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1 If you are in need of help, you need but ask...
2 ************************* INSTALLED: 26 MAR 85 *********************
3 Welcome to BWMS (BackWater Message System)  Mike Day System operator
4 ************************************************************
5 GENERAL DISCLAIMER: BWMS IS NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY INFORMATION
6                     PLACED ON THIS SYSTEM.
7 BWMS was created as an electronic bill board. BWMS is a privately owned
8 and operated system which is currently open for use by the general public.
9 No restrictions are placed on the use of the system. As the system is
10 privately owned, I retain the right to remove any and all messages which
11 I may find offensive. Because of the limited size of the system, it will be
12 periodically purged of messages. (only 629 lines of data can be saved)
13 To leave a message, type 'ENTER' and use ctrl/C or break to get out of the
14 ENTER mode. The message is automatically stored. If after entering the
15 message you find you made a mistake, use the replace command to replace
16 the line. To exit from the system, type 'OFF' then hang up.
17 Type 'HELP' to see other commands that are available on the system.
18 ************************************************************
19 
20 *)$_#@*_%)*_)^*#$)_^*)_!*^_!)#*^)_!*$#)_^*)_#$*^_)!*^_)#$*^_)#$*^_)#*^_!)^*_)#$*^)_#$*^_)^_#*^#$_^*#$_)^*_#$*
21 Mikey : I think I can get it going on the Tandy by tweaking the comm port's base address value. You showed me where
22  it was in the back of the Copylink manual, and it shouldn't be that hard to find the actual values in the tech
23  manuals for the thing. Voyeur bought every manual he could, so we are covered when it comes to tricky hacking
24  on the system. Also, I still haven't mailed those disks yet, but I will... I promise!
25 Farley : Your words of encouragement are heartwarming to be sure. $90 modems indeed!
26 ($)#_%*_)*)_#$*^_)!^*_)!*^_#$(^_)$#^)_ L'homme sans Parity *%)_#@*_)#*%)_*%)_*%)_@*%)_%*_)*%$#_)^*#)_$^*)_@*^
27 
28 NET ENDING NET ENDING NET ENDING NET ENDING NET ENDING NET ENDING NET ENDING
29 
30     Time passes by, and even agents of fortune are not above the creeping
31 feelings of fatigue; the fatigue of a story line that has gone on too long.
