Volume 2, Number 37                          28 October 1985
         +----------------------------------------------------------+
         |                                             _            |
         |                                            /  \          |
         |    - Fidonews -                           /|oo \         |
         |                                          (_|  /_)        |
         |  Fido and Fidonet                         _`@/_ \    _   |
         |    Users  Group                          |     | \   \\  |
         |     Newsletter                           | (*) |  \   )) |
         |                             ______       |__U__| /  \//  |
         |                            / FIDO \       _//|| _\   /   |
         |                           (________)     (_/(_|(____/    |
         |                                                (jm)      |
         +----------------------------------------------------------+

         Publisher:                                          Fido 1/1
         Editor:                                       Thom Henderson
         Review Editor:                                   Matt Kanter
         Chief Procrastinator Emeritus:                  Tom Jennings

         Fidonews is published weekly by SEAboard, Fido 1/1.  You are
         encouraged  to  submit articles for publication in Fidonews.
         Article submission  standards  are  contained  in  the  file
         FIDONEWS.DOC, available on request from Fido 1/1.

         Disclaimer or don't-blame-us:

         The contents of the articles  contained  here  are  not  our
         responsibility,  nor  do  we  necessarily  agree  with them;
         everything here is subject to debate.  We publish EVERYTHING
         received.





                              Table of Contents


         1. EDITORIAL
            A New Look for Fidonews
         2. NEWS
            Utility for Sysops
            Fidogram Free Telegram Service
            Metro-Fire Fido net/node change
            Brother, Can Ya Spare the Time?
         3. WANTED
            Is Charles H. Downs out there?
         4. NOTICES
            The Interrupt Stack
            Node List Bug















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

                            A New Look for Fidonews

         We've made some  changes  here.  I  finally  got  around  to
         working on the newsletter generator, as I've been meaning to
         for  awhile  now.  It  makes life a great deal easier at our
         end.  The  changes  aren't  that  apparent  to  the  reader,
         though.

         What  readers  WILL  notice  is  that we now have a table of
         contents.  It was suggested just recently,  and judging from
         the flood of messages we've gotten, we gather it's something
         you really want.

         We'll need your help to do make it work.  When you submit an
         article,  you  should put a content line at the beginning of
         the file.  This is just an  asterisk  ("*")  followed  by  a
         short  description  of  your  article.  Everything after the
         asterisk will appear in the table of contents,  and  not  in
         the article.

         Your  article won't get bounced just because it doesn't have
         a content line -- it just won't show  up  on  the  table  of
         contents.   Unless,   of  course,  we  go  in  and  add  one
         ourselves, about which we make no promises.


         The other big change is that we are using ARC  to  pack  the
         newsletter  for  mailing,  by popular demand.  We'll also be
         making our first test mailing to the regional  coordinators.
         If  all  goes  well,  we'll  scrap  the present distribution
         system entirely.

         Each regional  coordinator  will  be  getting  FNEWSvnn.ARC,
         which  will  contain FIDOvnn.NWS,  where "vnn" is the volume
         and issue number (227,  in this case).  I still  feel  funny
         putting  just  one file in an archive,  but the fan mail has
         convinced me.

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

















         Fidonews                   Page  2               28 Oct 1985





         ============================================================
                                     NEWS
         ============================================================

                             Utility for Sysops

         I have written a small utility that has proven to be very
         useful to me as well as a few other sysops.  It's a simple
         program that renames a file to the current system date.

         For example, if the date were Oct. 21, 1985..., and I ran
         this program as such "CHG2DATE SYSOP.LOG" then the file
         SYSOP.LOG would be renamed to 21OCT85.LOG.  Note that the
         extension does NOT change.

         Now you may be saying "So what" or "Big deal", but this
         small program has come in very handy many times.  What I
         do is, every night.., one minute before midnight, I run an
         external event which changes the names of the SYSOP.LOG and
         the MAILER.LOG files.

         I usually let these accumulate until the end of the month
         when I combine them into an ARChive file according to the
         month, such as OCT85HIS.ARC for Octobers history.

