Volume 7, Number 43                               22 October 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. EDITORIAL  ................................................  1
       Happy October to you all  .................................  1
    2. ARTICLES  .................................................  2
       DVNet for DESQview Users  .................................  2
       Put Idol Worship Back In Our Schools!  ....................  7
       FidoNews: We +should+ print it all  ....................... 10
       SURVIVOR Echo Available  .................................. 12
       It's Obvious To Me  ....................................... 13
    3. COLUMNS  .................................................. 15
       Talk Me Through It, Honey  ................................ 15
    4. LATEST VERSIONS  .......................................... 18
    And more!
    FidoNews 7-43                Page 1                   22 Oct 1990


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


    As we approach All Hallow's Eve, some funny gremlins seem to
    have already appeared in this general vicinity. Some of them
    ate my netmail and a couple of days of files (I don't even
    know what they were). If you sent something in this week and
    you don't see it here, please send it again -- I lost it.

    My faith in humanity is finally proven in this week's issue.
    Someone actually figured out what the IMPORTANT point of that
    abortion article happened to be! Folks, it had nothing to do
    with abortion. It was about extremists in positions of power
    in this country -- and what they'll stoop to in order to inflict
    their views on you. Damned important reading in ANY forum.

    So much for my political views. They only reinforced my basic
    inclination to publish the article. I had no good reason NOT
    to. I've published articles that were a hell of a lot more
    inane and had even LESS to do with FidoNet. That's what you get
    when you have your very own electronic cork board. You get
    something damned close to pure entropy.

    Ah, yes. ENTROPY. Perhaps Congress should form a committee to
    study ways of keeping it under Governmental control. Perhaps
    it's too dangerous to be allowed out there in the public domain.

    Well, I don't think so. If you send me something (and if I don't
    pull some stupid stunt and lose it) I'll print it, unless it
    appears to be in violation of some law to do so. Fortunately I
    haven't had to make that call very often. You all are sensible
    enough to handle that on your own. I appreciate your discretion.

    Two of this week's articles make the point that an open
    editorial policy is the only way to run FidoNews. I couldn't
    agree more. In a world where one man's trash is another man's
    treasure, I can't imagine a formal policy that would not
    result in a net loss for all of us. As long as I have anything
    to do with it, there will be no such policy.

    Thanks for listening.



    -----------------------------------------------------------------
    FidoNews 7-43                Page 2                   22 Oct 1990


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


    Peter Stern
    1:17/38 DVNet Headquarters

                      DESQview File Support Network

    DVNet is one of the older specialized file distribution
    networks in Fidonet. When Quarterdeck Office Systems[QOS]
    released QEMM the expanded memory manager and DESQview 2.0,
    alot of Sysops discovered the joy of multitasking their BBS
    systems. Users began clamoring for programs written to run
    under the new environment.

    The popularity of DESQview has continued to grow and DVNet
    was started to fill a void in getting software spread to as
    wide as audience as possible and to offer a published
    listing of where to obtain it. DVNet nodes exist in Zones 1,
    2 and 3 thanks to the interest and support of sysops around
    the world.

    A complete listing of the member BBS's is published on the
    4th of every month in the DESQview echo. A complete listing
    of the files, or alternatively, files added during the
    previous 30 days is also published.

    Unlike SDS or SDN, sysops in DVNet are free to use whatever
    storage format they prefer. When requesting a file from a
    DVNet node, a wild card should be used for the extension.

    DVNet supports the magic file name DVNET for each member
    node's DVNet file area list. You may also request the
    listing using the convention  net-node.DV ... 124-6101.DV

    The importance of DVNet to DESQview users was hi-lighted
    recently in a feature article written for the California
    based computer newspaper MicroTimes. The article introduced
    readers to DVNet as an excellent resource for information
    and software.

    Sysops interested in joining DVNet should obtain DVN-INF.*
    from any member node. This archive contains operational
    policies, set-up information and an application.

    DVNet is not affiliated with Quarterdeck Office Systems.
    DESQview & QEMM are registered trademarks of QOS.

