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FidoNews · Vol 13, No 52 · 23 December 1996

     F I D O N E W S --       Volume 13, Number 52          23 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=> 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.                             |
     +----------------------------------------------------------------------+


                        MERRY CHRISTMAS!


                        Table of Contents
     1. EDITORIAL  ................................................  1
        Happy Holidays to All!  ...................................  1
     2. ARTICLES  .................................................  2
        Privacy for Routed NetMail  ...............................  2
     3. GETTING TECHNICAL  ........................................  4
        FidoNet Technical Proposals - FSC-0003 - Route Files  .....  4
     4. COORDINATORS CORNER  ...................................... 16
        Nodelist-statistics as seen from Zone-2 for day 355  ...... 16
     5. WE GET EMAIL  ............................................. 17
        Where is FidoNet going?  .................................. 17
        Goodbye Carl Sagan  ....................................... 18
        Merry Christmas fellow Sysops [hic]?  ..................... 20
     6. NET HUMOR  ................................................ 22
        Who put the X in Xmas?  ................................... 22
     7. COMIX IN ASCII  ........................................... 25
        The 12 Days of Christmas in ASCII  ........................ 25
        This Christmas tree sez it all?  .......................... 28
        A master collection of Christmas ASCII?  .................. 29
     8. NOTICES  .................................................. 37
        Future History  ........................................... 37
     9. FIDONET SOFTWARE LISTING  ................................. 38
        Latest Greatest Software Versions  ........................ 38
     10. FIDONEWS PUBLIC-KEY  ..................................... 45
        This Space intentionally left blank?  ..................... 45
     And more!
     FIDONEWS 13-52               Page 1                   23 Dec 1996


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


     Merry Christmas to those of that persuasion. There are several
     seasonal features in this Issue.

     I had a .BIO of Santa but it mysteriously disappeared. There were
     suspicious tracks leading up to this keyboard but no exit trail. I
     suspect elves trying to suppress information.

     Pinky and the Brain are trying to take over the North Pole on the
     WB as I compose this editorial. Does the name Noodlenoggin mean
     anything to you? [grin]

     I hope all of you get what you wish for this year. I hope the rest of
     you get what you deserve. [snicker]

     And to all a good night!

     C.B.


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

     FIDONEWS 13-52               Page 2                   23 Dec 1996


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


                      PRIVACY FOR ROUTED NETMAIL
                             Jim Cannell
                              1:216/21

     Since its humble beginnings in 1984, FidoNet has enabled people over
     the entire world to communicate inexpensively and reliably.  One very
     important element is missing from standard FidoNet communications ---
     privacy.  A copy of each NetMail message exists on each and every
     system that the message is routed through, available for the sysop
     and possibly others to read.

     Are you unwilling to share your private mail with all these other
     people, but yet do not want to pay the high price of direct NetMail?
     Now, you can have the best of both worlds -- the privacy of direct
     mail coupled with the low or zero cost of routed NetMail.  The
     SecureMail system is a group of FidoNet sysops dedicated to preserving
     the privacy of your NetMail.  The SecureMail hosts promise to neither
     monitor nor censor any intransit NetMail on their systems.  All
     enroute traffic is erased as soon as processed by SecureMail hosts.

     There are no restrictions on the content of mail passed through the
     SecureMail system other than it not be illegal or commerical.  The
     message content is of concern only to the sender and recipient.  For
     those that want even more privacy, the SecureMail system not only
     accepts and delivers encrypted messages, but encourages the use of
     encryption to prevent anyone but the intended recipient to read your
     private mail.  SecureMail hosts are mail movers -- not censors nor
     voyeurs.

     SecureMail is a part of FidoNet; it is not a separate network.  It
     exists in the original spirit of FidoNet to provide communications
     among widely separated people without adding layers of bureaucratic
     control.  It is a totally voluntary and cooperative effort to move
     mail efficiently while maintaining the privacy of the correspondents.
     The SecureMail hosts are dedicating their own time and resources to
     accomplish this goal.

     To use the SecureMail system, identify your local Net SecureMail host
     by looking in the nodelist for the U?SMH flag.  These hosts will
     forward your private NetMail into the SecureMail system for quick,
     reliable, and private delivery.  All you have to do to is route your
     outbound NetMail through this SecureMail host.  Wouldn't you rather
     entrust your private NetMail to those that care about your privacy
     than to just dump it into a distribution system where it can be
     delayed and read while enroute?

     SecureMail is a rapidly growing international mail system.  If there
     is not a ?SMH in your net or close by, we encourage you to volunteer
     for the post.  As long as you are willing to forward mail without
     monitoring or censoring, you will be welcomed.  You can obtain a full
     information package by freqing SECUREML from 1:216/21, 1:18/14,
     FIDONEWS 13-52               Page 3                   23 Dec 1996


     2:51/2, 2:5100/8, or any of the ?SMH systems located near you.  This
     package contains details on the operation of SecureMail, guidelines,
     and general philosophy of SecureMail.  It also contains the latest
     SecureMail routing map.  Since not all SecureMail hosts are allowed
     to fly the U?SMH flag in the nodelist, you may find a closer ?SMH to
     you by reviewing the map rather than the nodelist.

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

     FIDONEWS 13-52               Page 4                   23 Dec 1996


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


     [This is the first of the FidoNet Technical Proposals. FSC-0001 and
      FSC-0002 were obsoleted by FTS-0001 and FTS-0005, respectively. The
      difference between FidoNet Standards [FTS] and FidoNet Proposals for
      standards [FSC] is that FTS files are required to be followed to the
      letter where used by software developers and FSC files are merely
      suggestions not yet in wide use or not yet moved to FTS status. Some
      of the FSCs are explanatory and some are actual code to be used in
      FidoNet software. There are over 90 FSCs at this writing. All of
      them will appear in these pages over the next year if they are still
      active. This is also part of our continuing FidoNet History series.
      This document has been reformatted where required to meet the 70
      column limit. As always, the unadulterated files are available here
      or at the various locations listed in the Masthead information.] Ed.


     FSC-0003

                              FidoNet Route Files Explained
                           Part 1 -- The Many Faces of FidoNet

                                by Ben Baker, Fido 100/76

                    There  is  no  aspect  of FidoNet more universally mis-
               understood than routing.  It is the  intent  of  this  foru-
               part series to clear some of the fog.

                    The   justification  for  nets  and  routing  has  been
               discussed many times and will NOT be  discussed again  here.
               Given  that  routing  is  good,  how is it done?  What's the
               meaning of the various statements that go into route  files?
               Indeed, what's the meaning of route files?

                    Let's first take a look at "the network." But how do we
               do that?  In reality, there is no "the network." FidoNet  is
               a  different  thing when viewed by each different Fido!  The
               only formal definition of FidoNet is the node list,  and  it
               serves  as  an  adaquate  view  of  "the  network"  for most
               independent Fidos but only the members of some nets.

                    Consider  the  hypothetical  node,  Fido 21/7.  He's an
               independent member of a "Region." To him, "the network" is a
               couple  of  hundred other independent nodes to whom he sends
               messages directly and another couple of hundred to which  he
               has  access  through  36  defined  "Hosts." If he receives a
               message not addressed to his node, his  Fido  "orphans"  it.
               He has no intention of forwarding someone else's mail.  They
               can pay their own phone bills!  When he sends a  message  to
               18/3,  Fido  knows  (from  the  node  list)  that is another
               independent and sends the message direct.  When he  sends  a
               message to 100/76, Fido knows (from the node list) that is a
               member of net 100 and sends it to 100/0.  Fido 21/7 executes
     FIDONEWS 13-52               Page 5                   23 Dec 1996


               only  schedule A during the national mail window.  He has no
               use for ANY route files.

                    Another hypothetical node, Fido 201/4 is a member of an
               "inbound  only"  net.   Since  the  sysop  has  used the '4'
               command properly, Fido knows he is a member of net  201  and
               will  treat  other  members  of that net as though they were
               independent nodes.  When he sends a message to  201/5,  Fido
               will  send it direct and not to 201/0.  Messages headed out-
               side net 201 will be handled for 201/4 just as they were for
               21/7.   Fido  201/4  executes  two  schedules,  A during the
               national window followed immediatly by B when he  just  sits
               quietly  and  waits  for  201/0  to  send  him  any  mail he
               received.  He has no use for ANY route files.

                    Everyone   else  has  a  view  of  "the  network"  more
               complicated than Fido can discover from just the node  list.
               If  you're a Southern California Hub, or a local node in the
               New York Megalopolis, or maybe the host of a modest  network
               in  Memphis  "the  network"  looks  different to you than to
               other sysops.  It is the function of route files  to  modify
               Fido's view of "the network" to conform to yours.

                    If your Fido is executing any mail event and any  other
               Fido calls it up and offers it a mail packet, your Fido will
               graciously receive that packet and at the end  of  the  mail
               event,  he will unpack it into messages.  These actions have
               nothing whatever to do with route files!

                    Reread  that last paragraph two or three times until it
               sinks in.  It is a very important, very misunderstood point.
               Route  files  do  not and cannot control the way you receive
               mail.  ROUTE FILES CONTROL ONLY THE  WAY  YOU  SEND  MAIL!!!
               After all, that's when you're paying the phone bill.

                    Furthermore,  what  you  say  in ROUTE.B has absolutely
               nothing to do with how Fido behaves in schedule C.   I  will
               come back to this point later.

                    Ever since we first began routing FidoNet  messages  to
               places  other than their final destination, route files have
               used three basic commands to mold Fido's view of FidoNet  to
               correspond  with  your  view.   In  part  2  we will look at
               SCHEDULE, ROUTE-TO and ACCEPT-FROM and  see  just  how  they
               influence Fido.

                    Part  3  will  examine  a  bevy of new routing commands
               available with Fido V11 and see how they have made automatic
               distribution at last possible.

                    LISTGEN  V2  is capable of generating route files auto-
               matically.  Part 4 will discuss how ROUTE.CTL statements map
               to route file commands.

                    Stay  with  me  for the next few weeks and maybe we can
               burn off the fog and find a bright sky, a calm sea and clear
     FIDONEWS 13-52               Page 6                   23 Dec 1996


               sailing.   (And  don't  throw  away your newsletters, you'll
               want to refer back from time to time.)

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



                              FidoNet Route Files Explained
                               Part  2 -- In the Beginning

                                by Ben Baker, Fido 100/76

                    From the time he first began "routing"  messages,  Fido
               has  used  "route  files"  to tell him what messages to send
               where when.   Three  basic  route  file  commands  do  this;
               SCHEDULE  aka SEND-TO, ROUTE-TO and ACCEPT-FROM.  This week,
               we'll look at these commands in depth.

                    Before  going  farther,  I  need  to define a couple of
               terms.  A "target" is a node to which your Fido will connect
               and directly send a message.  An "addressee" is the ultimate
               destination node  for  a  message.   This  is  an  important
               distinction.   Because  of  routing,  the  addressee and the
               target for a particular message are often different nodes.

