F I D O N E W S -- Volume 13, Number 51 16 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. | +----------------------------------------------------------------------+ NO .BIO FILES RECEIVED AGAIN THIS WEEK. NO FILM AT 2300! Table of Contents 1. EDITORIAL ................................................ 1 "Quando Omni Flunkus Moritatus!"?? ....................... 1 2. ARTICLES ................................................. 2 Program To Assist New Nodes Available For Beta Testing ... 2 3. COLUMNS .................................................. 3 FIDONET IN EUROPE ........................................ 3 4. GETTING TECHNICAL ........................................ 4 FidoNet Standard FTS-0009, MSGID/REPLY identifiers ....... 4 5. COORDINATORS CORNER ...................................... 6 Nodelist-statistics as seen from Zone-2 for day 348 ...... 6 6. NET HUMOR ................................................ 7 The Modern Days of Christmas? ............................ 7 The Ghost of Christmas Future? ........................... 9 7. COMIX IN ASCII ........................................... 13 Something Seasonal in ASCII .............................. 13 8. NOTICES .................................................. 15 Future History ........................................... 15 9. FIDONET SOFTWARE LISTING ................................. 16 Latest Greatest Software Versions ........................ 16 10. FIDONEWS PUBLIC-KEY ..................................... 23 This Space intentionally left blank? ..................... 23 11. FIDONEWS INFORMATION .................................... 24 FIDONEWS 13-51 Page 1 16 Dec 1996 ================================================================= EDITORIAL ================================================================= "Quando Omni Flunkus Moritatus!" Is this the new motto for FidoNet, FidoNews, Coordinators? If your local public television [or commercial in Canada and who who knows where overseas] station runs a program called "The New Red Green Show", you may have already heard of the Possum Oath. Red Green is is a cantankerous geezer always looking for shortcuts to getting things done without going through any normal channels like buying stuff he needs or using equipment as it was designed. Red believes fun and materiel are where you 'find' them [usually after dark]. In one episode, Red made a hovercraft out of a boat hull, a lawn chair, a six foot wide roll of duct tape, and a CO2 fire extinguisher. It hovered [briefly] then blasted backward into destruction. Reminds me of some mailer software I've used. [grin] Is there any analogy here? You decide. The new year is coming and things are pretty much the same as ever in FidoNet. That's not necessarily good. Is it time to make some concerted efforts at various levels to get FidoNet moving forward again? Something not cobbled together from bits and pieces of outdated methodology or philosophy, perhaps? Something with less geezer-factor and whining? Or should we just let it slide and adopt the Possum Oath as our own? "Quando Omni Flunkus Moritatus!" "When all else fails play dead!" You tell me. C.B. ----------------------------------------------------------------- FIDONEWS 13-51 Page 2 16 Dec 1996 ================================================================= ARTICLES ================================================================= Program To Assist New Nodes Available For Beta Testing by Richard Bash (1:231/0) As the NC of Net 231 in Indianapolis, Indiana, I am writing a software package that is designed to enable a new applicant to FidoNet to create a message to be sent to the NC (or RC, in those rare cases where the node is under the RC) which contains his application to FidoNet and his preliminary nodelist entry. That message would then be used by the NC to get the data into the nodelist. This software should make a FidoNet NC or RC's job easier as well as make life easier for a new node. The original idea for this program came from a now unsupported program written by Justin Marquez (jmarquez@cynara.com; FidoNet 1:106/100) entitled NODEREQ.EXE. I have notified Justin I have written a new program that was inspired by his program. The advantage of my program, NODEDATA.EXE, is that it goes well beyond NODEREQ.EXE and is also up-to-date with the current FidoNet