F I D O N E W S -- Volume 13, Number 51 16 December 1996

F I D O N E W S -- Volume 13, Number 51 16 December 1996
+----------------------------+-----------------------------------------+
| The newsletter of the | ISSN 1198-4589 Published by: |
| FidoNet community | "FidoNews" |
| _ | 1-904-409-7040 [1:1/23] |
| / \ | |
| /|oo \ | |
| (_| /_) | |
| _`@/_ \ _ | |
| | | \ \\ | Editor: |
| | (*) | \ )) | Christopher Baker 1:18/14 |
| |__U__| / \// | |
| _//|| _\ / | |
| (_/(_|(____/ | |
| (jm) | Newspapers should have no friends. |
| | -- JOSEPH PULITZER |
+----------------------------+-----------------------------------------+
| Submission address: FidoNews Editor 1:1/23 |
+----------------------------------------------------------------------+
| MORE addresses: |
| |
| 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. |
+----------------------------------------------------------------------+

NO .BIO FILES RECEIVED AGAIN THIS WEEK. NO FILM AT 2300!

Table of Contents
1. EDITORIAL ................................................ 1
"Quando Omni Flunkus Moritatus!"?? ....................... 1
2. ARTICLES ................................................. 2
Program To Assist New Nodes Available For Beta Testing ... 2
3. COLUMNS .................................................. 3
FIDONET IN EUROPE ........................................ 3
4. GETTING TECHNICAL ........................................ 4
FidoNet Standard FTS-0009, MSGID/REPLY identifiers ....... 4
5. COORDINATORS CORNER ...................................... 6
Nodelist-statistics as seen from Zone-2 for day 348 ...... 6
6. NET HUMOR ................................................ 7
The Modern Days of Christmas? ............................ 7
The Ghost of Christmas Future? ........................... 9
7. COMIX IN ASCII ........................................... 13
Something Seasonal in ASCII .............................. 13
8. NOTICES .................................................. 15
Future History ........................................... 15
9. FIDONET SOFTWARE LISTING ................................. 16
Latest Greatest Software Versions ........................ 16
10. FIDONEWS PUBLIC-KEY ..................................... 23
This Space intentionally left blank? ..................... 23
11. FIDONEWS INFORMATION .................................... 24
FIDONEWS 13-51 Page 1 16 Dec 1996

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

"Quando Omni Flunkus Moritatus!"

Is this the new motto for FidoNet, FidoNews, Coordinators?

If your local public television [or commercial in Canada and who
who knows where overseas] station runs a program called "The New
Red Green Show", you may have already heard of the Possum Oath.

Red Green is is a cantankerous geezer always looking for shortcuts
to getting things done without going through any normal channels
like buying stuff he needs or using equipment as it was designed. Red
believes fun and materiel are where you 'find' them [usually after
dark].

In one episode, Red made a hovercraft out of a boat hull, a lawn
chair, a six foot wide roll of duct tape, and a CO2 fire extinguisher.
It hovered [briefly] then blasted backward into destruction. Reminds
me of some mailer software I've used. [grin]

Is there any analogy here? You decide. The new year is coming and
things are pretty much the same as ever in FidoNet. That's not
necessarily good. Is it time to make some concerted efforts at various
levels to get FidoNet moving forward again? Something not cobbled
together from bits and pieces of outdated methodology or philosophy,
perhaps? Something with less geezer-factor and whining?

Or should we just let it slide and adopt the Possum Oath as our own?

"Quando Omni Flunkus Moritatus!"

"When all else fails play dead!"

You tell me.

C.B.

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

FIDONEWS 13-51 Page 2 16 Dec 1996

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

Program To Assist New Nodes Available For Beta Testing
by Richard Bash (1:231/0)

As the NC of Net 231 in Indianapolis, Indiana, I am writing a
software package that is designed to enable a new applicant to FidoNet
to create a message to be sent to the NC (or RC, in those rare cases
where the node is under the RC) which contains his application to
FidoNet and his preliminary nodelist entry. That message would then be
used by the NC to get the data into the nodelist. This software should
make a FidoNet NC or RC's job easier as well as make life easier for a
new node.

The original idea for this program came from a now unsupported
program written by Justin Marquez ([email protected]; FidoNet
1:106/100) entitled NODEREQ.EXE. I have notified Justin I have written
a new program that was inspired by his program. The advantage of my
program, NODEDATA.EXE, is that it goes well beyond NODEREQ.EXE and is
also up-to-date with the current FidoNet requirements.

I would like to put this program out on a wide beta test and seek
the input of other FidoNet nodes. If you are interested in
participating in the testing (remove any extraneous bugs I've
overlooked in the testing to date, offer suggestions to improve the
program, etc.), please feel free to file request NODEDATA.ZIP from me
cat 1:231/0. If you provide return comments and criticisms on the
program after examining it, your name will be included in the
forthcoming documentation file thanking those who assisted in this
project. When the project is completed and a release version is ready,
you will be notified and can file request the release version for use
in your operations. There is no charge for the beta or release
versions of the software.

