Volume 6, Number 35                                28 August 1989
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    |                                                /|oo \         |
    |        - FidoNews -                           (_|  /_)        |
    |                                                _`@/_ \    _   |
    |        International                          |     | \   \\  |
    |     FidoNet Association                       | (*) |  \   )) |
    |         Newsletter               ______       |__U__| /  \//  |
    |                                 / FIDO \       _//|| _\   /   |
    |                                (________)     (_/(_|(____/    |
    |                                                     (jm)      |
    +---------------------------------------------------------------+
    Editor in Chief:                                  Vince Perriello
    Editors Emeritii:                                     Dale Lovell
                                                       Thom Henderson
    Chief Procrastinator Emeritus:                       Tom Jennings

    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.    1:1/1  is  a Continuous Mail system, available for
    network mail 24 hours a day.

    Copyright 1989 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.

    We  don't necessarily agree with the contents  of  every  article
    published  here.  Most of these materials are  unsolicited.    No
    article submitted  by  a  FidoNet SysOp will be rejected if it is
    properly attributed and  legally  acceptable.    We  will publish
    every responsible submission received.


                       Table of Contents
    1. EDITORIAL  ................................................  1
       READ THIS -- IT COULD BE IMPORTANT!  ......................  1
    2. ARTICLES  .................................................  3
       FidoCon Message from Zone 1 RC's  .........................  3
       Zone Council Selects New International Coordinator  .......  7
       What is CLF & NCLM?  ......................................  8
       Some first impressions of FidoCon  ........................ 10
       Contest for Students  ..................................... 12
       An Event of Galactic Importance  .......................... 13
    3. LATEST VERSIONS  .......................................... 15
       Latest Software Versions  ................................. 15
    And more!
    FIDONEWS 6-35                Page 1                   28 Aug 1989


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


    I'm  typing this on my laptop at FidoCon, about two  hours  after
    the  adjournment of the IFNA Board of Directors meeting.  It  was
    an  experience  that I'm just too tired to be able to communicate
    to  you  at  the moment.  But that won't save you from having  to
    read something that was passed in the meeting.

    The  reason  I  feel it necessary to put what is basically a news
    item into this Editorial is because I feel very strongly that you
    need to read  this  and  to think about it.  IFNA has thrown down
    the  gauntlet of Democracy  in  FidoNet  and  at  the  same  time
    addressed the claims that it  no  longer  deserves to exist.  You
    have been enfranchised in a process that can result in a complete
    change in the way FidoNet is administered,  as well as correcting
    any problems that you may have  observed  in IFNA, or to dissolve
    IFNA and proceed from there.

    The text of the specific Board of Directors resolution follows:

    We,    the    representatives    of  the  International  FidoNet
    Association, have heard a cry for democracy in the administration
    of the network.    As IFNA is supposed to represent the interests
    of the sysops, and  as  such  representation  is  deemed  to have
    failed, be it hereby resolved that:

    Without a mandate from the sysops of FidoNet, IFNA has no purpose
    or reason for existence.

    THEREFORE,  the  board  proposes  the following action, of  which
    failure to pass will mean the dissolution of IFNA:

    It  is  hereby  resolved  that  a  special election be  held  for
    consideration by the Sysops of FidoNet of the following:

      IFNA shall be empowered to re-draft the bylaws of  IFNA  and to
      draft  a  Policy  document for FidoNet.  Such documents are  to
      include:

        1.  An independent judicial system.

        2.  A reduced  size  Board  of  Directors,  to  be completely
            reseated in an election on or before FidoCon 1990.

        3.  Better representation from outside the United States.

        4.  Make each sysop  in  FidoNet  a  member  in IFNA with all
            rights and privileges of membership.

    FIDONEWS 6-35                Page 2                   28 Aug 1989


    Voting for referendum of  this  document shall be completed on or
    before December 1, 1989.  The rules of the election shall make it
    clear  that  failure of the election  to  approve  the  questions
    presented shall result in the current Board  of  Directors acting
    under Article XII to dissolve the corporation.

    In addition, it shall be made clear that  approval must be gained
    from a majority of the eligible nodes in the  nodelist  in effect
    at the time of the election.

    [End of IFNA BoD resolution]

    So, folks, here it is.   A shot at Democracy.  Tell your friends.
    Read it  carefully.    Discuss  it  with  the  rest  of your Net.
    There's an important  vote  coming  up,  and  you  need to decide
    whether you want to be enfranchised in  it or not.  I'd recommend
    that you take this opportunity to make your  voice heard.  You've
    never had a better chance.