requirements. I would like to put this program out on a wide beta test and seek the input of other FidoNet nodes. If you are interested in participating in the testing (remove any extraneous bugs I've overlooked in the testing to date, offer suggestions to improve the program, etc.), please feel free to file request NODEDATA.ZIP from me cat 1:231/0. If you provide return comments and criticisms on the program after examining it, your name will be included in the forthcoming documentation file thanking those who assisted in this project. When the project is completed and a release version is ready, you will be notified and can file request the release version for use in your operations. There is no charge for the beta or release versions of the software. Again, if you are interested in participating in this beta test program, you are welcome to file request NODEDATA.ZIP and send me your comments. Thank you for your time. Sincerely, Richard Bash 1152 N. White River Parkway West Dr. - Apt. 1101 Indianapolis, IN 46222-3197 Voice: 1-317-226-9614 FAX:: 1-317-226-9616 E-mail: rmbash@cord.iupui.edu Fido: 1:231/0 or 1:231/812 ----------------------------------------------------------------- FIDONEWS 13-51 Page 3 16 Dec 1996 ================================================================= COLUMNS ================================================================= Fidonet In Europe ----------------- by Dave Meikle ( NOTE NEW NET ADDRESS : 2:259/24.105) Sorry about last week , I was getting my new net address do you forgive me ? :-) Nothing happened anyway :-( Newz just in: THE (UN)OFFICAL DALKEITH THISTLE F.C. Web PAGE. http://members.aol.com/rebeljambo/thistle Thats all folks. Dave ----------------------------------------------------------------- FIDONEWS 13-51 Page 4 16 Dec 1996 ================================================================= GETTING TECHNICAL ================================================================= [This is the final installment of the FidoNet Standards in a series of Standards and Proposals being made in numerical order. This is also part of our FidoNet History series. It has been reformatted where necessary to meet the 70 column restriction.] Ed. Document: FTS-0009 Version: 001 Date: 17-Dec-91 MSGID / REPLY A standard for unique message identifiers and reply chain linkage 17 December, 1991 jim nutt 1:114/30@fidonet Status of this document: This FTS (FidoNet(r) Technical Standard) specifies an optional standard for the FidoNet community. Implementation of the protocols defined in this document is not mandatory, but all implementations of these protocols are expected to adhere to this standard. Distribution of this document is unlimited. Fido and FidoNet are registered marks of Tom Jennings and Fido Software. MSGID A MSGID line consists of the string "^AMSGID:" (where ^A is a control-A (hex 01) and the double-quotes are not part of the string), followed by a space, the address of the originating system, and a serial number unique to that message on the originating system, i.e.: ^AMSGID: origaddr serialno The originating address should be specified in a form that constitutes a valid return address for the originating network. If the originating address is enclosed in double-quotes, the entire string between the beginning and ending double-quotes is considered to be the orginating address. A double-quote character within a quoted address is represented by by two consecutive double-quote characters. The serial number may be any eight character hexadecimal number, as long as it is unique FIDONEWS 13-51 Page 5 16 Dec 1996 - no two messages from a given system may have the same serial number within a three years. The manner in which this serial number is generated is left to the implementor. REPLY A REPLY line consists of the string "^AREPLY:" (where ^A is a control-A (hex 01) and the double-quotes are not part of the string), followed by a space, and the origaddr and serialno fields of the MSGID line of the message to which this message is a reply, i.e.: ^AREPLY: origaddr serialno The origaddr and serialno fields must be identical to the corresponding fields in the MSGID of the message to which this message is a reply. A REPLY line is never generated in a message that is a reply to a message that does not contain a MSGID line. GENERAL MSGID and REPLY lines should