Again, if you are interested in participating in this beta test
program, you are welcome to file request NODEDATA.ZIP and send me your
comments. Thank you for your time.

Sincerely,

Richard Bash

1152 N. White River Parkway West Dr. - Apt. 1101
Indianapolis, IN 46222-3197
Voice: 1-317-226-9614
FAX:: 1-317-226-9616
E-mail: [email protected]
Fido: 1:231/0 or 1:231/812

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

FIDONEWS 13-51 Page 3 16 Dec 1996

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

Fidonet In Europe
-----------------
by Dave Meikle ( NOTE NEW NET ADDRESS : 2:259/24.105)

Sorry about last week , I was getting my new net address do you
forgive me ? :-) Nothing happened anyway :-(

Newz just in:

THE (UN)OFFICAL DALKEITH THISTLE F.C. Web PAGE.
http://members.aol.com/rebeljambo/thistle

Thats all folks.

Dave

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

FIDONEWS 13-51 Page 4 16 Dec 1996

=================================================================
GETTING TECHNICAL
=================================================================

[This is the final installment of the FidoNet Standards in a series
of Standards and Proposals being made in numerical order. This is
also part of our FidoNet History series. It has been reformatted
where necessary to meet the 70 column restriction.] Ed.

Document: FTS-0009
Version: 001
Date: 17-Dec-91

MSGID / REPLY
A standard for unique message identifiers
and reply chain linkage

17 December, 1991

jim nutt
1:114/30@fidonet

Status of this document:

This FTS (FidoNet(r) Technical Standard) specifies an optional
standard for the FidoNet community. Implementation of the
protocols defined in this document is not mandatory, but all
implementations of these protocols are expected to adhere to
this standard. Distribution of this document is unlimited.

Fido and FidoNet are registered marks of Tom Jennings and Fido
Software.

MSGID

A MSGID line consists of the string "^AMSGID:" (where ^A is a
control-A (hex 01) and the double-quotes are not part of the
string), followed by a space, the address of the originating
system, and a serial number unique to that message on the
originating system, i.e.:

^AMSGID: origaddr serialno

The originating address should be specified in a form that
constitutes a valid return address for the originating network.
If the originating address is enclosed in double-quotes, the
entire string between the beginning and ending double-quotes is
considered to be the orginating address. A double-quote
character within a quoted address is represented by by two
consecutive double-quote characters. The serial number may be
any eight character hexadecimal number, as long as it is unique
FIDONEWS 13-51 Page 5 16 Dec 1996

- no two messages from a given system may have the same serial
number within a three years. The manner in which this serial
number is generated is left to the implementor.

REPLY

A REPLY line consists of the string "^AREPLY:" (where ^A is a
control-A (hex 01) and the double-quotes are not part of the
string), followed by a space, and the origaddr and serialno
fields of the MSGID line of the message to which this message is
a reply, i.e.:

^AREPLY: origaddr serialno

The origaddr and serialno fields must be identical to the
corresponding fields in the MSGID of the message to which this
message is a reply. A REPLY line is never generated in a
message that is a reply to a message that does not contain a
MSGID line.

GENERAL

MSGID and REPLY lines should be placed before the text body of
the message in which they appear.

Finally, a MSGID is generated only at the time of message
creation. An existing MSGID and/or REPLY should never be
stripped from a message passing through an intermediate system.
No system should ever add an MSGID and/or REPLY to, or modify an
existing MSGID / REPLY contained in, a message not originating
on that system.

-30-

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

FIDONEWS 13-51 Page 6 16 Dec 1996

=================================================================
COORDINATORS CORNER
=================================================================

Nodelist-statistics as seen from Zone-2 for day 348
By Ward Dossche, 2:292/854
ZC/2

+----+------+------------+------------+------------+------------+--+
|Zone|Nl-320|Nodelist-327|Nodelist-334|Nodelist-341|Nodelist-348|%%|
+----+------+------------+------------+------------+------------+--+
| 1 | 11127|11127 0 |10931 -196 |10931 0 |10737 -194 |36|
| 2 | 16300|16291 -9 |16240 -51 |16185 -55 |16150 -35 |55|
| 3 | 929| 905 -24 | 886 -19 | 882 -4 | 882 0 | 3|
| 4 | 620| 589 -31 | 584 -5 | 578 -6 | 572 -6 | 2|
| 5 | 95| 94 -1 | 94 0 | 94 0 | 94 0 | 0|
| 6 | 999| 1008 9 | 1008 0 | 1006 -2 | 1003 -3 | 3|
+----+------+------------+------------+------------+------------+--+
| 30070|30014 -56 |29743 -271 |29676 -67 |29438 -238 |
+------+------------+------------+------------+------------+

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

FIDONEWS 13-51 Page 7 16 Dec 1996

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

From: "Mike Riddle" <[email protected]>
To: "Baker, Christopher" <[email protected] (Christopher Baker)
Date: Mon, 02 Dec 96 08:55:06 -0600
Reply-To: "Mike Riddle" <[email protected]>
Subject: FWD THE MODERN DAYS OF CHRISTMAS

==================BEGIN FORWARDED MESSAGE==================
>To: [email protected], [email protected],
> [email protected], [email protected],
> [email protected], [email protected], [email protected],
> [email protected], [email protected], [email protected]
>CC: [email protected]
>Subject: FWD THE MODERN DAYS OF CHRISTMAS

SEASON'S GREETINGS!

