Volume 5, Number 46                              14 November 1988
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    |                                                /|oo \         |
    |        - FidoNews -                           (_|  /_)        |
    |                                                _`@/_ \    _   |
    |        International                          |     | \   \\  |
    |     FidoNet Association                       | (*) |  \   )) |
    |         Newsletter               ______       |__U__| /  \//  |
    |                                 / FIDO \       _//|| _\   /   |
    |                                (________)     (_/(_|(____/    |
    |                                                     (jm)      |
    +---------------------------------------------------------------+
    Editor in Chief                                       Dale Lovell
    Editor Emeritus:                                   Thom Henderson
    Chief Procrastinator Emeritus:                       Tom Jennings
    Contributing Editors:                                   Al Arango

    FidoNews  is  published  weekly  by  the  International   FidoNet
    Association  as  its  official newsletter.  You are encouraged to
    submit articles for publication in FidoNews.  Article  submission
    standards  are contained in the file ARTSPEC.DOC,  available from
    node 1:1/1.

    Copyright 1988 by  the  International  FidoNet  Association.  All
    rights  reserved.  Duplication  and/or distribution permitted for
    noncommercial purposes only.  For  use  in  other  circumstances,
    please contact IFNA at (314) 576-4067. IFNA may also be contacted
    at PO Box 41143, St. Louis, MO 63141.

    Fido  and FidoNet  are registered  trademarks of  Tom Jennings of
    Fido Software,  164 Shipley Avenue,  San Francisco, CA  94107 and
    are used with permission.

    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  ................................................  1
       IMPORTANT NOTICE ON FIDONEWS DISTRIBUTION  ................  1
    2. ARTICLES  .................................................  2
       A Study of NetMail Traffic  ...............................  2
       I finally get 'em right!  .................................  4
       Take an Echo Breather  ....................................  5
       Why me, Goddess?  .........................................  7
       The ChessLine System:  .................................... 18
       Improve Your Programs with Named Notation  ................ 21
       The BIG Picture? Common sense plea on echomail  ........... 23
       My Daddy is a Veteran  .................................... 26
    3. COLUMNS  .................................................. 29
       Bodies Behind the BBS:  Bob Swift  ........................ 29
    And more!
    FidoNews 5-46                Page 1                   14 Nov 1988


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

                         IMPORTANT NEWS ITEM!!!!

    I am  going to  be upgrading 1:157/504 to multiline over the next
    few weeks. Since 1:157/504 is also 1:1/1, this  will be  of major
    significance to everyone who file requests FidoNews from me. I am
    currently running TBBS 2.0S (Single  line)  and  am  going  to be
    upgrading to  TBBS 2.1M  (Multi line) in order to help satisfy my
    user base. File requests will  only  be  accepted  from  one hour
    before National  Mail Hour  to one  hour after National Mail Hour
    (08:00-10:00 GMT).

    The standard  distribution chain  on FidoNews  is that  I send it
    directly  to  the  Regional  Coordinators.  The  RCs then forward
    FidoNews to the  NCs,  who  distribute  it  to  their  own nodes.
    FidoNews should  reach the RC's no later than the end of National
    Mail Hour. FidoNews is  also  sent  to  1:1/0,  the international
    coordinator.

    If you are interested in obtaining the absolute latest edition of
    FidoNews direct, your best bet is to file  request it  just after
    National Mail  Hour on  Monday morning. It will also be available
    for downloading on 1:157/504  as soon  as it  comes back  up from
    mail processing (around 10:15 GMT).

    While I  regret the  inconvenience this will cause some of you, I
    have to put my users first in this matter.

    Thank you for your consideration in this matter.

    Dale Lovell
    1:157/504, 1:1/1
    FidoNews Editor

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

    FidoNews 5-46                Page 2                   14 Nov 1988


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

                      A Study of NetMail Traffic
                             David Schuetz
                             1:109/716.101

         Hello.

         I am a Junior Computer Science major at the University
    of Maryland.  I am currently working on a proposal/study to
    develop the most effective routing for national and, if the
    method developed is transferrable, international net mail
    traffic.  "Most effective" means "least cost and minimal
    hassle to the end user." My ultimate goal is to propose a
    simple method of routing that will be incorporated into
    general FidoNet policy, or, at the least, generally accepted
    by all for the good of all, much as our efficient EchoMail
    distribution system had developed.  This system, ideally, will
    allow anyone in the nation to enter a message to anywhere
    else, without needing to establish credit with the Sysop of
    the originating board, and to be able to have it on good faith
    that the message will arrive within a reasonable period of
    time.

         In order to proceed with my study, I need to know as much
    as possible about net traffic in FidoNet.  For this reason,
    I would like you to answer these questions and send me a
    response at 1:109/716, as soon as possible.  The survey is
    intended to give me an idea of how much NetMail traffic is
    actually *out there*, how much there *could be* (if the method
    for sending mail were a bit easier), and what most people seem
    to think the best method for moving this mail is.

         Thank you very much for your cooperation.

         Sincerely,

         David Schuetz
         1:109/716.101
         8135 Easton Hall
         College Park, MD  20742
         (301) 985-9366
         (301) 454-3787 (dorm hall phone, leave message)
    P.S. I have no connection with IFNA.  I am not even currently
         running a board.  This really is being done for a class.
         If the results to my study are promising, then not only
         will I have completed a class requirement, but FidoNet
         as a whole may benefit.

    ----------------------------------------
    What is your....
    1)  ...Node address?
    2)  ...Modem speed?

    FidoNews 5-46                Page 3                   14 Nov 1988


    3)  Do you have Continuous Mail capability?

    4)  Do you use PC-Pursuit, Reach Out America, or a similar
        long distance plan?

    5)  Do you or your company "eat the cost" of long distance
        calls?

    6)  What is your typical number of net-mail messages over a
        given period of time? (see also #10)
    7)  How many of these are within your local net?
    8)  Within your zone, but outside your net?
    9)  Outside your zone?
    10) What period of time is this data based on (day, week, month)?

    11) How do you route Net-mail?

    12) How does your net handle net-mail?
    13) Echomail?

    14) Do you have an outbound host?
    15) An inbound host?
    16) Do they have backups?

    17) Do you have any objections to a routing standard being
        dictated to the net if it would mean minimum cost to a
        maximum number of users?

    18) Do you have any suggestions as to how, if at all,
        Net-Mail routing could be improved?

    19) What would you be willing to do to improve routing? (Cost
        eating, high-speed links, dedicated mail node, etc...)

    20) How, in your opinion, *should* (ideally) Net-Mail traffic
        work?

    Any other comments:

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

         Results of this study will be posted in FidoNews, and
    should appear in late December/early January.

         Again, thank you very much for all your help, it is much
    appreciated.

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

    FidoNews 5-46                Page 4                   14 Nov 1988


    Don Dawson
    OPUS 141/730

                        I finally get 'em right!

            Subtitle: I love those utilities, but.........!

    Have you ever noticed that most of those neat utilities that
    you use to keep OPUS humming along seem to require a
    control file of some kind?  And often the control file requires
    some information that's spread across your hard disk in some
    other control file that's used with some other program, maybe
    even a file that OPUS uses.  Maybe one day, all of the utility
    program authors will be able to agree on ONE PLACE to put all
    the information that these programs need.  But until they do,
    enter........

                  Area Manager by Tom Kashuba (167/1)

    Kash, as he's called by many, has created a dandy little program
    that actually creates all those little pesky control files.
    Yup, his program requires a control file too, but the
    information you put in it is used to build the control files
    used by those neat utilities.  Sound like a ho-hummer?  Read
    on.

    When you last added a new echomail area did you remember all
    the control files into which it had to be added?..starting with
    the ECHO.CTL file, maybe an AREAS.BBS, then the control file
    that your message reader uses and RASMAM and RENUM, and, and...
    the list goes on.  Of course, I could never get every file
    correct and EXACTLY as they needed to be for each.  Some of
    them use the Area number, some use the Area Name, some need the
    complete path.

    Well, with AM (Area Manager) you build a control file that has
    all of this information in it, then, using powerful commands
    that Kash has built into AM, it will generate all of those
    pesky control files. AM will even put them on the correct
    disk drive into the correct directory.

