F I D O N E W S         Volume 15, Number 49         7 December 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  ..........................................  2
        What's Wrong with this Picture?  - Doug Myers  ............  2
     3. LETTERS TO THE EDITOR  ....................................  5
     4. ARTICLES  .................................................  6
        ECHOLADE - refreshing echomail  ........................... 12
        Mail  ..................................................... 13
     5. COLUMNS  .................................................. 15
        What's Not Happening - Fallen Star  ....................... 15
     6. NOTICES  .................................................. 16
     7. FIDONET BY INTERNET  ...................................... 17
     8. FIDONEWS INFORMATION  ..................................... 20
     FIDONEWS 15-49               Page 1                    7 Dec 1998


     =================================================================
                                 EDITORIAL
     =================================================================

     Greetings,

     Have you had contact with Zone 6 lately?  It appears they are just
     at their end of usefullness.  I mean, they may as well not exist, as
     nothing is being heard from that part of the world.

     Mike Muller <mik@treebranch.com> would like to know if you have any
     NODELIST or DIFFS files around from say 6 years ago.  He is looking
     for a friend who he seems to think, was in net 1:2078 NYC.
     Please e-mail him direct.  Thanks.

     Happy reading,

     PS: Another article did not wanted to be taken up by Makenews and
         as such, I have appended it to the end of this issue.  My
         apologies in advance, if this issue does not print to well.

     -----------------------------------------------------------------

     FIDONEWS 15-49               Page 2                    7 Dec 1998


     =================================================================
                              GUEST EDITORIAL
     =================================================================


     What's Wrong wiht this Picture?

                       What's Wrong with this Picture?
                         The Other Fidonews Position
                       Douglas Myers         1:270/720

     Henk Wolsink's editorial in last week's Fidonews has found one
     ardent supporter in Bob Morasvik.  Bob apparently feels that it can't
     be comprehended in one reading, and has bent his effort to reposting
     it on a daily basis to anyone who will listen and many who won't.
     Parts of that article are quoted here.  Readers who wish to see the
     full editorial in context are invited to review last week's Fidonews
     or just about any Bob Morasvik post in the FN_SYSOP echo this week.

     Henk's editorial presents his opinion of an action by Thom LaCosta,
     the Echolist Keeper.  Thom's action followed a recent election in
     the FN_SYSOP echo.  Echo rules mandate an annual election of the
     moderator.  Rob Ferrara was elected to this position this year,
     defeating Zorch Frezberg, the incumbent.  The problem developed when
     Rob contacted Zorch to get the echo password, a necessary item for
     changing the echo listing.  Zorch did not respond to Rob's request,
     except to change the listing naming Rob as moderator, but retaining
     the password.  Rob requested the Echolist Keeper change the password
     to one of his choosing.  Since Rob was the moderator by virtue of
     both the election and, at that point, by the echo listing... Thom
     complied.  After Thom changed the password to give Rob control of
     his echo, Zorch Frezberg broke his silence and revealed a
     questionable "trusteeship" which, he claimed, gave him to right to
     control the password irregardless of the fact that he'd been voted
     out of the moderator position (with whom the password normally
     resides).

     Henk came down firmly against this in his published opinion last
     week, stating in part:

     -------- extracted from Henk Wolsink's Editorial Opinion --------

     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(out) permission of the
            password holder. ie. Ex-moderator in the above scenario.

     -----------------------------------------------------------------

     Applied to the events which actually transpired, these high sounding
     principles translate into little more than a ringing endorsement for
     Zorch Frezberg to do as he wishes with the area FN_SYSOP, despite
     the expressed wishes of the sysops in that echo, and despite the
     rules and tradition which make them the owners of that echo.
     FIDONEWS 15-49               Page 3                    7 Dec 1998


     Henk moves on to this passionate conclusion:

     -------- extracted from Henk Wolsink's Editorial Opinion --------

     Secrecy has been violated!  Get rid of the echolist keeping system.
     It's useless with what has happened recently!

     -----------------------------------------------------------------

     And he's correct that secrecy has been violated.  But it's the
     "secret" trustee arrangement which has been busted - an arrangement
     which was only known to Zorch Frezberg, Bob Morasvik, and Bob Kohl.
     This was an arrangement se secret that it couldn't be shared with
     the sysops, the owners of the echo, at any point during the
     election.  This was an arrangement so secret that it couldn't be
     shared with the Echolist Keeper until after he took the common sense
     action which busted it.  This was an arrangement which, when finally
     exposed to the light of day in an effort to discredit the Echolist
     Keeper, was universally rejected by the sysops participating in
     FN_SYSOP... the owners of the echo, and the very people for whom the
     password was supposedly held in "trust."

