Volume 4, Number 2 12 January 1987 +---------------------------------------------------------------+ | _ | | / \ | | /|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) 1987, 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. DON'T FORGET TO VOTE Table of Contents 1. ARTICLES Various Subjects: In Response To FidoNews 3.49 PC World's Andrew Fluegelman Award - Let's Nominate T.J. Commercial Exploitation of Fido GAGS Shareware Status Report Genealogy EchoMail Update Fido's Home for Utilities and Software 2. FOR SALE Magazine On Disk for IBM PC and Compatibles UNDER-C(tm) Library 3. NOTICES The Interrupt Stack Announcing Diplomacy Game F3 Official IFNA By-laws Ballot Fidonews Page 2 12 Jan 1987 ================================================================= ARTICLES ================================================================= Daniel Tobias Soft Fido (380/2) Shreveport, LA TO NOTCH OR NOT TO NOTCH? In response to Joe Lindstrom's column cautioning against double- notching disks for Commodore computers: SOFTDISK and LOADSTAR, our magazines on disk for Apple and Commodore computers respectively, have been distributed on double-sided, double- notched diskettes since our founding in 1981. Despite this, we have not had any more customer complaints of bad disks than would be expected given the number of disks we distribute. (By the way, our policy is and has always been that if any of our disks won't run, for any reason, we will replace them free with no questions asked.) Thus, we intend to continue to use the double- notch system to give our subscribers twice as much material as would fit otherwise. (BIG BLUE DISK, our sister publication for the IBM PC and compatibles, does not have double notches, since IBM disk drives are double-sided.) I certainly empathize with you over the loss of an important program; I've had important programs and data get lost on occasion on all forms of media, including single- and double- sided disks and hard disks. The solution is to always keep backup copies of everything important that is irreplaceable. "CANNED" MESSAGES Regarding Ron Bemis' notes on "canned" messages (such as those sent by his shareware programs), I am a registered user of his programs, including OUTER and NEWFILES. I find them to be excellent programs, and I have made a special effort recently to send the requested Shareware contributions to the authors of all such programs I've been using. I have to admit Mr. Bemis' canned messages encouraged me to put his programs at the top of my list to send the contributions, just to get those silly messages to stop; however, I would have paid the fee regardless. Despite my paying up, I'm not very happy about the canned message scheme; I get very uneasy about programs messing around in my message bases, particularly when it involves placing long- distance phone calls automatically. In my case, one of Bemis' programs (I think it was NEWFILES) started sending messages with the program name field messed up. (It said something like "Thank you for trying #$@#%^%$#$". Perhaps the copy I was using had garbled data; at any rate, the messages stopped once I had obtained a registered copy, as they're supposed to.) This makes me scared of what else could get screwed up by such a program; if there is a bug or something it might go wild and start sending thousands of messages to Fido systems in Indonesia. Thus, my Fidonews Page 3 12 Jan 1987 feelings about such devices are similar to my feelings about devious copy-protection schemes which do bizarre things to your disks. Unfortunately, since most Shareware users don't seem to be paying for the programs (even I was lazy about this for a while, but I have remedied it), devices like this might be necessary. It's too bad. Speaking of Shareware, I have released a program, SCOREKPR, to let you keep an online, running scoreboard in your OUTSIDE section. Version 2.00 has just been released, with several enhancements over earlier versions. It is available for download on SOFT FIDO at (318) 636-4402. There are no booby-traps to encourage payment of registration fees, but I hope you do send the requested contribution if you like the program and make regular use of it. Several games and other programs designed to work with SCOREKPR are also available for download. ----------------------------------------------------------------- Fidonews Page 4 12 Jan 1987 David Dodell Node 114/15 - 1/98 Let's nominate Tom Jennings for New PC World's Andrew Fluegelman Award - 1987 In the January 1987 issue of PC World there is a call for nominations for the