    If you haven't tried it, you should....it's a another fine
    piece of programming by the author of OOPS and others.  It's
    File Requestable from 141/730, 24hrs as: AM_102.ARC...just in
    case a newer version shows up here before you do...you might
    want to file request AM_*.ARC

    One last comment....Kash asks that after you try it, if you
    continue to use it, that you register it.  The price is small
    but the value is BIG!

    B-)  Don

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

    FidoNews 5-46                Page 5                   14 Nov 1988


                          Take an Echo Breather
                              Glen Jackson
                            REC for Region 14.

    or...slow down the eyestrain when reading echomail!

    I finally installed a larger drive, so I felt I was deserving
    of a few more echos to read. I've changed my mind.

    I'd like everyone to know that this article is not written in
    ANY kind of "official" capacity, but merely my own observations.

    Things that aggravate me in echomail:

    1. Questions like "where can I get that whatever.arc" ?

       These questions get answered by multitudes. If it is a
       piece of network software, I have a solution to keep the
       message flow down:

       a. read the origin line, and do a file request.
       b. look in your nodelist for your closest Software
          Distribution node.
       c. check in your net to see if someone else has it.
       d. as a last resort, netmail the author, and ask him about it.

    2. Answering Twits in echomail. Someone posts a message that says
       something like "I think so and so's mother wears army boots".

       We are then subjected to many messages that look like this:

      TWIT> I think so and so's mother wears army boots.
      TWIT>
      TWIT> * origin The Twit calls here (nnn/nnn)

       Hey TWIT! who let THIS guy on??????

      Again, I have some helpful hints:

      a. ignore him.
      b. net-mail the sysop of the originating system and complain.
         (if the guy is out of line)

    3. Help! What init string do I use for the goofyblatz modem with
       Binkley? Again, the question may have been answered many times
       before. We all want to be helpful, but...

       Would it be out of line for the moderator to step in and say,
       "This has been discussed before". Here is what we came up
       with. (Don't flog me, please. I see a moderator as one that
       keeps track of what goes on with his conference.)

       If the moderator can't help, open it up for everyone.

    4. Finally, 7 screens (on one message), from one person, repeated
       by however many people he has decided to answer. Clear cut
    FidoNews 5-46                Page 6                   14 Nov 1988


       answers can usually be taken care of in a few sentences. And
       to all of you others out there that can't stand this, why not
       send the guy a netmail message with your complaint?

       I don't like to have to keep hitting the [N]ext key whenever I
       see a message by a certain author. Those messages cost SOMEONE
       (or maybe lots of someones) money to send. If you feel the
       need to write a book, either:

       a. send it via netmail on your nickle, or
       b. write an article for Fido_news.

    I did. :-)

    Glen Jackson  REC for Region 14.

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

    FidoNews 5-46                Page 7                   14 Nov 1988


                            Why me, Goddess?

                              David Rice
                            (1:103/503.0)


         I'm guilty.   I  freely  admit  the fact.  I deserve to
    hang, and to be left swinging from the highest  spreader  on
    the ship.  Yep!    Guilty:  That's me.  Let me begin at the,
    er, beginning, and you'll agree, too.

         I run an Astrology BBS,  with  it's  related  astrology
    files,  message base STARGAZE Echo, and I provide answers to
    astrology students free of any and all charges, if they have
    the courage to ask (as if the question is not  well  thought
    out  I  can  be somewhat acerbic with the replies), and if I
    know the answers.

         I therefore get more than my share of,  shall  we  say,
    interesting callers.    I  get  (and  don't  really welcome)
    threats, demands, offers, and law suits  thrown  at  me  for
    being "that  Godless  pagan SysOp."  As astrologers are used
    to being considered somewhat, well, odd, this  is  not  very
    annoying.

         Until one  day.  My brother in Christ who was assigned,
    presumably, to "monitor" my BBS, often calls once a week  to
    screen  capture  the user list, check out the new subversive
    material (files) available, and hang up. (I  say  "hang  up"
    and  not "log off," as that's exactly what he does.) One may
    only guess at what he plans on  doing  with  my  BBS's  user
    list, but visions of Jihad come to mind. . . .

         But I  digress.    Until one day, I continue, I got the
    Holy Bible from a very kind SysOp in San Jose, and posted it
    available for downloading.  The Holy righteousness  hit  the
    fan.

         Answering  an  incessant  YELL from a user, I was asked
    (well, demanded seems to fit better): "Isn't this a New  Age
    Board!"

         I answered  truthfully. "No, it is not.  If it was 'New
    Age' I would have charged you $5.00 a minute for  the  first
    ten  minutes,  and  $2.50  for each additional minute, and a
    dime for each character I'm typing at you now."  As  we  all
    know, the only thing that "New Age" is good for is to make a
    great deal of money from ignorant fools.

         "Yes  it  is!" the reply came back. "What's the Word of
    God doing on a Satanist's BBS!"

         Hummm.  Why me, Goddess?  I thought.  I don't eat  Your
    animals.  I don't drink, smoke, or screw.  I'm a good witch.
    Why, then,  pick  on  me?   The best answer I could think of
    came to me, then, like a revelation, like  a  prophecy.
    FidoNews 5-46                Page 8                   14 Nov 1988


         "Because  my  Witch's  Coven  in  San  Diego has subtly
    altered it  in  misleading,  deceiving  ways,  to  trap  the
    innocent, and to further our own, evil, unguessed of ends."

         I don't much like being called a "Satanist."

         Click! the  modem  went. "Caller Vanished!"  OPUS went.
    "Sigh," I went.

         So you see, I am guilty.   I  didn't  expect  any  more
    trouble after that, but I suppose I should have.

         Two   weeks   later,   someone   was   yelling   at  me
    unremittingly again.  It was a new caller, and being a  nice
    guy I answered the yell.

         "GO VOICE!" it  demanded.  Sure, I thought, why not?  I
    picked up my phone, and typed: "Pick up your phone  and  log
    off."

         "Hi," I said cheerfully, in my best SysOply voice. "How
    may I  serve  you?"   Six words, but he only waiting for the
    first three before ranting:

         "Take the Bible off your BBS!" He raved.  I  envisioned
    some   short,   scrawny   twit  spitting  in  his  receiver,
    acne-scared  of  face,  wearing   a   ratty  sweater  over a
    Perma-Press  dackron  shirt,  and three sets of underwear in
    case of an "accident."

         "Ahumm, what?"  I am slow at times.   He  repeated  the
    demand, and added for my enlightenment:

         "You  can't  have  astrology and The Word of God on the
    same BBS!" He said "astrology"  like  you  or  I  might  say
    "Richard Nixon" or "Jane Fonda."

         Many  years  ago  I  learned  the art of Not Listening.
    Most American kids learn this by age  14,  taught  by  their
    parents when they rail against them.  One learns to just say
    "Uhm,  yes"  and  "Uhm,  no" now and then (it doesn't matter
    which), to appear that one is listening.

         He started on a long, drawn-out,  dry,  rambling  spill
    that  seemed to begin nowhere, and seemed just as endless as
    his capacity for ignorance.

         "Uhm, yes," I said over to the phone.  I paused.  "Uhm,
    no,"  I  added  next.   After the witnessing was over, I was
    shocked to find he  was  waiting  for  my  reply.    Gee,  I
    wondered, what did he said?  I only heard the first demand.

         "Sure, I'll delete  those  files.  Anything else?"  And
    off he went again.  He mentioned something about killing the
    STARGAZE echo and all my astrology programs before  I  tuned
    him out again.
    FidoNews 5-46                Page 9                   14 Nov 1988


         "Uhm, yes. . .  Uhm, no. . .  Uhm, yes. . . ."

         He finally hung up after assuring me that he would pray
    for my soul.

         The  next  day  I added three more Bible related files,
    and an area of "Christian" related text files.  Gee, I  hope
    he doesn't mind.

         The whole  point of this sad story?  Well, I mistreated
    a user, slapping  him  silly  with  my  prankish  wit,  just
    because he was ignorant enough to call me a "Satanist."  And
    he really  didn't  deserve  it.    So It's my fault, and I'm
    guilty as, er, Hell, and I'm real sorry.

         I have since disabled the YELL option of OPUS for those
    under PRIVILEGE level.  This  isn't  fair  to  other  NORMAL
    level users, but some had to die.