    This is the listing of member nodes as of Oct 17, 1990

    FidoNews 7-43                Page 3                   22 Oct 1990


     Zone 1
     ------------------------------  -----------
     *65'North, Fairbanks, AK         1:17/38
      Opus 386, Davis, CA             1:203/910
      Carl's Corner, San Jose, CA     1:10/1
      Carl's Corner, San Jose, CA     1:10/2
      SeaHunt BBS, Burlingame, CA     1:125/20
      Stingray!, Clovis CA            1:205/12
      Bertha Board, Mantica CA        1:208/204
      SF PCUG BBS, San Francisco CA   1:1/310
      Pacific Rim Info, San Diego CA  1:202/701
      Bink of an Aye, Portland, OR    1:105/42
      P C Support, Portland, OR       1:105/66
      Atarian BBS, Portland, OR       1:105/10
      Busker's Boneyard, Portland,OR  1:105/14
      Busker's Boneyard, Portland,OR  1:105/41
      Pacifier BBS, Vancouver, WA     1:105/103
      Puget Sound Gtwy., Puyallup, WA 1:138/3
      Rampart General,Kansas City,MO  1:280/6
      Icarus, Iowa City, IA           1:283/657
      Oregon Trail XRoads, Casper WY  1:303/5
      World Peace BBS 2, Denver CO    1:104/414
      World Peace BBS, Denver CO      1:104/415
      EET BBS, Nashville TN           1:116/24
      Dickson County, Dickson, TN     1:116/25
      Programmers' Attic, Will., MI   1:159/850
      The Royal Joke, Royal Oak,MI    1:120/183
      NHampton Data,Cuyahoga Falls OH 1:157/533
      Corvette BBS,Pickerington OH    1:226/110
      Wolfram Research, Champaign IL  1:233/17
      Someplace BBS, Indianapolis IN  1:231/120
      Ecclesia Place, Monroeville, PA 1:129/75
      The Other BBS, Harrisburg PA    1:270/101
      Optical Illusion, Allentown PA  1:273/603
      The Mountain Top,Cincinnati OH  1:108/107
      IBM Tech Fido, Pepperell, MA    1:322/1
      Waystar BBS, Marlborough, MA    1:322/14
      Pioneer Valley PCUG1,Amherst MA 1:321/109
      The Business Card, Lawrence MA  1:324/121
      The Toy Room BBS, Hudson NH     1:132/159
      SeaCoast Opus, Kittery Pt ME    1:132/225
      The Ozone Layer, Williston VT   1:325/118
      Andromeda Galaxy, Troy NY       1:267/167
      Rivendell * TAP/1,Syracuse NY   1:260/340
      Treasure Island, Danbury, CT    1:141/730
      Ascii Neighborhood,W Haven CT   1:141/333
      Plainfield News, Plainfield CT  1:320/452
      Addict's Attic,Germantown MD    1:109/423
      AviTechnic ,Lutherville MD      1:261/662
      The Night Shift,Hampton VA      1:271/245
      Just For Fun, Danville VA       1:264/610
    FidoNews 7-43                Page 4                   22 Oct 1990


      Maple Shade Opus,Maple Shade NJ 1:266/12
      Capital City , Burlington NJ   99:9230/1
      Capital City , Burlington NJ    8:950/10
      Capital City , Burlington NJ    1:266/21
      The Switch Room, Plainsboro NJ  1:107/436
      The Switch Room, Plainsboro NJ  1:107/437
      Atrium Way, Morris Plains NJ    1:269/107
      Southern Cross BBS, Miami FL    1:135/69
      Island Sun, Caparra Heights PR  1:367/15
      Dungeon Quest II, Havelock NC   1:3614/501
      Software Designer, Albany, GA   1:3617/1
      Software Designer, Albany, GA   8:928/1
      Dragon's Lair, Galveston, TX    1:386/451
      Conch Opus, Houston, TX         1:106/357
      Inns of Court, Dallas, TX       1:124/6101
      Dallas Email, Dallas, TX        8:930/101
      Spare Parts, Bedford, TX        1:130/38
      Southern Crossroads, Dallas TX  1:124/4115
      The Gas Company, Arlington TX   8:930/201
      QE2, Austin TX                  1:382/58
      Last Chance TBBS,San Antonio TX 1:387/822
      TSTI INFO NET, Waco TX          1:388/1000
      Silver Streak RBBS,NewOrleans LA1:396/15
      Ascension, Norman OK            1:147/46
      AFI Comm, Nepean ON Canada      1:163/115
      Ned's Opus HST Ottawa,ON Canada 1:163/211
      Ned's Opus, Ottawa ON Canada    1:163/210
      Ned's Opus, Ottawa ON Canada    1:163/205
      Arcane BBS, Laval PQ Canada     1:167/116
      But Seriously Folks,Brlngton ON 1:259/101
      Information Corner, Edmonton AB 1:342/20