be placed before the text body of the message in which they appear. Finally, a MSGID is generated only at the time of message creation. An existing MSGID and/or REPLY should never be stripped from a message passing through an intermediate system. No system should ever add an MSGID and/or REPLY to, or modify an existing MSGID / REPLY contained in, a message not originating on that system. -30- ----------------------------------------------------------------- FIDONEWS 13-51 Page 6 16 Dec 1996 ================================================================= COORDINATORS CORNER ================================================================= Nodelist-statistics as seen from Zone-2 for day 348 By Ward Dossche, 2:292/854 ZC/2 +----+------+------------+------------+------------+------------+--+ |Zone|Nl-320|Nodelist-327|Nodelist-334|Nodelist-341|Nodelist-348|%%| +----+------+------------+------------+------------+------------+--+ | 1 | 11127|11127 0 |10931 -196 |10931 0 |10737 -194 |36| | 2 | 16300|16291 -9 |16240 -51 |16185 -55 |16150 -35 |55| | 3 | 929| 905 -24 | 886 -19 | 882 -4 | 882 0 | 3| | 4 | 620| 589 -31 | 584 -5 | 578 -6 | 572 -6 | 2| | 5 | 95| 94 -1 | 94 0 | 94 0 | 94 0 | 0| | 6 | 999| 1008 9 | 1008 0 | 1006 -2 | 1003 -3 | 3| +----+------+------------+------------+------------+------------+--+ | 30070|30014 -56 |29743 -271 |29676 -67 |29438 -238 | +------+------------+------------+------------+------------+ ----------------------------------------------------------------- FIDONEWS 13-51 Page 7 16 Dec 1996 ================================================================= NET HUMOR ================================================================= From: "Mike Riddle" To: "Baker, Christopher" Subject: FWD THE MODERN DAYS OF CHRISTMAS ==================BEGIN FORWARDED MESSAGE================== >To: rjtavel@iquest.net, juansoberanes@ca.slr.com, > mriddle@monarch.papillion.ne.us, stewarts@staff.abanet.org, > T313r3@aol.com, cmi014@giga.com, daviddivad@aol.com, > davidmcl@mexconnect.com, ucc2@aol.com, khth22a@prodigy.com >CC: jjrose@redoak.heartland.net >Subject: FWD THE MODERN DAYS OF CHRISTMAS SEASON'S GREETINGS! The recent announcement that Donner and Blitzen have elected to take the early reindeer retirement package has triggered a good deal of concern about whether they will be replaced and about other restructuring decisions at the North Pole. Streamlining was appropriate in view of the reality that the North Pole no longer dominates the season's gift distribution business. Home shopping channels and mail order catalogues have diminished Santa's market share, and he could not sit idly by and permit further erosion of the profit picture. The reindeer downsizing was made possible through the purchase of a late model Japanese sled for the CEO's annual trip. Improved productivity from Dasher and Dancer, who summered at the Harvard Business School, is anticipated and should take up the slack with no discernible loss of service. Reduction in reindeer will also lessen airborne environmental emissions for which the North Pole has been cited and received unfavorable press. I am pleased to inform you and yours that Rudolph's role will not be disturbed. Tradition still counts for something at the North Pole. Management denies, in the strongest possible language, the earlier leak that Rudolph's nose got that way not from the cold, but from substance abuse. Calling Rudolph "a lush who was into the sauce and never did pull his share of the load" was an unfortunate comment, made by one of Santa's helpers and taken out of context at a time of year when he is known to be under executive stress. As a further restructuring, today's global challenges require the North Pole to continue to look for better, more competitive steps. Effective immediately, the following economy measures are to take place in the "Twelve Days of Christmas" subsidiary: The partridge will be retained, but the pear tree never turned out to be the cash crop forecasted. It will be replaced by a plastic hanging FIDONEWS 13-51 Page 8 16 Dec 1996 plant, providing considerable savings in maintenance. The two turtle doves represent a redundancy that is simply not cost effective. In addition, their romance during working hours could not be condoned. The positions are therefore eliminated. The three French hens will remain