The F I D O N E W S Volume 19, Number 01 07 Jan 2002
+--------------------------+-----------------------------------------+
| |The newsletter of the | | Fido, Fidonet and dog-with-diskette are |
| | FidoNet community. | | US Registered Trademarks of Tom Jennings|
| | | | San Francisco, California, USA |
| | I sure am ___________| | |
| | thirsty! / __ | Crash Netmail Articles To: |
| | / / \ | Editor@1:1/23 (1-972-562-8064) |
| | WOOF! ( /|oo \ | Frank Vest@1:124/6308 |
| \_______\(_| /_) | or E-Mail (attach) To: |
| _ @/_ \ _ | fidonews@sbcglobal.net |
| | | \ \\ | |
| | (*) | \ ))| Editor: Frank Vest |
| |__U__| / \// | Deputy-Editor: Lawrence Garvin |
| _______ _//|| _\ / | |
| / Water \ (_/(_|(____/ | Newspapers should have no friends. |
|(_________) (jm) | -- JOSEPH PULITZER |
+--------------------------+-----------------------------------------+
Copyright 2001 by Fidonews Editor for Fidonews Globally.
Table of Contents
1. [ FOOD FOR THOUGHT ] ..................................... 1
2. [ INSIDE ] ............................................... 2
The Fidonews at a Glance ................................. 2
3. [ TOP STORIES ] .......................................... 3
Bad news from Denmark .................................... 3
4. [ GENERAL ARTICLES ] ..................................... 4
CAMPAIGN PROMISES? ....................................... 4
The Death of Zone 1 (Part 1) ............................. 10
The Death of Zone 1 (Part 2) ............................. 13
5. [ EDITORIAL ] ............................................ 16
Water the Dog ............................................ 16
6. [ HUMOR IN A FIDO VEIN ] ................................. 19
The Death of Zone 1 (Part 3) ............................. 19
7. [ SPECIAL INTEREST ] ..................................... 21
Nodelist Stats ........................................... 21
8. [ TODD COCHRANE'S FIDONET SOFTWARE LISTING ] ............. 23
Fidonet Software List .................................... 23
9. [ JOE JARED'S FIDONET BY INTERNET ] ...................... 27
Fidonet-related sites .................................... 27
10. [ FIDONEWS INFORMATION ] ................................ 33
How to Submit an Article ................................. 33
Credits, Legal Infomation, Availability .................. 34
FIDONEWS 19-01 Page 1 7 Jan 2002
=================================================================
[ FOOD FOR THOUGHT ]
=================================================================
"He who dies with the most toys is nonetheless dead."
-----------------------------------------------------------------
FIDONEWS 19-01 Page 2 7 Jan 2002
=================================================================
[ INSIDE ]
=================================================================
The Fidonews at a Glance
This week's "Top Story" is one of bad tidings. One of our own Sysops,
RC23, has passed away. The loss of a Sysop in Fidonet is sad, the
death of a Sysop is a real tragedy. :`(
In the "General Articles" section we have three submissions. Two from
Dale Ross and one from Lesley-Dee Dylan. All are the regular kicks at
the Z1C.
Did you "Water the Dog" today? Read the "Editorial" and find out. :-)
The "Humor in a Fido Vein" is once again from Dale Ross and based on
a Monty Python skit with names changed to kick at the Z1C.
The "Nodelist Stats" in the "Special Interest" section has a new
look.
-----------------------------------------------------------------
FIDONEWS 19-01 Page 3 7 Jan 2002
=================================================================
[ TOP STORIES ]
=================================================================
Bad news from Denmark...
From: Ward Dossche
2:292/854
Colleagues,
I wish I had something better to tell you at the start of the new year
but I'm afraid the tidings are bad ....
Just a few minutes ago I learned that Derly Lytken (RC23) unexpectedly
passed away a few days before Christmas, 53 years old. He leaves
behind two grown children.
Kaare Olson of 2:237/10 will be taking over as temp-RC until an
RC-election will be held. If any of you have messages with condolences
to be sent I assume you can address them to Kaare.
Let's all turn silent for a few moments now ...
\%/@rd
-----------------------------------------------------------------
FIDONEWS 19-01 Page 4 7 Jan 2002
=================================================================
[ GENERAL ARTICLES ]
=================================================================
CAMPAIGN PROMISES?
By: Lesley-Dee Dylan
1:250/201
On November 27, 2000, a little over a year ago, Janis Kracht posted
the below message in response to a list of questions presented to the
candidates for the Z1C position. Her answers are very interesting.
Area : Z1_ELECTION
Date : Mon Nov 27, 11:39
From : Janis Kracht 1:2320/38
To : All
Subj : questions for the candidates...
