Volume 7, Number 18                                 30 April 1990
    +---------------------------------------------------------------+
    |                                                  _            |
    |                                                 /  \          |
    |                                                /|oo \         |
    |        - FidoNews -                           (_|  /_)        |
    |                                                _`@/_ \    _   |
    |         FidoNet (r)                           |     | \   \\  |
    |  International BBS Network                    | (*) |  \   )) |
    |         Newsletter               ______       |__U__| /  \//  |
    |                                 / FIDO \       _//|| _\   /   |
    |                                (________)     (_/(_|(____/    |
    |                                                     (jm)      |
    +---------------------------------------------------------------+
    Editor in Chief:                                  Vince Perriello
    Editors Emeritii:                    Thom Henderson,  Dale Lovell
    Chief Procrastinator Emeritus:                       Tom Jennings

    Copyright 1990, Fido Software.  All rights reserved.  Duplication
    and/or distribution permitted  for  noncommercial  purposes only.
    For use in other circumstances, please  contact  Fido Software.

    FidoNews  is  published  weekly  by  the  System Operators of the
    FidoNet  (r)  International  BBS Network.  It is a compilation of
    individual articles  contributed  by  their authors or authorized
    agents of the  authors.    The  contribution  of articles to this
    compilation does not diminish the rights of the authors.

    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.

    Fido and  FidoNet  are  registered  trademarks of Tom Jennings of
    Fido Software, Box  77731,  San  Francisco  CA 94107, USA and are
    used with permission.

    Opinions expressed in  FidoNews articles are those of the authors
    and are not necessarily  those of the Editor or of Fido Software.
    Most articles are unsolicited.   Our  policy  is to publish every
    responsible submission received.


                       Table of Contents
    1. ARTICLES  .................................................  1
       EuroCon IV: A General Overview to a Great Happening !  ....  1
       Region17 FidoNet Convention  ..............................  5
       Region17 FidoCon Registration Form  .......................  6
       Violet's Ansi Screens  ....................................  9
       FIDOCON 1990 REGISTRATION FORM  ........................... 11
    2. COLUMNS  .................................................. 14
       Talk Me Through It, Honey  ................................ 14
    3. LATEST VERSIONS  .......................................... 16
       Latest Software Versions  ................................. 16
    4. NOTICES  .................................................. 19
    And more!
    FidoNews 7-18                Page 1                   30 Apr 1990


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

    EuroCon IV: A General Overview to a Great Happening !
    _____________________________________________________


    0. Maybe a small introduction ?
    ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

    Msg : 111, 14 Oct 89 21:06:00
    From: Joop Mellaart
    To  : All
    Subj: announcement Eurocon IV
    -------------------------------------
    Hello to you all,

    On behalf of the organisation committee of Eurocon III I herewith
    announce that Belgium will be the organising country for Eurocon
    IV.

    Ward Dossche has sent us a very good proposal which Peter
    Janssens will post here within a few days. [...] we think that
    the Belgian proposal is very good and Eurocon IV should therefore
    be organised in Belgium.

    Regards, <JM>

    --- FD 2.00
     * Origin: PCC Zonegate - Gateway to the Continents! (2:512/99)



    1. ... or maybe a bit clearer ?
    ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
    When I was preparing this article, it crossed my mind, to start
    telling you something about the history of FidoNet. But probably
    most of you would already know all that stuff, so there was the
    chance that you would drop of, just because of boredom. And that
    would be a shame, really, because EuroCon is an occasion, which
    every European FidoNet sysop should have seen at least once !

    EuroCon is a happening which developed itself thru FidoNet-
    history:  Apparently, sometimes echomail is just not good enough
    to keep good contacts between regions, so at a certain point in
    time, it became clear that it would be really nice (if not
    actually necessary), to organise a European Sysop-meeting. In the
    United States, these happenings had already been organised: They
    called it FidoCon.

    FidoNews 7-18                Page 2                   30 Apr 1990


    So four years ago, the first European Sysop-meeting, EuroCon,
    was organised.  From then on, it was decided to organise such an
    international meeting yearly.