                    A "packet" is a collection of messages all to  be  sent
               to  a single target (though perhaps several addressees).  At
               the beginning of each schedule Fido builds all  the  packets
               he will be permitted to send during that schedule.

                    Now, let's take a look at the three basic commands that
               may  appear  in  a  route file, and see how each of them can
               modify Fido's behavior.

               SCHEDULE <tag> <target list>         or
               SEND-TO <target list>

                    These commands are equivalent.  They tell Fido  "During
               this  schedule,  you  may  build  packets  for any target in
               <target list>.  Include all messages to different addressees
               which  may  be routed to these targets.  Do not consider any
               outgoing messages which cannot  be  sent  to  one  of  these
               targets."  Unless  there  is  an  ACCEPT-FROM statement (see
               below) only messages originating on your Fido qualify to  go
               into  packets.   If  <target list> is empty (and this is NOT
               schedule A), Fido will not build any packets.  If he doesn't
               build  any  packets he will not send any mail, even if he is
               POLLed (see next week).

               ROUTE-TO <target> <addressee list>

                    This  command  will  override  any  node  list  implied
               routing  affecting  these nodes.  It tells Fido "If <target>
               is in <target list> and there are outgoing messages for  any
               nodes  in  <addressee list>, put them in <target>'s packet."
               If <target> is not in  <target  list>  you  blew  it.   It's
     FIDONEWS 13-52               Page 7                   23 Dec 1996


               almost,  but  not quite a "no operation." No packets will be
               built for nodes in <addressee list>, even  if  they  are  in
               <target  list>!   Don't  route messages to a <target> that's
               not in the <target list> for this schedule.

                    By  the  way,  a bug in an earlier version of Fido pre-
               vented messages to <target> from being sent  unless  he  was
               also  in  <addressee  list>.   I don't know if that has been
               corrected, but it's  still  good  general  practice  to  put
               <target> in <addressee list>.

               ACCEPT-FROM <originating list>

                    Normally, Fido only  sends  mail  originating  on  your
               board.   If  you  receive  a  message  originating  on A and
               addressed to B, without this statement, your Fido  will  not
               attempt  to  send  it  along to B.  Instead, he will mark it
               "orphan" to give you an indication that  he  had  a  problem
               with  it and otherwise ignore it.  This statement in a route
               file tells Fido "When you build packets,  if  you  find  any
               messages from any nodes in <originating list>, treat them as
               if  they  originated  here.   In  other  words  FORWARD  any
               messages  from  the nodes in <originating list> that you can
               get into packets FOR THIS SCHEDULE's <target list>."

                    I actually suggested this verb for this action and have
               regretted  it  ever  since!  It's a misnomer.  A better verb
               might be "FORWARD-FOR" but hindsight is  always  20-20.   It
               really  means  "Accept,  for  forwarding, only messages from
               these guys."  It's  designed  to  prevent  you  from  paying
               someone else's phone costs without prior arrangement.

                    So  where  do  you  put  this  statement?  Remember two
               important points I've  mentioned  before.   1)  Route  files
               affect  how  you  SEND  mail,  not how you receive it.  2) A
               particular route file affects only  the  schedule  with  the
               matching  <tag>.   Consider  Fido  202/0, a hypothetical bi-
               directional host.  He executes three schedules  each  night.
               During  schedule  B, before the national window, he collects
               outgoing mail from his locals.  During schedule C  he  sends
               mail  from  himself  and  his  locals  to  "the network" and
               receives mail for himself and his locals from it.   Then  in
               schedule  D,  after  the national window, he distributes the
               mail he received for his locals.

                    ROUTE.B  needs  neither  a <target list> nor an ACCEPT-
               FROM statement.  Indeed, he doesn't really need any  ROUTE.B
               file  at  all  because  HE  ISN'T  SENDING  ANY  MAIL DURING
               SCHEDULE B.

                    ROUTE.C  has  the national net excluding 202/0's locals
               in its <target list>.  It also has  "ACCEPT-FROM  1,  2,  3,
               (all  locals)."  Now let's say that 202/3 received a message
               from 125/1 last night, but it wasn't delivered because 202/3
               was   down.   The  message  is  still  here.   Won't  it  be
               "orphaned" because 125/1 isn't in the ACCEPT-FROM list?  NO!
     FIDONEWS 13-52               Page 8                   23 Dec 1996


               Because  202/3 isn't in the <target list>, the message won't
               even be considered DURING THIS SCHEDULE.

                    ROUTE.D has all the nodes in net  202  in  the  <target
               list>,  and  an  "ACCEPT-FROM ALL" statement.  Now the fore-
               going message will be processed correctly and  forwarded  to
               202/3.

                    Now let's say that 100/76 tries to forward a message to
               Jakarta through 202/0.  202/0 cannot refuse delivery of  the
               offending  message,  so  there  it  sits  in  his mail area.
               During schedule B, he ignores all outgoing mail  because  he
               doesn't  have a <target list>.  During schedule C Jakarta is
               in his <target list>, but 100/76 is not in his  <originating
               list>, so the message is orphaned.  During schedule D 100/76
               IS in the <originating list>, but  Jakarta  is  not  in  the
               <target list> so the message is again ignored.

                    Make  no  mistake,  if  Jakarta had been in the <target
               list> in schedule D, the message would have been sent,  even
               though  it  had  been  marked  an  orphan  during schedule C
               (provided, of course that a connection  could  be  made  and
               Jakarta  happened  to  be  in a mail schedule at that time).
               This means that if messages are orphaned because  of  errors
               in  your  routing  files, the routing files can be corrected
               and the messages can still be sent.  The orphan flag is  NOT
               a dead end!

                    A  similar kind of bug existed (and may still;  I don't
               know) with ACCEPT-FROM as with ROUTE-TO (above).  If a route
               file  contains  an ACCEPT-FROM statement, make sure your own
               node is in the <originating list>.  (The first time  I  used
               this   statement,   I  forwarded  a  lot  of  messages,  but
               "orphaned" my own messages!)

                    Well, that's how routing is  achieved.   Remember,  all
               these  statements  control  out-going mail.  You can receive
               mail even if you don't have any route files!

                    A final point on routing.  If a message says it  has  a
               file  attached (even if the file doesn't exist) all bets are
               off.  Routing is suspended and  the  message  will  be  sent
               direct  from  the  originator  to  the  addressee.  Fido has
               several built-in safeguards to prevent you  from  forwarding
               someone  else's  files,  or  forwarding  your  files through
               someone else for that matter.

                    Next week we'll take a close look at the goodies TJ has
               provided in version 11 and see how they are making automatic
               node list distribution at long last a reality.

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



                              FidoNet Route Files Explained
     FIDONEWS 13-52               Page 9                   23 Dec 1996


                         Part 3 -- Keep the Old, Ring In the New

                                by Ben Baker, Fido 100/76

                    Last  week  we  looked  at the basic routing statements
               that have been with us since version  7  or  so.  Now  let's
               look at what's been added in version 11.

                    Please refer back to last weeks  definitions.   I  con-
               tinue to use them as defined.

               RECV-ONLY

                    This tells Fido "Go ahead and  build  packets  for  any
               targets  in  the SCHEDULE command's <target list>, but DON'T
               ATTEMPT TO CALL ANYBODY.  If any targets happen to  call  in
               for  any  reason, try to give them their packets before they
               get away."

                    There  MUST  be  a  <target list> for this statement to
               mean anything.  It is not  intended  for  normally  "receive
               only"  schedules  like 202/0's collection schedule (see last
               week).  Instead, it  prevents  you  from  originating  calls
               during  schedules  when you are trying to SEND mail.  (Route
               files control how you send mail, not how  you  receive  it.)
               You  are  really  trying  to  send  mail  on the other guy's
               nickel, but as you will see, he has  to  cooperate  in  that
               venture.

                    This  statement  might be used by the locals during the
               collection schedule in a large, busy  net.   Collisions  are
               avoided  because  there's  only one node, the outbound host,
               placing calls.  He POLLs (see below) the  locals  for  their
               outgoing traffic.

               HOLD <hold target list>

                    "OK, Fido, build packets for  targets  in  the  <target
               list>,  but  don't  attempt  to actually call any targets in
               <hold target list>." This is a limited "RECV-ONLY"  command.
               Any  packets  for  targets not in <hold target list> will be
               sent normally (if they haven't been picked up), but  packets
               for <hold target list> have to be "picked up."

                    There's  a  hidden  gimmick  here  that  bears  further
               exploration.   Ken  Kaplan  (Fido  100/22  AKA  1/0)  is the
               original  source  in  the  national  nodelist   distribution
               system.   Regional  coordinators  call his Fido each week to
               pick up copies of the latest nodelist.  The route  file  for
               his  national  window contains the statement "HOLD <regional
               coordinator list>."  Fido  will  not  attempt  to  send  any
               packets  targetted  for  a  regional coordinator.  Does this
               mean  that  he  can't  send   "normal"   messages   to   the
               coordinators?   Not  at  all.  Because he is a member of net
               100, all his "normal" messages, including those addressed to
               the  coordinators, wind up in a packet targetted for 100/10,
     FIDONEWS 13-52               Page 10                  23 Dec 1996


               the outbound host.  Since 100/10 is not in the <hold  target
               list>,  that  packet  is sent and the messages go out.  HOLD
               APPLIES TO THE TARGETS OF PACKETS, NOT TO THE ADDRESSEES  OF
               MESSAGES!   It  is  only  when  Ken  sends  messages  to the
               coordinators with the nodelist (or other files) attached  to
               them  that Fido builds packets targetted for them instead of
               100/10.

                    Does that mean that Ken  can't  send  the  coordinators
               other files without waiting for them to pick them up?  Well,
               yes and no.  Because of the HOLD  statement,  he  can't  say
               send  FIDO_IBM.EXE to 14/61 (see PICK-UP below for why 14/61
               and not  14/0).   But  he  can  use  another  gimmick.   The
               coordinators have dual identities (set by the '4' command of
               Fido) and he can certainly send a file  to  14/0.   Fido  is
               smart,  but so smart he'll notice that 14/0 and 14/61 happen
               to have the same phone number.  He'll send  the  packet  for
               14/0 and hold the one for 14/61.  By the same token, if both
               packets are still present when 14/61 calls  in,  he'll  only
               pick up the the nodelist targetted for 14/61 and not the new
               Fido targetted for 14/0.  (You can't have your cake and  eat
               it too.)

               PICKUP <pickup target list>

                    Whenever any other Fido calls your Fido for any reason,
               your Fido looks to see if there is a  packet  targetted  for
               him.  If there is, your Fido will try to deliver it then and
               there and avoid making the phone call which you have to  pay
               for.   Without this statement (or the next one) in his route
               file, the other Fido will simply hang up on you, leaving you
               with  a  phone call to make in order to deliver your packet.
               This statement says to Fido  "If  you  happen  to  call  any
               target in <pickup target list>, hang around to see if he has
               mail for me."

