F I D O N E W S Volume 15, Number 47 23 November 1998
+----------------------------+---------------------------------------+
| The newsletter of the | ISSN 1198-4589 Published by: |
| FidoNet community | "FidoNews" |
| _ | +27-41-515-913 [5:5/23] |
| / \ | |
| /|oo \ | |
| (_| /_) | |
| _`@/_ \ _ | |
| | | \ \\ | Editor: |
| | (*) | \ )) | Henk Wolsink 5:7104/2 |
| |__U__| / \// | |
| _//|| _\ / | |
| (_/(_|(____/ | |
| (jm) | Newspapers should have no friends. |
| | -- JOSEPH PULITZER |
+----------------------------+---------------------------------------+
| Submission address: FidoNews Editor 5:5/23 |
+--------------------------------------------------------------------+
| MORE addresses: |
| |
| submissions=> editor@fidonews.org |
| hwolsink@catpe.alt.za |
+--------------------------------------------------------------------+
| For information, copyrights, article submissions, |
| obtaining copies of FidoNews or the internet gateway FAQ |
| please refer to the end of this file. |
+--------------------------------------------------------------------+
Table of Contents
1. EDITORIAL ................................................ 1
2. GUEST EDITORIAL .......................................... 3
Interaction - Douglas Myers .............................. 3
3. ARTICLES ................................................. 4
Small things make up a lot ............................... 4
ECHOLADE - refreshing echomail. Hans Mangold explains ... 5
FTSC Elections ........................................... 6
Result of RC election in region 2:20 (Sweden) ............ 11
Santronics Software Announcement ......................... 12
4. COLUMNS .................................................. 14
What's Not Happening - Zorch Frezberg, Trustee ........... 14
5. NOTICES .................................................. 16
6. FIDONET BY INTERNET ...................................... 17
7. FIDONEWS INFORMATION ..................................... 20
FIDONEWS 15-47 Page 1 23 Nov 1998
=================================================================
EDITORIAL
=================================================================
Greetings,
What a week it was. Travelled to much, thank you!
On the subject of being disgusted, remember? :-)
Take this scenario:
The moderator of 'X' echo, has the password to amend and/or change
it's entry and whatever it needs to do, in order to keep said echo
on the backbone. Great, nothing difficult about that.
A new moderator is appointed and takes over the duties of said echo.
He/she does not have the password in order to sent the update, but
the update is politely done by the ex-moderator. Great, still not
difficult.
The new moderator wants to update the details (or whatever) him/her-
self but without the said password, is unable to do so. Now what?
So how does the newly appointed moderator obtain the current
password? One of two ways, as I see it. Great, nothing difficult
about that.
The new moderator contacts the ex-moderator and request said password
with no results. However, the list keeper ofcourse, knows the said
password by means of looking it up in the database, or such similar
setup and could pass it on to the newly appointed moderator OR, do
the changes for said moderator.
Whats the moral of the story? Let me explain as I see it:
The list keeper has NO right to -
a. supply the new moderator the current password or
b. change the password or
c. change details of the echo with permission of the password
holder. ie. Ex-moderator in the above scenario.
BUT, the details have been changed, now what?
What it means, is that the list keeping system is no longer 'secure'
and can be changed at will by any one and sundry.
This is a sad state affairs for FidoNet, since echomail is one item,
which keeps FidoNet allive and well!
Secrecy has been violated! Get rid of the echolist keeping system.
It's useless with what has happened recently!
Great, so what is so difficult keeping a password secret?
I know, there will be readers who will e-mail/netmail me about the
bove, but remember, if the shoe fits, wear it.
FIDONEWS 15-47 Page 2 23 Nov 1998
Should commercial advertising be allowed in FidoNews? YES and NO.
Let me explain YES and NO.
YES - if it is related to BBS's and/or FidoNet or both, I will allow
it.
NO - if it has nothing to do with either of the above, simple.
If you have a new version or new product which does something for
BBS's or FidoNet, it can be advertised in FidoNews.
If you have a web site which promotes FidoNet, it may advertised
in FidoNews. If said web site promotes porno, stay away, it will not
be allowed in FidoNews. I'm sure you get my meaning. ;-)
Happy reading,
-----------------------------------------------------------------
FIDONEWS 15-47 Page 3 23 Nov 1998
=================================================================
GUEST EDITORIAL
=================================================================
Interaction - Douglas Myers
INTERACTION
Doug Myers
I'd like to welcome Bob Satti back to the Z1C echo. Bob, you're
actually giving better than you're getting right now - keep up the
interaction. What's important about your interaction is the
debunking effect it has. Folks really want to know what's going on
with Fido, and the imagination will readily supply any details
necessary to fill in the picture. When you are remote, the echoes
fill with stories of vast conspiracies, awesome power struggles, and
plots to keep the proletariat sysops firmly ground beneath the heel.
