F I D O N E W S --         Volume 13, Number 32            5 August 1996
    +----------------------------+-----------------------------------------+
    |  The newsletter of the     |   ISSN 1198-4589 Published by:          |
    |  FidoNet BBS community     |   "FidoNews"                            |
    |          _                 |        1-407-383-1372    [1:1/23]       |
    |         /  \               |                                         |
    |        /|oo \              |                                         |
    |       (_|  /_)             |                                         |
    |        _`@/_ \    _        |                                         |
    |       |     | \   \\       |   Editor:                               |
    |       | (*) |  \   ))      |        Christopher Baker  1:374/14      |
    |       |__U__| /  \//       |                                         |
    |        _//|| _\   /        |                                         |
    |       (_/(_|(____/         |                                         |
    |             (jm)           |     Newspapers should have no friends.  |
    |                            |                    -- JOSEPH PULITZER   |
    +----------------------------+-----------------------------------------+
    |               Submission address: FidoNews Editor 1:1/23             |
    +----------------------------------------------------------------------+
    |  MORE addresses:                                                     |
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    |    submissions=> [email protected]                                |
    +----------------------------------------------------------------------+
    |    For  information,   copyrights,   article   submissions,          |
    |    obtaining copies of FidoNews or the internet gateway FAQ          |
    |    please refer to the end of this file.                             |
    +----------------------------------------------------------------------+


               IS FIDONEWS WORKING FOR YOU YET?


                       Table of Contents
    1. EDITORIAL  ................................................  1
       So far, so good?  .........................................  1
    2. ARTICLES  .................................................  2
       Creating Network Wide Bulletins [I]  ......................  2
       A GNU Fido?  ..............................................  6
       Is He In A Godda Da Vida?  ................................  8
       ANIMANIACS Echo!  ......................................... 13
       There might be some point in this  ........................ 14
    3. FIDONET HISTORY  .......................................... 17
       FidoNet History  30 Jul 93 [Part 3 of 3]  ................. 17
       The VERY FIRST FidoNews ever published!  .................. 19
    4. WE GET EMAIL  ............................................. 24
    5. NET HUMOR  ................................................ 26
       Fido is a dog, yes?  ...................................... 26
    6. COMIX IN ASCII  ........................................... 29
       Mapping your FidoNet Node?  ............................... 29
    7. ADVERTISE YOUR FREE SERVICE/EVENT  ........................ 30
       Sorcery v0.72 Wide Beta RELEASED!  ........................ 30
    8. QUESTION OF THE WEEK  ..................................... 31
       How many of you have regular FidoNet gatherings?  ......... 31
    9. NOTICES  .................................................. 32
       Future History  ........................................... 32
    10. FIDONET SOFTWARE LISTING  ................................ 33
       Latest Greatest Software Versions  ........................ 33
    And more!
     FIDONEWS 13-32               Page 1                    5 Aug 1996


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

    FidoNews is moving right along. Submissions are becoming stable and
    steady. The format has settled in and folks are even sending in new
    dates for the calendar. [grin]

    Regarding submissions - if you want to have an article title appear
    in the Table of Contents of the Issue, you MUST put the title line
    on the FIRST LINE at the FIRST COLUMN of your text. I will adjust
    ARTSPEC.DOC to make this more clear. If the asterisk line appears
    ANYWHERE else in your text, it will be treated as part of the text
    and will neither be added to the Table of Contents nor stripped out.

    The FidoNews public-key has been removed from direct publishing in the
    Issues due to concerns expressed by ZC1. The public-key continues to
    be available by file-request for FNEWSKEY or download from this
    system. I have requested a ZCC ruling about its future inclusion in
    the FidoNews. Nothing beats the weekly distribution of FidoNews as a
    transport mechanism to most of FidoNet.

    Please note that the FidoNet Software Listing section begins its
    second incarnation in today's Issue. These listings will now be
    coordinated by Peter Popovich at 1:363/264. Send your corrections,
    additions, and updates directly to him via Netmail. He is beginning
    his task by repeating the last version listing that appeared in
    FidoNews back in 1992. Obviously, this means MOST if not all of the
    listings are hideously out-of-date. If you have personal knowledge of
    current versions of any of these listed programs OR of NEW programs
    not listed, please let Peter know ASAP and he will verify and adjust
    the listing. This will be a cooperative project that will take time
    to get up and running 100%. Your assistance is actively solicited.

    The Reviews column of Damian Walker is not ready yet while he's
    tracking down a couple more updates to test. It should be appearing
    next week or the week thereafter.

    Once again, EVERYBODY who reads FidoNews is ENCOURAGED to throw their
    two cents [or ten bucks] into this forum. The FIDONEWS Echo is flowing
    over the Stars and we're still waiting for Planet Connect to update
    their configuration to get it out to everyone else. If you don't have
    Netmail or email access, you can still contribute via FIDONEWS Echo
    once we get that going everywhere.

    I hope you're enjoying the renovated FidoNews as much I am. [grin]

    C.B.

     NOTE: I got several responses to last week's Question of the Week
           about archives of ALL the FidoNews issues ever published. My
           thanks to all who pointed me to obtaining a complete set. They
           are now available here for file-request or download as listed
           in the Masthead at the end of every Issue.

    -----------------------------------------------------------------
     FIDONEWS 13-32               Page 2                    5 Aug 1996


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


    Creating Network Wide Bulletins [I]
    Damian Walker, 2:2502/666

    My article in FidoNews last week made mention of network-wide
    bulletins made possible by document server software.  Starting this
    week I will elaborate on the idea, with a two-part tutorial on how to
    offer your own bulletin to other Fidonet systems and users.
        I shall concentrate on three pieces of software for the purposes
    of this article.  These are NetMgr 1.00.g4, FDInt 1.00 and InfoMail
    1.11.
        NetMgr is a popular general-purpose netmail tool written by Gerard
    van Essen of 2:281/527. It is configured using a text file, and is
    capable of acting as much more than a document server.  Needless to
    say, I will be concentrating on its abilities as a document server for
    this article.
        FDInt is a utility for FrontDoor sysops, written by Colin Turner
    of 2:443/13. Again, it is a general purpose tool, of which the
    document server is only a small part.
        InfoMail needs no introduction for regular readers of FidoNews, as
    it has been advertised in issue 1329.  It is my own creation, and it
    is a dedicated document server for sysops using a *.MSG netmail area.
        Please accept my apologies for the lack of coverage of other
    platforms, as it is impossible for me to test the methods described in
    this article with any program that doesn't run on a DOS PC.  I am also
    limited to software which I have found locally, or on the Internet. If
    you know of any other software with document server capabilities, be
    sure to let FidoNews readers know about it.
        Full information is available in the documentation which comes
    with the software, and I will not attempt to duplicate that
    information here.  The purpose of this article is as much to show you
    what is involved in producing network-wide bulletins as to show you
    how to use the software for this purpose.

        Now we move on to the business of the day, that of setting up a
    bulletin.  Before you start, you really need to know what information
    you want to offer, and indeed, if a bulletin is the best way to do it.
        A few ideas spring to mind as ideal uses for a document server,
    some of which I may have mentioned in my article in FidoNews 1329.
    Echo information and rules, BBS adverts, electronic magazines and
    details of local events are good examples.
        Once you have in mind exactly what information it is that you want
    to share with other Fidonet users, you can make a start on setting up
    the bulletin.

        The first thing you need to do is to install the software you
    intend to use, and to supply general configuration details to the
    program.  The procedure is quite different for each of the pieces of
    software this article covers, and so I will touch on the subject only
    briefly here.  Refer to the documentation for more details.
        To set up NetMgr, you need to create its configuration file.  This
    is a standard text file which you will create using your favourite
     FIDONEWS 13-32               Page 3                    5 Aug 1996


    text editor.  The file should be called NETMGR.CFG, and you need to
    place the following line somewhere in the file:

            Home <address>
            HudsonPath <path>
            ScanDir <area>

    If you are using a *.MSG area for your netmail, <area> should simply
    be the directory containing the *.MSG's.  If you are using Squish,
    directory should be preceded by $; if you are using JAM, precede the
    area path with !, and if you are using a Hudson message board, <area>
    should be a # followed by the Hudson message board.
        <Address> is simply your netmail address.  You can give as many
    Home commands as you have AKA addresses.  This is all you need for the
    initial installation of NetMgr, although you will have to add your
    bulletins (see later) before the setup is of any use as a document
    server.
        <Path> is the path to your Hudson message base.  This is only
    necessary if you use a Hudson area for your netmail.
        FDInt uses a proprietary setup program which is run automatically
    when you first install the software (it comes as an EXE file).
    Afterwards you run:

        FDISETUP

    at the command line.  FDINT takes much of its general configuration
    from FrontDoor's setup file, so installation takes minimal effort.
        First, you need to set up the name(s) which FDInt will respond to
    in its capacity as a document server.  You can access this option from
    the Names and Commands menu, Server Names option.  For example, you
    could have users address their document requests to 'DocServ'.
        If you wish, bulletins may be split into groups.  In this case,
    group names may be specified using the Groups option on the Names and
    Commands menu.
        InfoMail does not automatically interface with FrontDoor or any
    other mailer, so you will have to spoon feed it with a little more
    information.  Like FDInt, it uses a proprietary setup program to
    access its configuration.  To set up InfoMail, use the following
    command:

        INFOMAIL -S

    The screen which appears contains five fields.  You need to specify
    your netmail directory (the Netmail field): this is the full path to
    your *.MSG netmail directory.  InfoMail can only respond to one name,
    and this is defined in the 'Name' field.  You can leave this as
    'InfoMail' or change it to something else such as 'DocServ'.
        The last mandatory piece of information is the netmail address for
    InfoMail; this defaults to 2:2502/666 which will hardly be useful for
    your own system.  You would usually put your own primary netmail
    address in here.  The current release of InfoMail does not support
    multiple AKA's directly; see the documentation for ways to get around
    this.
        If you want, you can also specify in the remaining fields global
    header and footer files for the bulletins InfoMail posts; these will
    be short sections of text placed at the top and bottom of the body of
     FIDONEWS 13-32               Page 4                    5 Aug 1996


    every outgoing bulletin.

