F I D O N E W S -- Vol.13 No.17 (22-Apr-1996) +----------------------------+-----------------------------------------+ | A newsletter of the | ISSN 1198-4589 Published by: | | FidoNet BBS community | "FidoNews" BBS | | _ | +1-519-570-4176 | | / \ | | | /|oo \ | | | (_| /_) | | | _`@/_ \ _ | | | | | \ \\ | Editors: | | | (*) | \ )) | Donald Tees 1:221/192 | | |__U__| / \// | | | _//|| _\ / | | | (_/(_|(____/ | | | (jm) | Newspapers should have no friends. | | | -- JOSEPH PULITZER | +----------------------------+-----------------------------------------+ | Submission address: editors 1:1/23 | +----------------------------------------------------------------------+ | MORE addresses: | | | | submissions=> editor@exlibris.tdkcs.waterloo.on.ca | | Don -- don@exlibris.tdkcs.waterloo.on.ca | +----------------------------------------------------------------------+ | For information, copyrights, article submissions, | | obtaining copies of fidonews or the internet gateway faq | | please refer to the end of this file. | +----------------------------------------------------------------------+ ======================================================================== Table of Contents ======================================================================== 1. Articles...................................................... 1 The demise of Fidonet....................................... 2 SHARING-the FidoNet World Class, Global Communication Echo.. 3 2. Fidonews Information.......................................... 6 ======================================================================== Articles ======================================================================== FidoNews 13-17 Page: 2 22 Apr 1996 The demise of Fidonet "Goodbye Fidonet" - A prelude to the network's demise by Gamey Garcia Varela, Fidonet Zone 4 Coordinator Many of you might have noticed that in recent times, the years-old lack of innovation and progress in Fidonet has turned into a forthright disintegration of the network, as more and more nodes leave. Obviously, the advancement and popularity of the Internet has much to do with this, but I believe that the main reason is owed to the inaction of those in charge of the top admninistration of the network, amongst whom I should include myself. It's been two years already that we have had no International Coordinator. The coordinators of zones 2, 4 and 6 many months ago urged our counterparts to choose an "activist" I.C. that would promote innovation and progress in Fidonet. We nominated Pablo Kleinman, known by many for being the only one to ever put forth - without success- a proposal to reformulate the present autocratic and outdated Fidonet Policy. But the same forces that several years ago made fail all efforts to promote changes to Fidonet policy, or to implement new mechanisms for the adoption of more updated technical standards, have used every possible maneuver and subterfuge to prevent the election of a reformist as the new I.C. With the leadership of Afrikanner Henk Wolsink, the apparatchik of the "odd zones" (1, 3 and 5) is once again responsible for the failure of Ward Dossche and myself, with the explicit support of the zone 6 coordinator, to promote changes that would have saved Fidonet from further sinking into cyberspace's antiquity. Pablo Kleinman won the election for I.C. 3 to 2 (the other candidate was Wolsink, who received the votes of Bob Satti and Colin Wheat), but since he's not presently a Zone Coordinator, Wolsink and friends refuse to accept this result, saying Mr. Kleinman, a former ZC, isn't elegible. Curiously enough, the two previous I.C.'s were both former ZC's at the time they were elected.. And a past policy interpretation issued by a former I.C. allows for both present and past ZC's to contend for the position. However, this group is pushing to get Mr. Wolsink, "ZC-for-life" of the most backward, smallest and stagnant zone in Fidonet to be the new "I.C.