FidoNews · Vol 13, No 29 · 15 July 1996
F I D O N E W S -- Volume 13, Number 29 15 July 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: |
| |
| submissions=> cbaker84@digital.net |
+----------------------------------------------------------------------+
| For information, copyrights, article submissions, |
| obtaining copies of FidoNews or the internet gateway FAQ |
| please refer to the end of this file. |
+----------------------------------------------------------------------+
SPECIAL COLLECTOR'S EDITION FEATURING ALL THE NEW SECTIONS!
Table of Contents
1. EDITORIAL ................................................ 1
Where are we NOW and where are we going? ................. 1
2. GUEST EDITORIAL .......................................... 2
John Souvestre, 1:396/1 .................................. 2
3. CORRECTIONS .............................................. 4
ARTSPEC updated! ......................................... 4
Region 13 Nodelist error correction available ............ 6
4. LAND OF THE LOST NODES ................................... 8
Region 13 Nodes get lost ................................. 8
5. RETRACTIONS .............................................. 9
If this had been an actual Retraction .................... 9
6. ARTICLES ................................................. 10
Backbone Echo Changes [May-Jun] .......................... 10
Still Being Discussed .................................... 11
The InfoMail Document Server ............................. 13
Region 18 Missing Person Search Echo - R18SEARCH ......... 14
Old Standards, New Machines .............................. 16
7. COLUMNS .................................................. 17
Waste of Space in FidoNews? .............................. 17
8. REVIEWS .................................................. 19
Reviewing ftp.fidonet.org ................................ 19
9. COORDINATORS CORNER ...................................... 20
Zone & Region Coordinators Speak here .................... 20
Nodelist-statistics as seen from Zone-2 for day 194 ...... 20
And more!
FIDONEWS 13-29 Page 1 15 Jul 1996
=================================================================
EDITORIAL
=================================================================
FidoNet has come a long way since it began over twelve years ago.
But how far has it come lately?
There hasn't been any discerible movement toward selecting an
International Coordinator [IC] from the current field of 6 Zone
Coordinators [ZC]. Are we ever going to get one and move along in
the areas of Policy and Standards?
As our guest editorial indicates, we don't even have regular updates
from the other Zones for the master Nodelist. Where are the diffs
[Nodelist difference files] from Zones 2-6? Are they getting ours
from Zone 1? This still is an INTERNATIONAL hobby, isn't it?
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?
Hello, out there! Here's your vehicle for spreading your news. How
about some chiming in from the ZCs and FTSC Chair? What gives? Talk
to us!
CB
NOTE: This Issue contains ALL the new sections available. Some of
them may just be dummy files to show their locations and use.
ARTSPEC.DOC has been updated to include them. Also see the
FIDONEWS Echo for details. All sections will not appear in
all Issues depending on what is submitted.
-----------------------------------------------------------------
FIDONEWS 13-29 Page 2 15 Jul 1996
=================================================================
GUEST EDITORIAL
=================================================================
--- Following message extracted from FN_SYSOP @ 1:374/14 ---
From: John Souvestre
To: ZC's
Date: 06 Jul 96 21:30:24
Subj: NodeLists
* Original to ZC's at 1:396/1 in "netmail"
* Forwarded Sat Jul 06 1996 21:34:48 by John Souvestre at 1:396/1
cc: George Peace 1:270/101
Bob Satti 1:153/6
Colin Wheat 3:690/613
David Nugent 3:632/348
Egons Bush 2:5100/8
Ward Dossche 2:292/854
Adolfo Justiniano 4:823/1
Ariel Nardelli 4:4/0
Junsei Yamada 6:730/2
Kazuyoshi Shinada 6:730/9
Henk Wolsink 5:7104/2
ZONEGATE echo
FN_SYSOP echo
Hello ZC's.
I am writing as a concerned FidoNet node. The NodeLists in various
zones seem to be way out of sync quite often. The ZSEGS file area
was set up a few years ago to help move the NodeList info between the
ZC's. It seems to work well, when used. But not all of the ZC's seem
to use it on a regular basis or their links are bad.
Here is a map of the ZSEGS file area:
1:270/101
|
+--- 1:153/6 Zone 1 Coord - good link
| |
| +--- 3:690/613 Zone 3 Coord - intermittent link
|
+--- 1:396/1
| |
| +--- 2:5100/8
| | |
| | +--- 2:292/854 Zone 2 Coord - good link
| |
| +--- 4:823/1
| | |
| | +--- 4:4/0 Zone 4 Coord - good link
| |
| +--- 6:730/2
FIDONEWS 13-29 Page 3 15 Jul 1996
| |
| +--- 6:730/9 Zone 6 Coord - bad link
|
+--- 5:7104/2 Zone 5 Coord - intermittent link
Almost all of the international links are via FTP. I mention this
because I'd like to encourage you to send FULL segments, not just the
diff's. One missed diff and the game is over. This isn't a problem
with segments. The cost is low enough that sending full segments is
justified.
Come on guys, please use it and get our NodeLists in sync!
Thank you for your consideration.
Regards,
John
Origin: Southern Star -V32b/V.FC/V.34/ISDN - 504-885-5928- (1:396/1)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
FIDONEWS 13-29 Page 4 15 Jul 1996
=================================================================
CORRECTIONS
=================================================================
ARTSPEC has been adjusted with more submission types and a couple of
notes. The new version has been sent to each Zone Coordinator and
hatched out into COORDUTL and SDS area SOFTDIST. ARTSPEC is always
available here [1:1/23 {1:374/14}] by that magicname.
***[new]
* Articles submitted via Netmail or email must contain all the
technically required lines and delimiters in the BODY of the
message. This includes the *[title] line and the 70 character
width requirement. Those that require extra editing may be
delayed from appearing in FidoNews.
***
The following new filetypes are available for submissions:
***[additions]
File types are used to distinguish types of submissions, as
follows:
.ART An article, commentary, open letter, or general news
item.
.GUE Want to write a Guest Editorial? [*Name & Node on line 1]
.RET Need to make a Retraction of a previous article or notice?
.COL Want to become a regular contributor with your own column?
.PRF Want to Proofread? Get a cookie for spotting errors.
.REV Reviews of related products, services or programs.
.JOK Net humor in print.
.CMX Comics in ASCII [watch those line counts at 70 columns!]
.AD Advertising FREE services or events.
.SAL "For Sale"
.WAN "Wanted"
.NOT A notice for the back of the issue. Keep them short.
If your file doesn't have one of the above extensions, then it
will lay around taking up disk space until someone takes a look
at it and realizes what it is. Maybe.
***[new]
* RIGHT MARGIN AT COLUMN 70 OR LESS: Less is tolerable, more is
definitely not. If your cursor is resting at column 71 when
your line is ended, you're okay. One character past that even
with trailing spaces and MAKENEWS will barf on your submission.
