FidoNews · Vol 20, No 29 · 21 Jul 2003
The F I D O N E W S Volume 20, Number 29 21 Jul 2003
+--------------------------+-----------------------------------------+
| |The newsletter of the | | Fido, Fidonet and dog-with-diskette are |
| | FidoNet community. | | US Registered Trademarks of Tom Jennings|
| | | | San Francisco, California, USA |
| | ____________| | |
| | / __ | Crash netmail articles to: |
| | / / \ | Editor @ 2:2/2 (+46-31-944907) |
| | WOOF! ( /|oo \ | Routed netmail articles to: |
| \_______\(_| /_) | Bjorn Felten @ 2:203/0 |
| _ @/_ \ _ | Email attach to: |
| | | \ \\ | bfelten@telia.com |
| | (*) | \ ))| |
| |__U__| / \// | Editor: Björn Felten |
| ______ _//|| _\ / | |
| / Fido \ (_/(_|(____/ | Newspapers should have no friends. |
| (________) (jm) | -- JOSEPH PULITZER |
+--------------------------+-----------------------------------------+
Copyright 2003 by Fidonews Editor for Fidonews Globally.
Table of Contents
1. FOOD FOR THOUGHT ......................................... 1
2. REBUTTALS TO PREVIOUS ARTICLES ........................... 2
Rebuttal; The Fall of Fidonet BBSing ..................... 2
3. HUMOUR IN A FIDO VEIN .................................... 4
Men of Honor Rewrite ..................................... 4
4. BEN RITCHEY'S FIDONET SOFTWARE LISTING ................... 5
FIDONet Software References .............................. 5
5. SPECIAL INTEREST ......................................... 10
Nodelist Stats ........................................... 10
6. FIDONEWS INFORMATION ..................................... 12
How to Submit an Article ................................. 12
Credits, Legal Infomation, Availability .................. 14
FIDONEWS 20-29 Page 1 21 Jul 2003
=================================================================
FOOD FOR THOUGHT
=================================================================
All you need in this life is ignorance and confidence, and then
success is sure.
-- Mark Twain
-----------------------------------------------------------------
FIDONEWS 20-29 Page 2 21 Jul 2003
=================================================================
REBUTTALS TO PREVIOUS ARTICLES
=================================================================
The Fall of Fidonet BBSing
A Rebuttal
By Frank Vest
1:124/6308.1
Last week, Dan Egli made a good point about how hard Sysops need to
work to promote BBSs and gain Users. Sadly, I'm going to be a bit
pessimistic here.
You want Users to call your BBS? Here's some thoughts, experiences
and other stuff.
Get in contact with some old Users that left the BBS scene because
their favorite BBS closed and they couldn't find another one. This
will be the best way to get Users back into a BBS.
If that is not possible, read on:
I've had the occasion while, browsing through some web forums, to
post my telnet address to someone that wanted to find a place without
all the garbage to read/write messages and discuss things. The small
amount of feed back that I've received from these posts has lead me to
the following.
If you want new Users that have not been on a BBS before, here's some
advice:
1. Allow new Users to apply for an account with an alias name. Don't
even think of asking for so much as a "real sounding" name. People are
used to the web forums where they can call themselves "super stud",
"badass" and other such names (handles). If your BBS software has to
ask for a real name, put up a screen prior to that part of the
application explaining that any name is ok.
2. Don't even think of asking for an address. Asking for a Home
address, E-mail or any indication of where a new applicant lives will
cause them to hang up or disconnect at that point in the application.
Don't even ask for a birth date.
3. If you have a screen that even vaguely indicates that you might be
logging activity, remove it. If a new User thinks you might be doing a
look-up of his/her IP address, they will drop the connection. If you
actually do scan for their IP address or other info, be sure they can
not find out about it.
4. Forget about asking for "new User feedback".
The Internet has taught people to be paranoid about everything.
People are afraid that if they give any indication of where they live,
you will locate them and rob, rape or murder them or their family.
Spam prevention has taught people that any request for reply (feedback
or otherwise) is giving indication that you are "there" and asking for
FIDONEWS 20-29 Page 3 21 Jul 2003
spam.