-for-life" and therefore guarantee the impossibility of any sort of future reform in the network's administration and operation. I am extremely fatigued and sick of having to deal with the uscrupulous parasites whose only evident interest is maintaining "control" of the network amongst the same old clique, or at least the leftovers of it. These people are indeed responsible for the lack of advancement and stagnation of Fidonet, and still today, as Fidonet begins its slow demise, they continue to block the necessary and long-overdue reforms. And the dinosaurs have finally driven me too to giving up: I have already sent my resignation to FidoNews 13-17 Page: 3 22 Apr 1996 the RC's in my zone, and once a new ZC is in place, I will permanently withdraw from Fidonet. The future demise of Fidonet has been guaranteed by the same group who for years has stood in the way of change and prevented Fidonet from changing and progressing along with the rest of cyberspace. Naming names, they are: Bob Satti (the "ZC-in-absentia" who managed to singlehandedly delay the election process for months at a time), Colin Wheat (evidently the current representative of the infamous anti-change establishment from zone 3) and the Afrikanner Wolsink, head of the most backwards and slowest-growing zone who has never withstood an election since becoming ZC in the late 80's, and who now also aspires to become FidoNet "I.C. for life" as well. "Till [Fidonet's] death do us apart." --Henk Wolsink? Goodbye, Fidonet. And good luck to Ward Dossche who from now on will remain as the only loud voice in the ZCC who's still committed to change and the eventual survival of Fidonet.. See you on the Internet.. (gamey@mx.net) ---------------------------------------------------------------------- SHARING-the FidoNet World Class, Global Communication Echo Christopher Baker Rights On!, 1:374/14 Titusville_FL_USA There's a new Echo in town dedicated to the REAL spirit of FidoNet Sysoping. It's called SHARING. Here's the blurb from the EListing: What Sysops will see and learn in SHARING will make it "the place to be." What they will see will be up to them but there will be laughter and wonders and mysteries of FidoNet technology will be explained. SHARE the wonderful experience of our hobby. This Echo will be Awesome. It's the Swiss Army knife of information! There's plenty to learn. Sysops can SHARE everything! Every Sysop in the FidoNet phonebook [Nodelist] is invited to participate but we will have a few simple rules. POLITENESS to each other is EXPECTED! It is REQUIRED! The few off-topic topics are contained in the accompanying SHARING.RUL file. The Moderators reserve the right to declare off-topic any subject getting out of the bounds of politeness and cooperation. The Backbone or any backbone is off-topic automatically except as noted in the rules. mod Christopher Baker, 1:374/14 mod jim barchuk, 1:141/355 mod Debra Milner, 1:112/285 mod Emeritus-Don Dawson, 1:150/730 Backbone status has been in effect for months so Areafix a link from your local Backbone feed or contact any of the Moderators for a direct link via Netmail. FidoNews 13-17 Page: 4 22 Apr 1996 Here's the SHARING Echo Guidelines for those without a copy of the current ELRUL file: --- Following message extracted from SHARING @ 1:374/14 --- By Christopher Baker on Sat Apr 20 23:38:03 1996 From: Christopher Baker To: All Date: 15 Apr 96 00:52:32 Subj: SHARING Echo Guidelines - regular repost From: [by Don Dawson] To: Y'all Date: 4 Aug 95 22:27:48 Subj: Da Rulz Sorry, it's dirty work but someone has to do it. :-) What is this echo? ------------------ FidoNet is a World Class, Global, Communications Network of, by and for FidoNet Sysops around the Globe. There are other FTN networks but none are of the size of FidoNet. What Sysops will see and learn in SHARING will make it "the place to be". What might they see? We don't have an agenda, hidden or otherwise, but I'm sure we'll laugh at ourselves, cry for each other and everyone will be "just themselves". The wonders and mysteries of FidoNet Technology will be explained!. Learn how and where files fall into dishes. Learn how and where files pop out of the InterNet tunnel. Learn how to eat the Echomail Elephant rather than have it eat you! Learn how to send e-mail to anywhere on the Globe often with a local phone call, including to AOL, Prodigy, C$erve, and perhaps that office down the street. Learn there's no such thing as FREE! SHARE the wonderful experience of our hobby. This echo is Awesome, it's the Swiss Army knife of information! There's plenty to learn, learn, learn and it doesn't matter what hardware, operating system, mailer or BBS Software a sysop uses. Sysops can share those funny experiences we all have. One of mine is a brief story about NERF.BAT. We can laugh with each other and cry with each other. Yes, tragedy, sometimes simple, sometimes bizarre, hits us all. Why not share it? There's good news too: someone is a new parent for the first time, a new grandparent even. Sysops find good deals on all sorts of goods and services. Why not SHARE where, how much and how good so we can all get the most out of our hobby