First Annual Andrew Fluegelman Award - 1987. The purpose of the award "is given annually to encourage personal computer software excellence and to recognize a software programmer .... We are looking for people who have made a substantial, innovative contribution to the personal computer community in commercial, shareware or public domain software." The judging of the award "will be evaluated according to the following criteria: o It advances the state of the art of personal computing o It manifests innovation in concept and design o It demonstates orientation to personal computer users" I think this is a perfect opportunity for us, the Fidonet nodes, to get Tom Jennings recognized for the credit he so richly deserves. While there have been many excellent software packages released to support or enhance FidoNet, I feel Tom deserves our nomination since he originated the concept of linking bulletin boards together in a non-commercial network. I feel that all of the above criteria are meet from above. If it wasn't for Tom taking the initial plung, we would be 1400 nodes totally unassociated with each other. To support Tom, please feel out the following form below and submit * five * copies to: Andrew Fluegelman Award Attention:Shirley Gines PCW Communications, Inc. 501 Second Street San Francisco, CA 94107 If you would prefer, complete the form in your word processor and send by netmail to 114/15 or 1/98 in the form of a file attach where XXXXYYYY.AWD (XXXX/YYYY = Net/Node) and I will accumulate all submissions and send in bulk to PC World. Nominations must be in by February 1, 1987. ----------------------------------------------------------------- 1987 Andrew Fluegelman Award Nomination Form Please type your entries; no handwritten entries will be accepted. Name of Program: Fidonews Page 5 12 Jan 1987 Creator: Software Marketer: Brief Description of Program (100 words or less): Reason for your nomination (100 words or less): Software Program Release Date: Nomination Submitted by: Company Name: Phone Number: Address: ----------------------------------------------------------------- Please get these in so we beat the February 1st deadline. ----------------------------------------------------------------- Fidonews Page 6 12 Jan 1987 David Lescohier Fido 101/138 Ron Bemis' latest gambit to extract money from hard working Fido Sysops could almost be described as a quasi trojan. No one appreciates little features built into a piece of software that cause aggravation for the user. Gee what's next, is he going to put a little routine in his next release that alters your user list if you don't pay him in a certain number of days? The possibilities for punishing and harassing "freeloaders" are almost limitless. However, Ron's latest "Modest Innovation" raises more fundamental issues for the rapidly developing FidoNet System. Us participants, for the most part are hobbyists and amateurs who want to separate our FidoNet hobby from the mundane commercial realm in which most of us work most of the time. One of the attractions of FidoNet is that the participants, by joining and participating in the FidoNet and becoming members of the IFNA, become members of a fraternity of people who share a common interest in promoting telecommunications and providing a voluntary public service. The freedom from regulation, the opportunity to experiment and develop new concepts, techniques, extend the potential inherent in the telecommunication art is, I believe, threatened by attempts to commercialize FidoNet. Sure there are obvious commercial applications of what we are doing. I expect that FidoNet will be the inspiration for many commercial ventures. But I feel very strongly it should be understood, that the commercial applications should be spun off as a separate endeavor so that FidoNet, as such, remains strictly the domain of the amateur and hobbyist. Otherwise, if we allow commercial interests, such as Ron Bemis is trying to promote, to encroach on Fidonet, then rapidly on his heels will follow all kinds of other interference in the form of regulations and restrictions. If this happens, our opportunity to innovate will inevitably be undermined, and as a result, one of the most important attractions of this hobby will be lost. I write with some experience in Amateur Radio, a hobbyist fraternity which is constantly vigilant regarding commercial encroachment. I would like to suggest that Tom Jennings' policy should become a standard to which all those who write utilities for Fido should adhere: If you are running a Board for public