** F I D O N E W S **
    +----------------------------+-----------------------------------------+
    |  The newsletter of the     |   ISSN 1198-4589 Published by:          |
    |    FidoNet community       |   "FidoNews"                            |
    |          _                 |        +27-41-515-913    [5:5/23]       |
    |         /  \               |                                         |
    |        /|oo \              |                                         |
    |       (_|  /_)             |                                         |
    |        _`@/_ \    _        |                                         |
    |       |     | \   \\       |   Editor:                               |
    |       | (*) |  \   ))      |        Henk Wolsink    5:7104/2         |
    |       |__U__| /  \//       |                                         |
    |        _//|| _\   /        |                                         |
    |       (_/(_|(____/         |                                         |
    |             (jm)           |     Newspapers should have no friends.  |
    |                            |                    -- JOSEPH PULITZER   |
    +----------------------------+-----------------------------------------+
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    +----------------------------------------------------------------------+
    |  MORE addresses:                                                     |
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    |    submissions=> [email protected]                                 |
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    +----------------------------------------------------------------------+


                       Table of Contents
    1. EDITORIAL  ................................................  1
    2. GUEST EDITORIAL  ..........................................  2
       Stepping into the Hornet's Nest  ..........................  2
    3. ARTICLES  .................................................  3
       Nodelist Robot  ...........................................  3
    4. NET HUMOR  ................................................  4
       Elections - What's happening or not  ......................  4
    5. ADVERTISE YOUR FREE SERVICE/EVENT  ........................  6
       Announcing the WRESTLING_CHAT Echo  .......................  6
    6. NOTICES  ..................................................  7
    7. FIDONET BY INTERNET  ......................................  8
    8. FIDONEWS INFORMATION  ..................................... 11
    FIDONEWS 15-41               Page 1                   12 Oct 1998


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

    Greetings,

    How many Policies does FidoNet need?  Is Policy 4 not enough?
    Now there are moves, to have an Echo Policy - again.

    And how many hats does a *C's have to wear?  Is one not enough?

    Yes, call me the question _man_ if you like.  And you may wonder
    why this time. :-)

    Personally, I do not believe the *EC structure should exist.  Get
    rid of them bunch as they do nothing worth while.  Let the *C
    structure take care of ALL that it is suppose too, including that
    what the current *EC structure is doing.

    During my stint as Z5C, I voted for the current Z1C, to take the
    IC position.  So he got it, but is it not time for Bob to hand
    the Z1C chair over?  Just after the election of IC, Bob sent me
    e-mail, asking what I thought of a few items, including that if
    he should resign as Z1C.  My answer to him was, YES!  I do not
    believe, that the interest of the Nodes in Z1 is best served by
    having him holding office of both positions.

    Sorry Bob, this is not a vendatta to have you removed as Z1C,
    in fact, I could care less if you wear the hats of both.

    One of these days, we'll have more office bearers than Nodes.
    What's an office bearer?  Someone, who carries his office on his
    shoulders.  But you get my idea, no?

    Talking about Policies.

    Region 24 in Zone 2, has asked the IC for approval of a Policy.
    Sure, let them have a Policy of their own, but should it override
    Policy 4?

    Happy reading,

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

    FIDONEWS 15-41               Page 2                   12 Oct 1998


    =================================================================
                             GUEST EDITORIAL
    =================================================================


                      Stepping into the Hornet's Nest

    Welcome me to the ranks of one of Fido's most persevering entities:
    the rebel without a clue.  In a brilliant display of naivete, I've
    managed to mention the terms "feed cut," "policy," and "committee"
    all in the same breath... in the MODERATOR echo! Judging by the
    heat, there are no other terms used in Fidotalk so emotionally
    charged.

    Actually, this particular hornet's nest has been swarming just about
    forever, and I'm not the first who has ever stirred it.  Perhaps
    that's the reason Policy 4 speaks in hushed tones about matters
    echomail.  Lacking any formal policy, moderators and sysops have
    generally followed an informal set of guidelines collected in the
    North American Backbone's BOFAQ text file, distributed on the
    BACKBONE file area on a monthly basis.  Most agree that the informal
    method has worked well, and may even be optimum.

