     Volume 8, Number 12                                 25 March 1991
     +---------------------------------------------------------------+
     |                                                  _            |
     |                                                 /  \          |
     |                                                /|oo \         |
     |        - FidoNews -                           (_|  /_)        |
     |                                                _`@/_ \    _   |
     |         FidoNet (r)                           |     | \   \\  |
     |  International BBS Network                    | (*) |  \   )) |
     |         Newsletter               ______       |__U__| /  \//  |
     |                                 / FIDO \       _//|| _\   /   |
     |                                (________)     (_/(_|(____/    |
     |                                                     (jm)      |
     +---------------------------------------------------------------+
     Editor in Chief:                                  Vince Perriello
     Editors Emeritii:                    Thom Henderson,  Dale Lovell
     Chief Procrastinator Emeritus:                       Tom Jennings
     
     Copyright 1991, Fido Software.  All rights reserved.  Duplication
     and/or distribution permitted  for  noncommercial  purposes only.
     For use in other circumstances, please  contact  Fido Software.
     
     FidoNews  is  published  weekly by and for  the  Members  of  the
     FidoNet (r) International Amateur Electronic Mail System.   It is
     a compilation of individual articles contributed by their authors
     or authorized agents of the authors. The contribution of articles
     to this compilation does not diminish the rights of the authors.
     
     You  are  encouraged   to  submit  articles  for  publication  in
     FidoNews.  Article submission standards are contained in the file
     ARTSPEC.DOC, available from node 1:1/1.    1:1/1  is a Continuous
     Mail system, available for network mail 24 hours a day.
     
     Fido and  FidoNet  are  registered  trademarks of Tom Jennings of
     Fido Software, Box  77731,  San  Francisco  CA 94107, USA and are
     used with permission.
     
     Opinions expressed in  FidoNews articles are those of the authors
     and are not necessarily  those of the Editor or of Fido Software.
     Most articles are unsolicited.   Our  policy  is to publish every
     responsible submission received.


                        Table of Contents
     1. ARTICLES  .................................................  1
        FidoNet Survey  ...........................................  1
        Just another fairy tale?  .................................  7
     2. COLUMNS  .................................................. 10
        A submission for fidonews about the CIFC BBS List  ........ 10
     3. LATEST VERSIONS  .......................................... 11
        Latest Software Versions  ................................. 11
     4. NOTICES  .................................................. 16
        The Interrupt Stack  ...................................... 16
     FidoNews 8-12                Page 1                   25 Mar 1991


     =================================================================
                                 ARTICLES
     =================================================================

     Mitch Thompson
     FidoNET 1:383/15

     The following survey was submitted for a user on my system.
     He asks that persons interested in helping him with this
     thesis project please place this survey (a message on a local
     message area is the easiest) on their BBS, collect the
     results, and send them to him.  You could netmail them, or
     get in touch with me somehow, and I'll F'Req them from your
     systems, or something.  Thank you in advance for your
     participation.

     Mitch Thompson

                          FidoNet Survey

      by Kenneth Lansing of Texas Tech University, Lubbock, Texas.

     This survey is designed as a graduate school thesis project.
     Your help in answering this research would be most helpful.
     Please take a few minutes to answer the following questions.
     All answers will be kept confidential and users will remain
     anonymous.

     1) What type of computer are you using?
     (e.g., Amiga 500, Macintosh SE)
     Please type answer:



     2) How did you find out about this BBS?
     (e.g., Friend, teacher, co-worker, another BBS)
     Please type answer:



     3) Is your call to this BBS
        A) local?
        B) long distance?
     Type corresponding letter:

     4) Are you the SYSOP (systems operator) of this BBS?
        A) yes
        B) no
     Type corresponding letter:

     5) On average, how often do you use this BBS?
     FidoNews 8-12                Page 2                   25 Mar 1991


        A) once a month or less
        B) two or three times a month
        C) once a week
        D) two or three times a week
        E) once a day
        F) several times a day
     Type corresponding letter:

     6) On average, how long do you use this BBS during a week?
        A) less than 15 minutes
        B) 15 to 30 minutes
        C) 30 minutes to 1 hour
        D) 1 to 2 hours
        E) 3 to 4 hours
        F) 5 to 6 hours
        G) more than 6 hours
     Type corresponding letter:

     7) Do you use more than one BBS?
        A) yes
        B) no
     Type corresponding letter:

     8) How long have you been using a computer and modem to connect
        to BBSes?
        A) less than 1 month
        B) 1 to 6 months
        C) 6 months to 1 year
        D) 1 to 2 years
        E) 3 to 5 years
        F) 6 to 8 years
        G) more than 8 years
     Type corresponding letter:

     9) How long have you been using a computer and modem to connect
        to "this" BBS?
        A) less than 1 month
        B) 1 to 6 months
        C) 6 months to 1 year
        D) 1 to 2 years
        E) 3 to 5 years
        F) 6 to 8 years
        G) more than 8 years
     Type corresponding letter:

     10) Approximately, how many different people do you exchange
     information or communicate with through this BBS?
        A) zero
        B) 1 to 4
        C) 5 to 10
        D) 11 to 15
     FidoNews 8-12                Page 3                   25 Mar 1991


        E) more than 16
     Type corresponding letter:

     11) Approximately, how often do you use this BBS to communicate
     with other users of this BBS?
        A) never
        B) once a month
        C) 2 to 3 times a month
        D) once a week
        E) 2 to 3 times a week
        F) once a day
        G) several times a day
     Type corresponding letter:

     12) Approximately, how often do you use this BBS to communicate
     with people on other local BBSes?
        A) never
        B) once a month
        C) 2 to 3 times a month
        D) once a week
        E) 2 to 3 times a week
        F) once a day
        G) several times a day
     Type corresponding letter:

     13) Approximately, how often do you use this BBS to communicate
     with people on out-of-state BBSes (within the United States)?
        A) never
        B) once a month
        C) 2 to 3 times a month
        D) once a week
        E) 2 or 3 times a week
        F) more than 3 times a week
     Type corresponding letter:

     14) Please approximate how often you use this BBS to communicate
     internationally?
        A) never
        B) once a month
        C) 2 to 3 times a month
        D) once a week
        E) 2 or 3 times a week
        F) more than 3 times a week
     Type corresponding letter:

     15) On average, how often do you use this BBS to download
     computer files/programs?
        A) never
        B) once a month
        C) 2 to 3 times a month
        D) once a week
     FidoNews 8-12                Page 4                   25 Mar 1991


        E) 2 to 3 times a week
        F) once a day
        G) several times a day
     Type corresponding letter:

     16) On average, how often do you use this BBS to upload computer
     files/programs?
        A) never
        B) once a month
        C) 2 to 3 times a month
        D) once a week
        E) 2 or 3 times a week
        F) once a day
        G) several times a day
     Type corresponding letter:

     17) On average, how often do you use this BBS to play games?
        A) never
        B) once a month
        C) 2 to 3 times a month
        D) once a week
        E) 2 or 3 times a week
        F) once a day
        G) several times a day
     Type corresponding letter:

     18) On average, how often do you use this BBS for Echomail/Group
     Mail/Special Interest Group (SIG) Conferences?
        A) never
        B) once a month
        C) 2 to 3 times a month
        D) once a week
        E) 2 or 3 times a week
        F) once a day
        G) several times a day
     Type corresponding letter:

     19) What is your common use of this BBS?
        A) Download computer files/programs
        B) Upload computer files/programs
        C) Read or download newsletters
        D) Read message area
        E) Games
        F) EchoMail/Group Mail/Special Interest Group Conferences
        G) Electronic Mail (E-Mail)
        H) NetMail
        I) Chat with Sysop
        J) Other
     Type corresponding letter:

     20) Please rate the overall quality of this BBS:
     FidoNews 8-12                Page 5                   25 Mar 1991


        A) very good
        B) good
        C) neither good nor bad
        D) bad
        E) very bad
     Type corresponding letter:

     Answers for the follwoing questions will be kept confidential
     and anonymous.