intact. After all, everyone loves the French. The four calling birds were replaced by an automated voice mail system, with a call waiting option. An analysis is underway to determine who the birds have been calling, how often and how long they talked. The five golden rings have been put on hold by the Board of Directors. Maintaining a portfolio based on one commodity could have negative implications for institutional investors. Diversification into other precious metals as well as a mix of T-Bills and high technology stocks appears to be in order. The six geese-a-laying constitute a luxury which can no longer be afforded. It has long been felt that the production rate of one egg per goose per day is an example of the decline in productivity. Three geese will be let go, and an upgrading in the selection procedure by personnel will assure management that from now on every goose it gets will be a good one. The seven swans-a-swimming is obviously a number chosen in better times. Their function is primarily decorative. Mechanical swans are on order. The current swans will be retrained to learn some new strokes and therefore enhance their outplacement. As you know, the eight maids-a-milking concept has been under heavy scrutiny by the EEOC. A male/female balance in the workforce is being sought. The more militant maids consider this a dead-end job with no upward mobility. Automation of the process may permit the maids to try a-mending, a-mentoring or a-mulching. Nine ladies dancing has always been an odd number. This function will be phased out as these individuals grow older and can no longer do the steps. Ten lords-a-leaping is overkill. The high cost of lords plus the expense of international air travel prompted the compensation committee to suggest replacing this group with ten out-of-work congressmen. While leaping ability may be somewhat sacrificed, the savings are significant because we expect an oversupply of unemployed congressmen this year. Eleven pipers piping and twelve drummers drumming is a simple case of the band getting too big. A substitution with a string quartet, a cutback on new music, and no uniforms will produce savings which will drop right down to the bottom line. We can expect a substantial reduction in assorted people, fowl, animals, and other expenses. Though incomplete, studies indicate that FIDONEWS 13-51 Page 9 16 Dec 1996 stretching deliveries over twelve days is inefficient. If we can drop ship in one day, service levels will be improved. Action is pending regarding the lawsuit filed by the attorneys' association seeking expansion to include the legal profession ("thirteen lawyers-a-suing"). Lastly, it is not beyond consideration that deeper cuts may be necessary in the future to stay competitive. Should that happen, the Board will request management to scrutinize the Snow White Division to see if seven dwarfs is the right number. Happy Holidays! ------------------- ===================END FORWARDED MESSAGE=================== ----------------------------------------------------------------- From: "Mike Riddle" To: "Baker, Christopher" Subject: Fwd: The Ghost of Christmas Future? ==================BEGIN FORWARDED MESSAGE================== THIS IS A PARODY**THIS IS A PARODY**THIS IS A PARODY ------------------------------- ASTOUNDING FEDERAL INDICTMENTS RELEASED, ARRESTS MADE. by Dennis Baron December 1996 Washington D.C. An unprecedented number of sweeping federal indictments were made public today. A secret Federal Grand Jury handed down hundreds of indictments as a result of a year long investigation by a combined governmental task force comprised of several federal agencies. This culminated in multiple arrests. The alleged ringleader, a Mr. Nicholas Claus (alias Santa, Jolly Ole St. Nick) and several of his vertically challenged accomplices were taken into custody today at their residence and workshop at the North Pole. Agents of the FBI, BATF and INS participated in the arrests. The U.S. Park Police unfortunately were not involved as they got lost and could not find the staging area. Attorney General Janet Reno led the assault on Mr. Claus's compound and is recovering from wounds received in action. Doctors at Walter Reed Army Hospital say the frostbite of her nose should clear up in a few days. Details of the indictments are sketchy however the following FIDONEWS 13-51 Page 10 16 Dec 1996 partial summary was obtained from undercover informants at Inside Edition and Hard Copy. 1) The Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) contends that flying reindeer are protected under the Endangered Species Act. 2) The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) notes a lack of seat belts and air bags in Mr. Claus's sleigh and that child safety restraints are applicable to elves. 