    But now we're talking about feed cuts, which aren't going to work
    well no matter what system is used.  A feed cut is the ultimate
    confession that the purely voluntary approach to echo moderation and
    distribution has failed in one small area.  A moderator doesn't like
    to employ it - he's spent a lot of time trying to promote the
    conversation, not kill it.  A sysop doesn't like to make the cut -
    he's spent a good part of his life bringing people into his system,
    not ushering them out.

    No one even likes to talk about feed cuts.

    But then, that's the reason such a thing should be talked about in
    advance.  When it's necessary, when the heat is on and the
    atmosphere is emotionally charged, it's just the wrong time to be
    discussing philosophy and organizational charts, who's in charge and
    who does what.

    But the conversation is going well.  My motives have been
    challenged, my premises have been challenged... but my lineage is
    still not a subject for discussion :)  It's a good start for a Fido
    bash!

    --
    | Fidonet:  Douglas Myers 1:270/[email protected]
    | Internet: [email protected]
    | Standard disclaimer: The views of this user are strictly his own.
    | From Mdtn_BBS  @mdtnbbs.com  [ In the Heart of Three Mile Island ]


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

    FIDONEWS 15-41               Page 3                   12 Oct 1998


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


    Nodelist Robot

    Date : Fri Oct 09, 00:17
    From : Nodelist Robot                                      2:292/854
    To   : All
    Subj : Nodelist evolution in Zone-2 on day 282

     +--------+-------+----------+----------+----------+----------+--+
     !Zone/Jul!Ndl-254!Nodel.-261!Nodel.-268!Nodel.-275!Nodel.-282!%%!
     +--------+-------+----------+----------+----------+----------+--+
     !  1/282 !  4248 ! 4227  -21! 4184  -43! 4142  -42! 4121  -21!22!
     !  2/282 ! 13401 !13390  -11!13401   11!13355  -46!13328  -27!70!
     !  3/282 !   375 !  372   -3!  369   -3!  369    0!  362   -7! 2!
     !  4/282 !   353 !  349   -4!  289  -60!  289    0!  275  -14! 1!
     !  5/282 !    61 !   61    0!   61    0!   61    0!   60   -1! 0!
     !  6/275 !   906 !  906    0!  906    0!  906    0!  913    7! 5!
     +--------+-------+----------+----------+----------+----------+--+
              ! 19344 !19305  -39!19210  -95!19122  -88!19059  -63!
              +-------+----------+----------+----------+----------+

    --- Robo 0.37 by Kash
    --- DB 1.58/001877
    * Origin: Many Glacier / Preserve - Protect - Conserve / (2:292/854)

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

    FIDONEWS 15-41               Page 4                   12 Oct 1998


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


                    Elections - What's Happening or Not

    I'd promised in earlier editions to keep you all informed on the
    election for Z1EC.  Unfortunately, after I'd made this commitment,
    things started not happening.  The Z1EC had been replaced, and an
    interim Z1EC assumed the duties.  Or should I say "duty," for the
    job description specified that the interim Z1EC's sole duty is to
    conduct an election for the permanent ZEC.

    Bob Satti, however, charged the RECC to determine how to select the
    next ZEC.  This led most to assume that there would be some minor
    changes before a sysop-level election was held, but rumor has it
    that the RECC has other thoughts.

    So the news is that the RECC is poised to not decide to appoint a
    ZEC, or else they're poised to decide not to appoint a ZEC.

    In stark contrast to the non-election in the ZEC echo, the folks in
    the FN_SYSOP echo are taking a wham-bang no nonsense approach.
    After a couple weeks of nominations, I missed reading for a few days
    and found, upon catching up, that we were in the middle of a three
    day election.  I'd mention the candidates and urge you to vote, but
    if you didn't vote yet, then it's over.

    Just in case either of the above echoes want to alter their election
    methods, I figured I'd outline how some of the other echoes handle
    it.

    FN_APATHY               The moderator is expected to keep a low
                            profile here.  Elections are held every five
                            weeks when the echo falls off the backbone
                            for low traffic.  The first person to elist
                            the echo is moderator for the next five
                            weeks.  Some guy named Bob is serving his
                            13th consecutive term.

    MY_FAVORITE_MARTIN      Elections here are held on demand.  Demand
                            is off topic.

    NINJA_LITERARY          The International Order of Teen-Aged Mutant
                            Ninja Literary Commandos meets in enclave
                            annually, selecting qualified members from
                            it's rank to participate in a
                            double-elimination duel with asparagus.  The
                            survivor is elisted.  There can be only one.