    IFNA has finally determined that the 1986 plebiscite needs  to be
    re-held.   They've done so at a very propitious moment  for  both
    IFNA  and FidoNet.  What you need to decide here is  whether  you
    want  to  vote  for a "re-design" of IFNA (which is what a  "YES"
    vote  would  imply)  or  the dissolution of IFNA (which is what a
    "NO" vote or an abstention would imply).  You also need to state,
    in no uncertain  terms,  that  you  either want or do not want to
    take charge of your  own destiny, by VOTING on the issue!  Please
    consider the issues carefully and  use  the  mechanism  provided.
    This is not just about whether to  empower or not to empower IFNA
    to run the Network.  We have an ideal  opportunity  to  create  a
    stirring precedent here.  Don't pass it up.

    -----------------------------------------------------------------
    FIDONEWS 6-35                Page 3                   28 Aug 1989


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

          MESSAGE TO FIDOCON FROM ZONE 1 REGIONAL COORDINATORS


    This message was delivered by Marv Carson and David Garrett to
    FidoCon attendees on behalf of the zone-1 Regional Coordinators.
    It is reproduced here in the form distributed at FidoCon.


    GENERAL REMARKS
    The Zone 1 Regional Coordinators wish to extend our best wishes
    to the Hosts and attendees for an enjoyable and successful
    FidoCon.  Further we wish to thank the FidoCon Committee for
    giving us the opportunity present this message to you.

    Please hold your questions and comments until this entire message
    is read. This message is a joint statement of the individuals who
    serve as your Zone 1 Regional Coordinators, however, the Regional
    Coordinators here at FidoCon welcome your questions, comments and
    suggestions and will respond to them the best we can.  But
    keep in mind that we can only share our individual opinions on
    subjects not presented here.

    It is a brief statement covering only nine items, but with it, we
    want to clarify some issues and share our position with you all
    on some others.  Primarily, the items presented here are in no
    way intended to impede the current progress of Democracy and
    Policy 5 activities.  Nor are they intended to circumvent Policy
    4.  They merely represent our true opinions, some proposals, and
    our unified position regarding our procedures on issues until a
    new policy is formally approved.

    1 -FIDONET & COORDINATORS
    First we want to give assurance that we believe the so called
    "grunt sysop" is the essence of FidoNet.  In fact, we as coordi-
    nators also see ourselves as "grunt sysops", but who have taken
    additional responsibility by volunteering time and expenses to
    help make FidoNet work for us by assisting other sysops and
    providing nodelist services.  We truly wish that was all that
    was required and no written policy or policy enforcement was
    necessary by us or anyone.  But without some adherence to guide-
    lines, the inconsistency of human nature has proven to reduce our
    enjoyment of this hobby.  Your job AND ours is to help set those
    guidelines so that the "guidelines" themselves do not reduce our
    enjoyment of this hobby.  Policy 4 gives us the opportunity to do
    that.

    2 -EXCOMMUNICATIONS
    This is a sensitive subject.  Some inaccurate perceptions exist
    regarding how *C's have handled this sometimes necessary, yet
    infrequent and unpleasant task.  Perhaps the word "excommunica-
    tion" is inappropriate here.  No node should be "excommunicated".
    A more appropriate word might be "removal".  Here's how it should
    FIDONEWS 6-35                Page 4                   28 Aug 1989


    work when a serious problem occurs.  A formal policy complaint is
    issued to both the node and the next level *C.  Normally the node
    is granted a period of time to make corrections.  If he refuses,
    his original node number is removed.  A temporary node number may
    be granted a removed node to provide communications in resolving
    an appeal.  Removals should not be for "eternity", because a
    "cooling off" period can sometimes help get corrections com-
    pleted.  Then, when corrections are made, a node number should be
    permitted reinstatement. Further, we've seen the "recovered"
    sysop frequently makes a better FidoNet member than some sysops
    who seldom participate at all.  We do not condone a removed
    node's external participation in FidoNet Mail. Further, his
    future reinstatement may be delayed if his "unauthorized" partic-
    ipation includes messages that demonstrate he has no intention of
    making the required corrections.  Ultimately, perhaps a new
    policy will provide for an independent and unbiased panel of
    regular FidoNet sysops to make these judgments.

