F I D O N E W S --       Volume 14, Number 12          24 March 1997
    +----------------------------+-----------------------------------------+
    |  The newsletter of the     |   ISSN 1198-4589 Published by:          |
    |    FidoNet community       |   "FidoNews"                            |
    |          _                 |        1-904-409-7040    [1:1/23]       |
    |         /  \               |                                         |
    |        /|oo \              |                                         |
    |       (_|  /_)             |                                         |
    |        _`@/_ \    _        |                                         |
    |       |     | \   \\       |   Editor:                               |
    |       | (*) |  \   ))      |        Christopher Baker  1:18/14       |
    |       |__U__| /  \//       |                                         |
    |        _//|| _\   /        |                                         |
    |       (_/(_|(____/         |                                         |
    |             (jm)           |     Newspapers should have no friends.  |
    |                            |                    -- JOSEPH PULITZER   |
    +----------------------------+-----------------------------------------+
    |               Submission address: FidoNews Editor 1:1/23             |
    +----------------------------------------------------------------------+
    |  MORE addresses:                                                     |
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    |    submissions=> [email protected]                                |
    +----------------------------------------------------------------------+
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    |    please refer to the end of this file.                             |
    +----------------------------------------------------------------------+


          WHY DO SOME FIDONET FOLKS JUST DISAPPEAR?


                       Table of Contents
    1. EDITORIAL  ................................................  1
       Lots of articles and another loss to FidoNet?  ............  1
    2. CORRECTIONS  ..............................................  2
       Error in Region 14 Internet listing last week  ............  2
    3. ARTICLES  .................................................  3
       Burt Juda's system no longer in the Nodelist?  ............  3
       Cash and Carry - Financing FidoFolks  .....................  3
       Solid Oak Software's extremist, fascist behavior  .........  5
       Doomsday is only when you decide it to be  ................  9
       Fidonet versus Internet: A Followup  ...................... 11
       Fidonet Technical Standards Committee - NOTICE OF NOMIN  .. 14
       Ides of March..Hog Wash!  ................................. 15
    4. REVIEWS  .................................................. 20
       TransNet - A new Fidonet/Internet gateway  ................ 20
    5. GETTING TECHNICAL  ........................................ 22
       FSC-0052 - Making the PATH zone aware  .................... 22
       FSC-0053 - Specifications for the aFLAGS field  ........... 24
    6. COORDINATORS CORNER  ...................................... 28
       Nodelist-statistics as seen from Zone-2 for day 080  ...... 28
    7. WE GET EMAIL  ............................................. 29
       ZEC/RC19 Election notice  ................................. 29
    8. NET HUMOR  ................................................ 31
       If MicroSoft was in Alabama?  ............................. 31
    9. ADVERTISE YOUR FREE SERVICE/EVENT  ........................ 32
    And more!
     FIDONEWS 14-12               Page 1                   24 Mar 1997


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


    This Issue is packed with .ARTs from all over the world. I guess we've
    finally got the readership stirred up. [grin]

    But in the midst of all this input we lost something, namely: the uucp
    Gate at 1:13/10. Burt Juda no longer appears in any capacity in the
    FidoNet Nodelist. Why? And WHO was going to tell us? ZC1 was unaware
    of it last I asked. James Young and I have been discussing it in email
    for several days and his last communication from Juda appears later.

    This lack of communication in a network dedicated to communication
    mystifies this writer.

    What effect does this have on Internet gating or the fidonet.org
    domain? Is there now a NEW Guucp honcho? Who?

    Don't forget you can post info, answers, and articles et al, in the
    FIDONEWS Echo available everywhere. Otherwise, we will be waiting for
    input to next week's Issue for some answers/news.

    The Internet listings in the FidoNet by Internet Section now only
    include Region level and up listings. Net listings by Region are
    available on the FidoNews webpages listed in the Masthead. Personal
    sites may be linked to the FidoNet International WebRing also listed
    in the Masthead.

    C.B.

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

     FIDONEWS 14-12               Page 2                   24 Mar 1997


    =================================================================
                               CORRECTIONS
    =================================================================


    The Region 14 page listing should read 'netins' instead of the
    'metins' that appeared in 1411.

    This error has been corrected in this Issue. Sorry for any
    confusion.

    Ed.

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

     FIDONEWS 14-12               Page 3                   24 Mar 1997


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


    [Burt Juda's Guucp Node and all other Nodes under his name no longer
     appear in the FidoNet Nodelist. Here's a little info on this
     event from an ongoing conversation in email.] Ed.


    Date: Sun, 23 Mar 1997 09:43:03 -0600
    From: James Young <[email protected]>
    To: Christopher Baker <[email protected]>
    Subject: Re: 1:13/10

    CB>  did he say something else would replace it or is he finished?
    CB>  what is/was his email address? i'd like to get something into
    CB>  FidoNews tomorrow.

    Here's a copy of the message I received:

    ==================================================
    Subject:   Re: 1:13/10
    Date:       Fri, 21 Mar 1997 10:14:34 -0500
    From:      [email protected] (Burt Juda)
    Organization:  Merlin's Castle, Edison, NJ

     To:         James Young <[email protected]>

    At 04:25 PM 3/14/97 -0600, James Young wrote:

    JY> I've been using 1:13/10 for some time now as my gateway and
    JY> appreciate the service that you have provided.
    >
    JY> For the last several days, however, my system has not been able to
    JY> connect with it.  Is 1:13/10 down for a while?

    Down permanently .. hardware crash.

    ======================================================

     -30-

    [Does this mean anything to the fidonet.org domain for FidoNet to
    Internet email routing?  An official notice would have been nice.
    [sigh] Guucp gurus please reply to FidoNews.] Ed.

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


    Cash and Carry - Financing FidoFolks
    by: Clay Tannacore  (1:372/136)


       Just when you thought it was safe to start reading FIDONEWS again.
    I'm back!  This time with an unforgiving message to all of the Network
     FIDONEWS 14-12               Page 4                   24 Mar 1997


    EchoMail Coordinators, and the SysOps who have by way of their
    acquisitiveness damn near annihilated FidoNet.  These parsimonious
    individuals who have persuaded themselves that users, and/or EchoMail
    recipients have a reverential responsibility to pay for whatever they
    (NECs or SysOps) elect to charge for.  Some-how these weasels have
    decided that a federation such as FidoNet that was established as a
    network of hobbyists, should now (to suit their greedy souls) become
    the Federal Savings and Loan Association for Retarded (OOPs, did I
    misspell that last word?) SysOps and NECs.  This technique of self
    enrichment is a plague within the FidoNet community and requires
    immediate attention.  When I say "immediate action" I do not mean some
    co-conspirator *looking into it*, I mean every damn Regional
    Coordinator launching a extensive inquiry into this agendum.   I'm
    sure that this form of self enrichment has won the wide embrace of
    those who have profited by it, but the rest of us are witnessing the
    demise of our user base, and FidoNet as our parent organization.

       For those of you who are not familiar with what I have been doing
    in the most recent past.  I have for the last 76 days been researching
    complaints in reference to the charging of fees to users and the pay
    as you go fees charged for EchoMail (NEC's) distribution.  Be it known
    that I have only been able to accumulate statistics from 26 different
    nets.  This was accomplished by personal contact with various SysOps
    in those nets, and obtaining copies of their respective EchoMail
    policy documents.  Without elaborating on individual net policies, I
    will state that there are a number of bulletin board systems that
    charge a user fee (aka, a donation, registration fee, or voluntary
    contributions) for services that should (under POLICY4.) be free of
    any expense.  The proceeding statement includes access to FidoNet (and
    international) EchoMail, local EchoMail, files (sometimes shareware)
    including Copyrighted material.  As a matter of fact the greatest
    number of Pay-For-Access bulletin board systems, are nothing but
    illegal software distribution points, catering to those who want low
    cost (copyright infringements) programs.  However, to be fair about
    this statement, there are an abundant amount of boards that only
    charge for access to the Internet.  Something that is exclusively
    harmful and destructive in nature to FidoNet as a whole.

       There are correspondingly many Network Coordinators that are for
    reasons unbeknown to me allowing the Network EchoMail Coordinators to
    place monitory assessment in excess of the cost of providing their
    services to their nets SysOps.  The *buddy-buddy system* is
    widespread, and individual SysOps are being assessed amounts that can
    not be justified once telephone LD charges are reviewed.  A *buddy*
    may only pay a penance for the import of 30 or more Echoes while
    another SysOp who hasn't been initiated into *The Brotherhood* will
    have to supplement the NEC's coffers by paying (his FAIR share) 10 to
    20 times as much as an amigo, even though the SysOp only carries 4 or
    5 Echoes.  Don't get me wrong, there are a number of NEC operations
    that are completely within the parameters set forth in Policy 4.
    There are many NEC's that will for reasons justified to him, wavier
    the requirement of fees for certain systems.  I'm in one of those
    nets that do.  The NEC here (in the 372 Net) has allowed my system to
    operate without the burden on fees for EchoMail.  While my system
    only imports 3 national Echoes (totally for Disabled American
    Veterans) it is without a doubt a Godsend not to have to expend the
     FIDONEWS 14-12               Page 5                   24 Mar 1997


    extra bucks each month.  The trouble is, not very many other NEC's
    will do that.  They have an agenda to fill, along with their pockets,
    and wouldn't give a worthwhile cause the time of day, without an
    interest payment.  I have read over 19 of the local EchoMail policies,
    and without a doubt they all sound like a *financial statement*
    rather than a policy document.  Sometimes this is an attempt by the
    NEC to *explain* to the SysOp why he must help out financially, and
    what he will receive in return for his buck.  Nevertheless, there are
    policy documents that I have reviewed that are nothing more than the
    NEC's way of intimidating the SysOp's with refined threats.  Even in
    my own net, the policy document is little more than a business type
    financial proclamation.  There is a time and place for this sort of
    document, but rather than constructing a policy document laden with
    "what has to be paid", why not give a demonstration (factual, of
    course) of what it costs to operate for a month.  Surely this way
    will serve two purposes.  One, the SysOp gains an understanding as to
    why he is paying, and what he is getting for his money.  Two, there
    is a *full disclosure" of what is *really* spent for mail distribution
    and communications, leaving no undisclosed data to cause derogatory
    or speculative talk.

       Gentlemen what I have just expounded upon is true.  You know it,
    you live under it day by day.  You, (whether you are a user or SysOp),
    know the practices and circumstances I quoted above are factual.
    You've seen it in almost every net.  So, why not do something about
    it?  Let your Regional Coordinator know your feelings.  Have your NEC
    post in an open message base, his phone bill for the previous month.
    Maybe the last two or three months.  Get on the NC of your net
    relating to what you feel is an unjust and inequitable way you must
    support the EchoMail system.  One word of caution here.  When and if
    you do as I propose, be sure you have a valid complaint.  Talk to
    others in your net, find out their charges for their EchoMail.
    Compare the charges they are required to pay, and ask them to inquire
    of their friends as to their *contributions*.

