FidoNews · Vol 16, No 22 · 31 May 1999
F I D O N E W S Volume 16, Number 22 31 May 1999
+----------------------------+---------------------------------------+
| The newsletter of the | ISSN 1198-4589 Published by: |
| FidoNet community | "FidoNews" |
| _ | +27-41-581-5913 [5:5/23] |
| / \ | June Publication: 1:270/720 |
| /|oo \ | |
| (_| /_) | |
| _`@/_ \ _ | |
| | | \ \\ | Editor: |
| | (*) | \ )) | Henk Wolsink 5:7104/2 |
| |__U__| / \// | Editor Pro Tem (June 99) |
| _//|| _\ / | Douglas Myers 1:270/720 |
| (_/(_|(____/ | |
| (jm) | Newspapers should have no friends. |
| | -- JOSEPH PULITZER |
+----------------------------+---------------------------------------+
| Submission address: Douglas Myers 1:270/720 |
+--------------------------------------------------------------------+
| MORE addresses: |
| |
| submissions for June: doug@mdtnbbs.com |
| |
+--------------------------------------------------------------------+
| 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. EDITORIAL ................................................ 1
Why not Empires? ......................................... 1
2. GUEST EDITORIAL .......................................... 3
Farewell to Bob Satti by Dave Hallford ................... 3
3. ARTICLES ................................................. 4
Zone 1 Coordinator Election Begins Today! ................ 4
4. COLUMNS .................................................. 5
ECHO TALK - Clay's Diplomacy; Secret cabal exposed ....... 5
5. NET HUMOR ................................................ 7
Elvis is in the house .................................... 7
6. COMIX IN ASCII ........................................... 8
FidoCows ................................................. 8
7. NOTICES .................................................. 9
8. FIDONEWS INFORMATION ..................................... 10
FIDONEWS 16-22 Page 1 31 May 1999
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EDITORIAL
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ANNOUNCEMENTS
Henk Wolsink is on vacation for the month of June, and I've agreed
to act as Editor Pro Tem until his return. This week's edition of
FIDONEWS is smaller than usual as I've taken out two regular
features: the listing of internet sites and the software listing.
Both of these contain useful information, but I haven't seen an
update for a while, so I'd only be printing what's already available
in last week's edition. If I can get updates from the authors,
these features will return to Fidonews.
In the meantime, I invite YOU to fill the missing space with your
Fidonews articles. For the month of June, just send your articles
netmail to Douglas Myers at 1:270/720 or email to doug@mdtnbbs.com.
During the month of June, I'm running an "Editor Pro Tem Special."
If you have something to say but find ARTSPEC.DOC daunting, just
send your article in some kind of readable form and I'll do the
formatting for publication.
Now for the actual editorial :)
WHY NOT EMPIRES?
I'm always fascinated by the use of the Internet to connect Fido.
Todd Cochrane and Joe Jarad carried on a conversation recently in
one of the echoes which set me to thinking about how we currently
connect.
TC> Personally if I could get away with it net 345 would be central
TC> to Hawaii but would have about a 100 systems listed under it from
TC> all over the world makes routing easier not to mention basic
TC> setups.
JJ> Given that most of your downlinks are TCPIP downlinks, it would
JJ> make sense except that in order to insure that new technology
JJ> takes off in fidonet, spreading the wealth is important. :) One
JJ> such node came to me for a feed, and our RC wisely found a net
JJ> within his region that would grant him a fidonet IP only node.
JJ> If this technology were concentrated in one area it would not be
JJ> widely accepted and seen to the world as a Cochranet rather than
JJ> a new FTS protocol. Above all else, the newer technologies
JJ> should enhance communication within fidonet, and not be used to
JJ> develop a power base.
Why not allow development of a power base here? We're not talking
about the building of an "evil empire." We're not talking about
exalting someone and then forcing nodes to connect to him. This
kind of "empire building" may just be the thing which reverses the
much lamented nodelist shrinkage. We're talking about the voluntary
association of sysops. Sysops would be free to join Todd's empire
FIDONEWS 16-22 Page 2 31 May 1999
or Joe's empire... or form their own.
Fidonet sysops are already finding their net feeds wherever
convenient. What a mess we make of things by requiring them to be
listed according to a geographic format which no longer adequately
reflects the organization of Fido. In a sense, we're perpetuating
the old geographical "power bases" in denying nets to organize as
they connect. Is it time to change our thinking?
If a bit of benign empire-building can make it easier for Fido to
grow, then let the empires begin!
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FIDONEWS 16-22 Page 3 31 May 1999
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GUEST EDITORIAL
=================================================================
Farewell
By Dave Hallford
Bob Satti is 'retiring' as Zone 1 Coordinator. His retirement
party was held on May 15th in Surrey British Columbia ( and a bang up
party it was thanks to the Event Coordinator - Bill Herringshaw).
I, like many others, have had differences of opinion with Bob
thru the last 6 years, but I at least am grateful that he has cared
enough about this shared hobby of ours to serve in the higher *C
positions.