                    This  is  a  two-edged  sword.   It  can  speed up mail
               exchange, but the Fido that places the call pays for it.  It
               works  best  within a local net where the calls are all toll
               free anyway.  In fact, it won't work at all  between  larger
               nets  supported  by  distinct  inbound  and  outbound hosts.
               Specifying "PICKUP 100/0" in your national  window  schedule
               would  only get you messages originating on 100/0 (or 100/51
               actually) with files attached.  Any other mail for you might
               be in a packet addressed to you, but on 100/10, the outbound
               host, and that's not who you called.

                    Even worse, let's say Tom Jennings is sending a file to
               100/10 and wants to pick up any mail from St.  Louis for San
               Francisco while he's at it.  He's the host of net  125,  and
               that's  perfectly  legitimate,  right?   Wrong!  His primary
               identity (the '4' command again) is  125/1  and  100/10  may
               have  a  packet  for  125/0,  but he won't have a packet for
               125/1.  This command deals at the packet/target  level  just
               as  the  HOLD command does.  Furthermore, it deals with real
               identities, not alternate identities.
     FIDONEWS 13-52               Page 11                  23 Dec 1996


                    As I said, this is most useful within a local net,  and
               that's where it probably should be applied.

               POLL <poll target list>

                    This  tells Fido "Even if I don't have any mail for the
               targets  in  <poll  target  list>  generate  empty   packets
               addressed  to them so you have an excuse to call them.  Then
               when you do call them, pick anything they have for me."

                    "POLL <poll target list>" implies "PICKUP <poll  target
               list>"  which  need not be specified.  This is the statement
               an outbound host might use to poll his locals  or  hubs  for
               outgoing traffic prior to national mail time.  Together with
               the next statement, this method can be very efficient.

                    The regional coordinators run a special  schedule  each
               Saturday morning  during  the  national  mail  window.  It's
               route  file  is  identical to their normal national schedule
               route file except that it contains the statement "POLL 1/0."
               That's how they  get  the  nodelist  for  subsequent  redis-
               tribution.

                    As I see it, POLL has a lot more uses than PICKUP.

               SEND-ONLY

                    This  one  is  mainly for outbound hosts.  It says "I'm
               not expecting any mail during this schedule, so  don't  wait
               the  normal  one  or  two  minutes for incomming calls after
               making an outgoing call.  As soon as you  finish  one,  dial
               another until all packets have been sent."

                    As  I  said  above,  this  can  be  very efficient, but
               there's a problem you need to be aware of.  Fido will make a
               maximum of 30 attempts without connect to send a packet to a
               particular target.  If you have only one packet addressed to
               a busy target, Fido would normally take about an hour to use
               up 30 attempts, but in SEND-ONLY  mode  he  can  attempt  30
               calls  in  about  20 minutes!  If you have a Courier and are
               running it  in  "X4"  response  code  mode,  he'll  make  30
               attempts  in 10 to 15 minutes.  (The Courier doesn't waste a
               lot of time in "fast-dial, busy-detect" mode.)

                    If you're an outbound host and want  to  try  SEND-ONLY
               during  the  national  window,  you  risk using up your call
               attempts while  your  target  is  busiest,  then  when  he's
               quieted  down and you could get through, you've given up!  I
               suggest you break your national time into two schedules, and
               only  use  SEND-ONLY during the last 20 minutes or so of the
               national window.

                    On  the  other  hand,  polling your locals or hubs is a
               different matter.  They should be in RECV-ONLY mode and  you
               can  expect  every  call to connect the first try.  The call
               attempt limit doesn't apply to this situation and the  SEND-
     FIDONEWS 13-52               Page 12                  23 Dec 1996


               ONLY  command  should  be used to shorten the time needed to
               POLL everyone.

               NO-ROUTE <addressee list>

                    This command tells Fido "Do not send messages addressed
               to these nodes anywhere but to the addressed  nodes.   Treat
               them  as though they have files attached, whether they do or
               not."

                    This lets you say things like Fido 100/76 (in Illinois)
               might:

               SEND-TO 100/10        ; Outbound Host (in Missouri)
               ROUTE-TO 100/10 ALL   ; Send everything to accross the river
               NO-ROUTE 100/482      ; Except other Illinois traffic

                    The  only  other  way to achieve this end is to list in
               the ROUTE-TO command all 500 odd nodes whose messages should
               be routed to 100/10, and that list changes every week!

                    Now  you  should have a good handle on how the commands
               used in ROUTE.<tag> control  how  Fido  SENDS  files  during
               schedule  <tag>.   But sometimes these commands require very
               long lists of node numbers which change from week to week as
               the  node  list  changes.  LISTGEN 2 will generate the route
               files automatically and  let  you  specify  the  long  lists
               symbolically  in terms of nets, area codes, etc..  Next week
               in  the  last  part  of  this  series,  we'll  see  how  the
               statements  in  LISTGEN's  ROUTE.CTL  file correspond to the
               commands in ROUTE.<tag>.

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



                              FidoNet Route Files Explained
                             Part 4 -- LISTGEN and ROUTE.CTL

                                by Ben Baker, Fido 100/76


                    LISTGEN  Version  2  will  automatically generate route
               files for you if you desire.  The advantage is that  LISTGEN
               is driven by a control file, ROUTE.CTL, in which you specify
               the statements necessary with symbolic parameters  that  you
               define  in  terms  of  nets,  area  codes, etc..  A properly
               designed ROUTE.CTL need only change when your routing  needs
               change.  LISTGEN will continue to create correct route files
               week after week as the nodelist changes.

                    Before I begin, I'd like to do a quick  review  of  the
               route file commands and their effect.

               SCHEDULE <tag> <list> or
               SEND-TO <list>               Determines which nodes may have
     FIDONEWS 13-52               Page 13                  23 Dec 1996


                                            packets build to SEND mail to.
               ROUTE-TO <target> <list>     Directs that messages  to  par-
                                            ticular  addressees  be SENT in
                                            packets to another node.
               ACCEPT-FROM <list>           Specifies  which   oritinators'
                                            messages may be SENT.
               RECV-ONLY                    States that packets may only be
                                            SENT by being picked up.
               HOLD <list>                  States that  packets  to  part-
                                            icular  nodes  may only be SENT
                                            by being picked up.
               PICK-UP <list>               States that it is OK to receive
                                            mail from particular nodes when
                                            we originate calls to SEND them
                                            packets.
               POLL <list>                  Directs that packets (empty  if
                                            necessary)   be  generated  and
                                            SENT  to  particular  nodes  in
                                            order to pick up mail.
               SEND-ONLY                    States  that  calls may be made
                                            rapid-fire  to  SEND  as   many
                                            packets as possible.

                    Note that each definition above includes the verb  SEND
               or  SENT.   I  did that deliberately to emphasize that these
               commands all control some aspect of sending mail.

                    LISTGEN has been adaquately documented  and  I  do  not
               intend  to re-document it here, but I would like to show you
               how ROUTE.CTL  commands  map  to  the  ROUTE.<tag>  commands
               covered above.

               SCHEDULE <tag> <target list>

                    When  LISTGEN  encounters  this command in ROUTE.CTL it
               does two things.  First it closes any route file it  may  be
               working  on  and  creates a new ROUTE.<tag> file for the new
               <tag>.  Then it generates  a  SCHEDULE  statement  from  the
               specifications   in   this  one  for  the  new  ROUTE.<tag>,
               expanding any symbolic parameters to lists of nodes from the
               nodelist.  In other words, it begins a new route file as you
               would expect it to by defining the <target list>.

               FROM <accept list>

                    This phrase, when encountered, generates an ACCEPT-FROM
               statement.

               TO <addressee list> [ VIA <target> ]

                    If  the VIA clause is present, this statement generates
               a  "ROUTE-TO  <target>  <addressee  list>."  Successive   TO
               phrases  without  VIA  clauses  accumulate  to make a larger
               <addressee list> until a VIA  clause  IS  found.   Then  the
               entire  list  is  routed to the <target>.  (I'm not entirely
               happy with this "feature," but that's the way it works.)  If
     FIDONEWS 13-52               Page 14                  23 Dec 1996


               no  VIA  clause  is  ever  found, the TO phrase generates no
               output at all!  It  does  serve  as  documentation  in  your
               ROUTE.CTL file, saying "I expect to be sending mail TO these
               nodes in this schedule."

                    All of the other route file  commands  discussed  above
               map  one-for-one  in  the  same  format  from  ROUTE.CTL  to
               ROUTE.<tag>.

                    The big advantage in using LISTGEN is to be able to use
               simple  symbols  which  it will translate into long lists of
               nodes.  To illustrate, net 100 spans two area codes, 314  in
               Missouri  and  618  in  Illinois.  To minimize the number of
               toll calls placed accross the Mississippi, I serve as "Metro
               East"  hub  to concentrate the Illinois traffic.  I have the
               following statements (among others) in my ROUTE.CTL file:

               define Metro-East as Net-100 except Area-314 ; Area 618
               define Outbound as 100/10
               define World as all except Metro-East
                 *  *  *
               FROM Metro-East TO World VIA Outbound

                    Nodes may come and go, both in our net and  across  the
               country,  and  these  statements  need  not change.  LISTGEN
               interprets them week after week and builds the  right  route
               files  every  time.   And in several months, if our outbound
               host should change making it necessary to change  ROUTE.CTL,
               I  can  look  at this and not have to say to myself "What on
               earth was I trying to do here?" It's all pretty obvious.

                    Before I wrap it up, there are two important exceptions
               to  the things I have said.  First, schedule A is special in
               that the <target list> always is  the  entire  nodelist,  no
               matter  what  ROUTE.A  says.  For that reason, if you do any
               routing not defined by the node list, I recommend  that  you
               DO  NOT  USE SCHEDULE A.  For all other schedules, Fido does
               exactly what ROUTE.<tag> tells it to do  and  nothing  more.
               And  second,  ROUTE.BBS is a special route file that affects
               all schedules for which there are no ROUTE.<tag> files.  For
               that  reason,  I recommend that you FORGET YOU EVER HEARD OF
               ROUTE.BBS.  It'll cause more problems than it'll ever solve!

                    So,  routing  can  get  pretty complex (just ask 'em in
               Southern California), but it doesn't need to be  complicated
               once  you  know  what the objective of each schedule is from
               your point of view, and what your Fido needs to do  to  meet
               those objectives.

                    In  fact, it's pretty easy if you just remember the two
               points I have been hammering at you since we began:

                    1) Route files control the way you send  messages,  not
               the  way you receive them.  Every command we discussed above
               controls some aspect of sending messages.  And.  .  .

     FIDONEWS 13-52               Page 15                  23 Dec 1996


                    2) A particular route file only  affects  the  schedule
               with  the  matching  <tag>.   What you say in ROUTE.B has no
               bearing whatever on  schedule  C.   Each  schedule  must  be
               separately spelled out.