Do not think that a screen explaining that you are not trying to
gather information for illegal purposes or to sell, track or whatever
will convince people that you really are a "good guy". The exact
opposite will in fact happen. The Internet has taught that this kind
of message is in fact just a method to "draw" someone in and gain
their confidence for spamming or worse.
In thinking about all this so far, I wonder why anyone has an Internet
account to begin with?
Anyway, onward and downward:
5. If your BBS is part of a message network (echomail), do not carry
any message areas (echos) that require real names (see #1 above).
6. Do not carry any message areas that are moderated. Moderating
prevents "free speech" and Moderators can track Users and... well...
see the first 4 items above.
So, in conclusion:
If you want "new" Users and some teen accesses your BBS calling
him/herself "ass kicker", jumps into your message base and tells all
the people there how big his penis is or how wet her vagina is (in
terms not as nice as I've written here), let them. Otherwise, you will
lose that User.
Oh yeah. Don't try to explain to potential new Users what a BBS
really is. They have been taught that the web forums and "guest books"
that abound on the Internet are "REAL" BBSs. Of course, these
potential new Users believe that will all their heart and soul and
will curse you forever if you try to tell them otherwise. After all,
if the Internet says it, it must be true.
-----------------------------------------------------------------
FIDONEWS 20-29 Page 4 21 Jul 2003
=================================================================
HUMOUR IN A FIDO VEIN
=================================================================
Men of Honor Rewrite
By Frank Vest
1:124/6308.1
Rewrite of the speech given by Robert De Niro in the movie;
"Men of Honor"
A Sysop is NOT a paid technician,
he is an unpaid repairman!
If a mail packet is lost,
he finds it!
If the mailer is locked up,
he unlocks it!
If the BBS goes down,
he brings it back up!
If he is lucky,
a User will write a message of thanks!
For that is the CLOSEST he will EVER come to getting paid!
HELL!! I don't know why ANYONE would want to be a SYSOP!!
-----------------------------------------------------------------
FIDONEWS 20-29 Page 5 21 Jul 2003
=================================================================
BEN RITCHEY'S FIDONET SOFTWARE LISTING
=================================================================
-=:{ FIDONet Software Reference }:=-
Type: M=Mailer T=Tosser B=BBS D=Door C=Comm/Terminal
P=Points E=Editor I=Internet U=Utility ?=Info
.- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -.
|Software: Author |Type |URL, Contact, Ver, Notes Help Node|
`- - - - - - - - - - -+- - -+- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -'
Argus |M |http://www.ritlabs.com/argus/ 2:469/84
| | argus@ritlabs.com Tel: 373-2-246889
| | v3.210 on Mar 20th 2001
BeeMail: |M |http://beemail.gexonline.net 1:105/10
Stephen Proffit | | beemail@gexonline.net