benefit, as a hobby, then the software is free. If you are using Fido technology in order to earn money, then you should pay for the software. Us members of the Net are providing Mr. Bemis a service by distributing his stuff. He has the ingratitude to demand that we pay too. That is how I feel. ----------------------------------------------------------------- Fidonews Page 7 12 Jan 1987 GAGS Shareware Status Report January 1, 1987 ---------------------------- --------------- by Mark J. Welch Frequently-asked question: "Does Shareware work?" Answer: "It depends." Shareware has not worked for GAGS. I hope the following brief financial report on the Generic Adventure Game System (GAGS) will give people an idea of how Shareware has worked for me. GAGS is a text-adventure-game development system that runs on any MS-DOS/808x computer. It was developed over a six-month period and released on August 25, 1985; it has been upgraded six times since then; the current version is 1.06b. Expenses: --------- The expenses for GAGS include several publicity efforts, including press releases mailed to most major computer magazines, and phone expenses to distribute the program to many BBSs nationwide. Roughly half the program sales came directly from product write-ups in computer magazines (PC, MicroTimes, and IEEE Spectrum). I also ran a computer bulletin board from April 1985 through May 1986, and continue to run a private Fido/Seadog electronic-mail node; publicity through distribution of messages and in the FidoNews newsletter has been substantial but revenues from that avenue have been very slight. Expenses of update notices are also reflected. Table 1, below, shows a breakdown of expenses associated with development of the Generic Adventure Game System. Computer equipment shows most plainly in the expenses, with phone bills also quite high. Surprisingly low were postage expenses and actual "cost-of-goods sold." Unlike many other Shareware authors, I have spent no money on advertising. Total expenses over the past two years were $5,393.53. Income: ------- Table 2, below, shows a breakdown of income by category. Disk sales are mostly to people who read about GAGS in magazines or somehow had trouble downloading it, since GAGS can be downloaded free from many BBSs and I charge a relatively high disk fee of $10 while also allowing user groups and many Fidonews Page 8 12 Jan 1987 commercial firms to sell GAGS on disk for under $7. Very few people who obtain the program register it, although I have recently had an upsurge in registrations from people who have downloaded GAGS from BBSs and, surprisingly, from BBS sysops themselves who use GAGS to provide on-line game-playing capabilities to users who may or may not have MS-DOS computers. The $2,559.84 net income is roughly evenly divided among disk, registration, and source code payments. Results: -------- As can be seen from Table 3, an initial substantial loss has been partially compensated for by a small profit in 1986. It's important to note that even the profits for 1986 end up valuing my time at a very low rate, even ignoring the actual development time. What next? About two months ago, I decided that the next version of GAGS will not be released as Shareware. Future versions of GAGS will be available only commercially: Shareware doesn't work. I plan to prepare a printed manual and make several enhancements to the program. I had intially planned to release the new version in February 1987, but will probably delay that release while I negotiate with several software publishers, since I would prefer not to publish the program myself. (Of course, no matter what happens, earlier versions of GAGS will still be available from BBSs and user groups, and a generous upgrade policy will be provided to registered users.) Comments are invited. Mark J. Welch P.O. Box 2409 San Francisco, CA 94126 Voice: (415) 841-8759 Email: Fido 161/459 BIX: 'mwelch' Table 1: GAGS Expenses to Date: December 31, 1986 -------- Books $69.12 (reference works, etc.) Cost of goods sold 470.30 (disks, etc.) Computer equip. 