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Copyright 1989 by the International FidoNet Association. All
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Table of Contents
1. EDITORIAL ................................................ 1
Well, it's finally over .................................. 1
2. ARTICLES ................................................. 2
User Convicted of Destroying Data Faces 15 Years ......... 2
A Reply to Bob Moravsik .................................. 4
Come to FidoCon 1990! .................................... 7
3. LATEST VERSIONS .......................................... 9
Latest Software Versions ................................. 9
4. NOTICES .................................................. 12
The Interrupt Stack ...................................... 12
FidoNews 6-49 Page 1 4 Dec 1989
I'm really pleased to mark the end of the Great IFNA Election
Campaign. Friday, December 1, was the final voting deadline.
From what I have seen thus far, an awful lot more people, both in
terms of raw numbers and percentage of the net as a whole, voted
in this election than in the original one, a few years back.
This is probably due mostly to the fact that the FidoNet
Coordinators were so heavily involved in conducting the election,
and that ballots were cast using electronic mail rather than
"real" mail. Last time, not enough people felt strongly enough to
buy a stamp. This time, there certainly were strong feelings. I
feel that these emotions also contributed to the final turnout.
Now we have to get on with things. Whether IFNA gets its fifty
percent or not, it's time to bury the hatchet, folks. And not in
each other. Let's clean up the burst bubbles and useless confetti
and good intentions and bad karma and get back to the business at
hand. It's time to get back to promoting the free exchange of
information.That's the underlying reason for FidoNet anyway,
isn't it?
Try something novel. The next time you wade through your
conference mail (of whatever flavor) and you come upon some
postings from somebody you've really pegged as useless -- give
that person a break for once. Try to reverse your roles. Look
past the rhetoric and really do your best to see things from
their perspective. Even if you find that you can't, try to be
tolerant of their views. Ask questions of them. Maybe you're just
missing one strand in the entire fabric.
We're all in this boat together. Let's all work the oars instead
of arguing over who needs to be tossed overboard.
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FidoNews 6-49 Page 2 4 Dec 1989
User Convicted of Destroying Data - Faces Fifteen Years
by Phil Buonomo, 1:107/583@FidoNet 520/583@AlterNet
According to an article in the November 27th issue of PC Week,
Richard March reports that Marshall Williams, a former cost
estimator for Southeastern Color Lithographers Inc., was
convicted on November 16th of using his former employers
computer network to destroy billing and accounting data AND
backup copies of that data, worth an estimated $400,000.00 in
lost business and downtime.
Williams, who faces up to 15 years in prison for his conviction,
maintains that he knew nothing about the Athens printing firms
XENIX operating system, and therefore could not have issued the
commands to remove files from his terminal, despite the fact
that a computer detection program written by Tim Plotner, a
programming consultant for Computer Connection Inc. in
Clarkesville Ga., traced the commands to Williams' terminal.
A witness for the prosecution testified that Williams was at his
terminal at least one time that the detection program traced the
commands there. According to prosecutor Steve Jones, Williams
motivation was "the pleasure of messing up the company."
Those familiar with computer law feel that the conviction has
broad implications for users of computer network system.
According to this ruling, users who delete data can be
prosecuted, whether such erasure was accidental or not. Since
this is the first case were an employer was forced to prove that
a defendant was "computer-knowledgeable", this case also
challenges the legal defense of technical ignorance.
Since this case introduced evidence created by a computer (the
tracing data), it also raises the possibility that users of
these networks could be framed.
Plotner claimed that the possibility of someone modifying his
program to frame Williams was far fetched because none of
William's co-workers knew about it. But, Plotner added,
tampering would have been possible if someone knew the program
was installed and was familiar with the operating system.
He also made it clear that the program only identified the
terminal used to issued the removal commands, not the user
himself. He said "We have been very careful here. We are not
accusing Marshall Williams of doing something."
FidoNews 6-49 Page 3 4 Dec 1989
Williams said last week, "I want everyone who uses a computer to
know about this. It's a bad dream."
Further discussions on this topic can be found in the SYSLAW
Groupmail conference, available at 1:107/583@FidoNet.
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FidoNews 6-49 Page 4 4 Dec 1989
A Reply to Bob Moravsik
by John Knox, 147/7
* Originally to Bob Moravsik in area SYSOP
I've been resisting reply this for weeks. I just can't handle
anymore. I'm sick of your GONGS and every other attempt by you
to totally destroy the FidoNet we know today or that we might
have tomorrow. Your article in FidoNews made me almost throw
up.
I only have a few things to say:
WHAT small godforsaken rock did you crawl out from under? I've
been in FidoNet for 5 years and to this day I've never seen
ANYBODY come up will more crap than you have. Not even the
Rouster. Compared to him, you are anybody's worst nightmare.
Compared to you, he is made of gold. At least he provided
positive input sometimes. I have yet to see that from you.
