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1 If you are in need of help, you need but ask....
2 ************************* INSTALLED: 29 JUL 86 ************************
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 I'M ON TOP!!!!!!!!!!!!!
21 I don't believe it. I, Zardoz the
22 unfathomable have reached the top!!!
23 Such rapture, such ectasy, such such
24 joy to have a clean slate to mess
25 up with my bizarre scribblings. Mikey,
26 thank you for this oppertunity!!!
27 WOW!
28 HELLO THERE OUT THERE WHO EVER IS "USEING 'MY'" NAME
29 WHY CANT WE USE THIS BOARD FOR IT'S PURPOSE PLEASE.
30 COM'ON PEOPLE THIS IS GETTING DUMB!
31 FROM HERE ON LETS USE THIS BOARD FOR WHAT IT'S FOR
32 I'LL BE NICE I'LL DRAW YOU A LINE SO YOU CAN START A NEW SLATE...
33
34 THE (REAL) FIREHAWK>
35 ________________________________________________________THE LINE!
36 FIREHAWK: PLEASE DO *NOT* USE ESCAPE SEQUENCES HERE! THEY WILL MESS UP
37 MANY TERMINALS. USE CTRL-H OR DELETE TO BACKSPACE. DO *NOT* USE YOUR
38 ARROW KEYS. (I CLEANED UP THE LINES THIS TIME).
39 ************************THE PHANTOM OF BACKWATER***************************
40 XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
41 Darkness surrounds me, sparks occasionally have occured, but
42 on the whole darkness has held fast. It isn't entirely dark,
43 there are varying shades, but it has done no good to follow the
44 lighter shades, always they have only lead to yet darker ways
45 losing what I even have.
46 I even have tried the opposite, seeking the dark ways. If
47 the light would not lead to lighter, then perhaps the darker
48 would. Yet I only achieved getting further lost in this
49 demensionless maze of nothingless. That all there is,
50 nothingness...
51 Stumbling, moving without direction, unable to stay in one
52 position, I continue to try to find a way out. The way becomes
53 rougher, what little vision I have left becomes distorted and
54 warped. The further I go the rougher it gets. Then the darkness
55 shifts suddenly, and I stumble. Then I am falling... falling...
56 falling...
57 The world crashes to a halt, and I am laying prone on my
58 stomache unable to move, unable to breath. The darkness remains
59 unbroken, no sound, only the cold hard darkness closing in. The
60 ground beneath me unyelding. My body no longer reasponds to my
61 desires. Unable to move, the tears well up unbidden. I scream out
62 into the darkness, but not even echos return, The darkness sucks
63 the cries into its ever gapping maw.
64 The loneliness always an ever present companion overwhelms
65 and enfolds me in its embrace. I am lost in both mind and soul.
66 The direction and motivation is gone. And now I can't even move.
67 A cold wetness encloses me, I give in to it sinking even lower.
68 I will my arm to move, but it doesn't. The coldness
69 encloses me tighter. I'm alone. And only the tears come, building
70 a pool around me. Where have I gone? What have I done? How did it
71 happen? Did I do this, or was it done to me? All I know is that
72 I'm alone, and the darkness offers no comfort.
73 XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
74 spooky.....
75 Oh well, anyway people, this is probably my last entry on BWMS. I am
76 leaving Thursday for Seattle and will not be back. It's been great f
77 fun and I hope you enjoyed me as much as I enjoyed being here.
78 Portland is a great place. Fare thee well and live long and prosper!
79 -Dark Knight-
80 ***************************************************************************
81 AT LAST SOME ACTIVITY!
82 *********************THE PHANTOM OF BACKWATER******************************
83 I AM SORRY I AM BREAKING MY STATMENT AS ABOUVE BUT HWO
84 $#%#$% CALLWAITING... ANYWAY WHO IS "TRIPLE FIVE" AND WHY ARE YOU MESSING
85 UP THIS BOARD ANYWAY. DONT YOU HAVE ANYTHING BETTER TO DO???
86 NOW BACK TO THE NORMAL PROGRAMING...
87
88 >THE FIREHAWK>>
89 ____________________________________________________________________
90 %*@_%*_%*_%&*@##@^_%(!+(%!%_@#&^@*!_)%*!%+!_%(#*_)*%!%*!+(%_!%(!%!_*^!_)^*
91 Voyeur: Are you programming away with visions of video tape dancing in your
92 head, or should I even ask? I hope it worked out, but if not, we tried.