     But is Henk correct that the Echolist Robot should now be abandoned,
     a useless commodity?  That would depend on your view as to the rule
     of the Echolist Keeper.

     One school of thought is that all Fido positions should be that of a
     clerk.  Fidonet Coordinators should just write their section of the
     nodelist and stay away from any decisions.  Thom should just let the
     robot run unattended and stay out of anything requiring judgement.

     I reject that position myself.  Neutering those who hold a Fidonet
     office simply puts someone else in charge... in this case the person
     who can find a loophole in the existing rules, the person who can
     convince others that a rule exists where it doesn't, or he who can
     seize such things as knowledge of a password and elevate that
     acquisition to greater prominence than a proper election.

     The other view is that Fido positions are a trust, and the office
     holders should actively seek to improve Fido... should help when
     help is needed, and do what needs to be done to make the system
     work.

     Thom did what needed to be done, and my editorial hat is off to him.

     [ ED:  No Douglas, I do NOT support Zorch, nor Thom and neither YOU!
       What I write in the editorial, is how I see it and believe it is
       happening, for the good or bad and my comments and/or views, are
       mine and NOT that of the ZCC or the IC nor for that matter, of
       FidoNet and it's SysOp's.
       There are many ways to kill a bird, or what ever saying you wish
       to use, and I still believe Rob could have used alternative ways
       in getting the password.
       Please note: Zorch made an announcement in that he conceeded he is
       no longer the moderator of FN_SYSOP and Rob having won most of the
       votes and as such, was declared the moderator.
     FIDONEWS 15-49               Page 4                    7 Dec 1998


       Your comment about FidoNet positions, has nothing to do with the
       e-list system.  But since you brought the subject of 'positions'
       to the fore, how about killing of Policy 4? :-)

     -----------------------------------------------------------------

     FIDONEWS 15-49               Page 5                    7 Dec 1998


     =================================================================
                           LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
     =================================================================


     Area : Netmail Area

     Date : Sat Dec 05, 16:21
     From : Brad Crockett                                       1:340/201
     To   : Editor                                                 5:5/23
     Subj : abc.let

     @INTL 5:5/23 1:340/201
     @MSGID: 1:340/201.0 669a5440

     Henk, in FidoNews #47, you wrote:

     -------------------
      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.
     ------------------

     Nonsense.  The list keeper had no choice in the circumstances.
     Withholding the password from an elected moderator for any reason
     would be doing a disservice to all of the participating sysops.

     Brad Crockett
     Duncan, BC Canada
     1:340/201

     [ED: No Brad, it's not nonsense.  Please re-read what I wrote in total
          not just the 3 items above and then you will notice, as explained
          in my editorial in this issue.

     -----------------------------------------------------------------

     FIDONEWS 15-49               Page 6                    7 Dec 1998


     =================================================================
                                 ARTICLES
     =================================================================

     FidoNews Article Submission Guidelines

     FidoNet address 5:5/23

     Updated 16 August 1998 by Henk Wolsink
     Updated 1 Mar 1998 by Zorch Frezberg
     Updated 1 Jan 1998 by Christopher Baker
     Updated 29 May 1991 by Tom Jennings
     Based on the original work by Thom Henderson

     | denotes a change since the last update |.

     "Fido" and "FidoNet" are registered trademarks of
     Tom Jennings, Box 410923, San Francisco CA 94141, USA
     and are used with permission.


     -----------------------------
     SYNOPSIS:

     FidoNews is the newsletter of the FidoNet computer network,
     for both its Sysops and users.  It is passed to its readers
     electronically via the FidoNet and other computer networks
     and to non-network readers as well as to the InterNet.

     This document intends to tell you how to write and submit
     articles for publication in FidoNews.  Much of it describes
     the technical specifications which an article must meet in
     order to be included in the newsletter, as well as broad
     (very) guidelines on content.  (Of course you realize
     articles can be submitted only electronically.)

     Please read this document carefully.

     The article you save might be your own.


     -----------------------------
     INTRODUCTION:

     FidoNews was originally founded in early 1984 to include
     all parts of the lives of its member Sysops and users,
     which of course means not just technical matters.  We do
     not have fixed goals of maximum distribution or maximum
     readership (i.e. lowest common denominator) but only to
     meet the needs of our individual network members.  The
     success of this venture has always been contentious at
     best (ahem).