     21) Are you?
        A) male
        B) female
     Type corresponding letter:

     22) What is your ethnic background?
        A) White
        B) African-American/Black
        C) Hispanic
        D) Asian
        E) Other
     Type corresponding letter:

     23) What is your highest education level completed?
        A) Elementary School
        B) Some High School
        C) High School graduate
        D) Some College
        E) College graduate
        F) Post-Graduate studies
     Type corresponding letter:

     24) Which of these categories includes your total annual income?
        A) More than $50,000
        B) $40,000 - $49,999
        C) $20,000 - $39,999
        D) $10,000 - $19,999
        E) Under $10,000
     Type corresponding letter:

     25) What is your current marital status?
        A) Single
        B) Divorced or separated
        C) Married
        D) Widowed
     Type corresponding letter:

     26) What is your age?
        A) Under 10
        B) 10 - 19
        C) 20 - 29
     FidoNews 8-12                Page 6                   25 Mar 1991


        D) 30 - 39
        E) 40 - 49
        F) Over 50
     Type corresponding letter:


     -----------------------------------------------------------------
     FidoNews 8-12                Page 7                   25 Mar 1991


     Glenn Caleval
     1:140/1

                          JUST ANOTHER FAIRY TALE?

     Once upon a time there was a group of friends and strangers who
     wanted to talk to one another through a magical wonder known in
     the arcana as Computer Communications.

     The original wizards of the mystic art commanded the forces of
     nature to bind them to another, a small coven of Touch Typists
     and Techies. And behold, it was good.

     Therefore the wizards proclaimed "let us prosyletize!" and they
     did. Soon the coven grew from a few to many. And then many more
     and many more until the group multiplied to cover the face of the
     Earth with their mystic arts and magical incantations. And still
     it was good.

     The group was a group but was not, and in that it was not was its
     strength and so it grew. In diverse places on the Earth did new
     groups both large and small appear, different each with its own
     strange customs and unusual deeds, yet all part of the first
     group. And together they would incant "F-i-d-o-n-e-t, ohmmmm."
     For that which tied them was fragile, little more than wire and
     strange numbers in a magical list.

     But for all the numbers and wire, a beast lurked in the midst of
     the group and the beast had a name and it was "Annoyance." For
     though the magic was powerful and shone forth in its awe, none
     would ever bleed from misuse of the force. No limb be torn, nor
     brow bruised by evil use of the magic. But still this one beast
     arose and many became obsessed with the name of Annoyance.

     Then darkly through the monitor spake a voice of darkness.
     "Policy," it said. "Policy will make us like unto one another and
     thus will we be rid of the beast."

     And there was much rushing hither and yon, and whispering and
     rumors of war and much ado about this new weapon, Policy.

     Said the Moderator, "And it shall say that I am the lord god of
     my dominions and none shall challenge me on penalty of echodeath!"

     Said the NEC, "And it shall say that no NC shall rise up against
     me lest Policy be brought against him and he shall surely rue
     that day."

     Said the REC, "And I shall be the master of all I survey and I
     shall know what is right in my principalities and I shall cause
     the underlings beneath me to walk in righteousness by the name of
     Policy."

     FidoNews 8-12                Page 8                   25 Mar 1991


     Said the ZEC, "Policy hath forsaken me to my doom and I shall
     never say what I think lest someone disagree with me."

     Said the NC, "We are not Annoyed."

     Said the RC, "We are not annoited."

     Said the ZC, "We are not amused."

     Said the frustrated sysop, "And I shall use the might of Policy
     to Vote, to Vote, and I shall be rid of all my frustration and
     rid of all those who would coordinate me."

     Said the Average Sysop, "Who are all these people anyway?"

     And concern begat discussion which begat debate which begat
     argument which begat bitterness which begat Policy. And no one
     got kissed before they got begat.

                                    ###

     PostLogue

     From Echopol to ZEC elections to the New Jerusalem of Policy 5,
     this fairy tale is no creative writing. FidoNet is a connection
     more than it is a group. Indeed, the individual systems in a
     given net differ more than they are alike, in views, in purpose,
     in modus operandi and often even in hardware/software
     configurations.

     We are not a homogeneous unit. We have two things that actually
     bind us: general purpose (to communicate) and general method (the
     nodelist). Beyond that it's work and as much good luck as we can
     get.

     The problems all the buzzing is intended to solve really do come
     down to matters of being annoyed. Sure foolish users or sysops
     can cost us all money, but if anyone thinks the power of policy
     will or should eliminate this annoyance their dream will be
     shaken when we wake up in the New Jerusalem. We will still have
     (and need to tolerate) foolish users and sysops.

     Giving sysops a vote will solve the problems, right? Join the new
     Coffee echo and have a smell. Giving sysops voting rights is
     going to cause considerably more problems than it could pretend
     to solve. Witness the ZEC elections.