    LEMMINGSnnn             The twelve thousand critters in this echo
                            scamper to the top of the backbone,
                            whereupon the moderator orders camp to be
                            made.  One of the troops protests this order
                            and elists a new echo, and then leads a
    FIDONEWS 15-41               Page 5                   12 Oct 1998


                            charge off the backbone.  This method of
                            election has been adapted in other echoes and
                            is commonly called "voting with your feet."

    DALLAS                  The moderator in this echo is appointed
                            against his will and administered
                            mind-altering drugs to ward off outside
                            influences.  He spends his days trying to
                            convince any of the other residence of his
                            echo to take the job, but they reject his
                            pleas.  His only hope is for rescue from one
                            of the freedom fighters from other echoes,
                            but he is conditioned to send them away when
                            they succeed in breaching the walls of his
                            echo.

    --
    | Fidonet:  Douglas Myers 1:270/[email protected]
    | Internet: [email protected]
    | Standard disclaimer: The views of this user are strictly his own.
    | From Mdtn_BBS  @mdtnbbs.com  [ In the Heart of Three Mile Island ]


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

    FIDONEWS 15-41               Page 6                   12 Oct 1998


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


    Emanuel Edwards
    1:348/963
    [email protected]

    Hello all Fidonet Sysops:

    Where else can you find a great echo that will increase the users on
    your BBS?  Well here is the answer to your question.

    The WRESTLING_CHAT echo can be classified as one of the best echo on
    Fidonet today.  If you don't have internet access and want to read all
    the latest news in the wrestling world this echo will provide you with
    all the valuable information.   In the last 6 months the echo been
    getting well over 200 messages a week.  Once you request the
    WRESTLING_CHAT on your BBS you will see a great increase in news users
    on your BBS.

    Make that important decision today and request this great and
    interesting echo on your BBS.  If you need more information about the
    echo you can contact me by email at [email protected]

    The Areatag for the echo is       WRESTLING_CHAT
    Moderator for the echo is         Emanuel Edwards
    Co_Moderator for the echo is      Barry Laws JR
    Volume of Mail in one months      1000 to 1200


    Emanuel
    Internet [email protected]
    Fidonet  1:348/963

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

    FIDONEWS 15-41               Page 7                   12 Oct 1998


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

                      Future History

      23 Nov 1998
         35th Anniversary of Doctor Who.

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

      16 Feb 1999
         13th Anniversary of the introduction of EchoMail by Jeff Rush.

      12 May 1999
         12th Anniversary of Fido Operations in Zone 4;
         10th Anniversary of the creation of FidoNet Zone 4.

      24 Jul 1999
         XIII Pan American Games [through 8 Aug 99].

       9 Jun 1999
         Tenth Anniversary of the adoption of FidoNet Policy 4.07.

      10 Sep 1999
         10th anniversary of Zone 5 operations.

      26 Oct 1999
         Thirty years from release Abbey Road album by the Beatles.

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

       1 Jan 2000
         The 20th Century, C.E., is still taking place thru 31 Dec.

       1 Jun 2000
         EXPO 2000 World Exposition in Hannover (Germany) opens.

      15 Sep 2000
         Sydney (Australia) Summer Olympiad opens.

      21 Sep 2000
         10 years of FidoNet in +7 (xUSSR)

       1 Jan 2001
         This is the actual start of the new millennium, C.E.

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

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

    FIDONEWS 15-41               Page 8                   12 Oct 1998


    =================================================================
                           FIDONET BY INTERNET
    =================================================================

    This is a list of all FidoNet-related sites reported to the
    FidoNews Editor as of this issue; see the notice at the end.

    FidoNet:

    Homepage    http://www.fidonet.org
    FidoNews    http://www.fidonews.org             [HTML]
                http://209.77.228.66/fidonews.html  [ASCII]
    WWW sources http://www.scms.rgu.ac.uk/students/cs_yr94/lk/fido.html
    FTSC page   http://www.goldware.dk/ftsc
    Echomail    [pending]
    WebRing     http://ddi.digital.net/~cbaker84/fnetring.html  [TFN]
    General     http://owls.com/~jerrys/fidonet.html
                http://www.trak-one.co.uk/foti