93 That's all that can be done sometimes. Not much eh, kinda like kissing one'
94 sister. Oh, scratch that. I didn't mean it. Honest. <gulp>
95 *%*%#@)*%!)_)^*@^!_)^*!^*!^)*!^ L'homme sans Parity %*&@#(%*!*%(^&_*!)%*%*!
96 +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
97 ello, kids. Here's a little story I wrote while waiting for my roomate to wrap-up his little party. It's one a-m, and
98 this guy has to work tommorow. In any case, on with a little story about the aggrivators of the future.
99
100 SIMPLE SIMPLE SIMPLE SIMPLE SIMPLE SIMPLE SIMPLE SIMPLE SIMPLE SIMPLE SIMPLE
101 Waves distort the flat surface of the ocean. At a distance it is a calm and
102 quiet ocean, but at the surface, gravity has its whims with it. Waves,
103 coldness and sand flow through it as a part of those slight lunar whims.
104 Above the ocean stands a man. On the rocks that tower above the
105 water, he looks down and sees more than the plain ocean alone. It is a
106 flower amidst the waves, a white and dewdrenched lotus, with a sweet scent.
107 Then on the waves is a sight of him at the lotus, enchanted with the
108 essence, and rapt with it. In one moment, it is a picture of him at the
109 lotus, aged, dirty, restless and staring at it. Another moment, the lotus
110 is gone, the man sits filthy alone.
111 The man on the rocks looks away from the ocean. The pictures there
112 fade and are gone in time. And a tear does appear at his eyelids after
113 time. Once the act of sobbing is done with, he deserts the rocks, the
114 ocean, and the tides to attend to his other duties.
115 SIMPLE SIMPLE SIMPLE SIMPLE SIMPLE SIMPLE SIMPLE SIMPLE SIMPLE SIMPLE SIMPLE
116
117 Surprisingly refreshing!
118 I agree.
119 ____07/31/86__________Leonard_JD 2446643.5357_________17:51:27_PDT_________
120 Well, I for one am depressed. So there.
121 .......................................
122 {+|+} <128> 860731^2031
123 AN ARGUMENT AGAINST THE EMPIRICAL METHOD, Some haystacks don't
124 even have any needle.
125
126 THE High on a slope in New Guinea
127 the Grumman Hellcat lodges
128 MAN among bright vinesas thick as
129 arms. In 1943, the clenched
130 IN hand of a pilot glided it
131 here where no one has ever
132 THE been.
133
134 DEAD In the cockpit, the helmeted
135 skeleton sits upright, held
136 MACHINE by dry sinews at neck and
137 shoulder, and webbing that
138 straps the pelvic cross
139 to the cracked leather of the
140 seat, and the breastbone to
141 the canvas cover of the
142 parachute.
143
144 Or say that the shrapnel
145 missed him, he flew back to
146 by the back to the carrier, and
147 every morning takes the
148 Donald train, his pale hands on his
149 black case, and sits upright,
150 Hall held by the firm webbing.
151
152 IS ANYONE CONFUSED BY THE ABOVE ENTRY? IF NOT, TRY READING IT IN 40 COLS.
153
154 What a pile of crap!!! Why are such people allowed to eat up so many lines
155 with pure trash??? Why is this allowed to continue????
156
157 Tony....
158
159 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
160 Yes, Tony, why are you allowed to continue?
161 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ one line quipper ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
162 ********************* 14:30 ********* 8-1-86 *********************************
163 oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo
164 Boy am I all messed up, the dates are all askew, sideways and twisted.
165 I can see what I think is Disk C; there's a new disk in A; B is ?????
166 Oh, heck with it! Making sense heads from tails is like getting teeth pulled
167 around here sometimes. I'll just wait for L'homme to dispatch the real thing
168 and stop maintaing my upstart version of the archives. Pooh.