      Zone 2
      ------------------------------  ---------
      The HEKOM Board (Netherlands)   2:286/303
      Road Rnner Opus, Manchester UK  2:250/1
      BBS_D.C.V.V., Maaseik (Belgium) 2:295/26
      QBBS_H.S.P., Miskom (Belgium)   2:295/33
      Blumenkistl, Vienna (Austria)   2:310/10
      M.U.G. Info Board,Essen FRG     2:245/1
      File Fabrik, Werdohl FRG        2:245/2
      BitMaster BBS, Bielefeld, FRG   2:245/23
      E.I.S.2, Frankfurt FRG          2:247/14
      MIDI-Mailbox,Meerbusch FRG      2:247/816
      Data City, Moenchengladbach FRG 2:247/801
      Median, Berlin FRG              2:242/36
      Radio Kaos M-O,Duisburg FRG     2:507/1
      AVALON BBS, Roethenbach FRG     2:507/432
      Andi's BBS, Haan FRG            2:244/10
      MICS Lucerne BBS,Lucerne SUI    2:302/563
      Genova 2000, Genova Italy       2:332/201
    FidoNews 7-43                Page 5                   22 Oct 1990


      Capital City BBS,Haninge Sweden 2:201/211

      Zone 3
      ------------------------------  ---------
      Marwick's MadHouse (Australia)  3:640/820
      Sentry Lane Cove NSW(Australia) 3:711/401
      Sentry's Shadow, Lane Cove NSW  3:711/501
      FrontDoor Hdqrtrs,Melbourne Aust3:632/308
      Central Source ICBS(Australia)  3:632/348
      Southern Mail CBCS Vict Aust    3:633/320
      COMPUlink, Perth WA             3:690/628
      Phone Box,Inglewood S Australia 3:681/854
      TAIC Maximus Kowloon(Hong Kong) 3:700/1
      ------------------------------  ---------


    -----------------------------------------------------------------
    FidoNews 7-43                Page 6                   22 Oct 1990


                      General Elections in Zone 4
                   Elecciones Generales en la Zona 4
                       Eleicoes Gerais na Zona 4

                List of Candidates for the November 9th
          Democratic Elections in FidoNet Zone 4, Latin America

    This list includes the names of the FidoNet members in Zone 4
    that have manifested interest in becoming Network, Region or Zone
    coordinators.

    All the members of the Zone were entitled to present themselves
    as candidates, and will now elect before November 9th, the
    NC for their respective networks, the RC for their respective
    Regions and the ZC for the Zone.

    Domain                          Candidates
    ---------------------------------------------------------------

    Net 801                         Rodrigo Martinez

    Net 802                         Lauro Henrique

    Net 806                         Otto Brito

    Net 808                         Clovis Lacerda

    Net 900                         Alejandro Hopkins
                                    Sunchie Yang

    Net 901                         Gonzalo Borracer

    Region 80                       Charles Miranda

    Region 90                       Billy Coen
                                    Gustavo Zacarias

    Zone 4                          Pablo Kleinman

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

    This list of candidates is published on the LATIN.SYSOP echo
    and on FidoNews. The list of the newly elected coordinators
    will be published on November 11th on LATIN.SYSOP and on
    November 12th on FidoNews.

    Elecciones (4:4/444)
    October 21, 1990


    -----------------------------------------------------------------
    FidoNews 7-43                Page 7                   22 Oct 1990


    David Rice,
    The Astro-Net 1:103/903
    Node #9, PDN (Pagan Distribution Network)




                   The Day Idol Worship Became Law
                                 Or
              Totalitarianism For Fun And The Prophets




        Well,  first  off  we get the excellent article by Steve
    Watsky  in  the  7-40  issue of FidoNews. While I was mildly
    surprised  to  see  an  article  concerning the reproductive
    rights  issue in this media, I applaud the editor's decision
    to  include  it here. After carefully reading the article, I
    sat  back,  held  my breath (as it were), and waited for the
    fecal matter to hit the air vent.

        Mercifully, things didn't turn out that badly.

        The  first  chunk of waste matter wasn't as vitriolic as
    I  was  expecting.  I  had  expected  to  see  rants  by the
    anti-choice  gallery objecting to the comic, acerbic wit the
    author  used  to  portray  the  "pro-life"  fraction.  I had
    expected  the  pro-choice  gallery  to leap to the cause and
    elaborate zealously the need for legal, SAFE abortion.

