Volume 8, Number  1                                7 January 1991
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    Editor in Chief:                                  Vince Perriello
    Editors Emeritii:                    Thom Henderson,  Dale Lovell
    Chief Procrastinator Emeritus:                       Tom Jennings

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                       Table of Contents
    1. ARTICLES  .................................................  1
       Order versus Orders  ......................................  1
       ANIMAL RIGHTS CONFERENCE  .................................  4
       Fidonet in 1991  ..........................................  5
       Radio Related Publications  ............................... 10
       The Year in Review  ....................................... 11
       Women in Fidoland  ........................................ 13
    2. LATEST VERSIONS  .......................................... 15
       Latest Software Versions  ................................. 15
    3. NOTICES  .................................................. 20
       The Interrupt Stack  ...................................... 20
    FidoNews 8-01                Page 1                    7 Jan 1991


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

    Thom Henderson
    520/1015@AlterNet


                           Order versus Orders

    I ran across an interesting quote lately that I'd lake  to  share
    with  you.  I'm sure that the author didn't have anything like us
    in mind,  but what he has to say may well apply to us better than
    many would think.

        "In  the  world  of  daily life,  the world which we perforce
        inhabit,  there is much talk about order,  particularly  from
        statesmen  and politicians.  They tend,  however,  to confuse
        order  with  orders,  just  as  they  confuse  creation  with
        regulations.  Order,  I  suggest,  is  something evolved from
        within,   not  imposed  from  without;   it  is  an  internal
        stability,  a vital harmony, and, in the social and political
        category,  it has never existed except for the convenience of
        historians."

                    E. M. Forster


    We  have  more  than  our share of "statesmen and politicians" in
    amateur networking.  I can say with some confidence (having  been
    there,  as  you know) that most,  if not all,  of them are acting
    from a sense of what they feel is right.  We've all  seen  plenty
    of  people  shouting about "control!  control!  control!" (though
    never with  a  good  explanation  about  why  anyone  would  WANT
    control)  that  we're probably all sick of the subject.  But what
    gets lost in all the noise and smoke is that many  people  see  a
    need for some sort of order, some sort of organization, some sort
    of overall plan to keep everything working.

    The  problem  is  that  sysops  are not temperamentally suited to
    anything of the sort.  Trying to organize sysops  would  be  like
    trying to organize anarchists (or perhaps worse).  Let's face it,
    one  of  the  "bennies"  in being a sysop is the feeling of total
    control over your own board and hence your  own  destiny.  Sysops
    will not give that up lightly, or without a fight.  Sysops expect
    to be, and DEMAND to be, independant.

    We  are,  to  a  large  extent,  saddled  with  a  basic  network
    technology that implies a large amount  of  central  organization
    and  control.  Someone has to keep that nodelist accurate,  after
    all!  But fortunately,  mechanisms are evolving  to  give  sysops
    back  a  lot of the independence that joining a network took away
    from them.  To name two prominent examples:

    FidoNews 8-01                Page 2                    7 Jan 1991


     1) Domain  addressing technology;  Many sysops are in it for the
        netmail.  Domain addressing makes it  possible  (easy,  even)
        for  many  disparate networks to co-exist peacefully.  Domain
        addressing makes it easy for multiple amateur networks to co-
        exist and share mail, which in turn allows the sysop to "shop
        around" for one or more networks that suit his  needs  and/or
        desires.  We  no  longer  live  in a world of "one FidoNet --
        Love it or go away!" If you don't like it,  there are  plenty
        of alternatives.

     2) GroupMail  conferencing;  Most  sysops  are  in  it  for  the
        conferences.   But  echomail  technology   presupposes   (and
        generally  demands)  that  all  participants  are in the same
        network.  Worse than that  --  it  predates  zone  and  point
        addressing  and thus presupposes that everyone is in the same
        zone!  This  is  manifestly  untrue  even  in  the  "FidoNet"
        network, and last time I checked this one assumption was good
        for  a rousing argument among the various developers any time
        it was mentioned.  GroupMail,  on the other  hand,  makes  no
        such assumption.  As long as your system knows where to get a
        conference  from and where to send any messages you may have,
        it'll all work.