32 The characters wish to expand their horizons, and explore new territories.
33 Sometimes this means ending something that is not finished, but the
34 necessity of change is greater than the need for completeness. The case
35 of the errant agent has been a long and enjoyable story to partake in,
36 but recent occurrences have made it difficult, if not impossible to
37 finish the story in the manner desirable to all concerned. Problems
38 arise in a multi-authored story that don't arise anywhere else. When a
39 key character looses access to a terminal, or must go away on a long
40 trip, the story can suffer from the loss. It is this point in the current
41 story the agents find themselves in. Rather than continue half-heartedly,
42 the agents who remain have chosen to start anew. Consider the current
43 NET story to have concluded as such...
44 
45         Kosta and Gaudy Minsky made it out of their predicament. L'homme's
46 plan worked well, up to a point. The only disappointment being the escape
47 of Fleming and several of his misguided followers. They were a force to
48 be reckoned with at another time. Farley performed well that day, earning
49 more respect from his new colleagues. He had far to go before he could be
50 called a senior agent, but he was making good progress. L'homme and 
51 Fellows managed to come through the ordeal unscathed for the most part;
52 nothing that a couple days in a NET hospital couldn't cure. In the
53 confusion of the fire (It is best not to cloud matters too much by going
54 into the fire) Kosta managed to slip away. His whereabouts at the present
55 are known only to him. Gaudy Minsky decided to take a few quiet days off
56 in her beautiful home town of Toledo Ohio. When and where she could pop
57 up is anybody's guess. L'homme, Fellows, and Farley returned to NET HQ
58 at Ione Plaza, where they received the chilling news of attempt on Ian's
59 life. Secretly, each of them could only smile inward when they heard
60 about how Ian escaped the assassin's bullet. After a few days rest and
61 relaxation for the very tired trio of agents, a meeting was set up with
62 Ian. The very one-sided conversation with Ian went something like this...
63 
64         "Gentlemen, I know you have had a tough past few weeks, but you
65 wouldn't be NET agents if you weren't up to the job. I realize that your
66 past few missions have been of the pursuit and retrieve variety, and that
67 you all may be getting a bit tired of it. Unfortunately, I must ask each
68 of you to go on such a mission once more. We have some loose ends to tie
69 up, and as you well know, NET doesn't like to leave loose ends dangling
70 around, only to be tripped over at a later time. Former NET agent KOSTA,
71 who made his escape on the mountain, must be returned to the fold. He
72 has knowledge of the organization that no living man who isn't currently
73 employed by us should have. We must have him back. Your mission is to
74 find KOSTA, bring him back to IONE plaza, alive if at all possible. You
75 know what to do if he resists. Until KOSTA is accounted for, he is a
76 security risk that we can not tolerate. Do you understand?"
77         Three heads slowly nodded to acknowledge their understanding. KOSTA
78 hadn't seemed like such a despicable person, despite what they had learned
79 from NET's history files. To bring him back, certainly against his will,
80 and to possibly kill him, would require a great amount of mettle. It is not
81 often NET agents were required to kill so close to home.
82 
83 NET CONTINUING NET CONTINUING NET CONTINUING NET CONTINUING NET CONTINUING
84 
85 |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
86 mikey:what happened to the disk that was in drive a last night? you know the one
87 with only 5 messages on it. please explain soon.
88         
89                                        alan kennedy
90 |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
91 !!!!  Well, I guess there's a bright side...if it were not for this phone line I wouldn't have been motivated to
92 finally get a line noise filter into my software, and I wouldn't have received enough line noise  test it....
93                                          [FRUSTRATED PROGRAMMER]
94 
95 Sorry, folks, I've got to send part of that last line again to see if the backspace in it was due to noise!
96 ....wouldn't have received enough line noise to test it....
97 
98 ****************************************
99 Does anyone know what happened to the 'bit bucket' bulletin board?
100 Their old number 761-xxxx is no longer in service.
101 Several other BB's seem to have suffered the same fate.
102 If someone knows the current number for any of these, I would greatly appreciate
103 recieving a copy.
104 
105                    B Daws + 3
106 ***************************************
107 The current number of the Bit Bucket is 254-xxxx.
108 ****************************************
109   thanks!          B Daws + 3
110 ****************************************
111 `,`,`,`,`,`,`,`,`,`,`,`,`,`,`,`,`,`,`,`,`,`,`,`,`,`,`,`,`,`,`,
112 Kathyd - I'm with you! Double phhtt! It's getting to a point
113 	 were people are so bored they start yelling at people.
114 	 Triple phhtt!
115 BWMS   - I hope the line noise problem gets better.  So far it
116 	 has inproved!  Maybe it will stay this way.
117 `,`,`,`,`,`,`,`,`,`,`,`,`,`,`,`,`,`,`,`,`,`,`,`,`,`,`[Mark]`,`,
118 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
119 	      T is typewriter is  ll I ve got left.  It's not   very good m c ine.
120 But t en, I guess it's m c ines t  t c used t e w r in t e first pl ce.
121 	      I don't know if  nyone will ever re d t is. Per  ps it doesn't m tter.
122 Per  ps I'm only doing t is for my own s nity. I just  ope my typewriter m kes
123 it t roug t e story:   nd, if you w o  re re ding t is listen, m ybe you c n
124  void t e mist kes we m de.
125 
126 	                   *********TO BE CONTINUED*************
127 
128 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~the vole~~~~~~~~
129 
130  exit
131 To the above user:
132       I know it seems obvious to the rest of us users out her in 
133 computer-land, but I am not sure that your machine can pick it up - so I'll
134 tell you anyway, just to make sure -
135 Your terminal is dropping its <h>'s and <a>'s - totally leaving them out, and
136 the result is a totally confusing message for the rest of us.
137 Hope you get it fixed!!!
138 <><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>
139 (^)(^)(^)(^)(^)(^)(^)(^)(^)(^)(^)(^)(^)
140 Ah, on at last!
141 
142 Rest ye assured that my story will soon be continued.  I did not desert you,
143 my computer had a major nervous break-down.  All better now.....I hope.