      -30-


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

     FIDONEWS 13-52               Page 16                  23 Dec 1996


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


     Nodelist-statistics as seen from Zone-2 for day 355
     By Ward Dossche, 2:292/854
        ZC/2

      +----+------+------------+------------+------------+------------+--+
      |Zone|Nl-327|Nodelist-334|Nodelist-341|Nodelist-348|Nodelist-355|%%|
      +----+------+------------+------------+------------+------------+--+
      |  1 | 11127|10931  -196 |10931     0 |10737  -194 |10564  -173 |36|
      |  2 | 16291|16240   -51 |16185   -55 |16150   -35 |16127   -23 |55|
      |  3 |   905|  886   -19 |  882    -4 |  882     0 |  878    -4 | 3|
      |  4 |   589|  584    -5 |  578    -6 |  572    -6 |  413  -159 | 1|
      |  5 |    94|   94     0 |   94     0 |   94     0 |   93    -1 | 0|
      |  6 |  1008| 1008     0 | 1006    -2 | 1003    -3 | 1003     0 | 3|
      +----+------+------------+------------+------------+------------+--+
           | 30014|29743  -271 |29676   -67 |29438  -238 |29078  -360 |
           +------+------------+------------+------------+------------+

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

     FIDONEWS 13-52               Page 17                  23 Dec 1996


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


     --- Following message extracted from FIDONEWS @ 1:18/14 ---
         By Christopher Baker on Sat Dec 21 17:52:05 1996

     From: Harry Bush
     To: Dana Marshall
     Date: 16 Dec 96  00:54:10
     Subj: FidoNews 1350 is in the can!

     Hello Dana!

     (My apologies to Moderator if this is going slightly off-topic...
     that is, if Future of FidoNet can be off-topic ;-)))

     Saturday December 14 1996 from DANA MARSHALL 1:343/311 to HARRY BUSH:

      HB>> There certainly are decent Net users among them but I cannot say
      HB>> this for AOL majority.  Do we want this kind of people in Fido?
      HB>> Personally, I don't.

      DM> Yeah, but I notice from the nodelist that the number of nodes is
      DM> dropping. Do we want to keep quality sysops, or have a lot of
      DM> nodes?

     This is really The Question of todays FidoNet, IMHO.  Thanks God and
     Jennings, :-)  unlike commercial providers we do not need evergrowing
     net. It's inevitable that those people who just needed cheap kind of
     E-mail will switch to Internet now when it's becoming cheaper every
     day. We all do, to some degree.

     Many of us (maybe majority ;) do use Internet in everydays work, much
     like library, shop and consulting info source.  Nevertheless, there
     are people like me (and probably you) who stay in FidoNet too.
     Why? ;-) Because I like to do computer network (well, part of it)
     myself instead of being just "user of a black/grey box".  It's great
     to know _how_ it works, and to try new things (wish there were more
     principially new developments in Fido).   I like also the feeling of
     being able and free to connect (well, at least theoretically) to any
     other node in the network, if I want, without asking anybodies
     permission and without anything capturing my letters in message bases
     keeping every word you have ever sent to any newsgroup - and I do not
     believe that E-mail is not captured in the same way.  I like also that
     in Fido we all are SysOps - well, some are *CS ;-)  but nevertheless
     everybody - be it young teenee using old Amiga, or rich "silver wings"
     running big Hub just for phun, or somebody with health problems
     dictating all his mail to VoiceType in his Warped computer, - we all
     are equal as SysOps.

     Besides of shrinking of nodelist, there is another tendency going on
     in Europe for a long time: many nodes, even CM ones, have no BBS'es at
     all. Seems to me that role of kinda network provider (BBS Keeper) has
     calmly separated from that of being part of Global Fidonet.  With
     FIDONEWS 13-52               Page 18                  23 Dec 1996


     computers becoming cheaper one can set up his home node just for fun,
     just to have his mail/files/whatever collected and sent automatically,
     to participate in echoes, to keep good contacts with nice people etc.
     No necessity to expand node into a BBS, it's whole another business
     with it's own problems (lots of them).

     Comparing to history of radio amateurs we can predict that Fido
     community may shrink a bit but probably will remain as community of
     people who _know_ how things work in computer networks.  Many leading
     computer and electronic developers have HAM background, and many
     specialists in network area are, or have been in Fido, some of them
     had their own Fido-Technology based networks (using Zone numbers like
     92, he he ;-)

     In some aspects Fido is still leading compared to "big Net world".  My
     mailer (Xenia, by Arjen Lentz) can and do use cryptographic methods to
     authentificate connecting nodes - this is not yet a common practice.
     There are routing subsets of Fido (SecureMail) allowing routed
     encrypted private netmail.  Only recently in Internet http protocol so
     called "reget" was introduced, allowing to continue receiving of some
     information if connection was lost - something we are absolutely used
     to assume in Fido for years ;-)  etc.etc.

     One thing that effectively _can_ kill Fido is sticking too much to old
     standards and refusing new technologies.  For example I wonder why
     there still are no Fido message editors capable of
     writing/interpreting HTML... Oh yes, there is no Fido standard for
     it... so what... ;))

     Best wishes,                                   Harry
                                   Monday December 16 1996 00:54

       Origin: Hi, gang! This is getting real sociable, isn't it?  (2:51/2)

      -30-


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


     [From Internet email]

     To: cbaker84@digital.net
     Date: Sat, 21 Dec 1996 11:25:39 EST
     Subject: AUFORA News Update <dwatanab@ds6.acs.ucalgary.ca>: AUFORA  -
             Carl Sagan
     From: surak@juno.com (Rob A Shinn)

     Could you run this in FidoNews?  I think it might be of some interest
     to Fido SysOps..,

     --------- Begin forwarded message ----------
     From: AUFORA News Update <dwatanab@ds6.acs.ucalgary.ca>
     To: watanabe@acs.ucalgary.ca
     Subject: AUFORA  - Carl Sagan
     Date: Sat, 21 Dec 1996 02:33:18 -0700
     FIDONEWS 13-52               Page 19                  23 Dec 1996


     AUFORA News Update
     Friday, December 20th, 1996     <www.helios.org>
     ___________________________

     ***
     We at AUFORA would like to express our most profound sympathies over
     the loss of such an influential and great man.
     ***

     STATEMENT BY NASA ADMINISTRATOR DAN GOLDIN ON THE PASSING OF
     ASTRONOMER CARL SAGAN

          "All of us at NASA are saddened by the passing of Carl Sagan.
     For more than three decades, Dr. Sagan was an eloquent, passionate
     voice for the sciences that he so ably advanced.

          As much as any scientific figure of our time, Carl described for
     an entire generation -- the generation of the Space Age -- the true
     wonders of the Universe around us.  His unbelievable ability to
     explain the complexities of space and space exploration inspired
     people to look up into the night sky in wonder.  Through such efforts
     as the television series 'Cosmos' and his recent book, 'Pale Blue
     Dot,' Carl reached -- and touched --millions around the world.

          He was a pioneer of the idea that life could exist on Mars, years
     before NASA was able to uncover evidence of potential early life on
     the Red Planet, and he was an important voice in our Mars science
     programs for many years.  He was an early champion of the idea that
     the two leading spacefaring powers, America and Russia, should work
     together in the exploration of space.

          He also was at the forefront of constructing humanity's first
     messages to the stars, which even now are hurtling out of our Solar
     System aboard the Pioneer and Voyager spacecraft.  Carl himself
     likened the effort to the launching of a message in a bottle on the
     interstellar ocean.  We will remember his vision, his eloquence, and
     his intellect, and we will miss him."
     __________________
     AUFORA News Update
     News, Information, Facts from the world of UFOlogy

     To subscribe send e-mail to: dwatanab@acs.ucalgary.ca

     AUFORA Web: http://www.aufora.org/
     AUFORA News: http://www.aufora.org/news/

     Helios Science News: http://www.helios.org/
     ___________________________________________________
     Distributed by The Alberta UFO Research Association

     --------- End forwarded message ----------

     [ Rob ] -=- Deus ex Machina -=- <surak@juno.com>

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

     FIDONEWS 13-52               Page 20                  23 Dec 1996


     --- Following message extracted from 374SYSOP @ 1:18/14 ---
         By Christopher Baker on Sun Dec 22 18:32:12 1996

     From: Jim Chiravalle
     To: All
     Date: 22 Dec 96  10:30:00
     Subj: X-mas Time... 2

     Remember this one Walt?

     Date: 24 Dec 94  21:57:00
     From: Walt Young
       To: All
     Subj: Merry Christmas


                    A CHRISTMAS LETTER TO MY FRIENDS
                                  by
                          Your Fellow Sysop


         Dear Fellow 374 Sysops,

         Now that Christmas time is here I generally like to take
     time to write a message to all my friends who have been so kind
     during the year. I'd like to say thanks for all the support,
     the messages, the files you've put on this board and for the
     technical stuff. Writing this kins of message is a swell
     habit, I think.

         Tonight is a blustery evening, but I feel cozy and snug
     as I sit here typing this message, watching the fire in the
     fireplace, listening to some good music, and sipping on a
     double martini ..  I only wish you were here to join me in
     one, but since you are not - the least I can do is to toast
     your health and happiness ... So, I shall take time out and
     bend my elbow to you in a little toast.

         I also took time out to mix another martini and while I
     was out in the kitchen I thought I might as well drink it out
     there, mix another and bring it in here to save getting up
     again to go mix another out there and in doing so I feel like
     I,m beginning to feel a littl hih. It,s funny how a cold
     dring can warm up your stomahe and inspire your thoughts,
     inn,nt?I must have been sitting to close to thefire vor I
     startew feel a littlet dizzy  so i muxed another martini and
     now my head feels a clear as a bellagin? Oo youa can9t beart
     the comnation of good gin vermooth and stiffed olives. beer
     ansqotch and bouban are allrigh but you can7t beat gin
     ermouth even with picled onoions.

         Now i like allittet dring now anthen and I have tak a
     fourth and or maybe afifthf and I am more than evew concicse
     that any man who does8t is stupif and not inth pr'er 1993?)
     icould dring martinis alday and nefer wqubber an etelash and
     so no worse a citzeb that I was befor. this country is good
     FIDONEWS 13-52               Page 21                  23 Dec 1996


     as it evew wax. We al nkow taxes are highrt, but still we
     arewell of in Isa... There ujst inn8t a bettercountry1

         SSay tese martinis isal righr, when wev need stimulanzwe
     sure do even if some people don9t like ti who blunooses and
     its pretty kinf of a kettle-fish is i can! drink a taost to
     old frens. O i coulf drink martinis by fthe quart to yourr
     health all nihgt and stil pass anu sibruty tets sos herees
     again to yor heltj!!!!!

     N merra Chrutmiss

     y    yOUR fELL oWL sYSOPE.......

     .. Christmas Spirit is what you GIVE...not what you GET!