    2. And this year...
    ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
    This year, Eurocon will be organised in Antwerp, Belgium, on July
    14th and 15th. Antwerp is one of Belgium's biggest ports. The
    historical city is a very convenient conference-city: Many
    suitable hotels, in all price-classes are available, there is an
    International Youth Hostel and a camping place. Since Antwerp is
    an international city, it is very easy for foreigners to find
    their way around: Most touristical, hotel- and other staff are
    multilingual (Dutch, French and English are common; German is not
    unusual).  Furthermore, the city of Antwerp is easily reached by
    car, train and airplane.


    3. But what about the meeting itself ?
    ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
    You're right. Better tell you someting about what's going to
    happen on EuroCon IV. As matter of fact, EuroCon IV will be a bit
    different from the EuroCon's before. This time, there will be 3
    FidoNet conferences going on simultaneously ! The first one is
    USERCON I. This conference will be dedicated entirely to Region
    29 matters (Belgium). It is a meeting between sysops, points and
    users of FidoNet Belgium. It will be open to the general public.
    Obviously, this meeting won't be too interesting to the foreign
    guests. It is merely a practical matter to organise UserCon I
    during EuroCon IV.  The other 2 conferences however will be
    *very* interesting. Let's start with the new one...

    The new one is TECHCON I. It will be a purely technical
    conference on FidoNet matters. Provisions are being made, to
    invite as many as possible developers of P.D., ShareWare or
    commercial software. In particular, people being active in
    developing mailers, terminal programs, BBS software and
    utilities, packers, and whatever else is being used by amateur
    communication freaks. Also manufacturers of comms hardware will
    be invited.
    It will be required to register in advance. You will be informed
    about this in a few weeks, thru the FidoNews magazine, thru some
    echomail channels (e.g. ENET.SYSOP), and also in EMBBS magazine.
    But the main conference of course will be EuroCon IV ...
    (tataaah...)

    EuroCon IV will traditionally be devoted exclusively to the
    phenomenon 'netpolicy'. Netpolicy, is the whole of rules which
    are keeping the net up and operational. Without them,
    communication in FidoNet would be impossible. Some main themes
    that will be discussed are:

    FidoNews 7-18                Page 3                   30 Apr 1990


    EEC- and European matters :

    * The private computer-communication market after 1992
    * Changing policy in the great internal market
    * Creation of a European sysop-association
    * Telephone companies and future European approval standards for
      telecommunications hardware
    * Auto-censoring, privacy and ownership of public electronic-mail
      information
    * Developments in Eastern-Europe

    Internal policy matters :

    * Electronic-mail policy
    * Electronic-mail routing
    * Elections
    * Appointing EUROCON-V site
    * Democracy within FidoNet
    * Complaint-procedure

    Technical matters :

    * Fast modems (V32 - PEP - HST)
    * Automated mailer software
    * Technical standards
    * New communication protocols

    I guess you've got a general idea now, about what's going to be
    discussed at EuroCon IV. Clearly EuroCon is a very important
    conference. Because even if an amateur network is technically
    capable of functioning well, it is only thru real human
    communication, agreement and understanding, between the thousands
    of participants, that such a huge network can be maintained.
    And that really needs some agreements. Without them, FidoNet
    would surely collapse.  It is at meetings like EuroCon, that one
    builds the strong structures that have kept FidoNet alive, all
    these years !


    4. Back down to the 'earthly' matters...
    ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
    The programme, which of course can be subject to some minor
    changes, will look like this:

    * Friday July 13th
    - Evening: Arrival most participants.
    - Pre-meeting between the organising committee and the RC's and
      ZC2, to discuss the coming days, set some priorities, and iron-
      out whatever needs to be ironed out.

    * Saturday July 14th
    - Morning: EuroCon session-1
    - Noon: Luch of course !
    - Afternoon: EuroCon session-2
    - Evening: Dinner, and optional '11-kroegentocht', not to be
    FidoNews 7-18                Page 4                   30 Apr 1990


      missed by all beer-drinkers ! (Belgium is a country famous for
      its beers !)

    * Sunday July 15th
    - morning: EuroCon session-3
    - noon: lunch
    - afternoon: EuroCon session-4
    - evening: Probabely a dinner-cruise on the River Scheldt for all
      registered participants, sponsors, companies and other people
      that have contributed to the organising of EuroCon-IV.
    - After 10pm: Everybody can seek a form of entertainment suitable
      to his/her own needs.

    * Monday July 15th
    - morning: Check-out and departure of most participants.