If your submission is physically rejected, the Editor will have
to fix it manually or send it back for reformatting.
***[additions]
FIDONEWS 13-29 Page 5 15 Jul 1996
The first line of text is the Table of Contents line. It must
begin with an asterisk * as shown above. If you do not, the
article will not be listed in the Table of Contents. This Table of
Contents listing method works for all submission file types.
* Everything that follows the *'ed line will appear in the body
of the newsletter. This line will be stripped out of your
article text so if you want it repeated as your title in the
article BE SURE to repeat it on a second line without the *.
***[new]
--------------------
SUBMISSION DEADLINES:
FidoNews is published on Monday of every week. Deadline for file
submissions to the FidoNews Editor via file-attach is 2300 ET
[0300 UTC/GMT] the previous Saturday. Deadline for submissions via
Netmail, email, or in the FIDONEWS Echo is 2300 ET [0300 UTC/GMT]
the previous Friday. Submissions which miss the deadlines will be
processed the following week. Submission by deadline is not a
guarantee of appearance in that week's FidoNews but it is likely
depending on the volume of submissions.
-30-
1. The Netmail submission requirements are specified to make them
easier and faster to process.
2. The additional filetypes are to encourage more participation.
Please note that the Guest Editorial must be signed. Use the
*[title] option to place your Name and Node number on the first line
of your .GUE. Anonymous Guest Editorials will not be published.
3. The line length is 70 characters MAXIMUM. I don't know where the
72 came from but this edition of MAKENEWS won't take a line over 70
characters in length. Make sure your submission conforms to that
line length or it won't get published until it gets noticed as
rejected by MAKENEWS.
4. It wasn't in the original specs but the *[title] line gets stripped
out of your submission after being appended to the Table of Contents.
If you want it to appear in your article, you will need to repeat it
on another line WITHOUT the *.
5. FidoNews didn't have submission deadlines before. These are now
included for a reference point.
---
These notes appeared in the FIDONEWS Echo. If you don't have a link
yet ask your Backbone feed to carry it. You'll get updates daily
instead of having to wait a week at a time for news.
Thanks.
CB
FIDONEWS 13-29 Page 6 15 Jul 1996
-----------------------------------------------------------------
--- Following message extracted from 374SYSOP @ 1:374/14 ---
From: Ken Tuley
To: all
Date: 13 Jul 96 08:53:00
Subj: R13 nodelist error
* Forwarded from "HOST18"
* Originally by Ken Tuley, 1:374/98@fidonet
* Originally to all
* Originally dated 13 Jul 1996, 8:53
A glitch on 1:13/0 resulted in the wiping out of much of Region 13
from this week's nodelist.
A corrected regional segment for R13 is available HERE as R13NEW.A94
or magicname R13FIX, which can be compiled as a private nodelist to
compensate for the error until the next nodediff comes out.
Please pass this information on to the members of your nets. Anyone
who has direct netmail links to the missing R13 nets is undoubtedly
getting very frustrated already. More than half of the nets in that
region were affected.
Thanks for your assistance,
-=ken=-
---
* Origin: SCAM (1:374/98)
--- Following message extracted from MODERATOR @ 1:374/14 ---
From: Christopher Baker
To: Charles Ring
Date: 13 Jul 96 14:37:39
Subj: Re: We'll Miss You
> I'm gone too, along with my whole net. Seems that MAKENL ran amok
> at 13/0. I caught it in time to cancel local distribution of
> nodediff.a94 until next week's correction, and reverted to
> nodelist.187 here.
a fix is available. i just received R13NEW.A94 [102K] which is a
recompile of the Region 13 ONLY. it is available here.
it can be installed on your system as a private Nodelist [following
whatever requirements your mailer uses for private Nodelist handling]
and get you back to full R13 access.
it cannot be substituted into the full Nodelist without compromising
the CRC for next week's diff addition so if anyone decides to go that
route, they should keep a clean copy of the original NODELIST.194 they
FIDONEWS 13-29 Page 7 15 Jul 1996
make first to merge with the diff next week.
it is also available here in ZIP form as R13NEW.ZIP [66K]. magicname
is R13FIX.
all of the RCs should have a copy by now and most of the NCs in R13.
everyone should update to the current Nodelist especially if they
have a lot of comms with Zones 2 & 4 which has many updates in 194.
TTFN.
Chris
-----------------------------------------------------------------
FIDONEWS 13-29 Page 8 15 Jul 1996
=================================================================
LAND OF THE LOST NODES
=================================================================
Region 13 needs a tweak this week
Nobody ever said FidoNet or its denizens were perfect. The vagaries
of software and hardware and peopleware and luck occasionally
conspire to aggravate us. It's not a conspiracy. [grin]
Region 13 had a MAKENL meltdown this week and several of their Nets
now appear missing in NODELIST.194.
While this condition is being corrected for NODELIST.201, a quick-fix
has been prepared by RC13 in the form of a Region 13 segment that may
be compiled into your local Nodelist database as a PRIVATE list.
R13NEW.A94 is now available from all Zone 1 RCs and is hopefully going
overseas to our fellow Zones before this appears.
Look for a copy near you and compile it as a private Nodelist [see
your own mailer configuration docs if you've never done this] in your
personal Nodelist database.
DO NOT edit your NODELIST.194 to replace the R13 section UNLESS you
keep a clean copy of NODELIST.194 to merge with next week's NODEDIFF.
A locally edited Nodelist WILL NOT merge once the CRC changes with a
local edit! Do it as a private list compile to get back access to the
R13 Nodes.
You should go ahead and update your Nodelist every week even when
there are problems. The local problems usually won't outweigh all the
corrections and additions you will miss in the newest Nodelist. This
week's Nodelist has major adjustments to Zones 2 and 4 listings.
-----------------------------------------------------------------
FIDONEWS 13-29 Page 9 15 Jul 1996
=================================================================
RETRACTIONS
=================================================================
Christopher Baker
Rights On!, 1:374/14
Retraction to FidoNews 0000, Page 0:
This is where an actual Retraction would appear in the new FidoNews.
the .RET submission filename may be used by contributors or the
Editor as conditions warrant.
This is just for demonstration purposes. Hopefully we don't have
anything to retract, yet. [grin]
-----------------------------------------------------------------
FIDONEWS 13-29 Page 10 15 Jul 1996
=================================================================
ARTICLES
=================================================================
Backbone Echo Changes [May-Jun]
by Lisa Gronke, 1:105/16
lisa@psg.com
Summary of backbone & quasi-backbone echo changes during May & Jun.
Brought to you courtesy of (unix) diff.
diff (backbone.na + backbone.no) 05-May-96 ditto 30-Jun-96 [edited].
