F I D O N E W S -- Vol.12 No.46 (13-Nov-1995)

F I D O N E W S -- Vol.12 No.46 (13-Nov-1995)
+----------------------------+-----------------------------------------+
| A newsletter of the | ISSN 1198-4589 Published by: |
| FidoNet BBS community | "FidoNews" BBS |
| _ | +1-519-570-4176 |
| / \ | |
| /|oo \ | |
| (_| /_) | |
| _`@/_ \ _ | |
| | | \ \\ | Editors: |
| | (*) | \ )) | Donald Tees 1:221/192 |
| |__U__| / \// | Sylvia 1:221/194 |
| _//|| _\ / | |
| (_/(_|(____/ | |
| (jm) | Newspapers should have no friends. |
| | -- JOSEPH PULITZER |
+----------------------------+-----------------------------------------+
| Submission address: editors 1:1/23 |
+----------------------------------------------------------------------+
| MORE addresses: |
| |
| submissions=> [email protected] |
| Don -- [email protected] |
| Sylvia [email protected] |
+----------------------------------------------------------------------+
| For information, copyrights, article submissions, |
| obtaining copies of fidonews or the internet gateway faq |
| please refer to the end of this file. |
+----------------------------------------------------------------------+
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Table of Contents
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1. Editorial..................................................... 1
2. Articles...................................................... 2
Backbone Echo Changes [Sep-Oct]............................. 2
Subject: That Coleridge Poem................................ 3
Fidonet in the Future....................................... 6
3. Fidonews Information.......................................... 7
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Editorial
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FidoNews 12-46 Page: 2 13 Nov 1995

I am including a letter more than 200 years old this week.
I received it in Email after a discussion in an echo.

I was struck by how familiar it was. Mail. Some things
change very slowly.
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Articles
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Backbone Echo Changes [Sep-Oct]
by Lisa Gronke, 1:105/16
[email protected]

Summary of backbone & quasi-backbone echo changes during Sep & Oct

Brought to you courtesy of (unix) diff.

diff (backbone.na + backbone.no) 03-Sep-95 ditto 05-Nov-95 [edited]

Added to the backbone
---------------------
> AAGENE African American Genealogy
> BLACK_POWDER Black Powder, Muzzle Loading & Buckskinning
> CHIROPRACTIC VERTABRAL SUB-LUXATION
> CREATIVE_ARTS Creative Arts Echo
> CW_BATTLES Civil War Battles Echo
> ECHOREVIEWS Biff and Buzz Review the Echoes!
> ESPRIT Esprit - New Age Thinking & Action
> GEN4SALE GENEALOGY FOR SALE ECHO
> HYPER InterProgramming Support (HyperMail, HyperFile)
> INTELLIGENT_GROWING Intelligent Growing of Food using Computers
> INTERGREEK Int'l Greek Conference (English language)
> KOMBUCHA Discussion of Kombucha, aka Manchurian Mushroom
> LORD_SYSOP LordNet Sysops and IGM Authors Conference
> LOVE_&_MARRIAGE Discuss issues relevant to Dating & Marriage
> MODR8TR Moderator Echo For Fidonet Moderators.
> MODS MOD discussion/review/trade (Amiga music file)
> MOTOROLA_MODEMS Motorola modem technical discussion
> NETLINE Coordination Echo for *.C's of the Other Networks
> NIGHT_SHIFT_UFO Discussion of UFO's and Related Topics.
> OS2INET The Internet and OS/2 Integration and Use
> RACE_UNITY Healing Racism
> RED_CROSS American Red Cross
> RENEGADE_SYSOP Renegade BBS Software Echo
> RENEGADE_UTILS Discussion of utilities for Renegade BBS
> ROMULAN_STAR_EMPIRE Star Trek's Romulan Star Empire Echo!
> SHINING*STAR Shining Star Software Door Support
> SNETNEWS Patriot News and Information; World News
> THDPRO THD ProScan Support
> TWIT Discuss policy as it relates to Network Twits
> WARNING Warnings of Public Interest

NOTE: MODR8TR is a new echo for moderators, started when it looked
like William Degnan was going to take MODERATOR out of the
Planet Connect distribution. As it turns out, MODERATOR
FidoNews 12-46 Page: 3 13 Nov 1995

remains on the satellite, so there are now two echos. Note
that the new MODS echo has nothing to do with moderators.