BinkleyTerm XE |M |http://btxe.sourceforge.net 1:1/102
| | v2.60XE/Gamma-6 on Nov 11th 1998
BinkD |MI |http://2f.ru/binkd/
| | maloff@corbina.net
| | v0.94 on Jul 24th 2000
FIDO-Deluxe IP |MPUI |http://www.fido-deluxe.de.vu 2:2432/280
Michael Haase | | m.haase@gmx.net
| | v2.3 on Jul 18th 2003
Fidonet to Internet: |MI |http://www.terminate.com
Bo Bendtsen | | sales@terminate.com
| | v2.00 on Mar 23rd 1997
FrontDoor, FD/APX: |MTPC |http://www.defsol.se 2:201/330
Definite Solutions | | sales@defsol.se 1:1/101
| | v2.26SW & v2.33ml FD, v1.15 APX
Husky Project |MTPUI|http://husky.sf.net
| | v1.4.0 on Feb 11th 2003
InterMail, InterEcho |MT |http://www.ifido.com 1:1/133
| | bob@nwstar.com
| | v2.50 IM, v1.19 IE
Radius (based on |M |http://fido5012.narod.ru/ 2:5012/38
Argus) | | fido5012@zaural.net Tel: 7-3522-469463
| | v4.009 on Jan 2nd 2003
Terminate |MBP |http://www.terminate.com
| | v5.00 on Aug 7th 1997
Tmail |MI |http://www.tmail.spb.ru v2608
WildCat! Interactive |MTBEI|http://www.santronics.com
FIDONEWS 20-29 Page 6 21 Jul 2003
Net Server, Platinum| | sales@santronics.com
Xpress: Santronics | | Tel: (305) 248-3204
Software, Inc. | | AUP 450.2 on Jul 9th 2002
+- - - - - - - - - - -+- - -+- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -+
Fidogate |TUI |http://www.fidogate.org
| | Martin_Junius@m-j-s.net v4.4.4
FMail |T |http://fmail.nl.eu.org 2:280/1076
| | wijnstra@fmail.nl.eu.org v1.60
JetMail: JetSys |TU |http://www.jetsys.de js@jetsys.de
(ATARI ST only) | | v1.01 on Jan 1st 2000
Squish |T |http://www.lanius.com
| | sales@lanius.com v1.11
| |http://www.vector11.com/maximus/
Watergate |TUI |http://www2.sbbs.se/hp/ramon/
| | ramon@sbbs.se
| | v0.93p9 on Dec 14th 1998
+- - - - - - - - - - -+- - -+- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -+
BBBS |BI |http://www.bbbs.net b@bbbs.net
| | v4.00MP on Oct 25th 1999 2:22/222
ELEBBS: The Elevator |B |http://www.elebbs.com
Software Production | | elebbs@elebbs.com
| | v0.10.RC1 on Jun 9th 2002
EZYCom BBS |BT |http://homepages.ihug.com.au/~dcbbs/
| | pjs@optushome.com.au 3:633/104
| | v2.0 on 3 May 2003
Falken BBS |B |http://falkenbbs.com
| | v12.0 on Feb 2nd 2002
Hermes II Project |B |http://www.hermesii.org
| | info@HermesII.org v3.5.9 Beta Final
Maximus BBS |B |http://www.lanius.com
| | sales@lanius.com v3.01
| |http://www.vector11.com/maximus/
MBSE BBS: |BI |http://mbse.sourceforge.net 2:280/2802
Michiel Broek | | mbroek@users.sourceforge.net
| | v0.33.21 on Jun 4th 2002
Mystic BBS |B |http://www.mysticbbs.com
| | v1.07.3 on May 13th 2001
Nexus BBS |B |http://www.nexusbbs.net
| | groberts@nexusbbs.net
| | v0.99.41.001 beta on Jun 10th 2001
Proboard BBS |B |http://www.proboard.be
FIDONEWS 20-29 Page 7 21 Jul 2003
| | v2.17 on Jun 9th 2002
RemoteAccess BBS: |B |http://www.rapro.com 1:1/120
Bruce Morse | | bfmorse@rapro.com
| | v2.62.2SW
Spitfire BBS: Buffalo|B |http://www.angelfire.com/ia/buffalo/
Creek Software | | MDWoltz@aol.com 1:1/150
| | v3.6 on Aug 20th 1999