144 
145                          Ronin
146 (^)(^)(^)(^)(^)(^)(^)(^)(^)(^)(^)(^)(^)
147 Mig: I'm amazed at how well you keep your cool! If someone had called ME
148 p"puto grande" I'd be more than a little upset. (if you don't know what it
149 means I'll leave you a private msg somewhere)
150    By the way, did we get dumped off Nerd on purpose or what?
151 Piper & dno: I'm rather curious as to what kind of machine dno is using.
152 My video display will accept 11Dh as a backspace, but I didn't think 
153 anything else did. My LCD display WON'T accept it as a backspace...
154 ________________________Leonard____________________________________________
155 
156 exit
157 I c n"t I dont't   ve t e money.
158 ;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;
159 
160 "Gee, it's cold out here in the snow with no clothes on!",  mumbled Jerzy
161 to his commrade, Pavl.  They had been caught trying to escape from the
162 gulaug the Russian bastards had sent them to.  Their captors evidently
163 found great pleasure at their discomfiture (and disrobement).  Jerzy
164 remembered the words of the Seargent of the gaurds: "So, you like to see
165 the outside world?  Maybe you like the feeling of freedom, of liberation?"
166 He regretted his haughty reply, "Perhaps you should spend some time out
167 here with us in the yard, wearing nothing but rags!"  So here they were,
168 wearing nothing at all.  He remembered the stories he had heard as a child
169 about the horrible experiments the Nazis had conducted on the Jews.  How
170 long could a soldier survive at the Russian front?  Since we can't spare a
171 soldier, let's take a Jew:  we have plenty of them!  Take his clothes off
172 and sit him out in the snow for 8 hours.  Observe him freezing to death.
173 What fun!  How long could they last?  He glanced at Pavl, who was already
174 turning blue, even though they had been exposed only 5 minutes.  Pavl was
175 sickly anyway;  this would surely
176 be the death of him.  Pavl was shaking so badly that he could hardly stand.
177 Jerzy put his arms around Pavl and sat down in the snow, cradeling his
178 brother in arms into a fetal position, and strying to trap as much warmth
179 as he could.  The cold was intense, but at least there wasn't any wind. 
180 The snow was falling softly, covering the camp in a soft blanket.  Pavl
181 began to sing softly to himself, or maybe to God, a hymn.  No, it wasn't
182 really singing, just a stuttering mumble.  Perhaps he was performing Extrem
183 Unction on himself.  After all, he was a Priest.  His political activities
184 didn't enamour him with either the Polish authorities or with their Russian
185 bullies.  It didn't matter now.  Jerzy took up the tune and the words in a
186 stronger voice, like a mother soothing a child awakened in the night by a
187 bad dream.  Jerzy began to feel warm.  He knew that this was the precursor 
188 of death.  Pavl was unconscious.  The life was draining from him, from them
189 both.
190    Suddenly, he was raised from his stupor by a sharp report.  He heard
191 voices and shouting men all around him.  Someone seemed to come into his
192 ...........................................................................
193 I Am the Daffodil
194 
195 Forsythia riots in violent yellow bloom.
196 You pass across wet grass,
197 your shoes scuffing drops
198 and you wave between the branches.
199 I see you snap a yellow sprig
200 to hold like a banner of rainy Spring.
201 It is not for me to know
202 where you go.
203 
204 The daffodils are yellow, too,
205 transparent and brave
206 in the face of the rain.
207 
208 Your eye, young man,
209 in Spring seeks brighter colors.
210 
211 ..............for the vole from Entropy....................................
212 p.s.   I think if you put the h's and a's back into the vole's story, you'l
213 see what he's getting at....
214 ...........................................................................
215  ? ? ? ? ?`? ? ? ? ? ?`? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?`? ?/iG/? ?  ?? ?
216 
217 Leonard:they are easy to deal with, I just pict}re them 10 uears grom now!
218 Hum, so much for the ?s-robotics setup, backith repies when I can...
219 ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?`? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ???/MiG/? ? ? ? ? ? ?---
220 (*==marker==*)
221 to marker person: There have been developments on the memory-aid front that I 
222 simply must tell you about:  there are these things called pencil and paper, 
223 and you can write down line numbers on them!  Isn't that terrific?  BWMS will
224 give you line numbers if you ask it nicely...    Crimson Blues
225 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
226 Does the O.A.S. still exist?  I did not see anyone who proclaims to be in said
227 group at the previously stated time and place...  Thank you.
228 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------MM
229 //////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
230 To : All those individuals intellectually crippled by seasonal weather changes
231 
232      I saw it in the winter...The joy of driving in the snow and catching
233 snowflakes on the tongue, etc.
