F I D O N E W S -- | Vol. 9 No. 36 (14 September 1992) 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) | | | Newspapers should have no friends. | -- JOSEPH PULITZER ----------------------------+--------------------------------------- Published weekly by and for the Members of the FidoNet international amateur network. Copyright 1992, Fido Software. All rights reserved. Duplication and/or distribution permitted for noncommercial purposes only. For use in other circumstances, please contact FidoNews. Electronic Price: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . free! Paper price: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $10.00US For more information about FidoNews refer to the end of this file. -------------------------------------------------------------------- Table of Contents 1. EDITORIAL ..................................................... 1 Editorial: From here to there ................................. 1 2. ARTICLES ...................................................... 3 BBSummer'92 con in Tallinn, Estonia ........................... 3 FLorida Hurricane Relief Info! ................................ 4 Teens In Fidonet .............................................. 7 ILL FORMED ARTICLE ............................................ 8 3. FIDONEWS INFORMATION .......................................... 10 FidoNews 9-36 Page 1 14 Sep 1992 ====================================================================== EDITORIAL ====================================================================== Editorial: from here to there by Tom Jennings (1:1/1) This year's FidoCon was held in Dallas, Texas. I was able to attend only at the last minute, thanks to help from friends. It was put on by Ron Bemis, Henry Clark, John Summers and other Dallas/Fort Worth area sysops. There was a fairly small turnout this year; only two weeks before was the ONE BBSCON in Denver only 800 miles north, and it was a national holiday weekend. It was certainly no failure though, it was fun end to end. (Worst feature: undrinkable hotel coffee.) The Dallas FidoNet Mafia contingent, helped by a grant from Computer Language Research, provided the Hospitality suite, snacks'n'drinks, the funny noses, kazoos, WOC T-shirts ("Worldwide Opus Consortium's International Indoor RS-232 Bungie Championships"), "Gay/Lesbian Sysops in FidoNet" T-shirts, and other technical apparatus necessary for a proper FidoCon. I spent nearly the whole FidoCon'92 in the WOC Inn, with brief snatches of Dallas in between provided by Wynn Wagner. (Moving from location to location in Dallas means going from refrigerated dry air to warm damp air and back like nested subroutine calls.) We arrogantly pretended there was nothing else going on worth bothering with. I got in a few arguments with the Usual Suspects (which did nothing to slow down our having fun) then got down to business -- complaining about each other software and talking about whoever was not immediately present. The rest of the event from my point of view was people adding the face to face component to their otherwise-remote communications. Which sounds so simple... but if you've ever attended one, you know how important this is. The Saturday night banquet was very bizarre. Keep in mind this takes place in a fairly ordinary hotel, which means other people, fairly main-stream-y, where "nice" is the overall aesthetic. Well. I didn't attend the whole banquet (1) I hadn't signed up (2) I was in interaction overload mode (3) I don't eat meat. Vince & I stayed behind and had a quiet meal. I was dragged in on the last fifteen minutes to take part in some to-me-inexplicable ritual. The otherwise staid room is filled with nuts with kazoos, funny-nose masks, magic flutes, making bad, loud and frequently incomprehensible jokes and remarks, (you'd think these people all knew each other or something), and the only sensible, well-behaved person in the room was the 6-year-old kid of an actual BBS user (hey, remember them?) with a camcorder reportedly taking blackmail footage, seen wearing both Wynn Wagner's and Harry Lee's name badges (they thinking it would get the kid tossed out. Didn't work.. It was everything short of a food fight. The hotel help was looking a bit strained by it all. (The FidoCon'92 people donated some funds to help cover WOC Inn hospitality suite expenses.) FidoNews 9-36 Page 2 14 Sep 1992 Outside of FidoCon, Wynn took me to a few touristy places, like the local gay neighborhood where I got the best caffeine of the trip, but my favorite was Saturday night, where I got to visit what is closest to a religious shrine for me -- Dealy Plaza, a major node in Discordian "history". From the bronze plaque attached to the School Book Repository Building I made a rubbing (at Wynn's suggestion) of the word "ALLEGEDLY" in the text describing Oswald's deed on the 6th floor of that very building, which had been defaced by someone angered at the implication of that simple word, then carefully repaired. * * * * * Henry Clark told me they would be