        Once the general configuration has been done, you will want to set
    up the entry for the bulletin itself.  Again, this procedure is
    different for each piece of software, but before examining the methods
    in detail, let us sketch out some details of the document record, for
    example purposes.
        There should be some way of identifying the bulletin from the
    user's point of view, as all the software under consideration allows
    multiple bulletins to be hosted.  This would be the document Tag.
    NetMgr, as you will see, allows documents to be requested in whatever
    way you please, but both FDInt and InfoMail use a specific name and
    address in the 'To:' field and a document tag on the subject line, so
    for the purposes of this article I will standardise on this method,
    and use the tag 'MyDoc'.
        Next, we need to know where the text file is, which will contain
    the actual text of the bulletin.  In these examples I will use the
    filename 'C:\BULLETIN\MYDOC.TXT'.  Now for the technical details.
        Using NetMgr you specify a mask for each bulletin, and the mask
    contains details of how NetMgr will identify a message as a document
    request, as well as how it identifies the bulletin.  Assuming we want
    the bulletin to be posted when a user posts a message to 'DocServ' at
    your address with the subject 'MyDoc', you would add the following to
    your NETMGR.CFG file:

        Mask *,*,DocServ,@myaka,MyDoc,*

    The first, second and sixth fields are the originating name and
    address, and the attributes of the inbound message, and don't concern
    us here.
        The third field is the name we want NetMgr to answer to; it is the
    equivalent of the global features of FDInt and InfoMail, but has the
    advantage that you can specify a different user name for each
    bulletin, as well as a different subject tag.
        The fourth field is the address which bulletin requests must be
    sent to; as with the previous field, it is a global setting in FDInt
    and InfoMail which can vary from bulletin to bulletin in NetMgr.
        The final field is the document tag; NetMgr will examine the
    subject line of the message and identify a subject of 'MyDoc' as a
    request for our document.
        To get this far with FDInt and InfoMail is much more simple if a
    little less versatile.  The 'to' user name and address have already
    been specified in the global setup, so we just have to add the
    document tag.
        Using FDInt, make sure you are in FDISETUP, and access the
    Document Manager from the main menu.  Here you can hit INS and enter
    the document name 'MyDoc' in the 'Tag' field.
        Using InfoMail, you must be in the document list editor,
    accessible from the command line using:

        INFOMAIL -L

    When the document list appears, currently empty, you can add a new
    document by selecting the empty entry.  The document list window will
    disappear, being replaced by the document record window.  Here you can
    enter 'MyDoc' against the 'Document' field.
     FIDONEWS 13-32               Page 5                    5 Aug 1996


        Next, to the text filename itself.  In NetMgr, you post the
    bulletin file using the EMPTYBOUNCE action, a command which is placed
    on the line beneath the mask.  For our document, it would look like
    this:

        Action EmptyBounce @myaka C:\BULLETIN\MYDOC.TXT
        Action Delete

    The second line is needed in order to remove the bulletin request
    message from the netmail area; otherwise NetMgr will continue to post
    the bulletin again and again, each time it is run.
        In FDInt, the bulletin filename is specified as part of the
    document record in the document manager, specifically the 'Path'
    field.  In InfoMail, the 'File' field in the document record window
    exists for a similar purpose.  You should enter C:\BULLETIN\MYDOC.TXT
    in the appropriate field.
        This is all that is actually necessary for the document record,
    but there are some extra features in each of the programs which you
    might like to take advantage of.
        NetMgr and InfoMail contain features which allow documents to be
    updated by remote users.  This allows you to set up a document for a
    point or user who cannot run a document server themselves, or who
    would like users to have a faster turnaround time by hosting the
    document at their uplink's system.
        Assume that we want the document MyDoc to be updateable by the
    following method: The user posts a message to 'DocServ Update' at your
    system, with the document tag 'MyDoc' and a password (eg. 'Secret') on
    the subject line.  In NetMgr you would achieve this by adding the
    following mask and actions to your NETMGR.CFG file:

            Mask *, *, DocServ Update, @myaka, MyDoc Secret, *
            Action File C:\BULLETIN\MYDOC.TXT
            Action Delete

        In InfoMail you would get the same result by specifying Secret as
    the update password in the 'Password' field of the document record
    window; InfoMail takes any message to its normal request name, plus '
    Update', as a document update, and takes the password as the second
    word on the subject line.
        Needless to say, NetMgr is much more versatile in this respect, as
    you can specify any way you like of identifying document updates.  It
    has the disadvantage, though, that the message header is included in
    the updated document-- therefore the update password is quite useless.
    In this case, you could utilise the first two fields of the document
    mask to limit updates to a single user, and do away with the password.
        As another feature, both FDInt and InfoMail create document lists.
    FDInt sends out a document list when the word 'List' is encountered on
    the subject line.  InfoMail sends out a document list whenever a user
    requests a document which doesn't exist (including List, if you do not
    host a document of that name).
        There are a few details in the document record which concern the
    creation of document lists.  In FDInt the 'Invisible' field will
    prevent a document from being listed if set to 'Yes'.  The 'Listed'
    field in InfoMail has the opposite effect; setting it to 'No' prevents
    the document from being listed.  FDInt has another field,
    'Description', the value of which will be displayed alongside the
     FIDONEWS 13-32               Page 6                    5 Aug 1996


    document tag in a document list.

    Now the bulletins are fully set up as far as the document server
    software is concerned, but the most important part of the setup, the
    document file itself, is not yet present.
        To avoid taking over issue 1332 of FidoNews entirely, I will round
    off this week's article here.  Next week's article will deal with the
    writing of the bulletin itself, and will cover both the technical
    aspects of netmail bulletins and some non-technical hints on the art
    of bulletin writing.

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


    A GNU Fido?
    by Gregg Jennings, 1:331/109

    Our new Snooze Editor had asked (in FidoNews Vol. 13 Num. 29):

       Are there any reports from the FTSC [FidoNet Technical
       Standards Committee] on the state of our Standards?
       Updates to our practices? Presumably, software authors
       are still at it and things have changed in the last
       couple years, yes?

    David Rye, 1:3649/10, wrote an article in FidoNews Vol. 13 Num. 31,
    "A Call For Programmers Of A New Common BBS Interface", in which he
    summed up with the following:

       Anyone that has an interest in trying to develop new
       software with a published data format that will allow
       the point and click, graphic based BBS is more than
       welcome to contact me at my FidoNet address of 1:3649/10.

    His article was another ponderance about what can be done to improve
    FidoNet.  We have all heard many death knells before, and, as David,
    many people have (and will have) ideas about actually doing something.

    So perhaps now more ideas about things to do will be coming in.

    As these ideas are brought forth I would like people to ponder
    David's statement: "new software with a published data format".

    I do not think that a published data format alone will do what he
    and others may suggest to improve FidoNet.  To me any new
    developments in software must make the source code freely
    available to do some real good.

    We already HAVE published data formats.  We already HAVE software.
    What we NEED is source code.  Freely available source code.

    Implementing new programs and formats is a fairly long process.
    This implementation process is directly related to the number
    of programmers involved.  With one it is the slowest, with several
    it is faster, with everyone it may not necessarily be fastest
    though without some sort of coordination.
     FIDONEWS 13-32               Page 7                    5 Aug 1996


    Here is an example:

    One programmer writes a new program and distributes it to
    testers as an executable and documentation.  People use it and
    return ideas and bug reports.  The programmer makes changes and
    the loop continues.

    After a while the program is good enough for worldwide distribution.
    Then the programmer has a lifestyle change and leaves FidoNet and
    improvements can no longer be made.

    Some other programmer then takes over with a newer idea and the
    process repeats.  Sometimes this process takes years.  And we
    are stuck with a slowly improving, if improving at all, network.

    Even if the original programmer passes on the source code to someone
    else, or there are a few programmers involved, the process is still
    slow and can still stagnant.

    Here is another example:

    One programmer writes a new program and distributes it to testers
    as source.  People use it and return improvements and bug fixes.
    The programmer keeps track of this and keeps all coordinated during
    this process.

    After a while the program is good enough for worldwide distribution.
    No matter what the original programmer(s) do, as long as there is a
    way to coordinate improvements and bug fixes (like via an ECHO),
    there is continual and constant on going improvements and enhancements
    in the network for as long as there are people using it.


    This is an AMATEUR (hobbyist) NON-COMMERCIAL network.  I think we
    all agree on this.  Yes, even the original Fido/FidoNet software was
    shareware.  But this shareware process is what is holding back
    progress and growth.

    To me, the idea of, "here's a better way slash improvement slash
    enhancement slash cool thing -- but everyone has to gimmee 25 bucks
    to use it -- and if I die (or get pissed) too bad" is the biggest
    log in the current log-jam of progress within FidoNet.

    I propose that people developing software seriously think about
    distributing their code under the GNU GPL or Artistic License
    or some variation.  I am a software developer and I know that there
    are GigaBytes of source code throughout the world that is
    distributed freely.  Why should a hobbyist network not do this?

    Now I'm not saying that everyone should give up their current
    source code to everything that is now running FidoNet.  Many
    people worked long and hard and the want of a little bit of
    compensation is fine.  But before anyone thinks FidoNet can grow
    and improve, remember that without the availability of the source
    code, any growth and improvement may just be a spurt and nothing
    more.
     FIDONEWS 13-32               Page 8                    5 Aug 1996


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


    Iron Butterfly Member Disappears After Allegedly Working on
    Faster-Than-Light Communication - Is He In A Godda Da Vida?

    By Fredric Rice ([email protected])
    The Skeptic Tank (818) 335-9601

    Originally appeared in:
    Skeptic Magazine, Vol. 4, No. 2, 1996.


    Here's a story that is so fragmented, so contradictory, so strange
    and bizarre I eventually had to tape all the bits and pieces of the
    story to my office walls to try to create some kind of a big picture.

    The story is growing and I can't help but think of the possibility
    that all of this information on the wall will eventually form the
    basis of a legend among must-believers;  a legend not quite as
    powerful as the Kennedy assanation conspiracy, true, yet a legend
    which should last for decades -- if not forever among believers.

    I'm going to offer you what I've been able to learn about this story
    as well as my own conjectures.

    Philip Taylor Kramer, one-time bassist for the rock group Iron
    Butterfly, disappeared on February 12'th, 1996, and hasn't been seen
    or heard from since.  Among the computer networks, news of his
    disappearance created only a minor flurry of comments by rock music
    fans yet for the most part his disappearance remained of little
    interest.  Until, that is, the rumors came down from both reliable
    and dubious sources that Kramer was working on a faster-than-light
    communications system just before his disappearance.  In various
    paranormal and so-called "advanced science" discussion groups, the
    possibility that he had been abducted by a super secret agency of
    the United States, the Russians, or aliens from another planet
    began.  A dozen "real reasons" for his alleged abduction have risen
    to the top of the conjecture heap and all of them are, well,
    imaginative.

    I observed the growing rumors and the widening conspiracy yet I
    didn't think much of it -- until KTLA News here in Los Angeles ran a
    short five minute report on his disappearance and confirmed that
    Kramer had indeed been working on a faster-than-light communications
    system.  KTLA reported that Representative James A. Traficant Jr. of
    Ohio was concerned about Kramer's disappearance due to the fact that
    Kramer held nuclear-oriented security clearances tied to the MX
    Missile project and due to the type of mathematical research Kramer
    was working on.

    Though several tabloid papers covered this strange story, eventually
    reliable sources started to investigate and report.  On May 5'th, the
    San Diego Union Tribune ran a lengthy story covering the
    disappearance.  As I had expected, the story also covered the growing
    claims of conspiracy and possible abduction by mysterious agencies.
     FIDONEWS 13-32               Page 9                    5 Aug 1996


    Ron Bushy, Iron Butterfly's co-founder, was supposed to have been
    working with Kramer to schedule an Iron Butterfly reunion tour at the
    time of his disappearance.  When the Union Tribune talked with Bushy
    about Kramer's disappearance, Bushy said "I honestly believe that he
    has been abducted by our government or an agency that is part of it
    or maybe a foreign government or a company."  [Reference 1]

    The reason for this suggestion was the fact that just days before
    his disappeared, Kramer and his father believed they had worked out
    a mathematical breakthrough which would allow the nearly
    instantaneous transmission of matter which would also revolutionize
    the communications industry.  "We're talking 'Beam me up Scotty'
    time,"  Bushy said.

