F I D O N E W S -- Vol.10 No.51 (19-Dec-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..................................................... 1 2. Articles...................................................... 2 No UUCP in Sysop Name Field, Please......................... 2 Usenet Newsgroups for Fidonet Systems....................... 3 Censorship? Just say NO!................................... 4 My Viewpoint on the Editor's duties......................... 6 3. Fidonews Information.......................................... 6 ======================================================================== Editorial ======================================================================== FidoNews 10-51 Page: 2 19 Dec 1993 wow. Am i ever depressed ... just saw somewhere in an echo ... some guy totally-pro-free-speach and totally-anti-cencorship, who believes so because 'christians" should be allowed to discriminate against homo-sexuals, because to be real 'christians" they must do that, and 'they' shouldn't be discriminated against for their traditional views. what a WIERD agrument. Who's traditinal views?. dunno. Gotta like that variety of opinionations, but there's smething wrong with it. can't put my finger on what particular wrong it is, because that one's hiding under a rock away from the light of day. P.S. Merry Christmass ======================================================================== Articles ======================================================================== No UUCP in Sysop Name Field, Please by Jeff Johnson (1:363/888, !CM) An Argument Against Using UUCP in the Sysop Name Field A few issues back, Jim Northrup wrote an article stating how he felt the use of UUCP in the sysop name field of the nodelist would aid those attempting to send UUCP or Internet mail in locating a gateway. I think it's more trouble than it's worth. Following is a quote from his article: Consider the usage of "UUCP" in the sysop name feild, when used by many seperate sites in various regions of the nodelist, providing a simple choice of gateways for use in an instant if there be a nodelist lookup for the name "UUCP". In my own eyes, this seems a very simple and straightfoward solution to a pile of misdesigned solutions to a simple problem. It only comes natural to do what's easiest (speaking for myself only). [End quote] I too wish to do what's easiest, and that is exactly why I am against the use of UUCP as a name. Consider this: most of the people who will be doing nodelist lookups are sysops, right? I mean, unless a sysop has a BBS program which allows nodelist lookups, users aren't going to have to worry about which gateway they want to send their messages to. More than likely the sysop has a dedicated area for such messages which are automatically forwarded to a gateway. This brings up my second point: the average sysop (or user) does not just sit down and say, "I think I'll send a message through the Internet," and fire one off. I know I did a LOT of research before I understood the difference between UUCP, Internet, ...!uuvax!joeblow, xxx@fyyy.nzzz.zq.fidonet.org, and all that stuff, and one of the things I learned was the address of my local Fido/UUCP gateway. There shouldn't be that many of them in your area. I live in a medium-sized city (Orlando), and we only have two. Granted, if you live near a large college, there may be a few more, but you will more than likely learn who they are long before you write an Internet-destined FidoNews 10-51 Page: 3 19 Dec 1993 message. All this leads up to why I think UUCP in the name field is cumbersome: when I go to send a message through FrontDoor, I hit and type UUCP in the To: field. For the longest time, I would then immediately type 42 (my gateway) and get on with the rest. Then one day a little window popped up. FrontDoor found somebody in the nodelist named UUCP! I therefore had to hit to enter my gateway's address. This is an extra step, and not what I consider doing "what's easiest." In summary, I feel that if you're going to send mail through a UUCP gateway, you probably know who that gateway is, and there's no need for your editor software to give you a lookup window. Either way you're going to have to choose the destination manually, by typing in the address or selecting from a window. Typing in the address is the quickest from where I stand. Let's leave the sysop name field for sysop names. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Usenet Newsgroups for Fidonet Systems by: Phillip M. Dampier 1:2613/228 USENET NEWSGROUPS FROM AROUND THE WORLD FOR FIDONET SYSTEMS A group of forward-thinking Fidonet SysOps have developed an international echomail distribution system, similar to Fidonet's Zone 1 Echomail Backbone, which offers usenet newsgroups in Fidonet echomail format. This system, known as COBRUS, continually receives over 5,250 newsgroups each day from around the world, on stand-alone, dedicated mailservers, converts them into Fidonet echomail format, and distributes them to other Fidonet systems that elect to receive them. These newsgroups include the seven major hierarchies (alt, comp, misc, sci, soc, rec, talk) in addition to many newsgroups from other parts of the world like Russia, France, Australia, Germany, etc., and regional newsgroups that are usually limited in geographic distribution (i.e. ca, tx, ny, etc.). COBRUS automatically receives all new newsgroups when they are created. The system also provides Internet/uucp mail for Fidonet systems using these newsgroups. Members of Fidonet can receive these newsgroups using the same software that they use now for Fidonet. All the conversions are done by COBRUS. Fidonet SysOps just treat each newsgroup like a Fidonet echomail conference. The mailer and tosser/scanner they are currently using is all the software needed to read and post in the newsgroups. For a list of more than 5,250 newsgroups currently available, file request ACTIVE.ZIP from 1:2613/333 or 1:2613/228. A variety of feeds are available - ZyXEL modems, USR Dual Standards, 28.8 V.FC modems, FidoNews 10-51 Page: 4 19 Dec 1993 etc. Sites utilizing different long-distance carriers are also available. To establish a feed or for more information, please contact Jerry Seward as follows: Fidonet: 1:2613/333.0 (mail only, no BBS at this address) Internet: jerry@rochgte.fidonet.org Voice: 716-594-0943 (0900 - midnight Eastern) FAX: 716-594-1222 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Censorship? Just say NO! by Bryan Price, Burning Point 1742 1:226/250 Daniel Hagan's letter has struck a note with me. To wit: >I can understand your reasoning in trying to allow "freedom of the >press", but there comes a point where common sense must be exercised. Just *who's* common sense? >As editor, it is your responsibility to overview the article >submissions and *NOT* just to be looking for ARTSPEC.DOC infractions. >I'm sure someone could write a program to handle that task if that's >all there is to your position. >Case in point: Your local newspaper has a "Letter to the Editor" >section which is as close as it comes to a Fidonews type delivery. >In that area, even though you are free to express whatever thoughts >you have on a subject, articles like those published in recent and >past Fidonews would never make print. Why? Because it is assumed you >should be able to make your point without resorting to the types of >terms used in the .A46 release. Freedom of speech, YES...freedom to >print whatever arrives merely for "shock" value, NO! Shock value *is* a form of expression, and therefore *is* protected by Freedom of Expression. The U.S. Constitution does *not* guarantee Freedom of Speech, as everybody likes to put it, but Freedom of Expression. An important distinction. But enough of the lesson on citizenship. You point to newspapers as an example. So be it. Here in Columbus, OH we have been reduced to one major daily newspaper. Of course, it you read the editorials, you're going to find what some people call "decent" langauage. Why? Because they cannot afford to get some people upset, as you obviously are. But their reasons are *not* simply to get the news out. This is a *major commercial* company. They can't afford any real controversy, otherwise they may drop both readers *and more importantly* advertisers. Now, on the other hand, we currently have 3 alternative weekly FidoNews 10-51 Page: 5 19 Dec 1993 newspapers. While they're out to make a buck, they are following a higher calling, reporting on things that the major paper doesn't want to report, such as the major bailout of Ameriflora '92. They also have no compunction about using four letter words in letters to the editor, news articles, and *even* editorials by the editors! Even the advertisers get into the act. "Seriously Headfuct", while being somewhat profane is also somewhat profound. >As editor(s) of Fidonews, you should consider resigning the position >due to malfeasance. Fidonet is supposed to be a community network. >Its official publication should also follow suit with its overall >appearance and content matter being much like that of a community >newspaper or publication. In short, acceptable to all age groups. The editors are not public officials, therefore malfeasance really doesn't apply. In my past example of the weekly newspapers, all three are "community" newspapers, available for FREE. You just walk into a bookstore, newstand, just about anywhere and pick one up. I haven't seen *any* indication that church groups, or anybody else for that matter are calling for them to "mend their ways". >... >As NC for my net, I am >required to "make Fidonews available" and that it may even "encourage >new sysops to join Fidonet." >... >If these types of articles are going to continue, I will >still "make Fidonews available" as required by Policy 4, however it >will be by File Request only and no copies will be available to users >off of my system. I will also discontinue collecting back issues as >I currently do. If that's the way you feel, then go ahead. I'd also make sure that you no longer read it, since it offends you so much. That's too bad, because I think you'll be missing out. As a side note, I reviewed A46 to see just what was so bad. Two four letter words. One, I know I've heard many a time from both parents, usually in a sentence as "You little ----!" The other one I didn't pick up until high school, at least as a curse. Does that make me demented? I don't think so, not for being called a little piece of defecation. (Does *THAT* make you feel better??) Overall, I certainly had no problem with them being in the issue. FidoNews 10-51 Page: 6 19 Dec 1993 My Viewpoint on the Editor's duties. By Brendan Keyport, 1:138/185 (SuperNet 43:1240/401, Worldnet 62:420/20) ========= Here is my ViewPoint on the editor's duties as relating to FIDONEWS: 1) It's their job, let them do it. Look at this: Without these folks, There may not even be a FIDONEWS to read. Imagine FIDONET without FIDONEWS... Because there is not a Global 'Required' Echo, there would be no sounding board for your viewpoint. Yes, some may argue that there are international SYSOP echos, but, do YOU carry ALL OF THEM? 2) The Editor(s) should only edit to meet up with accepted standards for publication. Accepted standards as far as I'm concerned is (based on my local newspapers' standards): a) No Obsenity (As Accepted by the public in general) b) Written as center to the issue as possible (No one sided articles) c) Make your point clearly. d) Assure spelling and grammer match the 6th Grade level. (6th grade level is where reading is easiest for most folks) e) NO CENSORSHIP, unless there is valid reasoning as outlined above, and in that case, only editing to meet guidelines. 3) Publish on a regular basis, and in a format all can read. This currently is being only done part-way... FidoNews has a great schedule, but some computer platforms cannot read/decompress LZH files. Use of ARC (the Fido Standard one) would be preferred. Comments are welcome, please write reply articles to FIDONEWS instead of my address. Thanks. Brendan ---------------------------------------------------------------------- ======================================================================== 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) FidoNews 10-51 Page: 7 19 Dec 1993 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 128 Church St. Kitchener, Ontario Canada N2H 2S4 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. 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 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- FidoNews 10-51 Page: 8 19 Dec 1993