    There is also a fringe-programme for participants and relatives.
    Including:
    - Visit to the port of Antwerp.
    - Visit to the famous Antwerp ZOO.
    - Factory-visit.


    5. But, isn't there always one more thing to say ?
    ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
    Yes, there is:
    You can send us your remarks, questions and suggestions. We have
    opened a special node for EuroCon-IV. It has nodenumber
    2:2/999.0, and it is open for mail 24 hours a day. We will be
    happy to get some feedback, so that we can keep your suggestions
    in mind, while setting up the meeting in detail.
    You can address your messages to Ward Dossche, the team-leader of
    the organising team. You can also write Ward or me a message in
    ENET.SYSOP.
    And above all: Be looking out for more information about EuroCon
    IV. In a few weeks, we will start distributing registration
    forms. Don't hesitate to join the conference. Don't put away that
    form somewhere you'll probably forget it.  Without you, it would
    be much less fun ! We count on you ! Try to be there in July !

    Jan Spooren (2:295/20.0)
    Electronic-Press attache (Umpf!)

    P.S.: We just received a message from Tomas Bremin (2:201/110.0),
    moderator of InterUser: He tells us, we can expect a group of 15
    to 30 people from InterUser, who are going to meet eachother at
    EuroCon IV !  Watch my words: It'll be quite a happening !!


    -----------------------------------------------------------------
    FidoNews 7-18                Page 5                   30 Apr 1990


    Janet Murray
    1:105/23

                 REGION 17 FIDO CONVENTION

    FidoNet  Sysops  and  their  families and friends  are  cordially
    invited  to  attend  a  Region17  convention  hosted  by   Net105
    (VanPort;   aka "Home of the Curmudgeon") July 27-29  at  Menucha
    Retreat  and  Conference  Center.   This will be the only  "Fido"
    convention  on  the  West  Coast this summer;  guests outside the
    boundaries of Region17 are more than welcome to attend.

    Menucha was  once  the  summer  home  of Julius Meier, founder of
    Meier & Frank  department stores and a former Governor of Oregon.
    "Menucha" means "waters of  refreshment"  in Hebrew and is an apt
    description of the unique natural  setting  -  98 acres of lawns,
    woodlands and gardens - high on  a bluff overlooking the Columbia
    River.  The main buildings were constructed  around  1914 and are
    historical  sites.    Recreation  includes  a  75x30  ft  outdoor
    swimming pool,  regulation  tennis  court,  basketball, horseshoe
    pits, a surfaced  volleyball  court,  table tennis, and biliards.
    There are also numerous trails for hiking.

    Menucha is located in  Corbett,  Oregon  -  30  minutes  from the
    Portland International Airport and about 45 minutes from downtown
    Portland.  Freeways I-84, I-5, and I-205 are close by.

    Convention prices are extremely affordable if you register before
    May  15th.   Menucha offers dormitories and  family-style  meals,
    with a few semi-private and private accomodations.   For example,
    for  an  adult  FidoNet  Sysop  who  elects to arrive  on  Friday
    afternoon, sleep in his sleeping bag in a dorm, and  stay through
    Sunday  morning,  the  cost  is  a  mere $70.50 (meals included).
    Reduced prices apply to children, students, and spouses.

    See the  subsequent message for an official registration form, or
    NetMail Janet Murray  @  105/23 or Ken Zwaschka @ 105/54 for more
    information.

    -----------------------------------------------------------------
    FidoNews 7-18                Page 6                   30 Apr 1990


    Janet Murray
    1:105/23

      * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
      *              FIDONET REGION 17 CONVENTION                 *
      *               OFFICIAL REGISTRATION FORM                  *
      *                     July 27-29, 1990                      *
      *          Menucha Camp and Conference Grounds              *
      *                     Corbett, Oregon                       *
      * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

    Name _____________________________   FidoNet Address _________

    SnailMail Address ___________________________________________

    ___________________________________________  Date Sent ______

    Voice phone (in case of questions): ________________________

    Please indicate for each person attending, the option selected,
    and fill in the appropriate charges:

    _Number_            _Name(s)_                   _Subtotals_

              Registration fee @ $5
    _____     (FidoNet Sysops ONLY)               $        _____

    OPTION A: Friday 5 p.m. to Sunday 11 a.m.
              DORM
    _____     Adult(s) __________________________ $  65.50 _____