    The research deals with a mathematical representation describing
    faster-than-light communication employing gravitational waves and
    magnetic particles.  Current research on the detection of gravity
    waves consists of hugely massive aluminum or niobium cylinders,
    sitting inside of superconducting tubs of liquid nitrogen deep
    underground, and the only events capable of producing gravity waves
    of a high enough intensity to be detected by such devices is a
    supernova, the collapse of a black hole, or the creation of the
    universe.  Contemporary research also suggests that using the Earth
    itself in conjunction with a distant spacecraft might also be used
    to detect these extremely weak waves.  [reference 2]  How such a
    technology can be used to transmit matter or communicate over any
    distance instantaneously hasn't been covered in any of the articles
    I've found and nothing in any faster-than-light conjecture books I
    have on hand talk about it.

    The headlines of some of the articles I've found are kind of
    interesting and guarantee to provoke the purchase of the publication.
    "Alien Abductions?  Two Rockers Lost in Space" is a story in a
    publication by an organization called "Addicted To Noise" -- ATN --
    which covered the disappearance of Richey Edwards and Philip
    Kramer -- two rock stars who share a great many similarities in
    their disappearances.

    Many web pages on Internet which offer comment on Kramer's
    disappearance also carry attention-grabbing titles and offer
    mysterious conjectures.  Several comment upon how the story of
    Kramer's disappearance is worthy of something one expects to see on
    "The X-Files," the FOX Network's very popular science fiction
    series.  Some speculate upon the meaning of the title and words of
    Iron Butterfly's highly successful song "In a godda da vida," the
    meaning of which is widely known among music fans as being a
    drunkenly slurred reference to the Christian "Garden of Eden" myth.
    Even KTLA's News anchor mistakenly stated that the song's contents
    and title remains a mystery.  If mankind can learn the "true
    meaning" of Iron Butterfly's most famous song, several New Agers
    have suggested, we'll find out what "really happened" to Philip
    Kramer.

    Some of the newspaper accounts conflict slightly with others.
    Various report that Kramer either did or did not make an
    appointment to pick up an associate at the Los Angeles Airport
     FIDONEWS 13-32               Page 10                   5 Aug 1996


    yet a $3.00 bill for 45 minutes of LAX parking was received by the
    Kramer residence 10 days after his disappearance containing a
    receipt with Kramer's IOU written on it.  Kramer, it seems, didn't
    have the cash on hand for parking or -- it is considered by some --
    he didn't wish to waste three dollars on parking knowing in advance
    that he was going to disappear and wanted to save his money.  Being
    a computer executive, Kramer would have known how easily credit
    cards and checking account transactions can be tracked and, if one
    wishes to go underground, hanging onto three dollars when one can
    write an IOU instead makes good sense.

    What's interesting is that Kramer _didn't_ pick up his associate.
    Something must have happened to him at the airport while he was
    waiting.  It seems that he went to the airport parking lot,
    receiving a parking stub, and started waiting in the arrival
    terminal for his associate to arrive.  Sometime during his wait,
    something prompted him to simply walk back to his green van, leave
    an IOU for his 45 minutes of parking, then drive off into oblivion.
    As he was driving away, he made a series of strange telephone calls
    to friends and family expressing his love.  It seems that the last
    call he made was to 911, "This is a Philip Taylor Kramer and I'm
    going to kill myself."

    I have asked myself, if a man is going to kill himself, why would he
    leave an IOU for three dollars unless he seriously just didn't have
    it on him?  A successful computer executive, I would think, would
    always have at least a small amount of cash.  If Kramer was intent
    upon making himself disappear, planting the suggestion that he was
    going to kill himself might have been an attempt to make the
    police who would later investigate his disappearance suppose that he
    was successful.  Kramer's wife also might not stand to get legal
    issues resolved until years after Kramer's disappearance made him
    legally dead so the claim of suicide might also have been out of a
    desire to help his wife.  His van hasn't been found.  If he did kill
    himself, his van might have been stolen and stripped down just hours
    or days after his suicide.  At this point, all anyone seems to be
    doing is employing conjecture, myself included.

    What is in agreement is that Kramer's mental stability was slipping.
    Just days before he disappeared, he stated that the Earth was going
    to end due to a supernova; that his father, a Professor of
    engineering at Youngstown University in Ohio, was really a god; that
    Jennifer, his wife, was really Mother Earth.  As they were looking
    for a new home several days before his disappearance, he told his
    wife that he was frightened that people were going to come for him.
    "Honey, we're going to have to live behind walls.  Honey, people are
    going to want to get at me."

    Perhaps Kramer actually believed that he had stumbled upon an
    astounding breakthrough.  The paranoia expressed tends to make me
    think that perhaps Philip Kramer disappeared to try to protect his
    wife and family from what he believed were dangerous government
    agencies who would eventually come after him after news of his
    breakthrough became known to them.  That leads me to think that, if
    he is still alive and simply in hiding, he will eventually resurface
    and perhaps try to either start a laboratory of his own to develope
     FIDONEWS 13-32               Page 11                   5 Aug 1996


    his breakthrough else find a laboratory he feels he can trust and
    sign on with them.

    For us skeptics, though, what might be more interesting was Kramer's
    growing involvement and belief in New Age mysticism.  The Union
    Tribune reported that Kramer had read "The Celestine Prophecy" -- a
    best-selling book about a middle aged man who sets out to find the
    "nine insights" of life.  Kramer asked his wife to only eat "colors
    of the spectrum," asking that she not wear black clothes or eat meat.
    This book also factors greatly in must-believers' conjectures among
    the computer networks.  Perhaps, some suggest, the mathematical
    breakthrough that Kramer and his father developed caused Kramer
    (and the van he was driving) to "vibrate" out of visibility, just as
    happens in the "Celestine Prophecy."  This inability to discern
    reality from fiction has manifested itself repeatedly since I started
    paying attention to this case.  Stories from popular fiction -- like
    "The X-Files," are being used to "explain" Kramer's disappearance.

    Kathy Kramer, Philip Kramer's sister, has been getting unsolicited
    letters from self-professed "psychics" pin-pointing her brother's
    location using map-dowsing -- the "psychic" lays out a map and
    suspends an object from a chain or string and, depending upon the
    movement of the object, one pretends to discern where the missing
    person or object is.  One such "lead" which came through the mail was
    from Austria and it stated that her brother was the victim of an
    accident yet was alive and being worshipped as a deity among the
    Pechanga Indians on a reservation outside of Los Angeles.  Kathy
    Kramer went to talk with the tribe's council yet they knew nothing
    about her missing brother.

    This brings us back to Representative James A. Traficant Jr.  He
    has twice asked for a federal investigation, citing Kramer's
    reported mathematical breakthrough and his work with the MX missile
    as cause for national security concerns.  Traficant states in his
    request to the FBI that it's not unlikely that the research Kramer
    was working on was such that a foreign power might have "abducted,
    apprehended, compromised, or somehow brainwashed" Kramer.  He even
    suggests that it's possible domestic agencies could use Kramer's
    "extraordinary knowledge for nefarious purposes."  The FBI, for its
    part, at first rejected the suggestion for an inquiry yet has
    reversed itself, stating "It's a known fact there are rouge nations
    like Iran working on nuclear weapons who could use someone with
    Taylor Kramer's knowledge to make long-range missiles.  Just because
    it's a remote possibility doesn't mean you shouldn't investigate it."

    Because of Traficant's request, some believers in either the alien
    abduction theory or the foreign/domestic government kidnapping theory
    have suggested that Traficant will be the next to disappear if he
    doesn't stop asking questions.

    The "fact" that Kramer has finally created a "Star Trek transporter"
    doesn't seem to be worthy of debate by some of the believers I've
    talked with, interestingly enough.  To "prove" the "undeniable fact"
    that Kramer successfully created a matter transmitter, I've been told
    that the electrostatic photocopier is a "case in point."  When I
    express my ignorance at how this proves Kramer developed a matter
     FIDONEWS 13-32               Page 12                   5 Aug 1996


    transporting technology, I'm usually ignored or told to "stop acting
    stupid."  Doubtless there are connections between these two amazingly
    useful technologies, yet I can't help but question how the obvious
    existence of photocopiers proves the existence of matter
    transmitters.  Perhaps the existence of one amazing machine is
    "proof" that any amazing machine one might dream up is possible.

    So what about faster-than-light communications?  Dr. Milton A.
    Rothman, former professor of physics at Trenton State College and
    former research physicist at the Princeton Plasma Physics
    Laboratory, covers the reasons why physicists don't expect to find
    undiscovered forces allowing anti-gravity devices, faster-than-light
    transportation and communication devices, and ESP, in his book
    "The Science Gap:  Dispelling the Myths and Understanding the
    Reality of Science."  Dr. Rothman states that for such things to be
    possible, a new particle responsible for carrying a new force would
    have to be discovered yet were such a particle to actually exist, it
    would have been inferred by experimentation long before now.
    Dr. Rothman states, "The conclusion to which we are forced --
    unsatisfactory as it might be to many -- is that we cannot depend
    upon the discovery of new and radically different kinds of forces in
    the future to help us go faster than light, to hold vehicles
    suspended in midair, to make objects move by directing thoughts at
    them, or to transmit messages telepathically.  We must make do with
    the forces that exist."  [Reference 3]

    Dr. Rothman also covers must-believer's arguments to the contrary
    when it is suggested that science has been wrong before and thus the
    possibility of faster-than-light star travel or communication is
    still possible.  (What New Agers disdainfully call "the conventional
    wisdom.")  "What makes this argument invalid is the fact that
    it is based upon a myth.  The idea that all theories are temporary is
    simply not true, even though it is believed by a great many people.
    The reason is, as we have shown, that we do know some things for a
    certainty."

    Several things are certain in Philip Kramer's case.  Kramer obviously
    believed that his mathematical breakthrough was going to put his life
    and the lives of his family in danger.  It's also certain that if
    Kramer ever surfaces, either dead or alive, the conspiracy theories
    and conjecture as to the "true story" will continue for a long, long
    time.

    [Reference 1]
            San Diego Union Tribune, May 5, 1996, page A-23

    [Reference 2]
            Jeffries, A. D., et al., "Gravitational Wave
            Observatories," Scientific American, June 1987

            Trimble, Virginia, "Gravity Waves: A Progress
            Report," Sky & Telescope, October 1987.

    [Reference 3]
            "The Science Gap:  Dispelling the Myths and
            Understanding the Reality of Science," Dr. Milton
     FIDONEWS 13-32               Page 13                   5 Aug 1996


            A. Rothman, page 117.

    Fredric L. Rice, Sr. Software Engineer
    [email protected]

    Skeptics Socity
    Post Office Box 338
    Altadena, California.
    91001
    Voice: (818)794-3119
    Fax: (818)794-1301
    email: [email protected]
    web: http://www.skeptic.com/
    ftp: ftp://ftp.skeptic.com/pub/skeptic



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


    By Louie Gonsalves 1:2808/16
    [email protected]

    Introducing the ANIMANIACS echo!