234      And now, bless my soul, it's SPRING!  Was there any doubt in my mind that
235 the same group of individuals would be brought to their knees by the oh-so
236 magnificent daffodil?  Did I deny myself the opportunity to look forward to
237 the soul-searching poem which accompanies warm weather and the need to
238 liberate the rapidly thawing soul?  Most importantly, did I doubt that I would
239 see the mindless results of splattered all over this once sane system?
240      Alas, I need not answer these questions whose answers can be found 
241 painfully saturating these last two disks.
242 
243 To : Net Conclusions/Net Continues :
244 
245      A very wise entry.  You saw the need for change within the story and you
246 implemented them with finesse.  Also, I find it interesting to note that one
247 of the most impressive (at least lengthy) speeches offered by Ian was written
248 by a second party.  It's nice to see him without the "hand of God" every now
249 and then--makes him aseem almost human!
250                      T. Schmidt
251 //////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
252 /////  I suppose that my obvious errors resulting from "enter only" will be
253      tossed in my face seeing as how I stepped on some grass-stained toes.////
254 06060606060606060606060606060606060606060606060606060606060606060606060606060606
255 To: Ian MacHinery
256 From: 06
257 Subject: Robotics Section
258 Dear Sir,
259    I am sorry to inform you that one of NET's primary android manufacturing
260 sections, RUR404, is no longer operational.  It seems that the machinery that
261 creates the logic circuts for the AI unit inside such androids has broken down
262 due to heavy use.  Replacement parts HAVE been ordered, but the shipping
263 company told me "four to six weeks for delivery".  As you well know, what this
264 really means is that the parts will arrive sometime next year, if at all.
265    In the meantime, sir, the robotics department has asked me to request that
266 you refrain from utilizing valuable androids to provide an "easy out" in a
267 storyline.  A suggestion, sir, from the section's EMIL7000 AI managment unit
268 is to "write an appropriate reply to such attacks, preferably longer than 
269 three lines".
270                                  Respectfully submitted,
271                                  06.
272 06060606060606060606060606060606060606060606060606060606060606060606060606060606
273 The lines go by so swiftly, the words streak by so quickly.
274 it is not their speed but their content that matters. It is sometimes xhard for
275 THOR to read them all. What words are 
276 caught still linger enough to make their point
277 --------------------------------------------------
278 is an9one else out there get4ing massive p2oblem3 with line .oise?
279 I have used the s9ste- before, and know that it is not just my #omputer.
280 D)dn't th%y get this fixed ju3t a s ort time ago?
281                         Bothered
282 --
283 
284 -------------
285 -
286 ---------
287 -
288 FORGAET IT!!!
289 
290 
291 DDDDDD    N     N    OOOOO
292 D     D   NN    N   O     O
293 D     D   N N   N   O     O
294 D     D   N  N  N   O     O
295 D     D   N   N N   O     O
296 D     D   N    NN   O     O
297 DDDDDD    N     N    OOOOO
298 
299 
300 Ronin:
301 
302 It looks like this CPM terminal program works better than that built
303 in terminal.  Thanks for your help.
304 
305 
306                                        Dno...
307 
308 DNO DNO DNO DNO DNO DNO DNO DNO DNO DNO DNO DNO DNO DNO DNO DNO DNO DNO
309 Voyeur: when are you planning to drop by? (you can reply here, Bit, or
310 PCS)
311 ____________________________________Leonard________________________________
312 ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?/MiG/? ? ?`?`  
313 Leonard:One more time... I just think about what will happen to them  in
314 todays society if they do not change the attitudes they now have.
315 Yes, I did get a full translation of zhat little missive, quite 
316 imaginative actualy. When you and Net-67 were aborted, iz was due to my
317 trying to turn on the capture buffer. I missed, and 300Msec later...
318 Nrank-howard-don wxhatever:I live a scant .2 miles from Mount Hood CC
319 and it was a simple matter t/o talk to an old friend`in the language 
320 By the way, I am 74" talvl and anorexic. I am having bad trouble with 
321 this modem, so I will get back`to the rest of your stuff later.
322 ch /crap/message/
323 ? ? ?  ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?7EiG/? ? ? ?   
324 
325 ******************************************************************
326 dno:  err please do not take offense... but could you cut down on
327       your introductory border? takes up a lot of lines.
