan Appelgate, a list of BBS lists(!), classifieds, and somewhat less than the usual ratio of text/ads. The FidoCon-specific content in this issue includes: an official announcement from the FidoCon putter-onners, Alan's column is about store and forward (ie. FidoNet style) e-mail and FidoNet topology, how-to-join FidoNet (amazing! someone wrote it down!), a COORD list (with permission), dirt and rumors and various commentary. Jack also has a distinct editorial voice throught the magazine -- always opinionated, but noticeably open and inclusive. There's enough personality to keep it human and provide a context for his writing, something completely forgotten and lost in most so-called "professional" publications. I'm told Jack will be attending FidoCon (lucky for him he lives in the state). FidoNews 8-32 Page 8 12 Aug 1991 BOARDWATCH is published 12 times a year. A one-year subscription is $36 domestically ($69/yr Mexico/Canada, $99 elsewhere). Subscriptions-only call (800)-933-6038, otherwise call (303)-973-6038. US Postal address is Boardwatch Magazine, 5970 South Vivian St, Littleton CO 80127. BOARDWATCH is also reachable electronically: FidoNet 1:104/555, internet jack.rickard@csn.org. I highly recommend you subscribe to BOARDWATCH Magazine! ---------------------------------------------------------------------- John Maly FidoNet 1:141/745 -=( Collector's Corner Echo )=- The Collector's Corner Echo is for those who collect things. "Collect what?", you may ask. Well, anything, ranging from coins to baseball cards to comic books to stamps to different types of art. ANY type collectibles may be discussed. If you are asking yourself "Where can I get more information on it?", or are simply wondering what kind of person talks to themself while they read FidoNews, then read on! If you want more information, contact me at 1:141/745, 26:1203/1, 31:4033/301, 57:2300/101, 91:203/2, or 99:9335/1. The echo currently reaches the following known areas: +---------------+---------------+---------+----------------+ | Connecticut: | Pennsylvania: | Kansas: | Massachusetts: | +---------------+---------------+---------+----------------+ | Brookfield | Yardley | Luther | West Newton | | Danbury +---------------+---------+----------------+ | Meriden | | New Fairfield | +-------------+ | New Milford | | California: | | Redding | +-------------+ | Ridgefield | | Chico | | Southbury | +-------------+ | Westport | +---------------+ If you're interested in getting this echo, or just want information, please let me know, or ask your local Collector's Corner Echo carrier to add you to his AREAS.BBS. It's still a small echo, and thus inexpensive to carry. Thank you for your time, and I hope you've found the echo you'll next add onto your BBS (I also hope it's the one I just advertised...). FidoNews 8-32 Page 9 12 Aug 1991 John Maly -=- TDS BBS FidoNet: 1:141/745 Node 1: 203-438-4721 Node 2: 203-438-1955 300-14.4k bps rates ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Decentralizing the Nodelist by D.J. Murdoch, 1:221/177.40 (1:163/140.3 in September) In Fidonews 0829 and 0831 Richard Bash argued for splitting off the U.S. part of the nodelist from the rest, since the vast majority of sysops don't need or want the full megabyte of nodes. I've felt this problem acutely myself - I'm the unlisted Canadian he quoted, and I run a single user point system on an old XT clone with no disk space to spare. However, his proposal would do nothing to help me; I call U.S. sites occasionally, so I'd need both parts. In the netmail that he quoted, I outlined the beginning of an idea for a much bigger and more effective split. In thinking about it for a couple of weeks, I've convinced myself that the idea would not only be good if implemented, it wouldn't be all that painful to implement: let's decentralize the nodelist. Decentralizing means splitting it up, but into many more than the two pieces that Mr. Bash proposed. I think we should aim to have the nodelist split into a separate piece for every component net. To tie them together, the main nodelist would only need to contain net hosts, regional hosts, and gateways. (I've probably forgotten one or two other exceptions, but you get the idea.) Doing this to the current nodelist reduces it to about 40K! Every node would keep a copy of the drastically reduced main nodelist and as many local net lists as they want to call. In my case, that's two or three local nets; altogether, the parts I use add up to less than 60K. Which local nets do you need? Only the ones with nodes that you want to call directly. That probably means one or two that are