     Origin:**Jim In Motion BBS*Palm Bay, Fl*(407)952-8089 ** (1:374/32)

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

     FIDONEWS 13-52               Page 22                  23 Dec 1996


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


     From: "Mike Riddle" <mriddle@novia.net>
     To: "Baker, Christopher" <cbaker84@digital.net (Christopher Baker)
     Date: Wed, 18 Dec 96 07:41:28 -0600
     Reply-To: "Mike Riddle" <mriddle@novia.net>
     Subject: Fwd: x-masfile

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

     >From the Dec 16, 1996 edition of the _New Yorker_

     The Xmas Files by Frank Cammuso and Hart Seely

     The Place:     37 ELM STREET
                    BETHLEHEM, PA.

     The Time:      11:51 PM, DECEMBER 24TH

     Fox Mulder:    We're too late! It's already been here.

     Dana Scully:   Mulder, I hope you know what you're doing.

     M:   Look Scully, just like the other homes: Douglas fir,
          truncated, mounted, transfromed into a shrine; halls decked
          with boughs of holly; stockings hung by the chimney, with
          care.

     S:   You really think someone's been here?

     M:   Someone, or SOMETHING.

     S:   Mulder, over here, it's fruitcake.

     M:   Don't touch it! Those things can be lethal.

     S:   It's OK. There's a note attached: "Gonna find out who's
          naughty and nice."

     M:   It's judging them, Scully. It's making a list.

     S:   Who? What are you talking about?

     M:   Ancient mythology tells of an obese humanoid entity who could
          travel at great speed in a craft powered by antlered servants.
          Once each year, near the winter solstice, this creature is
          said to descend from the heavens to reward its followers and
          punish disbelievers with jagged chunks of anthracite.

     S:   But that's legend, Mulder--a story told by parents to frighten
          children.  Surely you don't believe it?

     M:   Something was here tonight, Scully. Check out the bite marks
     FIDONEWS 13-52               Page 23                  23 Dec 1996


          on this gingerbread man. Whaterver tore through this plate of
          cookies was massive --and in a hurry.

     S:   It left crumbs everywhere. And look, Mulder, this milk glass
          has been completely drained.

     M:   It gorged itself, Scully. It fed without remorse.

     S:   But why would they leave it milk and cookies?

     M:   Appeasement. Tonight is the Eve, and nothing can stop its
          wilding.

     S:   But if this thing does exist, how did it get in? The doors and
          windows were locked. There's no sign of forced entry.

     M:   Unless I miss my guess, it came in through the fireplace.

     S:   Wait a minute, Mulder. If you're saying some huge creature
          landd on the roof and came down this chimney, you're crazy.
          The flue is barely six inches wide. Nothing could get down
          there.

     M:   But what if it could alter its shape, move in all directions
          at once?

     S:   You mean like a bowl full of jelly?

     M:   Exactly, Scully. I've never told anyone this, but when I was
          a child my home was visited. I saw the creature. It had long
          white shanks of fur surrounding its ruddy, misshapen head. Its
          bloated torso was red and white. I'll never forget the horror.
          I turned away, and when I looked back it somehow took on the
          facial features of my father.

     S:   Impossible.

     M:   I know what I saw. And that night it read my mind. It brought
          me a Mr. Potato Head, Scully. IT KNEW THAT I WANTED A MR.
          POTATO HEAD!

     S:   I'm sorry, Mulder, but you're asking me to disregard the laws
          of physics.  You want me to believe in some supernatural being
          who soars across the skies and brings gifts to good little
          girls and boys. Listen to what you're saying. Do you
          understand the reprecussions? If this gets out, they'll close
          the X-files.

     M:   Scully, listen to me: It knows when you're sleeping. It knows
          when you're awake.

     S:   But we have no proof.

     M:   Last year, on this exact date, SETI radio telescops detected
          bogeys in the airspace over twenty-seven states. The White
          House ordered a Condition Red.
     FIDONEWS 13-52               Page 24                  23 Dec 1996


     S:   But that was a meteor shower.

     M:   Officially. Two days ago, eight prized Scandanavian reindeer
          vanished from the National Zoo, in Washington, DC. Nobody--
          not even the zookeeper--was told about it. The government
          dosn't want people to know about Project Kringle. They fear
          that if this thing is proved to exist the public will stop
          spending half its annual incom in a holiday shopping frenzy.
          Retail markets will collapse. Scully, they cannot let the
          world believe this creature lives. There's too much at stake.
          They'll do whatever it takes to ensure another silent night.

     S:   Mulder, I--

     M:   Sh-h-h. Do you hear what I hear? On the roof. It sounds
          like...a clatter. The truth is up there. Let's see what's the
          matter.

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









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

     FIDONEWS 13-52               Page 25                  23 Dec 1996


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


     [Forwarded by Walter Tietjen at 1:151/114]

     From: In:cron@pixie.co.za
     To: ** All **
     Subj: ASCII Christmas Story

     +---------------------------------------------------------------+

     On the Twelfth Day of Christmas, my true love gave to me:
     Twelve Drummers Drumming

                       .-}        .-}        .-}
                       |_|        |_|        |_|
                       (_)        (_)  __    (_) .---.
                       | \ .--.   | \.'  '.  | \/     \
                       |\_|--o )  |\_|--o  ; |\_|--o   |
                       |:| '--'   |:|'.__.'  |:|\     /
                       |:|        |:|        |:| `---`
                       |:|_       |:|_       |:|_
                   ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

             .-.   .-.   .-.   .-.   .-.   .-.   .-.   .-.   .-.
             |M|   |E|   |R|   |R|   |Y|   |X|   |M|   |A|   |S|
             (_)   (_)   (_)   (_)   (_)   (_)   (_)   (_)   (_)
            /\Y/\ /\Y/\ /\Y/\ /\Y/\ /\Y/\ /\Y/\ /\Y/\ /\Y/\ /\Y/\
            [XXX] [XXX] [XXX] [XXX] [XXX] [XXX] [XXX] [XXX] [XXX]
             |||   |||   |||   |||   |||   |||   |||   |||   |||
             |||   |||   |||   |||   |||   |||   |||   |||   |||
            _|||_ _|||_ _|||_ _|||_ _|||_ _|||_ _|||_ _|||_ _|||_
           ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^



     Eleven Pipers Piping
         _     _     _     _     _     _     _     _     _     _     _
       ,/_)  ,/_)  ,/_)  ,/_)  ,/_)  ,/_)  ,/_)  ,/_)  ,/_)  ,/_)  ,/_)
        (")   (")   (")   (")   (")   (")   (")   (")   (")   (")   (")
        /I\   /I\   /I\   /I\   /I\   /I\   /I\   /I\   /I\   /I\   /I\
       (/^\) (/^\) (/^\) (/^\) (/^\) (/^\) (/^\) (/^\) (/^\) (/^\) (/^\)
        |||   |||   |||   |||   |||   |||   |||   |||   |||   |||   |||
        |||   |||   |||   |||   |||   |||   |||   |||   |||   |||   |||
       _|||_ _|||_ _|||_ _|||_ _|||_ _|||_ _|||_ _|||_ _|||_ _|||_ _|||_
      ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~



     Ten Lords A-Leaping

                                   w              w
                    w              0__           \0__
                   \0__     w     /|_     w      /_
     FIDONEWS 13-52               Page 26                  23 Dec 1996


                   /_     __0/  '\/ /    \0_  '\/ /    w
                '\/ /      /_       `    /_       `  __0/
                    `   `\/  \,         _\ \,         /_
                     w                 `           `\/  \,
                    \0__      w                 w
                    /_        0__       w      \0__
                   _\ \,     /|_      __0/      |_
                  `        `\/  \,     /_      _\ \,
                                    `\/ /,    `



     Nine Ladies Dancing

                                                            |~
                          ()                       ()      0` |~
                  ()    _/)(\_           ()      _/)(\_      0`
                _/)(\_   /^^\    ()    _/)(\_     /""\
                 /~~\   /____\ _/)(\_   /``\     /____\
                /____\          /""\   /____\   ()
                        ()     /____\         _/)(\_      ()
              |~      _/)(\_           ()      /^^\     _/)(\_
             0` |~     /``\          _/)(\_   /____\     /~~\
               0`     /____\          /~~\              /____\
                                     /____\



     Eight Maids A-Milking


               __.----.       __.----.        __.----.        __.----.___
     (\(__)/)-'     (\(__)/)-'      (\(__)/)-'      (\(__)/)-'        ;--`
      `(uu)'      _  `(dd)'       _  `(gg)'       _  `(vv)'       _   |
       )  (      (|)  )  (       (|)  )  (       (|)  )  (       (|)  |
      (o  o)     8~8 (o  o)      8~8 (o  o)      8~8 (o  o)      8~8 ,/
       `--'\_    (__).`--'\_    (__).'`--'\_    (__).'`--'\_    _(__)|
            `|||~~/\||     `|||~~/\||      `|||~~/\||      `||~|| /\||
      ^`^`^`^`^`^`^`^`^`^`^`^`^`^`^`^`^`^`^`^`^`^`^`^`^`^`^`^`^`^`^`^`^
               __.----.       __.----.        __.----.       __.----.___
     (\(__)/)-'      (\(__)/)-'     (\(__)/)-'     (\(__)/)-'        ;--`
      `(99)'       _  `(66)'      _  `(aa)'      _  `(ee)'        _  |
       )  (       (|)  )  (      (|)  )  (      (|)  )  (        (|) |
      (o  o)      8~8 (o  o)     8~8 (o  o)     8~8 (o  o)       8~8,/
       `--'\_    (__).'`--'\_    (__).`--'\_    (__).`--'\_    _(__)|
            `|||~~/\||      `|||~~/\||     `|||~~/\||     `||~|| /\||
      ^`^`^`^`^`^`^`^`^`^`^`^`^`^`^`^`^`^`^`^`^`^`^`^`^`^`^`^`^`^`^`^`^



     Seven swans A-Swimming

            ___     ___     ___     ___     ___     ___     ___
           /,_ \   /,_ \   /,_ \   /,_ \   /,_ \   /,_ \   /,_ \    _,
           |/ )/   |/ )/   |/ )/   |/ )/   |/ )/   |/ )/   |/ )/   / |
             //  _/ |//  _/  //  _/  //  _/  //  _/  //  _/  //  _/  |
     FIDONEWS 13-52               Page 27                  23 Dec 1996


            / (_/   / (_/   / (_/   / (_/   / (_/   / (_/   / (_/   _)
           /   `   /   `   /   `   /   `   /   `   /   `   /   `   _/)
           \  ~=-  \  ~=-  \  ~=-  \  ~=-  \  ~=-  \  ~=-  \  ~=-   /
       ~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~



     Six Geese A-Laying
         __         __         __         __         __         __
       >(' )      >(' )      >(' )      >(' )      >(' )      >(' )
         )/   ,     )/   ,     )/   ,     )/   ,     )/   ,     )/   ,
        /(____/\   /(____/\   /(____/\   /(____/\   /(____/\   /(____/\
       /        ) /        ) /        ) /        ) /        ) /        )
       \ `  =~~/  \ `  =~~/  \ `  =~~/  \ `  =~~/  \ `  =~~/  \ `  =~~/
        `---Y-' __ `---Y-' __ `---Y-' __ `---Y-' __ `---Y-' __ `---Y-' __
           ~~' (__)   ~~' (__)   ~~' (__)   ~~' (__)   ~~' (__)   ~~' (__)



     Five Golden Rings

                         .-.   .-.   .-.   .-.   .-.
                        ((_)) ((_)) ((_)) ((_)) ((_))
                         '-'   '-'   '-'   '-'   '-'



     Four Calling Birds

                      ___       ___       ___       ___
                     ('v')     ('v')     ('v')     ('v')
                    ((   ))   ((   ))   ((   ))   ((   ))
                  -/-"---"---/-"---"---/-"---"---/-"---"--



     Three French Hens

                         (\  }\   (\  }\   (\  }\
                        (  \_('> (  \_('> (  \_('>
                        (__(=_)  (__(=_)  (__(=_)
                           -"=      -"=      -"=


     Two Turtle Doves
                                _      _
                               <')_,/ <') ,/
                               (_==/  (_==/
                                ='-    ='-



     And a Partridge in a Pear Tree
                                 _
                                ('>
                                /))@@@@@
     FIDONEWS 13-52               Page 28                  23 Dec 1996


                               /@"@@@@@()@
                              @@()@@()@@@@
                              @@@O@@@@()@@@
                              @()@@\@@@()@@
                               @()@||@@@@@
                                 @@||@@@
                                   ||
                           ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

     +--------------------------------------------------------+


     Take care!