NOTE: WARNING is a clone of WARNINGS with different moderators.
WARNINGS was removed from the backbone because the listed
moderator was not active in the echo and the backbone was
getting many complaints.

Removed from the backbone or quasi-backbone
-------------------------------------------
< AI (not in EchoList since 8/1/95)
< AMIGA_MUSIC (not in EchoList since 8/1/95)
< AMTGARD (low traffic for two months since 8/1/95)
< BUSINESS (not in EchoList since 8/1/95)
< CELERITY (low traffic for two months since 8/1/95)
< CHAMELEON (not in EchoList since 8/1/95)
< CHURCH&STATE (not in EchoList since 8/1/95)
< FIDOPCB (not in EchoList since 8/1/95)
< HOBBIES (not in EchoList since 7/1/95)
< HST-SALE (not in EchoList since 8/1/95)
< JOBS (not in EchoList since 8/1/95)
< JOBS-NOW (not in EchoList since 8/1/95)
< MEBBS (not in EchoList since 7/1/95)
< MSGED_ECHO (not in EchoList since 8/1/95)
< MTASK (not in EchoList since 7/1/95)
< POLISH (not in EchoList since 8/1/95)
< RC_MODEL (not in EchoList since 7/1/95)
< ROTTIES (low traffic for two months since 9/1/95)
< ROTTIES (not in EchoList since 7/1/95)
< TURNCOAT_USA (not in EchoList since 8/1/95)
< WINCOMM (not in EchoList since 8/1/95)
< WIN_4_WRKGRPS (not in EchoList since 8/1/95)

NOTE: HOBBIES is on the current wannabe list and it looks like
it should be back on the backbone next week.

o There are 758 echos in backbone.na [05-Nov-95] (up 29)
o There are 64 echos in backbone.no [05-Nov-95] (down 21)
o for a total of 822 backbone & quasi-backbone echos (up 8)

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From: Scott A. McClare
To: Donald Tees
Subject: That Coleridge Poem

Hello Donald!

Remember me mentioning a S. T. Coleridge poem about geometry? I
finally managed to look it up:

A Mathematical Problem

If Pegasus will let thee only ride him,
Spurning my clumsy efforts to o'erstride him,
FidoNews 12-46 Page: 4 13 Nov 1995

Some fresh expedient the Muse will try,
And walk on stilts, although she cannot fly.

TO THE REV. GEORGE COLERIDGE

DEAR BROTHER,

I have often been surprised that Mathematics, the
quintessence of Truth, should have found admirers so few and so
languid. Frequent consideration and minute scrutiny have at
length unravelled the cause; viz. that though Reason is feasted,
Imagination is starved; whilst Reason is luxuriating in its
proper Paradise, Imagination is wearily travelling on a dreary
desert. To assist Reason by the stimulus of Imagination is the
design of the following production. In the execution of it much
may be objectionable. The verse (particularly in the
introduction of the ode) may be accused of unwarrantable
liberties, but they are liberties equally homogeneal with the
exactness of Mathematical disquisition, and the boldness of
Pendaric daring. I have three strong champions to defend me
against the attacks of Criticism: the Novelty, the Difficulty,
and the Utility of the work. I may justly plume myself that I
first have drawn the nymph Mathesis from the visionary caves of
abstracted idea, and caused her to unite with Harmony. The
first-born of this Union I now present to you; with interested
motives indeed - as I expect to receive in return the more
valuable offspring of your Muse. Thine ever, S.T.C.

[Christ's Hospital], March 31, 1791.

This is now - this was erst,
Proposition the first - and Problem the first.

I

On a given finite line
Which must in no way incline;
To describe an equi -
- lateral Tri -
- A, N, G, L, E.
Now let A. B.
Be the given line
Which must no way incline;
The great Mathematician
Makes this Requisition,
That we ascribe an Equi -
- Lateral Tri -
- angle on it:
Aid us Reason - aid us, Wit!