    3 -DEMOCRACY
    There are many issues to resolve when formulating an election
    process for the *C's at all levels that will win acceptance in a
    new policy document. Meanwhile, we agree that some sort of
    democratic process should be and eventually will be implemented.
    To assist this process, the Regional Coordinators endorse a
    democratic process and are now actively participating in develop-
    ing democratic methods and procedures.  Input from all sysops is
    welcomed and especially from those where elections have already
    been held.  Their experience would help us by sharing their
    successes and failures to assist the development of a unified
    election policy item.

    4 -ECHOMAIL
    We view the roles of *C's and *EC's as completely separate from
    one another. We believe that an echo mail conference is the respon-
    sibility of its conference moderator.  Echomail coordinators
    should formulate their own policy as an associated document with
    FidoNet policy. The NC's and RC's should assist them in their
    efforts however possible.

    5 -IFNA
    The concepts of IFNA are useful and appropriate when its elected
    leaders pursue the responsibilities of their positions and
    fulfill IFNA's statement of purpose.  If and/or when this DOES
    NOT occur, there will be no and should be no impact on FidoNet or
    its Coordinators.  However, if and/when it DOES occur, FidoNet
    coordinators should cooperate with IFNA however possible.  In
    essence, FidoNet will continue regardless of the fate of IFNA.

    6 -LAWSUITS
    FidoNet is still and will remain an amateur (as in Non-Commer-
    cial) electronic network.  As such, it is a hobby, and membership
    in it requires responsible conduct of its members.  Lawsuits or
    threats of lawsuits are not considered responsible conduct.  Such
    actions (related to Fidonet) against a another member or *C
    should be condemned by all members.  Regardless of the foolish-
    ness of such a threat or action, they simply should not occur.
    FIDONEWS 6-35                Page 5                   28 Aug 1989


    Soon to be elected coordinators who help bind this net together
    would drop out instantly if legal litigation began proving that
    "No good deed goes unpunished".

    7 -NODELIST
    In addition to the IFNA copyright, the FidoNet nodelist may be
    individually copyrighted by the creator/editor of each of its
    segments.  Under no circumstances should a combined nodelist be
    renamed or appended into another list for subsequent distribu-
    tion, without the express written approval of creator of each
    segment involved.  This process is analogous to a software
    utility author's requirements that their archive file maintain
    its original contents.

    8 -BIX
    There are many reasons for FidoNet policy to adhere to its "Non-
    Commercial" position, primarily if some commercial enterprise
    attempts to exploit the network and return nothing to its mem-
    bers.  Many fine FidoNet members currently rely on the support of
    their own businesses to subsidize their operating costs.  In so
    doing, those business make a contribution to FidoNet members who
    rely on them for echomail and other services.  They manage do to
    this and for the most part avoid complaints regarding their
    "commercial status" from other FidoNet members.  The BIX proposal
    issue is different from these examples.  As we stated in our
    DEMOCRACY comments, some things may have to be worked out after
    we've learned more.  But for the most part, as we understand it,
    the BIX proposal would return some benefits for participating
    FidoNet members by reducing their costs for echomail.  We feel we
    should not unduly interfere with what may be beneficial to some
    sysops and should permit this experiment.  We will assist in the
    arrangements involved to the extent that both sides will have a
    clear understanding of them.  We'll just have to await the
    outcome from the FidoNet members who use this BIX service and in
    so doing, let the them help decide rather it should continue or
    not.

    9 -IC SELECTION
    The ZC Council has unanimously agreed that Matt Whelan, of
    Australia, should be the next IC.  None of the four current ZC's
    were willing to take the IC job.  That left them in a situation
    not covered by Policy 4.  Under normal circumstances, the IC
    could interpret policy to handle this.  Since there was no IC to
    make such a ruling, logic dictated that in this situation the ZC
    Council should make the ruling.  The ZC Council decided unani-
    mously that in the in the absence of a current ZC willing to take
    the IC job, that past ZC's should be considered the next best
    thing.  Matt Whelan was a past ZC and by unanimous vote of the ZC
    council, is now the current IC.  The Zone 1 Regional Coordinators
    are pleased with that selection and feel that Matt will do an
    excellent job.

    FIDONEWS 6-35                Page 6                   28 Aug 1989


    CLOSING
    Thank you for giving us this opportunity to share our thoughts
    with you.