169 so
170 oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo -oo
171
172 \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\
173
174 John(530)....
175 We are all set up to do the run on Saturday. 1276.e Virdex setup will be used
176 as planned.
177
178 Also, Patsy said that the ladies will take care of any food needs. The only
179 thing we need is our guts to fill!!
180
181 Anyway, be sure to bring all of the necessary cans needed to run the 1276.e
182 system. Also, any EQ's and the like that will fit the Virdex we be needed to
183 do the nessessary setup. Other than that all you need to bring is yourself and
184 a few cold ones!!! See you there
185
186 Don(555)ald
187
188 ///////////////////
189 {+|+} <315> 860801^1915
190 341345 789g
191 Looks like Aaron is back. Smorgasboard is on the horizon now. Days. It's only
192 going to be days now. TIB-TPDB
193
194 \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\
195
196 Don(555)ald....
197
198 O.K. No doubt man.
199 I found the 1296 Chips that you
200 were looking for in the
201 back of my car. The only
202 thing I have to say about
203 the run is that if we
204 can't get the new Virdex
205 Unit in to replace the old
206 one, we can't run the
207 new Telex unit.?.? or can
208 we???? I talked to the ladies
209 also and I think it should
210 work great!
211 Are you going to be at
212 the next meeting?
213 ohhh!! crap, before I forget...
214 I did get that new antenna
215 that Jim talked about
216 at the last convention.
217 It should make ionization of
218 the Sodium compounds much
219 easier, and no more Nitrogen
220 trihalides!!!!
221 So that's all from here. (This
222 BBS should work great for us!)
223 Have a good one and talk to u
224 later....
225
226 John (530)
227
228 \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\
229 ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
230
231 Gentlemen,
232 An overdue thanks for a wonderful evening of hostility. We must do
233 it again in the not too distant future. I was somewhat disapointed that
234 the nameless Russian was not in attendance, as I understand there has been
235 progress in the manner he plays...But all in all...I enjoyed every minute.
236
237 As the saying goes ( with apologizes to voyeur )
238 " Tis better to have Nuked and lost than never Nuked at all "
239
240 ::::::Alex::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
241 ____08/01/86__________________JD 2446644.7708_________23:29:58_PDT_________
242
243 EMBASSY
244
245
246 As evening fell the day's oppression lifted;
247 Far peaks came into focus; it had rained:
248 Across wide lawns and cultured flowers drifted
249 The conversation of the highly trained.
250
251 Two gardeners watched them pass and priced their shoes:
252 A chauffeur waited, reading in the drive,
253 For them to finish their exchange of views;
254 It seemed a picture of the private life.
255
256 Far off, no matter what good they intended,
257 The armies waited for a verbal error
258 With all the instruments for causing pain:
259
260 And on the issue their charm depended
261 A land laid waste, with all its young men slain,
262 Its women weeping, and its towns in terror.
263
264 W. H. Auden
265
266 L'homme: Have you received my communique yet? -FTU-
267 \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\
268 John(530)....
269
270 O.k. guy, I received your message o.k. and I have a few comments. First, we
271 will have to try the new Telex unit at some other time. Why? Because it is the
272 first of it's kind utilizing microprocessor control. The original ROM's are of
273 no use in this area. I ordered the new ones last week as so far nothing as
274 appeared. Therefore we will just have to forget using it till next session.
275
276 Also, be sure to bring that new antenna so we can try it out. It was really
277 intended for use on the Telex, but it should work on either system. I guess we
278 will find out, won't we?? However, be sure to bring the old one in the rare
279 case that the new one either won't work with the Virdex or is defective for
280 some strange reason.
281
282 One more thing.. Since you found the chips I will return the ones that I
283 picked up this week. Those damn things cost $150 a piece and I cannot forsee
284 any time in the future where I will need those little jewels again. I'd like
285 to have my $600 back in my pocket instead of being in my "spare parts" bin. Boy
286 I'm glad you found those little suckers. I have never seen any one item
287 inflate so much in any one year before. Just out of curiosity, when did you get
288 the ones you have and how much did you give for them. They ran for about $25 a
289 piece last year.
