F I D O N E W S -- Volume 15, Number 26 29 June 1998
+----------------------------+-----------------------------------------+
| The newsletter of the | ISSN 1198-4589 Published by: |
| FidoNet community | "FidoNews" |
| _ | 1-209-251-7529 [1:1/23] |
| / \ | |
| /|oo \ | |
| (_| /_) | |
| _`@/_ \ _ | |
| | | \ \\ | Editor: |
| | (*) | \ )) | Zorch Frezberg 1:205/1701 |
| |__U__| / \// | |
| _//|| _\ / | |
| (_/(_|(____/ | |
| (jm) | Newspapers should have no friends. |
| | -- JOSEPH PULITZER |
+----------------------------+-----------------------------------------+
| Submission address: FidoNews Editor 1:1/23 |
+----------------------------------------------------------------------+
| MORE addresses: |
| |
| submissions=> editor@fidonews.org |
| |
+----------------------------------------------------------------------+
| For information, copyrights, article submissions, |
| obtaining copies of FidoNews or the internet gateway FAQ |
| please refer to the end of this file. |
+----------------------------------------------------------------------+
And where do we go from here?
Table of Contents
1. EDITORIAL ................................................ 1
2. LETTERS TO THE EDITOR .................................... 2
3. ARTICLES ................................................. 4
ECHOLIST ................................................. 4
4. COLUMNS .................................................. 5
P.E.I potato nightmares .................................. 5
5. NOTICES .................................................. 7
Future History ........................................... 7
6. FIDONEWS PUBLIC-KEY ...................................... 8
FidoNews PGP Public-Key Listing .......................... 8
7. FIDONET BY INTERNET ...................................... 9
8. FIDONEWS INFORMATION ..................................... 12
FIDONEWS 15-26 Page 1 29 Jun 1998
=================================================================
EDITORIAL
=================================================================
I have had _one_ complaint that a submitted article via E-Mail has
been unreceived, even though the submittor has indicated that the
article has been sent twice now to the "editor@fidonews.org" address.
Contrary to popular opinion, the FidoNews web site is operated by a
third party, and not directly under the control of the Editor.
We have not ascertained if the problem is on this end or that end,
but....
If anyone else has had similar problems, please send me a note to
one of the other E-Mail addresses, or submit the article via netmail
so we can be sure to print what is actually received. The addresses
are listed below in the masthead information area at the end of the
issue.
I would appreciate the information, so that it can be forwarded to
Jim Barchuk, who operates the web site at his own expense.
And, if I haven't done this before, I'll thank Jim for his assistance
in making FidoNews available to the world.
In other news, the battle to wrest control of the EchoMail Listing
has now moved into high gear, with the RECC all but demanding that
the Z1C choose a particular system.
Odd how this came out immediately after the existance of other ELIST
systems was announced in the FidoNews.
One would think that a more prudent RECC would look at all of the
possibile systems before settling on one...or is this just another
jab at the ZEC, and the RECC refusal to work with him?
More odd that the RECC would claim that the ZEC is supposedly to
'moderate and present' to the RECC, but then turns around to lock
the ZEC out of discussions, then claim that the ZEC is not doing
his assigned duties.
But then, these are also the same people who present in their
erstwhile ultimatum to the Z1C that they wish the ELIST process to be
above politics, while using the same proposed system as a political
tool.
How so very interesting.
-zf-
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FIDONEWS 15-26 Page 2 29 Jun 1998
=================================================================
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
=================================================================
RESPONSE TO EDITORIAL IN FIDONEWS DATED 22 JUNE 1998
By Ben Hamilton, FidoNet 1:124/7008
This letter is in response to the editorial that was included in the
FidoNews issue on June 22, 1998.
Before I begin, I anticipate again being accused of selective
quoting. To remind the readers, my reasoning for such quoting is
simple. Since I have personal knowledge of only some of the comments
made by the editor, it is only proper that I respond to only those
comments. The items that I select will be the ones to which I have
personal knowledge. The editor is free to state whatever views he
likes on the other issues, regardless of accuracy, as far as I am
concerned, as I have no way to counter information that I myself have
not witnessed and verified.
In response to the editor's opinion that the RECs have posted the
results of the no-confidence vote, then refused to reveal the
particulars, I can only say this: The ZEC duties, as written by
Bob Kohl, approved by the RECs, and then recognized by the ZC, state
the "charges" quite clearly.