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


    Solid Oak Software's extremist, fascist behavior
    Fredric L. Rice ([email protected])
    The Skeptic Tank, 1:218/890.0.  (818) 335-9601
    http://www.linkline.com/personal/frice/index.htm

    Right-wing extremist groups operating in the United States have been
    using the rhetoric of "Save the children!" to advance their occult
    agendas for decades.  Now, with the help of technology, a new fascist
    business called "Solid Oak Software" has managed to rise above all the
    rest and get noticed.

    As described below, their Internet-access software limits the
    information that the company's leader -- Brian Milburn -- wants his
    customers to access.  Even though customers are told it "saves the
    children!" the company doesn't advertise [1] the fact that the parents
    who purchase the software have no say-so in what it will allow access
    to and what it will not; the buyer unthinkingly purchases the
    extremist bias of the company's leader.
     FIDONEWS 14-12               Page 6                   24 Mar 1997


    Indeed, it gets worse:  Mr. Milburn refuses to divulge the sites that
    the software won't access and has implemented very weak encryption to
    make sure that parents never learn about his extremist bias.  He gets
    upset when people publicly report on some of the sites that he doesn't
    want anyone to access.  (If he's embarrassed by his prejudices, he
    shouldn't expose them, I opine.)

    Buyer beware.

    As for myself, I've asked to have my web pages included in the list of
    banned sites.  The cult _does_ provide a highly valuable service to
    educational organizations like mine by limiting the access to their
    web pages to educated, intelligent people.  As more and more people
    become aware of what the software does, only people who share the
    company leader's bizarre bias will use it --and I don't want those
    types of people accessing my materials any way.  Do you?

    [1] This may change.  The company may have to start publicly admitting
    that customers can't select what they can or can not access (perhaps
    the company has already started.)  People who purchase Internet-
    censoring software have the right to at least know that in addition to
    limiting the access to pornography, the software also limits access to
    educational systems and charity organizations.

    -=-

    CyberWire Dispatch // Copyright (c) 1996 // December 20
    Jacking in from the "Your Agenda is Showing" Port:

    Washington -- It's a long held maxim that technology is "agenda
    neutral." Until now.

    As an earlier Dispatch investigation proved, the so-called "blocking
    software" industry, praised for enabling parents, teachers and
    corporations to block porn from being sucked into the computers of
    those trolling the Web, often comes with a shrink-wrapped, encrypted
    agenda in the form of the database of web sites and newsgroups these
    programs actually block.

    Porn sites aren't the only ones blocked. Sites with decided political
    or activist agendas, such as the National Organization for Women (NOW)
    or animal rights groups, also are blocked.  Trouble is, these blocking
    software programs don't make this known to the user. For some
    companies, shedding a spotlight on their underlying agenda, makes them
    sweat bullets or foam at the ascii mouth. Such is the case with Brian
    Milburn, president of Solid Oak Software, developer of an insipidly
    named blocking program called "Cybersitter."

    When confronted with his agenda ridden software, Milburn isn't shy
    about it, indeed, he was outright indignant when he originally told
    Dispatch: "If NOW doesn't like it, tough... We have not and will not
    bow to any pressure from any organization that disagrees with [our]
    philosophy."

    So when Bennett Haselton decided to put a sharp edge on this subject
    by focusing on Cybersitter with laser like precision, Milburn went off
     FIDONEWS 14-12               Page 7                   24 Mar 1997


    the charts.

    Milburn wrote to Media3, the ISP that houses Haselton's website
    <www.peacefire.org>, saying he was adding the entire domain of Media3
    to the Cybersitter blocking database, in order to keep anyone using
    his company's product from gaining access to Haselton's article.

    Milburn ranted to Media3 that Haselton had made it "his mission in
    life to defame our product" exhibiting "extreme immaturity," by
    "routinely" publishing names of sites blocked by Cybersitter.  Milburn
    claimed that Haselton may have "illegally reversed engineered" the
    Cybersitter database. Milburn has threatened legal action. Haselton,
    however, found a white knight. After hearing about Milburn's actions,
    Mike Godwin, legal counsel for the Electronic Frontier Foundation,
    decided to represent him.

    In an Email to Wired News correspondent Rebecca Vesely, who wrote
    about Milburn's beef with Haselton, Milburn said he was swamped with
    "geek-mail" from Wired News' "loyal following of pinhead idiots."
    Milburn characterized Haselton, "an aspiring felon" and said that he
    had confirmation that Haselton was the "ghost writer" for the original
    Dispatch article that broke the story of the hidden agendas in
    blocking software.

    All this bluster over Haselton, an 18-year-old with too much time on
    his hands. If right about now you're thinking that Milburn should pick
    on someone his own size, well, he's already "been there, done that"
    and got his ass kicked in the process.

    You see, after the first Dispatch article, Milburn sent us a saber-
    rattling Email. His Aug. 15th Email claimed that "your willful reverse
    engineering and subsequent publishing of software code is a clear
    violation" of copyright law. And although he claimed he was sure he
    could win a case in civil court, he was instead seeking "felony
    criminal prosecution" by going to the FBI with his beef.

    I referred Milburn to my lawyers at Baker & Hostetler, who promptly
    pointed out that Dispatch hadn't been the one to hack the cybersitter
    database. Further, our article was "protected by the full force of the
    First Amendment," our lawyers said.

    And because Dispatch only published "fragments" of the Cybersitter
    database (a word used first by Milburn in his own threatening letter),
    such publication "fits squarely within the fair use provisions" of the
    copyright act, our lawyers reminded Milburn.

    Finally, Milburn was left to chew on this: "If you persist in accusing
    [Dispatch] falsely of copyright infringement and if you proceed with
    your ill-conceived threat to encourage the FBI to commence
    activities... you should understand that, unless the information you
    provide is accurate and complete, you and your firm may be incurring
    liability of your own."

    Not a peep has been heard from Milburn since he received that letter,
    until he decided to pick on the kid.

     FIDONEWS 14-12               Page 8                   24 Mar 1997


    Milburn is apparently operating in some alternative reality. His so-
    called "confirmed sources" about Haselton "ghost writing" our original
    story are utterly false.

    Haselton had nothing to do with our article. Dispatch obtained the
    cracked code of Cybersitter and the other programs we mentioned from
    an entirely different source. Haselton did nothing but build on the
    work of our original story, but never wrote a single word of the
    article nor did he provide us with the hacked databases.

    All of Milburn's heartburn has me confused. Rather than try and slay
    Haselton, he should pay him for the right to reprint his article and
    findings. Milburn makes no apologies for his agenda; indeed, he is
    proud that one of his major distributors is "Focus on the Family" a
    conservative Christian organization.

    And for people that brook with the conservative, straight-arrow family
    values ideals that Focus on the Family advocates, Cybersitter is the
    perfect fit. Indeed, this is the free market working at its best.
    Products spring up in direct response to demand. Cybersitter fits that
    model for a particular segment of the society. You may not like it; I
    certainly wouldn't use a product with this built in agenda, but nobody
    is making us buy it.

    You would think that Milburn would eat up such "negative" press and
    wear it like a badge of honor. But he is too petty; too small minded.
    And when he discovers that Haselton did nothing more than run
    Cybersitter through its paces, much the same way that a reviewer for
    computer magazine might, and then report the findings, he'll have
    nobody left to harass. I hope he doesn't have a dog he can kick...

    Have a Merry Christmas, Mr. Milburn. Peace on Earth, Good Will
    to Men.

    Meeks out...

    -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

    Cybersitter Goes after Teen
    by Rebecca Vesely

    8:00 pm PST 9 Dec 96 - A teenager who founded a Net anti-censorship
    group could face a lawsuit from the owner of the popular blocking
    program Cybersitter, Solid Oak Software, on grounds that he illegally
    obtained the list of sites blocked by the program.

    But the 18-year-old student at Vanderbilt University who founded
    Peacefire, Bennett Haselton, says that he merely ran the blocking
    software on his computer and kept track of which sites were blocked -
    such as the National Organization for Women, Mother Jones, and The
    Well.

    "According to our sources, he has engaged in illegal criminal
    copyright violations to further his juvenile teenaged political
    agenda, and reduce the effectiveness of our product," said Brian
    Milburn, president of Solid Oak Software.
     FIDONEWS 14-12               Page 9                   24 Mar 1997


    Solid Oak has added Peacefire to its list of blocked sites and has
    asked Peacefire's Internet provider, Media3, to remove Peacefire from
    its server. Milburn has also said he will block out all content Media3
    hosts if it does not remove Haselton's site.

    "It's pretty ironic that Cybersitter, which is supposed to help kids,
    is blocking a student-run organization," Haselton said.  Peacefire was
    founded in August and now has about 100 members, of whom the average
    age is 15 years old.

    Haselton wrote an article naming some of Cybersitter's blocked sites
    last month on the Peacefire Web site, but the site wasn't blocked
    until Friday, after Haselton contacted Milburn to discuss the
    company's blocking practices, Haselton said. The student was then told
    that Solid Oak had referred the matter to its legal department.

    "There was no way he could have known who was on our list without
    breaking into our system," said Solid Oak spokesman Mark Kanter.  "The
    filter had to be decoded by reverse engineering" - a process of taking
    a piece of technology and, without any knowledge of the techniques
    used to create it, making a copy.

    In an email written to Media3 on Friday, and forwarded to Wired News
    by Media3's administrator, Joe Hayes, Milburn said that Haselton "has
    made it his mission in life to defame our product," and warned that
    all content to Media3 - some 2,500 domain names -would be blocked on
    Cybersitter if Peacefire was not removed.

    "We realize this is an extreme measure and regret that our customers
    will no longer have access to any sites serviced by Media3. I am not
    sure if any of our current customers are Media3 subscribers, but as
    they will no longer be able to access their email and such, we will
    offer any affected customers complete refunds," Milburn said in the
    email.

    Hayes said Solid Oak has given him no proof that Haselton has done
    anything illegal, so he would not remove Peacefire, and noted that
    among the content on Media3's server is a Mayflower Society Bulletin
    Board and "everything to do with Pilgrims and Plymouth Rock." Hayes
    added that Media3's attorneys have been alerted to the situation, and
    if the ISP is blocked, it will take legal action. Solid Oak does not
    normally inform sites they have been blocked.

      Copyright (c) 1993-97 Wired Ventures, Inc. and affiliated companies.
      All rights reserved.

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


    Subject: Doomsday is only when you decide it to be.

    I have been a SysOp for 7 years.. and a member of FidoNet for 6 years.

    When I first joined the network, FidoNet's NodeList wasn't very large
    at all, in fact, it was puny compared to 1995. But the quality of
    messages was far greater and made up for the few nodes. The quality
     FIDONEWS 14-12               Page 10                  24 Mar 1997


    of FidoNet's messages even now is far higher than that of the
    InterNet, which has a gigantic amount of nodes that kills our count
    by a longshot. Quality far outweighs magnitude.

    Through my experience with the BBS world I have found that we have
    always struggled for our hobby. This struggle in many cases has faced
    the shut-down of our systems or networks in one way or another.