     Annoyed sysops will vote, campaign, stir up bad feelings and
     replicate Z1_Election many times in the future. The Average Sysop
     will continue to wonder "Who are these guys anyway?"

     FidoNews 8-12                Page 9                   25 Mar 1991


     What problem were we trying to solve? Feeling helpless cause you
     didn't get your way? Just wait until some of those folks have a
     "mandate" and worry about not getting your way.

     Mad because the Moderator doesn't let you enter msgs about the
     price of candy in the tech echo? Electing a new one won't make
     much difference unless you all want a candy echo instead. So
     start a candy echo.

     All this aside it is my personal opinion that we can survive
     within the constraints of the most recent cut of Echopol and the
     newest proposed WorldPol/Policy5. But as we jump into the fray,
     perhaps a little fairy tale might be useful...



     -----------------------------------------------------------------
     FidoNews 8-12                Page 10                  25 Mar 1991


     =================================================================
                                  COLUMNS
     =================================================================

     Matt Barton
     FidoNet: 1:231/70.0

                           CIFC BBS List

         We here in net 231 have the opurtunity to participate
     in a new idea using FidoNet(r) technology. It's called the
     Central Indiana FidoNet Cooperative BBS List. It enables
     users to submit entries into a large database of BBS's using
     questionares for Qbbs/Ra/Sbbs.

         This idea was conceived of by a person name Casey
     Schaphorst of 1:231/240.0 (Falx Cerebri Amiga). He wrote
     the program that processes updates and publishes the lists.
     So far, the program creates three files. They are:
     LOCALBBS.ASC, SHORTBBS.ASC, and CIFC_RPT.ASC. All or which
     are sent out by the host node of the list.

         According to the date that this was written, there are
     seven things that a user may do to create an update to the
     list: Add, Change, Verify, Describe, Link A Subheading,
     Restore, and Delete. Like a said before, the updates are
     generated by the Qbbs/Ra/Sbbs questionare languages. There
     is a seperate questionare for each type of update. Around
     6:00am to 7:00am a batch file runs that will check to see
     if any updates have been made. If some were found, it will
     rename them, zip them up, and using a robot program, will
     send it to the host node (231/240).

         Right now.. It doesn't seem that the CIFC BBS List will
     get any farther than Central Indiana. The list is only limted
     to what we have right now. Hopefully it will expand to
     incorperate other nets around Central Indiana.

         I would like to know if there is anyone else that has
     experimented with something like this. Please feel free
     to netmail me or something. I'm at 1:231/70.0.

     -----------------------------------------------------------------
     FidoNews 8-12                Page 11                  25 Mar 1991


     =================================================================
                              LATEST VERSIONS
     =================================================================

                         Latest Software Versions

                              MS-DOS Systems
                              --------------

                           Bulletin Board Software
     Name        Version    Name        Version    Name       Version

     DMG            2.93    Phoenix         1.3    TAG           2.5g
     Fido            12s+   QuickBBS       2.66    TBBS           2.1
     GSBBS          3.02    RBBS          17.3B    TComm/TCommNet 3.4
     Lynx           1.30    RBBSmail      17.3B    Telegard       2.5
     Kitten         2.16    RemoteAccess   1.00*   TPBoard        6.1
     Maximus        1.02    SLBBS          1.77A   Wildcat!      2.55
     Opus           1.14+   Socrates       1.10    WWIV          4.12
     PCBoard        14.5                           XBBS          1.15

     Network                Node List              Other
     Mailers     Version    Utilities   Version    Utilities  Version