3) The Environmental Protection Administration (EPA) claims that an inordinate amount of soot was discharged into the atmosphere every time Mr. Claus descended a chimney, thereby violating provisions of the Clean Air Act. Breaking and entering charges are pending in several state courts. 4) The Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) contends that on numerous occasions Mr. Claus entered the US illegally without a valid passport or visa. The ethnic origins of his alleged accomplices (elves) has yet to be determined however none of them were able to produce valid Green Cards at the time of apprehension. 5) The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) charges Claus with failure to file proper flight plans along with numerous violations of Air Safety Regulations such as multicolored running lights, lack of passenger safety equipment, failure to properly secure cargo (toys), and smoking a pipe while onboard an aircraft. 6) The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) claims that Mr. Claus consistently ignored mandates of the Civil Rights Act and of having a severe lack of minority representation and gender equity in his elfin work force. An EEOC spokesperson told this reporter, "All them buggers were short white men wearing real weird shoes and funky hats". Secretary of Labor, Robert B. Reich, who was supposed to arrive shortly, is apparently buried under a 3 1/2 ft. snowdrift. EMS workers are attempting to locate him for comment. 7) The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has charged Mr. Claus with failing to file any income tax returns since the inception of the Income Tax Law and with numerous violations of the Federal Tax Code such as failure to withhold FICA and Medicare taxes from himself and his employees. 8) The Office of Health and Human Services attests that Claus & Co. neglected to provide any handicapped parking spaces or wheelchair ramps in any areas about and around the North Pole in direct violation and disregard of The Americans With Disabilities Act. OSHA also claims that no effort was made to remove accumulated snow from around the North Pole thereby creating unsafe working and driving conditions Unverified reports suggest that Secretary of Health and Human Services, Donna Shalala, is also among the missing. She is presumed to be in the vicinity of the heretofore mentioned Secretary of Labor. During the raid agents of Treasury's Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (BATF) seized a huge quantity of assault weapons. Agents on site stated that "These weapons were fabricated mainly of plastic FIDONEWS 13-51 Page 11 16 Dec 1996 and could easily slip through airport metal detectors. I'd hate to think what would happen if these guns got into the hands of children". Thousands of boxes of ammunition for these weapons, deceptively labeled "CORKS", were also confiscated. Under federal RICO Statutes all toys in the workshop and residence were seized and impounded. The Justice Department will shortly issue directives ordering parents to turn over all presents that their children received last Christmas, to the nearest FBI or US Marshals office, for use as evidence in upcoming federal trials. The Congressional Black Caucus is expected to initiate legislation requiring that all toys in federal custody at the conclusion of these trials be given to the poor of Rwanda, Haiti, and Somalia. Distribution of such toys will be at the discretion of a newly formed Commission headed by Mr. Randall Robinson and composed of assorted warlords and thugs from the individual countries. As a result of the foregoing arrests, President Clinton is expected to announce tomorrow, at a White House press conference, that this Christmas will be canceled. Also U.N. Ambassador Madeline Albright will petition the United Nations to impose economic sanctions against the North Pole "until such time