     In any case the grand experiment continues.

     Over fifteen years later and roughly 20,000 Nodes in the
     FIDONEWS 15-49               Page 7                    7 Dec 1998


     network, the editorial policy, or lack of one, of FidoNews
     has shown to best fit our ever-changing and unpredictable
     needs.


     -----------------------------
     SUBJECT MATTER:

     Articles on any subject of interest to FidoNet members and
     users are welcome and encouraged, not necessarily of a
     technical nature, though priority may be, but not
     necessarily, given to articles of importance to the FidoNet,
     its technology and its uses; other networks such as uucp and
     the Internet; social aspects of communications; ethical
     issues; other related matters.


     -----------------------------
     ARTICLE LENGTH:

     Try to keep articles short.  The longer it is, the less
     likely people are to read it.  Consider splitting long
     articles (more than five pages) into smaller articles to
     be run serially.

     Exceptions will be made at the whim of the editors.

     For practical reasons, we will attempt to keep FidoNews to
     a "reasonable size", which is of course a highly subjective
     and variable thing.  As of Mar 1998, the goal is to keep
     each issue under 100,000 bytes.  Decisions regarding content
     may be made based upon this, though in general it shouldn't
     be an issue.

     As above, exceptions will be made at the whim of the
     editors.


     -----------------------------
     WRITING GUIDELINES:

     We are not all professional writers, nor is that even a
     goal for the FidoNews -- we want real communication to and
     from real people; even at the expense of so-called "good
     writing", which is frequently a tool to exclude.

     There are, however, a few minimum requirements for any
     successful writing, even for the lowly FidoNews:

     * The subject discussed must be clear to people other
       than the author!  Don't assume that people will pick
       up the context from your writing.  Tell them
       _explicitly_.

     * Why are you writing this?  It may _seem_ obvious --
       "Review of the new Acme 75-baud Modem" -- but it's
     FIDONEWS 15-49               Page 8                    7 Dec 1998


       not.  Are you the manufacturer? An irate customer?
       Let us know your point of view.

     * Who *are* you?  A good question!  Anonymity is
       acceptable, though most people want to take credit
       for their work.  Include full contact information
       including NetMail and E-Mail addresses, where such
       is feasible.

     * Articles submitted via Netmail or E-Mail must
       contain all the technically required lines and
       delimiters in the BODY of the message.  This
       includes the *[title] line and the 70 character
       width requirement.  To indicate the filename type for
       one of these message submissions, place the
       FILENAME.TYP in the SUBJ: line of your E-Mail,
       NetMail, or EchoMail.  Those that require extra
       editing may be delayed from appearing in FidoNews.

     * Articles will appear when space becomes available,
       not necessarily the "next" issue.  If your article
       is of a time-critical nature, please say so when you
       submit it; the editor still has final say.

     * The editor reserves the right to request changes
       from an author to meet these "standards", which you
       have to admit are pretty loose. It is not the intent
       for this to be a mechanism to refuse articles the
       editor does not like, but simply to keep the
       contents intelligible.

     * If we have a backlog of articles, we may get fussier
       about things.  Historically, this has not been a
       serious problem.


     -----------------------------
     SUBMITTING AN ARTICLE

     TECHNICAL REQUIREMENTS:

     If all that hasn't scared you away, the next step is to
     create a text file which contains the text of your article.
     The resulting file should be sent or uploaded to "Editor",
     | FidoNet address 5:5/23, or to "editor@fidonews.org".

     The "physical" location (and phone number) of FidoNews
     varies, and hence must be found elsewhere, such as
     within a recent copy of FidoNews itself.

     Filenames must follow the MSDOS standard:

         FILENAME.TYP

         a 1 to 8 character file name (A - Z, 0 - 9)
         a period,
     FIDONEWS 15-49               Page 9                    7 Dec 1998


         a 0 to 3 character file type (A - Z, 0 - 9)


     File types are used to distinguish types of submissions, as
     follows:

         .LET Letters to the Editor.
         .ART An article, commentary, open letter, or
              general news item.
         .GUE Want to write a Guest Editorial?
              Place [*Name & Node on line 1]
         .RTX Need to make a Retraction of a previous
              article or notice?
         .COL Want to become a regular contributor
              with your own column?
         .ANS Answers to the Question of the Week.
         .BIO FidoNet biographies - tell us your
              personal story.
         .TRU True stories of FidoNet.
         .HIS FidoNet history - got an anecdote
              to share?
         .REV Reviews of related product, services,
              or programs.
         .JOK Net humor in print.
         .FIC FidoNet (computer related) short fiction.
         .CMX Comics in ASCII.
              [watch those lines at 70 columns!]
              [.CMX that are political will be
               renamed to .GUE]
         .PRF Want to Proofread? Get a cookie for
              spotting errors.
         .AD  Advertising FREE services or events.
         .SAL "For Sale"
         .WAN "Wanted"
         .NOT A notice for the back of the issue.
              Keep them short.
         .INT Internet addresses for FidoNet-related
              Web Pages of general interest.