328 thor: hi, no stories today, my mind is occupied with other things.
329       like lusting for oreo's but knowing i cannot satistfy the
330       DESIRE.
331 mad max: OAS is alive and well, we do not have open meetings 
332          very often, but we will let you know when the next
333          one is.
334 mark:   thanks....
335 ***************************kathyd****blocked*********************
336 YES PEOPLE, ADVICE FROM ONE SO ADULT THAT THE MAJOR FORM OF EXPRESSION IS THE EXTENDED VIBRATING APPENDAGE,ATTACHED TO AN OPEN
337 MOUTH.
338 ppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppp
339   The pegasus whickered softly behind him as the piper cautiously stepped
340 toward the large building.  The buzz of conversation sounded, briefly
341 punctuated with a burst of laughter.  The night air was cool on the piper's
342 skin, used now to the warmth of the highway, his feet noiseless in the
343 gloom, he strode cautiously toward what appeared to be a doorway.
344   Suddenly the door opened and a shaft of light sped outward, cutting into 
345 the darkness, accompanied by a wash of conversation and laughter.  A figure,
346 darkly shadowed by the backlight of the room beyond vanished into the night.
347   The pavement seemed soft and resilient beneath him as he stepped forward,
348 catching the door before it could close.  The sounds of conversation in
349 the room before him quietened as he stepped through the door.
350   The piper found himself at the top of a short stairway, standing on a small
351 landing overlooking a rather large room.  A large bright fire flaming in an
352 open fireplace in the center of the room provided most of the illumination,
353 added by candles and oil lamps on some of the more remote tables.  A familiar
354 scene to the piper, he started down the stairs.
355 pppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppp
356 {*}{*}{*}{*}{*}{*}{*}{*}{*}!!!isis!!!{*}{*}{*}{*}{*}{*}{*}{*}{*}{*}
357      This note is not prepackaged because I am not on my system. 
358      When I return from work, 10 hours dealing with twenty-two adolescents 
359 with no social skills, I look forward to interacting with mature people
360 as a way of relaxing.  It seems logical to me that a BBS might offer an
361 incresed opportunity for people to think before they speak, and thus be able to
362 interact in a manner that is more diplomatic and less stressful than normal
363 conversation.  I find profound delight in the stories and poetry that inhabit 
364 this system.  I don't like everything on here, some people simply have not had 
365 the practice that others have, and don't do as well.  These we can support by
366 offering constructive criticism, not pulling their egos out from under them.
367 This is not a haven for professional writers -- a pro would publish lest
368 someone steal hir work.  We must not expect perfection.
369      I, for one would hate to see the enthusiasm leave this board in a flurry
370 of arguing and sniping.  Despite our years, we are all adults, and need not
371 wash our dirty laundry in public.
372                          *end of sermon*
373 {*}{*}{*}{*}{*}{*}{*}{*}{*}!!!isis!!!{*}{*}{*}{*}{*}{*}{*}{*}{*}{*}{*}
374 ********************************************************************
375 L'homme: Really, while it might be interesting to try to patch COPYLINK
376 to run on the 2000, I would suggest waiting for 3.0, which we can install
377 with REAL code. The COPYLINK you're playing with has peices of I/O 
378 stashed in various places. That is because I/O is VERY time dependent,
379 so I couldn't hold to the normal format. You'll find an I/O statement
380 at the proper location, but you will also find that it acesses ports
381 00H and 01H. This is used by the interpreter to do the actual I/O at
382 realtime speed, If you really do want to (good lusk) the code is located
383 near the begining of COPYLINK.COM there is an interrupt input routine,
384 and a poled output routine. Then you also have the initialization
385 routines at the normal locations in the COPYLINK.OVR file.
386 ************************ CISTOP MIKEY *********************************
387 !@#$%%^&&*()(*&^%$#@!@#$%^^&*&%$#$^*(&$%^&&^*((^$@$%%^&&&%&*(&(&
388 Mike: Message received. I will give it a try, and if it doesn't
389 work, we'll wait for version 3.0. COPYLINK is one of several Comm
390 packages we didn't get to work because of direct addressing of
391 the port from the program. QMODEM, and PCT660 were two others that
392 refused to talk to the modem. QMODEM is a real lose, since it offers
393 split screens for incoming and outgoing. But we really miss COPYLINK.