Echo merge
----------
< RENEGADE_SYSOP Renegade BBS Software Echo
> RENEGADE Renegade BBS Software Echo
Added to the backbone
---------------------
> AMU_HELP Support for the Automated Maintenance Utility
> DAPIE Programming - Porting Win32 to OS/2 using DAPIE
> DRAMA DRAMA TV..PO5, ER, BH90210, MELROSE, SAVANNAH,
> HTMLEDIT HTML Editing
> K.L.A.W. Klingon Legion of Assault Warriors (K.L.A.W.)
> MDNDP_HLP MDNDP Nodediff Processor Support Echo
> METAWORLDS MetaWorlds - Client/Server Software from Clark
> MILITIA The State Militias
> OMNINET OMNINET Technical Development Conference
> PERL PERL Discussion Echo
> SINGLE_PARENTING Topics and issues relating to SINGLE PARENTING
> SLEEP_APNEA Sleep Apnea and Your Life
> WEB-CONSTRUCT Web Page construction and viewing
> WILDCAT5 Wildcat5 Support Echo
> WRESTLE_RPG !!!!! WRESTLING ROLE PLAYING GAME !!!!!
Removed from the backbone or quasi-backbone --------------------------
< ARCSOFT (low traffic since 3/1/96)
< CUSS (low traffic since 4/1/96)
< HOCKEY_CARDS (low traffic since 3/1/96)
< HYPERWARE (low traffic since 4/1/96)
< MACOS (low traffic since 4/1/96)
< MAX_UTIL Maximus 3rd Party Utilities Echo
< MED_RAYS (low traffic since 4/1/96)
< MODULA-2 (low traffic since 5/1/96)
< MODULA-2 (not in EchoList since 3/1/96)
< RTTY (low traffic since 4/1/96)
< TABBY (low traffic since 4/1/96)
o There are 834 echos in backbone.na [30-Jun-95] (up 37)
o There are 36 echos in backbone.no [30-Jun-95] (down 33)
o for a total of 870 backbone & quasi-backbone echos (up 4)
--------------------------------------------------------------
FIDONEWS 13-29 Page 11 15 Jul 1996
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Still Being Discussed
by Bob Moravsik (2606/583)
I see some lively discussions going on about ECROC. Some
"imatures" seem to get there ONLY jollys by childish
semantic permutations of the acronym. Lets look at an analysis.
You've all heard about the its my marble game when refering
to moderators.
Over and over the tone is one if "its mine mine mine", something
that reminds me of watching 5 year olds fight over the sand
in the sand box. Let's interject some reality.
A conference is not a thing. Its mearly a word use to
describe the collection of messages with the same "echotag".
Under current Fidonet policy, an echotag is not a protected
set of characters. ANYONE may author a message with ANY echotag
and route it to whoever accepts it. Conference can not
be "owned". To even allude to it is the mark of an individual
that has trouble with reality.
There are no rules other the Moravsik's
rule ie "the biggest .bbs wins". Conference moderators exist
only to serve the posters. If there are any property rights
the authors of the messages own them. There is no kitchen, no
living room, no house. If a moderator wants CONTROL...simply
deliver the messages on his/her dime. Once messages with an
area tag are routed though "others" each router may decide the
conditions he/she shall use to modify THEIR areas.bbs.
ECROC was a volutary code set up circa 1992 at the same time and
with the same committee that tweeked policy 4 to policy 4.1c. It
introduced elections into Fidonet; offered a method to "throw the
bastards out" and tweeked a few abnomolies in the existing
policy 4 (ex...IC doesn't have to be a ZC; appeal from a ZC
decision only goes one way [now it can go up to the IC or to
the RC's...DUMBBBBB])
It gave routers a p4 analog. Many routers found it reasonable.
Its seems to be a way to "time out" the sandbox mentality. Some
moderators found it worked OK. It doesn't put a router in the
position of judging. It just insures certain minimal
"due process" is present. It stops the Robbins/Winter/Johnstone
Milner/Degan mentaility of making up rules as you go and enforcing
them unequally. All it requires is that the moderator produce:
1. The text of the rule that was broken.
2. The message(s) that broke the rules
3. Two netmail warnings
4. The text of messages that show that a person has ignored the
warnings.
If those can't be produced...well...we got a sandbox control
FIDONEWS 13-29 Page 12 15 Jul 1996
freak. The proper response is "Pound salt". The echo splits
into multiple parts and lives on. The "zec" can attest to that.
(whatever a "zec" is...its not in my copy of policy 4). And no Mr.
Degan the word MODERATOR cannot be copyrighted or met the test
of a trademark. Your claims you have legal protection on the
AREA:TAG MODERATOR is only in your mind. I offer you a public
challenge to test this.
Hopefully someday, policy 4 will undergo a restatement with a
policy that balances 5 interests:
1. The poster
2. The moderator
3. The *C's
4. Whatever policy calls the *lc, *ec *tc etc.
5. The routers.
No one group should ever be allowed to unilaterally effect links.
THERE MUST BE "Due process" much like policy 4. Until then,
ECROC is a pretty reasonable analog. Some moderators may not
like it...BUT...there are plenty of salt hammers around. OR
they can distribute messages OWNED by others written with
any echotag that is not owned, on their dime.
MY AREAS.BBS will be changed only when I'm sure the person
"requesting" the change has demonstrated that the reason
behind the request was not a product of an infantile temper
tantrum or a misguided mentality similar to some of the posts
we see in MODERATOR. Worry more about forstering communications
rather then getting your jollies by cutting links.
These guidelines are similar to the ones published by Bruce
Bodger for "his" system. Documentation is required from a
moderator before a few routers will take any action. Looks like
an ECROC analog has been adopted.
Appendix:
* ECHOMAIL ROUTING CODE v 1.05.1
ECHOMAIL ROUTING CODE v 1.05.1
1. Preface: This is a voluntary code which a router of echomail
may adopt to insure that echomail links, routing and procedures are
consistent.
Conferences are operated and routed for the benefit of the
participants. They are generally topic oriented and the topic is
an expansion of the AREA: tag. The routing of echomail is subject
to policy 4 of Fidonet as if the messages are NETMAIL. The AREA
tag does not change that.
2. Coordination: All coordination of traffic in a NET is under the
supervision of the NC. To fulfill these responsibilities he may
delegate all responsibilities except the resolution of disputes to
any node or group of nodes. They may function as conference
FIDONEWS 13-29 Page 13 15 Jul 1996
coordinators, echomail coordinators or any title the NC determines
to assign.
3. Routing: Any node may agree with any other node to accept or
provide netmail messages, which are further identified by AREA
tags. If a node has more then one address in a routing file
(generically known as an areas.bbs file) then he is functioning in
the capacity of a router.