    _____     Student(s) ________________________    56.50 _____
              (Age 12 to 18 OR Full-time student)
    _____     Child(ren) ________________________    36.25 _____
              (Age 11 and under)
    _____     Supply bedding @ $6 per person               _____

              SEMI-PRIVATE
    _____     Adult(s) __________________________    83.50 _____

    _____     Student(s) ________________________    56.50 _____
              (in parents' room)
    _____     Child(ren) ________________________    36.25 _____
              (in parents' room)

              PRIVATE
    _____     Adult(s) __________________________   102.50 _____

    OPTION B: Saturday 8 a.m. to Sunday 11 a.m.
              DORM
    _____     Adult(s) __________________________    48.00 _____

    FidoNews 7-18                Page 7                   30 Apr 1990


    _____     Student(s) ________________________    42.50 _____
              (Age 12 to 18 OR Full-time Student)
    _____     Child(ren) ________________________    29.50 _____
              (Age 11 and under)
    _____     Supply bedding @ $6 per person               _____

              SEMI-PRIVATE
    _____     Adult(s) ___________________________   59.00 _____

    _____     Student(s) _________________________   42.50 _____
              (in parents' room)
    _____     Child(ren) _________________________   29.50 _____
              (in parents' room)

              PRIVATE
    _____     Adult(s) ___________________________   72.50 _____

    OPTION C: Saturday 8 a.m. to Saturday 10 p.m.
    (Meals only, no accommodations)

    _____     Adult(s) ___________________________   37.00 _____

    _____     Student(s) _________________________   32.00 _____

    _____     Child(ren) _________________________   21.00 _____

              SUBTOTAL                             $           _____


    LATE REGISTRATION FEES (_after_ May 15th):

    ================================================================
    |     IMPORTANT NOTE: Since we must estimate  _and pay for_    |
    |     the number who will be attending by mid-May, there       |
    |   will be a limited number of places for late registrants!   |
    ================================================================

          Paid by June 15th:
    _____ Number of reservations @ $10     _____

          Paid by July 15th
    _____ Number of reservations @ $20     _____

          Paid after July 15th
    _____ Number of reservations @ $30     _____

                               TOTAL ADDITIONS       $         _____

                                 TOTAL PAYMENT ENCLOSED:       $ _____
    Make checks payable (in U.S. Funds) to:
    Net 105 Treasury / REG17CON

    FidoNews 7-18                Page 8                   30 Apr 1990


    Send registration to:

    Region 17 Convention
    c/o Ken Zwaschka
    Ken Zwaschka & Associates
    P.O. Box 2226
    Portland, Oregon, U.S.A. 97208-2226

    Reservations and room assignments will be confirmed via NetMail
    within 48 hours of receipt.

    Registration packets with a map to Menucha and information about
    Portland metropolitan area shopping and recreational faciltities
    will be mailed to all registrants on July 1st.



    -----------------------------------------------------------------
    FidoNews 7-18                Page 9                   30 Apr 1990


           From
       Violet Stymacks
           at the
      Rhinoceros Kitchen
          1:152/8
        Eugene, Oregon

    When Ray (co-sysop of Rhinoceros Kitchen and myself first set-up
    housekeeping together he told me," How much he was INTO
    computers " :-}
    I had NO IDEA just how much time he talking about.
    Well it didn't take long for me to start calling the computer
    THE OTHER WOMAN.God, how I hated the THING.
    Being Dyslexic I would not go near the computer. Then one day he
    downloaded a game called Hack and soon I would sit by his side
    and watch him play(giving my input as to what he should do.):-)
    Then he showed me how to play it myself. This was BEFORE we had
    a Hard Disk. After a while my Characters got soooo big that I
    needed to shuffle 4 floppies to hold them, so I got kind of
    comfortable with the machine. (I won the game 14 times) and Ray
    was very good about letting me share computer time with him.
    Then Ray helped a friend set up a BBS (a game board) next thing
    I knew he was thinking of starting a BBS of his own. I smiled
    and said I thought he should give it a try. But I was thinking "
    now I will never see or be able to talk to him because he will
    be with " HER " (the computer) all the time.
    Well I sure didn't fool Ray one bit with that smile , he sat me
    down with THEDRAW and had me do asci screens for the message
    bases.
    Then a local sysop asked if I would do an ansi welcome screen
    for his board. Next I was making screens for boards all over
    Eugene.
    Then we became a node on FidoNet.I started cruising the node
    list looking for names I liked the sound of and I would make an
    ansi drawing and send it to them.
    I also put a copy in the <<RK>> art gallery. Most people liked
    what I sent to them and used it. An ansi/asci screen from me is
    a GIFT, not the beginning of some advertising "pitch" or
    anything else.
    I send a follow up message asking if they are using the screen,
    if I don't hear from them after a while. If they are not using
    it I " give it a face lift " and send it to some one else. I
    call the screen a " LOGO " but sysops put them anywhere on the
    board they want.I put the "OLD" logo screen some sysops send
    with their thank you message,in a guest art gallery that i have
    on our bbs.About 5 boards have my whole (a zip file of about
    400k) art gallery on their board.