2,397.40 (computer, printers, etc.) Development sw 284.29 (compilers, toolkits, etc.) Misc. 204.51 (magazines, memberships) Phone 834.03 (includes BBS) Postage 296.98 (includes ALL postage!) Software 440.20 (VP-Planner, PC-Write, etc.) Supplies 396.70 (paper, ribbons, envelopes) --------- Total: $5,393.53 Fidonews Page 9 12 Jan 1987 1985 total: $3,364.11 1986 total: 2,029.42 Table 2: Sales Total 1986 -------------- ------ ------ Disks $ 857.60 $ 721.05 (at about $10 each) Registrations 949.44 827.12 (at about $15 each) Source code 868.90 745.54 (at about $25 each) Other 266.13 266.13 (upgrades, resold goods) --------- --------- Total $2,942.07 $2,559.84 Table 3: Profit/Loss Total 1986 only ----------------------- ---------- ---------- GAGS Sales $2,942.07 $2,559.84 GAGS Expenses (5,393.53) (2,029.42) ---------- ---------- Net GAGS Profit (Loss): (2,833.69) $530.42 This article (and all tables and text in it) are (c) Copyright 1987 by Mark J. Welch. Permission is granted to repost or republish this article in any medium at no charge, provided that the author is identified. Please send a copy of any printed publication of this article to Mark J. Welch, P.O. Box 2409, San Francisco CA 94126. ----------------------------------------------------------------- Fidonews Page 10 12 Jan 1987 David James Fido 132/104 The National Genealogy Conference In the July 28, 1986 issue of FidoNews (Vol 3, No 29) I announced a new EchoMail conference devoted to genealogy. At that time there were only two nodes, myself and COMMSOFT BBS (143/26). Since then, the conference has grown to 20 nodes and acquired a new name: the National Genealogy Conference. Along the way, the NGC has become a clearinghouse for information on available genealogical software, both commercial and public domain, genealogical databases, hardware and, in general, has begun to focus the development of genealogical computing applications by bringing together widely separated researchers in a single forum. One of the most exciting developments was the decision, in October, by the National Genealogy Society Computer Interest Group to join the conference. The principal genealogical computing interest group in the country, the NGS-CIG also operates the National Projects Registry, which is registering and coordinating all genealogically-related computerization projects in the country. Another important new member is Brian Mavrogeorge's ROOTS BBS (125/30) in San Francisco. Brian is coordinator of the California Genealogical Society's Computer Interest Group and also SysOp of the oldest continuously operating genealogy BBS in the country (2 years this December). Brian pioneered on-line searches of genealogical indexes on his board and switched from the RBBS format to join the conference. Searching your roots is a fascinating experience (even addictive), and now FidoNet is making it even more rewarding. Give one of the boards below a call and check it out for yourself. NGS BBS's AS OF DEC 27, 1986 *=2400 maximum baud rate #=1200 maximum baud rate ============================================================ NATIONAL GENEALOGY CONFERENCE ECHOMAIL NODES ============================================================ BULLETIN BOARD & NODE # System Operator Location Phone # ============================================================ *AMS BBS (135/10) Miami FL 305-621-0103 Peter Adenauer #BILLBOARD (107/102) New York NY 212-333-3285 Bill Bertholf #CHEMIST'S COMPORT (150/190) Wilmington DE 302-479-0302 Larry McGee Fidonews Page 11 12 Jan 1987 *CKCS TIES (11/302) Lexington KY 606-252-3568 Robert Bowles *COMMAND POST (19/219) El Paso TX 915-821-8835 Don Shults #COMMSOFT BBS (143/26) Mt. View CA 415-967-6730 Ken Whitaker #DOS CENTER FIDO (135/6) Boca Raton FL 305-391-8504 Michael Krasnove *DOWNEAST ROOTS (132/104) Rye NH 603-964-7912 David James #DYNASTY BBS (161/10) Elk Grove CA 916-685-8690 Henry Hoover *FALCON'S ROCK (109/648) College Park MD 301-345-7459 *LINKS.BBS (119/13) Chico CA 916-343-4422 Tom Baughman #NGS/CIG BBS (109/650) Fairfax VA 703-385-2726 Ray Gwinn, Jim Adams & Richard Pence #RENEX BBS (109/639) 1. Wash., DC 202-690-7950 Ray Gwinn 2. Woodbrige VA 703-494-8331 *ROOTS BBS (125/30) San Francisco CA415-584-0697 Brian Mavrogeorge *SCHOLAR'S WORKBENCH (150/200) Newark DE 302-451-8045 #SLEEPING DOGS (10/26) Fresno CA 209-454-8229 Bob Robesky *SOLID SOFTWARE (128/15) Colorado Spgs CO303-591-4273 Joe Rock #STARFLEET COMMAND (150/130) Elsmere DE 302-654-2900 Randall Kobetich *VIETNAM VETERANS' San Jose CA 408-293-7894 VALHALLA/Tod Looney #WANDERING FIDO (109/647) Oxon Hill MD 301-894-2706 Alan Williams If you would like to join the National Genealogy Conference, contact Ken Whitaker at Commsoft via FidoMail. Ken is the NGC coordinator. ----------------------------------------------------------------- Fidonews Page 12 12 Jan 1987 Vernon E. Six, Jr. The Data Emporium BBS Fido 381/1 and 381/0 Fido's Home for Utilities and Software With all due respect to Jerry Hindle, I disagree with his claim to be "THE" Fido Software Distribution Node. Although he was the