>> If the RECC concludes that the ZEC is not active, <<
>> ineffective in his/her job or is just not taking <<
>> care his/her responsibilities; they may take a <<
>> vote of no-confidence. <<
The RECC charges that the ZEC is inactive, ineffective in his job,
and is not taking care of his responsibilities.
These are the charges. They are very simple. The basis for them is
also simple. One just has to turn it around the other way. How
*has* he been active? How *has* he been effective? How *has* he
been taking care of his responsibilities?
As I must continually remind you because the editor keeps asking,
Kohl's first act after winning the ZEC election was to ask the RECC
how he should go about removing an NEC from office. He did remove
the NEC. He soon removed an NC. His REC quit, saying that he could
no longer stand working with Kohl. He disclosed some in-transit
netmail.
Are these the actions of a active, effective, responsible ZEC? Can
you honestly say "yes" in good conscience?
The editor states again and again that Kohl was the first person to
be elected to a zone position by a sysop-level vote. I urge all
sysops who voted for him to come forward! Let your NECs and RECs
know that you feel Kohl has been active, effective, and responsible
and how. Please be specific. And if a sysop-level vote is so great,
why was the recent R10C election only an NC-level vote?
FIDONEWS 15-26 Page 3 29 Jun 1998
The editor goes on to state that answers in "his own situation" are
"forthcoming." Answers? That would be refreshing.
Included in this issue of FidoNews should be an announcement that the
RECC has approved of Thom LaCosta as the new "EchoList." So much for
politics.
-Ben Hamilton
FidoNet 1:124/7008
Internet: ben.hamilton@compconn.net
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FIDONEWS 15-26 Page 4 29 Jun 1998
=================================================================
ARTICLES
=================================================================
24 Jun 98 18:48:36
By: Bob Seaborn, REC17 (1:17/1)
To: Bob Satti
Re: ECHOLIST
---------------------------------------------------------------------
cc: Bob Satti, Thom LaCosta
On behalf of the RECC, I would like to strongly suggest that you
assign Thom Lacosta, 1:261/1352, a zone level aka under the username
"Echolist" as soon as reasonably possible, and we further request
that you use the address 1:1/21 for the following reasons.
First, to differentiate Thom's elist software from that formerly
operated by Adrian Walker.
Secondly, to avoid any implication that the Echolist system is
operating under the auspices and control of anyone other than
yourself. Thom is adamant that he remain totally away from any
Fidonet politics and/or control and specific distribution systems,
and we, the RECC, feel this would bethe best choice, which is similar
to what is in place for FidoNews at 1:1/23.
And thirdly, Thom's echobase software is being strongly supported by
those it strives to serve, the moderators, with over 300
registrations to date (I am told).
Thank you for listening to us, and we do urge you to grant this
request as soon as possible.
Ken Wilson, REC12 signed with permission
David Calafrancesco, REC13 signed with permission
John Bodoni, REC14 signed with permission
Dean Lachand, REC15 signed with permission
Brian Bonfietti, REC16 signed with permission
Bob Seaborn, REC17 signed with permission
Jerry Gause, REC18 signed with permission
Ben Hamilton, REC19 signed with permission
___ InterMail 2.50
! Origin: REC17 (1:140/12.1)
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FIDONEWS 15-26 Page 5 29 Jun 1998
=================================================================
COLUMNS
=================================================================
Dear Editorbeing,
This article is submitted by Doc Logger who was still in a
fever delirium, having contracted strep throat somewhere in
the wilds of Cape Breton. Heath care advice in that part of
the world consists of "Drink more whiskey" which is their
universal panacea for ailments.
Roll da flic Zorch.....
Dear Reverend Visage,
I've just returned from a hellish holiday in the wilds of
Eastern Canada. What started out as a simple trip to deliver
some artwork and make free with a few lobsters ended up
being a "Vanishing Point" sort of dash for the Ontario
border. I would have returned sooner except for the fact
that when the nitro methanol finally melted the turbo
injection blades in Prince Edward Island, the mechanic who
worked at the Anne of Green Gables Lobster Take-Out & Auto
repairs had no clue how to fix it. Fortunately, the airport
experienced one of its three annual days when it wasn't
fogged in and they were able to deliver both the right part
and a competent mechanic to fix it. The mechanic, after he
noted the damage to the engine wondered if I might consider
lowering the nitro methanol mixture in the fuel just a
tadge. He completely understood my position however, when I
explained that shooting five meter, quad contrails of blue
flame was the only effective remedy for keeping harelipped
Quebecers from tail-gating.