The recent announcement that Donner and Blitzen have elected to take
the early reindeer retirement package has triggered a good deal of
concern about whether they will be replaced and about other
restructuring decisions at the North Pole.

Streamlining was appropriate in view of the reality that the North
Pole no longer dominates the season's gift distribution business.
Home shopping channels and mail order catalogues have diminished
Santa's market share, and he could not sit idly by and permit further
erosion of the profit picture.

The reindeer downsizing was made possible through the purchase of a
late model Japanese sled for the CEO's annual trip. Improved
productivity from Dasher and Dancer, who summered at the Harvard
Business School, is anticipated and should take up the slack with no
discernible loss of service. Reduction in reindeer will also lessen
airborne environmental emissions for which the North Pole has been
cited and received unfavorable press.

I am pleased to inform you and yours that Rudolph's role will not be
disturbed. Tradition still counts for something at the North Pole.
Management denies, in the strongest possible language, the earlier
leak that Rudolph's nose got that way not from the cold, but from
substance abuse. Calling Rudolph "a lush who was into the sauce and
never did pull his share of the load" was an unfortunate comment, made
by one of Santa's helpers and taken out of context at a time of year
when he is known to be under executive stress.

As a further restructuring, today's global challenges require the
North Pole to continue to look for better, more competitive steps.
Effective immediately, the following economy measures are to take
place in the "Twelve Days of Christmas" subsidiary:

The partridge will be retained, but the pear tree never turned out to
be the cash crop forecasted. It will be replaced by a plastic hanging
FIDONEWS 13-51 Page 8 16 Dec 1996

plant, providing considerable savings in maintenance.

The two turtle doves represent a redundancy that is simply not cost
effective. In addition, their romance during working hours could not
be condoned. The positions are therefore eliminated.

The three French hens will remain intact. After all, everyone loves
the French.

The four calling birds were replaced by an automated voice mail
system, with a call waiting option. An analysis is underway to
determine who the birds have been calling, how often and how long they
talked.

The five golden rings have been put on hold by the Board of Directors.
Maintaining a portfolio based on one commodity could have negative
implications for institutional investors. Diversification into other
precious metals as well as a mix of T-Bills and high technology stocks
appears to be in order.

The six geese-a-laying constitute a luxury which can no longer be
afforded. It has long been felt that the production rate of one egg
per goose per day is an example of the decline in productivity. Three
geese will be let go, and an upgrading in the selection procedure by
personnel will assure management that from now on every goose it gets
will be a good one.

The seven swans-a-swimming is obviously a number chosen in better
times. Their function is primarily decorative. Mechanical swans are
on order. The current swans will be retrained to learn some new
strokes and therefore enhance their outplacement.

As you know, the eight maids-a-milking concept has been under heavy
scrutiny by the EEOC. A male/female balance in the workforce is being
sought. The more militant maids consider this a dead-end job with no
upward mobility. Automation of the process may permit the maids to
try a-mending, a-mentoring or a-mulching.

Nine ladies dancing has always been an odd number. This function will
be phased out as these individuals grow older and can no longer do the
steps.

Ten lords-a-leaping is overkill. The high cost of lords plus the
expense of international air travel prompted the compensation
committee to suggest replacing this group with ten out-of-work
congressmen. While leaping ability may be somewhat sacrificed, the
savings are significant because we expect an oversupply of unemployed
congressmen this year.

Eleven pipers piping and twelve drummers drumming is a simple case of
the band getting too big. A substitution with a string quartet, a
cutback on new music, and no uniforms will produce savings which will
drop right down to the bottom line.

We can expect a substantial reduction in assorted people, fowl,
animals, and other expenses. Though incomplete, studies indicate that
FIDONEWS 13-51 Page 9 16 Dec 1996

stretching deliveries over twelve days is inefficient. If we can drop
ship in one day, service levels will be improved.

Action is pending regarding the lawsuit filed by the attorneys'
association seeking expansion to include the legal profession
("thirteen lawyers-a-suing").

Lastly, it is not beyond consideration that deeper cuts may be
necessary in the future to stay competitive. Should that happen, the
Board will request management to scrutinize the Snow White Division to
see if seven dwarfs is the right number.

Happy Holidays!

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

===================END FORWARDED MESSAGE===================

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

From: "Mike Riddle" <[email protected]>
To: "Baker, Christopher" <[email protected] (Christopher Baker)
Date: Mon, 09 Dec 96 08:13:52 -0600
Reply-To: "Mike Riddle" <[email protected]>
Subject: Fwd: The Ghost of Christmas Future?

==================BEGIN FORWARDED MESSAGE==================

THIS IS A PARODY**THIS IS A PARODY**THIS IS A PARODY
-------------------------------

ASTOUNDING FEDERAL INDICTMENTS RELEASED, ARRESTS MADE.
by Dennis Baron

December 1996
Washington D.C.