    ANIMANIACS is an echo dedicated to the discussion of the Warner
    Brothers and their sister, Dot... and any other characters in the
    show, such as Pinky and The Brain, Buttons and Mindy, Chicken Boo,
    and any others.

    Since this is a brand-new echo, distribution is from my system at
    this time.  Bundles will be placed on hold for you, pending your
    poll.

    To get the ANIMANIACS echo, please Crash-Netmail or Internet Email
    the following info to me at:  (Or, get yor REC or whoever you feed
    from to grab it).

    Louie Gonsalves 1:2808/16
    [email protected]

    +-----------------------------------------------------+
    | Sysop Name:                                         |
    | Fido Node#:                                         |
    | Email address (if applicable):                      |
    | Session level password:                             |
    | Areafix password:                                   |
    +-----------------------------------------------------+

    PLEASE, don't send the above info by any other means than crash
    netmail or email.

    It is my intention to backbone the echo, so I'll need all the help
    I can get for it. =_)  Message will be sent to the ECHOLIST robot
    soon.  The following are the rules of the echo:

     FIDONEWS 13-32               Page 14                   5 Aug 1996


    -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
                     The Rules for the ANIMANIACS Echo:
    -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

    1.  No flames.  Flames will NOT be tolerated.  This is an echo for
        fostering growth, not festering growths.  All disputes are to be
        settled outside the echo, via netmail, email or pistols at dawn.
        Personal attacks, i.e.: namecalling, etc, are considered flames,
        and will be dealt as such.

        Flames WILL result in feedcuts.

    2.  Language.  The official language of ANIMANIACS is English.
        Please do not post in other languages.

        Since this is an echo that will no doubt be read by children,
        please refrain from using "colorful metaphors."  I.E.: NO
        CUSSING!

    3.  Real names ONLY.  No handles, please.  The only handle allowed is
        Moderator, and the only person permitted to use it is the
        moderator listed in the ELIST.

    4.  Hi ASCII.  Hi-ascii characters are permitted.  ANSI codes, are
        NOT.  Signature lines may not exceed 2 lines.  Taglines are OK,
        provided they don't exceed 1 line.

    5.  Gating.  This echo may be gated to other networks, ONLY if
        expressly authorized by the moderator, via netmail or email.

    8.  Any infraction of the items above may result in expulsion from the
        echo.  I warn via netmail.  If you wish to contest a moderator's
        desicion, please do so via netmail or email... not in the echo.


    That's the rules, folks.  Now let's get this sucker 'boned and on the
    bird.  Faboo!

    Louie Gonsalves (aka Wakko Warner)

    Moderator, ANIMANIACS
    Fido 1:2808/16
    STN  111:5701/0
    [email protected]


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


    Points thinking about FidoNet
    by Frederik Retsema, [2:280/901.35]

    Assume, you are new to FidoNet. You don't know anything particular
    about it, only that a friend of yours is (he calls it) point, and
    that he likes that. He shows you the way he gets his mail and what
    he and other people write.
     FIDONEWS 13-32               Page 15                   5 Aug 1996


    You like it, you become a point yourself and get interested in the
    way BBS-es (woeps... corrected... nodes) exchange mail. You listen
    to what the nodes tell, trying to understand why the situation in
    your part of FidoNet, Holland (woeps... corrected... region 28) is
    the way it is.

    And then... Something happens. You think you have a solution to the
    problems. A way to solve some unwanted situation. You put this very
    logical and simple plan into an echomailarea and... stand corrected
    because the situation was a little more difficult than you thought.

    This happened about four or five times to me. I still like it to
    think with people about the best way to solve problems in region
    28. I still like to think about advantages and disadvantages of
    some solutions to this situation.

    There is a problem, though.

    It appears to me that many discussions about FidoNet are in the
    sysop-only-areas. Areas that are not readable (not to be spoken
    about writable) for points. And that's a pitty, because most
    writers in the general available areas about FidoNet _can_ read
    these areas. And know more about the situation than I do. Which is
    a drawback when wanting to make usable suggestions for the given
    situation.

    Examples of wanted information that was/is not available for
    points are for example: the names of the candidates of NEC-elections
    in my net and the way these persons act upon eachother, information
    from the RC/REC about the situation in my region, pro's and con's of
    the ENC-flag in zone 2, decisions and other information of the
    echomaildistributors, etc.

    A solution to this problem would be to make sysop-areas read-only
    for points. In this way points would at least be able to read what
    the real problems of the current situation are. In this way the
    points can think about _real_ solutions to these problems which
    makes them more valuable to FidoNet. Why should a point not be able
    to find good solutions to the given FidoNet-problems ?

    Let's be honoust: if the information in these net- and region-
    sysop-areas were _that_ secret that points shouldn't know about
    them, you wouldn't tell the other x-hundred nodes who can read in it
    too. There's no reason to beleave that nodes are better persons than
    points or users are. And so there's no reason to beleave that
    points will mess up the situation more than some nodes do now
    already ;-).

    The last time I tried to gain access to a more or less node-only area
    was this winter. This discussion lasted 6 months, but some nodes just
    wanted to keep their privileges. Some of them just didn't see that
    points (and users) _are_ part of FidoNet and that the policy is just
    a little outdated on this point.

    Because, let's face it, FidoNet is _not_ defined by the nodelist, but
    FidoNet consists of private- and public mailservices to nodes, points
     FIDONEWS 13-32               Page 16                   5 Aug 1996


    and users. And why would people that are part of these mail-services
    not be a part of FidoNet ?!

    Some people just don't seem to see that the role of a node to a point
    is not really different to the role of a hub to a node or a host to
    a hub. For netmail only ZMH and the missing possibility of unrouted
    netmailrouting to the point or user are different, but that is
    something the point him/herself is choosing for. That's none of the
    business of the sender of whatever kind of message. For the way
    echomail of points and users are treated there are no differences at
    all.

    Well, I'll be corrected here. Because of some out-dated policy,
    because nodes want to keep their privileges, because some nodes do
    not trust points and/or users and think the only thing points and
    users want is free and fast net- and echomail on their costs, because
    they think it _does_ make a difference whether or not one can send
    mail without any system between sender and receiver or because they
    see some points with real big mouthes comming up and they try to do
    anything to annoy them, hoping them to leave FidoNet.

    After 6 months of discussing this subject I'll stop here and now.
    That is, as a point. I'm a node since last Friday. That seems for now
    the only possible way to gain access to the same information about
    FidoNet that FidoNet nodes have.

    Sad, but true...

    Frederik Retsema
    2:280/905

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

     FIDONEWS 13-32               Page 17                   5 Aug 1996


    =================================================================
                             FIDONET HISTORY
    =================================================================


    FidoNet History  30 Jul 93 [Part 3 of 3]

    Date: 09 Aug 93  20:29:00
    From: Bart Mullins
      To: All
    Subj: FidoNet History
    ______________________________________________________________________

    Hello All!

    A few days ago, some folks asked questions about the history of
    fidonet.  Well John Madill is working with Infinite Technologies and I
    got the story straight from him.    I re-post it here with his
    permission.

    ----------------------------------------------------------------------
    Date and Time: 07-30-1993 at 15:43:02
    Originated By: Scott Paterson (rsvp @ novell)
    ----------------------------------------------------------------------
    Hey, John Madill was famous in San Jose about two weeks ago.  He made
    the front page of our Computing section in the San Jose Mercury News
    (it's nice to have a newspaper that has a whole section each week
    dedicated to Computing).  Anyway, it spoke of the inception of FidoNet
    but didn't give any specific information on where you could find out
    more.  How about it.

    -Scott
    ====================
    R. Scott V. Paterson
    Novell Messaging
    ----------------------------------------------------------------------
         Date:  7/30/93    Time:  11:21 PM
    ----------------------------------------------------------------------
           To:  Mullins,Bart (Bart Mullins @ MWRS.12MWRSS)
         From:  John Madill  (John @ Infinite)
      Subject:  FidoNet History
    ----------------------------------------------------------------------
    Message:

    Originated By: John Madill (JOHN @ INFINITE)
    ----------------------------------------------------------------------
    Well, Scott, thanks for that nice intro! <g>  If it's the same article
    that appeared here (by Steve Snow, Knight Ridder), I could comment
    that I only had 1 small mention, and it basically stated that I was a
    "co-worker", but thanks for using up my 15 minutes of fame! <g>

    Back in the early 80's, I was working at a ComputerLand in Baltimore
    (not Boston ... Tom Jennings was living in San Francisco, but he was
    working for Phoenix Technologies in Boston.)  For those of you that
    care to remember, way back then there was a product that was
    introduced called the IBM PC ... which everyone wanted, but was in
     FIDONEWS 13-32               Page 18                   5 Aug 1996


    short supply.  As an alternative, we were trying very hard to sell DEC
    Rainbows, which weren't exactly IBM compatible.

    Since I had purchased a Rainbow myself (really *smart* move ... NOT),
    and had an interest in BBSes and telecommunications, I started
    searching for a BBS and Telecomm software for the DEC.  After visiting
    *many* BBSes and asking for help, I was beginning to fear that I'd
    have to write the stuff myself.  Fortunately, someone recommended that
    I call a board in SF called "Fido's BBS".

    Trivia:  The name Fido came from the mishmash of 68000 hardware that
    Tom was using to run the BBS on ... a real mongrel.  How many 68000
    systems did you ever hear of that had DOS as the operating system?
    Since Tom did implementations of DOS for Phoenix, he wrote a version
    for that system.

    Anyways ... I called Tom, we talked, and I found out that he actually
    did the original BIOS and DOS for the DEC Rainbow, and converted his
    comm programs (TelLink & MiniTel) to run on the DEC so he could port
    stuff over to the Rainbow.

    Now, I had a comm program.  One of the things that we decided to do
    was to convert Fido's BBS to run on the DEC.  Only one small problem:
    I had the DEC, and Tom didn't.  We were stuck ... had to work
    together.

    As a result of this, we ended up working together to enhance Fido, and
    spent a lot of time "Yelling at the Sysop" ... chatting thru the
    keyboards back and forth.  (This is NOT a recommended means of
    communicating via long distance, especially when we could have hung
    up, and called via voice.)

    After many gigantic telephone bills, we pretty much agreed that there
    *might* be a better way.  The problem was that I'd call his BBS to
    leave a message, and he'd see me there, so we'd chat ... or vice-
    versa.  Since the key was to deposit e-mail at another BBS, the
    solution seemed obvious.  Make Fido call the other Fido ... deliver
    mail, and hang up.

    There were only 2 Fidos at that time, Tom's and Mine, so although we
    figured we add in a couple of more, we didn't think we'd need much
    sophistication for addressing ... just add in a "FidoNet" message
    area, secure it, and assign node numbers.  Ask the user for the Node
    number, let the FidoNet module look up the phone number, and call off
    peak to save $.

    Well, word got around pretty fast, and nodes started springing up all
    over.  That's when we got interested in the routing ... allowing the
    creation of centralized hubs, and piggy backing mail to nodes within a
    local call to a single node thru that node.  We actually started
    dreaming one day of linking coast to coast only thru local phone
    calls!  (I wonder if you can do that today?)