You have done more to destroy this net in the past few months
than I've done in 5 years to promote it, and believe me, I've
pushed it almost every day. Oh, you wonder where I've been the
last few months? Helping people, like I always do. I have had
no desire to participate in the battles being fought, since they
are meaningless and a waste of my time. I can do more by
helping people than fighting with them. I've run our net as NC,
I distribute echos as NEC, not to mention doing whatever else I
can to help any sysop in need. But I will not fight with people
who are totally insane. It is just pointless.
Most of your remarks about Deathnet are totally incorrect and
inconceivable. I have conversed with Thom, Fabian and Phil for
only the past year, but I met them for the first time at
FidoCon, and they are NOT bad guys. They have an idea that
could promote this net far into the future. Unfortunately it's
the people like you who spoil the fun for everybody else. You
have NOTHING positive to say about anything, only negative. If
you are so damn smart, why don't you come up with a solution,
instead of whimpering about everything. All you do is promote
general discontent and anger, which we DON'T need at the current
time.
FidoNet started as a group of people with an idea to promote
communications and to form a network. Back in 1985 when I
joined, there were only 400 nodes and not many hassles to worry
about. Everybody was excited about this amazing new concept,
and we all worked our asses off to help each other out and make
the net florish, because we supported the concept. As the years
went on, more and more people joined, not knowing really why
they were joining, but just to get on the bandwagon. The more
people we got, the harder it was for everyone to agree on
everything, but we still tried. Notice the word "tried". Have
you done that lately?
FidoNews 6-49 Page 5 4 Dec 1989
IFNA was formed to attempt to provide some backbone, support and
leadership for the net. Unfortunately, a few things went
slightly wrong and suddenly it was the FidoNet flame for months
to come. The net wanted somebody to lead us, but then they
screamed because they weren't the ones leading. There were too
many people wanting to be chiefs and not enough normal Indians.
Everybody wanted to be President, but nobody wanted to be the
blue collar worker.
Today, we are in that same situation, but compounded tenfold.
More widespread personalities, more people wanting control, and
more people with gripes and complaints but no solutions. Have
you ever proposed a solution? If so, I have never seen it, and
believe me, I've seen every one of your messages for the past
few months in this echo and many others.
FidoNet is a concept. Without some leadership, the concept will
die a bloody death. Without followers, there can be no
leadership. If everybody wants to be a leader, there are no
followers...just leaders arguing over who will be the "top"
leader. That isn't a concept, it's a war just like the many
this earth has already endured. Why do we need another war?
Last few personal comments:
In the past year, I have seen this net turn into one thing, and
one thing only...a huge playground with hundreds of little kids
running around starting fights and calling people names. This
is exactly the scenario I see from my point of view. There are
the few of us who stand back and stay out of the "games" because
we have better things to do than petty bickering. I just wish
there were more like our minority.
Oh yeah...you keep griping about the FidoCon IFNA votes and
such. You know where they are? Right here on this machine,
safe from people like you who would only use them to start some
other battle. I suppose you will flame me for that. I'm ready
for it. It's called DEV>NUL.
As acting secretary of IFNA at the Bod meeting, I watched the
votes tallied. I approved the proxies and I oversaw then
general agenda. I also sat through many many hours of Bod
meetings watching a group of people with a fantastic concept. I
took the minutes. I didn't say a word, because the Secretary
can't vote. Nobody influenced me in any way. I didn't even
know most of these people. I was an innocent bystander. I
watched 20 people work their asses off and dedicate an entire
weekend to form the ballot we are voting on now. Less than half
were what you call DeathNet. The other half may not have
originally liked the DeathNetters, but they supported their
concept. That concept is DEMOCRACY. Call it what you want, but
it is the ONLY thing that will keep FidoNet together today,
tomorrow and far into the future. Call me whatever you want,
but I know I'm right and you're not. That's all that matters.
FidoNews 6-49 Page 6 4 Dec 1989
I can tell you that each one of the people at those meetings
have a GENUINE desire to make FidoNet grow and florish for the
people of the world. They have NO DESIRE WHATSOEVER to "take
over", "rule the net" and do the so many other things you keep
accusing them of. The people there were ones who have been in
the net for years. They are the ones who have formed this net,
along with many others like myself. None of us have any desire
to "rule" or "take over" FidoNet. If we did, we would and could
have probably done it long ago. There is no benefit to ruling.
We want to PEOPLE of FidoNet to rule it. Isn't that what a
democracy is?
Oh, and one last thing. If I were the host of the FidoNet Gong
Show, and if you ever showed your face on stage, I would break
at least 10 gong mallets and make numerous dents in the gong
itself for the non-class act you have performed. You wouldn't
last 10 seconds before you'd be gonged off the stage. I'm sick
of your gongs, I'm sick of your attitude, and I'm sick of your
whining. If you want something done, then DO IT, but stop
calling names and defacing people when you don't even know most
of what you are talking about.
There. I've said my peace. It probably won't do any good,
since obviously things go in one side of your head and
immediately out the other side. Of course with nothing in
between, what's to stop them.