as all illegal activities cease and a democratic form of government is restored". Secretary of State Warren Christopher said we would break off diplomatic relations with the North Pole, except for the fact that we never had any to begin with. He is expected to schedule a Summit Meeting on this issue just as soon as he wakes up. On a happier note, our Co-President, Hillary Rodham Clinton, tried to console all Americans who were feeling depressed about not being able to receive any gifts this year. She stated that "all citizens should urge their legislators to support the Clinton Health Security Plan so that they can receive the gift of free health care not only at Christmas-time, but all year round". The vice-presidents wife, Tipper, was too depressed to comment In somewhat related stories, Mrs. S. Claus filed for divorce today. Speaking through her attorney, Ms. Gloria Allred, Ms. Claus stated "That fat SOB kept me locked in the kitchen all the time baking cookies and shining his big black boots." The only time he let me out was to take care of those damn reindeer". Ms. Claus is facing legal problems of her own charged with several counts of failing to clean up after her pets, in violation of numerous local "Pooper-Scooper" ordinances. "Getting all that crap off of all those rooftops is gonna be a bitch, not to mention damned expensive. Wait till fatso hears my alimony demands. He won't be saying HO!, HO!, HO!, for a helluva long time". When informed of the above, former Surgeon General Joceyln Elders, evidently under the influence of some type of agitating medication screamed "Ho's? What Ho's"? "Why can't some minority women earn a livin' without being harassed? At least dey doin sumpin' about the rut causes of poverty". Also, former Agriculture Secretary Mike Espy's body was found today in Fort Marcy Park, apparently the victim of a self-inflicted FIDONEWS 13-51 Page 12 16 Dec 1996 gunshot wound to the back of the head. White House sources claim there is no connection between his death and the rumor that Tyson Foods planned to open a humpback whale blubber processing plant near the North Pole. (C) 1994 Dennis Baron (BludyRed@aol.com) This is intended for personal use only and may be re-posted only if not edited and appropriate credit is given. Commercial use for profit requires permission of the author. ===================END FORWARDED MESSAGE=================== ----------------------------------------------------------------- FIDONEWS 13-51 Page 13 16 Dec 1996 ================================================================= COMIX IN ASCII ================================================================= [Here's a very nice rendering {or is that reindeering?}.] Ed. Date: 13 Dec 92 09:45:40 From: Drow Elf To: All Subj: MERRY CHRISTMAS! ______________________________________________________________________ ':, ':, ,:' '::, ,: ':, ,:' '::, ,:' : ':, ,:' '::, ,:' ',I/ ':, ,:: ':: ,:' ---+--- '::::' '::,:' /I', :::' ,:' '::: : ':::, ,::' : '::. ,: ':::,,::' '.I/ ::::,::' ':::::' ---+--- :::::' ':::' /I`, ':::, ::: : '::: ,::: ::: :::' '::, ,::' ::: ,::' ':::, ,:::' '::::, ,:::::' ':::::,,,...,,,::::::::' '-:::::::::::'' .,,,::::' .:',',',',','::::::::XXXX' .,:',',',::::::::::-XXXXXXX:' ,-:',',',','' , ':::::,. ,-:',',',',',',', 'XO ,:X'::::::, .,,,-:',',',',',:,:,:,:,:,::::X:' ::::::X, ( ,:',',',',',:,:,:,:,:,:':X:',,:::::::::X, '. ,::',',',',:,:,:,::::::::::::::::::X:::::X, ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::',:XX::,:,::X, '::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::',:XWWX::::::::::X, '::::::::::::::::::::,,,.',',,:XWXX::::',',',:,::X, ':::::::::' '''::WWXXX:::,:,:,',',':,:::X, '''''' 'WWXXXX:::,:,:,',','::,:::X, 'WWXXXX:::,:,:,',',',::,:::X 'WXXXXX:::,:,:,',',','::,:: 'WXXXXX:::,:,:,',',',',::: : 'WXXXX::::,:,:,',',',',:: , : / 'WXXX:::::,:,:,',',',',: ',I/ 'WXX::::':,:,:,',',',', ----+---- 'WXX::::::,:,:,',',',' /I', 'WX::::'::,:,:,',',', / : ' 'WX:::::':,:,:,',',' : 'WX:::::::,:,:,',', 'WX::::'::,:,:,',' 'WX:::::::,:,:,', FIDONEWS 13-51 Page 14 16 Dec 1996 ,WWWWW, WWWWWW ,W, ,WWWWW, ,WWWWW, W, WW 'W ,WWWWW, WW WW WW ,WWW, WW WW WW WW WW, WW WW WW WW WW ,WW WW, WW WW WW WWW,WW WW 'WWWWW, WWWWWW WW' 'WW 'WWWWW, WW WW WWWWWW 'WWWWW, WW WW :WWWWWWW: WW WW WW WW'WWW WW WW WW WW WW' 'WW WW WW WW WW WW 'WW WW WW 'WWWWW' WWWWWWW WW WW 'WWWWW' 