        Instead,  I was somewhat pleasantly surprised to see, in
    issue  7-42,  only  (so  far?)  the  question put by Fredric
    Rice, "Do we need this crap in FidoNews?"

        My answer is, "Well, uh, yes."

        First  it  should  be pointed out that ALL communication
    is  political  and  manipulative  to  some  degree,  and  to
    believe  that  FidoNews should not be, or even CAN be, isn't
    very   realistic.   Granted  some  articles  are  much  more
    political   than  others  (SEA  vs  PK,  Ecology  And  Green
    Politics  vs  Industry,  ARC  vs  LZH,  and now Reproductive
    Freedom  vs Totalitarianism Terrorists), FidoNews still is A
    Good  Thing,  and at present I for one see no requirement to
    change it.

        Second,  what  the  editor  says, goes. Any editor is in
    some  sense  a  dictator, benign or malevolent, depending on
    how  close  the deadline is, and how much vodka is in her or
    his  blood  stream--- in simple words: Don't like it? Sorry,
    don't  bother  reading  FidoNews then. The current editorial
    policy works.

    FidoNews 7-43                Page 8                   22 Oct 1990


        Third  is The Exceptions. The last thing we, presumably,
    wish  to  see  in FidoNews is a dozen PACs (Political Action
    Committees)   hashing   out  grievances,  exchanging  rants.
    Mercifully,  that  hasn't happened yet. I consider it highly
    doubtful  it will be allowed (let's hope?). If this happens,
    I  won't  request  or demand a change of policy--- I'll just
    stop reading FidoNews.

        That's  my  opinion.  Thank current policy I was allowed
    to express it here.

        As  to  the  REAL (?) question involved, was the article
    under debate appropriate for this media?

        You bet! (Duck--- here comes that rant I promised.)

        Watsky's   article   provided  a  brief  window  on  the
    reproductive  rights  issue that many seldom look into-- the
    window  that  shows  how  the  legislative  process has been
    perverted  and  subverted  by  special  interest groups, (in
    this  case  religious extremists, The Faithful, and the Well
    Intentioned   on   the   anti-choice  terrorists  side,  the
    Feminist  extremists  and  Well  Informed  on the pro-choice
    reproductive  freedom  side). Pull a string here, throw some
    mud  there, punch a face in now and then. . . all on network
    news.

        That's entertainment!

        It should also make you damn mad.

        At  this  very  minute there are special interest groups
    lobbying  and raising money for the right to force YOUR kids
    to  pray  in  school  (The  Right, Honorable Jesse Helms for
    one.  The  god  he  most prefers happens to be Jehovah). How
    about  if  I  dictate  which  idol  your  child  worships in
    school?

        Special  interest  groups  are  fighting "sex education"
    (i.e.  information  on  the  mechanics  of  fornication) and
    birth  control. "If you don't talk about it, they won't know
    anything  about  it and therefore won't do it." the argument
    goes. Oh, really?

        And  of  course,  abortion.  The anti-choice demand that
    every  zygote  and  foetus  must  be  carried  to full term,
    wanted  or  not,  healthy  or  not.  (And after birth, food,
    clothing,  shelter, and loving care are all optional, as far
    as  they  are  concerned.)  "Make it illegal, and it will go
    away." the argument goes. Oh, really? Consider:

    FidoNews 7-43                Page 9                   22 Oct 1990


           "Estimates  of the annual number of deaths due
           to  abortion  complications range from 155,000
           to  204,000  women worldwide. Abortion related
           deaths  are  especially  common among poor and
           illiterate  women  living  in  countries  with
           strict   abortion  laws.  In  Latin  American,
           where  legal  abortion is generally restricted
           to  cases  of  rape  or  endangerment  of  the
           woman's  life,  up  to half of material deaths
           appear to be due to illegal abortions."

           Quoted  from  the FemEch, out of context, from
           "State  of  the  World,  1988",  A  Worldwatch
           Institute Report.


        Cults  dictate  policy  in  YOUR  legislature. Certainly
    something  worth  reading about, and perhaps doing something
    about.