writing up a post-FidoCon article for next week (I'm still here in Dallas, so it's already "next week" as far as FidoNews goes.) * * * * * Wynn has more of the his T-shirts; "Gay & Lesbian Sysops in FidoNet" and the ASCII-ized doggie in white ink on the traditional pink triangle on a black 100% cotton shirt XL and XXL (inhale). You can get them for $14US postage-paid from Wynn Wagner, Box 190365, Dallas TX 75219. (This covers his expenses and shipping, and is not a profit item.) ---------------------------------------------------------------------- FidoNews 9-36 Page 3 14 Sep 1992 ====================================================================== ARTICLES ====================================================================== by Michael Bravo of 2:5030/2 AKA 2:490/20.2011 BBSummer'92 con in Tallinn, Estonia report Hello all of you out there. Here is a piece of text describing my visit to Estonia this August, to attend at the yearly now BBSummer event, some kind of little Fidocon. I will have some lyrical sidethreads here, though. One thing I was asked when I said that I will write an article to Fidonews about the event - "Is it all that important?' To this, I can respond with one question and one statement. The question is - 'Does anyone have enough confidence to tell me (or the world) - what IS important?'. And the statement is - 'Yes, I think that it is important, because this is what Fidonet is actually for'. For anyone wishing so, word Fidonet above could be replaced wth Chateaunet, LIFnet, Fishnet or whatever like that. These nets aren't actually about the power issues of governing zones and regions, moderating echoes and everything - they are about PEOPLE, and that seems be the most difficult thing to recognize to a major part of those very people. But let's get to the reoprt itself. The event took place from 21st to 23rd of August in a place called Vaana Jahiloos (with some national a's in the first word), which in reality was represented with a small house built of wood with roomy hall and a kitchen inside and a lawn with flagpole outside. People started gathering there around midday of the 21st, sipping some beer and making LOTS of sandwiches (both were in plenty). They also had several computers set up inside, so some people were sitting there watching some nifty demos or playing games with great SoundBlaster support. Total amount of people was estimated around 75, mostly Estonian, but with three people out Region 2:50 (Russia, me including) and two special star guests, about whom I'll tell later in here. So it all went with games and demos and beer and sandwiches, and what's most important, with talking and getting acquainted and more talking once again, until approximately 1am. After that, several cars present had their lights turned on and directed on the flagpole in the center of the lawn. This was somewhat improvised meeting of the special guest star :) Mr. Ron Dwight, Z2C and Mr. Esa Laitinen of Casino, the Internet gateway. Then the flag of BBSummer was raised, with words DON'T PANIC sewed in alternating red and white stripes... All then moved to get some more beer. I've exchanged quite a few messages with both Ron and Esa before, but this was my first chance to meet them in person, and I was delighted to do it. We had very nice talks there, about everything, from matters of zone management to computer hardware to some literature/philosophy talks. FidoNews 9-36 Page 4 14 Sep 1992 I don't really think that there's something more to describe because it just went along like that until evening of 23rd. Oh yes, I almost forgot, there was the competitions! Traditional hard disk throwing and floppy flinging, of course, but also the test who will swap to disks in drives the fastest way and who'll make more mouse clicks in 45 seconds (btw the record was 402). At night, there was a campfire outside for those who was still awake and staying ath the site (some were sleeping in the camping nearby). All of that was first thought of, and implemented by estonian sysops, with whom I have a long track of communications and friendship. To say that I appreciate it would be to say practically nothing but that is the way with words, they have only a limited meaning. So I'm saying a BIG 'thank you' for all who've been concerned with the organization of this year BBSummer and all who've been present there and created such friendly warm atmosphere. My special thanks for hospitality and care goes to Sulo Kallas and Peter Marwet of Goodwin BBS, and Madis Kaal of M.A.S.H. Board #1. It would be an unforgivable sin for me to forget some words about ladies present, because they're so rare at sysop meetings anywhere as well as on the ether. Sadly, I don't remember all the names, but I do know that the remarkable flag was made by one of the estonian girls. My personal gratitude also goes to charming Mrs. Daiva Tamulioniene who was brave enough to spend whole night up at the campfire talking about some weird networking things and to Ms. Piret Part who was not only looking