It was 3am last night when I finally crossed the New
Brunswick border leading a procession of provincial and
federal police cars. It seems that it is illegal to make a
right turn on a red light in the backward eastern provinces
and the flashing lights and ugly demeanour of the pursuing
cops was clear evidence that they did not intend to allow my
crimes to go unpunished. Fortunately, they broke off the
chase when I entered Quebec because they'd all forgotten
their passports which would have permitted them entry into
the newly constituted Republic of Poutine. By the time I
reached Ontario my fever was holding at a steady 104 and the
odometer was locked at about twice that number.
I see that I didn't miss much in my absence. It seems that
Bob "Noted" Satti turned down Mangold's policy complaint
because Satti could find no proof that Kohl had revealed the
contents. Satti is entirely too stupid to grasp the obvious
or to poll any of the other possibilities on the mail path.
Since Kohl has been "elected" R10C, the odious little cretin
FIDONEWS 15-26 Page 6 29 Jun 1998
is back to posting his illiterate nonsense in the Z1C echo.
The good news is that he has garnered the support of Belcke
in his attempt to counter the actions of the RECC. Belcke is
not noted for the subtlety of his mind, nor for recognizing
inappropriate behaviour.
In SnoozNews, it is the height of hilarity to see that his
Zorchness ponder about questions asked and unanswered in his
editorial. Since I like to follow the bouncing ball as much
as the next person, here's a question for Zorch:
Did you vote twice in the ZEC election?
I can't wait to see His Zorchness weasel his way past an
answer to that question as he happily attempts to defend
poor dimwitted Kohl. I also note that his Zorchness sent
out a questionaire to a few sysops asking if their RECs
consulted them with respect to the censure vote which went
against Kohl. For the record, Region 12 was consulted by the
R12EC and the responses were universal in their support of
the RECC to censure Kohl.
In more Kohl news, I see that Kohl has suggested to Ruth
Argust that she is being excessively annoying by repeating
the true story about Kohl's pathetic attempts to get free
boarding for his horse. Our prayers and our edible underwear
should go out to Kohl in his hours of confusion.
That pretty well wraps the fish on this article. I don't
have a pithy quote this week because almost all of my
reading has been road signs. Which reminds me, what sort of
deranged and evil mind in New Brunswick dreamed up the idea
of roadside garbage pails? I mean, these aren't just little
buckets by the side of the road, hell no. They have their
own off ramp, on ramp, and ten kilometers worth of signage
warning you that you are fast approaching a road side
garbage pail. Now, you'd think that with the money they
could at least have tucked a washroom beside the garbage
pails, but no, just a forlorn garbage pail. Anyway, my
apologies to New Brunswick. It was me. I peed in your
garbage pails, damnit, and I'd do it again if I had to.
I must go Visage, the shipping company from Prince Edward
Island just phoned and I'll have to supervise the
installation of the 300 foot concrete lobster on your front
lawn. You'll appreciate its splendour when you get back and
thank me for it.
Regards,
Doc Logger,
Far Eastern Veteran,
Furlang Island, South Pacific
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FIDONEWS 15-26 Page 7 29 Jun 1998
=================================================================
NOTICES
=================================================================
Future History
3 Jul 1998
FidoNet European Convention (see issue #20 for details).
14 Sep 1998
Start of International BBS Week [thru 20 Sep 98].
22 Sep 1998
First anniversary of the FidoNews domain of www.fidonews.org.
1 Dec 1998
Fifteenth Anniversary of release of Fido version 1 by
Tom Jennings.
24 Jul 1999
XIII Pan American Games [through 8 Aug 99].
31 Dec 1999
Hogmanay, Scotland. The New Year that can't be missed.
1 Jan 2000
The 20th Century, C.E., is still taking place thru 31 Dec.
1 Jun 2000
EXPO 2000 World Exposition in Hannover (Germany) opens.
15 Sep 2000
Sydney (Australia) Summer Olympiad opens.
1 Jan 2001
This is the actual start of the new millennium, C.E.
-- If YOU have something which you would like to see in this
Future History, please send a note to the FidoNews Editor.