    Tom took on the responsibility of dishing out the node numbers - this
    was the only way we could eliminate duplicates - an since we only
    allocated 3 positions for node numbers (nnn), soon we had a *big*
     FIDONEWS 13-32               Page 19                   5 Aug 1996


    problem.  We had close to 1000 nodes and growing.  Now what?  We took
    the opportunity to alter the Nodelist format so that we had regions
    and nodes within regions ... (region-node), divided the USA into
    regions, and appointed Sysops as "region leaders" who could give out
    node numbers and maintain the nodelist for that region.  These lists
    were then distributed, and merged together at each site by add-in
    nodelist generators.

    Another stage in development was when we went international.  We
    decided to add in Zones (Zone-Region-Node) *before* we ran out of
    Regions.

    This was pretty cool ... for a while ... and then IFNA got formed.
    The International FidoNet Association ... oh boy!  Enter politics.
    For those of you that have never been there, you really don't know
    what missed.

    Mandates that the entire structure, protocol, and operation be
    documented ... and distributed ... all from people that had nothing to
    do with the design, creation or maintenance of the FidoNet software.
    Another demand by IFNA was that no changes could be made to the
    FidoNet system without approval by the Technical committee.  A lot of
    really neat things came out of the members (not committees) ... like
    Echos, which are similar to Discussion lists (library@infinite and
    library@novell) and listservers on the internet.  We also saw the
    creation of the internet gateway to FidoNet.

    People got upset ... alternate nets got created (AlterNet, etc.), and
    people left.  What started as a grass-roots communications network
    grew rapidly out of control due to internal political struggles.

    I got disillusioned, and resigned from zone 1, region 2, node number
    2.

    (I still love e-mail, though! <g>)

    P.S.  Anyone out there know where Tom Jennings is?  Perhaps we need to
    get his expertise involved with MHS!

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

    Well that's it folks.   Hope it answers some questions.

    Cheers,

    Bart

     * Origin: The Unofficial BBS  (1:387/615)

     -30-

    [end of Part 3 of 3]

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


     FIDONEWS 13-32               Page 20                   5 Aug 1996


    [This was the VERY FIRST FidoNews issue. It is published here
     as part of our continuing History of FidoNet information. The
     spelling errors of the original have been corrected. The
     content is unchanged. Ed.]


    Volume 1, Number 1                              1 Dec 84
    +----------------------------------------------------------+
    |                                             _            |
    |                                            /  \          |
    |    - FidoNews -                           /|oo \         |
    |                                          (_|  /_)        |
    |  Fido and FidoNet                         _`@/_ \    _   |
    |    Users  Group                          |     | \   \\  |
    |     Newsletter                           | (*) |  \   )) |
    |                             ______       |__U__| /  \//  |
    |                            / FIDO \       _//|| _\   /   |
    |                           (________)     (_/(_|(____/    |
    |                                                (jm)      |
    +----------------------------------------------------------+

    Editor:    Tom Jennings
    Publisher: Fido #1

                           HOT NEWS

                   THE FIRST FIDONET NEWSLETTER

            Well, it finally got done ... FidoNews, the FidoNet Users
    Group newsletter is real. It will be published once a week, possibly
    once every two weeks if it gets busy.

            There will be at least three regular "features": the node
    list, Fido list, and the route list. Hopefully there will be more
    interesting things later. Now you have a reason to get FidoNews.

            I, Tom Jennings, am apparently the editor. I do NOT wish to
    be editor; the last thing I need is something else to do.  See the
    HELP WANTED section. (Not kidding)

           We (ahem) are also looking for a publisher; I will do that
    for a while at least. A freebie outgoing host would be nice.  Not a
    short term problem, though, like finding an Editor in Chief is.

            *All* articles, etc are user submitted; anything and
    everything, as per usual Fidonet protocols (Which isn't saying much
    ..) Ideas, problems, questions, tips, programs, hardware, etc etc
    are all welcome. See the ARTICLE article.  (sic)

           Distribution is still up in the air; it will be mailed to at
    least six hosts across the country. For now, it is available on #1
    and #51. Possibly elsewhere in this thing you'll find an article on
    distribution.


                   THE FIDONET USERS GROUP
     FIDONEWS 13-32               Page 21                   5 Aug 1996


            Oh yeah, I did mention that ... I hereby declare all Fido
    users and sysops members of the FidoNet Users Group.  Sounds pretty
    stupid, huh? Well ... If there are 100 Fido systems around the
    country, and each has at least 100 users, that's 10,000 people.  Any
    group that large has advantages, if nothing other than letters to
    the editor of your favorite magazine.  This is just a brainstorm at
    this point, but is something to keep in mind.

             To make this fake club at least appear real, I am trying to
    decide whether or not to have bumper stickers made. This will be 3
    3/4" X 8 1/2" white vinyl, with black artwork, will have the
    requisite doggie, the words "FidoNet Bulletin Board Network" and
    "Fido Node #" on it, and a place for a phone number, and blank
    space. These will cost $165.00 for 500 stickers, or about $230.00
    for 1000. I'll pay part of it ($40.00?) but no more; if I get
    promises to buy say $125.00's worth, I'll have them made, and sell
    them at cost.  (They cost about 34 cents each; plus 20 cents
    postage, plus envelopes, etc, call it a buck a piece.)

            The real reason for this is so I can have one, but I don't
    want to spend $165 for it!

                  EDITOR'S SOAP BOX

                 ARTICLE SUBMISSION

            The format of this thing is totally ad hoc; please make
    recommendations as to formats, sections needed, liked, or hated,
    columns you'd like to see, or see removed, anything at all.  If you
    want to submit something regularly, we can start a column for you.

            You are ENCOURAGED to send things in for the newsletter.
    ANYTHING is fit for the newsletter, such as a description of your
    board, problems found, questions, jokes, fixes, horror stories about
    wrong FidoNet numbers, things for sale, etc etc etc.

               SUBMITTING AN ARTICLE

            An article should have your name, node number (if
    applicable), followed by the text. Text can be any ASCII derivative;
    WordStar, soft paragraphs, 8th bit set, etc are all OK.

            Articles can be uploaded at either Fido #1 or #51, into the
    NEWS File Area, or by sending it by FidoNet. There is a convention
    for naming the files, so that the newsletter can be published
    automatically.

                   ARTICLE FILENAMES

            file.ART        For article type things
            file.SAL        Things for sale
            file.NOT        Notices
            file.MSC        Miscellaneous things
            file.EDT        an Editorial
            file.NEW        News items
            file.WNT        Wanted items
     FIDONEWS 13-32               Page 22                   5 Aug 1996


            Make sure the name is unique, especially if you send it by
    FidoNet, so you don't overwrite another article.


                        NEWS

                 HOW THIS IS PUBLISHED

            This is a totally electronic newsletter; articles are
    written of course by users and sysops, but all other parts and
    procedures are machine generated.

            For each newsletter, the Editor (that's me folks) does the
    date and volume of the title page (tough job), and whatever
    editorial there may be.

            Articles are checked out for being readable (ie.  more or
    less English language), and bum copies (bad uploads, etc) are
    deleted.

            The lists generated by FidoNet Admin (St. Louis) such as the
    node list, Fido list, and the route list, come in via FidoNet during
    the week.

            On the day the newsletter is to be published, Fido #1 runs
    the text formatter (as a schedule) to produce the newsletter, using
    all the articles, the node and Fido lists.  The completed newsletter
    is then copied into the NEWS file area.  All of the article
    submissions are saved as last week's news, and deleted to make room
    for next weeks.

            Some canned messages are copied into Fido 1's mail area,
    which file attaches the newsletter to the distribution points.  This
    completes the FidoNews Newsletter publication.  FIDO SECURITY -Tom
    Jennings

            Fido is pretty secure, but there have been a few instances
    where callers gave themselves SYSOP privileges, and ran amok ...
    the cure is quite simple.

            NEVER NEVER NEVER have your "main" Fido directory available
    as a download or upload area. Always make sure there is no path that
    can reach your .BBS files. It is OK to have it as a SYSOP only area,
    never let it be accessed by NORMAL users.

            If it is available, all someone has to do is get a copy of
    SYSOP.EXE, run it, and make a USER.BBS with them as SYSOP privilege.
    After uploading this file, they call back in, with the new name, and
    bingo! they are in control.

            A nastier version of this is to download your current user
    list, use SYSOP.EXE to upgrade them (or two, or three ... in case
    you find one of them) the upload it.

            If this happens to you, delete USER.BBS *immediately*.  Fix
    it so that the Fido area is not available to users, and then you
     FIDONEWS 13-32               Page 23                   5 Aug 1996


    will be safe.

            Better do it quick, now that it's all documented here.


                       NOTICES


                      FOR SALE


                       WANTED

                     THE ROUTE LIST

            This is the latest route list (ROUTE.BBS). Please put this
    into ROUTE.BBS if you are not part of a local Fidonet Host system.
    If you are (or think you are) contact the host nearest you.  One way
    to tell is to poke through FIDOLIST, and see if a local system found
    there is also in the list below.

    Route-To 1
    1,99
    Route-To 27
    14,21,27,44,45,73,202,310,315,318
    Route-To 51
    4,10,16,17,22,51,65
    Route-To 56
    56,77
    Route-To 59
    59,309
    Route-To 61
    61,302
    Route-To 69
    63,69
    Route-To 85
    85,306,308,312,326
    Route-To 79
    79,204,205,317
    Route-To 207
    42,203,207,320
    Route-To 327
    327,328

     -30-

    [How many of you still around remember what this Route-to file
     was for? [grin] Ed.]


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

     FIDONEWS 13-32               Page 24                   5 Aug 1996


    =================================================================
                              WE GET EMAIL
    =================================================================

    --- Following message extracted from NETMAIL @ 1:374/14 ---
        By Christopher Baker on Sat Aug 03 12:03:44 1996

    From: Kerry Grissett @ 1:3607/4
    To: Christopher Baker @ 1:374/14
    Date: 03 Aug 96  01:47:15
    Subj: FIDONEWS echo

    Hey Chris,

    First let me thank you for taking over the editing of FIDONEWS!  Your
    efforts and changes to our "rag" have made it, once again, something
    worth reading and with the "History" section, something worth saving!

    Now, to the point(s) of my message...

    Is the FIDONEWS echo going to be carried on Planet Connect?  If so,
    when?

    Also, this may be more than you want to do, but I thought it might be
    of use...

    The version of FIDONEWS is published with the "next page" printer
    control codes in place.  I would love to automate a process where the
    FIDONEWS is incorporated as a bulletin on my system, processing
    updates as they come in.  The control code causes a problem, though.
    I see 2 solutions, having a program to strip the code before posting
    it as a bulletin or dual versions of FIDONEWS.

    If you know how I could *easily* strip the page codes in a batch file
    automatically, then I'll try that. <g>

    Thanks again and keep up the excellent work!

    Kerry Grissett
    NC3607
    [email protected]

    P.S.
    You may post this in FIDONEWS if you see fit.

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

    Area: Sent_Netmail

    Date : Jul 13 '96, 08:52
    From : Cindy Ingersoll 1:2623/71.0
    To   : Christopher Baker
    Subj : Fidonews: R13 Sinking...
    _____________________________________________________________________

    Where are all the *Cs?  Philip Dampiere (R13C) seems to have
     FIDONEWS 13-32               Page 25                   5 Aug 1996


    disappeared.  It's time for replacements.  Bob Satti doesn't seem
    inclined to do anything about the situation either, so how do we go
    about replacing him?