    Sincerely,

    Zone 1 - Regional Coordinators


    -----------------------------------------------------------------
    FIDONEWS 6-35                Page 7                   28 Aug 1989


    FidoNet Zone Council:
    Bill Bolton,    3:3/0
    Steve Bonine,   1:1/0
    Ron Dwight,     2:2/0
    Pablo Kleinman, 4:4/0


    Current FidoNet policy  gives the responsibility of selection of
    the International Coordinator to the Zone Council, which is made
    up of the Zone Coordinators.  The Zone Council has reached a
    unanimous choice of Matt Whelan, 3:712/627, as FidoNet's new
    International Coordinator.

    This selection was not a straightforward procedure, as none of
    the current Zone Coordinators was willing to accept the IC
    position.  Policy4 states that the IC is the "first among equals
    ZC" and states that it is the responsibility of the ZC's to
    select the IC "from among their ranks."  Thus, the Zone Council
    was faced with a situation not covered explicitly by Policy4.

    Policy4 gives the IC the power to interpret policy in this type
    of situation.  However, David Dodell stated in his resignation
    notice in the NodeDiff that he was unwilling to rule on policy
    issues.  This left the responsibility with the Zone Council.

    After extensive discussion, the Zone Council reached a unanimous
    decision that in this case of no current ZC being willing to
    accept election as IC, then persons who had held the position of
    ZC in the past should be considered.  Further, the Zone Council
    reached a unanimous decision that Matt Whelan should be elected.

    Matt will be officially installed in the nodelist on September 1,
    NODELIST.244.  The address of n/1000 will be placed in each zone
    segment (1:1/1000, 2:2/1000, 3:3/1000, 4:4/1000).  Sysops outside
    zone 3 are warned that the actual international telephone number
    will be placed into these nodelist entries; to route mail through
    the zonegate the message should be sent to Matt's "real" address
    of 3:712/627.
    -----------------------------------------------------------------
    FIDONEWS 6-35                Page 8                   28 Aug 1989


    Butch Witherspoon
    Fido 1:288/525

    WHAT IS THE COMPUTER LEARNING FOUNDATION & WHY A COMPUTER
    LEARNING MONTH?

    Developing computer competency among our youth is critical to the
    future of Canada, the  united States and our children. It can
    play a major role in maintaining our competitive edge and in
    addressing major concerns of literacy ,school dropouts and job
    training. Technology also offers powerful benefits to children
    today and thier futures. Increasingly, people are being required
    to use computers and software at work. By the year 2010, when our
    children are in the prime of thier careers, experts predict all
    jobs will require somme use of technology.

    Millions of children, however, are not yet recieving the full
    benefits of technology, as confirmed by a recent study by the
    National Assessment of Educational Progress, funded by the U.S.
    Department of Education. While many children are being exposed to
    computers in school,in most cases,the depth of thier experiences
    is severely limited. On average, there is only one computer to
    every 30 students, and often there are far less. A recent study
    by the Office of Technology Assessment,Power On, also revealed
    that almost 2/3 of our teachers have recieved less than ten hours
    of training about computers. As our teachers and parents did not
    grow up with computers, they both need help understanding the
    benefits computers and software offer children and ways to
    provide them with meaningful computer experiences.

    The Computer Learning Foundation is a non-profit educational
    foundation serving the United States and Canada. While our
    overall goal is to increase the number of people recieving the
    benefits of technology, our primary focus is on developing
    computer competency among our youth. To achieve our goal, we
    provide numerous programs and materials that provise parents and
    teachers with the information and resources they need to assist
    our children.

    The computer competency the Computer Learning Foundation is
    striving for is of far greater signifigance than learning to
    program. Computers and Software are means to an end, not ends in
    themselves. We encourage parents and teachers to consider
    computers and software as tools for assisting children, just like
    a dictionary, a pencil or a calculator, and not as an isolated
    activity. We need to integrate children's experiences with
    computers into other activities in thier lives--writing papers,
    learning history or math, creating pictures, doing home projects
    and the like.

    Every October, the Computer Learning Foundation hosts Computer
    Learning Month, a monthlong focus of events and activities for
    learning new uses of computers and software, sharing ideas and
    helping others gain the benefits of computers and software. While
    Computer Learning foundation materials are available all year,
    new ones are released each year for computer learning month. We
    FIDONEWS 6-35                Page 9                   28 Aug 1989


    offer numerous books and programs to help parents and teachers
    gain the information they need. For parents, we offer three
    books. For teachers, we offer numerous lesson plan materials,
    teacher training workshops at major educational conferences and a
    weekly television series, School Vision, on public broadcasting
    stations. We also offer materials to assist people hosting local
    computer learning events. In addition, we host numerous contests
    to recognize students, educators and parents to thier inovative
    ideas. Thousands of dollars worth of computers
    and software are awarded to winning entries. These ideas and
    innovative programs are disseminated to the public the following
    year.