     If your file doesn't have one of the above extensions, then
     it will lay around taking up disk space until someone takes
     a look at it and realizes what it is.

     Maybe.

     The name of the file is up to you, though you should use a
     name which is not likely to be "stepped on" by someone
     else -- the system will not guarantee file names are unique.
     For example, FNEWS.ART is probably not a good name for an
     article.


     -----------------------------
     CHARACTER SETS:

     The character by character contents of the file itself must
     FIDONEWS 15-49               Page 10                   7 Dec 1998


     meet the following standards or it cannot be published in
     FidoNews.

     The FidoNews staff WILL NOT be responsible for making file
     contents conform to these standards.

     * FLUSH LEFT MARGIN:  Please do not put a "left margin"
       on your articles.  Have the text start at the very
       first column.

     * RIGHT MARGIN AT COLUMN 70 OR LESS:  Less is tolerable,
       more is definitely not.  If your cursor is resting at
       column 71 when your line is ended, you're okay.  But,
       *one* character past that, even with trailing spaces
       and MAKENEWS will barf on your submission.

       If your submission is physically rejected, the Editor
       will have to fix it manually or send it back for
       reformatting.

     * RAGGED-RIGHT TEXT:  Word-Star style "justification"
       (inserting spaces into sentences so that a paragraph
       is perfectly rectangular) is extremely hard to read,
       and consumes needless space.  Please don't use it!

     * NO FUNNY CHARACTERS:  This includes formfeeds, returns
       without linefeeds, linefeeds without returns, tabs and
       other oddities.

       The only control codes (character codes 0 through 31
       decimal) allowed are carriage return (CR) and
       linefeed (LF).  The only exception is:  Control-Z
       "end of file" terminator characters are tolerated.
       Not required.

     * NO GRAPHICS CHARACTERS:  Believe it or not, not
       everyone in the world has an IBM PC.  Please restrict
       yourself to printable ASCII characters in the range
       20 hex to 7E hex (space to tilde).

     * LINES TERMINATED:  Each line in the article should
       be terminated with a 'newline' -- either the MSDOS
       standard (CR/LF) or the unix standard (LF only).


     -----------------------------
     SUBMISSION FORMAT:

     Below is a sample article properly formatted.  Features of
     it are discussed further below.

     --article file example begins below this line--
     *A Sample Article [this is in LINE 1 starting at COLUMN 1]

     This is My Title
     by Joe Schmoe, [Netmail/email address]
     FIDONEWS 15-49               Page 11                   7 Dec 1998


     And here is my article. Note that it is flush left (zero indent).
     Also note that the right margin is at column seventy so that it
     won't overflow "most" text windows. Each line has a newline. Note
     the *'ed first line. My article will be listed in the table of
     contents exactly as it appears after the * above.

     Figure 1.                       Table 1.
             +-------+               ========
             | A Box |                 Alpha
             +-------+                 Bravo

     Note that we am not using any funny-o characters. This ensures
     that the final article will look the same to every user, no
     matter what sort of hardware he has.

     This is the last sentence of our article.

     --article file example ends above this line--


     The FIRST line of text is the Table of Contents line.  It MUST
     begin with an asterisk * as shown above.  NO BLANK lines above
     title line are permitted.  If you do not follow this instruction
     exactly, the article will not be listed in the Table of Contents.
     This Table of Contents listing method works for all submission
     file types.

     * Everything that follows the *'ed line will appear in
       the body of the newsletter.  The *'ed line will be
       stripped out of your article text so if you want it
       repeated as your title in the article BE SURE to REPEAT
       it on a second line without the *.

     * Next should be the title or name of your article,
       your name, and contact information (network
       address(es), Postal Service address, etc).  Try to
       keep it to one or two lines each.

     * Put a blank line between paragraphs.  Paragraphs that
       all run together are very difficult to read, and may
       be rejected.