4. Links: A router should realize that there can be many links
which develop in reliance on their voluntary effort. Likewise
there may be instances where a person requests that you should
modify your .bbs file to add or remove a link.
a. Adding a link: you can either comply with this or refer the
person to the NC of your net. Generally the criteria for adding
a link can include: economics, prevention of duplicate loops,
requests by nodes who are within a toll free call. Adding a link
is done at you sole discretion.
b. Deleting a link: If you are requested to delete a link, you
should ask that some explanation is given:
1. If the person is a conference moderator, look in the latest
issue of the ELIST available at 1/201. If the person is the
Elisted moderator (or alternate moderator), request the conference
rules, any messages that break them and at least proof that two
netmail warning were given.
2. If the person is OTHER then the Elisted Moderator or co-
moderator, refer them to your NC.
Quite often a request to cut a link is done in the heat of a strong
debate. You as a router serve to "time" the parties out for a
cooling off period. You are well within your right to refuse to
cut a link UNLESS the linked node has been excommunicated.
Since links are done by two party agreement and since there does
not exist a ratified echomail policy, this code should serve as a
balance until there is one.
*ecroc.wp*
---*---
-----------------------------------------------------------------
The InfoMail Document Server
Damian Walker, 2:2502/666
This short article has been written to bring to your attention the
existence of InfoMail, a document server for IBM PC-based Fidonet
systems. It is principally of use to systems in an environment where
routed netmail is available.
FIDONEWS 13-29 Page 14 15 Jul 1996
InfoMail allows your system to post brief informational documents upon
request, via routed or direct netmail. This allows you to create
bulletins and other documents which people can request economically
from anywhere in the Fidonet network, provided that they have access
to routed netmail.
The program features an easy-to-use setup and document list editor,
and a few bells and whistles such as in-message macros, headers,
footers, a document access counter and a list of documents generated
automatically when the user requests a document which doesn't exist.
You can also arrange for points, or users or sysops of other systems,
to keep documents updated remotely-- useful in allowing BBS users, and
other people who cannot run InfoMail on their own systems, to maintain
bulletins.
What use is it? Well, I know of quite a few uses which the program
has been put to. I use it to promote my system, to promote the echo
which I moderate, to promote itself, and to provide information about
local Fidonet.
Others have used it to promote their own systems and activities.
Someone in the UK is setting up an echo rule server using the program,
while someone in the Netherlands has told me of a plan to offer
recipies via netmail. And I have recently learned of a tutor who uses
it for his course, providing information for students studying for a
vocational qualification. The uses of the program are limited only by
your imagination.
If this article sounds like an advertisement, don't worry. The
program is available in the public domain. I'm not making any money
out of it, I just want to share it with you now it's finished, and I
thought the best way of letting people know about the program is an
article in FidoNews.
It's available via file request from 2:2502/666 (in the UK) and
2:2487/9521 (in Germany), under the magic name of INFOMAIL; it's about
55k. I'm not sure where in other zones and regions it might be
available, so it could pay to look around local systems first.
For more information about InfoMail, you can ask the program itself--
netmail INFOMAIL at 2:2502/666 with the subject INFOMAIL. Make sure
you put something (anything) in the message body so that the message
won't be deleted before InfoMail sees it.
Thank you for your interest.
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Region 18 Missing Person Search Echo - R18SEARCH
by Michael Kirst, 1:3633/36
This article is intended to inform the reader about what the R18SEARCH
echo is all about, why it was created, and why other Regions may wish
to establish a similar echo in their Region. I will also try to cover
FIDONEWS 13-29 Page 15 15 Jul 1996
what the R18SEARCH echo is NOT. I will cover what it is not first
since that is the easier of the two.
The R18SEARCH echo is NOT a competing echo for the MISSING and/or
MISSING_CHILD echos! It is also NOT intended to replace either of
those echos. When it was in it's "formative period", the moderators
of both of those echos were consulted and informed of the purpose
behind the R18SEARCH echo.
The R18SEARCH echo was created as a means of spreading information
regarding a messing person search within the Southeastern US so as to
try to blanket the Region with information vital to helping find the
missing person(s). The pre-existing MISSING and MISSING_CHILD echos
are geared for National exposure of missing person information and
should be so utilized when national coverage is needed/wanted. During
the early stages of a missing person search, the probability of the
missing person being outside of the Region are smaller which would
therefore prompt a more local distribution of the missing person
information.
Prior to the creation of the R18SEARCH echo, there were numerous
Region 18 echos that could (and were) used to post missing person
information for a ongoing search. Unfortunately, there are a lot of
systems in Region18 that do not carry those echos so the information
may or may not get distributed. What brought this need to a head was
the very high profile search for Shelby Cox. She was ultimately found
to have been murdered by her neighbor. Would/Could the R18SEARCH echo
have saved Shelby's life? We will never know. Sadly that is the case
with any missing person search. But one thing that is known in ALL
missing person searches and that is the fact that the more widely the
information about the missing person can only help their chances of
being found. The sooner the information is gotten out and the wider
it is distributed, the better the chances for the quick recovery of
the missing person. This has been proven time and again.
One thing that can go a long way toward enhancing the image of Fidonet
in the eyes of local communities is for local sysops who carry the
R18SEARCH echo to work at establishing a working relationship with
their local law enforcement agencies. The sysop(s) should present
their BBS and the R18SEARCH echo (and the MISSING and MISSING_CHILD
echos) as a FREE means for the law enforcement people to get vital
information distributed about a search in progress. They could either
become a user of the BBS (with access settings that would prevent
their account from expiring) or if the BBS were so equipped, by FAXing
the information to the BBS. I have prepared a "stand-alone" Freelance
slide show presentation that could be used for this purpose. Please
contact me via Netmail (1:3633/36) for further information.
The R18SEARCH echo is the type of echo that one would prefer to NOT
have a lot of traffic flowing in since that would mean there are not a
lot of missing people. But reality sadly proves otherwise. The rules
of the R18SEARCH echo are posted in the echo on the 15th and 30th of
each month.
I realize that there is no way to compel a sysop to carry any echo
under the current Fidonet policy. It should be seen that by carrying
FIDONEWS 13-29 Page 16 15 Jul 1996
the R18SEARCH (and MISSING and MISSING_CHILD) echos could be looked
upon as helping to make your BBS a more positive "member" of your
community. After all if your neighbor's child, a close friend, or a
loved one were to suddenly become missing, wouldn't you want every
means available to spread the word about the search for that person?
As I previously stated, posting messages in the R18SEARCH echo may not
result in that person being found safe and sound in a short period of
time, but it certainly will not hurt! What is requested is that a
follow up (or "after action") report/message be posted to notify
people that the search has been concluded and what the final result of
the search was.