On the other hand, it was kinda good for this individual - who isn't
otherwise "in the know" - to hear that Bob Kohl's denials just
weren't that important to you, that every message that crosses your
system isn't made public because it's just too damned much trouble,
and that "noted" isn't really a ritual damnation.
As for our own behavior... well, I can't control it any more than
you control all things in Fidonet.
Clay Tannacore will continue to believe you when you say Kohl
resigned, then have doubts when Kohl denies it. Perhaps you could
dig up the archives to satisfy him, but you'll continue to be in the
position of having the authority to do what you want so long as you
justify it to him and don't set any precedents.
Lynn Gypson will continue to want more input than you have to give.
She's not a troublemaker, but she does think you have more time and
resources than any one guy could muster in a lifetime.
Darrell Slater will continue to ask you to resign. There's nothing
you can do about it - you're at the top of a structure he doesn't
believe in and empowered by a policy he doesn't think is legitimate.
You would need to fire the RCC and void Policy 4 to satisfy him, and
I doubt that this is within your power.
And folks will continue to demand leadership while insisting that
you're no more than a nodelist clerk. It's the nature of the family.
--
| Fidonet: Douglas Myers 1:270/720@fidonet.org
| Internet: doug@mdtnbbs.com
| Standard disclaimer: The views of this user are strictly his own.
| From Mdtn_BBS @mdtnbbs.com [ In the Heart of Three Mile Island ]
-----------------------------------------------------------------
FIDONEWS 15-47 Page 4 23 Nov 1998
=================================================================
ARTICLES
=================================================================
Small things make up a lot
by Adriano Garcia*, from Uberaba/MG, Brazil (1:396/45.19)
Since my last article on FidoNews (in fact it was a guest editorial)
I've been getting a lot of feedback of Fido folks discussing the
issues of promoting the net and the BBSing hobby in general. So
I decided to repeat the great effort - and pleasure - of writing
an article discussing the trends that go with this hobby of ours.
There is a lot of discouraged people out there. And there's plenty
of reasons for that and one have just to read the sysop conferences
to find them out. Every single good cause that is brought up is
carefully taken down by old fashioned rivalry. Now that I've given
up on talking about the ever renewing fights between sysops, now
I'm taking a broader view to encompass promoting BBSes in general.
Not long ago, I've subscribed to the PROMOTE_BBS echo. When I did
it, I thought that BBSing really needs to be promoted if we want
to keep it alive for ourselves in the future. I won't dare to say
that we have to keep it to ours sons and grandsons because I'm
still 24 <g> and also because, in this ever changing world of
online connection, it just may be to 'dreamy' now.
Now back to the real world. When I got my first packet of
PROMOTE_BBS (in fact a rescanned one), all I could see was a bunch
of new ideas brought down by people discussing - guess? - elections
for a so-called entity designed to help promoting BBSes. Now what?
Do we need to setup a political chain just to say what we have to
do to promote the system we know so well? How would it work on
a local situation? Will that lonely sysop from Troy, PA, have to
wait for a decision from a Board of Directors to start a local
campaign according to the objectives of the council?
Why do we have to centralize and build up a chain of command? Why
don't people just get together on local chapters to promote the
system on the local level and start a forum to discuss and
share their experiences?
Somebody told me once that humans are political by nature. Maybe he
told me that because politics replaced physical violence with the
violence of words. I cannot understand what is the difference between
killing somebody with words or with a gun. They both simbolize the
same kind of action.
As happens with pennies and relationships, small pieces make up
a lot sometimes, mainly because they are so small that they aren't
accounted for until they become big things. But, many times, big
things are also very hard to face and when they get bigger they
are harder to ignore and destroy.
FIDONEWS 15-47 Page 5 23 Nov 1998
With this kind of actions between people that were supposed to be
allies, we are just creating those small things that will keep many
away from BBSing and from FidoNet.
---------------------------------------------------------------------
* Adriano Garcia is a Brazilian journalist, living in Uberaba, Brazil
and has been a sysop (former 4:801/53) from 1992 to 1994.
-----------------------------------------------------------------
ECHOLADE - refreshing echomail. Hans Mangold explains the Exodus
. -- -- -- -- -- ECHOLADE - -- -- -- -- .
| A refreshing extract from Fido's echoes |
| Purloined without permission by D Myers |
` -- -- -- -- -- -- - -- -- -- -- -- -- '
In this response to Bob Short, Hans Mangold counters the theory that
the style of posting in FN_SYSOP is responsible for the exodus of
Fidonet Sysops.
-- -- --
BS> If the majority of departing fido sysops feel as I do about the
BS> sort of BS that goes on in this echo (and a few others, to be
BS> fair), I'd wager this was a contributing factor in their
BS> decision to leave the net.
Bob, please -- whatever happens in this echo, Z1C, or elsewhere,
makes little difference. Open your eyes and look at the traffic in
the once popular echoes, like Genealogy, once 550 and more messages
per day, now 2.3 (yes, two-point-three). And that was/is a well
moderated echo!