======================================================================
>1) Are you willing to bind yourself to only invoking P4.07 to solve a
> problem rather than prevent someone from doing what they feel needs
> to be done? Examples would be using P4.07 to force a node into a
> local geographic net against their will when they want to be listed
> elsewhere and have an NC/RC willing to have the listing etc...
Certainly. As we try to find ways to deal with the survival of our
network given the Internet's influence, I believe a number of
situations should be examined with a different mindset.
>2) Are you willing to bind yourself to accepting the will of the
> members of a region in selecting their own RC (eg sysop voting in a
> region)?
I don't think the word bind is a necessary thing here David. I think
it makes sense to do so.
>3) In Region 13 we have a local election policy that allows for a
> recall vote for RC, will you bind yourself to accept the results
> of such a recall should it ever be needed?
Yes.
>4) What experience do you have working with people you disagree with?
Plenty. The fact that the Filebone and the FileGate can work together
and have for a good number of years is indicative of this. Within the
FileGate itself, I've also worked with people who did not agree with
me for one reason or another. If someone had a problem with a
particular file echo for instance, I generally am able to find a
suitable work-around to take care of the problem.
>4a) Can you work with them without losing your temper?
Yes.
FIDONEWS 19-01 Page 5 7 Jan 2002
>4b) Have you lost your temper working with people you found
> disagreeable, if so, what happened and what were the circumstances?
No.
>5) What circumstances (other than a dead telenumber) in this day and
> age are sufficient to toast a node's number?
Offhand I can't think of one. I think as we move into more internet
connectivity, IP nodes/nets,etc., situations may develop that we
haven't thought of at this time. As these issues emerge, I believe
they should be looked at on an individual basis with input from RC's,
and NC's, etc. regarding how they should be dealt with.
>5a) Do you support leaving a 'toasted' node in the nodelist pending
>their appeals except in the very rare case of there being
>demonstrable harm to the network if the node is left in the nodelist
>pending the appeal?
Yes. And the same with *C positions as well (NC/NEC, RC/REC, etc.)
>6) Do you have any other duties in FIDO?
Yes. Coordinator of the FileGate. Network Coordinator of net 2320.
Regional Echomail Coordinator of Region 11.
>6a) Will they conflict with your being the ZC?
No, though I've mentioned to those in my net that should I win this
election that if they'd like an election for NC2320, and I'd be
willing to continue pulling in the net's echomail/netmail if
neccessary.
>6a1) if so, what do you plan to do about them?
>7) Do you feel that P4.07 needs to be fixed?
>7a) If so, in what ways?
>7a1) What do you feel you can do to bring about change?
Yes I do feel P4.07 needs to be fixed or rewritten altogether. I
think we need to re-think the strict geographic conditions of policy
4.07, Zone Mail Hour, and "general sysop-level elections" (or lack of
them rather) in Policy 4.07. While some feel Sysop-wide votes can be
messy, I don't think they are impossible if organized.
>8) What do you feel should be done to market this hobby to potential
>new customers?
While I don't look at bbs users as customers, nor do I look at nodes
in Fidonet as customers, I'm hoping that the idea being worked on in
number 10 below may help in this aspect.
>9) Do you support the inclusion of IP Only nodes?
Yes.
FIDONEWS 19-01 Page 6 7 Jan 2002
>9a) Do you support IP Only nodes in coordinator positions?
If the coordinator is easily accessable by those in this person's
network, yes.
>9b) Do you support the creation of an IP Only region or at least an
>IP Only net?
I think that a dialup network presense in an area can only help to
bring nodes _back_ to Fidonet, so I'd like to see both IP regions/nets
and geographic regions/nets be available in Fidonet.
>9c) Do you agree that any node in north america (at least) on the
>internet is local to every other internet node and as such could band
>themselves together into a net if they so desire?
Yes.
>10) What techincal changes should be made in FIDO to make it more
>stable and open to potential new members?
One idea I've already started working on with some non-Z1 nodes is a
new project to use internet technology to attract Internet users to
our bbs systems. The project is at its very beginning of Phase one,
with some minor details yet to be worked out. Phase one of this idea
involves creating a database of all systems in Fidonet to allow a
browser user to select a site in the database based on features
provided by the site such as message boards (echos), games (doors),
etc. Phase 2 of this project will involve tieing a dialup node to the
database to pull in connections to systems not available on the
internet.
Take care,
Janis
And how well has she kept her campaign promises:
1. Using Policy 4 as a club and geographic exemptions -
Q 1) Are you willing to bind yourself to only invoking P4.07
Q to solve a problem rather than prevent someone from doing
Q what they feel needs to be done? Examples would be using
Q P4.07 to force a node into a local geographic net against
Q their will when they want to be listed elsewhere and have
Q an NC/RC willing to have the listing etc...
