F I D O N E W S -- Vol.10 No.42 (17-Oct-1993) +----------------------------+-----------------------------------------+ | A newsletter of the | | | FidoNet BBS community | Published by: | | _ | | | / \ | "FidoNews" BBS | | /|oo \ | +1-519-570-4176 1:1/23 | | (_| /_) | | | _`@/_ \ _ | Editors: | | | | \ \\ | Sylvia Maxwell 1:221/194 | | | (*) | \ )) | Donald Tees 1:221/192 | | |__U__| / \// | Tim Pozar 1:125/555 | | _//|| _\ / | | | (_/(_|(____/ | | | (jm) | Newspapers should have no friends. | | | -- JOSEPH PULITZER | +----------------------------+-----------------------------------------+ | Submission address: editors 1:1/23 | +----------------------------------------------------------------------+ | Internet addresses: | | | | Sylvia -- max@exlibris.tdkcs.waterloo.on.ca | | Donald -- donald@exlibris.tdkcs.waterloo.on.ca | | Tim -- pozar@kumr.lns.com | | Both Don & Sylvia (submission address) | | editor@exlibris.tdkcs.waterloo.on.ca | +----------------------------------------------------------------------+ | For information, copyrights, article submissions, | | obtaining copies and other boring but important details, | | please refer to the end of this file. | +----------------------------------------------------------------------+ ======================================================================== Table of Contents ======================================================================== 1. Editorial..................................................... 2 2. Articles...................................................... 2 The Electronic Gay Community Magazine....................... 2 FNEWS editorial............................................. 4 RUSH_FAN.................................................... 6 Applications of Public Key Cryptography..................... 6 A Proposal for Echo Pol to Include Clear-Signed Messages.... 11 Child Porn and Cryptography News............................ 13 New AREA CODES for the UK................................... 16 V25bis MODEMS............................................... 20 YAAC (Yet Another Article About Censorship)................. 21 FNews No.41................................................. 22 Re: Article in FidoNews 1040.NWS............................ 23 3. Fidonews Information.......................................... 27 FidoNews 10-42 Page: 2 17 Oct 1993 ======================================================================== Editorial ======================================================================== I am relieved. After lamenting the lack of complaints about the misnaming of the news two weeks ago, we received lots of complaints almost as soon as last week's issue was out the door. Well, maybe we should retract that. We received lots of letters. They were all quite nice, and a few were even complimentary. Thank goodness, somebody *does* read this. There are a lot of letters that come in here that never see print. Not that we decide not to print them, but because they are letters to us about some issue or other, and they were not composed as articles. A short series of such letters is included as an article today(FNEWS editorial). You may find it interesting. Those other letters, though, take up quite a bit of time. They include requests for information, mostly. How do I join Fidonet? How can I get in touch with a board in South Africa? Who is in charge of Fidonet? . We have been thinking, lately, of putting together a series of short letters that could be sent back to these requests. Maybe those should be available for Freq. Maybe someone has already done it all, and *we* can Freq it. Comments would be appreciated. On to the news. ======================================================================== Articles ======================================================================== The Electronic Gay Community Magazine By Rex Rivers It is ironic that recent issues of the FidoNews contain banter about both electronic publications and gay issues, often with both subjects in the same issue. It so happens that an online publication on gay issues has been available for about five years now. Since 1988 the Electronic Gay Community Magazine has distributed news of interest to gay men and lesbian women all over via computer. The primary goal of the publication is to share news important to the gay community that the regular media ignores. The magazine is divided into nine major sections plus special areas for other electronic functions as demonstrated by the following menu taken from the publication: +-------------------------------------------------+ | |+ | The Electronic Gay Community Magazine || | || FidoNews 10-42 Page: 3 17 Oct 1993 | [-]=BACK Previous Menu || | [F]=JUDICIAL Our Legal System || | [H]=HEALTH Staying Healthy || | [A]=AIDS/ARC On the Frontline || | [P]=POLITICS The Legislature || | [R]=REVIEWS Books & Movies || | [L]=LIFESTYLE The Gay 90's || | [U]=UNIVERSITY Campus Update || | [B]=BRIEFS News Shorts || | [C]=CAMPAIGNS Camp & Satire || | [E]=EDITORIALS Informed Opinion || | [M]=MESSAGES EGCM Letters || | [D]=DOWNLOAD Pictures & Stuff || | [I]=INFORMATION About EGCM || | || +-------------------------------------------------+| +-------------------------------------------------+ Setting up the magazine on a computer BBS is as simple as creating a menu where the display of each file in the magazine is an option on that menu. The files are archived into .ZIP or .ARC format and are available for file request at all times. To update the magazine simply request the latest archive and overlaying the "old" magazine files with the "new" files from the archive. With a simple batch file the entire process can be totally automated. Unlike most other electronic publications, there is no charge to pick up the Electronic Gay Community Magazine and make it available to users. The only cost incurred would be the long-distance charges to the telephone company when requesting the file. For MS-DOS users the magazine archive contains a small program which will display each section of the publication a screenfull at a time. Those who don't have a computer can get the publication delivered to them by fax for a small fee. Those interested in the Electronic Gay Community Magazine may request the file by polling for the GCM.ZIP or GCM.ARC archive from Fido node 1:291/9 at 316-269-3172. The magazine may also be downloaded from the Land of Awes BBS in Wichita, Kansas at 316-269-4208 by those who do not have a mailer program. FidoNews 10-42 Page: 4 17 Oct 1993 FNEWS editorial From: Rob Butler (1:124/3109) Hello Sylvia! I have to argue with you about the editorial you posted in the latest FNews, primarily in response to my article. First, you state that children who are too young to read, won't. Unless that child is learning disabled, or does not have the advantage of a good education, they should have learned to read without difficulty by the time they were eight. If you can find me more than one child in 1000 that is not at least midly interested in sex by the time they are 12, I would be dumbfounded - and they would be able to read about it then also. Do you keep copies of Playboy, Penthouse, Playgirl lying around on the living room table? Probably not. Why? Because *you* are censoring the material you and they read. I assume your children are rather astounded right now, since "it astounds me that someone can think they will develope a balanced, informed opinion by having their reading material censored by anyone other than thenselves." It is also socially and legally unacceptable for minors to have access to such material, and I doubt you would have many neighbors coming to visit. As far as "the last article in this issue makes some very interesting points regarding legality", I made the same exact points, and went into greater detail. I think you just stopped reading mine, because you were so offended that I would question your parental skills. Also, I fail to see one remark regarding Justin Shirk's