a local call for you, and any nets with nodes that you want to be able to Freq from. Netmail doesn't need any: assuming that all net hosts will forward netmail, the reduced main nodelist would be good enough to send netmail anywhere in the net in a single call. What if you want to call a system in a net whose list you don't have? You'd Freq the local net list from the net host (it's probably under 10K, less if compressed) and use it to make the call. FidoNews 8-32 Page 10 12 Aug 1991 As I say above, this will need some relatively painless changes to current practice. First of all, participation could be entirely voluntary. It's very easy to write software to shrink the full nodelist; I've done it myself. Nodelist compilers would have to be modified to be able to accept several inputs, but that shouldn't be hard, and because participation would be voluntary, not everyone in a net would need to switch. NCs would have to make their nodelist segment available for Freq; this would be a new duty for them. Since they already have to prepare the segment, I don't think it would be much extra work. Perhaps in the initial stages a flag could be added to the host entry to indicate that the list is available; if not, the RC should be able to supply a regional list. In the later stages NCs might maintain local NODEDIFF files to help long distance callers who want to keep up to date. (Would we call them NETDIFFs? They'd be only a few lines long.) I imagine BBS systems with big file collections would also keep up to date copies of the local list available, so one manual call would be enough to get both the nodelist segment and whatever file you want; after that, calls could be automatic. I think Richard Bash had a good idea when he suggested splitting the nodelist. But why stop at two parts? D.J. Murdoch ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Garth Kidd 3:680/828 Cyclic discussion: every now and again, usually being when the Nodelist breaks some psychologically important barrier (10k nodes, won't fit ZIPped onto a 360k floppy any more, 1 meg raw in size), someone brings up a way to cut down the size of the thing. Suggested have been: -- binary format nodelist. -- Aaron Goldblatt's Ft Worth nodelist format. -- dropping N nodes on X criterion Trimming entries from the nodelist is IMHO a Bad Idea. Nobody wants to be zapped, there are some people that shouldn't be zapped that will be zapped by one or more of the selected criterion. An example is that some gateways (which are marked pvt for technical reasons) are a) important to have in the nodelist, and b) would get cut by all these people shouting "wow, we can cut 400 or so entries by dropping -Pvt- systems!". FidoNews 8-32 Page 11 12 Aug 1991 Personally, I'm in favour of either of the first two options. They cut down the sheer volume of nodelist being carted around -- the former by representing the information in a more compact manner, and the latter largely by discarding "unimportant" information. The good thing about this kind of idea is that it's relatively easy to convert either of the compact nodelist formats to an old-style nodelist for people with old software. The problem is that the software never turned up. Alan suggested the binary nodelist, but I never saw anything to handle binary nodediffs or convert binary nodelists into normal ones. Aaron's suggestion was cute, but the software didn't turn up there, either. Alan, Aaron, anyone else who's invented a new nodelist format, if you're reading -- hey, come up with some software, eh? And if it's already around, make it a bit more visible? :-) === Glenn Caleval -- well said, Centurion! Not that I entirely agree with you, but you've been a hell of a lot more succint in putting your point forward than a few other people :-). gk ---------------------------------------------------------------------- UPDATE ON WORLDPOL 2 - THE WORLDPOL ECHO After the publication of WorldPol 2 on FidoNews a couple of months ago, an extraordinary amount of feedback was received at 4:4/50 from people that formerly opposed the document, and others that had not been involved before. I had to put a delay on WorldPol development while I relocated from Buenos Aires to Los Angeles. I have not replied to all the letters received since the end of May, but I surely brought copies of them to my new location, and will be contacting the originators individually during the next weeks. Positively, things look ready as to start the WORLDPOL echo in order to expand participation or at least, make it more accessible. WORLDPOL will not be in the Zone-1 echomail backbone for the time being. It