         Recently, I wanted to find a person who had changed their
         name the month before and see what their name was before
         they changed it.  It was really simple using a small batch
         file that I wrote.  I just entered the paramters and used
         the DOS FIND command to search thru the files to find it,
         such as:

         LOOK ??OCT85.LOG "Name changed to: Bernie Lawrence"

         The program searched all the matching files and displayed
         the line with the name change in it.  Then all I had to do
         was to type the file that it was found in.  The LOOK.BAT
         file is very simple and only contains:

         ECHO OFF
         FOR %%f IN (%1) DO FIND %2 %3 %4 %5 %6 %7 %8 %9 %%f
         ECHO ON

         The reason for the long list of parameters is so you can
         enter up to eight words to search for.  You MUST enclose
         the string to search for within quotes!  You can also
         use the FIND programs switches such as:

         LOOK ??OCT85.LOG /N "Name changed to: Bernie Lawrence"

         This can be used for many things..., say you want to find
         out how many times Bernie Lawrence logged onto your baord
         on Oct 5, 1985.  All you would have to do is enter:

         LOOK 05OCT85.LOG /C "Bernie Lawrence on"

         and you get a count of the number of times he logged on,
         on Oct 5, 1985.  This batch will only work effectively if


         Fidonews                   Page  3               28 Oct 1985





         used in conjunction with the CHG2DATE.COM program, since
         this provides a way of keeping the days seperate.

         CHG2DATE.COM is a small program written in assembler.  It
         only takes up 698 bytes of space.  It's command format is
         simple..., you just place the name of the file to rename
         on the command line such as:

         CHG2DATE SYSOP.LOG

         The file SYSOP.LOG would be renamed, and the extension
         would remain the same.
         Note: Since the extension remains the same, rename the
         MAILER.LOG to MAILER.MAL before renaming it to avoid
         duplicate names.  Otherwise, CHG2DATE will abort with
         an error.

         This program, combined with the LOOK.BAT file is handy for
         looking at all the mail that was sent out during a month or
         just on a particular day.  For instance, if you wanted to
         see all the Nodes that had mail successfully sent to them
         and the days it was sent, then you could enter:

         LOOK 20OCT85.MAL "Yes"

         and a list like this would be displayed:

         ---------- 20OCT85.MAL
          124/11   |     1 |     1 |     0 |     0 | 00:22   Yes
          124/7    |     5 |     1 |     5 |     0 | 00:44   Yes
          124/11   |     1 |     1 |     0 |     0 | 00:19   Yes
          124/2    |     1 |     1 |     1 |     0 | 00:30   Yes
          124/7    |     1 |     1 |     1 |     0 | 00:44   Yes
          124/8    |     2 |     1 |     1 |     0 | 01:06   Yes
          124/11   |     1 |     1 |     1 |     0 | 00:27   Yes
          124/12   |     2 |     1 |     1 |     0 | 00:29   Yes

         Again.., you could have used ??OCT85.MAL to get a list for
         the whole month.

         Well.., now that I've explained a few of the benifits, let
         me explain how to set it up to run.  It's not very hard to
         implement at all.  All you have to do is set up an external
         event with a tag of X and give it the errorlevel to exit to
         DOS with. The event should be set up to last only one minute
         since that is more than enough time.  I have chosen an
         errorlevel of 20 and so I'll show you how I have my runbbs
         batch file set up.


         ctty con
         watchdog off
           fido_ibm 1/J 128/V 10/W 45/L 15/F 180/D /P /Y
             if errorlevel 20 goto renlog
             if errorlevel 10 goto remote
             if errorlevel 1 goto end
         :renlog
           chg2date sysop.log


         Fidonews                   Page  4               28 Oct 1985





           ren mailer.log mailer.mal
           chg2date mailer.mal
           waitn 60
           runbbs
         :remote
           watchdog on
           ctty com1
           goto end
         :end


         Note: The program waitn.com is used to make the system
         wait till the entire one minute is up so that the event
         is not executed again.

         I hope that you will find this program of use and if you
         would like to get a copy of it, you can download it from
         my board, or from one of the other nodes in my Net.  The
         program waitn.com can also be downloaded from my board.

         Note: This program was written in MS-DOS on an IBM PC
         and it will work on MS-DOS machines.

          _____________________________________
         |  _      _   _   __    __   ___     ||
         | | \ /\ | \ / _ |_    /   |  |  \ / ||
         | |_/ \/ |_/ \_| |__   \__ |  |   |  ||
         |____________________________________|/
              |  ||                    |  ||
              |  ||_   __           ___|__||___
         _____|  ||_)_[__]__/      | Population|
         _____|  ||\\/ oo \  (ruff)|    286    |
         ||   |  || (_|  /_)  '    |___________|
         ||   |  ||  \\@/  \           |  ||
         ||   |  ||   \  *|\\          |  ||
         ||___|  ||   /   |//          |  ||
         _____|  ||  /====(_)          |  ||
         ||   |  || (__/\_\|           |  ||
         ||   |  || _\ \ \ \__         |  ||
         |/   |__|/(___/  \___)        |  ||
                                       |__|/
                    Berinie Lawrence
                Sysop of Dodge City 124/3
                     (214) 494-1940