    During the years of 1994 through 1996, the number of BBSes grew by
    the thousands. But were ALL of these systems quality BBSes? In many
    cases no. It was until my second year as a SysOp that I learned what
    the true meaning of the word was. During that second year my Seagate
    ST251 MFM Hard Disk died, it literally burnt up the spindle motor as
    a result of a shot power regulator. I lost everything I had made of
    my BBS, which at the time had about 1000+ members and about 30 callers
    per day. All of this work was lost, and I knew there was no way I
    could retrieve it. It quite unfortunately went up in smoke, I came
    home one night and smelled burning epoxy in the air... and immediately
    feared the loss of my Bulletin Board System. After three long weeks
    and about twenty litres or more of Pepsi, I knew that I was a true
    SysOp...  I could not give up. I *WANTED* my BBS, I wanted to have
    that feeling that I was offering a free service to the public... I
    wanted to be respected for my efforts. My BBS stayed online until
    December 16th, 1995.. when I could no longer afford the bills to
    maintain my computer and the phone line. I felt like my life had
    ended, because it was and is still all that I have ever had. If it
    weren't for the BBS world, I would not have met my best friends, who
    have brought the best times of my life. I would not have known that my
    strengths lie in computers.  Forget the InterNet, anything can have
    Balloon Curtains and Fluffy Bunnies, but when there is slime packaged
    inside, it becomes unattractive very quickly. BBSes retain character,
    and quality.. and offer something the InterNet will never have,
    because of the commercialization and magnitude which the InterNet
    thrives upon; the FidoNet is a warm caring community, which is
    controlled and managed, this is quite clearly not shown on the
    InterNet. I worked for many months and finally paid all of my bills,
    and have put my system online only three weeks ago. "You're crazy!",
    "You won't get your users back!" people would say... But I know that I
    can bring them back, not the same users, but I will get back good
    users. That's all that will be left, and that's all I ever wanted.
    Back in 1995, the BBS world became more strongly oriented towards
    files and such, when it used to be communication and entertainment.
    The InterNet offers these, but they are abused and not managed. The
    BBS world is not shown on TV or flashed in newspapers only because it
    does not bring profit. That's the media for you, but I don't want that
    attention... I want to provide a means of communication which is
    precisely what FidoNet provides and always has provided to its clients
    and its clients users. Three weeks have passed since I put the BBS
    back online, and I already have over thirty users and eight calls a
    day average, which I am quite impressed with at this time.

    After all of the dust has blown off, the goodness of the FidoNet
    community will shine through and continue to be what it always has: An
    Icon to the connected world, a free service which has much higher
    standards than that of any commercial service. Those who remove
    themselves from the FidoNet Nodelist are quitters, I am not a quitter.
     FIDONEWS 14-12               Page 11                  24 Mar 1997


    Let all of those nodes drop like flies, but the nodes which remain
    will bring the great quality they have always provided to the FidoNet
    Echos.  And the users from those systems which drop, will call the
    systems which remain. And the BBS world will thrive once again... the
    way it should be.

    Fidonet's doomsday is not today, and I will not allow for it to happen
    tomorrow.

    Statistics are pointless, a curve of dropping nodes will not remain,
    as the number of users reverting to other systems will increase, the
    with-drawn node addresses will decrease. And there will certainly
    always be a BBS community, as long as there are people like me, and
    hopefully all those who read FidoNews.

    Carl Hultay - SysOp of Cannibal Bar & Grill BBS
                   1:259/546
                   [email protected]

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


    Followup to Pete Snidal's Fidonet/Internet Comparison
    by Dave Aronson, sysop of Air 'n Sun (1:109/120)


     PS>  FIDONET    Is a system of hobbyist-operated bulletin boards,

    Well, mostly.  To nitpick, there are some professional nodes.

    However, I feel that your point is basically correct and should be
    expanded upon.  The important part IMHO is that most Fidonodes are
    one-line DOS-PC dialups, operated from the sysop's home.  By contrast,
    an ISP typically has hundreds or thousands of lines, hooked to large
    computers, operated in a "machine room" in commercial space.

     PS> which connect and exchange data
     PS> regularly, usually on a nightly schedule.

    Where local calling is cheap, it's very common for high-traffic nodes
    to get an "unlimited local calling" line, and connect to local links
    whenever there is anything to send.

     PS>  INTERNET   Is a system of server computers, also spanning the
     PS> world,

    Or would that be "spamming the world"?  B-(

     PS> which are virtually connected to one another at all times.

    Not necessarily.  There are many that are only occasionally connected,
    but these do not generally host any of the "real time" services that
    most people think of when they think "Internet", like web pages and
    ftp directories.

     PS> The "Noise/signal ratio" of these echoes is quite low,
     FIDONEWS 14-12               Page 12                  24 Mar 1997


    So let's look into HOW this miracle is achieved.  It is in fact IMHO
    one of the most important differences, concerning day-to-day use.

    In Internet, almost all newsgroups are unmoderated -- any twit can
    wander in, say whatever he wants (not only off-topic chatter, but
    flames, trolls, ads, etc.), AND he can instantly spew it into every
    newsgroup in creation.  The only recourse is public pressure on his
    ISP, who may or may not be willing to do a damn thing.  (Usually not,
    so long as he pays his bills and doesn't generate too many complaints
    to ignore.)  There are SOME moderated newsgroups, but this is a very
    heavy burden on the moderator, as THEIR type of moderation means that
    the moderator must pre-screen each and every post for approval.

    Fidonet echoes, on the other claw, usually (always, in the case of the
    backbone) have a moderator, who is authorized to eject unruly posters,
    and if the sysop refuses, the moderator can have that entire node
    ejected from the echo!  However, it rarely comes to that, as the sysop
    has no vested interest in refusing, as he's almost certainly not
    getting any money from the user, nor does the sysop have support staff
    to deal with the complaints for him.  Also, it is impossible on most
    Fidonet BBSes to "crosspost", at least in the Internet sense of having
    the whole thread continue to be crossposted to all the newsgroups the
    original was in, barring manual intervention.

     PS> files of particular interest may even be "File
     PS> Requested" from other systems.

    ...though the sysop will have to pay for the call, and may require
    that the user reimburse the cost.

     PS> Sending of commercial messages in Fidonet is prohibited, and
     PS> "Spamming" - electronic junk-mail - is impossible.

    Not impossible at all... just MUCH more difficult, and of course our
    sysops are MUCH faster to DO something about it!  B-)

     PS> "Spamming" - the sending of electronic junkmail to your personal
     PS> email box - is seriously frowned upon, and sort of prohibited,

    Hunh?  There are currently no laws against it anywhere that I know of;
    the closest are some USA laws against junk faxes, but some courts have
    held that it doesn't apply to email.  Many ISPs have a clause against
    it in their Terms Of Usage (or whatever they call it), but most are
    very slow to enforce it.

     PS> but the fight with those who would capitalize on this resource
     PS> in this way is ongoing.

    Amen!  Americans, PLEASE lobby your Congresscritters to have the "no
    junk faxes" law extended to email!!!  Others, do whatever you can....

    By the way, I have thought up two slogans that I would like to get
    spread as widely as possible.  First, inspired by Woodsy Owl's
    admonition to litterbugs, "Give a damn, don't spam!".  Secondly,
    inspired by the reaction of a Vogon to Arthur Dent's struggles, NOT
    the Borg as some may think, "Resistance is UCE-less!".  (UCE is an
     FIDONEWS 14-12               Page 13                  24 Mar 1997


    Internet abbreviation for Unsolicited Commercial Email.)

     PS>  INTERNET   Allows access to the "World Wide Web."

    (Probably the biggest thing that helped the Internet explode in
    popularity with the Great Unwashed.)

     PS>  FIDONET    Costs the user nothing.  Free basic access is a
     PS> fundamental given on all Fidonet systems.  User support is
     PS> sometimes encouraged, but never demanded.

    True in, I'd guess, 99% of cases, but don't take it for granted that
    Fidonet means free.  Also, many nodes offer a basic level of service
    for free, but reserve some goodies for donors.  However, these are
    usually things that the sysop must shell out significant money for,
    like extra phone lines, Usenet newsgroups, echoes he must make
    long-distances calls to get, etc., and the fee is usually a tiny
    fraction of a typical ISP's.

     PS>  FIDONET    Encourages the use of Pre-Windows computers, or
     PS> "dosboxes."

    More like, Fidonet *allows* the use of *ANY* computer, or even a dumb
    terminal, so long as it has a modem, and is efficient enough that it
    can even be a SLOW modem.  This is a huge contrast to how, ever since
    the Web exploded, it's very difficult to do much on the Internet
    without a GUI, fast CPU and modem, and tons of disk space and RAM.

     PS> node and bbs software, [...] all of which run fine in Dosboxes
     PS> such as 286's and even XT's, with small hard drives, or no hard
     PS> drives, and with memory as low as the basic 640K.

    ...or on a wide variety of NON-DOS boxes, like Macs, Amigas, Atari
    STs, assorted flavors of Unix, etc.!  Standards and compatibility....

     PS>  INTERNET   "No tickee, no launlee" is the motto of the ISP.  The
     PS> Internet is a strictly commercial, no-bones money-making
     PS> proposition.

    As far as today's ISPs are concerned, yes.  However, do realize that
    the roots are quite different.  It was spun off from ARPANET, built by
    the Defense Advanced Projects Research Agency, as a network to supply
    government communications need in times of emergency, being able to
    withstand even a direct nuclear strike on most major nodes.  Until the
    price of computers fell fast enough to let the Great Unwashed afford
    the Internet, it was generally the province of those lucky enough to
    work at a connected company or attend a connected university, with the
    institutions usually doing a lot of defense research.

     PS> For the number of the fidonet bbs nearest you (there is likely
     PS> one in your town,) consult your local computer outlet or computer
     PS> paper.  For details on hooking up to the internet, consult your
     PS> yellow pages.

    That really says it all.  B-(

     FIDONEWS 14-12               Page 14                  24 Mar 1997


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



                          ==========================
                          NOTICE OF FTSC NOMINATIONS
                          ==========================

    by Adrian Walker, 1:153/752

    Since 1 December 1996, discussion has been underway in the FTSC_PUBLIC
    echo defining the mission and operating procedures for a revitalized
    Fidonet Technical Standards Committee (FTSC).

    These have been formalized in two new documents, FTA-1000 (FTSC
    Charter) and FTA-1001 (FTSC Operations) which have been hatched into
    the FTSC file echo and are also available from:

          File Request - 1:153/752 as FTA-1000.TXT and FTA-1001.TXT
          Internet - http://www.portal.ca/~awalker/ftsc.htm

    With the finalization of these documents, nominations are now being
    accepted for FTSC Standing Members.  The following extract from
    FTA-1001 describes the nomination and voting process:

         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
         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
     FIDONEWS 14-12               Page 15                  24 Mar 1997


         FTSC_PUBLIC echo, and voting shall close three weeks after
         publication of the vote.

         [Majority as defined in FTA-1001:
            more than fifty percent of all votes cast.