    This really ought to be the  model  for  future  amateur  network
    software  development,  not  to mention the development of future
    social structures to deal with interactions between sysops.  What
    types of organization that can work with sysops realistically are
    those which:

     a) Allow sysops to maintain their own freedoms of choice and of
        personal destiny, and

     b) Provide sysops with significant benefits observably in excess
        of anything they may have to give up to attain them.

    I used to believe in intangibles.  I don't  anymore.  Sysops  are
    not  going to go along with anything that they (we) do not see as
    providing a solid, real, practical benefit on a day to day basis.
    The proposed gateway policy is an excellent  counter-example.  On
    the one hand it is remarkably easy to ignore, and on the other it
    provides  no  obvious  benefit  to the sysop who follows it.  The
    proposed echomail policy is similar  for  similar  reasons.  Even
    the  current  Policy4  document  in  many places goes outside the
    bounds of anything that the average sysop can see any benefit to.

    ALL policy statements in ALL amateur  networks  need  to  realize
    what  their  intended  audience  will or will not accept,  and be
    written accordingly.  By and large,  sysops are going to do  what
    they're  going  to  do,  and  if anyone tells them to do anything
    else, they'll either be ignored, sidestepped, or avoided.

    FidoNews 8-01                Page 3                    7 Jan 1991


    In time social mechanisms will evolve to deal  with  issues  that
    are  important to sysops in ways that sysops will accept.  And in
    a little more time those methods  will  be  documented.  But  the
    documents  that will work,  that will be meaningful and accepted,
    will not be like Policy4 or the gateway policy or  echopol.  They
    will   not   be  imposed  from  without  by  a  few  well-meaning
    individuals.   They  will  be   more   like   Policy3   and   its
    predecessors;  they will be written to document existing practice
    as sysops have already worked out among themselves.

    -----------------------------------------------------------------
    FidoNews 8-01                Page 4                    7 Jan 1991


    Doris Marsh - Moderator
    FidoNet 1:125/20

          A n i m a l   R i g h t s   C o n f e r e n c e
          -----------------------------------------------

       While  the  number  of  people  committed  to animal rights is
    growing every day, many people are unaware of how humans  exploit
    animals for their own gain or  goals, or they do not know  how to
    successfully initiate effective changes for the animals.

       Animal activists are needed to factually inform the public  of
    atrocities  being  inflicted  on   animals  in  the   scientific,
    commercial, and entertainment fields, as well as by  individuals,
    but  unfortunately,  the  public's  image  of  the average animal
    activist is with a spray can  of paint in one hand and  a shotgun
    in the other.   This image needs  to be changed,  for it is  only
    through  rational,  calm  and  non-violent discourse that changes
    take place.  While emotionalism, self-righteousness, and  demands
    for instant changes may make the individual feel better,  animals
    are still being painfully exploited, tortured and killed.

       While  picketing  a  company  that  tests  their  products  on
    animals  attracts  attention,  effective  changes  can take place
    through such  activities as  writing protest  letters, joining an
    animal  rights  groups  whose  philosophies  you  agree with, and
    refusing  to  purchase  products  that  are  tested  on  animals.
    Withholding your consumer dollars  sends a strong message  to the
    companies that you don't want their products tested on animals.

       The purpose of the ANIMAL_RIGHTS CONFERENCE is to educate  and
    to be a forum for the exchange of ALL viewpoints and opinions  on
    the issue  of animal  rights as  well as  suggesting ways  to get
    involved with the animal rights  movement.  Animal rights is  not
    only  about  medical  research,  but  it  also encompasses animal
    cruelty  and  exploitation  from  the  clothing  industry  to the
    entertainment field to the  pet trade, and discussions  regarding
    all aspects  of animal  rights should  take place.   All sides of
    this  emotional  issue  need  to  be  represented,  so I urge all
    users, whether  pro or  con on  the animal  rights issue, to join
    this conference and freely express  their opinions.  I also  urge
    all  sysops   to  consider   carrying  this   conference.     The
    Animal  Rights  conference  is  listed  in  ELIST,  and available
    from the FidoNet BackBone as ANIMAL_RIGHTS.

