HD64180 Computer News. XL-M180 S-100 board, by Intelligent Computer Designs,
does-it-all. It's a complete single board computer with 512k-bytes DRAM,
tape, floppy, and hard disk controller, local area network, and more. Write
ICD at 9252 Garden Grove Blvd., Garden Grove, CA 92644, or call 714/638-3622,
to request literature.
Magnum Digital, Inc., opens new marketing headquarters at 3211 S.
Providence Road, Suite #302, Columbia, MO 65203. Call 314/449-7199 for
information on their S-100 master/slave computer (PRO-180), disk controllers,
and memory boards. Mr. Marc Strid, Marketing Manager, is ready to answer
questions and dash literature to you.
MDI's and ICD's products open new era for S-100 bus, multiprocessing,
multitasking, and multi-user technology.
Bruce Morgen, erstwhile computer editor for Electronic Products magazine
and present User's Guide Advanced User columnist, places newsletter yoke
around neck...his NAOG (North American One-Eighty Group) signals bend in
road...eight-bit computing systems shall never die! Those of bigger/more-is-
better mentality cannot not stop us...deep-living alone wares well. (No-think
leads to vegetable-like sleep, plight of some popular magazine editors with
neither focus nor long-sightedness.) Whoopee! Subscription to NAOG
newsletter costs $15.00 per year, 12 issues. To order: write NAOG, P.O. Box
2781, Warminster, PA 18974, or call 215/443-9031. It's a must if you own
Hitachi HD64180 8-bit computer, either S-100 or SBC. Others, especially PC-
DOS users, wouldn't find NAOG interesting unless they are thinking of
upgrading...
ZCPR3 Game. The first game available, to our knowledge, using full Z3
environment (doesn't run under CP/M) is called THELLO, is being offered by
Tiger Computing, 8372 Morris Road, Hilliard, OH 43026. It's interactive,
between one player and computer or between two players, with goal of acquiring
more blocks of space (pieces) than opponent. Three levels-of-play are
selectively provided. You gain as opponent loses--lots of dramatic who-is-
ahead reversals as game progresses. Program makes use of screen half-
intensity, cursor positioning, and 8-bit computer speed. Very impressive!
Demonstration of game playing against itself is on Z-Nodes in file
THELLDEM.LBR. Simply download, install as Z3 utility using Z3INS, and enjoy
some of what can be--then, for fun, order your fully playable copy. Presently
supplied only on 8" SSSD disk, THELLO costs a mere $10.00 plus $3.00 shipping
and handling from TC.
Z TIPS. Creating a complex, long macro (multiple) command-line alias is
quick and easy if correct tools are available. Z-System has such tools.
First, load VERROR (or ERROR23) followed by HSH (or VCED), then run BALIAS (or
VALIAS) under HSH. Next, key-in your long set of commands, editing as you
observe typos. Execute the alias from within HSH; VERROR notifies of
unexecutable commands. Alter command text on-the-fly from within VERROR
noting changes that work. Last, re-execute, modify until each command, entire
alias, runs as intended. Wow! Of course, same technique may be used to
develop ZEX batch command files, or ARUNZ ALIAS.CMD files. We challenge PC-
DOS and Unix users to compete in such interactive automation feats.
Command error handling, full-screen multiple command-line editing with
present and previous command recalling (up to the last 100 commands
executed!), full-screen creation of aliases consisting of alias nesting,
multiple commands with extensive variable passing, including current
directory. Again, wow! Yet, many magazine editors claim, fugue-like, there
is nothing new to report from 8-bit microcomputing world--we WONDER why they
think such non-sense.
Our Z-Node network is estimated to be handling over 35,000 callers per
month. We get words out about what we are doing, notwithstanding a popular
press inclined to ignore our community. Day soon comes when high-performance
8-bit systems are publicly proclaimed for usefulness, speed, and efficiency.