                               ===============
                               ACTION REQUIRED
                               ===============

    Since there is no nominating committee at this stage, those persons
    interested in becoming a Standing Member of the FTSC should state
    their interest to any currently-serving RC or REC and request that the
    RC or REC nominate them either by message in the FTSC_PUBLIC echo, or
    by netmail to Bruce Bodger (1:170/400) or Adrian Walker (153/752), who
    are administering the initial committee setup.

    The closing date for such applications to be an active Standing Member
    of the FTSC will be Friday 18 April 1997.  At that time a list of all
    applicants having been properly nominated will be published, and the
    voting process will then be followed as defined above.

                               ---OOO000OOO---

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


    Beware the Ides of March..Hog Wash!!!!
    by Clay Tannacore 1:372/136

       I have just completed reading the article written by a young man
    named Ken Reaverson.  Now, I don't know if this is just one of the
    editor's (Chris Baker) spurious names, but I certainly hope so.
    Because if this isn't, we have yet another case of FidoNet Brain-
    washing, here.  Allow me to elaborate somewhat on this point.  The
    young man says he has been *around* FidoNet for some time, but has
    only recently became a Fido SysOp, sometime around the first of this
    year.  To this point everything appears about right.  However, what
    appears rather strange to me is his everlasting devotedness to an
    association he is only vaguely familiar with.  A short three months as
    a FidoNet SysOp, and he is all ready to sacrifice his first born to
    King Fido.  He has already forgiven those nasty old SysOps who wanted
    him to pay for access to their systems.  Not only that, but this young
    man is ready to join the Pay-For-Access crowd who have bestowed upon
    FidoNet the title as the FREE (for a fee) HOBBYIST (semi-commercial)
    INFORMATION (flame thrower) SERVICE.  He states that "These days, I
    like Fido", well I do to, it's just some of the deceitful folks within
    the Fido family that cause me to toss my cookies.  Another really
    *great* thing this young man finds with the FidoNet community is the
    *information and help* he has received, and is now "able to provide my
    users with access to Internet email or USENET groups".  Fine!  Just
    what FidoNet needs, another access path to the Internet.  Another way
    to draw on the user base of FidoNet.  Another brain fart, thought up
    by people who don't give a damn what happens to this association of
    ours.  Just when the hell are FidoNet SysOps going to start supporting
    FidoNet, again?  I said this before and may as well repeat it here,
     FIDONEWS 14-12               Page 16                  24 Mar 1997


    because no one pays any attention to an old fart like myself, but it
    WAS FidoNet that paved the way for the new nouveau riche we now
    lovingly (?) call The Internet.

       It is not my intention to make an example of this young man (Ken),
    but only to show what has happened in the (Fido) community in the last
    few years.  In plain English, the damn organization has fallen apart.
    We haven't got an IC, and as far as an election goes, you may as well
    be spitting in the wind.  There are just to many self serving dolts
    with their own agendas in positions within the association to hold out
    much hope for a FidoNet rebirth.  To many power insatiate people in
    the organization to ever have a FidoNet that once was an entity with
    pride and purpose.  To many egotistical SOB's who can't stand to see
    the organization get bigger than their own subliminal selves.  Just
    to many blackguards to ever revive FidoNet, at least not to the
    decorated position it once held amongst computer users.

       Let us once again take a close look at this dilapidated piece of
    paper, we so insipidly call a policy document.  This ridiculous clump
    of words with the title of POLICY 4!  Talk about a waste of writing.
    This asinine document that over the years has been the cornerstone of
    FidoNet, in that it is suppose to guide various IC's, ZC's, RC's, and
    NC's in the operation of their positions, and the function intended
    for FidoNet itself.  Needless to say, much is lacking in this useless
    assemblage of gibberish we are suppose to consider a *bible* for the
    organization.  Much is lacking, but one of the basics considerations
    that is missing is intelligence.  I hate to admit to it, but I was
    around when this diseased document was originally written and voted
    upon.  I didn't like it then, and I sure as hell can't stand the idea
    of it, today.  It is time a new (and improved) POLICY document were
    written.  A team of Fido people have to be assembled to formulate a
    coherent policy document.  Whether they are brought together in one
    area as a group, or via the EchoMail process, there has to be action
    taken on this new policy document, if FidoNet is to survive.  A set
    of guidelines, or rules, or even procedures must be written with the
    goal of standardizing and regulating the day to day operation of Fido
    Net, and the thousands of nodes down the line, while there are still
    enough nodes to even bother.

       Okay people!  A new song and dance.  I know you're sick of the
    same old doom and gloom.   Lets touch upon the Regional Coordinator
    position, and what they are doing, and what they should be doing.  On
    a whole the RC's in *most* Nets are doing a fine job considering the
    lack of any real guidelines they have to work with.  Of course I'm
    speaking of that piece of wreckage christened POLICY 4.  Again the
    document with less testosterone than a flaccid Oscar Mayer Wiener.
    The lack of procedural material within that spent instrument never
    ceases to amaze me, and keeps me forever wondering just how any
    Regional Coordinator can administer the nodes they are responsible
    for.  Consequently, we have a number of destructive individuals at
    the Network Coordinator level who whether or not they mean it, are
    contributing to the demise of FidoNet.  The RC's are (and damn sure
    should be) responsible for each NC within their region.  The RC *HAS*
    to involve himself (or herself) in the individual Nets under his
    control, and *NOT* by placing all his apples in one bushel.  The RC
    is going to have to listen to those within that Net, that find his
     FIDONEWS 14-12               Page 17                  24 Mar 1997


    choice of NC disagreeable and inappropriate.  RC's have to understand
    that the SysOp's under the command of his choice of NC, feel anxious
    about making a complaint to him, for fear of retaliation.  The RC's
    (whether or not they agree with this) are going to have to set up a
    system, to allow not only the SysOp's who fall within their
    jurisdiction, but individuals who use (called users, in case you've
    forgotten) the numerous Nets within their regions.  Like it or not,
    these RC's are going to have to become diplomats, and deal with the
    problems that are semi-rampart within FidoNet, today.  Encouragement
    of new users, new systems (SysOp's) and users who do not feel totally
    alienated because of the *I'm better than you* attitudes that many
    SysOp's and Network Coordinators demonstrate towards them.  The new
    or seasoned user who has been in some way *wronged* by a decision or
    judgment of some moderator or NC, has to be able to see a way to
    attain justice (even if no REAL wrong was performed) in what he/she
    perceives as an unjust system.  Here is an example of what could
    happened (and has) happened, when the *GOOD OL' BOY* mentality is put
    in place.  A user said something that the moderator of a certain
    local Echo didn't feel was in the proper spirit of *his* Echo.  The
    Moderator, in an open message to the user, explained his *rules* for
    access to that particular Echo.  The Moderator felt it was absolutely
    beyond the limits (in HIS Echo) for the user to denounce the way that
    messages were being written.  He used the word damn in one of his
    posts, and out of the Echo he went.  The user feeling this was not a
    valid reason to be excommunicated requested of the moderator that he
    be given another chance.  The moderator said "no, and that's final."
    The user wanted to appeal the moderators decision as per the normal
    course of such petitions.  He went to the NC, who informed him that
    if the moderator had banned him from that Echo (or any other) he (the
    NC) would support the moderator.  Now, this scenario sounds familiar
    to many of you, and it also sounds proper.  However, this user was
    extraordinarily upset about his banishment and requested help from
    another SysOp in the Net.  What this SysOp learned was that the user
    had been denied the right of appeal, due to the fact that the
    moderator was *not* a FidoNet SysOp, and thus, the user was denied
    his right to appeal, by the fact the one level of the appeal process
    was not there   You know, the *appeal* process that FidoNet members
    are supposed to have (?).

       Here is a personal exemplification of what happens when the NC of
    a Net, takes a disliking to one of his SysOp's, and allows his
    (supposedly) impartial attitude to become predominating. I have been
    with  FidoNet since 1985 (December 4, to be exact) and in all that
    time my node number has been 1:372/4.  In 1991, due to numerous
    medical (thank you Uncle Ho & Co.) problems, and 992 days in the
    hospital I had to leave the local net, thus giving up my node number.
    When I returned to the (same) local net (and FidoNet) I requested my
    old node number back, as no one had been assigned that number.  Not
    only did I not get that number, but I was enlightened to the fact
    that my request for a *private* node was disapproved.  Of Course, due
    to FidoNet's antipathy for the .Pvt node flag.  I really did
    understand that, but in view of the need for the private flag, and
    what it was requested for, I asked the NC to please reconsider.  He
    didn't, but in all fairness to him, he did pass on my request to the
    Regional Coordinator.  The RC after reading the reasons why the
    private flag was required, nullified the NC's decision, and allowed me
     FIDONEWS 14-12               Page 18                  24 Mar 1997


    a node number (1:372/136) to operate Vet_Net_South.  Anyway, I think
    this action perhaps compiled with other idiosyncrasy has caused a rift
    between the NC and myself, and this is why, when I again requested
    that I be assigned my old node number (1:372/4) if for no other
    reason than old time sakes, I was informed that it would be a
    QUOTE: "make-work" thing and "I'm not inclined to do it." UNQUOTE.
    This type of attitude is not in the best interest of an already
    unhealthy FidoNet, and it is up to the RC's to terminate these kinds
    of practices.  The antecedent is not a criticism of the NC I have
    mentioned, but is being utilized as an example of what sort of
    predilection that has crept into the ranks of FidoNet.  These sort of
    incidences can do nothing for FidoNet, but enhance its demise.
    Furthermore, occurrences similar to the above, do nothing but harm
    to the individuals involved, thus doing nothing for the Net in which
    the misdeeds took place.  I have been around long enough to not allow
    this method of *muscle flexing* to bother me.  However, what of the
    new SysOp in a net?  Will he/she be as constrained as I am?  No, I
    think in all reality not.  Once the new SysOp is faced with a
    situation similar to the above, and is informed by other SysOps in
    that Net, that the Regional Coordinator almost always sides with the
    NC in matters of this kind, he begins to feel the old FidoNet
    alienation, and either sits back and contemplates his/her revenge, or
    simply does the only other thing open to him/her.  He/She drops out
    of the Net, opens up an account on the Internet, and FidoNet pays the
    price by another divestiture of personnel.

       Enough of this, right?  You have reached that point in reading
    where you have decided that a formal complaint for being excessively
    annoying is in order.  Well, hell, go ahead, I need the rest, anyway.
    Just be aware of the fact the Chris Baker (editor of FIDONEWS) asked
    me for another article (as I promised) in public.  What was that a
    great man once said?  Oh, yea, I remember, "Forgive him Father for
    he knows not what he does."  I probably misquoted Him somewhat, but
    what else would you expect from a guy who just pooped in his own mess
    kit, by partially trashing his NC.  Oh hell, what could happen?  No
    node number?  So what!  I can always put my head up my anus blow hot
    air, count some money, and everyone will think I'm Bill Gates.  Apply
    for a new node number under the Gates acclaim, and sit back and laugh.

       Just a footnote for all of you out there who are thinking about a
    way to assassinate me, via NetMail.  My phone number is unpublished,
    my mailbox (snail mail type) has an anti explosive device built in.
    I have no E-Mail address on the Internet (gag), and all my daughters
    are grown up, gone away (with one exception) and impregnable.  My
    dog isn't gay, and the parrot is a wino, and doesn't give a poop what
    you do to him or me.  My wife is meaner than my old First Sergeant,
    and would probably kick your booty before you got to me.  Anyway, the
    Veterans Administration has top priority when it comes to wasting me.