    In the meantime, I'm a node without a net.  The fellow who 'took over'
    as our N2623C insists on removing my node, just 'cos he don't like
    me'.  That's pretty much the expected in this region. I've been trying
    to resolve the situation, but the NC refuses to discuss the issue, no
    replies from the RC.  I've been given a temporary node # in another
    net, until such time as R13
    and South Jersey's net 2623 have *Cs that follow fidonet policy & do
    not delete nodes on their whim.

    -1:2623/71

     CiAo
    ---




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

     FIDONEWS 13-32               Page 26                   5 Aug 1996


    =================================================================
                                NET HUMOR
    =================================================================


    From: [email protected]
    Comments: Authenticated sender is <[email protected]>
    To: [email protected]
    Date: Wed, 24 Jul 1996 01:10:18 +45
    Subject: TopFive -- 7/24/96 -- Reasons Dogs Don't Use Computers
    Reply-To: [email protected]
    Sender: [email protected]

                _____________________________________
      _________|                                     |________
      \        |         The Top Five List           |       /
       \       |          www.topfive.com            |      /
        \      |                                     |     /
         \     |     Sponsored by Windows Sources    |    /
          >    |          www.wsources.com           |   <
         /     |                                     |    \
        /      |           July 24, 1996             |     \
       /       |_____________________________________|      \
      /___________)                               (__________\


     [ This list copyright 1996 by Chris White and Ziff-Davis ]
     [ *To forward or repost, you must include this section.* ]
     [ The Top Five List    [email protected]   www.topfive.com ]


         The Top 5 Reasons Dogs Don't Use Computers

     20> Can't stick their heads out of Windows '95.

     19> Fetch command not available on all platforms.

     18> Hard to read the monitor with your head cocked to one side.

     17> Too difficult to "mark" every website they visit.

     16> Can't help attacking the screen when they hear "You've
         Got Mail."

     15> Fire hydrant icon simply frustrating.

     14> Involuntary tail wagging is dead giveaway they're browsing
         www.pethouse.com instead of working.

     13> Keep bruising noses trying to catch that MPEG frisbee.

     12> Not at all fooled by Chuckwagon Screen Saver.

     11> Still trying to come up with an "emoticon" that signifies
         tail-wagging.

     FIDONEWS 13-32               Page 27                   5 Aug 1996


     10> Oh, but they WILL... with the introduction of the
         Microsoft Opposable Thumb.

      9> Three words: Carpal Paw Syndrome

      8> 'Cause dogs ain't GEEKS!  Now, cats, on the other hand...

      7> Barking in next cube keeps activating YOUR voice
         recognition software.

      6> SmellU-SmellMe still in beta test.

      5> SIT and STAY were hard enough, GREP and AWK are out
         of the question!

      4> Saliva-coated mouse gets mighty difficult to manuever.

      3> Annoyed by lack of newsgroup, alt.pictures.master's.leg.

      2> Butt-sniffing more direct and less deceiving than
         online chat rooms.


         and the Number 1 Reason Dogs Don't Use Computers...


      1> TrO{gO DsA[M,bN HyAqR4tDc TgrOo TgYPmE WeIjTyH P;AzWqS,. *

    Today's Top Five List contributors are:
    ----------------------------------------------------------------
    John Hering, Alexandria, VA       --  1 (5th #1) (Hall of Famer)
    Sterling Smith, Houston, TX       --  1 (3rd #1)
    Bruce Ansley, Baltimore, MD       --  2, 14 (Hall of Famer)
    Lloyd Jacobson, Washington, DC    --  3, 11
    Rob Winchell, Arlington, MA       --  4, 12
    Lisa Stepaniak, Dearborn, MI      --  5, 20 (Rookies!)
    Lee Oeth, San Diego, CA           --  6, 20
    Matt Diamond, Holland, PA         --  6, 17
    Doug Johnson, Santa Cruz, CA      --  7, 9
    Marc Cukier, Toronto, Canada      --  8
    Vickie Neilson, Carlsbad, CA      --  9
    Boyd Johnson, San Diego, CA       --  9
    Kermit Woodall, Richmond, VA      --  9
    David Hyatt, New York, NY         -- 10
    Jim Louderback, New York, NY      -- 11      (Hall of Famer)
    Paul Lara, Temple, TX             -- 13
    Tony Hill, Minneapolis, MN        -- 15      (Hall of Famer)
    Jennifer Hart, Arlington, VA      -- 16
    Steve Hurd, San Ramon, CA         -- 17
    Ed Brooksbank, Sacramento, CA     -- 17
    Randy Wohl, Ma'ale Adumim, Israel -- 17, 18
    Chris McKenna, Malibu, CA         -- 17
    Greg Pettit, Houston, TX          -- 17, 20
    Dennis Koho, Keizer, OR           -- 19
    Chris White, New York, NY         -- List owner/editor
    ----------------------------------------------------------------
     FIDONEWS 13-32               Page 28                   5 Aug 1996


    Selected from 140 submissions by 47 contributors.
    ================================================================

                *** Windows Sources Spotlight ***

                   > Hot Spots for NT 4.0 at <

       www.zdnet.com/wsources/content/current/exchange.html

    ================================================================
                  Top Five List Helpful Hints

    To subscribe:  Send a message to "[email protected]"
       with "subscribe topfive" in the body of the message.
    To unsubscribe:  Send a message to "[email protected]"
       with "unsubscribe topfive" in the body of the message.
    For further info (including how to become a contributor):
       Send an e-mail message to "[email protected]" with the word
       "INFO" in the *subject* line of the message.
    ================================================================
                    Maybe It Just Might Be True!

             Elvis is still alive, and is living in Vegas
                 disguised as an Elvis impersonator.
                     (Thanks to Agnes Tomorrow)

     (Send items to [email protected] with "MAYBE" in the subject.)
    ================================================================
    ** The Top Five List                   http://www.topfive.com **
    ** Sponsored by Windows Sources       http://www.wsources.com **

              * 1> Too Damn Hard To Type With Paws.

     -30-





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

     FIDONEWS 13-32               Page 29                   5 Aug 1996


    =================================================================
                             COMIX IN ASCII
    =================================================================


    --- Following message extracted from Z1_BACKBONE @ 1:374/14 ---
        By Christopher Baker on Mon Jul 31 22:38:59 1995

    From: George Vandervort
    To: Scott R. Godin
    Date: 30 Jul 95  10:17:02
    Subj: Map This!

    Here's a start, your welcome to use this Map as a sample to complete
    your on Fido USA Map?  <grin>

    === Cut ===

    Here's a Birds EYE view..

             Central Texas Sysop Association (Fido 1:382/89)        ..
     ........................................                      :  :
     :  SEA   ::           :   BIS :    |  ' ., ,.                :  PWM
     : .......: : MSO   BIL:........:   |.''.. '..'.          .--.  .''
     : PDX   .'   :........:        :   MSP   ':.'  :.     .. SYR:    BOS
     :       :  BOI :      :    PIR :......    MKE    :   :......:...:
     :.......:......:      :'''''''':  DSM :---::...-'''': PIT     JFK
     :    :     :   :.... CYS.       :.....'    :  :  DAY:......:.:
     :    : RNO :  SLC:      :'''''''' MCI :    :  :....'  .'   :
     : SFO'    :     :    DEN     ICT :   STL  :.'    :..'   RIC:
      :    '.  :.....:......:.........:......:'- BNA-'-.'''''''':
       :.    ':      :     :''':   OKC:      :........:-----.  CHS
         ' LAX:   PHX:  ABQ:   '--....:.  LIT   :  : ATL.   .'
           '':.      :     :     DFW   :---: JAN: MGM    ' SAV
               '''--.::':'''           '.  '..  : ..:.....:
                         :  ..  AUS   ..:... MSY'''''''-.  :
                          ''  : SAT .'      '''         :   :
                               '.  /                     '.  MIA
                                  . BRO                    '.'

    === Cut ===

    Regards,
    George Vandervort
    InterNet: [email protected] (No FTP)
    Origin: Lounge Lizard's Retreat <tm> (1:382/8)

     -30-

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

     FIDONEWS 13-32               Page 30                   5 Aug 1996


    =================================================================
                    ADVERTISE YOUR FREE SERVICE/EVENT
    =================================================================


    Sorcery v0.72 Wide Beta RELEASED!
    by Chris Reiter, [1:280/205/[email protected]]

    SORCERY v.72a - Imagine yourself a wise sorcerer, with many spells
    at your fingertips. What would you do? Be nice? Nah. You'd kill off
    everyone in your path. Now more bug fixes and additions than ever!

    Sorcery is now in Wide Beta, and can be FREQ'd from 1:280/205, with
    the most current version under the magic name: SORCERY. It can also
    be downloaded from The Dead Zone BBS (913)362-9922. Logon as GUEST
    with the password GUEST. Select "D" from the Main Menu. That will
    download the most current version of Sorcery also.

    Any questions can be directed to Chris Reiter, 1:280/205, or
    [email protected].



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

     FIDONEWS 13-32               Page 31                   5 Aug 1996


    =================================================================
                          QUESTION OF THE WEEK
    =================================================================


    Back in the dim time when I was NC135 in Miami_FL, we used to have an
    annual picnic for all the Sysops and Users. We had a barbecue and
    games related to computing like floppy disk throwing. One year, we
    even had a hard disk toss. [grin]

    So, the Question of the Week is:

    Do you have local FidoNet parties and what do you do there?

    Send your answers in as .ART submissions or Netmail or email to the
    addresses listed in the FidoNews Information section.

    Thanks.

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

     FIDONEWS 13-32               Page 32                   5 Aug 1996


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

                               Future History

    15 Aug 1996
       Liberation Day, South Korea

    12 Oct 1996
       General Elections, New Zealand.

    29 Oct 1996
       Republic Day, Turkey.

     5 Nov 1996
       Election day, U.S.A.

     5 Nov 1996
       Guy Fawkes Day, England.

     1 Dec 1996
       Twelfth Anniversary of FidoNews Volume 1, Issue 1.

    12 Dec 1996
       Constitution Day, Russia

    26 Jan 1997
       Australia Day, Australia.

     6 Feb 1997
       Waitangi Day, New Zealand.

    16 Feb 1997
       Eleventh Anniversary of invention of Echomail by Jeff Rush.

    11 Jun 1997
       Independence Day, Russia

    26 Jul 1997
       FidoNews Editor turns 48.

     6 Dec 1997
       Gallileo takes close-ups of Europa to resolution
       of 11 meters at the north pole.

     1 Dec 1998
       Fifteenth Anniversary of release of Fido version 1 by
       Tom Jennings.

    -- If YOU have something which you would like to see in this
       Future History, please send a note to the FidoNews Editor.

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

     FIDONEWS 13-32               Page 33                   5 Aug 1996


    =================================================================
                        FIDONET SOFTWARE LISTING
    =================================================================


    Latest Greatest Software Versions
    by Peter E. Popovich, 1:363/264

    This column will once again become a regular feature of Fidonews.