We_Get_Letters. Newsletters 006 and 301 discussed machine resources required
to support Z-System. Some few of you seem to think we think Z cannot be used
on systems smaller than a pair of 360k-byte floppy drives. Not true! More
power to those who arrange their resources to use but two 191k-byte drives and
still get their work done. Bravo! We are fully aware of performance provided
by big RAM and fast hard disk drives; but these devices are not necessary to
gain substantial increased-productivity benefits from using Z-System. Many
ways to open oysters...we salute diversity of thought, which always leads to
improved technique. You know we stand against trooping (see Zeffirelli in
304). Daniel Brogan, a professional writer, tells how he uses 191k-byte
drives, in file Z-ON-A-2.TXT on Z-Nodes everywhere.
Z-Node Activity. Welcome to Z-Node #45 and its sysop, Richard "Ken" Reid, in
Houston, TX. Dick's Altos computer modem number is 713/937-8886. He fills Z-
System need in the great southwestern section of USA, reducing load on our El
Paso nodes.
Z-node #41's modem number is 301/254-6277. Its sysop, Larry Mansfield,
in Baltimore, handles traffic at one end of Maryland, while John D'Ausilio in
Bladensburg handles other end, 301/779-7986. State is covered!
Amateur Z User's Corner. Object code and source (ASCII) code are different
according to purpose. Object code uses the full 8-bits of a byte, needed to
control computer's processing unit registers. Assembler mnemonics (ASCII 7-
bit) are converted (language translated) to machine opera-
tion code for register manipulation, getting the work done.
A word processor or editor program usually produces
ASCII 7-bit code, except for programs like WordStar that
uses the 8th bit (MSB, most significant bit) for soft-
hyphen, etc., indication.
A runnable program is one that's been converted from
lines of text (statements) produced by you and your editor
to object code by an assembler or compiler.
Programs MENU, VMENU, ARUNZ, and VFILER process text
files for computer task automation. You create MNU, VMN,
and CMD files with your editor. Chapters 5 and 7 of ZCPR3:
The Manual describes the elements necessary to learn menu
and command file creation.
The Manual has an excellent
Appendix with a glossary of word
meanings. Learning from this glossary
Lewis Carroll sketch increases your understanding. Word
"Pray, your Majesty, let our meaning is important--it's the only way
teacher quickly appear as we have to communicate with you. Word
as we need him." clarity leads to phrase and idea
clarity. Clarity leads to abstraction.
For without abstraction we are unable
to understand things and communicate
complex thoughts.
Now to the SHOW utility...it shows important addresses
and status of your system. Page 86 of The Manual describes
much of what you need to know about SHOW. The base
addresses of all segment packages (RCP, FCP, ENV, NDR, etc.)
and buffers are displayed. Completely menu driven, 11
screens tell of message status (error, ZEX, etc.), shell
stack condition, named directories, paths, full-screen
memory content reporting, system file names, CRT and printer
data. Everything you wish to know about your running ZCPR3
system is available from one of SHOW's menus. A correctly
running SHOW is a good indication, in addition to providing
so much information, that your entire Z-System is installed
correctly. Don't forget, SHOW can be installed as an error
handler, useful during system debugging.
Z-MSG Message Handling Program greatly expanded by author, Tim Gary, but keeps
compact size (only 26k-bytes). Newsletter 009 has our last words about Z-Msg.
Version 1.31a handles all popular real-time clocks and does more; for example:
o A special ZCPR3 ONLY addition allows the sysop of a ZCPR3 system an
extremely flexible method of running other programs from Z-Msg command mode.
Any number of commands, including parameters, may be used for various user-
type access setups.
o An advanced user edit command facility has been added with these
features:
. "Sweep/Disk7-like" operation allows System Operator (sysop) to quickly
step through the users file, and edit, delete, or restore users.
. Direct seek to specified user number, and search for user name.
. Mass purge operation to delete users by selected criteria (times user
has called, date last logged on, and user status).