My BBS was once upon a time the busiest in our entire Region; heck,
I'm sure there were times (days, weeks) when more echomail from BBS
callers originated here than anywhere else in Zone 1. Today, Nov.
17, 1998, my system is the only BBS left in our city. With all of
the promotions I've done here, including feature articles in the
Daily Newspaper, Fido was/is very well known around here -- but the
thousands of people who once enjoyed Fido locally prefer the
internet today. As Yogi Berra would have said: if people don't want
to call my BBS, there's nothing I can do to stop them.
Even having an "exclusive" in our fair city now, I'm down to two or
three BBS callers per day, four on a rainy day. That is the reason
many SysOps pull the plug -- not seeing any purpose anymore to all
of the work that goes into running a system.
So, please, don't bother blaming FN_SYSOP for the decline in Fidonet
-- BBS callers don't have access and SysOps suit themselves -- some
participate, others just lurk, and the majority doesn't waste HD
space for the traffic. The most recent FN_SYSOP moderator election
produced 57 votes. 57 -- for an _international_ sysop echo. Think
about it. The annual election was a chance for change -- 10 votes
FIDONEWS 15-47 Page 6 23 Nov 1998
were cast for the former moderator, and 47 for other candidates --
only 47 wanted change! =If= your philosophy had any merit, e.g.
blaming FN_SYSOP for disappearing nodes, I'm sure more than 47 out
of (almost) 20,000 nodes would have sent a clear signal. Instead,
the signal was one of "who cares about FN_SYSOP"..... :-(
No use crying over spilled milk and lingering in the past. Surely
Fidonet will sort itself out as time progresses; some of us have
Fido in our blood and we'll stick around for a long time to come --
for our own pleasure more so than for the pleasure of (non-existent)
BBS callers. Others see it as a waste of time and will drop out --
I mean, Fido once upon a time was a great resource for technical
information. Now, look at it -- once popular echoes like HS_MODEMS
(with Rick Collins as excellent moderator) don't have one single
message for =weeks=. Not a pretty picture all around, and no easy
solutions.
Sysops have always come and gone in the past; only difference today
is that it is no longer the ambition of every kid with a PC in town
to become a sysop when ICQ has so much more to offer to the "instant
society". The state of FN_SYSOP has little influence on existing
nodes; guess Randy Bush was right after all.
--
| Fidonet: Douglas Myers 1:270/720@fidonet.org
| Internet: doug@mdtnbbs.com
| Standard disclaimer: The views of this user are strictly his own.
| From Mdtn_BBS @mdtnbbs.com [ In the Heart of Three Mile Island ]
-----------------------------------------------------------------
FTSC Elections
by Goran Eriksson, 2:201/505, get@get.pp.se
Odinn Sorensen has informed us that he wants step down as FTSC
Administrator as soon as another person is ready to take over that
office.
Furthermore, a number of FTSC Standing Members have resigned.
To fill these vacancies, there will be two separate elections:
1. An election for new Standing Members.
Number of positions to be filled:
Not a definite number. According to FTA-1001 the FTSC shall
have no less than 7 and no more than 30 members. Therefore a
minimum of 0 and a maximum of 11 new Standing Members may be
appointed.
Eligibility for appointment:
See FTA-1001.
Nominations:
Special nominating committees are not planned at this time.
Anyone wishing to be nominated or wishing to nominate someone
should therefore contact a FidoNet RC or REC of their own
FIDONEWS 15-47 Page 7 23 Nov 1998
choice, soliciting support for the nomination. The nomination
period starts immediately and ends on 1998-12-10 at 24:00 UTC.
RC's and REC's wishing to nominate someone should do so to the
election administrator. RC's and REC's are encouraged to send
their nominations by crash mail. If they choose to use routed
netmail they do so on their own risk. RC's and REC's may
nominate multiple candidates. As well from inside their
respective regions as from outside. The election administrator
shall no later than 1998-12-11 at 24:00 UTC publish a list of
the received valid nominations in the FTSC_PUBLIC echomail
conference. The election administrator shall also send a copy
of this list to each nodelisted RC and REC.
Votes:
Only votes from nodelisted RC's and REC's will be accepted
provided that they are received by the election administrator
no earlier than 1998-12-11 at 00:00 UTC and no later than
1998-12-31 at 24:00 UTC. RC's and REC's are encouraged to send
their votes by crash mail. If they choose to use routed netmail
they do so on their own risk. Votes for Standing Members should
indicate what candidates each voter is supporting. Only those
candidates obtaining support from more than 50 % of the total
number of RC's and REC's casting valid votes will be considered
successfull. Successfull candidates will be appointed according
to the total number of supportive votes they have received. The
one with the highest number of supportive votes will be
appointed first etc. If more than one successfull candidate
compete for the last Standing Member position to be filled
(making the total number of FTSC members equal to 30) with the
same number of supportive votes, the ZCC will be requested to
appoint theat Standing Member from among theses competing
successfull candidates. If the ZCC has not communicated it's
decision in the FTSC_PUBLIC echomail conference before
1999-01-31 at 24:00 UTC, that last position will remain
unfilled.