    Upon suggestion from ARTSPEC.DOC, I'll write a smidge about myself:
    Hi. I'm Peter Popovich. I first read Fidonews around 1986. I actually
    used to print the darn thing out and read it thoroughly even though I
    wasn't running a Fido-compatible BBS at the time. I've only been a
    node for two years, but I do remember the "good old days".

    About two weeks ago, I opened my big mouth and agreed that reviving
    this column would be a good idea. The result: I got "volunteered" to
    write it. Critics beware: Our esteemed editor has a talent for
    turning suggestions for improvement into offers to write columns. ;-)

    When I accepted the inevitable, Chris forwarded me a copy of the most
    recent versions list -- 4 1/2 years old! Rather than tracking down
    authors for each of the hundreds of programs below, I figured I'd run
    the last list verbatim and use it as a starting point. Hopefully the
    rather limited readership will start making noises to authors and the
    authors will write in with updates. The added benefit is that it will
    help encourage active reading of the good ol' Snooze. ;-)

    I expect the format to change slightly in the coming weeks. For those
    packages I hear from authors for, I'm considering adding one Fidonet
    address for contact and one magic name for FREQ at that site --
    hopefully I can keep it down to one line per program:

    Program Name   Version S? Contact Name      Node        Magic Name
    ----------------------------------------------------------------
    NNNNNNNNNNNNNN VVVVVVV X  FFFFFFFFLLLLLLLL  X:XXXX/XXXX MMMMMMMM

    (S: Shareware, freeware, crippleware, etc. -- I'm still thinking
    about how best to classify this. I may modify the flags used in the
    old format as well.)

    One additional note: Articles submitted directly to the Fidonews
    Editor don't get forwarded to me; I don't see them until they're
    published. If you want your entry changed in a timely fashion, you
    are encouraged to send me notice of an update directly. I'll be happy
    to put blurbs about new versions in a leading section (no vaporware,
    please). As always, authors are encouraged to submit articles as
    well.

    Constructive criticism on format and procedure is welcome.


    Updates and suggestions should be sent to: Peter Popovich, 1:363/264

    -=- Snip -=-
     FIDONEWS 13-32               Page 34                   5 Aug 1996


    Latest Update: 01/27/92
    ---------------------------------------------------------------------

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

    BBS Software            NodeList Utilities      Compression
    Name         Version    Name         Version    Utilities
    --------------------    --------------------    Name         Version
    ADTBBS          1.50@   EditNL          4.00    --------------------
    Aurora         1.32b    FDND            1.10    ARC             7.12
    DMG             2.93    MakeNL          2.31    ARJ             2.20
    DreamBBS        1.05    Parselst        1.33    LHA             2.13
    Fido/FidoNet   12.21    Prune           1.40    PAK             2.51
    Genesis Deluxe   3.2    SysNL           3.14    PKPak           3.61
    GSBBS           3.02    XlatList        2.90    PKZip           1.10
    Kitten          1.01    XlaxNode/Diff   2.53
    Lynx            1.30
    Maximus-CBCS    2.00
    Merlin         1.39n    Other Utilities(A-M)    Other Utilities(N-Z)
    Opus           1.73a*   Name         Version    Name         Version
    Oracomm       5.M.6P@   --------------------    --------------------
    Oracomm Plus     6.E@   2DAPoint        1.50*   Netsex         2.00b
    PCBoard        14.5a    4Dog/4DMatrix   1.18    OFFLINE         1.35
    Phoenix         1.07*   ARCAsim         2.31    Oliver          1.0a
    ProBoard        1.20*   ARCmail         3.00*   OSIRIS CBIS     3.02
    QuickBBS        2.75    Areafix         1.20    PKInsert        7.10
    RBBS           17.3b    ConfMail        4.00    PolyXarc        2.1a
    RemoteAccess    1.11*   Crossnet         1.5    QM             1.00a
    SimplexBBS      1.05    DOMAIN          1.42    QSort           4.04
    SLBBS          2.15C*   DEMM            1.06    RAD Plus        2.11
    Socrates        1.11    DGMM            1.06    Raid            1.00
    SuperBBS        1.12*   DOMAIN          1.42    RBBSMail        18.0
    SuperComm       0.99    EEngine         0.32    ScanToss        1.28
    TAG             2.5g    EMM             2.11*   ScMail          1.00
    TBBS             2.1    EZPoint          2.1    ScEdit          1.12
    TComm/TCommNet   3.4    FGroup          1.00    Sirius          1.0x
    Telegard         2.7*   FidoPCB         1.0s@   SLMail         2.15C
    TPBoard          6.1    FNPGate         2.70    SquishMail      1.00
    TriTel           2.0*   GateWorks      3.06e    StarLink        1.01
    WildCat!        3.02*   GMail           2.05    TagMail         2.41
    WWIV            4.20    GMD             3.10    TCOMMail         2.2
    XBBS            1.77    GMM             1.21    Telemail         1.5*
                            GoldEd         2.31p    TGroup          1.13
                            GROUP           2.23    TIRES           3.11
    Network Mailers         GUS             1.40    TMail           1.21
    Name         Version    Harvey's Robot  4.10    TosScan         1.00
    --------------------    HeadEdit        1.18    UFGATE          1.03
    BinkleyTerm     2.50    HLIST           1.09    VPurge         4.09e
    D'Bridge        1.30    IMAIL           1.20    WEdit            2.0@
    Dreamer         1.06    InterPCB        1.31    WildMail        2.00
    Dutchie        2.90c    ISIS            5.12@   WMail            2.2
    FrontDoor       2.02    Lola           1.01d    WNode            2.1
    InterMail       2.01    Mosaic         1.00b    XRS             4.99
    Milqtoast       1.00    MailBase       4.11a@   XST             2.3e
    PreNM           1.48    MSG              4.5*   YUPPIE!         2.00
     FIDONEWS 13-32               Page 35                   5 Aug 1996


    SEAdog          4.60    MSGED           2.06    ZmailH          1.25
    SEAmail         1.01    MsgLnk          1.0c    ZSX             2.40
    TIMS       1.0(mod8)    MsgMstr        2.03a
                            MsgNum         4.16d
                            MSGTOSS          1.3


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

    BBS Software            Other Utilities(A-M     Other Utilities(N-Z)
    Name         Version    Name         Version    Name         Version
    --------------------    --------------------    --------------------
    Kitten          1.01    ARC             7.12    oMMM            1.52
    Maximus-CBCS    2.00    ARC2            6.01    Omail            3.1
    SimplexBBS   1.04.02+   ConfMail        4.00    Parselst        1.33
                            EchoStat         6.0    PKZip           1.02
                            EZPoint          2.1    PMSnoop         1.30
    Network Mailers         FGroup          1.00    PolyXOS2        2.1a
    Name         Version    GROUP           2.23    QSort            2.1
    --------------------    LH2             2.11    Raid             1.0
    BinkleyTerm     2.50    MSG              4.2    Remapper         1.2
    BinkleyTerm(S)  2.50    MsgEd          2.06c    SquishMail      1.00
    BinkleyTerm/2-MT        MsgLink         1.0c    Tick             2.0
                 1.40.02    MsgNum         4.16d    VPurge         4.09e
    SEAmail         1.01


                            Xenix/Unix 386
                            --------------

    BBS Software            Network Mailers         Other Utilities
    Name         Version    Name         Version    Name         Version
    --------------------    --------------------    --------------------
                                                    ARC             5.21
                                                    C-LHARC         1.00
                                                    MsgEd           2.06
     |Contact:  Willy Paine 1:343/15,|              MSGLINK         1.01
     |or Eddy van Loo 2:285/406      |              oMMM            1.42
                                                    Omail           1.00
                                                    ParseLst        1.32
                                                    Unzip           3.10
                                                    VPurge          4.08
                                                    Zoo             2.01


                            QNX
                            ---

    BBS Software            Network Mailers         Other Utilities
    Name         Version    Name         Version    Name         Version
    --------------------    --------------------    --------------------
    QTach2          1.09    QMM            0.50s    Kermit          2.03
                                                    QCP             1.02
    NodeList Utilities      Archive Utilities       QSave            3.6
    Name         Version    Name         Version    QTTSysop      1.07.1
     FIDONEWS 13-32               Page 36                   5 Aug 1996


    --------------------    --------------------    SeaLink         1.05
    QNode           2.09    Arc             6.02    XModem          1.00
                            LH            1.00.2    YModem          1.01
                            Unzip           2.01    ZModem         0.02f
                            Zoo             2.01


                            Apple II
                            --------

    BBS Software            Network Mailers         Other Utilities
    Name         Version    Name         Version    Name         Version
    --------------------    --------------------    --------------------
    DDBBS +          8.0*   Fruity Dog       2.0    deARC2e          2.1
    GBBS Pro         2.1                            ProSel          8.70*
                                                    ShrinkIt        3.30*
     |Contact: Dennis McClain-Furmanski 1:275/42|   ShrinkIt GS     1.04


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

    BBS Software            Network Mailers         Other Utilities
    Name         Version    Name         Version    Name         Version
    --------------------    --------------------    --------------------
    Daisy             2j    Daisy Mailer    0.38    Filer            2-D
                                                    MsgUtil          2.5
                                                    Nodecomp        0.37
                                                    PackUser           4
                                                    UNARC.Com       1.20


                            Macintosh
                            ---------

    BBS Software            Network Mailers         Other Software
    Name         Version    Name         Version    Name         Version
    --------------------    --------------------    --------------------
    FBBS            0.91    Copernicus       1.0    ArcMac           1.3
    Hermes         1.6.1    Tabby            2.2    AreaFix          1.6
    Mansion         7.15                            Compact Pro     1.30
    Precision Sys. 0.95b                            EventMeister     1.0
    Red Ryder Host   2.1                            Export          3.21
    Telefinder Host                                 Import           3.2
                 2.12T10                            LHARC           0.41
                                                    MacArd          0.04
                                                    Mantissa        3.21
    Point System                                    Mehitable        2.0
    Software                                        OriginatorII     2.0
    Name         Version                            PreStamp         3.2
    --------------------                            StuffIt Classic  1.6
    Copernicus      1.00                            SunDial          3.2
    CounterPoint    1.09                            TExport         1.92
    MacWoof          1.1                            TimeStamp        1.6
                                                    TImport         1.92
                                                    Tset             1.3
     FIDONEWS 13-32               Page 37                   5 Aug 1996


                                                    TSort            1.0
                                                    UNZIP          1.02c
                                                    Zenith           1.5
                                                    Zip Extract     0.10