                                      Thank you.
                                      Doris G. Marsh
                                      Moderator - ANIMAL_RIGHTS
    -----------------------------------------------------------------
    FidoNews 8-01                Page 5                    7 Jan 1991


    Jack Decker
    1:154/8

                           FIDONET IN 1991

    Well, here we are at the start of a new year.  What will 1991
    bring for Fidonet?

    This could turn out to be an interesting year.  Perhaps the
    biggest event may go almost unnoticed by most.  It came in the
    form of a news release from the Federal Communications
    Commission:

                            December 13, 1990

     FCC ESTABLISHES NEW CODELESS CLASS OF AMATEUR OPERATOR LICENSE
                            (PR DOCKET 90-55)

         The Commission has revised the examination requirement for
    the Technician Class operator license, thereby creating a new
    codeless class of amateur operator license.  After these
    revisions have become effective, an examinee will not be required
    to prove that he or she can send and receive texts in Morse code
    telegraph signals to qualify for a Technician Class amateur
    operator license.

         The amateur service currently consists of five classes of
    licenses having increasing privileges and each being
    progressively more difficult to obtain.  The classes are Novice,
    Technician, General, Advanced, and Amateur Extra.

         The FCC noted that offering a codeless class of license that
    authorizes control operator privileges at stations which transmit
    exclusively above 30 MHz, provides an entry level opportunity to
    otherwise qualified persons who find telegraph a barrier to
    pursuing the purposes of the amateur service.

         Therefore, the FCC has established the Technician Class as
    the codeless class of license.  This license includes all amateur
    privileges above 30 MHz.  The Commission also amended the rules
    to grandfather frequency privileges below 30 MHz to current
    Technician Class licensees.

         In addition, the Commission decided to retain the Novice
    Class operator license in order to provide an alternate entry
    level operator license opportunity to persons who desire to
    pursue the purpose of the amateur service and who can pass a
    telegraphy requirement in place of the more comprehensive written
    examination requirement for the codeless Technician Class
    operator license.

    FidoNews 8-01                Page 6                    7 Jan 1991


         Action by the Commission December 13, 1990, by Report and
    Order (FCC 90-///).  Commissioners Sikes (Chairman),

                              -FCC-
    [end of news release]

    What does this mean, and why is it important?  Well, for the
    first time folks in the United States will be able to get into
    the hobby of amateur radio without taking a morse code test.
    It is impossible to know how many will take advantage of this
    opportunity, but it could make a difference if those with an
    interest in technology are drawn into amateur radio.  As you
    are probably aware, amateur packet radio technology allows data
    communication via radio that are very similar in many ways to
    what we do via phone lines.

    I'm not an amateur (not yet, anyway), but as I see it there are
    four noteworthy things to keep in mind about amateur radio:

    1) They use protocols similar to those used by the Internet
    (e.g. AX.25 which is a takeoff on the X.25 protocol).  Thus,
    folks who get into amateur radio will probably be more at home
    in the UseNet environment than in Fidonet.

    2) There are no long distance charges in amateur radio.  Thus,
    it may have great appeal to those in rural areas.  Those using
    amateur radio for data transmission need not be quite so
    concerned with shaving every last byte off of a transmission in
    order to save phone charges (I'm not saying that efficient
    protocols should not be used, but it's simply not going to be
    quite as big a concern).  The fact that phone charges are not
    an issue may mean that there are fundamental differences in the
    way traffic is moved via amateur radio.

    3) No commercial traffic may be carried over amateur radio.
    Thus, certain types of conferences that are routinely carried
    on Fidonet could not be carried via amateur radio (at least not
    without significant changes in content).

    4) Again, I must point out that I'm not an amateur, but it
    seems that one of the problems with amateur radio is that many
    hams seem to want to talk only about amateur radio, and nothing
    else!  We have those types in Fidonet, too, of course - the
    folks that participate only in the computer- and
    communications-oriented conferences.  But in Fidonet, there are
    conferences on a fairly wide range of other subjects as well.
    I'm not sure if amateur radio has this diversity now, but if it
    doesn't it probably will.