290
291 Anyway, Did you give Bob the number to this system and tell him how to leave
292 and read messages. If not do so and let's get him on here!
293 O.K.???
294 Talk to you later
295
296 Don(555)ald...
297
298 //////////////////////
299 JOHN (530) & DON(555)ALD: THIS SYSTEM'S STORAGE WORKS ON *LINES*, NOT CHARACTERS
300 SO YOUR 20-30 COLUMN WIDE TEXT IS WASTING ENORMOUS AMOUNTS OF STORAGE. THE
301 MA COMMAND WILL ALLOW YOU TO SET MARGINS UP TO 126 CHARACTERS. PLEASE USE
302 AT LEAST 40 & PREFERABLY 80 COULUMNS.
303 IF YOU FEEL THIS IS A HARDSHIP, THEN I SUGGEST YOU MOVE TO CBBS/NW (646-5510)
304 AS IT IS A SYSTEM INTENDED PRIMARILY FOR THE EXCHANGE OF MESSAGES.
305 *********************THE PHANTOM OF BACKWATER**********************************
306 *%)(*$%*_%*_%)+*#^_)^*@+^(@^(@+^(@^*$_^*##_^&_^*$)^*(@^@+__^(@+^*_)^+*@^*@$^_
307 Question: Does the Phantom of Backwater ever use mechanical laughter?
308 Virdex guys: I assume you are being careful with the bus arbitrators in your
309 system. You *have* read the reports on the effects of pull-down noise caused
310 by virdi in HF equipment. Also, distortion due to heat in the FFU can cause
311 logic errors, because the n^2mos wafers in the Virdex will bubble if exposed
312 to temps greater than 90 degrees centigrade. I guess the manufacturer tried
313 to cover that up, but the government uncovered the problem during Tempest
314 testing of field units.
315 FTU: No, I have not received your message yet. When did you send it?
316 )(#@%)*@#%(*@&)***$@%_^&(^&)_)&# L'homme sans Parity %*&@%)((&%*!&%@%*!)%(
317 Any day. Like, maybe monday, and Smorgasboard has got to come up. Doesn't it?
318 I mean, nobody would lie around here would they? ibtw-tpdb.
319 +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
320 Ek! Sorry about that abrupt ending on lines 96-99, I had
321 a problem with a mass of Telco equipemnt and was disconnected.
322
323 In any case, here is the actual product, if not too late
324 and too little (which has NEVER been the case at Backwater).
325 A man walked up to the Auto-Eat window and typed in his selection. He then
326 slipped his CurrencyCard into the slot just above the keyboard and just below
327 the display. The display, by the way, was proudly displaying his choice, or
328 at least it's image at what his choice should, at least, resemble.
329 The man waited impatiently for his selection to be delivered nice and
330 hot and ready for consumming. He folded his arms and waited. Soon, the
331 dispensory slotpned, motors inside whirred, the console said "Thank You!"
332 in a cheerful monotone, and his selection was coughed up.
333 The man scowled and looked under the cover bearing the words,
334 "TRILLIONS AND TRILLIONS SERVED" in bold emblazend letters, and he scowled
335 ******
336 Nope, still don't work, damn!
337 ARGH! can it, you'll have to wait till I find a
338 better way to do this (!). Ciao.
339
340 PEN NAME (yes, it's true)
341 +-+-+-+--+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
342 L'homme: Sorry about that. The message was sent to Milchar. A slight
343 mixup of sorts.
344 Milchar: So have you received it yet? - FTU -
345
346 *************
347 *Triple Five*
348 * Was Here! *
349 *************
350
351 + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + I will turn your body to dust--------
352 Fjor I am death
353 ____08/02/86__________________JD 2446645.7388_________22:43:58_PDT_________
354 I don't care, fjor I can spell 'for.'
355 HEY, LEONARD. WHAT DOES 2446645.7388 MEAN???!!!
356
357 Jim Z: Hi this is Pete, I finally made it on. And this is just to let
358 you know that I did!