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Old Standards, New Machines
By Troy H. Cheek, 1:362/708.4
The question has arisen as to whether FidoNews NEEDS to be in LZH
format or if it should go to ZIP format. I can't answer that. But I
can use it as an excuse to climb on my soapbox. :-)
One of the great dividing lines between Fidonet-style networks and,
say, Internet-style networks is that while the former may have been
sending messages via the same technical specifications for what seems
like forever, the latter seems to change almost weekly. Sure, it
takes advantage of all the latest technology, but what about the
people left in the dust? What about the people unable (or simply
unwilling) to spend the time or money necessary to keep up with the
ever increasing technology?
The current FidoNews Article Specifications (ARTSPEC.DOC) tell us not
to use IBM graphics characters. They tell us that, hard as it might
be to believe, not everyone in Fidonet is running an IBM compatible.
By that same token, I'd like to suggest the possibility that not
everyone in Fidonet is running a computer that could unZIP a file.
Of course, just to confuse the issue, I'd like to suggest the
possibility that any machine that can run a Fido-compatible mailer has
had some version of ZIP available for it. :-)
But whether it's changing FidoNews from LZH to ZIP, or changing
Fidonet mail deliveries from daily to hourly, or changing Fidonet
technical standards from the current to something more in line with
the Internet, we have to think not so much about what we'll be
gaining, but rather what we'll be losing.
Later,
Troy
-----------------------------------------------------------------
FIDONEWS 13-29 Page 17 15 Jul 1996
=================================================================
COLUMNS
=================================================================
[This is a test repeat of an article I wrote in 1991 when Tom
Jennings was still the Editor. It was quick to hand for a test
of the .COL submission type since I haven't received any inquiries
from would-be FidoNews columnists, yet.]
Christopher Baker
Rights On!, 1:374/14
In FidoNews 821, the case for publishing EVERYTHING
submitted to FidoNews regardless of content or
applicability was dealt another blow. Publishing
anything has resulted in a torrent of similar stuff in
every issue since this article was first written [the day
after 821 came out].
This was not the first non-FidoNet related
article to be published but it was sufficient to get
me to the word processor.
Though some are offended by religious proselytizing of that
sort, I found it more pitiful than offensive and certainly
a waste of space and transport time in FidoNews. It is also
an invitation to jihad from every other nutbar superstition
that decides to use FidoNews for GoodNews or BadNews. [sigh]
And it's not only religious fundamentalism but the other
articles on socialism and gender identity and rambling
trash on the state of the world that bears no resemblance
to anything of FidoNet or computers in general.
Historically, FidoNews has published anything sent to it.
This happened even when there was no identification on the
material and when it was out of spec for publication. Is
this a good idea anymore? I don't think so.
It would be reasonable to restrict content in FidoNews to
things actually related to FidoNet and telecommunications.
It would be reasonable to permit announcements of non-
FidoNet related Echo conferences since Echomail is an
integral part of FidoNet. It would be reasonable to permit
announcements of software and discussion of same since this
is a computer-based Network. It would be reasonable to
permit the inevitable political give and take concomitant
with Policy debate and complaint. It would be reasonable to
permit personal response to personal attack [though both
should be nipped in the bud by the Editor prior to
publication] so long as it did not become an endless free-
for-all.
Point is: do we want to be reasonable?
FIDONEWS 13-29 Page 18 15 Jul 1996
I suggest the FidoNews specifications be modified to
allow material related to FidoNet and to discourage the
submission of personal problems or pronouncements that have
nothing whatsoever to do with FidoNet operations or the
computer world in general.
The new [old] Editor has decided to continue the policy of
publishing anything sent that is within specs [ARTSPEC.DOC]
and not illegal.
While that may be a noble ambition, I don't think that view
particularly realistic [of course, they laughed at Fulton,
too.] nor conducive to encouraging reading of the FidoNet
newsletter.
In the current edition [829], the Editor warns of the evils
of Television and opines that restricting input to FidoNews
based on actual content will result in 'bland'. On the
contrary, I think it might result in more readership. A
socially driven newsletter rather than a topically driven
newsletter is not the path to follow in this Sysop's opinion.
The time is ripe for bringing FidoNews back to FidoNet.
What better time than the changing of the Editorial guard? I
suggest we start a Netmail writing campaign to Tom J. at
1:1/1 [1:125/111] protesting the publishing of 'extraneous'
and non-FidoNet/computer material. FidoNet and computer ops
is wide enough a venue for FidoNews. Maybe we can start a
FIDONEWS Echo for discussing Editorial policy? [grin]
Think about it. Thanks.
TTFN.
Chris
-30-
[Ed. some things never change. of course we still publish
nearly everything. {grin}]
-----------------------------------------------------------------
FIDONEWS 13-29 Page 19 15 Jul 1996
=================================================================
REVIEWS
=================================================================
This is a dummy review file to demonstrate the Reviews section. This
section now appears in ARTSPEC.DOC as any review of product, program,
or service submitted by FidoNews contributors. Thanks, to Damian
Walker for the suggestion that led to the creation of this section.
-----------------------------------------------------------------
FIDONEWS 13-29 Page 20 15 Jul 1996
=================================================================
COORDINATORS CORNER
=================================================================
I.M. Missing
FidoNet IC, 0:0/0
This area is for direct comms from Zone or Region Coordinators who
may wish to post something official where it can be easily found by
all FidoNews readers.
Like the other specialty sections, it will only appear when there is
something to print. It is unlikely that any one issue of FidoNews
will contain EVERY available section except in this 'collectors
edition'.
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Nodelist-statistics as seen from Zone-2 for day 194
By Ward Dossche, 2:292/854
ZC/2
The table below depicts the growth of the world nodelist as
seen through the eyes of someone in Zone-2. Delays in pro-
cessing inbound zone-segments are possible.
Administrative entries as well as Pvt, Hold and Down are ommitted.
Percentages have been rounded.
This article is produced by auto cut-and-paste of outputs from
T-NSTAT by Bo Bendtsen, ROBO 0.37 by Tom Kashuba and GW-BASIC 3.20
(C) Microsoft 1986 and MS-DOS 6.22 (C) MicroSoft 1994. It will
automatically be produced on a weekly basis.