    Those of you that are hams may find some glaring errors in what
    I've stated above; if so, please understand that I don't claim
    any expertise on the subject.  My only point in commenting on
    this at all is to point out that while amateur radio will never
    completely replace Fidonet, it could certainly affect us.
    Indeed, it has already (some have commented that the now
    defunct IFNA [International FidoNet Association] was intended
    FidoNews 8-01                Page 7                    7 Jan 1991


    to be to Fidonet what the ARRL [American Radio Relay League] is
    to amateur radio.  Since the ARRL seems to be the organization
    that many hams "love to hate", I'd say that IFNA at least
    partially achieved its goal!).  But now that the psychological
    barrier of the code has been removed, it's quite possible that
    many more of the technologically-knowledgeable people in
    Fidonet will be inspired to bone up on small amount of
    electronic theory knowledge required to get a ham license.
    This cross-pollination of the two technologies could ultimately
    affect us in ways we don't yet realize.

    The technology used in Fidonet is badly in need of overhaul.
    The software we use for moving echomail is based on a
    technology developed when there were only a few nodes in
    Fidonet with any interest in the concept of echomail.  It
    simply is not an adequate design for a network that has
    literally thousands of nodes participating.  In addition, it
    makes no provision for fully-moderated conferences, wherein a
    message entered in any conference is first sent to the
    conference moderator for possible review before being sent out
    to everyone else.  Fidonet technology does not support this,
    and to my knowledge is the ONLY major conference mail type
    system that does not.  This makes it difficult for us to
    properly gate conferences from other networks that do have this
    feature (in particular, moderated newsgroups from UseNet) and
    as a result, we miss out on a lot of useful information.

    Since UseNet has obviously superior conferences to Fidonet (or
    so I'm told by everyone I've ever met that's been exposed to
    both), I think Fidonet is either going to interconnect with
    UseNet or die.  There is already software available for both
    the IBM and Amiga platforms (and possibly others) that can
    handle UseNet conferences in their native format, so if Fidonet
    is unable to gate conferences to UseNet we may start seeing
    Fidonet nodes leave the network in order to run software that
    has full UseNet capability.

    Unfortunately, it seems that one of the things that Fidonet
    software developers do best is argue with each other.  In the
    last year or so we've seen software hit the network that is
    only partially Fidonet compatible (or with other programs
    already in common use in the net), and this has caused problems
    in the net.  Those of you who read some of the conferences that
    I participate in are probably fed up by now with my occasional
    diatribes on the FTSC [Fidonet Technical Standards Committee]
    but the point is that we need some type of organization in
    Fidonet that can perform two functions:

    1) Identify software that purports to be compliant with Fidonet
    standards but which is not, and publish a list of the actual
    deficiencies in such software (both as a way to encourage
    software authors to fix the problems, and to warn potential
    users of the problems they might expect).  This would be more
    of a "consumer report" type function than an attempt to "ban"
    non-compliant software from the network (personally, I'd be in
    favor of the latter in some circumstances, but many seem to
    FidoNews 8-01                Page 8                    7 Jan 1991


    fear that if an actual ban were proposed then legal action
    could result.  But the last I knew, you could still review
    products, and offer reviews and comparative reports without
    getting sued, and a report that a certain product does not seem
    to adhere to Fidonet technical standard FTS-nnnn would
    certainly be useful information to have).

    2) Move the process of development of new standards forward by
    actually setting dates for comment periods, then (when
    appropriate) holding votes on the proposals received.  As it
    is, some of the discussions in NET_DEV and similar software
    development echoes drag on for literally MONTHS with nothing
    resembling agreement being reached.  It's no wonder that
    software developers go out and "do their own thing" because
    there really is no functional formal mechanism by which new
    standards can be proposed, considered, commented and voted
    upon, and then formally adopted (or rejected).

    It appears that the FTSC doesn't see itself in this role...
    instead, the present chairman seems to see the FTSC's role more
    as one of simply collecting and distributing documents (and
    occasionally making declarations to the effect that existing
    standards are "cast in stone" and cannot ever be changed... or
    at least that's the impression I'm left with).