     Anne McReary
     mcreary@oz.net

      Origin: Point and Counter Point*Ft Lewis, WA 1-206-912-1922(8:7720/0)

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


     Date: 15 Dec 96  10:51:35
     From: Paulette Boudreault-Gilbert
       To: Everyone
     Subj: Season Greetings..:)
     ______________________________________________________________________

     Hi Everyone!
                             +
                            "X"
                           "XXX"
                          "XXXXX"
                         "GOD JUL"
                        "BUON ANNO"
                       "FELIZ NATAL"
                      "JOYEUX   NOEL"
                     "VESELE   VANOCE"
                    "MELE   KALIKIMAKA"
                   "NODLAG  SONA  DHUIT"
                  "BLWYDDYN  NEWYDD  DDA"
                 """""""BOAS FESTAS"""""""
                      "FELIZ NAVIDAD"
                     "MERRY CHRISTMAS"
                    "KALA CHRISTOUGENA"
                   "VROLIJK  KERSTFEEST"
                  "FROHLICHE WEIHNACHTEN"
                 "BUON  NATALE-GODT NYTAR"
                "HUAN YING SHENG TAN CHIEH"
               "WESOLYCH SWIAT-SRETAN BOZIC"
              "MOADIM LESIMHA-LINKSMU KALEDU"
             "HAUSKAA JOULUA-AID SAID MOUBARK"
            """""""'N  PRETTIG  KERSTMIS"""""""
                 "ONNZLLISTA UUTTA VUOTTA"
                "Z ROZHDESTYOM  KHRYSTOVYM"
               "NADOLIG LLAWEN-GOTT NYTTSAR"
     FIDONEWS 13-52               Page 29                  23 Dec 1996


              "FELIC NADAL-GOJAN KRISTNASKON"
             "S  NOVYM  GODOM-FELIZ ANO NUEVO"
            "GLEDILEG JOL-NOELINIZ KUTLU OLSUM"
           "EEN GELUKKIG NIEUWJAAR-SRETAN BOSIC"
          "KRIHSTLINDJA GEZUAR-KALA CHRISTOUGENA"
         "SELAMAT HARI NATAL - LAHNINGU NAJU METU"
        """""""SARBATORI FERICITE-BUON  ANNO"""""""
              "ZORIONEKO GABON-HRISTOS SE RODI"
            "BOLDOG KARACSONNY-VESELE  VIANOCE "
           "MERRY CHRISTMAS  AND  HAPPY NEW YEAR"
          "ROOMSAID JOULU PUHI -KUNG HO SHENG TEN"
         "FELICES PASUAS -  EIN GLUCKICHES NEUJAHR"
        "PRIECIGUS ZIEMAN SVETKUS  SARBATORI VESLLE"
       "BONNE  ANNEBLWYDDYN  NEWYDD DDADRFELIZ  NATAL"
      """""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""
                           XXXXX
                           XXXXX
                           XXXXX
                       XXXXXXXXXXXXX


     From one friend to another....pass it on...Happy Hollidays!

     Paulette
     pbg@alive.ampr.ab.ca
     http://www.geocities.com/Athens/9631

      Origin: AB_NET's Private BBS (403) 963-6385 (1:342/510)

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


     Date: 24 Dec 91  02:41:31
     From: Arthur Greenberg
       To: All D'bridge Folks
     Subj: Season's Greetings !!
     ______________________________________________________________________

                 ***********************************************
                 * =========================================== *
                 * =========================================== *
                 * | | .   .         . |    .       .    . | | *
                 * | |   .     .   .   |  .    .     . .   | | *
                 * | |  Season's Greetings! .     .   .   /| | *
                 * | |.  .  .   . .    | .      .      . / | | *
                 * | |\.    . .   .  . |     .      /\  /. | | *
                 * | | \  . /\  . .    |.    /\.   /  \/.  | | *
                 * | |  \. /. \   ./\  |   ./  \ ./ .  \ . | | *
                 * | | . \/.   \/\/  \ |   / .  \/ .    .  | | *
                 * | |=====================================| | *
                 * | | .  .\    /*\ \ .|\/ .  .  .\  .  .. | | *
                 * | | .    \. /***\ . | \.   .  . \.    .*| | *
                 * | |   .  . /*****\  | .\   .  !  \    / | | *
                 * | | .   . /*******\ |  . .  ./*\  \.  / | | *
                 * | | .   ./*********\|  .    /***\ .  /__| | *
                 * | |  .     .  * .   |    . /*****\  .   | | *
     FIDONEWS 13-52               Page 30                  23 Dec 1996


                 * | |      .   .    . |  .  /*******\. .  | | *
                 * | |  . @______(.  . |   ./*********\  . | | *
                 * | |   ._+___+_  .   |  ./***********\.  | | *
                 * | | .  .   .  .  .  | .       *      .  | | *
                 * | |_________________|___________________| | *
                 * =========================================== *
                 ***********************************************

                                       **
                    From D'Bridge Help/Information 1:1/168.0
                                      ****
                 All the D'Bridge Sales/Support Sites WorldWide
                                     ******
                  We wish you the best for this Holiday Season
                                    ********
                 Have a Merry, Safe, Happy, and Healthy Holiday
                                   **********


     Arthur Greenberg * D'Bridge Help/Information *

     Origin: D'Bridge Help/Information * It's Almost Time... !! (1:3601/14)


     Date: 13 Dec 92  17:41:00
     From: Patrick Browne
       To: ALL
     Subj: XMAS CARD
     ______________________________________________________________________

                         |
                       -XXX-
                         #
                        ###
                       ###*#                * * * * * * * * * * * * *
                      #*#*###               *    WISHING YOU ALL    * *
                     #*#####*#              *   A MERRY CHRISTMAS   * *
                    ######*####             *  AND A GREAT NEW YEAR * *
                   ###*######*##            * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
                  ######*####*###             * * * * * * * * * * * * *
                 ###*##*##*#######
                ###############*###
               ###*###*####*#####*##
              ##############*######*#
             #####*####*#*#####*######
            #*######*###*#####*#####*##
               +----+   ###
          +--V--++--|   ###
          +-----+---+

     From Patrick Browne, Sysop - "THE GAIJIN GROTTO" - Kobe, Japan.

     Kind Regards,

     Patrick

     FIDONEWS 13-52               Page 31                  23 Dec 1996


     CIS: 73570,2740
     NifftyServe: QFHO2740

      Origin: D'Bridge - Sales & Support, Japan (6:732/1)


     Date: 17 Dec 92  15:47:00
     From: James Waldron
       To: ALL
     Subj: Happy Holidays
     ______________________________________________________________________

           _    ,                  _    ,   _
          ' )  /                  ' )  /   //      /
           /--/ __.  _   _   __  , /--/ __|/  o __/ __.  __  , _
          /  (_(_/|_/_)_/_)_/ (_/ /  (_(_) \_<_(_/_(_/|_/ (_/_/_)_
                   /   /       /                           /
                  '   '       '                           '

                                  and
           _ _ _                    __
          ' ) ) )                  /  ) /            _/_
           / / / _  __  __  __  , /    /_  __  o _   /  ______  __.  _
          / ' (_</_/ (_/ (_/ (_/ (__/ / /_/ (_<_/_)_<__/ / / <_(_/|_/_)_
                              /
                             '

                 From:  James Waldron & Dorothy Nicklus
                        UNitek Research Institute
                        1:2604/401, UNitex Communications BBS

       Origin: UNitek --> United Nations Information Network (1:2604/401)


     From: Frits Spieker
     To: All
     Date: 18 Dec 94  10:54:00
     Subj: Happy New Year!

           .                             .     .                 .
     .       .        _+_        .                  .             .
                      /|\
           .           *     .       .            .                   .
                     i/|\i                                   .
          .    .     // \\*            Merry Christmas and a Happy
                    */( )\\      .       and Good New Year 1995        .
            .      i/*/ \ \i           from BrainPark3, Holland
     .             / /* *\+\                          .......  ...
          .       */// + \*\\*          .          ... ......           .
                 i/  /^  ^\  \i    .             ... . ...       .
             .   / /+/ ()^ *\ \               ........ .
                i//*/_^- -  \*\i            ...  ..  ..               .
        .       / // * ^ \ * \ \           ..
              i/ /*  ^  * ^ + \ \i        ..     ___            _________
              / / // / | \ \  \ *\       >U___^_[[_]|  ______  |_|_|_|_|_|
       ____(|)____    |||                [__________|=|______|=|_|_|_|_|_|=
     FIDONEWS 13-52               Page 32                  23 Dec 1996


      |_____|_____|   |||                 oo OOOO oo   oo  oo   o-o   o-o
     -|     |     |-.-|||.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-
      |_____|_____|
       ^^^^^^^^^^^
       ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ This one is for me ... ,-))


     Talk to you later,
     // Frits //
     ... Mother will wait up until you get in...

      Origin: BrainPark3. Rotterdam, the Netherlands. (2:286/115)


     Date: 15 Dec 96  16:08:47
     From: RanD
       To: All Sysops
     Subj: Seasons Greetings
     ______________________________________________________________________

     ...and best wishes for a healthy and prosperous New Year.

     (I sure hope that this is allowed in here... :-)   )

     The Merriest of Christmas is wished to all!!!