obviously prejudiced comments regarding homosexuals. I find it amazing that you would totally let comments such as "it's allright to CHOOSE your sexual nature?" and "instead of wasting out time on gay rights those first few months" slip by. I find it incredulous that if you agree with those statements, that you would have taken over the editing of this newsletter from Tom Jennings, an openly gay person, unless it was to allow just such comments passage. Even if you disagree with them, I still am disappointed that you did not mention so, and it greatly lowers my opinion of you and the other editors. Oh, and I've already received six netmail messages so far today, congradulating me on my "wonderful" and "great" article. later.... From: Sylvia Maxwell (1:221/192) Hello. i would have written sooner, but i had to take time to think about what you said and how to respond: RB> Also, I fail to see one remark regarding Justin Shirk's obviously FidoNews 10-42 Page: 5 17 Oct 1993 RB> prejudiced comments regarding homosexuals. I find it RB> amazing that you would totally let comments such as RB> "it's allright to CHOOSE your sexual nature?" and RB> "instead of wasting out time on gay rights those first RB> few months" slip by. I find it incredulous that if you i do not comment on everything printed in the snooze, and do NOT censor anything at all according to any moral view, other than my belief in free speech. My personal understanding of my editorial role, is that i am to somehow manage a forum in which members of Fidonet can make statements about net-relevent topics. I *do* have opinions which i occasionally state, and so do other editors, and all of the writers. No-one has to agree with whatever they think i am trying to say, no-one has to agree with what anyone else writes. I would appreciate your permission to print your letter in the next issue of the Snooze. RB> same exact points, and went into greater detail. I RB> think you just stopped reading mine, because you were RB> so offended that I would question your parental skills. i did read your article, and your letter very carefully. I read your article again, and the relevent articles, upon receiving your letter. I try not to have my brain power limited by my own ego, because it seems to me that narrowness and inability to see many sides of an issue commonly cause much suffering. I have one response to Mr. Budda's statement that "...when the contents of an echo are of such a character that they are more suitable for distribution on a network that is "adult" (if you know what i mean!)...". My response is, "no, i don't know what you mean." I never know what loaded statements mean, they are open to misinterpretation and they can be used to justify unstated prejeudices [i'm not assuming that in Mr. Budda's case they *were*, but how can i know? It does strike me oddly that he chose such wording]. It seems to me that it *is* a valid concern to worry about legal repercussions for carrying echos. However, i would carefully scrutinize laws which attempt to mould media, before i would mould the media to accommodate laws. thank you for your interest in the Snooze, s.max. From: Rob Butler (1:124/3109) Sylvia Maxwell wrote in a message to Rob Butler: SM> agree with what anyone else writes. I would appreciate your SM> permission to print your letter in the next issue of the SM> Snooze. FidoNews 10-42 Page: 6 17 Oct 1993 Yes, so long as you also post your response to that message. later.... ---------------------------------------------------------------------- RUSH_FAN An Echo dedicated to the rock band 'Rush' HOOK UP TODAY!!! Al Filandro 1:141/885, 1:141/1885@Fidonet, Cygnusrush@Aol.com Rush-Fan Echo The Rush Fan echo is looking for a few more participants to get things flowing again. This echo concentrates solely on the rock-band RUSH-- its music, philosophy and popularity in the online world. The echo is currently being seen by approximately twenty BBS's in Fidonet and we hope you would consider joining in on the action. With the new album Counterparts out, there should be reason for some great conversation in this echo!! Wherever I go in the online world I find RUSH FANS!! Hook up today and lets bring this thing to the backbone! All I ask is that you poll my system once every week or two to pick up the mail packets in the echo on hold for you. To get started and to join others in the online community interested in RUSH, contact me netmail at 1:141/885 or 1:141/1885 or on my system, Cygnus X-I, located in Southington, CT (203-628-9702 or 203-620-0757). Warning: THIS IS NOT A RUSH LIMBAUGH ECHO -Al Filandro ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Applications of Public Key Cryptography by Mike Riddle 1:285/27 Applications of Public Key Cryptography Public Key Cryptography, as implemented in the three most popular systems, Pretty Good Privacy (PGP), Privacy Enhanced Mail (PEM), and Riordan's Privacy Enhanced Mail (RIPEM), takes advantage of the "two-key" concept pioneered by Diffie and implemented by Rivest, Shamir and Adelman in the "RSA" system. In public key cryptography, each person has two "keys": one public and one private. The private key is just what it says: private, known only to its holder. The public key is freely and widely distributed to anyone and everyone who might possibly want to exchange private mail with the person who generated the public key. FidoNews 10-42 Page: 7 17 Oct 1993 Public key cryptography became important to everyday people with the advent of electronic mail. If we think of everyday mail, we see letters and postcards. Letters have some degree of privacy due to the envelope they are mailed in. Some envelopes are better than others at keeping the mail private, but all will do the job to some extent. Contrast that with postcards, where anyone who handles the mail can read it. In electronic mail, each message has traditionally been like a postcard. Anyone who handled the message could read it. Not everyone would, of course, but for some people and some messages the mere possibility that an unintended person could read your mail is to be avoided. Public key cryptography and electronic mail were a marriage made in digital heaven. Of the three common systems listed above, PEM is limited to the online internet as it depends on a central "key server" for public key distribution; therefore, the rest of this discussion will focus on PGP and RIPEM. Both PGP and RIPEM have freely distributable (at least within the United States and Canada) source code, and executables have been compiled for a wide range of platforms including the Mac, Amiga, and IBM-compatible personal computer. One can process a message with public key cryptography and get one of three outputs: encrypted text, armored-signed messages, and clear-signed messages. 