     BinkleyTerm    2.40    EditNL         4.00    ARC            7.0
     D'Bridge       1.30    MakeNL         2.31    ARCAsim       2.30
     Dutchie       2.90C    ParseList      1.30    ARCmail       2.07
     FrontDoor     1.99c    Prune          1.40    ConfMail      4.00
     PRENM          1.47    SysNL          3.14    Crossnet      v1.5
     SEAdog        4.51b    XlatList       2.90    DOMAIN        1.42
     TIMS      1.0(Mod8)    XlaxDiff       2.35    EMM           2.02
                            XlaxNode       2.35    4Dog/4DMatrix 1.18
                                                   Gmail         2.05
                                                   GROUP         2.16
                                                   GUS           1.30
                                                   HeadEdit      1.15
                                                   InterPCB      1.31
                                                   LHARC         2.10*
                                                   MSG            4.1
                                                   MSGED         2.06
                                                   MSGTOSS        1.3
                                                   Oliver        1.0a
                                                   PK[UN]ZIP     1.10
                                                   QM             1.0
                                                   QSORT         4.03
                                                   Sirius        1.0x
                                                   SLMAIL        1.36
                                                   StarLink      1.01
                                                   TagMail       2.41
                                                   TCOMMail       2.2
                                                   Telemail      1.27
     FidoNews 8-12                Page 12                  25 Mar 1991


                                                   TMail         1.15
                                                   TPBNetEd       3.2
                                                   TosScan       1.00
                                                   UFGATE        1.03
                                                   XRS           4.10*
                                                   XST            2.2
                                                   ZmailH        1.14


                                OS/2 Systems
                                ------------

     Bulletin Board Software   Network Mailers     Other Utilities

     Name            Version   Name      Version   Name       Version

     Maximus-CBCS       1.02   BinkleyTerm  2.40   Parselst      1.32
                                                   ConfMail      4.00
                                                   EchoStat       6.0
                                                   oMMM          1.52
                                                   Omail          3.1
                                                   MsgEd         2.06
                                                   MsgLink       1.0C
                                                   MsgNum        4.14
                                                   LH2           0.50
                                                   PK[UN]ZIP     1.02
                                                   ARC2          6.00
                                                   PolyXARC      2.00
                                                   Qsort          2.1
                                                   Raid           1.0
                                                   Remapper       1.2
                                                   Tick           2.0
                                                   VPurge        2.07


                                 Xenix/Unix
                                 ----------

     BBS Software                  Mailers         Other Utilities
     Name             Version  Name      Version   Name       Version

                               BinkleyTerm 2.30b   Unzip         3.10
                                                   ARC           5.21
                                                   ParseLst     1.30b
                                                   ConfMail     3.31b
                                                   Ommm         1.40b
                                                   Msged        1.99b
                                                   Zoo           2.01
                                                   C-Lharc       1.00
                                                   Omail        1.00b

     FidoNews 8-12                Page 13                  25 Mar 1991


                                   Apple II
                                  ----------

     Bulletin Board Software   Network Mailers     Other Utilities

     Name            Version   Name      Version   Name       Version

     GBBS Pro            2.1   Fruity Dog    1.0   ShrinkIt       3.2
     DDBBS +             4.0                       ShrinkIt GS   1.04
                                                   deARC2e        2.1
                                                   ProSel        8.65


                                 Apple CP/M
                                 ----------

     Bulletin Board Software   Network Mailers     Other Utilities

     Name            Version   Name      Version   Name       Version

     Daisy               v2j   Daisy Mailer 0.38   Nodecomp      0.37
                                                   MsgUtil        2.5
                                                   PackUser        v4
                                                   Filer         v2-D
                                                   UNARC.COM     1.20


                                 Macintosh
                                 ---------

     Bulletin Board Software   Network Mailers     Other Utilities

     Name            Version   Name      Version   Name       Version

     Red Ryder Host     2.1    Tabby         2.2   MacArc         0.04
     Mansion            7.15   Copernicus    1.0   ArcMac          1.3
     WWIV (Mac)         3.0                        LHArc          0.33
     Hermes             1.01                       StuffIt Classic 1.6
     FBBS               0.91                       Compactor      1.21
                                                   TImport        1.92
                                                   TExport        1.92
                                                   Timestamp       1.6
                                                   Tset            1.3
                                                   Import          3.2
                                                   Export         3.21
                                                   Sundial         3.2
                                                   PreStamp        3.2
                                                   OriginatorII    2.0
                                                   AreaFix         1.6
                                                   Mantissa       3.21
                                                   Zenith          1.5
     FidoNews 8-12                Page 14                  25 Mar 1991


                                                   Eventmeister    1.0
                                                   TSort           1.0
                                                   Mehitable       2.0
                                                   UNZIP         1.02c