394 I'll let you know how I come out on the thing.
395 Robotics Inc : I loved it! Tres Bien, etc. Poor Ian!
396 )_%(_@%(@#_)%_)@#%*)_*@*% L'homme sans Parity %_)#()_%(@#%(@_%($#)%
397 Hello: im a new
398 user, would like to get with someone to learn more about useing the mpp 1064 modem. by now:
399 off
400 exit
401 ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^     (temp. discontinued)
402 I am finding it very dificult to access this forum with any ease or regularity
403 any longer.  Prehaps I shall just have to attempt to survive this flurry of 
404 line distortion and over-zealous usage by those with less than civil tounges
405 or terminals.  Oh, I shall always return, that is not a question, it is just 
406 that too many of my friends here are experiencing a rise in blood pressure at
407 each other.
408 The odd thing is that my Legion and I will wait the delay of this "vacation"
409 and will attempt our struggle for greatness when time will allow us.
410 ^^^^^     (messages to follow, varied in tone and intent...)
411 THOR:  I think that the simplest location for an exchange of words might be at
412        the placed known as PCS.  Multi-person story-lines are fine and all, but
413        before more than one person can be involved within it, the basic premise
414       must first be formed. Kinda like what these NET people are talking about.
415       By the way, PaPa Smurf says you said "Hello"...  See you at the BBS...
416 kathyd:  Just a word of warning-  Some of these "jerks" are being offensive
417          only to see what sort of a response they can provoke.  Do not do what
418          I have done- allow it to pass on by, and make no mention of them.  If
419          you are to enter any more items here, there are quite a few that await
420          them with eager eyes.
421 WHITE KNIGHT:  I am aware of it, the name stuck out like a sore thumb. 
422                I am willing to be of help.  I am ready, and I have The FAITH!
423 Entropy:  I see that you have left the "battlefield" behind for more pleasant
424           things.  May your relationship stay in a good light!
425 MiG:  Hey buddy, boy do we have alot of work to do!  Call me at home at a
426       not so respectably dark hour (as usual).  A few points need clearing up.
427   
428 Hmmm...  Techno-dribble.  Where is that 'little one' when we are in need?
429 OMIGOSH!  I don't believe it!  I forgot THE TIN MAN!  How embarassing...
430 THE TIN MAN of multi-realities:  It seems that the last message I sent thee by
431     means of secret letter at that other system was to have been the last *I*
432     have ever seen.  There was no reply.  I have waited, and am still waiting.
433     Have I sent you away at the mere mention of a name or two?  Was that so
434     terrible a time in your life that I must be shut out by association?
435     Toby has my number... Prehaps I shall use his...
436 ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^     --->the puzzled Guardian?!?     86:ex
437 
438 
439 KOSTA KOSTA KOSTA KOSTA KOSTA KOSTA KOSTA KOSTA KOSTA KOSTA KOSTA KOSTA KOSTA
440 L'homme- In the light of current events, or lack thereof, I was pleased to
441    see that the situation is still not completely without resolve. Might you,
442    by chance, notice the disappearance of one of those critical pieces of 
443    epuipment known to some as a COMSET?  At least by my recognition and the
444    ability to deduce such things, I believe that I may have just stumbled upon
445    a treasure!  (Next assignment:  Retrieve and Edit history files for 
446                  Agent Lewis Coolidge- MIA    known alias:  Kosta     )
447 KOSTA KOSTA KOSTA KOSTA KOSTA KOSTA KOSTA KOSTA KOSTA KOSTA KOSTA KOSTA KOSTA
448 ********************************************************
449 Hmm, That's odd, I got home tonight, and the system was running, but
450 nothing was happening, That's odd I thought, So I put a phone on the
451 line to see if there was activity, and got a dial tone. Hmmm, now wait
452 a minute, the system thinks it has carrier, but there isn't any....
453 Very strange, that can't happen! carrier is what keeps the thing on
454 line! You have carrier, it holds the line, you drop carrier it drops
455 the line. This can't be! It appears the modem locked to it's own carrier
456 for some reason, but that doesn't explain why it wasn't still holding
457 the phone line off hook. It isn't supposed to operate that way, there
458 isn7t any electronics in there at all, it is just a capacitor, diode,
459 resistor network, all passive stuff. The ring signal charges the capactor
460 which causes the modem to answer the line when the voltage gets high enough
461 (the on line relay driver comes right off of the capacitor.) If it doesn't
462 recieve carrier within a couple of seconds, the capactor discharges
463 (because there is no more ring signal to charge it anymore) and when the
464 voltage drops below the threshold it drops the relay, and we go off line.