    At this time about 290 BBS are using one or more ansi/asci
    screens I have made. Most are in the USA, thirty are in Canada,
    seven in zone2 and three in zone3 (that I know of). :-)

    FidoNews 7-18                Page 10                  30 Apr 1990


    The truly sad part of all this is Ray almost never gets time to
    use the computer anymore.
    :-)

    ----
    a quick note from ray here.I wanted to call this article
    "computer shortage crises at rhinoceros kitchen",but Violet
    wrote it,and after all,it IS about her art work.
     Violet's art gallery is compressed into art.zip during 5:00 am
    maintenance EVERY morning and is available for file requests as
    ART.ZIP anytime,except midnight to 2:00 am Pacific time.The old
    art.zip is deleted just before the new one is made, this way it
    is updated daily.
    ----
    -----------------------------------------------------------------
    FidoNews 7-18                Page 11                  30 Apr 1990


         The Secret Sysop Society presents            __
               *** Conclave '90 ***                  /  \
               The SYSOPS Convention                /|oo \
               Home of FidoCon 1990                (_|  /_)
               Lyndhurst, New Jersey                _`@/_ \    _
                 August 1-5, 1990                  |     | \   \\
                                                   | (*) |  \   ))
                                      ______       |__U__| /  \//
                                     / Fido \       _//|| _\   /
                                    (________)     (_/(_|(____/ (tm)

    Rate Plan Schedule:               Before 6/1/90:  Before 5/1/90:
                                      --------------  --------------
    A. Single Occupancy.......$595.00     $545.00        $495.00
    B. Double Occupancy.......$450.00     $400.00        $350.00
    C. Conference w/ meals....$300.00     $250.00        $200.00
    D. Conference w/ Banquet..$205.00     $155.00        $105.00
    E. Conference only........$175.00     $125.00        $ 75.00
    F. Banquet only...........$130.00      $80.00        $ 30.00
    G. Registrant & Spouse....$720.00     $670.00        $620.00
    (All rate plans except plan F include all conference and hotel
    fees.  Those registering before 5/1/90 get a $100.00 discount,
    those registering before 6/1/90 get a $50.00 discount.)

    You must pay by Check, Money Order, or Credit Card.  Please send
    no cash.  All monies must be in U.S. Funds.  Checks should be
    made out to: "Conclave '90"

    The following registration form must be completed and mailed to:

                        PO Box 12
                        Lyndhurst, NJ 07071

    You may register by Netmailing this completed form to 1:1/90 for
    processing.  Rename it to ZNNNXXXX.REG where Z is your Zone
    number, N is your Net number, and X is your Node number.  US Mail
    confirmation is required within 72 hours of electronic filing.

    If you are paying by credit card, please include the required
    information.  For your own security, do not route any message
    with your credit card number on it.  Crash it directly to 1:1/90.

    The official Conclave '90 airline is American Airlines.
    American offers a 5% discount the lowest applicable round-trip
    fare, including 1st class travel, subject to availability of
    inventory.  All fare rules and restrictions apply.  In addition,
    American offers 40% off their round trip unrestricted day coach
    fare.  International travelers qualify for special benefits,
    including complimentary admittance to the Admiral's Club Lounge
    at any American Airlines terminal.  Newark is an American Air-
    lines city with direct flights to most major cities.  When making
    reservations, you must call American's Toll-free reservation
    number at 800-433-1790, and reference Star number 13704F.
    FidoNews 7-18                Page 12                  30 Apr 1990