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

    FidoNews 5-46                Page 10                  14 Nov 1988


                                                 October 19, 1988


    Editor
    FidoNews

    "Letters to the Editor"

    Sir:

    I am attaching selected items from both the Articles of
    Association and the By-Laws of The International FidoNet
    Association which were filed with the State of Missouri
    for the expressed purpose of Incorporating the entity known
    as IFNA.

    I am providing a edited version of these documents along with
    comments on each so that I can support the claims that I have
    or will be making in this letter:

    Excepts from:
                      ARTICLES OF ASSOCIATION
                              for the
                 INTERNATIONAL FIDONET ASSOCIATION

    Be it known that we, the suscribers, do hereby associate
    ourselves as a body politic and corporate pursuant to the
    statute laws of the State of Missouri regulating the
    formation and organization of corporations without capital
    stock and the following are our Articles of Association:

       I. The name of our corporation shall be the International
            [Text deleted for Space Reasons]

      II. The period of duration of the corporation is perpetual.

     III. The address of its initial Registered Office in the State
     of Missouri is: 120 S. Central, Suite 1400, St. Louis, Missouri
          [Text deleted for Space Reasons]

      IV. The purposes for which our corporation is formed are the
          following:

          A) the promotion of interest in telecommunications and
             experimentation;
             Comment:   Ok, if this is true, then why are Networks
                        other than FidoNet excluded from the
                        promotion of Telecommunications and
                        experimentation?  Why are there limits
                        placed upon other International Networks
                        who wish to communicate with FidoNet?

          B) the establishment of telecommunication networks to
           provide publicly accessable and publicly available
           electronic communications;

    FidoNews 5-46                Page 11                  14 Nov 1988


             Comment:   Is this true in today's environment?  Can it
                        be that a person holding a position of
                        authority within IFNA's structure is denying
                        access and electronic communications?  I
                        think someone should look at this one real
                        close!

          C) the furtherance of the public welfare;

             Comment:   Keeping people from diverse backgrounds from
                        free and easy access to the IFNA regulated
                        Nodelist (via Zone Gates) is not in the
                        interest of "public welfare" in my eyes.

          D) the advancement of telecommunications art the fostering
          of education in the field of electronic communication;
          E) the promotion and conduct of research and development
           to further the development of electronic communication;

             Comment:   This is the one which really gets me, you
                        expect a lot when IFNA does not even live up
                        to the "promotion" of Inter-Network
                        development.  Promotion and development
                        occur when two parties (ne Networks) try
                        to develop a new technology when the old
                        one doesn't fit any more.  To establish a
                        link and then take it away, because of a
                        non-delivered piece of paper is really
                        pushing it to the maximum.

          F) the dissemination of technical, educational, and
     scientific information relating to electronic communication;
          G) the printing and publishing of documents, books,
    magazines, newspapers and pamphlets necessary or incidental to
    any of the above purposes.
          H) No part of the assets or income of our corporation
    shall inure to the benefit of or be distributable to the
    members, the officers, or any of them, or to other private
    persons except that our corporation shall be authorized and
             empowered to pay reasonable compensation for services
             rendered and to make payments and distributions in
             furtherance of the purposes set forth herein.

       V. The affairs of the Corporation shall be governed by a
    Board consisting of Directors as defined in the By-Laws.
    Each Director shall be elected for terms of two years by the
          members eligible to vote.  Half of the Directors shall be
          elected for terms beginning on even numbered years and
    half shall be elected for terms beginning on odd-numbered years.
           [Text Deleted for space concerns]

      VI. During the intervals between meetings of the Board of
          Directors, the affairs of the Corporation shall be
          administered by an Executive Committee consisting of the
          [Text deleted for Space]

    FidoNews 5-46                Page 12                  14 Nov 1988


     VII. A vacancy in the Board of Directors shall be deemed to
    occur upon the death, resignation, recall, move of permanent
          [Text Deleted for Space]

    VIII. The officers of the Corporation shall be a President, a
    Vice President, Vice President - Technical Coordinator, a
          Secretary, and a Treasurer, who shall be elected by a
          majority of the Directors at the Annual Meeting.

          Comment:    What No International Coordination positon
                      defined within the limits of the Articles?

      IX. These articles may be amended by the three-fourths vote of
          all directors, or, provided due notice of the proposed
          amendment shall have been sent to each director at least
          thirty days in advance, by a two-thirds vote of all
          directors.

       X. The membership of IFNA shall consist members as defined in
          [Text deleted for Space]

      XI. No person shall be eligible to serve in any of the
          positions or offices of Director, Alternate, President,
    Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, or Vice President -
    Technical Coordinator, whose service in any such capacity would:
             A. Violate any applicable law, statute, ruling or
               regulation of the State of Missouri or the United
               States  of America, or of the country of domicile of
               such person; or
             B. Jeopardize the non-profit or tax-exempt status of
              IFNA, as defined by the laws, statutes, rulings or
              regulations of the  State of Missouri or the United
              States of America; or

             Comment:    Are  not, given the above items, the actions
                          of Mr. David Dodell, about to jeapardize
                          the Non-Profit/Tax-Exempt status of IFNA?
                          This providing that the above points are
                          intrepreted to mean that David's actions
                          are not in the best interest of IFNA and
                          the IRS's view on furthuring public
                          interest/telecommunications on an
                          international basis.  (AlterNet is an
                          international fraternal organization)
                          incorporated in the State of Delaware.

             C. Amount to, create or continue a conflict of interest
     between the activities, aims or purposes of IFNA and such
    person's private financial interests or such interests of any
    of such person's employer, family or relations.
    Each person nominated or elected
               [Text deleted for space]

      Comment:    Has Mr. Dodell obtained the BOD's permission
                  to react the way that he has?  Since the BOD has
                  not attempted to either restrain Mr. Dodell in the
    FidoNews 5-46                Page 13                  14 Nov 1988


                  performance of his duties (which are not defined in
                  the By-Laws) does this mean that the BOD approves
                  of his actions?  Does his attitude and apparent
                  disregard for agreements constitute a conflict of
                  interest when considering the purpose of IFNA and
                  IFNA's stated aims and Activities?


     XII. Upon the dissolution of our corporation, the Board of
          Directors shall, after paying or making provision for the
          payment of all of the liabilities of our corporation,
          [Text Deleted for space]




    The following from:

                              BY-LAWS
                              for the
                 INTERNATIONAL FIDONET ASSOCIATION

    DEFINITIONS:

    The following terms have meanings as follows for all
    purposes of these By-Laws and Articles of Association:

    IFNA: International FidoNet Association.

    IFNA NETWORK: The current set of systems which have been
    certified as FidoNet compatible and conform to policies
    established by the Board of Directors.

    Comment:  Alternate Networks have met and continued to
              remain within the operating invironment of
              FidoNet compatible, and for the most part
              have taken the Network Accepted Policy3.doc
              as the basis for their own networks.  This
              being a given, then Alternate networks should
              not be withheld from Zone Gating.  There are
              after all only 7 Major Continents and I believe
              that the software currently provides for up to
              13 Zones.

    IFNA NODELIST: The list of nodes active in the IFNA NETWORK,
    prepared by the IFNA Vice President - Technical Coordinator.

    Comment:  The IFNA Vice President - Technical Coordinator does
              not produce the IFNA Nodelist, David Dodell does not
              hold this position although at one time he did hold
              the position within IFNA.  At FidoCon '88, Ray Gwinn
              gave the position of International Coordinator to
              Mr. Dodell.


    PUBLIC ACCESS: A system that has a telephone number
    FidoNews 5-46                Page 14                  14 Nov 1988


    published in the IFNA Nodelist, and in addition provides
    services to the public.

    ANNUAL MEETING: A yearly meeting of all members of IFNA with
    [Text deleted]

    BY-LAWS:

     1. The following membership categories are established:

        a) Regular Member. To be eligible, an applicant: must be the
           system operator in good standing of a PUBLIC ACCESS node;
           must have paid any dues required; is entitled to one vote.

        b) Associate Member.  Any person who is not eligible to be a
           Regular Member, but who is interested in electronic
           communications, is eligible to be an Associate Member by
           paying required dues.  Associate Members have all of the
           rights of a Regular Member except the right to vote.

        c) Commercial Member.  Any entity using the IFNA NETWORK for
           the conduct of any business is eligible to be a Commercial
           Member by paying required dues.  Any Commercial Member
           also satisfying the requirements to be a Regular Member
           shall be entitled to vote.

        d) Honorary Member.  The Board of Directors may award
           Honorary Member status to any entity.  Honorary Members
           have all of the rights of a Regular Member except the
           right to vote.

        e) Life Member.  Any member may become a Life Member by
           paying the required dues.