465 If we do get carrier, then the carrier signal is also feed to the same
466 capacitor, which keeps it charged up. So as long as there is a carrier,
467 the capacitor stays charged which keeps the modem on line. Lose carrier,
468 and the capacitor discharges, and about 10 or 15 seconds later it drops
469 below the threshold voltage, and the relay opens which takes us off line.
470 An exception to this is an activity monitor which forces the capacitor
471 to be discharged (an over-ride circuit that just shorts it out) if
472 there has been no activity for 10-15minutes. So, the question is, since
473 it isn't possible for the problem to happen, how did it? I'm baffled!
474 I forced the thing to disconnect, and it did, but why didn't the lost
475 carrier do that, or failing that, the no activity disconnect? 
476 Very stange things going on here....
477 ************************* CISTOP MIKEY ******************************
478 `,`,`,`,`,`,`,`,`,`,`,`,`,`,`,`,`,`,`,`,`,`,`
479 Kathyd:    Anytime!  Whenever I can I'll slip in a few 'phfffts'!
480 MiG:       Not to worry, it will be a while before he gets a modem of his
481            own.  Oh, and that sentance structure was terrible from what I
482            heard.   
483 Hmmmm, what is going to take place of the Neet stories.  Are they all going
484 to start writing thier own fantasy/sci-fi short stories or what's up?
485 `,`,`,`,`,`,`,`,`,`,`,`,`,`,`,`,`,`,`,`,`,`,`[Mark]
486 __________________^^^^^^^_^_^_^_^^_^^^^
487 CISTOP MIKEY: Thor is baffled, I do not remember leaving a question that
488 would make you leave me a message like the one above. Is another using my name?
489 The last thing I can remember writing(excuse the senility)was a short note
490 on 'touching'.
491 Am I really losing it? Maybe what they say is true, all of us vets get the
492 syndrome sooner or later. God, I thought I had been immune. Oh well,....
493 I'll try to stay away from any water towers or football stadiums.
494 Guardian:Catch you at the PCS.
495 kathyd:my etiquette of proper message placement is being tutored quite nicely.
496 ****************************************************************
497   thor: huh? message placement? did i bark at you and forget
498         what i said?  and i was never in nam.... no excuses for me..
499   mark:  i admit to being overinthusastic with the phftts! but
500          in my mind they were deserved.  lets join in now...
501          and a one, and a two......PHFTTTT!!!!
502  guardian:  snicker, chucle, mad laughter... quiet melody.
503  person who refuses to sign name to critical entries of no
504  taste:   may the fleas of a thousand household cats invest
505           infest your sofa. m
506 **************kathyd********holdingout********************************
507 '-'-'-'-'-'-'-'-'-'-'-'-'-'-'-'-'-'-'-'-'-'-'-'-'-'-'-'-'-'-'-'-'-'-'-'-'-'-
508      I want, but I can't.  Loose translation:  I can, but I won't.  Reason:
509 my own fears.
510 
511      Bad experiences pile up like snow drifts, stranding me in an icy
512 wilderness.  I become emeshed in a cycle of distrust and isolation... never
513 willing to risk myself... to break out.
514 
515      Old memories are like yellowed photographs of a by-gone era.  The 
516 images are indistinct.  I forget what is convienient, remember that which
517 I want to.  Whether good or ill.
518 
519      I am the ancient mariner.  Each new relationship is another albatross
520 hung 'round my neck.  I wonder if the Audubon Society has a dead bird 
521 pickup service, so I can begin anew.
522 -'-'-'-'-'-'-'-'-'-'-'-'-'The Jung and Restless'-'-'-'-'-'-'-'-'-'-'-'-'-'-'
523 
524 pppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppp
525   As the piper walked slowly down the bannerless stairs, the hum of interrupted
526 conversations resumed.  Looking slowly about the room as he descended, he
527 spied a seat at a table with several jolly-looking folks not too near the 
528 center of the room.  Aware of his scrutiny, they had sent him several inviting
529 smiles, and the flutter of lashes from a lovely lady wearing a multicolor 
530 dress increased the piper's pulse rate considerably.