    Yet in my opinion, the lack of any organization that performs
    the above-mentioned functions in Fidonet is what has caused
    software development in Fidonet to grind to a snail's pace.  If
    the FTSC doesn't want to perform these functions, then perhaps
    we should set up some organization that will.

    Or, maybe we should just throw our hands up and say that
    Fidonet is total anarchy and it's only pure dumb luck if your
    mailer can talk to my mailer, or your echomail processor can
    properly unpack and toss bundles created by my echomail
    processor.  Because, folks, that's just about where we're
    headed now.

    Please don't get me wrong, I DON'T want to see another IFNA
    formed.  All I want is to see some way to promulgate new
    Fidonet TECHNICAL standards, and to possibly identify software
    that is deficient in meeting those standards.  Just that,
    nothing more.

    Once we have a way to get new standards formally adopted, then
    we can really get to work on a superior method of conference
    distribution...  one that is impervious to "dupe" messages,
    that does not contain ten or twelve lines of SEEN-BY's, and
    that allows (but DOES NOT REQUIRE) conferences to be truly
    fully moderated.  (For those who may be wondering - yes, I'm
    quite familiar with GroupMail, but for whatever reason, it's
    simply not being widely used in Fidonet at the present time.
    This article is already pretty long so I'm not going to comment
    on that situation now).  We can also finally settle on a new
    nodelist format that not only contains more information, but
    that also uses a more efficient format for update (DIFF) files.
    FidoNews 8-01                Page 9                    7 Jan 1991


    And that's only a couple of the things that need to be
    accomplished.

    Nothing lasts forever, of course, and eventually Fidonet will
    be just a memory anyway, but we can hasten that day by
    providing an atmosphere where technical stagnation is the rule.
    The bright and gifted among us will eventually figure out that
    their talents can be put to better use in other areas, where
    there is not so much uncertainty abounding (and fewer folks
    ready to flame them at every turn!).

    Well, that's my opinion, anyway.  Hope 1991 is a good year for
    all of you!

    -----------------------------------------------------------------
    FidoNews 8-01                Page 10                   7 Jan 1991


    Brian Murrey - KB9BVN
    Node 1:231/0

    The first issue of the third volume of the Fidonet Ham/Packet
    Digest is just around the corner.  I have been compiling these
    Digests now for just about two years.

    I'd like to thank the readership for all of the fine input that
    I have received over the last two years.  I have received survey
    sheets from all over the Fidonet world (when's that lunar node
    going online anyway?) and that is the encouragement I need to
    keep cranking the things out.

    If you are interested in Amateur Radio, then the "Digest" is for
    you.  It is a compilation of notes and news culled from numerous
    online sources from all over the world.  With the new "No Code"
    Technician license finally becoming a reality, I am sure we will
    see the ranks of radio amateurs swell.

    A big thanks to Tom Jennings for giving me permission to use the
    term FIDONET in the masthead.  Since most of the information in
    the Digest comes from the Ham and Packet echo mail areas, it
    just makes sense.  There is no charge for the Fidonet Ham/Packet
    Digest, and there is not to be any charge for distributing the
    files to other systems. In other words, this information is to
    be freely distributed.

    A new "digest" has now been placed under construction to cater
    to the shortwave listeners in the network.  The name of this new
    publication is "Shortwave Schedule Digest" as it is a
    compilation of the latest and most up to date english broadcast
    schedules that I can find.  This newsletter will be published on
    a every other month basis.

    The first issue is now available for file request. Just ask for:

    SKED0101.ARC

    The Ham/Packet Digest is also available.  The latest issue is:

    HAM0211.ARC (Vol 2 No. 11)

    All comments/articles can be submitted to Brian Murrey via
    netmail to 1:231/0, 1:231/30 or to MURREY on GEnie.

    -----------------------------------------------------------------
    FidoNews 8-01                Page 11                   7 Jan 1991


                          The Year in Review
                          by  Kwityer Bychin
                       ------------------------

    Hi Ho, folks. The first Snooze of '91!  Are  we  impressed  or
    WHAT?? Another year of useless,  mindless  drivel  distributed
    all over the globe. Especially when one of MY articles  is  in
    it.