     7. No person shall be an officer or director unless they
        qualify under all applicable statutes.


    29. The Vice President - Technical Coordinator shall:
        a) be responsible for maintenance and distribution of the
           master NODELIST;

           Comment:
           Ok, please inform me as to why the IC's position is
           still being held by Mr. Dodell and why it is not a
           part of Mr. Gwinn's job.  Additionally, Mr. Gwinn is
           not provided with the power to delegate his authority
           on this one to anyone.

        b) creation and distribution of the weekly update file for
           the master NODELIST;

           See comment above.

        c) ensuring the smooth operation of the IFNA NETWORK as
    FidoNews 5-46                Page 15                  14 Nov 1988


           prescribed by the Board of Directors;
        d) serve as a member of the Technical Standards Committee.

    30. Standing committees:
        a) The following standing committees are established:
           -  Administration and Finance
           -  Executive Committee
           -  Nominations and Elections
           -  By-Laws and Rules
           -  Technical Standards
           -  Publications
           -  International Affairs
           -  Membership Services
        b) Each standing committee shall include among its members at
           least one director. Additionally, the Treasurer shall
           serve as a member of the Administration and Finance
           Committee. Appointments of all standing committee members
           shall be made by the President at the Annual Meeting and
           shall be for a term of one year.  The Chair of the Board
           shall designate the chair of each committee.  Standing
           committees shall make written reports at least 30 days
           prior to each regular meeting of the Board of Directors.
           Standing committees may originate studies in their fields
           and may generate recommendations to the Board on their
           own initiative.

    36. The Technical Standards Committee shall be responsible for:
        a) Providing a rigorous definition of FidoNet and all FidoNet
           protocols sufficient to implement a compatible electronic
           mail system.
        b) Providing IFNA the means to determine whether a system is
           compatible with FidoNet.  This will allow IFNA to list
           compatible systems so Sysops may decide which system to
           install.
        c) Producing and enhancing standards for:
           -  Data Transmitted
           -  Connection
           -  Protocols
           -  Nodelist
           -  Routing

        Comment:   From this one, since the SysOps in the Alternate
                   networks are using much the same software as is
                   being used by the SysOps of FidoNet/IFNA Network
                   there should be no "Technical" reasons for not
                   allowing Zone Gates into the IFNA/FidoNet
                   Nodelist.  In fact, the Alternate networks have
                   kept the same schedules for a "Common" Mail Hour
                   a "Common" Nodelist Format, a "Common" policy
                   complaint handling procedure, a "Common"
                   technical Standard for protocols and have gone
                   to the trouble of "Dual Identies" in order to
                   maintain a close relationship with the people
                   they know and wish to communicate with within
                   the FidoNet Network.

    FidoNews 5-46                Page 16                  14 Nov 1988


    37. The International Affairs Committee shall monitor the
        conduct of international liaison by IFNA staff.  They shall
        initiate recommendations for IFNA representation at
        international meetings.  They shall encourage the growth and
        strengthening of IFNA, its member societies and
        telecommunications worldwide. They shall coordinate and
        monitor planning and strategy for improving international
        telecommunications.

        Comment:   IFNA's International Affairs Committee is charged
                   with the "of telecommunications worldwide", the
                   last time I looked at a map, the United States,
                   Canada, Europe, Australia, Asia and Africa were
                   still part of the world.  Therefore, are not
                   networks which are located anywhere in the world
                   something which IFNA should be working in a
                   positive manner to promote connectivity with?


        Fido and FidoNet are trademarks of Fido Software.



    I appologize for the length of this article, but hope that it
    will be printed (which I will be surprized if it is), as the
    reader will note, IFNA appears free to augment the positions
    which it is chartered to have at the drop of the hat.  It also
    appears as though they are willing to forsake some of their
    own By-Laws and Articles of Association to get things done the
    way that they want them done.  They also have people who
    delegate job functions as they see fit without regard for the
    fact that they are still responsible for the actions of someone
    who is in the delegated job function.

    If you intrepret what I have written to be a slam at IFNA, it
    is just that.  IFNA is supposed to promote communications on an
    International basis, they are not doing that, they are busy
    playing games with the United Nations, which is not all bad, but
    they are unwilling to deal with Alternative Networks within
    Zone 1, so why would a "Reasonable Person" believe that they
    would treat a network from Siberia any differently?

    Many of you know me, I was a FidoNet Sysop for over four years,
    having joined FidoNet just after the mighty Multi-Net
    implementation.  I have served IFNA and FidoNet in many job
    functions, I wanted (initially) to see IFNA succeed.  I spent
    my own money to go to New Hamster to help the committee
    understand exactly what a "Grunt Sysop" wanted from them.  I
    have seen the By-Laws read the way that people wanted them
    read, namely to the benifit of those currently in power.  I
    have also seen many changes in attitude especially from those
    who were elected by the people in IFNA to rule over FidoNet.
    I have seen you the people who make up FidoNet, let it be
    taken over by a few of the "Elected Representatives" of the
    people who paid $25.00 to join IFNA.  I have been known to
    look for Cemetary Plots all over the place,  I am not saying
    FidoNews 5-46                Page 17                  14 Nov 1988


    that this is a Plot, I am saying that the IC is the VP-TC and
    that the person "Elected" to that position was not elected by
    the people who elected their representatives.

    Many who will read this, will say that I am simply speaking
    "Sour Grapes", but take a look at what has happened since
    FidoCon'87, the Network has grown by over 150%, IFNA
    membership is still less than 10% of the total Network, the
    attempts of the people who grew tired of the garbage which
    IFNA was attempting to push down their throats and left
    to form their own Networks are not sour grapes.  At this time
    the Alternate networks have a total membership which is equal
    to or slightly greater than the network when I joined it.
    The Alternate Networks have taken the things that worked from
    FidoNet, the RC structure, the Policy Documents, the Dictator
    style of management and created something which works.  They
    have applied for Zone Gate Numbers following prescribed
    procedures, namely asking for one, and were told "NO".  How
    do you think that the United States was formed, just by the
    same type of actions by England!

    There is a revolution, now that the die has been cast, as to
    which network(s) will be the one to win is unclear, but in
    one corner you have FidoNet, represented by IFNA, which is
    supposed to be a democracy telling the Alternate Networks
    you have to be so large and in place for so long etc..  In
    the other corners are the people within the Alternative
    networks who don't need an organization to speak for them,
    and who for the most part use to want to see IFNA succeed.
    If they have lost faith in IFNA/FidoNet then what do you think
    is going to happen after all the "Zone Wars"?  In general, the
    whole idea that Tom Jennings started with Fido/FidoNet is going
    to disappear.

     Bob Morris
     SysOp, 1:141/305.42, 7:46/2

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

    FidoNews 5-46                Page 18                  14 Nov 1988


    Edward Hawes
    Fast-BBS

    I wanted to let all sysops know about our new CHESSLINE
    system available for bbs operations.  The ChessLine will give
    your BBS that extra feature which will attract the kind of users
    you want.  Do you ever get tired of seeing users call in, skim
    the message base, then go to the files section?  The ChessLine
    makes your board more interesting by giving them something else
    to do.  Chess has been around for centuries, and unlike other
    past times, has not been harmed by the computer age.  In fact,
    have you ever noticed that of the people you know who are
    interested in computers, probably more of them play chess than do
    not?  While the game does not require a genius to play, it does
    attract people who are at least interested in exercising their
    intellectual dexterity.  This is a prerequisite to personal
    computing and goes hand in hand with the users of a bulletin
    board system.

    The ChessLine operates in a fashion similar to 'postal chess'. A
    user will call your BBS, enter The ChessLine, make his move, and
    exit.  His opponent will call later, enter The ChessLine, make
    his move, and then exit.  What makes The ChessLine more
    interesting than postal chess is that you don't have to wait on
    the US mail.  The ChessLine will store all moves and when your
    user calls, will set up an on-screen chessboard with the last
    played position shown.  All moves entered are checked for their
    legality, as The ChessLine will permit no illegal moves.  All
    legal moves including castling, enpassents, and pawn promotions
    are allowed.  The ChessLine will terminate the game as soon as
    one player check-mates the other or if the game becomes
    stalemated or a player resigns.