531   The stairs and floor both had the same strange resiliant quality, letting
532 the piper's feet sink in slightly with each step.  His stride was therefore
533 a rather strange combination of bold and cautious as he picked his way 
534 through the crowd to the welcome of a seat at the open table.
535   As he approached, a large hearty man got up to welcome him.
536   "Welcome stranger!  I am Koom Youlus, would you like ale or beer?"
537   "Ale, thanks," the piper returned.  "I am known as the piper.  Thanks for 
538 the welcome."
539   Koom grinned a bluff and fhearty grin and answered "Strangers are always
540 welcome here.  We are quite isolated and grow tired of our own company."
541   The lady in the multicolored dress slid slightly aside on the bench
542 to make room for the piper.  "Please sit with us," she said.  "I'm Rainbow."
543 ppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppp
544 .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .  
545     All Those Who Seek Word from the Tin Man: No, he is not ignoring you. I 
546 believed so too, at first. It appears his telephone line has been disconnected.
547 He says that he will be moving in the near future, and he has made certain that
548 he will have a phone line. (No more than two weeks from now). I am certain that
549 he misses all of our words as much as we do his. (Don't kill your messages to
550 him on other boards, every-once-and-a-while he uses the modem at Merri and
551 Toby's. I am sure he would appreciate the mail. Sort of a welcoming from a long
552 absence). -Tanya
553 .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .  
554 95%95%95%95%95%95%95%95%95%95%95%95%95%95%95%95%95%95%95%95%95%95%95%95%95%95%
555 WE who seek wisdom from afar are all too wise to know that wisdom could come
556 from some cold electronic purveyor of lighted words and phrases. Often the
557 case of those who would distill their apparent good will on others are merely
558 spewing forth a waterfall of inane articulations and verbage. WE must laugh
559 at those who think their creations have some meaning beyond the small confines
560 of this comfortable yet uncreative atmosphere. It is to those people who wish
561 greatness but may never achieve it, WE drink a toast to your efforts and your
562 expenditures, be it great or small. 'Into the valley the 800 rode.' So to is
563 the case here. Perhaps not 800, but the numbers are irrelevent. The destination
564 os of great import, and until it is reached, the numbers will continue to
565 ride without direction or purpose, only knowing for sure when they arrive.
566 What a consumable existance! Woe to the man or women found too caught up in
567 the happenings therein, where the reality of one locale often bends and
568 meshes with the reality of another. Just as certain elements found in the
569 earth should never be brought together, the elements of this world and
570 others too should always be separate and distinct. When the blur betwixt and
571 between them becomes so unlcear, the distinctions are impossible to make,
572 trouble lurks near, waiting to be set of by the person who's eqo perhaps is
573 a little fragile at the moment. The reasons are of no import. The results
574 should be taken seriously by everyone. WE are worried for the few who it 
575 seems are having great difficulty making the choices that seem so clear to
576 others. It may not even be their fault, just a lack of growing up. Maturity
577 is a two bladed sword. By the time one finally gets it, they are too old to
578 use it. This is not always the case, but it is more a rule than an exception.
579 Heed the warning signs. It is your inner self, the self hopefully not
580 corrupted by what the outer self must endure, pleading with you to partake inb
581 some self examination. Look yourself over. Look for the signs that mean
582 the inability to make separations from one reality to another. WE have been
583 observing this for sometime, and WE feel that there still is time to recover
584 those who have been lost. Those who have made the distinction can certainly
585 help. Aid your fellow user out of the plight. Show the light. Make the path
586 to certainty clear and unobstructed. The more you help others, the more you
587 help yourselves. You will find the teachers learning as much as the 
588 students. When all  is done, you may look back at the rocky path just
589 traversed, and wonder how you ever made it. Don't question the journey. Give
590 thanks for the arriving.
591                                     WE
592 95%95%95%95%95%95%95%95%95%95%95%95%95%95%95%95%95%95%95%95%95%95%95%95%95%95%
593 
594 INFATUATION HAS ITS LIMITS, BUT I DO THINK I LOVE YOU...
595 
596 ^^^^^   The lights go flashing by, and the snowflakes float in mid-air as
597 ^^^^^   dancers on the dancefloor.  The sounds that accompany my vision are
598 ^^^^^   of such sweet chords I can almost not draw my self away.  But I have.
599 
600 54S@@ABCDEFGERTYL<999

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