                            ..,,;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;,,.
                        .,::::;;;;aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa;;,,.
                    .,;;,:::a@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@a,
                 ,;;;;.,a@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@a
               ,;;;;%;.,@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@a,
            ,;%;;;;%%;,@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@
         ,;;%%;;;;;%%;;@@@@@@@@@@@@@@'%v%v%v%v%v%v%v%v%v%v%v%v`@@@@@@@@@
       ,;;%%;;;;:;;;%;;@@@@@@@@@'%vvvvvvvvvnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnvvvvvv%`@@@@'
      ,;%%;;;;;:;;;;;;;;@@@@@'%vvva@@@@@@@@avvnnnnnnnnnnvva@@@@@@@OOov,
     ,;%;;;;;;:::;;;;;;;@@'OO%vva@@@@@@@@@@@@vvnnnnnnnnvv@@@@@@@@@@@Oov
     ;%;;;;;;;:::;;;;;;;;'oO%vvn@@%nvvvvvvvv%nnnnnnnnnnnnn%vvvvvvnn%@Ov
     ;;;;;;;;;:::;;;;;;::;oO%vvnnnn>>nn.   `nnnnnnnnnnnn>>nn.   `nnnvv'
     ;;;;;;;;;:::;;;;;;::;oO%vvnnvvmmmmmmmmmmvvvnnnnnn;%mmmmmmmmmmmmvv,
     ;;;;;;;;;:::;;;;;;::;oO%vvmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmvvnnnv;%mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmv,
     ;;;;;;;;;;:;;;;;;::;;oO%vmmmmnnnnnnnnnnnnmmvvnnnvmm;%vvnnnnnnnnnmmmv
      `;%;;;;;;;:;;;;::;;o@@%vvmmnnnnnnnnnnnvnnnnnnnnnnmmm;%vvvnnnnnnmmmv
       `;;%%;;;;;:;;;::;.oO@@%vmmnnnnnnnnnvv%;nnnnnnnnnmmm;%vvvnnnnnnmmv'
         `;;;%%;;;:;;;::;.o@@%vvnnnnnnnnnnnvv%;nnnnnnnmm;%vvvnnnnnnnv%'@a.
          a`;;;%%;;:;;;::;.o@@%vvvvvvvvvvvvvaa@@@@@@@@@@@@aa%%vvv%%@@@@o.
         .@@o`;;;%;;;;;;::;,o@@@%vvvva@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@avvvva@@@@@%O,
        .@@@@@Oo`;;;;;;;;::;o@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@"""""""@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@OO@a
      .@@@@@@@@@OOo`;;;;;;:;o@@@@@@@@@@@@@"           "@@@@@@@@@@@@@oOO@@@,
     .@@@@o@@@@@@@OOo`;;;;:;o,@@@@@@@%vvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvv%%@@@@@@@oOOO@@@@@,
     @@@@o@@@@@@@@@OOo ;::;'oOOoooooOOOo%vvvvvvvvvvvvvv%oOOoooooOOO@@@O@@@,
     @@@oO@@@@@@@@@OO a@@@@@a,oOOOOOOOOOOOoooooooooooooOOOOOOOOOOO@@@@Oo@@@
     @@@oO@@@@@@@OO a@@@@@@@@Oo,oO@@@@@@@OOOOOOOOOOOOOO@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@Oo@@@
     @@@oO@@@@@@OO @@@@@@@@@@@OO,o@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@Oo@@@
     @@@@o@@@@@@OO @@@@@@@@@@OOO,o@@@@@@@O@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@o@@@@@@@@@O@@@@
     @@@@@o@@@@@OOo @@@@@@@OOOO'oO@@@@@@Oo@@@@@@@@@@@@O@@@@@Oo@@@@@@@@@@@@a
     FIDONEWS 13-52               Page 33                  23 Dec 1996


     `@@@@@@@O@@@OOOo`OOOOOOO'oOO@@@@@@O@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@O@@@@@Oo@@@@@@@@@@@@
      `@@@@@OO@@@@@OOOooooooooOO@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@O@@@@@Oo@@@@@@oO@@@@
        `@@@OO@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@O@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@Oo@@@@O@@@@@@@oO@@@'
          `@@`O@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@Oo@@@@@@@@@@@@O@@@'
            `@ @@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@O@@@@@@@@@@@@'@@'
               `@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@O@@@@@@@@@@@@ a'
                   `@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@Oo@@@@@@@'
                      `@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@Oo@@@@'
                          `@@@@@@O@@O@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@'o@@'
                              `@@@@@oO@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@ a'
                                  @@@oO@@@@@@@@@@@@@@' '
                                  @@@o'`@@@@@@@@'
                                  @'   .@@@@'
                                      @@'
                                    @'


     RanD

      Origin: The Brookfield Community BBS (203) 775-6198 (1:141/1030)


     Date: 17 Dec 96 19:40
     From: Rich Woods
       To: All
     Subj: Merry Christmas!
     ______________________________________________________________________

                          *M*E*R*R*Y*   *C*H*R*I*S*T*M*A*S*

                                                          $f  dF   ,
                      .,,,...                            :$L ;$  ,dP
                  ,!!!!!!!',cd$$$$$e,                 q  4$f,$$,z$"
                ,!!!!!!!',c$$$$$$$$$$$$c              `$o`$$kuC3$$ .zf
              ,!!!!!!!',c$$$$$$P**""**?$c              R$beeF?$$$$$"
             ;!!!!!!! c$$$$$$",eed$$F"?t"               "$$$$bd$$$"
            ;!!!!!!!.d$$$$$F j"j$3$bf""?b?e,             '$$$$$$P"
           !!!!!!:  $$$$$$P J,f ,d$$b?$bde`$c          .$k<?????>'$b
           !!!!!!!> $$$$F".$$".u$$??P}"""^ ?$$c.       d$$$$$dd$$$$$>
            `!!!!!  ?L e$$ $$$$$P'zee^"$$$$boc"$$,     R$$$$$$$$$$$$
             '!!!   z$$$$$c,"$P'd$$F'zdbeereee$$$$$eu    "??$$$$PF"
      Mn      !!   d$$$$$$$$ee z$P",d$$$$$$c?$$$$$$$$C  '!!!::::!!!>
      MMM   ,cec, '^$$$$$$$$$c,",e$$C?$$$$$$bc?$$$$$$$k !!!!!!!!!!!!
      MMM'.$$$$$$$, ?$$$$$$$$P$$$$$$$bc?T$$$$$$d$$$$$$$ . -.`!!!!!!!
      nMM d$$$$$$$F  $$P???",e4$$$$$$$$bcc?$$$$$$$$$$$$ /~:.!!!!!!!!!
      n.  "$$$$$$$'   ::,"??e,.-.?$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$F.C"m.`!!!!!!!'
      M":!:`"""""   :!!!!!!i:."?o. "? ?$$$??$$$"$$F"$P<$$$b/4.`4!!!
      : 4!!!!h     <!!!!!!!!!!:  .CL.F'.zeElu. : ?eb o$$$$$$o(#c'`
        '`~!!~.ud !!````'!''``zd$$$$$`d$$$CuuJ" !: 4$$$$$$$$$$c"$c
      ." !~`z$$$":!!!~`..:i! d$$$$$$$`$$$$FCCJ" !!!: ?$$$$$$$$$b $L
      $$"z$$$$$":!!! :!!!!!'4$$$$$$$$`$$$$$" "" !!!!!:`$$$$$$$$$$ "
      ?o$$$$$$F !!!!!!!!!!! 4$$$$$$$$;?$P": JL \.~!!!!i $$$$P?"l.u-
      $$$$$$$$F!!!!!!!!!!!!:'R$$$$$$$E.:! $.$$c3$%:`!!! .l==7Cuec^ <
      $$$$$$$$ !!!!!!!!!!!!!i ?$$$$P"<!!! ?$`$$$$N.     Rk`$$$$$$r\
      $$$$$$$$L`!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! .:::!!!''`   $$$$$$      $c"??"7u+? !
      $$$$$$$$$ !!!!!!!!!!!'` :!!''`         '""        .'?b"l.4d$ !!!:
     FIDONEWS 13-52               Page 34                  23 Dec 1996


      $$$$$$$$$b `!!!'''`.. '''`               ...:::!!!!!! $$$.?$b'!!!>
      $$$$$$$$$$$beee@$$$$$$$$        ..:::!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 3$$b ?$c`!!!
      $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$f .::!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! d$$$$`$$b !!!
      $$$$$$$$$$$"3$$$$$$$$$":!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! $$$$$,$$$k !!!
      $$$$$$$$$P,d$$$$$$$$F !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 3$$$$$ $$i`! 3>
      $$$$$$F$Fz$$$$$$$$$$ !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! d$$$$$h`$$,! $&
      $$$$$FJFx$$$$$$$$$$ !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!'4$$$$$$$ 9$.'.$L
      $$$$$ F.$$$$$$$$F.r !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! $$$$$$$F  ?$e$$F
      $$$$F .$$$$$$$$"d$$bu,,.```''!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!'''''`,d$$$$$$$F.! ?$$$F
      $$$$F d$$$$$$$$ $$$$$$$$$$$bc,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,ccd$$$$$$$$$$$$ !!f ?$$"
       "$$$e$$$$$$$$&'$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ !!>  $P"
         `"?$$$$$$$$$e`?$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ !!'
            `?$$$$$$$$$$e `""**???$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$P***""..:!!'
               "?$$$$$$$$k`!!!!!!;;;;;;::,,,...... ,,,,,;;!!!!!!!!!!
                   ""???"" !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!:
                            !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!'   !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
                             !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!.>    `!!!!!!!!!'''!!!!'
                           :i !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!>    .``''`.,uu,,.```.
                           !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!~`    d$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$>
                          c.`~~~~~!!!!!:..        $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$
                          $$$$$eeeeeeeuuuee$      $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$"
                          $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$       """"...........
                          ?$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$P"       '!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
                            .."""""""""".:          !!!!!!!!!!!!!
                           :!!!!!!!!!!!!!!          `!!!!!!!!!!!'
                           i!!!!!!!!!!!!!'          !!!!!!!!!!!'::
                           :!!!!!!!!!!!!!           !!!!!!!!!!:!!:.
                           !!!!!!!!!!'!!!           . `!!!!!!!!!!!!`...
                           `!!!!!!!! -'``           !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!::
                            !!!!!!!!!i!!!:           `~~~~~```~~~~~~~~~~~~`
                            !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!.
                              ```'!!!!!!!'``::..
                                    `!!!!!!!!!!!'
                                       `````

      Origin: If you have whoedown with hoes, what do you have with a
              crackdown?(1:209/245)


     Date: 21 Dec 96  06:04:00
     From: Genie Bohn
       To: All
     Subj: Greetings
     ______________________________________________________________________

                          SEASON GREETINGS FROM THE FLAMINGO GANG:


                         $$b   d$$
                         $$$b d$$$
                        ,$$$$$$$$$
                   __   d$$ $$$ $$
                  d$$b  $$' `Y' $$     d$$$b $$$$$$'`$$$$$$'  $$  $$
                 d$'dP d$P      Y$b   t$__$$ $$  $$  $$  $$   $$  $$
                 $$   d$P       `Y$b  d$""'  $$  $$  $$  $$   $$  $$
                 Y$$$$$P         `$$bd$$b..,d$$  4$.,$$  $$.,d$$bd$$ d$)
     FIDONEWS 13-52               Page 35                  23 Dec 1996