    ============

    Zone 1:       http://www.z1.fidonet.org

      Region 10:  http://www.psnw.com/~net205/region10.html

      Region 11:  http://oeonline.com/~garyg/region11/

      Region 17:  http://www.nwstar.com/~region17/

      Region 18:  http://techshop.pdn.net/fido/

      Region 19:  http://www.compconn.net

    Zone 1 Elist  http://www.baltimoremd.com/elist/

    ============

    Zone 2:       http://www.z2.fidonet.org

    ZEC2:
    Zone 2 Elist: http://www.fbone.ch/echolist/

      Region 20:  http://www.fidonet.pp.se (in Swedish)

      Region 23:  http://www.fido.dk (in Danish)

      Region 24:  http://www.swb.de/personal/flop/gatebau.html (German)
        Fido-IP:  http://home.nrh.de/~lbehet/fido (English/German)

      Region 25:  http://www.bsnet.co.uk/net2502/net/

       Region 26: http://www.nemesis.ie
          REC 26: http://www.nrgsys.com/orb

      Region 27:  http://telematique.org/ft/r27.htm

    FIDONEWS 15-41               Page 9                   12 Oct 1998


      Region 29:  http://www.rtfm.be/fidonet/  (French)

      Region 30:  http://www.fidonet.ch  (German)

      Region 33:  http://www.fidoitalia.net (Italian)

      Region 34:  http://www.pobox.com/cnb/r34.htm  (Spanish)
          REC34:  http://pobox.com/~chr

      Region 36:  http://www.geocities.com/SiliconValley/7207/

      Region 38:  http://public.st.carnet.hr/~blagi/bbs/adriam.html

      Region 41:  http://www.fidonet.gr (Greek/English)

      Region 42:  http://www.fido.cz

      Region 48:  http://www.fidonet.org.pl

      Region 50:  http://www.fido7.com/  (Russian)
       Net 5010:  http://fido.tu-chel.ac.ru/  (Russian)
       Net 5015:  http://www.fido.nnov.ru/  (Russian)
       Net 5030:  http://kenga.ru/fido/  (Russian & English)
       Net 5073:  http://people.weekend.ru/soa/  (Russian)

    ============

    Zone 3:       http://www.z3.fidonet.org

    ============

    Zone 4:       http://www.altern.org/zone4

      Region 90:  http://visitweb.com/fidonet
        Net 903:  http://www.playagrande.com/refugio
        Net 904:  http://members.tripod.com/~net904 (Spanish)

    ============

    Zone 5:       http://www.eastcape.co.za/fidonet/index.htm

                  please make use of ip address: 196.37.151.41 until all
                  the DNS entries have been rectified.

    ============

    Zone 6:       http://www.z6.fidonet.org

      Region 65:  http://www.cfido.com/fidonet/cfidochina.html (Chinese)

    ============

    Pages listed above are as submitted to the FidoNews Editor,
    and generally reflect Zone and Regional Web Page sites.  If
    no Regional site is submitted, the first Network page from
    that Region is used in its place.  Generally, Regional pages
    FIDONEWS 15-41               Page 10                  12 Oct 1998


    should list access points to all Networks within the Region.

    TCP/IP accessible node access information should be submitted
    to the FidoNews Editor for inclusion in their Region or Zone.