    You're not alone if gaining the benefits of technology for
    yourself and your children seems overwhelming and you don't know
    where to begin. You're not alone if you are using a computer, yet
    feel like you're not recieving it's full benefits. Millions of
    people are just like you. That's why the computer learning
    foundation exists and what computer learning month is all about.

    We invite you to participate in computer learning month this
    year. Experience the benefits of computers for yourself, and
    share these experiences with your children. Together, discover
    the magic of computers and software as tools--for research,
    creativity, communications, productivity, learning and
    entertainment. As you help your kids key into computers, You
    Won't Believe What You'll Achieve!

    For additional information please write to NCLM, P.O. Box 8045,
    Granite City, IL 62040-8045 or NetMail via Fido 1:288/525.


    -----------------------------------------------------------------
    FIDONEWS 6-35                Page 10                  28 Aug 1989


                    Some first impressions of FidoCon
                   By several occupants of the WOC Inn
                          San Jose, California

    Hi, this is Vince.  While sitting here in the WOC Inn right after
    the 'Con, it  occurred  to us that it might be nice to enter some
    of our most immediate impressions, before we (probably correctly)
    started forgetting them.  So a few of us will enter some thoughts
    here for you to hopefully get the idea of just what was happening
    in beautiful San Jose, while you had to WORK for a living...

    For  me,  the  most  significant development was  the  successful
    deployment  of  the  F-37  Stealth  Cookie.  Government  Security
    regulations prevent me from going into any significant details of
    its  operation,  but believe me, the Pentagon will get plenty  of
    value for its 3 billion dollars of development costs!

    The pizza party in the WOC Inn wasn't as much fun  as  at  Cincy.
    But  that's  because so many of us were in the IFNA BoD  meeting,
    which ran until almost 3 AM.  Now I remember why I didn't want to
    be  on  the  Board.  See if they can talk me into being someone's
    proxy NEXT year...

    I finally met Alan Applegate.  And  it  was  about time.  I don't
    regret for a minute the decision to work  with  him.  The kind of
    folks you meet through this medium are just the greatest.

    John Dvorak was really funny.  Worth every drop of sweat that Les
    had to pay (he helped him with a communications book) to get him.

    Finally,  IFNA's meetings were a  lot  more  interesting  than  I
    expected.  Only time will tell  how  important.

    Enough from me, here's Les Kooyman:

    Wow.  Really.  I hardly know what to  say at this point.  The Con
    was  more  of a success than I dared expect...   several  of  the
    vendors  in  attendance  became philanthropic on the spot just in
    time to allow me to give away their stuff...  a USR Dual Standard
    HST modem, multi-line  copies  of  both TBBS and Wildcat, lots of
    software  from  SEA  including  Qsort  and  the  ARC  compression
    library...  if I forgot  anyone,  please forgive me, I'll make it
    up to you.  As for  my  involvement with IFNA, I am not sure what
    prompted me to run for a highly  visible  office, other than that
    strange  Australian  beer  and  Peppermint Schnapps from the  Woc
    Inn....    seriously, I look forward to the opportunity  to  work
    vigorously  for    the  realization  of  FidoNet's  yearning  for
    democracy as President  of  IFNA.    I  hope to be worthy of your
    trust, because TRUST is  the  most important component of the new
    FidoNet (hey, If Lee Iacocca  can  use  it,  so  can  I)  we  are
    creating.  I don't know if  Carl  Linden  suspected how prophetic
    his phrase "FidoCon...  a New Beginning" really was.

    FIDONEWS 6-35                Page 11                  28 Aug 1989


    On the followup side, all the speakers showed, we made some money
    rather than lost any, and we all had fun.  Sysops just wanna have
    fun.... now hand me another one of those cookie bombs.

    Here's something from Jim Deputy:

    Like Les, I don't know quite where to start.  There is a definite
    change in the wind.  It can be considered a  "New  Beginning"  or
    the  end  of  something  we  know, and the beginning of something
    totally new.