budget? Please! -------- FidoNews 13-17 Page: 5 22 Apr 1996 What won't you see? No anger. No threats. No intimidation. No inappropriate language. And none of that politistrivial junk so common in other Sysop Echos. No Zeroes. No Binary addresses allowed. If you're a 0 or a 1, stay away! No a.k.a.'s allowed! Use your real, primary address or stay out, especially those 0's and 1's! Simple enough? Every Sysop in any FTN phonebook is invited to participate, invited to just be themselves and SHARE the FidoNet Technology Experience. FidoNet Technology Sysops are *very* special people, this echo is by, for and about them. Politeness to each other is EXPECTED! It IS REQUIRED. Almost no topic is "off topic" except as noted below. The Moderators reserve the right to BAN any topic. I reserve the right to "suspend discussion" of a topic for a time certain. Be CERTAIN of your FACTS, NAME names, don't take the cowards way out by using "They said, He said". Be SPECIFIC. There are three Moderators. They are: Christopher Baker; jim barchuk; and Debra Milner. They are the only ones who will make Moderatorial pronouncments to anyone else. Leave any Moderating to them. We don't expect to have to do much in the way of moderating in a friendly and cooperative Echo. Definitions: ------------ Phonebook: The Nodelist FidoGawd: (or its variations) are prohibited from this Echo. Fight-o-Net: (or its variations) are also prohibited. Policy: Policy4 as indicated in the nodelist. The ONLY policy. If your zone/region/net also has a local policy, be specifc. If you use Policy by itself, POLICY4 is assumed. EchoPol: It does not exist, never did. Maybe never will. CRP: Cost Recovery Plan/Program. I prefer Cost Sharing but you call it what you wish. CRaP: Something that sometimes accompanies particpation in a CRP. It is and is intended to be an unflattering term. Grunt Sysop: All 30,000+ PEOPLE in the FidoNet phonebook and or any FTN phone book. backbone: or Backbone, whichever you prefer is OFF Topic [except we we will share how to get an Echo on the Backbone if asked.] FidoNews 13-17 Page: 6 22 Apr 1996 As Mr. Bartles and Mr. James are known to say: Thank you for your support! Short and sweet (?) Moderator Emeritus, former 1:150/730 B-) Don TTFN. Chris Christopher Baker jim barchuk Debra Milner Moderators, SHARING ---------------------------------------------------------------------- ======================================================================== Fidonews Information ======================================================================== ------- FIDONEWS MASTHEAD AND CONTACT INFORMATION ---------------- Editor: Donald Tees Editors Emeritii: Thom Henderson, Dale Lovell, Vince Perriello, Tim Pozar Tom Jennings, Sylvia Maxwell "FidoNews" BBS FidoNet 1:1/23 BBS +1-519-570-4176, 300/1200/2400/14400/V.32bis/HST(DS) more addresses: Don -- 1:221/192, don@exlibris.tdkcs.waterloo.on.ca (Postal Service mailing address) FidoNews 154 Victoria St. S. Kitchener, Ontario Canada N2H 2b5 voice: (519) 570-4899 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 Donald Tees. All rights reserved. Duplication FidoNews 13-17 Page: 7 22 Apr 1996 and/or distribution permitted for noncommercial purposes only. For use in other circumstances, please contact the original authors, or the eds. OBTAINING COPIES: The most recent issue of FidoNews in electronic form may be obtained from the FidoNews BBS via manual download or Wazoo FileRequest, or from various sites in the FidoNet and Internet. PRINTED COPIES may be obtained by sending SASE to the above paper-mail address. INTERNET USERS: FidoNews is available via FTP from ftp.fidonet.org, in directory ~ftp/pub/fidonet/fidonews. Anyone interested in getting a copy of the INTERNET GATEWAY FAQ may freq GISFAQ.ZIP from 1:133/411.0, or send an internet message to fidofaq@gisatl.fidonet.org. No message or text or subject is necessary. The address is a keyword that will trigger the automated response. People wishing to send inquiries directly to David Deitch should now mail to fidonet@gisatl.fidonet.org rather than the previously listed address. 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 BBS, or Wazoo filerequestable from 1:1/23 as file "ARTSPEC.DOC". Please read it. "Fido", "FidoNet" and the dog-with-diskette are U.S. registered trademarks of Tom Jennings, and are used with permission. ' ' disgreement is actually necessary, or we'd all have to get in fights or semethin to amuse ourselves,, and create the requisite chaos." -Tom Jennings -- END -------------------------------------------------------------------