'WWWWW' WW 'W `WWWWW' ,WWWWW, WWWWWW, WWWWWWW WWWWWW WWWWWWW WW W, WW ,WWWWW, ,WWWWW, W WW WW WW WW WW WW WW WW, WW WW WW WW WW W WW WW WW WW WW WW WWW, WW WW WW W WWWW WWWWWW' WWWWWW WWWWWW WW WW WW'WWWW WW WWWW'WWWWW, W WW WW 'W, WW WW WW WW WW 'WWW WW WW WW W WW WW 'W, WW WW WW WW WW 'WW WW WW WW WW WWWWW' WW 'W,WWWWWWW WWWWWWW WW WW WW 'W 'WWWWW' `WWWWW' Origin: The INFERNO609-886-6818 (1:266/72) ----------------------------------------------------------------- FIDONEWS 13-51 Page 15 16 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 13-51 Page 16 16 Dec 1996 ================================================================= FIDONET SOFTWARE LISTING ================================================================= [This is a repeat of 1350's Version list.] Ed. Latest Greatest Software Versions by Peter E. Popovich, 1:363/264 Still in the process of catching up. Phased out this week: Oracomm 5.M.6P and Oracomm Plus 6.E Phase-out highlights: This week: ProBoard 1.20 and QuickBBS 2.75 Deadline for info: 20 Dec 1996. Last week: PCBoard 14.5a and Phoenix 1.07 Deadline for info: 13 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 FIDONEWS 13-51 Page 17 16 Dec 1996 InfoMail/386 1.20 O F Damian Walker 2:2502/666 INFO386 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 13-51 Page 18 16 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 NodeList Utilities Other Utilities Name Version Name Version Name Version -------------------- -------------------- -------------------- PCBoard 14.5a EditNL 4.00 MailBase 4.11a@ Phoenix 1.07* FDND 1.10 MSG 4.5* ProBoard 1.20* MakeNL 2.31 MsgLnk 1.0c QuickBBS 2.75 Parselst 1.33 MsgMstr 2.03a RBBS 17.3b Prune 1.40 MsgNum 4.16d RemoteAccess 1.11* SysNL 3.14 MSGTOSS 1.3 SimplexBBS 1.05 XlatList 2.90 Netsex 2.00b SLBBS 2.15C* XlaxNode/Diff 2.53 OFFLINE 1.35 Socrates 1.11 Oliver 1.0a SuperBBS 1.12* Other Utilities OSIRIS CBIS 3.02 FIDONEWS 13-51 Page 19 16 Dec 1996 SuperComm 0.99 Name Version PKInsert 7.10 TAG 2.5g -------------------- PolyXarc 2.1a TBBS 2.1 2DAPoint 1.50* QM 1.00a TComm/TCommNet 3.4 4Dog/4DMatrix 1.18 QSort 4.04 Telegard 2.7* ARCAsim 2.31 RAD Plus 2.11 TPBoard 6.1 ARCmail 3.00* Raid 1.00 WildCat! 3.02* Areafix 1.20 RBBSMail 18.0 XBBS 1.77 ConfMail 4.00 ScanToss 1.28 Crossnet 1.5 ScMail 1.00 Network Mailers DOMAIN 1.42 ScEdit 1.12 Name Version DEMM 1.06 Sirius 1.0x -------------------- DGMM 1.06 SLMail 2.15C BinkleyTerm 2.50 DOMAIN 1.42 StarLink 1.01 D'Bridge 1.30 EEngine 0.32 TagMail 2.41 Dreamer 1.06 EMM 2.11* TCOMMail 2.2 Dutchie 2.90c EZPoint 2.1 Telemail 1.5* Milqtoast 1.00 FGroup 1.00 TGroup 1.13 PreNM 1.48 FidoPCB 1.0s@ TIRES 3.11 SEAdog 4.60 FNPGate 2.70 TMail 1.21 SEAmail 1.01 GateWorks 3.06e TosScan 1.00 TIMS 1.0(mod8) GMail 2.05 UFGATE 1.03 GMD 3.10 VPurge 4.09e Compression GMM 1.21 WEdit 2.0@ Utilities GoldEd 2.31p WildMail 2.00 Name Version GROUP 2.23 WMail 2.2 -------------------- GUS 1.40 WNode 2.1 ARC 7.12 Harvey's Robot 4.10 XRS 4.99 ARJ 2.20 HeadEdit 1.18 XST 2.3e LHA 2.13 HLIST 1.09 YUPPIE! 2.00 PAK 2.51 ISIS 5.12@ ZmailH 1.25 PKPak 3.61 Lola 1.01d ZSX 2.40 PKZip 1.10 Mosaic 1.00b 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 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 -------------- FIDONEWS 13-51 Page 20 16 Dec 1996 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 ----- 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@ FIDONEWS 13-51 Page 21 16 Dec 1996 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 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 FIDONEWS 13-51 Page 22 16 Dec 1996 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 13-51 Page 23 16 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 13-51 Page 24 16 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 13-51 Page 25 16 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. *=*=*=*=* [This does not appear to be working at present] Anyone interested in getting a copy of the INTERNET GATEWAY FAQ may file-request GISFAQ.ZIP from 1:133/411.0, or send an internet message to fidofaq@gisatl.fidonet.org. No message or text or subject is FIDONEWS 13-51 Page 26 16 Dec 1996 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 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. "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- -----------------------------------------------------------------