1. Clear-Signed Messages. These are messages processed such that the text is not modified except for the addition of deliminator lines and a signature block. The signature block contains digital information providing for the verification that the text contained within the deliminator lines has not been altered, and information identifying the person who signed the message. The text can easily be read by anyone. Verification that the message is intact as signed, and who originated it can be done by anyone using the proper program and a copy of the originator's public key. 2. Armored-signed messages. These are processed the same as an clear-signed message, except an "armor" is added. This make the message harder to corrupt in transport, such as frequently happens due to varying end-of-line definitions, but has the detriment that no one can read the message without processing it through the encryption program. The "armor" is a process, similar to uuencoding, that will make readily apparent if the message has been tampered with. It is not essential to the digital signature, but makes the transport more "robust". Like the clear-signed message, since only the originator has the originator's private key, whoever reads it, be it one or a thousand, knows that only the originator could have sent it. 3. Encrypted messages. These are encrypted by the originator using the *recipient's public key*. Remember that by design, the public key has been widely distributed so anyone can use it. Due FidoNews 10-42 Page: 8 17 Oct 1993 to the nature of public key cryptography, only the intended recipient can read this message. The following examples illustrate the public key encryption using PGP, using my public key: -----BEGIN PGP PUBLIC KEY BLOCK----- Version: 2.3a mQCNAirQp4UAAAEEALvb55GcnNuwiFT2C9cWRN12/jxNBjS1CgKj3Fr1jyhxlpp6 aNDi5mpvUe7SmBxMt3PR8zkUv1k42cg0ouQ/6d4AeGFjUJUsL/XCLg2jhcJS+hb6 atZ3SA7mtkIROLXzrr+hA22Xla22wyJyan73nkH/LksvnqWPRpa79ACdslLfAAUR tEdSaWRkbGUsIE1pY2hhZWwgSC4gIDxtaWtlLnJpZGRsZUBpbm5zLm9tYWh1Zy5v cmcgIDE6Mjg1LzI3QGZpZG9uZXQub3JnPokAlQIFECx/h0WbmjfV9XLGpwEBfuED /2HhEw5Yexzi25Y3+ovErNJztIe/hRaOrfMPw0gr1Su/VUnmA4JLdApqm2jcTUH8 4+hZ3v0NwlM1cI8JMPIRidU5MAkOXPwpUEhS6YUKFCWDnCYbuSsshaQ6mjPtoQUF RmUN0/LoL5Hs7AXRjHFH3PhOXJqLutPxMyo61JqEA05riQCVAgUQKtEVONnKzqZy 0XxHAQHFPgP/VeDFFfKNifDkcf8bdNafg9rD4fSmI/fvByYGWw5hoF2g6OWy47sh jnTAs/4/do76Xt0vO5Td5JsGfWxemxOIaUusBZEysLXOdaLtY/ZnZ68IeLWftGFx VKlPcWch4kkM27o26Wpy1dsDn/YHhHbQV5wFeXa+SnXBbhWY7uX81tOJAJUCBRAr BgpL/lnvQzefVJ8BAWYbBACIPhHXji+rUS8Ng3Gbx4DoFuHKhxD3VG0hjRgCUSsY uj+LW6GmFHmfqaW53RLHneq3/+W2Pw+xYvfUS7C3waHzJRG8SzEsJ4gTmvToOHhF ahZ22Tnxolp1lBFddCcHjMcEH9ncaMP7Z/fB2fywhCt3xVvV0Ffwp8VY1PDMKj8g D4kAlQIFECrcL38fy7lv55YFAQEB/uUEAI9QLqjKKNCBH2THgdDwQImx81AoE3JZ tNvyjNLeR3DBVGk0ju6WHdUivxyYPC4TjHd8LPDZjiVr+9wFK6StiX3pxrlQptjR Ya7N81+g67UMW3GbeCpMmbMNxiQ0m9OysQ31qQKYGK2qFUTpMG90QqFfk/mAyenr 7UThnPxeSJ2jiQCVAgUQKtOgV21tOFJzS5pZAQHLwAQAr9j9HRPmn06NXdHRvv5z t1Jn7duyzujoCdZn9c1IitPeXWcAF8C5p5pzV6WTPUH4BQh0go0Nr72pw8M8NozT H78s4K7B+Rpzip4OZo1jcKAthS30axVP9mkdWyTHSoofwmkWus5FtXrE/p/Ar8oj LhrbdNYscktrlSC6N5Y+iLeJAJUCBRAq1G3WSrZKvJV4pRcBAQ41BADKKK/0vQqS ZRfNZ48miAHrM7gwMxmLQzncqHC4H0dio3cx5r4frtmILtb75S/RZ5dTGhkcyj90 F4Zi5S80GvP7LgSOMArzw8WybQWmbWiR55DU6JzSEF8KvX3Re85WCy8meV7HxvLJ 9aF6vjptfCapqZPHAN2p0AFeIJIRRb0wrbQLTWlrZSBSaWRkbGWJAJUCBRAsf4jN m5o31fVyxqcBATQFA/9H0weeJVq0qyLqDSN8eGHd46yycQrLERe5byWPsXacKzW3 uXkYNzIt38uLZ69QbZITmHywkVOiIjx9fLCi7IUngDWYZM22+EpyzLU2ibMRIzIB xNxFstLOgNoOhLPQTsB/bAfhPAEYWl6eqFSpaMCkyS66HrEH4DvIPm+HwjvPX4kA lQIFECvEouBtbThSc0uaWQEB4JwD/i9T8C8rrmTowvpgntxd9V6ZU+ZjOVRlC8Hu DMUQRvLNLJWJ5QQgf4wJwXkseDkjL9zPnjsChvxkmQIbGZ2UTHiIrr//3PCkjCFW DbRaTdz7+ixC3I44cNpvmSPwYOXJAOZ+6IdTHDz9iNi8DAWzLAgVJEZza4paoypR adjAU509 =TQxD -----END PGP PUBLIC KEY BLOCK----- Test Message: "This is a test message." PGP Clear-signed: -----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE----- "This is a test message." -----BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE----- Version: 2.3a FidoNews 10-42 Page: 9 17 Oct 1993 iQCVAgUBLLhBoJa79ACdslLfAQH+tQQAqEB3uuU2HIPDz543iqprxdxplrai0X7n fzgQvqZ3Zvt0aiFMwQOdLpSqSVk7/Az93xPFRTJm8ACugLRhagNw2WbxssoEUzVV tSwMO+u9oRgXbpfLx+0x7tSQ6xYJ/aRC7GzsXXd3G6kCy/McoEXGVRfWLhR4OkoD dTXVaWa9Q98= =A9AK -----END PGP SIGNATURE----- PGP Armored-signed: -----BEGIN PGP MESSAGE----- Version: 2.3a owEBvwBA/4kAlQIFASy4QrWWu/QAnbJS3wEBRpMD/iugDN/Tq9IdfxSBgUUcxnRo BAlXE7tp0hI0k65XgPluMdHTdK/3Uba/EIoeQqrzK6b0L8ovvAAcdjWzUTX/CU9O XjjeNxhd2LUD2wlVUPsBF/dsQa2cpZu5jWyP5SmxFj6RiAMm0tx/JA4dnbIQjzeQ vhbYe5tnSvpi5Cm3wb50rCV0BHRlc3QAAAAAIlRoaXMgaXMgYSB0ZXN0IG1lc3Nh Z2UuIg0K =g4gv -----END PGP MESSAGE----- PGP Encrypted: -----BEGIN PGP MESSAGE----- Version: 2.3a hIwClrv0AJ2yUt8BA/wN+VyAW8Hdgytb8KMgWDxB0MyC8ElzlDW4d/qhyLAIHfyO tMyrNuTtDQWTfohqCPdaift6/IISkd0ZehgSwNCA/aCpeYUpg3rER+ms7I6y8M2S VxWv0vSYuqDT+UjsJt1eC+UztUTzPwoUUTKq0FsF3BsYP4qtHkIaREepLZV0BaYA AAAz9FVRsc/7tQKaJC/Ak7vCF2b0RB+BJFVLOBTSLOcPXHwARlE+xJAj2cFOVz5+ O4WTMfcA =s/Mk -----END PGP MESSAGE----- Note that clear-signed messages clearly show you the message and tell you that it is signed. Without processing the text, you cannot tell the difference between encrypted and armored-signed messages. The following examples illustrate digital signatures using public key encryption using RIPEM, using my public key: RIPEM Public Key: -----BEGIN PUBLIC KEY----- User: mike@rlaw.omahug.org PublicKeyInfo: MIGcMAoGBFUIAQECAgQAA4GNADCBiQKBgQDknhsjdBBs2jlyUKNlTjLlTdxalCTC 6EjZiNLCT3GpgOZm/U6zUDIgslsbAJ3pmblIfhFO/SvJTpXHVf8UeoPdJnBiDee/ ehchUbLZxkj5jHpiTAtPK5dKLCqFFobbpy07NvXBCiqK1U5GXx/2LlNy4wbDRuSX 93+buTKlHISG9QIDAQAB MD5OfPublicKey: 5606C32381E016A6993DB94FFED9C0AA -----END PUBLIC KEY----- RIPEM Clear-signed: FidoNews 10-42 Page: 10 17 Oct 1993 -----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE----- Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR Originator-Name: mike@rlaw.omahug.org Originator-Key-Asymmetric: MIGcMAoGBFUIAQECAgQAA4GNADCBiQKBgQDknhsjdBBs2jlyUKNlTjLlTdxalCTC 6EjZiNLCT3GpgOZm/U6zUDIgslsbAJ3pmblIfhFO/SvJTpXHVf8UeoPdJnBiDee/ ehchUbLZxkj5jHpiTAtPK5dKLCqFFobbpy07NvXBCiqK1U5GXx/2LlNy4wbDRuSX 93+buTKlHISG9QIDAQAB MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA, Agy69jHT6p7Hs3s+2GZ96j3b+U0kCkWMzj85uz+RymhJDvPuh0OI25GNYpXD00dR tAPSjZT+CsLB12wXxulTHy0LqcwF9fOJDOSa84NQPEM25/zXndRvghi4GpdcNLiM /REaSs4XGiU5ZCjzLiTDaTg+Ms9cv7OiOYF94oTliF4= "This is a test message." -----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE----- RIPEM Armored-signed: -----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE----- Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-ONLY Originator-Name: mike@rlaw.omahug.org Originator-Key-Asymmetric: MIGcMAoGBFUIAQECAgQAA4GNADCBiQKBgQDknhsjdBBs2jlyUKNlTjLlTdxalCTC 6EjZiNLCT3GpgOZm/U6zUDIgslsbAJ3pmblIfhFO/SvJTpXHVf8UeoPdJnBiDee/ ehchUbLZxkj5jHpiTAtPK5dKLCqFFobbpy07NvXBCiqK1U5GXx/2LlNy4wbDRuSX 93+buTKlHISG9QIDAQAB MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA, Agy69jHT6p7Hs3s+2GZ96j3b+U0kCkWMzj85uz+RymhJDvPuh0OI25GNYpXD00dR tAPSjZT+CsLB12wXxulTHy0LqcwF9fOJDOSa84NQPEM25/zXndRvghi4GpdcNLiM /REaSs4XGiU5ZCjzLiTDaTg+Ms9cv7OiOYF94oTliF4= IlRoaXMgaXMgYSB0ZXN0IG1lc3NhZ2UuIg0K -----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE----- RIPEM Encrypted: -----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE----- Proc-Type: 2001,ENCRYPTED DEK-Info: DES-CBC,4A2C268C5CDB7EF8 Originator-Name: mike@rlaw.omahug.org Originator-Key-Asymmetric: MIGcMAoGBFUIAQECAgQAA4GNADCBiQKBgQDknhsjdBBs2jlyUKNlTjLlTdxalCTC 6EjZiNLCT3GpgOZm/U6zUDIgslsbAJ3pmblIfhFO/SvJTpXHVf8UeoPdJnBiDee/ ehchUbLZxkj5jHpiTAtPK5dKLCqFFobbpy07NvXBCiqK1U5GXx/2LlNy4wbDRuSX 93+buTKlHISG9QIDAQAB MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA, h8S13mHZEpTq6Q/1V3eGgHIfkZVwAD9XQqbxhz84MZoM6sMm96OqKSmkQY2XHYJM C2u4v7aqXVFqlWB1uPSPjYFfGr9LLY6wH4X0fwS/u49qWFVVd2yYhjK2fwNfBVl9 jlr7q9iANUf2paPBfN1wgmcQRFtMQFRmVfFtNmlYV6iPiUnlquKzTA== Recipient-Name: mike@rlaw.omahug.org Key-Info: RSA, 1KKCUwI86WKZ1ma1ka9PicvhcXOu0oJQJzhK2lY6gIiGGgDSXhgM/GnJ+hdMszpT HHxkQR/VLGbHuEXnzNEui3FpCoEP4elYMFXBlM0jk+uyoXTOddjCJ1rKZsj5Rm7v MelSbchKrqCODKnAknJBEbSyLVd2o/zrs/o4gceZALY= FidoNews 10-42 Page: 11 17 Oct 1993 epkBzaESUWDHzIXntfRWRBY0LaIWusatoChYguoU+38= -----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE----- Note that clear-signed messages clearly show you the message and tell you that it is signed. Without processing the text, you cannot tell the difference between encrypted and armored-signed messages. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- A Proposal for Echo Pol to Include Clear-Signed Messages by Mike Riddle 1:285/27 A Proposal for Echo Pol to Include Clear-Signed Messages Current Fidonet policy as expressed in Policy 4.07, which predates widespread availability of public-key programs, provides that: 2.1.4 Encryption and Review of Mail FidoNet is an amateur system. Our technology is such that the privacy of messages cannot be guaranteed. As a sysop, you have the right to review traffic flowing through your system, if for no other reason than to ensure that the system is not being used for illegal or commercial purposes. Encryption obviously makes this review impossible. Therefore, encrypted and/or commercial traffic that is routed without the express permission of all the links in the delivery system constitutes annoying behavior. See section 1.3.6 for a definition of commercial traffic. Note the concern is that sysops who desire to do so must be able to review the content of mail passing through their system. In the United States the privacy of electronic mail is statutorily defined in the Electronic Communication Privacy Act of 1986, as amended. There is no case law that I am aware of interpreting the ECPA to say exactly how much review by sysops is allowed and how much is prohibited. The language of the act is somewhat ambiguous, but let us accept for this discussion that the ECPA allows sysops to monitor and review traffic passing though their system. You can easily see that traditional encrypted traffic cannot be read by the sysop. If you read the earlier discussion of Applications of Public Key Cryptography, you can also see that clear-signed messages are readily readable by any sysop. With the proper "tools," just as with UUencoded messages, any sysop can verify that the signature block is in fact a signature block. To this date, illegal and defamatory messages have not been a major problem in echomail. One particularly serious concern, however, has been that it is difficult to prove who entered a questionable FidoNews 10-42 Page: 12 17 Oct 1993 message. This is an extension of the general problem that it has always been difficult to be certain who entered any message to anybody. The network has adopted a number of measures to reduce the likelihood of such "spoofing," including password-protected sessions, password protected packets, and secure-inbounds. Such measures have had some, but limited, success. With the history and application of public key cryptography in mind, and considering the purpose of sysop review supported by Policy 4.07 para 2.1.4, I propose that Echo Policy 3.1 be changed to read as follows: I have included the entire section on encryption so my proposal may be considered in context. 4.2 Encryption The language of FidoNet is English, and all Backbone echomail traffic shall be in this language unless the echo moderator specifies otherwise. Uuencoded or similar message-format files are considered to be routed files and may not be routed in netmail. With the exceptions listed below, no Backbone echomail or Echomail Routed Netmail message may be encoded, encrypted, public-key encrypted, enciphered or otherwise rendered unreadable. The use of high or low ASCII characters is not permitted in the header, tearline, or origin line of a message. Short pieces of programming code, no longer than a typical message and infrequently sent, may be routed in netmail. Provided that an echo moderator has so indicated in the International Echolist, a moderator may permit high or low ASCII characters in the body of the message, and also small segments of recognized programming language or of uuencoded text, but is subject to Backbone judgement as to when these segments become excessive. Clear-signed messages, verifiable by readily available programs such as Pretty Good Privacy (PGP) or Riordan's Privacy Enhanced Mail (RIPEM), are allowed in Echomail routed netmail. Armored-signed messages are not allowed in Backbone routed netmail or echomail. Provided that an echo moderator has so indicated in the International Echolist, a moderator may require, permit, or forbid clear-signed digital signatures, verifiable by readily available programs such as Pretty Good Privacy (PGP) or Riordan's Privacy Enhanced Mail (RIPEM). A sysop has the right to require that the originator of any apparently encrypted or otherwise unreadable message being routed through his system provide him with satisfactory evidence that the message is neither commercial nor illegal in content. FidoNews 10-42 Page: 13 17 Oct 1993 The changes allow for clear-signed messages in Backbone routed netmail, and allow for clear-signed messages (only) in echomail. The rationale is that with either message a concerned sysop can review the content. The last paragraph of the proposed wording (which I did not change from that which Adrian Walker posted) should satisfy any sysop that has a problem with running the message through a filter. The process is essentially similar to using a decompression program or a GIF viewer. The proposed change does not allow for armored-signed messages via the Backbone for the simple reason that I don't think a majority of the sysops would support the proposal. I support the SecureMail concept, but recognize that the current state of the law does not give the kind of convincing, unambigous answers that some sysops want. While armored-signed messages do not actually hide anything from anyone with the right software, at this time didn't feel the argument would win. If anyone wants to move that armored-signed messages be allowed in backbone, I'll second the motion. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Child Porn and Cryptography News Stanton McCandlish NitV-DC BBS (ex-1:301/2, new number TBA) Electronic Frontier Foundation Online Activist & SysOp mech@eff.org VERY IMPORTANT - Critical Files to Remove from Your BBS EFF has learned that the following graphic image files have been the subject of a recent federal indictment alleging receipt and possession of child pornography and transportation of obscene materials through interstate commerce. ***EFF STRONGLY ADVISES ALL SYSOPS TO REMOVE THESE FILES FROM THEIR ELECTRONIC BULLETIN BOARD SYSTEMS IMMEDIATELY IN ORDER TO AVOID LEGAL REPERCUSSIONS.*** Please distribute this message widely and quickly. Alleged child pornography files: PPO4@.GIF FAMO3.GIF CHERRYA.GIF CHERRYB.GIF CHERRYC.GIF WC221501.GIF LITSIS.GIF MBON006.JPG MBON007.JPG DS-X-219.GIF INOCNT.JPG KID013.GIF Alleged adult obscenity files: ORGY6.ZIP (A DL FILE) WC1C2332.GIF FidoNews 10-42 Page: 14 17 Oct 1993 BAMS-039.JPG ________________________________________ Shari Steele Director of Legal Services Electronic Frontier Foundation 1001 G Street, NW Suite 950 East Washington, DC 20001 202/347-5400 (voice), 202/393-5509 (fax) ssteele@eff.org NOTE: EFF does not in any way support either child pornography, nor the violation of the civil rights of those accused-not-proven of making or distributing it. EFF distributes this information as a service to sysops who may wish to keep such material off of their systems, just in case, and is NOT acting on behalf of the govt. But you knew that. Just to be safe, some other files you might wish to watch out for: LILSIS*.GIF MELISSA*.GIF SCHOOL*.GIF SKOOL*.GIF SUNFR*.GIF None of these appear to be targeted as evidence by the govt, but they are generally considered to be contraband, as are any images of bestiality. Not worth the risk, folks. ----------------------------------- EFF to Defend Crypto Rights Legally ---------------------------------- Washington, D.C. -- The Electronic Frontier Foundation has committed itself this week to legal defense efforts in response to what is apparently a U.S. government campaign against the use and export of cryptographic technology. EFF's response to the anti-cryptography campaign, which has been directed initially against the "Pretty Good Privacy" (PGP) encryption program written by Phil Zimmermann, is three-fold: o EFF and EFF board members will immediately contribute funds to Phil Zimmermann's current legal expenses as they relate to constitutional issues and will encourage others to make donations for this legal effort. o EFF will continue to vigorously investigate the facts of the PGP case, and other cryptography-related cases that may arise, in order to spotlight the constitutional issues raised by such cases. o EFF is planning to launch in the near future a First Amendment campaign aimed both at raising funds to support legal work on the constitutional issues raised by these cases and at educating policymakers and the general public about need to reform our