An unprecedented number of sweeping federal indictments were made
public today. A secret Federal Grand Jury handed down hundreds of
indictments as a result of a year long investigation by a combined
governmental task force comprised of several federal agencies. This
culminated in multiple arrests.

The alleged ringleader, a Mr. Nicholas Claus (alias Santa, Jolly
Ole St. Nick) and several of his vertically challenged accomplices
were taken into custody today at their residence and workshop at the
North Pole. Agents of the FBI, BATF and INS participated in the
arrests. The U.S. Park Police unfortunately were not involved as they
got lost and could not find the staging area. Attorney General Janet
Reno led the assault on Mr. Claus's compound and is recovering from
wounds received in action. Doctors at Walter Reed Army Hospital say
the frostbite of her nose should clear up in a few days.

Details of the indictments are sketchy however the following
FIDONEWS 13-51 Page 10 16 Dec 1996

partial summary was obtained from undercover informants at Inside
Edition and Hard Copy.

1) The Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) contends that flying
reindeer are protected under the Endangered Species Act.

2) The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) notes a lack of
seat belts and air bags in Mr. Claus's sleigh and that child safety
restraints are applicable to elves.

3) The Environmental Protection Administration (EPA) claims that
an inordinate amount of soot was discharged into the atmosphere every
time Mr. Claus descended a chimney, thereby violating provisions of
the Clean Air Act. Breaking and entering charges are pending in
several state courts.

4) The Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) contends that
on numerous occasions Mr. Claus entered the US illegally without a
valid passport or visa. The ethnic origins of his alleged accomplices
(elves) has yet to be determined however none of them were able to
produce valid Green Cards at the time of apprehension.

5) The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) charges Claus with
failure to file proper flight plans along with numerous violations
of Air Safety Regulations such as multicolored running lights, lack of
passenger safety equipment, failure to properly secure cargo (toys),
and smoking a pipe while onboard an aircraft.

6) The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) claims that
Mr. Claus consistently ignored mandates of the Civil Rights Act and of
having a severe lack of minority representation and gender equity in
his elfin work force. An EEOC spokesperson told this reporter, "All
them buggers were short white men wearing real weird shoes and funky
hats". Secretary of Labor, Robert B. Reich, who was supposed to
arrive shortly, is apparently buried under a 3 1/2 ft. snowdrift. EMS
workers are attempting to locate him for comment.

7) The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has charged Mr. Claus with
failing to file any income tax returns since the inception of the
Income Tax Law and with numerous violations of the Federal Tax Code
such as failure to withhold FICA and Medicare taxes from himself and
his employees.

8) The Office of Health and Human Services attests that Claus &
Co. neglected to provide any handicapped parking spaces or wheelchair
ramps in any areas about and around the North Pole in direct violation
and disregard of The Americans With Disabilities Act. OSHA also claims
that no effort was made to remove accumulated snow from around the
North Pole thereby creating unsafe working and driving conditions
Unverified reports suggest that Secretary of Health and Human
Services, Donna Shalala, is also among the missing. She is presumed to
be in the vicinity of the heretofore mentioned Secretary of Labor.

During the raid agents of Treasury's Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco
and Firearms (BATF) seized a huge quantity of assault weapons. Agents
on site stated that "These weapons were fabricated mainly of plastic
FIDONEWS 13-51 Page 11 16 Dec 1996

and could easily slip through airport metal detectors. I'd hate to
think what would happen if these guns got into the hands of children".
Thousands of boxes of ammunition for these weapons, deceptively
labeled "CORKS", were also confiscated.

Under federal RICO Statutes all toys in the workshop and residence
were seized and impounded. The Justice Department will shortly issue
directives ordering parents to turn over all presents that their
children received last Christmas, to the nearest FBI or US Marshals
office, for use as evidence in upcoming federal trials. The
Congressional Black Caucus is expected to initiate legislation
requiring that all toys in federal custody at the conclusion of these
trials be given to the poor of Rwanda, Haiti, and Somalia.
Distribution of such toys will be at the discretion of a newly formed
Commission headed by Mr. Randall Robinson and composed of assorted
warlords and thugs from the individual countries.

As a result of the foregoing arrests, President Clinton is
expected to announce tomorrow, at a White House press conference, that
this Christmas will be canceled. Also U.N. Ambassador Madeline
Albright will petition the United Nations to impose economic sanctions
against the North Pole "until such time as all illegal activities
cease and a democratic form of government is restored". Secretary of
State Warren Christopher said we would break off diplomatic relations
with the North Pole, except for the fact that we never had any to
begin with. He is expected to schedule a Summit Meeting on this issue
just as soon as he wakes up.

