›A   HAPPY   HOLIDAY   SEASON   TO  ALL›              ATARIANS›**************************************›› MINUTES OF THE DECEMBER 1990 MEETING››  GENERAL MEETING:››  T'was  the  meeting before Christmas›and what could be more fitting than an›added  attraction  such  as  a  "MAGIC›SHOW".  Our  newsletter editor, CARLOS›HURTADO,  displayed  a  hidden  talent›very few members knew he pocessed, but›more about that later.››  ALEX  opened  the meeting by wishing›all  a  MERRY  CHRISTMAS,  and a HAPPY›HANUKKAH.   The   OL'   HACKERS   have›received  some  early Christmas cards,›the  first  one being from BOB BRODIE,›Group  User  Manager,  from  the ATARI›CORPORATION,  then  from ICD, even tho›they   are   no   longer  into  8  BIT›computing,  and  a  third  from ANDREW›BUONGIORNO, an old exmember.››  ALEX  PIGNATO  passed around samples›of  Christmas  labels  made  from  the›program   "P/S  LABLER".  The  special›feature of these samples was that they›were made with red addresses and green›xmas  tree.  By  changing the color of›the  ribbon  ALEX was able to create a›seasonal greeting label. ››  ALEX  also  displayed three articles›from  the  "M.U.G. NEWSLETTER" or just›plain       "CENTRAL      PENNSYLVANIA›MICROCOMPUTER  USER GROUPS NEWS". They›were  "An  Open  Letter  to  All  Club›Members"  by  ALEX PIGNATO, "ATARI the›GAME  MACHINE?" by CARLOS HURTADO, and›"BASIC  PROGRAMMING  for BEGINNERS" by›STAN  "The  PILLMAN" SCHENFELD (Way to›go fellows!).››  JOE  LEBER  is  the  first member to›type  out  an  old "SOFTSIDE MAGAZINE"›type in program called "At the CODFISH›BALL".››  From   NETA  FILLMORE,  BAKERSFIELD,›CALIFORNIA,  she has foreign names and›adresses   for   those   who  wish  to›correspond  with  pen pals world wide.›She  brought  to  the  "B.A.C.E.  LINE›BAKERSFIELD ATARI COMPUTER ENTHUSIASTS›raffle,  several  foreign decals and a›new  disk  sent  to  her  by  the  OL'›HACKERS CLUB.››  From   J.A.C.G.,  the  JERSEY  ATARI›COMPUTER  GROUP,   a thank you for our›DOM    (Disk   of   the   Month)   for›NOVEMBER/DECEMBER   on  on  one  side,›which  brings them up todate  with the›SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER  issue,  also with a›good  bowling  program  and "The STORY›CONTINUES".  ALEX combined two issues,›one  on  each side of a disk, and JACG›has   entered  them  into  their  club›library.››  ALEX  read outgoing JACG president's›message   from   DAVE   NOYES  to  our›members.   It   concerned   his  mixed›feeling over leadership, the emotional›and  physical drain that is associated›with  it.  He  also stated that FUN is›what  the club is all about and that's›what  doing  things  for a club should›be, FUN, NOT A CHORE!››  ALEX    reread   ANTHONY   FALCONE'S›letter,  having  first  read it at our›annual  club dinner. ANTHONY stated he›had enjoyed reading the stack of other›club's  newsletters he borrowed at the›last  meeting.  Because of school work›and finals at COOPERS UNION he will be›unable  to attend the next two monthly›meetings.  However,  he  has  some new›programs  given  to him by members and›he is trying to learn them. He did not›count on this extra learning process.››  ALEX  read  member  NICK VANDERLEE'S›latest   letter   from  the  wilds  of›CANADA.    There   aren't   too   many›eight-bitters   in  his  neck  of  the›woods,so  he  is  very  happy  he is a›member     of     OL'    H.    Through›correspondance  with  other  clubs  he›does  pickup  some  eight-bit disks to›enjoy.