        C O N C L A V E  '90   R E G I S T R A T I O N   F O R M

    Name: __________________________________________________________

    Address: _____________________________  Apt. or Suite: _________

    City: _________________________  State or Province: ____________

    Postal Code: __________________  Country: ______________________

    Voice Phone: ______________________  Data: _____________________

    Zone:Net/Node.Point@Domain: ____________________________________

    Special requirements: __________________________________________

    +---------------+---------------------+-----+----------+-------+
    | Option        | Full                |     | Pricing  | Line  |
    |(Choose 1: A-G)| Name                | Qty | Thru 5/1 | Total |
    +---------------+---------------------+-----+----------+-------+
    | PLAN A*       |                     |     | $495.00  |       |
    +---------------+---------------------+-----+----------+-------+
    | PLAN B*       |                     |     | $350.00  |       |
    +---------------+---------------------+-----+----------+-------+
    | PLAN C*       |                     |     | $200.00  |       |
    +---------------+---------------------+-----+----------+-------+
    | PLAN D*       |                     |     | $105.00  |       |
    +---------------+---------------------+-----+----------+-------+
    | PLAN E*       |                     |     | $ 75.00  |       |
    +---------------+---------------------+-----+----------+-------+
    | PLAN F        |                     |     | $ 30.00  |       |
    +---------------+---------------------+-----+----------+-------+
    | PLAN G*       |                     |     | $620.00  |       |
    +===============+=====================+=====+==========+=======+
    | NJ Beach Trip |                     |     | $  24.50 |       |
    +---------------+---------------------+-----+----------+-------+
    | Eve. NYC Tour |                     |     | $  37.50 |       |
    +---------------+---------------------+-----+----------+-------+
    | Broadway Show |                     |     | $  75.00 |       |
    +---------------+---------------------+-----+----------+-------+
    | NYC Shop Tour |                     |     | $  36.50 |       |
    +---------------+---------------------+-----+----------+-------+
    | Costume Ball* |                     |     | $  50.00 |       |
    +---------------+---------------------+-----+----------+-------+
     *  includes all conference fees & Hotel    | Total  $ |       |
     ** includes dinner, show, and costume      +==========+=======+

    MC _____  Visa _____  Card Number: _____________________________

    Expiration: ___________  Signature _____________________________
           ( Credit card registrations require valid signature )

    FidoNews 7-18                Page 13                  30 Apr 1990


    -----------------------------------------------------------------
    FidoNews 7-18                Page 14                  30 Apr 1990


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

    Henry Clark
    124/6120


    Spun Wrong --

    I read about this SpinRite program and thought I might try it
    out because, well, you know I have 6 hard disks between home
    and office machines.  As it turns out, I was led astray, and
    I'll tell you why.

    Reading the shrink wrap at the store, I caught some fine print :
    NOT compatible with Plus hard cards.  OK, 1 down, 5 to go.  I
    buy it and get on to work.  My main system there, the NCR has a
    16-bit SCSI and 320 meg hard disk.  Sorry.  SpinRite thinks it
    sees a CACHE, HA.  2 down, 4 to go.  I start reading the online
    docs.  ERLL on a Compaq portable, NOT supported.  3 down.

    I get it home.  ESDI NOT supported.  4 down.  This leaves the
    old 286 portable, which sports an SDSI ( 5 down ) and a
    Imprimis regular old 80 on a WD MFM controller.  OK, 1 drive
    out of 6.  Be forewarned.

    This brings up another sore point.  That 80 meg drive is really
    84, but I can only get some 72 megs recognized by my BIOS.  It
    seems that the drive type table is the key to this whole mess.
    Compaq is really nasty about the drive types supported, which
    is to their benefit when you want to add some space.  This
    nonsense has to change.

    An interesting note in the SpinRite docs is the 'new SDSI
    drives' which they don't support.  New, my baby's butt.


    Greenleaf Comm Lib --

    I picked up the latest version of this software library and was
    really impressed.  With just 3 functions, OPEN, PUTC and GETC I
    had a finished comm program.  It can get a lot fancier than
    that too.  There's even a single function Send_Ymodem_G.

    I wrote a tiny program that sends a user defined message, waits
    for a timer or a response from the host system, and sends
    another message.  The host system is the cool machine, it is
    switching video signals.  The demo has 6 video disk players,
    and 12 Sony 9 inch color TVs, and my comm program is talking to
    the application, switching the different players ( and a couple
    of internally generated test patterns ) across the TVs.