Results:
The election administrator shall publish the election result in
the FTSC_PUBLIC echomail conference no later than on 1999-01-07
at 24:00 UTC. In case of a tie about the last position to be
filled this result may be supplemented by the ZCC decision as
above no later than 1999-01-31 at 24:00 UTC.
Term of office:
Elected candidates will be appointed for a period that ends
2000-09-30.
2. An election for a new FTSC Administrator.
Number of positions to be filled:
1
Responsibilities:
See FTA-1001.
Elegibility for appointment:
See FTA-1001.
Nominations:
Anyone wishing to be nominated or wishing to nominate someone
should therefore contact a current FTSC Standing Member (who
FIDONEWS 15-47 Page 8 23 Nov 1998
has not resigned) of their own choice, soliciting support for
the nomination. The nomination period starts immediately and
ends on 1998-12-10 at 24:00 UTC. FTSC Standing Members wishing
to nominate someone should do so to the election administrator.
FTSC Standing Members area encouraged to send their nominations
by crash mail. If they choose to use routed netmail they do so
on their own risk. FTSC Standing Members may nominate multiple
candidates. The election administrator shall no later than
1998-12-11 at 24:00 UTC publish a list of the received valid
nominations in the FTSC_PUBLIC echomail conference. The
election administrator shall also send a copy of this list to
each current Standing Member of the FTSC.
Votes:
Only votes from FTSC Standing Members as per current version of
FTA-1003 who have not resigned from their position will be
accepted provided that they are received by the election
administrator no earlier than 1998-12-11 at 00:00 UTC and no
later than 1998-12-31 at 24:00 UTC. FTSC Standing Members are
encouraged to send their votes by crash mail. If they choose to
use routed netmail they do so on their own risk.
Results:
The election administrator shall publish the election result in
the FTSC_PUBLIC echomail conference no later than 1999-01-07 at
24:00 UTC.
Term of office:
The elected candidate will be appointed for a period that ends
2002-12-31.
As election administrator for both elections, Mario Mure' has been
appointed.
FidoNet address: Mario Mure', 2:335/533
Internet address: mure@sistemia.it
"Nodelisted RC" is interpreted as anyone in the FidoNet nodelist
(current on 1998-12-11) shown as the operator of a system with the
Region keyword as per FTS-5.
"Nodelisted REC" is interpreted as the first person in the FidoNet
nodelist (current on 1998-12-11) identified as the REC of her/his
region. Identification by a REC user flag in the nodelist is the
preferred way for identification.
If any single person occupies both the RC and the REC position for
her/his region, she/he is entitled to two votes.
FTA documents can be file requested from 2:236/77 or downloaded from
http://www.goldware.dk/ftsc. They can also be found on a number of
FidoNet systems as well as on a number of ftp and web servers
worldwide.
The more important sections from FTA-1001 and FTA-1003 are reproduced
below.
From FTA-1001:
FIDONEWS 15-47 Page 9 23 Nov 1998
3.1 FTSC Administrator
----------------------
The FTSC administrator is appointed for a four year renewable term.
To be eligible for appointment, an individual must be a Fidonet
node, be actively involved in Fidonet, though not necessarily in a
programming context, and should have proven organizational skills.
A candidate need not be a member of the FTSC. It is recommended
that a successful candidate not carry any *C or *EC
responsibilities during the term of office.
A candidate for FTSC Administrator may be nominated by any Standing
Member.
The FTSC Administrator is appointed on the basis of a vote by all
Standing Members who are defined by the then-current edition of
FTA-1003 (FTSC Membership List). A successful candidate must
receive approval by at least a plurality of votes.
Publication of the nominations and the voting procedure shall take
place openly in the FTSC_PUBLIC echo, and voting shall close three
weeks after publication of the vote. Votes shall be by netmail
ballot to an independent enumerator.
Responsibilities:
1. Ensuring FTSC Mandate is adhered to.
2. Facilitating communications links between members.
3. Maintaining document distribution links.
4. Coordinating all membership nominations and voting.
5. Developing Working Groups as required.
6. Ensuring that the FTSC seeks, accepts and responds to public
input.
7. Assigning FSP numbers to new Standards Proposals.
3.2 FTSC Standing Members
-------------------------
FTSC members are appointed for a two year renewable term. [50 % of
appointments on initial formation of the FTSC shall be for a 3 year
renewable term, to ensure continuity of the Committee on expiry of
the terms.]
To be selected as a FTSC member, an individual must be a Fidonet
node, and should be actively involved in Fidonet. Examples include
having put out a Fidonet-related product or having updated a
product in the preceding two years, or having experience as a
Coordinator, Echomail Coordinator or mail or file Hub.