    We have also added some other options to Chesline for you and
    your users enjoyment :
    1.. The ability to leave short comments to the other player
    2.. Sysop chat mode (with auto word-wrap)
    3.. Sysop online play with user
    4.. Netmail play (see Netmail doc's)
    5.. List of all moves
    6.. The ability to take back moves
    7.. View other games in progress
    8.. Online Help

    FUTURE ADDITIONS (Already under developement)
    1.. U.S. CHESS Federation ranking system..
    2.. Node to Node interactive play..

    CLMAIL.EXE
    This utility is the most exciting aspect of Chesline.. Clmail is
    the Net-mail utility that will send moves to any board
    in the E-Mail Network that has ChessLine installed.
    Let me explain. You see Clmail creates a outbound
    message with the record enclosed.. So if you wanted to play a
    game with a user in Washington D.C.,you make your move and clmail
    will send it across the wire to the Node in Washington then the
    FidoNews 5-46                Page 19                  14 Nov 1988


    move applied to chesline on that board.. The next day the user in
    Washington would send his move to your board through Clmail
    and so on and so on... Now that i have you confuzed
    lets make it worse... Say you have 20 games going on and
    3 of them are network games to 3 different nodes,
    Clmail will automatically create the outbound messages with the
    node numbers there going to. (Have I got your attention?)
    This is a great concept because you can now play National Chess
    without having to call another board with procomm or whatever
    and sign on and go through lond distance networks just to
    make a move.. Now with CLmail you make all your moves
    locally and your mail system handles the rest..(NEAT HUH?)
    We are presently working on a player list utility that will list
    all Chessline players nationally and rank them according to
    U.S. Chess Federation rules and regulations then create a
    listing that will be distributed to all Chesline nodes so the
    users can select by player and ranking!! (Exciting HUH?)
    Well Im sure you can see how this could grow into a Chess Net!
    We are very excited about the possibilities this could bring...
    The program Clmail was written by James Brown at Brown BBS in
    Houston. Many Thanks to his hard work and dedication to the
    expansion of Chesline and the idea for the Net-Mail application.
    This concept has broken new ground in the E-mail Network and
    blazed a new path for bbs games..
                THANKS James Brown.. WE APPRECIATE THE WORK!!

    ATTN: This program is still being tested and has not been
          distributed yet.. The netmail system will be sent to
          you free of charge if you purchase chesline...

    Notes:

    Chesline is a very high quality program designed with the sysop
    in mind.  It is written in assembler and uses ansi graphics for
    the display.  It also uses RAM for file processing so the speed
    is kept to a maximum.  It monitors the carrier and has it's own
    ansi interpreter so you don't have to load ansi.sys and you can
    still see everything on your screen that the user sees. It will
    allow a max of 200 games and is set up to run under multiple
    nodes. It will automatically get the user's name and will run at
    2400/1200/300 even 9600 baud. Thise version will have the
    ability  for the sysop to play online with user and has a
    chat mode as well.

    This program was specifically designed for opus but will run
    on PCBoard,Quik-BBS,GTPowercomm,RBBS.

    If you would like to place an order then feel free to call
    106/12 The SoundingBoard and fill out the order form..
    Mastercard, Visa and American Express accepted. You can
    also call my board in Orlando to order!

    For more information on Chesline call Edward V. Hawes voice=
    407 774-2511 data=407 660-0005 5pm-9am 7 days a week!
    BHC SOFTWARE
    3120 SOUTHWEST FRW #400
    FidoNews 5-46                Page 20                  14 Nov 1988


    Houston Texas 77098

    PLEASE SUPPORT THIS PRODUCT SO WE CAN GROW THE CHESS-NET!!!


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

    FidoNews 5-46                Page 21                  14 Nov 1988


    John Herro
    1:363/6


               IMPROVE YOUR PROGRAMS WITH NAMED NOTATION


    In the article  "THE VERY BEST PROGRAMMING LANGUAGE " in FidoNews
    533 (15 August 1988), I said that Ada has new features, not found
    in earlier languages, that make programs easier to understand.  I
    also said that I'd try to give examples in future articles.

    When the first high-level programming language (Fortran)  was in-
    vented in the 1950's, computer time was expensive and programming
    time was relatively cheap.   Therefore,  early languages were de-
    signed to generate code that's as efficient as possible,  even at
    the expense of program readability.   Today  the situation is re-
    versed.   Computer time is cheap,  but program maintenance is ex-
    pensive.   (Program  maintenance refers to debugging,  as well as
    making changes to the software and adding enhancements.)   There-
    fore,  the most important consideration today is to make programs
    as easy to understand as possible.  Thanks to modern software en-
    gineering,  we've learned to improve program readability  without
    sacrificing efficiency.

    One of the  language  features  new to Ada makes calls to subpro-
    grams (procedures and functions) much easier to understand, with-
    out affecting efficiency.  It's called  NAMED  NOTATION  or NAMED
    PARAMETER  ASSOCIATION.   Suppose,  for example,  that we write a
    procedure (or "subroutine")  that computes the volume and surface
    area of a cylinder,  given its radius and height.   In  Ada,  the
    procedure specification might look like this:

      procedure COMPUTE_VOL_AND_AREA(RADIUS, HEIGHT : in FLOAT;
                                     VOLUME, AREA   : out FLOAT);

    Note that the procedure  specification  tells us the names of the
    parameters (or "dummy arguments"),  their types, and their modes.
    The mode can be "in," "out," or "in out."   In this example,  all
    four parameters are of type FLOAT.  RADIUS and HEIGHT are of mode
    "in," while VOLUME and AREA are of mode "out."

    Except for specifying the modes explicitly, Ada subprogram speci-
    fications aren't much different from other languages.   For exam-
    ple,  in Fortran the first line of a  subroutine,  similar to our
    Ada procedure specification, might be:

             SUBROUTINE VAREA(RADIUS, HEIGHT, VOLUME, AREA)

    Here the subroutine name,  VAREA,  is a bit cryptic, but standard
    Fortran limits us to names of at most six characters.  (Many ver-
    sions of Fortran allow names longer than the standard.)   In Ada,
    the names are limited only by the  maximum length of a line,  and
    all characters of a name are significant.

    The real advantage of Ada can be seen in the  CALL to the subpro-
    FidoNews 5-46                Page 22                  14 Nov 1988


    gram, rather than in the subprogram specification.   In all other
    languages, the names of the subprogram parameters  (or "dummy ar-
    guments") aren't known in the calling program.   For example,  in
    Fortran, a call might be

                      CALL VAREA(1.5, 3.7, VOL, A)

    This is called POSITIONAL NOTATION,  because the arguments in the
    call must appear in the same order as they do in the  subprogram,
    and there's no  reference  to the names of the dummy arguments in
    the call.  When the call occurs in this example, 1.5 in the call-
    ing program is associated with RADIUS in the subprogram, 3.7 with
    HEIGHT,  VOL with VOLUME,  and A with AREA.   This association is
    done by position.

    We can use positional notation in Ada, too.   In Ada  (as in Pas-
    cal) the word  CALL is omitted and we simply name the subprogram,
    but the call otherwise looks about the same as in Fortran:

                COMPUTE_VOL_AND_AREA(1.5, 3.7, VOL, A);

    However, in Ada the call can be made much easier to read by using
    NAMED NOTATION:

           COMPUTE_VOL_AND_AREA(RADIUS => 1.5, HEIGHT => 3.7,
                                VOLUME => VOL, AREA => A);

    The symbol => is read "arrow," and the name of the dummy argument
    precedes it.   With  Named  Notation,  the reader doesn't have to
    keep flipping  between the page containing the call  and the page
    containing the subprogram specification  to understand what's go-
    ing  on.   Also,  the  programmer  need not remember the order in
    which the arguments appear,  because with Named Notation, the ar-
    guments in the call may appear in any order:

           COMPUTE_VOL_AND_AREA(HEIGHT => 3.7, RADIUS => 1.5,
                                AREA => A, VOLUME => VOL);

    As you can see,  Named Notation is one feature of Ada that really
    improves program  readability.   In future articles,  we'll cover
    other Ada features that will improve your programs.  For example,
    closely related to Named Notation are  Default Parameters,  which
    we'll discuss next time.

