F I D O N E W S -- Volume 15, Number 26 29 June 1998 +----------------------------+-----------------------------------------+ | The newsletter of the | ISSN 1198-4589 Published by: | | FidoNet community | "FidoNews" | | _ | 1-209-251-7529 [1:1/23] | | / \ | | | /|oo \ | | | (_| /_) | | | _`@/_ \ _ | | | | | \ \\ | Editor: | | | (*) | \ )) | Zorch Frezberg 1:205/1701 | | |__U__| / \// | | | _//|| _\ / | | | (_/(_|(____/ | | | (jm) | Newspapers should have no friends. | | | -- JOSEPH PULITZER | +----------------------------+-----------------------------------------+ | Submission address: FidoNews Editor 1:1/23 | +----------------------------------------------------------------------+ | MORE addresses: | | | | submissions=> editor@fidonews.org | | | +----------------------------------------------------------------------+ | For information, copyrights, article submissions, | | obtaining copies of FidoNews or the internet gateway FAQ | | please refer to the end of this file. | +----------------------------------------------------------------------+ And where do we go from here? Table of Contents 1. EDITORIAL ................................................ 1 2. LETTERS TO THE EDITOR .................................... 2 3. ARTICLES ................................................. 4 ECHOLIST ................................................. 4 4. COLUMNS .................................................. 5 P.E.I potato nightmares .................................. 5 5. NOTICES .................................................. 7 Future History ........................................... 7 6. FIDONEWS PUBLIC-KEY ...................................... 8 FidoNews PGP Public-Key Listing .......................... 8 7. FIDONET BY INTERNET ...................................... 9 8. FIDONEWS INFORMATION ..................................... 12 FIDONEWS 15-26 Page 1 29 Jun 1998 ================================================================= EDITORIAL ================================================================= I have had _one_ complaint that a submitted article via E-Mail has been unreceived, even though the submittor has indicated that the article has been sent twice now to the "editor@fidonews.org" address. Contrary to popular opinion, the FidoNews web site is operated by a third party, and not directly under the control of the Editor. We have not ascertained if the problem is on this end or that end, but.... If anyone else has had similar problems, please send me a note to one of the other E-Mail addresses, or submit the article via netmail so we can be sure to print what is actually received. The addresses are listed below in the masthead information area at the end of the issue. I would appreciate the information, so that it can be forwarded to Jim Barchuk, who operates the web site at his own expense. And, if I haven't done this before, I'll thank Jim for his assistance in making FidoNews available to the world. In other news, the battle to wrest control of the EchoMail Listing has now moved into high gear, with the RECC all but demanding that the Z1C choose a particular system. Odd how this came out immediately after the existance of other ELIST systems was announced in the FidoNews. One would think that a more prudent RECC would look at all of the possibile systems before settling on one...or is this just another jab at the ZEC, and the RECC refusal to work with him? More odd that the RECC would claim that the ZEC is supposedly to 'moderate and present' to the RECC, but then turns around to lock the ZEC out of discussions, then claim that the ZEC is not doing his assigned duties. But then, these are also the same people who present in their erstwhile ultimatum to the Z1C that they wish the ELIST process to be above politics, while using the same proposed system as a political tool. How so very interesting. -zf- ----------------------------------------------------------------- FIDONEWS 15-26 Page 2 29 Jun 1998 ================================================================= LETTERS TO THE EDITOR ================================================================= RESPONSE TO EDITORIAL IN FIDONEWS DATED 22 JUNE 1998 By Ben Hamilton, FidoNet 1:124/7008 This letter is in response to the editorial that was included in the FidoNews issue on June 22, 1998. Before I begin, I anticipate again being accused of selective quoting. To remind the readers, my