Standing members may be nominated Fidonet-wide by all of the
following methods:
1. Any RC or REC.
2. A nominating committee established for the purpose by the FTSC.
FIDONEWS 15-47 Page 10 23 Nov 1998
3. A nominating committee established for the purpose by the ZCC.
A nominating committee may not consist of any current member or
officer of the FTSC.
Standing members are appointed on the basis of a vote by all RCs
and RECs who are nodelisted as holding those positions at the time
the nominations are published. A successful candidate must receive
approval by a majority of votes.
Publication of the nomination and the voting procedure, and posting
of RC and REC votes, shall take place openly in the FTSC_PUBLIC
echo, and voting shall close three weeks after publication of the
vote.
From FTA-1003 (indications as to what members have resigned have been
added):
1. FTSC Administrator
---------------------
Odinn Sorensen, 2:236/77, appointed until 01 Dec 2001.
2. FTSC Standing Members
------------------------
Name Node What Appointed until
---------------------------------------------------------
Richard Bash 1:231/45 01 Oct 1999 Resigned
Ron Bemis 1:124/1113 01 Oct 1999
Mike Bilow 1:323/107 FP-OS/2 01 Oct 2000
Craig Box 3:774/950 01 Oct 2000 Resigned
Tobias Burchhardt 2:2448/400 FastEcho 01 Oct 2000
Goran Eriksson 2:201/505 01 Oct 1999
Bjorn Felten 2:203/208 01 Oct 1999
Zorch Frezberg 1:205/0 01 Oct 1999
Joaquim Homrighausen 2:201/330 Frodo 01 Oct 2000
Rune Johansen 2:210/20 01 Oct 2000 Resigned
Peter Karlsson 2:206/221 Announcer 01 Oct 1999
Andreas Klein 2:2480/47 Imail 01 Oct 2000
Michael McCabe 1:297/11 FNS 01 Oct 1999
Gary Price 1:3607/26 TriBBS 01 Oct 1999
Carlos Fernandez Sanz 2:341/70 CFRoute 01 Oct 2000
Tom Schlangen 2:2450/10 BT-XE 01 Oct 2000 Resigned
Benjamin Schollnick 1:2613/477 QuickBBS 01 Oct 2000
Odinn Sorensen 2:236/77 GoldED 01 Oct 2000
Jason Steck 1:285/424 Jmail 01 Oct 1999
Robert Szarka 1:320/42 WaterGate 01 Oct 2000
Francois Thunus 2:270/25 01 Oct 1999 Resigned
Colin Turner 2:443/13 01 Oct 1999
Thomas Waldmann 2:2474/400 BT-XE 01 Oct 2000
Mats Wallin 2:201/329 FDAPX 01 Oct 2000
Any assistance in bringing this message to the attention of all
FIDONEWS 15-47 Page 11 23 Nov 1998
concerned/interested parties would be appreciated. Cross-posting in
any relevant echomail conference is encouraged.
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Result of RC election in region 2:20
by Peter Karlsson, 2:206/221.0, pk@abc.se
We've had an election for the RC position, following the procedure set
forth in the document "FidoNet Zone 2 document NC_ELECT.Z2 V1.0".
It seems, however, that no-one remember to notify FidoNews, so here it
is, the official election statement from the election presider
(translated into English by me):
Forwarded (from: R20_KANDIDAT) (translated)
Originally from Hakan Andersson (2:201/600).
Well, then the RC election is over for this time.
The election superviser, Henrik O A Barkman (2:205/0), has gone
through all the data for the whole election, and has acknowledged the
election results.
Thomas Tydal (2:206/224), has with his total of 16 votes (33.33%) won
this election, and thus been appointed the new regional coordinator
(RC) for region 20.
Congratulations to Thomas Tydal!
I thank the superviser, Henrik O A Barkman, for his contribution to
this election.
//Hakan Andersson - Election presidier
___
- Origin: AreaRobot (2:201/600)
And here is the result summary (translated):
=== Summary of: RC98
=== RC98 (Pvt) 1998.10.12 -> 1998.10.25 [(null)]
Here is the result of the election of region coordinator (RC)
in FidoNet region 20, zone 2, 1998:
Candidate Votes
--------- -----
1. Thomas Tydal .......... Total: 16
2. Bjorn Poppe ........... Total: 11
3. Per Lundberg .......... Total: 10
4. Rasmus Kjellman ....... Total: 8
5. Johan Segernas ........ Total: 3
FIDONEWS 15-47 Page 12 23 Nov 1998
-----------------------------------------------------------------
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Santronics Software Announces the purchase of Mustang Software's,
Wildcat! BBS Product Line
Homestead, Florida, November 19, 1998 - Santronics Software, Inc., a
leading developer of automated mail distribution software today
announces the purchase of the Wildcat! Interactive Net Server
(WINServer) for Windows 95/NT/98 "Intranet" products, including all
add-on modules, Wildcat! DOS and add-on modules, and Offline Xpress
from Mustang Software, Inc.