    FidoNews 7-18                Page 15                  30 Apr 1990


    The marketing guys did OK too, the video disks included
    Indiana, Trek, Rabbit and a really neat computer generated
    video documentary.  I quickly implemented a better transmit
    hold routine because my program kept switching the signals
    during the good scenes.

    Greenleaf got a bad rap because of some weird happenings back in
    the Opus 0.0 development days.  Based upon my recent
    experiences, their products are top notch.


    Oracle Database Echo --

    I have been working with the Oracle database for over a year and
    the SQL language as well.  I noticed that there wasn't an echo
    for these topics.  So I started one, it's called ORA_DBMS.

    Oracle is probably the largest database company, with similar
    software running on dozens of platforms.  If there's one thing
    BAD about their products, it's the documentation and support.
    In fact, it's a nightmare.  Maybe this echo can allow better
    access to other user's, with the subsequent increase in
    information.  Of course, it may become the biggest FLAME forum
    yet.  We shall see.

    In any case, if you're interested in, or are using Oracle, or
    any other SQL based relational database, you are invited to
    pick up ORA_DBMS.  At this time, the echo is distributed
    locally, including myself 1:124/6120 and by our DFW echo mail
    distributor, 1:124/4115.  As this is the first echo I have
    tried to get started, you may know more about proper channels
    to pick it up.


    Ghost in the Machine --

    Well it does look like I got screwed by an early Fidonews
    release mechanism.  ( What do want for nothin', eh ? )  I swear
    I had that last column on 1:1/1 Sunday morning at 01:00.  The
    news archive was created at 11:00 and the news file data is
    midnight Monday.

    So that bit on the Lake Party was delayed a week.  ( You missed
    me, right ? ).  Now you'll have to wait another week for the
    skinny on the Great Event.  I promise some juicy details aired
    in public, Enquirer fashion.


    -----------------------------------------------------------------
    FidoNews 7-18                Page 16                  30 Apr 1990


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

                         Latest Software Versions

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

                          Bulletin Board Software
    Name        Version    Name        Version    Name       Version

    Fido            12q+   Phoenix         1.3    TAG          2.5d1
    Lynx           1.30    QuickBBS       2.64*   TBBS           2.1
    Kitten         2.16    RBBS          17.2B    TComm/TCommNet 3.4
    Maximus        1.00    RBBSmail       17.2    TPBoard        6.0
    Opus           1.12+*  RemoteAccess    2.0*   Wildcat!      2.10
    PCBoard        14.2*   SLBBS          1.76*

    Network                Node List              Other
    Mailers     Version    Utilities   Version    Utilities  Version

    BinkleyTerm    2.30    EditNL         4.00    ARC           6.02
    D'Bridge       1.30    MakeNL         2.20    ARCAsim       2.30*
    Dutchie       2.90C    ParseList      1.30    ARCmail        2.0
    FrontDoor     1.99c*   Prune          1.40    ConfMail      4.00
    PRENM          1.47    SysNL          3.01    Crossnet      v1.5*
    SEAdog        4.51b    XlatList       2.90    EMM           2.02
                           XlaxDiff       2.33*   Gmail         2.05
                           XlaxNode       2.33*   GROUP         2.16
                                                  GUS           1.30
                                                  LHARC         1.13
                                                  MSG            4.0
                                                  MSGED         1.99
                                                  PK[UN]ZIP     1.10*
                                                  QM             1.0
                                                  QSORT         4.03
                                                  SLMAIL        1.35*
                                                  StarLink      1.01
                                                  TagMail       2.20
                                                  TCOMMail       2.2
                                                  TMail         1.14*
                                                  TPBNetEd       3.2
                                                  TosScan       1.00*
                                                  UFGATE        1.03
                                                  XRS           3.20*
                                                  ZmailQ        1.10
                                Macintosh
                                ---------

    Bulletin Board Software   Network Mailers     Other Utilities

    FidoNews 7-18                Page 17                  30 Apr 1990


    Name            Version   Name      Version   Name       Version

    Red Ryder Host  v2.1b10   Tabby         2.2   MacArc        0.04
    Mansion            7.15   Copernicus   1.0d*  ArcMac         1.3
    WWIV (Mac)          3.0                       StuffIt       1.51
    FBBS               0.91*                      TImport      1.331
                                                  TExport       1.32
                                                  Timestamp      1.6
                                                  Tset           1.3
                                                  Import         3.2
                                                  Export        3.21
                                                  Sundial        3.2
                                                  PreStamp       3.2
                                                  OriginatorII   2.0
                                                  AreaFix        1.6
                                                  Mantissa       3.21
                                                  Zenith         1.5
                                                  UNZIP        1.02b