Synchronet BBS |BT |http://www.synchro.net
| | sysop(at)vert(dot)synchro(dot)net
| | v3.10L Beta
Telegard BBS |B |http://www.telegard.net
| | support@telegard.net
| | v3.09g2 SP4
+- - - - - - - - - - -+- - -+- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -+
Atlantis Software |D |http://www.jimmyrose.com/atlantis/
| | last update: Jun 2002
BBS Central |D |http://www.rpcomputers.com
Bentstone |D |http://www.srupc.com/mall
Capabilities Group | | info@stonebenders.com
Cheepware: |D |http://www.midnightshour.org/cheepware/
Sean Dennis | | hausmaus@midnightshour.org 1:11/200
DDS (Doorware |D |http://www.doorgames.org 1:2404/201
Distribution System)| | ruth@doorgames.org
Ruth Argust | |
DoorMUD |D |http://www.dmud.thebbs.org
| | v0.98 Jun 1st 2002
Elysium Software |D |http://www.elysoft.com
| | mpreslar@mailcity.com
Jibben Software |D |http://www.jibbensoftware.com
| | scott@jibben.com
| | 1995-99 Release dates
JNS Software: |D |http://www.geocities.com/jnssoftware/
Rusty Johnson | | rustyjohnson57@hotmail.com
| | Tel: (304) 733-0113
John Dailey Software |D |http://www.johndaileysoftware.com
| | support@johndaileysoftware.com
LORD (Legend of the |D |http://www.lordlegacy.org
Red Dragon) Reborn | | mike@lordlegacy.org
| | v4.06 on Feb 5th 2001
Lord-II IGMs |D |http://www.shelby.net/wizards/lord2igm/
FIDONEWS 20-29 Page 8 21 Jul 2003
PC Pursuits |D |http://www.pcpursuits.com
| | brucep@pop.kis.net
| | Tel: (301) 240-6653
Shining Star |D |http://www.shiningstar.net/bbsdoors/
| | nannette@shiningstar.net
Sunrise Doors: |D |http://www.sunrisedoors.com
Al Lawrence | | al@sunrisedoors.com
| | Tel: (404) 256-9518
The Brainex System |D |http://www.brainex.com/brainex_system/
| | stanley@brainex.com 1994-99 Releases
Trade Wars |D |http://www.eisonline.com/tradewars/
| | jpritch@eisonline.com
| | v3.09 (DOS-32) in 2002
Vagabond Software: |D |http://www.vbsoft.org 1:124/7013
Bryan Turner | | vagabond@vbsoft.org
| | last update: Jul 17th 2002
(various) |D |http://www.webnexus.com/users/etow/
+- - - - - - - - - - -+- - -+- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -+
APoint |PI |http://www.apoint-mail.de
| | dirk.pokorny@apoint-mail.de
| | v1.25 2:2426/1210.13
OpenXP/32 |PI |http://www.openxp.com 2:248/2004
| | mk@openxp.de v3.8.7 beta Aug 3rd 2002
OpenXP/16 |P |http://www.openxp16.de 2:2433/460
| | my@openxp16.de v3.40 RC3 Apr 28th 2002
CrossPoint (XP) |P |http://www.crosspoint.de
| | pm@crosspoint.de v3.12d Dec 22nd 1999
PPoint |P |http://www.alcuf.ca 1:249/114
| | v3.04 on Jan 10th 2000
+- - - - - - - - - - -+- - -+- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -+
GoldEd+ |E |http://mik.nu/golded-plus/ 2:203/6600
| | v1.1.5 Snapshot on Feb 28th 2003
SqEd32 |E |http://www.sqed.de
| | v1.15 on Dec 15th 1999
TimEd |E |http://blizzard.dnsalias.org/fidonet
| | mail@ozzmosis.com /timed
| | v1.11.a5 in March 2003 3:633/267
+- - - - - - - - - - -+- - -+- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -+
Allfix |U |ftp://ftp.nwstar.com 1:140/12
| | bob@nwstar.com
| | v5.13 (v6?)