These popular and powerful 32 bit Windows and DOS based online service
software products have been in the market for over 12 years with a
solid reputation for excellent engineering and reliable design. To
date Mustang's products have accumulated over 50,000 licensed
customers worldwide.
"Wildcat! was an outstanding foundation for the creation of a great
company," said Jim Harrer, president and chief executive officer of
Mustang Software. "Based on the rapid growth of the Internet Message
Center as the leading e-mail management solution, the time has come to
transition Wildcat! Santronics will provide the support and
development necessary to continue the strong Wildcat! tradition for
present and future customers worldwide."
Santronics Software is renowned for the quality and support of its
flagship product, Platinum Xpress (PX). PX is an popular add-on module
to the WINServer system. Santronics is a qualified and knowledgeable
developer of WINServer software and the current Wildcat! customer base
is more than familiar with Santronics' excellent reputation.
"We believe in Wildcat! We believe we can take it to the next level
and continue to make it a top Internet product. As an organization, we
will focus on Wildcat!'s development and provide the support and total
commitment the product needs to reach this goal," said Hector Santos,
president and R&D Director of Santronics Software.
Effective immediately, Santronics plans a complete review of the
WINServer product line and to provide the customer base a renewed
commitment to Wildcat! by developing new features into the system and
by focusing on customer input for the direction of the product line.
"The Internet is rapidly changing. Everyone has a basic idea of what
they want to do but the solutions come in many pieces. Santronics
wants to tell the world that WINServer is an ideal solution for the
Internet with features unique to the market," said Mr. Santos.
Santronics plans to integrate the company's current Silver Xpress
Offline Mail System with the Offline Xpress for Windows version
(OLX/Win). The end result will be a powerful new "all purpose"
offline Mail Reader for Windows. Silver Xpress will remain available
as a DOS based offline mail reader.
FIDONEWS 15-47 Page 13 23 Nov 1998
Effective immediately, all sales questions or inquiries about this
purchase or Wildcat!, WINServer, etc. should be directed to Andrea
Santos, Marketing Director at Santronics, at 305-248-3204 or
asantos@santronics.com.
About Santronics Software, Inc.
Santronics Software, Inc. provides powerful, interactive, and
automated solutions in the communications and Internet world.
Santronics Software's corporate headquarters is located at 15600
SW 288 St., Suite 306, Homestead, Florida, 33033. Inquiries can be
addressed via voice, 305-248-3204; fax, 305-248-3638; and e-mail,
sales@santronics.com; or by visiting Santronics Software on the web at
http://www.santronics.com. About Mustang Software, Inc.
Mustang Software, Inc. delivers creative e-mail management solutions
through a combination of the company's unique Web Essentials tools,
its unparalleled e-mail management experience and expertise and world-
class alliance partnerships. Mustang's Web Essentials line of tools
includes the award-winning Internet Message Center, ListCaster and
FileCenter.
Mustang Software's corporate headquarters is located at 6200 Lake Ming
Road, Bakersfield, Calif., 93306. Inquiries can be addressed via
voice, 805-873-2500; fax, 805-873-2599; and e-mail, info@mustang.com,
or by visiting Mustang Software on the web at http://www.mustang.com.
Mustang Software, Inc. is a public company, traded on NASDAQ under the
symbol MSTGC.
ANDREA SANTOS
asantos@santronics.com
http://www.santronics.com
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FIDONEWS 15-47 Page 14 23 Nov 1998
=================================================================
COLUMNS
=================================================================
What's Not Happening - Zorch Frezberg, Trustee
.-- -- -- -- -- -- WHAT'S NOT HAPPENING -- -- -- -- -- --.
| There isn't always something happening on Fidonet, but |
| there's always something which isn't happening. This |
| column is dedicated to the lost causes which make Fido |
| what it isn't today. Published semi-occasionally... |
`-- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --'
Douglas Myers 1:270/720 doug@mdtnbbs.com
IN ZORCH WE TRUST...
While most Fidonet echoes are considered the property of their
listed moderator for administrative purposes, most moderators
consider themselves stewards of their echo for the participants.
FN_SYSOP takes this concept one step further, explicitly naming the
Fidonet Sysops as owners of the echo, and mandating an annual
election of the moderator. The sysops of FN_SYSOP recently elected
Rob Ferrara as the new moderator, replacing Zorch Frezberg as the
previous moderator.
That's what happened... now for what didn't happen.
One of the major responsibilities of a moderator is to maintain an
accurate listing with the Echolist Robot. Rob was never given the
password to accomplish this himself... instead, Zorch Frezberg
updated the listing, but retained the password unto himself.
Realizing that he was locked out of the future capability of
discharging his obligation without the password, Rob Ferrara
corresponded with Thom LaCosta (the Echolist Robot Keeper)
explaining the situation and requesting that the password be changed
to one of his choosing. Thom, considering the recent election as
sufficient proof that Rob is the legitimate moderator, made that
change.