    Personally,  I  would like to go with the least amount of change.
    The proposals that I have seen, and as I understand at this point
    seem to be both  somewhat  radical,  and also present interesting
    options.

    The IFNA "Mandate Vote" sounds  interesting.  The re-write of the
    IFNA by-laws sounds even more interesting.    The  idea  of using
    IFNA  as  an  in-place  organization,  and  "pushing"  them  into
    recognizing  the options of being a truely representative  group,
    for  us,  the  "grunt  Sysops",  and  giving  us  the  democratic
    representation  that  we  have  been  demanding, and spending big
    buck$ with the phone companies to discuss is now here.

    At this  point, and until I can see some concrete proposals, I am
    still undecided which way  I  will  go  with  the "new IFNA".  As
    always the SYSOP ECHO is  a  neat  place to discuss it, and also,
    the  Conference  will  be  moving  back   into  FidoNet's  Domain
    effective before the first of the month  the announcement will be
    there.

    Vince again:

    OK,  enough for first thoughts.  I'm glad  that  the  Con  was  a
    success and I hope that more of you will be able to share the fun
    with  us  next  year.  By the way, I think  that  IFNA  is  still
    looking  for a site for next year.  If your area  is  interested,
    you should  contact  the Site Selection Committee, c/o IFNA.  Use
    node 1:1/10 as an address.

    -----------------------------------------------------------------
    FIDONEWS 6-35                Page 12                  28 Aug 1989


    Butch Witherspoon
    Fido 1:288/525

               National Computer Learning Month
                  1989 CONTESTS FOR STUDENTS

    1. Storybook on Using Computers & Software as Tools.

    10 Grand Prizes: One grand prize winner in each category. The
    winner and his/her school or organization will both recieve a
    computer system.

    40 Second Prizes: Four second prizes in each category. Each
    winner and his/her school or organization will be awarded
    software programs.

    40 Third Prizes: Honorable mention certificates for winning
    students.

    Categories:
    Elementary (Kindergarten- grade 5)
    Middle (grades 6-8)
    Secondary (grades 9-12)
    Primary Special Education (Kindergarten-grade 6)
    Secondary Special Education (grades 7-12)

    Description: This year's writing contest focuses on the use of
    computers and software as tools. The storybook may be fiction or
    non-fiction. The book might be a collection of students' stories
    about how computers and software are used as tools at home,
    school and work, or a fiction story on how children discover the
    value of a computer as a tool or how it changed thier lives.

    Rules: To enter this contest, submit one copy of your original
    storybook. The storybook may be created with a computer or using
    any other materials; however, the storybook should include both
    words and pictures and the theme must be the use of computers and
    software as tools. If created with a computer, you may use any
    software you choose, for example, word processor, desktop
    publishing or graphics program. Entries will be judged on
    originality, contene, writing skills, design, illustration,
    layout and overall attention to detail.

    For additional information please write to NCLM, P.O. Box 8045,
    Granite City, IL 62040-8045 or NetMail Fido 1:288/525.


    -----------------------------------------------------------------
    FIDONEWS 6-35                Page 13                  28 Aug 1989


    An Event of Galactic Importance

    Voyager 2 Passes Neptune!

    by Phil Buonomo, 1:107/583, 7:520/583, 9:807/1

    It's been there for years, at the end of FidoNews.  How well we
    all know it by now:

    24 Aug 1989
       Voyager 2 passes Neptune

    Well, this is the last newsletter you'll ever see the above in.
    This week, after 12 years, and billions of miles, Voyager 2 is
    about to complete its mission in our solar system.  This friday,
    at 12:00am EDT, Voyager will pass over Neptune's north pole,
    only 3,000 miles from its surface.

    This remarkable event culminates a journey which began with a
    launch on August 21, 1977.  Since then, Voyager 2 has visited
    and photographed Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and now Neptune, dis-
    covering fascinating information along the way.  These discover-
    ies have given us insights into the formation of our solar sys-
    tem, and its place in the cosmos. At Jupiter, Voyager discovered
    atmospheric motions, faint rings, studied the geology of major
    moons (including discovery of volcanic action on one!), and
    three new moons.

    At Saturn, its beautiful rings were studied, with remarkable
    results.  "Spokes" were discovered, and even a "braided" ring,
    an explanation for which scientists are still searching, was
    found!  Additionally, three new moons were also discovered.

    At Uranus, two new rings were found around the planet, along
    with a unique "tilted" magnetic field.  Ten new moons were also
    discovered, and their geology studied.