A Certainly. As we try to find ways to deal with
A the survival of our network given the Internet's
A influence, I believe a number of situations should
A be examined with a different mindset.
Janis has reversed the ruling of Bob Satti that all geographic
exemptions were to be pre-granted, and instead is attempting to
enforce strict interpretation of geographic (by map) restrictions
on node placement. She is using Policy 4 as a club to "punish"
FIDONEWS 19-01 Page 7 7 Jan 2002
Region 12 for having the nerve to actually bring new nodes into
Fidonet and grow. Janis's interpretation of "geography" is not even
in keeping with what is given in Policy 4:
P4 A network is a collection of nodes in a local geographic
P4 area, usually defined by an area of convenient telephone
P4 calling. Networks coordinate their mail activity to
P4 decrease cost.
Since Policy 4 defines geography, that definition is the one to be
used where the word geography appears in the document. It defines
"convenient telephone calling," not geography by the map.
Policy 4 also sais that network membership is based on geography or
technology.
P4 Network membership is based on geographic or other purely
P4 technical rationale. It is not based on personal or
P4 social factors.
With Policy 4 saying that geography is based on convenient calling
area, to reduce costs, and that nodes join nets based on that
definition of geography, or on technology, Region 12 is following
Policy 4 in listing new nodes. Janis is changing the rules to suit
her friends and punish her enemies. She is misinterpreting policy
so she can use it as a club.
2. Democratic rights -
Q 2) Are you willing to bind yourself to accepting the will of
Q the members of a region in selecting their own RC (eg sysop
Q voting in a region)?
A I don't think the word bind is a necessary thing here
A David. I think it makes sense to do so.
Janis Kracht replaced the elected R12C in one week, and appointed
her own choice of R12C in her place. Both Janis and the usurper
R12C insist that the appointment is in place for a year, and she
will not recognize any elected R12C in the place of her appointee.
At least, Janis tells us that the usurper R12C considers the
appointment to be for a full year - he's not talking to the region
and Janis is relaying information to us from him.
4. Getting along with others -
Q 4) What experience do you have working with people you
Q disagree with?
A Plenty. The fact that the Filebone and the FileGate can
A work together and have for a good number of years is
A indicative of this. Within the FileGate itself, I've also
A worked with people who did not agree with me for one
A reason or another. If someone had a problem with a
A particular file echo for instance, I generally am able to
A find a suitable work-around to take care of the problem.
FIDONEWS 19-01 Page 8 7 Jan 2002
Janis unilaterally dissolved the FileBone without consultation with
the people involved in running it, and her FileGate has taken over
the FileBone echoes. When nodes who were supposed to post files in
the areas proceeded to do so according to the rules for the echo,
she and her cohorts changed the rules, and then accused the nodes
of breaking the new rules. She did that twice, in her attempts to
prevent the distribution of the alternate routing chart - after
Steve Monteith posted the first chart, the rules of the file echo
were changed, and after Dale Ross posted it in another area, she
changed the rules of THAT echo.
Q 4a) Can you work with them without losing your temper?
A Yes.
I would hope that some of the things Janis has done lately have
been done in the heat of temper, and not as cold, calculated acts
of maliciousness. Which is worse?
Q 4b) Have you lost your temper working with people you found
Q disagreeable, if so, what happened and what were the
Q circumstances?
A No.
So if Janis's actions against John Souvestre, the FileBone, Z1B,
Region 12, etc. were not acts of temper, then I'm afraid that
David Calafranceso asked the wrong question. He should have asked:
Q Have you taken out malicious acts of revenge on people
Q found disagreeable, if so, what happened and what were
Q the circumstances?
5. Excommunications, and removal from office -
Q 5) What circumstances (other than a dead telenumber) in this
Q day and age are sufficient to toast a node's number?
A Offhand I can't think of one. I think as we move into
A more internet connectivity, IP nodes/nets,etc.,
A situations may develop that we haven't thought of at this
A time. As these issues emerge, I believe they should be
A looked at on an individual basis with input from RC's,
A and NC's, etc. regarding how they should be dealt with.
Q 5a) Do you support leaving a 'toasted' node in the nodelist
Q pending their appeals except in the very rare case of there
Q being demonstrable harm to the network if the node is left in
Q the nodelist pending the appeal?
A Yes. And the same with *C positions as well (NC/NEC,
A RC/REC, etc.)
Janis Kracht removed the elected R12C, and replaced her with her
own appointee, without allowing the R12C to remain in place pending
appeal (which is still pending).