Thom immediately came under fire for this gross application of common
sense. Zorch Frezberg revealed a secret "trusteeship," - previously
unknown to all but himself, Bob Moravsik, and Bob Kohl - which
mandated that Zorch should retain the password in trust for Rob.
Complicating this claim is the fact that such an arrangement is not
written into the echo rules and that no such trusteeship was known
to the sysops of the echo either before or during the vote.
Nonetheless, Thom LaCosta is characterized as dishonest by Zorch,
Bob, and Bob for changing the password and thwarting the (as yet
unrevealed) purpose of the "trusteeship."
Is there any substance to the claim that the password should be held
in trust? Apparently, such an arrangement existed in the past.
FN_SYSOP was on the backbone for years before it became common to
elist echoes. In the initial years when FN_SYSOP was listed, the
moderator then didn't wish to maintain the listing, so it was
FIDONEWS 15-47 Page 15 23 Nov 1998
handled by another individual. It's further apparent that Bob
Morasvik held the password through the terms of several moderators
without revealing it to them, but then losing it after he revealed
it to another individual. Ironically, no other individual held the
password while Zorch Frezberg was moderator.
But did these arrangements constitute a trust? There's no record of
the matter ever being discussed among the sysops, presumably the
group who would grant such a trust. There's certainly nothing
written in the echo rules or any other public record. Furthermore,
the sysops in the echo seem to overwhelmingly reject the idea that
the password should be withheld from the elected moderator.
And Rob Ferrara is adamant that he only share the password with an
individual of his choosing. A cursory look at those who are
advocating the "trusteeship" would seem to lend credibility to his
attitude:
Zorch Frezberg - Zorch is the moderator who was just voted out of
office, which might hint at a lack of trust by the sysops in the
echo. Zorch is accused of several irregularities in the past two
years, including the filing of a frivolous policy complaint and
voting multiple times in the last ZEC election (admittedly, this
latter is unproven - or at least unpersued, but widely believed).
Is this the kind of person the sysops would want as a "trustee?"
Bob Morasvik - Bob is widely known for his "legal" assumption of
echoes. His past practice is to target echoes which are about to
expire from the elist, and then flood the robot with elist entries
in the hope that the current moderator will fail to update in time.
Among his "successes" are the administrative echoes in his region,
now unused as the regional officers were forced to list alternate
echoes for regional conversation. Is this "trustee" material?
Bob Kohl - This Bob resigned under pressure as Regional Coordinator.
He is most remembered for revealing in-transit netmail and driving
one of the nets in his region to relocate to another region. He was
removed as Zone Echomail Coordinator by the Zone Coordinator at the
request of the Regional Echomail Coordinators. Is this "trustee"
material?
The above three individuals are still demanding that Thom LaCosta
re-establish the old password and endorse the "trusteeship," but so
far this is still What's Not Happening.
--
| Fidonet: Douglas Myers 1:270/720@fidonet.org
| Internet: doug@mdtnbbs.com
| Standard disclaimer: The views of this user are strictly his own.
| From Mdtn_BBS @mdtnbbs.com [ In the Heart of Three Mile Island ]
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FIDONEWS 15-47 Page 16 23 Nov 1998
=================================================================
NOTICES
=================================================================
Future History
23 Nov 1998
35th Anniversary of Doctor Who.
1 Dec 1998
Fifteenth Anniversary of release of Fido version 1 by
Tom Jennings.
16 Feb 1999
13th Anniversary of the introduction of EchoMail by Jeff Rush.
12 May 1999
12th Anniversary of Fido Operations in Zone 4;
10th Anniversary of the creation of FidoNet Zone 4.
24 Jul 1999
XIII Pan American Games [through 8 Aug 99].
9 Jun 1999
Tenth Anniversary of the adoption of FidoNet Policy 4.07.
10 Sep 1999
10th anniversary of Zone 5 operations.
26 Oct 1999
Thirty years from release Abbey Road album by the Beatles.
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.
21 Sep 2000
10 years of FidoNet in +7 (xUSSR)
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 15-47 Page 17 23 Nov 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://travel.to/fidonet/
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
http://www.trak-one.co.uk/foti
List servers:
http://www.onelist.com/subscribe.cgi/fidonet-discussion
============
Zone 1: http://www.z1.fidonet.org
Region 10: http://www.psnw.com/~net205/region10.html
Region 11: http://oeonline.com/~garyg/region11/
Region 17: http://www.nwstar.com/~region17/
Region 18: http://techshop.pdn.net/fido/
Region 19: http://www.compconn.net/r19
Zone 1 Elist http://www.baltimoremd.com/elist/
============
Zone 2: http://www.z2.fidonet.org
ZEC2:
Zone 2 Elist: http://www.fbone.ch/echolist/
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)
Fido-IP: http://home.nrh.de/~lbehet/fido (English/German)
Region 25: http://www.bsnet.co.uk/net2502/net/
Region 26: http://www.nemesis.ie
REC 26: http://www.nrgsys.com/orb
FIDONEWS 15-47 Page 18 23 Nov 1998
Region 27: http://telematique.org/ft/r27.htm
Region 29: http://www.rtfm.be/fidonet/ (French)
Region 30: http://www.fidonet.ch (German)
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 42: http://www.fido.cz
Region 48: http://www.fidonet.org.pl
Region 50: http://www.fido7.com/ (Russian)
Net 5010: http://fido.tu-chel.ac.ru/ (Russian)
Net 5015: http://www.fido.nnov.ru/ (Russian)
Net 5030: http://kenga.ru/fido/ (Russian & English)
Net 5073: http://people.weekend.ru/soa/ (Russian)
============
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://www.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 15-47 Page 19 23 Nov 1998
TCP/IP accessible node access information should be submitted
to the FidoNews Editor for inclusion in their Region or Zone.