    So, let's start the new year off right by  rehashing  some  of
    the things that really got us all riled up in '90. Sound good?
    Hey, the holidays are OVER. No more fun and merriment. Time to
    get p.o.'d at me  again.  That  is,  after  all,  my  JOB  you
    know...

    Let's see... Ok, I'm not going to go in  chronological  order,
    because I either don't remember the  dates,  or  they  weren't
    important, or both. So here we go...

    One  of  the  significant  events  of  1990  was  the   Snooze
    changing its compression format to LHarc. Boy, we sure  had  a
    lot of fun with that one! Crybabies 'round  the  world  wailed
    and stomped their feet, held their breath, and puked  strained
    peas all over Vince Perrier and Lighthorse Harry Lee for  that
    stunt. Blood-curdling cries of "WAAAA!!  YOU  BROKE  MY  BATCH
    FILE" were heard all over Fight-O-Net. Geez, gimme a break.

    Then there was FidoCon '90 or  Conclave  '90  or  whatever  it
    was called. Lotsa interesting  stuff  went  down  there.  IFNA
    packed it in, Big fight about whether AlterNet sysops  got  or
    didn't get a $50 break, The keynote address lasted  about  six
    days, during which, some guy dressed in a Santa  Claus  outfit
    started laughing  uncontrollably  while  everyone  kinda  just
    looked at him ... Some drunk planted some rebel newsletters in
    a few magazines ... Hotel had to be evacuated because the  air
    conditioning caught fire  ....  Noone  attended  "The  Fidonet
    Meeting"... you had to be there, it was fun.

    GEORGE  PEACE  became  Z1C.  Echopol  followed  a  few  months
    later. Think there's a connection there?

    The International Coordinator  (aka  The  BIG  DOG),  came  up
    with this thing called GATEPOL, which noone had heard of,  and
    paid no attention to ...

    Mahatma Ravsik broke the single-conference posting  record  by
    posting  approximately  six  billion  messages  in  the  SYSOP
    conference ...

    Front Door 1.99c came out early in the  year,  minus  SEAlink,
    plus a new handshake called EMSI,  Which  stands  for  Eat  My
    Shorts, Idiot ...

    FidoNews 8-01                Page 12                   7 Jan 1991


    Ed McMahon (a.k.a. The Sweepstakes Fairy) was on TV  every  12
    seconds seconds plugging the American Family Sweepstakes.  Top
    Prize is ten million dollars and the phone number for  Dbridge
    support ...

    Binkleyterm came out with the  new  Janus  Joplin  protocol...
    OD's on line noise, and drops dead...

    Also in 1990, Eggnet .... nah... who cares about Eggnet ...

    Another  network  was  formed.  APInet.  Stands  for   Another
    Ph***in' International Network. If you  want  a  node  number,
    send a netmail to 69:6969/0. If you  can't  send  the  netmail
    because you don't have an APInet nodelist, well, tough...

    As the year closed, a guy  named  Ralph  Merritt  was  running
    for EC #2 in Eggnet. Vote for Ralph and vote for him often. HE
    cares about Eggnet, I suppose. If you're not in  Eggnet,  vote
    for him anyway...


    Well, I guess I just about insulted  everyone  I  could  think
    of. If you feel that I left someone or something out,  by  all
    MEANS, write us a letter! We aim to please.

    Happy New Year.

    K.B. '91


    -----------------------------------------------------------------
    FidoNews 8-01                Page 13                   7 Jan 1991


    Cheryl Buzzell
    101/200


                           Women in Fidoland

         Hi ya all. Been wanting to write this for some time now
    but have not had the guts to do so untill now. For those of
    you who do not know me, my name is Cheryl Buzzell. I run the
    TC-Trader BBS in Mass. I am the author of a couple of door
    programs for OPUS and recently Whouped, another program for
    Opus sysops.

         I have been into computers since 1977 when my brother
    first purchased his TRS-80 Model I computer. I used to hang
    out at the local Radio Shack store and bug the salesman there
    to let me play with it. His customers got a big kick out of it.
    This little girl playing with this fancy computer (oh sure back
    than the thing was fancy and the price tag would sink ya a few
    to prove it hahahaha). Back than I was only a kid and I
    certainly wasn't gonna argue over the attention, even if it was
    for no reason other than I was a "GIRL" playing with a computer.

