Volume 3, Number 50 22 December 1986 +---------------------------------------------------------------+ | _ | | / \ | | /|oo \ | | - FidoNews - (_| /_) | | _`@/_ \ _ | | International | | \ \\ | | FidoNet Association | (*) | \ )) | | Newsletter ______ |__U__| / \// | | / FIDO \ _//|| _\ / | | (________) (_/(_|(____/ | | (jm) | +---------------------------------------------------------------+ Editor in Chief: Thom Henderson Chief Procrastinator Emeritus: Tom Jennings FidoNews is the official newsletter of the International FidoNet Association, and is published weekly by SEAdog Leader, node 1/1. You are encouraged to submit articles for publication in FidoNews. Article submission standards are contained in the file ARTSPEC.DOC, available from node 1/1. Copyright (C) 1986, by the International FidoNet Association. All rights reserved. Duplication and/or distribution permitted for noncommercial purposes only. For use in other circumstances, please contact IFNA. HAPPY NEW YEAR Table of Contents 1. EDITORIAL Like Pulling Teeth 2. ARTICLES THE VIEW FROM "DOWN UNDER" 3. NOTICES The Interrupt Stack Fidonews Page 2 22 Dec 1986 ================================================================= EDITORIAL ================================================================= Like Pulling Teeth My dental hygenist is mad at me. It seems I'm doing everything wrong. I wouldn't mind if they'd just make up their minds and settle on something. But they keep changing what I'm supposed to do! I think I've heard four different "proper" ways to brush one's teeth in my life. First I was told that one should brush up and down in front, and side to side in back. Then I was told that one should brush in a rotary motion. Then I was told to brush teeth "the way they grow" (whatever THAT means). Now I'm told to brush all of my teeth side to side for a few strokes, then away from the gums. Take dental floss. What could be simpler than dental floss? First I was told to use waxed dental floss. Then I was told that waxed dental floss was no good, and I should use unwaxed dental floss. Now they tell me that unwaxed dental floss can cut your gums, so I should only use waxed dental floss. If anything at all can be simpler than dental floss, it's gotta be toothpicks. I'd always been told that I should never use a toothpick. I should use dental floss instead. Never mind what kind of dental floss -- it's already too confusing. But if I absolutely HAD to use a toothpick, I should never, ever use a wooden one, since they can put splinters in your gums. You guessed it -- my dental hygenist made me promise to use these funny wooden toothpicks several times a day. They're supposed to stimulate my gums, or something. ----------------------------------------------------------------- Fidonews Page 3 22 Dec 1986 ================================================================= ARTICLES ================================================================= Alan Salmon Sysop 626/229 PCUG Bulletin Board Canberra Australia THE VIEW FROM "DOWN UNDER" Hello world... greetings from the Fido Network in Australia. I read Ed Rauh's article in FidoNews Volume 7, No. 48 with much interest as he was addressing some of the points I raised in my correspondence with him. Ed was particularly kind and very diplomatic about what I in fact wrote. The terms I used were somewhat stronger, but I did consider them valid, nonetheless. If the IFNA committee ends up with people who show the interest and dedication that Ed displayed in this case, then the future of FidoNet is assured. Thanks for your time and trouble, Ed. Now, to get to the real point of my article. In FidoNews Vol. 3, No. 46, 1 Dec 1986; Doug Mohney (109/74) put in his wish list for Fido. Among the items was a "Phone Directory" for Fido systems. In fact, I had suggested this very thing some months back in a message to FidoNews. (No, I didn't have a copy of the FidoNews standards at that time.) As I am most interested in this idea, I would seek feedback from other sysops on this matter. The benefits of a directory are many, but the ones that I see as the real advantages are whether a node does international mail, whether it has any special interests, membership requirements and an address where potential users can contact the sysop to pay membership fees, etc. To this end, I am proposing to commence compiling the International FidoNet Directory, which will be made available at regular intervals on (hopefully) at least one node in each region. Obviously, the task is a big one. If you would like to help out by perhaps maintaining the directory for your own region, please contact me via mail or telephone (or by post!). Initially, I am seeking the following information: Board Name: FidoNet Address: Board Telephone Number(s): Sysops' Name(s): Postal Address: Telephone Number: (voice) Hours of Operation: Mail Schedules Observed: Fidonews Page 4 22 Dec 1986 Is the Board devoted to a particular speciality? If so, what? Is the Board Public? Membership fee (if any): Does the Board reply to International Mail? Any item which is not to be included in the directory should be marked 'NFP' (Not For Publication). This information can be sent to me in the following ways: 1. By NetMail to 626/229 2. By post to: Alan Salmon PO BOX 788 BELCONNEN ACT 2616 AUSTRALIA If you should wish to call me, my telephone numbers are: 61-62-58-9081 (voice) 61-62-58-9967 (data) Please remember the time difference if you call me on voice! Hope to hear from you. Regards from "Down Under", Alan Salmon. ----------------------------------------------------------------- Fidonews Page 5 22 Dec 1986 ================================================================= NOTICES ================================================================= The Interrupt Stack 17 Jan 1987 Deadline for voting on the proposed bylaws. Your ballot MUST be received by this date! 17 May 1987 Metro-Fire Fido's Second Birthday BlowOut! All Fido Sysops and Families Invited! Contact Christopher Baker at 135/14 for more information. 24 Aug 1989 Voyager 2 passes Neptune. If you have something which you would like to see on this calendar, please send a message to FidoNet node 1/1. ----------------------------------------------------------------- Fidonews Page 6 22 Dec 1986 *Official IFNA By-laws Ballot Official IFNA Articles of Association and By-laws Ballot We, the interim directors of IFNA, submit for ratification the Articles of Association and By-laws as published in FidoNews number 349. In accordance with the recommendation of the By-laws Committee, each person listed as the Sysop of one or more FidoNet nodes, as of NODELIST.311 dated November 7, 1986, is entitled to ONE vote. The proposed IFNA Articles of Association and By-laws, as published in Fido349.NWS dated December 22, 1986, should be: (Check one line) Adopted ________ Rejected ________ I am the SYSOP of record a FidoNet node which was listed in NODELIST.311 dated November 7, 1986 and have the right to cast one vote. There will be ONLY be one vote per person. There will be ONLY one vote per net/node number. I understand these rules and cast my ballot in accordance with them. _______________________ ___________ Signature Date _____/______ Net Node Return this ballot via U. S. Mail to arrive not later than January 17, 1987 at: IFNA Ratification C/O Christopher L. Bonfanti, CPA Aselage, Kiefer & Co. 701 Emerson Road, Suite 201 Creve Coeur Corporate Center St Louis, Mo. 63141-6709 Aselage, Kiefer & Co. are Certified Public Accountants and will provide an independent count of the vote and publish the results in FidoNews. Votes received by Saturday, January 17th will be included in the results. -----------------------------------------------------------------