-----------oOo-------------
Fidonet Via Internet Hubs
Node# | Operator | Facilities (*) | Speed | Basic Rate
-----------+-------------------+----------------+-------+-----------
1:12/12 | Ken Wilson | FTP | T1 | $24mo.
1:13/25 | Jim Balcom | FTP | 56k | $20mo.
1:124/7008 | Ben Hamilton |FTP,VMoT,F2I,UUE| 64k | $10/$20mo.
1:140/12 | Bob Seaborn | FTP | T1 | $5/$20
1:270/101 | George Peace | FTP | T1 | $30mo.
1:271/140 | Tom Barstow | F2I | ??? | $2mo.
1:275/1 | Joshua Ecklund | UUE,F2I | 28.8 | $10/yr.
1:280/169 | Brian Greenstreet | FTP | 33.6 | $2mo.
1:2401/305 | Peter Rocca | FTP,UUE | T1 | unkn
1:2424/10 | Alec Grynspan | FTP,VMoT | T1 | $1mo.
1:2424/3121| Earl Clark | UUE | 33.6 | n/c
1:2604/104 | Jim Mclaughlin | FTP,VMoT,UUE | 33.6 | $1mo.
1:2624/306 | D. Calafrancesco | VFOS | 33.6 | $15yr.
1:345/0 | Todd Cochrane | FTP | T1 | n/c
1:346/250 | Aran Spence | FTP,UUE | T1 | $10mo.
1:342/1022 | Steve Steffler | UUE,F2I | 33.6 | n/c
1:3651/9 | Jerry Gause | FTP,VMoT | 33.6 | $3/$6
1:396/1 | John Souvestre | FTP,VMoT | T1 | $15mo.
2:2411/413 | Dennis Dittrich | UUE | 64k | n/c
2:33/505 | Mario Mure | VMoT,UUE | 64k | n/c
2:335/610 | Gino Lucrezi | UUE | 33.6 | n/c
2:469/84 | Max Masyutin | VMoT | 256k | n/c
2:2474/275 | Christian Emig | UUE | 64k | unkn
2:2490/5170| Lenny Murphy | F2I | ??? | n/c
5:7104/2 | Henk Wolsink | FTP | 28.8 | n/c
--
+ VMoT = Virtual Mailer over Telnet (various)
+ F2I = Fido2Int (W95)
+ UUE = uuencode<->email packet transfers
compiled by C. Ingersoll, 1:2623/71, (609)814-1978, fbn@dandy.net
Posted on the 1st of every month in FN_SYSOP, R13SYSOP and Fidonews.
-
___
! Origin: * Fly By Night * (609)814-1978 *(1:2623/71)
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FIDONEWS 15-47 Page 20 23 Nov 1998
=================================================================
FIDONEWS INFORMATION
=================================================================
------- FIDONEWS MASTHEAD AND CONTACT INFORMATION -------
Editor: Henk Wolsink
Editors Emeritii: Tom Jennings, Thom Henderson, Dale Lovell,
Vince Perriello, Tim Pozar, Sylvia Maxwell,
Donald Tees, Christopher Baker, Zorch Frezberg
"FidoNews Editor"
FidoNet 5:5/23
BBS +27-41-515-913, 2400/9600/V.34/V.90
more addresses:
Henk Wolsink -- 5:7104/2, hwolsink@catpe.alt.za
(Postal Service mailing address)
FidoNews Editor
P.O. Box 12325
Port Elizabeth,
6006
South Africa
------------------------------------------------------
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 and/or the Editor.
Authors retain copyright on individual works; otherwise FidoNews is
Copyright 1998 Henk Wolsink. 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
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.
FIDONEWS 15-47 Page 21 23 Nov 1998
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.irvbbs.com/fidonews/
ftp://ftp.nwstar.com/Fidonet/Fidonews
And in non-English formats via:
http://www.hvc.ee/pats/fidonews (Estonian)
http://www.fidonet.pp.se/sfnews (Swedish)
*=*=*
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
FIDONEWS 15-47 Page 22 23 Nov 1998
for that year's issues. The total set is currently about 13 Megs.
=*=*=*=
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.
=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=
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 5:5/23 [5:7104/2] 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
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