     * If you want to put in a table or a figure, go right
       ahead.  We do not rearrange text if you follow these
       submission guidelines, so your table or figure should
       remain exactly as you entered it. Try to limit them
       to ones that make the communication CLEARER.

     * Don't put a lot of blank space at the top or bottom.
       The FidoNews-generator programs will visually
       separate articles automatically.

     * Please check for basic errors in spelling, grammar,
       and punctuation. We're not publishing a textbook, but
       you don't want it to embarrass yourself do you?

     FIDONEWS 15-49               Page 12                   7 Dec 1998


     * Don't use FidoNews to grind your personal axes
       against other FidoNet members.  An article presenting
       a side of an internal dispute is one thing.  An
       article defaming or perseverating over several
       Issues is another.  Articles that merely quote
       endlessly from other sources to no particular effect
       are also not a good idea.

     * Don't republish copyrighted material from other
       sources WITHOUT the permission of those sources.
       Include the permission in such articles.

     * Remember that FidoNews is no better or worse than
       the articles submitted to it. If you want FidoNews
       to be a useful newsletter, get involved and submit
       useful articles. It's up to YOU to make it work.


     -----------------------------
     SUBMISSION DEADLINES:

     FidoNews is published on Monday of every week.

     | To assure the best possible chance of being published in
     | this week's issue, the deadline for file submission to
     | the FidoNews Editor via FILE-ATTACH is at 0800 UTC/GMT
     | on the previous Saturday.

     | The deadline for submissions via NetMail, E-Mail, or in
     | the FIDONEWS Echo is 1800 UTC/GMT the previous
     | Friday.

     Submissions which miss the deadlines will be processed the
     following week.  Submission by deadline is not a guarantee
     of appearance in that week's FidoNews but it is likely
     depending on volume of submissions.

     As well, submissions may be missed due to changes in the
     personal schedule of the FidoNews Editor, but should be
     published in the following issue.


     -----------------------------------------------------------------


     ECHOLADE - refreshing echomail

              . -- -- -- -- --  ECHOLADE  - -- -- -- -- .
              | A refreshing extract from Fido's echoes |
              | Purloined without permission by D Myers |
              ` -- -- -- -- -- --  -  -- -- -- -- -- -- '

     Todd Cochrane on the subject of supporting the OBO:

     -------------------------------------------------------------------
     Give the man a chance. Personally I think it is time a lot of us
     FIDONEWS 15-49               Page 13                   7 Dec 1998


     started pushing our way into roles within this organization the old
     guard has sat on there ass for years and accomplished nothing.

     They are arguing over the exact same issues now as they were 6-7
     years ago. I have been at this as long as anyone probably longer
     than most yet the same people same idiotic ideals keep pulsating
     thru and personally it is way beyond time to move forward

     Maybe you ought to get on the bandwagon and help this thing move
     forward instead of bitching all the time. There was a time when
     Sysops helped one another and it was like a unwritten oath that you
     were to help your fellow sysop.

     Today all i here is me me me me me me etc... Get a grip instead of
     bitching ask butch if he needs any help and offer assistance instead
     of criticizing him..

     I am very glad he put John in his place it was time that John get
     knocked around a bit he is to big for his own britches..
     -------------------------------------------------------------------


     Dave Hamilton on the subject of sysop-level elections:

     -------------------------------------------------------------------
      DS> The best thing he could do is to return Fidonet to the sysops by
      DS> trashing P4, breaking up the "inner circle", and immediately
      DS> calling for a ZC election.

     Who would vote? 30% of R12 sysops?

     I don't disagree with a lot of what you say, but I think you are one
     step ahead of what needs to be done. What is the point of Satti
     turning Fido over to the sysops when they don't even know who he is?
     Or who their RC is? Or their NC?

     Fidonet needs to be promoted INSIDE of Fidonet before it is promoted
     outside. Then we can know if there is anything left to salvage.

     It may be that all that will survive is the IP-listed nodes and the
     WWB; I don't know. What I DO know is that rigor mortis has set in to
     the vast majority of sysops, and even the active ones are leaving.

     Sure, let's have sysop-level participation. But first, let's find a
     way to wake the sysops up.

     -----------------------------------------------------------------


     Hello Henk,

     As a point of interest, the Zone 1 Nodelist Segment now contains a
     special section listing IP Nodes. This segment is using the 1:1/3xxx
     series of numbers and appeared first in NODELIST.331
     Zone 1 is using the flags proposed by Lothar Behet (2:2406/301) in his
     recent FTSC submission to designate the IP protocols in use by those
     FIDONEWS 15-49               Page 14                   7 Dec 1998


     nodes.
     I have been designated as the IP Segment Coordinator for Zone 1 and
     will be accepting further listings upon notification from nodes that
     wish to be added to this segment.