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FIDONEWS 15-26 Page 8 29 Jun 1998
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FIDONEWS PUBLIC-KEY
=================================================================
FidoNews PGP Public-Key Listing
[this must be copied out to a file starting at column 1 or
it won't process under PGP as a valid public-key]
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File-request FNEWSKEY from 1:1/23 [1:205/1701] or download it from
IKVHFoT! BBS at 1-209-251-7529 anytime Zone 1 ZMH at 300-9600+ V34.
The FidoNews key is also available on the FidoNews homepage listed
in the Masthead information.
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FIDONEWS 15-26 Page 9 29 Jun 1998
=================================================================
FIDONET BY INTERNET
=================================================================
This is a list of all FidoNet-related sites reported to the
FidoNews Editor as of this issue; see the notice at the end.
============
FidoNet:
Homepage http://www.fidonet.org
FidoNews http://www.fidonews.org [HTML]
http://209.77.228.66/fidonews.html [ASCII]
WWW sources http://www.scms.rgu.ac.uk/students/cs_yr94/lk/fido.html
FTSC page http://www.goldware.dk/ftsc
Echomail [pending]
WebRing http://ddi.digital.net/~cbaker84/fnetring.html [TFN]
General http://owls.com/~jerrys/fidonet.html
============
Zone 1: http://www.z1.fidonet.org
Region 10: http://www.psnw.com/~net205/region10.html
Region 11: http://oeonline.com/~garyg/region11/
Region 13: http://www.smalltalkband.com/st01000.htm
Region 14:
Region 15:
Region 16:
Region 17:
Region 18: http://techstop.pdn.net/fido/
Region 19: http://www.compconn.net
============
Zone 2: http://www.z2.fidonet.org
ZEC2:
Zone 2 Elist: http://www.fbone.ch/z2_elist/
Region 20: http://www.fidonet.pp.se (in Swedish)
Region 23: http://www.fido.dk (in Danish)
Region 24: http://www.swb.de/personal/flop/gatebau.html (German)
FIDONEWS 15-26 Page 10 29 Jun 1998
Region 25:
http://www.bsnet.co.uk/net2502/net/
Region 26: http://www.nemesis.ie
REC 26: http://www.nrgsys.com/orb
Region 27: http://telematique.org/ft/r27.htm
Region 29: http://www.rtfm.be/fidonet/ (French)
Region 30: http://www.fidonet.ch (Swiss?)
Region 33: http://www.fidoitalia.net (Italian)
Region 34: http://www.pobox.com/cnb/r34.htm (Spanish)
REC34: http://pobox.com/~chr
Region 36: http://www.geocities.com/SiliconValley/7207/
Region 38: http://public.st.carnet.hr/~blagi/bbs/adriam.html
Region 41: http://www.fidonet.gr (Greek/English)
Region 48: http://www.fidonet.org.pl
============
Zone 3: http://www.z3.fidonet.org
============
Zone 4: http://www.altern.org/zone4
Region 90: http://visitweb.com/fidonet
Net 903: http://www.playagrande.com/refugio
Net 904: http://members.tripod.com/~net904 (Spanish)
============
Zone 5: http://w3.eastcape.co.za/fidonet/index.htm
============
Zone 6: http://www.z6.fidonet.org
Region 65: http://www.cfido.com/fidonet/cfidochina.html (Chinese)
============
Pages listed above are as submitted to the FidoNews Editor,
and generally reflect Zone and Regional Web Page sites. If
no Regional site is submitted, the first Network page from
that Region is used in its place. Generally, Regional pages
should list access points to all Networks within the Region.
FIDONEWS 15-26 Page 11 29 Jun 1998
TCP/IP accessible nodes should submit their URL or Telnet
locations to the FidoNews Editor for a later publication.