                     -----------oOo-------------

                      Fidonet Via Internet Hubs

    Node#      | Operator          | Facilities (*) | Speed | Basic Rate
    -----------+-------------------+----------------+-------+-----------
    1:12/12    | Ken Wilson        | FTP            | T1    | $24mo.
    1:13/25    | Jim Balcom        | FTP            | 56k   | $20mo.
    1:124/7008 | Ben Hamilton      |FTP,VMoT,F2I,UUE| 64k   | $10/$20mo.
    1:140/12   | Bob Seaborn       | FTP            | T1    | $5/$20
    1:270/101  | George Peace      | FTP            | T1    | $30mo.
    1:271/140  | Tom Barstow       | F2I            | ???   | $2mo.
    1:275/1    | Joshua Ecklund    | UUE,F2I        | 28.8  | $10/yr.
    1:280/169  | Brian Greenstreet | FTP            | 33.6  | $2mo.
    1:2401/305 | Peter Rocca       | FTP,UUE        | T1    | unkn
    1:2424/10  | Alec Grynspan     | FTP,VMoT       | T1    | $1mo.
    1:2424/3121| Earl Clark        | UUE            | 33.6  | n/c
    1:2604/104 | Jim Mclaughlin    | FTP,VMoT,UUE   | 33.6  | $1mo.
    1:2624/306 | D. Calafrancesco  | VFOS           | 33.6  | $15yr.
    1:345/0    | Todd Cochrane     | FTP            | T1    | n/c
    1:346/250  | Aran Spence       | FTP,UUE        | T1    | $10mo.
    1:342/1022 | Steve Steffler    | UUE,F2I        | 33.6  | n/c
    1:3651/9   | Jerry Gause       | FTP,VMoT       | 33.6  | $3/$6
    1:396/1    | John Souvestre    | FTP,VMoT       | T1    | $15mo.
    2:2411/413 | Dennis Dittrich   | UUE            | 64k   | n/c
    2:33/505   | Mario Mure        | VMoT,UUE       | 64k   | n/c
    2:335/610  | Gino Lucrezi      | UUE            | 33.6  | n/c
    2:469/84   | Max Masyutin      | VMoT           | 256k  | n/c
    2:2474/275 | Christian Emig    | UUE            | 64k   | unkn
    2:2490/5170| Lenny Murphy      | F2I            | ???   | n/c
    5:7104/2   | Henk Wolsink      | FTP            | 28.8  | n/c
    --
     + VMoT = Virtual Mailer over Telnet (various)
     + F2I  = Fido2Int (W95)
     + UUE  = uuencode<->email packet transfers

    compiled by C. Ingersoll, 1:2623/71, (609)814-1978, [email protected]
    Posted on the 1st of every month in FN_SYSOP, R13SYSOP and Fidonews.
    -
    ___
     ! Origin: * Fly By Night * (609)814-1978 *(1:2623/71)


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

    FIDONEWS 15-41               Page 11                  12 Oct 1998


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


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

      Editor: Henk Wolsink

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

      "FidoNews Editor"
          FidoNet  5:5/23
          BBS  +27-41-515-913,  2400/9600/V.34/V.90

       more addresses:
          Henk Wolsink -- 5:7104/2,    [email protected]

       (Postal Service mailing address)
          FidoNews Editor
          P.O. Box 12325
          Port Elizabeth,
          6006
          South Africa

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

    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 and/or the Editor.

    Authors retain copyright on individual works; otherwise FidoNews is
    Copyright 1998 Henk Wolsink.  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 [FNEWSFnn.ZIP] 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 [8], i.e., FNWSJAN8.ZIP for all the Issues from Jan 98.

    FIDONEWS 15-41               Page 12                  12 Oct 1998


    Annual volumes are available as FNEWSn.ZIP where n = the Volume number
    1 - 15 for 1984 - 1998, respectively. Annual Volume archives range in
    size from 48K to 1.4M.


       INTERNET USERS: FidoNews is available via:

                       http://www.fidonews.org
                       http://www.fidonet.org/fidonews.htm
                       ftp://ftp.fidonet.org/pub/fidonet/fidonews/
                       ftp://ftp.aminet.org/pub/aminet/comm/fido/
                       ftp://ftp.irvbbs.com/fidonews/
                       ftp://ftp.nwstar.com/Fidonet/Fidonews

       And in non-English formats via:

                       http://www.hvc.ee/pats/fidonews (Estonian)
                       http://www.fidonet.pp.se/sfnews (Swedish)

                                  *=*=*

    You may obtain an email subscription to FidoNews by sending email to:

                       [email protected]

    with a Subject line of: subscribe fnews-edist

    and no message in the message body. To remove your name from the
    email distribution use a Subject line of: unsubscribe fnews-edist
    with no message to the same address above.

                                     *

    You may retrieve current and previous Issues of FidoNews via FTPMail
    by sending email to:

                       [email protected]

    with a Subject line of: help

    and FTPMail will immediately send a reply containing details and
    instructions. When you actually make a file request, FTPMail will
    respond in three stages. You find a link for this process on
    www.fidonews.org.

                                   *=*=*

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

                       http://www.fidonews.org

    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/

    FIDONEWS 15-41               Page 13                  12 Oct 1998


    Each yearly archive also contains a listing of the Table-of-Contents
    for that year's issues.  The total set is currently about 13 Megs.

                                 =*=*=*=

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

                       http://209.77.228.66/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.

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

    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 5:5/23 [5:7104/2] 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

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