FIDONEWS 19-01 Page 9 7 Jan 2002
What David was trying to point out in his question was Janis's past
history of excommunicating nodes without due process, like she did
as N272C. He was trying to determine if she had learned any
lessons from her removal as N272C for such acts of excommunication,
and the bann that was placed on her again assuming that position
for a lengthly period of time. Seems Janis still has exactly the
same mentality.
6. Other Fido duties will not interfere with Z1C duties -
Q 6) Do you have any other duties in FIDO?
A Yes. Coordinator of the FileGate. Network Coordinator of
A net 2320. Regional Echomail Coordinator of Region 11.
Q 6a) Will they conflict with your being the ZC?
A No, though I've mentioned to those in my net that should
A I win this election that if they'd like an election for
A NC2320, and I'd be willing to continue pulling in the
A net's echomail/netmail if neccessary.
Janis Kracht has claimed that system overload was causing her
problems, and therefore cut Matt Bedynek's file feed suddenly and
before he could arrange an alternate feed. The alternate feed she
appointed for him was unable to handle the file load, and Matt's
file feed was normally several days behind everyone else. This
disruption in the file feed led to the delay of transmitting the
nodediff to Region 12 for two to four days for several weeks, until
Dale Ross and Todd Cochrane were able to acquire a more adequate
feed for the nodediff. Processing and distribution of the nodediff
is the primary responsibility of the Z1C.
7. Updating Fido policy
Q 7) Do you feel that P4.07 needs to be fixed?
Q 7a) If so, in what ways?
Q 7a1) What do you feel you can do to bring about change?
A Yes I do feel P4.07 needs to be fixed or rewritten
A altogether. I think we need to re-think the strict
A geographic conditions of policy 4.07, Zone Mail Hour, and
A "general sysop-level elections" (or lack of them rather)
A in Policy 4.07. While some feel Sysop-wide votes can be
A messy, I don't think they are impossible if organized.
Janis Kracht has done absolutely nothing towards updating the
current Fido policy, and in fact has taken backward steps to impose
her interpretation of the outdated and destructive geographic
clause on Region 12.
8. Attracting new nodes -
Q 8) What do you feel should be done to market this hobby to
FIDONEWS 19-01 Page 10 7 Jan 2002
Q potential new customers?
A While I don't look at bbs users as customers, nor do I
A look at nodes in Fidonet as customers, I'm hoping that
A the idea being worked on in number 10 below may help in
A this aspect.
Janis insults BBS callers by reverting to the old
terminology of "users," comparing BBS callers to drug abusers. Her
acts as Z1C are harming the one area of Zone 1 that is making the
most visible and effective effort to attract new nodes into
Fidonet, Region 12 and in particular net 229.
9. Attracting new IONs to join FidoNet -
A 9b) Do you support the creation of an IP Only region or at
A least an IP Only net?
Q I think that a dialup network presense in an area can
Q only help to bring nodes _back_ to Fidonet, so I'd like
Q to see both IP regions/nets and geographic regions/nets
Q be available in Fidonet.
And this would be why Janis is so upset about Net 229's extensive
work to attract IONs to join FidoNet?
Q 9c) Do you agree that any node in north america (at least) on
Q the internet is local to every other internet node and as such
Q could band themselves together into a net if they so desire?
A Yes.
Here, Janis agrees that the Internet makes all internet nodes in
North America local to each other, and yet, in practice, she is
insisting that the ION net 229 not be allowed to list any nodes
which she herself as classifed as "local," and instead they must be
listed by a map.
-----------------------------------------------------------------
The Death of Zone 1 (Part 1)
Part 1 you are reading it now and it contains the article which was
posted in FN_SYSOP.
Part 2 is my commentary on the subject in genearl
Part 3 is a little comic relief on the topic
This post by Carl "inspired" me to write this weeks article:
The Death of Zone 1.
I have included it for those that may have missed it.
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Area: FN_SYSOP
FIDONEWS 19-01 Page 11 7 Jan 2002
From: Carl Austin Bennett (1:249/116)
Date: 12/30/2001 12:57:44 PM
To : Carol Shenkenberger (6:730/275)
Date: 12/30/2001 2:05:28 PM
Subj: Re: WHOHAH Boy!
---------------------------------------------------------------------
@MSGID: 1:249/116 3c2f1d49
@TZUTC: -0500
@REPLY: 6:730/275 632872f8
@CHRS: CP437 2
@TID: hpt 0.9.8/lnx 18-04-01
21 Dec 01 13:27, Carol Shenkenberger wrote to Lesley-Dee Dylan:
LDD> That's definitely a current note - after Tony was appointed by
LDD> Janis. If Tony had said that before the election or during the
LDD> campaigning, he would have had ONE vote. But don't expect any
LDD> help from Janis there - she WANTS region 12 to be gutted.