    If you're not programming in Ada, learn the language and go first
    class!  There are now several inexpensive Ada compilers available
    for the PC.  And I've written a  Shareware  Interactive Ada Tutor
    program ADA-TUTR.ARC, available on 363/6.   FidoNews 533 contains
    a list of many other boards that  also  have  ADA-TUTR.ARC.   The
    Tutor  stresses  good  program  design,  not just syntax, so that
    you'll learn to take advantage of the special  language  features
    new to Ada.  As always, I welcome your comments and suggestions.


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

    FidoNews 5-46                Page 23                  14 Nov 1988


    Joe Taibi
    FidoNet 280/302



                   Reach out and FLAME someone?



     You know the symptoms as well as the multitude of causes behind
    the obvious loss of focus evident in our echo areas.  Sadly
    enough it does not seem there's much likelyhood of things
    becoming any better in the near future unless something positive
    is undertaken to achieve such a goal.  There are a wealth of
    moderations and coordinations and watchdog efforts being made
    and I feel it time to at least state my own simple case
    regarding the effectivity of this approach.

    The eventual outcome that can be expected from a moderators
    efforts to control the behavior of so many individuals in the
    situation as it stands today,  is burn out,  or worse,  the same
    irresponsible insensitive behavior that they are in the position
    of policing. This is in no way to be interpreted as an attack on
    any of these individuals, it is just an observation and an
    opinion as is the remainder of this note.

    What is needed is a movement lead by those who are already
    practicing a common sense method of control and have all along.
    We must effect a shift towards a more reasonable approach to the
    problem.  I am quite certain that there are a great many users
    and sysops alike who are already practicing this very method of
    control and I take heart in the unsung and unrewarded efforts of
    these individuals for they are the reason that FidoNet does not
    collapse in a fit of childishness.

    The method of which I babble, is the only one that ever actually
    works! It is called " SELF " control. It is patently obvious to
    any casual observer that we in Fidonet hold our individuality and
    freedom to do our own thing in high regard. It is not however, a
    reciprocal arrangement by any stretch of the imagination. What do
    I mean by this? Glad you asked! I only mean that while we are so
    quick to jump up and down at every hint of an attempt to curb the
    childish inappropriate and just plain ignorant misuse of echomail
    through moderation and such, we are slow to do anything in the
    way of suggesting alternative actions!

    The part that I am truly amazed at is the majority of those who
    abuse echomail are the system operators themselves and not the
    users! So we have people who try to do something about it and
    they are met with screams and howls from every corner of the
    globe.  I know that I am merely mirroring the disgust felt by
    the majority of those in the Network who wake up daily and sit
    bleary eyed at the monitor with mouth agape at the wonderously
    idiotic verbeage that spews forth from nearly every echo and I'm
    hoping we can try to educate the responsible <?> parties.
    The abuses are far too common and all too often perpetrated by
    FidoNews 5-46                Page 24                  14 Nov 1988


    the very people who are most aware of the infractions. The vast
    majority are directly attributable to hasty responses. This is
    a demonstration of a lack of self control. I fear it is also
    indicative of the state of affairs in society as a whole.
    It is not necessary to irritate others in order to be an
    individual, and adhering to 'mandates of consideration' is not
    a loss of freedom. In point of fact it is one of the only ways
    to preserve it. Use it or lose it also relates to CONTROL!

    So from those of us who practice self control at least most of
    the time ( we all have our moments ) here are a few helpful ways
    to detect an attack of inappropri-echo-itis or in-flame-o-gramia
    idiosys...

    You should log off and get some fresh air if at any time you find
    yourself typing these words in a message:

       " This type of message does not belong in this area "

    Or words to that affect, yes there are a myriad of variations...
    Please note, this includes all moderators and coordinators etc.
    Your control, as necessary as it has become, should be visible
    within your given area only to the extent that there are regular
    postings of policy or normal related Q&A. There is no excuse
    whatsoever for anyone to use an echo to respond to an improperly
    posted message no matter what the intent. Anyone who does so is
    as guilty of the infraction as the person to whom they are
    responding.

     I know I am not alone in being absolutely sick of reading the
    unending debates over the applicability of a thread to a message
    base but let's be calm and think about it a little before
    reacting.  Then react in a manner such that your need to
    communicate does not cost anyone else!  Granted there are many
    times the message content could not be any less related but the
    place to deal with it is the MATRIX.  There is also something to
    be said for tolerance since after all,  we can't create and
    support an echo for each and every facet of the human mind.


    o Therapeutic excercise

     I too, have felt the urge to reach out and flame someone!
    On such occasions I find the following method of response to be
    quite therapeutic and I only wish I could recall the name of the
    sysop from whom I got the idea. I call it the ZEN FLAME.
    The process is simple to implement and takes only fractionally
    more time than its present day counterpart. You go right ahead
    and blast away, do it, jump up and down and scream! After you are
    finished and save your message, read it... Out loud if you so
    desire, now comes the ingenious part of the procedure, you DELETE
    it before you log off! Very simple, very easy. You get the
    benefit of releasing the pent up frustration and telling the no
    good so and so what you think and then seeing it in print without
    burdening all other sysops and users with even more irritation
    than their lives already afford them!
    FidoNews 5-46                Page 25                  14 Nov 1988


    All this babbling boils down to a simple plea from myself and the
    others who may share my point of view.

    Stop and think of the BIG PICTURE each time you begin to post
    mail in any echomail area and above all, excercise self control
    so that others will not feel the need to impose it upon you! It
    has been said that " Freedom is the right to do your best. "
    The only true protection of your rights and freedoms lies in your
    willingness to govern yourself now before it's too late.

    Common sense dictates a network is not a place for selfish
    behavior. To become involved in it one must become aware of
    the rights of others who are affected.




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

    FidoNews 5-46                Page 26                  14 Nov 1988


    Brandy Witherspoon
    Fido 1:100/525

                   The Alamo and the Mexican War

    "Remember the Alamo", is still a famous saying  in  Texas
    which  dates back to the middle 1800's during the time of the
    Mexican War. The war was between  Texas  and  Mexico.  Texas,
    fighting  for it's Independance. Mexico, fighting to keep and
    rule Texas as part of it's country.

    Once, Texas was part of Mexico, and during the time  when
    the  South  was  depressed  and people had depts to pay, they
    would move to Texas in order to form a new life. At the time,
    Mexico was offering 640 acres of untaxed land to  any  family
    who  would  turn  thier back on America, pledge alliegence to
    Mexico and change thier religion to Roman Catholic. But, soon
    Mexico began to get worried because too many  Americans  were
    moving  to  Texas.  Within  ten years after Stephen F. Austin
    established his colony, thirty thousand settlers had moved.

    In 1830 the Mexican government passed strict laws saying,
    immigrants were no longer allowed to come  to  Texas.  Mexico
    patrolled  the  border  very  carefully  but,  were unable to
    patroll the long border between Louisiana and Texas.

    Stephen Austin, for whom Texas's capitol is  named  after
    arrived  in  July  1833  to discuss with Mexico the fact that
    Texas wanted to secede and form thier own country with  thier
    own  government. Austin sent a letter to the Texans, advising
    them to form themselves as a separate  state  if  his  appeal
    failed.  However,  he was found out, and arrested in Saltillo
    on a charge of treason on January 3, 1834.

    Austin was jailed for 18 months before his release.  But,
    by this time almost all power over the Mexican Government had
    been  siezed  by  President Antonia Lo'pez de Santa Anna, who
    was elected in late 1833.

    In the fall of 1835, Santa Anna sent his  brother-in-law,
    General Martin Cos in charge of a band of mexican troops into
    Texas  to  patrol  the  border.  On  September  21st,  Austin
    announced that Cos had landed at Copano and  Texas  prepared.
    The  Mexican  Government was positive that the Texans were on
    the verge of rebellion from it's country.

    Cos's orders were to sieze the  cannon  kept  there.  The
    Texans  refused  to  give  up the cannon which they had put a
    flag on reading, "come and take it".  Suddenly,  hundreds  of
    Texans  came  from  the  countryside and startled the mexican
    army into retreating to San Antonio.