outmoded export control laws. FidoNews 10-42 Page: 15 17 Oct 1993 The basic facts of the PGP case is as follows: The Customs Bureau has interviewed Phil Zimmermann and others involved with PGP. A San Jose grand jury subpoenaed documents relating to PGP from ViaCrypt and Austin Code Works, two companies that intend to offer commercial products related to PGP. The State Department has sent a letter to Austin Code Works requiring them to register as an arms dealer, even if they don't plan to export cryptography. In light of these developments, the Electronic Frontier Foundation Board of Directors met in Austin on Sept 22-23 to plan EFF's response. EFF's Board of Directors believes that this case may involve fundamental issues in the application of the U.S. Constitution to digital media. At stake is the right to privacy, the right to public access to secure cryptography, the right to publish digital writings, and the right to equal protection under the law. We are resolved to take this matter very seriously. For this reason, EFF will undertake a vigorous investigation of the facts in this and any other PGP related cases which might arise. If the Grand Jury issues indictments that would, in the view of EFF, threaten the future of digital liberty, we are prepared to assist in the case, and any other cases that might have similar adverse effects. We are also prepared to seek to amend the export laws to protect constitutional speech and the right to disseminate and use encryption to protect the citizens' right to privacy and to the security of their communications. In the short run, EFF will assist Phil and others involved with PGP to find criminal defense attorneys, explore ways to get any cases handled pro bono publico, or for expenses only, and contribute funds to Phil and other possible defendants for pre-indictment constitutional research, and we encourage others to do the same. As of this announcement, several thousand dollars have been pledged by EFF and EFF board members, including John Gilmore, Mitchell Kapor and John Perry Barlow. In the near future, EFF will launch a national campaign designed to provide legal and financial support for cases or legislative efforts that would promote the constitutionally guaranteed rights to develop, discuss, and use cryptographic technology. We urge you to help Phil Zimmermann in preparing his constitutional defense by contacting Phil's lawyer, Philip Dubois (dubois@csn.org, +1 303 444 3885, or 2305 Broadway, Boulder, CO 80304, USA). He is accepting legal defense contributions relating directly to Phil's defense as an individual. ------------------------------ Board of Directors Electronic Frontier Foundation ------------------------------ FidoNews 10-42 Page: 16 17 Oct 1993 Beginning this month, EFF welcomes three new additions to our staff. Dan Brown will be EFF's new Systems Administrator. Recently, Dan has been administering the system and providing technical support at Case Western in Cleveland, Ohio. One of Dan's earliest tasks will be to relocate EFF's cluster of SUN Sparkstations from Cambridge, MA, to Washington, DC. Dan will then be responsible for administering our gopher, wais and ftp sites. You can reach Dan at brown@eff.org. Stanton McCandlish is starting as EFF's Online Activist. Stanton may be familiar to many of you already, as he is a relatively outspoken member of several popular mail lists. Stanton has just moved all of his belongings to DC from Albuquerque, New Mexico, where he ran his own BBS. One of Stanton's earliest tasks will be to set up an EFF BBS. Stanton will also be taking over editorial responsibility for EFFector Online. You can reach Stanton at mech@eff.org. Kathleen Zaffina will be replacing Kirsten Erickson as EFF's Executive Assistant. Kathleen has over 15 years of experience in similar positions, most recently working at Amideast, a nonprofit organization in DC that promotes understanding between people in the United States and Middle Eastern countries. Kathleen will be responsible for making sure that EFF's office runs smoothly, providing support to EFF staff and board. You can reach Kathleen at kzaffina@eff.org. DISCLAIMER: This message represents only my OWN opinion, not that of EFF. Stanton McCandlish Electronic Frontier Foundation Online Activist mech@eff.org NitV-DataCenter BBS SysOp Fido: IndraNet: 369:111/1 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- New AREA CODES for the UK John Bone (2:256/17) SUBJECT... Message from British Telecom - NEW UK AREA CODES THREE, TWO, ONE. The Countdown to the new UK area codes has begun..... (c) BT - British Telecom PLC 1993 81 Newgate Street, London, EC1A 7AJ Offices in Europe, North America, Japan and Asia Pacific. WHY THE UK AREA CODES ARE CHANGING: On 16 April 1995, the number 1 will be inserted after the initial 0 in the UK area codes. So, for example, the current UK area code for Manchester 061 will become 0161. These changes were decided by OFTEL, the UK telecommunications industry watchdog, to cope with the growing shortage of new phone codes due to the expansion of the telecommunications industry. FidoNews 10-42 Page: 17 17 Oct 1993 The new codes will create more capacity for numbers and new services, and enable us to satisfy your needs well into the future. As a result of the changes, there are significant implications for our business users, whether they are companies, forms, organisations or individuals. That's why we have produced this leaflet. It explains most things you need to know about the changes, and how to prepare for them in advance. WHY IT IS IMPORTANT TO START PREPARING NOW: The main reason for letting you know about the new codes now is to give you the opportunity to prepare well in advance - and keep disruptions and costs to a minimum. For example, you'll need to make changes to stationary and signs. you'll need to reprogram any computers and telecommunications equipment you may have - such as switchboards, security alarms and call barring systems ( switchboards with call barring will need to be adapted by Easter 1994 !). The area code changes, however, will not affect: Freephone or reduced rate numbers, such as - 0800, 0345; premium rate (0900) numbers such as 0981, 0839, 0881 and 0898; or UK mobile (celnet & vodaphone) phone numbers. TWO MORE CHANGES TO LOOK OUT FOR: OFTEL has also announced changes to the area codes of five cities, which have a particularly urgent need for more phone numbers; Leeds, Sheffield, Nottingham, Leicester and Bristol. These cities will therefore be given completely new codes. The increase in number capacity will be achieved by adding a 2 or 9 in front of the local city numbers. (ie. from six digit to sven digit phone numbers.) The new codes for each city are: Leeds: 0523 nn nnnn becomes 0113 2nn nnnn Sheffield: 0742 nn nnnn becomes 0114 2nn nnnn Nottingham: 0602 nn nnnn becomes 0115 9nn nnnn Leicester: 0533 nn nnnn becomes 0116 2nn nnnn Bristol: 0272 nn nnnn becomes 0117 9nn nnnn AND on an international level, all European countries are moving towards a single international access code. So, to harmonise with this, the international access code from the UK will change from 010 to 00. Once again these changes will take place on 16 april 1995. HOW WE WILL BE HELPING YOU DURING THE COUNTDOWN TO PHoneDAY. FidoNews 10-42 Page: 18 17 Oct 1993 Until April 1995, we'll be running a major publicity campaigh to make all BT customers aware of the code changes and what they need to do. The PHoneDAY logo you see here in this leaflet will be used throughtout the campaign, both by BT and all other (UK) telecommunications companies. From March throught to August 1994, our engineers will be setting up and testing lines. So, in order to help you with your code change plans, all the new codes will be run in parallel with the old ones after August 1994. This will give you time to carry out necessary changes, such as amending call barring equipment and reprogramming stored numbers into