On a happier note, our Co-President, Hillary Rodham Clinton, tried
to console all Americans who were feeling depressed about not being
able to receive any gifts this year. She stated that "all citizens
should urge their legislators to support the Clinton Health Security
Plan so that they can receive the gift of free health care not only at
Christmas-time, but all year round". The vice-presidents wife, Tipper,
was too depressed to comment

In somewhat related stories, Mrs. S. Claus filed for divorce
today. Speaking through her attorney, Ms. Gloria Allred, Ms. Claus
stated "That fat SOB kept me locked in the kitchen all the time baking
cookies and shining his big black boots." The only time he let me out
was to take care of those damn reindeer". Ms. Claus is facing legal
problems of her own charged with several counts of failing to clean up
after her pets, in violation of numerous local "Pooper-Scooper"
ordinances. "Getting all that crap off of all those rooftops is gonna
be a bitch, not to mention damned expensive. Wait till fatso hears my
alimony demands. He won't be saying HO!, HO!, HO!, for a helluva long
time".

When informed of the above, former Surgeon General Joceyln Elders,
evidently under the influence of some type of agitating medication
screamed "Ho's? What Ho's"? "Why can't some minority women earn a
livin' without being harassed? At least dey doin sumpin' about the rut
causes of poverty".

Also, former Agriculture Secretary Mike Espy's body was found
today in Fort Marcy Park, apparently the victim of a self-inflicted
FIDONEWS 13-51 Page 12 16 Dec 1996

gunshot wound to the back of the head. White House sources claim there
is no connection between his death and the rumor that Tyson Foods
planned to open a humpback whale blubber processing plant near the
North Pole.

(C) 1994 Dennis Baron ([email protected])

This is intended for personal use only and may be re-posted only if
not edited and appropriate credit is given.

Commercial use for profit requires permission of the author.

===================END FORWARDED MESSAGE===================

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

FIDONEWS 13-51 Page 13 16 Dec 1996

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

[Here's a very nice rendering {or is that reindeering?}.] Ed.

Date: 13 Dec 92 09:45:40
From: Drow Elf
To: All
Subj: MERRY CHRISTMAS!
______________________________________________________________________

':, ':, ,:'
'::, ,: ':, ,:'
'::, ,:' : ':, ,:'
'::, ,:' ',I/ ':, ,::
':: ,:' ---+--- '::::'
'::,:' /I', :::' ,:'
'::: : ':::, ,::'
: '::. ,: ':::,,::'
'.I/ ::::,::' ':::::'
---+--- :::::' ':::'
/I`, ':::, :::
: '::: ,:::
::: :::'
'::, ,::'
::: ,::'
':::, ,:::'
'::::, ,:::::'
':::::,,,...,,,::::::::'
'-:::::::::::'' .,,,::::'
.:',',',',','::::::::XXXX'
.,:',',',::::::::::-XXXXXXX:'
,-:',',',','' , ':::::,.
,-:',',',',',',', 'XO ,:X'::::::,
.,,,-:',',',',',:,:,:,:,:,::::X:' ::::::X,
( ,:',',',',',:,:,:,:,:,:':X:',,:::::::::X,
'. ,::',',',',:,:,:,::::::::::::::::::X:::::X,
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::',:XX::,:,::X,
'::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::',:XWWX::::::::::X,
'::::::::::::::::::::,,,.',',,:XWXX::::',',',:,::X,
':::::::::' '''::WWXXX:::,:,:,',',':,:::X,
'''''' 'WWXXXX:::,:,:,',','::,:::X,
'WWXXXX:::,:,:,',',',::,:::X
'WXXXXX:::,:,:,',',','::,::
'WXXXXX:::,:,:,',',',',:::
: 'WXXXX::::,:,:,',',',',::
, : / 'WXXX:::::,:,:,',',',',:
',I/ 'WXX::::':,:,:,',',',',
----+---- 'WXX::::::,:,:,',',','
/I', 'WX::::'::,:,:,',',',
/ : ' 'WX:::::':,:,:,',','
: 'WX:::::::,:,:,',',
'WX::::'::,:,:,','
'WX:::::::,:,:,',
FIDONEWS 13-51 Page 14 16 Dec 1996

,WWWWW, WWWWWW ,W, ,WWWWW, ,WWWWW, W, WW 'W ,WWWWW,
WW WW WW ,WWW, WW WW WW WW WW, WW WW WW
WW WW ,WW WW, WW WW WW WWW,WW WW
'WWWWW, WWWWWW WW' 'WW 'WWWWW, WW WW WWWWWW 'WWWWW,
WW WW :WWWWWWW: WW WW WW WW'WWW WW
WW WW WW WW' 'WW WW WW WW WW WW 'WW WW WW
'WWWWW' WWWWWWW WW WW 'WWWWW' 'WWWWW' WW 'W `WWWWW'

,WWWWW, WWWWWW, WWWWWWW WWWWWW WWWWWWW WW W, WW ,WWWWW, ,WWWWW,
W WW WW WW WW WW WW WW WW, WW WW WW WW WW
W WW WW WW WW WW WW WWW, WW WW WW
W WWWW WWWWWW' WWWWWW WWWWWW WW WW WW'WWWW WW WWWW'WWWWW,
W WW WW 'W, WW WW WW WW WW 'WWW WW WW WW
W WW WW 'W, WW WW WW WW WW 'WW WW WW WW WW
WWWWW' WW 'W,WWWWWWW WWWWWWW WW WW WW 'W 'WWWWW' `WWWWW'

Origin: The INFERNO<Blazing on Jersey's Shore>609-886-6818 (1:266/72)

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

FIDONEWS 13-51 Page 15 16 Dec 1996

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

Future History

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.