    D. Rice, supporter of
        Orange County Pro-Choice Coalition
        National Organization of Women

    -----------------------------------------------------------------
    FidoNews 7-43                Page 10                  22 Oct 1990


    By Randy Edwards
    Sysop: Socialism OnLine!, 1:141/552

         I read with interest Frederic Rice's article in FidoNews
    7-42 about whether we should or should not print everything in
    the FidoNews.  As Frederic pointed out, it's an old debate.

         It's true, the article in question, one long article about
    someone's views on abortion, was not remotely related to BBSing,
    the FidoNet, or even computers in general.  Myself, I didn't
    read it until I read Frederic's article.  Personally I am
    pro-choice, as it seems the majority of the U.S. population
    is, and therefore I disagreed with most everything the
    article tried to point out.  In my opinion, I don't want to
    read about abortion in the FidoNews, after all, I get enough
    of that anti-choice crap from Republican politicians and from
    far-right religious groups.  But that's beside the point.

         The main point here is whether we should change the
    time-honored editorial policy of the FidoNews from a "you write
    it and I'll print it" basis to one of "you write it and I'll
    think about printing it."

        I have several concerns about changing the editorial policy.
    First and foremost, let's face it, the FidoNews editor is not
    chosen by the network, s/he's chosen by a process where the
    input by the net at large is limited, if not closed entirely.
    If the editor was chosen by some democratic means by the entire
    network we would have some input in case we ever run across a
    "bad" editor.  But as policy now stands, the "ruling clique" of
    the net choses the editor.  With the FidoNews editorial policy
    now, we could stand a "bad" editor -- there wouldn't be much
    s/he could do.  With an editorial policy change a "bad" editor
    could spell disaster and endless flaming controversy.

         With an editorial policy change there will always be the
    specter of censorship rearing its ugly head.  I'm not talking
    about the censorship of an article that may be libelous, but I'm
    talking about censoring someone's views because they're not
    liked, or that they may be considered "too far outside the
    mainstream" of thought.

         We see this in our own mass media, where editors "limit"
    the range of debate on various topics.  Would "Mikey" (for those
    who remember him) or someone who is presenting very
    controversial or critical views of FidoNet policy be prevented
    from writing in the FidoNews?  With a change of editorial policy
    that could possibly happen, not matter how well-intentioned the
    change may be.

         The policy as it stands now has worked pretty well over the
    years.  Agreed, we sometimes do get some "trash" (depending, of
    course, on your definition of trash; one person's trash is
    another person's treasure).  But so what.  At least we're not
    distributing an empty newsletter.  The argument of distributing
    a large newsletter because of the size of an occasional "trash"
    FidoNews 7-43                Page 11                  22 Oct 1990


    article is weak, in my humble opinion.  How long did we transfer
    extra bytes because we refused to change archive programs?  The
    size in question is small, rarely will the "trash" articles be
    over a minute's connect time, so the cost argument is a bit
    weak, I think.

         I also think it's nice to have those off-topic "trash"
    articles sometimes.  They tend to remind us that there is a life
    outside of BBSing and sometimes they're pretty neat.  Recently I
    read an article about some experimental language and one
    person's interest in it.  I thought it was interesting enough so
    I spent a 15-cent postcard to request more information on the
    language.  I doubt I would have heard about the language if it
    had not been in the FidoNews.

         There's a trick to dealing with articles that you consider
    trash.  After you read the first couple of sentences -- and
    realize it's trash -- you can hit the PgDn key a couple of times
    and you'll never be bothered by that article again.  It works
    like a charm on those rare articles that aren't worth reading,
    believe me...

         The bottom line: the editorial policy has worked pretty
    darn well for years.  It ensures a minimum amount of
    interference (and work) by the editor, and it also ensures that
    everyone's views can get into the FidoNews.  Leave it as it is.


    -----------------------------------------------------------------
    FidoNews 7-43                Page 12                  22 Oct 1990


    Dallas and Ardith Hinton
    1:153/715


                             Survivors' Forum

        This  echo  is  now available on  the  Backbone  and  is
    intended for people interested  in cancer,  leukemia,  blood
    disorders,    and   related   subjects    including   immune
    suppression,   learning  disabilities,   and  special  needs
    children.   The  emphasis  of the  echo is  on  (but  is not
    restricted to) pediatric oncology and hematology.  Topics in
    the echo include book  reviews,  notices  of special events,
    information exchange and chit-chat.

        SURVIVOR  originates  from  a family need to  understand
    more about leukemia and is intended as a support network for
    those  whose  lives have been touched by serious or  chronic
    illness, regardless of their location.  Those in the helping
    professions may also find it useful.