CS> No, she checked with Tony via email and has more to add to it.
CS> Me? I'm too far away and not linked to any Z1 specific echos to
CS> get a full story. As you know, these things travel normally in
CS> several echos at once.
Unfortunately some of the echos involved are limited: SYSOP249 and
Z1REGCON
I don't have either of them anymore, but used to carry both and do
*not* like what I've been seeing. I've been watching tony in action
in local areas like USERS249 since about 1993 and he's always had a
very negative attitude. At that time, most of his negativism was
directed at the othernet community (which he called notw - net of
the week) and at teen sysops (cybertots).
Now that most othernets are gone, tony appears to have found a new
target.
About a year and a half ago, tony was NEC249 and our NC (Ian Lin at
the time) dropped offline permanently without notice after a hard
drive crash. There was some limited interest in holding an NC
election to replace him, but only one candidate (Joe Delahaye)
expressed an interest.
The proper handling at that point should've been to acclaim Joe for
a one-year term, then hold an election; that wasn't pessimistic
enough for tony's tastes.
Instead tony went into a "fido is dying" spiel that he's been
repeating endlessly in the local net ever since. He claimed that
there would never be another NC249 election due to apathy and that he
as NEC was making a "command decision" to "appoint" Joe due to lack
of interest.
He seems to have taken much glee in autoposting the number of Z1
nodes remaining each week, "chronicling the death of fidonet" in his
words as the size of the segment steadily drops toward zero. He's had
much to say locally on everything from the growing role of PVT ION's
to the resignation of REC12 Ken Wilson last year to the objections
FIDONEWS 19-01 Page 12 7 Jan 2002
raised by R12 nets for whom P4 was creating problems (1:229, 1:2404,
maybe even 1:250).
All of what he's had to say has been consistently and incredibly
negative.
Meanwhile, at the regional level, tony has been dead silent. An
unknown quantity. He popped up for about a day in the REG12 echo
when Janis started tampering with Lesley-Dee's segments and just as
quickly vanished, never to be heard from in that forum again. I'd
suspect he's still in the local echos, but I no longer have access
as he (as the current NEC249) has passworded me out.
And then there's the whole can of worms we know as Z1REGCON. The
handling of this echo has posed an awkward problem for many an R12C
due to the insistence of certain RC's upon using it to discuss
matters directly affecting nets in our region in a private forum
where the affected nets are not free to respond.
Z1REGCON has long represented an awkward Catch-22 for our RC's;
bring the questions discussed there back into the region for the
people directly affected to comment and get attacked by fellow RC's
for somehow "leaking the echo" or don't do so and get attacked by all
because the affected nodes were being denied a chance to comment on
issues directly affecting them. Can't win.
Unfortunately Janis, at the invitation of one of the RC's stateside
who was upset at seeing 1:229 still growing by actively recruiting
IONs over a wide geographical area while the rest of the zone is
declining, decided to use Z1REGCON as a forum in which to develop a
so-called set of "guidelines" which would effectively reverse the
long-standing position of pre-granting all geographic exceptions.
This was done specifically to create problems for 1:229 and my
response (publically) was that the only hope of stopping the decline
in Z1 numbers was for other nets and regions to follow 1:229's lead
in actively recruiting new nodes and adapting to Internet, not to
hinder their efforts.
In other words, the entire situation for a conflict had already been
created, largely behind closed doors, weeks if not months before I
listed Dale as RIN and turned all the RC12 stuff over to my elected
successor, Lesley-Dee Dylan.
Janis already disliked Lesley-Dee; it was Lesley-Dee who had raised
too many awkward questions during the ZC race about Janis' having
edited DavidC out of the nodelist in her NC days, and that issue hurt
Janis badly in the vote. Janis did incredibly badly in R12 in that
race, receiving no support at all.
It's therefore not surprising that Janis was unwilling to work with
Lesley-Dee or with R12 in general. Unfortunate, as Janis and tony
have managed to create the following problems to disrupt smooth
operation of the Region this month:
- The process of nodelist updates has been effectively shut down
region-wide since December 7, with no new listings from any net
FIDONEWS 19-01 Page 13 7 Jan 2002
anywhere in R12.
- Mail for nets within R12 arriving at Janis' system appears to
have been rerouted to tony and hits a dead-end there, affecting
everyone in the Region
- Many old political battles (everything from the blanket
geographic exemption to the right to vote for *C's) have been
reopened by Janis, despite the divisive results all of these
would've caused when they were fought long ago.