       I have to say this before I leave you fellow SysOps, RC's, NC's.
    If I have offended anyone, in anyway.  If the language I used was
    aberrant to any person.  If what I said was a blow to your self
    esteem, and if after reading all that I wrote, you feel downhearted
    I say this from the bottom of my heart:
                  "I DON'T GIVE A DAMN!"......[smile]

     FIDONEWS 14-12               Page 19                  24 Mar 1997


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

     FIDONEWS 14-12               Page 20                  24 Mar 1997


    =================================================================
                                 REVIEWS
    =================================================================


    Review of TransNet - A new Fidonet/Internet gateway
    by Marc S. Ressl, [email protected]

    Some months ago, while looking for a Fido/Internet gateway for our
    private network DLD from Argentina, I realized that I couldn't find
    any that suited our needs. What I was looking for should only require
    a single POP3 email account, and, by the way, be able to import and
    export echogroups as mailing lists.

    So, after some daydreaming :) I started working, and this is what came
    out: the TransNet gateway.

    The program runs under MS-DOS, and has two main functions: It links
    net and echomail to email and mailing lists, and manages mailing
    lists.

    And, indeed, it uses only ONE POP3 email account. Now you'll ask
    yourself how it resends emails to Fido users? It uses a trick with the
    subject line: email senders specify there a keyword, which can be a
    Fido address, a mailing-list, or any of these special keywords: SYSOP,
    HELP, or MAILMAN (to access the mailing list manager). Real subjects
    go after the keyword.

    This system might look somewhat weird, but after testing it for the
    whole summer it proved to work, and didn't cause big trouble to users.

    There is also template support in TransNet, so you can put some help
    at the beginning of each exported/imported messy. And to make it even
    easier, keywords may be aliased, so people can put in the subject
    "Peter" instead of the cryptic "1:234/567.89".

    The Fidonet part works like most gateways.

    The program also features a security system, so you can ban annoying
    users, or deny access to groups.

    It also resends error receipts from the Internet correctly.

    Regarding connection to the Internet, TransNet comes with two Internet
    mail add-ons, one for MS-DOS, and the other for Windows 95. There is
    also another add-on, for those who prefer things in Spanish.

    Last but not least, TransNet needs a FrontDoor-style mailer, support
    for Binkley/Xenia will be added soon.

    TransNet is shareware, and is freely distributable. For more
    information, visit my program's page at:

      http://www.geocities.com/SiliconValley/Lakes/2382

    And if you wish to contact me:
     FIDONEWS 14-12               Page 21                  24 Mar 1997


      Marc S. Ressl
      [email protected]
      http://www.geocities.com/Vienna/1914

    Marc S. Ressl
    Buenos Aires: [email protected]
    Rosario: [email protected] http://www.geocities.com/Vienna/1914

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

     FIDONEWS 14-12               Page 22                  24 Mar 1997


    =================================================================
                            GETTING TECHNICAL
    =================================================================


    [This is part of the continuing series of FidoNet Technical Standards
     Committee documents demonstrating FidoNet history. These docs are
     reformatted to the 70 columns for FidoNews where required.] Ed.


    Document: FSC-0052
    Version:  001
    Date:     23-Sep-90

                                          ZPTH
                                          ----

                        A proposal for making the PATH zone aware

                                   Gerard van der Land
                                    FidoNet 2:283/1.5

    Status of this document:

         This FSC suggests a proposed protocol for the FidoNet(r)
         community, and requests discussion and suggestions for
         improvements.  Distribution of this document is unlimited.

         Fido and FidoNet are registered marks of Tom Jennings and Fido
         Software.

               The PATH line can be a more accurate source of  information
         than the SEEN-BY  line to determine  if a message  is a
         duplicate.  TosScan with Circular  PATH Protection  (CPP) enabled
         will consider  messages that already have your address in  them
         as duplicates. This works fine in  conferences  that  are
         distributed   within  one  zone,  but in conferences spread
         across zones it can cause problems.

               Unlike SEEN-BY lines,  PATH lines are  not stripped at the
         zone gate,  because  they have  a very  important  purpose: to
         be  able to determine the used echomail topology and
         troubleshooting, like finding the cause of duplicate messages.
         Unfortunately this also means that if a message is entered  at
         1:283/1 and my boss would  be running TosScan with CPP  enabled,
         the  message would  be considered  as a  duplicate, because
         "283/1" is already in the PATH lines.

               If  such  messages are  not deleted  but  stored in  a
         duplicate directory, you will of course notice this happen and
         disable CPP, but you can't know  if messages never reach your
         system because they were deleted for the same reason by another
         node that had CPP enabled.

                That's why I have the following  proposal. If a message
         travels from one zone to another, the zone gateway should move
     FIDONEWS 14-12               Page 23                  24 Mar 1997


         all information in the current PATH lines to kludge lines with
         the following format:

               ^aZPTH: <origin zone>:<old path info>

               The receiving system in the destination  zone creates a new
         PATH with his address in it.

               There is no need  to support or allow 4D addresses  in the
         ZPTH, since it is only supplements the existing PATH lines.

         Simple sample
         -------------

               A message originating at 1:154/40 arrives at 1:260/340...

         ^aPATH: 154/40 970 9 157/200 265/7 13/13 260/340

               ...and is sent to Europe. This is how I would see it:

         ^aZPTH: 1:154/40 970 9 157/200 265/7 13/13 260/340
         ^aPATH: 310/11 507/1 512/0 280/0 283/1

               Now suppose that  283/1 would gate it  to zone 3, it  would
         look like this when it gets there:

         ^aZPTH: 1:154/40 970 9 157/200 265/7 13/13 260/340
         ^aZPTH: 2:310/11 507/1 512/0 280/0 283/1

               The receiving node  in zone 3 now  creates a new PATH  line
         with his address in it.

         Advantages
         ----------

           1) It enables  Circular PATH  Protection (CPP)  on conferences
              that travel  across  zones  without  the  risk  of messages
              that  are erroneous considered as duplicates and deleted.

           2) A  zone gate can  optionally parse the  ZPTH lines to  see
              if his zone or the destination  zone has already seen the
              message (CZP, Circular ZPATH Protection), which means  a
              duplicate message will never go to another zone. Of course
              this could only be used  if it sure that messages shouldn't
              re-enter a zone.

           3) You  get  a  much better  view  on  the  used echomail
              topology, sometimes it is  very hard to see  where a message
              goes  from one zone to another.

           4) It will not screw up with any  echomail processor as long as
              they ignore unknown kludges. Only nodes gating echomail from
              one zone to another would need to have a processor that
              supports the  ZPTH kludge.

           5) It will hardly increase the size of compressed mail
     FIDONEWS 14-12               Page 24                  24 Mar 1997


              archives.

     -30-

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


    Document: FSC-0053
    Version:  002
    Date:     08-Dec-92

                        Specifications for the ^aFLAGS field

                               Joaquim H. Homrighausen
                           2:270/17@fidonet or [email protected]

                                  December 8, 1992

    Status of this document:

         This FSC suggests a proposed protocol for the FidoNet(r)
         community, and requests discussion and suggestions for
         improvements.  Distribution of this document is unlimited.

         Fido and FidoNet are registered marks of Tom Jennings and Fido
         Software.

         Purpose

         To explain and document the existing usage of the ^aFLAGS field
         used by many software packages, including FrontDoor, TosScan, and
         D'Bridge. And to inform software authors of its proper usage.

         Prologue

         One of the problems with the FTS-1 (stored) message format is its
         limitations in regards to message attributes. Several bits are
         used (reserved) by SEAdog, another by several packers and editors
         - even though most mailer authors don't support them, they
         remain. One reason would be backward compatibility with older
         software.

         Unfortunately, this presents a problem for software authors that
         would like to pass extended message attributes for use and
         handling by other software.

         Some software packages have been using an alternate method called
         "FLAGS" which is 7-bit ASCII placed behind <SOH>FLAGS somewhere
         near the beginning of a message. The various flags will now be
         described.

         Flags

         The FLAGS string should be placed somewhere near the beginning of
         the message text, and is preceeded by a <SOH> (^a) character.
         There is no need to support all or any of the below mentioned
     FIDONEWS 14-12               Page 25                  24 Mar 1997


         flags.

         If flags are stripped when a message passes through a system, all
         relevant and correct FTS-1 status bits should be updated to
         indicate the original contents of the FLAGS field.

         Flag      Brief          Long description
         -----------------------------------------------------------------
         PVT       Private        Indicates that the message may only be
                                  read by its addressee and author.

         HLD       Hold           Message should be held for pickup by its
                                  destination system.

         CRA       Crash          High-priority mail.

         K/S       Kill/Sent      Remove message after it has been
                                  success-fully sent.

         SNT       Sent           Message has been successfully sent (used
                                  for message without Kill/Sent status).

         RCV       Received       Message has been read by its addressee.

         A/S       Archive/Sent   Place message in "sent mail" archival
                                  system after it has been successfully
                                  sent.

         DIR       Direct         Message must be sent directly to its
                                  destination and may not be routed.

         ZON       Zonegate       Send message through zonegate (if
                                  possible).

         HUB       Hub/Host-route Host- or Hub-route message (as
                                  appropriate).

         FIL       File attach    Message has one or more files attached
                                  to it.

         FRQ       File request   Message has one or more file requests in
                                  subject field.


         Flag      Brief          Long description
         -----------------------------------------------------------------
         IMM       Immediate      NOW!-priority mail. Send at first
                                  opportunity, override any transmission
                                  restrictions enforced by events, costs,
                                  or qualification.

         XMA       Xmail          Message has alternate form of compressed
                                  mail attached.

         KFS       Kill file      Remove attached file(s) after they have
                                  been successfully sent. Only valid for
     FIDONEWS 14-12               Page 26                  24 Mar 1997


                                  file attach message.

         TFS       Truncate file  Truncate attached file(s) to zero length
                                  after they have been successfully sent.
                                  Only valid for file attach message.
                                  Primarily used by Conference Mail
                                  processors.

         LOK       Lock           Prevent message from being processed.
                                  This includes sending, deleting,
                                  purging, and editing.

         RRQ       Receipt REQ    When the mailer/packer at the message's
                                  final destination unpacks the message,
                                  it's asked to generate a receipt to the
                                  author of the message that indicates
                                  that the message arrived at its final
                                  destination.

         CFM       Confirm REQ    When message is read by its addressee, a
                                  Confirmation Receipt should be generated
                                  to the author of the message.

         HIR       HiRes          FAX: Hi-Resolution image.

         COV       CoverLetter    FAX: Cover sheet.

         SIG       Signature      FAX: Signature.

         LET       LetterHead     FAX: LetterHead.

    |    FAX       Fax image      The filename specified in the message's
    |                             subject field contains a fax document
    |                             that should be viewed using software
    |                             capable of doing so.