first to publish his claim in FidoNews, I feel that there are at least two Distribution Nodes, Space Station Earth (Jerry's Board) and The Data Emporium BBS (my board). As to who was the first or official one, I don't know (or care!). I will not argue over something like this especially when we are both trying to provide a much needed service, as this has never been my style. I will, however, continue to promote Fido Utilities and Software in anyway I can I.E. Providing you access to them online on your first call, writing reviews like this article periodically, and any other way I can. Now on to the reviews. This week I will discuss two utilities. The first is one called CHECK written by Michael Frye. The second is one by Ron Bemis called Fifi. CHECK -- This program allows you to automatically check the questionaire's ANSWERS.BBS file, and process a user according to what it finds. If a blank entry is found where there is a required response, you can tell CHECK to reduce the user's privilege level, or remove him. Likewise, if the user answers all of the required questions, it can raise the user's privilege. It is meant to be a tool in which you don't have to look over the questionaire and then use the sysop utility to deal with a user. In addition with versions 3.0 and later you can use an optional control file to further regulate the users on your system. Of course, garbage answers can still be given in some cases, but CHECK can help you automate some of your 'housekeeping', either run manually or as a scheduled event. In this sysop's opinion, CHECK is something that should have been included in Fido in the first place. I don't see how I ever got by without it. You can download the latest version of CHECK from my board in Area 4 with the name of CHECK32.ARC. Keep up the good work, Mike. FIFI -- This program gives Fido the little "nudge" it needs to get going. Fidonews Page 13 12 Jan 1987 I just hate calling a Fido BBS that makes me press to detect the baud rate. Fifi solves this problem by answering the phone, detecting the baud rate and then kicking Fido in the bottom to get him going. Fifi is my personal favorite Fido Utility. And I am VERY PROUD to say, that The Data Emporium BBS is the first official registered user of Fifi. This brings up another point. Alot of people have been talking about Ron's "canned" messages. Yes, Fifi generates these messages, but for the $20.00 requested registration, I can't see why anyone would not register it, or become upset with the "canned" messages. After all, they quit as soon as you register the program. I have made arrangements with Ron to always have the latest version of Fifi on my board. You can download it as FIFI34.ARC. Ron, I can't wait to see what new features you come up with for Fifi. Thanks a million!!!! Currently there are over two and one half megabytes of Fido Utilities and Software available for download on The Data Emporium BBS. The number is (915) 595-3896 if you would like to call and download any. I do not use SEADOG so unfortunately I cannot respond to File Requests. I do however use Server (if you have an account). If you are an author of Fido Utilities, then please give me a call or use FidoMail, I would most definitely like to have your utilities. If not, please upload any utilities that you may have that I do not (or leave me a message how I can get them). - Vern ----------------------------------------------------------------- Fidonews Page 14 12 Jan 1987 Mike J 150/900 Randy Kobetich 150/130 - R U S H M A I L - Does your EchoMail conference take forever for a note to get from one end of the topology to the other? Well, have we got a deal for you! Now, with RushMail, you can cut the travel time in your conference by 1/2 or more. RushMail is not a program, just a clever application of Batch File wizardry and FidoNet Routing and Xternal events. It requires NO extra programs, (no SEAdog!) just your standard set of Fido and EchoMail programs. What RushMail does is this : first, an example EchoMail topology... (part of the East Coast star of SFFAN) 109/612 | 150/900 --- 150/130 --- 150/150 | 129/17 150/900 and 150/150 do RushMail, while 109/612 and 129/17 do not. 150/130 is the echomail regional Star (the node that collects and redistributes the mail). Here's what happens in chronological order (i.e. schedule of events) ------------------------------------------ 1) Everyone does ScanMail (except the star, 150/130) 2) The participating RushMail nodes (150/900 & 150/150) use a new mail schedule to transfer their mail to the star (150/130) and drop off their new echomail notes. 