                            Amiga
                            -----

    BBS Software            Network Mailers         Other Software
    Name         Version    Name         Version    Name         Version
    --------------------    --------------------    --------------------
    4D-BBS          1.65    BinkleyTerm     1.00    Areafix         1.48
    DLG Pro.       0.96b    TrapDoor        1.80    AReceipt         1.5
    Falcon CBCS     1.00    WelMat          0.44    ChameleonEdit   0.11
    Starnet         1.0q@                           ConfMail        1.12
    TransAmiga      1.07                            ElectricHerald  1.66
    XenoLink         1.0    Compression             FFRS             1.0@
                            Utilities               FileMgr         2.08
                            Name         Version    Fozzle           1.0@
    NodeList Utilities      --------------------    Login           0.18
    Name         Version    AmigArc         0.23    MessageFilter   1.52
    --------------------    booz            1.01    Message View    1.12
    ParseLst        1.66    LHARC           1.30    oMMM            1.50
    Skyparse        2.30    LhA             1.10    PolyXAmy        2.02
    TrapList        1.40    LZ              1.92    RMB             1.30
                            PkAX            1.00    Roof           46.15
                            UnZip            4.1    RoboWriter      1.02
                            Zippy (Unzip)   1.25    Rsh            4.07a
                            Zoo             2.01    Tick            0.75
                                                    TrapToss        1.20
    |Contact: Maximilian Hantsch 2:310/6|           Yuck!           2.02

                            Atari ST/TT
                            -----------

    BBS Software            Network Mailers         Other Utilities
    Name         Version    Name         Version    Name         Version
    --------------------    --------------------    --------------------
    FIDOdoor/ST    2.5.1    BinkleyTerm   2.40n9    ApplyList       1.00@
    FiFo            2.1v    The Box         1.95*   Burep            1.1
    LED ST          1.00                            ComScan         1.04
    MSGED           1.99                            ConfMail        4.10
    QuickBBS/ST     1.06*   NodeList  Utilities     Echoscan        1.10
                            Name         Version    FDrenum        2.5.2
                            --------------------    FastPack        1.20
    Compression             ParseList       1.30    Import          1.14
    Utilities               EchoFix         1.20    oMMM            1.40
    Name         Version    sTICK/Hatch     5.50    Pack            1.00
    --------------------                            Trenum          0.10
    ARC             6.02
    LHARC          2.01i
    PackConvert
    STZip            1.1*
    UnJARST         2.00
    WhatArc         2.02
     FIDONEWS 13-32               Page 38                   5 Aug 1996


                            Archimedes
                            ----------

    BBS Software            Network Mailers         Other Utilities
    Name         Version    Name         Version    Name         Version
    --------------------    --------------------    --------------------
    ARCbbs          1.61    BinkleyTerm             ARC             1.20
    Odyssey         0.37              2.06f-wimp    !AskFor         1.01
    RiscBBS      0.9.85m                            BatchPacker     1.00
                                                    DeLZ            0.01
                                                    MailED          0.95
                                                    NetFile         1.00
                                                    ParseLst        1.30
                                                    Raul            1.01
                                                    !Spark          2.16
                                                    !SparkMail      2.08
                                                    !SparkPlug      2.14
                                                    UnArj           2.21
                                                    UnZip           3.00
                                                    Zip             1.00


                            Tandy Color Computer 3 (OS-9 Level II)
                            --------------------------------------

    BBS Software            Compression Utility     Other Utilities
    Name         Version    Name         Version    Name         Version
    --------------------    --------------------    --------------------
    RiBBS           2.02+   Ar               1.3    Ascan            1.2
                            DeArc           5.12    AutoFRL          2.0
                            OS9Arc           1.0    Bundle           2.2
                            UnZip           3.10    CKARC            1.1
                            UnLZH            3.0    EchoCheck       1.01
                                                    FReq            2.5a
                                                    LookNode        2.00
                                                    ParseLST
                                                    PReq             2.2
                                                    RList           1.03
                                                    RTick           2.00
                                                    UnBundle         1.4
                                                    UnSeen           1.1

    --  --  --  --  --  --  --  --  --  --  --  --  --  --  --  --  --
    Key:  + - Netmail Capable (Doesn't Require Additional Mailer Software)
          * - Recently Updated Version
          @ - New Addition
    --  --  --  --  --  --  --  --  --  --  --  --  --  --  --  --  --

    NOTE: 8 Mar 92

    FidoNews versions list update process is about to change, once again.
    It will be taken over by someone else. In the mean time hold onto
    your hats (and programs).

    Watch for an announcement within a week or two.

     FIDONEWS 13-32               Page 39                   5 Aug 1996


    -=- Snip -=-

    Updates and suggestions should be sent to: Peter Popovich, 1:363/264

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

     FIDONEWS 13-32               Page 40                   5 Aug 1996


    =================================================================
                           FIDONEWS PUBLIC-KEY
    =================================================================


    [this must be copied out to a file starting at column 1 or
     it won't process under PGP as a valid public-key]


    -----BEGIN PGP PUBLIC KEY BLOCK-----
    Version: 2.6.2
    Comment: Clear-signing is Electronic Digital Authenticity!

    -----END PGP PUBLIC KEY BLOCK-----


    Pending a formal decision about including 'encrypted' material inside
    FidoNews from the Zone Coordinator Council, the guts of the FidoNews
    public-key have been removed from this listing.

    File-request FNEWSKEY from 1:1/23 [1:374/14] or download it from the
    Rights On! BBS at 1-407-383-1372 anytime except 0100-0130 ET and Zone
    1 ZMH at 1200-9600+ HST/V32B.

    This section will contain only this disclaimer and instructions until
    a ZCC decision is forwarded to the Editor.

    Sorry for any inconvenience.

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

     FIDONEWS 13-32               Page 41                   5 Aug 1996


    =================================================================
                          FIDONEWS INFORMATION
    =================================================================

    ------- FIDONEWS MASTHEAD AND CONTACT INFORMATION ----------------

    Editor: Christopher Baker

    Editors Emeritii: Thom Henderson, Dale Lovell,
                      Vince Perriello, Tim Pozar,
                      Tom Jennings, Sylvia Maxwell,
                      Donald Tees

    "FidoNews Editor"
        FidoNet  1:1/23
        BBS  1-407-383-1372,  300/1200/2400/14400/V.32bis/HST(ds)

     more addresses:
        Christopher Baker -- 1:374/14, [email protected]
                                       [email protected]

    (Postal Service mailing address)
        FidoNews Editor
        P.O. Box 5921
        Titusville, FL 32783-5921
        U.S.A.


    voice:  1-407-264-2994 [1400-2100 ET only, please]
                           [1800-0100 UTC/GMT]

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

    FidoNews is published weekly by and for the members of the FIDONET
    INTERNATIONAL AMATEUR ELECTRONIC MAIL system.  It is a compilation
    of individual articles contributed by their authors or their
    authorized agents.  The contribution of articles to this compilation
    does not diminish the rights of the authors.  OPINIONS EXPRESSED in
    these articles ARE THOSE OF THE AUTHORS and not necessarily those of
    FidoNews.

    Authors retain copyright on individual works; otherwise FidoNews is
    Copyright 1996 Christopher Baker.  All rights reserved.  Duplication
    and/or distribution permitted for noncommercial purposes only.  For
    use in other circumstances, please contact the original authors, or
    the Editor.

                           =*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=

    OBTAINING COPIES: The most recent issue of FidoNews in electronic
    form may be obtained from the FidoNews Editor via manual download or
    file-request, or from various sites in the FidoNet and Internet.
    PRINTED COPIES may be obtained by sending SASE to the above postal
    address.  File-request FIDONEWS for the current Issue.  File-request
    FNEWS for the current month in one archive.  Or file-request specific
    back Issue filenames in distribution format [FNEWSDnn.LZH] for a
     FIDONEWS 13-32               Page 42                   5 Aug 1996


    particular Issue.  Monthly Volumes are available as FNWSmmmy.ZIP
    where mmm = three letter month [JAN - DEC] and y = last digit of the
    current year [6], i.e., FNWSMAY6.ZIP for all the Issues from May 96.

    Annual volumes are available as FNEWSn.ZIP where n = the Volume number
    1 - 12 for 1984 - 1995, respectively. Annual Volume archives range in
    size from 48K to 1.2M.

    INTERNET USERS: FidoNews is available via:

                         http://www.fidonet.org/fidonews.htm
                         ftp://ftp.fidonet.org/pub/fidonet/fidonews/

    STAR SOURCE for ALL Past Issues via FTP and file-request:

    Available for FReq from 1:396/1 or by anonymous FTP from ftp.sstar.com
    in the FIDONET\FNEWS directory:

      FNEWSTOC.ZIP  FidoNews, Table of Contents, all issues (1984 - 1995)
      FNEWS1.ZIP    FidoNews, Vol. 1, all issues (1984)
      FNEWS2.ZIP    FidoNews, Vol. 2, all issues (1985)
      FNEWS3.ZIP    FidoNews, Vol. 3, all issues (1986)
      FNEWS4.ZIP    FidoNews, Vol. 4, all issues (1987)
      FNEWS5.ZIP    FidoNews, Vol. 5, all issues (1988)
      FNEWS6.ZIP    FidoNews, Vol. 6, all issues (1989)
      FNEWS7.ZIP    FidoNews, Vol. 7, all issues (1990)
      FNEWS8.ZIP    FidoNews, Vol. 8, all issues (1991)
      FNEWS9.ZIP    FidoNews, Vol. 9, all issues (1992)
      FNEWSA.ZIP    FidoNews, Vol. 10, all issues (1993)
      FNEWSB.ZIP    FidoNews, Vol. 11, all issues (1994)
      FNEWSC.ZIP    FidoNews, Vol. 12, all issues (1995)
      FNEWSD01.ZIP  FidoNews, Vol. 13, Nr. 01 (January 1, 1996)
      FNEWSD02.ZIP  FidoNews, Vol. 13, Nr. 02 (January 8, 1996)
       (etc)
      FNEWSD31.ZIP  FidoNews, Vol. 13, Nr. 31 (July 29, 1996)
      FNEWSD32.ZIP  FidoNews, Vol. 13, Nr. 32 (August 5, 1996)
       (etc)

    Each yearly archive also contains a listing of the Table-of-Contents
    for that year's issues.  The total set is currently about 11 Megs.

                           =*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=

    A PGP generated public-key is available for the FidoNews Editor from
    1:1/23 [1:374/14] by file-request for FNEWSKEY or by download from
    Rights On! BBS at 1-407-383-1372 as FIDONEWS.ASC in File Area 18.  It
    is also posted twice a month into the PKEY_DROP Echo available on the
    Zone 1 Echomail Backbone.

                               *=*=*=*=*

    Anyone interested in getting a copy of the INTERNET GATEWAY FAQ may
    file-request GISFAQ.ZIP from 1:133/411.0, or send an internet message
    to [email protected].  No message or text or subject is
    necessary.  The address is a keyword that will trigger the automated
    response.  People wishing to send inquiries directly to David Deitch
     FIDONEWS 13-32               Page 43                   5 Aug 1996


    should now mail to [email protected] rather than the
    previously listed address.

                               *=*=*=*=*

    SUBMISSIONS: You are encouraged to submit articles for publication in
    FidoNews. Article submission requirements are contained in the file
    ARTSPEC.DOC, available from the FidoNews Editor, or file-requestable
    from 1:1/23 as file "ARTSPEC.DOC".  ALL Zone Coordinators also have
    copies of ARTSPEC.DOC. Please read it.

    "Fido", "FidoNet" and the dog-with-diskette are U.S. registered
    trademarks of Tom Jennings, and are used with permission.

            "Disagreement is actually necessary,
             or we'd all have to get in fights
             or something to amuse ourselves
             and create the requisite chaos."
                               -Tom Jennings

     -30-


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



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