Volume 7, Number 31 30 July 1990 +---------------------------------------------------------------+ | _ | | / \ | | /|oo \ | | - FidoNews - (_| /_) | | _`@/_ \ _ | | FidoNet (r) | | \ \\ | | International BBS Network | (*) | \ )) | | Newsletter ______ |__U__| / \// | | / FIDO \ _//|| _\ / | | (________) (_/(_|(____/ | | (jm) | +---------------------------------------------------------------+ Editor in Chief: Vince Perriello Editors Emeritii: Thom Henderson, Dale Lovell Chief Procrastinator Emeritus: Tom Jennings Copyright 1990, Fido Software. All rights reserved. Duplication and/or distribution permitted for noncommercial purposes only. For use in other circumstances, please contact Fido Software. FidoNews is published weekly by the System Operators of the FidoNet (r) International BBS Network. It is a compilation of individual articles contributed by their authors or authorized agents of the authors. The contribution of articles to this compilation does not diminish the rights of the authors. You are encouraged to submit articles for publication in FidoNews. Article submission standards are contained in the file ARTSPEC.DOC, available from node 1:1/1. 1:1/1 is a Continuous Mail system, available for network mail 24 hours a day. Fido and FidoNet are registered trademarks of Tom Jennings of Fido Software, Box 77731, San Francisco CA 94107, USA and are used with permission. Opinions expressed in FidoNews articles are those of the authors and are not necessarily those of the Editor or of Fido Software. Most articles are unsolicited. Our policy is to publish every responsible submission received. Table of Contents 1. EDITORIAL ................................................ 1 2. ARTICLES ................................................. 4 Final FidoCon Update ..................................... 4 FidoCon 1991 - The New Beginning ......................... 6 New Medical Echo Starting ................................ 22 Region 1:17 FidoNet Convention Report .................... 24 Conclave '90 Registration form ........................... 27 3. LATEST VERSIONS .......................................... 30 Latest Software Versions ................................. 30 4. NOTICES .................................................. 33 The Interrupt Stack ...................................... 33 And more! FIDONEWS 7-31 Page 1 30 Jul 1990 ================================================================= EDITORIAL ================================================================= Vince foolishly keeps handing me the keys to FidoNews. Two weeks ago, I managed to lose the whole thing while upgrading my HD. (Sorry, Vince!) This week's adventure is more deliberate. You probably noticed a change in this week's issue of FidoNews, or rather, its packaging. It was archived using LHArc rather than some Arc (r) 5.x compatible program. (If you didn't get it this way, someone between you and 1/1 is screwing around, and could well be in violation of Policy.) Last Sunday, I was reading the August Dr. Dobb's Journal, and was surprised to see an ad from System Enhancement Associates on page 170. It announced the new release of Arc(R), 7.0. The subhead of the ad says "Now with all the features that have made ARC(R) the industry standard compression utility". In much smaller print, further in the ad was the following: "NOTE: ARC 7.0 is NOT available on BBS". I found the first statement to be somewhat oxymoronic, and the two taken together even moreso. (I also wonder if it is available on commercial systems, and for this wondering, one sysop I know accused me of thinking like a scumbag - er - lawyer! Isn't that slander?) Far be it from me to diminish the contribution that Thom Henderson and SEA have made to FidoNet. Despite many personal misgivings with his actions in some areas, I have often come to his defense. There are few in the net who appreciate his work in the form of Policy 3 as much as I. However, it is time for FidoNet as a whole to consider what it's all about. It is not clear to me that Arc(R) is "the industry standard". It is clear to me that FidoNet is an amateur electronic mail network. It is about the free flow of information. Therefore, I have to ask myself if it is right for FidoNet, on a weekly basis, to distribute files that force every sysop in the net to use products from a