››› The    "CLEVATARI   NEWSLETTER"   for›OCTOBER  1990  carried an article "The›OL' HACKER'S DO IT AGAIN". This column›referred  to  our  disk newsletter and›forced  the writer to dust off his old›ATARI  800  one  more time in order to›read  the  newsletter  with  the slick›looking  menu  with  a help key. As he›stated  each  member would be required›to use his ATARI eight-bit computer at›least  once  a  month just to read the›newsletter.   Being   exclusively   an›eight-bit  club  our  ATARI'S do get a›lot  of  mileage  each and every month›and the incentive is turned up a notch›when the club newsletter is issued. He›gave  us a great compliment, in saying›we  were  on  of  the  STRONGEST 8 BIT›CLUBS!››  ANNUAL DINNER:››  BOB  DEPOTO  gave  a  report  on the›ANNUAL  OL'  HACKERS CHRISTMAS DINNER.›As  in  the  past  the dinner was well›attended  and  enjoyed by all. Besides›the  summer  picnic  this  is the only›other occasion where our wives join us›for  some  merriment.  Adding  to  the›pleasure  of  the  evening  were  some›former  ATARIANS  who  went on to "BIG›BLUE",  but it was still nice to party›with them.››  DOOR PRIZES:››  Christmas  came early as ALEX coming›on  as  SANTA's  HELPER,  emptied  the›barrel  during  the  spinning  of  the›"DOOR   PRIZE"   program.   Would  you›believe,  most  members  collected  as›many  as  three  prizes  that included›Disks,        Games,        Utilities,›Documentation, Disk Holders, etc..››  One member commented "We got a years›supply of door prizes at one meeting".›It   was   really  a  great  CHRISTMAS›meeting!››  IN  keeping  with the season, Coffee›and  Cake during the break were on the›house.››  MINUTES/TREASURY REPORTS:››  The minutes were accepted as written›and  AL ATKINS gave a healthy year end›treasury report.››  In  addition  AL,  representing  the›nominations    committee,   gave   the›members   a  proposed  slate  of  club›officers   for   1991.   The  proposed›nominations are as follows:››  PRESIDENT           ALEX PIGNATO›  VICE-PRESIDENT      STAN SCHENFELD›  SECRETARY           GINA BRYANT›  TREASURY            AL ATKINS›  LIBRIAN             HAROLD PEGLER›  LEGAL COUNCIL       JERRY GINSBERG›  CO-EDITORS "NL"     CARLOS HURTADO›                      ALEX PIGNATO›  EQUIPMENT MANAGER   HARRY TUTHILL›  INT'L CORRESPONDENT HORST DEWITZ››  BOB  DEPOTO  made a motion to accept›the  slate of officers proposed by the›nominating  committee as presented and›the motion was seconded by RON FETZER.›As  no  other  people  were nominated,›nominations were closed. Motion passed›unanimously.  Voting  will  be  at the›JANUARY  12th  meeting by paid up 1991›members.››  BLACK MOON SYSTEMS:››  CARLOS   then  demo'd  a  commerical›program   from   BLACK  MOON  SYSTEMS,›"LabelMaster".    This   program   was›donated  by  the author to our library›through CARLOS. LabelMaster comes as a›two  disk set. CARLOS used version 1.7›for  his demo pointing out that one of›it's  best  features  of  the labeling›program  is  that  it  will print as a›multi  column  labeler,  two  or three›columns  across.  Looks  like  a super›program  for  the  ten  dollar  price.›LabelMaster will complement the "SMALL›BUSINESS"   program   from   the  same›company. Their address is:›››  BLACK MOON SYSTEMS›  P.O. BOX 152›  WINDGAP, PA. 18091››  MAGIC SHOW:››  The  entire  membership was taken by›suprise  when  our  newsletter  editor›CARLOS  HURTADO put on a "MAGIC SHOW".›Very  few  members  knew  this side of›him.››  CARLOS   went   thru  the  following›sleight of hand acts, in this order:››  1.   "THE  NEWSPAPER  TRICK"-  after›having  HARRY TUTHILL tear a newspaper›into  many  small  pieces,  HARRY  was›asked  to  roll them into a ball. When›he opened, the paper was again in it's›orginal condition.››  2.  "THE  UMBRELLA"-  multi  colored›pieces  of  cloth, when twisted into a›tube, out comes an umbrella.››  3.  "RECORDS"-  three  black records›inserted  into  a  folder,  then  when›taken  out  they  are now BLUE, YELLOW›and  RED, after examination the folder›is empty.››  4.  "THE  ROPE TRICK"- a rope is cut›in  half, then cut again, and again, a›knot  is tied on the rope, moved to be›centered  and suddenly it is again one›piece.››  5. "COLORED PAPER"- orange and black›paper,  torn  three  times, balled up,›blown  on  and  comes  out  a hat with›flowers.››  6.  "100 DOLLAR BILL"- two tricks in›one. First in getting a member to part›with a $100 dollar bill. CARLOS talked›his pigeon BOB DEPOTO, into giving him›a  hundred  dollar  bill, (pretty good›trick so far). The bill was marked for›identification,  folded  and rolled up›and  the bill was then suspended under›a  handkerchief, when the handkerchief›is  dropped,  no  hundred dollar bill!›CARLOS  had placed a small tube with a›screw  top  and  a  lock and key, on a›work table. When BOB unlocked the tube›and  screwed  the  top  off, a sigh of›relief  came out of him as he got back›his  $100. Carlos was given a big hand›for  an  excellent  show. The computer›demonstrations  almost  seemed  like a›let down after that act of sorcery.››  DEMONSTRATIONS:››  ALAN SHARKIS lead off the demos with›some  files he found in his collection›that  have  been  around  for  awhile,›"Oldie's,  But Goodies". Thinking that›some  OL'  HACKERS  may  not have seen›them  or forgotten them, or just might›enjoy seeing them once more.››  First   up   was   a   cute   little›simulation,   "SANTA  BBS".  You  dial›1-2no-rth-pole,   make  a  connection,›then  receive  the following dialoque.›Have  you  ever  been here before? no,›what is your name? Santa is listening,›HO,  HO,  HO,  RUDOLPH is eager to see›you.  Many  members  began thinking of›how wonderful it would be to have this›program during the coming season.››  ALAN  then  went  through "XMAS TREE›CONSTRUCTION  SET"  a program from the›old FAMILY COMPUTING MAGAZINE.››  Next  was  "CAPITAL" a monopoly type›game  of  high  finance. Two, three or›four  players  are  allowed, where you›roll the dice, land on a property, you›then  have  an opportunity to purchase›that property.››  A program "PRYZM" puts 256 colors on›the  screen (try focusing your eyes on›that    graphic).    The    programmer›alternates  between  two graphic modes›to  create  a  slide  show.  A drawing›program is on the reverse side.››  "X-WORD"  a  word puzzle, 26 of them›to  be exact. Documentation for X-WORD›is included on the disk. Great program›for  those  who  can't  throw  away  a›newspaper  without doing the crossword›puzzle.››  "COMPUTER   ART   GRAPHICS"  a  1985›GERMAN  disk  with  fantastic graphics›for a SLOT MACHINE operation in GERMAN›of course.››  ALAN'S wrap up demo was a commerical›program    "HANUKKAH    DISK",    that›contained   a   number   of  religious›programs  and  ALAN choose the DREIBEL›game  to  attempt to clear up a couple›of  mysterys  that surrounds HANUKKAH,›one  of the biggest mysterys of all is›what   is   this  gambling  game  that›everybody   is   talking  about.  