II

From the centre A. at the distance A. B.
Describe the circle B. C. D.
At the distance B. A. from B. the centre
FidoNews 12-46 Page: 5 13 Nov 1995

The round A. C. E. to describe boldly venture.
(Third postulate see.)
And from the point C.
In which the circles make a pother
Cutting and slashing one another,
Bid the straight lines a journeying go.
C. A. C. B. those lines will show.
To the points, which by A. B. are reckon'd,
And postulate the second
For Authority ye know.
A. B. C.
Triumphant shall be
An Equilateral Triangle,
Not Peter Pindar carp, nor Zoilus can wrangle.

III

Because the point A. is the centre
Of the circular B. C. D.
And because the point B. is the centre
Of the circular A. C. E.
A. C. to A. B. and B. C. to B. A.
Harmoniously equal for ever must stay;
Then C. A. and B. C.
Both extend the kind hand
To the basis, A. B.
Unambitiously join'd in Equality's Band.
But to the same powers, when two powers are equal,
My mind forbodes the sequel;
My mind does some celestial impulse teach,
And equalizes each to each.
Thus C. A. with B. C. strikes the same sure alliance,
That C. A. and B. C. had with A. B. before;
And in mutual affiance
None attempting to soar
Above another,
The unanimous three
C. A. and B. C. and A. B.
All are equal, each to his brother,
Preserving the balance of power so true:
Ah! the like would the proud Autocratix do!
At taxes impending not Britain would tremble,
Nor Prussia struggle her fear to dissemble;
Nor the Mah'met-sprung Wight
The great Mussulman
Would stain his Divan
With Urine the soft-flowing daughter of Fright.

IV

But rein your stallion in, too daring Nine!
Should Empires bloat the scientific line?
Or with dishevvel'd hair all madly do ye run
For transport that your task is done?
For done it is - the cause is tried!
FidoNews 12-46 Page: 6 13 Nov 1995

And Proposition, gentle Maid,
Who soothly ask'd stern Demonstration's aid,
Has proved her right, and A. B. C.
Of Angles three
Is shown to be of equal side;
And now our weary steed to rest in fine,
'Tis rais'd upon A. B. the straight, the given line.

(1791)

Whew . . . anyone got a compass?

-=Scott=-
1:221/1401.7
[email protected]

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Fidonet in the Future
Is There a Will Among Sysops and Developers to Keep Fidonet Improving?
Brad Crockett 1:340/201

I certainly hope so. There is a lot of excellent work going into
Fidonet just maintaining it, and the quality of the network is
outstanding. The text based design works to our advantage as well.

It's troubling, though, when the only discussions these days seem to be
about political stuff. And it's worries me that no one ever seems to
get any credit for what Fidonet is. Certainly there is a lot of work
being done to maintain the nodelist and echos, and publish the Snooze.
I apologize that I am not completely aware of what else goes on in the
background (I'm a Newbie), but certainly I have my NEC to thank as well.
Heavens, I find myself quite busy just organizing my own little BBS,
never mind organizing feeds and such. I wouldn't want their jobs!

This hard work that goes into the net has a payback for everyone.
Compared to the commercial service 'conferences' and the Usenet
newsgroups, Fidonet has far better quality of participation. This
results in a very high 'signal to noise ratio'. In fact, I would say
that Fido echos have the best content of any of the networks. I believe
that this is because the participants are mostly sysops - and they have
invested more into the system than the users of the other networks.

It's a good thing that Fido's focus is on messaging. With the
Internet's disctracting Webs and Home Pages and graphics viewers, it's
no wonder people are already complaining about all of the 'static'. And
it's no wonder that Internet performance slows to a crawl again shortly
after a site's bandwidth is upgraded.

So I think that we all deserve a pat on the back for managing growth the
way we have. And for contributing to a system that has excellent
staying power.
FidoNews 12-46 Page: 7 13 Nov 1995

========================================================================
Fidonews Information
========================================================================

------- FIDONEWS MASTHEAD AND CONTACT INFORMATION ----------------

Editors: Donald Tees, Sylvia Maxwell
Editors Emeritii: Thom Henderson, Dale Lovell,
Vince Perriello, Tim Pozar
Tom Jennings
"FidoNews" BBS
FidoNet 1:1/23
BBS +1-519-570-4176, 300/1200/2400/14400/V.32bis/HST(DS)

more addresses:
Don -- 1:221/192, [email protected]
Sylvia- 1:221/194, [email protected]

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FidoNews
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