telecommunications and computer equipment. To make sure nothing is forgotten, we've inculded a checklist in this leaflet which details the changes that need to be made. We've also included a questions and answers section that addresses queries about the code changes. If you have any further questions, simply call the free helpline we've set up specially for phONEday. It gives you free access to experts who'll be pleased to help you. The number is (UK only) 0800 01 01 01. YOUR phONEday QUESTIONS ANSWERED: Q. Will everyone be affected by the changes? A. Yes. Both BT customers in the UK and international customers will be affected, as well as customers of Mercury, Kingston Communications in Hull, operators in the Isle of man, Jersey and Guernsey, and also cable operators and most paging services. Q. Will "MY" phone number stay the same? A. In most cases, yes. but people calling you from outside your area will have to add 1 to the existing dialing code. If you live is Leeds, Sheffield, Nottingham, Leicester or Bristol, however, you will have a new code, and an extra digit will be added to the front of your existing number. Q. Will call charges be affected by the changes? A. No. Q. What changes will I have to make? A. If you have call barring equipment, this will need to be reprogrammed before Easter 1994. Switchboards and Security/fire alarms that dial a pre-set number will also need to be reprogrammed. (Alarm companies will be contacting their customers, so you may wish to arrange a maintanence visit to coincide with the countdown to PHoneDAY. Q.Will BT pay for the changes I have to make to my stationary and signage? A. No. We are letting all telephone users know the new UK codes early to give them plenty of time to incorporate changes, such as amending stationary and signs, as part of their normal replacement programme. FidoNews 10-42 Page: 19 17 Oct 1993 Q. Will BT pay for the changes I have to make to my equipment? A. No. In most cases, BT will not charge for modifications to equipment which is covered by a BT mainanence contract. Any other equipment should be modified as part of the manufacturers's service. Q. Will all numbers change? A. No. mobile phones will still use the same codes; Only geographic (UK) area codes will change. 0800 and 0345 numbers won't change either. Nor will recorded message phone lines (aka 0900 services) begining with codes like 0891. Q. Why couldn't these changes have been made at the same time as the London code change? A. London simply couldn't wait for an increase in phone numbers. We had to act by 1990 and OFTEL hadn't made a decision about the national code change at that stage. Note. London numbers are again subject to the phONEday changes. For example: London 071 nnn nnnn becomes 0171 nnn nnnn and London 081 nnn nnnn becomes 0181 nnn nnnn Q. What will happen if my customers or clients dial my number without the extra 1 after 16 April 1995? A. Their call will be answered with a pre-recorded message whick will remind them about the code changes. BT will not charge for this service. Q. I'd still like to know more about how these changes will affect me. Who should I call? A. If there's anything else you'd like to know, just call our special helpline on (UK only) 0800 01 01 01. We'll be happy to help you, and you won't be charged for the call. YOUR phONEday CHECKLIST: 16th April 1995 A: TELECOMMUNICATIONS EQUIPMENT AND COMPUTERS. "Start planning these changes NOW!" 1. Autodialing equipment, such as fire/security alarm systems and emergency phones in lifts. 2. Call barring and routing equipment. (call barring on PABX's must be adapted by Easter 1994, when the new codes will be opened up for engineering tests) 3. Equipment using code tables, such as payphones and call loggers. 4. Phones with short-code dialing memories. 5. Switchboard equipment. "Change between August 1994 and April 1995" 6. Call diversion instructions. 7. Short code dialing. 8. Alarm systems. "Change just before April 1995" 9. Pre-set numbers stored in the memory of any phone or fax. FidoNews 10-42 Page: 20 17 Oct 1993 10. Computer systems containing national dialing codes. 11. You'll need to let your overseas contacts know about the changes. "Change on or close to phONEday" 12. Personnel records. 13. Customer and propect databases. 14. Fax ID numbers. 15. Messages on answering machines. (answerphones) B: STATIONARY AND SIGNS. "Start planning these changes now!" 1. Stationary - letterheads, invoices, fax header sheets, business cards, address labels. 2. Literature - advertisements, company brochures, product brochures. 3. Diaries - publishers need to check that the new codes are included in 1995 diaries. "Plan well in advance of phONEday!" 1. Company Artwork. 2. Packaging. 3. Vehicle livery. 4. Company Signs. 5. Internal Directories. "Change between August 1994 and April 1995" 1. EMERGENCY Instructions and documentation. 2. Hazard control instructions and labels. 3. National enquiry/support centres. 4. Computer and network service helpline numbers. ================================================================== ========= Above text is from BT Leaflet PHME 13193/2/93 ========== ================================================================== ========= with minor text additions for a non-uk reader ========== ============= LOG-on-the-TYNE OPUS_CBCS 2:256/17.0 =============== ================================================================== I hope this helps. This will affect the region 25 segment of the nodelist at sometime, but possiblily not until after Xmas 1994. John S. Bone - Sysop @ LOTT 2:256/17 and 2:256/18 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- V25bis MODEMS Jose Luis Mazuela (2:341/18.106) I've seen in several issues of Fidonews, discussions about the compressor standard. You know, why arc method if we have arj, zip, etc. And the principal point is the portability. Ok, no problem, I understand there are systems that only has in common this method whith others. Then, why I say I was going to talk about v25bis modems and begin with FidoNews 10-42 Page: 21 17 Oct 1993 this example? Simple, because is a good example, I think, to make know the people, specially the frontend processor (fep) programmers, about the problem that have the users of this type of modems. This modems need a special way to make it run well. The commands are a little bit difference of Hayes but the principal difference is the parameters of communication. When you pass the commands (from DTE to DCE) it must be at 7e1 (7 even 1) and the another big one: the modem has the CD circuit (109) high ever (without posibility of disabling). So this is a big problem because the mailer think there is real carrier and don't do anything. So what I mean is, if a file as nodelist is in arc method because 'universality' what about v25bis method, approved by the CCITT? Is no difficult to implement this option in a fep. I think is just a few lines in a program that the programmer know perfectly after several releases. There is many people that uses this modem with progs such as telix, (win)terminal, etc. but not with fep's. So, that's my calling to fep programmers, I think is not very difficult to make us happy. :) Bye! P.S. If anybody knows a Public Domain or Shareware program that contemplate v25bis mode please, tell me. Thanks. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- YAAC (Yet Another Article About Censorship) by Gleason Pace [Noah] @FidoNet#1:105/37 Censorship in Fido; ignoring the sewer won't make it stop running through my yard. I am writing in response to Steven Haslam's article in the previous Snooze (and ones from others previous to that, even). I can't claim to have a five minute (day) rule because I have never done this before, so I guess I am free to sit right down and spout off. So here goes. Yes, it's true that I can change the TV channel and not read certain Fido echos, and this will prevent my tender eyes from viewing things I don't want to see. But of course that is really not the problem is it? Your quote from Heinlien is to the point in a simplistic sort of way, but we do not want to throw out laws just because some people persist in trying to codify their own personal moral pecadillos (I know one person's pecadillo is another person's imperative). We persist with obnoxious and fundamentally inequitable legal systems because we have learned the hard way that we cannot trust each other and, so far, we FidoNews 10-42 Page: 22 17 Oct 1993 have found no better way of defending ourselves. And also because, once some system like that gets started, it is abominably hard to get it stopped. Again, your quote from Robert Sommer misses the mark. I am constantly unable to go places I really don't want to go (Somalia, Yugoslavia, the names are shift with world events); but I am content to not be able to go to these places. And I am quite content to have people tell me I can't do things that I really don't want to do. Getting upset about things like that is for people who have a need to be upset about something. The problem is that there are people in the world who DO *WANT* to see the things that TV has to offer, and read smutt on Fido, etc. And the presence of these people affect the quality of life for the rest of us. Among these people (remember, I said among) are those who want to murder us, molest our children, rape us, rob us, also those who tend to object to intellectualism, or to values other than material. And ultimately the problem with feeding the wants of these people is that it carries the message that it is really OK to be the way they are, instead of encouraging them to seek help and change. I would agree that it is really not our problem to see to it that they improve their own karma, but it is not in our interest to encourage their behavior either. Actually the problem with censorhip is the same problem we have whenever we try to regulate ourselves. We have noone but our fallen selves (in the religious sense) to do it. And so we are always faced with the problem of which abuse is worse: the abuse of our fellows or the abuse of our chosen leaders. Sometimes it's one and sometimes the other. Noah ---------------------------------------------------------------------- FNews No.41 Hallo Sylvia, Donald, Tim! "I am astonished.....Now I am wondering DOES ANYBODY READ THIS?" As you might see - the answer is YES. I read this in Germany and the Fidonews are an important source of information for me. Congratulations that you published several (quite open) articles about the "Putsch" in R24 - I wonder if anybody in FIDO really takes care what happens here. Any feedback from US-nodes? What is T.Jennings opinion? This leads me to an often heard statement from german sysops that Fidonews is not an important platform of discussion because only few sysops in fact read it! Is that true? Thanks for the dedicated work you are doing and FidoNews 10-42 Page: 23 17 Oct 1993 Best regards Horst-Walter Schwager PS: Feel free to publish this mail if wanted - my Fido Adress is 2:248/302.7 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Re: Article in FidoNews 1040.NWS... By: Darren Ryall Fido 1:153/822 > A Reply to "Content Cops: Opening the door to censorship" > By: Justin Shirk > Fido 1:270/425 > Obviously Mr. Dampier has no concept of the recent raids and > such conducted against people who run very reputable adult > systems. You see,even if the kid lied, you can STILL get > busted. It is unfortunate that the government now feels the > need to regulate every facit of our private lives. Granted, > I am opposed to adult meterial persay, > but its distribution is legal among consenting adults > . Therefore, because of the recent > twists in the law, I think the ZEC was right to discontinue > the distribution of those echos. I don't think it was morally > motivated at all, really. > More like covering your self from legal problems later on when > some 15 year old sysop might get ahold of an echo. If memory serves correctly...it's possible for the child to get away with sort of thing because he/she is considered a minor.. where as we are not. And basically, because they are "children" they are considered to be "innocent" and we'd be along the lines of pimps for supplying them with said material. The BBS is a prime place for the moving of this material isn't it? Why, I can just see my computer hanging out on damp and musty street corners oogling at all the little girls and boys and leading them into a life of debauchery. (Grin). The fix is simple really...if you want to run a BBS with adult areas...then restrict the areas to people you have personally met and can verify are over age. What, you say that you couldn't possibly do such a thing? Too many people you say? My goodness, I believe that social activities such as BBS meets would be a wonderful forum for such meetings to take place...after all, this is your hardware and a few years of your life we're only speaking of here... But I still think that retreating into corners and denying that people have a sexual nature is repugnant at best...after all, your mothers and fathers probably were not virgins when they had you now didn't they? Mom and Apple Pie is a little different concept than Mom tied to the bedboard yelling at your Dad, "Ride me like a wild bronco, you love muffin you!" >=) FidoNews 10-42 Page: 24 17 Oct 1993 The point here is of course...your ancestors had sex lives (probably..the ones who didn't didn't leave anyone behind to say they didn't)..your grandparents had sex lives, and so did your parents. And you probably do as well. And Bill Clinton, Mr. John Majors, and numerous other people. I don't particularly care to look into Tip O'Neil's bedroom and see if he wears a tutu... (which would be frightfully silly anyways) ...or Bill Clinton's...or yours. Or anyone else's. What they choose to do in their bedrooms(kitchens, bathrooms, counter-tops) is their own business, and none of mine. And vice-versa if you please. (Thanks, you're a peach) >=) > I also agree with you here. It should be policed by the SysOps > AS WELL. But say one smart little sysop just felt like carrying > all the echos and pleaded "no knowledge of said language on > said conferences." Then the echo coord and all others involved > in the distribution of such meterial could be held accountable. > It raises alot of legal problems. Yes, but the last time that I'd heard...(it may have been some form of auditory hallucination on my part of course)..was that ignorance of the law is not an excuse. Please forgive me if I'm in error here. It would seem to me (as a guess of course, I am not a lawyer) that a Sysop would naturally be accountable for all and any content on their BBS. Otherwise, we'd be seeing a lot more "smackie-handies", and a lot less impounding of equipment going on, I'd think... I'm going to turn the next little bit around here, and let you read it from the other side of the coin..