29 Feb 1997
Nothing will happen on this day.

25 May 1997
Independence Day, Argentina

11 Jun 1997
Independence Day, Russia

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

31 Dec 1999
Hogmanay, Scotland. The New Year that can't be missed.

15 Sep 2000
Sydney (Australia) Summer Olympiad opens.

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

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

FIDONEWS 13-51 Page 16 16 Dec 1996

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

[This is a repeat of 1350's Version list.] Ed.

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

Still in the process of catching up.

Phased out this week: Oracomm 5.M.6P and Oracomm Plus 6.E

Phase-out highlights:
This week: ProBoard 1.20 and QuickBBS 2.75
Deadline for info: 20 Dec 1996.
Last week: PCBoard 14.5a and Phoenix 1.07
Deadline for info: 13 Dec 1996.

-=- Snip -=-

Submission form for the Latest Greatest Software Versions column

OS Platform :
Software package name :
Version :
Function(s) - BBS, Mailer, Tosser, etc. :
Freeware / Shareware / Commercial? :
Author / Support staff contact name :
Author / Support staff contact node :
Magic name (at the above-listed node) :

Please include a sentence describing what the package does.

Please send updates and suggestions to: Peter Popovich, 1:363/264

-=- Snip -=-

MS-DOS:
Program Name Version F C Contact Name Node Magic Name
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Act-Up 4.6 G D Chris Gunn 1:15/55 ACT-UP
ALLFIX 4.33 T S Harald Harms 2:281/415 ALLFIX
Announcer 1.1 O S Peter Karlsson 2:206/221 ANNOUNCE
BGFAX 1.60 O S B.J. Guillot 1:106/400 BGFAX
CheckPnt 0.5 beta O F Michiel van der Vlist
2:500/9 CHECKPNT
FidoBBS (tm) 12u B S Ray Brown 1:1/117 FILES
FrontDoor 2.12 M S JoHo 2:201/330 FD
FrontDoor 2.20c M C JoHo 2:201/330 FDINFO
GIGO 07-14-96 G S Jason Fesler 1:1/141 INFO
Imail 1.75 T S Michael McCabe 1:297/11 IMAIL
ImCrypt 1.04 O F Michiel van der Vlist
2:500/9 IMCRYPT
InfoMail 1.11 O F Damian Walker 2:2502/666 INFOMAIL
FIDONEWS 13-51 Page 17 16 Dec 1996

InfoMail/386 1.20 O F Damian Walker 2:2502/666 INFO386
InterEcho 1.19 T C Peter Stewart 1:369/35 IEDEMO
InterMail 2.29k M C Peter Stewart 1:369/35 IMDEMO
InterPCB 1.52 O S Peter Stewart 1:369/35 INTERPCB
IPNet 1.11 O S Michele Stewart 1:369/21 IPNET
Jelly-Bean 1.01 T S Rowan Crowe 3:635/727 JELLY
Jelly-Bean/386 1.01 T S Rowan Crowe 3:635/727 JELLY386
MakePl 1.8 N F Michiel van der Vlist
2:500/9 MAKEPL
Marena 1.1 beta O F Michiel van der Vlist
2:500/9 MARENA
Maximus 3.01 B P Tech 1:249/106 MAX
McMail 1.0g5 M S Michael McCabe 1:1/148 MCMAIL
MDNDP 1.18 N S Bill Doyle 1:388/7 MDNDP
MsgEd 4.00 O G Paul Edwards 3:711/934 MSGED
Opus CBCS 1.73a B P Christopher Baker 1:374/14 OPUS
O/T-Track 2.63a O S Peter Hampf 2:241/1090 OT
PcMerge 2.7 N F Michiel van der Vlist
2:500/9 PCMERGE
PlatinumXpress 1.1 M C Gary Petersen 1:290/111 PX11TD.ZIP
RAR 2.00 C S Ron Dwight 2:220/22 RAR
RemoteAccess 2.50 B S Mark Lewis 1:3634/12 RA
Silver Xpress
Door 5.4 O S Gary Petersen 1:290/111 FILES
Reader 4.3 O S Gary Petersen 1:290/111 SXR43.ZIP
Squish 1.11 T P Tech 1:249/106 SQUISH
StealTag UK 1.c... O F Fred Schenk 2:284/412 STEAL_UK
StealTag NL 1.c... O F Fred Schenk 2:284/412 STEAL_NL
T-Mail 2.599I M S Ron Dwight 2:220/22 TMAIL
Terminate 4.00 O S Bo Bendtsen 2:254/261 TERMINATE
Tobruk 0.33 T G Paul Edwards 3:711/934 TOBRUK
TriBBS 10.0 B S Patrick Driscoll 1:372/19 TRIBBS
TriDog 10.0 M S Patrick Driscoll 1:372/19 TRIDOG
TriToss 10.0 T S Patrick Driscoll 1:372/19 TRITOSS
WWIV 4.24a B S Craig Dooley 1:376/126 WWIV
WWIVTOSS 1.30 T S Craig Dooley 1:376/126 WWIVTOSS
xMail 2.00 T S Thorsten Franke 2:2448/53 XMAIL
XRobot 3.01 O S JoHo 2:201/330 XRDOS