----+------+------------+-------------+-------------+-------------+---
Zone| Nl-4 | Nodelist-3 | Nodelist-2 | Nodelist-1 | Current Nl | %
----+------+------------+-------------+-------------+-------------+---
1 | 13670| 13540 -130| 13286 -254| 13177 -109| 13105 -72| 40
2 | 16523| 16487 -36| 16539 52| 16497 -42| 16551 54| 51
3 | 1081| 1069 -12| 1066 -3| 1066 0| 1046 -20| 3
4 | 572| 572 0| 648 76| 648 0| 656 8| 2
5 | 116| 116 0| 112 -4| 112 0| 112 0| 0
6 | 1228| 1228 0| 1228 0| 1228 0| 1228 0| 4
----+------+------------+-------------+-------------+-------------+---
| 33190| 33012 -178| 32879 -133| 32728 -151| 32698 -30|
+------+------------+-------------+-------------+-------------+
-----------------------------------------------------------------
FIDONEWS 13-29 Page 21 15 Jul 1996
=================================================================
ECHOING
=================================================================
This is the section for notes from the Stars, Hubs and ECs who move
the Echomail around FidoNet.
This is just a demonstration for this issue and will only appear if
one of the above submits a file for publishing.
Ed.
-----------------------------------------------------------------
FIDONEWS 13-29 Page 22 15 Jul 1996
=================================================================
WE GET EMAIL
=================================================================
--- Following message extracted from FIDONEWS @ 1:374/14 ---
By Christopher Baker on Mon Jul 08 18:32:04 1996
From: Christopher Baker
To: All
Date: 07 Jul 96 23:10:05
Subj: EList confirmation received
FIDONEWS Echo will be EListed in the August 96 list or maybe July 96
if the Echolist Robot can work it in earlier on the 10th.
Backbone placement of this Echo will follow directly. I've also asked
the Stars if I can place this Echo with them for Zones outside of Zone
1 while awaiting formal Backboning.
Those of you with existing Echomail links to this system can simply
Areafix FIDONEWS on with rescan and be up and running. When doing an
Areafix be sure to use Areafix commands. D'Bridge doesn't do
Areamanager commands.
Those who want to feed from here while waiting for Backbone placement
need only send direct Netmail [don't route passwords!] to me with a
session and an Areafix password. Specify method of archiving while
you're at it. Default archiving here is ZIP format. Most of the others
are available.
TTFN.
Chris
Rights On!- FidoNews HQ & Moderator -Titusville_FL_USA (1:374/14)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
[Exported from Netmail]
Date: 11 Jul 96 10:37:09
From: noring@netcom.com on 1:13/10 nisc.ieee.org in Piscataway NJ
To: christopher baker on 1:374/14 Rights On! in Titusville FL
Subj: Statement of Protest of ARS Spam attack--Update--a couple
requests
____________________________________________________________________
From: noring@netcom.com (Jon Noring)
Hello,
Again, I'd like to thank you for your signature to the Statement of
Protest regarding the vertical spam attack on the newsgroup
alt.religion.scientology.
FIDONEWS 13-29 Page 23 15 Jul 1996
By your signature you have made a strong statement condemning the
action as well as putting pressure on the organization probably
responsible for the attack: the Church of Scientology. Your
signature helped to bring closer attention to the problem, which is
one of the main goals anyway of the SoP (it would be naive to expect
that the SoP alone would actually stop the spam).
And just so you know, I've gathered about 850 signatures, which is
actually quite good considering that 1) the attempts to cancel the
spam are succeeding very well, 2) net.focus on this problem is
receding into the background, and 3) the spam attack occured on a
special interest newsgroup that only a small fraction of Usenetters
read. However, at those sites which don't honor cancels, and which
the spam has reached, a.r.s. has been rendered unusable, a small
victory for the spammer. Fortunately, most sites do honor cancels,
and the anti-spam campaign has succeeded much better than I ever
thought it would.
I really would like to gather the magic 1000 signatures, so I just
extended the deadline for signatures to July 18. But that's it, no
matter how many more I receive.
Request #1:
----------
I strongly urge you to help me by proactively pointing out to your net
friends what's happening. To help you do this, I just reposted to
various newsgroups, including a.r.s. and comp.org.eff.talk, among
others, my final solicitation for signatures. That post refers to the
original document I posted outlining the problem, which can be
downloaded via anonymous ftp from
ftp.netcom.com/pub/no/noring/crisis.txt
And if you decide to publicly post a support of the SoP, urging others
to get off their duff and sign it, I would greatly appreciate that a
lot. If I get 20 of you posting "yeah, I agree with Jon, sign the SoP
NOW!", I believe we'll get scores of people to lift their fingers and
send the e-mail signature to:
petition-1@netcom.com (that's petition-"one", NOT petition-"ell".)
Request #2:
----------
I still have to go through the third-party verification process.
Because I won't publicly post the signatures, including yours (which
would be an adequate verification if I could), I have to get a third
and neutral party to do this for me. This third party will have to
select a random sample of e-mail signature addresses (say 20-50 or
something like that) and then send e-mail to this smaller list, asking
them if they signed the SoP. I strongly urge you, if you happen to
receive one of these verifications, to cooperate with their request.
They'll probably ask no more than sending e-mail back to them with a
simple "yeah, I signed the SoP" message, or something similar.
Anyway, thanks again for your signature. It shows you care about the
FIDONEWS 13-29 Page 24 15 Jul 1996
integrity of Usenet and its use as an effective vehicle of Freedom of
Speech. And please, please, if you haven't yet, put a link on your
Web page to Ron Newman's site which details the almost 1.5 year
assault on Usenet by the Church of Scientology. When I update my
company's Web pages, I'll add Ron's Web page in a very prominent
place. The URL is:
http://www.cybercom.net/~rnewman/scientology/home.html
Have a great day!
Jon Noring
--
OmniMedia Electronic Books|URL: http://www.awa.com/library/omnimedia
9671 S. 1600 West St. |Anonymous FTP:
South Jordan, UT 84095|ftp.awa.com /pub/softlock/pc/products/OmniMedia
801-253-4037 | E-mail: omnimedia@netcom.com
----------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------------------------------
FIDONEWS 13-29 Page 25 15 Jul 1996
=================================================================
PROOFREADERS REPORT
=================================================================
Error in FidoNews 0000
Dr. Phibes
Mookies' Revenge, 3:600/203
On Page 3 of 0000 the word misspelled is misspelled as mispelled.
Bye now!
-----------------------------------------------------------------
FIDONEWS 13-29 Page 26 15 Jul 1996
=================================================================
NET HUMOR
=================================================================
Q: How many FidoNet Coordinators does it take to screw in a lightbulb?
A: None. FidoNet Coordinators like to keep you in the dark.
[this new section has a file extension of .JOK for those who wish to
submit entries for publishing.] Ed.
-----------------------------------------------------------------
FIDONEWS 13-29 Page 27 15 Jul 1996
=================================================================
COMIX IN ASCII
=================================================================
From: Stephen Clark Powell @ 1:374/777
Here, have an official FidoNet T-shirt.