                  `4$P'           `Y$P'"Y$$$$P'  `$$$P'  `$$$P'`""$$$$P
                                                                 d$$P
                                                                d$$$
                                                               $$ $$
                                                               $$ $$
         d$$b                                                  `$W$'
       d$P""Y$b    d$$b                                          ~
      $$'    $P  ,d$""$$.
     d$' $b dY'  d$'  $$b                   $$                      ,d$$$b
     $$   Y$P'   $$  ,d$P                   $$                     ,$$'~`$$
     $$          $$ d$Y'        $$         H$$$$H                  $$'
     $$          $$$$b.                .    $$                     $$b
     $$         d$$' $$  $$$$$  $$    d$b   $$  d$b d$b,$b   ,d$$b  $$b
     Y$b      ,$P$$  $$  $$ $$  $$   d$^Yb ,$$ ,$$$$$"$$$$$  d$'`$b  `$$b
      Y$b   ,d$P'$$  Y$bd$P $$bd$$b_$$'  $)$$$.$Y $$' $$ $$. $$.,$$b   `$$.
       `$$$$$P'  $$   "$$'  "$$P'`Y$P  d$P `$$$$' $$  $$ `$$$$"$$$'"$$) $$)
                                                                       d$P'
                                                                    _.d$P'
                                      d$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$P'
                                     $$P

                          _____
                    _,---'     `-,_
                    * `-,_         `-,
                          `-,@@@@@@@@@@                          _
                            @@@@@@@@@@@                    ((    ))
                     (\_    ;;### ###;;                 {}  \  //  {}
              _*__  (\_c\   ;; O ( O ;;                  \---\/,-{=\    /=
            /\ \ \  \ ( )  ;;, (_)  ;;   Ho Ho Ho ....    ~~\//~~ \  //
            \ \ \ \ @@@@@   ;;//~\;;;                     (\_(\ {{=\//=}
          ___\_\_\__| \  \ __ ;;;;;;;;_                      /  (o   \//
         [==='`____`__ \  / /\ ;;;;; \ \_                    ) ) \  <`--'>
         |_  :~|~~~~~~|__/ /\ \       `, `-,_                ; (`~;  )  ('\
         |##-,_|@@@@@@|   \ \/\       |_    @-,.   __    .&'   \ ;  ;  (/~
         |######-,_,__|_,-,\ *\ \=====@) `-,_@,-c).(_(,-'' \&....|   ;   :;
         |#########`-----,_`-,\/_______\::::::-,_ ; )      |_ \ |_&-. ..(
         |####{}#######|!!!`-,__________):::::::::`-,; @)  .{ },-...\&  `)
         |##{ __}}#####|!!!!!!!!!-,_    `-,::::::::::_//|  /(_)(     ||   ;
         |#{ }##{ }####|!!!!!!!!!!!!`-,_   \::::--,:/!!!/ /     \   //,--|:
         |#{ }###{}####|!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!`---'!!!!!!!!!!| :   ^    ) ;~/  //
         |##{ }#{ }####|!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!} \  / \   \; / _//
         |###{_~_}#####|!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!,-:: /_/   \  \   C_/
         |#############|!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!,-`X  (( //   __//
         |#############|!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!,-`X  / \_,-'~   c__/
         |#############|!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!,-`X  / \/,-`
         `;############|!!!!!!!!!!!!,-X   / \/,-`~
           X`-;########|!!!!!!!!,-'X / \ /,-'~
          /_\,-``-;####|!!!!!-'X  / \_,-'~
        `-'         `-;|,-'X  / \',-'
                          /,-/,-'~

                ooooo   ooooo
                `888'   `888'
                 888     888   .oooo.   oo.ooooo.  oo.ooooo.  oooo    ooo
                 888ooooo888  `P  )88b   888' `88b  888' `88b  `88.  .8'
                 888     888   .oP"888   888   888  888   888   `88..8'
     FIDONEWS 13-52               Page 36                  23 Dec 1996


                 888     888  d8(  888   888   888  888   888    `888'
                o888o   o888o `Y888""8o  888bod8P'  888bod8P'     .8'
                                         888        888       .o..P'
                                        o888o      o888o      `Y8P'

     ooooo      ooo                       oooooo   oooo
     `888b.     `8'                       `888.   .8'
      8 `88b.    8  .oooo.  ooo oooo   ooo `888. .8'.ooooo. .oooo.  oooo oo
      8   d8b    8  88  88   88   88   8     88888  88   88  (  888  888( o
      8   `88b.  8 d88'`88b `88. `88. .8'    `888  d88' `88b    )88  888
      8    `88b  8 d8P  888  88  88   8       888  888   888    888  888
      8     `88b.8 888oo888 `88..]88.8'      `888' 888ooo888 .oP888  888
      8       `888 888   .o  `888'`888'        888  888   .o d8  88 .888o8o
     `8 `Y8bod8P'   `8'..8'        o88o  `Y8bod8P' `Y888""8  od888b

                           .o   .ooooo.    .ooooo.   .oooooooo.
                         o888  888' `Y88. 888' `Y88.       o88
                          888  888    888 888    888      o88
                          888   `Vbood888  `Vbood888      o88
                          888        888'       888'     o88
                          888      .88P'      .88P'      o88
                         o888o   .oP'       .oP'         o8


       Origin: Flamingo BBS, Melbourne, FL V34+ (407)242-8184 (1:374/46)

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

     FIDONEWS 13-52               Page 37                  23 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 13-52               Page 38                  23 Dec 1996


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


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

     -Still- in the process of catching up. Ugh.

     Phased out this week: ProBoard 1.20, QuickBBS 2.75,
                           PCBoard 14.5a, and Phoenix 1.07.

     Phase-out highlights:
       This week: SimplexBBS 1.05 and SLBBS 2.15C
             Deadline for info: 03 Jan 1997.
       Last week: RBBS 17.3b and RemoteAccess 1.11
             Deadline for info: 27 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
     InfoMail/386   1.20       O F Damian Walker     2:2502/666  INFO386
     FIDONEWS 13-52               Page 39                  23 Dec 1996


     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 13-52               Page 40                  23 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            Other Utilities         Other Utilities
     Name         Version    Name         Version    Name         Version
     --------------------    --------------------    --------------------
     RBBS           17.3b    2DAPoint        1.50*   Netsex         2.00b
     RemoteAccess    1.11*   4Dog/4DMatrix   1.18    OFFLINE         1.35
     SimplexBBS      1.05    ARCAsim         2.31    Oliver          1.0a
     SLBBS          2.15C*   ARCmail         3.00*   OSIRIS CBIS     3.02
     Socrates        1.11    Areafix         1.20    PKInsert        7.10
     SuperBBS        1.12*   ConfMail        4.00    PolyXarc        2.1a
     SuperComm       0.99    Crossnet         1.5    QM             1.00a
     TAG             2.5g    DOMAIN          1.42    QSort           4.04
     TBBS             2.1    DEMM            1.06    RAD Plus        2.11
     TComm/TCommNet   3.4    DGMM            1.06    Raid            1.00
     FIDONEWS 13-52               Page 41                  23 Dec 1996


     Telegard         2.7*   DOMAIN          1.42    RBBSMail        18.0
     TPBoard          6.1    EEngine         0.32    ScanToss        1.28
     WildCat!        3.02*   EMM             2.11*   ScMail          1.00
     XBBS            1.77    EZPoint          2.1    ScEdit          1.12
                             FGroup          1.00    Sirius          1.0x
     Network Mailers         FidoPCB         1.0s@   SLMail         2.15C
     Name         Version    FNPGate         2.70    StarLink        1.01
     --------------------    GateWorks      3.06e    TagMail         2.41
     BinkleyTerm     2.50    GMail           2.05    TCOMMail         2.2
     D'Bridge        1.30    GMD             3.10    Telemail         1.5*
     Dreamer         1.06    GMM             1.21    TGroup          1.13
     Dutchie        2.90c    GoldEd         2.31p    TIRES           3.11
     Milqtoast       1.00    GROUP           2.23    TMail           1.21
     PreNM           1.48    GUS             1.40    TosScan         1.00
     SEAdog          4.60    Harvey's Robot  4.10    UFGATE          1.03
     SEAmail         1.01    HeadEdit        1.18    VPurge         4.09e
     TIMS       1.0(mod8)    HLIST           1.09    WEdit            2.0@
                             ISIS            5.12@   WildMail        2.00
     Compression             Lola           1.01d    WMail            2.2
     Utilities               Mosaic         1.00b    WNode            2.1
     Name         Version    MailBase       4.11a@   XRS             4.99
     --------------------    MSG              4.5*   XST             2.3e
     ARC             7.12    MsgLnk          1.0c    YUPPIE!         2.00
     ARJ             2.20    MsgMstr        2.03a    ZmailH          1.25
     LHA             2.13    MsgNum         4.16d    ZSX             2.40
     PAK             2.51    MSGTOSS          1.3
     PKPak           3.61
     PKZip           1.10

     NodeList Utilities
     Name         Version
     --------------------
     EditNL          4.00
     FDND            1.10
     MakeNL          2.31
     Parselst        1.33
     Prune           1.40
     SysNL           3.14
     XlatList        2.90
     XlaxNode/Diff   2.53


                             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
     FIDONEWS 13-52               Page 42                  23 Dec 1996


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

     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
                             -----

     FIDONEWS 13-52               Page 43                  23 Dec 1996


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


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

     BBS Software            Network Mailers         Other Utilities
     Name         Version    Name         Version    Name         Version
     --------------------    --------------------    --------------------
     FIDOdoor/ST    2.5.1    BinkleyTerm   2.40n9    ApplyList       1.00@
     FiFo            2.1v    The Box         1.95*   Burep            1.1
     LED ST          1.00                            ComScan         1.04
     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
     FIDONEWS 13-52               Page 44                  23 Dec 1996


                             DeArc           5.12    AutoFRL          2.0
                             OS9Arc           1.0    Bundle           2.2
                             UnZip           3.10    CKARC            1.1
                             UnLZH            3.0    EchoCheck       1.01
                                                     FReq            2.5a
                                                     LookNode        2.00
                                                     ParseLST
                                                     PReq             2.2
                                                     RList           1.03
                                                     RTick           2.00
                                                     UnBundle         1.4
                                                     UnSeen           1.1

     --  --  --  --  --  --  --  --  --  --  --  --  --  --  --  --  --
     Key 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 13-52               Page 45                  23 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 13-52               Page 46                  23 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, cbaker84@digital.net
                                       cbaker84@aol.com
                                       cbaker84@msn.com
                                       cbak.rights@opus.global.org

     (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 13-52               Page 47                  23 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.

                                *=*=*=*=*

     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.
     FIDONEWS 13-52               Page 48                  23 Dec 1996


     "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-


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



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