reasoning for such quoting is simple. Since I have personal knowledge of only some of the comments made by the editor, it is only proper that I respond to only those comments. The items that I select will be the ones to which I have personal knowledge. The editor is free to state whatever views he likes on the other issues, regardless of accuracy, as far as I am concerned, as I have no way to counter information that I myself have not witnessed and verified. In response to the editor's opinion that the RECs have posted the results of the no-confidence vote, then refused to reveal the particulars, I can only say this: The ZEC duties, as written by Bob Kohl, approved by the RECs, and then recognized by the ZC, state the "charges" quite clearly. >> If the RECC concludes that the ZEC is not active, << >> ineffective in his/her job or is just not taking << >> care his/her responsibilities; they may take a << >> vote of no-confidence. << The RECC charges that the ZEC is inactive, ineffective in his job, and is not taking care of his responsibilities. These are the charges. They are very simple. The basis for them is also simple. One just has to turn it around the other way. How *has* he been active? How *has* he been effective? How *has* he been taking care of his responsibilities? As I must continually remind you because the editor keeps asking, Kohl's first act after winning the ZEC election was to ask the RECC how he should go about removing an NEC from office. He did remove the NEC. He soon removed an NC. His REC quit, saying that he could no longer stand working with Kohl. He disclosed some in-transit netmail. Are these the actions of a active, effective, responsible ZEC? Can you honestly say "yes" in good conscience? The editor states again and again that Kohl was the first person to be elected to a zone position by a sysop-level vote. I urge all sysops who voted for him to come forward! Let your NECs and RECs know that you feel Kohl has been active, effective, and responsible and how. Please be specific. And if a sysop-level vote is so great, why was the recent R10C election only an NC-level vote? FIDONEWS 15-26 Page 3 29 Jun 1998 The editor goes on to state that answers in "his own situation" are "forthcoming." Answers? That would be refreshing. Included in this issue of FidoNews should be an announcement that the RECC has approved of Thom LaCosta as the new "EchoList." So much for politics. -Ben Hamilton FidoNet 1:124/7008 Internet: ben.hamilton@compconn.net ----------------------------------------------------------------- FIDONEWS 15-26 Page 4 29 Jun 1998 ================================================================= ARTICLES ================================================================= 24 Jun 98 18:48:36 By: Bob Seaborn, REC17 (1:17/1) To: Bob Satti Re: ECHOLIST --------------------------------------------------------------------- cc: Bob Satti, Thom LaCosta On behalf of the RECC, I would like to strongly suggest that you assign Thom Lacosta, 1:261/1352, a zone level aka under the username "Echolist" as soon as reasonably possible, and we further request that you use the address 1:1/21 for the following reasons. First, to differentiate Thom's elist software from that formerly operated by Adrian Walker. Secondly, to avoid any implication that the Echolist system is operating under the auspices and control of anyone other than yourself. Thom is adamant that he remain totally away from any Fidonet politics and/or control and specific distribution systems, and we, the RECC, feel this would bethe best choice, which is similar to what is in place for FidoNews at 1:1/23. And thirdly, Thom's echobase software is being strongly supported by those it strives to serve, the moderators, with over 300 registrations to date (I am told). Thank you for listening to us, and we do urge you to grant this request as soon as possible. Ken Wilson, REC12 signed with permission David Calafrancesco, REC13 signed with permission John Bodoni, REC14 signed with permission Dean Lachand, REC15 signed with permission Brian Bonfietti, REC16 signed with permission Bob Seaborn, REC17 signed with permission Jerry Gause, REC18 signed with permission Ben Hamilton, REC19 signed with permission ___ InterMail 2.50 ! Origin: REC17 (1:140/12.1) ----------------------------------------------------------------- FIDONEWS 15-26 Page 5 29 Jun 1998 ================================================================= COLUMNS ================================================================= Dear Editorbeing, This article is submitted by Doc Logger who was still in a fever delirium, having contracted strep throat somewhere in the wilds of Cape Breton. Heath care advice in that part of the world consists of "Drink more whiskey" which is their universal panacea for ailments. Roll da flic Zorch..... Dear Reverend Visage, I've just returned from a hellish holiday in the wilds of Eastern Canada. What started out as a simple trip to deliver some artwork and make free with a few lobsters ended up being a "Vanishing Point" sort of dash for the Ontario border. I would have returned sooner except for the fact that when the nitro methanol finally melted the turbo injection blades in Prince Edward Island, the mechanic who worked at the Anne of Green Gables Lobster Take-Out & Auto repairs had no clue how to fix it. Fortunately, the airport experienced one of its three annual days when it wasn't fogged in and they were able to deliver both the right part and a competent mechanic to fix it. The mechanic, after he noted the damage to the engine wondered if I might consider lowering the nitro methanol mixture in the fuel just a tadge. He completely understood my position however, when I explained that shooting five meter, quad contrails of blue flame was the only effective remedy for keeping harelipped Quebecers from tail-gating. It was 3am last night when I finally crossed the New Brunswick border leading a procession of provincial and federal police cars. It seems that it is illegal to make a right turn on a red light in the backward eastern provinces and the flashing lights and ugly demeanour of the pursuing cops was clear evidence that they did not intend to allow my crimes to go unpunished. Fortunately, they broke off the chase when I entered Quebec because they'd all forgotten their passports which would have permitted them entry into the newly constituted Republic of Poutine. By the time I reached Ontario my fever was holding at a steady 104 and the odometer was locked at about twice that number. I see that I didn't miss much in my absence. It seems that Bob "Noted" Satti turned down Mangold's policy complaint because Satti could find no proof that Kohl had revealed the contents. Satti is entirely too stupid to grasp the obvious or to poll any of the other possibilities on the mail path. Since Kohl has been "elected" R10C, the odious little cretin FIDONEWS 15-26 Page 6 29 Jun 1998 is back to posting his illiterate nonsense in the Z1C echo. The good news is that he has garnered the support of Belcke in his attempt to counter the actions of the RECC. Belcke is not noted for the subtlety of his mind, nor for recognizing inappropriate behaviour. In SnoozNews, it is the height of hilarity to see that his Zorchness ponder about questions asked and unanswered in his editorial. Since I like to follow the bouncing ball as much as the next person, here's a question for Zorch: Did you vote twice in the ZEC election? I can't wait to see His Zorchness weasel his way past an answer to that question as he happily attempts to defend poor dimwitted Kohl. I also note that his Zorchness sent out a questionaire to a few sysops asking if their RECs consulted them with respect to the censure vote which went against Kohl. For the record, Region 12 was consulted by the R12EC and the responses were universal in their support of the RECC to censure Kohl. In more Kohl news, I see that Kohl has suggested to Ruth Argust that she is being excessively annoying by repeating the true story about Kohl's pathetic attempts to get free boarding for his horse. Our prayers and our edible underwear should go out to Kohl in his hours of confusion. That pretty well wraps the fish on this article. I don't have a pithy quote this week because almost all of my reading has been road signs. Which reminds me, what sort of deranged and evil mind in New Brunswick dreamed up the idea of roadside garbage pails? I mean, these aren't just little buckets by the side of the road, hell no. They have their own off ramp, on ramp, and ten kilometers worth of signage warning you that you are fast approaching a road side garbage pail. Now, you'd think that with the money they could at least have tucked a washroom beside the garbage pails, but no, just a forlorn garbage pail. Anyway, my