    Now, Voyager is about to visit its last planet before it moves
    on into interstellar space.  It has already discovered a large
    spot in Neptune's atmosphere, not unlike the "great red spot" of
    Jupiter (thought to be a permanent hurricane big enough to swal-
    low our own planet several times over), and four new moons.  The
    most remarkable discovery to date, however, is the presense of
    "ring arcs", partially formed rings surrounding the planet, like
    the fully formed rings circling Saturn and Uranus.  These par-
    tially completed rings have stirred major discussion amongst
    NASA scientists to explain their origin.


    This entire journey is made all the more remarkable by the fact
    that it was planned that Voyager would only visit Jupiter and
    Saturn.  Along the way, Voyager has lost its main radio receiver
    and suffered damage to its backup, computer memory and televi-
    sion camera platform.  But like the Volkswagon Beetle of a past
    decade, the spacecraft keeps plugging along on 22 watts, about
    enough for a good flashlight.
    FIDONEWS 6-35                Page 14                  28 Aug 1989


    The best is yet to come, however.  After passing above Neptune's
    north pole, Voyager 2 will disappear behind the planet for 49
    minutes.  About four hours later, it will cruise by Triton, the
    only discovered moon in our solar system to have an atmosphere.
    Some scientists believe Triton to be covered by seas of liquid
    nitrogen.  Others predict a rocky surface.  Soon, we may know
    the truth.

    Once it passes Triton, Voyager may continue to transmit data for
    up to 25 years.  It will move into interstellar space, taking it
    outside the known limits of our solar system on a course that
    will not take it within one light-year of any known star for the
    next 958,000 years.

    Will Voyager's journey outlast man's existence in the universe?
    We may never know.  But the information it has provided us with
    in its short lifespan has been invaluable.  Voyager carries with
    it greetings from planet Earth to any far flung civilizations in
    the cosmos it may one day come across.  In the meantime, it has
    brought to life the words of science fiction we all know so
    well; "...to explore strange new worlds..."  and "...to go where
    no man has gone before!" Except that in this case, we are not
    seeing fiction.  We are living our childhood dreams and seeing
    them come true.  My friends, the future is HERE!

    Let us not forget that space IS the "final frontier", or that
    the Voyager mission was drastically cut back for lack of funds.
    Let us continue our quest for knowlege in the great void, to
    continue to advance our space program.  Let us continue to try
    to make those dream of our childhood become reality.  Let us
    build that moonbase, the space station.  Let us GO to Mars and
    beyond.  Let us not forget the dream because our pockets are too
    shallow.  Let us move FORWARD!

    So many years ago, Thom Henderson put the Voyager message in the
    calendar of FidoNews.  Perhaps it was half-joke, half-necessity
    (to make the calendar work), perhaps not (I know that Thom is a
    big supporter of space exploration). But what was once a trivial
    line in a newsletter month after month, has taken on a rare sig-
    nificance: the discovery of a new planet.  Let us not forget the
    importance of the Voyager mission as we move towards the new
    Millenium.

    With that, we bid adieu to Voyager.  She was a great experiment,
    one which paid off handsomely, beyond any of her designer's
    wildest dreams.  Perhaps someday we may meet up with her again,
    and who knows? Perhaps she wil have some new secrets to tell us.

    -----------------------------------------------------------------
    FIDONEWS 6-35                Page 15                  28 Aug 1989


    =================================================================
                             LATEST VERSIONS
    =================================================================

                         Latest Software Versions

                              MS-DOS Systems
                              --------------

                          Bulletin Board Software
    Name        Version    Name        Version    Name       Version

    Fido            12n+*  Phoenix         1.3    TBBS           2.1
    Lynx           1.30    QuickBBS       2.04*   TComm/TCommNet 3.4
    Opus          1.03b+   RBBS          17.2A    TPBoard        5.2


    Network                Node List              Other
    Mailers     Version    Utilities   Version    Utilities  Version

    BinkleyTerm    2.20    EditNL         4.00    ARC           6.02
    D'Bridge       1.21*   MakeNL         2.12    ARCmail        2.0
    Dutchie       2.90C    ParseList      1.30    ConfMail      4.00
    FrontDoor       2.0    Prune          1.40    EMM           2.02
    PRENM          1.47    XlatList       2.90    GROUP         2.10
    SEAdog        4.51A*   XlaxDiff       2.32    LHARC         1.13*
                           XlaxNode       2.32    MSG            3.3
                                                  MSGED         1.99
                                                  PK[UN]ZIP     0.92*
                                                  QM             1.0*
                                                  TCOMMail       2.2
                                                  TMail         1.11
                                                  TPBNetEd       3.2
                                                  UFGATE        1.03
                                                  XRS            2.3*
                                                  ZmailQ        1.09*