- Mail within 1:249 itself is broken as we have an NEC passwording
out a node; moving an affected node to another net to bypass the
problem is easier said than done as there is no longer any way to
update the R12 nodelist segment.
If what Janis originally set out to do was to prevent 1:229 from
recruiting new IP sysops anywhere outside downtown Oshawa, Ontario
she's certainly accomplished what she came for and then some. I'm
sure she's grinning from ear to ear at this point, secure in the
knowledge that she has broken the *C chain in this region so badly
that no net in or east of Ontario is free to add nodes
Unfortunately, preventing the addition of new nodes is only going
to speed the inevitable demise of zone one. We've already lost
almost 10% of existing Z1 nodes within the last month and
interfering with the addition of the few rare new nodes is only
going to ensure that the decline will continue unhindered.
If the current problems continue and numbers decline at present
rates, there may not be a zone one a year from now. I'm sure this
will bring great pleasure to tony "fido is dying" summerfelt as he
counts the nodelist size each week and watches it disappear, but I
doubt that anyone else will be celebrating.
-+- carlb@cafe.dyndns.org
+ Origin: Pause-Caf‚ Kingston 613-549-5599 telnet:cafe.dyndns.org
(1:249/116)
SEEN+BY: 249/116 379/1
@PATH: 249/116
-----------------------------------------------------------------
The Death of Zone 1 (Part 2)
Janis Kracht the current Z1C may not have directly set out to kill
Zone 1. However, she is well on her way to doing so. While the rest
of FidoNet may continue to stand, the fall of Zone 1 is accelerating.
Can a ZC kill a Zone? Can a ZC kill a Region? Can an RC kill a
Region? What if the two team up? Certainly that would make it easier
to kill a Region. Has the Z1C found the perfect person to take care
of her problems in Region 12? Why would an RC want to kill a Region?
Does the RC want to kill FidoNet? Yes a lot questions...
FIDONEWS 19-01 Page 14 7 Jan 2002
Last month the Z1C appointed Tony Summerfelt as the new R12C
replacing Lesley-Dee Dylan the elected R12C. Janis removed an elected
RC that was on the job less than one week and she has openly refused
to accept another election from Region 12. Her statement on a new
election is that Tony will call an election in one year.
Her firing of the RC broke several campaign promises that she made.
To use P4 only to solve problems instead of preventing someone from
doing what they feel needs to be done
Bind herself to accept the will of a Region and accept their sysop
voted RC
Allow for a recall of an RC
She also promised to keep a node number in the nodelist until all
appeals had been completed.
So she has gone back on her word. Other articles will go into greater
detail on her broken campaign promises, so I will not go into them
here.
To understand the problems you have to know what the base problems is
And that problem is NET229. How can that be? The problem is that this
Net is bringing new nodes into FidoNet. How or why is that problem?
The growth of NET229 and Region 12 has made several RC's jealous,
namely R18C Ross Cassell. Ross was very upset about the NET229 web
site. Why was he upset? Because the NET229 website shows new sysops
how to join FidoNet and all the examples that they provide show the
new sysops how to join NET229 in the process. Ross proclaimed that
this was not fair. Shortly after this outburst Janis came out with:
Guidelines for nodelisting new ION nodes. Those of you that have seen
these guidelines probably wondered why did she do this. Now you know.
Basically her guidelines take away the pre-granting of out of
geographic area that former IC Bob Sati approved. Geographic
restrictions were not to be enforced unless they caused a problem.
Apparently they are causing problems for some. The problem is that
NET229 is growing while other parts of Zone 1 shrinks.
Region 12 sysops spoke out against these Guidelines that Janis
presented. During that same time period Jack Yates suggested that
Janis should use P4 to "squash" them. Shortly thereafter the Z1C
fired the newly elected R12C and replaced her with Tony Summerfelt.
The Z1C has a history with Lesley-Dee Dylan and to say they are not
friends is a mild understatement! Janis' blood pressure must double
every time she sees a message from Lesley-Dee. Lesley-Dee wrote a
FidoNews article prior to the last Z1C election that was unfavorable
towards Janis. There have been many echo battles across various
echoes over various Fido-Political topics between the two.
So Janis used the opportunity to squash Region 12 while delivering
a personal blow to an old foe. Now Region 12 is stuck with Tony
FIDONEWS 19-01 Page 15 7 Jan 2002
Summerfelt. The Region 12 nodelist segment has not been updated in
over a month. NetMail routing into parts of Region 12 has been
disrupted.