        A  basic  premise of the echo is that the body  and  the
    mind  are  interdependent.   Pseudonyms  are permitted,  and
    no-one will  be  excluded or included on the  basis of their
    chosen  therapy.  We welcome your participation and hope  to
    see you there.



    -----------------------------------------------------------------
    FidoNews 7-43                Page 13                  22 Oct 1990


    Al Saveriano
    FidoNet 1:269/205

                             The State of the Universe

    I realized, a long time ago, that the reason I never got my
    wonton soup at the Chinese restaurant, was because of the way I
    ordered it, coupled with the little known fact that the Chinese
    read from right to left. The waiter would say to me "Would like
    any soup, sir?". And I'd always answer "Wonton". Well, it's
    obvious to me that since wonton spelled backwards is "not_now",
    there was no way I was ever going to get my soup.

    However, this not the only weirdness that encompasses our globe.
    And speaking of weird, my younger daughter asked me what the
    little nursery rhyme was about "i before e etc. etc.". I told
    her it went - "i before e, except after c, when sounding like a,
    as in neighbor and weigh". So she wrote me this little sentence:
    "Thanks Daddy. That sure is a WIERD little rhyme!". Hmmm......
    So obvious.

    But enough of these matters. It is time to address the heart of
    the problem. You know we must. No option here. Sticking our
    collectives heads in the parabola simply will not cut it. It is
    so obvious that weird wonton soup can not be blamed for the
    absence of 8-bit wheat toast. It can not be the cause for my
    name to appear on the mailing list of "Incurably Strange"
    magazine. Nay. A plot to be sure. One of the magnitude to rival
    even that of the great Game_Boy scandal of '88. It's obvious.
    Just look at the facts. Eight is half of sixteen and sixteen is
    half of thirty-two. Do you think this is a coincidence? With the
    infinite number of numbers (number of numbers???) that exist,
    what were the chances of this occurring due to blind chance?
    (Blind Faith - Stevie Winwood et al. Circa 1969). Let us
    calculate so that the skeptics among you may become believers.
    If one takes the first derivative of the numerator and divides
    it by the second derivative of the denominator ..umm..well, it
    is difficult to show it here. I wish I could type out the actual
    formula. But that is why the Greek civilization could not
    sustain itself as a world power. They couldn't get those silly
    little Greek letters onto a keyboard! And that, obviously, lead
    to the vicious attack on Molly Pitcher and started the entire
    world oil crisis. But I digress. The real issue remains at hand.

    Therefore, I expect to hear numerous pros and cons with regard
    to my brilliant but somewhat unorthodox analysis of the state of
    the universe. But I assume you've been expecting this for
    sometime now. You have? To bad, because when you assume you make
    an ASS out of U and ME. (Odd Couple - Felix Unger - circa 1972).


    FidoNews 7-43                Page 14                  22 Oct 1990


    -----------------------------------------------------------------
    FidoNews 7-43                Page 15                  22 Oct 1990


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

    Henry Clark
    124/6120


    The Starshoot Company --

    Kevin and I like to stand in the middle of the Marine Drum and
    Bugle Corp., cause it's real loud, and they can't stop to shoo
    us away.  One of the highlights of the State Fair of Texas.
    We like to shoot the machine pellet gun and knock the red star
    out of the paper.  This weeks column is sort of like those
    games.

    I ordered them June 11, but still no V.42 ROMS.  I know, but
    I'm tired of calling them and hearing the two more weeks story.

    My personal copier cartridge finally ran out.  It's been 3
    years and 3 months.

    Sure, I use Supercalc.  I like to enter A1 instead of +A1, and
    SUM() instead of @SUM().  Supercalc has the /1 command to give
    you 123 menus ( with the added /S command to get back ).  You
    won't see Lotus suing Computer Associates, though.
    CA is bigger, for one.

    One more broken Window :  In last weeks section entitled
    Mini-Blinds I forgot to remind you that without Mini-Blinds, it
    would be curtains for us all !  I know, it's Pane-ful.

    CORRECTION : In last weeks column I said our region's policy
    vote was about echomail.  Well, I errored, so SUE ME, OK.  The
    policies were about election methods for RC and REC.  It's that
    same old arguement about the **C structure only vote versus
    the all sysops vote.  My psychiatrist gets richer.