     Best Regards,

     -=David=-
     RC13

      david@wnybbs.net
      TCP/IP Node from 0715GMT to 0900GMT at kraut.dynip.com using Argus
      v3.162

     ... Well begun is half done.
     --- ProBoard v2.15 [Reg]
     --
     e-mail : david@kraut.xg.com | files: files@kraut.xg.com
              david@wnybbs.net
              sysop@kraut.xg.com
              root@kraut.xg.com
     Fidonet: 1:2613/404 and 1:13/0

     -----------------------------------------------------------------

     FIDONEWS 15-49               Page 15                   7 Dec 1998


     =================================================================
                                  COLUMNS
     =================================================================


     What's Not Happening - Fallen Star

        .-- -- -- -- -- -- 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...   |
        `-- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --'

                              A FALLEN STAR

     If a star falls where no one can hear, does it make a sound?  The
     publication which charts the movement of the stars, BACKSTAT.NA,
     footnoted a change in the Fido Echomail Constellation last week:

                              ------------------
     Zone Hubs:
       Eastern Star   George Peace      1:270/101    george@paonline.com
       Southern Star  John Souvestre    1:396/1      johns@sstar.com
       North Star     Ken Wilson        1:12/12      kwilson@ccai.com
                              ------------------
     Bob Seaborn, the NorthWestern Star, has fallen,,,

     The rumblings between the Southern Star and the NorthWestern Star
     have portended this change.  John Souvestre and Bob Seaborn engage
     in constant wranglings over such cosmic issues as the importance of
     low-volume echoes, backbone listing protocol, suitability of Gecho
     as a tosser, whether Bob joined NAB or John joined Fidospine...

     So what's not happening here?

     To my knowledge, there's been no change in echomail connections
     related to the fallen star, no change in traffic patterns... nothing
     except a change in the listing.  Bob Seaborn has still not conceded
     that he's part of NAB, John Souvestre does not concede that he's
     part of the FidoSpine, and George Peace and Ken Wilson continue
     their strong tradition of not commenting on the proceedings.

     A star has fallen, but without impact...

               -------------- Hold the Presses! --------------

     In a late reading of the echoes, I find a post by Bob Seaborn
     conceding that he is an NAB Zhub.  Now that he's paid ritual homage,
     will his star rise again?  Or will John Souvestre reciprocate with
     an announcement that he's a FidoSpine Zhub.  Will the echoes
     continue to move?  Will Lisa Gronke ever figure out the topology?
     Stay tuned to the BACKBONE echo for the continuing Star Opera...

     -----------------------------------------------------------------

     FIDONEWS 15-49               Page 16                   7 Dec 1998


     =================================================================
                                  NOTICES
     =================================================================

                       Future History

       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.

     -----------------------------------------------------------------

     FIDONEWS 15-49               Page 17                   7 Dec 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 13:

         Net 264:  http://www.net264.org

       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/
     FIDONEWS 15-49               Page 18                   7 Dec 1998


        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  (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:

       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
     FIDONEWS 15-49               Page 19                   7 Dec 1998


     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.

     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.
     1:106/1    | Matt Bedynek      | FTP,VMoT,UUE   | 64k   | $5/$15mo.
     1:106/6018 | Lawrence Garvin   | FTP,VMoT       | 64k   | $5/mo.
     1:107/451  | Andy Knifel       | FTP, VMoT, UUE | 33.6  | n/c
     1:124/7008 | Ben Hamilton      | FTP,VMoT,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       | UUE            | T1    | n/c
     1:275/1    | Joshua Ecklund    | UUE            | 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,UUE        | T1    | n/c
     1:2604/104 | Jim Mclaughlin    | FTP,VMoT,UUE   | 33.6  | $1mo.
     1:2624/306 | D. Calafrancesco  | VMoT           | 33.6  | $15yr.
     1:345/0    | Todd Cochrane     | FTP            | T1    | n/c
     1:346/250  | Aran Spence       | FTP,UUE        | T1    | $10mo.
     1:396/45   | Marc Lewis        | UUE            | 33.6  | $26/yr.
     1:3651/9   | Jerry Gause       | FTP,VMoT       | 33.6  | $3/$6
     1:396/1    | John Souvestre    | FTP,VMoT       | T1    | $15mo.
     2:33/505   | Mario Mure        | VMoT,UUE       | 64k   | n/c
     2:254/175  | Alex Kemp         | UUE            | 56k   | n/c
     2:284/800  | Jeroen VanDeLeur  | FTP,UUE        | 64k   | n/c
     2:335/610  | Gino Lucrezi      | UUE            | 33.6  | n/c
     2:469/84   | Max Masyutin      | VMoT           | 256k  | n/c
     2:2411/413 | Dennis Dittrich   | UUE            | 64k   | n/c
     2:2474/275 | Christian Emig    | UUE            | 64k   | unkn
     3:633/260  | Malcolm Miles     | FTP            | 33.6  | n/c
     4:905/100  | Fabian Gervan     | VMoT, UUE      | ???   | n/c
     5:7104/2   | Henk Wolsink      | FTP            | 28.8  | n/c
     --
     * FTP  = Internet File Transfer Protocol
     * VMoT = Virtual Mailer over Telnet (various)
     * UUE  = uuencode<->email type transfers
     [I'm only cataloging transfer methods, eg, ftp, email, telnet.
     Specific programs using these protocols are no longer being listed.
     Contact the system operators for details of which programs they have
     available.]