............. _______/\ /\______
........... / \ \________________/ / \
......... / \ __________________ / \
......../ \
....../ \
.......\ /\ I'm a FidoNut /\ /
.........\ / | And I'm okay | \ /
...........\/ | I flame all night | \/
..................| And I freq all day |
..................| _ |
..................| / \ |
..................| /|oo \ |
..................| (_| /_) |
..................| _`@/_ \ _ |
..................| | | \ \\ |
..................| | (*) | \ )) |
..................| |__U__| / \// |
..................| _//|| _\ / |
..................| (_/(_|(____/ |
..................| |
...................============================
Okay, you can't really wear it, but it's a nifty attaboy that I
captured a few years ago. <g>
-30-
[This new section has a file extension of .CMX. ALL comix MUST be in
PURE ASCII and the 70 character limit is a MUST! These can be static
creations like this one or comic strip type. Use your imagination!]
Ed.
-----------------------------------------------------------------
FIDONEWS 13-29 Page 28 15 Jul 1996
=================================================================
ADVERTISE YOUR FREE SERVICE/EVENT
=================================================================
by Nigel Allen (1:250/438) ndallen@io.org
Consultants and Consulting Organizations Directory
If you run a consulting business in the United States or
Canada, you may want to get it listed free of charge in the
Consultants and Consulting Organizations Directory.
To request a questionnaire for the directory, just write
to the following address:
Consultants and Consulting Organizations Directory
Editorial Code and Data, Inc.
645 Griswold Street, Suite 3480
Detroit, Michigan 48226-4015
U.S.A.
telephone (313) 961-2926
fax (313) 961-5919
Unfortunately, this only applies to consultants in the United States
and Canada. The directory does not list consultants in other
countries.
See also my Web page, http://www.io.org/~ndallen/
-----------------------------------------------------------------
by Nigel Allen (1:250/438) ndallen@io.org
Free Listings in the Encyclopedia of Associations
People who start new new non-profit associations (including
othernets, lobbying groups and associations having nothing to do
with BBSes) should get their group listed, free of charge, in
the Encyclopedia of Associations, so that prospective members,
journalists and researchers can get in touch with them.
Groups based in the U.S. should write to the following address
and ask to be listed:
Editor
Encyclopedia of Associations
Gale Research Inc.
835 Penobscot Building
Detroit, MI 48226-4094
Telephone (313) 961-2242
Fax (313) 961-6815
Groups based outside the United States should instead get listed
in International Organizations, a directory published by the same
company. Its address is:
Editor
International Organizations
FIDONEWS 13-29 Page 29 15 Jul 1996
Gale Research Inc.
835 Penobscot Building
Detroit, MI 48226-4094
U.S.A.
Telephone +1 313 961-2242
Fax +1 313 961-6815
As well, groups based outside the United States may also want to
get listed in single-country association directories published
in their own country, such as the Directory of Associations in
Canada. Any librarian should be able to tell you how to get in
touch with your country's national association directory, if
one exists.
Most large libraries have a copy of the Encyclopedia of
Associations in hard copy or CD-ROM, but it is probably too
expensive for someone to buy for home use.
See also my Web page, http://www.io.org/~ndallen/
-----------------------------------------------------------------
FIDONEWS 13-29 Page 30 15 Jul 1996
=================================================================
FOR SALE
=================================================================
Need a puppy?
I. M. Overloaded
Pet Heaven, 5:200/12
I have lots of African wild dogs for sale if you want something that
can really chew the bejazus outta your couch or your leg!
Send Netmail with hundreds of dollars [U.S.] to the address above and
your pooch will be shipped as soon as I can get him into a box.
-----------------------------------------------------------------
FIDONEWS 13-29 Page 31 15 Jul 1996
=================================================================
WANTED
=================================================================
Testing the Want ads section
Holy Mackeral
Somewhere outhere
testing testing. i want a testing.
-----------------------------------------------------------------
FIDONEWS 13-29 Page 32 15 Jul 1996
=================================================================
QUESTION OF THE WEEK
=================================================================
It's way past time to give FidoNet's Nodelist an overhaul as far as
it is organized. Zone 2 needs to split out Europe and the former
Soviet blocs. Zone 7 has been waiting all these years. The Regions
could also use some tune ups to distribute the coordination load more
evenly. Maybe even some renumbering?
So the Question of the Week is: Why not? When?
-----------------------------------------------------------------
FIDONEWS 13-29 Page 33 15 Jul 1996
=================================================================
NOTICES
=================================================================
Calendar of Events
16 Jul 1996
Gion Matsuri, in Japan.
20 Jul 1996
Independence Day, Columbia, South America.
26 Jul 1996
FidoNews Editor turns 47.
28 Sep 1996
Confucius' Birthday.
5 Nov 1996
Election day, U.S.A.
19 Dec 1996
Gallileo takes close-ups of Europa to resolution
of 20 meters at the equator.
6 Dec 1997
Gallileo takes close-ups of Europa to resolution
of 11 meters at the north pole.
If you have something which you would like to see on this
Calendar, please send a note to the FidoNews Editor.
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Date: 12 Jul 96 23:25:26
From: Mike Bilow on 1:323/107 N1BEE BBS in Cranston RI
To: Christopher Baker on 1:374/14 Rights On! in Titusville FL
Subj: ISDN in MD, VA, PA, DC or NJ...Help needed. (fwd)
_____________________________________________________________________
You may want to extract or summarize this for Fidonews.
-- Mike
* Forwarded (from: Netmail) by Mike Bilow using BilowMail0.2.
* Original dated: Jul 12 '96, 22:14
From: James Love <love@tap.org>
To: Multiple recipients of list <isdn@essential.org>
We are looking for individuals, organizations or firms that are
located in or do business in the following states, to join in motions
to intervene in ongoing Bell Atlantic ISDN cases. The states are:
FIDONEWS 13-29 Page 34 15 Jul 1996
Maryland
Virginia
Pennsylvania
District of Columbia
New Jersey
We have to file something in New Jersey and Pennsylvania pretty quick.
A selection of our past filings in these state ISDN proceedings are
at:
http://www.essential.org/cpt/isdn/isdn.html, or
the Bell Atlantic Action page,
http://www.essential.org/cpt/isdn/bellnews.html
Todd Paglia from our office is going to write the pleading. He can
be contacted at 202-387-8030 or tpaglia@tap.org
BACKGROUND
Last fall Bell Altantic (BA) filed terrible tariffs in each of its
states. These were about $30 per month plus 1 to 2 cents per minute
for usage, which was the killer. After much criticism, BA has re-filed
tariffs which are lower, but still way too high. In the new filings,
you can buy 140 hours of one ISDN B channel (70 hours if you bond 2
together into a single 128 Kpbs line) for $60 per month. This is
about .7 cents per minute per channel, and you pay for a block, even
if you don't use it. (the actual rates are on the CPT ISDN page).