absolutely beautiful, but also did care about switching to English language in presence some dumb guys like me :) who still cannot get their Estonian far enough for proper understanding. To finish, I'd like to return to the topic of the first paragraph. I do wish that tehre would be more such meetings in every part of the netland, small ones, informal ones, warm ones - this way we'll one day stop flaming one another in various echoes and just go for one firm handshake (real, not YOOHOO or EMSI ) ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Christopher Baker Rights On!, 1:374/14 FLorida establishes Hurricane Relief Center and Fund! [This article was first distributed throughout FidoNet as an Echomail message on the largest amateur computer BBS network in the world! This is something FidoNet can really do WELL!] FidoNews 9-36 Page 5 14 Sep 1992 Governor Lawton Chiles announced today a toll-free number for coordination of hurricane relief to southern Florida residents and agencies. 1-800-FL-HELP-1 (1-800-354-3571) is the centralized number for information, pledges, and coordination of delivery of goods at the FLorida Relief Center. It will be manned 24 hours a day. The Florida Relief Fund has been establish for collecting money to be used in South Florida and they even have provisions for credit card donations to the disaster relief. Donations of money by check or money order will also be welcome. Make your check or money order out to: FLorida Relief Fund. Send it to: FLorida Relief Fund P.O. Box 7000 Tallahassee, FLorida 32314 U.S.A. Credit card donations may be called into the FLorida Relief Center on either MasterCard or Visa [no, they don't take American Express]. A staging area for the delivery of goods has been set up in Palm Beach County to preclude the direct transportation from everywhere that is seriously clogging the passable roads into south Dade County. Items received will be warehoused and transported as needed into the storm strike zone. Anyone with goods for the relief effort are requested to take them to the South Florida Fairgrounds in West Palm Beach or to send them there by whatever shipping means available to them. I have just spoken to the Relief Center and here's the direct scoop and particulars: Florida Relief Center South Florida Fairgrounds 9067 Southern Blvd West Palm Beach, FLorida 33411 U.S.A. 24 hours telephone - 1-800-354-3571. The Fairgrounds are accessible from either I-95 or the Florida Turnpike. From I-95, take the Southern Blvd exit west and continue west for about 10 miles. From the Florida Turnpike, take the Okeechobee/West Palm Beach exit west and continue west about 1 1/2 miles. FidoNews 9-36 Page 6 14 Sep 1992 The exits are well marked, according to the Center personnel, and signs will direct you after you exit either highway to the Fairgrounds. The following list contains the current needs in rough, priority order: NO CLOTHING AT THE PRESENT TIME, PLEASE. Non-perishable food items of all kinds. There is NO refrigeration in most of the strike zone. Canned and packeted goods in original containers are welcome. Baby food and formulas of all kinds and plastic baby bottles, inserts and nipples. Bottled water in factory sealed bottles [NO volunteer filled bottles, please] of gallon or larger sizes. Cases of water very desirable. Disposable diapers and baby cleansing cloths; baby powder; baby ointment. Insect repellents and sun screens including those for sensitive skin. NON-PRESCRIPTION, OTC [over-the-counter] medications of non-perishable type such as aspirin, acetaminophen [Tylenol, Panadol, etc.], ibuprofen [Midol, Bayer IB, etc.] in tablets and liquids for children; cold and cough medicines; allergy medicines; basic first-aid supplies such as bandages, dressings, antibacterial ointments, band-aids, rolled gauze, elastic bandages [ACE, etc.], rubbing alcohol, hydrogen peroxide, and cotton swabs. NO prescription or perishable meds, please. Personal and feminine hygiene products such as: toilet paper, personal cleansing towels [Softkins, Baby wipes, WetNaps, etc.]; tampons, sanitary napkins; toothbrushes and toothpaste; disposable razors; anti-perspirants and deodorants; bleach.; tissues and paper towels. Equipment and supplies: NON-electric can openers; generators up to 300KW [kilowatts]; propane for forklifts and tractors at the Relief Center and down south; batteries and flashlights; chainsaws; shovels, rakes, picks; plastic tarps or large sheets of plastic. These are just the main things, if you can think of other things of use, call the Relief Center and see if they are needed or wanted. They need to keep their space available for the priority items. FidoNews 9-36 Page 7 14 Sep 1992 The Relief Center is OPEN every day, 24 hours a day. All convoys from FLorida and the rest of the U.S. and the world should head for West Palm Beach and avoid direct importation of goods into the south Florida area. There are security and logistical problems down there right now that are only compounded by all the extra traffic. PLEASE