will be a moderated conference and will be distributed independently throughout the world by volunteers. This way, we avoid the controversial Echopol and at the same time no FidoNet coordinator will be in the position of interfering in any way with the echo's traffic. FidoNews 8-32 Page 12 12 Aug 1991 The primary purpose of the WORLDPOL echo is to allow a broader participation, as well as the possibility of publicly making suggestions to modify the document that can be openly discussed by everyone that's interested. Our immediate goal is to release an updated version of WorldPol around October. As always, you are invited to participate by netmail, and now too by carrying the WORLDPOL echo. Regarding this last point, I will be organizing distribution of the echo worldwide during the next days. The WORLDPOL echo will be centered at 1:102/631 and available at this source as well as at 4:4/50. Hopefully, we will have the echo available at several locations in Zone-1 and Zone-4, as well as in the other zones. If you are interested in becoming part of the independent distribution system for WORLDPOL, please contact me at 1:102/631. Thanks for your attention, and I hope that more and more people get involved in giving our network the viable policy document it needs and now lacks, in the near future. WorldPol 2 is available for request at 1:102/631 (phone 1-213-842-3938, 9600 HST CM) with the magic name WORLDPOL. Pablo Kleinman, 1:102/631 The WorldPol Project ---------------------------------------------------------------------- BY: Todd Looney Michael Hess President/CEO IPECS Inc. Director/Public Relations INTERNATIONAL PUBLIC EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEM, 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 FidoNews 8-32 Page 13 12 Aug 1991 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 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. FidoNews 8-32 Page 14 12 Aug 1991 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. 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 FidoNews 8-32 Page 15 12 Aug 1991 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. 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. FidoNews 8-32 Page 16 12 Aug 1991 If you would like to join us in our humanitarian efforts, please Freq the IPECS, Inc. Application/Registration form, IPECS.APL, 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./SaudiNet 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 IPECSNet 90:90/1 IPECSNet 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 8-32 Page 17 12 Aug 1991 ====================================================================== RANTS AND FLAMES ====================================================================== _(*#$_(*@#(* (*^$+)#(%&+| #$)%(&*#_$ @_#( @$ ^@#+)(#&%$*+)$%&*+$*%&#@(@#_|)*%|)#%&)#*%&+(@#&*_+(@#*^&@### *&#_($*&#$_(*#&$_(#*$&$ _(#$*#$+)#($&*+#)$ &#+$*&# ()*&#$_(&^#$_(#*$_#($^&#_$(^&#_$(&^#$_(&#^ damn right _(#^&$_(#^& $*&#$_+(* #)$&(%($%+)($%*+$)%($* it's ugly _#&%^# & #($_*#$_ FidoNet (*$&%_@#_(*&@#_(@*#&_ @#_(*&@#_(* )*&#$ Flames *^$+)#(% (not for the timid) @_#( (*#$_(*^@#+) and #_|)*% &+(@#&*_+(@#*^&@### (#$*&#_($*&#$_(*#&$_(#* Rants *&+#$*&#+$*&# )*&#$_(a regular feature)^&#_$(&^#$_ $^&#$_(#^ (*^#$_*#^&$)*#&$^%)#*$&^_#($*^&#_($ Section #&%^_ _(*#&$_(#* #($*& #$* _(*&@#_(@*# *&@#_(*& )&*+_)*&+)*&+))&*(*& (*&_(*&_(*& ---------------------------------------------------------------------- No rants this week! ---------------------------------------------------------------------- FidoNews 8-32 Page 18 12 Aug 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 8-32 Page 19 12 Aug 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. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- FidoNews 8-32 Page 20 12 Aug 1991 ====================================================================== LATEST VERSIONS ====================================================================== Latest Greatest Software Versions 08/01/91 MS-DOS Systems -------------- BBS Software Network Mailers Other Utilities Name Version Name Version Name Version -------------------- -------------------- -------------------- DMG 2.93 BinkleyTerm 2.40 ARCAsim 2.30 Fido/FidoNet 12.21+ D'Bridge 1.30 ARCmail 2.07 Genesis Deluxe 3.1* Dutchie 2.90c ConfMail 4.00 GSBBS 3.02 FrontDoor 2.00 Crossnet 1.5 Kitten 2.16 InterMail 2.01* DOMAIN 1.42 Lynx 1.30 PRENM 1.47 EEngine 0.30* Maximus 1.02 SEAdog 4.60* EMM 2.02 Opus 1.70+* TIMS 1.0(Mod8) 4Dog/4DMatrix 1.18 PCBoard 14.5a FNPGate 2.70 Phoenix 1.3 Gmail 2.05 QuickBBS 2.66 GROUP 2.16 RBBS 17.3b NodeList Utilities GUS 1.30 RBBSmail 17.3b Name Version HeadEdit 1.18 RemoteAccess 1.01 -------------------- IMAIL 1.10 SLBBS 2.15b* EditNL 4.00 InterPCB 1.31 Socrates 1.10 MakeNL 2.31 MSG 4.1 SuperBBS 1.10 Parselst 1.30 MSGED 2.06 TAG 2.5g Prune 1.40 MsgMstr 1.21* TBBS 2.1 SysNL 3.14 MSGTOSS 1.3 TComm/TCommNet 3.4 XlatList 2.90 Oliver 1.0a Telegard 2.5 XlaxDiff 2.51* PolyXarc 2.1a* TPBoard 6.1 XlaxNode 2.51* QM 1.0 Wildcat! 