ISDN doesn't cost the Telco much more than an analog phone,
according to several studies. Some telephone companies have
voluntarily filed much lower tariffs for ISDN, such as $17.90 per
month, flat rate, in Arkansas, or $29.50 flat rate in parts of
California. Ameritech filed flat rate tariffs of $28 to $35 in Ohio,
Illinois, Michigan and Wisconsin.
In states were the tariffs have been contested, good things have
happened. $27 flat rate in Tennessee, where a Commissioner was an
ISDN user. In New Mexico, US West wanted $184 for its flat rate, but
the Commission set the rate at $40. In Texas, the Commission just set
a flat rate of $41 for GTE. In Delaware, a Bell Atlantic state, the
Commission set a rate of $28.02 ($24.52 excluding the $3.50 interstate
SLC charge). In Washington DC, there is a proposal before the
Commission for a $32 flat rate. Studies of usage costs have ranged
from 10 cents per hour to 5 cent per day.
In Delaware and Washington DC, Bell Atlantic has threatened to
withdraw the service if the Commissions insists on the lower rates.
But the new telecom act requires them to provide such services, the
Commissions have the legal power to make it happen, and Bell Altantic
wants to buy NYNEX, and shouldn't be causing so much grief.
If we intervene, with local residents or organizations or firms,
it sends a signal to the Commission that the issue is important (how
to price the new digital services), and that people want to get the
service at reasonable rates.
FIDONEWS 13-29 Page 35 15 Jul 1996
If you can help, send a note to Todd, at tpaglia@tap.org, or call
him at 202/387-8030.
jamie
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
James Love / love@tap.org / P.O. Box 19367, Washington, DC 20036
Voice: 202/387-8030; Fax 202/234-5176
Center for Study of Responsive Law
Consumer Project on Technology; http://www.essential.org/cpt
Taxpayer Assets Project; http://www.tap.org
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
N1BEE BBS +1 401 944 8498 n1bee-bbs.bilow.uu.ids.net(1:323/107.107)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Christopher Baker
Rights On!, 1:374/14
GK Pace
PaceSoft Utilities, 1:374/26
PUBLIC_KEYS and PKEY_DROP Echos on Zone 1 Backbone
The PUBLIC_KEYS Echo and PKEY_DROP Echo are available on the
Zone 1 Backbone.
The purpose of the Echos is to provide a place to post and
find public-keys for data privacy within FidoNet and
elsewhere and to discuss electronic signatures and data and
software encryption and the various schemes thereof.
[The rules below are a composite of the rules from each
Echo. See PUBKEYS.RUL and PKDROP.RUL in the current ELRUL
file for complete Guidelines for each Echo.]
These are technical Echos with very few rules. Those very few
rules are:
1. Stay on-topic. Topics of keys and privacy are welcome.
Others are not.
2. No politics [except as it relates to privacy issues] and
no religion.
3. No personal attacks, slurs or innuendo. Stick to issues
not personalities.
4. No Private flagged messages in Echomail! PGP traffic
using public-keys is permitted for the exercise so long
as it is on-topic and anyone can read it.
5. This Echo may be traveling around the world so try to be
concise. Avoid excessive quoting for one-liner responses.
6. Be aware that Echomail is NOT secure. Don't take anything
at face value.
7. The posts in this Echo are the sole responsiblity of the
poster. If you need verification, use Netmail.
8. The Moderators will deal with off-topic traffic. Don't
FIDONEWS 13-29 Page 36 15 Jul 1996
respond for them. Links to this Echo will only be
curtailed when absolutely necessary so please don't make
it necessary. [grin]
The Moderators are Christopher Baker [KeyID: 2048/D881B549]
and GK Pace [KeyID: 2048/B604EBE9] at 1:374/14 and 1:374/26,
respectively.
It is recommended that public-keys be made available via
Netmail or by file-request with the magic filename: PGPKEY
and that the public-key provided for that request by given
a distinctive filename using part or all of each provider's
name and address. For example, on my system, a file-request
of PGPKEY will give BAK37414.ASC to the requesting system.
This will avoid duplicate overwriting and make it easier to
track the keys. Using a standard magic filename will make it
easier to find keys on different systems.
These Echos are on the Zone 1 Backbone. The PKEY_DROP Echo
is for placing public-keys in circulation in a central area
available to all. This Echo has been EListed since ELIST211.
Please feel free to announce and distribute this Echo to all
interested participants in your area.
Make standard requests to your normal Backbone source for
these Echos and find out what we're doing. Join us in
discovering new possibilities.
"Pretty Good Privacy" MSDOS executables and source files for
porting to other platforms are available as PGP and PGPSRC
from this system and many others. Both archives were
hatched into the SDS in the SOFTDIST area and should be
available at an SDS site near you. PGP source and executables from
here are RESTRICTED to Zone 1 Nodes only! Folks outside Zone 1 can
find versions on the Internet and local BBSes.
Thanks.
TTFN.
Christopher Baker & GK Pace
Moderators
-----------------------------------------------------------------
FIDONEWS 13-29 Page 37 15 Jul 1996
=================================================================
FIDONEWS PUBLIC-KEY
=================================================================
-----BEGIN PGP PUBLIC KEY BLOCK-----
Version: 2.6.2
Comment: Clear-signing is electronic digital authenticity!
mQCNAzHghmAAAAEEALj2F2iMEbBF7wd6t3uwkXAs6ntCoCtso8FqOPxzWXbySdk0
Wdw4Dg9MxOhG1ZgKNq5Nx3T9ytxGKEMHcZKMjarGknGU5bZfJIqM5Gt9vBodts4V
CooaLWhv9dDLAlDyo9IQp1LaWKYLCEf0hSGcxcirnCTrZWwxgDqu5gtFbxEBAAUR
tCRGaWRvTmV3cyBFZGl0b3IgPDE6MS8yM0BmaWRvbmV0Lm9yZz6JARUDBRAx4IgB
00Ov+diBtUkBAQNFB/4qEuT0fkNtRXJvOjTDHkwLcfSLnGgKD7YhOzGsmVQ34zDY
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FIDONEWS 13-29 Page 38 15 Jul 1996
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FIDONEWS INFORMATION
=================================================================
------- FIDONEWS MASTHEAD AND CONTACT INFORMATION ----------------
Editor: Christopher Baker
Editors Emeritii: Thom Henderson, Dale Lovell,
Vince Perriello, Tim Pozar,
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Donald Tees
"FidoNews Editor"
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more addresses:
Christopher Baker -- 1:374/14, cbaker84@digital.net
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[1800-0100 UTC/GMT]
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FIDONEWS 13-29 Page 39 15 Jul 1996
current year [6], i.e., FNWSMAY6.ZIP for all the Issues from May 96.
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