     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.

     -----------------------------------------------------------------
     FIDONEWS 15-49               Page 20                   7 Dec 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 15-49               Page 21                   7 Dec 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 15-49               Page 22                   7 Dec 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

     -----------------------------------------------------------------



On the Twelfth Day of Christmas, my true love gave to me:
Twelve Drummers Drumming

                  .-}        .-}        .-}
                  |_|        |_|        |_|
                  (_)        (_)  __    (_) .---.
                  | \ .--.   | \.'  '.  | \/     \
                  |\_|--o )  |\_|--o  ; |\_|--o   |
                  |:| '--'   |:|'.__.'  |:|\     /
                  |:|        |:|        |:| `---`
                  |:|_       |:|_       |:|_
              ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

        .-.   .-.   .-.   .-.   .-.   .-.   .-.   .-.   .-.
        |M|   |E|   |R|   |R|   |Y|   |X|   |M|   |A|   |S|
        (_)   (_)   (_)   (_)   (_)   (_)   (_)   (_)   (_)
       /\Y/\ /\Y/\ /\Y/\ /\Y/\ /\Y/\ /\Y/\ /\Y/\ /\Y/\ /\Y/\
       [XXX] [XXX] [XXX] [XXX] [XXX] [XXX] [XXX] [XXX] [XXX]
        |||   |||   |||   |||   |||   |||   |||   |||   |||
        |||   |||   |||   |||   |||   |||   |||   |||   |||
       _|||_ _|||_ _|||_ _|||_ _|||_ _|||_ _|||_ _|||_ _|||_
      ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^



Eleven Pipers Piping
    _     _     _     _     _     _     _     _     _     _     _
  ,/_)  ,/_)  ,/_)  ,/_)  ,/_)  ,/_)  ,/_)  ,/_)  ,/_)  ,/_)  ,/_)
   (")   (")   (")   (")   (")   (")   (")   (")   (")   (")   (")
   /I\   /I\   /I\   /I\   /I\   /I\   /I\   /I\   /I\   /I\   /I\
  (/^\) (/^\) (/^\) (/^\) (/^\) (/^\) (/^\) (/^\) (/^\) (/^\) (/^\)
   |||   |||   |||   |||   |||   |||   |||   |||   |||   |||   |||
   |||   |||   |||   |||   |||   |||   |||   |||   |||   |||   |||
  _|||_ _|||_ _|||_ _|||_ _|||_ _|||_ _|||_ _|||_ _|||_ _|||_ _|||_
 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~



Ten Lords A-Leaping

                              w              w
               w              0__           \0__
              \0__     w     /|_     w      /_
              /_     __0/  '\/ /    \0_  '\/ /    w
           '\/ /      /_       `    /_       `  __0/
               `   `\/  \,         _\ \,         /_
                w                 `           `\/  \,
               \0__      w                 w
               /_        0__       w      \0__
              _\ \,     /|_      __0/      |_
             `        `\/  \,     /_      _\ \,
                               `\/ /,    `




Nine Ladies Dancing

                                                       |~
                     ()                       ()      0` |~
             ()    _/)(\_           ()      _/)(\_      0`
           _/)(\_   /^^\    ()    _/)(\_     /""\
            /~~\   /____\ _/)(\_   /``\     /____\
           /____\          /""\   /____\   ()
                   ()     /____\         _/)(\_      ()
         |~      _/)(\_           ()      /^^\     _/)(\_
        0` |~     /``\          _/)(\_   /____\     /~~\
          0`     /____\          /~~\              /____\
                                /____\