                                   Amiga
                                   -----

     Bulletin Board Software   Network Mailers     Other Utilities

     Name            Version   Name      Version   Name       Version

     Paragon           2.082+  BinkleyTerm  1.00   AmigArc       0.23
     TransAmiga         1.05   TrapDoor     1.50   AReceipt       1.5
                               WelMat       0.42   booz          1.01
                                                   ConfMail      1.10
                                                   ChameleonEdit 0.10
                                                   ElectricHerald1.66
                                                   Lharc         1.30
                                                   MessageFilter 1.52
                                                   oMMM         1.49b
                                                   ParseLst      1.30
                                                   PkAX          1.00
                                                   PK[UN]ZIP     1.01
                                                   PolyxAmy      2.02
                                                   RMB           1.30
                                                   RoboWriter    1.02
                                                   Skyparse      2.30
                                                   TrapList      1.12
                                                   Yuck!         1.61
                                                   Zippy (Unzip) 1.25
                                                   Zoo           2.01



                                Atari ST/TT
                                -----------

     Bulletin Board         Network                Node List
     Software    Version    Mailer      Version    Utilities  Version

     FIDOdoor/ST    2.12*   BinkleyTerm   2.40l*   ParseList     1.30
     QuickBBS/ST    1.02    The BOX        1.20    Xlist         1.12
     Pandora BBS   2.41c                           EchoFix       1.20
     GS Point       0.61                           sTICk/Hatch   5.10*
     LED ST         1.00
     MSGED         1.96S

     Archiver               Msg Format             Other
     Utilities   Version    Converters  Version    Utilities  Version

     FidoNews 8-12                Page 15                  25 Mar 1991


     LHARC          0.60    TB2BINK        1.00    ConfMail      4.03
     ARC            6.02    BINK2TB        1.00    ComScan       1.02
     PKUNZIP        1.10    FiFo           2.1j*   Import        1.14
                                                   OMMM          1.40
                                                   Pack          1.00
                                                   FastPack      1.20
                                                   FDsysgen      2.16
                                                   FDrenum       2.10
                                                   Trenum        0.10



                                Archimedes
                                ----------

     BBS Software           Mailers                Utilities
     Name        Version    Name        Version    Name       Version

     ARCbbs         1.44    BinkleyTerm    2.03    Unzip        2.1TH
                                                   ARC           1.03
                                                   !Spark       2.00d

                                                   ParseLst      1.30
                                                   BatchPacker   1.00


     + Netmail capable (does not require additional mailer software)
     * Recently changed

     Utility authors:  Please help  keep  this  list  up  to  date  by
     reporting  new  versions  to 1:1/1.  It is not our intent to list
     all utilities here, only those which verge on necessity.

     -----------------------------------------------------------------
     FidoNews 8-12                Page 16                  25 Mar 1991


     =================================================================
                                  NOTICES
     =================================================================

                          The Interrupt Stack


     30 Mar 1991
        Jim Grubs (W8GRT) was issued his first ham radio license forty
        years ago today. His first station was made from an ARC-5
        "Command Set" removed from a B-17 bomber.

     12 May 1991
        Fourth anniversary of FidoNet operations in Latin America and
        second anniversary of the creation of Zone-4.

     15 Aug 1991
        5th annual Z1 Fido Convention - FidoCon '91 "A New Beginning"
        Sheraton Denver West August 15 through August 18 1991.

      8 Sep 1991
        25th anniversary of first airing of Star Trek on NBC!

      7 Oct 1991
        Area code  415  fragments.   Alameda and Contra Costa Counties
        will  begin  using  area  code  510.   This includes  Oakland,
        Concord, Berkeley  and  Hayward.    San  Francisco, San Mateo,
        Marin, parts of  Santa Clara County, and the San Francisco Bay
        Islands will retain area code 415.

      1 Feb 1992
        Area  code 213 fragments.    Western,  coastal,  southern  and
        eastern portions of Los Angeles  County  will begin using area
        code 310.  This includes Los  Angeles  International  Airport,
        West  Los  Angeles,  San  Pedro and Whittier.    Downtown  Los
        Angeles  and  surrounding  communities  (such as Hollywood and
        Montebello) will retain area code 213.

      1 Dec 1993
        Tenth anniversary of Fido Version 1 release.

      5 Jun 1997
        David Dodell's 40th Birthday


     If you have something which you would like to see on this
     calendar, please send a message to FidoNet node 1:1/1.

     -----------------------------------------------------------------