I feel that whether we have agreed with him or not, that we owe
him at least a "Thank you" for the work he has done on behalf of Zone
1.
Thank you Bob and as we old sailors say " May you have fair winds
and a following sea" as the International Coordinator.
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FIDONEWS 16-22 Page 4 31 May 1999
=================================================================
ARTICLES
=================================================================
+---------------------------------------------+
| Zone 1 Coordinator Election Begins Today! |
+---------------------------------------------+
Today, May 31, 1999 begins the Nomination Phase for selection of a
Zone 1 Coordinator. Nominations may be done by any nodelisted Zone
1 Sysop in the echo Z1_ELECTION. The nominating process continues
until June 12th.
The election rules and timetable are published daily in Z1_ELECTION
and frequent announcements are posted to other echoes. The Election
Coordinator, Ross Cassell, has made a strong effort to ensure that
all Zone 1 Sysops have this opportunity to participate in the
selection of the next Z1C.
Now it's time for the Zone 1 Sysops to reciprocate this effort,
first by obtaining the Z1_ELECTION echo, making a nomination or
seconding one if you know of a good candidate, and participating in
the public discussion (theoretically starting June 13th, but ongoing
right now).
The Z1C election in previous years was a closed process among the
Zone 1 Regional Coordinators, so this year's election represents an
important departure from this practice. Some sysops have responded
negatively, pointing out that policy still gives the actual vote to
the RCs and that they will vote as they wish irregardless of what
the sysops say. Nonetheless, the RCs have pledged to vote according
to the input they gather from their regions... so it's not the time
for sysops to remain silent.
Some Net Coordinators have indicated that feedback from their own
net is light, and the few responses they've had in attempting to
publicize the election tell them to "use their judgement." Though
this faith in their NC and ultimately RC is touching, it defeats the
sincere wishes of the Coordinators to represent their constituency.
Such a response is interpreted as apathy, that a sysop won't even
take the time to familiarize with the candidates and issues and
offer specific input.
Informed voting _is_ a chore, to be sure. So much so that less than
ten percent of sysops have participated in previous zone-wide
elections. However, even if this ten percent is the most interest
we can muster in the Z1C election, it's more reasonable than
requiring just ten Regional Coordinators to make our decision for
us.
Please take the time to participate in this election.
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FIDONEWS 16-22 Page 5 31 May 1999
=================================================================
COLUMNS
=================================================================
. -- -- -- -- -- ECHO TALK -- -- -- -- -- .
| Food for thought from Fido's echomail. |
| Purloined without permission by D Myers |
` -- -- -- -- -- -- - -- -- -- -- -- -- '
In this week's Echo Talk, Clay Tannacore returns to Fidonet and
attempts to mediate between Alec Grynspan and Bob Morasvik. The
secret cabal controlling Fidonet is explained to Jerry Schwartz.
-------------------------
Area: Zone 1 Echo Coordinator
From: Clay Tannacore
To: Alec Grynspan
*In a message to Bob Moravsik regarding "Your silly
muscle-flexing", Alec Grynspan wrote:
BM> Its the medication....slows down time !!!!! Misses the parade.
BM> Wonders what happened....pure buffoonery ! <wink>
AG> We already know about your meds, Bozo. That's why you were
AG> elected buffoon-for-life!
Jeez! I leave for three months plus, and find you two still in
constant conflict, when I return. How about we officially divide
The Buffoon Title in half, and bestow it equally between you two
gentlemen?
Fair enough????? . . . [g]
Toodles,
CT
-------------------------
Area: Z1_ELECT
From: Douglas Myers
To: Jerry Schwartz
JS> Let's see: you have been nodelisted since 1986 and you are an NC.
JS> How do you define "Old Guard"?
JS> This repeated assertion that there is a cabal holding FidoNet
JS> back (and the underlying assumption that if things aren't working
JS> out the way we like, SOMEBODY is at fault) should be backed up
JS> with specifics or given a rest.
Dear Jerry -
I meant to mention this to you before, but sometimes things get
forgotten in the press of echomail. Also, the Fidonet Elders
don't take kindly to exposing their secrets, so I may have feared
for my life at the time.
FIDONEWS 16-22 Page 6 31 May 1999
Deep in the caverns of Fidonet lie the secret Chambers of the
Fidonet Elders. It is within these Chambers where the Old Guard
resides, protecting the Elders as they gather in Solemn Enclave
and issue Grave Pronouncements. The Fidonet Elders go back much
further than 1986 - they even predate Fido itself. They are
dedicated to the preservation of Tradition, and secretly control
Fidonet from their Commodore Computers and 110 Baud Modems.
It is a little known fact that FTS-1 connection protocol contains
a back door which enables any Fidonet Elder to seize control of
the mailer session and modify nodelist segments or issue netmail
in the receiving system's name. This is the mechanism of control
which allows absolute, and yet secret, control of the mechanism
which is Fidonet. The traditions of FTS-1 compatibility and ZMH
keep each and every node in Fidonet open to their nefarious
manipulations.