company that has turned its back on the very community that helped, in no small degree, to make those products as successful as they are. With the possible exception of its name, LHArc is legally unencumbered. It exists in Freely Available source code format, in relatively portable C. It does a better job at data compression than Arc(R) 5.x, and therefore will save FidoNet as a whole on phone costs. While I haven't seen a spec for the algorithms used, nor have I seen one for Arc(R). FIDONEWS 7-31 Page 2 30 Jul 1990 So, I'm taking a lesson from Thom himself. I'm going to instigate a discussion by just doing something, unilaterally. So far as I can tell, there are but two sacrosanct elements in FidoNet: FTS-0001 and its amateur status. Other than that, no one is more special than anyone else, and no technology cast in concrete. This is as it should be; otherwise, we'd be hog-tied more than we already are by virtue of size. I hope that, upon his return, Vince will continue to release FidoNews in LHArc format. I hope the *C structure will switch NodeDiff and NodeList distribution files to LHArc format. And I hope the FTSC will formally recognize LHArc (or any Freely Available compressor) as the standard for compressed mail within FidoNet. No matter what, from here on in, NO files on my system will be distributed in Arc(R) format, nor will Arc(R) itself be available. Systems requesting FidoNews, FNews*.Arc, or anything similar WILL have their requests honored, but with LHArc flavored files. If this means my system will no longer be listed as 1/1, so be it. There's nothing special about having a 1/ listing; it's actually a pain in the butt, done only because someone I respect greatly asked. There probably will be other ramifications to my actions. I suspect that one or two of you will file complaints, although I can't imagine on what grounds. There will undoubtedly be a number of articles in forthcoming issues, and increased volume in one or more echoes, some of which will probably resort to the tried and true ad-hominem attack on the messenger. I'll gladly stipulate for the record that I'm a card carrying net @hole; statements from others on this point are therefore a waste of bandwidth. Any other speculation would just get me accused of thinking like a scumbag - er - lawyer; I'll pass on that, thanks! I hope that a thorough, careful discussion of these issues will take place at the upcoming FidoCon. I hope it won't degenerate into some sort of an alley gang fight. It was Thom himself who said FidoNet was a technical statement; rather than wasting more time and effort on killing or reviving IFNA, perhaps the gathering could get back to what it's all about: an amateur electronic mail network, and not an organizational debating society. Have a good FidoCon. FIDONEWS 7-31 Page 3 30 Jul 1990 Oh, and Pablo - I had a little something, direct and indirect, to do with that document. If you're going to give everyone and their brother credit, then at least get it right. ----------------------------------------------------------------- FIDONEWS 7-31 Page 4 30 Jul 1990 ================================================================= ARTICLES ================================================================= Well, the date for FidoCon is finally upon us. Suffice to say it WASN'T easy putting together an international sysop convention that was also hosting conventions for four amateur electronic networks! Some final words on the convention: If anyone is interested, there's a company in NY, PC Computing Rentals, 1-800-765-4727 that can arrange for PC rentals during the convention to be delivered to the hotel. One attendee is getting a PS/2, 40Meg, 1.44 Floppy, with serial/parallel ports for $149 for the full 5 days. Not bad at all. Butch Walker will be making a brief appearance to talk about Electronic Support Groups on Thursday. Here is the conference schedule of events as they stand today: WEDNESDAY, 8/1 Registration Begins at 3PM 8PM: Poolside Welcome Pary (Open bar: Beer & Wine for registrants) THURSDAY, 8/2 TIME TECHIE TRACK VENDOR TRACK RECREATION TRACK 9 Breakfast / Day at the Beach (pre-registration required) +---+--------------------+--------------------+--------------------+ |10 | D'Bridge, C. Irwin | | Sysops and the Law | +---+--------------------+--------------------+--------------------+ |11 | Phoenix, C. Gorish | |Moderator Roundtable| +---+--------------------+--------------------+--------------------+ |12 | Lunch / Registration Ends / Costume Shuttle | +---+--------------------+--------------------+--------------------+ | 2 | "The Next Bus" | | Phoenix/Net Meeting| +---+--------------------+--------------------+--------------------+ | 3 |Tabby: 3 Years Later| | Stress Mgt Techniqs| +---+--------------------+--------------------+ | | 4 |Elect Support Groups| |2 Hours (Admiss. $7)| +---+--------------------+--------------------+--------------------+ | 6 | Dinner / Medieval Times Banquet | +---+--------------------+--------------------+--------------------+ FRIDAY, 8/3 9 Breakfast / Day Shopping Tour (pre-registration required) +---+--------------------+--------------------+--------------------+ |10 | |Silver Xpress Soft. | RP Games Seminar | +---+--------------------+--------------------+--------------------+ |11 | Bit Bucket Software| | USACATCOM Network | +---+--------------------+--------------------+--------------------+ |12 | Lunch | +---+--------------------+--------------------+--------------------+ | 1 | | US Robotics | | +---+--------------------+--------------------+--------------------+ | 2 | SEA, Thom Henderson| | Eggnet Meeting | +---+--------------------+--------------------+--------------------+ | 3 | | eSoft (TBBS) | FidoNet Meeting | FIDONEWS 7-31 Page 5 30 Jul 1990 +---+--------------------+--------------------+--------------------+ | 4 | | | Tomorrow's Children| +---+--------------------+--------------------+--------------------+ | 6 | Dinner / Secret Banquet | +---+--------------------+--------------------+--------------------+ SATURDAY, 8/4 9 Breakfast +---+--------------------+--------------------+--------------------+ |10 | | InterZone Software |Intergalactic Sysops| +---+--------------------+--------------------+--------------------+ |11 | UFGATE & InterNet |Ass./Shareware Prof.|Council of Duke Mtg.| +---+--------------------+--------------------+--------------------+ |12 | Lunch | +---+--------------------+--------------------+--------------------+ | 2 | | Blue Frog Micros |IFNA Membership Mtg.| +---+--------------------+--------------------+--------------------+ | 3 | | XRS, Mike Ratledge | IFNA BoD Meeting | +---+--------------------+--------------------+--------------------+ | 4 |Developer Roundtable| | UNITEX, Dr. Waldon | +---+--------------------+--------------------+--------------------+ | 6 | Twilight NYC Tour (pre-registration required)/"Free evening" | +---+--------------------+--------------------+--------------------+ SUNDAY, 8/5 10 Farewell / Conference Concludes For those who've helped out, I want to extend my personal thanks. It's been a lot of work, but I think it'll all be worth it once the conference is underway. Bill VanGlahn, Conclave Committee Chairman ----------------------------------------------------------------- FIDONEWS 7-31 Page 6 30 Jul 1990 FidoCon 1991 - The New Beginning Zone 1 Region Coordinators Zone 1 Zone Coordinator Let's not forget or minimize the great deal of effort and dedication by the members of the FidoCon 1990 Committee. We thank the 1990 Committee for sponsoring FidoCon 1990 and look forward to a successful FidoCon this week. Some of us will be there enjoying the Conference while the rest offer our regrets and best wishes to the Committee and all of Zone 1. Several weeks ago we issued a call for proposals for the Zone 1 FidoCon in 1991. While our in baskets did not overflow with bids, we did receive two before the announced July 18 deadline. They were submitted by Thom Henderson (the Henderson proposal) and by a trio of Net 104 SysOps (the Boulder proposal). Interestingly, the two proposals (reprinted in full following this introduction) provided us with an opportunity to vote for two contrasting styles. One was a traditional FidoCon proposal; the other a refreshing alternative approach. We have completed the selection process and are pleased to announce that Zone 1 FidoCon 1991 will be hosted in Boulder, Colorado. The backup will be the Henderson Proposal. Congratulations folks. You and all of FidoNet are Winners! The outcome was 9 in favor of the Boulder Proposal and 1 in favor of the Henderson Proposal. The vote by each Region Coordinator was: 10 11 12 13 14 1