This›program  probably  explains  it better›than  any explanation yet heard and it›still  leaves some mystery. It depends›on  a  spin of the DREIBEL whether you›get  to bet against the computer, pick›up  the  pot, get half the pot, double›the  money in the pot. In DREIBEL 1000›which  is  a different version you get›the  numerical  value  of  the  letter›where  the  DREIBEL  lands  on  (every›letter  in  the  HEBREW alphabet has a›numerical value), so you get a word by›putting   the   letters  together  and›counting  the  numerical  values.  The›first  one  to  reach  1000 gets their›choice  of games. ALAN selected CARLOS›and  HARRY  to  play a game. It's very›simple "LEARN WHILE YOU PLAY".››  Had enough?....plenty more to come.››  RON  FETZER  stepped  up  to show us›"COMPILING  MADE  EASY"  using  a demo›disk program about 30 lines in length,›written  in  BASIC.  Demonstrating how›slow  the program ran, then to make an›autorun disk you take the compiler for›TURBO   BASIC   and   put   the   file›AUTORUN.CTB on your disk and rename it›RUNTIME.COM.  RON then demoed by using›the  program  to  compile  a  disk and›putting it on a prepared disk. Nothing›to it, now we all know how to do it.››  Want  more?  ALEX  took his turn and›reviewed  many  of  his favorites. One›word  of advice, he suggested was that›if  TURBO  BASIC  runs the program too›fast,  go  into the program and change›the speed to your satisfaction.››  Alex   went   through   "DOMINOS"  a›commerical  program  by EMI an ENGLISH›CO..  ALEX  held  his  own  until  the›computer came on strong at the end.››  Then  came  "OL'  HACKER'S  FINANCE"›which  comes  in  single  and enhanced›density.  Finance  help  is  available›throughout  the  many  money  programs›contained  on  the  disk.  A  real BIG›BARGAIN  in  our  LIBRARY!  (BUY  THIS›ONE!)››  How  about  "AUTODIALER UTILITY" for›use with touch tone phones. Enter your›most  used  telephone  numbers  into a›file,  select  a  number  to be dialed›from  a menu, hold the phone near your›monitor  speaker,  hit  start  and you›have   simulated   tones   doing  your›dialing.  The  option  key will redial›for you.››  Keeping  up with the HOLIDAY SEASON,›ALEX  finished  with  two  appropriate›seasonal  disks.  First  was HIGH TECH›EXPRESSIONS,  "JINGLE  DISK". The disk›contains  three  programs,  "CREATE  a›GREETING  CARD",  "HOLIDAY  GREETINGS"›and "CHRISTMAS TREE", a complete story›with   Xmas  Tree,  Santa  Claus,  toy›soldiers,  model  railroad train, mice›and  a  pussy cat. What else could you›ask for?››  In   closing,   ALEX   went  through›SPINNAKER'S     "CHRISTMAS    SAMPLER"›showing a poem "T'WAS THE NIGHT BEFORE›CHRISTMAS".  Always a teriffic disk to›generate  enjoyment  at  this  time of›year.››  HAROLD  PEGLER  agreed  to delay the›demo  of his program, "TIMEWISE" until›the  JANUARY  meeting  as  once again,›five  hours  had flown by at jet speed›and  the  library was closing shortly,›but  nobody  was too anxious to leave.››ALL IN ALL, IT WAS ONE HECK OF A GREAT›MEETING,   IN   LINE  WITH  THE  GREAT›HOLIDAY SEASON!››  FUTURE MEETING DATES:››  Future  meeting  dates  for  the OL'›HACKERS ATARI USER GROUP are:››  JANUARY 12, 1991   APRIL 13, 1991›  FEBRARY  9, 1991   MAY   11, 1991›  MARCH    9, 1991   JUNE   1, 1991››  All   dates  are  SATURDAY  and  are›scheduled    for   the   PLAINVIEW/OLD›BETHPAGE LIBRARY.››  Remember........    the   next   OL'›HACKERS  ATARI  USER  GROUP meeting is›scheduled   for   JANUARY   12th,   at›11:30am››                      Sincerely,››                      AL ATKINS›                                      ›