    On  March  2, 1836, 59 Texas leaders gathered in the tiny
    village  of  Washington, Texas.  Together,  they  wrote  the
    Texas Declaration of Independance and the Texas Constitution.
    The republic of Texas now existed, but the war to keep it was
    FidoNews 5-46                Page 27                  14 Nov 1988


    yet to come.

    On  February 23, 1836 Santa Anna's army of 6,000 tried to
    take on 200 Texans at the Alamo in San Antonio. Over a period
    of ten days the brave Texans killed over 1,500 mexicans.  The
    Texans drove them back  twice, before  the  mexicans  finally
    killed all the defenders of the Alamo on the  third  try.

    By then, the Texans had put together an army. Led by  Sam
    Houston  they  attacked  Santa  Anna's army during the night,
    during there time of slumber,  on  April  21,  1836,  in  San
    Jacinto.

    The left flank of the Texan line was comanded by a thirty
    year   old  Kentucky  businessman  who  came  to  Texas  with
    fifty-two volunteers he had found by himself. Colonel  Sidney
    Sherman was more direct than Houston and rather irritated and
    impatient  with  his commander's Zen-like strategy. When they
    were a few hundred yards from the  mexican  lines  he  loudly
    shouted,  "Remember  the Alamo!!". Which set imeasurable fury
    in the minds of the Texans. Remembering the Alamo, the Texans
    were filled with slaughter. Attacking the  enemy  with  bowie
    knives,  tomahawks,  rifle  butts,  and what little amunition
    they had left they  brutally  killed  those  who  begged  for
    mercy.  Santa  Anna  then  signed  a treaty declaring Texas's
    independance from Mexico. And as  the  carnage  of  that  day
    receded  into  history  and  Texas  became a tamer place, The
    phrase  "Remember  the  Alamo",  began  to  stand  more   for
    rememberance than vengence.

    Seguaro Bulletin Board
    Home of KidsNews!
    Fido 1:100/525
    (618) 656-5447

    From the desk of the KidsNews Editor:

    Veterans Day is a special time. As Americans gather at
    cemeteries and memorials throughout this great land, we
    are reminded that fundamentally we are a family. We pause
    this day to reflect on the love and commitment of nearly
    40 million living veterans who have served that family.
    We acknowledge that none have given fuller expression to
    that love than those who have died or been disabled in
    defense of our nation.

    We demonstrate today through our ceremonies and in our
    private thoughts and prayers America's lasting gratitude
    and admiration for those who have allowed us to prosper
    in peace and freedom. We reflect that such blessings are
    not universally enjoyed; that tyranny, aggression, and
    cruel terrorism challenge what so many Americans have
    fought and died to protect.

    We honor our veterans in a manner that befits the American
    family. Our nation might have chosen the anniversary of a
    FidoNews 5-46                Page 28                  14 Nov 1988


    great battle. Instead, we chose the anniversary od a great
    silence; the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the
    eleventh month when the guns of World War I at last were
    still. We celebrate not war, but the end of war. We are a
    people of peace.

    As we look with hope toward the day when the guns are
    forever silent, let us once again express appreciation to
    those whose splended heritage lives on in a new generation
    of servicemen and women who have taken their places on the
    battlements of American freedom.


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

    FidoNews 5-46                Page 29                  14 Nov 1988


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

    Steve Bonine
    115/777

                  An Introduction of Bob Swift (140/24)


    Most of you probably know Bob Swift from his postings of IFNA
    news in the IFNA national echo.  Bob is an IFNA Director at large
    who has been saddled with the job of keeping the membership
    informed of what is happening, as well as trying to keep the
    Board in line in the Board of Directors' echos.  He generates the
    formal motions (based on netmail from members of the Board),
    collects the votes, posts the results, and generally brings
    organization to the whole process.

    Bob's "real job" is as a registered Professional Mechanical
    Engineer in a coal-fired electrical generating station.  He's my
    first international personality in this column, living in the
    small Saskatchewan city of Estevan.  I got out my atlas, and it's
    just north of the North Dakota line.

    Bob's relative isolation was one of the contributing factors to
    getting him going as a BBS sysop.  There were no systems
    operating in his city of 10,000 people, so he had to cut his
    teeth on the BBS scene as a user by calling long distance.  To
    save others from having to go through this expensive experience,
    "Bob's Border BBS" was born.  (No, I had never heard of the
    original name of Bob's system when I named this column.)

    That system lasted for about three years, through two Commodore
    64's and three power supplies.  When Bob found that he had to
    compete with his users to use the computer, he bought an XT clone
    with a 10-meg hard disk and a 1200-baud modem.  How could anyone
    ever need more than that?

    Bob joined FidoNet in the Fido 11w days, at about the same time
    that echomail was coming on the scene.  "Bob's Border BBS" became
    "The Power Station", and has grown to 60 megs of disk and 9600
    baud, with more expansion planned.  Bob became the coordinator of
    net 140, and was one of the first elected members of IFNA's
    Board.

    When he's not watching sysops butt heads, Bob enjoys watching
    football, especially the Canadian game.  He's a long-time ticket
    holder for the Saskatchewan Roughriders.  He also enjoys reading,
    music, and photography.

    I hope you've enjoyed this short glimpse of Bob Swift.  Next
    week, Bill Albritton is "on tap".  If there is anyone you want to
    get to know, let me know.  If you're a "FidoNet personality",
    send me some dirt on yourself!

    FidoNews 5-46                Page 30                  14 Nov 1988


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

    FidoNews 5-46                Page 31                  14 Nov 1988


                                   YACK
                     Yet Another Complicated Komment

                           by Steven K. Hoskin
                       ( STEVE HOSKIN at 1:128/31 )

                        Episode 16:  Network Mail


    FidoNet Network  Mail  is  such  a  neat  thing.   The ability to
    cheaply  use  this   electronic   mail   media  to  hold  private
    conversations, or send  letters  that  are readable and get there
    right away is just fascinating.

    Oh, sure, it doesn't hold  a  candle  to the glamour of EchoMail.
    In EchoMail you get to start, or  more likely join, in electronic
    mail conversations with  people  you  don't know.  Eventually, if
    you stick with it, you get  to  sorta'  know some of the regulars
    out there, start to feel  at  home  in  the conference, and maybe
    eventually meet them on vacation or at FidoCon.

    But once you know somebody,  that  NetMail  is SO neat for direct
    communications.  Cheap as SnailMail, fast as FedExpress.

    But getting people to recognize this is like pulling teeth.  I am
    the editor of a NewsLetter that keeps people I worked with in the
    Air Force on a  special  project  in  touch  with  each other.  I
    offered multiple  avenues;  I'll  make  the  current  NewsLetters
    available for viewing online,  downloading  (normal or archived),
    NetMail attachments,  messages,  local  messages...whatever.  And
    I'd continue to mail  it  to  those  not  taking advantage of the
    barrage of electronic alternatives.

    I explained  for  several  issues  how  to  use  FidoNet to their
    advantage.  Step by step.    Volunteered  to send the part of the
    NodeList that applied to  their  area  so they could pick a node.
    Volunteered to log  onto  their  chosen  board  and find specific
    keystrokes to get at the proper  areas.  To contact the SysOp and
    set up the NetMail account.  In short, do everything but send the
    money, that massive $5 most SysOps will start an account with.

    These  are  computer  folk,  too,  by  the  way.    Not  computer
    illiterate.

    One called my board and we CHATted  about it for 45 minutes about
    it before he said, "Now that we've  talked about it I can't wait.
    Get me that list!".  Geesh!  What  do I have to do, network their
    voice lines into their local Net Hosts' boards?

    <Slap!>

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

    FidoNews 5-46                Page 32                  14 Nov 1988


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

                         The Interrupt Stack


    23 Nov 1988
       25th Anniversary of "Dr. Who" - and still going strong

    24 Aug 1989
       Voyager 2 passes Neptune.

     5 Oct 1989
       20th Anniversary of "Monty Python's Flying Circus"

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

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

             Election Notice for Zone 1 Echomail Coordinator
                           David Dodell, 1:1/0


    As most of you know, Butch Walker has resigned as Zone 1 Echomail
    Coordinator.

    It is Butch's desire to have an election for the new Z1EC,  and I
    will be assisting by conducting those elections.