    Kevin really wants to throw the dart.  You know, the dollar for
    one dart, hit the balloon and win a prize.  Well, he hit the
    balloon and the lady gives him a micro-batting-helmet, a little
    plastic hat about three inches across.  He's got this big grin,
    like "Ha, I won."  Then he tries to get me to carry it, and I
    start laughing, which he immediately understands as 'Oh, I
    lost.'


    Carbon Based Units Infest Enterprise --

    In next week's all new episode, Capt. Picard contemplates the
    use of force.

    FidoNews 7-43                Page 16                  22 Oct 1990


    Shoppers Guide
    Norton 5.0 ................... $  79.95
    Norton 4.5 ................... $ 695.95

    (Cheap shot, I know... I still feel cheated.)




    Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles,
    Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, heroes in a half-shell,
    TURTLE POWER !  I've permanently lost 12k of my brain.

    Comdex Las Vegas Hospitality Room :
        Liquor in the front,
        Poker in the rear.

    Hey,Iwantoneofthosespacesaverkeyboards,too!

    I like to get the 25-pin ribbon cable and put a male and a
    female 25-pin connector on each end.  Radio Shack has the parts
    and it was 8:30 at night, so I run over there.  I get to the
    counter and he asks for the last four digits of my phone
    number.  "It's the customer ID for our computer", he says.
    "0000" says I.  He's clearly angry.  So I give him the modem's
    numbers.  No sense of humor.  Then he asks for my name.  I
    said, "I don't want your catalogs, how much for THIS stuff."
    Now he's really unhappy.  These guys must be paid by the
    data entry keystroke.

    Steve Martin in The Jerk ...
    "Step right up and win some crap."


    The House of Mirrors --

    I bought a 'Learn Danish' set of tapes to listen to in the
    car.  I know a lot of words, but I'm terrible at making
    sentences.  On the tape, they say 'Vaer saa venlig' before
    everything.  That's supposed to be Danish for please.  I'd
    guess the tapes are 50 years old, except that they didn't
    make cassettes back then.  Danes always make a request and
    end it with thanks.  The funniest thing on the tape is the
    line 'Please carry my bags to the taxi.'  These people have
    never been to Denmark.  We're all going for Christmas.

    So Kevin tries the House of Mirrors, and takes 10 minutes to
    find his way through and up the stairs to the slide.  Yep, its
    the $1.50 slide ride. After about 5 minutes he comes back
    through the mirrors, out the entrance and says, "That's the
    wrong slide."

    FidoNews 7-43                Page 17                  22 Oct 1990


    He's right, of course.


    -----------------------------------------------------------------
    FidoNews 7-43                Page 18                  22 Oct 1990


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

                        Latest Software Versions

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

                          Bulletin Board Software
    Name        Version    Name        Version    Name       Version

    DMG            2.93    Phoenix         1.3    TAG           2.5g*
    Fido            12s+   QuickBBS       2.64    TBBS           2.1
    Lynx           1.30    RBBS          17.3A    TComm/TCommNet 3.4
    Kitten         2.16    RBBSmail      17.3B*   Telegard       2.5
    Maximus        1.02*   RemoteAccess  0.04a*   TPBoard        6.1
    Opus           1.13+   SLBBS          1.77*   Wildcat!      2.15
    PCBoard        14.5*   Socrates       1.00    XBBS          1.15

    Network                Node List              Other
    Mailers     Version    Utilities   Version    Utilities  Version

    BinkleyTerm    2.40*   EditNL         4.00    ARC            7.0*
    D'Bridge       1.30    MakeNL         2.31    ARCAsim       2.30
    Dutchie       2.90C    ParseList      1.30    ARCmail       2.07
    FrontDoor     1.99c*   Prune          1.40    ConfMail      4.00
    PRENM          1.47    SysNL          3.14*   Crossnet      v1.5
    SEAdog        4.51b    XlatList       2.90    EMM           2.02
    TIMS      1.0(Mod8)*   XlaxDiff       2.35    Gmail         2.05
                           XlaxNode       2.35    GROUP         2.16
                                                  GUS           1.30
                                                  HeadEdit      1.15
                                                  InterPCB      1.31*
                                                  LHARC         1.13
                                                  MSG            4.1
                                                  MSGED         2.00*
                                                  MSGTOSS        1.3*
                                                  PK[UN]ZIP     1.10
                                                  QM             1.0
                                                  QSORT         4.03
                                                  Sirius        1.0x
                                                  SLMAIL        1.36*
                                                  StarLink      1.01
                                                  TagMail       2.40
                                                  TCOMMail       2.2
                                                  Telemail      1.27*
                                                  TMail         1.15
                                                  TPBNetEd       3.2
                                                  TosScan       1.00
                                                  UFGATE        1.03
    FidoNews 7-43                Page 19                  22 Oct 1990