         Flag      Brief          Long description
         -----------------------------------------------------------------
    |    FPU       Force pickup   Treated as a message with an IMM flag.
    |                             This instructs the mailer to keep
    |                             calling the destination system, if the
    |                             connection is aborted for some reason,
    |                             until a valid "End of files" signal is
    |                             received (i.e. no more files remain to
    |                             pick up).

         Notes

         Xmail is related to the ARCmail 0.60 standard as adopted by the
         FTSC.  The exception is that any type of compression method may
         be used and the naming convention isn't necessarily limited to
         that of the ARCmail 0.60 standard.

         Epilogue

         Feedback would be appreciated and can be sent to me at the
     FIDONEWS 14-12               Page 27                  24 Mar 1997


         addresses specified on the title page. Please send feedback via
         netmail.

         --- end of file "fsc-0053.001" ---

     -30-




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

     FIDONEWS 14-12               Page 28                  24 Mar 1997


    =================================================================
                           COORDINATORS CORNER
    =================================================================


    Nodelist-statistics as seen from Zone-2 for day 080
    By Ward Dossche, 2:292/854
       ZC/2

     +----+------+------------+------------+------------+------------+--+
     |Zone|Nl-052|Nodelist-059|Nodelist-066|Nodelist-073|Nodelist-080|%%|
     +----+------+------------+------------+------------+------------+--+
     |  1 |  9527| 9405  -122 | 9405     0 | 9107  -298 | 9088   -19 |33|
     |  2 | 16051|16116    65 |16083   -33 |15996   -87 |15956   -40 |58|
     |  3 |   812|  807    -5 |  800    -7 |  800     0 |  800     0 | 3|
     |  4 |   541|  541     0 |  545     4 |  547     2 |  548     1 | 2|
     |  5 |    87|   87     0 |   87     0 |   87     0 |   87     0 | 0|
     |  6 |  1071| 1088    17 | 1088     0 | 1088     0 | 1088     0 | 4|
     +----+------+------------+------------+------------+------------+--+
          | 28089|28044   -45 |28008   -36 |27625  -383 |27567   -58 |
          +------+------------+------------+------------+------------+

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

     FIDONEWS 14-12               Page 29                  24 Mar 1997


    =================================================================
                              WE GET EMAIL
    =================================================================


    --- Following message extracted from NETMAIL @ 1:18/14 ---
        By Christopher Baker on Tue Mar 18 00:50:20 1997

    From: Bruce Bodger @ 1:170/400
    To: Christopher Baker @ 1:18/14
    Date: 16 Mar 97  15:09:42
    Subj: .

    Here's another one for submission, Chris.  It (almost) negates the
    previous one.  I don't think it would hurt a bit if they both were to
    run in the same issue.

    Thanks.


    ----------------------------------------------------------------------
    On: Sun 16 Mar 97 11:52a
    By: Bruce Bodger
    To: All
    Re: ZEC / RC Election
    St: Local Sent
    ----------------------------------------------------------------------
    From the ZEC echo:

    Last week I cross posted a message here (and in many other places)
    which I had originally written to the RECs of Zone 1.  The message
    instructed them to:

    "... conduct a survey of their respective Regions to determine if
    they, the Regions, would prefer either another (ZEC) election being
    conducted or an affirmation and acceptance of my willingness to serve
    another term (as ZEC)."

    I asked them to come back to me with one of the following 2
    statements;

    My Region would like an election to be conducted =or= My Region would
    like you to stay on for another term.

    I set the earliest date for replies to Mar. 24 and required that they
    survey their Regions.


    Shortly before I wrote the above message I had been nominated to run
    for the postion of Region Coordinator of Region 19.  I accepted the
    nomination.  Knowing my own schedule committments I felt that I could
    handle both positions without allowing them to interfere with each
    other.  However, there is something that I failed to consider and that
    is that I owe my Region more than just a part time committment as
    their Region Coordinator.

     FIDONEWS 14-12               Page 30                  24 Mar 1997


    I have been a member of Region 19 for about 9 years.  The Region has
    been good to me, supporting me in all of my campaign bids including 2
    terms as their REC, through the past ZEC election, as well as the
    current REC polling process.

    Region 19 is about to lose on of the best Region Coordinators that it
    has ever had, James Ray.  Jamey (:-)) has served 2 outstanding terms
    as R19C but has decided to allow his family to get to know him for a
    while  :-) Had it not been for James' decision to "retire", I would
    never have accepted the nomination for R19C.

    In order to afford my Region the attention it deserves, I have decided
    to cancel what's come to be known as the "vote of confidence" and will
    begin organizing an election for the postion of Zone 1 EchoMail
    Coordinator. I will not be one of the candidates.

    If the Region allows me the honor of serving as its Coordinator I will
    do my best to follow in James Ray's footsteps.  We have worked very
    well together through the years and he has set an excellent example
    for his successor.


                AllTheBest,
                  Bruce

     Via 1:170/400@fidonet @19970316.211049.UTC O/T-Track+ 2.65.b0307

     -30-



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

     FIDONEWS 14-12               Page 31                  24 Mar 1997


    =================================================================
                                NET HUMOR
    =================================================================


    From: "Mike Riddle" <[email protected]>
    To: "Baker, Christopher" <[email protected] (Christopher Baker)>,
    Date: Wed, 29 Jan 97 08:12:05 -0600
    Reply-To: "Mike Riddle" <[email protected]>
    Subject: Fwd: Microsoft spam:  Fwd: A joke

    ==================BEGIN FORWARDED MESSAGE==================
    From:    FA2930E
    To:      RedSilk103

        How things would be different if Microsoft Headquarters was in
         Alabama...

          1. Their #1 product would be "Microsoft Winders".
          2. Instead of an hourglass icon you'd get an empty beer bottle.
          3. Occasionally you'd bring up a window that was covered with a
             Hefty bag and some duct tape.
          4. Dialog boxes would give you the choice of "Ahh-right", "Naw",
             or "Git" instead of "Yes", "No", or "Cancel"
          5. Instead of "Ta-Da!", the opening sound would be Dueling
             Banjos
          6. The "Recycle Bin" in Winders '95 would be an outhouse
          7. Whenever you pulled up the Sound Player you'd hear a
             digitized drunk redneck yelling "Freebird!"
          8. Instead of "Start Me Up", the Winders '95 theme song would be
             "Achey-Breaky Heart"
          9. PowerPoint would be named "ParPawnt"
         10. Microsoft's programming tools would be "Vishul Basic" and
             "Vishul C++"
         11. Winders 95 logo would incorporate the Confederate Flag
         12. Instead of "VP", Microsoft big shots would be called "Cuz"
         13. Hardware could be repaired using parts from an old Trans Am
         14. Four words: Daisy Duke Screen Saver
         15. "Well, the first thing you know old Bill's a billionaire...."
         16. Flight Simulator replaced by Tractor-Pull Simulator
         17. Microsoft CEO:  Billy-Bob (a.k.a "Bubba") Gates

    ===================END FORWARDED MESSAGE===================

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

     FIDONEWS 14-12               Page 32                  24 Mar 1997


    =================================================================
                    ADVERTISE YOUR FREE SERVICE/EVENT
    =================================================================


    by Nigel Allen (1:250/438) [email protected]
    Free Listings in the Encyclopedia of Associations

    People who start new non-profit associations (including othernets,
    lobbying groups and associations having nothing to do with BBSes)
    should get their group listed, free of charge, in the Encyclopedia of
    Associations, so that prospective members, journalists and researchers
    can get in touch with them.

    Groups based in the U.S. should write to the following address and ask
    to be listed:

     Editor
     Encyclopedia of Associations
     Gale Research Inc.
     645 Griswold Street, Suite 835
     Detroit, MI 48226-4094
     Telephone (313) 961-2242
     Fax (313) 961-6815

    Groups based outside the United States should instead get listed in
    International Organizations, a directory published by the same
    company. Its address is:

     Editor
     International Organizations
     Gale Research Inc.
     645 Griswold Street, Suite 835
     Detroit, MI 48226-4094
     U.S.A.
     Telephone +1 313 961-2242
     Fax +1 313 961-6815

    As well, groups based outside the United States may also want to get
    listed in single-country association directories published in their
    own country, such as the Directory of Associations in Canada.  Any
    librarian should be able to tell you how to get in touch with your
    country's national association directory, if one exists.

    Most large libraries have a copy of the Encyclopedia of Associations
    in hard copy or CD-ROM, but it is probably too expensive for someone
    to buy for home use.

    See also my Web page, http://www.interlog.com/~ndallen/

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

     FIDONEWS 14-12               Page 33                  24 Mar 1997


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

                               Future History

    17 May 1997
       Independence Day, Norway.

     6 Jun 1997
       National Commemoration Day, Sweden.

    11 Jun 1997
       Independence Day, Russia.

     1 Jul 1997
       Canada Day - Happy Birthday Canada.

     9 Jul 1997
       Independence Day, Argentina.

    13 Oct 1997
       Thanksgiving Day, Canada.

     1 Dec 1997
       World AIDS Day.

    10 Dec 1997
       Nobel Day, Sweden.

    12 Jan 1998
       HAL 9000 is one year old today.

    22 May 1998
       Expo '98 World Exposition in Lisbon (Portugal) opens.

     1 Dec 1998
       Fifteenth Anniversary of release of Fido version 1 by
       Tom Jennings.

    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.

    15 Sep 2000
       Sydney (Australia) Summer Olympiad opens.

     1 Jan 2001
       This is the actual start of the new millennium, C.E.

    -- If YOU have something which you would like to see in this
       Future History, please send a note to the FidoNews Editor.

    -----------------------------------------------------------------
     FIDONEWS 14-12               Page 34                  24 Mar 1997


    =================================================================
                        FIDONET SOFTWARE LISTING
    =================================================================


    Latest Greatest Software Versions
    by Peter E. Popovich, 1:363/264

    Awk! I didn't realize how far behind I've gotten. Events in my
    personal life have conspired to keep me away from the keyboard
    during my recreational time. Heck, I'm late for a meeting right
    this very second.

    Phased out this week: "Amiga" and "Atari ST/TT" Sections.

    -=- Snip -=-

    Submission form for the Latest Greatest Software Versions column

    OS Platform                             :
    Software package name                   :
    Version                                 :
    Function(s) - BBS, Mailer, Tosser, etc. :
    Freeware / Shareware / Commercial?      :
    Author / Support staff contact name     :
    Author / Support staff contact node     :
    Magic name (at the above-listed node)   :

    Please include a sentence describing what the package does.