                         The plan is as follows:

    (1)  Applications  for  the  position  need to reach my system by
    Monday,  November 14th.  Any applications for the position should
    include  a  statement  from  the  candidate.  This  statement can
    contain anything the candidate wishes,  but I recommend that  the
    candidate express why he/she would be good for the position,  why
    he/she should be voted to the position,  and/or his/her policy on
    echomail.
        This  statement  should  be no longer then 80 x 24 (i.e.  one
        screen).

    (2) On the 14th of November, I will mail to the REC a copy of all
    of the candidate statements.  These should be disseminated to the
    NEC's in your region.

    (3) Voting will be done by the REC/NEC structure  only.  It  will
    be  the responsibility of all NEC to get their votes into the REC
    by November 30th.  The REC's will then  get  the  sub-totals  for
    their Regions into me by December 4th.

       Announcment  and  notification of the new Z1EC will be done on
       December 5th.


    FidoNews 5-46                Page 33                  14 Nov 1988


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

    Don Daniels
    1:107/200 & 210

                Notice Regarding Gene Coppola of 107/131

    To:  All of you who have responded to Gene Coppola at 107/200
         regarding ram chips or his FidoNews survey

    Please be advised that Gene's system, which is 1:107/131, is
    apparently down.  My understanding is that it is in the
    process of being removed from the Nodelist due to Policy
    violations.  Therefore, you should expect no replies to your
    messages as they are undeliverable and are being deleted here.

    Sorry.

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

                         Latest Software Versions

    BBS Systems            Node List              Other
    & Mailers   Version    Utilities   Version    Utilities  Version

    Dutchie       2.90b    EditNL         4.00    ARC           5.32*
    Fido            12i    MakeNL         2.12    ARCmail        1.1
    Opus          1.03b    Prune          1.40    ConfMail      4.00
    SEAdog         4.10    XlatList       2.86    EchoMail      1.31
    TBBS           2.0M    XlaxNode       2.22    MGM            1.1
    BinkleyTerm    2.00    XlaxDiff       2.22    TPB Editor    1.21*
    QuickBBS       2.03    ParseList      1.20    TCOMMail       1.1*
    TPBoard         4.2*                          TMail         8810
    TComm/TCommNet  3.2*                          UFGATE         1.0
    Lynx           1.10*
    D'Bridge       1.10
    FrontDoor       2.0

    * Recently changed

    Utility authors:  Please help  keep  this  list  up  to  date  by
    reporting  new  versions  to 1:1/1.  It is not our intent to list
    all utilities here, only those which verge on necessity.

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

    FidoNews 5-46                Page 34                  14 Nov 1988


    =================================================================
                            COMMITTEE REPORTS
    =================================================================

                         IFNA Treasurer's Report
                             October, 1988
                          Steve Bonine   115/777

    This will be a short report.  As the saying goes, I have some
    good news and some bad news.

    The good news is that the new IFNA checking account in Chicago is
    now open and usable.  The bad news is that the funds are not yet
    transferred into it from the Hawaii account.

    Thus, I am not in a position to provide real numbers, and that
    isn't a great problem because (by definition) they haven't
    changed from last month.  As soon as I recieve the records and
    the funds from the previous treasurer, I will provide a status
    report here in FidoNews.

    Steve Bonine
    IFNA Treasurer

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

    FidoNews 5-46                Page 35                  14 Nov 1988


           OFFICERS OF THE INTERNATIONAL FIDONET ASSOCIATION

    Hal DuPrie     1:101/106  Chairman of the Board
    Bob Rudolph    1:261/628  President
    Matt Whelan    3:3/1      Vice President
    Ray Gwinn      1:109/639  Vice President - Technical Coordinator
    David Garrett  1:103/501  Secretary
    Steve Bonine   1:115/777  Treasurer



                        IFNA BOARD OF DIRECTORS

        DIVISION                               AT-LARGE

    10  Courtney Harris   1:102/732?    Don Daniels     1:107/210
    11  Bill Allbritten   1:11/301      Hal DuPrie      1:101/106
    12  Bill Bolton       3:54/61       Mark Grennan    1:147/1
    13  Rick Siegel       1:107/27      Steve Bonine    1:115/777
    14  Ken Kaplan        1:100/22      Ted Polczyinski 1:154/5
    15  Larry Kayser      1:104/739?    Matt Whelan     3:3/1
    16  Vince Perriello   1:141/491     Robert Rudolph  1:261/628
    17  Rob Barker        1:138/34      Steve Jordan    1:102/2871
    18  Christopher Baker 1:135/14      Bob Swift       1:140/24
    19  David Drexler     1:19/1        Larry Wall      1:15/18
     2  Henk Wevers       2:500/1       David Melnik    1:107/233

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

    FidoNews 5-46                Page 36                  14 Nov 1988


                                     __
                The World's First   /  \
                   BBS Network     /|oo \
                   * FidoNet *    (_|  /_)
                                   _`@/_ \    _
                                  |     | \   \\
                                  | (*) |  \   ))
                     ______       |__U__| /  \//
                    / Fido \       _//|| _\   /
                   (________)     (_/(_|(____/ (tm)

           Membership for the International FidoNet Association

    Membership in IFNA is open to any individual or organization that
    pays  a  specified  annual   membership  fee.   IFNA  serves  the
    international  FidoNet-compatible  electronic  mail  community to
    increase worldwide communications.

    Member Name _______________________________  Date _______________
    Address _________________________________________________________
    City ____________________________________________________________
    State ________________________________  Zip _____________________
    Country _________________________________________________________
    Home Phone (Voice) ______________________________________________
    Work Phone (Voice) ______________________________________________

    Zone:Net/Node Number ____________________________________________
    BBS Name ________________________________________________________
    BBS Phone Number ________________________________________________
    Baud Rates Supported ____________________________________________
    Board Restrictions ______________________________________________

    Your Special Interests __________________________________________
    _________________________________________________________________
    _________________________________________________________________
    In what areas would you be willing to help in FidoNet? __________
    _________________________________________________________________
    _________________________________________________________________
    Send this membership form and a check or money order for $25 in
    US Funds to:
                  International FidoNet Association
                  PO Box 41143
                  St Louis, Missouri 63141
                  USA

    Thank you for your membership!  Your participation will help to
    insure the future of FidoNet.

    Please NOTE that IFNA is a general not-for-profit organization
    and Articles of Association and By-Laws were adopted by the
    membership in January 1987.  The second elected Board of Directors
    was filled in August 1988.  The IFNA Echomail Conference has been
    established on FidoNet to assist the Board.  We welcome your
    input to this Conference.

    -----------------------------------------------------------------
    FidoNews 5-46                Page 37                  14 Nov 1988


                  INTERNATIONAL FIDONET ASSOCIATION
                           ORDER FORM

                          Publications

    The IFNA publications can be obtained by downloading from Fido
    1:1/10 or  other FidoNet compatible  systems, or by purchasing
    them directly from IFNA.  We ask that  all our  IFNA Committee
    Chairmen   provide  us   with  the  latest  versions  of  each
    publication, but we can make no written guarantees.

    Hardcopy prices as of October 1, 1986

    IFNA Fido BBS listing                       $15.00    _____
    IFNA Administrative Policy DOCs             $10.00    _____
    IFNA FidoNet Standards Committee DOCs       $10.00    _____

                                              SUBTOTAL    _____

                   IFNA Member ONLY Special Offers

    System Enhancement Associates SEAdog        $60.00    _____
    SEAdog price as of March 1, 1987
    ONLY 1 copy SEAdog per IFNA Member

    Fido Software's Fido/FidoNet               $100.00    _____
    Fido/FidoNet price as of November 1, 1987
    ONLY 1 copy Fido/FidoNet per IFNA Member

    International orders include $10.00 for
           surface shipping or $20.00 for air shipping    _____

                                              SUBTOTAL    _____

                MO. Residents add 5.725% Sales Tax         _____

                                              TOTAL       _____

       SEND CHECK OR MONEY ORDER IN US FUNDS:
       International FidoNet Association
       PO Box 41143
       St Louis, Mo. 63141
       USA

    Name________________________________
    Zone:Net/Node____:____/____
    Company_____________________________
    Address_____________________________
    City____________________  State____________  Zip_____
    Voice Phone_________________________


    Signature___________________________

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