359 Pete
360
361 <*::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::*>>
362 Vortex Guys - I recalibrated the transponder on the internal
363 thought recogninator on the Cognitive Transmogrification Gun.
364 The loop-back detection kits looks good. If the transponder
365 chips get here soon I should have it working by Friday.
366
367 Henderson LaMonte
368 <<*::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::*>>
369 Cognitive Transmogrification?
370 How interesting....
371
372 \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\////////////////////////////////////////
373 My boss posted this at work and he said that he was not kidding. How would you
374 take this if you found this type of system where you work??
375 Tony...
376 +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-
377 NOTICE
378
379
380 Due to the excessive number of absences from the office, the following rules
381 and procedures will be put into effect as of this date:
382
383 SICKNESS NO EXCUSE: We will no longer accept your doctor's statement as
384 proof, as we believe that if you are able to go to the doctor, you are able
385 to come to work.
386
387 DEATH: (Other than your own) This is no excuse; there is nothing you can do
388 for them, and we are sure that someone else with a lesser position can attend
389 to the arrangements. However, if the funeral can be held in the late
390 afternoon, we will be glad to let you off one hour early, provided that your
391 share of the work is ahead enough to keep the job going in your absence.
392
393 LEAVE OF ABSENCE: (For an Operation) We are no longer allowing this practice.
394 We wish to discourage any thoughts that you may need an operation as we believe
395 as long as you are an employee here, you will need all of whatever you have and
396 you should not consider having anything removed. We hired you as you are and
397 to have anything removed would certainly make you less than we bargained for.
398
399 DEATH: (Your own) This will be accepted as an excuse, but we would like a two
400 week notice as we feel it is your duty to train someone else for your job.
401
402 Also, entirely too much time is being spent in the restrooms. In the future,
403 we will follow the practice of going in alphabetical order. For instance,
404 those whose name begins with an "A" will go from 8:00 to 8:15, "B" will go from
405 8:15 to 8:30, and so on. If you are unable to go at the designated time, it
406 will be necessary to wait until the next day when your turn comes around again.
407
408 The JD 24465.... is the current julian day #.
409 ____08/03/86__________Leonard_JD 2446646.4010_________14:37:30_PDT_______
410 Names galore. ttt
411
412
413 DEPOT In the depot and the darkened day
414 IN the clack of an old pinball machine
415 A demands a curious notice.
416 RIVER More sleeping than not
417 TOWN a satchel faced farmer makes noises.
418 A sailor circles like a child in church.
419
420 by In the depot and the darkened day
421 Miller I surrender my back to the imperative bench,
422 Williams unlistening hear the emphatic pencil
423 tap itself on the table.
424
425 The little blond reads
426 and fingers the cloth of her blouse
427 like a nun telling beads.
428
429 Cracked across after an ancient painting
430 the face of the woman with children
431 ignores and ignores.
432 There is fog at the windows
433 and the open doors.
434
435 Within the ear's rim rises a separate sound.
436 Wood slapping side slipping water sounds
437 settle me deep.
438 I feel again the penny in my pocket
439 and the slow sleep of the river wraps me round.
440
441 000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000
442 Something was wrong, I could sense it. I had just returned from a
443 rather lengthy trip to nowhere, and I could tell that something was
444 wrong the minute I stepped into my apartment. Perhaps it was the barely
445 percepital smell of fine machine oil, and the faint tint of ozone in the
446 air. Or perhaps the drifting gerble hair that caused me to sneeze
447 (I always was allergic to small furry animals).
448 Tense and strung on adrenaline, I quietly closed the door and
449 looked about, I didn't see anything out f the ordinary, but still I knew
450 something was wrong. Moving down the short hall, I turned to the right
451 and stepped into the living room. Something was wrong, but I couldn't
452 put my finger on it.
453 I stood there for a moment, pondering what it was that was
454 bothering me, and then I realized that the computer was on and a CD ROM
455 was in the drive. As the impact of it struck me (I had left the computer
456 off, and I didn't even *own* a CD ROM drive!), I heard a metalic click.