    Please send updates and suggestions to: Peter Popovich, 1:363/264

    -=- Snip -=-

    MS-DOS:
    Program Name   Version  F C Contact Name      Node        Magic Name
    ----------------------------------------------------------------------
    Act-Up         4.6      G D Chris Gunn        1:15/55     ACT-UP
    ALLFIX         4.40     T S Harald Harms      2:281/415   ALLFIX
    Announcer      1.1      O S Peter Karlsson    2:206/221   ANNOUNCE
    BGFAX          1.60     O S B.J. Guillot      1:106/400   BGFAX
    Binkley Docs   2.60     M F Bob Juge          1:1/102     BDOC_260.ZIP
    BinkleyTerm    2.60     M F Bob Juge          1:1/102     BDOS_260.ZIP
    BinkleyTerm-XE XR4      M F Thomas Waldmann   2:2474/400  BTXE_DOS
    CFRoute        0.92     O G C. Fernandez Sanz 2:341/70    CFR
    CheckPnt       1.0      O G Michiel vd Vlist  2:500/9     CHECKPNT
    FastEcho       1.45a    T S Tobias Burchhardt 2:2448/400  FASTECHO
    FastEcho/16    1.45a    T S Tobias Burchhardt 2:2448/400  FE16
    FidoBBS (tm)   12u      B S Ray Brown         1:1/117     FILES
    FrontDoor      2.12     M S JoHo              2:201/330   FD
    FrontDoor      2.20c    M C JoHo              2:201/330   FDINFO
    GIGO           07-14-96 G S Jason Fesler      1:1/141     INFO
    GoldED         2.50     O S Len Morgan        1:203/730   GED
    GoldED Docs    2.50     O S Len Morgan        1:203/730   GEM
    GoldNODE       2.50     O S Len Morgan        1:203/730   GEN
    Imail          1.75     T S Michael McCabe    1:1/121     IMAIL
     FIDONEWS 14-12               Page 35                  24 Mar 1997


    ImCrypt        1.04     O G Michiel vd Vlist  2:500/9     IMCRYPT
    InfoMail       1.11     O F Damian Walker     2:2502/666  INFOMAIL
    InfoMail/386   1.20     O F Damian Walker     2:2502/666  INFO386
    InterEcho      1.19     T C Peter Stewart     1:369/35    IEDEMO
    InterMail      2.29k    M C Peter Stewart     1:369/35    IMDEMO
    InterPCB       1.52     O S Peter Stewart     1:369/35    INTERPCB
    IPNet          1.11     O S Michele Stewart   1:369/21    IPNET
    JD's CBV       1.4      O S John Dailey       1:363/277   CBV
    Jelly-Bean     1.01     T S Rowan Crowe       3:635/727   JELLY
    Jelly-Bean/386 1.01     T S Rowan Crowe       3:635/727   JELLY386
    JMail-Hudson   2.81     T S Jason Steck       1:285/424   JMAIL-H
    JMail-Goldbase 2.81     T S Jason Steck       1:285/424   JMAIL-G
    MakePl         1.9      N G Michiel vd Vlist  2:500/9     MAKEPL
    Marena         1.1 beta O G Michiel vd Vlist  2:500/9     MARENA
    Maximus        3.01     B P Tech              1:249/106   MAX
    McMail         1.0      M S Michael McCabe    1:1/148     MCMAIL
    MDNDP          1.18     N S Bill Doyle        1:388/7     MDNDP
    Msged          4.10     O G Andrew Clarke     3:635/728   MSGED41D.ZIP
    Msged/386      4.10     O G Andrew Clarke     3:635/728   MSGED41X.ZIP
    Opus CBCS      1.73a    B P Christopher Baker 1:374/14    OPUS
    O/T-Track      2.63a    O S Peter Hampf       2:241/1090  OT
    PcMerge        2.7      N G Michiel vd Vlist  2:500/9     PCMERGE
    PlatinumXpress 1.3      M C Gary Petersen     1:290/111   PX13TD.ZIP
    QuickBBS       2.81     B S Ben Schollnick    1:2613/477  QUICKBBS
    RAR            2.00     C S Ron Dwight        2:220/22    RAR
    RemoteAccess   2.50     B S Mark Lewis        1:3634/12   RA
    Silver Xpress
      Door         5.4      O S Gary Petersen     1:290/111   FILES
      Reader       4.4      O S Gary Petersen     1:290/111   SXR44.ZIP
    Spitfire       3.51     B S Mike Weaver       1:3670/3    SPITFIRE
    Squish         1.11     T P Tech              1:249/106   SQUISH
    StealTag UK    1.c...   O F Fred Schenk       2:284/412   STEAL_UK
    StealTag NL    1.c...   O F Fred Schenk       2:284/412   STEAL_NL
    T-Mail         2.599I   M S Ron Dwight        2:220/22    TMAIL
    Terminate      4.00     O S Bo Bendtsen       2:254/261   TERMINATE
    Tobruk         0.33     T G Paul Edwards      3:711/934   TOBRUK
    TriBBS         11.0     B S Gary Price        1:3607/26   TRIBBS
    TriDog         11.0     T F Gary Price        1:3607/26   TRIDOG
    TriToss        11.0     T S Gary Price        1:3607/26   TRITOSS
    WaterGate      0.92     G S Robert Szarka     1:320/42    WTRGATE
    WWIV           4.24a    B S Craig Dooley      1:376/126   WWIV
    WWIVTOSS       1.36     T S Craig Dooley      1:376/126   WWIVTOSS
    xMail          2.00     T S Thorsten Franke   2:2448/53   XMAIL
    XRobot         3.01     O S JoHo              2:201/330   XRDOS

    OS/2:
    Program Name   Version  F C Contact Name      Node        Magic Name
    ----------------------------------------------------------------------
    ALLFIX/2       1.10     T S Harald Harms      2:281/415   AFIXOS2
    BGFAX          1.60     O S B.J. Guillot      1:106/400   BGFAX
    Binkley Docs   2.60     M F Bob Juge          1:1/102     BDOC_260.ZIP
    BinkleyTerm    2.60     M F Bob Juge          1:1/102     BOS2_260.ZIP
    BinkleyTerm-XE XR4      M F Thomas Waldmann   2:2474/400  BTXE_OS2
    CFRoute        0.92     O G C. Fernandez Sanz 2:341/70    CFR
    FastEcho       1.45a    T S Tobias Burchhardt 2:2448/400  FE2
    FleetStreet    1.19     O S Michael Hohner    2:2490/2520 FLEET
     FIDONEWS 14-12               Page 36                  24 Mar 1997


    GIGO           07-14-96 G S Jason Fesler      1:1/141     INFO
    GoldED         2.50     O S Len Morgan        1:203/730   GEO
    GoldED Docs    2.50     O S Len Morgan        1:203/730   GEM
    GoldNODE       2.50     O S Len Morgan        1:203/730   GEN
    ImCrypt        1.04     O G Michiel vd Vlist  2:500/9     IMCRYPT
    Maximus        3.01     B P Tech              1:249/106   MAXP
    Msged/2        4.10     O G Andrew Clarke     3:635/728   MSGED41O.ZIP
    PcMerge        2.3      N G Michiel vd Vlist  2:500/9     PCMERGE
    RAR            2.00     C S Ron Dwight        2:220/22    RAR2
    Squish         1.11     T P Tech              1:249/106   SQUISHP
    T-Mail         2.599I   M S Ron Dwight        2:220/22    TMAIL2
    Tobruk         0.33     T G Paul Edwards      3:711/934   TOBRUK
    XRobot         3.01     O S JoHo              2:201/330   XROS2

    Windows (16-bit apps):
    Program Name   Version  F C Contact Name      Node        Magic Name
    ----------------------------------------------------------------------
    BeeMail        1.0      M C Andrius Cepaitis  2:470/1     BEEMAIL
    FrontDoor APX  1.10     P S Mats Wallin       2:201/329   FDAPXW

    Windows (32-bit apps):
    Program Name   Version  F C Contact Name      Node        Magic Name
    ----------------------------------------------------------------------
    BeeMail        1.0      M C Andrius Cepaitis  2:470/1     BEEMAIL
    Binkley Docs   2.60     M F Bob Juge          1:1/102     BDOC_260.ZIP
    BinkleyTerm    2.60     M F Bob Juge          1:1/102     BW32_260.ZIP
    CFRoute        0.92     O G C. Fernandez Sanz 2:341/70    CFR
    GoldED         2.50     O S Len Morgan        1:203/730   GEO
    GoldED Docs    2.50     O S Len Morgan        1:203/730   GEM
    Maximus        3.01     B P Tech              1:249/106   MAXN
    Msged/NT       4.10     O G Andrew Clarke     3:635/728   MSGED41W.ZIP
    PlatinumXpress 2.00     M C Gary Petersen     1:290/111   PXW-INFO
    T-Mail         2.599I   M S Ron Dwight        2:220/22    TMAILNT
    WinFOSSIL/95   1.12 r4  F S Bryan Woodruff    1:343/294   WNFOSSIL.ZIP
    WinFOSSIL/NT   1.0 beta F S Bryan Woodruff    1:343/294   NTFOSSIL.ZIP

    Unix:
    Program Name   Version  F C Contact Name      Node        Magic Name
    ----------------------------------------------------------------------
    ifmail         2.9      M G Eugene Crosser    2:293/2219  IFMAIL
    ifmail-tx      ...tx7.9 M G Pablo Saratxaga   2:293/2219  IFMAILTX
    Msged          4.00     O G Paul Edwards      3:711/934   MSGED
    Tobruk         0.33     T G Paul Edwards      3:711/934   TOBRUK

    Amiga:
    Program Name   Version  F C Contact Name      Node        Magic Name
    ----------------------------------------------------------------------
    CrashMail      1.23     T X Fredrik Bennison  2:205/324   CRASHMAIL
    CrashTick      1.1      O F Fredrik Bennison  2:205/324   CRASHTICK
    DLG Pro BBOS   1.15     B C Holly Sullivan    1:202/720   DLGDEMO
    GMS            1.1.85   M S Mirko Viviani     2:331/213   GMS
    Msged          4.00     O G Paul Edwards      3:711/934   MSGED
    Tobruk         0.33     T G Paul Edwards      3:711/934   TOBRUK

    Atari:
    Program Name   Version  F C Contact Name      Node        Magic Name
     FIDONEWS 14-12               Page 37                  24 Mar 1997


    ----------------------------------------------------------------------
    BinkleyTerm/ST 3.18pl1  M F Bill Scull        1:363/112   BINKLEY

    Function: B-BBS, P-Point, M-Mailer, N-Nodelist, G-Gateway, T-Tosser,
              C-Compression, F-Fossil, O-Other. Note: Multifunction will
              be listed by the first match.