OS/2:
Program Name Version F C Contact Name Node Magic Name
----------------------------------------------------------------------
BGFAX 1.60 O S B.J. Guillot 1:106/400 BGFAX
FleetStreet 1.18 O S Michael Hohner 2:2490/2520 FLEET
GIGO 07-14-96 G S Jason Fesler 1:1/141 INFO
ImCrypt 1.04 O F Michiel van der Vlist
2:500/9 IMCRYPT
Maximus 3.01 B P Tech 1:249/106 MAXP
MsgEd 4.00 O G Paul Edwards 3:711/934 MSGED
PcMerge 2.3 N F Michiel van der Vlist
2:500/9 PCMERGE
RAR 2.00 C S Ron Dwight 2:220/22 RAR2
Squish 1.11 T P Tech 1:249/106 SQUISHP
T-Mail 2.599I M S Ron Dwight 2:220/22 TMAIL2
Tobruk 0.33 T G Paul Edwards 3:711/934 TOBRUK
XRobot 3.01 O S JoHo 2:201/330 XROS2
FIDONEWS 13-51 Page 18 16 Dec 1996

Windows (16-bit apps):
Program Name Version F C Contact Name Node Magic Name
----------------------------------------------------------------------
BeeMail 1.0 M C Andrius Cepaitis 2:470/1 BEEMAIL

Windows (32-bit apps):
Program Name Version F C Contact Name Node Magic Name
----------------------------------------------------------------------
BeeMail 1.0 M C Andrius Cepaitis 2:470/1 BEEMAIL
Maximus 3.01 B P Tech 1:249/106 MAXN
PlatinumXpress 2.00 M C Gary Petersen 1:290/111 PXW-INFO
T-Mail 2.599I M S Ron Dwight 2:220/22 TMAILNT

Unix:
Program Name Version F C Contact Name Node Magic Name
----------------------------------------------------------------------
ifmail 2.8g M G Eugene Crosser 2:293/2219 IFMAIL
ifmail-tx 2.8g-tx7.8 M G Pablo Saratxaga 2:293/2219 IFMAILTX
MsgEd 4.00 O G Paul Edwards 3:711/934 MSGED
Tobruk 0.33 T G Paul Edwards 3:711/934 TOBRUK

Amiga:
Program Name Version F C Contact Name Node Magic Name
----------------------------------------------------------------------
CrashMail 1.23 T X Fredrik Bennison 2:205/324 CRASHMAIL
CrashTick 1.1 O F Fredrik Bennison 2:205/324 CRASHTICK
MsgEd 4.00 O G Paul Edwards 3:711/934 MSGED
Tobruk 0.33 T G Paul Edwards 3:711/934 TOBRUK

Function: B-BBS, M-Mailer, N-Nodelist, G-Gateway, T-Tosser,
C-Compression, O-Other. Note: Multifunction will be listed
by the first match.

Cost: P-Free for personal use, F-Freeware, S-Shareware, C-Commercial,
X-Crippleware, D-Demoware, G-Free w/ Source

Old info from: 01/27/92
---------------------------------------------------------------------

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

BBS Software NodeList Utilities Other Utilities
Name Version Name Version Name Version
-------------------- -------------------- --------------------
PCBoard 14.5a EditNL 4.00 MailBase 4.11a@
Phoenix 1.07* FDND 1.10 MSG 4.5*
ProBoard 1.20* MakeNL 2.31 MsgLnk 1.0c
QuickBBS 2.75 Parselst 1.33 MsgMstr 2.03a
RBBS 17.3b Prune 1.40 MsgNum 4.16d
RemoteAccess 1.11* SysNL 3.14 MSGTOSS 1.3
SimplexBBS 1.05 XlatList 2.90 Netsex 2.00b
SLBBS 2.15C* XlaxNode/Diff 2.53 OFFLINE 1.35
Socrates 1.11 Oliver 1.0a
SuperBBS 1.12* Other Utilities OSIRIS CBIS 3.02
FIDONEWS 13-51 Page 19 16 Dec 1996