apologies to New Brunswick. It was me. I peed in your garbage pails, damnit, and I'd do it again if I had to. I must go Visage, the shipping company from Prince Edward Island just phoned and I'll have to supervise the installation of the 300 foot concrete lobster on your front lawn. You'll appreciate its splendour when you get back and thank me for it. Regards, Doc Logger, Far Eastern Veteran, Furlang Island, South Pacific ----------------------------------------------------------------- FIDONEWS 15-26 Page 7 29 Jun 1998 ================================================================= NOTICES ================================================================= Future History 3 Jul 1998 FidoNet European Convention (see issue #20 for details). 14 Sep 1998 Start of International BBS Week [thru 20 Sep 98]. 22 Sep 1998 First anniversary of the FidoNews domain of www.fidonews.org. 1 Dec 1998 Fifteenth Anniversary of release of Fido version 1 by Tom Jennings. 24 Jul 1999 XIII Pan American Games [through 8 Aug 99]. 31 Dec 1999 Hogmanay, Scotland. The New Year that can't be missed. 1 Jan 2000 The 20th Century, C.E., is still taking place thru 31 Dec. 1 Jun 2000 EXPO 2000 World Exposition in Hannover (Germany) opens. 15 Sep 2000 Sydney (Australia) Summer Olympiad opens. 1 Jan 2001 This is the actual start of the new millennium, C.E. -- If YOU have something which you would like to see in this Future History, please send a note to the FidoNews Editor. ----------------------------------------------------------------- FIDONEWS 15-26 Page 8 29 Jun 1998 ================================================================= FIDONEWS PUBLIC-KEY ================================================================= FidoNews PGP Public-Key Listing [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: Democracy Requires A Free And Uncensored Press. mQENAzUDQfgAAAEH/2cZjrzKxinfyk1NRYy2D78JEU8jFx6fvGyisnN2SX+QwRrA AxBbsMuseM3x60SFhHV7r93CxKWJylPCBJKvDazmWwy+vgBr+ZJvl7Ypj/IB4pWS Apngg8cmDH1h5d0VeYNORsuJ2udHZYRezkZ0eeJlaOsJCj5Xu0QImSp++VU/0oB1 6XRoNPy548xq8Qles1pLC8Kw7HU7Vff1WeaU3mPPQeaGZqn2qSAu5t6Z0Bhm27Pq zNaJ+JWNHaLCHlwrRHV+p9bCdfl3u303OxKPne0cSpxfe+gQBTlVta7B14ssgnzQ mnBFhvKWgM7LT105YD3EcWW9IJE1ByNHwo25a3EABRG0D0ZpZG9OZXdzIEVkaXRv cokAlQMFEDUKMDDrSgiY3KJNQQEB16YD/2tYVRC+dxghA/OwIWNH20GvQXw1zgfv cB6r8gYHcczTCqGu5qbjDOTftoBXY9vI3/CZNsSbvp0ibQinpN6zSgyy2+4wwPbu db/VnjXwBByq7ygTpNwQBMsYjs+iyndwTnR90dH3FewsveBCzeqjmP0Y/PJliElw zEmGKxoFr1SM =G82W -----END PGP PUBLIC KEY BLOCK----- File-request FNEWSKEY from 1:1/23 [1:205/1701] or download it from IKVHFoT! BBS at 1-209-251-7529 anytime Zone 1 ZMH at 300-9600+ V34. The FidoNews key is also available on the FidoNews homepage listed in the Masthead information. ----------------------------------------------------------------- FIDONEWS 15-26 Page 9 29 Jun 1998 ================================================================= FIDONET BY INTERNET ================================================================= This is a list of all FidoNet-related sites reported to the FidoNews Editor as of this issue; see the notice at the end. ============ FidoNet: Homepage http://www.fidonet.org FidoNews http://www.fidonews.org [HTML] http://209.77.228.66/fidonews.html [ASCII] WWW sources http://www.scms.rgu.ac.uk/students/cs_yr94/lk/fido.html FTSC page http://www.goldware.dk/ftsc Echomail [pending] WebRing http://ddi.digital.net/~cbaker84/fnetring.html [TFN] General http://owls.com/~jerrys/fidonet.html ============ Zone 1: http://www.z1.fidonet.org Region 10: http://www.psnw.com/~net205/region10.html Region 11: http://oeonline.com/~garyg/region11/ Region 13: http://www.smalltalkband.com/st01000.htm Region 14: Region 15: Region 16: Region 17: Region 18: http://techstop.pdn.net/fido/ Region 19: http://www.compconn.net ============ Zone 2: http://www.z2.fidonet.org ZEC2: Zone 2 Elist: http://www.fbone.ch/z2_elist/ Region 20: http://www.fidonet.pp.se (in Swedish) Region 23: http://www.fido.dk (in Danish) Region 24: http://www.swb.de/personal/flop/gatebau.html (German) FIDONEWS 15-26 Page 10 29 Jun 1998 Region 25: http://www.bsnet.co.uk/net2502/net/ Region 26: http://www.nemesis.ie REC 26: http://www.nrgsys.com/orb Region 27: http://telematique.org/ft/r27.htm Region 29: http://www.rtfm.be/fidonet/ (French) Region 30: http://www.fidonet.ch (Swiss?) Region 33: http://www.fidoitalia.net (Italian) Region 34: http://www.pobox.com/cnb/r34.htm (Spanish) REC34: http://pobox.com/~chr Region 36: http://www.geocities.com/SiliconValley/7207/ Region 38: http://public.st.carnet.hr/~blagi/bbs/adriam.html Region 41: http://www.fidonet.gr (Greek/English) Region 48: http://www.fidonet.org.pl ============ Zone 3: http://www.z3.fidonet.org ============ Zone 4: http://www.altern.org/zone4 Region 90: http://visitweb.com/fidonet Net 903: http://www.playagrande.com/refugio Net 904: http://members.tripod.com/~net904 (Spanish) ============ Zone 5: http://w3.eastcape.co.za/fidonet/index.htm ============ Zone 6: http://www.z6.fidonet.org Region 65: http://www.cfido.com/fidonet/cfidochina.html (Chinese) ============ Pages listed above are as submitted to the FidoNews Editor, and generally reflect Zone and Regional Web Page sites. If no Regional site is submitted, the first Network page from that Region is used in its place. Generally, Regional pages should list access points to all Networks within the Region. FIDONEWS 15-26 Page 11 29 Jun 1998 TCP/IP accessible nodes should submit their URL or Telnet locations to the FidoNews Editor for a later publication. ----------------------------------------------------------------- FIDONEWS 15-26 Page 12 29 Jun 1998 ================================================================= FIDONEWS INFORMATION ================================================================= ------- FIDONEWS MASTHEAD AND CONTACT INFORMATION ------- Editor: Zorch Frezberg Editors Emeritii: Tom Jennings, Thom Henderson, Dale Lovell, Vince Perriello, Tim Pozar, Sylvia Maxwell, Donald Tees, Christopher Baker "FidoNews Editor" FidoNet 1:1/23 BBS 1-209-251-7529, 300/1200/2400/9600/V.34/V.90 more addresses: Zorch Frezberg -- 1:205/1701, zorch@repairnet.com zorch@qnis.net zorch@kumr.lns.com (Postal Service mailing address) FidoNews Editor P.O. Box 642 Fresno, CA 93709-0642 U.S.A. voice: 1-209-446-9038 [voice mail = 'blind' numbers not returned] ------------------------------------------------------ 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 1998 Zorch Frezberg. 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 FNEWS for the current month in one archive. Or file-request specific back Issue filenames in distribution format [FNEWSFnn.ZIP] for a particular Issue. Monthly Volumes are available as FNWSmmmy.ZIP FIDONEWS 15-26 Page 13 29 Jun 1998 where mmm = three letter month [JAN - DEC] and y = last digit of the current year [8], i.e., FNWSJAN8.ZIP for all the Issues from Jan 98. Annual volumes are available as FNEWSn.ZIP where n = the Volume number 1 - 15 for 1984 - 1998, respectively. Annual Volume archives range in size from 48K to 1.4M. INTERNET USERS: FidoNews is available via: http://www.fidonews.org http://www.fidonet.org/fidonews.htm ftp://ftp.fidonet.org/pub/fidonet/fidonews/ ftp://ftp.aminet.org/pub/aminet/comm/fido/ ftp://ftp.irvbbs.com/fidonews/ ftp://ftp.nwstar.com/Fidonet/Fidonews *=*=* You may obtain an email subscription to FidoNews by sending email to: jbarchuk@worldnet.att.net with a Subject line of: subscribe fnews-edist and no message in the message body. To remove your name from the email distribution use a Subject line of: unsubscribe fnews-edist with no message to the same address above. * You may retrieve current and previous Issues of FidoNews via FTPMail by sending email to: ftpmail@fidonews.org with a Subject line of: help and FTPMail will immediately send a reply containing details and instructions. When you actually make a file request, FTPMail will respond in three stages. You find a link for this process on www.fidonews.org. *=*=* You can read the current FidoNews Issue in HTML format at: http://www.fidonews.org 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 13 Megs. FIDONEWS 15-26 Page 14 29 Jun 1998 =*=*=*= The current week's FidoNews and the FidoNews public-key are now also available almost immediately after publication on the FidoNews Editor homepage on the World Wide Web at: http://209.77.228.66/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 [1:205/1701] by file-request for FNEWSKEY or by download from IKVHFoT! BBS at 1-209-251-7529 as FIDONEWS.ASC in File Area X. It is also posted twice a month into the PKEY_DROP Echo available on the Zone 1 Echomail Backbone. *=*=*=*=* 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 [1:205/1701] 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- ### -----------------------------------------------------------------