    Cost: P-Free for personal use, F-Freeware, S-Shareware, C-Commercial,
          X-Crippleware, D-Demoware, G-Free w/ Source

    Old info from: 01/27/92
    ---------------------------------------------------------------------

      MS-DOS Systems        Other Utilities         Other Utilities
      --------------        Name         Version    Name         Version
                            --------------------    --------------------
    Network Mailers         2DAPoint        1.50*   Netsex         2.00b
    Name         Version    4Dog/4DMatrix   1.18    OFFLINE         1.35
    --------------------    ARCAsim         2.31    Oliver          1.0a
    D'Bridge        1.30    ARCmail         3.00*   OSIRIS CBIS     3.02
    Dreamer         1.06    Areafix         1.20    PKInsert        7.10
    Dutchie        2.90c    ConfMail        4.00    PolyXarc        2.1a
    Milqtoast       1.00    Crossnet         1.5    QM             1.00a
    PreNM           1.48    DOMAIN          1.42    QSort           4.04
    SEAdog          4.60    DEMM            1.06    RAD Plus        2.11
    SEAmail         1.01    DGMM            1.06    Raid            1.00
    TIMS       1.0(mod8)    DOMAIN          1.42    RBBSMail        18.0
                            EEngine         0.32    ScanToss        1.28
    Compression             EMM             2.11*   ScMail          1.00
    Utilities               EZPoint          2.1    ScEdit          1.12
    Name         Version    FGroup          1.00    Sirius          1.0x
    --------------------    FidoPCB         1.0s@   SLMail         2.15C
    ARC             7.12    FNPGate         2.70    StarLink        1.01
    ARJ             2.20    GateWorks      3.06e    TagMail         2.41
    LHA             2.13    GMail           2.05    TCOMMail         2.2
    PAK             2.51    GMD             3.10    Telemail         1.5*
    PKPak           3.61    GMM             1.21    TGroup          1.13
    PKZip           1.10    GROUP           2.23    TIRES           3.11
                            GUS             1.40    TMail           1.21
    NodeList Utilities      Harvey's Robot  4.10    TosScan         1.00
    Name         Version    HeadEdit        1.18    UFGATE          1.03
    --------------------    HLIST           1.09    VPurge         4.09e
    EditNL          4.00    ISIS            5.12@   WEdit            2.0@
    FDND            1.10    Lola           1.01d    WildMail        2.00
    MakeNL          2.31    Mosaic         1.00b    WMail            2.2
    Parselst        1.33    MailBase       4.11a@   WNode            2.1
    Prune           1.40    MSG              4.5*   XRS             4.99
    SysNL           3.14    MsgLnk          1.0c    XST             2.3e
    XlatList        2.90    MsgMstr        2.03a    YUPPIE!         2.00
    XlaxNode/Diff   2.53    MsgNum         4.16d    ZmailH          1.25
                            MSGTOSS          1.3    ZSX             2.40

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

    BBS Software            Macintosh               Other Software
    Name         Version    ---------               Name         Version
     FIDONEWS 14-12               Page 38                  24 Mar 1997


    --------------------                            --------------------
    FBBS            0.91    Network Mailers         MacArd          0.04
    Hermes         1.6.1    Name         Version    Mantissa        3.21
    Mansion         7.15    --------------------    Mehitable        2.0
    Precision Sys. 0.95b    Copernicus       1.0    OriginatorII     2.0
    Red Ryder Host   2.1    Tabby            2.2    PreStamp         3.2
    Telefinder Host                                 StuffIt Classic  1.6
                 2.12T10    Other Software          SunDial          3.2
                            Name         Version    TExport         1.92
                            --------------------    TimeStamp        1.6
    Point System            ArcMac           1.3    TImport         1.92
    Software                AreaFix          1.6    Tset             1.3
    Name         Version    Compact Pro     1.30    TSort            1.0
    --------------------    EventMeister     1.0    UNZIP          1.02c
    Copernicus      1.00    Export          3.21    Zenith           1.5
    CounterPoint    1.09    Import           3.2    Zip Extract     0.10
    MacWoof          1.1    LHARC           0.41

    --  --  --  --  --  --  --  --  --  --  --  --  --  --  --  --  --
    Key to old info:
          + - Netmail Capable (Doesn't Require Additional Mailer Software)
          * - Recently Updated Version
          @ - New Addition
    --  --  --  --  --  --  --  --  --  --  --  --  --  --  --  --  --

    Please send updates and suggestions to: Peter Popovich, 1:363/264

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

     FIDONEWS 14-12               Page 39                  24 Mar 1997


    =================================================================
                           FIDONEWS PUBLIC-KEY
    =================================================================


    [this must be copied out to a file starting at column 1 or
     it won't process under PGP as a valid public-key]


    -----BEGIN PGP PUBLIC KEY BLOCK-----
    Version: 2.6.2
    Comment: Clear-signing is Electronic Digital Authenticity!

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    =61OQ
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    File-request FNEWSKEY from 1:1/23 [1:18/14] or download it from the
    Rights On! BBS at 1-904-409-7040 anytime except 0100-0130 ET and Zone
    1 ZMH at 1200-9600+ HST/V32B. The FidoNews key is also available on
    the FidoNews homepage listed in the Masthead information.

    -----------------------------------------------------------------
     FIDONEWS 14-12               Page 40                  24 Mar 1997


    =================================================================
                           FIDONET BY INTERNET
    =================================================================

    This is a list of all FidoNet-related sites reported to the Editor as
    of this appearance.

    ============

    FidoNet:

      Homepage     http://www.fidonet.org
      FidoNews     http://ddi.digital.net/~cbaker84/fidonews.html
      HTML FNews   http://www.geocities.com/Athens/6894/
      WWW sources  http://www.scms.rgu.ac.uk/students/cs_yr94/lk/fido.html
      FTSC page    http://www2.blaze.net.au/ftsc.html
      Echomail     http://www.portal.ca/~awalker/index.html
      WebRing      http://ddi.digital.net/~cbaker84/fnetring.html

    ============

    Zone 1:       http://www.z1.fidonet.org

      Region 10:  http://www.psnw.com/~net205/region10.html

      Region 11:  http://oeonline.com/~garyg/region11/

      Region 14:  http://www.netins.net/showcase/fidonet/

      Region 15:  http://www.smrtsys.com/region15/

      Region 16:  http://www.tiac.net/users/satins/region16.htm

      Region 17:  http://www.portal.ca/~awalker/region17.htm

      Region 18:  http://www.citicom.com/fido.html

      Region 19:  http://ccove.n-link.com/ [not answering]

    ============

    Zone 2:       http://www.z2.fidonet.org

    ZEC2:         http://fidoftp.paralex.co.uk/zec.htm [not answering]
    Zone 2 Elist: http://www.fidonet.ch/z2_elist/z2_elist.htm

      Region 24:  http://www.swb.de/personal/flop/gatebau.html (in German)

      Region 25:
                  http://members.aol.com/Net254/

      Region 27:  http://telematique.org/fidofr.shtml (in French)

      Region 29:  http://www.rtfm.be/fidonet/  (in French)

      Region 30:  http://www.fidonet.ch  (in Swiss)
     FIDONEWS 14-12               Page 41                  24 Mar 1997


      Region 34:  http://www.pobox.com/cnb/r34.htm  (in Spanish)
          REC34:  http://pobox.com/~chr

      Region 36:  http://www.geocities.com/SiliconValley/7207/

      Region 48:  http://www.fidonet.org.pl

    ============

    Zone 3:       http://www.z3.fidonet.org

    ============

    Zone 4:       (not yet listed)

    ============

    Zone 5:       (not yet listed)

    ============

    Zone 6:       http://www.z6.fidonet.org

    ============

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

     FIDONEWS 14-12               Page 42                  24 Mar 1997


    =================================================================
                          FIDONEWS INFORMATION
    =================================================================

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

    Editor: Christopher Baker

    Editors Emeritii: Tom Jennings, Thom Henderson, Dale Lovell,
                      Vince Perriello, Tim Pozar, Sylvia Maxwell,
                      Donald Tees

    "FidoNews Editor"
        FidoNet  1:1/23
        BBS  1-904-409-7040,  300/1200/2400/14400/V.32bis/HST(ds)

     more addresses:
        Christopher Baker -- 1:18/14, [email protected]
                                      [email protected]
                                      [email protected]

    (Postal Service mailing address)
        FidoNews Editor
        P.O. Box 471
        Edgewater, FL 32132-0471
        U.S.A.


    voice:  1-904-409-3040 [1400-2100 ET only, please]
                           [1800-0100 UTC/GMT]

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

    FidoNews is published weekly by and for the members of the FIDONET
    INTERNATIONAL AMATEUR ELECTRONIC MAIL system.  It is a compilation
    of individual articles contributed by their authors or their
    authorized agents.  The contribution of articles to this compilation
    does not diminish the rights of the authors.  OPINIONS EXPRESSED in
    these articles ARE THOSE OF THE AUTHORS and not necessarily those of
    FidoNews.

    Authors retain copyright on individual works; otherwise FidoNews is
    Copyright 1997 Christopher Baker.  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 [FNEWSEnn.ZIP] for a
     FIDONEWS 14-12               Page 43                  24 Mar 1997


    particular Issue.  Monthly Volumes are available as FNWSmmmy.ZIP
    where mmm = three letter month [JAN - DEC] and y = last digit of the
    current year [7], i.e., FNWSFEB7.ZIP for all the Issues from Feb 97.

    Annual volumes are available as FNEWSn.ZIP where n = the Volume number
    1 - 14 for 1984 - 1997, respectively. Annual Volume archives range in
    size from 48K to 1.4M.


    INTERNET USERS: FidoNews is available via:

                         http://www.fidonet.org/fidonews.htm
                         ftp://ftp.fidonet.org/pub/fidonet/fidonews/
                         ftp://ftp.aminet.org/pub/aminet/comm/fido/

                                     *=*=*

    You may obtain an email subscription to FidoNews by sending email to:

                         [email protected]

    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 can read the current FidoNews Issue in HTML format at:

                         http://www.geocities.com/Athens/6894/

    STAR SOURCE for ALL Past Issues via FTP and file-request -
    Available for FReq from 1:396/1 or by anonymous FTP from:

                         ftp://ftp.sstar.com/fidonet/fnews/

    Each yearly archive also contains a listing of the Table-of-Contents
    for that year's issues.  The total set is currently about 11 Megs.

                                =*=*=*=

    The current week's FidoNews and the FidoNews public-key are now also
    available almost immediately after publication on the Editor's new
    homepage on the World Wide Web at:

                 http://ddi.digital.net/~cbaker84/fidonews.html

    There are also links there to jim barchuk's HTML FidoNews source and
    to John Souvestre's FTP site for the archives. There is also an email
    link for sending in an article as message text. Drop on over.

                           =*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=

    A PGP generated public-key is available for the FidoNews Editor from
     FIDONEWS 14-12               Page 44                  24 Mar 1997


    1:1/23 [1:18/14] by file-request for FNEWSKEY or by download from
    Rights On! BBS at 1-904-409-7040 as FIDONEWS.ASC in File Area 18.  It
    is also posted twice a month into the PKEY_DROP Echo available on the
    Zone 1 Echomail Backbone.

                               *=*=*=*=*

    SUBMISSIONS: You are encouraged to submit articles for publication in
    FidoNews. Article submission requirements are contained in the file
    ARTSPEC.DOC, available from the FidoNews Editor, or file-requestable
    from 1:1/23 [1:18/14] as file "ARTSPEC.DOC".  ALL Zone Coordinators
    also have copies of ARTSPEC.DOC. Please read it.

    "Fido", "FidoNet" and the dog-with-diskette are U.S. registered
    trademarks of Tom Jennings, P.O. Box 410923, San Francisco, CA 94141,
    and are used with permission.

            "Disagreement is actually necessary,
             or we'd all have to get in fights
             or something to amuse ourselves
             and create the requisite chaos."
                               -Tom Jennings

     -30-

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



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