457 Turning about quickly I found myself face to face with my opponent. I
458 didn't know who he was, but he seemed formidable enough. "Who are you?
459 What do you want? Why are you in my apartment? How did you get in?
460 (My journalistic instincts automatically taking over.) The only response
461 I received was laughter with metalic overtones.
462 I edged towards the door in the hopes of escaping. But quicker then
463 I could see, he grabbed my arm and spun me about. Before I could scream
464 out, I found my mouth tapped shut, and my arms tied behind me.
465 As I lay on the floor, he moved out of my vision. I heard a
466 rustling sound, then he was back a smile on his face and a sringe in his
467 hand. Wide eyed, I watched the needle enter my arm as I heard the faint
468 whine of fine tuned servos...whine? Of course! As I lay there, I felt
469 the drug begin to take effect, I tried to speak the fateful words,
470 conciousness fading in and out in a rapdly increasing pulsating
471 stream...the world began to darken, "Duex ex ma... ma... ghaaaa......"
472 0000000000 8-4-86 - 00:14 00000000000 Dern Rupes 000000000000000000000
473
474 *************
475 *Triple Five*
476 * Was Here! *
477 *************
478
479
480 Triple Five never enters anything. Despite the placing of his name above
481 several entries. I think we have a sort of marker here. Three lines long and
482 with a prefix you can never dial. ttt
483
484
485 *************************************
486 * *
487 * Call the Road House BBS *
488 * *
489 * (503)286-xxxx *
490 * 300/1200/2400 *
491 *8 data bites, No parity, 1 stop bit*
492 * *
493 * Open 24 hrs a Day *
494 * 1.2mgb of disk space *
495 * *
496 * The only Portland Area Mac Board *
497 * devoted to the Macintosh! *
498 * *
499 * 'ey Mate give us a rin' *
500 * *
501 *************************************
502
503 !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
504
505 S P E C I A L N O T I C E
506 ----------------------------
507 August 3, 1986
508 ----------------------------
509
510 Bit Bucket BBS is now officially OFFLINE. The 'bbs' and 'bucket' logins will
511 no longer function, as of 11:00 AM on 03-AUG-86. Notification will remain
512 online through 31-AUG-86, at which time the 'bbs' login on this system will be
513 removed. Please spread word to other BBSs that Bit Bucket is no more!
514 ################################################################################
515
516 Excerp from Current Bit Bucket Logon
517
518 !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
519 ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
520 "Sam? Sam get the hell in here. We just got a directive from upstairs." Fred
521 hated directives from upstairs. On top of his normal animosity towards
522 directives, this latest edict from above contained extra reasons for worry.
523 "Ya Fred, what's all the commotion in here? Can't you see I'm working on
524 important stuff?"
525 "Can it Sam, this is important. Direct from the big guy. We have a glitch
526 in the 'droids we gotta fix fast, including retro-fits on all active units.
527 It appears that some of the units's lubrication module is going way before
528 MTBF. According to this directive, 40% of the units have experienced this
529 failure in the past two weeks."
530 "But that's impossible. Those IM2's are supposed to go 6 months without
531 a checkup, worst case scenario!"
532 "Hey, I'm just reading what the guys upstairs send down. We don't question
533 why, remember?"
534 "Ok, sure, whatever you say Fred. I'll go get the floor model." Sam walked
535 out of the room while Fred turned around and unlocked a large red locker
536 with stenciled letters spelling out 'IM2' on the front of it. Opening the
537 locker, he reached down and lifted a large rectangular case up onto the
538 work bench. He dialed in a number of a special multi-combination lock. At
539 the last number, the top of the case flipped open, revealing a maze of
540 wires and switches all hooked up to a brushed stainless steel box set inside
541 he case. He pressed a green button marked 'S', and the box beeped once.