2.55 QSort 4.04 WWIV 4.12 ScanToss 1.28 XBBS 1.17 Sirius 1.0x SLMAIL 1.36 StarLink 1.01 Compression TagMail 2.41 Utilities TCOMMail 2.2 Name Version Telemail 1.27 -------------------- TMail 1.21 ARC 7.00 TPBNetEd 3.2 ARJ 2.10 Tosscan 1.00 HYPER 2.50 UFGATE 1.03 LHA 2.12 XRS 4.50* LHARC 1.13c XST 2.3e PAK 2.51 ZmailH 1.16a* PKPak 3.61 PKZip 1.10 FidoNews 8-32 Page 21 12 Aug 1991 OS/2 Systems ------------ BBS Software Network Mailers Other Utilities Name Version Name Version Name Version -------------------- -------------------- -------------------- Maximus-CBCS 1.02 BinkleyTerm 2.40 ARC2 6.00 ConfMail 4.00 EchoStat 6.0 LH2 0.50 MsgEd 2.06 MsgLink 1.0c MsgNum 4.14 oMMM 1.52 Omail 3.1 Parselst 1.32 PKZip 1.02 PolyXarc 2.1a* QSort 2.1 Raid 1.0 Remapper 1.2 Tick 2.0 VPurge 2.07 Xenix/Unix 386 -------------- BBS Software Network Mailers Other Utilities Name Version Name Version Name Version -------------------- -------------------- -------------------- BinkleyTerm 2.32b ARC 5.21 C-LHARC 1.00 MsgEd 2.06 |Contact: Jon Hogan-Duran 3:711/909,| MSGLNK 1.01 |Willy Paine 1:343/12 or Eddy van Loo| oMMM 1.42 |2:285/406 | Omail 1.00 Parselst 1.32 Unzip 3.10 Vpurge 4.08 Zoo 2.01 Apple II -------- BBS Software Network Mailers Other Utilities Name Version Name Version Name Version -------------------- -------------------- -------------------- DDBBS + 7.4* Fruity Dog 2.0* deARC2e 2.1 GBBS Pro 2.1 ProSel 8.69* FidoNews 8-32 Page 22 12 Aug 1991 ShrinkIt 3.23 ShrinkIt GS 1.04 Apple CP/M ---------- BBS Software Network Mailers Other Utilities Name Version Name Version Name Version -------------------- -------------------- -------------------- Daisy 2j Daisy Mailer 0.38 Filer 2-D MsgUtil 2.5 Nodecomp 0.37 PackUser 4 UNARC.COM 1.20 Macintosh --------- BBS Software Network Mailers Other Software Name Version Name Version Name Version -------------------- -------------------- -------------------- FBBS 0.91 Copernicus 1.0 ArcMac 1.3 Hermes 1.5 Tabby 2.2 AreaFix 1.6 Mansion 7.15 Compact Pro 1.30 Precision Sys. 0.95b* Eventmeister 1.0 Red Ryder Host 2.1 Export 3.21 TeleFinder Import 3.2 Host 2.12T10 LHARC 0.41 MacArc 0.04 Mantissa 3.21 Point System Mehitable 2.0 Software OriginatorII 2.0 Name Version PreStamp 3.2 -------------------- StuffIt Classic 1.6 Copernicus 1.0 SunDial 3.2 CounterPoint 1.09 TExport 1.92 Timestamp 1.6 TImport 1.92 Tset 1.3 TSort 1.0 UNZIP 1.02c Zenith 1.5 Zip Extract 0.10 Amiga ----- BBS Software Network Mailers Other Software 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 FidoNews 8-32 Page 23 12 Aug 1991 ChameleonEdit 0.10 ConfMail 1.12 ElectricHerald 1.66 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 ----------- BBS Software Network Mailers Other Utilities Name Version Name Version Name Version -------------------- -------------------- -------------------- FIDOdoor/ST 2.4.0* BinkleyTerm 2.40l BINK2TB 1.00 GS Point 0.61 The BOX 1.20 ComScan 1.02 LED ST 1.00 ConfMail 4.03 MSGED 1.96s EchoFix 1.20 FastPack 1.20 FDrenum 2.4.0* Compression FiFo 2.1n* Utilities Import 1.14 Name Version oMMM 1.40 -------------------- Pack 1.00 ARC 6.02 Parselst 1.30 LHARC 1.32* sTICK/Hatch 5.50 PKZip 1.10 TB2BINK 1.00 STZIP 0.80* Trenum 0.10 Xlist 1.12 Archimedes ---------- BBS Software Network Mailers Other Utilities Name Version Name Version Name Version -------------------- -------------------- -------------------- ARCbbs 1.44 BinkleyTerm 2.03 ARC 1.03 FidoNews 8-32 Page 24 12 Aug 1991 BatchPacker 1.00 Parselst 1.30 !Spark 2.00d Unzip 2.1TH -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- Key: + - Netmail Capable (Does Not require Additional Mailer Software) * - Recently Updated Version -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- Utility Authors: Please help keep this list up to date by reporting all new versions to 1:103/950. Note: It is not our intent to list all utilities here, only those which verge on necessity. If you want it updated in the next FidoNews, get it to me by Thursday evening. --David French, 1:103/950 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- FidoNews 8-32 Page 25 12 Aug 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 8-32 Page 26 12 Aug 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 ----------------------------------------------------------------------