Eight Maids A-Milking


          __.----.       __.----.        __.----.        __.----.___
(\(__)/)-'     (\(__)/)-'      (\(__)/)-'      (\(__)/)-'        ;--`
 `(uu)'      _  `(dd)'       _  `(gg)'       _  `(vv)'       _   |
  )  (      (|)  )  (       (|)  )  (       (|)  )  (       (|)  |
 (o  o)     8~8 (o  o)      8~8 (o  o)      8~8 (o  o)      8~8 ,/
  `--'\_    (__).`--'\_    (__).'`--'\_    (__).'`--'\_    _(__)|
       `|||~~/\||     `|||~~/\||      `|||~~/\||      `||~|| /\||
 ^`^`^`^`^`^`^`^`^`^`^`^`^`^`^`^`^`^`^`^`^`^`^`^`^`^`^`^`^`^`^`^`^
          __.----.       __.----.        __.----.       __.----.___
(\(__)/)-'      (\(__)/)-'     (\(__)/)-'     (\(__)/)-'        ;--`
 `(99)'       _  `(66)'      _  `(aa)'      _  `(ee)'        _  |
  )  (       (|)  )  (      (|)  )  (      (|)  )  (        (|) |
 (o  o)      8~8 (o  o)     8~8 (o  o)     8~8 (o  o)       8~8,/
  `--'\_    (__).'`--'\_    (__).`--'\_    (__).`--'\_    _(__)|
       `|||~~/\||      `|||~~/\||     `|||~~/\||     `||~|| /\||
 ^`^`^`^`^`^`^`^`^`^`^`^`^`^`^`^`^`^`^`^`^`^`^`^`^`^`^`^`^`^`^`^`^



Seven swans A-Swimming

       ___     ___     ___     ___     ___     ___     ___
      /,_ \   /,_ \   /,_ \   /,_ \   /,_ \   /,_ \   /,_ \    _,
      |/ )/   |/ )/   |/ )/   |/ )/   |/ )/   |/ )/   |/ )/   / |
        //  _/ |//  _/  //  _/  //  _/  //  _/  //  _/  //  _/  |
       / (_/   / (_/   / (_/   / (_/   / (_/   / (_/   / (_/   _)
      /   `   /   `   /   `   /   `   /   `   /   `   /   `   _/)
      \  ~=-  \  ~=-  \  ~=-  \  ~=-  \  ~=-  \  ~=-  \  ~=-   /
  ~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~


Six Geese A-Laying
    __         __         __         __         __         __
  >(' )      >(' )      >(' )      >(' )      >(' )      >(' )
    )/   ,     )/   ,     )/   ,     )/   ,     )/   ,     )/   ,
   /(____/\   /(____/\   /(____/\   /(____/\   /(____/\   /(____/\
  /        ) /        ) /        ) /        ) /        ) /        )
  \ `  =~~/  \ `  =~~/  \ `  =~~/  \ `  =~~/  \ `  =~~/  \ `  =~~/
   `---Y-' __ `---Y-' __ `---Y-' __ `---Y-' __ `---Y-' __ `---Y-' __
      ~~' (__)   ~~' (__)   ~~' (__)   ~~' (__)   ~~' (__)   ~~' (__)



Five Golden Rings

                    .-.   .-.   .-.   .-.   .-.
                   ((_)) ((_)) ((_)) ((_)) ((_))
                    '-'   '-'   '-'   '-'   '-'



Four Calling Birds

                 ___       ___       ___       ___
                ('v')     ('v')     ('v')     ('v')
               ((   ))   ((   ))   ((   ))   ((   ))
             -/-"---"---/-"---"---/-"---"---/-"---"--



Three French Hens

                    (\  }\   (\  }\   (\  }\
                   (  \_('> (  \_('> (  \_('>
                   (__(=_)  (__(=_)  (__(=_)
                      -"=      -"=      -"=


Two Turtle Doves
                           _      _
                          <')_,/ <') ,/
                          (_==/  (_==/
                           ='-    ='-


And a Partridge in a Pear Tree
                            _
                           ('>
                           /))@@@@@
                          /@"@@@@@()@
                         @@()@@()@@@@
                         @@@O@@@@()@@@
                         @()@@\@@@()@@
                          @()@||@@@@@
                            @@||@@@
                              ||
                      ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^