. Displaying and restoring users that have been deleted, as long as a
new user hasn't taken the previous users "slot" in the users file.
o From within Z-Msg and with sysop-status, Control-P (^P) toggles
operator's printer on and off.
o A temporary simulation of half-duplex operation may be performed by
using ^E (Control-E) to toggle the echoing of characters. Normally, message
system echos characters back as they are typed; this control turns off
automatic echo characteristic. Feature offers long distance callers a method
to avoid most of the delay caused by time taken for characters to be sent and
returned to their terminal.
o The APply command now automatically sets subject of message to something
resembling "*** New User Application ***".
o Z-Msg may execute a program before the user logs out from the message
system. Normally control is passed to telephone answer program (Term3's
T3ANSWER and IOP or BYE) which disconnects to modem, and prepares for next
call.
o When editing a line of text while entering a message, you may specify
rest-of-line as deleted in replacement text by appending a "#" to new text.
For example: line 5 text is "Mary had a little lamb"; if line is edited with
search string "little" and replacement string "big elephant#", resulting line
becomes "Mary had a big elephant".
o Greater ability to upload text, like WordStar files, exists because
message system now strips (zeros) high-bit (bit 8) of byte (character) from
typed text in more places than in previous versions. Also, any linefeed
character received is translated into a space character. Thus uploading a
message with embedded Carriage Return/Linefeed characters, in that order, need
not have the first character in each blank line be a space.
o If a clock is installed, the sysop may set a separate timeout value for
each user type. Value determines time duration a user stays on system, before
being auto-logged-off, at Z-Msg command prompt. The following object-code
routines are supplied and installed from a Z-Msg menu:
MEC-5832.CLK - 5832 homebrew clock MEC-LG2.CLK - Kaypro 2 and Legacy clock
MEC-BBII.CLK - Big Board II MEC-KPRO.CLK - Kaypro 2 and ProClock
MEC-CW.CLK - CompuTime/QT clock MEC-QX10.CLK - Epson QX10
MEC-KP4.CLK - Kaypro 4 clock MEC-XERO.CLK - Xerox 820-II clock
MEC-LG10.CLK - Kaypro 10 and Legacy clock
MEC-SS1.CLK - CompuPro System Support 1 clock
MEC-KCT.CLK - Kenmore Computer Technologies clock
Additional routines are possible using MECLKHDR.ASM file supplied, or with BYE
3/5 clock insert files.
Z-Msg has become so significant in our software stable we cancelled EMSG
development. Z-Msg takes us through the 1980's to Earth satellite relay
packet networks.
Z-Msg, with 80-page loose-leaf, is offered for $99.95, plus $4.00
shipping and handling. Source code is an additional $100.00. Manual alone is
$20.00, refundable if program ordered later.
Use of DRUGS
Learn, know physiological results from taking hallucinogenic and narcotic
drugs. Drug abuse bares bitter fruits. Any who want to argue about the so-
called beauty or harmlessness must awake and start thinking. If drugs control
you now, the habit pattern may be so powerful you will need outside assistance
to break it, to find another way to get through the day.
How Hallucinogenic Drugs Work in the Brain
Diagrams below are accurate representation of facts disclosed through
micro-photography within a living human brain. Photos were taken during
brain-cell process of transferring a sensory message from one brain cell to
another. Cells are directly related in chain from input to senses to final
action, thought, or decision made as a result of that input.
Diagram I
In normal transfer of sensory signal from cell to cell, after an initial
electrical impulse, the brain cells do not actually touch; transmission is
accomplished by tiny, tiny grains of protein, called "transmitter granules",
which cross tiny gap between the two nerve cell endings. If, for instance,
this particular signal is part of a shade of green (hundreds or even thousands
of cells would be involved in ascertaining a tree's shades of leaf color), the
granules cross gap between correct nerve endings and transmit that specific,
correct shade of green for which they were biologically, genetically
programmed (through heritage).
Diagram II
Under influence of hallucinogenic or "mind-manifesting" drugs, these
transmitter granules are physically disrupted, broken up into hundreds or
thousands of bits and pieces. They then scatter all over the brain,
indiscriminately hitting unrelated brain cells. Sensation of green may be
mixed with some red. Bits may hit a cell end transferring impulses of "up" or
"down" or danger, joy, pain, guilt, anger, and may hit possible subconscious
fantasies of murder, great powers, suicide, and so on.
What seems to the drug-user as a "high" is really an all-time low, in terms of
correct, reality-oriented, significant information. And that can lead to
incorrect thoughts, feelings, judgments, and irrational decisions and
actions--and non-action when action is indicated.