GiGo |UI |http://www.gigo.com
FIDONEWS 20-29 Page 9 21 Jul 2003
| | v0109 on Jan 9th 1997
Internet Rex: |UI |http://members.shaw.ca/InternetRex/
Charles Cruden | | telnet://xanadubbs.ca 1:342/806
(Khan Software) | | v2.29 on Oct 21st 2001
PeopleComm Terminal |CUI |http://www.peoplecomm.org 1:128/148
(BBS & Telnet w/ | | edward.williams@adelphia.net
ZModem) | | v1.01a on Feb 11th 2003
TransNet |UI |http://www.ressl.com.ar/transnet/
| | transnet@ressl.com.ar
| | v2.11 on Jul 18th 1998
TransX: Multiboard |UI |http://www.multiboard.com/software/
Communications, Inc.| | support@multiboard.com 1:2401/305
| | v3.5
+- - - - - - - - - - -+- - -+- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -+
National BBS List |? | http://www.usbbs.org
Hispanic FIDO/BBS's |? | http://www.conecta2.org/pucela_bbs/
(in Spanish only) | | (Extensive software & BBS Listings)
+- - - - - - - - - - -+- - -+- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -+
File Archives: http://archives.thebbs.org http://www.filegate.org
http://sysopscorner.thebbs.org http://www.juge.com
http://www.dmine.com/bbscorner/ http://garbo.uwasa.fi
http://www.simtel.net http://wuarchive.wustl.edu
http://hobbes.nmsu.edu
Note: most also provide FTP access (use ftp:// vice http:// above)
*=-=*=.=*=-=*=.=*=-=*=.=*=-=*=.=*=-=*=.=*=-=*=.=*=-=*=.=*=-=*=.=*=-=*
Note: Please send corrections & additions to: Ben Ritchey, 1:393/68
( or FReq Magic INFO direct for E-mail address )
WildCat! BBS at +1-337-232-4155 24/7 33.6kBps,8,N,1
Internet: http://bellsouthpwp.net/c/m/cmech617/fidosoft.txt
Emeritus: Todd Cochrane, Frank Vest, Peter Popovich
-----------------------------------------------------------------
FIDONEWS 20-29 Page 10 21 Jul 2003
=================================================================
SPECIAL INTEREST
=================================================================
Nodelist Stats
Input nodelist nodelist.199
size 976.8kb
date 2003-07-18
The nodelist has 8528 nodes in it
and a total of 11293 non-comment entries
including 6 zones
60 regions
442 hosts
598 hubs
admin overhead 1106 ( 12.97 %)
and 1003 private nodes
291 nodes down
365 nodes on hold
off line overhead 1659 ( 19.45 %)
Speed summary:
>9600 = 685 ( 8.03 %)
9600 = 7418 ( 86.98 %)
(HST = 154 or 2.08 %)
(CSP = 1 or 0.01 %)
(PEP = 11 or 0.15 %)
(MAX = 0 or 0.00 %)
(HAY = 1 or 0.01 %)
(V32 = 3965 or 53.45 %)
(V32B = 400 or 5.39 %)
(V34 = 4924 or 66.38 %)
(V42 = 4121 or 55.55 %)
(V42B = 423 or 5.70 %)
2400 = 83 ( 0.97 %)
1200 = 6 ( 0.07 %)
300 = 336 ( 3.94 %)
ISDN = 770 ( 9.03 %)
----------------------------------------------------------
File Req Flag Applicable software Number of systems
----------------------------------------------------------
XA Frontdoor <1.99b 2902
Frontdoor 2.02+
Dutchie 2.90c
Binkleyterm >2.1
D'Bridge <1.3
TIMS
Xenia
--------------------------------------
FIDONEWS 20-29 Page 11 21 Jul 2003
XB Binkleyterm 2.0 10
Dutchie 2.90b
--------------------------------------
XC Opus 1.1 11
--------------------------------------
XP Seadog 6
--------------------------------------
XR Opus 1.03 41
--------------------------------------
XW Fido >12M 334
Tabby
KittenMail
--------------------------------------
XX D'Bridge 1.30 3818
Frontdoor 1.99b
Intermail 2.01
T-Mail
--------------------------------------
None QMM 1406
--------------------------------------
CrashMail capable = 2654 ( 31.12 %)
MailOnly nodes = 4704 ( 55.16 %)
Listed-only nodes = 665 ( 7.80 %)
Other = 505 ( 5.92 %)
[Report produced by NETSTATS - A PD pgm available from 1:106/100]
[ Revised by B Felten, 2:203/208]
-----------------------------------------------------------------
FIDONEWS 20-29 Page 12 21 Jul 2003
=================================================================
FIDONEWS INFORMATION
=================================================================
How to Submit an Article
If you wish to submit an article for inclusion in the Fidonews, here
are some guidelines, if you send it as an attached file; the preferred
method if you want reasonable control over how the published article
will appear in the Fidonews:
a) Plain ASCII text. If you could type it on your keyboard, it's
probably quite OK...
b) Put a title to the article. Put the title in two times. The first
time, on the first line, with an * before it. The second time, on
the second line, without the * and centered. This will help in the
format since the title with the * is removed and used in the index,
the second line will become the headline. On the third line, put
your name and FidoNet address, present or former. If former, you
may want to add some other address where you can be reached for
personal comments.
c) Deadline for article submission is Sunday, 12:00 UTC.