Janis and Tony have both accomplished to upset the smooth operation
of the network. Doesn't P4.07 speak against this? Their actions have
caused a MAJOR disruption in Region 12 and Zone 1
So what about the appointed RC of Region 12, Tony Summerfelt? How
does he figure into to all this? Apparently Tony has a documented
history in his Net of wishing for the death of FidoNet. He is
documenting that death in his local NET echo. Why? He would like to
give his computer to his niece. He cannot give it to her as long as
FidoNet is around. So why doesn't he just leave FidoNet and give her
the computer? Apparently he wants to hang around and kill FidoNet.
Here it is January 5, 2002 and Tony has not setup a secure connection
with the NC of the largest Net in Region 12 for processing that Net's
nodelist segment. NET229 happens to be one of the very few Nets in
Zone 1 that continues to grow. Apparently Tony has not setup any
arrangements with any of the NCs except the NC of his Net. Because of
this the Region 12 segment has been frozen.
This has resulted in an alternate Nodelist going into use. This
nodelist contains all the same information that the "official"
nodelist has with the exception of the region 12 segment. The Region
12 segment in the alternate nodelist reflects the changes made by the
NCs of the Region. It also lists the elected RC of the Region.
I have asked N229C Robert Coutre in Netmail to comment on the
situation. I can sum his words up by saying that he is very concerned
about the tone of the current conversation with Tony Summerfelt. It
does not appear that any headway is being made.
Tony told everyone in REG12 that he would toast PVT and HOLD entries
in the nodelist. He said that everyone in the nodelist should be
running a BBS and it should be available. I am only speculating, but
Tony might be telling Robert what is going to happen to all the ION
nodes he has listed.
Robert, I would be very concerned that Tony will edit the segments
that you submit. Janis has already edited the Region 12 segment.
There is no doubt in my mind that she would approve of and possibly
encourage Tony to edit the Net segments that are submitted.
Tony, if you really do care about Region 12, then get your butt into
REG12 and face the crowd.
The current actions of Tony and Janis are not in the best interest of
Region 12, Zone 1 or FidoNet. So bring out your dead Zone 1, and if
they are not dead Janis has her nodelist scissors ready to clip away
at your nodelist segment.
-----------------------------------------------------------------
FIDONEWS 19-01 Page 16 7 Jan 2002
=================================================================
[ EDITORIAL ]
=================================================================
Water the Dog
By Frank Vest
1:1/23
Reference "http://www.well.com/~jonl/works/tjennings.html"
FidoNet is more importantly a social mechanism. It was pretty
obvious from the start that it was going to be a social monster,
almost more so than a technical thing. And it had to do with the
original environment of bulletin boards, which were around for quite a
while by the time I got around to doing Fido. Every bulletin board was
completely different, run by some cantankerous person who ran their
board the way that they saw fit, period. So FidoNet had to fit in that
environment.
What a profound statement. By itself, this one paragraph describes
Fidonet. Yes, we are a social mechanism, a monster at times as well as
technical at other times. In one breath we can call someone names,
make accusations, praise, then ask for, and get, help from the same
person that we just insulted.
"Cantankerous"?
Of all the words in any language, could there be a better one to
describe Fidonet? I think not. We run our systems the way we see fit.
They belong to us individually. We own and operate them as we see fit,
period.
"Cantankerous"? You bet we are. :-)
Many seem to lose sight of what Fidonet is and where it came from.
Some seem to think that Fidonet created the BBS. Others feel that the
BBS should fit Fidonet. In reality, the BBS was around before Fidonet.
"Fidonet had to fit into that environment" as stated by Tom Jennings.
You remember, that bunch of "cantankerous" Sysops that run their BBS
as they see fit? :)
Now, where does that leave Fidonet today?
Well, with the advent of the Internet, which, by the way, was around
before Fidonet as well, we could, and often do, complain that the
Internet is killing Fidonet. It's argued that this group, that person
or others are killing Fidonet due to many reasons. Is that the "social
monster"? It's stated that Fidonet is behind the times and can't
compete with the new technology. Is that the "technical thing"?
Maybe so. Maybe Fidonet is struggling because of technology and maybe
some groups are hurting Fidonet and maybe the Internet has hurt
Fidonet and maybe... just maybe... there's more to it?
FIDONEWS 19-01 Page 17 7 Jan 2002
What else could it be?? Hmmm... let's see...
"Every bulletin board was completely different, run by some
cantankerous person who ran their board the way that they saw fit,
period. So FidoNet had to fit in that environment."
Just what is Fidonet? Is it a social mechanism? Is it a technical
thing? Is it full of "cantankerous" people? Yes, and more. But, the
main thing that Fidonet was supposed to be, is a bunch of Bulletin
Board Systems. WHAT HAPPENED?!?