                              Apple Macintosh
                              ---------------

    Bulletin Board Software   Network Mailers     Other Utilities

    Name            Version   Name      Version   Name       Version

    Red Ryder Host   v2.1b3   Tabby         2.0*  MacArc        0.03
    Mansion             7.0                       ArcMac         1.3
                                                  StuffIt       1.51
                                                  TImport        1.0
                                                  TExport        1.0
                                                  Timestamp      1.6
                                                  Tset         1.0.2
    FIDONEWS 6-35                Page 16                  28 Aug 1989


                                                  Timestart      1.1
                                                  Tally          1.1
                                                  Mehitabel      1.2
                                                  Archie        1.60
                                                  Numberizer    1.5c
                                                  MessageEdit    1.0


                              Commodore Amiga
                              ---------------

    Bulletin Board Software   Network Mailers     Other Utilities

    Name            Version   Name      Version   Name       Version

    Paragon            1.00+* BinkleyTerm  1.50   ConfMail      1.00
                                                  ChameleonEdit 0.10




    + Netmail capable (does not require additional mailer software)
    * 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 6-35                Page 17                  28 Aug 1989


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

                         The Interrupt Stack


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

    11 Oct 1989
       First International Modula-2 Conference at Bled, Yugoslavia
       hosting Niklaus Wirth and the British Standards Institution.
       Contact 1:106/8422 for more information.

    11 Nov 1989
       A new area code forms in northern Illinois at 12:01 am.
       Chicago proper will remain area code 312; suburban areas
       formerly served with that code will become area code 708.

    23 Nov 1989
       26th Anniversary of "Dr. Who" - and still going strong

    30 Dec 1989
       Telephone area codes (5, 3 and 0) are abolished in Hong Kong

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

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

    FIDONEWS 6-35                Page 18                  28 Aug 1989


           OFFICERS OF THE INTERNATIONAL FIDONET ASSOCIATION

    Mort Sternheim 1:321/109  Chairman of the Board
    Bob Rudolph    1:261/628  President
    Matt Whelan    3:3/1      Vice President
    Bill Bolton    3:711/403  Vice President-Technical Coordinator
    Linda Grennan  1:147/1    Secretary
    Kris Veitch    1:147/30   Treasurer


           IFNA COMMITTEE AND BOARD CHAIRS

    Administration and Finance     Mark Grennan    1:147/1
    Board of Directors             Mort Sternheim  1:321/109
    Bylaws                         Don Daniels     1:107/210
    Ethics                         Vic Hill        1:147/4
    Executive Committee            Bob Rudolph     1:261/628
    International Affairs          Rob Gonsalves   2:500/1
    Membership Services            David Drexler   1:147/47
    Nominations & Elections        David Melnick   1:107/233
    Public Affairs                 David Drexler   1:147/47
    Publications                   Rick Siegel     1:107/27
    Security & Individual Rights   Jim Cannell     1:143/21
    Technical Standards            Rick Moore      1:115/333


                     IFNA BOARD OF DIRECTORS

        DIVISION                               AT-LARGE

    10  Courtney Harris   1:102/732    Don Daniels     1:107/210
    11  Bill Allbritten   1:11/301     Mort Sternheim  1:321/109
    12  Bill Bolton       3:711/403    Mark Grennan    1:147/1
    13  Irene Henderson   1:107/9       (vacant)
    14  Ken Kaplan        1:100/22     Ted Polczyinski 1:154/5
    15  Scott Miller      1:128/12     Matt Whelan     3:3/1
    16  Ivan Schaffel     1:141/390    Robert Rudolph  1:261/628
    17  Neal Curtin       1:343/1      Steve Jordan    1:206/2871
    18  Andrew Adler      1:135/47     Kris Veitch     1:147/30
    19  David Drexler     1:147/47      (vacant)
     2  Henk Wevers       2:500/1      David Melnik    1:107/233

    -----------------------------------------------------------------
    FIDONEWS 6-35                Page 19                  28 Aug 1989


                                     __
                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 6-35                Page 20                  28 Aug 1989


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