Help the Editor by following the above guides. Below are some subjects
and the file extension for the article as set in the configuration
file for the making of the Fidonews. Please help by putting the file
extension of the correct subject on the file name if known..
Ideas for Subject areas:
Subject File | Subject File
----------------------------------|----------------------------------
From the *C's *.css | Rebuttals to articles *.reb
Fidonet Regional News *.reg | Fidonet Net News *.net
Retractions *.rtx | General Fidonet Articles *.art
Guest Editorial *.gue | Fidonet Current Events *.cur
Fidonet Interviews *.inv | Fidonet Software Reviews *.rev
Fidonet Web Page Reviews *.web | Fidonet Notices *.not
Getting Fidonet Technical *.ftc | Question Of The Week *.que
Humor in a Fido Vein *.hfv | Comix in ASCII *.cmx
Fidonet's Int. Kitchen *.rec | Poet's Corner *.poe
Clean Humor & Jokes *.jok | Other Stuff *.oth
Fidonet Classified Ads *.ads | Corrections *.cor
Best of Fidonet *.bof |
If you don't know or are not sure, send the article anyway. Put a .TXT
on it and I'll try to figure out where it should be in the Fidonews.
If you follow these simple guidelines, there should be little problem
in getting your article published. If your submission is too far out
of specs for the Fidonews, it will be returned to you and/or a message
sent informing you of the problem. This DOES NOT mean that your
article is not accepted. It means that there is something in it that I
can not fix and I need your help on it.
FIDONEWS 20-29 Page 13 21 Jul 2003
Send Articles via E-mail or Netmail, file attach or message to:
Björn Felten
Fidonet 2:2/2
E-Mail bfelten@telia.com
Please include a message, telling me that you have sent an article.
That way I will know to look for it.
-----------------------------------------------------------------
FIDONEWS 20-29 Page 14 21 Jul 2003
Credits, Legal Infomation, Availability
+ -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- FIDONEWS STAFF - -- -- -- -- -- -- -- +
| |
| Editor: Björn Felten, 2:2/2, editor@fidonews.org |
| Crash mail attached: Editor@2:2/2 |
| E-Mail attached: bfelten@telia.com |
| Webmaster: Jim Barchuk, jb@fidonews.org |
| Columnist: Warren Bonner - Ol'WDB's Corner |
| Columnist: Frank Vest - (reserved for future use) |
| Columnist: Luke Kolin - Catcalls from the Cheap Seats |
| |
+ -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- +
+ -- -- -- -- -- -- -- - EDITORS EMERITI - -- -- -- -- -- -- -- +
| |
| Tom Jennings, Thom Henderson, Dale Lovell, Vince |
| Perriello, Tim Pozar, Sylvia Maxwell, Donald Tees, |
| Christopher Baker, Zorch Frezberg, Henk Wolsink, |
| Doug Meyers, Warren D. Bonner, Frank L. Vest |
| |
+ -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- +
Fidonews is published weekly by and for the members of Fidonet.
Fidonews is Copyright (C) 2003 by Björn Felten, though authors
retain rights to their contributed articles. Opinions expressed
by the authors is strictly their own. Noncommercial duplication
and distribution within Fidonet is encouraged. Authors are
encouraged to send their articles in ASCII text to the Editor
at one of the addresses above.
The weekly edition of Fidonews is distributed through the file
area FIDONEWS, and is published as echomail in the echo FIDONEWS.
These sources are normally available through your Network
Coordinator. The current and past issues are also available from
the following sources:
+ -- -- -- -- -- -- - FIDONEWS AVAILABILITY - -- -- -- -- -- -- +
| |
| File request from 2:2/2: |
| current issue FIDONEWS |
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-----------------------------------------------------------------
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