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FIDONEWS 15-26 Page 12 29 Jun 1998
=================================================================
FIDONEWS INFORMATION
=================================================================
------- FIDONEWS MASTHEAD AND CONTACT INFORMATION -------
Editor: Zorch Frezberg
Editors Emeritii: Tom Jennings, Thom Henderson, Dale Lovell,
Vince Perriello, Tim Pozar, Sylvia Maxwell,
Donald Tees, Christopher Baker
"FidoNews Editor"
FidoNet 1:1/23
BBS 1-209-251-7529, 300/1200/2400/9600/V.34/V.90
more addresses:
Zorch Frezberg -- 1:205/1701, zorch@repairnet.com
zorch@qnis.net
zorch@kumr.lns.com
(Postal Service mailing address)
FidoNews Editor
P.O. Box 642
Fresno, CA 93709-0642
U.S.A.
voice: 1-209-446-9038 [voice mail = 'blind' numbers not returned]
------------------------------------------------------
FidoNews is 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 1998 Zorch Frezberg. All rights reserved. Duplication
and/or distribution permitted for noncommercial purposes only. For
use in other circumstances, please contact the original authors, or
the Editor.
=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=
OBTAINING COPIES: The most recent issue of FidoNews in electronic
form may be obtained from the FidoNews Editor via manual download or
file-request, or from various sites in the FidoNet and Internet.
PRINTED COPIES may be obtained by sending SASE to the above postal
address. File-request FIDONEWS for the current Issue. File-request
FNEWS for the current month in one archive. Or file-request specific
back Issue filenames in distribution format [FNEWSFnn.ZIP] for a
particular Issue. Monthly Volumes are available as FNWSmmmy.ZIP
FIDONEWS 15-26 Page 13 29 Jun 1998
where mmm = three letter month [JAN - DEC] and y = last digit of the
current year [8], i.e., FNWSJAN8.ZIP for all the Issues from Jan 98.
Annual volumes are available as FNEWSn.ZIP where n = the Volume number
1 - 15 for 1984 - 1998, respectively. Annual Volume archives range in
size from 48K to 1.4M.
INTERNET USERS: FidoNews is available via:
http://www.fidonews.org
http://www.fidonet.org/fidonews.htm
ftp://ftp.fidonet.org/pub/fidonet/fidonews/
ftp://ftp.aminet.org/pub/aminet/comm/fido/
ftp://ftp.irvbbs.com/fidonews/
ftp://ftp.nwstar.com/Fidonet/Fidonews
*=*=*
You may obtain an email subscription to FidoNews by sending email to:
jbarchuk@worldnet.att.net
with a Subject line of: subscribe fnews-edist
and no message in the message body. To remove your name from the email
distribution use a Subject line of: unsubscribe fnews-edist with no
message to the same address above.
*
You may retrieve current and previous Issues of FidoNews via FTPMail
by sending email to:
ftpmail@fidonews.org
with a Subject line of: help
and FTPMail will immediately send a reply containing details and
instructions. When you actually make a file request, FTPMail will
respond in three stages. You find a link for this process on
www.fidonews.org.
*=*=*
You can read the current FidoNews Issue in HTML format at:
http://www.fidonews.org
STAR SOURCE for ALL Past Issues via FTP and file-request -
Available for FReq from 1:396/1 or by anonymous FTP from:
ftp://ftp.sstar.com/fidonet/fnews/
Each yearly archive also contains a listing of the Table-of-Contents
for that year's issues. The total set is currently about 13 Megs.
FIDONEWS 15-26 Page 14 29 Jun 1998
=*=*=*=
The current week's FidoNews and the FidoNews public-key are now also
available almost immediately after publication on the FidoNews Editor
homepage on the World Wide Web at:
http://209.77.228.66/fidonews.html
There are also links there to jim barchuk's HTML FidoNews source and
to John Souvestre's FTP site for the archives. There is also an
email link for sending in an article as message text. Drop on over.
=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=
A PGP generated public-key is available for the FidoNews Editor from
1:1/23 [1:205/1701] by file-request for FNEWSKEY or by download from
IKVHFoT! BBS at 1-209-251-7529 as FIDONEWS.ASC in File Area X. It
is also posted twice a month into the PKEY_DROP Echo available on the
Zone 1 Echomail Backbone.
*=*=*=*=*
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 Editor, or file-requestable
from 1:1/23 [1:205/1701] as file "ARTSPEC.DOC". ALL Zone
Coordinators also have copies of ARTSPEC.DOC. Please read it.
"Fido", "FidoNet" and the dog-with-diskette are U.S. registered
trademarks of Tom Jennings, P.O. Box 410923, San Francisco, CA 94141,
and are used with permission.
"Disagreement is actually necessary,
or we'd all have to get in fights
or something to amuse ourselves
and create the requisite chaos."
-Tom Jennings
### -30- ###
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