3) The star (150/130) runs TossMail. The RushMail nodes' notes are now in the star's message areas. 4) The star (150/130) runs ScanMail. The notes written on his BBS and the notes from the RushMail nodes (150/900 & 150/150) are included, since they are in his message areas. 5) During the Main Mail Transfer Time (i.e. National Mail Hour for most nodes), mail is sent to and received from the non-RushMail nodes (109/612 & 129/17). All notes from the star (150/130) and the RushMail nodes (150/900 & 150/150) are all sent out at the same time. 6) The star (150/130) runs TossMail. All notes from the Fidonews Page 15 12 Jan 1987 non-RushMail nodes are now in the star's message areas. 7) After a little trickery in the batch file (as will be shown later) an alternate AREAS.BBS file is used which only includes the RushMail nodes. 8) After tricking the EchoMark with more batch-magic (also see later) the star does ScanMail, taking the non-RushMail nodes' new notes and generating copies for the RushMail nodes. 9) After the Main Mail Transfer Time, another new small mail schedule is used, to transfer all new notes to the RushMail nodes. 10) Everyone runs TossMail. Voila! Effect : Same day mail transfer from RushMail nodes to everyone (150/900 to everyone getting mail from 150/130) and same day delivery from non-RushMail nodes to the RushMail nodes (129/17 to the RushMail nodes). The time for non-RushMail node to another non-RushMail node is uneffected (2 days). No weird SEAdog/Fido incompatibilities arise because SEAdog is not necessary. (SEAdog can still be used for normal mail-transfer). What you need to do ------------------- * For the Star (150/130) : Set up 2 new mail events - Mail Event 1) prior to running ScanMail mail from the RushMail nodes is transferred to the star (150/130) Mail Event 2) after the batch-magic and special ScanMail the new mail is transferred from the star (150/130) to the RushMail nodes Make a special AREAS.BBS file called AREAS.BBR which includes only the RushMail nodes. Add to your TossMail Xternal event in your RUNBBS batch file - TossMail (your parameters) cd \fido\msg\sffan \ CD into each msg area and copy 1.msg 1.m \ save the EchoMark so after cd \fido\msg\gaming / ScanMail changes it in the copy 1.msg 1.m / 2nd scanning for the Fidonews Page 16 12 Jan 1987 RushNodes, it's not lost for the non-RushNodes, so they get the new notes. ren areas.bbs areas.bbt \ Move the normal AREAS.BBS ren areas.bbr areas.bbs / aside, and use the special Rush AREAS.BBR for the 2nd scan. ScanMail (your parameters as > the 2nd scan used in your earlier ScanMail) ren areas.bbs areas.bbr \ Put back the normal ren areas.bbt areas.bbs / AREAS.BBS. cd \fido\msg\sffan \ del 1.msg \ Get rid of the changed ren 1.m 1.msg \EchoMarks and restore the cd \fido\msg\gaming /correct one for the del 1.msg / for the non-RushNodes. ren 1.m 1.msg / cd \fido \ Go back to Fido as usual. (back to Fido)... / * For the RushNodes : Set up 2 new mail events - Mail Event 1) after running ScanMail, and before Main Mail Transfer Time mail from the RushMail nodes is transferred to the star (150/130) Mail Event 2) after Main Mail Transfer Time, and before running TossMail the new mail is transferred from the star (150/130) to the RushMail nodes * For the non-RushNodes : Business as usual. Higher Complexity Topologies ---------------------------- For topologies of higher complexity, like Stars-on-a- string, RushMail can be used to an even higher effeciency. Normally in RushMail, a star would consider its bordering stars as just RushNodes, except that mail would be both sent and received in both of the new mail events, instead of just sent in one and received in the other. Furthermore, more note travel time can be cut out if the stars did their 2nd mail transfer during the Main Mail Transfer Time (i.e. National Mail Hour for most nodes) instead of afterwards. It would reduce the time for mail to get from a RushNode off of one star to a RushNode off another star to overnight, instead of taking 2 nights. Non-RushMail nodes would still remain uneffected, and no additional calls, beyond RushMail's two, would need to be made. Fidonews Page 17 12 Jan 1987 Bullshit -------- RushMail has proved very effective in keeping conferences (SFFAN, GAMING, INTERPER, MUSIC, and BUSINESS), very active due to faster responses cross-country between both RushNodes and non-RushNodes. And it doesn't cost a cent... Any questions should be directed to Mike J, 150/900. SEAdog, EchoMail, ScanMail, TossMail, are probably copyrighted