Let's look at what Tom Jennings said with some word substituting:
The WWW is more importantly a social mechanism. It was pretty obvious
from the start that it was going to be a social monster, almost more
so than a technical thing. And it had to do with the original
environment of the Internet service provider, which was around for
quite a while before the WWW. Every Internet service provider was
completely different, run by some cantankerous person who offered
access the way that they saw fit, period. So the WWW had to fit
in that environment.
Yes, I know this isn't realistic, accurate and can be argued against.
The point is that Fidonet and the Internet aren't that much different.
Read on;
The Internet is a bunch of "service providers". Fidonet is a bunch of
"service providers". The ISP provides access to the Internet for the
users. The BBS provides access to Fidonet for the users. Both offer
this service. What would either be without the "users" of the service?
What would happen if the ISPs stopped offering access to the public
(users) via web browsers, and other means? The Internet without users
would be a group of providers that had nothing better to do than
charge each other for access to each other. A upward increasing circle
of charges that blows up in the end.
What would happen if Fidonet stopped offering access to the public
(users) via BBSs? Fidonet without users is a group of providers that
argue over who is doing what in the realm of helping or hurting
Fidonet. A upward increasing circle of fighting that blows up in the
end.
Dear Readers;
Fidonet is in the position above today. How many Nodes in Fidonet
actually operate a BBS? How many that do are open to the public
(users)? Fidonet without Bulletin Board Systems is like a dog without
water. We can feed the dog by attracting new Nodes. We can exercise
the Dog by advertising to attract new Nodes, but without the water
that the users provide, the dog will not survive. Let's not forget to
"Water the Dog".
FIDONEWS 19-01 Page 18 7 Jan 2002
As I see it, Fido needs three things...
Food; Nodes that run Bulletin Boards
Water; Users to access those Bulletin Boards
Exercise; Advertisement to attract both users and Nodes
Without food, the Dog will starve. We do need Nodes in Fidonet.
Without water, the Dog will thirst to death. We need Users.
Without exercise, the Dog will become fat and lazy. We need to
advertise to attract new Users as well as new Nodes.
Are you taking care of the Dog?
Many today are only feeding the Dog. They think that by adding new
Nodes and/or making it easier for new Nodes to join, they will cause
the Dog to survive and bring it back to health. No, the Dog will still
die of thirst.
Maybe you are exercising the Dog. That's fine. he needs to be
advertised. Many think that by advertising Fidonet to attract new
Nodes, they will cause the Dog to survive and bring it back to health.
No, the Dog will still die of thirst.
Both of the above are important to the health of the Dog... Still....
if all we are doing is one or even both of these things, the Dog will
not survive.
I'll close with the above thoughts. I hope you will pardon me. I have
a Dog that needs to be watered and exercised. :-)
Did you "Water the Dog" today?
-----------------------------------------------------------------
FIDONEWS 19-01 Page 19 7 Jan 2002
=================================================================
[ HUMOR IN A FIDO VEIN ]
=================================================================
The Death of Zone 1 (Part 3)
Taken from Monty Python and the Holy Grail, Scene 2
BIG CLOSE UP of contorted face upside down. A leg falls across
it. Creaking noise. The bodies lurch away from the viewer to
reveal they are amongst a huge pile of dead nodes on a swaying
cart that is lumbering away. It is pulled by a couple of ragged,
dirty emaciated sysops. Behind the cart walks an evilly-laughing
*C who looks slightly more prosperous, but only on the scale of
complete and utter impoverishment. She wears a black hood and
looks sinister.
Snookums: Bring out your dead!
We follow the cart through a wretched, impoverished plague-ridden
zone one nodelist segment. A few echomail-starved downlinks run
about in the mud scavenging. In the open doorway of one BBS
perhaps we just glimpse a pair of legs dangling from the ceiling.
In another doorway an old elflord is beating a cat against a wall
rather like one does with a mat. The cart passes 'round a dead IP
hub in the mud and a user tied to a cart is being hammered to
death by four echo moderators with huge mallets.
Snookums: Bring out your dead!
There are legs stuck out of windows and doors. Two sysops are
fighting in the mud - covered from head to foot in it. Another
user is on his hands and knees shovelling mud into his mouth. We
just catch sight of a node falling into a well.
Snookums: Bring out your dead!
tony: here's one!
Snookums: Ninepence.
Net229: I'm not dead!
Snookums: What?
tony: nothing... there's your ninepence.
Net229: I'm not dead!
Snookums: 'Ere. They say they're not dead.
tony: yes they are.
Net229: I'm not!
RC12: They aren't.
tony: they will be soon. they're very ill. fidonet is dying.
Net229: I'm getting better!
tony: you're not. you'll be stone cold dead in a few minutes.