         I started running my BBS in 1983. I was the only female
    sysop I knew who was running a "SERIOUS" bbs. Back than women
    ran bbs's like "MATCHMAKER" and other such things. I guess so
    men could get there kicks talking dirty to alot more women eh??
    Women had names like "CANDY" and "LOOSE LUCY". Quite a put down
    to the female species wouldn't you say????

         When I started my bbs it was with software called "TOWNE
    CRIER" (you out there Stew???). I know some of you are familiar
    with it as some of you were also running it back then. Back
    when we had our TRS-80 Model III's and IV's. We had a pretty
    small close knit crew who ran this software. I was the only
    femal (at least that I had gotton aquainted with). Back than a
    female sysop was welcomed at ANYONE's bbs. A guy sysop finds
    out you are a female running a bbs you get free totall access
    to his system. I think this was so they could show off how
    great they were since shortly after, it would be followed by a
    "why don't you do this or why not do that to your bbs".

         Things went downhill from there. I moved into the IBM
    world of bbs'ing. I ran from bbs software to bbs software
    trying to find a nitch where a women could fit in. Back then
    "FIDO" was the software to run. Not to put any sysops down but
    for a women to be part of that group would be the toughest
    thing to do. Talk about the good old boy network. I had one
    sysop be so bold as to tell me that the reason I didn't want
    to run "FIDO" was that as a female I was incapable of setting
    it up. I mean talk about degrading....

    FidoNews 8-01                Page 14                   7 Jan 1991


         Well It has been 14 years since I started a bbs and one
    would think that in that amount of time things would have
    come around alot. Now I am not saying that things have not
    changed, but we have got a LONG LONG way to go yet babe. Now
    women don't get that special attention of being a women sysop.
    That much I think is good by the way. BUT they just get TOTALLY
    ignored. Seems a female sysop is not "GOOD ENOUGH" for
    certain things. A women cannot be "One of the boys" I guess.
    "Hay why are there not many women around".

         Well I am one female sysop and I know there are many more
    out there somewhere and I am sure I can speak for the rest of
    the women out there that we are not gonna sit by and take it.
    We are gonna stand up and be counted. We DESERVE to be
    recognized and we have earned RESPECT and we are not gonna
    stop untill this is a free system where women have as much
    rights as men...................



    -----------------------------------------------------------------
    FidoNews 8-01                Page 15                   7 Jan 1991


    =================================================================
                             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       2.66    TBBS           2.1
    GSBBS          3.01    RBBS          17.3A    TComm/TCommNet 3.4
    Lynx           1.30    RBBSmail      17.3B    Telegard       2.5
    Kitten         2.16    RemoteAccess  0.04a    TPBoard        6.1
    Maximus        1.02    SLBBS          1.77A   Wildcat!      2.55
    Opus           1.14+   Socrates       1.10    WWIV          4.12
    PCBoard        14.5                           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    DOMAIN        1.42
    TIMS      1.0(Mod8)    XlaxDiff       2.35    EMM           2.02
                           XlaxNode       2.35    4Dog/4DMatrix 1.18
                                                  Gmail         2.05
                                                  GROUP         2.16
                                                  GUS           1.30
                                                  HeadEdit      1.15
                                                  InterPCB      1.31
                                                  LHARC         1.13
                                                  MSG            4.1
                                                  MSGED         2.06
                                                  MSGTOSS        1.3
                                                  PK[UN]ZIP     1.10
                                                  QM             1.0
                                                  QSORT         4.03
                                                  Sirius        1.0x
                                                  SLMAIL        1.36
                                                  StarLink      1.01
                                                  TagMail       2.41
                                                  TCOMMail       2.2
                                                  Telemail      1.27
                                                  TMail         1.15
    FidoNews 8-01                Page 16                   7 Jan 1991


                                                  TPBNetEd       3.2
                                                  TosScan       1.00
                                                  UFGATE        1.03
                                                  XRS           4.00*
                                                  XST            2.2
                                                  ZmailH        1.14