Now that I've backed up this assertion with specifics, it's
likely that the Fidonet Elders will frown upon me. Consequently,
I will be abandoning my computer, my job, and my cat and seek to
establish a new identity in some foreign port. The Fidonet
Elders will likely send a member of the Old Guard to turn the
computer back on again and replace me with a virtual sysop.
Perhaps this virtual sysop will even conduct a successful
campaign for the seat of Z1C and give the Fidonet Elders yet
another avenue of Fidonet control.
Respectfully
Douglas Myers
Displaced Freedom Fighter
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FIDONEWS 16-22 Page 7 31 May 1999
=================================================================
NET HUMOR
=================================================================
Father O'Mally has been preaching at his church in Ireland for so
long, that he decides to take a vacation. He has never been
overseas and he is curious as to what an American endures in
everyday life. So, he decides to go to the States before it is too
late. He hops on the plane bound for Nevada. He arrives in the
Airport in Las Vegas.
As he is exiting the plane, someone in the airport runs up to him
and exclaims, "Elvis! Oh my God! It's Elvis! I knew you weren't
dead Elvis! How have you been?" Father looks at her and says, "Get
outta me face. Can't you see I'm not Elvis? I don't look a thing
like Elvis."
The father moves on to his cab waiting outside. He hops in his cab
and he's a little upset so he tells the cabby, "Take me to my hotel
and step on it." The cabby turns and says, "Sure thing sir - Oh my
God! It's Elvis! I knew you weren't dead! I'm your number one fan!
It's so great to see you!" "Shut up, you imbecile. I'm not Elvis!
Now turn around and drive!"
So, the cabby speeds up to the hotel. Father O'Malley gets his
things and walks up to the hotel check-in counter. "Oh my God! Oh
my God! It's you!" screams the hotel clerk. "You're back Elvis! I
knew this day would happen. We saved everything just the way you
like it! Free cheeseburgers, peanut butter and fried banana
sandwiches, masseurs, complementary hookers and a full liquor bar!
I'm so glad you're back!"
Father O'Malley looks at the hotel clerk and says, "Thank you.
Thank you very much!"
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FIDONEWS 16-22 Page 8 31 May 1999
=================================================================
COMIX IN ASCII
=================================================================
(__) (__)
/ oo ______ / @@ ______
| /\_| | \ | /\_| | \
| |___ | | | |___ | |
| ---@ |_______| | ---@ |_______|
* | | ---- | | | | ---- | |
\ | |_____ | |_____
\|________| *____/|________|
FidoCow FidoCow After an All-niter
(__) (__)
/ -- ______ / .\/. ______
| /\_| | \ | /\_| | \
| |___ | | | |___ | |
| ---@ |_______| | ---@ |_______|
| | ---- | | * | | ---- | |
| |_____ \ | |_____
*____/|________| \|________|
FidoCow Asleep at the Keyboard FidoCow Discovers Bug
in Batch File.
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FIDONEWS 16-22 Page 9 31 May 1999
=================================================================
NOTICES
=================================================================
Future History
4 Jul - 10 Jul 1999
Z1C Election process
24 Jul 1999
XIII Pan American Games [through 8 Aug 99].
9 Jun 1999
Tenth Anniversary of the adoption of FidoNet Policy 4.07.
10 Sep 1999
10th anniversary of Zone 5 operations.
26 Oct 1999
Thirty years from release Abbey Road album by the Beatles.
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.
21 Sep 2000
10 years of FidoNet in +7 (xUSSR)
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.
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FIDONEWS 16-22 Page 10 31 May 1999
=================================================================
FIDONEWS INFORMATION
=================================================================
------- FIDONEWS MASTHEAD AND CONTACT INFORMATION -------
During the month of June, 1999, the Fidonews Editor is on
vacation. Editor Pro Tem during this period is Douglas Myers,
1:270/720, doug@mdtnbbs.com. Please address correspondence,
article submissions, etc to the above addresses during this time.
Editor: Henk Wolsink
Editors Emeriti: Tom Jennings, Thom Henderson, Dale Lovell,
Vince Perriello, Tim Pozar, Sylvia Maxwell,
Donald Tees, Christopher Baker, Zorch Frezberg
"FidoNews Editor"
FidoNet 5:5/23
BBS +27-41-581-5913, 2400/9600/V34
more addresses:
Henk Wolsink -- 5:7104/2, hwolsink@catpe.alt.za
(Postal Service mailing address)
FidoNews Editor
P.O. Box 12325
Port Elizabeth,
6006
South Africa
------------------------------------------------------
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
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Authors retain copyright on individual works; otherwise FidoNews is
Copyright (C) 1999 Henk Wolsink. All rights reserved. Duplication
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FIDONEWS 16-22 Page 11 31 May 1999
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FIDONEWS 16-22 Page 12 31 May 1999
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"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
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