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














         Fidonews                   Page  5               28 Oct 1985





         Luck Hurder
         101/105

                   ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
                   +The Fidogram Free Telegram Service+
                   ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

         The Amateur Radio operators here at 101/105 have been en-
         joying the responses to our Fidogram service that began
         last month - (see Fidonews 9/09/85). For those of you who
         didn't read it (gasp!) we'll recap briefly:

         1.  Personal (non-business) telegrams to anyone with a
             telephone can now be accepted by Fido.  Free, no charge
             - gratis.

         2.  There's no limit to the number of Fidograms you can
             send for free, but each Fidogram must be kept rather
             short.  20-25 words seems about right.  Remember - vol-
             unteer radio operators will be delivering these for you.

         3.  You may not attempt delivery of any Fidogram that con-
             tains:

             A.  Material compensation, direct or indirect to any
                 party.
             B.  Codes or ciphers meant to disguise the true meaning
                 of the message.
             C.  Suggestive or foul language.

         Here's some of the typical questions we've been asked:

         1.  Can I send a Fidogram to my Aunt matilda in Mexico?
             Yes, Mexico is one of the countrys whose government
             shares an agreement with our government, allowing Fido-
             grams via Amateur Radio.  many countries in Central and
             south America have this agreement with us; most of the
             European countries do not.  Remember, however, that
             final delivery of your message will depend entirely
             upon our locating an Amateur Radio operator within free
             calling distance of the addressee.  We recommend that
             you begin initially by sending Fidograms to more pop-
             ulated areas here in the USA...

         2.  Can I send "happy Thanksgiving" messages with the same
             text to 30 people in 20 different cities?  You betcha -
             we call these "book" messages - but be sure to always
             include your own complete name, address, and voice tel-
             ephone number as well as the same complete info for
             each addressee.  In this example, the text need only be
             sent once.

         3.  How long does it take to deliver my Fidograms?  Sorry,
             that's a toughie to answer; if it's going to a place in
             New England, we'd estimate a day or two.  Other desti-
             nations in the USA should take less than 3 days.

         4.  Why so long?  Well now, you wouldn't be guilty of for-


         Fidonews                   Page  6               28 Oct 1985





             getting that this free public service requires the
             efforts of many volunteers, now would you?  Considering
             the price (you can probably squeeze one heckuva lotta
             fidograms into one piece of Fidomail!)  it's still a
             bargain, regardless of the time element involved...

         The Amateur Radio operators actually appreciate the opp-
         ortunity to offer this service to Fido users.  These mess-
         ages are grist in our radio mills - ways to exercise uour
         skills and equipment.  We realize that we're likely to be
         hit up fairly hard around the holidays and - particularly
         from college-area Fidos - during the weeks prior to Val-
         entine's day.  That's fine - overloads of message traffic
         help us to spot our weaknesses.  Feel free to try and in-
         undate us.

         Fidograms, as well as questions & criticisms regarding them
         can be sent to Luck Hurder at Fido 101/105.



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






































         Fidonews                   Page  7               28 Oct 1985





                       ==============================
                         WE'VE CHANGED OUR NET/NODE
                           BUT NOT OUR STRUGGLE!
                        By Christopher Baker, Sysop,
                          Metro-Fire Fido, 135/14
                       ==============================


         This is just to let everyone know that Metro-Fire Fido has
         moved to a new net/node location in your trusty nodelist.

         We are now part the Miami Area Network, Net 135. This too
         is temporary, since we intend to form a Special Interest
         Region for Fire Departments. Several departments are now
         studying the possibilities of linking up with Fido and
         FidoNet. As soon as one or two more come together, I will
         be applying for a Region number assignment.

         You in FidoLand can continue to assist me in my endeavor
         by passing these articles to anyone you know in any Fire
         Department anywhere. (See also FidoNews 227 & 229.)

         As an update, Metro-Fire Fido now has two doctors on-line
         for questions and answers related to EMS, Trauma Networks,
         Hyperbaric Medicine, Diving Trauma, and General surgery
         and other medical questions. We are looking for an Expert-
         in-Residence to take up the gauntlet of Hazardous
         Materials, Water Rescue, Apparatus, Training, Safety, and
         any other areas of interest to the Fire/Rescue Services.