This is the danger of drug-abuse: FEELING AND REACTING TO NON-REALITY!
Love and relationships cannot grow and mature between/among people influenced
by drugs. Alcohol, marijuana, cocaine, LSD, PCP, and heroin. Drugs, a cause
for battering among family members, marital divorces, and broken friendships.
Think straight. Rise up! and become what you are capable of becoming.
(double sketch of brain granule transmisions.)
--------
Newsletter Policy. Z-News reprints (all back issues are available) are $1.00
each, $8.00 for any 12, and $12.00 for any individual 24 issues, mailed as a
lot, postage included in price. A year's subscription remains at $24.00, for
from 22 to 26 issues mailed every fortnigh
t. Thirty-five have been written
thus far, including 308. Z-News 106 explains issue numbering system. We
encourage those who receive Z-News from RASs (and EI customers who know their
6-months initial auto-subscription has expired--consider user-support, free-
ware $35.00 donation suggested in Newsletter 103, pg 3, Item 83 on our Price
List) to subscribe to hardcopy version. Publication has impact. Multi-color
papers, graphics and sketches, several font styles, headers and footers,
shadow and bold characters, and word/phrase underlining make study and 7-times
reading easy. You miss much if you don't receive Echelon hardcopy version of
Z-News.
Industry Brief. Toshiba produces CMOS exact-replacement for NMOS Z80 chip.
Dissipates but 60 milliwatts at 4 megaHertz clock rate, compared to over-a-
watt for conventional Z80. Mostek, Z80 supplier owned by United Technology,
doors closed. Z80 without Mostek and its superior documentation and customer
support would never have become so popular; but now it's gone. Can western
companies compete with Oriental?
Japan's industry (attention to detail) fast overtakes USA's. Such
industry forces Detroit to improve their offerings--Detroit has some ways to
go! Reason we buy Japanese imports is same reason they wouldn't buy ours, no
matter how fair and easy the marketing channels. Ignore scape-goats, increase
value.
Ramblings. (Still camped on mountain top, positioned among plants and
animals, co-inhabitants of Earth.) Creatures of habit, appetite, consumption,
re-action, we continue to be; business as usual, as we lose our economy, our
mental and moral advantages. Take a longer view, or become a second class
culture or perhaps worse, extinct. Our enormous abdomens betray us--tell of
our true worship. Or are we addicted to generating internal endorphins?
There's an infinite number of levels of drunkenness, ranging from an
overdose of beauty to an overdose of alcohol or heroin. (Yes, beauty causes
us to linger, is a major stumbling block to learning, to becoming.) We are
without much fancy or imagination--we lust for satisfaction, fulfillment
without working for it.
Listen, there is no second-party salvation; it's up to you to make of
what's available, to turn substance into finer essence. There is no heaven
but what's in your mind. Heaven is not a place; it's a dimension added to
your understanding (see end of Z-News 304). The shell game is over--life
starts and stops with you and me.
You may have heard it said "plagiarism is basic to culture, any culture."
We each use to advantage things past. But, we must pay for such use by
creating things of equal value others can use. Such accounting adds to Life
instead of death, promotes local Construction (that echoes throughout Cosmos),
not destruction.
What constitutes the Whole (question asked in 307, pg 5)? Integrity.
How can any one be weak, false who dares to_be at all? Even tender plants
force their way up through hard soil, and crevices of highway asphalt; surely,
a human being, no material substance can resist. What a wedge, a force, Third
Force, is an earnest person! Can he be resisted? The heavens are as deep as
our aspirations are high. So high as a tree aspires to grow, so high it finds
an environment to nurture, to nourish it. Is there one who dares not see
clearly beyond, though only a hair's breadth beyond where he currently stands?
Z-System users, dare!
ti |^ do re me fa so la ti |^ do
See you down the lines...
Echelon, Inc.
101 First Street
Los Altos, CA 94022
Telephone: 415/948-3820
Z-Node Central: 415/489-9005
Z-News 308 is Copyright 1985 Echelon, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Permission
to reprint, wholly or partially, automatically granted if source credit is
given to Echelon.