(please note kiddies, I'm going to be doing word substitution in the next two paragraphs, but at no time do my hands leave my wrists, or do I change the sentences OTHER THAN the afore-mentioned single word substitution) This is simply for illustration of a point that you might be missing here. (Settle back with your popcorn now...the show's about to begin). > I'm not so sure that kind of meterial is suitable for the > public in any case. And that could raise alot of problems with > parents saying "oh my kid _LEARNED_ how to be (straight) by > listening to that (STRAIGHT)TEEN conf on Fidonet." > And yes, (straight) or (hetero) talk is AUTOMATICALLY adult in > nature. > Why? > Because, IMHO, teens shouldn't be practicing (hetero)sexuality! > What kind of precedent does that set for our youth? That it's > alright to CHOOSE your sexual nature? > Yes this is also true. Why? Because of our lobby system in this > country. Every little group has their own little lobby, for > various purposes. Nothing really gets done in Washington > anymore because of it. Including the (straight) rights > movement. We could have focused our attention on the real > problems in this country instead of wasting > our time on straight rights those first few months. FidoNews 10-42 Page: 25 17 Oct 1993 > I know I touched alot of subjects in this article. Sorry it was > semi-long. ,-----------------------------------------------------------------, | Justin Shirk - SysOp, Cybernetics BBS * Fido 1:270/425 | | (717)738-1976 Supra 14.4k v.42bis * ITC 85:863/207 | | InterNET e-mail/UseNET newsgroups * InterNET rhutch!cyberb.uucp | | 680+ megs online * 6400+ files * 140+ newsgroups | `-----------------------------------------------------------------' Do you see the point here everyone? You could substitute the words "gay, lesbian, homosexual" for "straight, hetero, heterosexual" and come out with an article that would be saying that men and women should not be allowed to practice sexual relationships across genders. Scary when it's turned around like that isn't it? (And to make a point, I've also kept hearing theories on how a person's sexual prefernce is usually hot-wired (pardon the accidental pun) into a person at birth. You don't learn to be gay or lesbian or even heterosexual...it's something that's built-in. And yes, I think it IS alright to "choose" your sexual nature; you're the one that has to live with yourself and your actions aren't you? And living how you feel the most at peace with yourself should be your right as an individual. If you want to live with a turnip farmer in Tuskerneeny and be their love slave...that's your choice. If you want to be celibate...also your choice. Spending your life with a woman and devoting your life to God...again, your choice. Living on the back of a Harley with your arms wrapped around the waist of "Sex Gargoyle"...once again, your choice. It's your conscience, and your own relationship with your particular Diety that should your own guide. (Because my beliefs may differ from yours... there are many differing views when it comes to both sexuality and religion). Now, I am personally not gay or lesbian...(Yes, I have the equipment for the first, but not the second)...but what I am first and foremost is a Humanist. Namely, I believe that gay and lesbian peoples have just as much right to choose their own lifestyle as heteros do. (thank you very much). After all, they're people...you're people...if you wanted to have sex with a banana split (and that chocolate does make it tempting at times...ooo, that whipped cream)...then I feel you have the right to get yourself smothered in toppings. But, only if the banana split were consenting..I hasten to add. And of legal age. You're saying in your article that FidoNet is making itself liable to search and seizure by carrying these echos...well, I personally feel that that's Fido's decision to carry/not carry them. And they probably have a lot more lawyers at their disposal through the network than you and I do. So, let it be Fido's decision...not ours...whether to carry/drop them. We just have a say in whether or not we carry them personally. I agree with you on health care...it's an important issue. I FidoNews 10-42 Page: 26 17 Oct 1993 also look at the amount of cash being pumped into defense purposes and go..."Wait a minute...couldn't we use some money from here to put into the health care system? After all, the "Red Menace" doesn't exist anymore." And frankly, I don't own a gun or any other weapons (other than some really nasty chopsticks)...I believe that my own country should take our wooden boats and forces and split them evenly between the Coast Guard and the United Nations Peacekeeping Forces. It's been about 35-40 years since the Canadian military was really considered to be much of threat to anyone really. (In my opinion, anyways). Guess I'm one of those dreaded liberals that want gun control and even worse... one world government. Maybe with one group of people governing everyone...we might be able to put away our toys and start cleaning up our mess before someone gets an eye poked out...or worse, starts playing with Daddy's gun. I think that the money necessary for health care could quite easily be found, housing and job creation programs could start, and we could get the homeless into homes again if we weren't so busy being paranoid of our neighbours. And what they do in their bedrooms. And who they pray to. Try treating that person like they were your brother or sister...respect them as human beings...and don't worry about what they do in the middle of the night. You wouldn't want someone peeking in your window with a movie camera filming you in an intimate moment...and I'm sure that not too many of the rest of us do either. (Except possibly those with a voyeuristic streak) >=) Better yet, try treating everyone like you'd like to be treated... I'm sure that we'd all be living in a happy world if everyone treated everyone else as nicely as they treated themselves. (Which reminds me Justin....I'd also made a small change in your SIG to remove some of the blockiness of it for you...feel free to use it if you wish.) =) And lastly...(finally)...I also make apologies for the length of this article...200+ lines including Justin's quoted material. I know that I probably offended some people with my opinions as well...but I guess that's one of the things that makes life so rich and worth living. The fact that we are all different, and we all have our own opinion's on topics. And while I may not have the viewpoint of some...I hope that people have been able to sense that I was writing from a humourous viewpoint (yes, that's how we spell it up here in Canada.^ =) and that I treat sex and religion both as something that we can love and laugh about. Because when it comes right down to it...sex is pretty messy and smelly anyways....and so are religious wars. Hmmmm, there's a thought... (for another time. ^ ) &&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&& & Looking Forward To && darren.ryall@f822.n153.z1.fidonet.org & FidoNews 10-42 Page: 27 17 Oct 1993 & A Brave New World, && dryall@outb.wimsey.bc.ca & & Darren && Darren Ryall@1:153/822 (FidoNet) & &&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&& ======================================================================== Fidonews Information ======================================================================== ------- FIDONEWS MASTHEAD AND CONTACT INFORMATION ---------------- Editors: Sylvia Maxwell, Donald Tees, Tim Pozar Editors Emeritii: Thom Henderson, Dale Lovell, Vince Perriello, Tom Jennings IMPORTANT NOTE: The FidoNet address of the FidoNews BBS has been changed!!! Please make a note of this. "FidoNews" BBS FidoNet 1:1/23 BBS +1-519-570-4176, 300/1200/2400/14400/V.32bis/HST(DS) Internet addresses: Don & Sylvia (submission address) editor@exlibris.tdkcs.waterloo.on.ca Sylvia -- max@exlibris.tdkcs.waterloo.on.ca Donald -- donald@exlibris.tdkcs.waterloo.on.ca Tim -- pozar@kumr.lns.com (Postal Service mailing address) (have extreme patience) FidoNews 172 Duke St. E. Kitchener, Ontario Canada N2H 1A7 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 1993 Sylvia Maxwell. 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. FidoNews 10-42 Page: 28 17 Oct 1993 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.) INTERNET USERS: FidoNews is available via FTP from ftp.fidonet.org, in directory ~ftp/pub/fidonet/fidonews. If you have questions regarding FidoNet, please direct them to deitch@gisatl.fidonet.org, not the FidoNews BBS. (Be kind and patient; David Deitch is generously volunteering to handle FidoNet/Internet questions.) 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 1:1/23 as file "ARTSPEC.DOC". Please read it. "Fido", "FidoNet" and the dog-with-diskette are U.S. registered trademarks of Tom Jennings, 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 ----------------------------------------------------------------------