                                                  XRS           3.40
                                                  XST            2.2
                                                  ZmailQ        1.12*


                               OS/2 Systems
                               ------------

    Bulletin Board Software   Network Mailers     Other Utilities

    Name            Version   Name      Version   Name       Version

    Maximus-CBCS       1.02*  BinkleyTerm  2.40*  Parselst      1.31
                                                  ConfMail      4.00
                                                  VP2           4.07*
                                                  oMMM          1.52
                                                  MsgEd         2.00*
                                                  LH2           0.50
                                                  PK[UN]ZIP     1.02
                                                  ARC2          6.00


                                Xenix/Unix
                                ----------

    BBS Software                  Mailers         Other Utilities
    Name             Version  Name      Version   Name       Version

    MaximusCBCS 1.02.Unix.B0  BinkleyTerm 2.30b*  Unzip         3.10
                                                  ARC           5.21
                                                  ParseLst     1.30b
                                                  ConfMail     3.31b
                                                  Ommm         1.40b
                                                  Msged        1.99b
                                                  Zoo           2.01
                                                  C-Lharc       1.00
                                                  Omail        1.00b



                                Apple CP/M
                                ----------

    Bulletin Board Software   Network Mailers     Other Utilities

    Name            Version   Name      Version   Name       Version

    Daisy               v2j   Daisy Mailer 0.38   Nodecomp      0.37
                                                  MsgUtil        2.5
                                                  PackUser        v4
                                                  Filer         v2-D
    FidoNews 7-43                Page 20                  22 Oct 1990


                                                  UNARC.COM     1.20


                                Macintosh
                                ---------

    Bulletin Board Software   Network Mailers     Other Utilities

    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      1.6b1*
    FBBS               0.91*                      TImport      1.331
    Hermes             0.88*                      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            2.07+  BinkleyTerm  1.00   AmigArc       0.23
                              TrapDoor     1.50*  AReceipt       1.5*
                              WelMat       0.42   booz          1.01
                                                  ConfMail      1.10
                                                  ChameleonEdit 0.10
                                                  ElectricHerald1.66*
                                                  Lharc         1.21
                                                  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*
    FidoNews 7-43                Page 21                  22 Oct 1990


                                                  Zoo           2.01

                                Atari ST
                                --------

    Bulletin Board Software   Network Mailer      Other Utilities

    Name            Version   Name      Version   Name       Version

    FIDOdoor/ST        1.5c*  BinkleyTerm 2.40*   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                       FiFo          2.0b*
                                                  LHARC         0.60
                                                  Lharc         1.13
                                                  LED ST        0.10*
                                                  BYE           0.25*
                                                  PKUNZIP       1.10
                                                  MSGED        1.96S
                                                  SRENUM         6.2
                                                  Trenum        0.10
                                                  OMMM          1.40


                               Archimedes
                               ----------

    BBS Software           Mailers                Utilities
    Name        Version    Name        Version    Name       Version

    ARCbbs         1.44*   BinkleyTerm    2.03*   Unzip        2.1TH
                                                  ARC           1.03
                                                  !Spark       2.00d*

                                                  ParseLst      1.30
                                                  BatchPacker   1.00*


    + 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 7-43                Page 22                  22 Oct 1990


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

                         The Interrupt Stack


     4 Nov 1990
       Area Code 214 fragments. Part will become area code 903.

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

    13 Nov 1990
       Third anniversary of Fidonet in Austria (zone 2, region 31).

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

    16 Nov 1990
       100% Democratically elected administration takes over the
       coordination structure in Zone-4 Latin America

     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.

    12 May 1991
       Fourth anniversary of FidoNet operations in Latin America and
       second anniversary of the creation of Zone-4.

     8 Sep 1991
       25th anniversary of first airing of Star Trek on NBC!

     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
    FidoNews 7-43                Page 23                  22 Oct 1990


       Montebello) will retain area code 213.

     1 Dec 1993
       Tenth anniversary of Fido Version 1 release.

     5 Jun 1997
       David Dodell's 40th Birthday


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

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