         Please feel free to lend your support/assistance/expertise
         or to contribute information to our system. Verification
         for access to our system can be made by FidoMail or call
         305-596-8611 and leave information to the Sysop. The board
         runs in the private mode from 2230 Sunday til 1800 Friday
         and in the semi-private mode from 1800 Friday til 2230
         Sunday.

         If you want to communicate in writing, address your
         questions/requests to:
                                   Sysop
                              Metro-Fire Fido
                    Metro-Dade Fire & Rescue Department
                           Communications Bureau
                            5680 S.W. 87 Avenue
                              Miami, FL  33173

         We'll be looking forward to your interest. Thank you.

         C.B., 135/14

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








         Fidonews                   Page  8               28 Oct 1985





                       BROTHER, CAN YA SPARE THE TIME?

                            by Ben Baker, 100/76

              Hey  look  people,  I'm  the guy who started this whole
         daylight saving time controversy  in  a  phone  conversation
         with  Thom  H.  and I can't believe EVERYBODY has missed the
         point completely!!!

              We have a time period we  call  "The  National  FidoNet
         Mail  Window."  Now,  I don't care if your clock reads 15:23
         when it begins, so long as your schedule says "begin mail at
         15:23!"  Do  with  your  clocks  what  you will, but I think
         you'll agree that we all have to start the "National Window"
         together more or less.

              We  call  it  the  "National  Window"  and its time was
         selected because the whole nation can make  calls  when  the
         rates are lowest.  Right?  -- WRONG!

              One  whole  state is so far west that in the winter its
         "National Window" starts at 11pm.  Well, it's early OK,  but
         they still get the cheap rates.  Right?  -- WRONG AGAIN!

              They  are  also so far south that they get more or less
         twelve hours of daylight all the time, so they don't  bother
         with  daylight  savings  time.   So  when we push our clocks
         forward in the Spring, we push their "National Window"  back
         to 10pm and there went the cheap rates.

              I  speak, of course, of Hawaii.  (Alaska probably would
         have a similar problem, but we don't have any Fido nodes  up
         there. . .yet.)

              So,  what  I suggested, for this reason alone, was that
         when  we  get  the  "National  Window"  back  to  0900   hrs
         Coordinated  Universal  Time  next  week,  we keep it there.
         Then the entire nation would have access to the cheap  rates
         most of us enjoy year 'round.

              And you can set your clock any way you like!

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

















         Fidonews                   Page  9               28 Oct 1985





         ============================================================
                                    WANTED
         ============================================================

         Matt Carpenter
         c/o Allen's Bd. 108/10
         Cincinnati, Ohio

         Help!?  Are there any Fido software collectors out there?
         due to modem incompatibilities with the later versions of
         Fido, I am forced to use an older version (10e, gadzooks!).
         That's no big problem, but I would like to have all the
         software I need to set this up. I do have almost all of the
         necessary files but one: ROUTE.EXE. Soooo, that's what I
         need!  Is there anyone out there with an old ROUTE.EXE
         program floating around on a floppy somewhere? Ifso, a reply
         would be great! I'm kinda in need, so any information would
         help! Just send me a reply to Matt Carpenter (me) at Fido
         108/10, Allen's Board.

         Also, is Charles H. Downs out there? Leave me a FidoNet msg
         I need to contact you! (if any of you know him, relay this
         please, if possible)

         Help, anyone?

         Matt Carpenter   *at-> 108/10*

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































         Fidonews                   Page 10               28 Oct 1985





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

                              The Interrupt Stack


         23 Nov 1985
            European sysop conference -- Utrecht, The Netherlands.
            Contact node 3101 for details.

         27 Nov 1985
            Halley's Comet passes closest to Earth before perihelion.

         24 Jan 1986
            Voyager 2 passes Uranus.

          9 Feb 1986
            Halley's Comet reaches perihelion.

          9 Feb 1986
            Diana Overholt (109/74) has another birthday.

         11 Apr 1986
            Halley's Comet reaches perigee.

         19 May 1986
            Steve Lemke's next birthday.

         24 Aug 1989
            Voyager 2 passes Neptune.





         If you have something which you would like to see on this
         calendar, please send a message to Fido 1/1.

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

                                 Node List Bug

         The node list for day number 298 (NODELIST.298 and
         NODELIST.A98) has the wrong phone number for node 1/1.  The
         correct phone number is:

                                1-201-472-8065

         Please fix the phone number in your node list before sending
         anything to Fidonews, node 1/1.

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







         Fidonews                   Page 11               28 Oct 1985