trademarks. ----------------------------------------------------------------- Fidonews Page 18 12 Jan 1987 ================================================================= FOR SALE ================================================================= MAGAZINE ON DISK FOR IBM PC AND COMPATIBLES BIG BLUE DISK, the magazine on disk for the IBM PC and compatibles, is currently available at all Waldenbooks stores and many other retail locations, as well as by mail subscription. It is contained entirely on a floppy disk. Each issue contains programs, articles, feedback from subscribers, program reviews and demos, and more. For example, issue 3 (now on sale) contains the following: - African Desert Campaign: This sophisticated two-player war game pits Allied forces against the Axis for control of North Africa. - Weather Thou Goest: Learn about tornadoes, track hurricanes, and convert between different meteorological measurements with this set of three programs. - Plane 3-D: Use the free 3-D glasses enclosed to view the images created by this program. - BASIC Cross-Reference Utilities: Cross-reference the variables and line numbers in your BASIC programs. This issue also includes several other programs and articles; it is a special two-disk issue, including as a "Blue Plate Special" an interactive set of programs from Cross Educational Software that is not just a demo. You can order this issue by direct mail by sending $9.95 (check, money order, or Visa/Mastercard/American Express accepted) to: BIG BLUE DISK, PO BOX 30008, SHREVEPORT, LA 71130-0008. Mail subscriptions are also available: One year (12 monthly issues) costs only $69.95. (A 41% savings over newsstand price.) A six-month subscription is available for $39.95. Lots of interesting stuff is coming up; issue 4 will contain the complete PC-Write word processor-- a new version that was just released. Subscribe now and don't miss anything! BIG BLUE DISK requires an IBM PC or compatible, with at least 256K of memory and MS-DOS 2.0 or later. Color graphics is recommended. Send questions/comments to Daniel Tobias on FIDO 380/2. (Please note the new node number, formerly 19/216.) ----------------------------------------------------------------- Fidonews Page 19 12 Jan 1987 Stanley Quayle Fido 126/1 The UNDER-C(tm) Library Due to business volume, Quayle Research, Inc. has reduced the price of its UNDER-C Library from $95 to $39.95. The UNDER-C Library is a collection of functions and utilities callable from C and other languages. It has 122 BIOS, DOS, and other functions, including functions to build screens similiar to dBase. Also included are utilities such as MAKE; CPRINT, a general-purpose printing program; and PFS2TXT, which translates pfs:Write and IBM Writing Assistant files to text format. Complete SOURCE CODE -- No royalities -- Not copy-protected. Includes 200-page manual and five 5-1/4" floppy disks. The UNDER-C Library works with IBM PC-compatibles using the following C compilers: Microsoft C, version 4.0 Lattice C, versions 3.10 and 2.15 Computer Innovations C86 DeSmet C Instant-C Send $39.95 to: Quayle Research, Inc. 6548 Edgerton Road N. Royalton, OH 44133 Ohio residents please include 6-1/2% sales tax. For more information, contact Myrna Quayle on 157/502, or Stanley Quayle on 126/1, or call (614) 276-6557. UNDER-C is a trademark of Quayle Research, Inc. ----------------------------------------------------------------- Fidonews Page 20 12 Jan 1987 ================================================================= 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 and Floppy Disk Throwing Tournament! 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. ----------------------------------------------------------------- Announcing Diplomacy Game F3 Robert Eskridge Fido 124/109 The Russian and Turkish jaws are slowly crushing Germany and the remnants of the French army as Game F1 enters 1909. In Game F2 the Anglo-Prussian alliance is deadlocked against the Austro-Turkish conspiracy in early 1908. These games are absorbing to those that need to grind a victory out of their position, but the rest of us need some excitement! So for Diplomacy fans anywhere on the net we are pleased to announce: -*> Diplomacy Game F3 <*- Play by FidoMail One Week Turns Starts Feb 1, 1986 Contact Bryny at 124/109 for details. (Diplomacy is a trademark of Avalon Hill Game Co.) ----------------------------------------------------------------- Fidonews Page 21 12 Jan 1987 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. -----------------------------------------------------------------