To Butch: I sincerely apologize for this outburst, but I was
just about to explode. Don't worry about removing me from this
echo. I'm gone. I have been here, participating only
occasionally but basically in the background for 2 years, and
there is just no point in staying when there are all the people
like Bob M to contend with.
To everybody else: I apologize to you too. You shouldn't have
to read this kind of stuff. We should be here talking about
constructive things instead of wasting our time arguing.
Ah...the old days when we used to help each other instead of
attempting to behead each other. Those were the good old days.
I wish you all luck in your battle. I have made my YES vote.
I know what I want in FidoNet. I only wish other people could
have the same positive outlook and see it the same way.
Cheers to you all!
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FidoNews 6-49 Page 7 4 Dec 1989
Come to FidoCon 1990!
by Jim Vaughan, 1:226/300, IFNA Membership Services Committee
Well, the tabulations are in, and we've made a decision.
FidoCon 1990 is hereby awarded to:
Net 107, New York/New Jersey MetroNet!
The decision was rather easy, actually. Since announcing that
we were accepting bids for next year's FidoCon back in October
(right here in FidoNews), we only received two bids, one for New
Jersey (less than a week after the announcement), and one for
Colorado Springs.
While the guys in Colorado did a great job (and a big THANKS for
their submission!), there were several good reasons for holding
FidoCon in Net 107.
o Net 107's proposal was more cost efficient. On a per day
basis, their proposal was the most inexpensive in at least the
three years.
o Recent FidoCons have been in San Jose, CA; Cincinnati, OH;
Arlington, VA; and originally, Colorado. As you can see,
there's never been a FidoCon in the Northeast, while virtually
every other area of the US has had one.
o Net 107's proposal listed a number of activities that were
designed around making the conference one worthy of being a
family vacation as well as just a sysops conference.
o Colorado's already had a FidoCon. While widely acclaimed as
the 'best' FidoCon, it seemed unfair not to give someone else a
crack at it.
As you can see, there were several good reasons for awarding it
to Net 107, and a good reason NOT to give it to Colorado, so the
choice was really simple. It might not have been so simple if
there were more proposals submitted, but it seems that there
just aren't that many people willing to do the work. The Net
107 proposal made it quite clear that they have the manpower,
the drive, and the financial know-how to pull off the next
conference.
I'm sure there'll be lots of folks who'll claim that "DEATHNET
STOLE FIDOCON". For those of you who feel that way, all I can
say is,
"Hey, man, where was YOUR proposal?" ;-)
FidoNews 6-49 Page 8 4 Dec 1989
In the next few weeks you'll probably be hearing from Bill
VanGlahn, the Net 107 FidoCon committee chairman, on how to go
about registering, activities, lectures, etc. Node 1/90 in zone
1 is available for information, and will soon be changed to
Bill's system.
Well, if I can get up the bucks to make it to New Jersey from
Ohio, I hope to see you ALL there next year!
Jim
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FidoNews 6-49 Page 9 4 Dec 1989
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.
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FidoNews 6-49 Page 12 4 Dec 1989
Thom Henderson 1:107/528 Chairman of the Board
Les Kooyman 1:204/501 President
Fabian Gordon 1:107/323 Vice President
Bill Bolton 3:3/0 Vice President-Technical Coordinator
Kris Veitch 1:147/30 Secretary
Kris Veitch 1:147/30 Treasurer
IFNA COMMITTEE AND BOARD CHAIRS
Administration and Finance *
By-laws and Rules John Roberts 1:385/49
Executive Committee (Pres) Les Kooyman 1:204/501
International Affairs *
Membership Services Jim Vaughan 1:226/300
Nominations and Elections Steve Bonine 1:1/0
Public Affairs David Drexler 1:147/30.20
Publications Irene Henderson 1:107/9
Technical Standards Rick Moore 1:115/333
Ethics *
Security and Privacy *
Grievances *
* Position in abeyance pending reorganization
IFNA BOARD OF DIRECTORS
DIVISION AT-LARGE
10 Courtney Harris 1:102/732 Don Daniels 1:107/210
11 John Rafuse 1:12/900 Phil Buonomo 1:107/583
12 Bill Bolton 3:711/403 Mark Hawthorne 1:107/238
13 Fabian Gordon 1:107/323 Tom Jennings 1:125/111
14 Ken Kaplan 1:100/22 Irene Henderson 1:107/509
15 Kevin McNeil 1:128/45 Steve Jordan 1:206/2871
16 Ivan Schaffel 1:141/390 Robert Rudolph 1:261/628
17 Kathi Crockett 1:134/30 Dave Melnik 1:107/233
18 Andrew Adler 1:135/47 Jim Hruby 1:107/536
19 Kris Veitch 1:147/30 Burt Juda 1:107/528
2 Henk Wevers 2:500/1 Karl Schinke 1:107/516
3 Matt Whelan 3:54/99 John Roberts 1:147/14
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FidoNews 6-49 Page 14 4 Dec 1989
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.