take your donations to the FLorida Relief Center! Thanks, for all the survivors! PLEASE PASS THIS MESSAGE TO ALL DATALINK SERVICES EVERYWHERE!! If you have Internet access or pay-service access, please post it there. It has been distributed to the following FidoNet Echomail conferences: SYSOP18, FL_LIVING, FLA_COOKS, 374SYSOP, SYSOP, NEW_SYSOP, INTERUSER, USA_EURLINK, A_THEIST, MENSA, MENSANS_ONLY, FLA_NET, MEADOW, NEW_AGE_ECHO, ABLED, CIVLIB, P_NEWS, ANEWS, GREEN.029, ENVIRON, BREV_SYS, HANDY.SYSOP, DADS, FEMINISM, ICGAL, SKEPTIC, and TAGLINES. OtherNets are encouraged to copy and distribute it as well. This message has been sent as an article to FidoNews for publication next week. All others are encouraged to copy and send it to any online publication for immediate dissemination. Thanks again. TTFN. Chris FidoNet 1:374/14, Titusville_FL_USA [former member of Miami Net 1:135] ---------------------------------------------------------------------- By Eddie Thomson, 1:233/24 Teens In Fidonet... As you may have noticed in the latest few editions of FidoNews, there has been some controversy between teenagers who have applied for Fidonet nodes and some of the "veteran" Sysops. Personally, I had no problems recieving my Fidonet node, and I am one of the youngest Sysops in Fidonet at 13! FidoNews 9-36 Page 8 14 Sep 1992 There really aren't any discussion echos for Teenage Sysops. TOTT_SYSOP was defined as Turn On To Teens Sysop Companion Echo. I don't want a companion echo, but a general Teenage Sysop discussion area. Since there aren't any, I went ahead and formed one. If you would like it, please Areafix it from me at 1:233/24. The name is TEENOP. Thanks For Your Time... [Eddie Thomson] ---------------------------------------------------------------------- "Two new HAPPY echoes ... NOT!!!!!!" From/By: Josh Burke, Tacoma, Washington, 1:138/174 *clap clap* Well done, Tom! Announcing two new not-yet backbone distributed echoes for FidoNET. These echoes will probably not cater to the average sysop, but I'm sure some of your users could use these two new echoes. FLIRTS_NOOK (name courtesy of TheFlirt@aol.aol.com) is a echo for those of us who are flirtively inclined. In short, I consider myself a compulsive flirt, meaning that I flirt with anyone of the opposite sex at any time that it may or may not be deemed acceptable. And this is EXACTLY what this echo is for. Aliases allowed, real names allowed, anonymous is not allowed. SUICIDE_CHAT is a serious discussion of a dark topic. So many times in my life it would be nice to be able to talk about it, openly, with other people that feel the same way, so this is my answer to it! :> Serious messages only please. Aliases, real nyms, and anonymous allowed. Currently these echoes are available only from 1:138/174, but as we expand our little chatnetwork, we'll try to get you a feed as local as possible! If you would like to join, just netmail me your fido address, session password and which or both echoes you would like. Thanks! *flirt flirt* FidoNews 9-36 Page 9 14 Sep 1992 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- FidoNews 9-36 Page 10 14 Sep 1992 ====================================================================== FIDONEWS INFORMATION ====================================================================== ------- FIDONEWS MASTHEAD AND CONTACT INFORMATION ---------------- Editors: Tom Jennings, Tim Pozar Editors Emeritii: Thom Henderson, Dale Lovell, Vince Perriello "FidoNews" BBS FidoNet 1:1/1 Internet fidonews@fidonews.fidonet.org BBS (415)-863-2739 (2400 only until further notice!) (Postal Service mailing address) (have patience) FidoNews c/o World Power Systems 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. Authors retain copyright on individual works; otherwise FidoNews is copyright 1992 Tom Jennings. All rights reserved. Duplication and/or distribution permitted for noncommercial purposes only. For use in other circumstances, please contact the original authors, or FidoNews (we're easy). OBTAINING COPIES: The-most-recent-issue-ONLY of 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 Internet. PRINTED COPIES may be obtained from Fido Software for $10.00US each PostPaid First Class within North America, or $13.00US elsewhere, mailed Air Mail. (US funds drawn upon a US bank only.) BACK ISSUES: Available from FidoNet nodes 1:102/138, 1:216/21, 1:125/1212, 1:107/519.1 (and probably others), via filerequest or download (consult a recent nodelist for phone numbers). INTERNET USERS: FidoNews is available via FTP from ftp.ieee.org, in directory ~ftp/pub/fidonet/fidonews. If you have questions regarding FidoNet, please direct them to fidoinfo@fidoinfo.fidonet.org, not the FidoNews BBS. 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 9-36 Page 11 14 Sep 1992 "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. Asked what he thought of Western civilization, M.K. Gandhi said, "I think it would be an excellent idea". -- END ----------------------------------------------------------------------