                                  Amiga
                                  -----

    Bulletin Board Software   Network Mailers     Other Utilities

    Name            Version   Name      Version   Name       Version

    Paragon            2.06+  BinkleyTerm  1.00   AmigArc       0.23
                              TrapDoor     1.50*  AReceipt       1.5*
                              WelMat       0.35   booz          1.01
                                                  ConfMail      1.10
                                                  ChameleonEdit 0.10
                                                  ElectricHerald1.66*
                                                  Lharc         1.10
                                                  MessageFilter 1.52*
                                                  oMMM         1.49b
                                                  ParseLst      1.30
                                                  PkAX          1.00
                                                  PK[UN]ZIP     1.01
                                                  PolyxAmy      2.02*
                                                  RMB           1.30
                                                  TrapList      1.12*
                                                  UNzip         0.86
                                                  Yuck!         1.61*
                                                  Zoo           2.00

                                   Atari ST
                                   --------

    Bulletin Board Software   Network Mailer      Other Utilities

    Name            Version   Name      Version   Name       Version

    FidoNews 7-18                Page 18                  30 Apr 1990


    FIDOdoor/ST        1.5c*  BinkleyTerm 1.03g3  ConfMail      1.00
    Pandora BBS       2.41c   The BOX     1.20    ParseList     1.30
    QuickBBS/ST        0.40                       ARC           6.02*
    GS Point           0.61                       LHARC         0.51
                                                  PKUNZIP       1.10
                                                  MSGED        1.96S
                                                  SRENUM         6.2
                                                  Trenum        0.10
                                                  OMMM          1.40


    + 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 7-18                Page 19                  30 Apr 1990


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

                         The Interrupt Stack


    26 May 1990
       First anniversary of Net 269, Northern New Jersey

     3 Jun 1990
       Comdex/Spring, which will run from June 3-6 in Atlanta, will be
       held at the World Congress Center and other locations.

     5 Jun 1990
       David Dodell's 33rd Birthday

    12 Jun 1990
       Fifth anniversary of FidoNet's switch to multiple nets.

    14 Jul 1990
       Start of Eurocon / Techcon conference in Antwerp, Belgium.
       Please note that the date has changed: The conferences are
       one day later than originally planned !

    27 Jul 1990
       The beginning of the REGION 17 Convention at Menucha Resort in
       the Columbia Gorge, Oregon.  For details contact Ken Zwaschka,
       1:105/54.

     1 Aug 1990
       Start of FidoCon '90. Contact Bill Vanglahn at 1:1/90 for
       details.

     5 Oct 1990
       21st Anniversary of "Monty Python's Flying Circus"

     6 Nov 1990
       First anniversary of Van Diepen Automatiseert, 2:500/28

    14 Nov 1990
       Marco Maccaferri's 21rd Birthday. Send greetings to him at
       2:332/16.0

     1 Jan 1991
       Implementation of 7% Goods and Services Tax in Canada. Contact
       Joe Lindstrom at 1:134/55 for a more colorful description.

    16 Feb 1991
       Fifth anniversary of the introduction of Echomail, by Jeff Rush.

    FidoNews 7-18                Page 20                  30 Apr 1990


     7 Oct 1991
       Area code  415  fragments.   Alameda and Contra Costa Counties
       will  begin  using  area  code  510.   This includes  Oakland,
       Concord, Berkeley  and  Hayward.    San  Francisco, San Mateo,
       Marin, parts of  Santa Clara County, and the San Francisco Bay
       Islands will retain area code 415.

     1 Feb 1992
       Area  code 213 fragments.    Western,  coastal,  southern  and
       eastern portions of Los Angeles  County  will begin using area
       code 310.  This includes Los  Angeles  International  Airport,
       West  Los  Angeles,  San  Pedro and Whittier.    Downtown  Los
       Angeles  and  surrounding  communities  (such as Hollywood and
       Montebello) will retain area code 213.


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

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