SuperComm 0.99 Name Version PKInsert 7.10
TAG 2.5g -------------------- PolyXarc 2.1a
TBBS 2.1 2DAPoint 1.50* QM 1.00a
TComm/TCommNet 3.4 4Dog/4DMatrix 1.18 QSort 4.04
Telegard 2.7* ARCAsim 2.31 RAD Plus 2.11
TPBoard 6.1 ARCmail 3.00* Raid 1.00
WildCat! 3.02* Areafix 1.20 RBBSMail 18.0
XBBS 1.77 ConfMail 4.00 ScanToss 1.28
Crossnet 1.5 ScMail 1.00
Network Mailers DOMAIN 1.42 ScEdit 1.12
Name Version DEMM 1.06 Sirius 1.0x
-------------------- DGMM 1.06 SLMail 2.15C
BinkleyTerm 2.50 DOMAIN 1.42 StarLink 1.01
D'Bridge 1.30 EEngine 0.32 TagMail 2.41
Dreamer 1.06 EMM 2.11* TCOMMail 2.2
Dutchie 2.90c EZPoint 2.1 Telemail 1.5*
Milqtoast 1.00 FGroup 1.00 TGroup 1.13
PreNM 1.48 FidoPCB 1.0s@ TIRES 3.11
SEAdog 4.60 FNPGate 2.70 TMail 1.21
SEAmail 1.01 GateWorks 3.06e TosScan 1.00
TIMS 1.0(mod8) GMail 2.05 UFGATE 1.03
GMD 3.10 VPurge 4.09e
Compression GMM 1.21 WEdit 2.0@
Utilities GoldEd 2.31p WildMail 2.00
Name Version GROUP 2.23 WMail 2.2
-------------------- GUS 1.40 WNode 2.1
ARC 7.12 Harvey's Robot 4.10 XRS 4.99
ARJ 2.20 HeadEdit 1.18 XST 2.3e
LHA 2.13 HLIST 1.09 YUPPIE! 2.00
PAK 2.51 ISIS 5.12@ ZmailH 1.25
PKPak 3.61 Lola 1.01d ZSX 2.40
PKZip 1.10 Mosaic 1.00b

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
SimplexBBS 1.04.02+ ARC2 6.01 Omail 3.1
ConfMail 4.00 Parselst 1.33
EchoStat 6.0 PKZip 1.02
Network Mailers EZPoint 2.1 PMSnoop 1.30
Name Version FGroup 1.00 PolyXOS2 2.1a
-------------------- GROUP 2.23 QSort 2.1
BinkleyTerm 2.50 LH2 2.11 Raid 1.0
BinkleyTerm(S) 2.50 MSG 4.2 Remapper 1.2
BinkleyTerm/2-MT MsgLink 1.0c Tick 2.0
1.40.02 MsgNum 4.16d VPurge 4.09e
SEAmail 1.01

Xenix/Unix 386
--------------
FIDONEWS 13-51 Page 20 16 Dec 1996

BBS Software Network Mailers Other Utilities
Name Version Name Version Name Version
-------------------- -------------------- --------------------
ARC 5.21
C-LHARC 1.00
|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

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
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@
FIDONEWS 13-51 Page 21 16 Dec 1996

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
QuickBBS/ST 1.06* ConfMail 4.10
NodeList Utilities Echoscan 1.10
Name Version FDrenum 2.5.2
Compression -------------------- FastPack 1.20
Utilities ParseList 1.30 Import 1.14
Name Version EchoFix 1.20 oMMM 1.40
-------------------- sTICK/Hatch 5.50 Pack 1.00
ARC 6.02 Trenum 0.10
LHARC 2.01i
PackConvert
STZip 1.1*
UnJARST 2.00
WhatArc 2.02

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
FIDONEWS 13-51 Page 22 16 Dec 1996

RTick 2.00
UnBundle 1.4
UnSeen 1.1

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

Please send updates and suggestions to: Peter Popovich, 1:363/264

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

FIDONEWS 13-51 Page 23 16 Dec 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 [1:18/14] or download it from the
Rights On! BBS at 1-904-409-7040 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 13-51 Page 24 16 Dec 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 1-904-409-7040, 300/1200/2400/14400/V.32bis/HST(ds)

more addresses:
Christopher Baker -- 1:18/14, [email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]

(Postal Service mailing address)
FidoNews Editor
P.O. Box 471
Edgewater, FL 32132-0471
U.S.A.

voice: 1-904-409-3040 [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
FIDONEWS 13-51 Page 25 16 Dec 1996

FNEWS for the current month in one archive. Or file-request specific
back Issue filenames in distribution format [FNEWSDnn.LZH] for a
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/
ftp://ftp.aminet.org/pub/aminet/comm/fido/

You can read the current FidoNews Issue in HTML format at:

http://www.geocities.com/athens/6894/

STAR SOURCE for ALL Past Issues via FTP and file-request -
Available for FReq from 1:396/1 or by anonymous FTP from:

ftp://ftp.sstar.com/fidonet/fnews/

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.

=*=*=*=

The current week's FidoNews and the FidoNews public-key are now also
available almost immediately after publication on the Editor's new
homepage on the World Wide Web at:

http://ddi.digital.net/~cbaker84/fidonews.html

There are also links there to jim barchuk's HTML FidoNews source and
to John Souvestre's FTP site for the archives. There is also an email
link for sending in an article as message text. Drop on over.

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

A PGP generated public-key is available for the FidoNews Editor from
1:1/23 [1:18/14] by file-request for FNEWSKEY or by download from
Rights On! BBS at 1-904-409-7040 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.

*=*=*=*=*

[This does not appear to be working at present]

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
FIDONEWS 13-51 Page 26 16 Dec 1996

necessary. The address is a keyword that will trigger the automated
response. People wishing to send inquiries directly to David Deitch
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 [1:18/14] 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, P.O. Box 410923, San Francisco, CA 94141,
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-

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