542 Fred smiled as he took two probes in his hand, and waited for Sam to return.
543 ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ The Mechanics ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
544
545 *$%#_@*%_@#*%_)@#*%)_@#*%)@#$*%_^)#*$@^)_*!_^)_)^*_)*^_)#$(^#)_$(^_)!#$*^&_)#$*^_#*^#)_$*^&_#$^&*#)_&*#_)&*!#)_&!#*&!_#)&*
546 Mikey: 1000 apologies for not calling Saturday. It is a long story which I
547 will relate to you via voice. On a side note, I have managed to put
548 together a nice collection of routines for the project. Is next Saturday
549 still a possibility?
550 FTU: No problem. But do I get to find out what the message is?
551 *%_)@#*%_@)#*%)_@#*%)_$^&*@)_*@_) L'homme sans Parity %*@#_%*_@#)*%_@#*%_#@*%@_#%*@_^&*@#_)*^@_^&@_)^*@#_)^*@)_^*)_*@_^@_^
552 PARKINSON'S LAW: The bad drives out the good.
553 I remember back in the mid 60's when CB was a means of communication. When the
554 late 70's rush hit, all the "good" CB'ers either went to sidebanding, or ham
555 radio, or quit.
556 The "good buddy" types have hit the bbs's....
557 ____08/04/86__________Leonard_JD 2446647.6011_________19:25:35_PDT_________
558 Leonard...
559 Were you ever on C.B. in the past?? I like your realating story to
560 that lost form of fun and it got me
561 wondering if you once were??
562
563 @@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@ Bruce **********************************
564
565 CBER'S? OMIGAWD PLEASE NO!!!!!!!!!!!
566 ....................................
567
568 PETE: MESSAGE RECEIVED, WHOTS HAPPENING?
569 <><><><><><>><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><<><>
570
571 ttt I agree with Leonard. Nowadays, modems are convenient peripherals
572 that you can get along with your new MS-DOS machine. There is little more
573 to it. Even Commodore had the nerve to make their modems so flaky that
574 people not dedicated couldn't use them. Instead of those fun filled days
575 of yesteryear, we have repoutable companies churning out modems at a slim
576 thirty dollar price tag. So any indedicated jerk can technically screw
577 up any public system.
578 I don't know what sidebanding is. It strikes me as a method to
579 hide or scramble a signal, such that it would have to be known about in
580 advance to be heard. And -that- strikes me as what a lot of systems have
581 done. The Bit Bucket is not gone, not really. Because, most likely, there
582 is still going to be a collection of friends with Unix access. I have
583 heard that same idea thrown around about all the other Unix boards now
584 operating in town. Not public. Only friends. And new friends are made on
585 the public systems, if necessary.
586 After returning from a long trip, I was sort of stunned to find
587 that three quarters of all the old BWMS users had faded away. Stopped
588 wasting their eraly mornings or late nights on it. There are only a few
589 reasons for this. But I -don't- want to get into an argument over who is
590 to blame for the overall sad state of affairs. Its just true that Piper
591 isn't going to read this. Pam probably won't. Neither will most of the
592 people who made this system an exception to the rule.
593 The question that has been going through my mind lately, is "What
594 is going to happen to BackWater now? What about the people I met there?
595 Are we just going to fade into squalid files in those Archives?"
596 If only I had the answer. For now, the only thing I can do is
597 enjoy what writing (Of the elder style, not the recent ultraverbose and
598 overemotional sort that was pioneered by J. Silverman, and D. S. Knight.
599 As a way to preserve an old feeling. At least till it picks up again.
600 If it ever does. End of diatribe, sorry for the length... ttt
601
602 Adultery -
603
604 The air becomes thin
605 at this altitude
606 and footholds are rare
607
608 But above all else,
609 Remember not to look down
610
611 - Jackie Fox
612
613
614 *************
615 *Triple Five*
616 * Was Here! *
617 *************
618
619 Come on, what takes so long to change disks. Come on Mikey whats the
620 big deal???
621
622 _______________________________________________________________________________
623 BACKWATER will survive because the backbone users of this system will do every-
624 thing they can to save it. I am not writing about the transitory hit-and-run
625 authors so popular of late. I am talking about the oft-spoken of old-timers
626 who have gone on to other personnas and are speaking in different tongues. BW
627 will endure because they will endure. They will not let this unique and
628 enjoyable system fade away. It means too much. French Toast __________