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

    Bulletin Board Software   Network Mailers     Other Utilities

    Name            Version   Name      Version   Name       Version

    Maximus-CBCS       1.02   BinkleyTerm  2.40   Parselst      1.32
                                                  ConfMail      4.00
                                                  EchoStat       6.0
                                                  oMMM          1.52
                                                  Omail          3.1
                                                  MsgEd         2.06
                                                  MsgLink       1.0C
                                                  MsgNum        4.14
                                                  LH2           0.50
                                                  PK[UN]ZIP     1.02
                                                  ARC2          6.00
                                                  PolyXARC      2.00
                                                  Qsort          2.1
                                                  Raid           1.0
                                                  Remapper       1.2
                                                  Tick           2.0
                                                  VPurge        2.07


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

    BBS Software                  Mailers         Other Utilities
    Name             Version  Name      Version   Name       Version

                              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


    FidoNews 8-01                Page 17                   7 Jan 1991


                                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
                                                  UNARC.COM     1.20


                                Macintosh
                                ---------

    Bulletin Board Software   Network Mailers     Other Utilities

    Name            Version   Name      Version   Name       Version

    Red Ryder Host     2.1    Tabby         2.2   MacArc         0.04
    Mansion            7.15   Copernicus    1.0   ArcMac          1.3
    WWIV (Mac)         3.0                        LHArc          0.33
    Hermes             1.01                       StuffIt Classic 1.6
    FBBS               0.91                       Compactor      1.21
                                                  TImport        1.92
                                                  TExport        1.92
                                                  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
                                                  Eventmeister    1.0
                                                  TSort           1.0
                                                  Mehitable       2.0
                                                  UNZIP         1.02c

                                  Amiga
                                  -----

    Bulletin Board Software   Network Mailers     Other Utilities

    Name            Version   Name      Version   Name       Version

    Paragon           2.082+  BinkleyTerm  1.00   AmigArc       0.23
    TransAmiga         1.05   TrapDoor     1.50   AReceipt       1.5
    FidoNews 8-01                Page 18                   7 Jan 1991


                              WelMat       0.42   booz          1.01
                                                  ConfMail      1.10
                                                  ChameleonEdit 0.10
                                                  ElectricHerald1.66
                                                  Lharc         1.30
                                                  MessageFilter 1.52
                                                  oMMM         1.49b
                                                  ParseLst      1.30
                                                  PkAX          1.00
                                                  PK[UN]ZIP     1.01
                                                  PolyxAmy      2.02
                                                  RMB           1.30
                                                  RoboWriter    1.02
                                                  Skyparse      2.30
                                                  TrapList      1.12
                                                  Yuck!         1.61
                                                  Zippy (Unzip) 1.25
                                                  Zoo           2.01



                                Atari ST
                                --------

    Bulletin Board         Network                Node List
    Software    Version    Mailer      Version    Utilities  Version

    FIDOdoor/ST 2.10BT4*   BinkleyTerm  2.40jr*   ParseList     1.30
    QuickBBS/ST    1.02    The BOX        1.20    Xlist         1.12
    Pandora BBS   2.41c                           EchoFix       1.20
    GS Point       0.61
    LED ST         1.00*
    MSGED         1.96S

    Archiver               Msg Format             Other
    Utilities   Version    Converters  Version    Utilities  Version

    LHARC          0.60    TB2BINK        1.00    ConfMail      4.02
    ARC            6.02    BINK2TB        1.00    ComScan       1.02
    PKUNZIP        1.10    FiFo          2.01b    Import        1.14
                                                  OMMM          1.40
                                                  Pack          1.00
                                                  FastPack      1.20
                                                  FDsysgen      2.13
                                                  FDrenum    2.10BT3
                                                  Trenum        0.10



                               Archimedes
                               ----------

    FidoNews 8-01                Page 19                   7 Jan 1991


    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 8-01                Page 20                   7 Jan 1991


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

                         The Interrupt Stack


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

    31 Mar 1991
       Jim Grubs (W8GRT) was issued his first ham radio license forty
       years ago today. His first station was made from an ARC-5
       "Command Set" removed from a B-17 bomber.

    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
       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.

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